MITN XII, Verses 22 - 30

Hey bloggers...here are verses 22 - 30...I'll have the rest of the chapter posted by tomorrow...speaking of tomorrow, the service at CITN is going to be very powerful...you need to be ITB for the full impact...I've used this Jesus picture before, but I love the portrayal of Him as light...enjoy!

22. Then they brought him a man who was under the control of a spirit of blindness, and was also mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.

23. All the people were impressed to the point of astonishment and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"

24. But when the typically cynical Pharisees heard this, they dismissed it and said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the Lord of the Flies, that this charlatan exorcises spirits."

25. Jesus saw right through them, knowing what they were thinking, and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

26. If Beelzebub drives out Beelzebub, he is divided against himself. How then can he maintain his domain over the flies of the dunghill?

27. And if I expel darkness by his authority, then how do your exorcists drive it out? So then, they will be your judges.

28. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out darkness, then the now-ness of the Kingdom of God has been revealed to you.

29. How can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions without first tying up the strong man? Then his house can be plundered.

30. Whoever is not in the flow with Me rejects the authority of My Kingdom – and My authority over darkness sets the captive free. So if you're not helping to bring about Kingdom purposes, you're making things worse for everybody.

MITN XII, Verses 15 - 21

Hey bloggers...here are verses 15 - 21 from Chapter 12 of Matthew In The Now (little by little, I'm getting this done). Actually, I plan on having the rest of the chapter posted before we leave for the Philippines on Monday. I may put the blog(s) on hold until we get back, but in the meantime, I welcome your feedback on the project.

Also, I believe that LifeSkills In The Now is really going to develop into something great, and I want to create a menu for it (titles and dates), so if you have a topic that you'd like to suggest for it, put it on the comments page...(I'd even like to make a blog for it, but that's probably too much, right?) Anyway, I know we're all busy, but slow down a minute and write something. Peace...

15. Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place to keep a lower profile, but a large crowd followed him, anyway. And when the sick ones among them approached Him for help, He didn’t turn any of them away. In fact, healed every last one of them.

16. But He warned them not to tell others about Him, or of the miracles that He performed for them.

17. And this scenario fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

18. "Here is my servant whom I have personally chosen…the One that I love so very much, and in whom I absolutely delight; I will put my empowering Spirit on him, and He will proclaim justice to the all the people of all the nations.

19. He will not have to yell louder than anyone else to be heard, and no one will need to hear His voice crying out in the streets, because His message will resonate with the heart.


20. A bruised reed – that one who is fragile and weak, broken, or about to be broken - He will not break. And a smoldering wick – that one who has no strength left to bear up with what life has been throwing against him or her, and has been left battered to the point that he or she has lost the sense of self-worth - He will not snuff out. He will minister in compassion, sympathy and empathy, till He brings justice to all...till He leads that justice to victory.

21. In His name all the people of all the nations will ultimately put their hope."

This Land is Your Land

Hey bloggers...we're back...got in about 2:30 this morning...just now thawing out!!!...it was amazing/incredible/awesome...there's a picture posted on the sidebar of us in front of the Capitol, by the reflecting pool where we were standing, taken on Judah's cell phone (he's standing on a step which is why he's towering over me)...I'll tell you all about it tonight at LifeSkills In The Now, and then maybe write something about it for bloggers who aren't a part of CITN/cyber-CITN...

And thanks for your feedback from Sunday...I want to hear some more testimonies tonight in the service...

God bless America!

We The People (And then some...)

Hey bloggers...We're about to leave town, but I wanted to update this post (currently 10 comments). I'm really happy that those of you who were ITB today grasped the message, and understood what I was trying to do. Please tell me what happened to you in the service, especially at the end. I loved the feedback from those of you who came down front, and wish we had had more time to hear more. If you wanted to say something, but didn't have the chance, say it here!

As you know, Judah and I are in Washington for the Inauguration, and I may not post anything until we get back on Wednesday. I'll be back for LifeSkills In The Now on Wednesday night (teaching about self-esteem), but I wanted to post this, and leave it up, so that you can write your thoughts, prayers, and observations about this historical event. Even if I don't post, I can check your comments on my Blackberry.

The Inauguration is always on January 20, according to the Constitution, but how amazing is it that this year it falls the day after MLK Day?! There is so much I could say just about him, and about his Dream, and about all that has happened since he gave that iconic speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I said something about it this morning in church, but really...it just seems profound to me that the timing worked out this way.

Regardless of your political persuasion, on this coming Tuesday we will not be Democrats or Republicans, black or white, liberal or conservative...we will just be Americans. And, as Christians, we are required to be intercessors for all those in authority. As I said at the Walk By Faith, our prayers are with President George W. Bush and his family, and our prayers are with President Barack Obama and his family. And our prayers are with our great country. God bless America!

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle — I am telling the truth, I am not lying — and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. (I Timothy 2:1-8 - TNIV)

Please share your thoughts on all that is happening right now...