not the standard

These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: (NIV)

This verse is a bit weird, until you realise that Exodus follows directly on from Genesis. Like with a sequel, unless you've read the first one, you have no idea whi any one is or what is happening.

Genesis ended with the story of Joseph and his cool coloured coat. While he gets the happily ever after treatment, it is by no means the end if the larger narrative that is being told. So this verse is part of the set up for the next part of the story.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (NIV)

Happy new year! I wanted to get back into doing some of this blog bible study stuff and figured that the first day of the (calendar) year was a good time, new year new project and all that. I thought it would be interesting working my way through the first verse of each book, with the plan being to do last verses at the end of the year. We’ll see how it goes.

So, genesis 1:1. The beginning. Of earth. Of our journey. Of basically everything.

I’ve had a number of beginnings in the past year; flats, friendships, among other things. Sometimes it was clearly a beginning, easier to define and put time or date on it, like when I moved into my flat. Others it wasn’t so clear cut, like when I started going to a church instead if just visiting, and meeting people who are becoming friends. But this beginning, is such a line in the sand. It is has a clear before and after. It’s one of the defining parts of Christianity, as well as other religions. If you don’t believe this, then you don’t believe in the same God that I do.

It’s been a while since I have, but there is a church near by that I had been considering trying and this morning I woke up in time to make it to the start of the service, so I thought, why not? And it was nice. Not perfect by any means, but then when is church ever, especially when it’s the first time you’ve been. But I can’t help but feel like it was so much nicer than the last time I went to a church for the first time, and I’m not entirely sure why. 

I am a PK, I have gone to church my whole life. Up until this year, the longest I’ve been without attending a church would be a couple of weeks, definitely less than a month. But then I moved to a new city, was staying with family who don’t really do the whole church thing, and living somewhere where which is not a thriving metropolis of people and churches. No one was making me go, so I didn’t. Sure friends and family asked, but none of them were around constantly nagging me to. I think I told some people I wanted to take a break from going to church and work out why exactly I was going to church. Of course that meant there was no pressure and it was just easier to not do it, so I didn’t. I had grand plans for creating a version of house church, just for me. But it was always easier to just sleep in, or read a novel, than do what I mapped out in my head. 

A couple of months ago, I went along to the local union church (Presbyterian and Methodist combined, I think). The minister there was there year below my Parents, so there was a vague connection. The service was much like the ones in my parents parish, that I spent three years attending. It was alright, but I did not enjoy it. The people afterwards were friendly, there were kids around, there was even one or two people my age. But I have not been back, and I don’t really ever intend to.

Today I went to the local Anglican church. I went to an Anglican High School for three years, so I kind of new what I was getting myself into. The service was a bit more traditional than what I am used to, a lot more response driven stuff, all hymns (which I didn’t really enjoy because I only knew one of them and I could heself sing which I don’t really like). The people were friendly, there were kids around, no one my age. And yet I enjoyed it. The curate was funny and engaging, while still giving everything the solemnity it deserved. When I meet the Vicar afterwards (the parish has a number of churches in it and He had been at another that morning but stopped in for morning tea), I got the sense He was much the same. The ladies from the church are going out for breakfast next Saturday, and I have said that I’ll join them.

At some point this morning, I though about what it would be like if I went to some of my old churches for the first time. Would I still pick it? Or did I just pick it because it was familiar? This year is the first time that I’ve had to find a church by myself. When I was younger I went where my parents went. At Uni I went to the same church that we went to when we lived their previously. Here I have nothing to go on, no one to go with me. I have no familiarity to fall back on. 

Mark 13 is Jesus talking about the future. Quite a bit of what he said is actually kinda scary and a little bit depressing. But there is still hope mixed in. 

Verses 24-31 is Jesus talking about when he will return, which is uber exciting. He gives us some signs, and then compares being able to tell when it is going to happen  to 'reading' a fig tree as to when summer is coming. It also says that 'this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened (Mark 13:30 NIV)', which could be why there are so many people who are convinced it's going to happen any day now. My bible doesn't have a study note on this verse but does have a footnote that 'generation' could be translated as 'race', which certainly offers a longer timespan. 

Verse 32-37 are Jesus telling us to be ready and alert. We don't know when it is going to happen (Mark 13:32 is a good verse to quote at anyone who tries to say when the end is going to happen). Even Jesus doesn't know, and He is God's son, even is God (technically, but this isn't the time for a trinity discussion). This is probably a good thing. I know I would procrastinate getting ready for it so this way I have to get on to it.

This doesn't mean we should stop doing the day-to-day things, or even planning for the future. Plans change. Sometimes that's a good thing, no matter how much of a pain it is to reorganise at the time. There is a difference between being alert and ready, and stopping everything else to wait for something. I know that when I do that, I start to get antsy. I pick small things to do, things that don't require a lot of focus. I become hyper aware of the different sounds around me, trying to pick which one is the signal that I can begin whatever it is I'm waiting for.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen (Revelation 22:21, NIV)

This is the last verse in the bible. I started with the first and it seems fitting to end with the last. Revelation is generally thought of as one of the more scary books of the bible, mostly because its apocalyptical, i.e. referring to an apocalypse or the destruction of the world. This however is a rather modern day view of it. It used to be a way of writing that used images to communicate hope. In ancient Greek it literally means and unveiling and was usually used in terms of revealing something hidden. Not what usually comes to mind today.

The last verse is the end of this particular letter, so it does feel like a send off. It's the sort of thing that someone might use at the end of a service or gathering, a benediction of sorts. Its is hopeful and a blessing. 

And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT." Having said this, He breathed His last. (Luke 23:46, NASB)

It's Good Friday, so it seems right to do a verse about Jesus dying. This is it. The point when Jesus dies. When God does one of the most human things possible.

Here Jesus is quoting a psalm. Go read the psalm, it's number 22. It starts off of kind 'woe is me' but the second half is asking for help. Jesus often quoted from the Old Testament and so everyone would know what he was referring to. (Everyone had a really good knowledge of the O.T. back then). We often don't go read it and so don't get the full context and meaning.

Committing our spirit into God's hands is an important thing to do. It's kinda part of being a Christian. We should however aim to do it before we die, and it may be that we have to re-affirm it to ourselves more than once. God is more than worthy to entrust our spirits. He wants the best for us and so he will look after it.

Be joyful always, (1 Thessalonians 5:16, GNT)

This is the shortest verse in the Bible, if you go by the original Greek version. This one is helpful as it gives us advice about how to live our life while the other verse thought to be the shortest (John 11:35) tells us about Jesus' character, which is important, just not quite as useful as advice for day-to-day living.

It took me a while to find a translation that I liked. Quite a few talked about rejoicing. While rejoicing is a great thing to do, it's kinda different from being joyful. There are time when you just don't feel like rejoicing. I feel like rejoicing is a thing that you do while being joyful is a state of being.

You can be joyful, but then still be sad. Once at youth group, I was in a group discussing joy (I think we were talking about the different weeks in advent). We somehow came up with the analogy of cake. Joy was the cake, the solid bit in the middle and what ever you were feeling at the time was just the icing on the top. Perhaps a better version would be that joy is cream in the middle, you don't always see it, but it's there.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25, NIV)

In the letter to the churches in Galatia, Paul is refuting the claim that Gentile Christians had to follow the Jewish laws as well. This of course was wrong, but for many Jewish Christians, this would make sense. If Israel was God's chosen people, then all those who believed and were saved by Christ should act like one of God's chosen people and therefore follow Jewish law. But Paul had to remind them that Christ came to save everyone, and all you have to do is have faith in Jesus. 

This verse talks about the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the part of God that is with us on earth. Often people will talk about the Spirit coming into a place, or being on/in a person when something amazing happens. I think when people speak in tongues, it is by the power of the Spirit that enables them to do it.

If we live by the Spirit, then we need to keep up with it. Trying to live with a person is really hard if you don't talk to the person occasionally. The same goes here. Unless you keep in touch with the Spirit, i.e. God, then it's going to be very hard to live your life in a way that pleases both of you. Also it needs to be constant, not just every so often. Relationships where you talk often are usually stronger than ones where you don't.

Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me. (Judges 6:17, NLT)

The story of Gideon is an interesting one. He was part of Israel at a time when they were being harassed by the Midianites a lot. They felt abandoned by God and could hardly believe that their ancestors had been saved by Him. God chooses Gideon to save Israel, although Gideon is very unsure of himself and God needed to keep encouraging him.

This is where we get the term 'putting out the fleece'. Gideon is unsure if God is really going to use him to save Israel because he is kinda weak, and his family was really low down in the rankings. So he asks for a sign. He outs out a fleece and asks that in the morning the fleece is wet, but the ground is dry. The next morning it is, but he is still unsure, so asks again but the other way around. Sure thing, the next morning, the ground is wet and the fleece is dry, just like he asked.

Sometimes it is hard to know if what you think God is saying to you is actually what He wants you to do. So you ask for a sign. I find the trick is to make it something that could possibly happen, no "if this is your will Lord, give us world peace by Friday". It doesn't have to be likely, just possible. It is important to not test God either. You're asking for a sign, not a miracle. I like to make sure it is specific as well, otherwise you'll spend heaps of time debating over what it means, or trying to make it fit to get the answer you want. A time frame can be helpful too, so you're not waiting for a long time.

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13, NIV)

For me, this verse makes me see God as a father, or at least a cool older sibling, maybe a family friend. The kind of person you look up to, and want to hang out with all the time. You want to be able to do everything they can do, but can't. Then they come help you when you're trying to do something hard or scary and its the best thing in the world. Not just because you're doing this hard or scary thing, but because you're doing it with them.

This is the kind of encouragement that the Jewish people needed, especially after the first half of Isaiah. God is saying that He is our God, and He will help us through whatever it is we're going through. We don't have to be afraid of it. If we are unsure of the way, God is there leading us through it.

 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. (Luke 9:24, NLT)

As Christian we are called to live our lives, not for ourselves, but for Christ. It's a lot harder than it sounds. The world does not live this way and it is really hard going against it.

If we try and do both, it usually doesn't work. There are so many things that we do for ourselves that we are in the habit of doing. And those habits are so hard to break, especially as they go against the culture we've been brought up in. But hanging onto these things means we end up losing more than we keep.

After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, (Matthew 14:23, NIV)

This verse comes after Jesus fed the five thousand and before he walks on water. Both were pretty cool, but also would be exhausting. This is a bit of alone time for Jesus.

To begin with, Jesus could go around pretty normally, people didn't know who he was. Then word of his work spread around and it became harder and harder to do this. It got to the point where Jesus would just wait out side the town til the disciples had found somewhere for them to stay. So Jesus really valued his time alone when he would pray.

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12, NLT)

Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon and is kind of a 'take my advice, I didn't really use it' type book. While Solomon was a wise man, he didn't always live like one. He wrote what he learnt from personal experience so that we don't have to go through it ourselves. So maybe more 'learn from others mistakes, you don't have time to make them all yourself'.

When you try and do something on your own, be it moving something heavy, introduce a new way of doing something, or something similar, it usually doesn't go so well. It's just far too easy to get overwhelmed. If there is two of you however, there is someone to lean on, to help. Three people means you have even more support and can achieve more. Pretty much the more of you, the better chances you'll have.

While sometimes there are things you have to do alone, usually you don't have to be alone while you do it. If you have issues that need working through, you will have to do the work, but it will be easier if you have people around to support you. 

This is probably a good time to bring out the team acrostic:

Together Everyone Achieves More