Bret's Blog

The Date of the Mountain Meadow Massacre

September 11.....1857

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) denied any involvement by Mormons, and was relatively silent on the issue. In 1872, however, it excommunicated some of the participants for their role in the massacre. Since then, the LDS Church has consistently condemned the massacre, though acknowledging involvement by local Mormon leaders. In September 2007, the LDS Church published an article in its official publications marking 150 years since the tragedy occurred.[30].

Richard E. Turley Jr., The Mountain Meadows Massacre, lds.org, 2007-08-29

Weird.

November 26 What Jesus Had to Eat that I Get So Little Of

Something happens to Jesus in John 4 that I have never heard preached when this familiar passage comes up.  It has to do with Jesus' hunger, thirst and how it is satisfied.  Read with me:

"Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour." John 4:4-6

The sixth hour is noon. Picture it:  probably hot or at least warm...Jesus and his disciples have just walked or rode on donkeys all morning.  They are hungry, thirsty and in need of a break.  It's lunch time!  I don't know about you but this is the time of day when my appetite kicks in the hardest-- right in the middle of the day.  Most of the world has their main meal of the day right in the middle of the day for the very same reason.

"When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)" John 4:7-9

Jesus could have focused on his own needs and his own situation- he needed a break, probably well-deserved.  Instead, he reaches out to a poor woman.

Here’s where I have never heard anybody comment.  When Jesus finishes his conversation with this woman and ministry in her life, this happens:

"Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no-one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?" Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" They came out of the town and made their way towards him. Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something." But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?" "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." John 4:27-34

Apparently, the ministry that Jesus did actually satisfied him to the point where he did not need anything to eat and was not hungry. 

By the way, that is the purpose of fasting— to find in God all that He is apart from our physical needs.  Do you think God could be to you THAT MUCH— more than food and physical desires?

Interesting.  I tell you I would sure love to have a day of ministry like Jesus where the ministry was so joyous and powerful and God-filled that it satisfied every part of my body!

Bret

Question 2 on Intolerance

Can you say I am intolerant and win the argument?

    When a person states that a person of faith is intolerant because we believe in a set and certain value system, they often exercise the kind of intolerance they accuse others of.    The value of tolerance (defined as the ability to allow a variety of opinions to exist together and respect those equally) is violated when a person of faith (especially the exclusivistic Christian faith) is told they cannot put forward their values equally in the public forum.  That’s intolerance!    Any person who says “All world views are acceptable and should be discussed in an open environment except yours” are intolerant. 

    

Christians who insist that there is one functional worldview are not intolerant, they are cognizant of other opinions and fully willing to listen to those views.  In our opinion, those views are inferior but not un-valuable.  Others may believe that Judeo-Christian values are inferior but they must be willing to debate those same values and win the argument.  You simply cannot hold a contest of ideas and not invite one player and call yourself tolerant. 

The Power of Mentoring

One of the great things about Jesus was His commitment to His men.  One of the lines that the Bible uses most to describe Jesus' technique in discipleship are the words "with them":

"While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled." John 17:12, NIV.

"And He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him, and that He might send them out to preach," Mark 3:14, NASB.

One of the smartest things most of us can do is to find some people that we admire and just get around them.  And if, by chance, one of those people that you admire actually asks you to hang out with them-- do it!

I read this today from the hand of Eugene Peterson:  "None of the qualities of the Christian life can be learned out of a book. Something like apprenticeship is required, being around someone who out of years of devoted discipline shows us, by his or her entire behavior, what it is. Moments of verbal instruction will certainly occur, but mostly an apprentice requires skill by daily and intimate association with a 'master', picking up subtle but absolutely essential things.

Just some encouragement from the Word to pursue relationships like that in your world.

Share your thoughts here about mentors and their value.