Coming to the Still Waters

  The picture is that of Zacchaeus up a sycamore tree wanting to get a glimpse of Jesus passing by.  He had no idea that Jesus knew his name or was to call him down from the tree to have a meal with him at his house.  He had no idea that Jesus would defend him before the judging crowd.  Jesus stopped, looked up and called out to him.  Jesus initiated a relationship.  We see this as one of the discipleship practices of Jesus and therefore also of us His followers.  We have Zacchaeus's all around us and we need to stop, look toward them and speak to them by name.   A couple principles to guide us as followers of Jesus are such: How we " do " things in life should be shaped by what we read in the Bible . Our " ultimate " and " prime " example to mimic is Jesus Christ our Lord. Another great initiating relationship example is Jesus meeting Matthew the tax collector and then going to his home for a gathering of tax collectors and sinners.  ...

  The red flag is a sign of severe warning.  The stop sign is red.  It is to get our attention and I believe Peter in chapter 2 has been waving a red flag before his readers.  There are false teachers among them and they have come in secretly with an agenda to turn them from God, His word, and His gospel to focus on themselves (the false teachers), on their words, and another way to benefit them.  These are the 6 red flags. If someone makes God or Jesus less than what He is. If someone presents some other way to God than Jesus Christ alone. If someone twists God's words or replace them with their words. If there is a display of arrogance, the promoting of themselves. If there is a display of lust, the elevation of earthly desires. If there is a display of greed, the focus on getting rather than giving. These warning signs are so contrary to the true picture of one who is following after Jesus.  Luke 9:23-26 tells us to deny ourselves, to take up our cross, ...

  From red flags to red buds!!!  The Red Bud trees are in bloom in Texas and I have been enjoying them on my morning walks around a golf course on my vacation.  They pop with the new green that is emerging from the winter browns of this area. Peter gives us some red flags to look out for that should pop out in light of the truth.  2 Peter 2:1-3 gives us 3 of them. Beware of anyone making Jesus or God less than being God. Beware of anyone giving another way or another gospel than the good news of Christ and by Christ. Beware of anyone who replaces God's words (truth) with man's words (false). Following our services we have smaller groups that go deeper for another 45 minutes about the passage.  I put together a discussion guide and included were some important Scriptures to read about Jesus, the Gospel, and the Bible.  How we " beware " of the red flags is to " be aware " of the One who shed His red blood.  Take some time to reacquaint yourself wit...