Posts

Showing posts from October, 2024

Different Responses...Matthew 8:28-34

Image
See the tree line in the distance.  Yup, I came from there to this point and beyond before heading back.  I spent a good hour on this rock field and that evening I realized I'm a 60 year old man.  It took a couple days for my legs to fuly recuperate from this excursion.  Being in the middle of this rock field that I would estimate at 100 acres makes you feel small and especially with the mountains towering over you.  I didn't make it to my destination on this day but maybe that was the point. Jesus gets a different response in this passage and maybe that is the point.  What was probably expected by His disciples was the whole town giving Jesus the key to the city but what happened was a polite ask to leave the region.  They picked the pigs over the people and it was turned out to be a short stay on the " other side " of the Sea of Galilee.  "Back in the boat boys.  Our work here is done."  "But Jesus, we just got here.  Didn't those people just see

The Cost & The Commander...Matthew 8:18-27

Image
  The first snow has hit our little town and church at 8400 ft.  I'm documenting this event for years to come.  Really this blog for the last 14 years and nearly 2000 entries and my facebook page have been documenting places for my life moments and the life of the churches I have been apart of.  It has been a spot to think again of the sermon I just preached and also thoughts along the way now on the trails of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.   I could not go much further without telling you that we have a new sister of the kingdom of God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the faithful ministry of the Stillwater Community Chapel sharing His gospel.  Please pray for this dear sister as she starts her walk with Jesus.  I am so thankful for those of the church family here who were part of this surrender to Christ.  A miracle happened at SCC last week.  Praise the Lord! The healings and miracles of Jesus point to His authority and also His place as the Messiah that

The Centurion's Faith and more...Matthew 8:5-17

Image
  Which way to go?  On that day I headed to Watanga Lake.  Next year I plan on continuing up the Roaring Forks trail to a couple alpine lakes over the pass.  The lake was beautiful and the effort was worth it to have lunch in such a beautiful setting.  It was a good choice.  Here is what I think is my best picture of the lake and also another picture of Twin Peaks, a majestic mountain viewed on this trail. In our passage we see someone, a centurion, take a different path than previously with the leper.  The leper was cleansed but he did not follow Jesus' instructions to go show himself to the priest and be a witness that Someone great has come.  The centurion does go at Jesus' command and heads home to find his servant healed just as Jesus said.  One went one way and one went the other.  We don't want to be too hard on the leper but it does show that the healings and miracles given to us in the word of God always have another truth that we are to see and learn. The physical

A Leper Cleansed & Commanded...Matthew 8:1-4

Image
  Getting to the destination is the goal.  I set a goal not knowing if I will make it there in the time limit I have set but last week I did.  This crossing of Hallett Creek is 9 miles up the North Inlet Trail.  It is at the curve when you cross over to another mountain so you can see the trail on the other mountain as you are nearing this spot.  At this point I have been following the creek for awhile and wondering what kind of crossing it would have.  Would I be stepping on rocks to get across or would there be a wooden log or bridge?  What I found was a wide wooden log but it was cracked in half forming a "v" .  It was plenty sufficient and lunch never tasted better after 4 hours of hiking.   When we open up the Bible and read of the life of Jesus sometimes we don't know where the destination will take us.  Today was the cleansing of the leper after coming down the mountain where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.  There were great multitudes following Him so th