The Narrow Path: Live and In Color

Just a short rant about what's been on my mind lately, where I believe I should be going in my own life, and a little bit about where we are headed in our next study in the book of John.

Genesis 11:1-9 Today we conclude our series on What's Wrong With the World from the achilles heel of where man's rebellion against God ultimately leads to.

Genesis 8-9:14 Today we continue through the Noah Chronicles highlighting several things to remind us of in the life of the "2nd Adam" if you will for now, and what he can teach us as we continue to make a mad dash towards the conclusion of our segment "What's Wrong with the World" in Chapter 11.

Genesis 7 Today in part 1, we begin to explore some highlights from Noah's life to remember in our generation, especially as we see people going along as if nothing is rotten in Denmark, but that we as believers are to pay special attention to. We also implore those of us not yet on the narrow path to look diligently into it while the time is here.

Genesis: 6:1-13 Today in part 2, we zero in on how God has come to the conclusion that his only right next move is to wipe out the earth of which he had originally made to be fruitful, multiply, and be his image bearers on the earth. We also witness the remnant of one man and his family and what God has to say about him, and we witness the message of grace yet again to remind us of the ark we can choose rather than the intentions of the world.

Genesis 6:1-13 Today we begin to talk about what is increasingly known as the "Second Fall" of God's created order, what it implies in regards to why there is pain and suffering and rampant evil in this world, as well as getting a first look at God's increasing pain in watching what he sees unfold in the world and what he will very soon have to do something about.

Genesis 4:17-5:32 Today we skim through the rest of chapter 4 and chapter 5 picking out a few more obvious aspects of the devolvement of mankind morally and one or two bright spots God wants us to pay special attention to.

Genesis 4:9-16 In our devotional time today, we talk about part 2 of our understanding of the rebellion passed down to the seed in the life of Cain. Today, we're faced with a sad state of affairs where Cain not only has a "deer in the headlights look" when asked where his brother is, but who also is in total denial of what he's done until God points it out. God then reminds Cain that what he does is not done in isolation, but that the ground itself knows it. More importantly, God knows it as well. Cain it seems is the only one without a lifeline and seems to be more distraught over the consequences of his sin rather than the sin itself, or the fact that he is now leaving the very presence of God.

Genesis 4:1-8 In our continuing saga of understanding what's wrong with the world, we now look at the first seed of twins born to Adam and Eve, and there is much to learn about the human struggle to battle the good and evil that wrestled deep within Cain, and each of us as well.

Genesis 3:20-24 Today it's moving day for Adam and Eve, and by virtue of our own connection to them it is ours as well. Their new found knowledge of knowing good and evil does make them "like" God in a sense, but it's not the knowledge from the right tree to give them real life. In fact, as we already know, it is that which will continue to lead them down a path of ruin without the promise of the tree of life to come and that they must keep before them if they want to somehow stay in the presence of God.

Genesis 3:14-19 Today we talk about the punishment handed down because of man's attempt at usurping the God spot and therefore being like God, and then setting up for what the initial plan will be moving forward as well as the ongoing battle Satan and his progeny will have with mankind.

Genesis, 3:8-13 Today, after the dirty deed is done, Adam and Eve take their turn (while all of a sudden realizing they are naked) blaming God, Eve and the serpent, and not having the slightest clue as to who they even are.

Genesis 3: 1-7 Today we conclude our last session of What is actually Wrong With the World and us, though we won't be done with this topic till chapter 11. We now talk about the serpent's great lie that is truly the "death" of us all, both now and when we actually die. HIs lie is "You shall not surely die", which is tantamount to doubting God's word already spoken. And of course nothing of course could be further from the truth that we find out each and every day while on this earth. Lastly, we find out what it's like at the end of the party to reject God for the lie.

Genesis 3:1-4 Today we enter the beginning of the crescendo of What is actually Wrong With the World and us. We talk about the serpent entering the story, wondering where he came from and his original question to Eve that was false, as well as Eve's rebuttal that though corrected had problems as well. We then close with the ultimate temptation for all of us still today.

Genesis 2:15-25 Today, as we continue our "What's Wrong With the World" series, we are teased again about the two tree's but God only mentions the one Adam must avoid and the results should he choose contrary to God's Plan. We also introduce the crown of God's creation (for us men for sure) in creating Eve as the solution to man's aloneness and so much more.

Gen. 2: 4-14 Today we introduce man as both a natural and spiritual being, a little about where civilization began and, more importantly, the introduction of two trees and two choices for us to think about very deeply.

Genesis 2:1-3 Today we clarify some of what this meager channel is meant to be and of course not to be, and also to talk about what it means on the very surface level to live a list of peace and rest in the Lord Jesus instead of merely living lives of self-reliance and pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps.

Genesis 1:25-31 Today we introduce little ole you and me being introduced into the world as the crown of God's creation. Sarcasm alert! The hybrid being is introduced as one who is both natural and spiritual and is commissioned to be image bearers of the God who created them (male and female). We talk briefly about the "divine council" who said "Let us make man in our image" how we are to be God's replica, his shadow or his "mini-me" shall we say. We also talk about the repetitive theme of this new crown of creation being those who are to have dominion and rule as vice regents in the earth, and we conclude with some thoughts about how we are doing with these "high hopes" God had for us.

Genesis 1: 14-25 Today we continue to make our trek through God both creating and turning chaos into order simultaneously. We introduce God's creation of the forms of light (sun, moon and stars), vegetation, land and sea animals and even "sea creatures". "Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My". Lastly we talk about an overarching theme so far that God is really into light, beings of light in the darkness and being fruitful and multiplying after God's light.

Genesis 1: 1-13 Today we begin answering the question as to what's wrong with the world that will take us 11 chapters to fully develop as much as a devotional time together can do. However, there is much here to contemplate. Today, we hypothesize as to whether or not there was a creation before the turning of the formless, void and chaotic perhaps "prior" creation into something purposeful and orderly that God at first calls very good. Stay tuned as we continue to unpack God's mysteries in this regard that will lead us to fully understand why we are in the shape we are in.

Today we introduce a new topic, getting away from a book by book study for now like we did in the morning devotion segment of working through Matthew and Romans. So today, we open up this new and important topic as we begin to trek through Genesis 1-11 in uncovering "What's Wrong with the World". And by doing that, I have already revealed what's wrong; and it is after all: "You and I". Stay with us as we begin this time together in unpacking a message that has fallen on deaf ears to the culture "and" even the church unfortunately, and yet one that we sorely need to understand it's origins, so that we can understand the rest of God's word correctly as well as our very acute problem.

Romans 16: We conclude our trek through Romans today with many greetings and Hello's from Paul to his fellow workers and encouragement for the church in Rome and encouragement to continue to both support them and their trailblazing work taking the gospel to all nations. Paul then begins to close with the reminder that God will soon crush satan underneath our very feet, and in fact has completed the first part of that. And then, Paul concludes with the encouragement again to stick to the core essentials of the faith and to have biblical discernment in knowing when those essentials are being threatened. Lastly he reminds us that our work is not complete in this trailblazing enterprise until obedience and faith takes place among those we would reach.

Romans 15:21-33 Continuing to make our way to the closing chapter of Romans (chapter 16), we talk a little today about Paul's desire to see the Roman church, some prayer requests that are hard and fast on his mind, and his desire for them to continue to support God's serious missionary work he has been a trailblazer for.

Romans 15:14-20 Today, as we begin seeing the finish line in our study of Romans, we talk about Paul's memoirs of Gentile ministry and the continue goals and dreams he has in line with what God has called him to do. We also talk about the 800-pound gorilla of the lack of signs and wonders in our own lives, hypothesizing about what that means and what if anything we can do about it when it is so desperately needed right now.

Romans 15: 7-13 In the wrap up of yesterday's session, we continue down Paul's long and sorely needed path of having healthy interpersonal relationships in the body of Christ and how we are to go about achieving that. We are reminded again about what seems like an unachievable apologetic of love and unity that John 17 commends us towards. We also close with the great hope that each of us as individuals should strive for in the body of Christ. In fact Paul's prayer for us in vs. 13 is that somehow, we might be united in joy, peace and hope by God's Spirit working in us.