We enjoyed a beautiful and very meaningful wedding ceremony yesterday afternoon. Congratulations to my niece Kate and David Martin on heir marriage. My son Christian performed the ceremony for his cousin. My brother gave a moving speech at the reception that placed a great capstone on the celebration.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ^‘The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side….'” Numbers 2:1,2 ESV

The days the Children of Israel spent at Mount Sinai were critical for their journey to the promise land. There was the giving of the “Law of Moses” that involved the ten commandments and all the laws regarding the lives and conduct of God’s people with the Lord and with each other. They were receiving instructions on how to live as God’s Holy people in relationship with a Holy God.

But in addition to the “law” dimension much attention is given to the structure and organization of how God’s people were to operate. How do nearly 2 million people get to a destination in an orderly manner? Who is responsible for various tasks and duties? Who is to be ready to fight if there an attack from an enemy?

What we see in much of the early chapters of Numbers covers all these topics. There was an order with the twelve tribes. Each tribe was arranged in a specific order around the Tabernacle. When they set out from camp, they left in a specific order. Specific duties were assigned to the Levites and their families. Each had their own “job description.” The efficiency and effectiveness of the nation would depend on how each individual and group carried out their delegated duties.

That sounds like a principle that applies to any church, business or organization today. As an organization grows, so the need of more leaders, clear roles and expectations and better defined duties. There were 22,000 Levites to assist in the care of the Tabernacle and to serve the priests. Special duties were given to a group of about 8,600. Anyway you look at it that is a big staff!

We can observe in the Book of Acts the needs of widows  becoming a drain on the focus and priorities of the Apostles. As a result twelve men were chosen and assigned to those duties.

We see that every aspect of organizational life for God’s people was covered. There are many details, because many details are needed. There were trumpets that sounded one sound to summon the entire congregation and another to summon only the leaders of the tribes. There was a blowing of the trumpet that called the fighting men to prepare for war.

The bottom line is the God of the universe is able to give us the instructions on how to live in right relationship with Him and others and to provide the needed order to our lives and organizations that reveal His wisdom and character. The Lord is concerned about all aspects of our life and we can look to Him and trust Him to help us in what ever that challenge before us may be.

Prayer for today…. Lord, when we read in scripture that, “God is a God of order” we can see it in vivid detail in the Book of Numbers. Help us to trust You to provide for us all that we need as we seek to live our lives for Your glory. Use us as people of wisdom in our workplace, community and church.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.” Psalm 66:18,19 ESV

Basketball was not my main sport in my teen years. However, I still recall one coach that was very poetic in his coaching style. When I hesitated or was slow to see an open drive to the basket he would yell. “Summers, you have to make up your mind!”

In our spiritual life we need to constantly “make up our mind.” Will we go all out for God or will we struggle to let go of that which is holding us back? In this psalm we see an important connection between holding on to sin and that which is displeasing to the Lord and confidence in our prayers being heard.

Isaiah the prophet addressed the ability and willingness of God to act, but at the same time the barrier that disobedience plays in our life. “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1,2 NIV)

More often than not the disconnect in our lives with God is not on God’s part, but on ours. We see this concept in the New Testament in John’s epistle,

“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.” (1 John 3:19-22 ESV)

God by His Holy Spirit is able to keep us on track in our relationship with the Lord. I notice the key word of Psalm 66 is the word, “cherish.” It is not just, “if I have sin.” It is “if I cherish sin….” That challenges us to ask, “Do I love sin, more than God? Am I want to get the most out of God, by giving the least to God?”

I have always felt that times of prayer should begin with confession of any known or unknown sin. That is an aspect of  the worship order in many liturgical churches. It is an important practice. But it goes beyond, just recognizing the need for forgiveness to pushing us on to “repentance.” Confession of sin recognizes the wrong, repentance reveals a willingness to change. It is, “I’m wrong forgive me and I will lead a new life, I will change my actions and attitude.”

Psalm 66 recognizes the hindrance of sin, but it celebrates the joy of connecting with the Lord out of a relationship of love and obedience. “But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.” 

Prayer for today…. Lord, enable us to live in an open and free relationship with You. May we lay aside and turn from all that would hinder our prayers and our obedience to You. Thank You for Your grace that doesn’t require human perfect, but does call for the affection of our hearts to be toward You.

We are in Westminster in northwest Denver for my niece’s wedding. Kate is the daughter of my older brother Don and his wife Claudia from Monterrey, California. She is working as an occupational therapist at Porter Hospital. She met David, her fiance over a year ago. The wedding is tomorrow afternoon. So, part of the plans for this weekend is going to Flatirons Church where they attend. David told me they wanted their family and friends to experience an important part of their “weekend life.” As my New Zealand friend would say, “Good on ’em” for that commitment.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.” Psalm 63:3,4 ESV

In this psalm we find a focus on the Lord who meets the most critical needs of our life. Our relationship with the Lord must be viewed as vital and foundational. Just as we think of physical, basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter, our relationship with God must be viewed in such terms. In other words, it is not an “add on.” It is not, “if I have time for God.” It is not a “take it or leave it” option in my life. It is understanding that a meaningful, growing relationship with the God of the universe is a “main course” of life and not “desert.”

This psalm opens with this vivid word picture, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1 ESV) We are correct in saying, “what water is to our physical bodies, so is God to our spirit.”

My only trip to Israel, was when Debbie and I joined a tour in the July of 2000. There is a reason most tours to the Holy Land are in the fall. When you experience the summer heat of Israel, you gain a whole new appreciation for water. During our trip the thoughts often ran through our minds, “I need water and I need some now!”

As I read the opening verses of this psalm, I have to ask myself, “Has my desire for the Lord ever matched that kind of desperation?” Have I ever found myself crying out, “Lord, I need You and I need You now!” As I near a “health crisis anniversary” (it was this time of the year three years ago, I almost died of septic shock) I can say that there were times when that was my plea. But how often is it outside of a literal life and death crisis?

The old hymn confesses, “I need thee every hour.” When we live our life with that kind of dependence, it will bring a whole new dimension to our lives. We will have our life set on a firm foundation.

It is then we find that the Lord’s “…steadfast love is better than life…” It is never in short supply. It is never a cause for fear or concern over its limits being exhausted. That is a reason for us to live our lives with a sense of praise and thankfulness. The water supply for communities may be threatened by times of drought, natural disasters and changes in weather. But the love of God will never be in question. It is steadfast, it is long-suffering, it is what we need to sustain our lives.

Prayer for today…. Lord, may we never take for granted Your love and its consistency in our lives. May we ever recognize our need of You and what You offer. With You at the center of our lives, we have all that we need.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him…Remember your leaders…..Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Hebrews 11:6; 13:7

When the writer of Hebrews calls God’s people to faith, he does so with s survey of people from history that demonstrate what faith is and what faith does.

The simple phrases of Hebrews 11:6 remind us that faith is required to please God. Life is filled with uncertainties and unknowns. But we must believe in a God who is above time, that cares for us and is for us and is working out His purposes in our lives. Love for God, faith in God and obedience to God are intertwined. You can’t have one without the other.

Faith’s foundation is believing in God who we can’t see, but accept He exists and is at work in the world.  Understanding God’s work in creation is an act of faith. “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” (Hebrews 11:3 ESV)

Faith brings confidence of God’s pleasure and reward. I like the translation that uses the words, “diligently seek Him.” This lead one Bible teacher to ask, “Are you a casual inquirer or a diligent seeker?” Steadfast faith, faith that forms the foundation of life, faith that call for us to lay down our life, is the faith that honors God. This is the type of faith that we see in those commended in the Bible.

Faith is a gateway, but not a guarantee. “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth…And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised…” (Hebrews 11:13,39 ESV)

This can be a challenge to our trust and faith. It is by faith that we receive from the Lord. However, having faith is not a guarantee that we will receive all that our natural minds would dictate. For example, our faith can lead us to believe that nothing bad will ever happen in our lives. However, we see that our faith is proven in the hardship of life. I recall when David Roever, a Navy Seal, was on a river patrol during the Vietnam war. He was shot by a sniper as he held a phosphorus grenade next to his head,  he emerged from the river with a shout, “God! I still believe in you!”

Faith is not free of times of doubt. “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.” (Hebrews 11:11 ESV) We are familiar with Sarah’s laughing at the words of the angel visitors. But she is still in the end commended for faith.

Faith is focused on the future. “By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.” (Hebrews 11:20 ESV) “By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.” (Hebrews 11:22 ESV)

By faith we can believe that the God above time, will direct the future of our lives and our children and grandchildren. But beyond our individual concerns, God has a big picture plan that He is working in in the world for our good, that is beyond the details of our life.

Prayer for today…. Lord allow our faith in You to be steadfast, focused and firm. Thank you for the examples of faith in others that encourage us in our walk with You.

Yesterday found me with an unexpected trip to the Capitol to testify on a bill. After getting home later, and not feeling the best, I jumped into some other work and in the midst of everything forgot to post my daily blog! How about that?! My string of daily post between Debbie and myself over three and a half years was broken. I’m not sure how many will notice. Thank you to all who have shown their support and followed my posts over the years. I am pleased to have some thoughts and reflections to share as I engage in my annual reading through the Bible.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,  a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.” Hebrews 8:1,2 ESV

The writer of Hebrews is unknown. I believe it could be Apollos. Because in Acts he is described as follows: “Now a Jew named Apollos…was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus….” (Acts 18:24,25 NIV) 

This certainly meets the focus of Hebrews in presenting Christ as the better High Priest and the New Covenant as being better than the Old. A key to the comparison is the role of the High Priest. The High Priest was God’s representative to the people and the people’s representative to God.

Hebrews presents Christ in the role of the eternal High Priest of the New Covenant. He was not from the tribe of Levi, but in the “order” of Melchizedek, the mysterious person Abraham met after rescuing Lot.  He is referred to as a “priest forever.”

Human Priests were from man, our great High Priest is from heaven. Human High Priests were the mediator of Old Covenant, our great High Priest is the mediator of the New Covenant. Human High Priests had to offer sacrifices for their own sin, our great High Priest is without sin. Human High Priests had to offer annual sacrifices for the sin of the people on the “Day of Atonement” our great High Priest offered a sacrifice once and for all. Human High Priests offered the blood of an animal our great High Priest offered His own blood. Human High Priests conducted their service on earth our great High Priest conducted His service in the heavenly Holy of Holies.

The prophet had foretold of the day of Christ when he declared God’s promise, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt….I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:8-12 ESV)

Four of the eleven chapters of Hebrews deal with this issue of Christ as the better High Priest, offering a better sacrifice providing for a better salvation. The conclusion and the call in all of this is seen in these words,

“…since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:21-23 ESV)

When Jesus came to fulfill the Law, He did so as the bridge between two covenants. He was the only perfect man, living in full obedience to the Law of the Old Covenant. He was without sin fulfilling all the Law and what the Law spoke of and then He established through His death and resurrection a New Covenant, a new way to God, forgiveness and eternal life.

Prayer for today…. Lord, we stand in awe of Your divine plan. We see in You an honoring and fulfillment of what was to bring to pass what is for us in Your plan of redemption. Help us to embrace, “so great a salvation” and be those who worship you in holy awe.

My campaign for City Council continues to move forward. Yesterday I had an interview with the local newspaper, The Coloradoan. I have also earned the endorsement of the Chamber of Commerce. Tomme Scheffel has just completed some work on a video promoting my campaign. You can see a “sneak preview” of the draft at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLqnHt6lH_0

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress. My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.” Psalm 59:9,10 ESV

David knew what it was like to trust in the Lord and to seek Him in the face of fierce opposition. Some psalms may seem like they are only for the person with a “trouble-free” life. But we know clearly from David’s history and words of many psalms that he felt beleaguered from the attacks of enemies without and disloyalty within.

What we can observe and need to learn in our lives is to keep the Lord in our focus. When we feel alone, we are not. When we feel forsaken, God is there. When we feel that the “enemies” of our life are winning. God is ready to act.

David begins this psalm with this plea, “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me…” Psalm 39:1 ESV)  He details the actions of those against him and how they are “sneaky” and relentless in their antagonism.

But instead of focusing on the “opposition” David chooses to focus on the Lord and to seek Him. He reminds himself how God views that “opposition.” “But you, O Lord, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.” (Psalm 59:8 ESV) David then resolves to be patient in waiting on the Lord to act, being confident of the Lord’s love and God’s ultimate victory for him.

This psalm moves on in its contrast between David’s enemies and God; David’s enemies and his response. As he speaks more about the actions of his enemies, he makes this resolve, “But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.” (Psalm 59:16 ESV)

David is determined to see God as the One who sustains and rescues. He will even “sing” to God in the midst of his fears and discouragement. What the Lord had been to him in the past, He would be to him in the future. The protection that God had provided, he is confident that He will once again provide. So, instead of panicked prayer, we see confident praise.

“O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.” (Psalm 59:17 ESV)

Prayer for today…. Lord help us to keep our eyes on You and to have confidence in Your help in time of need. Our circumstances are different from David’s, but we can still feel “under attack.” We face challenges and roadblocks to our peace and contentment and enjoyment in life. May our hearts turn to You continually and may we have the faith we need to praise You, even in the midst of fear, apprehension and uncertainty. 

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “I will make my dwelling among you… And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.” Leviticus 26:11-13

In giving the law with all of it regulations and requirements, God was communicating something important to His people. They were a unique and special people of all the nations of the earth. He established them by calling Abraham and then He rescued them from bondage in Egypt to give them a hope and a future.

As this Book comes to an end, the “So what?” is clearly laid out by  God. Following God’s ways would lead to life. Obedience to the Lord would result in blessings, not a curse. Life would go easier and the provisions would be greater.

“I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit…..I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid…ou shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword….I will turn to you and make you fruitful and multiply you…” (Leviticus 26:4,6,7,9 ESV) This is an offer that one would be foolish to refuse. 

I think of the words of Jesus, “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 NIV) This fullness of life is more than what God can do for His people; it is the relationship with Him He is offering.

The fall of Adam and Eve resulted in a severing of the relationship and the fellowship they enjoyed with the Creator. God is working out His plan to restore that relationship broken by sin. His promise is the be with and among His people; for them to know Him and to be known by Him.

Look at the Lord’s desire. Freedom, not slavery. A sense of purpose and usefulness, not being taken advantage of and being put down. “I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.” Sin is a burden, it is a weight. It keeps us “bowed down.” In Christ we can stand erect with heads held high, because we know our worth and value in the eyes of the Creator. God’s purpose is higher, it is greater than what we can achieve on our own, or experience in any other way, but to seek and live for God.

Consider these words from Leviticus, “I will make my dwelling among you… And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.”

Now refresh your memory of some of the final words of the Book of Revelation,  “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3 NIV)

The Tabernacle was in the center of the camp. The Temple was the focal point of the City of Jerusalem. The Throne of God is the focal point and center of the “New Heavens and the New Earth.” But the grandest “center” of God’s presence is in the the heart of those dedicated to Him.

That is why the invitation of Revelation 3 contains the words, “….If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20 NIV) God has a grand plan and you are at the heart of it.

Prayer for today….. Lord, thank You that it is for us, that You have worked patiently over time to fulfill Your grand plan and purpose for us as Your people. Help us to see relationship and not rules. Freedom and not bondage. Help us to live as those who stand erect, because of what You have done for us. 

This morning we had a record number in attendance at the Morning Star Assisted Living chapel. A man was in attendance that I had seen since the Christmas Eve service. He wears a neck brace, needs a walker to navigate to the best of his ability and his speech is slurred and it is difficult for him to articulate. When asked how he is doing, his response is, “I am doing great!” What an impressive attitude for someone with such obvious physical struggles.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…I am the Lord your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 18:2-4 ESV

Have you ever seen product warnings that seem strange? For example, a warning on a hair dryer, to not use the appliance while taking a bath. The reason for this and many other warnings that seem to be common sense is because somebody had done those things!

When I read Leviticus 18 it deals with prohibition against all types of sexual practices. Some of them seem repulsive (like sex with an animal) or disgusting. (like sex between family members.) However, the reason they are in God’s laws and warnings are given is because these were the practices that God’s people had been or would be exposed to.

They had to be prepared to make a choice. Would they live according to the practices of what the culture of the day says are acceptable or would they live by God’s instructions that are designed to give them life and to protect from hardship, pain and God’s judgement?

God warns His people about the practices of the “land of Egypt” and the practices of the Canaanite peoples whose land they were to possess. As a matter of fact it is God’s judgment on the people of Canaan that God is getting ready to execute with His chosen people.

“But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean), lest the land vomit you out when you make it unclean, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.” (Leviticus 18:26-28 ESV)

In every time, God’s people have faced and continue to face a critical choice. It happens individually and corporately, it is reflected in the title of a well-known book, “How Then Shall We Live?” Will our lives and our conduct be driven by culture or Christ? Will we be those who seek to please the Lord or be carried by the current of “modern” culture.

This is an age-old dilemma that we see here in Leviticus and in the words of Joshua, when he declared, “Chose this day whom you will serve….for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:13-15) We see it in the words of the Apostle John, we he wrote, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” (1 John 2:15 NIV)

What the “world” touts as freedom is bondage. It becomes a snare and the testimonies of that truth are numerous. God’s commands and instructions are for our “good.” “And you must always obey the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.” (Deuteronomy 10:13 NLT) They are intended to give life and to keep us from pain and hardship.

Fighting the downward pull of culture can be a challenge. But as we keep our focus and eyes on the Lord, He give us the strength that we need. It is no mystery that the “Lord’s prayer” includes the petition, “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”

Prayer for today…. Lord when we look at the culture of our day, and read scripture, we realize much has remained the same. In every time, Your people have been called to live wisely and obey fully. Help us to see Your wisdom, love and protection in the direction and practices that You provide for our lives.