Rev Bill » The Lent Challenge http://bill-hayes.org An attempt to write about how I am feeling at the moment about God, nature, family, friends, animals, and other important -- and not so important -- things. Sun, 02 Oct 2011 20:16:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The Lent Challange: Day 35 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/04/10/the-lent-challange-day-35/ http://bill-hayes.org/2006/04/10/the-lent-challange-day-35/#comments Tue, 11 Apr 2006 01:30:08 +0000 Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2006/04/10/the-lent-challange-day-35/ The reading for The Lent Challange is John 7-8.

The portion that “the most ancient Greek manuscripts do not include” (John 8:1-11) is the portion that strikes a chord in me.

I guess it’s that I, like the woman caught in adultery, have a lot for Jesus to forgive — and sometimes I feel that I have too many sins for Jesus to care about me.

But — despite my sins — He does care — He does love — and He does forgive!

Praise God!

]]> http://bill-hayes.org/2006/04/10/the-lent-challange-day-35/feed/ 0 The Lent Challange: Day 31 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/04/05/the-lent-challange-day-31/ http://bill-hayes.org/2006/04/05/the-lent-challange-day-31/#comments Thu, 06 Apr 2006 01:38:38 +0000 Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2006/04/05/the-lent-challange-day-31/ The reading for today’s Lent Challange is Luke 22-24.

My thoughts (and prayer):

Betrayal
Denial
Death

Leads to

New life
Glory

The only way to achieve true life is by claiming the death of Christ for myself — and following Him in giving of myself.

Lord Jesus — As I travel through Lent — help me to keep my eyes fixed on You, and follow You. Amen.

You can read all the comments to today’s reading here.

]]> http://bill-hayes.org/2006/04/05/the-lent-challange-day-31/feed/ 0 The Lent Challange: Day 30 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/04/04/the-lent-challange-day-30/ http://bill-hayes.org/2006/04/04/the-lent-challange-day-30/#comments Tue, 04 Apr 2006 22:24:20 +0000 Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2006/04/04/the-lent-challange-day-30/ The reading for The Lent Challange for today is Luke 19-21.

I am still struck by the cost of following Jesus.

These chapters — from the call of Zaccheus and how he responded with giving away half his wealth and repaying 4 times the taxes he had overcharged (Luke 19:1-10) to the prediction of future persecutions (Luke 21:5-38) — are filled with Jesus’ call to give all we have for Him and to follow. Even the widow who gave all she had is praised more than those who gave far more financially — but whose commitment was not as great (Luke 21:1-4).

Lord — You call me to follow — to give — to live for You. Strengthen me so it can be so. Amen.

]]> http://bill-hayes.org/2006/04/04/the-lent-challange-day-30/feed/ 0 The Lent Challange: Day 27 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/31/the-lent-challange-day-27/ http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/31/the-lent-challange-day-27/#comments Sat, 01 Apr 2006 01:01:21 +0000 Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/31/the-lent-challange-day-27/ Today’s Lent Challange is Luke 12-13.

Jesus gives some very stern words here about what it means to follow Him — especially in Luke 12:49-53 — which brings the Abdul Rahman case to mind again.

Jesus also speaks of God’s grace in Luke 13:6-9.

God is demanding — yet gracious. I thank God for that!

You can read all the comments to today’s Lent Challange here.

]]> http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/31/the-lent-challange-day-27/feed/ 0 The Lent Challange: Day 25 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/29/the-lent-challange-day-25/ http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/29/the-lent-challange-day-25/#comments Wed, 29 Mar 2006 13:53:00 +0000 Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/29/the-lent-challange-day-25/ Today’s reading for The Lent Challange is Luke 8-9.

When I read Luke 9:57-62 I wonder how many times God has called me to do something — but I have said:

“OK — I’ll do it later — I’m pretty busy right now.”

Lord – Help me to do what You call me to do — when You call me to do it! Amen.

You can read all the comments to today’s Lent Challange here.

]]> http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/29/the-lent-challange-day-25/feed/ 0 The Lent Challange: Day 23 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/27/the-lent-challange-day-23/ http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/27/the-lent-challange-day-23/#comments Tue, 28 Mar 2006 02:46:05 +0000 Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/27/the-lent-challange-day-23/ Today’s reading in The Lent Challange is Luke 4-5.

What strikes me is that — after Jesus is batised He is ready to begin His ministry. But will that ministry be based on doing things in God’s way — even though that will lead to death — or the way of the world — which leads to wordly power and attention?

When tempted to get things done another way, Jesus chooses God’s way. (Luke 4:1-13)

May I do the same.

You can read all the comments to The Lent Challange here.

]]> http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/27/the-lent-challange-day-23/feed/ 0 The Lent Challange — Day 20 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/23/the-lent-challange-day-20/ http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/23/the-lent-challange-day-20/#comments Thu, 23 Mar 2006 12:41:50 +0000 Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/23/the-lent-challange-day-20/ Day 20 in Lent! Halfway through the 40 days!

Today’s reading in The Lent Challange is Mark 13-14.

In Mark 13 Jesus talks about the future — the trials and persecutions that will come — and the need to be strong in your faith. I presume Judas and Peter must have heard this — but (as Mark has it) in what must have been just a few days later — Judas is betraying Jesus (Mark 14:10-11, Mark 14:43-52), and Peter “crumbles” under questioning (Mark 14:66-71).

I see a lot (too much) of myself here — not standing up for Jesus when “under pressure” — not standing up for what is right when others are doing wrong.

Jesus — Strengthen me. Help me to be strong.

]]> http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/23/the-lent-challange-day-20/feed/ 0 The Lent Challange — Day 19 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/22/the-lent-challange-day-19/ http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/22/the-lent-challange-day-19/#comments Thu, 23 Mar 2006 02:52:56 +0000 Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/22/the-lent-challange-day-19/ Today’s reading for The Lent Challange is Mark 11-12.

While it begins with the triumphal entry of Palm Sunday (Mark 11:1-11), the story quickly becomes an attempted game of one – upmanship by the Scribes and Pharisees. The shouts of “Hosanna” quickly become shouts of those in power upset because Jesus has dared to “turn things upside down” (Mark 11:15-17).

I have often wondered what I would have done had I been alive at that time. Knowing how conservative and pro – establishment I tend to be, especially when it comes to religion, I may have sided with the religious leaders.

Then again, maybe not.

I’m not sure — and that bothers me!

You can read all the comments and discussion on The Lent Challange reading for today here.

]]> http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/22/the-lent-challange-day-19/feed/ 1 The Lent Challange — Day 18 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/21/the-lent-challange-day-18/ http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/21/the-lent-challange-day-18/#comments Tue, 21 Mar 2006 14:33:18 +0000 Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/21/the-lent-challange-day-18/ The reading for today’s Lent Challange is Mark 9-10.
These readings have Jesus and the disciples continuing on the road to Jerusalem . As Jesus is transfigured (Mark 9:2-8) Peter, James, and John see Him in His glory — but they still don’t understand what it really means to follow Him. They continue to bicker about who is the greatest (Mark 9:33-36), and don’t want anyone who is not a part of their “little group” using the name of Jesus (Mark 9:38-50).

The story of Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) has been a favorite of mine for some time now. Bartimaeus‘ request of Jesus: “I want to see!” is my request also. I want to see Jesus — and — as Bartimaeus did — “follow Him down the road”.

You can read all the comments to today’s Lent Challange here.

]]> http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/21/the-lent-challange-day-18/feed/ 0 The Lent Challange: Day 15 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/17/the-lent-challange-day-15/ http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/17/the-lent-challange-day-15/#comments Fri, 17 Mar 2006 15:17:31 +0000 Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2006/03/17/the-lent-challange-day-15/ The readings for the Lent Challange for today is Mark 3-4.

One thing that strikes me here is Jesus’ concern for people. Sometimes He seemed to be more concerned about people than He was about rules — like in Mark 3:1-6.

I, on the other hand, can get so caught up in “how things should be done” that I forget about the people.

One more thing to “work on” as I journey with Jesus through Lent.

You can read all the comments to today’s Lent Challange here.

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