What a Great God

You know, it is an awesome thing to listen to the beautiful sounds of encouragement and edification coming from the fingertips of teens. I really appreciate the fact that you have not forgotten your missing YG members. (except Kristi W! :( We do miss you since basketball has stolen you away from us!)

Would you now turn your words of appreciation toward God? Study out Isaiah 40 snd write some words of praise to God based on these words. We are at Ithaca today for a conference on "Christ in Isaiah". One of the speakers spoke last night on Isaiah 40 -- it was awesome worship to hear how this man was dealing with some rough road because he was "beholding his God". Try you hand at this yourself.

You may begin your post with "Our God is an awesome God because..." or any other way that makes sense to you. I hope to post on this soon too.

Praising Him,
Mike

The Morning After

Okay. So this title is supposed to make you sit up and take notice.
This post has nothing to do with a mistake made in the heat of passion last night. INSTEAD it has to do with great things happening last night in YG.

Here are some of the cool things that I saw:

1. Mr. B's game totally bombed! You guys were so totally paying attention about Hilary (did I spell it right?) last week that you knew all of the answers to Mr. BBBBB's trivia challenge. Good listening!
2. Worship leading is becoming a part of what teens like doing at WyBC! When I proposed the next step, there was no fussing. When you sang last night it actually sounded good, from the heart, and I just focused on some really great leadership choices. Andrew led me mentally into the next song with some thoughtful transition statements. Good leading!
3. You all had Bibles with you and opened them! This is the first time (that I remember) that everyone in attendance had their Bibles with them. And there were some new Bibles being distributed at Christmas time -- what teen in their right mind would ask for a Bible for Christmas? :D I know some!! And study Bibles to boot -- not just trendy metal cased or slim hide-it-under-a-bushel Bibles either! :D Good learning!
4. 7:30 came in a hurry! Again, I missed you guys; I missed your good discussion of the text and interaction with Mr. Baker's wild suggestions about the story! You guys were engaged and interested in challenging each other to know more. I wasn't really ready to go home. Good lesson!

As you reflect back on the youth group year, what are the things that you are noticing about each other? How has someone in the group encouraged you? Have you seen someone stepping up and doing a great job? Sound off in the comment section. This is supposed to be a time of encouragement -- not flattery. Make these comments start with "I have observed you modeling Christlikeness in this way...." or "I have really seen you grow in this area..." or "Your ability/talent/gift of ________ has really ministered to me this year" or something like that.

Building a body of believers outfitted for every good work,
Pastor Mike

OLD Testament Encounters with God

WyBC Teens,

I hope that you realize that the Bible Study that we are working through right now in Genesis is supposed to be OLD TESTAMENT characters' encounters with God. You have just breached that threshold and are now allowing OT characters to shape NT characters (you). I hope that you have found that studying and discussing has had a couple of impacts on you:

1. Increased desire to study Scripture more
2. Increased ability to share your perspective and beliefs
3. Increased level of friendship between those blogging/discussing
4. Increased desire to get to YG and hear more in "real time"
5. Increased appreciation for the OT characters that God used
6. Increased recognition of your self in these same characters
7. Increased gratefulness for God's character and plan

While seven is often the mark of perfection or fullness in Scripture, it is not here. As great as you think I am, I am not inspired by the Holy Spirit! :) I am inspired (="motivated, encouraged") by your work on the blog though and your learning via the internet.

Would you post #8, #9, and #10 for others in the blogging community to see? What have you learned over the past two weeks through this experience? What do you get now more than you did only 14 days ago?

By the way, don't look now, but if you can say "amen" to any of these items in the list, I think that you are growing spiritually! And to that I say "amen" and "hallelujah (praise to the LORD)"

Thanks for growing,

PM

Mr. B's --> "Get Ready" Thread

Take this is fair warning that the wrangling with Biblical truth is not over!

>>I Mr. BBBB am teaching next week and in listening to the account of Joseph and his being sold and all that. I just got to thinking did Jacob "Israel" really need to go to Eygpt to save him and his family or did this demonstrate a lack of faith that God would take care of him in the land that God had promised him. JUst something I am thinking about.<<

So, jump in, weigh in and tune in!
Duly warned,
Pastor Mike

An Application Suggestion for Genesis 27

As I concluded a week of Writing Conference, I was reflecting on the original intentions of this blog -- to think about how this narrative might be applied to us.

We have had some conversation regarding the issues of God's plan and whether or not we are really in control of anything, including our choices. I beleive that most have found that this discussion is far from "definite" and that Scripture talks about both a free will and divine sovereignty. Therefore, take heart, it is not "clear and apparent". But that ought not to be a cop-out or keep us from studying Scripture and dialoguing.

Now, I believe that the discussion of sovereignty and God's plan for each person, including Jacob, Esau, Rebekkah, and Isaac, is warranted from this passage. It is part of this story. But I believe that there is a bigger application.

Here is my attempt at an application of mine own.

"I will not resort to trickery, deceit or manipulation to help God accomplish His will."

"I will wait patiently, even in the face of overwhelming odds, for God to direct my paths and bring blessings on me."

His way, His timing, for His glory

Thanks for being active in this conversation.
Let me know what you think,
Pastor Mike

God Knows

As we consider the story of Jacob stealing the blessing from his brother (Gen 27), we have come to wrestle with what God had planned for these boys (albeit now 40 years old). God does indeed have a plan that promotes Jacob, changes his name to Israel, and continues to build a family of children that he will love to call "HIS OWN PEOPLE". This rascal, who chooses to follow his mother's scheme despite the dangers of discovery, will eventually, by the providence and sovereignty of God, become the father of the nation of Israel. The people that come from his loins will be called by his new name, Israel, not his old supplanter name. I believe that this is significant.

God chose, by His own pre-knowledge and forethought to bring this conniving, rebellious trickster to supplant the older "heir apparent" and turn the whole system on its head. This boy from a troubled, dysfunctional family will become part of the triad of "great-grandfathers" of promise and covenant. (the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)

His father, Isaac, who tried to undermine God's intention chose to violate God's stated will. He still gets into the greats! Also a lying, weak husband/leader (Isaac) also gets used by God to perpetuate greatness and grace.

Are you still with me? God knows what is happening. He is not surprised, unsettled, confused, off-his-game, etc. His omniscience and sovereignty meld into his grace and merct perfectly and without flaw.

These events of Gen 27 are "seen" by God before man was created. There is no space-time constraints on God's knowledge. He knew exactly the junk that Esau was packing. So while he may have been operating correctly for once in his life (obeying Dad) he was still probably wrong because he goes so that he might gain the blessing at least above his brother. (notice the whining and tantrum that follows his realization that the blessing is not going to come to him as he had planned).

God knew Gen 28 before it was written. God knew Gen 28 before it happened. God knew that Gen 27 was going to happen and that Gen 33 would come out of this Gen 27 situation. God knew that Gen 34 would happen as a natural consequences of Israel's/Jacob's lifestyles and rebellious choice against God's best for him. Jacob missed out on a lot of good stuff and had to deal with the baggage for the rest of his life. God knew that this decision point -- do I follow my mom's manipulation plan -- would affect the rest of Jacob's life. Yet He allowed it. Yet He sovereignly controlled every aspect of this ruse, including the fact that the trick worked. (How else do you explain the fact that tying goat hair on your arms and wearing your brother's clothes would actually succeed.)

Personal application time:

• God knows my junk and He still loves me
• God knows the trouble that I will get myself into and how it will trash the rest of my life
• God knows that my heart is tender towards Him and has responded in faith to Him
• God knows how many more times I will blow it
• God knows how I will atempt to hide it
• God knows how to expose it
• God knows how I will respond to discipline
• God knows my junk and He still loves me
  
  Simple enough for even a 3rd grader,
  Mike

Mrs. M's Post Unravelled

To those of you who know Mrs. M, you know that when she is on caffiene, there is no stopping her. I have read her post (via Andrew) at least three times and haven't been able to unravel all of it. But like a great piece of literature, we ought to at least try to unpack it a little bit! :)

So, here it goes. My attempt to respond to at least some of what Mrs. M said:

>> When we look at these "stories" as a lesson, as what can I learn from this, number 1 remembering Is. 55:8, and then think about those involved, before, during and after the particular scripture. PM refered to Mal. 1:2&3.<<

I believe Mrs. M is suggesting that we can't always figure out what God is doing when we are right up on a situation. We must look at context, not just immediate context either. We must consider the whole counsel of God. The two passages that are mentioned here are Is. 55:8 -- God's thoughts are not mine and Mal. 1:2 -- Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated. We must consider the context always. Be careful not to try and understand simply b/c your mind is too msall to figure what God is doing out. This is part of revelation after all -- God wanted you to read it and understand it clearly.

>>We talk about Es & Jake like they are teen boys, when in fact they're 40y.o.<<

I think just an observation about our perspectives on these men. I am not sure of the relevance to the topic at hand.

>> In Gen 25: 27 Jacob was Plain (Heb. is perfect/complete) man, while in v.34 God says Esau, on the other hand, "despised his birthright" My question was, Is that before or after he sold it? <<

The Hebrew word "TawM" does mean perfect/complete. Another one of its uses suggest that the person described by it is "morally innocent having integrity". I am not sure that this is the right translation since it seems to be in contrast to Esau's hunting ability and outdoorsmanship. the plainness (KJV) or mildness (NKJV) or quietness (Scoffield) seem to be better choices for translation. This quietness is also one of the semantic possibilities.

>> Jumping to Ch. 26 we see again Esau making mama and daddy proud by his choice of a wife hmm -vies both Hittites, v.35 says a grief to Is & Reb. Had this 40y.o. man never heard of the care that was taken in finding a wife for his own father? OR was Dad a bit slow in seeing the needs of his sons. So the quick fix? Let's get another wife! Even related! 28:9 (still in Gen) You look this one up, <<

Pretty well messed up marital affairs! How does this come to bear on the blessing? Consider what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 28:13-14. The blessing from God is connected to something other than birth order or a Dad's dying wishes. If he was a grief to his parents, imagine the horror that he gave to God who is righteous.

>>anyway Esau was spiritually blind, but was interested in the blessibg when it came to the political and military superiority.<<

Mrs. M has a knack for understatement.

>>Isaac and Reb. both had a prefered son, wrong any time a parent values one child over another, but then that's another lesson on parenting.<<

True.

>> We need to remember too that God could have prevented Reb. from "overhearing"<<

THIS IS THE BEST GEM IN THE WHOLE PILE! So, if that is true, then God wanted this to become known to Rebek. and He wanted her to deal with the issues of her heart. But instead she took matters into her own hands and attempted to manipulate the situation to do God's job for Him. Isn't this the same problem with Sarah and Abe? Sarah tries to work the fertility stuff to the advantage of "God's plan". God had a different, righteous approach planned.

>> ok enough, get into Ch 28, the lesson is on 29, so come ready to spew! I'm bouncing around, and its almost 5AM and I need to get the coffee. <<

Forewarned is forearmed. You teens had better be ready. If this was her not on the drug of choice, look out when she is loaded!! :)

>>and yes to #1 It's been forever since I've heard a lesson on this, but there are more details that I picked up this time and I see the need for more digging especially when I came to ch. 36 and it mentions another wife <<

This is great! If Mrs. M (and we leaders who are older than you teens) still get stuff out of studying the text, then you can too!! Keep digging, keep learning, keep growing.

>>this is Andrew signing out for my mother, Laurie Mitzel. Good day.<<

Such a nice boy. He does love his mother dearly. :) As do we all!

Thanks for unpacking that with me. Whew I am exhausted. But again, at a slightly slower, more sane pace, we can "get" Mrs. M! Hope that you got even more than this out of this discussion!! :)

PM

God's Will and Sin

Hey from sunny Florida! We just finished a great day here in the 70's! We walked around campus in short sleeved polos shirts and enjoyed the evening. Tomorrow it is hard at work and crack the whip!

Here are some questions to stimulate more discussion. I believe that they have soem bearing on your developing discovery in the story of Esau/Jacob/Isaac/Rebekkah that we are conversing about.

1. Is God's plan messed up by our wrong choices?
2. What does sin do to our blessings, intended for us by God?
3. Can God bless us when we are in sin? If so, when does He act in this way? If not, why not?
4. What effect does sin have on God?
5. How do sovereignty and free will collide in the story of "Isaac's 'Mistaken' Blessing"?

BTW - where is Laura in this discussion? and Bethany? :)

Good night,
PM

Manipulation of God

One of the points of the lesson was:

"You cannot change God"

Here are some more discussion questions for you to interact with:

1. Do you believe that this is a true statement? Why or why not?


2. Do you believe that this point can be made from this text/narrative?


3. What "theology proper", or understanding of God's character and interaction with men, does this statement summarize? Why is this theology so important to your life?


4. When you read this statement, can you think about any other persons in Scripture that tried to manipulate God? How did that work for them?


5. How does this theological statement influence the way that you pray to God? Doesn't "prayer change things"? Doesn't the Bible promise "ask whatever you will in my name and it will be done unto you"?


6. When we have a "serious head-on collision" with God and He doesn't change, what must be the outcome of such an encounter? What is the result of the "gravy meeting the road"?


7. How is the faith of each of the characters affected as a result of this narrative? How do they come out of this encounter with God? Where is God, by the way, in this whole exchange? Why doesn't He step in and make a statement of truth and exposure/censure?

This is a great story. It reveals some real tendencies of our hearts. We could just as easily been in the place of any of these characters. God has not changed since this story really happened or since it was recorded for us. What can we learn from this careful study of Scripture?

It would be easier for me just to preach at you for 45 minutes and I would get it and you might even understand my two main points. But by digging into the story yourself and thinking hard about what is REALLY going on here (below the surface facts) you will know this story. I am also convinced that as you place your hard work into understanding this portion of God's Word that he will give you an opportunity to see the principle in your life or in the life of someone around you. This passage will give you an opportuity to minister, to someone, the words of life.

Thanks for thinking outside of the Sunday School answers,
Pastor Mike

Last Night in the Youth Ministry Laboratory

This is the first post! So, welcome.

Last night in YG, we had a discussion/experiment with the lesson that I hope caused you to be uncomfortable (a little bit). I want that because when we are stretched beyond our comfort zones, we will grow. I want you to grow! :) Ergo, I want you to be uncomfortable.

What did you think? I want honest, open feedback here. I don't want you to say "it was fine" unless that's really what you thought and you cannot generate any creativity to improve on that response! Don't say "it stunk" unless you have some ways that would have helped you get it better. Be prepared for interaction from me or others either way -- this is a forum!

Here are some other questions to chew on:

1. Do you know the story of Gen. 27:1-29 any better today than you did yesterday? Why or why not?
   
2. Are you convinced that Gen 27:1-29 belongs in inspired Scripture? If so, what impact does that have on your "study for understanding and mastery" (see 2 Tim 2:15, 3:16-17)? If not, why not and what should go in its place as our standard for truth?
   
3. What is the "take home lesson" that you took home, in your own words?

Thanks for being part of the experiment and for being outside of the comfort zone for a couple of minutes last night. You are a special group of young people and I love you very much -- even when it seems like I am just up in your business! :D

On your team,
Pastor Mike