Romans 1:18-32

Romans 1:18-32 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-- who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Paul's argument is what theologians call general revelation, because it is general and made known to everyone . Paul says in verse 18-20 that people have no reason not to believe in God, because God has made himself evident through the created order. Paul goes on to say that people really did not want to know God or glorify him, but they preferred to worship (glorify) themselves and other living creators (vs 23,25), which would lead them to unspeakable acts (vs. 24-32).

Whether we are followers of Christ or not, there are times when we would prefer to make ourselves or something else the center of our lives. Sometimes it is very innocent like having a bowl of ice cream, but sometimes it is much larger. The decision to put our own personal selfishness before God's will usually ends quite badly, and so I think Paul. wanting good things for the Romans, brings to light this important warning.

I know that I am not perfect at it and God is helping me, but I hope that I be willing to consider his glory before my own. This is my hope for you also.

Processing

I am sorry I haven't posted anything in a couple of weeks. I interviewed in New Jersey a couple of weeks ago, for the third time, and did not get the job. I have my own thoughts about why, but they are probably left best unsaid. My mother told me growing up, "if you don't have anything nice to say, just don't say anything at all."

It is taking me a little time to process where my life is going, and it is not a pleasant process either.

To say the least, I could use A Sip from the Well.

Please pray for me as I am looking for a job. I am still working for my father-in-law, but I really need a full-time job.

Micahisms

For you who don't know my son Micah, he is a very funny little boy. Here are a couple of things he has said lately that I thought were pretty funny.

• Pointing to his stomach the other day he informed his mother, "my boss said it was time to eat."
• Pastors teach God is powerful and strong... and that he builds bridges and trucks and stuff
• If Santa Claus doesn't come down the chimney, will he break a window?
• (In his best cowboy voice he says to his sister) Come here little lady
• In Sunday School while standing in front of his class he says, "Now, let me tell you why whales are yucky," and then he tells them about Jonah and the big fish.

NO NO Don't Go

Last Sunday Sarah, the kids, and I went to eat lunch with Paul and Karen at a local Mexican Restaurant. We all ate lunch and were on our way out the door when Micah says, "Dad, I have to go to the bathroom." I'm like, "Ok, can you hold it until we get home?" And he says, "No, I have to go right away." That is what he says if he means business, so I thought it best to take him "right away."

We get into the bathroom, and he asked me if I could go into the stall and he would use the stand up place. I didn't have to go, but I thought I would let him be a big boy and use the urinal. I go into the stall for a minute and I hear a lot of shifting going on so I come back out. Micah had decided he wanted to try something new. Somehow he had managed to hoist himself up on to the urinal to take care of his business.

To say the least, it became a learning moment for both of us.

Mia Familia

I am leaving Saturday morning for New Jersey. This will be the last time I will have to go... I'm sure!

Sarah and I have been trying to enjoy our time here in Wisconsin, because we realize a move could be quickly approaching. I have enjoyed being around my in-laws for the last year, and after three years of being so far away from either of our families, it has been really nice to be around at least one set of parents/grandparents. But it is still difficult to be far from my family, and as I see myself and my children getting older, I lament not having them closer.

As Sarah and I prepare for our possible move to New Jersey, the lack of family there has become a difficult struggle. When I feel the weight of this struggle, I will often think about the words Jesus spoke to Peter as they were traveling around far from their families...

Mark 10:28-31 28 Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" 29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-- and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

Romans 1:8-17

Romans 1:8-17 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you. 11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-- 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, "The righteous will live by faith."

Paul did not plant the church in Rome, so as he is writing this letter, he had not yet been to Rome for the reason of visiting this church. But as he begins his letter to them, he tells them about how much he desires great thing for them. Because he desires such things, he prays for them (9-10), he longs to see them so that they may be a mutual encouragement to each other (12).

Paul did not know these people personally. He did not have a relationship with any of them, yet because they were followers of Christ, just as he was (9), he had great affection for them. There are many people in our towns and communities that attend different churches, but we are all bound together because of our faith in Christ, and because we have this bond we should hold each other up in prayer.

This portion of Scripture clarifies one of the most essential parts of Christianity. Paul says, "in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, 'The righteous will live by faith. (17)'" The gospel (the story of Jesus and his work for us) is about trusting God. In that trusting, God gives us Jesus' righteousness. We cannot work our way to heaven, instead we must trust our way to heaven. This righteousness is by faith from first to last (or its all about faith). Being a Christian simply means trusting God by faith because of Jesus death.

Romans 1:1-7

Romans 1:1-7 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-- 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit {4 Or who as to his spirit} of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God {4 Or was appointed to be the Son of God with power} by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul begins his letter to the Romans explaining why one can be confident that Jesus is the one God sent to earth to redeem fallen humanity. He list them in the first couple of verses:

1. God promised it through the prophets (vs. 2)

2. Jesus descended from King David's line...also predicted in the OT (vs. 3)

3. Jesus showed he was God's son by miracles and the resurrection (vs. 4)

4. That the gospel was spread to the Gentiles (vs.5)

5. That you have heard the gospel and it has impacted your life (vs. 6)

Paul then gives a grace greeting (grace and peace to you...vs. 7). A grace greeting is like a dear so and so today. It was common in antiquities to write a letter in the name of a god. Even in Paul's opening, he is confirming the deity of Jesus.

From Paul's opening words, he looks to confirm the truth of Jesus and all that he did for the salvation of people. We, like the Romans, can trust that the gospel that Paul will example through the remainder of the book is indeed true because of the evidence he gives in his introduction to the Romans.

Pictures from December

New Years Resolutions

For anyone who knows me, you know I don't like to say something and not follow through with it. This is why I don't make New Years Resolutions, because if I can't follow through with it I don't want to say I will. But! Friday, after reading a friend's blog, I have come under a conviction that there are a couple of things I should to this year.

Here is a list of things he would like to do:

1. Run (and/or use the elliptical) for 1,000 miles.
2. Read all of the Johannine Literature (John, 1-3 John, Revelation) in Greek
3. Complete a Marathon
4. Read 5 novels by Dostoyevsky
5. Bench press 225 lbs.

Yeah, now you know why I fell under a little bit of a conviction. Well here is my small list; I hope your Resolutions come true in 2010.

1. Pray for my parents, brother, wife, and children once a day.

2. Blog through the book of Romans

3. Run a half Marathon