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As we finished the book of Acts yesterday and reflect back over the book, I trust that you found the formation of the new church as exciting, refreshing and motivating as I did. I loved seeing lives change so quickly and dramatically as we witness Acts. I personally chose to follow God as a young child, and was raised in a home where Gods principles were the standard. Since I grew up in a relationship with Jesus (which I am so grateful for), sometimes I feel like I missed out on that radical adult life change that happens in some peoples lives when they meet Jesus mid life. I just love the example shown to us of the early church learning to function as one body instead of a bunch of individuals. Their willingness to sell what they owned, to have cash to meet others needs and care for those unable to care for themselves is so beautiful. Reading through their choices inspires, encourages and challenges me to be willing to live the same way.

So today I am given the opportunity to introduce our next book, Romans to you. The truth is that I am ill equipped for this project. Cosmetology school didn’t cover Romans, the Bible or even history for that mater so you are going to get to look at what I am able to root out of my commentaries about Romans. Hopefully I am able to find some little nugget that you didn’t already know. If not, then please get a head start on the book itself…God won’t let you down!!

It seems that it is widely accepted that Paul is the author of Romans. The two main purposes for writing this letter to the Roman church were to announce his upcoming visit and to present a detailed and complete statement of the gospel message. The believers in Rome had been on Paul’s heart and prayer list for a long time so he had a strong desire to visit with this group of believers. He was excited to share with them that he was finally getting to come. He also wanted to write to these people about the salvation that they all shared, to give a full and logical presentation of God’s plan for humans to be saved. He starts at the beginning with man’s sin and condemnation to the very end of God’s story where we are able to spend eternity in God’s presents, conformed to the image of Christ.

I’m going to copy a sentence from my commentary ( The Bible Knowledge Commentary by John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck) as it is encouraging and brings hope for our next few weeks in the book of Romans.

“God’s program of salvation for people will not fail because it is His work, and “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” Phil 1:6”

No matter what I face today, I can rest in the fact that God’s plan of salvation will NOT fail! This beautiful promise is more than enough.

Today’s Reading Act 27

So many images flash into my mind when I think of a shipwreck: broken crates, pieces of wood, survivors, and destruction. As I have read this passage these past couple of weeks, so many things in my life have been toss and thrown around. My wife, Jillian, and I have been a rollercoaster these past couple of weeks with our children’s health. This biblejournal community of believers has been there with us since last year and I am thankful to be a part of this family. That you for the continual prayers and words of encouragement.

As I look over this past year, my wife and children and I have been on a ship of life called the SS McGriff, captained by Christ. This ship has been through many passes where the tide and turbulence was rough. It has been a dock for “winters” and then released to sail. And sometimes we feel that we are almost shipwrecked, but God has gently placed us on still waters.   I take hope and courage that we have a God who is commander of the wind and water and has the authority to change the tide at any time. The story of Paul reminds me of another lesser-known shipwreck scenario earlier in the bible, the storm with Jonah.

In Jonah 1:4-16, Jonah attempts to run in the opposite direction of his appointed journey. While on the ship, Jonah goes to sleep and the ship is placed in a terrible storm that almost destroys the ship. Jonah understands the situation and has the crew throw him overboard. The result of this is the conversion of the crew to worship God. Jonah had intentions to runaway and God uses it for his glory.

In Act 27, there was a prison ship to take Paul to Caesar in Rome to be arraigned. The crewmembers and Paul were in the midst of an unfathomable storm. During the first three days, the crew did the protocol of lighting the load trying to stay afloat. Then it is recorded that after day fourteen they prepared for the shipwreck that was foretold to Paul by an angel of God. Paul and all 276 passengers were saved after the shipwreck.

From these two ship journeys I can take way a couple of points:

1. God is always in the midst of any situation
2. What may have been the usual time (3 days) to get through a storm, it may take a little longer (14 days)
3. If we train our spiritual ears, we can receive guidance and counsel from God in the midst of these storms
4. Stick to God’s plan and you will arrive safely

We all have a story.

In Acts 26, Paul shares his awesome transformation story. He recounts his life to King Agrippa, Festus, and all who were in earshot.

Here is a small part of my story:

I was blessed to grow up knowing that Jesus lived in my heart. I remember asking Jesus into my heart in first or second grade. I grew up learning Bible stories, going to church, and being involved in Church activities. I was also baptized as an infant. I was a good person and knew that Jesus loved me. This was all good and I was going through life just fine, until my Sophomore year in High School.
Up until this time in my life, our family attended a denominational church in town and we were pretty active. My Dad would drop us all off at the front door on Sunday morning and then go to park the car.
One Sunday morning my Mom made a decision that we would attend a different church. I was very uncomfortable. Being an introvert, I did not like new situations and meeting new people. I was introduced to a girl who took me to Sunday School with her and tried to make me feel at home. I have to say, I did not want to be there and make any new friends. I had a Church and friends already. A few Sundays passed, and my family began to change before my eyes. My Dad, who used to drop us off at the front door of Church and go park the car…(we would later learn that he never went to Church , but would go out to breakfast with a buddy and then come back just as Church ended to pick us up!)…began to search His heart and realize He was missing Jesus in his life. I still recall the Sunday morning sitting on the wooden pew watching my Dad, Mom, and sister go in front of the Church to be baptized. Seriously?!?! I already knew Jesus lived in my heart and I was sprinkle baptized as an infant. I did NOT have to be baptized again! I felt alone sitting there by myself watching my family go forward, but I was not in a place to “follow”. A couple of months later we went as a family to watch my brother get baptized at church camp. I still felt in my mind that I did not need to be baptized.

After a few months at the new church, my whole family, except me, had a new faith and family in Christ. Summer came and my parents made the decision that I would attend the youth group trip to CIY (Christ in Youth) conference. They literally had to put me on the bus the morning of the trip. I am pretty sure I got on the bus in tears and had a horrible rebellious attitude. Little did I know that God would change my heart that week. Throughout the week there were many speakers and times to sit and talk to new friends and leaders about what God wants for us as His children. I remember sitting at a night session listening to a speaker talk about what baptism means. I realized that baptism was the outward proclamation to others and to Christ that He is the center of my life. Rebellion ruled my heart, but Jesus came in to soften it and to help me realize that my ways were not His ways. I decided that night to be baptized and to give up my selfish ways. I remember calling my parents that night and telling them. I know they wish they would have been there, but I also know the joy they felt knowing that I came to this decision on my own.

While I did not have the experience that Paul did when God audibly spoke to Him, (verses 12-15) I knew that God was speaking to my heart. We all have a conversion story. We are called to tell our story. Paul knew that once he became a follower of Jesus, his sole purpose in life was to spread the Good News of Jesus. If we believe in Jesus, Paul’s purpose is our purpose, too. Many times, when we are talking to people who don’t yet know Jesus, we fool ourselves into thinking that we need to focus on what Jesus can do for them, rather than simply sharing what Jesus has already done for us. When it comes to spreading the Good News, we start by sharing our story. I shared the story of how I came to know Christ, but i have Many, Many stories that I can share of how Christ has worked in my life.

Paul stood before King Agrippa, in chains and a prisoner, yet, he was given the opportunity to preach the gospel to the highest in the land. As a prisoner, Paul is able to share his testimony. It would have been so easy for Paul to feel that God could not use him during these years in captivity. He could have felt sorry for himself and questioned God. Yet, God was able to use him in his situation for things far greater than Paul ever would have imagined.

There are many times in my life when I am complaining about my circumstances. In fact, in the past month my family has faced quite a few circumstances that I could have gotten very discouraged about, but instead I tried to look at the circumstances as opportunities to see how God would shine through.

We need to take our eyes off of our circumstances and ask god how He wants to use us through them. We might be surprised at the outcome. Do you think Paul was surprised that he got to share his story with the leaders of his time? He was a man of courage and hope. He shared his story without reservation. We are called to do the same.

Have courage and hope as Paul did and…Share your story with someone today.

Today’s reading:  Acts 25

I spent this past week in Atlanta attending the Shingo International Conference.  If you aren’t familiar with Shingo, it is a model for enterprise excellence.  It takes principles from several of the world’s leading experts like Shigeo Shingo, W. Edwards Deming, Taiichi Ohno, Joseph M. Juran, Eli Goldratt, and Jim Womack, just to name a few, and combines them into a framework to help organizations consistently deliver ideal results by creating a sustainable culture of excellence.

The Shingo model includes ten guiding principles, or foundational rules.  According to the model, these principles:

• Are universal and timeliness – they apply everywhere, always.
• Are self-evident – they cannot be invented, but they can be discovered through research and study.
• Govern consequences – regardless of how well we understand the principle, we are subject to the consequence of it.
• Help us to make more informed decisions.

One of the guiding principles is to create constancy of purpose.  Constancy of purpose is an unwavering clarity of why the organization exists, where it is going, and how it will get there, such that it enables people to align their actions, as well as to innovate, adapt and take risks with greater confidence.  This is the true north, the vision, mission, values, etc.

As we have studied the book of Acts over the past few weeks, I can’t think of another human being (except Jesus of course) who has ever demonstrated constancy of purpose better than the apostle Paul.  We have seen it ever since we were first introduced to him at the end of Acts chapter 7.  Before God got a hold of Paul’s heart, his unwavering purpose was to persecute Christfollowers.  He was very effective at it.

But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison (Acts 8:3).

After his conversion in Chapter 9, we watched a complete reversal.  Paul’s purpose changed from persecuting Christfollowers to helping people become Christfollowers by placing their faith in Jesus Christ.  Over the last seventeen chapters of Acts, have you watched how Paul took advantage of every opportunity to point people to Jesus?  He had unwavering clarity of why he existed, where he was going and how to get there.  With confidence, he took risks and aligned every action to point people to Jesus.

By chapter 25, our text for today, Paul was on trial for wrongs he did not commit.  The Jews were pressuring Festus, the governor of Judea, to transfer Paul from a prison in Caesarea to a prison in Jerusalem so they could kill him on the way (Acts 25:3).  After Paul asserted his innocence, Festus gave him the option of being tried in Jerusalem.  He did this primarily just to appease the Jews, as Acts 25:25 tells us Festus didn’t find Paul guilty of anything that would require him to die.  Furthermore, Festus couldn’t even clearly articulate the charges against Paul.  As a Roman citizen, Paul had the right to appeal to Caesar.  But knowing he hadn’t done anything wrong, and there was really no evidence against him, why would he go to all this trouble?  Why did Paul feel the need to appeal to the highest court?  Why would he take this risk?  The truth is, Paul didn’t appeal because he thought it would give him a better chance of winning his case.  Rather, according to Romans 1:10, Paul wanted to go to Rome to carry out his purpose.  He took the risk in order to give him the opportunity to lead more people to faith in Jesus Christ.  This is constancy of purpose!

Think about your own life.  Do you have an unwavering clarity of why you are here, where you are going, and how you will get there?  Do you take every opportunity to align your words and actions to this purpose?  As much as I would like to, I know I don’t.  Thank you God for Jesus Christ who forgives my sin, who covers my shortcomings, and who makes me perfect in your sight.  On my own, I am hopeless.

Source: Discover Excellence Participant Guide, Shingo Institute, Utah State University, 2017

Yesterday’s reading included the description of a plan where more than forty people were conspiring to kill Paul. This information led to Paul being sent from Jerusalem to Caesarea where he would face Felix the Governor.

Today’s reading link: Acts 24

Much like Jesus standing on trial for his life, there were false charges brought against Paul, but Paul stood firm and used this as an opportunity to evangelize. A few of the things that stood out for me here:

• Paul didn’t argue and directly confront the charges. He gave verbal substantive evidence as to what happened, where he was, and why he was there. When we’re facing false accusations, it doesn’t do us any good to bicker as this ends up being a distraction from the truth.
• The murderous plot by the forty men. There was no mention of this during the trial even though Felix was made aware of it from a reputable source (Claudius Lysias, a military commander). The accusers weren’t seeking justice, they were seeking their own selfish will to be done.
• Paul’s accusers were saying that Paul was stirring up riots (Acts 24:5), however wouldn’t the murder by forty plus people have incited some sort of a riot? These people planned this as a group actually shared their plans with the chief priests and elders! Imagine getting together with forty of your buddies, calling the elders of your church and sharing your plan to kill someone via an ambush… The very people who should have been the most upstanding and honoring of The Ten Commandments seemed to ignore the sixth commandment (Deuteronomy 5:17). I’m also reminded of the commandment to not bear false witness (Exodus 20:16).
• Satan is often deemed as the father of lies and the accuser. I very much sense this theme here with Paul as we read what actually happened as compared to what he was being accused of. Satan’s strategy is to suppress the word, suppress evangelism, and to make us doubt our faith.
• Paul’s statements remind us of 1 Peter 3:15: “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect”. What is the reason for the hope that is in you? Are we ready to make a defense and share our faith at all times? Practice plus repetition leads to mastery!

Once again, we see a pattern of sin here that should force us to reflect on our own behaviors. Have we had stirrings in our hearts to falsely accuse? Perhaps not a blatant, intentional false accusation, but I believe through jealously or other feelings we can be deceived into thinking that we’re better (or worse) than others, that someone else is in the wrong and we’re in the right.

Dear God, thank you for your living truth where we can learn more about your will and ways. Thank you for the eternal hope that we have through repentance of sin and faith in your son and our king Jesus Christ. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Acts 20

Hello Friends,It’s been a whole month since I’ve written to you. I’m sure it’s become evident that my Bible Journal journey is often more about my relationship with you, the readers through these “letters” than it is about me bringing any sort of expertise to God’s word! It’s late on Sunday, and I’ve been avoiding putting pen to paper. Acts 20 takes us to a heavy place. Paul is saying goodbye to the Ephesians for the last time. Paul and the Ephesians have cultivated a relationship that serves as a beautiful example to us of Christian fellowship. They cared for one another. They grew close, shared joys and sorrows and held fast to the message of Jesus Christ. Paul leaves the Ephesians with these words:

“I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in and among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” Acts 20:29-30

 Paul’s departure from Ephesus is characterized by “much weeping on the part of all…” What follows is indeed a season of wolves for the Ephesians. After reading this chapter a few times, I find myself in a season of wolves. As much as I take hope and solace from the story of Eutychus falling and surviving earlier in Chapter 20, I’m still stuck on the emptiness left by Paul’s departure. The truth is that even after the joy of Easter, some of us find it difficult to hold fast to the Jesus we cannot see. Just as Paul promised, Jesus is alive in our lives each and every day, but we have to cultivate our relationship in order to live that reality. In the last month, our three year old daughter developed seizures. Just like the Ephesians, I felt my foundation crumble beneath me. So many of the wolves that Paul describes have come in the night to tear away my strength, my joy, my Jesus.

Just as Paul forewarned the Ephesians, he is also preparing us. We all know that a certain darkness will come to our lives. He tells us:

“Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:31-32

 Did you catch that? Three years. For three years Paul built up the Ephesians, never ceasing to grow their faith like iron sharpening iron so that they would be able to stand alone in the face of adversity knowing their God and His grace. Our daughter Ruby Mae just turned three. For three years she has remained healthy while our oldest son was tested time and again with physical illness. Our heavenly Father knows our hearts and knows that this new storm is just the next opportunity to bring us closer to Him. As I Mom, I felt the storm coming, saw the clouds on the horizon. When it came, my mind was armed and ready to stand strong but my heart was exposed. Slowly, God is shepherding us through this new challenge and we follow, stumbling, often losing our way. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that bad things won’t happen. In fact, I think my husband and I would agree that we have had way more bad stuff to face since we committed our lives to Jesus Christ. I know we’d also agree that the love, care and support we’ve received from our church family has taken away so much of that pain. At the end of today’s reading, Paul reminds the Ephesian’s of Jesus’ words:

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than receive.’” Acts 20:35

We are so blessed to be helped when we are weak and called to help others when their weakness comes. I hope that our testimony of Christian love in our life gives you hope in yours. We humbly ask for your prayers for our precious daughter. The future is uncertain. We in turn promise to hold fast to prayer for you, our readers that we know face storms of one kind or another.

Peace I Leave You My Friends