Bert's Musings

 As I read through Luke 8 the term “situational awareness” came to my mind. What is my level of Christian situational awareness? How often do I allow my joy, as a Christian, to get choked by the thorns of the world (verse 14)? Which “seed” am I in Luke 8:4-15? I like the NET Bibles version of verse 8:8b, “As he (Jesus) said this, he called out, “The one who has ears to hear had better listen!”” I/we are blessed to live in the greatest nation this world has ever known. I am blessed to know a God who diligently kept after me, mostly via preparation by the Holy Spirit until we moved next to a guy whose Christian joy could not be hidden. God has provided me with a blueprint (via Scripture, inspiration from the Holy Spirit, guidance from Christian brothers and sisters, etc.) for living a life of contentment (Phil 4:11-13); part of following His blueprint means that I need to be aware that I might be the only light/lighthouse that others might see (Lk 8:16-18). “Freshwater Church...

 When I think of Abraham I tend to think in terms of his two sons, Isaac & Ishmael. Usually only in terms of Isaac since his lineage is the one followed in the Bible.  As I started reading chapter 25 this morning several "revelations" occurred. I remembered reading that after Sarah's death (probably after her death) Abraham took another wife, Keturah (Gen 25:1). What I didn't remember was that even in Abraham's old age he was still fathering children. Keturah bore him 6 sons. Abraham fathered at least 8 sons and who knows how many daughters. Verse 5 says that, upon his death(?) Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. Verse 6 says that while alive he gave gifts to his other sons and sent them off to the east, away from Isaac. Abraham died at the age of 175. Verse 9 is interesting, "His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah". Apparently Ishmael was close enough to hear of Abraham's death and return for his burial.

Luke 7:1-10 - The story of the centurion and his slave. In Luke the centurion appears to have never actually comes face to face with Jesus. He sends some Jewish elders to talk to Him. Another interesting point is that the centurion had enough wealth, or power, or influence to build the community a synagogue (verses 4 & 5). According to the NET Bible notes, the word translated as slave in verse 2, doulos , is normally translated servant, but it does not mean one free individual serving another, "bondservant" provides modern readers with a better understanding of the Greek word. In the Matthew account (Mt 8:6) uses the word pais to refer to the centurion's slave. That word was often used to describe a slave who was regarded with some degree of affection, possibly a personal servant. According to blueletterbible.org the word translated "Lord" in verse 6 is kyrios . It is the word used in Mt 1:20, 22 & 24; numerous times in Luke 1:6-17; and many other place...