• Prayer is not “putting coins into a vending machine.”  It is not an “If-Then” proposition, nor is the outcome of our prayers determined by “how many we get to pray for us.”  Our prayers to God are not built on the Law of God, but rather we are moved to pray in response to his Grace.
• Prayer is meant to increase our needs, rather than a means to fulfill our needs.  Prayer invites us to increase our need to forgive, love and show mercy to others.  It also increases our need for forgiveness as we become aware of our own shortcomings and brokenness (sometimes called “sin”).
• Prayer should be the steering wheel of our life, more than the spare tire.  Is prayer something we turn to, hold on to, and that which steers our life each day?  Or is prayer simply a spare tire that we grab in case of emergencies?
• You cannot take your needs to God (in the right state of mind, and with the right heart) – until you realize that God always knows all your needs before you ask them.  This is what grants us freedom in prayer.
• Prayer expands God’s presence.  (Abraham said this.)  If you want to know God’s presence in your life, more often – then pray!
• Our own personal, self-centered interests usually dam up the response that God desires to give us.  If we could “get out of the way” more often – our prayers would be stronger, and we would hear God’s voice in response with greater clarity.
• If we try to figure out God’s will before we pray, our prayers are simply a “listening to our own voices.”

When we pray, we should pray like…

• A ten-year old who wants a puppy… “Can I have a puppy?  Why can’t I have a puppy?  Why don’t you like puppies?  Mom said I could have a puppy.  So can I have a puppy?”
• A teenager who wants permission to go out and meet a friend.
• A two-year old who wants his mother’s attention… “Mom.  Mom.  Mom.  Mom.  Mommy.  Mom.”

Prayer is how we speak to God.  But perhaps more importantly, it is how God speaks to us.  Some in scripture believe that God only speaks in a “still, small voice,” a whisper… so to hear him, a person needs to quiet himself, shut out all the competing noise and voices… and listen for that quiet voice of God.

This, in a word, is prayer.

(Take this with a smile, it’s not meant to insult anyone. We all need to laugh at ourselves from time-to-time. We Presbyterians are still waiting to hear back from the committee our elders appointed about what our answer should be -jw)

How many Charismatics does it take to change a light bulb?

Only one since his/her hands are in the air anyway.

-Or-

Five. One to change the bulb and four to bind the spirit of darkness in the room.

How many Calvinists does it take to change a light bulb?

None. God has predestined when the lights will be on.

-Or-

Calvinists do not change light bulbs. They simply read out the instructions and pray the light bulb will decide to change itself.

How many neo-evangelicals does it take to change a light bulb?

No one knows. They can’t tell the difference between light and darkness.

How many Pentecostals does it take to change a light bulb?

Ten. One to change the bulb and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.

How many TV evangelists does it take to change a light bulb?

One. But for the message of light to continue, send in your donation today.

How many fundamentalists or independent Baptists does it take to change a light bulb?

Only one because any more would be compromise and ecumenical standards of light would slip.

How many liberals does it take to change a light bulb?

At least ten, as they need to hold a debate on whether or not the light bulb exists. Even if they can agree upon the existence of the light bulb, they still may not change it to keep from alienating those who might use other forms of light.

How many Anglicans or Catholics does it take to change a light bulb?

None. They always use candles.

How many campfire worship leaders does it take to change light bulb?

One. But soon all those around can warm up to its glowing.

How many Episcopalians does it take to change a light bulb?

Ten. One to call the electrician, and nine to say how much they liked the old one better.

-Or-

Four. One to change the bulb. One to bless the elements. One to pour the sherry. And one to offer a toast to the old light bulb.

How many Baptists does it take to change a light bulb?

CHANGE???????

-Or-

At least 15. One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad.

How many Southern Baptists does it take to change a light bulb?

About 16,000,000. However, they are badly divided over whether changing the bulb is a fundamental need or not.

How many Nazarenes does it take to change a light bulb?

Two. One to change the bulb. Another to replace the new with the old after shaking it and finding it can be revived with a second blessing.

-Or-

Six. One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy.

How many United Church of Christ members does it take to change a light bulb?

Eleven. One to change the light bulb. And ten more to organize a covered dish supper that will follow the changing of the bulb service.

How many Lutherans does it take to change a light bulb?

There is some question here. But we have it on good authority that they have appointed a committee to study the issue and report back at their next meeting.

-Or-

We read that we are to so fear and love God that we cannot by our own effort or understanding comprehend the replacement of an electromagnetic photon source. It is, rather by faith, NOT by our efforts (effected toward the failed worldly incandescence), that we truly see, and that our own works cannot fully justify us in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Of course, it is still dark.

-Or-

None. Lutherans don’t believe in change.

How many Amish does it take to change a light bulb?

What’s a light bulb?

How many Mormons does it take to change a light bulb?

Five. One man to change bulb & four wives to tell him how to do it.

How many Presbyterians does it take to change a light bulb?

None. Lights will go on and off at predestined times.

How many Unitarians does it take to change a light bulb?

300. 12 to sit on the Board which appoints the Nominating and Personnel Committee. 5 to sit on the Nominating and Personnel Committee, which appoints the House Committee. 8 to sit on the House Committee, which appoints the Light Bulb changing committee. 4 to sit on the Light Bulb Changing Committee, which chooses who will screw in the Light Bulb–those 4 then give their own opinion of “screwing in methods” while the one actually does the installation. After completion it takes 100 individuals to complain about the method of installation and another 177 to debate the ecological impact of using the light bulb at all.

How many United Methodists does it take to change a light bulb?

We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey, you have found that a light bulb works for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your personal relationship to your light bulb and present it next month at our annual light bulb Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, three-way, long-lived, and tinted; all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence through Jesus Christ.

-Or-

Undetermined. Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved –you can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Church wide lighting service is planned for Sunday. Bring bulb of your choice and a covered dish.

The Letter to Melanchthon ends with the famous “sin boldly” statement:

“If you are a preacher of grace, then preach a true and not a fictitious grace; if grace is true, you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin. God does not save people who are only fictitious sinners. Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly, for he is victorious over sin, death, and the world. As long as we are here [in this world] we have to sin. This life is not the dwelling place of righteousness, but, as Peter says, we look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. It is enough that by the riches of God’s glory we have come to know the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. No sin will separate us from the Lamb, even though we commit fornication and murder a thousand times a day. Do you think that the purchase price that was paid for the redemption of our sins by so great a Lamb is too small? Pray boldly—you too are a mighty sinner.”

December 12 – The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a
disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we’ll definitely have a white
Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we’ll have so
much snow by the end of winter, that I’ll never want to see snow again.
I don’t think that’s possible. Bob is such a nice man, I’m glad he’s
our neighbor.



December 14 – Snow lovely snow! 8″ last night. The temperature dropped
to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath
away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is
the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything
again. I didn’t realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but
I’ll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn’t huff and
puff so.



December 15 – 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4×4 Blazer.
Bought snow tires for the wife’s car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the
freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I
think that’s silly. We aren’t in Alaska, after all.



December 16 – Ice storm this morning. Fell on my butt on the ice in the
driveway putting down salt. Hurt like crazy. The wife laughed for an
hour, which I think was very cruel.



December 17 – Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go
anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to
stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate
her. Guess I should’ve bought a wood stove, but won’t admit it to her.
I hate it when she’s right. I can’t believe I’m freezing to death in
my own living room. December 20 – Electricity’s back on, but had another 14″ of the darn
stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Snowplow came by
twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they’re
too busy playing hockey. I think they’re lying. Called the only hardware
store around to see about buying a snow blower and they’re out. Might
have another shipment in March. I think they’re lying. Bob says I have
to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he’s lying.



December 22 – Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more
inches of the white crap fell today, and it’s so cold it probably won’t
melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to
shovel and then I had to pee. By the time I got undressed, peed and
dressed again, I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a
plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he says he’s too busy.
I think he’s lying.



December 23 – Only 2″ of snow today! And it warmed up to 0! The wife
wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she
nuts!!! Why didn’t she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did
but I think she’s lying.



December 24 – 6″. Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel.
Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the jerk who drives that snow plow I’ll drag him through the snow and beat him with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the
street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I’ve just
been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and
open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the rotten
snowplow.



December 25 – Merry Christmas! 20 more inches of the crappy stuff tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. Geez I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she’s crazy. If I have to watch “It’s A
Wonderful Life” one more time, I’m going to stuff her into the microwave.



December 26 – Still snowed in. Why on earth did I ever move here? It
was all HER idea. She’s really getting on my nerves.



December 27 – Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze, plumber
came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to
replace all my pipes.



December 28 – Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed
in. That woman is driving me crazy!!!



December 29 – 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it
could cave in. That’s the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he
think I am?



December 30 – Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver he is now
suing me for a million dollars not only for the beating I gave him but also
for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his butt. The wife went
home to her mother. 9″ predicted.



December 31 – I set fire to what’s left of the house. No more
shoveling.



January 8 – Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they
keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

OVERVIEW: The New Testament of the Bible covers the events from the birth of Jesus, his teachings and healings and miracles, to his death and resurrection… also covers the early Church, Paul’s letters to various early church communities, and the fantastical book of Revelation.

QUIZ
1. What is Jesus’ last name?
2. What is the last book of the Bible?
3. What are the four Gospels?
4. How many brothers and sisters did Jesus have?
5. Who baptized Jesus? How old was Jesus at the time (Luke)? WHY Jesus??
6. What years of Jesus’ life are missing from the Bible?
7. What was Jesus first miracle?
8. What are the two greatest “commandments” according to Jesus?

NEW TESTAMENT THOUGHTS

1. The word “gospel” comes from “god-spell” meaning: Good News, or good tidings. This word comes from the Greek “euangelion” where we get the words for: evangelists, evangelism and evangelical (ELCA) – those who believe and proclaim their faith in Christ.

2. The names attached to the Gospels were not originally connected to them – but were added later based on the traditions of those who wrote them, as well as evidence from the Gospels themselves. Many of these early works were written anonymously, so readers would focus on the readings themselves and not the authors.

3. Matthew, Mark and Luke are the synoptic gospels (to view together) and John is the fourth Gospel. They have many similarities, but some differences as well:

• MATTHEW – Jesus is seen as the “fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Far from being a break from the Jewish faith, Jesus is consistent with and brings the Jewish faith to completion… Jesus is the new Moses.
• MARK – Jesus is the suffering Son of God. Jesus should have been received with honor, but instead was humiliated and suffered and died to pay for human’s wrongdoing. Jesus keeps his identity a secret from those who don’t believe in him.
• LUKE – Jesus is the Savior of the world. Jesus’ life and teachings were for everyone (Jew/non-Jew, slave/free, male/female). Jesus interacts with outsiders a lot like the poor, women and foreigners.
• JOHN – Jesus is the External One from heaven. John underscores Jesus has being external from us and having a divine nature. John is much more theological and philosophical than the other Gospels.

4. The early church “named God” The Trinity – not three gods, but one God in three persons. Those who formulated this doctrine even called it a “mystery.” But they also believed that it was our best attempt of explaining the evidence of the New Testament. This has tremendous implications on how you understand Jesus’ life… God himself came to earth as “His Son” and following his death and resurrection stayed with us as His own “Holy Spirit.”

5. Messiah comes from the Hebrew word for “anointed one.” In Greek, this is “christos” – hence the “name” Jesus Christ.

6. Incarnation: God becoming flesh in Jesus Christ… Annunciation: The birth announcement of the angel Gabriel to Mary… Sanctification: How we live out our holy-ness in our daily lives… Resurrection: The rising from the dead of our Lord Jesus (as opposed to resuscitation)… Justification: being justified under the law of God.

7. We do not know the exact date of Jesus’ birth. The determination of BC (before Christ) or AD (anno Domini – “year of our Lord”) was calculated in the sixth century… and the scholar who did the calculations (Dionysius Exiguus) missed by a few years… most scholars place Jesus’ birth around 5 or 6 BC – mainly due to Herod the Great was alive, and Herod died in 4 BC. (*Christmas replaced the Roman festival of Saturnalia which celebrated the winter solstice… so the birthday of the “sun” was replaced with the birthday of the “son.” Saturnalia used such symbols as: evergreen trees, mistletoe, holly, candles and gift-giving).

8. Does the Bible proclaim a Baptism by immersion, or was Jesus baptized by putting water on his head? (Is it important which we believe?)

9. The three temptations: provision (stones to bread), protection (jump off pinnacle) and power (worship me, I’ll give you the world).

10. Jesus calls disciples to be “fishers of people.” The fish became one of the earliest Christian symbols – the Greek letters for the word “fish” also stand for: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. Look on the back of cars!

11. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Law of God, but to fulfill it… and he does this by actually expanding the Law of God (murder/anger, adultery/lust). So what role does the Law play in our life, in our faith, or in our salvation?

Ole: Nice to see you Sven Junior – vat is wrong?
Sven Junior: Papa, I have da biggest feet in da third grade. Is dat because I’m
Norvegian?
Ole: No Sven Junior… dat’s because your nineteen years old!

Ole: Sven, do you know the difference between a Norvegian and a canoe?
Sven: No, I don’t.
Ole: A canoe will sometimes tip.

Ole: Hey Sven, stand in front of my car and tell me if da turn signals are working.
Sven: OK. (He looks) Yes, no, yes, no, yes, no, yes, no…

Ole: Ole, yew know, I bought Lena a piano for her birt-day.
Sven: Ya, dat’s what I had heard Ole – how’s it going?
Ole: Well I persuaded her to switch to the clarinet.
Sven: Well, why is that Ole?
Ole: Because vith the clarinet, she can’t sing.

Ole: Hey Doc, I yust don’t know vat to do. Lena and me, vell, our sex life yust ain’t going dat vell.
Sven/Doc: Ole, all you need is some exercise. I vant you to walk 10 miles every day. You call me in a week, and tell me how it’s going.
**One week later, the phone rings in the doctor’s office**
Sven/Doc: Hello.
Ole: Doc, dis is Ole.
Doc: Hello Ole. Have you been walking 10 miles every day?
Ole: Yes.
Doc: And has your sex life improved?
Ole: Well, how in da heck vould I know – I’m 70 miles avay from home!

Ole: Vell Sven, what a great day fishin huh – sit’in in da boat on such a nice day.
Sven: Oh ya, we have never caught so many fish – von after the utter!
Ole: I wish we could mark that spot – it’s da best fishin I’ve seen since I was a boy.
Sven: I got some chalk in my tackle box – so why don’t I put an X right here on the side of the boat?
Ole (laughing): You goofy brother of mine… what if we don’t rent the same boat the next time?

Ole: Well Sven, I’ve got great news!
Sven: What’s that Ole?
Ole: Vell, you know how we’ve been talking about maybe moving to a more expensive apartment?
Sven: Ya.
Ole: Vell, now we don’t have tew move, the landlord just raised the rent!

Ole: Sven, I don’t know how we’re going to get this donkey into the barn… it’s darn ears are too long!
Sven: I have an idea, how about if ve yust raise the barn?
Ole: (thinking) I tink it vould be easier tew dig a trench.
Sven: No, you dummy, it’s da ears dat are to long, not dah legs!

Ole: Why is it, Sven, that whenever we play cards – yew bring your wife… and whenever we go fishin – yew bring your wife… and whenever we go bowling – yew bring your wife?
Sven: Have you notice that Lena is kinda… ugly?
Ole: Vell, ya.
Sven: Vell, dis way, I don’t never have to kiss her goodbye.

Ole: (old Ole Voice) Well Lena, I’m almost 92 and you’re 89. I only have one question for you: Vat ever happened tew our sex relations?

LENA: Vell Ole, I just don’t know. I don’t even tink ve even got a card from dem last Christmas.

The Positive Commandments:
1. Believing in God
2. Unity of God
3. Love of God
4. Fear of God
5. Worshipping God
6. Cleaving to God
7. Taking an oath by God’s name
8. Walking in God’s ways
9. Sanctifying God’s name
10. Reading the Shema
11. Studying the Torah
12. The Phylactery of the head
13. The Phylactery of the arm
14. The Fringes
15. The Mezuzah
16. The Assembly during the Feast of Tabernacles
17. A king to write a Scroll of the Law
18. Acquiring a Scroll of Law
19. Grace after meals
20. Building the Sanctuary
21. Revering the Sanctuary
22. Guarding the Sanctuary
23. Levitical services in the Sanctuary
24. Ablutions of the Priests
25. Priests kindling the lamps
26. Priests blessing Israel
27. The Showbread
28. Burning the Incense
29. The perpetual fire on the Altar
30. Removing the ashes from the Altar
31. Removing the unclean
32. Honoring the Priests
33. The Priestly Garments
34. The Priests bearing the Ark
35. The Oil of Anointment
36. Priests ministering the courses
37. Priests defiling themselves for deceased relatives
38. The High Priest marrying only a virgin
39. The daily Burnt-offering
40. The High Priest’s daily Meal-offering
41. The Sabbath Additional Offering
42. The New Moon Additional Offering
43. The Passover Addition Offering
44. The Meal-Offering of the new barley
45. The Shevuoth Addition Offering
46. The bringing of the two loaves on Shevuoth
47. The New Year Additional Offering
48. The tenth day of Tishri Additional Offering
49. The Service of the Day of Atonement
50. The Feast of Tabernacles Additional Offering
51. The Shemini Atzereth Additional Offering
52. The three annual pilgrimages
53. Appearing before the Lord during the Festivals
54. Rejoicing on the Festivals
55. Slaughtering the Passover-offering
56. Eating the Passover-offering
57. Slaughtering the second Passover-offering
58. Eating the second Passover-offering
59. Blowing the trumpets in the Sanctuary
60. Offering cattle of a minimum age
61. Offering only unblemished sacrifices
62. Salt being brought with every offering
63. The Burnt-offering
64. The Sin-offering
65. The Guilt-offering
66. The Peace-offering
67. The Meal-offering
68. Offering of a Court that has erred
69. The Fixed Sin-offering
70. The Suspensive Guilt-offering
71. The Unconditional Guilt-offering
72. The Offering of Higher or Lower Value
73. Making confession
74. Offering brought by a zav
75. Offering brought by a zavah
76. The offering after childbirth
77. Offering brought by a leper
78. The Tithe of cattle
79. Sanctifying the first-born
80. Redeeming the first-born
81. Redeeming the firstling of an ass
82. Breaking the neck of the firstling of an ass
83. Bring due offering on the first festivals
84. All offering to be brought to the Sanctuary
85. All offering due from outside the Land of Israel to be brought to the Sanctuary
86. Redeeming blemished offerings
87. Holiness of substituted offering
88. The Priests eating the residue of the Meal-offerings
89. The Priests eating the meat of Consecrated Offerings
90. Consecrated Offerings that have become unclean to be burnt
91. The remnant of Consecrated Offerings to be burnt
92. The Nazirite to let his hair grow
93. Nazirite obligations on completion of vow
94. All oral commitments to be fulfilled
95. Revocation of vows
96. Defilement through the carcasses of animals
97. Defilement through the carcasses of certain creeping creatures
98. Defilement of food and drink
99. The menstruant
100. After childbirth
101. The leper
102. Garments contaminated by leprosy
103. A leprous house
104. The Zav
105. Semen
106. The Zavah
107. Uncleanness of a corpse
108. Law of the water of sprinkling
109. Immersing in a ritual bath
110. Cleansing from leprosy
111. A leper to shave his head
112. The leper to be made distinguishable
113. The ashes of the red heifer
114. Valuation of a person
115. Valuation of beasts
116. Valuation of houses
117. Valuation of fields
118. Restitution for sacrilege
119. The fruits of fourth-year plantings
120. Peah for the poor
121. Gleaning for the poor
122. The forgotten sheaf for the poor
123. Defective grape-clusters for the poor
124. Grape-gleanings for the poor
125. First-fruits to be brought to the Sanctuary
126. The great heave-offering
127. The first tithe
128. The second tithe
129. The Levites’ tithe for the Priests
130. The poor man’s tithe
131. The avowal of the Tithe
132. Recital on bringing the first-fruits
133. The dough-offering
134. Renouncing as ownerless produce of the Sabbatical year
135. Resting the land during the Sabbatical year
136. Sanctifying the Jubilee year
137. Blowing the Shofar on the tenth day of Tishri in the Jubilee year
138. Reversion of land in the Jubilee year
139. Redemption of property in a walled city
140. Counting the years to the Jubilee
141. Canceling claims in the Sabbatical year
142. Exacting debts from Idolaters
143. The Priest’s due in the slaughter of every clean animal
144. The first of the fleece to be given to the Priest
145. Devoted things
146. Shechitah
147. Covering the blood of slain birds and animals
148. Releasing a dam when taking its nest
149. Searching for prescribed tokens in cattle and animals
150. Searching for the prescribed token in birds
151. Searching for the prescribed tokens in grasshoppers
152. Searching for the prescribed tokens in fishes
153. Determining the New Moon
154. Resting on the Sabbath
155. Proclaiming the sanctity of the Sabbath
156. Removal of Leaven
157. Recounting the departure from Egypt
158. Unleavened bread to be eaten on the eve of the fifteenth day of Nisan
159. Resting on the first day of Pesach
160. Resting on the seventh day of Pesach
161. Counting the Omer
162. Resting on Shevuoth
163. Resting on Rosh Hashanah
164. Fasting on Yom Kippur
165. Resting on Yom Kippur
166. Resting on the first day of Sukkoth
167. Resting on Shemini Atzereth
168. Dwelling in a booth during Sukkoth
169. Taking a lulab on Sukkoth
170. Hearing the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah
171. Giving half a shekel annually
172. Heeding the Prophets
173. Appointing a king
174. Obeying the Great Court
175. Abiding by a majority decision
176. Appointing Judges and Officers of the Court
177. Treating litigants equally before the law
178. Testifying in Court
179. Inquiring into the testimony of witnesses
180. Condemning witnesses who testify falsely
181. Eglah Arufah
182. Establishing six Cities of Refuge
183. Assigning cities to the Levites
184. Removing sources of danger from our habitations
185. Destroying all idol-worship
186. The Law of the Apostate City
187. The Law of the Seven Nations
188. The extinction of Amalek
189. Remembering the nefarious deeds of Amalek
190. The Law of non-obligatory war
191. Appointing a Priest for war
192. Preparing a place beyond the camp
193. Including a paddle among war implements
194. A robber to restore the stolen article
195. Charity
196. Lavishing gifts on a Hebrew bondman on his freedom
197. Lending money to the poor
198. Interest
199. Restoring a pledge to a needy owner
200. Paying wages on time
201. An employee to be allowed to eat the produce among which he is working
202. Unloading a tired animal
203. Assisting the owner in lifting up his burden
204. Returning lost property to its owner
205. Rebuking the sinner
206. Loving our neighbor
207. Loving the stranger
208. The laws of weights and measures
209. Honoring scholars and the aged
210. Honoring parents
211. Respecting parents
212. “Be fruitful and multiply”
213. The law of marriage
214. The bridegroom devoting himself to his wife for one year
215. The law of circumcision
216. The law of levirate marriage
217. Chalitzah
218. A violater to marry the maiden whom he has violated
219. The law of the defamer of a bride
220. The law of a seducer
221. The law of the captive woman
222. The law of divorce
223. The law of a suspected adulteress
224. Whipping transgressors of certain Commandments
225. The law of manslaughter
226. Transgressors of certain Commandments to be beheaded
227. Transgressors of certain Commandments to be strangled
228. Transgressors of certain Commandments to be put to death by burning
229. Transgressors of certain Commandments to be stoned
230. The bodies of certain transgressors to be hanged after execution
231. The law of burial
232. The law of a Hebrew bondman
233. A Hebrew bondmaid to be married by her master or his son
234. Redemption of a Hebrew bondmaid
235. The law of a Canaanite bondmaid
236. Penalty for inflicting injury
237. The law of injuries caused by an ox
238. The law of injuries caused by a pit
239. The law of theft
240. The law of damage caused by a beast
241. The law of damage by a fire
242. The law of an unpaid bailee
243. The law of a paid bailee
244. The law of a borrower
245. The law of buying and selling
246. The law of litigants
247. Saving the life of the pursued
248. The law of inheritance

The Negative Commandments:
1. Believing in or ascribing any deity but Him
2. Making images for the purpose of worship
3. Making an idol for others to worship
4. Making figures of human beings
5. Bowing down to an idol
6. Worshipping idols
7. Handing over some of our offspring to the Molech
8. Practising the sorcery of the ob
9. Practising the sorcery of the yidde’oni
10. Studying idolatrous practices
11. Erecting a pillar which people will assemble to honour
12. Making figured stones upon which to prostrate ourselves
13. Planting trees within the Sanctuary
14. Swearing by an idol
15. Summoning people to idolatry
16. Seeking to persuade an Israelite to worship idols
17. Loving the person who seeks to mislead him into idolatry
18. Relaxing one’s aversion to the misleader
19. Saving the life of a misleader
20. Pleading for the misleader
21. Suppressing evidence which is unfavourable to the misleader
22. Benefiting from ornaments which have adorned an idol
23. Rebuilding an apostate city
24. Deriving benefit from the property of an apostate city
25. Increasing our wealth from anything connected with idolatry
26. Prophesying in the name of an idol
27. Prophesying falsely
28. Listening to the prophecy of one who prophesies in the name of an idol
29. Having pity on a false prophet
30. Adopting the habits and customers of unbelievers
31. Practising divination
32. Regulating our conduct by the stars
33. Practising the art of the soothsayer
34. Practising sorcery
35. Practising the art of the charmer
36. Consulting a necromancer who uses the ob
37. Consulting a sorcerer who uses the yido’a
38. Seeking information from the dead
39. Women wearing men’s clothes or adornments
40. Men wearing women’s clothes or adornments
41. Imprinting any marks upon our bodies
42. Wearing a garment of wool and linen
43. Shaving the temples of our heads
44. Shaving the beard
45. Making cuttings in our flesh
46. Settling in the land of Egypt
47. Accepting opinions contrary to those taught in the Torah
48. Making a covenant with the Seven Nations of Canaan
49. Failing to observe the law concerning the Seven Nations
50. Showing mercy to idolaters
51. Suffering idolaters to dwell in our land
52. Intermarrying with the heretics
53. Intermarrying with male Ammonites or Moabite
54. Excluding descendants of Esau
55. Excluding descendants of Egyptians
56. Offering peace to Ammon or Moab
57. Destroying fruit-trees during a siege
58. Fearing the heretics in time of war
59. Forgetting what Amalek did to us
60. Blaspheming the Great Name
61. Violating a shebuat bittui
62. Swearing a shebuat shav
63. Profaning the Name of God
64. Testing His promises and warnings
65. Breaking down houses of worship
66. Leaving the body of a criminal hanging overnight after execution
67. Interrupting the watch over the Sanctuary
68. The High priest entering the Sanctuary at any but the prescribed time
69. A Priest with a blemish entering any part of the Sanctuary
70. A Priest with a blemish ministering in the Sanctuary
71. A Priest with a temporary blemish ministering in the Sanctuary
72. The Levites and Priests performing each other’s allotted services
73. Entering the Sanctuary or giving a decision on any law of the Torah whilst intoxicated
74. A zar ministering in the Sanctuary
75. An unclean Priest ministering in the Sanctuary
76. A Priest who is a tevul yom ministering in the Sanctuary
77. Any unclean person entering any part of the Sanctuary
78. Any unclean person entering the camp of the Levites
79. Building an altar of stones which have been touched by iron
80. Ascending the Altar by steps
81. Extinguishing the Altar Fire
82. Offering any sacrifice whatever on the Golden Altar
83. Making oil like the Oil of Anointment
84. Anointing any one except the High Priests and Kings with the Oil of Anointment prepared by Moses
85. Making incense like that used in the Sanctuary
86. Removing the staves from their rings in the Ark
87. Removing the Breastplate from the Ephod
88. Tearing the edge of the High Priest’s robe
89. Offering any sacrifice outside the Sanctuary Court
90. Slaughtering any of the holy offerings outside the Sanctuary-Court
91. Dedicating blemished beasts to be offered upon the Altar
92. Slaughtering blemished beasts for sacrifice
93. Dashing the blood of blemished beasts upon the Altar
94. Burning the sacrificial portions of a blemished beast upon the Altar
95. Sacrificing a beast with temporary blemish
96. Offering blemished sacrifices of a gentile
97. Causing an offering to become blemished
98. Offering leaven or honey upon the Altar
99. Offering a sacrifice without salt
100. Offering on the Altar the hire of a harlot or the price of a dog
101. Slaughtering the mother and her young on the same day
102. Putting olive oil on the meal-offering of a sinner
103. Bringing frankincense with the meal-offering of a sinner
104. Mingling olive oil with the meal-offering of a suspected adulteress
105. Putting frankincense on the meal-offering of a suspected adulteress
106. Changing a beast that has been consecrated as an offering
107. Changing one holy offering for another
108. Redeeming the firstling of a clean beast
109. Selling the tithe of cattle
110. Selling devoted property
111. Redeeming devoted land without any specific statement of purpose
112. Severing the head of the bird of a sin-offering during melikah
113. Doing any work with a dedicated beast
114. Shearing a dedicated beast
115. Slaughtering the Passover offering while leavened bread remains in our possession
116. Leaving the sacrificial portions of the Passover offering overnight
117. Allowing any of the meat of the Passover offering to remain until morning
118. Allowing any of the meat of the Festival offering of the fourteenth of Nisan to remain until the third day
119. Allowing any of the meat of the Second Passover offering to remain until morning
120. Allowing any of the meat of the Thank-offering to remain until morning
121. Breaking any of the bones of the Passover offering
122. Breaking any of the bones of the Second Passover offering
123. Removing the Passover offering from where it is eaten
124. Baking the residue of a meal-offering with leaven
125. Eating the Passover offering boiled or raw
126. Allowing a ger toshab to eat the Passover offering
127. An uncircumcised person eating the Passover offering
128. Allowing an apostate Israelite to eat the Passover offering
129. An unclean person eating hallowed food
130. Eating meat of consecrated offerings which have become unclean
131. Eating nothar
132. Eating piggul
133. A zar eating terumah
134. A Priest’s tenant or hired servant eating terumah
135. An uncircumcised Priest eating terumah
136. An unclean Priest eating terumah
137. A chalalah eating holy food
138. Eating the meal-offering of a Priest
139. Eating meat of Sin-offerings whose blood has been brought within the Sanctuary
140. Eating invalidated consecrated offerings
141. Eating the unredeemed second tithe of corn outside Jerusalem
142. Consuming the unredeemed second tithe of wine outside Jerusalem
143. Consuming the unredeemed second tithe of oil outside Jerusalem
144. Eating an unblemished firstling outside Jerusalem
145. Eating the Sin-offering and the Guilt-offering outside the Sanctuary Court
146. Eating the meat of a burnt-offering
147. Eating lesser holy offerings before dashing their blood on the Altar
148. A Priest eating first-fruits outside Jerusalem
149. A zar eating the most holy offerings
150. Eating an unredeemed unclean second tithe, even in Jerusalem
151. Eating the second tithe during mourning
152. Spending the redemption money of the second tithe except on food and drink
153. Eating tevel
154. Altering the prescribed order of harvest tithing
155. Delaying payment of vows
156. Appearing on a festival without a sacrifice
157. Infringing any oral obligation, even if undertaken without an oath
158. A Priest marrying a zonah
159. A Priest marrying a chalalah
160. A Priest marrying a divorced woman
161. A High Priest marrying a widow
162. A High Priest having intercourse with a widow
163. Priests with dishevelled hair entering the Sanctuary
164. Priests wearing rent garments entering the Sanctuary
165. Ministering Priests leaving the Sanctuary
166. A common priest defiling himself for any dead person except those prescribed in Scripture
167. A High Priest being under one roof with a dead body
168. A High Priest defiling himself for any dead person
169. Levites acquiring a portion in the Land of Israel
170. Levites sharing in the spoil on the conquest of the Land of Israel
171. Tearing out our hair for the dead
172. Eating any unclean animal
173. Eating any unclean fish
174. Eating any unclean fowl
175. Eating any swarming winged insect
176. Eating anything which swarms upon the earth
177. Eating any creeping thing that breeds in decayed matter
178. Eating living creatures that breed in seeds or fruit
179. Eating any swarming thing
180. Eating nevelah
181. Eating terefah
182. Eating a limb of a living creature
183. Eating gid ha-nasheh
184. Eating blood
185. Eating the fat of a clean animal
186. Cooking meat in milk
187. Eating meat cooked in milk
188. Eating the flesh of a stoned ox
189. Eating bread made from the grain of the new crop
190. Eating roasted grain of the new crop
191. Eating fresh ears of grain
192. Eating orlah
193. Eating kilai ha-kerem
194. Drinking yain nesech
195. Eating and drinking to excess
196. Eating on Yom Kippur
197. Eating chametz during Pesach
198. Eating anything containing chametz during Pesach
199. Eating chametz after the middle of the fourteenth of Nisan
200. Chametz being seen in our habitations during Pesach
201. Possessing chametz during Pesach
202. A Nazirite drinking wine
203. A Nazirite eating fresh grapes
204. A Nazirite eating dried grapes
205. A Nazirite eating the kernals of grapes
206. A Nazirite eating the husks of grapes
207. A Nazirite rending himself unclean for the dead
208. A Nazirite rending himself unclean by entering a house containing a corpse
209. A Nazirite shaving
210. Reaping all the harvest
211. Gathering ears of corn that fell during the harvest
212. Gathering the whole produce of the vineyard at vintage time
213. Gathering single fallen grapes during the vintage
214. Returning for a forgotten sheaf
215. Sowing kilayim
216. Sowing grain or vegetables in a vineyard
217. Mating of animals of different species
218. Working with two different kinds of animals together
219. Preventing a beast from eating of the produce amidst which it is working
220. Cultivating the soil in the seventh year
221. Pruning trees in the seventh year
222. Reaping a self-grown plant in the seventh year as in an ordinary year
223. Gathering a self-grown fruit in the seventh year as in an ordinary year
224. Cultivating the soil in the Jubilee year
225. Reaping the aftergrowths of the Jubilee year as in an ordinary year
226. Gathering fruit in the Jubilee year as in an ordinary year
227. Selling our holdings in Israel in perpetuity
228. Selling the open lands of the Levites
229. Forsaking the Levites
230. Demanding the payment of debts after the Sabbatical year
231. Withholding a loan to be cancelled by the Sabbatical year
232. Failing to give charity to our needy brethren
233. Sending away a Hebrew bondman empty-handed
234. Demanding payment from a debtor known to be unable to pay
235. Lending at interest
236. Borrowing at interest
237. Participating in a loan at interest
238. Oppressing an employee by delaying payment of his wages
239. Taking a pledge from a debtor by force
240. Keeping a needed pledge from its owner
241. Taking a pledge from a widow
242. Taking in pledge food utensils
243. Abducting an Israelite
244. Stealing money
245. Committing robbery
246. Fraudulently altering land boundaries
247. Usurping our debts
248. Repudiating our debts
249. Swearing falsely in repudiating a debt
250. Wronging one another in business
251. Wronging one another by speech
252. Wronging a proselyte by speech
253. Wronging a proselyte in business
254. Handing over a fugitive bondman
255. Wronging a fugitive bondman
256. Dealing harshly with fatherless children and widows
257. Employing a Hebrew bondman in degrading tasks
258. Selling a Hebrew bondman by public auction
259. Employing a Hebrew bondman on unnecessary work
260. Allowing the maltreatment of a Hebrew bondman
261. Selling a Hebrew bondmaid
262. Afflicting one’s espoused Hebrew bondmaid
263. Selling a captive woman
264. Enslaving a captive woman
265. Planning to acquire another’s property
266. Coveting another’s belongings
267. A hired labourer eating growing crops
268. A hired labourer putting of the harvest in his own vessel
269. Ignoring lost property
270. Leaving a trapped person
271. Cheating in measurements and weights
272. Keeping false weights and measures
273. A Judge committing unrighteousness
274. A Judge accepting gifts from litigants
275. A Judge favouring a litigant
276. A Judge being deterred by fear from giving a just judgment
277. A Judge deciding in favour of a poor man through pity
278. A Judge perverting judgment against a person of evil repute
279. A Judge pitying one who has slain a man
280. A Judge perverting the justice due proselytes or orphans
281. A Judge listening to one of the litigants in the absence of another
282. A Court convicting in a capital case by a majority of one
283. A Judge relying on the option of a fellow-judge
284. Appointing an unlearned judge
285. Bearing false witness
286. A Judge receiving a wicked man’s testimony
287. A Judge receiving testimony of a single witness
288. Convicting on the testimony of a single witness
289. Killing a human being
290. Capital punishment based on circumstantial evidence
291. A witness acting as an advocate
292. Killing a murderer without a trial
293. Sparing the life of a pursuer
294. Punishing a person for a sin committed under duress
295. Accepting a ransom from one who has committed wilful murder
296. Accepting a ransom from one who has committed murder unwittingly
297. Neglecting to save an Israelite in danger of his life
298. Leaving obstacles on public or private domain
299. Giving misleading advice
300. Inflicting excessive corporal punishment
301. Bearing tales
302. Hating one another
303. Putting one to shame
304. Taking vengeance on one another
305. Bearing a grudge
306. Taking the entire bird’s nest
307. Shaving the scall
308. Cutting or cauterising signs of leprosy
309. Ploughing a valley in which the rite of eglah arufah has been performed
310. Permitting a sorcerer to love
311. Taking a bridegroom away from his home
312. Differing from traditional authorities
313. Adding to the Written or Oral Law
314. Detracting from the Written or Oral Law
315. Cursing a judge
316. Cursing a ruler
317. Cursing an Israelite
318. Cursing parents
319. Smiting parents
320. Working on the Sabbath
321. Journeying on the Sabbath
322. Punishing on the Sabbath
323. Working on the first day of Pesach
324. Working on the seventh day of Pesach
325. Working on Atzereth
326. Working on Rosh Hashanah
327. Working on the first day of Sukkoth
328. Working on Shemini Atzereth
329. Working on Yom Kippur
330. Having intercourse with one’s mother
331. Having intercourse with father’s wife
332. Having intercourse with one’s sister
333. Having intercourse with the daughter of one’s father’s wife if she be his sister
334. Having intercourse with one’s son’s daughter
335. Having intercourse with one’s daughter’s daughter
336. Having intercourse with one’s daughter
337. Having intercourse with a woman and her daughter
338. Having intercourse with a woman and her son’s daughter
339. Having intercourse with a woman and her daughter’s daughter
340. Having intercourse with one’s father’s sister
341. Having intercourse with one’s mother’s sister
342. Having intercourse with the wife of one’s father’s brother
343. Having intercourse with one’s son’s wife
344. Having intercourse with a brother’s wife
345. Having intercourse with a sister of his wife during the latter’s lifetime
346. Having intercourse with a menstruant
347. Having intercourse with another man’s wife
348. Men lying with beasts
349. Women lying with beasts
350. A man lying carnally with a male
351. A man lying carnally with his father
352. A man lying carnally with his father’s brother
353. Intimacy with a kinswoman
354. A mamzer having intercourse with a Jewess
355. Having intercourse without marriage
356. Re-marrying one’s divorced wife after she has re-married
357. Having intercourse with a woman subject to a Levirate marriage
358. Divorcing a woman he has raped and been compelled to marry
359. Divorcing a woman after having falsely brought an evil name upon her
360. A man incapable of procreation marrying a Jewess
361. Castration
362. Appointing a king not born an Israelite
363. A king owning many horses
364. A king taking many wives
365. A king amassing great personal wealth

Typed By David Wolfe:
Baruch HaShem Fellowship
P.O. Box 14743, Madison, WI 53714-0743
Much of the spelling follows British spelling.

The Parable of the Lost Son
11Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13″Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17″When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Polyvalence: “multiple meanings” – the capacity for books/writings to hold different meanings for different people.

The Sources of Different Meanings:
1. “Gaps” in Stories – like the motivations of characters, the history of people/places (because we don’t have an infinite number of words!)
2. Social Location: “Who You Are” in terms of gender, age, economic status (An example might be “If slapped on one side of your cheek, turn the other.” You might interpret differently, if you have been slapped by your husband lately)
3. We Identify with different characters
4. Idealistic Empathy – We would “like to be” like certain characters (Example: Pastors almost always empathize with Jesus, laity almost never do!)
5. Conceptions of what “Meaning” Means! Some see it as Content (what the message or moral is), others see it as Effect (hwo the story makes us feel, or react)… Clergy almost always choose “Content,” Laity choose “Effect!” So when a parishioner says “meaningful sermon, Pastor” – it usually means that it made them FEEL something (Pastor things they LEARNED something!)

Practical Implication: Luther – “We are to fear and love God, so that…” (LAW is that which makes us fear God, GOSPEL is that which makes us LOVE God – we need to hear, understand, and feel both to “Hear” God’s word correctly!

PRODIGAL SON PARABLE
The Experiment: Got seminary students in USA to read story out loud – and then “tell the story” to the group. The group writes down what was put in, what’s left out…

In USA: only 6 out of 100 seminary students mentioned the Famine
In Russia: 84/100 – mentioned the Famine. (670,000 Russians died in WWII when the Germans laid siege to St. Petersburg for over 900 days… one-third died! So their view of potential starvation effects all their views on social issues.)
2/3 of Russians LEFT OUT the part of the son squandering his money. Why? Because what does it matter if there’s a famine!?

KEY: The parable is about: Repentance… with the others on repentance (the Lost Coin, and the Lost Sheep)… the son’s “sin” is that he put a price tag on “family.”

Russians: The son’s sin is that he wanted to be SELF-SUFFICIENT (didn’t want to NEED anyone else… but only be in a position of power where he could CHOOSE)
RUSSIAN CONCLUSION: The son is a fool that needs to learn wisdom
USA CONCLUSION: The son is wicked/bad and needs to “choose repentance” and be good.

RUSSIANS: The son fails because he foolishly did not see the Famine coming – so he’s not BAD, he’s FOOLISH. Bad is not the opposite of foolish, WISE is!
“DISSOLUTE LIVING” – literal meaning in Greek: not saving; wasteful.
– Secondary Meaning: Immoral
WESTERN Translations: debauchery, risky, sexual misconduct, sinful indulgence, wine-women-song, sinful life. EASTERN Translations: expensive things, life of luxury, spend thrift, costly purchase, things he could not afford

Repentance in the EAST: is about Rescue… in the WEST: Reform.
WEST: The boys gets up, goes back to his Father – Repentance is about choice.
EAST: The Father says: What has been lost, has been found (literally: “Rescued!”)

WEST: The older son accuses the younger of sleeping with prostitutes – we assume he is correct in his accusations (but he’s not correct in anything’s else!)
EAST: The older brother is slanderous – his accusation reveals HIS character!
ANN LAUNDERS: Those who check under the bed, have probably hid there before!
EAST: The Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin – do not “come to their senses” – they are FOUND and RESCUED (the sheep will run away again tomorrow if you give them a chance!)

ONLY CHANGE that happens in the Prodigal Son Story is importance: The son was NOT in the Father’s House… now he IS.

TANZANIA – What Did They Say?

- A couple mentioned the Famine.
- A couple mentioned the son’s Dissolute Living (immoral behavior)
- *But 80/100 said the trouble was: No one gave the boy anything to eat! (So Mark Powell asked: Why do you say that? They answered: Because that’s what it says: No one gave him anything to eat!)
IMMIGRANTS to other countries often lose money, can’t speak the language, and don’t know the customs. The Bible COMMANDS us to care for the stranger and give food to the hungry.
*Q: What kind of country wouldn’t give food to the hungry or medical care to the poor?!
A: A country without HONOR, without COMPASSION.

TANZANIA: The Foolish and the Wicked belong in the Father’s House (God)!

Top Ten Theological Concepts

1. Theology of Glory vs Theology of the Cross
The theologian of glory observes the world, the works of creation. With his intellect he perceives behind these the visible things of God, His power, wisdom, and generosity. But God remains invisible to him. The theologian of the cross looks to the Crucified One. Here there is nothing great or beautiful or exalted as in the splendid works of creation. Here there is humiliation, shame, weakness, suffering, and agonizing death… [That] “God can be found only in suffering and the cross”… is a bedrock statement of Luther’s theology and that of the Lutheran Church. Theology is theology of the cross, nothing else. A theology that would be something else is a false theology.

2. Law – Gospel
How Much/Have to/Fear – The Cross/Get to/Freedom
The relationship between God’s Law and the Gospel is a major topic in Lutheran and Reformed theology. In these traditions, the distinction between the doctrines of Law, which demands obedience to God’s will, and Gospel, which promises the forgiveness of sins in light of the person and work of Jesus Christ, is critical. It is used as a hermeneutical principle of biblical interpretation and a guiding principle in homiletics (sermon composition) and pastoral care.

3. Mercy
• Receiving love and forgiveness of God when we do NOT deserve it
• An unnatural act – only accomplished in a faith build on Christ
• Without mercy, we risk a cycle of unending violence
• In mercy – we choose love over justice, if need be.

4. Differentiation
• Balancing two life forces: togetherness (follow directives of others) and individuality (follow our own directives)… give up either and you become less of a person with less of a relationship.
• Well-differentiated people can argue without losing themselves, or becoming fused (don’t have to leave to keep a hold on self… can disagree without becoming embittered)
• Emotionally fused: room for only one opinion, one position.
• Differentiation: maintain self with those closest to you.
• When we need to be Needed and can’t settle for being Wanted – we perpetuate poor functioning in our partner so we can fulfill our own lack of self.
• Integrity (differentiation) is living according to your values/beliefs in the face of opposition – But it’s also the ability to CHANGE your values/beliefs when your concern for others dictates it.

5. Permission-Giving Congregations vs Permission-Withholding
• Growing churches are increasingly permission-giving in nature as they focus on accountability (after the action) instead of permission.
• Passion become “Making Disciples” not “Making Decisions.”
• Giving: What gifts of God do you bring and what do you need from the Body of Christ to exercise them? Withholding: What gifts do you bring, and what do we need done by you?
• Growing churches function more like Basketball teams than Football teams… the basic rules and boundaries are set, but it’s up to each player’s decisions as to what to do each time down the court.
• The Body of Christ is weakened when individual members function primarily on their own behalf (Bible calls it “sin”) – Servant leaders don’t feel entitled, and don’t want their pastor to be a personal chaplain.

6. Maintenance vs Mission
• Measuring Effectiveness… maintenance asks: How many visits are being made? How many new members? Mission: How many disciples are being made? How are people sharing their God-given gifts?
• Change: If thie proves to be too upsetting, we won’t do it… Mission: Will this increase our ability to reach those outside our church?
• Vision: Must be faithful to our past… Mission: faithful to our future.
• Newcomer: “I’d like to introduce you to some of our members.” Mission: “I’d like to introduce you to one of our pastors.”
• Maintenance Pastor: How can I meet this need? Mission: How can this need be met?
• Maintenance: Avoid conflict at all costs. Mission: Conflict is the price of change and progress – conflict causes some grief, but it won’t keep us from doing what needs to be done.

7. Evangelism Vision
• To share faith we need to know our faith: What do you believe? Why do you believe it? How does that get lived out in your daily life?
• U.S. Christian population in 1990: 86%. 2001: 77%. By the year 2042, Christians will be a minority in the United States.
• Perception on non-Christians of Christians: Christianity has become a fundamental, law-orientated, violent response out of fear & self-preservation.
• Justification by grace: the way a cat carries a kitten… by Law: the way a mother monkey carries her baby (hang on!)
• Martin Luther wrote six treatises regarding Islam and fought for the publishing of the first Koran with the city Council of his day – and wrote the preface to the first published Koran too!

8. We only love God as much as we love the person we love the least.
(Spoken by Dorothy Day)

” Don’t find fault, find a remedy.”
—Henry Ford

Every couple has differences and disagreements. But healthy couples find ways to resolve marital disputes without turning them into marital wars. Couples who accept and appreciate the fact that their partner has independent opinions tend to reach successful and satisfying resolutions.
When you have issues that are ongoing, use this Ten Step approach to deal with them. The exercise may boost your success in ending issues that resist resolution.
As simple as the Ten Step exercise looks, remember it is not a game. Take time to work on all of the steps. Focus on one issue at a time and you will discover new solutions to old problems.

1. Set a time and place for discussion.

2. Define the problem or issue of disagreement.

3. How do you each contribute to the problem?

4. List past attempts to resolve the issue that were not successful.

5. Brainstorm. List all possible solutions.

6. Discuss and evaluate these possible solutions.

7. Agree on one solution to try.

8. Agree on how each individual will work toward this solution.

9. Set up another meeting. Discuss your progress.

10. Reward each other as you each contribute toward the solution.