Friday, February 17, 2006

Good Morning

 

Just fyi, if you haven't been to our website lately (www.leapclass.blogspot.com), one thing that is new is that we now have a search feature.  You can search for any term or word from any of the posts that are archived there -- right now, archives go back to May 2005.

 

Also, just note that we are getting close to the end of this study book.  I'm going to order volume 2 of this study for delivery next week, so that people can start picking them up at church a week from Sunday.

 

Today's Reading:  Revelation 3:14-22; read pages 148 - 152 in Barclay; stop at "The Claims of Christ"

 

-- beginning with the last of the seven churches -- Laodicea

 

-- today's section is simply the background on the city of Laodicea, so not too much to comment on.  One thing that I will say is that when I was reading the scripture and the description in the study guide, the descriptions of the wealth of the city made me think about the United States -- we are a rich country, and we live in a culture of wealth, and I wonder how much of this will resonate with us.

 

-- one of the more familar texts in the Bible is in this section -- "Behold, I stand at the door and knock . . . "  Bobby just preached on this text about three weeks ago.  He mentioned that one of the more iconic pictures of Jesus from over the years is one inspired by this verse,  the one of Jesus outside in front of an old wooden door, at night, with a light, knocking.  What is odd to me is how disconnected our impressions and understanding of that verse of scripture is from the context in which it appears (in the midst of a letter to one church).  Lots of other verses we know, we can connect it to the story around it and that precedes it and follows it.  I'd bet that hardly anyone who is familar with that scripture has any idea about where it comes from.  For me, it's like driving through a strange part of town, and then all of the sudden seeing something very familar, and thinking "What is that doing here?  I didn't know that was here."

 

Today's Scripture

 

Be dressed and ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

 

Luke 12:35-36

Today's prayer requests:   Margaret Rose Severance

Brigette's grandmother has been battling complications from a broken leg.  She needs our prayers to help her recover more fully from the broken leg and the complications and immobility that has resulted.

Today's class member prayer:

Michelle Ray

Have a great day.

Jay