“I’m Four Now”

Posted on 20 March, 2014 by Jon Gleason

Parenting is an adventure!  A couple in our church told us last week that their son had suddenly become very rebellious.  He wouldn’t do as told and had a very bad attitude.  Finally, they asked him, “Why are you not obeying?”

His answer?  “I’m four now, so I don’t have to obey.”  Simple!  Why didn’t his parents understand? 🙂 They explained that God does expect you to obey even when you are four (and older).  Problem solved!  Their (usually 😉 ) obedient sweet-natured boy returned.

We laugh at a four-year-old deciding he need not obey his parents.  The gap is so great, in knowledge and wisdom, in character development, in patience, in so many ways.  Where did he get the idea that being four years old meant he didn’t have to obey anymore?  He was marring his relationship with his parents and making himself miserable….

***

The gap between us and God is even greater than the gap between a four-year-old and his parents — in knowledge and wisdom, in character, in patience, in so many ways.  Where do we get the idea that we ever reach a point that we don’t have to obey God anymore?  We mar our relationship with our Father and make ourselves miserable….

Posted in Daily Christianity | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“WOW Worship” — Really?

Posted on 19 March, 2014 by Jon Gleason

I’m somewhat out of touch with the rock/pop music scene known as “contemporary Christian music.”  I used to listen avidly, but when my convictions changed (another post, maybe), so did my listening habits.  I don’t follow what they are up to these days.  So when an email arrived this morning selling “WOW Worship” CDs, it was like a slap in the face — perhaps even more so because I’ve been preparing to preach this Sunday on a particular text.

Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Music, The Christian and Culture | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

The Summer of our Discontent

Posted on 18 March, 2014 by Jon Gleason

A brief thought from Sunday’s sermon.

Back in school days, I had a horrible summer job.  But summer’s end was only 9 weeks away, then 8, then 7….  So I finished the summer — it just wasn’t that long.  I could put up with it for a while.  It wasn’t forever.

If we set our sights on eternal glory, we’d remember that life’s troubles don’t really last that long.  Like my unhappy summer job, they are a lot easier to take in proper perspective.

Contentment is easier if you remember — the summer of our discontent ends soon.

Posted in Quick Thoughts | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Trained TOO Well

Posted on 12 March, 2014 by Jon Gleason

I got my results.  Blood pressure, good, cholesterol, good.  No signs of diabetes.  Liver, thyroid, all blood counts good.  X-ray shows pneumonia gone.  Cracked rib healing.  So, I’m still often tired, but all signs point to things going in the right direction.

So I arrived home, and announced, perhaps a trifle proudly and rather ungrammatically, “I HAVE been watching what I eat and I CAN have fish and chips.  I’m doing good.”

A voice, in a tone which would have made Eeyore proud, emerged from behind a desk (where someone was SUPPOSED to have been working), “There is none that doeth good,” citing Romans 3:12/Psalm 14:3. 🙂

I trained that kid too well, I guess.

Posted in Just for Fun | 4 Comments

The Son’s Wedding Feast — and Jewish Fables

Posted on 11 March, 2014 by Jon Gleason

In my last article on the events of “Passion Tuesday,” I began to discuss the parable of “The Son’s Wedding Feast” and its connection with a parable Jesus taught a year earlier, which He now applied to the unbelief and rebellion of the Jews.  In this article, I want to look at how Jesus drew on (and corrected) Jewish rabbinical fables in this parable.

Continue reading →

Posted in Rightly Dividing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Spiritual Sticking-Plaster

Posted on 10 March, 2014 by Jon Gleason

I’m starting a new sermon series I’ve titled, “Quotable Isaiah.”  Rather than go through the book verse by verse (I’d die of old age before finishing, maybe 🙂 ), I’m highlighting some of Isaiah’s most well-known, frequently quoted (and often-beloved) passages.

Continue reading →

Posted in Grace and Forgiveness | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Son’s Wedding Feast — a Year Before

Posted on 7 March, 2014 by Jon Gleason

I have several unfinished series running, so when I have time, it’s never difficult to find something to write!  I left my “Passion Tuesday” series for a while, but I decided to return to it now, posting a summary for the sidebar menu a few days ago, and with this article continue with our look at the Scripture record of the Tuesday before Christ’s crucifixion.

Continue reading →

Posted in Rightly Dividing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment