Another New Year's Resolution?

One guy that stands out to me in the Old Testament is Balaam. Balaam is not your typical prophet; he was a sorcerer and changed his ways when God spoke to him. The change seemed genuine until he told the Moabites how to ruin Israel. The thing about Balaam that jumps out is how he can compare to us today, and even me. Balaam fell away from God because of his greed, he used to be a sorcerer; he was used to getting money for his services getting paid for everything he did. God didn’t pay Balaam and neither did Balak the Moabite king. Balaam didn’t realize that the true reward in obeying God isn’t money but life. As I look back on the year I can identify myself with Balaam, there are a lot of instances where I used my “world vision” instead of obeying God’s commands. We all do this. Balaam’s sin was greed, he was used to being paid with cash for his services and when he wasn’t he returned to his sin. As I’ve said before the world can be like a pair of sunglasses that dim our view, they block in the light of God’s power and love. I never liked those New Year’s resolutions but I am going to make one right here for all of us. In 2009 I am going to try to take off my sunglasses and obey God’s commands. I’ll also do my best to not be like Balaam, and understand that the reward in obeying God is a life with Him and that will outlast the physical benefits of my sin. Balaam didn’t understand God, he didn’t want any part in His plan, he continued with his sin and that led to his death in an Israelite raid. In 2009 I encourage everybody to focus on our true reward, a new life in our walk with God. Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.”

GO SOX

Well here's a new gadget that gives the Sox scores for anyone who is reading my blog. Too bad it won't show anything for four months.

Dutch's Life

I wrote a post saying that I have a new blog and I realize I never wrote how to get on it. There are two ways.
1) you can access "Dutch's Life" through my profile
2) or type in the web address http://www.dutchboylife.blogspot.com

Enjoy and Merry Christmas.

Here's a funny picture of my dog

Merry Christmas

Well it’s finally Christmas Eve and almost 2009 (hopefully a better year for the Red Sox, but since the Yankees have got Teixeira who knows). Books have been published and sermons have been given about the night Jesus was born, and in the few posts I’ve written is barely a glimpse of what happened. Christmas is a time when we not only get presents or spend time with family but when we reflect. I’ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking about the year, how I pleased God and also how I disappointed Him. As I said before there’s good news and bad news for us all and I know one thing for certain, there is one gift I will enjoy receiving tomorrow and that is the life that Jesus gives. When Jesus came down here He didn’t just create a new holiday, He did the amazing, the light of God entering our dark world. The thought is so simple, at the creation when Adam and Eve sinned God knew what had to happen and thousands of years later just when the devil thought he’d won God stepped out. There are dozens of ways to phrase this simple sentence but I think the only thing to say to God for what He did is this: Thanks. It is my hope that when we all wake up we can say ‘Thanks’ to God and remember that although we get nice gifts from our family and friends the best gift of all is from our savior Jesus. Also, Merry Christmas.

Not Your Average Joe

One guy that doesn’t get enough credit is Joseph. He like Mary isn’t mentioned much in the Gospel, but unlike Mary he doesn’t get much attention in our culture. All those old Roman paintings you see are of Mary, songs about Christmas mention Mary, and we preach sermons on Mary but where is Joseph? It’s easy to miss him, he’s only mentioned in Matthew and Luke, and from then on we can infer that he may have died as Jesus grew up. Joseph may not be mentioned much but he did play a big part in our savior’s birth. First off Joseph is descendent of King David, Jesus was referred to as the “Son of David” in the Old Testament and there it is right there in the genealogy. Second Joseph was responsible, imagine his surprise when Mary came back from Elizabeth with the visible signs of pregnancy, put yourself in his shoes, you’re going to be married soon and your fiancée shows up pregnant, according to Old Testament laws Joseph had every right to stone Mary. Yet he didn’t, we are told that “Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly” Matthew 1:19. Joseph even before knowing that this was the Messiah being born didn’t want Mary to be publicly disgraced, he didn’t want her to be in trouble, and instead he took some of the shame. Imagine the looks he may have gotten before his marriage as Mary’s stomach slowly grew, and we are told in verse 20 that “An Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit…’” Not only did Joseph take some of the shame from Mary he also believed what God told him and followed his command. I wrote in a post earlier how Mary did what God commanded and here Joseph does as well. We have no idea what kind of father Joseph was to Jesus, all we know is that obeyed God’s command. Joseph continued his faithfulness as he packed up his family and moved to Egypt, another example of his willingness to serve the Lord. Joseph was just a man like anybody else, he was righteous and responsible and the same with Mary, she was an ordinary girl who was about to be married and obeyed the Lord’s command, and when God planned out how Jesus was going to come to earth He knew exactly who to call.

There He Is

I wrote a post about Josh Hamilton a while ago and it occured to me some people might not know who he his so here's a picture of him to the right.