Stand with Humility

In this fourth part of our series in Esther, Stand Up: How to Fight Injustice, we finally get to the action Esther takes to battle the gross injustice facing the Jewish people in Persia.  But, the exact nature of her action really isn’t all that important.  Rather, it’s how she goes about it that matters most.  Keep reading to see just what it is she does that makes her plan so effective.

 

Stand with Humility

I was born in what some would call the Golden Age of cartoons.  While they weren’t making new episodes, I had all the classic Looney Toons shows available to me.  But I came of cartoon age with the truly classic versions of Batman, Superman, Justice League, the X-Men, and Spider-Man.  I grew up loving superheroes—a love that is now being richly rewarded on the big screen.  The rewards are coming mostly from Marvel Studios which by next May when the fourth Avengers movie releases will have given us 25 movies over the span of 11 years, all telling one, big, overarching story.  It’s a little like the comic book world’s film version of the Bible.  And indeed, the latest Avengers movie has crossed the billion dollars in ticket sales mark faster than any other movie.  I’ve seen it: It was amazing.  It is not a standalone film, however, so I am eager as can be to catch part two next May. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Joshua 7:7, 10

“And Joshua said, ‘Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us?  Would that we have been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! . . .The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Get up!  Why have you fallen on your face?'”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Joshua was devastated and dismayed.  He had put his entire being on the line before the people that God was leading them to occupy this land and drive out its inhabitants entirely.  They had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.  They had conquered Jericho with its impregnable walls.  There was nothing that could stand in their way for the Lord was obviously with them.  And then they got beat by Ai. Read the rest…

Morning Musing: Revelation 22:12 Part 1

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

There are two ideas in Jesus’ words here that are absolutely essential to understand if we are going to do life well during our time on earth.  The first reminds us that how we live now matters.  The second reminds us of our desperate need for grace.  We’ll tackle one this morning, and one on Monday morning. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Psalm 34:19

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Isn’t this a nice verse of deliverance?  God delivers us from all of our afflictions.  What great comfort this offers us when we are low.  God won’t leave you on the ground when you are down.  That could almost go on a bumper sticker.  My take?  If that’s how you are reacting to this verse, you might want to take a second look…and this time, take a minute to actually read it. Read the rest…