“The Chosen”

I’m back. I apologize for the delay in blogging. I hope to get into a habit of regular writing that will bless others.

That starts with more information about “The Chosen” TV series. Season One is free on Amazon Prime. Seasons one and two are free through The Chosen app. No strings attached. You can also buy dvds for both seasons for under $25.

Filming of season three begins during the second half of April. It is hoped it will come out in December.

Funding and writing for season 4 have begun. It is crowd sourced, so Dallas Jenkins (the creative genius for The Chosen) is not beholden to any studio.

Between Christmas and New Year’s, 4 out of 5 of my family members binge watched all but the last episode of season 2. We watched that episode at one of my daughter’s while on vacation in early January.

I am a Chosen evangelist! It is anointed by God and is a great evangelism or pre evangelism tool. It shows how God cares and that Jesus was a genuine person.

“A Shadow Over the Manger”

The birth of Jesus is a glorious event. Though humbly born to humble God-fearing parents, He was and is “Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.” “Mild he lays his glory by.” The light of the glory of God is evident upon and around the angels who appear to the lowly shepherds in charge of providing first born male lambs for the temple sacrifices in nearby Jerusalem.

John 1 tells us “in Him was life and His life was the light of men.” But with all of that light there is nevertheless a shadow that falls over the manger. That shadow is in the form of the cross Jesus would die on 33 or so years later.

But a shadow in turn needs light behind it. And the light shining from behind the cross is that of the bodily resurrection of Jesus. His glory shines even brighter than it did at His birth.

Birth, shadow, cross, resurrection light. They are all of a piece, every day of the year. Be encouraged and let the light of Christ shine through you!

Suffering at Christmas

Suffering and Christmas might not necessarily seem to come together. But for those of you who have lost a loved one in the last year, or are going through the breakup of a relationship, or are wondering how you are going to make ends meet, you know what I’m writing about.

A Gideon Bible representative once shared how one man became a Christian. He was out of work and living in a motel. He opened a Gideon Bible and looked at the table of contents and picked the word “Job” to turn to. He thought it was pronounced “jahb,” when actually it is Jobe. Nevertheless, God used the misunderstanding for him to find the way of salvation explained near the beginning of the Bible.

But Job has become a byword for suffering. He had everything, then he lost everything and everyone. He did not lose his own life but experienced great physical suffering, as well as psychological and spiritual pain and suffering. Eventually God restored things and people to Job, with interest! But that does not always happen.

Job did struggle, but he does say in Job 19,

But I know that my Redeemer lives,

and in the end He will stand upon the earth.

Even after my skin has been destroyed,

yet in my flesh I will see God.

I will see Him for myself;

my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger.

How my heart yearns within me!

“The Chosen” Episodes May be Streamed for Free

Dallas Jenkins has given twice to the world: first by thinking up and following through on creating and presenting the series “The Chosen”; and then by permanently making all episodes available for free. Except for the cost of the ticket to see the “Christmas Movie” (see below), all episodes are and will be available for free forever, no tricks, no gimmicks. I encourage you to binge watch episodes. Or to paraphrase how one radio talk show put it about his own show, this is the only healthy addiction!

Through December 10 Only: “The Chosen Christmas Movie”

If you are reading this on December 10th or before, I would strongly urge you to go see the movie whose title is given above. In Bakersfield it is at the Regal Cinema, Market Square. Elsewhere you can go online to the movie’s website and type in your zip code to find the nearest theater near you.

When you do see it, I am confident you will find it inspiring and motivating. The movie weaves together Christmas songs (contemporary and traditional), insightful brief discussions about Jesus’ birth, and a Christmas episode for the TV series.

Please go see it!

The Pentateuch: Part One of the Jog through the Bible

Here is the overview of the first section of my copyrighted “Jog through the Bible. If you would like the study material that goes with it, please contact me separately.

The word Pentateuch means “five books” and has to do with the first five books of the Bible:  Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  Each one has to do, one way or another, with the Suzerain King Who makes treaties with His people.  He makes a Creation treaty in Genesis 1 and 2.  In Genesis, He also makes treaties with Noah and Abraham (with restating of the Abrahamic treaty with his descendants Isaac, Jacob/Israel, and Joseph.

Exodus opens with the treaty of Redemption as God calls Moses to deliver the people of Israel from bondage in Egypt.  The rest of Exodus includes the establishing of the Law as promulgated by the Suzerain King to His people. 

Numbers has to do with genealogy and other important matters while Israel is in the wilderness.  Leviticus continues Law information including the establishment of a priesthood and looking toward the day when there will be a temple in a central location.

Deuteronomy involves a restatement of the treaty when Israel is on the verge of entering the Promised Land. 

“Jog through the Bible”

Over the years I have shared my “Jog through the Bible” with people. Rather than repeat myself, here is the opening part of the introductory study. If you would like a copy of the entire work, please email me, message me, text me, call me or call the churchy at 661 792-2232.

What is this study about?

We will study the seven major sections of the Bible (Pentateuch—first five books of the Bible; the Historical Books—Judges through Esther; Poetry/Wisdom—Job through Song of Solomon; The Prophets—Major and Minor, based on length; Gospels/Acts; Letters—Paul and others; Revelation.

Each week we will look at a major section using a unifying/integrative interpretive key.

What is an interpretive key?

It is a way of understanding sections and books of the Bible based on a theme that explains the purpose of the books, sections, and entire Bible.  It is a key that is in harmony with the Bible, not at odds with it.

What interpretive key is used in this study?

That of the LORD/YAHWEH making Suzerain (total royal) treaties with His people.  It begins with the Creation treaty in Genesis 1 and 2 and runs through the last two verses of Revelation (“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.  Amen.”

Another verse that explains this interpretive key is the phrase, “I will be their God; and they will be my people.” (Ezekiel 37:27; 2 Corinthians 6:16; and elsewhere).

Having a Regular Quiet Time

Today I prepared a brief guide on how to have a regular Quiet Time. I share it with you now. I hope it will be a blessing to some. If you want to interact with me about it, you may email me, message me at my facebook page, or leave a message on the church phone 661-792-2232.

SOME TIPS ON SPENDING TIME WITH GOD

Or, How to Have a Regular “Quiet Time” with God

What is a regular Quiet Time?

The phrase “quiet time” simply refers to spending a focused period of time in the presence of God—reading the Bible, praying, and perhaps keeping a journal.

How long is a quiet time?

It can be 5 minutes.  It can be 50 minutes.  The point is that you are focusing on getting to know God better.

When is a good time to have quiet time?

Any time.  Whatever is best for you.  Some people like to have it first thing in the morning.  Some during the day.  Some before bed.  Some have “three meals” of God’s “bread,” the Bible a day.

Where is a good place to have a quiet time?

Again, whatever works best for you.  It can be your bed room.  It can be in a food court at a mall!  Wherever  you can be without the distractions of phone (as much as possible), social media, etc.

What are the tools for a quiet time?

A minimum of two:  the Bible and prayer.  A third possible one is a journal where you write down your thoughts, your prayers, your questions, etc. 

What do I read in the Bible?

You may talk with Pastor Phil about this, but here are some suggestions:  read one chapter of a Gospel a day; 5 Psalms and one chapter in Proverbs a day; 1 chapter a day of Paul’s letters, starting in Romans.

What questions do I ask of the text when I read it?

After asking the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart (Ephesians 1), you can ask questions like this:  what do I learn about God in this passage?  What do I learn about others?  What do I learn about myself.  Or, in this way—Is there anything here that leads me to praise God? To confess sin? To act on in my life and with others?

What is the purpose of a Quiet Time?

To know God and make Him known.

Here is a key verse:  “let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:24, English Standard Version.

Please See “Father” Movie This Week

Yesterday my wife and I saw the movie, “Show Me the Father.” It is outstanding. I strongly urge you to go and take as many people as possible. The catch is it only runs through this Thursday evening.

So, please go to the movie website and type in your zip code. The theaters nearest to you that are showing it will pop up.

It is outstanding on many levels. It spoke to me on several levels, but most of all as a son. My father died when I was eleven. I had a stepfather for 9 years. At one point a comment is made, “If your father left you, your Heavenly Father won’t. If your stepfather wasn’t there, your Heavenly Father will be there.

Something else that struck me was that there are no professional actors in the movie. The only amateur “actors” are a few near the end of the movie who hold up glass panes to the sky.

Oh, and wait for the amazing surprise that happens about three fourths of the way through the movie. Again, these are all true stories.

Throughout the movie you learn about your Heavenly Father and how He wants to make all things new. The movie title is from people asking Jesus to “show us the Father.” His response is, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.” Elsewhere He says, “I and the Father are one.”

So, please gather up family and friends and go see (by Thursday) the movie “Show me the Father”!