Allen's Blog

13th  in a series on how men and women in the Bible deal with waiting, disappointment and unemployment If I Had Been With Jesus….. Ever heard someone say that?   It’s so easy to trash the disciples and criticize them for their weak faith and silly behavior.   We fall into that evolutionary trap that assumes that since we are living in the modern age then we would certainly be smarter than those people who lived 2000 years ago in tents or adobe houses and wore sandals and togas. Not so fast.   I want to use the Apostle Peter as an example of someone we love to pick on.   Of course, we have the advantage of 20/20 hindsight, but I believe we’ll all see ourselves through Peter’s good, bad and misinformed perspective. Matthew 14:28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” Charlie Brown, in one comic said, “If we learn by our mistakes, I must be a genius.”   Peter, believed in Jesus one ...

12th in a series on how men and women in the Bible deal with waiting, disappointment and unemployment Joseph: Part 3 Family Reunion Reflections on Genesis 42-45 The Resume of: Joseph   (A Hebrew name meaning: he will add)   The son of Jacob aka Zaphenath-paneah   (An Egyptian name meaning The revealer of secrets or the god speaks and he lives) 2nd only to Pharaoh Interpreter of Dreams Righteous Administrator Objective : Submit to the will of God wherever I find myself Career Experience : House Manager The Potiphar Household 1649-1647 BC In charge of everything Potiphar owned and was not concerned about anything except the food he ate. Genesis 39:6 Warden’s Assistant The Egyptian Prison System 1647-1645 BC The warden paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s care because the Lord was with Joseph and made him successful in everything he did. Genesis 39:23 Pharaoh’s Chief of St...

11th in a series on how men and women in the Bible deal with waiting, disappointment and unemployment Joseph: Part 2: Rise to Fame Reflections on Genesis 39-41 “A good man will do good wherever he is, and will be a blessing even in bonds and banishment; for the Spirit of the Lord is never bound nor banished.” Joseph had been sold as a slave by his brothers.   His arrogance and favoritism by his father had been his downfall.   The dreams God gave him were misunderstood.   What happened during this period to reform Joseph’s character?   How did he become the righteous man that we encounter in Potiphar’s house? His life as a slave was so exemplary that he rose to prominence in the eyes of everyone who knew him.   His character as a righteous man grew in the midst of slavery which enabled him to become Potipar’s personal servant and head of household.   He wasn’t bad looking either.   This was something that Mrs. Potiphar t...

10th in a series on how men and women in the Bible deal with waiting, disappointment and unemployment Joseph Part 1: A Career Ending Episode Reflections on Genesis 37 Many careers have ended through acts of indiscretion.   The names, Northam, Fairfax and Herring may be remembered not for their performance in public service but their foolish stunts.   The young are often guilty of unwise deeds but their behavior reflects directly upon their parents, teachers, coaches…those, though not entirely to blame, should have had a positive influence upon them.   As we reflect on the biblical story of Joseph, one has to wonder if his upbringing by his father, Jacob, was not partly to blame for the treatment he received at the hands of his brothers. Joseph had some dreams, which we, with 20/20 hindsight know their prophetic purpose. At the time they were just dreams, but the way in which he told them infuriated his brothers because Joseph, the favored ch...

9th in a series on how men and women in the Bible deal with waiting, disappointment and unemployment Jacob and Esau: Short Term Gain Over Long Term Loss Reflections on Genesis 25:19-34 My brother, Rob, and his wife had twins for their first children.   Rob used to ask parents with only one infant what they did with all their time.   Imagine getting ready for your first child and then the news comes…and you have to multiply everything by two.   And of course, my friends who had quintuplets….un-imagineable.   In the story from Genesis 25, Isaac and Rebekah have waited twenty years for their first child.   Rebekah was initially barren…a trait shared by her mother-in-law.   This becomes one of the first opportunities for the couple to demonstrate their faith.   And, like my brother and his wife, Isaac and Rebekah get a double blessing.   But also a blessing with a prophecy.   “Two nations are in your womb, and t...

8 th in a series on Men and Women in the Bible dealing with waiting, disappointment and unemployment. The Good Life Reflections on Matthew 5:1-12 We all want the good life.   If we interviewed the average American they might conclude that the good life is made up of three things:   1) Good health, 2) Enough money to do what I want and 3) Good relationships with family and friends.   What if we were told that these things are nice but not the essence of life, but secondary?   How would we find out what truly makes up a life that is good?   And is there enough time on this planet to discover these things? Jesus came to this earth two thousand years ago and his visit is still affecting the existence of every human being because he presented answers to the above questions.   In the Gospel according to Matthew in chapter 5 Jesus delivers what has come to be called “The Beatitudes”.   Statements that shook up the people then and con...

7 th in a series on Men and Women in the Bible dealing with waiting, disappointment and unemployment. Scripture: Matthew 4:18-22 Would I Have Been Chosen for This Job? Jesus chose his disciples.   That doesn’t sound so unusual except that 2,000 years ago, potential disciples applied with certain Rabbis hoping to be accepted as their students.   Not too different from today’s employment picture.   Also, the ones Jesus chose: Simon, Peter, Andrew, James and John, were not looking for a career change.   They were fishermen, working in the open sea, mending nets, dealing daily with weather and selling their catch to retail merchants. Jesus used a play on words in order to draw the men in.     “Come, follow me,”  Jesus said,  “and I will send you out to fish for people.”   Pretty catchy huh?   I wonder if Jesus worked with a branding expert before he went out and tried it on people.   Maybe, being a carpenter him...