1st and 2nd Kings
Apr 7, 2009 Old Testament Book Summaries
Today, I’m going to continue my series going through the books of the Old Testament by hitting two: 1st and 2nd Kings. Again, this makes sense because they were originally one book.
1st Kings
Author
We can’t know for certain, though much Jewish tradition attributes it to Jeremiah.
Date
Around 550 BC
Theme
This book picks up the historical account of Israel after the death of David. His son Solomon (author of 3 books of the Bible we’ll hit later) became king. The years under Solomon’s leadership were the high point for Israel. Things were going awesome, because Solomon was a super wise and powerful leader. Unfortunately, as often happens with such leaders, his heart drifted from God. His big sin was the ladies. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines, in direct violation of God’s command to him not to do so. After his reign, the kingdom split apart and started it’s decline. This whole situation is a clear picture of the consequences of disobedience.
What this book teaches me about Jesus
Solomon foreshadows Jesus by portraying Jesus’ future reign when he establishes his kingdom on Earth and through his great wisdom.
Random Thoughts
Solomon, just like David, shows how God uses imperfect people for his glory and to foreshadow his ultimate work.
2nd Kings
Author
We can’t know for certain, though much Jewish tradition attributes it to Jeremiah.
Date
Around 550 BC
Theme
Now that the kingdom of Israel has been divided, this book shows the history of each of them. It also details the history of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. It ultimately carries the same theme as 1st Kings: a clear picture of the consequences of disobedience. God’s patience wears thin and he punishes his people.
What this book teaches me about Jesus
Elijah foreshadows John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus. Elisha foreshadows Jesus in the miracles he performs and his acts of kindness.
Random Thoughts
1st Kings starts with the picture of blessing that comes with obedience. 2nd Kings ends with the picture of the consequences of disobedience.
The Team: Gary and Kim Rudnicki
Apr 6, 2009 The Team
It’s been a few weeks since I highlighted a Riv team member, so I thought I’d take some time today to highlight another couple that kicks butt around here: Gary and Kim Rudnicki. And since they are vacationing in Italy right now (jerks) they won’t see this. Bwa ha.
I remember the first time I met Gary and Kim. We bumped into each other in Detroit Metro as I was flying out to a conference and they were flying out to vacation (they love their vacations). It was a quick, “Hi, we go to Riverview, nice to meet you” kind of moment that I have a lot. A few weeks later, Gary heard I was installing hardwood floors at my house and volunteered to help me out. My first reaction was, “I hope this guy’s not a nutjob stalker type.”
He was quite the opposite. Gary is one of those guys who loves to serve in any way he can and since he knew how to do hardwood floors, he wanted to help. He worked his tail off and told me his story about how he and his fam ended up at Riv while we measured and cut and hammered away.
Long story short, again and again Gary showed himself to be an amazing leader with the greatest servant’s heart. Eventually, he ended up taking over our Welcome Team and has taken that ministry through the roof! They now have over 120 volunteers serving every single week at both of our locations.
And Gary always seems to get time on my calendar whenever he wants it. That’s probably because his wife Kim is now my assistant.
For the last year, she has worked with Dan and I to keep our lives in order. She manages my schedule, sorts through my email (which is a monumental project), and generally keeps me on task. I have heard it said that a good assistant can actually double your effectiveness and it is absolutely true. Even as a part-timer (with two bosses), she works tirelessly to make sure I am spending my time in the areas I need to me spending it.
Of course this week, all bets are off. She’s out of town and I am already feeling the pressure. Her taking vacation is actually a form of job security: I realize how valuable she is when she’s gone.
Go State!
Apr 4, 2009 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Tonight, I’ll be preaching to myself at Riv while everyone else watches the game. It will be a good test of my pride, for sure.
In honor of the Spartans, I give you a classic joke:
Bobby Knight, after living a full life, died. When he got to heaven, God was
showing him around. They came to a modest little house with a faded Indiana
University flag in the window. “This house is yours for eternity, Bob,” said
God. “This is very special; not everyone gets a house up here.”Bob felt special indeed, and walked up to his house. On his way up the
porch, he noticed another house just around the corner. It was a 3-story
mansion with a bright Green and White sidewalk, a 50 foot tall flagpole
flying an enormous Michigan State flag, and in every window, a Spartan logo.
In the front yard was a sign that said “Welcome to the Izzone.”Bob looked at God and said “God, I’m not trying to be ungrateful, but I have a
question. I won three national championships, more Big Ten titles than I can
remember and I am the winningest coach in IU basketball history.”God said, “so what do you want to know, Bob?” “Well, why does Tom Izzo get a better
house than me?” God chuckled, and said “Bob, that’s not Tom’s house…it’s mine.”
Why I Love Jesus
Apr 3, 2009 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
I just watched a tragic video online (via Michelle Malkin) that reminded me of why I love Jesus.
A 17-year-old girl was publicly flogged by the Taliban in Pakistan’s Swat Valley (yes, really) after a neighbor accused her of adultery. Her brother held her down as the Muslim adultery police whipped her. A crowd stood by, watching silencing, as she screamed face down in the dirt.
You can watch the video here.
Contrast this with Jesus’ response to the same type of situation:
John 8:1-11
Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
1st and 2nd Samuel
Apr 2, 2009 Old Testament Book Summaries
OK, I’ve been a tad slow in my Old Testament updates, because I decided I didn’t want them to rule my blogging. I’ll get to them as I can throughout the next month, but they most likely won’t happen on a daily basis.
Today, I hit two books (to make up for lost time). It also fits because the earliest Hebrew manuscripts had these two books combined into one.
1st Samuel
Author
We can’t know for certain, but it’s likely Samuel either wrote this book or at least contributed some of the source material. There’s no way to know for sure without a Way Back Machine.
Date
Most likely 930 BC or later
Theme
This book begins with the last of the great judges Samuel. He was also a prophet, priest, and awesome dude. Unfortunately, during this time the jews were clamoring to have a king. Basically, they were trying to keep up with the Joneses and the Joneses had a king. God then directs Samuel to anoint Saul as the king. That didn’t last long, though, because God then rejected Saul because he was disobedient to God and arrogant as a leader. The rest of this book shows Saul as the king, battling with God’s new choice for king: a shepherd named David.
What this book teaches me about Jesus
Samuel foreshadows Jesus in that he was a prophet and priest inaugurating a new age. It also begins to set up David as king so that Jesus will eventually be born from this kingly line.
Random Thoughts
This book covers the same material that the NBC series Kings is covering right now.
2nd Samuel
Author
We can’t know for certain, but it’s likely Samuel either wrote this book or at least contributed some of the source material.
Date
Most likely 930 BC or later
Theme
This book picks up neatly where 1st Samuel lets off. It details the 40 year reign of David as king. It shows him as a man after God’s own heart, as well as a massive failure as a murderer and adulterer.
What this book teaches me about Jesus
David foreshadows Jesus as king of Israel. God establishes the Davidic covenant which shows that the Messiah Jesus will come from his family line.
Random Thoughts
If God can use a screwball like David, he can use me. I take comfort in that.
Accountable to God
Apr 2, 2009 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
The last week or so has been slow blogging, but I have a lot floating around my brain including 1/3 of a verse has been dogging me. And since I told you at the beginning of the year that I would share more of this stuff, here I go.
[A pastor's] work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God…
-Hebrews 13:17
“Accountable to God.” – Those are daunting words.
One day, I will stand with the other elders at Riv and give an account for the souls of everyone in our church.
Maybe “daunting” isn’t a big enough word.
I once heard someone say, “if you can do anything other than being a pastor, do it.” Maybe this is what he meant.
I have been thinking a lot about the spiritual health of Riv lately. I have been praying and thinking and plotting and sweating over this crazy bunch of people. My brain started going down this path when we got the results of our annual census. Here are a few of the stats that got me going:
96% of the people at Riv consider themselves “a committed follower of Jesus Christ”
19% of the people at Riv say they read the Bible or pray 6-7 times a week
26% of the people at Riv say they give 5% or more of their income
42% of the people at Riv say they volunteer in some capacity at Riv
I’ll admit, at first these numbers really bummed me out. If 96% of the people at Riv consider themselves “committed followers of Jesus Christ,” why aren’t the other numbers higher? But then a friend of mine told me to reconsider my analysis of the data.
He encouraged me to look at these amazing stats:
75% of the people at Riv have been here less than 5 years
56% of Riv people are under 30 (not even counting the kids)
30% of Riv attenders had no church home before coming here
My friend suggested something completely different than where my brain was headed: opportunity. There are so many young people, so many new people, so many new Christians coming around here that our numbers are actually encouraging. It’s amazing to see so many people inviting their friends and plugging into our church family. In fact, 89% of the people at Riv were invited to attend the first time by a friend!
We have an awesome opportunity and great challenge ahead of us as a church. Things like our Text.RivChurch.com project and Life Groups are taking off this year, with more people than ever spending time in the Word and connecting at a deeper level with people.
Riv is my family, and we’re a crazy dysfunctional bunch. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Global Slavery
Apr 1, 2009 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Thanks to my friend Pat for sending me this article on 10 Shocking Facts About Global Slavery in 2008.
Spend some time reading the article and letting it sink in. This is one of those issues that we, as Christ-followers, should be motivated to do something about.
Here are some organizations that can help if you want to make a difference in helping to end slavery:
The Amazing Change
Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking
Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking
Free the Slaves
International Justice Mission
