Steve Aves - My Thoughts #ChristianSteve Aves - My Thoughts #Christianhttps://www.steveaves.com/blogs/tag/christianSun, 08 Mar 2026 14:48:21 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Maundy Thursday ]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/Maundy-Thursday-StoryMaundy Thursday thought.]]>

The Plot to Kill Jesus

1 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover  was near. 2 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people.

3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; 4 he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. 5 They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present.


The Preparation of the Passover


7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.” 9 They asked him, “Where do you want us to make preparations for it?” 10 “Listen,” he said to them, “when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” ‘ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.” 13 So they went and found everything as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.


The Institution of the Lord’s Supper


14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves, 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. 22 For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” 23 Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.

Luke 22:1-23 (NRSVue Strong's Bible)

 

]]>Thu, 28 Mar 2024 08:13:51 -0600<![CDATA[What does Maundy mean? ]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/Maundy-ThursdayMaundy Thursday thought.]]>

The term “Maundy” comes from the Latin “mandatum;” it is from a verb that means “to give” or “to order” — command. After Jesus and the disciples finished the Last Supper and walked toward Gethsemane, Jesus taught them a new commandment — “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (John 13:34).


The Last Supper


On the first Maundy Thursday, after they had eaten, Jesus gave the disciples his body and blood together with the bread and wine for the forgiveness of their sins. Called Holy Communion or the Eucharist, Lutherans believe this to be one of two sacraments — gifts from God. Most worship services focus on the meal and communion as a way to commemorate this day.

https://www.livinglutheran.org/2013/04/three-days-traditions-maundy-thursday-good-friday-vigil-easter/
]]>Thu, 28 Mar 2024 08:08:12 -0600<![CDATA[Grandson Is Confirmed at Church]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/grandson-is-confirmed-at-churchMy grandson is confirmed into St. John's Lutheran Church.]]>

I'm a proud grandfather

Below is the video of the complete church service. I have it starting at the point where the confirmands are joining in the "children's sermon." Then I marked highlights if you don't want to view the entire service, though I recommend you do.

5:11 children's sermon
14:01 sermon. Good sermon, particularly if you are not familiar with the Lutheran traditions.
34:02 confession. The confirmands AND the church make the confession of faith.
37:10 Markell is confirmed.
49:35 photos of the confirmands
]]>Mon, 04 Dec 2023 08:44:06 -0600<![CDATA[Why I Like The "harsh" Or "difficult" Old Testament Narratives]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/why-i-like-the-harsh-or-difficult-old-testament-narrativesI like the "harsh" or "difficult" Old Testament narratives. What I find refreshing is the raw honesty about people - God's people - and the struggles God and His people have with each other. There is a timelessness to it.]]>

 Why I Like The "harsh" Or "difficult" Old Testament Narratives

  I like the "harsh" or "difficult" Old Testament narratives. What I find refreshing is the raw honesty about people - God's people - and the struggles God and His people have with each other. There is a timelessness to it.

Too often, the difficult stories and events we reference get sanitized for our current sensibilities. The reality of those stories get lost. This meme is a favorite of mine, conveying how Luther's message has been "cleaned up" to make it more ..... palatable.

  My observations of human life inform me that these old "stories" are as relevant today as they were 3000 years ago. A case in point is David and Bathsheba.

It happened, late one afternoon, when David rose from his couch and was walking about on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. David sent someone to inquire about the woman. It was reported, “This is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” So David sent messengers to get her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she was purifying herself after her period.) Then she returned to her house. The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”

  What is shocking, right at the start of this story, is the protagonist is David. David, the little shepherd boy who God chose. David, the man God said was "after his own heart." David, the leader who we would least expect to commit this heinous sin.

  Well, let's look at current times for people who took advantage of others by using their exalted positions. Three come to mind; Bill Cosby, Bill Clinton, and Harvey Weinstein.

David tries to hide Bathsheba's pregnancy; he attempts to make it appear as if the child is really Bathsheba's husband's, Uriah, which does not work. As so often happens, desperation escalates the efforts and leads to worse results. David sets up Uriah to be killed in a battle. David now has committed another sin.

True to life, lying makes the original mistake worse.

Soon, David is confronted by God for his sins. David admits his sins, God then "put away your sin." David does not have to die for his sin (which is what the law prescribes for what he did), but the child will die.

Harsh. Yet, there are consequences for our actions.

Items in this narrative I find worth pondering:

  • What is different between David and Clinton, Cosby, and Weinstein? I think it is David kept God in his heart, AND REPENTED when confronted.

  • If a servant of David's had said something like, "Bathsheba is not your wife. This could go badly." would David have reconsidered? Then again, much like today, the person that knew and could have / should have, said something was afraid of consequences to them self. Kind of a damning thought, really. Inaction is as bad as action in this case.

  • Is this story one that shows the consequence of hero worship? David was a lowly shepherd boy, and was raised to be king by the people.

  • Power corrupts. A good leader must have people around them who can, and will, challenge them when needed. How do we enforce this?

I have read other thoughts and opinions about this text. There is a lot here.

Do you have any thoughts to share about it?

Text References

 2 Samuel 11:1 - 12:15 (NRSV) 

 ​​David Commits Adultery with Bathsheba
 Chapter 11
     In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
     It happened, late one afternoon, when David rose from his couch and was walking about on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. David sent someone to inquire about the woman. It was reported, “This is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” So David sent messengers to get her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she was purifying herself after her period.) Then she returned to her house. The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”
     So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the people fared, and how the war was going. Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and ​wash your feet.” Uriah went out of the king’s house, and there followed him a present from the king. But Uriah slept at the entrance of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “You have just come from a journey. Why did you not go down to your house?” Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah remain in booths; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field; shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing.” Then David said to Uriah, “Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day. On the next day, David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk; and in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
 

David Has Uriah Killed
     In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, so that he may be ​struck down and die.” As Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant warriors. The men of the city came out and fought with Joab; and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite was killed as well. Then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting; and he instructed the messenger, “When you have finished telling the king all the news about the fighting, then, if the king’s anger rises, and if he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who killed Abimelech son of Jerubbaal? Did not a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead too.’”
     So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent him to tell. The messenger said to David, “The men gained an advantage over us, and came out against us in the field; but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate. Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall; some of the king’s servants are dead; and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.” David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab, ‘Do not let this matter trouble you, for the sword devours now one and now another; press your attack on the city, and overthrow it.’ And encourage him.”
     When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son.
 

Nathan Condemns David
 But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD,
 and the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.” Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”
 Nathan said to David, “​You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the LORD: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun. For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.” David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan said to David, “Now the LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child that is born to you shall die.” Then Nathan went to his house.
   

 1 Samuel 16:11-13 (NRSV)   

 Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the ​sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he /was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.


    1 Samuel 13:13-14 (NRSV) 

 Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you. The LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever, but now your kingdom will not continue; the LORD has sought out a ​man after his own heart; and the LORD has appointed him to be ruler over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
    

]]>Sat, 12 Nov 2022 11:13:02 -0600<![CDATA[The Heart of the Gospel]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/the-heart-of-the-gospelI am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of his name. 1 John 2:12 (NRSV)]]>
    The Jewish faith at the time Jesus was on Earth contained mostly rituals and celebrations that highlighted their sins. You had to work very hard to even think you "might" be worthy in God's eye.
    Then along comes Jesus. John writes a wonderful summary of The Good News. The first paragraph does address a longstanding human trait of claiming to be more holy than another.
    Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.
1 John 2:7-11 (NRSV)

    John gets right to the heart:

    I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven on account of his name.
I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young people,
because you have conquered the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young people,
because you are strong
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
1 John 2:12-14 (NRSV)
   
Amen.
]]>Tue, 28 Jun 2022 07:24:35 -0500<![CDATA[A Good Discussion on Philemon]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/a-good-discussion-on-philemon    The podcast "Queen of the Sciences" just released a discussion on the Letter of Philemon. Listen to it HERE .   & ]]>
    The podcast "Queen of the Sciences" just released a discussion on the Letter of Philemon. Listen to it HERE.
    I posted recently on this wonderful letter.



]]>Wed, 22 Jun 2022 12:01:12 -0500<![CDATA[Philemon, A Great Letter of Persuasion]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/philemon-a-great-sales-letter ​     The letter Paul and Timothy wrote to Philemon is only 335 words in length. It is succinct, and in my opinion, a per ]]>

​     The letter Paul and Timothy wrote to Philemon is only 335 words in length. It is succinct, and in my opinion, a perfect letter of persuasion.

   Paul beseeches Philemon to welcome a slave back into his home, and without punishment. Paul offers to pay any damages the slave may have cost Philemon. Can you imagine Philemon sending Paul that bill?


    If you want to gain some background on the times this letter was written, Wikipedia has a good summary HERE.

    Since this letter is so short, I'm posting it below for easy access.


Philemon
Salutation
​ From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!


Thanks for Philemon’s Love and Faith
I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ. I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.


Paul’s Request for Onesimus
So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus — I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus, who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me. I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you. I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel. However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness. For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord. Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me. I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self. Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do. At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.


Concluding Greetings
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you. Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Philemon (NET 2nd Ed.)

]]>Wed, 08 Jun 2022 13:14:27 -0500<![CDATA[Pentecost Sunday]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/pentecost-sundayThe disciples were huddled together behind locked doors, afraid of the Roman soldiers, when suddenly, WHOOSH!]]>

​     When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
     Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
Acts 2:1-12 (NRSV)

]]>Sun, 05 Jun 2022 07:30:24 -0500<![CDATA[Easter is Not Over; or The Lectionary Continues Part 6]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/easter-is-not-over-or-the-lectionary-continues-part-6Some claim the Apostle Paul was a bit of a braggart. I disagree.]]>
    There is a fine line between boasting about yourself and informing others of your qualifications. Paul has been accused of being arrogant and a braggart, I do not believe this is true.
    I have been in a sales position most of my adult life. That experience has taught me that people need to know if I am qualified to do, or know what I claim. They want to hear what my qualifications are from me. That's a fact. Paul needed to inform the people, repeatedly, what his qualifications were - which becomes a double-edge sword with one side appearing to be bragging.
    Being a Swedish Luuuuuuutheran, I am predisposed to downplay my qualifications (see this video about Swedes HERE).
    So, when reading one of Paul's letters, we must read the whole letter to get the full context. Nothing new with that, we need to do that with everyone.

    For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
    You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.
Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, “The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.
Galatians 1:11-24 (NRSV)

I am using the Narrative Lectionary this year. You can learn about this lectionary HERE.
]]>Wed, 25 May 2022 10:49:06 -0500<![CDATA[Easter is Not Over; or The Lectionary Continues Part 5]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/easter-is-not-over-or-the-lectionary-continues-part-5    There are many reasons Jesus chose Paul (Saul) to be " my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the ]]>
    There are many reasons Jesus chose Paul (Saul) to be "my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel."
Acts 9:15 (NET 2nd Ed.), but his sales ability has got to be number 1.
    Paul inspects the city of Athens first, to see what religions he would be confronting, and the viewpoints of the Athenians.
    He praises their religious interests first, then makes his sales pitch.
    Paul is the consummate salesman.

    So Paul stood before the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects. For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone. From one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ So since we are God’s offspring, we should not think the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by human skill and imagination. Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
    Now when they heard about the resurrection from the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul left the Areopagus. But some people joined him and believed. Among them were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Acts 17:22-34 (NET 2nd Ed.)

I am using the Narrative Lectionary this year. You can learn about this lectionary HERE.
]]>Tue, 17 May 2022 07:31:04 -0500