Luke 11:1-13

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (11:11-13 NIV)

I spent this afternoon with a new friend. Through our discussion, we realized we have both experienced profound grief. Within the last few years, each of us has lost the man we loved to a sudden and tragic death. We had both prayed for the health and safety of these men, but God had another plan.

I finally said to her, "I will never be thankful for what happened to me, but I will always be thankful for what I've gained from that experience."

In prayer, we ask for things that we want and, in faith, we believe God will provide. Jesus himself says "... Ask and it shall be given to you..." (11:9 NIV)

But sometimes, we don't get the answer we would like. We pray for a promotion, but it is given to someone else. We pray for our marriage, only to have divorce papers arrive in the mail. We pray for help with an addiction, only to have a relapse.

Today's reading reassures us that God is always working in our favour. If we ask for good things, we will never be handed a 'deadly snake'. Sometimes, the answer to our prayers is not what we asked for. But God will never do us evil. He will always provide what we need most. Sometimes, those blessings are practical. And sometimes, they are the deeper, more profound blessings of peace, love, compassion, trust, strength, joy, or understanding.

Question: Look back at a time when you felt your prayers went unanswered. Can you now see other gifts God was giving you?


Tomorrow's reading: Luke 11:14-36

(Today's post written by Allison Lynn.)

Luke 10:25-42

I saw the news report this week of a 14-year-old boy in California who killed his classmate. He brought a gun to school, and shot the boy twice in the head.

We are lacking love for our neighbours.

In today's reading, Jesus answers the question: "...And who is my neighbour?" (10:29 NIV)

What follows is the tale of "The Good Samaritan", a story so classic it has become part of our everyday vernacular.

But I urge you to take your eyes off the Samaritan for a moment, and look at the traveler who received help. Under regular circumstances, the traveler would never have spoken to the Samaritan. They were from different social and religious classes. The Samaritan would have been 'impure'. They hated each other's opinion of God. They just had nothing in common.

Who is this person in your life? Who is YOUR neighbour?

- The employee who makes racist jokes. He is your neighbour.
- The woman at church who gossips about your weight. She is your neighbour.
- The bully in school who beats up your child. He is your neighbour.
- The woman on TV who spouts hatred in the name of Christianity. She is your neighbour.

I'm sure you can add more names to this list.

Jesus didn't tell us we had to LIKE our neighbour. We don't have to condone their actions, or agree with their point of view.

We are asked to LOVE our neighbour. To treat them with dignity and respect. To try and see them as children of God.

Challenge: Choose a 'neighbour' in your life who causes you anger or frustration. Pray for them every day this week. See if your feelings toward them change.


Tomorrow's reading: Luke 11:1-13

(Today's post written by Allison Lynn.)

Luke 10:1-24

"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." (10:16 NIV)

This is where we get into the stickier parts of Christianity.

Most people are willing to agree that Jesus was a great man and a great teacher. Then in a separate breath, they'll give their opinions about God, and in another sentence, they'll list their comments, and complaints, about those in ministry.

It's the inter-connectivity that seems to bother people. Many people insist on separating Jesus from those spreading the Gospel message, and even on separating Jesus from God.

I understand their frustration. Those who preach the Gospel are human and therefore, flawed, so it's easy to find fault with them. Once this happens, it's easier to dismiss their message.

I also understand the desire to separate Jesus from God. How can God be human without being flawed? How can the God who killed thousands in the Red Sea be the same as Jesus who loves and forgives without reserve? Why can't I just believe in God, or just believe in Jesus?

There are no easy answers for any of these questions. But Jesus IS asking us to consider that accepting one means accepting all.

Imagine Jesus as employer, and those preaching the message as His employees:

If I make a phone call on behalf of my boss, and I am treated rudely, isn't my boss also being treated rudely?

Imagine God as parent, and Jesus as child:

A child is rejected from the school choir. Don't the parents also feel that sting?

Yes, these are very simple examples, but I encourage you to explore, and seek to understand, the relationships between Jesus, God, and those who speak His word. It will only deepen your understanding of God's all-embracing love.

Question: How can your view of Jesus, God, and those who preach the Gospel become more holistic?


Tomorrow's reading: Luke 10:25-42

(Today's post written by Allison Lynn.)

Luke 9:37-62

"Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you." (9:49-50 NIV)

Wow, Christianity isn't even a religion yet, and we already have denominational snobbery!

How many times have you been guilty of this:

"I don't like that preacher on TV. He smiles too much."

"I can't stand that church on the corner. They have a rock band instead of a choir."

"I hate the way they lead their services. All that kneeling drives me crazy!"

We are blessed with a multitude of churches in North America. No matter your age, culture, lifestyle, or musical taste, you can find a home church that fits you to a "t".

But often times, we don't see this for the blessing it is. We see those "other" churches or preachers as doing something wrong. Because they don't preach or sing or pray in a certain way, we feel their message must be wrong too. We refuse to see Jesus in what they are doing.

Jesus is asking His disciples to see beyond their own group. He realizes that the future of the church comes from a variety of people taking up the Gospel message and spreading it to different people in different ways.

Challenge: Visit a church of a different denomination this Sunday. Despite a different worship style, what things do they have in common with your home church?


Tomorrow's reading: Luke 10:1-24

(Today's post written by Allison Lynn.)

Luke 9:18-36

"Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, 'Who do the crowds say I am?' They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.' 'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?' Peter answered, 'The Christ of God.' " (9:18-20)

I heard this testimony recently: For many years, Cynthia went to church and heard sermons based on the Bible. These preachers told her she was sinful and, therefore, evil, and without major changes in her life, she was destined to live an earthly life in turmoil, and an eternal life in hell. Cynthia decided that God didn't love her, and the Bible was clearly a book of hate.

But then she was challenged: "Read the Bible for yourself". So she started with the Gospels - the stories of Jesus, who loved regardless of race, gender, or social standing. She read Paul's letters - testimonies of lives changed by encountering the Living God. She even ventured into the Old Testament, and learned how God had loved His people, even before time began.

Cynthia had been listening to the Biblical opinions of others, third hand interpretations, coloured with personal bias and intentions. But in reading the Bible for herself, she learned that God is love, and the Bible is a love story.

In today's reading, Jesus asks His apostles to shape their own opinions. The crowd has their own thoughts about His true nature. But Jesus was essentially saying, "You know me better than anyone - Use that knowledge and make up your own minds."

Like Peter, each of us is invited into a personal relationship with Jesus. We have the opportunity to get to know Him through prayer, the Bible, hymns, and personal experience. The world will always have differing opinions on the concept of Jesus. Even Christians will have mixed thoughts on the nature of God.

But Jesus is asking us to step away from the crowd, and discover Him for ourselves.

Question: What are some secular ideas about Jesus? What are your personal thoughts on the nature of God?


Tomorrow's reading: Luke 9:37-62

(Today's post written by Allison Lynn.)

Luke 9:1-17

Why should we care about the miracles?

Jesus cured the blind, the deaf, and the lame. He rose people from the dead. It's an impressive read, but in a practical sense, how are we supposed to use these stories in our everyday lives?

A few years ago, the youth of our home church were inspired by the miracle in today's reading - the feeding of the 5000.

They called a local food bank, and discovered that for only 50 cents, they could provide a meal for a child.

So they brought this challenge to all of us in the church:

"Help us feed 5000 children."

People reached into their pockets and wrote cheques. Church groups gave donations. A young man organized a night of entertainment and donated the proceeds.

In the end, the youth surpassed their goal. They were able to feed SIX thousand!

Perhaps the miracles are there for many reasons - to show the glory of God; to show the Father working through the Son; to show the God of the Old Testament living in the God of the New Testament.

And perhaps, sometimes, they are there to encourage us to create miracles of our own.

Challenge: Find a way to feed someone in your community today.


Monday's reading: Luke 9:18-36

(Today's post written by Allison Lynn.)

Luke 8:40-56

Today's reading tells the story of two kinds of faith.

The first is the Woman in the crowd. She doesn't need to talk to Jesus or be touched by Him. She believes she'll be healed simply by touching the hem of His garment.

Her faith proves true, and she is healed.

The second is Jairus, who hears the shocking news of his daughter's death. Jesus reminds Jairus to believe. The crowd of mourners have no faith in Jesus; they actually laugh in His face.

But Jairus holds onto his faith, and his daughter is raised from the dead.

Sometimes, we are told that we must have absolute faith for Jesus to act in our lives. This was the faith of the Woman in the crowd. It is wonderful to have complete confidence in the power of Jesus, and we will always be rewarded for such faith.

But sometimes, faith is hard. When we receive bad news - a sudden death, an unexpected illness, a lost opportunity - our hearts break. We wonder where God is in the mess. We struggle with an all-loving God who allows such pain in our lives.

But this is where God is asking us to hold on to Him. "Don't be afraid, just believe..." (8:50 NIV). God can use any bit of faith you have. Even if those around you are laughing at the 'preposterous' idea of God, He can reach through the hurt, even reach past death, to bring healing and new life.

As the old song goes:

Only believe. Only believe.
All things are possible, if you only believe.

(Paul Rader)


Question: When in your life have you struggled to hold on to your faith?


Tomorrow's reading: Luke 9:1-17

(Today's post written by Allison Lynn.)

Luke 8:22-39

Today's reading tells the story of Legion, a man possessed by demons and driven out of society.
"For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs." (8:27)

In today's world, the idea of demonic possession seems dramatic, something from the world of film and fantasy. We can't relate to it in an everyday sense.

Yet for millions of people, living with darkness is an everyday issue. Depression can isolate us from society. Addiction, of any kind, can blind us to the love of friends and family. Mental illness can drive people to living on the street. Anger, guilt, or shame can lock us into cages of resentment and fear.

What happens next in Legion's life is a story of freedom, of a man trapped in darkness and torture, brought into a new life by God.

Legion is literally surrounded by tombs, and visual symbol of death, yet Jesus reaches past all signs of death and brings Legion into a new lease on life.

If Jesus can battle these demons, don't you think he can do the same for you?

A few weeks from now, we'll read another story of new life, set amongst the tombs...

Question: How are your "demons" keeping you from living life to the fullest? Have you asked Jesus for new life?


Tomorrow's reading: Luke 8:40-56

(Today's post written by Allison Lynn.)

Luke 8:4-21

"Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.' He replied, 'My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice'." (8:19-21 NIV)

In a contemporary film, this is where one of the Apostles would say, "Burn!". I was always appalled at this small story. How could Jesus dismiss His brothers, and especially His mother, in such a detached fashion?

I didn't realize that Jesus wasn't cutting off His family at all. Instead, he was expanding His family, and inviting us all to become members.

The song, "Family of God", by Bill and Gloria Gaither, contains these lines:

You will notice we say 'brother and sister' 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these folks are so near.

Maybe you're part of a church where they literally call each other Brother and Sister? Growing up, this was never part of my church vernacular. But as I started visiting other churches and ministries, I discovered I have a huge 'family' of brothers and sisters all across the country, ready to love me, pray for me, share in my joy, and carry me through hard times. Who does that better than family?

Many people are not blessed with a loving home life. For them, the concept of 'family' is tainted with pain or anger or shame. But Jesus invites us to join His own family, not by familial blood, but by a shared invitation to accept and live in the light of God's word.

The chorus of the song says it so well:

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family, The Family of God.

We are never forced to join this family. We may leave anytime we wish, but we will never be asked to leave. We have free-will in making the decision, but the invitation is always open.
It's simply up to us to accept it.

Question: Have your accepted the invitation into the Family of God? If so, how are you caring for your Brothers and Sisters?


Tomorrow's reading: Luke 8:22-39

(Today's post written by Allison Lynn.)

Luke 7:36 - 8:3

Today's reading recounts the story of the woman who anointed the feet of Jesus with oil.

The host of the dinner party, a Pharisee, says, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner." (7:39 NIV)

Clearly, it is the Pharisee who doesn't know his guest.

Jesus knew exactly was kind of life this woman was leading. If asked, He probably could have recounted her sins in exact details.

But the truth is that He also knew "what kind of woman" she was - He knew that she was a child of God, made in the image of God. He knew that, being human, she was flawed and because of that, she had sinned.

But most importantly, Jesus loved her, and knew that she was worthy of redemption.

We are never beyond the love of God. There is no sin, no action, no mistake so big, or even so small, that it cannot be forgiven and erased by God.

Question: Do you know you can ask God for forgiveness?


Tomorrow's reading: Luke 8:4-21

(Today's post written by Allison Lynn.)

Luke 7:17-35

John sent 2 of his followers to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" (7:19 NIV)

John was a man born to a mission. His life's destiny was clear: "And he will go on before the Lord ... to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (1:17 NIV)

But now, John seems unsure. He doesn't know if Jesus is "the one". Despite a family connection, he doesn't even want to ask Jesus in person. Instead, he sends others to find out.

Jesus has already performed many miracles of healing, yet John is still unsure.

Perhaps John wasn't receiving a clear message from God? He knew that God was sending someone great, but at this point in time, he had no clear definition of who that person might be.

Every time God wanted something, He seemed to send clear signals - A burning bush for Moses. A still small voice for Elijah. Even an angel for John's father, Zechariah.

Where was John's clear signal? Why was God not sending him an angel?

Perhaps, in this moment, God was sending a message for all His children, for generations to come.

Jesus is God. You don't need an angel or a storm or any other sign to define His presence. You don't need an intermediary or translator to speak to Him.

God is who God is. Each of us, as individuals, has the ability to contact Jesus, to connect to Him, and to feel his healing power and grace. What an amazing gift from a loving God to His children!

Question: Have you tried to seek God through a third party? Or did you know that you can contact God directly, simply by opening your heart and calling out His name?


Tomorrow's reading: Luke 7:36 - 8:3

(Today's post written by Allison Lynn)

Luke 7:1-17

‘My daughter doesn’t come to Church anymore. She just became engaged to a wonderful young man. He doesn’t believe in religion, but they want to get married in your Church, and wondered if you would agree to marry them’, asked the bride’s mother, as she passed me a plate full of sandwiches at a post service reception.

She must have felt the same dilemma as the Roman officer, who sent his Jewish friends to ask Jesus if he could come and make a request of Jesus.

It happens all the time in life. I understand that before a person receives an official invitation from the Queen to be her representative, the person is contacted by a subordinate to ensure that the invitation will not be refused. I guess one cannot say no to the Queen.

Maybe the Roman officer was following his own army’s protocol, or perhaps he felt that his Jewish friend would have more sway over Jesus… after all, Jesus was ‘one of their kind’.

Whatever the case, Jesus came with the Jewish friend, met the Roman officer and cured his servant ‘from a distance’.

This incident showed the awesome healing power of God, as well as showing that God is the God of all people, and not just of one race or class of individuals.

Because God/Jesus healed from a distance, it assures me that Jesus does not have to be physically present to perform God’s good works.

I also see this incident as a foreshadowing of the cross and resurrection. It may have been true, that prior to Jesus’ coming, people needed a hierarchy of intermediaries to approach God. But Jesus removed all the barriers, so that we could approach God on our own and met face to face with our God. The symbol of this happening was the curtain in the Temple being ripped ‘asunder’ at the moment of Christ’s death. No more were humans denied access to God, Jesus had paved the way for us to go to God.

Question – do you still have ‘curtains’ preventing you from meeting face to face with God?

Monday's reading: Luke 7:18-35

(Today's post submitted by guest writer Rev. Hollis Hiscock.)

Luke 6:17-49

‘Perfect wife’ was the label button attached to the Valentine card I presented to my wife this year. She worn it around the house, but was reluctant to show the outside world my impression of her.

‘I’m the prefect husband’ declared the Birthday card she gave to me several years ago. Like her, I was shy to let others know what she thought of me, so I attached to my lamp in my personal study to remind me of her estimation of me.

Perfect wife and perfect husband buttons seem to be a good backdrop, as we read what Luke called ‘the Sermon on the Plains’ and Matthew ‘the Sermon on the Mount’.

In Luke’s version Jesus lays out for us what He expects of His ‘perfect’ followers.

Jesus reaches to ‘perfection’ when He tells His followers. ‘Be you perfect as your God is perfect’.

For Jesus ‘perfection’ means……

v Being happy when people hate you, reject you, insult you and say that you are evil because you follow God’s ways. Be glad .. you will receive a great reward in heaven.

v Love your enemies.

v Do good to those who hate you.

v Bless those who curse you.

v Pray for those who mistreat you.

v Do not judge others.

v Forgive others.

v Do not condemn others.

v Give to others.

There are more directives in Jesus’ ‘Sermon on the Plains’ written in Luke’s Gospel, but the above list is enough to consider if we want to be God’s ‘perfect people’.

As I read the above and apply it to my own life, I give thanks that my God is a God of love, God of mercy, God of forgiveness and God of hope. It keeps me striving to be the ‘perfect God person’.

Question – Comparing the list to your own life, where are you on the road to perfection?

Tomorrow's reading: Luke 7:1-17

(Today's post submitted by guest writer Rev. Hollis Hiscock.)

Luke 5:33 - 6:16

Jesus spent the whole night in prayer before he selected the 12 men (unfortunately no women) to be his disciples. We could ask if Jesus made the right choices, since one betrayed Him, another denied Him and a third wanted God’s peaceful kingdom to be brought in by military force.

Despite all that, they seemed to get the work done.

A favourite story of mine is Jesus going back to heaven and God asking, ‘What preparation have you done for your work to continue?'

Jesus replied, ‘I have appointed 12 disciples’.

God asked, ‘How are they doing?’

Jesus responded, ‘Not too badly, some have not worked out the way I expected. One denied me, one betrayed me and the others lost their nerve. But I believe they will be successful’.

‘Why would they be successful?, asked God.

Jesus replied, ‘Because they have you’.

In the sixteenth century, St, Teresa of Avila may have been pondering the same question, and told her followers, ‘Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours, yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion is to look out to the earth, yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good and yours are the hands by which God is to bless us now.’ Today, we can do the same for the same reason. Question – How are your hands, feet, eyes and whole body doing what God wants you to do in God’s world?


Tomorrow's reading: Luke 6:17-49

(Today's post submitted by Rev. Hollis Hiscock.)

Luke 5:1-32

Nearly every person who has ever gone fishing, whether in brook, lake or ocean, relates stories of the ‘big one that got away’. Often the size of the fish grows with the number of times the story is repeated since the episode occurred, or with the passage of time.

The ANGLICAN DIGEST is a wonderful magazine. In the current issue, a story called ‘Catch of a lifetime’ tells about a boy and his father fishing from the dock of his father’s cabin on an island in the middle of a New Hampshire lake. It was late evening and they were fishing for sunfish and perch with worms. The boy tied a lure on his fishing line and watched as the silver coloured lure reflected the light of the moon and rippled the water.

Bam! His pole doubled over and he struggled fiercely with the huge fish. When he finally landed the fish on the dock, marveling at its size and wanting to tell everybody about his ‘prize catch’, he noticed it was a bass. His father checked his watch and it was 10 PM, two hours before the opening of the season to catch bass.

The father said that his son had to release the fish. They debated the issue and eventually the boy obeyed his father, and released the fish back into the welcoming water. The boy trusted his father to do the right thing, and he did.

Luke tells a ‘fishy story’. The disciples had fished all night, and caught nothing. In the morning, as they were cleaning their nets, Jesus used their boat to talk to the people. Then Jesus suggested that they go fishing. The disciples probably were looking forward to food and a rest before enduring the back breaking work of more fishing.

The response came from Simon Peter, who was not always in good humour. He replied, ‘Master, we toiled all night, but IF YOU SAY SO, I WILL LET DOWN THE NET’. They did and caught so much fish that they filled their boats and the boats of others until ‘the boats were about to sink’.

The BOY and the DISCIPLES each had to trust. Sometimes, in our lives we have to place our trust in God (Father) to do the right thing and be amazed at the results.

Question – When did you trust God and what happened?

Tomorrow's reading: Luke 5:33 - 6:16

(Today's post submitted by Rev. Hollis Hiscock.)

Luke 4:14-44

Luke, known as ‘the Physician’, emphasizes the healing power of Jesus, the Great Healer.

This chapter pits Jesus’ home town of Nazareth against Jesus’ adopted town of Capernaum as two locations vying to be the healing capitals of Jesus’ ministry.

Capernaum wins hands down.

It appears that in his own town Jesus is not accepted, and therefore healing cannot take place. When Jesus pointed out to his friends and relatives, who had known Him since he came back from Egypt as a young lad, that His healing powers were somehow restricted because of their lack of faith, they became very angry, and even attempted to toss Him over a cliff.

However, faith seemed much stronger in Capernaum, which Jesus established as the centre for His mission. There Jesus healed many people, showing he had control over ‘demons’ by ordering them to ‘come out’ of the person, as well as laying His hands on individuals with ‘various kinds of sickness’ and healing them.

It would appear that healing has two requirements, the power of Jesus and a believing recipient. Healing could not take place unless both were present.

The same may be true today.

Maybe for God’s healing power to be effective in us we have to believe it will work and that God’s power is present. Even as I write this, I realize that healing can only happen within the bounds of physical limitations, and that healing may occur in our minds and souls in isolation from our bodies.

For example, the person who accepts their physical illness as a terminal condition, but whose mind and soul are at peace, both inwardly with oneself and outwardly with God and other people, may be experiencing the full benefits of healing.

Question – On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate the ‘healing health’ of your body, mind and soul (spirit)?

Tomorrow's reading: Luke 5:1-32

(Today's post submitted by guest writer Rev. Hollis Hiscock.)

Luke 3:21-4:1-13

Luke takes us in these few verses from a baptism, back through the history of known time to a rather fierce confrontation between good and evil.

To offer a comment would be an endless exercise. So I will mention three observations for you to think about.

1. At the baptism, Jesus and maybe others heard the words, ‘this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased’. There was a wedding, and I was invited to the reception. The time for speeches came, and we listened and tried to pay attention to the endless inappropriate jokes. Then the father of the bride rose from his chair to speak. He walked behind the head table and stood behind his daughter – the bride. His smile covered the room, and when he opened his mouth to speak, his lips quivered and he struggled to regain control. We expected this would be an emotional moment for him, because Bob was not afraid to show his emotions. After a minute or so, he smiled again, put his hands on his daughter’s shoulders and said, ‘this is my beloved daughter in whom I am well pleased’. I hope that God looks upon me, and you, and speaks the same words.
2. Genealogies are never very exciting, so this section of chapter 3 of Luke’s Gospel is not well read. In fact, most of us get tired of reading ‘the son of’ and the names become clouded in gibberish after a while. Yet, in the midst of it all is a very pivotal point for Luke and his writings. ‘The son of Obed, the son of Boaz’ provides insight into a central truth of Luke’s message. You see, Obed is the son of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:13-17), and Ruth was a Gentile. Here Luke is explaining the universality of God. Jesus is the God of all people.
3. I once saw the Temptations of Jesus acted by two mimes. The individuals were so convincing that you were caught up in their performance, and you received their message without a word being spoken. Standing on the edge of the desert (wilderness) where Jesus spent His 40 days fasting, I could imagine what it was like to go 40 days without food. Luke describes the obvious when he says after 40 days without food, Jesus was ‘famished’ … so true. Then in that weakened condition is when the evil one or tempter or devil (whatever you prefer) decided to go for broke. We know the outcome, and we need to look at similar situations in our own lives. But we also need to heed the warning in the last sentence. Like Jesus, after we have been weakened by physical deprivation and put through some difficult choices, we may finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and think that we are home free, but we are not. As the last few words remind us, ‘when the devil finished tempting Him in every way, he left Him FOR A WHILE. As they say in the fight game, ‘always keep your guard up’.

Question – If God were to say to you ‘this is my beloved daughter/son in whom I am well pleased’, what would God be pleased about in your life?


Tomorrow's reading: Luke 4:14-44

(Today's post submitted by guest writer, Rev. Hollis Hiscock.)

Luke 3:1-20

John the Baptist was the prototype for Christian preachers.

He had the three point system down pat, with a kicker at the end.

First – THE MESSAGE - John was pointed and succinct. He repeated often to any one who would listen – ‘Turn away from (repent of) your sins, be baptized and God will forgive you’.

Then came an opportunity for a RESPONSE to the message. ‘Crowds of people’ came out to be baptized, but John never relented in revealing that God expected more from people than name dropping or status or tradition. Individuals had to respond for themselves. They seemed lost, and asked John, ‘what are we to do?’.

Now that is a question every preacher waits for. Like John, when the opportunity is presented, we recommend ACTION. In John’s case, he preached an outreach program to share our good fortunes (clothing and food) with the less fortunate. He suggested honesty and integrity in business and personal dealings, and suggested that his listeners be content with what they had, rather than be envious of others.

Circumstances have not altered much, as preachers in the 21^st century follow a similar pattern, namely the MESSAGE, the RESPONSE and the ACTION.

Sometimes our preaching can get us into hot water, or as in John’s case, prison. There is always a price to pay, and it is often worth it.

Question – what is your RESPONSE to the MESSAGE and the recommended ACTION?

Monday's reading: Luke 3:21 - 4:13

(Today's post submitted by guest writer, Rev. Hollis Hiscock)

Luke 2:1-51

This rather long section is so familiar that we can easily lose some of the more interesting and significant details. We could be ‘throwing out the baby in the bathwater’ as it were.

So here are some of my observations which you may want to ponder.

If Jesus had been born in a castle or a palace or a temple or a church, would the shepherds have been as anxious to leave their ‘flock watching’ to go and see the baby?

Mary did not have the same hassle as her cousin Elizabeth over the naming of her child. She followed what the angel had revealed to her when they met ‘at the well’.

Simeon is one person I would like to interview in heaven. He seems to have been such a great model to follow in one’s faith and witness of the God-expected life. Yet here is this wonderful holy human being telling these new parents, after singing this marvellous song of praise, that their child would be responsible for ‘destruction and salvation’ of people. The latter, yes, but destruction … what parent wants to hear that about their infant? And yet, when we snuggle our infants in our arms to bring them security and comfort, we never know what the future will be.

Anna is another person I would like to meet in heaven. I feel I have met others like Anna on my journey… people who have served God through their faith and witness. I think of one in particular whose faith was as real to her as the food she consumed to sustain her body. Her dedication to the Church never wavers and she is always there doing what needs to be done and caring for what needs to be cared for .. even when illness seems almost too much or her to bear. She is my Anna of 2008 (and many years before).

I would like to be inside the heads of those teachers as they listened to this 12 year old boy waxing eloquently with them about faith, tradition and God. Some, no doubt were impressed, but others were relieved when the parents came to take the smart aleck home. Afterwards the thinking ones must have pondered in their minds what he had said.

Like his description of John, Luke allows Jesus to grow up in a sentence filled with potential.. ‘Jesus grew in body and wisdom, gaining favour with God and people’.

Question – How does the last sentence – growing in body and wisdom, gaining favour with God and people – resonate with where you are in your life?

Tomorrow's reading: Luke 3:1-20

(Today's post submitted by guest writer, Rev. Hollis Hiscock.)

Luke 1:39-80

Two important events occur in this chapter.

First, Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth. This would have taken considerable effort, and would be rare for a pregnant woman in Mary’s era. Yet Mary is destined to go. When she walks into the house, Elizabeth greets her with the words, 'the baby within me jumped with gladness'.

What a revelation! One which could startle even modern day science. One baby (the future John) in the womb recognizing another baby (the future Jesus) in a separate womb.

Could the embryo John know that the Messiah or Saviour was only centimetres away physically as their mothers greeted each other with a hug? And yet, they were worlds apart. The relationship could be visualized as 3 stages of existence - the individual worlds of two wombs and the world into which the two wombs would eventually deliver their precious cargoes. Should this be possible, what are the implications for human interaction and communications from womb to womb?

The second event centred upon the naming of Elizabeth's baby. This was a sacred occasion and certain traditional protocols had to be followed. She wanted to name the baby JOHN; the relatives tried to dissuade her, and to call him after his father (the right thing to do). Eventually, the father Zechariah settled the bickering by writing the name JOHN upon a slate.

Maybe at that moment Zechariah understood why he had not been able to talk for many months. Now when he agreed to obey God, his life changed, and perhaps he finally comprehended what God had chosen him and Elizabeth to do, even though he may not have understood why it was being done.

Occasionally in our own lives we look back and understand why something happened to us months or years before. Maybe we even comprehend that God was guiding us in a certain direction to accomplish God’s work. And we, like Zechariah, experience a ‘eureka moment’ when the lights go on in our minds (able to speak again) and we understand the ‘why’ of what had happened. Maybe we even sing God’s praises (or thanksgiving) for the revelation.

Then in one sentence, Luke covered John's growth and his heading into 'the desert' as to prepare for the next task God would assign the one who would be nicknamed 'the Baptist'.

Question - How as God guided your life to where you are now?

Tomorrow's reading: Luke 2:1-51.

(Today's post submitted by guest writer, Rev. Hollis Hiscock.)

Luke 1:1-38

Lent begins today – Ash Wednesday – and in approximately 40 days we will gather in a variety of settings to celebrate Easter, with the triumphant shout ‘ALLELUIA, CHRIST IS RISEN … THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED, ALLELUIA.

Later in the Gospel, John and Jesus will come together again as they proclaim the message of God’s Messiah. But the opening sets the scene of the ‘announcement’ of their births through their respective parents.

In each case, God works through ordinary people to perform God’s acts of wonder. A priest carrying out his ordinary tasks in the temple in Jerusalem and a teenager doing her daily chore of carrying water from the village well in Nazareth are selected by God to be the father and mother of John and Jesus.

It is interesting that God ‘worked’ through the husband, Zechariah (his wife Elizabeth would bear John in her old age), to convince him that God’s plan was legitimate and doable. In Mary’s case, the teenager had to give her personal consent to bear God’s child, Jesus. God does move in mysterious ways to perform God’s greatness.

So we start at the very beginning, as the song relates, which is a very good place to start.

Question for you – ‘can this first day of Lent be a new beginning for you?’

Tomorrow's reading: Luke 1:39-80

(Today's post submitted by guest writer, Rev. Hollis Hiscock.)

Welcome to Passport to Life!

Lent has traditionally been a time of "giving up". Be it chocolate, smoking, or soda pop, giving up a vice or special treat reminds of us the sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross.

This Lent, we encourage a "taking up".

Take up the Bible, and join us in a journey through the Gospel of Luke.

We will be following the "Passport to Life - A 40-Day Study of the Gospel According to Saint Luke". Written by Olivia Lee and sponsored by St. John's York Mills Church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, this study takes the Gospel of Luke in small daily readings, and encourages quiet study and personal reflection.

Through the community of the internet, we encourage you to join us in this Lenten journey.

You may read any translation of the Bible.
You may visit us every day, or every few days.
You may join us from any city, province, state, or country.
You may comment on our blog, or simply write your thoughts in your private journal.

This Lent, join us in walking with Jesus towards Jerusalem, towards the cross, and towards the New Life of Easter Morning!