William Bode

Friday, June 07, 2013 Behind the scenes, His purpose. Exodus 9 :12 "But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh," _______________________ (a more complete sampling of these passages is included below my notes.) Sheffield seen from Heeley Two things you need to know about how God sometimes works. In the short term he may ask you to do something and then he might work 'against you' while you try to do what he said. God may be doing something 'odd' in someone else's heart; You have no idea how he works. God asks Moses to talk to Pharaoh and ask Pharaoh to let his people go. Then God makes sure Pharaoh says no a lot! For a while this makes Moses very unpopular with God's people and with Pharaoh. I'm sure the Egyptians weren't very impressed either. From our perspective God sets Moses up to fail. Sure in the end it works out for the most part but along the way Moses has a lot to deal with. If you were given a job by God how long will you accept what looks and feels like failure. Many modern day followers of

Belligerent Little Man at Bingham Park by William Bode

Tuesday, June 04, 2013 Big Tax Refund Exodus 3:21-22 NLT And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed. Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughters with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth.” __________________ Another reversal jumps from the pages of the Bible. And this time it's wealth that is redistributed. Throughout Genesis I saw a lot of position, prestige and status reversals. There were some plot spoilers where riches were caused by God to multiply for the person being mistreated. The spotted, stripped, and speckled sheep and goats scenario between Jacob and Laban was a situation where God saw to it that his people weren't swindled. And that's what this is all about. God isn't arbitrarily shuffling the money deck and then dealing a bad hand to the Egyptians while

Big Up The Underdog at Bingham Park by William Bode

Saturday, June 01, 2013 God tried to kill you! Genesis 45:4-9, 24 ESV So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, "Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, "Do not quarrel on the way." ___________________ Joseph has not had an easy

Friday, May 31, 2013 Fruitful in the Land of my Affliction GEN 41:51-52 ESV Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house." The name of the second he called Ephraim, "For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." ---------------------------------------------------------- Joseph has had it hard. He was singled out by his father as the most loved of 12 boys. That's gotta hurt! The whole robe thing is embarrassing. He's sent by his Father to effectively be a nark and check up on his brothers. That's not going to make you popular. Then God gives Joseph these dreams that no one wants to hear, not even his father. He's tossed in a deep hole and then sold to his cousins as a slave and in turn sold in Egypt. Joseph does well though until a sex crazed woman lies about him. And He's tossed into another pit, jail. And again he does well and even gets a big break with the cupbearer to Pharaoh, only to be forgotten for

Thursday, May 30, 2013 Go in, listen to , lie beside, be with Genesis 38:7-10 ESV But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord , and the Lord put him to death. Then Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother." But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord , and he put him to death also. Genesis 39:5-10 ESV From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time his master's wife cast he

Wednesday, May 29, 2013 a silent tsunami crashing the shore without warning. Psalms 34:18 (NLT) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. ______________________________________________ There is a heaviness. It fills the breast and presses in like a weight. It takes your breath away but sometimes slowly crushing and other times coming like a silent tsunami crashing the shore without warning. While trying to shift it you feel guilt for a thing you can not put your finger on and everything you've ever done wrong. The burden of failures not your own coupled with inadequacies long felt and denied rush in to fill the black hole that is sucking your life away. I pray. The weight does not shift. Fear invades. Cold analysis seems painful and facts unable to change the feeling. Keep telling myself the truth. What is physical? What is mental? What is from outside myself and what is from deep within? I am not a slave to this feeling. I will not be defeated by it; it wil

Saturday, May 25, 2013 A few things you may have missed about Abraham Genesis 25:1-18 ESV 1Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.2She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country. 7These are the days of the years of Abraham's life, 175 years. 8Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, 10the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. 11After the dea

Isaac Bound at Bingham Park by William Bode

Thursday, May 23, 2013 Mistaken identity Genesis 21:1-7 ESV The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, "God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me." And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age." _________________ How many times have you heard this story? I know I've heard it many times. And it seems to me every time I've ever heard it before I've left thinking of Abraham and even more so of Sarah. And to be sure both of them are key characters. We should empathise with them. It is an exciting miracle. A v

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 A Catch-Up Day Promise I'm currently on day seven of a ten week plan to read through the first five books of the Bible written by Moses. Every week the plan has built in a catch-up day. Here's a bit about the reading plan and an invitation to join me. For today's Bible thought skip to the passage from 2 Timothy. On this catch-up day I decided to add in another reading plan and I have included information about it and have written today's note in response to it. I'll plan to read this plan once a week on the catch-up days if I'm not behind. --------------- Info and invite Old Testament – The Books of Moses 10 Weeks This simple plan will lead you through the first five books of the Old Testament. With just a few chapters to read each day, this is a great plan for individual or group study. This plan was created by YouVersion. For more information, visit: www.youversion.com bible.us/r/3a Join me in reading Old Testament – The Books of Moses: ---------------- 2TI 4:16-18 ESV At my first

Tuesday, May 21, 2013 Is God not more just and merciful than you? Genesis 18:32 ESV Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it." _____________________ Here in Genesis 18 God debates within himself the appropriateness of telling Abraham his plan to judge Sodom. (v.17) Abraham, most likely thinking of Lot, his nephew, begins to consider the consequences of judgement on Sodom. Abraham like us knew Lot was wealthy and he had many employees, and some married daughters as well as sons in laws, so from this considerable family and business surely there'd be 50 people who did not deserve to be judged. But Abraham reconsidered his original negotiation with God. He thought about things in Lot's town being pretty bad. So with determination and a bit of fear Abraham haggles with God down to a mere ten. Could this number represent just Lot and his immediate family? Whatever it was Abraham had

Annie Alligator ate Albert Ape’s apples. Billy Beaver broke Bernie Buffaloes’ bat. Charlie Chipmunk chewed Cathy Cat’s cloth. Danny Dog dented Daisy Deer’s door. Eddie Elephant eats Edith Eagle’s egg. Freddie Fish fans Faye Flounder’s fin. Gilbert Gorilla gave Gordon Goat gold. Harry Horse helped Henry Hare hoe. Ingrid Impala installed Irene Ibis’s ipad. Jerry Jackal jumped Joan Jaguar’s jaws. Kim Kangaroo kissed Kevin Koala’s kids. Larry Leopard lost Lucy Lion’s lunch. Mary Mole made Mike Meerkat’s mittens. Nancy Narwhal nursed Nicky Newt’s nose. Otis Ostrich opened Ollie Owl’s oven. Polly Parrot picked Percy Pig’s pears. Queen Quail quoted Quinton Quilfish’s quip. Randy Rabbit ran Ralf Raccoon’s race. Steve Skunk sang Sarah Shark’s song. Terry Turtle tickled Tommy Tiger’s toe. Uncle Unicorn untied Ugly Urchin’s underwear. Victor Vulture viewed Vinny Viper’s van. Walter Worm wore Wanda Wolf’s watch. Xavier Xerus x-rayed Xenos Xiphias’ xylophone. Yanny Yak yanked Young Yapok’s yarn. Z

Sunday, May 05, 2013 Trickle Down Systemic Sin Ezekiel 22:23-31 NLT Again a message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: In the day of my indignation, you will be like a polluted land, a land without rain. Your princes plot conspiracies just as lions stalk their prey. They devour innocent people, seizing treasures and extorting wealth. They make many widows in the land. Your priests have violated my instructions and defiled my holy things. They make no distinction between what is holy and what is not. And they do not teach my people the difference between what is ceremonially clean and unclean. They disregard my Sabbath days so that I am dishonored among them. Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people’s lives for money! And your prophets cover up for them by announcing false visions and making lying predictions. They say, ‘My message is from the Sovereign Lord,’ when the Lord hasn’t spoken a single word to them. Even com

Saturday, May 04, 2013 Not a fairy tale. Not a fairy tale. real people, real places, Ezekiel 20:1-3 NLT On August 14, during the seventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, some of the leaders of Israel came to request a message from the Lord. They sat down in front of me to wait for his reply. Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, tell the leaders of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: How dare you come to ask me for a message? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord , I will tell you nothing!’ ---------- The Bible is littered with times, places and people. The Bible isn't self-congratulatory of God's people nor does it paint the picture of a man-made God. The gods of men usually are all sop or all bluster. Sugarcoated gods of self aggrandisement fill the pages of fiction in cultures around the world. The one true God works in time and space although he exists beyond them. So six days and nearly three thousand years before my birthday during the reign of an exiled

Friday, May 03, 2013 A costly defeat! (First published on 12/19/11, edited and republished 03/05/13) {Middle of the last book of the Bible} Revelation 12:9 This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. ----------------------------- The Devil is real! Here in Revelation chapter 12 you get a great correlation of information, Dragon, Serpent, Devil, Satan, "fallen" Angel all referring to the same entity or being. Satan is described as this great enemy of God and accuser of us who believe in God. If you read on in the passage (included below) you'll see those people that Satan accuses are the same who defeat him by the Blood of the Lamb. You with Jesus defeat Satan! Not only is there a great enemy but He is defeated. But at a cost? We win but blood is shed. And it is the blood of Jesus and his followers' blood that is shed. The defeat of Satan is sure, but it is also sure that it is costly to defeat him. Jesu

Thursday, May 02, 2013 Excessive Sin Given Excessive Forgiveness Ezekiel 16:23-25, 42-43, 48-52, 62-63 NLT “What sorrow awaits you, says the Sovereign Lord. In addition to all your other wickedness, you built a pagan shrine and put altars to idols in every town square. On every street corner you defiled your beauty, offering your body to every passerby in an endless stream of prostitution. “Then at last my fury against you will be spent, and my jealous anger will subside. I will be calm and will not be angry with you anymore. But first, because you have not remembered your youth but have angered me by doing all these evil things, I will fully repay you for all of your sins, says the Sovereign Lord. For you have added lewd acts to all your detestable sins. As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, Sodom and her daughters were never as wicked as you and your daughters. Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. She was proud and committed detesta

Wednesday, May 01, 2013 Look for Unity. https://soundcloud.com/wkbode/sets/blog iTunes:https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/william-bode/id635644278 Ezekiel 9:4-10 NASB The Lord said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst." But to the others He said in my hearing, "Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary." So they started with the elders who were before the temple. And He said to them, "Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!" Thus they went out and struck down the people in the city. As they were striking the people and I alone was left, I fell on my face and cried out saying, "Alas, Lord God ! Are You destroying the

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 A Word Study in Abomination Audio Blog iTunes Ezekiel 7:1-9 NASB Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying, "And you, son of man, thus says the Lord God to the land of Israel, 'An end! The end is coming on the four corners of the land. Now the end is upon you, and I will send My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways and bring all your abominations upon you. For My eye will have no pity on you, nor will I spare you, but I will bring your ways upon you, and your abominations will be among you; then you will know that I am the Lord!' "Thus says the Lord God , 'A disaster, unique disaster, behold it is coming! An end is coming; the end has come! It has awakened against you; behold, it has come! Your doom has come to you, O inhabitant of the land. The time has come, the day is near-tumult rather than joyful shouting on the mountains. Now I will shortly pour out My wrath on you and spend My anger against you; judge you according to your ways and bring on you