Author: Tim Ehrhardt

I'm just a common ordinary pastor, chaplain, father, grandfather, and dog owner who loves the smell of a genuine leather Bible and the aroma of its message. I'm on a quest to track down the best Bibles, how to best read and use them, and to discover the encouragement inside.

Luke 19:41-44

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
             Soon Ash Wednesday and the six weeks of Lent will be upon us.  It is a season of understanding our mortality, eschewing our pride, and repentance through fasting and spiritual disciplines.  If we care to walk in the way of Jesus, we will be attentive to how he responded to sin and degradation around him.  When he first entered Jerusalem after his “triumphal entry” Jesus did not exult in his kingly status, but broke down and wept.
             There is not any more peace today than there was in the days Christ walked the earth.  While we take triumphal stances and proclaim biblical authority against all the perceived evils of the world (and they seem to shift with whatever particular Christian group you are in) there remains a profound lack of lament in the tradition of Jesus.  Indeed, there is so little grieving over the fact that Christians do not grieve that perhaps our doom looms larger and closer than we think.
             Until we can weep with Jesus over the things in the church and the world that divide us and bring animosity, we can expect only the judgment to come.  Until grace becomes the word and the practice that truly characterizes our identity and permeates everything we do, there will be a Christ who stands and sheds tears, grieving over our lost condition.
             Grieving God, I stand with you in your concern for the church and the world.  Open my eyes and ears to my own pride and selfishness so that I might turn from sin and move toward grace.  Create revival among your people, and may it begin with me.  Amen.

Psalm 50:1-6

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            Today’s psalm begins to anticipate the upcoming Transfiguration Sunday.  As Jesus was changed on the mountain with the on-looking disciples, we get a glimpse of Christ in all his glory.  We see that our Lord Jesus is worthy to be king of all creation.  Therefore we may throw all of our trust, commitment, and adoration onto the rightful ruler who is in control of everything.
             So, then, this psalm helps prepare us by not only seeing the sovereign God in a position of majesty but we can know that Jesus is the mighty Judge.  The implication of the psalm is that since God is high above the entire universe that we as his covenant people have the responsibility of remaining faithful to his stipulations.  
             Wherever there is an anemic or apathetic devotion to God, there you will find an inability to see God in his glory.  In other words, theology is the answer for people who either cannot or will not devote themselves fully to the God of the Bible.  We serve a big God, and even seeing a sliver of that hugeness is enough to propel us through life until King Jesus returns.  Perhaps we all need, like the disciples of old, a mountain top experience in which we have a vision of what God is really like.
             Mighty God, the One who does not keep silent but commands wind and waves, fire and storm, let me see a glimpse of your glory so that I might know you not only in my head but my heart, as well.  Amen.

Psalm 102:12-28

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            I grew up on an Iowa farm.  In the winter, after a big snow, my Dad would get out the tractor and plow the long driveway.  At the end of the snow push would always be a huge snow pile.  That was my brother’s and my cue to spend the twenty minutes bundling up to go outside and play King of the Hill.  Since I was the little brother, I rarely was king.  But when cousins were around I had my chance to be king for a day, or at least a few minutes.
 
            The theological truth and comfort of this psalm is that God is enthroned forever; the LORD is the same and his years have no end.  God is permanently ensconced as Sovereign over all creation and nothing or no one is ever going to knock him off the high hill.
 
            In a world profoundly touched by evil, to know the God who does not change is an important reality.  The preface to the psalm says, “A prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD.”  Indeed, he does this for the first eleven verses.  But then the psalm turns in verse twelve on looking up to the God who is always in control.  No matter where we go, God is there, and he forever sits on the throne of the universe. 
 
Therefore, we can put all our trust and hope in the LORD because he will never cease to be in charge.  Our perspective on the ground is puny and limited.  But God’s view from the top sees the big picture and knows all.  Rather than trying to be King of the Hill and spend the enormous energy of worry, let’s acknowledge the kingdom of God and pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
            Mighty God, you are sovereign over all your creation.  I place my faith in you completely, that your purposes and plans will be fleshed-out in my life to the glory of King Jesus.  Amen.

The Rhythm of Jesus

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Exploring Church Ministry BlogLeave a comment
 
 
            Rhythm is more than enjoying a B.B. King blues song; everything in life is done with rhythm.  Our hearts beat in rhythm.  When we walk, our gait is in a distinct rhythm.  We cannot survive without healthy rhythms of waking and sleeping.  And, of course, we could not sing or have music without rhythm.  Indeed, we cannot survive without healthy rhythms of life.
 
            Yet, there is something off with our rhythm.  Our busy lifestyles can insidiously drag us away from God and his ways.  The spiritual rhythms we need for healthy living have been disrupted and we may not have noticed.  Someone has said, “Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work, driving through traffic in a car you are still paying for, in order to get to the job that you need so you can pay for the clothes, car, and the house that you leave empty all day in order to afford to live in it.”  Our lives are often fashioned more by shopping for the super sale, by sporting events, or by the demands of work than by our connection to Jesus.
 
            We seem to have bought into the lie that we can never slow down or take a break.  Many of us know we are out of sync with God and his ways.  We intuit that there is something amiss between our lives and the priorities of God. But we are not sure how to change our situation.  I would implore us to imitate Jesus in his way of life.
 
            Jesus had a rhythm in his life of outward ministry with people and inward time alone with the Father.  If Jesus needed regular, dedicated time for solitude and prayer, then how much more do we!?  (Mark 1:35-39).
 
            Let’s not think that we know better than Jesus on this.  If we persist in continually putting off spending generous portions of time with God, he has his ways of getting our attention and putting us in the place of solitude.  And we may not like it, which is why sometimes God is not so quick to heal us or answer our prayers because he has some things to say to us.  We might be so stinking stubborn that we refuse to slow down long enough to listen to Jesus.  For such people, human suffering is a great way to meet Jesus.  We simply cannot rush from task to task and expect to live a healthy spiritual life.  We absolutely need time with Jesus.
 
            Only through a healthy rhythm of life that includes solitude and prayer will we have clear direction for our daily lives, and wisdom for sound decision-making, not to mention being more relaxed and happy.  Jesus came away from his times of solitude re-connected with his purpose for being on earth.
 
            Both overwork and prolonged withdrawal from others is unhealthy.  To always be working and serving eventually leads to bitterness, exhaustion, and burn-out.  Conversely, to always be alone (and one can be alone even in a crowd of people) and not serving leads to a kind of spiritual constipation that makes us sick.  It might be counter-intuitive for us to break away from work, but solitude and prayer will actually help us be productive.
 

 

            What is the kind of healing and restoration you need in your life?  How might you be a part of fostering healing in another and in your church?  Do you need to make a plan for solitude and prayer?  Do you need to make a plan for ministry and service?  Let your rhythm of life be consistent with Jesus and his ways.