When I am transported back in time through the text messages, I often think of walking along the dusty roads or fording a cold stream. I think of the heat and the cold, the wet and the dry, the simple meals and some of the discomforts that our Lord didn’t put any emphasis on. How, instead being with Him and listening to Him was the more important issue. The emphasis on teaching and healing.

I think of the mud and clay homes and picture something dark and musty smelling with little clods of dirt falling on my shoulders as I sit there, or spiders and other little critters around.  I am so glad that you sent the picture of the carpenter tools in the building that you sent.  There was more light and whiteness in that picture than I had imagined.  But, most of all I am reminded that though the surroundings seem like they would be distracting to me, the heat and exhaustion from walking, but the final word is THAT WE ARE WALKING WITH JESUS.  Not only did he give up earthly comforts to be with us, it is still a priority for me not to let earthly comforts get in the way of my relationship with Him now.  Where are my priorities?

And I often think of Him on this earth.  He didn’t sit in a Palace with servants waving palms to keep him cool, others offering bowls of fruit and wine, while people came to Him.  He went to them, where they were, out in the highways and byways.  And He still is doing that today.  Coming to us right where we are.

“I will never leave you or forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5.  I know there are so many verses and even better that speak of this.  I think of the many Psalms.  And that He left His Word here to encourage us.  I will stop, but you can see how one little text message will get me started on so many thoughts that encourage me.

I invite you to experience four winter days in the life of Jesus. Join the text-message short story, “The Lazarus Incident,” from February 8-12.

Four winter days. The episode passed quickly in time, yet its pivotal effect reverberates through time. I wonder if we can we get back to those moments on the ground when the end was uncertain, the events unfinished, the story undone. And if we can then maybe those experiences will give us the courage to embrace our own today.

Alfred Edersheim.

David Strauss.

George Croscup.

The desire to explore Jesus’ experience finds expression in a mid-nineteenth century work called Jesus and His Story by Ethelbert Stauffer.

By his own admission, Jesus limited his speaking tour to Israel. Using a familiar metaphor, he said, “I have come for the lost sheep of Israel” (John 12). Not a very nice thing to say. The term “lost” was as derogatory then as it is now.

human experience activity context jesus lived gaps space time project past science fiction devices perspective life soundtrack traffic live event friday coffee saywj downtown cars april  reconsidered

DJP will complete the Th.M. from DTS Saturday next. Our usual Friday morning Coffee / SAYWJ schedule is off kilter the past several weeks partly due to exams and assignments related to completion of that degree.

We are talking today about social networking and SAYWJ / SpendAYearWithJesus. I think one of our challenges is to do a good job of telling the “Spend A Year With Jesus” story. Telling the story well seems crucial to finding people who understand and want the experience. We are currently using Twitter (#ayearwithjesus) and a Facebook “Like” page (Spend A Year With Jesus). When you find us on FB, please “Like” us.