Author: Chris Luzio

How do we avoid going from interpretation to speculation when reading the Bible? That’s a question I hadn’t given much thought to, until we began our new study in I Timothy last Sunday.

After the greeting, Paul began his letter by urging Timothy to reign in those who were teaching strange doctrines, doctrines based on things that give rise to mere speculation. Beliefs that go beyond simply understanding and applying what we find in Scripture, to speculating about things that may not have been in the mind of the authors, or the Spirit.

We noted, as a case in point, the Fox News report that “Biblical prophecy claims the Rapture is coming April 23.” The article quoted a numerologist who has determined that astronomical events that will be taking place on April 23 are those spoken of in Revelation 12, and they signal the beginning of events leading to the end of the world and Christ’s return.

The article, however, also quoted someone who disagreed. He said, “There is nothing to suggest that April 23 is a momentous date for biblical prophecy, and Christians need to be careful about being drawn into such sensationalist claims.” So the prophetic pronouncement was most likely mere speculation, and the only thing momentous about April 23 is that it is Tina’s 50th birthday!

Speculation came into view again at our Sunday night study. We were looking at the third word of Christ from the cross, which was simply, “Woman, behold, your son!” and “Behold, your mother!” The obvious thing that was taking place is that Jesus was entrusting His mother into the care of John. Our author, who has some amazing insights into the Scriptures, read into that simple statement Mary being declared as the new Eve, the mother of the Mystical Body the Church, and the Queen of Martyrs.

When trying to understand where all that came from, we concluded he must have been looking at the text through a lens that had already been colored to see what he saw. We also acknowledged that we too have a tendency to do the same thing. Doctrines that have been passed on to us, and teachings that are held by those we hold in high regard, can cause us to see things that aren’t actually in the text.

I guess the bottom line is that in order to keep from speculation, we need to be careful what kind of spectacles we are wearing when reading the Scriptures.

God Bless, Rick

The first lengthy passage of Scripture I memorized as a youth was Romans 12, in KJV of course. It begins, “I Beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” I bring this up because of the focus on our bodies.

In an attempt to be spiritual, there is a tendency to downplay the importance of the body, overlooking the fact that our body has become the temple of the Holy Spirit, and as such we have a responsibility to take good care of it, and use it in service to God.

It’s my desire to use my body for His service as long as He allows, and I believe He’ll hold me accountable if I don’t take care of it. That’s why I try to workout three times a week, eat reasonably well, and let them put 84 radioactive seeds in my prostate last Wednesday. And that’s why I’m now scheduled to see a cardiologist.

Yes, they discovered I had another problem while addressing the cancer they convinced me I had. The anesthesiologist almost called off the procure because of an irregular heart beat. Apparently I have AFib, atrial fibrillation. I guess I should have known.

I have been getting excessively tired lately, Marilyn noted that I sounded winded while giving the announcements on Easter, and the elliptical at Fit Club wasn’t acting up, like I had assumed, when it noted my heart rate jumping between 120 and 170 while working out the Monday before surgery.

The good news in all this is that I’m feeling great, and have had almost no side effects from the seed implantation. And even though I have to carry a card saying there are radioactive seeds in my body in case I trigger a Geiger counter, I’m safe to be around, and I won’t be glowing like Moses did when he came down from the mountain.

Thanks for all your prayers, texts, notes and words of encouragement. If anything makes me glow, it’s your love for me.

God Bless, Rick

When I first tried to find the date for Easter this year, and looked at the calendar on my iPhone, I couldn’t find it. It wasn’t there! By looking elsewhere, I discovered Easter would be on April 1st. When I looked again on my phone, all it listed for April 1st was April Fool’s Day. I couldn’t believe it. Was it an oversight, or intentional?

I found it hard to believe that anyone would intentionally leave the greatest event in history off the calendars, but then I started seeing reports that that was indeed the case. Then I heard that there was quite an uproar about it. I really don’t know what caused it, or what fixed it, but Easter did eventually appear on the calendar.

I guess it shouldn’t have surprised me to discover that there might be forces in the world that want news about the resurrection withheld. The first time it was reported, the soldiers were paid to lie about it. And, of course, we have a spiritual enemy who wants the truth about the resurrection withheld.

In spite of all attempts to erase the resurrection from history, the Good News of a Risen Christ has survived. And with it comes the promise that we too will rise from the dead. The Apostle Paul beautifully tied them together in I Cor.15.

“Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection from the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain…your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,”

The message from the empty tomb is still declared loud and clear. Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!

God Bless, Rick

Bob Williamson dropped by the church last week, and told me I hadn’t seen him on Sunday because he had the “green apple quickstep.” Now I can say the same thing to everyone! It was the first time in forty- five years that I’ve had to miss church because of sickness. (Broken ribs from a motorcycle accident don’t count.)

Making the call not to be in the pulpit was even harder than cancelling church because of a snow storm! I waited as long as I could, hoping I could at least show up to preach, but finally had to make the call. A big thank you to Mark for quickly reading over my sermon, and then delivering it so well. “Interestingly” he got one of the biggest laughs from a sermon that I’ve ever heard.

Thanks also goes to Chris Luzio for leading the Sunday evening study for me. It’s good to know the bases are covered when we are out of the game.

Tomorrow I’m scheduled for a volume study to determine the number of seeds to be planted in my prostate. When thinking about the whole process, I came to the realization that it’s not unlike trying to convince someone that they need to trust what the Bible says must be done about sin.

I haven’t had any symptoms that would indicate I have a condition that could lead to death. If not for the elevated PSA, I wouldn’t have had the biopsy, and wouldn’t be taking the drastic measures my doctors say I should take. But why should I take their word for it? I don’t feel like there is anything wrong with me. Sounds a bit like those who don’t think they need to do anything about sin, doesn’t it?

If our life is a mess, and we are in pain, we’re more apt to accept the cure that is offered. When we don’t sense that anything is wrong, it’s harder to believe we have to do anything.

The Bible makes it very clear that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and that the wages of sin is death. The remedy for sin is offered through the cross, but we have to believe we need it, even if we don’t feel the need.

May we all have the faith needed to do what needs to be done.

God Bless, Rick

If everything we do is done in the name of the Lord Jesus, and if all of life is sacred, then everything we do is an act of worship. That was the point I was attempting to make in last Sunday’s message. I hope you got it, and I hope it has given eternal significance to everything you are doing in the workplace, school, home, and everywhere this week. And last week.

As should always be the case, the sermon spoke to me as much as I hope it spoke to you. And even though I wasn’t at work last week, what I was doing should have been as much an act of worship as what you were doing here. And as you know, last week I was at Disney World with the family. I guess that means spending four days on the road, and four days walking 10 miles a day in an amusement park, was an act of worship.

Obviously, spending time with the family can have eternal significance, and it’s easy to see how that can be an acknowledgement of Christ’s lordship and an act of worship. Running from FastPass to FastPass to avoid waiting an hour or more for a two minute ride, does, however, take a little more effort to see as worship.

Giving the whole Disney experience more thought, I did come to the realization that many things at Disney are attempts to re-create what God has created around the world, and to give people the opportunity to get a feel for some of the wonder to be found outside the park. I’d still rather ride a motorcycle up Mt. Evans than ride through Mt. Everest on a roller coaster, but I do have to admit it was a lot of fun. Soarin’ through beautiful parts of the natural world is always exhilarating, but I must also admit the ride on the back of a banshee in Pandora was even better. The Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse has been a favorite of mine since Marilyn and I climbed it in Disneyland in the 70s, but as I was climbing down this time I spotted a real kapok tree. A concrete tree is impressive, but I was even more impressed by the fact that they planted a tree next to it that grows fiber for lifejackets. And a flock of macaws flying right over my head is something I’ve never experienced anywhere else.

So yes, I did enjoy what I trust will be my last trip to Disney. And I can even see it as an act of worship. Not that I worship Disney, but I do worship the God who can be seen even there.

God Bless, Rick