Here’s a chilling end to an exchange between Jesus and the religious leaders at the end of Luke 11:

Woe to you, scholars of the Law! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering. (Luke 11.52, LSB)

Pretty scary stuff. Here’s another version of it:

But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. (Matthew 23.13, LSB)

Leaders have special responsibilities and special dangers to avoid. A big danger is not permitting common people to “enter.” I wrote four years ago about the pastor who didn’t like Calvary Chapels’ allowing hippies to come to church “as they were.” The leaders in Acts 15 seemed sensitive to this:

It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. (Acts 15.19, NIV)

“Not make it difficult” = not “not allowing those who are entering to go in”

How might we do that?

• Insisting people dress a certain way
• Insisting they vote a certain way
• Insisting they understand a lot of obscure teaching
• Making understanding the Bible seem difficult

Everything I do should be helpful not “more difficult.” If you’ve read the Ewellogy for any time at all, you know that I work really hard to help folks hear from God through the scripture. But my approach needs to be, “Try this way of Bible reading, but if it doesn’t work, we’ll find another way. We want you to connect to Jesus.”

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15.1, 2, ESV) Yes, he does!

My wife, June, is the ultimate sky watcher! Her first word as a toddler was “moon.” She frequently comes to get me, “Quick! Come look at the sky!” and there’s a sunset or a sunrise well worth getting out of my chair for.

Yesterday, it was the middle of the afternoon. I don’t recall ever seeing color in the clouds at that time:

Sunset followed a few hours later:

But neither of those was a match for this morning’s spectacular sunrise:

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (Psalm 19.1, ESV)

God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. (Psalm 19.1, MSG)

P.S. If you’re not seeing the pictures in your emailed version, please go here.

A few days ago, we reminded ourselves that sometimes we’re supposed to sit in Jesus’ presence and soak up his words. Right after, Luke reminds us that God is standing by to listen to us, too:

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Our Father in heaven…’ [Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer] And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. (Luke 11.1 – 8, NKJV)

“Because of his persistence…” One of the same lessons we saw on October 1 in the account of Blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10.

Jesus reinforces this lesson a few chapters later:

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18.1, NIV)

1. For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
   Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
   Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest—
   • Refrain:
     Alleluia, Alleluia!
2. Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their Might;
   Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
   Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light—
3. Oh, may Thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
   Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
   And win with them the victor’s crown of gold—
4. And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
   Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
   And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong—
5. From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
   Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
   Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—

– William W. How, 1864

For All the Saints: listen and sing along!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12.1 – 2, ESV)

Halloween? Not in this blog, but stay tuned tomorrow for a remembrance of All Saints Day.

No, long-time friend and faithful blog reader Laura McGlothlin reminded me that today is Reformation Day, the anniversary of Martin Luther’s nailing his 95 Theses to the door of the All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. Martin Luther’s objective was to prompt discussion on reforming the Catholic Church.

One of Laura’s missionary colleagues, Mark Giebink of Teach Beyond, wrote this acrostic to teach key elements of the Reformation. Thanks, Laura and Mark!

–Mark’s acrostic–

R eform – it was Luther’s desire to purify or reform the Roman Catholic Church, not to split it. 

E very believer a priest – this was one of the main teachings of the Reformation – that all had access to God through Christ alone.

F aith alone – ‘Sola Fide’ Inspired by passages like Romans 3:28, Luther claimed that salvation was only by faith- not works, sacrament, etc.

O ctober 31, 1517 – formal start of the Reformation (1517 – 1648)

R omans 1:18 – “a righteousness that is by faith from first to last. . . the just shall live by faith.”  One of the passages that deeply impacted Luther

M artin Luther – (1483-1546) – a German priest, professor, hymn writer (promoter of congregational singing), married to Katharina Von Bora (6 children)

A uthority of God’s Word- another key tenet of the Reformation

    “I cannot submit my faith either to the Pope or to the Councils, because it is clear as day that they have frequently erred and contradicted each other. 

     “Unless, therefore, I am convinced by the testimony of Scripture. . . I cannot and will not retract. . . Here I stand, I can do no other. So, help me God, Amen.”

T ranslating Bible into common languages – Martin Luther translated the Bible into German to give access to all people; coincided with Gutenberg Press invention.

     Also translations were done in Dutch [1526], French [1528], Spanish [1569], Czech [1579 – 1593]

I ndulgences – one of the main things Luther taught against (addressed in the 95 Theses) – that you could somehow buy your way into heaven.

      “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs.” Luther was vehemently opposed to this practice.

O ther reformers – Calvin, Zwingli (Reformed), Menno Simmons (Anabaptist/later Mennonites),  Knox (Presbyterian), Wycliffe, Hus (Anglican), etc.

N inety-five Theses – debated and criticized the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church, but concentrated on the selling of indulgences and other church doctrine and practice

–end of Mark’s acrostic–

Again, thanks to Mark Giebink for this acrostic and my friend Laura for passing it on.

We would do well to remember that we are all always needing to be re-formed. Personally and corporately. We should all always be looking for our next area of growth. Praise God for the past, yes, but not stuck there.

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21.5, ESV)

P.S. There is an error in yesterday’s blog about the Denver Broncos. Vance Joseph is the Defensive Coordinator.

We interrupt this blog series for an important announcement:

Broncos beat the Chiefs 24 – 9!

I know it’s only football, which is ultimately entertainment, but the Broncos have not beaten the Chiefs since 2015 when Peyton Manning was the quarterback. Chief’s quarterback Patrick Mahomes has NEVER lost to the Broncos…until yesterday.

It’s hard to pressure Mahomes because he’s so mobile, but here’s an example of what happened all game long. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

It really is a classic application of “forgetting what is behind” from Philippians 3.13. Last week, when the Broncos beat the Packers (I was there), reporters asked head coach Sean Payton about the Broncos’ halting the streak of losing 10 straight games after leading at halftime. Sean would have none of it. “That’s not this team, and we don’t think about so-called streaks like that anyway. We just try to win the game that’s in front of us.”

Of course, during the Chiefs game, there was no end to the announcers talking about the Broncos losing all those games to the Chiefs. Again, not this team. This team lost to the Chiefs 19 – 8, 17 days ago. Yesterday, the Broncos turned the tables. Sean Payton was clear in the postgame interview: “The focus was on this game.”

Coach Payton also reminded us that he is a teacher, and the team has to learn, for example, to roll with the events and not get down when there’s a missed call. It’s all about the mindset and the preparation. He said, “I thought Wednesday was our best practice this year.”

Another sidelight is the Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph. After the disastrous Miami game earlier this season where the Broncos lost 70 – 20 (not a typo!), I was among those wondering, “Why is he still here?” Yet a few weeks later, he orchestrates a game where the vaunted Chiefs are held to 9 points. In fact, counting the previous Chiefs game against the Broncos, the Chiefs scored one touchdown in 8 quarters.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3.13, 14, ESV)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9.24 – 27, ESV)

We don’t want to pass by this story in Luke, the only gospel that tells it:

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10.38 – 42, ESV)

I just wrote about the importance of not being merely a listener, but there is a time for listening. Mary “…sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.” Meanwhile, “Martha was distracted with much serving.” Serving Jesus! A good thing, yes? Not in this case.

Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.

The lesson is clear: Jesus values a relationship with us more than our frantic serving. Obedience? Yes. Anxious, distracted serving? No.

That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1.3, ESV)

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1.9, ESV)

I could delete this blog OR I can leave it in and talk about not jumping to unwarranted conclusions even if such conclusions support a preferred narrative. Please stay with me until the end. Here’s how my original blog started:

I get a daily 70-word blog from an economist. Most of what he writes I don’t care anything about, but it’s only 70 words… Anyway, on Fridays he writes something of random interest. Here’s how the one from Friday, October 20, 2023 starts:

The Friday File: During the decade ending 2019, 20,091,410 boys were born and 19,184,303 girls were born in the U.S. [He goes on to talk about popular names.] – Elliott Eisenberg

Forget the names. Did you see the numbers?

• Boys: 20,091,410
• Girls: 19,184,303
• Total: 39,275,713

If the probability of a girl is 0.5, we should have had 19,637,856 girls, but we had only 19,184,303 girls, a shortage of over 450,000 girls. Or, looked at another way, over 900,000 more boys were born than girls. Trust me, that difference is WAY out of the bounds of statistical variation. In other words, the difference is not random, it’s caused.

PAUSE.

The previous paragraph starts “If the probability of a girl is 0.5…” It turns out that it’s not. I wrote to Dr. Eisenberg asking if he’d noticed the apparent overage of boys. He kindly responded, “The probability of a boy is 51%.” Really? I looked it up, and several disparate sources confirmed that over the centuries the odds of a boy over a girl at birth are 105 to 100, or the probability of boy is 0.512. In the data above, 51.15% of the births were boys – nearly exactly as predicted.

I hope that I don’t often come this close to publishing a falsehood or drawing a false conclusion. I don’t republish or quote anything without checking. For example, a friend posted a provocative story about a new pastor masquerading as a homeless person. It turns out that that particular story had no basis in fact. So I’m careful.

But I wasn’t careful in this case. I assumed a probability that wasn’t true. Thankfully, I scheduled the blog for a couple days ahead (as I normally do), and I have time to change it.

I talked in the introduction about my original conclusion supporting a “preferred narrative.” We know that the disastrous, now discontinued, one-child policy in China has resulted in a massive shortage of women in China. I assumed that gender-selective abortions in this country were moving us in the same direction. That might be true, but the data Dr. Eisenberg cited don’t support that conclusion.

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4.25, ESV)

You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. (Leviticus 19.11, ESV)

Back to Luke, I’ve never noticed this construction:

And they were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples, “Put these words into your ears; for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” (Luke 9.43 – 44, LSB, emphasis mine)

“Put these words into your ears.” (LSB and NAS)

“Let these words sink into your ears.” (ESV)

“Let these sayings sink down into your ears.” (KJV, NKJV)

“Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you.” (NIV)

“Listen to me and remember what I say.” (NLT)

“Treasure and ponder each of these next words.” (MSG)

“Listen carefully and let these words sink into your hearts.” (TPT)

“Put these words at once into your ears for your own good.” (Wuest)

Despite the lead-in, the “Listen up! This is important!” the disciples didn’t understand:

They didn’t get what he was saying. It was like he was speaking a foreign language and they couldn’t make heads or tails of it. But they were embarrassed to ask him what he meant. (Luke 9.45, MSG)

There are things Jesus wants to tell us. “Put these words into your ears…” but we will have difficulty understanding especially if it’s outside our framework. A suffering Messiah, despite Isaiah 53 which predicted him, was completely outside their experience.

This phenomenon may explain why the message of relational discipleship such as I shared day before yesterday doesn’t get through. It’s just outside the paradigm.

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16.21 – 23, ESV)

In Colorado, our predominant fall color is gold, from the aspens and the cottonwoods. Here are two views of the giant cottonwood not far from our house. I thought I’d better post it today since winter is coming over the weekend!

It’s been unseasonably warm, and it will be warm again, but look what’s coming!

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” (Genesis 8.22, ESV)

He changes times and seasons… (Daniel 2.21, ESV)