In the Dust of the Rabbi

There is a saying recorded in the Mishnah, a collection of sayings from ancient sages, that says, “May you be covered in your Rabbi’s dust and may you thirstily drink his words.” This paints a beautiful word picture of how closely a disciple wanted to follow his rabbi—so closely that he would be covered in the dust of his rabbi. In September of 2005, I experienced what it meant to be covered in the dust of the rabbi as I traveled with Ray Vander Laan, founder of That the World May Know Ministries, and a group of 49 other…

May 25, 2006  |  Permalink   |  TrackBack (0)

Breaking Bread: No Leaven in this Recipe

As you come to this table today, you will feed on Christ in a real tangible Paschal meal. As you come you may notice that the bread we will consume is not the bread you typically eat at your dinner table. It is without leaven. In the ancient middle east, leaven was a powerful symbol. In some cases Jesus used it to describe the Kingdom of Heaven coming about but it also symbolized sin. Paul reminds us of this when he says: “Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of…

May 16, 2006  |  Permalink   |  TrackBack (0)

Breaking Bread: Bakeryville

Jesus came into the world amidst much discord. The land God had promised the Israelites was occupied by foreigners, the Israelites were divided within the land into various sects, the family life of Jesus was fractured by an apparently scandalous conception and soon to be birth. Yet in the midst of this discord, God sends Jesus into the world to as he sent manna from Heaven to be provision for the Israelites in the desert. You see, the Bread of Life was sent into Bakeryville to be born. That is the meaning of the name of the town, you know…

May 09, 2006  |  Permalink   |  TrackBack (0)

Breaking Bread: Bread Come Down from Heaven

Jesus in his allusion to the Manna that God sent down from heaven proclaimed, “I am the bread of life… I have come down from heaven.” What a beautiful picture! Bread from Heaven. The Fathers provision for us. But, this is not provision without a cost. This is the costliest bread that has ever been given as a gift. The Father gave his only Son that we might have life. As we partake of this gift once again, Bread from Heaven, let us reflect on the cost of this meal. The blood shed for our redemption and the flesh that…

May 02, 2006  |  Permalink   |  TrackBack (0)