Pastor Scott's Musings

As part of my personal journey through the season of Lent, I am going to write each day about a verse or passage of scripture in the New Testament, as part of a top 40 list. This list is personal, not the top 40 for all Christians, but my top 40. As I began scanning through the New Testament I quickly realized just how difficult developing this list will be. In the old radio days of top 40 programs counting down to the number one song in America, Casey Kasem would start his countdown with number 40 and end with number one. Since I'm still trying to decide my top 40, I'm going to start with number one. The number one New Testament verse to remember is John 3:16. John 3:16 Guy “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."  (John 3:16) NFL Tim Tebow John 3:16 Merchandise You might say that John 3:16 is the best known verse in all the Bible. It makes national telev...

Top 40 New Testament Passages The effort to list my personal top 40 passages from the New Testament is a difficult one. I follow some of the life and teachings of Jesus, but I leave out baptism, the Lord’s Supper, the story of the crucifixion and resurrection. I don't include the much loved Christmas narratives. I chose only four parables and then a collection of favorite or often quoted verses or passages important to me. There will undoubtedly be some who will exclaim in exasperation, “Oh Lord, how could he have left that out?!!” I ask your forgiveness. I cherish the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. While I’m not a big fan of the prophetic writings or Job or Leviticus, I acknowledge their importance. It has often been said that the Bible interprets itself. One part sheds light on another. I have, at times, liberally cited other passages of scripture to shed light on the subject verse or passage. I make no promise that reading this list will make you a Christian or move...

  So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2nd Corinthians 5:17) The Lord created the heaven and the earth with all the starry hosts, plant and animal life and humanity. God rested from all the work of creation on the 7th day and made it a day holy apart from all other days of the week.  Bow Lake - Alberta, Canada God completed creation and rested and calls us to enter into His rest in holiness. Some would have us believe that God is like an absentee landlord, neglecting the rental properties, not attending to rats and other pests. God made universe and then sits back and watches, not involved directly with the events in our lifetime. This view is meant to help explain why there is suffering in the world, when an all-loving, ever-present, all-powerful, omniscient being rules the universe.  The scriptures never depicts God as absentee. There may be times when it ...