11.29.2008

Numbers 23: Making Sense of Balaam and his Donkey

Balaam is a tricky dude to understand!

In the book of numbers, it almost seems like he is a good guy, BUT he is not. He is a bad DUDE through and through.

First he is dumber than a donkey.
God should not have to tell us over and over what we are supposed to do. Balaam keeps asking God, even though God already said no. His donkey gets it, but he doesn't

The same thing is true about him going along with Balak. He should have know enough as a prophet of God, to know he had no business even being with the enemies of Israel (God's people). SO while it seems like he is being the good guy by only blessing the way God says,

Balaam is really just being a greedy SNAKE

Balaam keeps looking for a way to do what Balak wants so Balak will PAY him. Make no mistake, the only reason Balaam is there is that he wants the fatty paycheck.

Don't believe me? Check out these others sources and see for yourself!

Jude 1:11
Joshua 13:22
Revelation 2:14
2nd Peter 2:15-16
Deuteronomy 23:4-5
Numbers 31:8
Numbers 31:16

11.28.2008

Numbers 22: A talking Donkey?

Have you ever been as stubborn as Balaam in this story? He is so stubborn to see the angel (probably because he wasn’t seeking what God wanted for him) that he beat his beloved donkey – who had gotten him through long years of traveling, I’m sure.

It would have been pretty embarrassing to have a donkey set you straight when you aren’t listening to God. It shows that God can get your attention in unusual ways – you just need to be paying attention to Him and spending time seeking what he wants for you.

When I want to seek God, I surrender myself to Him: Take my life, take my mind, take my heart and make it all of you. Help me to see what you want me to do. Help me to become who you want me to become. I am nothing without you, God. Take control of my life.

If Balaam would have surrendered himself to God, do you think this story would have ended differently? What do you think would have happened?

11.27.2008

Numbers 21: The FIERY Serpent

Numbers 21:9 "And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived."

God sent firey serpents among the people because of their sin and many Israelites died when they were bit by them. After the people repented and asked for forgiveness...God asked Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a standard (or pole)...so that if any person was bit, all they had to do was look upon the serpent and their life would be spared.

Its interesting to me that God didn't remove the serpents from the land. This would have been another solution to the problem of the people getting bit. Instead he asked Moses to create something to which people 'look upon' if they were bit.



And if they were bit...and looked up this image above... they were saved.

The cross has the same saving power for us. There will always be sin in our lives. We need to recognize the sin in our lives as a deadly poisonus snake bite and immeditely turn and look to the cross...for HE died to save us from these sins.

How many snake bites do you have? Turn to the cross.

11.26.2008

Numbers 20: Three out of Four... not quite enough...

Step 1: You have a problem.
Step 2: You go to God for help.
Step 3: God gives you directions.
Step 4: You do what God says.

Seems like a good way to do things, right? But that's not what Moses and Aaron did in Numbers 20. They got the first three steps, but then instead of doing what God said, Moses did something else. He also lost his temper and yelled at the people of Israel. Because he didn't honor God in front of the people, Moses wasn't able to go into the promised land.

It seems crazy to me that Moses went to God for help, but then when he got back to the problem he didn't do what he was told. But I guess I kind of do that sometimes. Perhaps I don't lose my temper, but I often go to God for help and then once I get back in whatever situation might be the problem, I forget what He told me or showed me. And that's just stupid, like looking in a mirror and going away and forgetting what I look like. Check out James 1:22-25:

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

So let's not just hear what God has to say to us. Let's do it. What has He been saying to you?

11.25.2008

Numbers 19: Cleansing Waters

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we are unclean before the Lord. Making mistakes in a movie theater, lust-full thoughts, making fun of the “weird” kid at school, hating our parents, what ever it is sometimes we are unclean before the Lord.

Fortunately we don’t have to kill any doves, rams, bulls, or goats anymore to make up for it. Jesus died on the cross as our ultimate sacrifice, and through his blood we are cleaned. Have you asked for him to clean you? Verse 20 says that if we are unclean, we should be put outside of our community, separated from our God, and our friends. We are humans, we will sin, but the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of the Lord covers it all. Spend time today confessing to him today, and walk through the Cleansing water that he provides.

20 But if those who are unclean do not purify themselves, they must be cut off from the community, because they have defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, and they are unclean.

11.24.2008

Numbers 18: Whose are you?

Numbers 18 talks a lot about a group of Israelites that God set apart to be his. They were called the Levites. In recent chapters some of the Levites caused some problems and crazy things happened, like the ground opening up and swallowing them...CRAZY! This isn't like that but it is pretty cool what God says about the Levites and Aaron.

This is not the most exciting book, but stay with me on this. God gives Aaron a whole bunch of rules for his family and also for the Levites to follow. Aaron and his family were to be in charge of the sanctuary and the tent and everything that went with it. The Levites were to be guardians over the tent and Aaron and his family, to keep people out so that no one would be struck dead. The Levites were to be set apart for God, they were called to serve him (See Numbers 18:21).

Now, reading this chapter made me think...the Levites were called to serve God, to be completely his...isn't that sort of what I'm called to? In Exodus God gave his people these 10 commandments. They were one way that the people were to be set apart for him. In the New Testament Jesus expands upon this idea that we are to be set apart. So I asked myself, am I fully God's? Like, completely? Are you?

In Numbers God designates the Levites as his, not just in word, but in different ways so that all of Israel would know who the Levites were. If you are a Christian then you bear God's name, you are a child of God. If you are a child of God, do others know? Can they tell you are God's and not your own?

11.22.2008

Numbers 17: Grumbling to Death

You would think they would learn!

The Israelites were constant complainers, but the problem was that they were constantly complaining about the blessings God had given them. The Israelites were grumbling... often to death...

In Numbers 17 they are once again complaining that they do not want to follow Aaron, God's chosen leader... so God tells moses to collect all their staffs and put them in God's presence over night.

8 The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.


God did this as a warning to the rebellious Israelites that their grumbling was not good...

10 The LORD said to Moses, "Put back Aaron's staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die."


The Israelites didn't think God's blessings were enough....

They didn't like the people God had chosen to lead them...

They didn't really want to follow God at all... they wanted him to bless them, and given them what they want from life, but then leave them alone.

You know what... I can relate to them... I often find myself complaining when God actually expects me to obey him. I love the blessings, but struggle with the obedience thing...

how about you?

11.21.2008

Numbers 16: Buried Alive!

The Levites were out of control. They were given a special role in the building and maintaining of the tabernacle (which is an honor), and they simply wanted more power.


It is incredible –not in a good way- that they would not be satisfied and the Israelites constantly were complaining about everything. They have already complained about food, fire, guidance and even the leaders despite the fact that God provided every time. Will the Israelites ever be content?

This passage is good to reread and see that if we aren’t content with what God has given us and we choose not to focus on the many blessing God has given us, there are often consequences.

Numbers 16:28-33 - "Then Moses said, 'This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the LORD has not sent me. But if the LORD brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.'


As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community."

Maybe reading about the consequences of the Levite leaders who went against Moses will help us remember that God knows what he is doing – even if it doesn’t make since to us. We simply need to trust him and choose to be content in each circumstance.


Are there any circumstances that you have chosen to be content – even though it wasn’t easy?

11.20.2008

Numbers 15: W.W.J.D Bracelets - Revisited

"You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord..." (Numbers 15:39)


When you are at school or hanging out with your friends, do you ever find yourself having to make tough decisions? Do you ever wonder afterwards if you have made the "RIGHT" decision? Life can be difficult and the pace of it can be overwhelming. We move so swiftly through our day that sometimes we are making decisions and not realizing how we are compromising our own faith!

The Jewish people group were commanded to have these tassel's on their garments...as a reminder to keep the Lords commands. Just like the famous WWJD bracelets of a few years ago...this same thing is a reminder to us that we belong to Christ and we are continually "learning to live and love like Jesus." (sound familiar???) There is nothing wrong with having a visual a daily reminder for yourself of "who" you belong to (Christ). Where is your "tassel"?

Numbers Chapter 15
(if you have not read it yet click here)

11.19.2008

Numbers 14: A Sad, Sad Story


Just so you know, today's post will make a lot more sense if you've read Numbers 14 already.  If you haven't, click here.  

What struck me about this chapter is just how tragic it is.  God had really amazing plans for the Israelites.  He had this great land for them, but they decided not to listen to Him, and they missed out big time.  How sad.  

It made me think about how often God has something incredible He wants for us, and we totally do our own thing.  We think we know better, so we don't do what we should be doing, or sometimes we'll do things we shouldn't.  Now God is God and all-powerful, so He can be glorified regardless of what we do (check out verse 21), but we still miss out on His best when we don't follow His will.

There have been times I've disobeyed God, and I know I've missed out on some good things as a result of that.  Thankfully, God offers us grace and mercy, but let's not use that as an excuse to sin.  God has amazing plans for us; much better than we could ever imagine.  Let's follow His lead so we can see where He takes us!


Dont forget to send in your postcards!!!

Mosaic Announcements 11/18/2008

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Nexus Review: Numbers Series #2 -- Blessings

Great care must be taken when working with dangerous substances. Radioactive material for example can kill people with only small amounts of exposure. For the Israelites, God gave them very specific directions for how they could successfully handle his presence in their camp, but many of them simply did not believe him. They did not take his presence, power, and also danger seriously... and they paid for it with their lives and the lives of their family.
Thousands of years later, we often forget how incredible God is... We have the awesome privilege of living in the presence of God with his attention fully on us... This is a unique opportunity to live in peace (shalom) with ourselves, others, and God... When we forget his power and holiness in our lives, we do so at great expense to ourselves, our loved ones, and God’s name.
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11.18.2008

Numbers Bookmark Chapters 12-17


Hey everyone! How are you doing on reading through the book of numbers? If you have missed a few days or have not joined in yet...now is the perfect time to jump right in this week! There are so many interesting things to read about this week...

-Spies sent out to scope out the land they will be entering.
-GIANTS discovered?!?
-The earth opens and swallows a tribe and all their posessions!
-A walking stick sprouts buds as if it were still attached to the tree!

Don't miss this week! Print out your COLOR bookmark now...and continue on your journey through this incredible book of NUMB3R5!

Kristina :)

11.17.2008

Numbers 13: 10 were bad and 2 were good...

Numbers 13 is a pretty sweet chapter! I don't know if its still used, but when I was in elementary school we learned about this story through a song. I don't remember all the words, but I do remember the song talked about spies in Canaan and how "10 were bad and 2 were good."

Moses was told to pick 12 men, one from every tribe to go check out the promised land. This is that land that God had promised would be flowing with milk and honey, and what do you know, God was right! How often do we not trust what God has told us? We think, he said that this was going to happen, or be like that but we don't really believe.

The spies spent 40 days exploring all the land had to offer. They saw the different cities of those who lived there. They saw how fertile the land was and some of the first crops of grapes. The land was everything God had said it would be...but now we get to the song I learned growing up.

10 were bad, and 2 were good

When the spies came back and reported what they saw the stories they told didn't exactly match up. It was a case for CSI, or maybe more for Law & Order, but either way things didn't add up.

10 of the spies said yes, the land is fertile and flowing with milk and honey...BUT the people there are strong and well protected. Joshua and Caleb however didn't agree:

Numbers 13:30 "Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

The spies said, no...not so much. We are like grasshoppers to them, it wouldn't be good. How often do we let our surroundings define who we are? How often do we not trust that God is with us and loves us? Its easy to be in the 10, but difficult to be in the 2.

Numbers 12: Humility Defined?



Numbers 12:3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)


I think there is a lot of confusion about what the word humility means.

Wikipedia says that
Humility, or being humble, is ... someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others.


What is so amazing about Moses was that even though he spoke to God face to face, he still was humble... he didnt think he was better than anyone else.

Even though Moses was special, was the big shot in camp, was the leader, was in change, was God's right hand dude... he still didnt get a big head.

that is amazing because I get a big head from much smaller things...

H0w about you...?

Are you someone 'who does not think you are better or more important that others?"

or does the universe revolve around you?

11.16.2008

Numbers 6-11 Weekly Review (By Stuart Briscoe)



They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks and that may be true. But the fact that this elderly gentleman is sitting down writing a blog for the first – and only? – time in his life shows that change is possible. So here goes.


Numbers chapter 6-Speaking of change this chapter talks about changes in the rules and regulations about Nazirite vows. There was a time when you had to be “born as a Nazirite” and it became a life long commitment (see Judges 13: 2-5.) but they could become kind of rivals to the priests. So the rules were changed so that ordinary people could take the vows not for life but for “short term” under the direction of the priests but it is important to notice that short term did not mean casual or half committed. They had to be for real!

The priests, among other things, had the privilege of blessing the people – they believed that the words spoken actually carried power to change people’s lives. The blessing recorded in 6: 24- 27 is very well known and is often used in services to this day. It talks about security, prosperity (not necessarily financial) and a sense of well being. Beautiful and all the blessing comes from the LORD!

Numbers chapter 7-The early chapters of Numbers talked about the priests being involved in the life of the community. This chapter is about the community helping the priests in the worship center. They brought suitable gifts that were practical, every tribal group participated something and when you add up all the animals and the precious metals given the gifts were clearly sacrificial. David set us all a great example when he said, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” (2 Sam. 24: 24.)

Numbers chapter 8-The priests wore special vestments and this “set them apart” from the people but they could abuse this position and become remote from the people. So the Levites had a different role to play in the worship of Israel - they were kind in between the people and the priests . They were not inferior they were different but we must not fail to notice that preparation for service was most important. There was no place for casual, careless worship and service – and we need to be careful in this area as well.

Numbers chapter 9-Moses was privileged to go into the worship centre and there God would speak to him. Even though we can’t hear God’s voice as he did God still speaks to us through His Word, the Bible, through other believers, in the wonders of Creation and deep in our consciences and we must remember to be open to what He is saying. He told Moses to prepare the people to celebrate the Passover – remember how God when His people were slaves in Egypt He had promised that if they sacrificed a lamb and painted the blood on their doors the angel who was going to bring judgment on their oppressors would “Pass over” the Jews – if you don’t remember check out Exodus chapter 12 . The Jews still celebrate Passover to this day so that they won’t forget what God did all those years ago. (Rather like the way we remember on Veterans Day those who died in the World Wars because we must not forget their sacrifice.) Jesus celebrated Passover the night He was betrayed (see John chapter 13) and our Communion service has close links to Passover.

As soon as the worship centre was finished, God who is invisible moved in. But if He was invisible how did they know? Good question – the “cloud” that is the brightness of His glory shone around the place (at night it glowed like fire) so at all times they knew God was with them. Some times they knew it was time to move on – how did they know? The cloud moved and they followed obediently. God works that way with us too.

Numbers chapter 10-When I was in the Royal Marines I loved it when the band played and on special occasions they sounded the silver trumpets. What an unmistakable sound they made – clear, harmonious, beautiful. Apparently God likes all kinds of music because He gave lots of instructions about it and showed that it has a special place in worship. The trumpets also challenged them to be ready for battle – after we worship we need to be ready too! Time to move on was the message on occasion and this the people of God did in an orderly manner – just as God had directed. God likes orderliness in His children too.

Stuart Briscoe (Click here for more from Stuart!)

Numbers 11: Grumblers and Complainers (by Stuart Briscoe)

You would think that the people of God even though they were in the wilderness – not a very nice place! – would have been grateful to God for saving them and guiding them but they were a bunch of grumblers!
Never satisfied, always asking God for something different. In the end God got a little ticked and said, “Alright if its meat you want you can have it.” They were delighted and figured grumbling worked, but day after day they got meat until it was coming out of their noses – Yuk! Be careful what you ask for – you might get it!! The grumbling got to Moses in the end and he’d had it with the people he was responsible for – but God had a good idea. He told Moses to pick out 70 key people to assist him and then God empowered and appointed them and it worked like a dream. Good leaders always share the responsibility and give younger people a chance to develop. The key is picking the right people and giving them just enough responsibility so they can show they are responsible. Not too much and not too little. Who’d be a leader?!!! The check is how they’re doing and sense when they are ready for more responsibility.

Stuart Briscoe (Click here for more from Stuart!)

11.14.2008

Numbers 10: The Trumpets

Have you ever wished that God would use a trumpet to help you know when to go somewhere or when it is good to do something, like He used to instruct the Israelites to set out to their next place? Sometimes it is hard to know what God wants for us – and sometimes there is no “right” answer – just a fine and good or good and better.

When I have a big decision to make and I am not sure what God wants me to do, I pray and read God’s Word – the Bible to seek the answers. How has God helped you to make a decision? How did you know it was what God wanted?


11.13.2008

Sno Rodeo 2008: The Furnace...


Staying cool when life heats up...

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Nexus Review: Numbers Series #1 --Details, Details

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Numbers play a far bigger part in our life than we realize. Digital photographs, videos and games... are entirely based on numbers.. little zeros and ones that scroll through millions of lines of code to create vivid images on the screen. Any one of those little numbers, insignificant seeming as they may be, could ruin a photo, video, game, or crash a computer or network, or ever bring down a power grid knocking out power to half of our country.

Numbers, although often invisible, matter. They are details that can overwhelm us in large quantities, but God is not overwhelmed by the details at all. Imagine a BEING who knows every single number in the universe, and what they are for. He knows how many people, stars, galaxies, atoms, subatomic particles, angels, iPods, songs exists anywhere.

That is the God that I want to entrust my life to. If he can handle the details of the universe without breaking a sweat, he can handle the universe of issues and emotions that makes up my life.

Hebrews 4: 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Numbers 9: Clouds and Fires

Do you walk around with a cloud of fire above your head? This seems like something straight from the funnies in the Sunday morning paper now doesn’t it? The reality of this is that the cloud of fire described in Chapter 9 of Numbers was a visible sign that God’s presence was with the Israelites. Whether the cloud moved or stayed…their movement directly copied the movement of this cloud.

It is very safe when we see God going before us – such as with the pillar of fire. Could this be true of us today? Do you sense God is near and moving in your life? THIS IS TRUE TODAY! Although the Spirit of God may not manifest himself as a cloud of fire above our heads, the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us….and HE lives within us! The Holy Spirit guides us as we learn to live and love like Jesus!

The Israelites were on a journey…a very long journey. We are also on a journey. Can everyone see the presence of God in your life? Can anyone see the presence of God in your life?

11.12.2008

Numbers 8: His People

"...and the Levites will be mine.... They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me."


That's God, talking about the Levites, in Numbers 8, verses 14 and 16 (NIV).

A lot of Numbers 8 involves God talking about how the Levites are His special people, and how they need to be set apart specially for Him. There's a lot they have to do before they can serve Him: sprinkle special water on themselves, wash their clothes (no big deal), shave their whole bodies (kind of a big deal), and offer sacrifices. All of that is to make them pure or clean enough to serve God in His tabernacle.

Reading about how God had them set apart reminded me of a passage from the New Testament, I Peter 2:9:
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Peter (the writer) isn't speaking just to a group of Levites, pastors, missionaries, or the twelve disciples. He's talking to regular Christians. God doesn't want just the Levites to be His own special people. He wants all of us to be His, set apart to honor and praise Him. And Jesus was already the sacrifice to make us clean before God, so we don't have to do the purification rituals the Levites did. Pretty amazing, if you ask me!!!

So, what do YOU think it means to be set apart as God's people? What does that look like in our lives? Is there anything special you think He's calling you to do?

11.11.2008

Numbers Bookmark Chapters 6-11


This is what you have been waiting for! Bookmark Number 2!!!!!!
WE hope this tool will help you walk through a chapter a day as we are all reading through the book of Numbers! Post a blog comment and let us know what you are learning!
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Numbers 7: dishes and a petting zoo???

If your keeping up with us in this quest of reading numbers, chapter 7 is one that could easily be one that is skipped over. Its 89 verses make it one of the longest chapters in the Old Testament, and I think one of the longest in the bible. This chapter talks about the needs of the temple being meet by the offerings of the Israelites. They all brought a silver place, a silver bowl, a grain offering, a gold dish, incense, a bull, a ram, a lamb, a male goat, two oxen, 5 more rams, and five more goats. In short they brought some dishes and started a petting zoo.. (although most of the animals were given as a sacrifice).

Chapter 7 marks the completion of the tabernacle. The Israelites have finished the building that will serve as God’s dwelling place among them here on earth. What an awesome thing to celebrate. And that is what they did, the Israelites were celebrating the completion, and as an act of obedience to God they all offered the finest of dishes and the best of their animals.

Think of something that has happened in your life that you think is really cool. A few months ago I purchased a brand new car. It was an awesome thing that God provided for me. Another cool moment for me is that recently I got to hang with my big time BFF’s in Michigan, I don’t get to see them much but they are some of the greatest people I have ever met. God completes amazing things in our lives all the time, do we ever stop and think about what he has done, and we have to give back to him as an offering?

What can we give as a gift to celebrate his faithfulness in our lives?

The Israelites were given an opportunity to walk around the place where God lived on earth. In response the Israelites gave God their finest animals, silver and gold as an offering to thank him and worship God for this gift.

What do you have to give to celebrate the things he has done in your life?
Maybe time to serve at a nursing home… maybe a part of your allowance can be put in the offering plate on Sunday morning…. Maybe just a kind word or encouragement to a friend… We all have a lot that we can offer, but it should be our best that we have to give. What can you give?

Be Creative!!!

I think that young people today have a huge advantage when it comes to creativity. They were born with a tool that makes creativity more easier to express: the personal computer.

Now, a computer is not the first thing that you think of when you think of creativity (unless you use a mac ;), but the personal computers we use today allow people to record their own movies and songs, write and publish their own books, create their own publications, businesses, websites, and more... all before they graduate high school.

SO... you have the tools... you have a talent... don't be content just to consume others content... become a creator... start making your own content!

11.10.2008

Numbers 6: A Vow and a Blessing

Numbers chapter 6 has two sections to it.  The first section is "The Nazarite Vow" and the second is "Aaron's Blessing".  I didn't know what a Nazarite vow was, so did a Google search and found an entry on Wikipedia.  I know Wikipedia isn't the best source, especially for school papers, but it was informative nonetheless.  You can read what Wikipedia said here.  A basic summary is: The Nazarite vow was a vow to separate themselves to God, to be Holy unto the Lord.  The person who took the vow would follow the rules outlined in the first part of Numbers 6 for at least 30 days.  They would not eat anything made from grapes, they wouldn't cut their hair, and they would stay away from dead bodies.  

At first this doesn't sound too difficult, but if their dad, mom, sister or brother died they wouldn't be able to go to the funeral!  

The vow made me think, how often do I deliberately separate myself to God, how often do I spend with just him?  A few minutes a day, a few hours on Sunday?  Maybe a week here or there for a retreat or missions trip?  These times are times that I fit into my schedule, around what I really want to be doing.  When was the last time I sacrificed something for God?  Not just gave an offering, or did what was expected, but truly sacrificed?  What sacrifices can I make today to put God first?

The second section of Numbers 6 is Aaron's Blessing.  Through this blessing the Lord says that Israel as a nation would be blessed.  Numbers 6: 24-26 says:

24 "The LORD bless you 
       and keep you;

25 the LORD make his face shine upon you 
       and be gracious to you;

26 the LORD turn his face toward you 
       and give you peace." 

This is a great reminder of God's love for us and how much he cares.  I really like how this chapter begins with a way for us to separate ourselves to the Lord, and ends with a blessing for those who bear the Lord's name.

11.09.2008

Numbers 1-5 Weekly Review (By Brodie)

Numbers lives up to its name in the first few chapters. I thought I was in school again with all of the addition (count ‘em up), subtraction (take the Levites out), multiplication (the shekels that needed to be paid to replace the firstborn), and division (dividing out the Levites) coming out all over the place. When I was in school, I remember learning so many different things and they often didn’t tie together in my mind. Later on, I found that things started working together and it made more sense. I am sure the Israelites felt like God was doing a bunch of new things in their nation and they were a bit confused. Later on though, things started working together and life made more sense. Even now, I see things happening all around me that are sometimes confusing. When I read these passages, they help me understand that if God could make sense of things then…He can still do it today!

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9—Everything in Order
My mom used to tick me off!! Every Saturday I had to have my room in perfect order before I could do anything! What a bummer! I used to fight and complain until I realized that if I kept things in order for most of the week, Saturday’s were much more pleasant. I could do a lot more of what I wanted to do. All through the first five chapters, you see that God is setting things in order so that the Israelites (even though they are now going to be delayed in going to the Promised Land) can move about and wander in an organized way. God gives us the same thing. The Bible is full of things that will help us move through life in an easier way. Here are a few:
• Tell the truth (Ex. 20)…then you won’t have to remember what you told someone
• Don’t take what isn’t yours (Ex. 20)…don’t have to fear being caught
• Be kind (Eph 4:32)…others are likely to be kind back
• Study (II Tim. 2:15)…knowledge can be a powerful thing
When we build order into our life, spiritual and every day order, we find that our lives become a bit easier. God did this to help us!

Brodie
Childrens Ministry Pastor

11.08.2008

Reading Numbers: The Lost art of Reading

Reading is becoming a lost art.

This is a problem for people who want to be effective followers of Jesus, because Christianity bases so much on what we find in the WORD of God... a collection of books called the Bible.

For many students today, reading would not even be listed among their hobbies... many students just don't read...

This means that reading any book of the Bible, and especially one that has lots of details, is a huge challenge.

Hear is a rough list of some tips that might help you... let me know if you have better ideas that I can share with others.

1. Set a regular time and place, and get a notebook (or computer)
2. Pray first: Ask God to reveal himself to you in the
3. Look for a few things that interest you as you read. (Don’t get stuck on things you don’t understand)
4. Ask God what those verses might mean in your life. (Sometimes its obvious sometimes its not)
5. Try to focus on one thing, each time you read, that you can work on in your life....

Numbers 5: Things that Make you Cringe (By Brodie)

Numbers 5:5
The LORD said to Moses, 6 "Say to the Israelites: 'Any man or woman who wrongs another in any way [b] and so is unfaithful to the LORD is guilty 7 and must confess the sin they have committed. They must make full restitution for the wrong they have done


This verse really makes me cringe.
I wish it wasn’t in there. I wish it didn’t have to be true!!!...but it is. It says that whenever I do wrong towards anyone else, it is like I am doing wrong (being unfaithful) to God Himself.

The whole chapter (5) is about Israel living in their camp in such a way that others look to them as the example of how to live.

One of those ways is that they should treat each other as if what they did was a direct action towards God, because it was. The same thought applies to us today.
This means that what I say about my parents shows God how I feel about Him.

The way I act towards the people I don’t like, shows God how I feel about Him. The way I go about my day, shows God how I feel about Him. The way I treat others in any situation shows God how I feel about Him! So let me ask you…if God were standing around the corner when you talk to your family, to your friends, to the people you aren’t crazy about…would he feel like you are crazy about Him?? Like you are following Him with your whole heart?? I have looked back at my day and have already had to talk to some people and think differently just because of this verse…what about you??

Brodie
Childrens Ministry Pastor

11.07.2008

mosaic announcements - 11.7.08

Hey Mosaic Friends!

Email me back about your favorite number! Is it your age? Your birthday? A random number? I wanna hear about it as we are reading through the book of Numbers!

Nexus: NUM3ER5 Series! This week we will be starting a new series on the book of Numbers. We have started reading the book together as a ministry. Check out what I wrote about Numbers 4 today! We are excited to see you this Tues - 6:45-8:30pm as we start the NUMBERS Series!

Sno Rodeo is coming up super fast! (Dec 28-30) Sno Rodeo registration forms are finally available online at
www.elmbrook.org/mosaic ! Look for a postcard in the mail this week with the Sno Rodeo theme! The Early Bird cost (until Dec 1st) is $160.

Please remember to email me your favorite number!


Jng
jng@elmbrook.org

Numbers 4: tabernacle transfer - 8,580 people needed...

I hope you have been keeping up and reading Numbers with us – it is full of incredible stuff! If you are just starting now, read the first four chapters and stick to this website everyday and hear from the Mosaic staff and other special guests what we learned or thought about when we read the chapter you read today.

When I read through Numbers 4, I simply couldn’t believe how many different responsibilities each tribe had. The tabernacle was way more than just some tent that you take camping that flips open when you throw it in the air. The tabernacle and the surrounding courtyard was set up the same way every time.

We know that it took A LOT of people because in chapter 4:47-49 it says, “All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting numbered 8,580.” At the LORD's command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.”

Did you catch that last part? God commanded each to a specific job. It wasn’t like this person could just help out with whatever – they needed to be a part of what God wanted them to help with.

Maybe they would have to be responsible for making sure the utensils used for ministering at the altar were on top of the bronze altar, or carry the altar from place to place. Carrying all the pieces from place to place would take 8,580 people and God was prepared with a way to help them get organized.

It is incredible to me that our God – even though He is all powerful and all knowing – would care to explain to Moses what jobs needed to be done and which tribe would do it. God allowed all these people to participate in the preparation of the location He would reveal himself to Moses and His people.


Our God is amazing for so many reasons. Looking at the way He guided all of these people (over 8000!) is so interesting and helps understand a little more about our Creator. I would encourage you to re-read Chapter 4 and think about what job you would have been good at (which tribe you would have probably fit into) and maybe you can even think of how awesome it is that God made each of us so unique that when we work together (with other people and with God), we can do great things together.

11.06.2008

Ultimate Overnite Pictures Now ONLINE!!!



Check out hundreds of awesome images from the most amazing night of you life... in October...

Click HERE

Numbers 3 - "I AM THE LORD"


I remember as a middle school student before my family left to run errands running out to the car with my sister yelling “SHOTGUN!” Since my sister and I couldn’t drive at the time, we both clearly wanted to sit in the front passenger seat. Now, official ‘shotgun’ rules clearly state that whoever calls shotgun first gets the privilege… but as with all sibling encounters, sometimes this privilege comes with a little bit of a fight.

How many times in our lives do we claim things as “MINE!” When we call dibbs on something - do we accept part of the item or task at hand? Probably not... (after all… how easy would it be to
cram 2 people in a front passenger seat) In calling dibbs on something we demand the whole.

What do you think when you read these words: ‘I AM THE LORD’. Do they mean anything to you? It struck me funny to read these words in the context of the book of NUMBERS being spoken in this active sense. Perhaps it is funny to me sometimes because of my lack of faith that disallows me to see that God IS still as active and alive as he was when these words were written. For us today reading the bible is easy because all we have to do is just read to the end of the story and see how God shows himself…it’s not this easy as we live in real time and usually don’t have answers by the end of the day.

In Numbers chapter 3, the Lord repeats himself twice in calling the Levites “mine” in verses 12 & 13. It is obvious that God has a very specific design, plan and purpose for Aaron’s family as clearly stated throughout the whole chapter because he claimed the Israelites as HIS people. He can do this because he says 'I AM THE LORD'! This is also true with us today. He calls dibbs on his redeemed people... (THAT’S US!) because HE saved us…

When God calls us to a task or asks us to claim something for him in our lives…he wants us to do it wholly…completely…to its fullest. No exceptions. And if he has called us to do something, he will give us the means by which we complete it. “Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.” He doesn’t want pieces…he wants the whole…whole obedience in us. For we are completely His…and He is Lord.

Has God asked you to do something that you have not fulfilled? It could be something as simple as obeying your parents or helping out a friend. Its time to listen specifically to what God is calling us to do…for he has called us His…and he knows what’s best for us.
After all…He said it himself… “I AM THE LORD… I get shotgun.”

Numbers Bookmark Chapter 1-5





Hey Students! Here is our newest bookmark to help you keep track of reading through the book of Numbers...in FULL COLOR!


Just click the picture to the left


<----- and print the image!

11.05.2008

Numbers 2: God in the middle


"The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron saying, 'The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers' houses.  They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side.'"--Numbers 2:1-2 (ESV)

I went camping with a group of about 20 people for a weekend this past summer.  (Not quite the 603,550, plus women and children, who were among the people of Israel!)  We pitched our tents around different parts of the campsite, but we had one thing in common: we set up our tents facing the center of the site, the campfire.  That's where we met to talk, share stories, get warm, and make yummy treats.

What's really cool about the Israelites' camp is that they didn't just meet around a campfire.  They had their tents pitched around the tent of meeting, another word for the tabernacle: God's house.  God Himself was at the very center of their camp.

That's where He belongs in our lives: at the very center.  Sure, we've all got our own things going on, just like the different people of Israel had their own standards (flags) and banners.  School, sports and other activities, friends, family...these all make up different parts of our lives and make our experiences unique.  But God should still be at the center of our lives.  Every other part should be just off to the side, compared to Him.


11.04.2008

Numbers 1: Parting Lake Michigan, like the red sea!

Chapter one of numbers: Most perceive Numbers to be one of the most boring books in the bible. I’m not going to lie, it’s not one of the more exciting ones - that’s for sure. But everything in the Bible has a reason why it is included and this particular chapter is one that shows us the amazing goodness of God. How can we see that god is good through 54 verses of counting people… well track with me here for a minute.

Many of us struggle to believe there actually is a God because we cant text him, call him, email him, punch him, and we cant always see him. But often I think we are looking for something different then God showing himself to us.

To understand Numbers we have to go back to Genesis 28. In this chapter there is this guy named Jacob who is told by God that he will have LOTS of grandchildren who have LOTS more grandchildren and eventually he will have a huge family. His family will bless “all the peoples of the earth”. God closes his blessing over Jacob by saying He not leave Jacob untill what is promised is done. So what does this have to do with Numbers?? We move on from Jacob and have the story of Joseph… (go go go Joseph you know what they say…) and then we have the Exodus. We find Gods chosen people in captivity as slaves under the Egyptian king, and they are angry.

Numbers starts with the Israelites who were freed from captivity as a result of the miracles of God. The Israelites are the descendants of Jacob this is his family years and years later. A reason for this count in Numbers is for the people to see how faithful God has been to his promise, despite the slavery and captivity; God still blessed these people and kept his word. And all the while He was with them as he promised.

Jacobs family was originally 75 people, but now as we read in Numbers the number totals 603,550. God surly did bless them and this chapter is a way to put in writing how much God blessed Jacob’s family. And God blessed them even through the hardest time in their life.

We often expect God to do crazy miraculous things in our life so that we know he is there.. Part lake Michigan before our eyes! But God is always with us, and sometimes we have to look at the small things of life to see the ways that he has blessed us. We need to look in the small happy moments of the day to see him keep his promises to us.

Have you been looking for him??

11.03.2008

New Series at Nexus: NUMBERS!!!

We are starting a new series at Nexus based on the Biblical book of Numbers. Starting this week we will be challenging students to read 5 chapters of Numbers per week, and to help you figure out this crazy awesome book, we will be posting on the blog every day, until we are done.

Feel free to ask you questions, tell us your thoughts, or even surprise us with something cool you find as we journey through this ancient book together!


Some parts of it are crazy and some parts are a little like reading a dictionary, but if you stick to it you will be Glad!!!!

This week in the Mosaic Ministry...

Hey Mosaic Friends!

Email me (Jng at jng@elmbrook.org) your favorite kind of candy – hopefully you have some left over from the weekend!

Nexus goes to Harvest Fest! This week Nexus will be going to Harfest Fest together and sitting in Section 2 (L-Z) on Tuesday November 4th. We will gather in the Student Lounge at 6:30-45pm ish and go to the sanctuary together! There will be a general dismissal after the large group service at 8:15pm for students to be picked up.

Sign up TODAY for the Service Day – There are only a few spots open for the Service Day on Nov 8th at Care-Age in Brookfield from 9am-12noon. We will be spending time and having lunch with the residents after training. It is free, but there are limited spots – the registration form is online at www.elmbrook.org/mosaic

Sno Rodeo: The Sno Rodeo dates have been changed to Dec 28-30. Registration forms will be available in a couple days – keep your eyes peeled! The Early Bird cost (until Dec 1st) is $160.

Student Ministry Team will not be meeting this week due to Harvest Fest. We will be meeting the following Tuesday Nov 11.

Also, keep checking this blog for the daily updates on Numbers - Read though Numbers with the staff, leaders and some special guests starting tomorrow, Nov 4th. Check it out and tell us what you think about what we write!

Jng :)