Day 322 (Saturday) - Acts 5:1-7:29

Maybe I’m sick and twisted…ok, I am…but I love the story of Ananias and Sapphira. This couple tried to cheat God out of their tithe and they were struck dead right there in the church service. A few young men got the responsibility to carry out the corpses in the middle of the service (no one wants dead bodies lying around while church is going on). The next line says that the church was in great fear over the event…reeeaaaallllly! It sure does change the way you look at that little plate that passes by during the worship service. Our gifts are never to a church…they are to God and he apparently cares a lot about our hearts in the act of giving.

Day 321 (Friday) - Acts 2:14-4:37

The first Christian sermon is delivered by the Pope…Pastor Peter. He lays out the basics of the Gospel plan and tells the hearers the “anyone who believes in Jesus can be saved”. This was a new idea because Judaism was exclusive and was not easily available to just any person. This new invitation was well received and those that accepted the message were over 3000 that first day…so the fist church was a mega church!

Day 320 (Thursday) - John 20-21; Acts 1:1-2:13

The book of Acts is not really titled Acts, not that it really matters that much, but the proper title is Acts of the Apostles because it is the story of their acts. It is the beginning of life after Jesus’ sacrifice and the beginning of the church as we know it today. Acts is a text book on church structure, purpose and workings. The work of the apostles is an example to us and a challenge for the church of the 21st century. Buckle up because this is going to be a wild ride!

Day 319 (Wednesday) - John 17:14-19:42

Did you know that we are to be one with each other as Jesus and God are one? Jesus and God are the same, though Jesus had a physical body. You and I are to be one…undivided…united. Are we? Sure we are! As Christians we never fight about anything. We always work to love each other and make sure our words build each other up and never tear each other down. We don’t argue about things like baptism, how people are saved or any other types of doctrine. Isn’t it great to be one? Oops! Let’s just skip over that verse…

Day 318 (Tuesday) - John 14:12-17:13

What do you make of John 14:26? It’s a clear communication of the role of the Spirit in our lives. We are uncomfortable with the Spirit because we don’t know how we are to interact with him but he is the person of the Godhead that is most active and present with us as children of God. Do you see the work of the Spirit in your life? He is the one that reminds you of the truth and teachings of Christ. The more in tune you are with the Spirit, the more in tune you are with Christ.

Day 317 (Monday) - John 12:12-14:11

I don’t like sacrifice any more than the next person but there is something about sacrifice that is more Christ-like than any other experience. Jesus said that the wheat must fall to the earth and die in order to spring to life more fruit. Jesus dies to bring us new life and we must die to resurrect something better. We don’t give up our lives very easily; we hold on to them and fight our way to the grave. What do you have to die to? What are you unwilling to let go of? What resurrection awaits your suffering?

Day 316 (Sunday) - John 10:19-12:11

There is no more powerful example of God’s timing and our timing being different than the story of Lazarus’ death. It’s almost comical. Here a man dies that Jesus knows and the friends and family flock to Jesus to come. Instead of doing what they think he will do, dropping everything, he waits two more days! I would have been freaking out! Is Jesus going to come or should we bury the body? Will the smell go away even if Jesus resurrects him? Jesus has his timing and we have ours. I so do this!