Denise -
Your post on May 14 says "FYI, if you want to post Prayer/praise/Possibilities go to layout/Edit button on P/P/P and add(or delete) items."
My Prayer/Praise/Possibilities section of the blog has no buttons on it.
Kathy56

Ya-hoooo The geneology

Okay, I have been having the worst time trying to get into this blog. I'm not sure why but anyway, as I present my comments I thinking maybe we should commit to posting twice a week, given the slow start we're having. That way we don't have to commit every day and become discouraged when we don't. So, I hope we get bwetter results with this.

About Matthew 1. I have always been one to skip the geneology thinking what's the point. As I have come to understand Matthews theology better I have gained such an appreciation for the litany of names. Matthew is a Jew trying to persuade his readers that Jesus really is the Messiah. The geneology is clearly important for that reason but it's also Matthew's way of pointing out the fact that his lineage is not free of "colorful" characters. He's got folks like Judah(do you remeber his story), interesting how God did not send the Messiah through the lineage of his brother Joseph whose story we love, or benjamin(the perfect child), but through Judah and Tamar his daughter-in-law/prostitute on the side of the road. I love the juicy gospel of Old testament life. Then there's Rahab(hello) and Ruth(she's not even Jewish).

Matthew comfronts those who challenge the place for fractured people with less than attractive lives and conforts those who find their story in the long, "boring" narrative of Christ's ancestory, giving us space to live in the story he continues to unfolds for his glory.

Matthew 1 ~ Genealogy

The genealogy portion of Matthew 1 is - I'll be blunt - boring. Despite this, I do find it interesting on some levels as well . . . There's times when I forget about the OT and all the history that happened before Christ was born. God was blessing, loving, and working in His creation from the beginning. This genealogy at the beginning of Matthew is a reminder to me of God's faithfulness through generations. It also reminds me of His plan for His creation, and that the OT and NT are one and not separate. I'm reminded further of this in verse 23, when Isaiah is quoted.

on your mark, get set, post

Let's start tomorrow with the first chapter of Matthew. I know there a bunch of names we can't say but let's give it a try. Just post your thoughts, wonderings and/or a-ha's.
FYI, if you want to post Prayer/praise/Possibilities go to layout/Edit button on P/P/P and add(or delete) items. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, aren't you??
pastor d

Okay ladies it's time to get started. You decide, should we study the book of Matthew with the other group ( it could be fun to compare notes once in a while)? Or should we venture off on our own maybe into the forgotten world of the Older Testament? Let's here what you think so we can get started asap.

Gr8fully yours,
d