Steve Bezner

“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
—Luke 3:10-11

The Kingdom of God is marked by the generosity of its citizens towards those in need.

She attends public school.

Today my 10 YO niece asked what this was and I immediately turned into ash and blew away in the breeze.

Because of our God’s merciful compassion,
the dawn from on high will visit us
to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
—Luke 1:78-79

Even in the dark.
He keeps His promises.
He comes for His people.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”—Mark 10:23

Great culture can save lives. Literally.

Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard

Jesus said that calling the things of God demonic was blasphemy. (Mark 3:29-30)

Makes me wonder about those who dismiss the methods of Jesus as weak and ineffective.

Hoping for Judgment Day What the Waiting of Advent Teaches Us About Hope

For the days you yearn for justice:

substack.com/home/post/p-...

"Which of the two do you want me to release for you?"
"Barabbas!" they answered.--Matthew 27:21

When given the choice, we rarely pick the bruised and bloodied Jesus. We remain convinced that the Messiah ought to look more like a superhero and less like a servant.

#Advent begins today.

In the dark, in the waiting, and in the pain, we find comfort in this:

He keeps His promises and comes for His people.

We wait, but as people who hope.

While I’m here, mildly spicy take:

Once you “get” the Kingdom, Matthew 13 is one of *those* Hall of Fame chapters in the Bible like, say, Romans 8.

Matthew 13 is absolutely jam packed.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”—Matthew 13:45

The Kingdom is worth giving everything to pursue.

Happy Thanksgiving. If your day doesn’t look like what you hoped or expected, I wrote this for you.

The new Knives Out movie is absolutely fantastic. It’s fresh on my mind, but it may be the best of the three. Themes of faith and doubt. Questions about the role of the church and its relationship to the world. Thumbs way up.

Gratitude is Transformative Thankfulness as the Antidote to Despair

The last twelve months have brought a host of changes to the Bezner family. In the midst of them, we have discovered the power of thankfulness. Read more here: bezner.substack.com/p/gratitude-...

You cannot serve both God and money.”—Jesus (Matt 6:24)

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for the kingdom
of heaven is theirs.
—Matthew 5:3

The kingdom is not for those who think they have it all.

It’s not even for those who think they have some.

It’s for those who recognize they have nothing—and need the grace of God.

“I will be ready to witness…
against those who oppress the hired worker,
the widow,
and the fatherless;
and against those who deny justice to the resident alien.
They do not fear me,” says the Lord of Armies.
—Malachi 3:5

an apple pie sits on a white plate next to a fork and knife ALT: an apple pie sits on a white plate next to a fork and knife

My cousin recently moved to Bend, Oregon, and their Turkey Trot is named “I Like Pie.”

Now that’s a race I can get behind.

I will deal with all your oppressors
at that time.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
—Zephaniah 3:19

When we gather to enter the Kingdom, we may be surprised to see who Jesus puts at the front of the line.

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
—Habakkuk 3:17-18

Think of some truly evil people. People who hate God and everything holy—people you genuinely despise.

Now: Imagine them repenting and receiving grace and love from the LORD.

How would you feel about such lavish grace?

Angry? Disappointed? Frustrated? Cheated?

This is the book of Jonah.

Killed two spiders, hung some curtains, and got JB a peppermint shake from CFA.

Racking up the Husband Points™️ over here.

💯

For three sins of Israel,
even for four, I will not relent.
They sell the innocent for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals.
They trample on the heads of the poor
as on the dust of the ground
and deny justice to the oppressed.
—Amos 2:6-7

God cares about the needy, poor, and oppressed.

a man in a green elf costume says you sit on a throne of lies ALT: a man in a green elf costume says you sit on a throne of lies

Was excited to return from a few days travel to resume “Mistletoe Murders” with JB, only to discover they went behind a paywall while I was gone.

And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

—Joel 2:28-29

One of my favorite things to do as a pastor was to serve the Lord's Supper.

I loved looking around the room from the Table, thinking about how I would spend eternity with those people.

On Wednesday I get to teach on how to serve the Supper.

Genuinely giddy.

I remember this

Regarding what you say on social media, be sure to think about:

* Your tongue (the words you use)
* Your tone (how you say them)
* Your timing (is this the right time?)

--Niki Roberts