John 5:1-23

"Dear Follower, In today's events from My life on earth, you will meet a man who had great difficulties. But like so many who find themselves in very...."

Why are we so reluctant to do what Jesus asks us when we know he cares so much for us? Max Lucado simply reminds us to obey Jesus when he asks something of us.

"But [Jesus healed the man by the pool of Bethesda] on the Sabbath, so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, "You can't..."

"Jesus told [the sick man by the pool of Bethesda], "Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!" Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping..."

"Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five..."

"One of the men lying [by the pool of Bethesda] had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he....."

"So Jesus explained [to the leaders who wanted to kill him], "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the..."

"[Jesus continued,] "In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honor the...."

"So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules [by healing on the Sabbath]. But Jesus replied, "My Father is always..."

"[About the man who had been healed, John wrote:] But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, "Now you are well; so stop sinning, or..."

"So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill [Jesus]. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making...."

"[Jesus continued,] "For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants.""

"Years are short to the happy and healthy; but thirty-eight years of disease must have dragged a very weary length along the life of the poor impotent...."

"Like many others, the impotent man had been waiting for a wonder to be wrought, and a sign to be given. Wearily did he watch the pool, but no angel..."

Jesus calls us beyond the narrow caricatures of grace. Phil Ware continues his series called UNPREDICTABLE about Jesus and his love and grace and call to follow him in holiness and reminds us that grace calls us from sin and death and to a life of holiness.

Haven't you stayed down long enough? Rick Brown reminds us that lame excuses keep us lame and Jesus calls us to get up, take up, and get on with living and walking and taking responsibility for our lives.

Doesn't sound like much of a plan, just to sit and pray, but it was Jesus' plan! Mark Frost finishes his 4 part series on Acts 1 and the key scenes that set the stage for the church to launch out into a whole new era of mission.

What is my Father trying to teach me about his work? Lisa Mikitarian reminds us that our Father in heaven has invited us into his work just like our earthly parents have sometimes invited us, and taken pride in us, working in their world.

If you Google “Hand of God” If you Google "Hand of God" the initial results are probably not what you might have expected.

Is rest really necessary for holy and whole living? Phil Ware talks about the importance of rest and the Sabbath principle.

"Dear Beloved, The Bible is a precious treasure. Don't neglect it. Use it and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through it. Remember! It is a tool....."

Jesus sees you, my friend, and he has a new version of you waiting to happen. Max Lucado reminds us of Jesus' power do fresh and new things if we will respond to his command to get up and do something.

Is your storehouse of anger doing you any good? Are you happier? Better? More fun to be with? Max Lucado helps us deal with the hurts of the heart that lead to bitterness, anger, and depression, as we are provoked and frustrated into sullen and negative states of spirit and emotion and mind.