Truth Teacher

There is something really special going on in the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4. As I was reading this passage this week, I couldn’t get past the first temptation, especially Jesus response found in the 4th verse: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Jesus, defending the tempter’s challenge, retorts with the impervious Scriptures found in Deut. 8:3.  However, there is much more going on here than just a simple quote from the Torah.  The two stories seem to be inexorably linked.    Jesus is in the wilderness for 40 days.            Israel was in the wilderness 40 years. Jesus is hungry.                                             Israel was hungry. Jesus is tempted to make bread.                   Israel was complaining they needed bread.  Jesus is being tested.                                    Israel was being tested. The hunger that Jesus and Israel was experiencing was very real.  Their stomachs were growling, they are

They say that two things are sure in this life, death and taxes.  Every year I approach April with fear and trepidation.  Not because I normally owe the government, but because I despise preparing my taxes.  Needless to say, I was quite pleased with myself that I actually completed my taxes in record time this year, 3 weeks before the due date.  It might have something to do with being out of work and really needing the refund...but none the less the deed has been done.  This morning I was reading about man who was trying to avoid paying his dues.  He was trying to profit on something that he didn't do and literally just stumbled upon.  It's like finding a bag of money in the street, you know it doesn't belong to you, but in an instant it seems ok to pick up because no one is watching.  You try not to think about the desperation of the one that lost it, you try not to think about how you will have to explain to your loved ones how you suddenly came into all this money.  Y