SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY

Category: Hope

  • Truly Set Free

    Worthless, beat down, invaluable, helpless…he had to feel this way.  He had no choice but to feel this way.  He was paralyzed so he was at the mercy of others, always.  He could not get out of his bed so he had nothing he could contribute, or at least that is the way it seemed.  He existed and not much else could be said – at least from the outside.  But oh he still had personality and character.  He was still who he was created to be.  He had value, but it was difficult for him to see because he was confined to a bed unable to care for himself.  He depended on others for everything.

    But someone cared about him, he was a friend.  He meant something to someone.  He was mother’s son.  He had a father.  He could have been a brother or a nephew.  He was someone’s grandchild.  He was an important person.  He was valued.  There were others that knew him for the guy that he really was.  They heard his story.  They saw his pain.  They got that there was so much more to him than this bed.  This bed was not him.  He was so much more.  He had a name.  He had a life.  He had joys and hopes, dreams and aspirations.  They could look into his eyes and see the desperation.  He didn’t want to be in this place.  He simply wanted to be loved.

    And there were people who saw him.  They wanted to do anything they could to help, no matter the cost.  They loved him.  They believed in him.  And they had experienced someone that would love him just as much as they did.  So they did something which is rarely done…they move him.  Yes – they make him mobile.  It is a difficult task because he can’t help.  He is completely dependent on their efforts.  He can only go where they carry him.  He doesn’t get out or go places, it is too much work for people.  But today, they carry him.  He has somewhere to go.

    Matthew 9:2-8

    2 And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 Then some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.” 7 And he stood up and went to his home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.

    When we read this story, we read the lesson.  There is a lesson about faith.  There is a lesson about who Jesus is.  We could leave it at that.  But I don’t think that is the whole story.  This man, he is not an object lesson, he is a real person.  He is not to be used to make a point, but rather a person to be seen and heard.  He is someone who has suffered and has struggled.  He has led a real life that has been challenging.  His life has been confined to a bed.  Jesus sees him.  Jesus sees him as one of his own.  He calls him his child.  He also sees the hearts of those with him.  They don’t need to say a word.  He gets it.  They have selflessly given of themselves so that this man can have a new life.  They want the best for him.  He isn’t an object, he is God’s beloved.  He is a child of God, no less precious than anyone else.

    Jesus takes care of the man.  He offers forgiveness.  This man must have been weighed down by the things in his life.  Jesus would have noticed more than a paralyzed person.  He would have seen the heart of the man.  He would know what was hurting him.  He would understand that there is so much more going on than his outward situation.  He saw the man’s heart.  And he began healing him on the inside.  That probably isn’t what the friends had in mind.  This wasn’t what the man was expecting, I am sure.  Those in the room were dumbfounded.  Why would this be the answer?  But the man…no one asks him how he feels about all of this.  No one seeks to know how he is –  in the middle of all of this.  They simply begin to make assumptions and criticize.  They want to trap Jesus instead of realizing what has been done for him.

    He has been forgiven, set free.  He has been released from his past.  The heavy weights that have held him down are no longer a factor.  Jesus has done something for him that no doctor could ever do.  He has provided him with new life.  Even if he is still in the bed, he is not consumed by the worry of his past.  He has been set free.  This is an incredible gift.  But instead of celebrating, the religious in the room began to criticize.  Who does Jesus think he is?  What does think he is doing?  Who gave him the right to forgive sins?  And is this guy even worthy?  He isn’t a religious person and he can’t even go to worship.  Is this even happening?

    Just like Jesus sees the heart of the man and the heart of his friends, he also sees the heart of the religious.  And their heart is thinking evil.  Their heart is stained.  They have no clue that their seemingly religious heart is damaged.  They are too busy pointing out the stains of someone else to realize they are covered.  They are too consumed with who is worthy to realize that they need his love more than anyone.  They haven’t looked up from their rule book to see a man, a human, one of God’s children lying on a bed in front of them.  They have missed the person to make a point.  There is a person.  There is a life.  But Jesus sees.  He knows their hearts.  And he understands who truly seeks him.  He gets what is going on.  And he calls them out.  But he doesn’t forget the man.

    After he has taken care of the most important part – the weight of his past – he then gives him the freedom to move, to go on his own.  The healing was taken care of when he released his heart from the pain.  Now he helps him move forward with his new life.  He gives him a new start, a fresh breath, a whole new beginning.  It isn’t just about picking up the mat, it is about moving forward with a whole new life.  He is no longer the paralyzed man.  The bed no longer defines him.  But his past doesn’t define him either.  He has been released.  And he makes it to Jesus because he had friends that saw something special.  He has friends that understood he was more than his circumstance.  They didn’t feel sorry for him, they wanted more for him.  They loved him as he was but knew that so much more was out there for him.  They had faith that his healing could turn things around.  They love him and offer something so much more – they offer to introduce him to the one that would not judge him for his past or his present.  They offer him Jesus, the one that would set him free of it all.

    Those who observed couldn’t believe what had happened.  They were in awe.  I can only imagine the celebration.  The friends would gather round and tell this story for years to come.  It was a truly remarkable event.  But there would always be those who would question…was he worthy…did he deserve to walk…why him…what did it mean to be forgiven…what made him special.  But this man knew his life had been changed forever, and it meant more than the ability to physically take a step.  He had been freed leaps and bounds before he even got up from the bed.  He had been set free.

    What might you do if Jesus set you free?  Maybe he has and you are still confined because you don’t realize how much you have been freed.  Maybe you don’t understand that your healing may be more than a physical healing.  Could it be that you are free because Jesus has healed you spiritually?  Has he called you, forgiven you, and given you a new life?  Are you still held back because of what others think of you?  Are you being held down by the expectations of those that judge?  Are you weighed down by the opinions of others?  Know that when Jesus sets you free, you are free indeed.  You are meant to live abundantly.  He fills you with grace and mercy and gives you a brand new life.  He offers you so much more than to get up.  He provides all you need to really live.

    What’s holding you back?  May you call out to Jesus.  May you realize that you are his beloved.  And may you be set free.

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  • Called Out

    We have heard a lot about the church in the last few weeks.  Lengthy discussions have been carried out over locking up the church.  Many are angry that they cannot come to church in person.  As churches begin to reopen their doors, many changes must be made that will make church services unlike anything in the past.  It will not be the same, at least for now.  That makes many upset.  Singing carries issues farther than talking.  Shared hymnals can cause problems.  Even something as simple as opening a door can be potentially serious.

    All of this has certainly caused us to rethink church.  What is the church?  Why do we go to church?  How do we worship as a church in a way that is safe and protected for everyone?  What does the church even do?  Is the church necessary?

    Today’s scripture helps me to begin in the search for these answers, and I hope it begins to help you as well.

    Ephesians 1:15-23

    1:15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason
    1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.
    1:17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,
    1:18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,
    1:19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
    1:20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
    1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.
    1:22 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church,
    1:23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

    Do you hear anything about the church?  I do hear an intent and purpose.  Look closer.  Listen to what is being said.

    Christ is above all – ruler, guide, all powerful.  He has immeasurable greatness of his power that is given to those who follow him.  And his power changes things.  He is the head of it all, and that includes the church. The church is his body – his vehicle for doing his work.  The church is about wisdom and growth and seeking but it is also about going and living and loving.

    Maybe we have been shut up in the walls of a building too long and have forgotten that to be the church is to live for Christ.  Maybe we have gotten so comfortable in our pews that we haven’t allowed ourselves to follow Christ when we leave those pews.  It could be that we have grown so accustomed to the way things have always been that comfort was all we were seeking.  Could it be that we have made the church more about us than about Christ?  Could it be that we have made church what we wanted it to be – comfortable for us to sit with a group of people that look like us and agree with us?  Maybe, just maybe this is our time to be the church.

    IF we are the body of Christ, that seems to be a movement forward – a carrying out into the world.  It seems to me that this would be living out the vision and mission that Jesus lived as an example.  I do remember him gathering in the place of worship, but I don’t remember that being the only place he went.  Actually it seems like he spent more time with those that were discarded and forgotten than those that claimed to be devout.  He spent more time loving those on the outside that had never experienced love before.

    Do not misunderstand me – there is great value in gathering.  Jesus did it.  He taught in the place of worship and spent time there.  We gather to gain knowledge, we gather to seek wisdom, we gather to pray together, we gather to worship.  All of those are vital for our spiritual lives.  We gather in community.  We gather in resources and gifts to carry further the cause of Christ.  But this is a gathering.  This is not the end all, be all.  Gathering is only part of the equation.  And I think that we have gotten comfortable with gathering only because it makes us feel like we are doing what we should do – it is a box to check off on our holy list.

    But what if gathering is to prepare us for something more?  What if we have been taught how to worship and now we are being called out to worship in the world?  What if we have been given what we need to go out and serve?  What if we are being called to live for Christ as a unified body that isn’t in a building right this moment?  What if we are so worried about not gathering in a building because it is the only time we serve?   Could it be that we have been called out for times like these?  Could it be that we have been equipped to be God’s people right here and right now?  Could it be that we are to serve faithfully until we gather again?  And might we be changed when we do gather to value serving in and out of the building?  Maybe it will make us uncomfortable enough that we don’t get too comfortable when we return to the building.  That might just be an important gift in it all.

    The writer of Ephesians helps us to understand that in knowing Christ better, our heart is enlightened, we are given hope, and we are given a spirit of revelation and wisdom.  We have been given what we need.  Are we serving with a heart for Christ?  Are we filled with hope?  Do we live in wisdom?

    We are in this together, church.  And I mean more than Trinity.  I mean THE church.  We are all in this together.  We have been given all the gifts we need.  We have been strengthened for service.  We have been given courage to do as Christ calls.  Until we can safely gather in this building, it does not mean you are free from being the church – unless you feel that being in this building is the only time you are a follower of Christ.  You are actually given a great responsibility to seek to serve in this time.  You are called to encourage, pray, study, and above all else – love like never before – not from a comfy pew but out in a world that is starving for Christ.

    We will gather again in a building…and when we do, I pray that God has so filled us with his power that we are even more eager to go back out.  I pray that our pews are no longer comfortable and our worship reminds us that we are in this together, for Christ.  When we return, I pray we return changed, challenged, and called.

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  • Doing Right and Good

    Act like you know.  Make the right decision.  Do what is right.  Follow the right path.  You were raised to do better.

    We have all of these directives in our lives.  They are often vague.  What is right?  How do we know what is right?  What if we have been raised one way but haven’t actually explored any other way?  How do we know we are doing the right thing or even thinking the right way?  What if the way we have been shaped has so influenced us that we cannot see past that?

    These are all questions that help us to begin to explore doing the right thing.  If we aren’t asking the questions, we may take for granted what we know is the right way.  We may be missing what it means to be just and kind and loving if we are simply basing our decisions on what someone else has told us.

    It reminds me of when I am talking to people about a popular Bible story.  I will mention this story and they might mention…yeah, I remember when that happened.  What comes after that may not even be correct Biblically.  It may not be what is actually even written.  We can remember what people have told us in different ways than may actually be true.  It isn’t the fault the other person or of us.  We interpret what we hear based on our background and circumstances at the time.  It may be that we have learned some things completely wrong and have held fast to a notion that doesn’t really exist, except in our own minds.  We might be surprised if we took the time to read the Bible for ourselves and search deeply for what God is teaching in his Word.  Truly read it without trying to read into it what we think we know…that is the key.

    1 Peter 3:13-22

    3:13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?

    3:14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated,

    3:15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you;

    3:16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.

    3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.

    3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,

    3:19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison,

    3:20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.

    3:21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you–not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

    3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

    This scripture presents for me questions – Where does your hope come from?  Why do you have hope?  What is it about you that is so hopeful?  What is it that makes you different?  Why is your outlook so unique?

    All of these are based on a couple of things.  First, that we have hope.  And second, that others recognize that we have hope.  Those may seem simple enough but especially in times like these, we don’t often appear very hopeful.  We may appear more angry or disturbed.  We may appear more entitled or belligerent.  We could simply appear anything except hopeful.  But as followers of Christ, hope is a part of us.  It is a part of our lives.  It is a part of how we function in difficult times.  But in times like these, we are really pushed.  So where does our hope come from?  What about the hope that is living in us?

    We find genuine hope when we discover Christ.  Hope comes through Christ and in him.  Hope is found not in our circumstances but in the One who created us, loves us and offers us redemption.  We find hope in Christ.  He offers us hope because we can have a new life in him.  We can find forgiveness when we have gone wrong.  We can find joy where we thought joy was no longer possible.  We can realize that we are loved beyond measure because he loves us so greatly.  This gives us hope that things can be better.  This gives us hope that no matter our situation, God is with us and promises us a new way.  He did not come in anger.  He did not come in spite.  He did not come in fury.  Jesus came to us in love.  And through this, we find hope.  It is also how people can discover the hope in us – by the way we follow Christ.  We are to be known by our love.

    When our hope is genuine, we are often more compassionate because we are not trying to defend something we do not know…something that someone has given us.  We are not trying to create something or contain something that is not truth because we know the truth, and he has set us free.

    When hope is genuine, we do good because it is a part of us because Jesus is a part of us.  We do good by doing what he has called us to do.  Good and right are not defined by our standards.  Think about it – what I may consider good may be different than what you consider good.  What I may determine is right may not be the same as what you determine as right.  So to know what is good and right comes from following Jesus.  He knows what is good and right because he is.  He knows what love is because he is.  He knows how hope feels because he is.  So to know what is good and right, we follow him – not our ideals or feelings.

    As I mentioned last week, good and right does not equal superiority of one person above another.  It does not favor a race or an ethnic group.  Jesus offers true life to all and he sees what is in the heart, not what we see.  So hate, racism, sexism, or any of the like are NEVER a part of what is good and right.  If we are going to follow Jesus, we are going to find the good, but it might be in places we would have deemed wrong.  Be prepared to have our world turned upside down and some of the truths we have so long held to be taken down in favor of the truths of God’s Word.

    When hope is genuine, we will find that we listen.  We listen to God and how he is leading us.  We will listen to where he is guiding us and when he calls us out for our sins, our wrongdoings and our shortcomings.  We will also listen when he calls us his beloved, his child, his disciple.  When we listen, we will read his Word with fresh eyes.  We will hear his commands to love others with fresh ears.  We will live our lives with fresh perspective.  We will be challenged to follow what he has for us.  It will probably mean we begin to mend fences.  It will likely mean we find we have been wrong and ask forgiveness.  It may mean we make amends where we never thought possible.  We may even be convicted for things we held onto so tightly.  We may find we were wrong.  But in the end, we will find what is good and right.

    I pray that we begin to find hope.  May we live what is good and right and may our lives be changed.  May others see the hope in us and may we show them Christ.  And may it begin with me.

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  • Enough

    When is enough really enough?  When do we call out in loud exclamations of ENOUGH!?  How many people have to die at the hands of those who feel superior because of the color of their skin or the location of their upbringing or their sexuality?  When do we, as the church, stand up and proclaim the way of Jesus – which doesn’t look anything like any of this!?  When do we really make movements to show this is not okay?  Are we waiting for a time that it affects us?  Are we waiting for a time when we feel threatened?  Are we simply passing the buck because it isn’t our homes that are terrorized?

    As a white male, I am aware of white privilege and those heavily influenced by white supremacy.  I am aware that I am looked at differently because of the color of my skin and being a heterosexual male.  I understand that I pastor a mostly white church that operates as a white church in an area where the majority of the population is not white.  I get that I have the freedom to move about without worry because I was born here.  As someone that exercises outside, I am aware that I can run or bike in pretty much any area without being looked at as suspicious for the color of my skin.  I am even more aware of these privileges when I consider what is happening on a regular basis in this country and even perpetuated by key leadership that look like me.

    So why mention this as a white heterosexual male minister with privilege in a worship service on a Sunday that is Mother’s Day in the middle of a pandemic, no less?  Why not?  When does it become a good time?  When is it appropriate?  Many non-white churches and places of worship have been speaking of this for years and years.  How many people have to die before it is a good time for the church to call this out?  How much has to happen before enough really is enough for the predominately white church?  What has to happen before white people call out our privilege and begin to work towards a different world?  And I speak of non-white because it is the African American community – but it is also the community that is non-white or different – Hispanic, Jewish, LGBTQ, Muslim and more.

    Sure, the conversation is uncomfortable, terrifying at times, and quite difficult.  I can hear people speaking right now…Pastor Brad – you know I am not racist.  If everyone that says they are not racist weren’t actually racist, we wouldn’t need to have the conversation.  What if racism is so built into our society and into our churches…white privilege so ingrained in our lives…that we don’t even notice when it is being used?  What if it isn’t just about being blatantly racist but about embedded racism that rears its ugly head on a regular basis, often unnoticed by those who use it?

    With this, I think the time is now.  It is Mother’s Day and I cannot imagine the fear a non-white mother must have as she sends her non-white children out into the world, giving them instructions on how to avoid even appearing to do anything wrong.  I cannot image giving them directions on the best way to get places so that they are in places where they should not be.  What about giving them guidance so that the white people won’t think they are dangerous or a threat?  I can’t imagine because I am white.  What I can say is that enough is enough.

    And I don’t know where else to start when enough is enough than the Bible.  I don’t know how else to find direction and guidance than God’s instructions for life – God’s instructions that show love and peace and kindness without any difference.  I don’t know any other place to begin than with the grace that is so freely given.  I can only begin with the life of Jesus – a non-white person that led the way to love.

    There are many places we can go from here.  Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors when that was not okay – not only shunned but dangerous.  Jesus went and sat down with a Samaritan woman in order to show her love in a time and place that was not acceptable.  He taught a parable about who was our neighbor using someone from a different culture and was despised by those he spoke.  Jesus gave examples of inviting all people to the table and welcoming the forgotten and the oppressed.  He died for all people and gives us the command to love God and love others, regardless.  And we have turned that, all too often, into loving people like us.  If you don’t believe me, look at those that have been accused of these hate crimes over the years…those that claim faith, that claim to be a part of a church, that also claim superiority and fear of someone different taking over.  Wasn’t Jesus hung for similar reasons – fear of someone else taking over and superiority?  We tend to forget that Jesus wasn’t a white male American – or the fact that he wasn’t white at all.

    In Bible Study this week, we looked at 1 Peter 2:2-10.  I want to revisit a particular few verses of this scripture – and for some of us, introduce it for just a moment.  Verses 9-10 read, “2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
    2:10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  One people, holy to God.  That people is not a color or an origin or a sex.  One people because we are God’s people.  This does not mean white people.  This is God’s people.

    If indeed, we are to work to become more like Christ, to be one people, where do we begin?  As white Christians, I have to believe we begin with repentance.  We begin with acknowledgement where we have misunderstood, where we have fallen short, where we have taken advantage of our privilege without fighting for true equality.  We acknowledge that our privilege has held others down.  We begin to understand that we have allowed our fears to direct our actions.  We begin by asking for forgiveness – both from God and from our brothers and sisters that have a different skin color or origin than us.  Forgiveness is hard because it is uncomfortable and causes us to confront the issues we have that we might not otherwise acknowledge.  Being repentant means we don’t want it to be like that any longer – meaning as white heterosexual people, we are willing to release our power and privilege and fight for the rights of those not like us.  Repentance means that we do the frightening work of having conversations of where others have been wronged.  When we are willing to sit down and hear the voices of other people unlike us, we can begin to work towards something different.

    I want to offer one more scripture as I bring this to a beginning (though nearing the end of the message, I pray the beginning of a new start)

    Colossians 1:9-20

    9 For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s[d] will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled[e] you[f] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.[g]

    15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in[h]him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in[i] him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

    There is a lot packed in this scripture, but I hear the desire to live a life worthy of the gospel.  I want to live fully pleasing to God.  I want to have my eyes opened to the truth – even when it hurts.  I want to enter conversations that challenge my thoughts and actions so that I can see where I have gone wrong.  I want to follow Christ wherever he leads me and his church.  I want to lift up my brothers and sisters, as we begin to ask for forgiveness, a small step in moving forward.  My prayer is that God would be glorified in it all.  I pray that hearts would begin to heal, efforts would be made towards justice, and lives would be changed.  I pray my life begins to show the love of God for all of his children.

    Church – will you begin with me?

    Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

    Amen.

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    The trail was calling

  • As you are

    Why not go fishing?  Why not spend some time in the quiet to bring you back to where it all started?  Why not be around friends trying to figure out…what now?  Why not enjoy time away from the commotion of it all?  It is better without the crowds and the accusations and the whirlwind of events that have taken place.  It is a chance to breathe, rest and reset.  It is a chance to simply be.

    They had been through so much in such a short period of time.  Exhaustion, frustration, embarrassment, fear, grief, excitement and confusion had to be wrapped together so tight that it was just better to get away for a while.  Everyone processes it differently.  Everyone finds their own way through the maze of grief.  It is a journey that they were trying to grasp.  Fishing made complete sense.

    I can imagine that the series of events probably played on a continuous loop in their minds, over and over again.  What he has taught them, what he had said, how they had fled, how they were so afraid, what they felt and what if they had done things differently?  What if they had been braver?  What if they had stayed?  What if they had prayed harder instead of sleeping?  What if they had been more faithful instead of jumping ship at the first sign of trouble?  What must it have been like for Jesus to suffer without the disciples?  What had caused them to react like they did?  What was missing?  Just fish.  Put it behind you for a moment and spend time on the water…and fish.  All night fishing, even if you don’t catch anything, is better than the fear of being locked behind doors.  It is way better than trying to explain what was going on.  It was the only answer they knew.

    And then they see someone on the beach.  He is cooking, that would be obvious from a distance.  The smoke rising from the fire would have been a signal of welcome.  He calls for them to catch fish and oh do they!  They catch more than they can hold.  John proclaims, Peter swims and the catch just keeps coming.  They catch until they reach the beach.  They catch and now they are there, on the sand with him.

    Jesus met them where they were.  He invited them.  He welcomed them.  It was an invitation to come and see – see the scars, enjoy the meal, feel the joy in the presence of the Lord.  The invitation didn’t come with conditions.  It didn’t come with a list of rules or a way to behave.  It didn’t come with attire or manners or anything else.  It was a meal that he had prepared.  There was no scorning, no remediation, no making them feel belittled…it was a simple message of come as you are…I’m here to meet you.  He brought the bread and fish to serve them.  He prepared a meal for them to experience the fellowship around the fire.  He was there to meet them.  He was there to show them they were loved.  He called them children because that’s what they are…God’s children.  They were loved and belonged.  They were welcomed.  He simply gave the invitation with no strings attached.  And they came, sat down and ate.

    This powerful story reminds me that Jesus meets us where we are and transports us to where we need to be…sometimes through a simple meal.

    We don’t get excluded because we didn’t get it…because we have strayed…because we are not good enough.  We get invited.  The invitation is to come and experience new life and new triumphs.  Jesus knew about their loss, knew they were unsuccessful, knew they were dismayed, and knew they would be hungry.  He understood because he knew them.

    Here’s the thing…He knows us, too.  He doesn’t expect us to be someone else.  He just expects us to follow.  He will take care of the rest.  He feeds, he nurtures, he revives…he gives life because he is life.  Come and enjoy the meal.  Sit and listen.  Come as you are.

    Lots of people have been told they do not belong.  They have been made to feel as though there would be not seat at the table for them, no invitation because of what they have done or said or thought or who they had become.  They have been made to feel that you can come when you get your life straight or you get clean or you give up your bad habits or you stop sinning or you dress right or talk right or believe right.  Maybe that’s where you find yourself.

    But hear this: the disciples had betrayed and ran and hid and were fearful.  They had missed it and had been unfaithful and were so off course.  And Jesus met them where they were and invited them to the meal.  He didn’t tell them to confess before they got there.  He didn’t ask them to get their life straight or figure out where they had gone wrong.  He didn’t ask them to sit down and write out their misgivings.  They knew who they were and they understood what they had done.  He didn’t need to berate them.  He simply needed to be with them, welcome them, love them and show them that they were loved just the way they were.  All the rest would take care of itself, for now, just sit at the meal and relax.  He didn’t come to belittle, he came to renew.

    So I hear Jesus inviting us just the way we are.  I hear him welcoming us because he loves us so very much.  He knows where we have been.  He knows what we have done.  He knows how we have missed it.  And yet, he calls us his children and invites us to sit, listen, learn, and follow.  No accusations, no judgment, no beating down, no embarrassment…just a welcome.  Welcome.  Come, eat, follow.  It really is that loving, because that’s who Jesus is.

    Focus Scripture:

    John 21 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

    4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

    9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

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  • New Life is Beginning…Easter Sunday

    You cannot fully appreciate the resurrection of Sunday until you have been through the darkness of Friday and the silence of Saturday.  You do not know what joy it brings to have new life until you have seen the old life die.  You cannot grasp the gravity of the defeat of death until you have wallowed in the grief of the grave.  You cannot fully understand life until you have experienced life taken.  You cannot embrace the love of Christ until you begin to see that this Love was willing to die for you.

    We absolutely celebrate this Easter Sunday that Jesus is arisen – he is arisen indeed!  But that celebration follows the heavy, dark, deep grief of the last two days.  For just a moment, we have to put ourselves in the place of the disciples.  Their lives have been destroyed, moment by moment, as Jesus was beaten, battered, and eventually hung on a cross to die.  Jesus breathed his last breath.  Take that in for a moment.  Jesus breathed his last breath.  The Creator and Sustainer of life had no life.  He was put to death.  He was put to death and no one really fully understood why.  No one really got it.  It was a rush, an opportunity by the authorities to get this done, to pull one over while the chance offered itself.  If you get rid of the problem, everything goes back to normal, right?  If you can stop the one that is making trouble and challenging the control, then all will resume, surely.  Jesus was taking away control from those that had the clutches on control.  Controlling people was their specialty.  They may have even tried to control…God?  But Jesus had none of that.  Now he is dead, though.  He is dead and control is back where it belongs.  Except it is not.  Nothing will ever be the same again.  Jesus may be dead, but that is not the end of the story.  The disciples don’t know that.  They didn’t understand there was more to the story.  They didn’t get that this was the end of a chapter, not the end of the book.  There was more.  There is more.  But the disciples and Mary, Mary Magdalene, Martha, Lazarus…all they see is defeat, death, the tomb.  It had all happened so fast and now everyone is reeling from it all.  Everyone.  What is next?

    For the Marys, it is time to prepare the body.  That is what is next.  Passover has concluded, they can now do what their tradition holds for them to do.  It is part of their duty and yet it brings such peace – a sense of being able to do one last thing for Jesus.  As difficult as it is, they would have it no other way.  Jesus deserved the best and they would give that to him.  Except, they couldn’t.  He wasn’t there.

    Matthew 28:1-10 *scripture included below*

    It is Easter Sunday so you know…He IS risen.  But look at all the activity that took place for those first to the tomb, for those that were up early to serve.  They caught a glimpse of the mystery, they were invited into the Holy, they became a part of the unveiling.  God was NOT done yet.  A messenger brings what we consider good news – but what must have seemed like absolutely confusing and strange – even fearful news at the time.  He is not here.  Such a simple few words with more meaning that our minds can possibly comprehend – HE IS NOT HERE.  Where is he?  What happened?  What do you mean he is not here?  Who moved him?  What could possibly be going on?  Why is he not here?  And what do we do about this?  Then the news…he has been raised.  Raised from what?  Raised from the ground?  Taken to higher ground?  Raised higher in the tomb?  Taken to a safer place?  Not here and raised…what does this even mean?  Then the words…Come and see.  See for yourself what has happened.  See where he was and where he is no more.  Come over, get a closer look, and experience the mystery…experience what God has done.  He is NOT here!

    And now they are told to go.  Come and see – experience, take it in – allow it to wash over you like a shower of forgiveness.  And now go.  Go tell, go see for him for yourself.  Go tell the others what you have seen and what has happened…and then go meet him.  He is waiting for you.

    Matthew tells us that they left with fear and great joy.  That seems like a mix of emotions.  I bet they were a ball of nervous and confused energy.  What do we do with this?  What does this mean?  We saw him die, we know he died.  How can he be alive?  What has happened?  Excitement, fear, joy, sorrow, highs, lows and everything in between -all rolled into a ball as big as the stone that covered the tomb.  Except it has been moved.  Jesus knew this.  Jesus knew these women better than anyone.  He knew their heart, their sincerity, their love.  He knew their grief, he watched them mourn at his very feet.  He understood the weight of what had been poured down as his blood trickled right before their very eyes.  He got it.  And so he meets them on the way – for assurance, for guidance – but most of all, for love.  This was not the end, this is the turn of the chapter, a new life has begun.

    Our new life has begun.  In the middle of the turmoil, despite the darkness, in the center of our fears, new life is beginning.  Jesus is risen and that means something today – just like it meant something to Mary, Mary and the disciples.  It means hope has been restored.  It means the light has not been extinguished.  It means there is still life – and life forevermore.  Death does not have the final say, God does.  The devil does not have the ultimate hold, Jesus does.  Hatred, fear, anger do not have to rule our hearts – love can – love will – love does.  Love overwhelms and shines light in the dark places.  Love conquers – love wins.  Jesus brings new life.

    So, if you feel the darkness and the heaviness – if you are weighed down by the destruction, the mess that has too long wreaked havoc in your life, the hatred that has filled your very heart, and anger that has overtaken your mind – this is not the end.  You are not defeated.  You are no longer captive to your sin.  You are no longer a slave.  You are not captured, but you are set free.  Because Jesus arose, light has shone brighter than the noonday.  Because Jesus arose, you have the opportunity for life – real, true life.  You have the opportunity for freedom and joy.  You can have peace.  Darkness does not have to be all you see.  Because Jesus arose, he brings love where love has never been welcomed – into our hearts.  Jesus is alive.  Is HE alive in you?

    Jesus died so that we would have life.  If you are tired and longing for real life, seek Jesus.  If you are overwhelmed and beat up, find Jesus – he is waiting.  He died for you so that you would not live in the misery.  Jesus heals, your heart and your life.  Today, may we invite Jesus to live in us, through us, and with us.  May his Spirit guide our steps.  May his love wash over us and spill out everywhere we go.  And may he set us free – for he truly redeems.  Seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened, ask and you shall receive – Jesus is waiting for you today.  Blessings as he changes your life forever.

    Scripture Reference:  Matthew 28:1-10

    After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he[a] lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead,[b] and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

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  • I Belong…Wednesday of Holy Week

    I have to admit, I am getting accustomed to being around this group.  Sometimes I feel out of place – like an extra person that doesn’t belong or a third person in a courting ritual.  Judas, the one who invited me, assures me I am welcome.  So I tag along – mostly to spend time soaking it all in.  If I’m honest, after the experience I had with Jesus proclaiming the children of the light, I just can’t walk away.  I’m captivated by his presence.  It feels as though I have known him my entire life, yet it has only been a short time.  When he looks at me, it is a look I can’t really describe.  It almost sounds weird to say it, but it makes me feel worthy. I don’t know how a look can do this – but Jesus has it.

    This particular night, the mood was so somber and I felt as though I was a part of something that I was not ready for.  Jesus didn’t seem his usual self.  Something must have been on his mind.  He is always so caring and compassionate that I can’t remember him with this sense of heaviness.  It made me feel uneasy.  In the short time I had gotten to meet him, I had already begun to look to him for reassurance.  This was difficult.

    He said something about someone betraying him, like someone at dinner that night.  I thought to myself – they sure have some nerve showing up to dinner.  But the weight of the sentence slowly settled over me like a heavy wet blanket.  It seemed to take my breath away.  Someone would betray him – I had trouble focusing.  My mind went through a thousand scenarios of what this could even mean.  How would anyone do that?  Had these people not heard him?  Had they not felt his presence?  Had they not seen the love and compassion that he gave to everyone around?  What did they not get?  And how would anyone really do anything against him?  I know he made the people in charge mad (okay, he made them downright angry and violent) – but they weren’t here.  The people around this table were people like me.  We had all come because this was where we wanted to be.  We wanted to hear more, learn more, grow more.  We wanted to be here.

    I’ll never forget the very first dinner Judas invited me to with Jesus.  I was so intimidated.  I am an average worker, no one really knows who I am.  I make enough to feed my family and that is about it.  I’m not anyone special.  But Judas assured me – like he always did – that I would not feel out of place.  We had been friends since birth and I trusted him.  So I went.  I remember walking in and feeling as though I had been there before.  It was like walking into my grandparent’s home where the smell of the food brought such happiness as it filled my lungs.  It was the hug you always craved from family that loves you.  The fellowship was warm and inviting like sitting with old friends you haven’t seen in a while.  Jesus made me feel especially welcome.  He took the time to hear my story, to learn more about me.  And he never forgot my name.  Even today as I sit at this table, he knows my name.  This man that sees so many people every day knows who I am.  Somehow, I always feel invited to his table – no matter how I look or feel – no matter if I have just come out of the field or in the best clothes I have – whether I have had a chance to wash my feet or walk in without any proper preparation – I am always invited.  I feel like he welcomes me where I am – just like I am – no special presentation needed.

    I have to snap back to reality – to what is going on in this moment.  As Jesus announces that someone is going to betray him, someone at the table, I notice Peter and John whispering – and then talking to Jesus.  Jesus says something to my friend Judas.  He gets up, takes his stuff and leaves.  I wasn’t sure what to do.  Do I stay?  Do I need to leave since the one that invited me has left?  Judas didn’t look my way or give me any indication of what was happening.  For a moment, I once again felt out of place, like maybe I should leave.  But I looked at Jesus and in a split second, I knew I was right where I belonged.  I had a place at the table and he loved me.  He knew my name and I belonged.  I could stay – I was beginning to realize I really was a child of the Light.

    Focus scripture for today: John 13:21-30

    21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.”[g] So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.[h] 27 After he received the piece of bread,[i]Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

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  • A Child of the Light…Tuesday of Holy Week

    This man, Jesus, has been absolutely fascinating.  I don’t know what it is about him.  He is like so many others in appearance.  There is something in the way that he speaks, in his words, and in his actions that make me want to know more.  I have heard that some people are really upset about the things that he has said.  But I just want to know more.  I want to hear more of what he is teaching.  It sounds familiar but with a twist.  There is passion and love that seems to spill from his presence.  I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there is something very different about this man.  So I decided to follow a group that is seeking him out.  I don’t know their intentions, but I know I just want to know more.  It is more than curiosity – it is like a pull that I cannot explain.  It is as if there is a rope around my heart pulling me closer and closer to him – just to hear him speak – simply to be in his presence.

    I remember seeing several of the guys that walk with Jesus all the time.  They are interesting guys that seem much like us.  They are not the holier than thou kind of people.  They don’t seem to know much more than we do.  They are definitely guys we can relate.  So we walk up to one of them and ask to see Jesus.  One of them goes off and Jesus comes back with him.  I am constantly amazed that he would take the time to see us, to spend any moment with him.  He seems a bit more serious than the other times I have seen him.  It looks like he is carrying a heavy weight.  I am even more surprised he is willing to see us.

    What happens next I can’t really explain.  It has never happened before.  And I’ve never experienced anything quite like it since.  Jesus was talking about what it meant to follow him.  I was hanging on his every word, yet not quite understanding what he was trying to say.  I wanted to take it in – but as he was speaking, a loud sound shook us at our core.  It was like thunder -at least that is what I would closely compare it.  That is the only thing I have ever experienced like it.  I felt like the earth may open and swallow me.  It was not a cloudy day – the sun was high and strong as it usually is.  There was no indication of anything different – a hot, dry and dusty day.  It only happened once but it was one of those times I will never forget.  My heart dropped and I felt like I wasn’t going to be able to ever get it to stop from beating so rapidly.  I looked at Jesus – his expression had not changed.  He did not look surprised, he did not look shaken.  He was calm, as if he was taking it all in…almost like he knew it was coming and was okay with it.  He continued to talk – helping us in some small way to know that this was all okay, no matter what.

    From there, I have to be honest – it gets a bit muddled for me.  There were people challenging Jesus on this whole Messiah thing.  I just wanted to hear him speak.  I just wanted to listen to his wisdom.  He has something to offer and I wanted to see him.  But there was something that I was able to capture – that I have held on to because it spoke so very loudly to me – as loudly as the thunder.  It was a couple of sentences that sang to me as if it was spoken from a chorus of angels.  The words were of hope and tears fell from my cheeks.  I can’t explain it – I’m not sure I completely understand it myself.  But it took my breath away when said it…and it takes my breath away still today.  He said… “While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of the light.”  I want to be that child.  I want that light in my life.  I want to know that I am loved and welcomed.  Give me the light…I want to become a child of the light.  Shine bright in me.  And that has changed my life forever.

    Today’s message is from John 12:20-36:

    20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

    27 “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people[a] to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. 34 The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah[b]remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”  After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.

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  • I’m not done yet

    I am amazed at how a picture can tell a story with just a glimpse.  This picture, the moment I saw it, caused me to pause.  It wasn’t because of the background of the beach, although I absolutely love the beach.  It wasn’t the sunset with it’s beautiful orange glow, even though orange is my favorite color.  It wasn’t even how the person pictured seems to be walking into the light, which is really fascinating.  It was the feeling of opportunity that encapsulated the picture.  It said to me, “I’m not done yet.”  David Cain had posted this on his social media page and it remained in the back of my mind for quite a while, always there speaking to me.  As I finished my oral defense for my Doctor of Ministry degree, I felt a sigh of relief and a sense of completion.  I had finally reached this pinnacle, a mountain which I had climbed but had slipped more than I would like to admit – beaten and battered.  It was a climb I found great beauty along the way, but many rough patches that proved quite painful.  For my graduation present, I told Wendy I wanted a copy of this picture.  As you can see, she talked to David and got it for me.  Today, as I hold it, I hear the same message, “I’m not done yet.”  I may be finished with school.  I have achieved the degree.  But this is not the end.  God has so many more adventures planned and I can’t wait to see what’s next.  I am not walking into the light as a completion, but I am walking towards THE LIGHT in order to follow God.  I am captivated by the beauty of God’s creation.  I am overwhelmed by his all-encompassing love.  And I am surprised that he still invites me to come closer.  I want to simply walk in the light.

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  • The Unexpected…Palm Sunday

    I woke my wife and kids early.  I had heard about this exciting day and did not want to miss it.  There was a sense of apprehension in the air.  So many people were in the city, gathering for the festival.   It was elbow to elbow at the market, trying to find the produce of the day.  This time is even more challenging because everyone is trying to prepare the same basic meals – it is the time of celebration of Passover.  Passover has always helped us to remember what God had done and a powerful reminder of what he could still do.  If only…if only this was not just an ordinary Passover.  If only things were different.  We are tired of bondage.  We are tired of the lack of freedom.  We are tired.  Just to hear from God one more time would be an answered prayer.  To hear something other than what we have been doing wrong would be a welcome message.

    Today, though, seems to have its own intrigue.  My neighbors tell me there is a prophet coming through town and many are gathering to welcome him.  Some rumor this may be the long awaited Messiah.  If it is, in fact, the Messiah, then he has a lot of work to do.  So much is wrong in our land.  Political powers will be difficult to tumble.  I don’t envy this position.  But I do find a little glimmer of hope…the butterflies gathering in the pit of my stomach as I consider the possibilities.  What if God really has sent the Messiah he promised?  What if this man really does have the answers?   What if this is really the day we meet the Anointed One?  What if…could it be…is there any way?  With all these questions, I decide that me and my family will gather and see for ourselves.

    So we dress and head out earlier than usual.  We want to get a good view – I hear the crowds will be thick today – like a parade in the center of town.  With some many in the city, that is definitely a possibility.  We find our way to the right spot.  My kids can see and experience.  We all want to catch a glimpse.  As I look around, I notice that people have brought cloths and palm leaves to lay down on the road.  Now I know something is going to happen today.  This is reserved for the best of the best.  In the excitement, I ask my wife and kids to stay where they are and hold my spot.  I run out to find palm leaves for us.  I don’t have to go far, the trees line the way.  So I grab one for each of us and bring them back.  The kids immediately start to try them out – they wave so beautifully in the air.  I have to remind them not to hit anyone with them.  They find they can divide the ends and watch all of it waive like fingers in the air.  They think it is funny to look like they are waiving their own hands with the palms.

    It wasn’t long until we hear the shouts.  He must be coming.  The excitement is electric.  We can hardly wait.  I am a little blown away as he comes into view.  It is a man on a donkey.  My first thought is that this doesn’t look so regal or powerful.  It all looks so…plain and ordinary.  He isn’t dressed in warrior’s clothes or even the clothes of a king.  He looks like me, like we could be family.  He doesn’t seem to be welcoming all of the praises but instead, he looks concerned.  The look on his face makes him appear as though he is a million miles away.  He isn’t at all what I pictured would be coming through.  He has a peaceful sense about him.  But we shout with the rest and waive our palm leaves.  I can’t keep my eyes off of him.  There is something about him…something so very different.  If he is the Messiah, he’s not like any I have read about or imagined.  This could be even more interesting than I originally thought.  I’m not sure this guy wants to conquer kingdoms.  He doesn’t even look like he’s ready for any battle at all.  Maybe we got it wrong…

    *Today is Palm Sunday.  It is a day that marks the beginning of Holy Week.  For this beginning, I wanted to take you there for just a moment.  What must it have been like on that first celebration?  It may not have been as clear as we want to make it.  It may not have been the celebration we think it would be.  Most had no clue what Jesus was about to do and why.  It was based really on a hope and a curiosity.  They needed something to believe in, that this life they were living would not always be like it was.  They wanted to a Savior, but weren’t sure what that even meant.  Sometimes, neither do we.

    I find myself in the crowd hoping for one thing but finding out that I don’t have it all figured out.  I don’t know everything about this man on a donkey.  I don’t fully understand what he was about to do.  They wanted a political redeemer.  We often want Jesus to be who we want him to be…to answer our prayers the way we want…to give us the things we think we need…to be there at our beckoned call for our every whim.  But what if Jesus is so much more?  What if we miss who he is because we haven’t decided who we want him to be?  What does it mean for Jesus to be the Christ…the Messiah…the long awaited one?  I think it means surrender.  I think it means giving ourselves to the ONE…completely.  Jesus is much more than they imagined on that first day…and he is so much more than we can imagine today.  On this Palm Sunday, I am reminded to simply surrender…my intentions, my notions, my ideas of who he is…surrender my life to Jesus.

    Happy Palm Sunday!

    The message today is based on Matthew 21:1-11

    21 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.[a]” 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

    5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
    Look, your king is coming to you,
    humble, and mounted on a donkey,
    and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

    6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd[b] spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

    “Hosanna to the Son of David!
    Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

    10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

     

    Note:  It is my intention to take this “family” I began writing about from the beginning through the week long journey of Holy Week.  Check out the writings for this week to follow the journey.

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