Never the Same Again

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When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting…. Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:1-2,41 (NIV)

“They might destroy the building, but they cannot destroy…my heart or the heart of the flock.” These words from Pastor Charles were highlighted in a recent, The Voice of the Martyrs, article. Pastor Charles has served in ministry for over three decades in Zanzibar, a predominately Muslim territory.  The article recounts how a gunman entered the church building demanding the pastor show himself. “The gunman continued to yell and search frantically as Charles stood motionless behind the altar, but it soon became clear that the man couldn’t see Charles. The gunman eventually left and Charles’s life was spared.”

Jewish by birth, orphaned in childhood, atheist by choice, and follower of Jesus through miraculous conversion, describes Romanian priest Richard Wurmbrand. He and his wife, Sabina never lost their focus on Jesus, even at the cost of Richard being tortured for 14 years in prison and Sabina for three years in a labor camp. Wurmbrand wrote, “It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their {the communists’} terms. It was a deal; we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching. They were happy beating us, so everyone was happy.” (Tortured for Christ)

North Korean Christians face life daily as a “constant cauldron of pressure” and “capture or death is only a mistake away.” (Open Doors, USA) In a Business Insider article, Ryan Pickrell writes about the violence against North Korean Christians. “Christians are considered a hostile class in the songbun system…. An entire family, including their two-year-old child, was imprisoned following the discovery of their religious practices and possession of a Bible. The family was sentenced to life in prison.”

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary estimates that more than 70 million Christians have been martyred over the last two millennia, “more than half of which died in the 20th century under fascist and communist regimes.” (Dr. Todd Johnson)

What would motivate anyone to endure what Pastor Charles and the Wurmbrands have gone through? What would motivate North Korean Christians to face such brutal retribution? What motivated millions of people through the centuries to willingly died for Jesus? What motivates us today to stay the course? Jesus! “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)

Jesus kept his promise to his disciples that he “will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.” (John 14:15) Jesus’ promise would ultimately shake the foundations of the world. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NIV)

Pentecost Sunday was celebrated yesterday, May 28 in churches around the world. Though not all church traditions set aside the day to celebrate and remember, all churches, regardless of traditions are beneficiaries of this day. The church was set on spiritual fire and empowered to carry on God’s mission on the Day of Pentecost. This ragtag band of followers, who could fit into one room, now numbers over 2.6 billion Christians worldwide or literally “to the ends of the earth.”

Dr. Ray Pritchard writes of Pentecost, “That is when thousands come into the faith. And it goes from this little sect of believers who followed a Jewish rabbi from Nazareth who died and rose again, and suddenly the church breaks forth into the culture. Suddenly it is that unstoppable force that no one can really deny any longer. Pentecost has taken on a new significance for us. It, at one point, is just a historical memory. Now it is the living reality of the moment that the spirit of God seemingly burst forth.”

Pentecost changed everything for Peter and the other disciples. There was no turning back for any of them after Pentecost. Peter held the first city-wide crusade that day and 3,000 followed Jesus. The church has never looked back as new believers have been added daily since that day.

“Until we acknowledge our need for God, we will never experience the utter joy of being forgiven, healed, restored, and empowered. Once we have experienced that grace, there’s no going back to a life where we trust in our own power and strength. Once we have known God’s hands upholding us and strengthening us, nothing else will do.” (Geoffrey Tristam)

For my American friends, today is Memorial Day. Every few years, Memorial Day and Pentecost Sunday share a common weekend. One day marks the beginning of the church and the other marks the remembrance of those killed in wars protecting freedom. Though each day represents something completely different yet both events were born out of costly commitment and sacrifice.

Pentecost Sunday will forever mark the beginning of life. “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” –Rev 7:9

God is great!

 

Navigating Life in Real Time

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Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen –Romans 11:33-36 CSB

Social influencer Caryn Marjorie is taking AI to a new level. The 23-year-old influencer is using AI to “create a virtual version of herself that acts as a romantic companion of sorts for thousands of her fans online who are willing to pay for this unique experience called CarynAI.” (Fionna Agomuoh)

CarynAI is currently in early beta testing but the technology is a voice-based chatbot where her fans can type and speak with Marjorie as if conversing with a close friend. Outside of talking with an AI version of “your friend,” the user will pay $1 per minute to engage with Marjorie’s voice and likeness. Forever Voices CEO John Meyer collaborated with Marjorie in developing CarynAI. Meyer noted “that such technology could be beneficial for young people who are “not typical” and “struggle with friends.”

Unmesh Dinda used the power of AI to create a girlfriend that doesn’t exist. The convincing selfie of the perfect couple, except only one, is a real person. Dinda said, “If your relatives are more concerned about you getting married than you are, you need to send them a photo like this. This will keep them wondering for a while.”

Artificial Intelligence or AI has dominated a lot of airspace lately with TV documentaries, news segments, and even hearings before Congress on the potential dangers and need for regulations. It would seem that the world will be controlled by AI! However, AI is not new with the term being coined in 1956 but now with the increased data volumes, advanced algorithms, and improvements in computing power and storage, it has evolved into the current technological craze or danger, depending upon the user.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, recently testified before a U.S. Senate committee. Altman talked about the possibilities but also the pitfalls of the new technology. He said, “I think if this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong…we want to be vocal about that. We want to work with the government to prevent that from happening.” John Meyer recognizes the inherent dangers of inappropriate content and is looking to address potential issues by hiring a chief ethics officer.

Along with the challenges of AI is the concept of “The Knowledge Doubling Curve.” In 1900 human knowledge doubled approximately every 100 years, but by the end of 1945, the rate was every 25 years. By 1982 some futurists said human knowledge doubled every 12-13 months. Currently, it is estimated human knowledge doubles every 12 hours! Working to counter-balance the doubling concept is the “Knowledge Half-Life” which is “the amount of time it takes before half the knowledge or facts in a particular area is made obsolete or superseded by new facts.” (Scott Sorokin)

It is against this backdrop that new graduates must navigate. The month of May traditionally marks the beginning of graduations, from pre-K moving to kindergarten through college seniors walking across the platform to receive their diplomas to start their journey in the marketplace. Graduation marks a pivotal milestone in life and the beginning of the next steps but how do these graduates maneuver in this world of AI, political chaos, and cultural upheaval?

Harvard Scientist Samuel Arbesman observed, “Facts change all the time: The Earth was flat, smoking was once doctor-recommended, and Pluto was a planet.” Therefore, finding a solid foundation is essential otherwise you find yourself in a quagmire. I have found these friends’ advice helpful in navigating any life milestone.

The writer of Hebrews would say you need a solid foundation and “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (13:8)

The writer of Proverbs would say the starting point is “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (1:7)

The writer of James would say to find wisdom and if you don’t have wisdom, “Ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (1:5)

The writer of First John would say to be careful, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (4:1)

The writer of Romans would say to stand out from the crowd and “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (12:2)

The writer of Matthew would capture the final promise of Jesus that gives us hope in uncertainty that “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (28:20)

You may have missed it, but another pivotal milestone that we celebrate each year which is life-changing, happened last Thursday, May 18. In the Christian liturgical calendar, it is called Ascension Day. The day marks the final words of Jesus as he completed his successful mission on earth and returned home to get things ready for all of us who follow Him. I will admit the prospects of AI are a bit overwhelming, the state of our nation and world is unsettling and the future is uncertain unless I keep my thoughts fully on Jesus’ final assurance, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matt 28:18)

Artificial Intelligence is just that, artificial! Since it is created by finite minds, it will be used for good and for evil but it will reach its limit. Intelligence that is unlimited and will last forever comes from the One who can say, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8)

God is great!

Can You Quantify Love?

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But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:51b-52 (NIV)

Can you quantify love? Ed Keefer and his co-creator, John Hawley thought so in 1937 when they developed the “Cupidoscope”. Keefer was a senior in the School of Engineering at the University of Toledo. The device promised to reveal with scientific precision the level of love between a couple. Keefer and Hawley built the device in the school’s physics laboratory using an old radio cabinet, a motor spark coil, and an electrical resistor. The couple held onto separate handles and as each person moved their handle toward each other, the level of electric shock registered. The higher the woman’s tolerance of the electric shock determined the couple’s love for each other. It sounds like a good campus party game, but the experiment caught the attention of scientists in the United States and Europe in their quest to quantify love.

I’m not sure how effective the “Cupidoscope” was in quantifying love but yesterday gave us a much better tool for quantifying love as we celebrated Mother’s Day. Anna Jarvis recognized the impact of mothers when the holiday was first celebrated in 1907 during a worship service.  Jarvis believed a mother is “the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world.” The day has been officially celebrated in the United States since 1914 when Pres. Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as a national holiday to honor mothers. Other nations around the world also have an equivalent day to honor mothers.

Mama Bear! You have probably seen the words on t-shirts, mugs, hats, and a dozen other things. What is a mama bear? The Urban Dictionary defines Mama Bear as: “A mom who can be cuddly and lovable but also has a ferocious side when it’s necessary to protect her cubs.” Stuffed bears are cute and cuddly but If you encounter a living brown bear in the wilderness, my best advice is to get out of there as quickly as possible because you know you are not going to have a good day! The same can be said about getting between a mother and her child, you are not going to have a good day!

Steven Spainbouer was one of the first responders at the recent mass shooting in Allen, Texas. Spainbouer recounted the scene in a TV interview. He told how he found a child covered by his mother, who had died in the attack. “When I rolled the mother over, he came out, and I asked him, ‘Are you okay?” This mother was a Mama Bear who gave up her life to protect her child.

Scripture captured the story of Jochebed who would have worn a “Mama Bear” t-shirt proudly. She was willing to die rather than kill her baby as the government ordered. Jochebed was a Mama Bear that was determined to keep her son, Moses alive. (Exodus 2)

Barna and MOPS International recently partnered to create the “State of Motherhood” project. The full report will be released this fall but they gave a sneak peek of their findings. The bottom line: Mothers are the primary influencers on the faith of their children. Savannah Kimberlin at the Barna Group wrote, “Mothers are evangelists, forming the faith of the next generation. Mothers truly are uniquely placed to create a difference and to raise up the leaders of tomorrow and the Christians of tomorrow. Mothers are disciplemakers, showing the next generation how to grow.”

I have heard hundreds of messages on faith but it was my Mother modeling faith that brought it to life.

I have heard sermons on caring for each other but I watched my Mother model thousands of sermons in cakes and casseroles she took to the sick, the hurting, and the needy.

I have heard preachers talk about hospitality but I watched my Mother add another plate to the table hundreds of times for unexpected visitors. I learned to “not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)

God knew He needed a Mama Bear to take on the role of Jesus’ Mother. She would have to have a heart of faith, be obedient even when it wouldn’t be easy, be strong in the face of ridicule, consistent in her daily walk with God, and one who could sing, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

Through the years Mary treasured and pondered many things in her heart. It was out of this treasuring she was able to ask Jesus to help the wedding host who had a problem and then boldly tell the servers to “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2) The Gospels don’t give us a lot of details about Mary’s day-to-day life but what they do write tells us she was a woman of faith who lived her life for God. The things she treasured in her heart would sustain her that dark afternoon as she watched her son being crucified on the cross.

Luke simply says that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature.” Luke doesn’t elaborate on how he grew in wisdom and stature so I can only speculate that he was at the synagogue listening, learning, and asking questions. I can also only speculate, but I am sure he was reading scripture and praying daily. I can also only speculate but I wonder if he watched and listened to Mary as she modeled a faith-filled life daily.

Mary may have had a unique calling to be the mother of Jesus but she had the same unique role all mothers have had through the generations to encourage, nurture and prepare their children for tomorrow.  Mary modeled well for Jesus even when it was difficult. The same can be said of countless “disciplemakers” preparing the next generation.  One day may be set aside as Mother’s Day but the other 364 days impact forever. “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” (Prov 31:26 NIV)

God is great!

Journey on a Holy Ground Road

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And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself…. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”—select verses out of the Luke 24:13-35 account

Life is full of surprises, and what you think could never happen, happens! Rudolf Eramus climbed into his plane with four passengers on a routine flight from Worcester, South Africa. All was normal until he felt something cold slide across his lower back. Looking down, Eramus saw a fairly large Cape Cobra snake going under his seat. Eramus told the other passengers as he requested an emergency landing in Welkom and for the next 15 minutes of the flight he tried to stay calm knowing he had one of Africa’s most deadly venomous snakes curled up underneath his seat.

The snake disappeared into the plane and the ground crew couldn’t find it.  When Eramus had to fly the plane back to Mbombela in northern South Africa, he took extra precautions. The AP report said on his return flight, “he wore a thick winter jacket, wrapped a blanket around his seat, and had a fire extinguisher, a can of insect repellent, and a golf club within arm’s reach in the cockpit. Erasmus said, “I would say I was on high alert.”

Luke gives us the story of two of Jesus’ disciples on their journey toward Emmaus as we continue focusing on post-resurrection events. The last few days had enviably taken a toll on these disciples.  Instead of witnessing the coronation of their King, they watched Jesus being mercilessly crucified on a cross. Both of them were so engrossed in their conversation and disappointment, they failed to look at the stranger who came up to them. Cleopas could have been a little snarky in responding to the stranger’s question when he said, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

You can almost see a mischievous grin on Jesus’ face as he asked, “What things?” The two responded in unison, “About Jesus of Nazareth.” After they finished telling Jesus everything that had happened over the last few days, he gently reprimanded them by saying, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”

Jesus could have said, would you quit looking at the ground, look up, and see who is talking to you? Or he could have jumped out of the trees and said, “Surprise! It’s me”. A simple, “here I am,” would have been sufficient for them, but what about us? Instead, Jesus took the time to walk through the Scriptures with both of them, pointing out verses about the Messiah. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

Over the next miles, Jesus gave these two disciples a seminary course on Christological Hermeneutics. Jesus shared various passages of Scripture about how he was the one fulfilling the prophecy. British pastor Pete Greig writes, “Even after the resurrection, the Bible was still Jesus’ ultimate source of authority… This book, He seems to be saying, is all about Me.”  Al Mohler writes, “Every single text of Scripture points to Christ…From Moses to the prophets, He is the focus of every single word of the Bible.”

These two disciples had to be physically and spiritually tired as they sat down with Jesus that evening to eat dinner. However, they finally experienced a major breakthrough as they watched Jesus as “he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.” I can relate to what Pete Greig wrote, “I too can be embarrassingly slow, downright stupid, plagued by doubt, and riddled with shame. And yet Jesus Christ has chosen to make Himself real to me too. In what ways has meeting Jesus Christ changed the trajectory of my life? How might I be different if I wasn’t a Christian?”

A simple, “It’s me!” from Jesus, would have been enough for these two to believe Jesus’ resurrection and most likely the eleven when they heard their account. However, it wouldn’t have sustained the next two millenniums of people hearing the hope we have through the Gospel and responding to God’s offer of salvation through Jesus. Every generation after these two disciples have encountered the testimony of Jesus as they read Scripture. The words of Moses and the prophets still point people to the Savior.

Peter used the power of Scripture as he quoted Psalm 118 to preach Jesus as he proclaimed “Jesus is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.” (Acts 4:11)

Paul used the power of Scripture time after time to proclaim, encourage and challenge those following Jesus. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

The road to Emmaus became Holy Ground for these two followers of Jesus. No longer did they stand still with “their faces downcast,” but could now say, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

We may not walk the physical road to Emmaus but we still walk on Holy Ground when we read Scripture and can say “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Eugene Peterson says it well, “The Scriptures, read and prayed, are our primary and normative access to God as He reveals Himself to us. The Scriptures are our listening post for learning the language of the soul…Christians don’t simply learn or study or use Scripture; we assimilate it, take it into our lives in such a way that it gets metabolized into acts of love, cups of cold water, missions into all the world, healing and evangelism and justice in Jesus’ name, hands raised in adoration of the Father, feet washed in company with the Son.” (Peterson, Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading)

Reflecting upon these post-resurrection events has allowed me to think about the stories that planted the seeds of faith.  We have a great story to tell the world that needs the story of the hope, grace, and redemption of Jesus. Thank you for taking the time to read this weekly post amid your busy schedules. Enjoy walking with Jesus as you find new surprises in your daily journey.

God is great!

Doubt Mixed with Hope

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We have seen the Lord! But (Thomas) said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” …Jesus came (and to Thomas) “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe” …Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:28-29

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Matthew 28:16-17

I can’t do that! I will never be able to climb to the top! I’m afraid! I will never believe that unless I see it! The word doubt is defined as: “To be uncertain or skeptical about; be undecided about. To tend to disbelieve; distrust.” Have you ever doubted? You are not alone since research shows 85% of people suffer from self-doubt. According to management expert Jamie Taets, “So many times, we compare our potential and confidence to those around us, yet they too are doubting themselves.”

Barna, in a similar study, shared that two-thirds of Christians face doubt. Spiritual doubt has been a reality for many on their Christian faith journey through the years. Yet as Selwyn Hughes writes, “Those who doubt most, and yet strive to overcome their doubts, turn out to be some of Christ’s strongest disciples.”

I have lost count of the times I used the famous chair illustration for faith.  This is the one that says you can believe the chair exists but only if you sit in it will you have faith that the chair will hold you up. I did modify the illustration a bit after our old reliable rocking chair didn’t hold up. When Courtney was a baby, I believed the chair that I had used daily for months would hold us up.  However, while rocking one night, the chair broke apart! Thankfully, neither baby nor Daddy was hurt. However, it did instill in me a healthy doubt as I sit down in future rocking chairs! Writer Michael Novak says that “doubt is not so much a dividing line that separates people into different camps as it is a razor’s edge that runs through every soul.”

Since Easter, as I have focused on several post-resurrection stories, I have been greatly impacted by Thomas. Growing up in church I can’t guess the number of references to Thomas as “doubting Thomas.” The term has even been used as a put-down for someone’s lack of faith. Does Thomas really deserve the title?

We are not given lots of details about Thomas but what we are given is life-changing. We know he was a loyal and trustworthy disciple of Jesus. When the other disciples tried to convince Jesus not to return to Bethany after Lazarus died, it was Thomas who boldly said, “Let us also go,” even if it was said with a tinge of fear, “that we may die with him.” (John 11:16)

Thomas’ questioning doubt around the final Passover meal allowed Jesus to share a critical truth about himself. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Thomas’s defining moment was recorded by John. The other disciples were all together behind a locked door out of fear, but not Thomas. John doesn’t tell us where Thomas was that evening but we know he wasn’t in the room behind a locked door out of fear. I am sure that Jesus’ resurrection created a lot of drama and excitement in the community. There was no telling how the story was being told and retold since Resurrection morning. We now live in an age of instant access to news and information, but even so, it is often distorted. Like us, Thomas probably thought, What can I really believe?

Thomas was confronted with the disciple’s story about seeing Jesus. What would you have said? Thomas had doubt, but that doubt was mixed with hope and faith. If this was not the case, he wouldn’t have said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25) “I believe and I doubt. I hope and I fear. I pray and I waver. I ask and I worry. I believe; help my unbelief.” (the Doubter’s Prayer-John Ortberg)

Doubt would have dismissed the disciple’s claim outright but hope leaves room for faith to work. Lesslie Newbigin writes, “Believing everything uncritically is the road to disaster. The faculty of doubt is essential. But as I have argued, rational doubt always rests on faith and not vice versa. The relationship between the two cannot be reversed.”

Doubt when rightly pursued creates a healthy soul and future. However, if doubt takes control of one’s life, it creates a paralyzed soul, keeping us stuck at that moment and unable to handle new risks and challenges. “Faith is a footbridge that you don’t know will hold you up over the chasm until you’re forced to walk out onto it.” –Nicholas Wolterstorff

You can almost feel the tension that evening as Jesus walks through the locked door again and greets his disciples, “Peace be with you!” He then slowly and methodically turns to Thomas with outstretched hands. Do you need more proof, Thomas? John doesn’t say but I can only picture Thomas falling on his knees before Jesus with tears streaking his face as he made his powerful declaration of faith, “My Lord and my God!”

Thomas left the room a changed follower of Jesus. I am sure Thomas still had questions because inquiring minds always have questions. Yet he takes Jesus’ gentle reprimand to heart as he shared the hope of Jesus, according to tradition, as the first missionary to India. Can you see Thomas smiling as he remembers Jesus’ words, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”?

God is great!

“Be merciful to those who doubt” –Jude 22

Better Early than Late

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They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:10-11 (NIV)

Following his resurrection, Jesus has been busy getting everything ready for his ascension. In this Post-Easter transition time, he has dealt with restoring broken Peter, reassuring his band of disciples, and giving final instructions to his followers when He ascends.

I came across this meme the other day which caught my attention. “If the living knew what the dead knew, the whole world would follow Jesus the Christ.” I don’t know who created the meme and it may sound right, but actually, the living does know what the dead know. The difference is the living can still act upon this knowledge that the dead refused to act upon when they were living.

C. S. Lewis, in his masterful fantasy classic, The Great Divorce, takes passengers on a bus trip from Hell to the outskirts of Heaven. Lewis’ unnamed narrator introduces us to a few passengers that choose to get on the bus. The majority opt not to board the bus even with the possibility of escaping hell. Through the book’s pages, even those who did choose to get on the bus ended up returning to Grey Town. As Lewis writes “If we insist on keeping Hell (or even earth) we shall not see Heaven: if we accept Heaven we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell.” In the story, one person does choose to give up his souvenirs and accepts grace to stay. Remember, Lewis’s book is a fantasy. “It has of course—or I intended it to have—a moral…I wish is to arouse factual curiosity about the details of the after-world.” (Lewis)

Jesus tells the story in Luke of two men. Luke doesn’t even bother to give us one man’s name, he is only identified as a rich man. The other man, and we know his name, is Lazarus. Yet until his death, he is known only as a beggar. Both men face the same state of life that every person must face: death. The rich man who didn’t need God on earth now begs for a simple drop of water. Lazarus who had no earthly resources now enjoys the treasures of heaven.

This account in Luke might give credence to the meme when he asks for someone from the dead to go to his brothers so they will repent and not come to this place. However, that is not the complete story as we read Abraham’s response to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” (Luke 16:19-31)

The unnamed man in Jesus’ story has all the comforts of life, education, and opportunity. Most likely he is an elite member of the temple’s inner circle because of his wealth and status. Most likely he is known by the religious leaders as a generous giver to the treasury. He has all the information needed to make his choice of eternity. Yet he is the man that C. S. Lewis writes about “Every human being is in the process of becoming a noble being; noble beyond imagination. Or else, alas, a vile being beyond redemption.”

Pastor emeritus Erwin Lutzer of The Moody Church writes, “One minute after you slip behind the parted curtain, you will either be enjoying a personal welcome from Christ or catching your first glimpse of gloom as you have never known it. Either way, your future will be irrevocably fixed and eternally unchangeable.” The rich man in Luke’s account could testify to Lutzer’s statement.

It should never be easy to forget the price paid as Jesus’ flesh-torn and beaten body was lifted off the cross. Easter reminds us not to overlook the darkness that engulfed the world as God turned his back on mankind. Religion may try to explain the ripped curtain, but the one vitally important thing that can’t be overlooked or denied is an empty tomb! “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened.” (C.S. Lewis)

Would Pilate have made a different decision if someone from the dead had told him? Pilate had the living Jesus in front of him.

Would Caiaphas, the high priest, have made a different decision if someone from the dead told him? Caiaphas had the living Jesus in front of him.

Would the mob that was yelling for Jesus to be crucified have made a different decision if someone from the dead told them? They had the living Jesus in front of them.

Would you make a different decision if someone from the dead told you? Thankfully you have the living Jesus in front of you!

We don’t need a witness from the dead when we have a living Savior’s promise. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7 CSB)

God is great!

 

What Do You Do with An Open Grave?

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As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money and told them, “say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’ If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble. They took the money and did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day. Matthew 28:11-15

Whatever social media platform you find yourself on, you will be familiar with memes. They can be cute, funny, or often contain misinformation that seeks to influence your opinion on a given subject. Now, you may be more into old-school social media such as reading the newspaper or magazine, where your meme will be called a cartoon. Either way, it takes current news, and social or political issues, and shapes or more likely, reshapes the message.

According to Merriam-Webster, there are two definitions for a meme:

  • “An amusing or interesting item (such as a captioned picture or video) or genre of items that is spread widely online especially through social media”
  • “An idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture” (USA Today)

The term “meme” is normally credited to British evolutionary biologist and outspoken atheist Richard Dawkins based on his 1976 book, The Selfish Gene. His definition of the meme was “a cultural entity or idea that replicates, evolves, and is passed from person to person.” The use of social media has resulted in a prolific expansion of memes in the past couple of decades. You may have had/have a Keep Calm mug on your desk or had a bucket of ice poured over your head a few years ago all as a result of a meme.

According to Limor Shifman, professor of communication and journalism at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, “Memes are becoming a truly important part of how humans communicate with one another. They appeal to our need to be part of a larger group, and simultaneously our desire to be individuals.”

The use of the internet provides a powerful platform to spread a meme’s idea inside of a culture, shaping opinions and creating conversation. It doesn’t matter whether the meme is true or false if it fits the narrative we want to believe.  Olivia Munson writes, “Anything can act as a meme, all it needs is a relatability and the capability for revamping.”

Though the term “meme” may be a recent addition to our terminology, the concept is as old as time. As I focus on post-Easter moments for the next couple of weeks, I found it fascinating that the word meme was coined by an avowed atheist who dismisses the very concept of God.

Though the guards and priests were not familiar with a meme, they were familiar with how and why you need to create a false illusion. They concocted a story that the disciples had taken the body while the guards were sound asleep. The story would quickly spread throughout the city causing confusion and doubt.

It had been a busy weekend for the priests and religious officials to create a different story surrounding Jesus. The Roman guards had methodically removed the stained cross that had held Jesus’ body out of public sight. The people had been asking about the darkness that had enveloped the land and the torn curtain in the temple created a lot of conversation that Sabbath.

Yet the religious leaders were now facing their biggest problem, an open grave.  The religious leaders could easily create a false narrative about the torn curtain, three hours of darkness, and other events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion. Still, they knew what power a risen Jesus would have on the people.

Matthew’s account gives specific details about how they had appealed to Pilate to secure the grave. “Take guards, Pilate told them. “Go and make it as secure as you know how.” They went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guards.” (Matthew 27:62-66). The religious leaders had to face the question, “What do we do with an open grave”? The leaders could have repented and acknowledged that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. Forgiveness and restoration could have been the story told but they sought to keep their positions, power, and authority requiring they reject the open grave. It became necessary to create a story based on a lie. This would be the story that quickly spread among the people, even “to this day.”

Creating false illusions and revamping the true story has been one of the mainstays of Satan’s arsenal since the encounter with Adam and Eve. “He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” Even after Eve confronted him with the truth, he reshaped the story to get another message across that was more appealing. “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen 3:1,4 CSB)

Easter requires each of us to respond to the question of the open grave. “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith.” (I Cor 15: 13-14 CSB)

Thankfully there was a resurrection!

God is great!

 

First Day, Never the Same Again

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On the first day of the week… Matt 28:1, Mark 16:2, Luke 21:1, John 20:1

You never quite know what to expect in life when it comes to traditions. Andrew and Carolyn Clark assumed they would continue to follow the tradition of the Clark family and only have boys. It had been 130 years since a girl was born into the Clark family line. Carolyn had heard this tale when she started dating Andrew but didn’t believe the story. “I asked his parents to confirm that information, and they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, no, we haven’t had a girl in our direct line.’”

Audrey Clark changed tradition on March 17, becoming the first girl born into the family since 1885. Audrey’s birth was also special since Carolyn and Andrew experienced a miscarriage in January 2021. Carolyn said, “Our parents have just been spoiling her before she was even here-you know-buying all the bows and tutu’s and outfits. She’s got enough clothes that she doesn’t have to wear the same outfit twice.”

Traditions hold special meanings for family and faith. The Passover celebration had been central to every Jewish family since the very first one. The traditions surrounding one of the holiest of holidays had been passed down from one generation to the next. Families gathered to celebrate the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt. The days were marked with food, fellowship, special prayer services, and worship.

Jesus understood the rich traditions of the Passover but he celebrated his last one with his disciples by breathing new meaning into the meal and changing tradition. Jesus took the bread and wine as usual, but the words were charged with new life. “As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14:22-25 CSB)

The events that unfolded after the Passover meal rocked the disciple’s world and took a toll upon each of them. They were no longer the bold and confident followers of Jesus that were with him in that upper room celebrating together. Eleven once loyal and brave followers had all scattered out of fear. They were hiding from the religious leaders and even denied they knew Jesus.

Unbelievably even the strong, arrogant, but always outspoken Peter was found cowering when he was confronted by a servant girl. The maidservant accused Peter of being one of Jesus’ followers when “he started to curse and swear, I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” (Mark 14:71 CSB) Jill Weber writes, “I sometimes wonder if it was this moment that was actually the making of Peter—the moment that shaped him into the kind of leader that Jesus would entrust with building His church. Peter is confronted with the state of his own soul. Self-reliance and arrogance are exposed and dismantled, and from the rubble, humility begins to grow.”

The Saturday following the crucifixion is shrouded in mystery. Though we are given very few details, what we do know is powerful.  We know there was life after death when Jesus told the criminal on the cross, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43). We know love beat loudly as Mary Magdalene and the other women who followed Jesus were busy making preparation. Luke tells us “The women who had come with him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how his body was placed. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.” (Luke 23:55-56)

We know that fear and doubt marked Saturday as the eleven remaining disciples were hiding but Jesus restored the broken and defeated on Resurrection morning. John writes “When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)

We know that when the people gathered to worship in the temple as usual on Saturday they stood staring at the sanctuary curtain that “was split down the middle.” (Luke 23:45) I can only speculate, but did the high priest order some of the other priests to grab the torn curtain and hold it together during the worship service?  Instead of facing the truth, the priests and worshippers pretended not to see the tear and continue to hide the truth. However, no longer would God be separated from the people by a piece of cloth or a lie. Theologian N.T. Wright writes, “Matthew explains the tearing of the veil with an earthquake; Mark leaves it as a mystery, though he presumably means us to understand, in the light of the previous four chapters, that from now on the Temple is as good as finished. Its purpose has been taken over by the event which has just occurred. From now on, access into the presence of the living God is open to all through the death of his son.”

We may not know all the details of Saturday but we do know that “on the first day of the week” the world was changed forever when a group of women found an open grave. We know that a confused group of disciples was changed into mighty proclaimers of the Gospel.  We know that we no longer live in fear of death but with the hope of eternity. “When Jesus pushed back His own gravestone on resurrection morning, hope was born in the world—hope that this Jesus turns even the gravest despair into supernatural joy.”—Tyler Staton

He is Risen!

 

Quietest Place on Earth

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He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him. Colossians 2:14-15 (CSB)

Silence is golden! How many young parents have thought about tattooing this motto on their arms? There is a place that has been officially designated as the quietest place on Earth. It is located in Redmond, Washington at the Microsoft headquarters. The room was built in 2015, the anechoic chamber doesn’t remove all sounds, only the external noises which allows you to hear the endless sounds of your body. “When you turn your head, you can even hear that movement. You can hear yourself breathing and it sounds pretty loud,” wrote Lead Project Designer, Hondaraj Gopal.

According to the article, only a few people have survived staying in the room for a long period at most an hour. “Without any sounds from the outside world to get in the way, absolute silence will gradually turn into an unbearable ringing in the ears. This will likely cause you to lose your balance due to the lack of reverberation in the room, which will impair your spatial awareness.” (Walla! Health)

However, could it be that the quietest place on Earth isn’t a man-made room in Redmond, Washington but a God-inhabited tomb at the edge of Golgotha?

Microsoft took two years to design and build their room. It consists of six layers of concrete and steel and is detached from the surrounding buildings. The room has an array of shock-absorbing springs installed below the floor with fiberglass wedges installed on the floor, ceiling, and walls to break up the sound waves before they can travel into the room.

God took His only Son to build his room! It consists of God’s love that “everyone that believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” His “room” was built with mockery, ridicule, spit, torturous beatings, and finally, iron nails driven into his body until the sound waves are broken up by the words, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Have you ever considered when the one criminal on the cross realized Jesus was who he said he was and asked, “remember me when you come into your kingdom?” He had been mocking Jesus, along with the crowd below and the other criminal on the cross. Maybe it was when Jesus showed compassion and concern for his mother even as he was struggling to breathe on the cross. Perhaps it was when he saw the group of followers who genuinely cared about Jesus yet not one person was there for him. Maybe it was when he heard Jesus asking, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing,” even as cried out in pain.

Regardless of when he finally realized that only in Jesus was hope. This criminal who had no hope, no future, and no understanding found his redeemer. He didn’t make a long drawn-out appeal on how he had been mistreated, misunderstood, or misjudged, he asked, “remember me.” Jesus dying on the cross, beaten and  tortured looked at this criminal and said, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Philip Yancey writes, “Jesus forgave a thief dangling on a cross, knowing full well the thief had converted out of plain fear. That thief would never study the Bible, never attend synagogue or church, and never make amends to those he had wronged. He simply said “Jesus remember me,” and Jesus promised, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” It was another shocking reminder that grace does not depend on what we have done for God but rather what God has done for us.”

A person may only stay in the Microsoft room for an hour until he loses balance.  Jesus stayed for three days without losing His balance for the sake of our eternity! Jesus completed his assignment as he shouted out “it is finished!” The quietest place on earth lost its grip on every generation,  bringing hope to those who followed Jesus as Savior. “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (I Cor 15:56 CSB) “Death’s horrific sting is a result of sin. Death only loses its sting when death is no longer a punishment, but rather a transition. Believers no longer need to feel the sting of death, since Jesus has achieved everlasting life for believers.” (Dirk van Garderen)

I grew up in the evangelical stream of the Christian faith where many of the terms, Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday were alien to me. Yet through the years I have grown to have a deep appreciation for the other streams of Christian faith that celebrate these days, together we form a mighty ocean of Jesus’ followers. As I acknowledge the celebration of Palm Sunday, it reminds me how easy it is to shout Hosanna one day, only to cry “crucify him” on Good Friday.  To sit in the darkness of Holy Wednesday knowing the betrayal of Judas will happen on Maundy Thursday yet wait with the expectation of Resurrection morning.

“The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples. He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there. Listen, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:5-7 CSB)

The quietest place on Earth? Not anymore, for He has risen!

God is great!

Broken Pieces

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Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his ear. Matthew 26:50b-51

Don’t touch! These are the famous last words of every parent with small children who go into a store filled with breakable things.  The temptation to touch is overwhelming as the store manager yells, “You break it, you pay for it.”  However, the temptation to touch is not limited to children. According to a story in the Miami Herald, an art collector in a Miami art gallery reached out to touch a $42,000 sculpture by artist Jeff Koons and accidentally knocked over the pricey piece shattering it on the floor.

Stephen Gamson, a local artist and art collector, still believed the broken pieces could be worth a lot of money. He offered to buy the porcelain shards on the spot. Gamson said, “I find value in it even when it’s broken. To me, it’s the story. It makes the art even more interesting.”

The broken Koons’ work of art should have cost the lady personally, but according to the report, “Fortunately, the sculpture was covered by insurance and didn’t cost the woman anything.”  Jesus knows a thing or two about the value of broken pieces. Easter points us to a Redeemer who is ready to buy the broken and shattered pieces of our lives. Fortunately, our lives were covered and didn’t cost us anything, but it cost Jesus everything.

The Passover had been a little out-of-the-ordinary celebration, maybe even considered a bit bizarre. Peter and John had been tasked with the job of preparing for the meal. Their instructions had been unique, “when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters.” (Luke 22:10) These two disciples had experienced some mind-altering events over the past few years as they walked with Jesus. Though this request was a bit strange, out of faith, they did as Jesus said. The Passover dinner that night had been anything but traditional.

The disciple’s minds were spinning from the evening as words such as betrayal, denial, broken body, and poured-out blood, had been spoken by Jesus. Now they were huddled together in Gethsemane and this night would be filled with life-changing drama. Jesus had asked his disciples to stay on guard, not as a security force, but in prayer. Yet their worst fears came true as the place quickly filled with a mob carrying swords and clubs. It was when Jesus confronted this heavily armed group, that they realized the mob was led by one of their own.

As the betrayer’s kiss was placed upon Jesus, the quiet, still night exploded in yelling and shoving. The disciples had been dozing off and on during the evening even as Jesus reprimanded them for sleeping when He needed them to stay alert in prayer. Now, still, a bit drowsy, the disciples found themselves confused and afraid as armed men filled the garden.

Maybe it was in this state of drowsiness they had heard the words of Jesus’ prayer, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me.” Did these words empower the disciples to action and embolden Peter? Acting with his usual zeal, Peter pulled out his sword and sliced off Malchus’ right ear. Whether the whole ear, part of the ear, or a little cut, Malchus screamed in pain.

The scene became chaotic with Malchus screaming, people yelling, and the armed guards quickly pulling their swords out to fight. That was until the commanding voice of Jesus was heard, “No more of this!”  Jesus turns to Peter, “Put your sword away! Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11) Then Jesus turned to the mob, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal?” (Luke 22:52)

I picture Jesus calmly reaching down to pick up the severed ear. Then intently looking into the eyes of Malchus, he gently touched his head and then lovingly reattached his ear.

Jesus’ first earthly miracle, when he turned water to wine at the wedding, people celebrated and shouted for joy.  His final miracle which was an act of healing, was performed in the midst of yelling and shouting, not in celebration of life, but for death. Instead of asking for twelve legions of angels to help, Jesus asked the Father to heal the ear of this one who came out to arrest him.

How do we put that into perspective? What became of this last healing? As I think about this scene I wonder if Malchus occasionally touched his ear and remembered that night. Did Jesus’ touch of healing open Malchus’ eyes to see Jesus? Did he share his story in the years to come as a follower of Jesus, how on that night Jesus not only healed his ear but his soul?   Or did he miss the true miracle of that night because he didn’t want to give up his power and position that he held in the religious hierarchy?

All is speculation but what a tragedy if Jesus’ last touch of healing goes unused.  What a tragedy to have an ear but fail to hear the words, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25)

In a few hours following that healing, the world was turned upside down forever!

Has your world been turned upside down by Jesus?

God is great!