The Road to Easter – Mary’s Journey

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Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son, and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:25-27 NIV

Easter – cute little bunnies or a rugged cross, church services or spring break, chocolate, or fasting. Most Americans still view Easter according to a BarnaGroup survey as a religious event but only a minority linked Easter to the Christian faith’s belief in the resurrection of Jesus. Regardless of your church traditions related to Lent, we all can use this season as a time of preparation, reflection, and repentance as we journey toward Easter.

The pages of Scripture are filled with the stories of men and women whom God used to prepare the road that ultimately Jesus would walk on as Savior. Men and women of faith and failure, vision and blindness, obedience and rebellion defined those that God used. Jesus’ steps on the road were made ready through God’s mercy and grace until the final fulfillment on Calvary.

We all know Mary’s story at Christmas but what about her own journey towards Easter? We often forget Mary’s road to Easter came because of her yes to God’s invitation to join in the greatest story that would ever be told, a story of redemption, grace, and mercy.

Mary gets a brief mention from Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth. Birth announcements were not Mark and John’s thing in writing their accounts of the gospel story but we learn a lot about Mary from Luke’s account. Mary heard an announcement that would change her life and all the generations that followed. “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” (Luke 1:30-31)

God asked Mary to do what seemed impossible and was willing to wait for her answer. Mary’s journey toward Easter would not be easy, she was afraid, not married, young, and seemingly unsuited for such a task. What if Mary had said no? What would God do?

God would have respected Mary’s decision but it wouldn’t have changed God’s plan of redemption, but it would have changed what God was going to do through Mary. She would have missed out on God’s blessings for her and she would have missed out on God’s touch of intimacy in her life.

Mary’s no would still have found her cooking suppers for her family but not for God. Mary would still have cleaned house, made conversation with her neighbors, walked to the market daily, went to the temple to worship as a good religious woman, and would still have done a myriad of routine things.

What an amazing difference for Mary when she said yes. Her yes gave her the joy of feeding the King of Kings, clothing the Royal Priest daily, and watching with joy as the Prince of Peace played.

Mary could have said no but at what cost though her yes would not have been an easy answer either. She would hear all the hateful talk about her son, the gossip from the neighbors about her and Joseph, the sleepless nights worrying about Jesus as he traveled from village to village and finally the horror of watching her son being beaten, spit on, and finally nailed to a cross.

“Are we willing to surrender our grasp on all that we possess, our desires, and everything else in our lives? Are we ready to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ? Make a determination to go on through the crisis surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And God will then equip you to do all that He requires of you.”—Oswald Chambers

Each of the Gospel writers highlighted different aspects of the final moments of Jesus’ death yet each made special note of the women who held vigilance at the cross. Each one listed different women by name, as well as a general grouping, but only John recorded Mary’s name among the women who gathered in those heart-rendering moments of Jesus’ final hours. What Mary must have felt watching his excruciating suffering, his cries of pain, and yet for her to hear Jesus speak his final words, “It is finished” and remember the angel’s word to her, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High…and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”(Luke 1:32-33)

It’s easy to say, well God already knew she would say yes because God does know everything. However, God chose Mary because of her tender spirit.  “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered, “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38) Can the same be said of us today? Do we have hearts tender and open to God?  He waits for us patiently and will walk with us as we make our decisions.

Would Mary have said yes if she had known what lay ahead? Thankfully she didn’t know just as we don’t know what lies ahead. Yet because she trusted God’s mercy and grace in the same way we are called to trust in faith and obedience, I am certain the answer would be yes.

As we walk on this path towards Easter, I found this quote from an old Puritan writer that expresses our journey well, “Christ often embitters our comforts that he may be all the more sweeter. Outside of God there is nothing fit to secure the soul upon. Riches, honours, friends, etc., are not given for security to rest upon, but for comforts in our way to heaven.” (Richard Sibbes)

Walking on this road to Easter we will find times of great stress and uncomfortable situations, yet as Jesus walked ahead of us, we know Easter does bring hope and new life.

God is great!

Building On Solid Ground

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For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. I Cor 3:11 NIV

“The only thing to fear is fear itself.” Franklin Roosevelt spoke these words in his first inaugural address to a weary nation facing financial and natural disasters and the rise of Hitler to power. FDR’s words serve as an example that all presidents have had to face their own unique challenges as they came into office.

Today marks Presidents’ Day in the United States to honor the sacrifice and courage of past presidents, remembering their legacies, accomplishments, and failures.  Originally it was a day set aside to honor the nation’s first president, George Washington, on his birthday.  It was later expanded to include all Presidents. President Washington would have had all his successors follow his advice, “I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.”

Challenges are not unique to the office of the president, or for that matter, any position. America’s sixth president, John Quincy Adams wrote, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” How we handle those challenges as a leader is dependent upon the foundation upon which we build.

Jesus didn’t close his Sermon on the Mount message with a poem but with a powerful reminder for his followers on what to build their lives upon. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” –Matthew 7:24-27

Mark Batterson sums up how many of us prefer to face challenges. “When we face a problem, our predominant prayer is to ask God to change our circumstances. I have no doubt that God can do that, but sometimes the circumstances we ask God to change are the very circumstances God is using to change us.” If our foundation is built upon public approval, personal preferences, or a comfort mentality, chances are great that the foundation will crumble.

Jesus gave us the foundation on which to build, a footing that will hold against the worst storms possible. There is nothing wrong with praying to change the circumstances but if they don’t change, I like what the old British preacher Charles Spurgeon wrote, “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.”

There is a God who gives beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Adapted Isaiah 61:3

Annie Johnson Flint learned how to “kiss the wave” in her life. Orphaned at an early age, she then grew up in a home filled with the love of God, reading, writing, and a love for music. Her dream of becoming a concert pianist ended when she developed rheumatoid arthritis in her early twenties, leaving her hands deformed, in pain, and unable to walk by her 30s. A foundation built on sand wouldn’t have held a life like Annie Flint.

Christ was powerfully formed in Annie despite her agony and suffering. She took her deformed hands to write of God’s love becoming a prolific writer and poet. Robert Morgan wrote that her obituary called her a “poet of helpfulness.” Cultural Theologian Jim Denison writes of Annie, “Her work was unfailingly realistic regarding life’s trials, but it always pointed to the hope found in Christ.”

Annie’s writing of poems, songs, and articles captured the overwhelming goodness of God. In her poem, “What God Hath Promised,” the foundation on which she built her life is captured:

“God hath not promised skies always blue,

Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;

God hath not promised sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

God hath not promised we shall not know

Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;

He hath not told us we shall not bear

Many a burden, many a care.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,

Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;

Never a mountain rocky and steep,

Never a river turbid and deep.

But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.”

Presidents’ Day allows us to celebrate the accomplishments of a particular moment in history. Lives such as Annie Johnson Flint remind us that our lives can have a far greater impact when built upon the foundation of God. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor 12:9

God is great!

 

 

Finding Your Way to Bethlehem: Joy

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When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11 CSB

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” Oscar Wilde popularized this proverb years ago and there is probably a grain of truth in the saying when it comes to Christmas carols. Most better-known carols have been arranged and rearranged to sound almost like the original but with enough difference to sell as a new song. According to music licensing company Music Reports there are 137,315 recorded versions of “Silent Night.” Followed closely by “White Christmas” with 128,276 versions, “Jingle Bells” with 89,681 versions, and “The Christmas Song” with 80,064 versions.

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” comes in at number 9 with 56,552 versions but most people who hear the song still think about Bing Crosby’s original version. Since 1943 the song has stirred the emotions of many who find themselves not able to get home for Christmas. First sung by Crosby during World War II, the song conveyed the longing and sentiment of military personnel stationed far from home, many for the very first time away from home.

Forty-one years ago, just before Christmas, Connie and I packed our crates and in a couple of weeks would leave for the country of Bophuthatswana to serve with the International Mission Board. It had taken months for us to get ready; resigning jobs, selling furniture and cars, buying things we thought we would need, and then fitting everything into wooden crates. We were now spending the last Christmas in the United States for five years and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” became a new reality for us.

If you have ever moved, even across town, you know the logistical challenges, the struggles to find your way around a new location, and the loss of closeness with friends, neighbors, and family. You can only imagine the struggle that a group of wise men or magi had in getting ready to leave home in search of a king, with nothing more than a star to guide them to the location.

Matthew captured the story of this band of travelers and their journey to Bethlehem. Matthew, normally very meticulous about details, left out a lot of information but what he did write adds to the beautiful story of Jesus’ birth. He felt like we did not need to know the number of wise men, the exact location from where they came, or even their names. We simply needed to know they came!

Luke gives us the story of the shepherds who were societal outcasts and Matthew describes the Wisemen who were ethnic and religious outcasts, but both groups came to worship the true King. You can only imagine the scene when this entourage from a faraway country arrived in Jerusalem, laden with gifts and treasures to honor the new king’s birth. They didn’t sneak in the back door but rode through the main gate of Jerusalem in all their pomp and glory. The political and religious leaders of Jerusalem were thrown into total confusion and panic with the simple question, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?”

King Herod, the ever paranoid, political king was envious of anyone who could claim his title. His power was held through fear, intimation, and political maneuverings. When he was “deeply disturbed” then all of Jerusalem would be deeply disturbed. You can picture the fear and confusion on the faces of the priests and religious leaders when they were summoned to the court of King Herod as he demanded to know “where the Messiah would be born.”

The religious leaders knew all the information about where the king would be born. They quickly quoted Micah’s prophecy. “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” (Micah 5:2) What they had failed to do was to keep watch for the birth like this group of wise men had done. These leaders had grown comfortable in their positions instead of hungering for the things of God.

This group of wise men had started following the star but at some point, I wonder if they quit following the star and simply headed to the logical place where a king would be born. Jerusalem was the political and religious center of the nation and without a doubt the only place a king would be born. What they didn’t know was that God routinely works outside the logical, the normal, and the expected to accomplish his plans.

God used a group of foreigners, who were attentive, to force the very leaders who should have been watching for the coming Messiah to remember God’s promise. Matthew doesn’t tell us if the priests and religious influencers were excited to hear the news but most likely they were not because of how they responded to Jesus in years ahead.

The wise men left the capital and headed for the politically insignificant, commercially unimportant, and geographically isolated Bethlehem. They had learned their lesson and started looking up again. “And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.”

These seekers from the East had found the King. Unlike the previous part of the story where they rode into the city with pomp and power, demanding answers, they now came before the true King “falling to their knees, they worshiped him.” Gifts worthy of a king were given – “gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

We are not told anything else about these men except they returned home but not the way they came. I’m thankful Matthew recorded the magi story because the full picture of God’s salvation story is being unveiled until the final chapter when “a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language” will stand before God.

God is great!

 

 

Blessed Are the Merciful

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Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7 CSB

Merciful is easy to define but even more easy to identify. Mercy can be defined as sympathetic, compassionate, pardoning, refusing to punish, or forgiving. However, seeing mercy in action brings life to the definition. What does mercy look like? Over the last few weeks, the Eastern Coast of the United States has been pulverized by back-to-back hurricanes, Helene and Milton. The evening news has highlighted the valiant effort of total strangers helping other total strangers in their devastation. Line crews from across the country are working endless hours to restore electricity, medical personnel ministering to the physical needs of communities, government, and non-profit organizations working together to provide housing for the homeless, and feeding stations providing food to the hungry.

Gary LeBlanc did the only thing he could do after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he volunteered to cook food. What he witnessed during the aftermath of Katrina left him heartbroken. Gary and his wife Ann started Mercy Chefs in 2006. Chef Gary said that the Lord called them to “feed people; just go feed people.” Eighteen years later, from one disaster to the next, the LeBlancs’ organization has served over 27 million meals. LeBlanc said, “In the box is love, hope, and a way forward. In the box is all the love we can muster — fit into a box.”

“For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6 NKJV) The world and the people within were far from perfect as Jesus taught his followers. He knew then as we need today, how to flourish in this imperfect world. Each of the beatitudes that Jesus gave that day were and are critical for living life. Glen Stassen writes, “Mercy is about an action, that is, a generous action that delivers someone from need or bondage.”

Eugene Peterson says in his book, Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading, “Scripture does not present us with a moral code and tell us “Live up to this,” nor does it set out a system of doctrine and say “Think like this and you will live well.” Rather the biblical way is to tell a story and in the telling invite: “Live into this—this is what it looks like to be human in the God-made and God-ruled world; this is what is involved in becoming and maturing as a human being.”

Mercy reflects the beautiful act of forgiveness. Jesus continued his discourse that morning with the words, “For If you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.” (Matthew 6:14-15) Extending mercy to others can never be done within our own power or desires.

Corrie ten Boom survived the horrors of Ravensbruck in World War II but years later had to confront her own unforgiveness while speaking in a Munich church on forgiveness. It was in that church she encountered the guard who had inflicted so much pain on Corrie and her sister Betsie. The guard said, “But since that time I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fraulein—will you forgive me?”

It is far easier to define mercy than to be merciful. It is easier to give examples of mercy than to be merciful. Extending the gift of mercy to someone who has wronged you goes beyond our abilities. Jesus realized the challenge as He outlined how a disciple of His could flourish in this world. Who should we extend mercy to? Yes, even that person! “There was no need for Jesus to elaborate. Our God is a merciful God and shows mercy continuously; the citizens of his kingdom must show mercy too.” (John Stott)

“And I stood there—I whose sins had every day to be forgiven—and could not. Betsie had died in that place—could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?”

Jesus brought a new fresh spirit to the passage in Hosea as he spoke the words again in Matthew. The legalist would struggle, the bitter and angry would struggle, yet mercy would be the only way forward, “Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matt 9:13)

“Those who were able to forgive their former enemies were able also to return to the outside world and rebuild their lives, no matter what the physical scars. Those who nursed their bitterness remained invalids. It was as simple and as horrible as that.”

“But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Have mercy on those who waver, save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” (Jude 20-23)

“Jesus, help me! I prayed silently…And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bring tears to my eyes. I forgive you, brother! I cried. With all my heart.” (Corrie ten Boom on Forgiveness)

We too ask ourselves the question, how can I extend mercy to that person? Jesus gave himself as the model of Blessed are the Merciful. Thankfully, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Can you think of a more exciting time to be alive as a follower of Jesus? In a world that has seemingly grown darker, we can be a light for those wandering in the darkness. Jesus gave generations of followers a way to flourish as he taught them the Beatitudes. “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ’care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.” Matthew 5:7 The Message

God is great!

 

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

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Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4

“We lost just about everything we owned, and that included vehicles. But we have the most important thing: our lives. And we are forever and always going to be thankful for that.” (Joe Dancy telling CNN’s Laura Coates)

“I feel like I just survived the apocalypse.” (Nicole Rojas, a Vilas, NC resident told the BBC)

David Jones, a South Carolina father realized he might miss his daughter’s wedding due to impassable roads and made the remarkable decision to walk 17 miles to be there. (FOX Weather interview)

East Tennessee native Dolly Parton announced she would donate $1 million to help. “These are my people, these mountain-colored rainbows. These are my people, and this is my home.”

How does one capture the devastation of Hurricane Helene? 232 dead as of this writing, hundreds missing, damages potentially exceeding $100 Billion, survivors emotionally scarred forever, and whole communities destroyed and wiped away. This is the grim picture of six Southeastern states in the United States. There are not enough adjectives to describe the ongoing events of these last several days.

Jesus understood the loss and heartbreak people would face in life as he gently spoke the words we know as the Sermon on the Mount to those gathered that morning on a rural hillside. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” These words spoken in the second beatitude beautifully apply to the tragedy of Hurricane Helene, as they have for generations to those who mourn.

Jesus’ words on that hillside are the source of hope and encouragement. In these words, we can face the losses and know of God’s presence.  “O Lord…You know me more deeply and fully than I know myself. You love me with a greater love than I can love myself. You even offer me more than I can desire…Take my tired body, my confused mind, and my restless soul into your arms and give me rest, simple quiet rest.” (Henri Nouwen)

Mourning truly defines what all of us will face at some point in life. The great hope is that we don’t have to endure it alone. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalms 34:18 NLT

Jonathan Pennington writes in his commentary on The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing, “As John Calvin observes,  most people hold to the erroneous belief that the happy person is the one who is free from annoyance, attains all his wishes, and leads a joyful and easy life; the mistaken idea is that true happiness is about our present emotional state…The disciples of Christ must learn the philosophy of placing their happiness beyond the world, and above the afflictions of the flesh…The Beatitudes is to show that those are not unhappy who are oppressed by the reproaches of the wicked, and subject to various calamities.”

I honestly do not know how to face the unrelenting struggles of tragedies, stand at an open grave, or face the pressures of life without the loving comfort of God. Isaiah summed up my thoughts when he wrote, “I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:4 CSB)

While mourning, there is the comfort of the One who created us, who loves us and will be there through it all. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.” (Isaiah 26: 3-4 NLT)

I hope you find these lyrics from Phil Wickham’s song, Hymn of Heaven words that can express your thoughts and sentiments.

“How I long to breathe the air of Heaven

Where pain is gone and mercy fills the streets
To look upon the One who bled to save me
And walk with Him for all eternity

There will be a day when all will bow before Him
There will be a day when death will be no more
Standing face to face with He who died and rose again
Holy, holy is the Lord

And every prayer we prayed in desperation
The songs of faith we sang through doubt and fear
In the end, we’ll see that it was worth it
When He returns to wipe away our tears…”

(https://youtu.be/bqxtFUwM3-o?si=ZT6BBS-dJ_m6cqeD)

“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.” (Matt 5:4 The Message)

God is great!

 

A Father’s Day Blessing

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Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. And, I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 NIV

If you were not one of the popular kids in school, you can probably remember feeling isolated and overlooked. Nothing has changed, there are still thousands of kids who walk into school classrooms feeling just a little discouraged about themselves, and just wanting someone to notice them. That is exactly what a group of Dads did in the Jefferson County Public Schools in Kentucky. The Flash Dads program was launched seven years ago with the simple objective of making every kid feel special. High fives, fist bumps, and words of encouragement are the order of the day for these Flash Dads. Several dozen members go to different elementary schools across the Louisville area. They line up to “greet students, cheering them on and getting the day started on a positive note.”

Roger Collins said The Flash Dads are, “community members showing up for students who sometimes don’t have anybody showing up for them.” James Bogan, another Flash Dad, said they take their duties as role models and mentors to heart. Bogan said the students know “We’re not just there that day. We’re there whenever you need us. It’s not a one-day thing. It’s a lifetime thing.” (Catherine Garcia, “Flash Dads”)

It seems that every day somewhere in the world there is a celebration of something. On June 7, we celebrated National Donut Day, coming up is National Ice Cream Day on July 21 and the all-important International Coffee Day is Oct 1. However, two occasions get special recognition for the foundational role they play in society, Mother’s Day in May and Father’s Day was celebrated yesterday. Antoine Francois Prevost writes, “The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature.”

Thankfully there is no “one way to do it” model for fatherhood. Some dads are super athletic, others can’t kick a ball. Some dads are fishermen, others know how to order off the Red Lobster menu. Some dads are quiet, others loud. As Max Lucado writes, “My father didn’t do anything unusual. He only did what dads are supposed to do—be there.”

I didn’t grow up with a flashy dad. We lived below the poverty line before there was a poverty line. You didn’t need an intercom system to get your attention since my childhood home was only four rooms. Like most dads, my dad wasn’t perfect, but he was there.

Just being there was enough to share a lifetime of valuable lessons. I learned honesty by watching my Dad buy things with a handshake, without credit checks or lengthy paperwork simply because he had a reputation for honesty. I learned to trust people by watching him write the names of people on his black folding checkbook with the amount they owed him for the work he did for them believing they would pay him. I learned to give my best on any job I did because that was what he did. There was no menial task that didn’t deserve my best.

Scripture records the stories of numerous fathers but I think Luke in chapter 15 captures the most powerful model of fatherhood. The story is better known as The Prodigal Son but maybe it should be re-labeled, The Loving Father. “There was a man who had two sons.” The younger took his inheritance and squandered everything. The older son stayed home but only grudgingly. Sadly, neither son found happiness in their situation.

Yet the story is really about the father whose love for both sons kept him risking everything for them. He never stopped watching for his younger son to come home. He never stopped waiting for the older son to find contentment. In both, he took the initiative to love his sons, risk his reputation, show compassionate concern, and always welcome them home.

If there is a “one way to do it” for fatherhood this story gives us a beautiful model to follow. A father’s love reaches out to a selfish son and a self-absorbed son with faith, hope, and perseverance. “Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children, it will be a refuge.” Pr 14:26

Fathers know the role is tough, demanding, and occasionally frustrating but in the end, it is worth it all. I leave as a blessing and encouragement British pastor Pete Greig’s prayer for Father’s Day.

“Father God, at a time of so much pain, when so many dads are distant, absent or even abusive, we lean into your ever-present love and healing. You are faithful and kind, especially for those of us orphaned, abandoned and hurt. For, “Even if my father abandons me,” as the Psalmist writes, “the LORD will hold me close.” Ps. 27:10

Father of Mercy, heal our many hurts, and restore the dignity, integrity and centrality of fatherhood in our families, in our communities and in our nations. As the Apostle Paul says, “I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. And I pray that you may know love.”

And finally, Lord, for all those poor souls everywhere who forgot that this is Father’s Day, we ask that you would bless them, in your abundant grace and manifold mercy, with the discovery of chocolate and half-decent cards in surprisingly well-stocked convenience stores. Amen

God is great!

Journey Toward Easter Promise

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But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7 NIV
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
When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them. Acts 2:1-3 The Message

Do you still have your Beanie Baby collection? What was your favorite? Do you even still remember the Beanie Babies? Those cute, iconic stuffed little creatures marked their debut in 1993 such as Legs the Frog, Squealer the Pig, Chocolate the Moose, and Patti the Platypus. Though sales started at a slow pace, by the mid-90s they became a major collectible item, even moving into the arena of a financial investment.

The hype surrounding the $5 pellet-stuffed plush toys created speculation that the value would skyrocket from the $5 cost to as much as $1,000. “Forecasts like these were so enticing that one dad invested his kids’ college funds in Beanie Babies, thinking he’d resell them later for a meaty profit.” (Molly Liebergall). Unfortunately, The Beanie bubble burst, leaving the family in a $100,000 hole. The Dad was not alone as the false hope of astronomical appreciation estimates left many investors short of cash. “An asset bubble expert and market historian remarked, “that our tendency to fall for the overinflation of a product’s value is a flaw in the human character and that no one is immune, no matter how smart you are.” (Liebergall)

False hope in investment claims may leave people broke but far worse is the false hope of religion. Religious charlatans have been around forever, peddling their products of false gods, idols, and untruths. However, when Jesus made a promise, it proved powerful, true, and eternally impactful. Fifty days after Easter, His words became reality with the descent of the Holy Spirit that marked the beginning of the Church’s mission to the world. The late British theologian John Stott wrote, “At Babel, earth proudly tried to ascend to heaven but at Pentecost, heaven humbly descends to earth…” Nothing could have demonstrated more clearly than this the multi-racial, multi-national, multi-lingual nature of the kingdom of Christ.” When the day of Pentecost came, the world would never be the same.

Yesterday fulfilled what Jesus told his disciples which is still proving true 2,000 years later. Pentecost Sunday celebrates the promise of an Advocate that would spark the unleashing of the church locally, nationally, and to the very ends of the earth. A few dozen followers have grown to over 2.4 billion Christians worldwide today. So how did just a few dozen people literally impact the world?

Tyler Staton, National Director of 24-7 Prayer USA said it well, “The Early Church congregations where Jesus’ supernatural ministry became common were made up of mostly illiterate people filled with the power of God. They had little in terms of worldly credentials, but they were desperate for the power of God. Author Simon Ponsonby, summarizing Welsh minister Martyn Lloyd-Jones pointedly asked, ‘If we have what the first Christians had, why do we not do what they did? We must conclude that either God gave them more than He has given us, or we have failed to avail ourselves of what He has given us.’ To know the experience of Jesus’ promise, we must become desperate again. Desperate enough to take risks.”

Pentecost would shake the very foundation of these new believers and spur them into action. They were desperate enough for more because of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. They left their safe environment and took the risk to tell those gathered in Jerusalem. Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome, Cretans, and Arabs heard the Good News of Jesus and about 3,000 were baptized that day. (Acts 2)

The church born would be unstoppable as “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42) Changed lives that would face ridicule, persecution, rejection, torture even death yet Pentecost gave them the power to take the risk. Transformed lives that transformed society.

Aristides launched his defense of the new Christian faith to Roman Emperor Hadrian in 125 with the early Christian’s moral lives as one of the primary proofs of the truth of the faith. Aristides wrote that “Christians…have the commands of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah himself, etched into their hearts. They keep these commands, looking forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come…For they call themselves brothers, not according to the flesh but according to the spirit. They are even prepared to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the Messiah.”

There are countless articles and books about the declining state of the church. People are leaving in droves according to some experts, and the impact of the church is waning in America, Europe, and other places. We can agree that a lot of people have left the brick-and-mortar buildings but the church is as alive as ever. People ask how is that possible when the statistics show otherwise. I simply say, look at Pentecost! “The most powerful means that have been employed to destroy God’s people have been rendered ineffective.” (15th-century Puritan minister, John Flavel)

Church attendance may decline, church buildings left empty, denominations left bankrupt but the church born at Pentecost will endure forever. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (I Cor 3:16)

God is great!

 

Journey Toward Eternity

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Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:1b-3 NIV

The iconic engineering masterpiece, The Golden Gate Bridge, spans the one-mile-wide strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The American Society of Civil Engineers recognizes it as one of the Wonders of the Modern World. The bridge is an internationally recognized symbol and is described in Frommer’s travel guide as “possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world.” (Wikipedia)

Millions of cars, trucks, bikes, and walkers have traveled across the bridge since it opened in 1937. Though famous internationally, it is also famous for the number of people who have committed suicide on the bridge.  Harold B. Wobber became the first person to commit suicide by jumping over the four-foot rail less than three months after its opening. Since then, over 1,600 people have committed suicide with an additional unknown number whose bodies were not found.

Former California highway patrol officer Kevin Briggs has become known as the Guardian of the Golden Gate. When Briggs finds someone preparing to jump to their death, he engages the person in conversation with some simple questions about their plans for the following day. He has been able to talk more than two hundred people from taking their lives. (article in Denison Forum)

The Golden Gate Bridge is easily identifiable for its beauty, but it becomes a symbol of death to those without hope. The Cross of Jesus is even more easily recognizable throughout the world. The cross designed as an instrument of death became a symbol of hope and life because of Easter.

Lent has provided us time to slow down in our spiritual journey to refocus upon the coming days of Easter. It has provided opportunities to sit and reflect upon our hope in Jesus. It is a hope not built on shifting opinions but on the rock-solid promises of God.

Jesus’ journey toward the cross would bring life to us but not without great cost to him. The pain and bodily suffering of the cross had to be indescribable for him yet just as horrendous was the pain of rejection and betrayal that he had to endure.

The pain of a kiss. Judas had sat under his teachings, watched the healings, and fellowshipped with Jesus yet rejected the kind of Messiah that Jesus would become. “And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.” (Luke 22:4). The pain of that midnight kiss must have weighed heavily upon Jesus. “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48)

The pain of a rooster’s crowing. Peter had become one of Jesus’s trusted inner circle members. Peter had pulled the net onto the boat overflowing with fish, stood on the mountaintop with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, and watched as a little girl was raised from the dead yet that morning spoke the words, “I don’t know him!” Can you imagine the pain of these words to Jesus? Also, the pain in Peter’s heart as he heard  “the rooster crowed” and then seeing as “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.” (Luke 22:61)

The pain of a yelling crowd, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” The crowd! Men and women who had listened intently to his words, many had eaten fish and bread with him on the mountainside and just days before, had been willing to cry out, Hosanna! Only now to hear, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”

Yet the greatest pain of all is the silence of His Father. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The gaping wounds, the nail-punctured hands and feet, the humiliation or the mocking words couldn’t compare to the darkness and emptiness of his Father’s silence.  “The more painful our suffering and thus the less we understand why God allows it, the more we need to trust it to his compassionate care.” (Jim Denison)

The lament of Psalm 22 would minister to Jesus’ soul that dark and godless afternoon. The words of this holy Psalm would express his desolation of God being far away and yet the consolation of feeling God’s presence, even on the cross.

Charles Spurgeon beautifully captured the richness of this Psalm on the cross. “Psalm 22 may have been actually repeated word by word by our Lord when hanging on the tree; it would be too bold to say that it was so, but even a casual reader may see that it might have been. It begins with, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And ends, according to some, in the original with It is finished.

Before us, we have a description of both the darkness and the glory of the cross, the sufferings of Christ, and the glory which shall follow. Oh, for grace to draw near and see this incredible sight! We should read reverently, putting off our shoes from our feet, as Moses did at the burning bush, for if there be holy ground anywhere in Scripture, it is in this psalm.”

The cruelty of the cross has been transformed into a symbol of living hope with the words, “It is finished.” The cold isolation of a grave has been transformed into living life with the words, “He is not here; he has risen.” These symbols of death have been transformed into a living faith with the climax of this powerful prayer, “Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.  (Ps 22:30-31 NLT)

“Christ breaks through to you, not in those places where you are strong, where your skills are well-honed and developed, but precisely in those areas in your life where you know failure or weakness. For it is there that you come close to the power of the Cross. It is precisely there that God is waiting to meet you, long to offer you forgiveness, strength, and renewal, to live and work not in your own strength, but in the strength of Christ.” (Geoffrey Tristam)

Easter!  He is Risen! This is the reason why I can end my blogs each week with the words,

God is great!

Go Quickly and Tell His Disciples by Hanna-Cheriyan Varghese

Journey Toward Destiny

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As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. Luke 19:41 NIV

The countdown to the Eclipse 2024 is underway. On April 8, the “Great North American Eclipse” will move across the United States. The path of totality will start in Mexico and move across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine before heading out over the North Atlantic. For a few minutes, the moon gets to overshadow the sun.

April 8 would not have been a good day if you were the king of Mesopotamia in 763 B.C. You could have easily related to the Shakespearian quote, “Uneasy is the head that wears a crown” because a total solar eclipse was seen as an omen of death for rulers of the Assyrian Empire. They were uncertain of what would happen, but since the Assyrians worshiped the Sun God, the Moon God, and other sky deities, a total eclipse of the Sun held tremendous spiritual and political power. To avoid such an untimely death, the king would name a substitute king for the day who would become the reigning monarch for the day and take on the curse of the omen and be sacrificed. “The substitute king would enjoy all the trappings of regency before being ritualistically killed to fulfill the prophecy.” (article by Rebecca Boyle)

Lent has been a season of preparation preparing us for the arrival of the true King and the fulfillment of prophecy – a King that would become the substitute instead of having a fake king to be his substitute.

The climax of the Journey Toward Destiny began as the people crowded the streets of Jerusalem preparing for the entry of Jesus. Whether you fasted during Lent or used these 40 days to prepare your heart for Easter, the time has come. This season of preparation has prepared us for the event far greater and vastly more important than any total eclipse.

Palm Sunday marks the church’s celebration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event that each Gospel writer captured in their own unique style. Even reading the narratives you can feel the excitement mounting, the pressure building, and hope intensifying. The people are pushing and shoving to get a place on the street to welcome the King. Is this finally the fulfillment of centuries of anticipation coming true? Finally, will Jesus be the one to restore their rightful place as a nation and break the bondage of the oppressor?

“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matt 21:8-9)

“What comes into your mind when you think about God?” A.W. Tozer asked this penetrating question in his book, The Knowledge of the Holy. The question could have been asked on that day when Jesus entered Jerusalem on His Journey Toward Destiny. The same question is appropriate to ask of ourselves as we enter into this final week of Easter.

The crowds wanted a political hero, a military strategist, but most importantly a powerful commander to restore their nation. What they got that day was the Son of God riding on a donkey heading for a cross that would open the doors for redemption and salvation.  The crowds would return home at the end of the day. Some would go home disappointed that he hadn’t entered on a white horse. Some would go home disillusioned that the revolution didn’t start overthrowing the Roman occupation. Some would go home that evening angry that Jesus didn’t meet their expectation of a Messiah.

However, among the palm-waving crowds that day, there were a few that would go home that evening having experienced the coming of the Messiah as prophesied generations before. They would become what they worshipped and would come to Jesus, the true Messiah. “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.” Zechariah 9: 9-10 (NIV)

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God.” (Tozer)

The crowds cheering for Jesus that morning upon his entry into Jerusalem were also part of the crowds that would be yelling again in a few days for Jesus. However, instead of yelling Hosanna to the Son of David, they would be yelling crucify him, crucify him. What changed? They became what they worshipped which shaped their destiny and their beliefs. Tozer went on to write, “We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God…Were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, ‘What comes to mind when you think about God?’ we might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man.”

What comes to your mind when you think of God? As you enter this time called Holy Week, I trust there will be an opportunity to drown out the crowd noise, find time to step away from the busy week and simply let your thoughts focus on Jesus. Try reading a different Gospel account each day of the events related to Holy Week.  Let Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John guide you in a time of reflection and worship preparing your heart, soul, and mind for Easter.

Jesus, as we approach Easter, let our hearts and minds be filled with praise and thanksgiving for all that you endured for us. Let us never forget your sacrifice so that we might have life. Thank you for the amazing gift of salvation.

God is great!

Hosanna in the Highest! by Hanna-Cheriyan Varghese

Journey Through Generations

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Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.  Luke 24:26-27 NIV

Do you know where you came from? I have always been fascinated by the Ancestry.com ads and the stories of people finding their roots. This last Christmas Connie gave me an ancestry DNA kit and though I didn’t expect to be in line for the royal throne, I thought it would be fun to see how far my Oklahoma roots spread.

I finally got my results back this last week and learned my ethnicity numbers. Most of the percentages came from England & Northwestern Europe (49%) and Scotland (37%) as expected with a name like Burton. I had some smaller percentages from Wales and Ireland (10%), Sweden & Denmark (2%) and Germanic Europe (1%). However, I did learn I also have Nigerian roots, 1%!  I could find out more about my ancestry, but I will probably not pay the $99 every quarter.  However, it was still an interesting experiment.

What it does tell me is that I probably have a lot of interesting relatives around the world, and I will never get to meet them this side of eternity. It also tells me of the vastness of God’s creation and being connected to generations past. During this time of Lent, as we journey toward the cross and resurrection, I am also reminded of the vast family I belong to as part of God’s family that follows Jesus.

Shauna Pilgreen in her book, Translating Jesus, writes; “We keep each other close because we are made to be close—this human race God created.” She goes on to write, “One very interesting probability model created by a demographer for genealogists suggests that a child born in 1947 in England, tracing back to 1492, would have sixty thousand ancestors. Going back further, to 1215, this child would find 80 percent of the entire population of England at that time on his or her family tree.” That is one big family tree!

This season of Lent allows us to reflect as a family on the power of the cross and the hope of Easter. We are connected from one generation to the next through the life we live today but also within the future context of who we are in Jesus. “Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.” Psalm 79:13

You wouldn’t normally spend time reflecting on a list of names nor start as the opening of your book, but this was what Matthew did as he began his account of the Gospel. He began his story with the words,” This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham.”  Then for the next 15 verses gave us a long list of “begats” or KJV talk for “the father of.”

Patrick Schreiner writes, “From the beginning, God was in the business of establishing his people in his place by his power. It began with Adam and Eve, and it continued in the covenants given to Abraham and David. These are finally fulfilled in Jesus; the Davidic king who will establish Israel’s kingdom.”

Each name in Matthew’s account represented a link in fulfilling God’s promise of a Savior. One generation passed on to the next generation the story of a coming Savior who would someday redeem the nation and the people.  “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment, he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? Isaiah 53:7-8

Matthew’s list contained some All-Star names such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and Solomon. His genealogy included some great men of faith such as Boaz, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah but it also listed some faith failures such as Amon, Ahaz, and Manasseh among others. Matthew didn’t just include those names that any family would be proud to have in their lineage but also a few that any family would rather overlook and not claim.

Matthew would also break from tradition and include several women, including those not of the Jewish faith to be part of the Jesus ancestry family tree. Tamar and Rahab were from the Canaanite community, Ruth was a Moab, Bathsheba was likely a Hittite and Mary was Jewish. Each woman brought a messy background to the story yet God would place them into the very heart of His salvation plan. Each woman would play a significant part in God’s story even without a perfect past and outside religious expectations.

Family trees are not always pretty nor well-kept even though there will be some beautiful branches you will find a few branches that you wish would have been pruned before they grew. It is the same way with our faith family trees, we will have some awesome, healthy branches where we swell with pride but a few limbs that we drop our heads and would rather not claim.

Can you imagine the percentage results if Heaven offered a DNA ancestry kit? The Biblical Canon may be closed and no names will be added to Matthew’s genealogy. However, spend some time this week reflecting upon the impact of verse 16: “And Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.”

Jesus set in place a spiritual genealogy that is adding names daily and just like a great oak tree, spreads its branches across the generations. This heavenly recorded genealogy now includes a multitude of brothers and sisters from “every nation, tribe, language and people.” (Rev 14:6)

A list of names may not be captivating reading unless you think of all the stories that will be shared someday as the family of Jesus. “One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts. I will speak of your splendor and glorious majesty and your wondrous works.” Psalm 145:4-5

God is great!