2Chronicles 34-36; John 19:1-22

     I have a confession to make.  I cry at movies-right there in the theater or sitting at home, it matters not in whose company.  I bring tissues in my purse so I can, hopefully, quietly blow my nose and wipe my eyes.  But there is one movie that I could never watch in public again and would need a box of tissues to watch it at home.  The film was Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ in 2004.  Of course, I would have to see it on Good Friday! (a glutton for suffering)  The movie theater was sold out and there was not a dry eye in the entire audience.  If you have never seen this movie, see it once.  Also, remember, as dramatic and explicit as the movie is, it only tells half the story. 
    Here was the Son of God, who walked on water; made the blind see;
cleansed lepers; drove out demons in the possessed; healed diseases of all kinds; brought three people back to life after dying; fed thousands supernaturally; whom even the wind and waves obeyed!  Jesus could just as easily have called forth a legion of angels to save him.  Yet, he chose to endure the cross!

He did it for me!…

He did it for you!…

He did it for us all!

     Thinking about the crucifixion brings it all back again, and it still brings tears to my eyes.  Gotta go and get a tissue.  
A very Blessed week to all of you.

2 Chronicles 32-33; John 18:19-40

Hezekiah tells the people, regarding the king of Assyria, that “With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles”.

Really?  You mean He will be with us?

Really?  Fight our battles?

Those battles of unemployment, underemployment, drug or alcohol dependency, foreclosure, spousal neglect, child abuse, insecurity, and the list goes on and on.

Those words ring as true for us today as they did when the king of Assyria was threatening to destroy Israel and Judah.  Read the rest of the chapter and find out how the battle goes, but I have one word for you-victory!  It was the kind of victory that no one could credit to the people.  They were facing an army that had never known defeat.  The Assyrians were so confident they were taunting not only the people but their God.

It was not the first time that Israel and Judah won a victory while being seemingly, hopelessly, outnumbered; and it certainly would not be the last supernatural intervention on their behalf.

I love that phrase, “Arm of flesh” referring to the Assyrian army.  The confidence in the Assyrian army was in their might and past victories.  They had no idea who they were fighting against this time.

Where is your confidence?  Do you take confidence from the words of Hezekiah?  Are you trusting the “Arm of flesh”?…  or “the Lord our God”?

See you in church tomorrow!

2Chronicles 30-31;  John 18:1-18

In John 18 we are faced with Peter’s denial.  It brings to my mind when I read a book by Lloyd C. Douglas in 1960 called “The Robe” about the Roman tribune who was in charge of the crucifixion.  His name was Marcellus in the book, and he is having a conversation with Peter.  Peter is explaining his guilt about the denial which is weighing heavily on his conscience.  But then Marcellus tops his own guilt with the explanation that while Peter denied Jesus, Marcellus had killed him.

I remember thinking at that time, “We cry because we have no shoes until we meet someone who has no feet”.  But now when I think about that conversation, which is only fiction from one writer’s pen after all, I am confronted with another reality.  It is this: WE ALL KILLED JESUS!   He died for our sins, for our sake, for us all.  And we thank God who had the perfect plan and sent His son to earth for this very purpose.  No one is without guilt.  For all have sinned and fallen short…

Let us pray:

“Father, forgive us our denials, our idols, our indifference and open our hearts to your gift of Love and Grace!

Amen!

Have a good and safe weekend.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

2 Chronicles 28-29; John 17

ROBERT FROST said “Good fences make good neighbors.” Probably. But they don’t make good FAMILIES.

Looking around at all the Christian denominations,

you’d think that God wanted it that way.

Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians – all divided by the “fences” of their core values.

And each denomination, confident of their spiritual superiority – advertise “core values” that have separated them for centuries – issues like music, baptism, and political structure.

Sounds almost spiritual – that is – until you hear Jesus’ core value

of UNITY:

“Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.”

“May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

For sure – there are real core values in Scripture – things like:

Who Jesus is, His literal death and resurrection, Salvation by grace through faith alone.

But it’s a SHORT list. And when non-essentials are tacked-on,

OUR human “core values” usually violate HIS:  

“OUR way of baptizing is the only true baptism.”

JESUS’ response: “May they be brought to complete unity.”

“OUR church government is the only right structure.”

JESUS’ response: “May they be brought to complete unity.”

“OUR music (or lack of it) is the only kind that pleases God.”

JESUS’ response: “May they be brought to complete unity.”

ROBERT FROST was a great poet.

But I don’t think we should make a theologian out of him.

“Fences” may be fine for neighbors; but not for FAMILY.

Have a Fantastic Thursday!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010  

2 Chronicles 25-27; John 16

In John 16, Jesus makes His disciples several powerful PROMISES.

His resurrection, the Holy Spirit, answered prayer.

Then, he tells them WHY:

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.

PEACE. Jesus wants us to experience it – so HE tells us the only place we can find it – “in Me.”

He knew we’d be tempted to seek peace where others look for it – “in the world” – In things like financial security, possessions, life insurance, personal comfort, personal achievement. Jesus says don’t buy it. It’s all a big illusion: “In this world you will have trouble.”

But before we become pessimists – Jesus makes the biggest promise of all – “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus doesn’t promise, “I WILL overcome the world.”

That would have been a huge encouragement – and really cool.

But Jesus takes this promise to a new level by making it PAST tense: “I HAVE overcome the world.”  WOW!

Jesus says – “Things are gonna get tough. But I’m removing all the suspense from your struggle. Here’s the outcome: YOU WIN. Because I’ve ALREADY WON!!!

Are you experiencing some tough times in this world?

Financial troubles, loss, uncertainty, disappointment?

Jesus says “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Done Deal.

See you Tomorrow! 

Tuesday, August 3, 2010 

2 Chronicles 23-24; John 15

Why is our church so interested in GROWING?

Because, contrary to some Christian thought –

GOD wants us to GROW!

Jesus says:

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit.”

Bearing “Much Fruit” refers to GROWTH in numbers of people.

Jesus didn’t say:

“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of doctrine,

 or fishers of spirituality.”

He said:

“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of MEN.”

Churches that don’t grow sometimes fall into the idea that their smallness is

evidence of spirituality.

Jesus says just the opposite is true.

Jesus says GROWTH happens – only when we are ABIDING in God and DEPENDING on Him:

 “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. apart from me you can do nothing.”

In fact, Jesus says a growing church is the strongest proof that people are truly

following Him:

”This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be

my disciples.”

Why is our church so interested in GROWING?

Because GOD wants us to GROW!

Have a GREAT Tuesday!

Monday, August 2, 2010 

2 Chronicles 21-22; John 14

“In JESUS’ NAME, amen.”

That’s the sign-off I was taught for prayer.

Our version of “Bye Bye for now, God!”

I asked why I was supposed to say “In JESUS’ NAME, amen.”

Answer: “Because we’re supposed to pray in Jesus’ Name.”

Right. But saying “In JESUS’ NAME” doesn’t mean you’re actually praying In JESUS’ NAME.  

Praying in JESUS’ NAME means you know Him well enough to ask for what HE wants. It’s like being able to order for someone else at a restaurant – you know them well enough to order what they want to eat.

Spend enough time with somebody – and you’ll be able to order dinner “in their name.” Spend enough time with JESUS – and you’ll be able to PRAY “in HIS Name.” And when you do – LOOK OUT!

“I will do whatever you ask in my name,

so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

You may ask me for anything in my name,

and I will do it.”

John 14:13-14

Have a Fantastic Monday!

2 Chron 19-20; John 13:21-38

I once had a good friend.  One day, out of the blue, she told me that she would no longer be my friend.  That was it – just that she wouldn’t be my friend.  Needless to say, I was crushed.  It took a long time to forgive her for the pain she inflicted, and just a bit longer than that for the hurt to go away. Have you ever been surprised when the person you thought was a friend turned out not to be? We don’t see it coming as Jesus did.

Jesus knew that He would be betrayed by one of those whom he lived with and taught for 3 years. He also knew that one of His trusted disciples would deny Him before the night would end.  Two betrayals in one night.  It did not mean that this betrayal didn’t hurt Christ to His very core, but He understood the frailty of the human spirit.

As we approach the Lord’s Table, is there someone that has hurt you deeply?  Have you talked it over with a God who understands your pain? As we remember the Lord’s Supper, think of the forgiveness given Peter – and the mighty rock he became for Christ. It’s time to let the old hurts go and bask in the Lord’s love as you forgive and become whole.

2 Chron 17-18; John 13:1-20

When I was young I had a lot of pain in my legs, especially at night.  I can remember my mother lovingly rubbing, massaging my legs until I fell asleep. It wasn’t something that she had to do; it was an expression of love.  It was a selfless act; one that would have been performed by a servant 150 years ago. My legs were the source of my pain; not my back or my neck or my arms, just my legs needed repair at the moment.

When Christ washed His disciples’ feet, He (like Mom) was performing an act of servitude – an act that the lowliest servant in the house would have had to perform.  They didn’t need their head, their arms, their bodies clean, only their feet. And yet, he washed each one of their feet, even the one who would betray Him, demonstrating the selflessness and humility the disciples would need after Christ ascended into Heaven.  If the disciples were to carry out the message that the Christ had come and all the law and prophesies had been fulfilled through Him, then they needed to be able to place others above themselves.  The disciples already had a problem with entitlement, placing themselves second to others’ needs had to be taught by the Master.

As brothers and sisters in Christ, there is not one who is more important than the other.  We all have different spiritual gifts and talents that could and should be used for the glory of Christ’s name.  Yet, each of us needs to remind ourselves those others’ gifts are no greater of lesser than our own; we are the same in God’s eyes.  In remembering, God blesses.

There are many messengers that God, himself, has sent us. We have pastors, leadership teams, the heads of a dozen committees, and volunteers who step out in the spirit of a servant. When we step out and put others before ourselves, we welcome the One whom God sent, and in turn, welcome the Father.

Thank you, Mom for your selflessness; it was a lesson well taught.

2 Chron 15-16; John 12:27-50

I’ve often wondered if I would have been part of the throng that followed Jesus just to see what miracle He’d perform next. Would I be one of those walking in the darkness? I hate to think that I would have been, but there were more people that didn’t believe that Christ was who He said He was than did. Would I be as Isaiah prophesied:  that my eyes couldn’t see; that my heart couldn’t understand?   Just think of the Glory that I would have missed! Would Jesus have still loved me though I was unsure of whom He said He was?  He must have; he died – and more importantly – rose just as He said he would so I “see” His majesty.

And then I realized, Jesus came to save me – not judge me.  He came that I would be reconciled with His Father. He only asked that I trust Him.  I love Him so much for that, and because He loved me – I love Him. I trust Him with every part of me. Now there is no darkness; I’m finally able to see things clearly through His eyes.

Christ told his followers that they would only have the light for a little longer. We should all understand that the time is still at hand, but for how much longer.  Eternal life is offered to us now, don’t squander the time.  Come to the Savior who loves you no matter where you’ve been and where you are now.  No judgment, just grace and forgiveness that welcomes us to eternal life.