Easter 2026: Buried and Back Again

It’s an unfortunately typical wartime story: A son goes off to fight. Soon after, his family receives the call­ — the man has not survived. DNA testing confirms it. The body is returned. The family holds a funeral and grieves the unbearable loss.

Such a story recently played out for one Ukrainian family­ — at least, until the rumors began to reach them. Witnesses claimed to have seen this soldier alive. Could it be true?

In February of this year, following a prisoner exchange, this same family heard his voice once again. Overcome with emotion and relief, they rejoiced to hear from his own mouth what seemed impossible. This soldier, for whom they’d held a funeral and mourned, was alive indeed.

A video released of the moment that call was received by his mother and other relatives was so emotionally striking, it’s stuck with me for weeks. What a gift in times of war, and with some remarkable parallels to another warrior ­— one who was truly dead and buried, only to come back to life again.

The Bible tells this story. Jesus, the Son of God, came to fight for his people, to battle for peace in the war between man and God. Seeing that humanity preferred our own ways to God’s, and that ignoring God led only to captivity and death, Jesus, though wrongly accused, went into captivity, while a well-known criminal called Barabbas was released instead. In a very different but also unexpected prisoner exchange, Jesus was crucified in his place.

No DNA mix-ups here. A Roman spear to the side made sure of it. In a public spectacle, Jesus was confirmed dead. Friends and family gathered his body, buried him in a tomb and mourned.

Just days later, the rumors began. Witnesses reported seeing Jesus alive. Could it be true? 

Mary, one of Jesus’ friends, didn’t initially recognize him — until she heard him speak her name. Overcome with emotion, she ran to tell others. Another, called Thomas, said he wouldn’t believe it unless he saw proof. Thomas, too, saw Jesus and heard his invitation to see his scars, including that spear mark, for himself. More and more people rejoiced to see Jesus alive, to hear his voice again, until they began to number in the hundreds. Jesus was risen indeed!

Remarkably, that prisoner exchange was not for the benefit of Barabbas alone, but for anyone who trusts Jesus in this battle on our behalf. Having defeated death, he now calls us to follow him and know the peace of God through him. And because of his resurrection, we can also look forward to an otherwise impossible resurrection of our own into a world fully restored and as it should be. No more stories of mothers losing their sons — even temporarily — to war, all because the war between man and God was fought and won by the God-man, Jesus, who was dead and buried, came back to life and will come back again.

Scripture References: Matthew 26:47-28:10; Luke 22:47-24:43; John 18:1-21:14; 1 Corinthians 15:3-57 (ESV) 

Art: unsplash.com

Easter 2025: Don't Miss the Main Message

As a student of mass communications, I once considered getting into the world of broadcasting. (Preferably classic rock radio, of course.) I’m still intrigued by communication technology, now and historically, and this 1912 quote by the inventor of the wireless telegraph recently grabbed my attention: “The coming of the wireless era will make war impossible, because it will make war ridiculous.” Apparently, Marconi truly believed if we could more easily share information and resources, we’d have nothing left to fight over.

How I wish he’d been right. But wireless tech seemed to have just the opposite effect, with radio communication a major contributor and tool in the wars to follow. Fast forward to today, and we clearly see “more” doesn’t always equal “better,” particularly in a world of impersonal communication. Present state of the global stage aside, perhaps most ridiculous is that we now wage war wirelessly with strangers—and those we once called friends—from behind our own private keyboards.

Certainly, our failures to communicate didn’t begin in the wireless era either. These are issues that may predate even smoke signals. Yet this makes me thankful to know a better communicator than any of us could hope to be, and one who is particularly persistent in his message to us.

While I didn’t always understand it, I now deeply appreciate that “long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son (Jesus), whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

The created world seems a hard message to miss for me now, given its complexity and beauty. Even “the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Through it, “his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” It might be hard for some to ignore something so obvious, but it certainly wasn’t always so clear to me.

Starting with those prophets, the Creator’s story was passed down through the generations, well before wireless communication or even the printing press. I was admittedly slow to believe those messengers. The Bible didn’t make sense to me, and I even fought against believing it. But God’s persistence wouldn’t let me ignore him, and it finally became clear he is showing us “in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself”—that this collection of letters is actually all about Jesus.

Still, his loudest message was in actually showing up. While we become increasingly impersonal behind our devices, in-person communication is so important to God, he came to be with us. Even then, many of us missed the memo, as “he was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.” But Jesus didn’t wage war against us for our lack of understanding. Instead, in a shocking communication of love, he fought to the death for us. While momentarily misunderstood as defeat, once the headline of his resurrection started to circulate, his real message began to be received: Murdered by our misunderstanding, he was still willing to forgive, allowing all who hear and believe him to commune and communicate directly with our Creator.

There are so many ways the Lord broadcasts his love to the world, and his message is for you too. So, consider creation. Survey Scripture. Visit a church in person. Speak to God in prayer, asking his help to understand what this message means for you. And if you’re a resister, like I was, I pray he’ll help you to stop fighting and start listening—to receive and believe the message of Jesus.

___________________________

And if you'd like to hear this year's Easter message as an actual (and intentionally meta) broadcast, have a listen here:

Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-2; Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20; Luke 24:25-27; John 1:10 (ESV)
Art: unsplash.com

A Glory No Darkness Can Overcome // Easter 2024

We’re anticipating a total solar eclipse in the Midwest this April—our second in seven years, no less. If you’ve never witnessed a total eclipse, it can definitely be a fun photo opp, but not even the best equipment can ultimately capture the true experience surrounding such an event.

Day gradually turns to a somewhat eerie, dusk-like appearance as distant stars become visible. Evening insects begin to chirp as though the sun is setting. The last glimpse of sunlight, shining like a diamond, fully fades. Then, in totality, as the sun is overtaken and you can look with the naked eye, a shimmering ring of fire comes alive, dancing around the circle of the moon. This brief pinnacle feels impossible to describe—an awe-inspiring display that understandably drives some to chase these eclipses around the globe. I found the 2017 experience worship-inducing, a glorious thing of beauty in creation I then could not have imagined and now hope to witness once again.*

As the celebration of Easter also approaches, this collective anticipation brings to mind some very particular historical moments of darkness and glory portrayed in the story of Jesus.

First, the darkness. Through a mock trial, Jesus was falsely accused and sentenced to death. At His crucifixion, as He hung suspended between Heaven and Earth, for about three hours, “there was darkness over the whole land...while the sun’s light failed” until He took His last breath. This lengthy and unnatural darkness, coupled with an earthquake and other inexplicable events, caused even some involved in His execution to question who this man really was. His followers had questions too. They had once heard him say, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” But what could this mean now that His life was over? His light was gone.

Three days later, the answer came. As from eclipse totality the moon soon gives way again to the sun’s blinding brilliance, the stone was rolled away from Jesus’ tomb, revealing the power and glory of God as His breath returned. The true light of the world stood radiant, full of life again.

Even in His darkest moment, Jesus was overcoming the darkness we so often see around us and even in us, if we’re honest. It’s a darkness that destroys and divides, ready to overcome us with death, to separate us from our Creator and all we hold dear. Yet in that darkness, though it seemed momentarily obscured, the unfathomable mercy and glory of God was still on magnificent display. Jesus walked through the valley of the shadow of death and allowed the darkness to crush Him, but it could not overcome Him. And He will not allow it to fully overtake anyone who follows Him even today. Instead, He offers His own light to show us who God is and guide us in a better way to live now, and the glory of new life through a resurrection like His to come.

Any sort of eclipse can be fascinating to watch, and the rare beauty of a total eclipse an incredible sight to behold. But knowing the one who arranged sun and moon so precisely to create this effect is truly a glory beyond words. Let this created wonder remind you of the Creator and move you toward Jesus, the true light who “shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome.”

Scripture: Luke 23:44;  John 8:12 & 1:5 (ESV)

Art: An image of the 2017 eclipse from southern Illinois

Will you be able to view the April 8 eclipse where you are? Check your zip code for timing and details.

*(And, praise the Lord, we did! In the same location as last time, no less. Photos below from 2024.)

From Fragile to Forever: Where the Best of Health Is Found // Easter 2023

It can be a confounding thing to encore a summer of excellent health with a sudden, headlong dive into a new season of medical office visits. They become those kinds of places you’d rather avoid where everybody knows your name. And while it’s rough enough trying to determine the roots of any ailment, one might also fall further down the rabbit hole of navigating a money hungry health industry in search of reasonable rates sans standard healthcare. The entire endeavor grows tiring and time consuming, yet the phrase “be your own advocate” perhaps never rings more true.

While the stories, of course, play out differently, medical misadventures seem recently rampant in sections of my circle. From the obnoxious sinus issue or stomach bug to full-blown hospital stays, health concerns are an unfortunately, if unsurprisingly, common topic. Through it all, the fragility of our physical nature and the frailty of life itself can cross the mind. But this also brings to mind the promise of a cure even beyond any we might hope for now.

It’s in the Easter story this hope is found, but in the most unimaginable way possible. It’s there we see the injury of God’s own Son, Jesus, leading to His death. Somehow, we’re told, He had to be hurt so we could be healed. But since illness and injury abound, and the death rate clearly still stands at one per person, healed how? And in what way?

Looking ahead to what Jesus would do, Isaiah writes, “...he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” And looking back, Peter puts it like this, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

Beyond physical healing, these words speak to our relationship with our Creator. We all neglect to live and love God and each other perfectly (a.k.a. “sin”), and we experience all sorts of struggles in our world because of this, including the physical. We owe a debt to the Lord we can’t even pay, and often the more we try to fix things, the more things go wrong. It can all seem utterly hopeless.

Thankfully, Jesus’ death was followed by His return to life. He did live perfectly, and He was willing to be our guarantor, taking the debt we owe on Himself so our relationship with God can be healed. No need to be our own advocates: Jesus stands in that place, even praying for His people. Plus, His physical healing points to the possibility of total healing and resurrection for us too.

Perhaps you’re familiar with the miracles of Jesus, several of which were physical healings. From the blind to the lame, the anemic to the leprous, people’s bodies were restored. In some cases, even people whose hearts had stopped beating altogether. These rare and temporary healings provide glimpses of that greater, eternal healing to come through this particularly Great Physician.

Just before calling his friend, Lazarus, back to life, Jesus says to the man’s sister, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” It’s a great question for us, too.

Undeserved advocacy. Comprehensive healing. Payment in full. All this for those who simply believe and trust Him. And, so, I pray for you the very best of health found only in Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24, John 11:25-26 (ESV.org)
Art: unsplash.com

When the Fighting Is Finally Finished // Easter 2022

As news of war once again dominates headlines, many of us find ourselves longing for real peace. Faced with the reality of yet another unnecessary tragedy, voices are again raised with desire for justice and an end to evil, oppression and death.

Even for those of us not in the middle of a war zone, these desires can be familiar. We all experience various types of battles in our lives. These might stem from issues or disagreements with others, or even from within ourselves. In recent years, we’ve seen a notable increase in general rudeness, lack of love or simple kindness, and even overt lawlessness. Regardless of our circumstances, real peace may feel a far way off.

I appreciate that Jesus is realistic about such trouble. He reminds His followers, “In the world you will have tribulation.” Yet He precedes this statement by encouraging them to find peace in Him, and follows with, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) And this overcoming happened in a way those who were with Him never imagined.

While those followers might have expected Jesus to lead them into battle against Roman occupiers, He takes a decidedly different tactic. When one attacks a servant in the garden just before His arrest, trial and execution, Jesus not only says enough to their aggression, but brings healing into the situation. This was a different type of battle—one that He would fight alone and to the death.

“It Is Finished.”
Jesus spoke these words as He died, the fight he had entered now done. His was a battle not simply for an end to human conflict, but to end the conflict between us and God. In our warring on Earth, we see reflected our lack of love for God and even anger against Him. Yet, rather than destroy His enemies, we see the love of God as Jesus allows the sacrifice of Himself instead. And in His return to life, He stands victorious even over death, ready to offer us new life and friendship with Him. This alone is a peace greater than we could have dreamed.

“It Is Done!”
Now we wait to hear these words as we anticipate the end of all battles among humans as well. We find these words in the biblical Book of Revelation 21, where Jesus tells us He is “making all things new.” God will again be with His people, and, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” When the fighting is finally finished, all our longings for real peace and justice, for the end of evil and death, are fulfilled beyond our greatest expectations.

As we wait, and as many of us pray, comfort can be found in Jesus’ victory for anyone who stops fighting God and surrenders to Him. His first cry of completion guarantees His declaration to come. And as Jesus promises His followers, both then and now, we truly can take heart and find peace in Him, the Prince of Peace, who has already overcome and will come to heal our world.

Scripture: ESV.org • Photo: Unsplash.com

Enjoy a related video from bibleproject.com.

Epic Garden Battles // Easter 2021

With spring having sprung, gardening is a hot topic at our place. After last year’s bumper crop, and the very long winter that followed, the spouse is all-in on getting the food stuffs growing again. And while he obviously loves it, so much of his focus sounds like all-out war. Guarding against adorable vermin or undesirable pests, overgrowth or underwatering, he’s ready to protect this new plant life at all costs. And as the celebration of Easter approaches, I’m reminded of a few garden battles of biblical proportions.

Battle Lost
Genesis 2:8-9: “And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

The Bible starts out in a perfect garden. Just imagine: No weeds, no disruptive creatures, no drought or floods. Better yet, no issues even between people. Humans and the rest of God’s creation humming along harmoniously. But the story takes a turn with a sudden battle for control. Should we trust the one who first planted the garden and its tree of life, or ignore him in an effort to gain more? Caving to greed, the humans harvest from the wrong tree and lose it all—the garden, their trust in each other and their friendship with God. As overfertilization leads to plant death, the battle is lost. Sickness spreads. Thorn and thistle now dominate the landscape.

Battle Won
Isaiah 11:1-2: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him…”

As years of thorny battles wear on, one day a new shoot comes up. A baby grows to be a man, and that man turns out to be the ultimate gardener. He arrives to show us how to cultivate our relationships again. Expected by some, yet unrecognizable to others, he is ready to fight with his own blood, sweat and tears for his people in his garden, even as we decide to fight against him. In a garden called Gethsemane, he’s arrested. Despite no fault being found, he is prosecuted and placed on a wooden cross, sometimes referred to as a “tree.” Crowned with thorns on this tree of death he does not deserve, this man called Jesus dies...

While this looks like no victory, no one even imagined that 3 days later, life would emerge from a tomb. Even a woman finding the grave empty and seeing a man nearby thinks he's just the local gardener—until he calls her by name. But as a seed falls into the ground and dies to reproduce exponentially, Jesus died and rose to bring new life into the world. The garden battle is won! As the original gardener, he naturally knew what was needed to help it heal. And to each of us, He asks an old, familiar question: “Will you trust me to heal you too?”

Battle Done
Revelation 22:1-2: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

Much as it began, the Biblical story closes with a perfected future garden. We get a glimpse of renewal to come, of a world growing complete and healthy again, of harmony between God and people restored. The thorns have gone, and the tree of life we once rejected now heals us. For all who trust that ultimate gardener, the garden battles are done.

Anyone who gardens is positioned for a unique perspective on loss, triumph and restoration as you guard and nurture your own vegetation. Yet even if you lack a green thumb, every new bud and petal can call to mind these garden battles lost, won and done, even as we navigate the thorns of life that still remain. So as the flowers bloom this spring, I pray you do trust Jesus, the ultimate gardener, for the complete nurture and healing only he can bring.

Enjoy the greenery and happy Easter!

Easter Sunday Worship 2020

Well, socially distanced though we be at the moment, we had the remarkable honor of helping to lead worship for an online service with Chatham Bible Church this Easter morning. The sermon is titled “Whispers from an Empty Tomb” from John 20:1-18. 

 

If you couldn't join us on this morning, we certainly invite you to do so now or anytime. Christ is Risen, indeed!

Awake, O Sleeper! // Easter 2020

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. -James 4:13–17

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. -Ephesians 5:14–17

On the evening of February 24, which now feels practically like a year ago, my husband and I simply stayed home. Unremarkable? Perhaps. But we really should have been at a local community center taking full advantage of a month-long membership nearing expiration.

That night we learned of a shooting at the center. An employee who’d helped us adjust our membership was dead. A day later, I shared some thoughts online, which included this statement: “The every day truth is we literally do not know what the next moment will bring.”

Just a few weeks later and the unthinkable began to affect us all—this global pandemic and simultaneous economic crisis that even we sci-fi fans didn’t ultimately believe could actually happen. Yet here we are, watching over a million worldwide become ill and thousands die, perhaps even people we know and love, as we “stay at home” and try to protect ourselves and others. And I realize again that stark reality: We do not know what tomorrow will bring. But despite this truth, we’re often so busy sleeping our way through life that we neglect to take seriously the most important things.

Thankfully, our Creator does take our lives, and our eternities, very seriously. Violence, disease and death entered our world because we neglected to listen even to God. For that, He could have rightfully returned the favor and simply neglected us. Instead, He is not only aware of the fears and pains we try to ignore, He came and experienced them Himself.

As we face a pandemic that both figuratively and sometimes literally takes our breath away, I’m reminded of Jesus’ struggle to breathe on the cross. A victim of this kind of crucifixion was hung in such a way that they were forced to push up by the feet in order to exact a full breath. With His feet nailed in place, this already impaired action was beyond excruciating.

I also imagine the moment Jesus returned to life. What was it like to take that first full, deep breath? No struggle or pain. He came out of the tomb completely restored and alive.

Those two little snapshots offer just a tiny picture of how seriously God takes our situation. The first is a picture of God suffering for us, taking the punishment and death we deserve on Himself. The second shows the defeat of death and a resurrection we also can have in renewed bodies and, ultimately, a world restored without death, debilitation or disease. This is just part of what the Lord offers to anyone who believes in Him.

So I ask sincerely: Do you believe?

You may live to 100 or die unexpectedly tomorrow, but every one of us has an expiration date. That next breath is not guaranteed. Our lives truly are “a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” So I urge you to fully believe in who Jesus Christ is, what He’s done and what that means for you. The whole Bible is His story. Take a look at those pages. Ask Him to show Himself to you.
If you need a Bible or have questions, never hesitate to ask.

Whatever you do, don’t sleep through this moment. This is that wake up call to be raised from death, just as Jesus was on that first Easter morning, and to make the best use of the very limited time God has given you here. For the Christian, this means us too.

I’m thankful the Lord has spared me so far through all these recent events so I could share this with you. I pray He’ll awaken you to respond to Him.

Stay safe. Be well. God bless you.

What God Does With Broken Things // Easter 2019

What do you do when something you own gets broken? We usually try to repair or replace, or, if all hope is lost, we recycle what we can. Things break around us all the time, and this expands beyond mere stuff. We see it in situations and systems, people and our planet, things often far too big for us to try to “fix” on our own.

That’s why it’s amazing to consider what God does with broken things, and how He has a remarkable way of working with and through them.

Broken Bread Multiplied
The Bible tells us Jesus frequently used bread as a visual aid to teach greater truths. On two occasions he used a few broken loaves of bread and some fish to feed thousands. To one crowd who wanted more of this miracle meal, Jesus told them this was about more than their growling stomachs, stating, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

Broken Bodies Healed
When people around Jesus were broken, He could simply touch them or say a word and their bodies and minds would be healed. Yet even that physical healing was pointing toward a greater spiritual healing. All this dysfunction and disrepair actually points to our broken relationship with God. But Jesus was about to repair even this by being broken Himself.

Broken Lord Restored
Shortly before being arrested, Jesus broke bread in front of His closest followers as part of a Passover meal, telling them it represented His broken body. Days later the Bread of Life Himself was broken on a cross and placed in a tomb. When Jesus stepped out of that tomb 3 days later, well, you might imagine even His closest followers had a hard time believing.

As a couple of them were walking home, Jesus caught up and walked alongside. Yet they had no idea it was Him until He did something very familiar, blessing and breaking bread in front of them. Suddenly they knew the once broken Bread of Life was now restored! And if He was restored from death to life, He can restore us too.

Broken People Renewed
It really is amazing to see God work with broken things, especially people. Even though we contribute to the mess anytime we choose not to love God or others, He continually invites us to the table, offering something more satisfying than we’ve ever known. For whoever comes to Him, He’s ready to give real life, renew our relationships and even bring us into a fully rebuilt world one day.

He sure didn’t have to take on another project, but I’m beyond thankful the Lord continues to work even on a broken mess like me. (“Under restoration,” as I like to say.) And if you haven’t yet accepted the offer, I’d like to invite you to His table to see all the amazing ways Jesus, the broken and restored Bread of Life, is able to multiply, heal, restore and renew.

Our Only Hope in Life & Death // Easter 2018

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”
-Luke 24:1–7 (ESV)

Since December, I’ve attended several funerals and memorials, being directly involved in two, and even in the presence of one friend’s passing. Many have lost loved ones in our church family and among childhood friends, and I’m aware of others going through similar times of loss, or who have in recent memory.

Death isn’t something most of us linger on unless we’re confronted with it in some way, and for good reason. We say it’s “part of life,” but it doesn’t feel right when it hits us. It’s something we all know will happen, but remains impossible to “get used to.” Even if we somehow numb ourselves or explain it away, one day it will sting our emotions again when it becomes personal, for us or someone we love. If we’re honest, death feels like an enemy, because it is.

That’s why I’m so excited for the hope celebrated at Easter. Remembering the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ gives reason to celebrate the ultimate hope, even in the face of death.

In His life, Jesus defeats death by choosing the way of life, living just as God says we should. The rest of us prefer to do things our own way, fracturing our relationships with God and others. This is the hopeless way of separation, and the ultimate separation is death.

In His death, Jesus meets death head on. He did nothing wrong. He doesn’t deserve it. But He’s willing to take what we deserve instead, to experience that ultimate separation Himself so, hopefully, we won’t have to.

In His resurrection, Jesus soundly defeats death. The enemy is conquered. It can’t keep Him down. And His return to life and restored body shows us a better life might be possible for us. We can have hope for resurrection and restoration as well.

Now Jesus invites you and me to His way of life, to a restored relationship with God, to a place where death no longer has its sting or any lasting power over us. Taking that invitation, trusting Him, changes the way we understand life and death, giving a hope that can’t be broken because Jesus, who was broken and died, is very much alive.

It’s my prayer that you come to know the hope of life in Jesus in ways you never before imagined. And if you are one of the many who has recently lost a loved one, I pray you’ll find comfort in Him as well.

Art: unsplash.com

Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go // Easter 2017

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
-Jesus, quoted in John 10:27-30

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Remembering is so important. Throughout the Bible, God constantly calls His people to remember. Remember His promises. Remember His faithfulness. Remember what He has done.

I was recently surprised to realize it’s actually been 20 years since God unmistakably called me to Himself. Ten years ago I shared that story in an Easter letter, which launched my holiday writing tradition and eventually led to the creation of this site. On this anniversary I wanted to share the story again, now slightly refreshed with a deeper understanding.

I spent days pondering these memories, through which the Lord deeply encouraged me. It’s a story that says nothing good of me, but so much about the faithfulness of God. It struck me to consider the reality that in all this time, despite my stumblings and struggles, He has never let me go.

As the Church remembers Jesus’ death and resurrection this Holy Week, I humbly submit to you the story of how God brought me from death to life in Him. Please read here: “my story, His doing.”

God’s blessings to you this Easter. †

Scripture: ESV, Art: creationswap.com

Resurrection Day 2016: No Greater Love:

“What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse
for my soul?”

“Greater love has no one than this,
that someone lay down his life
for his friends.”
-Jesus (John 15:13)

The above quote from the Book of John is to me one of the most mind blowing concepts in all of Scripture, that the God and Creator of the universe would love me enough to lay down His life for me, much less go so far as to call me a “friend.” The God who says I must be perfect as He is perfect, yet who knows exactly how much I have generally failed, and specifically failed Him. The God who says I deserve to be separated from Him for my rebellion against Him, then makes the way for me to be with Him. Mind blown every time I even begin to consider.

But the good news is this isn’t about me. It is all about Him.

Jesus didn’t simply mention this as some abstract concept with “wouldn’t that be nice” platitudes. This one who identifies himself as “the Good Shepherd” who “lays down His life for the sheep” actually did just that. The God-Man who could call down legions of angels, who could create the universe or knock over armed soldiers with just a word, and who claimed the ability to lay down His life and take it up again­—this one allowed Himself to be falsely tried, beaten, tortured and killed on a cross, all to pay for the rebellion of His people so they could know and be with Him.

This makes no rational sense to us. It makes me think about who I might take a bullet for, and why. Romans 5:6-8 considers something similar, stating, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

“While we were still sinners.” This means rebels like us who don’t love, listen to or believe Jesus. That’s who He died for. Again, it makes no rational sense, unless we look through the greater lens of ultimate love. And this type of love requires a response.

If someone really did take a bullet for you, how thankful would you be? In essence, Jesus took the ultimate “bullet” on the cross in the ultimate act of love­. He endured all that pain, but worse yet, He was for a time separated from God the Father, torn from the community He had known for eternity, so ultimately sinners didn’t have to be. Yet, unlike a mere human rescuer, Jesus returned to life 3 days later, making Him the single most important person in history to listen to because it proved all He claimed about Himself was actually true. In response to knowing all this, I can do no less than worship Jesus, do what He says and tell anyone who will listen about Him.

But there’s more good news. Not only is this not about me, it was certainly not done only for me, but for all who believe Jesus is who He says and did what He promised. As we believe and trust Jesus, He both saves us from our deserved separation from God and also helps us turn from the thoughts and behaviors that create that separation in the first place­—from our deadly rebellion into ultimate love and life with Him. This is another form of response caused by this love, a supernatural change inside us to want to follow and be more like Jesus, who we can then see as our greatest friend.

For those who know Jesus, I hope this reminder brings you to love Him that much deeper. If you don’t know Him, I encourage you to ask Jesus to make clear who He truly is so you may know this ultimate love through His ultimate sacrifice and separation, based on nothing you’ve done and everything He did. I pray you will know the mind blowing joy of being called by God a “friend.”

What wondrous love is this? The greatest love. The love of God found only in Jesus.

Resurrection Day blessings. †

Scripture quotes: ESV • hymn quote: “Wondrous Love” 1811 • art: creationswap.com

Resurrection Day 2015: How Long, O Lord? and other cries of the human heart

We recently covered a song (above – yep that's us) during a Sunday morning worship time which seems to have resonated with many in ways we did not anticipate. The question put forth by the song based on Psalm 13 is, “How long, O Lord?”

We ask such human questions of our lives and the lives of others in our confusion and weakness as we experience the broken things of this world. So did the writers of many Psalms and other Scriptures. I thought of some friends going through frightening medical concerns shortly before approaching the mic that morning. Others, of course, processed questions through their own unique lenses. Why is this happening? God, where are you? Are you there? Do you care?

We can find it a comfort, then, that the Perfect Human, the God-Man, asked a question too. Even through His pain on the cross, “...at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Mark 15:34)
   
Unlike us, however, Jesus knew a bigger and ultimate picture, and the answer to His question allows us to see ahead to something greater as well.

Jesus’ question quotes the beginning of Psalm 22, which also pointed ahead to all He was suffering in great detail. While David, the Psalm’s author, experienced this question in frustration and fear as we might, and our suffering may be truly unjust or simply unexplained, Jesus is the only one who can ask this question as the completely innocent sufferer undeserving of such horrifying abandonment. Though He never did wrong, Jesus was willing to leave the comforts of Heaven and suffer too, to hang between Earth and sky, the mediator between the perfection of God and our broken desires to persist in ways God warns against, and which can only lead to our death and separation from Him.

Jesus was forsaken in that moment to briefly experience this separation and death so we ultimately don’t have to, so our relationship with God can be renewed, along with our world, forever. His resurrection three days later shows us His power to restore all things. Through this, He calls us back to Himself and gives hope in every question we may ask if we go to Jesus, abandon our own broken desires and believe Him.

Because of the cross, the answer to a painful, “How long?,” can be, “Not forever.” Life in this world is much shorter than we think, but eternity is beyond anything we can imagine. I urge you to think seriously about who Jesus is and what He’s done, and to trust Him through every question and cry of your own heart.

Resurrection Day blessings †

Original recording by Sojourn Music...

Resurrection Day 2014: no more than HE can handle

I’ve heard this phrase more than a few times in my life: “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.” Perhaps you’ve heard it too. I think people often say this trying to be helpful when they’re at a loss for words, or as a misunderstanding of 1 Corinthians 10:13, which discusses God providing His people a way out when temptation strikes. But in the day to day, this statement simply doesn’t ring true.

I frequently find myself in prayer for those dealing with things we can’t “handle” at all. Some grieve the loss of family or friends loved for years, or those they had little time to know. Others suffer chronic illness or injury, sometimes dealing with ongoing rehab or hospitalization. Whether physical or emotional, by accident, attack or even self-inflicted, you’ve undoubtedly experienced issues of your own.

I recently suffered some 7 months of chronic back spasms during which I could hardly lie down or sleep even with treatment, leaving me nothing but to cry out to the Great Physician every night. Thankfully, He did choose to heal in this instance. Even as I wrote this, I developed a strange affliction reminding me it’s only by God’s grace I can even lift my head. No more than I could handle? I think not. Yet I’ve clearly experienced God using such things to draw me closer to Himself and make me more empathetic toward others, and for both I am grateful.

While we can’t anticipate circumstances, it seems ironic that many of us act like we should be excluded from trouble in it’s various forms. We see it all around us. Everyone faces hardship eventually. However, what was truly unexpected was that God Himself also suffered in this world.

During those months of chronic pain, it occurred to me that Jesus experienced pain I can’t even imagine. Betrayed by friends, whipped and beaten, nailed to a wooden cross to die alone. This didn’t minimize my suffering, it helped me see that God relates to suffering on many levels. Hebrews 4:15 states, “For we do not have a high priest (Jesus) who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” So Jesus relates to temptation as well, but He was the only one who could handle it without sin, which is any thought, word or deed God hates, or avoiding what He loves as stated in Scripture. Jesus handled this life perfectly as none of us can.

Not only that, but Jesus also handled death itself once and for all. When I die I won’t be able to bring myself back to life. Yet following the brutality of the cross which ended in His death and burial, Jesus returned to life. And because of that, only He has the power to raise any of us to life again.

The Bible describes us as “dead in our sin,” totally unable to help ourselves. We’ve all sinned, falling short of God’s glory, and for this we earn death. (Romans 3:23 & 6:23) But for those who trust Jesus, asking His forgiveness and help not to sin, Romans 8:10-11 says something very different, “...if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Only God can handle our ultimate need, the need to know Jesus and be made alive in Him.

I can’t even heal myself. I definitely couldn’t pardon my rebellion against God, and I sure can’t cheat death. But while we experience such things and many more which we can’t handle, God proves that He absolutely can. This is just some of the amazing beauty of knowing Jesus, and I pray He makes this reality clear to you and to me: God will never give us more than He can handle. Trust Him.

Resurrection Day blessings †

Resurrection Day 2013

an innocent Man slain

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. -Luke 23:44-49 (ESV)

an occupied tomb emptied 

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
-Luke 24:1-12 (ESV) 

a Perfect Savior resurrected

 
As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
-Luke 24:36-48a (ESV) 

Through His perfect life, death and resurrection

God calls us to trust and believe in Him

who makes His enemies His friends,

the Living King, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Resurrection Day Blessings

Art: creationswap.com • ©2013 miniministry.com

The Glory of God in the Life & Death of a Dove: Resurrection Day 2012

“And I say, ‘Oh, that I had
wings like a dove!
I would fly away
and be at rest...’”  -Psalm 55:6 (ESV)

We recently lost something very precious to us, a curious and cuddly little, albino dove purchased 12 years ago named Rainbow. We are very grateful to God for the gift of our time with her, and the amazing ways He has displayed things about Himself through her.

Most people’s first question upon seeing this bird was, “Why would you name a white dove ‘Rainbow’?” To that we answer two things: White is composed of the whole color spectrum, and her name referenced Noah’s release of a dove to help find land after a destructive flood before God put a rainbow in the sky, a reminder in part of His promise of a coming restoration. (Genesis 8:1-9:17)

Doves are spoken of throughout Scripture, with perhaps most notable mention as Jesus comes out of the water following His baptism and the Holy Spirit descends on Him “like a dove.” (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32) There was no getting away from the remarkable visual symbolism this small creature gave.

When we brought Rainbow home, she was an untamed and frightened baby bird. She lived at my husband's house when we were still dating, and when visiting I would get her out and just hold her, gently but firmly, knowing full well if I let go she would fly off.

One day I had been holding her on my stomach for a while when something changed. This is difficult to describe well, but I felt her tension suddenly leave. She relaxed entirely. I slowly lifted my hands away and she didn’t move. She finally trusted me. We had bonded.

This event constantly reminds me of the moment (actually, moments) when a person stops fighting, struggling and running, and finally trusts God. This has happened in my own life, when I finally believed in Jesus as Savior, and times since when I’ve had to really trust Him in my own circumstances that seem so unsettling. He shows me the One who is holding me really has my best interest at heart and wants me to know Him. I can relax because He is Good no matter how things feel.

I consider that truth now as I type through tears. We dearly loved Rainbow. She was a constant in our relationship, a gentle creature who often came when called or cooed on demand. We knew she was ill for about 7 months, and through much prayer saw many indicators in that time that we gave her the best possible care. We are grateful her worst suffering was brief. Yet this whole event reminds me that all creation groans in this currently broken and damaged world, waiting for a restoration that only Jesus, the Creator, can bring. (Romans 8:18-25)

Yes, Jesus lived perfectly, died and came to life again so those who believe in Him can be forgiven of their struggle against Him and live forever with Him. But He also will return to bring restoration to this planet, creating a New Heavens and Earth where death is banished and this sort of thing, our sort of pain, will never happen again. (2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1)

You may ask if we will see this bird again in the New Earth. I honestly don’t know. The Bible doesn’t give specific answers on the subject. If that is part of the restoration, it will be an exciting gift for any who lost a beloved animal. But far more exciting is the hope of seeing Jesus Himself, being resurrected because of His resurrection, knowing true Joy with Him and never having to suffer such loss or pain again, as He will wipe away every tear. (Revelation 7:17; 21:4)

I do hope God will use these stories of our dove to also show you something about Himself perhaps you never saw before, or to remind you of truths you’ve heard. I pray He draws you close to Himself in whatever you’re going through, happy or sad, that He shows you the way out of struggling against Him so you find rest with Him, asking His forgiveness, accepting His help and believing in Jesus, the Resurrected One who is making all things new.

“The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” 

-1 Corinthians 15:26 (ESV) 

Resurrection Day blessings †  (:}>

Resurrection Day 2011: WHY? do bad things happen to good people?

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?”

The words above, taken from Psalm 22, are words of lament, concern and fear. This Psalm, as many, asks the question, “Why?” And for us, our “why” question often becomes, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

We all know something’s wrong with the world, and especially with the way we often treat each other. At the simplest level we feel this truth every time we hurt somebody or somebody hurts us. So it’s rather amazing that we still try to qualify people as “good.”

Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned (chosen our own way rather than God’s) and fall short of the glory of God.” And Proverbs 20:9 asks, “Who can say, ‘I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin’?”

The truth is, none of us have or even can. There are no good people. Except, that is, for one.

Ironically, horrible things happening to this good Person are exactly what Christians consider at Good Friday each year. Jesus Christ, the only Man who never sinned, willingly took on His people’s sin as He died. The only good Person to ever live was crucified and, on the cross forsaken by God so His people wouldn’t be, He quoted the first part of that Psalm above.

Yet, amazingly, the best possible thing happening to bad people is a great part of the promise of Resurrection Day. Consider this:

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God...” -1 Peter 3:18

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” -2 Corinthians 5:21

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” -Romans 5:6-9

Jesus died, the good for the bad. But He didn’t stay in the grave. He returned to life 3 days later, ready to renew all who truly believe in Him and, with His help, trust Jesus over everything else. He answers Psalm 22 by doing the saving. Only He gives hope for new life, and for renewed relationships with Him, with each other and even with our world, as He says in Revelation, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

So perhaps the answer to that earlier question can be summed up in a quote from R.C. Sproul, Jr., “Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once, and He volunteered.”

Praying you see the beauty of Jesus in His salvation, hope and restoration. †

Scripture quotes from ESV
art @ creationswap.com

Resurrection Day 2010: a King's story

This is the text version of a "card" of sorts, my creation for Resurrection Day this year. Check it out in full color PDF form with graphics from creativemyk.com through the title link below (and if you want a printed copy, just ask):

"A King's Story"

“In the beginning...”

Seems like a fine place to begin a story.

So what happened?

Well, for a start, “God created.”

He created everything you see around you.

The heavens, Earth, plants, animals. And people.

And He called it “good.”

And it was. The people had everything.

Satisfying work, tame animals, abundant food, perfect relationships, direct access to God.

    “It was very good.”

But they wanted more.

One day, “very good” suddenly wasn’t good enough. The people did the one thing God said not to. And when they understood they did something wrong, something against Him, they ran. They hid from God.

And God sought them out.

Their actions had direct and dire consequences. They hurt each other, and they hurt God. They were cursed. Death was new. Yet He sought them to cover them, to give them some protection from what was to come.

    And, to make a Promise.

        Someone was going to restore all this.

Generations passed. Languages developed. Nations formed. And people still wanted their way instead of God’s.

Eventually God chose one nation in particular to show Himself to the rest of the world. He gave them specific things to do so all the nations could see Him through them. And time and time again, wanting their way like everyone else, these people failed.

But God kept restating it.

The Promise was made.

“For to us a child is born...

and the government shall be upon his shoulder...”            

-Isaiah 9:6

And through these people

a King was born.

“For unto you is born this day

... a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” -Luke 2:11

His Name Is Jesus.

He was there in the beginning, the Creator through whom all things exist (John 1:1-5). He came to His creation as an infant and grew to be a Man. He was tempted in all ways as we are, but always lived God’s way (Hebrews 4:15). He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, the only way to God (John 14:6). He was the Promised One who was in all things innocent, in all of life perfect, and in all ways God.

And they tortured Him & nailed Him to a cross.

“And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour... And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’” -Mark 15:33, 37-39

Those were the darkest hours the Earth has ever seen.

Jesus died.

But this King’s story doesn’t end...

For three days, His tomb stood silent.
   And then, the impossible happened.

As some women were going to visit the tomb, an angel surprised them, saying, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” -Matthew 28:5-6

“As (His disciples) were talking ... Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you!’ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet (the nail scars).” -Luke 24:36-40

Jesus is alive!

The Creator took the punishment for His creatures’ rebellion against Him. He had conquered death and the grave. To the people God called His own, He made a way for their relationship to be right again. He did everything they could not. He truly was the Way. He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25). 

The Promise is fulfilled.

And as God reveals Himself through His people today

    the Creator prepares to create again

        a new Kingdom in a renewed Earth.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” -Revelation 21:1-5

The King tells His story...

    As a couple of men went walking, “Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” He asked what they were discussing and they said, “‘Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.’
    “And he said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” -Luke 24:15-27

   

    And to His disciples, Jesus said, “‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.’” -Luke 24:44-47

What’s Your Part in the Story?

Everyone who’s ever lived has had a part in the King’s story. All of the Bible and all of history are God’s story, and all creation is waiting for the restoration to come.

Jesus came to restore His people and bring them back to Him. God calls each of us to turn from our own way and to Him, trusting Jesus as the Restorer who died to take the punishment of all who believe in Him, bringing them eternal life in a renewed Earth and Heavens with Him forever.

If you know Jesus as Lord, praise Him for what He has done, is doing, and will do for eternity in making our relationships, our work and our world right again.

If you don’t know Him, ask Jesus to show Himself to you for who He really is. Trust Him. Believe in Him as Lord, Savior and God. And then look forward to His future.

The Story of
Jesus Christ
Creator,
Redeemer,
Restorer,
Promised
King of Kings.

Resurrection
Day Blessings

(All Scripture quoted from the English Standard Version.)

a crust or a Kingdom?

"Jesus said to him, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.' But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." -Matthew 19:21 (NKJV)

During our 2 days in Chicago at Moody's Founders Week (see previous post for details), we had some down time and got to wander around the city. While one of those was just a dinner time walk to Ed Debevic's so I could throw a roll at the waiter, another was time in a shopping district at a very nice Borders and a very scary American Girl store. ((shudder))

Personally, I would have preferred to sit in on more sessions at Moody, but I stayed with the group for the most part. Eventually I decided to go back and catch a late session. The group was going for pizza anyway, and it's always best for me to take care of myself when it comes to food. (Cranky digestive system.) So I marched the several blocks back only to find the session was full and they didn't allow standing room.

Drat. Separated from my group in downtown Chicago with nothing to do for a few hours.

I made a call and decided to head back to where they were. Maybe I couldn't eat the stuff, but I didn't mind the company or the exercise to get there. "There" happened to be Giordano's Restaurant and Pizzeria, a finer Italian establishment.

As I made my turn onto Rush Street and was just about to enter the restaurant, a man walked up to me and asked if I had any spare change. While it is my policy to never stand on the sidewalk with an open wallet or encourage pan handling, I could honestly say I did not. However, trying to practice the love of Christ, I told the guy I was meeting a group and if he came in we'd feed him.

You could see his wheels turning. Was I serious?

"You'll feed me?" he asked.

"Yeah, come on," said I.

But no, no. He said he didn't want to interrupt. (Now the guy just stopped me on the sidewalk to ask for change. Was that not an interruption?) But I insisted I was serious, and told him to come in. So he came inside.

I told him to wait by the front door and I'd look for my group, who of course were clear at the back. I didn't know if he'd hang around, but I found him again, asked his name and said, "Come with me." He did, and I introduced him to the group as we got him a chair.

He nearly immediately launched into a story of how he recently lost his job as a forklift operator and was on hard times. But as soon as the youth pastor and I began discussing food, he got nervous again and said he didn't want to intrude (again). This time nothing we said would get him to stay. All we had on the table at this point was one small piece of bread which we gave him to take with. He shook my hand to thank me and walked out.

And that was that. We went on with a nice meal, and pizza left over. I managed a bowl of clam chowder (PTL, happy tummy) and gratefully enjoyed that. The leftover pizza went to a bus driver, who was ecstatic for the gift.

I later considered just what our friend at Giordano's gave up.

We were offering him a full meal, for free, and given the chance would have extended him an invitation into the Kingdom of God. Instead, he settled for a crust of bread and a handshake. He could have left satisfied physically and spiritually, dinner in his stomach and an heir of the One who owns everything. Instead, he walked out with nothing but a morsel to continue his brief life on Earth a mere street beggar.

While the harsh reality breaks my heart, it also makes me think. I think of all the times I see people so quickly willing to settle. I know I've done it myself. We settle for the immediate, for the here and now, for the thing we think will satisfy in the moment or the emotion we won't let go while completely ignoring an eternity to come. We settle for the tiny, insignificant things we think this world has to offer instead of the fullness of God's glory and the joy of knowing Him.

So these are my questions to you... (And don't stop reading here, Christian. This is for you too.)

Are you going to settle for a "crust of bread" today, that little thing that satisfies some perceived, immediate desire without any further commitment? Or are you ready to be full and rich in joy, completely satisfied by God Himself?

Certainly if you don't know Him, or have doubts to that end, I ask you to consider who He is and what He's done. Jesus died for you, for every wrong you ever did, and rose again so you can be an heir of God and spend eternity with Him, if you're willing to accept. He offers you infinitely more than all the little things this world has to offer combined. He's offering you Himself. Think about it.

If you do know Him, or think you do, then think about the statement above. Read it again. Remember what He did for you. Think about it. Really think! The God of the universe died for you and wants you to want Him with every fiber of your being. Do you? Or are you just willing to settle? Are you already an heir but still living as a beggar? Have you heard it all before and think, "That's great. I get to go to Heaven. Now, God, make me happy with Your stuff."? (No, you won't think those exact words. But you'll mean them.) Or are you ready to truly seek Him, trust Him, love Him, thank Him and give up everything else just to have Him?

So, what will it be? A crust or a Kingdom? Don't walk away begging for a morsel and miss out on the satisfaction of more than a meal. Wait and realize what God really has to offer—Himself. And He is everything.

"...the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." -Matthew 13:44-45 (NKJV)

(This story was also shared for Resurrection Day 2009.)