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!

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 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 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.)

Resurrection Day '08: Behold, the Lamb

One card I sent out for Resurrection Day this year states that God cares about your life down to the last detail. The literal translation of the paraphrased James passage quoted on back states, "...the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." Both are so true. I've seen in my life and the lives of friends time and again how God shows His compassion, and how even minor events which seemed completely unrelated have tied together in the most extraordinary ways, showing how God was working in them all along.

Nowhere do we see God's mercy and compassion more than in the event we celebrate this time of year—Jesus' death and resurrection. It may not sound merciful or compassionate at first glance. I mean, a horrific death is involved. But what is Resurrection Day about but just that—resurrection and life? And not just Jesus' life, but the life we can have eternally through Him.

I truly wish Resurrection Day was always set to coincide with the Jewish Passover. The reasons for the timing, and even the name, of the holiday most call "Easter" are rather complicated, so I'll spare you that history lesson. But knowing the story of Passover gives this celebration even more meaning.

When the Jewish people were enslaved to the Egyptians and not allowed to leave, God did many things to get the attention of Egypt, but they refused to yield. His final message was to be the death of every first born male in any family that didn't follow a very detailed prescription.

The Israelites were to sacrifice a spotless male lamb at a specific time. They were to apply the blood to the door frame of the house and break none of the lamb's bones. Then the first born in that household would be spared as the lamb died in their place. Death would "pass over" that house.

Did you catch all that?

• A male lamb — Jesus is "the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29)

• With no defect — "...He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us..." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

• The bones were not to be broken — In Roman crucifixion, if a victim did not die in a certain period, their legs were broken to speed the process, as they could no longer push up to take a breath. Because Jesus was already dead, his legs remained unbroken. (John 19:33... That one always gets me.)

• The lamb had to die and it's blood had to be applied — Just as we must trust in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. If we believe Christ died in our place for our sin, God's judgment of sin passes over us. (Romans 3:23-26)

• Oh, and the "specific time?" Jesus was crucified during Passover and died about the ninth hour. That's 3 p.m., the time of the evening sacrifice. Pretty specific. (Mark 15:34-37)

Even the Passover Seder dinner celebrated by the Jews to this day is laden with references to Jesus, the Messiah.

I love the fact that all this is just one of the many parallels and predictions pointing toward Jesus. He fulfilled over 300 Biblical prophecies, and the odds of one person doing so have been calculated to some astronomical multi-trillions number I can't begin to type.

In all this, we see His mercy and compassion, and we remember that He didn't forget the most important detail—His triumph over death.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me."
-Matthew 28:5-10

Details really are important to God. And every detail of your life really does matter to Him. After all, He did all this for you if you truly believe.

Resurrection Day blessings! :)