On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” (John 20:19-25 ESV).
The resurrection is the most important event in the Christian faith. It is a transforming event. There are four areas of transformation that we will look at in the next few mornings. The first of these is the transformation from unbelief to belief. This is Thomas’ story. He was not with the others after the crucifixion and resurrection. Perhaps he just needed time to be alone, to think, to sort things out. Or, maybe he needed to be alone, just to forget, to forget it all and let his mind think on more pleasant thoughts. Whatever the reason, because he wasn’t with the other believers, he missed out on a real blessing and a great opportunity to have his faith strengthened and renewed. Like most people in that day he had two names. “Thomas" was his Aramaic name, and “didymus” was his Greek name. They both mean twin. We don’t know whether Thomas had a physical twin, but there are many in the Church today who are his spiritual twins. Many have not learned the lesson from Thomas and they choose like Thomas to be alone to work things out on the own rather than meeting with other believers and having their faith strengthened and renewed. Because he wasn’t there he had to endure yet one more week of doubts, fear, unbelief and suffering. The next week Thomas returned to the others. There he met the risen Lord. When Thomas saw Jesus his unbelief was turned into belief and he fell to his knees and cried, “My Lord and My God."
There is something about encountering a man raised from the dead. There is something about standing face to face with the risen Lord that causes a man to understand transformation from unbelief to belief. In the 1930’s a British lawyer named Frank Morrison set out to prove that the resurrection was a fable. As a lawyer he felt he was well qualified to weigh the evidence and come up with a verdict. However, as he researched he did not find things as he expected. The book is called “Who Moved the Stone?” His conclusion was that the resurrection overwhelming was supported by fact. He considered the fact that Jesus lived, the prophecies that were fulfilled in His birth and life, and the transformation of history afterward, and all of it transformed him from unbelief to belief. The resurrection of Jesus is powerful. It transformed Thomas and the other disciples. It transformed Frank Morrison. It has transformed me and millions of others. Has it transformed your life? Read the end of Thomas’ story and make it yours today!
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:26-29 ESV).
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Sunday's Coming - Part 1
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).
In 1948 Harry S. Truman ran for re-election as the 33rd President of the United States. It was Truman’s first time to run for president. He became president when FDR died 83 days into his 4th term. Truman was running against Thomas Dewey and every public opinion poll predicted that Dewey would win by a landslide. Newsweek Magazine polled fifty top political experts throughout the country and they gave Dewey 366 electoral votes, more than 100 that he needed to win! The Ft. Lauderdale Daily News flatly announced that Dewey would get at least 62% of the vote. Life Magazine featured a full-page picture of Dewey with the caption, "The New President Travels by Ferryboat over the Broad Waters of San Francisco Bay.” The Kiplinger letter, already on the desks of leading businessmen, described the economic policies of the new Dewey administration. And, the Manchester Guardian’s final election report was titled, “Harry S. Truman – A Study of a Failure." The Chicago Tribune had already published as their headline, “Dewey Defeats Truman.” On election night while Dewey was in New York working on the final draft of his acceptance speech, Harry Truman was in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, taking a Turkish bath, eating a ham sandwich and drinking a glass of milk, watching and listening to the election returns. He later said, “At 6 O’clock I was defeated, I was defeated at 10 O’clock, at midnight I heard the report that I was 1,200,000 ahead but was still undoubtedly beaten.” Truman went to bed and was awakened at 4 AM by a secret service man who told him he was ahead by over 2,000,000, but the commentator continued to say he couldn’t see how Truman could be elected. Despite all the commentators, newspapers and all the polls that said he didn’t even have the remotest chance of winning, Harry S. Truman was still the elected choice of the people as their president. What looked like a sure defeat turned into a great victory.
The same was true of Christ’s victory at Calvary. When many viewed what transpired on that “Not So" Good Friday, 2,000 years ago, while Jesus hung on the cross and his opponents were planning their victory party, writing the headlines for the Jerusalem newspaper, "Jesus Defeated at Calvary" – Sunday was coming!
What on Friday looked to be a terrible defeat turned out to be the greatest victory of all time. The resurrection was the moment the world had been waiting for, and it was the thing that the world so desperately needed. The resurrection is why Jesus came to the earth and it is because of His resurrection that we who have faith in Him can look forward to His Second Coming. The resurrection is the most powerful event in all of human history. It has the power to transform our lives. Jesus was not resurrected from the dead for us to remain the same, for our lives to go on as usual. He came, He died, and He rose from the dead to transform us! In the next few mornings of this Easter Week, we’ll see a few of those ways He can transform us. Today, rejoice that the resurrection is a past event, already accomplished on our behalf. He is risen! No matter how many people tell you it’s just Friday, Sunday’s Coming!
In 1948 Harry S. Truman ran for re-election as the 33rd President of the United States. It was Truman’s first time to run for president. He became president when FDR died 83 days into his 4th term. Truman was running against Thomas Dewey and every public opinion poll predicted that Dewey would win by a landslide. Newsweek Magazine polled fifty top political experts throughout the country and they gave Dewey 366 electoral votes, more than 100 that he needed to win! The Ft. Lauderdale Daily News flatly announced that Dewey would get at least 62% of the vote. Life Magazine featured a full-page picture of Dewey with the caption, "The New President Travels by Ferryboat over the Broad Waters of San Francisco Bay.” The Kiplinger letter, already on the desks of leading businessmen, described the economic policies of the new Dewey administration. And, the Manchester Guardian’s final election report was titled, “Harry S. Truman – A Study of a Failure." The Chicago Tribune had already published as their headline, “Dewey Defeats Truman.” On election night while Dewey was in New York working on the final draft of his acceptance speech, Harry Truman was in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, taking a Turkish bath, eating a ham sandwich and drinking a glass of milk, watching and listening to the election returns. He later said, “At 6 O’clock I was defeated, I was defeated at 10 O’clock, at midnight I heard the report that I was 1,200,000 ahead but was still undoubtedly beaten.” Truman went to bed and was awakened at 4 AM by a secret service man who told him he was ahead by over 2,000,000, but the commentator continued to say he couldn’t see how Truman could be elected. Despite all the commentators, newspapers and all the polls that said he didn’t even have the remotest chance of winning, Harry S. Truman was still the elected choice of the people as their president. What looked like a sure defeat turned into a great victory.
The same was true of Christ’s victory at Calvary. When many viewed what transpired on that “Not So" Good Friday, 2,000 years ago, while Jesus hung on the cross and his opponents were planning their victory party, writing the headlines for the Jerusalem newspaper, "Jesus Defeated at Calvary" – Sunday was coming!
What on Friday looked to be a terrible defeat turned out to be the greatest victory of all time. The resurrection was the moment the world had been waiting for, and it was the thing that the world so desperately needed. The resurrection is why Jesus came to the earth and it is because of His resurrection that we who have faith in Him can look forward to His Second Coming. The resurrection is the most powerful event in all of human history. It has the power to transform our lives. Jesus was not resurrected from the dead for us to remain the same, for our lives to go on as usual. He came, He died, and He rose from the dead to transform us! In the next few mornings of this Easter Week, we’ll see a few of those ways He can transform us. Today, rejoice that the resurrection is a past event, already accomplished on our behalf. He is risen! No matter how many people tell you it’s just Friday, Sunday’s Coming!
Monday, April 2, 2012
And Jesus Wept
Then Jesus took his disciples up on the mountain and gathered them around Him. And He taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
Blessed are the meek,
Blessed are the merciful,
Blessed are you who thirst for justice,
Blessed are you who are persecuted,
Blessed are the peacemakers…
And Simon Peter said, "Do we have to write this stuff down?"
And Philip said, "Will this be on the test?"
And John said, "I'm sorry. Would you mind repeating that?"
And Andrew said, "John the Baptist's disciples don't have to learn this stuff!"
And Matthew said, "Huh?"
And Judas said, "What does this have to do with real life?"
Then, one of the Pharisees, and expert in the law said, "I don't see any of this in your syllabus. Do you have a lesson plan? Is there a summary? Where is the student guide? Will there be any follow-up assignments? How will this affect the bell curve?"
And Thomas, who had missed the sermon, came to Jesus privately and said, "Did we do anything important yesterday?" And Jesus wept.
When I read this little story, which has more basis in truth than we might imagine, I thought how easy it is to find ourselves unfocused on the primary call in our lives. We are not preparing for some great eternal test. We are not called to good works, but grace. And, that grace is rooted in the love of God toward all of us. He only asks that we love Him in return. Hear the words of Jesus today:
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:29-39 ESV).
When Jesus thinks of your response to His love this morning, is He weeping or rejoicing? Have you lost your love for Him somewhere in the difficulty of the journey? Has your passion for being in His presence cooled because of the challenges you face? Let go of your life and watch the love and passion come flooding back to you! Find your life today!
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
Blessed are the meek,
Blessed are the merciful,
Blessed are you who thirst for justice,
Blessed are you who are persecuted,
Blessed are the peacemakers…
And Simon Peter said, "Do we have to write this stuff down?"
And Philip said, "Will this be on the test?"
And John said, "I'm sorry. Would you mind repeating that?"
And Andrew said, "John the Baptist's disciples don't have to learn this stuff!"
And Matthew said, "Huh?"
And Judas said, "What does this have to do with real life?"
Then, one of the Pharisees, and expert in the law said, "I don't see any of this in your syllabus. Do you have a lesson plan? Is there a summary? Where is the student guide? Will there be any follow-up assignments? How will this affect the bell curve?"
And Thomas, who had missed the sermon, came to Jesus privately and said, "Did we do anything important yesterday?" And Jesus wept.
When I read this little story, which has more basis in truth than we might imagine, I thought how easy it is to find ourselves unfocused on the primary call in our lives. We are not preparing for some great eternal test. We are not called to good works, but grace. And, that grace is rooted in the love of God toward all of us. He only asks that we love Him in return. Hear the words of Jesus today:
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:29-39 ESV).
When Jesus thinks of your response to His love this morning, is He weeping or rejoicing? Have you lost your love for Him somewhere in the difficulty of the journey? Has your passion for being in His presence cooled because of the challenges you face? Let go of your life and watch the love and passion come flooding back to you! Find your life today!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
How Much Do They Cost?
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:4-5 ESV).
Well, today is my middle son, David’s! David will be thirty-three. It hardly seems possible that it has been that long! For those of you who know me personally, you also know that each of the boys’ birthdays give me an excuse to say something about the wonder of family. Today is no exception!
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 and came up with $160,140! That doesn't even touch college tuition. Whether that number is too high or too low in your experience, it does sound a little scary to those without children! Let me be very quick to say that $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into $8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That's a mere $24.44 a Day! Just over a dollar an hour! The real key is (and here comes the salesman in me) in the value you receive. In sales, we are taught to always talk about features, benefits, and impacts of the purchase, not the price. So, what do you get for your $160,140.00. Here’s a list I saw recently in a short article sent to me by a friend:
Naming rights. First, middle, and last! Glimpses of God every day. Giggles under the covers every night. More love than your heart can hold. Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs. Endless wonders over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies. A hand to hold usually covered with jam. A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sandcastles, and skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain. Someone to laugh yourself silly with no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day. You get to finger-paint, carve pumpkins, play hide-and-seek, catch lightning bugs, and never stop believing in Santa Claus. - You have an excuse to keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, watching Saturday morning cartoons, going to Disney movies, and wishing on stars. You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnet and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day. You get to be a hero just for retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof, taking the training wheels off the bike, removing a splinter, filling the wading pool, coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless. You get a front row seat to history, to witness the first step, first word, first bra, first date, and first time behind the wheel. You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there with God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost.
I certainly have received that and much, much more from my children! They have truly been arrows in my quiver. They have made me so wonderfully glad! Though we have faced “challenging” times with them all, I am so blessed by each of them! Aren’t you? Perhaps its time to tell them so today! Make an extra effort to affirm and love them today.
Well, today is my middle son, David’s! David will be thirty-three. It hardly seems possible that it has been that long! For those of you who know me personally, you also know that each of the boys’ birthdays give me an excuse to say something about the wonder of family. Today is no exception!
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 and came up with $160,140! That doesn't even touch college tuition. Whether that number is too high or too low in your experience, it does sound a little scary to those without children! Let me be very quick to say that $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into $8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That's a mere $24.44 a Day! Just over a dollar an hour! The real key is (and here comes the salesman in me) in the value you receive. In sales, we are taught to always talk about features, benefits, and impacts of the purchase, not the price. So, what do you get for your $160,140.00. Here’s a list I saw recently in a short article sent to me by a friend:
Naming rights. First, middle, and last! Glimpses of God every day. Giggles under the covers every night. More love than your heart can hold. Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs. Endless wonders over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies. A hand to hold usually covered with jam. A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sandcastles, and skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain. Someone to laugh yourself silly with no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day. You get to finger-paint, carve pumpkins, play hide-and-seek, catch lightning bugs, and never stop believing in Santa Claus. - You have an excuse to keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, watching Saturday morning cartoons, going to Disney movies, and wishing on stars. You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnet and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day. You get to be a hero just for retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof, taking the training wheels off the bike, removing a splinter, filling the wading pool, coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless. You get a front row seat to history, to witness the first step, first word, first bra, first date, and first time behind the wheel. You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there with God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost.
I certainly have received that and much, much more from my children! They have truly been arrows in my quiver. They have made me so wonderfully glad! Though we have faced “challenging” times with them all, I am so blessed by each of them! Aren’t you? Perhaps its time to tell them so today! Make an extra effort to affirm and love them today.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Resurrection Power
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “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 28:1-6 ESV).
Today is Palm Sunday. It begins our journey toward Easter. My friend Kent Marrs sent me the following story some time ago and it made me think about the incredible power of the resurrection. I couldn’t resist sending it along to you with my thoughts:
George went on a vacation to the Middle East with most of his family including his mother-in-law. During their vacation and while they were visiting Jerusalem, George's mother-in-law dies. With the death certificate in hand, George went to the American Consulate Office to make arrangements to send the body back to the States for proper burial. The Consul, after hearing of the death of the mother-in-law, told George that the sending of a body back to the States for burial is very, very expensive. It could cost as much as $5,000.00. The Consul continues, in most cases, the person responsible for the remains normally decides to bury the body here. This would only cost $150.00. George thinks for some time and answers, "I don't care how must it will cost to send the body back; that's what I want to do." The Consul, after hearing this, says, "You must have loved your mother-in-law very much considering the difference in price." "No, it's not that," says George. "You see, I know of a case many years ago of a person that was buried here in Jerusalem. On the third day he arose from the dead! I just can't take that chance!
I know it is a humorous story, but it represents even more than just humor. Think about the underlying truth presented here. I find it incredible that someone wrote this as a joke and never realized that they were validating the truth of Scripture at the same time. Though I don’t know the original author, I doubt that they intended to cause anyone to think of the resurrection of Christ when they used the reference in this joke. But, it does. For me it was another example of the word of God will not return void. So, I present it to you this morning in our reading.
Think of the power that raised Jesus from the dead. Now think of the challenges that you face in your life. Do you have challenges? Are there some emotional difficulties that you are facing today? Loneliness, grief, or sorrow? Is there some relational difficulty that you are going through? Then turn to the power of God as seen in the resurrection. He is working all things to His glory and your good! Trust in Him for He is trustworthy!
Today is Palm Sunday. It begins our journey toward Easter. My friend Kent Marrs sent me the following story some time ago and it made me think about the incredible power of the resurrection. I couldn’t resist sending it along to you with my thoughts:
George went on a vacation to the Middle East with most of his family including his mother-in-law. During their vacation and while they were visiting Jerusalem, George's mother-in-law dies. With the death certificate in hand, George went to the American Consulate Office to make arrangements to send the body back to the States for proper burial. The Consul, after hearing of the death of the mother-in-law, told George that the sending of a body back to the States for burial is very, very expensive. It could cost as much as $5,000.00. The Consul continues, in most cases, the person responsible for the remains normally decides to bury the body here. This would only cost $150.00. George thinks for some time and answers, "I don't care how must it will cost to send the body back; that's what I want to do." The Consul, after hearing this, says, "You must have loved your mother-in-law very much considering the difference in price." "No, it's not that," says George. "You see, I know of a case many years ago of a person that was buried here in Jerusalem. On the third day he arose from the dead! I just can't take that chance!
I know it is a humorous story, but it represents even more than just humor. Think about the underlying truth presented here. I find it incredible that someone wrote this as a joke and never realized that they were validating the truth of Scripture at the same time. Though I don’t know the original author, I doubt that they intended to cause anyone to think of the resurrection of Christ when they used the reference in this joke. But, it does. For me it was another example of the word of God will not return void. So, I present it to you this morning in our reading.
Think of the power that raised Jesus from the dead. Now think of the challenges that you face in your life. Do you have challenges? Are there some emotional difficulties that you are facing today? Loneliness, grief, or sorrow? Is there some relational difficulty that you are going through? Then turn to the power of God as seen in the resurrection. He is working all things to His glory and your good! Trust in Him for He is trustworthy!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Holding on to One Another
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:6-18 ESV).
When Paul wrote today’s reading he was awaiting his death in Rome. You can hear the deep emotion in each of the words he writes. He had been abandoned by some of his "friends” and left alone. There is no greater loneliness than that! However, Paul knew that the Lord had not abandoned him, and he also knew he had others to whom he might call on for companionship and encouragement. Friendship is rooted in that kind of relationship. C. Raymond Beran writes the following definition:
Friends are people with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can be naked with them. They ask you to put on nothing, only to be what you are. They do not want you to be better or worse. When you are with them, you feel as a prisoner feels who has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on your guard. You can say what you think, as long as it is genuinely you. Friends understand those contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you. With them you breathe freely. You can avow your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, your meannesses and absurdities, and in opening them up to friends, they are lost, dissolved on the white ocean of their loyalty. They understand. You do not have to be careful. You can abuse them, neglect them, and tolerate them. Best of all, you can keep still with them. It makes no matter. They like you. They are like fire that purges to the bone. They understand. You can weep with them, sing with them, laugh with them, and pray with them. Through it all, and underneath, they see, know, and love you. A friend? What is a friend? Just one, I repeat, with whom you dare to be yourself.
On one occasion, Peppermint Patty said to Marcie: “I’d like to read this book, Marcie, but I’m kind of afraid. I had a grandfather who didn’t think much of reading.” She continued by saying, “He always said that if you read too many books, your head would fall off.” Marcie responds, “You start the first chapter, and I’ll hold onto your head!” Friends hold on to friends and let them hold on to them so that they may all face the future with the assurance that comes from true companionship. Know anyone you need to hold on to today?
When Paul wrote today’s reading he was awaiting his death in Rome. You can hear the deep emotion in each of the words he writes. He had been abandoned by some of his "friends” and left alone. There is no greater loneliness than that! However, Paul knew that the Lord had not abandoned him, and he also knew he had others to whom he might call on for companionship and encouragement. Friendship is rooted in that kind of relationship. C. Raymond Beran writes the following definition:
Friends are people with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can be naked with them. They ask you to put on nothing, only to be what you are. They do not want you to be better or worse. When you are with them, you feel as a prisoner feels who has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on your guard. You can say what you think, as long as it is genuinely you. Friends understand those contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you. With them you breathe freely. You can avow your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, your meannesses and absurdities, and in opening them up to friends, they are lost, dissolved on the white ocean of their loyalty. They understand. You do not have to be careful. You can abuse them, neglect them, and tolerate them. Best of all, you can keep still with them. It makes no matter. They like you. They are like fire that purges to the bone. They understand. You can weep with them, sing with them, laugh with them, and pray with them. Through it all, and underneath, they see, know, and love you. A friend? What is a friend? Just one, I repeat, with whom you dare to be yourself.
On one occasion, Peppermint Patty said to Marcie: “I’d like to read this book, Marcie, but I’m kind of afraid. I had a grandfather who didn’t think much of reading.” She continued by saying, “He always said that if you read too many books, your head would fall off.” Marcie responds, “You start the first chapter, and I’ll hold onto your head!” Friends hold on to friends and let them hold on to them so that they may all face the future with the assurance that comes from true companionship. Know anyone you need to hold on to today?
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Ugly Folds
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:17-19 ESV).
Have you ever accidentally closed your Bible and creased a page? I’m not talking about a dog-eared corner, but an ugly fold down the middle of the page. No matter how hard you try to get the creased pressed out, it always seems to jump off the page as a reminder of your carelessness in closing the book. Most folks probably wouldn’t be bothered by it nearly as much as I, but for a type A personality like me; it is something I really don’t like!
As I began to think about those ugly folds, I also thought of others in my life. Sins, either those I have committed or those committed against me, can leave ugly folds in my spirit. Like the woman who is married and has grown children of her own, but every time she looks in the mirror she sees something no one else ever sees. She sees the scar. It’s the scar she keeps covered with make-up. Each time she see the scar she relives the pain of her father’s drunken rage when she was just a little girl. Or it is like the man in his fifties, and who by most accounts would be considered a success. He has a good job. He is respected by many in the community. However, in his mind it is never good enough. He can never work enough hours. His check is never fat enough. He cannot climb the ladder fast enough. Not matter how hard he tries, he cannot erase the words spoken so long ago: “You will never amount to anything!” Or it is like the couple who has been married for thirty years. Others see them as the ideal couple. They do have a good marriage. They have worked hard to forgive and forget. Still there are times when that one event enters the conversation and tempers flair, hurtful words are spoken, and a little of the joy seeps out of their relationship. Or perhaps it is like the doctor, who tries to comfort the family as he explains, “We did everything possible for your son.” Those words do little to ease the suffering of this mom and dad, as they must come to terms with the results of her one foolish attempt to be part of the crowd.
The ugly fold in the page in my Bible will probably never be the same. It will always remind me of my carelessness. Of course, I can live with the wrinkled page. These deeper wrinkles, these scars of our hearts that are there because of sins we have committed or because of sins committed against us or because of the thoughtless acts of those we love are more difficult to live with. For these wrinkles on our heart, we need more. We need the reminder of God’s concern for our pain, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” We need a refresher on being renewed in our walk with God in ways that take care of the stain of our sin and purify us through and through. We need the assurance of knowing that we have a very forgiving God and a Savior who paid for our sins. I really do not have a solution for those pages in your Bible that have accidentally gotten folded and wrinkled. But I do have a solution for the heart that is broken and scarred. Let Jesus heal those scars and forgive your sins. Give Him your broken heart. Allow Him to heal your hurts.
Have you ever accidentally closed your Bible and creased a page? I’m not talking about a dog-eared corner, but an ugly fold down the middle of the page. No matter how hard you try to get the creased pressed out, it always seems to jump off the page as a reminder of your carelessness in closing the book. Most folks probably wouldn’t be bothered by it nearly as much as I, but for a type A personality like me; it is something I really don’t like!
As I began to think about those ugly folds, I also thought of others in my life. Sins, either those I have committed or those committed against me, can leave ugly folds in my spirit. Like the woman who is married and has grown children of her own, but every time she looks in the mirror she sees something no one else ever sees. She sees the scar. It’s the scar she keeps covered with make-up. Each time she see the scar she relives the pain of her father’s drunken rage when she was just a little girl. Or it is like the man in his fifties, and who by most accounts would be considered a success. He has a good job. He is respected by many in the community. However, in his mind it is never good enough. He can never work enough hours. His check is never fat enough. He cannot climb the ladder fast enough. Not matter how hard he tries, he cannot erase the words spoken so long ago: “You will never amount to anything!” Or it is like the couple who has been married for thirty years. Others see them as the ideal couple. They do have a good marriage. They have worked hard to forgive and forget. Still there are times when that one event enters the conversation and tempers flair, hurtful words are spoken, and a little of the joy seeps out of their relationship. Or perhaps it is like the doctor, who tries to comfort the family as he explains, “We did everything possible for your son.” Those words do little to ease the suffering of this mom and dad, as they must come to terms with the results of her one foolish attempt to be part of the crowd.
The ugly fold in the page in my Bible will probably never be the same. It will always remind me of my carelessness. Of course, I can live with the wrinkled page. These deeper wrinkles, these scars of our hearts that are there because of sins we have committed or because of sins committed against us or because of the thoughtless acts of those we love are more difficult to live with. For these wrinkles on our heart, we need more. We need the reminder of God’s concern for our pain, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” We need a refresher on being renewed in our walk with God in ways that take care of the stain of our sin and purify us through and through. We need the assurance of knowing that we have a very forgiving God and a Savior who paid for our sins. I really do not have a solution for those pages in your Bible that have accidentally gotten folded and wrinkled. But I do have a solution for the heart that is broken and scarred. Let Jesus heal those scars and forgive your sins. Give Him your broken heart. Allow Him to heal your hurts.
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