Hello everyone in the blogosphere,

I know it has been a several days since I last posted. Things have just been too busy around the church. Now that I will be taking a more active lead at our Missouri City campus, I don't know that I can keep the The Word 4ev1 up and running by myself anymore. I hope to finish out John in the next couple of days, and then that might be it for a while. Thank you to all of you who faithfully joined me on this journey.

On the plus side, the blog was read over 1621 times and had hits from every continent except Antartica (obviously). Because, I have a Website tracking the statistics, I know that between 12 and 15 people read the blog every day on average. Also, after writing that many entries, I now have a Word document that is 76 pages long, 10 point font, single space. That is a lot of devotional thoughts!

If the Word 4ev1 ever returns... I will be sure to run announcements at church.

God's blessings today,

Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 16 (click here for link)

A prayer in Jesus' name…

Jesus says that whatever we ask for from the Father—asking in Jesus’ name—we will receive. Wow! Do we take that seriously? Do we begin our work for the Lord with that kind of certainty and that kind of confidence? Perhaps we don’t give the devil enough credit (which I hate to do) for his ability to hinder our prayers!

Of course, Jesus isn’t implying that his name is a magic word that can grant us any wish we desire. No… a prayer in Jesus’ name is like a vine and its branches; our motives, desires, hopes, and dreams are nourished and fed by the one who abides in us and we in him. A prayer in Jesus’ name is a prayer prayed like a son or as a daughter would ask of their father for good things, for guidance, and for help. Good fathers give us what is good for us, guide us in ways that are safe, and helps us when we are in trouble. But that might means we don’t always get what we think we need, but what our Father knows is best.

We are to pray as sons and daughters because we are “in” the true Son of the Father. Jesus no longer has to pray for us as he does in the Gospels, because his crucified body in the presence of heaven is a constant reminder to God Almighty that we are his children. He died for us. Jesus’ crucified body in the presence of the Father means that he will never ignore or abandon us. It means he hears our prayers.

Before you begin your next task for the glory of the Lord, pray in the name of Jesus and God can’t help but address your cause. And if ever you wonder about the work you are doing for him… if ever you doubt or feel on the verge of failure… identify yourself all the more with Jesus. The Father loves his son and because of him, loves you like a beloved child.

Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 15 (click here for link)

In this reading, John uses another image, that of a vine and its branches, to help–and challenge–that early community, and ours today, to claim our close relationship with Jesus. In Jesus' time, people would have been familiar with the vine metaphor; it appears in the Hebrew Scriptures several times to describe Israel. But how many modern day readers know how to grow grapes? I like to garden, but I have never grown grapes domestically. However, I do remember climbing up and collecting the wild mustang grapes that grew wild around my childhood home. The huge vines would completely cover the trees, so closely intertwined that you could hardly see the sky through them. This year I am growing pumpkins and squash which themselves have almost completely taken over the back yard with their tangled vines.

But even if contemporary Christians have never tended a vineyard or even if they don’t like to garden, most of us have seen a tangled mess of vines at one time or another. Looking closely, we see the many entwined branches, winding their way around one another in intricate patterns of tight curls that make it impossible to tell where one branch starts or another one ends. This is not just intricate; it's intimate, and the vine shares with its branches the nutrients that sustain it, the life force of the whole plant. Even closer than the shepherd there on the hillside, this vine is one with tangled branches.

Jesus said, “I am the vine you are the branches, if you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” A healthy vine is one with tangled branches.
Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 14 (click here for text)

Do not let your hearts be troubled…

Wow, how do you do that? I hear Sean Hannity say this whenever I listen to his radio show. It sounds good, but sometimes, it seems contradictory… I am often very troubled after listening to his show or any news broadcast. This world, our nation, the Church… there just seems to be plenty out there that is troubling. Most of the time, I find myself asking, “Why?” Why shouldn’t I be troubled?

I find that too many Christians (who happen to be politically conservative) these days are speaking so negatively about the state of the world—politics, economics, society, etc. It’s easy to do that. But if we dwell too much on it, we might find ourselves shutting down, turning inward, protecting ourselves. When we think the world is out of control, we try that much harder to batten down the hatches and maintain whatever control we can of our own lives. But Jesus doesn’t leave us with that option. He says we can’t have our own peace. We must live in the peace that he leaves with us (John 14:27).

Jesus’ peace, when I think about it, doesn't so much take away all the difficult things in life but makes them bearable. It's actually a little more than that. Jesus’ peace doesn't take away the difficult things in life; it just keeps them from dominating, from having mastery, from defining who I am and the possibilities around me. It's like these things – our needs, wants, broken places – they still are accurate descriptions of us, at least parts of us, but they no longer define us. We are more than what's missing. We are, as Paul says, a new creation. Jesus’ peace makes this possible. Peace understood this way is not merely some divine plug for the hole we each carry around inside of us, but rather it is a summons to be more, to live and love more, to share more because there is so much more that God desires for us.

Hannity can’t give this kind of peace; I can’t give you this kind of peace—only Jesus can! His is the peace that comes from knowing that no amount of trouble in this world will every undo what he has done. His peace means knowing the world and all that troubles it will pass away and what will remain is the new creation in Jesus Christ. This may seem a flimsy shield against the troubles that will face you tomorrow. But Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 13 (click here for text)

Have you ever had a “teachable moment?” I have found as a parent that one of the most important skills to cultivate is the ability to recognize and capitalize on "teachable moments" in everyday life. A teachable moment can happen almost anywhere - in the supermarket, when picking your child up from school, when walking through a shopping mall or doing devotions at the table after dinner. Chances are that many of the valuable moral lessons that you learned from your parents as a child were not consciously taught at all. They were rather learned in the midst of casual moments of real life.

Today Jesus capitalizes on a teachable moment as he washes his disciples feet. He says, “Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”

Ouch. Lest we think that we can simply ignore the messy work of loving those dirty others out there, Jesus takes aim at our complacent tendencies. Perhaps Jesus wanted to make sure that his disciples didn’t adopt the attitude that he had conferred some dignified status upon them. Perhaps he was preventing them from thinking that wandering around at the heels of the Son of God had elevated their stature above the filth and squalor of the world. And certainly he didn’t want them to exempt themselves from the unpleasant work of actual discipleship. Of course, washing someone’s feet was certainly not an enviable chore, and here Jesus uses this act as a symbol for how his followers are to relate to each other and to the world. If you think you’re above such menial tasks, or that stooping to touch the dirt, the cracks, and the calluses of the world is beneath you, Jesus would ask you a question: Do you think you’re greater than I am? If I did these things, why can’t you? I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.

His Peace,
Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 12 (click here for link).

It is commonly held that self-preservation is the first law of nature. We don’t naturally take risks. Yet Jesus is constantly pulling us away from that natural mind set. He says, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” Christ directly challenges the mindset that has self-preservation as its highest goal. If self-preservation controls us, He says, we’ll end up losing our life. Think about this for a second… you will end up losing your life! Doesn’t that seem to defy our natural logic? At least for me it does. I so often live my life according to “my time,” “my interests,” “my money,” “my…” But Jesus says it’s only when we’re willing to give our life away that we’ll truly have life for now and for eternity. I think perhaps this is the most challenging statement I have heard Jesus say so far.

We are faced with the choice of willingly giving our lives away everyday or the choice of attempting to clutch our lives to ourselves. But it probably won’t be dramatic. Drama is easy. The mundane life of the day-to-day is more complicated. For most of us it will never be a case of facing a firing squad and being given one last chance to renounce Christ before we are blindfolded and shot. It is the daily choices we make that reflect whether we’re entrenched in self-preservation, or whether we genuinely give our lives away, day-by-day.

But how relieving it is to have Jesus as our model for this. He is giving and forgiving everyday.

Hope you are enjoying the rain today. I love rain!
Pastor Aaron

Today's reading is John 11 (click her for link)

I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day break. I also pray that at some point you gave thanks for the many men and women who have faithfully served our nation and protected our interests. God provides for us through sacrifice.

When I was 19 I first visited the American military cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer with my family which sits on the bluffs above D-Day’s Omaha beach. Yet, much of what I remember about that first trip was talking largely with my brothers about war and the carnage of D-day. However, later in college, I had the privilege of visiting twice more; once when President Bush was there to commemorate the 60th anniversary of that terrible day. It was a very moving experience. My friends and I had managed to talk our way into being seated with the V.I.P.’s. We were literally seated among the families of the fallen and veterans of that day. Of course, I know this sounds unbelievable, especially since we just showed up without knowing that any of these commemorations were going on. Apparently, reservations were to have been made months in advance, with everyone being thoroughly background checked. We were just a bunch of college kids on a road trip through France—hardly people to be trusted when the President was in town. But me and a buddy were in the Corps of Cadets, and when we got to the front gates we talked with the sergeant in charge, who happened to be friends with a friend of a friend who was in the corps… and one thing led to another and before we knew it, we were sitting 30 yards from President Bush, in the middle of this majestic cemetery, surrounded by honorable and brave veterans of war, with V.I.P. tags around our necks. It was truly an unbelievable experience. I’ll never forget the chill that went down my back. I was in the midst of greatness.

(Although, on a side note, it does make me a little nervous about the security of our national leaders, if a bunch of college kids from A&M could talk our way into being 30 yards from President Bush without so much as a background check—but that is another issue.)

The cemetery over the beaches of Normandy and places like it, such as Point Du Hoc, cannot help but create awe in the mind of the visitor. I was stopped by the sight of row upon row of perfectly aligned white marble crosses that seemed to go on forever. It is a painfully beautiful sight where conversation, if any, is held in hushed tones. It is enough to move a grown man to tears. I mean it! Our reading from John 11 coupled with the lectionary readings for this Sunday from 1 Kings 17:17-24 (click here for link) and Luke 7:11-17 (click for link) in a strange way summoned these memories in my mind. It is always like that when death comes suddenly and takes those who seem too young to experience it. (The average age of men who died at Omaha beach was 22). In 1 Kings, the widow weeping gives her only son to the prophet whose presence she assumes has led to his death. “What do you have against me, O man of God?” The prophet is equally pained and questions the intention of the One for whom he speaks. Why, O Lord, have you killed the widow’s son? I imagine not a few of the 9,387 who lie above the beach, or the 1,557 never found, whose names etched in the stone colonnade are all that remain, had mothers like the widow who wept their questions, “Why?” or like the prophet accused God of less than holy intentions. Martha too seems to wonder “why?” as runs to meet Jesus. But what answer can we give, when all in this world is doomed to die?

Jesus gives us the answer: “I am the resurrection and the life…” LIFE IS STRONGER THAN DEATH! Just as Elijah stretched out three times on the breath-less body of the widow’s son and the Lord restored his life, the lifeless body of the Lord, stretched out three days in the darkness of death, burst forth from the tomb so that one day those slain in the course of human conflict might be revived and know the truth; life is stronger than death. When at last the nations learn to study war no more and death is swallowed up in victory those who wait in the silent sleep of death at places like Colleville-sur-Mer will meet again, not as brothers in arms, but as brothers in the arms the Lord.

I proudly salute the brave men and women of our armed forces,
Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 10 (click here for link)

The choice of the door as a symbol for the Savior is a curious one. While there is some precedent for door language in the Psalms (118:20) and in the synoptic Gospels (Matt. 7:13), it is hardly a dominant New Testament metaphor. It certainly lacks the poetry and the luster of figures like "the bread of life" and "the light of the world." When I think of doors, I can't help thinking of the 20-odd closet, bedroom, bathroom and exterior, doors in an old house that Pam and I used to live in back in Arkansas--few of which worked properly. Some didn’t latch evenly. Others had rusted hardware, squeaky hinges and handles that didn’t match. Still others swelled hopelessly with summer humidity and shrunk miserably with winter cold. So why the reference to Jesus as the door of the sheepfold? Why such a mundane symbol for the Savior of the world?

Well… a door is about as straightforward an image that there is. We all need a door in life. Without a door we are trapped. So when Jesus speaks of saving those who pass through the door, he has rescue in mind. "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by another way, is a thief and "a bandit." No one can know the realm of abundant life without entering through Jesus. Everyone else will come up short. Sheep locked in a pen without a functioning door will never discover freedom. In fact, we can be trapped even when we feel secure in our own self-assuredness that we’ve got things under control. Full life comes through a different door.

For years St. Anthony's Catholic Church in San Francisco has served meals to people in need. Over the doorway to its dining room the church has posted a sign bearing the inscription: Caritate Dei. One day a young mechanic, just released from jail and new to St. Anthony's, entered the door and sat down for a meal. A woman was busy cleaning the adjoining table. "When do we get on our knees and do the chores, lady?" he asked. "You don't," she replied. “Well I guess I need to pay my dues… er… give an offering,” he said sarcastically. The woman just shook her head and said, “Nope… We just enjoy having you here.” "Then when's the sermon comin'?" he inquired. "Aren't any," she said. "How `bout the lecture on life, huh?" "Not here," she said. The man was becoming very suspicious. "Then what's the gimmick?" The woman pointed to the inscription over the door. He squinted at the sign. "What's it mean, lady?" "Out of love for God," she said with a smile, and moved on to another table.

Check out the inscription over your next door in life. If it has to do with genuine love for God, you won't go wrong.

Is Jesus over the door you are walking through today?
Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 9 (click here for link)

It is amazing how quickly the sinful mind can turn a blessing of God into something miserable. In the Bible we see that the Pharisees succeeded in turning the Sabbath day rest into a burden, rather than the blessing God originally intended it to be for his people. The Jewish legalism was ridiculously absurd. Even today, Orthodox Jews follow this rigid way of life. But Jesus saw it as complete absurdity. It was absolutely contrary to everything he was about.

Jewish law attempted to take the rather vague and very specific laws of Moses (found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) and apply it to every situation of life—for every generation that came afterwards. But to do this required a obscene about of loose interpretation and construal. Over time the law was divided by the category of “father” and “descendent.” Laws designated as “father” were those originally given by Moses. “Decedents” were those laws that derived from it. For example, plowing was a ‘father’ law. According to the Mosaic law, on the Sabbath, a farmer could not plow his field because that was considered work. But what about a lawyer? Could he plow a field since it wasn’t technically work associated with how he made a living? What about simply making a hole in the ground? Well… to answer these questions several “descendent” laws were made. Digging was a “descendant.” In fact anything that cut or furrowed the soil was considered to be anti-Sabbath. Thus dragging a chair on the ground was a “decendent” because it would make a kind of furrow, and therefore was forbidden, but dragging a chair on a hard surface was permitted. Yes... you can see how tedious this is becoming.

Another ‘father’ law was carrying a load on the Sabbath, and this prohibition was attended by a host of ‘descendants.’ Any unnecessary item was not to be carried on the Sabbath because it was considered a “load.” Therefore, to wear an unneeded garment was prohibited, and so a tailor, for example, had to leave his needle and thread at home, and a scribe could not carry his pen. In fact, so absurd were these regulations, that Sabbath law even made protecting ones property impossible. A humorous example, which apparently caused a great deal of discussion, was what a man could or could not do if his home caught fire on the Sabbath. According to the Pharisaical law code, absolutely nothing could be carried out, except clothing, and only if it were put on one piece at a time. It could be worn outside, taken off, and then one could return for another garment. People must have come from miles around to watch the spectacle as the house of a devout Jew burned down when it happened on the Sabbath! I suppose a gentile could have made a killing charging $100 dollars for every item he carried out of his Jewish neighbor’s burning house.

Although we have only scratched the surface of the issue, you can easily see why our Lord viewed the regulations of the Pharisees as a heavy burden upon the people. Not to mention that fact that many skilled in the Law also were skillful in devising ways to circumvent most of the meticulous rules which they had laid down. Jewish lawyers were very good at finding loop holes and technicalities to squeeze through. In the end, what had been given for a blessing—a way of orienting God’s people toward their holy God in all they did—became just a generic form of legalism, a system that was more concerned with the means than it was with the end.

The Pharisees big problem was that even in following what they believed was a religion faithful to the OT, they had created God in their own image. They in effect were practicing a religion that attempted to control God. They were defining God, putting him in a box. They had become blind to the power of a God who cannot be confined to human expectations, a God who works in mysterious and surprising ways (just read through the OT and anyone “with eyes to see” will behold a surprising and shocking God). It is for this reason that they could not see Jesus as anything but a devil in John 9. He was absolutely the contrary to the god they worshiped.

And so it is with people today. “I like to think of God as …” someone says. But that is precisely the problem. It doesn’t really matter how you wish to think of God. God is who he is. He has made himself known in Jesus.

Are your eyes open to Jesus’ in your life? Or are you trying to close up the box on Him?

Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 8 (click here for link).

The Pharisees and enemies of Jesus really must have been desperate to get rid of Jesus for them to resort to this… drag a half naked woman to temple and present her to Jesus. They could have judged her themselves, although even in this account they fudge the law a little bit (Deuteronomy 22:23-24 specifically prescribes stoning as a means of execution for betrothed virgins, however adultery too was punishable by death and also included the man involved in the act and not just the woman).

But they thought they would bring someone who was a "real" sinner. No more of this highfalutin theological talk about sin. Sure everyone is sinful in “that” way… We know that “all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God" (Romans 3:23), but what about “real” sin? How frequently do we try this ruse on the Lord? We try to distinguish between real sin and theoretical sin. For example, We might occasionally fall into gossip, but we aren’t "real" gossips like so and so. Or do we ever find ourselves listening to a sermon thinking "Boy, he/she really needs to hear this"?

But Jesus cuts to the quick… it’s not about sin, it is about forgiveness. “Stop looking at other's sin and judging them. You have no right to judge at all,” He says to us sinners. Yesterday he reminded us that “If anyone is thirsty, let him come and drink of me… and rivers of living water will flow out of him.” What is flowing out of us as believers? Stony judgment or forgiveness? If only we could forgive others as liberally as we judge them, the world would be a much less “stony” place to live. Better yet, the Church would be a more inviting place as well.

Of course, I am not saying that we are to live in a sinful world and not see it as sinful. It is sinful! But Jesus calls in another place in the gospels to be as innocent as doves and as shrewd as serpents. We are called to see sin and refrain from it. But at the very same time, Christ calls us to see hope. Even the worst of sinners has hope of forgiveness in Christ. If that wasn’t the case then you and me should be stoned as well.

Don’t ever throw the stone. Forgive… and forgive… even if it is the hardest thing you have ever done… forgive!

Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 7 (click here for link)

I once had the opportunity to spend a day boating down the Rhine River in Germany. It was one of the most beautiful and inspiring trips of my life. The green, hilly landscape and the ancient cliff-side castles drifted by emerging in and out of the cool morning mist, all in stark—yet appropriate—contrast to the modern fishing villages and shops nestled on the rocky banks. The Rhine made innumerable winds and winds through that rugged landscape, no obstacle could deter it. I will never forget that trip.

A river is a powerful force, it is victoriously persistent. It overcomes every barrier. When it comes to an obstacle, for a brief while it may be baulked, but it soon makes a pathway round the obstacle.

Jesus' words in our text today reflected the same: "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. For whoever believes in me, the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within him." John 7:37-38

Jesus says our lives lived in faith are like rivers of living water. In fact, this how the Holy Spirit stirs in our hearts—like a river. We never know when and how he will flow through us. But he does! And notice… he flows out of us, too! In fact, it is interesting to note that Jesus did not say, “Believe in me and you will have an abundance of the fullness of God.” Rather, he said, “Believe in me and every blessing God gives to you shall flow out of you.” In other words, If we drink of Jesus, it is not what we gain, but what He pours through us that counts.

The Holy Spirit has been opening up marvelous truths to our minds, and every truth He has opened up is an indication of the wider river He will flow through us. God intends to flow blessing through you into this dry and parched land. Indeed, if you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has nourished in you mighty torrents of blessing for others.

Moral of the story… Don’t put an obstacle in that way of God’s river! Let the Spirit flow through you.

Pastor Aaron

Today’s Reading John 6 (click here for link).

*** WARNING *** Today’s post is a bit theological. But I am sure you can handle it.

“Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” John 6: 53-57

The entire Bible—OT and NT—is entirely an account of how God relates sacramentally or “mysteriously” to his people (Sacrament is a Latin word for “mystery”). In other words, God makes his unsurpassable, almighty, and divine goodness known in “knowable,” physical ways so that we limited and physical creatures can be in relationship with him. Obviously the Lord’s Supper and Baptism are sacraments in this way. God takes bread and wine and water and gives himself through these elements. And in this case, he does this specifically for the forgiveness of sins. But that is not the only way he has communicated something about himself through physical, sacramental means. The prophets and kings of Israel were also an example of God working through sacramental means—in that instance, not for forgiveness of sins but to reveal his Holy will for his people by speaking through a prophet or king. Today, in John 6 we are reminded of another OT sacramental act of God when he gave his people manna (bread) from heaven while they wondered in the desert for 40 years. However, Jesus uses that to allude to an even greater sacramental act… God becoming flesh! Jesus points to himself as the greatest sacramental (mysterious) act of God working to redeem physical, sinfully limited people who could never know him unless he acted in incredible and mysterious ways to make a relationship possible. And who would deny that incarnation (God in the flesh) is anything but a total mystery?

Yes, like manna, Jesus is indeed “bread from heaven,” but he is infinitely better. His life and his death in the flesh show us that God does not just provide for us physically (which is all manna could ever do) he provides for us spiritually and eternally, too.

So how do we interpret John 6? To answer that we must be careful to understand that “eating” and “drinking” and “bread,” “body,” and “blood” in John 6 is not so much a reference to the Lord’s Supper as it is Jesus declaring that he, himself, is the only way to eternal life; that if we have a hope of ever knowing God and being in relationship with God, it can only be done by participating in Jesus body and blood—the greatest sacrament/mystery ever given. We do this by faith. Faith in Jesus is what saves, and faith alone!

Of course, you might wonder how the Lord’s Supper fits into John 6, especially since John never actually mentions the Lord’s Supper later on? Well, why he didn't will always be a mystery. But, nevertheless, the allusion to the Lord’s Supper in John 6 cannot be completely ruled out. After all, Jesus knew even in our text today, that he would later institute this mystery of “bread from heaven” in an actual meal of bread and wine and his real body and real blood.

But we must read this text as is presented. Jesus never actually institutes or even refers to the Lord’s Supper in John 6 nor anywhere else in the entire Gospel of John. But this shouldn’t disappoint; rather, we simply celebrate that by God’s gracious love, he has given us yet another sacramental gift—not just a spiritual connection to Christ through faith (John 6), but a physical connection to him as well when we are baptized into his body and regularly eat his body and blood at the altar (Lord's Supper). Both save us! This means he gives us not only faith upon faith, but grace upon grace, and gift upon gift.

Have a great day,
Pastor Aaron

P.S. Yes, I know today was a bit too theological. But it is important. John 6 was a huge point of contention between Luther and other reformers during the Reformation. For more information, google the Marburg debate between Zwingli and Luther. Also, remember... NO POSTS ON FRIDAYS anymore. See you Monday!

Today’s reading is John 5 (click here for link)

Comparison between ministries that have a lot in common can be deadly. In the Gospels, we read that John the Baptist’s disciples were highly disturbed that Jesus’ disciples were outbaptizing them. They must have read some of the “new” theories of ministry expansion, because Jesus was clearly siphoning people out of their ministry, devastating their annual plan numbers. Jesus ministry was stealing away precious volunteers. Even Jesus’ disciples were concerned and threatened by someone who was not “one of them,” yet was casting out demons in Jesus’ name (Mark 9:38). And though others compared Jesus to the great prophets (Matt. 6:14), it would have been unhelpful for him to do so. He had to trust the Father explicitly for his mission, without measuring himself against prophets, kings or even angels (Heb. 1:5) No, Jesus did not compare himself to anyone else. He simply looked to what the Father was calling him to do-- march headlong into a place of abandonment and crucifixion – something God had asked of no one else.

Today Jesus reminds us in John 5, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” By sheer grace, we are “in” Christ. God sees us as his sons and daughter, too! As we walk our faith, let us be reminded to look to the Father and all he does for us in grace through Jesus.

I find Jesus words above especially pointed for Epiphany. Our church is a growing multi-site congregation. We have 4 unique worship services every Sunday in 3 different locations (Pearland sanctuary, AFLC, Missouri City campus). In some ways, these services are becoming distinct communities with unique needs. We also have many and varied ministries, groups, organizations, and programs. Comparison is inevitable. But living in Christ means embracing the “oneness” we have in Him—we are one congregation/family in Christ, no matter how many locations. And as his children, the Father is doing amazing things among and through us—reaching the lost with salvation. That is a great work to be a part of no matter how we are involved or where we are involved in the Church. When we remember that we are “in” Christ and loved by the Father, our comparison can’t help but compel us to greater acts of sacrifice and loving encouragement—because wherever our resources go, they go to do the Father business.

Have a great day,
Pastor Aaron

Okay... So I have been delinquent for a couple of days. Sorry! Just busy. But I am going to go to bed now (11:00 p.m) and I promise I will post for John 5 tomorrow. Seriously :)

Also... I believe that I may go to a Monday-Thursday scheule because it's not working out so well for me to blog on my day off. At least my family is objecting to it.

See you tomorrow and I hope you have a blessed night.

Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 4 (click here for link)

It is my opinion life is more about asking the right question than having exactly the right answer.

The Samaritan woman is a good example. She immediately recognizes the societal barriers and boundaries that keep her in her place but at the same time she challenges Jesus' authority over and against the ancestors of the faith. Like Nicodemus, she first interprets Jesus' words on a literal level, but she is able to ask for what Jesus has to offer rather than question the possibility. She is not certain that Jesus is the Christ but she does not let that stop her from leaving behind her water jar, going into the city, and inviting the people to their own encounter with Jesus. She demonstrates what can happen when we actually engage in conversation and questions about our faith.

But notice, she has no doubt that Jesus had the needed answers, instead, the woman at the well shows us that faith is about dialogue, about growth and change. Yes he has all the answers… the right answers. But are we willing to ask the right questions? Or do we often ask the wrong questions—our questions—and expect him to provide the answer. Yet there is no right answer to the wrong question. Instead, walking and living by faith means struggling with the fact that It is not about always having the answers. If we think we have all the answers, if we believe more in our own convictions than the possibility of revelation and guidance from God, we will be left to ponder whether or not God will choose to be made known through us. We will have to wonder when and if we will ever feel confident enough, secure enough, and knowledgeable enough, to invite others to "come and see."

Rather, we learn from the Samaritan woman that in our own encounter with Jesus, not only are we changed, but that which God will reveal to us will change as well. After all, he only gives us that which we have faith enough handle. If you can handle things alone then faith is of little use to you.

Only faith changes us, not knowledge. It time to put down the water jug…
Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 3 (click here for link).

“I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” John 3:5.

Nowhere in the Christian life is this radical birth made more evident than in Christian baptism. Jesus calls this being “born again.” The believer in Christ experience new life through the radical life and death of Jesus Christ. In Baptism we are attached to this mystery. We experienced two birthdays. The first is in the hospital were our first physical breath is drawn and life in this world begins. The second birthday is in the waters of baptism, were we are suscitated by the breath of God breathed into us and we begin life in eternity. Physical life and Spiritual life are both given us. We can claim neither as a work of our own accomplishing. Both are a sheer gift from God.

Yet, both are a mystery. Even physical life is a mystery. No doubt, we all wondered about such things when we were young. We probably pestered our parents with questions like, “Where do babies come from?” Our parents probably put us off with fictions about birds and bees and storks. But one day we discovered the truth—truth that at the time probably seemed stranger than the fiction. And anyone who has witnessed the birth of their child would still admit to the strange mystery of it all—that God knit us together in our mother’s womb. In the same way, the gift of spiritual life and birth is a mystery. The explanation I give my confirmation kids is really not much of an explanation at all. Mystery is mystery! You can’t really ever understand how and why God works the way he does. Who would have guessed that life—true life—would come from such ordinary things as water and bread and something as unpredictable as wine?

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. The answer: “…whosoever believes in HIM shall not parish but have eternal life?”

God’s peace,
Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 2 (click here for link)

I am no chemist, but I once saw a trick done with water that reminded me very much of John’s account of Jesus turning water into wine. It was like this: Two glasses of water were set before the chemistry class to observe—nothing special, just clear water. But then my teacher took a clever little wand with some special crystals embedded in it and stirred one of the glasses of water. Magically, the water turned a brilliant wine red. My chemistry class was only mildly impressed (I figured I could do the same thing with Kool Aid!). But the trick wasn’t over, yet. My chemistry teacher then proceeded to pour the remaining glass of clear water into the newly tinted red water, and abra cadabra… the red water turned crystal clear once again. Yeah, cool but… Had my chemistry teacher one upped Jesus?

Of course not! My teacher left out one important part… he never gave us a taste. Yes, it looked cool, but it was just a trick. Red water doesn’t make fine wine. However, Jesus’ miracle was no trick, it was the real deal! It was the best wine ever tasted, and it is the taste that makes all the difference.

I know this may seem to be a simplistic point, but then again, there is significance in even some of the most basic details in the Gospel of John. We know the wine Jesus made from water was no tint or dye or trick, it was good wine. In fact, it was no mere miracle… it was a sign! It was Jesus’ first sign that the kingdom of God is at hand. That is significant! In the same way, it is probably no coincidence that this wedding feast took place on the “third day.” Another sign yet to come… interesting! That is what signs do, they point us to the future—to things yet to come. So what was this sign pointing toward?

Maybe it was a sign that wine is a parody of life. There are beautiful wines, quaffing wines, and terrible wines. But even with beautiful wines, some age well, and others turn sour before our very eyes. So then, as with wines, the same with life. We are constantly reminded of the impermanence of life, reminded that "moth and rust corrupts." Disappointment abounds. Everything in this world eventually runs out and we are left dry. And while we can try to be stoic about imperfection and disappointment in this world, this approach doesn’t work for verylong. In the end, it only leaves a bitter taste in our mouth. Or we can follow the signs of the kingdom. We can look beyond this moment to a brighter day when the wine will not disappoint us. The Bible calls it the heavenly banquet—the feast of the kingdom to come.

When Jesus visited a wedding in Cana he performed a miracle that served to remind his disciples of that brighter day, a day that transcends the imperfect moment. His disciples understood the point he was making and decided to trust him to carry them to that day. Do we trust him to carry us to that day? Are you willing to trust the signs he has given you?

Taste and see that the Lord is good. He will not disappoint.

Pastor Aaron

Today's reading is John 1 (click here for link)

This morning, John takes us to “the beginning,” so let’s follow John.

We are all familiar with “the beginning” of the beginning of Scripture-- Genesis 1—God created the heavens and the earth. But have you ever really taken a moment, especially at night, to stop and look up and consider everything above you? Think about it… the sheer vastness of it all, the endless amount of space above us. It is hopefully enough to knock our own self-centeredness down a peg or two.

Consider also, what Science teaches us about the Universe: Our Galaxy is said to contain some 400 billion stars. Our own star, the Sun, is actually rather puny according to galactic standards; nonetheless, even at 93 million miles away it has the power to burn our skin on a summer’s day! Thank goodness it isn’t 92 million miles away! But this is no accident. In fact, it is said that if one of the more gigantic stars in our Galaxy were positioned where our sun is, things would be way different. Well, actually… we wouldn’t even be here… the earth would be entirely engulfed within that star! It seems beyond belief that these giants are floating around out there somewhere in space, and yet, despite their size and brilliance, from our perspective here on earth, they are nothing more than a prick of light in the night sky. Incredible!

Science also tells us that beyond our own galaxy, there exists myriad other galaxies, each filled with billions of suns and stars. This sheer quantity of light being produced boggles the mind, and yet only one of these galaxies is visible to the naked eye here on earth—and it is more than two million light years away.

This is the very light that God spoke into the darkness at the foundations of time. From our perspective this light barely seems able to penetrate the darkness of space. Yet, it does. It always does.

Now, if you can’t tell, I love Astronomy. I love star gazing. But if you really want to see the stars, everyone knows you have to get away from the Houston lights. You have to get out in the middle of nowhere. But to do that isn’t so easy. The one time that I ever had a chance to really get away—completely away from all manmade light—was many years ago on a road trip with some college buddies of mine to the deserts just north of Rachel, Nevada (aka: Area 51). The night sky there is incredible. The vastness of it and silence of it all is mind numbing. There you are, looking up into eternity and there isn’t a single solitary sound to be heard. In fact it is the silence that is most impressive—it’s almost oppressive. No airplanes flying overhead; no street noises or barking dogs; no hum of the refrigerator or buzz of fluorescent lighting. There is only silence. You can literally hear your thoughts bouncing in your head. And even they eventually fade away, like little question marks ringing tiny and hollow in the face of eternity. You stand as though you are on the edge of the Universe and you can’t help but think of those first words ever uttered, words of power and purpose: “LET THERE BE LIGHT.” How deafening that must have sounded had any of us been there to hear it.

I tried speaking into the darkness that night, tried shouting. But my words were swallowed up by the darkness. Yet God’s Word not only penetrated the darkness, it created light!

When you think about such things it almost starts to seem absurd, even scandalous, that in all of the vast glory of the Universe, God chose to concentrate all his efforts on one little remote blue speck: that he chose this dirt ball to direct his powerful life-producing Word is simply amazing. In fact, it is very easy for our little and very limited vision to be overwhelmed by the hugeness of everything God’s Word has accomplished. Yes, that God would be so particular really does seem scandalous, and for many people it is simply foolishness. But the truth is… the real and bona fide truth of it all is… God has not just made the Universe and every amazing thing in it, like stars and galaxies and mountains and oceans, but he has made you, too. God has concentrated his amazing and wonderful attention on little you. He loves you. He has died for you. Next time you look up at the hugeness of the unknown before you don’t be overwhelmed by the darkness. His light will always shine through. Hallelujah, indeed!

Have a blessed day,
Pastor Aaron

Good morning. Yesterday we finished reading through Luke. I had considered just plowing straight into John, but I will be gone most of next week at a conference in St. Louis. For that reason, we will first start reading through John on Monday, May 9th. I am sorry for the delay.

I am greatful for everyone who continues this journey through Scripture.

Have a blessed weekend,
Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is Luke 24 (click here for link)

I can remember Mary—at least I think that was her name. She was a woman who lived sometimes near the church where I did field work back in St. Louis. I really didn’t know much about her. She could be seen occasionally, crossing the street opposite the church, drinking from a paper bag. Like so many in her situation, her purpose in life—her presence—was reduced to a shadow figure, one who didn’t seem to have much left to live for. She was a shell of a woman—haggard and angry. In fact, woman… man… the classification didn’t really matter. She was like any of the others you sometimes see, but don’t always really see.

I had the opportunity to speak with her once. I wish the conversation had been better. It was after the service on Easter morning, a morning full of proclamation about resurrection hope and new life. My wife and I were loading the kids into the mini-van. We were anticipating a day full of Easter festivities spent with friends. But suddenly I had that distinct feeling that someone was looking over my shoulder. It was Mary. She had come up behind us, right behind us. There we stood, practically face to face. I don’t think there could have been a better picture of opposites. We seemed almost worlds apart. Me and my family, full of life, in our picture-perfect, Sunday morning best, and then Mary, pushing her wind-blown hair out of her eyes, a dry, snarled expression on her face, and a paper bag in her hand. It was true, up close and personal she appeared a dried- out shell of a person—nothing but dry bones—and you could smell her too, the alcohol on her breath. She wanted a ride somewhere. With numerous racial slurs and profanity, she tried to describe the location. Naturally, the seminary student in me wanted to comply (Christian love, right?), but every shred of common sense screamed otherwise. After all, I couldn’t have her sit between the car seats of my 15 month old and our 4 month old. If I hadn’t refused, my wife would have! And so that is what we did, politely, of course. But that is when she stabbed her finger at us and yelled the most startling thing, “What good is your Jesus anyway?”

I know she may have just been goading me, but I felt so helpless, so useless. She seemed so hopeless and empty. It was like a little nightmare of my own. You spend your whole life living out the Christian faith—at least that is what you think—but then you end up in a situation like this. Where is Christian hope in a situation like this? How do you help someone like her? And what about that question? To be honest, I found myself wondering, Could “my” Jesus help her?

I am sure you’ve all had similar experiences, the type of situation where you want to say something nice, something that will make it all better. It is the type of situation where you know you are supposed to give a Christian witness, yet at the same time you are all to keenly aware that anything you might say would only smack of hypocrisy because, after all, there you are standing in your Sunday best next to your new mini-van with dinner waiting in the oven; and across from you is Mary, lacking everything you have. It is hard to make nice of that situation. This world sometimes seems so filled with hopelessness.

Yes, we talk up the resurrection whenever we get a chance, as Christians, but have you ever felt (though you probably wouldn’t admit it) that even though Jesus has risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, the world really doesn’t seem that changed? From our text, it seems like that was the natural reaction of those first resurrection witnesses—huddled together in a locked room. It was business as usual—the same war crimes and atrocities were happening; diseases and poverty were still there, stress from work and the struggles of marriage and parenthood and relationships—all of it was still there. No doubt the world would have bought into Mary’s question, “What good is your Jesus anyway?”

But then, the resurrected Lord appeared, and everything changed! “Peace be with you,” he said. And from that moment forward, a power so great swelled in that room and in the ages beyond, which can still be felt today, 2000 years later. Resurrection power! God’s power of life even wake of death and hopelessness and despair. This power has been the driving force of the Church on earth through the millennia and has never given up its testimony and witness of the resurrection.

New life! New life is at hand! “Peace be with you.” It has the power to change even the most hopeless situations in this world. And if you don’t believe me… well… let me tell you just a little bit more about Mary. You see, the last time I saw her; she was eating soup in the basement of the church. The Youth were serving dinner before the Wednesday evening service. But this time, Mary wasn’t sitting alone. She wasn’t stabbing her finger at anybody, questioning their Jesus. She was smiling! She was talking! She didn’t seem dry anymore. She seemed more alive than I had ever seen her. It was miraculous!

Unfortunately, I have never learned exactly how this miracle happened, but I know one thing for sure, that even when I was left feeling hopeless and useless as Mary walked away on that Easter morning, the Holy Spirit had resurrection in mind. You see, resurrection is more than just something that is preached about in sermons. It is more than just a vague and future hope. No. Resurrection is the power of God, in the here and now. Resurrection is the power of God in midst of dry bones. I pray the next time I meet someone like Mary, I see them through the eyes of resurrection hope.

Have a blessed day,
Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is Luke 23 (click here for link)

As Jesus' life slipped from him on the cross, a criminal asked him, "Remember me." It was a request that darkness would not overcome him. Obviously, the criminal believed that Jesus could answer the prayer. And because he believed, Jesus promised him "paradise". The promise wasn't a “maybe” in the future, but an immediate place in the resurrection - hid in Christ now and alive with him in eternity.

Far too often, the gospel is presented in complex terms when it is actually a very simple message. God offers us eternity in his presence through Jesus.

Perhaps we should reverse these words more often in our own lives. Yes “Lord, remember me…” but also, “Lord, I remember you.” Don’t let the gracious gift of Jesus’ love for you slip from your thoughts today. Remember that he remembers you.
“Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” The answer is, “Today…” Today, and forever you are hid with Christ in the resurrection. Hallelujah!

Today’s reading is Luke 22 (click here for link).

“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:39-44

Jesus' prayer reminds me of another prayer prayed by a struggling apostle in throws of uncertainty and anguish: The apostle Paul wrote: “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

Have you ever had an earnest prayer go unanswered? … a prayer cried out in those moments of life when life and death seemed to hang in the balance, but God’s will was against your own?

It takes a mighty faith to endure coming up against the holy will of almighty God and discovering it is not in accord with your own; to find that your vein of payer is perpendicular to the inscrutable hand of God. But mettle must be tested. The perseverance of faith is either always sharpened or always dulled upon that stone of experience.

Don’t dare utter the words, “I live my life for the Glory of God,” unless you mean it… unless you are ready to truly “feel” it. He may hold you to your words! God’s greatest glory is always revealed in human weakness. The cross of Christ is proof enough of that.

To be saved by grace is to abandon all that we see as strength and cling to the weakness of Jesus Christ, crucified but raised in power and glory for us… for you….

*****

I wrote the above words last night as I sleepily meditated upon Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. This morning, at our staff meeting, Pastor Jon opened with a question concerning the difference between “Vision” and “Mission” in the Church and in the Christian’s life. Indeed, there is a distinction. We so easily get caught up in the “mission work” (doing things) that perhaps we lose sight of the vision of inspiration that came over us once upon a time ago. The true vision of the Christian life is realization of complete abandon to divine grace. That God so loved “me” that he gave his only begotten Son. Wow!!!

Grace empowers us to do all things good and right, but in the experience, we realize our weakness all the more and find our strength in the power of grace made perfect in us through Christ, alone.

How has he given you strength in the weaknesses of your life?
Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is Luke 21 (click here for link).

We’ve discussed similar texts before on this blog—the parallel texts, Matthew 24 and Mark 13. All of them record these “end time” predictions that Jesus made shortly before his crucifixion. But what exactly is the “end” he is predicting?

Blended together here are two endings separated by 2000 years of time and still counting. The first end was 7O A.D. when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and permanently dispersed the Jews to the ends of the Earth. Merged into this vision of the end of Jerusalem, Jesus also speaks of an even greater end time, one that is still to come—His second coming and the end of the world as we know it.

Jesus words tell us nothing that experience hasn’t already taught us. There are certain things that we cannot avoid in this life and “endings” are one of them. All things that begin in this life will end in this life. It is inevitable. But the Christian embraces the Easter reality that life is not followed by end, but by more life—new life. In that certainty we persevere even when the “endings” of life come.

In this world we will never “feel” like doing anything, for the devil will always dangle the end time visions before our eyes. It will be tempting to say, “Why bother with marriage counseling?” “Why bother with a struggling ministry in a struggling church?” Why bother forgiving that repeat offender in my life?” “Why bother helping do…?” Why bother with…?” It won’t matter much if I don’t…”

In a world that crucifies everything that smacks of Christ, it is easy to see the end before we even begin and wonder “why bother?” But the answer to those questions is not sitting around and wondering “why”? Never pray about the “why.” Only pray “Lord let me do…”

I think Oswald Chambers put it best:

“There are certain things we must not pray about - moods, for instance. Moods never go by praying, moods go by kicking. A mood nearly always has its seat in the physical condition, not in the moral. It is a continual effort not to listen to the moods which arise from a physical condition, never submit to them for a second. We have to take ourselves by the scruff of the neck and shake ourselves, and we will find that we can do what we said we could not. The curse with most of us is that we won't.”

“By standing firm you will gain life”--Luke 21:19 The Christian life that perseveres till the end is one of incarnate spiritual nerve. Jesus says don’t worry about the end. Just seek after new beginnings. Seek ways to bring the beginnings of forgiveness, love, and eternal life into this world. In the end, with that as our goal, the end won’t matter.

Pastor Aaron

Today’s Reading is Luke 20 (click here for link)

I find Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees’ question about the woman with seven husbands, somewhat unsatisfying. In fact, the whole encounter seems rather bizarre. But the problem is not Jesus. The problem is the question.

While Jesus' answer to the Sadducees is not among his more luminous words, what else can he give them? There is no right answer to a wrong question.

Didn't other seekers get a very different answer to the resurrection question? To Martha, grieving at her brother's tomb, Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life." To Mary Magdalene, blinded with tears outside another tomb, he gave the supreme answer of her own name spoken from the other side of death. To Thomas, he revealed the marks of victory upon his body—the scars of crucifixion.

Pose the question with tears, seeing no lasting hope in this world, and you may hear your name for an answer. Pose it with self confidence, in the cool, comfy light of a temple still under your own management, and what you hear may send you away scratching your head.

Yes, resurrection is the answer. But what is the question we are asking?
Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is Luke 19 (click here for link).

I always laugh a little when I review the story of the “wee little man” in the Greek. Traditionally, we always see Zacchaeus as a short man who was forced to climb a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus over the crowd. But, in the Greek, it is hard to tell exactly who the “wee little man” was. Did Zacchaeus climb the tree because he was too short to see over the crowd or is it the case that Jesus was short and could not be seen by Zacchaeus except from the vantage point of a sycamore tree?

I bet you have never considered Jesus the short one, have you?

Well… I think I will stick with the traditional interpretation. What really matters is that things change when Zacchaeus meets Jesus. The text says, “He wanted to see who Jesus was…” All he had in mind was getting a better glimpse of a celebrity who happened to be in town. But Zacchaeus got more than he bargained for. He got to see Jesus! Exactly WHO he was—the Son of God and a personal Savior from the corrupting power of sin!

Sin had ruined much of Zacchaeus’ life and reputation; perhaps, without him ever really realizing it—that is, until he meets Jesus. In this “little” story, the Gospel of salvation through grace in Jesus and the resultant sanctification of our lives blends together, beautifully. Do we mirror Zacchaeus on both sides?

Yes… Jesus has come to seek and save the lost. Zacchaeus was lost in more ways than he knew. True meaning and value and purpose for his life had never been realized until he met the ONE who would conquer even death with power of resurrection life.

May we all climb the occasional trees of life, see above the fray, and catch a better glimpse of our Lord.

Like Zacchaeus, I want to see Jesus.
Pastor Aaron

Yesterday I failed to get anything posted because I just never had the chance to sit down and think. So today we pick up with Luke 18 (click here for link).

In the rarely cited parable in Luke 18, Jesus compares God to an Unjust Judge. This judge neither fears God nor cares for humanity. He only grants justice to the poor widow because she constantly harasses him with her petitions. Jesus observes, "And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night?"

The act of nagging God might seem strange to the theologically sophisticated. Can we actually hope to sway the eternal God with the sheer volume of our incessant petitions? Does asking and asking eventually wear God down? The widow in the parable is seeking justice (or vengeance, depending how you translate the Greek). We too offer up prayers of justice in an unjust world. But what good is asking more than once? Unless God is exactly like the unrighteous judge in the parable, in which case we either have to pester him to get what we want or bribe him. Neither method makes a pretty picture of God.

If the parable appears to insult our sense of Almighty God, it also raises basic questions about how the world is governed. We are forced to ponder: If God is good than why is life for his “elect” so often unjust and unfair? Why should we have to beg for justice... and beg, and beg?

It turns out that life is not fair--not to the poor or the poor in spirit, to the comfortable or uncomfortable, to the rich or powerful. Everyone agrees, the world is basically unfair. Just when it gets comfortable, people do surprising things--like die--and we are left holding the empty bag. And apparently there is no judge--neither the one in the parable nor God—who can make or will make unfairness go away. Justice has nothing to do with ridding us of the unfairness of the "changes and chances of this mortal life."

Take the story of Job as an example. Job desperately tries to solve the mystery behind his suffering. He struggles on his own, looking for clues. None appear. Job prays expectantly. God will surely speedily intervene in his life — heal him of his disease and explain to him what in the world is going on. But nothing happens. The horribly painful disease saps Job’s strength. He grows weaker and weaker. Job appeals to God to act before it is too late. At times he even challenges God. Please help me, he cries. Come to me quickly.

Through his agony, Job becomes increasingly confused, perplexed, discouraged, and without hope. In his worst nightmare, Job sees death careening around the corner of his life, ready to run him down. Job knows he is finished. In one place he moans, "My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me.” Even though Job has done nothing wrong and pleads desperately for help, God still chooses to stay hidden. "I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer," Job wails. Job’s tragic circumstances challenge and contradict everything he has always believed about God.

Indeed, God is very much like that for us, as well! But for one thing... Jesus Christ.

Even in the midst of his worst agony, when God seemed cruel or hostile, Job maintains faith that God will act with justice. He is able to say such amazing words of faith as “I know my redeemer lives,” and “Even if my God should slay me, yet will I trust in him.” Yes, living in this world of injustice makes faith in a just God seem impossible, but faith persists, nonetheless.

For the child of God, Jesus means justice even in the midst of injustice. As people of faith, we persist in our prayers and petition to God even when it doesn’t make any sense to do so. We persist even when it seems futile or foolish. We persist because we know, like Job, that God is just. He is just and loving even when he seems cruel or uncaring. We know because he has proven this in the death and resurrection of Christ.

Think of Job again... When God does finally respond to Job, it is interesting that He does not answer any of Job’s questions. He dismisses them entirely. He basically says, “Job you can never know even a tenth of Almighty God. You can’t comprehend me! You can’t even understand how the physical world works; why do you attempt to understand how the moral world works?” Rather God points Job—points each of us—to the one thing we can know for certain: God has proven that he loves us in Jesus Christ and those whom the almighty, unknowable God loves can expect justice in the end.

So... the next time you cry out to God, do you dare be persistent like the poor widow from our reading today? Well... in Philip Yancey’s words: "One bold message in the Book of Job is that you can say anything to God. Throw at him your grief, your anger, your doubt, your bitterness, your betrayal, your disappointment — he can absorb them all."

Never give up throwing Jesus Christ—your advocate with the Father—in the face of God. There is no more powerful prayer in the Universe than the prayer in Jesus’ name. That name means full justice and redemption for each of us one day yet to come. And that prayer can change even the heart of Holy God for a sinner’s cause.

Blessings as you “inwardly digest” these thoughts,
Pastor Aaron

Today’s Reading is Luke 17 (click here for link)

Jesus said, “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down at table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"

This section begins with the disciples asking Jesus to “increase our faith.” Jesus' response is a parable about duty. Is Jesus saying that for a person to have more faith, that person must do his duty? Well… that doesn’t sound right does it? When do we ever claim the Gospel to be “do your duty and God will bless you with faith?”

But that is exactly what Jesus is saying! But here is the key to understanding: While faith and duty are inextricably connected, nevertheless, nothing you do matters in terms of your relationship to God.

Confused???

Strangely, this reading becomes good news as we realize that it doesn’t let us off the hook. It is finally a relief to know that reading one more book, contemplating one more pithy saying, meditating on one more piece of scripture, doing one more good deed, joining one more church organization -- none of these is going to make the difference. It is finally a relief to know that my reward is not going to be greater if I think of God as a boss who will be somehow gratified that I did what I was supposed to do, or even more. It is a relief not to have to spend time worrying about these things.

Rather, the Gospel is simply this: We are servants of our Lord because he has graciously called us into service. He didn’t have to!!! We certainly don’t deserve it! And like any servant, we are replaceable. And yet, God calls us “his” people anyway. He does this out of love. For Pete’s sake, the “Boss” died for his servants! In whom else would we trust and put our faith?

The Christian life then is a response to gracious love. If you see that something needs doing in His kingdom, Jesus is saying, “Don’t pause to wonder how God will reward you for your service, just do it. It is your duty.”

In the end, acting in faith (responding to love) is faithful duty. If we are going to quantify faith, then let’s look at its source: The overwhelming gift of undeserved love. In this case, even faith the size of a mustard seed is powerful stuff!

Have a great day,
P.Aaron

Today’s reading is Luke 16 (click here for link)

I don’t think there is any parable that causes more consternation than the one that begins our reading today: The Parable of the Dishonest Steward. How can a guy who is so clearly crooked and self-seeking be commended for his action, so much so that his action is an example for us on our conduct in the kingdom of God? Seems bizarre, doesn’t it?

Well, I suppose if I were to be preaching on this text, I would now begin the arduous task of pulling out every commentary I own on Luke and parables (and brew gallons of coffee) trying to figure out this problem. But this morning, I don’t want to take the time to do all of that. Instead, let’s just answer one question: What, precisely, is it that the steward does, albeit without authorization and with deception, that Jesus finds so commendable?

The servant forgives! The answer seems a bit too simple. Yet, it's been a moral of great emphasis for Luke so far: FORGIVE. Forgive it all. Forgive it now. Forgive it for any reason you want, or for no reason at all. Just forgive.

Jesus points out that if even the crooked and the self-seeking of this world understand the value and advantage of forgiveness, how much more should we as children of light live in forgiveness and practice forgiveness?

Of course, forgiveness is a hard business to be about. It extends to all facets of life. Can we forgive more often than we are willing to sue? Can we forgive more often than we are willing to defend ourselves? Can we forgive even when it doesn’t seem right or fair?

Why forgive someone who's sinned against us, or against our sense of what is obviously right? We don't have to do it out of love for the other person, if we're not there yet. We could forgive the other person because of that whole business of what we pray in Jesus' name every Sunday morning, and because we know we'd like forgiveness ourselves. We could forgive because we've experienced what we're like as unforgiving people. We could forgive because we know that refusing to forgive so that the other person does not benefit is, as the saying goes, like eating rat poison hoping it will hurt the rat. We could forgive because we are, or we want to be, deeply in touch with a sense of Jesus' power to forgive and free sinners like us. Or we could forgive because we think it will improve our odds of winning the lottery. We could forgive for just about any reason in between.

However, it all boils down to the same thing: deluded or sane, selfish and/or unselfish, there is no bad reason to forgive. Extending the kind of grace God shows us in every possible arena -- financial and moral -- can only put us more deeply in touch with God's grace.

Now, I suppose I should look in some of those commentaries and see if they agree!

Have a forgiving day,
Pastor Aaron

Read Luke 15 (click here for link to text).

There is something funny that has happened to the three accounts found here in Luke 15—the parable of the lost sheep; the widow’s lost coins; and the prodigal son. Each of them are beautiful tales of grace and redemption in their own right, but for some reason the shock and awe have worn off, at least, it can seem that way sometimes. Too often I hear the words, “There was a man with two sons…” and immediately I know where the story is going. Or how often have you heard someone refer to “leaving the 99 to go and find the 1 lost sheep” to reinforce a point about evangelism or some other ministry work?

We know these stories perhaps too well. As a result, I think it is easy to miss the point. Thomas Long, a great teacher of homiletics and preaching, put it this way:

“Maybe it’s just my imagination, but has the parable of the prodigal son become something of a bore lately? I know, I know, this is one of the most beautiful stories of grace in the Bible. And yes, I know this is a powerful archetype of human redemption. And yes, this parable presents a picture of divine acceptance so radical and sweeping that it has sometimes generated astonishment and provoked sputtering outrage.

But the shock value has worn off. Just say the opening line, "There was a man who had two sons," and we know where this one is going. The story has all the bland predictability of a biblical theme park. The awful, relationship-shattering words, "Give me my share of the inheritance," leave us unruffled because we can already hear the musicians tuning up for the joyful dance jig at the end. We are untroubled by the son’s anguished lament, "I am no longer worthy to be called your son," because the aroma of fatted calf roasting on the spit wafts over the narrative, and covers up the fetid stench of the pigsty. Fear not; the boy is coming home. He always does. The road back from the far country is paved and well lit, and we have traveled it many times.

But the power brownout in the prodigal son story is not just the result of over familiarity. Countless repetitions have transformed what was once a parable with trap doors and mysterious and unexpected depths into an Aesop’s fable, an anecdote with a prosaic moral tag. Instead of knocking our socks off with the surprise of the father improbably hiking up his skirts and dashing down the road shouting for joy and calling for "A robe! A ring! And sandals!," the story coos a little cultural wisdom in our ear: "Hey, no matter how badly you have messed up life, pick yourself up. A ready supply of forgiveness is waiting, and you can start over where you left off." The prodigal son becomes the "Comeback Player of the Year," and, as Hartford Courant columnist Jeff Rivers notes, "Everybody comes back. Mary Albert came back. Hugh Grant came back. Mike Tyson came back, Marion Barry came back. . . . It’s a forgiving culture."

"…When we treat the prodigal son as a comeback story, we miss the point. When we say, "Head home, God’s feast is waiting!" we misunderstand. It is not our remorse that forces God to set the banquet table; it is not our deep desire to start over again that leads God to roast the fatted calf. We cannot throw our own party. By all rights, this story ought to end with the younger son sweating in the furrows, eating in the slave quarters and spending his days serving his older brother. So if we prodigals see the father running in our direction with open arms, we should know in our souls that this as an event so unexpected, so undeserved, so out of joint with all that life should bring us, that we fall down in awe before this joyful mystery." (“Surprise Party.” The Christian Century, March 14, 2001, p. 10.)

Yes, we are beggars! All of us!

These parables remind me of when my children disobey the rules Pam and I work so hard to impress upon them. Even though we both understand the need to establish discipline in the lives our children especially when they are young, it just sometimes seems futile, because both of them are under 3 years in age and too young to know much about “remorse” or “repentance” or “apology.” However, even more importantly, we always forgive, love , and encourage them. God loves you and me the same way. The only difference is that we, unlike little children, are perfectly aware of just how unholy we are before God.

We each go through those “dry” spells, where we feel like there is a great distance between us and our Lord and we can’t even imagine how to get back. But our Lord always finds a way for us. He seeks us out in the dry places and returns us to our proper place as his children. And why does he do it? Why does he care so much for people who take Him for granted and wander so frequently? Well… He just does. There is no satisfying answer to that question. He just does! He loves us enough to die for us, and he did!

May the truth of His eternal love bless your day,
Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is Luke 14. (click for link)

Many people are often confused by Jesus words in this chapter about discipleship. How can hating family be in line with what Jesus ordinarily teaches about love? He is a Savior whose constant catch phrase is “love one another as I have loved you.”

Of course, “hate” is a strong word and certainly it is important to note that Jesus is using hyperbole here to amplify his point; however, let’s not use that as an excuse to soften his words so that they are more to our liking. This is serious stuff! Jesus is making one thing painfully and uncomfortably clear: His disciples must always pay very careful attention to their priorities.

Obviously, this need for “hating” ones family would only be necessary if ones faith conflicted with familial relationships. An extreme example would be a Muslim who converts to Christianity and must face the persecution of his loved ones, who often will disown him for his betrayal. But things are rarely that extreme for most of us in the West.

Will your priorities ever mean you choose between following your Lord and following your family? I had a friend at Seminary who struggled with the difficulty of this question.

His family had been Catholic for generations. However, Andrew never felt he was raised “Christian” but just Catholic. As a result he didn’t come to faith until he was almost finished with College. He graduated, got a great job, wife, nice house, etc. His parents thought he had everything they had always wanted for him. He was a success in their eyes.

However, his parents didn’t realize that Andrew’s priorities were beginning to change. He had found the Lord. His passion for following Jesus led him to leave the Catholic tradition and find a theology that he felt was more faithful to the Word of God. He came to Concordia Seminary to train to be a Lutheran pastor. But, this meant leaving a very well paying Job as an engineer and his big house. He and his wife moved half way across the country. Andrew’s parents didn’t understand any of it. His mother locked herself in her room for three days and refused to come out in protest. They told him that he was dishonoring his family. He was throwing away everything. He had gone from being a success to an utter disappointment in his family’s eyes. But Andrew had a new priority.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” Perhaps Andrew’s story is what Jesus was talking about. But Andrew doesn’t really hate his family, he bears with them. It has meant living with criticism and constant appeals to leave this new path he has chosen in life. It has meant loving and still honoring ones parents even when their hopes and dreams for you utterly conflict with your called purpose. It has meant having one’s own children and prayerfully raising them in a family that is now in some ways divided because of you. It has meant bearing a cross—perhaps the heaviest type of cross—the misdirected love from a mother whose maternal love conflicts with one’s calling to be a disciple.

Yes, family can be the most persuasive and destructive force against faith—not for all of us, but for many. It can happen in many ways: A wife living with an unbelieving husband; parents struggling to guide a child who has chosen an ungodly lifestyle; loving a sibling who has hurt you intentionally. These are all crosses that are carried not just in the flash-and-burn conflicts which blow up every so often, but rather in the long lifetime of living out faith and discipleship in the mundane, ordinary interactions with those who share your blood but not your faith convictions. It is perhaps honoring your father and mother even if they don’t honor your Lord.

His Peace,
Pastor Aaron

Today's reading is Luke 13 (click for link to the text)

There is a story that is told about a little Georgia country church about a certain Sunday night in October 1938. Evening prayer services were in full swing when a man named Sam, a member of the congregation who lived down the road from the church, charged into the prayer meeting trembling with fear and excitement. Finally gaining the breath to speak, he shouted, "Martians are attacking the earth in spaceships! Some of ‘em have already landed in New Jersey!" The preacher halted in mid-sentence; the congregation stared at Sam blankly. "I s-s-swear," he stammered, now a little unsure of his footing. "I h-h-heard it on the radio."

What Sam had heard, of course, was Orson Welles’s now infamous Mercury Theater radio production of War of the Worlds, but no one in the congregation was aware of that at the moment. For all they knew, the world outside was coming to a flaming end. The little flock looked apprehensively at the preacher, but he was mute and indecisive, never having had a sermon disrupted by interplanetary invasion. Finally one of the oldest members of the congregation, a red-clay farmer of modest education, stood up, gripped the pew in front of him with his large, callused hands, and said, "I expeck what Sam says ain’t completely true, but if it is true, we’re in the right place here in church. Let’s go on with the meetin’." And so they did.

Spaceships landing in New Jersey? Signs of the end of the world? The old farmer sized it all up, measured it against his rough-hewn view of God and God’s will and decided it was probably a better idea to be in church praising God than gathering guns and ammunition and preparing for war with intergalactic intruders.

According to Jesus, most of us are not nearly as astute as this farmer at reading the signs of the times, at distinguishing what matters and what doesn’t, at discerning what is truly happening in God’s world. Indeed, Jesus says that most of us are far better at meteorology than theology. "You hypocrites!" Jesus thunders. "You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"

Jesus is talking, of course, about “God’s time,” the breaking-in of God’s reign like a thief in the night, plundering and destroying the old order. "Watch for it" Jesus says. "Be on the alert. Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit."

It will never be what we expect. In fact, the more we think we can foresee it, the farther we are from the truth. I remember many people during the last presidential elections making the claim that Obama’s win meant that God must be giving us some sign as a nation, punishing us for our immorality. Others claimed that he was the anti-Christ and that this was sign of the times. But how would Jesus have responded to such wild claims?

"You haven’t a clue," Jesus said, "about how to interpret the present time." No sooner had Jesus issued this challenge than some in the crowd stepped forward. "Don’t say we cannot read the times. How about that terrible incident in the temple, the one where Pilate’s police slaughtered some innocent worshipers from Galilee?"

"No," Jesus responded, "it isn’t a sign. And don’t bother bringing up the tragic case where the tower of Siloam collapsed, killing 18 people," he added. "That is not the kind of sign I mean either."

What is the sign of God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven? Well, we are told that we must watch closely and faithfully, or we will miss it. To give us a hint, Jesus tells a parable about an orchard owner who was frustrated by a barren fig tree and ordered the gardener to cut the tree down. "Sir," pleads the gardener, "let’s nurture it, care for it and give it one more year."

That’s it! That is the sign of the times, the clue to the breaking in of God’s reign; the gracious and patient hand that reaches out to halt the ax, the merciful gesture woven into the fabric of life that attempts to stop all that would give up on the barren and the broken, the merciful voice that says, "Let’s give this hopeless case one more year.” “Let’s reach out to our changing community even if it is racially or ethnically different than us.” “Let’s forgive our brother or neighbor or employer for the wrongs they have committed against us rather than holding a grudge against them for life.” “Let’s not give up on the power of God’s love and mercy.”

"Even now," cried John the Baptist, "the ax is lying at the root of the trees." But Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord has sent me to bring good news to the poor and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Let’s give this one more year. Yes evil will come and will go, and will come again and will go… but our Lord calls us to look beyond, over the horizon and see that God is very much in control, and in light of that certainty, to know that we are called to be light in the darkness, to point the world to that which lies just beyond the vale—and that vale is about to be lifted, any moment now.

Peace to you today as you bring that certainty to an uncertain world,
Pastor Aaron

Today’s Reading is Luke 12 (click here for link).

Perhaps I have mentioned this before, but I am an avid gardener. I mean it! Much to my wife’s dismay, I have transformed more than half of our back yard into garden soil. In fact, Pam was making fun me last night for spending half an hour looking at heirloom seeds online. (Call me a dork if you like, but I just couldn’t decide which ones I wanted to grow this year.)

Well, those who know me best know that if it hadn’t been for the Lord calling me to ministry, I would have wound up a farmer of some sort. And, while getting out and getting dirty is one of the most relaxing things I can think of to relieve a stressful week, nevertheless, gardening and church work don’t always go well together. Why? Well, the busiest times of the year in the church—Lent and Easter—just so happens to coincide with the busiest time of the gardening season—Spring! All this beautiful weather has made getting dressed and heading into the office particularly difficult these days. But I am sure all of you outdoorsy people in understand my struggles. Spring is just an addictive, period.

However, there is no better time to celebrate the highest season of the Church year. It is Easter now. Easter and spring go together like seeds and soil. The new growth of flowers and plants and the spring birth of animal life in one sense is a great reminder of our gift of life in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His emerging from the tomb of death into glorious life means new life for each of us. Let me repeat that again… It means new life for each of us… NOW! Easter is not just about eternal life, it is about NEW LIFE. REAL LIFE!

Now, while we must as be careful not to let little bunnies and eggs and the silliness of the secular world overshadow our true reason for celebrating Easter, nonetheless, take joy in the beauty of spring and never forget that new life is yours in Christ—life which will always emerge from death and darkness.

But let’s explore this a little bit more:

In our reading today, Jesus gives his disciples (and all who hear) a lesson on resurrection living—even though his resurrection has not yet happened. Jesus understands that death and darkness are yet to come. He says, “I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed” (vs. 50). In fact, this world is—and will always be—characterized by death and darkness. And while baptism does mean we have the hope of eternal life, we must not forget that our baptism does not release us from death but rather, forever connects us to death—Jesus’s death (Romans 6). Like winter is necessary for spring, so death now, because of sin, is necessary for life in God’s salvation plan.

He calls us today to have eyes that see life even in death, light even in darkness. Our baptism promises life even in death. Thus our lives are now lived seeing life even in what seems hopeless death. How else could Christians deal with the evil things that happen in this world? Therefore, Jesus, says be watchful and be ready! Don’t worry, even when the darkness in life seems great. Troubles and worries and calamity will always seem eminent. Every day has its own set of problems. But God calls us to see beyond the events of days and directs our attention to eternity. In God’s great time, the darkness of winter will give way to the eternal life of spring.

Yes, Jesus has much to say to us today. Resurrection life in this world is not going to be easy. Living for life in a world of death never is. But don’t be afraid. No amount of death or darkness can separate you from Him. He is risen! Alleluia!

Now, I wonder how long those seeds are going to take to get here?

Have a great day,
Pastor Aaron

Blessed Good Friday. Today will be the last post until the 12th of April when we will resume with Luke 11. Today I provide you with the Good Friday Sermon that will be preached tonight at 7:00 p.m. May the Lord hold you in the resurrection hope!

Sermon--Good Friday 2010

In his marvelous book author and pastor Tony Campolo points out the great and dynamic distinction in the Christian life—a life constantly juxtaposed between the darkness of Good Friday and the Living Hope in the Sunday Resurrection . I’d like to share a portion of it with you now:

Campolo writes, “ It was Friday, and my Jesus was hanging dead from the tree. But that was Friday, and Sunday's coming.

It was Friday, and Mary was crying her eyes out. The disciples were running in every direction, like sheep without a shepherd, but that was Friday, and Sunday's coming.

It was Friday. The cynics were looking at the world and saying you can't change anything in this world, so why even try. See what it got Jesus? But those cynics didn't realize that that was Friday, and Sunday's a coming.

It was Friday. And on Friday, those forces of darkness that oppress and destroy were in control. But that was Friday. Sunday's coming.

It was Friday, and on Friday Pilate thought he had washed his hands of a lot of trouble. The Pharisees were strutting around, laughing and poking each other in the ribs. They thought they were back in charge of things. But, they didn't know that it was only Friday. Sunday's coming.”

Have you ever looked at your life that way? I’ll tell you, it makes all the difference in the world. Are you going to stay living in the events of Good Friday or are you willing to go beyond? To look beyond the present horizon, through the dark and terrible night, and know that Sunday is still a comin’?

I fear too many people, who profess faith in Christ, live as if Good Friday is the end of the road. They live as if Sunday never came or will ever come. But I'm here to tell you, Jesus was dead, as dead as dead can be, but now he is alive, and because he lives, we can live beyond the Fridays of this world—the Fridays of this life.

Make no mistake about it, the Friday's hurt. Sometimes they look as if they might even be permanent, but for the Christian, Friday always gives way to Sunday. For the Christian, after death there is always the resurrection. In the midst of sorrow there is comfort. In the middle of trials and tribulations there is always hope!
That’s what Good Friday is all about: Hope in the midst of suffering; Comfort in the midst of sorrow; Resurrection in the midst of death. Not because of anything we have done, but it is all ours because of what Christ has done for us as our sacrifice.

The book of Hebrews says, “But he (Jesus Christ) has now appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:26-28).
The book of Hebrews was written to people who were being tempted to leave the true faith. They may have been tempted by persecution, or hardship. They may have been tempted, which is more likely the case, by false teachers who wanted to bring them back to the old time religion of the Jews. Whatever the case was this was the author’s way of saying to the people in the midst of their trials and temptations: Hang in there. Your trials will pass. Your temptations will come to an end. Right now you are experiencing the pain of Friday but Sunday’s comin'.

Remember, friends who are dearly loved by God, because Jesus sacrificed himself for you, your Friday’s are not permanent. Your Friday’s must give way to resurrection Sunday! THEY MUST!!! It can be no other way. For Jesus died to take away your sin. Jesus paid the price in full. He suffered the penalty of death for us. That is why the Scriptures triumphantly declare, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.” We are free from sin and the condemnation it brings. And sure… Fridays do come, even for God’s people. Pain, suffering, hurt and sorrow are all things we experience. They are realities of living in a Good Friday World! But through it all remember Sunday’s coming. And that means victory is at hand!

And I don’t mean vague and spiritual, I mean specific… So let me get specific:

For some people it’s Friday in their marriage. It is coming apart at the seams, but remember, it is only Friday, and Sunday's coming. Nothing brings new life into a dead marriage like the Resurrected Jesus. For some, it is Friday and you might be struggling with some particular sin which is dragging you down and it looks as if it is going to pull you under, but it's only Friday. Sunday's coming. The Resurrected Lord has promised in His Word that “sin shall no long be your master” because in your Baptism you were given power for living a new life to the glory of God.

For some, it is Friday, and the bills keep rolling in, and the pressure keeps mounting because times are tough, and you are on a fixed income. But it’s only Friday. Sunday's coming. And the resurrected Jesus has promised that even as he cares for the birds of the air and the lillies of the field so he cares for you not just spiritually but also physically.

It is Friday and someone you love may be suffering and you don't know how you are ever going to cope, but my friends, it's Friday. Sunday's coming. The same Jesus who bound up the broken hearted in the Gospels is the same Jesus who promises to mend our broken hearts as he applies the healing balm of the Gospel to our lives. He will give you the strength to go on, until you finish the race, until He brings to completion the good work He has begun in you.

And yes, today is Good Friday, and we remember that on that fateful day, outside of Jerusalem, on a place called Golgotha, Jesus really and truly breathed his last and he really and truly died. And that news in and of itself is not good at all. And it’s hard not to be touched by Christ’s pain. It is hard not to be touched by the blessed suffering of God’s Son. Through it all, we must remember that God was in control of the event of Good Friday. He was working out his plan to bring us live, forgiveness and peace. I have no idea who ever first decided to call the day Jesus died: “Good Friday,” but whoever did it new Sunday was coming.

And yes, on one Friday every last one of us will die as our Savior once died, but, that will be a Friday, and Sunday is coming. For the same Lord who said, “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest,” is also the one who has promised to say to all who finish the race and die in the one true faith, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”

May you find hope and comfort this Good Friday, and all the Fridays of life, in the assurance that Sunday is coming! Amen.