Mar 31 - "A Troubled Soul"

"Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? And why are you so disquieted within me?" --- Psalm 42 *********************************

Our souls can feel empty at times. We feel out of sorts, restless, looking for something and we don't know why or what we are looking for. We all have these times, every once in awhile, that we just feel a bit lost and confused. Why do we experience this?

As my wife Greta can attest, I have these times. She always knows I have something bothering me well before I do. Over a period of days...sometimes longer...she'll lovingly ask me, "Is everything OK?". Of course, as a male of the species, my initial response is most often, "No, I'm fine." When this lost feeling takes the edge of irritability, I tend to follow this statement, in a not-very-nice tone, "It must be you. Is everything OK with you?!?". Certainly not my best and loving self and not a nice way to treat your best friend.

But, by merely having the question asked of me, I start to look within. "Is there something wrong?", I ask myself. As I begin the process of introspection and self-examination, I usually come up blank at first. If this lost feeling continues for too long, I can become grumpy, irritated, not too fun to be around. When I realize this is happening, I call out to God in prayer. Eventually, I remember to offer this up to Him and pray for guidance, assistance, answers.

If nothing else, this is one of the greatest pieces of evidence, to me, that we are more than just a bag of chemicals walking around. We have souls, a spiritual part of ourselves that is separate and distinct from the physical part. If we were just physical beings that evolved out of the sludge and into our current form over millions of years, we would not have these feelings, these internal struggles.

Over time, hopefully not too long, God delivers the answer too me. Most often, the answer was there all along. If I had just started with a simple prayer, asking for God to guide me through the situation, I never would have gotten to the point where my struggle was visible to others. But, I am still a work in progress...eventually I will learn...God isn't finished with me yet.

So, when you feel troubled, lost or empty, stop...dwell on this emptiness in prayer. Offer your lack of direction or confusion up to God. Ask Him, "Lord, what are you calling me to do?". Then...listen. When we quiet our minds, we are offering ourselves up to God and allowing Him to bring us the answers that can calm our troubled souls and bring us peace.

Mar 30 - "Forgive"

"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us." --- Romans 5:1-11 *************************************

Do you ever have times when you give a gift to someone who is undeserving of that gift?

We certainly find ourselves in situations, especially with our children, where they may have misbehaved...but, it is their birthday; are we to hold back their gifts? There are also times when someone commits a minor offense against us and we are able to say "no big deal", let it go and continue offering our love or friendship to that person. It is important to not confuse forgiveness as a lack of discipline or punishment. If a child steals a toy from a playmate, or hits or throws a tantrum, we can't just say, "oh I forgive you little one". Doing this would result in some pretty nasty consequences with everyone running around stealing, hitting and throwing tantrums because they never learned it was wrong. Discipline teaches respect; punishment shows there are consequences to action. But, these can be combined with forgiveness, not sitting apart from it, as a way to complete the healing related to an offense.

In general, when we are wronged by a friend, loved one, parent, child or family member...even a stranger...we are conditioned to expect an apology or some other type of recompense. It feels like a pretty simple cycle, especially when the offense is accidental or the result of some minor negligence. We see that apology and our resulting forgiveness as completing the process or repairing the relationship. But what happens when the person does not apologize or ask for your forgiveness? What is the example given to us in Christ or in God's gift of His Son to us?

When we hold onto that forgiveness, not giving to the person whom we need to forgive, how does that make us feel? When we have been wronged and desire an apology from the offender, we keep anger, sometimes hate, inside of us. It brews, boils and can sometimes eat us up inside. It can be even worse when the person from whom you are expecting forgiveness does not think they owe you an apology. Or, even when they know you deserve an apology and won't give one!

Is it hard to forgive? Yes! But don't we feel better when we do it? Yes!

So, simply...forgive. Release the pain which you are holding onto. Know that when we offer forgiveness when it is not deserved, we are modeling ourselves after the One who gave us forgiveness when we did not deserve it...and aren't we thankful He did!

Mar 29 - "One On One"

"Jesus said, 'Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?'. The crowd answered, 'You have a demon!'." --- John 7:14-36 **************************************

More often than not, the crowds do not like Jesus. Yes, He had did have situations where a group of people sat and listened faithfully to His words...even the Five Thousand. But, it seems that mostly, whenever a crowd was around, it was easy for people to be incited against Jesus.

My favorite stories about Jesus are when He is speaking to a very small group, or especially, with a person one on one. Christ's individual interactions with the woman at the well, Nicodemus and Peter all showed Jesus at His most powerful, yet in some ways, His most gentle. Could you imagine what it would have been like to have a conversation with Jesus? Just you and Him. To have Him minister to you individually in a setting where you were able to ask anything, tell anything, weep or be held and comforted. Now, granted, He might speak to you in the form of a parable or in some other way that is not abundantly clear at the time what He is trying to tell you. Nonetheless, it would be an amazing experience.

But, brothers and sisters, we have that opportunity every moment of every day! When you are in prayer, Jesus is sitting right next to you, listening and answering. When you show love or generosity in a way that only you and He know, He is standing next to you, smiling and saying, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant.' When you weep and cry out, His arms are around you, giving comfort that only He can give, weeping along with you. When you spend time in the Gospels, reading about His life, seeing the things He said, He is speaking to you and only you.

So, take time to be one on one with Jesus. Just as your soul thirsts for this perfect companion and deliverer, this mighty counselor, this marvelous comforter, He also longs to be one on one with you.

Mar 28 - "Demons"

"They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before Him; and he shouted at the top of his voice, 'What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure You by God, do not torment me.', for He had said to him, 'Come out of the man you unclean spirit!'" --- Mark 5:1-20 ***************************** Here is Jesus again, as we saw yesterday, making no effort to hide who He is. This man who was tormented by demons comes to Him, and Jesus, with a few words, casts these evil spirits out of this wretched soul. Even the demons know who He is, addressing Him as "Son of the Most High God." What do most of us do today when we see someone "possessed" by unclean spirits? I am not talking about a pea-soup-spitting, head-rotating, evil-voiced possession, a la 'The Exorcist'. I'm talking about that person we see who is controlled by some addition or other self-imposed state; alcohol, drugs, crime...a homeless person on the street we pass by, as they beg for money. At best, we turn our head the other way and try to ignore the situation. At worst, we persecute the person, gossip about their affliction or ridicule them for their issues. Let's be honest; we all do it. But, what does Jesus do? He recognizes that it is the demons, not the man, who has caused him to stray from the flock. It is possible that the man lived a life that allowed or enabled these demons to possess him? Could it be that he even purposefully brought these evil spirits into his life? We don't know, by Christ sees that there is a lost sheep in front of Him, whose soul desires to be clean. He shows His love for this man by releasing him from the things that possessed him. How do the people who witnessed this exorcism react? They are scared...they are not sure what they just saw. They do not understand what has happened and are fearful. This Man controlled the demons; could He be one Himself? Could He be in partnership with this demonic legion who possessed the man? Instead of rejoicing in the miracle of a healing, they tell Jesus to leave. What would we do? How do we react when we see others ministering or associating with those we consider to be unclean? Do we invite Jesus in or send Him away? In spite of surely knowing how the people would react, Jesus still puts Himself and risk and saves this one lost sheep. We should be very glad that He was willing to do this...and will still do it today. Each of us is lost at some point. We may have the good fortune of not being possessed like this man was, by evil spirits and thoughts, addiction or affliction, but Jesus is willing to remove any of these things which possess us. So, call out to Jesus, Son of the Most High God. Ask Him to remove those things which possess and cause separation from the flock. Jesus can see the person you are underneath that which possesses you. Know that He is the Good Shepherd and He deeply desires that you, as one of His lost sheep, can be washed clean by His sacrifice and released.

Mar 27 - "God's Time"

"Jesus said to them, 'My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify against it that its works are evil...'" --- John 7:1-13 ********************

"Patience is a virtue." How many times did I hear that while I was growing up?

We are an impatient people. Every day we are trying to find ways to make things faster, more efficient, happen sooner. Technology is a significant enabler and burden associated with this impatience. Remember when you would have to write (not type) a letter, put it in an envelope, stamp and address it, put it in the mail...then wait for a response from the other person days or weeks later? Today, when we send an email to someone, we can become frustrated when they don't respond that same hour or same day. "What's taking so long?!?", we ask ourselves.

Similarly, we not only want it faster, but we want more of it. We make plans on how to bring the things we want to us in abundance. We structure our lives around how we can achieve Our Plans. More money this year, not next. Lose weight in 2 weeks...not 2 months. The bigger house, nicer car, more extravagant vacations, now, now, now!

What's so amazing to me about this story from Jesus' life is that, even with something as seemingly trivial as having patience, He has it perfectly...as He did in all things. He has the power of the universe at His fingertips. All God's army of angels are at His disposal. He has to but speak the word and mountains would crumble, enemies would fall. But He knows that God has a plan. He knows that all things will come in the time which God has appointed and not one moment before. He tells His disciples "don't rush things". Although He is now a wanted man and He knows He will eventually go into Jerusalem for His trial and crucifixion; now is not yet the time.

When I think about all of the times in my life where I have wanted something to happen based on my calendar, based on when I think that thing should occur...and it did not occur as I wanted it to...I realize how blessed I am that God does not let me have my way. Think about all of the things we pray for, hope for and desire. We look at the world and our lives through the lens of this moment. God sees things through the lens of eternity. How can we think that our plans are better than His?

So, dear friends, let us have patience. The Lord says, "Be still and know that I am God!". Realize that we get "our way" when we align ourselves with God's plan for each of us and that His plan, the gifts and blessings He has in store for us, are greater than we can ask for or imagine.

Mar 26 - "A Cycle Broken"

"They know no limits in deeds of wickedness; they do not judge with justice; the cause of the orphan to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy. Shall I not punish them for these things, says the Lord, and shall I not bring retribution on a nation such as this?" --- Jeremiah 5:20-31

"For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by His blood, effective through faith. --- Romans 3:19-31

In my bible study at church on Sunday mornings, we have spent the past couple of months strolling from Genesis, through Joshua and Judges, then onto 1 Kings. One of the things each of us in the group has noted is the continual process the people of Israel went through during this time in history. God would deliver them from some great challenge or give them all they asked for, but after a seemingly short amount of time, they would stray. Often, they would start worshiping other Gods, or perpetrate sinful acts in great abundance with an apparent complete loss of memory related to the great deeds God had done or gifts He had given to them. No one seemed to be able to "stick with God"; not even great men of the Bible like David and Solomon, with whom God directly interacted, were immune from this pattern.

While observing this endless cycle of disregard for God's miracles, we say to each other, "How could they do this? They saw God's miracles directly...even spoke with God at times...and they still wandered away?!?" Yet, we see it again and again through the historical portions of the Old Testament. God delivers...we accept His gifts...we forget...we go astray...we return to Him...the cycle continues.

In Jeremiah, God seems to have reached His final breaking point. He promised after the Flood, never to destroy the world and all of humanity again. In order to get their attention this time, He decides to put them into captivity, taking them away from their Promised Land for a generation. Maybe this time His Chosen People will finally realize that He has control and can take things away permanently if they do not follow His laws and recognize the beauty, peace and wonder associated with a belief in the one true God. But, of course...even after Jeremiah's prophecy and the pain of Lamentations, the next book in the Old Testament, the cycle continues.

How is this cycle finally broken? God, as a part of His plan from the beginning of time, now takes a different approach. Can you see the contrast between the two scripture readings from the Daily Office today? In Jeremiah, He says, our sins will be punished. In the other, from Paul's letter to the Romans, His perfect grace and mercy is shown in the gift of His Son. We are forgiven. Yes...we all are still sinners and can never be perfect, but our debt is paid in full. How fortunate are we to be living on this side of Christ's redemptive sacrifice!

I used to think that the process God went through over time was that He finally figured out how to get through to us. The vengeful God and disciplinarian of the Old Testament "matured" into the loving Father of the New Testament. Just as I have become a wiser father over time, God did the same. But, that is not really the case. God's Plan for all of us for all of time was known by Him before the beginning of creation. He knows every step and choice we will make. The roller coaster process the ancient Israelites went through...sin, punishment, redemption...again and again served a divine purpose to show us that there are various ways for this relationship to work. Had Christ come at the beginning of time, we would not be able to fully appreciate the power of being forgiven...for everything...forever.

So, rejoice in the fact that we don't have to "learn the hard way", as those who lived before Jesus came into the world. Be thankful that the cycle was broken by a perfect sacrifice, of Christ crucified, dying and rising again in order that we will live forever.

Mar 25 - "Bad Days"

"It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings." --- Hebrews 2:5-10
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Are you having a bad day? A bad week...month...year...years? Has your life seemingly been on one continuing string of hard times and bad luck?

We all have these times. They can come in the form of something small, such as that person who cuts you off in traffic, picking the wrong and very slow line at the grocery store or just one of those general "grumpy" times we have for apparently no reason. However, these times can also be major life changes and tragic events such as losing your job or other economic hardship, a chronically debilitating illness or even the death of a close friend of family member. All of these things cause us to suffer, bring us pain.

The topic of why we suffer and why we have to experience pain while in our human form has been debated and discussed for probably as long as we have existed. I won't try, in a short posting, to offer some explanation as to why this happens; why bad things sometimes happen to us. Some would say, "It builds character"; "No pain, no gain"; "The sweet ain't as sweet without the bitter". But all of these points of view don't really offer anything besides a way to deal with the suffering and endure it.

Let me offer, though, that even God is not beyond suffering. During Jesus' life, we see Him experience sadness, torment, loss and great pain as He went up to death. All of these things happened so that we would be able to see that these things are an unfortunate part of our life on earth. Yes, suffering often makes us better, as gold is refined in the crucible, but even though it is hard, we can see that God was also willing to suffer for us in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ.

So, when you suffer, look to Jesus as your companion. Recognize that He also suffered as a man while on the earth with us. He felt pain, loss and death, just as we have and we will. Know that our God loves us so much the He too was willing to suffer with us and for us...and along side us even today. But also be comforted that even though we have a partner in our suffering in Jesus, this too shall pass and we will certainly be with Him at the end of our days in a place where there is no pain and suffering will be a distant, faded memory.

Mar 24 - "The Jesus Requirement"

"Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him." --- John 5:19-29
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Why do we have to believe in Christ in order to have a life with God? I really find this message challenging to deal with, at times. A corollary to today's scripture is Matthew 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." If taken literally, these can be daunting and potentially exclusionary concepts.

The thing I probably struggle with the most is that I don't want anyone to be excluded from a relationship with God. When I think about going through our lives without the hope of something better, no Father whom we can rely upon for help in times of trouble, it feels scary and empty. Without Christ, what is the fate of the Muslim, the Hindu, the Shinto, the Buddhist...or even the Atheist? What about those who have never even had the opportunity to learn about Jesus...some indigenous tribe deep in the Amazonian rain forest or other similarly-isolated peoples? Are they automatically damned to an eternity outside of Heaven? There are many in the Christian faith who believe this to be true and it can be a key reason some people make the decision against believing in God and his Son Jesus Christ. It does feel quite exclusionary. In my belief, everyone goes to Heaven...no exceptions (I'll leave that topic for another day.)

But, as with many things written in different languages, historical contexts and a lack of direct knowledge as to the specific intent of the author, maybe the words "does not honor" and "no one comes...except" can have a alternate meaning. Is it possible that these phrases were intended to serve as words of guidance and facilitation as opposed to exclusion and restriction? How would theses phrases take on a different meaning if they were stated with more detail? What if Jesus said, "The most efficient, enriching and satisfying way of having a relationship with and understanding the Father is by recognizing the power of the sacrifice My life represented. By thinking about and living the messages I gave to you while I was with you on earth, the path to heaven which you walk while on earth will be easier and more fulfilling as you set a course for an eternal life with God."; would that mean something different?

When these messages are taken in the context of Jesus as the Great Facilitator, the Perfect Catalyst, the Holy Enabler (sorry if these sound a bit heretical), the appearance of exclusion is transformed to a message of absolute inclusion.

So, honor the Son; come to the Father through Jesus. By making the choice to learn about and fall in love with Jesus Christ, we are allowing ourselves to realize the full potential, the maximum benefit of a life with God at the center.

Mar 23 - "Signs and Wonders"

"Then Jesus said to him, 'Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.' The official said to Him, 'Come down before my little boy dies.' Jesus said to him, 'Go; your son will live.' The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. So he asked the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, 'Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.' The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus said to him, 'Your son will live.' So, he himself believed, along with his whole household." --- John 4:43-54
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What does it take to believe?

It seems that I have always believed. Yes, there have been times when my faith was shaken and I was not sure God existed or, even if He did exist, I wanted no part of what He had to offer. But, besides those dry and questioning times that most of us experience, I have pretty much lived surrounded by a life in the church with faith in God being a central part of my existence. There was never, even after the period when I questioned my faith, a miracle moment, a "born again" experience or some other major event which caused me to shout out, "I believe!!".

In my Monday night sessions with the Jehoshua House team at Hamilton County Jail, we have the opportunity to hear from our team and from the inmates, experiences where, through some miracle, their life was turned around. We are witness to the testimony of their lives being at rock bottom, calling out to God and being saved. These men were shaken out of their painful existence and thrown into the flowing river of a life with God and Jesus Christ at the center of their lives.

But what about us who have continually been in this river of faith? Even though we haven't always drunk deeply of the Living Water which refreshes our souls, we've waded, swam against the current, hit a sand bar at times or flowed easily downstream. We've not necessarily experienced miracles which caused our faith to deepen; major events which turned us from our old lives to something new. But, does that mean these miracles don't exist? Is it OK to pray for "a sign", reaching out to God and asking Him to deliver something miraculous?

Miracles are funny things, I think. One of my favorite sayings comes from a song by Sheryl Crow, where she says, "Making miracles is hard work, some people give up before they happen." Miracles don't have to be these giant events like parting the Red Sea, water to wine, amazing healing from the brink of death or raising Lazarus. They can be little things like a hug from a child when you are feeling low; a beautiful sunset showing the majesty of God's creation, filling you with the Spirit; a kind word or simple act of charity you give to a stranger. All of these things are signs of God working in the world and the full realization of sacrifice Jesus made for all of us.

So, it's OK to pray for signs and wonders. Sometimes it's what it takes to strengthen our faith. But be on watch for the little things. If we open our eyes and our hearts to the miracles which occur around us every day, we will believe.

Mar 22 - "Patient Prayer"

"Hear my cry, oh God, and listen to my prayer. I call upon you from the ends of the earth with heaviness in my heart; set me upon the rock that is higher than I." --- Psalm 61
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Waiting for God to answer your prayers is really hard sometimes. We are an impatient people. In today's fast-paced, text-messaging, status-updating, continually "connected" world, we struggle with being patient while an answer or response comes to one of our queries.

Last fall, Greta and I were questioning whether the church we attend was the right place for us to be. Even though we had been attending regularly and participating in various ministries here and there, for some reason after almost two years, were just not feeling connected. One of the challenges is that we have had two pretty amazing church experiences in our time together as a family. Our church when we lived in Florida, St. Andrew, as well as St. Lawrence, when we lived in Chicago, were wonderful communities where we felt enriched in ways which grew our faith materially during our time at each.

We prayed about this for quite some time, probably over a period of a few months. After talking to our daughters about it, we even tried another church one Sunday. As this continued, we decided to give our church one more shot. We "dug in", per se, to all that it had to offer; Maddy and I sang in the choir over Advent, Greta stepped into teaching Sunday school more often and we made special efforts to arrange our schedule, allowing us to participate in activities outside of the normal worship services. Of course, we continued to pray about it.

This past Sunday, I looked back on this time where we did not know if we were in the right place and realized, wow, God is great! Our prayers had been answered. Over the course of these past few months, we have felt wonderfully connected and enriched by the people of Holy Family Episcopal Church. It was as if God opened our eyes to the blessings which had been around us the whole time. We absolutely love our small but strong community of believers and see great things happening. All it took was time, patience and prayer...and God delivered!

So, be patient in your prayer. Allow God the time to work His miracles in your life. Do not assume that, just because your answer did not come immediately, God isn't putting things in place that will give you great blessings, if you only wait just a little bit.

Mar 21 - "Burning Embers"

"For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gifts to strengthen you -- or rather, so that we may be mutually encouraged by each others' faith, both yours and mine." --- Romans 1:1-15
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Do you ever feel like you are in a dry time, spiritually? Are there points when you just don't feel as connected to God?

I recently heard a story, told by one of my new friends, Travis, who participates with me in the ministry of Jehoshua House. On Monday evenings a good-sized group of men and women head up to Hamilton County Jail and spend time with the inmates there, teaching a short course in Christianity. During these sessions, one of our group gets up to give a talk about one element of our Faith, also giving testimony to how this particular topic has played a part in their lives. We then break into small groups with the inmates and discuss the topic of that session. This past week, Travis told us the following story.

"A man was sitting with his friend next to a warm fire one evening, talking about how he was troubled at the current condition of his faith walk. He was telling his friend that he had started having this feeling of being a bit lost a few months back; work and family life was busy; Sunday mornings had changed from time spent in worship to time spent working or on the golf course.

As this conversation progressed and the fire they were sitting next to burned down to coals, the man's friend reached into the fireplace with metal tongs and pulled one of the bright embers from the fire and placed in alone on the stone hearth. While the man continued to share his story, the ember cooled and darkened, losing its heat and fire.

After a bit, while continuing to listen patiently, the man's friend placed the cold and dark ember back into the hot coals from which it had originally been taken. While the man finished telling his story to the friend, the ember which had been dark and without warmth, returned to its former brightness, as the other burning embers shared their heat and light.

The man saw this and realized what he needed to do."

Paul's letter to the Romans opens with a wonderful reminder of how we can refresh ourselves in those dry times. Not only does he want to be with his friends in order to encourage them and build up their faith, he also realizes that being with them will encourage, brighten and warm him too. Just as Paul knew that the source of his continuing spiritual renewal was to be in a community of believers, I have recognized the power of my family's weekly time at our church, but also the encouragement of spirit I receive each week when I spend time with the brothers of Jehoshua House and my new friends at Hamilton County Jail.

If you are not in a church community where you are feeling warmed, brightened and renewed, it's time to find a new church. But before making that choice, make sure you think about how you might need to be the burning ember in the fire to someone else. By sharing your heat and light, you also have the opportunity to be refreshed in the spirit. If you are not regularly attending worship with friends, I encourage you to find a place to do so.

So, return to the fire. Where two or three are gathered, Christ is also there. Allow yourself to be warmed and brightened by the spirit of those who are around you, worshiping and being in relationship with one another.

Mar 20 - "Our Temple"

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's spirit dwells in you? --- 1 Corinthians 3:11-23
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Have you ever lived in a house or apartment that was built with shoddy materials or obviously not well-constructed to pass the test of time? Does this abode look good from the outside, maybe even has a strong foundation, but because the wood for the framing is of low quality or the shingles on the roof are carelessly placed, it is falling apart, year by year? Would you think that maybe the house was built with good materials, but there has been no maintenance or care given over time, or it was misused and not repaired?

The question today's scripture brings to mind for me is, what materials am I using to build my temple? With what am I surrounding and filling myself up on a daily basis that become the structure for which God dwells in my life? Let me tell you, I have certainly run the spectrum on this one. There have been times in my life where I placed myself, in body and mind, very far from an ideal temple. The Cardinal Sins come to mind: Gluttony, Sloth, Lust, Envy, Pride and Anger, to name a few. Spending too much time in each of these vices at various times in my life have caused (and continue to cause, at times) me to build a temple that was easily crumbled, breaking apart again and again.

I am a fan of Christian music. My satellite radio, much to my daughters' chagrin at times, is pretty much always tuned to the Message. Just as with popular/secular music, there is good, great and awesome songs as well as the fair, poor and terrible. But overall, I think listening to these songs is one way to surround myself with the positive...the uplifting...and, at times, the awesomely beautiful and holy. One the other hand, my satellite radio also offers at least two stations of Howard Stern, the Playboy channel and a comedy channel with jokes, stories and commentary that offer a continual stream trash (funny trash, but trash nonetheless). It is the same with what I am reading, watching, surfing...the people I surround myself with...there is the wonderful and the terrible at every turn.

If Lucifer exists (we'll leave that discussion for another day), don't you think that he cackles when we do things that degrade or destroy our bodies or our minds? When we fill our minds with gossip, profanity, hatred, are we not putting our very being at risk, the being through which we are compelled to preach the Good News? When we commit these sins, because Christ has written the Law on our hearts, we feel bad about ourselves, we feel unworthy, we hide ourselves from the presence of God in our shame. Satan smiles.

What are we doing to ourselves?!? How can we build up our temple in this way?!?

I realize that some of you, faithful readers, may be thinking that this is self-righteous, holier-than-thou, puritanical criticism which I am pontificating out to each of you. Please believe me, my fellow brothers and sisters in this journey, these thoughts and words are probably more about my own self-examination than trying to push some message of guilt onto you.

So, dear friends, think about what you are using to build your temple. With what do you surround yourself on a daily basis? Are you making it a worthy vessel, strong to fight the good fight on behalf of Jesus Christ? Or, are you setting up a leaning tower, ready to be tipped at the slightest pressure of responsibility? Start today with fresh materials, strong timbers, sturdy planks, clean fuel. Let us make our temples a reflection of our thanksgiving, a form of praise for the wonderful gift of life we have been given, in order that we might proclaim, His Word and march onward in strength.

Mar 19 - "Joseph's Call"

"When Joseph awoke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife..." --- Matthew 1:18-25
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In general, when considering the men in the Bible, there seems to be two types: those who push back from God's call, and those who take action immediately without question when He asks them to act.

We see plenty of examples where men, when in the presence of God, seem to fight with Him a bit over the course He is asking them to take. Consider these: Moses, who questioned whether he was the right man for the job; Jonah, who ran in the other direction when told to go to Ninevah; even Jesus, acting as a man would who is in great fear, asked if God "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me..." . Of course, these men ended up doing great things on behalf of God, but it sometimes took them awhile to get with the program.

On the other hand, think about those who took immediate action: Noah, who took on the work of, what appeared at the time, to be a crazy man; Abraham, who was ready to sacrifice his son Isaac without question; Samuel, David and Daniel who, even as boys, stepped forward without question to heed God's call. Joseph falls into the category of great men who, with the simplest faith, acted. Can you imagine the pressure which would have been upon Joseph to take a different course of action? You can tell he was a man of utmost honor because he was going to allow things to end quietly and without embarrassment to Mary or his family. Many men in the same situation would have chosen to end up on Jerry Springer, publicly calling out his "unfaithful" wife.

How often do we we heed God's call without question? You may say, "But God has never asked me to do anything...how can I answer His call to me?". Joseph was spoken to in a dream; not by God directly. Maybe God is calling you in a way that is much less direct than a burning bush, a booming voice from heaven or even an angel in a dream. Maybe he is calling you via a tough request from a friend for help; a committee member at church, needing extra hands; or even, being witness to some form of injustice or wrong that occurs in the course of your daily life. We often find ourselves...I know I do...thinking of excuses as to why we cannot or do not want to help in these situations.

So, think about what God may be calling you to do. Are you open to the call? Will you act without question or delay? When the call comes, in whatever form, we can show our faith in a simple "yes, I will help". Is it a scary? Yes. But, God will not ask for something we cannot do.

Mar 18 - "One Thing"

"So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord your God and His decrees that I am commanding you today, for your own well-being." --- Deuteronomy 10: 12-22
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We are busy people. It seems nowadays that whenever I talk to someone at work, friends, family...everyone is trying to balance the multitude of things brought into our lives, by choice or by circumstance, focusing on more than a few things at any given time. In consideration of our busy-ness, can you imagine what it would be like to only have to focus on one thing and one thing only?

In today's scripture, Moses is speaking to the the people of Israel, near the end of his life, after they have been wandering around in the desert for forty years. He is taking an opportunity to review with the Israelites, all of the things which have happened, all of the miracles they have seen as a part of their freedom from slavery and being led out of Egypt. Since Moses realizes that he is soon to leave this world and not enter into the Promised Land with his people, he sees it as important to make sure the Israelites are mindful especially of the commandments giving by God to Moses, which he then passed along to his people.

Moses here focuses in on the greatest commandment: I'll summarize it in the way Jesus did, which is, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37). It's all about love; nothing else.

Now, does Moses and eventually Jesus, intend to communicate that as long as we have that warm and fuzzy feeling for God, all will be fine and we won't have to worry about anything else? Not exactly. Remember that love is a choice; it is an active, not a passive approach. When we say we are making a decision to love a person in spite of their faults, to forgive this person and continue to love even when he or she hurts us and does not appear to be loving us back, this is the type of active love Moses and Jesus are compelling us to deliver. It is also important to note that Moses does not say we should love God because He demands it or needs it; he says we should do it for our own well-being.

If we are only then supposed to be focused on this one thing, how does that translate to the rest of our lives and the myriad decisions we have to make on a daily basis? How does simply loving God with all our hearts, souls and minds keep us on task at work so we can be employed and pay the bills, or transport the kids to their activities or make for a great relationship with our spouse? I think we simply have to ask ourselves the question in any situation, does our choice, our action, show love for God? By being honest and working hard in our jobs, do we show love to God by putting to good use the gifts He has given to us? Yes. By supporting our children, do we show love to God by encouraging them and the use of their gifts in a positive way? Yes. By opening our hearts to our spouses, loving them deeply and truly, do we show love to God by loving another? Yes.

Am I over simplifying things? Yes. But sometimes simple feels good.

So, dear friends, focus your efforts on the one thing which delivers all good things to you. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Rest assured that by loving God with our actions and our choices, we are nurturing our own well-being and, by the way, doesn't it feel good?!?

Mar 17 - "Baby Steps"

"Jesus said, 'If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?'" --- John 2:23 - 3:15
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Having faith, turning over your life to God and putting your trust in Him, seems like such a big decision. Does making a transition from "owning" your life and "controlling" the outcomes, to giving things over to God and accepting His will for you, feel like taking a leap across the Grand Canyon?

The snippet above from today's scripture reading comes near the conclusion of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus. This man, a Pharisee and leader among the Jewish people living in Jerusalem at this time, is asking Jesus about His teachings. He proceeds with a line of inquiry where you can almost feel Nicodemus wanting to believe that Jesus is the Messiah who has come. We don't know for sure if Nicodemus ever fully believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but we can point to the fact that he helped bury Jesus in the tomb, an act which would imply that something in his heart had changed.

What a giant step it would have been for Nicodemus to go from a leader of his people who, eventually played a role in Jesus' crucifixion, to one who believed the Jesus was the Son of God. It may have been too much.

Sometimes, we are the same way...alike to Nicodemus. The decision to believe, to place your entire life and existence into the hands of the living God may be more than we can do. Maybe it is better to make small choices first; find little ways to turn our lives over to God. Almost no one decides to become a runner on a Monday and then runs a marathon on Saturday of that same week; the distance between those two points is too great. But, the decision comes with small steps; first walking, then running a few times each week; then a 5k...a 10k. Eventually, you have taken enough small steps, that when look back, you have covered a great distance. That distance, taken in one step, would have been to large to overcome, and failure would have likely been the result. But, attempted and achieved in small portions, our strength builds over time and we accomplish great things.

So, it is OK to take baby steps of faith. Find little ways to believe, to turn your life over to God. Offer up small decisions in prayer to Him; allow Him to work little miracles for you before asking for the big ones. For by bringing our faith along one step at a time, we are able to see God in these earthly things, open our heart to those heavenly things, and believe.

Mar 16 - "Jeshua ben Joseph"

"The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple He found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, He drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, 'Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!' " --- John 2: 13-22
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Have you ever been in one of those situations where someone you know, who is usually cool, calm and collected, suddenly becomes unglued? Maybe you've been the one who has finally comes to your wit's end over a particular issue and completely lost it? When we experience these instances of sudden outrage, isn't it a bit uncomfortable?


Imagine you are one of the Disciples, strolling through the temple with your teacher, Jeshua ben Joseph (literally, in the Aramaic, "Jesus, son of Joseph"). All of the sudden, this person who you are coming to believe is the Messiah, the incarnation of God on the earth, starts ranting and raving about the money changers in the temple. He tips over tables, yells, chases people around. You would be thinking, "What is going on here?!?!?".


Although Jesus, Emmanuel, is the Son of God and fully God, He was also fully human. The reaction we see from Him in the temple is one of a man; a son of a carpenter who, filled with anger, takes action against the wrongs He is witnessing. Even Jesus is not immune from experiencing outrage at the gross misuse of our Father's house.


I actually find this comforting, this human side of Jesus. It helps me realize that, although I try hard every day to make good choices, do the right things and love openly without judgement, I fall short. And, as long as I recognize these shortcomings, strive to be better, repent and, with a sincere heart, ask for forgiveness, I am free to move on again to the next day to try again. Remember, even though we are called to "be like Jesus", there is no expectation that we can "be Jesus". He is the only perfect man who ever lived or will live.


One of my favorite quotes is from a great football coach, Vince Lombardi, who said, "We know we cannot achieve perfection. But, if we pursue perfection, we can catch excellence."


So, remember that it is OK to be Human. Our goal is to pursue Him, the Perfect One. But, also know, and accept, that we will always fall short...and that is OK. For our pursuit of Jesus will allow us to capture a life in this world that is excellent.

Mar 15 - "The Good Wine"

"On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of His signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him." --- John 2: 1-12

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This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible (hence, posting the whole reading today instead of just a snippet.) The story of Jesus' first miracle; changing water to wine at the Wedding at Cana is such a simple and beautiful depiction of the first of many wonderful and marvelous acts Jesus will deliver during His life on earth.

A wedding is such a joyous time. I think back to almost a year ago when we were all together as a family celebtrating the marriage of my sister Abbi to her husband, Ben. All of us were filled with the happiness brought by a new life together; two lives made into one. God is good!

There are two parts to this story from John's gospel which always strike me. First, Jesus' mother Mary has to prompt Jesus to act. Of course, since Jesus was fully Man, he reacts as a son might in a similar situation when a mother has pride around a son's special gifts and wants him to reach his full potential. He basically says, "C'mon Mom...not now. Don't make me do this in front of all these people". It's as if she were asking him to put on his tap shoes and show off some new steps. He almost seems embarrassed and relucatant to "perform". But, don't all of us need a little push every once in awhile from that person who can see our full potential, yet unrealized?

The second, and most poignant message behind this story from Jesus' life is what happens to a situation when you bring God into the equation. Remember, Jesus, although fully Man, was also fully God. The miracle He performed was about taking a good situation and making in better by adding God. When I reflect upon my own marriage, I realize that, even though Greta and I had a wonderful relationship the first few years of our marriage, it got even better once we brought God into our relationship. When we added Him into our lives as a defining element of how we related to each other and those around us, recognizing the power of prayer...praying for each other and those in our lives...how much better it became, and continues to be! The first "wine" of our life together was wonderful, but how much sweeter the "wine" is now, once it has been blessed by the active presence of God.

So, allow the good wine to flow. Whatever you think is good today can become great and amazing when you add God and a relationship with Jesus Christ to the equation. Allow the gift you have been given to reach its full potential, being wonderfully magnified and blessed by Him.

Mar 14 - "Wanting Jesus"

"For the One who sactifies and those who are sactified all have one Father. For this reason, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters..." -- Hebrews 2: 11-18
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One of the functions of my job is to negotiate contracts with customers and suppliers. These contracts are rarely less than 10 pages long, covering all sorts of concepts, but in general, they are meant to protect each party from harming the other in some way. Even those these contracts contain thousands of words, I often find myself making arguements over a few single words. One of the ways I win these arguements is to go into detail about what a particular word can imply if read the wrong way, and negate the other's position.

Unfortunately, at times, I forget to turn this mode off when I step away from work for the day. Greta may make a comment to me about something and I go to work on her, breaking down her point by arguing over a single word. She may start her point by saying "You always...". Of course, my comeback is "Always? You mean 100% of time? You are telling me that there is never an occassion when this is not true?" The trouble with that approach is that I choose to battle the issue unfairly by picking on a poorly chosen word, even though I understand her point and...as always...she is right.

It is sometimes easy to get caught up in the words chosen to describe a certain idea or point of view and, by picking on the word, chose to negate the whole intent of the idea. I find this the case when we think about the things we are "supposed" to do as it relates to our faith and our relationship with God. We hear our religious leaders telling us things like, the only way to the Father is through Jesus, or, we must repent our sins and foresake our evil ways or we are going to Hell. When we hear these direct commands, these directions which seem to obligate us to a certain path, we can often choose to pick certain words and go to battle with them. We say, "The only way to the Father...really? I must repent?".

I believe that a key concept sometimes missing from the messages we hear about the "obligations" of our faith, is the acknowledgement of the importance of choice. When we as humans feel forced into a situation, our natural instinct is to push back. But when we feel like we are given a choice, when we realize that the decision is our own, we take a different point of view. We are able to move from "we have to" to, "we want to".

In today's reading, the author of this letter to the Hebrews is appealing to the logic of the Jewish people at the time who did not believe Jesus was the Messiah. The goal was to convince the reader with evidence that Jesus was aligned with and fulfilled the law. The author intended that once the Hebrews recognized these facts, they would want to believe in Jesus Christ.

So, do you need Jesus? I do. But what is really important is to want to need Jesus. When we want something, when we desire it and choose it, the thing becomes our own and not a forced march. The gift of free will we have received from our Father allows us to open ourselves to all that a life in Christ has to offer; peace, love, hope...which are wonderful things to want.

Mar 13 - "Thirsty"

"O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you as in a barren and dry land where there is no water." --- Psalm 63: 1-8
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As many of you know (my wife painfully so, especially during the last few weeks of marathon training), I am a runner. A part of having a good run, meaning, you don't die somewhere along the way or pass out after, is making sure you are properly hydrated. Before I head out on my almost daily runs, I am sipping water or some type of electrolyte drink; for those long runs of 12 miles plus, I take some along with me for when I get thirsty.

Thirst is such an interesting concept. Think about the marvel of physical being that you are and the perfect design God created in each one of us. Our body needs water and fuel in order for it to function properly. Since we are such a forgetful spieces, God created a physical yearning for water in order to make sure we did not forget to drink, shrivel up and die. He created the feeling of thirst, a feeling that is so powerful at times, we can become consumed by it...we would do almost anything to quench it.

But, we are not just physical beings, we are also spiritual beings. And, just as our physical beings require fuel to function, our spiritual beings require the equivalent, a spiritual "Gatorade", per se. What is this spiritual fuel we need? I believe it is moments spent in communion and in relationship with God. Do you not thirst for this relationship? If you dig deep down into your heart of hearts, the place where all things are the brutal truth, which you may never share with anyone else, don't you thirst and feel an emptiness longing to be quenched?

One of my favorite songs from Christian radio is "God-shaped Hole" by Plumb. The chorus of the song speaks to our thirst: "There's a God-shaped hole in all of us, and the restless soul is searching. There's a God-shaped hole in all of us, and it's a void only he can fill." When we came into our human existence at birth, each of us is born with this God-shaped hole. Unfortunately, many of us spend a good portion of our lives...I most certainly have and still often do...trying to fill that hole with something besides God. This effort to fill the "hole" is so consuming and compelling that we find ourselves in an addictive state: additicted to food, alcohol, drugs, lust, anger, hate, work or some other thing which causes us to pour greater and greater amounts of the addiction into a hole that can never be filled in such a way. We continue this unquenching behavior to complete our spiritual beings to a point where we are able to destroy our physical beings.

How do we quench this thrist? How do we fill this God-shaped hole? There is no cost to pay, no prerequisite for entry, no act we can perform or goal we can achieve which will allow us to drink from the bottomless chalice of grace and love He gives to us. All we have to do is ask Him for it; seek it; knock on the door. By opening ourselves up to the gift He has already given to us, by allowing ourselves to be filled up, our great and unending thirst is sweetly quenched.

So, partake, dear friends, from the cup that has already been filled and offered to you. Quench your thirst by seeking that relationship with God that is unique and defined only by you and God, not by the world. Drink deeply and thirst no more.

Mar 12 - "How can we forget?"

"If you say to yourself, 'These nations are more numerous than I; how can I dispossess them?', do not be afraid of them. Just remember what the Lord your God did to Pharoah and to all Egypt, the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the Lord your God brought you out." --- Deuteronomy 7: 17-26
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What are you struggling with? Do you have an issue which has been persistently troubling you for the last day...week...month...year?

Your problem may or may not be as big as the challenge faced by Moses and his people who were held in captivity in Egypt, but to you, it may seem just as daunting because you are living in the midst of it. During this time, you have probably tried all sorts of ways to resolve the issue, trying to work through it and bring it to closure. But, brothers and sisters, have you prayed for God to help? Have you put your need before Him and sincerely asked for His mighty hand to save?

You may say, "I have been praying...I have been asking for help, but help has not come!" But, don't forget that God works in mysterious ways. The simple act of offering up your problem to God in prayer may also help you to realize that the problem is not a big as you thought...or that there is a deeper problem at hand which, when resolved, will take the current problem away. The process of prayer and supplication to God sometimes allows the problem to "work itself out". Is that a coincidence, or is it God's hand at work?

It is amazing to me how forgetful we are, this human species. We can look to the Bible and see wonders and miracles abounding. Not a week goes by that, somewhere in the news, we don't hear about the person who was thought lost, but was found; the family whose house was destroyed by fire or storm, but somehow they were saved. I am sure that in the aftermath of the horrible earthquake and tsunami in Japan this week, we will hear wonderful stories of rescue and healing.

All of these things we are witness to, and yet we forget that if we merely offer our problems in prayer to God, He will deliver. Sometimes, the answer to our prayers come in a way we don't expect, but the solution, in accordance with His will and plan for each of us, will most certainly come.

So, don't forget...God can help. Put your troubles in His hands. Remember all that He has done, all of the amazing works and wonders He has delivered for us over time. Pray for His help in the knowledge that there is nothing beyond His power to resolve and that by putting our troubles in His hands we bring ourselves in line with His will and allow Him to show His love for each of us.

Mar 11 - "Why it Feels Good to Be Good"

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to us all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." -- Titus 2: 1-15
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After spending this week in "Sin City", where there is an abundance of ways to be "bad" instead of good, I find today's scripture from the oft forgotten book of Titus to be a refreshing reminder of why it feels good to be good.

As is the case with scripture, on occassion, you have to remember the time in history during which it was written and not get caught up in all of the words, but in the intent of the words. Some people find this chapter of Titus a bit off-putting because it also recommends that "slaves" be submissive to their masters and show fidelity to them. However, within this obscure epistle of Paul, buried deep in the back of the New Testament, there is a wonderful section of verse which, after listing many ways we can be good people, says, "...so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior."

I believe that our sole purpose, the reason we are in this world and exist in our human condition, is to glorify God. Now, when we think about the word "glorify", we can sometimes think it means that we are here to "serve" God or be in some perpetual state of worship and praise. We may also find ourselves thinking that God somehow "needs" our praise and our glory. But, think for a moment about how the word "glory" or "glorify" can also mean to put a thing to its best use and by doing so, presents a perfect realization of the full potential of that thing. When we sing...we glorify God by using the gift of our voice. When we run or swim or otherwise go break a sweat for a good purpose...we glorify God by using the gift of our body. When we pray, when we love...we glorify God by using the gift of our heart.

Glorifying God in the little things...and the big things...that we do every day allows us to put into action the gift of our sheer existence. The feelings each of us have when we know we have been good or done a good thing is when we become Holy and are closest to God.

So, glorify God by doing that good thing. Whether it is a kind word, a smile, a helping hand or that unselfish act which is only known by you and by God, all of these things fulfill your purpose and, dear friends, it feels good!

Mar 10 - "Don't Worry...Be Happy"

"Do not fret because of evildoers; do not be jealous of those who do wrong. For they shall soon wither like the grass, and like the green grass, fade away. Put your trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and feed on its riches. Take delight in the Lord and He shall give you your heart's desire." -- Psalm 37: 1-18
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Do you ever find yourself spending time fretting over people who are obviously doing wrong and yet are still prospering?

Given the constant flow of information we receive from 24-hour news channels or the Web, we certainly are not at a loss for numerous examples of people doing the wrong things on a daily basis. One microcosm of this is what seems to happen in Hollywood almost every day; some celebrity dragged back into court for breaking the law, then released or receiving a hand-slap sentence, pretty much walking out the door without material consequences to their actions. Doesn't this drive you crazy? Similarly, we often see associates at work or in our other social and volunteer activities, where someone continues to move ahead or receives accolades for their work, even though you and others know they are not doing their fair share.

I certainly find myself in this spot every once in awhile. There are times when I get too focused on those people in my work life who seem to be getting ahead or at least, not being held to account, while continually doing the wrong things. This can be a pretty negative way to spend my time and mental energy, but yet, I go there and find myself getting incredibly frustrated. But, what good does this serve? Have I improved the situation at all by binding myself in this fabric of worry?

Now, I am not advocating that we should just let evil run its course and lazily allow bad things to happen. There are plenty of ways we can take action to help those who are being wronged or support those who do battle with hatred or oppression in the world. This is really more about the wasted time we spend on petty jealousies. I do believe God wants us to take a different approach to the mental anguish we can put ourselves through, unproductively worrying about these minor things. The fretting and focus can take us away from the things we should be spending our thoughts and efforts on.

This Psalm, written with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, does not tell us to take action against those who do wrong or give us guidance on the steps we should put in place to resolve their nefarious acts. The Psalmist simply says that we should put our trust in the Lord. Let Him handle it. Find joy in the fact that He will take care of all things and bring us to a place of joy and peace.

The words of the Bobby McFerrin song come to mind. My apologies if you now have that song stuck in your head the rest of the day. But the advice it gives is good when it comes to these times when we can find ourselves overly-focused on others' acts.

S0, don't worry. Let the Lord take care of those things which are out of our control and cause us unproductive mental anguish. Be happy in knowing that God has got it covered.

Mar 9 - "Good for the Soul"

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God. -- Hebrews 12: 1-14
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Does God require us to confess our sins? Is there something holy or spiritual that happens when we bow ours heads and come face to face with our actions which have hurt ourselves or others?

This season of Lent is a time of reflection and preparation for what we know is to come; the conviction, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the time when we orient ourselves towards the recognition, praise and thanksgiving of this most gracious gift. One death in a perfect sacrifice which paid the debt of our sins...past, present and future...and saved all of us from death.

This time of preparation causes me to think about other ways we prepare for various events and occasions. In my extended family, we are in the process of preparing for yet another baby coming into our lives! Niece or nephew #15 for Greta and me; grandchild #10 for my parents and child #3 for my sister...will be born into our family sometime before we celebrate the first day of May. How is my sister and her family preparing for this arrival? They are moving furniture around, painting, cleaning up, removing any obstacles which would not allow their new baby to be easily and wonderfully received into their family and household.

Through confession of our sins, we prepare our hearts and souls in this same way. When we confess and repent, we remove the obstacles that can get in the way of having a relationship with God. How many times have you said to yourself, "I don't deserve His grace...I don't deserve His love. I have sinned too much and am not worthy of His forgiveness." Let me tell you, brothers and sisters, you ARE good enough because God made you as His perfect creation. Christ died on the cross so that you might be fully forgiven...not because of things you do or going to church or being a good person...but because He already paid your debt in full.

When we are angry or feel hate for someone because of an offense, don't we feel that burden, that obstacle which prohibits us from a relationship with that person? When we do something wrong, can we not feel the wall which is put up between us and others or us and God?

God does not "require" us to confess our sins. God does, however, want, us to confess our sins because, by dealing honestly with our transgressions and putting them aside, we clear the way for receiving the full measure of grace and love which has already been given to us via our relationship with Christ Jesus. God wants us to confess our sins because he wants to be in relationship with us. Confession removes that wall and prepares our hearts for being filled with the love he brings to us. All we have to do is push our sin aside by the simple act of confession and repentance.

So, be good to your soul. Confess the thing you have done; do not be owned by it...but own up to it. For by tearing down the wall of guilt, anger or hurt, you open yourself up to the gift already given, a perfect love and grace which refreshes, renews and brings you peace.

Mar 7 - "The Journey Continues..."

"Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song." -- Psalm 100
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Hello again Dear Friends!

Almost a whole year has passed since we were last together in this way. Many of us are better than a year before; a few of us may be struggling with something new; all of us are changed. We have the ability each year in Lent to reflect upon our lives and upon our Walk as new and different people than we were the last time we set out on this path together from Ash Wednesday until Easter.

I invite you, once again, to join me on this Lenten journey. When I first began this effort 2 years ago, I took the approach of "giving something out" instead of "giving something up" for Lent. I had no idea how abundant the gifts would be, which have come, and continue to come back to me each day, as a result of this daily sojourn through The Word. God is good!

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and in you always.