Apr 7 - "The Power of a Single Moment"

"For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'" ---1 Corinthians 11:17-34 ******************************

Jesus sitting with His friends having a simple meal. Can you imagine yourself being at this quiet moment, this instant in time?

Broken down to its basic components, this event does not seem to be as dramatic as other moments during Christ's life on earth. Whether it is His baptism, with God's voice booming from heaven, Jesus walking on water to His disciples, or the miracle of water transformed to wine during the wedding at Cana, there are many moments where Jesus' holiness and power shouts to be recognized more than this one. At face value, it carries no more significance than a conversation we may have with family at the dinner table on any given evening. His request is simple; "I may not be with you much longer, so, when you are together sharing a meal, remember me."

Does this moment carry its weight for me because I have heard the story of the Last Supper easily more than 1000 times over the course of my life during communion on Sundays or at special holidays and celebrations? Or, is there something more? I am sure Jesus recognized the power of the moment in general as well as the power of this particular moment. He knew that His words would be repeated by His friends and later by those with whom they would share the Good News. The story of these short series of words would be handed down from generation to generation and retold again and again until He returned to earth as a triumphant king.

Life is an almost infinite series of single moments. In the multi-tasking rush of our days, weeks, months...lives...it is easy to miss the opportunity to have a positive impact each one of these smidgens of time presents. Equally as important, we often fail to recognize that these moments can sometimes be a force for negativity which ripples through time, not seeing their effects at that particular second. A kind word or a hateful one...a hug or a cold shoulder...a smile or a scowl...a helping hand or brush off; each of these actions have meaning to those around us.

When I think about the power of a single moment, I sometimes feel sad about the opportunities, the moments I have squandered. Even though I live without regret, because the good, the bad and the ugly have brought me to this moment in my life...and I would not change a thing about it because I am so richly blessed...it is hard not to think about the times when a different choice may have made the difference to someone close to me.

So, what will be your moment today? Will you seize the opportunity to make history, not necessarily in some dramatic, public event, but in the gift of a personal interaction with someone around you, the effect of which changes their life? Take the time to speak simple, loving words in every moment. For when we do this, we do this in remembrance of Him.

Apr 6 - "Childlike"

"Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, 'What were you arguing about on the way?' But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, 'Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.' Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 'Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.'” --- Mark 9:30-41 **************************

Jesus talked about children a lot. In addition to the passage above, He said: peacemakers are the children of God; we should become like children in order to enter Heaven; He commanded that His disciples should let the children come to Him.

What does it mean to me childlike? Having 3 daughters and 13 nieces and nephews...most of them being under age 10...I have had the opportunity to see lots of children in action over the past few years from the perspective of an adult, father and uncle.

Here's what I notice about children:

...children can make a plaything out of the most obscure items...a stick, a rock, or a discarded piece of plastic can be better than the hottest new toy or video game

...children love intensely...have you ever seen a child lose their favorite stuffed animal?

...children are often more fascinated by the packaging, bows and boxes than the gifts inside them...take bubble wrap, for example

...children run...not as a means of exercise, but as the most fun and efficient way to get anywhere fast

...children speak their minds openly...the things that come out of their mouths bring us great joy, laughter or inspire us to our core

...children accept new people into their lives with excitement and hope...anyone is a friend at the playground

...children smile more than they frown, laugh more than they cry, love more than they hate

I think Christ talks about children so much because, not only does He want us to take a childlike point of view in our faith and relationship with God...our Father...Abba..., but that He wants us to recognize the gifts that can come from a childlike point of view. As adults, we can complicate, caveat, couch, hedge, analyze, plan, rethink and strategize the pure joy and excitement out of any situation. We develop very complex points of view on myriad topics as well as the people we know or don't even know.

Christ calls us to be like children and embrace the childlike point of view because, if we discount the wisdom, value and joy a child or childlike person can bring to our lives, we are missing out on an important part of the total picture.

So, be childlike. Love fiercely. Run, jump and play with intensity and joy. Accept the view a child brings with openness and warmth. For when we welcome a child in the name of Christ, we welcome Christ Himself into our lives.

Apr 5 - "Temporary and Eternal"

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. --- 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

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There is no doubt about it. We grow older each day, our bodies microscopically changing and degrading ever so slightly as we walk slowly towards the end of our days on earth. Our minds become a little less crisp, memories fade and physical activities we once used to enjoy without second thought become more difficult and leave us hurting after.

Should this stark reality weigh us down, depress and leave us without hope?

I have been blessed to know Bonnie Lucy Wilson my entire life. My Grandma Bonnie has been the steady rock of our family for as long as I can remember. Her deep love for family, her sharp wit and her vegetable soup have been mainstays in my extended family for all of my years. If you were to meet her today for the first time, you would see that her physical form is fading away. It is hard for her to get around and her short-term memory is not what it used to be.

But, in a beautiful way, she is getting younger every day. Whenever I see her, it seems she has a new perspective on the value of family and, most importantly, on the role God has played and continues to play in her family's life. She sits serenely watching all that is going on around her as children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren laugh, play and love in her midst. When I talk to her about the scene, the menagerie of activity, relishing with her the blessedness of the occasion, she often quotes Psalm 46, verse 10: "Be still and know that I am the Lord." It is now obvious to me that her sitting and watching is not a quiet disconnectedness, it is her way of praising God, letting Him "be".

Yes, the fact that we are growing older each day is right there in front of us. But what else is true? With each day we live, we come one day closer to that day, when we will stand with Christ, renewed and restored with the knowledge that the pain and trials we faced on Earth were only temporary. We will recognize that we are seasoned by this world. We are given the gifts of time and experience which wonderfully deepen our understanding.

So, rejoice in growing older. Know that we live in this strange yet beautiful way; growing older and closer to the end of our earthly lives, yet becoming newer and more childlike with each passing day. Love the hauntingly bittersweet dance of this world, for each moment, each temporary instance of joy and pain, bring us ever-closer to eternity of being in the loving arms of God.

Apr 4 - "First Communion"

One of my favorites…originally posted Mar 24, 2009.

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"Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated..." --- John 6:1-15

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Regardless of the gathering style, rituals or sacraments which are a part of the many faiths in the world today, almost all of them include a tradition of sharing a meal together. The Passover Seder, the feast after Ramadan, the simple supper on Shrove Tuesday, even the Friday night fish fry...all of these involve sitting down together and breaking bread.

In this section from John's Gospel, we can find a concept of infinite importance which says so much in so few words. That's one of the things I love about Scripture; the simplest concept can be communicated in mind-bending, excruciatingly long paths, or as we find today, in 19 words, communicate an amazing and wonderful concept. In the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, Jesus points us towards not only the eventual Last Supper, which we will celebrate in just over two weeks, but to the importance of sharing our burdens with God and with each other.

What is the purpose of the sacrament of Communion? Certainly, it is our symbolic remembrance of Christ breaking bread with his friends before He was taken in by the authorities of the time and eventually to His death. In the beliefs of the Catholic tradition, the bread and wine move from mere symbols to the actual Body and Blood of Christ. But, whatever the belief...symbol or substance...remember that God does not require this of us. The Sacraments, all important, are once again not for the benefit of God or Jesus or the Holy Spirit...They have no use for Communion or any of the Sacraments...they are not required for our salvation or a ticket to Heaven. They are for us.

Communion, therefore, must be something more than just a remembrance or a symbol, right? Of course, it is. We see Jesus taking the bread, blessing it by giving thanks to God, breaking it and sharing it among those who were with him. Communion is the opportunity for each of us to bring our burdens to the table; to offer them up, have them blessed, broken and shared. A burden is lighter when carried by many hands and many hearts.

It is simple...yet amazing and infinitely beautiful! When we come to the table during Communion, we have the opportunity to bring our prayers for ourselves, prayers for those we know and prayers for those we do not know...have them blessed, broken and shared among those who celebrate the Sacrament with us.

Why? Because we don't have to carry our burdens alone.

We have around us every day, every moment, friends who will pray for us. People who will take on our fears and hopes and desires and share in them, praying for their fulfillment or resolution.

So, be in communion with each other. Ask someone to pray for you or for someone you know is in pain or trouble. Offer up your burden and allow it to be blessed, broken and shared.

Apr 3 - "Signs Redux"

Originally posted Mar 23, 2009 for the same scripture reading, I thought this was appropriate considering how acting on the sign I was given almost 3 years ago has blossomed into a wonderful new ministry with the men from my church. ******************

"The Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him." --- Mark 8:11-21

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Have you ever gotten a sign from God? Have you ever prayed for guidance, asking for a clear message on what to do, and you received a blatantly obvious and unequivocal answer to your prayer? Has there been an event that caused you to make a material course correction in your life?

This story in Mark's Gospel has two parts: one where the Pharisees ask Jesus to give them a sign that he is the Messiah, which he denies them, and another where Jesus reminds his disciples of the miracle of the loaves and fishes when they say they have no bread.

As an amateur triathlete and marathon runner, I find myself in some pretty interesting places at times when I am out for a ride or a run. My training has taken me through small neighborhoods in Truro, Nova Scotia; the towers of the Makati financial district in the Philippines; the immaculately clean streets of Singapore; the concrete jungle of Manhattan and...the fabulous Pendleton Pike outside of Indianapolis. When in each of these places and others, the signs abound. There is a constant influx of stimuli, where it seems that every car honking, every bird flying by, every person who steps in front of you can be taken as guidance...an answer to prayer...a sign.

The challenge with signs is that you don't really know if they are signs or not. There are events occurring around us continually. The question becomes, which ones are signs and which ones are just random events with no connection to the direction of our Walk?

Last summer, after moving to Indianapolis, I began using Pendleton Pike on the NE side from McCordsville up to Pendleton as a riding route. There is a big, wide shoulder on most of this route that keeps me out of traffic. Mid-summer, I was riding full speed and looked down at my odometer. When I looked up, the shoulder was coming to an abrupt end and was finished out with a cement curb. A moment later, I was skidding on my left side down the pavement, my bike in the ditch with a flat and my helmet cracked open. As I looked up, bloodied and bruised, I was sitting right in front of the Pendleton State Penitentiary. For years, I believe God has been calling me to become involved in prison ministry. Was this a sign? Did God stop me in my tracks, saying, "OK Scott, you haven't quite gotten the message yet. Got it now? Are we clear?" I got it...and am working with my men's group at church on setting up a prison ministry.

This past week, I was staying at a hotel for a few days, in a room on the 8th floor. Every time I went to the ground floor in the elevator, it mysteriously stopped on the 4th floor. No one was there, no one getting on or off at this floor. Was this a sign? I'll never know...I didn't get off to investigate. I believe there are times where we get very specific signs from God on the direction our lives are supposed to take. Other times, he just pokes away at us over many years until we finally get the message.

So today, be open to the signs that come at you. You've asked for them, right? Look at each thing, pray for guidance. Take advantage of the little signs God sends before He stops you cold in your tracks and puts you on the pavement, making sure you got the message.

Apr 2 - "Be Bold"

"'It is my Father who glorifies me, He of whom you say, 'He is our God', though you do not know him. But I know Him; if I were to say I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad. Then the Jews said to Him, 'You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?'. Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.'" --- John 8:47-59 *****************

How bold are you in your faith, in your profession as Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

I have to admit, that besides this annual string of random musings on the Word, I don't really put myself "out there" when it comes to being bold in my faith. I certainly have had and continue to have opportunities to share my beliefs openly with others, even strangers. But, when it comes down to standing in front of someone and laying it on the line, I most often shirk away from the opportunity.

A part of this may be the way we have been discouraged from this type of open profession of faith in today's society. The burden of political correctness and social protocol can push our beliefs into the background, causing us to pause when the opportunity to step forward presents itself. But is this just a convenient excuse? Being politically incorrect does not have the same consequences as what Jesus, His disciples and the countless other martyrs of our faith experienced. Pain, torture, death...merely offending someone pales in comparison.

Look at Jesus in today's scripture. Up to this point, Christ has kind of avoided being this bold about who He is. There is no doubt left in anyone's mind after this conversation with these Jewish leaders. Not only does He tell them they don't know God, he says, "I am God." The one-two punch he delivers probably shook their vision of their own faith to the core; no wonder they wanted to kill Him. We can certainly find this example of Jesus' direct approach an intimidating one to try and emulate. He is, of course, God incarnate. There is no real risk for Him to speak in this way. Yes, He knows it will cause Him to suffer pain and death, but He also knows how the story ends; he is resurrected and ascends into heaven to continue His reign forever.

But, is our fate no less certain, should we similarly profess?

We also know that we will be with God forever, even if our evangelism causes us some discomfort or persecution. As always, we should look to Jesus as our perfect example, but maybe we don't always have to go as far as He did. Aren't there little things we can do every day to show that we follow Christ? It does not always have to be some major, grandstanding event. It can be in the little things. Offering kinds words, smiles, asking questions or engaging in a conversation that will eventually lead to an open and welcome discussion of how to experience the love of God. All of these things show what we are made of.

So, be bold. Find ways to show who you are as a Christian. Though they may be small things, they can still be done in a way that there is no doubt to those around you, what you believe.

Apr 1 - "The Truth"

"Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, 'If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'" --- John 8:21-32

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You have heard the comments: "There is no God"; "The Bible is just a bunch of stories written by men."; "Jesus was just a man who walked the earth and said lots of interesting things, but he was not God or the Messiah.".

We have plenty of opportunities every day to hear statements from people who would tell us what we believe is wrong. There are myriad efforts in our world to isolate, marginalize and discount those who profess that God is; Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was, is and is to come; that the Holy Spirit moves through the world and through us even today. Why do you think that, when Christians are portrayed, it is most often in the negative personification of the mindless drone, the revival tent healer, the fundamentalist racist or the the collection-plate-pilfering pseudo-saint? Are these images of Christians being used to build us up or to try and break us down, an attempt to deny the Truth?

Think about how much conflict has occurred over the course of the past two millenia which has been directly related to battles about the Christian faith. Granted, there are certainly a number of instances where people have pursued a perversion of the Truth and perpetrated horrible things. But overall, have not many good victories been won, with Christ as the focus? The creation of democratic societies, governments and countries...the abolishment of slavery and the civil rights movement itself...missions and ministries in the ghettos of Calucutta and in our own streets...all of these things came out of a belief in the Truth.

When we are approached by someone with facts, truth, undeniable evidence...and we don't want to hear or accept it...what do we do? We fight, we avoid, we persecute, we deny, we flee, we do everything possible to push that truth as far away from us as possible. It is easy to see why such a great Truth causes such great conflicts, wars, death and destruction...but also healing, progress and deliverance.

But, when we eventually accept the Truth, how do we feel? We become calm, at peace and most often at one with creation and all that is in it. The Truth flows through us like a soothing river, it surrounds us in a warming light and we are renewed.

So, believe the Truth. Do not let the world convince you it is a lie or a fantasy. Know the Truth and be free.