TRAGEDY IN JAPAN

Like so many of you, my heart also breaks for the people of Japan. The catastrophe they've suffered with a 9.0 earthquake and the devastating tsunami that followed is too much to wrap our minds around. Now add to all of the carnage the impending threat of a nuclear meltdown. The suffering of those in Japan and the effects their suffering will have on people around the world (even in our backyard with Toyota's national headquarters located in NKY) is beyond words. Thankfully, God understands the cry of our hearts when words are insufficient.

Let's continue to pray throughout each day for the Japanese people, for the wisdom and courage of their leaders, for those grieving the loss of loved ones, for those displaced, for those who've yet to be rescued, for the relief workers, for those brave men fighting to regain control of nuclear reactors, and for the Presence of Jesus to be made real and powerful throughout the land.

This weekend at First Church you can participate in taking relief and hope to the people of Japan through giving. Special offering envelopes will be available for the next few weeks if you'd like to participate. We've partnered with Samaritan's Purse led by Franklin Graham and will be sending all funds recieved directly to this very effective relief organization. You can also find a link to their website at www.1stchurchofchrist.org.

God's Word gives us these words of hope for such a time as this: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress...be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:1-7, 10a, NIV).

ON THE CUSP OF SPRING

Once when Jesus was really hungry, he saw a fig tree by the side of the road in "full leaf." Figs were a key source of food for folks in the first century. So, Jesus heads over to the fig tree looking for a tasty snack only to find it had no figs! It was like false advertisement - green leaves everywhere, but no fruit. Jesus makes a powerful statement by literally cursing the fig tree. Mark 11:14 records the curse: "May no one ever eat fruit from you again."

Fig trees bear fruit twice a year in the Holy Land, every Spring and Autumn. Jesus' encounter with the fig tree was in early Spring. Being on the cusp of Spring right now, I can identify with how Jesus must have felt, can't you? We are SO ready for the trees to bud and the flowers to bloom! I'm "hungry" for Spring to produce it's long-awaited "fruit!"

Jesus was disappointed that this particular fig tree promised more than it delivered. It was full of green leaves but had no fruit. Another Biblical metaphor for this is when the land was undergoing a severe drought. A dark cloud appears on the horizon bringing hope for much needed rain. But the cloud passes over and brings no rain!

Here's the point of the curse - Jesus is not cool with "appearances only." Living for God means we produce fruit. Jesus said that he "chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last" (John 15:16). God wants us to make a real difference in life. I'm usually pretty good when it comes to "talking the talk." But God is not pleased unless I'm "walking the walk." We produce "fruit" when we back up what we say we believe with how we live.

As we stand on the cusp of Spring, let's refuse to be "leafy trees" that fail to come through with the fruit. Like the warm sunshine and refreshing rains of Spring will set orchards up for a fruitful harvest, God's power and grace can set us up for fruitful lives!