A couple of years ago, while on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, I walked the "Way of the Cross" via the streets of Jerusalem. It's the likely path Jesus took on that first GOOD FRIDAY as He made His way to be crucified. As I re-read my journal entry from that day the memories flooded back.
Today that sacred path is lined with the hard, wall-to-wall stone roads of Jerusalem. The streets are tight and lined with shops; a few churches and apartments along the way. It's no small feat to maintain your focus with all the distractions around you. Rather than trying to ignore all the activity, I decided to embrace it.
I wondered if what I was seeing and hearing was anything like Jesus would have seen and heard. After all, it was early in the morning on that Friday, people would have been beginning their day in busy preparation for the Passover. On the way to the place of crucifixion, this is what I witnessed:
Children playing soccer in the streets. Their soccer ball was well-worn, their faces were tinged with dust, their black hair dishoveled, but their laughter contagious. Did Jesus walk past children playing, laughing, oblivious to the sacrifice He was making for them?
Shop-keepers calling for us to check out their wares. Some were persistent, one even angry as I walked by trying to remain prayerful in spirit. The shops must have been bustling on that Friday as Jesus carried our cross. Retailers interested in making a buck on the Passover, as He makes His way to pay the price for their sin.
Armed Israeli soldiers standing guard. They added to the tension one feels in Jerusalem due to the discord between Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Did tension fill the air as Jesus walked this way? Roman soldiers bearing swords, militant Hebrews plotting rebellion, His own followers...they all pressed around Jesus as He walked the path. How did the tension of Roman swords, lust for religious control, and women weeping affect Him? Could the never-ceasing tension in Jerusalem have made His cross that much heavier?
Masses crowding the streets, mainly tourists. It must have been crowded in Jerusalem as Jesus made His way to die. People from far and wide had come for the holy days. As Jesus carried the cross through the crowds, were they simply crowds to Him, or were they individual faces and names for whom He was about to die?
The thing that amazed me as I completed the "Way of the Cross" was how Jesus kept His focus. As children played, shop-keepers bartered, soldiers patrolled, and the masses moved through the streets, Jesus maintained focus on His mission. So much so that He could pray as He finally arrived at the place of crucifixion, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." He was not distracted, but determined to finish what He came to do...to save us from sin!
"Lord Jesus, on this Friday I praise You for that Friday on which you suffered step by step along the sacred way to Your crucifixion...all for my sin and the sin of the world!"
Friday, April 2, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
"Palm Sunday" rings a bell for most people, and everyone has heard of "Easter Sunday." These two Sundays are the bookends of what is called "Holy Week" in the Christian calendar. Holy Week celebrates the last week of Jesus' life, which begins with Him entering Jerusalem to the praise of people waving palm branches and concludes with His resurrection from the grave.
Tucked between these two Sundays are a couple other days on the calendar that may sound familiar - "Maundy Thursday" (Jesus' last supper) and "Good Friday" (Jesus' crucifixion).
Right in the middle of Holy Week is "Spy Wednesday." Ever heard of it? Probably not. It's called "Spy Wednesday" because this is the day that Judas agrees to betray Jesus and hand Him over to be killed. This is a sad day.
Judas gets ticked off because a woman annoints Jesus with expensive perfume. He wanted to sell the perfume and put the money in the treasury, which he often helped himself to. But, Jesus scolded him and pointed out that this woman was preparing His body for burial...He knew what was coming. Jesus went on to say that wherever the gospel is preached that this lady's story would be told in her memory. That was more than Judas could handle, so he left and went to the chief priests asking what they would give him if he handed Jesus over to them. They agreed on 30 pieces of silver for the life of the Son of God.
That's why today is called "Spy Wednesday." Judas turns into a double agent and becomes a spy for the enemies of Christ. The thing is, Jesus knew it all along. Judas wasn't really hiding anything...how can you hide from the all-seeing eye of God? The next day, Maundy Thursday, as they shared in Jesus' last supper, the Lord would point out that His betrayer was at the table and tell Judas to go on do what he had in his heart to do...and Judas did, betraying Jesus with a kiss.
Judas was one of Jesus' twelve closest friends, he was an apostle of Christ. Just after Judas left to betray Him, Jesus says something that must have broken His heart, "Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Judas was the exact opposite. He was a traitor, the kind of friend who takes what he can and then splits leaving you for dead.
It was in the middle of all the emotion of what it feels like to be betrayed by a friend, that Jesus points out the nature of real love for your friends...willingness to sacrifice for them, even to die for them. That is the kind of Friend that Jesus is. Even though we betray Him at times, He never turns His back on us. Even though we tend to focus on ourselves, Jesus doesn't have a selfish bone in His body. He sets the mark regarding what real friendship is all about.
Wow! I'm so thankful to know today, on "Spy Wednesday," that I have a Friend who will never sell me out. Quite the opposite He is the one who is sold out on our friendship...so much so, that He died to save me.
Tucked between these two Sundays are a couple other days on the calendar that may sound familiar - "Maundy Thursday" (Jesus' last supper) and "Good Friday" (Jesus' crucifixion).
Right in the middle of Holy Week is "Spy Wednesday." Ever heard of it? Probably not. It's called "Spy Wednesday" because this is the day that Judas agrees to betray Jesus and hand Him over to be killed. This is a sad day.
Judas gets ticked off because a woman annoints Jesus with expensive perfume. He wanted to sell the perfume and put the money in the treasury, which he often helped himself to. But, Jesus scolded him and pointed out that this woman was preparing His body for burial...He knew what was coming. Jesus went on to say that wherever the gospel is preached that this lady's story would be told in her memory. That was more than Judas could handle, so he left and went to the chief priests asking what they would give him if he handed Jesus over to them. They agreed on 30 pieces of silver for the life of the Son of God.
That's why today is called "Spy Wednesday." Judas turns into a double agent and becomes a spy for the enemies of Christ. The thing is, Jesus knew it all along. Judas wasn't really hiding anything...how can you hide from the all-seeing eye of God? The next day, Maundy Thursday, as they shared in Jesus' last supper, the Lord would point out that His betrayer was at the table and tell Judas to go on do what he had in his heart to do...and Judas did, betraying Jesus with a kiss.
Judas was one of Jesus' twelve closest friends, he was an apostle of Christ. Just after Judas left to betray Him, Jesus says something that must have broken His heart, "Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Judas was the exact opposite. He was a traitor, the kind of friend who takes what he can and then splits leaving you for dead.
It was in the middle of all the emotion of what it feels like to be betrayed by a friend, that Jesus points out the nature of real love for your friends...willingness to sacrifice for them, even to die for them. That is the kind of Friend that Jesus is. Even though we betray Him at times, He never turns His back on us. Even though we tend to focus on ourselves, Jesus doesn't have a selfish bone in His body. He sets the mark regarding what real friendship is all about.
Wow! I'm so thankful to know today, on "Spy Wednesday," that I have a Friend who will never sell me out. Quite the opposite He is the one who is sold out on our friendship...so much so, that He died to save me.
Friday, January 29, 2010
A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME...
Sometimes we think of "worry" as an acceptable sin. After all, if we are worried about something it just means we care deeply about that thing, right? But Jesus sheds a different light on worry. He said, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matthew 6:27).
When you think about it, what good comes from worrying? All it does is work us up emotionally or tear us down spiritually. Worry either paralyzes us with inaction or leads to unhelpful reactions. But faith leads to proactive action. All of this is "self-talk" because I can worry with the best of them!
This week I was driving away from a hospital feeling racked with worry. I was focused on all the potential downsides for the person I'd gone to see. Then...no kidding...as I was talking out loud to God about all this person was facing, a little bird fell out of the sky to the road right in front of me! It was almost comical to see this dead bird, about the size of a sparrow, falling motionless and upside down from the sky above. It was like God dropped a fake bird from Heaven right in front of me with impeccable timing.
The words of Jesus about worry took wing in my heart. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26-27).
Ben Franklin's reference to Jesus' words in 1787 when he called for prayer during the Constitional Convention, also jumped to mind and put this experience in context for me. He said, "The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?"
The sparrow-sized bird that fell to the ground in front of my car this week was a great reminder that God still governs in our affairs. He provides all that we need. The person I was worried about is more valuable to God than I could ever imagine! He will take care of her. He will take care of you!
Today I'm going to do with worry what the Apostle Peter encourages us to do with it - "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). I feel bad for that little bird, but I'm really glad it had a dying message for my life.
When you think about it, what good comes from worrying? All it does is work us up emotionally or tear us down spiritually. Worry either paralyzes us with inaction or leads to unhelpful reactions. But faith leads to proactive action. All of this is "self-talk" because I can worry with the best of them!
This week I was driving away from a hospital feeling racked with worry. I was focused on all the potential downsides for the person I'd gone to see. Then...no kidding...as I was talking out loud to God about all this person was facing, a little bird fell out of the sky to the road right in front of me! It was almost comical to see this dead bird, about the size of a sparrow, falling motionless and upside down from the sky above. It was like God dropped a fake bird from Heaven right in front of me with impeccable timing.
The words of Jesus about worry took wing in my heart. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26-27).
Ben Franklin's reference to Jesus' words in 1787 when he called for prayer during the Constitional Convention, also jumped to mind and put this experience in context for me. He said, "The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?"
The sparrow-sized bird that fell to the ground in front of my car this week was a great reminder that God still governs in our affairs. He provides all that we need. The person I was worried about is more valuable to God than I could ever imagine! He will take care of her. He will take care of you!
Today I'm going to do with worry what the Apostle Peter encourages us to do with it - "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). I feel bad for that little bird, but I'm really glad it had a dying message for my life.
Friday, January 15, 2010
REFUGE!
When the poor, who are already tremendously vulnerable, experience a natural disaster on the scale of the earthquake in Haiti, it's hard to imagine how these precious people survive.
God's grace and the immediate response of His church, caring benevolent organizations, and compassionate nations like the U.S. certainly offer hope. And these take nothing away from the will to survive and strength of spirit that the Haitian people possess. They've survived so much devastation through the years, much of it man-made by his lust for power and his greed.
May God dispatch all the power of Heaven to Haiti to bring hope and healing, provision and peace, renewed strength and faith to all those who are suffering. I wonder in His dispatching the power of Heaven how God will dispatch His church to these people in need.
Already, many believers from the U.S. are on the ground. Wow, as hard as this must be for them, can you image what a high honor this is - God chose them to be there to represent His love to Haitians during such a crisis as this!
I wonder how it will affect others who've been preparing to serve in Haiti. Our high school students at First Church have been planning a mission trip to serve Haiti this April. Will they be able to go? All we know for now is that God wants us to pray, give, and serve those in need now...however we can.
The Psalm that hit me this week regarding the earthquake in Haiti, also captures God's power and promise to rescue those who love Him. It's a reminder this HE is our refuge and the Haitian refuge in ever-present trouble.
Psalm 42:1-3: 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 heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
God's grace and the immediate response of His church, caring benevolent organizations, and compassionate nations like the U.S. certainly offer hope. And these take nothing away from the will to survive and strength of spirit that the Haitian people possess. They've survived so much devastation through the years, much of it man-made by his lust for power and his greed.
May God dispatch all the power of Heaven to Haiti to bring hope and healing, provision and peace, renewed strength and faith to all those who are suffering. I wonder in His dispatching the power of Heaven how God will dispatch His church to these people in need.
Already, many believers from the U.S. are on the ground. Wow, as hard as this must be for them, can you image what a high honor this is - God chose them to be there to represent His love to Haitians during such a crisis as this!
I wonder how it will affect others who've been preparing to serve in Haiti. Our high school students at First Church have been planning a mission trip to serve Haiti this April. Will they be able to go? All we know for now is that God wants us to pray, give, and serve those in need now...however we can.
The Psalm that hit me this week regarding the earthquake in Haiti, also captures God's power and promise to rescue those who love Him. It's a reminder this HE is our refuge and the Haitian refuge in ever-present trouble.
Psalm 42:1-3: 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 heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Friday, January 1, 2010
The Mother of All Terrorists
One unexpected result of the foiled Christmas Day bombing attack for me was genuinely missing Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff! I mean, does our current Homeland Security Director, Janet Napolitano, instill more or less confidence in you regarding the defense of American lives against acts of terror? She seems well "in over her head!" Niether her statements nor her image tend to project the kind of "security" one might expect from this post.
My point is not to blast our Homeland Security Director. My disappointment with her did catch me by surprise, but it led me to much deeper reflection on our "security." For those who follow Jesus Christ, today's Muslim extremist is just one in a long line of "terrorists" we've faced through the years. Some of our Christian brothers and sisters live in daily terror of their own state governments, which censor their persecution of the saints. Such "terrorists" have always been around, unknowingly taking their cues from the Master Terrorist.
The Bible describes the Mother of all Terrorists like this, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). That is the reality of our lives, fellow believers! We have an enemy who seeks to destroy us...on a daily basis. But rather than living in fear of this Terrorist, with all of his minions and ploys, how should we live?
God says we should live "self-controlled and alert" lives. There is no need to panic as we head into yet another year of war on terror. We keep our lives under control. The call to be alert would remain whether or not radical Muslim terrorists were out there. As believers we know that the most cunning Terrorist of all still exists, so we stay alert to his weapons and wiles. The hero on the Northwest flight to Detroit from Amsterdam was a man named Jasper Schuringa. When Jasper saw the terrorist setting fire to his explosive, he alertly responded and subdued him. That kind of keen awareness should characterize our lives as Christians.
Peter goes on to write in the following verse, "Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:9-11)
In 2010 we will undoubtedly face more acts of terror. But in Christ we are fit with courage to "resist" the enemy; with the joy that comes from real "faith;" with the love that compels us to support our "brothers throughout the world undergoing the same kind of suffering;" and with the hope of "eternal glory in Christ" that sustains us.
So, really, who needs Janet when you've got Jesus?
My point is not to blast our Homeland Security Director. My disappointment with her did catch me by surprise, but it led me to much deeper reflection on our "security." For those who follow Jesus Christ, today's Muslim extremist is just one in a long line of "terrorists" we've faced through the years. Some of our Christian brothers and sisters live in daily terror of their own state governments, which censor their persecution of the saints. Such "terrorists" have always been around, unknowingly taking their cues from the Master Terrorist.
The Bible describes the Mother of all Terrorists like this, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). That is the reality of our lives, fellow believers! We have an enemy who seeks to destroy us...on a daily basis. But rather than living in fear of this Terrorist, with all of his minions and ploys, how should we live?
God says we should live "self-controlled and alert" lives. There is no need to panic as we head into yet another year of war on terror. We keep our lives under control. The call to be alert would remain whether or not radical Muslim terrorists were out there. As believers we know that the most cunning Terrorist of all still exists, so we stay alert to his weapons and wiles. The hero on the Northwest flight to Detroit from Amsterdam was a man named Jasper Schuringa. When Jasper saw the terrorist setting fire to his explosive, he alertly responded and subdued him. That kind of keen awareness should characterize our lives as Christians.
Peter goes on to write in the following verse, "Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:9-11)
In 2010 we will undoubtedly face more acts of terror. But in Christ we are fit with courage to "resist" the enemy; with the joy that comes from real "faith;" with the love that compels us to support our "brothers throughout the world undergoing the same kind of suffering;" and with the hope of "eternal glory in Christ" that sustains us.
So, really, who needs Janet when you've got Jesus?
Saturday, December 19, 2009
WATCH OUT FOR THE PLANK!
It is no secret that I bleed blue and love the University of Kentucky Wildcats. What many don't know is that while serving in Indiana in the early 1990's I came to respect coach Bob Knight as well. For one thing, he was the only Big Ten basketball coach who was still teaching in the classroom during that era. His outbursts of rage, crude language, and physical abuse of players were indefensible. But I could not help but appreciate his high standard of discipline on the basketball court.
Certainly a couple of Coach John Calipari's teams have had their issues with the NCAA. But since his arrival at UK he's been the epitomy of "class." He has embraced the Big Blue nation with humility and he unashamedly talks of worshiping Christ daily. I'm not saying the guy is a saint, just that from what we've seen so far he seems sincere about his faith and family, and is a class act.
Well, Calipari totally outclassed Knight this week! In response to Knight's cheap shot against him, citing him as the poster child for college's basketball's lack of integrity, Calipari once again show true class. Ukatletics.com quoted Calipari as saying that while on his way to morning mass he saw like 100 text messages and wondered what had happened. When he realized it was about Knight's remarks, Calipari said that he's a big Knight fan, that he respected him, and even went as far as crediting Bobby with helping him perfect the dribble drive offense. While Coach Cal said he disagreed with what Knight said about him and there being a lack of character in college basketball, he said it wouldn't change how he feels about Knight.
Keep up the humble, sincere, classy spirit Coach Cal! Your actions reveal your true character.
And Bobby, maybe you could take a cue from the One who is most qualified to speak about character - Jesus Christ. He said, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ...You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3,5).
Certainly a couple of Coach John Calipari's teams have had their issues with the NCAA. But since his arrival at UK he's been the epitomy of "class." He has embraced the Big Blue nation with humility and he unashamedly talks of worshiping Christ daily. I'm not saying the guy is a saint, just that from what we've seen so far he seems sincere about his faith and family, and is a class act.
Well, Calipari totally outclassed Knight this week! In response to Knight's cheap shot against him, citing him as the poster child for college's basketball's lack of integrity, Calipari once again show true class. Ukatletics.com quoted Calipari as saying that while on his way to morning mass he saw like 100 text messages and wondered what had happened. When he realized it was about Knight's remarks, Calipari said that he's a big Knight fan, that he respected him, and even went as far as crediting Bobby with helping him perfect the dribble drive offense. While Coach Cal said he disagreed with what Knight said about him and there being a lack of character in college basketball, he said it wouldn't change how he feels about Knight.
Keep up the humble, sincere, classy spirit Coach Cal! Your actions reveal your true character.
And Bobby, maybe you could take a cue from the One who is most qualified to speak about character - Jesus Christ. He said, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ...You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3,5).
Sunday, December 6, 2009
"When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves - praise the Lord!" (Judges 5:2)
So begins the song of Deborah and Barak, two bold Israelis who liberated their country from 20 cruel years of oppression. The book of Judges reminds us over and over again that God raises up leaders for His people when we call upon Him.
Today is a great day for a body of sincere followers of Jesus who comprise Heritage Christian Church in Fayetteville, GA. Because today is the day that God has raised up a new Pastor to lead this beloved congregation. And the exclamation point on God's providential care for Heritage is that they welcomed their new Pastor with a unanimous affirmation! God is praised indeed when His people willingly offer themselves to follow His will!
I believe this is "a match made in Heaven" and that Heritage along with their new Pastor and his family will be a great blessing to God and the community (and the continents) they serve. To find out more about this "match" check out Heritage's website: www.heritagechristian.org.
Having just visited that website and watched the introductory video for the new Pastor, that verse from Judges 5:2 really stood out to me. There have been some incredibly intense challenges that the Heritage Elder Team has had to navigate over the past 11-months during this transition in the lead Pastor role. And wow, did these guys ever rise to the ocassion! "When the princes in Isreal take the lead...God is praised!"
Men who serve as Elders in the Lord's church often serve with a great deal of devotion and very little appreciation. Having served with these men I can say with confidence that they are indeed "princes" of our Lord Jesus! They have shepherded God's people through unprecedented terrain with courage, commitment, and conviction. So here is a shout out to Biff, Bob, Ed, Mark, Mike, Michael, and Scott! You've led with genuine humility and faith in God!
That great song of Deborah and Barak in Judges 5 ends with this refrain: "may they who love you (Lord) be like the sun when it rises in its strength." May it be so of all our brothers and sisters at Heritage as well! And then the chapter ends, "Then the land had peace forty years." May God grant such peace, and even more, upon His shepherds and His church in Fayetteville, GA and around the world!
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