October 25, 2024

          Death Strikes Suddenly

Jesus wept. – John 11:35

“It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it’s what you leave behind you when you go.”

Those words from the song Three Wooden Crosses have echoed in my mind these past few days. James Smith was a friend, a former boss, a really good, kind and compassionate man. He was devoted to his wife, his children and grandchildren. He didn’t talk a lot about his faith. He simply lived it.

How does a man so filled with life suddenly move to heaven with no warning? When I got that phone call, I kept telling the caller that she had to be wrong. Not James. Surely not James.

Those of us privileged to know him are stunned. Heartbroken. Grief-stricken. And, yet, all the words we’re using to describe him echo the same sentiments. His legacy, which reaches far beyond his family, will live forever.

If you needed someone to laugh with you, James was right there. If you needed a defender, he was the first to step up. If you needed a sounding board, he had two ears that were always available to listen.

His priorities were right in line with his values. I’m not sure how many performances of Nutcracker he sat through over the years. Or how many swim meets he attended. Add class activities and beach fun. He was present in the lives of his grandchildren and he was just as excited for the last event as for the first one.

He rocked babies and gave away brides. He mourned his Daddy and took care of his Mama. He was someone you could count on. His extended family depended on him and he always showed up.

Was he perfect? No. None of us are. But he had his priorities in the right order. He loved Jesus and he loved Barbara, his wife of 44 years. He loved his family and friends.

I look around today and see people lusting after tomorrow with a gaze that never sees today. I see hearts that judge people based on possessions, while neglecting the seeds that grow into tomorrow.

James planted seeds. He planted seeds of kindness, integrity, compassion, honesty. He fertilized us all with hope and laughter. And the gift of his presence.

The coming days, weeks and years will be hard, especially for his family. There’s the new grandbaby he’ll never hold. And the graduation he won’t see. And let’s not forget the Nutcracker ballet and the swim meets and all the other things he will miss. He leaves a large void that none of us can fill.

But Jesus. Well, Jesus wept. And then He stepped up to fill that void as only He can.

September 21, 2024

                 Don’t Excuse Lies

There are six things the LORD hates,

seven that are detestable to him:

haughty eyes,

a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked schemes,

feet that are quick to rush into evil,

a false witness who pours out lies

and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

– Proverbs 6:16-19

Does a lie ever justify itself? Is it okay to excuse a person for lying when he explains its purpose? Is it okay to stir up strife to further your own agenda?

A candidate running for vice president of our country now admits he lied about Haitian migrants eating people’s pets. He explained that he just wanted to draw attention to the migrants who are being located into different communities in our country.

JD Vance has done great harm with his repeated lies. Springfield, Ohio, has dealt with bomb threats against their schools. The tension and fear torments residents, including the Haitian migrants who are here legally. They have sought refuge in our country because of the violence in Haiti. Now this?

The ripple from Vance’s lie, which Trump has also told, has spread to other towns. This week a meeting over the Haitian migrants in my own town packed a local church. A church? The media wasn’t allowed in. I didn’t attend.

The police chief did speak to a reporter. He said the migrants haven’t caused any trouble beyond normal percentages throughout the community. (All groups – white, black, hispanic, etc. cause some trouble from time to time.) The Haitians seem to be hard-working people who simply want to build a life here.

Hatred and fear born of a lie. We’re so afraid of taxing our resources by people who “shouldn’t be here.” Have we forgotten that God can multiply anything that we give to Him so that we have more than enough?

It’s appalling to me that a church would host such an event. I am furious that political candidates would continue to stir up hatred and fear to further their own political ambitions. And I am more than disappointed that Christians fall into the mob mentality and blindly follow and excuse evil.

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

– 1 John 4:20-21

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

– John 13:34-35

Are you stirring up hatred or are you reaching out to others in love? Don’t claim to follow Jesus and demand that people made in God’s image be removed from your community. That’s not love. That’s not what Jesus would do.

March 1, 2022

 

Who Do You Exclude?

 

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) – John 4:9

 

Would you have asked her for a drink? Would you even have spoken to her? Or would you have turned away because of her reputation? Would you have cast her aside without even trying to know her?

 

The other day a woman admitted that her Sunday School class is a clique. It excludes people. It’s self-involved. No excuses. It’s just how it is.

 

Another woman spoke of her young daughter who is being bullied. She is heartbroken and yet unable to fully protect her beautiful child from the ugliness of others.

 

Does anyone see a connection here? When we exclude people, badmouth them, cast them aside as unworthy to be a part of our group, our children are watching and learning how to behave. Sure, there are always exceptions but don’t fall too hard on that old excuse. Look at your own behavior.

 

Then look at Jesus. Have you ever noticed that Jesus didn’t hang out with the wealthy? The religious elite hated Him. He spoke truth that made Him even more unpopular. He wasn’t focused on acceptance. He was focused on saving the lost. He ministered to the hungry and the desperate and those the rest of the world had cast aside.

 

God’s always done that. He’s a God that looks at the heart and not the pocketbook. He’s the God that Hagar declared saw her. He sees those who are cast aside, those who aren’t included, those who are bullied and broken. So why do we think it’s okay to exclude the very people Jesus came to save?

The Samaritan woman was an outcast. She was of mixed race, had been married numerous times and was living with yet another man. She’s the one most of us would have gossiped about and excluded from our gatherings. Not Jesus. And because of Him, her life changed and so did the lives of so many others who believed her story and sought Jesus for themselves.

 

The next time you get ready to exclude someone, invite them to join you instead. Don’t just say you love Jesus. Actually be His hands and feet.

 

June 14, 2021

 

Love Reflects Jesus

 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

– John 13:34-35

 

Ugliness abounds. Hateful comments. Snide remarks. Lies meant to bring harm and discord. Hatred clothed in opinion narratives. The saddest thing? These are sins from people who claim to follow Jesus.

 

The hardest part of the past couple of years has been watching friends I truly believed to be strong Christians fall into this ugliness. It’s not about politics. I don’t care what your opinion is. I do care deeply about how you express that opinion. It breaks my heart to see people cast aside simply because they disagree with someone. Who are we to judge?

 

We are no one. The Bible tells us not to judge. But we do. All the time, in every way imaginable. Race, religion, sexual orientation, political views, economic status. We almost don’t need a reason to spew ugliness about another person. What does that say about us?

 

Our lives are meant to reflect Jesus to a dark and hurting world. Every time we allow ourselves to point fingers or share ugly words, we remind others of why they don’t want to know Jesus. Who would invite that kind of hatred into their own lives?

 

Except Jesus has nothing to do with hatred. It’s always important to remember that when He got angry it was at the religious elite who were so busy being “right” that they missed their Savior.

 

The next time you’re tempted to toss out your “opinion” consider how Jesus might react to hearing those words. If it’s not about loving others as He does, then just keep your thoughts to yourself.

November 12, 2019

Prepare for Darkness

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12

Winter arrived today, its wind blowing furiously as the temperatures dropped. Yesterday was a picture-perfect fall day. Temperatures in the 70's with the sun shining brightly. What a difference a few hours can make.

Isn’t that just like life? We’re going along enjoying our days and basking in the merry-go-round of daily activities. Then, in what seems like a moment, everything changes. The illness, the car wreck, the shattered relationship, the job loss. Where light once had free-reign we see nothing but darkness.

Yesterday, while the light of fall rang true, we prepared for today’s freezing temperatures. We covered pipes, unhooked hoses, carried plants inside to safety. We prepared for the darkness and gloom of today. Why? Because we knew it was coming.

It’s the same with life. The time to prepare for the onslaught of tragedy and grief and out-of-control lives is when everything is fine. We know life is filled with ups and downs, good times and bad times. So we build our foundation on the rock who is Jesus Christ. That way, when the storm comes, He will be our secure and safe place to ride it out.

What are you doing today to prepare for an uncertain tomorrow? Do you read and study God’s Word? Do you pray, thanking God for His amazing blessings and asking for guidance? Do you do good where you can? Do you prioritize people, build relationships, give graciously to build His kingdom?

Life gets so busy sometimes. Too busy. We always think we’ve got another day to make that phone call or watch that flag football game. We think we’ve got ample chances to read the book or rock the baby or attend church. But sometimes that day in the future never comes. And sometimes our lives are so devastated that those wishes are destroyed forever.

Prepare for the coming darkness. Lay your foundation on Jesus. In light or darkness, cling to the One who knows the way.

July 10, 2019

What Do You Want?

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” – John 5:6

The answer seems obvious to us. Of course, someone who is sick wants to get well. Really? Maybe we assume what isn’t really there.

There are different types of sickness. Some people are fighting for their lives. Our hearts break for them as we fervently pray. But we all likely know people who seem to enjoy being sick, whether it’s a physical illness, drama at its highest or unhappiness that never ends.

One woman complains because a co-worker appears to be assigned more hours than she is assigned. A few hours later she’s complaining about working too many weekends. She never seems to be happy, whether it’s hours or management or customers. She’s a fault-finder. It’s something she chooses.

Or there’s the man who refuses to do the exercises the doctor ordered. He’s rather sit in his recliner, watch television, and be waited on. He can’t see what’s around the corner. He doesn’t care. He’s enjoying the attention of today too much to understand that his future looks grim. Pretty soon he’ll be an invalid who can’t fight his way back to good health.

Each day we make choices that determine the course of our lives. Are you unhappy? Then stop making excuses and take a different path. Do you want to get well? That’s a question only you can answer. If you answer yes, then prove it by making the changes necessary to turn your life down a different path.

April 19, 2019

Facing the Unknown

“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” – John 14:27

She is afraid. Anyone would be. Health issues abound and the doctors, so far, haven’t been able to determine the cause. I pray for peace to fill her heart as she waits for answers and healing.

Many of us know that fear that comes with the unknown. We are powerless, alone, afraid. There are some journeys that are solitary, where your only companion is Jesus. He is enough.

Have you cried out in pain? Have you clung to the cross, knowing that it was and is the only certainty in your life? Have you let His Spirit fill those raw places with a peace that knows no bounds?

Life can sometimes be a terrifying journey but Jesus didn’t leave us as orphans to face the hard times alone. Reach out and take His hand. He’s right there beside you.

January 3, 2019

Chosen

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” – John 15:16

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

– 1 Peter 2:9

Have you ever been rejected? Most of us have. It hurts, doesn’t it?

All of us want to be accepted for who we are. We want to be enough. We want to be part of the “in” crowd, whatever stage of life we happen to be in. It doesn’t really matter if it’s work, church, neighborhood, service organization or social group. We want to feel welcomed and valued. Sadly, that doesn’t always happen.

Even when the majority like us, there’s always going to be someone who just doesn’t want us around. There’s always going to be that person who criticizes everything we say or do. We know it’s not about us. It’s about them. But it stings just the same.

Unfortunately, sometimes that sting hits where it hurts us the most. Have you ever been rejected by your spouse? Affairs happen every day but the betrayal cuts deep into the most vulnerable parts of us. The same is true when we are rejected by parents, children, even our employer. It threatens our stability, our belief in who we are.

Fortunately, we don’t ever have to worry about being rejected by Jesus. We don’t have to clean ourselves up. We don’t have to pretend we’re someone we’re not. We don’t have to be brilliant or beautiful or have it all together. All we have to do is show up and He meets us with open arms right where we are. How amazing is that?!

Jesus tells us that He chose us. Jesus picked us to be on His team. He wanted us. He values us. We are part of His family. That’s something that still just amazes me. No matter how many times we’ve faced rejection, we are gathered close and welcomed by the only One who matters.

We are people of the light. We are called to service. We are called to honor Him with our lives. We are set apart. We are His. Don’t ever lose sight of that.

Life hurts sometimes. People don’t always like us. People don’t always include us. But we have a Heavenly Father who loved us enough to send His Son to die so that we could live with Him forever. Let yourself be filled with His Spirit. Let His peace soothe your vulnerable places.

You are chosen. You are loved. You are welcomed just as you are.

December 8, 2018

Peace

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Have you ever wondered why peace is one of the candles we light during advent? It was a question our pastor asked during study on Wednesday night.

Jesus’ ministry was anything but peaceful. He turned the order of things upside down and caused a great deal of uproar. And that’s without mentioning how He healed the sick and the lame, fed thousands with almost no food and, yes, raised the dead to life. No. There was nothing peaceful about Jesus’ life.

The peace Jesus referred to wasn’t about political peace. It was about inner peace. Jesus is how we find true peace.

Pastor Ryan Martin said that Jesus exposed false images of peace. We compromise so many times to “keep the peace.” He’s right. We let things go, we turn away, we mind our own business. And what is the cost? Our integrity, our witness, our church, and our family.

Jesus didn’t come to overthrow rulers, Martin said. He came to throw us off the throne of our own hearts so that Jesus can take up residence there. Peace starts with us – with changed lives. It comes when we put Jesus first.

Think about it for a minute. The spread of the early church came when Jesus’ followers put Him first. They didn’t care what happened to them. Their only purpose was to spread the Gospel to as many people as possible and to live fully in His light.

Contrast that with today’s world. We love Jesus. We do. But we aren’t willing to sacrifice for Him. We don’t want to face ridicule, imprisonment, suffering, to prove we belong to Him. We don’t want to sacrifice and be uncomfortable because we love Him. He understands, we tell ourselves. But do we?

When we put Jesus first, peace comes into our hearts and, then, spreads throughout the world. Have you ever watched someone with deep faith ride out a storm? There’s a peace about them, a deep certainty that no matter what happens they rest in Jesus’ embrace. That’s the peace Jesus came to give to us.

We were at war with God. As sinners, we can’t be around God. We were doomed. Jesus came as the perfect sacrifice so that all who believe can be reconciled to God. We can be at peace with God because of Jesus.

But we have a choice. We can continue the war, both inside of ourselves and with God, or we can let Jesus fill us with His peace. We can fight alone, trying to control what can’t be controlled, seeking things that will never satisfy us, or we can rest in Jesus and be filled with Him.

In this season of Advent, we can reflect on what it means to give ourselves over to Jesus. We can watch and wait for the coming Christ child. We can remember what God did for us, how much He suffered, because of the deep love He has for all of us.

A baby came to one day give us life. That is our peace.

November 17, 2018

What Are You Doing?

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of the sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” – Luke 4:18-19

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

– John 12:32

Our Sunday school class has been studying Why I Am A United Methodist by William H. Willimon. It’s a wonderful book that gets back to the basics of what being a Methodist is all about. It’s also a good reminder that no matter what denomination you claim as your own, we are called to something larger than ourselves.

John Wesley preached to the least. He didn’t set up a single preaching post in the wealthier boroughs of London. Willimon writes: He used the Methodist movement as an example of how God begins with those whom the world regards as lowly and of little account before God tries much with the rich and powerful.

Do you think that might be because the rich and powerful don’t always realize how much they need a Savior? Have you considered that the folks who have so much might believe deep inside that their money, their possessions, their abilities are what will save them in the end?

Wesley was all about people. He turned Anglican beliefs upside down. Why? Because he believed that religion was meant to be lived. It’s not enough to know that we should do good to the poor. We must live our faith through our actions. Sounds a great deal like James, doesn’t it?

There’s one true thing about the broken and the poor. There’s a common denominator among those who are sick and those who have lost it all. We are humbled by our circumstances. We know how fragile life truly is. We understand the limits of our human abilities. We are filled with compassion because we understand that no matter how hard life may seem, we are still so blessed by the Holy Spirit. We want to share the Good News. We want to share Jesus.

Jesus didn’t come to save those who had all the answers. He didn’t come to lift up those who considered themselves a little above everyone else. Jesus came for the lost, the poor, the broken. He came for you and me.

A local restaurant will head toward the coast this Thanksgiving. The world has moved on but there are still so many people who are homeless and broken in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. It takes a village and a village has responded. Donations have poured in. Volunteers are lined up. One meal has now become three. More than 750 meals in three different locations. God’s hands at work.

We worry so much about having enough. We recruit the wealthy, we beg for money, we don’t see a way. We forget in all our humanness that we don’t need to worry about bank accounts and budgets. We only need to ask our Savior for His will, knowing that He will provide for and bless what He has ordained.

Jesus took a couple of fish and some bread and fed thousands. We forget that, don’t we? We forget that when we offer our small portion to the least, Jesus multiplies it for the masses. We don’t think we are enough but with Jesus we can provide an abundance.

Jesus came for everyone. He said He would draw others to Himself. We are His hands and feet. People who are hurting, people who are lost, will know Jesus because of our actions. Reach out. Show them His love. People need Jesus. What are you doing to shine His light so that all may see?

November 16, 2018

Open Your Eyes

Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

– John 9:39-41

Does it ever occur to any of us that we could be wrong? Do we ever seek the Bible’s wisdom for what it truly says rather than searching for words that will “prove” what we already believe? What would happen if we truly followed Jesus rather than picking and choosing the parts of Him that feel comfortably in line with ourselves?

Jesus didn’t come to conform to our “wisdom.” He came to save us from ourselves, from the sins that fill us, from the hardness of our hearts. But He left us with a choice. We can choose to follow Jesus or ourselves. There is no room on His path for both of us.

We are quick to point out that the Bible condemns homosexuality. We aren’t so quick to say that it also condemns divorce. Why would we? In our country, an estimated 40-50 percent of all couples will divorce. We don’t want to condemn ourselves so we choose to ignore what the Bible really says.

We are quick to condemn abortion as murder. We don’t want to support the child. That’s someone else’s responsibility. We don’t want to welcome those who are cast aside for their mistakes. We want them to pay again and again under our condemning eyes.

Obviously, abortion is wrong. So is casting aside an unwed mother. Remember: Mary was an unwed mother too. Before she and Joseph married. Before anyone understood about the Holy Spirit and the Messiah, she was a teenager with a growing belly in a world that would have destroyed her for her “sin.”

We cling tightly to our money, refusing to share or tithe as we should. We ignore what the Bible says about money – and it says a great deal about money – choosing instead to “believe” that everyone must support themselves. It is ours, we insist. Others aren’t worthy, we explain. Except the Bible doesn’t talk too much about worthy or ownership. It talks about gifts from God and sharing our blessings. Judgment isn’t ours to dispense, even when it comes to the money God has graciously given to us.

Oh, and let’s not forget the immigrants. We don’t want them. Period. We may expound our beliefs and justify ourselves but it’s just not biblical. The Bible tells us to welcome the foreigner because we once were foreigners. We are to extend kindness and compassion. But we hold what is ours tightly and refuse to show mercy.

There is no easy walk in our world today. It’s like a tightrope that keeps moving except, well, it doesn’t. The Bible is full of words that contradiction what we believe and what we say we believe. It’s impossible to truly love Jesus and stand only for some of what He says and ignore the rest.

Are we blind? Absolutely. But our blindness is a choice. We have the answers before us but we choose to ignore their truth because it’s uncomfortable and it just might cost us something we hold dear. Our money. Yes, it might cost us our money. It might force us to show kindness to people we don’t like. It might ask us to welcome people who aren’t like us so that we can show them that Jesus loves everyone and welcomes them into His arms.

Open your eyes. See your sin. Make your choice.

November 6, 2018

Follow Your Own Path

When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” – John 21:21

Jesus had just told Peter how the disciple would die. While Peter was willing to follow Jesus anywhere, he sure didn’t want to do it alone. So, Peter asked Jesus what would happen to John.

Isn’t that just like us? We get called to do something and we want to know what others have to do. It’s that comparison thing we’ve got going. We all do it.

Jesus told Peter not to worry about what John would do. It certainly wouldn’t change what Peter would face. John’s calling belonged to John and Peter’s calling belonged to Peter.

That’s how it is for us. Each of us are called to be unique. We are gifted in special ways to achieve God’s purpose for our lives. It doesn’t matter what someone else’s calling is. It shouldn’t even concern us. But it does.

We do that in all areas of our lives. We want to play the piano like someone else, ignoring the fact that we are talented in voice or sewing or teaching. We want to look like a certain person, ignoring the fact that we are wonderfully made in the image of God to be who we are. We want to always be different than who we are rather than embracing the person God created us to be.

We also try to put our own characteristics onto others. It’s like we want to remake them in our own image. We tell someone they like something when the reality is we like it, not them. We try to force our children to follow us in music or career or style. We manipulate others to get our way rather than allowing them to be who they are.

What’s wrong with someone being different from us? You like brown and taupe and other neutral colors. I like turquoise and fuchsia and lemon yellow. Neither is right or wrong. We are simply uniquely made with different tastes. I’m amazed at the people who would put someone down simply for not liking the same colors as they do.

Look at our political world. Today is election day. There will be lots of put-downs going on, some subtle and some not so subtle. Why do we think that someone who votes differently than we do is stupid? Why do we need to criticize or ridicule someone who doesn’t agree with our political opinions?

Peter wasn’t sure about what his future held. He would do anything for Jesus. He’d already betrayed Jesus once. He wasn’t about to do it again. Peter would indeed become the rock on which the church was built. But it didn’t stop Peter from wanting to know what John would be doing.

We are all different. God calls us to our own unique paths, using our individual gifts, to bring Him glory. So, stop worrying about what someone else is doing or what someone else looks like and just focus on being who you are. Follow God’s plan for your life and don’t compare it to anyone else’s path.

October 29, 2018

Who Do You Judge?

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. – John 1:46

Jesus was beginning His earthly ministry and He already faced critics. Not because He’d said or done anything controversial at that point but because of where He was from.

Nazareth was a small town. It had maybe a few hundred people. And it had a history that had nothing to do with Jesus. It didn’t stop people from judging Him.

We do that to people all the time, don’t we? He’s got long hair so he must not have a good work ethic or be very smart. She’s a little on the pudgy side so she must sit around and eat all the time.

We judge people based on their address, their last name, their job, their income. We judge people based on their marital status, their children, their intellect. We decide who someone is without ever bothering to know them.

Jesus would soon stir things up. He was controversial. He turned the world upside down. Think about it. Jesus said if you wanted to be first, you had to be last. Jesus said that to be truly rich you had to sell everything and follow Him.

Jesus also said to trust, to believe, to see. He reached out to those others wouldn’t associate with. He was kind to the Samaritan, the prostitute, the tax collector. Jesus touched the leper, healed the sick, raised the dead. Jesus repeatedly went against Jewish law and custom. He was a radical.

We don’t see that now. We’re too focused on pulling out parts of His ministry to suit our own beliefs. You won’t see us hosting the poor in our homes. You don’t have to worry about us welcoming those who are contagious, those who are thieves, those who are of mixed race.

Yet, Jesus did. We claim to love Him but we don’t always act like it. We want Jesus. Or, at least, we want what He has to offer. But we aren’t planning to make any sacrifices, we have no intentions of getting our hands dirty, we aren’t going to give to those we don’t think deserve it.

Yet, Jesus did. While He walked this earth, Jesus reached out to the disenfranchised. He loved the discards. He loved me. And He loved you. He still does.

We are like the elder son who, in his own eyes, did everything right and was furious when his father welcomed his brother back into the fold. We don’t want to share what we have so freely been given. We cling tightly to what was only ever a gift for a time. We are Pharisees who see ourselves as lofty people who are worthy when, in truth, we are the worst of sinners.

We judge with our rules and regulations without bothering to look at the heart. We’re cold and hard in our self-righteousness. We are the people who look down on Jesus because of where He’s from rather than look up to Jesus for what He offers to us.

Nathanael, as you know, was actually Nathanael Bartholomew. He became one of Jesus’ 12 disciples. He saw Jesus and, like the other disciples, gave up everything to follow the Messiah. Will you?

October 22, 2018

Rejection

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. – Isaiah 53:3

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” – John 15:18

She pretended it didn’t matter. She wouldn’t want to go anyway. But the truth was in the sadness of her eyes. She wasn’t invited. All her friends, that group she claimed as her own, were going but she wasn’t invited.

Rejection stings, doesn’t it? We’ve all been there. We aren’t included in the ladies’ lunch. We’re passed over for the promotion we thought was ours. We’re excluded from the group, not invited to the party, sitting alone on the pew.

Jesus gets it. Think about it for a moment. Jesus was popular with loads of followers for a time. But as He began His ministry, his own family thought He was nuts. And at the end, even those closest to Jesus, left Him to face a cruel trial and death. All that remained were John, Jesus’ mother, and a few others.

Maybe those who followed Jesus, all those crowds, only hung around because Jesus was a healer and a miracle worker. He could feed thousands with just a small amount of bread and fish. He could raise the dead and heal the lame. Everyone wanted to be friends with Jesus.

But is that true friendship? When people only are “friends” with you because of what they might be able to get in return, that isn’t really friendship. It’s just a surface relationship that goes away as soon as you aren’t able to give to them anymore. It’s an uncomfortable rejection but is it really a surprise?

Jesus was different. Everyone knew that. People didn’t think anyone of significance could come from Jesus’ hometown. Have you ever been rejected because of where you live, how you dress, where you work? It’s surface stuff that aims to make you feel less than you really are. We pretend it doesn’t matter but it hurts.

Have you ever been rejected because of your age, either younger or older? What about your skin color? It happens all the time. We’re rejected for our faith, for our income, for our worthiness as determined by someone else. Jesus gets it.

Living a life of faith isn’t easy. People don’t understand our priorities. And we’re torn. It’s impossible to live focused on this world and serve Jesus as we should. The two don’t mix. We’ve got to reject one in order to truly serve the other. There’s no middle ground, no matter how many times you witness someone trying to straddle that road.

The world rejects us just as it rejected Him. It hurts. Jesus understands. He’s felt that bitter sting. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus. Love Him. Follow Him. You’re headed home and, really, that’s all that matters anyway.

October 19, 2018

Sacrifices

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

– John 15:13

Jesus knew what was coming. He understood His purpose even though His disciples, His friends, didn’t have a clue as to what Jesus would soon face. Jesus loved them. Jesus loves us. Jesus loves us enough that He died so we could be set free from death.

We know that many sacrifice of themselves to keep us safe and protected. We think of the soldiers who serve around the world, separated from family and friends, to defend us and to try and bring a measure of peace to this chaotic world.

We understand that police officers, state troopers, sheriff’s deputies and others in law enforcement play a vital role in protecting us all. Sometimes they pay a price that is way too high. Sometimes they die in the line of duty. A North Carolina family today endures that unimaginable scenario.

And then there are all the others. Hurricane Michael has ravaged a large area filled with our friends and neighbors. While some send money and bottled water and such – a good thing right now – others show up and work.

One such man, a firefighter, lost his life yesterday. A tree fell on the tractor he was driving as he helped clear debris for family members. Hurricane Michael claimed another victim.

Even now, power companies have sent linemen into devastated areas. They’ve come from numerous states. Yes. They’re getting paid. They’re also doing dangerous work for really long hours in horrific conditions. We’re blessed to have them. We’re thankful to have them.

Eleven years ago my hometown suffered a devastating tornado that destroyed a large area, including the high school. Nine people died. Eight were high school students. Volunteers and emergency crews descended on the town and we were and are so grateful. We needed help and help came.

I also remember watching someone cutting a tree that was broken and hanging awkwardly. He almost causing someone else to be badly injured. It was an accident. The volunteer wasn’t trained. He knew how to use a chain saw. It wasn’t that. It’s that the trees after a storm are damaged in a way that can cause them to fall differently. The disaster team crews are specially trained in how to get them removed without injury. Most of the time no one gets hurt. Until they do.

There are people from all over the country who are making sacrifices right now to help those who are in desperate need. This isn’t some disaster that happened in another country. It happened in our backyard. These are our people. They are good, hard-working people who are now in desperate need.

I applaud those who go into the disaster zone and help. I admire the emergency workers and trained disaster teams. I am so grateful for the lineman and others who are working hard to restore power and water, to clear debris and to provide food for others. They are loving others like Jesus would.

Take a moment, if you would, to remember Gulf County Fire Coordinator Brad Price of Wewahitchka, FL. And remember North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Conner. Pray for their families and friends. They are both gone way too soon.

September 30, 2018

How Far Will You Go?

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. – John 6:66

How devoted are you to Jesus? How much do you love Him? How far will you go when He calls you to a path not of your liking? What will you do, how much will you sacrifice, to fulfill His calling on your life?

It’s easy to follow Jesus when the path is sure and the work light and easy. It’s a good life, we tell ourselves. God is good, we share boldly.

And then, one day, it’s not. Your best friend gets a cancer diagnosis and, after surgery and treatments and hours of prayer, dies. Your husband spends years building a career that provides a good life for your family until, one day, his company goes under and you’re left with a meager bank account and no prospects for a new job.

Should I go on? There’s the child you’ve asked God to protect and guide since before he was born. He’s addicted to drugs. Maybe you thought you’d found the perfect church only to hear another church member gossiping and spreading ugly untruths about you. Maybe you’re infertile, or alone, or your husband is having an affair.

Do you still follow Jesus throughout it all? Do you still love Him and trust Him? Do you still believe He wants what is best for you?

Life rarely turns out the way we’d imagined. Our plans, well, they rarely direct our lives. God has a way of showing up and turning our world upset down. Sometimes it hurts. Always it ends up growing us and molding us into the people He wants us to be.

Staying the course is hard. It’s not like God gives us a map. We don’t get to preview the twists and turns before they happen. We don’t get to choose only good things.

I get it. I do. But here’s a hard truth:  It’s in the hard times, the hurtful moments, that we grow the most. It’s when we have nowhere else to turn that we finally cry out to the only One who can fill us with His peace, healing us from the inside out.

That’s when some people turn away. They want an easy button. They don’t want to walk through the pain. They don’t want to suffer. They don’t want to believe God knows best when He says no. They don’t want to trust when Jesus says wait.

It’s easy to turn to other things, isn’t it? Alcohol and pills dull the pain. Stuff, whether it’s the latest electronic gadget or a new outfit, makes us feel better. We can relax in front of the television, binging on escapism programming as we stuff unhealthy foods into our already overweight bodies. We don’t need Jesus. We can take care of ourselves. That’s what we tell ourselves anyway.

What about you? Can you stay the course, trusting Him, when the way is rocky and the final outcome uncertain? Can you believe in Him, in His goodness, in His love, when life hurts?

We don’t always get the answers we want in life. We don’t always understand why He allows us to hurt so deeply when we’ve tried so hard to follow Him? Through it all He changes us, molds us, until one day we look up and realize we’re really thankful we stayed the course and trusted Him through the hard times.

September 28, 2018

Where Is the Love?

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35

The venom spews from both sides. The comments are hateful, ugly, mean. I don’t care what side you’re on when it comes to the Kavanaugh-Ford issue, if you’re wearing the Christian label and spewing hate, you’re in the wrong.

Do not use Jesus to defend your words and actions. He was all about love. He was able to correct people and turn people toward God without condemning or shaming them. The only time Jesus got mad was at the Pharisees, the rule makers who were so busy thinking highly of themselves that they missed the Messiah.

Are you missing Jesus in all of this? Are you forgetting that when you claim a faith you don’t show you turn people away from Him? Are you remembering that it’s not about you?

Yes. It’s your opinion. You’re entitled to it. But don’t pull Jesus into the fray when you’re more concerned with your “values” than His. Jesus doesn’t need you to defend Him. What He demands of all of us is that we love people where they are.

Hate and love cannot co-exist in the same heart. It is possible to disagree with someone – even in the political arena – and not hate them. It is possible to give your viewpoint without using hatred as a weapon. If you can’t do that, then you should shut up because you’re making Jesus look bad.

This isn’t about taking sides. Sure. I have my viewpoint but it isn’t about what I think. God knows the truth and it will eventually come out. How do I know that? The light always exposes the darkness. (Ephesians 5:13; John 3:20)

Also, do not tell me or anyone else to pray for your opinion of the situation. Just don’t. It’s not about your will. It’s about God’s will. Do not presume to know what His will really is. That’s your pride showing and is nothing from Him. You don’t know what the best outcome is and neither do I. Pray for everyone and ask that God’s will be done.

I am so very sad about the anger and ugliness that permeate our country today. Don’t point fingers at others. Get that plank out of your own eye. And don’t throw a stone at someone else and use that as an excuse for your own behavior or the behavior of someone else. God doesn’t need your help, or mine, to deal with someone else’s sin. You take care of your own sin and He’ll take care of the sins of others.

Jesus told us to love people. If you can’t do that, if you can’t disagree with someone without spreading hate, then maybe what you really need is a heart check. Are you sure you have Jesus living inside of you? Are you positive your words come from the Holy Spirit? Are you without a doubt living for God?

Hate and God cannot co-exist. Before you share your “opinion” again, consider what you are sharing.

September 26, 2018

He Chose Me

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” – John 15:16

It had been a particularly bad day in a life that hadn’t been that great. I was only 15 but I’d known more than my share of rejection. I just couldn’t take it anymore.

My Mother hated me. No one understood. They assumed I was exaggerating or it was just a fight. I didn’t try to talk about it to anyone anymore. They didn’t hear her words. They didn’t see the hatred in her eyes.

I planned to kill myself that day. As I waited for night to come, I went outside and sat on the grass. I held a Bible – her childhood Bible – and sobbed to God. I can’t say I knew Him but I sure wanted to. There was no one else to listen.

I opened the Bible to the Psalms. We were not a church going family, but I always found comfort in the words. Do you know what the first verse I read was?

Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. – Psalm 27:10

And because of that verse, I lived. Nothing in my circumstances changed. I lived in a house filled with hatred that was mostly directed at me. But the peace I felt carried me through the days. God’s Presence fueled my determination to survive and to create a different life for myself.

It wasn’t until many years later that I fully understood that the peace I felt came from the Holy Spirit. I didn’t become a Christian when I was baptized in college. I became a Christian that day I cried out to God in pain and He answered me with Himself.

I have not always lived up to His standards. I’m sure I’ll continue to let Him down again and again as I continue my journey home. But I know where I’m going. He chose me that day. Everyone else had rejected me but He called me His.

We like to think the choice is ours. We like to believe that we’re in control. And I guess we could say no. But how can anyone really say no to Jesus? Knowing Him has been the best gift I could ever receive.

I believe He sought me out long before I cried out to Him that day. There was a reason I clung to that tattered Bible. There was a reason I’d read the Psalms when I was heartbroken from the daily battles. I instinctively sought the One who could save me. And He, in turn, drew me near, bit by bit, until I became fully His.

I don’t know what your story is. Some people grow up in church and say they’ve always felt His Presence. Others know all the answers but that doesn’t seem to make a difference in their lives. I’m thankful it’s up to God to judge our hearts.

I love Him. It really is that simple. I love Him because He first loved me. I love Him because when everyone else thought I was worthless He called me beloved. I love Him because He never left me. He gave me hope. He chose me. I am so very thankful.