Good Friday

Thank You, Jesus, for the cross. Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15 NIV).

The Table

I have a huge stack of old 78 records that belonged to my grandma; however, they mean nothing to me even though they have been in the family for more than 75 years. On the other hand, I use and treasure her old oak dining room table because it is the same table I sat around and ate meals on when growing up. Today as I sit at this beloved table for meals it’s easy for memories to resurface in my mind. I find I have a similar experience when I come around the Lord’s table during communion on Sunday. After years of communing with the Lord around this beloved table the memories of His life and death are refreshed in my mind. Paul wrote, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor 11:26 NIV).

Brought Low

The painter we hired to do the interior of our house is in his late 60’s. As he was masking the laundry room baseboard he got down on the floor and then couldn’t get up because there wasn’t anything to grab hold of for support. Bill ask him why he didn’t call us so we could give him a helping hand. He laughed and unabashed said, “Because of pride.” The wisdom in Proverbs rings with truth, “A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor” (Proverbs 29:23 NIV).

Call for the Elders

My current church leadership, which has dwindled to less than a handful of men, continues to turn a blind eye to the fact that their controlling and authoritative style of leadership is unhealthy and causing the church to be sick. A few weeks ago, the chair of the church board was a cheerleader at the podium saying how great things were going…then Sunday his written resignation was read. He has not attended worship in a few weeks and his family is looking for another church. So, the path he helped design for our congregation is now no longer the path he wants to be on. Hmm… Our church has numerous men who were previously preachers, elders — they have just opted out of official leadership. It’s time to call on these self-retired spiritual leaders. James said, “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven” (James 5:13-15 NIV).

Just Punishment

Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and the media is in a frenzy. For the talking heads it is not a matter of whether Sessions was justified in firing McCabe, but that President Trump somehow had a hand in it and that McCabe will lose a portion of his retirement. For his part, McCabe wants his offences overlooked simply because he has worked for the FBI for decades, he considers himself a dedicated public servant and he doesn’t want his reputation tarnished. I’m reminded of the criminals who were crucified on either side of Jesus. “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong” (Lurk 23:39-41 NIV).

Speaking Beyond Your Authority

When I served on city council, the city attorney and the city insurance carrier went to great lengths to make sure elected officials did not speak on their own and expose the city to a lawsuit. A couple of weeks ago a local city councilman went rogue and publicly took a resident to task and now fellow citizens are now calling for his resignation. I’m reminded of Moses who presumed himself to be the deliverer of his Hebrew brothers and killed an Egyptian. “Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not” (Acts 7:25). The response from his fellow Hebrews was, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian” (Ex 2:14a NIV)? Believers can easily fall into the same temptation when we feel that the title of Christian allows us to speak for God.

Reconciled

In a secular sphere my political enemy and I keep our distance. However, this man and I attend the same church and although we don’t come close to greeting one another with a holy kiss, as fellow believers we've always been cordial. Well, at least we were cordial until last Sunday when I tried to make eye contact and say “good morning.” He brushed past me with a look of disdain and even though I turned around and followed him for a few steps calling out his name, he would not respond. Jesus said, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matt 5:23-24).  I get what the Lord is saying, but reconciliation takes two.

Wicked Thoughts

When Simon the Sorcerer saw the Spirt was given by the laying on of the apostles’ hands he offered money to buy the ability from the apostles. Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God” (Acts 8:19b-21 NIV). It’s not simply that Simon wanted to buy the gift of God for himself, he wanted to buy a franchise, “…so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Simon was a baptized believer and serves as a good example of how easily a wicked thought can come into our heart. 

Making a Mockery

Comedians and news anchors continue to publicly mock President Trump’s appointees who profess their faith in God. Using Christians as targets for mockery comes with the territory and I would like to be able to say, “Father, forgive them because they know not what they do.” But the reality is that they do know what they are doing. Their comments are calculated and they mock not only people of faith, but Christ and God as well. Paul said, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Gal 6:7-8 NIV).

The Betrayer

In anyone’s circle of friends there is always knowledge, or suspicion, of what a person is capable of. I find it curious that when Jesus announced one of his disciples would betray him, “His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it” (John 13:22-25 NIV)? It’s hard to imagine that the disciples were clueless as to who the betrayer might be.

Where are you from?

When I do interviews one of the basic questions I ask is, “Are you a local, if not where did you come from and what brought you to western Colorado?” Jesus was brought before Pilate and he found no basis for a charge against him. However, the Jews and the chief priests wanted Jesus crucified on the charge that he claimed to be the Son of God. “When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer” (John 19:8-9 NIV). I’m trying to imagine the blood draining form Pilate’s face if Jesus would have told him what he told his disciples, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38 NIV).

Revolving Door

One police offer shared his frustration with repeat offenders, “We see a lot of the same names. Criminals get out of jail and go back and commit the same crime. Some people just don’t want help.” I’m reminded of the man at the pool in Jerusalem that was near the Sheep Gate. Jesus approached a man who had been an invalid for 38 years and said, “Do you want to get well” (John 5:6b NIV)? At first blush I want to answer for the invalid, “Well of course I want to get well.” However, the police officer’s experience with career criminals is not so far removed from other walks of life, including that of believers…some people simply don’t want help or healing.

In Spirit and In Truth

In Spirit and In Truth

Some people reject corporate worship and feel they can worship outdoors in nature just as well as in the church. For many of us the church building is our place of worship. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24 NIV). I’m wondering if the worship in spirit and in truth is getting lost in the forest, the mountains and the church building.

Braggart

I interviewed a law enforcement officer and it was like pulling teeth to get him to talk. He would answer my questions, but not elaborate on the answer. Even though he was an ex-Marine, I finally asked him if he was humble, or just shy. He said, “I don’t want to be a braggart.”  While I can appreciate his reservations, I was concerned his lack of response might come across flat and monotone on the written page. Similarly, when believers downplay their faith for fear of sounding boastful, their testimony and witness can be marginalized. The Psalmist wrote, “In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever” (Ps 44:8 NIV).

Worldly Leadership

Two Sunday’s ago, a candidate for an assistant pastor position interviewed at our church. The candidate presented a well-prepared message and I requested his email address. Our current pastor said, “I feel the church board has an obligation of protecting all of [the candidate name’s] information at this point.  I hope you will be patient while I see what the rest of the board thinks about giving out the e-mail address.” Seriously? The church leadership wants to protect a pastoral candidate from a fellow believer’s email? It is sad and troubling when pastors and elders succumb to the manipulation and leadership tactics of the world. Paul said, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Ro 12:2 NIV).

Little Things

Jesus told his disciples, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest (Luke 12:25-26 NIV)? I’m struck by the fact that the Lord considers it a little thing to add single hour to our life. However, I suppose that in the Lord’s view nothing is really that big. “For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37 NIV).

Sober Judgment

While seated at the dais during a city council meeting a councilman went on a tirade against a citizen for displaying a Confederate flag on his house. The elected official had seen the flag as he drove by the residence and then publicly chastised the citizen saying that the flag represented hatred and racism. He then proceeded to announced the homeowner’s address. Obviously, the councilman misused his position of authority. I’ve seen a similar tactic used in the church by leaders who lord their authority over the congregation. Paul said, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Ro 12:3-5 NIV).

You’re Responsible

We are to confess our sins to one another; however, that does not take the place of asking for forgiveness. Judas betrayed the Lord for 30 silver coins and he then confessed to the Pharisees, “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” Interesting, they responded, “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility” (Matt 27:4 NIV). On this point I happen to agree with the Pharisees…it is our individual responsibility to ask for forgiveness and repair our relationship with the Lord.

 

Worth a Denarius

Last Friday the Reverend Billy Graham was laid to rest. An evangelist for over eight decades, I have confidence this man of God will be great in the kingdom of heaven. However, some of us struggle with the idea that anyone who has been a Christian for only a year is worth as much to God as the esteemed Billy Graham. In the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard Jesus said, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.” On the third, sixth, ninth and eleventh hour the landowner did the same thing and hired more men. At the end of the day some men grumbled when they learned all the men hired were paid the same wage, one denarius. The landowner said to them, “Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matt 20:1, 13-16 NIV).

Ask, Seek, Knock

Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matt 7:7-8 NIV). The NIV Study Bible foot note explains, “Greek imperatives are used here, indicating constant asking, seeking and knocking.” I’m trying to picture myself standing before the Lord and He wants me to give an accounting for the times and situations in my life when I stopped asking, seeking and knocking.

Signs of the Times

I have numerous family members who are in their 80’s and 90’s and struggling with being elderly. Not only are they losing what they perceive as control of their lives, they are losing physical strength, have less energy and suffer with aches and pains. It’s almost as though over the last several years they have ignored the signs of aging and they are not mentally prepared. Although the Pharisees and Sadducees were asking Jesus for a miraculous sign, I find the Lord’s response to be applicable in interpreting the signs in our lives. Jesus said, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (Matt 16:2-3 NIV).

Jesus Calms Our Storms

There are times when I’m in a furious storm and the waves of responsibilities, deadlines, and commitments are sweeping over me. Similar to the disciple’s storm experience it feels like the Lord is sleeping and I want to wake him and say, “Lord, save me! I’m going to drown!” Just as Jesus told the disciples, he also tells me, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him” (Matt 8:26-27)!