On Good Friday the father of one of our church members died. He had not been in bad health in particular but was 86 years old. Evidently he just laid down sometime in the day and didn't wake up.
One of my friends asked me last night if I was having a good Friday. I told him what happened and he said what a sad day. I responded that Good Friday is supposed to be sad. He said but not that sad.
He's right. The first Good Friday was the saddest day ever. Hope died. But since that first Good Friday, nothing is as sad as that day because other deaths now have lost their sting.
On Saturday despair must have reigned as the reality sunk in. That's probably how my church member feels today too.
But on Sunday morning, dawn brought a tremendous surprise. Jesus had risen, just like he said. And hope won, despair was dashed, eternity opened for all.
I'm sure my church friend will still feel sad tomorrow. But the resurrection brings hope of reunion, and that takes the edge off our grief.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
It's Not Killing Us
For Lent I have observed several disciplines, one of which involves abstaining from sugar. This has impacted me in particular during this long cold March when spring refused to show up, and I had to resist my favorite cold weather comfort, Starbucks hot chocolate.
Today I needed to buy the Easter flowers for church, and stopped in a grocery across town with a Starbucks conveniently located as I entered the front door. I looked longingly at the options as I walked by, thinking to myself, "It's killing me."
The moment these words formed in my head I thought how ludicrous this sentiment is, especially today. Much of the point of Lenten deprivations lies in the reminder of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf. On Good Friday to even consider comparing my abstaining from hot chocolate with the sacrificial death on the cross of Jesus proves laughable. I embarrassed myself even thinking such a thing.
Years ago I stopped letting my children use the common expression, "I'm starving." I told them no matter how hungry they may be, starving did not apply. People in other countries starve.
Today I realized how ridiculous it probably ever is to say "It's killing me." Perhaps it applies if one has cancer, or is overworking to the point of destroying their health, but most of the time when we use this expression no real threat of loss of life exists.
I'm also reminded that although Jesus could have said, "They're killing me" about his enemies, he actually chose to lay down his life for us. He could have avoided the whole drama of Good Friday, but he willingly sacrificed himself.
Lent will end soon. I'm looking forward to hot chocolate again. But I hope I also remember the lessons of Lent.
Today I needed to buy the Easter flowers for church, and stopped in a grocery across town with a Starbucks conveniently located as I entered the front door. I looked longingly at the options as I walked by, thinking to myself, "It's killing me."
The moment these words formed in my head I thought how ludicrous this sentiment is, especially today. Much of the point of Lenten deprivations lies in the reminder of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf. On Good Friday to even consider comparing my abstaining from hot chocolate with the sacrificial death on the cross of Jesus proves laughable. I embarrassed myself even thinking such a thing.
Years ago I stopped letting my children use the common expression, "I'm starving." I told them no matter how hungry they may be, starving did not apply. People in other countries starve.
Today I realized how ridiculous it probably ever is to say "It's killing me." Perhaps it applies if one has cancer, or is overworking to the point of destroying their health, but most of the time when we use this expression no real threat of loss of life exists.
I'm also reminded that although Jesus could have said, "They're killing me" about his enemies, he actually chose to lay down his life for us. He could have avoided the whole drama of Good Friday, but he willingly sacrificed himself.
Lent will end soon. I'm looking forward to hot chocolate again. But I hope I also remember the lessons of Lent.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Trusting the Plan
From John Ortberg's book Who is This Man?:
"Leadership, says Harvard’s Ron Heifetz, is the art of
disappointing people at a rate they can stand. In the last week
of his life, Jesus exceeded the disappointment rate."
The people couldn't handle how Jesus wouldn't step up to their expectation of a physical kingdom. So they killed him for it.
That historical death of Jesus is over. But aren't we guilty of something similar? When Jesus doesn't live up to our expectations in some way, we bail too. Whether we actually lose our faith or not, we often disengage in frustration when we don't get our way.
We'd rather Jesus be our puppet, just like the people of his time on earth wanted. We have a hard time letting Jesus do it His way.
Maybe we should trust Jesus to have the best plan. That resurrection idea worked out pretty well.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Faithful
Today I am grateful that my husband is hardwired for faithfulness. His Myers-Briggs describes him as a pillar of society, and he brims with integrity and unwavering loyalty. What a gift that is.
When couples experience infidelity, the injured party usually wonders, "what did I do?" Even in a "bad" relationship, the choice to respond with unfaithfulness is just that, a choice. Having marital issues does not need to result in infidelity, and blaming the spouse for your own unfaithfulness is scapegoating.
I want to have a marriage that is more than just faithful, I want it to be full of mutual joy. But I am grateful for this bedrock of fidelity that makes trust and vulnerability possible. Thank you Roger.
When couples experience infidelity, the injured party usually wonders, "what did I do?" Even in a "bad" relationship, the choice to respond with unfaithfulness is just that, a choice. Having marital issues does not need to result in infidelity, and blaming the spouse for your own unfaithfulness is scapegoating.
I want to have a marriage that is more than just faithful, I want it to be full of mutual joy. But I am grateful for this bedrock of fidelity that makes trust and vulnerability possible. Thank you Roger.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The Reality of Holy Week
For most folks, Palm Sunday flows right into Easter Sunday. One Sunday they are celebrating Jesus' popularity as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the next Sunday they rejoice in the resurrection. What a nice sequence of events!
If we look at Holy Week this way, we lose the significance of what happened. Resurrection means little without the betrayal of Maundy Thursday, the torture and death of Good Friday, the anxious waiting of Holy Saturday. Even these earlier days of this week are represented in the Gospels as times of sparring with the officials and continued teachings and interactions of Jesus.
Consider how you can grasp the reality of this week. Attend a Maundy Thursday or Good Friday service. Fast part of this week. Participate in a prayer vigil or holy waiting. Plan on a sunrise service. Read the story of the passion in your Bible.
Resurrection means a lot more when we see from whence it came, when we grasp the depth of sacrifice made our on behalf. Determine to participate in this week in a way that deepens your gratitude for the risen Savior.
If we look at Holy Week this way, we lose the significance of what happened. Resurrection means little without the betrayal of Maundy Thursday, the torture and death of Good Friday, the anxious waiting of Holy Saturday. Even these earlier days of this week are represented in the Gospels as times of sparring with the officials and continued teachings and interactions of Jesus.
Consider how you can grasp the reality of this week. Attend a Maundy Thursday or Good Friday service. Fast part of this week. Participate in a prayer vigil or holy waiting. Plan on a sunrise service. Read the story of the passion in your Bible.
Resurrection means a lot more when we see from whence it came, when we grasp the depth of sacrifice made our on behalf. Determine to participate in this week in a way that deepens your gratitude for the risen Savior.
Monday, March 25, 2013
All God
In the past month we've had visitors at church weekly. All are folks who have moved into our neighborhood, which is the focus of our ministry. Some have returned, some haven't, but even having them come try us out can only be attributed to God attracting them.
I greatly appreciate the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts to interest them in attending. May God guide them to the church they need to connect with.
I greatly appreciate the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts to interest them in attending. May God guide them to the church they need to connect with.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Discernment with Divine Appointments
Tonight before going to an Emmaus event I stopped in Sam's Club. There I ran into the woman I served with in Emmaus last spring, picking up photos for this weekend's walk.
As I walked to my car, a woman approached me asking for help. She cried while telling me of her granny's funeral, being lost and needing gas and her special needs son who needed food. I listened trying to discern her authenticity. Roger and I don't give cash to strangers, but I offered to follow her to a gas station and buy her gas. When I did so, she said she would ask someone else for cash to buy food for her son. She walked away and I knew she wasn't sincere and I was relieved not to have fallen for it.
When she began talking I wondered if this was a divine appointment. It's easy to rush to help, but that can lead to helping people continue negative life patterns, so I was grateful for caution.
As I walked to my car, a woman approached me asking for help. She cried while telling me of her granny's funeral, being lost and needing gas and her special needs son who needed food. I listened trying to discern her authenticity. Roger and I don't give cash to strangers, but I offered to follow her to a gas station and buy her gas. When I did so, she said she would ask someone else for cash to buy food for her son. She walked away and I knew she wasn't sincere and I was relieved not to have fallen for it.
When she began talking I wondered if this was a divine appointment. It's easy to rush to help, but that can lead to helping people continue negative life patterns, so I was grateful for caution.
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