He Is Risen!

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” John 20:19

The sheer insanity of it all! Can you imagine what it would have been like to have witnessed your beloved friend and teacher put to death. How gut-wrenchingly horrific to watch the agony of this one you love. This man that you followed around the countryside; who taught you; who ate with you; who healed the sick and cast out demons before your very eyes is gone. He is dead.

Now, here he is. Alive! Standing before you! Just as he promised, He lives! Watching the movie "Risen" yesterday, it struck me that once the disciples witnessed him alive, they had no alternative; but, to go and share this good news. Who wouldn't? Sure they could've tried to kept their lips sealed to protect themselves. They did not have to tell anyone about this miraculous return of their beloved friend from the dead. But, how would one keep such a secret. Impossible! It is just too marvelous! The news must be shared. And, it was shared. Like mad men; yet, not mad; filled with the Spirit, those first followers of Jesus went out and shared the marvelous news of his death, his resurrection, and his ascension. The good news is that because he is risen and so shall we!

I hear often about churches dying. I wonder why; how can this be? How can a church die when they have such good news to share. Maybe, because the good news isn't being shared. Think about it for a minute. Those who witnessed Jesus alive have his death were few. Yet, from those few the good news has spread  around the world. Even in the smallest of congregations there are at least a dozen who worship God. Don't keep him in the sanctuary. Don't hide your love of God. Go out and tell the world that; although, he was hung a cross until dead, he is risen!

He lives!

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Tradition would tell me this blog would be best for Easter. But, it is good news for every day! I doubt those first disciples quit telling the story during the forty days. One never knows when someone who has not heard the story needs to hear it.

For The Sake Of Others

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." John 15:12-13 NRSV

Jesus lay down his life not just for his friends; but, for all who were his enemies, as well. He lay down his life for those who rejected and refused to live in the truth.

Today is Armistice Day. Armistice with Germany went into effect on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Today, we remember all Veterans of the many wars that this country has been involved in since our inception. It is for freedom's sake that our armed services generally find themselves in armed conflicts or war. It is not for their own sakes that they fight; but, for the sake of loved ones; friends; even enemies; for the sake of the whole they are willing to lay down their lives.

Today we give thanks for all who are willing to lay down their lives that others might live and lively freely.

God's Peace - Pr. J

God's Peace

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you." 2 Thess 3:16

One of the most peaceful places I have ever visited was Puerto Rico. The warm winds were blowing as they do all year. We made the journey a couple of years ago to visit a friend who was in hospice. We did not make it in time to visit him as he died before we got on the plane. We were able to visit with his wife and sons.

In spite of the grief, there was serenity surrounding the visit. The wife, a friend of mine, is a very faithful woman. No matter what trials or tribulations she has faced over the decades, she has faced them with courage and with the peace of heart that only God can give.

As we face the winds and waves of various storms, may God grant us peace at all times and in all ways.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 17:1-9 Guilt By Association?

Acts 17:1-9 NIV
I was wondering: Could you be found guilty of associating with Jesus or with his disciples?

Jason welcomed Paul and Silas into his home. Although many people, in Thessalonica, heard and believed the evidence that Paul offered that Jesus was the Messiah; others did not. These others were jealous and encouraged a mob mentality towards Paul and Silas. Not being able to find Paul and Silas, the mob rushed Jason's home and had him arrested. He was considered guilty by association. Again I ask, would any one know that you are guilty of associating with Jesus or any of his followers? How would they know?

May our lives be such that all people might know we believe that Jesus is the Messiah and that we are friends of Him and his followers.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 19:38-42 Secret Friend and Follower

John 19:38-42 NIV
Nicodemus, a secret friend of Jesus, and Joseph of Arimathea, who had kept the fact that he was a follower of Jesus a secret for fear of the Jews, buried Jesus.

As I consider these verses from John today, I am reminded of the decades that Russians had to worship in secret, sometimes in graveyards, lest they be arrested and suffer the consequences for their faith. It reminds me that even today, multitudes must try to hide their faith in order to save their lives so that they might continue to share the Good News even if it must be done clandestinely.

May God help us, who are free to proclaim our allegiance to Jesus, to proclaim it freely.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 26 - Check the "Aha"; God is Watching You

Consider Tyre, they too laugh at Jerusalem, saying "Aha!" (Ezek 26:2 NIV) They are glad for Jerusalem's fall at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. They now have a little less competition. They think that because Jerusalem has fallen, they will now prosper even more. But, they will not be glad for long. God will send this same Nebuchadnezzar to ravage Tyre. They will no longer be the great city that they were.

Consider, again those whom you would laugh at and rejoice over when they fall because you might now have an advantage. Consider your boasting when you prevail over a friend or foe. Does God not hear? Will He come to their aid and take all that you thought you had won away?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 39 - Compromise For Temporary Peace?

Shall we compromise for temporary peace? Hezekiah does in today's reading. He has revealed all that he has to the enemy bearing gifts and in the end they will most likely pay dearly for this.

I do believe that Merodach Baladan has not acted with integrity and Hezekiah has fallen for it  with hopes they can be friends at peace with one another. How often do our governments play this same game so that they can say "Peace, peace, when there is no peace."? How about our churches? How about us? Have we been playing games, compromising, what we believe, who and whose we are for the sake of a friend or ally?

I'm thinking maybe we have. Where else would our children have learned it? Who could have taught them to use one another and to be used (bullied) by others for the sake of a feigned friendship and no.entry peace?

Truth is: it feels good to be liked or to be popular. But, it is good to be able to live as a child of God, according to His will. Compromising His will may give you a sense of momentary peace, but the only real peace comes from being Hid friend, living in His presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. In the woods, blogging from a SMART phone so please forgive errors and typos.

Psalm 55 - Smooth as Butter

The Psalmist sounds pretty unhappy again this morning.  Sometimes, it seems just a bit much.  But, I think many of us have probably been there at one time or another.  Enemies attack and even those whom we thought were friends attacked and our only help was in the LORD.  We were surrounded and although we wished we could fly away and escape the assault, we could not.  We were stuck and only God could help.  Assaulting back would do no good.  It would only makes things worse.

When I was first married, my husband use to accuse me of being too trusting.  Then I got burned a few times, no, many times, by those who presented themselves as people who were friends and who cared.

Maybe, it's not a good thing to be so suspicious.  But, I learned to watch for signs in potential relationships that everything was not as it seemed.  I learned to listen for them.  One, of the things, the lessons, that life taught me was to listen for words that are as smooth as butter, more soothing than oil.    I learned over the years that the ones who would hurt me most were not those who presented themselves as an enemy, but those who presented themselves as friends. If someone smiles and is happy all the time when they are around us, if they always agree with everything we say, then maybe we should be prepared to duck and run for cover. It is a sad commentary, I suppose, that I learned in life to not trust everyone.  But, it is reality.  It is a very sorrowful thing to be assaulted or betrayed by a friend who turns out to be an enemy. It was for me and it is for those who find themselves in this situation today.  Sadly, the reality is that there are more than a few of you who are being persecuting by those you thought were your friends, even today. 

Eventually, I was able to trust, again.  However, I realize that now the trust that I place in people is only because I trust God and I trust God working in and through them. 

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you." (Psalm 55:22-23 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Job 8 - Friends and Children

Now there's a slap in Job's face.  He has not suffered enough so his "friend" Bildad comforts him with these words:  "When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin."  (vs. 4 NIV) 

These words were spoken to the man who loved his children so much and worried about them so much that after his children had celebrations (feasts) together, would make arrangements for them to be purified. He sacrificed a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” (Job 1:5)

Now, I don't know about you... but, I tend to go on the defensive (actually more like the offensive) when anyone points out my children's or grandchildren's faults to me. I know my children and grandchildren, probably better than they think I do.  I know they are not perfect any more than I am perfect.  I pray for each of them daily, usually more often than that.  But, go ahead and make accusations about them to me and you will see fire in my eyes.  That is a guarantee!  Can't help it.  It is within human nature to act like a mother bear when people I love are attacked and from my experience that is how most parents react.

So, when I hear about this man, Job, suffering the loss of all that he had, including his physical health, being told by his friend, that God gave his children over to the penalty of their sin, implying that is why they died, well... it just makes me a little more than uncomfortable. 

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"  (Matt 7:3)   

May God help us to have a greater understanding of our own inability to do what is right and that is to love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Job 4 - Sit in Silence

Eliphaz' words are a reminder, to me, this morning that maybe, if we truly want to help, we will keep our mouths shut and either listen or sit in silence with our friends.  Just be there for them.  In fact, Eliphaz and Job's other friends had just sat there for seven days in silence.  But, when he opened his mouth, it was just garble.  I'm not sure if the way to comfort a friend is to encourage discouragement.

So many times when I have been trying to comfort someone, I have wondered if I was actually helping or making things worse for them.  It is way too easy to get caught up in the negative and bring them even further down than they were when I got there.

Sometimes, the best thing one can do is to be still - say nothing - do nothing - except to be there for them - to walk beside them (silently praying) in their days of trouble.

God's Peace - Pr. J

 

1 Samuel 20 - David and Jonathan's Love

I hope that yesterday's posting didn't confuse anyone. Seems, I got things a little out of order. Hopefully, I am back on track today.

Jonathan was a bit confused, it seems, too. Because of his love for David, at first he could not fathom the possibility that his father, Saul, would want David killed. But, he does. Saul wants David dead so that the kingdom will be inherited by his own son, Jonathan. But, then he tries to kill his own son by throwing a spear at him. He misses - thanks be to God. But, Jonathan's eyes are opened. He sees that his father's lust for power has driven him a bit bonkers.

Can you imagine a love, a faithfulness as great as Jonathan's? He does not care about ruling over kingdoms. He cares about his relationship with David. He puts the first thing first. David, in return, loves this son of the man who wants him dead.

Jonathan risks a lot in protecting David. What, I wonder, would we do to protect those whom we love from being persecuted at the hands of others?