Faith and the Coronovirus

 “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His eyes, and pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, then I will not bring on you any of the diseases I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26) 

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2I say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3Surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly plague. 4He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart. 5You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the calamity that destroys at noon. 7Though a thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, no harm will come near you.

8You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of the wicked.
(Psalm 91)

Thoughts: As of today the Coronavirus has 85,000 reported cases and 3,000 deaths (Over 39,000 have recovered after contracting it).  It is responsible for a 3,300 point drop in the DOW Jones stock exchange. But 6.4 million have the flu in 2019-20 and 280,000 have been hospitalized with the flu (worldwide), and 16,000 have died.  It is easy to be scared of something new, but this is not like the move "The Ship" where everyone is about to die. 
      Psalm 91 tells us to remember that God is our refuge and fortress in whom we trust.  That He is able to protect us from plague, pestilence and virus.  Exodus reminds us that He heals all of our diseases.  In some ways the vaccines, the breakthroughs in research for so many diseases are all answers to prayer. 
     But at the end of the day everyone will die of something.  For some, this makes life meaningless.  But God does not let meaning die- if we trust in Him.  He calls us and gives us purpose.  Her offers us eternal life into a life where there is no more death or mourning or tears.  Therefore Christians should be courageous in sharing this hope with others who are afraid.  

Prayer: Lord, if it is possible, help me not to be afraid- even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.  Instead help me to trust in you ahd have courage.  

Lenten Devotional 2020

LENT 2020   2020 VISION- Re-Focusing our Eyes

Christian Re-focus Devotions for LMPC
by Pastor Ben

LENT 2020   2020 VISION- Re-Focusing our Eyes

2/26- “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”  Heb. 12:1-2; Psalm 32:8; Ps. 121:1
2/27- “The eyes of the Lord are Upon You”  2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 94:9; Pr. 15:30; 1 Peter 3:12
2/28- “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze straight ahead.” Proverbs 4:25; 2 Cor. 4:18
2/29- “The Eyes and Sin” Hab. 1:13; Mt. 6:22,23
3/1- “The Reward To Fix On”  1 Cor. 2:9; Rev. 7:17
3/2- A VISION OF THE CHURCH:  A Community of Faith- “My Church”  Matthew 16:18
3/3- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A Community of Faith- “Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church”  Eph. 6:23
3/4- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A Community of Faith-  “The Tie is God- through Faith”  Eph. 4:3-6
3/5- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A Community of Missions- “The Church Is as The Church Does”
3/6-.A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A Community of Missions- “Mission Drift”  Galatians 6:9-10
3/7- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A Community of Missions- ; Mt. 18:20
3/8- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A Believing Fellowship- Heb. 10:24,25
3/9- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 1- No other gods before me
3/10- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 2- No carved images
3/11- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 3- Not defame God’s name
3/12- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 4- Remember the Sabbath Day
3/13- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 5- Honor Your Father and Mother
3/14- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 6- You shall not murder
3/15- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 7- You shall not commit adultery
3/16- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 8- You shall not steal
3/17- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 9- You shall not lie
3/18- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 10- You shall not covet
3/19- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT PRAYS: 1- Our Father who art in heaven
3/20- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT PRAYS: 2- Hallowed be your name
3/21- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT PRAYS: 3- Your Kingdom come your will be done
3/22- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT PRAYS: 4- Give us this day our daily bread
3/23- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT PRAYS: 5- Forgive us our debts as we forgive others
3/24- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT PRAYS: 6- Lead us not into temptation but deliver us
3/25- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT PRAYS: 7- Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory
3/26- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVES: God the Father Almighty, Maker Isa. 64:7
3/27- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVES: Jesus Christ His only Son 1 Cor. 15:3
3/28- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVES: The Communion of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:42-47
3/29- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: FOLLOWING JESUS: Blessed are the poor, the mourning, the meek Mt. 5:1-5
3/30- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: FOLLOWING JESUS: Blessed are those who hunger for right, merciful, pure Mt. 5:6-7
3/31- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: FOLLOWING JESUS: Blessed are the peacemakers, the persecuted Mt. 5:9-12
4/1- John 11:32-44- Jesus raises Lazarus- The power of Jesus
4/2- John 11:45-57- The Plot to Kill Jesus Gains Strength- The Animosity of the World
4/3- John 12:1-8- Jesus anointed for death- A Forecast of death
4/4- John 12:9-13- The Crowds for Jesus- Popularity is fleeting
4/5- Triumphal Entry- Matthew 21:1-11- Yes He is King! Palm Sunday
4/6- Jesus Clears the Temple, Instituting new Temple- Matthew 21:12-13; 1 Cor. 3:16- Your body the Temple
4/7- Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus- Matthew 26:14-16- Even Followers can betray Jesus
4/8- Jesus in Gethsemane- Matthew 26:36-46- The depths of sorrow of Jesus
4/9- (Maundy Thursday)- Jesus Betrayed and Arrested- Matthew 26:47-56- Judging the Innocent
4/10- Jesus is crucified- Matthew 27:31-56 – Unjustice is Here
4/11- Jesus lies buried- Matthew 27:57-61- Jesus really died
4/12- (Easter) Jesus arises Matthew 28:1-10- His resurrection is our resurrection   

The PURPOSE of Lent is to help us get our fire for God back.  It is a time of getting back to basics.  These devotions really are meditations on the basics of the faith- What is the church, the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, the Beatitudes, and the last days of Christ on this earth.  These are topics that remind us of who we are and whose we are, inspiring us to live with hope. 
     Thanks to the Confirmation Class of 2020: Ashlyn Beatty, Leeton Brown, Ellie Graham, Ellison Harris, Ashley Locker, Jacob Meetze, Sarah Nowell, Chloe Raynor, Caroline Rider, Gracie Ridgeway, Abigail Stalker, Harrison White, and Zeta Hastings and her helpers (Anna, Eli, Barb).

Day 1- 2/26- TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.”  (Hebrews 12:2)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Ps. 32:8
I will lift up my eyes to the hills.  Where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and the earth.  Psalm 121:1

    Helen Howarth Lemmel was born to a Methodist minister and his wife.  They moved to Mississippi and settled in Wisconsin.  Her music abilities were recognized and she studied in Germany.  She was involved with Billy Sunday’s revival movement and taught at Moody Bible Institute.  Her husband abandoned her when she became blind.  One day she heard an article from a missionary about how hard it is to focus on Christ with so many distractions (in 1918). 
    She wrote the words, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things on earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” It is a bit ironic that a blind woman wrote such a stunning song about turning our eyes on Jesus.  She could see in a different way.  This Lent I hope we all can see God in a new light. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to fix my eyes on you, O Lord.

DAY 2- 2/27 “The eyes of the Lord are Upon You”  2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 94:9; Pr. 15:30; 1 Peter 3:12
9For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is fully devoted to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?(Psalm 94:9)
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.(Prov. 15:30)
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (1 Peter 3:12)

 (LMPC from Google Maps)

Thoughts:  Today we are aware of Big Brother watching.  More than ever before- Siri (my Apple assistant) will pop up and say, “I’m sorry I didn’t hear that, could you say it again?”  I was mentioning some thunderstorms on the phone in my office and Alexa interrupted my conversation to ask, “Do you want me to check the weather?”
Google can show me images (see below) of my house with my car in the driveway from a satellite camera over 22,000 miles up in space.  Cameras these days are almost everywhere- doorbell cameras, highway patrol cameras, store cameras.  Go in Walmart and you will see yourself on camera from overhead.  I am always surprised when a device chimes in from seemingly nowhere or shows me detail I would not suspect.   
     Similarly, we often just are not aware or even care that God is always watching.  But unlike our limited and low density cameras and sometimes dense devices, God hears and sees clearly and all at once.  Nothing escapes His attention.  If you know this, how should it affect your behavior? 

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you did not abandon us, but you care for us.  You are able to care for us because you know us, see us, and can hear our prayers. 

DAY 3- 2/28- “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze straight ahead.” Proverbs 4:25; 2 Cor. 4:18

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. (Prov. 4:25)

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Thoughts: In our distracted world, these verses remind us to not lose our focus.  The average American spends about 5 hours a day on their phone (4/2019).  But before this, the average American spent 8 hours a day watching TV.  Both can keep us from studying the Bible, praying, and can take away our love for God.  Scientists have found that for children under two, screen time actually shrinks their brain (Psych Today 2/27/14).  This showed shrinking of the frontal lobes of the brain,  reduced white matter (affecting communication), reduced cortical thickness, and more.  Reading apparently adds to the brain.  But the question is what should we read?  These verses remind us to fix our eyes on God- and what is good and true.
    To fix our eyes means to focus our eyes- not looking to the left or right.  For example, if you are a married guy, focus your eyes on your wife- your true love- not on others around you.  If you want to love God, focus on Him not on everything else. 
    If you want to row a boat in a straight line- or plow a field in a straight line- you must fix your eyes on one single object ahead as you go forward.  So we fix our eyes on Jesus. 

Prayer: Lord, keep my eyes fixed on you- my goal.   

DAY 4- 2/29- “The Eyes and Sin” Hab. 1:13; Mt. 6:22,23

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. (Habakkuk 1:13A)

22The eye is the lamp of the body. If your vision is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your vision is poor, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Matthew 6:22,23)

Thoughts: Our eyes let in our mind both good and evil.  Our eyes allow us to love.  My son-in-law’s father is blind.  He has never seen our shared grandson, and that makes me treasure my own ability to see.  Our eyes allow us to see the beauty of a Lake sunset or a beach sunrise or the majestic snow on the mountains.  The Hubble Telescope has allowed us to see beauty in the universe we didn’t even know was there.  But eyes can also bring impurity to our minds.  Lust- a second ugly look to treasure what should not be ours; pornography- that turns the beauty of the body into an object to not even be possessed but just desired. 
     Habakkuk reminds us that God is pure.  In fact, His eyes are too pure to even see evil.  This is why we need the cross.  We need the cross- and Christ’s sacrifice on it to purify us- so we can see the face of our heavenly Father and He can see our face as well. 

Prayer: Lord, purify my eyes.  Help them to see what is good and right and not to stare at evil when I know I shouldn’t.

 (oil and water- don’t mix- purity and evil do not either).

3/1- “The Reward To Fix On”  1 Cor. 2:9; Rev. 7:17
However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" -- the things God has prepared for those who love him—(1 Corinthians 2:9)

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; 'he will lead them to springs of living water.' 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'" (Revelation 7:17)

2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

Thoughts:  Our theme verse reminds us that Jesus endured the pain and shame of the cross because of the “joy set before him.”  Let us likewise, not lose sight of the joy set before us.
      So scripture does not want us to forget our reward or to downplay its importance.  Rewards here will (as Jesus said), rust, be stolen or be destroyed.  But the heavenly reward is not ever taken away and does not wear out.  The finish line is not the real reward.  The prize goes to all who keep the faith and to love God to the end.  This year Kay and I will celebrate our 40^th anniversary.  There have been many great things and many hurdles in our marriage: children born, degrees achieved; but also house fires, dealing with cancer and bills.  But kept love allows us to celebrate together with our children and now grandchildren.  Even after one of us is gone- the other can rest easy knowing we kept our vows.  There is reward for steadfast loyalty that the world does not recognize.  Not everyone is called to a long marriage.  But all are called to believe in God and love Him til the end.  In the end He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and the pain of life will be healed and there will be no more death. 

Prayer: Lord, let me remember where I am going.  Let that quicken my step here. 
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3/2- A VISION OF THE CHURCH:  A Community of Faith- “My Church”  Matthew 16:18    
      And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18)

Thoughts:  The world will tell you the church is just another civic club- an organization that does moral good in the world.  But there are obvious differences. 
     The church does not just do good things for others.  However, this is obvious- more charitable work for the poor and the sick is done by the Christian church than any other civic or religious institution.  But this is a shear byproduct of the belief of the church.  Christ teaches us to help the poor and was himself poor. 
      The church is and always has been a community of faith first and foremost.  The church believes it did not form itself.  The leaders didn’t form it.  But God Himself formed the church.  The birthday of the church is Pentecost when God the Holy Spirit set the church ablaze with zeal, and a purpose to reach the world.  We believe God created the world, and we also believe God chose His people- making the church. 
      Some of the mightiest empires have tried to destroy the church.  It has been through five Roman persecutions, persecution in the Soviet Union, China, North Korea.  Tertullian once said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”  In other words, the more the church is persecuted, the more it grows.  In 1950 when all the Christian missionaries left China there were 1 million Christians.  Now there are over 100 million.  The church is universal.  It is the only religion that has adherants in every country.  The Bible has been translated more than any other book and is by far the record best-seller since the creation of the printing press.
     In this passage (Mt. 16:18) Jesus tells Peter his confession is the foundation- the rock- of His church.  He calls it “My church.”  The church is first and foremost His.  He made it and it exists for His glory. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to care for your church as you do. 

3/3- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A Community of Faith- “Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church”  Eph. 6:23

Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 6:23)

Thoughts:  One of the questions asked when someone professes or reaffirms their faith as they join the church is “Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church?”  In other words, the church is not a perfect place- we are a community of sinners growing in sanctification.  When you find fault will you try to stay in the church to make it a better place- working for its peace, unity and purity?   Leaving the church in a huff, being in a huff, wanting the church to split, or purposefully and knowingly sinning while continuing in church are all things that damage the church- taking away from its ministry and devaluing the blood of Christ.  The church is the body of Christ, and hurting the church is hurting ourselves as well as our Lord. 
    In our passage we see peace, love, and faith.  These three: peace, unity, and purity are three legs for the stool.  Without purity the church becomes just a civic or social club.  Without peace we take away our zeal for serving God pulling in the same direction.  Without unity we tear at the bond that unites us together.  This Lent, let us aim for all three.

Prayer: Lord, we pray for our LMPC and its own peace, unity and purity.  Help to be a part of that.

3/4- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A Community of Faith-  “The Tie is God- through Faith”  Eph. 4:3-6

Bearing with one another in love, 3and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  (Ephesians 4:3-6)

Thoughts: The church is a community of faith brought together by the Spirit- who gives us the gift of faith.  We have a oneness- spiritually we are the body of Christ- and represent Jesus visibly and physically in the world today.  We have oneness of Spirit- the Holy Spirit in each one of us who believe.  We have one hope- the hope of the world is Jesus- but also the hope of heaven is in our hearts- not just for our eternal life.  The hope of heaven is that one day justice and love will reign and everything will be made right.  We follow the same person- the same Lord.  We have the same faith and the same baptism.  Yet, we still look for differences to squabble about.  There is one God who is our Maker but also our Father who cares for each of us- wanting us to get along as His family.  This Lent- look for ways to practice oneness in our church.  This includes swallowing pride and seeking forgiveness. 


Prayer: Lord, give us grace to be one.  We pray for the unity of the church and my own getting along with other church members. 

3/5- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A Community of Missions- “The Church Is as The Church Does”

31When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. 34Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, 36I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ 40And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.’

Thoughts: One of the early thinkers of the Presbyterian Church, John Holt Rice, said, “The church is a missionary society.”  We exist to do the work of God.  We exist to serve him locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.  We are to expect great things from God and attempt great things for God (W. Carey). 
    The church is not just a system of beliefs without action.  As James said, “Faith without works is dead… I will show my faith by my deeds.”  Our work for the glory of God indicates our faith is alive and well.  When we lose sight of mission, we lose unity and the things that pull us together in the same direction.

Prayer: Lord, let my hands do your work  Uwse me for your glory.  

3/6-.A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A Community of Missions- “Mission Drift”  Galatians 6:9-10

Let us not grow weary in well doing.  For in due time we shall reap if we do not faint.  (Galatians 6:9,10)

Thoughts:  In our secular world that leaves God out so radically, it is easy to just turn the church into a “do good club.”  But even doing good can get old without real religious motivation.  We do not simply do good for the doing of good.  We seek to glorify God.  That is our main mission (as the Westminster Shorter Catechism first question/answer says)- Our main purpose (chief end) is to glorify and enjoy God forever.  We can begin to think the church is about making me a better person- so that the church becomes a self-improvement/fulfillment center.  But it is more eternal than that.  We can get wrapped up in causes or in details that we forget the God who calls us to serve Him in and through the church.  Having a solid focus and keeping our energy on that goal is truly important for our own good individually and collectively.  At one time Harvard and the YMCA were vibrant Christian ministries.  They slowly changed in an order to be comfortable, get more donors, and in the name of efficiency.  We should be adamant to seek God first.

Prayer:  When I start to grow tired or drift with the tide of thinking- please help me, Lord, to come back to you.

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3/7- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A Community of Missions- Together; Mt. 18:19, 20

Whatever two or more agree in prayer, it shall be done for them…For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 

Thoughts: Being a Christian is a team venture.  It is not done on your own.  We are a community of love.  Jesus, in Matthew 18, encourages us to get together- to agree in prayer so our prayers will be answered; and to come together in worship so His presence will be there.  There is a God-power that happens, often invisible, when we can agree in our focus and mission in God.   Most missions is done better together too.  In fixing a house for someone- one may do yard work, another works on the sheet rock, another on the roof, while another works on the plumbing.  It takes many hands and many different gifts.  Missions is better together than individually.  This Lent, make an effort to work together with another on something helpful to another person.

Prayer: Help me, Lord to pray, worship, and work  with others this Lent. 

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3/8- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A Believing Fellowship- Heb. 10:24,25

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as some are doing.  Rather, let us encourage one another- and so much the more as we see the day approaching.

Thoughts: We all need encouragement, and especially the encouragement of being together.  Even in the early church many would join but then disappear. We are believers- that encourage others to believe.  We encourage each other to persevere, and hang on.  But also we encourage each other when we join voices in song and prayer. 
     One of the things we all need is encouragement.  One of the things I regret in life is not getting my eagle as a boy scout.  I had all the merit badges as a junior in high school.  But about the same time I started driving and working.  I didn’t make the meetings where others were concentrating on getting the next level.  My parents nor any scoutmaster encouraged me to go to the scout meetings as they knew I was busy.  No one helped me make an eagle project (the one major thing I lacked).  Similarly, there are many who want to be in church, but they are getting busy doing other things- especially as their children get busy.  Worshiping God has become a smaller and smaller part of their lives until it seems to disappear.  Missing that encouragement of worship with others usually leads to a heart whose love for God (and others) grows cold as well.  There are three major reasons people drop out of church: 1) Pride- I know better than God or the church (or feel I do not “need” them); 2) Sin- I feel guilty when I come or see someone who knows my sin; 3) Distractions- busyness so that God becomes less a priority.  The Bible warns us against all of this, but also encourages us that worshiping God is how we get past all three with humility and service; forgiveness and a fresh start; love for God and neighbor.   

Prayer: This Lent, Lord, let me make it a priority to not forsake you or each other.  Help me to consistently worship you- because you consistently love me. 

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3/9- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 1- No other gods before me

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”  Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these other things will be added to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)

Thoughts: The Ten Commandments were written in stone by the very finger of God.  This was to show that they were permanent and a part of our covenant (bonding promise) relationship to God.  Jesus never rejected the Ten Commandments but did reject some of the additions and wild interpretations that excused keeping them.  Once a young ruler asked him what he needed to do to inherit eternal life.   Jesus first asked him if he obeyed the commandments.  Jesus saw himself as fulfilling the Law not destroying it.  He spoke of not one jot or title of the commandments as being destroyed.  John Calvin, the founder of the Presbyterian Church, noted that for each negative command here there are positive ones as well. 
      The first commandment seems to be easily fulfilled- not worshiping another god.  But another name for worship is “adore.”  Many adore things and neglect God.  Many adore friends and not neglect God.  Many will mix a little of the true faith with others in kind of a cafeteria of faiths where we feel we can pick and choose what we like from each one (putting us in the place of God).  This command is a call to have a pure heart- to seek God first.  It is a call to love God with singleness of heart- making Him a priority over all else.  For many in our culture, Christian faith is an extra ingredient that may help us or our children be a little better.  But God calls us to love Him with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength.  It is only in loving God fully that we find contentment and fulfillment in our soul. 

Prayer:  Lord, keep me from being distracted or inattentive to you this Lent.

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3/10- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 2- No carved images

“4You shall not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens above, on the earth beneath, or in the waters below. 5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6but showing loving devotion to a thousand generationsb of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

Thoughts: It is interesting that on our money, that many give themselves to, it reminds us “In God we trust.”  God is the One who keeps our economy strong- things like weather, or sickness, or a disaster are beyond our control and deeply affect any economy.  But it is also true that when we have faith in God, it enables contentment which also affects the economy. 
     But this command reminds us not to worship visible things.  Luther used to say that the organ of the Reformation is the ear not the eye. The Reformation rejected the use of statues, icons, or images to help us worship the true God. 
     We can have a false image of God in our mind.  Once a minister wrote a book, “Your God is too Small” pointing out we like to imagine God as  great big Santa in the sky, or a policeman, or a grandfather simply stroking his beard saying, “boys will be boys and girls will be girls.”  Any such image falls short of the majesty of God.  But we must have some thought of God.  If we want to know what God is like, let us look to Jesus who is “the exact image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15-20; Heb. 1:1-20).

Prayer: Lord, let my worship of you be pure and right.   ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3/11-- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 3- Not defame God’s name

“Do not blaspheme the name of the Lord your God.” 

Thoughts: In our culture, many blaspheme God.  Part of it is using “God” as part of a curse word- but that is a small part.  This also means profaning or degrading what is holy and pure.  When Dylan Roof shot the Bible study participants in Charleston, he was blaspheming God’s name and not respecting the holiness of God.  When people make fun of a church or of a representative of a church (a minister), they are blaspheming God’s name.  So children made fun of Elisha. So King Ahaz locked the Temple doors refusing to allow people to come in and worship.  When we are quick to criticize God or complain to Him we are blaspheming His name.  The people of Israel did this many times between leaving Egypt and entering the promised land.
     God’s name revealed in the Old Testament is “I am who I am.”  The verb to be- to exist- to live describes Him well.  Life comes from Him and finds its meaning in Him.  This command is also a command to respect God more.  How can you respect God and honor Him more this Lent?

Prayer:  Lord, Give me ears to hear, but also a lips that honor you and your name.   

 

(“Listening for the Master’s Voice”)

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3/12- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 4- Remember the Sabbath Day

12Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do. 15Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 5:12-25)

I directed the churches…on the first day of the week each one of you is to put aside and save an offering.
 (1 Cor. 16:1,2)
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked. (Acts 20:7)
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day and I had the vision.  (Revelation 1:10)

Thoughts:  Slaves are not able to rest.  Slaves are always on call and do not take a day off at all.  God says one of the reasons of having a Sabbath is to remember we are not slaves in life.  Oh sure, as Jesus said, there is an occasional ox in the ditch that must be pulled out.  But many of us are turning exceptions into every week occurrences.  Even God set us an example of resting when He made creation.  It was in resting that even God is truly able to enjoy, digest, and appreciate creation. 
     In our day, we value productivity so much that we downgrade resting.  But a Sabbath day is for as our confessions say, “Worship, rest, and deeds of love and mercy.”  So it is a great day to get refreshed in your soul for the rest of the week and to visit someone who is hurting or just get caught up.  But in faith we believe that this day is the Lord’s Day.  That is what it is called in scripture.  Christians changed the worship day from Saturday to Sunday in honor and in remembrance of the resurrection taking place that day.  So the Lord’s Day became the Sabbath Day for Christians very early on in the church.  Having a joint societal honored day of rest allows for respect to those who want to rest one day a week.  We are not slaves to shopping- we can skip one day a week.  We are not slaves to work- we can rest. 
     Some bearers were carrying on foot the food and equipment for the group.  The leader of the group wanted to keep on going, but all the bearers stopped at once and said they must rest.  The leader asked, “Why?”  The leader of the bearers said, “We have travelled far.  Now our souls must catch up with our bodies.”  Sometimes our souls need to catch up with our break-neck speed of busy-ness. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. 

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3/13- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 5- Honor Your Father and Mother

16Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.  (Deut. 5:16)

1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3“that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”4Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Thoughts: Our parents teach us about life, but also about God.  They pass the faith on.  This is not just a command for children when they are young.  It is a precept for our lives- to respect and care for our parents.  John Calvin spoke of this as implying that we should honor all those in authority.  So we are called to honor teachers in school who teach us, and the police and the magistrate. 
   The promise is a general principle.  It is that those who listen to parents usually live longer than those who do not.  This is common, general sense.  Our parents say “Do not go out into the road without an adult.”  Our parents can help us but we can also help him.  Families are never perfect- some are terrible.  But in general, families are created to help us love one another.  The commandment to love neighbor as self, first applies to our families. 

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to respect those you have placed to guide me and lead me. 

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3/14- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 6- You shall not murder

You shall not murder.  (Duet. 5:17)

[Jesus said] “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder,’ and anyone who murders will be subject to the judgment.’  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.’  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment…anyone who says, ‘Fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” (Mt. 5:21-22)

Thoughts: This is not just “Thou shalt not kill.”  Kill could be a plant or an animal or an accident.  Murder is the taking of a human life on purpose.  However, Jesus adds to it malicious intent toward anyone it has the spirit of murder in it.  We should respect human life.  There are too many random shootings and suicides today. Every human being is made in God’s image.  This means we should not disrespect those different from us, who speak a different language than we do.  We should not be snobs and look down on others.  Rather we should seek to encourage all we can. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to respect life and respect the living.                               (SC flag portraying 9 victims of
                                                                                                                              Mother Emmanuel Church shooting)

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3/15- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 7- You shall not commit adultery

18You shall not commit adultery (Deuteronomy 5:18)

Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; For God will judge fornicators and adulterers.  (Hebrews 13:4).

“God requires fidelity and purity in sexual relations. Since love is God’s great gift, God expects me not to corrupt it, or confuse it with momentary desire  or the selfish fulfillment of my own pleasures.  God forbids all sexual immorality whether in married or single life.  (Study Catechism Q. 110).

Thoughts: Human sexuality is a special gift from God to be guarded so that it does not abuse or degrade people (rape or prostitution), or that it does not cheapen children who are made in such relationships.  The Bible does not forbid sexuality or see it as sinful.  Rather, it asks us to hold marriage in honor- almost a holy act.  The amazing thing is that God has designed human sexual love as the means to produce human life.   While birth control is a way to help with planned families, it can be abused as a way to have fornication or adultery without the consequence of pregnancy.  God forbids fornication- unmarried sexual relationships before marriage; and adultery- extra marital sex after marriage or polygamous marriage.  In our world, there is a vast ignoring of this command.  For the first time in over a thousand years in the west, more people are cohabiting when they start partnering than getting married first.  There also appears in American culture to be tremendous pressure that demands that life is not worth living without our sexual preference being fulfilled- have sex whenever we want and with whomever.   The sexual revolution (“love the one you’re with”; “if it feels good do it.”) has left in its wake thousands of unparented children and broken hearts as well as a promulgation of STDs and AIDS. God call us to honor committed love and sexuality by a covenant bond of marriage.  We are to appreciate children and appreciate marriage.   

Prayer: Lord, help me to keep myself pure physically, mentally, and spiritually.  Help me to love in the way you have designed it.

3/16- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 8- You shall not steal

You shall not steal (Deut. 5:19; Ex. 20:15)

“God forbids all theft and robbery, including schemes, tricks or systems that unjustly take what belongs to someone else. Gd requires me not to be driven by greed, not to misuse or waste the gifts I have been given, and not to distrust the promise that God will supply my need.” (Study Catechism Q, 87)

Thoughts: Almost every day someone tries to steal from me.  One scheme used a re-routed Dominion Energy phone number/caller ID to demand I pay them immediately or my power would be cut off.  Yesterday I received a letter saying my extended warranty price (that I had just paid) had been raised.  Not too long ago someone offered to wash my carpet for free- but they had out of state plates and a false ID.  But I steal when I am greedy and want my own way.  The heart of stealing is not being content with what God gives me and not believing that God will supply my need.
    This year the Houston Astros were caught stealing signs from the catcher and conveying those signs to the batter.  They had so much talent, but they thought that stealing would give them the edge.  Instead it got them in trouble.  Stealing catches up with you.  When I first moved to Georgetown as pastor, a bag was left outside my office.  It was a silver service set with sterling goblets.  A note said, “I stole these from the church 30 years ago.  I am returning them to you now.  God forgive me.”  His guilt made him return them.  The opposite of steal is generosity.  Jesus practiced generosity of his time and attention, healing many.  We too are called to avoid stealing, but instead be charitable to those who are in need so they will not feel the need to steal. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to believe you will meet my need.  Help me to be content and to be generous to the poor. 

3/17- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 9- You shall not lie

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Ex. 20:16; Deut. 5:20).

Speak the truth in love.  (Eph. 4:15)

“God forbids me to damage the honor or reputation of my neighbor.  I should not say false things against anyone for the sake of money, favor or friendship, for the sake of revenge, or for any other reason.  God requires me to speak well of my neighbor when I can, and to view the faults of my neighbor with tolerance when I cannot.” (Study Catechism Q, 89)

Thoughts: For some, there is no such thing as truth, therefore there is only spin or perspective.  Truth is not always easily understood, but that does not mean it is not there.  Truth is reality- what really happened.  It is not what we make up.  This also involves not slurring another group of people in prejudice.  Instead of trying to make ourselves or our allies/cause look good, we should try to be transparent even if it hurts.  Jesus did not shy away from speaking the truth.  We are called to speak the truth- but to do so in love.  That means being careful of timing and speaking so people can hear us.  But this also means love requires truth as well. 
     One of my favorite TV series is “The Andy Griffin Show.”  Barney used to always get in trouble lying to get ahead.  He would often tell a few other lies to cover up- and then eventually get caught and have to fess up and ask forgiveness.  Lying gets us in trouble- but being loving enough to tell the truth at the right time is like finding a blessing. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to be honest with others and myself. 
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3/18- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT LISTENS: 10- You shall not covet

21You shall not covetj your neighbor’s wife. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house or field, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that  to your neighbor.” (Deut. 5:21; Ex. 20:17);

“My whole heart should belong to God alone, not to money or things of the world.  ‘Coveting’ means desireing something wrongfully.  I should not resent the good fortune or success of my neighbor or allow envy to corrupt my heart.”

Thoughts: We again, need to be content with the blessings God gives us.  We also need to be able to appreciate that God blesses other people differently from us.  This forbids ‘the grass is greener on the other side of the fence’ thinking. We can be over-competitive so that our understanding is clouded.  To love another person, we need to rejoice when they are rejoicing and celebrate their blessing instead of envying their blessing. 
    I have often thought that commercials want us to covet what is not ours.  In some ways this drives our economy.  But it also can drive us into debt.  We can covet that jewel for another and go into debt to get it.  We can covet that truck when we might be better off with a car.  Dave Ramsey’s saying is true, “We buy things we don’t need; with money we don’t have; to impress people we don’t even like.” 

Prayer: Lord, help me to be generous and content instead of envious and greedy. 

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3/19- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT PRAYS: 1- Our Father who art in heaven.

“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear.  Instead, you received the  Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba!  Father!”  (Romans 8:15). 

Thoughts:  This is the great teaching prayer of the Son of God who was a Rabbi.  It summarizes the basics of Jesus’ teachings to us, and that is why it is both important to pray this prayer as well as memorize it.  I have said this prayer at my children’s baptism; at my parents’ funeral, at my own wedding, and sometimes when I could not even think to pray anything else. 
     Jesus teaches us to pray to a God who knows us and loves us as a good father loves his children and cares to hear about their needs.  This means we are heirs of God- we are heirs to all that is our father’s- including his home in heaven.  All the earth is His.  This title is a reminder that we are loved by God.  Many religions believe in a god, but not necessarily a god of love.  Christianity specifically believes in a loving father whom we can call “Abba” which is an endearing term for father in Aramaic (similar to Dad). This also means when we go astray He will always welcome us back.  Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son who was welcomed back with grace by his father as a sign that we are accepted and welcomed when we come back to Him.  Because we are His children we will never be forgotten or forsaken.  There was an old comic strip made into a more recent Broadway Play “Little Orphan Anne.”  This was about a poor orphan who always got into trouble but was adopted by “Daddy Warbucks.”  He would always search for Annie when she was in trouble and rescue her.  This is the image of Our Father to whom we pray- who longs to hear our cry. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember you are a good, good Father. 

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3/20- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT PRAYS: 2- Hallowed be your name

Thoughts: God is holy- that is what “hallowed” means.  The old story is told of a little girl telling her Sunday School teacher that she knows God’s name.  “It is Harold” she said.  For she said the prayer like this:  “Our Father who art in heaven, Harold be thy name.”  But the name is holy.  This confirms the third commandment to keep the name of God holy.  We don’t use the term “hallowed” much.  “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” is a more recent book about three holy objects that would bring immortality and power.  The name of God is more powerful than these three things (wand, cloak, and stone).  If you really know who God is- His name- you can call on His might to help you.  It is in His name that we claim entrance into heaven through the powerful name of Jesus. 
    How do we “hallow” God’s name?  By spreading it and glorifying it (Psalm 8, 20, 72, 96, 105).  “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” has a line that says, “To spread through all the earth abroad the honors of Thy name.”  We also hallow His name by respecting the power of His name (cf. Acts 19).  Often evil is driven out of places by the name of Jesus (Mt. 7:22; Mk. 9:38; 16:17; Lk. 8:30; 9:49; 10:17).   His holy name is like light pushing out darkness.  Jesus once said, “Ask whatever you will in my name that your joy may be made full” (Jn. 16:24). Do not be ashamed or afraid to use the name of Jesus in your prayers.  It may shock some, but it also means there is a difference in Jesus’ name and all others.  In fact, that is what “holy” means- different and separate and pure. 
   Our call is to bear the name of Christ in a holy way.  My mother used to say that I had “a good name and that I was expected to live up to it.”  That is important and inspiring to hear.  So we who are “Christian” (literally people of Christ), have a name to live up to.

Prayer: Lord, help me to honor and glorify your holy and sacred name.

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3/21- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT PRAYS: 3- Your Kingdom come your will be done

Thoughts: This phrase: “Thy kingdom come” actually appears twice.  It also appears at the end, “For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”  It is His kingdom that is important.  Gallup polls say that 80% believe religion can change lives but only 30% look to God for guidance.  Perhaps it is because we want to make the decisions apart from the real King.  Jim Elliot, a martyred American missionary in Ecuador said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”  It is not our kingdom or will that is important- but God’s.  We should pledge ourselves to the King- giving Him our allegiance.
     Jesus even prayed in the Garden, “Father not my will but Thine be done.”  There are four ways to discern God’s will: Cannon (what does scripture say), Conscience (sometimes the inner calling is strong), Circumstance (sometimes God shuts or opens doors giving us ability and opportunity), Counsel (the Bible says with many advisors plans succeed).  When we really want God’s will and God’s kingdom, we have become really citizens of the King of kings. 

Prayer: Lord, may your kingdom and will be accomplished in my life, through my life, and despite my life. 

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3/22- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT PRAYS: 4- Give us this day our daily bread

Thoughts: We talk a lot about food: recipes, diets, what’s good for you, what actually tastes good, which restaurant, cooking.  We spend about three hours of every day around food: that is about 9 years of our life if we live until we are 72.  God does not just care about our spirits.  He is also concerned about our bodies.  He made both.  When Jesus came He healed people physically as well as spiritually.  Jesus provided for the 5,000 and the 4,000- in fact the feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels.
    One of the problems we have with this prayer is that we want to call our physical possessions mine and God can have our soul.  But they are all entertwined.  We also are not desperate for food.  The books on our shelves and that we listen to are not, “How to Avoid Starvation” but “How to Lose Weight.”  We are also mostly removed from the agriculture community (even in Chapin).  Yet, God cares about what we really need and wants us to pray to Him. 
     We also do not want to avoid the “Us” in this prayer- “Give US this day our daily bread.” We are in this together.  Some trace the disintegration of faith to the lack of family time together.  Some call the family eating time (without cell phones or TV) as a means of grace in which we reunite in spirit and look together to God in blessing.  Thanking God (blessing the food) is a visible way we give thanks for daily bread. 

Prayer: Thank you God for your abundance. Help me to remember my daily bread. 

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3/23- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT PRAYS: 5- Forgive us our debts as we forgive others

“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.  If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” (Mt. 18:15); 
“The Master called the servant in.  ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.  Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?”  (Mt. 18:32)

Thoughts: In the Presbyterian church we say “debts and debtors” while the Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians and Methodists say “trespasses and those who trespass against us.”  Modern versions say “sins and sinned against us.”  The idea is that we should forgive others because God forgives us.  Jesus holds up forgiveness as important.  He really came to offer us a way to forgiveness through his sacrifice on the cross.  Jesus paid our penalty- our debt.  The story is told of a small town judge whose own son was brought before him for a violation.  He listened.  Declared him guilty with a heavy fine.  Then the judge left the bench, went down and put his arm around his son and paid his debt.  This is what God does for us in Christ.  We are indeed guilty.  But out of love, He pays our penalty through His own son’s blood. 

Prayer: Lord, forgive me.  But also give me the grace to pass that forgiveness on to others.                                                                                         

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3/24- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT PRAYS: 6- Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
“My prayer is not that you would take them out of the world, but that you would deliver them from the evil one.” (John 17:15).

Thoughts: Jesus is asking us to pray but is also warning us that there is such a thing as temptation and evil and we can become prey to it.  In our day, many think that one spiritual thought is as good as another and on equal footing.  Many are losing their faith today giving into temptation and justifying their evil in their pride. 
    There is an old children’s story about this.  A frog asked its mother if it could go out to the swamp and catch flies.  The mother said, “Sure, just watch out for alligators.”  Sure enough the frog saw an alligator and stopped to watch as the alligator was so still it seemed dead.  Flies would fly in and out of the alligator’s mouth.  Flies are a frog’s favorite food.  The young frog saw other frogs hop in and out of the alligator’s mouth safely.  One frog even called to the young frog to try it.  So the young from at first put his foot in- then pulled it out.  But then hopped in himself and SNAP!  The alligator closed its mouth.  The young frog then realized that no matter how safe it looked, good it looked, and no matter how many others were doing it, he should not do what was wrong.  We could learn a lesson from that frog this Lent.

Prayer: Lord, do help me to keep my eyes on you and not on what tempts me to do evil.

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3/25- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT PRAYS: 7- Thine is kingdom, power, and glory

Thoughts: It is not our kingdom, our power and our glory that is important.  Such temporary glory will fade quickly.  But when we plug in and work for God’s honor, His name, His glory, we are working for what lasts forever.  In a world that purposefully leaves God out and thinks that is just fine, let us remember who we are and whose we are.  Let us fix our eyes on His glory.
      The kingdom is actually entered for you when you make Him your King and Lord.  This happens when we trust Him enough to say to ourselves and to Him, “Lord, I want to go your way, not mine.  I want to do your will, not mine.  I know my happiness is all  wrapped up in doing what you want me to do.”  It is in losing ourself that we find ourself.

Prayer: O Lord my King, you are worthy of all praise and all of my honor and worship.  Thank you for who you are.

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3/26- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVES: God the Father Almighty, Maker

I Believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father.  We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:7)

Thoughts: The Apostles’ Creed is based on the teaching of the Apostles in scripture.  It is divided into three paragraphs to go with the three persons of the Trinity- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 
     God made us all.  Unlike other religions that call their god “mother” where the god is part of us and we are part of God, there is both a link and a distance.  God made us but He also adopts us.  Our own earthly fathers may forsake us or let us down.  But God is the One with all the resources of fatherhood for us.  He loves us but is different from us.  Sometimes God is described with feminine metaphors (as a mother hen would gather her chicks; as a mother comforts her child so will I comfort you).  But Jesus is the one who cemented the idea of calling God “Father.”  He is not just “like a father.”  He IS our adopted father who art in heaven. Other verses confirm that we can call God “abba, Father” (Mk. 14:13; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6).  In our culture we devalue fathers- and many have abandoned their children.  But God is a good, good Father who loves us with an everlasting love. 
     God’s fatherhood is not a weak or miserable fatherhood.  He is the Almighty and the Maker of all we see and even what we cannot see.  A young beggar on the streets of Philadelphia was asking everyone for a dime.  The man turned around and it was his real father.  He said, “My son, at last I’ve found you.  A dime?  Everything I have is yours!  Come home.”  

Prayer: Lord, help me to believe in you- as the One who loves me with an almighty, powerful love.

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3/27- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVES: Jesus Christ His only Son

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance; that Christ died for our sins according to Scriptures, that he was buries, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.”  (1 Corinthians 15:3)

“And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord.  Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontious Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;  He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from then he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.”

Thoughts: This paragraph focuses on Jesus Christ.  This part of the creed can be broken into 1) The Person of Christ; 2) The work of Christ; 3) The final things about Christ.  He is the Son of God and the one we follow as Lord. He came to earth through Mary in a special way (as you might expect God to come).  The work of Christ in the creed does not focus on his childhood or teachings but on his trial, death, burial, resurrection and ascension.  The purpose of this is to remind us that as Jesus Himself said, “He came to ransom us from our sins.”  What is more important than the details of where Jesus went and what he did is that he relieves from the power and guilt of sin.  His power, teaching, forgiveness is affirmed in His resurrection and ascension.  Christ is still alive and will come again at the end of history to set everything straight.  We are not God and we do not need to think we can handle all of our mess ourselves.  The Good News is that God not only cares, but He can handle all of our mess.  He sent Jesus to earth so that we can know that He can forgive us and give us a fresh start.  We can never be good enough to earn our way to heaven.  But Jesus is our ransom. 
     On January 13, 1982 an Air Florida plane crashed in the Potomac River outside of Washington DC killing 74.  There were initially six survivors but no way to rescue them.  A police helicopter came and let down a rope.  Arland D. Williams, a Citadel graduate, swam and helped five people get on the helicopter, refusing to get in himself.  However, in the end Arland gave out of strength and drowned when the tail of the plane sank.  He was awarded the Coast Guard Lifesaving Medal by the president posthumously.  Jesus Christ came to rescue us at His own cost.  He died on the cross not simply a martyr’s death but the death of a sacrifice so we could be set free. 

Prayer: Lord,  help me to appreciate your coming to save us from our sins this Lent.

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3/28- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: A COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVES: The Communion of the Holy Spirit

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43A sense of awej came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need. 46With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courtsk and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

“I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.  Amen.” 

Thoughts: Doubtless you have had a ticket or a coupon before that says, “void if detached.”  When we are speaking of our beliefs, being attached to a group of believers- a church is really important.  Augustine of Hippo used to say “No one can have God as their Father who does not have the Holy church as their mother.” Of course there are exceptions- the nursing home patient, the one living all alone in the Arctic Circle.  But Christianity, for the most part, is meant to be a religion of love- not of simple self- piety.  We are called together not only to be fulfilled, but to help/serve and to be helped/served.   We are to be concerned about other people than just ourselves- and doing it in the name of Christ- encouraging one another in the bond of the Holy Spirit. 
    The false idea sometimes is heard that the church is a place where no one sins.  Every now and then I hear someone say, “And you call yourself a Christian!”  Or, “I wouldn’t go to that church- they have sinners over there.”  Show me a church without sinners, and I will show you a church that has everyone in the graveyard.  The only church members who are not sinners are those who are already in heaven.  The church is not a museum for the saints, but a hospital for sinners.  Augustine also pointed out it is not the minister or the members who make the church holy, but it is the Holy God.  The Holy Spirit working in our midst making us better people (sanctifying us) is what makes us a holy church. 
   In this church there is the communion of the saints.  The Holy communion of the church  are the saints who are with us, but also those who have gone before us, and the angels and God Himself. We have inherited over 2,000 years of church history and theology.  We did not create ourselves, but we are also creating things for those who come behind us too. 
   Laurence was as deacon of the church around 285 AD.  His job was to care for the poor.  He was arrested and brought to Rome.  Rumor had it that he had the church’s secret treasures.  The emperor demanded that he turn them in.  Whereupon Laurence assembled those who were willing to risk and appearance before the emperor.  The blind, the crippled, the sick, the lepers accompanied Laurence who then said: “The gold for which you hunger is the cause of many crimes; its gleam is deceptive.  The true gold is Jesus Christ , but these [he pointed to the group with him] are the children of light and the true treasure of the church, its gold, its pearls, its precious gems.”  Where is your treasure?  We are a treasure to each other- we are the communion of the saints!

Prayer: Lord, help me to value the love found and the opportunity for me to give love in the church this Lent. 
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3/29- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: FOLLOWING JESUS: Blessed are the poor, the mourning, the meek

1When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him, 2and He began to teach them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Thoughts: There is a kind of joy in knowing you are the right fit- you are where you are meant to be doing what you know you were designed to do.  When I worked for Dunlop there was a guy who just moved balls from the conveyor belt to a tray- over and over and over and over.  He made it clear to everyone he hated his job.  When an opening came available, he was moved to carving wooden golf club heads with another man.  He bloomed.  He changed almost overnight.  Like a duck takes to water or a pig takes to mud- so this man took to his new job and he was truly blessed.  The Beatitudes are about being blessed, but some translate it “happy.”  But “Happy” depends on our circumstance.  Blessedness goes beyond our circumstance to our soul.  So the poor, the mourning, the meek, the hungering for good, even the persecuted can be blessed though “happiness” may not be the best adjective for them. 
    This first beatitude is said to summarize them all.  The Message Translation (by Presbyterian Eugene Peterson) says, “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope.  With less of you there is more of God and His rule.”  In 1997 the stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA) visited southern Sudan where 8,000 had been baptized within a year.  Every other person was missing a limb from the terrible war, many were starving, they wore borrowed clothing (one said in English, “It’s tough being sexy but someone has to do it!”).  They were living illustrations of the beatitudes- they were poor in spirit, they were mourning, they were meek, they were being persecuted, but they were truly blessed for they knew an abiding happiness.  In our world where we have relative peace, all the clothes, no one truly starves, we have an epidemic of depression and loneliness the CDC has said.  Jesus’ teaching is that there is more than what we see and accumulate.  You are blessed if you can figure that out and trust in Him.

Prayer: Help me to know your true blessing Lord.  Let me die to self and stuff and live for what will last.

3/30- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: FOLLOWING JESUS: Blessed are those who hunger for right, merciful, pure

6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Thoughts: The message version of this first beatitude is, “You’re blessed if you’ve worked up a good appetite for God.  He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.”  We need to recognize that we need to desire God more than anything else.  We need to seek Him with all our heart- and then we will find Him. 
     In a police state there is no mercy for there is no judge to appeal to and listen to your case.  When martial law is declared there is no mercy only quick judgment.  When the British ruled America it was the same for many years.  They demanded that the Americans pay to have a standing army over them to enforce martial law.  Once at Valley Forge in the American Revolution Peter Miller walked 70 miles to ask General Washington to pardon Michael Wittman.  Washington refused and said he was sorry he couldn’t pardon his friend because he was a traitor.  Miller, who had done much for Washington’s army said, “Friend!  He is no friend of mine. He would strike me because he knew I wouldn’t strike him back.  He has persecuted me for years. I ask for his pardon because Jesus did as much for me.” Washington returned with a pardon.  This kind of mercy let people know that the American cause was kinder than the harshness of the British and it gave renewed vigor to the cause.  Martin Luther King mentioned that he took his principles right from the Beatitudes wanting justice, loving mercy, and being pure in heart.  We can conquer much if we also take hold of Jesus’ teachings. 

Prayer: Lord, let me love what you love- righteousness, mercy, and purity this Lent. 
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3/31- A VISION OF THE CHURCH: FOLLOWING JESUS: Blessed are the peacemakers, the persecuted

9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.  10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Thoughts: The word “martyr” and the word “witness” are the same in the Biblical Greek.  We are ultimate peacemakers when we help people to make peace with God.  When we witness we may be persecuted.  Once Corrie Ten Boom who was in a Nazi Concentration Camp was worried about keeping her faith in persecution when her time came.  Her father looked at her and said, “When you ride on a train, when do I give you the money, three weeks in advance?”  “No, Corrie said, but the day of the trip.”  “So God gives us what we need when we need it and not before.  Jesus wants us to be peacemakers with others and with Him even if we are persecuted. 

Prayer: Lord, guard me from waning my own comfort more than your glory. 
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4/1- John 11:32-44- Jesus raises Lazarus- The power of Jesus

32When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”  33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spiritd and troubled. 34“Where have you laid him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered.  35Jesus wept. 36Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”37But some of them asked, “Could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind also have kept Lazarus from dying?”38Jesus, once again deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39“Take away the stone,” Jesus said. “Lord, by now he stinks,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man. “It has already been four days.”  40Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42I knew that You always hear Me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, so they may believe that You sent Me.” 43After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth.

Thoughts: With twelve days to go to Easter, I am shifting a little bit to the last few days of Jesus’ life.  The raising of Lazarus was the last great miracle of Jesus before he entered Jerusalem to die.  It also is the miracle that persuaded the Jews that they must do something about this Jesus lest he upset their apple cart.  But they underestimated the power of God.  They did not know they could kill Jesus, but he would rise- just like Lazarus.  The same with us- we could be persecuted or even killed, but one day God will raise us.  The power of God is that the killing and death of Jesus was a major step toward spreading the good news of life.  We underestimate the power of God to help us when we die but also to help us right here and now.  We act like God does nothing and cares about nothing.  God is glorified when we have faith and believe God can do more than we think, ask, or even imagine.         [Picture: Ben at Lazarus’ Tomb Entrance in Bethany, Israel]

Prayer: Lord, help me to live in your resurrection power.  Help me to know you and live through you.
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4/2- John 11:45-57- The Plot to Kill Jesus Gains Strength- The Animosity of the World

45Therefore many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him. 46But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.  47Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrinf and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. 48If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”  49But one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! 50You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”  51Caiaphas did not say this on his own. Instead, as high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation, 52and not only for the nation, but also for the scattered children of God, to gather them together into one.  53So from that day on they plotted to kill Him. 54As a result, Jesus no longer went about publicly among the Jews, but He withdrew to a town called Ephraim in an area near the wilderness. And He stayed there with the disciples.  55Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover. 56They kept looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple courts,g “What do you think? Will He come to the feast at all?” 57But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where He was must report it, so that they could arrest Him.

Thoughts: The ironic thing is that fear killed Jesus.  “The Romans might come and destroy us” the said (vs 48).  Ironically this is what Jesus was predicting, and what would happen in less than a generation later (70 A.D.).  They wanted to make Jesus the scapegoat (vs. 50,51) but He was the real sacrifice for sins.  Today, do not let the things you are afraid of keep you from doing what you know is right and God’s will for you.

Prayer: Lord, protect me from plots and keep me from fear today. 
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4/3- John 12:1-8- Jesus anointed for death- A Forecast of death

1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 2So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. 3Then Mary took about a pinta of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, 5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denariib and the money given to the poor?” 6Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.  7“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She was intended to keep this perfume to prepare for the day of My burial. 8The poor you will always have with you,c but you will not always have Me.”

Thoughts: Jesus cared very much for the poor.  He asked the rich young ruler to give everything he had to them.  Yet there are people in and out of the church today who have the same philosophy as Judas Iscariot did- give this money to the poor- don’t waste it on worship.  Some would say the church should meet in a tent and money should be given for missions.  But, taking care of the infrastructure of worship allows for many thousands more to come in years to come who will worship God in other ways.  Where there are churches the poor are helped more than where there are no churches.  Charity goes up ironically in the places where people are also giving money toward worship.  Poll after poll shows that Christianity is the most generous religion and Christians on average give way more than those who do not attend worship at all.  The poor are there always as a way to remind us to honor the image of God in them.  Jesus said whatever you do for the poor (hungry, thirsty, homeless, naked, sick, in prison) you do it for Him.  So Judas is not far wrong, but he was wrong.  Jesus deserves worship.  If we cannot see that, then we will have a hard time really helping the poor. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to be generous toward you and toward those in need. 
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4/4- John 12:9-13- The Crowds for Jesus- Popularity is fleeting

9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was there. And they came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting:  “Hosanna!”“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Thoughts: Watching the presidential elections and the democratic primaries and debates remind me how fickle popularity is.  One minute Biden is the front runner.  The next the call is for him to drop out of the race.  Only a few months ago Elizabeth Warren was the frontrunner because of a good debate performance.  Popularity is fickle.  The most popular song five years ago is “so yesterday” today.  If you are a people pleaser, you will never be happy.  There is a difference in wanting to make others happy and wanting to make yourself look good and be popular.  Some of the most popular people in middle school are nowhere to be found today.  Ironically, one of my friends who was supposedly a “nerd” is now a retired executive  millionaire from Microsoft and is much better known than the beautiful cheerleaders and buff football players (most of whom didn’t go to college).  Popularity is fickle.  Do what is right in God’s eyes.  He is the One we need to live to please. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to please you above all others. 

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4/5- Triumphal Entry- Matthew 21:1-11- Yes He is King!

1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples, 2saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me. 3If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 6So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8A massive crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  9The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” 10When Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”  11The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” 

Thoughts: Jesus entered Jerusalem as a Jewish prince who was to be crowned- on a young donkey.  The parade was excited by the resurrection of Lazarus and those who had seen the dead man emerge from the tomb in his grave clothes.  Some of the outsiders joined in hoping it would be a way out of the brutal Roman oppression.  Yet these same outliers were the ones who were shouting “Crucify Him!” as outliers of that crowd.  It is important to not simply go with the crowd.  But this happens.  There are those who come to church when it is popular to do so but then stop when their friends stop coming.  The shout was for Jesus to save them (Hosanna).  How true that would be.  This Lent look for ways to honor God who sent His Son to save us.

Prayer: Lord, save me from myself, from my sin, from others traps, and from all evil, hurt, and harm.

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4/6- Jesus Clears the Temple, Instituting new Temple- Matthew 21:12-13; 1 Cor. 3:16- Your body the Temple

12Then Jesus entered the temple courtse and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. 13And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer. But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” (Mt. 21:12-13)

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst? (1 Cor. 3:16)
Do you not know that your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? (1 Cor. 6:19)

Thoughts: Solomon’s Temple had been destroyed.  Ezra’s smaller Temple was just being completed by Herod’s men.  The Temple in Jesus’ day was one of the wonders of the world.  It’s limestone stones glimmered brightly in the sun.  Even the disciples were in awe of it.  Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down” Mt. 24:2).  At his arrest he was accused of saying the Temple would fall (Mt. 26:61).  The magnificent Temple did fall to the Romans within a generation (70 A.D.) with literally every huge stone cast down by the Roman soldiers.  You can go today and see the ruins on the southern side.  The Holy Spirit- the shekinah glory- made the Temple special.  This glory abided in Jesus’ body and now the Spirit lives in us.  So our bodies house the Holy Spirit who lives in us.  So we should care for our bodies- not letting our bodies fall into sexual immorality. 

Prayer: Lord, let me appreciate that you are in me and I am in you.  May I honor your Spirit in me this Lent.
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4/7- Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus- Matthew 26:14-16- Even Followers can betray Jesus

14Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus. (Mt. 21:14-16)

Thoughts: Jesus chose Judas- even then knowing one of his chosen ones would betray Him.  He ate communion with Judas knowing he would betray Him soon.  Jesus lives with betrayers and deniers and those who lose courage and run away.  He lives with us.  But He doesn’t waver in His love and faithfulness for us. 

Prayer: Lord, let my love for you grow so that I will not betray or deny you to my friends, family, or neighbors.

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4/8- Jesus in Gethsemane- Matthew 26:36-46- The depths of sorrow of Jesus

36At that time Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” 39Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter. 41“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”  42A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.” 43And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping—for their eyes were heavy.  44So He left them and went away once more and prayed a third time, saying the same thing. 45Then He returned to the disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us go! See, My betrayer is approaching!”

Thoughts: “Not my will but thine be done.”  This is the ultimate prayer, and Jesus prayed it weeping in Gethsemane.  He knew how hard it is to die a human, painful death.  He saw how weak his disciples were even after all these years.  Our call is given here, “Watch and pray so that you do not fall into temptation.”  Call out to God a bit more today.  Watch for God to come to you somehow, some way today.  Look for the God-wink.  It didn’t come to Jesus for three days.  In fact, it seemed as if God had closed His eyes and forsaken Him.  But He did not.  He knew this and His eye was on the death of His Son as His eye is on us.

Prayer: Lord, may your will be done in my life.  Give me the courage and grace to accept it.
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4/9- (Maundy Thursday)- Jesus Betrayed and Arrested- Matthew 26:47-56- Judging the Innocent

47While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people.  48Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest Him.” 49Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed Him.  50“Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.”Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him. 51At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.  52“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”  55At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts,h and you did not arrest Me. 56But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.”  Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.

Thoughts: Jesus’ supposed friend gave Him a kiss that turned into a cross.  Peter made a fleeting attempt to defend Him who did not need any defense.  Jesus could have been rescued, but it was His turn to be a sacrifice for us.  A few years ago Anglican lay leader and former diplomat Terry Waite went to negotiate the release of American and British hostages from Lebannon.  One of the hostages, Ben Weir, a former moderator of the PCUSA, was released (I met Weir in 1996).  But Weir was released they kidnapped Waite for several years.  Years later Waite said he would gladly exchange himself again for the cause of Christ.  Christ was betrayed and kidnapped but ultimately His ransom, betrayal and exchange paid for our release. 

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you willingly gave yourself as a ransom for my sins.
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4/10- Jesus is crucified- Matthew 27:31-56 – Injustice is Here

37Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS,
THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38Two robberse were crucified with Him, one on His right hand and the other on His left. 39And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads 40and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” 41In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, 42“He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him.f For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”  44In the same way, even the robbers who were crucified with Him berated Him.  45From the sixth hour until the ninth hourg darkness came over all the land. 46About the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,h lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.” 48One of them quickly ran and brought a sponge. He filled it with sour wine,j put it on a reed, and held it up for Jesus to drink.  49But the others said, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him.” 50When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit. 51At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. 52The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people.  54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”  55And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

Thoughts: The King of the Jews was crucified.  Years before Jesus had begun his ministry saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  He was saying, “The king of the Jews is here- God with us is here.”  If you knew God was in your presence would you behave?  Would your words be kinder?  Would you try to purify those thoughts?  However, they mocked his power- until the earthquake came- then even the hardened Roman centurion had words of faith.  Is Jesus really your King this Lent?  Is there some area of your life that He is not ruling over?  Are you trying to hide something from Him?  Out with it!  Instead, let the King take away your sins when you give them into His crucified hand this Lent.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for dying on the cross.  Let me grow in my appreciation and die more to myself this day. 
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4/11- Jesus lies buried- Matthew 27:57-61- Jesus really died

57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

Thoughts: Jesus’ teaching is not in the Apostles’ or Nicene Creeds, but instead the word “buried” is there.  This leaves no doubt to his death.  He didn’t just die, he was put in a cold, damp tomb.  He could not hobble over in grave clothes and spices and move the tomb stone.  Both Mary’s witnessed the burial.  They would not go to the wrong tomb.  Joseph of Arimathea was one of the few leaders of the people who loved Jesus.  He came and buried Him.  What a privilege to be the Lord’s undertaker. 
     In some creeds it speaks of this time as the time Jesus preached to the spirits in prison (1 Peter 3:19).  Hell is something we cannot endure.  It may be our own mess, it may be the heartache of another’s mess.  Calvin said that “He descended into hell” meant he went through hell for us on the cross and in burial.  But all of this is read now in the light of Easter-Eve.  We know Easter is coming at the next sunrise.  We are expectant that death, burial, and hell are not the last word.  Look for hope this Easter Eve.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for going to hell for me.  I deserve to go there- for my sins weigh my life down deep.  Thank you for freeing me from sin because you came.

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4/12- (Easter) Jesus arises Matthew 28:1-10- His resurrection is our resurrection   

1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.2Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men.  5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay.a 7Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ See, I have told you.”  8So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples. 9Suddenlyb Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him. 10“Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.”

Thoughts: When you go through the New Testament you do not find a single funeral sermon preached by Christ.  Instead you find him breaking up funerals to give life.  He raised Jairus’ daughter, the widow of Nain, Lazarus, and of course Himself.  There are many today who do not expect God to do anything unusual- or anything at all.  They are practical atheists.  They have limited God.  But He is at work in ways we would not expect.  There was never any debate at the time that the body was missing from the tomb of Jesus.  Anyone could go and see it. 
   But the effects of this resurrection are seen everywhere.  The day of worship changed from Saturday to Sunday.  The disciples changed from cowards and deniers to those who went to the ends of the earth and gave their lives boldly for Him.  The gospel has reached every nation and major language group and is the only philosophy or religion to have done so.  Today, let God’s hope fill you with hope and joy.  Do not squelch your joy but share it. 

Prayer: You, Lord, are worthy for you were once dead but now you are alive forevermore.  Enliven my heart and quicken my step!

(Most artistic portrayals of the last week of the life of Christ are from James Tisot- found in the Brooklyn Museum of Art;
Below Confirmation Class 2020).