Just a Moment

Quite possibly the most significant thing about Christmas is the incarnation. God, the infinite, eternal and unchangeable became human, frail, finite, and fickle. It may be the most fantastic miracle imaginable. Max Lucado has some interesting thoughts on it that I have cross-posted here. I hope you enjoy them.

"It all happened in a moment, a most remarkable moment.

As moments go, that one appeared no different than any other. If you could somehow pick it up off the timeline and examine it, it would look exactly like the ones that have passed while you have read these words. It came and it went. It was preceded and succeeded by others just like it. It was one of the countless moments that have marked time since eternity became measurable.

But in reality, that particular moment was like none other. For through that segment of time a spectacular thing occurred. God became a man. While the creatures of earth walked unaware, Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb.

The Omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierceable. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl.

God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created.

God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys, and a spleen. He stretched against the walls and floated in the amniotic fluids of his mother.

God had come near.

He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter. The hands that first held him were unmanicured, calloused, and dirty.

No silk. No ivory. No hype. No party. No hoopla.

Were it not for the shepherds, there would have been no reception. And were it not for a group of stargazers, there would have been no gifts.

Angels watched as Mary changed God’s diaper. The universe watched with wonder as The Almighty learned to walk. Children played in the street with him. And had the synagogue leader in Nazareth known who was listening to his sermons…

Jesus may have had pimples. He may have been tone-deaf. Perhaps a girl down the street had a crush on him or vice versa. It could be that his knees were bony. One thing’s for sure: He was, while completely divine, completely human.

For thirty-three years he would feel everything you and I have ever felt. He felt weak. He grew weary. He was afraid of failure. He was susceptible to wooing women. He got colds, burped, and had body odor. His feelings got hurt. His feet got tired. And his head ached.

To think of Jesus in such a light is—well, it seems almost irreverent, doesn’t it? It’s not something we like to do; it’s uncomfortable. It is much easier to keep the humanity out of the incarnation. Clean the manure from around the manger. Wipe the sweat out of his eyes. Pretend he never snored or blew his nose or hit his thumb with a hammer.

He’s easier to stomach that way. There is something about keeping him divine that keeps him distant, packaged, predictable.

But don’t do it. For heaven’s sake, don’t. Let him be as human as he intended to be. Let him into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out.

Listen to him.

“Love your neighbor” was spoken by a man whose neighbors tried to kill him.

The challenge to leave family for the gospel was issued by one who kissed his mother goodbye in the doorway.

“Pray for those who persecute you” came from the lips that would soon be begging God to forgive his murderers.

“I am with you always” are the words of a God who in one instant did the impossible to make it all possible for you and me.

It all happened in a moment. In one moment…a most remarkable moment. The Word became flesh.

There will be another. The world will see another instantaneous transformation. You see, in becoming man, God made it possible for man to see God. When Jesus went home he left the back door open. As a result, “we will all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”

The first moment of transformation went unnoticed by the world. But you can bet your sweet September that the second one won’t. The next time you use the phrase “just a moment,” …remember that’s all the time it will take to change this world."

May God richly bless each and every one of us this Christmas!

Waiting for Christmas

Now that the turkey and pumpkin pie has been consumed, and the decorative pilgrims have been packed away, many of us are getting out our Christmas decorations. Of course, there are numerous opinions about when to get them out and when to light the house or the tree.

I have always been a believer in “sooner is better.” So we like to put our Christmas decorations out on Thanksgiving weekend to be ready for the First Sunday of Advent, which is usually the Sunday following Thanksgiving. The reason is not merely that I like the decorations up as long as possible (although that is certainly true), but I also feel that there is a whole season prior to Christmas that helps us get in the mindset, and in the spirit.

The problem is that some people don’t like to wait that long. They feel like if the decorations are up too long, the waiting can get excruciating. But, then, isn’t that the point of Advent?

Advent is a season of waiting, expecting, and hoping. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve, Advent helps us prepare for the coming, or “advent” of the Christ child at Christmas. (The word “advent” comes from the Latin word that means “coming.”)

For hundreds of years, Christians have used an Advent wreath to inspire their hopes for the coming of Christ. By lighting candles and reading Bible verses, we are reminded about the meaning of Christ’s birth and become more excited about his coming in the past, in the future, and in our own lives.

We do the same as a part of our worship services, and we have lit advent wreaths at home with our children. There are many advent devotions you can get on-line. We used to light our candles at the dinner table and read the devotion before we ate. Kids really enjoy the novelty of it, and it brings a special thoughtfulness to the season.

There is no set meaning for the candles of the Advent wreath (except for the middle candle, which always signifies the birth of Jesus the Christ and is often called the Christ Candle). I have been in churches where the candles point to peace, hope, joy, and love. In other settings they are identified with key figures in the stories of the birth of Jesus, such as the shepherds, the angels, Joseph, and Mary. The main point is the theme of waiting that gives structure and meaning to the Advent candles, with each candle focused on different aspects of our waiting.

Advent wreaths employ candles with a variety of colors. Some wreaths use all white candles; others use three purple or blue candles, one pink candle, and one white candle in the middle. I share an understanding of the Advent wreath with many Christians for whom the purple candles remind us of how serious and solemn God’s people have been in waiting for the Messiah. The pink signifies the joy of our waiting. The white is triumphant and celebrative because Christ is born.

Speaking of children, they have great expectations and hopes during Advent – usually associated with Christmas presents, Santa Claus, holiday celebrations, and so forth. Rather than discouraging these hopes (which is a “hopeless” task!), I would urge parents to help their children get the “feel” of Advent by relating their hopes to biblical Advent themes.

     May we all have a blessed Advent and be lifted up in our waiting season

Jesus on Stewardship

Well, it’s that time of the year again. It comes around every fall. Stewardship season. We all know that is the time when we talk about giving to God, whether time, talents, or treasure—our financial gifts. But what does stewardship really mean?

We have been talking a lot about the kingdom of heaven in church this fall. I have preached several sermons on how Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven, and the parables he uses to characterize it.

There is one story he tells in Matthew 25 that is about stewardship, but from the perspective of the kingdom. What is stewardship in the kingdom like?

The story Jesus tells is one we have heard before. It’s the one where a man plans to go on a long journey, and he entrusts his wealth to his servants. He calls forward three men, to one he gives 5 bags of gold, to another three bags and to the last he gave one bag, and then he went on his trip.

I think we all remember this story. When the master returned, he wanted to know what the men had done with the money he had given them. The first two came forward and gave their master twice what he had given them. They had invested wisely. The man with five bags earned five more, and the one with three bags earned three more.

But when the one who had only one bag came forward, all he had to show for himself was the original bag of gold. He had hidden it in a hole in the ground to keep it safe. The master was furious. He calls the servant “wicked and lazy.” He took away his gold and had him thrown out of the house.

It’s actually kind of a severe story, but it points out a few things that we don’t always think about in terms of our own stewardship.

As God’s people, we have been given many gifts; gifts of life and health, gifts of family and friends, and even monetary gifts that we have earned and saved over the course of our lives. What does God expect us to do with those gifts? Like the servants in the story, I think there are a few key points we should be aware of when we think about God’s gifts to us.

First of all, we recognize that these gifts do not belong to us; they are given to us by God. All that we are, and all that we have is a gift, on loan to us from God. Our life, our health, even the money we have, is not ours forever. We cannot take it with us when we die. It all belongs to God, and we merely have charge of it for a while.

That is the second point; we have been given these gifts as a charge. God has entrusted them to our care, and God expects us to use them wisely and well. The servants in the story used what their master gave them to earn even more, and were praised for their diligence and hard work. Not so the lazy servant who did nothing at all with what had been given to him.

That is the final point that I believe Jesus is making; one day we will be called to account for what God has given to us. Have we used it wisely? Have we used it well? Or have we merely buried it in the ground and put it to no good use? Remember the fate of that wicked servant.

This next week, when you receive your stewardship letter and pledge card, think about what God has given you, and what God calls you to do with all those gifts and blessings. Don’t bury them, share them and watch them multiply.

Pumpkin Spice Latte as Spiritual Exercise

One of the comments I keep hearing over and over the past few days is how nice the weather is. It seems we all get tired of the hot and dry of summer long before it's actually over. With the recent rain and cooler temperatures, it is finally beginning to feel like fall, for which many of us are extremely grateful.

I love the crunch of leaves, the cool breezes, and, of course, the signature drink of the season, the pumpkin spice latte. Nothing takes the chill off like that distinctive smell and wonderful taste. When I am in a bad mood, or things are not going so well (as was the case when trying to write this article), a PSL often does the trick.

As we move into fall, I tend to agree with Guy Davies, who writes the Exiled Preacher blog. In his most recent installment, he writes,

"Gratitude is the antidote for grumpiness. People who think that the world owes them a living are always quick to complain about anything and everything. You know the sort. But the fact is that whatever our problems in life, we have a lot for which to be thankful. We live in a beautiful part of the country with green fields, rolling hills and trees decked in their autumn hues. Our local shops are packed with plentiful supplies or food and drinks. It’s easy to take these things for granted. But a moment’s thought should make us grateful for rather than grumpy about our lot in life."

Some of the Psalms in the Bible are full of exuberant thanks to God for his goodness in creating this world and so richly providing for our needs. Psalm 65 pictures valleys clothed with grain shouting for joy. If the very fields proclaim God’s praise, then we should also thank him everything that  comes to us from his hands. 

Psalm 65 also speaks of God providing atonement for our transgressions. That was the gift that cost God the most to give. He sent his Son the Lord Jesus Christ into our world of selfishness and ingratitude to die on the cross for our sins. Through faith in Jesus we receive God’s offer of forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. What a giving and forgiving God! Recognizing that whatever we may possess is a gift from God should make us grateful to him and generous towards others who are in need.  

In college, I was part of a production of Godspell, a Broadway musical in which Steven Schwartz took some classic Christian hymns and repurposed them in his offbeat look at the life of Jesus. One of my favorites is the harvest hymn, All Good Gifts, which speaks of gratitude to God for all the goodness he has given us, and I assume that includes pumpkin spice lattes.

All good gifts around us

Are sent from heaven above,
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
For all His love. 

The Kingdom of God

On Sunday, I asked the congregation a question: What is the essence of Jesus’ teaching? If you could boil it down to a single word or phrase, what would it be?

We had several good answers. Some thought it should be love, or mercy, or grace. Perhaps it was the Great Commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. While these are all good, and Jesus certainly talked about them all, none captures the true essence of his message.

Our text for the morning was from Matthew 4:17, where Matthew says, “From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” In the gospel of Luke, Jesus says, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent,” (4:43). In Jesus’ own words, then, the reason he was sent was to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God.

That is surprising news to many people. They understand the message of Jesus, and the gospel itself in very different terms. Lots of folks never get past the “Repent” to the good news. But even more than that, Jesus’ focus is on the kingdom. That is the essence of his message, and the reason he was sent was to proclaim it.

If that is what Jesus is all about, why don’t we hear more about it, and what, exactly does he mean by the kingdom of God?

It is a sad commentary on Christian teaching and discipleship that we don’t spend more time teaching and preaching the message that Jesus did. Just a quick reading of the gospels reveals that Jesus talked about the kingdom over and over again.

What is the kingdom like? It is like a sower who goes forth to sow seed; it is like a costly pearl; it is like a mustard seed. How do you get into the kingdom? You sell all you have and give to the poor; you have to become like a little child. Is the kingdom that big a deal? You bet it is! It would be better to cut off your hand or poke out your eye than not to get in at all.

Bible scholar John Bright said, “So paramount was the notion of the Kingdom of God in the mind of Jesus that one can scarcely grasp his meaning at all without some understanding of it.” If we don’t understand the kingdom, we can’t understand Jesus, and if we don’t understand Jesus, what kind of followers are we?

It is my goal, over the next several weeks, to try to understand the kingdom of God better, and to share my insights with all of you. I am going to sift through the gospel of Matthew and find all the places where Jesus says things like, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” There are over 25 of them! In those passages he explains the kingdom in some detail. Don’t you want to know what he says? I do.

I hope that as you make your plans for the fall, you will include spending time in worship, so we can look at these passages together. Jesus had a lot to say about the kingdom, and I know I have a lot to learn. Let’s learn how to live in the light of God’s kingdom together.

Did Jesus Preach the Gospel?

This past week, I had the privilege of attending a conference in Dallas with about 1500 Presbyterian pastors and elders. One of the reasons I attend these conferences is because I find them both challenging and inspirational, and this year was no exception.

The main speaker was a pastor and writer from Australia, the Land Down Under, and some of the things he said certainly turned some of my traditional thinking on its head. For instance, he challenged us with the question, Did Jesus ever preach the Gospel?

My initial reaction was that the question was absurd. Of course Jesus preached the Gospel! What else would he preach, and what else did he come for? As the speaker unpacked his thoughts, I began to understand what he meant.

Many of us tend to narrow the gospel down to the limited understanding of personal, individual salvation. Don’t get me wrong; I think that is a very important part of the Gospel message, but sometimes we talk and act like it’s the only part. I believe that Jesus died a sacrificial and atoning death, and was raised by God to live again. I believe that faith in that event is crucial for personal salvation. Jesus paid the price for my sins, and everybody else’s. But is that all there is to the Gospel message? If it is, you can see the point that Jesus never really preached that message. That is the post-Easter message. Except for intimate meetings with his disciples, Jesus’ preaching was prior to his death and resurrection.

Admittedly, Jesus did talk about his own death, but mostly he was either not believed or misunderstood. The idea of substitutionary atonement doesn’t figure high in the public ministry of our Lord. But if Jesus didn’t preach what we normally consider the gospel message, what did he preach?

A thorough study of the Gospels quickly reveals that Jesus’ message was primarily about the Kingdom of God. According to Mark, in 1:14 (as well other gospel texts, MT 4:17) the essence of Jesus’ message was, “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe the good news.” So the good news, the Gospel, is that the Kingdom of God has come near, it has arrived!

That thought challenged me to think differently about the gospel message. What does it mean for the Kingdom of God to be here, among us? How should we live and act as citizens of that kingdom?

As I said, these conferences are both challenging and inspirational. The challenge for me was this new way of looking at the gospel message, and doing so has inspired me to work on a new series of sermons for this fall that looks at the message of Jesus, the nearness of the Kingdom of God, and how we can and should live in its light.

As you make your plans for the fall, I hope you will include this study on the Kingdom preaching of Jesus. I think it will be a good one.

What is Our Church's Attitude?

Last week I was at a presbytery gathering, and one of my pastoral colleagues said, “Well, now that you have been in Sand Springs for over a year, are you starting to get some real ministry done?”

I have to admit that I was a little taken aback, and didn’t quite know what to say. I wanted to say, “Starting to? We have been doing some great ministry for quite some time!” But as soon as I thought it, I wondered if it was true.

Sure, we have done some great things; our worship attendance numbers are up, giving has been up, even through the hot summer months, Bible school was incredible, we have people involved in weekly Bible study, we are reaching out to our local community and overseas in mission. These are all laudable accomplishments, and I am proud that we are doing them.

It’s just that sometimes I wonder about the attitude we bring when we come to the church. It is so hard not to see church as just one more in a list of things to do, along with sports, yard work, and summer vacations. Who has time for it all?  Sometimes church attendance ends up at the bottom of our priority lists.

In some ways the church is like a business; there are bills to be paid, customers to reach, and services to render. I know more than a few pastors who think of themselves as spiritual CEOs.

Jack Rogers in his book, Claiming the Center, observes that it has only been in recent history that the church has become so corporate-minded. As late as the 1800s, the Presbyterian Church had no national staff or program. It has only been as the church has entered the twentieth century that “churches adopted the organizational model of corporate bureaucracy,” (p. 48). At its height in the 1950s, the journal Presbyterian Life had more subscribers than Newsweek. This model began to break down in the 1960s when the national church leadership became less in tune with its constituents in the pew. The Presbyterian Church has not had a year of net gain in membership since.

The church is not a business, and when we think of it in that way, we misunderstand the very nature of what it means to be the Body of Christ. The church is a spiritual community. As Christ’s body we grow, we heal, we support one another, and we feed one another. That’s a whole different ball game.

There are so many habits and attitudes we hold, some of them without even realizing we have them. I love the J. B. Phillips translation of Romans 12:2 where he says, “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.” How often do we uncritically accept the things that the world and the culture around us says, never stopping to consider how it may be undermining the work of God in the church?

One of my pastor friends made reference this week to the fact that so many of our churches are inwardly focused. We get so caught up in our own needs and desires that we forget the primary job of the church – to go out into the world and make disciples.

Next week, I will be attending a pastor’s conference for a few days (don’t worry, I’ll be back by Sunday) that is looking at this very thing. The conference is entitled, “From Consumerism to Community,” and I hope to bring back some ideas how we can live the life Christ has called us to in the way he has called us to live it.

VBS – Why we do what we do

This month you will find quite a few pictures and stories of last week’s VBS experience. The theme was “Weird Animals” and we learned about Jesus’ love through their unique qualities.

We had a great week; we hosted over 60 kids and needed over 50 adults and youth to do it! But my favorite day was not actually a Bible School day, it was Sunday.

If you didn’t get to join us on Sunday, you missed a real treat--all the energy and enthusiasm of Bible School infused into our worship experience. We had about a dozen kids singing high-energy songs, we had parents and grandparents grinning from ear to ear, we had volunteers and youth wearing their VBS t-shirts, but mostly we had joy.

There is no question that VBS is one of the highlights of our summer in the church. It is one of the biggest projects we tackle. But I sometimes wonder if we ever stop and think about why we do what we do? Do we just do VBS because we have always done it?

I think it is worth considering how and why VBS fits into the overall mission strategy of the church. Sure, it’s fun, but is it necessary, is it important? I believe it is, and here is why I think so.

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus gives the disciples their instructions for what to do after he is gone. Most often referred to as the Great Commission, Jesus said, “Go into all the world and make disciples…”  There is no more simple and concise instruction for the church and its ministry and mission. We are to go to all kinds of people in all kinds of places and make disciples for Jesus Christ.

In its most basic form, that’s what VBS does. We invite children from families in our own church, from friends and neighbors who do not have a church home, and even from families who attend church elsewhere. But for all these children, we tell them about God and his love for them. That is the essence of what we do, and I believe it is exactly what we are supposed to be doing.

Many of the kids we have in Bible school have spent some time in church and Sunday school, so they know a little about God and his love. Others know almost nothing. Amy told me this week that one of the children who came said he had never heard of Jesus before. We have plenty of work to do.

But Bible school is as much a blessing as it is a chore, perhaps more so. Those of you who were here on Sunday experienced a little bit of that. All those kids and all that enthusiasm infuses us all with a spirit of joy and exuberance. The excitement is catching!

I hope you will look at all the pictures included in this month’s newsletter. If you look it up on-line on the church’s web site, the pictures are all in color and you can blow them up or download them. There are even more on the church’s facebook page.

I said it Sunday, but I would like to say again how grateful we are to Amy McAllister for all the work she has done to make this year’s VBS such a success. And another round of thanks goes to all those who helped make this all happen. Over 50 people worked in the kitchen, preparing the stage, decorating, teaching, playing, and herding children. I believe it is all worth it!

Matters that Matter

Easter Sunday was such a beautiful and uplifting service, as it should be. A HUGE shout of thanks should go to Doug Ruffner, the Choir, and everyone who made that such a wonderful experience.

It was also notable that we had over 200 people in worship, which also contributed to the celebratory spirit of the service. It was great to see all of you!

In that spirit of exuberance, I want to take note that we would like to continue to expand the celebration and continue to invite friends, neighbors, and family to join us at church. This act of inviting people in is often referred to as (gasp!) evangelism.

I realize that Presbyterians have not always had a good experience of and relationship with evangelism. That is why I would like us to re-think what it means and how we do it.

As I mentioned on Sunday, evangelism can most simply be understood as telling others what we are excited about, at least in the context of God and the church. The word itself simply means, “good news.” What could be less intimidating and more energizing than telling somebody good news?

The problem is that we have been in our own rut in the church so long that we have forgotten how good, how wonderful, the news about Christ and his resurrection is! That is why, over the next few weeks, I am going to try and identify some things that are exciting about our faith, things that, I hope, will excite and energize us again.

I know how easy it is to get overwhelmed and over booked at this time of year, with vacations, graduations, weddings, and the like, but I hope you will make time to be with us as we look at those important “Matters that matter” over the next few weeks. I will look forward to being with you!

If you would like to view some of these sermons, you can go to our church web site and see them. Here is a link to the site: Matter that Matter

What About the Resurrection?

an article in the Sand Springs Leader for April 24, 2014

By Rev. Kenneth Lane

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter this year! It is a time when we get to reflect on so many wonderful themes in our faith, like forgiveness, peace and newness of life. Easter is the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is a doctrine that is central to the Christian faith, and yet, there are many people who wonder if it is really true.

Recently, Dr. Bart Ehrman, a professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, released a book entitled, “How Jesus Became God,” which calls into question many of the traditional beliefs of the Christian faith. It’s no secret that many people today struggle with questions of faith. How can we maintain faith in today’s post-modern society where science and technology seem to rule the roost? Can we really believe what the Bible says or do we need to reinterpret it to make it intelligible to our modern age?

I think that’s a fair question, and one we need to address if we expect our faith to stand the test of time. As we reflect on the message of Easter, we can well ask the question, Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Does it really make that much difference?

First, let me say that the resurrection of Jesus is such an important doctrine to the Christian faith that not only can we believe it, but we must believe it if we expect to have life as Jesus promised and if we want to truly call ourselves Christian.

To begin with, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a doctrine we can believe. Even in the face of modern science with all of its promise and prejudice, the resurrection is a believable phenomenon. Why? We have to remember that the natural sciences are exactly that; investigations of the natural order of things. The resurrection of Jesus quite obviously does not fall within the natural order of things. It is clearly the power of God breaking into and disrupting the natural order of things. Death is defeated, and the natural order is broken. So we must admit from the outset that our investigation will not be, and cannot be, strictly scientific. We will not be able to produce anything like “definitive proof” for the resurrection of Jesus. What we can do, however, is to cite credible, rational reasons for believing the way we do. These reasons stand on solid historical, psychological, and textual grounds. We are not engaging in mere flights of fantasy. We have good reasons for believing what we do, and it is helpful to review those reasons from time to time.

Still, we have to recognize that these historical arguments are not decisive for faith. We do not become Christians or remain Christians on the basis of logical argument. No one I know has ever been argued into the kingdom of God. The reason we believe is the same reason the apostles believed; we have had an encounter with the living Christ. We believe because we know Jesus. We have experienced his touch and his love in our lives.

Even so, historical arguments can prove helpful in removing hindrances to our faith. Several years ago, Josh McDowell wrote a book that continues to be a popular seller in Christian bookstores entitled, Evidence That Demands a Verdict. In it he outlines numerous historical, psychological, and textual reasons for believing the truth claims of Jesus, including the stories of his resurrection. More recently, Tim Keller has written a New York Times bestseller entitled, The Reason for God, which also contains many convincing arguments.

So the resurrection of Christ is not some idle belief with no basis in fact or history. There are good and compelling reasons to believe it. It is a part of the doctrine of the church that we can, in good conscience, believe. Even more than that, the doctrine of the resurrection is something we must believe.

I don’t think it is an overstatement to say that the resurrection of Christ is the most important and fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith. The Apostle Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 15:17 that, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” Why is this doctrine so crucial?

First of all, it tells us who Jesus was. He was not just a wise rabbi or good teacher, Jesus Christ was the incarnate Son of God. Paul says in Romans 1:4 that Jesus has been “designated Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead.” What Paul is saying is that since Jesus has been raised from the dead, he must be God, for only God has power even over death. You can see the logic of his reasoning.

While he was on earth, Jesus claimed to be the unique Son of God. He said things like, “I and the Father are one.” It was claims like that that got him killed. Either those claims are true or they are not true. Either Jesus is who he said he is, or he is a liar. When God raised Jesus from the dead, he gave credence not only to the person of Jesus, but also to the claims he made; claims that he was, indeed, the only begotten Son of God.

The doctrine of the resurrection has another advantage. In Matthew 20:28 Jesus said, “The Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The reason Jesus came and died was to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. He died so that we might live. But how do we know that his sacrifice was sufficient? How do we know that his sacrifice was acceptable to God?

For three days the question remains unanswered. Then the moment of the resurrection comes. The hand of God reaches down into the cold Judean tomb, and the body of Christ is raised to life. The stone is rolled away. Jesus is exalted to the right hand of the Father. By the act of the resurrection we know that God has accepted the perfect sacrifice of his Son for our sin.

Finally, the resurrection is a crucial doctrine for our faith because it is this doctrine that establishes our own resurrection hope. We believe that we will be raised because Jesus has been raised. Mark Achtemeier says, “United with Christ, we become sharers and partakers in the power of his resurrection. The bonds of love that unite us to God and to one another in Jesus Christ are stronger than the power of death. Such is the glorious hope that arises in the predawn stillness of the first Easter.”

So you see, the resurrection of Jesus is not just some abstract theological doctrine that is debated in ivory towers and has little, if anything to do with the rest of us. It is a doctrine that has life. And if we are to receive Christ’s promise of life, it is a doctrine we can truly believe.

The Real Last Words of Christ

     As many of you are aware, over the past few weeks we have been looking at The Seven Last Words of Christ, words which Jesus spoke while he endured the agony of the cross. I’m sure you have noticed that all seven words do not appear in any one Gospel. They are scattered throughout the four. I’m not sure who first gathered these seven “words” from the four gospels and put them together, but it was probably a very ancient practice.

     But have you ever stopped to think that these seven words were not the last words of Christ? The words Jesus spoke from the cross were not the last words human ears heard him utter. There were many more things Jesus said after the resurrection on Easter morning. Jesus has quite a bit more on his mind, and he wants to share it with his disciples and his followers. The last words of Christ do not end with “Into Your hands I commit my Spirit.”

     After his resurrection, Jesus visited ordinary places and spoke to ordinary people. He came to some in a garden, to two on the road to Emmaus, to others at the lakeside. He met a group in the Upper Room and others on a hilltop. He shared their meals and their walks. He came to them when they were working and when they were waiting. He came to them when they were afraid and when they were hopeful, when they were doubting and when they were certain. He came to ordinary people like you and me.

     So, what did Jesus say to his followers, and what were the Real Last Words of Christ?

     First, Jesus said to his disciples, “Fear not.” Certainly our world needs to hear that message from the resurrected Christ today. He said to the women, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

     Jesus appeared to the Eleven on another occasion and said, “Peace be unto you.” This was not just some conventional greeting but the assurance of God’s deep peace that Jesus had promised them at the Last Supper. Then he asked them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questions rise in your hearts?” It does seem like kind of a silly question to ask someone who is seeing what they believe to be a ghost or a phantom. They had seen Jesus killed. Perhaps some of them had helped wrap his body or carry him to the tomb. The corpse doesn’t ask the pallbearers what they are so upset about. But again Jesus repeats the words, “Fear not,” and “Do not be afraid.”

     Why not? The answer is simple. Because it is not a ghost they are seeing. He is alive! There is no longer any death or disaster they need fear. They can be assured that just as Jesus triumphed over death and the grave, they would too. They could be confident that God’s purposes were not thwarted and that Jesus himself was with them unto the end of the world. The disciples could look forward to the fact that they, too, would be resurrected.

     Our world today is filled with all kinds of dangers; fear of pain and death and loss are everywhere. In a world so filled with hate and war, the words of Jesus are more relevant than ever. Once again, Jesus comes to those he loves and says, “Fear not.”

     What a powerful message to give to people who face turmoil and strife every day of their lives. What a powerful message to speak to the heart of every person-- to our hearts, our lives and our families. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I am not a ghost or a phantom or a faith with no basis in fact. I am as real as the air you breathe and the very life within you. God’s plan has not been overturned or derailed. The end is still in sight. Don’t be afraid.”

The Seven Last Words of Christ

There is an old joke about a teacher who asked one of her students to name the four seasons, and he said, “Football, Basketball, Baseball and Hockey.” There is also a red-neck version in which the student answers, “Deer, quail, turkey and duck,” but that is another story.

     This week we are entering a new season in the life of the church. Most of us like Advent, Christmas, and Easter, but the season of Lent is usually not so popular. It is a season of somber introspection for the 40 days prior to Easter, a season when we recall our inclination to sin, and the things we have done that sent our Savior to the cross in the first place.

     As we think about the Passion of our Lord, and the events leading up to Good Friday, one of the themes that has resonated with Christians down through the centuries is The Seven Last Words of Christ, a recollection of the final utterances of our Lord from the cross of Calvary.

     On that desolate hillside so many years ago, a crowd gathered to see the gruesome sight and to hear the cries of pain and agony that would come from the pathetic figure nailed to the Roman Cross. But it was a surprise to them all when instead of a cry of anguish, there came a prayer of forgiveness when Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!”

     These words, spoken from the cross during the last hours of his earthly life, are particularly meaningful to Christians since they represent our Lord’s parting words to his people.

     One author wrote that “The Seven Last Words portray the terrible beauty and the rich and abundant meaning of those terse and deathless expressions that fell through that awful silence of Calvary to echo in men’s hearts down the ages.”

    Even a brief study of these words is a powerful experience.

    For the next five weeks, during the season of Lent, I am going to pick up this theme of the last words Jesus spoke before his death, words that are filled with meaning and purpose, and do a series of sermons on them. We will look at these words together and try to understand what Jesus meant when he said them, and what they mean for us, today.

      I hope you will make plans to join us for this special series of messages over the next few weeks. Lent is not always the most popular season of the church year, but having something to look forward to always makes things more interesting.

Life is a Journey

   Some years ago the country music band Rascal Flatts recorded a song entitled, “Life is a Highway,” which was a big hit for them, and was subsequently used in the Disney movie, Cars.

   The song reflects that life is more like a journey than a destination. The words go like this:

   Life’s like a road that you travel on; When there's one day here and the next day gone; Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand; Sometimes you turn your back to the wind.

   The image of a journey is a common theme in scripture to depict our life with God. But many times we resist the time and the effort that is required in spirituality. We want quick fixes and instant gratification, like the t-shirt that says, “Give me patience, and give it to me right now!”

   On our better days, most of us recognize that life doesn’t work like that. It moves forward in fits and starts, limping and lurching forward a little at a time.

   I think that is why so many of Jesus’ parables have agrarian themes, like a farmer planting seed, or harvesting grain. It is true that those were themes that the common person in his day understood, but it is also true that life doesn’t come with instant answers. Sometimes things have to have a while to germinate and to grow.

   That is why I like the church calendar. I don’t mean the one on my desk that keeps my schedule, I mean the events of the church year that are celebrated by Christians all over the world, like Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, and Lent. They provide a certain pace to life, and help us put things in perspective.

   Lent, for example, sometimes gets a bad rap. People see it as a time to “give things up.” It’s a time for fasting and prayer, so some think of it as a morbid or depressing time in the church year.

   It’s true that Lent is a time of reflection and introspection, a time to think about the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, and how we, in turn, are going to live for him. But that is not necessarily a bad thing.

   This spring, during our adult Bible study on Wednesday evenings, we are looking at the cross, what it means, what it did, and how we ought to live our lives in the light of it. I know some folks would rather focus only on the joy, the peace, and the love of God, but there is a time for each (Ecc. 3:1,2).

   It is a great study to do through the season of Lent, to think about how Christ loved us to death. Literally. You can join us at 5:30 for dinner, or 6:00 for Bible study each Wednesday evening now through May. It may be a slow journey, but it will be one worth taking.

Winter Thoughts

This has been quite a week! It’s a little over the top for those of us who have spent the last 15 years or so in temperate Texas!

     The word is that on February 2, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and headed back into his hole for six more weeks of winter weather, so it looks like we had better get used to it.

     I find it ironic that in my devotions this morning, I spent some time with Psalm 73. If you are not familiar with that Psalm, it raises some of the questions many of us have in life, but seldom give a voice. For instance, shouldn’t we as God’s children have an easier time of it than those who don’t fear God, don’t care about God, and never even give God the time of day?

     I think many of us live under the assumption that there must be some inherent advantage to being a believer; that maybe God listens more closely to our prayers, and grants us special favors. But I have never found this to be the case.

     Psalm 73 starts off with a declaration of faith, and says in verse 1, “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” Don’t we who give special attention to God deserve special attention from him? If that is what we assume, we are mistaken.

     In verse 2, the Psalmist confesses his struggles. “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.” He had become aware of a situation that almost caused him to lose his faith. He almost slipped. What was it?

     It is the same struggle many of us deal with today. “I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles, their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.”

     Doesn’t it really frost your muffin when you see someone who couldn’t care less about God or even basic morality, and yet his life seems to be sailing along just fine; better than yours, in fact? It can be more than merely irritating, it can be faith-challenging. We wonder, what is the point of being good and doing good if we don’t receive good in return? The Psalmist says it well, “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.” He feels like all his faithfulness is for nothing.

     But wait. In verse 17, he finally understands, “when I entered the sanctuary of God.” There is something clarifying about entering into God’s presence. Then we get it. Then we finally see clearly. Away from God and God’s people, we lose our focus. Like Peter walking on the water to Jesus, when he took his eyes off Christ and looked instead at the waves, at the turmoil all around him, he began to sink. (Matt 14:30)

     The same can happen to us. Sometimes we concentrate more on the good things that other people have than the blessings that we have. Sometimes we think more about our problems and challenges than our blessings, and that causes us to slip.

     Driving in snow and ice is always a challenge. I’m pretty sure no one thought of that when they built our church on top of a hill. When it’s slick, how do you get up there? That was my challenge on Monday morning. Here is how I solved it: along the edges and in certain spots, you could see pavement, the snow was either melted or it had been driven over many times and squished out of the way. Dry spots! I carefully drove so that my wheels went in those spots, where I knew I could get traction. Slowly and carefully, I made it to the top.

     I think that is what the Psalmist encourages us to do. In the sanctuary of the Lord is where we get our traction in this slippery world. That is where truth is to be found. If we are to navigate safely, we have to steer our lives to those places we know to be true and use them to make sure we get safely home.

     We live in a slippery world, both literally and metaphorically. Be careful out there, and keep your feet on the rock so you will not slip!

The Year of the Butterfly

If you are an aficionado of Chinese New Year celebrations, you already see the problem with this week’s article. The New Year of 2014 (or 4712 as it is reckoned by the Chinese) is not the Year of the Butterfly, it is the Year of the Horse. In fact, I don’t even think there is a Year of the Butterfly.

So why the title of this week’s article? Rather than a reference to Chinese New Year celebrations, it is actually a reference to an opportunity for spiritual growth. I have already mentioned in a previous article that the New Year is a good time to think about our spiritual health as well as our physical health. Many of us are trying to get back in shape after a long holiday binge, so why not pay attention to our spiritual shape as well?

The reference to the butterfly is a reference to the Cursillo movement, which has adopted the butterfly as its mascot and logos, of sorts. If you are not familiar with it, “Cursillo” is a Spanish word that means “short course.” The Presbyterian Cursillo is a short course in the Christian life and is designed to encourage people to grow in their faith.

The reason Cursillo is on my mind is that recently, I have received several invitations to participate in Cursillo events. My daughter, Tiffany is participating in one this weekend, as I write this, and I will be serving on staff next month at an event in North Texas. Here in Eastern Oklahoma, there is an event scheduled at Dwight Mission on March 7-9, 2014. So, there seems to be a flurry of Cursillo events coming up.

If you have never considered a spiritual retreat, I would highly recommend Cursillo. The goal is to encourage participants to grow in their personal relationship with Jesus. It is a weekend that will inspire, challenge and equip those who attend so that they can live more effective lives for Christ whether they are at home, at church, school or work.

The format is a busy three-day weekend event filled with worship, singing, study, and lots of fun activities. The weekend centers around a series of short talks, given mostly by lay people, that center on God’s grace, Christian discipleship, and what it means to be the church.

The people I know who have been on these retreats come away blessed not just by information, but by formation—they feel they have had a new experience of God’s love and mercy. That is why the butterfly was selected as the image of the Cursillo weekend. It is a marvelous picture of transformation, which is what happens to us through faith in Christ. The Bible says in Christ, we are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). So many people have experienced that through Cursillo.

If you want more information about Cursillo, or if you want to sign up for the weekend retreat, there are brochures on the table outside the office, and on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. It is a great opportunity not just to learn more, but to meet a great bunch of people, and to grow in your faith.

Let this New Year be more than just a time to think about shedding a few pounds. Think about how you can grow with God and follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Winter of the Spirit

When the cold winds blow and the calendar turns over to a New Year, some folks think about shedding a few pounds after the holiday season, others resolve to eat better, spend more time with family, or even read more. I usually take a few moments to think about my spiritual life. Perhaps it’s an occupational hazard.

The Apostle Paul uses several athletic metaphors in reference to spiritual growth when he talks about “fighting the good fight,” (1 Tim. 6:12) or “running to win the race,” (1 Cor. 9:24), so perhaps I am in good company.

If you are also thinking about how you might improve your life with God in the New Year, let me encourage you to do so in several areas.

First, in the area of Personal Devotion. How much time do you regularly spend with God? If you think of your relationship with God as much like your other relationships, it makes sense that we nurture those relationships with our presence and communication. In the early stages of any relationship, what helps that relationship grow is time spent together, and conversation over a wide variety of topics. That’s how we get to know one another better.

I believe the same is true in our relationship with God. The way to feel closer to God is to spend time with God. We do this through prayer, which is a simple as talking to God, and through worship, in which we offer back to God some of the spiritual blessings with which we have been blessed.

Oswald Chambers compares our spiritual blessings to the manna the Israelites received in the wilderness to sustain them. If you recall the story, one of the unique features of the manna was that it would not keep. It spoiled if you so much as tried to keep it overnight. Chambers says, “God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It must be given back to Him so that He can make it a blessing to others.”

The lesson to be learned from this is that we can never hoard the gifts and blessings of God. They are to be used and shared, and we are to rely on God for any future blessings so that we can continue to work that God has given us.

This brings me to the second area in which we might seek to improve our spiritual relationship with God. In contrast to the first area, we might call this Public Devotion. It almost seems sacrilegious, or at least counter-productive, especially in light of Jesus’ criticism of the Pharisees’ habit of public devotion whose only purpose was to call attention to themselves.

I don’t think we should condemn public devotion, but, rather, look to its higher purpose. As Jesus pointed out, those who are merely looking for public approval have already gotten their reward (Matt. 6:2, 5). The true reward of public devotion is in the sharing; we are blessed when we see others blessed. There is a mutual encouragement.

As the writer of Hebrews puts it, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching,” (Heb. 10:24, 25).

So as we are thinking about life’s priorities for the coming New Year, let’s not forget our spiritual fitness, and our relationship with God. Just like any other relationship, it requires work and attention.