Tag: Resurrection

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In the Blink of An Eye

Save me, O God, *
for the waters have risen up to my neck.
I am sinking in deep mire, *
and there is no firm ground for my feet.

Psalm 69:1-2

Read psalm 69 

Lent.jpgIt was a hot afternoon and I had just finished playing Tennis with my Pastor. There was a family in the church who had a swimming pool and they had told him that he could use it any time. I told him I couldn’t swim, but he said I could just cool off in the shallow end. So, we went to the pool to relax and cool off. My Pastor got out of the pool and decided to lay in the sun for a while. I thought this would be a great time to practice my float on my back as I had in the swim lessons I’d taken about a year before. The next thing I knew, my life was literally flashing before my eyes.

In Psalm 69, we read words that are prophetic of Jesus as he endured the agony of torture and loneliness awaiting His crucifixion. His words cry out to the Father for salvation. He knows he will soon die, but the feeling of being surrounded by death was too much. The strength that led him on His journey to the cross now seemed gone – it seemed all that was left was death.

Our lives can feel overwhelmed before we know it, especially if we’re always acting strong for others and feel we have no one to reach out to with our own pain. Today is our third Friday since beginning Lent. Friday’s are a day for remembering the great sacrifice of the Cross that Jesus made for us. Today scripture speaks to us of the overwhelming circumstances of which may sometimes surround. As you read and pray, be real with Jesus. If you feel you have no one to turn to who understands what you’re going through, I guarantee you He does. You can cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

As I was practicing floating on my back in the pool that day, I somehow drifted out over the deep end. As an 18-year-old, I was afraid of the water. I never learned to swim, and had no confidence to put into practice the things I learned in my lessons. When I went to stand up there was no bottom for my feet. In a panic, I began flailing around for dear life, as they say.

man-struggling-in-waterIn that moment, in the blink of an eye, I went from calm and serene, to shear panic. My life literally flashed before my eyes. I thought this was the end. I was going to drown in that pool. But, my pastor was there. Surely, he would jump in and save me. I cried out to the Lord, “Save me O God! Don’t let me die like this!” Just then, my toes hit concrete and I could drag myself to the edge of the pool. There at the edge of the pool, standing down and looking in was my Pastor. He said, “Are you alright?”. The only thing I could manage to say between coughing up water was, “No, thanks to you! What happened to all that talk of laying down your life for a friend? You didn’t jump in to save me!” To which he said, “The way you were flailing around, you would have dragged us both down!”

Later I came to believe he wouldn’t have let me die – but it sure felt like it at the time. But, I know a God who never lets us down. He has promised to never leave us. I know He was in the pool with me that day, just like He was with Jesus in those long hours of agony. Yes, Jesus died, and one day we will too. But, on the third day, Jesus was raised to life never to die again. We too can live with the assurance of the Resurrection in the last day. Till then, we need not fear death…it is the doorway to everlasting life. 

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

My daily Lenten prayer – “Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and sustain in me a willing spirit. ” NRSV

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Facing Our Fear

To thee, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the Pit.

2 Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to thee for help, as I lift up my hands toward thy most holy sanctuary.

 Psalm 28:1,2

Can you remember back to when you were afraid of the dark? I can. Probably most children are afraid of darkness when they are young. The darkness covers everything in a shroud so that we can’t see anything. I can remember being terrified of some kind of “boogeyman” I imagined would come out from under my bed at night when I was about 4 or 5 years old. I would always cry out for help hoping my mom or dad would come to my rescue.

Psalm 28 speaks about the “Pit”. This is a recurring theme in several Psalms, as well as other scriptures. The Pit is sometimes translated as “Hades”, or the place of the dead. In today’s Psalm we see Jesus facing His very human fear of death. I suppose we can’t completely relate to the fear of death until the very words are pronounced over us. Like in a doctor’s office, when we are told with certainty we are about to die. Jesus not only knew His death was impending, He knew exactly how He would die – and it was horrifying.

Of course, we all know we are going to die someday, but if we are healthy that seems somehow remote. As Jesus lived out His ministry, the specter of the cross loomed larger and larger over his thoughts. He knew one day soon He would stretch out His arms to be nailed to the cross, and die. In the stark reality of those thoughts, the Psalmist helps us to hear Jesus cry out for help to His Father. Until Jesus’ resurrection, there was no coming back after death. The Pit was a place of permanence.

Psalm 28 can be sung as a prayer of our coming resurrection, even as it was prophetically for Christ’s. The ancient creeds of Christianity teach us to look for the resurrection of dead and life everlasting…

“We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen” (Nicene-Constantinoplitan Creed 325AD-381AD)

As a child, in my fear of the dark, I needed comfort. Of course, my two brothers who slept in the same room with me would always tell me to shut-up, but what I needed was the comfort of my mother or father – and they always came to my rescue.

Eventually I learned not to be afraid of the dark. I learned that God was with me everywhere, even in a dark room. What fears do you have today? Maybe you fear the darkness of feeling alone, or perhaps even the knowledge of your own impending death. Know that Jesus is always with you. He will rescue you from your pit of fear and darkness…

“…And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NLT)

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

image credit: https://harukadarkios.wordpress.com/2014/03/15/fear-of-darkness-what-phobia-is-it/

 

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Resurrection Is Always in View

15 As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with beholding thy form.

Psalm 17:15

Have you faced any injustice in your life? Probably. Most have of some form or another. But, what about a grave injustice; something so unfair you were brought to the brink of despair? Many of the Psalms are prayers cried out to the Lord in the face of such grave injustice. Psalm 17 is one.

Though we hear the prayer of David, who faced many great trials in life, the real voice of the Psalm is Jesus. Who of us would dare pray the words of verse three? Only Christ can truly pray those words. As we read them today, we can connect our hearts to Jesus’ words. While we can’t say that if God tests us He will find nothing but pure righteousness, what we can say is, “Search me O God, and know my heart” (Ps 139). Our hearts can be pure before the Lord – David’s was.

The prayer of Psalm 17 is the prayer of Jesus in the closing days of his life before the cross. His enemies had surrounded Him (v9). Their hearts were closed to all pity (v 10). Yet, Jesus knew the Lord would deal justly with His enemies. However, He also knew it would require His complete sacrifice on the cross. The same completeness is required of all who follow Christ.

The Psalm ends with the assurance Jesus felt, that when he would give up His spirit on the cross and lie down in death, He knew He would see God when he awoke (v 15). To Jesus, the resurrection was always in view. He always knew His Father would answer His cries for help (v 6), and so can we.

What injustice are you facing? Have you cried out to the Lord? I hope so. I hope you’ve cried out in confidence, knowing He will rescue you. I hope you always have resurrection in view. As Martin Luther wrote in his great hymn, A Mighty Fortress, “The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still.” The truth of God is that resurrection is always in view for those who place their hope in Christ, who dwell with Him in faith.

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

image credit: http://www.episcopalcafe.com/abc-justin-welby-resurrection-of-jesus-changes-our-view-of-the-universe/

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When the Ugly Becomes Beautiful

“12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,”

Do you live with regret for things in your past? Most people do, but a sad way to live. Certainly no one’s past is perfect, and their will always be things of a sinful nature we wish we hadn’t done. But, what about the testimony of the gospel to make something beautiful out of something ugly?

We serve a God who has promised to make all things in our lives work for good, somehow, someway (Rom. 8:28). It may be hard to see how some of your past can actually lead to something good, especially the deep, hurtful things. But, think about it with me for a moment. You wouldn’t be who you are today if not for those things

I know someone reading this can say “But what about that horrible violent thing that happened to me?” Of course, you wish that hadn’t happened…but it did. And, God wants to use ALL of your past to make you who He wants you to be. The testimony of who you are in Christ today is so much stronger because of what you’ve been through. God has redeemed your life from the pit.

St. Paul was writing the Philippians from Jail. Jail is certainly embarrassing. Today if one our church leaders was put in jail, we’d probably wonder what they did wrong. Well, like your past, it’s not always about what you did wrong. Sometimes bad things happen to innocent people, like Paul…perhaps like you.

Paul was confident the gospel message he preached was going to be even stronger because of his chains. We too can know that God wants to use our entire life’s testimony as a powerful witness to His resurrection power. Go ahead. Hold your head high no matter what you’ve done in the past. Our God is in the business of making something beautiful out of something ugly. Remember, you’re a child of the King, He loves you, and so do I.

And remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Father of all mercy, thank you for saving my life from the pit. Thank you for making me your beautiful child. Help me to be a witness to your resurrecting, and remaking power in this lost and broken world. Amen. Alleluia!

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The Secret of Fruitfulness

“10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ,to the glory and praise of God.”

Perfection, for us humans, can only be found within the context of Jesus’ resurrection. Quite often, we don’t even try to live a perfect life because it seems futile. We are reminded over and over each day that we are fallible. But, the life of Christ calls us to be sincere in our efforts for righteousness.

It seems we too often forget that all our “fruits of righteousness” are “by Jesus Christ,”. Without the resurrection power of Jesus at work in our hearts we have nothing with which to truly praise God. He raised us up in His power to live righteous and holy lives; that’s the message of new life in Christ that comes to us at Easter. Should we not then try to live holy?

The power of the resurrection was actualized in the life of the first believers on the day of Pentecost. The risen Christ had ascended but He had not left them alone, and neither does He leave us alone. We have the Holy Spirit who brings resurrection power to our lives; He is the secret power of our fruitfulness.

I find great hope in St. Paul’s encouragement to the Philippians to “approve the things that are excellent,” and to “live without offense”. If you aren’t seeing any fruitfulness in your life, perhaps you haven’t discovered the right source of power – the secret of His fruitfulness. As you begin a new day, won’t you consider how you should be living. Put your trust in Jesus to bring His fruits to bear in your life.

Remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Lord of life, you call all people to be holy. Show me the fruit of your resurrection blooming in my life, that I may approve all things that are excellent to the glory of your Name. Amen. Alleluia!

image credit: http://www.revelatrium.com/all-fruitfulness-flows-from-intimacy-theres-no-other-place-to-get-it/

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It’s More Than A Potluck Dinner

It’s More Than a Potluck Dinner

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

Some mistakenly think that God has given us new life in Christ just so that we can avoid eternal damnation in Hell, and live forever in Heaven. The mistake isn’t in believing those who are in Christ will escape Hell and inherit Heaven, (It’s true) but rather it’s in thinking this is the primary reason for salvation. The primary reason for our salvation is to restore our “fellowship” with God our Creator. And, to be restored to fellowship with God is to be restored to fellowship with the entire body of Christ; indeed, even all of humanity.

St. Paul points out the importance of this “fellowship”. The Greek word rendered here as “fellowship” is “koinonia”, which means far more than simply hanging out together or having a potluck dinner. The Greek meaning speaks to real communion, a sharing or participating in one another; with our God, and with each other. Such communion is only possible by the power of the resurrection.

The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that gives eternal life to our mortal bodies, and binds us together as the body of Christ. So, the fellowship we share is rightly said to be in “the gospel”, not just in our own human connecting. In Christ, we have a real solidarity with humanity, regardless our sex, race, or creed. His resurrection power is what breaks down our walls and brings reconciliation.

To be in Christ is to be raised from the dead, for He has trampled down all death, by His own death. He has given us the power of His resurrection, but it remains for each us to awake to that power, and daily live in it. So, the next time you’re feeling powerless, remember the resurrection power which is at work within you.

Christ is Risen!

+Pastor Brad

Father, open my eyes that I may see and know the power of your resurrection that is at work in me, in my communion with You, and all humanity. Amen. Alleluia!