Good Friday

Today is Good Friday, one of the most meaningful days of the year. It is the day that we remember Jesus' death on the cross and truly sets the stage for the Resurrection on Sunday. 

When I was younger, Good Friday seemed like a bit of a misnomer: there didn't seem to be a whole lot that was good about Jesus' brutal torture and agonizing death on the cross. As I matured and came to be aware of my own sinfulness and need for a Savior, I was able to see the importance of this day. 

Good Friday is "good," not because of what happened to Jesus, but what is made available to us: salvation through the forgiveness of sins! With Jesus' death on the cross -- and pending Resurrection -- the hold sin has on us will no longer separate us from God! While Christ was dying on the cross, he prayed for our forgiveness and declared the work of salvation complete. 

Throughout time, people have banked on their individual goodness to pave the way for salvation. I have heard many say, in justification for not attending church, "But I'm a good person." That might be true, because I've met countless good people in my life. The problem is, though, that the standard is perfection, and because of sin we just can't be perfect. If our salvation were predicated on us being good enough, then every time we fall short, we have to start over. If you have ever played a game, lost all your progress and had to start over, well, that's a debilitating proposition. In time, we get so flummoxed and fatigued that we quit trying. 

The beauty of life with God is He knows you can't be perfect, or at least not on your own. Your faithfulness will wane, you'll get tired, and you'll fall back into your self-indulgent patterns. So if the standard is being good enough, the fact is, you can never be good enough. But Jesus changes that!

Now mind you, Jesus didn't change the standard...God doesn't do that...but what God did do is prove that His goodness, His perfection, is more than enough to cover our never-quite-good-enough lives. So when you accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, then Jesus promises to take your imperfection and cover you with his perfection. So friends, your salvation is granted not because you are good enough, but because Jesus is.

This is good news. Very good news. It frees us from the isolation that can come from never venturing out into the world for fear of not being good enough and allows us to be infused and empowered with God's goodness in Jesus Christ. So on this Good Friday, as we (again) gaze upon the cross, may the horror of it remind us that we cannot be good enough on our own, but the Lord's willingness to accept and love us in spite of ourselves, taking our shortcomings and covering them with Jesus' perfection, is why this is indeed a very Good Friday!

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that  everyone who believes in him will not perish
but have eternal life. 

(John 3:16)

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

(Romans 5:8)

He Still Isn't There!

Back in early February, a story broke that captured my attention...you might have heard about it. England’s King Richard III’s body was located under a parking lot in the town of Leicester. His remains were actually discovered last year, but DNA testing of King Richard’s descendants conclusively determined that the remains are in fact those of King Richard III.

King Richard III ruled England between 1483 and 1485, during the decades-long tussle over the throne known as the Wars of the Roses. His rule was challenged by Henry Tudor, and he was defeated and killed by Tudor’s army. Henry Tudor then took the throne as King Henry VII. King Henry VII was the last English king to ascend to the throne as a result of vanquishing his predecessor in battle.  

For centuries, the location of King Richard III’s body was unknown. Records say he was buried by monks at their church in Leicester, 100 miles north of London. The church was closed and dismantled after King Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in 1538, and its location eventually was forgotten. Then, in September of 2012, archaeologists searching for King Richard dug up the skeleton of an adult male who appeared to have died in battle. Study of the remains revealed that there were ten injuries to the body inflicted by weapons like swords, daggers and halberds (think of a battle axe) and were consistent with accounts of Richard being struck down in battle. His remains also bore the hallmarks of “humiliation injuries” inflicted by his enemies after death. 

Reading this story and delighting in the history of a located fallen king got me thinking. There is another historical King who died before his time, but experts have not been able to find those remains. Like in the case of Richard III, there is a pretty good idea as to where he was buried, though interest never waned. I'm sure you know where I'm going with this – that King’s name is Jesus! After millennia of searching for Jesus’ remains, there is only one conclusion to which we constantly arrive: He still isn’t there!

As we near our celebration of Resurrection Day this week (i.e., Easter Sunday), I can guarantee that the remains of Jesus will never be found. For on that glorious day, GOD broke into that tomb, released His precious Son from the grip of death, and in one fell swoop, declared that death shall no longer have any hold over any of His children! This eternity altering event has been attempted to be understood and reframed as some conspiracy by Jesus’ followers to preserve His movement. But the fact that despite history’s attempt to locate Jesus’ body, and identify Him by His wounds of humiliation, the fact of the matter is He simply wasn’t there, and isn’t there still! This is a perfect time to remember the beautiful question posed that first Resurrection Morning: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5) 

Those who do not believe in Jesus as the Son of GOD still try to deny the power His name and legacy; despite those vain attempts, His movement perseveres. Jesus’ followers have at times had to endure all sorts of persecution and attempts at humiliation, just like He did when He walked on the earth. This shouldn’t necessarily come as a surprise to us, because Jesus even said it would be the case. Though the wounds that were inflicted upon the Lord attempted to humiliate Him, they became the conduit for our victory! For as Isaiah prophesied, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Is.53:5, emphasis mine) 

During this year’s Easter celebration, it is my prayer that you can rejoice in the bold fact that the tomb of Christ is still empty! The wounds that He endured bearing the burden of our sin were thought to be signs of humiliation, but they stand as symbols of our freedom. So know that as people are trying to learn and recall the story of King Richard III’s life and death, Jesus’ tomb remains empty proving to us that his death begins the story of our life, because…He still isn’t there!!!

What’s Your Passion?

Well friends, we are on the cusp of Holy Week. Since early February, we have been going through the season of Lent as a way to help us prepare for the glory of Easter Sunday. Before we make our way to the empty tomb of Resurrection Morning, we need to first pause and reflect over the passion of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you have heard of the events of Holy Week referred to as the Passion of the Christ. There was a famous movie released several years back viscerally depicting Jesus’ suffering and death. Where we might view the term passion as something we feel strongly about, the term passion as it relates to Jesus’ death comes from the Latin verb, passiō, which literally means to suffer. As you can see, the passion of Christ (His suffering) is quite different from how we view our individual passions (loves), because our passions, similar to our priorities, tend to dictate how we live. The difference for Jesus isn’t that startling if you really think about it – Jesus’ life mission was to save the lost and show the world the heart of GOD. This was His passion. His passion directed His life, and since it is His death that brings us life, we can see that His passion (love for us) and passion (sacrifice for us) are inextricably linked.

This must raise the question for us about our passions. What are the things you are passionate about? On the flip side, what passions are you willing to suffer for, and maybe even die? Can the things that you love point people toward the greatest love of all? Can you find opportunities through your personal passions to deepen your love for GOD and love for others? Or are your passions things that do not honor GOD, and therefore, need to be rooted out and removed? There is no doubt that there are aspects of our passions that need to be redeemed. The sinless Jesus certainly found a way for His passions (love for GOD and humanity) to fuel His passion (suffering and death)…this is how He lived and how He died, and it is how His Spirit lives on in eternity. May GOD’s Spirit work within you so that the zeal you have for living does indeed shine the light and love of GOD, reflecting His image to creation, which is our life’s task.

I want to leave you with this passage from Titus 2.11-14: “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

May GOD’s grace working within you during this holy time of year, give you a new glimpse into His passion of love and passion in suffering for you!

Marching Onward

The month of March is special to me. The Braves are in spring training. Saint Patrick's Day allows for a little fun. We get to celebrate Ethan's birthday, along with birthdays for my niece, brother-in-law, and mother-in-law. It’s also the time that we begin to see spring emerge from the cold of winter. There is a saying about the month of March that says it comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. This is primarily referring to weather, because for the first several couple weeks, we can see that winter wants to hold on a little longer. Then the time changes (have YOU adjusted yet?), the afternoons warm, and the cold barren winter gives way to the warm and lush spring. This leads me to another reason I love March, especially the Marches like this one: EASTER!

You are probably aware that the date for Easter shifts from year-to-year; unlike Christmas, which we always celebrate on December 25th, the date for Easter changes. Easter is set for the Sunday on or following the first full moon after the first day of spring, or vernal equinox. This year, the vernal equinox is March 20th, and the next full moon is on March 27th, so the following Sunday is when we will celebrate Easter...March 31st. These dates correspond to the Jewish Passover, because it was the Passover that Jesus was celebrating with His disciples in Jerusalem when he instituted the Lord's Supper (Communion), was betrayed, convicted in mock trials, humiliated, scourged, and crucified, all for our salvation. After three days in the grave, GOD raised Jesus from the dead proving that nothing truly can separate us from the love of GOD in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39).

Jesus was known as the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5). Jesus was also known as the Lamb of GOD, because He allowed Himself to be led away to slaughter for the forgiveness of sins (John 1:29). So when we think about March coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb, we can see a beautiful connection when we celebrate Christ's life, sacrificial death, and resurrection reminding us that “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

There is no doubt that March is a very meaningful month. One other comment to make is that with this time of year, our schedules seem to get busier as we take advantage of the longer days and beautiful weather. In the rush of trying to get everything done, we run the risk of missing the power and meaning of this time of year, because GOD does bring forth new life and regeneration from the foliage on the earth to His followers like you and me. Look to GOD who gave us Jesus, the Lion of Judah who roars in the face of life’s struggles, and the Lamb of GOD who takes away our sin. Turn to GOD through Jesus and allow Him to give new meaning to spring you forward, marching onward into a new life of hope, purpose, and meaning. 

"Spring Forward This Weekend"

I don’t know about you, but I am an Eastern Standard Time kinda guy. I am actually a Central Standard Time kinda guy because of my love for the Gulf of Mexico and the panhandle of Florida, but that’s a blog for a different day. With the time change to Daylight Savings Time (DST) that takes place this coming weekend, I am joining forces with many church leaders who realize that “springing forward” means jumping into the worship groove an hour earlier than normal. This reminds me of a quick conversation Ethan and I had just the other day when he was lamenting the loss of an hour of sleep. I reassured him that really only mattered for a day or so, because his body would adjust. The up-side for him is that it will be brighter later into the day, offering him more time to hang out with the kids in the neighborhood. It seems this was enough of a payoff for him to reconcile the loss of that hour of precious sleep.

I am aware that there are quite a few folks who have mixed feelings about the switch to and from Daylight Savings Time. The modern idea of daylight saving was first implemented during World War I. DST was widely implemented following the 1970s energy crisis and has generally remained in use since that time, though the practice has been both praised and criticized. Adding daylight to evenings benefits retailing, sports, and other activities that use sunlight after working hours, but can cause problems for evening entertainment and other occupations tied to the sun. Although an early goal of DST was to reduce evening usage of incandescent lighting (formerly a primary use of electricity), modern heating and cooling usage patterns differ greatly, and research about how DST currently affects energy use is limited or contradictory.[i] All that being said, I prefer an early to bed and early to rise schedule, but once summer arrives and the long lazy days are here, I’m quite fond of that, too. And for the kids who enjoy playing outside later into the day, well, the extra daylight seems like a godsend.

Speaking of godsends, when we realize that GOD has blessed us with a lot more than just an extra hour or so of daylight in the evenings by giving us the One True Light – JESUS! – then life comes together in ways previously unimaginable. Regardless of how you feel about the time change that is upon us this weekend, acknowledging that even when the time comes for us to adjust our clocks and change the way we perceive the shining of the sun in the sky, the love of GOD shines perpetually for us in Jesus Christ. For as James 1.17 informs and inspires us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” This really lends power to the words of John 1.5 and how Jesus illuminates the darkness of our inner world: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” The light of GOD in Jesus Christ shines forever, regardless of when our clocks tell us that the sun rises and sets. Regardless of our time changes year-in-and-year-out, GOD remains the same, so make it a point to power through whatever weariness you might feel and come celebrate with us in worship!

If you are like me, you might greet this coming Sunday with bleary eyes and feeling a bit sluggish. And remember, the FOCUS Youth are hosting their pancake breakfast (tickets are still available for $5, so please email Bobby Totten ASAP), so you can save time by sharing your first meal in Daylight Savings Time with your church family. So remember to “spring forward” before going to bed Saturday night and come ready for what promises to be an awesome Sunday in worship of GOD through Jesus Christ, the brightly shining heavenly light!!!

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[i] Wikipedia Article on Daylight Savings Time

The Bible Miniseries Begins THIS Sunday

This coming Sunday, The History Channel will begin airing The Bible TV Miniseries. This is a blurb on the miniseries from its website: “The Bible is a ten-hour, five-week, miniseries created and produced by husband and wife team, Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel) and Mark Burnett (The Voice, Survivor, Shark Tank, & Celebrity Apprentice). Beginning on March 3, 2013, for two hours each Sunday night, viewers will see some of the best-known stories from the Bible, from Noah’s Ark and the Exodus to Jesus’ birth & the disciples. The final episode of The Bible TV Miniseries will air on Easter Sunday and will feature the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.” You can watch the extended trailer preview for this miniseries on YouTube: 

Of course I have not seen any of this miniseries outside of the television trailers and reading some articles about it online. All that being said, I would like to commend it to you – or to your digital video recorder – because I think it is a great addition to the Lenten season in which we currently find ourselves.

“Our prayer has always been that the dramatization of these stories will drive viewers to go to the Bible itself and drink in the actual text, because it is a book that changes lives,” said Roma Downey. “We are thrilled to provide millions of people with an easy way to do so with YouVersion.” YouVersion is a totally free Bible application that is available on your Apple mobile device (iPod, iPhone, iPad), Andriod mobile device (phone or tablet), as well as an online web site version. Check it out, and if you haven’t downloaded the app to your mobile device, do so…it is a perfect companion for your own faith journey with lots of tools and resources to help you dig into GOD’s Word!

The Bible Miniseries begins this Sunday, March 3^rd, at 8pm on The History Channel. For your quick reference, here is a list of channels where you can find The History Channel in our area:

•          NuLink: channel 47
•      Comcast: channel 53
•          AT&T U-Verse: channel 256
•          Dish Network: channel 120
•          DirecTV: channel 269

I hope you’ll at least give this miniseries a glance. I am sure they have taken some creative license with some of the stories, but I think it will be wonderful, and if nothing else, a great conversation starter. I’m eager to hear about your thoughts from seeing these stores come to life on TV.