Ruth 1:1-5

Ruth 1:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Not all new beginnings are welcome.
  When we think of the new year, we think of celebrations and lights and joy -- there is hope in the new year!  But sometimes, people look at the new year with despair.  Perhaps they've barely endured the previous year, and they don't think they have the strength for another.  Or maybe they've just received some devastating news and the horizon seems too bleak.  Maybe the past few years have worn them down and hope seems like a distant concept.  Whatever the reason, change isn't always good.
  When we read Scripture, we encounter real life.  There is drama and heartbreak and joy and sorrow.  God doesn't sugarcoat the often harsh realities of life.  What God does, however, is consistently point forwards to the hope we have in Christ.  As Christians, we are able to point to the hope in Christ that exists beyond the grave.  Even when death surrounds us, hope can still triumph.
  So as you think of the year ahead, it's ok to have some despair and fear creep in.  But those emotions don't have to win the day -- God is still at work, and the long arc of God's justice and mercy will not be defeated by temporary pain and death.  God wins, my friends.  May we rejoice at the knowledge of God's victory, even as we work through the day-to-day realities of life.

1 Peter 1:3-9

1 Peter 1:3-9 
English Standard Version (ESV)

 For a long time, I've looked down on New Year's resolutions.  Maybe I've been unwilling to admit to some of the changes I need to make, or perhaps it just seems cooler to shun them.  There's certainly nothing that says I need to wait until New Year's to make changes, so it would be easier to change something in the moment at which I realize that it needs to be changed...
  But maybe this year is different.  I do need to change -- I'm born again to a living hope, and if that hope is living, then it needs to be constantly pushing on me, prodding me, helping me grow.  Jesus talks about pruning those he loves, and there are areas of my life that I comfortably ignore, due to routine or busy-ness or other reasons. 
  So I'm going to be praying for God to show me how to change over the next few days, in the hopes of turning over some new leaves on January 1.  I know and trust that God is guarding us for our salvation, and that our inheritance is kept imperishable, so I have nothing eternal to fear, and that I am born again only through God's mercy, so my changes aren't about earning more of God's love.  Rather, it's about learning how to rejoice with joy and offer praise, glory, and honor to God in my victories and the trials.  I long for a faithful life that seeks God in all things, and I hope that God will show me some small steps I can take in 2020.
  Will you join me in these prayers, that God may show you what your next step is? 

Judges 13:1-5

Judges 13:1-5 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Jesus is not the only miraculous birth in Scripture.  Elizabeth, Sarah, and Manoah's wife all give birth well past the age when it was expected.  The wombs were closed, and yet God brought forth life, and that life testified to the greatness of God, albeit in very different ways.  The ministries of Isaac and John the Baptist and Samson all looked very different, and yet each was used by God to display the power and might of God.  Each was part of preparing the way for the Savior, who also would bring life where it was not accustomed, but rather than the barren womb, Jesus would bring life to the empty tomb, a place of death and hopelessness.  There, just as in our life and world today, the light would shine, and the darkness shall not overcome it.

Mark 1:1-8

Mark 1:1-8 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Matthew and Luke both begin their Gospels with the Christmas narrative.  Mark does not -- he begins with John the Baptist, announcing the coming of Jesus' public ministry.  Only in the reading of the other Gospels do we get a more full picture of Jesus.  The Gospels work together to enrich our understanding of the life and ministry of Jesus.
  In the same way, the church works together.  There are people who have been in church since they were in the womb, hearing sermons every year of their lives, constantly inhaling the aroma of church life.  Their story is one of endurance and faithfulness and ongoing education.  There are others who start their Christian narrative later in life, often meeting Jesus through the ministry and service of a faithful friend.  Their story is one of awakening, of seeing life for the first time through new eyes, of renewed energy.
  These stories, and the countless other stories that make up the life of the church, combine to weave a rich tapestry of grace.  God works in each of our lives separately, and as well tell and live our stories together, we illustrate how diverse and wondrous the love of God is.  Christmas is a time to celebrate God's radical inbreaking into my life and my story and your life and your story.  This Christmas, listen to each other's stories, ask your friends and loved ones to share their stories, and may we strengthen one another for the lives of service to which we are called.

Luke 2:8-20

Luke 2:8-20 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Who were some of the first people to hear the Good News?  Shepherds, out caring for their flock by night.
  Shepherds have a long track record in the Bible.  Moses was caring for sheep when God spoke to him out of a burning bush, and David was out caring for the flocks as well.  Jesus declares himself as the Good Shepherd.
  What to make of all this talk, especially in a day and age when we have so little direct experience with sheep and shepherds?
  Know these two things, today especially.  The first is that God comes with Good News for everyone -- it is not a message that goes first to the powerful, and it is not exclusive to the rich.  Your station in life has no impact upon God's love for you and your invitation into the Kingdom of God.  The love of Christ knows no socioeconomic borders.  The second is that it is okay to not fully understand exactly what God is doing in the world.  When the angels first arrived on the scene, the shepherds were afraid -- it was only once the angels explained their mission that the shepherds understood the next steps.  Likewise, many of us are still figuring it out.  This Christmas morning, know that God calls you, and that the Christ child means hope  is still alive! 

Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:1-7

Luke 2:1-7 
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  Throughout human history, God has been at work.  This common thread, at times intersecting with the political realities of the day, is woven into the everyday life of the rich and poor, as God works to gather all people back.  There are times in our common history where we wonder if the thread is broken, but God is still at work, sometimes in subtle and quiet ways, working to sew threads of peace and justice, that unmerited grace and unlimited favor may be the colors that define our lives.  When we look back, we can see how God has been at work, and we know the promises of God will continue to call us forward, creating something beautiful and unbounded, defined by the love that God is and shares freely.
  You are loved, and that is seen fully here in Luke's Gospel, as Mary and Joseph make their journey.  Our hearts go with them, eager to peak into the manger where that baby begins, seeing all the universe held is those tiny, vulnerable hands, knowing that the cries of life that emanated from a plain manger would one day echo inside a newly hewn tomb, where new life would again cry out in triumph after the trial was complete.  On Christmas Eve, we look forward to new life after birth, and it reminds us that through Christ, there is new life after death.
  May we rejoice in the baby, knowing the promise of Christmas only grows.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

1 Timothy 1:12-17 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Christmas is in only 5 days!!!  It's drawing nearer, day by day, minute by minute, and we'll marvel once more about how our all-powerful God chose to come to this earth as a vulnerable infant, dependent on two poor parents, born far from the center of power.  All this is true, but it was part of the mission of God to draw people back to God, so that Jesus might grow in wisdom and power and reveal his purpose -- to save sinners.
  You and I are a small part of the large group of sinners that Jesus came to save.  Maybe our sins aren't as public or as notorious as the sins of others, but that doesn't mean they aren't there.  I'm a fan of the Cincinnati Reds, who for the last few seasons have quietly been one of the worst teams in baseball.  Now, they're not absolutely terrible, so they escape the focus of the national press, but that doesn't make them any better, just because no one notices that they keep losing games (they're going to win the division in 2020.  You heard it here first!!).  They still need dramatic, outside help in order to get better.
  I'm the same way.  My own efforts will not save me.  I depend on the child, born in the manger, who will grow into the man who dies on a cross so that he can rise from the dead.
  As Paul says, this mercy is not just for me.  It's so that God's patience with us can serve as an example.  The idea is that we can declare, with pride, that if God can save us from even our sins, then God can save anyone, and isn't that marvelous?!
  To God be the glory, forever and ever!

Philippians 2:1-11

Philippians 2:1-11 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  What does Christmas mean to you?  We all have so many competing images -- the lights, the trees, the memories, the events.  Christmas often comes packed full of social events, so that we end up so busy we're not sure what has happened as the weeks have slid by and Christmas is suddenly upon us!  It's less than a week from today -- are you ready?
  Two thousand years ago, the world wasn't ready.  The world thought the Messiah might come in as a conquering hero, but he came as a dependent baby.  I'm not ready for the Messiah today -- I love him and confess him as King, but my life often denies him through my actions. 
  So as we prepare for Christmas, here's a question -- what's your mindset? 
  Are you ready for a King to set things right?  Are you ready for a King to set your heart right, so that you might worship and have your joy be made complete?  Are you ready for complete humility, even to the point of death for the sake of others?  Are you ready to look to the interests of others?
  Here's a thought -- imagine that Christ has given you a set of gifts, and your purpose is to give them to others.  What's it feel like to give away something that was meant for you?  How does it feel to be a part of making someone else joyful?  How can you serve another?
  Christmas is a reminder of what God has done for us.  How can we celebrate Christmas by serving others?

Exodus 2:23-25

Exodus 2:23-25
English Standard Version (ESV)

  The reality of our world includes sin and brokenness.  I'd love to say otherwise, but since the Fall in the Garden of Eden, the whole of creation has been disrupted, both on an individual level as well as relationally.  We see the effects in ourselves, but we sometimes forget that it is sin that causes conflict between us.  We do not always treat each other well, and the people of Israel experienced this when they were enslaved in Egypt, trapped doing hard, physical labor because Pharaoh was afraid of them.
  But God did not forget the people.  God heard their prayers, and a plan was in place to deliver the people.
  That same God hears our prayers when our lives are disrupted by the brokenness of sin.  When you are hurting, when you are in pain, when you are yearning for redemption, God hears your prayers, and God is at work bringing all of creation towards redemption.  Even when the timeframe of deliverance is longer than we desire, God is still at work, because God hears our prayers.  As Romans 8 says, when we do not know how to pray, the Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.  So even when we cannot form the words to pray, God hears our prayers, and God knows.  We are never forgotten by God.

Malachi 3:1-3

Malachi 3:1-3
English Standard Version (ESV)

  It's easy to sit back and judge, to remove yourself from the immediate situation and only tell others what you think of the situation or outcome.  It seems like much of social media exists as an ever-accelerating whirlpool that exists to judge others, with the crowds often serving as the judge and swiftly executing jury.  (As an aside, is anyone else considered that society's first impulse seems to be to capture something on video rather than step into the fray and assist?)
  One of the things that's fascinating to me about God is that God is not content to sit outside of the situation and only judge.  Refining is hard work, laborious work -- and yet God partakes, joining in with the effort.  Refining involves heating the subject up until the impurities are burned out -- and so the refiner must be close enough to the fire to judge when that occurs.  In the same way, God enters into our world to save us, and in the process, we see the pain and suffering that Jesus undergoes as a result, because God loves us too much to remain outside.

Isaiah 6:1-7

Isaiah 6:1-7 
English Standard Version (ESV)

 Here is Isaiah, certain he is about to die, and what is the message of the angel?  It is one of grace, and a reminder that Isaiah's sins have been atoned for.
  Friends, no complicated message today.  Just a simple reminder -- despite however lost you may feel, despite whatever worries press in on you and convince you that you are lost, remember this:  Out of the majesty of God's grace, a simple reminder:  your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.
 

Isaiah 53:4-6

Isaiah 53:4-6
English Standard Version (ESV)

  The Christmas story has two sides, and it all wraps up into one marvelous mystery, full of grace and truth.  The baby who is born in a manger, a tender scene portrayed in nativities, dependent on his poor parents, is the child that grows into the man who teaches with authority, heals the sick and raises the dead, and is the condemned to die as an innocent man.  The child who brings light and life is put to death, crushed for our iniquities, an atoning sacrifice for our sin who willingly goes to the cross  We have sinned, and he is punished.
  Because of his resurrection, we can look at Christmas morning with hope, for the child will overcome all of this and will come again in glory.
  So when you look at the obstacles before you, focus not on the darkness and challenges that seem to overwhelm.  Remember that because he rose, you also will rise, and the one who has overcome will give you the ability to overcome as well. 
  In the child we have hope, and in the child we have life.

Isaiah 65:17-19

Isaiah 65:17-19
English Standard Version (ESV)

  If you're even a casual sports fan, you're familiar with the plight of the Boston Red Sox or the Chicago Cubs.  These baseball teams hadn't won championships for decades, often coming tantalizing close, breaking the hearts of their fans over and over again.  Fans questioned if they would see their team finally break through, and when each did eventually win a championship, it was national news -- the narrative had changed.  Now, when things get rough, they can look back with fondness on recent championship memories and be consoled. 
  The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God is still at work -- even in the darkest of nights, the light is still shining, and the hope of redemption is still a real thing that people can cling to.  It will be centuries between Isaiah's words and the fulfillment of the prophecy, but the church and God's Kingdom will stand forever.  The joy that the Kingdom rests upon will overwhelm grief, and we can hope in our God and the power of the Kingdom. 
  This Advent season, look forward with hope, that the coming joy may fill your heart now, and when sorrow and sadness come, remember that they are temporary, and that one day, there will be only joy.

Psalm 133

Psalm 133 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  This Christmas, I encourage you to reach out to someone.  Maybe it's a family member, maybe a friend, maybe someone on your street or in your office.  How good and pleasant it is when we dwell together in unity -- reach out and assure them, invite them, inquire after them.  We live in a lonely world, and we rush by each other, often barely impacting each other.  We are all intertwined, even though we don't often live like it, so partake in God's greater mission that extends to the outer edges of the cosmos and beyond, that involves all of creation.  May our lives intersect so that we learn how to live together and invite one another to experience grace.

Revelation 5:11-14

Revelation 5:11-14 
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

  The church is a wondrous organization, called and gifted by the Holy Spirit with one purpose -- to participate in God's greater mission to the cosmos.  This Advent season, as we draw near to Christmas, may we all remember that the church is about far more than individual salvation.  May we never forget that Christ has handcrafted us and loves us uniquely, but that Christ also calls and redeems us as a community.  The throne room of God is surrounded by millions and missions (myriads and myriads in other translations).  This isn't just about us -- we are one of many, and participating in Christ's church means having a heart for the larger world and the greater mission of God.  We are called, we are blessed, and we are sent!

Christmas Lights

  We can all agree that one of the greatest technological feats of the last 150 years is the development of Christmas lights that don't all go out when one bulb dies.  Many of us spent hours as children trying to find the one dead bulb that was preventing the entire strand from lighting up.  One faulty bulb doomed the whole strand.
 
  As Christians, we can rejoice that one little sin does not doom us to eternity without God.  God is perfect and cannot tolerate the presence of sin, so any sin, no matter how small, threatens our ability to dwell forever in the throneroom of God.  We would never be able to atone for our own sins -- especially given how high Jesus sets the standard, equating hatred to murder.  Fortunately, Jesus is willing to pay the price for our sins.  God's love is so powerful that we're set free from the penalty for sin by God's grace, and no one single sin will separate us from God forever.  We can confess our sins with gratitude to God for grace and love and have confidence in the salvation God gives freely to us.

Revelation 3:7-13

Revelation 3:7-13 
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

  Here we see the contrast between Jesus and his followers, and we learn about the nature of Jesus.
  When Jesus opens doors, there is not a force in the universe that can close it.  And so the door is open to eternal life -- remember that Jesus says in John 10 that he is the door through which we enter.  No one, not even death, can close this door, and so we can rejoice in having such a strong advocate. 
  In contrast, we are weak.  The church in Philadelphia cannot open the door, but they know how to obey, and they have placed their trust in Jesus.  They know their own strength and weakness, and they understand where true strength comes from.  They are saved not by their own merits.
  I don't know that self-examination is very high on the list of desirable traits in the modern world.  But when we know ourselves and acknowledge our weaknesses, we're looking to Christ to hold the door open, and falling into his grace and love.  The crown of life is given to us by the one who is stronger than we are -- so may we receive with grateful hearts, and depend on God to lead us forward into eternal life.

Revelation 3:1-6

Revelation 3:1-6 
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

  This is always a hard day for me.  19 years ago, my best friend didn't wake up, and I did, and ever since that day, I've wrestled with the basic unfairness of it all.  To be 19 and invincible and have the world crash down around  you is a terrible thing, and then to try and make sense of something insensible... it's impossible, and yet the sun rises in the morning, and we must press on, right?  There is hope on the other side of the horizon, and yet every day, seeing the path can seem like grasping for the light switch in the dark, where any step can send you careening into unseen obstacles.
  I don't know why some live and some don't, why some thrive and others don't, why life happens the way it does.  I think about where my friend should be, and it hurts, to this day -- the sorrow is an ache to the depths of my soul.  I still remember the tears I cried and the tears his mother cried and the way our souls still weep to this day.  Often, I have only a little strength left, and it is almost gone. 
  Here in this letter, the church is urged to stretch towards God.  We can run in fear, or we can turn to God in trust.  Each day, I try and choose trust.  I don't always do it, and some days I wander in fear and uncertainty and mourning, but trust calls  to me still, whispers to my soul, and I want to choose faithfulness, to walk with the Lord towards the light, to let God carry me forward, for my strength is not my own, and my wisdom is not my own, and my life is not my own -- it belongs to God, body and soul, and I entrust myself to God's greater providence.  I know not  what the journey holds, but I know the end, and I trust in God to lead me there.

Revelation 2:18-28

Revelation 2:18-28
English Standard Version (ESV)

  To be completely honest, there are times when I read the Bible, close it, and then hope that I didn't read what I just read.  Not that I'm worried about the specific sins referenced here, but rather just because the overall tenor can be rather threatening at times.  God searches the mind and heart, and I'll certainly confess that my mind and heart aren't always perfect places -- there are some dark places that each of us harbor, and the thought of God knowing the fullness of my sins and brokenness is troubling.
  Fortunately, God knew all of this before God ascended the cross to die in order to redeem me.  My sins are ever before me, but they aren't a surprise to God.  God knows that I cannot save myself, and so God sends Jesus Christ to save us.  We are desperate and in need, and so God comes to save.
  Sometimes, it feels like 'Hold Fast' is about the only thing that I can do.  I desperately want to write my name in the list of those who conquer and keep God's works, although there are days when enduring seems like too great a task, and conquering will have to be left to those more worthy than I.  Fortunately, the Holy Spirit comes and prays with sighs too deep for words, and I am reminded that salvation depends on God, not on me.  Thanks be to God!

Revelation 2:12-17

Revelation 2:12-17 
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

  When Abram left the world he knew behind to follow God's call, he was eventually given a new name as a sign of his new identity. 
  When Daniel was sent to Babylon, he and his fellow exiles were given new names in an attempt to transform their identity, to leave the old behind.
  When Saul left behind his persecuting ways, he became Paul, a passionate advocate for the early Christian church.
  The church in Pergamum was offered new names, just as you and I are, to mark our new identity in Christ.  To those who persevere in faith, who endure the road of discipleship and keep their eyes focused on the call of Christ, a new name is offered, one rooted in the identity of a risen Savior, in the grace and love that is freely given.  We are no longer ours but have been purchased by God, liberated from sin and death, and our identity is rooted in God.

Revelation 2:8-11

Revelation 2:8-11 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  You can hide things from colleagues for a long time.  Less time with friends, and even less with family, although there are some who keep secrets buried deep for decades.  With God, however, we can keep no secrets -- fortunately, we don't have be afraid, but can be confident that God knows us completely and still loves us.
  Note, here, how God mentions the poverty of the people of Smyrna, but they have plenty of money.  Their poverty is spiritual, and it's an affliction that is as common today as it was then -- material wealth cannot hide spiritual poverty.
  To the people in Smyrna, God reminds them to stay faithful, even until death, for there is life beyond death.
  The same charge is directed at us.  Put not your trust in riches, as tempting as it may be, but rather lean into the grace and love of God, depend on God and God alone for life, and the second death cannot hurt us.

When it rains

  My son loves sidewalk chalk.  Personally, I struggle with the texture of chalk, and I'm a terrible artist, so sidewalk chalk and I are not a match made in heaven.  He, however, would do it all day long if it were up to him.  He'd skip school to draw maps and zoos on the driveway.  It's astounding.
  Once, he had completed a particularly complicated map of a zoo when it started to rain.  Distressed, he grabbed an umbrella and was out standing over one spot, and then another, trying to shield his creations from the rain.  It was touching and sweet, but ultimately futile, as the rains pounded down and slowly washed his creation away.  (His sadness quickly passed as he anticipated a blank slate upon which to create anew).
  I thought about how often I try to hold onto my own sins in light of God's onrushing grace.  There are things in my life that I struggle to let go, things that I hold on to, that I'm certain God can't forgive me for.  I beat myself up time and time again, as though God's grace can't cover those sins. 
  But God's grace covers all.  The forgiveness is complete, despite it being unearned.  I have no need to hold on to things -- that is only fear speaking.  God's grace is strong enough for all of my sins, no matter how deep. 

Revelation 2:1-7

Revelation 2:1-7 
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

  There are letters to seven churches in Revelation -- we looked at the one for Laodicea on Friday.  Here is the letter to Ephesus, and notice how personal it is.  It addresses the specifics in Ephesus, and it praises the way they endure and their intolerance for sin, while calling the church back to their first love.  The Ephesians have endured, but they're tired, and here they are encouraged/threatened to ensure their love sustains, and they are reminded of the crown of glory that awaits, the feast in the garden.
  God's love for each of us is unique -- we are each handcrafted by the love of God.  God knows our strengths, and our weaknesses, too.  God surrounds us with community, with a tribe, to encourage us as we grow and develop.  At times we need to hear the harsh truth and be held accountable, and at times we need encouragement to continue using our strengths.
  Find a church that acts as a tribe, that surrounds you and loves you and holds you accountable.  In this, we hear the nourishing words that remind us of our hope in Christ and points us towards the garden that awaits.

Revelation 3:14-22

Revelation 3:14-22
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

  On this Black Friday, people will storm malls and big box stores and websites the day after thinking about everything they have to be grateful for.  Now, much of this is born out of a genuine desire to give during the upcoming holiday season, and some of it is a bonding event for friends and family.  A good portion of it, however, is simply the desire for more.  Someone sent me a Ted Talk the other day by Johann Hari -- he was talking about depression, but through the lens of how the world is distorting our appetites, and so the consumerism we're engaging in isn't actually meeting the needs we want or think it will, and so we keep buying, but don't find the satisfaction we're craving.
  Clearly the Laodiceans had a similar predicament.  They thought they were rich and successful and independent, and probably lived that way, perhaps turning to God whenever they ran up against a problem they couldn't solve.  They hadn't completely turned from God, but they weren't turning completely towards God, either.
  So the message here is for them to recognize their true needs, to realize that true and lasting hope can't be purchased, and to turn to participate in God's abundant economy.  They were called to buy their gold from God, to discover the wealth of treasure in heaven, and only then will they see many of the world's empty promises for what they are.
  I don't think it's wise to completely pull back from our economy.  We're in this world, and we should participate in it -- but recognize that our truest needs, for hope and for love and for relationship, will never be met by something you can buy from a store.

Romans 5:1-5

Romans 5:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to give thanks for all the blessings in life.  I'd encourage you to look back over the previous year and think about where you were a year ago -- what prayers have been answered?  How have you grown?  What do you know about God and the depths of God's love that you didn't know a year ago?
  Life isn't all upwards growth, though.  Prayers aren't always answered, certainly not in the ways we imagine or desire.  As it has for you, this past year has been hard in many ways, and I'll admit to wondering how God is at work at times. 
  In this passage in Romans, Paul tells the Romans that he rejoices in suffering, because he takes a long-term view of suffering -- he knows that his suffering will ultimately transform into hope, which will help him understand the depths of God's love.  It isn't easy to look at suffering like this, but our suffering, be it physical, mental, emotional or relational, reminds us of our broken humanity.  Paul is telling us that this reminder can stir that longing for redemption within us, redemption that is granted by Christ's death on the cross.  Our suffering reminds us that all is not right with the world, but there is one who is setting things right, and in God we have hope. 
  So may we give thanks that our hope is certain in Christ.  I don't know that I'll ever rejoice in suffering, but I'd like to believe that suffering will remind me of the certain hope I have thanks to God.

John 21:20-25

John 21:20-25 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Heaven could not contain the love of God when humans turned from God in sin -- love raced out to redeem and to save.
  The tomb, even a new one, could not contain Jesus Christ, for God is stronger than death, hope is greater than despair.
  The world itself cannot contain the list of deeds that Jesus did, for they are too many and too great.  We have the Gospels that point to Jesus and the love of God, and we read to learn how to live and to learn how to hope and to learn how to serve, and yet there is so much more beyond the horizon.  We lift our eyes to the hills, and what we can glimpse in this life is only a hint of the beauty that awaits.

John 21:15-19

John 21:15-19
English Standard Version (ESV)

  How tender is the love of God! 
  Peter denies Jesus three times, and here, on the shores of the lake after breakfast, Jesus takes Peter aside and offers him three opportunities, one for each denial, for Peter to affirm his love of Jesus.  What's beautiful is that Peter doesn't quite realize what Jesus is doing, for Peter seems to become a little offended, but Jesus is peeling back the sin and shame and offering Peter a way forward, from denial into affirmation, from darkness into light, from death into life, from despair into hope.  Jesus is making a way forward.
  I can clearly say that I often do not understand what God is doing in my life.  At times, it seems rather ominous -- often because I forget that death is no longer an obstacle, rather a defeated enemy to step over on my way from life to eternal life.  Sometimes, God is at work redeeming previous sins on my part and I don't see it for that -- rather, I get caught up in the moment, forgetting the big picture.
  God has redeemed you, and has plans to use you as part of the plan to build the Kingdom of God.  Though there may be things in your life going on that you don't understand, don't for a minute doubt that God is at work in your life, calling you forward, and that your scope is now eternal -- even when everything doesn't get resolved in this life, there is still another life to come, one with no end that dwells forever in the Kingdom of light.

The County Fair

  Not too long ago, my daughter wanted to celebrate her birthday at the amusement park.  So away we went, and I was drafted to ride the rides with her and her friends, as I had the stronger stomach of the two of us (that's not saying much, though).
  I rode the log flume 4 straight times, and then on to the roller coaster and some other stomach churning adventures, before finally we made it to some contraption designed to make you sick to your stomach, where the ride rockets up and then drops, only to repeat the process until your stomach is uncertain as to whether it's up or down. 
  Well, my daughter stood on her toes, but she was just a hair too short to ride, so she had to stand by the side while I reluctantly joined the other girls for the ride.  As I was going up, I noticed her dejected face, as she just missed out on something she really wanted.
 
  What's great about God's love is that it's not a measuring stick.  It's not as if we are completely rejected and left behind if we miss out by an inch.  We aren't trying to qualify, stretching to earn God's love and hoping that we're tall enough.  No, we are enveloped by the love and grace of God, wrapped in unconditional love, and accepted in spite of our failures.  Our qualifications depend on Christ, not on us, so we'll never be labeled as not tall or good enough.  We are enough because we are Christ's.

John 21:4-14

John 21:4-14 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  A few things stand out here to me.  First of all, the disciples only recognize Jesus after they obey him.  They have an immense amount of trust, taking orders from someone they consider a stranger, and when there is a miraculous catch, they recognize him as their King. 
  Sometimes, you may not 'feel' the spiritual high of faith.  You might feel lost, waiting on God to show up and reveal something to you.  Maybe you feel like you're just going through the motions -- everyone has seasons of faith like this.  The lesson here is to keep obeying, for sometimes  through the act of obedience, we can discover God's will for our next step.
  Peter's enthusiasm is wonderful.  He's busy fishing, and when he realizes it's the Lord, he jumps into the water and swims the 100 yards to shore.  As soon as he gets there, Peter goes back out to the boats and helps bring the fish in. 
  And then Jesus feeds them.  He has fish of his own, and he uses some of theirs, blending the gifts from God with the work the humans have done, a wonderful combination of how God is at work in the world, using us and empowering us with the work of the Holy Spirit.

John 21:1-3

John 21:1-3
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Let's just say you've been handed the world's greatest truth, the one thing that will ultimately change history, alter the way we look and death and assure us that we have an eternal hope that is gifted to us by the Creator who handcrafted us.  What would you do?
  Oh, I'd probably get my friends and go fishing.  What else to do?
  Here's evidence that the disciples didn't immediately figure everything out.  Even when the resurrected Savior shows up and illustrates his mastery over death, they're still clearly uncertain as to what to do with this knowledge.  They go back to fishing, back to what they know.  It's probably some mixture of uncertainty and fear, but they revert back to what they did before they knew Jesus, clearly unready to go tell the world about this incredible new revelation.
  So don't give yourself such a hard time when you're uncertain of exactly what God is calling you to do with your life.  The disciples saw the literal resurrected Jesus and then went fishing all night.  It's ok for you and I to spend some time in discernment and confusion as well.  Jesus is still at work -- and everything depends on him!

John 20:30-31

John 20:30-31
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Purpose.  It's what we're all looking for.  Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Life was the second most popular book ever after the Bible -- it clearly indicated that humans were looking for purpose. 
  The purpose of the Gospel of John is that you may believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 
  What's your purpose?  It may be simple and straightforward, or perhaps it's more complex and nuanced and specific.  You might say "My purpose is to love and serve everyone I meet."  Maybe you're at a place where you say your purpose is to keep asking big questions in the hopes of finding some answers.  Maybe your purpose is specific -- maybe it's to engage your co-worker David in conversation to build a relationship that might lead to deeper conversations about spiritual things in the years to come.  Perhaps your purpose is to equip and love your children.
  We all have a purpose.  Parts of it change over the years.  Parts remain the same.  We are all called and equipped by God, and at times that is very clear, while other times, it's a bit fuzzier.  Spend some time today thinking about your purpose -- if someone was writing the book on your life, what would be the purpose of this chapter?  How is God using you right now?

John 20:24-29

John 20:24-29 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I've said this time and time again, but Thomas doesn't get enough credit.  First of all, earlier in the Gospels, it's Thomas who convinces the disciples to follow Jesus back to Judea, where the Jews were ready to stone Jesus.  And here, it's Thomas who continues to show up and be present with the disciples even when he isn't certain as to the truth of their accounts.  He doesn't give up, doesn't turn away -- he keeps meeting with them, and as a result of his faithfulness, he understands the truth of the resurrection and worships Jesus Christ in the flesh.
  So there's something to be said for showing up, even when you don't feel like it.  There's something to be said for continuing to persist with people you may disagree with, because Jesus may still show up, even if everyone isn't certain as to their role in the community.  There's something to be said for consistent faithfulness, and I think it's a trait sorely lacking in the world today.  In the 'cancel culture', where people are too quickly cast out and discarded, let's be patient and persevere with the community, trusting in the Savior who brings us together to show up and bind us more tightly to one another as we join in the Kingdom of God.

John 20:19-23

John 20:19-23 English Standard Version (ESV)

  What comes to mind when you think about peace?  Rachel and I recently got away for a few days without the kids, and sleeping in until 8 in the morning and not hearing the kids 'whispering' down the hall was pretty peaceful.  Similarly, going for a walk in the woods where all you hear is the birds and the wind in the trees is peaceful.
  But the peace that Jesus brings is more than that.  It's the kind of peace that nestles into the depths of your soul and whispers that your deepest fears have no power over you.  It's the kind of peace that comforts you in the dark of night when death lurks nearby.  It's the kind of peace that grants assurances when doubt is crowding you -- Jesus' peace reminds you that you are enough because you belong to Christ.
  Jesus brings a peace that overwhelms death and anxiety, a peace that transcends time and space, a peace that is meant for the universe and for the individual.  Jesus brings peace, and in doing so he sends the disciples (and us!) out into the world to announce the reign of the risen King!

X-Rays

  The other day I was having an X-ray on my arm.  The technician positioned my arm on the plate, and then quickly scurried away to the other side of a wall before activating the machine*.  Watching her walk away, I couldn't help but think that if what was about to happen was bad, I think I wanted to run away as well!
  It also makes me grateful for the love of God.  When things go sideways, when tragedy strikes, when the storms of life beat at the door, God doesn't rush off and find someplace secure.  No, God walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death.  God abides with us, even in the depths of the storms, so that we might have confidence that we are never alone and that nothing can separate us from the love of God!  When trouble comes, God stays beside us!

  *I realize that the x-ray technicians are at greater risk due to repeated exposure all day, every day.  Just made me think as I watched her find shelter and safety.

John 20:11-18

John 20:11-18 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  What is it that allows Mary to recognize Jesus for who he truly is?  When he speaks her name. 
  Jesus tells us that he is the good shepherd, and that the sheep know his voice.  Jesus is the one who creates us, who knits us together in our mother's wombs, who knows us intimately and personally, and so he is able to speak our name in a way where the creation recognizes its creator.  When Mary hears her name spoken by Jesus, she instantly recognizes him.
  In the same way, you and I are individually called by Jesus.  He speaks our name, calling us to himself, even when we are lost and confused and uncertain what the next step is.  Is it sometimes hard for us to hear, hard for us to listen, in this busy and chaotic life, but we can be assured that the shepherd will continue to call us.

John 20:1-10

John 20:1-10 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I love that we know, two thousand years after the fact, that John was faster than Peter.  The little things, sprinkled throughout Scripture, bring the text to life.  We know that the face cloth was folded up, further evidence that Jesus walked out of the tomb on his own, because grave robbers wouldn't bother to stop and fold the face cloth.
  But it's so hard to wrap my mind around -- Jesus had been in the dark tomb, where death's domain was unshakable, and at one point, he sat up, folded the cloth, calmly waited for an angel to roll the stone away, and walked out, life and light firmly ruling the moment and announcing that things would never be the same again.
  Mary, whose devotion to Jesus never wavered, even upon his death, saw the pieces but couldn't grasp the entire story.  John and Peter saw, and John believed, but still didn't completely understand.  You and I, thousands of years later, are able to see many more of the facts, grasp how God was working towards this for centuries, and the truth of it now sits before us, within us, leading us onward and pointing us towards a future with hope.
  The question is, what sort of future do you want to have?  Will you let this truth define how you interact with your time and your gifts and your money?  Will the hope of resurrection crowd out the false hopes we often cling to?  Will the Truth of Jesus Christ expose the lies that consume much of our time and energy?  Will we love and serve selflessly because we trust in the fullness of God's power?

John 19:38-42

John 19:38-42 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Joseph is complicated.  He's a disciple, but he's afraid of the leadership, so he's a secret disciple.  Now, it'd be easy for me to criticize him for not being willing to risk everything, but I'm not in a position to criticize -- because there are plenty of things that you could criticize me for.  Joseph does see his opportunity, though, and is willing to ask Pilate for the body of Jesus, which considering how controversial Jesus has been, seems like a very risky thing.  Joseph, however, happens to have a new tomb, and sees a Savior in need of a resting place, so he risks it -- and I doubt that he could have snuck off with the body.  Surely the leadership were watching to see what would happen, given how much work they put into having him killed.
  Now, remember that Joseph didn't necessarily know that Jesus would rise from the dead.  He's surely heard the promises, and he may have had hope, but he also saw a dead body.  Who knows what was going through his mind, and if he was bold enough to hope, but he does what he believes is right in the moment.
  What we have in front of us, each day, is the next moment.  We don't know what will happen with our choices, and we can become paralyzed by all the possibilities.  But in this very moment, God is calling you to act faithfully, regardless of whatever is in your past and however strong the opposition seems.  Follow in this moment, choose how the Holy Spirit is calling, even if the hope of resurrection seems dim.  Discipleship is one faithful choice after another, moment by moment, building a life following Christ.

John 19:31-37

John 19:31-37 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  This passage has always upset me.  If the Jews are so uncomfortable with bodies on a cross, maybe don't ask the Romans to crucify people on them, particularly someone who has been performing miracles for the past three years!
  But they ask Pilate for the bodies to be removed in the hopes that they don't have to look upon the horror.  They like the dirty side of things hidden from view so they can pretend all is fine on the Sabbath.  They brush it into the closet and hope God doesn't notice -- this is exactly what Jesus was talking about when he accused the Pharisees of being clean on the outside but filthy on the inside.
  Regarding the blood and water coming out, many will say that is a reference to communion (blood) and baptism (water).  It is evidence that Jesus is truly dead, pierced and killed for our sins, but from his death, the path to life springs forth.  Even in the darkness of death, there is hope in Christ!

John 19:28-30

John 19:28-30 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  John can be very specific here -- why does he mention a hyssop branch?  I'm glad you asked.  You'll never guess what kind of branch was used to sprinkle the blood of the passover lamb on the door in Exodus 12... 
  Jesus is the new and perfect sacrificial lamb.  In Exodus, the blood of the lamb spares the households from the death of the first born.  In the New Tesatment, the blood of Jesus spares all who are willing to submit to Christ's Lordship.  He willingly gives up his life (even weakened and beaten on the cross, death cannot claim the life of Jesus -- it has to be given, such is his strength) for you and I. 
  Note the words of Jesus.  It is finished.  What Jesus has set out to do, Jesus completes.  Jesus doesn't say, "It's almost done until Keith figures out how to finish it in a few thousand years."  He doesn't say, "I've very nearly got so-and-so saved, they'll just wrap it up once they solve the puzzle and straighten themselves out later."  Jesus finishes it.  Our salvation is achieved by him on the cross.  There is nothing more that needs to be done.  If there were, Jesus would have done it. 
  So marvel that we have a new and better lamb in Jesus Christ who willingly gives himself up so that we might be saved by his hand.  Marvel, worship, and give thanks, and know that our weary and worried souls can find peace in Christ.

My Hat!

  So there I was, sitting on a plane, waiting.  The plane should have pushed back from the gate, but still we waited, for no obvious reason.  I had a movie to watch and the time passed quickly, but 30 minutes into the delay, the pilot announces, "Sorry for the delay.  To make a long story short, a mechanic's hat was sucked into the air conditioner and they have to take the whole system apart."
  It was another 45 minutes before the repair was done and the paperwork completed.  The hat was saved, but it cost a plane of several hundred people over an hour, and then delayed the next flight as well.  All for a hat.

  God's love works like that.  There is no one too inconsequential that God would not pay the ultimate price to liberate them from sin and death.  We all feel small and wonder about our role in the cosmic drama, but God pours his love out on each of us.  As Augustine says, God loves each of us as if there was only one to love.  Though the price may seem huge, God will gladly pay it to redeem even one from the bondage of death.

  You are loved, and you are worth the price, even the sacrifice of God's own Son on a cross, to redeem you.

John 19:23-27

John 19:23-27 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Here is Jesus, hanging on the cross, and what is he doing?  Providing for his mother.  Still thinking of others.
  It's an impossible example.  Jesus is the most selfless person that has ever lived.  Even in his death, he is dying for others.  In his suffering final moments, he is providing for others.
  Jesus calls us to follow in his footsteps, but strides so far ahead that we struggle to keep up, leaping from one task to the next, often falling and finding ourselves overwhelmed with discouragement.  This is where grace comes in -- the grace that reaches down and out from the cross is the same grace that helps us to our feet and then reminds us that faith is a gift and perfection is not required.  So may we continue to leap, trusting that we will be caught when we fall.

John 19:17-22

John 19:17-22 
English Standard Version

  Jesus certainly didn't deserve to die like this, between two convicted thieves on a hill outside Jerusalem, but he spent his life among the people with the least hope in society, so in many ways, it was fitting.
  He went to the lepers, to the outcast, to the socially marginalized.  And who is more marginalized than convicted thieves on a cross, condemned under Roman justice to die a brutal and public death?
  The cross wasn't just a painful way to die -- it was public humiliation.  Jesus was elevated, in misery, and naked for all to see.  Messiahs aren't supposed to die like that.
  But Jesus endured it all out of love.  He endured the pain and the shame and the separation from God so that sin could be beaten.  He wasn't the Messiah many expected, but his mission was larger than they thought -- Jesus didn't come to conquer Rome.  Jesus came to fight something far bigger and more powerful than the Roman army.  Jesus did something that transcended the limitations of time and space, so that his death then has a direct impact on your life today and your eternal future.  The temporary pain has a lasting impact -- the salvation made available to all through Christ. 

John 19:12-16

John 19:12-16 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Don't give up.
  Jesus talks about the road to discipleship being narrow and challenging, and he often speaks in such a way that makes it sound almost impossible.  If we tackle it with human effort alone, it is impossible.  But remember that Jesus also speaks in such a way, and lives in such a way, that demonstrates the incredible grace and unlimited power that is poured into us through his Lordship.  When we bow the knee before Christ, we are submitting to a Savior who chooses to be for us, who chooses to love us and freely bestow unmerited favor upon us.  Our response, then, is to endeavor to walk the challenging road of discipleship and do everything in such a way that consistently honors Christ. 
  I fail at this constantly-- it's one of the things I consistently do.  We all do, in small and big ways, and there are pages and chapters in our lives that we'd love to have a second chance at.  What also happens is there is a little voice that constantly reminds us of those failures, and the opposition encourages us to give up, to throw in the towel, because we'll never be good enough, never quite measure up.
  Don't give up.
  Pilate, as we understand it here, wanted to release Jesus, but the opposition was too strong, and he did not release Jesus.  Pilate gave in, and verse 16 is a tragic end to Pilate's role in Jesus' life. 
  As Paul reminds us, let us fight the good fight.  Let us strive to serve more faithfully each day.
  But do remember, that even when you fail, God's mercies are new every morning, and the love of God is from everlasting to everlasting.

John 19:1-11

John 19:1-11
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Some people try and explain away the crucifixion by saying that Jesus was only kind of dead on the cross, and that he woke up later in the tomb, somehow pushed the rock away, and then wandered out.  This theory conveniently forgets the fact that he was flogged beforehand, a practice that sometimes killed the one being flogged.  If Jesus had managed to survive being flogged and then crucified, I doubt he would have cut a very inspiring figure that would have led his disciples to go to their deaths claiming he had been raised from the dead.  He probably would have looked like something the cat dragged in and spent weeks, if not months, recovering.  A nice walk to Emmaus probably would have been out of the picture.
  The events leading up to the crucifixion were filled with brutality.  Jesus was beaten and then rejected by those he came to save.  The physical and emotional pain would have been immense with every passing second, all the while knowing that the worst, separation from God, was still to come.
  And yet he endured it all for you, for me.  Jesus did it out of love, love that is hard to fathom, but it was done with you in mind.  May the reality of Jesus' dedication to your salvation amaze you today!

John 18:33-40

John 18:33-40 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Pilate asks the question that we all spend our lives answering -- What is truth?
  We have a plethora of options.  A popular one at the moment is to say that there is no truth, but that's just another truth, isn't it?  Someone who claims that all truths are valid is claiming a truth in the same way as anyone else, whether they would agree to that or not.
  Other options are to believe that power is truth, or perhaps influence, given how much sway social media has in the world today.  Money has always been a popular truth.
  What is the fundamental truth around which you will build your life?
  Jesus offers us truth, but it's not something to be possessed.  If it were, we could lose it.  Holding the truth in the palm of your hand only works as long as you have the strength to hold your fingers around it, and I wouldn't recommend building your life around something that fits in your hand anyway.
  The truth that Jesus offers us is a person, a relationship, a love that comes from outside ourselves and exists in eternity, but the love is so deep that the person enters into our world and offers us a pathway that leads outside of ourselves and into a deeper relationship, a deeper love, than we can ever imagine.  That relationship was severed for a time, but a selfless act of sacrifice allows the rift to be healed, and we have a pathway back to our Creator, one who knows us intimately and has created us for joy beyond what we can begin to imagine in this time and place.  Jesus does not claim that this relationship will always be easy in this life, and Jesus shows us the cost, but promises us that this truth, this eternal truth, goes beyond the grave.  It speaks the language of the depths of our hearts, of redemption and forgiveness and grace.
  I am the way, the truth and the life.

John 18:28-32

John 18:28-32
English Standard Version (ESV)

  If you're a religious leader whose laws don't allow you to put someone to death and so you've gone outside of the system and are busy convincing the civil leaders to put him to death, only you can't meet with them because you're worried about being defiled before one of the holiest days of the year, you're doing something wrong.
  Now, the Jewish leaders often don't get a fair shake.  It's a tough spot they're in, trying to determine if Jesus really is the Messiah or not.  I don't envy them.  But they clearly compromise their integrity little by little.  I'm sure they barely notice at first, but it's a slippery slope -- before long, they're asking Pilate to meet with them outside the headquarters so they can use the Roman killing machine to have Jesus put to death.  At some point, surely they looked around and realized how far they were from where they wanted to be.  At some point, surely there was a voice inside telling them that this isn't what they thought it would be.
  It's easy for you and I to compromise as well.  Little by little, we can make small choices that don't seem momentus at the time, but compounded over years or decades, and soon we're a long way from where we imagined we would be. 
  So please, surround yourself with companions along the way, brothers and sisters in Christ whom have permission to speak truth into your life, be it encouragement in difficult times or to confront you when you've begun to lose your way.  It's never easy to hear these words, but it is vital.  Small words of correction now can save us from much larger problems later.

John 18:25-27

John 18:25-27 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Ahead of time, Peter said he would go and die with Jesus, but in the heat of the moment, he failed.  The great thing?  Jesus still loves him, Jesus still redeems him, Jesus still uses him to build the church..
  Ahead of time, you and I say the right things.  At church on Sunday, I promise God that I'm going to do better this week, that I'll spend more time in prayer and study, that I'll choose the challenging path of faithfulness.  In the heat of the moment?  I hit the snooze and stay in bed.  I zone out and read something easier.  I spend my free time prowling the kitchen rather than diving into Scripture. 
  The great thing?  Jesus still loves you.  Jesus still redeems us.  Jesus still uses us to build the church.

  So let not your head be bowed beneath the weight of unfulfilled expectations and disappointment.  You are precious and treasured, and the hope of the future is always bright, even (and especially) in the darkest of nights.

  Today is All Saints' Day, celebrated since the 4th century.  Originally focused on martyrs, it was expanded to include all who have passed through the veil of death and reign in the fullness of the Kingdom of God.  Today, may we give thanks for those who have gone before us, and may we give thanks for the God who makes death a defeated shadow and promises life beyond the grave.

John 18:19-24

John 18:19-24 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  It's somewhat amusing to think that the officer is upset that Jesus isn't treating the priest with enough respect.  Jesus, the one who should be respected above all else, is arrested and on trial, because he doesn't have an official title, while the high priest, who has a title but lacks the character that should accompany it, is in power and yet is the one truly under judgment.
  Character matters.  Given the option, it seems as though many people in the world opt for power, fame, money, or influence, and they opt not to choose the more challenging path to building character.  Many expect respect because of their title or influence, but they don't lead a life that proves them worthy of respect.
  Many others choose the humble path  Jesus demonstrated this to the disciples -- despite the claims he could make to power, he laid that aside as the suffering servant, washing the feet of his friends and dying for his enemies.  In doing so, he showed us how to live with eternity in mind.
  Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, Jesus tells us, and we'll receive more than we can ask or imagine.

John 18:12-18

John 18:12-18 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Peter is a study in contrasts.  In one moment, he's Peter, striding powerfully on the waves.  In another, he is rebuked by Jesus.  One moment, he's here, denying even knowing Jesus when accused by a servant girl, while in another, he's the rock upon whom Jesus will build his church.  Peter swings from one emotional moment to the next, always close to Jesus, but sometimes drawing nearer while at others falling farther. 
  We are all Peter in some ways.  There are times when we're quieting the competing voices of the heart, listening to the voice of the Spirit guiding us closer to God, and in other times, we are so busy or chaotic or conflicted that we may as well be running from God.  Life is challenging.  Discipleship is challenging -- it's often like a pendulum, swinging back and forth, every now and again perfectly balanced before careening off to one side or the other.
  The important thing is to remember that we are always anchored to God.  While life can swing from one emotional state to the other, God is always near, and we are always beloved, treasured, redeemed and saved.  Our failures, our sins, our weaknesses and betrayals and denials do not invalidate us for service or distance us from God.  They make us feel separated from God, but we are not distant from our Savior.  God is the one who enters into our brokenness and brings light to the darkness.  While we may feel as though we are standing alone, we are never abandoned, and Christ is always pulling us closer.

John 18:1-11

John 18:1-11 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  You can tell the first century Jews didn't know what to make of Jesus -- they with swords to arrest a man who could raise the dead.  They were clearly nervous, uncertain what Jesus might do, but they brought their torches and weapons and arrested the man who commands armies of angels.  What's more amazing is that it worked, but not because of their power.  It was because of his willingness to accept the role of the sacrificial lamb.  The Jewish leaders were looking at him as a threat, not as the Messiah, and they got it terribly wrong.  Somehow, through it all,  Jesus loved them.
  Jesus offers us everything.  In Him, there is eternal hope and joy and peace.  We have life, a complete life that finally basks in the light of the eternal King.  It's all a free gift -- we don't have to earn it.
  But we don't know what to make of this offer, and so we settle for so much less.  We settle for giving Jesus an hour on Sundays and little pockets of time elsewhere.  We settle for letting Jesus be Lord of part of our lives, but we hold on to the rest, afraid of what might happen if Jesus was Lord of all.  We don't know what to make of Jesus, and so while we don't arrest him, we don't fall completely at his feet, either.  We hold back.
  Jesus is willing to give everything for us.  What shall we give back?

John 17:20-26

John 17:20-26
English Standard Version (ESV)

  It's easy to get overwhelmed.  'Busy' is the modern state of being -- there are so many demands on our time and our attention.  Even when I get some free time, it's so easy to while it away and not think proactively about what really needs to be done -- to take a mental break from the world. 
  Jesus is consistently reminding us to think about God's mission -- which is to the entire world.  Scripture sings of God's outreach, of the desire to reconcile all of creation back to God.  What sin has divided, God is working to unite.
  You and I are called to be a part of that mission, to join with God in making disciples.  When we pray, are we praying for the work of the Holy Spirit to awaken others to the work of God in their midst?  Do we pray with the heart of an evangelist?  This passage is a great reminder to pray for those who have not yet heard the Good News, and to listen for the Word of God calling us out into the world to share the glorious news of a Savior, risen from the dead!

John 17:6-19

John 17:6-19 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Jesus is talking about the disciples in a way that brings stewardship to mind.  This being fall, many churches are in stewardship drives, which people often hear as a plea for money.  And while churches need money to operate, God doesn't need your money -- Let's not pretend that God has been running a fundraising campaign to build the Kingdom of God and is waiting for the funding to hit the goal before returning to earth in all God's glory, although the idea of God having one of those heavenly thermometers to measure funds received is pretty amusing to me.  We have stewardship campaigns because the Gospels remind us that what we have is not truly ours, and faithful discipleship requires us to give back out of which we have been given.  Scripture calls us to give the firstfruits to God, which requires going out on a limb, because giving out of the first fruits means you don't necessarily know how much will come in afterwards.
  Jesus cared for the disciples because they belonged to God.  We care for our lives and our money and our gifts because they belong to God.  We use them well, because we know that we will be coming to God one day -- and what sort of legacy will we leave behind?  Will it be one of generosity, of gifts held loosely and freely shared, or will it be one of hands afraid to let go of what we have out of fear that we might not have enough?
  It's hard for me to give -- I'm consistently hearing the whispering doubts that I'll have enough, and so I hold on to what I have because I think I can build security for myself, that I can build my own kingdom to protect me from what lurks in the dark.
  In reality, as Jesus says, I am not of the world.  You are not of the world.  Your final home is not here, so do not attempt to build your own kingdom here.  Invest in God's Kingdom, one that relies on generosity and trusts the King, and in doing so, we will discover that we are investing in an eternal home. 

John 17:1-5

John 17:1-5 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  This is the longest recorded prayer we have by Jesus -- the priestly prayer.  He moves from praying for himself, to praying for the disciples, to praying for everyone. 
  As always, Jesus is teaching us.  He's both teaching us about God and about ourselves -- in looking at Jesus we begin to understand our own failings, and yet in teaching us about God, we learn that those failings are not fatal, and the grace of God calls us forward into a new understanding of ourselves, rather than threatens us and motivates out of fear.
  Why does Jesus ask to be glorified?  So that Jesus can glorify the Father.  He has authority, but it's to give life to others.  Jesus isn't an end, but rather a path, a gate, so that others may have eternal life, so that God may be glorified.  When we pray, and when we ask for things, do we ask just so we can have for ourselves, or are we looking beyond ourselves to think about how that prayer might ultimately serve others or bring glory to God?  It's not about us.  It's about God, and in learning how to focus on God, we receive more than we could have ever asked or imagined.  As Tim Keller puts it, when we learn to glorify God and praise God for being all we could ever want, we suddenly realize that we want other things less. 

John 16:29-33

John 16:29-33 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Tracking Jesus' followers is a fascinating exercise.  We see crowds follow him due to his teachings and his miracles.  Then we see them abandon him due to his challenging teachings.  We see crowds continue to come due to his authority, and yet they abandon him when the leaders of the church stir up the crowds.  They gather on Palm Sunday when he enters Jerusalem, and they scatter out of fear when Jesus falls from favor.  One moment they're pledging their lives, the next they are scrambling to save themselves.
  We do the same, right?  We have heartfelt religious experiences one day, and then chase idols the next.  We pledge our hearts to Jesus, and then freely hand them over to other temptations..
  Just as Jesus loved the crowds, he loves us through our weakness.  Just as Jesus chose the disciples, Jesus chooses us.  God's love does not depend on our fidelity -- the covenantal love of God transcends our falling short, and God is faithful despite our faithlessness. 

John 16:25-28

John 16:25-28 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Our kids sometimes ask tough questions.  They ask about death and they ask about heaven and sickness.  We try to be honest with them, but there are certain concepts they cannot quite wrap their minds around.  They're not yet 10, so we introduce them to things slowly, as their minds are ready, and then continue asking questions to see how they are slowly coming to grasp more challenging concepts as they age.
  God does similar things to us.  While we're in these mortal bodies, we can only understand so much about God this side of heaven.  Jesus describes the Kingdom of God to us, but our minds and hearts cannot see the fullness of them, for God's unapproachable light is too great for us.  This is why God hid Moses in the cleft of a rock when God revealed himself to Moses -- we simply cannot see the full glory of God while we are on this side of our resurrections. 
  Rather than wait for us to figure it out, however, God comes to us in Jesus Christ and reveals the glory of God, to the extent we can handle it.  God sends the Holy Spirit to dwell among us, to animate and awaken our hearts and minds, so that we might understand as much as we are able, so that relationship might be as deep as possible this side of heaven.  It is up to us to open our hearts and receive what God is pouring out, to grasp the revelation of God in the world, so that we might know what there is for us to know about God before we see God in the fullness of heaven.

John 16:16-24

John 16:16-24 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  One of the best books I've ever read is by Peter Kreeft, called Love is Stronger than Death.  Yes, I once spent an entire Saturday reading a book about death, and yes, I understand that I'm a little strange at times.  Kreeft moves through different understandings of death, and one of his points is that death is similar to childbirth.  When a fetus is inside the womb, the womb is all it knows -- it's familiar.  The sounds, the feel -- it is home.  Birth is a transition into a completely alien world where existence is entirely different.  If you gave a fetus a choice, it might prefer to stick with what is known rather than move into the unknown (especially once it hears about telemarketing).  But we'd all agree that life in this world is better and richer than life in the womb. 
  So it is with death.  We know life in this world, and for all of its flaws, it's hard to imagine something else.  It's a transition into something unknown, and it's understandable to be fearful.  Jesus, however, is assuring us that all will be well.  We can rest confidently in the assurance of the fact that our joy will be full and no one will take that from us.  While it's uncertain what that resurrection life will be like (and we can pick up on the struggles to communicate the uncertain in the first parts of this passage), we can be confidant that Christ has secured the way forward and promises the fullness of the Kingdom to each.

John 16:12-15

John 16:12-15 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I love going to the beach & walking along the surf.  There's something about the feel of the sand on my feet and the sound of the waves that relaxes me.  Swimming in the ocean, however, is not one of my favorite things to do.  Between the constant turbulence from the waves and the uncertain about what's lurking in the water, it gives me too much anxiety.  As someone once said, humans drop pretty far in the food chain once we get past six feet of depth in the ocean. 
  Faith is often compared to the ocean -- as we grow in our maturity, our faith deepens and takes on more diversity.  We gain a richer understanding of the work and love of Jesus Christ and see how complex the demands of the Holy Spirit can be -- we understand giving as more than just financial gifts, but also the proper use of our time and our talents.  We experience God in joyous celebrations and heartbreaking tragedies, and throughout all of it, we realize that God is good and that love ultimately will triumph over evil, despite the fact that evil still influences our lives today.
  Jesus is reminding us that there is much more to learn, including things we cannot live in this life.  Once we pass through the veil of death and enter fully into God's Kingdom, we will learn more about the incredible glory of God.  Our hearts and ears could not bear to fully know these things now, but when we stand in the presence of God, we will fully know and grasp wonders that are hidden from us now.
  So let us press on in faithfulness now, allowing the hope and expectation of the Kingdom lift our hearts with joy in the knowledge that what lies before is far more beautiful than we can imagine in the depths of our hearts.

John 16:5-11

John 16:5-11
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Two things here stand out to me.  The first is the necessity of Christ's death.  Anyone who says that Christ was just a good teacher isn't reading the entirety of the Gospels.  He was clear about his impending death and resurrection, and also about his identity as the Messiah -- the 'I Am' statements in John clearly identify him as someone more than just a teacher.  He's vitally important to humanity as our Savior, but he must die to save.  There must be a sacrifice, one final sacrifice that is effective for all of us, that has the power to atone for sin, both now and forevermore.  Only Jesus, who lived the perfect life, can be that sacrifice.
  Second, Jesus talks about judgment here.  If you're like me, you have a pretty healthy fear of judgment, so what's vital for us to remember is that the one who comes as judge is the same one who comes as Savior.  Jesus wants to save us, and he dies to save us.  Jesus isn't waiting to see how we mess up -- he's watching to see us be transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit within us.  Jesus loves us and wants us to thrive in the eternal kingdom, where the grace and mercy that are available now abound forever.

John 16:1-4

John 16:1-4 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  In the hardest times, who does your ultimate loyalty lay with?  When the going gets really tough, are you ready to bail, or are you committed?  When push comes to shove, do you put God first, or do you prefer to save your own skin?
  The first century disciples were facing the lose of their own lives.  We face loss in different ways, but yet, we still risk everything.  Are you committed?  Do you seek the life that is beyond the grave? or do you fear what might be in front of you?

John 15:18-27

John 15:18-27 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Many mornings, I get up and work out.  Most of those days, I really don't feel like it, and five minutes into the workout... I still don't feel like it.  I try and take the long view, trusting that it'll help me reach my goals.  But I've got to be willing to endure some short-term discomfort to reach the long-term goal.
  Jesus is reminding the disciples here that they have a long-term goal, and it's not involved with this world.  As outsiders, there will always be conflict with the world, because their citizenship rests in heaven.  They are aliens in this society, with different goals and different values and different methods of treating people, and because of that, they'll likely be rejected and abused and even killed.  Jesus went ahead of them, and he was killed for it, but there is no reason to fear, because death isn't an obstacle, only a veil through which we pass as we enter eternal life. 
  There is something that will always be different about the Christian, and that will cause friction in various points throughout our lives, but as long as keep our eyes and hearts focused on Christ and trust his guidance to selflessly serve, no matter what, the Kingdom of God will be such a treasure before us that we'll endure whatever momentary struggles to obtain what Christ has obtained for us.  We're like children running through a field, eyes fixed on a treehouse with fresh cookies that beckons us forward, only slightly aware of the briers that pull at our legs as we press on towards the goal.

John 15:12-17

John 15:12-17 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  If you work for a large company, you may know the leadership, and may feel some loyalty towards them, but most employees aren't friends with executives -- there are too many employees and not enough executives.  The executives are often focused on strategies and making big decisions, and they carefully consider how to roll these out to the employees, who are not privy to the decision making process.
  Jesus operates with a different process.  He personally invests in each individual.  As Augustine said, God loves each of you as if there was only one to love.  Had you been the only one, Jesus still would have ascended the cross and died to save, and the Holy Spirit is investing in you, personally.  Also, the secrets of the Kingdom are not held closely by God, carefully revealed in a communications strategy.  Jesus tells us openly and plainly what God is doing, how we will be saved and about the eventual defeat of the enemy.  Jesus shares this with us because we are friends, and as a response, we are called to emulate Jesus, to love selflessly as we have been loved, to give freely as has been given to us, to share and to serve.

John 15:1-11

John 15:1-11 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Raise your hand if you like the thought of being pruned.  Anyone?  No one?  Me either.  I like the thought of being pruned almost as much as my kids like the thought of being disciplined.  Hard to imagine a rose bush is excited about being pruned, and it's highly unlikely that it realizes, at the time, that the pruning is meant to spur it on to future growth.  It is probably only thinking about how much it hurts, in the same way we focus on the thought of being pruned more than we focus on the idea of the future spiritual growth that it might spur.  Here's something to think about -- if God were to do some 'pruning' in your life, what might that look like?  Is there resistance in an area of your life right now?  Are you facing challenges that force you to change or think about things in a different light? 
 Jesus does talk about bearing fruit.  Now, I don't know much about trees.  They're made of wood, but I can't tell the difference between different types of trees.  However, if a tree is covered in apples, I usually am pretty good at guessing what type of tree that is.  Oranges, too -- I almost always get that one right.  I recognize a tree by the type of fruit it produces.  Now, once that fruit is picked, I don't know who eats it or where it goes.  In the same way, I recognize a person by what kind of behavior they have, how they treat one another.  But I don't know necessarily how that behavior might affect someone else.  It may take years before the selfless love of a person truly begins to transform another person.  We don't know.  All we can do is love selflessly and trust in the Holy Spirit.

  If you're interested in an article about abiding in God's love, click here.

John 14:22-31

John 14:22-31 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Jesus gives peace differently than the world gives -- that's important.  If you've been following the on-again/off-again trade negotiations with China, there is a good deal of political posturing in order to secure a good deal for each side.  Everyone wants something, and in order to give up anything, they're going to be sure they get a piece of what they want.
  Jesus comes and offers us peace, but rather than demand that we pay a price, Jesus goes ahead and pays the price for us!!  He climbs up on the cross and pays what we cannot pay so that we can have what we cannot obtain for ourselves.  He does not give as the world gives, but gives freely and generously. 
  So let us not grow troubled, especially when things may not be going our way.  In the big, big picture, we have been given peace that the world cannot take away from us.  May that peace reign in your heart today, and take a moment in the middle of the day to take three deep breaths and allow the peace of God to flow through everything you are and do.

John 14:15-21

John 14:15-21 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  We've all got a lot of questions about the universe and the world and good and evil and life and death and pain and suffering.  I've been reading The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs, and what's fascinating to me is how immense the time frames are.  The author talks in terms of millions of years.  At the end of the Permian era, roughly 250 million years ago, volcanoes erupted for a few million years.  I can't even wrap my head around that.  When I think about things that take a long time, I think in terms of weeks or years.  Geologic history is just so much longer, and human life is but a blink of an eye, and I have so many questions about God's plan and God's Kingdom and redemption and life after death and heaven and hell.
  Here, Jesus is focusing us on one simple truth:  Because he lives, we will live.  Because Jesus rose from the dead, we, too, will rise from the dead.  Because he has been resurrected, we, too, will be resurrected, and will live with him forever.  It's as simple as that -- it's what we celebrate in baptism.  When Jesus Christ burst forth from the suddenly empty tomb on the first Easter morning and demonstrated his power over death, he was showing us that there was a way forward. 
  We don't have to have all the answers.  But we can trust that Jesus' life is a signal to us that we, too, will have life beyond what we can ask or imagine.

John 14:8-14

John 14:8-14 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  If you're like me, at some point you've panicked and gone on a frantic search for your keys, digging in every pocket and bag and possible location, only to realize they're sitting on the counter in front of you (or occasionally still hanging in the ignition...).  If you're like me, you've sifted through every single thing in the fridge in search of one thing, only to see it finally, sitting in the front, in the middle.
  If you're like me, you've been searching for what Jesus is up to at some point in your life, only to realize later on that Jesus was at work right in the heart of your life, in the midst of your relationships and strife and joys.  The presence of God surrounded you, and you never realized it until much later.
  God is at work around us, even if we don't always realize it.  Jesus is here, and sometimes the most challenging thing we can do is open our hearts and lives to see how God is working. 
  A note on the conclusion of this -- Jesus notes that whoever believes will also do the works of Christ.  Note the order here -- belief comes before the works.  Jesus extends his love to us first.  The Holy Spirit dwells in us first.  God reaches out first.  This is so important, because when we remember that our actions follow the work of God, then we realize that salvation depends on Christ's work, not our own.  Then we can let go of perfection and fall into grace.  Then we can receive without anxiety and give without restraint.  Then we sink into the full blessing of God.