Month: March 2021

But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge–to the great amazement of the governor. Matthew 27:14

There are few images that are more moving than the movies and pictures which depict Jesus as He stood in front of those who would falsely accuse Him. He could have called ten thousand angels or called upon the wrath of God as seen in plagues or the parting of the Red Sea, yet he remained still and said not a word.

I began to think of how often we get impatient and fail to remain silent and let God take up our cause or petition. Instead of letting God provide the answers or solutions through His unfailing and faithful love, we try to strike a blow in our own defense. If we would just remain silent and say not a word, God would grant us this silent power and submissive spirit we all need.

There are many times when our words are intolerant of others, narrow minded, harshly vindictive and damage the testimony we could make for Him. Jesus allowed the critics to do their worst, yet He stood in the power of God as the silent Lamb.

Once our earthly battles and strifes are over, our prayer should be that others remember us as Jesus would want us to be, looking upon the face of others and seeing Christ in them.

The day when Jesus stood alone, And felt the hearts of men like stone, And knew He came but to atone –That day, “He held His peace”.

They witnessed falsely to His word, They bound Him with a cruel cord, And mockingly proclaimed Him Lord, “But Jesus held His peace”.

They spat upon Him in the face, They dragged Him on from place to place, They heaped upon Him all disgrace, “But Jesus held His peace”.

My friend, gave you for far much less, With rage, which you called righteousness, Resented slights with great distress? Your Savior “held His peace”. copied

Years ago, Chuck and Robert presented the congregation with a beautiful rendition of “He Never Said a Mumbalin’ Word“. I will never forget the powerful message. Here is a reminder of the words of the spiritual.

O, they whipped him up the hill, up the hill, up the hill; O, they whipped him up the hill, And He never said a mumbalin’ word. O, they whipped him up the hill, And He never said a mumbalin’ word. He just hung His head and He cried.

“They nailed him to a tree.” And He never said a mumbalin’ word. “They pierced him in the side.” And He never said a mumbalin’ word. “His blood came trickling down.” And He never said a mumbalin’ word. “He hung His head and died.” And He never said a mumbalin’ word.

The spiritual seeks to allow one to see the suffering of Christ without His complaint. Although in the gospel of Mark it is recorded that Christ did speak, the words spoken are said to show his emotional, psychological and physical suffering. He did not seek wrath or revenge.

As we seek to honor Him this Holy Week, let’s seek to assume the qualities of our Savior. There is not a word we can say that is more powerful than His example.

The eyewitness to these things has presented an accurate report. He saw it himself and is telling the truth so that, you also, will believe. John 19:35

On one of the beautiful days last week, Randy, Rocco and I decided to take a ride over to the Avalon, walk around and have lunch outside. I went in the restaurant to order and left Randy and our dog, Rocco, sitting at a table outside. When I came back, I found Randy kneeling on the sidewalk by a little lady and another woman hovering over them. The little lady had tripped on the sidewalk and face planted on the concrete. Randy had run to get her up and see if she was hurt, and they were still making sure nothing was broken when I arrived.

In the ensuing moments staff arrived, the lady was helped inside, and the waitress called security. When they arrived, they needed someone to give an eyewitness account of the accident.

The security guards asked us, “Were you there? Did you see the whole thing?” We explained that I wasn’t there, but Randy was. He filled out a report and left his name and phone number in case he was needed. They remarked on how important it is for them to have an eyewitness account when accidents happen or situations arise.

In a court of law, there are things which are crucial testimony. One is a picture of the event, but the most powerful thing is one or two eyewitnesses who saw the same thing. Almost nothing can defeat the testimony of eyewitnesses.

I began to think of the people who witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus and what their eyewitness account would say? How can you even describe in words the agony of that day? The Gospel of John is the only one that describes the events of the day both great and small because he was the only disciple present. His was an eyewitness account. He alone tells of the attempt to change the title on the cross, the tender entrusting of the Virgin to his care, and the two phrases, “I Thirst” and “It Is Finished”. John gives details such as the position of Jesus between the two robbers, and the jar of vinegar standing by the crosses.

Early Christians all lived to give witness or eyewitness accounts of Jesus because their main focus was to build the kingdom. They were anxious to spread His gospel. What a difference in Christians of today! Paul Harvey said that we are no longer fishers of men, but rather keepers of an empty fish tank. He goes on to say that we want to take care of the fish already in the tank, but we don’t feel the need to go out and catch more!!

It seems to come down to one basic question, “Is Jesus dead or alive to us?” If he is alive to us, then we should be eager to give others an eyewitness account of what He is doing and has done! If He is alive, then we should act like it!

There is a huge difference in doing what we are called to do and doing what we choose to do. There is also a great chasm between what early Christians did and what we are not doing today. We are all called to be witnesses to what the Lord has done for us. Jesus gave that command when he said, “Therefore go and make disciples in all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. I will be with you always even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Today is a great day to be a an eye witness for Jesus.

Were you there when they crucified My Lord, Where you there when they crucified My Lord? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified My Lord? William Eleazar Barton

Conspiracy is defined as a secret plan by a group, or the action of plotting. We all conspire at different times in our lives, and most of the time it’s pretty harmless. Take for example, the conspiracy of our three older grandsons who conspired to help our youngest grandson, Reese, get taller!

Imagine, if you can, being the youngest of four grandsons. Everyone is older, so naturally everyone is taller, but you don’t like being the smallest of the lot and you lament about your situation. Enter Drew, Cooper and Mason who dreamed up a little conspiracy to help Reese and have a little fun themselves.

Randy has an inversion table in the basement which helps with back pain. Basically, you strap yourself into the device and hang upside down for a few minutes a day. The method separates your vertebrae and helps with pain.

The boys convinced Reese that if he hung there for most of the day, he would emerge three maybe even four inches taller. They enlisted the adults to help in the conspiracy. Everytime Reese came up and walked amongst us, we would remark on how much taller he seemed! He actually left that day confident that he had grown! It was a good conspiracy.

Some conspiracies are harmless, but others can be devastating. Jesus was certainly no stranger to conspiracies, and ultimately endured crucifixion because of them. Matthew says the Pharisees went out and held a council against him about how they might destroy him. It continues to say that later They assembled together the chief priests, the scribes and the elders of the people in the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas. When the morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. The aim of these people was to make Pilate believe that Jesus was the leader of a conspiracy against the emperor.

During this year of Covid pandemic, we have heard many “conspiracy theories” making the rounds in social media, the news, and word of mouth. Pursuing and sharing these conspiracy theories eventually results in a disconnect with the word and ministry of Jesus. He would want us to concentrate more on saving the hungry, saving the church, and saving the country rather than spreading fear, suspicion and doom.

Political intrigue and conspiracy theories absolutely existed in the time of Jesus. Jesus and His disciples were surrounded by secret plots within the government and society. Jesus certainly did not direct his followers to political passivism. On the contrary, both He and the New Testament scripture seek to motivate the disciples of Jesus to political action: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44

Jesus did want us to take action against the injustices happening in the world by corrupt government, officials, and other powers, but it wasn’t through the whisperings of conspiracy. His example and His instruction was one thing – pray.

Judas, his own disciple ended up being involved in the most memorable conspiracy theory, the one to betray Jesus. Some people think Judas did it for money. Some think it was because Jesus rebuked him in the House of Simon the Leper when Judas objected to the woman pouring ointment on Jesus’ feet. Whatever the reason, he conspired with the chief priests and others by kissing Jesus on the cheek signaling to them that He was the man that they wanted.

As much as we all like to think that we would never be part of a conspiracy against Jesus, we know the sad truth. In this world of today, any time we kiss Christ in outward devotion yet inwardly sell Him for the world’s silver, we are no better than Judas. We are part of the worst conspiracy. The good news is that we only have to cry out for His grace, and He will supply it.

But they were not able to recognize who He was. Luke 24:16

During my growing up years, we spent almost every weekend (weather permitting) on Lake Seminole. Our family, along with some cousins and friends, swam, skied and hung out there pretty regularly. We picnicked and even went so far as to camp out one weekend!

Our Daddy dealt with four ladies under his roof, and although we were pretty good at cooking and cleaning, we left it up to him to handle everything concerning our ski boat! There have been lots of times when the motor would give out in the middle of the lake and Daddy would paddle us all to shore. The rest of us were not quite as adept, and we usually ended up making the work harder for him rather than better!

Flash forward years later when Randy and I made a trip to Montana to visit friends, and one of the activities of the day was kayaking. Randy grew up paddling his small boat all over it the lake in front of his house as part of his boyhood, and he was good at it. When our friends brought out the kayak and handed us the paddles, Randy looked at me and said, “Can you paddle?” My answer was, “Of course”. The lake ended up being huge, and the current working against us in the middle of it was strong.

I was paddling along in what I thought was perfect tandem, when I noticed that we weren’t making much progress. It was about that moment when Randy turned to me and said, “Put the paddle down! You are paddling against me.” I put the paddle down, relaxed in the kayak, and enjoyed the scenery while he paddled. When we reached shore, he looked at me and said, “Just so you know, you can’t paddle! You are so lucky I was in there with you.”

Although I wanted to help paddle, my way wasn’t working. I needed someone with experience in the boat with me. This is so like the way we operate with God. We want to do it ourselves, and even though many times our way isn’t working, we don’t want to give up the paddle.

In order to navigate this life, we need to humble ourselves before God and put the paddle (control) down. We have to admit our way isn’t working. and let Him take the paddles. There are a few reasons that we don’t like to put the paddle down. I think our pride, our stubbornness, and our fear are three of the biggest obstacles to putting down the paddle.

Pride can keep us from putting the paddle down because we don’t want anybody to know that we can’t handle our situations by ourselves. It’s important that we seem self sufficient.

Stubbornness can be a part of our problem in putting the paddle down. We don’t want to change the way we do things. We are simply not willing to trust God with the paddles.

Sometimes we are afraid to give up the paddles. What if that doesn’t work? What if God doesn’t paddle where I want to go? Fear is our constant companion, and we are afraid to give God a chance to make it better.

It’s easy to lose perspective in the middle of life’s problems especially in a year like the past one. Two of Christ’s own disciples had that experience on the Emmaus Road. They were discouraged about Jesus’ death and going over all the things that had happened when Jesus came up and walked along with them. They were not able to recognize him because they couldn’t put the paddle down. They wanted to be in control. The very one whose death they were mourning was alive, but their focus was on the wrong thing. Everything changed when Jesus revealed himself to them, and within the hour, they were on their way back to Jerusalem to tell others how they had recognized Him, and that He was alive.

During the next few weeks of Lent, we could all benefit from inviting Christ to paddle our boat and just relax and enjoy the beauty and blessings all around us while we celebrate the fact that He is alive!

George Mueller says; “God has never failed me. Even in my greatest difficulties, heaviest trials, and deepest poverty and need. Because I was enabled by God’s grace to trust Him, He has always come to my aid. I delight in speaking well of His name.”

Live in me, make your home in me. John 15:4

Home is defined as the place where one lives permanently as in a member of a family or household. Home, for me, means the place where one finds joy, acceptance, encouragement, support, protection, purpose, identity, and rest. Everybody thinks about home when they need a little comfort.

The thing is, home doesn’t stay the same – it changes as our lives change. Randy and I both had growing up homes with different structures, memories, and identities. Each time we visit our hometowns, we never miss riding by our former homes because these were places, even though changed physically somewhat over the years, that still hold memories and love for us.

When I think of my growing up home, I think of days when I would ride with my Daddy down to the farm and stop at Johnson’s store. It’s hard to believe it, but Coke used to come only in returnable glass bottles, and the way to drink it was ice cold! If you wanted to make it even better, just get a package of salted peanuts, drink down a little of the coke, and pour some peanuts right into the bottle. Oh, the mixtures of salty and crunchy with that sweet coke was the best!! It’s nice every now and then to find yourself with a reminder of home. Even though my Daddy’s been gone sixteen years this month, the memories are still precious!

The homes we have known changed over the years. Randy and I spent his school years in an apartment, then moved to parsonages, and finally to our home of today. Each one became home to us. We were able to make our own traditions, create our own family memories, and feel God’s presence in each place. Even now, when we go back to these towns where we served, riding by our home is a a must. Memories just flood back in waves, and we still call it our old home.

I always loved the saying, “Come in, and make yourself at home.” My Mama used to say that people should feel welcome and accepted in her home. They always did. I think that’s what Jesus meant when he said, Make yourselves at home in my love.

We all need a place where we can lay down our worries, our weariness, and frustrations. Our souls need a place to call home, and Jesus wants us to be with Him. He doesn’t want us to enter as a guest, but rather as a family member that enjoys all the benefits that home affords.

Every time we travel away from home, the trip back home seems to be the longest leg of the journey. We wait impatiently in the airport, we wait for our plane, we wait to get our luggage, and we wait to get home. However, once we open that door and walk into our home, where the chairs are comfortable, the beds are softer, and the smells are familiar, we feel that peace of having arrived at home.

If heaven is anything like that, I can’t wait. Our home in heaven is a real place for real people. It does not consist of wood, glass, or mortar, but rather is resplendent with love, joy and glory.

All along our journey in this world, we get reminders of home. We read accounts of it in the Bible, we see the signs of it with God’s handiwork every day, and we experience it through loved ones and friends. The one constant in our lives is that the home that Jesus has prepared for us never changes.

Now, when I think of home, it is the place where we have spent the last thirty years, yet I know it won’t be the last home for us. It’s not the physical place but rather the loved ones who make the home.

Lord, You have been our dwelling place (home) in all generations. Psalm 90:1