Triumphant Entry - Day 35 - 40 Days of Lent

Yesterday, on Palm Sunday, we began Holy Week. On Palm Sunday we recall the triumphal entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. Truly, Jesus came to claim His throne, and to receive His crown. And as the Liturgy of the Palms reminds us that His throne would be a cross, and His crown would be one of thorns.

Jesus accepted this willingly, for us. He would enter Jerusalem knowing His pathway out would be one unique to Him, death and resurrection. C. S. Lewis would argue for the proof of God by the witness of a Nature Law at the most basic level in his book Mere Christianity. This “Law” encourages people to do such unconventional things as risking one’s life to protect another’s, even when the two do not even know each other.

Jesus would say (John 15:13, ESV) “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, except when loving one another is greater than self. We Christians are to imitate Christ Jesus, we are to grow more and more like Him as we walk day by day, and this is His example of what it truly means to love one another.

As we enter into Holy Week, observing the depth of the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, giving His life freely for those who are even in the moment turning away from Him and condemning Him, we should be moved deep within our souls.

His love changes our hearts, His love draws us to Himself, His love is everything. He didn’t suffer and die for no reason, He suffered and died for you.

Our verse for today is from Ephesians 2:8 (ESV):

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Almighty God, pierce our hearts anew today, pierce our hearts like the nails pierced our Lord Jesus Christ’s body, pierce our hearts as the spear pierced His side, that we may know the magnitude of your love made known to us as a gift given us through our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN.

Gifts - Day 33 - 40 Days of Lent

Do you remember those old word problems from school? You know, the ones like ‘Ted is leaving Montana driving 75 mph towards Memphis while Jim is leaving West Virginia driving 63 mph also heading towards Memphis. If they both left at 5:00pm, who will arrive first?’

This is when the head scratching started for me, and I would consider how far does each one have to go, how many times they have to stop for gas, if they stop at rest areas, and how often, and so on and so on. I can overthink most anything, and these word problems gave me ample opportunity to indulge into this favorite past time of mine. I mean, I’d even take time to consider if their tires were new or old, and how many miles were on their respective vehicles.

Then at some point I’d always come back to the ultimate question, which was (of course), ‘who cares?’ After all, I didn’t know Ted or Jim and what difference does it make to me who gets to Memphis first?

Sometimes I wonder if we don’t think of our Christian walk like these old types of word problems. We look at Ted, and think ‘he’s moving at a good clip, he’s got it together, he’s getting to heaven for sure!’ Then we look at Jim and think ‘man, he could do so much more, he’s moving but not like he should, he may or may not make it to the heavenly destination!’ We won’t even talk about Joe still back brushing his teeth down in Tallahassee. After all, he hasn’t even gotten moving yet.

Truth is every person can only move at the pace they are able to move, at a speed which they can manage, in the shape and form they are given to travel. Some may ride a bicycle while others a Harley, some might drive a new Ferrari while others an ole Yugo. Some move fast; some move slow. Some barely move while others fly into the depths of faith.

The important part is that their destination is the same, that they long to serve Christ Jesus, to walk in step with the Spirit, and to ultimately find their way home to the Father. The challenges of traveling the Christian path are simply more taxing on some than others.

I think of the 5 or 6 year old I saw riding a bike down the side of the road in Belize, with their younger sibling (I’m guessing) on the handlebars, going somewhere. It’s just the two of them traveling down this tiny road as cars fly by them. Their lot in life and mine are not the same. Yet my life is worth no more than theirs. Their place in life was no more chosen by them than mine chosen by me. I pray their destination is the same as mine, and that they join me there someday!

Our verse for today comes from 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) which reads-

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

Almighty Father, who hast given us many blessings, help us to remember to be good stewards of Thy gifts and use them for the good of one another, that we might please Thee by giving up what was not ours to begin with to the glory of Thy will; through Christ Jesus Thy Son our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Spirit are One God, world without end. AMEN.

Weakness - Day 32 - 40 Days of Lent

How are you doing on your Lenten devotions? Have you successfully removed something from your daily routine as a sacrifice of thanksgiving? Also, have you been faithful in some new and special almsgiving?

Of course, these Lenten devotions are not meant to gain salvation, that’s by grace alone. These devotions are meant to reset our minds and hearts. I am always blown away at how giving up something so basic proves to be more difficult than I expect. I find it fact that I take for granted so many gifts Almighty God has blessed me with. I find the weakness of my flesh all too real, and so the desire denied is filled with moments of prayer of humble thanksgiving and repentance.

To give additionally is also telling, and I do find it also challenging. This is true even when the almsgiving amounts are quite small. And so the mission of the Lenten devotions always brings about the desired outcome. I once again recognize how weak I am, and how significant I fail in my attempts and desires to walk in faithfulness to God’s desire for my life.

Am I alone? Have you experienced this truth for yourself as well? These devotions really serve their purpose well for me. I recognize my depth of error even to the simplest moments of life. I recognize both my need for a Savior and the depth of suffering my sin laid upon my Savior.

Today, let’s all take some time and consider the constant need for us to find conviction of the Holy Spirit and our continuing need for repentance. As we do so, let us consider our verse for today, which speaks of a Truth that flows with endless hope (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV):

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Our prayer comes from Julian of Norwich (Occasional Prayers #92, 2019 BCP, page 673)

O God, of thy goodness, give me thyself, for thou art enough to me, and I may nothing ask that is less than may be full worship to thee; and if I ask for anything less, I shall always be in want, but only in thee have I all. Amen.

Popcorn - Day 31 - 40 Days of Lent

One of my favorite snacks of all time is popcorn. Some people become coffee snobs, not me. I can enjoy a cup of coffee many different ways in many different forms. Popcorn is maybe a bit different. Truth be told, I’ve become a bit of a popcorn snob. I have a few ways of popping my popcorn that produce a desired flavor. I figure it’s overall healthy because it is a vegetable, right?

Orville Redenbacher made a good life for himself and his family producing various varieties of popping corn that many still use today. He was an Agronomist, and he had a great understanding of production agriculture as well as plant breeding. He was able to develop a business that still lives on today.

To look at Mr. Redenbacher you might assume him to have been a different person than he actually was. Fitting, his work was popping corn. Much like him, outside appearances don’t tell the whole story. How interesting it is that an unassuming little kernel of goldish-yellow turns into a fluffy whitish lumping ball of goodness. But this only happens when a certain amount of heat exposure occurs.

I guess there were times when the heat of worry, or the heat of the field, made Orville feel like he would pop. But I guess it is fair to say that in that fire, he found his prize. So often this is the way of the sojourner, the Christian, passing through this world enduring the effects of the heat. At times we struggle, and we may well encounter more than we feel we can possibly handle.

That heat changes us, because often we realize we can’t bear it and we call upon the Name of the Lord to help us. And we find help. Too often that is taught with the expectation that our prayers and cries will be answered as we command. That is not so. Our prayers are answered by the will of God, to God’s purpose, and to our necessity. Often this means we are given strength to endure the fire, and sometimes we are transformed by the heat. We should never lose sight of the Truth that our Creator is in charge.

Our verse for today comes from 1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV):

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Almighty Father, in the heat of the moment we can lose sight of everything else and be bound singularly to our suffering, give us Thy blessed Hand of reassurance and the strength needed to endure, that our faith may be genuine and made steadfast by Thy power working in us, to the glory of Thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost, art One God, who reign supreme now and always. AMEN.

Questions - Day 30 - 40 Days of Lent

I find it extremely gratifying to field questions of the faith from children. I never know what will be asked, and I am often surprised at the depth of their questioned reasoning. At times the questions relate to the images on the stained-glass windows or the symbols and colors of the paraments, these are easily answered.

At other times, the children ask really hard-hitting questions. The children always ask the hard questions from their hearts too. They really care to know the answer, and they really care how to make sense of it all, and they really care to amend their lives accordingly.

I don’t find this near as prevalent in adults. I rarely get easy or hard-hitting questions from adults, especially those “seasoned” in the faith. I think the reason is two-fold. First, there is a sense that one should “already know”. This practice of prideful disposition can severely inhibit one’s growth and development in the faith. Often, though, it’s even worse than that. This is because the real answer may never be found, and a self-declared inaccurate or errant answer is believed.

Second, there seems to be a willingness to simply stop walking. This might be a product of a world that has constantly challenged them to the point that they simply give up. As an example, if you went to three doctors for an evaluation and all three gave differing conclusions, who would you believe? You might just believe nobody knows and stop pursuing any answer.

Or one might stop walking and pursuing an answer for fear of what they might actually find to be the real answer. Being wrong in faithful understanding is difficult to find peace with, and can bring forth other questions that can unsettle anyone’s foundation.

No matter the reason, when we give up on pursuing the answer, or even asking the question, we quit growing. And for a people who are called to continue to grow into Christ Jesus and be more like Him, that’s problematic. When we are young, we pursue growth with great passion, hope, and expectation. There is excitement, fear, and joy. Wasn’t this true of you?

Why not take a moment today and consider the questions you gave up asking years ago, or maybe consider the most important questions to be answered for your livelihood and growth today.

Our verse for today is taken from 1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)-

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.

Almighty Father, we ask for enrichment in Thy love, and growth in wisdom and understanding; when the questions get hard and frightening, give us guidance and peace; that we might serve Thee in all confidence of Thy Truth; through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, who reigns with Thee and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and always. AMEN.

Confessions - Day 29 - 40 Days of Lent

Born in Africa, 354 AD (or is it CE, I never know anymore) was Augustine of Hippo. Saint Augustine would live a life full of sinful behavior for his first 31 years. But at this age, he would give up his old life and devote his life to Christ. He would be baptized on the Easter Vigil by Ambrose in 387 CE (or is it AD).

Many have heard of his conversion and his turn to faith, which was attributed to many factors, but the main one being the faithful prayers of his mother Saint Monica. It is this Saint Augustine (not to be confused with Saint Augustine of Canterbury from very early 7th century) that would write the book Confessions so many have read (or at least heard of).

After his conversion to Christianity, St. Augustine of Hippo would become a priest and later bishop (of Hippo which is in modern-day Algeria, 395 CE or AD-take your pick). If you have never read Confessions, find a copy and spend some time with it, or read it HERE.

In Confessions, Saint Augustine references many times his conviction and encouragement drawn from Psalm 4. Psalm 4 is a short psalm, but it is not lacking in depth and meaning. It embodies turning to God and away from offending, away from sin. It proclaims the very power of God’s will, love, and presence. It declares God alone is the source of peace and safety. It is a great reminder for us all.

As we put a close to the 3rd quarter of Lent, and begin to draw nearer to the Lord Jesus Christ’s Passion, I encourage you to pray through Psalm 4 today. Be still and listen, let the Spirit speak to your heart, and prepare you for the love found in the suffering we will soon recall.

In the traditional English (Coverdale Psalter of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer)-

1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness *thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.

2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour *and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing?

3 Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man that is godly *when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.

4 Stand in awe, and sin not *commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be still.

5 Offer the sacrifice of righteousness *and put your trust in the Lord.

6 There be many that say *Who will shew us any good?

7 Lord, lift thou up *the light of thy countenance upon us.

8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart *since the time that their corn and wine and oil increased.

9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest *for it is thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.

AMEN.

Music - Day 28 - 40 Days of Lent

I’m going to venture off the beaten path today. I have always been moved by the power of music. I find music absolutely fascinating, because it is truly a universal language. Anywhere in the world, no matter the language or the society, education or financial resources, music is intuitively understood.

Play notes that fit the scale and beauty might be an adequate description of the result. Hit a note that does not fit the key, and awful might be an adequate descriptor. We all seem to know this, even when we don’t know why!

I personally like a lot of different types of music, but my favorites are always the songs that (to me) bring fellowship between the music and the lyric. A powerful lyric is just a poem without the music, and the music is wanting without the matching lyric. And a toe-tapping beat is good, but nothing compared to a beat and lyric that was meant to be united.

And then there is the vocal side too. A singer with great passion and heart for the lyric always conveys a spiritual component lacking for the performer that does not relate to the music (example-Listen to Ronnie Dunn sing I Believe). I believe instrumental pieces and/or soloists can also convey this truth (listen to Stevie Ray Vaughan bring the emotion through his ending solo).

I have to say my all-time favorite artist is Don Williams. I regret I was never able to see him live. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 78. Don Williams was nicknamed the “gentle giant”, and with his baritone voice and talk build the description fit.

I recently started exploring spotify, and through it you can set up channels which reflect your preferences. Setting up a Don Williams channel and accessing several playlists, I ran across a few songs of his I had never heard. As it turns out, these songs were from his final album entitled ‘Reflections’. I believe it to be the best album he ever made.

I bring this up because I want to introduce you to one of the songs on Don Williams ‘Reflections’ album. It is quite fitting for this season we are in, and you can listen to it HERE.

Our verse for today comes from James 1:12 (ESV)-

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Almighty Father, today I pray for a stronger back and a bigger heart, I pray for the will to keep on walking, with the way get dark. I don’t pray for a lighter load, I pray for a stronger back; through Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who reign with Thee and the Holy Spirit, One God, world without end. AMEN.

WInd - Day 27 - 40 Days of Lent

The wind is interesting. At times the wind liberates, as a cool breeze cutting through the humid summer heat. At other times, the wind can bring massive destruction, as hurricanes make landfall and tornadoes build across the plains. But most often, the wind is simply a present reality of each day.

There are times when the wind kicks up dust and throws around the pollen falling from the trees. The wind has been known to cause bad hair days too. The wind can dry down wet soil and help the farmer plant a crop, and it can also rob the soil of what little moisture it may have removing the opportunity to plant a crop.

The effect of wind passing over and under the wing of an airplane enables it to fly, and capturing the wind can take a sailing vessel across oceans. Interesting, the word in both Hebrew and Greek that we translate into ‘Spirit’ or ‘Ghost’, as in ‘Holy Spirit’ or ‘Holy Ghost’, can also mean wind (or breath).

When the disciples were in the boat on the Sea of Galilee (see Matthew 8:24) and the storm came upon them such that the water was lifted and the waves were crashing into the boat, Jesus would rebuke the winds and the sea (Matthew 8:26). The final result was that “...there was great calm.”

What Jesus does here reflects upon the words found in Psalm 65 (verse 7 in particular). The Word that spoke creation into being is over all creation, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. At His ascension, He revealed a new offering of the Hand of God that guides, convicts, nurtures, protects, and moves us, His Spirit.

Like Meteorologist Jim Cantore, we can try to resist the wind and not let it move us. But the Wind that is the Spirit is our power to move and our relief from the heat. The bad hair day just might be a witness of conviction too (at least humbling)!

Today, let’s consider how we bear Spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22-23) and keep in step with the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:25). Our verse for today comes from John 3:8 (ESV):

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Holy Spirit, Wind of Truth and Breath of Life, help us to know Thy touch and embrace Thy presence, that we might walk in step of Thy will for us, walking as witnesses of the Good News; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with Thee and the Father; One God, now and always. AMEN.

Weather - Day 26 - 40 Days of Lent

I’m thinking about the weather again today. The forecast says we are warming up, and we will soon (maybe today) begin to think summer has arrived. But as Lee Corso likes to say, “not so fast my friend!”. Just wait a day or two, and the seasons will again change and we will soon be wrapping up again for at least parts of a day or two to come.

This time of year the weather is chaotic. We jokingly say, but as we know every good joke has elements of truth in them, we experience all four seasons sometimes in the same day here in the south. Or, we might also say “don’t like the weather? Wait a few hours.”

The unpredictability can be frustrating, but the rapid changes can produce an awareness of expectation, and a need to always be prepared. This time of year probably produces the most damaging storms, infrequent but powerful. This time of year also sees the fish biting too, and the grass growing (and the weeds too!). When this rhythm of change becomes normal and expected, our behavior becomes peacefully adaptive. We just roll with it, and embrace the variety.

Our lives have seasons, and within those seasons we will experience some rapid changes. We will even experience some really strong storms too. Just like the weather, when we understand it and are prepared for it, we might find the moment scary but we manage much better than if we are surprised by the rapid change. In life, unpreparedness for the rapid changes one might experience can leave us shell-shocked, paralyzed, and wounded.

As we walk our paths through life, we should be attentive to the possibilities we might encounter. If we know the rain is coming, we can suit up and grab the umbrella. If we don’t know the rain is coming, we can get drenched and brought into misery. The one thing we can not do is stop the rain.

When I was a child, we used to have various drills that prepared us in the event of significant weather. Everyone of a certain age knows what it’s like to stuff themselves under their desks. These drills did not consume our lives, our thoughts, or our outlook on the world. They just prepared us in case we found ourselves in those particular situations.

We would be wise to drill ourselves occasionally for the potential hazards along our paths. Not so the concerns and possibilities consume us, but rather that they prepare us. Not to worry us, but to protect us. Because when the storms of life hit, you’d rather already be under shelter and protected.

Consider our verse for today, Mark 13:33 (ESV):

Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.

Almighty and Most Merciful Father, the peace of the moment is a blessing when it comes, but can tempt us to believe it shall always be; keep us on guard, help us stay awake in Thee, prepare our hearts for the storms that may come, and the ever-changing moments of life; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Spirit are One God, world without end. AMEN.

Enemy - Day 25 - 40 Days of Lent

What seems like just a few years ago, but in reality it’s been many years ago, I used to join a group of family and friends on a ‘spring fling’ camping trip. This was no ordinary camping trip, this was a full-on weekend trip on the banks of the Congaree River. Our supplies would be brought in via 4-wheelers or carried down by hand, and by down I mean a significant slope and distance from the area where we would park to the area we would camp.

So the supplies brought in for the weekend needed to be necessities, and not much more than necessities. If you have ever been in the flood plain of the river, you know the greatest enemy in spring is not snakes, or spiders, or alligators, its mosquitoes. Mosquitoes will absolutely pick you up and carry you away.

There are a few ways to fend off these blood sucking creatures. The most common is bug spray, and in this case 100% deet pre-applied on your clothing. At some point the thermacell became a reality and worked reasonably well. One of the greatest deterrents is smoke, so a good campfire is a necessity. Lastly, an answered prayer for a good breeze would keep the evil creatures from flying.

I can say each of these methods would work. But it is an uncomfortable feeling sitting in a chair by the fire and hearing the hum of millions of these pointy nosed beasts hovering inches from you, held back by the thinnest of barriers. So often (and out of necessity) all of these deterrents would be deployed in an effort to make the evenings and nights survivable.

Saint Peter would write (1 Peter 5:8, ESV) “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” If you want an image of this verse, go camping in the swamp in springtime!

What is our protection, our shield, our cover that keeps the devil from devouring us? There are moments in our lives where we enter the flood plains, brought low into the stagnant waters of a dark moment, with minimal supplies and an unrelenting adversary. There is not a single thing we can do ourselves to ward off the onslaught. Within seconds, we could have the very life blood sucked out of us. We are helpless against this adversary, the attack comes from every possible direction and it is unrelenting. How are we to be protected, how are we to survive, and not just survive but thrive?

Consider our verses for today in this context, taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (6:13-18, ESV):

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.....”

Almighty Father, make us strong in Thee, give us the whole armor; the belt of Truth, the breastplate of Righteousness, shoes to guide, the readiness of Gospel peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, that the Enemy is kept from us at all times; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who reigns with Thee and the Holy Spirit, now and always. AMEN.

Spring - Day 24 - 40 Days of Lent

I think spring is the best time of year. Many years ago at our diocesan convention we had new voting devices, and to test them before official votes sample questions would be asked. One of those questions was “what is your favorite season”? For several years this question was asked, and each year “fall” came out the unquestionable favorite season. My favorite, spring, was consistently runner up.

I wonder, is it because of the pollen? Recently we have had a regular down pouring of the yellow goodness that stops up sinuses and causes regular headaches. I understand. However, at the same time as the pollen pours upon the earth, the colors of spring appear. The grass begins to green, the trees bud, the azaleas begin to bloom as the dogwoods come to life with blooms of their own. The temperatures begin to rise, the sun becomes a bit more intense, and the world just seems happier.

Then comes the spring fever. For those who enjoy gardening, the urge to turn dirt and prepare the garden is unrelenting. Farmers are even worse, as equipment is pulled out from storage, cleaned up and given once-overs as planters and plows and sprayers are cleaned, lubed, and calibrated.

The spring is the only time of year where many are eager and hopeful to put resources in the ground. Time is invested, money is spent, care is given to either plant a seed or young transplant into the ground with the hope that it will grow, flower, and yield fruit with abundance.

There is a sense of certainty that these investments of our time, talents, and resources will give back more than what is invested. There is a certain hope that the fruit that will be borne will be abundantly satisfying and worth the sacrifice. Spring is the dawn of a new season of life.

When we surrender our lives to the Lord who died for us, in whom we set our faith in hope of life eternal by the work Christ Jesus accomplished, our world brightens, colors emerge, and warmth begins to bring a hunger for growth. We pour out upon the soil of Truth our resources, planting our hopes in the change and growth that we have certain hope will come. We grow, we develop, we begin to bear fruit at the right time. It is a beautiful season of life.

Today’s verse is from John 12:24 (ESV)-

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Heavenly Father, as the warmth of the Sun removes the chill of winter, and as the Light lengthens the days in which we live, encourage us to boldly plant the seeds of hope from the storehouse of surrender that you have placed in our hearts from the dawn of creation; through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Spirit are One God, now and always. AMEN.

Sunrises - Day 23 - 40 Days of Lent

I’ve never been much of a true morning person. I will start early at times, and enjoy the morning with joy and enthusiasm, but I could just as easily sleep in. But if I am being honest, there is something really special about early mornings. When I start out early, there seems to be so much hope and opportunity in my day. When I start out early, the day does not seem rushed and tasks come with less stress (mostly).

One of my favorite things to do in my earlier days was to go deer hunting in the early morning. Rarely did I care about bagging a deer, though one would be taken from time to time. I was most fond of the hunt because of the time. It is an amazing and awe-inspiring experience to sneak into a deer stand high up in the trees as darkness fills the land and watch the world wake up.

First there is a blink of the eye, and the curiousness of an apparent uptick in light. Often, I would consider whether my eyes were simply adjusting to the dark and the surroundings, or whether the world became a bit more luminate than the blink of the eye before? Then it happens again, and there is little doubt now the world is getting brighter. Then a bird begins to sing, then another, then another with each click of gained luminescence.

Then, out of nowhere, birds are all around, the squirrels are about, and the woods have come alive. Then, seemingly at once, the world is bright and critters are everywhere! Where had they been? It seems as though they started right beside me.

The rising of the sun is not like it’s setting. While a sunset is a beautiful thing, it cannot compare to a sunrise. The sunset slowly meanders into the horizon, the sunrise comes in flashes of moments; the sunset quiets the world, the sunrise sets the world free.

Life is full of sunrises and sunsets. It is interesting to consider how many sunsets we see in our lifetimes, compared to the number of sunrises we witness. The sunset is an easy witness, but the sunrise requires intentionality and purpose. Is it any wonder that so often we focus on the close, on the end, on the quieting down rather than being intentional about witnessing the waking of the world?

Maybe if we saw a few more sunrises, we’d have a little less worry and be a bit more at peace. Maybe the anticipation with hope of the birds singing, and the squirrels roaming, and the light shining is just what we need to chase away the darkness of this broken world.

Our verse for today comes from St. John’s Gospel account, chapter 8 verse 12-

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Most gracious and loving Father, when the world turns dark and quiet and we feel abandoned and alone, remind us of the Light of the world by whom life awakens and darkness flees, He who makes the birds sing and the world dance, Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we pray; who with Thee and the Holy Ghost art One God, world without end. AMEN.

Future - Day 22 - 40 Days of Lent

We don’t know what tomorrow will hold. We may make our plans, and prepare accordingly, but we just cannot know what will come. This is a truth of our lives because we are not in control of our lives. We can impact the future, but we cannot control the future.

I find it very common for folks to set their sights on future events that will provide the joy they desire, or rest, or peace, or comfort, etc. How many times do we set our hearts on the upcoming vacation, or the new job (and associated paycheck), or the pending retirement? Most of the time, we find our way to live the future we set our sights on and pursue.

However, just because it is common to find our way to a future we desire doesn’t mean we will find it the next time around. At some point, if we find ourselves blessed, we would realize a future that begins to narrow, and the nature of our pursuit of the future will change. This is because we recognize the blessing and begin to see more clearly the benefit of the future, how rare and precious the next moment truly is.

In C. S. Lewis’ fictional account of the demonic working to rip salvation from the Christian, The Screwtape Letters, letter number 15 to Wormwood (the junior demon) says in part-

“Our business is to get them away from the eternal, and from the Present. …In a word, the Future is, of all things, the thing least like eternity. …The sin, which is our contribution, looked forward.”

These words ring so true. Sin came into the world by looking forward, betting on what will come. When the present is replaced as most important in focus and purpose replaced by future expectation, we disconnect from the intersection with the eternal. We become distant from God.

In the present we prepare for the future by living in the moment, but we are not to live in the present only for the expectation found in the future.

Today’s verses come from St. Luke’s Gospel, chapter 12 verses 20-21 (ESV):

But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Dear God, we long for a future with you, yet so many temptations present themselves before us as we walk; renew in us a right mind and heart to find the joy of the moment given to us, and trust in the promise of our future home with you that we even now are preparing, through Christ Jesus our Lord. AMEN.

Perspectives - Day 21 - 40 Days of Lent

My childhood years were passed in the same general place, except for one year. But even then, it was all in the state of South Carolina. The thing about spending all your time in one general location is that your worldview settles on the familiar.

Because of this, I thought everyone drove on roads that very rarely saw another car, where all people were called “bo”, and where tractors regularly passed. As it turns out, that’s not so!

For us all, the familiar thoughts and habits of our lives become superimposed upon all others, regardless of location, economy, or language. Okay, so maybe I did realize there weren’t tractors passing regularly in New York City, but you get what I mean.

It happens that our thoughts become other’s thoughts, and our desires become other’s desires, and our preferences become other’s preferences. We make assumptions based on our experience, and those are often flawed (or worse).

So standing in the midst of a Kenyan slum, I found myself surrounded by a dozen or more children. These children were amazed, that was certain. Why they were amazed was not. As it turns out, as I would later understand, these children had never laid eyes on a light skinned person. Furthermore, they had always been taught that white people don’t work, don’t help, don’t care.

These perspectives were being undone all at once for these children. Not only were there several white people, this group of white people were there to help. To see a white person work was confusing to them, a left-over of a colonial era of years gone by.

For us, it was hard to understand how a people group could have gone for years and never seen a white person. But for all those we met in the slum, many had never left that environment. It is all they knew, and possibly all they may ever know. Except, they saw this crazy group of white people enter their home.

In the end, perspectives were changed, and awareness grew for all involved. One perspective I had was how sad and difficult the living conditions were for these families. Yet, to them, this was home. To them, it wasn’t sad and difficult, it was home. It was all they knew and quite likely the place they would prefer to be (familiarity is powerful).

For today, consider your perspectives. Take a moment or two to consider how you might be limited in scope and understanding of the people of this world. Then consider, the Gospel Truth and how it is known. The truth is, I never met a more faithful group of believers than those I met in that slum. They might not have had much, but they were rich.

Our verse for today comes from 2 Corinthians 6:10 (ESV):

as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

Almighty Father, break our hearts for what breaks yours, tear down our perspectives built upon the moment and grant us eyes to see your Truth; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost are One God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Choices - Day 20 - 40 Days of Lent

I find myself often considering whether a measure of “righteousness” or alternatively, a measure of “grace”, is appropriate. If it were a situation where I am the one receiving said measure, I am always going to pick grace. Though I also realize, righteousness may be more appropriate.

What is he talking about, you ask? How about a real-world example? Let’s say you are traveling down I-95 and the sign says “right lane closed ½ mile ahead”. As you look ahead after moving over into the left lane, mesmerized by all the blinking lights and reflective cones (just me?), you notice in your side mirror the car behind you abruptly swings into the right lane to pass you and as many other cars who are in front of you and are currently stacking up and hitting their brakes ahead.

As the cones close in on that car, they cut their blinker on and start to force their way back in line, having saved themselves two spots in the 5 mile line ahead. Your choice is one of righteousness, or grace. The righteous choice would be to look straight ahead and almost touch the bumper of the car in front of you. What they did was not right, and you can enforce that measure of righteousness by teaching them a lesson in patience and humility.

But then, you could also choose grace. In this case you let them in even though they were being jerks. There are times you get to do both, first pinch them out and pretend you don’t see them, and then look at them, pretend that you are surprised at their presence, and wave them over. In this scenario you get to press in a bit of righteousness then follow up with a measure of grace (it’s the best of both worlds!).

The decision to express righteousness might save someone’s life by teaching the other car (person) a lesson. The decision to provide grace might change a heart forever. Which is the correct choice? It truly can be hard to figure.

The best we can do is to do as we are taught, and prayerfully discern. The old saying “WWJD” (what would Jesus do) is a great reminder to love our neighbor in whatever it is we do. Because in the end, isn’t that what we would want others to do for us?

Our verses for today come from the Teacher (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, ESV)-

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Our Father, who art in heaven, guide the intentions of our hearts, make straight our paths to Thy great purpose; give us wisdom in our steps, and understanding in Thy love; through Christ Jesus thy Son our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost, art One God, world without end. AMEN.

Observation - Day 19 - 40 Days of Lent

Yogi Berra once quipped “you can observe a lot by just watching”. So many of his sayings make me laugh, but this one is surprisingly simple, humorous, and somehow intellectually deep (maybe?).

I once had a young trainee that was sent to take leaf tissue samples on a large tomato farm. He was a hard worker eager to complete the task, so he began very early in an effort to complete the entire task that day, which was sampling about 500 total acres. Each sample would be pulled by irrigation zone, so it was about 25 samples and each sample would be made up of a random sample of leaves from about 50 to 75 individual plants across that acreage.

Needless to say, it was a lot to accomplish in a single day, but he did it. Later that night as he made his way to his hotel room he called me to let me know the samples were done and they would be sent to the lab for analysis the next morning. I congratulated him on his hard work and steadfast effort, and then I asked him a question. I asked, “how did the tomatoes look?” He didn’t respond, so I asked, “how did the plants look, were they full with good color, etc.?”

Silence. Then he said after a brief interlude “I don’t know”. He said “I was so busy getting the samples I never really looked at the plants.” And in that moment we both knew we had set the priorities in the wrong place. I led him to get the work done, and by doing the work neither of us now knew what the 500 acres of tomatoes really looked like. To use Yogi’s quote, he wasn’t watching and as such could offer no valuable observation.

Our faith journey can become this way, where we set up priorities in our lives that seem correct, but aren’t. Another quote many have heard comes from Arnold Zack, friend of former U. S. Senator Paul Tsongas, who wrote in correspondence to his friend “no one on his deathbed ever said, ‘I wish I had spent more time on my business.’”

And yet, how many choose the business first? Setting the temporal priority over the eternal will get us out of balance, and cause us to really lose sight of what is most important. It also can wound others deeply, and yet it is common amongst us all.

Our verse for today is a reminder of one of the most common ways we set our priorities up incorrectly, so spend some time considering the full lesson to be learned-

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24, ESV)

Almighty and Most Merciful Father, we continuously prioritize the earthly over the eternal, please forgive us. May we find strength in Thee to resist the distortion of priority, to Thy glory and our necessity; through Christ Jesus our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost art One God, world without end. AMEN.

Value - Day 18 - 40 Days of Lent

I find it quite normal for me to gauge the worth of a thing by the value of what the thing offers. It sounds perfectly logical, doesn’t it? After all, things that bring little to no value aren’t worth much, right? Let’s be honest, fat-free ice cream just isn’t worth much. A thin jacket on a snowy day just isn’t worth much, but maybe more than the fat-free ice cream.

We have a desire to seek the things that please us most. After all, the greatest value, the thing(s) that we would say is (are) worth the most, is (are) found in the thing(s) that pleases us most. And each time we find a moment of thrilling happiness in the thing, we long to have the thing again (or more of it, or both).

I think of individuals owning a fleet of classic cars, or one who has a multitude of homes, or one who indulges in great quantities of wonderful fat-filled ice cream. There are many things that we can find worthy of our time and money when the thing brings us great value.

But, as Christians, we are charged to recall that we have everything that will ever be worth anything. We possess the thing that is of most value, and everything else pales in comparison. St. Paul writes to those who have been baptized into the Body of Christ living in Rome the reminder that “...we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1-2) and further states that Christians rejoice in their sufferings (Romans 5:3). Then, after breaking it all down, St. Paul brings it home at verse 5 where he makes the proclamation “...because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

That’s “wow” worthy, because what is more wonderful that God’s love poured into our hearts? The Holy Spirit, given to God’s people, pours into our hearts God’s love. When considering the worth of this gift, consider the value it offers (hint-it’s everything!).

When we look out into the world in which we live with hearts full of God’s love, we see the world differently. We go in peace, we act compassionately, we care deeply. We desire the best for our family, friends, and neighbors, and we offer ourselves because of the love that is known by Jesus offering Himself for us.

Today take some time to consider what your heart is really full of, is it God’s love?

Our verse for today is from St. John’s Gospel account, chapter 14, verse 15, where Jesus says

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

Almighty Father, you sent your only Son that, through Him, we might be saved, and sent the Holy Spirit to reveal this Truth to us, such that the love of God is poured into our hearts; a value beyond price, and a worth beyond comprehension; help us see the world through the fullness of you love, that we might know peace, and rest in hope, through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Spirit are One God, now and always. AMEN.

Falling Short - Day 17 - 40 Days of Lent

I am aware that this did not come to you this morning, and it is now late evening (some may not get this until the morning). I am reminded today of falling short, and this entry on Day 17 of the 40 days of Lent is coming to you now because today, I fell short of my duties.

It is easy to let the “squeaky wheel” be an excuse for taking all of our attention, but it does indeed happen. Lent is a season that is meant to focus us on our own tendencies, especially on those by which we are tempted to overlook, ignore, or delay.

Looking back on this day I find a lot of good work was done. And even still, the priorities I set forth resulted in my Lenten devotional to be set aside. It does happen, but better organization would have protected and prevented the delay.

Do you find yourself, at times, looking back and thinking “I sure fell short today!”? I am very familiar with this question, often to a fault (but not always). There is only so much time in a day, and so many are the demands upon our lives.

What do you do when you feel you have failed? Do you have a tendency to never think that, or are you the time that always thinks that way? I’m sure we have all felt both of these ways at times.

St. Paul says to the Roman Church (Romans 3:23, ESV) “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. There are days this truth bears heavy upon us. Thankfully, that is not the entire statement the Apostle offers, because he continues (verse 24) “and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”.

I love getting gifts, but this is the best gift of all. Don’t you agree?

Tonight as the day ends, our verses of today come from Psalm 113:1-3 (KJV)-

Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. 3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised.

Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for giving us the gift of forgiveness even as we fall short of glorifying You! AMEN.

Faithful Work - Day 16 - 40 Days of Lent

I have found it a good practice for me to keep busy during fast days. So yesterday, which is a fast day (being a Friday in Lent), I decided to take the day and replace the brakes on our old Toyota Corolla (that we affectionately call “Crayola”). I had been collecting all the parts and preparing them for a good day to do the work, and yesterday was perfect.

As is normal, it took much longer than I expected, those drum brakes are a challenge! As I began to recover from the nearly full day of work doing brakes, I thought about how anti-climatic this type of work is once done. If I had washed the car, I could have had immediate satisfaction. But because I did the brakes, there isn’t a single soul who will ever see what I accomplished. Truth is, even I look back at the car and it looks just the same. Outwardly, nothing has changed.

In our western culture of productivity, success is often gauged by the results. When we accomplish a task such as replacing brakes, something that isn’t seen, the sense of accomplishment can be lacking.

In our lifetime of pursuing the will of God, our efforts can seem like my brake job, a lot of work with no visible change. In fact, for anyone other than me, the brake job would be undetectable, because nobody was familiar with how the brakes even felt beforehand. We walk in this world interacting with others, bearing burdens, sharing laughter, doing life, and very often a visible result isn’t seen (or, often, even known).

In our walk following our Lord Jesus Christ, we will experience more of this non-visible witness and undetectable result than we’d probably like. I think of the church, and how often the question is asked “how many people go there?” or “how many young families do you have?” and so forth. But that is not how Almighty God would have us think. We should think about the bigger picture, and the effect that the Holy Spirit has on one’s heart (a heart which we cannot see nor fully know).

We are called to do the work that we are called to do. We are to do it faithfully, and let Almighty God handle the judgment of whether it was “good work” and productive. There are many missionaries around the world who have served many years that never get the opportunity to see a convert commit to the faith. But the work they do is of great value, and it will bear fruit when the season comes.

The same goes for you, do the work you are called to do faithfully and to the best of your ability. Don’t worry about the results, don’t judge your work by the visible expressions that are seen. We should always remember, it is what is not seen but dwells within that is most important. This result is always seen by Almighty God, and that is all that matters.

Our verse for today comes from Matthew 25:21 (ESV) where Jesus says in parable-

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Almighty Father, give us the will to do Thy service faithfully, and help us to know that if we have done Thy will, we have done enough; through Christ Jesus our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Spirit are One God, now and forever. AMEN.

Ripples - Day 15 - 40 Days of Lent

Have you ever considered the full impact of consequence? Each and every decision that we make in this life has consequence, be it good or bad, there is a consequence. When I think about consequences of actions, I think about how they ripple across our world in all directions. Sometimes those ripples spread joy and love, and sometimes they carry in sadness and hurt.

I think of a stone thrown into the water, with the ripples extending out in all directions like an ever-expanding halo. The closer a thing is to the initial impact the greater the effect. As we move about in life, those closest to us when we make those decisions bear the effect most significantly. This is why those we love can hurt us most of all, but the opposite is also true. Those we love can also fill us with great joy and hope. It is just a fact that each and every decision we make, each action we take, has one effect or the other.

It is also true that a small stone sets forth smaller ripples than a larger stone. Those smaller and less impactful decisions and actions carry a more tolerable consequence than the larger ones for the things close. However, the distance and effect of both can be similar in the end.

Today, as you interact with others and make your daily decisions, consider both the instant and residual effects your decisions and actions might have on others both near and far. We can be a source of light in a dark world that travels further than we at times realize. We can also be a source of long-term darkness if we choose to resist bearing the spiritual fruit we are to bear.

So today be intentional about the fruit you bear, the ripples that spring forth from your presence, decisions, and actions. Be observant to the little moments and remember they are opportunities for someone to be moved by your decision. Almighty God might just be dropping you into a sea of need to provide a ripple of hope for someone.

Today we make a splash holding on to God’s word from Philippians 2:3 (ESV)-

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Almighty God, use us to the benefit of the people we encounter today, give us the wisdom that bears fruit of your love, that the consequences of our decisions and actions ripple with the Truth of salvation, and bring light into a dark world; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Spirit are One God, for ever and ever. Amen.