Jesus Archives - Journey Elgin

Blog: John 20:19-23: Be Confident in Christ

Posted on Sep 21, 2016 in Blog, General, Scripture | Tags: bible, church, faith, hope, Jesus, John, journey, journey elgin, Scripture

Sep '16

I believe one of the most common problems we have as humans is a lack of self-confidence. This is evidenced by the hundreds of self-help books and theories on ways to increase your self-esteem. Even those people who will tell you how confident they are, as demonstrated by many pro athletes, many times are just overcompensating for the reality that they too struggle with self-confidence. I understand why we struggle with this issue; life is difficult. Most of us have experienced failures in life and we realize that even doing our best sometimes does not equal success based on our society’s standards. In order to hold on to the slim amount of self-confidence we have, we tend to stick with doing what we are comfortable with and we avoid taking on challenges that may lead to failure which would remove the little bit of confidence we have left.

I found myself in this position during college. My dreams of playing college sports had died and I was simply going through the motions of normal college life. I did not know what I wanted to do with my life and my confidence was not high. Honestly, I just wanted someone to tell me what to do so I did not have to make a meaningful decision. Around this time in my life I received a phone call from a pastor named Shane Barnes, who was serving at my home church. He had come to our church after I graduated, but I had met him and knew a little about him. He asked me a question that would ultimately change the direction of my life: “Would you be our Youth Pastor for the summer?” I was completely unprepared for that question. I had never thought about being a minister in any sense. What really surprised me was the confidence Shane had in me. He told me that he saw something in me and that he knew I would do a good job with the youth. I will never forget the confidence Shane showed in me when I did not have confidence in myself. The support Shane gave me helped me to find God’s calling in my life and I have now been in ministry for around 16 years. All this began with someone showing confidence in me.

In John 20:19-23, we find the disciples experiencing the risen Christ for the first time. They had seen the empty tomb and heard the report from Mary, but they still were not certain of what was happening and they were scared. I have to think that none of the disciples were too confident about their future. They were so insecure about what was happening in their life that they were hiding behind locked doors as if those doors would protect them from the uncertainty surrounding them. At this trying moment in the disciples’ lives, Jesus appears unexpectedly before them and immediately offers them His peace. He knew their hearts were not at peace, in fact they were terrified, but Jesus gives them what they need; assurance of His presence.

Jesus then overcomes their doubts by showing them His hands and His side. As the disciples see the truth of the risen Christ they are overjoyed. Jesus now does something amazing, He calls the disciples to serve Him. These are the men who were just huddling together in fear and doubt and now Jesus is sending them just as God had sent Him into the world. The confidence Jesus showed in those disciples was incredible. They had all fled in fear when He was arrested and now Jesus was entrusting them with telling the world who He was and what He had done. The disciples must have been humbled and amazed at the confidence the Messiah was showing in them.

Jesus did not stop there, He continued by equipping the disciples with all they would need to fulfill His calling on their lives. He gives them the Holy Spirit which will lead and guide them as they go into the world. No longer will they need to huddle in fear because God is with them always. They never need to suffer from insecurity again because their strength can now come from the fact that Jesus has confidence in them. Jesus has given them everything they need to change the world for Christ.

I wonder how many of us live our lives behind locked doors, afraid to venture out into the unknown world. Maybe we need to open our eyes to the one who is standing right beside us giving us peace. Jesus wants you to experience peace in knowing that he loves you and is there with you. Jesus is also showing great confidence in you; He is calling you to serve Him. When I look in the mirror I do not know why He called me, but I am confident in His calling because He was confident enough in me to ask me to serve Him. Not only is Jesus confident in you, but He has also equipped you with everything you will need to continue to impact the Kingdom of God. His presence will guide you if you will allow Him.

This week, step out and live the calling Jesus has so confidently given you. Is there a friend you have been avoiding talking to about your relationship with Christ? Is there a family God has laid on your heart to minster to? Does your church need you to step up and serve? Are you being a minister in your workplace? Your home? Is there someone who needs to hear the confidence you have in them? Be confident, God is confident in you.

Aug '16

Blog: John 20:1-18: Running to Jesus

Posted on Aug 26, 2016 in Blog, General, Scripture | Tags: bible, church, Easter, faith, He is Alive, hope, Jesus, journey, journey elgin, Scripture

Aug '16

There is no way to describe the feeling I get when one of my girls surprises me by running toward me and giving me an unexpected hug. Of course, as they are getting older the feeling I get is sometimes fear of being knocked over, but my heart is always warmed when they show me this type of affection. I can remember many occasions when one of my little girls would run down the aisle toward me after worship service on Sundays. She would jump into my open arms or crash into my legs if I was not paying attention. Either way she just wanted to give me a hug. These hugs came as a result of her being excited and happy to see me, but they also happened on occasions when she was unsecure or fearful.

On one occasion after Sunday morning worship, a group of men and I were talking while my youngest daughter was playing a short distance away. For some reason she began to feel uneasy and wanted her dad. Without thinking, she turned and ran toward a pair of legs and grabbed hold as she has done so many times before to me; however, this time the legs were not mine. When she looked up and saw that she had the wrong dad, panic came across her face for a moment. She quickly backed off and began scanning the group of men until she came across the face in which she found her security. She then ran to me and I picked her up and she gave the biggest hug and smile possible.

In John 20:1-18, Mary Magdalene has gone to the tomb to pay her respects to Jesus. No doubt she is still distressed and grieving the events of the Friday before. What an emotional week for her and all the followers of Jesus. They had experienced the excitement and motivation of entering Jerusalem to the shouts of “Hosanna,” and now they were experiencing the lowest of lows. If ever Mary needed Jesus, this was the time; but He was dead. She had seen Him die with her own eyes, there was nothing that could be done now and everything she hoped for was buried in a tomb behind a boulder.

When she reached the tomb Mary saw that the stone has been rolled away and she immediately thinks that things have just become even worse; now even Jesus’ dead body has been stolen. Peter and another disciple ran to the tomb and simply confirm Mary’s fear that the body had been taken away. Even the sight of two angels does not ease Mary’s pain. In my mind I see her hunched over on her knees weeping, when she hears someone behind her and turns to see who could be standing there. Through her tears and distress she simply glances at the figure behind her and assumes the man to be the gardener; of course she would not expect to see Jesus, he is dead. She resumes her position of mourning at the feet of this gardener and pleads with him to help her make sense of this unthinkable situation. Then Jesus calls her name and Mary looks up from her weeping and through the tears she looks into the eyes of the last person she expected to see, but the person she needed to see the most.

As we read this story we have the advantage of knowing the whole story. What Mary did not know was that the victory had already been won before she even saw the empty tomb, but Mary needed to see Jesus to be assured of the victory. We really are not much different when we are going through the dark times of our lives. We tend to forget that God has already won the victory and that he will carry us through these difficult and burdensome times of life. Sometimes the darkness becomes so dark that we feel like Mary and just want to fall to the ground and weep. Only when we look up and fix our eyes on Jesus will the darkness surrounding our life begin to fade into the light of Jesus’ victory.

During the trying times of our life we need to act like my little girl and run to where our security and encouragement resides. We need to run to Jesus and allow Him to comfort us, cry with us, encourage us, and strengthen us. You may find yourself in a dark place right now and there seems to be no light anywhere. Remember that this darkness is only part of the story; the full story ends with an empty tomb and the light of Christ filling all the dark corners of our lives.
There will always be dark and difficult times until Christ comes again, but even in the midst of this darkness we know that the victory is already won. Jesus told Mary to go and announce His victory over death. In a world so consumed by death, violence, immorality, and hopelessness there needs to be a message of hope. Jesus is that message. We need to go and proclaim that darkness has not prevailed, that there is light to be found in the midst of the darkness, and that the light of Christ will extinguish all remnant of darkness. Let us live in the light and share the light with those who are still lost in darkness.

May '16

Blog: John 15:1-17: Having Complete Joy

Posted on May 31, 2016 in Blog, General, Scripture | Tags: bible, church, encouragement, Jesus, John, John 15, journey, journey elgin, Scripture

May '16

Growing up and living in West Texas provides many interesting and unique opportunities. On any given weekend a person may be able to enjoy a rattlesnake roundup, ranch rodeo, demolition derby, or a random dust storm. The landscape provides an array of drought resistant vegetation which includes many shades of light green to brown grasses and our version of trees; the Cedar and the Mesquite. Many people have scoffed at the West Texas landscape; but then the sun begins to sink below the horizon. The once simple and somewhat desolate land is filled with beautiful shades of pink, orange, and purple. No artist can capture the majesty of the West Texas sunset, except the original artist who set the sun in motion.

Now, enough about the sentimental beauty of West Texas and on to what everyone knows is most important: Friday Night Football! Yes, High School Football could be classified as a religion here in West Texas, and I have to admit that I tithe regularly to the stadium box office and concession stand. I had the opportunity to be quarterback of Sterling City High School and I still love to cheer on the local team. I can remember those Friday nights and how nervous I would get before taking the field. My worst fear was that I may forget a play or which way to run. I am sure our coach understood our fears. Before the game we would always run through the most important plays of the week. This last minute time of preparation and my coaches encouraging words reinforced what was most important during the game and helped to calm my nerves. Once the game started, no matter how dire the situation became, I could rely on those last parting words and instructions from my coach.

In John 15, Jesus and the disciples have begun to travel to the garden where Jesus will be arrested. The words on that walk were Jesus’ final teachings to the disciples. I have to think that Jesus chose the words he wanted to speak very carefully because these would be the words the disciples would have to hold onto in the dark days to come.
Jesus uses the example of a vine, branches, and fruit. Simply stated this means that we must do everything we can to foster growth in our relationship with Christ so that we live our lives according to Christ’s example. Believing in Christ gives us salvation, but that is only the beginning of the relationship we have with Christ. From believing in Christ we should become followers of Christ which is what bearing fruit means. Why would these be the words Jesus chose to teach the disciples at this pivotal time?

Jesus understands that people are searching for hope, peace and meaning in their life. When he says, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete,” Jesus tells us how to live a fulfilled life. The joy Jesus speaks of is found only through him. His joy transcends happiness and is not based on human emotion. Jesus’ joy is found only when we remain in him and bear fruit. The joy Jesus gives brings hope to the hopeless, peace to the tormented, and purpose for those who are searching for meaning. Amazing! Some of Jesus’ last words before his death were given so that our joy would be complete.

Jesus has now told the disciples how to experience true joy; remain in him and bear fruit. The next thing Jesus says helps to clarify what bearing fruit really means. Verses 12 and 13 say, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” We will never find joy if we do not love other people. I believe Jesus experienced pure joy throughout his life because of his love for people. This joy was experienced even as Jesus gave up his life because he was giving his life out of love for you and me. The more we remain in him and grow closer to him the more we will be able to love others.

Ironically, the world tells us that in order to find joy we need to focus on our own needs, desires and dreams. Jesus tells us that when we love others as he has shown, our own joy will be complete. When I look around at all the heartbreak in the world the evidence is overwhelming that the world’s way of finding joy is a lie. We must grab hold of the truth and proclaim the truth to a world that desperately needs to find joy.

Through Christ we are able to love others as he does and live our lives so others will come to love him. I am so amazed that we have a God who desires for us to find true joy in this life. I hope you will live your life so that your joy may be complete. Do you feel that your joy is complete? Are you loving others the way Jesus loves us? Are you living your life so that others will see your love? How can you do a better job of remaining in Christ? How can you show your love for others?

Apr '16

Blog: John 13:31-14:4-Expectations and Jesus

Posted on Apr 26, 2016 in Blog, General, Scripture | Tags: bible, church, Jesus, John, John 13, journey, journey elgin, Scripture

Apr '16

I must confess that I am a Dallas Cowboys fan. Some of you may mock me, others pity me, but deep down many of you sympathize with me because you suffer from the same affliction. Being a fan of the Cowboys is like riding a never ending roller coaster. There are times of great joy and excitement followed by some slow mundane and even boring stretches of time. There are times of fear and eye covering moments as well as moments you just feel sick. If drama and continuous change is what you want, then this is the sports team for you. I do not know the reason, but I am a committed fan despite many who have given up and question my sanity.

As I look back at my relationship with the Cowboys I realize that the most frustrating times were when my expectations of the team did not match with reality. There have been times, such as this past year, that the Cowboys have performed well below what they were capable; however, many times they performed as they should have, but caused me frustration because my expectations were too high and unrealistic. I have learned that in order to continue being a Cowboy’s fan I must remove all expectations and just enjoy the roller coaster ride.

We tend to develop preconceived ideas regarding just about everything, including people, movies, politics, countries, religions, churches, denominations and the list continues on and on. Unfortunately, we are usually making these judgments on misunderstandings or our own biases. When we allow our expectations to guide the way we think and act we are no longer living in reality, but rather our own perceived reality created by our own limited expectations. When we live this way we are walking a tight rope and the wind is beginning to blow. As soon as reality does not match our own preconceived expectations, life may seem out of control.

This is the situation the Disciples find themselves in when Jesus begins to talk about his betrayal and death in John 13:31-14:14. Imagine how excited the Disciples must have been. They had been following Jesus for around three years and had come to the realization that this man was the Messiah. The march into Jerusalem earlier in the week must have reinforced the notion that now was the time. The Messiah was going to take his rightful place as king. As they gathered with Jesus, the Disciples were probably expecting Jesus to lay out his strategy for retaking the city from Roman control and then reclaiming the twelve tribes of Israel as his own. The nation would be strong again, united under God. These were expectations built on tradition and misunderstanding. Reality was going to be much different.

Instead of a master battle plan, Jesus begins talking about his own death and betrayal. There is no doubt the Disciples are confused and concerned. Had they given up three years of their life only to see the end marked with death? Jesus was falling short of their expectations and they were quickly trying to make sense of their unraveling hopes that had been based on Jesus being the Messiah.

Peter bravely states his undying loyalty to Jesus. Peter loved Jesus with passion, but Jesus knew that Peter’s expectations would be destroyed and even the brave and loyal Peter would deny Jesus. Peter was not ready for his Messiah to die and when faced with that reality Peter found his life spinning out of control and his natural thought was self preservation which led to denying the one he loved.

Thomas asks Jesus to clarify where he is going, because Thomas wants to go with him. Thomas is looking for the battle plan and desires to play his part. Jesus’ answer only brings more confusion because the preconceived expectations of the Disciples are being shattered. Thomas’ ideas about Jesus are going to be destroyed and he begins to doubt everything he had believed. Philip pleads with Jesus to offer them some hope and show them that he truly is from God. After all the signs Jesus had performed Philip needed another sign as soon as his expectations started to fade.

I can nearly hear the tone of Jesus’ voice and see his compassionate gaze as he senses the discomfort of the Disciples. Jesus knows the expectations of the Disciples are unraveling and he knows the words he speaks may not bring comfort or strength just yet; however, the words he gives are powerful and will replace the unrealistic expectations of the Disciples with truth that can never be shaken.

Jesus promises he has prepared a place for us. Our future is secure in him. Jesus states he is the way, the truth and the life. Through him we find the way to live our lives for God and enter into a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Jesus also reminds us that he is God and that through him we will be strengthened and enabled to live our lives for God. Jesus’ words replace the shaky ground of our own expectations and give us a firm foundation of truth.

We all need to be cautious of letting our expectations of God cloud our relationship with him. When we feel that God is not following our plan we need to go back to his words of truth. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me” (14:1). “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me” (14:3) “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (14:6). These are words we can hold onto when our expectations of life are crashing around us.

When have your expectations of God been based on tradition or misunderstanding like the Disciples? Have unrealistic expectations of God hurt your relationship with him? In times of confusion and trouble do you turn to the truth God has given us or do you rely on your own understanding? Will you allow God to strip away your expectations and replace them with the truth of his love, hope, and strength?

Apr '16

Blog: John 13:1-17 Getting Your Hands Dirty

Posted on Apr 19, 2016 in Blog, General, Scripture | Tags: bible, church, Jesus, John, John 13, journey, Scripture

Apr '16

I usually do not spend much time thinking about feet, but when I do I must confess that the words “No Trespassing” come to mind. I am not sure when or how I developed such an aversion to having someone mess with my feet. During my childhood, my Dad would wrestle with my brother, two sisters, and myself. Perhaps holding us down and tickling our feet left a permanent mark deep within me. Or maybe I cannot shake the thought of the many times one of my three precious girls would come and tickle my feet while I was peacefully resting in the permanent indention of my recliner. The thought of their little eyes peering over the foot rest brings warmth to my heart and yet confirms the reality of how much I dislike people messing with my feet.

I have always assumed that because I do not want someone touching my feet all others felt the same way. I was mistaken. During each of my wife’s pregnancies, I was asked, begged, or coerced, depending on your perspective, into massaging her feet. I must admit this was not easy for me. I understand that she was uncomfortable and miserable, but can I just go get the stereotypical pickles and ice cream at 1 AM? After weighing my options, I decided that a few foot massages were probably deserved under the circumstances brought about by pregnancy. Ultimately, my love for my wife overcame my phobia of feet and made getting out of my comfort zone bearable and even rewarding. I knew that this simple act helped make the pregnancy more endurable for my wife. Even in this simple act of massaging my wife’s feet I realized that there was nothing I would not do for her because of the love I have for her and she has for me.

All of this talk about feet leads us into one of the most powerful acts Jesus performed, and there was not one miracle to be found. John 13:1-17 is the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. This is the first story written by John in the second major part of the Gospel. The first major section of the Gospel focused on the signs Jesus performed which showed that he is the light shining in the darkness. This second section begins to show how he is also the light who will overcome the darkness. Jesus is clearly focused on the cross and the rest of the Gospel of John builds to the culmination of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

These next few chapters of John’s Gospel are powerful and amazing, but the section begins with the simple yet profound act of washing feet. Imagine what the disciples must have been thinking when Jesus, the Messiah, takes off his outer clothes, wraps a towel around his waist and proceeds to reach for their rough, dirty and smelly feet. Feet stained with the dirt from the roads of Jerusalem Jesus and the disciples had recently walked as Jesus entered the city with cries of “Hosanna” and “Blessed is the king of Israel.” Now this king, this Messiah is bowing before them and washing their feet. As Jesus scrubs and cleans the disciples’ feet his hands are stained with the dirt and grime that have built up after the miles of walking. The “King of kings,” “Lord of lords,” humbling himself to take up the work of a common slave. The silence in the room must have been deafening, only broken by the splashing of water. Surely the disciples simply sat in awe of what they were experiencing and witnessing. Jesus, washing each of their feet, even the feet of the one who would commit the ultimate act of betrayal.

When Jesus finishes, he no doubt has the complete attention of the disciples, and he says, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (13:14-15). This last week of Jesus’ life was not just about defeating sin and death. Jesus is showing the disciples and us what living a life in Christ is all about. Jesus is demonstrating the true nature what following him is all about; serving. We are called to serve God which means we serve others. Jesus does not simply talk about serving or give some spiritual, mystical definition of what serving means. Jesus physically serves through the washing of feet and ultimately through giving his body to be crucified. If this is the example the Savior of the world gives to use, what does that mean for us?

As Christians we are called to serve as Jesus served. This means we get our hands dirty. Serving as Christ served will take us to places where we are out of our comfort zone. We should not settle for talking about serving or simply applauding when others serve, we need to grab a rag and start washing feet. This may mean going to people overlooked by society and offering them the love of Christ through serving them. One thing is clear, when we serve as Jesus served our hands will get dirty.

Our first thought may be that we can never serve as Christ, but when we open our hearts to the amazing love Christ has shown us through his mighty acts of service we find ourselves compelled to respond. God’s gracious love motivates and strengthens us to live the life of a servant. Are you getting your hands dirty for God?

Apr '16

Blog: Peeling Back the Fog

Posted on Apr 8, 2016 in Blog, General | Tags: church, encouragement, Jesus, journey, journey elgin

Apr '16

While going to college at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene Texas, I became very familiar with a stretch of road on Hwy 277. About twenty miles Southwest of Abilene the road changes from the stereotypical straight, flat, and open terrain of West Texas into a curving, undulating and tight stretch of road. Granted the use of the term ‘mountains’ cannot be used here, but when compared to the flat terrain of the surrounding area these hills come as quite a surprise to the unsuspecting driver. No longer will your cruise and lane assist feature in your car keep you on the road. You actually have to grab the wheel and move your foot back and forth from the gas to the break in order to navigate through the hills of the Callahan Divide.

As youth pastor back in my hometown of Sterling City, I drove this stretch of road nearly every week for three years. Obviously, I became very familiar with the curves and undulations of this road. One night as I entered this stretch of road, there was an unexpected guest that joined me; fog. I have driven in fog many times, but this time was different. The visibility was extremely limited, the lights from my vehicle were only marginally better than using nothing at all, and the curves and undulations I had become so familiar with were now hidden; but, no less real. The curves I had learned to manage during normal conditions were now elevated to a much higher degree of risk. The addition of the fog made me acutely aware of the challenges the road always posed.

In order to portray the façade of being manly, I could tell you I just plowed into the fog with little care or worry: however, this would be a blatant lie. I was scared. The fog was so thick I knew I could end up off the road, in the oncoming lane or being rear-ended without even knowing it. No matter what, I was going to face danger. I can remember trying to recall the curves of the road that had been ingrained in my memory through repetition. I began thinking about this stretch of road in a completely different way than normal; I couldn’t just casually navigate through the hills as usual, I needed to focus. The fog was challenge on its own, but the fog also accentuated the danger that was always there.

I can’t help but think that life is similar to this situation. Even in the best of circumstances, life always presents us with challenges and danger just like that stretch of road on Hwy 277. For the most part, we learn to handle the common curves life has for us; however, sometimes the fog hits. In times like these we are reminded of the unpredictability of life and how little control we really have. Life can change just as quickly as the fog roles in and out. Around nine months ago our family encountered a fog of life; cancer. When my Mom was diagnosed with cancer we all experienced the shock and emotional weight that all feel when a family member is diagnosed with cancer. It was amazing how this added emotional weight permeated all aspects of life. The fog of cancer brings into focus how difficult navigating the road of life can be.

Jesus’ disciples must have experienced a powerful fog when Jesus was sealed up in that tomb. Suddenly, their lives were torn apart. Everything they believed to be true and gave them hope for the future was sealed up with Jesus. How would they be able to navigate life without the one who gave them purpose and hope? Those few days must have been so dark for the followers of Jesus. They had to feel completely helpless. While the disciples were still engulfed in the fog life had covered them with, something began to stir within the tomb. As the stone was pushed aside, the radiant glory of the risen Christ began to fill the earth like the sunrays at daybreak. Hope, love, and joy entered into the world in a new and powerful way. The only thing that would help the disciples navigate through the fog had happened. Their lives would not get easier, but now they had a new light to live by.

You will find yourself in the fog of life at some point. Maybe you are there now. I want to encourage you remember the truth of the resurrection. The new life we have in Christ does not mean the fog will never come, but that when it does we have a navigator; one who peels back the fog and allows us to experience hope and joy. The outcome in this life is not certain, but the reality of Christ’s presence is unquestionable.

Right now our family is celebrating the fact that my Mom’s cancer is in complete remission. The road has not been easy and the outcome was not always certain; however, the presence of Christ was always certain. Ultimately, we were able to find hope and joy in the midst of the fog. And if the fog returns we know our navigator has never left us.

In order to make it through the fog filled hills outside of Abilene I had to slow down and rely on what I knew about that stretch of road. I had to focus. If you are in the fog, slow down and focus. Focus on the one who is with you always. The one who is there to rejoice with you and mourn with you. No fog is too thick to blot out the power of our risen Christ.

Apr '15

Blog: He Is alive…overcoming fear

Posted on Apr 30, 2015 in Blog, General | Tags: bible, church, encouragement, faith, hope, Jesus, journey, journey elgin, Scripture

Apr '15

Just before Easter I shared about an experience I had at McDonald’s that led me to refocus on the simple but powerful fact that Jesus is alive. Everything else in our lives, no matter how big or small, should be seen through the lens of knowing Jesus is alive. This sounds great, but what does this really mean for us practically? How does the fact that Jesus is alive make a difference in our daily lives?

Nearly fourteen years ago, my wife and I went on our honeymoon to Cozumel, Mexico. The whole trip was a wonderful experience. (I will now pause for those immature readers to chuckle like a middle school boys and make silly comments regarding the activities we all know take place on a honeymoon…. and we continue) While in Cozumel we had the opportunity to go either snorkeling or scuba diving, both of which should be done at some point in your life if possible; however, there are some natural fears you will have to overcome in order to participate in these activities. Molly and I chose to go scuba diving. As we went through the crash course of learning how to breath underwater, I realized there was more to submersing yourself underwater for an extended period of time than I had initially considered. I learned that I am very attached to the freedom of breathing on my own terms. Putting a large piece of molded rubber into my mouth and plunging underneath the water revealed the extent to which I enjoy freedom in breathing. Eventually, after what was I’m sure a very thorough 20-minute crash course, we began our descent into the ocean as experienced scuba diving veterans ready to breath and swim under the sea.

Having overcome the breathing fears, I now focused on taking in all of the sea life God has created and I must say, it was amazing. The vivid colors of the corral, fish, and plant life cannot be fully captured by a photo. Seeing the world under the sea with my own eyes was inspirational. At one point in the midst of the beauty and tranquility of the sea I looked in the distance and saw a dark shadow. Then the shadow began to move and all of the sudden the beauty and tranquility did not matter to me in the least. I began to feel the fear rise within me, and my body responded by going into one big muscle cramp. Everything tightened and my heart felt like it was going to stop. I should say that I put myself between my wife and the huge sea creature, but I seem to have forgotten about anything other than the large creature in the distance. The creature was actually a barracuda and I am fairly sure this particular barracuda was the largest in recorded human history. These creatures are very intimidating and after the fight or flight response kicked in I know I tried to literally run away, which must have looked very interesting. My initial response was, “get me out of this place right now, I am no longer in control.” The reality of the environment I was in became crystal clear when confronted with fear. I knew I was at the mercy of the sea and a great white shark sized barracuda. Of course you know that my writing this proves nothing horrible happened and in hindsight the barracuda could not have cared less about us, he would much rather go eat Nemo.

In the earliest copies of the Gospel of Mark we have, Mark 16:8 is the last verse. The verse reads like this: “Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.” (NIV version) Fear was a very powerful emotion the women and all the other followers of Jesus were experiencing in the days following the death of Jesus. Fear was immobilizing the followers of Jesus and they did not know what to do or believe. They found themselves in an environment where they had no control and they just wanted out. Something had to pull them out of the clutches of fear. Even though Mark ends abruptly, the fact that we are reading Mark today points to something happening that was powerful enough to overcome the fear the followers of Jesus were facing. Simply put, their fears were conquered when they saw Jesus was alive!

So often we allow fear to immobilize us. Fear of failure in our families, with our finances, and in our jobs can bring constant stress. The fear of evil in the world and bad things happening to us can easily keep us from ever getting out of bed in the morning. In many cases we have allowed ourselves to believe that overcoming fear requires the object of our fear to be removed. Unfortunately, if we are honest with ourselves we know this can never really happen. In all areas of life the possibility of things going wrong and possible very wrong exists. There will always be reasons to be fearful and if we are waiting to act or live until all fear is removed we will never act or truly live. In order to overcome fear we do not need the fear removed, but rather an assurance that we are not alone.

The early followers of Jesus remained fearful until they experienced the risen Christ. The fear of being arrested or killed still existed after Jesus appeared to them, but now they knew He was with them. Their ultimate strength did not come from one another, even though that was important. Remember, they were hiding in fear together. Their ultimate strength to act and get on with living came from knowing Jesus is alive. In fact, many of those early followers of Christ would be killed or arrested; yet, they no longer allowed that possibility to deter them from living the way Christ called them to live. They knew the risen Christ was with them always, no matter the circumstance of life.

Fear keeps us from living life to the fullest and Jesus came so we could have life abundantly. If I would have refused to use an uncomfortable and probably very unsanitary breathing apparatus, I would not have experienced the beauty and tranquility of a world I never truly knew existed until I saw it with my own eyes. Step out into a new world today. A world in which the same fears exist, but they are viewed from a position of victory rather than anxiety. At times, fear will seize us, but know that you are not alone, press forward with the strength that only comes from the risen Christ. Jesus is Alive!

Apr '15

Blog: Missing the Point

Posted on Apr 2, 2015 in Blog, General | Tags: bible, church, Easter, encouragement, faith, He is Alive, hope, Jesus, journey, journey elgin, Scripture

Apr '15

I had an unexpected and powerful experience today in an unexpected place. I think you may need a little background to better grasp this experience, so please bear with me. For many pastors and church staff this week feels a whole lot like the opening sentence to the classic book “A Tale of Two Cities.” To be honest this is a book everyone was probably supposed to read and many will claim to have read every page. I however, doubt I ever read the whole thing, but I can throw out the first line to make myself look smarter. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” is a line that rings true this week. I love Easter week and yet I am usually overwhelmed by everything this week is not really about.

This morning I decided to leave the house to go to a quiet and serene location in order to finish or start, depending on how you look at it, preparing for our Good Friday and Easter services. The library is normally my first choice, but because of a horrible mistake I woke up too early and the library does not open until 10. Apparently, in my mind the next most logical place for a quiet and serene preparation place is McDonalds (they do have free wi-fi). As I stand in line to order a healthy and delicious McGriddle meal I begin to take in my surroundings and realize my decision-making paradigm for finding a quiet and serene preparation location needs to be altered dramatically. First, there were very few open places to sit and even fewer that look to have been cleaned due to the excessive number of people ordering the healthy and delicious breakfast value meals. Secondly, I realize there is a constant conversation going on between the very busy workers as they are trying their best to keep up with the ever-growing number of people being drawn to sweet taste of the McGriddle like a swarm of moths to a bonfire. Thankfully, by the time I order, a table has come open. I sprint toward the table in order to claim my little island in the midst of the sea of chaos that is McDonalds.

After enjoying the wonderful McGriddle, I decided to begin/finish my preparation, but before I could even start, my mind started to go through a mental checklist of everything that needed to be done this week. Between preparing for family coming in to town and trying to remember everything that needs to be done for our two services, my mind had plenty of places to wander. Just about the time I am reeling my mind back to where it needs to be, a voice reminiscent of a blow horn bellows through the restaurant, “number 321 please… NUMBER 321 PLEASE!” I said a quick prayer asking the owner of number 321 to please show up at the counter as fast as humanly possible. Finally, I began to focus on my preparation.

I must confess to you that there are times preparing for services and sermons can become somewhat mechanical and routine. This is not to say the Holy Spirit is not involved, but there are times when doing your job feels like doing a job. A hectic week and sitting in the chaotic atmosphere of McDonalds is not the most conducive atmosphere for sermon preparation. As I was reading, thinking and hashing out an order of service I watched a worship video I have seen many times. The final words on the video were, “He is Alive!” That’s it, nothing unusually profound or revolutionary. All of the sudden, in the middle of McDonald’s mind you, my eyes start to tear up. I am fairly sure in the midst of the order calling, cleaning, devouring of McGriddles and general chaos, that not many would notice a grown man balling by himself in the corner; however, I did my best to compose myself. The emotion continued to build and all I could think about was that He is Alive.

On Palm Sunday, I preached about how so many people missed the point of who Jesus was and what he did as he entered Jerusalem. I cautioned us all about how easy it is for us to miss the point as well. There in the middle of McDonalds I realized I had been missing the point. The point is that He is Alive! The preparation of a service remembering Jesus’ death on Good Friday is pointless unless, He is Alive. Preparing for Easter and celebrating the resurrection is pointless unless, He is as Alive and active today as he was on that first Easter morning. In the midst of the chaos of our lives the fact that He is Alive brings purpose, joy, and peace. Do I still need to finish many of the tasks that were swirling in my mind, yes, but those tasks are put into perspective when they fall under the realization that He is Alive.

Don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed by the unending list of tasks in your life or so involved in participating in the events of Easter that you forget He is Alive! Who would have thought in the middle of a hectic week while sitting in the chaos of McDonalds I would find the perfect spot of peace and serenity. All because, He is Alive!