Because me? I am a screw up.

To the random person that only knows me from outward appearances or the ones that see me 2-3 days a week when they are dropping off or picking up their kids at preschool I work at it may not seem like I need Jesus that bad.

But I do.

And I have come into every Easter this way. With my hands out, my heart open, almost one dimensionally being thankful the He died on the cross for me.

But this year?

My Easter went from being a singular picture, one page summary, to a story. (more…)

Having grown up in the church and being a Christian most of my life, it’s really easy for me to get caught up in the routine of things. To take for granted stories and events I’ve heard or been to a hundred times. It’s not that I mean to do this, I think it’s just something we as humans have to purposely overcome, and a lot of times I”m not in the mindset to think about over coming it. So I just go along through the motions, happy to celebrate, but ultimately seeing things through the lens of experience. (more…)

Today our focus is in the crucifixion of Jesus. This is a painful and somber event without doubt. To realize that an innocent man was brutally tortured and murdered simply for spreading the love and peace of God’s Kingdom to those typically considered unworthy of such love. That’s how this story is seen on the surface anyway. On another level we know that the death of Jesus was required as atonement for the sin condition of humanity. On this day we try to understand the pain and loss that Jesus mother, siblings and followers would have been experiencing. The weight of this event is so crucial for us to bear; even to the small degree we are able in our time and culture. For without feeling the sorrow of Jesus death, we cannot fully comprehend the joy of his resurrection. After all, this season of Lent and the Good Friday observances are themselves preparation for the declaration that Jesus is alive. One of my favorite sermons of all time is titled “Its Friday… but Sunday’s comin’!” The preacher in this message, encourages the church that no matter how dark or defeated things may look when Jesus is on the cross, don’t write him yet… because Sunday’s comin’! No matter how bleak or hopeless the situation may look when Jesus gives up his life and dies, don’t give up hope… because Sunday’s comin’! No matter how menacing the enemy and the powers of evil may appear as the stone is rolled in front of the tomb, do not lose sight of who Jesus claimed to be… because Sunday’s comin’! So as we necessarily acknowledge and experience the pain and suffering that resulted from the crucifixion of Jesus, let’s not write Jesus off as being irrelevant, let’s not give up hope in his healing power, and let’s not lose sight of the promises he made to his followers… because SUNDAY IS COMING! And we all know what happened on Sunday!!! (more…)

This day we focus on the healing and conversion that is offered by God through faith in Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. As we face our temptations, turn away from our desires that are driven by our sinful nature and turn towards God we are now in a place where healing can happen and ongoing conversion can take place.  Some people are blessed with a healing experience that seems immediate and miraculous. This is an amazing gift and should always be celebrated. But it should never been seen as the only way God heals. The reality is that most people experience God’s healing, and their own conversion, as a process. There is often a lot of struggle and anguish involved in this process as well. But what we usually notice is that God begins to redeem our pain and struggles to be used for helping and encouraging others that are walking just steps or even miles behind us on the same path. And in a very strange and beautiful way, the more we help others heal the more we are healed ourselves.  For some people it may seem weird to talk of conversion as a process. For so long the church has taught that conversion is the point of decision. The moment when a person decides to follow Jesus. The few seconds they spent saying a carefully scripted prayer they were asked to repeat. But again, the reality is that there is usually a lot of preparation that happens in a person’s life before they get to that point, and hopefully there is also a lot of preparation that happens after that moment as well. So that brief snapshot in their life is only part of the process. A very important part to be sure, but still just a part. (more…)

Following yesterday’s call to turn FROM sin, today’s call is to turn TO God. To actively seek out Jesus. To recognize the times in our life when come face to face with Christ. Jesus calls us to follow, but he never forces. An invitation is extended, but it is up to us if we accept it. We must make a choice to follow God. As we purge follow Jesus and adopt his way of life, we purge the old stuff out of our lives. As we purge our lives of things other than God, a void can be left. If we do not intentionally fill that space with the things of God we can leave our lives open for all kinds of junk to creep back in. But this choosing to turn to God and fill our lives with things that are good and right is not a onetime event. It is an ongoing journey, a process that does not end in this life. (more…)

Today we examine our need to intentionally turn from our natural tendency to put ourselves or something else before God. The season of Lent is a time to be reminded that God is on the throne of the universe and should be on the throne of our lives as well. One of the ways we remind our flesh that it is not the center of the world is by depriving it of some of its desires. The practice of fasting can serve as a training exercise to help our body realize that it is not in charge and its desires do not control us. Fasting, from food, media, sugar, etc. is a chance for us to refocus our cravings for those things, towards a desire for God and the things of the Spirit. The act of repentance begins with turning away from the things we chase after, in place of God. (more…)

I am free from one of my own worst enemies: my tendency to be mad when I don’t finish something the way I wanted to. Like this blog where I purposed myself to write everyday during the days of Lent. 40 days to be exact that would mark my devotion to the deeper spiritual practices of daily examen. I even offered to share these daily nuggets with my faith community on their homepage. I started strong, was hit mid-stream with a writer’s dilemma (how much to share and how much not to share), and sort of petered off in my resolve to write everyday.

Usually these starts and stops are quickly followed by some self-debasing language that seems to scold me like some highly critical parent. “See. You never finish what you start. See. You always stop before you finish. See. You’re late.”  During this highly introspective and contemplative season of my life, I have not had the time or space to spend with these voices of criticism and control. Instead, other voices have beckoned me onward and forward. (more…)