I have been thinking about brothers and sisters a lot this week. I’ve been thinking about my brother, who I lost 20 years ago. I’ve been thinking about my sister, who I lost a week ago.

Brothers and sisters hold a dear place in our lives. We love them…and sometimes they drive us crazy (but we still love them).

I miss mine. A lot.

But I have one more brother…and so do you…

So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father.
That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.
Hebrews 2:11, NLT

That’s pretty cool if you ask me…Jesus calls us His brothers and sisters.

And He’s not going anywhere.

“Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?
He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!
Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man
must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified,
and that he would rise again on the third day.”
Luke 24:5-7, NLT

Last Saturday night Anita was taking the boys to my mom’s so that we could go on a date night. On the way there someone asks why we have church on Sunday (I assume because the next day was Sunday). Anita started to explain that we have church on Sunday because that’s the day Jesus rose from the grave on Easter.

She went on to explain that the women came to Jesus’ grave with spices on the Sunday after He had died on the cross and that’s when they found that the tomb was empty. And that’s when Kyle does what he often does—says something you never expect. It went something like this:

Anita: “The women went to the tomb with spices to put on Jesus.”

Kyle: “Spices? You mean, like salsa?!?”

That’s my boy!

This morning I had a powerful time with God…one of those moments that come when you least expect it. For me, these times are typically marked by God showing me how much He cares for me, but this morning was different. This morning God showed me a glimpse of my own journey with Him—He showed me a part of myself that I need to be aware of. It came from this passage:

So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you),
why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more
to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?
Galatians 4:9, NLT

I have read this particular verse I don’t know how many times…but I have never read it like I did this morning. I have been a slave to many tings in my  life…including “the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world”. What are the spiritual principles of this world? Anything that points away from God to something else…idolatry. For some it’s about money and power. For others it’s narcissism (maybe most?). For some it’s an addiction. For others it’s loneliness. The list goes on and on…

As I read this verse this morning I was captured by the first part—the fact that I know God, but more importantly, He knows me! And because I have this relationship with Him I should not be drawn back into my old pattern, my old addictions, my old life. It calls to me often. But then, so does He.

So instead of being a slave to anything in this world, I am a slave to Jesus. I am His. I belong to Him. And He knows me…He knows me better than I know myself. So I am going to cling to Him and work more and more to get to Him better and let Him know me better to.  That’s not easy because it means I have to open myself up to Him and to others…and that leaves me vulnerable. But it also leaves me open to His love.

Like I said…I belong to Him. I can’t wait to see where He leads!

While this video is fun, the message is better than my typical Friday Fodder video. This was done by a church in Abilene, Texas and is based on Colossians 1:27: “For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.”

The Stethescope

I am not sure that you’d hear “The Hallelujah Chorus”…I think we can do better but I’m not much of an audiophile to come up with a better song, but I am working on it.

So how about it? What song would you hear??

No…no that mood.  I typically take awhile to get into the mood for Christmas…into the Christmas spirit. I blame the retailers since they keep pushing the date back further and further (soon they will start before Halloween). And Christmas always seems to get here too fast…it sneaks up on me and I’m not ready.

But this year is different! I am turning over a new leaf. We put our tree up on the last day of November and I am already in full Christmas music mode. No bah-humbug for me this year. I am in the mood already. And I am ready for all of it: the lights, the carols, the food, the family, the parties, the gifts…and of course, the real reason for the season…celebrating the best gift of all!!

So here ya go…

I have started a new class for school and it is one I have been looking forward to for some tie now: Spiritual Formation. The class has kept me busy (you may have noticed the slow down in posts this past week), but it’s a good kind of busy as we talk about, learn about, and experience walking with Christ in our daily lives. It has been a challenge to my personal walk and an opportunity for growth.

This past week we’ve been talking about many topics (i.e.: God’s grace, the journey, struggles and trials, et al). But today a question that Jesus asked His own disciples has embedded itself in my spirit:

“But who do you say I am?”
Matthew 16:15, NLT

Paul immediately speaks up for the group and gives a great answer: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” and Jesus praises him for His answer. It’s a great passage, a great story, with a great message. But that wasn’t what stuck with me. Jesus wasn’t just asking His disciples this question. He’s asking me and He’s asking you this very same question: But who do you say I am?”

How about it? Who do we say Jesus is? What does my life say about Jesus? Do I speak Jesus at all? Do others know about Jesus though my life? And if so…what am I saying about Jesus?

And what do I really believe about Jesus? Who do I say and who do I think Jesus is? Who is Jesus to me?

My Redeemer. My Lord. My Savior. My Friend.

How about you? Who do you say Jesus is? Let’s hear it…

Jesus has come home. He has made a stop with His disciples in His home town…His old stomping grounds. He is among the people that now Him best. He is teaching. He is healing.

And they don’t buy it…

Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?
He’s just a carpenter…They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
Mark 6:2-3, NLT

Ouch…sometimes it hurts to go home again. But there was more going on here than just a bunch of “homers” that didn’t believe in Jesus. Their lack of faith had a profound affect…one that we would do well to consider carefully…

And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles
among them except to place his hands on a few sick people
and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Mark 6:5-6, NLT

Wow…because of their lack of faith, Jesus was unable to perform miracles among them. Their unbelief had the power to limit Jesus’ power. Now, of course, Jesus still had the power to perform miracles (He does so later in this same chapter). But their unbelief limited the power and affect of Jesus in themselves.

How about you and me? Do we limit the affect and power of Christ in our own lives because of our unbelief? Our lack of faith? Have we limited what God wants to (and can) do in our lives because we just don’t have enough faith?

Is God amazed at our unbelief? Is Jesus amazed at your unbelief? I wonder…

This morning God led me back to a passage He had me in almost a month ago (told you I was a slow learner): John 15:9-17. Then it was about “remaining in His love”. Today was a slight variation on that theme (although they are related).

First, Jesus starts off with this:

When you obey my commandments,you remain in my love,
just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
John 15:10, NLT

You are my friends if you do what I command.
John 15:14, NLT

I don’t know about you, but two things came to mind here when I read this:

1. Yuck…I hate commands. I hate being told what to do (my authority issues)
2. OK, now that my tantrum is over…what exactly is Jesus commanding anyway?

The first reaction is of course not so good…but it blows by quickly. The second however is important. What is Jesus’ command for us? If we are supposed to follow His commandments, if we are supposed to do what He commands…what is it? (And of course we always think it’s going to be hard and no fun).

Jesus gives us the answer in this very same passage…twice (and it’s still easy to miss)…

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
John 15:12, NLT

This is my command: Love each other.
John 15:17, NLT

Doesn’t sound so bad right?

Or does it?

I’m off to give it try…

This topic of faith has come up several times this week. This morning was the real eye opener. I was reading Mark Chapter 5 when it came up. In the second part of the chapter a man named Jarius comes to Jesus because his daughter is sick. As was common, Jesus agrees to go to this man’s house and heal the little girl.

But something happens along the way. In this case, something good. A woman who needs healing reaches out and touches Jesus’ robe and is healed. Jesus feels it happen and stops to see who it was. He commends the woman for her faith and tells her that her suffering if over. Great story. I’ve heard and read it many times. But usually something gets lost in the story…

While he was still speaking to her,
messengers arrived from the home of Jairus,
the leader of the synagogue.
They told him, “Your daughter is dead.
There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”
Mark 5:35, NLT

Total downer! Jesus is in the middle of doing a good thing and they get the news that this man’s daughter (who Jesus was supposed to be healing) is dead. Now you and I can already imagine our reaction…can put ourselves in Jarius’ shoes for a minute. I gotta tell ya…I don’t think I’d have a very good reaction. And what do I expect Jesus to say? Some words of comfort maybe (that’s what we would say). Or maybe even the miraculous…something like, “No worries…I’ve got ya covered. She’ll be OK!” But that’s not what Jesus says. Here is his response:

But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus,
“Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” 
Mark 5:36, NLT

He has just been told that his daughter is dead and what is Jesus’ response? “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” Wow. Not what you’d expect (but Jesus rarely does the expected does He?). And that’s our message too. If Jarius is supposed to not be afraid and have faith in his situation, the worst imaginable, how about you and me? Of course, we know the answer…but doing it is far different than thinking about it. When tough times come, when bills are piling up, when our kids are acting like aliens, when life happens…Jesus’ response?

Don’t be afraid.
Just have faith.