"You shall call His name Jesus" - Christmas 2019

In each Gospel account of the birth of Jesus – Matthew and Luke – both Mary and Joseph are told exactly what to name their miracle baby. In Matthew 1, we read Joseph was told that Mary was going to give birth to a baby that was conceived by the Holy Spirit; “and you shall call His name Jesus” (verse 21).  In his book “Why the Nativity?” Dr. David Jeremiah explains, “Jesus is just the Greek equivalent of Joshua, which means “God saves” ”.  This makes the second half of Matthew 1:21 all the more powerful: “and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

To be saved from sin is a big deal.  A Got questions.org article states, “We are all infected with sin (Romans 3:23).  We are born with sin (Psalm 51:5), and we all personally choose to sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8).  Sin is what makes us unsaved.  Sin is what separates us from God.  Sin is what has us on the path to eternal destruction.” (Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/how-can-I-be-saved.html).

Some people see this sin dilemma, and they pursue works of righteousness to try and fix it.  But this endeavor is doomed to fail.  Interestingly, this is demonstrated in the film “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012).  This movie is something of a mixed bag – in fact, in 2014, I blogged about both the great moments of this film, and the moments that weren’t so great – I was already thinking about this movie for today’s blog, but on this specific point, I must credit author Bruce Green.  He notes,

“One of the storylines is the saving of Selina Kyle…We find out early in the movie that she is pointedly aware that her use, abuse, and stay-one-step-ahead lifestyle will catch up to her someday so she is pursuit of “a clean slate” a program that will erase her record from all databases and allow her to start over.  In her desperation for this new life, she is willing to temporarily push further into the darkness and work for those who are truly evil in exchange for the clean slate.  She is cheated by them (they have no such device)…Her own attempts to clean her slate and begin a new life have come up despairingly empty…It’s not hard to see the gospel parallels…Her pursuit of the new life through her guile is the sinner’s fruitless attempt to save themselves apart from Christ and His grace”  (https://sites.google.com/site/atasteofgracewithbrucegreen/Home/at-the-movies/-there-s-more-to-you-than-that-the-dark-knight-rises).

Maybe you can relate to Selina Kyle’s quest.  I have in mind that someone is going to read this who has been plagued with guilt.  You have done things that you feel are so reprehensible, you feel you are beyond redemption and forgiveness.  Sure, you may go through the motions of this Christmas season, but in your heart and soul, you are bowed down under the weight of your sin and shame.  I hope and pray that today you can see the truth of Christmas: Jesus Christ was born in a manger.  But there’s much more to the story than that.  He grew up, lived a perfect life, and He paid the price for all of your sin.

That same got questions.org article says, “Because the just penalty for sin is infinite and eternal, only God could pay the penalty, because only He is infinite and eternal.  But God, in His divine nature, could not die.  So God became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ.  God took on human flesh, lived among us, and taught us.  When the people rejected Him and His message, and sought to kill Him, He willingly sacrificed Himself for us, allowing Himself to be crucified (John 10:15).  Because Jesus Christ was human, He could die; and because Jesus Christ was God, His death had an eternal and infinite value.  Jesus’ death on the cross was the perfect and complete payment for our sin (1 John 2:2).”

How did the story end for Selina Kyle?  Once again, Bruce Green puts it so well in his description of the film:

“In the end, Wayne gives her the device.  It’s a free gift; she’s done nothing to earn it and she says as much (“You’re going to trust me with that?  After what I did to you?”).  But there’s a call that comes with the gift.  He needs her help.  Later, he repeats it when she suggests she is simply going to go her own way.  He tells her, “There’s more to you than that.”  And there is.”

 

Ultimately, Selina proves him right and fights by Bruce Wayne’s side.  In fact, at the film’s very end, after he had saved the city, we see that Bruce had ran away with Selina to live in solitude and anonymity.  Evidently, she had used the clean slate device after the battle; free of her past sins, but now devoted to Bruce.  Jesus has the same offer for a clean slate for you.  “You shall call His name Jesus,” Joseph was told in Matthew 1:21, “For He shall save His people from their sins.”  My prayer is, if you haven’t accepted the gift of forgiveness of sins and fellowship with Jesus, make today the day. 

Kevin

"Prone to wander"

I want to begin today by stating that this year is the 80th anniversary of the beloved classic The Wizard of Oz.  There are so many memorable quotes, characters, and moments that I could highlight, but let me give this one. When Dorothy was about to conclude her adventure in Oz and return home, she said her tearful goodbyes to her friends.  When she came to the Tin Man – who initially didn’t have a heart – he remarked, “Now I know I have a heart, because it’s breaking.”

Last month, I heard the news that author and speaker, Joshua Harris has essentially disavowed his Christian faith.  Let me quote his words, and give the accompanied link:

“I have undergone a massive shift in my faith in Jesus.  The popular phrase for this is ‘deconstruction,’ the biblical phrase is ‘falling away.’  By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian.”  He went on to say: “I have lived in repentance the past few years – repenting of my self-righteousness, my fear-based approach to life, [and] the teaching of my books.”

(https://www.christiantoday.com/article/joshua-harris-now-says-he-is-no-longer-a-christian/132922.htm)

This made me think of the Tin Man’s statement because this development broke my heart.  I’ve heard Joshua speak.  I have read his books.  Certainly not everyone agreed with his first work I Kissed Dating Goodbye, but it was clear that he had a strong voice for Christ and a desire to please God.  To see where he is now, throwing in the spiritual towel and turning his back on God, fills me with tremendous sadness.  

I thought I would share what I would say to Joshua if I had to opportunity to speak to him.  As I do this, maybe it will help you too.  I would begin by acknowledging that any honest Christian will admit that it is easy to drift away from God, if you aren’t careful.  The old hymn puts it this way: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.  Prone to leave the God I love.”  If you aren’t vigilant and on guard, it snowballs, and then one day it dawns on you just how far you’ve drifted.

The question is: what do you do at that point?  After a lifetime of espousing the truths of Christianity, you declare, “I’m no longer a Christian.”  Or maybe you are reading this and you’ve suffered a tragedy you never thought possible. A loved one has committed suicide.  You lost a family member in a car accident.  Perhaps you haven't gone as far as Joshua Harris and disavowed your Christianity (although maybe you have).  Maybe you are just holding on by a thread, spiritually speaking.

First of all, I want you to hear my heart on this.  I know very well that life is tough and can be full of heart-breaking pain.  The Bible says, “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).  I would never minimize or deny the reality of your pain.  Having said this, I want to submit the words of Rebecca St. James from decades ago.  I think they are just as relevant as the day she said them.  In a TV special that was presented back in the late 90’s she conveyed the message that I would say not only to Joshua Harris, but also to you in your time of struggle and need.  She said this:

“God is the only one that’s not going to let you down.  He is the only one that’s going to be that strong foundation that we need…To the person who is hard, to the person who has given up and said, ‘Yeah, Christianity, whatever.  I’ve seen those televangelists.  I’ve seen them fall; I’ve seen them have affairs.’  [To] the person that is like that I would say: trust again; try again; hope again.  He will not let you down.  He is there.  Soften your heart towards God.”

Kevin 

"I'll follow You anywhere"?

There is a song called Follow You Anywhere by the Christian group Passion that grips me emotionally.  The chorus says, “You are the refuge I run to.  You are the fire that leads me through the night; I’ll follow You anywhere.  There’s a million reasons to trust You, nothing to fear for You are by my side, I’ll follow You anywhere.” 

The writer of this song, Kristian Stanfill, speaks of the story behind this song at this website (https://www.newreleasetoday.com/article.php?article_id=2571).  At one point, she states, “I wrestled with the lyrics in the bridge: “Wherever you lead me/Whatever it costs me/All I want is You.”  To be completely honest, I can feel people shrink back from those lyrics.  It is a costly thing to say…I like my life and my comforts and the stuff that I have.  Am I okay with saying yes to whatever Jesus asks me to do?  The answer has to be yes.”  Perhaps that’s why I get so emotional whenever I sing this song.  It is a song of surrender.  It’s a chance to stop and think about how and where God is leading me.

For example, when I was a teenager, I read Eric and Leslie’s wonderful book When God Writes Your Love Story.  In one chapter, they tell the story of a man named Matt who married Lisa, after years of waiting for God to lead him to the right woman. Matt was 32 years old when they got married.  Tongue in cheek, the statement is made that some of the readers were surely praying, “Please don’t make me wait until I’m 32!”  I never would have envisioned when I first read that section, that I would be single at 38.  “Am I okay with saying yes to whatever God asks me to do?”  Kristian Stanfill asks.  “The answer has to be yes.”  I’m willing to wait for God’s best; God’s choice for me.  And that’s not always easy.

Or for another example, I recently celebrated my 15 year anniversary at my current job.  I cannot believe that it has been that long.  Furthermore, to be transparent, sometimes I feel like I don’t the physical or emotional strength for the job anymore.  The work was always stressful (trying to make someone happy when they are hungry is extremely challenging), but I was able to throw the stress off easier in my younger days.  Yet I’m still there, and I will be until God leads me somewhere else.

I could give other examples, but frankly at the forefront of my mind is how, 4 years ago, my life took an unexpected turn when my dad passed away at the age of 60.  “You are the refuge I run to,” Passion’s song declares.  “You are the fire that leads me through the night; I’ll follow You anywhere.  There’s a million reasons to trust You, nothing to fear for You are by my side, I’ll follow You anywhere.”  Through it all, I can say as the classic hymn puts it: “Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, morning by morning, new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided, great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.”

Kevin 

Homesick

For 10 years, the Bauer family was blessed to sit under the Biblical teaching of Bill Oudemolen.  But not long after my dad passed away, for various reasons, my mom and I decided to begin attending another church.  It was sad, but seasons inevitably change.  In 2017, Pastor Bill wrote a blog that recently came back to my mind.  I was so impacted by his words, I wish I could cite more, but I’ll refrain.  I will, of course, have the link below, and I would encourage you to read his words that day in their entirety.  Here is some of what he wrote:

“After 24 days in Michigan it feels amazing to be home.  My own bed.  My own shower.  My own towels.  My own car.  My own drawers, closets, and easy chair… Being away from home can be refreshing and exciting.  It's fun to see different places, have different experiences, and eat in different restaurants.  Travel can be just what the doctor ordered.  But after a certain period of time, I find myself longing to get home.  I think that is one of the benefits of travel - it makes you long for home.  Home is where you feel safe, comfortable, and at ease.  You don't have to be up or get ready for anything...you just get to be home.

I've been relishing being home all day today, and then out of the blue it struck me that I'm actually not home yet.  Yep, here comes the sermonette!  The great theologian Carrie Underwood refers to this as our "Temporary Home."  There's a praise song with this lyric - "All I know is that I'm not home yet."  The old Gospel song put it this way - "This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through."  For the Christian, our earthly homes are temporary dwellings.  This is not our final home.  In many ways, we’re just camping here.”

(Source: https://milehighrev.typepad.com/mile_high_rev/2017/07/home.html)

This month marks the 4 year anniversary of my dad unexpectedly entering his eternal home in Heaven.  To lose him was the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to me.  I miss him.  But there is great comfort and hope in knowing that because of his personal relationship with Jesus, Dad is home in Heaven.  The Christian group Mercy Me expresses my heart’s cry with this line: “I’ve never been more homesick than now” (full lyrics can be found at http://www.metrolyrics.com/homesick-lyrics-mercy-me.html).

Kevin

Birthday thoughts

I recently heard a supposed minister of the gospel proclaim, “You know the directions to Heaven?  Turn right, stay straight.”  I vehemently disagree.  The Bible says that only the person who has a right relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, will enter the blissful existence of Heaven.

In John 14, Jesus said these words to His disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, trust also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you.  I am going to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place I am going."  Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me” (verses 1-6).  What are the directions to Heaven?  It’s not through effort, conduct, or works; it is through Jesus Christ alone.

You see, humanity chose to turn its back on God, because of sin.  No one is perfect or sinless.  “There is no one righteous, not even one.  There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.  All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12).  “We all, like sheep, have gone astray,” says Isaiah 53:5, “each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”  Jesus, the unique God-man, shed His blood on the cross to atone for our sin.  One just needs to put their faith, trust, and confidence in Jesus to save them.  “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

It is my birthday.  As I look at my life, I recall how the Lord transformed my life when I was a boy.  That was the starting point of the most exciting journey with Him.  Don’t get me wrong: I haven’t followed Him perfectly.  I resonate with the Christian singer Carman who stated, “He has been better to me than I’ve been to myself.”  He went on to sing, “I’m so glad that the Lord saved me.  If it had not been for Jesus, where would I be?  I’m so glad that the Lord saved me.”  Amen and amen!

Kevin

Sports news

I wanted to extend my congratulations to the Toronto Raptors; they won their first world championship last night over the Golden State Warriors.  I have been keeping a close eye on this series because I know how incredible the Warriors are (after all, you don’t just happen to win 3 titles in 4 years).  But the Raptors proved to be the best team.  What an accomplishment!

This development came on the heels of the NHL finals finishing up as well.  The St. Louis Blues also won their first championship after defeating the Boston Bruins.  The series went to a winner-take-all, game 7, in Boston.  St. Louis won the game 4-1.  I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that St. Louis shocked the world in this series.  Congratulations to the St. Louis Blues.

It is fitting, with Father’s Day coming up, that two underdogs took down the favored teams.  My dad always rooted for the underdog; that was just a part of his DNA.  I know he would be pleased to see these two teams win it all.  Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

I wish I could end on that high note, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this last item.  Everyone is Colorado, and in the NFL world, was saddened to hear of the passing of Pat Bowlen last night.  He was 75.

The Broncos had amazing success with Mr. Bowlen as the owner.  He bought the Broncos in 1984, and check out the results: “No NFL owner during the last 35 seasons had more winning seasons (21) and playoff berths (18) than Mr. Bowlen, who helped Denver become the only team with 90+ wins over each of his first three decades of ownership.  Denver posted a league-low seven losing seasons under Mr. Bowlen while being the only team to rank among the top five in wins during both the pre-free agency…and post-free agency…eras of his ownership.” (https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/statement-from-the-bowlen-family-on-broncos-owner-pat-bowlen).

I want to express my condolences and sympathy to the Bowlen family.  He is survived by his wife, Annabel and his 7 children.  To lose someone you love is the most emotionally gripping pain imaginable.  I know firsthand about this.  I hope it is a small comfort to realize that Bronco nation, and the entire NFL community, is grieving today as well.

Kevin

Memorializing the heroes

I've been thinking about two quotes on heroism.  Joseph Campbell said, "A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself."  And Oliver Queen, in the TV show Arrow once remarked, "The essence of heroism is to die so that others may live." 

Today, Memorial Day, I want us to pause from our activities and think about the heroes who gave their lives.  I'm so humbled at the valor and heroism these brave men and women displayed.  A simple thank you seems inadequate, but for today, we stop and remember their noble sacrifice.  We will never take it for granted.

Kevin 

A milestone worthy of celebrating

One of the things my dad liked to do in celebration of a birthday is share the notable events that occurred over the years on that day, and then compose his own paragraph on the person being celebrated.  I’m going to continue on in that tradition today.  I do this for my Grandma, Darlene Bauer, who is turning 90 years old today.

As reported by Britannica.com: On this day, May 14 “In 2015, American guitar and singer, B.B. King, who was a principle figure in the development of blues and from whom style leading popular musician drew inspiration, died in Las Vegas.

In 1998, the last episode of the television situation comedy Seinfeld aired; ostensibly a show about nothing, it was a landmark of American popular culture.  Also in 1998, American singer and actor Frank Sinatra – who, through a long career and very public personal life, became one of the most sought-after performers in the entertainment industry – died in Los Angeles.

In 1984, American computer programmer Mark Zuckerburg, who cofounded the social networking Web site Facebook, was born.

In 1973, Skylab, the first U.S. space station was launched.

In 1948 – just before the expiry of the British mandate in Palestine – David Ben Gurion, and the Jewish People’s Counsel, proclaimed the establishment of the state of Israel.” 

In 1929, Betty Darlene Bauer was born to Ernest and Ruby Rummerfield.  After marrying, Cecil Bauer, she gave birth to two children, Judy and Jerry, both born on September 12 – although on different years.  Darlene is loved and celebrated for her faith and humor.  She is the Matriarch of the Bauer family.

Happy Birthday, Grandma Darlene!  I love and honor you.  This blog today isn’t your only birthday surprise, but I hope you feel the love, both of the Bauer family, and more importantly, of God.  As you always say in your sign-off, “XOXO”.

Kevin

Musings on honoring Mom and Dad (part 2)

One of the voices that I feel our culture and society is missing today is the voice of Fred Rogers (better known as Mr. Rogers).  When he passed away in 2003, he left a void that, sadly, I don’t think anyone else can ever fill again. I’m fortunate to have recently found the book The World according to Mister Rogers.  It is filled with insightful quotes from Fred.  One quote is particularly relevant for Mother Day’s.  He once said, “To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.”

I do love, honor, accept, and value my mother, Rose Mary.  We have always had a close relationship, but as we lived through the intense ordeal of my dad’s death, it drew us even closer together.  I honestly cannot imagine my life without her in it.  My dad was a skilled photographer; he left behind thousands of pictures.  Because of this, I am able to share pictures like these with you:

First Mother's Day - 1982

Mom with her boys - 1988

Here we are several years later - 2012

Dad usually took the pictures; he was posing in this one

Rose Mary Bauer

One wonderful Mom

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!  I love you.

Kevin

Musings on honoring Mom and Dad (part 1)

A wise pastor once said, “Holidays that revolve around relationships are risky.”  It’s true.  Whether you are talking about Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc. you could potentially be confronted with painful emotional issues.  For instance, you may be facing your first Mother’s Day since she unexpectedly passed away.  Or, perhaps you have an estranged relationship with your mother.  I’m not ignorant or unsympathetic of the anguish that could be churning either in your heart or in the heart of someone close to you.

Without making light of any of these aspects, I want to present God’s standard.  The Bible says, “Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you” (Deuteronomy 5:16).  Today, I want to bring up some of the theological notions regarding honoring Mom (and Dad), and then tomorrow, I plan to narrow my focus to honoring my own dear mother.

To begin with, what does it mean to honor your father and mother?  Got questions.org is such an invaluable website to consult.  They have an article on this; let me quote part of it:

“Honoring your father and mother is being respectful in word and action and having an inward attitude of esteem for their position.  The Greek Word for honor means “to revere, prize, and value.”  Honor is giving respect not only for merit but also for rank.  For example, some Americans may disagree with the President’s decisions, but they should still respect his position as leader of their country.  Similarly, children of all ages should honor their parents, regardless of whether or not their parents “deserve” honor.

God exhorts us to honor father and mother.  He values honoring parents enough to include it in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12) and again in the New Testament: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise, so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:1-3).  Honoring parents is the only command in Scripture that promises long life as a reward.  Those who honor their parents are blessed (Jeremiah 35:18-19).  In contrast, those with a “depraved mind” are those who exhibit ungodliness in the last days are characterized by disobedience to parents (Romans 1:30; 2 Timothy 3:2)” (Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/honor-father-mother.html).

I could go several different directions with this subject matter, but this same article goes on to ask exactly how a parent is to be honored.  “Obviously, we are commanded to honor our parents, but how?  Honor them with both actions and attitudes (Mark 7:6).  Honor their unspoken as well as spoken wishes.  “A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke” (Proverbs 13:1).  In Matthew 15:3-9, Jesus reminded the Pharisees of the command of God to honor their father and mother.  They were obeying the letter of the law, but they had added their own traditions that essentially overruled it.  While they honored their parents in word, their actions proved their real motive.  Honor is more than lip service.  The word “honor” in this passage is a verb and, as such, demands a right action.”

To conclude, there is one last question I want to pose.  We’ve already read verses from Exodus 20 and Ephesians 6 that speak of this concept of long life being given as a reward; but we also know the good can certainly die young.  So what are we to make of this?  Once again, got questions.org is helpful:

“First, yes, the promise is true, but not in a universal sense.  There are people who honored their parents but died young.  And there are people who did not honor their parents but lived a long life.  Therefore, it is a principle that is generally true.  If you honor your parents, God will, generally speaking, reward you with a long life.  However, this promise does not override other decisions we make that impact how long we live.  For example, if a man honors his parents, but then decides to commit suicide, the act of suicide “negates” the reward of long life.  The same can be said of those who engage in reckless or dangerous activities.  God’s reward for long life for honoring parents does not miraculously make you immune from serious injury or death.” (https://www.gotquestions.org/long-life.html).  Nobody, whether young or old, is guaranteed tomorrow, so let’s esteem our parents while we still can.

Kevin  

My spoiler-free review of "Avengers: Endgame"

It is unusual for me to see a movie on the opening day of its release, but today I had the wonderful opportunity to do so; I viewed the new film Avengers: Endgame.  It was very good!  I thought I would present my thoughts by asking and answering some questions you may have about it.

How many of the other Marvel movies do you need to see prior to this one?  The Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU) has been going strong since 2008 with the film Iron-Man.  There are now a whopping 22 films.  Do you have to view them all?  No, but I say you’ll have to see these: the aforementioned Iron-Man (2008); Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) and the sequel Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014); also The Avengers (2012) and its follow-up Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015); Captain America: Civil War (2016); and Thor: Ragnarok (2017).

It is true that viewing other Marvel films will aid in the enjoyment, but as I see it, if you see last year’s Avengers: Infinity War, you’ll be familiar with a lot of the characters and the context.  Furthermore, the dialogue does an adequate job of explaining most of the plot points from prior films that the uninformed may not know.  I still haven’t seen movies like Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, or Captain Marvel and I was able to keep up (although differentiating between Marvel’s Captain Marvel and her DC counterpart Shazam – who used to be called Captain Marvel – was an item I had to thoroughly research; that’s a blog for another day).

Is Endgame too long?  It’s a 3 hour movie, but the pace and story is so good that it felt like it was only an hour and a half.  I say it is the perfect length.  Does Endgame have some troubling aspects to it?  It does.  I could mention a few things, but for just one example, I’ll bring up that there is much more foul language than is necessary.  I’m not a prude, but in one scene, they use a certain cuss word for comedic effect; the film has many humorous moments, but that wasn’t one of them.

One last question: Does Endgame end well?  Being careful not to reveal any spoilers, I will say that this film has a very good ending (and yes, in case you were wondering, I did cry).  Sometimes I feel like the word “epic” is way overused, but the ending is truly epic in every sense of the word.  The Marvel movies are sure to continue, but if they wanted to end on this note, I think every Marvel moviegoer would be satisfied with the way things were resolved.

 

Kevin

Celebrating an important part of my story

It’s interesting to watch a parent with their young child; when someone gives them a gift, they ask their son or daughter, “Now, what do you say?”  And the expected response is a “thank you.”  In time, the hope is that the habit forms in the child’s life and when they are given a present, they respond with a genuine statement of thanks.  But more than this, the parent hopes that the child will learn how important it is to have gratitude.  This day I want to express my deep gratitude and thankfulness to my Heavenly Father for the gift of life.

If you don’t know the story, it was on this day, back in 1982, when I was healed from a ruthless and terrible disease.  I was only a baby at the time, but it looked as if I wasn’t going to live to celebrate my first birthday.  But God, in His mercy, grace, and kindness chose to give me the gift of life.  He chose to completely heal me from the disease.  God gave me, to quote from the song my parents wrote about the event, “a future, to walk, talk and run.”  This amazing occurrence is an important part of my life story.  Today, I just wanted to stop and publicly thank the Lord.

To aid me in this, I want to quote from Rebecca St. James’ song I thank You.  She sings, “There was a time when I felt alone and afraid, but You came close to me and I’m forever changed…I thank You; You’ve given me Your all, and I will never be alone.  I thank You; You never stopped loving me…Your love is so amazing; beyond compare.  And now I can’t imagine life without You there.  For You have healed my spirit; I’m resting in Your loving care.  Something stirred inside me; something I just can’t deny.  For you have healed my spirit; Your mercy has restored my life.”

Time seems to move so quickly.  I’m almost 38 years old now.  I am passionate about using my days to point others to an amazing God.  He alone deserves all the honor, glory, and praise, not me.  It’s not about me; it’s all about Him.  If you want to read an enjoyable book, I commend Chris Tomlin’s book The Way I was Made to you.  In the beginning chapter, he writes, “You were made for more than this world sells.  All this world has to offer – no matter how appealing it is at the time – is temporary.  It leaves us still hungry, wanting more, because we were made for something greater.  We were created to shine the spotlight on God – to spread the fame of God everywhere we go.”  Amen and amen!

Kevin

The brevity and fragility of life

Sri Lanka is the grip of anguish, sadness, and despair today in the wake of a series of bombings that killed hundreds yesterday – the last death count I heard was 290.  When you lose someone you love to the here-after as I have, you quickly learn - to quote a character from the TV show The Flash - that you are a member of an exclusive club.  What the character meant by that is when you hear about incidents of loss, from experience, you already have a taste of the pain that the survivors must be feeling.  I certainly understand the intense grief that is present in hundreds of hearts as I compose these words; and frankly, this knowledge is weighing heavily on my own heart.

I was already planning to write about the brevity and fragility of life and then this terrible atrocity in Sri Lanka occurred.  I was going to acknowledge that, two days ago, the nation commemorated the 20-year anniversary of a mass shooting at Columbine High School – right here in Colorado where I reside. 13 people died.  I read a heart-wrenching article about the family and friends of those lost that day, who reflected on their lives 20 years later.  One person soberly noted, “I feel like we have come so far in so many ways, yet we’re still stuck in the same spot.  I never imagined that we would be where we’re at right now, where there are so many mass shootings that we can’t even keep up” (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/columbine-school-shooting-20-years-later-victims-families-reflect-what-n992536).

Of course, the brevity and fragility of life doesn’t always involve violence.  I think of how Pastor Rick Ferguson passed away, at the age of 46, because of a car accident.  I notice the signs on the road honoring the memory of young boys and girls who lost their lives because of a drunk driver (to say nothing of the dangers of texting and driving).  I think of men like my dad, who you would never predict was about to pass away because they are active, healthy, and physically fit.  And yet, I’ve heard dozens of stories of this happening.

A few weeks ago, I was in a church service where the pastor made a statement that gripped me and has subsequently been riveted to my heart.  He said, “God’s gift of salvation is a limited time offer.”  Why?  He went on to describe what I’ve brought up: the brevity and fragility of life.  Rebecca St. James once declared, “God is saying, ‘Even though, you’ve sinned against Me your entire lifetime, I offer you forgiveness.  I offer you the most profound healing you can ever experience…I encourage you, if you feel God’s tug on your heart, don’t put it off; because we don’t know how long we have on this Earth.”

I can imagine someone reading this, and angrily branding me as insensitive and conniving to mention these emotional subjects and then begin to speak of Jesus and salvation.  Please understand I’m not being frivolous or uncaring.  Trust me, if anyone felt the raw, visceral emotions of today’s content, I did.  To be transparent with you, a part of me didn’t even want to write this particular blog to begin with.  But someone needs to speak the truth, and speak it in love.  If you are still on the fence, I appeal to you to choose to say yes to Jesus.  The Bible says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”    

Kevin

"Shout it out, Jesus is alive!"

I was musing on the film The Passion of the Christ.  Do you remember the very end of the movie?  After the events of the crucifixion and burial, there was a black screen, and it seemed as the end credits were going to start rolling.  Instead, one last scene showed the truth: Jesus was no longer dead!  He got up, and walked out of His tomb!  Roger Carswell in his fine work What is a Christian? states, “The only biography of anyone that does not end with death and burial is Jesus’.  He did something no religious or political leader could ever do, because He is the God-man.”

The disciples were in the throes of being grief-stricken and heartbroken over the unexpected loss of their leader on a cross.  But Jesus showed up in their midst; as Luke records it “for forty days after His death He appeared to them many times in ways that proved beyond doubt that He was alive” (Acts 1:3; GNT).  In time, Jesus ascended to Heaven, but not before commissioning them to spread the truth of who Jesus is, and what He did (Acts 1:8).  They did just that.  Even though, as a result of this, they were persecuted, arrested, threatened, and eventually all of them were martyred (except for John, who was exiled to an island; see Revelation 1:9).

This special day really is, as I heard a worship leader once put it, "Super Bowl Sunday" for Christians.  And yet, I'm sure that somebody is reading these words, and you’ve inwardly wondered (and perhaps you’ve even expressed it verbally) why the resurrection of Jesus is so important.  There are several answers.  But for the sake of brevity today, let me give two reasons that you can begin to chew on.  Reason one is because the resurrection validates that Jesus isn’t just a mere man; He is God.

  

In John 11, Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life.”  These words are so familiar to many of us that they don’t hit us like they should.  “I am the resurrection and the life” isn’t something a normal person says, and if they did, they would be in serious need of the help of a psychiatrist!  But Jesus, to the shock of everyone that day, backed up His words by giving life to a man (His friend Lazarus) who had been dead for four days.  In fact, it was that miraculous event that led the religious leaders to begin plotting to murder Jesus in the first place (verse 53).  And of course, Christ was eventually crucified.  But Jesus had already shown Himself to have power over death, an attribute that only God has.  By rising again, He demonstrated that He is not only fully human, but also fully divine.

Secondly, several Old Testament prophecies predict that the Messiah’s resurrection.  I really wish I could devote more space to this point; a lot of time could be spent here.  But to give just one example today, Psalm 16:10 says, “For you will not leave my soul among the dead; or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.”  This verse, in fact, is cited by the disciples in Acts 2.  The Apostle Paul also quotes it in Acts 13:35-37. “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren,” he said in verse 38, “that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all the things which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

I love the song Happy Day.  I love the celebratory mood of the song, as it proclaims the glorious Biblical truth of the resurrection of Jesus.  “The greatest day in history; death is beaten, You have rescued me.  Sing it out, Jesus is alive!  The empty cross, the empty tomb, life eternal, You have won the day.  Shout it out, Jesus is alive!  He’s alive.  Oh, happy day, happy day, You washed my sin away.  Oh, happy day, happy day, I’ll never be the same.  Forever I am changed.”

Kevin

The crucifixion aftermath

I recently watched a portion of a documentary on the final days of Jesus’ life.  While it was very interesting, there was a glaringly noticeable omission: at no point did the filmmakers give the faintest of hints about Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead.  In fact, the film seemed to assert that it was Jesus’ death that inspired the religion of Christianity.  I disagree.  In today’s blog, I want to lay out why I disagree with that idea.

First of all, make no mistake about it: Jesus was dead.  The notion of a ‘swoon theory’ which suggests that Jesus managed to survive the crucifixion is wrong.  The executioners at Calvary knew what they were doing; they wouldn’t make such a glaring mistake.  The Bible says that Jesus’ body being placed in a tomb is an essential aspect of the Gospel message (1 Corinthians 15:4).  Why is that?  One reason is because placing Him in a tomb indicates that His body really was limp and lifeless.  He was not just badly injured, only to appear to His disciples later, claiming to be resurrected.  No, a thousand times no.  He was dead.

Therefore, based on this, what was the mood of the disciples after Jesus’ crucifixion?  Did they high-five each other, so inspired by a heroic death that they subsequently went out and preached about the greatness of who Jesus was?  The answer is a clear and resounding no!  Actually, I don’t have to use my imagination on how they were feeling.  My life story includes unexpectedly losing a loved one to the icy waters of death.  It feels like someone has punched you in the stomach and you can barely breathe.  There's an intense pain, gripping sorrow, and profound loneliness; and it is so intense, you wonder if it will ever go away.  The disciples felt the same way, I'm sure.

Furthermore, going back to my Palm Sunday blog, these men misunderstood the nature of what Jesus was going to do.  They thought He was going to defeat the oppression they were under, and set up an Earthly kingdom.  Now that Jesus had been crucified, they thought it was all over.  In the booklet I quoted from last time Why Did Christ Have to Die? The author has this to say: “We are fortunate to be able to look back to the cross and see it in perspective.  The first disciples of Christ were not so privileged.  For them the crucifixion came as a terrible, heart-rending tragedy, their beloved Leader was dead.  Their hopes of a messianic kingdom had evaporated…Only later when Christ surprised them with His resurrected presence did the disciples begin to understand that the Old Testament pointed to a cross as well as to a kingdom.”

In conclusion, I’m not suggesting that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ isn’t important.  I think you know my views well enough to know that I wouldn’t say such a thing.  The death of Christ is very important.  But so is the resurrection of Christ.  You can’t have one without the other; they are two vital sides of the same coin.

Kevin 

"I'll cherish the old rugged cross"

Many people don’t know what to do with this day we call Good Friday.  Can you blame them?  After all, when you stop and think about it, the cross is, as the hymn Old Rugged Cross puts it, “An emblem of suffering and shame.”  Crucifixion was a barbaric, brutal, horrendous means of death.  Why then does the just-cited hymn say, “I’ll cherish the old rugged cross”?  The answer is you have to look deeper.  It’s not about the method of death that we Christians celebrate; it is the Man who died on that cross.  Jesus Christ gave His life, as He put it, to give His life “as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

I recently came across a helpful booklet from Discovery Series entitled Why Did Christ Have to Die?  At one point, the author writes, “This principle is illustrated by a story from American history.  In a tribe of Indians, someone was stealing chickens.  The chief declared that, if caught, the offender would receive 10 lashes.  When the stealing continued, he raised it to 20 lashes.  Still the chickens methodically disappeared.  In anger the chief raised the sentence to 100 lashes – a sure sentence of death.

The thief was finally caught.  But the chief faced a terrible dilemma.  The thief was his own mother!  When the day of penalty came, the whole tribe gathered.  Would the chief’s love override his justice?  The crowd gasped when he ordered his mother to be tied to the whipping post.  The chief removed his shirt, revealing his powerful stature, and took the whip in hand.  But instead of raising it to strike the first blow, he handed it to a strong, young brave at his side.  Slowly the chief walked over to his mother and wrapped his massive arms around her in an engulfing embrace.  Then he ordered the brave to give him the 100 lashes.”

What is Good Friday about?  It’s about how sin has an insurmountable price tag that I can’t pay.  But Jesus Christ, the only sinless One, paid the price of my sin – past, present and future – by laying down His life.  The hymn The Old Rugged Cross says, “And I love that old cross, where the Dearest and Best, for a world of lost sinners was slain.  So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross.”

The author of that same booklet continues, “The result is that the person who trusts in Jesus Christ is changed in his relationship to God.  He is changed in his relationship to his own sin.  And his future is changed, both for this life and the life to come.”  It takes my breath away.  It brings tears to my eyes.  Don Moen, in his song Hallelujah to the Lamb, captures my heart’s cry: “There are no words good enough to thank You; there are no words to express my praise, but I will lift up my voice and sing from my heart, with all of my strength.”

Kevin

Thoughts on Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry (part 2)

Back in 2016, Pastor Bill Oudemolen preached the best Palm Sunday sermon I’ve ever heard in my life.  One highlight is when he explained the significance of the palm branches (a detail that only John records in the Gospels; John 12:13).  He said, “The Jews had a hero named Judas or Judah Maccabeus.  He was a zealot, who led a revolt against the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanies [a tyrannical madman who murdered many Jews].  What they did to honor Maccabeus is they minted coins, and the symbol on the coin of opposition to oppression was a palm branch stamped on the coin.”

The great irony of Palm Sunday is that nobody understood Jesus’ mission.  They were expecting Jesus to throw off the oppressors like Maccabeus, but Jesus didn’t come for that purpose.  In fact, Luke tells us that when Jesus was entering the city of Jerusalem on that day, He was actually crying (Luke 19:41).  He knew that the people didn’t grasp what He came to do, even His own disciples (John 12:16).  He had repeatedly told them, but they missed it.  In Luke 18, He stated, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.  For He will be delivered to the Gentiles…they will scourge Him and kill Him.  And the third day He will rise again” (verses 31-33).  But astonishingly, the next verse reads, “But they understood none of these things.”

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Jesus’ mode of transportation that day.  I came across a fascinating article where the author delves deeply into this topic.  “Jesus triumphal entry into to Jerusalem was not just an afterthought, using whatever animal was available.  This was a well-considered part of God’s plan for a specific purpose.  Although the use of the donkey was widespread in those times, Jesus’ riding on the donkey did not show Him to be a poor or common man, but a King…So Jesus, riding on a donkey, fulfills the characterization shown in Zechariah 9:9, that the King would be “lowly”… A man riding on a donkey is not looking for war, and in Jesus’ case, He came instead to save, carried on perhaps the lowliest of animals” (Source: https://www.bibletools.org/Riding-Donkey-as-Sign-Royalty.htm).

Another helpful Got questions.org article puts it this way: “The story of the triumphal entry is one of contrasts, and those contrasts contain applications to believers.  It is the story of the King who came as a lowly servant on a donkey, not a prancing steed, not in royal robes, but on the clothes of the poor and humble.  Jesus Christ comes not to conquer by force as earthly kings but by love, grace, mercy, and His own sacrifice for His people.  His is not a kingdom of armies and splendor but of lowliness and servanthood.  He conquers not nations but hearts and minds.  His message is one of peace with God, not of temporal peace.  If Jesus has made a triumphal entry into our hearts, He reigns there in peace and love.  As His followers, we exhibit those same qualities, and the world sees the true King living and reigning in triumph in us” (https://www.gotquestions.org/triumphal-entry.html).

What a statement!  "If Jesus has made a triumphal entry into our hearts, He reigns there in peace and love."  It makes me wonder if Jesus has made a triumphal entry into your heart.  Or, maybe like the crowd that day, you’ve somehow misunderstood Jesus’ mission.  I’ve heard Pastor Gino Geraci declare, “If you are wrong about Jesus, it doesn’t really matter what you are right about.”  From day one, Jesus had a mission to spill His blood on a cross, out of pure, unconditional love for you.  He did this because, as the sinless God in human flesh, only He could pay the penalty for all your sin and mine.  No matter what you’ve done, or where you’ve been, the unique God-man, Jesus Christ says, “I love you.  I forgive you.  I want to have a relationship with you.”  Through simple faith and trust in Him, you can have everlasting life.  If you haven't done that, I pray that you would do it today.

Kevin