Author: Rev in Real Life

We are living in unprecedented times! It’s hard to believe that just a couple of weeks ago we were still going about like business as usual (albeit perhaps not the wisest move even at that point), whereas today many of us are working from home while likewise homeschooling our kids. I don’t think any of us anticipated anything like this as we entered 2020 or this Lenten season, and I sure didn’t expect that I’d be entering my 40s in this way. (If “life begins at 40”, I’m not sure I like where this is headed:)

While we’re obviously all eager for this whole crisis to be in our rearview mirror, I’m nevertheless trying to look for the silver lining in all of this. While it’s beyond disruptive, I’m trying to be appreciative of the fact that it’s drawing our family closer as we’re spending more and more time together. Given how quickly our kids are growing, I have to admit it’s a blessing to be able to spend more time with them. Not only that, but this whole ordeal is definitely making me realize how much I take for granted, and how much I’m looking forward to being able to once again engage in all the simple things of life that are currently discouraged or forbidden.

While I’m not only looking for the silver lining in general, I’m also trying to be very attentive to what God is trying to teach us through all of this. It’s been fascinating (and at times disheartening) to observe the myriad ways in which pastors and church leaders have responded to this crisis. I’ve been thankful for those who have exercised wisdom by suspending their in-person gatherings, understanding that the greatest way we can show love for others is by distancing ourselves from those who are most vulnerable. I’ve likewise been dismayed by those who have discounted the seriousness of this whole situation while citing faith as their reason for doing so. There’s a Bible verse that I believe has been erroneously employed to support their stance, which I want to briefly unpack here.

In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul encourages his protege, Timothy, with these words: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” The way I’ve been seeing this verse misused is with an over-emphasis on what God has not given us in the first half, while seemingly neglecting what God has given us in the second half. The implication is that if we simply have enough faith, we can continue gathering as usual because God will keep us safe. I believe this to be a prime example of putting God to the test, which Jesus explicitly commands us not to do. While it’s absolutely true that God has not given us a spirit of fear, that doesn’t mean that He’s simultaneously encouraging us to be foolish. Practicing “social distancing” does not automatically imply that one is fearful. Rather, it reveals that one is employing their God-given sound mind by heeding the advice of medical experts. While there is much uncertainty around this whole situation, that doesn’t necessarily equate to being gripped by fear. I can say for certain that those pastors and church leaders that I know who are exercising wisdom in all of this are in no way succumbing to fear. On the contrary, they are being driven by love for their neighbors, particularly those who are most vulnerable, by making the informed decision to do their part to not further the spread of this virus. Then finally, there’s the power piece. While we may feel powerless at this time, the reality is that we’re far from powerless because we can beat this virus by simply doing our part to “flatten the curve”.

So today I want to encourage you with this verse in its entirety. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” Know that any fear you’re feeling is an invitation for you to draw near to God and cast all of your fears on Him, allowing His perfect love for you to overshadow and cast out all your fears. Be of sound mind by exercising wisdom and staying home. In doing so, you will be putting into practice the power you have to limit the ongoing power of this virus. In all of this, you will be following Jesus’ command to love your neighbors by doing your part to stop the spread and keep them safe. May God protect you and your loved ones as you navigate these uncertain times, and may you cling to the One who remains steadfast through it all in His love for you!

Once again, we Americans find ourselves reeling in the wake of yet another mass shooting.

Once again, Christians like myself offer up our heartfelt prayers to a God we know exists and who we know is listening.

The problem, however, is that non-Christians are growing increasingly tired of our prayers void of any action, particularly by those professing Christians who are in positions where they have the power to actually take action to address gun violence. Simply offering up our prayers while nothing changes to address the underlying issues has become infuriating to many, and I honestly can’t begrudge how they’re feeling. Something has to change!

Because I’m a pastor and I believe in the power of prayer, I’m convinced that it should represent the first response of the Christian in the wake of such tragedies. Too often we make prayer an afterthought or regard it as the least we can do, but that approach strips prayer of its power by making it a non-essential part of the Christian life. Prayer is an absolute gift, where God Almighty grants us access to His throne and invites us to boldly approach it with our petitions. He desires that we intercede on behalf of others, and although He doesn’t always answer our prayers as we would like, I do believe that He always answers them for the best (even if we can’t see it at the time). So I absolutely believe we need to keep on praying and making it our first priority.

However, if all we do is pray and then move on with our lives until the next tragedy strikes (which likely won’t be too long, given how commonplace these things have become in our country) will anything really change? Because I believe in the power of prayer, I absolutely believe that God can intercede in any situation, and that there are times when He does so, even if it often goes unnoticed by the majority. While God is indeed all powerful, in His great love He granted us the authority to rule on the earth (Genesis 1:28). Therefore, He expects us to take that responsibility seriously in not only caring for our earth (His creation), but also in caring for one another (His creatures). I think the words of the Matthew West song, “Do Something,” say it perfectly when he sings, “So I shook my fist at heaven and said, ‘God, why don’t You do something?’ He (God) said, ‘I did…I created you!'” When we allow gun violence to rage on unchecked while we simply offer up our prayers, we neglect our responsibility to truly step into our role as caretakers of creation which we were created to be. It’s then no wonder that people begin to question God’s care for us as a result, or His very existence altogether, because of His perceived indifference or His failure to intercede. Again, my point here is not to advocate against prayer first, but simply to say that it shouldn’t be prayer only.

So what then can/should we do in response to tragedies like Sandy Hook, Vegas, etc., etc., etc.?

Again, first we need to pray. But when we do so we can’t just offer up rote prayers like “Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy” and call it good. We need to actually intercede with our prayers and be specific! First and foremost we need to pray for those who have been affected by these atrocious acts, and ask that God would come alongside and comfort them in the midst of their unimaginable grief. But we can’t stop there! We need to get at the root cause and be praying for those who are contemplating committing such evil acts. We need to be praying that the Holy Spirit would intercede in their lives and soften their hardened hearts so that they would begin to see the lives of their fellow human beings as sacred. And not only that, but that the Spirit would likewise help them to see themselves as sacred and to let go of the self-hatred that so often seems to be at the core of their identities. But again, we can’t stop there! Because the devil continues to rage and there will always be those who follow his lead in pursuing wickedness, we also need to be praying for those who have been elected to positions of power in our country. While it’s great that they pray, they definitely can’t leave it at that as they have been given the responsibility to enact laws to keep us safe. We Christians need to call on those representatives who likewise claim the name of Jesus to take seriously their God-given responsibility to speak on behalf of the voiceless and to act on behalf of the powerless. If there’s any hope of change it’s going to require Christians, who make up much of these representatives’ constituencies, to step up and declare this to no longer be acceptable in our country.

Now I get it, there’s the whole 2nd Amendment argument that can be raised, and I honestly have no problem with people owning guns to be used for hunting or to protect themselves and their families in this crazy world. What I have a problem with is ordinary citizens having access to military-grade semiautomatic weapons. There simply is no need for anyone other than our law enforcement or military personnel to have access to those weapons. Plus, with the prevalence of mental illness in our society, there likewise needs to be a more stringent vetting process for those who are able to purchase firearms in the first place. While neither of those measures will eradicate gun violence, I do believe they’ll greatly decrease the frequency of such attacks. While those both seem like no-brainers to me, I don’t pretend to have the answers to solving this problem. What I do know is that something has to change or countless lives will continue to be lost to senseless and meaningless evil. The fact that there isn’t already bi-partisan agreement and cooperation on addressing this issue is baffling to say the least. The massacre of innocent children in Newtown absolutely should have been the impetus for change. It wasn’t! Now it’s sounding like the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history will also cause little more than a ripple. What will it take to wake us up?!

The goal of every generation should be to leave the world in better shape for the next generation. We’re clearly failing big time in that department! Like Jesus entering Jerusalem and weeping over it, I truly believe that He weeps over our nation as we continue to become divided and commit violence against one another. I’d imagine it’s especially troubling to Him that we’ve become so numb to such egregious events that we can simply forge ahead seemingly unaffected. As a father of 3 small children, however, I refuse to become desensitized because doing so would hinder my ability to fight for a better future for them. I desire nothing more than for my kids to grow up in a world where evil is not an everyday occurrence. Obviously it’s unavoidable to some extent in this broken world, and yet not to the extent at which it’s currently happening. Fortunately for Marisa and me, our kids are still little enough where they are blissfully unaware of events like what just took place in Vegas, and we’re happy to allow them to remain so for now in order to preserve their innocence. However, the day is quickly approaching when we’ll no longer be able to shield them from such things, and I can only imagine the fear that that will introduce into their little hearts. As these events become more commonplace, schools are needing to prepare students for active-shooter scenarios lest, God forbid, that ever takes place in our schools. But if we stay on our current trajectory as a nation with no action to reverse it, then I fear that at some point this type of tragedy will hit close to home for each and every one of us.

Friends, this has simply been my humble attempt to engage in this conversation, which I feel compelled to do not only as a pastor and a Jesus follower, but also as a father and as one who loves this great nation. We can do so much better than this because we are so much better than this! Although we may no longer be classified as a Christian nation, I still hold to the belief that we are one nation, under God. As such, I will continue to make prayer my first priority rather than a last resort. In addition to praying, I’m convinced the other thing we must do as followers of Jesus is to love others, just as He called us to do. When we let His light shine through us I truly believe the darkness will be held at bay. It may sound simplistic, but who knows how many hardened hearts could be softened simply by our smiles, and how many potential future tragedies could be averted by us reaching out to broken people with the love of Jesus? Finally, if we truly want to leave a better nation for the next generation, we must keep fighting for improved legislation. May God grant us the wisdom, courage and compassion to put our self interests aside and strive to do what is right, especially for the little ones in our lives.

We are currently in the season of Advent. A season that’s all about waiting with anticipation for the coming Christ. As I’ve been reflecting on what it looks like to wait on God, it’s struck me that my waiting has typically been accompanied by the question, “How long, O Lord?” Although that question reflects a faithful cry throughout the Psalms, if I’m honest with myself it’s often reflected my own discontentment & impatience with my current situation. So my questions have tended to look like this:

“How long, O Lord, until You let me know what I’m supposed to do with my life?”

“How long, O Lord, until You send me the one I’m supposed to marry?”

“How long, O Lord, until You bring me my dream job?”

While these questions have simply reflected my heartfelt desires at the time, I’m guessing that God has often felt like I’m the impatient kid in the backseat of the car on a long road trip, berating my heavenly Father with the question, “Are we there yet?!” Although I don’t like to admit it, these questions have often revealed my distrust in God’s guidance. Embedded in these questions has been a subtle questioning of God’s faithfulness for not acting more quickly to give me the things I want or feel I deserve, even though He has continually provided graciously for me throughout my life. Now there definitely are times when the question, “How long, O Lord?” is not only fair but also fervently faithful, like in the case of someone who’s crying out to God for deliverance from a debilitating disease. I’m simply stating that in my life this question has typically accompanied seasons of discontentment.

Reflecting on that during this season has compelled me to shift my focus from question to confession. So in place of my usual, “How long, O Lord?” I’m realizing that my cry should instead be, “Too long, O Lord…”

“Too long, O Lord, have I distrusted Your direction for my life.”

“Too long, O Lord, have I doubted Your faithfulness to Your promises.”

“Too long, O Lord, have I felt that I have a better sense than You as to how I can best serve You.”

Perhaps you also need to move from question to confession. Perhaps God is likewise calling you to let go of discontentment & impatience & instead seek to be content with the here & now while you patiently & eagerly await what He has in store for you next. Doing so will help each of us to dial into the richness of this Advent season as we await the One who has already given us so much more than we deserve & who continues to provide us with all that we truly need in the gift of Himself.

I’ve been attempting to process all that’s been happening in our world recently (all the violence, evil and unrest), and doing so in light of preparing to welcome our 3rd child into the world in just 2 months. As such, the best way I could think to respond to these 2 realities was to write a letter to our unborn child. So here it goes…

My dear daughter. Your mommy, brothers and I are so excited for your arrival. It won’t be long now before we begin counting the moons until you come. Your brothers have already placed their predictions as to whether you will come out slowly or quickly, since their births fell on opposite ends of the spectrum. We are beginning to get the house ready for you. Clothes in pinks and purples continue to arrive from family in California. And each day we talk about what life will be like when you come. Your brothers are mentally preparing themselves for your crying, while mommy and I are mentally preparing ourselves for the increased lack of sleep. Often we place our hands on mommy’s tummy and marvel at your movements. We simply cannot wait for you to be born so that our family will be complete.

But despite all of our excitement there’s a sad reality that I need to tell you about. You see, even though you’ll be born into a family that is filled with love, you’re also going to be born into a world that’s filled with brokenness. A world where the news seems to be dominated daily by reports of evil. A world that seems to be plunging further into darkness. You’re also being born into a country that’s seemingly being ripped apart at the seams. A country that was built upon unity and equality, but that’s once again succumbing to division and prejudice. I wish I could offer some words of hope as we’re getting ready to elect a new leader, but it seems like either option will further divide our country; that is if our country even makes it to that election before we implode. As we await your arrival with all of this in mind, it causes mommy and me great distress. Because aside from loving you, your mommy’s and my primary job is to keep you safe. As with your brothers, we will shield you from all of this ugliness for as long as we can because you deserve a childhood filled with love, joy and innocence. But with the way things are going we worry that before long we won’t have that option, and that you’ll be growing up in a world that’s a far scarier place than it is today. All of this raises the question, why would anyone bring a child into this world?!

Well my sweet girl, here’s why we’re going to do it. Because your family believes in a God who’s bigger than all of this brokenness, who’s stronger than all of this evil and who’s brighter than all of this darkness. (You know Him well as He’s the one who’s been knitting you together in mommy’s womb.) Just like you and your brothers are our beloved children, He too has a beloved Son. But He loves this world so much that He sent His only Son to die for every person so that we might all live forever with Him. Jesus showed us just how deep His Daddy’s love is for us. He made it clear that no matter how evil and ugly this world may get it will never have the final word. Jesus truly is our only hope because not only did He fully experience the darkness of our world, but He also overcame it once and for all. Despite so many indicators to the contrary, we still believe this is a beautiful world created by God, and we know it will be made even more beautiful by your existence in it. So yes, we eagerly await your arrival. And no matter what ugliness continues in our world over these next couple of months we will wait with anticipation for the unparalleled beauty of a new life entering this world, we will do our part by being a family that is committed to loving each other and our neighbors and we will continue to trust in God whose goodness is far mightier than any evil the devil can muster. As the time approaches for you to enter this world, know that you have a big family ready and waiting to love you, and an even bigger God who loves you, us and this whole world more than we could ever imagine.

We will see you soon, sweet girl. Love, daddy

Once again we find ourselves reeling from a mass shooting, perpetrated by yet another coward who has desecrated life through a heinous act of hatred and terror. Since we’re often left not knowing what to say or to do in the wake of such a tragedy, let our first response be to bring our prayers before the throne of the Almighty, who alone has the power to heal and bring wholeness to this broken world:

“Abba, Father, our hearts are heavy over the tragic loss of life in Orlando. We struggle to understand why these senseless acts of evil seem to be happening with greater regularity. We can’t fathom how a human being could commit such an atrocious act against his fellow human beings, especially in the name of religion. And all we can do is cry out with the Psalmist, ‘How long, O Lord?!’ But in the midst of our pain, fear and questions we cling to Your Word which reminds us that ‘The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ Although death, darkness and the devil seem to be winning, we know that they have already been defeated through Your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. We know that You have won! While that truth doesn’t diminish the pain and sadness we feel for the victims and their loved ones, it does give us the assurance that the day is coming when ‘You will wipe away every tear from our eyes. The day when there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the older order of things will have passed away.’ As Your people, we wait for that day; and yet today we pray that You will comfort the loved ones of the victims. We pray that the Light of Christ will shine brightly into this present darkness. We pray that You will expose to the light the sin and self-righteousness within each of our hearts which keep us separated from You and from living and loving fully as Your followers. And we pray that Your Spirit will use us to be a light unto the world. All these things we pray in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen!”

One of the things I’ve discovered in my short time as a blogger is that at some point you’ve got to determine for whom you’re primarily writing: you or others. While it definitely serves as a creative/reflective outlet for me, much like a journal, as a pastor my ultimate hope and prayer is always that the words I write will also minister to others who read them. Today, however, I felt the need to use this outlet for some personal reflection, while still hoping that something I say in here will resonate with others.

3 years ago today I was ordained as a pastor. (This anniversary has been on my mind as of late, but if it hadn’t then I definitely would have been reminded of it by some dear friends posting memories of that weekend on Facebook.) That was such a special weekend for my family and me, as we got to return to our hometown and reconnect with so many dear friends. And then there was my ordination service itself, which took place in my home church where my dad had served for my entire life, and where the people had played a vital role in my development as a person and in my preparation to be a pastor. I had the opportunity to create the worship service as I desired, which included the privilege of inviting the most influential people in my faith journey to be participants in it. The most notable participant was my dad who preached for the service and presided over my ordination, just as his dad had done for him. I truly could not have imagined a more perfect weekend.

Not only was that weekend about celebrating all that had led up to that event, but it was equally about anticipating all that was to come. Here’s where I’m hoping this will resonate. I’m sure we’ve all had those moments in our lives which have signaled the start of something new and exciting…and also unknown. Graduations, new jobs/promotions, marriages, births, etc. Each of those marks the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, which we may enter with a bit of fear and trembling, but likewise with a great deal of anticipation. Given that I already had my first call in hand on that ordination weekend 3 years ago, I was filled with great anticipation for what was to come.

But what do we do when our expectations don’t come to fruition? When things don’t turn out as we had hoped or planned?

These past 3 years have looked vastly different than I had envisioned on that day when I was ordained as a pastor. They have included a great deal of disappointment and frustration professionally, while nevertheless being defined by an overwhelming amount of joy and blessings personally. Despite things not turning out as Marisa and I had hoped, and continuing to wait for the right opportunity to come along for me, God has nevertheless been incredibly faithful to us. So we continue to trust in “the plans He has for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

I’ll admit that at many points throughout these 3 years I’ve asked the question, “why me?” Why have I encountered so many setbacks when friends and colleagues seem to be excelling in their pastoral calls? In the midst of those moments I’m continuously reminded that 1) we should never compare our story/struggles with anyone else’s because they are each unique, and that 2) I’m definitely in good company when it comes to a 3-year period looking quite different than expected. I’ve been thinking recently about the 12 disciples who were called out of their ordinary lives to be a part of the most extraordinary thing that has ever taken place. They got to walk alongside Jesus, God in the flesh, for the 3 years of His earthly ministry, and be counted among His closest friends. While we may be tempted to be envious of the disciples and assume that it must have been so easy for them in their faith walks since they had Jesus right there with them, Scripture obviously tells a different story. Just like you and me, the disciples doubted, they were judgmental of others, they had petty arguments about which of them was the greatest and they let their fears overshadow their faith. Oh, and were that not enough, one denied ever even knowing Jesus and another betrayed Him to His death. And they did all of those things while Jesus was right there with them. So I’d say we’re not all that different after all.

My reason for reflecting on this is because, while those 3 years with Jesus were obviously filled with many amazing moments for the disciples, they likewise included moments of discouragement, frustration, confusion and fear culminating in absolute grief and despair as they watched Jesus be put to death. I find some solace in the fact that their first 3 years of ministry had a lot in common with mine (minus that whole piece of them having Jesus physically present with them). Those 3 years represented an invaluable time of learning and growth for the disciples, which would then prepare them for their true callings after Jesus was raised to life. I’m sure they were tempted to throw in the towel when things didn’t turn out as they had hoped or expected, but it’s a good thing that they didn’t as God clearly wasn’t finished with them yet. In fact, He was just getting started. As I reflect on these 3 years since my ordination, I know that I’ve learned so much and grown greatly both as a person and as a pastor, so I too have to believe that God has been using it all to prepare me for my true calling.

So if you, like me, have experienced a setback, and maybe life hasn’t gone as you had hoped or expected, I want to encourage you to not throw in the towel. I know without a doubt that God isn’t finished with you yet. And, more likely, He’s just getting started.

The other night Marisa and I experienced a moment of profound parental pride.

Emmaus (like his daddy when he was a child) is a shy kid. You’d never know that if you were to witness him at home, but outside of his comfort zone is another story. As such, Marisa and I enrolled him in 3K this year almost exclusively for the socialization piece. It’s been so fun to watch him come out of his shell a bit throughout this year and take some big steps forward. One of those huge steps came the other night.

Just before Christmas all of the classes at the school took part in a concert. For the preschoolers that meant leaving their parents briefly to kick off the concert by singing a couple of festive songs. Although Emmaus wanted to go to the concert, when the time came for him to join his class up front he decided not to go up (which we were expecting). We felt he wasn’t ready at that point so we were just happy that he wanted to attend the concert.

This past weekend, however, provided another opportunity with the spring concert. We had been talking about the concert with him, and while he wanted to go and even wear his lambie ears, he was clear that he did not want to go up front. We remained hopeful that perhaps he’d change his mind once he got there, as he had gone through the rehearsal with his class with no problems, yet we were expecting that he’d likely opt out again. Just as with the Christmas concert, the preschoolers would be kicking off the concert with a song, “Mary had a little lamb,” but this time his class would be gathering in the back of the church and then walking up together. Emmaus gathered with his class for a pre-concert photo (with a nervously forced smile plastered on his face), and then they all lined up to make the long journey down the center aisle of the church. Since he hadn’t yet bailed out and seemed to be hanging with his classmates, Marisa, Grayson and I made our presence a bit discreet in hopes that he might actually join them all in heading up front. As they headed down the center aisle Emmaus found himself in the very back, and we watched as our brave little boy nervously brought up the rear. Marisa and I shared with each other after the fact that both of our hearts were beating out of our chests in those moments. I recall my first instinct wanting to be to run up alongside him and calm his fears, but I refrained knowing that our shy little guy was taking huge personal strides with every step down that aisle. Once up on stage, his teacher (dressed as Mary from the nursery rhyme) knowing how huge this was for him, took hold of his hand and proceeded to walk him around in a circle (they were supposed to be followed by the other little lambs, but they had clearly forgotten that part). He remained on stage throughout the remainder of the song, and although he never opened his mouth to join the other lambs in singing, this was a huge moment for our son. And we, his parents, were beaming with pride for him.

As I reflect on that experience, I realize that I’ve once again been taught an incredible faith lesson from my child. You see, there are times in all of our lives when we find ourselves faced with challenging, painful, or even downright terrifying situations, and in those moments we may feel like we’re walking all alone. I have no doubt that in those moments God could rush in and remove us from those situations, but if He did we would never truly grow. Now that’s not to suggest that God leads us into all of those situations, nor at all to imply that God is absent when we go through them. Just as I knew I needed to hang back in order to allow Emmaus to take those strides, I believe God does the same as He too lovingly roots for us as we step out of our comfort zones for the sake of His Kingdom. I’m convinced that just as Marisa and I felt as though our hearts might burst out of our chests in that moment, the same is true of God’s heart in those moments when He knows we’re suffering or afraid. And when we overcome our fears and step out in faith in order to take huge strides for His glory, the pride we felt as parents pales in comparison to the pride of our Father.

So just as our dear Emmaus bravely stepped out of his comfort zone to make that long walk down the center aisle, may we be so bold as to step out of our comfort zones to follow Jesus wherever He desires to lead us.

As we reach the end of another Holy Week I want to offer some thoughts on this sacred time. I’m going to focus this around 2 words, hosanna & hallelujah, which are lifted up on the bookends of Holy Week: Palm Sunday and Easter. Although these words are often viewed as being synonymous, at least in Christian contexts, that was not the case in their original, biblical context. While hallelujah has always been an expression of praise to God, hosanna was more of a lament than a praise. It was a cry that was offered up by God’s people for deliverance (“God save us!”). I believe that in order to truly understand Holy Week we need both of these words in their original meaning because they encompass all facets of life: the storms & the celebrations.

As I think about my experiences with Palm Sundays, in which hosanna is the word of the day, they’ve typically had more of a hallelujah feel with everyone waving palm branches and cheerfully singing “Hosanna to the King of Kings.” Now that’s appropriate given that Christians know the end of the story in which God is victorious. But should we be so quick to part ways with the original meaning of the word when life delivers plenty of moments that elicit from us a far different emotion than praise? I think not!

If we actually dial into the original meaning of the word hosanna it gives us a more accurate picture of how that first Holy Week began. Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem (which we celebrate on Palm Sunday) is the crucial first step toward His death on the cross (which we celebrate today on Good Friday). He knew returning to Jerusalem would mean His death. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus’ so-called “triumphal entry” concludes with Him weeping over Jerusalem, which seems to best coincide with the original meaning of hosanna. The Jewish people were waiting for Messiah, the One who would deliver them from their oppression by the Romans. So as Jesus enters the city, it’s not surprising that there was an excitement in the air as people thought their deliverer had arrived. The problem is that they were expecting the Messiah to ride in on a war horse as a militant warrior ready to overthrow the Romans; instead they get Jesus, riding in humbly on a donkey.  We can Imagine Jesus’ somberness as He rode through the crowd that day, knowing that He was not what they were expecting or wanting. Knowing that their excitement for Him would soon turn to hostility. Knowing that their cries of “Hosanna!” would soon be transformed into cries of “Crucify Him! So Jesus concludes that somber ride through the crowd by weeping over Jerusalem because, while He was absolutely going to reveal God’s plan of salvation, it was going to look very different from what the people were expecting. Their long-awaited Messiah was about to be put to death.

The key piece for us to remember is that Jesus didn’t just come to save the Jewish people at that time from their oppression by the Romans, but rather to save all people at all times from our oppression by sin, death & the devil. As I think about that fact, I believe that Jesus not only wept for Jerusalem then but also weeps for us now as too often we misplace our hope and trust. As I’m sure you’re all well aware presidential season is in full swing (only 8 more months to go…ugh!) And during this time people start placing their hope and trust in that one candidate who they feel will be able to save our country. (Or, as may be the case in this particular election, we may be asking God to save us from certain candidates and their possible presidency.) But the bottom line is that too often we look to human rulers to save us rather than placing our hope and trust in God. Now that in no way is meant to imply that I’m against the political process because I absolutely believe it’s a means through which God can rule and be glorified (assuming we elect godly leaders). My concern, however, is when our cries as a nation of hosanna, “God save us,” are replaced by: Trump save us! Hilary save us! Bernie save us! (fill in the candidate of your choice), and then we’re dismayed when our world continues to move further into darkness.

But on this Good Friday here’s what we need to remember: Jesus is the only One who has overcome the darkness!

In a world where the cries of Hosanna, “God save us!,” are louder than ever, and at this time when the darkness seems darker than ever, Christians are called to point to the only One who has the power to save: Jesus, the Light of the world. God intends to bring this good news of salvation through those who claim the name of Jesus, and I believe we do that in our daily lives. There are so many people today who are walking around looking like everything’s fine on the outside, but inside their souls are crying out, hosanna! (“God save me!”) God save me from this depression. God save me from this cancer. God save me from this addiction. God save me from this abusive relationship. God save me from this shame. The calling of Christians is to help redirect those hosannas to become hallelujahs by pointing people to Jesus. To meet people in their Palm Sundays, and definitely in their Good Fridays, and point them to Easter!

So on this Good Friday as we find ourselves in the thick of presidential season, tempted to place all our hope in an elected leader, let’s instead place our hope in God. Let’s take our place alongside Jesus and join Him in weeping over our broken world. Let’s be listening in our daily lives for those cries of hosanna, “God save us!,” and then speak truth, love & hope into those lives. And above all, just as Jesus began that first Holy Week by fixing His eyes on the road to Calvary, let’s fix our eyes on the cross. For it is only through the cross that the hosannas of our broken world will be transformed into hallelujahs!

Every now and again I’m struck by how much our boys resemble mini versions of Marisa and me. Marisa and I have come across pictures from our childhoods where Marisa could easily be mistaken for Grayson and where I could easily be mistaken for Emmaus (that is, were it not for the awesome 80s attire we’re rocking in those shots that gives us away). Not only do they resemble us in appearance but they likewise have similar personalities, with Grayson being more of an extrovert like his mommy and Emmaus definitely being an introvert like his daddy. (I should note that there are ways in which Marisa and I are reflected in the opposite boy as well, but these comparisons seem to be the most prominent.) It’s amazing to think how our boys are truly created in our image and likeness.

As I prepared for a sermon this past Sunday I was drawn back to Genesis 1:26 wherein God says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” It struck me afresh how incredible it is that we bear the image and likeness of God, just as our boys bear Marisa’s and my image and likeness. This got me wondering if, just as loved ones may look at our boys and comment on how they resemble us as children, do people likewise look at me and feel that I resemble my heavenly Father? Obviously my hope is that they do, and yet I know that there have been moments in my life where that has not been the case.

As I reflected further on this thought I realized that just as my boys’ behavior reflects on me as a parent, so too does my behavior as a Christian reflect my heavenly Father. The weight of that reflection caused me to recognize that the way I live as a Christian is a direct reflection on how others will view God. That’s a sobering thought, indeed. For those of us who claim the name of Jesus, we have been given the responsibility to live and love in such a way that it reflects the One in whose image and likeness we are created. And that’s a responsibility that should not be taken lightly.

All of this served as a profound reminder that my boys continue to teach me so much about God. (Clearly Jesus was on to something when He spoke about looking to children as our guides when it comes to inheriting the kingdom of heaven.) As I look at these little faces which I so deeply cherish, I give thanks to God that He’s given Marisa and me these two as our guides on this journey through life. And the same is true of the children in your life!

I don’t know about you, but when I’m waiting on God for something I usually want Him to deliver without me having to commit everything to Him in the process. The obvious reason for this is that I’m hesitant to relinquish complete control to God because that would mean I’d no longer have full control of my life (as if I ever did). The problem with trying to live that way, especially as one who is seeking to follow Jesus, is that the Bible speaks clearly against it. Psalm 37:3-5 puts it this way: “Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust Him, and He will help you.” Notice the order there. Before we simply expect God to act on our behalf, it’s clear that He wants us to be “all in” with Him.

I’d imagine for most believers this seems rather obvious, and yet this presents a prime example of “easier said than done.” While we may have little trouble intellectualizing that concept, the difficulty emerges when we attempt to put it into practice. Perhaps what’s standing in our way is that illusion of control to which we’re desperately trying to cling. Or maybe it’s pride which simply won’t allow us to acknowledge our dependence on another being (including a Higher Being). Or it could be that there’s a certain sin with which we’re struggling, so we’re waiting to go “all in” until we’ve got our act cleaned up. The problem with each of these approaches is that they represent us putting up roadblocks to God’s work in our lives. Now yes, God obviously can, and has, acted on our behalf even while we were living in outright opposition to Him (Romans 5:8), but for the most part God desires that we not hold anything back from Him when we’re seeking His will for our lives. My question then is what would it look like in your life if you actually went “all in” with God?

Well, it would look like this! Now I recognize that it may be a little strange to use a gambling image when I’m talking about faith-related things; or, then again, maybe it’s not. I’d bet many, if not most, of us live our lives more like we’re seated at the poker table than like we’re kneeling at the throne of God. For the most part we choose to play it safe with very little risk, like my mom whose only venture into gambling entails a brief stint at the penny slots while passing through Vegas. Every once in awhile we might muster the courage to take a significant risk in life, and yet we often do so with fingers crossed hoping that luck is on our side. But we need to be reminded that the One who created the heavens and the earth, the One who simply spoke all things into existence, is on our side! As such, we should live with the confidence to “push all our chips to the center of the table” as a sign of the trust we have in God.

My use of this imagery is not meant to imply that I view God as the great Casino Boss in the sky who’s just waiting for us to surrender control so that He can shower us with riches. Far from! But as we read in the Psalm above, I do believe that God desires to give us our heart’s desires…that is, after we’ve learned to delight in Him first. That means that God doesn’t want to be some afterthought when it comes to our relationships, careers, finances, etc., but rather He desires that we put Him first in every decision that we make. The reason for this is because His ultimate desire is to be our first love because that’s precisely what we represent for Him. Just as God gave everything for us when He sent His beloved Son, Jesus, to die on the cross, what God desires is for us to give Him all of ourselves in return. Not a portion. Not the majority. But everything! Although I’ll admit that I have yet to do that myself, I know that in doing so not only will God be glorified, but that I too will experience life in all its fullness.

So I want to leave you with the 2 questions that I’m currently asking myself: What is it at this moment that’s keeping you from going “all in” with God? And what might your life look like if you did?!