Some Much to Remember

Our reading is Genesis 8:15-20. The main character is Noah. Everyone knows his story. In his days, the world had grown so wicked that God decided to start over. God sends a great flood to destroy everything. However, God decides to save mankind and selects one righteous man, Noah, to repopulate the world. God has Noah build a great ark. On the day the rain began to fall, Noah entered the ark, along with his family and the animals. According to Genesis 7:12, it rained forty days and forty nights. (Remember, in the Bible the number forty is reserved for a sacred period.) When the rain stopped, the water began to dry up and in time dry ground appeared. The first verse of our reading tells us God directs Noah to exit the ark. Verse twenty says the first thing Noah did was build an altar to the Lord.

Why did Noah build an altar? In the Bible, man-made altars were created for several reasons. Sometimes man-made altars existed to offer a sacrifice to God. That is why Noah built his altar. However, that is not the only reason. Sometimes man-made altars were constructed to remember divine encounters or to remember divine acts. Some altars were built to seal a covenant or as a place of refuge. I do not want to simplify the topic, but altars were built to remember something significant. That is the same reason we place headstones at graves. On Memorial Day, it is the custom in the United States to decorate graves of fallen soldiers who have died in service to our country. On Memorial Day, it is the custom to decorate the graves of deceased loved ones. Did you know approximately 20% of Americans visit the grave of a loved one regularly? During those visits people do three things. Let me look at each one.

First, when we stand at a grave we remember the past. When Noah stood by his altar he remembered his past. Just think about it for a moment, Noah walked out of the ark with his family. There were eight of them. That was it. Everyone else was gone. Everything he knew in the past was gone. They were not going to be part of his future. Everything and everyone, except his family, was gone!

Have you ever stopped to consider how the world has changed? In 2014, Kathryn and I traveled to Quincy, Massachusetts. It is the home of Peacefield, the home of Founding Father and President John Adams (1735-1826) and his wife Abigail Adams (1744-1818) and home of President John Qunincy Adams (1767-1848) and his wife Louisa Catherine Adams (1775-1852). The oldest selection of the house was built in 1731. The entire property is now part of the Adams National Historic Park. Everything was well preserved, and we enjoyed our visit. It was easy to imagine what life was like during the early days of our country, except for one exception. Across the street from the Adams home was a Dunkin Donuts. I found the contrast between Peacefield and the Dunkin Donuts comical. It reminds us the world has changed a great deal in the past 250 years.

Have you ever stopped to consider how much the world has changed in your lifetime? I was born in 1957. In 1957, the world population was approximately 2.8 billion. Today, it is over 8 billion. Since 1957, there has been an information revolution. In 1957, a new home cost approximately $15,000. A new car cost approximately $2,000. Gas was 24 cents a gallon. A first-class stamp was 3 cents. College tuition for an Ivy League school was $1,000 annually. You get the point; the world has changed a great deal in my lifetime. How much has the world changed in your lifetime? Noah spent time remembering the past. How much time do you spend remembering the past? One of the things we do on Memorial Day is remember the past.

Second, when we stand at a grave, we remember what is important. Verse 20 says Noah built his altar to the Lord. It doesn’t say he built the altar to his wife, his sons or their wives. It says he built the altar to the Lord. He built the altar to the most important thing in his life, God! This is the question you must answer: what is important to you?

Sitting on a table next to my bed is an old, grainy family photograph. I look at it regularly. My Aunt Phyllis tells me it is a photograph of an Adams family reunion about the year 1900. Everyone is sitting in front of a farmhouse. All the men have long beards; all the women are wearing long dresses. The oldest are sitting on chairs in the middle. The youngest are sitting on the ground. There is a young boy sitting in front of the oldest man. That young boy is my grandfather, Roger Adams. He was the only one in that picture I ever met. Everyone in that picture is gone. Yet, that photograph is important to me because they are my ancestors.

I like to think the core values of my ancestors are the same as mine. Not a single person in that photograph is extremely handsome or rich. Not a single Adams ever invented anything or wrote a book. Those things really don’t matter to me. However, Adams means certain things. First, it means you are a good person. Second, it means you are honest. Third, it means you are loyal; loyal to your spouse, children, friends and country. Fourth, it means you are a Christian. Jesus is the most important thing to me. What is important to you? One of the things we do on Memorial Day is remember what is important.

Third, when we stand at a grave we ponder the future. What do you think Noah thought about his future? To answer that question, you must combine Noah’s past experiences and his priorities. His past included a sinful world. His greatest priority was God. When he looked to the future he must have been determined to do better. Through Noah everything started anew. God had given the world another chance and Noah knew they could do better. Have you ever thought about your future? What do you still want to do? What mistakes do you want to correct? What would you like to do better? One of the things we do on Memorial Day is ponder the future.

John Logan (1826-1886) was the National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic during the 1860’s. It was Logan who declared May 30, 1868 a “Memorial Day.” That date was selected because the flowers would be in full bloom in both the north and the south. The observance was held at Arlington National Cemetery. Ulysses (1822-1885) and Julia Grant (1826-1902) presided over the day. Soldiers from the Grand Army of the Republic and orphans from the Soldiers and Sailors orphanage placed flowers on both Union and Confederate graves. The idea was not original. By 1868, communities who had lost men in the Civil War had been decorating the graves of their lost loved ones for several years. There is nothing new about Memorial Day. People have been remembering for a long time. Perhaps, it all began with Noah, who built an altar and remembered. This Memorial Day what will you remember?

Facing the Challenge

The Sermon on the Mount is found in the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of Matthew. It is a collection of Jesus’ moral teachings. That means our reading, Matthew 5:38-48, stands within that body of teachings. There is nothing easy about what Jesus said to the crowd on that day; they were challenging words. They are challenging words to us today, and they must be taken seriously. They are challenging because they run contrary to normal human behavior. If you use your sanctified imagination, you can imagine Jesus using his well-warn sandal and drawing a line in the sand. He is challenging them, and us, to step over that line and stand with him. This is the truth – few have stepped over that line. Most of us are more concerned about being accepted by the world than standing with Jesus. The heart of those teachings is the topic of Christian discipleship. Are you taking your discipleship seriously? In this blog I want to look at Jesus’ challenge; we find that we are challenged in three ways.

First, are you willing to love unconditionally? Most of us love conditionally. Verses thirty-eight and thirty-nine says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”  It is easy to love likeable people, who are just like you. It is not as easy to love unlikeable people, who are nothing like you. However, Jesus expects his disciples to love unconditionally.

Every American knows the name George Washington (1732-1799), the first President of the United States. Not many know the name Peter Miller (1709-1796), who was a friend of Washington and the German Baptist pastor in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Within Miller’s congregation was a man named Michael Wittman. He hated his pastor and did everything possible to discredit him. One day Wittman was arrested for treason and sentenced to die. History tells us, Pastor Miller traveled seventy miles on foot to Philadelphia to plead for the life of the evil-minded Wittman. The plea was heard by his friend George Washington. At first, Washington was deaf to Miller’s plea because he thought Miller and Wittman were friends. Then, Miller responded, “No, he is not my friend but my bitterest enemy.” Washington responded, “You have walked seventy miles to save the life of your greatest enemy? That puts the matter in a different light. I’ll grant your pardon.” Peter Miller took Michael Wittman back home to Ephrata – no longer an enemy, but a friend. Would you beg for the benefit of an enemy? Miller didn’t just beg for Wittman’s life; he accepted Jesus’ challenge and crossed the line in the sand. I hope you would do the same because that is what Jesus expects. If you are going to cross the line in the sand and stand with Jesus, then you must love unconditionally. Are you up to the challenge?

Second, you must forgive unreservedly. Most forgive reservedly. On April 25, 1958, a 26-year-old exchange student from Korea was killed going to the post office near the campus at the University of Pennsylvania. The news of the attack spread quickly. The entire city of Philadelphia was outraged. A teenage gang was accused. The District Attorney wanted them tried as adults, so they could be given the death penalty. Then suddenly, something shocking happened. A letter came from Korea that confused everyone. This is what the letter said: 

To Whom It May Concern:

Our family has met and has decided to petition your government so those guilty of this crime may be treated generously within your law. To give evidence of our sincere spirit, we have decided to save money for a fund to be used for the religious, educational, vocational and social guidance of the boys once they are released. We have learned about such forgiveness from our Savior, Jesus, who forgave us. 

A large part of Jesus’ mission was to offer forgiveness. Those Koreans were not just setting up a fund, they were accepting Jesus’ challenge and crossing Jesus’ line in the sand. Jesus Christ forgave unreservedly, and so did those Korean disciples. Would you be able to forgive those teenagers? If you are going to cross the line in the sand and stand with Jesus, then you must forgive unreservedly. Are you up to the challenge?

Third, you must serve unselfishly. Are you open to sacrificing for a stranger? Verses forty through forty-two say, “And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”  It is not easy to serve unselfishly, but that is what Jesus expects from you and me. Jesus says we must serve unselfishly.

On a dreary winter day in 1943, nine hundred and three soldiers and four chaplains boarded the SS Dorchester. World War II was in full swing, and the ship was headed across the icy north Atlantic. At midnight on February third, the ship was hit by a German torpedo. The word went out that the ship was going down. One of the chaplains was a man named George Fox (1900-1943). A young GI crept up to Fox and said, “I’ve lost my life jacket. Fox said, “Take this,” and handed the GI his life jacket. Before the ship sank, each chaplain gave his life jacket to another man. The heroic chaplains then linked arms and lifted their voices in prayer as the Dorchester went down. Those chaplains were awarded posthumously the Distinguished Service Cross.

Those chaplains accepted the challenge and crossed the line in the sand. They were true disciples of Jesus Christ! Would you have given your life jacket away to save someone else? If you are going to cross the line in the sand and stand with Jesus, then you must serve unselfishly. Are you up to the challenge? Let me end with this story.

In 1992, the movie A League of their Own was released. I have watched the movie several times. It is about a women’s baseball league during the Second World War. Geena Davis (born 1956) is the main character in the movie and plays the catcher of the Rockford Peaches, Dottie Hinson. She is not only the best player on the team, but also the best player in the league. As the season drags on, Davis’s character gets tired and decides to quit the team. She tells her manager, Jimmy Dugan, played by Tom Hanks (born 1956), that she is going to quit because baseball is “too hard”.  I love his response. Hank’s character responds, “Baseball is supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it.”  Then he said, “Hard is what makes baseball great!” 

It is not just true of baseball; it is true of the Christian faith. If it was easy, then everyone would do it. The challenge is what makes the Christian faith so great! Are you going to accept Jesus’ challenge and cross Jesus’ line in the sand? If you are, then you’d better be prepared to do the most unnatural things. The choice is yours. I hope you are up to the challenge! American philosopher Dallas Willard (1935-2013) once said, “Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you.”

To Lynbrook with Love

My cousin Alice recently died. She lived in Lynbrook, New York. She had been sick for several years, but her death still came as a shock. We lived hundreds of miles apart, but I have fond memories of her. I will always remember her wonderful sense of humor and her giving spirit. To be honest, her death generated anger, guilt and depression inside of me. The whole family traveled to Lynbrook with love. I was humbled to be asked to officiate at her funeral. When my mother died several years after my father, I was uncomfortable being part of the older generation. When members of your own generation begin to die, it is disturbing. Death is uncomfortable for us mortals. However, death is a part of life. Our reading is John 11:1-44.

The story in our scripture verses revolves around a man named Lazarus. His name means “whom God helps.” He and his sisters, Mary and Martha, lived two miles from Jerusalem in the town of Bethany. They were personal friends of Jesus. In our story, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was gravely ill. Through worldly eyes, Jesus arrived too late. Lazarus had died and everyone was grieving. When Jesus saw their emotions, he was moved and began to cry. John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible, but it exposes a great deal about Jesus. He wept because he was filled with empathy. Have you ever wept at a funeral? The story reveals to us three things we must do the next time death invades our personal space.

First, we must remember our departed loved one. In 2013, Lt. John Harold Pritchard (1892-1917) of the British military was laid to rest, 96 years after his death. He died on May 15, 1917, during World War I. His remains were found by a farmer in 2009 near Bullecourt, France. He was just one of the millions who were killed during the Great War. Today, his remains are resting in a cemetery that is filled with World War I veterans. His 86-year-old great nephew said it best, “We all feel better now because we know we can come and visit him. We now have a place to come and remember.”  There is an old pagan belief that holds some truth. They believe if the departed are remembered, part of the person remains. It is important to remember our departed loved ones.

Second, we must review our lives up to this point. In 1846, former President John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) suffered a stroke. Although he returned to Congress the following year, his health was clearly failing. Daniel Webster (1782-1852) described his last meeting with Adams: “Someone, a friend of his, came in and made particular inquiry about his health. Adams answered, ‘I inhabit a weak, frail, decayed tenement; battered by the winds and broken in upon by the storms, and from all I can learn, the landlord does not intend to repair.'” It was too late for John Quincy Adams. It is not too late for you. I recommend you start living now! Mary and Martha must have reviewed their own lives at Lazarus’ death.

The story of Lazarus teaches us that life is unpredictable. No one expected him to die. It also teaches us that life is short. I once had a woman in her nineties tell me she was ready to sign up for ninety more years. That simply isn’t possible. The question at every funeral is, who is next? Death does not always happen in chronological order. What do you still want to do with your life? Where do you still want to travel in this world? What do you still want to learn? I would suggest you don’t wait; life is unpredictable. Are you living? Or are you just waiting to die? American author and humorist Mark Twain (1835-1910) once said, “Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die, even the undertaker will be sorry.” It is important to review your life.

Third, we must refocus our eyes on eternity. One of the great scenes in the New Testament is Mark 8:27-31, Peter’s confession. You know the story. For some time, the disciples had been following Jesus. They had seen the miracles. They had heard the teachings. They had felt his presence and experienced the reaction of the people who constantly followed Jesus. Our generation knows Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus’ own generation was not so sure, so Jesus asked the twelve the question, who do you say that I am?  Anyone of the disciples could have answered the question, but only one voice was heard. Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”  That correct identification changed everything. That correct identification changed the way we look at death. You must answer the question for yourself, who is Jesus? This is the bottom line.

Death doesn’t just challenge us to live fuller lives now. Death challenges us to be prepared for eternity. Your good deeds cannot earn your salvation. Your church membership has no guarantee of salvation. Your patriotic spirit will not influence your salvation. Your only hope of salvation is Jesus. Look at the story with me. Mary and Martha were reunited with their once deceased brother because of Jesus. Is it possible you are so busy with your life you need to refocus on eternity?

Several years ago, someone asked me what I look forward to in my death. I gave her an honest answer. I am no different from you. When I get to heaven, I look forwarded to being reunited with loved ones who have died. Does that sound selfish? Maybe I should have said standing near the throne or singing in the choir. Those things really don’t appeal to me. I look forward to being reunited with departed loved ones. Read the next line slowly. There is no hope of a great reunion without Jesus. Jesus asked the disciples, but Jesus is also asking you: Who do you say I am? I hope you identify him correctly. He must be your Lord and Savior!

Death brings out three things in us. First, death challenges us to remember the past. Those memories are important. Second, death challenges us to review your life to this moment. What do you still want to do? Third, death challenges us to refocus on eternity. Who is Jesus to you? Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) once said, “As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well used brings happy death.”

Jesus’ Three Requirements

Jesus’ Three Requirements

Our reading is Matthew 26:17-30. It is Thursday of Holy Week. Most call it Maundy Thursday. Jesus has already entered Jerusalem riding a donkey to celebrate his final Passover. Jesus has already cursed the fig tree and cleansed the Temple. Jesus has already been confronted by his enemies and Judas Iscariot has already agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. According to the text, Jesus has already washed the disciples’ feet and was observing the annual Seder with his disciples.

The Passover Seder is a structured, 15-step ritual meal held on the first two nights of Passover. It was a scripted meal. Everything they ate and drank reminded them of their ancestors’ exodus from Egypt. To be more exact, they remembered how God had acted on behalf of their ancestors. However, on that Passover Jesus changed the script and created something new – Jesus told the disciples the bread represented his body and the wine represented is blood. To the disciples the symbolism was clear. Bread represented blessings. Blood represented death. From the very beginning Christians valued communion. It has generated much debate in the life of the church.

Swiss theologian Karl Barth (1886-1968) once said, “The Word became flesh, and then through theologians it became words again.”  For years, theologians have debated communion. I remember sitting in classrooms and studying the words transubstantiation and consubstantiation. The Roman Catholic tradition believes in transubstantiation – the bread and the wine mystically turn into the actual body and blood of Christ. That happens when the bell is rung during a Catholic Mass. The Protestant tradition believes in consubstantiation. The bread and the wine, or juice, represent the body and the blood of Christ. For years, theologians have debated communion.

For years, well-meaning laity have complicated communion by telling us how they prefer to receive it. Some like it weekly. Some like it monthly. Some like it quarterly. One woman told me communion should only be offered once a year, on Christmas Eve at the 11:00 PM service. The founder of the great Methodist movement John Wesley (1703-1791) took communion up to five times a week. Some like communion sitting in the pews. Some like it at the rail. Some don’t like it at the rail, because it discriminates against those with arthritic knees. Some like communion served in little plastic cups and cubed bread. Some like communion served by intinction, when you tear off your own piece of bread from a common loaf and dip it into a common cup. Germaphobes are repulsed by intinction. Some think long, complex liturgy should accompany communion, and others don’t want any liturgy at all. Well-meaning laity have complicated communion by telling us how they prefer it. The United Methodist Book of Disciple says, the appointed clergy will decide how often and in what form communion will be served. I wish I had such power. In my time in the ministry, the whole topic exhausted me. I grew tired of trying to keep everyone happy.That is impossible.

It is interesting to note the Bible does not use the words transubstantiation or consubstantiation, it does not tell us how to serve the elements. However, the Bible tells us what we must do when we partake communion. To be more exact, Jesus gives us three requirements we must observe when we partake the communion elements. This is the first requirement.

Communion requires us to remember Jesus! Verses 25 and 26 tell us Jesus took the bread and associated it with his body, and he took the wine and associated it with his blood. Like the rest of us, Jesus didn’t want to be forgotten once he was gone; Jesus wanted to be remembered.

What do you remember about Jesus as you partake of his body and blood? Do you remember his humble birth in Bethlehem? Do you remember his baptism in the Jordan River? Do you remember his lessons from the Sermon on the Mount? Do you remember his miracles? The lame could walk and the blind could see. Do you remember how Jesus walked on the water and controlled the weather? Do you remember how Jesus resurrected Lazarus? Do you remember Jesus hanging on the cross, twisted in pain for your salvation? It is a fair question. What do you remember about Jesus, as you partake of the bread and cup? I remember Jesus in the Upper Room with the disciples observing his last Seder. This is the second requirement.

Communion requires us to examine our present condition! Jesus was a man who lived the perfect life and sacrificed so much. He had the perfect relationship with God. In comparison to Jesus, our sins are obvious and we have sacrificed very little. There is no comparison between us and Jesus. Yet, Jesus invites us to partake. If you are not humbled at the communion table, then you have a serious spiritual problem. That is what Paul is saying in I Corinthians 11:27, “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.”  Communion humbles us, because we must examine our present condition. This is the third requirement.

Communion requires us to examine our eternity! In the scripture lesson, Jesus isn’t just embracing the moment, Jesus is forcing the disciples to examine their eternity. Verse 25 says, “I will tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until I drink it anew in the Kingdom of God.”  Jesus is not just speaking of his own eternity, he is speaking of the disciple’s eternity too. By his invitation to us to sit at the table with him, Jesus is speaking of your eternity. Where do you want to spend eternity? I have never met a person who didn’t want to go to heaven. Jesus is your only hope of salvation. Communion requires us to examine our eternity!

Each time you take communion remember Jesus’s three requirements. First, communion requires us to remember Jesus. Second, communion requires us to examine ourselves. Third, communion requires us to examine our eternity. There is very little nutritional value in a small amount of bread and juice, but there is a spiritual value that cannot be dismissed. Pope Pius X (1835-1914) served as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1903-1914. He said, “Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to heaven.”

When Life is Hard

Our reading is Luke 7:11-17. Jesus is in Galilee, and his popularity is high. He has just left Capernaum and traveled to Nain. On his arrival, he encounters a large grieving crowd. A man has died and they are carrying away his corpse. They are grieving about the man’s death, but they are concerned about his mother. These were challenging days in her life. In her past, she had buried her husband and now she is burying her son. She is the picture of brokenness. Her future did not just include loneliness. It includes poverty too. She lived in a patriarchal society, so her financial security is uncertain. Without her son, there will be no happy ending. Everyone’s heart went out to her, but no one wanted to trade places with her.

There is an unwritten law that says children will outlive their parents. That is not always true. Various studies tell us, between 9% and 18% of parents will experience the death of a child by the time the parent reaches 60 years old. In the nineteenth century, 25% of children died before the age of five. Personally, I fear the death of my children more than I fear my own death. That may be your greatest fear too. Perhaps, that is why this story of a grieving mother grabs our attention. It contains three valuable lessons we should never forget. This is the first.

Life is hard. If you do not believe me, thenask the widow in the story and she will tell you, life is hard.She had nothing. Her husband had died, and now her son had died. The only thing that the future holds for her is loneliness and poverty. She had nothing. She will tell you – life is hard. Sadly, her story is not unique.

The news is filled with people going through hardship. You know the story, everybody knows the story. On February 1, 2026, Nancy Guthrie (born 1942), mother of NBC’s Savannah Guthrie (born 1971) was reported missing from her home near Tucson, Arizona. She was abducted against her will. Because of her daughter’s celebrity status, every detail has been reported by the various news services. Her children have begged for her return, and a million-dollar reward has been offered. The family has struggled during this incredible hardship. Ask them and they will tell you, life is hard. Nancy Guthrie is not the only one to have gone missing in our country. According to the FBI and the DOJ, 500,000 to 600,000 Americans go missing each year. While 98% of those cases are solved, usually quickly, thousands of people remain missing long-term. Ask any of those families and they will tell you, life is hard. However, some stories of hardship never make the news.

During my time in the ministry I heard about hardship regularly. Good people experience hard times. Sometimes, the hardship is caused by poor decision-making. You drank too much or you bought too much. You cheated on your spouse, and everyone got hurt. There is no need to go on, you get the point. Poor decision-making leads to hardship. Sometimes, hardship enters our lives like an uninvited guest. Everyone knows someone with cancer or some other serious disease. You were rear-ended in a traffic accident on your way to work and now your back will never be the same. Depression and anxiety have stripped away any personal joy. How many people do you know who are struggling at this moment? What is your greatest challenge at this moment? I have spent countless hours sitting by the bed of one who is dying. No one has ever looked at me in those last sacred hours and said to me, “Russ, life was much easier than I thought.” They all said to me in countless ways, “life is hard.” Here is point number two.

Sometimes we need others. Look at her story one more time. The woman had lost two significant people in her life, her husband and son. She is staring into an uncertain future. She has nothing, except friends. Verse 12 says, “As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.”  They were not there to carry the body. They were not there because funerals were fun. They were there to support this poor woman. Sometimes, we need others. The unnamed widow is not the only one. It is true of some of the greats in the Bible.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was from the town of Nazareth. In her time, Nazareth had a population of between 100 and 400 people. Have you ever lived in a small town? Everyone knows everyone else. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. This is the bottom line – in a time of high morals, Mary was a single, pregnant woman from a small town. Everyone from that town, everyone in her life, was talking about her unwanted pregnancy. She is the hot topic at the well. So, she escapes Nazareth and visits her cousin, Elizabeth. She went for two reasons. First, she goes to Elizabeth to escape the people in her life. Second, she goes to Elizabeth to receive some unconditional love. Has there ever been a time in your life when you needed the counsel of someone else? Has there ever been a time in your life when you needed some unconditional love?

Sometimes we need others. Where do you go for assurance and unconditional love? Maybe you are like Mary and go to a family member? Maybe you go to a friend? Maybe you go to a trusted member of the clergy? Maybe you go to a support group or counselor? Those people are important because they help you carry your burdens. Sometimes we need others. This is the point number three.

We always need God. In our story, the crowd that surrounded her during that day would have left her by sunset. There is only so much people can do. God can do more. As the crowd was walking out of Nain, Jesus was entering. It is a great visual. Everyone wants Jesus to arrive when life is hard. We turn to God during hardship.

In my last church, there was a sewing group. They were nice ladies who never demanded my attention. They would create various items and donate them to various people and causes. One of the things they created were prayer shawls. Each one went to a person who was encountering some kind of hardship. However, before the prayer shawl was delivered, they would pray over it and ask for God to help that individual. I do not know of one time when something miraculous occurred, but I know every time that prayer shawls became a valued item to the person in need. It didn’t become a valued item because of the skill it took to create it. It became a valued item because the prayer shawl reminded them of God. Countless times, I would visit a person in need and find one of the prayer shawls in the bed of the suffering person. When life is hard, we always need God.

I end this blog by challenging you to admit three things. First, I want you to admit life is hard. Second, I want you to admit sometimes you need other people to help you carry the load of hardships. Third and finally, I want you to admit you always need God; He is the only constant in an ever-changing world. American Baptist minister and author Walter Martin (1928-1989) once said, “The key to strengthening spiritual muscle and enduring hardship is finding strength in God.”  

Christian Camp Gideon

Christian Camp Gideon is located in Aa, Estonia. The village is in northern Estonia, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. The location is beautiful. The camp itself was built prior to World War II by the Soviet Union. At that time, it was a Pioneer Camp, where communism and atheism were taught to the young. The fall of communism in 1991 changed everything. In time, Estonia became an independent country, and the camp found a new purpose.

During the summers of 1993 and 1994, Christian Camp Gideon was used by the Estonian United Methodist Church. On March 15, 1995, Christian Camp Gideon was purchased by the Asbury United Methodist Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and given to the Methodist churches of Estonia. On that day Pastor Artur Põld was named the Director of Christian Camp Gideon. He still holds that position today. Currently, there are fifteen buildings on 75 acres at the camp, where there is space for to up to 400 people.

From the very beginning, American friends have supported Christian Camp Gideon – both spiri­tually and financially. Every summer, several groups of volunteers from the United States arrive at Camp Gideon to organize children’s pro­grams and help repair the time-worn buildings. Over the years, Christian Camp Gideon has become internationally known in Latvia, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Belarus, Germany and beyond. Thanks to the ministries of Camp Gideon, hundreds of children hear about Jesus each camp season. Together with the guests of Christian Camp Gideon, several mission events have been organized, including family camps, Walk to Emmaus, and the Annual Conference of the Estonian Methodist Church. In the past several years, Christian Camp Gideon has become a refuge for Ukrainians who are escaping the war.

In 2019, my wife Kathryn and I visited Christian Camp Gideon for the first time. We were moved by the ministry of the camp and the work of the people. Since that visit Kathryn has been raising money to help with the reconstruction of the buildings. She is returning to Christian Camp Gideon between July 16 and August 1, and I am returning between July 23 and August 1. We will be helping with English Camp and are looking forward to seeing the progress that has been made at Christian Camp Gideon. It is truly a resurrection story. A camp that once taught communism and atheism is now teaching the Good News of Jesus Christ.

You can help Christian Camp Gideon in two ways. First, pray for Christian Camp Gideon; Your prayers are more valuable than you will ever know. Second, prayerfully consider making a financial contribution to Camp Gideon. No amount is too small. It is amazing what God can do with a single dollar. Please make your check out to: PROJECT ORPHAN OUTREACH and mail it to 275 Bradford Drive, Canfield, Ohio, 44406. Some who read my weekly blog have already contributed. You will receive a thank-you note for your contribution as well as a follow-up report on what was accomplished after we return.

In advance, I would like to thank you for your generosity.

When Notre Dame Burned

Holy Week is complete, so much has already happened. Jesus was executed Roman style on Friday between two common criminals. The scene was unpleasant, because sin is ugly. Jesus was fortunate in several ways. First, for crucifixion, Jesus died quickly, only six hours. He spoke seven times from the cross. Those must have been agonizing words to utter. They are called “the seven last words.” Second, arrangements were made by Nicodemus (c. 1st century) to treat his body with expensive spices and lay in a new tomb purchased by Joseph of Arimathea (c. 1st century). It was not uncommon for the crucified to be thrown into a pile of corpses to be eaten by buzzards or wild dogs. Once inside his new tomb, a large stone was rolled in front of the entrance to trap the decaying odor and to protect the body from thieves. The Roman government was persuaded by Jesus’ enemies to place guards in front of the tomb to eliminate any future problems. This was all done by dark on Friday. Once this was completed, Jesus’ loved ones grieved because Jesus was dead! On Saturday, they continued to grieve. That takes us to our reading.

According to our reading, Matthew 28:1-10, it is early Sunday morning, when two visitors arrive at the tomb. There was Mary Magdalene (c. 1st century) and another woman named Mary. They had no clue that several miraculous things had happened. The first was a great earthquake. Only mentioned in Matthew, it signaled God had done something special. Second, the stone had been rolled away. That was something they could not have done by themselves. Third, the resurrection was announced. According to verse three, it is made by an angel, whose clothes were white as snow, symbolizing purity. The angel tells the women about the resurrection, but the women experience the resurrected Jesus for themselves in verse nine. According to Acts 1:3, Jesus appeared to other believers for a period of forty days. It is a story that changed the world. Never underestimate the power of the resurrection of Jesus. It is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.

The Apostle Paul understood the significance of the resurrection. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  Many believe that is the first creed in the life of the church. In other words, the resurrection is the only thing in the life of the church that really matters. Every branch of the Christian church has their own customs and traditions, but they are secondary to believing in the resurrection of Jesus. If you are reading this blog, I am assuming you believe in the resurrection of Jesus too. Your belief in the resurrection of Jesus entitles you to several things.

First, your belief in the resurrection of Jesus means your past sins are forgiven. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the richness of God’s grace.”  You are forgiven by God. Isn’t it time you forgive yourself? How many people do you know who are constantly re-living their past mistakes and punishing themselves? They need to embrace the resurrection and forget their mistakes, God has. Billy Graham (1918-2018) once said, “Forgiveness obliterates the past and permits us to enter the land of new beginnings.” The resurrection offers us forgiveness.

Second, your belief in the resurrection of Jesus means you have a purpose. Philippians 3:13-14 says, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind me and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Your good deeds cannot earn your salvation, but your good deeds are a way of thanking God for saving your soul.What are you doing to bring glory to God? Life is not all about you – life is about God. The resurrection offers us a purpose. 

Third, your belief in the resurrection of Jesus offers you a future. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.”  On the day I die don’t cry for me. I am going to heaven, not because I am a good person. I am going to heaven because I worship and serve a perfect and resurrected Jesus. How many good people do you know who are afraid to die? There is no need to fear death if you believe in the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection offers us a future.

On April 15, 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris caught on fire. The fire was caused by an accidental electrical fault. The massive ancient structure fascinates me. I am not the only one. They say on an average week, 12,000 tourists visit Notre Dame daily. During Holy Week, that number swells to 30,000 tourists. Construction of Notre Dame began in the year 1163 and took 200 years to complete. It is more than an old building. Notre Dame has been the backdrop of French history for generations.

If you can grieve for a building, I did. I am fortunate because I have visited Notre Dame three times. The first time was with my parents as a teenager. The second time was when I was traveling home from a volunteer-in-mission trip in Russia. Our layover in western Europe was in Paris, so Kathryn and I stayed for a few days to celebrate our anniversary. The third time was after the fire, during reconstruction. Retired, we spent over a week in “The City of Light.” On each trip, visiting Notre Dame was a priority. When Notre Dame burned, I was moved by the emotions of the crowds who gathered to watch the blaze, some praying, some singing, some crying. When Notre Dame burned, I mourned for the building and the history, but not the faith.

The Christian faith can’t be contained to a building. The Christian faith lives in the hearts of men and women who believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That belief in the resurrection is not optional, it is indispensable. The resurrection of Jesus Christ changed world history and your individual life. Because you believe Jesus was resurrected you are forgiven, have a purpose and have a future beyond death. The pastor of Menlo Church in Menlo, California, John Ortberg (born 1957) once said, “At the very heart of the Christian faith is the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.” The Lord has risen! The Lord has risen, indeed!

Holy Week

Holy Week represents the final, sacred week of Lent in Christianity, beginning on Palm Sunday and ending before Easter morning. This year, it runs from March 29 (Palm Sunday) to April 4 (Holy Saturday), marking the passion, death, and burial of Jesus before the resurrection. It is my experience most regular worshippers remember Palm Sunday and celebrate Easter but overlook the other days of Holy Week. In this blog I want to challenge you to remember what Jesus did each day. According to the Gospel of Matthew, this is what happened during Jesus’ last week prior to his crucifixion.

On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem to celebrate his final Passover. He was not alone. Biblical scholars tell us more than 2.5 million people were in Jerusalem on that day and on the lips of everyone was Jesus. He rode a donkey to tell everyone he was the king of peace. Most missed the point. Most wanted something from Jesus. Some wanted to see Jesus because he was trending. He was a celebrity and some were preoccupied with celebrities. Famous for being a healer, some wanted a healing from Jesus. Either they or a loved one was sick, and Jesus was their only hope to be healthy. Some longed-for Jesus for political reasons. They had grown tired of Roman rule and believed Jesus was the perfect person to lead a political revolution. The palm branches spread on the ground and waved in the air were political acts. They yelled political slogans. That is what their ancestors had done in previous generations. A small minority must have understood Jesus’ entrance was part of God’s plan of salvation. (Matthew 21:1-11)

On Holy Monday, Jesus did two significant things. First, he cleansed the Temple. The orthodox leadership of the day had turned the Temple into a place of profit, selling various animals for sacrifice. As the contemporary church is a place for prayer, the Temple was a place of prayer too, not profit. Second, he cursed the fig tree. It was the only thing Jesus ever cursed. Like the bald eagle symbolizes America, the fig tree symbolized Israel. The cursing of the fig tree was an act of judgement upon Israel. God was doing something new. At the end of the day, Jesus traveled to Bethany. (Matthew 21:12-22)

On Holy Tuesday, Jesus returned to the Temple and was confronted by the Chief Priests and the Elders, who questioned his authority. Jesus responded by telling the Parable of the Two Sons, the Parable of the Wicked Servant, and the Parable of the Wedding Banquet. The orthodox leaders responded by trying to trap Jesus by asking him questions about paying taxes to Ceasar, the resurrection, and the greatest commandment. Near the end of the day, Jesus left the Temple and taught the disciples about the destruction of the Temple, the signs of the end times, and his future return. We call that collection of teachings The Olivet Discourse. (Matthew 21-25)

On Holy Wednesday, Jesus was anointed in Bethany to prepare him for death, and he was betrayed by one of his own, Judas Iscariot, for thirty pieces of silver. For this reason, some call this day Spy Wednesday. There are several theories about why Judas Iscariot did it. Some say he did it because he had grown tired of being an outsider. He was the only non-Galilean of the twelve. Some say he did it to force Jesus’s hand. He never dreamed Jesus wouldn’t fight back. Some say he did because he was greedy. We don’t really know why he did it, but he did it. In the end, Judas Iscariot regretted his betrayal and committed suicide. Once Judas Iscariot agreed to betray Jesus, his enemies created a scheme to arrest and kill Jesus. (Matthew 26:13-16)

On Holy Thursday, Maundy Thursday, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, showing true servant leadership. Then, they observed the Seder. It was a meal with a message. Everything they ate and drank symbolized how God liberated their people, the Jews, years earlier. After all, they were God’s chosen people. During the meal, Jesus changed the scripted words and created a new memorial we call holy communion. The bread was his body, and the wine was his blood. After the meal was completed, Jesus comforted the disciples and went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. It is while he is in the garden that he was arrested. (Matthew 26:17-50)

On Holy Friday, Good Friday, Jesus had two trials. The first trial was in front of his own people, the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish legislative and judicial council in ancient Israel. It was a “kangaroo” court. Jesus never had a chance. He was found guilty of blasphemy. They wanted to execute Jesus, but they lacked the legal authority. For this reason, they sent him to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate (15 BC-35 AD). He knew Jesus was an innocent man, but he feared the mob. Trying to find a way out of his awkward situation, he used an old tradition of releasing a prisoner during Passover. He hoped the people would choose Jesus, but they choose the notorious criminal Barabas (10 BC-62 AD) instead. Jesus’ fate was sealed. He ordered Jesus to be executed. First, Jesus was whipped. Then, Jesus was mocked and forced to wear a crown of thorns. Finally, Jesus was nailed to a cross. Crucifixion was a Roman form of execution. It was made public to detour future criminals. He hung between two common criminals. For a crucifixion, his death came quickly – six hours. His lifeless body was treated with lavish expensive spices purchased by Nicodemus, before being placed in a new tomb, provided by a wealthy man named Joseph of Arimathea. Both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were secret disciples of Jesus who were members of the Sanhedrin. Both disagreed with their verdict. It was a hard day for those who loved Jesus. They grieved, because Jesus was dead and their dreams were gone. Many still struggle today with the death of Jesus. (Matthew 27)

Some call Holy Saturday Silent Saturday, Black Saturday or Easter Eve. There is nothing to remember about that day, because Jesus was dead. His heart was still and his lungs were flat. There were no brain waves. His loved ones must have been numb because it all ended so quickly. Each one must have asked the question “why?”

There are fifty-two weeks each year. Each week is important and not one should be wasted. However, Holy Week is different. It is the week that changed our world forever. No one has ever influenced the world like Jesus. Annually, I take a few minutes each day of Holy Week and remember what Jesus did on that day. I consider it my spiritual pilgrimage. I encourage you to do the same thing this year. It will enhance your Easter and quicken your spirit. The 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis (1936-2025) said, “Holy Week is a privileged time when we are called to draw near to Jesus.”  May God bless you during this sacred week.

Who’s Your Carol?

Our reading is Jonah 1:1-3. Jonah is one of the twelve Minor Prophets. They are considered minor because their books are brief. Tradition tells us Jonah was written by the prophet himself. The date it was written is approximately 600 BC. One of the most intriguing elements of this Old Testament book are the New Testament undertones. For example, the name Jonah means “dove,” the New Testament symbol of the Holy Spirit. Also, Jonah was saved by a great fish, which is the New Testament symbol of the Christian faith. However, what is important to us today is the basic storyline. Everyone knows the story of Jonah.

His calling comes in the very first verse of the book, “The word of the Lord came to Jonah.”  That was a common phrase when prophets were called. It is found in other places in the Old Testament. Never forget, prophets were called to speak on behalf of God, not predict future events. The problem is not that Jonah didn’t understand his calling. The problem was Jonah didn’t want to deliver the divine message. God tells him to go to Nineveh and preach a message of repentance. Jonah didn’t care for the Ninevites. Instead of Nineveh, he headed in the opposite direction. He goes to the coastal town of Joppa and bought a ticket for Tarshish. Geography is important in this story. The two cities, Nineveh and Tarshish, represented the opposite ends of the commercial world in ancient times. Nineveh was located on the Tigris River in modern day Assyria, and Tarshish was located on the coast in modern day southwestern Spain. Jonah has been called the reluctant prophet. He forgot God is always present, everywhere. However, his story leads us to an interesting question.

How many souls have you won for Jesus Christ? Did you know, according to various sources, only 1% of all Christians have won a soul for Jesus Christ? That means 99% of us have never won a soul for Jesus Christ. Maybe that is why so many know the story of Jonah. We can relate to Jonah. He was to go to Nineveh and call them to repent, but he refused to go. We are to win the world for Jesus Christ, but we refuse to evangelize. How many souls have you won for Jesus Christ? Here is another question.

Why aren’t Christian’s evangelizing? That is the question Steven Lee tried to answer. He is the pastor of the North Church in Mounds, Minnesota. In a website called Desiring God, he says there are four basic reasons why Christians don’t evangelize. Maybe you will find yourself on this list.

  1. Ignorance Some don’t share the Gospel message because they don’t understand Jesus’ sacrificial death. They believe they can earn their salvation.
  • Fear Some don’t share the Gospel message because they are afraid. They are afraid of not being accepted by their community or circle of friends. Some are afraid of losing respect within their group or losing popularity.
  • Discrimination Some don’t share the Gospel message because they don’t care for an entire group of people. That was Jonah’s story. He didn’t want to go to Nineveh because he didn’t like the Ninevites. How many groups do you belittle?

Can I be honest with you?  I believe the 99% statistic is wrong. I believe many more than 1% of all Christians have won a soul for Jesus Christ. I believe that statistic is wrong because the question is flawed. The question, have you won a soul for Jesus Christ, reminds us of Billy Graham’s (1918-2018) great evangelistic crusades. At the end of every service an altar call was given, and countless people came forward to accept Jesus Christ. However, evangelism is not limited to altar calls. Evangelism is not limited to a one-time experience. Evangelism is anytime we share Jesus. How many times have you shared Jesus with your words or actions? Let me tell you a little story.

My wife Kathryn was raised in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. The entire family attended the local United Methodist Church. She attended Sunday school weekly.

Kathryn will tell you the best Sunday school teacher she ever had was a woman by the name of Carol. She was a stay at home mother who raised her three sons with her husband Bob. She wanted the best for them, and the best she had to offer them was Jesus. It was for this reason that she taught the high school class, which included her sons and my wife. Every Sunday morning at 9:30, she was with a group of high school students talking about Jesus. Not a single student in that class questioned her sincerity, she had known Jesus for years. Not a single student in the class questioned her commitment to them. She wanted the best for them and the best for them was Jesus. She wanted that group of teenagers to live for Jesus. My wife felt her first calling into the ministry thanks to Carol.

As a loving husband, I have to say, Carol changed my wife’s life. When Kathryn was in high school, Carol made her feel special. When Kathryn was in college, Carol prayed for her regularly. When Kathryn was in seminary, Carol invited her to come back to the church to speak to a small group of women. It was a way to encourage her. When Kathryn took those first United Methodist appointments, Carol saw her potential. When Kathryn and I moved to the Cleveland area, Carol visited our churches. When we travelled back to Kathryn’s hometown, Carol was on the itinerary. When our daughter Anna (who Carol had watched as a baby) graduated high school, Carol was invited to the party. They are now friends on Facebook. We travelled back to the Cleveland area several years ago to celebrate Carol’s special birthday. She wanted to know what Jesus was doing in our lives. She has always brought the best out of other people because she always wanted the best for them. She knew the best she could offer them was Jesus. She is simply one of the finest people I have ever known. Ask Carol if she saved Kathryn’s soul for Jesus Christ and she will say, “No!” But she has been evangelizing to Kathryn for years. Let me ask you a question.

Who is your Carol? Who led you to Jesus and encouraged your growth in the Christian faith? It is safe to say that person did not have an advanced degree in evangelism. It is equally safe to say, that person knew Jesus and wanted the best for you. The best we can offer people is Jesus. International evangelist Luis Palau (1934-2021) must have known Carol. He once said, “Evangelism is not an option for the Christian life.”

202 Midwood Street

Our reading is Nahum 1:7-11. Nahum spoke to the people in the city of Ninevah. Those were complex times for Ninevah because it was the capital of the cruel and wicked Assyrian Empire, which covered parts of present-day Iraq, Iran and Turkey. God had had enough of their sinning, so the people must pay. Those were not empty words. History tells us Ninevah was destroyed by a great fire in the year 612 BC. The book of Nahum teaches us sin must be taken seriously. It is as true today as it was in Nahum’s time.

According to Webster, a sin is an immoral act against divine law. Sin must be taken seriously because our sins damage our relationship with God. While most of us are not known for our cruelty or wickedness, everyone is a sinner. Roman 3:23, “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.”  That means we are more like the Ninevites than we care to admit.

James W. Moore (1938-2019) was the pastor of the St. Luke United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas from 1984-2006.  He received his Master of Divinity degree from the Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio. Through the years he wrote many books, which are nothing more than his printed sermons. One of those books is entitled Yes, Lord, I Have Sinned, But I Have Several Excellent Excuses. In that book, he tells us our sins originate from four sources.

Sometimes, we sin by being led astray. That is what happens in the parable of the lost coin. (Luke 15:8-10) A coin was equal to a day’s wages. That means it is worth finding. The coin did not grow legs and walk away. The coin was lost because someone misplaced it. That is what happens with people. Some sin because of the influence of others. That is why parents evaluate their children’s friends. That is why parents want their children to participate in wholesome activities. God fears we will be led astray by others too. Who are the most influential people in your life?

Sometimes, we sin by running away. That is what happens in the parable of the prodigal son. (Luke 15:11-32). It is a story of selfishness. Impatient for his father’s death, a son asks for his share of the inheritance while his father is still living. He took the cash and ran. For a short time, he lived life in the fast lane. Then, his money ran out, and he ended up struggling to survive. You can call it selfishness. Some sin because they think too highly of themselves and have no concern for others. Do the people in your life consider you selfish?

Sometimes, we sin because of resentment. The parable of the prodigal son reveals two sources of sin. The first is selfishness. The second is resentment. It is found in the older son who stayed home. While his little brother was out there living the wild life, he stayed home. He got up early daily and went to work. You can call him responsible, but he felt foolish. He dreamed of the adventures he was missing. At first, he must have admired his brother, but in the end, he resented his bother. It is no fun working when others are having fun. This could be the greatest source of sin in the church today. It is no fun trying to keep the church going when so many have forgotten the church. Who do you resent?

Sometimes we sin by wandering off. That was the story of the Ninevites. One hundred years earlier, God’s reluctant prophet, Jonah, arrived and told them they must repent. The people did, but in time they backslid. The Ninevites are not much different from us. We know what God wants us to do but often we refuse to do it. How far have you wandered away from God? Nahum reminds us there is a price to pay for sinning. However, this is the good news for today.

Nahum lived in Old Testament times, and we live in New Testament times. Ninevah got what they deserved. Their city was destroyed. We deserve to be punished too, but it will never happen because Jesus died for our sins. His death was not pretty because our sins are not pretty. Jesus’ death handled the sin problem. How you respond to Jesus’s death is extremely important. Is it just a passing thought, or is it a life changing experience?

My maternal grandparents lived at 202 Midwood Street in Brooklyn, New York. As a child, we visited my grandparents annually. Through my young eyes, their house was a mansion. Recently, I researched that massive home. It was constructed in 1901 and is 1,800 square feet. The market value of that home today is over $1.9 million. It is hard to compare property values in Brooklyn, New York with northeast, Ohio. Externally, the house was not original. My mother called it a “Brown Stone.” The entire neighborhood was filled with them. Each one was identical. Each one was constructed with brown stones, a flat roof, a bay window, and a flight of stairs leading up to the front door. The only thing that changed about each dwelling was the address. My grandparents lived at 202 Midwood Street. I will never forget that address because of an event that happened to me one day during one of our visits.

I was not very old. I must have been six or seven. My grandparents wanted to entertain me, so they borrowed a bicycle from a neighbor.  The problem was there are very few places for a child to ride in the middle of Brooklyn. My only option was to ride up and down Midwood Street. I am confident my parents told me to be careful, and I am confident they told me the address, 202 Midwood Street, as all the houses looked the same. The problem was I did not listen to them. I was more interested in trying out the bicycle. When I jumped on the bike, I dreamed of wild adventures. I picked up speed fast and I imagined being in all kinds of exciting places. I was having a great time! When I snapped back to reality, I discovered the truth. I was lost in New York. All the homes were identical, and I did not know which one belonged to my grandparents. Emotionally, I went from the highest mountaintop to the lowest valley. Fear flooded through me. I thought I would never see my family again. How would I survive in the streets of New York alone? There was only one option, I began to cry. I promised myself I would never ride a bicycle again, and I prayed that God would help me.

God heard my prayer. My savior came to rescue me. In that emotional moment I heard comforting words. It was my mother, who had been watching me from the window the whole time. I do not remember her exact words, but I do remember the relief I felt when I saw her. I was safe. My mother took me by the hand, wiped my tears, and led me home. I took one last look at that horrible bicycle and walked inside. Can I ask you a question? When was the last time you were lost?

It is not just a story about a small boy lost in a big city. It is the story of the Christian faith, itself. We are lost in sin. Everyone sins. It comes in many forms, each one damaging our relationship with God. We deserve what the people of Nineveh got, punishment. But our punishment never comes because Jesus came to die for our sins. Grace is a wonderful thing. This is the question; how do you respond to God’s grace? It has been said, “God’s grace is not an excuse to sin, but rather a reason to love and serve him more fully.”