In Spirit and Truth

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. —Gal 6:2 For You are the body of Christ and individually members of it. —1Cor 12:27 For those of you who may not know me very well yet, I'm not normally big on sports metaphors. The main reason for this, is that I would have to understand a sport before I could turn it into a metaphor for life. So in most cases, you're all safe. (That isn't a baseball metaphor either.) However, things lined up very well today, and a sports metaphor was born in my heart. Over the last several weeks, Brad has taken us through the Apostle's Creed, and reminded us of the relevance of this ancient statement of Faith. This week the series concluded with "I believe in the Church." We heard how the Church consists not of a building, but of a people. We heard how we all are the body of Christ, and how, as saints (those called out and set apart) we are to be in communion with one another. We heard all this, and then we went o

Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" —John 20:27-28 Thomas get's a bad rap! Year after year, we go around calling him Doubting Thomas, like school children on the playground trying to get under his skin. I'm sure he didn't expect that his one moment of grief would define him. The truth is, Thomas only asked for what the other disciple's received. After the Resurrection, Jesus came into the midst of ten of the disciples and he showed them his wounds, spoke peace over them and commissioned them to the work of the kingdom. When the ten disciples saw this, they were "glad." I think to myself, surely that is an understatement, but that is what the text says—"the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." When Thomas returned from where he had been, the disciple's excitedly to

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. —Psalm 57:7-11 Even for all of King David’s mistakes, he was called "a man after God’s own heart." I think we catch a glimpse of that heart in this Psalm. David had been anointed as the next king of Israel, and the current king wasn't so thrilled about that. King Saul was out for blood, and would stop at nothing! David was a fugitive living on the run. At the time this was penned, he was spending his days hiding in a cave. If anyone had reason to be depressed, it was David. It seemed as though none of his dreams would ever be fulfilled. Everywhere he turned there were those who sought hi

"Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, 'Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?' Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus." - John 18:10-12 Earlier this same evening, Peter declared to Jesus in the presence of the other disciples, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you." And Peter meant it. He loved Jesus in a way that we, who are removed by time, cannot know in this life. He loved this Jesus enough to walk away from His "responsible life" of fishing. He walked hundreds of miles with Jesus; listening to him, hearing the warmth and peace in His voice. Jesus was his treasured one. Jesus was his hope, his promise, and his joy. Peter would die before he ever willingly gave Jesus up. And who could blame him. We all have passions