DEPENDS ON HOW YOU READ IT

I should never have read the article, by Ron Charles on Dr. Seuss’ book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!.  I should have seen the tag, Washington Post, and stopped.  But no.  I read the article.  Cliff notes:

• 800,000 copies were sold in 2018
• It is a yuppie dream – or nightmare
• White boy with great promise
• Individual supremacy, solitude
• American myth
• “It celebrates young adults’ dreams of escaping from home in the warm embrace of a children’s book they associate with home.’
• “For people who understand the benefits of community, the importance of learning to live together and the emptiness of being as “famous as famous can be,/with the whole world watching, you win on TV,” … is nonsense – and not the good kind.”

I have this book and love it.  I read this book and come away with an entirely different feeling than Ron Charles. 

There is encouragement: 

• Congratulations!  Today is your day.  You’ll be on your way up!
• Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying
• There is fun to be done!  Points to be scored. 

We need to be encouraged.  How wonderful to be told you will escape.  Life can be fun.

There are truths

• And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
• There is a waiting place – you will be waiting for a plane to go, a phone to ring, a Better Break, another Chance
• Some times you’ll play lonely games too.  Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.
• Alone … you’ll be quite a lot.

We need to be able to face the truths in our lives.  We are the ones that have to make decisions and there are times we have to wait.  There are times we will be alone and there are times we are our own worst enemy.

Life is not always easy:

• Because, sometimes, you won’t.  Bang-up and Hang-ups can happen to you.  And your gang will fly on.
• Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.
• Do you dare to go in?  How much can you lose?  You can get so confused.

Life is not a bed of roses.  We will make mistakes.  We will have friends turn their backs on us.  We will be confused.

There are unrealistic goals:

• You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV
• And will you succeed?  Yes!  You will, indeed!
• KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS

We need unrealistic goals.  We might never win $2+ million on Jeopardy, but maybe, just maybe, we could.  We must have the desire and determination to succeed and to move mountains or we will be stuck in one spot…forever.

The book ends with:  So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!  Today is your day!  Your mountain is waiting.  So…get on your way!

On your way?  I would hope so!  We are not supposed to stay in one spot forever.  We are to grow.  And learn.  And make decisions.  We are to get on our way!

How can two people read the same book and come away with such a different meaning?  How…

If you think there is controversy over this Dr. Seuss book, --- think about the controversy over the Bible --- oh my goodness. 

I believe Mr. Charles pointed out how wrong the Dr. Seuss book is because it does not agree with his agenda and today’s philosophy that individuality is wrong and everything should be for the benefit of the community.  Many people use the Bible in the same way.  They read it to find something they can be offended by and argue it is not relative in today’s world. 

But, how can I read the Bible and know it is true?  How can the Bible give me peace?  How can I be sure the Bible is the inspired Word of God?

How?  Faith!  Plain and simple.  I have faith!  And it is through my faith that I read the Bible.  Without that faith, it is easy to discount, discredit, and discard the Bible as just another book.

I read the Bible as a broken, sinner.  I read the Bible as a human who realizes, on my own, I am lost, but with belief in Jesus as God’s only Son who died on the Cross for ME, I will have eternal life.  I read the Bible to learn.  I read the Bible with an open mind and heart.  I read the Bible because the LORD gives me wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding and so I will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path.  For wisdom will enter my heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to my soul.  Discretion will protect me, and understanding will guard me.  (Proverbs 2:part of 6, 10-11 written to make it personal)

How do you read the Bible?

MUSIC

What kind of music do you like?  Classical?  Rap?  Rock-n-Roll?  Old?  New?

A couple weeks ago, I wrote on the power of words and this morning I got to thinking about the power of music:  Love it.  Hate it.  So..so.  Strong.  Quiet.  All words that could be used to describe what you might think of a particular song.  I do not like classical music!  It would be pure torture if I had to sit through a concert of Bach.  Bach, to me, is dark and depressing, as if someone is pushing me down and down and down.  It affects other people just the opposite.  Music is personal.

A Garth Brooks’ concert sells out in minutes and the crowd sings along on Friends in Low Places.  I am part of a crowd.  It is loud.  There is extreme energy.  It is an experience and, when I try to sleep, the lights, the sound, and the energy run through my head.

When Jimmy Fortune sings The Wall, visions of flags and military boots and dog tags appear in my heart.  The Viet Nam War was fought by young men and women my age.  My heart cringes when I think about how those returning soldiers were treated.  The Wall – too many names – too many.

The song In the Garden brings a very clear picture of my grandma.  She walked with Jesus.  She talked with Jesus.  I can close my eyes and imagine her sitting on a bench, holding Jesus hand, and quietly talking to Him. 

Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline makes me crank up the volume.  Loud!  It needs to be loud!  I am..I said, Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show, Cracklin’ Rosie – I am a fan and have been to three of his concerts.  I did not go the last time he was nearby.  I have great memories of his butt being rated a 10 (Yes.  That was the headline in the Indianapolis paper after his first concert there:  Women Rate Neil’s Butt A 10.) and of his voice.  I wanted to keep those memories.  I still turn Mr. Diamond up loud.  I would not want the neighbors to miss out on those three notes leading to Sweet Caroline…Good times never seemed so good.

Yes, music has power. Musical notes arranged in the correct order, can lift your spirit or make you cry or make you remember or

make you say, “Here I am Lord … Is it I Lord … I will go Lord.”  Musical notes arranged in the correct order have the power to touch your soul.

Please enjoy my favorite song, sang by Danial O’Donnell.

Here I Am Lord

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyHTkGrLicg

DOES ANYONE HEAR ME?  DOES ANYONE UNDERSTAND?

This is traveling around Facebook and it is sooooooo true.  Our daughter shared this.  Yes, she is in constant pain.  Pain no one can see.  She looks fine.  She is not.  She fakes the smile when asked, “How are you?” 

I belong to a group page for RLS (Restless Legs Syndrome).  We are tired.  RLS steals our sleep.  We take medicine.  The medicine has side effects.  We do not answer honestly when asked, “How are you?”

People, with depression, fibromyalgia, pain, and a very long list of “invisible” illnesses and those with chronic illnesses, never answer honestly.

Why?

I could say, because we have become a “me” society and your pain does not matter to me.  I could say, because the person asking does not want an honest answer because they would have to respond.  I could --- and sadly, there is some truth to both of these --

I could, but the real answer is we fake it because we are afraid the person asking will not hear us.  The person asking might listen, but rarely do they hear and understand.

My experience from non-RLS people:

            “I have not slept for a week.” gets a reply of, “Have you tried taking a shower before bed?  That works for me.  You said you took a nap maybe that is the problem.”

            “My legs go crazy when I sit or sleep.” still gets this reply from some doctors, “Have you tried exercise and do not drink wine.”

            “Once when my legs were going really crazy (before I took medication), I thought about taking a butcher knife up the back of my leg.  I thought that was the only thing that would help.” gets the reply, “You need help.”  (And they did not mean medicine for my leg!)

My experience from fellow RLS group members:

            “I have not slept for a week.” gets the reply, “Tell me about it.  I am so tired my mind will not work.”  (Sleep deprivation is real!  Many who suffer from RLS are fired because they are too tired to function.)

            “My legs go crazy when I sit or sleep.” gets the reply, “Have you tried Mirapex?  How is your iron level?”  (Like most diseases, RLS is different for each of us.  What works for one seems to set the next persons legs into constant motion.  We try to help each other.)

            “Once I thought about taking a butcher knife up the back of my leg.” gets the reply, “I sure know that feeling.  Honestly, if I thought it would help…..”

The difference is fellow RLS people are going through the same thing.  They hear each other.  They understand.

I have been very fortunate.  My hubby has been great.  He knows I will fidget through movies and concerts.  He knows I might stand up when we have company because I cannot sit still any longer.  He sleeps in another room because it is the only way either of us will get sleep.  He worries about me.  He hears me.  He understands. 

I have been very fortunate.  When my mother had RLS, there was no medicine.  There was not even a name for it.  It was “all in her head.”  I have taken medicine since 2006 and it has made a big difference.  It works --- the majority of the time.  It also has side effects, one of which is messing with my weight, so never expect me to be any smaller than I am now.  My doctor gives me additional medication for when we travel.  She hears me.  My doctor understands. 

And that is the point I am trying to make:  If you are going to ask, listen, hear and understand.  Sometimes, a person is fine and they will say so.  Sometimes, a person is not fine and they should be able to say that also.  If you are going to ask someone how they feel, allow them to be honest, hear what they say, and, when you really listen, you will hear and you will understand.

No one with RLS, depression, fibromyalgia, pain, and a very long list of neither “invisible” illnesses nor those with other chronic illnesses should have to hide how they are feeling.

We never know what other people are going through physically, emotionally, or mentally, but if you are going to ask someone how they feel, please allow them to be honest. 

Reading back over this, it sounds like a lecture and I do not mean it that way.  It is written out of concern for all who fake being well.

THE POWER OF A WORD

Power?  A single word?  How can a single word have power?  After all, it is only a word. 

Only a word?  Maybe.

IF –My goodness the word if can be a hammer.  How many times have you said, “IF I had made a different choice.”?  Then you beat yourself up, repeating over and over, “If.  If.  If.”

WHEN – The word when can be a bargaining chip.  How many times have you said, “When ‘this or that’ happens, I will __insert activity__.”  ? The when never happened so neither did the activity. 

UNQUALIFIED –The word unqualified can be a stop sign.  Have you ever had a dream?  A goal?  An idea?  Then you tell someone and they say, “You are unqualified to do that.”  The word unqualified will stop you in your tracks, take away your dream, and squash your imagination.

LATER – The word later can be an escape goat and a thief.  Later is a way of getting out of things you do not want to do.  Later is feeling good because you did not actually tell someone no.  Later robs you of missed opportunities, joys, and memories.

Do you get the idea?

Are you thinking of another kind of powerful words?

TRY – The word try is a green light!  Picture a kid holding boards and nails looking at an adult.  They declare, “I am going to build a club house.”  The adult replies, “Go ahead and try.  Give it your best shot.”  The light changes to green and boards are nailed together to make something that just might resemble a club house.  Or it might fall over as the final nail enters the board.  And if it does fall over?  Try again!

CONGRATULATIONS – The word congratulations is a pat on the back and an acknowledgement of a job well done.  How wonderful to finish a project, complete your studies, or accomplish a goal and have someone say, “Congratulations.”  Yes, congratulations gives a pat on the back and encouragement to go forward.

INTEGRITY – The word integrity is a stamp of approval.  What do you think of a man when you are told he has integrity?  When a reference states she is if the highest integrity, do you put the resume in the keep file?  The word integrity stamps a person as honest, dependable, moral and upright.

COMPASSION – The word compassion can motivate a person into action.  This powerful word can change the life of one person, one community or can be a chain reaction that could change the world.  Compassion opens our eyes, hearts, and our minds to how others live and feel.  We see their needs.  Their dreams.  Their suffering.  Their hope.  Compassion is a very powerful word.

Do you get the idea?

Are you thinking of another kind of powerful words?

FAITH – The word faith is the ability to believe what the world says is impossible.  To believe what you cannot see.  Noah had faith there was going to be a lot of rain.  Sarah had faith she would finally be a mother.  We have faith Jesus will return!  Faith is the ability to believe .. just because God said so.

GRACE – The word grace is a gift.  Grace is the difference between what we – you, me, and everyone – deserve and what we receive.  God blessed us rather than the alternative.  I don’t know about you, but I want God’s grace!  The alternative does not sound so hot – or maybe the alternative sounds too hot.  Grace is a blessing.

PEACE – The word peace calms our lives.  Peace – God’s peace – means the presence of God is always with us.  Peace – God’s peace – means we are not to be afraid.  Peace is a comfort, like wrapping your favorite blanket (aka Holy Spirit) around you and knowing you are going to be okay.

THE MOST POWERFUL WORD OF ALL (in my humble opinion)

LOVE

LOVE – I looked up the word love.  It can be a noun or a verb.  Some synonyms are cherish, treasure, value, adore, like, and zeal.  Oh, this sounds great.  Then I looked up God’s love. 

GOD’S LOVE

God’s love rejoices over us and quiets us.  God’s love is steadfast, abounding and endures forever.  (Did you get the forever part?)  God IS love.  We cannot be separated from God’s love. 

For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16  KJV

See what great love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God!

And that is what we are!

1 John 3:1  NIV

Power in a single word?  Love -- after all, it is only a word.  Or is it? 

Please read out loud: 

That is what I am!  A CHILD OF GOD!

LOVED FOREVER BY A GOD WHO REJOICES OVER ME!

THESE KIDS

While watching a 1941 movie, I laughed out loud and told hubby, “My gosh that sounds like me.”

It actually sounded like most people over the age of ….. say 65.  What made me laugh?  Well…

The main character – remember this was a 1941 movie --was saying how the world would never survive this generation of children.  They had…   You can fill in the rest.

In my day – you know back when you walked to school, uphill, both ways – the ruination of the world was going to be caused by Elvis wiggling his hips.  Our parents could go on for hours about shirt tails not tucked in and collars turned up and the bee hive hairdo.  Of course we were all going to lose our hearing because the music was way too loud.  “What did you say?”

News flash – every generation thinks the one coming up is lost.  Cliff Notes:

• 1790 – Romances, novels and plays have poisoned the mind and corrupted the morals of the youth
• 1816 – The waltz is an indecent, evil, foreign dance
• 1859 – Persons that engaged in chess were sedentary and not mental gladiators – they should be outside playing real games
• 1925 – Besides the devil, nothing is more dangerous to the immortal soul than film, and the beauty, exquisite clothing, lax habits and low moral standards, are becoming unconsciously appropriated by the plastic minds of American youth
• 1925 – The young folk are best described as grossly thoughtless, rude and utterly selfish
• 1993 – The difference in this generation in American history is they live so well and complain so bitterly about it
• 2001 – They have trouble making decisions….their attention span is as short as one zap of a TV dial

What made my mind wander in this direction?  A friend asked me to write a letter to her daughter for her 13th birthday and I thought, “I AM GLAD I AM NOT RAISING A 13 YEAR OLD!!”

My goodness, if generations past can survive novels and plays, the waltz, chess, movies, and Elvis, this generation will move on and complain about the next.  Fifteen years from now, this generation will not like the music of the day.  They will wonder what happened to the good movies they watched.  They will shake their heads as their teenagers rebel.  And mothers of teenagers will say, “Yes I am mean.  It happened the minute I gave birth.  Before that I was sweet.”

My take – Worry about the next generation has been going on …. like forever.  Instead of worrying about it, pray about it.  Instead of worrying about it, quit trying to make their world a copy of the world you remember and realize the next generation must change as the world changes.  (Disclaimer:  This does not mean you approve of every change.)  Instead of worrying about it, support and love the next generation. 

Instead of worrying about it, trust God. 

A couple weeks ago, I spoke at a local retirement home for their morning Chapel.  Although this is longer than I usually post, our Pastor thought this should be used as my blog, so here goes …..

I DON’T GET IT

When I began to work on my message for today, I fully intended to make it about something other than Easter.  I figured, by now, every speaker last week, this week, and maybe even next week, has or will inspire you with uplifting messages on the triumphal entry, the Last Supper and the Resurrection.  The trouble is my mind kept coming back to the same thoughts.

I can picture Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The streets lined with excited people. The palm branches.  The shouting.  Jesus being called the Son of David and that he came in the name of the Lord.

The excitement would have been electric.  The wonder.  The awe.  The hope.

So much happened between the hope and the Cross.  Matthew 21 through 25 tells us that Jesus healed many.  Jesus confused and scared the Pharisees.  He answered their questions until from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Today we sang I Love to Tell The Story because Jesus taught and told stories from the time he said, “Follow me.”  Now he only had a few days to tie it all together.  Only a few days.

And that is where I get confused.

I DO NOT GET IT.  I DO NOT UNDERSTAND

I want to ask, “”Why didn’t you walk away?”

I want to ask, “Do you have trouble sleeping?”

I want to ask, “How could you stay silent?”

WHY DIDN’T YOU WALK AWAY

When this popped into my head, I thought of two people:  Judas and Jesus.  I know why Jesus did not walk away, so I want to ask Judas.

I mean REALLY?  Judas spent time with Jesus.  He saw Jesus heal people.  He heard Jesus teach.  He knew him!  He knew him!

And yet he went to the priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?”  30 pieces of silver… 30! 

I want to ask Judas, “Why didn’t you walk away?  Were you so disappointed that Jesus had no interest in overthrowing the Roman government?  Did you ever believe Jesus was the Son of God or did you only consider him a teacher?  Were you really that greedy?

I want to ask Judas, “Why didn’t you walk away?”

DO YOU HAVE TROUBLE SLEEPING?

Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus replied, “Yes, it is as you say.”

Pilate and Herod examined Jesus and found no reason to charge him.  Even Pilate’s wife warned him:  Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man…

NO REASON TO CHARGE HIM!

AN INNOCENT MAN!

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

And Pilate gave in. 

I want to ask Pilate, “Do you have trouble sleeping?  You had heard about this man and all he had done.  You knew how shady the priests and elders were.  Your own wife warned you.  But no --- you listened to those that shouted the loudest.”

I want to ask Pilate, “Do you have trouble sleeping?”

HOW COULD YOU STAY SILENT

Not liking what they were hearing, the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus crucified.

In other words, they started shouting “Give us Barabbas and Crucify Him” and the crowd picked up the chant.

But where were the disciples?  Where were the people that had called him Son of David?  Where was the man that had given Jesus a room for the Last Supper?  Where were those that had been healed?  Where were those that knew the religious officials were only out for themselves?

I want to ask all of them, “How could you stay silent?”

The crowd was joining in with the loudest voice.  Maybe if a quiet Save Him and Worship Him had built into a loud, powerful shout … maybe the chant Pilate heard would have changed.

I want to ask all of them, “How could you stay silent?”

As I finished writing this I realized God can ask me the same questions.

“Mary, I don’t get it.  Why didn’t you walk away?”

Maybe there were a few times.  I might have listened to a joke I knew was wrong.  Or stayed and listened to gossip.  Or --  but, God, I never took 30 pieces of silver so I am not like Judas.

“Each of those “few times” I was right there beside you.  I would have given you the strength you needed.  Why didn’t you walk away?” 

Because the silver I accepted was being included in a group.  Because, like Judas, I did not realize the consequences of my actions. 

Many times I should have walked away.

“Mary, I want to ask you a question.  Do you have trouble sleeping? 

We have had many talks about my Restless Leg Syndrome, so you know I have trouble sleeping.

“What about the other times?  When you wake up in the middle of the night and cannot go back to sleep?  The times when you remember?”

Do we have to do this?  I do not like to remember some of the wrong choices I have made but, I am not like Pilate.  I have not condemned an innocent man.

“My dear child, wisdom to make correct choices was right in front of you.  My Word -- the Bible -- could have made the difference between wise choices or choices leading to sleepless nights.”

Like Pilate, I ignored the wisdom to make wise choices.  Like Pilate, my choices have hurt people.  Have hurt me.

Many times I should have turned to the Bible before choosing one answer over another.

“Mary, how could you stay silent?  You are my voice.  Through you, people can hear the truth.” 

Me?  Silent?  Now that is something I do not hear very often.  I am very vocal.  Not that long ago I caused a lot of noise over the school project.  I speak out about political issues.  I volunteer to help children.  Silent?  Me?

“Let me think.  I seem to remember you quickly commented, on Facebook, that you would pray for a friend.  Did you?  Or did you go the next story?  I seem to remember when my name was taken in vain.  Did you speak out?  Or did you keep your feelings to yourself?  I seem to remember …  shall I continue?”

No.  Do not continue, but my silence did not cause the crowd to shout Barabbas.

“Mary, when you say you will pray and then do not, that prayer is never heard and you have lied to a friend.  When you allow my name to be taken in vain, … shall I continue?”

No. 

Many times I have been silent.

When we read the Easter Story, we assign “good guy” and “bad guy” labels.  What we need to realize is that the way we live our lives, we could receive a “bad guy” label. 

And that is the whole point of Easter.  Through the Resurrection of Jesus, our sins, our bad decisions, our failures are washed clean.  We are forgiven!

LET US PRAY

Dear Lord, help us live our lives so we can be labeled as the good guys. 

Give us the strength and courage to walk away. 

Give us wisdom, through your Word, to make wise choices.

Give us a life and a voice that is full of your truth.

But mainly, because we will fail to walk away, fail to make wise choices, and fail to speak out, we thank You, with grateful hearts, for the Easter miracle of forgiveness. 

And all God’s people said AMEN.

GETTING READY – Part 4

Scriptures from Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20

Oh my gosh!

HAVE YOU HEARD?

THE TOMB IS EMPTY!

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him.’  Now I have told you.”

THE WOMEN

Although the Gospels differ on exactly which women and the number of women, they agree the women went to the tomb.  The women were not exactly sure how they were going to move the stone, but they were ready with spices to anoint Jesus’ body.  They were ready.  They were surprised!

I have imagined their walk to the tomb.  Words would have been spoken quietly.  Steps would occasionally hesitate.  Hearts would be remembering a gentle touch or a kind word.  Tears would be wiped from their cheeks.  And there would have been a shadow of fear.  To their surprise, there was an empty tomb.

THE ANGEL

Talk about getting ready.  I wonder if the angel rehearsed and rehearsed.  This speaking role ranked right up there with, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”  Of all the messages ever delivered, this has to be at the top of the list:  “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen!  Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:  ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’

The angel nailed it! 

GETTING READY

This series has been titled Getting Ready, but how do you get ready for an empty tomb?  There is not one thing logical about the empty tomb. 

Getting ready means we are to follow the example Jesus set when he instructed his disciples:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Getting ready means we are to pray as Jesus did:

Yet not as I will, but as you will.

Getting ready means we must understand how Jesus suffered if we are to find our way to the empty tomb:

Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus,

who was crucified.  He is not here.

Getting ready for our eternal life means we are to humbly accept the gift Jesus gave us when he said:  “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” 

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

And all God’s people said, “Amen.”

GETTING READY – Part 3

Scriptures from Matthew 26 - 28

This week’s blog is about the hard stuff and I will understand if you choose to stop reading.  This is the part we skim over.  In our minds, we know what happened but, in our hearts, we can barely comprehend.  We do not want to feel or hear or …. We want to move quickly to Easter, but there is much we need to get ready for.

THE SOUNDS

What sounds do you associate with Easter?  Can you hear the silver drop into Judas’ hand?  Can you hear the crowd and priests making their way to Jesus?  Can you hear the scream of the servant, of the high priest, as his ear is cut off?  Can you hear Peter deny Jesus?  Can you hear the soldier’s staff as it strikes Jesus on the head?  Can you hear the crowd shout crucify him?  Can you hear the sound as the hammer strikes the nail?  Can you hear the cross drop into the ground?

Sounds…. Sounds we do not want to hear.  Sounds we cover up with Hosanna and blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  But there were sounds.  Jesus heard them. 

THE ACTIONS

What actions do you associate with Easter?  The disciples fled.  Jesus was arrested.  The priests accused Jesus and spit on him and hit him.  Judas hung himself.  Pilate washed his hands.  Jesus carried his own cross.  Jesus felt forsaken. 

Actions…. Actions we do not want to see.  Actions we cover up by singing He is Risen and He Lives Forever.  But there were actions.  Jesus suffered them.

THE SEALED TOMB

Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock.  He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

GETTING READY

We need to get ready for Easter by not sanitizing it.  We must never forget what it cost Jesus.  Getting ready means putting out candy and decorating with cute rabbits, while the tears drop from our eyes and our body stiffens as we remember each sound Jesus heard and each action Jesus suffered.

Getting ready means we do not skip over the verses that are hard to read because …..

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; ….”

Getting ready means we do not skip over the verses that are hard to read because those verses lead to a tomb – an empty tomb.

GETTING READY – Part 2

Scriptures are from Matthew 26:36-46 unless noted

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray”  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me.”

PRAYING

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

“My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.  Luke 22:43-44

We hear over and over that Jesus felt everything as a “human” and this scripture certainly backs that up.  What if this passage is reworded for us to pray?

My Father, I do not want ________ (cancer/illness, to be a widow/widower, to fail, to see a loved one hurt, etc.).  Please do not make me go through this but your will be done.

I must admit, my prayers go more like this:

            My Father, I know you have a plan but, really, you are going to heap this on me too?

My Father, I pray this surgery heals our daughter.  Be with the doctors and the nurses and give them skill and wisdom.

            My Father, ……………………..

Thy will be done --- where did Jesus find the strength to pray these words?  He knew the plan.  He knew what was ahead.  Thy will be done --- he prayed.  His sweat like drops of blood.  If Jesus was in anguish, …If the Son of God was overwhelmed with sorrow, how do I find the strength to use the words they will be done?

SLEEPING

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.  So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?  Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.  Rise!  Let us go!  Here comes my betrayer!”

How many miles had the disciples walked with Jesus?  How many hours had they listened as he taught?  How many times had they witnessed the lame walk and the blind see?  How many fish did they pass out to the crowds? 

Jesus asks them to sit and wait while he prays.  This seems like a simple request.  I wonder if Jesus had even begun to pray before the disciple’s eyes closed in sleep. 

I can relate to the disciples.  Many times I have fallen asleep while holding a sick child.  Many times I have fallen asleep in the middle of saying a bedtime prayer.    Yes, I can relate to the disciples.

UNDERSTANDING

Jesus woke them and said, ”…. Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.”

Can you picture the confusion as the disciples woke up?  Can you hear them mutter, “What is Jesus talking about?”  or  “Did I miss something?” 

Even minutes before Jesus was to be arrested, they did not understand. 

Do we?  Do we understand how Jesus could pray, “…thy will be done.”?  Do we understand the whole Easter story or do we want to only understand the time after the cross?

GETTING READY – Part 1

I am amazed at how long it takes to get ready to do --- to do... just about anything. 

Time to go on vacation means:  Decide where to go, make reservations, map out a route, stop the mail and the papers, pack, go to the bank, fill the gas tank, make sure you have all the kids, and depart.

Time to do spring cleaning means:  Check for cleaning supplies, go to store, decide where to begin, move all the items out of the room that do not belong there, and wait till tomorrow because, now, it is too late in the day to start.

Even an everyday chore can take time.  Time to fix a meal:  Decide what to fix, change the menu because no one else wants that, look for ingredients, change the menu again because certain items are not where they belong, finally reach for the eggs, and fix breakfast for dinner.

Time to prepare for Easter:  Look at the calendar, realize Easter is in two weeks, panic, order the ham or make reservations, go shopping, go shopping again because the perfect Easter outfit was not there the first trip, remember to go to Maundy Thursday Service but decide you can skip Good Friday Service, set the table, put the ham in the oven, spill something on the new outfit and change into the best you have (Why the best?  Because there will be people there you have not seen since last Easter.), and, finally, leave for church.

GETTING READY JESUS’ WAY

What an interesting thought.  Getting ready Jesus’ way. 

Time to prepare:  Tell the disciples again and again and again that I will be condemned to death, mocked, flogged, crucified, and raised to life.  I still have time to teach them with parables they can understand. First we have to get to Jerusalem and have the Passover.  Then my time will come.

Reading the scriptures, it struck me that Jesus spent his time making sure the disciples were prepared.  He even washed their feet.  He comforted them.

You know the way to the place where I am going.

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you

and be with you forever --- the Spirit of truth.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,

will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Portions of John 14

GETTING READY

Time to prepare for Easter:  Honestly, there is not much wrong with the way we prepare for Easter.   UNLESS – Unless we spend more time preparing for the dinner after church than we spend time:

Finding the way to Jesus

Seeing the Father through Jesus

Receiving the Spirit of truth / the Advocate / the Holy Spirit

Having hearts that are not troubled and not afraid

How do you prepare for Easter?