At Rest With God

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

Recently, my youngest niece sent some photos of the veterans' cemetery where my fathered was buried in February, including this one of his headstone:

This was the first time I had seen my father's headstone. Its simplicity is appropriate for a man whose life was characterized by his unassuming and humble demeanor. I was especially interested in the final line: "At rest with God." These four words punctuate a life spanning eight decades. The word "rest" and its variations are often used when referring to those who have passed on. I suppose this is because the toils of life have finally ended.

But I began thinking about this statement, "At rest with God." I understand the sentiment it is trying to convey on the headstone, that my father is now enjoying his eternal rest in the presence of his Maker. But do we have to die before we can be "at rest with God"? Is there no rest to be obtained while we walk this earth?

Sadly, the whole concept of "resting" has pretty much been lost on modern-day Christians, especially in this country. We have been sold a bill of goods that says, if you go to church for an hour (or two if you're a Pentecostal), you've satisfied your weekly "rest" requirement. But attending church services is not what God had in mind when He declared a Sabbath rest for His people, nor is it what Jesus had in mind when He called His followers to come to Him to enjoy rest from their burdens.

As a former pastor, I always struggled with the concept of a "day of rest" since Sunday was my busiest day of the week, if not the most spiritually exhausting. The most rest I usually enjoyed on a Sunday was a nice long nap in the afternoon. As a bi-vocational pastor, I still had to put in a normal work week starting Monday morning.

So how do we obtain this elusive "rest" while we're still drawing breath? In the Old Testament, God's instruction to the Hebrews was to abstain from doing their regular work on the Sabbath. This regulation extended to their beasts of burdens as well as their servants (Deuteronomy 5:13-15). God knew that we require a regular day of "recharging our batteries" - physically, mentally and spiritually. Modern medicine has proven that we have a regular seven-day cycle that has to be reset in order for us to maintain overall health. Those of us who continually override this cycle of work and rest eventually see the results in fatigue, health problems, sleep disorders, and general dysfunction in our relationships. Like many things commanded in Scripture, observing a Sabbath rest isn't just some random idea; it serves a very real and practical purpose in our lives.

In the New Testament, Jesus invited us to come to Him to enjoy a different kind of rest. Because Jesus follows His invitation to rest with some additional requests, I don't believe He was talking about the same type of rest that was implied in the Old Testament law:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

In order to understand this rest, we need to first understand who it is addressed to: those who are weary and burdened. But weary and burdened from what? Jesus gives us some clues in the following verses.

"Taking His yoke" implies being joined with Him in a common purpose, as when two animals are yoked together to plow a field or pull a cart. The implication is that when we are at odds with His divine purpose in life, we will become weary and burdened. So much of modern Christianity is performance-based, and quite frankly, it is creating a Church full of zombies. Christians who are burdened with trying to "act like Christians" have the appearance of being alive, but they really are somewhat dead inside. Jesus did not die on the cross so we could spend our entire lives trying to earn our salvation, or prove that we are saved. The mission Jesus called us to is pretty simple, but most churches would rather teach their rules-based doctrines instead. Jesus commanded us to love God and one another. Period. He wasn't interested in our doctrinal stances, our avoidance of anything "sinful", or the amount of time, energy and resources we devote to the church. He just asked us to love. And when we love, that love expresses itself in ways that are especially pleasing to Him. The parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25 is an example of things that are done by those who love. He didn't commend the "sheep" for attending church, tithing, going on missions trips, or teaching Bible studies. He commended them for taking care of the needy, the downtrodden, the invisible people of our society - acts of selfless love.

Jesus said that, if we learn from Him, we will develop a gentle and humble heart. Gentle and humble hearts are often lacking in modern Christianity, yet these are what most closely resemble the nature of Christ. When we learn how to have a gentle and humble heart, we will find rest for our souls. We won’t be worn out from our attempts at self-promotion, comparing our spiritual progress against other Christians, competing with other ministries, or from any of the other things that are so prevalent in our modern churches which tend to put the spotlight on us instead of Christ. People with gentle and humble hearts will be more likely to notice the unmet needs of those around them, and do something about them. They defer honor and prestige to others while they quietly work in the background, yoked to Jesus.

Jesus said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. If you feel burdened and weary, perhaps you're not properly yoked with Jesus, and missing out on the rest that He freely offers. Take some time to evaluate where you are in life, what you're spending your energies on, and who you are trying to please. Make changes where necessary so that you can enter into the Sabbath rest that Christ has invited you to enjoy, now instead of when there's a stone laying above your head.

Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day, and a blessed week!

Pastor David

Palm Tree Christians

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Jeremiah 17:7-8

As I look out my office window here at home, I see them. They're everywhere, towering above the houses like sentinels standing guard against some imaginary invasion. They're palm trees. For some strange reason, people in Phoenix love palm trees. They are literally everywhere, lining streets, poking up out of yards and parking lots, even growing wildly in alleys and along the canals. New homes are landscaped with them. People plant them in the yards of their historic homes. You can't get away from palm trees here in the Valley of the Sun.

The funny thing about palm trees, though, is that they are not native to the desert. At least, not to this desert. Every single palm tree for hundreds of miles around was brought here or cultivated locally in a nursery. Many have sprung up on their own like weeds as the wind or birds have spread their seeds across the valley. And they're almost impossible to kill once they become established.

As popular as palm trees are, they really serve no useful purpose. I'm not sure why people like them, other than they seem to give off a tropical feel to the desert. Step outside in the middle of the day in July, and you will immediately realize that you are NOT in the tropics, regardless of how many palm trees are in your field of vision! Palm trees grow extremely tall, yet have no branches. They are very high maintenance (it's fascinating to watch tree trimmers rappelling up the trunks with a rope in one hand and a chain saw in the other). They're messy. Every time there is a storm or even a strong wind, they fall apart and drop their dead fronds and whatever has been nesting in them (they're a favorite roosting spot for pigeons - need I say more?). You can't rest under their shade, or hang a swing or a bird feeder on them. They really are good for nothing except show. And to suck up a ton of water.

As I was pondering about palm trees, I realized how many Christians resemble these odd plants. How many Christians do you know who really serve no useful purpose other than to stand around trying to look good? They don't provide anything of value to those around them. They absorb resources but give back practically nothing. They fall apart at every crisis and make a big mess. They are out of place and don't really fit in with their surroundings. And they are very high maintenance, requiring regular attention, and getting ugly if they don't get it. I'm pretty sure these are not the types of Christians that God intended to populate the world with. And they're certainly not the kind that I like to hang around with.

Rather, I prefer Christians who are more like the massive mesquite tree that grows in my front yard. Mesquites are native to the Sonoran desert region (where Phoenix is located). They belong here, and adapt perfectly well to our climate. My largest mesquite tree (I have numerous ones around my property) provides an amazing amount of shade; it nearly shades the entire eastern face of my house, which helps keep my house cool all day long. I hang a bird feeder and a hummingbird feeder from its strong branches. I suppose I could hang a swing as well if I was so inclined to want a tree swing. I haven't watered this particular tree in over a decade. It is extremely resourceful in finding the water that it needs deep underground. Its gnarled branches provide an interwoven canopy that not only covers most of my front yard, but also provides plenty of secret nesting places for the mourning doves that seem to enjoy living there, safe from the nasty pigeons. Several times a year, I will prune back the tree limbs that start to get too close to the roof, or start to hang too low to the ground. All this pruning helps the tree to become bigger and stronger and to provide even more shade (and I use some of the cuttings in my grill to give my food an amazing mesquite flavor). The tree weathers even the most severe storms without bending or twisting or breaking off branches (thanks to the interwoven nature of the undergrowth).

Needless to say, I love my mesquite trees. And I love to be around Christians who are like these trees. They're useful, resourceful, strong and protective. They even lend flavor to the world around them. They stand firm in the face of adversity and grow stronger as a result. They are a source of refuge for the weak, and nourishment for the hungry. I think these are the types of Christians God wants to plant in the world. And the kind that I want to be. How about you?

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

Why Is The Resurrection Of Jesus So Important?

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “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 into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered his words.

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. (Luke 24:1-12)

(From a message I preached on April 8, 2007)

The central message of the observance we call "Easter" is that Jesus rose from the dead three days after he was crucified. Many people have no problem believing that Jesus was a good man, even a great prophet and teacher. And many of these same people don't have a problem accepting the fact that Jesus was betrayed and sentenced to die a violent death. But when His resurrection is mentioned, they feel that part of the story should be relegated to the land of myths and fairy tales. Some even jokingly refer to Christianity as a religion that worships a zombie.

However, without the resurrection, everything else doesn't really matter. His life, his teachings, the miracles, even His death and burial, are truly meaningless without the final act of resurrection. Here is why I believe the resurrection is so important.

Jesus, the Firstfruits

The death of Jesus wasn’t enough. His death paid the penalty for sin as prescribed in the Mosaic law. Sin had to be atoned for with blood. Since sin separated humanity from fellowship with God, the death of Christ made it possible for us to have fellowship with God the Father. It also set an example that suffering is a part of our faith walk. Jesus told His disciples (and us) that we would have to carry our crosses if we want to follow Him.

But it wasn’t enough. We would probably be satisfied, knowing that we are forgiven for our sins, having true fellowship with God, and taking comfort in knowing that Jesus suffered just like us. But God wasn’t satisfied. He didn’t want us just in the here and now, walking with us like He did with Adam and Eve in the garden. He wanted us for all eternity. So He wrote the rest of the story.

If Jesus had not risen from the dead, our hope and faith would only have temporary significance. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:12-26:

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Jesus had to rise from the dead so that we too could have the hope of eternal life. Paul calls Him the "firstfruits" - a term referring to the first harvest. In other words, He blazed the trail for the rest of us to follow.

Inexpressible and Glorious Joy

Because Jesus rose from the dead, we have the promise that one day we too will be resurrected to a new life. This hope is described in 1 Peter 1:3-9:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

If we did not have the hope of eternal life in glory, we would be too easily tempted to give up when the going gets rough. In a sense, this hope is the "carrot on the stick" that keeps us on the path of fellowship with God.

The resurrection of Jesus shows us that there is a new, improved life after the death to the old self, and that life isn't just while we walk on this earth.

No Fear of Death

Because Jesus led the way into eternal life, we don’t have to be afraid of death in this life. Paul wrote about this eternal promise in Romans 6:1-10:

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

If Jesus stayed in the tomb, we would have no reason to believe in Him. He would have just been another great teacher or prophet. Other religious leaders died and were buried, but never resurrected. Only Jesus proved His divine nature and power by overcoming death and the grave.

As Christians, we don’t have to be afraid of physical death, because Jesus overcame it once and for all. While I don't particularly like the idea of dying (it's rarely a pleasant event), I don't fear death. For those of who believe, death is simply a momentarily uncomfortable passage into a new world where we will never have to experience pain, suffering and loss again.

The resurrection of Jesus was the rest of the story. Some people want us to believe that He didn’t really die, he just passed out and was revived in the tomb. Others want us to believe that Jesus didn’t really rise from the dead, that it was just a ghost. Scripture clearly proves both positions to be false. If we start picking at the threads of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the entire Gospel begins to unravel. The resurrection of Jesus is just as important as the death and burial of Jesus, because it is the rest of the story.

Praise God for the promise of eternal life!

Have a Happy Easter, and a blessed week!

Pastor David

What's Your Response to the King?

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!"

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'" The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.

But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,  'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?"

Matthew 21:1-16 

(From a sermon I preached on April 4, 2009)

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is portrayed in many different ways: 

• Lamb of God 

• Bread of Life 

• Good Shepherd 

• Son of Man 

• Living Water 

• Healer 

• Teacher 

• Rabbi 

And many others

In this passage, Jesus is now presented as a king. Not just any king, but the promised one, the one the prophets and poets had written about centuries earlier. Clearly the jubilant crowd expected that Jesus was about to take the throne of David, overthrow the occupying Romans, and restore Israel to its former glorious state as the Promised Land.

This was not the intent of Jesus.

He did not come to establish an earthly kingdom, but rather to usher in a heavenly kingdom. A kingdom not based on nationality or religious heritage, but a kingdom of priests chosen by God to serve before His heavenly throne. Since Jesus knew all this, one might wonder why he allowed the people to hallow and worship Him on the way into Jerusalem that day. Why did He allow them to get their hopes up, knowing that in six short days, He would be hanging on a cross, dying?

There are two main reasons why Jesus allowed this scene to play out.

First, it was necessary to fulfill the prophetic Scripture from Zechariah 9:9 quoted in this passage:

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 

This action of riding a donkey's colt into Jerusalem had profound symbolism, and could not be missed by those familiar with the Messianic prophecies. The donkey is associated with the throne of David (God had forbidden the Israelite kings to amass large quantities of horses – one of the major mistakes Solomon made). In addition, a colt that had not been used for common labor was especially suitable for religious purposes.

The second reason is because Jesus had a right to be worshiped and honored as a King.

Just as he allowed the woman to anoint Him with perfume for His burial, He also allowed the people to elevate Him as King, although prematurely. We know from later Scriptures that it would not be until after His resurrection and ascension into heaven that He would take His rightful place on the throne.

Even though Jesus is portrayed as a king in this passage, we find that not everyone responded to Him the same way. Today I want us to look at the various responses to the Kingship of Jesus, and see if we demonstrate any of these same responses to Him in our own lives. 

The Disciples

The disciples followed Jesus' orders without question, regardless of how off-the-wall or impractical those orders were. One can only imagine all the possible reactions they would encounter by walking up to a stranger's house and taking his animals! The amazing thing is, when we do exactly what God tells us, we don't have to worry about what other people think about us, or that perhaps things won't turn out the way God said they would.

The Villagers

In Mark 11:4-6, we actually read the dialogue that took place between them and the disciples:

They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.

Even though these people weren't the animals' owners, they were bound by the law to look out for their neighbors' possessions. It was their duty to investigate this strange behavior, kind of like a first-century block watch. By allowing the disciples to take the donkey and her colt, they were accepting full responsibility for their neighbor's property. One can assume they believed that, if the Lord needed them, the Lord would send them back when He was done.

These villagers expressed an attitude that is all too rare in today's churches. They knew that God has a right to ask for anything He wants from us, since everything we have comes from Him anyway. The answer of "the Lord needs it" should be all we need to hand over whatever God asks of us. How many times do we hoard our stuff, knowing that the Lord needs it somewhere else? 

The Travelers Along The Way

They recognized the royal position of Jesus, and perhaps even recognized the prophetic significance of Him riding on a donkey, and honored Him by placing their cloaks and tree branches on the road. Placing their cloaks on the road was a means of paying homage to royalty. Their shouting and singing indicates that they were not ashamed to have Jesus as their king. Since God requires vocal praise, this was entirely appropriate.

This is probably the most complex response to analyze, because it is impossible for us to know exactly what motivated the crowds to celebrate and rejoice the way they did. It could very well be that they were totally aware of the royal position of Jesus, in which case, their actions were justified. But it is more likely that they were excited because of what they expected that Jesus would do for them, by restoring the kingdom of Israel. The word Hosanna literally means "save" but also came to be an expression of praise. There is no way of telling what each person meant when they shouted "Hosanna" that day.

How often do we get excited about Jesus because of what He has done or will do for us, as opposed to getting excited just because of who He is? Do we mouth the right words, but have hidden meanings known only to us?

The Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law

They criticized Jesus for allowing this unbridled display. They were especially indignant because He was allowing the people to place Jesus in the position of the Messiah. These religious experts knew very well the implications of calling Jesus the Son of David. They also knew that the Messiah would overthrow their carefully crafted religious system once he came to power.

Furthermore, since they loved to receive praise and recognition, it was just too much to be overshadowed by this simple carpenter from Galilee. Some commentators claim that Jesus allowed this event in order to push the religious leaders over the edge and into action, so they would start the process that would lead to His crucifixion.

How often do we respond to King Jesus the way these Pharisees did? When He comes on the scene, do we get indignant because He wants to rearrange our religious customs and traditions? Do we get jealous if He takes too much of the spotlight off of us? Or do we get all bent out of shape when others are praising Him in a way that we don't think is appropriate or dignified?

Jesus will be worshiped, whether we like it or not. Luke 19:40 tells us how Jesus responded to those who commanded Him to rebuke the crowd for its exuberance:

"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

If we don't worship Jesus, He will find someone else who will. Jesus will be worshiped.

The Children 
They joined in with the grown-ups and were shouting and praising Jesus as well. Did they understand what they were doing, or what it meant to call Jesus the Son of David? Probably not. More likely, they were simply imitating the behavior of the adults around them.

There are two things to consider here.

First, are we setting an example for the young of our church (either children or those new to the Lord) so that they know the proper way to worship Jesus and give Him the honor that He deserves?

Second, how often do we act like these children and simply do what everyone around us is doing, even if we don't have a clue what the implications might be?

We need to be careful in both of these matters. We need to follow our own convictions and use as much intellect as emotion when it comes to worship. We must always be aware that we are setting an example for somebody.


When the King of Kings comes on the scene, how do we respond?

• Are we like the disciples, faithfully obedient? 

• Are we like the villagers, freely giving God whatever He asks for?

• Are we like the crowds, some worshiping Jesus for who He is, and some for what He can do for them?

• Are we like the Pharisees, who were more concerned with their positions of power and prestige and their religious traditions, than with the reality of God showing up in a worship service?

• Are we like the little children, blindly imitating the actions of others, but not really fully aware of who it is we are worshiping?

As we approach the celebration of our Lord's death, burial and resurrection, may we each examine our response to Jesus Christ, the King and Ruler of our lives, and respond to Him in Spirit and in Truth, giving Him the rightful place of honor in our lives.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

Broken, But Not Dead

"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." John 15:4-6

Shortly after Alvin moved to Phoenix in 2001, he decided that he wanted a lemon tree. Coming from the Midwest, having citrus trees in your yard was a novelty for him. We had orange and grapefruit trees, but no lemon. Since it was Summer, the time for planting citrus was long gone, and his tree would have to wait until the following Spring. Unfortunately, he got sick the following Spring, and the lemon tree was the least of our worries. He passed away on July 2, 2002, just shy of his 28th birthday.

That following Spring, I remembered Alvin's wish for a lemon tree. So I planted one in the front yard outside the big bay window where I could look at it every day. In some small way, it was a memorial to Alvin, a way of continuing the circle of life. It took a few years for the tree to mature and start producing fruit. And produce it did. Every year now, the tree has been loaded with so many lemons I can't give them all away.

For whatever reason, this past winter's crop was especially bountiful. I don't recall ever seeing the lemons as big as they were this time. Sometime during December, when the lemons were still ripening (they are usually ready for picking in January), we had a rather severe rain storm. I came home from work one evening and found a very large limb of the tree had broken and was hanging down by the trunk, still attached. I don't know exactly what caused this, but I suspect it was a combination of the weight of the fruit and the rain, and the heavy winds that were prevalent that day.

I decided the leave the branch intact, to see if it would survive long enough for the lemons to ripen. Sure enough, by mid-January, I was giving away dozens of lemons from that broken limb. After the lemons were all gone, I intended to prune it off, but never got around to it. Since we had such a mild winter, the tree started blossoming before the old crop was even harvested. And wouldn't you know it? That broken limb put forth an abundance of fragrant blossoms and new leafage. As damaged as it is, it has no intention of giving up its life, as long as it's still attached to the trunk of that tree. Here's a photo of that broken limb, three months after the incident:

I thought about the passage from John 15 where Jesus was teaching His disciples about the vine and the branches. He told them that they needed to remain in Him in order to thrive and fulfill the calling that He was giving them. He knew that they would face incredible opposition and storms in the coming days and years, and wanted to prepare them for that.

The same holds true for us. No matter what life throws at us, we can not only survive, but thrive, when we stay connected to the source of life. The winds of opposition and storms of life may hit us hard, and even break us. But if we remain attached to Christ, we can continue to produce the fruit of the Spirit. The Apostle Paul summed it up this way:

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

We may be broken by the trials of this life: the death of a spouse or child, the loss of a job, failing health, the betrayal of a close friend, or any other devastating situation. But as long as we cling to Jesus and remain in fellowship with Him, we have His promise to remain with us. We may be broken, but we're not dead.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

On the Death of My Father

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Revelation 14:13)

My father passed away early Sunday evening, February 16, 2014. Even as I write these words, it seems somehow surreal to me that he is finally gone. This is the man who seemingly made a career out of cheating death. On numerous occasions throughout his 82 years on this earth, he stared death in the face and laughed. That's what my father did best - he laughed. He had a very hard life, but he always used humor to diffuse tension, put others at ease, or to numb his own pain. Good, bad or indifferent, I inherited that wit of his. I am rarely at a loss for a witty remark or a clever comeback, although there are times when my attempts at humor are not necessarily appreciated (that's another topic for another post). Even on his deathbed, hours before he would take his last breath, my father was still cracking jokes.

My father was largely uneducated, having only completed the 8th grade (I just learned at his funeral that he couldn't complete the 9th grade because his rural school burned down and they never rebuilt it). But he was an incredibly intelligent man. He read everything he could get his hands on, and absorbed information like a sponge. One of his favorite pastimes was working crossword puzzles - the harder the better. He stayed current on a wide variety of topics and was never at a loss for something to talk about. Oddly enough, his natural inclination for intelligence did not translate to a desire to see his children educated. After all, if he was able to get by on 8 years of schooling, surely we had no need for anything after high school.

As smart as my father was, he severely lacked business acumen. In fact, most of his business ventures ended up failing. But somehow he was able to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. What my dad lacked in business smarts, he made up for in sheer determination to be a good provider for his family. I will never really know just how hard he must have worked all those years to make sure we were comfortable. Unfortunately, the trade-off was never having a strong father-son bond with his kids, especially me and my younger brother; my three older brothers were born in rapid succession and had the benefit of a younger, healthier father who still had time to teach them how to ride bikes and hunt and fish and throw a ball. My father was 30 by the time I was born, and the weight of his family responsibilities were already heavy upon him. Most of my childhood memories of my father consist of him sleeping (he worked nights more often than not). My brothers had to teach me how to ride a bike. I never learned how to hunt or fish, and I still can't throw a ball to save my life.

My father loved the Lord, and he and my mother raised us with a healthy respect for the Christian faith. We were raised in an ultra-conservative church (I liken it more to a cult), but my parents leaned more toward the center. They didn't buy into a lot of the church's rules and regulations, but they put on a good show to keep the peace. My parents were far from perfect, and their parenting skills were uneven and unpredictable. But they did the best they could with what they had to work with. They instilled in us the value of hard work, integrity, honesty, and the worth of all people. My parents never exhibited any signs of racism, even though we were entrenched in a very "white" culture. They were equally comfortable around whites and non-whites, something that has stuck with me through the years. I have always embraced racial and ethnic diversity, thanks in part to my parents' ability to be color-blind.

Part of my father's lack of success in business was due partly to naivete and partly to placing too much trust in people who never earned it. More than once he lost everything to unscrupulous men who took advantage of my father's trusting nature. But God is good, and He always provided for our family. In spite of numerous financial setbacks over the years, my father was never tight-fisted. He had a spirit of generosity that permeated everything he did. Even though we never had much, no one ever left our table hungry, and my father literally gave the shirt off is back to anyone who needed it. My father was just as liberal with his time. He was never too busy to invest a minute or two in anyone who crossed his path. At his funeral, I was amazed at the dozens of people who commented how much he had meant to them and how he had touched their lives, just by being a friend. I honestly believe that my father never had an enemy.

As my father aged, and his health began to decline, he finally accepted his own mortality. In the last few years, after yet another brush with death, he started spending a lot of time telling me and my brothers how much he loved us. He started hugging me every time I went to visit him. Sadly, such physical and verbal displays of affection were missing when I was growing up. I am sure that my father knew that he would go to his grave with many regrets, but not telling his family how much he loved and cared for us wasn't going to be one of them.

As I sifted through a lifetime of possessions at my parents' house after the funeral last weekend, I uncovered an abundance of evidence of my father's love and devotion to my mother. They would have celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary this coming May. My parents always acted as if they merely tolerated each other, but it was just how they interacted (think Archie and Edith Bunker). I honestly believe that my father only hung on to life as long as he did, long after his body refused to cooperate, because of his love and concern for my mother. If he could have done so, he would have outlived my mother just so she would never have to spend a day without him. A love and devotion like that doesn't come along every day.

There are many other things I could say about my father, some too private to share, others that need more time to process. As I stated during his funeral while reading from his obituary, you can't sum up a person's life in a few paragraphs. Last August, I wrote a post about honoring our parents. Tonight, this is my tribute to my father. In spite of his faults and shortcomings, he was a pretty good dad.

Rest in peace, Dad. You earned it.

Your son,

David

Watch Your Mouth! (Part 2)

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21)

Last June, I published a blog titled, Watch Your Mouth!, in which I discussed the ramifications of the controversy surrounding Paula Dean and some of the allegations made about things that she said. Today, I want to expand on this topic about the power of our words.

I watched an interesting movie last night, A Thousand Words, starring Eddie Murphy. The story revolves around the main character, Jack (played by Murphy), who is fast and careless with his words, regardless of who gets hurt in the process. Through a series of events, his karma gives him a tree which loses a leaf for every word that he speaks. With only a thousand words/leaves left before the tree dies (and Jack dies with it), Jack has to figure out how to use his remaining words to patch up relationships with his family and make peace with his past.

While the movie is primarily a comedy (it is Eddie Murphy, after all), it has a very poignant message which is brought about in the resolution to the story. Words matter; they have great power and should be used with great care. One of my favorite Bible passages is quoted above - short but packed with a powerful punch. Our words are capable of bringing about great healing or great damage. In my 30+ year career, I have rarely encountered trouble because of the quality of my work. When I am called on the carpet, invariably it is because of my mouth. As much as I try to temper my words and place a guard over my mouth, sooner or later I will blurt out something that is either sarcastic, blunt, or just plain inappropriate. In the process, not only do I hurt others, but I hurt myself as well. By speaking careless words, I end up developing a reputation as someone who is not easy to work with - a reputation not easily undone.

When people first get to know me, they are sometimes unsettled by how quiet I tend to be. After all, I am a classic introvert. Sometimes my quietness is seen as being aloof or uninterested, but mostly it's because I'm not one of those people who loves to hear the sound of their own voice. I would much rather listen to you talk about yourself than talk about myself. And don't even try to get me started on small talk. I HATE small talk. I'd rather not say anything at all than to talk about meaningless stuff just to fill the silence.

On the other hand, if you get me started on a topic about which I am deeply passionate, you may not be able to get a word in edgewise, let alone get me to shut up. But even then, I only speak because I believe I have something important to say. This is where I end up in trouble at times, because I tend to be too passionate about my work. I tend to take things personally if I feel they reflect on my abilities or the quality of my product, even if they have nothing to do with me. So I am trying very hard to step back and be more conscious of the triggers that push my buttons and tempt me to speak careless words.

Those who know me well know that I am usually a man of few words (I definitely take after my father in that regard). So when I do speak, it's usually because I have something important to say. Of course, this places an additional burden on me, because I know that people will weigh carefully what I say. So I must try to be extra careful in not only what I say, but how I say it. It is a sad truth that, the better we know someone, the easier it is for us to know exactly how to injure them with our words. When I know all of your weaknesses, your hot buttons, your insecurities, every word in my vocabulary can be turned into a well-honed dagger, ready to pierce your heart and soul. Likewise, my words can be used to provide comfort, encouragement and solace, creating a safe place for you to be yourself.

In the movie, Jack learns the value of his words and the lasting effect they have on the people he loves, and gets a second chance to get it right. We may not always get that second chance. Choose your words carefully. I know I will.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David