“Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.” Ezra 3:2 (ESV)

By the decree of the Persian King Cyrus in 538 B.C., a remnant of Jews returned to their beloved city of Jerusalem. Upon their arrival, they were greeted by a city that lay in ruins. Their task was to rebuild their lives, their institutions, and their city—but where to start? Would they start with a city wall to achieve some semblance of security and protection? Would they begin with the political establishment, putting their resources into government buildings? Would they begin with educational institutions or perhaps, dear to their hearts, the rebuilding of the temple? The answer was no to all of the above.

The priority they established for themselves is worth noting, because as we stare out upon the vast wasteland of American culture, as we lament the wreckage of our own institutions, whether political, religious, educational, economic, or familial, we also scratch our heads asking the question, “Where do we begin?”

The answer provided by these Jews is as simple as it is profound. They began with worship. The first building project that the book recounts is the building of an altar for the purpose of reestablishing worship according to the law of Moses. Prior to rebuilding the temple (their next building project), they reinstitute the daily sacrifices and begin to implement the feasts associated with the temple calendar.

Notably, the burnt offering is mentioned. The burnt offering was not so much an offering for sins, as it was an offering of consecration, demonstrating, in a tangible way, that all that the worshipper had belongs to the holy God of Israel.

The most important consideration of any culture is the nature and kind of worship of its people. Every culture is the outworking of the most deeply held religious convictions of its people. If the worship is false, the culture will be correspondingly false. Those of us who want to see our culture and institutions reflect more of the values of Christ and His kingdom, and to see our families grow in wisdom and strength, need to understand this. Before the Gospel can effectively work its way out horizontally, it must first be reflected vertically through our worship of the Triune God, who alone is God.

Though it is not the only thing, worship is the first and highest priority of the people of God.

Grace and Peace,
—Pastor Rich Lanning

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” Psalm 5:11 (NIV®)

My husband and I have always been “prayer warriors” for our children. We both make time each day to pray for them individually, asking for wisdom, safety, and guidance for each of them from our Holy Father.

Our daughter, Katie, announced at the beginning of her senior year of college that, after graduation, she wanted to join the Peace Corps. I, being the overprotective mother of my firstborn child, was aghast, to say the least. My daily prayer for her became my plea to our Father to put roadblocks in her path if this were not His direction for her life. Of course, I was hoping for very large boulders. As Katie’s senior year continued, it seemed the path was clear for her to proceed with her plan to live in a foreign country, surrounded by strangers.

With a heavy heart, I drove her to the airport to see her off to one of the poorest countries in Eastern Europe, Moldova, for two years of service. At this time, my prayer for her changed to a daily request for protection and wisdom during her time abroad.

God, of course, worked many blessings through her service. Katie taught English in a school to students who were 12-17 years old. During her time there, she held her classes accountable for completing their work. A Moldovan school receives funding based on how its students perform on national tests. For this reason, Moldovan teachers allow students to cheat on a regular basis—on tests and in the classroom. This was not acceptable in English class with “Miss Kate,” as the students called her. Katie insisted they do their own work and actually learn something in the process.

In troubling times, I often read through the book of Psalms. There is great wisdom and comfort there, as it tells us to look to the Lord in all things. Jesus trusted and drew strength from His Holy Father. He trusted Him enough to give His life for our sins because this was the Father’s will. We need to learn to lean on God and trust in His plan. He is our fortress and strength at all times.

“. . . through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil . . .” Hebrews 2:14 (ESV)

The Easter season serves as a glorious reminder that the history of God’s working through His covenant people is a series of victories cleverly disguised as disasters. Imagine the glory Satan felt at the moment when the intricacies of his plan came into place at the crucifixion of our Lord. The moment passed; and as that magnificent story unfolded, Christ disarmed the devil, destroyed his works, and triumphed over him (Colossians 2:15). The message now is Christ reigns! Christ is victorious! Christ sits at the right hand of God, ruling over all His enemies until they have been subdued at the end of history (Psalm 110).

Throughout time, the smoke of defeat has cleared to reveal the triumph of the Gospel. The saints who have gone before us faced the giants of their day, suffered defeat and death . . . yet God turned each defeat into advance beyond human imagination. Think of the early church prevailing against the Roman Empire. Also remember Athanasius, St. Patrick, Augustine, Boniface, John Huss, and John Knox, who have laid the foundation through their trials.

Reformation will come again. Christendom will rise again because it is God’s covenantal pattern. Just as Easter vividly shows us that, through God, resurrection follows death, history proves that God can bring forth inexplicable victory from seemingly obvious defeat.

God operates with this pattern in the world today. We are to trust His ways and not our eyes—to walk by faith and not by sight. Our eyes see destruction and despair—abortion, broken homes, pornography—but God says, “. . . all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:10 (ESV) He promises in John 3:17 that the result of the crucifixion is the salvation of the world. Our duty is to believe by faith what God has said. As we believe, we will be participants in His ultimate victory.

The disciples saw the unraveling of all their hopes. Their Lord had been arrested, suffered, and was crucified before their very eyes. In reality, they actually saw the demolition and destruction of Satan’s kingdom. To the unbelieving eye, deliverance is an impossibility . . . until it happens.

As we watch the decay of a once-thriving Christendom, we are tempted to despair. The Easter message reminds us that God’s eternal patterns are still at work. The defeat we feel and see around us will one day prove itself the precursor of a greater Christendom than history has yet seen.
—Chris Marsh

“¹⁴We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Romans 7:14-15 (NIV®)

Sometimes high school acts, in my life, as the center of all evil. It seems like each interaction with another student serves as a temptation to succumb to sin. I feel like I fall to sin countless times during one school day. Pressure is emitted from every aspect of teenage life, in and out of high school. However, I find the pressure more difficult to resist inside school, as classmates from different backgrounds present new stories and opinions that make me question my beliefs and actions. Being a teenager is difficult with all of the decisions one has to make such as boyfriends, girlfriends, clothes, styles, cell phones, makeup, hairstyles, friends, and grades.

I always think of the risks involved with doing things before I do them; but I often proceed in doing things I should not, thinking the reward will outweigh the risk. When that does not happen, I ask for forgiveness; and it leads to ultimate reassurance of my faith through prayer and meditation. Sometimes my sins do not lead me to reassurance in my faith, but instead to more unanswered questions and doubt. Attending church on Sundays, I find comfort in fellowship; but on Monday, I am again lost to a world of sin. I come home each weekday upset with myself and my constant lapses of judgment. Sometimes I get so caught up in being frustrated, I forget to pray for help.

Recently, though, I came across the above verse, in which I found refuge and comfort, as I see Paul had struggled with the feelings with which I grapple. This discovery sparked curiosity; and as I researched, I found many other people in the Bible struggled with temptations, and some succumbed repeatedly. Their mistakes did not stop God from loving and helping them. I prayed about this and also found help in God. His Word helped me find my way back to Him in prayer, and His guidance in life helps relieve me of stress and worry about my faith. I feel ashamed and frustrated when I fall to sin; but now instead of being upset with myself, I ask God for forgiveness and work to not dwell on my mistakes.
—Shannon Meyer

“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy.” II Corinthians 11:2a (NIV®)

Recently, Jack and I watched the movie, End of the Spear, a portrayal of the true story of Jim Elliot and four other missionary men who were killed by a tribe of Huaorani in Ecuador in 1956, as they were trying to reach them with the message of Jesus Christ.

The story is told from the perspective both of Steve Saint, the eight-year-old son of Nathan Saint, a missionary pilot who died, and Mincaye, the twenty-year-old tribesman who killed him.

I was surprised to learn this tribe had a word for God and a belief in an afterlife. They had a fierce but practical love for their families, focused on survival in the most primitive of settings, in the most basic fear-based culture of “kill or be killed.”

The families of the slain men stepped into the roles of the men who were no longer alive, and lived with the natives, ministering to the sick and loving them with God’s unconditional love. The magnitude of this act in light of their loss, is staggering. Overwhelmed by the compassion and grace extended to him, Mincaye carried the burden of this love all his life until he confessed to Steve that he was his father’s slayer. He found the resolution to the question of why Steve’s father did not even try to defend himself in the face of imminent death. This tribe of Huaorani changed from Auca, meaning savage or enemy, to the Waodani God followers.

We are all Huaorani. We are primitive, at best, in our comprehension of this degree of “jealous love” God has for us. Within the limits of our humanness, we cannot grasp why God would want to love us; but in experiencing this love, we come into the redemption He lavishes on all peoples, through the sacrifice of His Son.

May this redemption be real for all of us this Easter. May we remember His gift and embrace His love. May we be transformed.
—Linda Young

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’. . .” Luke 23:34a (NIV®)

I had never really concentrated on the last portion of Jesus’ statement in the above Scripture. I believe that when He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” He was speaking to the Roman soldiers who had nailed Him to the cross. They were following orders and doing their jobs. The crowd at the cross knew what they were doing.

As a Christian who has accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I know what I am doing. As I search my heart this Easter season, and even though I have God’s Word to direct me in my daily life, I realize that I fail in so many ways. I confess, when things are good, I do not give God all the praise. I confess that when things are bad, I sometimes do not immediately turn to Him for guidance. Jesus suffered so much for me. His suffering on the cross is a vivid picture in my mind.

Yet when Scripture says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 (NIV®), I confess I get anxious.

When Scripture says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV®), I confess I tend to concentrate so much on the evil in the world.

I could continue repeatedly, as each time I read through the Scriptures, I find many instances where I have failed. Father, forgive me. In uttering these words, the vivid picture changes to the risen Christ. Thank you, Father, for your forgiveness and for sending your Son that I may live.

This Easter season, I reaffirm that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior; and I will be His servant and walk in His ways. Will you join me?

Christ is Risen! He has risen indeed!
—Rita Wainscott

“³Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. ⁴I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.” Psalm 63:3-4 (NIV®)

We are to Praise the Lord always—with our heart, hands, voice, and lives . . . in all circumstances—both “good” or “bad.” For He is in all things. He will never leave us or forsake us. Even though there may be times in our lives when we feel God has forgotten us, we are still to praise Him.

I have a dear friend, who is the best example that I know, of always praising the Lord. Her name is Irma Casso, and we attended church together in Laredo, Texas. Her husband, Frank, was an evangelist, who had led over 2,000 people to the Lord. During one Sunday evening worship service we received the news that, while traveling, their car was hit head-on by a drunk driver. Frank and two of the children were killed, and Irma was badly injured. It was difficult for everyone who knew them to understand why that could happen to such a fine Christian family.

Irma’s faith never wavered. I think of her when I am tempted to question “why.” What a comfort it is to know that God is with us, and we can trust in Him. Irma’s notes are always full of love and praise for the Lord.

As we approach Easter, some think of Jesus’ death as something bad; but without the cross, we would not have the assurance our sins are forgiven . . . that He died for each one of us. Praise His Holy Name!
—Donna Peterson

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (ESV)

Chalk up another action-packed year for my wife and me. We welcomed a precious little baby into our family and moved from an apartment to a house—two desires that had been on our hearts long before God introduced us to each other.

The Lord loves to pour out blessings on His children. It has become more apparent to me than ever that these blessings are, at times, accompanied with a great deal of responsibility. It is not a bad thing; it is just a fact of life.

As I continue in my role as leader of my family, I have realized that great leaders have great advisors. While I have been blessed by the godly counsel of my parents, I have found new joy in the counsel of the Shepherd. I have not heard a loud, booming voice commanding me to do one thing or another; but when faced with trials or major decisions on the horizon, I have found myself seeking wisdom from the One who has loved me before the world was created. I have learned the discipline of praying (sometimes for weeks or months in advance) and then acting as the Shepherd leads.

As Christians, we have been given an amazing gift. By faith and obedience, we know His voice; and He knows us. We are not a passing interest; we are His people. He knows us! We do not have to wander aimlessly as the world does! The Shepherd leads. It is His nature. He is able to see much farther down the path than the sheep He calls His own. He cares for them enough to nudge them back onto the path, sometimes gently and other times firmly. Either way, it is done in love and in the sheep’s best interest.

May you know the Shepherd’s voice with increasing clarity and live with the blessed assurance that we are His and that He knows us!
—Steve Doughman

John 12:1-8.
“Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.’” John 12:7 (ESV)

Then Mary took a pint of nard
In an Egyptian alabaster jar;
She snapped its slender neck, and poured
Its oily sweetness on Thy head
And on Thy feet, and wiped them with her hair;
The scent o’erpowered all the feasters there.
Mary was rich; a rich gift she could bring
As if Thou wert a dead man or a king.

And rich, too, was Thy friendship to her kin:
The hours she spent drinking Thy kind voice in,
Thy visits to their house in Bethany,
Sweetness of knowing Thee.
Most recently, Thou raised her brother too –
And so she searched for something she could do.
She smears Thy head with pure and fragrant nard;
It is no purer than Thy head.

She hears, not heeding, tongues wag in the gloom;
Thou’st told her priests are plotting for Thy doom,
And she believes. But at this feast
The oil of gladness she’s released
Caring only to see Thou smilest at it
And hearing Thy pronouncement that ‘tis fit
For this dark week, when off to death Thou ride …
And when they pierce Thy hands, and feet, and side,
To high priest, Herod, Pilate, Calvary
Her fragrant gratitude shall go with Thee
And powerful though silent witness bring
That Thou art a dead man and a king.
—Jennifer M

“³³I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. ³⁴May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.” Psalm 104:33-34 (ESV)

Music has always been my ministry to God’s people and my expression of praise to Him. Throughout the years of studying music, the “technicalities” of good performance were so instilled in me that I often find myself much more concerned about the quality of my (and others’) performance of the music than losing myself in the joy of offering praise to God. My preoccupation with reaching for perfection in my musical offering has often led me into feelings of failure to please God and others.

I have, many times, withheld my full focus from God and placed it on myself and my efforts. Wanting to be recognized for my ability has played a large part in my pursuit of more opportunities to lead in worship and sing “special” musical offerings. This is where I fall far short of what I know God wants of my offering of service.

The good news is He has convicted me so many times about my misdirected “focus” that I think I am finally letting Him get me redirected to where I need to be for my meditations and offerings to be pleasing to Him. He has been so very patient with me. So I will continue to sing praise to Him, while I have being, and pray that my offering will be pleasing to Him.
—Judy Jarrell

“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect . . .” I Peter 3:15 (ESV)

During a stint on the grass mower last summer, I noticed something that serves, I believe, as a metaphor for our lives. Most of the grass around the church (fronting on Struble Road) develops large seed heads when left to grow to its normal height of about two feet. However, in the interests of having a “nice looking” area we cut this grass every week or so. When I return the next week to repeat the cutting, I notice that the cut grass, now about six inches high, is still producing seed. The metaphor I have in mind for us is Hope.

First, the grass continues to carry out the plan God has made for it. (If it did not re-grow after the “trauma” of being cut, we would only have to mow it once each spring.) In spite of being knocked down, it draws energy through its roots and leaves from the soil, the sun, and the rain provided by God for its nourishment. Theologians have a fancy term for this—General Grace—but I like to think of it as part of His creation that He called “Good.” We benefit from it—observe the food on Kroger’s shelves—but we have something better: Special Grace. When we are feeling knocked down, “cut off at the knees,” or overwhelmed by trouble, two Scripture verses should come to mind: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) and Jesus’ words, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b (ESV)

My second thought is that the cut-off grass is still producing seed; it still has “hope” for the next generation. This should also be a major priority for us. ECC is raising up a bounteous crop of young Christians. The responsibility for that crop lies with all of us—parents, grandparents, and even old folks like me who have no direct family ties. We do this in many ways such as teaching, by example, and providing resources (yes, I mean money!) for their nourishment. Our job is to reproduce in these “seedlings” the Hope that we have, so that they in turn can be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is in you.
—Clyde Stauffer

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” Isaiah 52:7 (NIV®)

Years ago, I was seeking the Lord concerning a prayer mission. My eyes fell on this verse, “And it will be said: ‘Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.’” Isaiah 57:14 (NIV®)

This revealed that prayer-walking (wherever the Lord calls) prepares the road and removes the obstacles to telling and hearing the Gospel. The immediate context of these passages may be the spiritual restoration of Israel, but the application is universal—hope for lost peoples anywhere.

After five trips to the Himalayan Mountains, are my feet beautiful? Meet these truly beautiful feet:

Beloved Dorcas—assigned to a remote mountain school so far from her home that she could not commute daily. This precious primary teacher rode to the end of the jitney-bus line. On foot, she climbed the steep mountainside, over an hour, to her lonely living quarters, then down the mountain another hour to the school. She was the only Christian believer in that very dark area. How fervently she prayed for her pupils, loving them with the love of Jesus!

Beloved Raphael—has a heart sold out to God and a special ministry to young people. In 2003 he asked my team for prayer. He was a prodigal son of a church elder before Jesus found him. As we began to pray, the Holy Spirit impressed on me the need to kneel down and lay hands on his feet. Humble and faithful to Jesus, he is called now to other districts to preach, explaining “You must be born again.” Many come to Christ.

Beloved Gilmit—walks an hour each way through the forest with two other ladies every Monday. Though elderly, she walks to town from a village with no roads for intercessory prayer, meeting with other believers. She speaks no English but talks to God in her heart language.

Beloved David—started walking from his remote home a day before a Christian gathering. By bus and on foot, this “barefoot pastor” hurried, arriving after the meeting concluded. The washing of feet, as Jesus had done at the Last Supper, had been completed. Later, the leaders prepared a basin, washed his feet, and prayed for him. I will never forget his humble face, nor his rough dusty feet well-worn in service of our Lord.

“. . .‘Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.’” Romans 15:21(NIV®)

Might you and I yet have beautiful feet?
—Diane Mugrage

“¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; ¹²as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:11-12 (ESV)

Lent is a time of prayer and preparation as I look toward Good Friday and forward to Easter. It is a time when I reflect upon the depth of my sin, God’s love for me, and the absolute completeness of Christ’s atoning work. Psalm 103 speaks of the enormity of both God’s love and His work.

The Psalmist compares the vastness of God’s love to the distance from the earth to the heavens. How far is that? My question is rhetorical; there is no answer. Sir Edmund Hillary became the first man to summit Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world; but atop that peak, he had still not reached the heavens. Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon; but even from that lofty point, he was still not able to touch the canopy of the heavens. God’s love for His elect is so great that there is no way to measure it!

Through Christ Jesus, I am cleansed of my sin. It is as if Jesus has packaged up the garbage in my life and sent it away to the dump. The Psalmist tells me that the dump is located “as far as the east is from the west.” How far is that? When I consider this, I am tempted to frame it in the reference of my day to day existence—like Rumpke picking up the trash from my home in the east and taking it to the landfill in the west. Maybe it is as far as New York is from Los Angeles, or even from Chicago to Hong Kong. None of those measurements are truly adequate. Did you notice that the Psalmist did not say, as far as the north is from the south? If you started walking due north, you would eventually pass the North Pole and end up walking south. However, if you start walking due west, you will continue to walk west for eternity and never, at any time, walk east. To His glory, my sin is removed completely!
—Harvey Landholm

Titus 3:5; Jude 21.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,. . .” Titus 2:11 (ESV)

Orthodox Hebrew people celebrate their relationship with God on their traditional days of observation. No landmark occasion is neglected. Even the solemn Fall Feasts of Judgment and Atonement are met with a devoted period of preparation during the forty day period of Teshuvah (Repentance). During this time of repentance, and on until the end of the Feast of Tabernacles, the observant people continue a daily recitation of the 27th Psalm.

Every Holy Day, each in its season, is marked by a feast, festival, or period of observance with traditional rituals which point to the reason for its celebration. Christians must faithfully hold fast to one fact, “Christ is the reason for all of our seasons.” This is based upon an awesome reality. Jesus lived a sinless life. He then suffered an unjust death. Yet today, He lives, for CHRIST IS RISEN! PRAISE GOD! If the path we are taking does not lead us to the foot of the cross in our search for truth and meaning, then we have, indeed, lost our way. The Lord’s willing sacrifice of self, to pay our debt of death as a ransom to evil, demonstrates the Lord’s perfect love and faithfulness. God’s gift of salvation comes as an unequaled blessing, for this is offered to the undeserving through divine love, mercy, forgiveness, and grace. God then waits for the response as each soul’s heart, mind, and spirit is made ready.

God patiently waits on us, until our hearts and minds are ready to return His love, accept truth, and repent from evil. It is time, NOW, for us to follow His example. To begin, we must willingly and patiently wait on Him. Listen for His voice, and look for His work to be done around us. Then, submit to His will for the Kingdom, the harvest, and our lives. What a blessing and joy it is to have Emmanuel (God with us) to give us strength to face the trials of this life! Our Lord alone can uplift our spirits within troubled times of the soul. Amid pain, sorrow, and grief, He is the joy to give us peace and calm to continue. Morning awakens the Christian community to new days of opportunity in this season of new beginning and new life.

It is right to learn and teach what is sound and true. Every person, by the love, mercy, and grace of the Lord, should keep within the loving will of God. The life journey of the human being is along a course uncharted by previous travelers with one glorious exception—Lord Jesus Christ.
—Ron Douglas

“⁶So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷for we walk by faith, not by sight.” II Corinthians 5:6-7 (ESV)

In the early 90’s I helped lead a junior high mission trip to Appalachia. My first learning experience was that I was not leading, it was the Lord. I quickly realized I was merely a driver, over the age of 25, to safely transport the group to Kentucky.

Our destination was the Crank’s Creek Survival Center to offer our assistance with building, painting, cleanup, and renovation. The center’s ministry was to provide any type of physical assistance possible, whether it was transporting food, building materials, or labor to these impoverished people. Whatever the center obtained from donations would be shared with needy people in the community.

My second learning experience occurred when I first met Bobbie, who ran the center. Even though he was legally blind, this did not inhibit his faith or his mission. He knew that God was capable of supplying every need for the people of the community. He depended on this belief weekly as volunteers came to support the effort of the mission. Sometimes Bobbie would have someone drive him two hours to a neighboring city to get cheese, produce, or building materials donated by various organizations. Bobbie truly believed that God would provide their every need. His walk was a walk of faith, not sight, not only figuratively, but literally as well.

It was very humbling to be awakened each morning to the odor coming from the garbage pit and pigs and to the sounds of roosters. Our assignment for the week was very simple . . . to build out-houses and any miscellaneous projects. I have never in my life experienced such gratitude for such simple assistance.

Bobbie’s faith was centered in the Lord. He could not physically see and had no assurance of what was yet to come. He depended daily on Him for everything that came into that mission. Similarly, the criminal on the cross next to Jesus had no earthly assurance that the man who was hanging next to him was really the Son of God, but he put his faith in Him that day. ⁴²And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ ⁴³And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’” Luke 23:42-43 (ESV)

May we as poor depraved sinners, truly learn to live by faith and not by sight.
—Don Troescher

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 (ESV)

The Gospel of John records Jesus giving a lengthy discourse in the upper room to His disciples prior to going to the Garden of Gethsemane, which was followed by His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Jesus said that He would give them peace and that they did not need to be afraid. This was fine until the soldiers came to take away Jesus in the dark of night. When the disciples left Him and fled, it appears that fear trumped peace. With the crucifixion of Jesus, not only peace left the disciples, but also hope. Messiah was not supposed to die. On the first day of the week, the disciples gathered together and locked the doors for fear of the Jews. While in this state of fear, Jesus appeared and said, “Peace be with you!” John 20:21 (ESV) Obviously they were glad and amazed.

So what is this peace of Jesus? Is it available to us? My answer is yes, there is a peace that only comes from God. I would like to illustrate this. In the 1970’s, we had as many as 30 people come to our house on Tuesday evenings for worship, teaching, and fellowship. Because the group was blessed with good musicians, the singing was spectacular. I used to joke that, because of the singing, our house plants grew better. The reality was that the worship brought forth a peace that passed understanding, which apparently continued to reside in our house.

It was a Saturday afternoon when one of the members of this group came to our door. He was very drunk. The sad story was that, sometime before this, he had left his job with P&G, taking his retirement money to start an art business. Although he was a fine artist, his business folded. No longer did he have a retirement fund.

When he finished telling Lorraine and me his story, something unusual happened. Right before our eyes he became completely sober. We had not prayed with him. We had only listened. All I could think of was that the peace of Jesus had invaded his soul. Some months later, he came to our house with three oil paintings. He asked us to choose one. We chose a mountain cabin snow scene. It is a very peaceful picture, and it has hung on our dining room wall ever since that day.

This same peace is still available in the midst of a financial recession or other very difficult circumstances. Do you believe this?
—Maurie Loomans

“²⁶While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ ²⁷Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” Matthew 26:26-28 (NIV®)

On the first Sunday of each month at ECC, we have communion. After the common elements of bread and wine are set aside, Pastor Rich shares how each element now takes on a very different meaning. The bread represents the body of Christ, which was broken for our sins; and the wine is His blood shed for us. While it is not written in the Scriptures, it is written on a number of altars or communion tables, “Do This in Remembrance of Me.” What does this really mean to us?

As we revisit the text taken from “The Lord’s Supper,” I can picture the upper room, a basic wooden floor, few windows, if any, and little furniture except for the table where the Passover food is displayed, waiting to be eaten. Jesus arrives and sits among His disciples, and there is a hush of previous chatter as they begin to sense something is different. This is not just a moment to celebrate the past. Jesus is looking at each man, and it is as if He is looking right through them as He begins to impart the significance of this time with them. Do they truly understand as He takes the bread and tells them to eat it, for it is His body? Can you hear the murmuring of each person as they question what this means? Then Jesus takes the cup and thanks God for it as He begins to pass it to the disciples. He asks every one of them to drink of it as this represents His blood, which shall be poured out for many to forgive their sins. Do they realize this is the new covenant for all mankind and God’s purpose for sending His beloved son to a fallen world for our salvation?

Do we, as sinners, truly understand all that Christ has done for us? When we revisit taking the bread and wine each month, are we experiencing what the Lord would have us remember? Thinking on these things during this season of Lent, I hope you will join me in taking a closer look at our walk with the Lord and be more in prayer as we contemplate this great gift of our Lord’s sacrifice for me, you, and all who seek Him.
—Judy Dirksen

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, . . .’” John 11:25 (ESV)

Lent brings a deeper consideration of Scripture; who was Jesus, and what did He do for me?

The mighty God of the universe told Moses and the Israelites to call Him “I Am.” “I AM has sent me to you.” Exodus 3:14 (ESV)

I am inspired by the seven statements of “I Am” in the Gospel of John where God the Son took up His Father’s declaration in Exodus to carry on the meaningful “I Am” expression:

1) “. . . I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger. . .” John 6:35 (ESV)
2) “. . . I am the light of the world . . .” John 8:12 (ESV)
3) “I am the door.” John 10:9a (ESV)
4) “I am the good shepherd. . .” John 10:11 (ESV), Isaiah 53:6, Psalm 23:1a
5) “. . . I am the resurrection and the life. . .” John 11:25a (ESV)
6) “. . . I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” John 14:6 (ESV)
7) “I am the true vine. . .” John 15:1 (ESV), John 15:5

God uses His Holy Spirit to convict us of the need to receive His Son, Jesus Christ, as the fulfillment of our life.

I will never forget the exciting times in the 70’s serving breakfast to 300-400 high school students from sixteen different schools at 6:15 in Fellowship Hall at College Hill Presbyterian Church under the auspices of Young Life. We called it Teen Breakfast Club (TBC), and I hauled a station wagon full of my two oldest sons and their Western Hills High School friends to TBC every Thursday morning. With Tom White on piano, and Jeff Young and others on guitars, we sang the Young Life songs of the day. They were based on Scripture leading up to the Bible message by Gil Hopkins or one of the volunteer leaders from the University of Cincinnati. The first morning that I attended, Chuck Osborne talked on “If Jesus Christ is the Answer (on bumper stickers then)—What is the Question?” It was a great talk!

The song that I remember most from those days was I Am the Resurrection and the Life. It was written by Ray Repp in 1967 and played in the key of A on the guitar. I can still hear our rousing rendition as we sang three verses and the chorus with crescendos and claps. (I will be happy to sing it for you if you like.) Praise the Lord, for “I am the resurrection and the life!” Amen.
—Dr. Bill Gerhardt

“Romans 5:1-5
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:5 (NIV®)

Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried. His disciples had lost all hope and were hiding from the Jews and the Romans. Their lives were shattered. If that was the end of the story, we of all men are most to be pitied.

HOWEVER it was not the end, but a new beginning. Sunday was coming. Life was about to burst forth from the grave. Jesus was alive!

Because of the resurrection, every believer in Jesus has an absolute, sure hope. We can live confidently through the joys and sorrows of this life knowing that God’s plan for us is best. The apostle Paul met the risen Christ on the road to Damascus; and despite the many trials he faced, he lived in victory.

In Romans 5:1-5, Paul highlights some incredible promises for the believers of the risen Christ—justified by faith, peace with God, grace in which to stand, rejoice in hope of the glory of God, rejoice in sufferings because of what it produces in us, the love of God poured into our hearts, the Holy Spirit given to us.

These blessings are the result of the resurrection. They changed the disciples and Paul, and these blessings are offered to all those who trust in Christ. Without Jesus, we are lost—enemies of God and without hope. Because of the grace and love of God, we are justified (declared right with God) and are at peace with Him. We can stand in grace and live by it. We have a hope in which we can rejoice, even as we face the trials of life. We rejoice because God uses trials to make us more like Jesus and because God’s love is for us and in us.

Our hope is sure—absolutely sure. Jesus is risen! Hallelujah!
—Rick Schatz