“Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! (Luke 12:27-28)

The news is depressing, and the world is going to Hell in a handbasket. But is it really?

“The negativity bias is a cognitive bias that results in adverse events having a more significant impact on our psychological state than positive events. Negativity bias occurs even when adverse events and positive events are of the same magnitude, meaning we feel negative events more intensely.” (https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/negativity-bias)

Our brains may be wired to process negative information more intensely than positive information, but that doesn’t mean we can’t become optimists…or even just realists. But it takes effort…what the cool kids call ‘intentionality.’ Being intentional is really the ‘secret sauce’ to life – the ultimate hack – that moves us from existing into truly living, from being blown around by the wind to building on a rock.

Considering the circumstances

“How’s it going?” “Okay, considering the circumstances…” You’ve heard it. You’ve probably said it. And likely you were referring to something specific in your life that wasn’t going well. But then it grew in your mind and colored your entire existence – your mood, your physical feelings, your perception of life and the future. But negativity bias is throwing your focus out of whack. It’s important to consider reality – the Truth.

The Bible and more recently, psychologists, have identified two great ways to counter negativity bias: meditation and focusing on the positive.

Meditation in the Bible is more than just emptying our brains of stray thoughts, it is considering the Holy Scriptures: what they mean and how we should be implementing them in our lives, as well as deep gratitude to God that He has provided them to us.

At night I remember my music; I meditate in my heart, and my spirit ponders. (Psalm 77:6)

Obviously, this will take some time – that’s the intentionality part. But only in the quiet times can we ever hope to hear God’s still, small voice whispering to us the answers and the wisdom that we seek. God has something for you in His Word today, search it out. This is also an excellent time to search your own heart and see if there are issues there to be addressed.

Focusing on the Positive is essential for good mental health these days. It is an intentional, daily affirmation that there is always, always something to be thankful for. God thought so, too, when he inspired Paul to write:

Finally, brothers and sisters, 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)

Negativity bias will always try to pull our focus to the dark side. But seeing the world correctly requires us to focus on how we interact with others, how much we value ourselves and how we worship Him. Like Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13, we might have ‘everything’ but if we don’t have love, we have nothing. Consider love – giving it, showing it, encouraging it, growing it. Consider, too, that we were bought at a high price, and our lives are no longer our own. We are now servants of others, on behalf of Christ, humble and peaceable with no thought of any reward but heaven – less of us, more of Him.

To consider what is true, noble and right, here are some thoughts to get you started: God is in control of this world right now; the Earth IS beautiful - experience it with your senses; God cares about our every need and we can trust Him with them; people are never our enemy; if this dying world is beautiful, how much more beautiful will Heaven be; the clock is ticking and lost people need Jesus as their Savior today.

These are the daily practices that keep negativity at bay, strengthen our faith, and allow us to sing, “Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say, “It is well, it is well with my soul!””

Have a great day, considering,

Jen

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

(Revelation 1:17-18)

I happened to catch ‘The Case for Christ’ on tv last week. In the segment discussing the Resurrection, they had some ‘on the street’ interviews with folks asking if they believed in a literal resurrection. One man said, “…people don’t come back from the dead – it’s preposterous.” A woman who seemed to be a Christian said, “…I don’t see how it could be true. Maybe they just missed him when they looked inside the tomb or something.”

At first, I scoffed. But then I thought, ‘you know, it IS pretty preposterous. It’s a natural impulse to look for some other explanation.’ And after all, wasn’t that just EXACTLY God’s point? Jesus cleansed lepers, expelled demons, gave sight to men born blind, healed disease, restored paralytics, and raised a few people back to life…and STILL the Jewish leaders claimed it was the work of a demon! I mean, geez, what was it going to take for these hard-hearted religious leaders to believe they had seen a miracle from God? Well, it required just what happened – God raised Jesus from the dead by Himself. No prophet, no smoke and mirrors, only angelic visitors and petrified Roman guards…and an earthquake.

I understand disbelief. I was one of those kids who went to college and became a ‘genius’ who ‘knows everything.’ I was way too cool for religion. The world was cold and hard, and God was a comforting story akin to faeries or Santa Claus. If your wayward prodigal currently believes this, rest assured there is hope. But it might require life throwing some pain their way, and some serious investigation, or both. And in that moment of woe and wondering…Jesus will show up!

Even Jesus’ beloved disciples didn’t believe at first. They were scared and confused. They struggled to understand why Jesus, whom they had believed would be a king, had been crucified. This lack of understanding led to a sense of disappointment and a questioning of their faith. Some were deeply saddened and doubtful about the resurrection, expressing a sense of despair. They also feared further persecution and violence, which added to their sense of hopelessness.

Here’s a quick run-down of ‘Disciples React to Jesus’ Death’:

…but we had hoped…

…They stood still, their faces downcast.

…And he went outside and wept bitterly.

…he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver…

…stood outside the tomb crying.

…with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders…

…Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.

And in those moments of woe and wondering…Jesus quite literally showed up!

Faith isn’t easy. It requires believing something that can never be proven. We can know that we know, but we can’t prove it. And some things we won’t ever know on this side of Heaven. It’s hard to make peace with that when we’ve been led by our culture to believe that everything is knowable. Yes, Google has lots of answers, but there’s so much more that even our best and brightest don’t know or understand. Good scientists and philosophers will freely admit this.

Last week I went on about the Big Picture and how Jesus is EVERYTHING. This is what we need to hold onto, even when the world looks dark, crooked and ruined. In our confusion, fear, disappointment and despair we might start to believe the world is irredeemable. It is not. Our mission to make disciples is not hopeless. In our own power, sure, yes, forget it. “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27) [We] can do all things through Christ who strengthens [us]. (Philippians 4:13)

And in His kindness, Jesus gave John a vision of the Big Picture in Revelations. It is a vision so wonderful, so profound, so awesome, that we can cling to it and its deep truth for a lifetime:

“Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
    and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
    and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

(Revelation 1:4-8)

Keeping the faith,

Jen

And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” (Matthew 26:21-22)

While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

(Mark 14:18-19)

“But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. (Luke 22:21-23)

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” (John 13:21-25)

All four of the Gospels recount the story of Jesus’ betrayal. And in all four, ALL the apostles question themselves as to whether it could be them. Of course, only one was sure. But at this pivotal time in His ministry and life, Jesus found himself surrounded by men who, even in their own heart of hearts, couldn’t be sure they wouldn’t betray him.

And they did all fail Him in various ways. Right after this seriously heavy moment, John and James started arguing about who would be greatest in Jesus’ new kingdom. They wanted to be at his right and left hand – if only they had known who was actually going to be on either side of Him as He came into His kingdom! All of them fell asleep in the Garden while Jesus prayed. Judas betrayed Him with a kiss. Peter, for all his reassurances, denied even knowing Jesus three times. Then they hid away in the upper room feeling defeated rather than remembering Jesus’ words about resurrection. The women went out to anoint His body for burial, not search for an empty tomb. And Thomas, upon hearing they had been visited by the risen Jesus, still refused to believe.

Those nearest and dearest to Jesus failed to understand and let him down in their unbelief. And yet, He willingly remained on that cross until the end to redeem them and give them eternal life.

It seems sad, but we should rejoice in this because if they did and still became heroes of the faith, there’s hope for us when we experience times of misunderstanding and lack of belief!

And we definitely will experience those times. It’s inevitable because God is God, and we are mere mortals. Like trying to explain algebra to your dog, the workings of God’s kingdom are largely a mystery to us. God has imparted as much as we need, and as much as we can really grasp. Having faith for the rest means accepting possibilities that seem impossible and realities that seem unreal. I feel for poor old Zechariah who in Luke 1:18 says to Gabriel, “How can I be sure of this?” I doubt many of us would have had any other response. Even blessed Mary replied, “How will this be?”

Perhaps that’s the real condemnation for the Jewish religious leaders. If they really knew our God, they should have known to expect the unexpected. Of course Messiah was going to be unexpected, improbable and inexplicable. Which of God’s miracles have we ever been able to explain? That’s really the whole point. When God shows up, the impossible suddenly becomes possible, the insurmountable obstacle moves. (Wait, doesn’t that sound like rough places becoming smooth, and mountains moving?!😮)

Trusting, obeying, submitting…these are the hallmark of our faith because they demonstrate belief despite no real evidence. This is why Jesus replied to Thomas,

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

PRAYER:

Lord, as we stand facing the gruesome crucifixion of Your precious Son, Jesus, our Lord and Master, we cry out like the father of the possessed boy, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Yours in Christ,

Jen

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:17-20).

JESUS IS EVERYTHING! I found myself nearly shouting this at the Sunday School kids. I realize I probably sounded a bit unhinged, but I felt a real compulsion, before we began the regularly scheduled lesson, to try to convey the Big Picture.

I don’t know about you, but when people say, “she couldn’t see the forest for the trees” I know just what they mean. It’s easy to get so bogged down in the minutia of tasks that we sometimes fail to convey the point – the Big Picture. We stuff plastic eggs with wrapped candy, count carefully, decorate, pull out palms, recruit volunteers, make and put up signs, post and eblast…but have we conveyed the Big Picture?

We spend every Sunday morning enthusiastically sharing fun Bible Story lessons with the kids, doing activities and crafts that reinforce them, but do the kids really see the Big Picture? We listen attentively to the Pastor’s message each week, singing the songs and praying the prayers, but are we fitting it all together like puzzle pieces into the Big Picture?

Life can be so busy with so much on the ‘to do’ list. And work and school take so much of our time. Hobbies, activities, social commitments…if we’re not careful, life can whiz by before we even realize it. Will we be so concerned about each tree that we miss the forest? Will we look back and realize we didn’t put enough value on the Big Picture?

Folks, society tells us to focus on money, happiness, politics, degrees, work, vacations, fitness, beauty, success, etc. These things help Madison Avenue sell soap, but they aren’t the answer to ‘life, the universe and everything.’ Oh yes, there IS an answer (and it isn’t 42*) – JESUS IS EVERYTHING! HE IS THE BIG PICTURE! He’s what it’s all about, Charlie Brown!

Check out the awesome verse from Colossians above. Go back and read it like a southern preacher! It deserves some Hallelujahs! Let’s break it down:

• He is before all things
  • Jesus is the A and the Z, the first and last, everlasting and uncreated!
• in him all things hold together
  • He holds the whole world in His hands. He keeps the universe turning and the natural laws enforced.
• he is the head of the body, the church;
  • Jesus is the Cornerstone, the firm foundation on which the church is built, and in the body of Christ, he is the head.
• he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead
  • He is the Resurrection and the life! The one who believes in Him will live, even though they die. And because He lives, we will one day live with Him eternally in glorious Heaven, back in the sinless Garden once again.
• so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
  • Jesus sits at the right hand of God, the Father. All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Him – even power to forgive sin.
• For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him
  • Jesus was fully man, but He is also fully God. Not a part of God, but in essence God. He is the physical manifestation of the will of God in the world.
• and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,
  • Sin broke the world – not just humanity, but the whole earth groans under the weight of generations of sin. One day there will be a new earth, a new heaven and a new you with a restored relationship with God.
• by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross
  • As the perfect lamb of God, Jesus’ blood sacrifice covers our sins and makes us holy. It allows us to enter the mysterious, sinless, glory of Heaven, and to come directly and boldly before the throne of God!

Can I get an AMEN?!

Hallelujah to the King of kings
Hallelujah to the Lamb
Hallelujah to the Lord of lords
Who is the great I AM

He is Lord of heaven, Lord of earth
He is Lord of all who live
He is Lord above the universe
All praise to Him we give
(We Will Glorify by Twila Paris)

Have a Blessed Resurrection Day,

Jen

*apologies to Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy

Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)

Passover begins this Friday. Christians generally don’t take much note of this festival that God commanded to be celebrated, but it is SO important in the history of our faith. It is a celebration that points directly to Jesus so that no one could miss the sign.

The story of the Passover is told in Exodus 12. As you may recall, God was about to do an Awesome work which would free the Hebrews from slavery through their Deliverer, Moses. God commanded each family to take a male lamb without defect and slaughter it. Some of the blood was to be painted on the doorposts so that Death would ‘pass over’ them. The rest of the lamb was to be roasted over fire and completely consumed. “That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.”(v.8)  “This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.” (v.11)

As time went on, ridding the house of any leavening (yeast) before Passover became a tradition. Eventually, yeast took on the symbolism of sin – something bad to get rid of.

So, the Passover Feast was to be eaten with a sense of expectation and readiness. It is clear that Jesus was invoking this mood during His last supper. “And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”” (Luke 22:15-16)

Interestingly, in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus takes up two cups. “After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”” (Luke 22:17-18) And then, “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:20) It is actually unclear if any of the apostles drank from that cup, but Jesus didn’t because of what He said in verse 18. Some theorize that it was spilled during the ruckus that ensued when Jesus declared there was a betrayer amongst them. I like to think Jesus poured it out himself for dramatic effect.

At any rate, Jesus makes it clear that the Passover bread and wine represent His flesh and blood since He is the unblemished lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, sacrificed for the salvation of God’s people. Covered by His blood, the finality of death passes over us, and we have a new eternal life in God’s Promised Land.

Just as the first Passover marked the initiation of God’s Old Testament (Covenant), Jesus’ Passover Supper marked the initiation of God’s New Testament (Covenant). Just as the Hebrews had to be ready to leave, Jesus’ disciples immediately left for the Garden of Gethsemane. Prayers followed both journeys. As did crisis. And in both stories, just at the moment when all seemed lost, God’s prophet cried out to God, stretched out his arms and a huge, history-altering miracle occurred. Moses lifted his staff, Jesus and His cross were lifted up. Moses crossed the sea, Jesus crossed through death to life. In both cases, God’s people found a pathway to salvation and a restored relationship with God.

Twenty-some years later, Paul made the same connection between the two feasts in his Letter to the Corinthians. The symbolism is impossible to miss. If Jesus is the Passover Lamb, sacrificed to save us, isn’t it our duty to rid ourselves of all our ‘yeast’ of sin? It’s time for a thorough housecleaning so that we can become holy, unleavened bread of sincerity and truth!

During these final days of Lent, let’s take the time to examine ourselves for ‘old yeast’ and ask as the Psalmist did, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

Happy Housecleaning,

Jen

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 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. (John 15:1-4)

Spring has sprung and with it comes the inevitable spring clean up of the yard. Like me, you probably have had your share of broken branches due to the fierce windstorms we’ve weathered. We even have a few fallen trees. And I’ll have to wait a little while longer to see if my garden plants will reawaken or need to be replaced. But the trees and bushes that remain are blooming with flowers and buds and some will bear fruit later in the summer. It’s always amazing to me to see the bulbs and shrubs and trees that seemed so dead burst into brilliant colors. Meanwhile those dead branches are gathered up and burned or mulched.

Do we realize that we are flowering cherry, fig and apple trees? We are grape vines that bear nourishment for many! As long as we remain connected to the Source, we are nourished by the Source with everything we need to grow, be abundant and bear much fruit – fruit that will feed those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, truth and life.

Like the blossoming trees, we have a fragrant aroma – the aroma of Christ – that draws seekers close to us. They come looking for the fruit they hunger for. Hopefully, we will be abiding in Him and will have tasty figs (or cherries, apples or grapes) to offer. What joy and hope that will bring those who are longing and hungering!

But woe to the fig tree that bears no fruit, or to all those dead branches in the yard. Without nourishment from God, the ultimate Source, they lost their purpose and are good for nothing but fuel. They lost their strength and got tossed about by the wind until they could not remain. They can no longer produce abundance or be a blessing to those who hunger.

Personally, I’m a terrible gardener. I don’t know what or when to prune. I don’t know when to plant and often forget to tend. Thank Heaven that God is a perfect Gardener. He knows just what each and every individual plant and branch (that’s us) needs to be the most fruitful and abundant. He walks through the garden in the cool of the evening, smiling over His beautiful, vibrant, blossoming gardens, vineyards and orchards. He tends each one thoughtfully and carefully, weeding, removing pests, and yes, pruning where needed.

It IS true that abiding means staying in one place. If we fly away from the garden, we will lose connection and die. But then, Gardener God planted us right where He wants us. We should always strive to ‘bloom where we’re planted.’ He certainly can transplant us somewhere new if He wants to. But we can rest ASSURED that His loving care will be with us wherever we happen to be planted. We can bloom and grow wherever He puts us. We can experience the ultimate purpose and abundance of life in whichever garden He chooses for us. As long as we are in the Garden of God, and abide in His love, we will reach our fullest potential and very best life, in this world AND the next. And without Him, we can do nothing.

Bloom and grow forever,

Jen

“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. (John 17:14-19)

What does it really mean to be “in” the world but not “of” the world? For those who have been trying to live this way for any amount of time, you probably have experienced the conflict there. It’s a challenge. This is a huge topic, so I’ll only touch on a few thoughts that I’ve had recently.

Part 1 – Citizens of Heaven

Those who have proclaimed Jesus as Lord have been granted citizenship in Heaven. Like accepting citizenship in any country, we have to renounce all previous citizenship and swear to uphold the laws and values of our new ‘country.’ Therefore, we renounce the world and its values, desires, or systems. Believers are in the world, living among people and participating in daily life, but we are not to be defined or controlled by the world's ambitions or materialism. We are called to maintain our integrity and live according to our faith, even when it differs from the prevailing norms of society. Being "not of the world" requires a commitment to God's principles and values. 

Trying to see how God sees is one way to accomplish this. God has a heart for the vulnerable of society, the widows, orphans and foreigners – so should we. God ignores outward appearances and looks instead at the heart, or character – so should we. God hates ‘false religions’ and ‘false gods’ – so should we. But this is where some tension lies. We don’t want to be pointing fingers at Muslims, Hindus, etc., even Jews, condemning them to Hell. God dealt very harshly with Baal worshippers, and Paul had plenty to say about Greek and Roman gods. Still, we don’t see Jesus, nor the Apostles, for the most part, criticizing that way. Jesus preferred a more intimate one-on-one kind of exchange focusing on a person’s needs and the health of their soul. He mostly side-stepped the idea of ‘religion’ for the concept of ‘relationship’ with God.

Part 2 - Ambassadors for Christ

While not of the world, believers are called as ambassadors for Christ, representing his values and message in the world. Jesus gave us our commission in Matthew 28:18-20: “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””

Paul explains this further in 2 Corinthians 5:19-20: “That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.””

Being an ambassador comes with consequences too, as Paul learned and wrote about in his Letter to the Ephesians 6:19-2: “Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.”

Again, the tension lies in trying to do the will of God while not being so offensive to our ‘host country’ that we get ‘recalled.’ Ambassadors are negotiators and sometimes negotiating requires giving up something (or appearing to) in order to keep the other party at the table until they feel they’ve gotten the best deal. If we condemn or are harsh, we won’t be able to build trust that leads to relationship which leads to a commitment to Christ.

Our current culture speaks a lot about tolerance. As Christ-followers pursuing righteousness, there’s a lot we should never tolerate. That does not mean that believers should isolate themselves from the world, but rather live in a way that is distinct from the world's values and practices. However, living ‘in’ the world but not being ‘of’ it can create a tension, requiring much discernment to navigate the complexities of life while remaining true to one's faith. 

Your fellow ambassador,

Jen

For now the winter is past;
the rain has ended and gone away.
The blossoms appear in the countryside.
The time of singing has come,
and the turtledove’s cooing is heard in our land.
The fig tree ripens its figs;
the blossoming vines give off their fragrance.
Arise, my darling.
Come away, my beautiful one.

(Song of Solomon 2:11-13)

Norouz Mobarak! Or, Happy New Year if you don’t speak Farsi. Spring is the perfect time to begin a new year, with all the rebirth and renewal, the warmer weather and the increased daylight. Ancient peoples figured out the Spring Equinox (when the day and the night are exactly equal) pretty early – thousands of years ago – and marked it with petroglyphs, megaliths and festivals. In Iran and many other countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, it marks the beginning of their yearly calendar.

There are many traditions surrounding Norouz, several of which you might recognize. There is a time of massive spring cleaning when the entire house is cleaned, along with the purchase of new clothes, and visiting friends and neighbors.

On the Wednesday before Norouz, graves of relatives are visited and tended. At night, bonfires are lit and those who dare leap over the flames in a symbolic purging of transgressions. Attendees ask the fire to take away ill health and problems and replace them with warmth, health, and energy. In some places, children go door to door asking for sweet treats.

There is a festive table, the Haft-seen, set with seven symbols of spring whose Persian names begin with the letter S:

• Sabzeh (سبزه) – wheat or lentil sprouts grown in a dish.
• Samanu (سمنو) – wheat germ sweet pudding.
• Senjed (سنجد) – oleaster.
• Serkeh (سرکه) – vinegar.
• Seeb (سیب) – apple.
• Seer (سیر) – garlic.
• Somagh (سماق) – sumac.

Coins (سکه sekke), hyacinth (سنبل sonbol), and a clock (ساعت saa'at) are sometimes included too. Other symbolic items that are typically used to accompany Haft-seen include a mirror, candles, painted eggs, goldfish, and traditional Persian confections. These mostly represent good health and prosperity. A "book of wisdom" is also commonly included.

Amu Norouz (Uncle New Year) brings children gifts, much like his counterpart Santa Claus. He is depicted as an elderly silver-haired man with a long beard carrying a walking stick, wearing a felt hat, a long cloak of blue canvas, a sash, and linen trousers.

On the thirteenth day of the New Year, Iranians leave their houses to enjoy nature and picnic outdoors, as part of the Sizdah Bedar ceremony. The greenery grown for the Haft-seen is thrown away, usually into running water. It is also customary for young single people, especially young girls, to tie the leaves of the greenery before discarding it, expressing a wish to find a partner.

On my first Norouz, I was surprised to see so much that reminded me of Easter and other familiar American holidays. But the symbols of rebirth and new life are impossible to miss in spring. Chicks hatching from stone-like eggs into vibrant life, candles symbolizing light from darkness, flowers blossoming in bright colors to fight the gray of winter, colorful candy to make life sweet, starting the year clean, both physically and spiritually.

Like our New Year, this spring New Year that we call Lent, is also time of making resolutions and integrating sacrifices into our lives. We can use this opportunity to sacrifice our time or convenience by adding in Bible reading or exercise or charity, or we can fast from television, electronics, certain foods or other habits that would benefit us to give up. Christ gave up everything for us even unto death, so that we, like spring, could be born again into new life. As you experience the joy of spring, and all things bright and beautiful, remember your own baptism into new life and be ready to fully blossom into your own Christ-likeness!

Sad Sal Be In Salha (صد سال به این سال‌ها) - May there be 100 more joyous years,

Jen

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

Like me, you probably have more than one copy of the Bible. Perhaps you have some handed down through your family, some that are extra thin for portability, Study Bibles with commentary, or some with extra-large print for easy reading. But do you really appreciate how precious it is?

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, given by God to Moses and other prophets. It was written on scrolls which rolled up from either side, made of lamb skin, papyrus and other durable materials. Each one was meticulously copied, letter by letter in paragraph blocks, so as to be completely identical. This method allowed the Torah of Jesus’ time to be nearly exactly the Torah or Moses’ time. And it has allowed the Old Testament of our time to be nearly exactly the Torah of Jesus’ time. This was proven after the amazing discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls by a shepherd boy in Qumran in 1946. Miraculously, the scrolls, kept hidden in jars of clay, date back to the 1^st Century, the time of Jesus!

The New Testament was written by many authors after the death of Jesus. It was written in Aramaic, the language of Jesus, and Greek, the scholarly language of the day. Considering the massive persecution of Christians by Rome, we can only imagine the lengths faithful believers went to to protect these precious books and letters. It is truly a miracle that they survived. It was eventually translated into several ancient languages, but the most widely used in Europe was the Latin version. Again, scribes dedicated their lives to copying the Bible word for word into expensive Bibles with illustrations hand painted in real gold.

Because of their expense and the low literacy rate, most people had no access to the Bible, and even the priests read their sermons from other manuals and prayer books. But this also put a monopoly of knowledge into the hands of Church leaders. Over time, corruptions and heresies like purgatory, indulgences and antisemitism crept in unchallenged.

Then, with the invention of the printing press, Bibles were printed in the spoken languages of the day. People could read God’s Word for themselves and read it to others to hear and understand for the first time. Because this exposed many of the ways the Church had been exploiting religion for money and power, the publishers of these Bibles were labelled heretics and were executed or exiled – Wycliffe and Tyndale to name a few.

As Protestantism took hold and literacy increased, the Bible was used as a primer. Almost immediately after arriving in America in 1630, The Puritans set up schools so that children would be able to read and interpret the Bible for themselves without the need for interpretation from clergy. As a result, Americans were the most literate people in the world. Later, secretly learning to read the Bible helped to fuel the freedom movement among slaves.

As of November 2024, the Bible has been translated into 756 languages, according to Wycliffe Global Alliance. The New Testament has been translated into an additional 1,726 languages, and parts of the Bible have been translated into 1,274 other languages. It has been carried into every nation on earth, often with great difficulty and dedication.

“In North Korea, the distribution or possession of a Bible can result in imprisonment or worse. Similarly, in Saudi Arabia, the importation and distribution of non-Islamic religious material, including Bibles, are strictly prohibited.” (https://globalchristianrelief.org/christian-persecution/stories/countries-where-christianity-is-illegal/)

So there, on your shelf is a Book so powerful that multiple nations around the world and throughout time have burned, banned and controlled it to keep it’s revolutionary teachings from the masses. And it has caused revolutions. God’s Kingdom is an upside-down world where we pray for enemies, forgive sinners, provide for the most vulnerable in society, do not return evil for evil and swear unwavering allegiance to the King of Kings before any earthly king or ruler. Armed with the Word of God, revolutionaries and rebels like King David, the Maccabees, Christians, Protestants, Puritans, Abolitionists and Civil Rights leaders fought the system and won.

That Bible is worth more than silver or gold because it contains the secret to eternal life! It tells us how to communicate with the most powerful Intelligence in the universe! It explains how to achieve ultimate personal transformation. “…It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Millions have longed for the opportunity to just pick it up and read it, and we lucky few actually can. So do!

In the Word with you,

Jen

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)

If you’ve ever looked at the list of the 7 Deadly Sins that the Christian tradition came up with – envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride, sloth, and wrath – you might think they are character flaws, but certainly not unforgiveable sins. (These days, hopefully, Christians are aware that God will forgive all our sins if we repent and ask.) If we allow ourselves to be honest, we can see that they are all far from God’s picture of holiness. But I’ll admit, gluttony always had me stumped. Isn’t what and how much I eat just a life choice? Short answer: no.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

We are no longer our own. When we accepted Jesus as our Master and Savior, we committed our entire lives to Him, including our bodies, to be put to His service. So just like we’d take care of a car Jesus let us use, we need to take care of ourselves.

We all get just one body to take with us into our 80’s, 90’s and beyond. We don't get to trade it in like it's a Honda Accord. We are fearfully and wonderfully made! Our body is absolutely priceless and amazing, capable of accomplishing things that are nothing short of miraculous. It is the most sophisticated the complex machine on the planet. In car terms, you are a Ferrari my friend!

Of all of the things that may come and go in the course of our lives, our mysterious and wonderful bodies are one thing we'll never go anywhere or do anything without. Our bodies are with us from now until we finish our time here on earth. It is difficult to imagine another asset that is more important than our body. So if it is to serve us well, it needs to be maintained and nurtured.

Back to gluttony. Like obesity, it is a matter of excess. Call it a lack of moderation, a lack of self-control or a lack of self-discipline, however you frame it, it is more than we need. Why is that a problem? Because God is our provider. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, it is “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) Not our weekly, monthly or annual bread, not cake, muffins or brownies, but just what we need (not want) and just for the day. This harkens back to a helpful story from Scripture. The Israelites had been led out of slavery in Egypt and were trusting God to provide for them while they wandered in the wilderness. After they ran out of the food they brought with them, God provided ‘bread from heaven’ in the form of manna on the ground each morning. God instructed them to take just enough -- no leftovers. If they took more than enough (excess) the manna would rot and become maggot infested. God provided every day, always enough. And when they failed to trust that God would sufficiently provide, they would take too much, and the excess manna would rot. When we recognize that God is providing enough day after day, it is easier to learn not to stuff ourselves. When we eat more than we need it “rots.” Nothing good happens.

We have a duty to take care of our fearful and wonderful Ferrari bodies. Although we use food to serve many purposes in our lives (socializing, emotional support, etc.), its one, actual purpose is to fuel us for optimum health. With optimum health, relying on God for our daily bread, we can more fully engage in His Kingdom work for His glory, doing our utmost for His Highest.

Happy moderation,

Jen