Do you like fish?

This week I have been studying in the book of Jonah.  As a young child many of us were taught about Jonah and the “big fish” that swallowed him.  However, that really isn’t the highlight of the story.  The highlight of the story was a changed life that became an instrument of God to help change the lives of others.   Jonah testified, “I was as far down as a body can go, and the gates were slamming shut behind me forever—yet [God] pulled me up from that grave alive, O God, my God!  When my life was slipping away, I remembered God, and my prayer got through to you.”  He concluded, “Salvation belongs to God!”  As I read these words I couldn’t help but realize that Jonah’s testimony is my testimony.  I found myself in a similar position and I came to the same conclusion.  I have never been swallowed by a fish but I had been swallowed by my own sin and shame.  God came to my rescue and for that I am extremely grateful.  Why don’t you take the time to testify to this reality by posting a comment to this blog?  Then you can take the time to share it again with a co-worker, neighbor, or family member who needs to know of God’s power. 

 It is much better to eat fish and than to be eating by fish.  A fisherman's son being introduced to a   new type of fish in an Israeli restaurant on the Sea of Galilee.

A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Words

On Easter Sunday I had a chance to baptize my youngest son Micah. No greater joy than to see your boy choose Christ and then have him publicly proclaim Him as Savior!

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." Matthew 11:25

Jefferson and Jesus

If Thomas Jefferson would have lived he would have celebrated his 269th birthday yesterday. We decided late on Thursday to take a short trip up to Monticello to show our boys around Jefferson’s historic home place. Honestly when we left on Friday morning we didn’t even know it was Jefferson’s birthday. Most people don’t know about Jefferson’s birthday because he kept it a secret fearful that his birthday would somehow detract from our celebration of Independence on July 4th. This was the second time that I have had the opportunity to visit Jefferson’s home place and each time you come away impressed with his ingenuity, his attention to detail, and his strong intellect. As a pastor I also came away thinking about the impact that Jesus played on Jefferson’s life. There has been much historical debate about Jefferson’s stance on Jesus. Let me
share what the Smithsonian says,

Thomas Jefferson was devoted to the teachings of Jesus Christ. But he didn’t always agree with
how they were interpreted by biblical sources, including the writers of the four Gospels, whom he considered to be untrustworthy correspondents. So Jefferson created his own gospel by taking a sharp instrument, perhaps a penknife, to existing copies of the New Testament and pasting up his own account of Christ’s philosophy, distinguishing it from what he called “the corruption of schismatizing followers.” Much of the material Jefferson elected to not include related miraculous events, such as the feeding of the multitudes with only two fish and five loaves of barley bread; he eschewed anything that he perceived as “contrary to reason.” His idiosyncratic gospel concludes with Christ’s entombment but omits his resurrection. He kept Jesus’ own teachings, such as the Beatitude, “Blessed are the peace-makers: for they shall be called the children of God.” The Jefferson Bible, as it’s known, is “scripture by subtraction,” writes Stephen Prothero, a professor of religion at Boston University.

Thomas Jefferson produced the 84-page volume in 1820—six years before he died at age 83—bound it in red leather and titled it The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth. It is also known that Jefferson began this work sixteen years before it was completed. In 1804 Jefferson wrote that his intention was “the result of a life of enquiry and reflection, and very different from that anti-Christian system, imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions.”

I come away from my trip to Charlottesville grateful that Thomas Jefferson saw the importance of a “life of enquiry” as it relates to Jesus Christ. However, I also know that we can’t put our hope in our ability to comprehend no matter how intelligent we may be. As I stood in the very room in which Jefferson took his last breath it is was my prayer that in Jefferson’s later days he came to “know Christ and the power of His resurrection” in a way that went beyond his ability to comprehend.

Stephen Willis

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/How-Thomas-Jefferson-Created-His-Own-Bible.html#ixzz1s156peqv

What about Resurrection the week after Easter?

Easter Sunday 2012 is in the books. It was a great day at LFCN with doves being released in our “Son” Rise service, a tasty fellowship breakfast with other believers; a ton of kid’s participating in our egg hunt, a record attendance in our 11 am worship service, and seven baptisms. However, the week after people have gone back to their routines, responsibilities, and struggles of life without allowing the Resurrection
celebration to infiltrate the lives they lead.

I so want all of us to understand that Easter is so much more than a date on the calendar. Paul proclaimed, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection
from the dead” (Philippians 3:10). I must admit I don’t think I have come close to grasping the full understanding of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sure I enjoy the realization that His resurrection brings salvation and removes the sting of death…….but does this realization permeate into all the
areas of my life? It is my prayer that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ will eradicate the dead areas of our
lives. It is my prayer that the unbridled presence of God will saturate, captivate and overwhelm our existence in order that our lives will boldly proclaim that we are “attaining to the resurrection” that raises dead things!

May it be so!

Stephen Willis

HE HAS RISEN

Early this morning while I was still thinking about waking up and getting out of bed the voice of my wife echoed in the darkness with the words..... "He Has Risen!" Nothing else needs to be said on this Easter Sunday morning because HE HAS RISEN INDEED!!!

Should it be called Good Friday?

It’s easy for me to automatically look past Good Friday with anticipation for Resurrection Sunday. All of us would rather attend a celebratory party than a solemn cemetery. However, as I grow older I realize that the more I contemplate the anguish of the Cross, the more celebration I experience on Easter Sunday. To overlook the price that Christ paid cheapens the grace that has been given to each of us. The more one overcomes the greater the jubilation once victory has been obtained. Today I will try to remain focused on the “Gruesome Friday” that Christ experienced that would ultimately be called “Good Friday” for those who benefited from his sacrifice.

Abiding!
Stephen

Details of the Whipping & Crucifixion

For many this week is no different than the other 51 weeks. However, as believers I think it should be different as we remember our Savior's sacrifice for our sin.

I decided to share more of Lee Strobel's interview with Dr. Metherell to help us grasp the last hours of Jesus' life:

Lee Strobel asked, “What was the flogging like?” The doctor replied, “Roman floggings were
known to be terribly brutal. They usually consisted of 39 lashes but frequently were a lot more than that, depending on the mood of the soldier applying the blows. The soldier would use a whip of braided leather thongs with metal balls woven into them. When the whip would strike the flesh, these balls would cause deep bruises or contusions, which would break open with
further blows. The whip also had pieces of sharp bone as well, which would cut the flesh severely. The back would be so shredded that part of the spine was sometimes exposed by the deep, deep cuts. The whipping would have gone all the way from the shoulders down to the back and extending to the legs. We know that many people would die from this kind of beating even before they could be crucified. Lee Strobel asked Dr. Metherell, “What happened when Jesus arrived at the crucifixion site?” Jesus would have been laid down, and his hands would have been nailed in the outstretched position to the horizontal beam. The Romans used spikes that were five to seven inches long and tapered to a sharp point. They were driven through the wrists,” Metherell said, pointing about an inch or so below his left palm. “Hold it” Strobel
interrupted. “I thought the nails pierced his palms.” “Through the wrists”
the doctor repeated. “This was a solid position that would lock the hand; if the nails had been driven through the palms, his weight would have caused the skin to tear and he would have fallen off the cross. The wrist was considered part of the hand in the language of the day.
And it’s important to understand that the nail would go through the place where the median nerve runs. This the largest nerve going out to the hand was crushed by the nail that was being
pounded in.” Strobel asked, “What sort of pain would that have produced.” “The
pain was absolutely unbearable, in fact, it was literary beyond word to describe; they had to invent a new word: excruciating. Literary, excruciating means ‘out of the cross.’ Think of that: they needed to create a new word, because there was nothing in the language that could describe the intense anguish caused during the crucifixion.” At this point Jesus was hoisted as the crossbar was attached to the vertical stake, and then nail were driven through Jesus’ feet. Again, the nerves in his feet would have beencrushed.” [Then] his arms would have immediately been stretched, probably about six inches in length, and both shoulders would have become dislocated---you can determine this with simple mathematical equations. Once a person is
hanging in the vertical position crucifixion is essentially an agonizingly slow death by asphyxiation. The reason is that the stresses on the muscles and diaphragm put the chest into the inhaled position; basically, in order to exhale, Jesus would push up on his feet so the
tension on the muscles would be eased for a moment. In doing so, the nail would tear through the foot, eventually locking up against the tarsal bones. After managing to exhale, Jesus would then able to relax down and take another breath in…. [continuing the process] until
complete exhaustion would take over, at which time Jesus wouldn’t have be able to push up and breathe anymore. As the person slows down his breathing, he goes into respiratory acidosis which eventually leads to an irregular heartbeat. In fact, with his heart beating erratically, Jesus would have known that he was at the moment of death, which is when he was able to say, “Lord, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

It was finished!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stephen

Did Christ really sweat blood?

This week in preparation for Good Friday I took some time to read excerpts from Lee Strobel’s book, “The Case for Christ.” The book retraces Strobel’s (the former editor of the Chicago Tribune) journey from atheism to faith. As Good Friday approaches a medical perspective of Jesus’ death may help us better understand the suffering that Christ endured for sin. The following conversation took place between Lee Strobel and Alexander Metherell (a prominent medical examiner and physician who has done extensive research on the death of Christ).

Lee Strobel asked, “Could you paint a picture of what happened to Jesus?” Metherell cleared his
throat. “It began after the Last Supper,” he said. “Jesus went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives—specifically, to the Garden of Gethsemane. And there, if you remember,
he prayed all night. Now, during that process he was anticipating the coming events of the next day. Since he knew the amount of suffering he was going to have to endure, he was quite naturally experiencing a great deal of psychological stress.” Strobel raised
his hand. “Whoa—here’s where skeptics have a field day. The gospels tell us hebegan to sweat blood at this point. Now, isn’t that just overactive imaginations?” Unfazed, Metherell shook his head. “Not at all,” Metherell replied. “This is a known medical condition call hematidrosis. It not very common, but it is associated with a high degee of psychological stress. What
happens is that severe anxiety causes the release of chemicals that break down the capillaries in the sweet glands. As a result, there’s a small amount of bleeding into these glands, and the sweat comes out tinged with blood. [This condition] would set up the skin to be extremely fragile so that when Jesus was flogged by the Roman soldiers the next day, his skin would be very, very sensitive (The Case for Christ p. 260).

We all know something about the weight of sin. However, none of us understands it like Jesus
Christ. The “sinless One” would take humanity’s sin of the past, present and future and place it on himself. The Lamb of God would come to take away the sin of the world.

I am a grateful recipient of this tremendous sacrifice.

Stephen

Put aside the distractions?

Wouldn't you like to have a dollar for every distraction we face in this fast paced world? I am working hard this week leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday to set aside some of these distractions in order that I may focus more on the sacrifice that was paid for my sin. Maybe just maybe I will lay these distractions aside and choose to never pick them up again.

Just as a woman in Bethany anointed Jesus with her expensive perfume this week I want to anoint him with my thoughts of gratefulness.

Abiding!

Stephen

Are you Wise?

On this Monday leading up to Holy Week I have been reading and reflecting on Jesus, his teachings, and activity. In Luke 21 as Jesus teaches in the synagogues he states, “All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life” (21:17-18). I take great joy in knowing this truth and I take great sorrow in realizing that at the beginning of the next chapter Judas would betray Jesus ushering in the Passion of Christ. I have and continue to “gain life” through the arrest, death, burial and resurrection of my Lord. Jesus promises that even though my hair may turn gray not even a single hair of my head will perish (v. 17). I say, “Praise the name of the Lord!” It is my prayer that Christ would dominate me that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection. Thomas ‘A Kempis wrote, “[The person] is truly wise who looks upon all earthy things as folly that [they] may gain Christ.” Help us Lord to allow your Spirit to make us wise in your eyes.

Abiding!
Stephen

Take time to listen to this song by Phillips, Craig and Dean this morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNClAJO2tnQ