How's The Weather Out There?

I don't usually spend much time watching the Weather Channel or surfing the web to get the latest forecasts but this past week has been an exception. My brother turns 30 today and he is coming to Ohio tomorrow so the two of us can go to a couple of ball games to celebrate. Going to baseball games in this part of the country, this time of year, is an iffy proposition. It's easy to be fooled by a beautiful sunny afternoon in the 60's to only find yourself freezing half-to-death at a cold ballpark that evening.

So I have been looking at accuweather.com the last few days. Earlier in the week they predicted rain and cold for Sunday and Monday night. Rain is out of their forecast now, but there still might be clouds Monday and temps in the 40's both evenings. Both Aaron and I have enough experience to know not to be fooled by a nice afternoon on either day. We will be prepared for the potentially cold evenings. With the information I got from accuweather I will purchase tickets today with confidence, knowing that we should be able to enjoy two good ball games, even if it might be cold.

Wouldn't it be great if there was a website like accuweather for all of life's decisions? There is an acculife.com, but it's in German and sells some strange, goofy stuff that won't seem to help much in my life.

The best place to look for guidance in life is not found on the internet, its found in God's Word. The Word is an excellent forecaster of all aspects of life. It points us to God and touches upon all the possible joys and struggles we may face in life. It is never wrong to follow the directions of God because no matter if it rains or is sunny, God will lead the way. And even when we face the end, God continues to give us support because he has given us a Savior, Jesus the Messiah, who opens the doors to heaven for us.

It very well may rain tomorrow and Monday. That would really bum me out. It also may storm in my life. But if I struggle with Christ I have faith that my thunderstorm will be for my gain. It may very well be the path to even greater things.

"It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." - 1 Peter 3:17-18

Oh Wonderful Light

Christ is risen! Through the Resurrection the Light of the World spreads his brilliant light upon the whole world. God is light, but before the coming of Messiah the world still dwelt in darkness. Sin kept people in that darkness. Through Jesus the darkness departs and is swallowed up in Christ's light. Sins are forgiven and all people are invited to be present with the Lord. Thank you Jesus for your light and your forgiveness. Thank you Jesus for the new life you have given me.

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifce for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." - 1 John 2:1-2

Holy Week

What makes something holy? Being divine? Being of God? Sacred? Something to do with the church?

Yes something is holy because it is sacred, but essentially when we talk of something being holy we mean that somehow it is different from the ordinary and set apart. The Bible is holy because its not like any other book. Baptism is holy because its not like any other bath. Ground is holy because it is set apart for sacred use. A week is holy because its unlike any of the other fifty-one, it is set apart for special devotion.

For me Holy Week has meant more time for worship, prayer, and the reading of Scripture. This week I will worship Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights. I will spend an hour Thursday night in prayer and an hour Friday afternoon in prayer. This Friday I will fast. This week my focus is on Christ, his cross, and what it all means for me and for the world.

This is a holy week. Every spiritual devotion I commit to this week is for the purpose of spiritual renewal and growth. It is Christ, who makes this week holy, who will produce such gifts within me.

Jesus speaks of himself and his followers when he says, "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24) This is a week for producing seeds. First we remember that Christ died for us. But we move beyond remembrance when we allow this week to also produce holy seeds in our hearts... seeds that will feed us through the many weeks of ordinary.