It'll Be All Over in the Morning

Thursday morning, a gentleman approached my desk and asked how I was doing. His next question was, "Busy week?" Well, I work at a church, so that's a fair question seeing as it was Holy Week. I answered, "Yes," and his response was, "It'll all be over on Monday."

I know his point was that, Easter is Sunday and the week would be behind us and the "busy-ness" would be over. But will it?

Isn't the whole point of Easter, that things don't have to end? Don't we take the time to celebrate - not just Jesus' death, which is a great and significant event in the history of our world - but also, and perhaps more importantly, His resurrection?

Let's suppose, just for argument's sake, that the resurrection details were omitted from the Bible.

So we would have the story of Jesus's birth. We would have His challenging of authority as a young child. We would have His miracles and acts of faith. We would have the stories of the folks who chose to follow Him along the way. We would have His tempation in the garden, His last meal, His last walk, and His scoundrel's death. And what if that were the end of the story?

What if we read stories of this great man and all His great works, but at the end of the story, He dies just like the rest of us. Would that make Him any less a role model? Would that make Him any less admirable? Would that make his contribution to history or to the world any less significant? Perhaps in some ways, no.

Oh, but since we have the benefit of seeing all of that stuff and added to that, His absence from the sealed grave and His reappearance to those who watched Him die - doesn't that make knowing Him that much better?


Isn't it awesome to know that death doesn't have to be the end?


In the opening paragraph of Sue Monk Kid's book, Dance of the Dissident Daughter, she asks the question, "Once you wake up, can you wake up again?"


It's much the same question as - how many lives can you have? Can you be born again? Can you be resurrected from death?


I know you can think back over your life to a place where something (perhaps everything) was falling apart. Well, I can speak for me - I can look back over my life at places where things - all things - seemed to be falling apart.


Did it seem perhaps that there were those in the background plotting your demise? Was there anyone in your immediate circle of friends who betrayed you? Did you feel like, all the way, there were folks mocking you? Was there a Simon of Cyrene in your life who could not take the death from you, but at least helped you carry the load? How about a Joseph of Armithea - a silent, behind the scenes cheerleader who wanted to care for you after your struggle had ended and it seemed all hope was lost?


And let's not forget the Marys - watching, praying, praying and watching - all the while continuing to believe when everyone else has left.


How great then, to rise from the dead and appear to all those who watched as you walked slowly to your death and watched as you died and mourned your death. How great that Jesus lived that example for us. How great that is doesn't have to be all over in the morning. How great that in the morning - on the third morning - or the 185th morning it can be just beginning.


And the people of God said, "Wow."


I realized just recently that one of my least favorite phrases is, "Well, we used to . . ." This seems to be the beginning of the sentence anytime you make changes that affect a body and the changes don't have the desired affect. I've found that that phrase usually comes from someone who was doubtful of the change in the first place.


Newsflash - things change. And just because the change you made didn't work, doesn't necessarily mean you have to go back to what "we used to" do. Try something else.


The same is true for people. Particularly true for people who have made a major comeback. There will be certain people who will try you. There will be Thomas' in your life who have to poke the places where you were poked before they believe it's a new you - risen - "Show me the wounds." Showing the wounds does not mean you have to open them. No need to bleed again to prove there was a pain. Eight days had passed when Jesus visited the disciples and Thomas stood with them. These were not fresh wounds that Thomas was allowed to touch.


Give yourself the time and the space necessary to heal. Although Mary was excited, being the first to see Jesus, His instruction to her was "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet Ascended to My Father. . . " (John 20:17)


Even Jesus had to spend some time with God the Father after defeating death.


So as we grow, and change and live and died and are resurrected - we have to spend time with God the Father. And once we have, we can and must be willing to share that experience with those whom we encounter - especially those who were there when we died - especially those who doubt.

Spending Time in the Whale

Scripture Reference: Jonah 1-2

Most of us know, or at least have heard Jonah's story. Just to recap: God tells Jonah to go to a city - Ninevah - to warn them to stop their wicked ways. Jonah is rebellious and chooses not to go. Instead, he pays for fare on a boat headed to Tarshish - the whole opposite direction. Silly Jonah, he thinks he can hide from God.

Because of Jonah's disobedience, God sends a violent storm to rage the sea. The tiny ship was tossed. If not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost.

The other men on board the boat began to pray to their own gods and also toss items overboard to lighten the load. All this while Jonah slept.

Finally, the men told Jonah to pray to his God to see if He would save them from the storm. Jonah knew already that the storm was a result of his failure to follow instructions. He told the men - in so many words - I brought this upon you. If you get rid of me, the storm will stop. Throw me into the ocean.


The men are afraid of the ramifications of throwing an "innocent" man overboard and ask for forgiveness in advance - then heeded Jonah's words. And immediately the storm stops.


The text continues then to explain that God had prepared a "big fish" - we assume whale - to swallow Jonah, where he sat for 3 days and 3 nights. While inside the fish, Jonah prayed with all his soul. Jonah 2:7 (NKJ) says, "When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple." He'd reached his bottom place.


Not much lower can you go than the belly of a whale. In fact, Jonah refers to the fish as Sheol. The word is capitalized as if the fish has a name. Sheol is a Hebrew word that means "abode of the dead." Jonah felt dead and that this place for the dead had swallowed him whole.


Have you ever been in that place? In the place where the world, or life, or perhaps death, had swallowed you whole? What did you do while you were there? Some of us choose to sit and stew in it. Some of us ignore it and think it will go away on its own. Some of us mask it. And some of us, do as Jonah did and cry out to the Lord to save us. And when Jonah did, God commanded the whale to spit Jonah out on the dry land.


Now, I've spent way more time talking about Jonah than I'd intended. But it was necessary so that I can make my actual point - which is about the whale.


It's important to note that God sent the whale. Let's get that. God sent the whale. Jonah was disobedient and disrespectful. He tried to run from his calling and from God's clear instructions. And then the storms came - which God had commanded. And Jonah asked to be thrown into the water to save the others from the wrath that belonged only to him. Perhaps it was this one act of sacrifice that proved to God that Jonah deserved another chance. But Jonah did not know that he'd been spared. All he knew was - NOW I have fallen into hell. I have been swallowed up by a big fish.


Jonah did not know that the whale was a gift. He did not know that being in the depths of hell was going to turn out to save his life.


How many 'depths of hell' situations have you encountered already in your life and have lived to tell about it? There is a common statement that says 'without the test, there would be no testimony.'


I feel the need to say again, God sent the whale.


Jonah had done the complete opposite of what he'd been called to do. And still God sent him the whale. And when Jonah had come to his sense, God commanded the whale to deposit Jonah onto dry land - not back into the sea or some other harsh place, but onto dry land. It is important to note, that after Jonah was back in a safe place (Chapter 3) God gave him the exact same instructions again. God did not deviate from His call on Jonah's life. Jonah did.

It is also important to note, that God did not deposit Jonah into Ninevah. Jonah3:3 tells us that "Jonah arose and went to Ninevah," not that he was already there. He still had to walk out his calling.

What does your whale look like?

Maybe it's your job. You're flipping burgers and you hate it. But when you were told to finish school, you dropped out anyway because "after school" was more fun. Now you have to spend some time in the whale.

Maybe it's your marriage. The love is gone. You're at your wits end. But when you were told, "This is not the one for you, you got married anyway." Now you have to spend some time in the whale.

There are countless other examples, but you get the point.

As with Jonah, only you can determine how much time you will spend in the whale. We must remember to pray. We must remember as Jonah says, "Salvation is of the Lord." And we must remember that no matter how dark, or dreary, or scary the whale might seem - it might have been sent to save us.

And when we are deposited back onto dry land, and we get our instructions again, that it's important to follow them - with heart and purpose and determination - in a way that will pleasing to the Lord.

Now, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you."

Have I Done What I Was Asked?

Have I Done What I Was Asked?
Matthew 21:28-32

Sometimes we find ourselves placed in a position where someone in authority over us will ask us to do something and we disagree. Sometimes, it’s not so much that we disagree – we just flat out don’t want to do it. Sometimes, we say yes and then don’t keep our word.

What then? And what are the consequences for those actions?

In the parable of the two sons – Jesus mentions the first son who is asked to do something, disagrees and then thinks better of it and does it anyway. The second son, agrees to do it, and then does not.

We are reminded, as the moral to the story, that this is the reason that thieves and whores will enter Heaven before some so-called believers.

What good does it do to believe and not follow? What good does it do to have the Good News and not live it?

And where are we in this story?

Do we, like the first son, get instructions from our Father and then drag our feet as we obey? Are we, like the second son, saying “Yes, Father, I will do what you have asked me to do.” And then going about our business as if He never gave us instructions?

Are we serving graciously and willingly and without hesitation?

And what if our children behaved this way?

In our house there are 4 children going in 4 directions at any given time. There is usually someone living out both sides of the parable, or some combination. As a parent – it’s frustrating to live that way.

As a parent, we (I) sometimes feel like I should reward the child or children who have done exactly what was asked exactly when it was asked exactly how it was asked. Not that that occurs terribly often. And then I ask myself – why should I reward you for doing what it is you were SUPPOSED to do anyway?

And now, as I type this – I wonder if God feels that way about us. Why, Child, should I reward you for doing exactly what I’ve asked you to do, when I asked you to, how I asked you to? Isn’t that what you’re called to do?

And yet – He rewards us anyway – daily with favor, and grace, and mercy, and forgiveness. Even when we drag our feet as we obey. And even when we turn our backs – His Goodness and His Mercy pursue us.

As for me – I believe there are areas in my life where my actions look a little like each son. Unfortunately, I can’t think of one thing that I have heard God say and responded, ‘Yes, sir. Right away.’ And then got up and did it.

How ‘bout you?