The season of Lent (which leads up to Easter) begins on Ash Wednesday. We place ashes in the form of a cross on our foreheads to remind us that we are sinners and in need of a Savior. Our Savior, Jesus, comes to us through His Word and Baptism. We remember God’s grace and our baptisms as we wash away our ashes with the Living Water of God.

Have you seen that YouTube video when a colorblind man receives glasses that allow him to see color for the first time? Or have you seen the one where the deaf child receives a hearing aid and hears her mom’s voice for the first time? Likewise, you’ll never see the world the same after this.

Why you do something is more important than what you do. Just ask any dating couple: did your date act out of compulsion or desire? Love is always more fulfilling than guilt. At New Beginnings, we use the words “so that” vs. “because” to reinforce this fact.

What is the most extravagant gift you ever received? Now imagine the person who gave it to you. When you see that person’s name on Caller ID, do you hesitate to answer the phone? If that person asked you for a small favor, how would you respond? What would it take for you to say “no” to that person?

You ever worry about your future? You ever wonder if you’ll have enough when the time comes? What if I told you that you were going to inherit greater riches than you’ve ever known? What if I told you that your future was secure? How would you live now?

Would you do it if everyone else was? Thomas wouldn’t. Even though the other disciples were telling him they’d seen the resurrected Jesus, Tom needed proof. Some people just will not believe unless they see with their own eyes. This faith struggle is found in John 20:24-31.

For some faith is a bet like Pascal’s wager: If you believe and you’re wrong, you lose nothing; If you don’t believe and you’re wrong, you lose everything. So what’ve you got to lose by believing? Some argue that this is a cheap faith, but Jesus didn’t let that stop Him. This doubter’s dialog can be read in Mark 9:14-32.

What if Stephen Hawking’s journal revealed that he thought science was wrong? Consider if Mr. Rogers was found to be irritated by children? Imagine if Bugs Bunny didn’t like carrots! That’s the shock of hearing John the Baptizer ask if Jesus was the one. Read Matthew 11:1-19 to see how faith wrestles with doubts.

It all began with a seed of doubt. We cannot afford to forget our family history for we are all sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. And we are just like our parents: we struggle with faith and doubt. But what if the ‘and’ is the most important word in that last statement? Genesis 3:1-23 shows the root of our struggle.

Are you ready for joy-graduate-classes? The Joy Story continues this week, but now we’re getting into a joy like no other--a pure joy that comes in the form of trials and difficulties of life. You want to know joy that demonstrates true grit--a joy that perseveres?