Unfortunately, this week’s audio is very quiet. You’ll have to crank it up loud to hear.

Knowing the story of the Prodigals (both the Father and the younger son) helps us understand that Jesus’ reaction toward the disbelieving Thomas was not one of irritation or annoyance, but joy.

The parable of the Prodigals is the lens through which we need to view all of Scripture and life. God is scanning the horizon, looking for us and longing to bring us home. He does it with Thomas by inviting him to touch his wounds and get beyond the emotional barrier of his doubt.

Jesus’ victory over death provided hope for Thomas in his doubt. The resurrection, both Christ’s and ours, is not an ending but a beginning.

FTLOL is a collection of mostly random bits and pieces of the World Wide Web. Enjoy this edition for the first week after Easter.

And it makes perfect sense. The first week of the Easter Season, for the Orthodox churches, is called Bright Week (no kneeling, prostrations, and video of a Dragon Smashing!) ~ Here’s more!

Scot McKnight helps clarify what resurrection means. Not just Jesus’ resurrection but ours as well. This video is from Seminary Now ~ The Resurrection of Jesus

The disturbing loss of life, the centuries old conflict, and the intractable nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict deserves more attention for no other reason than the human cost. It’s never as simple as it seems. ~ Palestinians Against Hamas

He was not universally beloved. Often, it appeared that more people outside of the Catholic Church liked Francis more. Here are two fitting tributes to an important Christan. ~ The Gospel According to Francis by Brad Jersak and Andrew Sullivan’s longer tribute to St. Francis.

One of the highlights of last Sunday’s easter celebration was hearing Wheatland’s old friend, Ryan Eichelberger’s song, “Heaven Is Coming.” Wheatland’s band did a marvelous job and you can listen to it over at our Facebook Group.

Here is Ryan singing it himself ~ Heaven is Coming on SoundCloud.

Here’s a video of the song covered by some of Ryan’s friends. Enjoy!

Almighty Father, who gave your only Son to die for our sins and to rise for our justification: Give us grace so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ changes everything. Yet, sin remains. So Friday’s collect is asking God for the grace to put away the leaven (the starter if you will) of malice and wickedness. The good work of repentance begun in Lent continues in Easter but only through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,who loved me and gave himself for me.

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

congruity (kən-’grü-ə-tē) - the quality or state of being congruous : agreement

It is not in any lists of spiritual disciplines but remains one of the goals of our Christian life. Bringing our daily life into agreement with the truth we proclaim is the work of a lifetime. Thursday’s collect understands this.

Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith

What God does and how he does it are never in conflict. In Him, the means and the ends are always congruent. What’s already true of God is becoming true in our lives. Maybe slowly, in fits and starts, but it is coming. Through the Paschal mystery, in his death and resurrection, Christ draws us up to that place where what we proclaim and how we live are congruent. A faith less fragmented is an important witness to our atomized world.

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

On the day of Jesus’ resurrection, two of his followers walked to Emmaus, and Jesus walked with them. They did not know it was him. The fact that Jesus was brutally executed 48 hours earlier affected their perception. Maybe Jesus concealed his true identity for some greater purpose. Or, maybe, in his glorified body, Jesus looked much, much different. We don’t know. But we do know what they initially did not; it was Jesus walking with them. (see Luke 24:13-49)

True to form, Jesus opts to reveal himself in a manner consistent with his earthly life: humbly, quietly. Instead of the standard, “Guess who? It’s me!” he waits until they eat. Jesus gives thanks for the bread, breaks the bread, and then voila! They see him for who he really is. What more appropriate way to show himself than at a meal with friends?

Of course, this meal with friends is still celebrated today. At every Wheatland worship service, we pause and allow Jesus to reveal himself again in “the breaking of the bread.” When you come forward for the Lord’s Supper, remember that you are receiving the bread and the cup from Christ himself. By revealing himself in this way, he makes the mundane sublime.

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.

Death is the enemy. But the resurrection of Jesus reminds us of death’s defeat. We’ve been given a glimpse of what is coming when “there will be no more death.” (Rev 21:4)

The collect reminds us that “Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light.” When we pay attention to the resurrected Christ, we remember what’s most true of life and death. We learn what’s most important about ourselves. Life has been unleashed through Jesus’ resurrection, and death has been defeated. We still feel its sting, but hope in the promise of resurrection.

The rain could not dampen the joy of Easter morning. As always, the worship was wonderful and filled with joy. Click on our FB Group to enjoy some of the beauty of yesterday morning, complete with Easter hymns and the Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom. (You’ll want to scroll ahead to 20:45)

This is Easter Week. Look here, or in your e-mail, each day this week for the Daily Collect that celebrates the joy of Jesus’ resurrection as we anticipate our own. Christ is risen!!! (You bet he is!)

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.

St. John Chrysostom’s Paschal Homily is preached every Easter in Orthodox Churches worldwide and at Wheatland! Listen to it here (this one was preached at St. George in Wichita) - read it here - or, in case you missed it, here are some thoughts on it from earlier this week - Golden Mouth Does It Again

You can hear it in person, this Sunday morning, at Wheatland’s Easter Morning Service. (Map to Easter morning)

This thoroughly Christian poem comes to us through an unlikely source, the novelist, John Updike. He’s the author of The Witches of Eastwick, Roger’s Version, and the Rabbit series. With some brief commentary, you can hear the poem here - 7 Stanzas Live, or read it at the Gospel Coalition - 7 Stanzas.

Amelia McKee writes about art in the life of the church. In this post she has us look at the crucifix and reflect on the meaning of the cross. Let us always reflect on the cross and especially today. — The Cross and the Paschal Mystery

On this note, here is prayer for Fridays. Pay special attention to the last line,

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace: through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

Enjoy this delightful reflection on 8th Day Books and the callings we all have been called to. From Emily Freeman — Your Vocation is Not Cancelled

This little post is better than I thought and a fun little read. Enjoy! (Especially you Nate Hansen.) — 10 Reasons

A new “classic” Easter song and one we sing at Wheatland.

A slightly older “classic” Easter song by Keith Green. (Originally, 2 Chapter of Acts.)

Condemnation is a burden. It’s more of a burden for the one who condemns than the condemned. Often the judged are blissfully unaware of what we think of them—lucky them. Being a judge is hard. The responsibility of being right to such a degree that another is wrong is an unbearable burden, and one Jesus worked hard to free us from.

St. Ephrem knew this. He speaks to it toward the end of his prayer,

Yes! O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors, and not to judge my brother or sister, for thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.

What Ephrem knew and we are learning is that the love of God requires self-awareness. This is one reason our weekly prayer of repentance is so beneficial. It is an opportunity to see ourselves as we really are. We are wounded and sinful, but we are loved even more. It’s critical we learn this. Jesus’ journey to the cross was not against his will—he went there for us. When God thinks of us, he’s not chewing on antacids. He is smiling.

To love God well requires that we know that we are not God. Does this seem obvious? Maybe, but that doesn’t keep us from trying.

What Ephrem knew and we are learning is that to love our brother or sister is to suspend our judgments of them. Our judgments keep us dishonest. Our judgments keep us unavailable. Our judgments move us from the command to love into the role of accuser. A role even Jesus refused. (John 8:1-11) To avoid the burden of condemnation is to begin to love. And St. Ephrem himself would agree that to love our brothers and sisters is to love God.

Self-awareness leads to less judgment/condemnation of others. The more we experience God's love in worship, prayer, and friendship with his people, the freer we will be from the burden of judgment.

Like St. Ephrem the Syrian, Wendell Berry is a poet. (St. Wendell the Kentuckian?) What Ephrem and Wendell Berry knew/know is the health of self-forgetfulness.

“The Health of Self-Forgetfulness”

I know for a while again
the health of self-forgetfulness,
looking out at the sky through
a notch in the valleyside,
the black woods wintry on
the hills, small clouds at sunset
passing across. And I know
that this is one of the thresholds
between Earth and Heaven,
from which even I may step
forth and be free.

With this sermon, Bob Mueller has moved up to the A Team, finally. (In truth he has always been there. You can hear about it starting at :14 min.)

Bob deftly takes the story of the Prodigal, Palm Sunday, and the resurrection of Jesus weaving them together so we can see God’s big plan. Not only does he do that, but he puts Don Carson and William Lane Craig, in conversation with Rudolf Bultmann and the Passover Plot. (Let the reader understand.)

I encourage you to give Bob’s sermon a listen. It is top shelf stuff!