Israel had been through a school of hard knocks. You ever have a history? You ever get that scarred chip on your shoulder? “Yeah I'm a believer. I guess. I don't know why. XYZ happened. That threw me for a loop,” and then you kind of - either vocally OR subconsciously get to this, “God owes me,” sort of feeling. Embittered. “I guess I grew up. I thought He was with me. For me. I guess not.” Even so, God has the audacity to look Israel in the face after all they've been through when they thought they could trust Him - and He says, "I HAVE loved you!"

Most of us I think know the what of Easter Sunday. What happened: Jesus resurrected. But I sat down yesterday afternoon and said, “Why?” The why of Easter? And that’s what I wanted to answer plainly, and thus I set out to consider few verses from John.

Whether it’s deciding and believing and choosing to live for Christ altogether, or it’s discerning what you think God is saying to you about a few things in your life – it’s in, out, in, out, what they said, what He said, what they said, what He said, and maybe at the end of some choices all it has been is a defeated, reluctant choice. I wonder if we realize the stakes? The stakes at times of our obedience. Of our saying yes to Christ not only for He to save us, but also when He commissions us to do whatever He wants us to do. Who is waiting on your obedience right now, and neither that person or you know it? What does the Holy Spirit say to you about what yo need to do?

Whether it’s deciding and believing and choosing to live for Christ altogether, or it’s discerning what you think God is saying to you about a few things in your life – it’s in, out, in, out, what they said, what He said, what they said, what He said, and maybe at the end of some choices all it has been is a defeated, reluctant choice. I wonder if we realize the stakes? The stakes at times of our obedience. Of our saying yes to Christ not only for He to save us, but also when He commissions us to do whatever He wants us to do. Who is waiting on your obedience right now, and neither that person or you know it? What does the Holy Spirit say to you about what yo need to do?

We examine Peter's denial and find quite shockingly less a sad story of Peter's failure, but humbly, a story of faith, albeit broken, still challenging to aspire to. May we aspire to it, and even greater past it! Do we love Jesus? If we do, how are we tending His sheep?

We examine Peter's denial and find quite shockingly less a sad story of Peter's failure, but humbly, a story of faith, albeit broken, still challenging to aspire to. May we aspire to it, and even greater past it! Do we love Jesus? If we do, how are we tending His sheep?

Meanwhile here is a Guy who can walk on water, command the weather - you know, stop practically hurricanes on the lake! He can cast out demons! This Jesus can literally undo infirmities like paralysis, or blindness… But how is it that here - in this garden - He’s giving Himself up so quickly? He’s letting a bunch of knuckle-headed, oppositional, hostile people... He’s just going to give Himself up? So Peter steps up to the plate! He can't let this happen!

Meanwhile here is a Guy who can walk on water, command the weather - you know, stop practically hurricanes on the lake! He can cast out demons! This Jesus can literally undo infirmities like paralysis, or blindness… But how is it that here - in this garden - He’s giving Himself up so quickly? He’s letting a bunch of knuckle-headed, oppositional, hostile people... He’s just going to give Himself up? So Peter steps up to the plate! He can't let this happen!

After David defeats his son Absalom in the Civil War, as things are coming back together, there's a shadow and pall over the kingdom. What's this demonstrate? What is this about..?

After David defeats his son Absalom in the Civil War, as things are coming back together, there's a shadow and pall over the kingdom. What's this demonstrate? What is this about..?