Remember God's Faithfulness

   I hope you had some blessings from God on Easter.  For me, Easter did not seem like Easter.  You know why.  I did pray for families of people who have died from COVID-19, and for those who are sick.  Then in the evening, I talked with my friend on the phone.  His mom, who is a longtime genuine friend of mine, is close to dying (not of COVID-19).  Though expected, it was still hard on me.
   Yet even on a challenging Easter, I had a special morning worshiping God in my room.  And near the end of my morning with Him, I had a special blessing.  And first and foremost, the ultimate blessing is always available to live day by day knowing Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!
   During my full morning with God, at one point I started thinking much about one particular blessing from God over the years, which has brought much joy in my life.  To this day I know it was God who opened the door for that opportunity in February of 2007.
   Thinking about God’s faithfulness in the past can be encouraging when circumstances look hopeless.  In a few of the Psalms, the authors recalled the fact that God was faithful to the Hebrew people in the past, restating specific blessings from Him in past years.  For example, in Psalm 105 the author recalls the blessing of getting to settle in Egypt during a famine, and then their miraculous deliverance from Egypt.  And he recalls God’s miraculous provision: “He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert.” (Psalm 105:41 NIV)
   These Psalms surely encouraged the Israelites years later when their circumstances looked hopeless, and they can encourage us today.
   Granted we still need to trust God concerning the details.  For example, Israelite people were in captivity in Babylon for 70 to 50 years, since Israelites were taken captive in three waves in 605 B.C., 597 B.C., and 586 B.C.  This long captivity was the result of many years of vast sins by many Israelites.  Yet Israelites were eventually delivered from Babylon, in my opinion against all odds, since God was faithful in carrying out His promise to Abraham, a promise rooted in His love for all people.
   If you would like, please take a moment now, and remember a time when you were facing a serious challenge, which was sooner or later resolved with God’s help.

   I personally just said a prayer for whoever happens to read my blog that you have a special blessing here at this time of the pandemic crisis in our world, whatever your circumstances.  And first and foremost when remembering God’s faithfulness, remember in your heart that Jesus died on a cross to be your substitute for the wages of sin.  He submitted to that ultimate suffering, taking the sins of the world upon Himself, since He loves you.  Then He was resurrected!  If you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life with Him.
love,
Hunter

Christ is Risen

   I have had some challenging Easters since turning to Christ.  Once when approaching my church for the big morning, a tire blew out.  Fortunately I was only two blocks away, and I drove super slow.  After the service and special fellowship time was over, our head pastor volunteered to change my tire.  The students in the church became quite entertained by the event and were lively spectators and commentators.  Though I ended up having to buy two new tires, I savored the blessing of the enthusiastic students.
   Another challenging Easter was when I was away from my home doing college ministry work in 2015.  The church was jam packed, and I sat with my friends in a pew where everyone was shoulder to shoulder.  Being on the far left of my friends, to my left was a woman and her husband in their early twenties, whom I had never seen in church.  During the sermon, the man started massaging his wife’s back.  I was trying to pay attention to Pastor Eric, but it was totally distracting to have the woman next to me getting a back massage by her husband inches away from me.  Honestly, being single is a tough calling, and in my experience some folks in churches only make it tougher.
   Then there was the Easter when I got a virus. (This was a few years ago, and though nasty, it did not compare to the current dangerous coronavirus.)  My housemate got sick in late February which resulted in him getting laryngitis, and he remained sick for several weeks.  (But he did not go to the doctor that entire time.)  Just as he was recovering, I got sick.  It was the Wednesday before Easter, and I immediately called my doctor, hoping it was a bacterial infection so I could get on antibiotics immediately.  But my doctor diagnosed me with a virus, and said there was nothing she could give me.  I had to miss Easter service.  (I am a longtime advocate that anytime you are sick, out of loving consideration to others and yourself, you should refrain from church and spend some time personally with God.)  I was really disappointed.  I wanted so much to be with my brothers and sisters in Christ on the most important Christian church day of the year.  Yet that Sunday morning I worshiped God in my room, knowing Jesus is resurrected, and gaining a peace which passes understanding.
   Easter of 2020 may appear to be thwarted because of the coronavirus pandemic catastrophe.  In most cases throughout the entire world, churches will be, or should be, locked.  Easter services for many Christians in the world will be electronic.  Easter services for some Christians in the world will not happen.
   I will be doing what I do most every morning.  With only God and me in my room, I will read a passage from my Bible, study the passage, ponder the message, pray, and sing a hymn, all aspects of worshiping God.  Key is the fact I will not be alone.  God is with me daily.  I know that this Sunday, like every day, I can celebrate that my Savior and Lord, Jesus, is risen from the dead.
   Yes I would give the world if I could worship with people and preach an Easter sermon this Sunday.  On March 29th I was supposed to offer a sermon as part of a preliminary pastor interview process, but it was indefinitely postponed.  Now I can only wait until an unknown date.  And the sermon I prepared for that cancelled service would be ideal for Easter.  But on Easter I will remain unemployed, churchless, and without an opportunity to offer my sermon.  Yet I will have love.
   In nearly 30 years of following Jesus, I have had countless disappointments and I still have plenty of regrets.  Yet daily, I have had the love of Jesus.  And daily, it has been possible for me to celebrate in my heart the resurrection of Jesus.  Having a loving relationship with Jesus, the One who died on a cross as the substitute for sins to save us from spiritual death, results in eternal life in heaven with Him in the future, and results in hope in our days in this world.
   Recognizing we are all hurt to some degree by this coronavirus tragedy which is bringing much suffering worldwide, I can still proclaim that you can have a blessed Easter wherever you are, if you rest in the love of Jesus.
Hunter

Touched by Jesus

   In the midst of this coronavirus worldwide tragedy, “social distancing” is saving physical lives, literally.  I have been trying to carry out social distancing to the max.  Sacrificing money, convenience, and much else, could physically save someone’s life.  A projection I heard today for continued deaths worldwide brought me to tears.  The heroes in this nightmare tragedy include people, any people, who are carrying out social distancing as well as they can.

   Now please read this carefully since I do not want this to be misconstrued, and there is a point to this.  The only person who would not need to do any social distancing, if He was physically here, is Jesus.

   The irony is that even in the face of leprosy, Jesus did not do social distancing:

   A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”  Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.  “I am willing,” he said.  “Be clean!” (Mark 1:40-41)

   Now if it was me, I would get as far away from the guy as possible, yet Jesus touched him.

   Likewise, Jesus touched children:

   “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them…” (Mark 10:13)

   I noticed during my years doing youth ministry that the more the years went on, the more careful us youth workers had to be about touching students, because sexual immorality consistently increased as the social norm in the U.S., thus marring the intention of a caring touch.  Yet Jesus touched little children.

   And how about Jesus spitting into dirt and then rubbing it on the eyes of a blind man.  He was surely not modeling a practice for the rest of us on that one.  Yet the blind man received his sight.

   Jesus did not need to do social distancing since though He was fully human, He was also fully God, and He was able to heal people who were sick.  Regarding social distancing now, all of us humans worldwide need to be carrying it out as able.  However, there are messages from Jesus’ touching for us to learn from.

   First, as I stated in my last piece, we need the spiritual touch of Jesus.  Touching can be an expression of love, and Jesus loves us.  For a person who gives his or her heart to Jesus, the Spirit of Christ will touch him or her in a spiritual manner.

   Second, in this time of tragedy where many are dying and where many are suffering, which obliges us to avoid physical contact with people, we need to continue to look forward to the time when we can resume with social closeness. How do I know God wants social closeness?  Why not simply have church online from now on?  Just think of the benefits of listening to sermons in our pajamas while being able to fast forward though the boring parts of a sermon.  And think of the money churches would save on facility bills.  Simply note the ordinances which Jesus commanded.  There is nothing virtual about them, rather they are relational and real.  Baptism in water is relational and real.  People taking bread and juice in a community setting is relational and real.  Truly, we human beings were never created to be isolated from God or one another.

   The coronavirus makes it necessary for all people to practice social distancing at this time until the danger of COVID 19 is over.  When finally over, may we believers resume engaging in appropriate relational expression to people in the love of Jesus.

Hunter