Disinformation

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6

Recently the U.S. Department of Homeland Security decided to create a "Governance Board" to deal with Disinformation.

Perhaps we should pause for a moment and contemplate that last sentence. The Department of Homeland Security . . . we'll just call them "The Government" for ease of typing and ease of my souring stomach has decided that there is too much disinformation out there. Where? Social Media, News Media, etc.

According to whom? Who gets to decide what is true and what is not? Apparently, a board of humans, placed in their positions by the current reigning political party. What could possibly go wrong?

Why am I not believing that our government tells the truth? Or acts in the truth?

Experience is a great teacher.

Jesus told us in the opening verse that HE is the truth. Let me ask you this question: Would you trust Jesus to tell you what is true? Or the government? ANY government. Republican or Democrat. 

Jack Nicolson once yelled, "You can't handle the truth!"

A perfect example of our government deciding what is true and what is not. We don't have a problem with the truth. We have a problem with liars.

Talking to the Pharisees, the religious rulers and scribes of Jesus' day, Jesus said this:

"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." - John 8:44

We The People are made up of human beings. We are sinners and liars by nature. Sin is our problem. Jesus is the truth. Where do we get our answers when seeking the truth? The nightly news? Social Media? Or do we obtain truth by reading God's Word, knowing that God cannot lie?

"It is impossible for God to lie." - Hebrews 6:18

And that's the truth!

Life From Death

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." - John 12:24

I found myself thinking about this verse on Monday at my uncle's funeral. I heard the stories of my uncle's life - a man if faith, Bible studies, and service in World War II.

Many of the stories were new to us. We hadn't heard the before. And now that we were hearing them, we ourselves became changed. They were inspiring stories. Stories that made us want to be like Uncle Jim. Then, in my morning reading, I read this:

“The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. 18I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. 19I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, 20so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it." - Isaiah 41:17-20

In the death of my uncle, 'new life' WAS created. Precious moments and memories that will last a lifetime. But the ultimate example of 'new life from death' has to be Jesus. Killed on a cross, He rose from the dead into new life.

Jesus died to pay for OUR sins. so that WE might have eternal life. New life from death. That 'new life' is called being born AGAIN. Jesus said it was essential to attain eternal life.

"Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” - John 3:5-8

Everyone on earth had been born. That is their first birth. Sadly, for some, that first birth will be their only birth. We need a second birth, a spiritual birth, to receive eternal life. We must be 'born again' as Jesus said.

How many times have YOU been born?

The Parable of The Crying Child

You won't believe what I am about to tell you. As I look back on it now, only God could have arranged such a thing. It all began with a small, screaming child walking down the middle of a busy street, into traffic. See, I told you that you wouldn't believe it.

My grandson and I had just finished an ice cream cone at our local Dairy Queen, and we were headed back to the disc golf course for another nine holes. That's when we saw a young boy, maybe two years of age, walking directly towards some oncoming traffic - a pickup truck.

Thankfully the truck stopped, and a woman got out. She approached the child who had his arms raised as he walked, and she led him to the curb. I had pulled my car over and had exited my car to help. That's when the lady looked up at me and said, "Bob?"

A family came out of the house where we had stopped our vehicles. They tried comforting the little boy who had apparently wandered away from home and didn't know where he was.

The police were called, and they arrived a few minutes later. Thank God for the compassion of the woman in the pickup truck AND the family from the house.

Now, let's get back to the lady who called out my name. She was a former youth group kid who I hadn't seen for many years.

There is a saying I came up with during my time as a youth leader at church. "Once a youth leader, ALWAYS a youth leader." Here was proof of that statement.

These youth roup kids mean so much to me. It truly is like all those kids became MY kids. And I, their father. I love and care about them all.

I can't begin to tell you the joy I felt, seeing this particular friend of mine after so many years. All the memories came flooding back of the talks we used to have. But then we drifted apart. Sad.

This whole event made me realize something. Something about Jesus. Do you see the parable here? There are actually two parables.

The first parable is the screaming child. The kid had run away from home it turned out. He had been bad, so he told us. Isn't that you and me? Don't we sin against a Holy God? Don't we run away from God? This kid was a perfect example of us.

My friend in the pickup truck was an example of Jesus. Stopping her truck, greeting the child with love and compassion and removing him from the danger he was literally walking right into.

There is actually a third parable here. It would be me in the role of God the Father. If the woman in the truck was Jesus, I as "the father" (a youth leader) was certainly very proud

"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." - Matthew 3:17

God loves us. When we get into trouble, all we have to do is turn to Him. We KNOW we've been bad. All we really want is to be forgiven and loved. And isn't that The Gospel?

Let Not Your Heart

This story is for some friends of mine, and for anyone else who might really need the reminder.

Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled. Neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27 These are commands from God. Commands. Not hopes, wishes, goals or suggestions. They are commands.

Jesus also said this. “If you love me, keep my commands." -John 14:15

If you are troubled or afraid, you are disobeying a direct command from God. We just read that in the first paragraph. Paragraph two tells us that if we do not keep God's commands, we don't love Him. Isn't that what it says?

So, how are we doing with that?

I heard someone say once that "Worry is believing that God can't handle it." I think that's just about right.

Here's another good reminder from the Book of James.

"You do not have because you do not ask God." - James 4:2

So, when your heart is troubled . . . ask God to calm the storm raging inside of you. When you are afraid, ask God to ease your fears. What is faith if you do not believe that God can grant you all these things?

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." - Hebrews 11:1

And the final reminder is this:

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13

We must have FAITH that God can lead us through any trouble we might have in this life. Our HOPE is in God! Our LOVE for God is the key to answered prayer and rescue from any struggle we might have in life.

"The greatest if these is LOVE."

Amen to that!

Behind Enemy Lines

My uncle died yesterday morning, early. He was a World War II veteran. He never talked much about the war. There was a reason for that. Talking is what gets you killed.

My uncle was in reconnaissance - a paratrooper. He would parachute into enemy territory, behind enemy lines. He recorded all the enemy locations he could, and then tried to make it back. Thankfully, he was successful.

Could you imagine what that was like? All alone, no one to talk to. And if you DID find someone to talk with, there was a chance they would turn you in.

Being a Christian, which my uncle ALSO was, is similar in some ways to the dangers of parachuting behind enemy lines. In many countries around the world, Christians are persecuted for their faith. Opening your mouth to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ can prove fatal.

We carry that same fear of persecution with us here in America. Thankfully, the threat of death is not at the level it is in other countries. But we can still be stereotyped and pigeonholed. We can still lose friends over our beliefs. Even family members can become estranged over our beliefs. 

So, what are we supposed to do? Well soldier, we are supposed to do our jobs to the best of our ability. And we are supposed to go one step beyond what recon paratroopers did in World War II. We are to stand boldly in faith, proclaiming the Gospel, regardless of the outcome.

Even The Apostle Paul knew this effort of his fellow Christians was going to be a battle when he wrote:

"Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - Ephesians 6:13-17

The life of a Christian is not an easy one. It can even be a battle at times. But what is our job, our duty as believers? It is to share the Gospel, to love God and to others, even our enemies. And then, when our mission is over, we are to go home to be with our believing brothers and sisters who have preceded us.

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." - Ephesians 3:20

The Straight and Narrow

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2

Not conforming is something I'm really good at. I grew up in the 60's. As a result, I have learned not to trust anybody, unless that trust is earned first. Perhaps that's why this Robert Frost quote appealed to me so much in high school.

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost

Then, when I read the following verse in the Bible, I was reminded of Frost and my desire NOT to conform.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus wants me to walk on the road less traveled? Mo problem!

I guess it's all a matter of who you trust. Do I trust my government? No. Why not? Because time and time again they have failed to earn my trust. Jesus, on the other hand, has never given me any reason NOT to trust Him.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

There's that word again. The Path. The narrow road. It kind of sounds like I'm on a journey, going someplace special.

Speaking of the 60's like I was a few paragraphs ago, how about some Blood, Sweat and Tears!

Did you find the directing sign on the

Straight and narrow highway

Would you mind a reflecting sign

Just let it shine within your mind

And show you the colors that are real . . .

The song continues with the third verse that begins, "Someone is waiting just for you."

He IS waiting. And He's waiting just for you. What are you waiting for? :)

Spinning Wheel - Blood, Sweat and Tears

Good News!

"After the Sabbaths, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb." - Matthew 28:1

Several days before this their Lord and Savior had been hanging on a cross, but now He was dead and buried in a tomb. And He had been dead for three days and three nights according to scripture. I wasn't there but I assume their mood was rather somber as they walked towards the tomb. And then there was an earthquake!

"There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone." - Matthew 28:2

The day was not going well for these two ladies, and the sun wasn't even up yet! But things were about to get better. They met an angel who had some good news to share.

"The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” - Matthew 28:5-7

When you first came to believe that Jesus was who He said He was, and has truly risen from the dead, did YOUR mood change? I bet it did. Did you go running back to tell others what had just happened? Of course, you did! It's incredible news! News of a miracle!

Still, when the good news was brought to the other disciples, not all of them believed it. And these were disciples! Scripture says that some doubted, even after they had seen Jesus!

"When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted." - Matthew 28:17

Are you kidding me!?! He who was once dead was now standing in front of their eyes, and they still doubted!?!

When we encounter people in our lives and tell them about Jesus, the reason for our hope and joy, there will be some who will still doubt. Sadly, that's just the way it is. What does Jesus command us to do?

"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus didn't say 'try to convince those who refuse to believe." He said to make disciples. Disciples are those who are willing to learn from their teacher. Some are simply not willing.

Earlier, Jesus had instructed His disciples to "shake the dust off your feet."

"And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town." - Matthew 10:14

Tomorrow is resurrection Sunday. It is a day we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead. That's good news! Shouldn't we be sharing it with others? Not everyone will believe the good news we share. But that's not our job. That's the Holy Spirit's job. Our job is to deliver the news.

Good Thursday?

Our pastor said something on Sunday that got my attention. He said that he believed that Jesus was actually crucified on a Thursday and NOT on a Friday. Really? Could it be true?

When someone tells us something like that, we should be "good Bereans" and do our research in God's Word.

"Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." - Acts 17:11

GotQuestions.org, my usual go-to place for Bible questions, actually said there are three beliefs for days of the crucifixion - Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Going into this examination my default belief was Friday. It's Good Friday, not Good Thursday or Wednesday, right?

The GotQuestions.org answer (link below) provided scripture for each position. One verse got my attention, however. Matthew 28:1. Most Bible translations read similar to this:

"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb." - Matthew 28:1

But some other translations, like the Berean Literal Translation for example, had the same verse translated this way:

"And after the Sabbaths, it being dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb." - Matthew 28:1

'Sabbaths' is plural!?! So, I kept digging and found an article called The Case for A Thursday Crucifixion (link below). Interesting read.

The picture above is from a Greek/English Interlinear On-Line Bible. Note the word "Sabbaths" that I underlined. It's plural, meaning more than one sabbath.

The key to all of this is knowing that there are TWO kinds of Sabbath days. There is a weekly day Sabbath, which occurs every Saturday, and then there is a HIGH day or special holy day, like Passover, which occurs on different days of the week but always on Nissan 10 according to scripture.

"The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month (Nisan) of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household." - Exodus 12:1-3

Jesus came into town riding on a donkey. On Palm Sunday. The Passover.

Read the article. Perhaps your Good Friday will turn into a Good THURSDAY as a result.

On What Day Was Jesus Crucified?

The Case for A Thursday Crucifixion

Trees

Nate Sexton wrote a poem once called Why Are Trees? If you play disc golf, or ball golf for that matter, you know WHY trees are there. Trees are there to teach us a lesson.

Sometimes, when our disc is going in the wrong direction it hits a tree and stops its flight or redirects it in some positive way. "Good tree!" we say. If it weren't for that tree our disc would have ended up in a far worse place.

More often though, when our drive or approach shot hits a tree, it's a bad thing. "Stupid tree!" We threw a really good line and then some random tree reaches out and swats our disc right to the ground.

Then there's the ultimate in tree misdirection. It's called "First Available." Hitting the first available tree is NEVER a good thing.

Who created these darn trees anyway?

Well, God did. God created them to produce oxygen. Without trees we'd have a much more difficult time breathing. Or we'd be dead.

A better question would be to ask, 'Who puts a disc golf course in the middle of the woods? The answer is humans. But why?!? Well, the course designer is probably trying to challenge our game. Providing us with a variety of challenges and making us use different shot shapes. But it could also be to torture us.

Let's switch gears and look at each of our lives for a moment. Every life is filled with relationships. People are to our lives what trees are to the life of a disc. Think about it.

The people we encounter in life present different challenges. Some are there to teach us something. Others are there to save us from ourselves.

God created trees and He also created people. The cool thing about good people, as opposed to good trees, is that we can often take them with us on life's journey.

Tree love, and human love, help us when things are going bad. And they can continue to help us throughout our lives, no matter where we are. The important thing to remember is that God created these people. God created the opportunity for us to learn and to love. Why? Because God loves us.

"We love because he first loved us." - 1 John 4:19

God provides us with both challenges and helps as we walk though this life, Trees can do the same for us on the disc golf course. All were made by God for specific purposes. How we deal with each of them defines us.

Gannon Buhr Tree Kick

Disc Golf Devos

Win The Race

When I walked into the room, there they were - a big pile of motionless high school boys, wondering what to do without their friend.

Nobody was saying a word. They just all had these sad, lost looks on their faces. The silence reflected the status of their hearts. Their friend Austin had taken his own life just the day before.

As a youth leader at our church, I knew I had to break the painful silence in the room so I did something kind of weird. I asked them a question.

"What was the dumbest thing that Austin ever did?"

Their frowns instantly turned into smiles.

"Austin had this four-wheeler, and we piled as many guys as we could on it and took off through the woods. Austin crashed us and went flying everywhere and the four-wheeler went into the lake."

The laughter of Austin's friends was much needed and very therapeutic. They began speaking other remembrances. And laughing!

That was ten years ago. That very same scene played out this past Saturday strangely enough.

It was my niece's funeral this time. After the service had ended, I was talking with my sister-in-law, when I turned and saw an entire row of young ladies in the back. All of them were looking sad. Some were crying.

It was the very same scenario as the one I had encountered ten years ago after Austin's suicide. Should I go over to them? I don't even know them. I began walking.

After introducing myself I asked them that same question. The same question I had asked Austin's friends ten years ago.

"What was the dumbest thing that my niece ever did?"

The frowns again turned into smiles. Then one girl said this:

"Well, she had this Jeep and we were trying to get some place and accidentally turned the wrong way down a one-way street. We all screamed "It's a one-way street! But your niece said, 'Screw it' Let's go!'"

Suicide is not an easy thing to deal with. There are too many unanswered questions floating around. And so much pain in our hearts. We wonder, could we have done more? Did we say 'I love you' enough? But look what happened in both of these cases.

Smiles replaced every sad face at the mere recollection of a happy, memorable moment. A time when they all had fun. A time when their loved one was alive and with them.

It is a demonstration that the sad times WILL fade. And the happy memories will eventually overpower the bad for our missing friends and family members. Those memories are the "fuel" that fills our emotional tanks - our "love tanks" if you will. It is a dangerous thing, to run out of love. That's why happy memories are so important. They are our heart's emergency backup fuel.

Since Austin's death I have made a point of telling all of the people who I love that I love them. It's a simple thing. But if someone's emotional tank is getting low, that last little bit of fuel might be just enough love to get them to the next filling station.

"Love one another, for love comes from God." - 1 John 4:7

But all of life is meaningless without Jesus.

The pastor at our niece's funeral mentioned 2 Timothy 4:7.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." - 2 Timothy 4:7

The race we are all running is life. The finish line is heaven. The only way to get to the finish line is by repenting of our sins and placing our faith and hope in Jesus. What is the point of being in the race if we have no chance to win? Jesus is the key to victory.

Austin trusted in Jesus. So did my niece. Have you?

This is from a song we sang in church yesterday. It seemed a fitting reminder as we end this story.

"When I fall down you pick me up. When I am dry you fill my cup. You are my all in all."

Telling our earthly "all-in-alls" that we love them is a good thing. But telling JESUS the same thing is critical if we ever want to see those loved ones again.

"Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:31

Dust

"By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” - Genesis 3:19

In this verse, God tells Adam that He came from the ground. Most of us are born from a mother, but Adam had no mother. God created him. From the ground.

It's hard for us to know this whole "from the ground" concept, because none of us ever went through it or witnessed it. The "to dust you shall return" is a much easier concept to grasp. People die every day and are buried or cremated. Either way, our final resting place is in the earth.

I don't think God cares about our earthly bodies as much as He cares about our spiritual beings.

I wonder, if each time we pray for our earthly bodies to be healed, does God just shake His head at our lack of understanding? The spirit is what matters to God.

"For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." - Galatians 5:17

God wants for us to have HIS Spirit living in us. Our spirit is what gets to spend eternity with God, not our bodies. We get NEW glorified bodies after we die.

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." - Philippians 3:20-21

My wife and I are traveling to a funeral today for our 27-ear old niece. She died unexpectedly last week. That's the bad news, obviously. The good news is that she knew Jesus as her Lord and Savior. That means she still lives and gets a new glorified body. And she is "present with The Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8).

I see no downside to death, if we are IN Christ. It's all gain! And if we are left here while others go to be with The Lord, is it really anything more than a lesson in patience for us?

Yes, we miss our family members and friends who have died, but our missing them is simply our lack of understanding about what comes next. That lack of understanding presents itself as selfishness (our sadness) instead of gratitude for God's grace and mercy.

God wants us to be patient. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). But can we be blamed for wanting to be with God instead of in this "earthly tent," as Paul calls it. I think not.

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far." - Philippians 1:21-23

There is joy in death, therefore, but only for those who have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Choose wisely, while you still have the opportunity to choose.

Trim Your Lamps

Have you ever used a lantern? Not a Coleman lantern. An older one like the one in the picture, with the wick and the oil in it. Could you light one in the dark? You will have to.

'Trimmed' (ekosmēsan in the Greek language) means "to put in order." In other words, get your lamps ready!

The Parable of The Ten Virgins is all about lamps. However, the lamps represent something - our faith.

The Bridegroom (Jesus) will come for His bride (The Church) when we least expect it. Right now Jesus is preparing 'a place for us' like all bridegrooms did in Gallele.

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." - John 14:3

Ah, the Rapture of The Church. Can't wait for THAT day. But let's get back to the ten virgins. Half of them were prepared. They had enough oil to way for the Bridegroom. Sadly, half of them didn't have enough oil (faith) to be able to wait.

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut." - Matthew 25:6-10

Do you have enough "oil" in YOUR "lamp?" Do you have enough FAITH in your heart?

"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." - Matthew 24:44

Absence Presence

At first, the words 'absence' and 'presence' don't look like they should ever go together. I mean, how can you be absent if you are present, right? Well, you'll find out in a moment.

"Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” - Nehemiah 8:10

My wife and I were in Michigan just a week ago today. We were there for the funeral of our niece's mother-in-law. While we were there, we slept in our grandniece's bedroom. That's where I noticed this bag, hung on a doorknob.

The image on the bag looked familiar so I took a picture of it. I had seen this same heart picture in a documentary film about suicide called Absence/Presence'. Strange that I would be seeing it on that day.

Later, during the funeral service, I received a text from my sister-in-law with an urgent "please call me" message for us. My wife excused herself and called her sister. The news wasn't good. Our niece was dead.

What's that saying? It never rains, but it pours. Yeah.

But now I can understand the meaning of the movie's title. Even though our loved ones are absent from us, they are still present with us in our hearts. Absence . . . presence.

The pastor's words at the funeral suddenly carried new meaning with the news of our niece's passing. Double meaning. And the verse for today contains the key for all of us as we continue to heal from the pain.

The JOY of the Lord is our STRENGTH.

Is it possible to be joyous in the midst of death? The only way we can truly do that is if we ourselves are IN Christ. If we truly are followers of Jesus, we will find a way to be both sorrowful and joyous at the same time.

Our niece was a follower of Christ. So was the lady whose funeral we are attending. There is hope then, in Christ. The Apostle Paul stated that very absence/presence hope that we ALL should have.

"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." - 2 Corinthians 5:8

Amen to that!

Come To Me

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28

This is one of the great promises from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We tend to forget however that the first three words are a command for us and they also imply something - a journey.

Jesus told us that we must first come to Him and THEN He would give us rest. He doesn't tell us how long the journey will be, or how difficult. He just says "Come."

Some people might have a lengthy journey through a trial or an addiction. For others the walk will be a short one. We might walk alongside someone, or we might find ourselves walking alone. Whatever the situation of our journey is, WE must make the effort.

If we keep reading in Matthew we will come across other commands and promises.

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:29-30

This tells us that if we are truly to find rest, we must first do something. We must put a yoke on ourselves. That means we must follow God's commands and be obedient to the Holy Spirit. But, like a dumb old ox "treading out the grain" in our daily lives, we tend to forget that part. We expect Jesus to come to us. That's not how it works. Jesus is Lord, not us.

If we are struggling in this life, why haven't we turned to God for help? He saved Israel time and time again from its sin, but first, God's people had to turn back to God. That word turn means repent.

God always accepts a wayward people if their repentance was true and humble. God requires us to make the journey. He made His people walk through a dessert to find what? His rest.

"Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. - Hebrews 3:16-19

Believe in God, THEN enter His rest. It's a journey to be sure. The first step however, is the biggest.