It's just a joke!

One of the signs of true friendship is defense in the face of adversity. It is not friendship to stand by and justify someone's hurtful actions towards your friend, by saying 'He doesn't really mean it' or 'She's just kidding.' A true friend understands that when someone says something hurtful towards your friends, they also are admitting that your interests are not important to the, only their own.

A cousin of mine was dating a fellow who kept calling her friend names. They were quite vulgar and unkind, but when she mentioned it hurt her feelings to my cousin, she kept saying "He's just teasing you, he doesn't really mean it." In the end they were no longer friends anymore. She justified the new fellows behavior because she was attracted to him, and neglected her dear friends feelings. Instead of saying, 'Don't call my girl friend that, it hurts her feelings.' she said to her girl friend, 'suck it up.'

"without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6)

In the end it's also a lesson to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We often sit around and listen to people make fun of our God, or call Him names. We laugh it off, saying Ahh they don't mean it, they are making a joke! But do we truly love God if we allow our friends to make fun of Him and never say Hey, God deserves better. He deserves our respect.

I'm just as bad as the next person, even often watching comedies with irreverent tones. Lately though I've become sensitive to certain jokes, some are in good humour, but there is a line. A line that goes from joking with people about religion, society, etc and instead making fun of God.

When we love someone, we show it by not only caring about them but what interests them as well. We care for their friends, their family, their job, even when we don't particularly like those people. We should make an effort to get to like them, or at least to accept that they are part of their life. The same with God. We should look to find what makes Him happy, and what makes Him sad. What interests Him! Then go about trying to make that part of our life too!

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

In Christ,
Brian

Meal Time

Deuteronomy 8:10 And thou shalt eat and be satisfied and shalt bless the Lord thy God for the goodly land which he has given thee.

There was a young man that I had the privledge of being an uncle to for many years. I'm not sure if he even remembers me, but I still think of him from time to time. His name is Dustin and he is a very fun and energetic child. I didn't get to spend a lot of time with him, mostly from my own fault of working and then being a recluse. I used to come home from work and want to go nowhere, or do anything. That's another story though.

I want to talk about saying grace before meals. In our secular and money driven world we often forget to thank God for the little things. We are in such a hurry to get a meal down so we can go on and do other things, that many times we don't even turn off the television or even sit down. Often even getting our meal while behind the steering wheel of the car, and consuming it while driving to do something else. We've become a society where people are measured by their monetary worth and how much they have. If you have a big house, lots of cars, and many bathrooms you're considered 'well off.'

I used to live in a much slower place. Where dinner is still often served at the table, and people stop what they are doing, especially on a Sunday afternoon, to spend time with family talking and eating. Dinner time prayer was a big part of that life. Often we become very ritualistic or formulaic, saying the same prayer before dinner every night. Which in and of itself is not a bad thing! As long as the prayer hasn't lost it's meaning. My grandfather, Delmon, used to say (forgive me if my wording is off, it's been many years since he passed), Lord we want to thank for the food before us, bless and sanctify the hands that prepared it for the nourishment of our bodies, in Jesus Name, Amen.

It's a beautiful prayer. I still remember him saying it every single night before dinner. My family also tries to pray before dinner, and we use a standard dinner time prayer. Bless us, Oh Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ, Our Lord. Amen. Both are beautiful prayers, and both have their place. Just remember to say them with reverence, attention and devotion. Never allow it to become just simple rote, where you say it without really thinking about what you are saying, and only to get it out of way so you can eat.

I also encourage people to begin saying a prayer AFTER the meal. It's much easier to remember to thank God for his bounty when our stomach is growling, and we want to fill it. How much more difficult is it to remember to say thank you, after we are satiated, and ready for a nap.

Back to Dustin. We were about to begin eating dinner one night and Dustin wanted to say grace for us. Everyone gathered around the table and we bowed our heads, and waited patiently for him to pray for a blessing over the food. His words were simple, but full of passion. He said everything that needed to be said, and from the innocence of his heart, we knew he meant it. "Yay God! Let's eat!"

In Christ,
Brian

Luke 7:37-50

She Washed His Feet with Her Tears

Can you imagine the Sun resting in the palm of your hand
It's solar winds caressing your face like a morning breeze
As drops of your soul fell helplessly onto it's surface
And tendril's of your glory softly eased past

Can you imagine the Sun resting in the palm of your hand
While envy bored holes through the surface of minds
As shouts of outrage and tearing of robes distracted
And your past tried to swell in the murky depths

Can you imagine the Sun resting in the palm of your hand
Forgiveness as pure as a cold mountain stream
As love itself flowed forth a rainbow through tears
The light of the universe looked directly into yours

Can you imagine the Sun resting in the palm of your hand
Humbling your soul for a debt that was not His to pay
As the turmoil of your soul becomes simply rest
And your lips touch the source of all that is made

Can you imagine the Sun resting in the palm of your hand
Reeling in the acceptance that you have never received
As God himself looks down at you with trust and love
Can you imagine the Sun resting in the palm of your hand?

What is love?

1 Corinthians 13:4 - Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

What is love? That sounds like such an innocent question. Everyone has their own answer as well. In today's society we often throw the word out for things that we don't truly love. I mean there are degrees of love as well. I love my friends less than I love my wife. I love my children more than I do myself. I might love my third cousin once removed that I haven't seen in ten years, but my best friend I love more.

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22

I think one of the defining aspects of love is presence of mind. Thinking about the person, not only when they are right there beside you but also when they are absent for a while. There is a saying, "absence makes the heart grow fonder." When my wife was working in Mississippi for a few months I really experienced this saying to be true. The more she was away, the more I missed her. I would turn to say something to her, and she wasn't there. Or I would go to find her and realize she's not home this week.

Luke 12:34 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I don't know that it actually makes the heart grow fonder, but it reminds us where our hearts truly are. Could I truly say I love my wife, and then she take a month away from home for work and I say "I didn't miss her at all." Or if I were asked where is my wife, and I said, "I'm not sure. We got married and then went our seperate ways. I really love that girl." How can I say I love her if I don't know where she is? If I don't know what makes her happy? If I don't know what she hates or dislikes, or what her favorite color is. Or even the food she is allergic to? Is that love?

Yet we seem to hold God to a different standard. Many of us say we love God, but we don't look for Him. We don't search Him out or find out what makes Him happy. We don't look for what He dislikes or what He wants from us. We simply go to church once in a while, and then the rest of the week we live our lives for ourself. Is that love? Shouldn't someone who claims they love God spend their time trying to make God happy? Making sure that what they are doing is God's will? That every chance they get they can spend a little time with Him. How many of us actually set aside a little time each day just for God? And then actually do it? It's easy to say I'm going to give 10 minutes every morning to prayer and time with God, but then ACTUALLY doing it becomes a chore. It shouldn't seem like a chore, but we get busy with life and start worrying about what we could be doing instead.

Proverbs 23:26 - My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways.

Each morning as I begin my devotions, I begin with this small prayer. I think it should be said, or one similar, before beginning any time with God. Bible study, prayer, even sacred silence.

Lord, open my lips to praise your holy name. Cleanse my heart of any worthless, evil or distracting thoughts. Give me the wisdom and love necessary to spend time with you in (prayer, study, thought) with attention, reverence and devotion. Father, let my prayer be heard in your presence, for it is offered through Christ our Lord. Amen.

If you say this prayer, say it slowly and reflect what each word means. What it truly means to have your attention on God. What does it truly mean to spend time in reverence? How do you show your devotion to God? Make your prayer time, study time, and all things with God in a manner that truly reflects your love for Him.



What is love?

I cannot say that I love you
Unless I have walked your dreams
Showered in your kisses
Tasted your streams

I cannot say I love you
Till I have rested in your dawn
Your words showered like dew
Your gossling turned swan

I cannot say I love you
Without gazing in your eyes
Swinging backwards my apathy
Flying through your skies

I cannot say I love you
When your heart I don't know
As your distance draws near
My yearning for you grows

I cannot say I love you
And not hang on each word
That from my mouth be proclaimed
My God and My Lord!

I cannot say I love you
Without first being taught
That no great love has man
Than to do what you wrought

I cannot say I love you
Because my love is not perfect
But you can shape me and mold me
Till your love I reflect

I cannot say I love you
If I do not love myself
So I can love my neighbor
Love given from true wealth

I pray God will open each and every persons heart that reads this blog and this poem, and teach them to love Him fully. To open their minds to the acceptance, forgiveness, and love that God is pouring out on them each and everyday. And teach them to love each other as freely, and fully as God loves them. That they will learn to pass on the grace that God has given them, and to encourage a world of peace, a world of love, and a world of the will of God!

In Christ,
Brian

The Communion of Saints

I believe in the communion of saints. I know that will make some cringe, and others will wonder what the phrase means. First I want to explain what my understanding of the communion of saints is, and let you know this is what I believe. I believe it because it is biblical. I believe it, because I feel it in my soul.

The communion of saints is not worshipping a saint. Nor is it thinking that a saint by his or her own ability can make things happen for us. It is instead believeing that the body of Christ transcends both time, and death. It's believing that when someone dies in the Lord, he/she reigns with the Lord. They are alive in Heaven with Jesus Christ, in the place He has provided for us. When someone asks a saint to pray for them, it's a beautiful thing. It shows two things, one that they believe that what God said is true! They believe that when we die in the Lord, we live forever! Second, it shows that you think that person is close to God, and can pray for you. That that person lived a wonderful life, and emulated Christ in what they did. The saint doesn't make what you want happen anymore than you praying does, the saint petitions Jesus through prayer just as you do, and prays on your behalf. God does the answering. God decides if you get what you ask for or not.


Saints aren't limited to canonized saints, or even a time period. Your mother or father, grandmother, grandfather, all of them if they were Christian are saints. Which means that you can indeed still talk to your relatives, because they aren't dead. They are still very much alive, and always will be. You can ask Mathew, Mark, Luke and John to pray for you, just as you might send me an email and say Brian, will you pray for me. You can pray for your relatives too. I truly believe that God transcends time and that prayer isn't limited to our lifetime. It's not limited anymore than God is limited, but it has to be His will.

That being said, I truly believe that Mary, the mother of Christ should be a very important figure in our lives. That doesn't mean we should worship her, but we should hold her in a place of honor and learn from her example. What do you mean? Learn from Mary's example? Well I mean that there are lessons to learn from Mary's recorded part in the Bible. I'll go into two of them that really have made a difference in my life.

Luke 1:26 - 38 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be calledc the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

I don't think there are many left alive who have not heard the story of Jesus birth. But there is a huge lesson to be learned from Mary in her response. An angel came to her and said, God is going to give you a child. Imagine how you would react if a man walked up to you today, and you were a young unwed woman, and said, You're pregnant, with God's baby.

Most of us would freak out. Mary probably was a little bewildered to when she said, "But I'm a virgin, how can I have a child?" Then the angel said, this is God's will. And she responded, simply: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Lesson 1 to learn from Mary - Obedience. Mary didn't say "do you know what this will do to my life? I'm not even married. They'll stone me! How can you do this to me God? Don't you know how this will affect ME? My family!?" No, Mary simply accepted it. She found out it was God's will and she said, I am your servant Lord, do to me as you have said. We should do the same. When God tells us to give money to someone, we shouldn't hold it in our hand arguing over what it will do to our funds. If he tells us to brush someones hair, then we should brush their hair. If he tells you to get on your knees and pray in the middle of a crowded air port, get on your knees and pray. Mary gives us an example of humble obedience. Simply doing what God wants us to do, when he says.

The second lesson I think of when I think of Mary, the Mother of God, is simply this. Mary was the vessel through which God came into the world. Physically. Through her body, Christ was brought into this world. That is our lesson in and of itself. We are the body of Christ. It is through us, not because we are special, not because we have any power, but because God has chosen us to be His vessels, that Christ can come into the world daily. It is our job as the body of Christ to do things. To help the poor. To lift up the broken. To feed the hungry, to nurse the sick. We are to reach out and through our own pain, suffering, and trials edify and lift up our brothers and sisters! We are to bring Christ into the world, no matter what pain, what cost, what inconvenience it may cause to ourselves. Just as Mary humbly accepted, and then delivered the Baby Jesus into this world through her own suffering, sweat and blood.. so should we. We should be willing to shed our sweat, our tears, our blood in order to bring Jesus to others. To deliver His message into this world.

I do not worship Mary, no one is supposed to. But I do hold her in a place of honor. I also learn from her. I learn from her examples in the Bible, and from her humility and meekness. I learn that I am here to bring not my will about, but God's will. I pray that you find this message as beautiful as I do.

In Christ,
Brian

A prayer from the Psalms

I found much comfort in the following words today in my prayers, I hope they bring you the same comfort that they brought me.


You once favored, LORD, your land, restored the good fortune of Jacob. You forgave the guilt of your people, pardoned all their sins. Selah You withdrew all your wrath, turned back your burning anger. Restore us once more, God our savior; abandon your wrath against us.


Will you be angry with us forever, drag out your anger for all generations? Please give us life again, that your people may rejoice in you. Show us, LORD, your love; grant us your salvation. I will listen for the word of God; surely the LORD will proclaim peace To his people, to the faithful, to those who trust in him. Near indeed is salvation for the loyal; prosperity will fill our land.


Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss. Truth will spring from the earth; justice will look down from heaven. The LORD will surely grant abundance; our land will yield its increase. Prosperity will march before the Lord, and good fortune will follow behind.

In Christ,
Brian

P.S. a little poetry verse for the day, We each walk from a different place, at a different pace, some running as in a race, and others climbing a mountain that they think they cannot face. But in the end we are all going to the same place.

The Body of Christ

I don't care what your denomination is,
Or if you believe exactly as I do
For our denomination will not Heaven make
Nor will your works save you.


I don't care if you baptize with a drizzle
Ten, fifty, or a thousand drops
You can use a river or a stream
Full emersion or even a belly flop


Just that you have been baptized
By the water and by the fire
In his precious name born again
That your life edifies and inspires


You can worship at mass or service
Inside a church or in the forest
As long as it is the one true God
Of Abraham, Isaace and Jacob your rest


I'm not interested in converting you
To my particular brand of Christianity
Just that you follow Christ my Lord
And avoid self righteous vanity


You can worship on Saturday or Sunday
Or you can worship every single day
You can preach or sing, dance or shout
Fall out in the spirit, or tongues spout


Just put your faith in Christ,
And give your life to him!
Leaving behind this world
And dying to sin.


Turn your eyes to Heaven,
And sing praise unto our King!
Leave the Winter of death behind
And grow in God's newborn Spring!

A light on a hill, not under a basket.

A few weeks ago at church we had a beautiful fellow come by named Sean. He had a glow in his eye and an excitement about him, that really spoke volumes about this young mans heart. He was carrying around a torch from the special Olympics and eagerly sharing with everyone. The first thing he asked me as I was introduced was, Do you want to hold the torch? He put it in my hands and just smiled. A smile that said it's amazing isn't it?

It was amazing. I've seen the ceremony on tv, but I've never actually thought about it what it must be like to hold that torch. It was heavier than I imagined, and I could still smell the acrid smell of smoke from where the flame once glistened. I thought about what it must be like to carry that torch through the crowd, and to put it on top of the pillar and light the fire for the start of the games. The cheers, the silence, the faces looking up to you. What an honor for this young man, to be the one to do that.

What was even more amazing was his eagerness to share that moment with us! He didn't stand up and say Here is my torch that I carried, look at it. He said here, hold this! He didn't think it something to boast or brag about, but a beautiful moment that he could share with others. A torch not to be put on display out of arrogance or pride, but a humble torch that every person in the room could hold.

We too are carrying a torch. A torch for Christ. We have the ability to show others that torch, to be a light unto the world, not hidden under a basket but proudly displayed for all to see the way. Yet we also should be like Sean. We shouldn't be holding our torch up in front of everyone and saying, look what I have! Look what you do not! Instead we should be saying, look what God has given me freely! Look at this gift that I have the honor and privledge of carrying! Here, you can hold it too! All you have to do it believe! Reach out to Jesus, take hold of Him! And you too can carry this torch!

We should want to share our faith! We should be out actively searching God's face! Not simply looking for things to argue about, or for moments to pick apart because of doctrinal differences. Instead we should be gladly going into a room of people and saying, here is my torch, do you want to hold it?

In Christ,
Brian

A lying tongue

Jesus said that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Mat. 12:34) He also said that what we put into our bodies does not defile it, but that which comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and it is that which defiles a man(Matt 15:18). What does that mean to us? It means that what is inside of us is evident by our words and actions. If our heart is filled with love, then our words will be filled with love. If our heart is filled with hate then our words will be filled with hate. Words have power. They have the ability to edify and the ability to destroy, the ability to lift up and the ability to cast down.

How are you using your words? Are you building up your neighbors? Or gossiping behind their back? We've all been guilty of gossip. Sometimes not even on purpose. We start talking and the story being told reminds us of another story we've heard, and before we even think about it we're telling that story. A story that we may never have verified, or probably never should have heard in the first place.

Proverbs 25:18 says, "A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow."

Often we dont think about our tongue as a weapon,and even when we do we only think of it as a weapon when someone is standing right there and we are giving them a tongue lashing. You see the tongue is a very deadly weapon. It can injure the heart. Break the determination of someone, or even bring them to sorrow and depression. It can hurt those right in front of us like a maul. Or it can hurt someone fruther away, like a sword in an arc. It can even injure someone who is far off, not even present at the time, but piercing them non the less like a stray arrow in flight. Each time we choose to say something about someone we either build them up, or tear them down. We as Christians should be ever weary about tearing someone down. We cannot draw people to Christ with anger and hate. When someone sees a group of Christians arguing over slight differences, the first thing they are going to do is say "I want nothing to do with that." I don't blame them. I've even been the one arguing before. How can we say God is love, if we ourselves do not show that love? We must show that love adn be that love in the world. Our kingdom is not of this world, but we are here in this world non theless. Just like a visitor in a foreign country, we are envoys sent by our King to spread His message. We should be showing the world how our King does things, and going out and being his arms and hands.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few."

Francis of Assisi said famously, "Preach at all times the gospel, when necessary use words." Our lives should be a lamp to the world, on top of a hill to illuminate the path to Christ. A person shouldn't have to ask you if you are Christian, every thing you say and do should point to the love of Christ. Even if you are just toiling away at work, do it as unto God. How much improvement would your job receive if you were working for God and He in the room? Even though you are working for someone else, you should be working for God. Every moment of everyday should be the gospel. We should be lifting up the world, and leading it to the Holy Spirit. A sign post in the desert where others can see the oasis in the distance.

James 1:19 warns us to be swift to HEAR and SLOW to speak. We need to each sit back at times and simply say nothing. Wait before you say it and consider if it's even worth saying. Will what you are about to say change the situation? Will it help the other person feel better? Am I simply saying it to make myself feel better at the expense of their emotions? Silence can be a powerful tool. In this age of digital communciation all to often we can send out a message of anger and emotional abuse before we even consider what we have written. The enter key should have a cool down timer, that you can't post or send another message until you have thought about it for 30 seconds, or even a few minutes. Each of us needs to develop that examination of conscience, to determine our motive behind the message we are about to send. Is it a message Christ would want us to send? Or simply something that our flesh is wanting to send.

And above all, I am not advocating that we be door mats. We are not here for people to wipe their feet on. We are here however to wash one anothers feet. Let us learn to be servants one to another, lifting each other up to the Lord, until every person is lifted up in His name.

In Christ,
Brian

We are known by love, not division

If I have the gift of prophecy, can fathom all knowledge and mysteries, and have the faith to move mountains, but do not have love... I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2

Last night we gathered together at our local parish and enjoyed the solemn, and beautiful Taize service. We gathered together not a signle denomination, but a family in Christ. There were Catholics, Methodists, Episcopalian, Baptists, and Protestants. It wasn't a lecture, or a chance to show case differences. It was a moment where God's children came together despite their slight differences and put that all aside, to worship God and marvel at his grace.

We prayed many prayers for many different people. From the clergy, to the missionary. From the politician to the student. From the blessed to the oppressed. We came together in the shadow of the Cross and worshipped our Lord God. We need to do this more often. It shouldn't be Christian against Christian. In public forums all to often the most vocal arguments are between two Christians, not even between a believer and a non believer.

We should be encouraging people to come to Christ, not discouraging. Not arguing over doctrinal differences, but praising the truth that Christ is our Lord and our Redeemer. I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. -Romans 16:17 We, the body of Christ, should not be divided. We should not be putting obstacles in each others way, only truth. Truth of the Bible upon which all doctrine, all faith, and all hope should be based. Minor differences should be set aside, and faith in Christ should prevail.

More especially, as a dear friend of mine said, correction should be of love. It shouldn't be a moment of public redicule or condemnation. It should be a moment in silence, aiding a reformation. Speaking to someone in private about God and what He wants for them. A moment of gentle reminder, and shared love in the burden of sin. We should be holding each other and weeping, holding each other and rejoicing! Hugging and giving one another a holy kiss! Grasping a hand in warmth and fellowship. How are we to be known? What is our instruction? Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34,35)

Are you showing love? Are you giving love to your friends? Your family? Strangers? Are you perceived as a man/woman of love in the community? Do people even know you are there? Do your neighbors know your name? Do you wave at them at the mailbox? When you're sitting in silence, praying to the Lord do you pray for good things for that person you just can't stand? That fellow that just gets on your nerves and is always in your way? Do you hug someone at church when you see them for the first time in years, letting them know you missed them? When you shake hands do you get it over with as fast as possible, or hold there hand warmly and look them in the eye? Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. -1 Corinthians 13:4

Insert your name in the previous scirpture verse and ask yourself, am I showing love? Is Brian patient? Is Brian kind? Is Brian envious or does he grateful that others are blessed? Is Brian boastful or generous in praising others? Is Brian proud or humble?

Easter is a time of reflection and a time of an examination of conscious. I pray that God will guide each of us to be more patient with our loved ones, our friends and those we meet in our daily lives. I pray that he will bring Kindness in our hearts and provide us with the ability to show it and eloquently lavish others with edification. I pray that God will provide me with the ability to see others as His children, and be happy for them when they have something that I do not. To give them encouragment and love. I pray that God will keep me humble that I may ever remember that I am only saved by His grace, and that all good things come from Him and not from ourselves. That God will keep pride and boasting out of my life, and allow me to interact always with love and courtesy.

In Christ precious name I pray, Amen

In Christ,
Brian

Can you not stay awake with me one hour?

"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray.'"

Have you ever tried to sit in the garden with Jesus? Several Christian denominations recreate that situation on Maundy Thursday. They go off into another place where they sit in the presence of God. The room is dark and only lit with candles. The mood is sober and anxious. It's a time of contemplation, a time of prayer.

Last night I had the chance to participate in this. Closing my eyes I could imagine myself in the garden, attempting to stay awake while Jesus was praying. While I sat there praying and worshipping, I could hear others doing the same. Some were shuffling their feet, or moving their prayer beads. Occassionally one of us would cough, or breath heavily. After a very short time I heard a yawn somewhere. I imagined Jesus saying to me, "can you not stay awake with me one hour?"

All to often we think, if I were there I'd have stayed awake! If I were there, I'd not have betrayed him! If I were there! Then when we are really faced with it, and we realize the difficult position those men where in. It had been a long day, they had finished dinner and it was late at night. Their minds were exhausted from the day and all the wonderful teachings and thoughts they had learned from their master. They weren't sitting down to fall asleep. They simply were human. As we are human. How often do we spiritually fall asleep and do something that we know we shouldn't have? Are we trying to keep vigil with Christ? Knowing that he is about to be betrayed by our own flesh? Or do we just go through life only thinking of Him on Sunday?

As I sat there picturing in my mind the scene, I grew nervous and anxious. Knowing that at any moment there would be soldiers and Judas. That my Jesus would be turned off and betrayed with a kiss. That there would be soldier's who would beat him, mock him, and crucify him. Then God reminded me that we betray Him often. We proclaim our love for Jesus and then we live a normal life. We proclaim our hearts to God, but then we walk out of the church or worship service and go back to living just a normal, sinful life. We go in and kiss Jesus on the cheek, and then forget Him while we go enjoy life's pleasures.

The Garden scene is a powerful reminder that we have to be alert, be vigilant. Keep our lamps full of oil, continually living for Jesus. Not only when at church but daily dieing to our flesh. Carefully living so that we are neither falling asleep in apathy, nor betraying our Lord with a kiss. Holy Week is not only a celebration of what Christ did for us, and of His resurrection, but a call to repentence, reconciliation and devotion. Have you devoted your life 100% to following our Lord?

Pray with me if you so choose,

Father I know that I have not been the person that you have designed, and want me to be. I know that I have sinned and fallen short of the perfection that you desire. Help me by renewing me, and by guiding me through your Holy Spirit to do the things that you want, and to avoid the things that abhor you. Give me strength and love, peace and joy. Gather my heart into your arms, and keep me spiritually awake. I pray that my heart will always be centered on your Word, your Truth, and your Light. Amen.

In Christ,
Brian

He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.

My good friend Clyde brought this wonderful little story by today, and I just had to share it.

Malachi 3:3 says "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this staement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason of her interest beyond her curiosity and the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of th efire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy. -- when I see my image in it." If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Isn't that beautiful my friends? That God is watching us during our trials and He is leading us through the Holy Spirit to become more and more like Him? That we are being refined, and that the end result is that others will see God reflected in us? Ah how I want to grow so close to Him that I always feel Him guiding me and sheltering me. To get to the point where my life is a complete communion with Him. Do you want Christ to reflect in your life? Have you asked Him to mold you into the person He knows you can be?

"Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

John 13:4-5 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Today is Holy Thursday, which means many denominations will be performing an ancient ritual. One given to us by Jesus Christ himself. Jesus was about to go to the cross and he knew that. He was having a beautiful dinner with his disciples. He got up to wash the feet of his disciples. Peter objected, why would the King be washing the feet of his servants? Why would Jesus, who was over all, kneel down and do something so base, so common. Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

Can you imagine this moment? Sitting there with your feet dirty from your travels. Having Jesus Christ himself bown down before you and begin to gently, lovingly wash your feet clean? It's a symbol of something so much greater. You see Jesus as a servant to God, humbled Himself to die on the cross in our place. He washes us of our sins! He spoke volumes when he said, that if He doesn't wash us, we have no part with Him. We need to be washed by the blood of the Lamb, and we need to follow His example.

We need to get down on our knees, humble like a servant, and wash one anothers feet. I don't just mean physically, though I find the ceremony extremley beautiful. A moment in which a man can be a servant to another, and do something common and base, something unpleasant by most standards but by doing so He is emulating the example set by God. There is something glorious about being involved in this, I can only imagine how powerful the act must seem as the person doing the washing. Reaching out with love to touch the foot of someone else, and to gently and lovingly wash them, for a moment just being their servant and not worrying about life, only about them and their need.

We also must serve one another. Jesus said, "What I have done you must copy." How do we do that in our daily life? We find the common need of our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, and we meet it. We reach out to those who need food and we provide. We find those who need help, and we help. We find that neighbor who lost her job, and we help her find a new one. Or we cook them a meal during hard times, and invite them over. We find that lost friend and we become a light to them, never beating them with our words, but offering kindness and love. We notice those who are normally at church and have stopped coming, and we call them or visit and ask if they are ok. We let people know we miss them. We tenderly and lovingly reach out and wash their spiritual feet, never thinking of ourselves, but thinking of them. Jesus told us, that "whoever loves God, must love his brother." Every action should speak of love. That's a very difficult life, but through prayer and communion with God and the aid of His Holy Spirit, it is very possible.

So I encourage you today, if you've never been to a foot washing ceremony, find one in your area and watch knowing what it represents. Close your eyes and see Christ washing the feet of the disciples. Sit in prayer and thought, and if you participate close your eyes and be in Communion with God to the point where you know that it isn't just a man kneeling before you, but that Christ lives in his heart. That Christ is washing your feet in spirit.

In Christ,
Brian