Follow the Mercy - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

The Burden of the Day - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

The Message of the Mayfly - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

What is the Sign? - Pastor Johnnie SImpson Jr.

Jesus Express - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

What's Heaven Like? - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Jacob's Superpower-Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

I Said What I Said - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Gray Rocking For Spiritual Health - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

She-Spies of Israel - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Sing a New Song - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

I have an interesting relationship with music, my wife will ask me a lot of times what am I thinking about, and usually a song is playing in my head.

We all appreciate the value of a good song, educators will tell you that music is a way to learn new things. We learned the alphabet by singing the letters, most children’s shows have music incorporated into them.

Singing as a form of communication is deeply rooted in the African American culture. It began with the African slaves who were kidnapped and shipped across the Atlantic during the Middle Passage. Slaves from different countries, tribes and cultures used singing as a way to communicate during the voyage.

Music was a way for slaves to express their feelings whether it was sorrow, joy, inspiration or hope. Songs were passed down from generation to generation throughout slavery. 

These songs were influenced by African and religious traditions and would later form the basis for what is known as “Negro Spirituals”

Songs were even used in the Underground Railroad to communicate the path to freedom. Songs like Follow the drinking gourd, and people think that Wade in the Water referred to the way Harriet Tubman would take people to freedom. Song is important.

Today’s reading includes a passage (vv. 1-4) that scholars once identified as one of the four so-called “Servant Songs” in the book of Isaiah (along with 49:1-6, which repeats lines from today’s reading; 50:4-11; and 52:13–53:12). Isaiah is written to people in captivity.

Isaiah is talking to the crowd about a conversation he had with God. This crowd is suffering a disaster on two fronts, their homeland has been destroyed, and they are in exile, trying to make due in a foreign land. These people feel like God has abandoned them, and here is a man who has not been successful in trying to talk to them.

The people are  held captive by the Babylonians and away from their homeland. Isaiah spend the first half of the book telling the people how this trouble is their fault, like a true friend should. Hold people accountable for their actions. After Isaiah tells the people how they got themselves into trouble, he tells them how they are going to get out of this tough time for the second half of the book.

605 BCE, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II besieged Jerusalem, which resulted in tribute being paid by the Judean king Jehoiakim.

The people of God decided to stop supporting Nebuchadnezzar and start supporting Egypt.

The fourth year of Nebuchadnezzar II's reign, Jehoiakim refused to pay further tribute, which led to another siege of the city in Nebuchadnezzar II's seventh year (598/597 BCE) that culminated in the death of Jehoiakim and the exile to Babyloniaof his successor Jeconiah, his court, and many others;

Jeremiah and other prophets warned the people but they didn’t listen.

hundreds of miles away from home. Your king is gone. Your temple is in ruins. Jerusalem's walls are destroyed and wild animals roam the streets. Many family members and friends are dead or missing. Everything you hold dear is uprooted. Where is your God?

Although the city of Jerusalem was utterly destroyed, other parts of Judah continued to be inhabited during the period of the exile. Most of the exiled did not return to their homeland, instead traveling westward and northward.

God is going to send them a savior

The savior will bring justice

The people of God where caught between a rock and a hard place Babylon and Egypt, their political situation was tough.

Rolling back rights

Banning water breaks in one of the hottest summers

More concerned about what books are in libraries when we can't keep the air on in the summer or the heat on in the winter.

Isaiah 10:1-2

10 Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, 2 to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.

Isaiah 1:17

17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.

Proverbs 21:15

When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.

Deuteronomy 16:20

Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Amos 5:24 

24 But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.

He will not falter

I know you are tired now, but God is going to send you someone who does not get tired. His power doesn't come from some man-made source, that is why it won't fail. Only what you do for God will last.

(Interview with Russell Simmons. Where the DJ could not recall the top 10 songs from last month or year.)

He will take our hand

(Layla and I at the Dickinson Festival of Lights)

The road may get dark and bumpy

1 Time is filled with swift transition. Naught of earth unmoved can stand.

Build your hopes on things eternal. Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

Refrain:

Hold to His hand, God’s unchanging hand.

Hold to His hand, God’s unchanging hand.

Build your hopes on things eternal.  Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

2 Trust in Him who will not leave you. Whatsoever years may bring.

If by earthly friends forsaken, Still more closely to Him cling. [Refrain]

3 Covet not this world’s vain riches That so rapidly decay.

Seek to gain the heav’nly treasures. They will never pass away. [Refrain]

4 When your journey is completed, If to God you have been true,

Fair and bright the home in Glory Your enraptured soul will view. [Refrain]

In the Access Business - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr

Romans 5:1-8

5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I am a bit obsessive about access. 

“My door is always open.” That statement sounds like good news to most of us. If an employer, teacher or elected official speaks those words to us with a welcoming smile, it means we enjoy access to that person — that this worthy personage will make time for us, no matter what else may be going on.

That’s the policy many of us operate under as pastors. A few of us publish office hours, but most of us are prepared to make time if the need is urgent. Figuratively speaking, our study doors are always open. A big part of ministry is offering people access to ourselves.

Access is a precious commodity in our world. In Washington, D.C., lobbyists pay big money in the form of campaign contributions to buy access to elected officials. Whenever a former senator or member of the president’s cabinet signs on with one of those lobbying agencies a few blocks from the Capitol, ethical alarms go off. Such a move causes consternation along the banks of the Potomac River. These former officials have recently had extraordinary access to the highest levels of government. It now appears they’re trying to sell that access to the highest bidder.

Access is an issue for members of racial-ethnic minorities trying to move into certain neighborhoods — just as it is for businesswomen seeking access to male-dominated social clubs where so many business deals are cut over power lunches.

People want to have exclusive access to a person, if only for a few moments.

The book of Romans is the apostle Paul's longest letter in the Bible, and Paul wrote this letter before he visited the Roman Church. 

 

Paul was laying the groundwork before he visited because he might have been worried about how the visit would go. Paul wasn't sure the Roman Church would receive him, and he wasn't sure the Roman country would accept him.

 

Paul collected offerings from Gentile churches in Macedonia and Asia, and Paul was worried the Roman church would not take a gift from the Gentiles. This idea is funny because the Romans were oppressing the Jewish-born Christians while the Jewish-born Christians had trouble, including the Gentiles. 

 

This church is also in the city of Rome, Roman leaders did not let their military generals come close to Rome because they feared a potential takeover, yet these people who professed to follow a king of kings lived in their city. The Roman Government was always scared of being overthrown, so much so that their military leaders couldn't come back home with their soldiers because the Government would see that as an attempted takeover. Now you have this group of people living in the city who were not treated warmly. 

 

Paul used the Roman letter to address these issues and many more. First, Paul lets the believers in Rome know that the Gentile Christians and the Jewish Christians are justified by faith, not by some sort of social status. As believers, we are made right in God by faith and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

So now, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith in God's promises, we can have real peace with God because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. Because of our faith, he has brought us into this place of the highest privilege, where we now stand. We confidently and joyfully look forward to becoming all God has in mind for us to be. Paul is showing the people how to connect to something peaceful in the middle of the tests and trials. 

I. A SUMMARY OF JUSTIFICATION (5:1-11): Paul lists five results of divine justification.

A. The believer has peace with God (5:1): This is accomplished through the work done by Jesus

Christ.

Therefore 5:1 is a transition phrase. Paul spent the first four chapters laying the groundwork for what he wanted to say in chapter five. That we are justified by faith.

B. The believer has access to God (5:2): This high privilege brings about great confidence and joy concerning the future.

Christ has removed a barrier so that we can have access to God. The Greek word Paul uses for “access” literally means “having an introduction.” It’s as though we were travelers to a foreign land, carrying with us letters of introduction to the court of the king.

A great many of us already possess such a letter of introduction to a foreign government. That’s what a passport is, literally: a letter of introduction. If you, as a citizen of the United States, open your passport, you’ll read these words on the first page:

“The Secretary of State of the United States of America hereby requests all whom it may concern to permit the citizen/national of the United States named herein to pass without delay or hindrance and in case of need to give all lawful aid or protection.”

It’s a letter of introduction. When Paul celebrates “access to grace,” he’s picturing a small scroll, rolled up and bearing the wax seal of a king or governor. You can’t cross the border without a passport; and you can’t experience the grace of God without presenting your “letter of introduction” — your confession of what Christ has done for you.

C. The believer has assurance from God (5:3-4).

1. The fact of this assurance (5:3): It helps us in time of suffering.

2. The fruit of the assurance (5:4): Suffering produces perseverance, which produces character,

which produces hope.

The power of sin is broken.

Being justified by faith makes us at peace with God, gives us hope for the future and power for the present.

Being reconciled means a change in the relationship.

Boast in our sufferings - appreciate the hard work we have done.

D. The believer is indwelt by God (5:5): The Holy Spirit lives in the hearts of believers.

E. The believer is preserved in God (5:6-11): A believer's salvation is secure, guaranteed by:

1. Christ's past work on Calvary's cross (5:6-8)

a. What he did (5:6): He died on the cross for us.

b. Why he did it (5:7-8a): He died because he loves us.

c. When he did it (5:8b): He did it when we were still helpless and hostile sinners.

The God who justified also glorified

Christ died for the ungodly when people rarely even die for the worthy. While we were still in our mess, Christ saw fit to save us. 

What Christ did freely and gladly is a love higher than any human could ever attain. Some people won't give up their place in line or their lunch, and Christ gave up his life. 

Just to be clear: “salvation” describes the future of God’s people in terms of their rescue from a terrible fate; “glorification” in terms of the status they will enjoy; “resurrection” in terms of their new embodiment of the other side of death. 

God has established true peace, so different from the pax Romana, on the foundation of true justice, so different from the Roman Iustitia, and has done so through the Lord Jesus, so different from the lord Caesar. 

When you know that you win in the end, the current situation doesn't seem so bad. 

The grace is unilateral and unconditional, it can’t be bought by conditional methods.

May we all come to learn, day by day, to rely on God’s grace alone. Trusting in God’s promises, may we know ever more fully God’s grace as we have seen it in Jesus Christ. May you realize, in the deepest part of us, that our Lord truly offers access to grace!

The Windcatcher - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Acts 2:1-4

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

A Norwegian company is developing this new system to generate electricity from wind power. Fast Company magazine reports that when it becomes operational next year, "it could deliver five times the annual energy of the world's largest single turbine. That's because the system is three times taller than the average turbine, exposing the blades to higher wind speeds."

They will call it "Windcatcher."

The structure will be large, as tall as the Eiffel Tower.

And it is wide, stretching the length of some of the world's largest cruise ships.

Built as an enormous metal grid, it will contain 126 wind turbines. It will float on a platform anchored to the ocean floor using the same technology the oil and gas industry employs.

Imagine 126 turbines spinning in an enormous grid. The Windcatcher blades will be smaller than those on a typical windmill, enabling them to turn faster. And the position of the grid in deep water will allow it to catch the strongest of winds.

Numbers. Size. Location. Put these elements together, and you have a single structure that will generate enough electricity to run 80,000 European homes.

That's a lot of power.

Windcatcher is still on the drawing boards, so its performance is uncertain. "What happens when a big storm or hurricane hits it?" asks Dave Makichuk of Asia Times. "Would it withstand a hurricane or freak storm or even rough seas? Would these blades chop up sea birds at an alarming rate?"

Such questions still need to be answered. 

The wind is a staple in our lives, we cannot see it, but we feel its effect. We appreciate the wind on a hot summer day when the breeze feels just right. We use the word wind in our daily conversations. When we hear rumors, we say something is blowing in the wind. When we get new information, we say we just got wind of it. When a task is easy, we say it will be a breeze. When someone has too many alcoholic drinks, we say they are three sheets to the wind. The wind is a part of our everyday language, and I assume that is why the author of Acts chose to describe the coming of the Holy Spirit using language about wind. 

The text describes the day of Pentecost. Pentecost = 50 Days after Passover, the Jewish feast of Weeks (a week of weeks). Pentecost was the occasion for celebrating the harvest and particularly for giving thanks to God for graciously bringing forth fruit from the land.  

In Acts 2:1-21, we witness an extraordinary event—the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The disciples gathered in one place and experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit powerfully and visibly. The outpouring of the Spirit is anticipated by John the Baptist (Luke 3:16) and Jesus (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8). 

One of the most remarkable aspects of this event was that the apostles began to speak in different languages, enabling each person to hear the message of God in their native tongue. This miraculous occurrence teaches us a profound lesson: we are called to meet people where they are in life. God broke down language and cultural barriers through the Holy Spirit to ensure His message reached all people's hearts. It reveals the importance of embracing diversity and recognizing that different individuals have unique experiences, backgrounds, and languages.

As followers of Christ, we are commissioned to extend this same love and understanding to those around us. We must seek to understand people's perspectives, their struggles, and their joys. By doing so, we demonstrate the inclusivity and grace that Christ embodied during His earthly ministry. The Gospel transcends boundaries and invites everyone to experience the transformative power of God's love.

This festival would have been a large gathering of Greek-speaking people, but the disciples still spoke in languages other people would understand. Don't look at people speaking in tongues strangely if you are unwilling to talk to your neighbor. 

As the disciples began speaking in various languages, some onlookers misunderstood the situation and accused them of being drunk. In their ignorance and skepticism, they sought to dismiss the profound work of the Holy Spirit. This episode reminds us that there will always be naysayers and haters in our lives—those who misunderstand and ridicule our faith.

We live in a world that often fails to comprehend the ways of God. Just as the onlookers judged the disciples without understanding, so too will people misjudge us for our beliefs and actions. However, let us take courage in the face of opposition, knowing we are not alone. The Spirit of God dwells within us, empowering us to respond with grace and love.

Remember the words of Jesus in John 15:18: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." Jesus Himself experienced rejection, persecution, and hatred. As His followers, we are called to endure and respond to such opposition with steadfast faith, knowing God is with us.

In response to the accusations, the apostle Peter boldly addressed the crowd. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, he fearlessly proclaimed the truth and defended the disciples' actions. Peter, who turned his back on Jesus, is now filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking boldly to the naysayers. Peter, who cussed and ran at the mention of Jesus during the crucifixion, is now out front and center defending him. Peter Quotes Joel 2:28-32

"The story of Pentecost indicates that the coming of the Holy Spirit represents a new order that is manifested as a leveling power that destroys privilege: the Spirit is poured upon "all flesh," sons and daughters, young and old, male and female servants."   

Peter's transformation from a fearful disciple to a courageous preacher demonstrates the profound impact of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The same Holy Spirit that transformed Peter's life is available today. It equips us to speak the truth, proclaim the Gospel boldly, and stand firm in our convictions. We can draw strength from the Spirit dwelling within us when we encounter opposition or challenges. As redeemed individuals, we have a powerful testimony of God's love and grace, which should encourage us to share His message without fear or hesitation.

Peter's defense was not rooted in his abilities or knowledge but in the power of the Holy Spirit working through him. It was through the Spirit that Peter could eloquently and persuasively articulate the truth of Christ's redemption. In Acts 2:14-21, we see Peter quoting the prophet Joel, emphasizing that the pouring out of the Spirit fulfilled God's promise and was a sign of the last days. Peter understood that the Spirit's work was not limited to the present moment but had far-reaching implications for the salvation of all who would call upon the name of the Lord.

This Spirit that swept through the house gifted more than those disciples at Pentecost and those with whom we minister today. That Spirit has been loosed into the world, and its creative and life-giving power is now the gift of families and communities, of churches, and nations. The relevant question becomes not just "How will I respond to these party gifts of the Spirit?" but "How will we respond to these gifts?" 

The climax of Peter's sermon in Acts 2 is the proclamation that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21). This powerful statement encapsulates the universality of salvation through Jesus Christ. It reaffirms the fundamental truth that no other name is given to humanity by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12).

In a world filled with diverse religious beliefs and philosophical systems, the message of Jesus as the only way to salvation may face opposition and criticism. However, let us not waver in our conviction, for the truth remains unchanging. Salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

While exclusive, this truth is also inclusive in its offer. The invitation to call upon the name of the Lord is extended to everyone. Regardless of our past mistakes, social status, or cultural background, Christ's saving grace is available to all who sincerely seek Him. The Holy Spirit empowers us to boldly proclaim this message of hope and redemption, assuring those who hear that they, too, can experience the transformative power of God's love.

The Men and Women of Galilee - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Acts 1:6-14

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in whitestood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Although the first astronauts were all men, crews going into the skies these days often include both men and women. The Space X Crew 5, which launched to the International Space Station on October 6, 2022, consisted of two men and two women, and one of the women was the commander of flight.

It is, of course, a good thing that such opportunities and responsibilities are open to both sexes, but historically speaking, it has taken a long time to get there.

That seems jarringly clear in another “going into the sky” moment. We’re talking about the ascension, when Jesus was taken up through a cloud into the heavens. As those who witnessed this phenomenon stood, dumbstruck, staring into the sky, two heavenly messengers, specifically identified as men, spoke to them saying, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?”

Written by Luke to Theophilus. Luke's narrative is focused on God and connected to history and the community.

The preface closes with a summary statement (vv. 12–14). The community of believers includes both male disciples (only 11 names are given, preparing for Judas' replacement in 1:15–26) and women, with Mary explicitly named alongside the mention of Jesus' brothers.  This reading from Acts goes through verse 14, which plainly states that as the apostles devoted themselves to prayer, they were “together with certain women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.” So, there’s a reasonable likelihood that there were also women disciples who witnessed the ascension.

Assurance from Jesus

The confusion (1:6): 

The apostles want to know if Jesus will establish his kingdom at this time. 

Jesus had spoken of the kingdom and promised the coming of the Spirit, so it is no surprise that his disciples wonder about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel (v. 6) .

The clarification (1:7): 

Jesus tells them that the Father will determine when that occurs. Jesus does not spend a lot of time talking about what is not yet but tells the people to focus on what is right now.

Jesus is concerned about saving more than just Israel. 

While God’s plan of renewal is mediated through Israel (a concern for the apostles, vv. 6–7), it would reach beyond Israel to include those who had been disenfranchised from Israel’s commonwealth, the Gentiles. Hence, the reign of God for Luke would also challenge the claims of Israel regarding its exclusive rights and position within God’s plan. For this reason, the inclusion of the Gentiles in the “new” people of God is an overarching concern of Acts.24

24 A cursory reading of Acts indicates that the early “Christian” communities encountered “integration” problems, which were a major concern of Acts (8:26–15:35). Nevertheless, integration into the new “Christian” community links conversion with integration into the new community, which has to do with the creation of a new social entity—the unity of Jew and Gentile into one people of God through Jesus Christ (Liew, “Acts,” 420–21). 

The commission (1:8): 

Meanwhile, they are to witness for Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea. How do we live as Disciples of a now departed Jesus? - Don't Worry, Watch, Wait, and Pray

Ascension of Jesus

Faith is about waiting sometimes, others it’s about action.

Discipleship is about an active witness more than a personal relationship.

Receive power = closest English word compared to dynamite. 

The Holy Spirit gives them power to be witnesses, this is functional as well as spiritual. 

Verse 14 they all joined together constantly in prayer - Prayer is an active practice. Jesus tells them not to leave Jerusalem yet. - Pray a little longer. Jesus decided I am going to work from home.

Isaiah 40:28-31 King James Version (KJV)

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Pray

Now is the time to be praying, praying more than ever. 

Philippians 4:6-7 New King James Version (NKJV)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Know that the same way you saw Jesus leave is the same way you are going to see him return in the meantime, don’t worry, watch the right things, wait on the Lord, and pray. 

Whose Time is it Anyway? - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. 16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

My mother was particular about time; she set all her clocks somewhere between 12 and 18 minutes ahead. We used to get text message reminders when we were supposed to "spring ahead" for daylight savings. She detested being late; she was a stickler for time, and my mother was also different about timing. I compared my mother to the stories of Eagles. Eagles are rumored to push their offspring out of the nest to start flying before they may think they are ready. The parent eagle knows when it is time, even when the baby eagle has gotten comfortable. We have moved houses, changed careers, started businesses, got married, had children, and done many things before I could check all the boxes I wanted to check first. My mother's favorite phrase was God will work it out. Be on time and be in God's time. 

Knowing the time is critically important in our fast-paced society. Fortunately, we seldom need to ask, "What time is it?" The current time is right there in the corner of our laptops, at the top of our tablets, or on the face of our smartwatches, accurate to the second, courtesy of the internet. If we're in the car, we can find the time glowing at us digitally on the dash somewhere.

We generally are aware of time and our need-to-know what time it is. We need to get to work on time. We need to catch a flight and be on time. We need to arrive early for our daughter's ballet performance in The Nutcracker. The office won't wait for us; the plane won't wait for us; the performance will not be delayed until we arrive.

We use a variety of devices to ensure we're on time. We have pop-up reminders on our laptops, tablets, and smartphones. We maintain online calendars — probably several — to manage appointments, travel plans, and school events. We may even buy a book or two to help us manage our time more efficiently. All of this happens because we assume, and to some extent correctly, that our time is ours alone to manage. If we mismanage it, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

Psalm 31 is a text about time. The Psalms are a collection of prayers, songs, liturgies, and poems. David is credited as the author of Psalm 31; he is going through a rough time. 

David seeks deliverance.

David urgently and prayerfully pours out his heart to God. He entrusts his very being to him, relying on the divine presence to rescue him from his vicious, plotting enemies and to continue to keep him safe. One scholar says that Psalm 31 doesn't follow a logical or literary order. I can relate to that; when you are at your wit's end, sometimes you are not as eloquent as you would like. Sometimes your subject and verb don't agree; sometimes, you won't have perfect grammar and syntax. Sometimes when you need help, you can't turn into an award-winning author; you just know to call on someone for help. I need somebody to come save me, and I need them to save me now!

David Suffers Despair

David prayerfully acknowledges his pain to the Lord. He is facing persecution and multiple death threats. His enemies, although unspecified, are real, and they cause him severe distress. They are among those "who pay regard to worthless idols" (v. 6). Because of them, he faces affliction (v. 7). David lays all his hurt out before God in his lament in verses 9-13. He cries out, "Have mercy on me" (many translations of v. 9) because of his extreme distress (the Hebrew word means dire straits — a difficult narrowing situation), which has constricted him physically and emotionally. He speaks of his sorrow, sighing, misery, and wasting away. Not only that, but his adversaries scorn him, and even his neighbors turn away from him in alarm when he needs them the most. He's afraid that people will forget him. Many folks use whispering campaigns to plot against David (see also v. 20).

David Shows Dedication

David is not speaking about the length of his life but about what will be happening in his life, which depends largely on God. "My times" (NRSV, NIV, NASB, KJV) is translated as "my destiny" (NET, NAB), "my future" (NLT, CEB), "my fate" (Tanakh), and "every moment of my life" (NJB). David trustingly places his precarious life (due to his persecuting enemies and snubbing acquaintances) in God's trustworthy, providential care.

In acknowledging that his life and times were in the hands of God, David seems to have arrived at a conclusion ahead of his time. Perhaps, he wished he had come to this conclusion more quickly, but it was quick enough. Maybe even more than quick enough — he was ahead of most of his contemporaries. There is one God, and David put his trust in his God, and it was this trust that gave him peace.

Isn't this where we want to be? Ahead of time. Early and eager. Ready and steady. Living life to the fullest.

But in the hands of God. The Psalmist knows he can turn to God for help because God has helped him before; if he did it before, he can do it again! David says, "Into your hand, I commit my spirit." (Psalm 31:5). "I'm putting everything I have in this rocky refuge. My times are in your hand. My past and my future, not to mention my present." 

David says that in this time of trouble, I trust God fully!

David's words in verse 15a, "My times are in your hand," mean essentially the same thing as his words in verse 5a. Steadfast love.

"All hands on deck," from the traditional nautical command for every sailor to report for duty, refers to the necessity of everyone involved to lend a hand or assist.

To take someone by the hand is to lead or nurture them

To bite the hand that feeds you is to be hostile to someone who has been kind to you.

To have your hands full is to be busy

To know something firsthand is to be directly familiar with the facts

To hand something off is to pass it along to someone else

To force someone's hand is to compel them to act prematurely or involuntarily

To gain the upper hand is to obtain control

To get your hands dirty

You can catch these hands

Because of David's confidence in God, he can declare, "Into your hand, I commit my spirit" (v. 5a). Christian people will readily remember Jesus' final, dying words spoken on the cross: "Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.' Having said this, he breathed his last." (Luke 23:46). The deacon-martyr Stephen's last words are similar: "While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'" (Acts 7:59). Even though David himself was not dying, he was nevertheless trusting God in the midst of mortal danger. NET and similarly, Tanakh translates his words in verse 5a as "Into your hand I entrust my life." David relies primarily on the Lord, not on himself, even though he is a strong, skilled, and shrewd warrior and leader.

Luke 24:46

46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

all in his hands, I put it all in his hands

all in his hands, I put it all in his hands

All of my burdens, problems, if I have a question

I put it all, yes I put it all, I put it all in his hands

Drive:

Whatever the problem, I put it all in his hands

I know that he can solve them; I put it all in his hands

This, this, this, and that repeat 3x

I put it all in his hands. He can handle it, that's a fact, I put it all in his hands

No matter how great or small, he's the master of them all

I put it all, yes I put it all, I put it all in his hands.

The concluding verse of Psalm 31 reads: "Be strong [you faithful followers of the Lord — v. 23] and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord" (v. 24)

Well-Known Christians - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Luke 24:13-35

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

There are some Well Known Christians

Mother Teresa - A Catholic nun and missionary who dedicated her life to serving the poor and sick in India.

Martin Luther - A German theologian who is credited with initiating the Protestant Reformation.

Billy Graham - An American evangelist who preached to millions of people around the world and is considered one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th century.

C.S. Lewis - A British author and theologian who wrote many books, including "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Mere Christianity."

Pope Francis - The current leader of the Catholic Church and one of the most prominent religious figures in the world today.

Rick Warren - An American pastor and author who founded Saddleback Church and wrote the best-selling book "The Purpose Driven Life."

John Wesley - An 18th-century English preacher and theologian who founded the Methodist movement.

There are local names as well, in this area if we were to call names like Hobbs, Veasey, Warren, Winfield, and Pierson, that would mean something to the members of this church. Some people are famous some are not, but we join the scriptures looking at 2 people on a walk to Emmaus and they run into the most famous person in Christianity of all, but they don't recognize him. 

The Walk to Emmaus is only in the Gospel of Luke a walk by Cleopas and another unnamed disciple. 

Jesus meets some of his followers as they are on the way to a small village from Jerusalem. It’s not a short walk, so it wasn’t a short talk, as you’ll see in the text.  Jerusalem is anywhere from 7 miles to 20 miles away from Emmaus. The passage begins with two people who had been among the disciples who were looking for Jesus at the empty tomb. We don’t know why they are going to Emmaus, perhaps it was their hometown? The movement toward Emmaus is probably not as significant as the movement from Jerusalem.

A. The reunion with Jesus (24:13-16): These two believers are joined by the Savior.

1. Their discussion (23:13-14): They are talking about the Crucifixion.

2. Their darkness (24:15-16): Neither disciple recognizes the stranger who joins them. (Out of Context)

B. The request from Jesus (24:17): He asks why they are so sad.

C. The reply to Jesus (24:18-24)

1. They tell him their problem (24:18-21): The Crucifixion has dashed their hopes that perhaps Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the Messiah!

2. They tell him their puzzle (24:22-24): Some women found his tomb empty and were told by two angels that he has risen!

D. The rebuke by Jesus (24:25-27)

1. Their ignorance of the Scriptures (24:25): He says they have forgotten the prophecies concerning his death and resurrection.

Luke leaves us wondering but it’s possible that Jesus reminded them of passages like Deut. 18:18 that says 

“I will raise up for them a prophet, like you among your people, I will put my own words in the mouth of the prophet who shall speak to them everything that I command.”

Or he might have reminded them of Isaiah 53:13-14 that reads: See my servant shall be exalted and lifted up…. And many were astonished at him…

Or Isaiah 53 that reminds us that he poured out himself to death, was numbered among the transgressors yet bore the sin of many….

2. His interpretation of the Scriptures (24:26-27): He now reviews for them all the Old Testament passages which speak of him.

E. The recognition of Jesus (24:28-35)

1. The meal (24:28-31a)

a. The invitation (24:28-29): The two disciples invite Jesus to join them for a meal.

b. The revelation (24:30-31a): After he prays, Jesus distributes the bread. At that moment they recognize him!

We can find Jesus in places all the time and not recognize him. 

Jesus lives and abides with us and can be found in us… but not just us… the churches is not an exclusive club. No, Jesus meets us where we are…. Sometimes in the most unexpected ways… …sometimes in the most unexpected people… sometimes out context…

2. The miracle (24:31b): He suddenly disappears out of sight!

3. The meditation (24:32): They reflect, "Didn't our hearts feel strangely warm as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"

4. The mission (24:33-35): The two disciples now return to Jerusalem and report all this to the apostles!

The Toughest Commandment - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Matthew 28:1-10

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

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 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.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

As I grow older, I stay in touch with the fact that I must face some tough decisions. Challenging because I understand that regardless of my emotional state, I must see the situation through. That means I have made big choices in my life, even though I was scared out of my mind doing them. Deciding to go to college in Texas, purchase a house, start a business, get married, and have children are all scary things on the surface, but I went forward with them, and my life is better for me taking that leap of faith. 

We all will have to face significant life decisions if we have not already. Friends and colleagues have moved across state lines to take new jobs. I know people who decided to go back to school, to get married, to get married a second time, people who were faced with major medical decisions, to have surgery, or to take a loved one off life support. Some have decided to go to therapy or go back to therapy.

Some people got the courage to speak up to their boss or apartment complex manager about unfair treatment; there are people I know who walked away from well-paying jobs to pursue a passion or calling, people who are learning to live without their spouse or parent because of an untimely death. Some people chose to run for public office or take a dangerous job in public safety, like a police officer or firefighter. No matter the circumstances, life is full of making tough decisions and making some decisions when we are scared.

We come across some people facing tough choices while they are scared in scripture today. We join the text on the morning of Christ's resurrection, looking at the two Marys. 

Obligatory PSA

-Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute

-The women preached the first Easter Sermon 

Neither Mark nor Luke, nor John mentions the earthquake; in their narratives, already the stone has been rolled away before anyone arrives at the tomb (cf. Mark 16:4; Luke 24:2; John 20:1)

The two Mary's went to the tomb after the Sabbath.

- Their routine has been interrupted by an event that changed the world

Do not be afraid is a common command in scripture, but it is easier said than done. 

Fear is replaced by a promise.

In Matthew, the women are not only the first witnesses of the empty tomb, but they also receive the first appearance of the risen Christ. 

When you step out, Jesus will meet you where you are. The two Marys followed a challenging commandment and got to see Jesus before they finished; they were willing to take the first few steps and saw a risen savior before they had even finished following the command. Miracles come with instructions, and the instructions are not for God; they are for us to understand and appreciate what is going on.

The stone is rolled away so that the people can look in. Seeing the empty tomb is a step that helps the disciples understand what has happened. Seeing a risen savior without an empty tomb leaves room for alternative explanations, such as they imagined it. The empty tomb gives a way for a concrete understanding.

We have trouble with "Fear Not" because we are afraid of so much. We fear the deaths of loved ones, serious illnesses, not having enough money for retirement, business failures, climate change, mass shootings, terrorism, and criminal activity. We see so many threats to our well-being that we can hardly believe it when we hear, "Fear not!"

But the words that the angel spoke to the women on Easter morning are also meant for us. "Do not be afraid," he said. "I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said" (Matthew 28:5-6). The very worst thing that could happen — the death of God's Son on the cross — has now been overcome by the resurrection. Darkness has been replaced by light, and death has been replaced by new life.

"Then go quickly and tell his disciples," said the angel. "'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him'" (v. 7). The angel's promise is that Jesus is going ahead of us, always ahead of us. We do not need to fear the future because Jesus is in it. He calls us forward and promises to meet us in what lies ahead.

"Fear not!" because we have a risen Lord who has overcome anything that can hurt or destroy us. Because Jesus has been raised, we do not have to be afraid.

I serve a risen Savior; He's in the world today 

I know that He is living, whatever men may say 

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer 

And just the time I need Him He's always near

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! 

He walks with me and talks with me 

Along life's narrow way 

He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart! 

You ask me how I know He lives? 

He lives within my heart

Betrayal - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Matthew 26:14-30

14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

One of the most painful experiences we may ever face is betrayal. We have been betrayed; it is a fact of life that if you have never been betrayed, count yourself blessed and keep saying good morning. 

There are some infamous traitors in history. Many of these are political spies, and in the United States, this list includes Benedict Arnold, Aldrich Ames, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Robert Hanssen, and others.

The betrayal of Julius Caesar by his friend Brutus still shocks history students. Other infamous names have emerged more recently, such as Alfred Redl, an Austrian military officer who, during World War I, sold sensitive information about the Austrian army to Czarist Russia. Or, Harold Cole, a British soldier who betrayed the French resistance and is considered one of the worst traitors of World War II.

Since betrayal is a central human theme, the so-called classic literature is full of it. Such as Iago from Othello, who was Othello's trusted advisor but hated him and made him think his wife was having an affair. In The Count of Monte Cristo, Fernand Mondego falsely accuses his best friend Edmond of treason before having him imprisoned for 14 years. He also steals Edmond's fiancée, Mercédès, and marries her. 

Peter Pettigrew, a.k.a. Wormtail, of the Harry Potter books, betrayed Harry Potter's parents to Lord Voldemort and then framed Professor Snape for their deaths. In The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Edmund, the youngest Pevensie brother, betrays his siblings and all of Narnia for a bag of Turkish Delight.  And in the Godfather movies, Fredo betrayed his brother, Michael Corleone, almost getting him killed.

There was betrayal before historical figures and fictional characters, and we see betrayal throughout the Bible.  Abraham betrays Sarah by telling people she is his sister because he is scared he would get killed. Jacob betrayed Esau for his birthright, then Jacob's Uncle Laban by tricking him into marrying his older daughter Leah before Rachel. Joseph's brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. David's son Absalom betrayed him in an attempt to take the throne. Delilah betrayed Samson, the list goes on.

In Matthew 26:14-27:66, we witness the ultimate betrayal of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who was sold out for 30 pieces of silver by one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot. Judas was not the only person to betray Jesus; Peter and Pilate did too. Judas betrayed Jesus for what seemed to be greed, Peter betrayed Jesus for what appeared to be cowardice, and Pilate betrayed Jesus for what seemed to be political gain. Judas got 30 pieces of silver; Peter got away from a crowd that figured out Peter was with the man they were crucifying, and Pilate could have stopped the kangaroo court but did not get involved to keep his political ambitions intact. 

At the Passover meal, Jesus knew someone would betray him, and he said so; he told the disciples that one of them would surely betray him. All the disciples asked Lord, is it me? The only one who did not say Lord is it me was Judas; he said Rabbi instead of Lord in the text. Rabbi instead of Lord is a slight difference to some but a big one when you realize that Lord in the text means personal relationship, and Rabbi in the text means professional title. Judas was using outsider language in an insider meeting. When someone wants to distance themself from you, the language will give it away first. Later in the text, Peter is repeatedly asked if he knows Jesus, and he lies three times before the rooster crows. Pilate washes his hands of a situation he knows is not right. 

People will change how they talk to you and how they talk about you, and then they will stand by while other people do you wrong. Jesus willingly gave himself even though he knew what would happen and continued his mission. 

We must look backward to Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Jesus endured the ultimate betrayal, yet He did not respond with anger or retaliation. Instead, He willingly sacrificed Himself to pay the price for our sins. When we face betrayal, we can find comfort in knowing that Christ understands our pain and that His sacrifice has given us the hope of eternal life.

We must look forward to the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God. In Revelation 21:4, we are promised that in the new heaven and new earth, there will be no more pain, no more tears, and no more sorrow. While we may face betrayal in this life, we can take comfort in knowing that all things will be made right one day.

We must look inward and do self-reflection. It is easy to focus on the other person's wrongdoing and ignore our faults when betrayed. However, we must remember that we are all sinners needing God's grace. We must examine our hearts and ask God to reveal any areas where we must repent and seek forgiveness.

We must look upward toward heaven. In times of betrayal, we may feel alone and abandoned. However, we must remember that God is always with us and will never leave or forsake us. We can find comfort in knowing that our Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally and will guide us through even the darkest valleys.

Finally, we must look outward to the whole church and the rest of the world. We may be tempted to withdraw and isolate ourselves when betrayed. However, we must remember that we are part of a larger community of believers and are called to love and serve others, even during our pain. As we extend grace and forgiveness to others, we reflect the love of Christ to a world that desperately needs it. Forgiveness is not a free pass; we still operate wisely; we just understand that we don't have a heaven or hell to put anyone in ourselves.

As we consider how to respond to betrayal, remember that we do not walk alone. We have a Savior who understands our pain, offers us hope, and calls us to love and serve others. May we respond to betrayal with grace, forgiveness, and steadfast faith in the One who was betrayed for us.

Jesus knew that he would be betrayed and pressed forward anyway. Our sins are forgiven, and we are all welcome at the table. 

New Eyes Pastor - Johnnie Simpson Jr.

John 9:24-25

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

I am particular about my eyes; I did not grow up wearing glasses and struggled with them when I finally had to start wearing them. When I was 26, I had blood pressure issues, and the next time I went to the eye doctor, they told me I would have to start wearing eyeglasses. I adjusted to the glasses but still wanted to do something else; I wanted to wear contacts, my current doctor said I could sell you contacts, but with your prescription and eye issues, it would be hard to get contacts, so I deal with these glasses. I think about that even more as I grow older because one thing that tends to change is vision.

There is a medical condition known as presbyopia. If you're over 50, chances are pretty good you have it. Presbyopia means "old eyes." It's the fuzzy vision most of us get as we age, leading us to use eyeglasses for reading and, eventually, everything else. As surely as presbyopia is about old eyes, today's gospel lesson from the ninth chapter of John is about new eyes — specifically, the eyes of a certain blind man whom Jesus heals.

The man was born blind, and everyone assumed that he or his parents had sinned to cause the blindness. I firmly believe that most of our problems are our faults, but I know that sometimes the environment plays a role. Jesus never explains why the man was born blind, and I don't think it needs an explanation; sometimes bad things happen, and we must deal with it. Jesus sees a need and meets the need. 

Jesus healed him by rubbing mud and spit together and telling the man to wash in the pool of Siloam. Here is another example of a miracle in the Bible and people following instructions before the miracle.

One feature of most human communities — and not a very positive one — is that they don't adapt well to change. There's a well-established protocol or pecking order in that community, and Jesus has just turned it on its head. The people who knew the man couldn't believe this was the same person they knew. The man's parents and the community failed him. The man's parents failed him out of fear, and the community failed him out of complacency.  But suddenly, Jesus' miracle changed all that. And those at the top of the religious pecking order — the Pharisees — are not too happy about it.

Haters cannot handle your elevation. What God has for you is for you.

The Pharisees couldn't believe Jesus healed the man either, and they complained that Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath. The Pharisees were more concerned about the rules than the fact that a man who had been blind since birth could now see. They interviewed multiple people but had their minds made up. The irony is that the blind man receives his sight, but others lose theirs. The people did not lose their physical sight but their ability to understand the miracle in front of them and, even worse, the miracle worker. 

"The Pharisees do not want to hear or believe the man's story because it opposes the story they want to tell. They want Jesus to be the sinner, not the story's hero; they want another explanation that leaves them in control of all the religious goods and services. "

The Pharisees accused Jesus of working on the Sabbath, but none of the actions Jesus did broke the Sabbath law; Exodus 35 said that people should not do work on the Sabbath, and work back then meant lighting a fire. That is why some sabbath compliant appliances today work without you having to push a button on the Sabbath. Push a button = using electricity = work.

I have gained peace by understanding that I don't need to change the minds of people intent on misunderstanding me anyway. 

New eyes. That's what the man gets from his encounter with Jesus. New eyes in the physical sense and new eyes in the spiritual sense as well.

And what about us? What sort of new eyes do we need? We're not talking, of course, about bifocals or cataract surgery; we're talking about our outlook on life and the ways we see with the eyes of the soul.

When we look at the people around us, those we encounter every day, do we see them as if they've always been small-minded, petty, or otherwise flawed? Or do we see them as God sees them, human children with infinite potential?

When we look at people different from us — people from another ethnic heritage, religion, or community —do we assume certain things about them based on old prejudices? Or do we approach each encounter open to whatever God's ready to show us?

Jesus healed the blind man before he became a believer.

Recognizing a man named Jesus 

Realizing he must be a prophet 

Calling him Lord

They told the man to give glory to God, and he did. 

The man said he didn't know about all that, all he knew was that he once was blind, and now he can see. Lord, I don't know how you did it, but I know you did it, and I'm glad about it.

Faith 150 - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

I am usually an unassuming person; I don't like to wear flashy clothes or drive a flashy car, and I want functional, unassuming, reliable vehicles. I know I am not alone in that because the best-selling vehicle in the United States for the past 45 years is not a sedan, a van, or an SUV. It's a pickup truck: The Ford F-150. About one million new trucks hit the road each year.

The truck has excellent fuel efficiency and incredible hauling capacity. The website says it is "a symbol of American tenacity, grit, and honest living," combining ruggedness with innovation. That seems like a formula for success, but Ford is not stopping there with their F-150 truck. The Ford F-150 is going electric, and Ford is making an electric version of their most famous selling vehicle. 

Given the sales history of this truck, you might wonder why Ford would want to mess with success. You know the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Ford executives knew they would need to win over some serious skeptics with the electric version. "We wanted to make sure that we built a truck that would be accepted by truck owners today," said Linda Zhang to Fast Company magazine. She's the chief engineer for the new electric truck.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That's what many folks were saying about good works back in the first century. Within the Jewish faith, there was a long tradition of people being "justified by works" (Romans 4:2) following the rules and almost getting to the point where they worshiped the rules more than worshiped God. 

But then the apostle Paul came along and saw something that needed to be fixed.

Paul made an important discovery when he studied the story of Abraham in the book of Genesis. He realized that it was simply not true that Abraham was justified by his works. "What does the Scripture say?" "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness" (v. 3).

Yes, Abraham was made righteous by believing God, not by following the law. He was justified by his faith, not by his good works.

Justification by faith was a radical innovation like a pickup truck going electric. No one saw it coming, but then it revolutionized the industry. If we follow Paul, we must choose a new kind of vehicle: A Faith-150.

Paul is telling the people in the Roman church about faith, and the best example of faith is Abraham. Abraham did not earn God's favor but rather trusted in God. Abraham was around before all the rules were put in place. Abraham was circumcised before they had laws on being circumcised; Abraham tithed before the Bible said to bring tithes into the storehouse. Abraham believed God before the law and was made righteous by faith. 

Now, we know that in our communities, family is everything. It is who we turn to in times of trouble and celebrate with in times of joy. And so it is in the family of faith. But who belongs to this family? Is it those who do good works or those who follow the law?

Paul tells us that it is not by works or by following the law that we are justified in the eyes of God. No, it is through faith. And who better to illustrate this than our ancestor, Abraham?

Abraham believed God before he could see what would happen. He believed in the promise of God, even when it seemed impossible. And it was this faith that made him righteous in the eyes of God.

After we jump into a Faith-150 and trust Christ to be our Savior, we make every effort to support God's work in the world. As Luther himself said, "Good works do not make a [person] good, but a good [person] does good works." Good works will naturally flow out of a person saved through their faith in Jesus, and having faith in Jesus does not allow anyone to sit back and refrain from doing good.

Think of the Ford Lightning truck. Yes, its electric engine makes it a truly innovative vehicle that can power a house during blackouts. But even though it is based on a world-changing idea, the Ford Lightning still has to carry tools, building supplies, mulch, and manure. It wouldn't be a pickup truck if it didn't tow heavy cargo up hills.

Same for a Christian whose "faith is credited as righteousness" (4:5). Yes, our faith in Jesus makes us right with God, but we are still challenged to show each other compassion, justice, and mercy. The heavy lifting of the Christian life involves feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, welcoming strangers, and visiting people in prison. If we didn't do these good works, we wouldn't be recognizable as followers of Christ.

We can put our faith in the promises of God, and we can trust that even when things seem impossible, God is still at work. We can have faith that God's promises are true and that we are a part of God's family of faith.

So let us not be deceived into thinking that our good works or adherence to the law make us right with God. Let us instead put our faith in the promise of God, just as our ancestor Abraham did. And let us rejoice in the knowledge that we are a part of the family of faith, not because of anything we have done, but because of our faith in God.

Everyone should, of course, feel free to choose the pickup truck brand that is best for them. But when following Jesus, you cannot beat a Faith-150.

You Can't Eat Just One - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” 3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

I go by donut stores often, and I have to exercise discipline when I get breakfast because when I order a kolache, the owners will ask if I want two. If I order two kolaches, they will try to put donut holes in the bag without me asking, or if I order a donut, they will try to throw an additional donut for free. I am trying to be disciplined, so I ask myself, is this a blessing or a test? This situation reminds me of the tagline from the old potato chip commercial, "you can't eat just one."

There is a story about Sam, who decided he was going on a diet. He announced his plan to all his friends and co-workers to make sure he would succeed. Sam was like Oscar Wilde, who remarked, "I can resist anything — except temptation!" Sam's co-workers were pretty good about giving him moral support until the morning he walked into the office carrying a box of freshly baked donuts. "What's with the donuts, Sam?" one of them asked. "I thought you were on a diet." "I am," said Sam. "But I want you to know I wouldn't have gotten these donuts if it weren't for God." That remark begged for an explanation. Sam quickly supplied one. "You see, I was driving into work and knew I'd have to go right past the bakery. I just couldn't get those donuts out of my mind, so I decided to pray to God for help. 'God,' I said, 'if you want me to have a box of hot, delicious donuts, give me a parking place right in front of the bakery.' Sure enough, I found one on my eighth trip around the block."

Sam’s story of temptation and rationalization is not the first story of its kind, we find a similar story in Genesis. This book is part of the Pentateuch or the first five books. Genesis 1:1-2:3 is the first creation story in the book, and 2:4-24 is the second story. Scholars believe the second was written first. I don't know why the older version comes later in the text, but it happens. One scholar says "Genesis thereby invites the reader to see a fuller truth by holding different but complementary viewpoints together at the same time."  

Verses 15-17 God puts Adam in the Garden of Eden and tells them to till the land and keep it. God gives Adam a purpose; then God gives Adam permission and prohibition. God tells Adam you can eat from every tree in the Garden except this one tree; if you eat from this tree, you will die. God gives Adam a wife in verse 22. So, Adam had a job before Adam got a spouse. A serpent comes along in chapter 3 and tricks Eve and Adam into eating from the one tree they were not supposed to eat from; they are shamed by their actions and try to cover themselves with fig leaves to hide the shame and the sin. Fig leaves are not the most comfortable to put on your skin; they are prickly and rough, and I cannot imagine using them to cover your special parts. Adam and Eve broke a direct commandment of God. 

"When this commandment was broken, sin and death entered the world, warping humanity's original desires for God so that humans exalted the creature over the Creator, which is the present source of all human misery. Although tempted by the serpent, the point of origin for evil in the world was the human will itself, in particular the free decision to transgress God's will." 

The serpent never does lie to Eve. Did you ever consider that? Every word out of his mouth is the truth. But the serpent fails to tell the whole truth. He slices off a carefully selected segment of truth, one calculated to impugn God's motives and to puff his listeners up with self-destructive pride. I don't blame only Eve for eating the fruit; the text says that Adam was there when the serpent spoke to Eve. 

Eve was not around when God gave the command to Adam; she came later. God told Adam not to eat the fruit; Eve says that God says don't eat the fruit and don't touch the tree. So, we have gossip and misquotes contributing to the confusion. The serpent also tells Eve she will not die; Adam and Eve die, just not right then. The enemy will capitalize on confusion. If you don't know the word, they can use it against you. The enemy can capitalize off complacency; nothing terrible happens immediately, so we can keep doing what we have been doing.  The very same thing is true of our inner voices of temptation. We aren't tempted by the blatantly wrong things of this world; evil masquerading as good causes the most difficulty. Philip Dormer Stanhope, Fourth Earl of Chesterfield, wrote back in the 1700s: "Vice, in its true light, is so deformed, that it shocks us at first sight; and would hardly ever seduce us, if it did not at first wear the mask of some virtue."

In our minds, that process by which we turn vice into virtue is called "rationalization." It's the same process Eve goes through when she thinks about disobeying the Lord to eat the forbidden fruit. When Eve convinces herself that the tree is useful, beautiful, and a source of wisdom, she can do what would otherwise be unthinkable. Think about all those rationalizations and how easy they are to deploy in the service of sin:

"I'm not committing adultery; I'm just finding the love I need."

"I'm not living a greedy lifestyle of over-consumption; I'm just pursuing the American dream."

"I'm not hurting anybody when I cheat my customers; I'm just following the laws of the marketplace."

"I'm not abusing my child; I'm just enforcing discipline."

Rationalizations can be deadly.

But here's some good news. There's a way out. It's called grace. When we recognize temptation for what it is and acknowledge we can't beat it on our own, God enters and gives us what we need to prevail. It's all a matter of whom we trust. Trust ourselves alone, and we go down in flames. Trust God — the author of grace — and we find, more often than not, the strength we need to resist temptation and live a godly life.

This story of mission and distraction begins our journey through Lent. For the church, it is a time of repentance, of recognizing how we have let ourselves be distracted from the mission God intends for us. God's mission has not changed, and in the aftermath of our stumbling, God still calls us back to the right path. God calls us back every day and every Lent. 

Sin separates us from God, and humans can't bridge the gap between themselves and God through their own efforts. Just as Adam and Eve's fig leaves could not truly cover their sin, humanity's attempts to atone for their own sin are ultimately insufficient. However, Jesus is the ultimate solution to humanity's sin problem. Jesus took on the punishment for humanity's sin through his sacrificial death on the cross, and his resurrection offers the hope of eternal life and reconciliation with God. By accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, Christians can be forgiven of their sins and have access to eternal life. Adam and Eve's use of fig leaves can foreshadow Jesus' ultimate sacrifice to save humanity from sin. Just as fig leaves could not truly cover Adam and Eve's shame, human efforts to overcome sin are ultimately futile without the intervention of a savior.

Unclimbed Mountains - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Matthew 17:1-9

17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Robert Frost wrote a poem called The Mountain, about two people conversing at the bottom of a mountain. One person wants to climb the mountain, and the other person keeps telling him why he should not climb the mountain, don't climb on this side, don't go that way, etc., a laundry list of reasons to hold off. The sad part of the poem is the person telling the man in the poem not to climb the mountain has never climbed the mountain himself. A significant line in the poem says, "It doesn't seem so much to climb a mountain you've worked around the foot of all your life." All that man knew about the mountain was secondhand information. 

We can chastise the man, but I would venture to say that is how many of us live our lives, especially when it comes to the knowledge of God. Does what we know of God depend on the hearsay of others, or does it find its grounding in what we've experienced firsthand? If someone were to stop any one of us and ask what it's like to have a "mountaintop experience," would we be able to share anything meaningful?

In this text, we see an extraordinary event on top of a mountain, where Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to witness Jesus' transfiguration, literally a metamorphosis, a start of a new era in the mission of Jesus. In previous chapters, Jesus would perform a miracle or teach in the synagogue, and people would ask, "who is this guy?" In Matthew chapter 17, we learn who he is when Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up the mountain. Watch the text here because Jesus does not take all 12 disciples up the mountain. Jesus did not take all 12 disciples everywhere, sometimes Jesus took all 12, sometimes more than 12, sometimes just Peter, James, and John, and sometimes Jesus was by himself. Everyone is not entitled to every part of your life. 

Conversation

As Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John's eyes, they saw Him talking with Moses and Elijah. This conversation was not an ordinary one, my brothers and sisters. It was a conversation about Jesus' departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Can you imagine being in the presence of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah and hearing them discuss such a profound topic? What a humbling and awe-inspiring experience that must have been for the disciples! I like what Peter says next after seeing Moses and Elijah talking to Jesus. Peter wants to put something at this spot to remember what happened here; Peter wants to worship. Peter, who will cuss a little, Peter who might be willing to fight faster than the average person, is still ok to worship in the presence of God. If there is a chance for Peter, there is a chance for me. 

We, too, must be willing to engage in conversations with God and those He sends to speak to us. We must be willing to listen and obey, just as Peter, James, and John did when they heard the voice of God from the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him" (Matthew 17:5). When we listen to God, He will guide us and give us the wisdom we need to accomplish the tasks He has set before us.

Confirmation

Second, we must talk about the confirmation from God, Moses, and Elijah being there. God sent Moses and Elijah to confirm Jesus' authority and divine nature. Moses represented the law, while Elijah represented the prophets, and both pointed to Jesus as fulfilling their prophecies. It was a confirmation that Jesus was not just a teacher or a prophet, but He was God's Son.

As we walk through life, we, too, need confirmation from God. We must know that we are on the right path, doing what God has called us to do. We can find confirmation in the Word of God and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When we seek God with all our hearts, He will confirm His will for our lives.

Command

Third, we must talk about the commands from Jesus. As Jesus and the disciples descended the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone about what they had witnessed until He had risen from the dead. This command was given to protect Jesus' ministry and to ensure that the people would come to know Him on their own without being swayed by the miraculous events they had witnessed.

We, too, have commands from Jesus. We are called to go into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19) We are called to love one another, to serve one another, and to follow Jesus' example of humility and obedience. When we obey these commands, we will see God's kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven.

My brothers and sisters, the transfiguration of Jesus marked the beginning of a new era. It was a moment that demonstrated Jesus' divine nature and confirmed His authority. But it was also a moment that required the disciples to be willing to do the work when they walked back down the mountain. They couldn't stay on the mountain forever; they had to come down and continue spreading the Gospel.

Likewise, when we have a mountaintop experience with God, we can't sit around doing nothing. After the worship, we need to start the work. When we come down the mountain, we can pray, read our Bibles, fast, invite people to church, and invite people back to church. We can climb our mountains; we don't need fancy equipment to do it either; we can take it one step at a time. All we need do is walk, slowly and steadily, up the side of the mountain looming over us all our lives. We don't need an athlete's lung-bursting strength and endurance to do it. All we need is persistence and the willingness to set aside the time necessary to make the ascent. Take as much time as you need; the mountain will still be there.

The choice is up to each one of us. "It may not seem so much to climb a mountain you've worked around the foot of all your life," as the poet says. But one thing's for sure: If you never begin to climb, you'll never know the glories of the summit.

Integrated Faith - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr,

58 “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. 2 For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. 3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. 4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them,  and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you,  and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

 

The pandemic was eye-opening in some ways; I paid attention to the influx of people who came out to help others in a time of need. The number of people helping others increased, and the number of people needing help increased as well. Some people were there for show, some to help for a little while, and others to help for a long time. It was still interesting to watch how people responded to others in need. Civilization as a whole is judged by how we operate as a community. We find Isaiah talking about community in the text 

The story starts in chapter 56. Isaiah is talking about the community and its responsibility to each other. This scripture passage takes place when the people are no longer in exile, but their home city and temple are not entirely rebuilt yet. They are almost back to normal, but not completely. Sort of like Dickinson, Hurricane Harvey was nearly five years ago, but every building is not restored; yes, the pandemic has become endemic, but people still can catch it and struggle to recover. Isaiah is speaking to people who are in between right now, not where they were, but also not where they need to be. Isaiah is concerned because even though the people are struggling, they find a way to take advantage of others. 

Faithless Fasting

The prophet was calling out the disconnect between worshiping God and doing the will of God. The prophet's audience was keeping the forms of religion but not the substance of it.

Isaiah is concerned that the obsession with proper worship distracts the people from what determines the community's future—its effort to fulfill the ethical obligations of justice. In Isaiah's imagination, the rejection of the practice of justice is the cause of exile. The community's future will be determined by its willingness to embrace justice and a new sense of community. Where is your heart when you worship, and where is your heart when you do good deeds?

There is a mismatch between the people's lives in society and their lives in the church. The people have started to act like they were before the exile, thinking things cannot get worse. Isaiah has to wonder, haven't you learned your lesson? How many times do you have to almost lose your church before you change your behavior? How many brushes with death do you have to avoid before you start living right? How many financial crises do you have to go through before you do something different? People are caught up in rituals and avoid genuine relationships. The text says that they are pointing the finger at others.

Mr. Beast cured 1000 people's blindness.

Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast online, is an American YouTube personality, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Mr. Beast has over 130 million subscribers on his main YouTube channel, 11 million subscribers on his philanthropy channel, 18 million on his backup channel, 31 million on his gaming channel, and 21 million on his reaction channel, where he watches videos and records his reaction to them. Safe to say Mr. Beast has made a substantial living by making videos hundreds of millions of dollars by making videos on YouTube. Mr. Beast has come under scrutiny recently for a video where he helps 1000 blind people regain their sight. Reports say that half of the people in the world who are blind can get their sight back with surgery, but they cannot afford it or don't live in areas where doctors can perform the surgery. 

Mr. Beast decided to pay for 1000 people to get the surgery; not only did he pay for the surgeries, but he also gave some of the people in the video an additional $10,000, and he gave a teenager a brand-new car. Mr. Beast gave one of the doctors who performed the surgery an additional $100,000 to continue doing surgeries later on. Mr. Beast did not show everyone getting the surgeries, just those who agreed to be filmed. Mr. Beast did a great thing, but some people still complained, called his actions demonic, called him the Anti-Christ, and badmouthed the man, who makes YouTube videos for a living, for making a video helping people all over the world. That is what is wrong with the church today. So many would rather point the finger at someone else to diminish their work than get out and do some work on their own. Mr. Beast is literally opening blinded eyes, and some church folk still found a way to complain about it. They value the ritual over the relationship. The Bible does tell us to work in secret, yet we also can "shout it out."

One year during Holy Week, a few Christians from well-endowed congregations in a major metropolitan area spent a night with homeless friends on the street. They were looking for the suffering Christ in the lives of those who spend their days and nights suffering from hunger, disease, and rejection. It was a chilly night, and rain rolled in close to midnight. Looking for shelter, the handful of travelers felt fortunate to come upon a church holding an all-night prayer vigil. The leader of the group was a pastor of one of the most respected churches in the city. As she stepped through the outer doors of the church, a security guard stopped her. She explained that she and the rest of their group were Christians. They had no place to stay, were wet and miserable, and would like to rest and pray. Enticed by the lighted warmth of the sanctuary, she had forgotten that her wet, matted hair and disheveled clothing left her looking like just another homeless person from the street. The security guard was friendly but explained in brutal honesty, "I was hired to keep homeless people like you out." As the dejected group made their way back into the misery of the night, they knew they had found their suffering Christ, locked out of the church.

I could go on, but the point is that we can spend so much time arguing about the church and what the church should be doing that we miss out on opportunities to be the church. 

Faithful fasting

I am not saying we should not be religious; I am saying we should not be fake. In psychiatry, the opposite of compartmentalization is "integration," which means pulling the various aspects of our lives together so that we are working from the whole picture. The word integration comes from the noun "integer," a mathematical term for whole numbers (as opposed to fractions). "Integrity" comes from the same word. The same words can apply to Christianity, too. Recall that Jesus said the great commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." In other words, don't compartmentalize God.

We generally don't set out to isolate our faith from other facets of our lives. Some of it happens because compartmentalization is a psychological defense mechanism that helps separate conflicting thoughts and feelings and spares us some emotional pain.

Integration is not nearly as comfortable as compartmentalization. There's always the chance that something won't pass muster when we run our behavior at work and play past our spiritual and moral values. That creates internal stress until we resolve the issue by letting Christ fully into the formerly walled-off places. People should be able to tell you are Christian in every setting, not because you browbeat others to constantly call out the bad things in them to make yourself look better. 

People fasted during biblical times as a sign of mourning, to avoid military invasions, to get political points, or to avoid economic crises. They fasted for personal and public gain. Isaiah says fast to improve your relationship with God. 

God will respond when the barrier of insincere worship has been removed. Evil can be set aside and replaced with kindness. God's people will share their food with the poor, understanding that not only do the hungry need our food, but also God's people need the hungry. We can fast for the Lord and feed the hungry. We can go to church and care for the homeless. We can praise God and hold our people accountable to help take care of the least, the last, and the lost. 

Real worship creates right relationship. Committing ourselves to Jesus means we don't divide ourselves into Christian and non-Christian parts. We operate in a culture that is not expressly Christian, and some of us work in jobs that require honoring the rules of church-state separation, but Christ belongs in each part of us.

Restoration will come, healing will come, and joy will come.