Our Human Journey "Our Lord's Corner" ( April Edition)

          With Easter around the corner I thought I would touch on the being of us and of Christ.

          Many times in the history of Christ, there are many examples of the “human being” of Jesus Christ. To start, he was born of Mary. (Luke 2:1-20)

          He displayed anger when he drove out, by whip, those buying and selling in the temple (Matthew 21:12). Last, but most important, he suffered in his final time on earth, as he pleaded with his father to save him (Matthew 26:39).

          At many times, in our own lives and in our own history, we ask the question. If there is a god, why must we suffer? This time last year, I had the privilege of knowing one of his saints, just before she went home. Many had asked, why did she die so young?  Why did she suffer so?

          Why do babies die? Why is there war? Why is there suffering?

          I am very good friends with a Canadian Author, Murray Pura. Murray is also a Baptist minister. Recently on his face book page I had seen a borrowed quote from Stephen R. Covey. “We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey”.

          When we look at both what Christ went thru on the cross and what we continually go thru now, it becomes very easy to understand why.  We look at an 18 year old girl suffer and die from cancer and ask, why? When we look at it as "spiritual beings" thru spiritual eyes or what is going on from God’s perspective, then we see that he brought one of his, home. When she suffered, she did so to teach us of salvation. It is salvation from a living God. He sent his son Jesus Christ a spiritual being on his human journey, to suffer and die his human death; for our spiritual beings on this our human journey.

Go Boldly "Our Lord's Corner" (February Edition)

          You have been there. I have been there. You arrive at the beach and walk out quickly through the hot sand blistering your feet. Arriving at the water’s edge, you stop, feeling the coolness inching its way up your toes. With every lapping of the rippling water comes doubt. You ask yourself, is it too cold?

          Looking out, you spot young and old alike, bobbing up and down. Laughing and yelling they seem impervious to what you feel is cold. You look to your left and see another carefully, slowly walking in. Another runs in and just that quickly plunges head first, disappearing and coming out into a full swim.

          Life itself is similar. Faced with a decision, we stop first and sometimes too many times we will stand there doubting. Sometimes we may inch slowly into the process of solving a problem or going forward and doing or being happy.

          In seeking happiness we are taught in Matthew Chapter 5 versus 3-12:

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

          Now when I speak to young and old alike I teach. The best thing to do is go forward and charge into the water. I will stop look into the water, look out and run and dive. Coming up I am refreshed. When doing God’s will go forward and charge into the word. Go forward and charge into doing his word. Be! Go! Do! Be and go boldly.