Praying til Pentecost-Day 27:Reflections

"Do you love me more than these?" John 21:15

The death, and burial of Jesus initiated a crisis of faith for His followers. His death on the cross and placement in the tomb intimidated them and blinded them to the rebirth of their vision that only His resurrection could provide.

Crisis has been described as a dangerous opportunity. The Chinese combine the character for danger and the character for opportunity to form the word crisis. Life is filled with crisis. One of the least comforting contemporary proverbs of our day is, "We are either leaving a crisis, heading into a crisis or in the middle of a crisis." Not much hope out there these days.

Today I turn 60 years of age. That definitely registers pretty high on the old crisis meter. I can remember thinking that 60 years of age was ancient. I have a much clearer and generous perspective on that milestone today!

When I was 24 years old, I returned from two years of service in East Africa, and enrolled at seminary in Fort Worth. I made an appointment with the pastor of Sagamore Hill Baptist Church, and drove to the East Side and knocked on the door of the yellow, wood paneled parsonage on Hampshire. The man who answered the door was Dr. W. Fred Swank, pastor of Sagamore for 4o plus years. He was white-haired, pot bellied, wrinkled and sixty-six years old. I was stunned. I remember thinking, "So this is my future!?" Little did I know that 16 years later my family and I would move into that same parsonage, but that is another story.

Like I said, I have a totally different perspective on sixty today! I don't FEEL old. I may be in denial, but I find myself youthful in the one thing that matters most, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so." I only seem to feel my age when I lose my confidence in the simple truth of that children's song.

I admit, I wince a little bit when I compare my passport photo of 1972 with my current picture. I feel like I am looking at an image of the son I never had. It is a little creepy to think that physical age can sneak up on you and transform your appearance, even while you are looking in a mirror every day. How does that happen?

Still, when I got up this morning, I did not FEEL sixty. I did not FEEL old. I felt fine. The crisis came when I tried to live like I was 22 years of age. I dusted off my road bike this week, and started out on a ride on a beautiful morning. The air was cool, and the sky was blue, and very little wind. It was a great day for a ride. What I ran into was a wall of reality. When I was 22 years of age, I rode my bike quite a bit. I even took part in a 60 mile race called Bear Downs my senior year at Baylor. I was young, fit, and a seasoned rider on the hills around Waco. I found out this week that Runaway Bay, Texas is home to the foothills of Mt. Everest. I was working my way back home after a brief, but leg burning ride when I looked up and saw my house on a far and steep hill. I had never noticed the incline when I was driving my car. I pulled into my driveway huffing and puffing, and could not dismount the bike without laying it down on the ground. At that moment, I did not FEEL sixty, I felt much older. The slow, steady climb up the hill revealed more about my birthday than I really wanted to know.

Crisis of faith may not be a crash at the crossroads of doubt and belief. It may be a fatigue that comes from a steady push up the hill. It is the little things that can cause us to stumble, or choke, like the rock in our shoe or the bone in our throat. They have a way of adding up over the years.

Prayer provides us the means to maintain constant fellowship or consistent companionship with the presence of the Risen Christ. Lack of personal time with Him has a way for cooling the flame of intimacy, and one day we wake up and realize that there has been a slow erosion of the love for the One who matters most.

When the disciples saw Jesus take His last breath on the cross, they thought that they had lost their capacity to have conversation with Him. When they heard He was alive again, they rejected the truth they heard. When He came to them in person, they ignored His command. They had great difficulty looking into the future because they were overwhelmed with the fact that things would never be the same again. What they could not see was the way the Risen Christ was trying to correct their vision, and prepare their hearts to believe the best was yet to come.

As I approach the home stretch in my years on earth, I find myself facing the same question Jesus asked of Simon, Son of John, "Do you love Me?" It is not enough to be faithful to the call of the Master. There must be a First Love relationship with Him. My body may not show it, but I find great renewal each day when I come to Jesus with a child like faith and trust to place the day into His hands. The mirror does not reflect the confidence of a child, but the image of the man. Still, I think I gain strength and comfort when I reflect over the past sixty years, and realize I have come this far by faith, and I will meet this crisis the same way. Happy Birthday to me!

GMillerLight4U

Praying til Pentecost-Day 26:

"Bring some of the fish which you have now caught." John 21:10
"Come and have breakfast!" John 21:12


I love the invitation that the Risen Lord gave to His disciples. "Come and have breakfast." After they had been working all night long, Jesus points them to a great catch, and then prepares a warm fire and a fresh meal for His men. Maybe this is the forerunner of all those men's prayer breakfast that I have attended over the years.


Yesterday, I visited with an old friend of mine in Fort Worth. We have been able to stay in touch for over 30 years, but we do not get to see each other very often. He asked me to meet him for a cup of coffee before I headed back to The Bay. He wanted to know if I knew where the I-Hop was on Interstate 30 at East Chase. I told him I thought I could find it. The truth is, I could have driven there in my sleep. For six years, I took my daughters to breakfast two mornngs a week at that same I-HOP from 1992-1998.


Actually, from 1987-2001, I would take one daughter to breakfast on Thursday and the other on Friday. This is one of the smartest moves in parenting I ever made. I went to a lot of really bad "Burgee Keen" and "Mickey D" breakfasts before they discovered the I-HOP difference in 1992! I can't tell you how relieved I was to finally have a decent meal. The truth is, the breakfast time with them was never really about the meal. It was all about me spending time with my little girls and trying to build a personal relationship with them. I would hold the car door for them, and the open the door to the restaurant. I would hold the chair for them at the table, and treat them with every kind of respect that they deserved. I was coaching them on what to expect from a man. I would tell them when they were thumbsucking young to repeat these words if a boy ever tried to take them on a date and did not treat them with the respect they deserved. "TAKE ME HOME!"


A friend of mine had told me that rules without relationship always build rebellion. Early years in my ministry had been spent as a youth pastor, refereeing arguments between clueless parents and rebellious teens. I was determined to be more than a remote rule book to my girls in preparing them for the game of life. It was time well spent, and I do not regret a moment of it.


When we left Fort Worth to move to Georgia, the waitresses met us at our table to say goodbye. One of them said, "We have watched your daughters grow up here." That was the truth. My daughters grew from 12 years to 18 years of age, and 9 years to 15 years of age. They had moved from little girls to young women, and the waitresses had witnessed every stage in their rise to womanhood. That was not all. As I looked around the room in 1998, I could see other dads with their daughters. It had not gone unnoticed that I was having breakfast with my girls every week, and over the years the dads in the area got the message. They began to do the same thing with their girls. Yesterday walking around that IHOP was like stepping on holy ground for me. It was a real blast from the past. Later that evening, I met my daughters for dinner. They are now 30 and 26 years of age and accomplished, successful young women. I bought them dinner, but they took me out shopping and bought me a shirt and a pair of jeans for my birthday. We laughed and talked, and thoroughly enjoyed each other's company. I can't help but believe that the joy we had last night was connected to the breakfasts we shared all those mornings years ago.


Can you believe the invitation? "Come and have breakfast!" It is just like the Risen Lord to know what His disciples needed before they asked. He already had breakfast cooking before they hauled in and counted their catch.


They were encouraged to bring to the table what they had caught, but Jesus had everything under control. He has never been in need of our contribution to His Kingdom. He always invites us to participate in what He is already doing. His invitation was more about renewing their connection with Him than it was about the meal. Simpy put, the disciples needed to reconnect with Jesus. He offered them physical and spiritual nourishment at the same time. This is what I like to call the perfect comfort food.


I know that every one is not a morning person. I just want to remind people that mornings and evenings are the same to Jesus. There are no dawns and sunsets in heaven. There is only perpetual worship and fellowship at the throne of God. The Risen Lord has taken His seat at the right hand of the Father and He lives to intercede for you and me. There is never a moment of the day or night that He is not available to reconnect with His followers. Breakfast is served all day long at the International House of Prayer. The kitchen is open, and He is prepared to serve what you need the most, a fresh sense of His Presence.


Quote of the Day: "Come and have breakfast." Jesus


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Praying til Pentecost-Day 25: Half Time

"Children, you do not have any fish do you?" John 21:5

"Half Time" was a book written by Bob Buford. In 1996 it had a signficant impact on my life. After reading it, I wrote letters to approximately 200 friends and mentors. I told them I was reaching a personal milestone of 20 years of marriage, and 25 years of ministry, and as I approached the second half of my life, I wanted to make sure that I still had my ladder securely placed on the right wall. I enclosed a card, and asked them to share with me the three toughest questions they could ask me about...
1. My devotion to God.
2. My relationship to Dana and my two daughters, Ashley (17) and Allyson (13)
3. My call to the ministry

I kept the notes, letter, cards, and computer discs that I received from these men. As I approach the age of 60, I find myself being drawn to read Buford's book again, and a review their wise counsel.

When the disciples finally obeyed the command of Jesus, and returned to Galilee, they went back to what felt comfortable. They went fishing. Fishing on the Sea of Galilee was not a retreat into a hazy fog of relaxation, but it was hard work that required a great deal of sweat equity and long nights of casting and drawing nets before their was any payoff.

At dawn Jesus arrived on the scene. He was on the banks of the lake, and He called out to the disciples. Rather from the glazed eyes that come from sleep deprivation, or the distance of the boat from the shore, they did not recognize Jesus. They had spent the whole night fishing and had nothing to show for their labor.

It was not unusual for a spotter to remain on the shore and guide a boat to the ripples in the water that indicated a school of fish. Some people have speculated that Jesus was chiding the disciples with His remark. It was more likely that He was guiding them to a catch. It may have stung a little when a stranger pointed out the obvious to the weary fishermen, but they listened and obeyed what they heard.

The King James Version translates the words of Jesus in an way that provides a delightful play on words. He said, "Cast your net on the right side of the boat." (John 21:6a) The disciples had no catch to show for their efforts. They had obviously been casting their nets all night on the wrong side of the boat. The obedient response of the disciples resulted in a catch that almost sank the boat. "They were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish." (John 21:6b)

Buford wrote a decade and a half ago about the desire men have for significance in life. The first half of a man's life is spent on fighting for survival to achieve a degree of success. The second half is spent taking success and leveraging it into significance. The key is to know what is most significant in life and to give oneself to it with passion and purpose. There is a hole in a man's heart until he truly finds significance.

Some things never change, but changed men have experienced a change in the price tags of their lives. Peter was a fisherman by trade, but a disciple by heart. He once was motivated and driven by the goal of catching fish. The more fish he caught, then the more significant his life would be. After meeting Jesus, Peter was drawn to Him with a passion and a purpose that he had never known while fishing on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus called Peter out of the boat, and commissioned him to become a fisher of men. Peter had a roller coaster reputation. Therefore, on the surface he appeared to be a very unreliable fishing guide for men in need of a new life in Christ. People looked at the white water of Peter's life, and saw shallowness. Jesus looked at the man and saw depth.

When Peter was absent from vital fellowship and intimate communication with His Lord, he went back to his comfort zone, fishing. When Jesus guided him to a successful catch, it no longer had the same grip on him that it had once had. While they were struggling to haul in the greatest catch of their lives, John told Peter, "It is the Lord." (John 21:7) Peter threw on some clothes, and threw himself into the sea and swam one hundred yards to Jesus. He left the catch behind because he was drawn to Jesus. What was once considered a success to him was no substitute for the significance of a restored fellowship with His Lord.

Casting a net on the wrong side of the boat can be compared to climbing a ladder of success all the way to the top and finding out the ladder was leaning on the wrong wall. "Half Time" makes a case for readjusting the last years of our lives with an intensity on what really matters the most. As we enter the 25th day of "Praying til Pentecost" it is half time between the Resurrection of Jesus and the Day of Pentecost. Have you heard a word from God? Have you obeyed what you heard Him say? Are you still casting your net on the wrong side of the boat? Are you focusing too much time on matters of success, but still find yourself drawn to a desire for significance?

Take the next 25 days and invest them in developing intimate communication between you and your Heavenly Father. Jesus calls us to prayer as the means to refocus our attention on what matters most in life. He still asks, "Children, you do not have any fish do you?" Remember, Jesus knows the empty condition of your heart. He is not looking for information from us, but he is waiting for an admission from us. Dropping a tight white knuckled grip on the symbols of success empties our hands and our hearts to receive the most significant gift God can give. The gift of the Holy Spirit magnifies the Person of Jesus Christ and everything else that we once held dear, shrinks in significane to a renewed and continuous fellowship with Him.

Quote of the Day: "One of the most common characteristics of a peson who is nearing the end of the first half is that unquenchable desire to move from success to significance." Bob Buford

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Praying Til Pentecost-Day 24: Warning Signs

"Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." John 20:29

Roadside traffic signs are some of the least appreciated message boards in the world. No one takes them seriously. The "YIELD" sign has to have the greatest inferiority complex. Does anyone ever really yield to the traffic that is already on the main artery? Usually the first response of most drivers is to speed up and squeeze in ahead of the opposition as if a checkered flag is just a few feet away.

The various speed limit signs do get not much respect either. Regardless of the number that is posted on them, they are always rounded up or ignored altogether. Unless there is the presence of the resident patrol officer or state police car, the warning sign does not get much notice.

Flashing lights on the dashboard of a car, or bells that ding with warning signals are meant to be aids in caring for a vehicle or to be careful to buckle up for a safe trip. People have been known to put black tape over the lights and disconnect the seat belt bells. They were the same people who inspired the great Madison Avenue campaign for an oil company, "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later."

The fifty days that separated the disciples from the gift of The Promise of the Holy Spirit were filled with unbelief. The unpardonable sin is the sin of unbelief, and Christ followers should be on the alert for any sign of it creeping back into their lives.

What are some of the signs that should not be ignored?

• Unstable in the face of crisis; talking more, and praying less.
• Nearsighted: determined to live on the basis of "Seeing is believing."
• Bitter: annoyed with God's habit of exposing lack of faith, and a lot of fear in your life.
• Embarrassed by the magnitude of God's promises and the wasteland of your reality.
• Locked in the prison of previous experiences and conventional wisdom.
• Impatient with the pace of events leading up to God's provision and deliverance.
• Exhausted by the effort it takes to make God look good to unbelieving people.
• Fear of consequences resulting from God's failure to get in on your agenda or on your schedule.

Jesus marveled or wondered at the unbelief of the people of His hometown who could trust Him to heal them, but could not find the faith to believe in Him as their Savior. His assessment of the day's work was different from those who had seen him perform miracles in their town. He was of the opinion that He had been unable to do any great work (miracle) there except heal a few people. The last word on the subject says much about what Jesus thought was important. "He wondered at their unbelief." (Mark 6:6)

When Jesus encountered an honest man who cried out, "Help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24) He met him at the point of his need, and helped him through the barrier of unbelief.

Principle: Unbelief is the flashing light on the dashboard of your faith that points out something is not right under the hood of your heart.

Jesus felt very strongly about unbelief in any form, and He especially warned against speaking any blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven. (Matthew 12:31)

In Greek language, "faith" and "believe" are clearly kissing cousins. They have the same root system, and bear a similar fruit. "Believe" is the verb form of the word "faith." To believe is more than an intellectual assent to a list of dogmas, the checking of the box on a membership card, the signing of a church covenant, or the successful completion of a catechism class. Belief is profoundly rooted in a faith. A person becomes a "believer" when they put their trust and confidence in the Person of Jesus Christ as their only hope of forgiveness and hope of salvation. Belief is an event and a process. It is an instantaneous response to the call of Christ on one's life, but it is also developed into much more by constantly placing it into action in obedience to His commands.

The Risen Lord came into the lives of His disoriented and discouraged disciples to deliver the good news of His victory over death, and the promise of the Holy Spirit who would be sent to them when He ascended into heaven. They would have difficulty grasping what He was saying until the Holy Spirit took hold of them. The result was a transformation of weak men into powerful spokesmen for the cause of Christ.

When the warning signs of unbelief are flashing in your face, and distracting you from the signs that God has posted along the way, don't forget to pray, "Jesus take the wheel!"

Quote of the Day: "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you!" John 20:21

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Praying til Pentecost - Day 23: Warning Signs of Unbelief

"But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, 'Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.' After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, 'Peace be with you.' " John 20:24-26

One of my favorite plaques is one that I saw written in an imitation Hebrew font with the words, "SHALOM, Y'ALL." It puts the unique Texas twang to the common Jewish greeting to give it a contemporary significance. God always has a way of taking the common things in life and making them uncommonly significant. Three times in the twentieth chapter of John, Jesus says, "Peace be with you." He most probably was making this expression in the popular Aramaic language used among the people of His day. It probably was the word shalom. Shalom was a greeting used among the people of Israel in ancient times, and it remains a popular expression among Israelis today.

When it is translated from the Greek word, eirene, it carries an implication of prosperity, blessing, quietness, rest, or simply peace. Shalom, the equivalent expression in Hebrew, could be used as a salutation or a sendoff. Coming or going it was always appropriate to give a word of blessing.

With this greeting, Jesus was trying to calm the storm in the lives of His disciples. He had already sent them two messages to leave Jerusalem and return to Galilee. He had visited them personally, but one of the remaining eleven had been absent. Eight days later the ten men who had seen Jesus personally tried to convince Thomas they had seen the Risen Lord. He remained unconvinced. His attitude and remarks have pegged him for over 2,000 years as "Doubting Thomas." His name has become synonymous with unbelief and lack of faith. What a bad rap!

The ten disciples who had seen the physical presence of the Risen Lord were still in the same room discussing their options eight days after His personal appearance to them. They were still in the city of Jerusalem, and not a step closer to Galilee. They had heard the truth from the lips of Jesus, but they had not obeyed Him yet. Thomas may have not believed what he had not seen, but the ten disciples had not obeyed what they had heard. Thomas was in a state of unbelief, but the ten were in a state of rebellion. They had heard, but they had not obeyed. Delayed obedience is still a virulent form of disobedience. It is no great substitute for immediate compliance. Delayed obedience is rebellion. Hearing and ignoring what they heard did not place the disciples above Thomas. They were still in the process of taking what Jesus said under advisement. No wonder the disciples are so popular among churches today. Every one of them could be the patron saint of delay.

Eight days later, Thomas was the only honest man in the room. When Jesus entered the room for the second time, Thomas was there. At least he knew, and admitted he was an unbeliever. The other ten men were posers. If they were true believers they would have left a note for Thomas, and left for Galilee. Their act of obedience would have said more to Thomas about their beliefs than all of their pleading and lecturing.

Jesus came with the words of peace to calm the choppy waters in their hearts. The disciples had heard from Him eight days earlier, but they were still trapped in the harbor of their own fears. They had yet to apply what Jesus had already told them to do. Praying and waiting for further clarification of explicit marching orders may make a person appear to be spiritually sensitive, and humble. It is a mere mirage of true belief. In reality, it is true rebellion. The next time we find the disciples they have arrived in Galilee. Their rebellion only postponed a reunion with the Risen Lord. Their obedience put them in a position to hear from Jesus again.

One of the first warning signs of unbelief is being unstable in the face of crisis. It manifests itself in talking more and praying less. The Chinese form the word crisis by combining two different characters. One of the characters is danger and the other is opportunity. They consider crisis to be a dangerous opportunity. Christ followers become Christ "ignorers" when they talk more about a crisis than they pray about it. Christ followers get trapped in this prison of doubt when they fail to apply what they know to be true. Discussing the truth is not as important as applying the truth. Applying the truth always brings about consequences. Delaying to obey the truth brings about consequences too. The wise Christ follower will obey what they know to be true, the first time they hear it, with the right heart attitude and leave the consequences in God's hands. Regardless of the fear, remember, Jesus says, "Peace be with you!"

Shalom y'all!

GMillerLight4U

Praying til Pentecost - Day 22: RECEIVE

"Receive the Holy Spirit." John 20:22

The message of the Risen Christ to the eleven disciples included a mandate for His mission and the means to achieve it. First they would have to accept the mandate. Before there was any power for the mission, there would have to be an awareness of their weakness for the task. The scope of the vision, and the strength of the enemy made a daunting war look impossible to win.

God specializes in doing the impossible with some of the most improbable people. A quick look around the room at the faces of the ten disciples would not build up a lot of confidence. These were the chosen few who would lead the way in carrying out the world wide movement of God. Among them were a political zealot, a few fishermen, a tax collector, men with anger issues, and an assortment of other wannabees and underachievers. Thomas was conspicuously absent from the gathering mentioned in John's account. Eight days later he would receive a personal visit and a mild rebuke from the Risen Lord for his "seeing is believing" kind of faith. The prospects of Kingdom growth did not look good.

From the motley crew of men hiding out in fear of their lives would rise up and spread out around the globe the message of hope for a lost world. In a few short days they would be transformed into courageous and eloquent spokesmen for the cause of the Risen Christ. What they needed for this transformation to take place had not been received yet.

Jesus told them He would send them out to do what His Father had sent Him to do. He breathed on them and told them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." This was not a little bit of the Spirit, or an early spark of the "flames of fire" that would come at Pentecost. This was a forecast of the spiritual dynamic that would be in play in the post resurrection world. They would be leaving a physical relationship with Jesus, and entering into a spiritual relationship with the Spirit of Christ. To receive the power of the Holy Spirit, they would have to breath in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Their willingness to receive would be preceded by a breathless anticipation. They would have to be out of breath before they recognized the stale air of personal effort and marginal ability was not enough for them to carry out the assignment they had been given. The loss of the physical Presence of Jesus would be replaced by the Promise of God.

One of the great joys of being raised in a Texas church has been the phenomenal "dinner on the grounds" celebrations. It doesn't take much effort to find a reason to throw a feed at a church. Any excuse will do. People who are new to this kind of event are always flabbergasted by the amount of food that is piled up on the tables. They are always amazed at the way the system works. It may not be a "loaves and fishes" kind of a miracle, but it is a pretty unusual way to plan a meal. You bring what little bit you have to the table, and you get to take part in a buffet of bounty. Over the years I have watched people bring everything from a sack full of greasy bologna sandwiches to a pan full of burned bottom biscuits. It just didn't matter. They did what they could do, and they were welcome at the table. One hundred percent of success in this kind of deal is showing up with what you can bring to the table, in order to get in on what you will never receive by sitting at home and pouting about how little you have. Receiving an invitation to one of these gatherings is an experience you do not want to ignore.

The disciples had come to the end of their rope. They had talked the crucifixion of Jesus to death and still did not have a grasp on the power of His resurrection. They were not breathless in anticipation of the Risen Lord, but out of breath from conversation with one another. They had been presented with a series of problems, and their math did not add up. Prayer had not entered into the equation before Jesus entered into the room.

When Jesus breathed into the stale air of a locked room, He unleashed a dynamic that would change the lives of a few men, and they would lead the way to transforming the lives of millions of people. It would all begin with the word receive. To receive what the Spirit could offer to them, they would have to come to the point of their need. When they brought what little they had to the table, God provided abundantly all they would ever need to carry out His mission.

Praying men and women are still in a position to receive what the Spirit brings to the table. People who are breathless in prayer can expect to have power for the journey. "Prayer is how we set our sails to catch the breath of Heaven." G. Campbell Morgan

GMillerLight4U

Quote of the Day: "We do what we believe in; all the rest is just religious talk." Peter Lord

Praying til Pentecost - Day 21: Pass it On

"As the Father has sent Me, I also send I you. " John 20:21

The Risen Christ instructed His disciples that the baton of His mission on earth was about to be passed to them. God had sent His Son into the world to share the good news of salvation. Jesus was going home to be seated next to His Father, and He was leaving the eleven disciples behind to take on His mission to the world.

My athletic career reads like a Greek tragedy. It is not an inspiring collection of victories, but it does contain a few chapters of lessons learned in the agony of defeat. One of the greatest lessons I learned was from Coach Clyde Hart of Baylor University. He was my college coach, and is today recognized as one of the premier track coaches in America. I didn't have much to do with the embellishment of his credentials, but I do have an appreciation for the man and his methods. He had a personal interest in sprinters, and the relay races that required the safe passage of a baton from one man to another. He reminded us daily that the baton was the focus of the race. Victory did not go to the fastest man, or the fastest team, but to the fastest baton. Running fast without the safe delivery of the baton would mean defeat. Dropping the baton and finishing the race ahead of a team that was slower, safer and surer would not bring a medal. The baton was the key. We were told to watch our lanes, stay within the lines, focus on the baton, grip it firmly and not to let go until the next man had it in his hand securely. This is hard to do when the arms and legs are flailing, the "spit and vinegar" is flying and aggressive men are merging into a tight space with spikes on their feet and a finish line in their sights. In the midst of a great adrenalin rush, or intense collisions with the enemy the baton can be dropped. We were told to protect the baton, and not to come to the finish line without it.

The disciples were not being invited to enter a fitness program to develop their own spiritual strength. They were being passed the baton of the Gospel, the good news of salvation. They were going to be runners carrying the same message that Jesus had brought from God's lips to men's ears. Perhaps even more accurately, they were being given a commission in a marching army, and told to run to the sound of the guns. They were not heading to the finish line to receive a trophy, but they were being commissioned to charge to the gates of hell and attack.

Death had no hold on Jesus. The disciples were being forewarned that their mission in life was going to be focused on safely delivering the message of God. They were to pass on the good news of eternal life available to people through putting their faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Only God knows what the disciples really heard, or understood when Jesus spoke these words to them. The chances are pretty good that they did not comprehend what they were being commissioned to do. At that moment, the challenge of the call was not so important to them as the reality of the Presence of the Risen Lord. When Jesus was with them, He made everything seem possible. Whatever He told them to do probably seemed secondary to the fact that they were within reach of a personal touch from Him.

The joy of His Presence has the capacity to overcome the fear of His mission. When Christ followers focus more on the details of the mission more than conversation with the Master, the demands of the system will always overshadow the Savior. Jesus offered Himself to the disciples first, and then He gave them an assignment.

The power of the resurrection was going to be released in the lives of the disciples through the Person of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the 50 days of waiting between Easter and Pentecost was two fold. This period of time brought the disciples to the end of themselves so they would be ready to receive The Promise of The Spirit. This 50 day delay also provided travel time that brought the greatest number of people into Jerusalem for a very popular feast day. God would seize the day of the Feast of Pentecost, and deliver His church to have a world wide impact through the lives of obedient Christ followers.

Contrary to popular belief, people really do love to get good news. They may not receive the baton of salvation the first time it is passed to them. The role of the Christ follower is to protect the baton, and pass it on again and again. Run to the sound of the guns, and pass it on.

Quote of the Day: "What powerfully poignant observations Jesus makes on the dangers of being around the Living Word and our still not responding, of having it fall on our ears only as optional pieces of information rather than as required hearing for personal change." Jack Hayford

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Praying til Pentecost - Day 20: The Presence

"He showed then both His hand and His side." John 20:2
"They gave Him a piece of broiled fish..." Luke 24:42-43


The Risen Christ revealed to the eleven disciples that He was not a spirit, and so much more than a belief, concept or an idea. He was a physical Presence with a real body that people could touch and feel. He was alive, breathing and able to enter into a fellowship with people He loved, and who needed to be in touch with Him. This was a foreshadowing of the kind of impact that the Risen Christ intended for His Body, the church, to have on people who needed a touch from God. The Risen Christ gave the disheartened disciples new hope. The Church of the Risen Lord remains the last great hope of the world.


When I was a small boy I was not a fan of fried chicken or fish of any kind. This was a severe theological dilemma for me. My pastor-father would often remind me that I could never become a preacher unless I could learn to eat fried chicken. He said it was the only meal I would ever see on Sunday when I went over to eat at someones home. Seriously, I remember where I was sitting when I first heard this. Never underestimate the capacity of a child to grasp theological truth! From the vantage point of my chair at the kitchen table of the church parsonage on 1426 South Fitzhugh in Dallas, Texas I could see a great spiritual battle shaping up. The other front I was fighting on was the regularly scheduled fish fries that the men of the church would hold. They didn't like it when I showed up with a hot dog in my hand. The "brotherhood" would often remark that I was in need of some kind of revival in my taste buds before I would be ready to be a preacher.


From the earliest birth pangs of the church, food and fellowship have played a vital role. The eleven disciples were sharing an evening meal of broiled fish. They had already heard two resurrection reports from very reliable witnesses. They had rejected both. Someone had said it was time to eat, and a meal had been prepared. They may have lost their hope, but they had not lost their appetite. In the middle of their meal, Jesus showed up.


After The Risen Lord reproached them for their unbelief, He took a piece of broiled fish and ate it. He was showing them how real He was, and dispelling any further disbelief in His physical Presence. He was in the room, and He was in reach.


Often, I have had people say to me, "Preacher, I'm sorry, but I won't be there with you on Sunday, but I will be with you in spirit." I can't say that their spirit was ever a source of real encouragement to me. I learned to respond to their "excused absence" with, "Thanks for leaving your spirit behind, but cash would be better."


Jesus did not show up in spirit. He showed up in Person. The eleven could see His body. They could touch His body. They could share their meal with Him, and He was able to partake of it. The Risen Christ gives us a glimpse in this encounter of what His Body, the church would be able to do.


The Body of Christ was never meant to be a list of dogmatic principles, a refrigerator of ice cold concepts, or a dust covered tome of stale philosophy. It was going to be established by the The Promise of the Father to provide a physical representation of the Presence of the Risen Lord in the world. It was going to be an exhibit of the capacity of Jesus to be in touch with people and to have fellowship with them. The Apostle John expressed the reality of this representation with the words, "As He is, so are we in this world." (I John 4:17) Thanks John, for keeping it real, and keeping it short and sweet.


When Jesus finished His rebuke of the disciples for their unbelief, He offered them a renewed fellowship with Him. This Sunday, all over the world, the faithful will gather together to hear the Word of God. It is meant to purge the body of believers from the cancer of unbelief and renew their personal touch with their Savior. In most cases food will be involved. It may be communion, coffee and donuts, breakfast, a brunch, dinner on the grounds or an evening banquet, but the people of faith will share a bite or two with one another. For the most part, these meals are intended to break down the barriers between people and draw them closer into fellowship with the local body.


It is interesting to me that one of the earliest encounters of the Risen Lord with His followers included the rebuke of unbelief, a fresh touch from His hand, and a little bit of comfort food. Sounds like an order of worship to me.


Quote of the Day: "The church has enough crowd pleasers already. What we need is a bumper crop of mature believers who are content to pray to an audience of one." Tony Evans


GMillerLight4U

Praying til Pentecost - Day 19: HARD HEART

"He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen." Mark 16:14 (Luke 24:38)

During his earthly ministry prior to His resurrection, Jesus shared his strongest words of rebuke for the religious elite. He did not suffer their foolishness gladly. He called them "whited sepulchres" and cleared the Temple of all their self-promotion and commercialism. He reminded them His house was to be a house of prayer.

After His resurrection, The Risen Christ presented a sterner voice to those who had been His followers. Whenever their belief in His Presence of His word did not match His expectation, Jesus would reproach them for it. He would not tolerate unbelief in Kingdom. This was cardinal sin.

• The couple on the road to Emmaus heard Him say, "O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe!"
• The eleven disciples heard, "He reproached them for their unbelief..."
• The Church of Ephesus heard,"I have this against you!"

I remember well a conversation with a church lady in Georgia that still chills my heart. She was upset that I didn't present a more politically correct image of Jesus. She wanted to hear about the "meek and mild Shepherd Jesus" of her childhood. She thought that I was sharing too much about the demands of discipleship and His call to reach out aggressively to a lost world around us. I listened as politely as I could, trying to remember Scriptural warnings about treating my elders with respect. I thought I had a piece of insight that might clear this up for her. I should have known better. I reminded her that the Jesus we worship was not comfortable with compromise of His Father's message, and even took out His rebuke out on people who had turned The Temple into a den of thieves. When I explained the shepherds of Jesus' day would commonly use their staff to discipline a wandering or head strong sheep by whacking it on the back or even breaking its leg, I thought she was going to get the vapors. She gasped out, "Well even Jesus sinned!" That is when I got faint. I told her that was not an option for the Son of God. Her response was a change of subject. She said, "You know there are people here who would not vote for you to be their pastor if the vote was taken today!" I responded by saying, "That's why you only get to vote once!" We were so done.

The Christ of the 40 Days was The Risen Lord. He was not an illegitimate carpenter's son living with a cloud of scandal over His head. He was the Son of God and a recent victor over death, hell and the grave. Satan knew He was alive, and Jesus was getting weary of the hesitancy of "The Eleven" to grasp the truth of the victory that He was trying to get into their hands.

The original group of twelve disciples had been cut down to eleven by the suicide of Judas Iscariot. They had hidden themselves away from the religious authorities and the street mobs. They had heard from the women about the Risen Lord and called their story nonsense and unbelievable. Peter had tried to confirm it with his own visit to the empty tomb, but had not seen Jesus. Now the couple from Emmaus had returned with their report of the Risen Lord and the eleven did not believe them either. When Jesus entered the room while the second message was being delivered, the disciples were startled and frightened. They must have looked like they had seen a ghost. It was not their finest hour.

The Risen Lord "reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen." Anyway this passage is translated, it does not produce an image of a sweet Shepherd gently humming a lullaby to the faint-hearted. Jesus immediately delivers a wake up call to the hard-hearted, by dealing with the cancer that will destroy the Body of Christ...UNBELIEF.

This Greek word translated "unbelief" is the source for the word "apostasy." Jesus was not giving the disciples a title they wanted to keep, but they had earned it nonetheless. His words were strong, and deliberate. This was not a hot headed anger as much as a cold slap in the face to an insult given to a superior. If a kinder word would have been appropriate, The Holy Spirit would have called for its use. This was a glass of ice water in the faces of the eleven, and it was meant to be a wake up call for them.

When someone was reproached or upbraided it was meant to defame their behavior as being unwarranted and unacceptable. It paints a picture of the Risen Lord taking their words of unbelief and throwing them back in their teeth. The word describes an action that included taunting, chiding and railing against the disgraceful behavior of a person until they were publicly humiliated. In the military, the upbraiding of a disgraced officer meant that his decorations and medals of past victories were removed from his chest and his shoulders as he was degraded and demoted in the eyes of his men. What Jesus was doing with the eleven was not pretty, and gratefully we are left with little detail of what He said. We only know that He does not coddle unbelief in His citizens, and He purges it from His Kingdom.

They should have known not to take the word of the Son of God lightly. They had been raised on the Scriptures of the Law and the Prophets. In the Old Testament, the concept of "hear" and "obey" are virtually synonymous. The Hebrew word for "hear" is "shema." No less than 40 times from Genesis to Zecharia this same word is translated "obey." When the call to "hear" went out it carried the implication of obedience. To hear was to obey especially then the word came from God.

Life Action Summits have a phrase about obedience that has stuck with me since March of 1995. "Obedience is responding to God the first time He speaks with the right heart attitude." Delayed obedience may ultimately be obedience, but there is the consequence of great liability from even the slightest delay to obey.

The Risen Lord had much to share with His followers. He was not holding out on them, but they were backing up from Him. Unbelief is a thief that robs the Christ follower from a life of hope and confidence in the word of God. It leads to a hard heart and an empty life.

The solution is found in cultivating a responsiveness to the voice of God. To hear is to obey. His wish is our command. The more readily we obey, the better we hear. Obedience is the world's greatest hearing aid. Hearing from God leads to an obedience to God. This cultivates a confidence, a trust or a faith in God's capacity to surprise us with more than we had hoped, and dreamed.

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17)

Quote of the Day: "Our problem is not so much that God doesn't give us what we hope for as it is that we don't know the right thing for which to hope...Hope is not what you expected; it is what you would never dream...it is the zany, unpredictable dependence on a God who loves to surprise us out of our socks, and be there in the flesh to see our reaction." Max Lucado

GMillerLight4U

Praying til Pentecost: Day 18 - "Synergy"

"And while they were telling these things, He himself stood in their midst. But they were startled and frightened and thougt they were seeing a spirit." Luke 24:36 (See Mark 18:14)


I have to admit a fascination with the concept of synergy. When two people cooperate to lift an object that neither of them can lift alone, they are able to do together what they cannot do apart. When two plow horses are harnessed together, they can lift much more together than they can by pulling by themselves.


Synergy is the very energy of teamwork, and it is the essence of power in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus offers His Person and His Power through His Holy Spirit to those believers who will admit their need for His Presence in their lives.


The Apostle Paul was convinced that an admission of his weakness was the key that unlocked the door to the power of the resurrection. He stated, "God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things that are strong." (I Cor. 1:27) To the same church he later explained, "'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore,...when I am weak, then I am strong." (II Cor. 12:9-10)


I have always enjoyed working with my daughters on projects around the house. When Ashley was a tiny two year old I taught her how to paint. One day, I was painting rooms in the house in Houston and she wanted to help. I gave her a wall and got her started with small brush and a bucket of paint. I showed her with my hand on hers how the brush needed to go up and down and the paint smoothed so there were no bubbles or streaks left on the wall. She was intent on doing what I said, and very precise. Eventually she got bored with the project and I was able to go over it with a more powerful roller and complete what she had started. Spending time with her was my real purpose in teaching her how to paint. I didn't need her help, but I wanted to spend time with her. This may be a clue to the reason God has chosen to call the disciples of Jesus to deliver His message and in the process of getting the message out admitting their need for help.


My previous positive experience in father/daughter bonding convinced me it was safe to get a little more aggressive with our youngest daughter Allyson. She was a three year old and she was intrigued with the way I hammered nails. I got her a hammer and placed it in her hands. She was excited. I cautioned her to let me help her. WE took some nails and began to pound them into a piece of scrap wood TOGETHER. It was a lot of fun for her and me. I had my hand wrapped around hers, and she had her hands on the hammer and the nails. It was a great synergistic effort. No harm! No foul! Everybody was happy. The next evening I returned home and was met at the door by a tearful toddler holding up a mangle little forefinger with both hands. Dana gave me the look. Somehow I knew this was my fault.


Allyson had found the hammer and the nails and started pounding them without my help. The result was an instant disaster. It was a mess! I scooped her up in my arms to comfort her, knowing exactly what had happened. She hit the nail very hard, but the nail was on the end of her own finger. After plenty of blood, ice and tears we came to an understanding. She would not hammer nails unless I placed my hands on top of hers to help her. If she would just admit she needed help, I could bring the power she needed for the task at hand. The power was in the presence of a father placing his hands on the hands of his child while the work was taking place.


"And while they were telling these thing, He Himself stood in their midst." Can you see the synergy that is revealed in that statement? "They" are the two disciples who had recently walked and talked with Jesus for seven miles on the downhill road to Emmaus. They had urged Jesus to stay with them longer, and share a meal. After He blessed the bread and handed it to them, they recognized their traveling companion as the resurrected Lord. The got up that very hour to travel back up the hill to Jerusalem, and faithfully and probably breathlessly delivered the news of their heart stirring encounter with the Risen Christ. The eleven remaining men of the original twelve disciples were not impressed. They had heard this wild story before and they chose not to believe these faithful messengers.


The word "While" triggers the concept of synergy in this passage. The messengers were not responsible for the response to their message. They were faithful to deliver the message and Jesus did the rest. This is a picture of the kind of teamwork that God is going to use to spread His message to a lost world. The message will require flesh and blood to knock on the door. However, the while the messenger is in the process of walking, knocking, and talking to those who need to hear the message, Jesus will take His stand in the midst of their efforts.


God invites the disciples of the Risen Lord to cooperate with Him in sharing the greatest story ever told. The power is not in the courage or the eloquence of the messengers. The power is in The Presence of the Risen Christ. Jesus showed up in the room "while they were telling these things." This is a foretaste of what is to come after the Promise of the Father is delivered to the faithful, and work of the Holy Spirit begins in the heart of every believer.


Prayer is an admission of weakness. Prayerless people are prideful people who would rather do things themselves and not be bothered with coming to God for any help. It is only when a person prayerfully admits their need for strength that the power of the Risen Christ steps in and provides His Presence in the midst of their need. The climate of prayer provides the right atmopshere for the Spirit of God to do what He does best, lift up Jesus. The messenger is not the focus of attention. Jesus is the focus. When a messenger faithfully delivers the message of Jesus, he has done his part. Jesus shows up "while" the messenger is giving a faithful witness of what he has seen and heard about Jesus . This is the synergy of the Spirit of God that makes the message effective.


The Risen Christ reveals the role of the Holy Spirit in His arrival at the room while the disciples were sharing their message. His Presence is always there whenever His followers are relaying His message. The power of prayer revealed the Presence of the Risen Christ to the two disciples at the supper table in the roadside inn near Emmaus. When the physical Presence of The Risen Christ left the room, they ran back up hill to share the good news with an unbelieving group of eleven discouraged men. They showed up to deliver the message and Jesus showed up "while they were telling these things." Praying for the Presence of Jesus to show up to honor the telling of His message is an admission of weakness. It is also an invitation for His power.


Quote of the Day: "The Holy Spirit never descends upon prayerless men. He never fills them. He never empowers them. There is nothing whatever in common between the Spirit of God and men who do not pray. The Spirit dwells only in a prayer atmosphere." E.M. Bounds


GMillerLight4U

Praying til Pentecost - Day 17: Believe it or Not

"And they went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either." Mark 16: 13 (Luke 24:33-35)


When we moved to Long Island, New York in 1960 my father made sure we got off "The Island" drove often into Manhattan to see the sights of "The City." This is what the people in the area called New York City. You didn't have to be any more specific than that. Everyone knew what you meant when you said you were going to "The City."


I went to school with friends on Long Island who had lived in the metropolitian New York area all their lives, and still had not been to "The City." I will always be grateful that Dad wouldn't let us cocoon up and hide from one of the more intimidating cities of the world. He generated in us a spirit of adventure that still remains in me today.


We hit the hot spots on our first few trips to New York City. This included the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Trinity Church, Battery Park, Broadway, Time Square, Macy's, Central Park, Grand Central Station, Madison Square Garden, and many other tourist destinations. One of the visits that appealed to me the most as a young boy was one that took us to "Ripley's Believe it or Not" Museum. WOW! I could have stayed there for days. It was an incredible menagerie of man made cons and unusual natural discoveries. It was sensory overload. Even seeing these things with my own eyes, I struggled with unbelief. I had never seen anything like it. It was way out of my range of reference and personal experience. The proof was set before me, and I had a choice. Just like Ripley said, "Believe it or Not!"


Mark's Gospel account is a fast read. He writes with the heart of a breathless sprinter gasping and grasping for the finish line. He is intent on cutting out the non-essentials and one of his favorite words is "IMMEDIATELY."


With this in mind it is important to notice that Mark places huge importance on the issue of belief. This is the keystone to citizenship in the Kingdom of God. Every person must hear the Word of God, and make a personal response to it. Christianity is just one generation away from extinction, if the story of salvation is not passed down from one generation to another. Each person who hears the story of Jesus must choose to accept or reject His message. Those who hear it regularly and reject Him often do not deserve another chance to hear it while there remain so many around the world who have never heard the story once.


One of the most stunning passages of Scripture is reported by him. He quotes Jesus after he encountered unbelief from the people in his boyhood home of Nazareth. "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.' And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He wondered at their unbelief." (Mark 6:4-6)


Both Mark and Luke report that "The Eleven" were guilty of unbelief...TWICE. They had heard from the women who had met with Jesus at the empty tomb, and they had received a report from the couple who had been met by Him on the road to Emmaus. Jesus had given them two direct command s from reliable messengers to get their show on the road and meet Him in Galilee. He promised them that He would meet them there, but they were going to have to get moving if they wanted to get in touch with Him again. Their response had been unbelief on both occasions.


From Mark's earlier account (Mark 6:4-6) it is clear that Jesus does not consider healing people to be a great work. The King James Version uses this term for miracle, and goes on to remark that Jesus "marveled" at their unbelief. What a statement! The people had no problem accepting His healing power over their sickness. They just could not believe that a carpenter's son could be The Messiah. They had seen with their own eyes what Jesus could do. They just would not give Him their hearts.


The same remains true today. Very few people in this world will turn down prayers to God on their behalf. They are more than willing to receive the benefits that might come their way. This is called having their bases covered. There may be a God. There may not be a God. So why not give the "Man Upstairs" a chance to throw a little something their way. Prayers of healing are answered all the time, for those who are believers and those who are not. This is a phenomenon of God's grace that He has set in place and is an expression of His Sovereignty. The healing is just not considered to be a great work or a miracle by God. It is belief that is the greatest work that is done in the life of a person.


Initial belief in Jesus is a life-saving event. Continuing to place trust and belief in Jesus with a daily walk with Him is a life-changing process. One of my heroes of faith is "Wild Bill" Stafford from Chattanooga, Tennessee. He always puts this idea of belief down on the bottom shelf where I can reach it. Here is one of my favorite quotes from this great man of God.

• "A glance at Jesus will save you, but a gaze at Jesus will sanctify you." Bill Stafford.

When the Risen Christ walked on earth among His disciples for 40 days after the resurrection, He was teaching them about the Kingdom of heaven. His Presence would be provided to them with the gift of The Promise. To get in on what God had for them they were going to have to learn to obey the first time they heard God speak to to them. Unbelief always hinders the greatest work the Spirit of God can do in the life of a believer.

Quote of the Day: "Is Jesus Christ saying to you, 'My child, when will you believe what I say?' Is there a particular problem in your life that has made you become slow of heart to believe? Do not let the stupidity grow. Seek what the Word of God has to say about it. Oh, there is such a need for people who will search the Bible and learn what God is saying to them!" Oswald Chambers

GMillerLight4U

Praying 'til Pentecost - Day 16: Stay With Us

"...they urged Him, 'Stay with us..." Luke 24:30

The Risen Christ initiated every post resurrection contact with His followers. His true followers desired close, continued, and consistent companionship with Him. The couple on the road to Emmaus had a choice to make. After a heart stirring conversation, they could have politely excused themselves, and let Jesus walk on down the road, and away from them. They chose to invite Him to stay with them and share their evening meal.

Crossroads in life are sometimes seen more easily through the rear view mirror than they are through the windshield of immediate circumstances. Knowing God's will for our lives sometimes feels like a continuous Easter Egg Hunt. Every time we get close to the prized egg someone seems to kick it into the tall grass.

Looking back at choices that have been made in life can be a mixed bag of "What if?" and "Thank God!" There are some choices in life that don't really matter. Mixing a paisley patterned tie with a Madras plaid jacket may be a poor fashion choice, but it probably will not end the world as we know it. There are some decisions that have life changing consequences.

As a six year old boy I found a child sized hunger in my heart for a man sized relationship with God. Through the gentle guidance of my father, I asked all of the Jesus I knew to come in and take over all of the life that I had. This decision was a watershed moment that has had a long lasting impact on every other choice I have made.

The choice to go to East Africa and serve for two years as missionary Journeyman was not made with a great deal of insight or prayer. God used my availability and met me there in Tukuyu, Tanzania. When I was 23 years old, He took my first grade faith and introduced Himself to me with a fresh sense of His power and His Presence. Coming to the end of myself was a great way to come to the beginning of God.

Returning to the States and enrolling at Southwestern Seminary had been a long planned out decision. I had felt God's leading of my life towards Fort Worth as early as October 1973. After my first week of classes, I went to the home of Dr. W. Fred Swank to seek his advice. He told me to find a good church and join it and make yourself indispensable to the pastor. He told me that he only recommended men to serve in churches that he had known to be faithful laymen. He said God would take care of the rest of the details. I joined Sagamore Hill Baptist Church the following Sunday, and met my future wife there the following night. Four months later I was on his church staff. I often wonder what would have happened if I had not taken his sound advice.
So glad I did. Dana and I are in our 34th year of marriage. Good call Bro. Fred!

Over the years the choices in life have been relentless. The one common thread that has run through each of them is my desire to know in some form of fashion WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) I have to confess I was never a fan of wearing the rubber band bracelets imprinted with the letters WWJD. Still, I always appreciated the sentiment behind it. BTW! I found out that during the height of their popularity that the one item shop lifted most out of Christian bookstores was the WWJD bracelets. Got to wonder what was going on in their minds when the five finger discount artists were making that choice!

The two disciples making their way from the scene of a disaster were approached by the Risen Christ. He asked them to tell Him the things that they had been discussing with one another. Sarcastically and resentfully they poured out a laundry list of "What ifs." They were trapped in the pain of the past and the loss of hope for the future. Jesus walked with them and used the Scriptures to unfold what God was about, and as He spoke they had a stirring in their heart that was not there before He arrived. The account in Luke's Gospel says that Jesus acted as if he would go farther, but the couple pleaded with Him to stay and share a meal with them.

I have often wondered what would have happened to them if they had let the moment pass, and let Jesus go on His way. It has become a challenge to me to always make sure I don't ask Jesus to answer my questions about the future, and kick Him to the curb as soon as I find out what I want to know. My walk with God is not so much about knowing about the future, but in getting with Him in the present.

The couple had a choice to make and they chose wisely. They seemed to know instinctively that their future was tied very closely to the continuation of their conversation with this unnamed companion. Their response reminded me of one of my favorite quotes, "Knowing God's will for your life in specifics, comes out of the overflow of a consistent companionship with God." Lloyd John Ogilvie

They did not want the session with Risen Savior to end. When I forget that my walk with Jesus is the next twenty seconds, then I become breathless about the future, and too reflective about the past.

Walking and talking with Jesus brought the couple to one level of God's plan for them. When they invited Him to stay with them, they were taken to a new level of intimacy with Jesus. The power of His prayer over the breaking of the bread seemed to open their eyes to the Risen Christ.

Prayer has the same power today that it did on that evening in Emmaus. Jesus is available to us when we choose to be available to spend time with Him. The life giving power of the resurrection is released through consistent companionship with the One who has conquered death. Spending time in prayer to get answers to our questions about the future is a poor substitute for sitting down and spending time with Jesus and enjoying His companionship in the present. Perhaps we can learn an ancient lesson with contemporary impact on us by repeating the same words to Jesus today..."Stay with us."

GMillerLight4U

"Praying 'til Pentecost - Day 13

"Now late on the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave." Matthew 28:1

In a few short days, I will turn 60. April 3o, 1950 was a Sunday. My parent's often remind me that I was born on the "Lord's Day." Dad still loves to tell the story about my birth. He had preached his morning message at First Baptist Church of Wilmer, Texas and he and Mom were having Sunday lunch with a family from their church. After lunch they were enjoying a dessert of strawberry shortcake, when it was interrupted by a hospital run to Baylor Hospital in Dallas. Actually, the little hospital was Florence Nightingale on Gaston Avenue. By the mid fifties it had been absorbed into Baylor's expansion. Some things never change.

Over the years my parents have given me a healthy respect for the Lord's Day. They have pointed out that my birth forever changed how they looked at Sunday. They had a son born on the first day of the week, the same day that Jesus rose from the grave. To them, Sunday would always be associated with birth, and all the details that surrounded it. At 88 Dad still loves to recall that he never got to finish his dessert. He says that he drove at a high rate of speed from Wilmer to Dallas, and never saw a sign of a police officer. Fathers did not go to the delivery room in those days, so he waited with the other "expectant" dads in the lobby. After my safe delivery, he left Mom at the hospital and returned to Wilmer to preach the evening message. Did I mention that Dad was a Southern Baptist preacher and this was the fifties? His minister of music surprised him by wearing a special bow tie. Just before the service began, he called for the houselights to be turned off and he turned on his tie. It flashed the message, "IT'S A BOY!"
Dad loves this story!

With the message of the Risen Christ, Sunday is forever marked as a day of new beginnings for all of us. It should not surprise us that God turns the grave into a nursery. He allows the women to return to the tomb, and turns it into a triumph. In spite of their love for Jesus, they could not grasp the concept of the resurrection until they heard Him call their name.

I am so glad that God consistently defies my expectations. One of the first books that helped me begin to see the hand of God working outside of the little box I had placed Him in was, "Your God is Too Small." J.B. Phillips had a way of using the English language that painted a picture of the greatness of God, and the inadequacy of man's effort. One of my favorite Phillips quotes comes from his personal translation of the Scripture. "Don't let the world squeeze you into its own mold." (Romans 12:2) See what I mean?

The world looks at a grave yard as the finale. God defies the odds and turns it into a prelude. Only God would take an instrument of death and turn it into a symbol of hope. When the salve of the cross is placed on the scorched skin of sin, He brings healing and hope that takes away the sting of death.

The Gospel writers all sing the prelude of the Risen Christ's victory song. With beautiful harmony they each add their part to the great message, "He is not here, for He has risen just as He said." All of them sing their part with a unique voice, but they are all on the same song sheet. The prelude beings in Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:1, and John 20:1. It continues every Sunday in churches all over the world who look to the Risen Christ to walk and talk with them every day of their lives.

Sunday is more of a birthday than a memorial service. The Son of God said, "I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) You have to love the way God takes the sting out of the grave, and invites people to celebrate life.

Sunday is a day of hope, and it has been forever changed by the power and the Presence of the Risen Christ. The Sabbath day culminated the end of a week of work, and was set aside as a day of rest. This was an emphasis on regaining strength by refocusing on the Sovereignty of God. Sunday was the day the work was to all begin again until the day of rest returned. With the resurrection, Sunday's prominence rose in significance. No longer would it be looked upon as the initiation of the work week, but it would become the celebration of the work that Jesus completed on the cross.

Every Sunday is Easter Sunday, and every day is a day of hope through the power of the resurrection. Regardless of the rough seas that we must sail through on any given day of the week, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father and prays for us. He has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and call us to the kind of prayer that creates intimate communication between the Heavenly Father and His children. Regardless of the day of the week, prayer puts us in contact with the power of God, and the Presence of Jesus.

"Prayer is how we set our sails to catch the wind of heaven." G. Campbell Morgan.

GMillerLight4U

Praying 'til Pentecost - Day 11

• "He appeared in different form to two of them, while they were walking along their way to the country." Mark 16:12
• "What things?" Luke 24:19

From 1972-1974 I served as a missionary Journeyman to the Baptist Mission of East Africa. My job title was, Field Evangelism Assistant, but the job description was more revealing. I was responsible for the construction of churches in the Rungwe District of Tanzania. This was a beautiful place located in the Southern Highlands of the country where three mountain ranges merged. It was in the rain forest, and total annual rainfall for the area was 120 inches a year. Over 40 of that accumulation came in the month of April. There were a miniscule number of paved roads, and most of my work carried me off road anyway. We made our own bricks, cement blocks, trusses, window frames, and pews. The only manufactured item we could import was the tin for the roofs from Communist China. Gasoline costs in those days were $2.50 a gallon and Land Rover pickups loaded with cement and sand were not very eco friendly.

To maintain proper accounts, and assure clear documentation I had to have contracts written in English, Swahili, and the local tribal language. Progress was slow, tedious, and often dangerous due to the weather and road conditions. I was on my second Land Rover pickup. The first had rolled over the mountain side when the brakes went out on it. I was able to bail out, but my partner was hospitalized. Until it was replaced, I checked on all my projects on a 150cc Yahama trail bike, and carried what supplies I could in a back pack and saddle bags.

My assignment was for 22 months, and the time I had left was slippling away with all the rain and mud. I was in one of the garden spots of the world, but it was very frustrating work. Cross cultural communication, supply shortages, theft of suppies on the projects, cement and lime ruined by the water, and the washed out roads and bridges conspired against any Western concept of time management and project completion. Did I mention 120 inches of rain?

August 20-26, 1973 I took a week off to attend the Annual Mission Meeting in Narobi. We were hosted by the Limuru Conference Center, and 300 missionaries and MKs (Missionary Kids) were in attendance. I was asked to carry a sign from the truck of one of our BMs (Big Missionaries) and take it to the Worship Center. It was a six foot long sign and about two feet high. I balanced it on my shoulder and started walking across the camp ground. Everywhere I went, I caused a ripple of laughter to start rolling across the green commons area. As I approached the dining hall a group of BMs were slapping their legs and laughing and pointing at me. The loudest of all was a guy named Eucled Moore. He shouted out something about type casting, self-fulfilling prophecy, or truth in advertising. He was on a roll. I stopped in front of the group of comedians, and took the sign off my shoulder, and saw that it had printed in huge block letters "F-R-U-S-T-R-A-T-I-O-N!"

This story is a little funnier to me now, but the truth always hurts the first time it hits. Like a salve placed on a sunburned skin, there is an increase in the heat before there is a release from the pain. What I know now is that the guys laughing the hardest had forgotten more about frustration than I would ever learn. They were husbands, and fathers and were seasoned veterans of the AWA Wars (Africa Wins Again!). They may have been laughing at me. I am pretty confident that Eucled was, but they could feel my pain too. They had been there more than once, and they enjoyed seeing a young gun earn his spurs at this rodeo.

When the Risen Christ walked into the lives of Cleopas and his wife Mary on the road to Emmaus, he encountered them at the lowest point of their lives. Their dreams had been crushed at the bloody grounds of the crucifixion of Jesus. Their plans for a future and a hope were frustrated. The account in Luke describes them going down hill figuratively and physically as they travelled the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were so engrossed in conversation and discussion of their problem that they missed the Presence of Jesus when He came along side of them.

When Jesus asked them what they were talking about, Cleopas sarcastically rebuked Him for His ignorance about "the things" that had been happening the previous three days. Jesus did not take offense. He just asked, "WHAT THINGS!"

These two words were the key that unlocked the door to the pent up frustration of the two travellers. Cleopas poured out a perspective that was totally saturated with all "the things" that had happened in the past. He had failed to bring his past problem to God. He had been overwhelmed by what he had seen, and as a result he missed the Presence of Jesus walking right beside him.

Jesus still asks the question, "What things?" The message of the Risen Christ to us today is still and invitation to bring our frustrations and fears to Him and let Him make sense out them. When we add up what we have seen with our own eyes, but leave Jesus out of the equation, we are in danger of miscalculating the right answer.

What is it that frustrates you? Have you talked to others more than you have talked to Jesus about it? Take the time to place "the things" that are on your back and roll them over onto the shoulders of Jesus. His yoke was designed with you in mind.

Getting something off your chest does not mean that it has been removed from your back. Giving someone a piece of your mind does not give you peace of mind. Jesus still asks the question, "What things?" When "the things" that you have seen begin to choke you and trip you up, stop in your tracks and turn to Jesus. He calls on you to cough up the bone in your throat and the rock in your shoe. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

GMillerLight4U

Praying 'til Pentecost - Day 11

"Do not be afraid, go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they shall see Me." Matt. 28:10

Jesus is all about removing the fear, restoring the hope, casting the net, expanding the Kingdom, and delivering the good news. His mission is our mission. His first concern was for fear to be removed, and then he commissioned the women to go find His men and tell them to return to Galilee. They were to go back to the place where they first heard His call on their lives. He promised that He would be there when they arrived.

I have really been blessed by Face Book reunions. On the whole the "blasts from the past" have been very encouraging. One of the common denominators of these renewed connections with people from my past is the unusual things they remember. It is a reminder to watch what you say because people will remember it! I was encouraged recently by a person that I have not seen in 30 years. He said in his "Comment" section on Face Book, "Do you remember when you said, 'God doesn't move parked cars?' "

I had to admit that I was a bit foggy on that one. He went on to say that he had quoted this statement from me for years. He said I shared it within the context of knowing God's will for our lives, and that God has a tendency to guide us best when we are moving towards Him. In other words, you have to be moving to be led.

This really ministered to me. I had become so separated by distance from what I had taught 30 years ago that is really was like hearing it for the first time. This was a unique way of being reminded by God that some things never change, and I would do well to "Practice what I preach!"

In these early hours of the post resurrection world, the Risen Christ was instructing His disciples to operate on faith in His word not by the sight of His Presence. He instructed the women to deliver His word, and He commanded the disciples to return to their roots.

Leaving Jerusalem, the grave of their greatest defeat, and returning to Galilee, the birthplace of their greatest hope would give them a fresh encounter with Jesus. If they remained huddled around the cold ashes of their burned out dreams, they would never know the warmth of rekindled hope that only the Risen Christ could offer to them.

They had to start moving towards Jesus to find out He was already there waiting for them to arrive. A healthy church is not a parking lot filled with people trying to escape reality. It is a mobilized army moving in obedience to the words of their Commander.

The early disciples could hardly believe their ears. They had seen too much. What they had seen had almost deafened them to the voice of the Risen Christ. What a paradox. What we see can often impact our capacity to hear from God.

Whenever Jesus showed up in the lives of His discouraged disciples, He removed their fear and restored their hope. He called them to Himself, and then He sent them out to encourage others with the message of the Kingdom of Heaven. Some things never change. God doesn't move parked cars. You have to be moving to be led.

Have you heard from Jesus today? Remember the Risen Christ knows you by your first name, and is seated at the right hand of God praying for you by name.

GMillerLight4U

Praying 'til Pentecost - Day 10

• "And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report it to the disciples." Matthew 28:8
• "And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it." Mark 16:11
• "And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb." Luke 24:11

"Seeing is believing!" The world in which we live scorns the fool who trusts in something he cannot see. Jesus invites His followers to become citizens of a kingdom where, "Believing is seeing!"

"WUDDA! CUDDAH! SHUDDAH!" These words are the vision statement of those who are determined to blast through life politely ignoring God. They use their rear view mirror as a corrective lens for their terminal blindness, and still miss God nine ways from Dallas.

In my first pastorate, I remember George telling me over and over again how this church had missed God four times. He would use every cross road in our church's decision making as an occasion to roll out the ancient scrolls of his impeccable memory and recite once again the horrid details and tragic consequences. It was hugely demoralizing and effectively paralyzing.

After a couple of years, my five year old could mouth the words of his story and almost lip sync it perfectly. The facts were accurate, but the missing ingredient was the lesson learned. In all of the stories, the failure was based upon an inability to "see" God in the present tense. They could always see the result of missing God in the past tense, but they could not see through the cloud of doubt and see the blessing of God in the future, if they obeyed Him in the present.

They had seen it with their own eyes, albeit from a distance. They knew the finality of the cross. They had seen the trauma and smelled the drama of death. The stench in their nostrils was still fresh, and their mind's eye could not erase the recent memory of the crucifixion. Christians have always been intimidated by immediate circumstances. Some things never change.

As a result of what they had seen in the past, Friday was a finale. They were unable to believe the fresh word God had for them in the present tense, because they would not believe what they heard.

The Risen Christ was shifting their eyes from their rear view mirror to their windshield. From this day forward, they would not be called upon to trust what they had seen, but to put their confidence in what they heard. Faith was to come from hearing and "hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10: 17)

All they saw ahead was the dark and foreboding future of a life without Jesus. They were about to learn that in the Kingdom of Heaven, "Believing is seeing!" Their first response to what they heard about the Risen Christ was willful disbelief, and scornful derision. They not only rejected the message, but they had to rebuke the messenger for delivering nonsense.

The Risen Christ chose to send a woman to deliver the greatest message the world could ever hear. It may have been that the disciples did not approve of the method as well as the message. In any event, they rejected the message and the messenger. They refused to believe what they could not see with their own eyes. They would have nodded in agreement with the phrase, "Seeing is believing!"

More Christians and churches have been killed by the paralysis of analysis than any leap of faith. The early disciples were faced with the facts of the death of Jesus, and could not bring themselves to put their confidence in what they heard about Him.

Today's lesson is for those who remain faithful in delivering the message they have heard from the Risen Christ. The messenger is not responsible for the reaction to the truth. The messenger is only responsible to the Master to deliver the truth.

GMillerLight4U

Praying 'til Pentecost - Day 9

• "...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering." Philippians 3:10
• "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Romans 10:17

All of us have heard and perhaps even made the statement, "Seeing is believing." It is commonly accepted that when we see something with our own eyes then we can have confidence that it is real or it is the truth. It is hard to believe in the worth or reality of something that cannot be seen.

In the Kingdom of God, Paul's statement sets the record straight for believers, "Faith comes by hearing." Trusting in the word of Christ is not a result of seeing with the eyes of faith, but hearing with the ears of faith.

Sight can be a pretty tricky deal. I remember when I was a ten year old fifth grader at the Main Street School in Farmingdale, New York. I was asked by Mrs. Curtis to write a statement on the board, and then return to my seat at the back of the room, and read it to the class. I didn't think anything at all about what I was writing. I just printed it on the board and walked to my seat. This was my first experience with the public embarrassment that comes from being made aware I needed glasses. I could not see what I had written well enough to read it to the class from where I was seated. I had to get up, and walk closer. The closer I had to return to the board, the louder the giggles became. I could hear the dreaded words begin whispered, "Four eyes!" In those days glasses and braces were not a status symbol or a fashion statement. They were the brands of inadequacy. Whew! Glad that nightmare is over. I am not sure that I have trusted what I can see for the last 50 years. Recent cataract surgery has done nothing but reinforce my skepticism in sight.

Words mean something. Paul wrote to the church at Philippi that he wanted to know Jesus better, and he anticipated that this would be done through the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering. To the church at Rome, he would remind them that placing faith in the Risen Christ was a result of hearing the word of Christ, not seeing the person of Christ. One of my favorite statements of Jesus is the invitation to "Come unto Me...and rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Sunday I invited the children of our church to come forward for a brief teaching session. I held a little guy in my lap that had brain surgery two years ago. He and I have become friends over the past two years, and I have been at the hospital and in his home enough for us to be comfortable with one another. We always play a simple little game. I hold out my arms, and he reaches up to me. I lift him up and he places his little head on my shoulder. I begin to sing, "Go to sleep little Taiden, go to sleep. Go to sleep little Taiden go to sleep." He closes his eyes and pretends to be sleeping. After a brief pause, I will lift him up and say loudly, "Wake up!" He laughs out loud, and shouts, "Do it again!" We demonstrated our little game for the other children and the adults Sunday morning. He was a natural. I pointed out that Jesus is still calling us by name to come and place our head upon His shoulder, and rest.

Jesus invites believers to find rest in Him. They don't really know Him until they rest in Him. Rest can be described as ...

• R - Releasing
• E - Every
• S- Single
• T- Thing

Rest is not found in reclining. It is found in releasing. There is no better way to release what we are suffering than to bring it to Jesus in prayer.

I have often made the comment, "I don't need this!" Another favorite of mine over the years has been, "I'm not going to take this." Perhaps you have heard some others...

• I don't deserve this!
• I didn't sign up for this!
• I didn't ask for this!
• I didn't go looking for this!

Over the years I have tried to come to grip with THIS! What this means for me is to begin with the definition of THIS.

• T-The
• H-Hurt
• I- I
• S-Suffer

When Paul said that he wanted to know Jesus, he may not have known what he was saying. I understand that he was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to reveal the mind of Christ to him. I just wonder sometimes if Paul knew the consequences of his statement when he wrote it. He may have been like a 10 year old fifth grader writing something on a blackboard, and having to come to grips with what he wrote by getting closer to the truth.

Getting closer to Jesus comes through suffering. The power of His resurrection will never be known fully without experiencing the fellowship of His suffering. The same holds true for our human relationships.

Two years ago, I was acquainted with the parents of the little boy I mentioned earlier in my blog. We were friendly, and on a first name basis. I had a respect for the contribution they made to our community, and we were on cordial speaking terms. Our relationship began to deepen when the suffering of their little boy began to worsen. His seizures required brain surgery at one of leading children's hospitals in Texas. I travelled 70 miles with one of our men in the church, and we met them at 5AM at the hospital to pray with them before the baby was taken to surgery. We stayed all day with them until the baby was released from surgery and taken to recovery. It was a long 12 hour ordeal filled with several different prayer sessions. Long story short, our relationship with one another went to another level through the rough sea of suffering. Without that experience together, we would still be cordial acquaintances, but we would not have the kind of relationship that we now appreciate.

The fellowship of His suffering takes place when we bring THIS to Jesus. Can you hear Him speaking to you today? He still says, "Come unto Me...and rest." Release every single thing that is on your mind, and on your back over onto the shoulders of Jesus. Remember, rest is not found in reclining, but it is found in releasing THIS.

GMillerLight4U

Praying 'til Pentecost - Day Five

"Jesus said, 'Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.' Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, 'You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep." Matthew 28:10-13

Fear and false rumors have always been obstacles to a great movement of God. Satan is a liar, and those who spread falsehoods and undermine the truth in any form or fashion are under the influence of the evil one.

Recently a malignant reminder of the relentlessness of false rumor has surfaced in our community. Tracing down the source of a lie is more difficult than staying on mission with the truth. The fact of the matter is you just can't keep throwing rocks at every barking dog and still get to town. To cut to the chase, Satan lies, and he has influence on enough people to keep his lies alive. His purpose in lying is to discredit, disprove, discourage or at least delay the people who are on mission for God.

It interests me that the two women were on their way to deliver the truth to the disciples and Satan immediately started lying. He can do nothing else. It is who he is. Matthew's account reads, "Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city..." (Matt. 28:11)

Ron Dunn was often quoted as saying, "Good and evil travel down parallel tracks and usually arrive at the same time." That is exactly what happened when the truth about the Risen Christ was being delivered to the disciples. Satan placed it in the hearts of the elders of the Sanhedrin to conspire against the truth by concocting a story that simultaneously maligned the guards for dereliction of duty and accused the disciples of grave robbing. Stooping to the use of a bribe to seal the deal, the elders of Israel promised to protect their co-conspirators if the governor ever found out the truth. The Scripture records, "This story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day." (Matthew 28:15)

What was the response of the women? They delivered the truth in spite of the lies that were being spread about their message. What was the response of the disciples when they heard the truth? "The eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee to the mountain which Jesus had designated." (Matthew 28:16)

In other words, they took the high ground. They did not call on the elders to retract their story. They did not have a news conference to alert the city that rumors were being circulated about them. They did not take their offense to the governor. They had seen first hand how much justice Rome was capable of handing out. They obeyed their orders, went to the mountain, and waited for the Risen Christ to show up.

The women did not delay in delivering their message, and the eleven did not hesitate to meet up with Jesus. This is huge. The devil loves to intimidate by false reports and false accusations. His purpose is to put the messenger on the defensive and delay the delivery of the message. He knows the truth better than anyone, and he knows he has no defense against the power of it. His only alternative is to get Christ followers so wrapped up in setting the record straight that they forget their message and their mission.

Thank God the early disciples did not spend all their time chasing down false rumors. They got over their fear, and faithfully delivered the great news about the Risen Christ. They put themselves in the right place at the right time to have an encounter with Jesus. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6) Thank God these two women and the eleven did not put their time into stopping the rumors, but put their trust in the Truth.

The message of the Risen Christ that we share today is a direct result of faithfulness of those who chose to stay on mission and deliver the message. May we be found faithful to do the same in the face of opposition from the "father of lies."

GMillerLight4U

Praying 'til Pentecost Day 4

" 'He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where he was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you in to Galilee, there you will see Him, behold I have told you.' And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. And behold Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshipped Him. Then Jesus said to them, " 'Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.' " Matthew 28:6-10

The early disciples were receiving a crash course in faith. Paul would later write, "So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17) It is this gathering of the faithful that was going to change the world. They would be called the church or the "called out" ones. They would be known for their responsiveness to the Word of God. A recent study of groups and gatherings reminded me that a collection of geese is called a gaggle, a group of sheep is called a flock, cattle are referred to as a herd, and a gathering of buzzards is called a committee. I won't go there right now, but that last reference is pretty disturbing.

One author has suggested that a gathering of Christians should be called a "crash." This is what a group of rhinos is called. Rhinos cannot see very well, but their hearing is superb. Once they hear, they are prone to move with great speed and unstoppable power. Nothing can stand in their way, especially when they move as a group or a "crash."

It is an interesting perspective to say the least. Perhaps that is why one of the first things the disciples were told to do was to "go quickly." They were reminded of what Jesus had said, and then given a mission to perform.

The ladies were to trust the fact that Jesus was already waiting for them to arrive at the destination they had been assigned. They had to trust the angel's promise and start out on their journey. The next thing they experienced was the personal presence of Jesus meeting them along the way. This is another great picture of the Risen Christ. He honored their faith in His word by offering them the privilege of His fellowship. Jesus is not looking for any special ability from His disciples. He is watching and waiting for them to be available to Him.

One of the world's greatest misconceptions is contained in the statement, "Seeing is believing!" In the Kingdom of God, "Believing is seeing!" One of the most repeated words in angelic vocabulary in the word, "Behold!" It is rooted in a verb that means "to see, perceive, attend to." When the angels use it they are attempting to get the eyes of their listeners off of them and onto the Word of God. The appearance of an angel always generated fear in the hearts of the people receiving their message. They would often have to repeat the word "behold" and make sure people did not miss the message by being overwhelmed by the messenger. The word carries a more contemporary meaning of "Look! Look here! See here! Pay attention! Get this! Get it? Got it? Good!" The angels were held responsible for not only delivering the message, but making sure that the message was received. The angels reminded the two women that they were just repeating what Jesus had said to them before He died. (see italics)



There are at least 155 verses of Scripture that refer to the 40 days Jesus ministered to His disciples from Resurrection Day to Ascension Day. After His ascension the disciples waited an additional 10 days in Jerusalem, waiting for The Promise of the Father.



These Scriptures contain powerful images of the Kingdom of God, and they unveil the truth of Christ's teaching in the context of 50 unprecedented days. For 40 days the disciples received instruction about the Kingdom of God, and for 10 days they waited and prayed.



The Church was birthed in the labor room of prayer. The Holy Spirit was the answer to the prayers of the people of faith. They could not possibly have known what God had in mind when they gathered for prayer. Still, they were obedient to wait and pray. They were available and God was able. It is through our availability to God and God's ability to transform that the nonsensical becomes the believable.



Take a look at the story of the 50 days through the eyes of the early disciples. It can be found in

• Matthew 28:1-20


• Mark 16:1-10


• John 20:1-21:25


• Acts 1:1-11

Easter Sunday marked the beginning of a new step of faith in the lives of the disciples. Intimidation by immediate circumstances had overwhelmed them with doubts and fears. The absence of Jesus had left them with the bitter after-taste of the dregs of defeat and the death of a vision. God had taken them to the end of themselves to bring them to the beginning of all that He had in store for them. Little did they realize that God was at work bringing about His very best when Satan was doing His very worst.



GMillerLight4U