Susan Boyle

It's more than likely that by now you've heard Susan Boyle's stirring performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables.  Within a week the online videos of her performance totaled over 40 million having been plastered all over video sharing web sites such as YouTube & DailyMotion and on news sites with the likes of  CNN & MSNBC.  I've embedded a DailyMotion video version of her performance in case you've not run across her video or like me, love listening to her sing.  There's been some talk  of Susan's performance that we should learn to not judge a book but it's cover and the beauty within.

For me there's another inspirational story that Susan inspires. She began singing in her parish church at the age of 12 and sang throughout her life, with an eye toward becoming a performer in Musical Theater.    She put her dream aside while she looked after her ill mother, but never took her eye off of her goal.  Surely putting her mother's well being above her own ambitions demonstrated what our Lord has asked us to do, to love our neighbor.  With her mother now gone and at the age of 47, she once again strikes out to realize her dream.

I think it's her drive regardless of age that I find so inspiring.  At time when my co-workers, who are in my age group talk more about retirement than striking out on a new destiny, I often get caught up in the "Being put out to pasture" mentality.

I think in the next few years, the Lord may have a new chapter for me.  Susan's story inspires me to be open and looking for that opportunity when it presents itself.  We must remember:

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

But in order to take the path God has established for you, you must take the first step of your spiritual journey which is to believe in Christ as your savior.  Christ tells us:

"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"

Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."  John 6:27-29

The Soldier

 

Happy Easter 2009

 

 

 

Easter a time of celebration and thanksgiving for our resurrected savior.    And yet that first Easter was one of confusion and fear for Jesus' early follower.  Three days earlier Jesus was handed over to soldiers who with sickening ruthlessness tortured Jesus.

Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.   Matthew 27:27-31

The same group of soldiers who had tortured Jesus were responsible to carryout his execution.  Nailing him to the cross, the soldiers settled back considering their job complete, waiting for Jesus to die.

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" Matthew 27:50-54

These battle harden soldiers' realization that they had killed the Son of God struck terror in their hearts.  It is likely that these miraculous signs would have convinced many Jesus was the Son of God.  With all of this happening, we find that Jesus' disciples were in hiding, afraid that the Jewish leaders would be coming after then.

I've heard some speakers make disparaging remarks about the disciples and their lack of faith.  Quite frankly, I am willing to cut them some slack.  After all, Matthew 28:11-15 tells that  when the guards who were watching over Jesus' tomb witnessed the miraculous opening of Jesus tomb and his resurrection, the chief priest chose to offer them bribes for hushing the story up and telling lies, rather than having the response of the soldiers and with remorse saying, "Surely he was the Son of God."  With that type of drive to maintain power and their current lifestyle, I wouldn't find it too far fetched that the disciples might be in danger.  But their fear soon turns to joy.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. John 20:19-20

Thomas too may get some grief at times  from modern day Bible teachers & it is true that Jesus told him to stop doubting.  However I am not sure that Jesus was saying this to him in a condemning manner. After all, Jesus had shown the other disciples his hands and his side and Thomas seems to be asking for the same  confirmation.

 

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
      But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:24-29 

I have many favorite Bible verses and John 20:29 is at the top. "... blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."   Those who have believe even though Jesus has not appeared before us and shown us his wounds are blessed.  We are blessed for believing.

It is through the prompting of the Holy Spirit that we are led to Jesus, his salvation and ultimately reconciliation with God the Father.  Have you put your faith in Jesus?  if not I would encourage you to research for yourself what the Bible has to say about him.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus to you.

Jesus tells us, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."  Matthew 7:7-8

Easter would be a great time to begin that search.

It's A Girl

 

Once again, I am pleased to report that I have been made a Granddad.  Our son & daughter-in-law have a new baby girl.  The birth of a child is such a miracle and this one was no exception.  In this case our little girl wanted to join the world much earlier than her development would permit.  Just prior to Christmas, our daughter-in-law was confined to her bed in hopes she could hold out as long as possible regarding the birth, giving our little granddaughter as much chance as possible to survive in the outside world.  This wasn't the first time our family had experience the threat of a child being born to early.  Our grandson [post It's A Boy] joined this world two month's earlier than his due date and friends and family rallied around to pray for his health.  The Lord has blessed him with robust health.  Just as with our grandson, friends and family linked together to pray for a healthy and safe delivery.  Little did we know that our granddaughter would make it full term growing to 8 Lbs 5ozs and a length of 19 & 3/4 inches.

Our Lord takes an interest in children.  In Mark 10:14-16 we read of Jesus' love for the children.

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

We are thankful to the Lord for the blessing of life he has granted our granddaughter and we're very thankful for the prayer support of our friends and family.