We're Not Okay and That's Alright

As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching. (Matthew 27:57-61 NLT)

The 27th chapter of Matthew is a rather depressing and sad chapter. Here is a brief synopsis:

Jesus’ death is planned out by the religious leaders
    Judas hangs himself
        An innocent man (Jesus) is put on trial
            The audience of the trial wants a guilty man set free
                An innocent man (Jesus) is found “guilty” and humiliated publicly
                    Jesus is crucified
                        As he is dying, Jesus is further ridiculed and verbally assaulted
                            Certain women could/would only watch from a distance
                                Jesus dies and is buried in a “borrowed” tomb
                                    Plans are made and kept to guard the tomb of someone dead

Ugh. Like we said, depressing.

Many Christians believe - some adamantly - that a follower of Jesus can never be depressed. After all, “the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Yet, pulling one verse out of context does not make one a biblical scholar.

Depression, sadness, hurt, anxiety, pain, stress…these are all found throughout the Holy Scriptures and afflicted even the stoutest of biblical saints.

One of Christianity’s greatest preachers, C.H. Spurgeon was frequently plunged into severe depression. Quite a bit of his mental crises were due in part to gout. In a biography of this "prince of preachers", Arnold Dallimore wrote, "What he suffered in those times of darkness we may not know...even his desperate calling on God brought no relief. Spurgeon himself once wrote: “There are dungeons beneath the castles of despair.”

Just when you thought you couldn’t get any lower…dungeons.

In all honesty - we’ve all been there. A loss of a loved one. Loss of a job. Destruction of a friendship. Frail health. Chronic pain. Addiction. Financial stress. Impatient demands of others. All of these, plus countless other things, can drive even the sweetest of saints to a moment of mental anguish and spiritual struggle.

Chuck Swindoll once wrote: “Many years ago a young Midwestern lawyer suffered from such deep depression that his friends thought it best to keep all knives and razors out of his reach. He questioned his life's calling and the prudence of even attempting to follow it through. During this time he wrote, ‘I am now the most miserable man living. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell. I awfully forebode I shall not.’ But somehow, from somewhere, Abraham Lincoln received the encouragement he needed, and the achievements of his life thoroughly vindicated his bout with discouragement. You and Your Problems Transformed by Thorns, p. 58.

Even the early followers of Jesus despaired. Matthew 27:61 - “Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.” Do you think they were waiting for his triumphant resurrection? No, more than likely, these two could only see and feel: “The One we believed in and followed is gone! Our Messiah is dead!”

We too, often become overwhelmed by life and its often relentless and choking grip…and in our limited thinking we say to ourselves: “Where is God? Why doesn’t he hear me? Why doesn’t he hear my prayers? Does God not care for me or my problems?”

Be honest - you know we’ve all done it. So, quit being ashamed of being human. After all, if you’re reading this, “Surprise! You’re human.” You are flesh. You are bone. You are blood. You are at times weak. At times you fail. This is what it means to live in a fallen world.

Instead, give thanks that God extends mercy and grace when we do fall. He gives us what we do not deserve and does not give us what we do deserve in those moments of despair.

In the midst of their pain and loss, God reached out to the two Marys. Even though it was at a tomb, guarded by the enemy, without joy and hope, God had not abandoned them. God had not left them to their own demise. God did not discard them because they were filled with sadness.

Rather God met them there. He brought forth the greatest moment of joy the world would ever know. He raised from the dead the One who could lead all the captives of sin and death to eternal and everlasting freedom. God brought to life the only One who can give us life.

Holy week is upon us. It is a tough week. Maybe you are encountering a tough time. Know this: it’s okay to fret. It’s alright to stress. It’s normal to get overwhelmed. It’s fine that you are not fine.

That is the reason for Christ Jesus.

Christ has come.
    Christ has died.
        Christ has been buried.
            Christ has been raised from the dead.
                Christ has ascended to the right hand of the Father.
                       Christ is coming again.

That’s good news brothers and sisters. We pray it brings a glimpse of hope to your burdened hearts and a smile of joy to your face. It’s okay to not be okay…because, in the end, it will all be okay.

You Are Necessary

 

May 12, 2022

“Then Esther spoke to Hathach and instructed him to tell Mordecai, ‘All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.’ When Esther’s words were relayed to Mordecai, he sent back to her this reply: ‘Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’” Esther 4:10-14 (BSB)

In Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus he writes the following truth: 

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding…” (Ephesians 1:3-8)

Commenting on Ephesians 1:3-6, M. Robert Mulholland describes just how powerful it can be personally, when we recognize that we were chosen by God:
 

   “I once heard a woman tell of her struggle with this reality [of being an unwanted child]. Her mother was a prostitute, and she was the accidental byproduct of her mother’s occupation. Although her life’s pilgrimage had brought her to faith in Christ, blessed her with a deeply Christian husband and beautiful children, and given her a life of love and stability, she was obsessed with the need to find out who her father was. This obsession was affecting her marriage, her family and her life.
    

    She told how one day she was standing at the kitchen sink, washing the dishes, with tears of anguish and frustration running down her face into the dishwater. In her agony, she cried out, “Oh, God, who is my father?” Then, she said, she heard a voice saying to her, “I am your Father.”

    The voice was so real she turned to see who had come into the kitchen, but there was no one there. Again the voice came, “I am your Father, and I have always been your Father.” In that moment she knew the profound reality that Paul is speaking of. She came to know that deeper than the accident of her conception was the eternal purpose of a loving God, who had spoken her forth into being before the foundation of the world.
(Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation by M. Robert Mulholland and Ruth Haley Barton. Copyright (c) 2016 by M. Robert Mulholland and Ruth Haley Barton. Published by InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL.)

In case you are wondering, just like Esther and just like the woman above - you are wanted. You are needed. You are necessary.

You may not feel it. You may not grasp it. You may not believe it. But, that doesn’t change the fact that YOU ARE NECESSARY.

And, your time is now. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Today. This very minute you are reading this. YOU ARE IMPORTANT.

With all we are dealing with - everywhere across the globe - it is high time the church reminds everyone you are needed. Do not think for one moment you are not. If the enemy begins filling your mind with thoughts of inadequacy, incompetence or failure - remind the enemy that your victory over those things was completed over 2,000 years ago when the Son of God defeated the enemy by dying on the cross and being raised from the dead. YOU WERE WORTH IT.

Life is difficult. Life can be intimidating. Life can truly be brutal. Think how much more painful and impossible it would be without you…

We share this message with you this week to remind you that depression, pain, doubt, insecurity, dejection, heaviness of heart, sorrow, remorse…all of these feelings are real. They happen everyday. But, please, do not let these feelings overwhelm you without reaching out to someone. Your family. Your neighbor. Your friend. Your colleague. Your pastor. Your doctor. God’s word.

Thank God for you! Thank you for being you! Thank you for being in our lives! Thank you for being here…at this time…for such a time as this.

We love you. We appreciate you. We think of you. We pray for you. We look to you.

Why? Because God has created you in his image and placed you here…

you are necessary.

Don't Forget to Laugh

 

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but depression drains one's strength” Proverbs 17:22 (GWT)

The late Heath Ledger played one of the most iconic roles in movie history. As part of the Batman movies he played a truly crazy and sadistic Joker. In one scene, which is as frightening as all get out, he speaks one of the most quoted lines in recent movie history: “Why so serious?”

In the Church, laughter has often not been seen as very spiritual. After all, if you are laughing you are being silly and certainly NO CHRISTIAN EVER should be silly. We are to be mature and serious! We should be shoving Chick Tracks into every face we greet!

Do you know anyone who is serious all the time? We bet you do. And, you probably also may note - those who are serious all the time are usually somewhat depressed, deal with various ailments, and overall - well - you don’t want to hang around them.

Don’t get us wrong. There is a time for being somber…serious. As a matter of fact, you may remember these important words: “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, BSB)

Note it says: there is a time…for both. And if there was ever a time for laughing it is now. Anybody else just plain wore out from all the bad news surrounding us?

In all seriousness (see what we did there?) we need to be a people of joy. People of humor, cheer and gladness. Why? Well, reread the opening verse from Proverbs: “A joyful heart is good medicine!”

It’s true - scientific and empirical evidence prove it: joy and laughter have vital spiritual and health ramifications.

Frank Powell, a minister, gives a few reasons every Christian should laugh:

1. Laughter drives out fear. This is particularly important when it comes to theology. If you believe God is always judging you, there’s little room for lightheartedness and fun. However, when you realize God receives you despite your mistakes and failures, you’re free to enjoy life. You can even laugh at yourself. As Habib Bourguiba puts it: “Happy is the person who can laugh at themself. They will never cease to be amused.”

2. Humor is a powerful tool for evangelism. James Martin makes this point in his book Between Heaven and Mirth. He says, “For believers in general, humor shows your trust in God, who will ultimately make all things well.” We are all inundated with stress and anxiety. Christians, however, serve a God who is greater than all we are dealing with. To smile and laugh with joy in today’s world sends a powerful message and will draw the attention of others.

3. Laughter cultivates humility. C. S. Lewis says, “A proud man cannot laugh because he must protect his dignity…But a poor and happy man laughs heartily because he gives no serious attention to his ego.” Joy and laughter are a great way to combat pride. Don’t believe us? Go look in the mirror and try not to laugh. Mean and ugly people cannot laugh at themselves and refuse to allow others to laugh at them. Stay humble my friends - laugh at yourself.

4. Humor keeps us in touch with reality. Manipulated and fake news is a gargantuan problem in the world today: “Don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see!” Humor and laughter go a long way in dealing with all the noise the world is creating. “Might as well laugh as to cry” is a great saying. When life tries to completely crush you - laugh. “Smile and wave boys, smile and wave…”

5. Laughter reveals courage. Elton Trueblood, in The Humor of Christ, says, “The Christian is merry, not because he is blind to injustice and suffering, but because he is convinced that these, in the light of the divine sovereignty, are never ultimate.” How is this true? The serious side keeps us focused on the fight - the humorous keeps us focused on Who’s in charge. Christians should never be indifferent to evil while never doubting that God will bring us through.

6. Humor can have positive effects. Preachers, physicians and psychologists agree that humor and laughter are essential to healing the body, mind and soul. When you laugh your brain releases God-created chemicals which reduce stress, relax your body, boost your immune system, reduce pain and break negative thought patterns, among other benefits. And there are no side-effects! (Other than appearing to be a silly-head.)

With all the above in mind - it’s time for you to laugh. We present to you the following jokes to be read at your own discretion:

Why can't you hear the pterodactyl go to the toilet? Because the 'p' is silent.

How did the picture end up in jail? It was framed!

My wife refuses to go to the beach with me. I think she'd just being clothes-minded!

I wanted to take pictures of the fog this morning. But I mist my chance, so I guess I could dew it tomorrow!

Bad puns. It's how eye roll.

I made a pencil with two erasers. It was pointless.

What did the artery say to the muscle? You're being a little vein.

Why did the balloons run away from the concert? They were playing pop music!

What do you call someone with no body and no nose? Nobody knows.

When a dad drives past a graveyard: Did you know that's a popular cemetery? Yep, people are just dying to get in there but it’s the last place I want to go! The fattest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.