The funeral director couldn’t be clearer. He was most adamant that the deceased’s family demanded that I make no reference, passing or otherwise, to God, Jesus, or anything faintly religious. Without exception, they want nothing of that Almighty stuff. Neither prayers nor the 23rd Psalm. Forget Jesus. Leave Him home.

And this family wants me? A Christian pastor? Yes, because years before I had officiated at the service for some distant relative, some Uncle Carbunkle, that I had no memory of. Not a clue.

I’d known this funeral director for decades and always had a good working relationship with him. But these demands? What if I sneak in some off-handed reference and allusion to the Lord? What then? He said they would not be pleased and most offended, probably blowing their collective tops at him and me, while stopping payment on any well-earned honorarium. The gauntlet has been tossed my way. What to do?

Really didn’t take any thought on my part. I repeated what the funeral director had said about this family being displeased with me if I made any reference to God. Was that what they said? Really? Yes, totally.

My retort was just as clear-cut. I said the following–if I don’t mention the Lord during this funeral service, He’ll be unhappy with me. Whose displeasure should I be most concerned about? Huh? Them or my Lord Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life? Any guesses?

I told him to find someone else, which I’d hoped he couldn’t but he did. Shame on whoever. More for the almighty dollar than the Almighty? You think?

What’s going through my mind can be found in Acts 4. Peter and John are told point-blank by the religious leaders to shut up about Jesus. Keep quiet about that crucified One and His Easter resurrection. Shut your mouth. Would they? Could they? Let’s overhear what they said–‘…Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard’ (Acts 4: 19-20).

Now I’m no Peter or that other John. Not by any stretch of the imagination. But still, I can speak up for the Master. Gritting my teeth, being unphased by someone else’s rebuking, threatening, and bullying, not denying Him even when shaking in my boots. Trying to please my Lord. Him first. Even at a cost. To delight Him most of all.

You can too, can’t you? After all, He lives. Truly. Happy Easter!

Thank you, Jesus, that we can be bold for you. Amen.

Someone claims that there are 365 ‘fear not’ phrases in the Bible. One for every day of the year. This Leap Year you could’ve chewed your fingernails and pulled out whatever hair you have left all to your heart’s content!

I’m sure that one fear a day doesn’t come close to covering all my anxieties. Just little old me? Since surgery a few years ago, I notice that fear becomes more of a sidekick than I’d like. I’m on high alert for any tiny twitch, an ache here, a pain there that may mean something has gone terminally wacko within my aging body. Fears race to the surface. I imagine all the worst and then some.

So, I’ve decided to park some Bible verses in my peabrain. To oil my squeaky emotions with God’s Word. Smooth out some squeamish rough spots by slathering on some spiritual gel. As in what exactly? I’m memorizing some verses, though with limited success. But I’m trying. Who said ‘very’?!

Here’s what I’m working on this week. Psalm 31: 14-15–“But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand…” Yes, I know. Only nineteen words to put into my craw. It should be a cinch and yet I stumble.

But isn’t that one aspect that’s taught here in Psalm 31? That it’s not about how clever I am. Or what a sharpwitted Einstein I wish I were. Or how on top of things I’m not. It’s more about leaning on Him. His everlasting arms with His helping hand when needed. God’s timing that I can trust. Whether I can recite each word verbatim or not, it’s not about me. Or you. Now there’s a novel thought!

Okay. Hold on a second. I know that there’s a lot to fear in this life. More at certain times than others. Yet, the Lord promises to be close by, as in your next breath, to lift us up and carry whatever burdens fall into our laps or onto our heads. Whenever with whatever. He’s given His Word.

Do you believe Him? If so, and I do for at least some of the time, you’ll begin to crowd out those pesky fears, replacing them with some good, old-fashioned faith and trust…in Jesus and the Father and the Holy Spirit with angels at your sleeve.

After all, with so much help, what’s to fear? That’s something to chew on this week.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all your love and help. Amen.

Let’s not be too critical of the apostle called the ‘Doubting Thomas’. Kind of a nasty label, don’t you think? I had some nicknames as a kid. One was ‘Hunker’ as I carried around a bit of extra heft. Still do but no one calls me that at least not to my face. Another was ‘the fish’. Okay, not too bad really.

Reading John 20, we discover that Thomas has some questions about what the other disciples claim about Jesus. They say that He’s not dead. That He’s alive! And they’ve seen Him face-to-face! What? Are they all looney bins? On some vile head trip? Conspiring together with some cock and bull story?

Back to Thomas. He’s been out of town, otherwise occupied. He misses out on what the others experience. So, is he the only one to raise questions? The only doubter?

Not so. Earlier in John 20, some women report to the apostles that Jesus’ body is no longer in the tomb and, on top of that, that they’ve seen Him… alive! Can you believe it? Well, the men don’t. No way. For off go Peter and John to check out this fishy story. A bunch of cockamamie, hair-brained hogwash? Someone has stolen His body? Panic cascades through their emotions propelling them to the place where Jesus was buried.

Seems obvious to me that more than Thomas were doubters at one time or another. Questions would naturally arise, even with what they’d seen with their own eyes. The only ones?

Unfortunately, you can count me as one of them. Doubts about my salvation early on rob me of much joy in the Lord. Wasted energy as I go forward whenever an invitation for salvation is given. I helped some churches increase their number of conversions!

Later on, doubts about my abilities keep me running overheated with more steam than is needed. Spiritual wild goose chase, hoping to prove my worth to the Lord. Trying to earn His love. Am I the only one?

Doubts seem more like fighting city hall. Going around in circles while lacking trust in Jesus and His Word. Hitting my head against a brick wall of unbelief.

Notice something? Doubts often center on me, I, and myself. My feelings. My confidence. My gifts. Me…me…me. Enough already! Start focusing on Jesus. Stick my head more often in the Bible and less noshing on my old worn-out, flat-as-a-pancake feelings.

Rather, do as all the apostles eventually did (except Judas). Eat fully at the Father’s feast of promises made and promises kept, found on almost any page of your Bible. Stop spiritual starvation because you’ve gorged yourself on doubts that are just dustballs and lint, unsubstantial diddly-squat.

Time for less of me and more of Jesus and the Bible, which squeezes out many of those pesky doubts. Let them go. Shoo them far away. Give them a one-way ticket to oblivion, saying a hearty good riddance! At least, let’s give it a try. Are you with me? Am I the only one?

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being a promise keeper. Amen.

I’ve had a tough time figuring out Psalm 87. The opening verses are fine. No problems there. The Lord loves His holy city of Jerusalem and its Mount Zion where the Temple resides. Clear as a bell.

But it’s the next three verses that make me scratch my head, somewhat bemused and befuddled. There’s a list of old enemies of ancient Israel, who claim they were born in Zion, birthed in the sacred city of Jerusalem, in the holy land of Israel. What? How does that happen?

Verses 4-6 portray God as a census taker. As if He’s sitting at a table with a line of people standing before Him. Each one approaches the Lord telling Him where his birth occurred. Some say ‘Egypt’ and ‘Tyre’, others ‘Babylon’ and ‘Cush’, while more spout out ‘Philistia’. All from different parts of the ancient world.

What gives? None of them were born in Jerusalem. Not by a long shot. A bunch of liars? They shouldn’t be. As I’ve thought about it, it’s mainly in the New Testament where my fog lifts and the smoke clears. When you believe in Jesus, and welcome Him into your life, you become a new person (Eph. 2:15). With a new identity (Col. 3:10). Even with a new name (Rev. 2:17). As if you were born and raised as a lifelong citizen of God’s holy city and country. Now that’s amazing, isn’t it?

With Jesus, we’re brand new. Even newer than new. No longer stuck in the past. No longer labeled with a putdown nickname. We’re no longer carting heavy sins on our shoulders. No longer who we used to be. No longer. Thankfully.

So, let’s stop feeling sorry for ourselves. Get up. Show some faith. For a change, trust what Jesus says. Hang onto Him and His Word. After all, you’re brand new in Jesus. A child of the King! Now that’s something to shout about, isn’t it?

Lord Jesus, thank you for making me your own. Amen.

Can digital information get more in your face than it does right now? I’m afraid so, and even more, which boggles the imagination. Will all this ‘progress’ be for the best? To improve our lives? Some will. Usually does. But an unforeseen, dire consequence can rear its ugly head. And will. And does.

More than ever, we’ll need to be vigilant with what we, as Christians, allow into our minds and hearts. Bombarded with digital memes (whatever that is!) requires us to be gatekeepers and bouncers, restraining and tossing out what detracts from our worship and love of our Lord Jesus.

Hear what Psalm 85: 8 says–‘Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.’ Here’s the hard part for me– to concentrate on what the Lord God says. To really hang onto His Word, listening intently to our Lord. This involves more than hearing. It’s a commitment to follow, to obey what He says. Am I a good listener? To God in His Word, the Bible? Not just me. How about you?

After all, look what comes our way– His peace, God’s ‘shalom’, as this verse promises. ‘…he will speak peace to his people, to his saints’ (v.8). There’s more– His encouragement and hope along with good news–‘Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other…Yes, the Lord will give what is good…’ (vs.10,12).

But, unfortunately, not for everyone. The psalmist makes an exclusive claim–‘…to his people, to his saints…’ Peace comes from our Lord to those who trust Him. Those who want more than a surface religion. Much more than a facade that looks good on the outside, but lacks a dedicated personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Here comes another warning–‘…but let them not turn back to folly’ (v.8). This refers to believers. Stay far away from stupid stuff! From nasty voices screaming at us to be #1 again at all costs, no matter who we hurt. Those modern Sirens with alluring voices beckon us to crash on the rocks of some ungodly shoreline. To allow what is sinful in our culture to once again find a home in our hearts and churches–‘…but let them not turn back to folly’ (v.8).

‘Folly’ in Old Testament Hebrew means something moronic, pea-brained while becoming a dim-witted dunderhead. It’s way too easy to return to our old ‘normal’ rather than move ahead with our Lord. So, get out of old Dead Head City as quickly as you can. Don’t look back as salty Lot’s wife did.

But here’s the rub. How to do that? Without becoming a hermit, locked safe and secure in some isolated cave. As in frittering away time, never getting back what we’ve allowed to slip through our fingers. Lazy. A slothful sluggard loosely holding onto the Savior. A fairweather follower of Jesus. Time and weather permitting. Can I borrow your TV Guide?

I know which decision I’d like to make. But knowing myself, I’d better lean in on God’s mercy and forgiveness to make up for all the squandered time regurgitating bitter thoughts and rehashing old wounds with worry replacing faith and trust way too often. The world crashes in through our back door without a godly lock in sight. Oy, veh! Enough is enough, already!

How about it? Time to get off your duff and get moving for Jesus? To get into God’s Word more often than not? You’ll have much to gain. Some needed peace. And hope. And clearer thinking while being less muddleheaded. Focusing more on all the good that comes directly from our God than the muck and slime that comes from you know where.

Now that’s heading in the right direction. For a change. Toward Jesus.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the bright future you have stored up for me. Amen.