"Spring Holiday"

Davenport, Iowa made the decision this week to officially change "Good Friday" to "Spring Holiday" (Read Article here). The Davenport Civil Rights Commission recommended the name to be changed. Seriously, don't they have better things to do other than attack Christianity?

Think about it, a lot of the holidays we have in our country are motivated by Christianity. Don't they understand it is a paid day off? Look if you seriously do not want to celebrate Good Friday that's fine, then go to work. And when there is a Christmas bonus, give it back. I did think it is funny that the unions were upset because their contracts give them "Good Friday" off, but not "Spring Holiday." The sad thing is this would be the first thing many Christians would think of also.

Enough with the Political Correctness already. The more we try to become politically correct the more ridiculous we look. How can anybody take the civil rights commission seriously anymore? And what about the anti-religious movement that does not believe in God? You want to come off as intelligent and in touch with culture yet you lack creativity and logic.

I know you look at the Westboro Baptist Church as the example of how bad Christians are, but they are as anti-Jesus as you. I read "God is Not Great" by Hitchens and have to agree with the premise of the book--in the name of religion many horrible things have been done throughout the history of the world. It was in fact religion that brought about the crucifixion of Jesus and why we are even having this discussion about Good Friday. But Jesus did not come to start a religion, he came to show us the best way to live as followers of God.

At least if you are going to attack Christianity at every turn come up with a viable option. "Spring Holiday?" There were a lot of creative juices flowing when you came up with that alternative. And even if you are going to use that name, why wouldn't it be on the first day of spring? I guess I shouldn't expect a lot though, it is the same movement that came up with the logical argument of the "Spaghetti Monster' and the "orbiting teapot" to prove God does not exist.

I am not trying to make you believe in God. I want you to believe in God, but I am not trying to force you to believe nor do I think I can. All I ask is for you to be considerate to my beliefs and the beliefs of billions of others. So to all who read this--enjoy Good Friday and pause to remember this is the day Jesus paid your penalty of sin so that when this world comes to an end, just as he was resurrected to live forever, you can live forever with Him!

"Mother" John 2:1-11

There was never a doubt in my mind that my mother was proud of me and always wanted me to do well. When I played football in high school she sat in the same place and watched the game intently hoping that I would do well. I am pretty sure she never really understood the game completely because she never watched football on T.V. with dad and me. So she probably cheered for the wrong things sometimes.

"Holding, number 63 for Salem," the announcer would say.

"Yeah, Scott, that's my boy," mom would say.

It is in those moments if I were there I would say, "Mommmmmm!"

She probably said things like, "Doesn't he really look cute in his outfit."

First it is a uniform not an outfit. Second football players do not want to look cute they want to look tough and intimidating.

She loved watching me play, even if she may not have completely understood the game. My senior year when she was sick, I brought home the films so she could watch my games. She died on a Thursday morning, Tuesday evening she was watching the film until she got to tired.

I am fortunate to have a mother that was easy to respect and honor. I know it is difficult for some. But as a follower of Jesus we have to find a way to live by the
5th command in the 10 commandments. "Honor your father and mother so that you may live long in the land of the Lord your God is giving you" (Exodus 20:12). As a follower of Jesus we need to learn to live by all the teachings of God.

Jesus, even though he was God, had to fulfill the law perfectly. He was not exempt from the very law he created. In John 2, he is at a wedding feast. They run out of wine for the feast. It was going to be a moment of embarrassment for the groom. Mary, Jesus' mother goes to him telling her son they don't have any more wine (some speculate this may be a relatives wedding because of Mary's concern for the groom).

Jesus said to her, "Why do you involve me? My time has not yet come." It is almost like he is saying, "Mommmmmm!" as he roles his eyes. He gives us a glimpse of his divinity by saying "his time had not yet come." But his human side comes out as he lives by the 5th command and honors his mothers wishes.

Like any proud mother who wants to give praise to her son she begins to tell the servants to do whatever Jesus tells you to do. Like any good son Jesus gives them directions and he turns water into wine, saving the day just like his mother knew he could.

Mary may not have completely understood the mission her son had come to accomplish, but she was proud of him and knew he had the ability to take care of the problem at the wedding feast.

So what does this mean for us? Jesus came to teach us how to live as followers of God. Being a follower of God means we obey what he teaches us to do in scripture. Obedience to God always takes precedent over whatever it is you are trying to accomplish. Obeying God's commands will make what we are trying to accomlish easier. Jesus came for a greater mission and purpose than changing water to wine. Yet when his mother involved him, he honored her request.

Our problem is that we have a tendency to rationalize why we should not follow a certain teaching. Jesus had a good excuse here to rationalize why he should not get involved, but he didn't. Why do we think we get a pass when Jesus doesn't?

John says this was Jesus' first miracle in Galilee and it revealed his glory and his disciples put his trust in him. See,obedience to God's teaching actually helped Jesus in his mission.

If we trust him, we will live like him in every way.

The Rabbi

I have gotten behind on posting lately. I am going to catch up on the series in John I have been doing. As I have been studying for this series I am learning so much about the difference between Jesus and the religious culture. Living like Jesus is counter to the religious culture not only in his day, but also today. While it is hard to live like Jesus because of the criticism from the religious culture, it is more appealing to those who are true followers and to the unchurched world. I would describe striving to live like Jesus as freeing, exciting and refreshing.

In John 1:35-51 we have Jesus calling some men to become his disciples. In Rob Bell's book, "Velvet Elvis," he describes how Rabbi's would look for the best of the best young men to become their disciples. A young man may apply to a Rabbi by saying to a rabbi, "I want to become one of your disciples."

The rabbi would then begin the interview the young man to find out if he was capable of becoming like the Rabbi in every way. Once the Rabbi decided a young man was worthy to be one of his disciples he would simply say, "Follow me." From that day forward that young man would walk behind that Rabbi learning how to be exactly like the rabbi.

This has great significance for Christians today. Jesus has asked all of us to follow him and to become one of his disciples. We need to study diligently the life and ways of Jesus and then live like him. It is not a religion, but a way to live as true worshippers of God. Living like Jesus is counter cultural to the religious community, it always has been and always will be.

Religion happens when we stop focusing on living like Jesus. When we stop focusing on Jesus we begin to focus on ourselves. We live by the law or rules and regulations created by man. We (our religion) becomes greater and Jesus becomes less.

Look either we are going to follow THE RABBI or we are going to do something else. Who or what are you following?