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On April 23, 2019 By In Worship

10 Ways to Keep Easter Enthusiastically

Is Easter over?

Theologically, we know that the earthquake of Easter will reverberate until the Second Coming of Messiah. And liturgically, Easter is in no way over. In fact, Easter has just begun. The joy of Easter carries on until June 3rd, which means we still have 49 days of Eastertide. Easter is far from over and there is much more rejoicing to do in the next seven weeks.

The difficulty for many of us is keeping this Easter enthusiasm for such a lengthy period. The reason many evangelicals are ready to get to the next thing is because they lack a sense of liturgical rhythm. Lent took us through a 40-day journey, but the Easter joy takes us through a 50-day journey. Easter is superior to Lent not only in length of days but also in the quality of its mood. Lent prepares us to a journey towards Calvary, while Easter takes us through a victory march. Through Easter, we are reminded to put away our sadness and embrace the heavenly trumpet sound to all the corners of the earth. “He is risen!, He is risen!, He is risen!” The devil trembles, the enemies fear, the forces of evil shake, the sound of sin is silenced when death was defeated.

What does this mean? It means we must be busy in the business of celebrating. For dads and moms, young and old, we have much to do to preserve and pervade this season with jubilance. I want to offer ten ways we can do that in the remaining 49 days of Easter. a

10 Ways to Keep Easter this Easter Season!

First, we can invest time in our dinner table by reading the Resurrection narratives before each meal (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20-21.) These narratives will remind us and our children of the details of that monumental occasion in history. After reading these passages for a couple of weeks, you may wish to read the I Corinthians 15 text focusing on the centrality of the resurrection in the Gospel proclamation.

Second, begin each morning with the Easter greeting: “Christ is risen!” Response: “He is risen indeed!” Keep the rhythm of Easter fresh and vibrant in the home by opening the day with the liturgical responses of a resurrection people.

Third, keep fresh flowers in the home. Fresh flowers remind us of the re-birth of Jesus as he was birthed glorified from the tomb.

Fourth, add Easter hymns to the daily repertoire of family songs. Here is an easy to sing Easter hymn to the familiar tune of Ode to Joy.

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On April 21, 2019 By In Scribblings, Worship

Seeing is Becoming

A Meditation for this Easter Lord’s Day:

The old saying goes, “Seeing is believing.” And in many cases that is certainly true. However, in the Christian life seeing holds a far greater purpose than simply believing.  Jesus said to Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” a

The Triune God gathers His church this and every Lord’s Day around the Word and the Table that we might see our risen Lord.  We see Him in the songs we sing; we see Him in the love and grace we extend to one another; we see Him as we gather as one people where “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for [we] are all one in Christ Jesus” b; we see Him in all the Scriptures as they are read and preached; and we see Him in the bread and wine.

For us today, seeing is not just believing. Seeing is becoming! John the Beloved writes in 1 John 3:1-3:

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.”

The more clearly and affectionately we are able to see Jesus today and in the week ahead, the more we will be conformed into His likeness. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus encountered the risen Lord; their eyes were opened as they broke bread with Him, and their hearts burned within them as they listened to His Word. c

Therefore, “let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” d

On this Easter Sunday, taste and see that the Lord is good. And in the process we also will be transformed, sent out to flavor the world around us with His life and truth. AMEN!

  1. John 20:29  (back)
  2. Galatians 3:28  (back)
  3. Luke 24:30-32  (back)
  4. Hebrews 12:2-3  (back)

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On April 21, 2019 By In Theology, Worship

The Glory Has Departed

Jesus came to tear down the old temple and raise it up as a new, transformed temple (Jn 2.19ff.). In order to do this, he had to ascend through the temple fulfilling all of its types and shadows. The completion of this work was his glorification in the Holy of Holies, which, as it turns out involved the cross and the tomb. The glory of the only begotten was veiled behind a stone that enclosed him in a tomb.

On Sunday morning, the glory departed.

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On April 20, 2019 By In Scribblings, Worship

Lenten Journey, Day 40, Holy Saturday

On this Saturday, the Church calls this day Blessed Sabbath or more commonly, Holy Saturday. On this day, our Lord reposed (rested) from his accomplishments. Many throughout history also believe that Holy Saturday is a fulfillment of Moses’ words:

God blessed the seventh day. This is the day of rest, on which God rested from all His works . . .(Gen. 2:2)

The Church links this day with the creation account. On day seven Yahweh rested and enjoyed the fruit of his creation. Jesus Christ also rested in the rest given to him by the Father and enjoyed the fruits of the New Creation he began to establish and would be brought to light on the next day.

Holy Saturday is a day of rest for God’s people; a foretaste of the true Rest that comes in the Risen Christ. The calmness of Holy Saturday makes room for the explosion of Easter Sunday. On this day, we remember that the darkness of the grave and the rest of the Son were only temporary for when a New Creation bursts into the scene the risen Lord of glory cannot contain his joy, and so he gives it to us.

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On April 14, 2019 By In Theology, Worship

Ride On, King Jesus!

One perspective from which to read John’s Gospel is to follow Jesus as he walks through the Temple. Throughout his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus is ending the old Temple system by fulfilling its purpose.

John’s purpose in this is fairly clear from the beginning. The eternal Word who dwelt with God and was God “became flesh and tabernacled among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1.14). Jesus equates his own body with the Temple, telling the Jews to destroy it, and he will raise it up in three days (Jn 2.19).

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On March 31, 2019 By In Worship

Word Fishing Company

Jesus obviously knew a great deal about the Scriptures, demons, and healing people, but apparently, he didn’t know much about fishing. Simon, James, and John along with their fishing crews had been fishing all night on the Sea of Galilee and hadn’t caught anything. Jesus tells Simon to launch out into the deep and let down their nets for a catch. If Jesus knew anything about fishing in that region and with the sorts of nets with which they fished, he would know that you only use these nets at night. The nets were made from linen and were bright in the daylight hours. Fish could see and avoid them. This is why the fishermen fished at night and washed their nets in the morning (Luke 5.1ff.).

“Nevertheless, at your word I will let down the nets,” Simon faithfully acquiesces. None of the conditions were right. All Simon and his crew had to go on was Jesus’ word of command. In that command was the tacit promise that the venture would be a success.

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On March 30, 2019 By In Worship

Lenten Journey, Day 22, Hospitality

Romans 12:13: “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

Paul says we should seek to show hospitality; that is, we are to be on the lookout for showing hospitality. It is amazing that the Church today is eager to fulfill all sorts of proclamation duties, but hospitality remains hidden in the gift closet; unused. But our journey is always more pleasant when we walk together. Hospitality builds union and communion and mutual encouragement. “Let’s grab coffee.” “Come on over for some dessert.” “Join us for pizza.” It can be as simple as that. In these last three weeks of Lent, look at your calendar and try to have one family over a week for dessert or coffee or a meal. Try it, and you will see how joyful your journey will be during Lent.

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On March 29, 2019 By In Worship

Lenten Journey, Day 21, Lent as Biblical Type

What is Lent? we may ask. Every year as we enter into this season, we need to look at it afresh. It’s a season of profound healing to many; a season filled with echoes of forgiveness. Lent is the penitential season of the Church. Lent is the purple of royalty. Lent is the desert before the promised land of the Resurrection. Lent is the wilderness prison for Israel and simultaneously the way out of the wilderness. Lent teaches of the incurable disease of sin and yet the cure for sin. Lent is the long wait Jacob endured for Rachel. Lent is the “Thus saith the Lord,” when the devil whispers, “Who said ye shall be like God?” Lent is the sacrifices of incomplete priests and the exile of a perfect man so that we might be set free. Lent is the love of injustice poured on a just Man. Lent is fasting with hope. Lent is giving up idols and turning to the true icon of God, Jesus Christ. Lent is finding joy in the midst of suffering. 

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On March 28, 2019 By In Theology, Worship

Tune Our Hearts to Sing Thy Grace

The Scriptures have a deep simplicity to them. They feed and nourish us from the first reading to the 100th. I understood this more vividly once I began reading and teaching the Bible to children. Not only are their little hearts warmed and their little minds enlarged in child-like faith, but so often is my own heart and mind strengthened by familiar ground revisited time and time again. These are ancient paths that become sweeter and richer with time.

The Psalms especially display this characteristic because they are not only meant to be read and studied and meditated on, but they are meant to be sung. What an incredible reality that we can simultaneously plumb the depths and exalt to the heights its glorious truths and do so with one voice alongside my children, the aged saints, and the young in faith. These are ancient songs that resonate with old and young alike.  

While I was working through Psalm 46 some time ago preparing a sermon, these thoughts were ruminating through my mind; and there were three “notes”, three observations that struck a chord with me and seemed to set the tune for this wonderful song of war and peace.

The first note we hear is the blessedness that comes from God’s immutability. This simply means that God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. a This Psalm appears to have been written with a particular historical event in mind in the life of Israel. There are a couple of different opinions as to what event that might have been, but there’s no doubt that it was at a time of great uncertainty and danger for the nation as a whole.
The Psalmist begins by saying, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (v.1) The only way he could say that with confidence is to have fixed in his mind the firm belief that God Himself does not change; there is no shadow of turning with Him. The Psalmist looks back at what was and proclaims in the present what is. To serve an unchanging God is to elevate history beyond mere curiosity or cautionary tale or nostalgic recollection. History becomes one of the means by which God encourages and instructs His people. This is why a rejection of the worship of God eventually ends with a rejection of the importance and continuity of history.

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 15:4-5 ESV

The second note we hear is the blessedness that comes from God as creator. Like so many others, this Psalm makes use of nature imagery like earth, mountains, rivers, and seas. Unfortunately, we live in a time that makes it very hard to appreciate the significance of this. C.S. Lewis, in his book, Reflections on the Psalms, is insightful and helpful on this point.

He explains that acknowledging the One true God as the creator of all things brings a separation between the Creator and creation that releases Nature from being divine and frees her up to be a symbol of the Divine. Let me give you Lewis’ own words.

“To say that God created Nature, while it brings God and Nature into relation, also separates them. What makes and what is made must be two not one. Thus the doctrine of creation in one sense empties Nature of divinity…But in another sense the same doctrine which empties Nature of her divinity also makes her an index, a symbol, a manifestation, of the Divine.”

In other words, only when the “created” speaks for and points to the “Uncreated” can it find its fullest expression and meaning. So earth, mountains, and seas are both real created things and instruments through which God reveals a greater reality, a more lasting reality. Thus, the song of the Psalmist establishes us as in the world but not of it. It is a Christianity that is earthy but not earthly.  

The third and final note is the blessedness that comes from God as covenantal. We not only have a God who is immutable, and a God who is eternal, but we also have a God who is relational. And this covenantal relationship between the eternal God and his chosen people is the very thing that enables the Psalmist to say “[Because] God is our refuge and strength…therefore, we will not fear…” (v.1,2)  The LORD is most wonderfully our LORD and we are His people. It establishes the connection between how we live and who God is. Our hearts can then be tuned to fill in the blanks with absolute hope, “Because God is _________, therefore, we (as His people) will _________.”

Let these notes resonate in our hearts and minds as we study and sing the Psalms. We serve the Lord of history, the Lord of life, and the Lord of love, and He is bringing us in harmony with Himself and one another.  



  1. Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17; Malachi 3:6  (back)

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On March 28, 2019 By In Worship

Lenten Journey, Day 20, Steadfast Love

Jonah 2:8 Those who pay regard to vain idols
forsake their hope of steadfast love.

Death is painful, but you know what is more painful—going through death trusting a false god. This is again Jonah’s theology coming through in this prayer of repentance inside the belly of the creature. He knows that the Ninevites pay regard to vain idols. He knows that without Yahweh their death experience will be filled with misery. He knows that their death will have no resurrection to life. And by living in such a way, the Ninevites have abandoned any hope. But Jonah is hopeful, and Yahweh remembers Jonah in his affliction. And Jonah remembers God.


Lent ought to bind our lives to the steadfast love of God. Idols cannot bind us to true love. Any earthly possession can be lost, but the love of God is treasured in God himself who is love. Jonah sought out an unwavering love in his deep distress and love rescued him.

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