Matthew TwoSix:ThreeNine

When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. John 6:19‭-‬21 NIV Two aspects of this selection of scripture make my mind race. First, I wonder how they could be frightened. When I put myself in their shoes I can understand maybe being frightened at first. Seeing what looked like a person's silouette in the distance and on the water would be uncomfortable. I'd certainly be curious and maybe a bit freaked out. However there is no doubt in my mind that when I made out who it was walking towards me, I'd be excited. I'd probably call out to them, "Hey Jesus! Is that you?" I'd be excited to see them and mesmerized at what I was seeing. "That's my friend and he's walking on water! How

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” John 5:6 NIV The person Jesus said this to had been paralyzed for 38 years.  That's along time!  He was at a pool in Jerusalem called Bethesda. The remains of this pool can still be seen in Jerusalem.   The colonnades around the pool was a location where many disabled people were left each day to rest.  I envision hundreds of people laying on mats, unable to get up and move.  While others are wandering around aimlessly because they are blind.  It seems it would have been a sight to see. With all of these people around, Jesus chose one. I suppose He could have chosen any of them.  For that matter, He could have healed all of them.  Yet He made a personal invitation to just one.   The simplicity of the question is astounding. It seems like a lay up, a no brainer, a gimme. Reading it today, if I were in the shoes of the paralytic I think m

The other day, when I was typing grave into my phone, it autocorrected it to grace. At first I didn't notice. When it caught my attention, I realized the significance of such a subtle change. With the switch of one letter the meaning of the message had completely changed.  A grave has a certain finality to it, right? It's the "final resting place" for a human being, for a person's body. It even has in stone the dates of your birth and death etched into it. Our way of saying "The End".  But Jesus overcame the finality of the grave. He changed it from a period at the end of a sentence to a comma. After Jesus died on the cross and was placed in the tomb, I am certain His disciples felt the finality of death. They felt the confusion of losing this man that was changing everything. They felt the weight of the loss of this person. It was over. Period. From the grave came the ultimate act of grace. Death on a cross turned into salvation for all.

This past Sunday, I had the chance to see David Crowder in concert. It is a show I've wanted to see for about 15 years. Each time he came to town, I had a conflict that prevented me from going to the show. This past May, I jumped at the chance to buy tickets. Turns out we got some amazing seats.   The show was simply incredible. Julie said I looked like a kid in a candy shop with my ear to ear smile. He played song after song for about two hours. I could have stayed there for another few hours listening to Crowder and the band. They were some of the most talented musicians I've ever heard. Each of them seemed to play two or three instruments during the show. It was awesome! Julie was right. I was filled with a happiness and joy from finally experiencing worship with Crowder live. I never fully appreciated the talent he possesses nor the amazing skill of those surrounding him, until seeing him shift from one instrument to another as the set list progressed. Inde