Torn Curtain - Rev. Tom Downing

24 Hours That Changed The World: “The Curtain Torn in Two”

Scripture: Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” – Mark 15:37-39

The curtain torn in two was the curtain which separated the Holy of Holies, a room where the Spirit of God was believed to dwell most intensely, from the rest of the temple. It was only opened once a year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest petitioned the Lord to forgive the people of Israel for the sins of the past year. It is still the highest of Jewish Holy Days even though the temple no longer stands.

The symbolism of the tearing of this curtain is quite clear. No longer is the most intense manifestation of the Holy Spirit separated from us to be addressed by someone else. Instead the sacrifice of Christ enables all humanity to receive that Spirit and become living temples of God. Once and for all, our sins are forgiven and we our empowered to live as the body of Christ in the world. We are empowered to do what we cannot do by ourselves – love as Christ loved us even while we were his enemies.

But how do we receive that Holy Spirit? We look upon the tender eyes of the one dying on the cross from the sins of the world – greed, dishonesty and violence – all of which we have allowed to continue. And when we see the love and forgiveness there, we see that when we hurt the one who calls us to share, to speak the truth and resists the urge to hurt those who have wronged us – we hurt ourselves even more. We damage the very image the Creator has placed within us, the potential to love as God loves. It is then, when we allow ourselves to be moved by that image, that we open our hearts, head and hands to receive the gift of eternal love, eternal light and eternal life which are the fruits of the spirit and become conduits of that love to all the world – just as our creator intended.

Prayer: Lord of love and light and life, open my head to understand the meaning of the cross, open my heart to the love you have for me, open my hands in gentleness, generosity and seeking justice for others, in Christ’s name. Amen.

What Is the "It" in "It is finished?" - Dr. Andy Stoker

24 Hours That Changed the World: "It Is Finished"

                In our reflection today, Hamilton invites us to consider “subjective” atonement theory. That is, Jesus died so that we might learn a great lesson about our own life. What lesson have we learned about our own sinfulness, our own mortality, our own selfishness from the event of the crucifixion? Have we learned that we are totally depraved and incapable of grace because we have learned nothing from the cross? Or, have we learned that violence is inevitable and that not even God can stop the powers of violence? Neither one of these is acceptable in my mind.

                Maybe what we need to consider is that the cross teaches us a powerful lesson on how the act of violence on the cross for an innocent ought to the THE LAST act of violence. What if the world considered violence as not the answer? What we awakened to a world where the cross was a painful reminder that violence happened and it wasn’t to happen again? Subjective atonement would take on the ‘subject’ of the world, instead of my self-centered way. The “it” in Jesus’ utterance from the cross, “It is finished,” could be violence, hostility, human inflicted pain, torture.

                In light of the cross, it may be time for Christians to wage peace. May the sign of the empty cross prove to be the beginning of the end of the world’s violent ways. May the beginning of the end, ‘begin with me.’

Thirst - Allen Zugelter

24 Hours That Changed the World: "I Thirst"

One of the most heartbreaking parts of the passion story is Jesus asking the onlookers for a drink while dying on the cross.  God incarnate, being killed by those he came to save, asked for a drink to assuage his suffering.  I simply do not have the words to fully express how this makes me feel.

            Jesus is fully human (in addition to also being fully divine), so his thirst was natural. Water is absolutely vital for life. 

            It is no surprise that, living in an arid environment, having a source of fresh water (also known as living water) was of extreme importance for the Jewish people during and before the time of Jesus.  So it was natural that living water, the basic requirement for life, became a metaphor for God’s grace.

            Human beings have a thirst at the very core of our beings that no water can quench.  We are created in the image of God in order to be in a close and loving relationship with God, and in the absence of this relationship we are simply not whole.  This was made crystal clear in Jesus’ statement to the Samaritan woman in John 4 that he offers living water that becomes “a spring of water gushing up to eternal life” in those who drink of it. 

            Jesus offers us the living water that makes us whole.  May we all drink deeply.

            Please pray with me: Lord, I remember today that you, who are the source of living water, thirsted on the cross.  May I ever drink of your living water.  Thank you for saving me from death and cleansing me from sin by your suffering and death.  Amen.

Why? - Rev. Linda Roby

24 Hours That Changed the World: "Why Have You Forsaken Me?"

We stand near the cross today, and here the cry of Jesus.  His prayer quoted from psalm 22, is a most difficult and somewhat confusing question.  ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Throughout the scriptures, Jesus seems pretty clear that he understood his mission on earth.  He was clear about who he was and whose he was.  God always seemed to be with him.  But here in his final moments, it appears God has abandoned him.

Certainly this questioning of God helps us to see the humanity of Jesus, one who was made to feel as we feel, to be tempted, to suffer, and to question.  No matter how secure we as humans feel in our connection to God, we are never so secure or beyond the possibility of doubt.  Feeling alone, scared, or abandoned is a most common human experience.

Some say that God was separated from Jesus in that final moment on the cross, but I wonder if maybe God didn’t leave Jesus. Maybe Jesus fully brought death, suffering, abandonment and forsakenness into the Godhead.  And there, where there is so much life, so much love and forgiveness, death was destroyed.  So that death rather than being the ultimate separation, finds its path to greater union.  If we read all of Psalm 22, we see David’s journey from his sense of separation and hopelessness into the promise of new life and hope.  It’s good to ask questions.  And I’m grateful to know the end of the story.

Lord, there are times when we feel forsaken.  Help us to call upon you in our hour of need.  Comfort us, knowing that you understand what it is like to feel abandoned.  Help me, in my moments of despair to place my life in our hands.  Amen.

What do you think? I’d love to hear from you. Email me at  lroby@fumcdallas.org.

Paradise Now - Rocky Dyer

24 Hours That Changed the World: "Today You Will Be With Me in Paradise"

The idea of spring break is fantastic.  The idea of having time off and going off to find paradise somewhere sure sounds wonderful.  Paradise might be on a mountain top in Colorado, a beach on some tropical island, or a shopping spree in New York City.  There are so many places in the world that we seek to find paradise.  God’s creation is truly marvelous and there are no ends to its beauty, but why is it that for us paradise is somewhere else?  Paradise is here…it’s now…it’s with you.

I believe God intended more than just wanting us to take us from this world into the next that we call Heaven.  Jesus came to make all things new, usher in this new kingdom of heaven on Earth.  In other words restore the paradise that God intended for all of us in live in. What I found that physical death was not door to paradise but true paradise began once I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.  In Jesus we can experience something far greater than any mountain top or white sandy beach we can experience a life with God that is the best paradise of all. 

Our Mothers' Keepers - Gretchen Combs

24 Hours That Changed the World: "Behold Your Mother"

Scripture:  While the soldiers were looking after themselves, Jesus’ mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross.  Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her.  He said to his mother, “Woman, here is your some.”  Then to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”  From that moment the disciple accepted her as his own mother.  John 19:25b-27 (The Message, The Bible in Contemporary Language by Eugene Peterson)

Behold Your Mother

It is not much the mailman brings

to wrinkled women isolated

in unfamiliar cubicles

they are asked to call home.

It is not much the women see

within a day’s expanse…

a nurse or two, smiling or brusque.

It’s not their mother

or their daughter

or anybody they ever saw

before they saw this building

that they never saw before

 they came to live here. 

It is not much they’ve come to expect,

these women born with hope in their veins

and feet that learned to dance.

They sit now, staring at nothing in particular,

no longer even vaguely thinking

that the footsteps in the hall

will stop at their door. 

Lord, are we our mothers’ keepers?

Ann Weems, Kneeling in Jerusalem

Family Activity

Organize your children’s Sunday School class or neighborhood group to visit an assisted living facility and play Bingo with residents. Be sure to contact the facility and arrange for your visit with the director before the adventure.   If you have family or relatives in this style of location,  plan a visit and take along old photos to share with them.  This is a great discussion starter, and a wonderful way to learn family stories and history.

He Died for Me - Rev. Tom Downing

24 Hours That Changed the World: "The Crucifixion"

Adam Hamilton writes in today's devotional, "With the crucifixion of Jesus, we reach the climax of the story by which God intends to save the world. Every detail has meaning. It is filled with pathos and irony. It is bad news, for in it we see the Son crucified and human beings at their very worst. Yet at the same time it is good news; for it reveals God's suffering with us and for us, his redemption of humankind, and ultimately the full extent of his love."

To truly understand the redemptive power of the cross, we have to understand what love is.

Love is not just a warm fuzzy feeling we have towards someone who is lovable. To love someone involves doing 3 things: feeling, fulfilling and freeing. Since Christians call God Father (and sometimes Mother) I believe parental love is the best illustration.

Imagine a parent being awakened at 3AM by a crying infant. What do you do first?

First, you have to understand why the infant is crying. Is it hungry, wet, cold, sick? This compassion, trying to understand and feel the needs and wants of another is the beginning of love.

Second, you have to fulfill the need or want the infant is trying to express. If the baby is hungry and you don’t feed it, or wet and don’t change it, that is hardly love. So the second part of love is nurturing, actually fulfilling the wants and needs of another.

But the point of raising children is not to keep them dependent on the parent fulfilling their every need. The point is to nurture through helping, teaching and challenging until the child grows up into and independent adult capable of becoming a parent on their own. So the third part of love involves liberation, freeing another to be able to care for themselves and others.

The liberaton part is probably the trickiest. We learn a lot of things by observation, but sometimes we just have to learn by making mistakes. Many times the best lessons are taught by allowing the children to experience the "natural and logical consequences" of their actions. If you don't practice, you won't make the team. If you don't study, you won't pass the test. But there is a point where you can't use natural and logical consequences to teach, and that is where there is too much danger of those consequences harming the child. You can't let a child learn about the dangers of being hit by a car by letting them run in front of one. You have to do what it takes to stop that behavior before it harms the child.

The Romans 6:23 tell us, "the wages of sin is death." Sin can be defined as cutting oneself off from a relationship with God, by caring for ourselves above all others, and judging all things only by how the affect us, by using the gifts of God and our relationships with our neighbors as if they were only means to our ends. This kind of psychological and spiritual death leads inevitably to physical death and a life without meaning or purpose.

So how does God save us from this ultimate end?

Once again, let us return to the example of parental love. Many a parent who sees a child run out into the street would throw themselves in front of the oncoming car rather than see their little one perish. It is the same with God.

To say that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself is to say that Jesus' death shows us just what God is willing to bear for us that we might live. God is willing to take upon Godself the suffering, humiliation and death we would inflict on others to rescue us from that same fate. God in Christ is willing to die in our place. The perfect parent does whatever it takes to save the child for as Jesus tells us, "it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost." The death of Christ on the cross is an outward and visible sign of the inward and spiritual grace which saves us. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23 Will God do whatever it takes to save us? Three days later the Christ rises to say, "Yes!" And nothing will ever be the same again.

When I see the tortured form of Jesus nailed to the cross, taunted by the crowd, forgiving those who are killing him. I know what God is willing to bear for me. I know he died for me. And I know that all my life must be an act of returning that love through loving others as Christ love me.

Those Roman Soldiers - Dana Effler

24 Hours That Changed the World: " They Compelled Simon to Carry His Cross"

You’ve probably heard the old adage, “Life is what happens to you while you're making other plans.” Paula D’Arcy, noted author and retreat leader, puts it another way. She says, “God comes to us disguised as our life.” In today’s Gospel account, Simon of Cyrene is “recruited” by a Roman soldier to stop what he is doing and carry Jesus’ cross. As Adam Hamilton points out, Simon had come to town for Passover, probably had a long list of things to get done before sundown, and most likely did not appreciate having an unexpected cog shoved into his wheel of productivity.

This past fall I had a sort of Roman soldier knock me off my treadmill of busyness. This soldier took the form of a staff field trip to the North Texas Food Bank. It was an interruption, yes, but it turned out to be one of the most informative and enlightening experiences I've had a long time.  As a matter of fact, that day we learned about just how many children in our community live with the stress of knowing that they might not have food to eat when they go home for the weekend without a “backpack” of snack food provided on Fridays by the North Texas Food Bank. We made as many backpacks as we could possibly make that day, and afterward I had no doubt that the Music and Arts’ Gospel at the Crossroads project must focus on raising $20,000 to feed hungry children in our community. Today, I’m happy to report that the project has already raised $8000 thanks to the generous donations from the Goodrich Gallery, The Rotunda Board, Variations Youth Choir and the Chancel Choir. The project will culminate with our Gospel at the Crossroads Concert on Sunday, April 22, at 7:00 PM. Everyone is invited to come hear some of your favorite spirituals and gospel music and to bring your $20 to help raise $20K to make a real difference in the lives of children in our community

Simon didn’t change the course of events that were to come, but he lightened the load of another and it very likely changed his life forever. Like Simon, we won’t cure hunger, but by giving of ourselves and our resources to lighten the load of another, it will likely change us.

Thanks be to God for the Roman soldiers in our lives.

The (Attempted) Humiliation of the King - Rev. Jay Cole

24 Hours That Changed the World: "The Humiliation of the King"

Scripture does not tell us that Jesus felt humiliated.  However, some writers make this assumption because they project their feelings onto Jesus.  Besides rage, fear, and sadness, I too would feel humiliation or shamed.  For clarity, an explicit definition of humiliation is the feeling or condition of being lessened in dignity or pride. 

We affirm that Jesus was fully human and fully divine—a faith statement.  So, considering Jesus as fully human, it might seem logical to assume that Jesus would feel humiliated; but I don’t believe this is necessarily true.    

I believe Jesus had great clarity about who He was and whose He was (and is).  During His life on earth, He was the embodiment of steadfast undaunted faith; mature, not ‘Pollyanna-ish,’ hope; and unbridled, unconditional love.  Did He make a tremendous sacrifice?  Yes.  Did He experience terrible suffering and surely sadness?  Yes, but not shame or the loss of dignity.  Jesus did not need the approval of people or certainly not of the crowds.  Insecurity spawns the need to protect and inflate one’s ego.  Because of His great clarity, I can’t imagine Jesus being insecure.  Therefore, the abject ridicule and persecution He received would have been only attempted humiliation. 

We too can better resist the comparatively mild forms of ridicule we face when we appreciate and value the import of: God’s unconditional love, our covenant relationship with God and neighbor, and the privilege and responsibility of being disciples of Christ because we will know (to the best of our ability) who we are and whose we are.  Amen!

Flogged - Rev. Dale Hunt

24 Hours That Changed the World: "The Flogging of Jesus"

The term “flogging” reminded me of an event in my childhood on the farm.  A mother hen and her chicks came around and I thought those little chicks were so perfect and pretty.  I don’t remember if I came near to them and wanted to touch or get a closer view of those little ones.  Nevertheless, the mother raised her feathers and came after me with a vengeance.  It scared me away and I was informed that I had been “flogged”.

When Pilate sent Jesus to be flogged it was more of a brutal whipping  and beating.  It was no scary brush with reality.  This so called “flogging” was part of a process of punishment for crimes and wrongdoing.  We know that Jesus was a victim of knowing what was the right thing to do and knowing God.  He had done no wrong and the flogging was an added insult to injury.  No doubt this brutal punishment was intended to weaken Jesus for the crucifixion.  It is impossible for us to sense the pain and suffering that Jesus experienced.  Beyond the physical suffering, Jesus had to deal with the mental abuse.  The betrayal and the shouts of the mob to kill him.  They had been brainwashed.  They simply didn’t get it.

On a personal note, some may wonder if Jesus thinks that we were worth his sacrifice. Each of us will have to provide the answer.

The Pilate Within Us - Kat Kaden

24 Hours That Changed the World: "Wishing to Satisfy the Crowd"

Growing up at FirstChurch, we used to take an annual trip during Lent to a retreat center where we reenacted the passion story. We were all assigned a role to play in the story, from the crowd to the Sanhedrin to Pilate. There were no real scripts, but we met and discussed Jesus' "violations" and proclaimed why he was so dangerous. Each year, the crowd called for Jesus' head. The anger and outrage felt real. It became real. It was the epitome of being caught up in a mob scene. The air was thick with the fear of Jesus and the fear of uprising. And so, after hours of debate "Pilot" would give in, release Barabbas and call for Jesus' execution – to the crowd's delight. To our delight. We all played a role in calling for His death.

That same delight, that feeling of superiority, quickly faded as we sat watching the reenactment of Jesus on the cross. I remember watching as he called out to his father and "drew his final breath". I remember the tears streaming down my face as I remembered the very real role I'd just played in Jesus’ death, in my denial of the messiah and my need to satisfy the crowd. I, Pilate, had refused to listen to my gut and had acted to satisfy the crowd.

It's not always life and death matters. Sometimes it's an insensitive joke or a looking the other way. We all do it. We wish to satisfy the crowd and so we do – we take the action or inaction to be popular.
What if this Lent, this week, for just today, we listen more to our gut, to that still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, and we choose what's right, not popular? Could we then get to a day when the popular choice is also the right one?

Jumping Off Bridges - Gretchen Combs

24 Hours That Changed the World: "The Shout of the Crowd"
Scripture:  Pilate gave the crowd what it wanted, set Barabbas free and turned Jesus over for whipping and crucifixion.  Mark 15:15 (The Message, The Bible in Contemporary Language by Eugene Peterson)

As a young parent, I can remember vowing never to use the “ mommalies” my mother used on me growing up.  As a reminder,  we all know that losing an eye starts out as fun and games;  we must eat our Brussells  sprouts because there are children starving somewhere;  if we made that face one more time it would freeze that way; and the tried and true if all your friends were jumping off a bridge, would you jump too?  No matter what I vowed then, I  must confess now, I have used every one of these.  I would have used more, too,  had I been able to remembered them. 

The importance of teaching and nurturing a strong character in our children is vital.  Peer pressure begins so early and the need for acceptance is so compelling that often families lose sight of the real lessons to be learned.  Teach your children:   they are loved unconditionally, you are always open to discuss anything, you respect and value their viewpoints and they are  God’s magnificent creation.   They are enriched beyond measure with the ability to think and reason and discern.  To love and discover and weep.   Teach your children the courage to stand firm in their beliefs, to know their inner self and trust in God’s unfailing grace.

Pilate gave in.  He jumped.

Prayer:  Lord, forgive me for standing by when I should have acted, for being afraid, when I should have been bold.  Guide me in love to be a model for others to follow.  Amen

Family Activity

Read today’s scripture and play  “What if………..”  with your family members.  Imagine what would have happened had Pilate not handed Jesus over?  What would have been the outcome if Jesus had argued during his trial?  What if the disciples had incited the crowd?  What if the crowd had wanted Jesus freed?  Think of all the other “What Ifs” during this Lenten season.

What Is Truth, Indeed! - Dr. John Fiedler

24 Hours That Changed the World: "What Is Truth?"

Pontius Pilate asks an age old question when he asks Jesus to explain to him the nature of truth. Reading the dialogue between them, one could argue that Jesus seems cryptic (almost evasive) in his responses to Pilate’s questions.  The Roman governor must have been vexed by this Jewish rabbi who did not seem desperate or even eager to “get himself off the hook.”

In our post-modern age, truth is defined by many as whatever you need to believe to advance your agenda i.e. whatever you need it to be.  Thus it is that we watch “spin meister” pundits blunt questions with totally unrelated, pre-scripted answers.  Advance the agenda. Thwart the opposition. 

Perhaps it is for these reasons that the responses of Jesus are such a contrast. He was not trying to say anything or do anything to appease a powerful governor.  His responses seem more calculated to aggravate than to placate.  And as persons of faith we understand that it wasn’t because Jesus didn’t care . Nor was he a merry Prankster or anarchist just trying to play havoc with the establish power of Rome. Rather, Jesus had a strong sense of what was true for him and true for the world and he lived his life by that.

Today, take time to dig down and discover old truths that you once embraced but have now abandoned. It may be just what you need to get back on track.

Looking for a Good Excuse - Rev. Tom Downing

24 Hours That Changed the World: "The Examination by Herod"

Scripture: Luke 23:7-11
And when Pilate learned that Jesus was under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas, Pilate sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate.

Luke has told us earlier in Jesus' Galilean ministry that Herod Antipas wished to hunt Jesus down and kill him (Luke13:31-33). Herod had already executed John the Baptist for inciting the people against him. Now Herod feared Jesus, as a follower of John, would do the same. But here Herod seems more curious than threatened. Perhaps, Johanna one of Jesus' supporters who was married to Herod's steward Chuza (Luke 8:1-3) had convinced Herod's court that Jesus was not a threat to him. Herod's primary concern is whether Jesus has some kind of supernatural power that might change the power equation. When Jesus says and does nothing, Herod, backed by his soldiers, is sure that Jesus is only a harmless crank worthy only of mockery and contempt. Let Pilate deal with the troublemaker and those for whom he was making trouble.

Before we leave this episode we might want to stop and think about how much Herod is like us. We tend to want some miraculous sign that God is talking to us or approves of our actions. The standard of love (compassion, nurture and liberation) seems too simple a test to pin our hopes on. When our power and security might be threatened we ask for the sort of sign we know we will never get. That way we don't have to change our direction. That was Herod. No sign. No change. Josephus tells us that he continued down the path of selfish indulgence and injustice protested by John and Jesus, and eventually it backfired. John the Baptist had chastised Herod Antipas for divorcing an Arabian princess to marry his brother Phillip's wife, Herodias. Not long afterward, Aretas, the father of the spurned princess, went to war against Herod and soundly defeated him. Josephus tells us that the people thought this was the judgment of God. They were probably right.

Do we use the same excuse as Herod to avoid becoming involved? Do we wait for a rainbow, a burning bush or some other sign of God's approval before we will act? Earlier in Adam Hamilton's book, 24 Hours That Changed the World, he quotes Sir Edmund Burke, Bristish philospoher and politician, who said, "All that is necessary for the forces of evil to triumph is for enough good people to do nothing." That thought ought to be sign enough!

Prayer: Lord, grant us the courage to speak up whenever the innocent suffer. Help us to remember that whatever is done to least of persons is done to you. Amen.

Ignored Again? - Dana Effler

24 Hours That Changed The World: "The Conscience of a Spouse"

Scripture: While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” - Matthew 27:19

After reading this account inquiring minds want to know:

What was going on in the relationship between Pontius Pilate and Procula during Jesus’ trial? Why wouldn’t he listen to her? Had they been quarreling? Were they estranged or was this business as usual, more of the same? He never listened to her before, why should he start now? Or, was it the other way around? Was she always butting in, telling him what to do, but this time, he made up his mind to stand up and make his own decision regardless of what she thought!? Did he do it just to spite her? Or was he simply more afraid of the crowd than he was of her?  No one knows for certain, but inquiring minds want to know!

Procula’s story, unlike the story of Queen Ester with its “happily ever after” ending, has quite a different outcome. Try as she might, her wise warning was not to be heeded. How frustrating this must have been for her! Her dream was vivid and her words sincere. Why would he not listen?!!! What is she going to do now? An innocent man was going to die! Would she redouble her efforts, try a different approach, give him the cold shoulder? What?!

We’ll never know for sure, but I wonder if she found a way to hold the tension between her fear, frustration, and anger as a result of her husband’s decision, with her need to remain in right relationship with him, a relationship which may or may not have been one of love and mutual respect but was surely one of responsibility and shared public image.

As we examine this story today, we can offer Procula all sorts of advice because we get it, we know how the story ends. We know that while Procula’s intuition about Jesus’ innocence was spot on, she was only one small player in a very large play. She could not have known, as we do now, the unjust sentencing of Jesus would in no way be the end of the story.

The “take away” in this story for me is a lesson of humility. We’ve all been in situations where we’ve been convinced that we’ve had the right answer, we’ve spoken truth to power and the power ignored us! But wisdom teaches us that God can work God’s purposes out even when all the players in the play don’t play well together. Humility comes in knowing that we are only one player, not the whole play.

If Only It Were That Simple - Rev. Jay Cole

24 Hours That Changed The World: The Choice Between Two Saviors
(If Only It Were That Simple)

Hamilton states that for two thousand years (much longer of course) we humans have found it easier to resort to violence rather than to love our enemies.  So he poses the question: will most people choose a strong leader who is willing to use force or one who follows the teaching of Jesus and advocates that we love our enemy? 

To guide us in our choice, he offers the approaches of Malcolm X or Martin Luther King Jr. and asks, “When it came to civil rights, what was it that finally changed our country?”  The unvarnished reality is both.  Many “Whites” (persons with the power) were moved by nonviolent resistance and The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed; and just as quickly, states began passing laws to circumvent the new federal law.  For example, in 1964 California passed Proposition 14, which blocked the fair housing section of the Act; other states also enacted laws to preserve discrimination.  History was repeating itself, and many Blacks remembered the Jim Crow Laws that were passed in 1870s in the South.  Race riots were erupting in cities across America, like the Watts race riot in Los Angeles, CA in August 1965.  Many “Whites” were scared or awakened by the riots and realized that real change was necessary.  California’s repealed Prop 14 in 1967.

We live in a civilization that has been shaped by love and conflict, powerful acts of self-sacrifice and horrible misuses of power, periods of productive cooperation and others of destructive and devastating wars—shaped by sin and righteousness.  Consequently, the world in which we live is complicated and messy.

As I understand sound Christian morality/ethics, first and foremost, we need leaders who do their very best to love or value all people, including those who are (or perceived to be) enemies.  Since greed, irrational hatred, aggression, violence, sin are now woven into the fabric of civilization, we need our leaders—when all other avenues of action have been exhausted—to employ the necessary means to confront and stop sinful behavior.  Sometimes, that will mean “using physical force to injure somebody or damage something,” a primary definition of violence.  Pure simplistic choices probably work only in a pure simplistic world—a world in which I’ve never lived.

As disciples of Christ, can we make the world a more loving non-violent place?  Absolutely!  Will we always make the right decision, take the right action, and always avoid criticism for our choices? Absolutely Not!  God asks us to do our very best, to strive for perfection.  Fortunately, God is always there when we succeed and when we fail, to offer strength, encouragement, guidance, grace, forgiveness, and love.

Get Rid of Jesus - Dr. Dale Hunt

24 Hours That Changed the World: "On Trial Before Pontius Pilate"

The Jesus story takes a tragic turn from the days of his birth.  When he came there was no room for him in the inn – crowded out, yet wise men, shepherds and angels perceived him to be a new king.   As a small child his parents had to flee the country in order to save his life.  Danger and judgment seemed to surround his brief life.  His ministry was so powerful and positive.  No one had ever taught and spoke like this man, Jesus.

It was his decision to go to Jerusalem even though it was risky.   He was aware that his life could be in danger.    Yet he was willing to take that risk.   His mission was firm and worth facing death for.

His own religious establishment wanted to get rid of him at all cost.  False charges were made that would surely cause the Romans to do their dirty work in getting rid of Jesus.  Pilate could see through their weak case and desired to declare him innocent.   Nevertheless, the establishment had poisoned the minds of the people so that they wanted to get rid of Jesus.

During the trial with Pontius Pilate, Jesus did not defend himself.    He probably was hurt more by betrayal than the fear of death.  So Jesus stood silently -- dealing with rejection, betrayal and the understanding that no miracle that would save him.

In the trial of Jesus we meet more than Pilate and his weakness.  We also meet ourselves, our weaknesses, and our failure to serve the innocent man who thought we were worth his sacrifice.  

Lord, help me faithfully to follow you wherever you may lead. Amen.

Standing in Cement - Kat Kaden

24 Hours That Changed the World: "Where Are the Dissenters"

In junior high it's called a fear of being different. 

In our Christian journey and faith walk it's called being human.

In psychology it's called the bystander effect. Everyone sees what's going on, everyone knows someone needs to step in and help, no one does. Everyone naturally assumes someone else will do something and so we all stand by, our feet stuck in cement.

There are many reasons why, when in groups, bystanders don’t act in emergency situations, but social psychologists tend towards two major causes. Mark Levine and Kirstien Thompson write in the “Journal of Social Psychology”, “according to a basic principle of social influence, bystanders monitor the reactions of other people in an emergency situation to see if others think that it is necessary to intervene. Since everyone is doing exactly the same thing (nothing), they all conclude from the inaction of others that help is not needed. The other major obstacle to intervention is known as diffusion of responsibility. This occurs when observers all assume that someone else is going to intervene and so each individual feels less responsible and refrains from doing anything.”

I get the sense that Joseph and Nicodemus were poised and ready to defend Jesus at his trial. All they needed was someone else to defend him first and they would have been the first to shout back a roaring, "Hear, hear!"

We can freely admit to moments when we have failed to announce we are on Jesus' side. Each of us has stood by and let opportunities to proclaim our faith to pass. But what about those moments we've had to proclaim justice, equality and responsibility to the least and the lost? Can we say we've done what we could to step in and help others? Or are we standing by, waiting for someone else to speak, fully prepared to shout, "Hear, hear!"

Patience - Gretchen Combs

24 Hours That Changed the World: "If Judas Had Only Waited"

Scripture:   Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed.  Overcome with remorse, he gave back the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, “I’ve sinned.  I’ve betrayed an innocent man."
     They said, “What do we care?  That’s your problem!"
Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left.Then he went out and hung himself.                     
     - Matthew 27:3-5  (The Message  the Bible in contemporary language)

For 3 years,   Companions in Christ resource The Way of the Child was our summer FirstKids Sunday School curriculum.   The Way of the Child is based on the lasting value of spiritual disciplines that will nurture a lifetime relationship with God.  Created by Wynn McGregor, and published by Upper Room Books , each Sunday our FirstKids discovered the power of silence, meditation, centering, journaling, various forms of prayer, contemplation, and quiet dialogue.  For many of these elementary youth, it was their first experience with being still with their thoughts; waiting patiently for their next area; journaling their week at school.  They were beginning a journey of self-illumination and their personal spiritual relationship with God.   It takes time, and for some of us a long, long time.  Part of the growing, is learning to wait.

Waiting is hard for us all.  Grocery stores, banks, restaurants, oil change, red lights, and your morning Starbucks’s, elevators, and even valet parking at church…..it’s everywhere.  As adults, we need to let the children lead us.  Let ourselves be open to the Holy Spirit, listen…. prayerfully listen.  Let things unfold in their own time; shake off the world outside, breath in the calm of patience.   Dr. Susan Muto says that we need to “make space for the pace of grace.”  Waiting is tough, but what amazing discoveries emerge. 

What if Judas had waited?

Prayer:  Lead me beside still water, O Lord,  that I may drink and be refreshed.  Amen.

Family Activity

Take time to reconnect with your own childhood journey.   Discuss with your children & other family members around the dinner table, or in the car after Sunday morning worship:

 What is your earliest memory of God?  How old were you?  What were the circumstances?  Who nurtured your relationship with God?  In what ways?

Standing in the Courtyard - Dr. John Fiedler

24 Hours That Changed the World: "A Failure of Nerve"

The story cited in today’s mediation scripture is one of the most human in all of the gospels. Peter failed. He failed his Lord and he failed himself.  Had he been attending a pro-Jesus rally no doubt he would have proudly brandished his credentials and made sure every knew that he was an “insider” and a disciple. But in the face of so much adversity, he cowered.  We can resist the temptation to ridicule Peter because we all can remember a time in our lives when we had the opportunity to step up and identify ourselves with that which we knew in our hearts was the right thing to do…and didn’t.  Adam Hamilton reminds us that Peter himself cited this story as part of his personal witness of how the commissioning of Jesus and the Holy Spirit transformed him from a meek yet willing follower to a bold leader of the Church.

Today, ask yourself where you are encountering tension and conflict. Take time to prayerfully reflect on these matters.  Some battles are not worth fighting. Others are easily resolved with an apology or an admission of confusion. And some battles are worth fighting. Perhaps you have an opportunity to align yourself with an unpopular but just cause. Search your heart. Do you feel called to wage this fight? If so, stay “in the courtyard” and affirm your stand.

The Courage of Peter - Rev. Tom Downing

24 Hours That Changed the World: "Giving Peter Credit"

"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do.  There can be no courage unless you're scared."  ~Eddie Rickenbacker (American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient)

"Valor is a gift.  Those having it never know for sure if they have it till the test comes.  And those having it in one test never know for sure if they will have it when the next test comes." 
~Carl Sandburg (Pulitzer Prize winning poet, journalist and political activist)

 Adam Hamilton is right in saying that the first acts of Peter when Jesus was arrested were not those of a coward: drawing a sword in his teacher's defense, following the squad of police who took Jesus away, even entering the courtyard of the high priest and trying to overhear his master's fate. How far would we have gone?

Of course, Peter's courage finally did fail, but perhaps there were extenuating circumstances. Maybe this Jesus wasn't who Peter thought he was. Would the Christ, the Messiah, the warrior king who was to rescue Israel from the Romans, make his defenders put their swords away?  Would he warn, "all who take the sword will perish by the sword. " (Matthew 26:52) Would he heal the ear of the policeman Peter attacked? Perhaps there in the courtyard of Caiphas' house Peter heard enough of how the trial was going to realize Jesus would never call for a revolution, that he was serious about loving your enemies, that God's kingdom would come through non-violent means that Peter thought he would never understand. Perhaps that is where his courage failed. Not just because of the threat to his life, but because of his final understanding of the kind of courage required to face the enemy without any weapon other than the power of God's love. Could that be it?

Not long ago, I heard a conversation with Condoleeza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State, she talked about growing up during the Civil Rights movement. At one point she remarked that her father wanted nothing to do with Martin Luther King, Jr.'s non-violent protests. He said that he would gladly give money to support the cause, but he wasn't about to beaten by a white man and not raise his fist in response. Perhaps this explains Secretary Rice's attitude towards the use of military power. But, if we are honest, we cannot blame anyone for being unwilling to exhibit that kind of courage. It seems almost inhuman. Actually, it is.This kind of courage is only given as a divine gift of grace. Loving your enemies is not for ordinary people. It is only for those who have opened their hearts and minds to the power of the Holy Spirit, the same spirit which enabled Jesus to pray for his torturers from the cross, the same Holy Spirit which converted the repentant Peter into one who would die on his own cross, the same Holy Spirit which enabled Jesus' followers to convert the Roman empire from a regime which declared a military dictator to be the Son of God, to one which declared, "Jesus is Lord" and required hospitals to be built in every major city.

St. Paul wrote in Romans 8:14 "all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God." Let us each pray that we might receive that Spirit and become true children of God. 

“Blasphemy … and the Idea of Lament” - Dr. Andy Stoker

24 Hours That Changed the World: "Blasphemy"

                I intellectually understand the correlation of Jesus’ “I am” statements to God’s “I am” statement. I like the certainty about it; that there is no question about who Jesus said he was. Hey, I even believe it! However, I have questions. I will confess to you that I sometimes wonder where God is and what God is up to. Maybe this places me squarely in the Sanhedrin camp: How do we really know that God is present and active in this one called “Jesus”?  Maybe it’s jealousy of the certainty with which Jesus has in his faith. If I was part of the Sanhedrin and dedicated my life to the study, teaching and transmission of religion and religious order, then maybe I, too, would be upset. Enter the idea of lament.

                Somewhere in our contemporary Christian culture we have grown fearful of the question. Questions of life and faith: Where is God? What is God up to? Those who are “in” often ridicule those from the outside asking these most vital and pressing questions; when maybe we ourselves have asked or are asking the same question. This act of questioning (and complaining) is called “lament.” Lament (“to cry out”) is simply asking the deeper questions of life and being okay with the answer or non-answer. Jesus is certain to the Sanhedrin, but he himself laments from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Just because we had certainty in one moment in our life doesn’t mean that we will always feel it, sense it or even believe it. In this season of Lent, cry out to God, ask the deeper questions of life and faith. Fear not the questions, expect the possibility of an answer.

Where is the Temple? - Allen Zugelter

24 Hours That Changed the World: "Destroy This Temple"

Where is the Temple?  Or even better, what is the Temple?

In Jesus’ time the question was easy.  The Temple was in Jerusalem, and it was where interactions between God and humanity occurred.  It was the center of Jewish religious practice. Yet the author of John’s Gospel tells us that Jesus said his body was the Temple, not the stone building that was later destroyed by the Romans.  “[You] destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  Jesus’ body was killed, and in three days God did indeed raise him up.

Jesus later ascended to be with his Father, thankfully leaving us the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit, but Jesus’ physical body is not longer with us. So where does that leave us today?  Is there a Temple?

Good and reasonable Christians have disagreed for centuries about how we should think of the Temple today.  Is it the Church, the universal community of the faithful, or is it the presence of the Holy Spirit in individual persons?  We don’t have a clear answer.  And it doesn’t matter.  The Temple exists wherever and whenever God interacts with humanity.  This happens individually, as God works within us through the Holy Spirit, and within our communities of faith, as God uses us to minister to and with each other.  God is within us and surrounding us everywhere, and in every situation, we may find ourselves.  And therefore so is the Temple.  Thanks be to God.

Please pray with me: Lord, fill me anew with your Holy Spirit.  Make me a living temple, that in me others might see you.  Amen.

How are we like "those people?" - Rev. Linda Roby

24 Hours That Changed the World: "The Trial Before the Righteous"

As I reflect on the anguish and agony of last 24 hours of Jesus life, I can’t help but think about his birth, and that first Christmas when he was so adorned.  Remember when the angels sang, the shepherds prayed, and the wise men honored him? Where are they now as he is led to trial?

While I believe it is true that Jesus died "for "our sins, I also believe is true that Jesus died "because" of the sins of those who surrounded him.   Jesus died because those who followed him at one time didn’t have the faith, the strength, or the courage to stand up for what and who they believed in.  It seems they had become lukewarm or indifferent, or like the Sanhedrin, the pious religious leaders, didn’t recognize him and turned against him.  How am I or how are we like "those people?"

I wonder if the story would have been different, if those who worshipped him, those whom he had healed, those who he loved, and those who believed in him, had come forward and stood up for him in his time of trial.

If you are reading this, you’ve probably had moments when you have felt deeply moved by the presence of God in Christ.  You and I profess to be Christian, followers and believers in Christ.  But do we love him with the energy and faith we once had?  Have we lost our passion, become lazy, or too busy? Have we taken on the ways of the world, do we justify our fears and our sin, and thereby betray Christ? During Lent, I hope we all make time to reflect and pray, so that the goodness and the glory of Christ and the power of God might reignite our love, burn in our hearts, so that we can be light for the world.

Lord, help me never to use my faith as a cover for sin.  Forgive me for the times when I have, in the name of my faith, acted in ways that betrayed you.  Amen.

Our Savior Always - Rocky Dwyer

24 Hours That Changed the World: "Betrayed with a Kiss"

You know there were eleven other disciples that betrayed Jesus that night.  Judas was the one who helped Jesus get arrested and but the others did very little to stand up for their teacher and friend.  Jesus was betrayed in multiple ways that night.  Yet it was Judas who never fully grasped Jesus teachings of love and forgiveness.  It was after fully realizing what he had done that Judas was over taken by such pain and anguish that he sought the only way he knew how to end it. The other eleven did betray Jesus that night but they sought a different way to deal with the pain. 

There have been too many times that I have turned my back on Jesus and even allowed others to take him away.  Each time I was left with an empty feeling and wondering how I could ever look him in the face again.  When I finally muster the courage to do so, I find he has been waiting on me with a warm embrace and despite all I have done my relationship with Jesus can never be broken.  I hope for those of you reading this that you never under estimate God’s love for you.  There might be times we turn away, betray, forget, become angry, and everything else that we choose to deny Christ but know Jesus will never deny knowing you.  His steadfast love truly endures forever. 

Can Anything Good Happen After Midnight - Gretchen Combs

24 Hours That Changed the World: "He Came and Found Them Sleeping"


Scripture:  He came back and found them sound asleep.  He said to Peter, “Simon, you went to sleep on me?  Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour?  Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don’t enter the danger zone without even knowing it.  Don’t be naïve.  Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog, sleeping by the fire.”
     He then went back and prayed the same prayer.  Returning, he again found them sound asleep.  They simply couldn’t keep their eyes open and they didn’t have a plausible excuse.
     He came back a third time and said, “Are you going to sleep all night?  No—you’ve slept long enough.  Time’s up.  The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Get up.  Let’s get going.  My betrayer has arrived.”   Mark 14:37-42 ( The Message translation)


I love late nights.  Or, maybe I should say early mornings.  Summer, winter, spring or fall, seasons don’t matter at 2 a.m.  There is a quietness of 2 a.m.  A stillness, as if everything is on hold, one breath away for something magical.  The sky has a softness, the moon iridescent, and the stars just beg you to draw those imaginary lines of Canis Major and Canis Minor, Cancer, Cassiopeia, Gemini. 


If only Peter, James, and John had been night owls.  Would Jesus have found a hint of reassurance, a breath of comfort to have found his closest friends awake and in prayer?  Would the late night’s touch of stillness loose its terrorizing power if on the second return, Jesus had been met with support and encouragement from his faithful prayer team?   The example of prayer (down on your knees, painful, anguished, misery-laden prayer) was lost.  The teaching moment that Jesus may have hoped for, strength of prayer for everyone, passed ignored by his devoted followers.   In this late night scenario, even Jesus had to pray.  Faced with disgrace, distress, disillusionment, and death, he turned to God in prayer.


 Let us not be caught “sleeping” when faced with discouragement or despair.     Be vigilant and turn to God in prayer.


Most loving Lord, help me stay awake and remember to turn to you for comfort in times of sadness and joy.  May I also be a light to others each and every day.  Amen.


Family Lenten Activity


Make bedtime a special time for prayer; let your child lead you in prayer.  Look for new persons or events to prayer for in newspapers, on TV, or magazines. 

In the Rose Garden - Dr. John Fiedler

24 Hours That Changed the World: "Two Gardens"

In the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, they are confronted with temptation. Have you ever noticed that no matter how great things seem to be going in your life, that there is always some negative dynamic that arises and threatens to distract or even reverse the joy that is going on?  This seems to be the reality of the human drama. In the case of archetypal Adam and Eve, they gave in to the temptation to thwart God’s expressed will and do what they wanted to do. Some scholars have posited this story as an explanation of the unique ability of human beings to be “self-conscious.”  This gives us the ability to conceive of ourselves broken out of the tapestry of creation all about us.  And once we have succeeded in doing that, we suffer the consequences. Isolation. Alienation. Despair.

In John 18:1 Jesus enters another garden in which he re-inserts himself back into salvation history and subordinates his immediate self-interest to that of the Creator. Let’s be clear: it’s not easily done. Yet this is the example set by the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

What would such self giving look like for you? Less self-indulgence? Less angst about how others perceive you? More concern with the well-being of others? On this Sabbath day, dwell in both gardens and ponder their meaning for you.

Why Me? - Rev. Tom Downing

24 Hours That Changed the World: "Father, Let This Cup Pass From Me"

Many of us talk about finding God's will for our lives. Much of the time what God wants seems unclear. But sometimes, when it does become clear, our first response is, "Why me?" We are blessed by a story which tells us over and over again of a God who says things like, "You are precious in my sight and honored and I love you." (Isaiah 43:4) The snag is that we are supposed to love God back. Jesus tells us that loving our neighbor is one way of loving God. (Matthew 12:28-31) That make sense, since we can't hug God. John put it this way, "Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us." (1 John 4: 11-12)

But all too often we are called to return that love in the form of nurturing a difficult neighbor, or confronting prejudice or injustice, and we find ourselves, like Moses or Jeremiah or Jonah, wishing someone else would take the point on this one. Often we're like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, saying to God, " I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?"

How do you find the strength, the courage, the wisdom to love those whom God calls you to love, knowing that sometimes they may be your enemies, people who insult you, abuse you, even threaten your life? For Christians, there is alway an obvious answer -- look at what Jesus did. There in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus knew that if he continued to love these enemies, caring for both the sinners and the righteous, speaking truth to both Roman collaborators and Zealot terrorists, finding the good in the poor and the rich, all would turn against him. Death by torture was the inevitable result. So what did he do?

He talked to God. He was honest. He expressed his fear and his sadness and his anger. He asked, just as we do, for God to show him anonther way, "Father, let this cup pass from me." But then he did something that we often fail to do -- he listened. There was no burning bush, no thunder, no earthquake. But just like Elijah, there in the silence he was answered.

What happened? He told us himself, "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you." And he explained, "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:9,13) And then he received the Holy Spirit, the source of all wisdom, courage and strength, and he was ready to face and love his accusers.


In John's Gospel Jesus says, "the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." (John 14:26-27)



God knows that his will is often difficult for us to carry out, but he promises us that if we will open our hearts and minds to the power of the Holy Spirit, we can face our fear and our distrust and our ignorance and do whatever it takes be the people we are called to be.


Why me? I just might be the one person in this very place and time that can be the healing hands of Christ's love for those around me.


Pray with me:
O God, send the power of your Holy Spirit upon me that I might see the world with your eyes, hear the cries of those in need, and be for them the healing hands of Christ's love. Amen.