Marvelous Light!

Marvelous Light

As we prepare for communion this morning, let’s reflect on the song we just sang, *Marvelous Light*. This week, I spent a lot of time meditating on its words. At first, they felt like just words—maybe because I was distracted by work and life. But as I prayed and kept the song in my heart, the meaning began to take root.

The opening line says, *“I once was fatherless.”* This reminded me of when life was all about me—when I pursued my will instead of God’s. Johnny Chang, an ex-gang member who turned his life around through Christ, said that living for ourselves leads to destruction. We can see this in the headlines today, where the "all-about-me" mindset often leads to tragedy.

*“Your kindness wakens me, Your love beckons deeply.”* Christ’s love stirs something within us. It draws us toward the cross, where we find true life. His love pulls us away from chasing our own desires and points us to something greater.

*“Sin has lost its power.”* This doesn’t happen by us trying harder to avoid sin. Instead, it happens when we see temptation as a chance to show God our love. Grace weakens sin’s grip.

Death has lost its sting because, in Christ, we know death is not the end. We are alive forever in Him!

Running into His marvelous light isn’t just an emotional moment—it’s a daily choice to turn away from our self-centered ways and live for Christ. Out of darkness, out of shame, we stop following our appetites and start following Him, forming new, Christ-centered habits.

*“By the cross.”* This isn’t just about following a great teacher. It’s about following the God who raised Christ from the dead. It’s about living by His truth, not by our feelings.

Living this way takes relentless practice and effort. Coming to the communion table is a time to recharge and refocus. We won’t always feel like lifting our hands or celebrating, but as we grow in Him, those moments of joy will come more often. We’ll realize more fully that we’re living in His marvelous light.

Let’s pray:

Father, we thank You for the cross and for Christ’s victory. Thank You for the truth that sets us free. We confess the times we’ve been spiritually asleep, following our own will. Help us to live by Your cross, walking in Your marvelous light. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BATTLE!

One of the things I love most about coaching is watching kids rise to the occasion and battle when times get tough. They may not be able to control the outcome, but they can control how they battle. There's something special about the battle between a pitcher and a batter. The pressure is real—anxiety, even fear—but the team rallies around, offering encouragement. We have an incredibly fast pitcher on our team, and I've noticed three typical responses from the batters: Freeze—where they just stand still, Fight—where they battle with all they've got, and Flight—where they jump out of the batter's box. This past season, one batter actually did both—he jumped out of the box, then right back in, and believe it or not, he got a hit!

In football, I see that same battle during one-on-one Oklahoma drills. The boys face off, one trying to block while the other fights to break through. There's a raw focus and intensity, and in their eyes, you can see sheer determination. As teammates cheer on both sides, there’s a sense of camaraderie that builds in this kind of environment.

Cross-country, though, is where I feel the deepest emotions. Maybe it’s because I know how physically exhausted the runners are, but you can see them giving everything they have. When I watch my son run, I can’t help but reflect on how far he’s come. Watching the other runners, with their different body types and running styles, I’m in awe of each one because I know they’re all fighting their own battles. Yesterday, I saw one of our runners coming down a hill with his mother about 70 yards ahead. Just as I was about to shout words of encouragement, I heard her call out, telling him to run in honor of his brother who had passed away the year before. At that moment, I couldn’t even speak—I was overcome with emotion.

We battle best when our team is behind us, when we’re focused and determined, and when our motivation comes from deep within. Sometimes we battle for ourselves, but the most powerful and inspiring moments come when we battle for others—and for Christ.

Communion reminds us that the ultimate battle has already been won. Jesus’ love for us, shown through His sacrifice on the cross, gives us the strength to keep battling, not just for ourselves but for others as well. Jesus won the greatest battle on the cross, and while the fight for our salvation is finished, we still face daily struggles against the devil’s schemes.

This morning, as we prepare for communion, let us focus on Ephesians 6:10-18 as the foundation of our prayer.

Your Life is an Etch A Sketch

Good morning! Kids and teens—how was your first week of school? How many of you look forward to the start of the school year, not just because you "get" to return to school, but because it's a chance for a new beginning? I remember looking forward to it when I was your age. I liked starting fresh with new teachers, classrooms, and a new schedule. I was a bit ornery as a kid, so I was always grateful for those new beginnings.

Fresh starts are powerful and motivating. They remind me of playing with an Etch A Sketch or one of those magnetic drawing boards when I was a kid. You could start drawing, mess up, and then just shake it or swipe it clean, ready to begin again.

Forgiveness in our lives is like wiping the slate clean. It allows us to start over. It feels good to receive forgiveness when we mess up, and it feels just as good to forgive others. Forgiveness is at the heart of what we celebrate taking communion together.

Last week, we witnessed the baptisms of Megan, Abby, and Logan. It was a powerful reminder of new beginnings—the old is gone, the new has come. Communion serves as a reminder that Christ cleared our "Etch A Sketch" or our "magnetic drawing board" We get to begin a new day, a new week, with a fresh start.

As we prepare for communion, here are two things to reflect on:  

1.   Spiritual transformation, or simply put, change takes time. It is normal to come here week after week and sometimes feel like you're not making progress. Spiritual transformation takes time. It takes time for Christ's love to fill us as we remain in Him, it is relational, and a learning process—sometimes even a battle. In Romans, Paul says:

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:15-20, 24-25 NIV)

2.           Remember—thanks to Christ, thanks to the cross, He forgives you. He wipes the slate clean. It is a new day, a new beginning.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:4, NIV)

Would you pray with me?

Open Your Eyes!

Have you ever heard a fan or coach yell to an official, “Open your eyes, ref!” or “Open your eyes, blue!”? The comment clearly implies that they believe the referee made the wrong call. If you’ve ever been an umpire or a referee, you know it can be difficult to see everything accurately. Often, it's easier to see things clearly from a better position to make the right call. But it just seems like some officials may not make enough effort to get into the right position to make the right call. If they had just taken a few extra steps, maybe they would’ve been able to see clearly. Could it be the same for us sometimes? If we would just seek to understand, to see things from a different perspective, perhaps we could make the right calls more often. But it’s a lot easier to judge than to understand, right?

Communion is a special time when we can pray for God to help open our eyes, to help us see where He is, to help us see where we are, and where He needs us to be. As scripture tells us, it's a time to examine ourselves to ensure we are focused on what we should be thinking about at this moment. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 states:

“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”

The new covenant that Jesus established through His blood opens our eyes. Let me share a personal story. Our family was in Washington, D.C., eating in Union Station when a man approached our table and asked me for money for transportation. Working in Canton, I am frequently asked for money and have developed a knee-jerk reaction. I am just into a habitual, more efficient way of responding in these cases and it’s just easier to judge than to understand. I told him no. My daughter questioned me, asking, "You mean you can’t help him?" I explained that I would be willing to take him to a restaurant to buy food. Sure enough, a second individual approached asking for money. I offered to buy him food instead, and he agreed. As we stood in line together, I wanted to get to know him. It was hard. It was awkward. I fumbled over my words, and after we received his food, I let him know Jesus loves him. It was in that moment I realized my initial knee-jerk reaction, that habitual way of thinking about a circumstance, had closed my eyes to an opportunity to show Christ’s love to others.

This morning, let’s ask God to open our eyes to the impact of His body and blood on our lives. Pray that He will help us see where we are and where He wants us to be.

Would you pray with me:

Father, thank you for Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross. Help us see where You are, where we are, and where You want us to be. Give us the courage, the energy, and the motivation to get into the proper position. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Would you pray with me:

Forgiveness. One of Dad's Super Powers

Good morning, and happy Father’s Day to all the men who serve in a mentoring role. As we prepare for communion this morning, I’d like to start with a question: Have you ever had a “my dad is going to kill me” moment? One of mine involved a beautiful, full-size, four-wheel-drive 1979 Chevy Blazer with two-toned light and dark blue paint. Our driveway was down an icy hill, and one day, I misjudged it. As I tried to turn in, the ice sent me sliding into a concrete-filled light pole, leaving three big dents in the fender. Without cell phones back then, I had to wait until the end of the day to tell my dad. I spent all day worrying—through classes, wrestling practice, and the drive home—rehashing how I would break the news to him. When I finally told him, he saw my sincerity and regret, and he forgave me quickly, without making me feel guilty. It’s one of my best memories of my dad—how he forgave so readily and completely.

Our Heavenly Father provides an amazing story about forgiveness through a parable in Luke 15. Jesus tells the story of a young man who makes a huge mistake, asking for his inheritance early and wasting it on wild living. His life hits rock bottom, and he finds himself willing to eat the same food as pigs. This desperation brings him to his senses, and he decides to return to his father, hoping for any kind of handout. Here is where the story picks up:

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ’Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

Father’s Day can be hard for those who didn’t experience this kind of forgiveness from their earthly fathers. The good news is that our Heavenly Father offers perfect forgiveness through His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. Weekly communion is a wonderful time to learn how to accept forgiveness and move on. You may have learned guilt-ridden patterns of thinking because of bad forgiveness habits growing up, but Christ encourages us to examine our hearts, change the way we think about our sin, pray for forgiveness, and move on. Philippians 3:13-14 states, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal for which Christ Jesus has called me.”

Dads, grandpas, uncles, men who lead the younger generations, our goal is to make disciples of all the nations so never underestimate the power of your influence, words, loving actions, and forgiveness. You are more often caught than taught. Know that when you lead, your loving Savior forgives you and forgives those you lead. Lead humbly. Lead bravely in challenging environments where you can help to break bad habitual thought patterns to help build future generations for Christ. Forget what is behind and strain ahead!

Let’s pray.

No More Mommy Guilt!

 As we prepare for communion, I want to speak to biological mothers, adoptive mothers, Aunts, and the ladies who are committed to mentoring the younger generation using the amazing mothering powers that God has given. 

First, I want to thank you for leading and loving those around you. Here is to the times you rock it out of the park! You can tie the hair bows, clean the dirty uniform in preparation for the next day's 8:00AM game, rub backs, take care of the child who wakes up vomiting at 1AM, provide encouraging spiritual council to the other child who just had a nightmare, make a breakfast that includes all major food groups, clean the kitchen, show up to church looking like you just spent the day at the spa and do all of this without yelling once while in the car. 

But, some days you may feel like you will hardly be able to function. You look longingly for the energy just to get out of bed, to get a shower, and to have something to eat. You may wonder how in the world you can repeat this process in the days to come. You keep telling yourself the good intended advice that “the days are long but the years are short,” but that just seems to add to the guilt because you don’t feel you can compare.

Speaking of guilt, there seems to be a little "mommy guilt" that creeps in from time to time. It’s that self-doubt you may experience that is related to your perceived shortcomings in your ability to balance work, parenting, and personal life. It's the pressure, the internal and external judgment, and comparisons with others that bring feelings of failure that are sometimes more than you can bear.

Can anyone relate to falling into the comparison trap? If so, this time of communion is for you! When you sometimes feel less than amazing, I want you to remember some truths from Ephesians 1:5-6- In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. 

1. Through Jesus, God adopted you! No matter how bad you mess up, You are His! 

2. Thanks to Jesus, You are forgiven! When you fall short in reality or when you get sucked into the comparison trap and can’t get away from the Mommy guilt. Remember, You. Are. Forgiven!

3. Thanks to Jesus, You can let go. Loosen your grip. You are redeemed! You are made new!

Would you pray with me?

A Ghost!

How do we embrace belief in the face of what may seem unbelievable? Consider the astounding rhythms of nature: the heart, pulsing 100,000 times each day, with the same force required to squeeze a tennis ball, not requiring our conscious influence. Then there's the Sun, emitting enough energy in a single second to power our world for millions and millions of years—releasing a staggering 386 million trillion megawatts per second!

Yet, for many, the resurrection of Jesus Christ remains a challenge to belief. This week, I delved into the accounts of Jesus' first appearances following his resurrection and found myself pondering, "What motivates ordinary people like us to embrace the seemingly impossible?"

Think about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They heard reports of Jesus' resurrection from women who had visited the tomb, they encountered Jesus themselves and engaged in a Bible study with him during a seven-mile walk, yet they did not fully believe until Jesus broke bread and shared communion with them.

After this moment, Jesus vanished, only to reappear shortly afterward to the rest of the disciples. Their initial reaction was one of terror, mistaking him for a ghost. In Luke 24:39, Jesus reassured them, saying, "Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." Consider doubting Thomas—he needed to see and feel the wounds in Jesus' hands and side to believe.

Doubting is a natural aspect of human behavior, but so is believing! Take Mary Magdalene, a devoted follower of Jesus who had experienced his healing power firsthand. Upon hearing the voice of the risen Jesus, Mary Magdalene believed immediately! Similarly, the other women at the tomb were initially filled with fear but ultimately believed, courageously spreading the news despite the potential stigma.

Communion provides us with an opportunity to reflect on Christ's sacrificial love, symbolized by his body and blood. It's a time to examine our hearts, acknowledging moments of both belief and doubt. Would you join me in prayer?

Jesus, your resurrection defies comprehension. We are humbled as we contemplate the greatest miracle in history! Like Doubting Thomas, who sought tangible proof, we acknowledge our moments of doubt and pray for the faith to believe without seeing. We confess that, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we may study and seek you without always recognizing your presence in our lives. Yet, just as you revealed yourself through the breaking of bread, may our eyes be opened to perceive you among us today.

Father, like Mary Magdalene, who was so transformed by your love that she recognized your voice immediately, may we be drawn by your relentless grace and seek you earnestly, yearning for your presence in every moment. And like the women who encountered you at the tomb, initially gripped by fear but spurred to action, may we, too, through the power of your Holy Spirit, overcome our fears. Grant us boldness and wisdom as we endeavor to be your witnesses in every facet of our lives, from the mundane to the extraordinary. May our words and deeds radiate your love and truth, transforming the world around us. Amen.