Esther makes a sudden entrance into the story that bears her name.

The king had banished his queen, "never again" to enter his presence (Esther 1:19). That led to a search for her replacement. And Esther's name appears matter-of-factly in chapter 2. Hers is the only name given of all the women who endured the king's twelve-month beauty contest. Once she's selected as the next queen, her name takes a chapter off.

But the story begins to brew. We learn of Haman's great desire to annihilate the Jewish people. Esther reappears in distress of the news and it's now we get a sense of something important. The new queen didn't know her place. No, she didn't have full access to the king. There were rules, after all. Just ask the replaced queen, if you can find her. Plus, tt had been a month since the king has summoned Esther.

But we can't say Esther was a nobody. She's the queen.

Still, it's almost like she doesn't sense what that could mean. In her mind, she's Esther. Sure, she won a contest, but that didn't change who she was. It's her older cousin, Mordecai, who sees what's possible. He gathers that her new place just might lead to the redemption of his people. So, he encourages Esther. Even pushes her to appreciate the circumstances. And the rest is Purim history.

Without Esther, Haman dooms the people. But without Mordecai Esther probably never musters the courage to save them.

It's easy to look at the main characters of our stories, the people who normally get the most attention. They're the ones who act bravely or speak up with conviction and determination. Thank God for those people. We need them. Most of those people, though, will tell you they have someone who encourages them.

Most of us aren't the main characters. We aren't in the king's court, so to speak. But we all can be encouragers. God can show us the possibilities within other people they can't always see in themselves. Your encouragement, therefore, is no small thing. It has the potential to change the world for someone.

Stay blessed...john

I'm reflecting on when we know it was God and when we think it was us.

That is, I want to have the same kind of assurance the psalmist did when he declared, "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side (Psalm 124:1). But, surely, our perceived success isn't the only measure of God's active presence with us. Faithful servants of God fail all the time. Jesus told us to make ourselves last place among all people. That's going to look like failure to some, isn't it?

And God's people suffer. Not because God is punishing them, but because that's what life is sometimes.

Maybe it's like when we blame the enemy. "The devil made me do it," we confess. The thing is, the devil doesn't always have to twist our arms all that much. We're often more ready to do what we want than we care to admit. We have more agency than we realize.

Does God split seas? Yes, but not always. Does the Lord make the sun stand still to protect God's people? Apparently, but we've only read about that happening once (Joshua 10). It seems there's a more consistent way God appears to us and helps us. There isn't always literal moving of mountains.

Instead, there's the help of God when we muster courage in difficult times. God helps us regain our strength and hope. How often does God's help come in the form of a thought or idea that buds within you? What about a hug or simple word from a friend?

"If it had not been the Lord" reminds me that God's help moves me to do what I need to do. What I didn't think I could do. There will be times I'll need God to crumble prison doors, but most times God doesn't act in that way.

I've learned that what I am able to do is with God's help. I'm not acting on my own accord. Yes, I'm using wisdom, strength, skills and talents God gave me. But isn't that still God's help?

Look for the little ways God is helping you today. At the end of your week you'll be able to reflect back and say with the psalmist, "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side!"

Stay blessed...john

Time and history have consumed the songs the early church sang. And we only have ideas of how the first Christians worshiped. Piecing together New Testament passages helps us understand some of their worship practices. But there are still a few things we know with confidence about those early Christians.

For example, they heard the gospel of Jesus on repeat. They experienced power through miracles. And they prayed.

Not everyone was a teacher. Not everyone performed miracles or was a designated servant of the church. But one thing every person could do was pray. If I could transpose one aspect of Christian life in the book of Acts into our life today, it'd be their way of praying.

I'm not so sure they prayed with eloquence and great rhetoric like many of us think we have to. Instead, I'm impressed with their shared faithfulness to the act of prayer. And what about how they prayed. Acts 4 is my favorite example of prayer. I'm a preacher. So, I've preached sermons about Jesus hiding away to pray by himself. That's an important practice to have. But in Acts 4 the church prayed together in a way that inspires me.

In this particular scene, having faced persecution, they prayed together for boldness. The Holy Spirit responded to that prayer. Look at some of the details to, perhaps, see why.

First, they prayed as an immediate response to their situation. What other business mattered more? Also, their voices went up to heaven together. Their prayer also acknowledged God's power and promise. And they were specific about what they were facing and asking God to do. Finally, they didn't try to pray away their problems. Instead, they asked God for boldness to stay true to their mission in the midst of them.

That's the kind of praying I want to have in our churches. What a shared experience!

In the coming days, take stock of your church's prayer life. Maybe you have one or more of the qualities of prayer from Acts 4 already within your church. Praise the Lord! Or maybe it's time to ask God to reignite us with a true desire to pray like we've never prayed before.

Stay blessed...john

When I need a discipleship punch, I often go to Dallas Willard. Here's something he said that I'm reflecting on today: Our failure to hear his voice when we want to is due to the fact that we do not in general want to hear it, that we want it only when we think we need it.

Jesus went back and forth with people of faith. They were "Abraham's descendants" and, obviously, proud of it (John 8:33). Now, there's nothing wrong with appreciating your religious heritage. But their feelings went far beyond mere gratitude. They respond to Jesus' assertion of freedom by declaring they had never been slaves to anyone. How could they think that? Their story included exile. They were under Rome's thumb, many of them hoping for a messiah to overthrow Caesar and his government.

The Lord knew they were Abraham's descendants. He knew their stories. It was his heritage, too! But the Son now presented a freedom only God could offer. And it was their inability to see past their spiritual inheritance that kept them bound. They didn't just not believe in what God was doing through Christ. They wanted to kill Jesus. "Because," he said, "you have no room for my word" (8:37).

Having no room for Jesus is, typically, a Christmas message we hear. That comes from a possible misreading and misunderstanding of what an inn was. Here in John 8 is a more appropriate point to talk about making room for Jesus. The people that misunderstood Jesus had room with Jesus, literally. They were talking to him. What they didn't have was room for him in their faith and understanding of what God was doing.

For many of us today, making room for Jesus relates mostly to time. That is, where in my schedule can I learn to make room to pray to Jesus? To read scripture? To serve? Time is important, of course, but Jesus also wants us to make room in other parts of our life. How do we make room for Jesus in our thoughts? In how we practice our life? The true freedom of God includes listening for God's voice more than just when we think we need it.

Stay blessed...john

Jesus' disciples once argued with one another about which of them was the greatest. That was a pretty dumb argument to have considering what Jesus had just taught them. His lesson on suffering, death and resurrection went right over them. Jesus the rabbi went on to teach them how to overcome their desire to be so great.

The preacher of Ecclesiastes might've offered a different response. He would've reminded them how the greatest is a fleeting position. Let's say one of the disciples won that argument. He reasoned well enough with the others and collected enough votes. Even if they weren't happy about it, the group decided he was the greatest. It wouldn't be long before the others changed their minds.

Now, nothing about the greatest disciple changed. It's the others who change. They can't help it. We can't help it. And so, whether it's warranted or not, in time, someone considered great today will become less-than-great.

Listen to the preacher's lesson. He saw a wise youth replace a foolish king. People loved this new king. "But," he says, "those who came later were not pleased" with him (Ecclesiastes 4:16).

That lesson puts chasing greatness in perspective. It helps us see that no matter how far we move up whatever ladder of success we admire, it leads to the same place. Plus, if being the greatest is so awesome a feat, why do we say it's lonely at the top?

Maybe the preacher is giving us another good reminder. It's in the passage right before he mentions the old and young kings. One of those passages people like to hear at weddings. True greatness of life comes when we connect with others. When we have people who help us up and bring comfort to our lives.

Instead of chasing after being so great, let's refocus on the relationships God gave us. Make our relationships great--there's nothing dumb about that. While greatness is chasing the wind, this cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Stay blessed...john

Proverbs 30 is a collection of sayings from a man named Agur. Who don't know who he was. He and his father are only mentioned in Proverbs 30:1. It could be that their names are symbolic. For today's reading, though, let's assume Agur is someone like you and me.

He opens the chapter with this:

Surely I am too stupid to be human;
    I do not have human understanding.
I have not learned wisdom,
    nor have I knowledge of the holy ones (30:2-3).

That seems a bit drastic. Was Agur having a bad day? Or was he overstating his humility? Whatever the case, Agur's wisdom shines through the rest of the chapter.

I remember a sermon series I did once on Job. For several weeks we considered what Job and his friends said and the wisdom we could glean from them. We noticed that God doesn't answer Job's every complaint. It takes several chapters before God speaks to Job. The comment I made about God's response was: It turns out, God's a tree hugger. What I meant was that God responded to Job by highlighting the natural world. Read Job 38 and listen for the mention of the stars, the sea, the clouds and the dawn. Snow, hail, lightning and the east winds all get a mention.

Likewise, Agur counters his confession of stupidity with a look at nature. Knowingly or not, he patterns his wisdom the way God did with Job. He also alludes to several human aspects of life. But most of his reflection centers on the way of animals in God's world. And that makes sense. Agur wasn't distracted by Netflix, the NFL or the latest BOGO deal. Who knows how many books or writings he had available to him? In the absence of an abundance of information, he could always look to nature for God's wisdom.

That same world is open to us to learn from today. Of course, read and study what others have learned. But take a walk outside and see what you notice there, too. On your drive to church, pay attention to what the world can teach you about God's goodness and the beautiful life the Lord gave us.

Stay blessed...john

God heard the cry of the Israelites in Egypt (Exodus 3:7). That sparked the exodus, the crossing of the sea and the ultimate entrance into the promised land. When God heard the people, the Lord sent Moses to lead them out of their oppression. Since Moses often spoke on behalf of God to the people, it's appropriate to consider him a prophet.

God would hear the cry of the people again. This time, Midian was their oppressor. The "Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the east" made life unbearable for the Israelites (Judges 6:3). In their impoverishment, "the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help" (6:6). And you know what God did. God heard and sent a prophet to them.

This time, though, things were different. Moses went with a message to Pharaoh to free the people for worship. The prophet God sent in the Midianite agitation didn't speak to any king or ruler. He spoke to the people. His message was two-fold.

First, they were to remember what God had done for them. Specifically, they were to recall God's deliverance from Egypt and God's claiming. In other words, remember what God had done. What a helpful way to pray and listen to God. To remember, not with platitudes but with exact reciting of, God's activity. How has God saved you? When did the Lord speak to your heart? Remember those experiences well.




The second element of the prophet's message to the people was to remember what they had done. Again, notice the specificity. It would've been easy to say the people fell short, but that's too generic. Instead, the prophet recounted God's instruction the people ignored.

To make this simple, as you seek God's renewal, remember two things: What God has done and what you have done.

Give thanks for what the Lord has done. Repent for what you have done, or not done. Both acknowledgements affirm our need for God's grace and point us back toward God's purpose.

Stay blessed...john

Here's my "can anything good come out of Nazareth" story. Once, I attended a spiritual retreat. During the event, there were several free-time slots on our agenda. I used those times to play basketball. Just after one of the games, an older man asked me to come talk to him. He wondered had I played ball in high school and asked what school I attended. Pretty sure that he recognized the name of the school, he verified and asked where I was from.

When I told him I was born in Galveston, he said, "If I'd had known you were from Galveston, I would've hid my wallet."

People knew Jesus. Not only had they heard him and seen him, they knew where he was from. Word gets around about people, doesn't it? It's not hard to imagine Jesus and his family having some reputation, as many families might. And maybe people knew others from Nazareth or had heard stories about that lowly place. Philip certainly had (John 1:46).

Stay blessed...john

Recently, a church included in their worship a Christianized version of a popular song. That's not unusual. I've heard churches do that plenty of times, whether it was a good idea or not. This song, though, made waves because it was unusually loud and rock concert-y.

Some of you may already be thinking all new church music sounds that way, doesn't it?

Well, not like this.

Now, I'm not against new or loud music, mostly. I want creatives to have space to express their creativity. What got me about this piece was the rationale behind it. Come to think of it, this church voiced what other churches haven't explicitly said. They played this song right before the sermon. The reason for its placement was to "hype" people up for the pastor's message.

Ouch.

To be fair, I've heard my share of stale sermons. You know what a sermon is, but do you know the definition? One definition is "a long or tedious piece of admonition or reproof." Yea, I've heard those in church, too.

When I give my testimony, I mention being a bored teenager in church. My listening to the preacher meant counting ceiling tiles. When I started preaching, I promised myself to do everything I could to not make other people want to count. I still try. And I often reflect on an exclamation I came across once: How dare you bore them with the gospel!

Again, I try.

Still, my job isn't to hype up the sermon. It's not your job either. Instead, let's nurture a love for God's word. When we have that, the sermon can happen before or after any song. It can happen on a podcast or video playback. It can happen in a coffee shop or through a text message.

The psalmist said, "The law of the Lord is perfect," and "they (God's decrees) are more precious than gold" (Psalm 19:7, 10). It's the text itself that is the hype. And you can tell if a preacher has a love for the text. Just like you can tell if a listener has a love for the text.

Stay blessed...john

A daily edition of The Wall Street Journal includes more information than the average person had available to them one hundred years ago. That surprised me when I read or heard that some time ago. Having read the paper, though, I can believe it. It speaks to the bombardment of information into our regular lives.

One of the consequences of our information age is the bidirectionality of it. That is, we aren't just reading information. We're contributing to it. Everyone has access to distribution. We can all share our voice life never before.

I, for example, easily self published a book of devotionals a few years ago. And I've written over a thousand more since. Over two hundred people receive a text message I produce every day. That's not to mention that I video and audio publish my weekly sermons. I also host a podcast. Who knows how many church newsletter articles I've written? Oh, and I update a personal website.




You see, I'm part of the information problem!

Whether it's online or in person, though, we all have a choice with how we share our voice. And I don't mean the tools with which we share. I mean the attitudes and demeanors we carry.

Notice in the Proverbs reading the power of our words and voice. With a soft answer, we can turn away wrath. We can share knowledge and information that brings life to people. But we can also stir anger and contribute to the foolishness around us. Oh, it doesn't take long to see that play out on social media every day. People build careers on the foolish power of their words. 

With an over abundance of information available to us, we need more people who will speak and share wisdom. At the same time, maybe we need more restraint in speech to counter the constant animosity. Why antagonize when you can bless? Why share hurtful, demeaning social media posts and spread untrue stories? They only add to our misinformation.

So much of our division and hostility stems from the power of our words. That's because we often choose the foolish power over the wise power.

Stay blessed...john

You spent the weekend on a spiritual retreat. It was a most revealing time when you experienced the presence of God. Now, you can't help but carry the excitement with you as you drive home. There's a song in your heart and you sing it with a joy you didn't know you could have. But the first thing you see when you get home are the bills you left piled on the kitchen table.

They don't bother you at first. And they wouldn't if you didn't also notice the mounds of laundry. Then there's the voicemails you have to respond to. Plus, tomorrow, you have to go back to a job you don't really enjoy. As the song says: Back to life. Back to reality.

Is that how Jesus and three of his disciples felt? Whatever the Transfiguration was, they had just experienced it together, and it was awesome. As soon as they come down the mountain, though, there's a fuss waiting for them. Back to life. Back to reality.

A man had brought his epileptic son to Jesus' other disciples for healing. They could do nothing for him. The Lord answered the man's plea by rebuking the "faithless and perverse generation." I've read commentary that says Jesus meant the religious establishment. Other opinions say there's no way he meant that and directed his ire to the disciples. Maybe he was talking to the father and the rest of the crowd. You look it up and tell me what you think.

If I understand Jesus correctly, though, the disciples had a little faith. What they needed was a mustard-size faith. Now, I've seen mustard seeds. They're little.

So, what gives?

If the disciples could move mountains with a little faith, why couldn't they heal a boy with a little faith?

There is a sense that what Jesus explains to the disciples has nothing to do with the amount of faith they had. Rather, he challenged the attitude of their faith, which was an unbelieving faith. That's an oxymoron, right? Like a minor miracle. We're left to wonder what the disciples' attempt to cure the boy looked like. Did they trust God enough to keep at such an impossibility? "How much longer" before you can officially call off the praying?

Most of us don't have to get back to life or reality. We never had a chance to leave. And when you're dealing with it all, you need a faith that keeps trying. That keeps believing. So, keep trying to move that mountain and believing God will.

Stay blessed...john

As a kid, TV sitcoms convinced me there was a devilish, red version of me sitting on one of my shoulders. Sometimes, he made a case that could lure me to do what I knew I shouldn't. Not to worry, though, because the other shoulder carried my angelic counterpart. He wasn't always as fun, but I knew he gave better advice. Of course, I've relied less on TV religion as I've gotten older. I've learned it's the Holy Spirit that guides and inspires us to become holier versions of ourselves.

Part of the Spirit's role is to uncover God's image within us.

In that process, the Holy Spirit might direct us to do and not do certain things. We mature as we learn to do more of what might not come naturally to us. Giving, for example, stretches my compassion for others and my trust in God. The Spirit moves me to give when I don't want to give. Likewise, the Spirit teaches us to discipline ourselves. This training keeps us from doing things that move us away from holiness.

But the Holy Spirit also helps us change our minds. And that's true repentance.

A changed mind brings a new perspective. And if we're going to understand God's kingdom, we'll need those new thoughts. To recognize the upheaval of God's actions, we'll need new vision. We'll need new attitudes and mindsets, as did the psalmist.

The "prosperity of the wicked" bothered him, almost causing him to slip up (Psalm 73:2-3). He couldn't stop thinking about how they lived their lives. They live carefree and unburdened by life. Their pride made him question his own integrity. "Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure," he said (73:13). Every day this bothered him, "till I entered the sanctuary of God" (73:17).

God changed his perspective. The wicked have a future the psalmist wants no part of. His new perspective replaced his "embittered" spirit with an assurance of God's goodness. "It is good to be near God" (73:28). This new mindset made all the difference for him.

So, pray for a changed mind. A changed attitude. A changed heart. As you experience those changes, you'll recognize God's holiness dwelling within you. And what you should or shouldn't do becomes more clear.

Stay blessed...john

Not alone we conquer,
Not alone we fall;
In each loss or triumph
Lose or triumph all.

Bound by God’s far purpose
In one living whole,
Move we on together
To the shining goal!

Stay blessed...john

We call our life a walk with God. Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5:24). Noah did as well (Genesis 6:9). Micah, the prophet, said part of what is good is to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). Later, the apostle Paul would instruct the church to walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). And to walk in love (Ephesians 5:2). To walk, therefore, is to live. As Christians, we "walk in the same way" as Jesus (1 John 2:6).

Walk talk brings to mind paths and trails. Sure enough, the psalmist recognized God's path of life (Psalm 16:11). And if you've ever walked, ran or ridden a path, you know it's a simple task that can go wrong. You can get lost or find yourself without enough energy to continue. How many people have stumbled and injured themselves while on their favorite paths?

With all that in mind, considering our faith as a walk makes complete sense. One day we're walking, feeling good about where we're going. We're confident in what we see ahead. Suddenly, it doesn't feel like a walk in the park anymore. When that happens, what should we do?

Well, my first inclination is to quote Dory from Finding Nemo: Keep swimming. If she were more the walking type, she undoubtedly would've encouraged us to just keep walking. Jesus kept walking.

And scripture would also keep us mindful of our walking direction.

Proverbs says the path of righteousness shines brighter and brighter until full day (Proverbs 4:18). That is, it continues to guide us if we're willing to follow. It grows brighter the more we stay with it. Of course, that isn't to say you won't ever stumble on this path. Get ready. You will. But notice the "way of the wicked is like a deep darkness" because they won't even know what they stumbled over.

You will stumble, but you will know what has hindered you. The brightness of God's path will show you the danger you've come across. You'll recognize how far you've come and what is keeping you from walking safely in God's presence.

So, just keep walking. Keep walking with Jesus. Walking like Jesus.

Stay blessed...john

Stay blessed...john

We assume the group of religious leaders were hoping to catch Jesus in the wrong. Waiting for a gotcha moment. Well, they didn't have to watch him or his disciples long.

Mark tells us they noticed "some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands" (Mark 7:2). That means they hadn't washed their hands before eating. In this context, washing hands had a spiritual meaning, at least to the religious leaders. It was their custom to wash a certain way, perhaps up to their elbows. As their luck would have it, they just happened to notice a disciple or two not washing properly. This made their hands, and I guess themselves as well, defiled.

Mark's reading audience is Gentile. So, they probably didn't have much concern with defilement or uncleanness. That's why Mark offers parenthetical remarks as he tells the story. They wouldn't have seen the problem otherwise. Mark wanted them to know what was of most concern to Jesus. Whereas the religious leaders concerned themselves with outward appearances, Jesus' concern was for the heart.

Jesus, too, had noticed some things. He had seen many times tradition become more important than obedience. Ritual conquer compassion. Religion hide unfaithfulness. The Lord brought this against the religious leaders in response to their accusations. Would he have said anything if they hadn't first?

That point in this passage becomes a challenge to me, and I hope for you as well.

We can't help but fashion an image of what a perfect Christian should be and what they should do. For example, how many times should someone be in worship? How much money should they give to ministry? What version of the Bible should they own? Now, what happens when people don't live up to that picture that we've created? What do we think of that person then? That's where we have to be careful.

Be slower to make assumptions about other people's defiling ways. Listen to Jesus' challenge of the heart. That is, pay more attention to what comes out of your heart. What another person does or doesn't do doesn't defile you, but what comes out of your heart does.

Stay blessed...john

Does anyone make it through life not becoming like their parents? There's a word, a mannerism or something you do that reminds you of your parents or grandparents. You laugh every time you notice it. It also reminds your family and friends of the those who raised you. People have told me my entire life that I look, act and sound like my father. Can anyone of us help it?

Of course, having a similar laugh or sharing the same cooking skills is a blessing. But are there family traditions or beliefs you've needed to separate yourself from? Are there ways of thinking and being that don't align with your current values? That's often a hard conversation to have. It can feel dishonorable to challenge your inherited belief system or culture. Many family fights begin that way. And what of all the talk of personal salvation? Should we even concern ourselves with the sins of our ancestors? Scripture gives us a voice to.

In today's reading, the psalmist laments the sin of his people. Not just he and his contemporaries. He says, "Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly" (Psalm 106:6). For more than thirty verses he'll go on to recount how his ancestors sinned. Afterwards, the psalmist prayed that God would "save us" (106:47).

The we and the us means himself, the people he knows today and those who have gone before him.

At first glance you might wonder why he's so keen on remembering what past generations have done. We don't get a sense what his exact sins are. But doesn't the psalmist know something about himself? That he can be just like his ancestors. He's learned to be as impatient with God as they were. As unfaithful as the examples he'd been brought up with. And maybe he doesn't want to be if it means keeping him from giving thanks to God's holy name (106:47). Save us, O Lord our God.

Stay blessed...john

There were times I forgot what my children didn't know. Sometimes it was something related to our family. Other times I'd have to wonder what someone their age would know about certain topics. When that would happen, I did better off asking them. What did they remember? What had I shared with them already?

There's an entire world of lessons to teach our young people. So many experiences we want to share with them. But that happens over time, and no one is following a schedule. So, we need to be mindful about how we share and what we share. Make no mistake, our children are learning from us and other people they know. But are we intentionally passing on to them all that is important to us?

Before the Israelites entered the promised land, Moses instructed them in God's way. He showed them the way to live obedient to God. From reading the Bible, I've learned obedience is both personal and communal. For example, Moses told the people to "take care and watch yourselves closely" (Deuteronomy 4:9). Each person would need to watch themselves. But there was also the community that needed to watch itself. One way to do that, Moses said, was two fold. First, remember what God has done for you. Second, those things God has done for you, "make them known to your children and your children's children" (4:9).

If you want to remember what God has done for you, make sure your children know what God has done for you. As a church, if we want to teach young people the power of God, share the power of God with them. Yes, teach the stories of scripture. As we grow and mature, the stories we learned as children help shape our perspectives. We learn even more about the stories themselves, which leads to new wisdom and insight. But don't forget to teach your experiences.

Talk about how you've experienced faith. When God renews your heart, explain that to children. When God provided, let them know. Our sharing instructs their faith, but it also shapes their hope for the future. Let's make sure we teach them how good God has been to us.

Stay blessed...john