Burying the alleluia is a spiritual practice that dates back to the Middle Ages. It's a simple act of worship. Or non-worship, I suppose.

Typically, during Lent, the church would not sing hymns that included the word alleluia. The translation of the word is "Praise the Lord." As such, to sing or repeat it is an act of praise, worship and even joy. Lent is a more penitential season. And, when we bury the alleluia, we expect to revive it at the Easter celebration. So, some consider the practice a form of fasting.

If your hallelujah is a praise sentence, entombing it can help shape your prayers and worship experiences. But the word also serves as a command. Not just a declaration, it's asking or directing someone else to do something. In this case to praise the Lord.

In the Old Testament, hallelujah shows up mainly in the psalms. That makes sense because the psalms are worship. In the New Testament, the word shows up several times in Revelation 19. That makes sense, too, because Revelation isn't a scary, end-of-the-world thriller. It's a book of praise for people of God.

By the time we get to Revelation 19, Babylon has fallen. Those who "committed adultery" with her now weep. But God's people see God's victory. Therefore, their call is to hallelujah: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord because "the Lord God the Almighty reigns" (19:6). So many people of God had endured with faith the persecution brought about by Babylon. Their faithfulness is their "righteous deeds" (19:8. Now, they can rejoice.

Their call is ours as well. There's no burying praise. Babylon is more than an ancient city. It's a spirit that, though defeated, still creeps. So, we know the pain and reality of this world and its systems. Today, Christians around the world still face persecution. We don't rejoice because of how bad things are. We rejoice because of how good God is. Though we may suffer today, our faith draws us to praise the Lord because, as Revelation reminds us, God already has the victory.

Stay blessed...john

God doesn't need our perfection to be God. And we know the Lord's goodness and holiness don't stand on our merit or our righteous abilities. Who God is and what God does is enough.

We're used to thinking our testimonies have to recount earth-shattering, life-changing experiences. It's doesn't feel right to celebrate the small moments of peace or revelation. While there are times we move mountains with God's help, there are many, many more times the still, small voice speaks its truth in quiet moments.

The man showed me the picture of Earth he had carried for decades. I had seen the picture in history books and online. But this was his picture. He had been part of the space mission that first provided this image. After its success, this was a keepsake given to crew members and others involved. So, this wasn't just a picture of a historical event. This was his cherished reminder of what that day was to him. And with the picture came the stories.

Personally, that's my favorite illustration of Joshua's instruction to the people. Twelve men were to carry one stone each from the center of the Jordan River where the people would cross into the promised land. These stones weren't a functioning part of getting the people over. Instead, "in time to come," children were going to ask about them.

None of the ancients probably carried pictures in their pockets. But they would have these stones and they would have the stories that went with them. The stones would be a reminder of their great experience with God.

A saint once confusedly asked me about this crossing. "I thought the Israelites crossed the Red Sea," they said. Yes, there are sure echoes of that crossing in this story, but this was a new generation. Later, future generations would know of God's power in history when they saw and heard about these stones. They would be able to look for their own experiences as well.

The sharing we're reflecting on today comes with an assumption: You've experienced God's grace. Maybe it was as miraculous as crossing on dry ground through a river. Or maybe it was a simple moment of peace. Whatever the experience, it is yours. But in time to come, that story is going to be a blessing for someone else to hear.

Stay blessed...john

It's the classic good news, bad news scenario. The spies have spent 40 days surveying the promised land. They've seen what this place of promise is, what it offers and who lives there. Interestingly, their report doesn't seem to include anything we wouldn't have already known. The good news is "look at this fruit!" The bad news is "the people!"

I'm not quite sure who initiated their exploratory mission. Numbers 13 says "the Lord spoke to Moses" and told him to send spies (13:1). As its recorded in Deuteronomy, Moses said the people came up with the idea (Deuteronomy 1). He merely agreed. It could be Moses heard it, thought about it, prayed and got his okay from God.

Whatever the case, the spies have returned with their findings.

Again, we already knew the kind of people who were there. And God had already said it was a land flowing with milk and honey. Of course, the bigger story will be that most of the spies will convince the people to not set out for this place. Initially, though, they start with what is impossible to ignore: the fruit of the land.

For today, I'm reflecting on that fruit hanging on the pole. God said it was there. God promised to lead the people to it. We can criticize the spies' report and how the people responded. We can also appreciate their need to see what God was talking about.

Yes, we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). But God gives us a lot to see, too. Additionally, the promises of God are best lived and experienced than they are merely talked about and admired.

I want to understand forgiveness, for example, but what good is forgiveness talked about and never shared? Never felt? I recall attending a prayer class once. We talked and talked about prayer. We even had handouts. We did so much talking that we never got around to praying. It was informational, for sure. But no one tasted and saw God's goodness (Psalm 34:8).

Beloved, don't settle for just talking about God's goodness. Seek to experience the reality of God's presence and God's promise. 

Stay blessed...john

I used to joke that I became a preacher because the church was the only place that said my big mouth was a spiritual gift. But one doesn't need to be loud or boisterous to put one's foot in their mouth, do they?

We all run that risk.

So, maybe, you can relate to the psalmist as he opens Psalm 39. He shares with us what he, presumably, told himself, "I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue" (39:1). Now, I can only base my reading on my personal experience. I know what it's like to internally repeat something I want to do or keep from doing. "I will do this. I will do this." Or, "I won't do that. I won't do that." That technique has been helpful before, but it isn't fail proof. I say I won't, but I do. I say I will, but I don't.

The psalmist said he would make sure not to open his big mouth. But he did. He had held his peace for too long and watched too much happen around him. Notice, though, in this psalm, to whom he speaks. Those "wicked" people in his presence that are causing him so much distress don't get to hear him complain or question what is happening. Instead, the psalmist turns his voice to God.

Maybe that's the key to better keeping your foot away from your mouth. Before you speak to the situation or the person that irritates or torments you, speak to God first. It's said that Counted Breathing helps you focus more on your breathing and less on what's stressing you out in the present moment. That form of self regulation comes with a lot of benefits. Well, what if we also learn to use those few seconds to talk to God before we speak to anyone else?

The next time you're tempted to say something too soon, pause and pray first. Those few seconds might change everything. 

Stay blessed...john

From time to time, I preach a good enough sermon that someone has a wish. Their wish is that so-and-so would have been there to hear it. That's a relative or friend they know. And the reason is always the same. They really should've been there because they really needed to hear it.

Now, how many of us don't need to hear gospel-focused reminders? I like to remind my wish makers that so-and-so wasn't there. They didn't hear it. You did. And we're all accountable to what we have heard and what we will do with it.

In Romans 2, Paul seems to be talking to a group of people who thought they were good with God. That is, whatever sharp words the apostle had to share, he must've meant them for so-and-so. They're the ones who needed to hear this drastic call.

But Paul doesn't let his listeners off the hook. If you're reading this, whoever you are, this message applies to you.

Do you feel the world is broken? If someone sang that in worship, your next response would probably be: We do. That's the opening line to Andrew Peterson's "Is He Worthy?"

In that song, not only do worshippers acknowledge the brokenness of the world, we admit the shadows deepen around us as well. Why would that be a song of praise? Because it leads to a confident assurance that Christ is worthy. But it begins with the unquestionable distress of the world.

Many Christians find that a strange place to begin our praise of God. We should always start with God's goodness, some would say. Yes, the goodness of God is a worthy starting point. But praise isn't only saying nice things about God. When we face the world's brokenness--the hurt, the injustice, the suffering--our hearts begin to hunger more for God's goodness, to cry out for it and to work for it.

How can we fully know the power of God's goodness until we've reckoned with the depth of the world's pain?

More of our liturgy and music should help us recognize those realities. Lord, forgive us when we turn blind eyes to the pain and cruelty so many in the world face today.

As the body of Christ, our faith in Jesus, then, is not only an affirmation we sing. It's a part of the hope we carry to the world around us. It's a message for us to celebrate and to share. But our message isn't only a word or a heavenly memo. Our faith in the power of Jesus' resurrection draws from our experience with that power in our lives. As such, we talk and walk as resurrection people.

In the vision of Daniel 12, there is a protector of the people. He has, presumably, walked with the people and will continue to battle for them. In the coming anguish, the protector will protect. Those who rise with this figure will "shine like the brightness of the sky."

Today, Christ is our protector. Amidst the evil of the world, Christ raises us to new life and to pursue life in his name. We face the brokenness of the world with confidence in what God can do and what we pray God will do. And to trust in who God is, is to see how good God is. 

Stay blessed...john

A good comic doesn't need sophistication to make us think. One stand up comic's set comes to mind to demonstrate this. Speaking of us in the U.S., he painted a picture of a thriving society. His proof of our triumphant posture was waterparks.

After building momentum with several water-themed jokes, he finished off by saying, "That's how you know we've made it. Other people in the world can't find water to drink and we're over here playing in it." It was a joke, yes, but it was also social commentary. A punch in the gut wrapped in a belly laugh.

Besides the comic's thought provoking intent, I also see a faith lesson in his joke. I take it from Psalm 63:1. The psalmist begins his worship set with his aim on God. He seeks God. Now, to be frank, that feels like language we dally with today. The backdrop to the psalm tells us the psalmist is in the wilderness. So, he isn't playing with his words. He seeks God as if he was in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Where there is no water, there is no life. The thing is, that's exactly where he was. And, for most of us that's mere imagery.

The psalmist had nothing but God to turn to. We often pray for the willingness to make more time in our schedules for God. See the difference? Our overabundance often takes away our sense of how much we need God's presence. Other Christians in the world struggle to find a safe place to worship and pray. Meanwhile, we're in our pajamas deciding if we should stream service from the couch or the bed.

Stay blessed...john

I reflect often on a drawing called The Narrow Way. It's of a person maneuvering herself from a cross-shaped pit. As you view the picture, you can tell this is no easy task. The soul's will must contort the body to escape the angles of the cross. I haven't seen the picture in quite a while, but it's as vivid in my mind as it was the first time I saw it. It's a reminder to me of the challenge to walk faithfully a cruciform life.

In Luke's gospel, the narrow way is a door. Responding to the question "Lord, will only a few be saved," Jesus instructs those listening to strive for this door. Many commentators note that to strive can have a sense of sport to it. That is, the word used means to "enter a contest" or even contend or fight an adversary. But it also points to a contention with danger or difficulty. That helps me understand Jesus more. At this point, religious leaders are ready to be done with Jesus. Herod wants him dead. And Jesus knows where all of this is going. But he never shies away from it. He instructs his disciples in this way, both then and now.

Jesus seemed to be illustrating what The Narrow Way picture reinforces. Many who heard Jesus trusted in their heritage and tradition to save themselves. That, it seems, was easy. Is easy. Many will try that approach to faith and trust in God. But Christ calls us to strive for the narrow way. Not to work our way to salvation. Jesus accomplished that with his cross. We follow his example, then, by contending with the challenge of living in the way of the cross, the way of obedience. And what a challenge that can be.

But the Lord promises that a life that gnarls it way through the cross will find a place to sit at the banquet in the kingdom of God.

Stay blessed...john

Being that Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books of the Bible, I regularly call to mind that "there's nothing new under the sun." Yes, there are circumstances happening to us and all around us that couldn't have happened before. Quite often, though, only the details have changed. What we're facing, what's at stake and what we should do follows a pattern the world has seen from us before. Mark Twain said it differently from the old preacher: "History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes."

My way of saying all of that isn't as eloquent, but it's been helpful to me. I like to say, "It's our turn."

It's our turn to make the tough decisions of life others have struggled through. It's our turn to appreciate and celebrate the opportunities other generations have established and shared. It's our turn to mourn, to grieve and to suffer loss. What you and I might go through today is nothing new the world hasn't seen. It's just our turn to experience it. And, chances are, what we experience the first time won't be our final time.

As God walks with us through life and we encounter all the sun has already seen, we learn. We learn from our past and from the examples of others. It's important to understand how our emotional lens shapes who we are and what we do today. But it's often true our familiarity with the struggles and victories others have seen explain a lot to us as well.

In looking back to Israel's unfaithful history, the apostle Paul said "these things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us" (1 Corinthians 10:11). Yes, there were many who proved to be bad examples of faith. But not everyone was. He'll go on to say, "No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone" (10:13). In other words, the testing of faith you may experience today, it's nothing new. You can overcome it. Others have. It's just your turn.

Stay blessed...john

For about a week now, I have been, literally, stiff-necked. Several projects have required my attention be set on a computer screen a bit more than usual. My eyes are typically the first to signal it's time for me to get up from the desk. This time, it's been my neck.

That is, of course, a physical affliction. But it's easy to make a few spiritual connections.

As a reminder, in Exodus 33, the Lord told the Israelites it was time to get up and go to the land promised to their ancestors. God would not, however, "go up among" the people. Instead, an angel would go before them. God's reasoning was the people would not last one moment with God as companion. The Lord's holiness would consume them because they were "a stiff-necked people." This word comes after God punished Israel for their constructing of the golden calf. It seemed clear the people were not going to be totally able or willing to leave behind their idolatrous tendencies.

Now, they would still live into God's promise. But they had to learn something about who they were. So, what are the qualities of a stiff-necked people? Stubbornness seems to be the go-to characteristic. They are literally "hard of neck." That is, they cannot be led. Most commentators see this as an agricultural image of a willful ox. The animal seems intent on pulling his own way.

My recent stiffness reminded me how much of a shared experience that is for us all. At first, I was sure I didn't choose to be stiff-necked. After all, I had work to accomplish. But did I need to be so adamant about sitting through the pain just to get something done? Turns out I didn't choose my stiff neck. I just didn't turn away from it enough.

And something else about a sore neck is it doesn't just go away. I've felt it while I'm reading, watching TV, sitting, walking, preaching and driving. The pain of it goes with me everywhere. So much for thinking my faith is a Sunday-only project. No, our stubbornness goes far beyond the realm of personal piety.

Thankfully, God's stiff-necked people today have another promise. The assurance that God's presence does go with us. That the Spirit's work can soften our hearts and relieve our obstinacy, turning us away from being self-led toward becoming more Spirit-led people.

Stay blessed...john

Recession fears are widespread in our nation right now. As a result, many of us are thinking about our financial future. As things would be, my social media algorithm sent related several videos my way today. They included tips on how to take care of your money during hard economic times.

Most of the advice was pretty straightforward: Don't eat out as much. Cancel some of your subscriptions. Start a side hustle or get a second job. Stop giving to charities for a time.

When it comes to saving money, "Consider yourself the charity right now" is a big idea that gets shared. Several people even suggest you stop tithing to your church. Of course, that caught my attention the most. I had to check my heart, as they say, as I pondered more on that one. There are several reasons I thought that may have rubbed me the wrong way.

One, I teach people to be generous. So, should I tell them to stop? Two, frankly, people's giving impacts my livelihood. We don't pay pastors with fried chicken like we used to. And then there's the notion of church as charity that bothers me. But there's still another reason. I have a strong, personal conviction about tithing.

My wife and I have tithed, given ten percent of our income, every month for as long as we've been married. That was a choice we made as newlyweds. A choice we stuck with even in our leanest times. Well, even when things weren't bad for us at all. Sometimes, when that giving amount keeps growing, that's when it's hardest to keep at it.

But we've always been sure God was taking care of us. God provides. God always provides. That was the basis of our decision almost 30 years ago and what helps us maintain our commitment today.

I share that with you because the algorithm seemed to align with today's reading from Genesis. Of course, I'm not telling you what decisions to make with your money. We all should decide in our heart what to give (2 Corinthians 9:7). Even pastors wrestle with these kinds of decisions (they should, anyway). I have and have found God to be faithful. 

What I am encouraging you to do is challenge the idea that you're the charity. You're not. God is the provider.

Stay blessed...john

As I stood in line to receive communion, I saw the little one three steps ahead of me. The pastor had offered the cup as "the blood of the Lord, poured out for you" for every person who came forward. When the young saint approached him, he changed his script. It was something like, "Remember that Jesus always loves you."

I've done that before. The blood of the Lord line can sound scary or off-putting to youngsters. Don't think so? Our family has a funny story about a child nervously confessing she did not want to eat the body or drink the blood of Jesus. So, perhaps, the Jesus-loves-you reminder is a bit more agreeable to a young mind.

That doesn't mean we should shy away from using traditional language with our children. They need to hear our common expressions and listen to the same things we as adults hear. One day, their amen will be personal. It will be full of conviction and praise. For now, our role is to model faith and teach what we've learned about Jesus and his love. Sometimes, that means using the church's big language. Don't worry. The Holy Spirit can work through it for them. Plus, our children can pick up more than we often give them credit for.

At the same time, let me confess to you. I wanted the preacher to look me in the eyes and say, "Remember that Jesus always loves you." I know a lot of the big language. I cherish and study it, even. But no lofty idea and theological meandering will ever compare to knowing the love of God. We hear often how we forget about the joy of childhood. We forget how to play, how to enjoy life and even how to trust unconditionally. Maybe we need more of the basic language, too.

At the root of every faithful doctrine or ritual is God's love. Too often, though, in trying to keep in perfect step with tradition, heritage or theological insight, we can distance ourselves from that great truth.

Learn the big language of the church. It's helpful. But never lose sight of what it all means. As important as faith is, it is not the most important. And where would we be without hope? Still, the greatest of all these will always be love. And remember that Jesus always loves you.

Stay blessed...john

What would make Judas betray Jesus? If you're reading from Luke, you might rely on the old "the devil made me do it" defense. Luke says plainly, "Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve" (22:3). Judas walked with Jesus and had seen him do many great things. I imagine the Lord's teaching astounded him on more than one occasion. Even so, Judas' proximity to Jesus wasn't enough. Besides Luke's rationale (and John's) and the idea he was a thief, we're left to speculate what motivated Judas' betrayal.

Was he simply the right person for the devil's "opportune time" (Luke 4:13)? Or did Jesus disappoint him enough that he decided to get out while he could and get something out of all this?

Again, speculate and discuss.

As we reflect on the actions of the betrayer, we also turn our attention inward. That is, what would make me betray Jesus? What would make you and us betray the Lord? That Judas, presumably, lost the inward battle with himself or the devil should alert us to the possibility we could lose, too. 

Of course, we aren't sending Jesus to the cross any more. That's been done. We do well to consider the ways we might betray Jesus today. What's at stake now is your peace and our peace.

Judas' betrayal came with consequences. The money didn't appeal to him after the Lord's arrest. All he could do was watch what he put into place, until he couldn't stand to watch it further (Matthew 27:5). But Judas was also one of the twelve, until he wasn't. The twelve people Jesus chose as disciples were a torn group now. Yes, they would reunite, but think of their added agony knowing it was one of their own who betrayed Jesus. Is that part of the reason they made sure to reconnect with Thomas after the resurrection?

There are great blessings as we seek to walk more faithfully in communion with God. One is the overwhelming grace experience you have. Another is the strength, boldness and unity nurtured within your Christian community. That's worth not giving up.

Stay blessed...john