A Free Lunch

 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.           Ephesians 2:8 ESV

Have you ever heard someone say, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch?” Well I disagree and I learned why one winter when I was laid off from my landscaping job. My boss paid for a training workshop on irrigation systems and I went along, but since I hadn’t worked for weeks, I had only a few dollars in my pocket . At mid-day when the conference broke for lunch, I found a game room with an open pool table and I grabbed a stick, racked up the balls and started a game.  My boss and a buddy of his came by asking me to eat with them but I waved them off. “No, I’m not really hungry guys.” I lied, though my stomach was growling.  “I’m just going to hang around and grab something out of the vending machine.” “Suit yourself.” Al answered with a shrug as they headed off towards the snack bar. Once they left, I dug in my pocket and found enough change to buy a candy bar and a soda. Through the long afternoon I forced myself to concentrate on learning about sprinkler heads, control valves and pressure regulators while thinking about the hot meal waiting for me at home. At the end of the day I got in Al’s truck and we drove in silence until my he turned with a puzzled look asking, “Why didn’t come to eat with us? The food was great and it was all paid for!” Though I still laugh about missing out on lunch that day, it reminds me of another meal that is represented when we take the cup and the bread at communion. Why do we sometimes choose to live on the junk food of sin instead of accepting God’s free gift? Jesus has paid the full price for our salvation. By grace we are saved. He is inviting us to come. Why not join Him at the table?

The Message of the Cross

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV

As I write this I am just one day away from returning to in-person singing with my friends at Watermark Assisted Living and another week from two other facilities. I can hardly wait to hear everyone’s voice and see their faces! Sometimes I joke about God’s top ten hits and I would wager dollars to donuts that “The Old Rugged Cross” is in the top five of everyone’s favorites.  It has a special power to touch our hearts because it carries transforming God’s message to our hearts.

I sometimes wonder why Paul didn’t preach about the resurrection or the great life we could experience as Christians. But, God doesn’t change lives, by demanding that we be good or by amazing us with miracles. Instead He sent His Son Jesus to the cross to die in our place. People in Paul’s day thought that his preaching about the crucifixion of Jesus was foolish. Today is no different. Our society looks to the politically powerful, or the talented of Hollywood as examples of what life is all about. But the truth is that yesterday’s politicians are forgotten quicker than an ice cube on the sidewalk in July and that the beauty of the movie stars fades with the years. But the cross of Jesus and the message of His blood that was shed for us are still remembered after 2,000 years. Every time we receive the cup and the bread, they remind us that true change begins by only by confession of our sins and that lasting change starts by faith in the cross of Christ. As we start a new phase of life coming back from 13 months of Covid-19 shutdown, let’s go back to where it all began: the message of the cross of Jesus Christ! God bless you and maybe I’ll see you soon!

Considering the power and holiness of the Cross of Jesus I am sharing here a simple rendering from Lor of the song Holy Holy Holy and How Great Thou Art. I love the simplicity of her style. It slows me downs and helps me to remember all the words of these familiar hymns.

Maundy Thursday _ Last Day of Lent

And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.  Luke 22:15 ESV

Maundy Thursday is the somewhat overlooked day of Easter Week. But for Jesus this was the crucial time to prepare His disciples for His departure. At the Last Supper Jesus gave the New Covenant to both His friends and through them to us who are believers today. Every time we take communion in our various churches we continue to remember His death and atonement as people have done for 2,000 years.

At the Last Supper Jesus gave not only a New Covenant but He also set the example for a new lifestyle. While those we consider saints today were arguing over who was the most important, Jesus went and filled a basin with water and began to wash their feet.

When supper was finished Jesus led His eleven faithful disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. There He fully and finally accepted His coming death on the cross. There He woke them again and again and urged them to pray also until Judas came with the soldiers. And then the hour had come for His sacrifice. Even when everyone ran away, Jesus stayed behind, accepting the cost of our salvation. He was the Lamb of God and this gift of His body and blood we are remembering today because it means the redemption of us all!

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