Jesus and Life

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

We've talked about Jesus being the Way, and Jesus being the Truth. He is also Life! Life man! Isn't that what we all really want? I know people who have lost loved ones and its sad because that person was once living and now they are not. But for the believer in Jesus Christ we know we have eternal life! We will see that loved one again and we will be living and breathing and celebrating for all eternity! What a message we have to share with the world!

Life- it begins and it runs its course. I love in BraveHeart where Mel Gibson says, "every man dies, not every man really lives." If you want to really live then live in Jesus Christ who is Life itself. He has come to give us life to the full! Some days life doesn't feel very full. Some days we wish we could just close our eyes and go home. Sometimes pain keeps us from feeling alive. Someone once told me to find resurrection in the "death" around us. I wrote about that once in my journal. I had experience an agonizing loss in my life. This helped me and maybe it will help you too. I wrote it 5 years ago at 4 in the morning when it was raining out and could not sleep.

As I think of the leaves falling I’m reminded of how they return to the earth to nurture it. They make the sacrifice and die and decompose so that the soil may be enriched. And in this soil are buried the roots of trees that in the spring will say, here is resurrection as new leaves sprout. As I think of them sprouting it’s as if I hear them singing in the spring rain and warm sunshine. Their song is this: here is resurrection for though I looked dead I am alive... Where is resurrection in all this pain and misery? I don’t have the answers exactly but I’m starting to see them. I see them in new relationships that have come into my life. I see them in my ability to relate to people and their pain. I see resurrection power when I am able to be there for someone who is also looking for resurrection in his or her life. And if I can somehow help them or bring them hope then I can say this pain is not wasted. And if pain is not wasted, to me, that is the start of a celebration of resurrection. Outside the landscape is forever changing. Inside I am always me, child of God, husband, father, brother, son, nephew, cousin, friend….to somebody. And these people that love me remind me that there truly is resurrection. If I hang on to that I think I can bear to watch another leaf fall. It’s still dark out but I can see the landscape as clear as day.

Jesus is risen! It's a message that rings out each time Project 52 plants a tree. It's a message that says Jesus is Life!

In Christ,
Pastor John

Jesus and Truth

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Last time I talked about Jesus showing us the way to heaven. He indeed is the only way to God the Father as the above verse states. One either believes it as truth or they don't. And it is truth. In fact, Jesus says He is truth. What a declaration in light of the fact that people are searching for truth on a daily basis. In John 18 Pilate even asked Jesus what truth is. Pilate was the Roman governor looking for truth because in his mind he had the power to free Jesus or let Him go. Can you imagine what Pilate went through, "what is truth, the cries of the mob yelling for Jesus' crucifixion or Jesus saying that everyone on the side of truth listens to Him." Real people, tough situations!

I've asked what truth is. In the middle of my own dark "Good Fridays" I've come face to face with satan the father of lies. I've heard him say that I am worthless, that there is no way out of the situation I am in, that I am hopeless, fatherless and that my sins will condemn me for eternity. So what do you do? EVERYONE ON THE SIDE OF TRUTH LISTENS TO ME.

In a world that believes one thing today and then tomorrow doesn't, in a world where people believe there is no absolute truth I thank God that through the power of His Holy Spirit I know truth. I know Truth! Do you? Jesus is Truth and He tells me of Easter and that an Easter always follows a Good Friday. His resurrection gives me peace, hope and joy! His rising from the dead declares me His son and I know that I can rise above anything that comes my way.

I don't know how people make it through life without this Absolute Truth. It's hard enough making it even when you know it. Our job at Project 52 and even beyond this ministry is to let people know truth and the difference it makes in their lives. The world has been deceived by many lies but in the Word of God is the Truth that can help us sort through all the madness.

In Christ,
Pastor John