Mar. 18 – Fasting

Today, we hear from Vicki Herrick, who has been attending LCC for 33 years …

“But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to
people that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what
is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:17-18)

These verses were a continuation of the scripture that I read on January 3. At that time, I was
reminded that the words of Jesus were “when you fast” and not “if you fast.”
I have followed the Lord since I was a young child. When I was in elementary school, I noticed
that my classmates who were Catholic “gave up” something during Lent—meat, chocolate,
Coca-Cola, etc. I didn’t realize that their abstinence was a type of fasting. Fasting was a
mystery to me because my family never practiced that spiritual discipline. As an adult, I found
out that fasting does have a place in a believer’s life.

Fasting helps me to take the focus off myself and to make God the priority. My fasts are usually
24-hour periods of not eating. I find my prayer time to be much richer when I am fasting.
However, fasting doesn’t have to be denying yourself food. Fasting can be giving up any
physical fulfillment such as TV, computers or cell phones. If you have never considered fasting,
this Lenten season might be a good time to try this spiritual discipline as we remember the
sacrifice that our Lord made.

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Mar. 17 – In Control

One of the most fascinating things about the Passion Story in John’s gospel is that Jesus is completely in control throughout.  We are used to the plucking of our emotional heartstrings on Holy Week, from the exuberance of Palm Sunday to the darkness of Good Friday to the joy of Resurrection Sunday.  We’ve seen movies and heard stories of the cruelty of the crucifixion and seen the suffering and pain on Jesus’ face.  But when you read John’s account with a first-time reader’s eye, you notice that Jesus is in complete control of His emotions, but also of everything else.

From the Garden of Gethsemane to the moment of His death, Jesus seems unfazed by the activity going on around Him.  Rather than cries of anguish, we find theological and philosophical debates going on.  Rather than soldiers mocking Him on the cross with a vinegar sponge, we find Jesus saying, “I’m thirsty” and receiving a drink.

But nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to His mother Mary.  As Jesus hangs from the cross, He makes arrangements for His mother’s care.  As a widow, Mary would have had nobody to look after her once her children were gone.  Where Jesus’ other siblings were we don’t know, but here on the cross, Jesus entrusts Mary to the care of John this Disciple.  As one of the youngest of the disciples, Jesus also turns the care about and offers His own mother to care for the boy.  “Woman, here is your son,” He says to Mary.  And to John, “Here is your mother.” (John 19:26).

When life seems out of control, remember that this same Jesus, who was in complete control even over His own death, can be in control of your life as well.  But He won’t force Himself on you.  You have to give up your own control and allow Him to take the wheel.  It’s not easy, but once He has control, you will find that life becomes a million times more peaceful.

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March 16 – Paul’s Story

Lent is a time to remember and reflect.  So we’ve asked a number of people to share their stories with us.  Today, we hear from Paul Couleur, our Associate Pastor to Youth…

My faith journey has been precisely that, a journey. Growing up, Winnetka Covenant Church was my spiritual home. I am blessed to have been raised by Christian parents who had me baptized as an infant. My journey was shaped by spiritual formation at church, retreats, covenant camping experiences, and other church actives.

Many summers I would spend a week at Covenant Harbor Bible Camp and it was during one such a summer that I gave my life to Christ. During a Wednesday evening worship service in the Carriage house I had raised my hand in response to the invitation to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. However, that wasn’t the only summer I raised my hand to do so. Each year when the time came to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior my hand was raised nice and high. In response my counselor who was with me the previous summer asked, “why did you raised your hand again.” My response was to explain that I invited him into my heart and I wasn’t always sure he was there. However, I really did want Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. This kind counselor assured me “Paul, he’s with you, Always!”

The journey of faith didn’t end there.  If anything, it really started to pick up momentum. In response to these meaningful experiences at camp I would return to church with a desire to know what it was that God intended for my life.  What does a life well lived look like to God? Each day I continue to seek to live a life pleasing before God.

In one way or another, each day I ask Jesus to be my Lord and Savior, and in response I offer my self to Him.

I once was lost and now I have been found.

Praise be to God.

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March 15 – The War for Truth

When I see a title like this, I tune out.  It usually means someone is going to go on a rant about some specific belief of theirs, whether political, religious, social, or personal.  So why would I risk turning everyone off with a title like this?

Because I believe we are facing just this, a war for truth; not for “a truth” or “your truth” or “my truth”, but for Truth itself.  For decades we’ve discussed how postmodernism is relativising Truth and wondered where it would lead us.  I’ve watched as my youth classes have ever increasingly answered the most basic questions with, “It depends” to the point that it has become a joke among us.  And now I listen to our presidential candidates who say something one day and then say the opposite the next, and then on the third day deny they said either of those things, even when faced with a recording of their own words.  When Truth is no longer consistent, we have lost the ability to communicate.

As Jesus stood before Pilate on the day that He died, they had a conversation about Truth.

 “…The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate.  And then he left Him…    – John 18:37

I don’t know about you, but I am on the side of Truth, and I define Truth by Jesus’ words.  The Truth is that we were created for relationship.  The Truth is that when we fight the truth, there are consequences.  The Truth is that Jesus came, fully God and fully Man, to show us the way back to Truth, and then to die in our place, to take on and pay the price for our Truthlessness.  The Truth is that by following Jesus, we can live with Him forever.  This is the Truth, not an opinion.  It won’t change tomorrow because it’s politically convenient.  It won’t ever NOT be the truth, which means we can count on it.

What is Truth, Pilate?  Jesus is the Truth.  If only you’d realized that sooner.

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March 14 – The Power of a Phrase

A simple phrase can impart a whole gamut of emotions if shared with those who understand.  If I simply say the phrase, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat,” I conjure up a plethora of emotions in those who have seen the movie Jaws.  A looming crisis, danger, fear, lack, the permission to try crazy solutions… all from a simple phrase.

On the cross, as Jesus died, He uttered a phrase that did the same for those who heard.  “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”  It’s a heart-wrenching cry to be sure, but when you know your Old Testament as the Jews did who heard Him say it, it is packed with so much more.  It is a quote form Ps. 22, and the entirety of this psalm, all it’s emotion, fear, pain, and despair, are packed in to this small reference.  The Psalm says this…

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.
4 In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me.
15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

On the cross, Jesus was living out the truth of this Psalm, written 1000 years before Christ was born.  He faced this pain, loss, fear, and loneliness, and He did it for you and me.  He not only died for us, but He faced THIS for us.  What wondrous love is this.

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