30 Apr
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)
Never in the history of the world has one person been the source of so much controversy. Not just for one year or two, but for thousands of years. Christian or not, you know the name of Jesus. Amazingly, he is still the source and substance of more than one news article or best selling novel. The latest controversy to hit the world stage is the new documentary movie as well as a new book simply called The Jesus Family Tomb. Of course, this is controversial from a Christian perspective, simply because, like the movie The Da Vinci Code, this new documentary claims that not only was Jesus married, he was buried along with his mother, son, and Mary Magdalene in a family tomb. The reason this is so controversial is because archeologists have acturally discovered a family tomb with the names of these key biblical figures engraved on the ossuary (tomb) including, Jesus son of Joseph!
Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) Controversies over the life, teaching, and death of Jesus Christ will continue until the end of time, but no one will ever be able to quantify the unending grace and power of the living words of Jesus Christ. It is all too easy to get caught up in the latest controversy and forget that the words of Jesus are a living presence that contain the power to lead you to eternal life. Having stated that, what can this latest controversy teach us about the eternal nature of Jesus and his teaching?
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17 Apr
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)
Imagine a place where the majestic buildings of stone are only surpassed by the beauty and grace of the surrounding mountains and you will begin to understand the heartbreak of yesterdays shocking news. Virginia Tech is known for more than its long tradition of educational discipline and excellence, it is known as a safe place where students gather in one of the most exciting and challenging moments of their life. More than a college, Virginia Tech is an experience that lives on in your memory and forever held in the sacred realm of your heart. I am intimately aware of how precious this unbelievably beautiful college campus is, because I spent four of the most incredible years of my life there. You see, I graduated from Virginia Tech 25 years ago, but the many moments I experienced in the time honored buildings with its awe inspiring vistas are etched in my memory as if it was only just a moment ago.
There are moments in life that are frozen in time simply because they rock you to the very core of your being. Yesterday morning was one of those moments. The shattering sound of gunfire in the precious landscape of Virginia Tech simply broke my heart. How could this be happening in such a precious place as this? The events of yesterday have been called a massacre and indeed it is a massacre, but it is far more than a massacre of the many students and professors who were killed yesterday. The horrific moments that spread over the airwaves like wild fire, represent the massacre of a dream, the death of a bright future, a murder of innocence, and a violation of one of the most precious times in a young persons life. As if this realization was too much to bear, it is simply impossible to imagine the heartbreak of the mothers and fathers who have lost one of the most precious things they will ever know – their beloved child. What can this tragedy teach us about the sublime teaching of Jesus? And what can we collectively do to help those who are forever scarred by this unfolding tragedy?
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8 Apr
Today is Easter Sunday, the day that commemorates the resurrection of the most Holy Son of God – Jesus Christ. The brutal crucifixion of Jesus shattered the hearts of the disciples and broke open the heart of his beloved mother. Amazing as it might seem, it was through the heart broken open by the agony of the crucifixion that the infinite light of God entered the world. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a story or a metaphor for the Truth, but the Truth itself. Jesus rose from the dead. I know this is true because I have met the risen Christ. This miraculous meeting with him had such a profound effect on me that I have never been the same. Since my first experience of his living presence, my life has been devoted to discovering, experiencing, and revealing the truth of his infinite light to anyone willing to listen. His love is so incredible that your greatest love multiplied by a trillion would only be a drop in the infinite ocean of his grace, love, and compassion! Jesus asked me to share this message with the world many years ago on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, but at the time I had no idea how that would be possible. The only reason that I am able to relay the message contained in this blog or attempt to reveal the deepest teaching of Jesus in my recent book is a direct result of the grace of his living presence. Truly, my passion is to let everyone know that he really is alive – not as a metaphor or some new age idea, but as the literal truth!
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26) Yes! Jesus is the Living Truth of God that is alive within you at the core of your being. He opens the door to a new way of living, thinking, and being. He points you directly to eternal life – a light without end. Just this morning I was reading that there are so many people trying to participate in the Easter ceremonies at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem that many people have been turned away. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is one most Holy places of Christianity because it houses the site of the crucifixion. What is even more interesting is that I wasn’t planning on writing about this, but I am feeling called to share a sublime moment that I had in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem in August of 1998. As many of you know, this blog is very focused on one thing – the teaching of Jesus Christ. What can we learn from the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
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