Handing Off

This morning I started a personal reading plan of the book of John. It is often in times of transition that I find it comforting to get close to the words of Jesus. Today I was reading in John chapter 1 and noticed and interesting section of the text. I am going to call it: “the hand off.”

“The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. (John 1:35-37)

As I read this passage this morning I wondered what it might have felt like to be John the Baptist. These men were his disciples, his students, his followers but in a moment they were gone. They were done following him and now following Jesus. In a moment a hand off had occurred.

As I pondered this passage it reminded me of life today. In reality we are always “handing off.” Currently I have two little girls under my roof. In many ways they are mine. They listen to me (sometimes), they love me, the follow me. But one day I will hand them off. It is my hope that when they go they choose to follow Jesus.

For the last 14 years I have worked in full-time ministry. It has been my life’s work to point people to Jesus. I have always deeply enjoyed and loved the people that I have had the honor to serve and care for but in the end I have always had to hand them off.

As I enter another season of life and I am excited to see what God will do next.

This life has been an incredible adventure and I know that God will bring my family and I to something better than we could imagine. But mixed into this season is the sadness of handing dear friends off. However, as I let go of those I have journeyed with over the past four years I know that I am not leaving them alone but rather I am handing them off to the master.

The King will Return

Last night my heart broke. I was sitting on my couch with my 6-year old daughter when Lebron told the world that he was leaving Cleveland to play for the Miami Heat.

It has been interesting to watch the reaction of those back in northeast Ohio as they took the news. Immediately the text messages and facebook posts began to make my phone buzz off the table as my friends started to voice their displeasure at “the decision.”

But for me, this was put into perspective just a moment before the announcement.

In the moments before Lebron spoke my daughter could see that her daddy was feeling a little uneasy. She grabbed a blanket, sat next to me on the couch, and asked what was bothering me. I looked over at her and said; “I think this man is going to break my heart tonight. “ To which she replied: “Do you know what would break my heart?” I said, “What?” Elena replied, “If you and Mommy were to break up. That would break my heart,”

Ah perspective.

For the remainder Lebron’s announcement I held my daughter between my wife and I as we took in the news. And it really didn’t matter.

For those back in Cleveland I share your pain. “the king” is gone. But just a reminder that one-day “The King” will return. (Rev 21) and this King will never leave. He will wipe every tear from your eyes, there will be no more morning or crying or pain.” I am praying today that his first stop on His return to this earth will be Cleveland.

Sharing Hope: Part 2

In his book Surprised by Hope, author and theologian NT Wright says that one of the purposes of the church is to live consciously between the resurrection of Jesus in the past and the making of God’s new world in the future.

As a church we must never give up the truth of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus while also constantly striving to restore a biblical since of fairness and justice in the world we live in today.

It is in doing this that we as a community will bring hope into our world. And conversely it is also in these moments that our hope in God or faith seems to grow the most.

In Hebrews chapter 6 scripture says: God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

In this passage we see that it is often in the moments when we serve those who are less fortunate than ourselves that our faith seems to grow. It is in these moments that hope seems to become sure.

Maybe you have experienced one of these moments in life. A moment when you though you were serving someone else, maybe you were trying to make something right in this world but in the you walked away feeling like: maybe I gained more from this than anyone else.

Also take a few moments to read through this passage in Hebrews Chapter 6 and think about these questions.

· Read Hebrews Chapter 6:10-12

o When is the last time you have shown God Love by loving his people? Describe the experience.

o How did these experiences help build your faith or make your hope sure?

o Why don’t we actively pursue more of these serving opportunities in our life?