Immitation (Conclave Devotion)

This is the Devotional from Conclave on Saturday Morning.

I opened by asking for volunteers from the audience to come forward and do an impression of either a celebrity or a brother who was present. Highlighted among these was an impression featuring the line "The Reds are awesome and buy Tide!" (or something to that effect ... not sure on exact wording).

Second, I showed the following video:

(Warning, if you are easily offended or don't like humor that pokes a little fun at Christianity, you might not enjoy this, and/or you might want to turn off your offensive sensor. I think it's hilarious and think everyone should check out the entire series)


Finally, I asked two questions:

Why did I show this video? Why did I ask for impressions?

First, because I think we need to have fun, and getting involvement and being able to show off Mr. Deity are awesome in my books. But also to drive home the point of how we represent other people, things, and ideas. Through the things we say, do, and how we behave. The brothers brought to our mind an idea of another brother or a celebrity, and Mr. Deity brought to our mind a comical idea of God.

But the real reason, was to drive home a passage of scripture:

Ephesians 5: 1-2
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Now, consider this:

The best way to give an impression of God. The best ay to remind someone of God.

Is through Love

And if you don't believe me, read First John.

Moving Forward

Alright.

We've made it through Lent. This blog has posted a discussional/devotional a total of 47 times in the previous 47 days. That's pretty cool, if you ask me. I hope you enjoyed them and got some spiritual growth out of it.

So, with that done, I'm used to posting on this blog on a very regular basis now, so I'm wanting to look to the future and see what else we can do here. I'll be posting weekly polls on the side of the blog to look at what we might be doing. I'd encourage all visitors to vote in the polls and leave their opinions either in the comments section or in an e-mail to me. Keep in mind, though, poll results are non-binding.

Also, if you've got other suggestions for things we can do on this blog to grow together and grow towards the followers Christ calls us to be, let me know those, too.

First poll is up now, and I'd like to gauge interest in an online book study. What I'd basically do is announce a book, ask anyone interested to get the book, and then we'd read it. I'd post a chapter-by-chapter or section-by-section post on thoughts on the book, and then we could discuss it via the comments section. This is somethings I really want to do, so let me know if you're interested. I've already got a few books in mind for it!

He is Risen!

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Today, we celebrate Easter. The return of our King. The triumph our of King over sin and death.

And we can never have more of a reason to celebrate. There's no bigger victory attainable. No larger prize to be won. No bigger gift to be given.

Jesus Christ, the perfect son of God, who was sacrificed on the cross for atonement for our sins is alive and reining as King. He, who was mocked and scorned just after being welcomed as king, is now alive and in His glory, and available as King to any who would want Him.

There is no greater reason for us to celebrate than this. There is no greater cause for us to share with the world. There is no better day to recommit ourselves to lives of grace, love, sacrifice, hope, and faith.

Join me, today, and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. And join me in recommitting to the cause of Christ in all we say, all we do, and all we believe.

HE IS RISEN!

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

You are the risen Lord
The One who has conquered death
He who has rescued us from sin

And I give glory to you

You are the conquering King
Greater than any other king
The one with ways high above

And I give glory to you

Consecrate me to You
Let my life be a living testament
To your love, grace, message, and sacrifice

Thank you for atonement
Thank you for you
Thank you for love

Amen.

No Fat Lady

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Imagine how you'd feel if you're watching the Star Wars Saga, and instead of it being as we know it, the Saga ends during The Empire Strikes Back, when Luke has fallen down a shaft, Han is frozen in carbonite, and the Galaxy at large is in disarray. Doesn't seem quite right, does it?

Or, imagine the Harry Potter series ends when Dumbledore is killed. Rather than seeing the rest of the wizards rally to a stirring victory, we're left with the world in chaos, and the lasting image is a dead leader. Not exactly something you want to read about over and over again, is it?

Or, if Aslan never returned in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Or if Neo was unable to stop Agent Smith in The Matrix and sacrificed himself with no end to the terrors? Or if The Lord of the Rings ended with Frodo dead at the hands of Shelab? Or ... well, you can put in any number of movies, books, and sagas here, but I think my point is coming through.

Imagine yesterday (Good Friday) was the end of the road. There was no resurrection. All we had was a great teacher, with some great speeches and some revolutionary ideas (think about the Sermon on the Mount, for example). Some of the teachings probably survive to this day, but that's probably it. The world would never be radically changed by Jesus.

This is a depressing thought for me. When I consider it, there's no joy, hope, or faith in this made-up scenario. It's not pleasant in the least bit.

But when I meditate on that for a minute, and then think of the truth, of the power of the resurrection ... well, it makes my joy in that truth just a little larger.

And so I'd invite you to join me in that meditation, and to expand our joy of the entire truth of Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for the cross
For the out pouring of your blood
For the atonement of sins

Thank you for your teachings
For sharing your wisdom
For providing words to live by

But most of all
Thank you that there's more to the story
That the story doesn't end there.

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

By His Stripes ...

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Today, we remember the death of our Lord. We remember this beating, his carrying of his cross, his last breath, and "it is finished".

And we sometimes question why this path was taken. And I offer no new insight on this, because I cannot hope to explain it better than the prophet Isaiah. Please, reflect and meditate on his words.

1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

We remember on this day that we are saved
Only by your love
Only through your wounds
Only because of your grace
Only by your sacrifice

Thank you
More than our words can ever express
Thank you

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

A Fine Meal

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

We've reached Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday. A celebration of the Last Supper of Christ, and the establishment of Holy Communion.

A lot has been written about the Last Supper and Holy Communion. Let's take a look at it in a new light, and start by looking at Paul's description:

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

I'm sure we've all got different ways to celebrate Communion. For me, my church partakes in the ritual every week. We set out bread and juice before service begins, and at the invocation of our pastor, we're invited to serve each other; to pour a cup of juice for someone, or to hold the bread while someone else tears a hunk off. It's a ritual of remembering Christ, and of growing as a community and serving each other. I'd love to hear the specifics of how you celebrate Communion.

But regardless of the specifics, one thing is important. We're coming together, and doing so in remembrance.

We're remembering that Christ's body was broken for us when we take the bread. We're remembering the new covenant when we take the cup/wine/juice.

And, hopefully, when we remember the broken body and we remember the new covenant, we're motivated to live a life of faith, love, and service, just as our sacrificed Messiah did.

I hope to one day partake in this ritual with all of my brothers. But until that day comes, I hope we can at least join in collective remembrance when we individually celebrate Communion.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for establishing
The ritual of Holy Communion

For giving me common items
By which I can remember you

To remember your sacrifice
To remember your new covenant

Help me to be motivated
To a life of faith, love, and service

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

What's in Your Cup?

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

We're probably familiar with a lot of the passages we'll be looking at this week. In looking at the scriptures recounting Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, we're faced with very, very familiar scriptures.

But, that doesn't mean we can't find something new to consider in the familiar scriptures.

Think about Jesus' prayer the night he's betrayed. "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."

Focus on the cup ... and what it might represent. Recall, that under the old law, in the Old Testament, we often see references to God pouring out a "cup of wrath" on the nations.

I just read that in a commentary.

And it struck me about the exchange that went on.

Gone, can be our fear of God's pouring out a cup of wrath. Entered into, now, a new covenant, to drink from a cup of love, and get an inheritance.

What a blessing.

What a transformation.

What joy we should have from this.

Let's take some time and honestly celebrate the new cup, the new covenant, and the replacement of wrath with love.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for changing the world

For bringing a new message
Of Hope
Of Love
Of Sacrifice

Help me to be a worthy bearer of your new message

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

The Rest of the Story

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Sometimes, we have a tendency to get to a part of the Bible, read the familiar part or the part we like best, and stop. Or at least I do. But I don't think I'm alone in that. And I'm not sure it makes that much sense. It's like watching Return of the Jedi, and stopping after Yoda dies. There's so much more to the movie.

It's the same with Palm Sunday. Often, we look at the triumphant entry. Sometimes, we look at the next few verses where Jesus overturns the tables in the Temple and cleans house. But then, we're usually done, and we're ready for the Last Supper and the other events of the end of Holy Week.

But there's more to the story. Jesus wasn't hibernating during this time. Luke tells us at the end of chapter 19: "... he taught each day in the Temple. The high priests, religion scholars, and the leaders of the people were trying their best to find a way to get rid of him. But with the people hanging on every word he spoke, they couldn't come up with anything."

Can you imagine what it would be like to be there? To hear the final teachings of Jesus? I'm sure I would be like the crowds. Hanging on every word that Jesus spoke. Trying to garner some of His wisdom, insight, and nuggets of knowledge. I'd love to know the exact content of these teachings. To know what Jesus taught about in the Temple the week before the death he knew was coming.

And yet there were many, most of them leaders of the religious community, who refused to be caught up in the hysteria. Who not only didn't want to listen to the teachings, and not only wanted to stop them, but wanted to be completely rid of Jesus. We know that they eventually put Jesus in a rigged and illegal trial and killed him.

And so we've got two very different reactions to the same thing. And, really, that thing was a change to the status quo.

How will you respond to Jesus when he changes your status quo? Will you hang on every word and try to learn all you can from it? Or will you try to get rid of it, and ignore it? Will you want to know the rest of the story, or will you want to escape it and just think about the parts you like?

Ponder this with me. Because I think we all know which one we want to be. But the challenge is how to get ourselves into the position to be the one we want to be.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

I desire more of you
More of your teachings
More of your love
More of your power
More of your direction

Help me to not fear change
Change that comes from you
Disruption of my status quo
New direction to serve you better

Help me to embrace you
In all I do
And all I will do

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

Wholly Weak

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Welcome to Holy Week. A week that begins with a triumphant entry. Includes a cleaning out of the temple. Followed by a meal with friends. A betrayal, a denial, and a rigged trial. Death on a cross. And then the ultimate victory in the resurrection.

What a week.

And as I ponder Holy Week, I wonder about holiness. I believe we're called to it. At least, to strive for it. I'm not certain we can attain it. There's a level of purity and perfection in holiness that I'm not sure fallible man can achieve.

But, just because we can't achieve it doesn't mean we can't strive for it. Just because I'll never be LeBron James doesn't mean I can't take jumpers at the neighborhood park and be the best basketball player I can be. Similarly, just because we can't be 100% holy, doesn't mean we can't strive for it.

And I honestly believe the best way to become holy is to become wholly. That is, to become wholly God's. To surrender all we have to the love and cause of Christ. Allow His strength to flow in our weakness. Allow ourselves to become wholly His, and through that claim a share of his holiness, inheritance, and paradise.

I'd be lying if I didn't credit David Crowder with this connection. I'd encourage you to give the song "Wholly Yours" a listen (here is a video) if you don't know it.

But also ponder this. We might not be able to be 100% holy. But we can be 100% wholly His.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank You for calling me to heights
I cannot possible reach on my own

For setting standards
I will have to work to run after
My entire life

Thank You for being holy
For calling me to holiness
And for allowing me to be wholly

Let me always remain wholly yours

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

A Walk to Remember

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Sundays in most traditions of Lent, and with anyone I've known that has practiced Lent, are traditionally viewed as "mini resurrections". They do not count towards the forty days of fasting/abstaining from *whatever*, and are days when we focus more on the resurrection than on the crucifixion. That will be my focus on Sundays, as well.

Today is the final Sunday of Lent. In a week, we will be celebrating the resurrection of our Lord. And today, I want to look at what happened the evening after the resurrection.

Two of the followers of Christ were downtrodden, and on a journey to a village called "Emmaus". And on this journey, an amazing thing happened. Jesus appeared to them, though they did not recognize Him, and in conversations He did another amazing work.

The Gospel of Luke tells us "beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself."

What an amazing thing to have happen. To have Jesus Himself teach you about how all the Prophets pointed to Him, and how He fulfilled all their prophesies.

And from this we can take the desire to share our knowledge of Christ. For these two journeyers ran back to tell the others of their experience.

And so I challenge us to live a life where we are always willing to learn more of Christ, but also willing to teach of what we have learned of Christ.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for knowledge
The knowledge that drives us forward
The knowledge of you

Help us to learn all we can
And share all we can

Of You
Of Your ways
Of Your truths

Thank you for atonement
Thank you for you
Thank you for love

Amen.

Waiving Our Palms

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Tomorrow, when we go to church, we'll be celebrating "Palm Sunday". Many churches will give out palms for patrons to waive. My church has palms as decorations around the worship space, and on the floor for us to walk over.

This is, of course, done to commemorate the "triumphant entry" of Christ into Jerusalem. This is the fulfillment of prophecy, and filled with great imagery and richness in symbolism. I'd encourage everyone who reads this to go through all four accounts (it is found in each of the four Gospels) and just consider all the great symbols and great images.

But I'd also encourage us to try to live out Palm Sunday everyday. To each day, sing the praises of the King. To each day, declare that Christ is the King. To say with our words and our actions that which the crowd did: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

So let's go forward and individually waive our palms. In declaration of our King. Not in questioning our place in the world.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

You are the King!
Blessed are You
You came in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna!
Glory to you!
Glory in the highest!

Help me to live this exclamation
Help me to live this proclamation
In every day
And in all I do

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

Moving Forward

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Can you imagine what it would have been like to be on Mount Tabor and see the Transfiguration of Christ? To see Moses and Elijah? To hear the audible voice of God confirm that Jesus is the Son of God? To see Jesus glow with radiance? (If you're not familiar with the story, Luke 9:28-36, Mark 9:2-8, and/or Matthew 17:1-9).

I imagine I would have reacted similar to how Peter, John, and James did. They wanted to stay there, build an altar, and celebrate the event. There was a desire among them to stop their journey, and just live at this one event.

I can't blame them. It's a great moment. They wanted to commemorate it.

And I often find myself doing the same thing. I get a great idea, or I have a big success, or something of that similar ilk. And all I want to do is stay with it, and hang my hat on it, and stop what I'm doing to celebrate it.

But we can't. Just as Jesus took those disciples down from the mountain to continue their path, and his path to the cross, we must take our accomplishments and not rest on them, but move forward from them, continuing the on the path laid out for us.

Each of us has done great things. Corporately, we've done great things. But we can't stay there. We have to move forward.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank You for great moments
Great examples of You
And great invovlement of You in our lives

Thank you for the inspiration they provide us
Thank you for what they mean to us

But help us, oh Lord, to move forward
Spurred on to do more

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

Making it Rain

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

I think I've mentioned a few times on our journey towards the cross that the forty days in Lent have a special significance. We see things in terms of 40 periods of time quite often in the Bible. I'd like to touch on another one today.

In Genesis chapter 7, we read the story of the great flood. Where the faith of Noah to build an ark saved mankind's existence and allowed the earth to be repopulated. We see that God flooded the earth by having forty days and forty nights of rain fall down upon it.

Now, I'd ask you to compare the forty days of lent to the forty days and nights of rainfall with me for a minute. On one hand, we have our journey towards the ultimate showing of God's love, as He offers His only begotten Son as a sacrifice to atone for our sins, followed by a great showing of power, as Christ defeats death through the resurrection. One the other hand, we have a great showing of God's wrath and power, through the destruction of living beings and the flooding of the earth and the opening of the skies for forty consecutive days, and this is followed up by a gesture of love, with the giving a a rainbow promise.

Both of these are awe-inspiring. Both of these show us facets our of God that are to be admired, loved, respected, and feared.

But only one of these can we emulate. We do not have the credibility God has to bring wrath and destruction to those around us, and then seek to make peace and atonement through a promise. But, we do have the ability to show our love and give sacrifice, and allow the power of God to work through that.

So let's remember these two accounts. Let's link them in our minds. But let's remember which one we need to emulate in our world.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

We are weak
But You are strong

And we thank You for this

We are imperfect
But You are perfect

And we thank You for this

We are able to show love
You are the example of perfect love

And we thank You for this

We are able to sacrifice for others
You are the greatest sacrifice

And we thank you for this

Help us to be more like You

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

Which Way?

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Have you heard people talking about the kind of spiritual lifestyles we, as the body of Christ and as individual Christians, have to form? I hear a lot of talk about two kinds in particular. A vertical spiritual lifestyle, to use a Christian buzzword, where we focus on Christ, and let our attention be on Heavenly things, and through that impact the world. And, on the other hand, a horizontal spiritual lifestyle where we interact with others and serve and communicate with them, and impact our world that way.

I'm going to disagree with both approaches. Not that either one is bad, mind you. It's a great thing to focus on Christ, to draw inspiration from Him, and to try to emulate Him and think about Heavenly things. And it's a great thing to serve our fellowman, and to work alongside our fellowman, and to try to impact the world as us instead of as me.

My problem, my brothers, is when we try to dichotomize the two. And I think that's what happens. We focus on the vertical. We focus on the horizontal.

But I think if we try to emulate what Jesus, Peter, John, Paul, and so many other foundation layers of our faith did, we'd find that the answer is to have a spiritually diagonal lifestyle. What I mean by that, is that as look towards the Heavenly things and as we try to relate to Christ, we see that through and with others, we can do that in a much, much better manner. And that if we seek to reach out to others in work and in service and in community, we do that much, much better if we do it with a Christ-like attitude and a commitment towards Heavenly things.

Remember the words of Christ "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but rather that the world through Him might be saved." I think a similar call to us is "The Holy Spirit does not empower us in this world so that we can escape it, but rather than the light of God might be shined throughout the world."

So, please, help me change the world. And let's change it through diagonal thinking. Both vertical and horizontal, at the same time. To serve God and to serve our fellowmen. Is there a higher calling?

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank You for giving me the ability to relate to You
For giving me the faith to strive after you
And for giving me a world to live in with that faith and ability

Thank You for giving me a community to interact with and serve
And for placing me in the lives of people in need
And for giving me your power to work in all these situations

Help me to relate better with You by relating with others
Help me to relate better with others by relating with You

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

Simple Truths

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Sometimes, the simple truths are the best things in life. We don't always have to come up with the best way to say something, or the most articulate way to say something, or the most impactful way to say something. Sometimes, just a simple truth is enough to stir our hearts, minds, and souls, and point us towards Christ.

That's how I feel about Jesus. As I journey towards the cross, I sometimes find it hard to be deep and thoughtful. Rather, I often find it easier and more meaningful to simply say the simple truths of life and faith.

Jesus is my God.
Jesus is my Savior.
I don't understand it all.
He's always there for me.
He died, rose again, ascended, and will return.

Simple truths, with such impact. I offer the following song as a reflection on this. If you don't know it, listen to it as you read the words. Find it on YouTube if you don't own it.

My Savior, My God by Aaron Shust

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves my Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God He was, my God He is,
My God He's always gonna be...

My Savior loves my Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God He was, my God He is,
My God He's always gonna be...

Yes living dying let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring
That He who lives to be my king
Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves my Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God He was, my God He is,
My God He's always gonna be...

My Savior loves my Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God He was, my God He is,
My God He's always gonna be...


My Savior loves my Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God He was, my God He is,
My God He's always gonna be...(x4)

My Savior lives, my Savior loves (x2)
My Savior lives...

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank You for being my Savior
Thank You for being my God
Thank You for always being there for me

Thank You for the simple truths of life
For the impact they can bring
And for the light they shine upon our darkened world.

Help me to share truth in this world
Both simple and complex
That you may be known more

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

Choices

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Do you like video games? Especially RPG video games? I do. But I haven't played a new one in a long time. One of my all-time favorites is "Chrono Trigger", and one of the reasons I love it is that there are something like 38 different endings to the game, all based on the choices you make during the game.

I think about that, and I reflect on our lives, and the choices we make. How they shape our lives. How we could be in any of a million different places if we had made a couple of different places.

And I'm also amazed even further at the cross when I think about this. Because the God of all power chose to use an example of love to redeem us. And in doing so, he took away the power of redemption from himself and gave it to us. It is our choice to be redeemed. Christ has given the ultimate sacrifice, but it only means something for us if we choose to accept what it means.

And so it goes on every day. God has wonderful plans for us. Plans to prosper us, to give us a future, to keep us from harm. But these plans are ours to choose to accept or not. We can continue on in our own ways, or we can look to Him and look to His ways.

Which will it be? Our own ways, or will we choose to follow Christ's examples? Will we choose the full consequence of the Cross and the resurrection?

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank You for grace
That it is the starting line
And not the finish

Thank You that I can choose You each day
That I can choose Your ways
That I can find better than my own ways

Help me Lord, to find Your way
That it might guide me in love
To follow Your examples

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

No Doubt About It

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Sundays in most traditions of Lent, and with anyone I've known that has practiced Lent, are traditionally viewed as "mini resurrections". They do not count towards the forty days of fasting/abstaining from *whatever*, and are days when we focus more on the resurrection than on the crucifixion. That will be my focus on Sundays, as well.

If you're like me, you believe there's pretty much no such thing as a sure thing. There's always a tiny chance that an alternative could happen. And, why not, we see odd things happen all the time that simply weren't supposed to happen.

There are very few things in life that we encounter that conjure up exactly zero amount of doubt.

I imagine that for even the closest followers of Christ, as He was in the tomb, they began to have serious doubts on if He truly was the Messiah. If He truly was God's promised one. If they had wasted their life following someone who wasn't what He said He was.

And then, with the resurrection, all that doubt was gone. He was the Messiah. It was a slam dunk. There was no doubt about it.

And the same holds true today. In a world of uncertainty, unpredictability, and variance, Christ is our sure thing, our slam dunk, and our rock of certainty. Every promise He's made, we can, with confidence, hold Him to, because He is the Messiah, He is God incarnate, and He is Immanuel.

We have no reason to doubt Him, and every reason to trust Him. What a great and glorious blessing we have this day!

Remember the words of Christ to Thomas, and the blessing we have: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for leaving no doubt
About your Lordship
About your Godship
About your love
About your compassion

Thank you for giving me one thing
That is believable without doubt
That is reliable without hesitation
That is there without question
That is with me where I am

Thank you for your love
Thank you for building my faith

Thank you for atonement
Thank you for you
Thank you for love

Amen.

Ain't No Canyon Deep Enough

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day brining a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way.

Sometimes, I feel like we pick on Peter. Perhaps a bit too much. We hear tales of his shortfalls. I mentioned one yesterday, and I'll mention another one today.

Recall, as we learn in Matthew 26, that Peter promised Jesus "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will" and "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same."

Of course, we all know how that ended. Not once, not twice, but three times that very night Peter denied Christ. Even being scared of a young girl.

But, we forget, sometime, that the story doesn't end there. Peter doesn't curl up into the fetal position and declare himself unworthy to ever again carry the banner of Christ. Rather, he is restored by Christ, and is a cornerstone of the early church, and his work and words are even today a cornerstone of the church.

Sometimes, I think we all dwell on our shortcomings. On the way we've let down God, let down our brothers, let down our churches, and let down the organizations we serve. But let's not forget that God can restore us. And He will restore us.

But we have to be willing to forgive ourselves for our past failures, if we're to move forward in God's restoration. Let's help each other do that more fully.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank You that no mistake I make is final
That there is no hole too deep
No debt too large
No mess to big
That You cannot rescue me from it

Thank You for the examples of restoration that inspire me
Help me to be one
And help me help others to find their restoration

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Our Best Defensive Position?

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day brining a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way.

In John 18, we read about the arrest of Jesus, and we learn about Peter's reaction to the arrest. He draws his sword and attacks. He is, of course, rebuked by Jesus.

Today, I hear a lot of people talk about "defending our faith" and "defending our values" and other such things.

And I wonder if all too often we, as Christians, follow Peter's approach and use aggression and our metaphorical (except in the Crusades) sword to defend our faith, our values, and our savior. We are harsh, abrasive, and mean when I think sometimes being gentle, loving, and kind would be the way Jesus might instruct us.

My call to us today is that we move forward and try to defend our faith, our values, and our savior without aggression and attacks, but with love, compassion, and kindness.

Help me in this task. If we all join together, it might just change the world.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank You for providing a better way
A way that goes against the means and norms of this world
A way that is truly better and a higher calling

Thank You for providing an example of the ultimate way to follow this way
Thank You for being our example
One that we can look to in times that seem too difficult

Let us be followers of the way
In all ways
Not just the convenient ones

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

Do We Have to Understand Every Detail?

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day brining a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way.

In the twenty-second chapter of the Book of Genesis, we're given a strange tale. It's the story of Abraham and Isaac, and how Abraham was tested by being instructed to offer his only child, Isaac, as an offering to the Lord. This is odd for two reasons: 1) it seems unusual that God would ask anyone to kill their child and 2) Isaac was the vessel by which God was to deliver his promise to Abraham.

And yet, without full understanding of the why, Abraham obediently followed God's instructions, and at the end of the day, all was well, as God provided a substitutional sacrifice for Isaac.

I imagine that in the face of the cross, the followers of Jesus were confused as to how their leader dying on a cross and facing public humiliation was really a part of God's plan. Many of them probably wondered why Jesus didn't use his trial to show His power, and free His people. But they were asked to trust, obey, and follow, and they were rewarded by being a part of the most amazing events in the history of the world.

Today, there are many things I don't understand. I don't understand why God allows suffering, poverty, and disease, despite a population of wealthy people who could do something to fix it, many of whom claim to be His followers. I don't understand why God asks me to give up certain things when others are allowed to keep them.

But as I journey to the cross, I'm comforted to know that I don't need to know all the details. All I need to know is that my God and my Savior is in control, and He will lead me down the path of best returns. So, while it's okay for me to ask "why?", it's also okay for me to not get the answer that really explains things.

I ask that you join me in seeking an attitude of "trust and obey" rather than "give me all the details first". Let's be like Indiana Jones and take the step, even when we can't see the bridge.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank You for providing a blueprint
To follow You in all times

When it doesn't make sense
When alternatives seem smarter
When public scorn will result
When public praise will result
When our thoughts seem clearer than Your way

Thank You for helping to keep us on Your path
And may You always guide us along it

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

How?

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

It's easy to look at Jesus' path to the Cross as we journey through Lent and be amazed at Him. His composure, His focus, His desire, His love ... all in light of an end He knew before He started the journey.

It's also easy to get overwhelmed. To say "That's Jesus, I can't duplicate that", and then not even try. But is that really what we're called to do? Are we really called to see a problem, decide we're not able to overcome, and then not give it our all?

I think not. I think the Psalmist had it right when he wrote the 121st Psalm:

I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

He won't let you stumble,
your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel's
Guardian will never doze or sleep.

God's your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.

God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always.

Let us not forget where our strength comes from. And let us not forget how powerful He is that strengthens us, and what He can accomplish, if we only have faith.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Help me
Help me to remember my strength is not the end
To remember that my strength comes from You

Guide me
Guide me to those tasks where my own strength is not enough
To those tasks where I will need to rely on You

Always stand beside me
Always stand beside me to offer encouragement in my tasks
To offer encouragement to me and a darkened world

Thank You for being my strength
Thank You for being my guide
Thank You for being my light

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Call me and Lean

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

As we journey to the cross, we often think about the people involved in the story of Christs last days. Pilate, Herod, Simon Peter, John, Mary Magdalene, Mary his mother, Simon of Cyrene, and so many more. And we try to find parallels for our lives, and inspiration.

But what about Judas Iscariot?

Here's a guy who was surrounded by the Lord himself, and by 11 of the closest friends he could ask for; people who honestly and literally followed Jesus alongside himself. And yet (pick your theological reason) he betrayed Jesus and handed him over to be crucified.

But that's not where Judas' story ends. His story has a much sadder ending, as he's driven to the edge by this, and he commits suicide, hanging himself. And I can't help but wonder if he'd reached out to the 11, or some of the 11, or another follower of Christ in true repentance if he wouldn't have found love, acceptance, and forgiveness.

And I wonder how many of us even today are surrounded by a great number of witnesses, and not only those who have gone before, but also those who run beside us now in Sigma Theta Epsilon, at our jobs and in our classes, in our churches and in our community organizations find themselves lost, depressed, and feeling alone. And how many times do they/we/I forget to reach out to the people around me, who love me and accept me, and find support from them to battle through, to keep my promises, and to live life to the fullest for Christ.



Let's not go through life alone. Let's not deal with our troubles by ourselves. Let's reach out to each other in our times of need and get help, support, and love.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for surrounding me
With people of faith, love, and joy
People who emulate and simulate You

Thank you for the encouragement they provide
To continue life running after you
And to be able to do so together

Help me to remember
To not only help a friend in need
But to get a friend when I am in need

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Christ vs. The Agenda

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

I wonder, sometimes, what can be learned from the story of Barabbas. The man who, by custom, was released from his sentence instead of Jesus.

It is likely that Barabbas was part of a Jewish militia, seeking to overthrow Rome and the occupiers of the Holy Land. Therefore, it is also likely that the people who requested that Barabbas be released were also members of this militia, and wanted to have their man released so they could accomplish their political goals.

And I wonder if even today, we continue to do this, even on a metaphoric sense. Individually, corporately as the universal church, corporately as Sigma Theta Epsilon, and corporately under other banners of Christian organizations, do we leave Christ to be crucified and left on the cross in order to promote our own political agendas? Do we sometimes use Christ as a means to accomplish what we want, rather than seeking to further our relationship with Him, and allow Him to use us to accomplish His will?

I'm sure if we all thought about it, we could identify specific times we've used Christ as a political tool, and not as an agent of love. That we've sought to win an argument, advance a goal, or put forth a cause and twisted scripture and/or misrepresented Jesus in and to our world. And to that, I say, let's stop. Let's not throw Christ under the bus, but rather let's make an effort to seek Christ first, and seek His will, and share His love and His message with the world.

Let the motivation for our will and our agendas decrease, and let the desire for the will of God to be done to increase.

Let's work together to see how we can do this better.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

I confess I am not perfect
I have sinned against you
I have put my thoughts
I have put my will
I have put my agenda
Opposite that of the greater good
Opposite that of Yours

I ask for your forgiveness
And your guidance
To help me avoid repeating these sins

Help me to shine Your light
And spread Your will
Into this dark world

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

The Wow Factor

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Sundays in most traditions of Lent, and with anyone I've known that has practiced Lent, are traditionally viewed as "mini resurrections". They do not count towards the forty days of fasting/abstaining from *whatever*, and are days when we focus more on the resurrection than on the crucifixion. That will be my focus on Sundays, as well.

If you're like me, you love to be amazed. You love when something makes your jaw drop and you say "wow".

Maybe the moment occurs when watching a sports game. Someone climbs the outfield fence and robs someone of a homerun and you say "wow". Someone hit a ball five-hundred feet, and you say wow. Someone caught a football after absorbing a big hit and having to jump several feet in the air, and somehow maintained his balance, and you say wow. Someone chipped a golf ball in to the hole from a sand trap, and you say wow. Someone splits three defenders and throws down a tomahawk dunk and you say wow.

Maybe the moment occurs when watching a movie. There's a giant explosion, and great special effects and you say wow. There's a beautifully done plot twist that you didn't see coming, and you say wow. There's a great speech that moves you and makes you emotional and you say wow.

Maybe the moment occurs when you hear a speech. Someone talks about their missionary work, and you say wow. Someone talks about their desire to help battle poverty, AIDS, and malnourishment, and you say wow.

There are an almost unlimited number of examples I can cite here. But the fact remains, we like the wow factor. We like to be amazed. We like to tell other people about it. And we like to tell other people about what it is that wowed us.

And I can think of nothing more amazing that a resurrection of the dead. I cannot fathom anything that can make me say wow more than someone overcoming death itself. And that's exactly what Jesus did.

Wow. Our God is amazing. Now what are we gonna do about it?

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

You are truly amazing.
Thank you for amazing us
And for giving us that emotion.

Motivate us to respond
To your amazingness
In an appropriate manner

Help us to motivate others
And share your wow factor
With them to motivate others

Thank you for atonement
Thank you for you
Thank you for love

Amen.

Reactionary Faith

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Do you ever stop to think about what your actions cause others to do? Of course we do, it's human nature. We all understand basic cause and effect.

But do we stop to think about what our actions cause others to believe? Do we stop before doing something and ask if it will effect someone's perception of faith, of us, of Sigma Theta Epsilon, or of Jesus himself?

When you think about it, every action we take could have a direct impact on how others perceive Jesus Christ. When we see a representative of Microsoft say something or do something, it creates an impression of Microsoft. When an NBA player is arrested for drug possession or domestic violence, we get a negative impression of the NBA.

And it's the exact same thing with Jesus, and with our faith. We're representatives of Jesus here on earth. We're representatives portraying why someone might want to have faith in Christ. And, as we journey towards the cross, are we providing people with a picture we can be proud of? Are we projecting Jesus in a light he wants to be projected? Are we careful with the faith reaction of our actions?

Join me in reflecting on this thought, and reflecting on these song lyrics:

Well I see him on the TV
Preaching about the promised land
he tells me believe in Jesus
steals the money from my hands
some say he was a good man
Lord I think he sinned.... yeah

Twenty two years of mental tears
cries a suicidal Vietnam vet
Who fought a losing war
on a foreign shore
to find his country didn’t want him back
their bullet took his best friend in Saigon
our lawyers took his wife n kids no regrets
In a time I don’t remember
in a war he cant forget
he cried “forgive me for what I done there
Cause I never meant the things I did”

and give me something to believe in
if there’s a lord above
and give me something to believe in
oh, lord arise

My best friend died a lonely man
in some Palm Springs hotel room
I got the call last Christmas Eve
and they told me the news
I tried all night not to break down n cry
as the tears rolled down my face
I felt so cold n empty
like a lost soul out of place
and a Mirror mirror on the wall
sees my smile it fades again

and give me something to believe in( I give me something to believe in)
if there’s lord above
and give me something to believe in ( I give me something to believe in)
Oh, lord arise

Sometimes I wish to God I didn’t know now
things I did know then,
Road you gotta take me home

I drive by the homeless
sleepin’ on a cold dark street
like bodies in a open grave
underneath the broken old neon sign
used to read “Jesus saves”
A mile away way live the rich folk
and I see how they’re livin’ it up
but while the poor they eat from hand to mouth
the rich are drinkin’ from a golden cup
and it just makes me wonder
how so many lose and so few win

Ha give me something to believe in
give me something to believe in
I said the lord above
give me something to believe in
oh lord arise
give me something to believe in
you take the high road
give me something to believe in
and I’ll take the low road
give me something to believe in
you take the high road
and give me something to believe in
and I’ll take the low road

there’s some times I wish I didn’t know now
things I did know then

and give me something to believe in

I do believe we're all called to a higher standard of living. Not for us, but for the Almighty that we represent. Let's do him proud. Together.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for giving me faith
And giving me a reason to have faith
And for continuing to grow my faith.

Help me to cultivate faith in others
That their desire for you might increase
That your name would be greater on the earth

Help me to represent you well
That others would want to find you
And have something to believe in

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Hurray for Leap Day

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

If you're like me, you often wish you had a little more time. You often feel like there's not enough time to do everything on your plate, or like you'd like to take on more service opportunities, but just don't have enough time to fit it in.

Well, I'd like to think that with this being a leap year, and today being leap day, we've been given an extra 24 hours this year to get stuff done, to help other people, and to share the love of Christ.

How will you use the extra 24 hours? Will you play a little more World of Warcraft? Will you go outside and throw the football around? Will you play some John Madden Football on your PlayStation? Will you pray a little more? Will you seek out opportunities to love others, or to serve others, or to share the Gospel?

Think about what Jesus did when he was nearing the end of his time before the cross. What he did, and what he valued with that time.

And maybe together, we can take this extra time, and find the best use for it.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for the gift of time
For the ability to spend time
With You
For You
And representing You

Help us to find the best way to use this time
To bring glory to you
To shine love and light to others
And to find the things in life that are most important.

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Where's my Cliff?

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Do you ever feel like a lemming? At least, how a lemming is thought of in popular culture? Someone who just follows the crowd, does what the leader is doing, and goes on with their day happily blissful that they don't have to question anything about their leadership?

As we journey through Lent, and make our journey to the cross, I grow increasingly thankful that Jesus was anything but a Lemming. He knew exactly when to challenge authority, when to speak up, and when to act and speak for a change. But, He also knew when to respect those placed in power, when to keep his mouth quiet, and when and where was the appropriate time and venues to challenge authority. We see a perfect example of this in Luke 11.

So, what then are we called to? Can we achieve this harmony? Can we find this balance of following, leading, and changing?

Or perhaps, we're just called to stand on the shoulders of the giants before us, and attempt with their knowledge and God's guidance to choose our own path, and to discern what we're called to. To find out own place and niche in the world.

I think what I'm trying to say is this: we're all being lead in our own unique direction. It's a beautiful and challenging thing about our God: He's as personal as He is omnipresent. So chances are, the cliff I'm supposed to be jumping off of, isn't the same cliff you're supposed to be jumping off of. So let's think about how we can help each other find our cliffs, shall we?

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

I thank You for being an example
Of many things I can strive to be
And many things I can strive to do

I thank you for those who have come before me
Who give me an example of what to do
And an example of how to think

I thank you for the Holy Spirit
And the guidance to discover what to do
And the guidance to discover my paths

And I thank you for the individuality
Of my life and my choices
And the joy I have through you in that

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

National Religious Project: A Journal of why we trust God

So, this is inspired from my most recent discussional in my previous post.

Basically, I'm challenging us to journal, collectively, when God does something specific in our lives that proves to us why we should trust Him. I'm looking for stories big and small. Did God somehow allow you to keep your sanity at a family reunion? Did God somehow leave enough money in your bank account to pay all the bills that were due? Did God cure someone you know of cancer?

These things happen in our lives every day. And my challenge is that we journal them, so that we can be a bigger and better witness for Christ in our world.

You can add your entries as a comment to this post, or e-mail them to me vicepresident@sigmatheta.org, or you can post them in the thread at the national bulletin boards. What I'd like to do is then compile them into a book of some sort, and publish that to the brotherhood to have as a testament of encouragement. And hopefully, we'll get several volumes out of it. And, even better, we'll get an increase in our faith out of it.

Trust Him?

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Lent can seem like a long time. Forty days, not counting Sundays, to prepare ourselves for the Cross and the Resurrection. I know it seems like a long time when you're trying to prepare a devotional for each day of Lent.

But what about forty years? That's a lot longer.

And that's how long God's people had to wait to get to the promised land, after they didn't trust him.

I think a lot of times we, in our own lives, both individually and corporately, lack that trust in God. When I'm not sure how I'm going to make all the bill payments this month. When I'm not sure if STE will be able to expand and grow. When I'm not sure if God really has a plan to use the rough parts of my life.

But I want to trust Him. I want to know He's there. So I have a challenge for us. Let's spend some time journaling the times in our lives, from this day forward, where God gives us reason to trust Him. Where he fulfills a promise.

And let's hope it doesn't take us forty years to trust him completely.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

I am amazed
By your power
But I am overcome
By my doubt

Help me, Lord
To see You everwhere
To know You
And to trust You

Help me to see Your promises
Being kept all around me
In large ways and in small ways
In my everyday life

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

What's in a World

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

I'm often amazed by the difference between what we see in the life of Jesus, especially on his journey towards the cross, and what we see in our modern word, especially in what is emphasized as important.

Compare, if you will, the difference between Jesus denying himself equality with God and the crowns and glory that go with it, and instead taking a cross and a brutal death, with the modern American Dream, to get all we can, and die with the most toys.

What a contrast. Live "beneath" who you are, and live a life of love and service, and end up defeating death, and being glorified forever more. Or, live at the top of your means, get everything money can buy you, and end up dead and forgotten by all but a select few.

Consider this, and reflect on this song by Caedmon's Call:

There's tarnish on the Golden Rule
And I wanna jump from this ship of fools
Show me a place where hope is young
And a people who are not afraid to love

This world has nothing for me
And this world has everything
All that I could want and nothing that I need

This world is making me drunk on the spirit of fear
So when You say, 'Who will go?"
I am nowhere near

Cause this world has nothing for me
And this world has everything
All that I could want and nothing that I need

But the least of these look like criminals to me
So I leave Christ on the street

This world has held my hand and has led me into intolerance
So now I'm breaking up, now I'm waking up
I'm making up for lost time

This world has nothing for me
And this world has everything
All that I could want and nothing that I need

What's in this world that's worth chasing? What's better for us, if we live a life of faith, love, and service?

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank You
For giving me better
Than anything this world has to offer

Thank You
For being better
Than anything else the world could have

Thank You
For calling me to a life
Beyond the ways and means of this world

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Just Do It

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org



Chances are, that image rings a bell. It's one of the better known and longer running marketing campaigns of all time.

But what does it have to do with Lent? And what does it have to do with the theme "Made for Love"?

I'll offer one theory. But be warned, my mind is far from normal or linear.

Often, around Christmas time, we get to hear and read and see people argue and get angry as they "debate" the "reason for the season". There is no debate at Easter. The reason of this season is simple. Christ was betrayed by one of his disciples. Christ was crucified for our sins. Christ rose from the dead.

That's it. That's why we have Easter.

And Lent is about preparing ourselves for Easter.

And so my question today is: what are you doing (and what am I doing) to prepare myself for Easter, and how am I doing that while keeping the theme of "made of love" in mind?

Whatever it is, just do it.

And join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Help me to act
To do, and to be
What is required

Help me to recognize
That which I need to do
To be more wholly Yours

Help me in my preparation
For the remembrance of Your sacrifice
The joy of your resurrection
And the love we are called to as a result

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

Empty in new Light

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Sundays in most traditions of Lent, and with anyone I've known that has practiced Lent, are traditionally viewed as "mini resurrections". They do not count towards the forty days of fasting/abstaining from *whatever*, and are days when we focus more on the resurrection than on the crucifixion. That will be my focus on Sundays, as well.

When I think of the word empty, it doesn't usually bring up good feelings.

I get sad when my bank account is empty. I'm very hungry when my stomach is empty. It's a pretty big bummer when my cupboards are empty.

Mary Magdalene was sad, too, about empty. When Jesus' tomb was empty on Easter morning, she was sad. She thought someone had stolen His body.

But when the truth was revealed to her, she was filled with joy. With this truth, an empty became a hope. And another thing in this crazy world of ours was turned upside down by Jesus' life and teaching.

Think about this, the next time part of our lives are empty, physically or metaphorically. Where can we find joy, where we don't expect to find it? Where can God turn our worlds upside down?

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank You for that empty tomb
For the joy that is in my heart
Each day because of it

Thank You for emptiness in my life
And the ways You provide
To fill those holes

Thank You for all You are
For all You do.
For all You will do.

Thank you for atonement
Thank you for you
Thank you for love

Amen.

A Creed

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Today, I'd like to do something different. I offer an ages-old statement of faith for reflection.

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen

Please, reflect with me on this Creed. On the simplistic beauty, and yet the complex ramifications of the truth of this statement. On the meaning it brings to us, and the understandings we must continue to search for. On what it means as we journey towards the cross, and what it means as we live in today's world.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for Wisdom

Wisdom of Solomon
And wisdom of scholars

For the truths we hold today
That have been revealed to us

And for the truths we uncover
And the mystery that You still hold for us

Bring us to an equilibrium
Of understanding and a desire to understand more

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Power vs. Love

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

One of my favorite stories of the Bible is the story of the prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel found in 1 Kings chapter 18. I'm sure you're familiar with it, but here's a quick recap: Elijah uses the power of the One True God to put a smackdown on the prophets of Baal.

If you're not familiar with the story, you really should go read it. That summary doesn't really do it justice.

But it does prove a point: God is powerful. Beyond our imagination. And I've seen a lot of Sci-Fi movies and read a lot of books, so my imagination of power goes pretty far.

So why do I mention this?

Because this all-powerful God didn't use his amazing power to redeem fallen man, and bring them back to his will. He used a great act of love and sacrifice.

And as we live in an age of technology, and money, and everything we can do in the world today, I'm constantly forced to ask myself if a better option isn't to turn down these new fancy things, and just do the old fashioned thing, and love and sacrifice.

As one of my mentors was fond of saying "regardless of the circumstances, always do the loving thing"

What a concept. Join me in considering how we might choose love over other options.

And join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

We are awed by your power
We are amazed by your power
We are unable to grasp your power

But it is your love that exceeds this power
And leaves us in ever more awe

We cannot match your power
But we want to emulate your love

Teach us to love better
Teach us to choose love

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Change, Not for the Sake of Change

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

As we read in the book of Mark, "On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts."

Jesus saw a need to disrupt an organization and people who claimed to be representing his God. Sometimes when we read this verse, and actually most times, we tend to focus on the acceptable use of anger - I'd like to focus on something else.

Perhaps we, individually and corporately, as we claim to represent God, need some facets of that driven out and overturned.

Can you think of parts of your life and parts of our organization that need the Holy Spirit to come in and guide us, sometimes in a not pleasant manner, and turn us back to the right path?

Help me to consider and root out those things that we need changed and overturned.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for your guidance
In discovering
What we need to change

Thank you for your guidance
In finding better ways
To love and serve You and others

Overturn and cast out
Where it needs done

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Called to ... what?

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

As we walk through Lent, we notice that it lasts 40 days, not counting Sundays. These forty days have some significance. We're often reminded of the story in Matthew 4, of the temptations of Jesus. After he spent forty days in the desert, fasting and praying, he was tempted by Satan. We're given accounts of these temptations. I'm going to look at something different this time.

Matthew four opens with a unique phrase: "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil".

This seems very odd to me. Generally, when I pray for the guidance of the Spirit, I do so hoping it will help me avoid problems, temptations, and, most especially, Satan.

Yet, Jesus was lead ito the desert by the Spirit specifically to be tempted by the devil.

What an amazing and counter-intuitive concept. Could it be sometimes we're being prompted by the Spirit to do things that are uncomfortable? Things that will tempt us? Things that might seem counter-intuitive?

It certainly looks like we're not always called to an easy path, quick rewards, and a life of luxury. Keep that in mind as we focus on our advancement towards the cross.

Join me in pondering the question of just what kind of life we're being called to.

And join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Guide me by Your wisdom
To every path you want me to follow
Not just the ones I will enjoy
And the ones I want to travel down

Help me to thank You
For hardships and struggles
And for the character they will create
And help that character better reflect You

Teach me that Your way is best
Even if it's not the way of individual glory
Or the way of riches and fame
Or the path of least resistance

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Focus and Reality

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

When I think about Lent, I think about the people I watched "celebrate" Lent as a child. I never celebrated Lent growing up, and only recently began to consider it a time of spiritual growth and renewal. The reason for this is because a large number of people who "celebrate" Lent do so by giving something up for Lent. They see it as a sacrifice. They give up chocolate, or instant messenger, or ice cream, or something else along those lines for the forty days.

And a lot of the time they mope about it. They lament what they are missing for their forty days. They make a spectacle about their sacrifice.

My pastor offers a different take on "giving something up for Lent." He thinks it better to "pick something up" for Lent. Something along the lines of service, giving, or something of that ilk. My worship pastor combines these two ideas and talks about the idea of "substitution" during lent. While I do not partake in these ideas, I see them as a much better idea.

Why? Because they help you focus not on what you're missing, but on others, on the message of Christ, and on serving. Much better things to focus on.

Think about this during this season as we lead up to the Cross. What do we meditate on? During lent, or during a fast, or even during a bad day at work or in class. What does our mind focus on. Whatever it is, try this one: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Wise words from a wise man, in my opinion.

Please, join me in figuring out ways to improve our focus, and in turn, improve the reality of ourselves and those around us.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

I ask you this one thing
That you become my focus

That you lead me to thoughts
Of the truth
Or nobility
Or that which is right
Of purity
Of loveliness
Of that which is admirable, praiseworthy and excellent

That I might bring these things into the world around me
And reshape reality
To more closely match your will.

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

A Great Encouragement

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Today's Discussional comes via Shannon Wagers, National Pledgemaster

Midnight Encouragement

Read: Judges 7:1-23

The Midianites and their allies had invaded Israel. It was the time of the judges, and Gideon could muster only 32,000 men against an army "as numerous as locusts" (Judges 7:12). Then God cut the army down to 300 (vv.2-7). Gideon was afraid, so God sent him into the enemy camp at night. Crouching behind cover, the Israelite captain heard one soldier tell another about a dream (vv.13-14). A loaf of barley bread had tumbled into the Midianite camp, destroying one of its tents. His friend saw it as a sure sign that Gideon would win the battle.
Gideon was greatly encouraged. After worshiping God, he returned to the camp, organized his 300 men with their trumpets and lamps, and routed the superior Midianite forces (vv.15-22).
As Christ's followers we're not battling armies, but we are at war. Spiritual foes attack us (Ephesians 6:10-12). They undermine our confidence and sap our strength. We're also battling ourselves—our weaknesses, fears, doubts (Romans 7:15-25). After a while, we can get discouraged.
But our God is the great Encourager. When our resolve weakens or vision fades, by His power He will give us the strength we need (Ephesians 3:16)—even when the enemy seems more numerous than a swarm of locusts

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

We thank you
For putting us in positions
And in situations
That make us uncomfortable
And scared

We thank you
For examples of those who excelled
In situations
And positions
That were uncomfortable
And scary

We thank you
That Your might power
Exceeds all
Situations
Positions
Levels of comfort
And scares

Lead us on

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

From the Jaws of Defeat

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Sundays in most traditions of Lent, and with anyone I've known that has practiced Lent, are traditionally viewed as "mini resurrections". They do not count towards the forty days of fasting/abstaining from *whatever*, and are days when we focus more on the resurrection than on the crucifixion. That will be my focus on Sundays, as well.

If you know me, you know I'm a huge sports fan. You might also know that I've told Rachel that as much as I love her, my first love is baseball, specifically the Cleveland Indians. One of the things I love most about baseball is that you never run out of time, only out of chances. Your favorite team can be trailing by a dozen runs, and as long as they don't make the final out of their final inning, they still have a chance to win.

I know I've been there. My team down three, with two outs, in the ninth inning. I think to myself "if we can get a couple of hits and a walk, then all we need is a grand slam home run and we win this game". And even though I know this is improbable, I also know it's not impossible. And the idea excites me. And on the rare occasion it happens, the joy that fills me is amazing. I start jumping up and down, screaming like crazy, and other such stuff.

And I don't want to trivialize the resurrection of our Lord, but I imagine the joy of the followers of Christ when they learned he was risen was about a million times the joy of when that walk-off grand slam home run happens. Something that seemed improbable and just about impossible (and, impossible for anyone besides Jesus) occurs.

What great motivation for us when we think about when we're having bad days. When we're stuck in ruts. When we can't make progress. When we can't see the coming dawn. Think about the joy of knowing our Lord snatched the ultimate victory for us from the jaws of defeat. He snatched life from the icy hand of death. He provided the ultimate "walk off".

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

You amaze me with who You are.

You provide hope where there should be frustration
Joy when I should have depression
Light when there should be dark
Victory where there should be defeat
Life where there should be death.

Thank you for giving me hope
For giving me purpose
For giving me a future

Thank you for atonement
Thank you for you
Thank you for love

Amen.