As I reflect back over past Easters my heart is stirred and my mind recalls quite a few images and impressions that left indelible marks upon my heart.  I grew up going to a Greek Orthodox Church and Easter was the biggest celebration in the church.  For my family growing up, we practiced Lent.  As kids I remember wondering why we couldn’t eat this or that and yet we followed the rules.

I remember one weekend during the season of Lent we were driving to my grandparents’ house and we stopped at a little café.  It was breakfast time and my mom ordered and we had dry toast and orange juice because we gave up meat and dairy products.  I don’t even know why we gave up those things but to this day I appreciate the times we did without. Giving something up stirs your heart to be grateful for all you have.  I also remember one Easter when I was in the 2^nd or 3^rd grade our priest during the service carried out the cross and was weeping (which in the Orthodox Church is similar to a passion play).  It was so sincere and so heartfelt that it made me realize the cost of Jesus’ sacrifice.  After a long evening, which carried into the new day, (yes I mean we were in church til 1:00 a.m.) we had a huge celebration in honor of the resurrection of Christ.   As kids we were so excited about all the food.  It was a wonderful time of community and a time of thankfulness.  Thank you Lord for your great love for each of us!

When we traveled to Israel/Palestine last summer I was so impacted at the Garden of Gethsemane.  Today, it is a small fenced off area for tourists to see. However, there are olive trees that are quite large with a wide gnarled trunk which you could imagine were there at the time of Christ.  Our guide said something that I had never heard before and it traveled deep into my heart…

He said that Gethsemane means olive press.  With this new thought I had a greater sense of the agony Christ endured in the Garden.  Imagine olives poured into a vat, pit and all, and a huge millstone going around and crushing everything into a fine pulp.  It helped me understand why Jesus cried out and caused him to sweat blood. (Luke 22:44)  With this deeper understanding I feel like I have a greater appreciation for the love and sacrifice of Jesus.

Last summer when we were there as a family, I had our friend, Joe, who was traveling with us, film a working olive press, and the tour guide gave a brief description of the meaning. I pray you are impacted and that you would know how MUCH God loves you.

Again I say, Christ has risen!  Truly he has risen!

With love,
Chris

I was just thinking about the Lord’s goodness and His amazing love.  When I reflect back to my travels into the Holy Land for the first time about a year ago, indelible images come into my mind.  I hope that one day you could have the chance to travel there.  Imagining Jesus walking around with his disciples or him retreating alone into the hills to pray which are covered with olive groves, was my favorite part.  I also love picturing Jesus sitting by the Sea of Galilee breathing in the serene aroma unlike the religious and political tensions that permeate the walls of Jerusalem.

While spending time in Bethlehem, we visited the Church of the Nativity. This is a huge tourist stop because it is a place where people come to bring honor and thankful hearts to our Savior.  However, my heart was stirred when we were at the Shepherd’s Field.  It is here they believe the shepherds saw the angel the night of Jesus’ birth.  The fields are just right outside of Bethlehem.  When the guide started talking I was left with a beautiful image that still encourages me to this day.  He began by telling us that when a little lamb goes astray the shepherd injures the leg of this little lamb and puts this little wooly creature on his shoulders.  As time goes by the little lamb hears the voice of the shepherd constantly while in a safe place and in time the little lamb’s leg is healed.  When this small little creature is put down he joins the others but he no longer strays because he knows the voice of the shepherd.  It made me think of all the times when I faced some difficulties in my life. I can be kind of stubborn and want to do things my way and I get myself into a real mess!  Then when I finally give up and start reading God’s Word His voice encourages me and I feel safe as if I’m being carried on His shoulders.

I know there are many pieces of art that have been made with this image. Maybe you have one.  The Christmas before my mom passed away she gave me a small Hummel figurine.  It is of a little shepherd boy holding a little lamb in his arms.  I believe my mom knew I would need this special gift to encourage me through life.  Jesus thank you for being the Lamb of God and carrying us on your shoulders when our journey becomes too much.  You truly are, ” a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24

God Bless You All!

Chris

I think Sons of Thunder means they were full of passion. John, however, didn’t always have control over his passion. For instance, when the time was approaching for Jesus to ascend to heaven, the disciples went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for Jesus, but the people did not welcome him, and at this point, John and his brother James each blew a gasket and wanted to call fire down from heaven to destroy them. Jesus rebuked James and John and then they went on to another village.

The disciples learned a great deal as they walked with Jesus. John saw that Jesus was for all peoples and that he must let go of any prejudices. The funny thing about John wanting to call down fire on the Samaritans is that later he was sent there to serve them. When Jesus chose these twelve ordinary men to come follow him, we can see that little can become much in in the hands of Jesus.

Eventually in his latter years, John was exiled to the island of Patmos as a prisoner of Rome.  I bet as he was working on the rock pile, swinging a hammer with the other  prisoners, he reminisced and spoke passionately about Jesus, his friend and Savior.

I said, “I haven’t told you but my mom died right before I came to school and I miss her.”

She said, “What if you would have lost a limb?”

I said, “I would give all my limbs to have my mother back.”

She opened the door without any response and walked out.

It took a long time for me to open up to someone again, but eventually, I found people I could trust, and then as I shared with them, healing began. I made some amazing friends who respected God and knew Jesus in a very real way. Thus my journey in trying to follow in the steps of Jesus began.

So now, here I am back in the dorm on the campus where I once lived and I wondered how everything would work out for Anna. The first night we had a big dinner with all of the international students, along with some faculty and the university president and his wife. This is the amazing part. An adorable, dark wavy-haired girl sat down right next to Anna and we asked where she was from and she said Palestine. She looks so much like many of Anna’s friends back in Lebanon. Then she went on to describe her family and it ends up we work with her father and second cousin closely in Bethlehem! She and Anna had an instant connection. Then to my right the president and his wife started telling me that they have been to Lebanon several times and they were good friends with Lucien Accad, the president of the Bible Society. I went on to tell them that we were good friends with him and his whole family. Sadly, Lucien just passed away. He truly was a man who loved God and challenged people to get to know Jesus. Later I found out that the Palestinian girl had lost her mom ten years ago. I told her I was so sorry and my heart felt her pain. She asked if she could call me “auntie.” I was honored. I say all this because God is a God of redemption. He takes pain and turns it around for good. God never said life would be easy. He just said it would be worth it. These moments on the campus helped me to see a big dose of God’s kindness. It was difficult to leave Anna behind but I know she is in the right place and I am excited for her.