April 7, 2024 – Easter +1

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:19-31

What doubts did you wake up with this morning? Did you doubt you would make this meeting? Did you doubt anyone would show up? Did you doubt I would remember this meeting was at my church? What doubts are you wrapped up or locked behind today? Let me share some of my doubts with you this morning:

I doubt this devotion will make any inroads in alleviating your doubts.

I doubted anyone would read this post.

I doubted I could make it through one day without someone calling me asking for help.

Those are just a few of my doubts. So, with all of the doubts that are swimming through our brains, locking us behind doors of fear, the question is—will we allow Jesus in behind our walls and our doors of doubt and fear? Is there a difference between a doubter and a cynic? By definition, the doubter is someone who questions things. The cynic, on the other hand, is someone who believes that others are mainly motivated purely by self-interest. The cynic questions if something is worthwhile at all.

Here are the names of some famous cynics:

George Carlin, once said:

By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth.

Woody Allen said:

Life is divided into the horrible and the miserable.

Are you a realist? Or Are you a doubter? How about a cynic? Now I know, of course, that you are not any of these—for you have a firm grasp on all reality. You believe without seeing—everything you read on the internet is true—there was no collusion and no obstruction—and a spaceship landed in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947, and they took away my brain. Thomas wanted to get to the bottom of what the others were talking about. And if I were in his shoes, I would have wanted to see the same evidence too. Why? Because, well, “Hi, my name is Dave, and I am a doubter.”

So, let me ask one more question: “With all of the doubts that we hide behind, and lock ourselves up with, can Jesus break down the walls and the doors of our doubts?” No doubt about it. If Jesus can break through the walls and scaffolding of thousands of years of unbelief and doubt, well, he will break through ours as well.

So, if you agree with me and Woody Allen that “Life is divided into the horrible and the miserable”, then join the crowd of the cynics and doubters—Jesus loves us too…..scars and all.

Pastor Dave

April 6, 2024 – The Coffee Shop Devotions: Look At My Three-Pump, Upside Down, Venti……..

“The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:38-39

One of the things we like to do the few times my family gets to go on a vacation, one of the “traditions” we have is to post on social media pictures from different coffee shops we visit. We associate vacation with coffee. Why? Because the coffee shop, in essence, is a place where one can sit and relax, drink a favorite hot or iced beverage, and enjoy some quiet time alone with a book, or your thoughts. It is good……at least I see it as good for my well-being and sanity.

And, as is the purpose of social media, good news is hard to keep inside. However, with the advent of social media outlets like Facebook, so many people share too much of the wrong kind of good news in their lives. Just the other night I was scrolling through the posts on FB, and there was picture after picture of food, flowers and other frivolous things that had brought someone some small amount of joy. It is our human nature to feel compelled to let others know when something good has happened to us.

The nice thing about FB is that it also allows people to share their faith, from simple postings of scripture, to how their faith has helped them through a difficult time. People are not so anxious to walk up to a stranger and say how good G-d has been to them, but they will repost someone’s testimony, or post their own testimony no matter how big or small. Social media empowers them to share their experiences with this wonderful and good G-d we have. The good news of G-d’s grace, love, and mercy has been made available to all through Christ Jesus. Who then are we to keep this good news from the world? But, Facebook is only the beginning. The time is now for us who have been blessed by this loving, gracious and merciful G-d to tell others about how great G-d is, and how Jesus has freed us from our chains. Just as Jesus commanded the demon-possessed man, I encourage you to go out and tell the wonderful things that G-d has done for you.

Pastor Dave