Sending the demons inhabiting the crazed and possessed Gerasene man into a herd of 2,000 grazing pigs was an incredible demonstration of Jesus’ power and authority. 

But the REAL story is in the pigherder’s response. 

The healing of a demon possessed man and the expulsion of his demons into the nearby herd was, not surprisingly, overshadowed by shepherds complaints of having lost their means of income in the process. 

In short, thanks but no thanks. 

The crazed lunatic in their midst was now miraculously healed and in his right mind, but at the price of their livelihood. 

“Go away! Leave our community!” they cried at Jesus, completely disregarding the rarity of the miracles performed before them. 

It’s an illustration of man’s misplaced priorities. 

Even today, few of us would sanction Jesus to heal someone we disdain at such great personal cost and consequence. 

All the while, missing the importance of the event and the truth that if Jesus could perform such a miracle, he could also replace their livelihood without lifting a finger. 

The Healing of the Demoniac.” (Mark 5:1–20; Luke 8:26–39; Matthew 8:28–34).

Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Abraham’s faith in and fear of God was at the very least unprecedented and at the very most a foreshadowing of God’s sacrifice of His own son Jesus.

Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him.

Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

‘Faith in and fear of’ is a radical center of passage for every believer.

Following God is all or nothing if it’s anything at all.

A half-hearted, lukewarm commitment is no option, yet it still remains the central struggle for most of us these days.

As the world declines and the end approaches, each of us will face our own Mt. Moriah challenge.

God wants a whole heart, mind, and soul that produces obedience.

‘Faith in and fear of’ is given of your own volition and God’s blessings will follow.

Because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.

Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Earnestly pray for your own Mt. Moriah summit.

A trial is God’s pop quiz to see how we are doing in the school of faith.

“And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after comes judgment; so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, and to those who wait for him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” – Hebrews 9:27‑28 (ESV)

We live between two monumental events history: the first coming of Jesus and the reality that He will come again.

It’s not a question of if He rises or if He returns — the Scriptures testify that He has risen, and that He will return.

We’re just waiting for the when.

The world-changing truth is this: Jesus lived. He died. He rose again.

The first coming is done. He conquered death. He sits at the right hand of the Father. Because of that, our faith isn’t in wishful thinking but anchored in history, reality, and resurrection power.

Hebrews 9:28 affirms He will appear a second time. “He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him” (Revelation 1:7) and “The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command…” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
This is not speculation or a metaphorical hope, it’s promised, certain, and unavoidable.

It’s not a matter of if He returns, but when.

It compels our hope, motivates our holiness, and shapes our mission, steadies your heart, stirs your soul, and fuels your life.

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God is an active presence in our lives and in this world.

Like stakes placed to mark a path, He provides nodal events and experiences to assure us He sees us along our journey.

8 billion people and He sees you, hears you, and makes the presence of his guidance real and evident to YOU.

When you seek Him, call him by the name given him by Hagar “The God who sees me” acknowledging the preexisting personal relationship which came the day you made your decision to follow.

Let your eyes meet God in every prayer.

“Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The “situation” Paul speaks of in the preceding verses is that little box we call marital status. 

I’ve been divorced over 25 years. It’s so long ago I now just check single. 

Celibate the last 15 of those years, it too is rarely a consideration anymore. 

Both of these “situations” are what I believe I’ve been assigned and called to. 

“Living as a believer” is Paul’s lesson here.  For me, that means not pining for a partner nor struggling with sexuality. 

Without those distractions, I’ve discovered an entire menu of faith expressions wide open for me to explore that more than trying to fill those voids of intimacy. 

Living as a believer within whatever your circumstance should be no special revelation to any of us. It’s as basic a call as the first day you came to know Jesus. 

The unique difference lies not simply in believing in your call, but in your decision to behave upon it. 

Single and celibate for me has come at a high price few desire to pay with so many years still ahead of them. 

But now, with those years behind me, I can attest the sacrifices are entirely worth it. 

Intimacy as a Christian is so much more than partners and pleasures.

So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Thanksgiving.
Where family gathers around the table for a lovely meal and an argument.

The holidays reconnect us with friends and relatives of all persuasions.
While we are different, we share an inescapable bond of blood and treasured experiences you can never unfriend even if you try.

Not every different choice, perspective or point of view is worthy of a fight.
You’re better than that.

Give thanks for the table set before you and for the provision of people around it you can call family and friends in a world where so many are alone and without.

We are all invited guests at the Lord’s feast.
Be exceedingly grateful for what you share, not disturbed with what you don’t.

Anger and argument can’t peacefully coexist within hearts that are truly thankful.

Christmas scares me.

Not the holiday itself but that with each successive year, despite its ever earlier encroachment, it takes me progressively greater effort to summon the holiday spirit or conjure up a bright seasonal emotion which for decades seemed effortless.

Before Halloween has always been unreasonably out of the question, but before Thanksgiving they say, is now expected if you’re to enjoy the full magical value of the season even though half the country is still well over 75 degrees.

It’s a little scary when it takes this much work to be merry.

So I went to WalMart.

If anything says Christmas three months in advance, it’s WalMart, where eventually I found myself shopping retail for the best buy on holiday goods soon to be marked down.

Then I turned on the radio station.

As if I wasn’t snapping into the season quick enough, 24/7 carols sang their tunes, but then I questioned whether a song alone could or even should make such an instrumental shift in my attitude.

Over time, I tried several other near misses, disappointing myself at every turn. Baking, decorating, bad sweaters, none were capable of the transitional trick.

I once talked with my Mom about it and she shared with me some memories of earlier Christmastimes when the magic didn’t seem so difficult to come by.

I called my kids and chatted about it some and we laughed a little at remembering their first Santa Claus moments. But if I recall, it wasn’t until my son who was away at school at the time, said he was coming home for the holidays.

That was when I felt the change, much like that Grinch moment where in a heartbeat, he had encountered an obvious truth.
Christmas isn’t created by things and stuff and trappings. It’s inside people.

It’s our special stories, our humored histories and the secret gift searches we Google in talks with one another as the weather begins to change to hot chocolate and we all grow just a little bit closer.

Then suddenly one morning, that little something tips the scales just enough to conjure up the Spirit we sought all along.

And for the first time of the season, and certainly not the last, we utter our very first “Merry Christmas” to a stranger, and indeed, it had arrived.

Our church isn’t in the best of neighborhoods by a long shot.

Lots of families without transportation leave home early to walk in from all directions hoping to make it on time. Some of us with cars have made pickup arrangements with them and drop them back home after service.

It’s an urban church.

Usually though, they choose to stay for another service or to serve others attending. Oftentimes, it’s their only excursion by car and their only anticipated social event for the week.

Upon closer inspection, we find many are families and seniors living on razor’s edge with little food or hygiene products, few changes of clothes, decade old shoes, and yet no mind to complain.

Their clothes are clean, their kids are well-mannered, and they rarely ask for any help unless you dig a little deeper and make an offer.

It’s their passion to worship, to connect, and to find contentment within their own situation that remains Sunday to Sunday as a lesson to those of us blessed with so much more.

It’s a great blend of people and a vibrant, active community with our core belief “come as you are” as the common multicultural thread.

Sunday services are 930am and 11am.

Think about it.

I remember visiting Mom’s place.

Some things were always certain.

The bedsheets were always fresh and crisp and smelled like a warm dryer.

The Kleenex was the really good kind.

Moms always have extra sets of batteries and she always put a couple in your bag just in case.

If you need a spoon, it’s always in the drawer clean and you’ll never find a rogue chunk on the handle the dishwasher missed. Because she WAS the dishwasher.

There’s no dust.
Anywhere.

Somehow, she always had ice cream. Always.

And blanket fairies visited when you fell asleep on the sofa.

The clothes you wore last night were somehow folded in the middle of the night. Sometimes washed and folded if necessary.

And if you had to, you could eat off the toilet seat. And if you tried, she’d bring you a plate.

Moms are really great.
Enjoy yours while she’s still here.

“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He’s a liar. 

She’s corrupt. 

A whole swath of people are twisting the truth. 

People know they’re doing the wrong thing but still do it. 

Maybe they’re well meaning or just misinformed. 

Or maybe I’m completely missing their backstory.

We’re so quick to pronounce judgment on people when it’s not ours to pronounce. 

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. 

Humans are complicated and God is working on or with each of us on different levels and different issues at different times in different ways.

Most times, we just need to pray for them and chill. 

He’s not done with us yet. 

Any of us.