FaithIsland

Sunday of the Ascension Audio

Jesus told His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before they went out to change the world because there is nothing worse than a bunch of people without candles or flashlights running around in the dark - bumping into things, bumping into each other and not getting anywhere. But there is nothing better than a bunch of people with candles or flashlights helping people find their way in the dark. Once the disciples had the Spirit - it was time to push back the darkness. Back in the old days when you hiked Diamond Head - there were no lights in the tunnel part. One time I forgot my flashlight and had to wait until someone came along so I could follow them. The next time I remembered my light - and it was my turn to lead the way. Every time Ascension Day rolls around, I hear Jesus say, "you know the way to the place I am going." And I do. I know who Jesus is. I can't fully comprehend what that means - but I know enough to know if I want spend eternity with Jesus - the only way is to follow Him home.

Fifth Sunday of Easter Audio

And this gets back to our calling. Rarely can we change all the things we think need to be changed to make us happy - whether we're talking about changes to our body or changes to the world or changes to the people around us. We aren't in charge of everything - and even if we were, we can tell people what to do - but they aren't any better at changing things than we are. As Bob Goff said, "Most people need love and acceptance a lot more than they need advice." The one thing we can do - the one thing that is within our power - is to learn to accept the people and events and even ourselves when change isn't possible. Change is a process. "How many times do you want me to forgive my brother?" Peter asked Jesus. And Jesus basically responded, "to infinity and beyond." And that goes for us too - "how many times can I be forgiven - especially if I keep doing the same, dumb things?" "To infinity - or at least eternity - and beyond" Jesus replies.

Fourth Sunday of Easter Audio

How many times has a new experience led you to new questions? And new questions led you to new answers that challenge how you thought about life. When we were children - if we read and listened to our teachers and ran and played and talked - our minds were constantly stretched so to absorb all the new stuff we were experiencing. Then came the hard part - processing and figuring out what was good and what wasn't - what we needed to remember - and what we could forget. This is the way of life. If we are to be healthy - we cannot stop learning and growing and experiencing until the day we die. And as followers of Jesus - our faith requires us to add another dimension to sort all this so we can not only apply it to our life - but also so we can we talk to others about Jesus.

Third Sunday of Easter Audio

Unless we have some context - all those doctrines, fancy words and Greek and Hebrew verbs aren't going to make sense. Sometimes, in fact most of the time, we aren't going to fully understand what God is trying to tell us until the moment comes that translates it for us. It's not about us being smart or holy - it's not even about us wanting to know things. Sometimes you have to be in the moment - whatever moment that is - for God to speak to you and you be able to understand what He's saying. And that moment requires some prep work which is why we worship and study the Bible and pray. God never wastes anything. All of our stories - adventures - failures - questions - doubts - they all are woven together and used by the Holy Spirit to bring us along in our faith. When I get the chance to talk to people - and hear their story - I can see God at work in each wrong turn and dead end but also the moments where they're flying down the road with the top down and the wind blowing their hair without a care in the world. God is always with us - not just in the dark moments.

Easter SonRose Audio

If you have ever experienced the loss of someone who was close to you - someone you loved and perhaps even said, "I don't know how I could live without you..." - you know what Mary was feeling. It's these flashes of honesty that Ezekiel is talking about in our Old Testament Lesson. The Lord asks, "Can these bones live?" Elijah answers, "Oh, Lord God, you know." I love how Elijah turns the question back on God. I would have said, "I have no idea! - but, if these dry bones are my family and friends - the people I don't want to live without" - I would add, "but I hope so!" St. Paul says, "if we only have hope in Jesus for this life - we are to be pitied more than anyone" - and he's right. If all we're doing is fooling ourselves - pretending there is something after this life - we should not only be pitied, we should be ashamed of ourselves.