"You Are My Precious Chick"

The other night, I was watching an episode of the BBC's Blue Planet with my daughter on "Frozen Seas." It told the story of how female emperor penguins and their chicks can find each other in the midst of a continuously noisy environment of thousands of other penguins squawking away. They have an innate ability to recognize each other's voices. What seemed extraordinary to me was that the chicks could recognize their mother's voices even though they'd never heard it before as the mothers are out at sea when their eggs hatch.

I'm struck by how this image from nature that is in the consciousness of people today because of recent documentaries seems to capture the essence of what Jesus was talking about with the "Good Shepherd" metaphor. "My Sheep Know My Voice" Jesus says.

Questions for devotion and conversation:

Do you know the voice of your Shepherd? What are the recognizable characteristics of Jesus' voice?

John 10:10 states, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

Who are the thieves that Jesus is referring to in this passage? Who are the thieves in our world today that seek to keep us from living into God's abundant life? For that matter, what is the nature of the abundant life that Jesus gives?

Thanks for blogging with me!

In Christ,

Chris Steubing

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! Jesus is alive...Fear Not!

What a great day of celebration for the promise of Easter. I left worship today reflecting on all the ways that the hope of the resurrection can and does impact the way that I think and live as a follower of Jesus today. As I prayed with my daughter before bed tonight, we prayed in words similar to these...

Thanks for Easter
Thanks that we can say I'm sorry
Thanks that we can say I forgive you
Thanks for all your love
Thanks for new life
Thanks that we can start over

What are some ways that the hope of the resurrection can and does influence your daily life?

Or stated in the words of Pastor Randy's comment on my last post...

"What is the deep hope in your life for the kind of message your heart needs to hear on EASTER Sunday?"

Happy Easter!

Chris Steubing

The Road to Emmaus

As I sit to write this, it is a time of waiting. Good Friday has passed and Easter is yet to come. In between the crucifixion and resurrection stands an eternal chasm. Jesus' disciples were left to feel the weight of that one fateful day when their hopes were dashed. Or were they?

Do you ever wonder if the pain and loss of this life is all we will ever know. Do you ever feel like your life is full of Good Fridays and Easter seems just a pipe dream?

Luke records a story about two of Jesus' followers who were wandering and wondering after the events of Good Friday, carrying a heavy burden of doubt and despair. They were on their way to the village of Emmaus when they encountered a stranger on the road. Readers of Luke's gospel already know, of course, that Jesus has risen and that this stranger is indeed the Lord himself. Without the convenience of texting at their disposal, however, Mary Magdalene hadn't gotten the message to these two yet that Jesus is alive...Jesus has risen! Jesus spends hours with them revealing how the scriptures had been pointing all along to the sacrifice he would make in giving his life away.

They walked and listened but were slow of heart to believe. Their eyes were restrained from recognizing him. It wasn't until he ate with them and broke bread with them that they realized who had been with them all along!

As I anticipate preaching on this passage in the Table worship service on Sunday, May 8th, I wonder how you respond to this passage. Are there times when your eyes are restrained from recognizing the presence of Jesus in your life? Do you ever feel stuck in the despair of Good Friday, unable to grasp the living hope of Easter? What questions do you have? Of Luke? Of Jesus?

As we enter into this Easter season, I pray that our eyes would be opened to recognize Jesus' abiding presence with us on the road of life. Amen.

The Raising of Lazarus

This week's questions for reflections are:

Where do you need resurrection in your life?

Where are the places that it's hard to believe Jesus can show up with new life?

Where do you see resurrection happening now in our world?

I look forward to hearing from you!

Pastor Chris Steubing