Day 221...(2 Kings 13,14; Ecclesiastes 3)..."Out of No Where Comes Inspiring Words"

In laboring through the first two chapters of Ecclesiastes, how refreshing to come to chapter three with maybe the most eloquent words in the Bible along with 1 Corinthians 13. Here is the passage in the classic King James Version....

" To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace."

Day 220...(2 Kings 11,12; Ecclesiastes 2)..."Better to Be Smart than Stupid"

What does Ecclesiastes tell us today? Again, this is not good reading to cheer you up from a bad day. (Tomorrow will be better) There is one teaching that stands out today.

"It is better to be smart than stupid"

How about that teaching of the Bible? The writer says sarcastically it is bad for both the smart and stupid. Yet...if you had to choose it is better to be smart.

There is more hope for the wise. Jesus commends the "wise builder" for building on the good foundation. His life stands through all the adversity of life. The "preacher" of ecclesiastes obviously was fighting through a negative outlook.

Day 219...(2 Kings 9,10; Ecclesiastes 1)..."

In the case of Ecclesiastes, we find the words..."vanity of vanity." What does this mean? I like the Message translation..."boring." This is not the passage to read, if you are already depressed.


"Everything's boring, utterly boring— no one can find any meaning in it. Boring to the eye, boring to the ear. What was will be again, what happened will happen again. There's nothing new on this earth. Year after year it's the same old thing. Does someone call out, "Hey, this is new"? Don't get excited—it's the same old story. Nobody remembers what happened yesterday. And the things that will happen tomorrow? Nobody we'll remember them either. Don't count on being remembered."

Easter Sunday...Day 218 (John 20, 21)..."Running with Joy"

John's Gospel is the most distinct of the four. In the case of the resurrection, he has disciples running to the tomb. How dramatic the good news! Here is the account...

"So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed."

There have only been a handful of occasions when I have observed people with such good news they were running. What an image of joy! I think about the practical side of this message...we cannot stand still we must "run" and share the good news. Is the "good news" of Jesus too good to stand still? How about it Church? Is this not the best news of all?

I pray everyone will have a blessed Easter and run with the "good news"..."He has risen indeed!"

Almost Easter...Day 217 (John 19)..."Nicodemus In Between Crucifixion and Resurrection"

How appropriate that Nicodemus helps prepare Jesus' body for burial. This "in between" time of Good Friday and Easter is something to ponder. In my mind, Nicodemus (who came at night) eventually experienced a full conversion. His presence at the burial scene reminds us that gradual conversion is just as legitimate as instant conversion. How I would like to ask Nicodemus to share how one afraid to be seen with Jesus earlier would be so visible at burial. Would this not also speak to a genuine conversion, as Nicodemus stayed whiled the disciples strayed.

May God bless you on this Easter Eve! We are almost ready to proclaim the victory!

Lent Day 46...Day 216 (For Lent John 17,18)..."Jesus Teaches how to Pray"

John's account of the last twenty-four hours of Jesus prior to the cross includes and entire chapter on prayer. This would be the transition from "garden of olives" to the betrayal and arrest. Jesus teaches how to pray with the Lord's Prayer. He also teaches a structure for prayer.

1) Pray for yourself.

2) Pray for those closest to you (disciples).

3) Pray for the world.

This structure is great for us today. Have a great Holy Saturday.

Lent Day 45...Day 214 (John 16 for Holy Week)..."Great News for Troubled Times"

John 16 contains a prophetic word from Jesus with the cross looming ahead. Is there a verse more powerful than this one with the Gethsemane, betrayal, denial, arrest, trial, and crucifixion just ahead. Here is the passage...


"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

This is also a great passage to meet the challenges of life. When facing trouble, crisis, the unknown or fear...always remember how great the trial Jesus has overcome the world. This is great news for troubled times!