Easter Sunday—The Joy of His Salvation
Voiceover by: Mike Rasmussen – Surrey Hills, Oklahoma, US

The darkness of the tomb has been shattered. The silence of death has been broken by the triumphant cry, “He is risen!” On this glorious Easter morning, we gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has defeated death and ushered in the promise of new life. The empty tomb is more than a miracle — it is the fulfillment of God’s promise to renew all things, to bring about a new heaven and a new earth where weeping and sorrow will be no more, and joy and gladness will reign forever.
This is the joy of salvation — a joy that flows from the heart of our faithful and loving God. Through Jesus, we have been given not just hope for today, but the promise of a future where every tear will be wiped away, and every cry of distress will be silenced. Easter reminds us that God is making all things new.

The resurrection of Jesus is the turning point of history. It is the moment when death is conquered, and life begins anew. It is the first glimpse of the new heavens and the new earth that Isaiah prophesied — a world where pain and sorrow are replaced by joy and celebration. This is not just a future promise but a present reality. In the risen Christ, we see the firstfruits of God’s kingdom breaking into our world.
Through the resurrection, Jesus gives us the joy of salvation. It is a joy that cannot be taken away, even in the face of hardship or loss. It is the joy of knowing that death is not the end, that sin has been defeated, and that God’s love has triumphed. This joy is not a fleeting emotion but a deep and abiding confidence in the faithfulness of God, who fulfills all His promises.

Isaiah 65 paints a picture of what this new creation will look like — a place of gladness, where God’s people will rejoice forever. A place where life flourishes, relationships are restored, and peace reigns. The resurrection of Jesus is the beginning of this new creation. It is the assurance that the brokenness of our world will one day be healed and that God’s kingdom will come in its fullness.

On this Easter Sunday, we celebrate the victory of our faithful and loving God, who has given us the joy of salvation through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let us live as resurrection people, filled with hope, proclaiming the good news that God is making all things new. And let us hold fast to the promise that one day, there will be no more tears, no more pain, and no more death — only joy and gladness in the presence of our God.

For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord—
and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent—its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,
says the Lord.
Isaiah 65:17–25

Rejoice, for Christ is risen! Through Him, our faithful and loving God gives us the joy of His salvation. Alleluia!

Good Friday—Jesus’ Humble Self-Offering
Voiceover by: Julie Frantz – Cincinnati, Ohio, US

The weight of the moment is almost unbearable. A man stands in the garden, knowing that the soldiers are coming. He doesn’t run. He doesn’t resist. Instead, He steps forward. He allows Himself to be captured so that we might be free. The next day, He will stand silently as false accusations fly, willingly bearing guilt so that we might be declared innocent. He walks a road of suffering, carrying a cross meant for criminals, so that we might one day rejoice. And then, as nails pierce His hands and feet, He willingly gives Himself over to death so that we might live forever.

This is Good Friday. It is the day we remember Jesus’ humble self-offering — a profound act of love that changed everything. Jesus didn’t resist the Cross; He embraced it. He gave Himself completely, not out of weakness but out of divine love. Every step, every moment, was an intentional choice to fulfill God’s plan to save us.

On the Cross, we see the fullness of Jesus’ love. He endured pain and shame so that we could know freedom and hope. His willingness to suffer wasn’t forced upon Him; it was His choice, driven by His desire to reconcile us to God. Jesus chose to humble Himself, to bear the sins of the world, and to open the way for us to draw near to God with confidence.
Hebrews 10 reminds us of this: through Jesus’ sacrifice, a new covenant was established. His body became the curtain that opened the way into God’s presence. His blood became the cleansing that allows us to stand before God without fear or shame. This is the power of Good Friday — not just the suffering of Jesus, but the love and purpose behind it.

Good Friday also calls us to respond. Jesus’ humble self-offering invites us to approach God with confidence, to hold fast to the hope we have been given, and to encourage one another as we walk this journey of faith. It is a day to reflect on the depth of Jesus’ love and to recommit ourselves to live in the light of His sacrifice.

As we stand at the foot of the Cross today, let us remember that Jesus’ act of love was not the end of the story. It was the beginning of a New Covenant, a new relationship with God. He chose to be captured so that we might be free. He chose to be found guilty so that we might be declared innocent. He chose to suffer so that we might rejoice. And He chose to give His life so that we might live forever.

This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,”
and he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:16–25

On this Good Friday, may we remember, reflect, and respond to Jesus’ humble self-offering. His love has made a way for us to be free, to rejoice, and to live forever in the presence of God.

Liturgy of the Passion
Voiceover by: Tommie Grant – Ladson, South Carolina, US

There’s a moment in the Gospel story when Jesus “turns His face to Jerusalem.” It’s a deliberate and resolute decision, knowing full well what lies ahead. He enters the city to cheers and palm branches, a fleeting moment of celebration. Yet, His path is not toward an earthly throne, but toward suffering, rejection, and the Cross. Still, Jesus presses forward, fully committed to fulfilling God’s promise to redeem the world.

On this Palm Sunday, we are invited to walk with Jesus as He begins the final steps of His earthly journey. His entry into Jerusalem is both triumphant and solemn, a moment that highlights His compassion for humanity and His unwavering submission to his calling. Jesus embraces the suffering that awaits Him, not out of resignation, but out of love — love for the people cheering, love for the disciples who don’t fully understand, and love for a world in desperate need of salvation.

Jesus’ decision to turn toward Jerusalem reflects the heart of God’s promise — a promise not to abandon humanity but to save it. Through His compassion and obedience, Jesus fulfilled this promise, facing suffering and death so that we might know life. His journey was not easy. The shouts of “Hosanna!” would soon turn into cries of “Crucify him!” Yet Jesus’ love for humanity never wavered. He carried the weight of our brokenness, walking this path so that we could be reconciled to God.

As we reflect on this moment, we are reminded that Jesus’ compassion and submission were acts of profound strength. He chose to endure suffering, not for His own sake, but for ours. Psalm 31 gives voice to the anguish Jesus would experience, but it also speaks to the trust and hope He carried in His Father’s plan. “I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands.” This trust is the foundation of God’s promise — faithful, unchanging, and fulfilled through Christ.

Today, as we remember Jesus turning His face to Jerusalem, let us reflect on the depth of His compassion and the cost of His obedience. He walked this path for us, fulfilling God’s promise to redeem and restore. May we respond with gratitude and trust, knowing that His journey was one of love — a love that holds us even now.

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and body with grief.
My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
and my bones grow weak.
Because of all my enemies,
I am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
those who see me on the street flee from me.
I am forgotten as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery.
For I hear many whispering,
“Terror on every side!”
They conspire against me
and plot to take my life.
But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
Psalm 31:9-16

May we follow Jesus with hearts full of trust, knowing that His path to Jerusalem was for us — a fulfillment of God’s promise of redemption and love.

Speaking Of Life 4019 | A Path Through the Jackals
Cara Garrity

Have you ever been to a place you’d call a wasteland? Perhaps the depths of a junkyard or the parched ground of a dry riverbed? Isaiah 43 brings some similar imagery to mind talking about Israel in exile, describing the landscape as populated by wild beasts, owls, and jackals. This is a place where there is nothing left—nothing grows and the wind never blows.

Perhaps this describes how you feel at times – especially in this season of Easter preparation. The celebration of Jesus’ birth is long behind us, the celebration of his resurrection is ahead of us, but we are nearing the liturgy of the passion when we focus on his suffering and death and we can find ourselves feeling overwhelmed and in a kind of spiritual wasteland.

This is the kind of environment Israel seems to be in—exiled, away from home, under the thumb of Babylon. But this passage in Isaiah 43 is right here at the turn of hope. God’s deliverance was soon to appear for Israel.

[Look Down]

This is what the Lord says—
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

Isaiah 43:16-17

[Look Up]

The first thing Isaiah does here is remind them who they are dealing with—the God who brought them out of Egypt, who brought them through the desert. He draws their attention to the past—God the way maker.

Isaiah then used the familiar desert imagery to show God turning the tables—bringing their deliverance:

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland. 
The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
Isaiah 43:19-20

Even in this wasteland—a place only populated by scavengers and bone-pickers—God makes the way. In this place of uselessness and complete loss, he shows up.

Has this happened to you? Has God met you in the wasteland—economic ruin, a disintegrated marriage, the depths of depression? Has he made a path through the jackals for you? Or maybe something in or around you seems like a wasteland right now. There is good news for us. No wasteland is too barren for our God to meet us there.

In the incarnation, God meets us, once and for all, in the wastelands of the human experience and reveals to us that Jesus Christ himself is the way in the wilderness, the river in the desert, a well of living water for the thirsty.

During this season of Easter preparation, we recognize the wastelands in and around us and embrace our deep need for Jesus. We do this in confidence that the victory of resurrection is upon us, that our God is making all things new.

Until that time when the Kingdom comes in fullness, watch for signs of life in the wasteland—for the flowers coming up through concrete and that trickle of water on the desert floor. Jesus is HERE; he is HERE for you.  

I am Cara Garrity, Speaking of Life.  

Speaking Of Life 4018 | Labels
Jeff Broadnax

Have you ever gone into a pantry and found a can of food without a label on it? The only way for you to figure out what’s inside is by opening the can. After opening the unlabeled item, what is the likelihood that the reality would actually meet your expectations? Probably, pretty slim.

This is why labels are so important at a grocery store. They can give us a glimpse of what to expect on the inside. Oftentimes, the label will even include a picture of the product inside to add that extra level of confidence that what you are getting is what was being advertised.

Labels are vital to a grocery store’s business, but when it comes to human beings, labels can be incorrect and downright damaging. Have you ever heard someone remark, “He’s the forgetful one,” “She’s the slow learner,” or “He’s the problem child.”?

Sometimes we can be quick to label someone without having much knowledge of who they really are. Maybe we just saw the color of their skin, or their political bumper sticker, or something else that triggered a judgmental reaction.

Several years ago, I remember reading how our brains are wired to make those kinds of snap judgments as a means of self-protection and decision-making. I don’t remember the source, but I found it fascinating. It may be true, but what I do know is those snap judgments raise a huge red flag for interpersonal relationships – especially if we don’t monitor our biases.

In the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church, he addressed a similar situation that was taking place among them and gave us a different perspective.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5: 16-17

The church in Corinth may have been a diverse congregation but accepting and receiving one another as equals were in short supply. They were still employing a worldly point of view by placing discriminatory labels on each other. And because of this, you had people that were separating themselves into their own groups according to their own biases, be it their race, wealth, statuses, or culture. Their judgmentalism was not only disrupting their fellowship, but it was also a bad witness to those outside the church.

What the church in Corinth failed to recognize is that through Christ we receive our true identity, and all other labels, whether to race, social status, or political ideology,  pale in comparison. We haven’t had something merely added to us or even just an upgrade to a 2.0 version of ourselves. Our true identity, in Christ, brings us into wholeness and is the fullness of who we are. It is not merely a picture but the substance of who we are. We are the blessed, free, and highly favored children of God. It is the truth of who we are, something we never have to question. And that is how we are to see each other.

What label will you choose to wear? Will you consign yourself to what the world has to say about you, or will you agree with the only assessment about you that reveals the whole truth about who you are? The label of being a new creation in Christ Jesus and accepted by The Father. That’s a label that cannot fall off.

I’m Jeff Broadnax, Speaking of Life.

Speaking Of Life 4017 | Praying for Deliverance
Greg Williams

Does the world seem broken beyond repair? It seems every generation at one point or another feels this way. In smaller ways, we also have times of brokenness in our personal lives when we realize there is little we can do to make things right. Whether looking at the world at large or dealing with a personal crisis, we often come to a place where we feel powerless. Maybe you feel that way today!

Consider this! If a small child is playing with a toy that becomes broken beyond their ability to fix, what do you think most children would naturally do? I think most would not hesitate to take the toy to a parent to fix. I’ve had numerous broken toys brought to me to fix and I’m sure most parents and grandparents have logged many hours fixing broken toys for children.

Today is a good day to remember that we have a heavenly Father who is able and willing to receive and repair all the brokenness in our lives. Feeling powerless can remind us of our need to approach our Father in prayer, bringing him all that is broken in us and in our world. Not only is he more than able to deliver and save us from all brokenness, but he has already done so in Jesus Christ. This means when we pray, we are not asking the Father to intervene in something he is unaware of. We are also not twisting his arm to do something he is not willing to do. We are participating in the Father’s sure deliverance from evil and brokenness. Like the child who brings a broken toy to a parent to fix, the most powerful and effective thing we can do in the face of worldwide brokenness is to bring it to our heavenly Father in prayer.

David concludes with a powerful reminder of the Father’s heart, which is turned towards his children who seek him in prayer:

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

The righteous person may have many troubles,
    but the Lord delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
    not one of them will be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked;
    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord will rescue his servants;
    no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.”
Psalm 34:17-22

For our own sakes and for the sake of our world, the Lord invites us into his prayer to the Father as the most powerful way to participate in Jesus’ deliverance and restoration of all brokenness. It’s never too late to start praying for deliverance from our brokenness.

I’m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.

Speaking Of Life 4016 | The Integrity of God’s Covenant
Michelle Fleming

A research study published in the Journal of Business Ethics in 2000 found that promise-keeping was not a high priority in the American workplace. In fact, only 30 percent of the 700 study participants kept their word in business, and if they were faced with legal action, even then only 57 percent would keep their word. News like this can be discouraging, but let me share the story of one CEO who kept his promise to his employees.     

Josh James, the co-founder and former CEO of the web analytics company Omniture, was faced with a tough choice in December of 2000 when he had to lay off 48 employees—without severance—to save the company. James told the laid-off employees that if he ever found a way to pay them the severance they should have had, he would do it. Almost five years later, James was able to send those employees the severance money they were due. He demonstrated integrity in business, and as a result, some of those former employees came back to work for him when he started another company.

Integrity matters. Our God is a God of integrity, though, admittedly, we don’t always act like we believe it. A good example is Abram, who later was renamed, Abraham. He struggled to believe God’s promise to provide Abram with descendants. Note his conversation with God in Genesis 15.

Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him,
 “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you,
and your reward will be great.”

But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”

Genesis 15:1-3 (NLT)

Notice that Abram is already trying to take control of the problem and come up with a solution.

He’s doubting that God is going to keep his promise. Does God get angry with Abram when he doubts? Let’s see what happened next.

[Look Down]

Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
Genesis 15:4-5 (NRSV)

God reminds Abram of the original promise made. He doesn’t give Abram a list of things to do to help the process along. In fact, God shows Abram through a sacred ritual, that the promise coming true would have nothing to do with Abram’s efforts at all. God’s promise was a covenant he made that depends on God alone – proving his integrity.

And later, Abram had a son with his wife Sarah. God’s word is true.

The example of Josh James keeping his promise to his laid-off employees, even though he wasn’t legally obligated, illustrates the integrity of character we find in the story of Abram’s interaction and covenant with God. We can count on God to patiently remind us of his promises when we get discouraged and start thinking we need to do something to make those promises happen.

May you rest in the knowledge that the Father, Son, and Spirit will always keep their promises.

I’m Michelle Fleming, Speaking of Life.

For reference:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/25074390

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0hE6e2-cV4

First Sunday in Easter Preparation—God Our Deliverer
Voiceover by: Peter Mill – Glasgow, Scotland

Life can feel like a wilderness path, rough and winding, marked by both beauty and challenge. There are steep climbs, dark valleys, and unexpected storms. But along this road, we’re not alone—there is a companion with us, steady and faithful, promising to walk beside us every step of the way. As we enter this season of Easter Preparation, we walk with Jesus, who traveled his own journey of sacrifice and trust, fully relying on his Father’s presence.
In Epiphany, we celebrated the light of God revealed in Jesus, but as we move into this season, shadows fall over the path. We witness the struggles Jesus faced: hostilities from those who opposed him, his sorrow over a world filled with suffering, his disappointment in the misunderstandings of his followers. Yet, through it all, Jesus moved forward with courage and love, deeply trusting in God as his Deliverer.

As we enter this season, we reflect on what it truly means to call God our Deliverer. Do we think it means freedom from every hardship, or is it the promise that God will give us strength and companionship through them? Jesus’ journey shows us that God’s deliverance isn’t about removing life’s challenges; it’s about providing the courage and support to face them. This is the kind of deliverance that draws us closer to God, refining our faith and shaping who we are.

Today’s Psalm, Psalm 91, reminds us of God’s promise to be our refuge and fortress, to walk with us through every trial. Just as Jesus found strength in his Father during his own journey, we too can lean on God’s unwavering presence, especially in times of struggle. This psalm invites us to trust that God is with us, guiding us and lifting us up, even when the way is hard.

As we begin this season of Easter Preparation, let us embrace the journey of self-examination and draw near to God in prayer, seeking to know his heart. May we come to understand that God’s deliverance doesn’t remove us from life’s challenges but strengthens us through them. As we follow the path that Jesus walked, let us place our trust in God, our Deliverer, who never leaves our side.

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.’
If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.’”

May we rest in God, our Deliverer, who walks with us, sustaining and guiding us every step of the way.

Transfiguration Sunday—Removing the Veil
Voiceover by: Bharat Naker – Adelaide, Australia

Like a thick fog lifting, revealing a landscape that was hidden moments before, Transfiguration Sunday reminds us of a time when the disciples saw Jesus in his true glory. On that mountain, their vision was cleared, and they glimpsed the fullness of who Jesus is—a moment that let them see beyond the everyday into the reality of God’s kingdom.
Today, we celebrate this lifting of the veil, the first step of transformation, when what once was unclear or hidden becomes fully visible. When the fog lifts, we see beauty, light, and truth in ways that weren’t possible before. This lifting of the veil invites us to move closer to God’s kingdom, allowing us to see the world as God intends—filled with his light, love, and justice.
(B-roll: A foggy morning scene, with sunlight gradually piercing through, symbolizing the veil being lifted.)
Many things can act as veils in our lives, keeping us from fully seeing God’s presence and purpose. These veils might be fears, misunderstandings, doubts, or distractions. They make us see the world only as it is, rather than as it could be in the fullness of God’s kingdom. To experience true transformation, we must be willing to set aside these barriers, opening our eyes to see through God’s eyes.
(B-roll: Close-up of a person gently pulling back a curtain, symbolizing the act of removing the veil to reveal something new.)
[Pause]
When Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, the disciples saw his divine glory, shining like the sun. In that moment, the veil was lifted, and they glimpsed a reality they hadn’t seen before. This same light of God is meant to shine into our lives, clearing away what hinders us and revealing his kingdom—his rule of peace, justice, and compassion. When we remove these veils, we begin to see not only who Jesus is but also who we are called to be as his followers.
(B-roll: Sunlight breaking through clouds, illuminating a mountain landscape, symbolizing revelation and clarity.)
[Transition]
Today’s Psalm reminds us of the holiness and majesty of God’s presence. It invites us to worship and revere God, who is exalted above all nations and yet near to each one of us. Like the psalmist, we are called to approach God with reverence and humility, asking him to remove whatever stands between us and his kingdom vision. We invite him to lift the veil so that we can see his love, his justice, and his power more clearly.
(B-roll: A person kneeling in prayer, their face lifted toward the sky, symbolizing humility and the desire for a clearer vision of God.)
[Conclusion]
On this Transfiguration Sunday, let us ask God to lift the veils in our lives. May He remove the barriers that keep us from fully seeing his kingdom and experiencing his transforming love. As we journey with him, let us embrace the light that reveals who he is and who we are called to be. And as we worship, may we remember the words of Psalm 99, which remind us that our God is holy, mighty, and near.
(B-roll: A close-up of a hand lighting a candle, with the flame illuminating the room, symbolizing God’s light that reveals his truth to us.)
[Reading: Psalm 99:1-5]
(B-roll: Images of nature, mountains, and people gathered in worship, reflecting the reverence and awe described in the psalm.)
“The Lord reigns; let the nations tremble.
He sits enthroned between the cherubim; let the earth shake.
Great is the Lord in Zion;
he is exalted over all the nations.
Let them praise your great and awesome name—
he is holy.
The King is mighty, he loves justice—
you have established equity;
in Jacob you have done
what is just and right.
Exalt the Lord our God
and worship at his footstool;
he is holy.
(B-roll: Final shot of a person standing on a mountain summit, looking out over a clear, sunlit landscape, symbolizing the vision of God’s kingdom revealed.)
As we lift our eyes, may we see clearly and follow boldly, for our God is holy and worthy of our worship.

Speaking Of Life 4013 | The Boy from the Well
Greg Williams

Have you ever felt completely powerless? Have you been in the unenviable place of having no recourse—no action you can take that will change your situation? Imagine being stuck in the bottom of a well.

You likely recall the story. Joseph was the favorite of 12 sons, whose father had given him a coat of many colors. Joseph’s brothers—jealous of his gifts and favor with their father—threw him down a well in a fit of rage. At the bottom of the well—perhaps this one or one like it, he lay helpless, unable to scale the walls, completely dependent upon others to release him. Of course, we know this was just the beginning of his journey of helplessness, which included slavery, imprisonment, and mistreatment.

But we also know that years later, after being released from prison, Joseph became the 2^nd highest authority in the land of Egypt. And during this time, he and his brothers met.

The land was in the midst of famine and Joseph’s brothers had traveled to Egypt to ask to buy food for their family. They were now totally dependent upon others. They had no idea the Egyptian official in front of them was their brother Joseph the boy they had thrown into a well so many years before.

At first, Joseph wasn’t sure about revealing himself to them and seemed to toy with the idea of revenge—even seeming to threaten their youngest brother. But mercy wins out. He can’t keep up the ruse anymore, he blurts out his name. But they don’t get it at first.

[Look Down]

And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.
Genesis 45:3-4 (ESV)

They are so shocked to see him he had to repeat himself. You can only imagine what is going on in their minds. The power dynamic has completely reversed. Now it is them at the bottom of the well as he stands over them. They are trapped in famine and under the mercy of Egypt. He has the upper hand by any measure.  But rather than take the upper hand, he informs them of his plan to take care of the most vulnerable member of their family, their aging father.

This is grace. Grace can mean walking away from our rightful revenge, holding back when we want to restore our human version of “balance” to the world.

Grace tells us that God doesn’t work by our weights and measures. In Joseph’s world, the abusing brothers are forgiven and taken in. In God’s world, the weak become the strong; in God’s world, the sinner is given the place of honor. In God’s world, the boy from the well becomes the man on the throne; the boy stripped off his robe provides for his family.

I am Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.

Speaking Of Life 4012 | If No Resurrection…
Cara Garrity

Have you ever had a hard time believing something the Bible says about Jesus Christ? The virgin birth. Healing the blind. Walking on water. Raising the dead. There are many things about Jesus’ story that challenge our reason. As a result, sometimes we try to force-fit our big God into a box of our own understanding or suspend our logic and reason to be a Christian?

The apostle Paul had to address the resurrection of Jesus. A good number of the members of the Corinthian church did not believe in the possibility of the dead coming back to life. Ironically, Paul used the style of writing popular with philosophers to make a logical argument proving the reality of the resurrection. He began by quoting evidence—including eyewitness testimony—of Christ being seen after his death. In his conclusion, Paul stated:

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. … But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:12-14

Paul saw the resurrection as foundational to our faith and a reason for our hope. Yet, he also understood it was a hard thing to believe. This was why he was so meticulous in putting together a logical argument for the more skeptical Christians in Corinth. Apart from God, resurrection is illogical. But with God, it is possible, because God can do all things. Resurrection still stretches the imagination, however, we serve a supernatural God who is powerful beyond description.

Paul did not want his audience to disregard their logical minds or try to fit God into their pre-conceived notions of logic, rather he wanted them to use their minds to explore a greater reality. In this season of Epiphany, we are challenged to see and encounter the God revealed in Jesus Christ. The truth is Jesus disrupts our belief because he is greater than we can possibly imagine. We cannot wrap our minds around his love, his power, and the lengths he is willing to go in order to redeem humanity.

I pray that you would allow God to renew your mind and awaken you to the ways of his reality. I am Cara Garrity, Speaking of Life.

Speaking Of Life 4011 | The Story Since Day One
Greg Williams

Do you ever have a commercial jingle or a theme song from a tv show that you can remember perfectly years later? Decades might pass, you will have forgotten libraries of information, but you can still flawlessly recite the opening song. For example, the jingle from the old TV show, The Brady Bunch… “Here’s a story, of a lovely lady, who was bringing up three very lovely girls…”

Stories draw us in, they make us pay attention, they help us remember.

We see Paul using a story for the same reasons. Though, his story is much more meaningful. In his first letter to believers in Corinth Paul wrote:

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:3-6 (ESV)                                                        

At first glance, this may look like more of Paul’s theological writing—abstract concepts in the early formulation of faith. But scholars have looked more closely at the language in the last hundred years or so and they saw an intrinsic rhythm and meter of the words: “that Christ died…he was buried…he was raised.” What they found was an ancient credal formula—a compact, memorizable statement of faith that was probably around long before 1 Corinthians was written.

Notice how Paul set this up: I delivered to you what I received. He was sharing something he had received—this creed, this jingle, this poem—something that was already in place and most likely part of his discipleship process.

We are seeing here some of the first “hymns” the church ever sang. Remember there was no internet and a significant part of the first audience was illiterate. This would be the way new believers learned faith, similar to a memory verse or a simple song, or a creed in today’s churches.

Just like we can sing some of the words to The Brady Bunch jingle, so the early believers could tell the story of Christ in song, or poem form. The story was circulated in such a way that people could remember it and share it. We still tell the story today—Jesus is of first importance. His life, death, resurrection, and ascension are the story we share each year as we worship our way through the Christian Calendar. Each year the calendar reminds us of the story of Jesus—the same story that has been shared since day one.

I am Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.

Speaking Of Life 4010 | Hitting Too Close to Home
Heber Ticas

Have you ever uttered the words, “That hit just a little too close to home?” It’s a familiar phrase we use when something is said that makes us feel uncomfortable or embarrassed because it touches on a sensitive or personal subject. The words spoken may be neutral or even positive, but if it connects in a personal way, we may try to put distance between us and what was said. So, we say something like, “That hits a little too close to home. Let’s talk about something else.”

Have you ever considered that hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ may have the same effect? The Gospel is the good news that God’s grace and love, forgiveness, mercy, and reconciliation have been given to all in Jesus Christ. We may at first hear such a proclamation with warmth and joy but then some implications for us personally come to mind.

For example, if God has forgiven my worst enemy, I may have to forgive them too. Or, if God has reconciled all to himself in Jesus, then I may be expected to seek reconciliation with certain people I rather not have anything to do with.

Or, more personally. If Jesus is Savior of the whole world, then I will have to trust him as my personal savior. I’ll have to admit that I need saving and that I cannot save myself. In short, I’ll have to turn around and trust in this one who has saved me. You may want to respond with, “That is hitting just a little too close to home. Let’s talk about something else.”

Or the Spirit may be breaking in to form in you a different and better response. Perhaps a response like we see in Psalm 71:

In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me. Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel. For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you. 
Psalm 71:1-6 (NRSV)

If you feel like God’s Word is hitting a little too close to home today, consider this response of trust, and take refuge in him. In his love for you, the Father never takes back his Word. He means to “hit close to home” because our true home is with him.

Mi nombre es Heber Ticas, Hablando de Vida.

Speaking Of Life 4009 | Practicing Christ in the Kitchen
Greg Williams

In the summer of 1642, a young disabled veteran named Nicolas Herman took vows to join a religious community in Paris. He described himself as a “great awkward fellow who broke everything,” and was acutely aware of his humble, flawed stature.

He took the religious title Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, or Brother Lawrence as he’s widely known. He joined the monastery and was given a task to perform, and he did what he was asked. But he was soon seen to be a man of wisdom and he became sought by many visitors for spiritual counsel. Over time, even famous thinkers and powerful church leaders came to listen to him.

But they had to go to the kitchen to find him. Brother Lawrence washed the dishes.

This giant in the spiritual wisdom tradition, this sought-after guide in faith, was the cook who spent his days in the kitchen steam, among the pots and pans. And that was the key, he practiced the presence of Christ there in the smallest of tasks. Every plate he washed, every dish he prepared, he did so as if Jesus were right there with him.

One of his most famous quotes describes this:

“The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament.”

Brother Lawrence washed dishes until his health no longer allowed it and then he became a sandal-maker. And that was his life; though he was one of the wisest of men at that time, he never left the kitchen or the workbench. Shortly after he died his letters were compiled into the enduring classic Practicing the Presence of Christ, and it’s been read and reread by millions of people.

Brother Lawrence’s story reminds us that God works through people we might never expect. And it helps us see how God uses every part of the body. As Paul wrote:

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV)

The body of Christ—interconnected, mutually supportive—needs every part to be whole. If this back kitchen cook had been ignored because of his humble position, we would have missed out on his message and edification for the whole body.

Brother Lawrence, like so many forgotten, “insignificant” people, turned out to be a light that shines through the centuries. May we continue to shine the light of Christ in whatever we are called or asked to do. 

I’m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.