Communion

Six weeks ago I decided to take a break from blogging to ponder Jesus’ passion.

This I have done.

One of the things I’ve pondered most during this time is the Lord’s Supper, also known as the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

The church I’ve belonged to my entire life teaches that when we take this sacrament we’re not just eating bread and drinking wine, but that in, with, and under the bread, we also receive the body of Christ. And that in, with, and under the wine, we also receive the very blood of our Lord Jesus, shed for us on the cross.

This is a teaching I have always questioned.

Is that really what Jesus meant?

Maybe he was just being poetic.

Like when he said I am the vine, you are the branches or I am the light of the world.

The topic came up about a month ago in Bible Class. I took a deep breathe, raised my hand and said, “I’m not saying I don’t think Jesus could turn the bread into his body and the wine into blood, if that’s what he meant. I just don’t understand why it’s so important we agree on that.”

Thankfully, I was not kicked out of class for saying this out loud. I was even told it was a “good question.” For the answer, I was asked to read 1 Corinthians 11:28. “For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.”

That seemed pretty clear…until I read the footnote of my Concordia Self-study Bible which said, “The word ‘body’ may refer to either the Lord’s physical body or the church as the body of Christ.”

I still wasn’t sure what to believe. But I wanted to know. I had to know.

So I began searching the Scriptures for passages related to this topic. I read every account of the Last Supper recorded in the Gospels, as well as several chapters in the Epistles. I read a few commentaries as well, and even checked out the Book of Concord, on which all of our church’s doctrinal beliefs are founded. After that I exchanged several emails with an old friend of mine who happens to be a Pastor. These were extremely helpful as well.

The more I read and pondered these things the more I wondered why I was having such a hard time believing what Christ himself said.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it,

and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying,

“Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant,

which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26: 26-28

A week ago I took communion. Before I walked up to the table of the Lord, I examined myself as I’d been taught to do. I asked myself these 4 questions:

1. Do you recognize your sin and your need for a Savior?
2. Do you believe that Jesus paid for all your sins by his suffering and death?
3. Will you strive to live a holy life, and amend your sinful ways?
4. Do you believe the bread and wine are the true body and blood of Jesus Christ?

Yes, yes, yes, and YES!

With joy I walked up to the altar, took the bread and placed it in my mouth. I washed it down with the wine, and thought about the miracle that just took place. I smiled. Jesus loves me. He knows me, and he still loves me.

It was the most significant participation in the sacrament I have ever experienced. To realize how much I mean to Jesus. To remember and believe all he’s done for me, and all he still does for me. It is truly amazing. Amazing grace. Amazing love. Amazing Savior!

Later I thought about the paralyzed man that was lowered through a roof to be healed by Jesus. The first thing Jesus said to him was, ““Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5

The teachers of the law criticized Jesus for saying this. They didn’t think he had the power to forgive sins. To prove them wrong, Jesus then healed the man of his physical disability. “What is easier?” he had asked them. Which miracle is more incredible? Curing a physical need, or giving life for all eternity?

And now I ask you, what is the greater miracle, changing bread and wine to body and blood, or forgiving sins and granting eternal life?

I think this week God showed me that he does the first, to help me more fully appreciate the second.

I wrote a little poem about Communion. It’s not very good, but I decided to post it anyway. Maybe it’ll get you thinking, and appreciating this amazing gift God gives us through the sacrament a little more as you prepare your hearts and minds for Maunday Thursday worship.

Communion

The heavy wooden church door

swings shut as we go in

displacing sounds without

with calming sounds within

a handshake, and a welcome,

a bulletin, a nod…

and soon we take our places

within the House of God

perhaps we do not notice

the table right away

distractions pull us left and right

and cause our thoughts to stray

but soon the polished silver

attracts our wandering eye

Looks like there’s Communion

we whisper with a sigh

we sing the hymns as posted

we hear the scripture read

we listen to the message

the Nicene Creed is said

and once the offering’s taken

our thanks have been conveyed

it’s then the Pastor tells us

of the night Christ was betrayed

we’ve heard the words so many times

we know them all by heart

and then we stand and get in line

and mindlessly take part

but do we really take to heart

the beauty of it all?

do we take and eat this meal

with wonder and with awe?

do we trust in Jesus’ word

THIS IS MY BODY GIVEN

and know that through this sacrament

our sins are now forgiven?

this miracle, this gift of God,

no greater love is known

and as we drink the blood of Christ

this gift becomes our own

a great and wondrous mystery

how bread and wine can be

at the same time body and blood

Christ shed upon the tree

but O, a greater mystery still

that in His death I find

all my sins are washed away

His victory is mine

please help me take this sacrament

with joy and peace, believing

that through the bread and wine we are

Your body and blood receiving

and knowing this rejoice to find

the Greater Gift to be

that with your lifeblood as the price

You died, and set me free

I'm going to take a break from posting blogs during lent, to focus on Jesus and all he's done for me.

See you in 6 or 7 weeks.

Jesus, I will ponder now
on your holy passion.

Tough Questions

Several years ago I had a dream. I guess you could call it a nightmare.

You know how in some dreams, you know you’re dreaming, but in others, the dream seems real? Well, this was one of those real ones. In the dream, which I can only remember parts of now, I was going about life as usual, when some sudden calamity hit. I can’t recall if it was a bomb or a car crash, or just what, but I do remember an explosion and lots of flames. And I remember thinking quite logically, “There’s no way we can survive this. We’re going to die.”

Now keep in mind, I thought the dream was real. Even so, I wasn’t afraid. I knew that as a Christian, the next thing that comes after death is heaven. Soon all the weight of my sins would be lifted, and I would see God face to face. And so I waited for that to happen.

But it didn’t happen.

Nothing happened.

I woke up…horrified.

It wasn’t death that horrified me. It was that terrible realization that all I had been taught, all I had known, all I had confessed to believe… wasn’t true… or was it?

“It was just a dream,” I told myself over and over again. “It was just a dream.”

That was years ago, but I still remember the feeling (if not the dream) vividly, and what it showed me. There’s no way of knowing for sure what happens when you die. It remains one of life’s mysteries.

Not knowing what’s going to happen is sometimes fun, but in this case, it scared me. And I don’t like being scared. So, instead, I told myself to follow Jesus’ advice to Jairus in Luke 8:50. “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Fast forward to last Thursday. Jeff and I went to a new Bible Class offered at our church called “The Truth Project.” It’s actually a series of videos which cover such deep philosophical topics as “What is truth?” “Who is God?” “What is evil?” and so on. The host is Dr. Del Tackett. The topic of our first class was truth, and Dr. Tackett ended the class with this tough question:

Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?

I immediately thought about my nightmare, and how badly it upset me.

Do I really believe that what I believe is really real?

I think so, but sometimes, I have doubts.

I left the class wondering…

Do I believe enough?

A few days later I was looking over the handouts from our Bible Class. One sheet had a bunch of discussion questions on it. Numbers 1 -5 looked like things we had talked about in class, but number 6 was that same question popping up again, followed by another equally tough question:

6) Dr. Tackett asked the question, “Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?” How can we know we really believe?

I showed the handout to Jeff. “Read number 6,” I said to him.

Jeff read it. “Yes,” he said.

“What do you mean, ‘Yes?’” I asked him.

“Yes, I believe what I believe is really real,” he answered.

“What about the second part?” I asked him.

Jeff looked back down at the sheet, then back at me. “I say I believe, and I do, so it’s true.”

“Okay,” I said, not wanting to make a big issue out of it. Obviously he wasn’t reading the question right.

“How do you read the question?” Jeff asked, as if reading my mind.

I tried to explain it to him. “I think it’s asking how we can know it’s all true. And how we can know we really believe it.”

Jeff thought about it for just a moment. “I suppose you’ll know when you die.”

“Yeah,” I laughed. “That will answer both questions.”

This conversation didn’t help me much. I still wasn’t sure if I believed enough. There had to be some way to know for sure.

As I was doing the dinner dishes a song popped into my head… And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they’ll know that we are Christians by our love. For a moment I wondered if that might be the answer. Maybe the way to know if I really believe is to see if I act like a believer. Do I love my fellow man? Do I try to keep God’s commandments?

Sure. I try. But I don’t always succeed.

Quickly, I realized this was not the answer to my problem. Believing that our faith is only real when we back it up with good works is a road that too easily leads to work righteousness. And that’s a dead end if there ever was one.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8, 9 (NIV)

So I knew that wasn’t right. But what was the answer? How would I know I believed enough?

It wasn’t until church that night that the answer finally came to me. Or rather, it wasn’t until church that night that I realized my tough question, “Do I believe enough?” was all wrong.

The sermon was based on Romans 8:28-30 (NIV):

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

As Pastor explained, these verses remind us that our being saved is not based on our will, our works, or even how much we believe in him- thank goodness! Faith comes through the working of God the Holy Spirit. He puts faith in our hearts. He nurtures it. He strengthens it. And he protects it.

So, how do I know it's true when I can't prove it?

I just do. Through faith I do.

Faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

I know I believe because God has put that faith, that belief, in my heart. And it’s not a faith in me or my worthiness or understanding. It’s a faith in Jesus, my Savior, who once said:

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 (NIV)

That’s me.

Blessed.

Blessed with faith.

Blessed by the Holy Spirit to believe in spite of my sins, in spite of my weakness, in spite of my doubts.

Blessed because he loves me.

So then, just what did Dr. Tackett mean by the question, “Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?”

For the answer to that question, I went to our class facilitator, and asked him if the discussion questions came with an answer key. They did. I asked if I could see it. He let me.

What Dr. Tackett was trying to say is that if you really believe there’s a God who loves you and is all powerful, why do you worry? If you believe that God, the creator of all, loves you and wants the best for you, why don’t you pray to him earnestly and often? In short, he was saying what the song I thought of while doing dishes says, They will know that we are Christians by our love, which comes straight from what Jesus himself said in John 13:35 (NIV):

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

I agree with Dr. Tackett, that a person ought to live a life consistent with the truths he or she believes, but I wonder how many may have heard him ask that question and misinterpreted it as I did, asking themselves, "Do I believe it enough?"

I hope not many.

But for those who did, I hope they ended up concluding as I finally did, our faith is a gift. And that gift is all sufficient, as it says in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV).

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

My Famous Sugar Cookies

Nothing says "I love you," like a homemade treat.
Surprise the ones you love this Valentine's Day with some yummy
homemade sugar cookies!


Of all the treats I have baked up in
my 25 years as a wife and mom,
these cookies are by far the most requested
and most highly praised.

They're soft, and tasty,
and... Oh, so pretty!

I also think they are great fun to make.
I think you'll like making them too.

Enough prelude...
let's get started!


Here's what you'll need:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup margarine or butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

For the frosting I always use the pre-made stuff as pictured here.
It tastes tons better than homemade.
And buying sprinkles and other candy toppings is always fun to do.
But don't buy red hots in the cake decorating aisle.
You'll find them cheaper in the candy aisle.

First, cream together the softened butter
(or margarine - I've used both)
and the powdered sugar.

Next, add the vanilla, almond extract and egg.

Then add the dry ingredients.

You don't want your dough to be
too dry and crumbly. But
you don't want it to be too sticky either.

If it's too sticky, you can either add a little more flour,
or refrigerate it for a few hours.

If your dough is too dry, there's not a lot you can do,
so be careful!

Next, we roll out the dough on a floured surface,
to about 3/16 inch thickness.

This is always my favorite part.

Warning: Do not give in to the
temptation to eat the scraps of
unused dough. Once you start
you won't be able to stop, and
it's not good for you.
(Do as I say.
Not as I do.)

Next, we cut out the cookies into our desired shapes,
e.g. hearts for Valentine's Day, eggs for Easter,
apples for Back-to-school,
(I have an extensive cookie cutter collection.)
and place them on cookie sheets.

Then bake them in a 375 - degree oven
for 7-8 minutes. That's what Betty Crocker says.
But you have to keep an eye on them.
The big ones take longer than the smaller ones.

You want them to come out just slightly
brown around the edges, and lightly brown underneath.

Once they've cooled
(or a day or two later - you can store them
in the refrigerator or even freeze
them if you don't want to do this next part right away.)
it's time to frost them.

As I said before, I prefer to buy my frosting.
I would even go so far as to say
the "secret" to my cookies is the
store-bought frosting. I guess what I am saying is
if you make these cookies, and then frost them
with homemade frosting, do not expect
to get the rave reviews like I always do.

'Nuf said.

Once you've covered the cookie in a "healthy" layer
of frosting, you can then add the candy sprinkles.

There are 3 ways of doing this.

1) the dunk method

2) The sprinkle method

3) and the hand-placing method, not pictured here
as I didn't have the time to fuss with placing each
little candy just where I wanted it.

And that's it!

Want to try one?
You can.

Either whip up your own batch,
or come to MVL Tuesday night
and stop by the Concession Stand.
They'll be for sale there for 50¢ each.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

P.S. Betty Crocker says this recipe yields 5 dozen cookies. I usually only get 3 - 4 dozen from a single batch. Not sure why. Maybe Betty uses smaller cookie cutters. Or perhaps she has more will-power than I do when it comes to those yummy scraps of dough. ( ;

Touched

I watched a pilot for a new show on Fox last week. It’s called “Touch,” and I’ll admit it. It touched me!

It’s about a boy and his father. The boy, Jake, is thought to be autistic. He doesn’t speak, and like most autistic children, doesn’t like to be touched. But Jake’s not really autistic. He’s gifted.

He doesn’t just see the world as we do, a bunch of people living random lives. He sees how we are all connected, and how what each of us does affects dozens, maybe hundreds, maybe even thousands of others.

So throughout the show Kiefer Sutherland, who plays the father, is trying to get through to his son. He longs to be able to communicate with the boy, but Jake seems to be in his own world. Finally, through a bunch of increasingly dramatic events, Kiefer begins to realize his son is trying to tell him something. He follows the clues, and eventually everything turns out as it was meant to. The show comes to a climax at the top of a cell phone tower in the midst of a storm. It’s there that Kiefer shouts to his son, “I hear you! I hear you!”

Slowly, Jake turns to face his father, looks him straight in the eye, and then suddenly jumps into his arms. What a moment!

Have you ever felt like Kiefer Sutherland? I have. So many times I think God is trying to tell me something, but I’m just not sure what it is. I get clues here and there. Bible verses seem to pop up out of nowhere that directly address something I’m struggling with. And then, all of a sudden, in the midst of the storm, I see. It all makes sense. “Lord,” I pray, “I hear you!” and immediately I feel His arms wrap around me. It’ll be okay. Everything’s going to work out just as it should.

I don’t know if “Touch” will be a big hit for Fox, or one of my favorite shows in 2012. But I do know, the first episode really got me thinking.


And now, Psalm 121.


Listen.



Maybe God’s trying to tell you something.