THE B-I-B-L-E, YES, THAT’S THE BOOK FOR ME, I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-i-b-l-e. That old Sunday school song I learned long ago still rings true for me. The reality of that Book has been a source of great comfort and great challenge throughout the whole of my life,
As I read over the stanza of the little Bible song, I notice that it states, “I stand alone on the Word of God.” I realize that it is conveying that God’s Word alone is the basis for life and practice as a follower of Jesus Christ. However, I also see that phrase is not fully correct, for I don’t stand by myself; I stand with others who stand. I stand with the church of Jesus Christ who has been standing upon God’s Word for over 2,000 years. I stand with other followers of Jesus, the Lord, who also stand upon that Word today. With those who, too, find their hope firmly stated in the written truth of God.
Yes, I stand on the Word alone, but I do not stand alone. I do not stand or believe alone, but I stand with others who seek and serve the Savior. This brings me comfort and challenge.
I am comforted by the fact that I do not have to know it all, or understand it all. I can learn, and be encouraged by others who are learners as well. I am challenged by the fact that I am called to help others to understand, and grow into maturity in Christ. Though I do not stand alone, I am responsible to help others to stand.
The Bible, yes that’s the Book for me, and I pray that it’s the Book for you as well. Let us stand alone on its truth, and let us stand together.

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, THE MESSIAH, DIDN’T HAPPEN in the heavenlies, or on top of Mount Olympus, or in some sacred sepulcher in a candle-lit sanctuary, but in the midst of a very ordinary graveyard. It didn’t take place on some high holy day, but on the first day of the week. A normal workday for the local society. An ordinary place, on an ordinary day, but with extra-ordinary ramifications for all of us ordinary people.
Truly, the life-bringing death and resurrection of the Lord of lords was glorious beyond description. It forever changed how we relate to God and how He relates to us. Jesus’ powerful resurrection was the declarative statement that God accepted the sacrifice that Jesus had provided on the cross in our place, and on our behalf. This ordinary life shall never be the same.
The resurrection matters, not just for the future promise of heaven in the “sweet by and by,” but it matters right now. Part of the hope-bringing reality of the resurrection is that it took place in the ordinary world. Not separated from us, but in the midst of us. The resurrection changes the ordinary world in which you and I find ourselves. The power of our Lord’s resurrection intersects in the everydayness of our lives. The truth of the Scripture’s statement, in John 14:19 “Because I live, you too shall live,” has bearing upon our everyday life, as well as our eternal one.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ did happen. It took place in our ordinary world to forever change our ordinary lives into something extra-ordinary. All because He is risen! He is risen, indeed! So shall we live!

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SATURDAY MORNING, with a much-needed break in our month of rain, I headed out on a run along West Cliff Drive. It was a great morning for a run, yessiree, but there were more runners out than I had expected, but after a few steps into my run, I realized that I was running with a bunch of old friends that I had never met before. They were from Team-in-Training, out for a 12-mile training run.

It didn’t take long before I drew alongside one of the Teammates and entered into a conversation about the wonderful work that Team-in-Training does. We talked of future races and the joys of training and running together and of course the beauty of the day unfolding before us. As we said our goodbyes and hailed a “Go Team!” I was stuck by how I was caught up in what they were doing, and how I was welcomed, even though I was not “officially” running for the Team this year. The main thing was we all knew the importance of raising funds for leukemia research, and the joy of running as we did so.

As I settled into my own cadence, I was drawn to think how the Church is much like running as part of the Team. It doesn’t matter that if you’re fast or slow. It doesn’t matter if you’ve run ten marathons or if this is your first foray into the world of running. What matters is that you want to help raise awareness and funds for an important goal – saving lives.

Is that not what it means to be part of the church? It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor or if you have great talents or not. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, been a follower of Jesus for years or just starting out. What matters is you want to help save lives through the proclamation of the good news about Jesus Christ. So, let’s lace up our shoes and hit the roads and together move toward the goal.

GO Team!