I love Spring.  The bright colors, fresh smells, cool breezes, warm sunshine, rainstorms, turning the heat/AC off at night and sleeping with the windows open, eating meals outside instead of inside, and being able to be outside without sweating all make Spring one of my favorite times of the year.  Springtime shows us the glory of God’s creation in ways that Winter, Summer, and Fall do not.  But springtime also shows us something else.  If we look at springtime with biblical eyes, we see resurrection.  During Spring, the Lord [...]

At the beginning of his Gospel, the apostle John described Jesus as “the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (1:14).  Then he adds that Jesus was “full of grace and truth.”  John is saying that Jesus’ glory was seen in his unmerited love for sinners and in his revelation of what is real.  Jesus is “full of grace of truth.”  But sometimes Jesus’ followers are not, especially when we are confronted with [...]

Did you know that Jesus only describes his heart one time in the Bible?  In Matthew 11:28-30, he says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Notice that Jesus doesn’t say, “I’m serious and severe in heart,” or, “I’m dignified and distinguished,” or even, “I’m happy [...]