i'm sitting at the computer, preparing an easter lesson for kids' church. i'm planning how to share with the kids the amazing story of Jesus who endured suffering and gave his life for MY wrongs, and yours, and who beat death, miraculously coming back to life so that we, anyone who accepts the truth of what He did, can live...now and forever...with God. it's the story of God meeting our deepest and most eternal need through Christ...of our brokenness made whole by His wholeness broken...

and as i'm preparing that lesson i have received a text from a friend dying of cancer. she is not a believer in the truth of what Christ did for her. she's heard the story, but is scared to believe it. she can not think of eternity, because she is convinced doing so will end her life here...the only life or truth she knows...that which can be seen and touched and smelt.

she is gripped by fear and seeking help in a man she calls "teacher", a shaman, who may have dark power in this life, but can do nothing for her eternity. he meets with her any time she calls...for a price...a hefty price...equivalent to most people's salary for a month! he tells her what rituals she and her family must perform if she is to get well, he tells her what wrong she has done to deserve her own misfortune, he takes her fear and controls her with it, telling her what to drink, eat and even wear.

she has asked for my help, financially, so she can meet with this man once again. she is suffering and wants it to end. she begs me, saying that if i can help her in this way i can ease her suffering. she can not understand that her suffering goes so much deeper than her cancer...that the help i have to offer is of eternal value because all she sees, all she's ever known is the here and now. she can not understand that this life is simply a speck, and that to live a thousand lifetimes here on earth and die for eternity is the most tragic of all misfortunes...

i have not yet answered her, because i don't know how to fight in this battle. consistently i feel like a child wielding a sword...

Lord, how do i help someone who misunderstands her own need? how do i convince her that this life matters so little compared to eternity? how can i help her understand that death is not scary if your life is in the hands of the Creator? how can i truly understand anything of what she's feeling?....

and so i pick up my sword....but the battle is not mine...

knock knock...

if you're around our house for longer than 30 seconds, you can be sure you will be subjected to the comedic abilities of our hilarious children. for those who can't make it to our house, allow me to bring the comedy to you:
















of course their repertoire extends far beyond the world of "knock knocks"....we'll save those for another show....