The other day, Nathan and I were playing and he said, “I miss Mexico.” He loves being in Florida with his family, but there are times when he misses Mexico, too.
We’ve been in the US since early June, and we’re all missing some things.
Here are the things I’m missing about Mexico.
- Our home – there’s just something about having your own space. Nathan definitely misses his toys and his room in Mexico. I miss having my own space, too.
- Seminary students – I miss hanging out with my students and seeing them everyday. I also miss just working at the seminary. I’m sad that I’m missing orientation week next week. I want to meet the new students.
- The park in our neighborhood – we’ve got a great little park that is two streets away from our house. It’s like having our own park with a gigantic slide (picture), swings (video), and some green space to play in.
- The weather – Contrary to popular belief, it’s not always hot in Mexico City. In fact, the weather in Mexico City is much better than the weather in Florida. I miss the cooler air, and I’m looking forward to getting back to it.
- Our church – We go to PIB Satelite (First Baptist of Satelite), a large church that meets at the Seminary campus. I miss attending and also participating in the youth ministry there. I’m hoping we can be more involved there when we go back.
The good news is that we finally have a date to go back. We’ll be flying out of Miami on September 18.
The account of the resurrection in Matthew 28 sounds crazy to me. The author seems to be talking out of his mind.
“There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.”
You know how things get skewed when you are excited? I imagine that the account is somewhat like that. I can imagine that the author was flustered, trying to put into words what he had seen, saying, “There was an earthquake, and then, there was an angel. He looked like lightning. He was glowing. His clothes were as white as snow. All the guards were like dead men.”
Unfortunately, we usually tell it with a monotonous tone of voice, as if we’re not excited to hear it. One day, I want to see someone burst into a church service with the kind of excitement that I read in that passage. “You’re not going to believe me, but here’s what I saw.”
That’s the craziness of the resurrection. It’s wild. It’s unheard of. It’s something that will change your life radically. It changed the lives of the disciples who were scared out of their minds in Matthew 27, and now in Matthew 28 (and Acts), they went on to change the world. That’s what the resurrection can do to you.
(image by: dbarronoss)
It’s Good Friday, the day when we remember Christ’s suffering and death on the cross. Here are some of my thoughts on what the cross means to me.
Demonstration of ultimate sacrifice: (Philippians 2:1-8) If the King of Heaven and Earth could sacrifice that much, I ought to be able to sacrifice myself for the lives of others. I ought to pour myself out in service to others as Christ did for me. What must I do to sacrifice for others?
Expression of incomparable love: (John 15:13) Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. God loved me enough to send Jesus to die for me; I ought to be able to love others even if I don’t agree with them, and even when they hate me. What can I do to express love for others in every moment?
Complete forgiveness of sins: (Matthew 6:12, 14; Luke 23:34) Jesus forgives completely. It’s not a partial forgiveness, and I must forgive others. In my life, what must I do to forgive others? How can I forgive others?
Undeserved gift – keeps me humble (Galatians 6:14) – I cannot boast about anything because I have done nothing to deserve what God has given me. I have failed in every attempt to please God. It is only because of His love and the cross that I can do anything. What must I do look beyond what others “deserve” to be more like Jesus?
Example of total surrender: (John 3:16) “In our surrender, we must give ourselves to God in the same way He gave Himself for us – totally, unconditionally, and without reservation” (Chambers, March 13). God’s surrender is an example to me of what my surrender to Him should be. How can I surrender myself more to the One who surrendered Himself completely for me?
(Image by: paperbydesign)
