One More For JC

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad. (Proverbs 12:25) 17 years later and the sadness of 9/11 is still fresh.  I wake up with a sorrow in my heart, and brace for the tears that will undoubtedly flow at some point during the day.  As the TV replays the images and horrors of that day, it’s like seeing it all again for the first time.  As the sadness grows, at some point I always venture over to my work’s email ‘Search’ box and type the word ‘alive’.  I quickly look for the one with the subject line ‘WTC’ and dated 9/12/2001.  I double click the message and smile as I see the words from my friend saying, “FZ, I’m alive!”  I usually let the message just sit there on my screen for awhile, and let that image overpower all the bad ones.  At some point I finally decide to close it, but before I do, I lift up a prayer of thanks for a friend that I thought I had lost, and for these two words from him that will always t...

Honor your father and mother - which is the first commandment with a promise -   so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.  (Ephesians 6:2-3) It’s been 12 years since I last celebrated my Dad’s birthday.  As my family nestled into a hospice room to sing happy birthday to him that June 8 th , I knew time was short.  I remember all the fears I had of leaving things unsaid, especially those of a spiritual importance.  In one of our conversations that day, my Dad talked about how quickly life goes and urged Dee and I not to waste any of that time, but to fill it with love.  Later that weekend to my surprise, he asked me to bring the bible.  I went home to get it, rushed back, and prayed for the Lord’s guidance to help me find the most meaningful scriptures to share with my Dad.  After a while, I finally worked up the nerve to ask him if he knew where he was going. As he pointed to the sky, I assured him ...

It was nine in the morning when they crucified him…And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice,  ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’  (which means  ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ ).  When some of those standing near heard this, they said, ‘Listen, he’s calling Elijah.’  Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.  ‘Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,’ he said.  With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. (Mark 15:25, 15:34-37) Growing up, I must have said the following words from the Apostles’ Creed thousands of times: “ For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried.”  I said it so often the sting of the final few words got lost on me after awhile.  But last year, in reading the gospel of Mark, the above verses really hit home: “It was nine in the morning when they crucifie...

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11) My aunt just posted a picture from Christmas Eve from a few decades back from my grandparents’ home – it shows a pile of gifts overflowing the tiny living room in their tiny house.  Their home was always way too small and way too hot, but somehow it was always perfect.  What that home lacked in size was more than compensated for by love.  Christmas Eve was always my favorite day of the year – not just for the gifts coming my way – but because it was the one day of the year I could see almost all of my family members.  It was also the day I got to indulge on my grandmother’s cooking (and each pierogi and stuffed cabbage that she hand-crafted for countless hours to perfection). :)  As a young boy, I remember continu...

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. (Romans 8:28) I’ve been a Boston Celtics fan for almost 40 years – there have been a lot of high points to my fandom over the years, but Tuesday night was certainly one of the lowest.  For the past couple years, I’ve been hoping against hope that Gordon Hayward would join the team in free agency, and to my delight this past summer he did this just that.  Throw in an unexpected trade for another superstar in Kyrie Irving a month or so later, and this was a team I was really looking forward to watching all year.  But Tuesday night, just 5 minutes in to his Celtics tenure, Hayward jumped, came down awkwardly, and fractured his ankle and tibia.  A new team, a new season, and a new dream – all gone in 5 minutes; it was beyond heartbreaking.  Having endured a similar injury myself almost 25 years ago playing basketball, I ...

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us. (2 Corinthians 1:10) I love the song ‘ Do It Again ’ by Elevation Worship.  However, it is admittedly an extra-emotional walk through the journey of my life… “Walking around these walls – I thought by now they’d fall. But you have never failed me yet.” – And I get taken back to the four walls in my bedroom in NJ and the depression I battled for years in the 90s, clinging to the hope that the Lord would one day help me break free. “Waiting for change to come – knowing the battle’s won. For you have never failed me yet.” – And I get taken back to 2006 praying for the Lord to end all the months of suffering for my Dad and Grandmother, and take them to a better life. “I know the night won’t last – your word will come to pass.  My heart will sing your praise again.” – And I get taken back to those long days in 2015 when I ...

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13) “Good Friday – Gratitude not Guilt” - a friend of mine just posted that on Facebook, and what a great reminder that is.  I can recall growing up dreading Good Friday – carrying what felt like a ton of guilt throughout each one of those 24 hour days (not to mention all the hatred and resentment I felt for those responsible for crucifying Christ).  Little did I know at the time, but sadly I was one of those people – as Christ willingly laid His life down to save all sinners, most notably me.  Ironically with that knowledge, came increasing thanksgiving not increasing guilt – for I came to realize that we have a Savior that loved us so much He was willing to give all, even death on a cross. I never understood why Good Friday was called good – Horrible Friday always seemed more appropriate – but as my gratitude for what Christ did on that day continues to grow, so does the ...