The "doubting Thomas" story is one that I love. But, I think it's only because I love to argue with it. I think I know what John wants to tell us. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe" refers to you and me. We didn't have the advantage of Thomas. But, I would argue with that. I believe, not because I'm brilliant or because of some accomplishment of my own. I believe because others have believed before me and have "shown" me the risen Christ plain as day. I believe because God has gifted me with a faith that doesn't come from within. Faith comes by hearing the Word and by the Spirit's work within me. I believe because I "see". When a woman who's faced abuse from the church can still find the faith to care for those whom Christ called "least of these" - I see the risen Christ plain as day. When a pastor creates a ministry in another city just because the need is there and for no selfish reason whatsoever, I see the risen Christ as plain as day. Thomas had to see to believe. So do I. We call Thomas "doubting Thomas" but for me he's believing Thomas. He offers the last confession of faith in the Gospel of John "my Lord and my God". Is Thomas' faith less than our own because he demanded proof? I don't think so. I do too. Fortunately, that prayer is one that Jesus chooses to answer everyday.

Sometimes I get discouraged about the church. I've been hurt by the church (as so many have been far worse than me), I've been disillusioned on many occasions. Most often I feel like we're just pretending, like we really don't mean what we say. We like Bible studies and church picnics but we really aren't so keen on giving up control of our lives to the one whom God raised from the dead. So, when I get discouraged I like to read this text we're looking at for this Sunday. John 20: 19-25 shows the disciples hiding behind locked doors, even after Jesus' resurrection has been reported to them. What kind of a church is this? The very disciples who followed so closely behind Jesus, who heard first hand his promise to return and to gift them with his Spirit, these disciples are cowering behind locked doors. That's no way to respond to Easter. You can't have a church like that! But, that's where they were on that first Easter evening. And Jesus' response is not like mine would have been. No smacking them on the wrists, no brow beating, but rather a word of grace; "peace be with you". That's the way of this God of ours. Just when you think they'd be given the boot Jesus' gifts them with his peace and even more importantly with his Spirit. Breathing the Spirit of the Risen Christ into their bodies and souls. Even locked doors couldn't keep Jesus' from bringing them his peace. Even locked hearts and crushed faith. I need to hear this story when I get so cynical and am tempted towards self righteousness. The church is flawed, it's too self protective, it's too concerned with rules and regulations and not enough with grace and forgiveness. It's filled with bureaucrats and it's more eager to serve itself than the world. But, it's still for all it's flaws the body of Christ. It's still the apple of Jesus' eye. It's still, despite all of us flawed and fallible members, the church that I love and have been loved by. So to all of us who are walking through this maze of life, trying to figure it out and stumbling along the way - Jesus has a word for us; "peace be with you".

I visited along with my wife Oneita today a mission called The Breakthrough Center in Buckroe area of Hampton. They offer lunch to anyone who would like to join them, clothing and emergency food, computer classes and resume writing. Most of all they are always ready and eager to pray. In meeting with the founders of this Center we were talking about future plans and what a vision they have! They were talking about the schools in Hampton that are going to be closed down and how wonderful it would be to get a hold of one of those buildings and put it to use for the benefit of the community. To be able to house folks who are without a home, to feed people, to mentor people, to do a host of things that are not being done through all the churches and agencies who help those in need. What a vision! I want to invite you to pray for this vision and to be a part of it. Volunteer your time, pray for the mission, tell others about it, make a donation - whatever it is that you can offer. It really feels like God is about to do some amazing, community changing things with all of the faithful folks that have been introduced to us at True North. The Lamb House, Breakthrough Center, Share Heart in Africa, Godparents for Tanzania, the Foodbank. I'm so excited to be a small part of the amazing work that the Spirit of the risen Christ is doing in our midst. I'm not sure exactly what God is up to - but I believe it's going to be even greater than we can dream of today!

The resurrection appearances of Jesus are all as interesting and mysterious as the accounts of Easter. In our first appearance Jesus' mysteriously shows up on the road to Emmaus. Two followers of Jesus are talking about all that had happened from Jesus' arrest through his crucifixion. And then the wild stories that his body was gone and women talking about him being raised up. Jesus talks with the on the road but they have no idea who he is (does he look different?). Jesus' opens up the scriptures to them to understand why he had to die and be raised again. But, still they don't know who he is. Finally, Jesus breaks bread, blesses it and suddenly, miraculously they recognize him. Why is it that we seem to understand who Jesus' is when we share the bread and the wine? What it is about that meal that Jesus' gave to us during that first Holy Week? This Sunday we'll talk about that but more importantly we'll experience it. We may not all experience it in the same way or have the same explanations of why it's so special. But, we'll recognize Jesus in the event. We'll experience his presence and perhaps even have our minds and hearts opened. Sadly, things like Communion have divided Christians over the years. A gift that was meant to do just the opposite. In the breaking of the bread we recognize and experience Jesus' presence. For you..for forgiveness. We hope you'll join us and that Christ will be made known to you and that grace will abound.

I received a great gift recently, a copy of The Message on audio CD. Now, you might be thinking that listening to books means that you're too lazy to read? Maybe, but, I think there's a particular value to hearing the Bible as well as reading it. The first stories of the Bible were past down for hundreds of years through oral tradition. There's a great power to hearing it. One of the things that has struck me just getting into Genesis is that the Bible is not a polite world. It's not the smile all day long kind of fairy tale that Joel Osteen spins. It's a world, just like ours, filled with violence, envy, jealousy, greed, love, forgiveness, grace. In other words, it's real! It's just like my life, messy, sinful, complicated, a struggle. It's also filled with gratitude and beauty and joy. I'm also struck by how different it is from the way most people talk about it. I've heard an endless train of people who talk about the mean God of the Old Testament and the loving God of the New. I find in hearing the stories of the Old and the New that there is both judgment and grace, law and gospel, blessings and curses in both testaments. Because we need law and gospel both to do the work that God is doing in us. Most of all, I'm just enjoying being drawn into a story where God has the first word and the last word and plenty of conversation that involves me in between. It will be interesting to see how listening to the word each day will shape and change my preaching and my everyday encounters. It's going to be an interesting ride!