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Our "My Story" series has been a powerful testimony about how one encounter with Jesus forever alters our story. We met a despised tax collector, a woman with a colorful past, a blind man, a Pharisee, and a demon possessed outcast. These five individuals did not have much in common, aside from a firsthand experience of Jesus' grace and mercy. And just like the six Cedar Hillian's who shared their stories with us throughout this series, things were completely different for them after they welcomed Him into their hearts. Because that is what Jesus does. He changes lives and He transforms our stories. Much like the individuals we read about in the Bible, He is still at work in us today. But what about those stories that were never written? How many disciples did Jesus have? Trick question- we don't actually know. We do know that He had at least 72, though! In Luke 10, Jesus sends His disciples out and, empowered by His Spirit, they do incredible things. In verse 17, they exclaim, "Jesus, even evil spirits obey us when we use your name!" There were some who stuck with Jesus through thick and thin, all the way to the bitter (and very shocking) end, but there were others who started out strong then chose to walk away when the going got tough. And when they walked away from Jesus, their stories of transformation walked with them. Instead of reading their incredible stories in the Bible, they are nowhere to be found. But, there is a lesson in these untold stories, too, for they can serve as a wakeup call for some of us today. In Luke 9:57-62, we read a couple of conversations with potential followers: As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” He said to another person, “Come, follow me." The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family." But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Wow, so much for the meek and mild Jesus that we seem to hear so much about- these are some strong words! And they are words to remember today, for each man was invited to follow Jesus, but we quickly learn that there was something in the way for each of them. The first man, who we will call the Man of Comfort , was eager to follow Jesus. He didn't have to be asked! Matthew tells us that this man was actually a teacher of Jewish Law. These guys were not generally fans of Jesus, but we see a curiosity and a desire in this man. The teachers of Jewish Law believed that the Messiah would come to rescue Israel by leading a military coup against their Roman oppressors. So his declaration to follow Jesus meant that he would follow Him into battle, if need be. But Jesus could see that there was something holding this man back from full commitment. We don't know if it was his beautiful home, the security of his wealth, or maybe just the general comforts he had become accustomed to, but when Jesus called this out by stating that "the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head", our friend backed out. The second conversation was with the Man of Convenience . When Jesus extends an invitation, it's clear this man desires to follow Him. He wants to, but there is something holding him back. Social and familial obligations are vying for his attention and this would be a very inconvenient time to go all in with Jesus. So he requests to return home and take care of some things, then catch up with Jesus a little later. But Jesus calls him out, telling him to "Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead!" We don't know the rest of the conversation, but we do know that this man did not follow Jesus. This sounds not compassionate. Most would say Jesus was the most compassionate, so why is He responding this way? He is using strong language to say that spiritual commitments aren't an inconvenience. They are what is most important. Those who are spiritually dead- those who do not embrace or follow Jesus, that is- are focused on this life alone. But you are called to a kingdom that is greater! And if today is not the right time, then will there ever be a right time? And lastly we have the Man of Competing Commitments . Once again, we see a desire to follow Jesus, but the competing commitments back home are confusing things. He mentions family, but it could have been anything. His home, a business, animals, or community responsibilities could have been getting in the way. So Jesus says, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” We don't have to have experience plowing fields to understand this analogy. Let's look at mountain biking as another example: The basic rule of biking is where you look, is where you go. If you see a rock on the trail and you continue looking at it, you're going to hit the rock. If you look behind you, you're going to steer off the trail. The same is true with plowing. If you look behind you, you're going to veer off course and you won't plow a straight line. Jesus isn't saying that your family, or your business, or your life isn't important. His challenge was to stay focused on what's most important. And in 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Paul says the same thing. Don't lose sight of your purpose and your calling, don't be distracted by competing commitments, and serve a greater kingdom. Three conversations. Three men. Three stories that could have been told, but were never written. Jesus isn't begging for followers. In fact, it seemed as if he turned these three away because he demands unconditional trust and undivided affection. J.C. Ryle explained it well when he said, "Nothing has done more to harm to Christianity than the practice of filling the ranks of Christ's army with every volunteer who is willing to make a little profession." So what might be hanging you up? Jesus wants us to turn from our comforts , conveniences , and competing commitments to embrace Him fully. Lay it all down and follow Him. Let Him write you a new future, and a new story.

What Type of Animal are You? On Sunday, May 7th Pastor Eric shared a conversation he'd recently had with a friend. He talked about one of those personality tests that states what type of animal you are: a lion, an otter, a beaver, or a golden retriever. He told his friend that he was a lion. While usually tame, if backed into a corner he would not hesitate to claw, bite, and kill his way out. But upon reflection, he realized that it had been quite some time since he'd reacted that way... in fact, the work he had been doing to soften some of his "rougher edges" was apparent. Jesus had been changing him, indeed! And so he pointed out that, "I was allowing the reality of who I WAS to define the reality of who I AM! I WAS, but I no longer AM." Our talk picks up right after Jesus and his disciples have sailed across the Sea of Galilee and entered Gerasenes. This was a Gentile area, so Jesus was not well known in the region. In the first few verses of Mark 5, we meet a man with an "impure spirit" who lived in the tombs. We also hear about him in Luke 8, where we are told that he wandered around naked, with no shame. Upon meeting this man, Jesus learned that many had tried to bind him with chains, but he would break them, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. And so he stayed among the tombs and the hills, where he would cry out and cut himself with stones. How We Cope or Self-Medicate We often hear about the relevancy of the Bible in today's world, and this story is no exception. Cutting is a huge issue in our culture, specifically in younger people. It is likely that this man, not only being tortured by impure spirits, was forced to isolate after being driven from society. He was so overwhelmed by the darkness in his life, in himself, that he was cutting himself with rocks. Did it hurt? Without a doubt. But, it was a pain he could control. And it probably helped to numb the pain he would feel for the rest of his life. It's the same today- cutting is a distraction from the hard realities of life. It's a way that we can take control of our own pain. And isn't cutting just one of many ways we turn to distract ourselves from pain? Whether it's booze, hopping from one relationship to another, throwing ourselves into work, buying ALL the things we can't afford, watching porn, or cutting, the options to numb out the pain are endless. I'm sure many of us can relate to the feelings this man had- possessed by substances, desires, or spirits that we know are not from God, feelings of vulnerability, shame, loneliness, loss of control, or perhaps a desire to do harm to ourselves. And of all the people he could run into, he finds himself face to face with Jesus. In the next couple of verses, we hear the conversation between the two. The man says to Jesus, "What do you want with me? Don't torture me!" Which is a bit ironic, considering he lives alone in a graveyard, naked, howling and cutting himself, after being shunned- and occasionally bound up- by his fellow townspeople. And he doesn't want Jesus to torture him? It seems as if his life can only get better from here! But despite living a desolate life alone and tortured, there was security in what he already knew. And the enemy used that by planting the fear that Jesus may take away all that he knew. Don't we struggle with this very fear? That the pain we know is safer than the hope we don't know. How many of us have stayed in relationships that were toxic or abusive because at least we knew what to expect? How many of us have stayed in jobs that we couldn't stand, because the fear of starting something new or taking a risk was greater than the dissatisfaction of the current role? How many couples give up on their marriage, lacking any passion or adventure, because leaving is easier than putting in the work to build a healthy relationship? And how many of us have been in the clutches of addiction, slapping freedom down because the security of a bottle, some pills, a website or video game gave us a sense of security. Haven't we all cried out, "Please Jesus, don't torture me with hope of a better life"? Jesus knew how much this man had suffered. But he also knew that there was hope for this man. He knew the story that had yet to be written was far greater, and he invited him to step into this new story. After Jesus commanded the spirits to come out of the man, he asked, "What is your name?" And he replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many." In Rome, a legion was somewhere between 4000 to 6000 soldiers. This name tells us that there were a lot of impure spirits living in this poor man! But, because Jesus was well, Jesus, the spirits knew their time had come. They asked to be sent into some nearby pigs, and that was what Jesus did. Immediately, the entire herd ran into the water and drowned. The folks that had been tending the pigs ran and told those living in the town and countryside what they had just witnessed. As people showed up to see for themselves, they walked into quite a scene; there were somewhere around 2000 deceased pigs floating in the water, and the previously mad, naked man was now seated calmly and fully dressed. They recognized that Jesus was extremely powerful, but this power threatened their way of life, as well as their economy. They began to plead with Jesus to leave, and leave He did. But only after telling the man, "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has mercy on you." While this isn't the happy ending we may have hoped for, it's a happy ending nonetheless! Why? Because this man had a story to tell! The tale of the Crazy Cemetery Guy was probably told for years... Parents probably told their kids, "If you don't finish your dinner, Crazy Cemetery Guy is going to get you!". Kids probably dared one another to head out to the cemetery at night. Locals sometimes heard his howling off in the distance. This man was known. And now everyone hears his testimony. He travels from town to town telling everyone, "Yeah, that WAS me, that WAS my story. I WAS alone, hateful, angry, violent, possessed. And then one day, I came face to face with Jesus. And in His mercy, He spoke a few simple words to me and my life changed forever. I stand before you as a new man today. I AM free. I AM made new. I AM who He says I am." New Story - I WAS, but now I AM What Jesus did in His short interaction with the man was give him a new story. He looked beyond the demons, the bitterness, and the hurt, and he believed that something greater was in store for him. He gave him a new future and a new life. And then he told him to go tell everyone about the wonderful things the Lord had done for him. This applies to each of us today. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you have a story to tell. You might feel that yours is not as dramatic as this man's, but it is a story worth telling. Pastor Eric has shared his story with us before... in his early adult years, he shares that he was a judgmental, religious, and self-righteous Christian man. He measured everyone up to a standard that he had created, and if you didn't meet that standard, he didn't have time for you. But then, he came face to face with Jesus in a new way and all of the old was ripped away and he was made new. Made new by His mercy and grace, and a new understanding of His love. And Eric was a new man after that encounter. We ALL have a story to tell. And while we may respond like the man in this story did, begging, "Jesus, can I go with you?", He will tell us the same; go and tell EVERYONE what the Lord has done for you! Perhaps you have yet to have an encounter with Jesus. Or maybe there is something in your life that you need Him to talk away- addiction, fear, loneliness, self-hatred. Jesus wants to restore you, but you have to be willing to let go of the safe and familiar if you're going to experience new life. You have to welcome the opportunity to say, "I was allowing the reality of who I WAS to define the reality of who I AM! I WAS, but I no longer AM."

This past Sunday, Pastor Alyssa McLaughlin shared the beautiful story of Nicodemus and his encounter with Jesus. For those of you who do not know him, Nicodemus was a very intelligent man. He was a member of two elite groups: the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin. A modern day example of the Sanhedrin would be something similar to Congress, but centered around religion. This was a group of 71 men who were not elected, but rather deemed more knowledgeable about Jewish laws than the previous member. Simply put, you had to be wicked smart to be a part of the Sanhedrin. And the Pharisees were a group of Jewish men who knew everything there was to know about commandments, laws, and prophecies. Something to note here is that in these times, all of this knowledge was simply retained. You didn’t have Google, or even an encyclopedia, to rely on if you needed a refresher. You had to really know your stuff to be a part of either of these groups. Rules and laws were their love-language. From things like “Don’t plant more than one kind of seed in a field”, to “Don’t eat owls” (most owls, anyway- apparently barn owls are acceptable for food), they had a law for everything. The men in these groups studied the Scriptures night and day. They followed not only the 10 commandments, but also the 613 laws in the Torah, and the thousands of oral laws that were passed down to clarify both the 613 laws, as well as the 10 commandments. Now, because other groups of Jewish people were not as consumed with abiding by all of these laws, the Pharisees felt as if they were responsible for upholding the law in the midst of a Roman culture that was very worldly. In all of their knowledge of the Old Testament prophecies, Nicodemus and his cohorts were confident in their belief that a Savior was going to come and save them from the oppressive rule of Rome, returning the Jewish people to their rightful place on top. So now that we know more about the kind of man our friend Nic was, we enter into his story in the Bible during Passover, a Jewish celebration when hundreds of thousands of people flocked to the city of Jerusalem. Previous chapters in the Bible also alert us to the fact that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, too. During this time, the Pharisees populated the temple because they were relied upon heavily for their spiritual and legal knowledge. This was their moment to shine, as so many would have sought them out to learn more about the upcoming sacrifices. Additionally, the Pharisees invited money changers and animal breeders to set up in “The Court of the Gentiles”, where foreign coin was exchanged for acceptable temple coin, and sacrificial animals were purchased- all at inflated prices, of course (but because this was in the name of worshiping God, there was no need to worry about the Pharisees lining their pockets with a portion of the profit). The Court of the Gentiles was intended to be a place where non-Jews were allowed to come and worship God. But instead, Jesus found the Pharisees, a bunch of smelly animals, and the money changers, preventing the Gentiles (non-Jews) from doing so. At this point in the story, we already know that the Pharisees were not a fan of Jesus. They doubted that this man, who performed miracles, healed on the Sabbath, and taught His ever-growing ministry, was the long awaited Savior of the world. And when Jesus saw that the gentiles were being prevented from worshiping the one true God, He was angry. So angry that He fashioned a whip and cracked it to scatter the animals, then he flipped tables and chased the Pharisees out. The Pharisees were accustomed to being right, being the upholders of the law, and being the ones who told others what to do, and they were not a fan of having the tables literally flipped on them. They made up their minds to find a way to take Jesus down. At least, all of them except Nicodemus. Something about Jesus stirred up Nic’s curiosity . He wondered if Jesus might be who He said He was. And so, he went to visit Jesus at night. The Bible doesn’t explain why he went at night, but some possible explanations could be that he was nervous his friends would find out, or perhaps he assumed Jesus wouldn’t be surrounded by crowds at this time. There could be a number of reasons, but we don’t really know. We do know that Nicodemus greeted Jesus respectfully, by calling him Rabbi (which means teacher), and Jesus responded by telling Nic that he must be “born-again”, which means that one can’t simply do all the right things on the outside, but they also must have a true heart change. Jesus says, “No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5) Jesus knew that Nicodemus studied the words of the prophet Ezekiel, which say, “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” (Ezekiel 36:25-27) Jesus was connecting the dots for Nicodemus, because this verse speaks of being born of water and of His Spirit, who lives in us. Jesus was inviting Nic to begin fresh and new, to relearn everything as a baby does when they are born into this world. This invitation would have been very scary for someone like Nic, who was known for having all of the knowledge and experience. But, in addition to being curious about Jesus and His teachings, Nic was also humble in that he admitted to not having all the answers. He asked Jesus to clarify, saying, “Certainly I can’t go back into my mothers womb?” In those days, asking such a question was a sign of respect, deferring to the wisdom of another teacher, rather than due to a lack of understanding. Jesus answered Nic, and the conversation continued. I would encourage you to read John 3:13-21 to see how the conversation wraps up, but I would like to note here that one of the most well-known verses in the Bible were words that were spoken to our friend, Nicodemus. These are words you may have memorized as a child, or read on a poster at a baseball game. John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Simply put, Nic was told that it was never about good deeds or checking the right moral boxes, but rather it has always been about Jesus. We don’t know what happened in Nicodemus’ heart that day, or how his story ended, but we do know a few more details about the impact Jesus had on him that night. In John 7, we learn that Nicodemus boldly challenged his peers and questioned his colleagues when they attempted to arrest Jesus without a trial. You can’t help but wonder if he went home and reread the scrolls about Moses and the snakes, if he put it all together as Jesus hung on the cross… That just as man brought sin into this world, Jesus came to be the ultimate sacrifice lifted up on the pole, that whoever believes in Him wouldn’t perish but have everlasting life. Perhaps when he thought back on Jesus overturning tables and scattering animals from the temple, he realized that Jesus was fulfilling every need for sacrifice. Did the term “born again” become clear to Nic as he poured over the words Ezekiel wrote about the water and the Spirit? It’s safe to say that that one encounter with Jesus changed his story forever. The last time we hear about Nicodemus is in John 19, following the death of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea asked for Jesus’ body so that he could give him a proper burial, and Nic accompanied him, bringing along 75 pounds of perfumed burial ointment. This number has been researched and in modern day prices, that equates to about $200,000 in burial spices! This was an amount only spent on kings. Some might say that by doing this, Nic was declaring Jesus as king. One encounter. One conversation under the cover of night and Nicodemus, the respected Pharisee and member of the elite Sanhedrin, was willing to risk it all. He was not only curious about this man, Jesus, but was humbled in His presence, and bold in his defense of Him. So let’s take a page from Nic’s book. Be CURIOUS . What if Jesus actually is who He says He is? What if He can actually change, take your heart of stone and replace it with a tender and responsive heart? One that hears the voice of the Lord and responds. Be HUMBLE . Maybe we don’t have it all figured out, maybe we have lived our entire lives believing that we can control everything, and we think we know everything there is to know about God; but if we are honest, that has left us dry, calloused, and full of resentment. Maybe it’s time to humble ourselves, and ask Him into our lives… And not just a part of it, but all of it. Lastly, let’s be BOLD . At some point, you just have to make the leap. Be the odd person out in the group, being willing to place your faith in Jesus and be born-again and be willing to risk it all for Him, the true King of kings! Because it is true, He is who He says He is.