Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

The truth be told, we like asparagas!  We have none of our own this year so this nice collection is Jane’s and Ari’s, our Amish neighbor.  We will be having our sons with us for lunch today when we will see what we can do with these beauties.  By the way, this is only a half!

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey‘s colt.” At first his disciples did not understand all this.

John 12:14 – 16

May I share with you my dream of last night?  I was trying to build a horse out of leather, straps, etc., that would carry Jesus.  It got more and more frustrating. Parts of the face looked rather good, others not. The more I tried to make the horse look good the more I just panicked. It seemed like the dream would never end, I was making no progress at all.  It went on and on.

Then I felt the scene changing.  I heard a voice, “See, your king is coming, seated on a donkey‘s colt.” Instead of me trying to construct a horse I saw Jesus riding, not on a horse, but on a donkey, a rather small one.  He was casual about it all.  He was perfectly happy on the common Jerusalem donkey!

The contrast between my frenetic drive to shape a horse and Jesus riding that donkey undid me.  Upon waking my heart said, “Jesus chose a donkey.”  I have been thinking about it.  My gallant efforts to make a horse for Jesus meant nothing.  I was frustrated.

All that feeling left me when I saw Jesus riding on that nondescript donkey.

This became a parable to me as I start the day.  I desire a horse and am busy trying to make one.  Behold, God provides a donkey.  I want a horse that I made.  Jesus gives me a donkey that I did not have any part in making, not one bit.  This picture shapes my day.

Am I Jesus’ donkey?

Yesterday was special for me.  Twila and Paul Leichty, having paid our way, took us to see a classical production of the life of Jesus at Sight and Sound.  They called it simply JESUS. It exceeded my expectations.  Thanks!

I sat there absorbed by the story that the theater knows how to tell.  Anna Ruth and I have seen several productions by Sight and Sound.  For me, this was the best ever.  It told the story of Jesus, staying pretty much with the text of the Gospels.  It had an eternal aura to it throughout.  I thought it was very well written and presented, leaving no doubt that it was JESUS, in his many different settings from feeding the thousands to saving his disciples from shipwreck, culminating with his crucifixion, rising and his ascension.

Almost every seat was occupied!  There is nothing else quite like it, in my opinion.  People come from far and wide.  I have no idea of the evangelistic effect of this production, but I do believe it is a blessing to many.

I left there, in a rain storm, but musing over the fact that people had the vision to bring the life of Jesus to the stage right here.  My prayer is that it continue to open the Bible in a new way, like with JESUS.

One of our favorite Spring flowers has to include the magnificent blooms of our old, old oriental cherry tree, here when we bought the place and blessing us every Spring.

Let us think for a moment about the author of the Book of Revelation, John of Galilee, son of Zebedee, younger brother of James, both of whom left all and followed Jesus. When Jesus revealed who he is, through teaching and self-revelation, John was in the group. John was obviously a favorite of Jesus.

As Jesus died on the cross John was with Jesus’ mother, Mary, looking on as Jesus suffered. John then saw Jesus, the Risen Lord. John received the baptism of the Holy Spirit along with other disciples. He heard Jesus teach for forty days about the arrival of the Kingdom of God.

That John served Christ as the leader of the churches of central Turkey, flourishing, suffering and witnessing to all. John wrote his gospel, letters to the churches and finally the Book of Revelation where he was serving a prison term as a Roman prisoner. The followers of Jesus knew prosperity and they knew persecution and suffering. John stands among them.

Now, how about today? The story goes on! We just gave our farewells to Amos and Esther Muhagachi of Tanzania who just spent the weekend with us and blessed us beyond measure. We spent some time thinking about the Mennonite church in Tanzania, eighty years of living history. That group has passed through times of marvelous blessing followed by times of excruciating pain when they were tested to the breaking point, times that were difficult. We remember the blessing and suffering, joy and pain, hope and dimmed faith, and much more. I know that story very well and rode the roller coaster of faith with them through good and bad times.

The story of the early church in central Turkey and the newer church in Tanzania have the same rhythm. The church in Tanzania is now experiencing unexpected blessing and growth. Twenty-five years ago, it was another story! Sitting with Amos and Esther, Anna Ruth and I listened and rejoiced. It all began to make spiritual sense. The Book of Revelation and the history of the Mennonite Church in Tanzania passed through the same cycles. I was amazed at the similarities. Why should I be surprised? Jesus is Jesus, God’s Spirit is God’s Spirit! This insight throws a light of hope and joy over all. I own it with all my heart.

May 12, 2018, Marie Stoltzfus was awarded her BS from Millersville University.  The day was overcast but not raining and the huge crowd in the stands loved the procession that passed before them.  I enjoyed the moment.  Anna Ruth was at home with our guests but in spirit she was there beside me, praising God for the joy of seeing Marie attain her first degree.  God bless her.

Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.  This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.

Psalm 118:19 – 21

“The gate of the Lord.”  I grew up with a gate at end of our walkway at home, many, many years ago.   When I came home and walked through that gate a special feeling came upon me.  There was a world outside, in which I just inhabited, and a more blessed world inside, home!  I can still feel the delight of opening that iron gate and rushing into the house.  Nothing else felt quite like that.

This experience helps me to understand God’s gracious gift, a gate that opens the way to fellowship with the Lord.  It is like passing from one world into another, from the huge world where I feel that I am a stranger to the more meaningful world by far, the world of walking with God, the world that opens to me when I open that gate!

I like the readiness of the psalmist – open for me the gates of the righteous.  I am comforted by knowing that any righteousness I may have is a gift of God, not my own doing.

I remember the click of the gate closing behind me as I ran into the embrace of our home.  That reminds me of a greater joy, the exhilaration of knowing I am saved by the sacrificial work of Jesus, not my own righteousness!

While trimming bushes yesteday I cut myself.  I enjoyed seeing the bright red blood cleansing the wound.   Blood is a marvelous thing, even a cleanser.