At times it can seem like our world (our personal world or the world at large) is completely out of control, and we keep getting blindsided by the unexpected. But I would like to remind you of the hope that is available.

One of the most beautiful songs written in the last year is “Is He Worthy?” by Andrew Peterson and Ben Shive. In the short time it has been released, a few more artists have recorded it, the most noteworthy being Chris Tomlin, whose version is dominating the airwaves.


However, I would like to share the original version by Andrew Peterson with you. I didn’t post the lyrics as the song is so beautiful that you should just listen to it first. YouTube can provide you with all the other versions should you wish to hear them.

I am sure this song will speak to your heart and provide the encouragement you might need.

Tomorrow is Easter. The day Jesus Christ rose from the grave and provided a means of salvation and eternal life for all.

Skeptical? Well––Don’t overthink. Don’t overanalyze. Why?

In philosophy there is a a principle called Occam's razor (or Ockham's razor), which says that if there exist two explanations for an occurrence or event, the one that requires the least speculation is usually better. Another way of saying it is that the more assumptions you have to make, the more unlikely an explanation.

So here are just a few of the resurrection facts:

He was pronounced dead on the cross.
He was buried that same day, and the tomb was sealed with a Roman seal.
The Roman guards were under penalty of death to protect the tomb.
Sunday morning the tomb was empty.
The body has never been found.
Many saw him alive after his death and burial––500 at one point.
The disciples ran and hid in fear when he died, but after the resurrection all were willing to die (and eleven did) for the risen Christ.
Resurrection accounts were written during this time and none were disputed.
Lives were and have continued to be changed.

Immediately after the resurrection and throughout history many theories about the empty tomb have been proposed, but all require more speculation than the facts suggest, and that is––he is risen.

Enjoy one of my favorite songs of the season by one of my favorite artists ever. It is the Easter morning story told from the apostle Peter’s perspective. He is risen indeed.

My birthday is coming up quickly, which gives me an opportunity to reflect on some of those special gifts I received over the years.

Growing up, my family was on a pretty tight budget as I am sure most families were. In order to keep us from constantly asking for things (at least I think this was some of the logic behind it), we were told that on certain special occasions, we would get a certain gift, and that would be the only time we would be given such a gift.

For instance, when we were nine, we received our one and only new bicycle. If anywhere down the road we wanted another one, then we would have to buy it. When we graduated from eighth grade we got a watch. When we were sixteen, a stereo or something similar of our choice. (I chose a tape recorder. No idea why.) When we graduated from high school, it was a typewriter––electric.

These gifts were very special, and to this day I still have the bike and the watch. But as special as these were, I think the most memorable gifts were the ones that were complete surprises regardless of when they were received or who gave them to me:

That an unexpected check from my already too generous parents.
The acoustic guitar my brother bought me when I was in high school. (He woke me up at midnight and said, "This is for you." Then left. Always a master with words.)
A card in the mail from someone special.
A handmade card and spiced pecans from a wonderful friend to welcome be home from my travels.
The three pennies and a dime from my three-year-old niece when our van died at their house one vacation. (She took back the dime.)

God also promises us certain specific gifts: the gift of salvation, of grace, of the power to stand. But he also loves to give us those unexpected gifts that sometimes come in the most surprising ways. Ann Voskamp illustrates this so wonderfully in her book One Thousand Gifts, as she finds God’s gifts in a sunrise, a child’s smile, or a bird’s song. At other times, though, these gifts are wrapped in pain. But any gift from God is both good and perfect despite what the packaging might suggest (James 1:17). Let us be aware and grateful of all of God’s gifts, both big and small, obvious or a bit obscure.

Every year or two I try to read through the entire Bible. I do a pretty good job through Genesis and Exodus. By Leviticus I lose speed as I get lost in the all the laws,  sacrifices, and offerings. Then I hit Numbers, and I fall into a stupor.

There is a lot of counting going on in Numbers, as Aaron and Moses have to count a lot of people for a lot of different reasons. Then there is the counting of bulls, rams, lambs, and loaves of unleavened bread. But something happened this year when I hit Numbers.

First of all I need to give you a bit of a backstory. A friend of mine, who belongs to a neighboring golf club (for which she is forgiven) told me about the Expressions One Year Bible. It is ordered by date, and with each date is an Old Testament reading, a New Testament reading, a Psalm (or part of one), and a verse or two of a Proverb. That right there is a plus as I don’t have to flip from the Old to the New and then back, which would always allow me an opportunity to depart before I finished.

The second plus is that it is written in the New Living Translation, which means it is a paraphrase and so much more readable. Perhaps that is why I finally noticed something in Numbers I had never noticed before.

It was March 5. I was working my way through Chapter 4, a chapter all about the different clans of Levites and their duties, and trying very hard to feign interest. Then I read about the clan of Merarite and what their job was, and I quote. “Their only duty at the Tabernacle will be to carry loads” (verse 31).

Now that may not be a eye-stopper for you, but it was for me. The Kohathite clan dealt with the most sacred objects and have almost sixteen verses discussing their duties. I bet they felt pretty special. But the Merarites have only two verses and their only job was to “carry loads.” However,  God did say in verse 32 to “assign the various loads to each man by name.”

Sometimes it seems that God has not given us a very glamorous role to play in his kingdom, but we have to remember two things. First, each role is necessary (someone had to carry the loads), and second, each one was designed specifically for us (“assign the various loads to each man by name”).

So let us embrace the work God has given us, and “do it all for the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31b).