Happy Easter!

JESUS IS RISEN!  JESUS IS RISEN INDEED!
There is incredible weight behind these words.  The early Christians used this as a refrain to proclaim Jesus’ victory over the grave.  It is remarkable that today that refrain is alive and well in our churches 2000 years later.  Why?  Because we don’t remember just a great man who died and is still buried in the tomb.  We celebrate a Risen Savior who is alive and reigning!

Jesus completed and finished the work of sacrifice once and for all by dying as a payment for our sin.  Now the power of sin is broken. When the risen Jesus rolled up the burial linens to one side and the power of the glory of God broke open the tomb, He proved he was the Son of God.  In the Son is new life!  And then when He ascended, He sat down on the right hand of God, showing that His work was finished (Heb. 10:11-14).
As you celebrate Easter,  sit beneath the Cross.  I listened to this hymn by Ben Khong and Aaron Lee, and it’s been in my head all day.  Listen and be blessed!

Valentine’s Day Dinner at Chez Loo!

Believe me, I LOVE going out to a nice restaurant to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  But sometimes I think we men get off a little too easy.  All we need to do is drive her to the restaurant, and then your job is done.  The restaurant takes over – they take your order, prep and cook your food, and wash your dishes.  The most work you need to do is fork out money for the bill.  But is your wife celebrating Valentine’s Day with you or the Lawry’s sous chef?

So we started a tradition on Valentine’s Day where I open up “Chez Loo” for Christine.  It’s my chance to read through her massive collection of cookbooks, throw on an apron, and man up over a stove.  This is what I think is meant by loving my wife (Eph. 5:25-27) – sacrificing my time, sanity, and comfort zones (I could easily take 2 hours and prep a sermon for her instead – but I don’t think that’s her top priority at dinnertime). It takes real effort (especially for me as I’m still an amateur cook…I need step by step directions).  Most of all, it takes real heart.  Any husband can break open a can of potatoes and whip up something – but if it is not backed by a white-hot passion to romance your wife for the glory of God, it means nothing.

This year, I served my wife bone-in New York steak (about $3.60 each), lobster tail ($5 each from Vons), roasted asparagus (.99 lb), french onion soup, and topped it off with baked apple tarts for dessert.  I marinated the steak the day before with fresh grounded pepper, salt, and olive oil.  Her steak came out a juicy medium while mine was closer to medium rare.

To prepare the lobster tail, asparagus, french onion soup, and apple tarts, I used the Bride & Groom First and Forever Cookbook.  I highly recommend this book as it has easy to moderate recipes that any male cooking illiterate can follow.  By the way, this was my first time really baking.  I used the recipe for “nectarine tarts” for two, but since nectarines were out of season I used apples instead.  This came out really nice, but next time I need to coat the tarts with more apple jam/topping. I also forgot to sprinkle it with powdered sugar after it came out of the oven.  Overall, I think Christine really enjoyed it!

Reaching the Homeless, Helpless, and Hopeless

Who are the least of the least?  Who are the poorest of the poor?  Who are the the oppressed?

It was refreshing to serve alongside our Sunrise Grace church family tonight at our home church’s winter shelter.  If anything, it has been a couple years since we last hosted, yet it seems like God has grown us since the last time.   Our dear brothers and sisters at FCBC Walnut (along with the brothers and sisters from EFC East Valley) were such an encouragement to our church.  They were simply blown away by the joy and the love of everyone who served.  Many of our new members said, “Wow!  My view of the homeless and poor has been completely changed!”  Others said they were so blessed to see that the clients were so happy.  Why? It was because they are not tied down to material possessions.  They know what it’s like to struggle.  Many have faced addictions and death, drugs and alcohol abuse.  They’ve lost loved ones.  And yet for some of them, they’ve found that God is their sufficiency.  God is the only Person they need.

I long to know more of that trust.  Did not Jesus say that foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head?

I love how every person I meet has a story.  Every one has a name, a family, a past, and a future.  It is amazing to comprehend that God knows each of them by name, and He loves and pursues them deeply.  One of the guys I was talking to broke down crying as he shared his story.  Yet as I peered into their eyes,  can see the glory of God in them.  I don’t know, it’s a bit of a mystery to me.  But I feel a certain connection that is rare and different.    It reminds me of the time we led missions trips to URM and talked with clients.  He who is generous to the poor honors our Maker!

Merry Christmas!

I don’t know about you, but Caleb’s already trying to get into his presents.

I’m excited to spend Christmas day with our church family this Sunday. It’ll be a time of sharing blessings over a breakfast potluck, and then worshipping in the Word of God. I’m looking forward to a glorious time of celebrating not just Jesus’ birth, but also his resurrection that gives us new life. We’ll be spending the afternoon with our families as well, eating, singing, laughing, and more eating!

Have a Merry Christmas, everyone!