Can it be that it is Back-to-School time again? As with any school year there are plans that must be made and challenges to face. When it was time for my own four children to start back to school, there were new shoes and jeans to buy. School fees and lunch money added up. Later, they needed cars and planes tickets as college took them far from home. It was a time that we needed to have some extra money. But extra money was as hard to come by then as it is now now. Fortunately for us, there were grandparents to help. Many families need a little help to get their students off for the new school year.

First Baptist Church of Arlington has tried to help some in our community. For the third year we are filling back packs provided by The Salvation Army and giving them out to Arlington students. This is an outreach to let people know that we want to help them. We have met many new people and a question they often ask is,” Why would your church do this?” Our answer comes quickly as we explain that we do it to show Christ’s love for them. Sometimes they look confused, but often their eyes fill with tears as they realize the church gives out the back packs, but they are really a gift from God. I think about the scripture about offering a cup of water in Jesus’ name. Here we are offering back packs in His name.

Our plan for this year was to fill 40 back packs, but when they were delivered there were 60 instead of 40. Did someone make a mistake or did God know how many were needed in Arlington? We accepted the challenge of the extra back packs and will have them ready to distribute next week. We praise God for this opportunity to serve others in His name.

Easter came to New England again. And the Lenten season leading up to it was a journey we took together as we followed Jesus toward the cross. We met on Thursday evenings in the chapel and discussed various ideas about the cost of the cross and Christ's sufferings there. Different lay people lead each week. It was a time of rich blessings for those who attended. Then we stood together on Maundy Thursday and ended the service in quiet and darkness as we focused on the sacrificial death of our savior. Easter Sunday came with great rejoicing as we celebrated Christ's resurrection and his victory over death.

This seems very important to us as a church family now as we plan a memorial service for one of our own next Saturday. Last month, Pastor Jon wrote about how the resurrection matters. Now we confront it face to face as death has come among us. Our hope for tomorrow is built on the blood Christ shed on the cross as a forgiveness of our sin and his victory over death that first
Easter.

Now what? Some forty years ago, Jon and I traveled to Switzerland to study with the theologian Francis Schaeffer who wrote a book entitled "How Should We Then Live." I find myself thinking over and over about his title. Easter has passed and now, how shall we then live? Someone we love has died, how shall we then live? We find that answered in last Sunday's text from Matt. 28: 19, 20 when Christ commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are to teach these new disciples to obey God's commands. That passages ends with the assurance that He will be with us always.

But how do we do that? Our lives are busy, our families demanding, our jobs difficult. We are now having a four week study to help prepare us to do just that. Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Church in leading us through a DVD study on personal evangelism. His answer to the question, "How shall we then live?," is to Just Walk Across the Room and share the good news of Jesus Christ. I invite you to join us as we continue this journey.

As we have journeyed through the gospel of John in the Women’s Bible Study on Saturday mornings. I have been amazed at how many gospel passages have been set to music. Eleanor and Harriet, who are much more musical than I, often nod and smile as tunes come to mind and the scripture sings to them. In that light I have though of some of my favorite hymns of the season. For example, as we follow the path of Christ to Calvary:

“All Glory, Laud and Honor” verse 1 represents Palm Sunday

“All glory, laud , and honor to thee Redeemer King.

“To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.

“Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David’s royal Son,

“Who in the Lord’s name comest, The King and blessed one!”

“One Day” verse 3 represents Good Friday:

“ One day they lead him up Calvary’s mountain,

“One day, they nailed him to die on the tree:

“Suffering anguish, despised and rejected,

“Bearing my sins, my redeemer is He.”

But then after the blackness and sadness of Good Friday, Easter comes, and we sing “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”:

“Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia!

“Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia!

“Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

“Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth reply: Alleluia!

Thanks to you, Lord Jesus, for dying in our place on Calvary. We rejoice this season that you were victorious over death, and because of that we will be, too. Amen

The Women’s Bible Study on Saturday morning has become a special part of my spiritual life. We are dong an in depth study of the Gospel of John. Chapter after chapter we have seen how God revealed his son Jesus through the observations of his disciple John. We have been able to catch a glimpse of Jesus and his life and work on earth. So the question arises of what does this all mean to me? How can the the scripture come alive in our individual lives?

Let’s look at this idea through the familiar passage of the 23rd Psalm. It was written by David and is the best known of the messianic psalms. It pictures the Lord as a shepherd. This metaphor is picked up in the New Testament in John 10: 11 where Jesus is called the good shepherd. So what do we know in the 21st century urban America about shepherds? Let’s see:

The Lord is my Shepherd - that’s a relationship!
I shall not want - he provides my needs.
He makes me lie down in green pastures - he gives me rest.
He leads me beside the still waters - he refreshes me.
He restores my soul - he heals me emotionally and spiritually.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness - he guides me.
For his name sake - he gives me purpose for my life.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - he knows that I will face difficulties in life.
I will fear no evil - he will protect me.
For You are with me - he is faithful.
Thy rod and staff comfort me - he disciplines me.
He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies - he gives me hope.
He annoints my head with oil - he consecrates me.
My cup runs over - he gives abundantly above my needs.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - he blesses me.
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord - he provides security.
Forever - he will be with me for eternity.

So we can not only see Jesus in this scripture, we can also see ourselves. What a gift! What joy! Praise be to God!