From the pulpit

Excerpts from messages being presented at area places of worship this weekend.

Milan Kunz, president, Nebraska Mission, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

During the 40 days following the glorious resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ, on Easter Sunday, there are 11 recorded instances when He appeared to people before His ascension into heaven. Some of those appearances include: Mary Magdalene near the sepulchre (Mark 16), two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24), 10 of the apostles and others at Jerusalem (Luke 24), apostles at the Sea of Tiberias (John 21) and apostles at the time of the ascension near Bethany on the Mount of Olives (Acts 1).

Why would the Savior visit so often following His resurrection? “To whom also He shewed himself alive after His passion by many infallible proof, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:” (Acts 1:3)

He clearly wanted His followers and future readers of the New Testament to know that He is the Son of God, that He truly broke the bands of death, and that He rose on the third day as prophesied by prophets of old.

The resurrection is significant for us because it signifies that we will live again beyond our mortal earth life. Everyone can be assured of life after our mortal existence, and we hope for an eternity with the Savior as we accept Him and follow Him.

Rabbi Mordechai Levin, Beth El Synagogue

After the revelation at Mount Sinai, God called to Moses (Exodus 24:12): “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there.” These words seem redundant. If Moses ascended the mountain, of course he would be there. So why does the text add “and be there”?

The answer is that even for one who physically reaches a mountaintop, his mind may be elsewhere. Therefore, God not only wanted Moses to be there in the physical sense: He also wanted him to be there with his mind and heart.

Moses' way up to the mountain can serve as a model for each of us during our lifetime. Sometimes we are with our family or friends in a physical sense, but we are not really there.

We may be face to face with a loved one or a friend, and yet our thoughts are in another place. We may live with a spouse for many years but communicate very little. We may eat dinner with our family members, but each of them may be doing something else, such as reading the newspaper, watching TV, talking on the phone, texting or surfing the Internet.

How many times do we miss these moments with them? We are physically there, but not really there.

Whatever we do in the mundane and transcendent dimensions of our lives, whenever we try to communicate with others or with God, we need to be there, to be fully present, and to pay attention. God called Moses: “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there.” God is calling us, too, to be fully present.

The Rev. Kip Mickelson, First Baptist Church of Omaha

Haggai 1:9: You have looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because my house lies in ruins, while all of you hurry off to your own houses.

To be honest, I have never preached a sermon from the book of Haggai, nor have I ever heard one preached. But as I have been reading the books of the prophets, I was struck by the relevancy of Haggai's words from the Lord written around 520 B.C. for us today.

In a nutshell, Haggai's words are a challenge to the people of God to reconsider their priorities. Instead of putting themselves first they needed to put God first.

Haggai realized that this does not come easy for God's people. They had a long history of wanting to go their own way instead of being obedient. So, his call is also a call to take courage and to trust in the sovereignty of God to lead them.

In the verse above, Haggai basically asks the question, “How do you expect God to bless when you are more interested in pleasing yourselves than you are in putting God first?”

Times have not changed that much, if at all, when it comes to putting God first in our day and age.

We are quick to ask for God's blessings but not always as quick to put God above all of our wants. We are quick to ask God to give us the desires of our hearts but not always as quick to ask that we are given the desires of God's heart.

Haggai's words sound clearly to us today, across the thousands of years: If we do not put God first, then it is time to reconsider our priorities.

The Rev. Chris Margaritis, Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Omaha

WWJD? Less passive should be the popular acronym, “What would Jesus do?” to reflect the impending Christian vision of “What WILL Jesus do?” Wikipedia reports 38,000 Christian denominations (easily read “divisions”).

For some, such diversity is glorious, but “WWJD”? The Bible is quite specific:

“Love one another, even as I have loved you.” (John 13:34, 5:12)

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

“Holy Father, keep them in your name ... that they may be one, even as we are one.” (John 17:11,21-22)

“I have other sheep ... not of this fold; I must bring them also. ... So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:16)

“Avoid stupid controversies ... and quarrels over the law, they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is a heretic, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him.” (Titus 3:9-10)

How strange is it for Christ to see His followers in hateful standoffs, forever reeling off one argument after another, praying in ignorance against each other like bitter rivals rather than loving siblings? Maybe our inheritance as God's children is further than we realize? WWJD?

Fans of Huskers' rivals seemingly hate Nebraskans, but is hatred really necessary to enjoy football? Opponents visiting Lincoln are wowed by the hospitality and standing ovations of Husker fans. It's amazing that sports might lead where once faith did. This is no doubt a complex issue, but the answer should begin by simply asking, WWJD?

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