Holy Saturday, also called Easter Vigil in some traditions of the church, is the day that ends the season of Lent. Some Christian traditions even associate this day with Christ’s triumphant descent into hell. I tend to think of Holy Saturday as the day Jesus rested in the tomb.

I do not have absolute certainty about what happened to Jesus between the crucifixion and the resurrection. Did Jesus descend into hell to overcome death? Did the entirety of heaven stop and mourn His death? I like to think Jesus is resting in the tomb.

The road to Jerusalem and the cross was a hard and long journey for Jesus both physically and emotionally. In my spiritual imagination, I see Jesus both at peace after His brutal death and overjoyed with His coming resurrection. I wonder if Jesus thought on Saturday, “You thought my life was unbelievable already, you haven’t seen anything yet!”

I wanted to thank you for joining us on this journey of Lent. It’s been a long 40 days, and I hope your soul is in a better place now than it was 40 days ago. It has been my honor to be your humble guide on this soulful journey together.

I also wanted to invite you to experience the joy of the resurrection on Easter. We will have a special sunrise worship starting at 6:45AM with a free breakfast afterwards in the youth building. So go to bed early on Saturday, come to sunrise worship, eat breakfast, and then enjoy one of our services in the sanctuary at 8:00AM, 9:30AM, or 11:00AM. I will be at all four services in my special Easter suit - hope you will come as you are to one or two services.

Happy Easter Eve!

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

Good Friday is the day we remember the death of Jesus on the cross. It is always a powerful reminder that Jesus completely sacrifices His humanity and lays aside His divinity to endure death for our sake. Remember someone actually died so that Killearn United Methodist Church, every other Christian expression, and the redemption of creation could actually become a reality.

Here is one of my absolute favorite songs for Good Friday. It was originally written by Derald Daugherty and Steve Hindalong. It has been performed by The Choir, Smalltown Poets, Sixpence None the Richer, Bebo Norman, and surely by many others.

Here is Beautiful, Scandalous Night.

Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified

Follow Christ to the holy mountain
Sinner sorry and wrecked by the fall
Cleanse your heart and your soul
In the fountain that flowed
For you and for me and for all

At the wonderful, tragic, mysterious tree
On that beautiful scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful, scandalous night

On the hillside, you were delivered
At the foot of the cross justified
And Your spirit restored
By the river that poured
From our blessed Savior's side

At the wonderful, tragic, mysterious tree
On that beautiful scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful, scandalous night

Our church is participating in the Good Friday hosted at Trinity United Methodist Church at NOON. Join us at Trinity or online on Trinity’s YouTube page. Go to the church website or the app to livestream or find more information.

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

Have you ever wondered what “Maundy” means? Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter, believed to be the day when Jesus celebrated His final Passover with His disciples. That Passover meal was when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples in an extraordinary display of humility. He then commanded them to do the same for each other.

The word "maundy" is a shortened form of the Latin word mandatum, which means "command." If you already knew that, you get a gold star! I took three years of Latin in high school, then three semesters of Latin in college, and I had to look up the Latin meaning.

It was on the Thursday of Christ's final week before being crucified and resurrected that Jesus said this commandment to His disciples. Jesus and His disciples had just shared what we call the Last Supper, and He was washing their feet when Jesus declared this profound new commandment:

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:34).

Jesus calls us to love each other like Jesus loves us. It’s a simple concept, but it is very hard to do. I hope you take this commandment seriously in everything. This commandment is not a sometimes thing when we are feeling particularly gracious. It’s an every moment of every day kind of thing.

Maundy Thursday is a commandment to love each other like Jesus loves you. Hope you will love like Jesus as we worship tonight at 7:00PM in the sanctuary or on the livestream!

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

On Wednesday of Holy Week, we traditionally think this is the day when Judas decides to betray Jesus. There is a short reference to Judas’ plan in Matthew 26:14-16.

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Have you ever been betrayed by someone you trusted? Perhaps even a friend? Using words like trust, betrayal, and friend in a sentence doesn’t paint a comforting picture. Yet, Jesus was betrayed and sold for 30 pieces of silver. it immediately brings to mind a traitor or someone who would sell out a friend.

My curiosity today surrounds these 30 pieces of silver. What exactly did Judas receive to betray Jesus? Was it worth it to him?

In the Hebrew culture, thirty pieces of silver was not a lot of money. A rough equivalent for today in 2022 would be about $200. In fact, it was the exact price paid to the master of a slave if and when his slave was gored by an ox (see Exodus 21:32). In order to compensate for a slave’s death and burial, it was written into law that 30 pieces of silver would account for the cost.

Judas sold Jesus for the price of a slave as Christ laid down His life as the ultimate gift for you and me. It would appear that Judas did not betray Jesus for a payday. Did Judas do it out of jealousy for the attention that Jesus received? Did Judas do it because Jesus upset the religious establishment so very much? Did Judas do it because he did not value his relationship with Jesus much at all? I don’t think we will know the whole story of Judas on this side of eternity.

I hope we will not betray Jesus in our thoughts, words, or deeds. The King of kings is worth so much more than the death and burial of a gored slave.

In His Grip,
Mike

Early in Holy Week, Jesus goes to the temple and does something I would imagine no one would have expected. Read with me from Matthew 21: 12-16.

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written (from Isaiah 56:7) ,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, (from Psalm 8:2)

“‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’ ?”

Here is a powerful example of Jesus compelled to embrace righteous anger. He rejected the greed of the money changers that were up-charging poor people to purchase doves for their atoning sacrifices in the temple.

It makes me wonder if Jesus is also communicating that He will soon become the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world.  The need to purchase an animal or bringing something to sacrifice on the altar will soon no longer be necessary. Jesus reclaims HIS HOUSE as a place for prayer and healing. His house is neither a place for cheating poor people nor tolerating indignant, religious people.

I hope we will come to the house of Lord this week with our hearts filled with praise like the children shouting in the temple courts.

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

What an incredible Palm Sunday we enjoyed at Killearn! I saw some folks who enjoyed worship in our sanctuary for the first time in over two years. The choir processed singing Hosanna into the sanctuary with palms at 8:00AM, and then kids & families did the same at 9:30AM and 11:00AM. Our Youth Mission Team was at all three services as they prepare for serving with Twelves Churches this June. We remembered the powerful image of Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem. Here comes the King of kings and the Lord of lords! It was a banner day at Killearn UMC.

Well, right before Jesus comes to Jerusalem with the donkey, the palm branches, and shouts of Hosanna, the apostle John shares this story about a dinner party that included Lazarus, Martha, Mary, Judas, and others. It’s one of my favorite moments of Holy Week. Read with me from John 12:1-8.

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.


But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.


“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

This gesture of wasting something as expensive as an entire jar of perfume is very frowned upon by Judas. He complains that the nard could have been sold and the money given to the poor. This complaint is a double gut punch because Judas doesn’t actually care about poor people and is only worried about his own cashflow.


This extravagant gesture profoundly displays what Jesus is about to do. Jesus is preparing for His own burial. Jesus is absolutely committed to radically giving himself away. Mary gives herself away to Jesus, and Jesus gives himself away for all of creation.


There is nothing calculating or careful about Mary’s action. Her love for Jesus is extravagant. Her friendship with Jesus is intimate. As Jesus prepares for His last week on earth, Jesus will give Himself away completely and extravagantly. This is why Mary’s beautiful gesture is a prelude to this holiest of weeks in the history of the world.

I hope you won’t miss a minute of this Holy Week! We will focus on aspects of Holy Week in our blog. Hope you will worship with us on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday!

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

Here is a special prayer for the war in the Ukraine that was shared in the Seedbed Daily Text on April 3. Let’s pray together!

Almighty God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit,


We come before you today in a continual declaration of peace, in the name Jesus, over the war taking place in Eastern Europe. We boldly ask you to establish and strengthen the bond of peace across the Body of Christ in Russia and Ukraine, to draw near to all the followers of Jesus scattered across these nations, and to bind them together in supernatural love that moves with the power of the gospel. May the Church Jesus is building rise up as the Light of the World, like cities on a thousand hills, and awaken the dawn in this dark land. 


Let your Kingdom break forth in demonstrations of peace in ways that confound the ways of sin, darkness, death, and evil. We pray for you to intervene in the hearts and minds of the leaders of Russia, to turn from their invasion and to seek peace. We pray you would strengthen the invading soldiers with the resolve of human decency and compassion and a miraculous empowerment to lay down their arms in the face of such egregious destruction and loss of innocent life. We pray for the leaders of Ukraine, to protect and preserve them from harm and to fill them with such a spirit of travail and prayer that it touches heaven and changes the course of life on earth for their country.

We pray for the leaders of governments around the world, for wisdom and courage for the facing of this hour. We rebuke the spirit of fear that would cower in the face of evil rather than confront it. We cry out for an awakening of the church around the world, to realize both our responsibility and our power to intervene and exercise our Kingdom authority for such a time as this. 


We pray for the many relief agencies at work on behalf of the Ukrainian people. We speak Jesus into them now in the power of your Spirit—courage, perseverance, love, and joy in the face of utter desolation. We put upon them the full armor of God so that they may stand. And we pray you fill their hearts and hands with miracles. Multiply relief in their hands as fishes and loaves that can feed multitudes. Fill their words with power to still storms in Jesus name. Release miracles through doctors and nurses as they rescue the perishing and care for the dying. 


We pray you would leave in the wake of this evil human-made disaster and all its desolation the seeds of a great awakening and the raising up of a generation who would rebuild the ruins and who would be called the repairer of broken walls, and the restorer of streets to dwell in. Awaken your Church now, in all places, to imagine and conceive of this great awakening now, in the place of prayer, on earth as it is in heaven. 


Finally, and most urgently, we pray for the millions of children who are crying and afraid, many of whom may be lost and alone, wondering if they will ever see their fathers again, longing for the safety of their homes, anxious about their next meal, afraid for their very survival. We pray for the salvation of their fathers and the holy uprising of their mothers. Holy Spirit send wave upon wave of compassion in the midst of trauma, light in darkness, and the peace that only love can bring in the midst of utter madness.


Agreeing with the Psalmist prayer for the ages, we cry out: Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. (Psalm 68:1)

We ask these things, declaring the things that are not yet as though they were already, believing in your power to do beyond all we can ask or even imagine through your power at work within us, and trusting in the strong name of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen.

Over the course of Lent, we have explored much about discipleship bands. The final question that we share together in our discipleship bands requires much love and trust. Vulnerability is so critical to the path of healing for our souls. Here it is. Are there any secrets or hidden things you would like to share?  

We desperately need people in our lives to share our secrets. I would imagine that everyone has had a secret at some point. Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others. Often it is something that brings us shame or embarrassment. Are there any skeletons that you are trying to keep in the closet these days?

Robert Boyd Munger wrote a short book years ago called, My Heart-Christ’s Home. The author uses the imagery of Jesus making a home in our lives like coming into different rooms of a house. Jesus comes into the library of our mind, the dining room of our appetite and desires, and all the other rooms. Jesus finally comes to the closet hall and wants access to that secret place in our lives. At this request of Jesus, here is what Robert writes.

“I was angry. That's the only way I can put it. I had given Him access to the library, the dining room, the living room, the workroom, the playroom, and now He was asking me about a little two-by-four closet. I said to myself, "This is too much. I am not going to give Him the key."

Jesus desires full access to every single part of our lives. We should not be afraid to let Jesus into our secret place. God already knows - He sees all of our secrets already. The beauty of banded discipleship is allowing ourselves and the few people in our band to experience the fullness of God’s presence as we share our hidden things together.

So do you still have doubts or questions about starting a discipleship band with a 2-4 other people? I would love to talk with you. Reach out to me anytime. My cell is 850-544-7087.

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

I am in a season where I am reading lots of things at the same time. This should be a familiar place for many people in ministry. I find myself in this situation very often during the season of Lent. I equate spiritual reading with spiritual growth. Sorry that the blog might feel like a book club this week, but all of this reading has been so good for my soul. Sharing is also caring. I share these things with you, because I care about you.

During Lent, our Saints Alive group has focused on a book by Max Lucado called “He Chose the Nails.” Pastor Patty Daniels started the series, and I am getting the opportunity to finish out the series as we approach Easter. Max Lucado is one of those people that I used to read a lot, but I have not read much of Max’s writing in the last several years. Reading “He Chose the Nails” feels like meeting up with an old friend again.

In this book, Max observes that the last moments leading up to Jesus’ death were not left up to chance. God chose the path, and He selected the nails. Our Lord planted the trio of crosses and painted the sign. God was never more sovereign than in the details of the death of his Son. And in those details are gifts Christ provided for us… the cross, the thorns, the nails, His seamless robe, and the empty tomb.

Is your heart unsettled by the chaos of the world? Are you heavy-laden with bad moments, mad moments, or anxious moments? Today, rest in God’s self-giving love and leave all your troubles at the foot of the cross.  

If you are looking for something to read and tune your soul more towards Jesus for Holy Week (which is next week), I would recommend “He Chose the Nails” by Max Lucado.

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

Last week, we talked about the turbulence of our world and seeking contentment in a world of discontent.  In my view, one of things that is causing much turbulence in our world is a mentality of divergence and the polarization of ideas. People in our country and across much of the world are drifting further apart from each other, because the tend to see the world only through the window of their own ideas. Here is my over dramatic simplification of what is happening in our world. What I believe is absolutely right.  If people believe the contrary or diverge from what I think is right, then they are absolutely wrong. I believe this kind of divergent thinking and polarizing ideology is growing more and more within the Christian community.

I have found some encouragement lately in a book written by Francis Chan. He has been a pastor for over thirty years and authored several books including “Crazy Love.” This book is called “Until Unity.” The major idea of the book comes from Ephesians 4:1-6. Hear these words from the apostle Paul.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Francis contents that many Christians who want unity don’t always value theology and holiness. Yet, God commands all three. There must be a way to end the divisions that grieve the Holy Spirit without sacrificing truth or embracing sin. As the world grows more divided, the bride of Christ (the church) should increase in love until we attain the unity that brings revival.

I have really enjoyed the book so far. I am about halfway through it. If you are interested in this stream of thought, please checkout “Until Unity” by Francis Chan. If you ever want to talk about it over a cup of coffee or better yet - a root beer, I would love that!

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

As I reflect on generosity again today, I could not help but think about another Darrell Evans song. Casting Crown did an update version in 2011, but Darrell’s original version is from 1998. You are welcome to sing, pray, or do both today. Here is a video if that helps!

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship
Hmm... intimate

I find I'm moving to the rhythms of Your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating
In our secret place
Your love is extravagant

Spread wide in the arms of Christ
Is the love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known
You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again
Capture my heart again

Lord, Your love has given me freedom
I love what You are doing in me, Lord
And I'm thankful Lord
What You're doing in my heart
You're changing me
Changing me
Oh... all...

Deeper than the deepest ocean
Higher than the highest mountain
Reaches higher than the heavens
And still He finds His way to me

And You're patient Lord
And You are kind to me
Though I am failing You sometimes
Your love never has failed me

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship is intimate

I have really appreciated our sermon series through the whole book of Philippians in the early part of 2022. It was been so rich to dwell on this theme of joy in so many different ways. For my regular Scripture reading in the early part of this year, I have been reading through the book of Philippians over and over again. I am a little sad the Pastor Mike preached the last sermon of the series this week, because I have been enjoying the messages and reading Philippians so much.

This theme of giving and generosity has been one of the greatest blessings in my life as a disciple of Jesus. I actually believe that I have experienced so much satisfaction deep within my soul, because of this spiritual discipline. Generous giving is as important as reading Scripture, prayer, worship, service, or any other spiritual practice. If you think you can grow in Christ without generosity taking root in your life, I believe you will be deeply disappointed with the lack of growth in your Christian walk. Generosity is an essential ingredient.

Here is our family’s generosity testimony these days. On a monthly basis, we support: Killearn United Methodist Church, Compassion International, Living Hope Nicaragua, Twelves Churches, FSU Wesley, FAMU Wesley, and QuadW Missional Internships. Additionally over the course of this year, we have supported the Shamrock Scurry, our church’s Alternative Christmas Market, Angel Tree, UMCOR, and K-State Wesley on a one time basis. If you are interested in hearing about any of these ministry efforts, please let me know. I would love to share with you!

I don’t share this testimony as a way of bragging or bringing attention to our family. I share this testimony because God has opened our hearts in a very significant way to the practice of generosity. During these last couple of weeks of Lent, would you consider how you might grow in your generosity? This is not a financial or business kind of consideration. It is a matter of the condition of your heart and your soul.

You are welcome to share your own generosity testimony in the comments.

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

So many people around the world are praying for peace in the war happening in the Ukraine. Here is a prayer from the Methodist Church in the UK. Join me in prayer today for the people of Ukraine and Russia.

Holy and Gracious God

We pray for the people of Ukraine and the people of Russia; for their countries and their leaders.

We pray for all those who are afraid; that your everlasting arms hold them in this time of great fear.

We pray for all those who have the power over life and death; that they will choose for all people life, and life in all its fullness.

We pray for those who choose war; that they will remember that you direct your people to turn our swords into ploughshares and seek for peace.

We pray for leaders on the world stage; that they are inspired by the wisdom and courage of Christ.

Above all, Lord, today we pray for peace for Ukraine.

And we ask this in the name of your blessed Son.

Lord have mercy.

Amen.

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba


P.S. Hope to see you Sunday. It’s a big one. We are closing out our series in the book of Philippians, and we are celebrating Holy Communion at the altar for the first time in two years!

FYI - I reject everything about April Fool’s Day. A wise sage taught me that “if it is not fun for everybody, then it’s not for fun anybody.” I am here for jokes and funny stories. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to laugh. Yet, pranks and practical jokes have the tendency to seek out laughter at the expensive of others. I am not about that life. Once a group of college students pranked me by using half a case of toilet paper to decorate my office. I could only lamented the waste of toilet paper for our residential community and the students who came to Wesley and could really appreciate the loving affection the students were trying to display for me.

Throughout Scripture, there are discussions about foolishness. There are especially a lot of references to foolishness in the book of Proverbs. Yet, I believe the most profound of all the comments about foolishness comes from Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians. The church in Corinth is the “Christians Gone Wild” example of the Bible. Paul was attempting to offer much wisdom and sound teaching to a church that was highly impacted and challenged by its surrounding culture.

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Today, there are many people who would call the message of the cross foolishness. Many people in our culture do not believe in God at all. There are people in our culture who are openly hostile toward Jesus. It is such a sad reality, but a tremendous call to pray for people and share Jesus with people who are far from God.

There are fellow Christian believers who would even say that the church needs to catch up with the times. The message of the cross calling for sacrifice, repentance, and loyalty to Jesus is way too antiquated for the 21st century. Holding fast to a Biblical worldview is seen as foolishness.

The message of the cross is the very power of God. God’s love for His creation has not changed. God has done everything divinely possible to reconcile humanity and restore all of creation. Jesus laid down his life for us so that we can experience abundant life into the everlasting. If such reality is foolishness in your view, you are welcome to call me a fool.

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

Yesterday, we talked about the Martha inside of us. Today, let’s focus on Mary. There is something about Mary that is very appealing. She is more focused on being with Jesus, and she is not consumed by doing for Jesus.

Even in our church’s ministry, we can get so focused on doing for Jesus that we forget how much we need to be with Jesus. I have found a lot of encouragement on being vs. doing from Pete Scazzero. Many years ago, Pete found himself in a serious crisis. He  was a successful pastor with growing leadership influence, but his inner life with God was nearly non-existent. He almost lost everything including his family.

Since then, Pete and his wife, Geri, have given themselves to equipping leaders and churches to move from a shallow Christianity to real depth in Christ. They have developed Emotionally Healthy Discipleship. If you are curious to know more about their resources, visit https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org.

One of the keys to this kind of transforming discipleship is the balance between doing and being. An emotionally healthy disciple refers to a person who rejects busyness and hurry in order to reorient their entire life around their personal relationship with Jesus, developing rhythms, setting limits, and following Him wherever he leads. At the same time, they intentionally open the depths of their interior life—their history, their disorientations, their areas of brokenness, and their relationships—to be changed by Jesus. Such disciples are deeply aware of how everything they have and all they are is a gift. So they carry a profound awareness of stewarding their talents as a gift to bless the world for Jesus.

I think Mary was an emotionally healthy disciple. Jesus said that Mary has chosen the what is better. Resist the desire to constantly do and learn to be. There is the secret to contentment.

Let’s pray together.

Dear God,

I've let the act of doing become self-serving, filling the void of discontentment. I thank you for all the ways that you’ve blessed me. And I pray that I may find contentment by slowing down and sitting at your feet, like Mary did.

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

Read with me from Luke 10: 38-42.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

The story of Martha and Mary reveals a lot of about our convictions. Are you a Mary or a Martha? Here is something that speaks to the Martha inside of us. Tomorrow we with talk about the Mary inside of us.

Are you a Martha — productivity-aholic, who’s way of service is usually in the form of doing things. Because the mental-load of running your house and your work can be all consuming; forcing the wires in my brain to jump from task to task with a constant goal of checking things off the list.

The challenge for Martha’s is to find greater contentment on your top priorities - God and family. Often God and family take the backseat when life gets busy. Here are a few ways to pump the brakes on our doing and focus more on our being. 

I wait at least one hour before responding to all commitments to really think about your schedule and priorities. Only say “yes” to the things that will nourish your soul.

On your day off, block off your calendar so you cannot schedule any work meeting. Force yourself and family out of the house to avoid household chores and to do an activity where you can be 100% focused on each other.

Block off time to come and worship Jesus with your church family. Whenever we fully engage in worshipping Jesus, it is nearly impossible to be focused on anything else.

Any thoughts on practices that nourish your soul? Share in the comments.

In His Grip,
Mike

We are officially 60% of the way through Lent. If you are counting, that 24 of the 40 days. This is usually about the time that I start thinking - is Easter ever going to get here? I am desperate for the joy of the resurrection. It’s almost like I become discontent with Lent and all this talk about repentance, confession, and fasting. I find myself longing for the joy of Easter!

I have very much discerned that many people are experiencing a season of discontentment. Now that situation with COVID-19 in our country is overwhelmingly improved . . . truly an answer to prayer! Thank you God for your presence during a most difficult season, and Oh Lord, help us to continue to pray for the parts of the world that are still experiencing so much sickness and even death. Since our part of the world is apparently in a better place with COVID, everything which was an issue before COVID feels like it is moving from the back burner to the front burner again.

I am resisting the trend of feeling overwhelmed by leaning heavily on Jesus in this season. I am claiming the truth that Paul lifts up in Philippians 4:13, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”  Jesus has given us His strength to endure whatever might can our way. We might be pressed, but we cannot be crushed. The strength of Jesus will not fail us even in this season of being discontent with a whole host of things. My front burner list includes war in the Ukraine, politician polarization in America, discrimination among people groups, turbulence in the United Methodist Church, economic inflation, caring for creation, and my daughter getting a learner’s permit to drive a car!

Join me in leaning on Jesus as we press towards Easter. It is also helpful to remember that we are not alone. Remember that sharing is caring and listening is loving. What is causing discontentment in you during this season? How might we encourage each other and rely on the strength of Jesus together?

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

Pastor Mike had another excellent sermon on Sunday. He focused on the contentment the Apostle Paul learned in his spiritual journey. If you have not listened to the sermon yet, you have permission to pause reading this post and checkout the sermon on the website or the church app.

We live in a world that is consumed with the concept of more. Our culture invites us constantly to experience more good things in order to achieve our highest level of be fulfillment. Get more educated, get more money, get more technology, get more socially active, get more “fill-in the blank” then we will be more fulfilled. None of these things are necessarily evil. Yet, the problem with this ideology is the need for more can never be completely satisfied.

This ideology is particularly harmful when comparison and competition reign over our relationships with others. If I only had the job, house, car, spouse, etc. or my neighbor, then my life would be so much better. We quickly find ourselves on a treadmill of envy. Such a treadmill feels utterly exhausting to me.

Paul says in Philippians 4:12, “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” I find this passage hopeful because it is a soul condition that Paul learned. As Paul grew in his love for Jesus and sharing Jesus with others, acquiring the plentifulness of this world became less and less of a priority.

The spiritual discipline of simplicity has become a bigger part of my life in recent years. Instead of trying to acquire more, I have sought to focus on doing more with less. For example, I have discovered that I don’t need expensive and lavish vacations to enjoy time with my family, what I really want is more quality time. What we actually do or where we actually go together is almost irrelevant. Just yesterday, we played Rummikub at the dining room table together, and we had the best time. We experienced something of the joy of simplicity together.

I believe doing more with less is a much greater benefit to our souls than being consumed with getting more. What would it look like for you to get off the treadmill of envy this Lent?

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

A Prayer of Confession and Repentance by Anne Graham Lotz
{From THE LIGHT OF HIS PRESENCE ; Published Oct 6, 2020}

Covenant-Making, Covenant-Keeping God,

Your mercy endures forever. Your love endures forever. Your Word endures forever. Your faithfulness is to all generations. You are the Rock that does not move. You are for us. You have chosen us. You have saved us. You have given us freely, graciously “everything we need for life and godliness.” From the fullness of Your grace, You have poured out on us one blessing after another. Yet we have failed to respond to Your generosity, blessings, and mercy as we should.

We confess to You our ingratitude. We have not been truly thankful to You for the blessings You have given us before and after salvation. Instead, we have given ourselves credit for many of the blessings that come from Your hand.

We repent.

We confess that we’ve allowed our love for You to grow cold. We have lost our passionate first love for You. Instead, we give our love to our bank accounts, our sports teams, our pleasures, our careers, other people, or even to ourselves.

We repent.

We confess our neglect of Your Word, the Bible. We spend more time reading blogs, online news, the latest bestselling novel, business periodicals, or even owner’s manuals for our newest tech toys than we do reading Your Word.

We repent.

We confess our unbelief. In reality, we think Your promises are for others or for another day. We don’t think they actually work for us now. And thus we call You a liar.

We repent.

We confess our prayerlessness. We ask others to pray for us, but we don’t pray for ourselves. We daydream, fantasize, and indulge in wishful thinking and call it “prayer.” Then we blame You when You don’t answer.

We repent.

We confess our love of the world and material things. We complain about or resent the fact that we owe You a minimum of 10 percent of our income. So we don’t give it to You.

We repent.

We confess that we have robbed You of the honor due You. We give You the leftovers of our time, thoughts, emotions, money. We waste time on things that have no eternal value. We exercise our God-given gifts and talents for a fee. We are willing to do for a price what we will not do freely for You.

We repent.

Holy Lord, with tears on our faces and shame in our hearts, we sincerely, courageously rend our hearts. We repent of our sin. Not only do we name it for what it is in Your sight, but we also turn away from it. We claim Your promise of forgiveness of sin through Your blood. We claim Your promise that if we confess our sins, You will be faithful and just to forgive us and purify us.

Thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for the blood that washes us clean. Thank You that our tears were on Your face. Thank You that as our High Priest You understand firsthand our human weaknesses. Thank You that although You were sinless, You became sin for us that we might be right with You.

We bow before You in humble gratitude.

In Jesus’s name,
Amen.

This theme of confession is still resonating with me today. Here are some prayers of confessions from Daniel, Nehemiah, and David.

Daniel prayed:

“I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:

‘Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.” (Daniel 9:4-6; 9-10)

Nehemiah prayed:

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel.

I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.” (Nehemiah 1:5-7)

David prayed:
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight;” (Psalm 51:1-4)

Each of these prayers are different, but these prayers of confession include:

A humble, contrite heart
Acknowledgement of specific sin
Affirmation of God’s character
Assurance of forgiveness

These same elements should be part of our confession prayers. I invite you to write your own confession prayer today. Say what you need to say to God.

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

Yesterday, we talked some about confession. Today, I have something to confess. My favorite sport is basketball, and my favorite month of the year is March. I love March Madness! I might be addicted to the NCAA basketball tournament. I try to watch at least a part of every game each year. Our daughter was even born on Final Four weekend back in 2007, and I watched every minute of the Final Four that year. I acknowledge my shortcomings as a husband and father.

When our world changed with COVID-19 back in March of 2020, the hardest first thing for me was no basketball. I feel pretty guilty to even admit it. The men’s basketball team at Florida State that year might have been one of our best teams of all-time, and the tournament was canceled like every other large gathering in the world. In my mind, I have crowned the FSU men’s team the 2020 tournament champion.

For this year’s tournament, I invited people from Killearn to fill out a bracket on ESPN’s Tournament Challenge app. There are seven of us playing together and chatting about the games in a group text. Next year, I hope even more folks from Killearn with join us! I have even been dreaming of a way we could do a tournament challenge to support missions. I will have to talk about that with Christina for next year. As of this moment, I am ranked #5 of 7 but I am hopeful since most people in our group picked Gonzaga to win and I picked Kansas to win.

Confession is good for the soul. I feel so much better after getting all of that stuff off my chest. I am being silly with my basketball ramblings, but the principle is sound.

Whenever we have a struggle, it is never the right decision to bear that struggle alone. There is nothing noble about suffering in silence. It’s always better to bring our own darkness into the light. For us to experience the fullness of God’s forgiveness, we must be willing to confess our sins. Of course, we can make our confession directly with God. Our God is always ready to receive our confession. Yet, there is something powerful when we trust others enough to confess our sins. I have experienced forgiveness in a very tangible and powerful way when I have confessed my sins especially among the people I care about the most.

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

Throughout Lent, we are encouraging our Killearn church family to consider starting a discipleship band. A discipleship band is a group of three to five people who meet, pray, and read together. During our band meetings, we share in a few questions together. Here is question number four. Do you have any sin that you want to confess?

When I shared about discipleship bands in Sunday worship back in February, I tried to make a funny joke about confession. Imagine pulling into the church parking lot and being asked to confess your sins before coming into worship. It’s hard for me to imagine a more awkward and less hospitable way to engage in confession.

Here is a better picture of confession. Imagine being in a tight group of friends and being able to share how you are falling short. It’s a group where people don’t judge you or condemn you. It’s a group where there is absolute trust and zero chance of gossip. It’s a community of people that you can be your true authentic self. No hiding behind masks or other persona. You can simply be yourself and be honest about your struggles deep within your soul.

Here is one of “go-to” Scriptures about sin and confession from 1 John 1: 8-9. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Each of us are in a state of sin recovery. We are confronted about our rebellious human nature on a regular basis. Your discipleship band is a trusted group of friends where you can share and celebrate that recovery freely. If we confess our sins, God is faithfully just to forgive us. Wouldn’t be great to have such a trusted group of friends who you could experience that forgiveness on a regular basis.

Who are the two or three people you need to ask to join you in a discipleship band?

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

Pastor Mike started last Sunday’s sermon with the image of turbulence. What a powerful image to describe the world we are experiencing these days. Sickness, inflation, the wage gap, war in the Ukraine, climate change, mental health challenges, and even the growing uncertainty about our denomination feels like a whole lot of turbulence. We experience a world where unsteady or even violent movements shake our vision of the future on a regular basis. Sometimes it feel like there are so many things to worry about that we are not even sure where to prioritize our worries!

In Philippians 4:6, the apostle Paul gives us some ready rock solid advice. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

Instead of looking to our news feeds, we need to pray. Prayer should be our first response to everything. Worry can lead us to an endless vacuum of anxiety. We definitely need to acknowledge the troubles and difficulties that we experience; however, allowing our souls to dwell on those things is not healthy. Our dwelling should be on the things of God.

God is the One who created everything, reigns over everything, and know everything that ever will be. Tell God what you need even though God already knows what you need. There is something powerful that happens in our soul when you tell God what you need. Cast your cares on the One who cares for you. When we laid our worries at God’s feet, we have the freedom to experience a joy that is out of this world.

The another part of Paul’s advice is also so good for our souls. We need to thank God for all that God has done for us already. When we look back on what God has done, our perspective about the future transforms. Instead of gloom and doom, we see the good that God has started. Remember Philippians 1:6 - God promises to finish the good work He began in each of us. The Creator of the universe has not fallen asleep at the wheel and created all this turbulence in our world today. A rebellious humanity who believes that creative human power drives the universe is the actual cause of all this turbulence.

If you long for calm and peace to prevail in your life and in our world, let’s pray for it! Feel free to share a prayer in the comments below. It could even be a short text message to Jesus.

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba

For today’s blog post, I wanted to share this post from Pete Greig. Pete is a writer, church-planter and co-founder of the 24-7 Movement. I have learned so much from Pete about prayer in recent years. I hope this challenge to rest is good for your soul today.

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba


Most of us run most of our lives like a totalitarian regime. We are dictators of a toxic culture that combines brutal utilitarianism with self-indulgent waste. This is neither a good way to run a country, nor a healthy way to run a happy life.

Since tiredness depletes us mentally, physically and spiritually, effective rest needs to soothe all three spheres:

1. our thinking

2. our doing

3. our being

So here are some deceptively simple keys to help us all take a real proper rest.

1. RESTING OUR THINKING

Your neural pathways are gridlocked right now - bumper to bumper with horn-honking, fume-breathing truckloads of data. It’s time to get off that hectic highway! Lazy country lanes await a gentler mental journey.

Switch off social media (I’ll be doing this just as soon as I’ve posted this!) Refuse to open emails. Put away those small screens if you possibly can. Slow down. Savour the small. Walk slowly. Talk slowly. Make coffee slowly. Your time off doesn’t have to be incredible. Amazing. Impressive. Allow margin in your day. If you continue living your life at the same pace on a day off that you do the rest of the week - frenetic in your having of fun - then your brain honestly won’t know the difference.

It’s also essential to minimize the number of choices you have to make today. Keep things as simple as you can. And definitely don’t make any big decisions while you’re tired. Your emotions will lie to you most eloquently in the coming hours. This is not the day to quit your job, renounce your faith, or propose to the girl on the bus.

2. RESTING OUR DOING

It’s not just your mind that is exhausted. Your physical body is also hurting. You need to sleep, of course, but also to exercise and eat well in order to rest well. The problem is that, because you have been working hard, you now feel entitled to slob out! But you will feel far happier in your body and clearer in your thinking after physical exercise and healthy food. You will also sleep much better tonight. Aerobic exertion is one of God’s greatest and most neglected ministry gifts to us all.

3. RESTING OUR BEING

And then, of course, your soul needs to be nurtured too. Extremely shy, it prefers quiet days like these and has probably been neglected and depleted of late. It’s entirely possible to return to work after time off with a rested body and a rested mind, but a soul that remains exhausted.

How do we address this? How do we attend to the heartlands of our inner world? Fill the house with music, and moments of deep silence too. Choose a bible verse to accompany you like a friend through the day. Waste time staring at a picture, or scrolling through personal photographs and giving thanks. Read a book (I find poetry especially good because it forces me to read reflectively). Get out in creation under a big sky. Participate in creation by drawing or cooking or making music.

Aim to make the entire day a slow and delightful conversation with the One who knows you best and loves you more than any other. He rested on the seventh day and thereby - according to Rabbi Abraham Heschel - made the architecture of time holy. The Creator is not a workaholic. He is not a slave-driver like Pharaoh. The pillar of cloud stops each evening. The wilderness wanderings take 40 years. Jesus wastes 30 years doing carpentry and going fishing before starting his public ministry. The Good Shepherd “makes me lie down in green pastures.” He makes me! “He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul”.

Here is a fun fact about me - I was an American history major in college. I even took a class that the centered on the world between World War I and World War II. With the war happening in Ukraine, there is a song that has resonated in my soul. It actually resonates with me every time there has been a war in my lifetime. Here is the hook!

(War, huh) good God y'all
(What is it good for?) Absolutely nothing, say it, say it, say it
(War, huh) Oh-ohh yeah, huh
(What is it good for?) Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War is a counterculture era soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label in 1969. Whitfield first produced the song – a blatant anti-Vietnam War protest – with The Temptations as the original vocalists. After Motown began receiving repeated requests to release War as a single, Whitfield re-recorded the song with Edwin Starr as the vocalist. The label decided to withhold the Temptations' version from single release so as not to alienate their more conservative fans. I don’t believe that I have ever even heard the The Temptations version of the song before today. It’s also hard to think about The Temptations version being too controversial today.  

Starr’s version of War was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hit 100 chart in 1970. It is not only the most successful and well-known record of Starr’s career, but it is also one of the most popular protest songs ever recorded. A live recording of the song performed by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band hit #8 in 1985. Another fun fact about me - I love the Boss!

This war in the Ukraine feels so senseless and good for absolutely nothing. Let’s pray for the end of the violence and for peace around the Ukraine, Russia, and all of eastern Europe. I am praying this war in the Ukraine is not the Vietnam War or World War of this generation. You are invited to lift up prayers in the comments.

In His Grip,
Mike Toluba