well, i enjoyed watching the buckeyes win the big ten tournament over wisconsin. might be the best game they have played all year. looking forward to the "big dance" now. i still stand by what i said last week... they are capable of winning every game, but could also lose any game.

the most interesting comment that came out of yesterday's class...

doubt isn't in opposition to faith, it enables it.

we began our time together by reading john 20:24-31. this is about good old "doubting thomas" and his inability to believe jesus had actually been resurrected until he was able to see it for himself. how often do we live our lives this way?..."i'll believe it when i see it", "the proof is in the pudding", etc., etc.

jesus then, even though no doors are open, appears among the disciples gathered there. i think there is some real significance to the words of jesus here (as if his words are insignificant elsewhere), "peace be with you." i mean, here are these guys who had followed christ around for three years listening and watching and expecting and wham.... it all goes to hell when jesus got arrested and killed. you talk about life in chaos, you talk about having doubts, you talk about wondering what in the world was coming next, you talk about uncertainty, you talk about reality not measuring up with expectations. surely these guys were in the middle of feeling all that and in walks the risen jesus and he says, "peace be with you."

jesus then invites thomas to touch the wounds and stick his hand in his side. the proof was now in the pudding. thomas, because he had seen, could now believe. i would guess that all of us would be the same. if we could touch and see for ourselves we too would have no problem believing and would willingly echo thomas' reaction, "my lord and my god". but jesus speaks to all of us when he responds to thomas.... "because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." i want to be among the blessed.....