Elliott's Muses

Faith and Faithless

2012-02-24T10:44:00.001-06:00

Today's reading may seem a bit disjointed. Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? What does it have to do with what followed in the Temple?

Here's the text.

Mark 11:12-24 NLT

The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.

When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.

That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city.

The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.

The incidents are all connected.

What was happening in the Temple was what happened to the fig tree. What was meant to be full of life had instead died.

All Jesus did was declare what had already occurred.

Such is the nature of religion. There is an outward show but no inner life

Let's ask Christ Jesus for his life in all parts of own life.

Peace

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Friendly Pruning

2012-02-23T10:45:00.001-06:00

Today we're reading about pruning.

John 15:1-17 NLT

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.

Yesterday I visited something near and dear to me - a coffee farm. I thought I knew a lot about coffee. But it became clear there was alot I didn't know.

At one point the host showed how they "stump" the tree. Literally cut it down to just where the branches begin. It looks like the farmer killed it. Yet now, as our host explained, it was ready to flourish again. What looked harsh was an act of love.

So Jesus reminds us. Lent is a season of reflecting on God's love...even when he prunes.

Peace

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Journey to the cross

2012-02-22T18:10:00.001-06:00

Even tho it's time away I want to blog on what Christ has done for us as we journey through this is season of Lent. I'll do more when I return. Today let's all read John 12:1-11.

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40 days to reflect on Christ Jesus

2012-02-22T18:06:00.001-06:00

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A Psalm of Perspective

2012-02-13T06:41:00.000-06:00

Today in my readings I came across Psalm 90. I read it in the New Living Translation, and it struck me how beautiful it was, and how true also.

Psalm 90:1-17 (NLT)
¹Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!
²Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.
³You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals!”
⁴For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.
⁵You sweep people away like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning.
⁶In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered.
⁷We wither beneath your anger; we are overwhelmed by your fury.
⁸You spread out our sins before you— our secret sins—and you see them all.
⁹We live our lives beneath your wrath, ending our years with a groan.
¹⁰Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.
¹¹Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve.
¹²Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
¹³O LORD, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants!
¹⁴Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
¹⁵Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good.
¹⁶Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory.
¹⁷And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!

Some Perspective emerges:
God is eternal...we are not.
Our lives are very brief in the scheme of eternity...like dreams, grasses, flowers blooming. Enjoy it while you can.
God knows us through and through - there's nothing hidden from his sight.
God cares for us deeply, but hates Sin in all its forms.
Live into your 80's - that's pretty amazing...but life is still brief. "Life is but a vapor, it appears for a moment, and then vanishes away." says James.
Every morning is a gift - every morning reminds us of God's faithfulness and His Love.
Life gets simple - relationships matter the most, everything else is passing away.

Perspective...it helps.

Peace

Sabbath

2012-02-12T06:28:00.002-06:00

When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is forbidden on the sabbath.” He answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and his men were hungry? He went into the house of God and ate the sacred bread, though neither he nor his men had a right to eat it, but only the priests. Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and they are not held guilty? But I tell you, there is something greater than the temple here. If you had known what this text means, ‘It is mercy I require, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:2–8

Today is a gathering day for our church. I have the privilege of being with dozens of people who come to a gymnasium with folding chairs in order to worship God, and learn from his word. What a neat people I have to share God with.
There's farmers, housewives, electricians, bankers, food processors, students and more. All ages, all levels of income and education. I love the people who are the Church for me.

Church...not a building.
Church...not an event.
Church...not Sunday morning.
Church...not a program.

Church...the people of God gathered to worship God and learn from His word - together, in community, in humility, in their own needs - sickness, disease, economic woes, marital and family woes, etc...
"We have these treasures in earthen vessels..." Paul says to the Corinthians.
Earthen vessels....clay pots...apt to be cracked, even broken.
Church is full of "cracked pots"...I'm one of them.

Sabbath is that time when we cracked pots come to worship God and learn from his word, and do it with a lot of other cracked pots!

Peace

A Morning Prayer

2012-02-09T08:41:00.001-06:00

As I continue to take time to look at how prayer fits into my walk with Christ, I'm amazed at the way in which prayer was so integral to worship in the Old Testament.
We all know the story of Jesus entering the Temple and overturning the money changers tables.
It's one of the more shocking things, among a number of other ones, that he did to make a point.
Matthew describes it:

¹⁰When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"
¹¹The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
¹²Jesus entered the temple area 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.
¹³"It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'" Matthew 21:10-13 (NIV)

Matthew makes it clear, this is Jesus acting in a Prophet's role. He is angry at the way in which the Temple worship has been corrupted. Where did he get this from? The Old Testament of course.
When Solomon received the plans for the Temple from his Father David, he built it with God's blessings, even though God made it clear he "does not need a building to house me." Yet, behind the Temple's magnificence was a clear purpose.
1 Chronicles 22:5 (NIV)
David said, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it." So David made extensive preparations before his death.
When the Temple was built, King Solomon held a huge dedication ceremony. He used it as an opportunity to pray and declare the Temple's purposes.

2 Chronicles 6:18-21 (NIV)
¹⁸"But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
¹⁹Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence.
²⁰May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.
²¹Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.

And, Solomon adds, not just for Israelites:
2 Chronicles 6:32-33 (NIV)
³²"As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm--when he comes and prays toward this temple,
³³then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

The word "fear" you means to honor, pay respect to. Solomon understood what the Temple would do. The prayers offered there were meant to be a gathering spot for all nations of the earth. God's purposes, his grace, love and mercy are not the domain of one group of people - it is for all people.

Our Prayers Count.
Our Prayers are within Us, and From Us...1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

A Prayer: "O Lord, you have taught us that without love, whatever we do is worth nothing: By the power of your Holy Spirit, pour into our hearts your greatest gift which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue the greatest of our needs. This we ask in your only Son's name, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen"

A Morning Prayer

2012-02-07T06:25:00.000-06:00

The morning is a time to pray and I often use the Psalms and prayers to begin the day with God. This morning I thought I'd share a couple that I've used over and over again.

"My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge; you are worthy of praise. Psalm 18:2

"Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD." Psalm 31:24

"Lord help me not to be anxious about anything on earth, but to love all things that are of you. While I am here I am among all things passing away, but you said 'let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me.' So I give to you this morning all that is on my anxious heart, and I place my trust in you for the rest of this day. I pray you'll help me to sense your presence as the day goes along, and with the power of your Spirit, lead me to the fulfilling of your purposes, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen"

A Journey of Desire

2012-02-06T08:19:00.002-06:00

Philippians 1:21-23 (NIV)
²¹For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
²²If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
²³I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

It was the band U2 that sang the words, "I still haven't found what I'm looking for."

I've been reading a new book of late. It's another one by one of my favorite authors, John Ortberg. He has a knack for writing in such a way that I find myself thinking, musing, and praying. So I enjoy his reads quite a bit.
He said something in this book that got me thinking.
"Something has happened, something terrible. Something worse, even, than the fall... In that great tragedy we lost paradise...what has happened since is...we've gotten use to it."

Scripture says that Satan blinds the minds of those that don't believe (2 Cor. 4:4), and the prophet said, "the people who walk in darkness have seen a great light." Perhaps we live around the darkness so much that we've acclimated our eyes to this dimness.

We wake up, brush our teeth, have some coffee or tea, perhaps turn on the news, or read a paper. We go to work, come home and eat some supper. Put the kids to bed, watch the TV, and go to bed...where the next day it begins all over again.
Famine in one part of the world,
Political messes in Washington,
Politicians promising change, or hope, or railing against the failures, etc...
Threats of war in the Middle East,
Life goes on and on without much change.

The TV anchor closes the show with: "And that's the news, good night".
Wouldn't it be great if one news anchor would stop at the end, look into the camera and say, "How far we are from home...if only we had listened to God."???

If I told you that life would always be the way it is now, would you be depressed, or delighted? Would you be happy or sad?

Each of us lives our in such a way that life is either moving towards something, or we're just spinning around and around doing the "same old things".

The secret is that we are NOT HOME YET. Life is usual and yet life is not all that we were made for. If we truly listen to our hearts we will know what the English giant G.K. Chesterton described as "divine discontent".
We are not home yet, and no matter how enjoyable the vacation, and even the times when we think "I wished this would never end..." we always long for home.

The journey of desire is the most important journey of our lives. Whatever else we gain - money, possessions, the approval of others, even the enjoyment of family - it is not the end, and our souls know it.
Matthew 16:25-26 (NIV)
²⁵For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
²⁶What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

One of my favorite (I have lots of favorites) movies, the Shawshank Redemption, tells a story of two principles: Red, played by Morgan Freeman, is a lifer; and Andy, played by Tim Robbins, end up as close friends. Andy is looking to escape, but Red is philosophical, accepting, and compliant about what is the "reality" that life will always be behind bars.

At one point, Red explains it to Andy: "At first, these walls, you hate them. They make you crazy. After a while you get used to them, don't notice them anymore. Then comes the day when you realize you don't need them."

It is slavery by simply living in acceptance, losing the desire for freedom and a new home.
It is slavery to prefer death to life.
To desire and not have it...is this not the greatest pain and sorrow?
But does it have to be?

Let us go on a journey together. Take that map of God's word and walk towards truth, and home. Lose our lives in Jesus, find life.

On Fainting and Prayer

2012-02-02T08:05:00.000-06:00

The theme of this title comes from the King James Version, which is what I began reading and memorizing from in my early walk with Christ.
Luke 18:1 (KJV)
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

A more modern rendition of the passage is from the New Living Translation:
Luke 18:1-8 (NLT)
¹One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
²“There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.
³A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’
⁴The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people,
⁵but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
⁶Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.
⁷Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
⁸I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

A further reading of the context tells us that Luke makes three stories about faith, and how prayer and faith are connected - so read the larger context!
There is something in this parable that is oddly strange. How does an indifferent court official and a persistent widow suppose to encourage us to pray? And to persevere (not faint) regardless? Doesn't he disgust and doesn't she make you envision a nagging woman? Well, Yes.

But the secret in the parable is recognizing that Jesus loved to use outlandish pictures to make people stop and think...and that is exactly what happens here.

Fainting is another way of saying "give up". We lose heart, get discouraged and simply want to succumb to the inevitable disappointment of nothing is ever going to change.
Let's be honest, almost all of us have had times when we've prayed, and prayed, and prayed, and then come to the place where we simply stop praying. Why? Perhaps we feel like God knows what we want so why keep saying it again...or perhaps its because every time we pray it reminds us that we don't have what we want, and it becomes something inside of us that feels undesirable.

I know I have a number of things I've prayed for - for years! Sometimes I've seen answers of prayer come long after I quit praying for something. Sometimes I've continued to pray, but very intermittently.
Being real, it's not easy to maintain a posture of continual prayer when we want something to happen so badly.

Healing?
Marriage?
Sickness, disease?
Job, Finances?
Relationships?
Church?
Political issues?
and on and on we go.

The point of the parable is NOT that the way of prayer is to naggingly beg God. Jesus says it this way:
Luke 18:6-8 (NIV)
⁶And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.
⁷And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
⁸I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

It's that realization that if an unjust person can give justice, HOW MUCH MORE will God the Father bring about what is good and gracious. We are not nameless widows; but "chosen ones" and therefore his beloved children.
A.W. Tozer says: "JUST, when used of God is a name we give to the way God is, nothing more, and when God acts Justly, He is....simply acting like himself."

C. Samuel Storms poses some relevant questions in his book Reaching God's Ear that we can use to evaluate our prayer lives.
•Do we repeat a request because we think that the quality of a prayer is dependent on the quantity of words?
•Do we repeat a request because we think that God is ignorant and needs to be informed, or if not ignorant at least he is unconcerned and therefore needs to be aroused?
•Do we repeat our prayers because we believe that God is unwilling to answer and we must prevail upon him, somehow transforming a hard-hearted God into a compassionate and loving one?
•Do we repeat a petition because we think that God will be swayed in his decision by our putting on a show of zeal and piety, as if God cannot see through the thin veil of hypocrisy?

I hope not. We persist in praying...we don't faint... precisely because we believe God is good, gracious, and just, and that we are reminding ourselves of that everytime we come to Him with our need.
Jesus ends with the words: "when the son of Man returns, how many will he find...with faith?" We live in the not yet, longing for the return of Jesus.

This kind of prayer is not only the evidence of faith, but the means of building faith until his return.
It might be that we have to face our discouragements and our disappointments as part of the problem that we address to the Father in prayer.

SO...what do we need to "begin praying about all over again"?

Peace

New Adam, New Creation

2012-02-01T07:37:00.000-06:00

I'm teaching this Sunday from Luke 4, specifically from the first part of the chapter on the Temptation by the Devil of Jesus in the wilderness.
My problem is one of what to say, what not to say about that.

One of the things I've spent time thinking about, but don't think I'll have the time to explore is this idea of what the Temptation scene means in itself. In other words, not just the specifics of the temptations themselves - which are important - but what the purpose of Luke was in the importance of this event in and of itself.

This leads me to the fact that the first Adam failed in trusting God and saw humanity's seed permanently corrupted by the sin nature.
Here's some notes I began to write but I know I'll never get to...

Genesis 2:15-17 (NLT)
¹⁵The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend andwatch over it.
¹⁶But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit ofevery tree in the garden— ¹⁷except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat itsfruit, you are sure to die.”

WHY WAS THE TREE CALLED THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOODAND EVIL?

WHY NOT THE TREE OF POWER?

OR THE TREE OF MONEY, OR FAME, OR PRETENDING TO BE GOD-LIKE?

DON’T YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE?

DON'T WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE WHAT IS GOOD, AND WHAT IS EVIL IF WE HAVE IT?

Genesis 3:1-5 (NLT)
¹The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD Godhad made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat thefruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
²“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” thewoman replied.
³“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the gardenthat we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touchit; if you do, you will die.’”
⁴“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman.
⁵“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it,and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

AND HERE IS SATAN'S TEMPTING WORDS:

“LOOK AT THAT TREE”

“WHAT’S WRONG HERE?...THAT IS A GOOD TREE…GOOD FRUIT”

“IS GOD SO THREATENED BY THE IDEA THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TOHAVE YOUR OWN OPINIONS, YOUR OWN IDEAS THAT HE FORBIDS YOU TO HAVE THAT…?”

“CAN’T YOU MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND AS TO WHAT IS GOOD ANDEVIL?” “YOU CAN JUDGE, KNOW WHAT YOUBELIEVE

“YOU CAN STRAIGHTEN THINGS OUT BEST WHEN YOU TAKE CONTROL OFYOUR OWN LIFE, DETERMINE YOUR OWN VALUES, BE KING OF YOUR OWN DOMAIN!!!!!”

“GO AHEAD…IT’S YOUR WILL THAT IS NEEEDING TO BE DONE, NOTHIS”

AND, THE TEMPTATION IS SIMPLY THIS:

WE DEFINE WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT,
WE DEFINE WHAT IS GOOD FOR US,
WE DEFINE LIFE AS WE WANT TO

I'VE HEARD IT, PROBABLY AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER THOUGHT IT MYSELF: “NOBODY IS GOING TO TELL ME HOW TO LIVE…” THE PROBLEM IS,

THAT IS FALSE…THE PROBLEM WITH THAT BELIEF IS THAT IT IS NOT TRUE…

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)
“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’tbelieve…”

Ephesians 2:1-3 (NLT)
¹Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your manysins.
²You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeyingthe devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit atwork in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
³All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desiresand inclinations of our sinful nature…”

WHEN A PERSON BELIEVES THAT THEY CAN DEFINE LIFE ON THEIROWN TERMS, THEY ARE SUCCUMBING TO THE VERY THING THAT CONTROLS THEM.

I’VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO TAKE EVIL AND MAKE IT SOMETHING GOOD.

ONCE TALKING WITH A GUY DEALING WITH PORNOGRAPHY, HE TOLD METHAT IT STOPS HIM FROM GOING OUT TO LOOKING FOR SEX WITH WOMEN…WOW!

HE IS TWISTING THE EVIL AND MAKING IT OUT TO BE THAT IT ISGOOD.

THE INTERNAL ASPECT OF THE FALL IS THAT WE SKEW GODACCORDING TO WHAT FITS US. WE DON’T NOTICE HOW ARBITRARY AND HOW OUR CULTURE INFLUENCESUS.

NOW LET’S THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS TEMPTATION ACCOUNT OF LUKETHEN IS ALL ABOUT…

Satan offered opportunities to Jesus where Jesus could havepossibly done great practical things for the world.

He could have demonstrated himself as the Messiah, givinghimself religious power.

He could have taken control over all the governments of theworld and have the perfect human government.

He could have used his power to heal and deliver peoplewithout going to the Cross.

LISTEN TO PAUL IN ROMANS:

Romans 5:12 (NLT)
When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so deathspread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Romans 5:17-19 (NLT)
¹⁷For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule overmany. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness,for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this oneman, Jesus Christ.
¹⁸Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, butChrist’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and newlife for everyone.
¹⁹Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. Butbecause one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

WHAT’S HE SAYING?

JESUS, IS THE LAST ADAM, WHO IS UNDOING THE CURSE, ANDMAKING A NEW HUMANITY WHOSE IDENTITY IS OF GOD!

2 Corinthians 5:14-17 (NLT)
¹⁴Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe thatChrist died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
¹⁵He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life willno longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died andwas raised for them.
¹⁶So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view.At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. Howdifferently we know him now!
¹⁷This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a newperson. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

When we “live in Adam”, we are basically deciding that wecan decide for ourselves what the best options are in a situation.

Life in Christ doesn’t remove the fact that we have to makeour own choices in life.

Rather, living in Christ makes it clear that we must seekGod’s ways and wisdom on the choices we make.

THE KINGDOM BRINGS US TO A PLACE WHERE GOD CHANGES THE FOCUSOF LIFE.

OUR SEXUALITY, OUR MONEY/POSSESSIONS, OUR RELATIONSHIPS, OURFELLOWSHIP, THE WAY WE WORK, THE WAY WE LIVE IN OUR CULTURE…IT IS ALL FRAMED BYTHIS NEW LIFE IN THE KINGDOM.

so…that’s where we must decide…every day, who’s kingdom ruleare we going to be under?

Following

2012-01-30T06:20:00.000-06:00

Last week I walked outside of the YMCA where I get some exercise and noticed something that put a smile on my face. There was a line of about 20 children, probably all 5 and under, grabbing onto a rope, 10 or so on either side, and an adult in the front (and one behind) saying, "Come on, keep up, follow me." I smiled as I watched this "duck waddling" group of children all keep in step as they held on to the rope and kept walking.

What is it about following that seems so child like? Scriptures, and especially the Gospels where Jesus talked a lot about it, speak a lot on following.
Mark 1:16-18 (NIV)
¹⁶As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
¹⁷"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
¹⁸At once they left their nets and followed him.

Luke 5:27-28 (NASB)
²⁷After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, "Follow Me."
²⁸And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him.

These two examples seem easy to digest. What we must remember is that they didn't know Jesus, and didn't know what we know about what would happen when they chose to follow him. AND, once someone chose to "follow", it didn't get easier:
Luke 9:23 (NIV)
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Or how about this series of incidents immediately following in Luke 9...
Luke 9:57-62 (NIV)
⁵⁷As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
⁵⁸Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
⁵⁹He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
⁶⁰Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
⁶¹Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."
⁶²Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Interestingly, Jesus never said, "Believe my arguments". He said, "Follow me".
I remember years ago a teacher say, "If you can talk someone into the Kingdom of God, someone else can talk them out of it."
We're not called to argue people into believing in God, we're told to follow Jesus' way, follow Jesus, and in following, learn from him to live in such a way that this following is real.

It's that position of being a learner, an apprentice. There we hear the words of a teacher... "Ok, listen, follow my thoughts, do what I do here..., do it your own way, but learn how to do this...".
We follow because there is wisdom, experience, knowledge, and even safety in doing so.

Jesus tells a story of people building houses. Some houses are built foolishly, on sand foundations that shift and move and can't stand up to the storms of life. Some houses are built wisely on a firm foundation and when storms come they survive because they were built soundly.

Each person is building something...each of us are "house builders". Each of our houses will go through storms, tests, trials, character building things disguised as gut wrenching "why?"...
It is not the lack of storms that identifies our following. We cannot choose what will come our way. All we can do, say is, "Lord please help me to stay close to you, because I trust you, and I want to follow you."

A Monk in Each of Us

2012-01-27T06:35:00.001-06:00

This Sunday our Church fellowship will celebrate Communion. I love Communion because it is such a mysterious attraction of my seeking fellowship in worship with God. That sense of fellowship, the presence of God, the real person present and in worship, prayer, taking bread and cup a connection is made in body, soul and spirit...I love that.

I've always been fascinated by the lifestyle of a Monk. I think it's the unhurried, reflective, seemingly quieter lifestyle that appeals to me. Perhaps also its the "daily rhythms" of life that help preserve a sense of order and balance in terms of both "doing" and "being".

That's the key thing, our "doing" vs. our "being". It was in Genesis that we're reminded:
Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Our first identity is a stamp of God upon us. We're image bearers, "Adams" which is pronounced "AH, "DOM"...the ONES - male and female - created by God for communion, fellowship, the pure joy of creation.
When we're "doing" only, we're probably going to miss "being". We're not machines that "get things done" - even for God. We're connected to God in image...we bear the image of God...the character of love, joy, peace on all levels of existence.

Maybe the reason the Monastics learned to stop and "re-center" what they were doing on God was so that they wouldn't be tempted to think that what they were doing was eternal, but temporal, but that something was eternal, and therefore far more important than what they were doing.
We are physical beings, and also spiritual beings... Romans 8:14-16 (NIV)
¹⁴because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
¹⁵For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
¹⁶The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

That "Abba" means "Daddy". There's something inside of each of us that wants to cry out to God as "Daddy". And we should.

Think about it...how do we come to this place of relating to God personally.

1. There's talking AT God - "Come Lord Jesus be our guest and let this food to us be blessed...."

2. There's talking TO God - "Our Father who are in heaven, holy is your name, let you Kingdom come, let your will be done...."

3. There's listening TO God - How? Where? Does this really happen? We do it in relationships all of the time, so why not with God.

4. There's being WITH God - the fact is, that scripture is replete with people who fellowshiped, worshiped and discovered the presence of God.

This is where we come back to the Monastics. There's a little bit of being a "Monk" in all of us. We simply desire the relationship quality more than anything else...we're made for that and our hearts will always be restless when we're trying to fill it with something different than him.

We don't have to put on scratchy robes, memorize prayers, chants, even live in a cloistered setting to practice a life of continual relationship with God. Stopping during the day at repeated intervals to just say "thank you Lord for being with me, I love you Lord, and I'm listening if there's something you want to say to me" is a good beginning point in this journey of communion.

John 15:15 (NIV)
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

This is God's gift to each of us...the opportunity to break free from "doing" to "being".

ALL IS GRACE

2012-01-24T14:13:00.002-06:00

It was about 15 years ago that I ran across the writings of Brennan Manning.
A Catholic Priest who became a monastic, and also an alcoholic; who after going through recovery began to write on the love of God. Through his book, Abba's Child, I was set free of the thought that my performance and efforts were what caused God to love me. When I read "The Ragamuffin Gospel" I was undone. No Protestant who should believe in grace through faith quite captured the heart of the gospel as he did.

Brennan learned all of this in both serving and in recovery.
It all started for him very early. In February 1956, while Brennan was meditating on the Stations of the Cross, a powerful experience of the personal love of Jesus Christ sealed God's call on his life. "At that moment, the entire Christian life became for me an intimate, heartfelt relationship with Jesus."
In the late 1960's he journeyed to Spain and lived in a monastic order serving the poor in a rural village. During that time he lived for six months alone, in a cave, practicing the solitary and contemplative prayer life of the desert fathers. During his retreat in this cave, he was powerfully convicted by the revelation of God's love in sending his Son to be crucified. One mid-winter's night he heard from the Lord:
"For love of you I left my Father's side. I came to you who ran from me, who fled me, who did not want to hear my name. For love for you I was covered in spit, punched and beaten, and fixed to the wood of the cross."
Later Brennan who say of that event, "those words are burned into my life. That night, I learned what a wise old Franciscan told me the day I joined the Order - 'Once you come to know the love of Jesus Christ, nothing else in the world will seem as beautiful or desirable."

I wanted to blog on him because his writings are so simply profound. A new book has come out and I am anxious to read it and recommend it to you also: "All is Grace" is a memoir on his Ragamuffin life.

There is a powerful video of this is on You Tube. You can find it at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j73mYgpxhTY&feature=player_embedded#!

As you watch this, realize just essential his message is not only for a lost and dying world; but also for us as individuals who believe and love poorly.

Peace

Selective Spirituality

2012-01-17T08:14:00.001-06:00

1 Samuel 15:13-23 (NIV)
¹³When Samuel reached him, Saul said, "The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD's instructions."
¹⁴But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?"
¹⁵Saul answered, "The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest."
¹⁶"Stop!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." "Tell me," Saul replied.
¹⁷Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel.
¹⁸And he sent you on a mission, saying, 'Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.'
¹⁹Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?"
²⁰"But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king.
²¹The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."
²²But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
²³For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."

I don't like this story...it bothers me on multiple levels. It strikes me at the core of my own faith, service to God (or at least attempted service), and this area of obedience. See, like most Christians I have times of "selectivity" in listening and obeying. I wished I could say it were not so, but I know the truth, so I'll be honest about it.

The question is "why"? Why do we fall into this syndrome of selective spirituality?
Part of the answer is that we're simply not perfect beings. The Psalmist says something very comforting to us:
Psalm 103:13-14 (NIV)
¹³As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
¹⁴for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

He knows we are dust. He knows us!
The question then becomes, "Do we know ourselves?"

First of all, we are made in the image of God...all of us, every human being. We are not merely robots that respond to commands instantly; nor are we non-thinking, non-choosing machines. We are people whom God has deposited various components of who we are.
We are physical beings
We are emotional beings
We are social beings
We are intellectual beings
We are spiritual beings.

God has put within us the ability to make choices on a number of different levels - often in combination within us.

This selectivity is understood on one level - we're human.
But on another level this selectivity shows that we've not paid attention to all that God has deposited within us.
Point blank...I say I trust, but that trust must not be on principles, or commands, or ideas; but that trust must be in a Person.

When you trust the Person - God - you don't have to live selectively, you can choose Him each time.
Saul doesn't have to be within us.
We can stop rationalizing, stop arguing, stop compromising the very person we trust in.
We can put our faith into the practical area of choice, and say "I'd rather do what I know is right before you God, because I know you are truth."

Peace

Fully Human

2012-01-13T07:28:00.000-06:00

Luke 2:52 (NIV)
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

The word for stature is helikia, a word that implies maturity...growth in more than physical ways. It implies formation of character, principles, values that serve to guide a person in living.

In a recent message surrounding this passage I mentioned that for some Jesus' growing up was not equal to our own - he was God. But that is the fateful error (sorry to say, but heresy) of those who refused to believe Jesus was fully human, as well as fully divine. In other words, we must not diminish his humanity in order to understand all that he is.
Being "fully human" is not just a way of describing Jesus; it is also an objective for each of our own lives.

Genesis 1:26-27 (NIV)
²⁶Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
²⁷So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

God has made us in his image - that includes our physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual,and social dimensions. Interestingly, scripture says that God has no physical form - he is a Spirit, not a physical body - thus we are told not to make a physical representation of him in the form of an idol.
So, our image-bearing is more those aspects of the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and social dimensions.
To be fully human is to know that God has made us with these. To pay attention to those aspects of our being is simply "watching over our soul".

Jesus said, "... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10 (NIV)

I am a man, a husband, a father, a pastor, a professor, among many things. Yet my identity is mainly as a follower of Jesus, a disciple - "a learner" - which is what discipleship means. I am learning how to live my life the way the Jesus would live my life if he were me. God has been faithful to me for my 62 years to develop and "grow" me.

OH, there is so much more to go; but this one thing I do, I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus has taken hold of me (that's Paul's words - Phil 3:12).

Fully Human...that's God's gift to us.

Peace

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

2012-01-12T15:09:00.000-06:00

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
²⁸"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

In just one week the Winter/Spring semester begins for me at Christian Life College - Madison. I am a Pastor in both my passion and my sense of God's calling. That is what I do most of the time. The other part of my time is to have the privilege to teach a college class and enjoy the academic side of Spirituality.
I don't think a lot of people think about their faith often enough. We're told that the greatest commandment is "to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, your soul, your mind." It certainly seems important to think with our mind. In a classroom I often ask questions...seeking to get students to think and personalize the material.

This next Semester's class is a course on "Development and Growth"...how do we as Christians grow and develop in soul, spirit, and mind?
One aspect of this course is to dive into some material in a book - Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, written by Peter Scazzero. He has some really helpful things to say about how we do, or do not, grow-up in emotionally healthy ways, and he has a lot of experience - he almost quit his faith and his ministry because of his own lack of emotional health.

My own experience in this is similar. There came a time in the late 1990's that I almost quit. Almost quit ministry, almost quit the church, almost quit on just about everything. I was discouraged, burnt out, and fed up.

The truth is that we live in a society where being a member of a church has proved to be of little help when it comes to marriage, divorces, friendships, parenting, sexuality, singleness, addictions, depression, etc... The truth is that Christians have about the same percentages as the general population when it comes to all of these areas. Which is one reason why some people QUIT. They grow up in church, but when it comes to their experiences they feel frustrated by the lack of progress...and when people don't quit, they stay but without the passion, staying passive for years.

SOMETHING is missing, somethings not right, and that deep gnawing feeling is right where many find themselves.
There are no end of suggested solutions, and I've tried them all:

More Bible Study
More Community Programs
This is Spiritual Warfare
Healing Prayer
Worship
Mission/Serving
Need to get hold of God's grace more

All have a place, but none are solutions...in fact, as a stand alone they can only serve to deceive us into thinking we only need time and to try harder.

What is true about us is that we resemble an Iceberg...what people see is the 10% we project, and the real US is the 90% below the surface.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
²⁸"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

A Yoke is a two-animal collar. It meant they pulled together. They were a team and together they could do what neither of them could do alone. The weariness and burden-bearing that would be singular is changed into something that felt quite restful.
What's interesting is that in Israel during Jesus' day, the farming with Oxen was usually done so that one experienced Ox worked with a younger one, so that the younger one grew up understanding what it was suppose to do.

Jesus says, hook yourself up with me. I'll help you get "un-wearied", "un-burdened", you'll find that it is more "rest" than work.

I'm going to blog some more on this as my semester goes along...but I thought you'd might to start "thinking" with me also.

Peace

What about "IF" faith?

2012-01-10T09:20:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I mused on the idea of "High Faith". The words faith and high don't necessarily ring a bell; but I wanted to think out loud about how we approach faith, or don't approach it on a daily basis. Most of us who believe in Christ struggle with the daily aspect of walking out faithfully the faith we affirm on Sunday. It's easy to be a Sunday Christian. I can say, act, do the right things in the company of my believing friends; it's Monday thru Saturday that my faith leaves me perplexed.
Think about these two accounts.
Mark 9:2-9 (NIV)
²After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.
³His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.
⁴And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
⁵Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."
⁶(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
⁷Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"
⁸Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
⁹As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

No matter what we experience that is good, we all have to come down the mountain. Life is not lived on the mountain, but down on the earth. What we'd like to do is build an altar on the mountain top and stay there...who doesn't want the "high"? Yet Jesus brought them down...to where life was not filled with dazzling white, and visions, and clouds that amaze; but rather to where "stuff" happens.
Later in that passage...just 5 verses later, and obviously as they re-enter the world from the mountain top:

Mark 9:14-24 (NIV)
¹⁴When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them.
¹⁵As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
¹⁶"What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.
¹⁷A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.
¹⁸Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
¹⁹"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."
²⁰So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
²¹Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered.
²²"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
²³"'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
²⁴Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Faith is essential, and at times quite elusive. Nine times in the gospels Jesus says, "Your faith has healed you." Not all were believing Jews. A Roman Centurion soldier, a Cannaanite woman are two of those he speaks these words to.

Peter, James, and John go "up" on the mountain and see the amazing. Then they go down and see the typical. What is in between?
⁹As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

In the midst of the high, coming down is a dose of reality. None of this glory is to be noted until after he has died and been risen.
There will be a crucifixion and then a resurrection, and then the other side...you can speak about it then. Not today. Today we enter the world without that glory.

They go down and meet frustrated people.
The disciples are frustrated.
Arguing, failing to solve the problem, no healing, unbelieving...that is normal.

"O Unbelieving generation, How long...?" Jesus says. You can sense his own exasperation. The disciples hang around Jesus all of the time.
They've seen him pray; and they've seen him heal.
Why can't we do it? They are looking down, humbled and feeling like failures.

The father is frustrated. He doesn't want an argument, he wants his son to get healed.
The boy is frustrated. He is the one who has the seizures.
There's nothing more frustrating than to be a parent and watch a child go through something like that.
Yet, this has demonic roots to it. That makes us feel uncomfortable. Who would diagnose a demon today? Jesus did.
He asks, "how long has this been going on?"
"A long time - from childhood - he's almost died -
"IF" you can do something.

IF faith is comfortable faith.
IF is not mountain top faith... it is everyday, normal life.
"IF?" Jesus says, "IF?"...

It's a challenge isn't it? What do you believe in? What are you counting on?
"Everything is possible to those who believe..."
He doesn't make a promise that everything will happen the way we want it to because of faith.

Hope is sometimes framed by "IF" faith.

Jesus, I believe, but I doubt; I hope, but I fear; I pray, and I waver; I ask, and I worry;
I believe...please help me with my unbelief.

I understand the IF prayers and faith.

Since most of us spend little time with the tiny book of Jude, let me quote from it to end this:
Jude 1:21-22 (NIV)
²¹Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
²²Be merciful to those who doubt.

Peace

"High" Faith

2012-01-08T17:15:00.000-06:00

Faith is a footbridge that you don't know will hold you up over the chasm until you're forced to walk out onto it. (NICHOLAS WOLTERSTORFF)

So much of our journey with God involves "choosing" to trust in someone other than our own selves. In his book, Faith and Doubt, John Ortberg talks about the way in which faith really works. He has this chapter that begins with the idea of "Mountains" and with that jumps into the theme of "height" as a metaphor.
Altars in ancient times were built in "high places".
Sacrifices were made in Israel by "high priests".
Today we speak of "high ideals" and "high achievements" and politicians who run for "high office".
When someone is a snob, arrogant, we tell them to get off their "high horse".
When someone gets addicted to drugs they get a "high", and when they seek to get off their addiction they seek a "higher power".
Heights attract us in ways that go beyond simple statements.

About six weeks ago I did a wedding at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. They were only the foothills and not the mountain tops and it was still awe inspiring.
Heights humble us because they speak to our smallness.
One of God's most important designations is "The Most High" which means he is over "all" things. God most high...someone who cannot be controlled, managed or defined by our own terms.

Some have called faith a "leap". As if it's not reasonable, not measured, without regard for common sense. Yet it isn't that at all. Faith is like putting on glasses. We need glasses for vision correction. We simply see, but not clearly. Yet faith is more than that, it's also passion and commitment. In faith we say I'm willing to make a commitment (say my wife in marriage) that goes way beyond "knowing", "predicting" what is going to occur.

Faith is a commitment.
Faith is a passion.

During Worship this morning I remembered the story of the French philosopher and mathematician, Blaise Pasca. He was - is - one of the most brilliant person who ever lived. Yet he struggled with depression, was unhappy with life. Then one day it all changed. His demeanor changed almost over night, and his family and friends wondered how it all could happen so suddenly. What had happened was that he an encounter with God. Interestingly, he never spoke about it to anyone. In fact, no one would have known it occurred if it hadn't been for an accidental discovery after he died. His nephew and a servant were taking care of his affairs, including what to do with his clothing. They discovered a piece of paper sewn into his coat. It turned out to be a crumbled piece of faded paper. It was nine years old by that time, and yet it recorded what happened. These were the words he wrote that night:

Fire. GOD of Abraham, GOD of Isaac, GOD of Jacob.
Not the God of the philosophers and of the learned.
Certitude. Certitude.
Feeling. Joy. Peace.
GOD of Jesus Christ …
Forgetfulness of the world and of everything, except GOD.
Grandeur of the human soul.
Joy, Joy, Joy, tears of joy …4

Ortberg, John (2008-09-02). Faith and Doubt (p. 70). Zondervan

Faith is like that...mysterious, passionate, wonder-filled, and yet it is exactly what makes life real.

Peace

Epiphany - A Day Late!

2012-01-07T08:45:00.000-06:00

Epiphany was January 6th, and I'm a day late, but was traveling yesterday, so forgive me for not getting this on time.

We’ve come to the end of the 12 days ofChristmas. Epiphany is the appearance ofthe Wise Men, the Magi, who came from the East to find the “King, born of theJews”.

Each of the days betweenChristmas and Epiphany celebrated an aspect of our faith. And now, the twelfth day arrived.

“On the Twelfth Day of Christmas,

My true love gave to me:

Twelve Drummers Drumming”

What did it stand for? The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed:

1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator ofheaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) Hewas conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4)He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. Hedescended into hell. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended intoheaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again tojudge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holycatholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11)the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

There you have it...twelve days for twelve significant aspects of our faith.

There are certain advantages to knowing these 12 aspectsof our faith.
Most Christians know Jesus – the Partridge who is willing to die for it’schildren.

And, they know there are two Testaments (Covenants) inthe Old and the New. (Two Turtledoves)

Three Essential Christ-like character: Faith, Hope Love(three French Hens)

Four Gospels (Four Colly Birds)

Five Books of Moses (Five Golden Rings)

Six days of Creation (Six Geese-a-laying)

Seven Gifts of the Spirit (Seven Swans-a-Swimming)

Eight Beatitudes Jesus Spoke (Eights maids-a-milking)

Nine Fruit of the Spirit (Nine Ladies Dancing)

Ten Commandments from God (Ten Lords-a-leaping)

Eleven Faithful Disciples (Eleven Pipers Piping)

And NOW,

Twelve Doctrinal Statements in the Apostle’s Creed(Twelve Drummers Drumming)

The key is, can you/I say what each of them are frommemory? What if we took the time toactually memorize what each of them were? Some are easy (the first 5 I think), and some will take some work (sixthru 12), but they are worth it.

Thanks for journeying with me through these twelve days.

Peace

Days 8,9,10,&11

2012-01-03T14:12:00.001-06:00

OK, so the 12 days of Christmas is getting a bit accelerated. I'm off for a couple of days and want to get ahead...planning on making a final blog on the 12th day.

By the way, Shakespeare wrote "Twelfth Night". The twelfth night is January 5, which is one of the days I'm gone, so I'll lean a bit towards that now.
The origin and counting of the 12 days is not universally held in the church. Western churches count after Christmas and the 12th day is Jan. 6th.
The 12th day is celebrated as the day the Magi - the wise men - from the East arrived to present their gifts to the baby Jesus. Here is the passage that records that in the New Living Translation:
Matthew 2:1-12 (NLT)
¹Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,
²“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
³King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.
⁴He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
⁵“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
⁶‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”
⁷Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared.
⁸Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”
⁹After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.
¹⁰When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!
¹¹They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
¹²When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

The event that concludes with the Magi's bowing before the child is referred to as Epiphany.

The song we've been remembering is based on a series of images/symbols, all which stand for an aspect of the faith:

On the first day of Christmas,

My true love (God) gave to me

A Partridge in a Pear tree (Jesus)

On the second day...

Two Turtle doves (Old and New Testaments)

Three French Hens (Faith, Hope, and Love)

Four Colly Birds (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

Five Golden Rings (The Pentateuch)

Six Geese-a-laying (Six days of Creation)

Seven Swans-a-swimming (Seven fold Spirit)

And, now 8, 9, 10, and 11

Eight Maids-a-Milking - There are 8 Beatitudes Jesus spoke

Matthew 5:3-10 (NIV)
³"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
⁵Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
⁷Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
⁸Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
⁹Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Nine Ladies Dancing - There are Nine Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Ten Lords-a-leaping - There are 10 Commandments God gave Moses

Exodus 20:3-17 (NIV)
³"You shall have no other gods before me.
⁴"You shall not make for yourself an idol...
⁷"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God...
⁸"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
¹²"Honor your father and your mother...
¹³"You shall not murder.
¹⁴"You shall not commit adultery.
¹⁵"You shall not steal.
¹⁶"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
¹⁷"You shall not covet your neighbor's house...

your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Eleven Pipers Piping - There were 11 Apostles who stayed true to Christ

Luke 6:13-16 (NIV)
¹³When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
¹⁴Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
¹⁵Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,
¹⁶Judas son of James, (and Judas Iscariot, the 12th was a traitor.)

You got to admit..it's a clever way to teach any kind of Catechism!

Peace

Days 6 & 7 of the 12 Days of Christmas

2011-12-31T17:27:00.003-06:00

The weekend is upon us...and thus, 2012. Happy New Year to you all.
I spent the day launching my daughter, Lindsay, her husband Pete, and my twin grandchildren, Raewyn and Theo as they are flying back to England - their home. It's been a bit sad to say goodbye and yet we have some really good memories and stories from their vacation back home here.

This weekend is days 6 & 7 of the 12 days of Christmas.
The 12 days are thought to begin on Christmas day and end on the fift or sixth of January - the day of Epiphany, which is the celebration of the appearance of the wise men and their gifts to Jesus.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love gave to me,
six geese-a-laying...

In England, where the song originated, a goose was a traditional Christmas meal. I made one once, and because it was a wild goose it was given a thumbs down by my family. Yet Geese were important because they were domesticated so that not only did they lay eggs to provide a constant source of food, but they also were raised as a delicacy to eat.
Symbolically, the six geese represented the six days of creation, when God "laid" the foundation for creation, and thus "feeds" the earth.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love gave to me,
seven swans a swimming...

Swans are considered to be graceful, beautiful birds...even given as gifts in old England when this song was probably composed.
So what did the authors have in mind?
Isaiah 11:1-2 (NIV)
¹A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
²The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD--

The scripture says there are seven aspects of the ministry of Jesus:
1. Wisdom
2. Understanding
3. Counsel
4. Power
5. Knowledge
6. Fear of the Lord
7. The Spirit of the Lord rests on Him

Day 5 - Golden Rings??

2011-12-30T06:59:00.000-06:00

The 12 days of Christmas occur between Christmas Day and Jan. 6 - Epiphany - the event that commemorates the visit of the wise men (Magi) and the gifts they gave Jesus.
On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A Partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day - two turtledoves
On the third day - three french hens
On the fourth day - four colly birds (see yesterday's blog)
And now today...
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me,

Five Gold Rings!

Finally something other than a bird! Right?
Unfortunately No, it's still a bird.
The writer/composer had in mind the ring necked pheasant that was highly prized for both it's beauty and taste!

The song is usually sung as "five golden rings" instead of the correct words: "five gold rings"

So, what did they have in mind that this was to represent for children to learn?
The Five Gold Rings represent the Pentateuch - the first five books of the Bible, the books of Moses - which serve as a record of God's character and his desire for a nation who's identity is set in Him. Think about all that relates to knowing these books as representing the character of God.

Deuteronomy 4:5-9 (NIV)
⁵See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me..
⁶Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations...
...what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?
⁹Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Matthew 5:17-18 (NIV)
¹⁷"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
¹⁸I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

John 1:17 (NIV)
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:19-24 (NIV)
¹⁹Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
²⁰Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
²¹But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
²²This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
²⁴and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

In Christ Jesus we have the law embodied in all of God's grace and truth...two essential ways to approach what God says.

Peace

12 days of Christmas - Day 4

2011-12-29T07:26:00.002-06:00

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
four calling birds,
three french hens,
two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.

2 Timothy 3:10, 14-17 (NIV)
¹⁰You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,...
¹⁴But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,
¹⁵and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The song "The Twelve days of Christmas" employs symbols that help children remember the various aspects of their faith. Over the last three days I mentioned the three french hens as the essentials of faith, hope and love; two turtledoves as the two covenants of the Old and New Testaments; and a partridge in a pear tree as Jesus Christ. My true love is God and of course, "me" is, well, you and me!
Today:
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me,
Four Calling birds...

This part of the song actually needs some explanation; as it is not simply "calling" birds, but rather from the old English - "colly" birds. Now, what are "Colly" birds?
Colly means black as coal and a "colliery" was a coal mine with connected buildings. Colly became the name for black birds.
OK, so why give "colly birds"?
The old school/children's song: "Sing a song of sixpence" talks about "blackbirds baked in a pie". One of the things I learned in my many travels to England, and especially the Cornwall area is that miners couldn't rely on their lunches being kept free of the coal dust and dirt, so they "tucked" their food inside of "pasties"...dough that was stuffed with potatoes, other vegetables, then baked. The miners took the pasties to their work and at lunch time they took the pasties apart, literally throwing away the outside to get at the inside, safe goodies.

SO...four colly birds represents the real food inside the outside.
In the case of the Twelve days of Christmas, the thing to learn about four colly birds is that there are four witnesses to the life of Christ - the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
On the fourth day of Christmas, God gave us this to remind us of some of the things that Christ Jesus did in walking this earth. It wasn't all, as John reminds us.
John 20:30-31 (NIV)
³⁰Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.
³¹But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 3

2011-12-28T07:41:00.005-06:00

The 12 days of Christmas serve as a type of "veiled Catechism" during a time of religious persecution. The song we sing is full of symbols.

Today we're looking at Three French Hens.

On the third day of Christmas

My true love gave to me

Three French Hens,

Two Turtle Doves,

and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

We already noted that the True Love is God.

The Partridge is Jesus because of his willingness to be a sacrifice.

The two turtle doves represent the covenants of the Old and the New Testaments

NOW...a Partridge in a pear tree?

The key is the three part of the French Hens.

It represents the virtues of the Gospel: Faith, Hope and Love.

Faith is the "substance", the real thing so to speak, of what we believe.

Hope sustains us in times when things don't seem well.

Love is the crowning of all virtues and when first applied to our relationship to God, it should spill over into our relationship with all others.

1Corinthians 13:4-13 (NRSV)
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant
5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.
7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures allthings.
8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as fortongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.
9 For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part;
10 but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasonedlike a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now Iknow only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of theseis love.

Day two of the 12 Days of Christmas

2011-12-27T07:47:00.002-06:00

Luke 2:21-24 (NLT)
²¹Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
²²Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
²³The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the LORD.”
²⁴So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons {doves}.”

I've been reading the 19th century English pastor and theologian, J.C. Ryle and his expository notes on the Gospel of Luke. As I preach my way through this Gospel I find some of these older works to be of invaluable worth in my own thinking, meditating, even praying through scripture.

Ryle makes the point that Mary and Joseph's sacrifice was the act of a poor couple. Leviticus had prescribed an animal sacrifice for a circumcision, unless the couple was poor - then they could offer two pigeons...doves. God did not send his son into a world with privilege. Instead he was born in a poor family, where hard work and scraping to keep things together still did not get you ahead.

The 12 days of Christmas mark the period of time between Christmas and Epiphany (see yesterday's blog if you want more information on this). The song says of this second day:

Onthe second day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.

The 2nd day of Christmas is God’s gift of the Two turtle doves. I have toadmit, from early boyhood the idea of a turtle and a dove brought weird imagesto my mind. I wasn’t sure whether the song was saying the true love gave aturtle or a dove, but it was confusing to try to put the two together.

Why two turtledoves?
Some have suggested it is a way of reminding children that these were symbols of the sacrifice that Mary brought in lieu of the lamb.

Inthe Jordan valley a similar species, the palm dove, or Egyptian turtledove, is still common today.
The nature of turtle doves is thatthey pair for life - a poetic type and symbol of God’s covenanted love. The dove appears in the language of Old Testament Poetry to describe the love that never dies.
Song ofSongs 2:10-14 (NRSV)
10 My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, andcome away;
11 for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voiceof the turtledove is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they giveforth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me seeyour face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face islovely.

It could be that the symbol of the two doves is the giving of God’s covenanted word in both Testaments - the Old and New. The two show his faithful love that is fulfilled - even as two partridges stay together for life. There are two completed aspects of God’s covenant that both point toJesus – The Old Testament gives us the background for Jesus’ coming in theredemptive work of God through repentance and sacrifice. The New Testamentshows the completed work of Christ and the direction of God’s work inredemption through the Kingdom of God.
Two turtle doves…God’s faithful love from eternity to eternity.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 1

2011-12-26T09:48:00.002-06:00

1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
¹⁸For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

Depending upon where you live, this is either the first day of shopping sales and returning presents, or, it is the beginning of a new series of celebration days. Of course, to my English friends today is "Boxing Day" - a day that has it's traditions in Victorian England when the servants and their families received gifts (presumably in the boxes) because they would have had to serve their master's families on Christmas day.

For me, today is the first day of the 12 days of Christmas. Made famous by the Christmas song of the same name, it has a tradition that goes back approximately 500 years. Since most of us are not part of liturgical churches little of this is known, or adhered to.

These 12 days occur between Christmas and January 6th - which is Epiphany. Epiphany is from the Greek word that means "appearance". Epiphany is marked on the calendar as the date the Magi came, seeking the baby born who was 'King of the Jews'. In some traditions - notably Eastern Orthodoxy - because the Wise Men came bearing gifts, January 6 is considered to be Christmas day!

Interestingly the song named after the "12 days of Christmas" is not just a cute song (or in some people's consideration, nonsense). This song has its roots in the 17th century when some parts of the church were under assault. The song is considered to be a device for teaching truths - a sort of catechism done by song. The "true love" is God, and "Me" is the believer.
So...

On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Why a Partridge in a pear tree? The Partridge is a bird that will feign injury to protect its young and in some cases sacrifice its own life for the sake of its young.

Christmas Peace

2011-12-24T14:25:00.001-06:00

Christmas Peace!

Luke 19:38 (NIV)
³⁸"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Acts 10:34-36 (NIV)
³⁴Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
³⁵but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
³⁶You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Romans 5:1 (NIV)
¹Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 2:14 (NIV)
¹⁴For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,

Christmas is a message of Peace between God and Mankind. "God so loved the world..." and it's because of Jesus' birth that peace between God and Mankind can occur. Also, it's because of Jesus that we can have peace between each other.
For most of our lives we have not had much experience with peace. The world lives in conflict and in my lifetime our nation has fought in war after war seeking to establish peace - but it still is elusive.
When I think of families on Christmas day being together I cannot help but think of families who are not together because their sons and daughters are gone to war. Our military is thousands of miles away from home, and somehow "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" seems appropriate.

It is sometimes hard to believe that God will establish peace upon the earth through Jesus Christ - but I believe he will.
With Christmas Day upon us, let me tell you a story of a famous Christmas carol.

Back in 1864, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow heard bells from a church steeple ringing on Christmas day. It was the time of the Civil War. He had lost his wife in a tragic accident in 1861, and almost lost his son in 1863, who was shot through the shoulder while fighting in one of the Civil War battles.

That Christmas he heard the bells ringing, and something inside of him happened. Rather than the cynicism and doubt of what the war was doing to his family, and country; instead something stirred within him that caused him to pause and reflect.
He sat down and composed this carol that reflected on Jesus Christ as the Prince of Peace. It was a statement on his part that though evil from mankind continue, the truth is that God HAS done something to bring peace upon the earth.

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

I awoke this morning to the idea that I would ask each of you to join me in praying Jesus' prayer:
"Lord, let your Kingdom come, let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Believe...Believe...Believe...Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T06:57:00.001-06:00

As I write this, Christmas Eve has begun. But, like so many people around the world the beginning is actually on the evening of the day. Tonight we will gather in simplicity - hymns and carols of Christmas. We'll tell the story all over again in scripture and song. It never tires me to hear it anew.
When Zechariah and Elizabeth birthed John, who was to be the forerunner of Jesus - 30 years down the road - Zechariah's tongue was loosened and he spoke for the first time in almost a year about what God was showing him in the birth of his son.

Luke 1:68-69 (NIV)
⁶⁸"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.
⁶⁹He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

The horn was a symbol of God's calling the people. The shofar was a ram's horn and was used to call them to seasons of worship and celebration. John was going to be that horn that called the nation to God doing something in their midst. Later in that same prophecy, he said:
Luke 1:76-79 (NRSV)
⁷⁶And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
⁷⁷to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
⁷⁸By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,
⁷⁹to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

I love the words of this:

knowledge of salvation..
forgiveness of sins...
tender mercy of God...
light to those sitting in darkness...
the dawn from on high breaks upon us...
to guide to the way of peace...

Christmas Eve all around the world is celebrated for all of these reasons. A savior is born, sent to us by the Father who sought a way for us back to him. All over the world there is this sense of joy, mystery, peace that settles over Christ's communities as we acknowledge the simplicity and beauty of what God has done.
There is a legend in Northern Canada that at midnight on Christmas Eve, the spirit of peace hovers over everything - the cattle, wild animals, all fall to their knees in worship. Stories like that are part of a bigger picture - the need to say something is happening that none of us can believe on our own.
William Shakespeare wrote about Christmas Eve and this peace:

"Some say that whenever that season comes

Wherein our Savior's birth is celebrated

The bird of dawn sings all night long;

They say that no spirit can walk abroad;

No planet strikes,

No fairy takes,

No(thing) has power to charm,

So hallowed and gracious is this time."

Zechariah speaks in his prayer at the birth of his son John words that echo that same spirit of Christmas eve:

"The dawn from on high will break upon us..."

In a few hours I will gather with my family of faith at New Life and we'll sing the songs, read the scripture and once again say "thank you God for this wonder full gift".

Peace to you and your household, and your family of faith

Merry and Joy in Christmas

2011-12-23T06:31:00.000-06:00

John 3:16-17 (NIV)
¹⁶"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

The Bible is full of the word "Joy", but only once is the word "merry" translated, and it's not good. Jesus said the word in a parable that was meant to rebuke a man's desire to get Jesus to side with him in a dispute about material wealth.
Luke 12:13-21 (NIV)
¹³Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
¹⁴Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"
¹⁵Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
¹⁶And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.
¹⁷He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
¹⁸"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
¹⁹And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."'
²⁰"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
²¹"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

The greek word for merry is "euphraino" which if you look closely you'll see the word "euphoria". To the person who thinks life is a series of accumulations of material things, Jesus says, "Watch out, Be on guard...life doesn't consist of the abundance of possessions."
That isn't what most of us want to hear on Christmas.
We wish each other a "Merry Christmas", and by that we mean have a great time celebrating Christmas - gift giving, food, drink, carols and all.
WHY?
Because Christmas is Merry. It is euphoric. God has come down and He is with us.

There is no reason for Christmas apart from Emmanuel. Joy has come to the earth.
We give gifts because God has given us a gift - free, and without asking for one in return.
We feast because Jesus is the bread of life.
We light candles because Jesus is the light of the world.
We sing carols because Heavenly hosts sing God's praises in fields at night.
We revel in God...look what he has done.

AND, most of all, we say "thank you Lord" because you came to reverse the curse. There is no place for condemnation - there is only reunion when as prodigal sons and daughters we come home to the Abba Father.
He came to restore relationship
He came to undo the fall.
He came to tell us we are all sons and daughters of God.
He came to tell us that we are all meant to be something far beyond what we could ever imagine.
Acts 2:28 (NIV)
²⁸You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'

Merry, Joy, Peace

On Saying "Yes Lord"

2011-12-22T06:57:00.001-06:00

Matthew 1:20-21, 24 (NIV)
²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." ²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Luke 1:35-38 (NIV)
³⁵The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God...
³⁷For nothing is impossible with God."
³⁸"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Luke 2:11 (NIV)
¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Matthew 22:36-39 (NIV)
³⁶"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
³⁷Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment.
³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Luke 6:46 (NIV)
⁴⁶"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

One of the favorite carols of Christmas for many is "Joy to the World". It's song that expresses a sense of hope in God's entrance into humanity, bringing redemption, and establishing his Kingdom rule.
The words: Joy to the World, the LORD is come say something important. In our age of relativity and self-authority is strikes me that we can sing the songs and never get the message. Just like the passages above...the promise to Joseph and Mary is that they would be birthing God's son - the one who would redeem, and also rule (Matt. 1:21 & Luke 2:11). They heard the words from the Lord - God - Yahweh - and had to consider the options before them. Joseph awoke and "did what the angel of the Lord commanded him". Mary responded with "I am the Lord's servant...may it be to me as you have said."

Jesus reminded his disciples, and all who were listening who were not following him as a disciple, that the first, greatest (most important) "commandment" [entole = command or requirement] was to acknowledge God's authority with all that we are...in our hearts, soul, and mind. It affects all of our being to say "Yes Lord".
It strikes me in a sober way to hear the words of Jesus... "why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say?"

That is the simple challenge of Advent and Christmas isn't it? We welcome into the world the Savior, who is Christ the LORD. He is the one whose Kingdom is established, his reign will never end, and he invites us to come in as a trust, and submission, to his rule.

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

The Visitors

2011-12-21T07:09:00.000-06:00

Many people travel over Christmas. It's not unusual for households to swell as every available room, couch, cot, even sleeping bag gets used. That will be the same for our household as nine adults, one pre-schooler, three toddlers and baby make their way in to stay. I recently found out that two million people per day travel from now through the New Year just on airplanes alone. It's a busy season for Christmas travel; and spending time together with family is probably the most typical tradition of our Christmas season.

But imagine if you will sudden guests...visitors you had never met before who showed up seeking you.

Matthew 2:1-2 (NIV)
¹After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
²and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

These "Magi" (from the Greek word Magoi) are star-watchers, astrologers, who notice a star in the sky that directs them toward Jerusalem. You'll notice they know in advance the purpose of the star - a sign that a King of the Jews has been born.

It is interesting to hear the traditions that accompany this story in Matthew. In tradition, they are three - although nothing in the text says there were three. I doubt that three strangers from another land seeking a King would cause Herod to react that much...but maybe 30 or 100 would! Also, we are not told where they are from...just that they come from the east. The star that appears to them is quite different in that it hovers over an area and "leads" them to that area...seemingly appearing as they need direction.
What we do know from the text is Jesus is born and Mary and Joseph are now in a house but still in Bethlehem - Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him...

Much speculation has said they were Persian. Not just astrologers, they were "sages" - wise men - elders from a tribe that had some prophetic awareness of the event that would happen.

A few years ago a book - The Revelation of the Magi was written which purported to have translated an ancient text. It is supposed to be written as a journal by the Magi themselves. These "Magi" are people of prayer, even silence, who are descendants of Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve. Seth is believed to be the origin of the Jewish people as Abraham descended from the line of Seth. In their tradition a prophecy had been given: "A star of indescribable brightness will someday appear, heralding the birth of God in human form." Every year faithful Magi waited in prayerful silence for this star to appear. When the star appears they believe it is the fulfillment of the prophecy and they move towards it - except that they discover in their journey that they alone can see the star...no one else seems to be aware of it.

It is interesting that nothing in the text of Matthew 2 seems to indicate anyone from Herod's inner circle knew of a star. They go to Jerusalem and Herod's throne because they mistakenly believe the child is born of royalty. When they ask Herod where the child is, he calls the Jewish experts in to inquire where the Messiah was to be birthed: Matthew 2:4-5 (NIV)

⁴When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
⁵"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

Herod falsely calls the Magi back to tell them to go search for the child...but why? If Herod really believed the prophecy of Bethlehem's birth place and the purpose of the Magi's search wouldn't he have sent his own army to find out? Perhaps he didn't really believe it was true, so he sends them on their way.

Matthew 2:9-11 (NIV)
⁹After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
¹⁰When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
¹¹On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. The star reappears as they take the next part of their journey. It is a short distance, perhaps 5 miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, and they find the child with Mary...and probably much to Mary's surprise, they present gifts and they worship.

In all likelihood it was another shock to Mary and Joseph in the strange beginnings of their marriage and this child born to them. The Magi probably spoke a different language and so it might not have even been clear what they were saying, but the act of worship was nevertheless clear to them...it must have seemed all strange.

The gifts: gold...incense...myrrh... are all gifts worthy of a King. Gold represents deity, incense the fragrance of his character and life, and myrrh was used in embalming - thus the purpose foretold of why Christ Jesus was here on the earth, as one destined to die.

Warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, the Magi return to their country...their mission accomplished.

So, what do we make of this story?

It is a clear sign from God that Jesus' birth was for all nations. Not only the Jews, but the nations would recognize who Jesus was, and what he accomplished.

They are "seekers"...people who know down deep in their soul that something more in life exists that just material possessions, or status, or wealth and power.

The ancient prophecy of Jeremiah rings in truth here:

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV)
¹¹For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
¹²Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
¹³You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
¹⁴I will be found by you," declares the LORD..."

Scripture tells us to not forget to strangers. Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

²Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

It is a strange thing to contemplate - that we are surrounded by something much bigger than our own comprehension, and God is constantly invading our space to accomplish his purposes.

Peace

Bothered by the Birth

2011-12-20T07:33:00.000-06:00

Matthew 2:1-3 (NLT)
¹Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,
²“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
³King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.

I'm not sure who said it first, but I heard Dr. Phil say it years ago, and so I'll attributed it to him: "When Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"
Well, in the first century, it was King Herod...and he was deeply disturbed when he heard news of a King born of the Jews.
This story in Matthew 2 follows Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus at the end of chapter 1. None of the other Gospels include this story of the visit of these "Magi" - star searches - from another country. I'll share more about them tomorrow.

Herod "reigned" in Judea. The Romans had divided the area of Palestine into several governmental units, but Jerusalem was the most important, and that they put Herod in charge. Herod was partly Jew by ancestry, but he was all Roman in terms of power, material goods, morals and life purposes. He controlled Judea with an iron fist - for 33 years total.
This week North Korea's Kim Jong ll died and with him a brutal dictatorial reign that looks like might continue thru his son. When you think of Herod, think Kim Jong ll.

Herod was hated by the Jewish population - both for his brutality as well as for his suppression of all that was good for faithful Jews to love and serve God. They never accepted him as King, just a despot who the Romans controlled their people through.
The idea that a "King" had been born would have great troubled him. The fact that it was "baby" was of little consolation to Herod...it was a rival, and Herod crushed all rivals.

I'm struck how Christmas brings out both love and disdain among people. For many people, Christmas is a reminder that God so loved the world that he sent his Son to come and redeem all - at least all who want redemption. Christmas is amazing - not because of the music and glitter, but because it becomes a celebration of all that is good and needed in the world.
Psalm 65:1-5 (NLT)
¹What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion. We will fulfill our vows to you,
²for you answer our prayers. All of us must come to you.
³Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all.
⁴What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What festivities await us inside your holy Temple.
⁵You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas.

At the same time there are those who every year seek to squash all public recognition of Jesus' birth. It seems that every year someone will declare their unbelief and seek to do something to publicly diminish the celebration of Christmas for those who believe. What do we do with that?

The announcement of Jesus' birth is done through an Angel, Shepherds and Magi...a strange mixture of spiritual beings, common laborers, and foreigners. The point is, it is an announcement to those who believe and seek him - and for those who don't it's disturbing.
No matter the upsetting...or the discouraging words...I wish them a Merry Christmas, and hope that the name of Jesus becomes precious in their heart and mind. It is a time to celebrate the announcement, not argue it.

Peace

There is Room After-all

2011-12-19T07:01:00.003-06:00

The story of the birth of Christ includes many characters...Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Angel Hosts are some of the good ones. Caesar Augustus is the emperor...can't help but equate him to Darth Vader! Another character that seldom gets good reviews is the innkeeper in Bethlehem.

Luke 2:6-7 (NRSV)
⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.
⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

You notice, the text does not say there was an "innkeeper". Like the legend of the Magi in Matthew 2, inferences have been made down through history about various aspects of the story. It even says in vs 6, "While they were there, the time came..." It's quite possible that Mary and Joseph were already in the town for a time when the baby Jesus began to come. Since there was a census, the town would be bloated with extra people, and in all likelihood, since this was Joseph's ancestral home, there were many who traveled here to fulfill their obligations to the Romans.
Still, the idea that "there was no place for them in the inn" is troubling when you consider it means turning an obviously very pregnant woman away. SO, the innkeeper gets bad press.

I was pastoring for about 4 years - back in the late 70's - when I first came across this story - a story that has been for me worth reading each year. It reminds me of the way in which God comes to each of us, and when we're busy, pre-occupied, even angry or depressed, we're likely to push him away. Yet, in each of our hearts, there is that need to say "come in, there's room for you in my life". Here's the story:

No Room in the Inn

The story, now a legend, is told how Wallace Purling added anew touch to the Christmas play in a small town in the Midwest. Wallace was alittle slow in the learning department. He was nine at the time and should havebeen in the fourth grade but was still in the second. In spite of his mentalslowness, he was liked by the other kids in his class even though he was quitea bit taller and bigger than they.

According to the legend, Wallace fancied being a shepherdwith a flute in the Christmas pageant that year, but the director, MissLumbard, thought he might better fit the role of the innkeeper. After all, hewouldn't have too many lines to remember and, because of his size, he would beable to present a more forceful refusal to the much smaller Joseph.

So the big night came. Behind stage, Wallace was so totallyengrossed in the play that Miss Lombard had to make sure he didn't wanderonstage before his cue.

Then came Wallace's part.

Looking exhausted from the long journey, Joseph and Maryslowly approached the entrance to the inn. Joseph knocked. The door openedimmediately, and with Wallace putting on his gruffest voice declared,"What do you want?"

'Seekelsewhere,' Wallace barked. 'This inn is filled.'

"We seek lodging," Joseph replied.

"Seek it elsewhere," Wallace barked. "Thisinn is filled."

"Sir, we have asked everywhere in vain. We havetraveled far and are very weary."

"There's no room in this inn for you," Wallacestated strongly.

"Please, good innkeeper, this is my wife, Mary. She isheavy with child and needs a place to rest. Surely you must have some smallcorner for her. She is so tired," Joseph pleaded.

For the first time, the innkeeper began to let down hisguard and relax a little. There was a long pause ... and silence. Now theaudience was beginning to feel tense.

"No! Begone!" whispered the prompter from thewings.

"No!" Wallace repeated automatically."Begone!"

Joseph looked at Mary, put his arm around her, and withheads bowed in sadness, they slowly walked away.

But the innkeeper didn't close the door and go inside. Hestood there with mouth open watching the forlorn couple leaving his inn. He wasgenuinely upset. His eyes unmistakably filled with tears.

Then totally unexpected, Wallace departed from his memorizedscript...

"Don't go, Joseph," Wallace called out."Bring Mary back."

And then with a broad grin lighting up his whole face hespoke out loudly and clearly, "You can have my room."

Some in the audience felt Wallace had ruined the pageant.Others, however, felt it was the best Christmas pageant they had ever seen.

Peace

Christmas Courage

2011-12-18T06:51:00.000-06:00

Matthew 1:18-24 (NRSV)
¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
¹⁹Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
²⁰But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
²¹She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
²²All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
²³"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."
²⁴When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,

Courage...it is a word to describe many things. Firemen, Police, Soldiers, to name a few. Those who take risks - not for foolish reasons, but for the sake of others.
Courage isn't something we take a course in. There are not "Four Steps to Build Courage" that I'm aware of. It's part of the character of an individual who is not selfish and believes that others matter...that the world doesn't revolve around them alone, but it has larger, more noble purposes to fulfill.
Joseph is a man of courage. He took a risk. Mary had already said "Yes" to God and now she was explaining it to her husband to be. Joseph sat and listened - in disbelief, and yet he knows that Mary isn't this kind of woman...yet. There was a public way to get rid of her...it involved going to the Elders at the city gate and informing them of what Mary has done. Then they would absolve him of his duty to marry, grant him a divorce decree; and probably ostracized, or maybe even stoned Mary.
How do you work through disappointments, pain, shame?
Yes Joseph was aided in his decisions by a visit from an Angel...most of us don't get angelic visits to make wise decisions. Yet, the decision to go ahead is a courageous one. The words would fall from neighbor's lips, the town would talk, maybe they would have to leave and go someplace else..."this is not Joseph's child".
The word to Joseph was what every faithful Jewish man had longed for, for several hundred years... a Messiah would be born, God would come among us - Emmanuel.
Joseph woke up and did the courageous thing.

I got the inspiration for this blog after watching an old Christmas movie - Home Alone! Yes, the zany movie of the little kid left behind with two bumbling thieves as his nemeses. It's not all of the slapstick stuff that he uses that made me think of this passage. It's the scene where he meets his neighbor in church - an old man he has feared, believing the worst from his brothers. There he finds out that the man is separated from his son - an argument years before that left them estranged. The little boy, Kevin, asks him why he doesn't call. There's reasons, but not are good, and in the end, they leave the church with his admonition to the old man - go ahead, make the call. The movie ends with the family all coming home and all is well. One of the very last scenes, Kevin walks to the window, looks out to see his neighbor reaching out to hug his son and his son's wife and granddaughter. Go ahead, I dare you not to have a choked up tear!

It hit me...Christmas is a great time for taking risks to repair and restore...to reach out in Christ's name to someone you have lost.

Peace

The Sadness of Christmas

2011-12-17T06:48:00.003-06:00

Luke 2:25-35 (NIV)
²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
²⁷Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
²⁸Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
²⁹"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
³⁰For my eyes have seen your salvation,
³¹which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
³³The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
³⁵so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

1 Timothy 2:4-6 (NIV)
⁴who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
⁵For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
⁶who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time.

Yesterday I wrote on this encounter that took place just 8 days after Jesus was born. His mother and father take him to the Temple where he will be circumcised and officially given his name - Jesus. There an old man - a faithful, devout Jewish man - who had been given a word from God that he would see the Messiah before he died, sees Jesus in Mary's arms and speaks these words that bless and announce the destiny of Jesus' life.
Salvation
Revelation
Glory
To all people - Jew and Gentile.

Mary and Joseph stand dumb-founded. Simeon is a human voice speaking the truth of their baby Son's life to come.
But, in the midst of this there is solemnity. Simeon turns towards Mary and says the sobering words:
A rising and falling of many
A sign to be spoken against
Hearts revealed
AND
A sword through your own Soul, Mary.

The sadness of Christmas is for Mary very personal. She has borne a son who is destined to die. He is the one who is come to redeem, but like all sacrifices, by way of his own sacrifice.

One of the saddest aspects of Christmas is that this can be a painful and lonely time for many who have lost loved ones - especially in the last year.
There's room at Christmas for sadness,
There's a place in God's heart for you,
For He knows pain and loss,
Which he felt on the cross,
So this time is also for you...
For God knows what it's like too.

Let's remember that the birth of Christ is for ALL people - especially for those humbled in sorrow, and feeling the loss - especially when they know all around people can't understand why they are still sad.

Nunc Dimittis

2011-12-16T07:13:00.002-06:00

Luke 2:21-35 (NIV)
²¹On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
²²When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
²³(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"),
²⁴and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."
²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
²⁷Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
²⁸Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
²⁹"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
³⁰For my eyes have seen your salvation,
³¹which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
³³The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
³⁵so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

Simeon stands in contrast to the Christmas terms: Joy, peace, Merry, etc... He is an aged priest and perhaps easily dismissed as just an old man who doesn't have it all together anymore. But that would not be consistent with the text and how God used him to make a pronouncement.
He is "righteous and devout" which means he cares deeply about God, and the future of his people. And he has this thing...this spiritual hunch...sort of a prophetic "bucket list" thing - "I believe before I die I would see the Messiah"
And so one day he is in the Temple area...in Jerusalem. It's 8 days after the birth of Jesus, and Mary, Joseph and the infant make a six mile trek to fulfill the requirements of the law - that their new-born son be circumcised and thus put their child under the covenant established through Abraham, some 2500 years before. It is here that he will receive his name - Jesus - which means "Jehovah Saves". I'll say something tomorrow about the use of the sacrifice; but for now it is an exquisite moment for this old aged faithful Jew. He walks with stilted gate and as he moves towards Mary and Joseph and the baby, he has to stop...something in his spirit says, "Look Simeon...this is the one". It had been "revealed" to him - the word is normally used as part of a business transaction - you'll get this from this. This aged man has been "waiting". How long? Months? Years? It does not say. But something in his soul, in his spirit is stirred and he moves towards the baby...lifts him in his arms and speaks the words -

Simeon's pronouncement is beautiful. As a child I heard it over and over again in church.
"Lord, let your servant depart in peace, according to your word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation which you have prepared for all people.
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel."
It is called the "Nunc Dimittis". "Now Dismiss"
Joy to the World,
The Lord has come
Let earth receive her King...
Advent means arrival. The waiting is over. Salvation is here.

Peace

Christmas Through a Child's Mind

2011-12-15T06:49:00.001-06:00

My twin grandchildren arrived last night...safe and sound.

It is a joy to have family to share Christmas with...and in honor of my grandchildren...all 5 of them...here's what Christmas is all about:

She was five,

sure of the facts,

and recited them

with slow solemnity,

convinced every word

was revelation.

She said,

"They were so poor they only had peanut butter and jellysandwiches to eat and they went a long way from home without getting lost.

The lady rode a donkey, the man walked, and the baby wasinside the lady.

They had to stay in a barn, with an ox and ass (hee‑hee)

but there were three rich men who found them because a starlited the roof.

Shepherds came and you could pet the sheep but not feed them.

Then the baby was borned!!"

Her eyes inflated tothe size of silver dollars.

"The Baby was God!" And she jumped in the air,

whirled around, dove into the sofa and buried her head underthe cushion...

which is the only proper response to the Good News of Jesus'Birth!

The Magic of Christmas

2011-12-14T06:58:00.001-06:00

Isaiah 25:1 (NIV)
¹O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.

Isaiah 29:14 (NIV)
¹⁴Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

Revelation 15:1a,3-4 (NIV)
¹I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign:...they sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.
⁴Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."

Psalm 40:5 (NIV)
⁵Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

In ways that go beyond our comprehension we find it difficult to use words that express something amazing. "Wow", "Awesome" come to mind from my generation. There are a lot of other words, different words, that come from different generations. What we're trying to say at times is that something has occurred that is extraordinary. Scripture uses the word "wonder" to describe things God is about.
Isaiah's famous passage is Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)
⁶For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

You note he is not called a wonderful counselor, he is called "wonderful", etc...

When C.S. Lewis wrote The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe he told the story of a place called Narnia, where it was always winter, and the difference between the good of Aslan and the evil of the White Witch was the "deeper magic" of Aslan's sacrifice. The deeper magic of Aslan breaks the curse of the Witch's hold. Clearly this is Lewis fictionalizing the story of the Gospel of Jesus.

Christmas is the "deeper magic" of the Word becoming flesh and through his humanity forever destroyed the curse of the Fallen mankind.

Advent leads us to Christmas and this "wonder", this "marvelous", yes, let me use the word, "magical" time of the year. Why is it that we can use the words of kids and not let the words sink deeply into our own soul.
The wonder of God is that all along he knew exactly what the world needed and "in the fullness of time" he sent his son to deal with that need.

NOW...since he did that for the world and "worked his magic" then...why can't we believe that he continues to do that in our world today?
The "magic" of God that walked in Galilee and Judea 2000 years ago is still at work in our own villages and cities today.
Jesus is not a magician...he is God, full of wonder, marvelous, glorious in majesty and the one who turns the curse around.
Remember the carol "Joy to the World"...the Lord has come, let earth receive her King... Vs. 3 says it this way:
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

This is the magic, the wonder of Christmas

Peace

Friendships for Advent

2011-12-13T06:05:00.001-06:00

Luke 1:26-45 (NIV)
²⁶In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
²⁷to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
²⁸The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
²⁹Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
³⁰But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.
³¹You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.
³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
³³and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
³⁴"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
³⁵The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
³⁶Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
³⁷For nothing is impossible with God."
³⁸"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
³⁹At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
⁴⁰where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.
⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
⁴²In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
⁴³But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
⁴⁴As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
⁴⁵Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

There are so many different stories that surround the first Advent. The visitation of the angel Gabriel is one of a handful - I said handful - of times that the heavenly beings that live in the presence of God appear to humans. When angels appear its always to say something, or do something, that directly relates to the work of God.
Gabriel comes to tell Mary what is taking place - "you will be with child...a son...Jesus...Son of the most High...who will reign over His Kingdom that will never end."
Mary is all likelihood a teenage girl, one who is nevertheless "pledged" (promised) to be married. Do we realize what the angel was telling her God wanted to do?
How will it happen?
"The Holy Spirit (not an angel) will come upon you, and power of the most High (that's the second time Gabriel refers to God as 'the most high') will overshadow you...which is why the baby will be called the Son of God."
This ALL to a teenage girl! She is afraid, but not disbelieving. She is aware that a Messiah will come; but through ME? It's all troubling.
THEN Gabriel tells her a way to understand this all: "Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child..."

Here's something to reflect upon, to ponder....Mary "hurries" to Elizabeth. Why? Is it to see for herself...is Elizabeth also pregnant? Is it to run away from those who will judge her? Why does she hurry there.
She spends three months with Elizabeth. They live together, think out loud together of what is going on. They spend time making sense of faith in the midst of a world that has little room for seeing the world through the eyes of faith.
Elizabeth becomes a reference point...a place to see truth in the midst of confusion...for Mary.

We all need that. The world is too confusing; it is too disbelieving for us to live in as God's children. We're told everyday that faith is irrational; that the world is a matter of getting ahead...claw your way through to get what you want...don't trust anyone...don't believe in anything.
The story of Mary and Elizabeth is a reminder of the meaning of community, of friendships for a shared faith and journey.
This story reminds me that Advent is not just an individual event; it's also a community and friendship meeting.
"How can I ever let God's grace fully work in my life unless I live in a community of people who can affirm it, deepen it, and strengthen it?" - Henri Nouwen.

Who can you call today and reaffirm to them that you need them to walk with you in this journey of faith? Who can you reach out and say "you matter to me"?

Advent Future

2011-12-12T05:26:00.002-06:00

3rd Week of Advent: Candlelight

2011-12-11T06:10:00.001-06:00

This is the beginning of the 3rd Week of Advent.
Isaiah 61:1-2a (NIV)
¹The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
²to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor...

John 1:4-9 (NIV)
⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
⁵The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
⁶There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.
⁷He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.
⁸He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
⁹The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

It's not as common today as I remember growing up - candles in the window. We frequently light candles, but especially during Advent. Candles, of course, are no longer the main source of light for households; so they simply add to the decorations, the ambiance of a room. Still, a single candle burning in a darkened room changes everything. The light pierces the darkness, rendering it without it's power.
Did you know that the candle once served a people in their faith? The tradition of candles in the window goes back a few hundred years ago to Ireland. During one of the periods when the English monarch brutally sought to repress Ireland's Catholic heritage, the English monarch launched a persecution against the Irish Catholic church, and especially it's priests. Now, I should add, this had nothing to do with religion and everything to do with political power. The English had separated from Rome and were concerned that their Irish subjects would lead a rebellion against the English unless they also were separated from the Roman church. When this occurred Priests became outlaws, forced to stay in hiding, and in coming out to lead the Mass put their lives in danger. So, Irish households began to put candles in the window around Christmas - and, leave their doors unlocked. When the English asked why they did this, they told them it was to leave a place for Mary, Joseph and the baby to come to their houses. The English thought it just another stupid Irish superstition and let it go. What really happened was candles in the window indicated to outlaw Priests that this was a safe house to come and stay at. It became a means of survival and a way to say that the darkness does not rule the day.
We've put candles out, not because of religious persecution, but because Jesus was "the true light that gives light to every person".
Jesus is the light that shatters our darkness of sin, illuminates our path so that we can see what God really intended for our lives - a life of fullness and abundance, apart from the darkness of sin, fear and death.
Jesus is the light of the world, and one day at his Second Advent, our world that longs for peace and compassion will have the true Light of the World to show the way.

Peace

Kettles

2011-12-10T06:56:00.001-06:00

2300 times the Bible uses the word...in every book it appears...but here's a few that seem worth meditating on today:

Matthew 7:7-12 (NIV)
⁷"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
⁸For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
⁹"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
¹¹If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
¹²So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Luke 6:38 (NIV)
³⁸Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Matthew 6:2-4 (NIV)
²"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
⁴so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)
⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
⁷Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

The word "give" appears 2300+ times in scripture...in every book, and in many different ways. Among those are these above which remind us that there is a lot of "soul" work that takes place in giving.

This Advent season is secularily referred to as "the shopping season". Linda and I spend time talking about gifts, and gift giving. I know people who shop simply and I know some who shop until they drop! It is the Giving season we're told.
"It is more blessed to give than to receive", Jesus said.
"God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son"

We give best when we don't give to get. We give best when we can do it anonymously, secretly without regard for recognition or payback. It is good for the soul to give.

The first Christmas was simple...a baby in a manger, a mother and dad, and some shepherds with angels. The shepherds were the lowliest of society. They were God's first when it came to a birth announcement - perhaps it was God's way of saying "I'm for you". You may not have much in life to offer God...that is probably good. When much is there, much is required; but when much is not there, when all one has is not nearly enough, make no mistake God is still for you.

Here's a suggestion for Advent. Carry around with you dollar bills, even $5 bills, and everytime you go past a Salvation Army Kettle drop something in, even if it's several times during the year. Honoring Christ Jesus who gave us everything by remembering those who he will not forget is doing so "in Jesus name". Giving anonymously, secretly, without regard for the tax receipt, or the recognition is good for the soul!

Peace

Perfect Humility

2011-12-09T06:01:00.001-06:00

Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)
¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
¹⁹Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
²³"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."
²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
²⁵But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

In the traditional Christmas plays or programs, Joseph has no speaking parts. One time, in a Sunday School play I remember the Joseph character speaking to the Inn-keeper - "Do you have any rooms?" That's it.
Who is this man who God chooses to be the Father of his Son?

He is a righteous man. We don't call people "righteous" without it being derogatory. A person who is "righteous" today is considered to be someone who feels they are "above others". Yet that is not righteous, that is "self-righteous". Then what is it? Righteous in biblical sense comes from the idea of his desire to do things correctly - to be obedient to God. He was a believer who honestly wanted to do what was right before God.
He didn't focus on the obvious "hurt" that came from learning his bride-to-be was pregnant...he could have. He decided to divorce her "quietly" - without fanfare, not seeking a public affirmation of "you poor guy", he sought to obey God and be compassionate to Mary.
Then he "considers this". Some have preferred to say God's angel visited and then he re-considered what to do; but that is not what the text says. "After he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream..."
The word means to "reflect, meditate, ponder"...what is going on in Joseph?
He is caught up in the mystery of the events. It doesn't make sense. He knows Mary and she says God's angel visited her...that the Angel said the child inside is of God...that this child will be the Savior, the Messiah...it is all as we would say it - "crazy". A friend of mine commented on my blog yesterday and quoted from Grant Mullen: "When trust is lost, fear moves in." (Thanks Wayne)
I can imagine Joseph perplexed, unsure of what to do. We've been there haven't we? It's that place that causes us to stop and when we do it correctly, it leads us to a prayerful waiting. We need a place for God to speak, to let his word "seep" into the cold, hard soul that closes up in difficult places.
It begs the question: Do we have a place for mystery? What Mary experiences is "impossible", isn't it? An angel visiting her is "impossible", isn't it? Hearing from God in a dream is "impossible" isn't it?

C.S. Lewis said it best: "Perfect humility dispenses with modesty."

Joseph is the perfect model for Advent. He is quiet, reflective, waiting, humble in his faith in trusting God.

Peace

Fear Not

2011-12-08T05:46:00.001-06:00

Here are some very familiar parts of the Christmas story...what is the common thread?
Luke 1:12-13
¹²When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
¹³But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
Luke 1:26,30
²⁶In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,...
³⁰But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.

Matthew 1:20 (NIV)
²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
Luke 2:8-10 (NIV)
⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

It's entirely understandable that these various people...Zechariah, Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds...all of them had to face their fears. Each of them were "afraid" because what they saw or heard was surprising and beyond their comprehension. When we face things that are "out of our control", there is a certain sense of apprehension, even fear.

What is it about fear that can control our lives? What is it about fear that enters into Advent?
I know people who "dread" Christmas. They feel overwhelmed by the "things" to do. They obsess about the gifts that need to be given, or even in one case, the ones they will receive. They get crabby with the many things they "have to" do. Instead of entering the Christmas season, Advent, with a sense of celebration they enter it with apprehension, even fear, and can't wait for it to get over. Let me share a thought later on Advent, but first...

Fear is an aspect of life that all of us have to deal with. We fear what we cannot control. Our fears speak loudly into our minds...so loud that it is all that dominates our thoughts and emotions. What is it that causes us to create in our minds the worse case scenario? Why think the fearful? Is it because we can't control everything around us and it's not so easy to trust and turn things back over to God.
The answer to our fears is "trust". "Lord, I trust you" is a prayer I pray a lot...because there is a lot of life to turn over. The alternative is to live in fear...to have a mind filled with thoughts that can only be described as lies from the enemy. Jesus told us that when we knew the truth, the truth would set us free. In other words, we don't need to be controlled by, captivated by our fears. Did you notice I didn't say we don't have to have fears? It's not a matter that we fear. All of us go through things that leave us fearing. It's more that we face them with a sense of trust and leave them in God's control, while dealing with them in every way we can.

Now as to Advent, look again at the readings.
Mary responded by saying:
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. [Luke 1:38]
Joseph: "When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife." [Matthew 1:24]
The Shepherds: "...the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." [Luke 2:15 ]

They each said, "Lord, I believe you...I trust you."

We cannot control all of life. There will be fears around us day in and day out. Yet we can choose to say "Lord I trust you" and learn to conquer those fears with faith.

Isaiah 35:3-4, 10 (NIV)
³Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;
⁴say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, ... he will come to save you...¹⁰and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Peace

Peace on Earth

2011-12-07T06:40:00.001-06:00

I deliberately chose the New King James Version for this verse:
Luke 2:8-14 (NKJV)
⁸Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
⁹And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
¹⁰Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
¹¹For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
¹²And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

The shepherds were the lowliest of society...no one thought they were important at all - except God! When Jesus was born in the manger stall heaven began to jump up and down. Like the new-born's Father (or in my case Grandfather) the angels HAD to tell someone - even if they were only Shepherds.
The Announcement:
A Savior
Who is the Messiah
Of Yahweh (the LORD)
The angels - not a few - a multitude emerge from their invisible state and to lowly shepherds on a hillside they do what they naturally do - Sing Praise...Glory to God...

The second announcement:
God is in the highest
On earth peace is come...the Prince of Peace
Mankind can know of God's grace and favor...

I am thinking how much this is needed today. Today is December 7, 2011. It was 70 years ago today the terrible events of Pearl Harbor took place and my Father's generation went to war. It seems that we've been at war ever since. WWII led to Korea...led to Vietnam...led to Iraq and now Afghanistan. And that doesn't count the many other places - Mogadishu, Beirut, Panama, and other small places we've been in conflict. AND, that is just the United States. There are 100's of places over that time, if not 1000's that continue to experience No PEACE.

Today, I'm thinking of the 1000's of servicemen and women overseas who are serving to do what they can to bring about Peace. My heart goes out to their families and my prayers that we can see them home, sooner rather than later. If you can, sit down and write a Christmas card to someone overseas serving our country in the military.

We live in a world full of evil and hate...and long to see Peace. The person who can bring that is the Prince of Peace, the Savior, Christ, the Lord. Jesus alone can bring Peace upon the earth.
In Advent, we look back at the first coming when God sent his Son into the world as a little baby, born of a woman, born human, born humbly. born to tell us what a world looks like at Peace. Peace is God..the creator, and his creation giving glory and honoring his word, believing, trusting in Him... "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done".
For Peace is knowing Jesus
Peace is having God's Kingdom in the center of our lives.
Peace is living in the value of relationships
Peace is living in the will of God.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)
⁶For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

St. Nicholas

2011-12-06T06:29:00.001-06:00

2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)
¹⁵Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

A lot of Christians struggle with what to do with Santa Claus. Is he someone who we should include, or teach our children that he is not part of Christmas at all?
Let's be aware, there are other aspects of Christmas that don't have any Biblical basis in celebrating Christ's coming: trees, lights, carols, cookies, etc...all have a place in culture without any place in Scripture.
Symbols are part of our celebrations. Rings, Candles, Wine & Bread, trees, and So, perhaps there is even a place for Santa Claus...if we do it correctly.
The man connected with bringing Gifts to children was made famous in Clement Moore's "The Night Before Christmas". And it is this idea of giving of gifts that is true to the legend of St. Nicholas.
When the wise men came to present gifts to Jesus, the idea of gift giving became part of the Christmas story...and that is where Santa Claus emerged.

December 6 marks Saint Nicholas Day; and all aroundthe world, but especially in holland and germany, St. Nicholas Day marks thebeginning of Christmas.

Historicallyspeaking, there's not much we really know about Nicholas. Though he's one ofthe most popular saints in the Greek and Latin churches, his existence isn'tattested by any historical document. All we can say is that he is known as aSaint to the church from the Middle ages, and probably was thebishop of Myra (In modern Turkey) sometime in the 300s.

Supposedly, Nicholas was born to a wealthy family inPatara, Lycia (again, in Turkey). His parents died in a plague and he inheriteda considerable sum of money. ObeyingJesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor,"Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and thesuffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop ofMyra while still a young man. BishopNicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those inneed, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, whoruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, wasexiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, anddeacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves androbbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicea inAD 325. He died December 6, AD 343 inMyra.

The most famous story about his life involves a poorman with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offerprospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, thebetter the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without adowry, a woman was unlikely to marry and were often therefore destined to besold into slavery, which meant prostitution. Mysteriously, on three differentoccasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home-providing the needed dowries.The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed instockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom ofchildren hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from SaintNicholas. There are many differentstories of Nicholas’ generosity, and miracles done through him to protect andrescue the poor, the innocent (children) and the widows.

By the reign of Justinian (d. 565), Nicholas wasfamous, and the emperor dedicated a church in Constantinople to him. By the900s, a Greek wrote, "The West as well as the East acclaims and glorifieshim. Wherever there are people, his name is revered and churches are built inhis honor. All Christians reverence his memory and call upon hisprotection." The West became even more interested when his"relics" were taken from Myra to Bari, Italy, on May 9, 1087. He'ssaid to have been represented by medieval artists more frequently than anysaint but Mary, and nearly 400 churches were dedicated in his honor in Englandalone during the late Middle Ages.

With such a popularity, his legends inevitably becameintertwined with others. In Germanic countries, it sometimes became hard totell where the legend of Nicholas began and that of Woden (or Odin) ended.Somewhere along the line, probably tied to the gold-giving story, people begangiving presents in his name on his feast day. When the Reformation came along,his following disappeared in all the Protestant countries except Holland, wherehis legend continued as Sinterklass. Martin Luther replaced thisbearer of gifts with the Christ Child, or, in German, Christkindl. Over theyears, that became repronounced Kriss Kringle, and ironically is now consideredanother name for Santa Claus.

St. Nicholas' feast day, December 6th, is kept alive bythe stories of his goodness and generosity. December 6th is still the main dayfor gift giving in much of Europe. For example, in the Netherlands St. Nicholasis celebrated on the 5th, the eve of the day, by sharing candies (thrown in thedoor), chocolate initial letters, small gifts, and riddles. Dutch childrenleave carrots and hay in their shoes for the saint's horse, hoping St. Nicholaswill exchange them for small gifts. Simple gift-giving in early part of Advent helpspreserve a Christmas Day focus on the Christ Child.

When our kids were growing up, we included stockings and treats on St Nicholas day...why? Because they knew that gift giving and gift getting was part of what occurred at Christmas, and so what better way to include that than to make it part of the story of Christmas?

The Mustard Seed Invasion

2011-12-05T05:53:00.001-06:00

Yesterday in our church's meeting I shared the first few verses of Luke 2. It's the story of the first Christmas briefly and wonderfully told.
Luke 2:1-7 (NIV)
¹In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
²(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
³And everyone went to his own town to register.
⁴So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

I talked about the world power, and how those in power didn't realize what God was doing.
I talked about Mary and Joseph, the insignificant nobodies who traveled 75 miles to fulfill their duty - and didn't realize what God was about to do.
I talked about the mysterious, secret, "mustard-seed" act of God as the baby Jesus is born...vulnerable and small, without consequence, without majesty, without a sense of "look what God has done".

This is the nature of the Kingdom of God. God came down, not in "Kingly" pomp and circumstance. The old Scottish pastor and novelist, George Macdonald put it this way:
"They were all looking for a King
to slay their foes and lift them high:
Thou camest, a little baby thing
That made a woman cry.

God invaded...not with armies of angels, nor with thunder and lightning. Not flexing his muscles and commanding obedience...no fire and brimstone...just a tiny baby.
Mark 4:30-31 (NIV)
³⁰Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?
³¹It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground.

Max Lucado wrote this:
She looks into the face of the baby. Her son. Her Lord. His Majesty. At this point in history, the human being who best understands who God is and what He is doing is a teenage girl in a smelly stable. She can’t take her eyes off Him. Somehow Mary knows she is holding God. So this is He. She remembers the words of the angel, “His kingdom will never end.”
He looks like anything but a king. His face is prunish and red. His cry, though strong and healthy, is still the helpless and piercing cry of a baby. And he is absolutely dependent upon Mary for his wellbeing. Majesty in the midst of the mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. Divinity entering the world on the floor of a stable, through the womb of a teenager and in the presence of a carpenter. She touches the face of the infant-God.
(Max Lucado, God Came Near)

Week 2 - In Praise of Humility

2011-12-04T06:32:00.001-06:00

Mary's Song - The Magnificat - is a praise from the interior of her soul for who God is, and what he has done.

Luke 1:46-49 (NIV)
⁴⁶And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name.

I think the nature of humility is best expressed in the words: "the Mighty One has done great things for me..."
Humility is that recognition that where we are, and how we got there, are not merely a matter of "pulling up the bootstraps", but that God has worked in and through us and the benefits of that spill over into all areas of our lives.
Yet humility is not something that we go out looking for...it finds us in the places of worship, thanksgiving, reflection and praise.

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
⁷but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

Jesus came in humility...he took on a role of serving something other than his own interests, his own rights, and his own stature.
Isaiah 42:1 (NIV)
¹"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.

It isn't an easy place to get to...our flesh rises up in defense of self-importance: Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV)
²⁵Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
²⁶Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
²⁷and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--
²⁸just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

In serving, there is a posture of humility - a renunciation of the self-importance of the flesh, and in humility we confess that something great has been done for us...and something great must be done for us if we hope to move along in life at all.

1 Peter 5:5-7 (NIV)
⁵ ...All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

In Advent it is good to take inventory of our motives, our attitudes, our selfishness and those things that lead to a self-will that chooses life without thinking about God's will and word.

Luke 1:38 (NIV)
³⁸"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Mary was a young maiden when the angel Gabriel paid her a visit. She heard the words of the angel as the word of God and she said "yes, I'll serve you."

We will not be asked to be the mother of His son; but perhaps God will ask that you make a meal; visit someone; or write a letter; take time to have a conversation (preferably in person); or help someone in need.
If you can, do what you do without fanfare, without expectation - even anonymously if you can. We are not serving each other...we are serving God.

When God Reached Out

2011-12-03T06:11:00.001-06:00

Luke 1:30-33 (NIV)
³⁰But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.
³¹You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.
³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
³³and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

For many people Advent and Christmas to follow bring lots of "family" times. I know that not everyone has a family to go back to - and I genuinely feel sorry for them. Recently I was talking to a guy at the local YMCA and he told me that he was single and spent Thanksgiving Day alone...which he said "I've gotten used to it". I couldn't help but feel sorry for him that he didn't have any family to go back to.
Yet sometimes people either go back to family reluctantly, or skip it altogether. Family is just too hard to endure. The old adage is true: "You can pick your friends, you're stuck with your family."
Even Jesus went through this.
Mark 3:31-35 (NIV)
³¹Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.
³²A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."
³³"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked.
³⁴Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!
³⁵Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

It must have been one of those very awkward moments when Jesus' family came - not because they believed in him, but frankly because they didn't and wanted to take him home and stop what he was doing. They who grew up with Jesus couldn't see the Messiah - just the brother, son.

Perhaps we're all guilty of "putting" our family members in boxes. "They are always like this...or that". "They will never change". "Why do they have to be like that?" And, on and on it goes. We're not very good at allowing people who we've known for our entire life to become something different. Yet that is the very heart of the Gospel - the change to newness of life.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)
¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
¹⁸All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
¹⁹that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
²⁰We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
²¹God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Here's a good Advent word: Reconciled.
In the original Greek the word is katallasso - it means to "let loose", "To exchange".
The idea is that in Christ, each of us have become new creations...we're no longer defined by our past, but only by what lies before us. God does not bring up the past, he does not "count our sins" because he is committed to reconciliation. Now, we are ambassadors of that message. We live as ones who personify Christ. We are not righteous in our own selves; but in Christ we have received this new life...and so have others!
How can we live reconciled? Christ does it to us by not "counting" the past sins...but instead treating us as "new". It isn't easy to do always but it is possible.

Corrie Ten Boom was arrested, along with her entire family, by the Nazi's. She and her family were all shipped off to a concentration camp, and then after the war, she alone returned. The rest died at the hands of the Nazis. In 1947 she was asked to speak in Holland at a church meeting - the topic was forgiveness. She spoke eloquently about God's forgiveness for each of us, and the need to extend that to others. Then when it was all over with a man came forward - a man she immediately recognized for he had been a Nazi guard at the Ravensbruck camp her family and she had gone to...the same camp they died in. All of a sudden forgiveness was no longer just a good Christian idea, or concept...it was up close and personal. She said,
“Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him....Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness....And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the love itself.”
― Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place

Advent is a season of knowing that God reached out when he could have justified keeping his distance.

Carols and God Singing

2011-12-02T06:04:00.001-06:00

There is something about music at Christmas that fills my whole being with peace and joy. I don't mean the "cheesy" music of "Jingle bell rock" or "I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus". Unfortunately public places are much more likely to have that kind of music on and it doesn't lead me to that place of peace and joy, but rather to want to escape!
Still, there is lots of great music...old carols, beautiful orchestras and choirs, fantastic instrumental music to celebrate the season. Over the years I've collected hundreds of great classical pieces of music - to the point that I can press play on my IPod and it will play for days on end without repeating.
I put on this music and it operates in the background. A lot of the time I don't even know what is playing, but then once in a while I'll catch the sound out of the air and for that brief moment of time I'm caught back up in the message.

I love this verse from the prophet Zephaniah:
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
¹⁷The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

While I love the music around me, here's another music that is amazing to me. I got to hold my brand new Granddaughter yesterday. I held on to this tiny baby and smiled, and spoke to her, and then sang to her. Not loud songs, but the gentle whispers of one who madly loves this child.
Do you think maybe that God's singing over us is this gentle whisper of one who madly loves?

We sing and make music because it comes from within...something is happening on the inside of us that needs to come out into the air and be declared:

Singing is a part of our faith and trust in God...
Psalm 5:11 (NIV)
¹¹But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Singing is a declaration of who God is...
Psalm 68:4 (NIV)
⁴Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds-- his name is the LORD-- and rejoice before him.

Singing is not circumstantial, but it is hopeful when all is not well...
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)
¹⁷Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
¹⁸yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Singing is Mary when told she is to have a child...
Luke 1:46-47 (NIV)
⁴⁶And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Singing is not just on earth...it even comes from heaven.
Luke 2:8-14 (NIV)
⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

AND then there is Zephaniah 3:17...and God sings. Music captivates, declares, helps us connect our faith with the reality and truth we know. When that moment comes today and you catch the sound of that carol, that hymn, that choir...stop and think about the mystery and majesty that is ours because Our God sings to us.

Day 5 - Simplicity of the Backdoor

2011-12-01T05:35:00.001-06:00

Luke 2:5-7 (NIV)
⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The scripture tells us that God's entrance into the world was not through any of the trappings of royalty, or wealth, or status of household. Rather he chose a "nobody" girl and her "nobody" fiance to birth His son. Jesus came "in the backdoor".
It should be significant/noteworthy...worthy of meditation, that God sought the most humblest of ways to enter into humanity and begin his redemptive work.

"Simple Gifts" was written by a Shaker community in the mid 1800's. The lyrics of this one-verse song:

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.

Scripture often uses the idea of "turning" to represent acts of humility, and even of repentance. It's that idea of "re-orienting" ourselves to get back to the proper place.
I wonder if they saw in simplicity the ability to bow, bend, turn - and in turning to keep orienting their lives towards humility and service of others? The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Philippians while in a Roman jail.

Philippians 2:1-8 (NIV)
¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
⁷but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

Advent can serve as "check" on our goals, ambitions, desires, motives - soul stuff - for the Christmas season. There is something to be said for humble simplicity...there is something to be said for using the backdoor.

Second Advent Waiting

2011-11-30T05:18:00.001-06:00

With December just around the corner, parents find that for children the waiting for Christmas begins. Waiting is sometimes so very hard to do. I know I hate to wait...and I don't mean a little.

I have heard that if you live to be seventy years old, you will spend three years of your life just waiting. Waiting in line at the grocery store, waiting in the doctor's office, waiting for lunch to be ready, waiting, just waiting.

In his book, "Oh, the Places You'll Go," Dr. Seuss talks about a place called "the waiting place." He describes it as a useless place where people are just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Jesus talked about waiting in relation to his return - the second Advent:
Mark 13:32-37 (NIV)
³²"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
³³Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
³⁴It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
³⁵"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.
³⁶If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.
³⁷What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'"

Advent is a season of expectancy and waiting. Christmas is almost here. The celebration of Jesus' coming - Immanuel, God with us - is already here. We celebrate with decorations, with candles, music, gifts, lights, etc...but it is not just for NOW, it is also an expectancy and hope that Jesus will return to earth in all of his glory, and God's power and majesty will bring His Kingdom to fullness upon the earth.
In the meantime, we wait...with hope, and faith that God will come...and sometimes that is just for our own self.

Waiting is often uncomfortable, simply because it seems so useless. Sometimes though waiting is uncomfortable because it's outside of our control, and it is dominated by fear.
Some are waiting right now with that in place.
Waiting for a child to be born, while hoping all will be well;
waiting for a mate to be discovered, while not being sure how or when that will occur;
waiting in hope that the treatments while work, while holding off fear that they won't;
waiting for the job to come, while doing resumes and searching the job lines everyday;
waiting for healing to finally come, while walking down the road of recovery;
waiting for reconciliation, or forgiveness, and yet experiencing distance;
waiting for the pain to go away, but living with it every day.
There are so many difficult ways that we wait.

The Old Testament Prophet Micah said:
Micah 7:7 (NIV)
⁷But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Advent is a season of expectancy, of watching, of waiting. Go ahead and buy those presents, sing carols, decorate and enjoy; but remember that we are waiting for Jesus and it is He who is our hope. That hope is real to us - whether present or elusive - every day of our lives.
We can wait in hope...our God has come and will come again. While we wait for him, my prayer is that we will not forget that he comes to, and for us, over and over again every day of our life.

May God fill you with joy, faith, hope and love as you wait for Him.

Messiah Character

2011-11-29T05:41:00.001-06:00

Today's reading is from the prophet Isaiah, written some 700 years before Jesus came into the world.

Isaiah 11:1-5 (NRSV)
¹A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
²The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
³His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;
⁴but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
⁵Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

Isaiah wrote this in the middle of economic and political chaos - sound familiar? He speaks in hope of new life coming from that which is seemingly "dead". And that new life is the Messiah.

We have a "bush" outside of our house. It was a tree and then a bad storm revealed what was going on in the inside - the middle of the tree was rotting. The tree broke in half and lay on the ground with nothing more than a stump remaining. So, I went out and cut down the remaining part of the stump leaving just a small stump out of the ground. Over the next few weeks, from that small stump a small bush appeared...shoots coming up from the former tree...it's roots are still good!

Israel was a nation with a "religious" character. They did the things outwardly, but inwardly they lacked the personal character of "love the Lord your God with all of your heart". It is with the heart, not just the head, that we personally relate to our God.

The character of the Messiah - Isaiah prophesies - will be one of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and might (strength), knowledge...and most of all "the fear of the Lord". What is that? The next verse makes it clear - not discerning life around us with what we see, nor by what we see. Just think about that when it comes to culture, media, literature. The character of God is described in vs. 5 - "righteousness" and "faithfulness".
It's so unfortunate that we have no place in our vocabulary for that word, "righteousness". We only hear it used in a negative manner, such as a person who thinks they are so righteous, or describing someone as self-righteous. Yet, it's a word that God's word uses over and over again to describe the character of a person who loves God and risks obedience in living over the conveniences or popular wisdom of those around him.

Case in point, Joseph. Matthew 1:18-19 (NIV)
¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
¹⁹Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

This man who would become Jesus' earthly father had the character of being a "righteous" man. We must see that this doesn't necessarily lead to pompousness, nor a "I'm better than anyone else around me." Instead, he humbly and quietly was going to do what the law required of him...UNTIL God stepped in and told him what was happening. Matthew 1:20 (NIV)
²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

The Messiah would come from good roots! The fear of the Lord is that quality of relationship, that character in the inner being, of the one that seeks to love God more than anything else around us. Henri Nouwen said: "Jesus' message is to say that you are God's beloved child... When you can hear in your heart, not in your head, that you are truly God's beloved child, everything turns around. The mystery?...You were loved before you were born, and you will be loved after you die...Your dwelling in God's heart is a dwelling from eternity to eternity."

It makes no difference that we are broken people. Our past does not define us, neither does our present circumstances. We are defined by God's heart for our lives. The ancient church father said it best..."God loves each of us as if we were the only one."

Advent Day 2, "Walking Lights"

2011-11-28T06:07:00.001-06:00

Over the weekend we welcomed a new Grandchild into our family. Iris June came in at 5 lbs, 2 oz. - when I held her in my arms for the first time I said "You are a beautiful, you little peanut".
Over the weekend we decorated the house. Before our little girl made her entrance, Linda, Andy and I went out to our favorite Christmas tree farm and found this years tree. Then when Linda took off to the hospital, Andy and I decorated the tree. First we took the lights out and hung them on the tree. There is a magical moment when you get all of the lights on the tree and turn it on for the first time. While there is always that "does it look good?", there is more. I love that moment after darkness settles in, and the tree is decorated, and the lights go on... the lights take over and no matter how soft they be, they are more dominant than the darkness.

Think about that this morning as we read these passages from the prophet Isaiah some 700 years before the coming of Jesus.

Isaiah 9:1-2 (NIV)
¹Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--
²The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
AND then later in the book...
Isaiah 42:1-16 (NIV)
¹"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.
²He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.
³A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
⁴he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope."
⁵This is what God the LORD says-- he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:
⁶"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,
⁷to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
⁸"I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.
⁹See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you."
¹⁰Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them....

¹⁶I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

Advent reminds us that God has come to pierce the darkness...it does not make any difference if the light is small...one light speaks more loudly than the darkness all around it. Maybe that is why Jesus uses that same analogy to speak of us...that we are lights...Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
¹⁴"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Yesterday morning in our Worship services we sang the song, "Here I am to Worship". It's a beautiful song of declaration...that our purpose for being together, and our great desire in singing, praying, listening, speaking is to worship our God.
The song begins with the words:

"Light of the World
You stepped down into darkness
Open my eyes let me see

Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
All together worthy,
All together wonderful to me

King of all days
oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came
To the earth You created
All for love's sake became poor

We are walking lights! Our lives show forth the beauty of Christ as we worship him every day and live in him. 1 Thessalonians 5:5 (NIV)

⁵You are all sons of the light and sons of the day...

Decorate the house with lights, and let that tree be filled with lights, and walk as Lights my friends, as you walk in fellowship with Christ.

Welcome to Advent 2011 - Day 1

2011-11-26T22:00:00.001-06:00

Advent is a wonderful opportunity to take time to "ponder" Jesus and the Incarnation. It is not for "fast food" devotions; but rather, a time for "thinking" about all that God has done in sending his Son - Jesus, our Savior, to the world that ultimately would reject him!

Each day we'll read some scripture...then I'll share some thoughts on the passage and invite you to "comment", so that we can all gain from a wider community of God's people. Please feel free to "comment" at the end of each post.

Finally there is an encouragement to pray, asking God to make the Word spoken more real in our hearts than we can ever gain from our intellect alone.

TODAY: We read Isaiah 43:14, 18-21

Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: … Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? … For I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink, The people whom I formed for myself, that they might announce my praise.

THINK: God, through Isaiah, says God is a God of Beginnings. God began with a people - Israel, first by calling Abraham, then by protecting them in Egypt's slavery, and finally in deliverance. He raised up a nation that would reflect His Character and His Ways. From this, David would rise to be the greatest of Israel's Kings. But David was no more than a good human...not God. He could not, of his own, secure God's righteousness, nor God's peace. Isaiah prophesies of a time when Israel would bring about new "beginnings".

Advent is our opportunity to "Begin Anew". We behold all that God has done in making all things new. He gathered people from enslaving fear, from religious duty, from performing in order to look good, and brought them to a place of freedom...a freedom of Spirit that allowed them to see God personally, and to see Him as the God who sought them...instead of ignore them.

THINK about it. You and I are a part of God's Plan for new beginnings. Do you need a new beginning with God? Today is a good day to ask Him for that to occur.

Prayer:

Lord, we come to this time of Advent with a desire that this be a personal "Advent-ure". Please come, and wash us with the grace of your Spirit that leads to righteousness before you. Please help us to walk with you in all the ways that we can respond to you...through every moment, through every day. Amen.

Advent is Just a Few Days Away...Let's Prepare to Celebrate!

2011-11-22T16:10:00.001-06:00

"It's the Most Wonderful time of the Year"

says the Christmas song. Christmas is upon us and it is up to each of us as to what the season will mean to us. For some it's frantic shopping and endless parties/events/programs to seem to take up every day from late November thru Christmas Day. For others it truly is a magical time of the year. Not magical in the sense of "magic" but magical in the sense that every day becomes full of an "Advent-ture". It is Advent - the time when we celebrate and prepare our hearts for the Lord who has come, and will come again.

What is Advent?
Advent marks the beginning of the Christmas season and the Church year for mostWestern churches. The word "Advent" means "arrival" or"coming" in Latin and represents the approach of Christ's birth (andfulfillment of the prophecies about that event) and also the awaiting of Christ's secondcoming. It is composed of the four Sundays before Christmas day, starting thisyear on the Sunday November 27^th, and ending on Christmas.

Celebrating the Season
For Christians, Advent is a time of reflection about the amazing gift that Godgave to us in the person of His Son who came to live among us on earth. It isalso an opportunity to restore Jesus to His rightful place as the center of ourholiday celebrations!

The prevailing themes of the Advent season and the symbolismbehind the activities which churches and families share are expectation andhope, preparation and peace, joy and sharing, and most of all, love. Thesethemes are represented in the 5 candles of the Advent wreath. On each Sunday markinga new week in Advent, a candle is lit on the wreath (including candles fromprevious weeks) until we arrive at the snow-white center candle which standsfor Christ! All Advent activities and traditions are grounded in the truth ofScripture...even though the symbolism and stories surrounding them have changedover time. The focus continues to be the great news that the Messiah was and iscoming .

The practice of lighting Advent candles began in Germany bynon-Christians. They lit candles surrounded by evergreen branches in theirwindows on cold winter nights to signify their hope for the coming warmth andlight of spring! Later, German Lutherans kept the practice alive and graduallythe symbolism of the Advent wreath was added: evergreens represent everlastinglife (because they do not die during winter) and Christian growth; the wreathis a symbol of God's unending love and of victory; candles represent Christ,the light of the world, and their purple or blue color signify the royalty ofJesus our King! Another tradition saying is that the four candles signify the4000 years of waiting from Adam and Eve until, at long last, Jesus' birth.

Here’s a whole bunch of suggestions for Advent Calendars,Advent Wreaths, and how to incorporate any or all of these things into yourfamily’s Advent celebration.

The AdventCalendar

An Advent Calendar can be as simple or as ornate as you'dlike. Here are some ideas:
1. You can use an actual calendar like the large desk calendarswith space to write in. Every night, write in a new verse reference for you andyour family to look up and read together the next day. Afterwards, put aChristmas sticker on the square to count down the days.

2. Cut out a Christmas tree shape from cardboard or posterboard.Each day, add a new ornament (either cut them out yourself or buy some die-cutshapes from a craft store) with a verse.

3. An alternative to a calendar is to make an Advent paper chain.Add a new link to the chain ever day with either the Bible verse you readtogether, the people you prayed for that day or a list of what you werethankful for that day. Or, you can create the chain in advance and remove thelinks with verses (or names of people to pray for) listed on them.

4. Have an old or extra corkboard that you're not using? Transformit into an Advent calendar and post new messages and/or verses every day. Youcan wrap the board with wrapping paper to make it look like a present and addbow, ornament or candy shapes every day. You can hang pieces of candy each daywith push pins as well.

5. A fairly easy traditional Advent calendar can be made with 2pieces of cardboard or posterboard. Draw your design on one piece of cardboard.You can make little houses and churches along a winding road or a Christmastree with ornaments or just one house with many little windows or doors. Use anexacto knife to cut the doors/windows open, leaving one side as a hinge. Then,lay the 2nd piece of cardboard underneath and line it up. Open thewindows/doors and trace the shapes onto the cardboard below. Write your versesor other messages in the traced shapes and then carefully glue the cardboardunder the cover piece of cardboard. Close the doors with little bits of tape tokeep peeking eyes from looking ahead! (Fun foam or felt can be used, too.)

6. Make an Advent tree. Use a small (3-foot or so) artificial treeand each day hang a new ornament. These can be tiny gift boxes , mini stockingsor mini mittens holding verses and/or candy.

7. Nativity figures. Instead of a calendar, you can allow yourchildren to set out 1 nativity figure/animal each day until Christmas.

8. Use old Christmas cards to create a tree shape on your wall ordoor. Glue verses or other messages written on colored paper inside, perhapswith a note to pray for the person who sent you the card.

9. Sew a calendar with felt or any other fabric. Make small pocketsfor each day of Advent where you can put verses or candy.

10. Use matchboxes, small jewelry gift boxes, toilet paper tubescut in half or small paper cups glued to a piece of cardboard to create acalendar with places to store your verses, candies or other items to be openedeach day!

11. If you can find an item with the right number of pockets ordrawers, you can simply decorate it and label for use as a calendar! Someoptions are shoe organizers, mini drawer units (for a desk or to hold smallcraft items), or a screw/nail/tool organizer with little drawers. Dress it upwith wrapping paper and ribbon.

Twenty-five Itemsthat Symbolize Aspects of Advent:

1. Quarter--A quarter! That equals 25 cents. But25 also stands for the number of days till Christmas, when God gave us His bestpresent. Jesus told about one woman's gift and the way she gave it. Read: Mark12:41-44

2. Grape Gum or Candy--Grapes make jelly and juice, raisins andwine. But Jesus didn't need grapes to perform His first miracle. Read: John2:1-10

3. Smiley Face--Here's a smile! A smile usually expresseshappiness. Jesus gave us many instructions to keep us happy. Read: Matthew5:1-12.

4. Swedish Fish candy--Well, if you were surprised to find thesefish, wait till you read the story today! Others were surprised to find fish,too. Read: Luke 5:4-7.

5. Birthday Candle--As you know, we are getting ready to celebrateJesus' birthday. However, Jesus talked about something else that is related tothis candle. Light! Read: Matthew 5:14-16.

6. Small Bell--You could make some noise with this. But it wouldnot have bothered a certain man--until he met Jesus. Read: Mark 7:31-37.

7. Goldfish Crackers--These would not go very far if you werereally hungry! But Jesus could make much out of little. Surely He knew how tomultiply! Read: Matthew 14:13-21.

8. Cotton Balls--These cotton balls would be helpful in a thunderstorm, wouldn't they? We could use them for ear plugs to muffle the loud noisesthat thunder makes. But we know someone who doesn't need cotton. Jesus cancontrol the weather. Read: Matthew 8:23-27.

9. Piece of Map--People needing to use the otherparts of this map are in trouble! Don't you get lost today! Read: John 14:1-6.

10. Soap--Do you like to wash? Behind your ears? Washing turned outto be a happy time for a man who met Jesus. Read: John 9:1-7.

11. Heart Candy or Sticker--Hearts. Wordlessly, they speak of love,don't they? Jesus spoke some commands about love. Read: Matthew 25:17-41.

12. Small Cross--We use the cross as a symbol, representing Jesus.Do you know why? Read: Phillipians 2:1-11.

13. Packet of Salt--Ordinary salt. Yes, Jesus related salt to usand our behavior. He also gave us some advice. Read: Matthew 5:14 andColossians 4:6. (Notice that He doesn't recommend pepper!).

14. Sand--Don't try to eat this! It's sand. It reminds us thatJesus knows something about architecture, about buildings--and building lives.See His instructions: Matthew 7:24-29.

15. Silk Flowers--Flowers are pretty, aren't they? Jesus usedflowers to teach us a reassuring lesson. Read: Matthew 6:28-34.

16. Raisins--Raisins! Many children are given raisins instead ofcandy for a snack. That's because they are a health-promoting and deliciousfruit. Jesus told us how we can produce good fruit. Read: John 15:1-5.

17. Seeds--Jesus told a story about seeds that man planted. Then Heexplained it, revealing its deep meaning. Read: Matthew 13:3-8 and Matthew 13:18-23.

18. Christmas Carol--Christmas is just about a week away. And hereis an appropriate song. Sing it loudly! Read: Psalms 100.

19. Rock--A hard stone! Can you change this stone into a piece ofbread? Do you think Jesus could? Jesus was asked to do just that. Do know howHe handled it? Read: Matthew 4:1-4.

20. Crumpled Foil--Try to smooth out this piece of aluminum foiland use it as a mirror. It's hard to see your reflection plainly, isn't it?Many circumstances are hard to understand, but someday everything will beclear. Read: 1 Corinthians 13:12.

21. Mustard Seed (or packet of mustard)--The mustard seed is thesmallest there is! When it sprouts, it grows into one of the largest plants!See what Jesus said. Read: Matthew 17:20.

22. Dove--We've learned that the cross represents Christ, but doyou know what the dove stands for? Read: Matthew 3:13-17.

23. Scrap of Wool Material--The threads that compose this fabriccame from the wool of a sheep. Jesus called Himself the good shepherd. Do youknow who His sheep are? Read: John 10:7-18.

24. Marble--A marble! Do you know what is sometimes called the"Big Blue Marble"? The world. God made the world for us. What doesGod continue doing to the world? And who is the world? Read: John 3:16.

25. Picture of Baby--Isn't this baby cute? When he was born, hemade a whole family happy. Jesus was born a baby, too. He came to make thewhole world happy. Read: Luke 2:1-20. Enjoy your celebration today. Continue tolearn about Jesus--and love Him forever!

Using An Advent Wreath

Advent wreaths contain 4-5 candles, one purple or pink (Red)candle for each week of Advent and a last white or rose candle to representChrist! Here are some ideas if you'd like to make your own:
1. Use an aluminum foil pie tin and cut "X" shapes topush your candles down into. Decorate with greenery.

2. Use a styrofoam wreath shape. Press your candles in (use a smallbrass candle holder if you can) and decorate with artificial holly or othergreenery.

3. Fill a container such as a bundt cake pan or a pretty plantingcontainer with dry cranberries or small pretty stones (or sand, pebbles, etc ifyou will cover with greenery) and push your candles down in.

4. Drill holes in a log which has been sanded on the bottom side tobe sure it is steady and place candles in the holes. Decorate with greenery.

5. If your children are too young to take part in candle lighting,they can make a wreath with handprints made on green paper. Form a circle withthe handprints and put a bow on. You can hang it or you can make pretendcandles from toilet paper tubes to use on it!

The most important aspect of it all is that we celebrate our Savior's Coming...whether we do it individually or as a family - it makes all the difference in the world to what Christmas means to us in the end.

Living Without Regrets

2011-10-27T06:09:00.001-05:00

I've begun reading Peter's epistles...both of them in the last couple of days. What I love about Peter's letters is how straightforward and cutting to the core he is about being a Christian.

One of the things he focuses on is the need to live "in Christ". Not religiously, not piously, using language to act one way or the other; but living in the "real" faith of following hard after Jesus. In that sense, he is talking about a walk in Christ that is lived without regrets.

For example he gets to the core of growth in it's practical ways:
2 Peter 1:3, 5-8 NLT

"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

What more can be added? God has supplied all that we need. I hear people talk about the faith that they lack...I've probably done it myself. Peter says faith is "supplemented" with these character and integrity areas: purity, knowledge, self-contol, patience in enduring, godliness, brotherly kindness and love! It's Peter saying "it's not that complicated, keep working on these things."

Peter goes on to warn of those who jettison this approach for a false freedom. He mixes no words in speaking truth:
2 Peter 2:19-21 NLT

"They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life."

It is convicting..."slaves to whatever controls us..." True. The alcoholic knows it. It is a dire warning. We don't have a freedom in Christ to do whatever we want to do, we have a freedom in Christ to do what will lead us further and further to Christ.

Peter knows how practical it all is. He is not a hard-nosed legalist. He understands that at some point the world is going to be changed and Christ Jesus will rule upon the earth...the Kingdom we pray for will come. He's making it clear that God is extending his grace so that all who will can come.

2 Peter 3:9 NLT

"The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent."

2 Peter 3:13-14, 18 NLT

"But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.
And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
...you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen."

No regrets...and where there are regrets, a genuine desire for restoration and a new beginning.

Peace

Persevering Faith -

2011-10-25T05:53:00.001-05:00

My readings these days have taken me through the book of Hebrews. Arguably one of the most theological of all the New Testament letters - along with Romans - Hebrews takes us through the heart of God in fulfilling, through Jesus, the Old Testament Covenant. The Priesthood, sacrifices, offerings, holy days, all find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus. When all is said and done, He is the "author and perfector of our faith". And that is the purpose - to have complete trust or faith in Him for our lives.

Faith is that element of our living in Christ that becomes practical every day.

In chapter 11 the writer describes this to us:

Hebrews 11:1, 6, 13, 34, 38-40 NLT

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

Faith causes us to hang in there, persevering in "seeking" him for everything.

Faith is trusting EVEN WHEN we don't see the end result.

Faith is recognizing that our weakness is the opportunity for God's strength to be on display.

Faith is knowing that we don't live for ourselves, nor die for ourselves, but that those who follow us will gain the benefit of moving on towards faith in Christ because we had faith.

Faith is everyday, in everyway, a challenge to embrace.

Peace

Important to Remember

2011-10-17T07:05:00.001-05:00

I'm continuing my readings in the book of Acts. I read the passages that detail Paul's second missionary journey. Beginning in chapter 16, where we discover Luke joining the team, he records their journey to the European mainland...Greece. A vision by God of a Macedonian man asking them to come over and help them, leads to their leaving the Asia province (Turkey) and go over to Philippi. Here the first convert is a Jewish business lady and her household. What we learn is that the Gospel is received, and opposed. Paul is "forced" by opposition to keep heading south...perhaps it is also his design...towards the population centers of Athens and Corinth. He arrives at the Philosophical center of Greece at Athens. What impresses me is the simpicity of his comments.

Acts 17:24-25, 27-28, 30, 31 NLT

“He is the God who made the world and everything in it.
Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs.
He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.
His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.
For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

There is a simplicity to the Gospel that transcends Philosophy and all human reasoning. God is everything and everywhere. He needs no defense, no temple to worship, and yet his purpose is to reach out to all mankind...because of his care for all made in his image. Yet in Him we need an honesty that keeps us from rationalizing our distance from him. Our sin has separated us from him, but He has made a way through His Son - Jesus' life, death and resurrection has made it possible for us to seek him and find Him. Make no mistake, there is a day in the future when all that seeking will come to an end.
It's not all that profound...except what God has done.

Peace

Getting it Right

2011-10-15T07:01:00.001-05:00

I'm continuing my yearly readings, and today read several of the early chapters of the book of Acts.
The early chapters of Acts are much more than history, they represent the simpicity of the Gospel, along with the profound wisdom of God at work in a people simply doing things with faith in him.
The testimony of the early church revolves around their faith in Jesus working among them. Peter is the principal character in the stories, but he makes it clear, it's always about Jesus and what he is doing, not about him, or the miracles. In the early chapters these believers act in faith of Christ's presence, and they are called to account by religious authorities...but there they make it clear:

Acts 4:8-10, 12, 30, 32-33 NLT
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Their complete surrender to God's authority and faith gives them boldness in terms of both declaring Jesus' name and in praying for the work of God to be fulfilled in them. Peter prays...

"Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

The affect upon them as a fellowship were profound...they became even more simple in terms of their lifestyle.

"All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all."

We muse about the early church, and wished we experienced the grace of God in those ways, but (perhaps) stop short of realizing the sacrifice and commitment that went with that grace. Reading on in those early chapters and we run across the story of Annanias and Sapphira - a story of discipline we would prefer to ignore!
And then shortly after, we see the first of the many martyrdoms that would occur in the early church with the story of Stephen.
One of the things that struck me is Stephen's sermon to the Jewish leaders in Acts 7. We know that Stephen was martyred for his testimony before this group...the first of many martyrs in the early church who testified about Jesus as the Messiah. The chapter is interesting because it tells the Old Testament story so succinctly and thoroughly. For anyone who has ever tried to understand the story of Scripture from beginning to end, this would be a great chapter to review.

Then we get to the main character of Acts (outside of the work of the Holy Spirit) - Paul. We meet him in the narrative as a zealous Jew seeking to destroy the Christians... Acts 8:1, 3 NLT

"Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison."

Saul, soon to become brother Paul, is arrested himself by the Spirit of Christ while traveling to Damascus. He who was a zealous opponent becomes a zealous evangelist for Jesus.

Acts 9:17-20 NLT
So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength.

Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”

My readings ended with Peter's encounter with the Lord on the rooftop, his subsequent journey to Cornelius' household, and the conversion of the first Gentiles...something of which we are all heirs of.

This story of the early church makes me want to pray more for the simplicity of the power of Christ at work in my own fellowship. I long for the authority of Christ to be real...his power, salvation, healings...but along with that comes the reality of opposition, and even those that would kill to oppose this reality.
I called this post, "Getting it Right", because there's something in the experience of the early chapters of Acts that draw me back to church when it did it right.

The Fall Jewish Feasts

2011-10-05T07:25:00.001-05:00

Judaism celebrates seven annual festivals...occasions where work ceases and a celebration begins.
Four of those feasts occur in the Spring of the year in which Passover begins it and Pentecost ends it. There are three Fall festivals: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkoth. The Jewish Fall Feasts are happening right now. Rosh Hashanah began in late September, Yom Kippur begins this Friday, and Sukkoth follows just five days later. What's the big deal about the observance of festivals, seemingly unrelated to Christianity?

The Fall Feasts of Judaism are important links to our faith in Christ Jesus. All of the feasts were celebrated by Jesus, the disciples, and the early church. As the book of Hebrews states, they serve as a "shadow of things to come", ie. they all made a statement about the coming of the Messiah, and in their form, they express the heart of God in worship, and express his "ways" in our hearts.

Rosh Hashanah (Ha-Sha-Nah) begins the Fall holy days. Numbers 29:1 NLT

“Celebrate the Festival of Trumpets each year on the first day of the appointed month in early autumn. You must call an official day for holy assembly, and you may do no ordinary work."

Called the Festival of Trumpets, it is the first official day of the civil year - sort of a Jan. 1st date for Jews. In ancient Israel the trumpet - a shofar - is blown to mark it's beginning. Rosh Hashanah begins the year with a period of personal reflection. For 10 days faithful Jews take stock of their lives before God and others. The great commandment to "Love the Lord your God with all Your Heart..." and "Love your neighbor as yourself" become the basis for this time of looking back and asking God to both forgive and allow for restoration in all relationships...starting with the relationship with him. Those ten days are called "The days of Awe" and set out the nature of the believer's relationship with God for the rest of the year - to be in fellowship with him and to do what we can to repent of all sin whenever and wherever possible. After those ten days comes "Yom Kippur"

Numbers 29: 7 NLT
“Ten days later, on the tenth day of the same month, you must call another holy assembly. On that day, the Day of Atonement, the people must go without food and must do no ordinary work."

Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day of the year. The "Yom" is "day", and "Kippur" is "cutting, or sacrifice". It is the Day that marks the end of the Days of Awe with the sacrifice of blood that brings about Atonement for our sins. It happens like this: Leviticus 16:5-10 NLT

Aaron must take from the community of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
“Aaron will present his own bull as a sin offering to purify himself and his family, making them right with the LORD. Then he must take the two male goats and present them to the LORD at the entrance of the Tabernacle. He is to cast sacred lots to determine which goat will be reserved as an offering to the LORD and which will carry the sins of the people to the wilderness of Azazel. Aaron will then present as a sin offering the goat chosen by lot for the LORD. The other goat, the scapegoat chosen by lot to be sent away, will be kept alive, standing before the LORD. When it is sent away to Azazel in the wilderness, the people will be purified and made right with the LORD.

Two goats...one is sacrificed, its blood is shed for the sins of the nation. One goat is taken alive out into the wilderness and released...the sins are taken away, removed and forgotten. This year Yom Kippur will occur this Friday evening thru Saturday.

What again does this have to do with our faith in Christ? The book of Hebrews makes the point... Hebrews 9:11-14 NLT

So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

Christ Jesus came as "the lamb of God" that permanently atones for our sins, and takes them away.
The way that this affects us is profound. Again, Hebrews 10:16-25 NLT

“This is the new covenant I will make
with my people on that day, says the LORD:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.” Then he says,
“I will never again remember
their sins and lawless deeds.” And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

The way for us is not through ritual sacrifices, nor religious performances...our way to God is made open to us in Christ Jesus...he is our Yom Kippur.

25 BOOKS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD READ

2011-09-27T09:05:00.001-05:00

My friends at "Renovare" have just published a book entitled, "25 Books Every Christian Should Read". Looking over the list of the books, I couldn't agree more. Over the 40 years of my Christian life I've had the occasion to dive into almost all of these; and I can tell you this...these are some of the greatest pieces of literature to ever have the label "Christian" connected to them.
Here's the list of the books:

25 Books Every Christian Should Read

1.  On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius
2.  Confessions by St. Augustine
3.  The Sayings of the Desert Fathers
4.  The Rule of St. Benedict by St. Benedict
5.  The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
6.  The Cloud of Unknowing by Anonymous
7.  Revelations of Divine Love (Showings) by Julian of Norwich
8.  The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
9.  The Philokalia
10.  Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
11.  The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila
12.  Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross
13.  Pensées by Blaise Pascal
14.  The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
15.  The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
16.  A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life by William Law
17.  The Way of a Pilgrim by Unknown Author
18.  The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
19.  Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton
20.  The Poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins
21.  The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
22.  A Testament of Devotion by Thomas R. Kelly
23.  The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton
24.  Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
25.  The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri J. M. Nouwen

I have not read #9, The Philokalia, nor #20 "The Poetry of Hopkins"...but the others I've managed to taste and enjoy. My only regret with a list like this is that it doesn't contain anything within the last 20 years...which for me is crucial. I would have liked to see Dallas Willard's "Divine Conspiracy" on that list. Other than that, it's a great list. Would be good to begin with one...like #25, Nouwen's "Return of the Prodigal Son" if you've never read any of them.

As to the book itself, you can buy the book at Renovare's web site at a reduced price this week...
http://www.renovare.us/WHATWEDO/Resources/25BooksEveryChristianShouldRead/tabid/2794/Default.aspx

peace

The Personal Part of Gospel

2011-09-19T07:25:00.000-05:00

Today I sat down to read through 2nd Corinthians.
Reading this highly personal letter of Paul made me stop, pause, and reflect on how those who are outside of Christianity often perceive, and mis-perceive, the Church.
It was the old politician Tip O'Neil who said, "All politics is local". Which means people vote for those who care about what is happening around them in personal ways. While politicians talk about their parties, their ideals, political movements, etc...it usually comes down to basic things for people voting. So, what does this have to do with Church?
Churches tend to project various things: their beliefs (doctrine), their programs, their buildings, the personality of their leaders, etc... all of which have some relevance, but miss the mark. Ministry is highly personal. If you don't believe that, just read 2nd Corinthians again.
Here Paul gives a defense of what the Gospel looks like in practical ways.
The Gospel either penetrates our lives and causes real contrasts - not based on outward appearances, nor on rules - but in the practical everyday aspects of living. What happens in our work? What about our Marriage, or in other cases, as a single person? What about our relationships around us? How do we do business? How do we conduct our affairs when it comes to money? What do we do with giving back? Are we generous, or do we only give when we have to, and the minimum? Do we focus more on the temporal, or more on eternal things in terms of everyday life? These are the questions that are highly personal, but must be asked to make us stop, think, and reflect on just what the Gospel means to us.

To how many people do I feel comfortable saying, with Paul: 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)
¹Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

and keep a Christ perspective...not a "look around and see what others are like". 2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)

¹²We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

Our lives are more transparent than we believe. What we do in everyday life goes a long way to give evidence with our own works what we believe. Paul says to the Corinthians two things that should be daily exercises for us:

First, we need a daily dose of personal reflection before God..."Lord, did I do what I needed to do today to live out the reality of your life within me?"

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)
⁵Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?

And,

Second, we need the long term of perspective that this life of Christ I'm called to is possible to both receive and experience....just not in my own power. Three ingredients I need everyday wrap up this letter.

2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)
¹⁴May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Everything about the Gospel is personal to us...

Peace

The Messy Church

2011-09-16T08:35:00.001-05:00

The First letter to the Corinthians is what I started reading a couple of days ago. I'm just about done with it, and it is a picture of the "Messy" Church.

The Corinthian believers, like all believers in that first century, were newly established in their faith. They probably were a mixture of both Jewish converts and Gentile believers. Corinth is a port city in lower Greece, and had a reputation for being a city of perversion...sort of "whatever you want, you can get it in Corinth". In fact, to "Corinthianize" was to commit sexual immorality. It is in this cultural setting that the church in Corinth comes into being.
The church struggled...division, sexual immorality, along with incest, eating foods that were dedicated to idols/gods, marriage's in struggles, freedom vs license as well as freedom vs. law, men and women in pure relationships, abuses in worship, trouble with use of gifts of the Spirit, and doubts about the resurrection...what a mess!

Church is like that isn't it? We'd like to think that we come to church with our acts together, our doctrine all clear, our behavior pure, our attitudes and actions all godly...but that is only a church in fantasy. The real church is a hospital for the sick. That's what Jesus said. When we forget that, we lose sight of the grace, love, mercy and forgiveness that accompany teaching, discipleship, worship, correction and counsel.
I remember years ago a quote: "The church is the only army that shoots its wounded." Ouch.

1 Corinthians 12:27,31 - 13:13 (NIV)
²⁷Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
³¹But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

¹If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
³If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
¹⁰but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
¹²Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Beautiful Mess... Peace

2011-09-14T15:56:00.002-05:00

The Thessalonian Letters - the Practical Life of Christ

I'm continuing to read the New Testament in the order in which the letters were written. Right after the book of James, Paul wrote the two letters to the Thessalonians. Today as I read those letters I was struck by the positive, but cautious way in which Paul tries to help them with the questions of how to conduct themselves as God's people, and what they should think about, and subsequently do, about the coming again of Christ Jesus.

This was a marvelous Church in Paul's eyes...like the person who takes his wallet out and proudly shows the pictures of his kids.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (NASB)
²We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;
³constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,

Those three words first appeared here in the Thessalonian letters...a while before Paul wrote them to the Corinthians.

The two themes of how to live godly and that sense of waiting in hope for the coming of Christ appears right up front in the first chapter of the first letter.

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (NLT)
⁹for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God.
¹⁰And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.

Christians are called to live "sanctified"...i.e. with an awareness of their identity in Christ. Paul says it to the Thessalonian believers like this:

1 Thessalonians 4:1,4 (NLT)
¹Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.
⁴Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—

And, concerning the second coming of Christ... 1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NLT)
²For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

NOW...here's an interesting observation...the beginning of the second letter to the Thessalonians mentions their faith, and love, but does not say anything about their hope.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NLT)
³Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.

WHY? They were confused about Christ's coming again, having been told that the Lord had already returned. It simply wasn't true, but they were confused nevertheless... 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 (NLT)
¹Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him.
²Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.

Paul carefully instructs them to live faithfully, patiently waiting, while faithfully working...

2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 (NLT)
³But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
⁴And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you.
⁵May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

SO, what do we get from these two letters. The early church is not much different from out own in many ways. While the tendency of church to program life, and preach doctrine, and talk of Christ's return...it still comes down to practical day to day life...get a job, earn a living, be faithful in living, working, providing for your family and others.

Getting It Straight

2011-09-13T09:07:00.000-05:00

This morning I began my New Testament Readings. Because I'm reading historically instead of the traditional format of starting in Matthew, I've begun instead in the book of Galatians. I wanted to read it all in one setting, so today's reading then is Galatians 1 - 6.

It's a good way to read the text of scripture. When we can read in one setting, it's a lot like reading a long letter...cohesive, much more clearly able to relate passages together - contextual. My readings this year have been from the New Living Translation...one I would heartily recommend for anyone, especially new-comers to reading scripture.

I've entitled this post, "getting it straight", because the essence of the book of Galatians is clarity in understanding the GOSPEL and what it means to our lives as FOLLOWERS OF JESUS. So, in getting it straight...I was struck right away...

Galatians 1:4 (NLT) 4 Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.

Let's get it straight, this is the essence of the Gospel, and it is where our identity is formed. Not in being religious, or by the number of times we go to church (not that there is merit in avoiding church either - consult Heb. 10:25 - but that's another blog!). The Gospel is that Jesus Christ gave his life for our sins...in order to rescue us from this evil world. It is clear that we must not forget what Jesus Christ has done for us because the alternative is to follow a "false way".

Just a couple of verses later, Paul outlines the issue at hand.... Galatians 1:6-7 (NLT) 6 I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News 7 but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.

The Galatian believers had slid back into a form of "Christianized Judaism"...you know, you can be a Christian, and still be a Jew. There's a lot of that that goes around...you can be a "Christian" and still be ________________.Paul says it is not "good news", the Gospel. It is a "way" that pretends to be good news...and it's not.Later, he clarifies even more...

Galatians 2:16 (NLT) 16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

Any pretension of our ability to work our way into favor through the "works" of religion are a slap in the face of Christ Jesus and his work on the cross. What we need is a faith that moves us towards Christ alone. Again...Galatians 2:20 (NLT) 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The old self is manifested in even things like the "religious spirit". The desire to prove one-self to be worthy of God on the basis of how religious you might be. But, we did not receive this grace in which we stand through our own efforts. Continuing on...Galatians 3:2 (NLT) 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. , and, Galatians 3:12-13 (NLT) 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” 13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

Christ Jesus alone has the character to have taken care of our sin...we cannot, no matter how hard we try.
In Christ there is a glorious freedom from "performing" our way into God's favor. Again, let's get it straight...Galatians 4:4-7 (NLT) 4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
No longer "slaves". No longer trying to perform our way into God's favor. Living a glorious freedom from having to work our way into God's grace....it's free, but costs us everything!

Galatians 5:1 (NLT) 1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
Some mistake this freedom of Christ for a license to do whatever they want to. It's not necessary to obey, it's not necessary to worship with others, it's not necessary to submit to authority, it's not necessary to tithe, or be generous in giving...it's not necessary _______________...all of which is based on "now that I have Christ's freedom, I can do whatever I want to" mentality. But that is just another form of slavery...a slavery to self instead of religion.

Galatians 5:13 (NLT) 13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

This life in Christ Paul outlines in this letter comes full circle from where he had begun...Galatians 1:4 (NLT) 4 Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.

The world manifests itself in both religion and rebellion....neither one is acceptable for a follower of Jesus.

Galatians 5:16-17 (NLT) 16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

The Spirit of God does not lie to us. He speaks truth about the need of Christ's character being formed within.

Galatians 5:22-25 (NLT) 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Paul's letter to the Galatians is not for the religious or the rebellious...there is only one way, and it's not our own....it is the way of Christ.

Galatians 6:8-9 (NLT) 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Let's get it straight...the Gospel is the call for one thing...follow Jesus...everything else is meaningless.

Galatians 6:16 (NLT) 16 May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.

AMEN

New Stuff

2011-09-08T11:22:00.001-05:00

In my O.T. readings, I've accelerated things a bit...am now finishing the O.T. in reading 2 Chronicles. Yes, I know it's mid-way in the English bible, but in the Hebrew scriptures it finishes the Hebrew Scriptures. The Hebrew scriptures are organized by three categories: Torah (first 5 books of Moses) and then History, which covers Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, and then all of the Prophet books that our English bibles put at the end of the Old Testament. Finally, the last category is "Writings" which is the Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Songs, and also includes Lamentations, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther and ends with Chronicles.

It has been my desire to read through the scriptures every year; but at this time of the year I accelerate the reading schedule in order to finish the year by Advent. I like to take that month to read, meditate and blog my way through the most important season, in my opinion, of the Christian calendar...or at least as important as celebrating Easter.The New in this "stuff" is some things that are beginning this month.New - age 62 on the 4th...New - Church things in Fall include Sunday school, Men's Fellowship times, and a new preaching theme, and add to it, three weddings in three months.New - Christian Life College's Fall class - "Grasping God's Word" - a class in basic Hermeneutics begins tonight (the 8th) and runs for the next 15 weeks.New - NFL & College Football...something I LOVE a lot...four months of pure sports bliss!OK, not a profound blog, but it let's you know what's brewing.

On Theological Learning

2011-09-01T08:59:00.005-05:00

I continue to wade my way through the Old Testament readings. Today, I started Nehemiah and read the first five chapters.

I ran across an interesting set of articles by an Orthodox theologian. Many evangelical Christians have little understanding of Orthodox Christianity. This "brand" or "stream" of the Christian faith developed after the "Catholic" church decided to change the formula for understanding the nature of the relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Known as the "filoque" controversy, it meant the western "Catholic" church became separate from the eastern "Orthodox" church. (Around 1000 A.D.) Orthodox Christianity takes its position as the church that has been most true to the early Church Fathers and their interpretation of the main elements of Christian dogma - namely the Trinity, Salvation, and faith in Christ. Most Orthodox churches are in the east of Europe, including Russia. While present in the US and other places, they are not that well known. Steeped in liturgy and mystery, going to an Orthodox church service is a "sensory" experience to say the least.

I ran across an Orthodox theologian while doing some reading, and one thing he said resonated deeply within...an "amen" so to speak. He was speaking about theological education...something I am not only interested in, but do, and he made the following truth statement:

‘We must note a distinction between the terms scholar and theologian. A scholar engaged in the study of theology may not be a theologian in the patristic sense of the word. From the [patristic] perspective,a theologian is one who experiences God—one who knows God and not only knows about God: “Theological science, which is taught in schools and has become an intellectual specialization open to all, does not give knowledge of God. Knowledge of God comes from life in God, which is born in the deepest place of the heart…. One can be a great scholar, with academic qualifications, and yet remain completely ignorant about the path of salvation.”

The Orthodox theologian is Archimandrite Sophrony - he goes on...

‘There are two ways for theology: the one, widely familiar in previous centuries, appertaining to the professional theologian; the other, which means being crucified with Christ, knowing Him in the secret places of the heart...‘What is theology? Orthodox theology is primarily a spiritual process…. More specifically, Orthodox theology is a personal process aimed at progress in prayer... for the fathers of the Church, theology is an existential experience of the life of Christ. Theology is the process of the transfiguration of the human person. Theology is a life of prayer and asceticism (aka...spiritual disciplines) centered within the liturgical life of the Church and immersed in Holy Scripture…. The life of prayer cannot be learned simply by reading books on prayer. It demands much spiritual effort, trials, temptations, suffering, humility and obedience. One learns to pray only by praying. In the words of St John Climacus: ‘You cannot discover from the teaching of others the beauty of prayer. Pray has its own special teacher in God…. He grants the prayer of him who prays.’ (St John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent,

This is good...very good. It reminds me, as pastor, theologian, teacher, and discipler that there is no good learning that excludes personal experience. It is a good reminder also of communing with God in prayer, not to get what we want, or go through a laundry list of personal needs; but to come in order to clearly "see" with spiritual eyes into the very heart - our own, and God's. And, we always start at the beginning...each day we must come humbly, with an open repentant heart - "Search me O God..." and in that humility simply say "Lord today I would like to walk with you...grant me your grace and the power of your Spirit within to make that possible."

Peace

God's Faithfulness

2011-08-18T07:30:00.001-05:00

Today I read Lamentations - 1, 2, 3.

It is a short book, but filled with grief because of calamity. It's a picture of complete destruction and the aftermath of sorrow. A tornado destroys a city, or a war completely destroys the city. Lamentations is written in the midst of the war that destroys everything. Jerusalem is destroyed. It lies in ruins after the Babylonian army attacks, levels, and kills young and old alike.

Lamentations has traditionally been ascribed to Jeremiah who lived through these assaults and witnessed it all. He understands the WHY. It was the immorality and unfaithfulness of Israel that led to this. What God did was allow them to reap the fruit of their own sinfulness. We want to blame God when bad things happen; but the corruption caused by sin is so very real.

So where do we go in the midst of suffering? The writer of Lamentations takes us through the valley of despair and misery for two+ chapters; and then the writer leads us to the light...

"Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him."

Faith is Trust...I have faith whenever I say "I trust you". It might be an object such as a chair I assume is safe to sit in; or a person - my wife, my friend...God. Faith is trust. Now, we all know that at times our faith is disappointed with failure. The chair fails and collapses. Spouses are unfaithful. Friends don't always prove to be real friends.

God? Is God always faithful? That is the question that needs our heart as well as our mind.

Jeremiah knows that God is not the problem...but he also knows that God is the solution. What do we do when we find ourselves in a fog of uncertainty? How do we find our way out? Jeremiah says,

"So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love. For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.

What do we do to cooperate in this process of restoration? Again, Jeremiah says,

"Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord." (Lamentations 3:21-26, 32, 33, 40 NLT)

It was Peter who said to Jesus, "Lord, who do we have to turn to, you alone have the words of life."

So true,

Peace

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Wisdom in Understanding

2011-08-11T06:56:00.001-05:00

Today's readings were from Job 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

We reach the end of Job and his friend's dialog. There is still the speech of Elihu to follow and the response of God to all of them; but here Job and his friends stop their back and forth remarks.

Job's friends have one main refrain - "If you would only confess that you are a sinner and therefore deserving of your suffering, you might find mercy...and then again, you might not...either way, God is justified in all that he has done and you are not." Their orientation is towards God as judge, and humanity as sinners. Even the Psalmist says, there is no hope for any of us if God keeps a record of our wrongs.

Job has as his response - "I have been living with integrity and even though I know I have sinned, I am not worthy of this punishment. Look around and you cannot help but see wickedness day in and day out. That deserves punishment, but what have I done to deserve this?" Job's understanding of God is that his all powerful sovereignty does not translate itself over to being compassionate and caring about the individual sufferings. A lot of people share Job's concept of God.

There is more dialog, so the story is not complete yet; but note the end of Job's speech...he touches on the major issue,

"How do we gain wisdom that leads to understanding when our life doesn't make sense?"

Job says,

“But do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding? “But do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding? “God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found, for he looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens. He decided how hard the winds should blow and how much rain should fall. He made the laws for the rain and laid out a path for the lightning. Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it. He set it in place and examined it thoroughly. And this is what he says to all humanity:
‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
to forsake evil is real understanding.’” (Job 28:12, 20, 23-28 NLT)

At the end of this, Job's statement is profound. We don't understand, because we cannot see the whole picture. We don't understand, and therefore we are incomplete in terms of wisdom. Yet wisdom is there when we seek God, forsake evil, and choose to walk with profound respect for the ways of God. It does not mean that our problems, pains, difficulties, diseases, etc...will of necessity go away. It does mean that instead of blaming God we will seek another way - the way of wisdom and understanding.

Peace

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