Christmas Greeting

There are a lot of messages that fly around Christmas, like — “Christmas is about love”, “it is about family,” it’s about gifts,” “it’s about Santa Clause,” “lights,” “indoor trees,” “it’s about giving,” “Turkey,” “ham,” “seasonal songs,” “shopping,” and of course “Shepherds, sheep, wisemen, angels, and baby Jesus.” What if I told you that Christmas’ isn’t about any of these things?

Christmas is a mystery, a veil temporarily pulled back, a battle. Christmas is birth and death, bondage and freedom, grace and mercy, love against the background of hatred, goodness pushing past evil, and light breaking through the darkness to give us a glimpse of God.

The smile on a step-father’s face, the gleam in the new mother’s eyes, the wonder of the shepherds and the quizzical expression of the angles who looked down in awe of God’s work of Grace. All of this but a blimp in the course of time, a prequel to a more dramatic moment of God’s relentless love and Grace.

This is Christmas in all its splendor, for which we gather in large groups and small, to worship the God who made it all possible. This is Christmas, I’m just saying — MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Baby Ralphie, Really?

Christmas wouldn’t be complete if there wasn’t some kind of controversy about, well, something. This year the anti-gun people are upset because a photographer used a baby as the backdrop for Christmas (or holiday) icons. In the background you have the leg lamp (a classic), the bunny suit, and of course the BB gun, all references to a particular movie. The baby, of course, is adorable, and the gun is kind of funny. Is it offensive, bad taste, abusive, or borderline hilarious? I’m sure that the photographer knew there would be an uproar, that’s why he did it. 

The holiday, however, is about another baby. Jesus has been more controversial over the years than any gun toting infant will ever be. The nativity has been thrown out of more public areas than we could count, and the irony is that Jesus came to bring peace. I guess you can’t have guns or peace. I understand the angst over the baby hunter, but why has Jesus been offensive?

The scripture says that the cross is foolish to the Greeks and a stumbling block to the Jews. The world can’t comprehend why God would send his own son to die a miserable death for someone else’s sin. The baby in swaddling cloth represents the innocence that is prepared for the slaughter, and that is untenable. Baby Ralphy can at least defend himself. I guess that’s the point of Jesus. He didn’t want protected. He gave his life freely. The baby swaddled in a food trough felt safe surrounded by family, both earthly and heavenly. Yet, in the darkness the evil one lurks, seeking to consume him. For a moment, the innocence and glory of God meet in the most offensive infant ever to be born.

As believers we embrace the offense, the angst, the guile that the world throws at Emmanuel, God with us. We uplift the miracle of God breaking into the word — Emmanuel, God with us. We accept by faith the reconciliation of a rebellious world to its creator — Emmanuel, God with us. We receive this gift of salvation, the freedom from the bondage of sin — Emmanuel, God with us. So, this Christmas, as unbelievers wrestle with the tension of a holiday commemorating an event they don’t believe in (thus offended), let us show the love and compassion that began with an infant wrapped tightly in swaddling rags.

Down and Dirty

When creating something from motorcycle or car part, the biggest hassle is cleaning the dirt, rust and grime off so it will look nice. But what if you are doing a project with your grandchildren (8,6,and 4) and it necessitates buying new materials? The answer, put it all in a container full of dirt and water (commonly called mud), give them each a wire brush and have them clean the nuts and bolts as best as they can. It sounds counter intuitive to buy new, get them dirty just so you can clean them. But what good art project requires little effort on the part of the artist, yet not too hard that they give up and go play with Lincoln Logs.

I was thinking about this in regards to our relationship with God. In the beginning man was created good. God knew, from the foundations of the world, that The Son would die for the sins of mankind. So, when God pronounced his creation good He knew that it would descend into the dirt and mire of the consequences of man’s rebellion. Therefore, he had a plan to clean it all up, and through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection we become new creations, our sins are forgiven, and we are reconciled to God. However, our flesh, that part of us that leans toward sin, won’t be totally irraticated until Jesus returns. So, we were given the Holy Spirit to work in us to want and to will to do God’s good pleasure (that’s called sanctification). This is the interesting part.

Even though the Spirit works in us, we are still responsible to “work out” our salvation. The end product is God’s work, but He gives us each wire brushes to scrape away the grime and muck of our lives. We really can’t do it on our own, but it is important for us to work at it in order to appreciate both the process and the results. From our perspective we are to “be”, to “live”, to “walk”, to “work”, and to persevere. Our strength is in the Spirit as we walk in obedience to God’s Word. So, grab your wire brush and spend some time cleaning. I’m just saying.

Anger Issues and the Misfit Prophet

Jonah was angry at the Ninevites because they threatened the sovereign nation of Israel. Jonah was angry because God had called him to take a message of repentance to his enemy. Jonah was angry because he knew that God would forgive them if they relented. Jonah was angry because God wouldn’t let him die as an option. And when he was in the mountains, waiting to see what God would do to Nineveh, he got angry at a plant that died and didn’t give him shade. Jonah was just one angry dude.

Why was God so patient with Jonah? It’s not about Jonah, but with the message God wanted Israel to understand through Jonah’s story. Israel had gotten to a point where they believed that, as chosen people of God, they could do anything they wanted and still receive God’s blessing. Jonah’s anger served to remind Israel that they had no right to God’s Grace, it was His to dispense to anyone who repented, even their most hated enemy. Jonah, and Israel, didn’t have a right to be angry. 

Jesus reminded the Pharisees, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.” Matthew 3:8. Even in Jesus’ day the religious establishment held a superiority complex in regard to their relationship with God. Jesus was constantly reminding his listeners that God’s Grace is for everyone who repents and believe, but the religious leaders of Israel wouldn’t accept it, and throwing a tantrum they killed Jesus. In doing so the gospel went to the gentiles, and those of Faith were grafted into the vine of faith. Now we, as gentiles, are the chosen Israel. But wait, what did Paul say?

“That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.” Romans 11:20-22.

“The heart of man is evil above all else.” God lavishes his love on us, and for some reason we begin to think that we have sole rights to His gift, and we become angry when those less deserving than us are offered the same grace. It shows itself in many ways.

1. A fellow Christian falls into sin, repents, and you are offended and hold on to unforgiveness when God’s grace is extended. It’s easier to “run” than to truly be reconciled.
2. A known husband who doesn’t live up to husbandly or fatherly responsibities, and when he does turn around, ever so slightly, we tend to hold our grace cautiously, when God’s Grace holds no such conditions.
3. Your disappointed by someone in authority, and when they are repentant you offer “grace,” but reconciliation and trust are cast aside because your own pride is greater than God’s grace.
4. A person of ill repute comes to the church and is politely greeted, but no one offers hospitality. It is embarrassing to invite her home for lunch, or to become a part of your friendship circle. We like the idea of grace and forgiveness but it is inconvenient.

At least Jonah was honest about his anger. It allowed God to work with him; in him.  Anger is an emotion that tells us something deeper is wrong. Unless we are honest about it, repent of its sin, and give our rights over to Jesus, we will remained mired in uselessness to God’s Kingdom. I’m just saying... 

Trump That One

I was sitting with a friend this afternoon and we were watching Fox News (liberal friends bear with me). It was a little embarrassing watching Schumer and Trump go back and forth, “you did it,” “no you did it first,” “that’s not true,” “yes it is,” “I’m going to do it my way,” “oh yeah, I’m going to sit over here and sulk.” You can’t make this stuff up. I don’t watch the news very much anymore because it can be disheartening. But then again, 

 “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.” James 4:1,2.

“What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” 1 Corinthians 1:12

 

In some churches congregational meetings sound like this, “Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.” Acts 19:32

  Not all churches fight tooth and nail over every little thing, but enough do for the name of Jesus to  e tarnished among unbelievers. Paul told Titus, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” The world is going to hate us, but let’s not give them any other reason accept for the Name of Jesus. I’m just saying...

Long Enough

Wether you are feeling the blues or you’re in full blown depression, at some point you just have to say enough.

Long Enough

I have stood in darkness long enough 

Dwelt in consuming self-pity.

I lift my head to what can be

Leave behind the shackles of depression

Why should I be tied to others?

Their lips of true love’s concern speak not 

Their empty hands pat my back

Be warmed and filled as the door closes

Today is the beginning of light

To pursue unfettered by others expectations 

Today is the beginning of what could be

To reach a new height of potential in me

One door closes and another opens 

To reveal a path un-expectantly taken 

My feet step out to find my way 

Known to God revealed to me.

Anger not at the rocky path

It hears no words of angst aggression 

Focus on the future prize

Lift high my head on a smooth path

I’ve known the lows of depression, and their are aspects of it that are chemical imbalances of the brain. Take your medication and stop whining (I know that sounds harsh). We can either wallow in self pity or we can look toward a future that is both seen and ordained by God. In that reality we then chose to thank God for everything, because it is ultimately from His hand. Complaining, getting angry, or just pouting about how unfair it is doesn’t change the situation. Trust God, and do something about your life.  I’m just saying..

I can’t believe I’m doing this

I can have the tendency to go overboard, and then at some point in the project I want to just stop. I’ve had enough and the work that I have to go seems so much more than what I have done. So, here I am building a Lincoln logesck play house for my grandchildren. It would have been much easier to have pulled out a tent and set it up. For some reason I thought this would be so much more fun for my grandchildren (my boys say I would never have gone to this much trouble for them when they were the same age). But this is the first Christmas we will have with them, and maybe again for a long time. 

So here I am putting it together realizing that my architectural skills are lacking and so I am adjusting the plans as I go along. I am still short pieces and the lengths I have are not the right ones. Now I am counting, measuring (if necessary) sawing and sanding until I get it somewhat the way I have imagined it. All for two weeks of with my grandchildren. It reminds me of these passages of scripture:

But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,

nor the heart of man imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9

“In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2

There will be a time when we will step into eternity and find more than we could ever imagine, a room just for us, built with love, and next door all those who have gone on before us. The love that I have for my grandchildren pales in comparison to that of our Heavenly Father. So, if I find this much joy in their smiles, giggles,s and delight, how much more the Father will delight in the final revelation, when My eyes will widen in awe and wonder, speechless with the joy of being in the presence of my savior and Lord; my loving Abba. I’m just saying...