Merry Christmas

I want to reflect today on God's presence with us.  We recognize that He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth as a man, but because He was God, He had the capacity to live a sinless life and therefore could be our perfect sacrifice. In Matthew 1, we read that an angel appeared to Joseph:
20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:
23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

God with us - Immanuel. The incarnation. God in the flesh.  Through Him, we can have salvation - in Him, we have eternal life, and we can walk on this earth empowered by the Holy Spirit.  God has chosen us, in sinful flesh, to be inhabited by a sinless Savior.  He gave His life for us so that we might give of ourselves to follow Him and to humble ourselves in a spirit of service to those who need to encounter the love of Christ.

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It helps, after all the packages have been unwrapped, the Christmas guests have departed, and you may be searching for some rest, to return to the centrality of the Christmas message, demonstrated in
Luke 2, beginning in verse 12:
12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
13 And 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 Baby - God in the flesh, God with Us.  The angels - demonstrating how we are to worship God and to demonstrate His love.  Key elements of the Christmas story.

On Fridays, I like to take a look at evidence of God or spirituality in celebrity culture, and while you might regard the British monarchy as a political institution, it is certainly full of celebrity.  Interest in the "crown" has been reinforced by the Netflix series, The Crown, the seemingly picture-perfect marriage and family life of Prince William and Duchess Kate gets plenty of attention, and a new royal wedding on the horizon.

And, the Queen, well, she continues to head the Church of England.  It's a role that she apparently takes quite seriously, as expressed in her more recent Christmas messages, according to The Guardian.  Queen Elizabeth delivers an annual Christmas message, and this article says:

To the Queen, her annual broadcast is the time when she speaks to the nation without the government scripting it. But in recent years, it has also become something else: a declaration of her Christian faith. As Britain has become more secular, the Queen’s messages have followed the opposite trajectory.

The article contends that since the turn of the century, "her messages have taken on a different tone, with the Queen explaining her own personal faith – 'the anchor in my life', as she described it in 2014. In last year's message she said: “Billions of people now follow Christ’s teaching and find in him the guiding light for their lives. I am one of them because Christ’s example helps me see the value of doing small things with great love, whoever does them and whatever they themselves believe.”

Why this has occurred is a matter of debate - the article includes speculation that the death of the Queen Mother could have produced that effect; it could have been the influence of Prince Philip, her husband, or former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey.  Or even the 2000th anniversary of Christ's birth.

Queen Elizabeth continued the outspokenness about Christianity in this year's message. According to The Guardian, she took the opportunity to recognize the victims of the attacks in Manchester and London, as well as the Grenfell Tower fire.  And, the article closes by saying:

The message ended as it had begun with a performance by the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra and choir, and the Queen’s closing words, reflecting her faith: “It is Jesus Christ’s generous love and example which has inspired me through good times and bad.”

Truly a juxtaposition of Christian faith in light of the increased secularization in the U.K. 

Across the pond, as many have noticed, the President of the United States has been on a personal "Merry Christmas" crusade.  Although some have criticized Donald Trump for his emphasis on the phrase, he has continued to use it frequently.  In a Tweet, he claimed to have "led the charge" against an "assault" on the phrase:re

People are proud to be saying Merry Christmas again. I am proud to have led the charge against the assault of our cherished and beautiful phrase. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

That would be 5 exclamation points after the capitalized phrase!

Now, the phrase has not disappeared from culture, but there has been a perception for many years that saying "Merry Christmas" has gone out of vogue - the substitution of more generic greetings for "Merry Christmas" has been a sore subject for Christian shoppers, and there have been instances of the elimination of the phrase or even the word, "Christmas" in public life.  For whatever reason, this became a personal crusade for Trump.

According to CBS News, in the Christmas message delivered by President Donald and First Lady Melania Trump, he said:

"In the season of joy, we spend time with our families, we renew the bonds of love and goodwill between our citizens and most importantly we celebrate the miracle of Christmas. For Christians we remember the story of Jesus, Mary and Joseph that began more than 2,000 years ago. As the book of Isaiah tells us, for 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. This good news is the greatest Christmas gift of all, the reason for our joy and the true source of our hope."

While public figures tout the celebration of Christmas, believers in Christ have a higher standard in the way we respond to Christmas.  For He is our Savior, and He calls us to be models of His truth.  "Merry Christmas" is certainly more than a phrase, it is a way of life to which we are appointed.  And, celebrating Christ's birth is not just for 30 days or so between Thanksgiving and Christmas - it is for every day.

The true miracle of Christmas is the miracle of the Christ's resurrection and our new birth. Our Savior, once dead, is now alive - we, once dead in sin, are now alive in Christ!  Christmas speaks to us of a loving Heavenly Father, Who sent His Son to earth, so that we might come to know Him and that we would live for Him here and live with Him in heaven.

The Queen has said, "Christ’s example helps me see the value of doing small things with great love." The Trumps say, "we renew the bonds of love and goodwill."  In a world that needs to experience that good will of which the angels spoke in that field outside Bethlehem, we can be challenged to demonstrate what Christ's love in action really looks like.

Stressed

The Bible tells us in 1st Peter chapter 5 that God "gives grace to the humble." Subsequent verses say:
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Those "cares" that we encounter in this life can weigh us down. Jesus taught us how to manage the worries of life and in the Parable of the Sower, identified these types of "cares" as limiting the effectiveness of the Word in our hearts.  Anxiety, worry, and stress are not healthy for us - physically, mentally, or spiritually.  But, God offers us the wonderful opportunity to bring those "cares" to Him in prayer and to allow Him to set the course for our lives so that we might enjoy His peace.

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As 1st Peter 5 suggests, if we recognize that God is taking care of us, we can cast our cares on Him.
Psalm 37 says:
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

We are now in the final days of 2017, here during a week where the Christmas spirit continues to linger, with people taking a few days off, family members may be staying a little while longer, and the decorations continue to shine.  But...soon Christmas will be totally over for another year.

Many encounter stress during the holidays.  As a USA Today article states:

For many Americans, the days before Christmas are stress central.

There’s the scramble to fit in one more shopping spree, the rush to post Christmas greetings, attend church services, volunteer at the soup kitchen, bake cookies, wrap gifts, fight traffic.

And then, when families finally gather, there are the simmering feuds just waiting to erupt.

Americans are feeling stressed during the holidays — and year-round.

The article references the latest "Stress in America" survey from the American Psychological Association, which found that overall, the collective stress number was 4.8 on a scale of 1 to 10; same as last year.

The article came from a Religion News Service writer and highlighted one particular religious practice, saying:

Notably, fewer Americans are turning to prayer.

Only 29% of Americans polled said they pray to relieve stress, a gradual but consistent decline since the high of 37% recorded in 2008.

The most popular ways to relieve stress are listening to music, at 47% and exercise, at 46.

Kevin Ladd, who is a professor of psychology at Indiana University South Bend, is quoted as saying, "There is certainly a shift in the American landscape, with people thinking about themselves as more spiritual than religious,” adding, “Rather than having specific traditions offering some guidance in terms of specific practices, individuals tend to be creating their own practices that are personally meaningful.” 

Also, the article quotes Blake V. Kent, who "studies prayer" at Baylor University.  The piece says, "In a recent paper he co-authored, Kent found that people’s view of God determines whether prayer is an effective way of managing stress."  Kent says: “Where the perception of God is secure, warm and loving, then prayer is associated with positive mental health outcomes and coping with stressors,” adding, “But when the perception of God is distant or disconnected, prayer is associated with negative outcomes.”

There is some good news in the article, provided by Rabbi Geoff Mitelman, founding director of Sinai and Synapses, who says, "Prayer can help us restrict our choices in a way that will ultimately give us more happiness and fulfillment. It can actually ease a bit of the cognitive load we have to deal with on a daily basis.”

Well, this story doesn't paint the most positive picture of prayer; of course, we've seen the surveys showing how fewer Americans are involved in religious practice - so, that will certainly affect those prayer percentages.  And, the Baylor professor seems to point out what seems to be a valid reason why people don't take advantage of this incredible opportunity we have to approach the throne of grace: I would say that if we don't know God or perceive Him correctly, then we are not going to be able to pray effectively.

We're left with less than one-third of Americans who make the connection between prayer and stress reduction.  That's sad.  But, for those of us who know Christ and have access to God the Father through Him, we can renew our commitment to seeking His face and bringing our anxieties, our stresses, to Him.

We can relinquish control of our activities.  We encounter stress, I would say, often because we are trusting in ourselves rather than in Him - we can rely on the Scripture that the steps of a good person are ordered by the Lord.  If we are allowing Him to guide our plans and to show us the most effective ways to execute them, to me, that seems like a great stress reducer.

We can also remember that we have the opportunity to call on His name.  If we have the right relationship with the Lord, we can know that He is available - certainly in those emergencies we encounter, but in the everyday ebb and flow of life.

Finally, we can allow Him to reset our perspective.  We can know that He is a loving Heavenly Father and He desires to work in our lives.  Now, there are other tools out there to relieve stress that were mentioned, such as listening to music (or I would say listening to Christian radio) or doing exercise, and those can also be used to set our minds and bodies right.  We can allow the Spirit to direct us into the balanced, peace-filled life that God desires for us to have.

Following God's Direction

God is our place of shelter, and we see that He protected the baby Jesus from King Herod, who was so threatened by the news of this "newborn King," that he arranged for all children age two and under to be killed. Matthew 2 states:
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."
14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,
15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."

There are themes here of direction from God and dependence upon Him.  God intervened in the lives of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus and directed them to go to Egypt.  This can inspire and motivate us to become sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit - He wants to commune and communicate with us, and we can be challenged to learn to listen to Him.  The family obeyed and were beneficiaries of God's protection - He led them from Bethlehem, to Egypt, and then ultimately to Nazareth.  This can challenge us to completely surrender our lives to the hand of Almighty God.

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The Christmas narrative can remind us not only of God's gift to the world in sending His Son, but can also illustrate for us the importance of worship, as well as the importance of following God's direction. The story has quite a few angelic visitations, and after the wise men had been directed in a dream to not return to Herod, who wished to take the life of the newborn King, Joseph received a visitation in a dream, telling him to take his wife, Mary, and baby Jesus and go to Egypt.  They received direction and protection by the hand of Almighty God.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 32:

7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

There's a story on the Baptist Press website about a man named Brian Mackert - he was the "28th kid to a polygamist father with four wives and 31 children." He was raised in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS). Brian's mother divorced the family patriarch, and Brian became angry as a teenager - He, in fact, wanted to kill his father.

Brian entered the Navy, and as he continued to feed on that determination to take his father's life, a chaplain intervened - Brian was directed to psychiatric and substance abuse treatment, but the hatred did not wane. He is quoted as saying: "It helped me come to the realization that killing him wouldn't make anything better, but I still hated him."

Years passed, Brian got married, and his wife said she could not become a Mormon - they began to attend a Baptist church, and Mackert gave his life to Christ. He later made a very important phone call. Brian says, "I called my dad. We hadn't spoken in 13 years," adding, "I talked to him and forgave him and asked him to forgive me for having judged him, because God hadn't put me on earth to be his judge." The story says:

That phone call didn't change their relationship, but it did change Mackert. "It had everything to do with me letting go of the bitterness and the anger."

And he found God slowly drawing him back to his former polygamist community to reach his people.

The FLDS had received some bad publicity a few years ago involving the infamous polygamist Jeffs family, a family that Brian's family had grown up with.  Brian says:

"The leaders were charged with embezzling $12 million from the welfare system, so all those benefits were frozen for their families," Mackert said.

For a community of mostly women and children with a 70 percent unemployment rate and a 90 percent poverty rate, "it was basically a humanitarian crisis," he said. "People were starving."

The Short Creek Community along the Arizona-Utah border -- stretching from about 20 miles south of Colorado City to about 20 miles north -- had about 10,000 people, many in polygamist families, impoverished and hungry.

So Mackert did the best thing he could think of -- he got food and stocked a 10,000-square-foot warehouse. In July 2016, Short Creek Family Services did its first food distribution feeding more than 100 families. Now, more than a year later, they're distributing 24 tons of food per month to feed 1,000 families.

As he began to minister to the people of the community, a church was started.  And, Southern Baptist churches in the region are partnering to reach the FLDS/polygamist community.

You know, Brian could have run away and run to stay.  He had his share of difficulties and has encountered opposition - but he continues to stay the course.  He can identify with what are called the "lost boys" of that religious sect: those that didn't fit in.  There is enormous spiritual need...his first marriage ended, and his current wife has an extensive background in trauma counseling, which is a good match for the community.  

Other activities: 

They've purchased a house that will serve as lodging for missions teams who come in the future. They fill the seats at their dinner table with those who can't afford to eat or who just need a friend. They're doing a Christmas shoe drive for people so desperate for shoes that they cut the toes out of the ones they have to make them fit longer.

Brian Mackert was on a course toward death - intent on taking the life of his father and walking in a path away from God.  But, he reversed course, and God is using Him in what many might regard as an unlikely setting.  You have to recognize God's direction in this man's life, as well as His protection in the midst of a community where he wasn't exactly welcomed back originally.

God promises that as we seek Him, we will find Him.  Sometimes it can be in ways that do not make sense in our human understanding.  But, we can be attentive to the leadership of the Spirit to set the course for our lives.

Day 26: Another Way

We have studied the story of the birth of Jesus and thought about ways that the significance of that story can change our lives.  There were those that interacted with the story of the Christ Child were changed - Mary and Joseph, certainly, as well as the shepherds and the wise men.  I wanted to concentrate on Matthew chapter 2 today as we zero in on that story of the Magi from the East visiting Jesus:
11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Here's another instance of worship in the Christmas narrative, but I wanted to key in on the last two words of verse 12:  they went back to their country another way.  Now, please allow me a bit of latitude here, because I really do think that when we have an true, authentic encounter with Jesus, the living Lord, our lives will never be the same.  And that concept of another way is not my unique idea; do a Google search and you'll find sermons to that effect.

But to play off that idea: During the Christmas season, we have commemorated His birth; now we can allow Him to continue His work of changing us more into His image; so that we walk "another way," in other words, with a clearer picture of Him, a deeper devotion to doing His will, and a greater measure of His Spirit controlling us.

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Earlier, I had read from Matthew chapter 2, which speaks of the wise men coming to visit Jesus and His family.  They brought Him "treasures" and worshiped Him.  They also departed for their home country by another route.  

I want to continue to camp out on this concept of how Jesus changes us - once we have come into relationship with Him, and as we fellowship and encounter Him, we continue a process of change - a 

process that takes us from "glory to glory." That's the idea we find in 2nd Corinthians 3:

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

We have been taken out of the realm of darkness and brought into His light.  We deserved spiritual death, but we now have Christ's life.   Because we have received Christ into our hearts, we now have entered a life of love rather than selfishness, or giving rather than receiving for ourselves.

There was a young boy whose story can inspire us on our faith journey.  Mikah Frye is from Beechwood, Ohio.  He was anticipating receiving a rather valuable gift for Christmas, according to a story on the ChristianHeadlines.com website.  The story says:

Mikah knew his parents were going to get him an Xbox for Christmas--a $300 gift which he was excited to receive, but then he noticed that there were homeless people in his town who were in need, so he decided to give up his Christmas gift to help them.

According to TheBlaze.com, Mikah told his family that he wanted to use the $300 to buy blankets for those who were homeless. Mikah and his family were able to buy 30 blankets to give to those in need this Christmas.

Now, that's a wonderful story - but, it's not over, and I think this next part can be instructive as we seek to be effective witnesses for Christ.  Our acts of selflessness can sometimes attract attention.

The article continues:

Mikah also learned that often, when you selflessly give, not expecting something in return, you are blessed unexpectedly.

Microsoft, which manufactures Xboxes, heard about Mikah’s sacrificial decision and planned to also spread some Christmas cheer.

The company arranged a surprise for Mikah at a local shopping mall - he went there and Santa gave him two bags of gifts, including an Xbox.

According to the article, Mikah's mother had said their family had experienced the loss of a home within the past year, so the boy certainly gave out of a "place of genuine understanding."

I think there are several key elements that emerge from this story.  For one thing, Mikah had developed compassion for the plight of homeless people.  Because we have been loved by Christ, we have His spirit of compassion that resides in our hearts.  We are called to be people of compassion rather than selfishness.

That compassion yielded a spirit of commitment.  Buying 30 blankets for people in need outweighed the importance of the Xbox.  Something we can remember is that when we grow in Christ and in His love for us, He releases compassion in our hearts, and we can be committed to making an impact in His name.  We, as recipients of Christ's sacrifice, can be committed to ministering to others.

Also, there is an effective communication of our message as we are generous toward other people. If we want the culture to see who Christ is, then we can take practical steps to behave like Him.  Our willingness to allow Christ to live through us results in a testimony to the world that can draw people to Him - as Jesus said, if He is lifted up, He will draw people to Himself.

Finally, we can be challenged to allow Christ to change us.  As we have surrendered to Him and come before Him in worship, we can, like the wise men, follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and we can depart "another way."

Advent-ure Day 22: Eternal Life in Heaven

In 1st Peter chapter 1, we can read about what God has in store for us in the future - He has provided
a glorious future for us in eternity, with Him in heaven. Here's a passage:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Because we know Jesus, we have been brought into eternal life - and that life in eternity with Him actually begins when we come to know Him as Lord and Savior.  We are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into His Kingdom of light.  And, He desires for us to seek to experience Him in His fullness here on earth, but even moreso in heaven - there we will see Him face to face.  We have that promise that He is preparing a place for us, and we will live with Him there forever.

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We have nearly arrived at the end of our 25-day Advent guide, 25: A Christmas Advent-ure.  This week, we're continuing to reflect on what Jesus has done for us.  We've talked about salvation, hope, and His Word.  I want to actually cover today's and tomorrow's agenda items, beginning the promise of eternal life in heaven.  Jesus said in John 14:
1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Christians have the assurance of eternal life because Christ defeated sin and death for us, and that is the gist of the Day 23 reading, from 1st Corinthians 15:
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Jesus has called us into eternal life and promised us new and eternal life with Him.

I want to share with you an exchange about heaven from a rather well-known movie.  Theologically, it's lacking, but it's relevant to a story I want to share today.  In the movie, Field of Dreams, the Kevin Costner character, Ray, has built a baseball field in rural Iowa, in a cornfield.  From an alternate reality, players from a baseball team from days gone by appear and begin to play.  One of the players who shows is apparently Ray's father.  

Here's the exchange, from Wikiquote:

John Kinsella: Is this heaven?

Ray Kinsella: It's — it's Iowa.

John Kinsella: I could have sworn it was heaven.

Ray: Is there a heaven?

John Kinsella: Oh, yeah. It's the place where dreams come true.

Well, it's not heaven, but it is a place where dreams come true - the outgrowth of the Christian faith of a baseball star, who is dedicated to providing heaven on earth.  And, yes, NBC's Today Show went there with the Field of Dreams analogy:

Texas Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels and his wife Heidi have ensured that their $9.4 million mansion and 104-acre property will become a field of dreams for people with special needs.

The couple has announced through their charitable foundation that they are donating their 32,000-square-foot home on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, to Camp Barnabas, a Missouri-based organization that provides camp experiences for people with special needs and chronic illnesses.

The NBC story also said:

"Seeing the faces, hearing the laughter, reading the stories of the kids they serve; there is truly nothing like it," Cole Hamels said in a statement. "Barnabas makes dreams come true, and we felt called to help them in a big way."

The Camp Barnabas website states:

At our two locations, we meet the needs of people with disabilities so they can have an incredible camp experience and learn more about Christ. To make camp possible, we team up with groups and individuals all across the nation to match up each person one-on-one with our campers. Camp is more than an experience. Lives are changed for everyone involved.

So, the kids from Camp Barnabas will experience heaven on earth, thanks to the willingness of a high-profile baseball star to donate his high-priced home to a charity that ministers to special needs kids.   I couldn't really find a whole lot about the spiritual background of this family or can completely endorse all the activities of the foundation, but there was a sensitivity to this ministry, a "call," which was referred to in Cole's statement.

And, thanks to Cole and Heidi, more people know about the camp than ever before - this is huge news.  One of the takeaways of this story is that being charitable can still make news.  If we want to enhance our testimony for Christ, we can become known for our giving, for our willingness to sacrifice.  That can draw people to His love.

But, I point out this story because of two concepts: the Hamels had an earthly mansion that, in a sense, they had prepared for the special needs kids.  Also, they will, in a sense, provide some "heaven on earth" for children who need encouragement.

We can be motivated to think about our heavenly home - Jesus said He has gone to prepare a place for us; there are many mansions in heaven, we are told.  While the Hamels' home is no doubt beyond belief, what God has in store for us is way, way more.  We can be thinking about God's special provision for us, for those who have come into a saving knowledge of Christ, who brings us eternal life with Him in heaven.

There's also an element of the Kingdom on earth.  We can evaluate what resources God has given to each of us as representatives of heaven here in this world.  I would hope that as people taste a bit of heaven through our testimony, they would want to experience what we have and become citizens of that Kingdom.  We are called, I believe, to spread heaven on earth.  Yes, it's a real place - not a fantasy world - and it's reserved for the people of God who have called upon the name of Jesus.

Advent-ure Day 21: His Word

Jesus came as the Word who became flesh, and He brings life to the words of God as we absorb them
into our hearts and minds. Hebrews 4 tells us:
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Bible is not intended to be a set of words on page.  Now, there is something to be said for the Bible as literature, and I would dare say there are those who read God's Word but do not allow it to change them.  But, as Jesus taught in the parable of the sower, He desires for that living Word to produce fruit for His glory.  As we study and carefully consider what He has to say to us through the Scriptures, we can see how to apply what He has said to how we think and what we do.

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This week, as we continue to close in on Christmas Day, we are marching through this year's Advent guide, 25: A Christmas Advent-ure.  This week, we've been checking out what Jesus has done for us and worshiping Him for those things - salvation, hope, and...today, we talk about His Word.  Three Scripture verses for us today...

John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Hebrews 4:12: "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

2nd Peter 1:4: "...by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

Although sometimes the relationship of faith and politics can be a problematic one, the folks at Bible Gateway came up with something fun and creative through which they displayed the favorite Bible verses in each state.  According to a Faithwire story:

In all 50 states, the most popular verses were, in some order: John 3:16, Philippians 4:13 and Jeremiah 29:11.

After ranking the top verse in each state, staff at the popular website figured out which Bible verse would have won the “electoral votes” in each state, thus exploring the electoral map to see which won out as the most popular “presidential” scripture in the nation.

John 3:16 is the most popular verse in all states, except Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.  Don't ask me why!  So, it was removed and the two finalists or "candidates" were Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4:13.  The story says:

For reference, Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “For 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,” and Philippians 4:13 reads, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

In the end, Bible Gateway found that Jeremiah 29:11 was the most popular verse outside of John 3:16 in 32 states, concluding that it would have walked away with 302 electoral votes.

By the way, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, those states covered by the on-air signal from Faith Radio, are all Jeremiah 29:11 states.

There is a great Scripture for the Christmas season, and it is from the first chapter of John, where we read about the Word becoming flesh - earlier in the chapter we read that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was God and with God.  Jesus is the Word who has become human; an embodiment of the promises of God the Father; we become rich in the Word, rich in truth, as we fellowship with Him.  He lived out God's principles, and those principles - found in the Scriptures, are alive for us today, according to Hebrews 4.

There are three themes in these three most popular Scriptures: salvation, according to John 3:16, supremacy, based in Jeremiah 29:11, and strength, in accordance with Philippians 4:13.  These are three powerful components to the Christian life: once we are saved, we enter into a life of obedience, following the "plans God has" for us, allowing Him to be the Lord of our life; we also rely on Him for the strength we need to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him - we can overcome sin and walk in His power.

And, a further note on Jeremiah 29:  we recognize that God's plans are revealed in His Word.  So if we want to know and follow the will of God, we can expose ourselves to the principles of Scripture and allow His Spirit to teach us how to apply them in our lives specifically.  If we want to know the heart of God, it is expressed in the Bible. We have to make sure that we are applying the Word to our lives and allowing His truth to shape our plans.  We can know that He gives us the strength we need in order to fulfill His will.

Advent-ure Day 20: Hope

The picture of Jesus born as a baby, lying in a manger, is a picture of hope and brings a powerful message.  The cross and the empty tomb communicate the idea that God loves us so much - He sent His Son as a child, who grew up, died, and rose so that we can know Him, so that we can walk in
hope and bring hope to others. Romans 15 states:
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

So, here's the progression: as we have been filled with hope, experiencing God's joy and peace, we can go forward and admonish those around us.  We can experience God's hope, which helps us to have endurance in tough times, and demonstrate that He lives in our hearts, that He is actively working in us, and that we are strengthened by a power beyond ourselves.  Because we know Jesus, we can be hopeful that He is in control and that He goes before us.

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What marvelous things Jesus has done for us!  When we reflect on His fulfillment of prophecy, aspects of His personality: who He is, the promises He's given, and His performance: what's He's done, we can worship Him.  He is our loving Lord who has brought us into a relationship with Himself and with God our Heavenly Father.  Jesus has come to be the hope of the world, and in Day 20 of 25: A Christmas Advent-ure, let's reflect on that hope.  Hebrews 6:19 says: "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil..."

In the midst of turbulence, we have an anchor.  And, in times of grief, loss, and disappointment, we can find the strength to carry on.

Christmas can be tough for a number of people - it may be because of the loss of a loved one during the past year and this is the first holiday without that special person.  It could be that someone is feeling lonely in the midst of celebrations going on around him or her, but that person is not included. It seems as if emotions, positive and negative, might be intensified during the Christmas season.

And, there is a group of ladies in Franklin, TN, outside Nashville, who have decided that they can use physical food to "feed the soul" in a time of loss.  I came across an article at the Baptist Press website, a story published in the Tennessee Baptist and Reflector, originally in Southern Exposure Magazine.

Evelyn Pearson had an idea - following the deaths of her father-in-law and her mother, she began to attend a non-denominational ministry called GriefShare, being held at her home church, Oak Valley Baptist.  The story says:

Her healing became a catalyst for personal reflection. How could she be a comfort to others and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ? "It was the Lord that gave me this idea," she said.

The idea: to provide cookies for people who had lost a loved one - she connected with Pam Stephens at a local funeral home, and the idea was beginning to come into fruition.  The article states:

While a hot meal is often a source of strength and comfort to families, Pearson learned from Stephens that the taste of a simple home baked cookie could go a long way toward feeding a soul in mourning.

Moreover, as the community has grown, the sheer number and frequency of funerals means the delivery of full meals is not always the easiest way to start a consistent ministry. A simple container filled with homemade chocolate chip oatmeal cookies can give tired families much needed sustenance, she said.

So, the Cookie Comfort Ministry was born, and the Bible passage from Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted," has been the adopted theme Scripture.  Evelyn began to assemble a team who would bake and distribute the cookies.  The story says:

Hands down, Pearson's children were sold on the cookie baked fresh, rather than the prebaked and frozen for later delivery. The bulk of the cookies are created by individual bakers with the ministry who work on Mondays and Fridays making batches to package for the daily number of visitations and funerals.

Evelyn receives two e-mails a day from the funeral home with which she is partnering, informing the team about visitations and funerals.  This adds up to more than 2,000 funerals a year.  Over six-and-a-half years, the Cookie Comfort Ministry has baked over 50,000 cookies.

One lady who received the gift of cookies after her husband died penned a poem called, It's the Little Things That Count.  That phrase really summarizes what these ladies who have put feet to their faith are doing.

That's the first takeaway, isn't it?  Someone might feel that they're not really doing big things for God; but what we might deem to be insignificant really has great significance in the Kingdom.  The key ingredient in the Christian walk and in doing ministry is obedience.  

We can also be sensitive to the ideas that the Holy Spirit is communicating with us.  We serve a God of creativity, and there may be something that He is wanting to produce through us that will bring hope to people and bring glory to His name.

In times of grief and loss, when there has been tragedy or uncertainty, we need hope. For instance, those struggling through medical issues can be encouraged through the presence of the Holy Spirit as He is manifested through His people.  And, when we are beset by trial or feeling discouraged, we can look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who brings us the hope that can fortify us inwardly.

As that Scripture verse in Hebrews 6 reminds us, that hope in Christ is the anchor for our souls.  We can know that He is with us, that God goes before us, and He is at work around us.  His Spirit will strengthen us within as we place our trust in the Lord.

Advent-ure Day 19: Salvation

During the Christmas season, we have the opportunity to celebrate and share our salvation; to reflect the light of Christ, who has come into the world as light in darkness, to bring us out of darkness into
His wonderful light. Colossians 1 says:
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14 in whom we have redemption through His blood,the forgiveness of sins.

The world was separated from fellowship with God because of sin - God, as we see portrayed in the pages of the Old Testament, was reaching out to His chosen people, but, by and large, they rejected Him.  He sent His Son into the world so that in Him all people could be saved.  When we see darkness in our world today, we can take seriously our charge to shine Christ's light into those places, so that people might encounter His love.

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We are continuing our trek through our Advent guide, 25: A Christmas Advent-ure, and we now enter into another section of the guide, dealing with worshiping Jesus for what He's done - His performance.  Previously, there were six items relative to his fulfillment of prophecy: worshiping Him because of what He's fulfilled.  There were also six items about personality: worshiping Him for who He is.  And, we just concluded a round of six about what He's said: His promises.

Today, we look at salvation - what transpired as the result of God sending His Son to earth as a man, Who lived a perfect life, was crucified and rose from the dead, defeating the power of sin and death.  Titus 3:5 says: "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit..."

Salvation is a free gift - it cannot be earned by human effort, not obtained by human achievement. Jesus came to bring His light into the world so that we might be rescued from the darkness.

Darkness - that's the experience of thousands of travelers on Sunday at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.  According to a report on the AJC.com website, based on the comments of Mayor Kasim Reed, at around 1:00pm on Sunday, the power in the airport went out, and Georgia Power reports that an underground fire had been the culprit.

The site described the scene:

Inside the airport, a swirling mass of people waited in an aimless pattern trying to get cellphone signals in a darkening airport as passengers sat stranded in parked planes on the tarmac.

The terminals were pitch black and people had to use cellphones to light their path. People in wheelchairs had to be carried down stopped escalators and stairwells.

There was the smell of smoke in an area of one of the terminals. A Fox News story reported that over 1100 flights had been cancelled as of 9:30 Eastern Time on Sunday night, according to FlightAware.com.

The Fox story referred to the mayor's comments:

Reed noted that if the power outage were to take place on a Monday or Tuesday, it would've been a bigger inconvenience due to the volume of people flying.

The mayor said that the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park which he says can hold between 8,000 and 10,000 people will be open to stranded travelers, and shuttles will be provided. He added the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta will also be available for people to stay.

He said that airlines were working to rebook flights.  An AJC.com story released yesterday afternoon instructed passengers how to retrieve checked baggage.

Meanwhile, while the Atlanta airport was essentially shut down, an Atlanta-based company that is usually shut down on Sundays swung into action.  Stranded passengers were provided free food from Chick-fil-A.  According to FoxNews.com:

“The mayor called about 10 p.m. and asked for assistance,” a spokesman for Chick-fil-A confirmed in a statement obtained by Fox News. “We immediately mobilized staff and team members who live and work near the airport, and they began making sandwiches and delivering them to the EOC (emergency operations center). City and airport officials then distributed more than 5,000 sandwiches to passengers who were stranded due to the power outage.”

But it wasn’t just airport officials who were delivering food. As seen in a tweet posted by the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy arrived at the airport to pass out chicken sandwiches alongside airport and city officials.

Sandwiches were also provided to those who fled to the convention center.

WSB television printed the entire statement by Chick-fil-A, including this: "It has been a very difficult day for thousands of travelers, and while Chick-fil-A is always closed on Sunday, our restaurants open occasionally to serve communities in need. We do not make a profit, but do what we can to offer comfort to people experiencing hardship."

Here is a tangible example of light in the darkness - the hashtag floating around was #ChristmasMiracle.  Thousands of airline passengers stranded in a world without power or knowledge of circumstances; cell phone service limited; darkness in the building.  A host of people responded - providing direction, water, Dunkin' Donuts providing donuts, and Chick-fil-A providing thousands of chicken sandwiches.

But the ultimate Christmas miracle took place over 2,000 years ago - the world had been plunged into darkness by sin, but the light came in the form of a child, God's Son, sent into the world to bring light, to bring salvation through His sacrifice.

And, because we have been saved, we are called to sacrifice for others.  When we see darkness in our world today, we can realize that we have been entrusted with the light of Christ.  When we respond in that way, people's hearts can be touched by His love flowing through us.

That really describes the viewpoint of the founder of Chick-fil-A, Truett Cathy, his son, Dan, and others in the family that are carrying on his legacy of quality food and excellent service.  And, a further note: notice the restaurant chain did not say, "oh, well, we're closed on Sunday so we can't do anything."  They were flexible and responsive and saw that serving others was important at that time, in this unique case, than their act of closing on Sunday, which is likewise born out of spiritual convictions.  God, by His Spirit, will call us to step out and minister, and we have to be sensitive to His call, in accordance with what Christ has done in our lives.  We have been saved; Jesus has shone in our hearts, and He calls us to shine in the world.

Advent-ure Day 18: The Helper...Will Teach You All Things

In John 16, we can read about the promise of the Holy Spirit, as well as the purposes of the Spirit. Here are the words of Jesus:
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;
11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Jesus described His Spirit as our Helper.  Other translations say that He is our Counselor or Comforter.  The Spirit resides in the hearts of believers - strengthening us and directing us in the ways of Christ.  He walks with us and He will confirm the truth of God - anytime we claim to be led of the Spirit, the certification involves whether or not it lines up with the Word.  When we do wrong, it is the Spirit who prompts us to identify and confess our sins.  He also reminds us of who we are in Christ.

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It is now one week before Christmas Day, and we're continuing to work our way through the Advent guide, 25: A Christmas Advent-ure, with this year's theme, Let's Worship Jesus.  There are 5 different categories, with 4 sets of 6 items in each and a final set of Scriptures for Christmas Day.  We have discussing worshipping Him for how He has fulfilled prophecy, aspects of His personality, and today, we conclude the third section - worshipping Him for His promises, examining key Scriptures that can be applicable in our lives.

For Day 16, this past Saturday, the Scripture was John 6:37..."All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out."  This Scripture speaks to the faithfulness of God.  The Day 17 verse is found in John 14:6...we read: "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"  This is a Scripture that highlights the exclusivity of Christ, and points those who seek to know God in the right direction.

Today's Scripture reminds us of our need for the Holy Spirit, Whom Jesus promised to send after He returned to heaven.  The Spirit goes with us and provides direction and empowerment.  He will convict us and He will remind us of God's truth.  John 14:26 says: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

We can rely on God's Spirit to teach us and to take the Word that we have committed to memory and meditation and cause it to rise in our hearts.  We can trust the Spirit to prompt us in our inner being, serving as our conscience, to shape our deeply held beliefs.

And, culturally speaking, we need the Spirit of God to teach us in the seemingly huge and even hopeless issues that we face in these times.

One of those areas is race relations.  Within the past month, I had Bishop Harry Jackson of The Reconciled Church and High Impact Leadership Coalition - he was one of the slated speakers at a gathering in Charlottesville, VA in early December.  Of course, we recognize that Charlottesville was the site of a racially-charged protest, in which a counter-protester lost her life.

Jerry Newcombe of Truth in Action Ministries, who has been a guest on The Meeting House, wrote a piece that was picked up by the ChristianHeadlines.com website.  He wrote about the event:

After the tragic riot there, Mark Beliles, as a white minister in Charlottesville, teamed up with a black minister, Dr. Alvin Edwards (a former Charlottesville mayor), to organize the December 1 and 2 event they called “Healing 4 Charlottesville.” By admission, their politics and backgrounds are quite different. Nonetheless, there is too much at stake for them to not join forces together.

Newcombe quoted from an op-ed written by Beliles and Edwards for the Daily Progress newspaper in Charlottesville - they said: “And so, we want to state emphatically, that we both love our city, and even more, we love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and are loyal to His Kingdom even more than to any earthly political party. We are also friends who respect each other and believe that we can find common ground and work together for good of our Lord.”

Newcombe talked to Jackson, who had said at the rally: “Many of us have been looking to politics to fix our problems. The reality is the government cannot fix these problems.…The church has been, in some ways, complicit with the problem, because we never said, ‘On this day, on our watch, the madness stops.’”

Jerry had quoted from the Christian PR firm, A. Larry Ross Communications, in the article.  That group's Instagram feed had several pictures and captions of the event. One caption read:

#Healing4Charlottesville continued with a prayer walk that began at ten local churches, passing and praying over landmarks of the City’s past, including recent locales that have become national symbols of racial tension and violence, including the shrouded #RobertELee statue in #emancipationpark; #jeffersoncommunitycenter, the town’s first all-black school; the 4th Street crossing where #HeatherHeyers was killed; City Hall, where last night the official report was released about mistakes made leading to violence on August 12; and ending in the #CharlottesvillePavilion on the downtown mall.

We are at a juncture in our nation when things seem out of control in so many areas.  Not only do we have racial tensions that continue to divide us, but we are also confronted with a gross departure from God's view of sexuality.  The rejection of His principles in the way that men and women respond to one another has resulted in a perversion of male-female relationships, as we see in the frequent revelations of sexual misconduct.  This departure also manifests itself in the widespread use of pornography, as well as the proliferation of LGBT behavior.

We live in a world at war, and there are issues that can only be solved by the Prince of Peace.  This applies not only to nation against nation, but conflict within our nation.  The polarization of citizens of this great nation threatens to tear us apart.  We need the Holy Spirit to show us how we can find solutions, and we can depend on Him to empower us as we communicate that the gospel holds the answers to the sources of consternation and conflict by which we are challenged.

We have to reckon with questions surrounding who's in control.  As believers, we have to reason whether or not the Holy Spirit is in control of us - that's the starting point; for every individual. Do we allow Him to have control - do we seek the help of the One who is described by Jesus as the "Helper?"  God sent His Son to redeem us and has sent the Holy Spirit to seal us in Him and to teach us His truth and empower us to walk in it.

Advent-ure Day 15: I Am With You Always

Paul asks some pertinent questions in the 8th chapter of Romans, such as, " If God is for us, who can be against us?" or "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"

He brings home the message in the last two verses of the chapter:
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

At Christmas, when we want to be reassured of God's presence, we can look to the cradle, a symbol of God becoming human, clothing Himself with flesh.  We can also look to the cross, which is where Jesus gave His life so that we might come to know Him.  When we feel alone, we can know the One who says that we are never alone, that He is with us.  In our times of challenge or despair, we can trust in the Lord, who is loving and mighty, Who responds to the needs of His children, for His glory.

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God is with us, Emmanuel.  And, He has promised to be with us always.  In Matthew 28, we read what is called the Great Commission, as Jesus dispatched His disciples to go forth and make other
disciples. Here is the passage concluding that chapter:
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Our Advent series, 25: A Christmas Advent-ure, continues with another of Christ's promises.  And, in verse 20, we see the promise of His presence.  In this world, we know we have someone who walks with us, who empowers us, who is always with us.  God has sent His Holy Spirit to help, comfort, and convict us.  He is with us, even in this moment, calling us to love Him more deeply and to allow Him to work through us.

Where there are faithful believers, there is the potential for God to work.  On this day when we celebrate the work of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and how God is working through the platform of sports, I wanted to point out that there are two NFL teams on which you have players who have been baptized and the video of the occasions have gone viral.

The most recent involves three players on the Dallas Cowboys.  According to ChristianHeadlines.com, "Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens, safety Kavon Frazier, and linebacker Justin March-Lillard were baptized as a profession of their faith by team chaplain Jonathan Evans." As of this past Wednesday, the video has garnered almost two million views.

The information comes from a report on the Dallas News website. The baptism took place in the team's underwater treadmill pool.

Frazier is quoted as saying: "We all decided we wanted to get baptized again," adding, "I got baptized when I was younger. My mom made me get baptized when I was [3 years old]. I was always a believer but this is the first time that I really took it serious, or took God serious, and started fully trusting Him on and off the field with every situation."

This is reminiscent of a story from earlier this season, when, according to FoxNews.com:

Marcus Johnson, a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, said he was baptized in a North Carolina swimming pool Thursday with the support of several of his teammates — and tweeted out a photo of the event.

“First time being Baptized! Corporate Worship is a beautiful thing!! Cleaned & Reborn in JESUS name!! #WholeHeartedly,” Johnson tweeted Thursday.

The article also said:

Alongside Johnson during his baptism was quarterback Carson Wentz, tight end Zach Ertz, offensive guard Stefen Wisniewski, tight end Trey Burton, linebacker Jordan Hicks and backup quarterback Nick Foles, among others, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Carson has been talking about his faith recently - you may know that the second-year Eagles' star is out for the season as the result of an ACL injury.  A ChristianHeadlines.com story, integrating content from Faithwire, says that Wentz tweeted out:

“NFC East Champs! So proud of the resiliency of this team. Such a special group of men..."  He added:

“And I greatly appreciate all the prayers! I know my God is a powerful one with a perfect plan. Time to just lean in to him and trust whatever the circumstances! #Proverbs 3:5-6”

In a video, Wentz said: “I have a ton of faith in the Lord and in His plan, but at the end of the day it has still been a tough one...” He added:

“Maybe not all of you out there are Christians. But I can say with a hundred percent confidence as a follower of Jesus, I have the utmost confidence in His plan. His plan is perfect. If we got everything we wanted in life, it would be a disaster. I know Jesus is up there, looking down. He knows what He is doing. I am going to surrender to that to Him and trust Him in that.”

Oh, and Nick Foles - he almost gave up on football a year ago, according on a CBSSports.com article, which reports that Foles did a devotional for the YouVersion Bible app, along with other Eagles players, including Wentz,  From the video, he is quoted as saying:

"I kept reading scripture, I kept praying, I kept asking God -- and so many of us ask God for signs, we ask God, 'Hey, please just put it on the wall, like, I want to know,' but that's not how it works," Foles said. "He's not always going to do that. He was shaping me. He was bringing me down to my knees ... At that moment, through that prayer, He said, 'Hey, just take a step of faith. You're either going to stop playing the game of football and you're going to go onto a different area of your life and I'm going to be with you, I'm going to be the most important thing in your life, or you're going to step back into football and you're going to continue to play and I'm going to be with you every step of the way and you're going to play to glorify me."

Now, all eyes are on Foles as he assumes the starting role he once held for the Eagles.

Well, there are several takeaways from these news snippets.

First of all, we recognize that each day, we can be challenged to be aware of and appropriate the presence of the Holy Spirit with us.  He goes before us as we go about the business of fulfilling the Great Commission and the Great Commandment - in fact, He directs and empowers us to do so.  And, we can know that when things don't necessarily work out the way we think that they should, we can recognize that how we respond to adversity can be a compelling testimony of God's presence.  The worldly way of responding to trouble involves anger, self-pity, and bitterness, but the believer in Christ has incredible resources, such as the joy of the Lord and the strength that He offers in our weakness.

We can also adopt the view that God is writing a story, a story brought about by His constant presence with you; and He gives opportunities to share your story.  We can take time to reflect on how we've seen God work in our lives and how the abiding presence of Jesus has sustained you.

Finally, we can know, especially in those times we feel may feel alone or despondent, we know we are not alone.  In the Christmas season, loneliness can sometimes be intensified, and we can turn to the One who gave of Himself to give you new life to comfort us in our times of despair.  If we buy into the attitude that we have been forgotten, we can look to the cross as a reminder that He has certainly not forgotten us.

Advent-ure Day 14: All Things Are Possible

The story of Christmas deals with many impossible occurrences, or at least impossible in the eyes of humanity - a creation that had drifted apart from God, a woman who was told that she would give birth to the Christ child in a miraculous way, a man remaining faithful to a wife bearing a child who was not his own.  Angels, learned men following a star, an improbable journey to just the right place
to fulfill prophecy. In Luke chapter 1, we read about the encounter between the messenger angel, Gabriel, and Mary:
35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing will be impossible."

God wants us to expand our perception of or faith in what He will do.  Throughout the Scriptures, we see how He moved in improbable or impossible situations to do what only He could.  We see ordinary people being used by Him to do extraordinary things; events occur that could only be explained by the hand of God.  We can look beyond what we can comprehend - the natural - and see a God who works in the supernatural.

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We are continuing our trek through the Scriptures as we reflect on different aspects of Christ's coming, and we are in a series of items that focus in on worshipping Jesus for his promises, what He has said.  We recognize that, according to Matthew 19:26, "with God all things are possible." We live in desperate times, and we need a dramatic infusion of the power and presence of Almighty God.

In Matthew 19, we find Jesus teaching about the subject of eternal life, in response to a question.  He knew the heart of the man, so after telling him that he should keep His commandments, He also told Him to sell all that He had - He knew the man was possessed by His possessions.  The disciples were
aghast, and we read beginning in verse 23:
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Continuing with some thoughts relative to yesterday...

The witness of the church does not turn on who wins elections.  There are those that claim that a vote for Jones or Moore has negatively impacted the church.  I would like to think that God is not affiliated with any party and is, in fact, bigger than any party affiliation.  He will use the leaders that He has chosen and will use His people in the process of selecting those leaders.

But, we have to be careful not to allow electoral politics to divide the body of Christ - that will certainly damage our perception in society.  I think Mark Galli, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, makes some valid points about a destructive trend within the Church.  While I disagree with some of the points in the article, including his contention that "When it comes to either matters of life and death or personal commitments of the human heart, no one will believe a word we say, perhaps for a generation," I do think there is much to consider. He writes:

The race between Republican candidate Roy Moore and Democratic candidate Doug Jones has only put an exclamation point on a problem that has been festering for a year and a half—ever since a core of strident conservative Christians began to cheer for Donald Trump without qualification and a chorus of other believers decried that support as immoral. The Christian leaders who have excused, ignored, or justified his unscrupulous behavior and his indecent rhetoric have only given credence to their critics who accuse them of hypocrisy.

He also points out the reluctance and reason of evangelicals in their electoral selection last year. He says that when you talk to Trump and Moore supporters...

...you often find more nuanced and reasoned political views, grounded in moral principles, combined with a ready willingness to condemn the immorality and verbal carelessness of these two men. These conservatives are of a view one can appreciate philosophically: Sometimes in a nation’s life, one must for prudential reasons cast one’s lot with a morally unsavory candidate. Sometimes it really is a choice between the lesser of two evils, and sometimes three. We can respect that while continuing to disagree with some of their prudential choices, as they disagree with ours.

(Galli seems to regard with credibility those who accused Moore of sexual misconduct; a significant percentage of voters disagree, based on CNN exit polling data.)

There has been criticism of some Christians - by other Christians - for their voting choices.  There is a rationale here, as Galli points out:

As recently as 2011, PRRI found that only 30 percent of white evangelicals believed “an elected official who commits an immoral act in their personal life can still behave ethically and fulfill their duties in their public and professional life.” But by late 2016, when Donald Trump was running for president, that number had risen sharply to 72 percent—the biggest shift of any US religious group.

The reason for the flip is not hard to discern. David Brody, a correspondent for the Christian Broadcasting Network, has noted the desperation and urgency felt throughout much of conservative Christianity. “The way evangelicals see the world, the culture is not only slipping away—it’s slipping away in all caps, with four exclamation points after that. It’s going to you-know-what in a handbasket.” The logic is then inexorable: “Where does that leave evangelicals? It leaves them with a choice. Do they sacrifice a little bit of that ethical guideline they’ve used in the past in exchange for what they believe is saving the culture?”

There's plenty more here, but bottom line, we have to make sure that we are living our lives in a manner that is compelling and compassionate.  Galli concludes by saying (and this article was actually written before the election):

The way forward is unclear. For to love one’s neighbor in a democratic society means that Christians must participate in the public square to seek the common good. We cannot forsake our political duty, and that duty will lead believers in different directions. It’s just that when we do engage in politics, we so often end up doing and saying things that make us sound and act like we don’t care about the very values we champion. Perhaps the first step is for Christians Left and Right, when they stand up to champion a cause, to stop saying “Thus says the Lord” and “Lord, I thank you that you have not made me like these other Christians,” but frame their politics with, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.”

It's certainly a tall order, but we have to make sure that we are living Biblical Christianity - there are forces aligned against us that would want to discredit our witness; but our God moving through us and reflecting His love is far greater than the bad press that Christians regularly receive.  Remember, with God all things are possible!

Finally, I want to echo something Franklin Graham said on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol last year at the Decision America event.  He encouraged Christians to consider running for office.  I think there is a call for some to statesmenship - in this highly partisan atmosphere, we need people of faith who can cut through the intense partisan activity and work to find ways to address the issues that we so desperately need to address in our culture.

Paul Weber, President and CEO of Family Policy Alliance writes:

Like you, I see the news and each day another powerful man is accused of sexual misconduct. Rumor has it that many more will come to light in weeks ahead. Whether in Hollywood or Capitol Hill, misdeeds of days gone by are being exposed with voracity and that’s a good thing.

He poses this question: "...in our world where leaders are falling Left and Right (pun intended!), who will replace them?"

Weber issues this challenge:

Frankly, that depends on you and me and what we decide to do next. In the midst of struggles, will we take our ball and go home? Or, will we continue to engage; continue to provide resources; continue to join in the cultural debate and hold ourselves and those within the body of Christ to higher standards?

He then mentions the Statesmen Academy, which was begun by the Alliance's sister organization, which "is dedicated to identifying and training Christian men and women who want to run toward the battle of politics and serve as missionaries within the system. To ultimately bring about transformation from within."

As we seek first the Kingdom, we can pray for God to call out leaders who will uphold His standards and be a powerful voice for truth; that may even be you.  But, even without an urging to serve in politics, we all play a role in establishing the principles of God's Kingdom here on earth - the task is not impossible, and we can pray for God to do the mighty and the miraculous in our culture.

Advent-ure Day 13: Seek Ye First

In Luke 12, we read where Jesus lays out some principles of the Kingdom of God, to which all believers in Christ are called:
31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
32 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.
34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
35 "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;
36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.

Ultimately, believers in Christ are called to love our God passionately and to love others as we love Him.  Period.  The Bible instructs us as to what that is to look like.  We can set our minds on bringing glory to God, on putting aside selfish desires so that He might be seen in us.  We don't put our trust in the kingdoms of this world, but in the truths of the Kingdom of God.  We are placed in this world for a reason, but, because of Jesus, we are not of this world.

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Today's Scripture is highly relevant, in light of an intensely political election season that ended with Doug Jones being elected to the U.S. Senate.  I believe it can really help us to focus on our main call as believers in Christ - the political process is vital in our democracy, our earthly kingdom, but we serve a heavenly King who has called us to be part of His Kingdom activity on earth. Matthew 6:33: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

It's Day 13 of 25: A Christmas Advent-ure, from the Faith Radio Advent Guide.  The overall theme is "Let's Worship Jesus," and today we enter the third set of items, focusing on worshipping Him for His promises.

With just a few ballots out, Democrat and former U.S. attorney Doug Jones will be serving in the U.S. Senate, replacing Luther Strange, who was temporarily appointed to occupy the seat of Attorney General Jeff Sessions.  Roy Moore, the former Alabama Chief Justice, has refused to concede.

It was a rough-and-tumble race in a state where Republicans have held all statewide elected offices and that Donald Trump won by 28% just last year.  So, what was Jones' path to victory?

According to a Fox News analysis:

Jones carried the day by rolling up strong margins among blacks (93-6 percent), younger voters (62-36 percent), and women (55-43 percent).

Men went for Moore by 10 points (54-44 percent). His greatest areas of strength were working class whites (32-67 percent for a 35-point margin), white men (33-65 percent and a 32-point margin), and white evangelicals (21-77 percent, 56-point margin).

And according to this research, 95% of black women and 89% of black men voted for Jones.  CNN exit poll data showed the number at 98%, with 93% of black men voting for Jones.

How impactful were those allegations regarding sexual misconduct on the part of Moore?  Fox says that: "by a narrow margin, Alabama voters believed the women – by a 49-44 spread. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) said the allegations were important to their vote – and those voters went overwhelmingly for Jones."  Over two-thirds went to Jones.

The main struggle for Christian voters, I believe, was the reputation of Moore vs. the validity of the allegations against him.  Jones' support of abortion rights made that a non-starter for a number of Christian voters, and saw Moore as more aligned with their position.  But, there was no doubt hesitancy when considering the allegations.  It certainly became a matter of prayer and critical thinking.  More from Fox:

Jones won those who said personal morality was very important to their vote by 16 points, 57-41 percent. On the other hand, Moore won those who said partisan control was very important to their vote, 57-41 percent.

Eight-in-ten (79 percent) said abortion was important to their vote. Moore won those who said abortion was very important to their vote by 30 points. A majority of Alabamans (54 percent) believe abortion should be illegal – and they broke for Moore by an even wider 46-point margin, 72-26 percent.

About the evangelical vote, Christianity Today stated:

According to exit polls, 44 percent of Alabama voters Tuesday were white born-again or evangelical Christians (self-identified). In the last two elections with state-level exit polling, 2008 and 2012, their share was 47 percent—making them “the only group showing slight signs of slippage,” according to an analysis by The Washington Post.

So, what do we take away?

Well, first and foremost, our call to be people of God, salt and light, does not change with electoral shifts.  Our mandate is the same.  We are to seek first His Kingdom and seek to glorify Him in all things.

Also, it's important to keep in mind that, according to the book of Daniel, God is the one who raises and deposes "kings;" so we accept the results as the will of God for this hour.

Now, there is this question: Was a message sent?  You could say that Roy Moore lost because of allegations and many believed them to be false.  That could have a sad implication for the future, because it could give those who run political campaigns a license to run with unproven allegations in order to damage another candidate; yes, it's been going on for years, but the depths seemed lower in this one.

Does this say anything about the future of the evangelical church?  There are those that say because white evangelicals overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump, that represents a lack of morality of the evangelical church.  Evangelicals supported Roy Moore by roughly the same margin; and so there will be an attempt to characterize Moore voters in the same light - uninformed "evangelicals" who tarnish the "brand."

Well, in the purest sense, an "evangelical" is someone who lives by the Word and invites others into a relationship with Jesus Christ.  An evangelical, hopefully, votes in accordance with his or her deeply held values and, as Stuart Shepard and I have discussed throughout the years, will vote for the candidate that best lines up with those values.

The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is more than a "brand."  And, I don't believe electoral politics determine how effective we are in the culture.  Our effective witness is, and as we grow in the Lord, become active in our communities, and serve Him wholeheartedly - that is how hearts are changed.

Terry Mattingly, at GetReligion.org, highlights seven different positions of evangelicals in the election:

* There were evangelicals who backed Moore, big time, and they were crucial to his primary base.

* There were some evangelicals who backed other candidates in the primaries and then they reluctantly backed Moore. Some did this publicly, while others did so silently – so that's really two different camps in there.

* There were evangelicals who opposed Moore from Day 1, but bit their lips and voted for him rather than casting a vote for Doug Jones, a Hillary Clinton-empire Democrat who could be described as a member of the Planned Parent [sic] All-Star team. 

* There were evangelicals who could not cast a vote for Moore, so they wrote in another conservative name.

* There appear to have been lots of evangelicals who were so depressed by the whole drama that they stayed home.

* There were some white evangelicals who voted for Jones, along with waves of African-American evangelicals.

There is a characterization of evangelicals as being uninformed and more concerned about winning elections than winning souls.  That is patently unfair.  Voting is just one of the many activities in which Christians participate.

The witness of the church does not turn on who wins elections.  There are those that claim that a vote for Jones or Moore has negatively impacted the church.  I would like to think that God is not affiliated with any party and is, in fact, bigger than any party affiliation.  He will use the leaders that He has chosen and will use His people in the process of selecting those leaders.

More to come tomorrow...

Advent-ure Day 12: Light of the World

Jesus came into the world to be the light of the world, and His truth and presence bring light in the darkness all around us. We, as Christians, possess that light, according to 2nd Corinthians 4:
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

You hear quite a bit about "light" during the Christmas season, and rightly so - we enjoy the Christmas lights, perhaps take part in a candlelight service, and think about Jesus, who came as the light of the world.  He has dispatched us to be the light of the world, according to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 - He calls us to be salt and light.  So, during this Christmas season, we can be reminded to follow and to radiate the light of Christ.

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It's Day 12 of 25: A Christmas Advent-ure, and it's the end of the second set of six items dealing with worshipping Jesus for His personality.  He is described as the "light of the world."  There's a verse in John chapter 8, and I want to set it up.  There was a group of men who were about to stone a women who had committed adultery.  After writing on the ground, Jesus said to them, in verse 7, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."  He then wrote again, and one-by-one the
accusers went away. We pick up in verse 10:
10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"
11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Jared Plesec was a Bible study leader for the Salvation Army in Cleveland, OH and was preparing to go to collect money in the iconic Red Kettle campaign when tragedy struck.  According to a story on the Faithwire website, Jared, who was 21, was "found shot in the head on Saturday morning in the lobby of his apartment complex, with police alleging that a 27-year-old man named William Jones is responsible, WKYC-TV reported.

The Faithwire story stated:

Witnesses also said that Plesec was sharing scripture with the accused when he was killed.

Described as kind, loving and compassionate, Plesec spent his time mentoring local kids and had aspirations of saving money for a car so that he could help bring people to church. The Salvation Army confirmed the tragic death in an email to WKYC on Sunday.

“Jared was an employee (youth worker) and church member of The Salvation Army Temple Corps Community Center in Collinwood. Jared died as he lived, sharing God’s love,” the statement read. “Jared passed away in full Salvation Army uniform with his Bible in hand leaving home on his day off to volunteer at The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle.”

A potential motive has not been established, the story said.

The article quotes Major Daniel Alverio of the Salvation Army.  Faithwire says that he "told WJC-TV that Plesec was never afraid of the neighborhoods he would preach in. Alverio said that Plesec lived to 'teach people who God was' and to 'love and care for people.'" Alverio is quoted as saying:

“I would talk to Jared often and he would say that he was not afraid. I would say ‘Jared, be careful in the streets.’ He said, ‘I’m not afraid. I know where I’m going’ and for him he would tell you to die is gain,” Alverio said. “Like he had no problem with the idea of being persecuted for the gospel.”

It does seem that Jared was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  He may or may not have lost his life because of the gospel, but appeared to be in a dangerous position, yet shared the gospel. The alleged murderer, according to information from WKYC used in the Faithwire story, allegedly "went on a carjacking spree after the shooting."

About Jared, Amante Crawley told Fox8: "He basically is the one that brought me to church. He showed me the light and everything that the Lord could do to me, how he could work through me. Anybody who did him wrong he just loved. He loved everyone. That's why I can't understand why someone would do this to him. He was a loving person..."

What a great example for all of us - Jared Plesec, 21 years of age, determined to share the light of the gospel of Christ.  There are three words that come to mind:

First of all, determination.  I don't know the circumstances under which Jared was sharing scripture with the man who allegedly took his life, but we can conclude it was an individual who may have posed a danger to him.  God may call us to go to uncomfortable or even dangerous situations in order to share our faith, and He can create in us a determination to do His will.

We also get a sense of Jared's compassion.  It was apparent that he was devoted to sharing his faith, and as we develop a real, Christlike love for people, it can create within us a willingness to follow Christ in sharing that love.

Finally, people loved Jared Plesec.  He had developed a reputation.  We can seek to build that type of reputation that is so strong that people will be drawn to Christ through our actions and it will enable us to stand, even when there is opposition and outright attacks against us.