The True Meaning

God executed His plan to redeem fallen humanity to perfection, sending His Son, born of a woman - the word Who became flesh, so that we by believing on Him, believing the Word, we can have His life. In John 1, we can read these words:
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
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.

We have been born of flesh and...born of the Spirit.  Jesus has come as a man to bring us salvation. Because He put on flesh, He was able to be our perfect sacrifice and substitute; and in order to fulfill God's purposes, He came to earth.  Philippians 2 explains how He humbled Himself.   He is the Living Word who has come to live in our hearts and to bring us eternal and abundant life.  Because God became man, we can know God.

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Jesus came at just the right time in history, in order to bring redemption and to call people into a relationship with Himself. Galatians 4 states:
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

We have now celebrated our Savior's birth, and we have the opportunity to exit this season with a greater sense of the significance of it and, as we move into a new year, to reflect on how we can grow closer to Him in the days to come.

A recent survey examined the attitudes of Americans toward the celebration of Christmas. ChristianHeadlines.com reported on a recent Ipsos poll; the article states:

The Ipsos poll found that 75 percent of the nation believes “most Americans have forgotten the real meaning of Christmas,” with 42 percent strongly agreeing with the statement and only 6 percent strongly disagreeing.

Among Christians, 84 percent believe the nation has forgotten the real meaning of Christmas, with 50 percent of Christians strongly agreeing. Among non-religious Americans, only 60 percent agree with the statement.

Interestingly enough, this question dealt not with the personal feelings of the respondents toward Christmas, but what they think or perceive that others believe.  Other questions dealt with practices around the holiday.  Some of those noted by Christian Headlines include:

• 85 percent of Americans say they decorate their homes for the holidays, with 15 percent saying they don’t decorate.
• 48 percent say Christmas decorations should be taken down by the first week of January, with nearly one-fourth (23 percent) saying “later in January.” One in 10 (10 percent) say Christmas decorations should be taken down between Christmas and New Year’s Day. A total of 7 percent say Christmas decorations should be taken down after January, and 3 percent say they should be left up all year long.
• A majority of Americans (56 percent) say it is appropriate to play Christmas music in public after Thanksgiving, with 25 percent answering, “after Dec. 1.”

For Christians, the Christmas season gives us the opportunity to testify to our Savior, to reflect on what He has done for us, and to communicate to the world that we love Him. There are all sorts of ways to observe the holiday, and we can be careful to choose how we represent Him in the way we celebrate.

One of the key elements, ideally, should be that the emphasis is not on what we get, but what we give. And, we give because God, our Heavenly Father, the giver of all good gifts, sent His Son, so that in Him we might be saved and have eternal life.  We should not become so distracted in the celebration that we lose sight of the true meaning of the holiday.  

Words From the Past

We can have comfort that those who pass from this earth, who know Jesus as their Savior, have the promise of eternity with Him. Jesus visited with Mary and Martha, two ladies whose brother, Lazarus, had died. In John 11, we can find these words:
23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

In the Lord, we can have hope - and when we suffer, we can know the comfort of His presence and the encouragement that only He can bring.  He has raised us to new life, and we now can walk by His Spirit through this earth, knowing that we have a home in heaven.  We will reunite with those who have gone before and we will see our Savior and enjoy His presence forever.  So, we mourn for those temporary losses, and we can make sure that we are sharing the hope of Christ with those who do not know Him.

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God has loved us so very much, and He provides His comfort to those who have experienced loss - ministering by His Spirit, His Word - and through other people. 2nd Corinthians 1 provides this reminder:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

In 1946, Rebecca received a Bible as a gift for Christmas, almost 10 years after her daughter, Ruby, had died of scarlet fever.  A Baptist Press story traces the journey of that Bible from Rebecca to her descendants throughout the years. In the Bible, Rebecca had written: “Dear children, when you read this and I am gone...I want you to keep close to Jesus too. He is our only pure joy. It pays to serve Him. For like Ruby, this day is coming to all, and we all want to meet in heaven.”

The Bible was given to Rebecca by her daughter Lorine.  The Bible was passed down to another of her daughters, Dorothy, then to her son, Sam. The story says that Sam "loaned" the Bible to a Nashville-area pastor named Erik Reed.  

Erik, Rebecca's great-grandson, had experienced the loss of a child just over three years ago - December 1, 2019. The article relates:

Erik’s son Kaleb battled lifelong health issues that began when doctors accidentally took his good kidney along with a kidney covered in cysts when he was two months old. Kaleb attended school, played and enjoyed games as kids do, but also endured several hospitalizations a year, crippling complications from fungal meningitis and a stroke before succumbing on Dec. 1, 2019.

Rebecca had "journaled grief and hope" in the pages of the Bible, and even before that, after Ruby's death, she had been writing down her "feelings in poetry and prose."  

Erik Reed stated: “When we started reading some of these notes, it struck our hearts because we’d lost a child,” adding, “So many of the things that she’s saying just resonated with us. As I read it to my wife out loud, we were both just in tears.” He added: "She says, ‘Sometimes I’m just so happy, but I can’t always stay happy. Lonely days come.’ So she’s just pouring her heart out. But you see a mixture of sorrow and faith through all of it.”

He went on to say:

“It’s really meaningful to have a piece of history from my own family,” Erik said. “It’s just encouraging for me as someone who’s buried a son and lost a child. There’s not a whole lot of people who share that experience of a relative, of a great-grandmother. There’s a part of me that resonates with her life.

“I feel more than a blood connection to her. I feel a kinship in that we’ve both suffered a sorrow that many people never do and never want for sure.”

The Baptist Press article notes:

Keeping a record of one’s faith can be an important legacy, Erik said, and we never know who will see such writings.

“I’m reading the words of a mother who is grieving, but I’m reading them now, and she’s not grieving any longer. She’s with the Lord, and she’s with her daughter, and the hope that we have in Christ, the promises we have in God’s Word, she has seen the fulfillment of those promises,” he said. “So now I can read them and remember the same. These sorrows will pass..."

Words from the past - reflecting the connection between God's Word and the words borne out of deep emotion. This does indicate the importance of journaling how God is speaking to your life.  That can be in the actual pages of a Bible, or in a notebook.  But, the act of putting words on pages can be a release of what is on the inside.  

Even though there has been a passage of time, the common experience between people can bring hope and encouragement.  In a time when Erik and his family were commemorating the loss of their son, God provided just the right words from a very meaningful source.  We can rejoice that God provides the gift of His presence for us, and will send people - or words - in order to give comfort in sorrow and hope in the midst of grief and loss. 

Away in a Manger

In Matthew chapter 1, we read about a special angelic visit to the husband of Mary, who would be giving birth to the Christ Child. The angel spoke these words:
21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

This was significant, a fulfillment of what God had spoken through the prophet Isaiah hundreds of years before:
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."

We know that following angelic visitations to Joseph and Mary, together, they made the journey to Bethlehem, which would be the birthplace of the Messiah, according to the book of Micah.  The picture of Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus in humble surroundings can communicate to the world that Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth, born as a child, who grew into a man, who suffered, was killed and rose from the dead - He did this so that He could pay the penalty for sin and restore us to God.

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A group of shepherds tending flocks in the fields outside Bethlehem had quite a season - they were visited by a host of angels declaring the coming of the Messiah. And, they were told what they would find if they were to visit the city. Luke chapter 2 states:
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."
16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Less than a week ago, the ministry of Turning Point, featuring David Jeremiah, issued a press release about its feature film that told the story of the birth of our Lord.  It said: "Why the Nativity? is Turning Point's first feature length docudrama film that premiered on Thanksgiving night. In the three weeks since it premiered, it has garnered more than 10 million views on YouTube alone."  But, it was featured on a number of media platforms, including the Turning Point website and app, the regular Turning Point television broadcast, Fox Nation, and the Lifetime cable network.  The press release reported:

Over 4,000 churches signed up to host a watch night and gain access to additional resources created by the Turning Point digital marketing team. In addition, Turning Point's social media team created an Outreach Team campaign and had 2,452 individuals sign up to help promote Why the Nativity? in their communities.

The release quotes from David Jeremiah, addressing why this docudrama had become popular; he said: "Because the birth of Christ changes everything. It changed the world…He can bring joy in a world void of joy, hope in hopeless times, and peace in an uncertain world."  The release states:

Why the Nativity? explores questions, facts, and history seldom seen in traditional Nativity stories—from the influence of Roman rule, to the identities of the Wise Men, to the back story of Mary and Joseph as children.

And, the good news is that the film can still be seen through WhyTheNativity.org.  And, the significance of the event can still resonate in our hearts, even after the nativity scenes in our homes have been packed away.  Because the message is enduring and impactful.

CBNNews.com recently brought this to light last week:

Celebrations of Jesus Christ's birth are scheduled at nativity scenes placed at 43 state capitols across the country this Christmas.

The Thomas More Society, a not-for-profit national public interest law firm, and the American Nativity Scene, a group dedicated to the display of nativity scenes at every state capitol throughout the U.S. during the Christmas season, are helping a growing number of private citizen groups across the nation to display Biblical manger scenes on government property this Christmas.

And, even though there are certain caveats to the display of the manger scenes on government property, still the message of the display can be communicated. The article quotes Thomas More Society Vice President and Senior Counsel Thomas Olp: "The law is clear. Government entities may erect and maintain celebrations of the Christmas holiday – or allow citizens to do so on government property, including nativity scenes, as long as a crèche's sole purpose is not to promote its religious content, and it is placed in context with other symbols of the season as part of an effort to celebrate the public Christmas holiday through traditional symbols."

We have to be careful not to "box up" the Nativity scene and reserve the meaning of certain concepts or displays for a six-week period of time.  The birth of Jesus into the world is a key component of the salvation message, for the coming of Jesus to earth in the form of a child reminds us that He gave His life for all humanity. 

Mary and Joseph embraced the message of the significance of the baby - and we can be careful to hear and receive that message, and respond to God's direction in our lives - He brought people together into one significant location so that His message might be spread throughout the world.  Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men - all of these central characters remind us of God's sovereign hand for His clear purpose.  And, the Christmas story, as we call it, is an essential chapter of God's redemptive work.

So, we can rejoice in the Lord for His precious gift of redemption, of reconciliation between us and our Heavenly Father.  Through Jesus, the baby born in a manger, we can recognize that our Creator made it possible for each of us to be new creations in Him.  We can consider how we can respond to His love. 

(ADVENT 23) Unwrapping Christmas: Love for God and Others

During the Christmas season, we celebrate the love of God. He loved us so much that He sent His Son so that through His love, he laid down His life, and gives us the capacity to love God - and because we love Him, our hearts are full of love for Him and those whom He has created. 1st Peter chapter 1 states, in light of the implications of the salvation Jesus has provided for us:
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.

In response to the incredible love of God, we can respond to Him with gratitude and worship - we can be people who reflect the goodness of God. Jesus has done so much for us - He has brought us into a relationship with God our Heavenly Father, and the way we live can reflect that we know and love Him. We can consistently reflect on how we have seen the Lord work in our lives, and proclaim to those that would hear that He is good. 

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We have reached Day 23 in this year's Faith Radio Advent Guide, "25: A Christmas Advent-ure," with our theme, Unwrapping Christmas.  Today we reflect on His love for us and others. It's an incredible love - a love He has shared with us and desires for us to share with others.  Our theme Scripture passage is from the 22nd chapter of Matthew, containing our Savior's words to a man asking Him about "the great commandment in the Law."  We can read:
37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

Naomi Bogale is a competitive runner from Ethiopia - according to an article on the Faithwire website, she had suffered a career-threatening injury, had lost an endorsement deal with Nike, and had come to America to try to get back on track.  But, then, the unthinkable happened - she was involved in a car accident, her back was broken, and she had a spinal cord injury.

The article relates that she said to CBS News, “All my body was paralyzed, my legs, nothing, zero...”

Faithwire stated: 

Many of the medical professionals Bogale spoke with told her the chances she would walk again were very slim and, if it was even possible, it would take years to achieve. Doctors gave her a projection of two to three years and, even then, it was always no more than a “maybe.”

Bogale’s devout Christian faith led her to a different conclusion. Thanks to a dream, the Ethiopian athlete was confident the doctors’ prognoses were wrong, because they didn’t account for miracles.

The accident occurred some seven months ago, and she began to try to move again; according to the article, she has just started to take some steps, for which she is rejoicing:

“God is good,” she said. “God is great.”

All the credit, Bogale added, belongs to the Lord.

She says, "I’m working hard, but I do believe more in miracles; it’s [a] miracle, you know," adding, "The science doesn’t prove it [and] the doctors never imagined — nobody can imagine.”

Even CBS News noted: "Naomi isn't done. She says her goals are much bigger than just walking. She wants to run again, and she has faith it will happen."

The Faithwire headline called the improvement a "Christmas miracle," and it's a great story to highlight here on this Friday before Christmas.  And, you can be grateful that Naomi Bogale is speaking out. It's a wonderful example to us, because it can motivate each of us to think about what God has done for us and to tell other people about it. 

Because Jesus has demonstrated His love for us by giving His life on a cross, He gives us the capacity to respond in love to Him, to fill our hearts with His love, and to love others.  One way that we love is to not only minister to their needs, but also to share - verbally - what Jesus has done in our lives.  His love can motivate us to speak the truth about Him.  This Christmas, we can allow the love of God to flow through us, which can produce a contagious spirit.

(ADVENT 22) Unwrapping Christmas: Security

When we struggle, when we encounter instability in our lives, we can go to our Rock, our strong foundation, and find hope and strength. Psalm 91 says:
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."

Later in that Psalm, we find the God is speaking directly to us:
14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation."

He holds us with His strong arms - as Psalm 46 tells us, He is our refuge and strength - His help is described as "ever-present."  We can be thankful during this season that God sent Jesus to earth so that we might come to Him and know true security and rest.  Even when things may feel out of control around us, we can look to the presence of the indwelling Christ and to His love displayed through His people, through His Church.

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We are now on Day 22 of "25: A Christmas Advent-ure," our Faith Radio Advent Guide; this year, our theme has been, Unwrapping Christmas, and we are continuing to "unwrap," or take a closer look at the gifts that God has given to us through Jesus Christ.

We are secure in Christ, and He is the One whom we can trust to build our lives on. When we feel shaky or unstable, we can know His abundant strength.  So, our theme for today is: security.

We can read in Psalm 46:
(1) God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling...

In the next few days, believers around the world will be celebrating the birth of our Savior.  That will possibly include one or more worship services.  Lifeway Research has done some studies about worship attendance on Christmas Eve, as well as Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

The Lifeway Research website notes that:

Half of U.S. Protestant pastors (48%) say a Christmas Eve service is their churches’ largest event during the holiday season, according to a Lifeway Research study. The frequency of the highest attendance events builds up to Christmas Eve and then tapers off into January.

Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, stated: “Family and church traditions are most likely to coincide for Christmas Eve services, but many evangelical churches see the highest holiday attendance earlier in December.”

With Christmas Day being on a Sunday this year, Lifeway Research examined the impact that might have on worship services.  Another article says:

More than 5 in 6 U.S. Protestant pastors (84%) say their church plans to have services on Christmas Day, according to a Lifeway Research study. Slightly fewer (71%) say the same about Christmas Eve. While 85% plan on hosting New Year’s Day services on Sunday, 21% will have a Saturday New Year’s Eve gathering. Few pastors (2%) are not planning on having services on any of those days.

The article notes that the percentages on Christmas Day are slightly lower and New Year's Day are the same as six years ago, when those two days last fell on a Sunday. 

McConnell notes: "Families have many traditions on Christmas morning, and most pastors acknowledge not as many of their members will be present compared to Christmas Eve and services earlier in the month,” adding, “However, churches not holding services on Christmas Day are still the exception.”

The New York Times published an article recently about churches cancelling services on Christmas Day, as if there was some controversy out there - over 8-in-10 churches will be open this Sunday morning, just as they generally are the other 51 Sundays of the year.  Some have decided to close, and, as McConnell notes, pastors say worship attendance may be down.  But, this certainly should not be regarded as a controversy.

Yesterday's "gift" in our Advent series was: the body of Christ.  We can admit that we need the security of our Savior and the local church.  We can draw strength from those with whom we worship and serve.  When God's people come together, there is an opportunity for Him to work, through fellowship with one another and a heart for service. 

During this special season, we can also recognize the security that we have in Christ.  In an age of uncertainty, the message of Christmas is a message of hope and stability.  We can rely totally on God's love toward us and rest in Him.  When there is trouble, we can know Him, as Psalm 46 suggests, as our refuge and strength.

(ADVENT 20) Unwrapping Christmas: Financial Resources

We are in a season that is marked by generosity, and we can remember the great love of our Heavenly Father, who is the giver of all good gifts, who gave His only Son, who gave His life so that we could come to know Him. Luke 6 says:
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Jesus gave.  He came to earth in order to show us how to live according to God's ways, to be our example. And, He died on a cross and rose from the dead so that we could be saved and come to know Him. We radiate the love of Christ as we give, and we can recognize that we are called to be stewards of financial resources, that He can use to affect lives and to soften hearts, so that people would be drawn to the love of God.  We can be sensitive to opportunities to share God's love. 

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We are now on Day 20 of "25: A Christmas Advent-ure," the Faith Radio Advent Guide, as we continue to "unwrap," or take a closer look at what the giver of all good gifts, our Heavenly Father, has made available to us through Jesus Christ.  The overall theme is Unwrapping Christmas, and today we look at the gift of financial resources.

2nd Corinthians 9 contains a few of the multiple verses about our stewardship responsibility in using what God has provided. We can read these words:
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God...

A pastor of a church not far from here, as he drove around his community, observed the tremendous need that was there and related to Baptist Press what he had seen. He is quoted as saying: “This community, quite frankly, looks like a war zone,”adding, “Abandoned properties, burned out houses. And our wheelhouse of ministry has been the hopeless, the helpless, those folks (some) would cross the street to get away from." He added:

“That was who Jesus reached out to throughout His ministry, was the least of these. Those are the people when they receive Christ, run the hardest for Christ. And they deserve to know the goodness of God and a second chance in life, and that’s what we do.”

Those are the words of Amos Crews, the pastor of what has become Pillar of Hope Church, which is the result of three congregations in the Tarrant area of Birmingham coming together, or perhaps better put, being brought together by the hand of God.

The article noted that Pillar of Hope originally was born out of two congregations, Christ First Community Church and Destiny Covenant Church, that were meeting at the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association.  Pastor Crews was at Christ First Community.  He related: “We had been in a building for about 10 years, had paid over $250,000 in mortgage, and things went sideways. We secured an attorney and just walked away from the property."  Destiny had been in talks with another church about obtaining its building.  Two churches, around 30 "active members," both with nowhere to go. 

Sounds like a ripe opportunity for the Holy Spirit, right?    

The two churches merged, and Crews set his eyes on the Tarrant community; he said: “When I went out and looked at the community, and I have to be honest, the first thought was no way,” adding, “There’s nothing here. There are no children, there are no families. Property values are in the gutter..."

But, he added, "And then God began to show me this vision of what we could do, and I looked at it as an opportunity to show that the church still can be the center of the community,” Crews said. “God just gave me a vision that this could be done, that His children, no matter their circumstances, deserve His love..."

Enter church #3, Robinwood Baptist in Tarrant, which was also on the verge of closing. It was down to close to seven active members; Interim Pastor John Roland said, "We’re going to cease to exist,...We’ve decided the need is so big in that community, we just can’t reach it. The church is surrounded by 60 vacant properties … made up of drug dealers; they have a really high rate of registered sex offenders – I know it’s over 30 – that surround the church."

So Robinwood will be selling its property to Pillar of Hope - the article says: "Robinwood is deeding its building to the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association..., which will in turn sell it to Pillar of Hope at a deep discount and establish a fund for the building’s repair and upkeep."  The target date to get started with the new work is February 1.

Here we go - three congregations coming together, facilitated by a local Southern Baptist association. But, that's not all - Baptist Press relates:

The transition comes as the Kids to Love Foundation, a ministry to children in foster care, is buying about 60 abandoned properties in Tarrant to build homes for girls aging out of foster care. In turn, Pillar of Hope plans to buy additional abandoned properties to build homes for boys aging out of foster care.

“The pipeline from classroom to prison is real,” Crews said. Pillar of Hope has plans to teach budgeting and life skills to those in need. He has plans to build a community farm, much more than a garden, to address food insecurity in the community he describes as a food desert. Crews hopes the revitalization will attract young families to the community.

The article adds, "While Pillar of Hope is the merger of two predominantly African American churches, and Robinwood was a predominantly white congregation, Crews has in mind an ethnically diverse congregation."  

Certainly, a fresh wave of the Holy Spirit seems to be moving across this community, and Pastor Crews says, "Tarrant is one of the most impoverished communities in Jefferson County, Alabama. It’s in bad shape,” adding, “While many would run from this community and its people, God has given us a great vision to love, reach and serve the least of these.” He believes, “If you bring in people who are looking for a hand up, and not just a handout, you can turn that community around,..We want to give families an opportunity to know God and to see what the Kingdom of heaven really looks like..."

This is an amazing story, and I believe that the Lord has brought these different components together; pooling not only gifts and talents, but sowing physical resources in the community. The article notes, "The new church has launched a nonprofit community development corporation to bridge the financial issues the church will face in buying abandoned properties to build affordable housing and transitional homes for homeless mothers with children."

We can recognize God as our provider - not only does He ultimately provide spiritual hope, but He will use the meeting of material needs as a gateway in order that people might experience that hope.  It's up to each of us to determine how God would intend for us to use the resources with which He has blessed us, and that passage I shared from 2nd Corinthians chapter 9 can definitely impact our mindset.

Our giver of all good gifts, our Heavenly Father, is the One to whom we can look to be our provider - not only the spiritual area, but physically and materially, as well. As we have been blessed by God, we can also seek His face to direct us how to bless others.  

We can also learn to recognize that God is working.  In bringing together three churches and a Baptist association and injecting a community with a ministry to those in foster care, there are opportunities for a Kingdom impact. We can prepare ourselves to be used in God's service in order to bring about what He intends, and use the financial gifts that He provides in order to help accomplish His purposes.

(ADVENT 21) Unwrapping Christmas: The Body of Christ

The Church, the body of Christ, is strengthened as we adopt and adhere to the principles of God's Word and to draw strength from one another, being encouraged as members of the body. Ephesians chapter 2 relates:
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

We are part of a body of believers and we can enthusiastically serve the head, the Lord Jesus Christ. As we serve Him, we also recognize that we are called to serve one another.  When one is weak, another can help him or her out. Together, we can make a significant impact on the culture around us.  We can see the presence of God working through us as we come together to worship and to participate in the life of the Church.

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We continue to "unwrap" these wonderful gifts that God has given to us during our journey through the Faith Radio Advent Guide, "25: A Christmas Advent-ure."  The theme is Unwrapping Christmas, and today's gift is: the Body of Christ.

Jesus has saved us and placed us in a glorious fellowship of fellow believers - He is the head and we are the body. A passage from Colossians chapter 1 contains our theme Scripture verse:
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

The COVID pandemic is continuing to have its after-effects.  Just from a health standpoint, perhaps you have heard of or even experienced what's called "long-haul COVID."  Well, you could also say that in a number of areas of American life, there are long-term implications - there have been economic implications: the workforce has changed, for instance. Just recently, Congress passed a bill removing the vaccine mandates from our military, but there are still court cases against the mandates and the religious accommodations that were not granted.  

And, churches are continually facing "long-haul," real-life effects.  One church, in California, has continued to face threats of punishment in the form of fines for not complying with draconian lockdowns in the Golden State.  CBNNews.com reported recently:

After two years, Calvary Chapel San Jose has overcome another hurdle in its ongoing legal battle against Santa Clara County's enforcement of Gov. Gavin Newsom's COVID lockdowns. But there are still a few left to go.

The story referred to a report by the Los Angeles Times on a ruling by the California Supreme Court recently, that refused to allow the county to "force the church to pay $217,500 in fines after the church was found in contempt of court."  The article says:

As CBN News has reported, Calvary Chapel and its pastors were held in contempt and fined in 2020 and 2021 for defying state and county pandemic limits on indoor public gatherings.

But, as the story pointed out: "Calvary Chapel and Pastor Mike McClure are still facing $2.8 million in fines for not shutting down the church's worship services and for allowing people to come to pray at their building in person after Newsom tried to close churches statewide in 2020."  This is relative to a federal lawsuit the church had filed; the county had countersued.

The story states:

Santa Clara County officials are still demanding the church pay the fines, arguing that it violated health orders regardless of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in five separate cases that the government cannot treat houses of worship as second-class institutions with harsh penalties and restrictions that exceed the restrictions placed on "essential" businesses.

The CBN article also noted:

As CBN News reported last April, five California churches received a six-figure damage award after Santa Clara County tried to close them down.

The churches represented by the Pacific Justice Institute – in a joint effort with the Cannistraci Law Firm and McAllister Law Group – were Gateway City Church, The Home Church, The Spectrum Church, Orchard Community Church, and Trinity Bible Church.

The COVID pandemic had a potentially devastating effect on churches, and this church in California is facing the residual effects of its decision to reject the state's policies.  The effects of COVID on churches are varied, including perhaps churches experiencing the death of church members, and as a Christian Post article reported recently, based on a Lifeway Research survey, "Nearly three years after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns forced churches across the United States to shut their doors, many attendees have yet to return, even as the vast majority of churches have resumed in-person services."

As today's "gift" from the advent guide suggests, we need the body of Christ - and while virtual worship was a way to keep people together and continue to allow people to engage with God's Word through preaching and teaching, it's not quite the same as face-to-face interaction. 

Looking back, we can recognize that fear has driven policy and inhibited clear thinking in decision making.  That's the nature of fear, and Faith Radio adopted a theme during the coronavirus season of "Faith Over Fear."  Fear causes people to give up rights with the promise of safety, and there were not shortage of officials who allowed preyed on people's fears in order to control their decisions and alter their way of life.  People who desired to exercise their faith through church attendance and their decision over the COVID vaccine found themselves being penalized for standing on faith. 

Moving forward, we can be reminded that as the Church, we must continue to stand on our faith in the Lord. A Church that is full the power of the Holy Spirit and is united in our common zeal for God can be a conduit for God to do amazing things.

(ADVENT 16) Unwrapping Christmas: Victory Over Sin

God not only calls us to a holy life, but through what Jesus did through His death on the cross and His resurrection, we are empowered to release His holiness through us. 1st Peter 1 tells us:
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

The capability is there, the question is whether or not we will depend on Him in order to release the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to live through us.  We can enter in to a life that reflects the image of Jesus Christ, that demonstrates that we know Him. We have victory in Christ, and out of great love for Him and a desire to please Him, we can make it our goal to walk in holiness.  It's been said that we might not be sinless, but we could "sin less."  And, when we confess our sin, He forgives and cleanses us. 

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This is December 16, Day 16 of Unwrapping Christmas, in which I have identified 25 different gifts that have been made available to us through Jesus.  It's our Faith Radio Advent Guide, "25: A Christmas Advent-ure," and here on the 16th day, the gift is: victory over sin.

This is so important - we live in an age where good is called evil and evil good, and definitions of what is sinful have shifted, to our detriment. But, God's Word is clear, and there is a passage in 1st Corinthians 15 that includes today's theme verse:
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.

As she spoke at a convocation at a major Christian university just over two months ago, a high-ranking state official provided insight for them about to whom they belong; the school's website reported...

...she reminded students that Christians are tenants, and that God is the landlord.

“These bodies of ours, they don’t even belong to us,” she said. “We are living in a rental acting like we own it.”

The speaker was the Lt. Governor of Virginia, Winsome Earle-Sears, and the place was Liberty University; the article continues:

While many in the world act entitled, as if they “brought themselves here,” Earle-Sears said they will one day discover that that is not the case.

“They do have a Maker and they will answer to Him someday,” she said.

Sears recently received a high honor from the D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship, its 2022 Distinguished Christian Statesman Award. According to the National Religious Broadcasters website, D. James Kennedy Ministries President and CEO Robert J. Pacienza said, “We’re thrilled to honor Lieutenant Governor Sears for her bold and principled leadership and her outspoken Christian witness...”

The article notes that:

In her remarks, Earle-Sears reflected on the impact of prayerful Christian leaders.

“What would it look like if the President of the United States prayed for the people?” Earle-Sears asked. “I saw it modeled for me when the governor of the great Commonwealth of Virginia was being inaugurated, and he had our lieutenant governor, me, and our attorney general and our spouses walk with him and Suzanne, the First Lady, down in front of the seal of Virginia. We held hands, and the governor prayed.”

Earle-Sears continued, “It was the first time that I’d ever seen it done, and I’m hoping that it starts a tradition. He was not afraid to ask God for wisdom. He was not afraid to pray for the members of his cabinet, to pray for the other statewides. He was not afraid to pray for the General Assembly members and to pray for the people who had come against him.” 

It says that, "Earle-Sears is the first female Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the first Black female elected to statewide office." The Standing for Freedom Center at Liberty included this in a story on its website:

When her family immigrated from Jamaica, her father had just $1.75 to his name but he worked hard and became successful (he is now retired). Sears also seized on the possibilities that the land of opportunity offered her, joining the Marine Corps, working as a licensed electrician, eventually starting her own appliance and plumbing repair business, and becoming a member of Virginia’s House of Delegates.

She explained, “I want people to understand that I didn’t do anything special to become lieutenant governor of Virginia; all I did was stay in school and study. Prepare, prepare, prepare — that’s all I did because I want the little girls and boys to know that if I can do it, [they can do it.]”

The university's article stated:

She said she grappled for years with what having faith truly means before eventually coming to recognize, through in-depth study of Scripture, that faith is trusting in what God says even when the way ahead looks confusing or appears daunting.

She referenced biblical examples such as Abraham, Rahab, and the woman in the Gospel of Luke infected with a blood hemorrhage — all broken people who trusted that the Lord was who He claimed to be.

“(The Bible) says that without faith it is impossible to please God,” she said.

By faith in Christ, we can be saved.  By faith in Christ, we can please the Lord.  As we trust in the Lord, we can experience victory in areas in which we struggle with sin.  We can resist temptation.  Winsome Earle-Sears exhibits a "can do" spirit, but that is not something exclusive to her or a few high-profile celebrities, political leaders, or sports heroes.  Each of us can practice our faith effectively and can overcome what threatens to hold us back spiritually.

As the Lt. Governor noted, we belong to God - that's consistent with 1st Corinthians 6, which tells us that we are not our own: our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are to glorify God in the way we act.  If we're living for the Lord, it's our desire to please Him and we can surrender our selfish desires and adopt His desires for us.  Christ lives in us, and we have the power to obey Him.

(ADVENT 19) Unwrapping Christmas: Empowerment for Service

We can display the evidence of the presence of Christ in us. We have been born again and Jesus now lives in our hearts; He desires to express Himself through us. Hebrews 13 contains these words:
20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Another translation uses the word, "equip," in verse 21.  Jesus not only has shown us how to live through His earthly example, but His Word provides solid instruction for us.  His Spirit empowers us to live a life that pleases God, and we can be confident that Christ lives in us.  Jesus told His disciples that He came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life. In that spirit of self-sacrifice, we can be dedicated to serving others, humbling ourselves before God, and allowing His power and His love to flow through us.

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We are now on Day 19 of "25: A Christmas Advent-ure," the Faith Radio Advent Guide, with the theme, Unwrapping Christmas.  This is the beginning of another week, and over the weekend, there were two additional entries: Day 17, on which the gift was His wisdom, and on Day 18, for which the gift was an eternal home in heaven.  

Regarding the gift of God's wisdom, the corresponding Scripture verse is found in this passage from 1st Corinthians chapter 1:
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--
31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."

Yesterday's gift, our eternal home in heaven, is referenced in this passage from John 14:
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.

That brings us today's gift that we will "unwrap," empowerment for service. A passage in 1st Peter 4 contains the corresponding Scripture verse:
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Verse 10 directs us to minister to others using the gift that God is given.  We are empowered by the Holy Spirit in order to bring glory to His name.  The use of our gifts is an expression of our love for God and for other people.

I came across a moving story of the power of forgiveness recently.  Mark Strand is the grandfather of a 7-year-old girl whose body was found after she had gone missing earlier this month. The suspect has been apprehended.  A Faithwire story relates that Mr. Strand had posted on Facebook: “A friend just asked me the other day if I believe God speaks to people. I happen to know He does, as He is speaking to me now,” adding, “This flesh, this man that I am, is angry and I want 5 minutes alone in a cell with the psycho that took our Athena away from us.” He also said, though, “But there’s a soft gentle voice in the back of my head telling me I need to forgive him.”

The article continued to recount the powerful words of a grieving grandfather:

“This flesh man hopes he remains blind and deaf to the message of salvation and never sets foot in the same heaven that I know in my heart my darling Athena resides in now,” Strand continued. “And yet, that gentle voice persists. Why, you ask? Because Hate is a powerful force that will take root in your soul.”

He went on to say God wants to protect people from hate, calling it a “gateway for evil” in the world today. Then, Strand clearly explained who that “soft gentle voice” is in his heart and mind.

“That gentle voice is the Holy Spirit of God speaking to me right now,” he wrote. “He’s reminding me that my savior, Jesus, willingly laid Himself on a cross and died in my place to reconcile me to God the Father, but also that He did that for All of us, even this man that my flesh so hates at this very moment.”

The article also notes:

Pushing past the hurt and pain, Strand concluded his post by publicly forgiving the accused.

“Hate will not win. I hope my family will understand that I don’t do this for the sake of this man,” he wrote. “I do this for the sake of my family and myself and to Honor the voice of God who is giving me the strength to say this. I do this to honor our precious Athena who knew no hate.”

This is a story of deep hurt and pain, a struggle with the forces of evil, and the triumph of forgiveness. It demonstrates the love of Christ, the love that wins, the love that motivated our Savior to die on a cross so that sin and death could be defeated.  So, we can remember that because of what Christ has done for us, we are to exhibit His love to others - and out of that great love, we can exercise the giftedness that the Lord has granted to us. 

You can recognize the work of the Holy Spirit through Mark Strand's words, and the inner struggle that is occurring.  The enemy would want us to keep us complacent and consumed with ourselves. He will sideline us with all sorts of tools, including a resistance to allow the love of God to flow through us.  The Lord is directing us and equipping us to serve Him.   The Holy Spirit provides the direction - He shows us where to go and what to do, and provides the power in order to carry out what God has ordained for us. 

(ADVENT 15) Unwrapping Christmas: A Desire to Know Him

Something we can consider during this Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and its significance is that we can actually come to know Him. In Jeremiah chapter 9, we can find these words:
23 Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the Lord.

This passage can really bring the importance of knowing Christ into focus.  We are not called to boast about ourselves, but we are directed to give glory to God because we understand and know Him. Jesus made that possible, removing the barrier between humanity and our Heavenly Father, because of His death and resurrection. Now, we can draw near to Him through studying the Word and spending time in fellowship and worship.

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We are continuing to reflect on some of the wonderful gifts that God has given to us, in the Advent series, Unwrapping Christmas, this year's theme for the Faith Radio Advent Guide, "25: A Christmas Advent-ure." Today, on Day 15, we're focusing in on the desire to know Him, to know Jesus, that He places within our hearts.

Here is a passage from Philippians 3 that addresses knowing Christ:
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

When we are born again, that is the entry point into salvation. While we can be assured of our salvation, at that moment we are saved, God begins a process of sanctification. He ushers us into new life, and gives us a new home in heaven.  And, even while we are on this earth, He gives us that desire to know Him.

So, when will we get to heaven?  A new survey shows a significant number of Christians believe it could be sooner rather than later.  In fact, almost half of professing Christians believe we are in the end times. The survey summary of this new poll, conducted by Pew Research, states this:

In the United States, 39% of adults say they believe “we are living in the end times,” while 58% say they do not believe we are living in the end times, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.

It goes on to say: "Christians are divided on this question, with 47% saying we are living in the end times...Meanwhile, 49% of Christians say we are not living in the end times..."

The article also notes: "About three-in-ten or fewer people from non-Christian religions (29%) and those with no religious affiliation (23%) say we are living in the end times."

We are celebrating the First Advent of Jesus, and hundreds of Scriptures point to that occasion. And, we can anticipate His Second Advent, when He returns to earth - I believe that since the Scriptures have been totally reliable regarding His first coming that we can believe what He has said about His second. 

The Pew survey notes: "When asked if Jesus 'will return to Earth someday,' more than half of all U.S. adults (55%), including three-quarters of Christians, say this will happen."

Also, "One-in-ten Americans say they believe the second coming of Jesus will definitely or probably occur during their lifetime, 27% are not sure if Jesus will return in their lifetime, and 19% say the return of Jesus will definitely or probably not occur during their lifetime."

Our call until that time when Jesus will take us home to be with Him is to be faithful.  He has brought us into a relationship with Him through salvation, and He makes it possible for us to draw closer to Him, to fellowship with Him, to know Him better - not just to know the Scriptures, which is important, but to actually know Him!  

During this Advent season, we can celebrate His coming to the earth and His coming into our lives, bringing us salvation, and we can continue to have hope in His Second Advent, when He will return to this earth; but before that, He will come to receive His disciples unto Himself.  So, we can possess the anticipation that time when we will be saved from this earth - until then, we can enjoy His presence daily and serve Him wholeheartedly.

(ADVENT 14) Unwrapping Christmas: Confidence in Prayer

When we feel hopeless or helpless, when discouragement and despair set in, we can be reminded that we have a powerful Savior who walks with us and invites us to call upon Him. James chapter 5 contains these words:
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

The expectation of what God can do in response to our prayers can be highly motivational for us. We have to reject the tendency to explore other solutions and then perhaps to pray. It's been said that prayer should not be our last resort; when everything else fails. We can be confident when we go before the Lord, knowing that if we come to Him with the right posture, according to His Word, that we will see Him do incredible things.

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We now move on to another gift in our series, Unwrapping Christmas, part of "25: A Christmas Advent-ure," the annual Faith Radio Advent Guide.  Yesterday, we talked about how God has granted us access to the throne of God. Today, we concentrate on what we do when we get there. 

Today's gift is: confidence in prayer. 1st John chapter 5 states:
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Dedham, Massachusetts has gained some unwanted attention because of a decision by a public library not to continue the tradition of displaying a Christmas tree. The Christian Post reported:

Lisa Desmond, the library’s branch supervisor, wrote on Facebook Dec. 2 that the decision was made because some people “were made uncomfortable last year looking at it.”

Desmond wrote in her post that she was given “zero explanation” for the move: “When I asked, I was told ‘people’ were made uncomfortable last year looking at it. I’m sorry WHAT?”

Desmond has been at the library for almost 30 years and said she had never heard a negative comment about the tree; she also pointed out that the library has “celebrated and included everyone in our community..."

Well, everyone except those who celebrate Christmas, it seems.  The article goes on to say:

A few days later on Dec. 6, Desmond shared some comments made about her initial post from Diane Loud, who accused Desmond of putting “people’s lives in a lot of danger” by revealing the library’s decision about the Christmas tree.

The article says: "In her profanity-laced post, Loud also appeared to mock the beliefs of Christians, referring to God as a “magic sky daddy..." She said that Desmond "...who claim to believe in Christ and Christmas or whatever...you're trying to hide behind — are the least gracious, most hateful, most disgusting trash in the world." Loud, who is "listed as a member of Dedham’s Human Rights Commission," added, “Is this what you think your magic sky daddy wants? Where in the Bible was this again?”

The Christian Post article noted that the city issued a statement saying that the original post "has quickly evolved into a polarized environment and has led to the harassment and bullying of town employees...," and that the behavior "cannot be tolerated." 

And, the Washington Examiner reported on this, out of Philadelphia:

Philadelphia welcomed the Christmas season last week as the city held its annual tree lighting ceremony. The bells were jingling and the halls were decked, but the night was anything but silent as hundreds joyfully gathered to watch the city light up its Christmas tree. The event had nearly everything one would expect of a tree lighting ceremony except one essential thing — calling it a Christmas tree. Instead, Philadelphia city officials resorted to calling it a "holiday tree."

The article said this wasn't the first time the city of brotherly love had attempted to remove the name "Christmas" from a Christmas event - it tried to do the same thing with its Christmas Village, but after national ridicule, it recanted.

Today's Advent entry has to do with confidence in prayer - it is intended to be such a powerful aspect of our lives, but we have to ask if we are taking full advantage of it.  We can become angry or frustrated over our personal situations or what we see occurring in the world.  Sometimes we can feel helpless, but we can ask ourselves if we have prayed about any of it!

The Dedham city officials issued a statement about intolerable behavior that was set off by one employee's expression of concern about a Christmas tree in a library.  Seems they pinned the blame on the library supervisor - you have to admit that she may have been in the right regarding the tree, but perhaps could have handled the situation in another manner. 

For us, that's where prayer comes in - we can make it our goal to place prayer before proclamation. If we're speaking to others about delicate or potentially explosive situations before going to the Lord, we heighten the risk of missing a solution. If we're following Biblical instruction to speak the truth in love, we have to get God's heart on a matter.

We can be reminded to pray for those with whom you disagree.  I've heard it said that it's hard to be mad at someone for whom you're praying.  That doesn't mean we are not to be firm in our convictions, but we can do that in the right way.

It's easy to become discouraged about decisions made by leaders.  But, if we're not careful, we can be consumed by our disdain for what they are doing. The Scripture directs us to be in prayer for our leaders.  All of them; not just the ones we like. When we are dissatisfied with the direction of our governing authorities, that can motivate us to pray. 

We can always seek to build our confidence in Christ.  We build our faith through Scripture, and when we pray in accordance with God's Word, we can increase that sense of expectation of what God can do.   

(ADVENT 13) Unwrapping Christmas: Access to the Throne of God

The world would want to exclude us from its acceptance because we want to please God and to live according to His ways. Yet, we can know that we are accepted by Him and invites us to find His mercy and grace at His throne. 1st Thessalonians 2 states:
4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.
5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness--God is witness.
6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.

God does not accept any person based on his or her merits, but because of what Jesus has done by His death and resurrection. We do not approach Him in arrogance, but are called to go before Him with humility, with a heart that desires to know Him. We do not go before God to demand His grace, but to receive it. The invitation is open to all, but the mercy doesn't come because we think we deserve it - it's because of grace, because a loving God has chosen to give us what we don't deserve.

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We have been granted access to come before God, to approach His throne, to bring our offerings of worship and our requests for prayer.  That is the teaching we find in Hebrews chapter 4, and that is the gift that we are "unwrapping" today, Day 13 of "25: A Christmas Advent-ure," the Faith Radio Advent Guide, with the theme, Unwrapping Christmas. 

Hebrews 4:16 is our theme Scripture verse, and I want to lead into it and start at verse 14:
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Thankfully, because we accept Jesus, we can approach His throne, we can know His abiding presence, and we are free to exalt Him.  

Unfortunately, in Taylor, Texas, not to be confused with Tyler, Texas, there is an unfortunate case of Christians perhaps being rejected from a Christmas parade because, well, they wanted the content of said parade in this city outside of Austin to reflect family-friendly values consistent with the celebration of Christmas, not something else.

Over at GetReligion.org, Terry Mattingly dissected a Washington Post piece that reported on two parades that were held in Taylor recently.  The Post article said:

The trouble started at last year’s Christmas parade, when students from St. Mary’s Catholic School watched as two drag queens aboard the first Taylor Pride float danced and lip synced to Christmas carols beneath a glittering rainbow arch.

Afterward, a St. Mary’s priest complained to the Rev. Jeff Ripple, an evangelical pastor on the ministers’ alliance that ran the annual parade with the city. Ahead of this year’s parade, Ripple’s group changed the parade’s entry rules, requiring that floats must “not conflict with traditional and biblical family values.”

Mattingly points out:

The key is that Taylor officials decided to have an official Holiday parade — protected with police cars — and then there would be another parade for those religious people who struggle to embrace modern American life. This brings us to the summary material in this long, long, long story:

City officials settled on a compromise: Pastors could still have their Christmas Parade of Lights on Saturday, but instead of co-sponsoring it, the city would hold a second parade immediately afterward along the same Main Street route, the Very Merry Holiday Parade. It would be open to all.

This, of course, as the Post pointed out, created division and harsh rhetoric in the community. Mattingly says, sarcastically:

The key, of course, is that some Texans in this story believe in the true “spirit of Christmas” and some do not. It’s pretty clear who is who, based on the images and language used by the Post. At one point, the bad ministers even start talking about “sin” and, well, you know.

But, the LGBTQ group, Taylor Pride, wants to silence the ministers' group. The Post stated:

Denise Rodgers, president of Taylor Pride, said that while the group has received local support, she wished the city had pulled the ministers’ parade permit.

“Just the fact that they are allowed to have this exclusive parade on public property is already breaking the rules,” Rodgers said of the ministers’ group. “They have to choose a side. Because this has become a hate group. And we saw what happened with that … in Colorado.”

Oh, now, here we go - the tragic shooting in a gay nightclub in Colorado, where five people died. The shooter was apparently nonbinary, according to The Guardian, which said the suspect, "who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns according to defense court filings, was arrested at the club by police. They have not entered a plea or spoken about the events."  Unfortunately, this is another attempt to paint people who believe in a Biblical viewpoint on sexuality as being hostile and even violent toward those who embrace the gay lifestyle.  

So, the message of faith and hope found in the Bible has to be shut out in Taylor, Texas. The Daily Signal reported:

A small Texas city near Austin is about to vote on a policy that may prevent Christian groups from sponsoring Christmas parades, according to the conservative group Texas Values.

The policy, listed as Agenda Item #13 on the agenda for the Dec. 8, 2022, meeting of the city council in Taylor, Texas, stipulates what kind of groups can cosponsor events alongside the city. The guidelines require nonprofit organizations to allow people who identify as LGBT on their boards and in the document, the city reserves the right to reject sponsorships for a variety of reasons, including on the basis that organizations “represent religions or political views.”

The article notes that: "This would apparently exclude any conservative Christian, Jewish, or Muslim organization that requires board members or leaders to adhere to traditional codes of sexual ethics prohibiting sexual behavior between people of the same sex or prohibiting men from dressing or identifying as women." 

Jonathan Covey, director of policy at Texas Values, told the Daily Signal: “Bowing to radical ‘woke’ ideology seems out of place in a small town like Taylor where past parades have focused on Jesus’ birth,” adding, “People here celebrate Christ during Christmas and don’t want the city council to harm churches and people of faith by passing this SOGI [sexual orientation and gender identity policy]. All they want for Christmas is their constitutional right of religious freedom.”

So, it seems there is a group in this Texas town that want to marginalize Christianity in the public square.  Deny access to a sponsorship of an event that is an expression of the Christian faith.  This is the playbook - accept a Biblically-opposed lifestyle or face exclusion.  

The Bible teaches us that we are to please God rather than men. We have to make sure that we are distinctive in our viewpoints and continue to champion His truth.  

Thankfully, we know that God does not deny us. And, He does not deny anyone the opportunity to come to Him.  We can make sure our hearts are right - devoted to Biblical principles, but not closed or hostile to those who violate them. All of us have our areas of sin and we each have the human tendency to give in to temptation; but, we can receive forgiveness as we come to Him - He does not cut off our access to Him when we falter, but calls us to receive His mercy and grace. But, we have to be willing to humble ourselves in order to accept His invitation - and be willing to extend mercy and grace to those who walk in rebellion toward Him, just as He does. 

(ADVENT 12) Unwrapping Christmas: Unlimited Joy

It was a time of celebration in Jerusalem - the massive construction project, led by Nehemiah, to rebuild the walls of the city following a time of captivity, had been completed. So there was a worship service, including a time of reading from the Word. We can read in Nehemiah chapter 8:
8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.
10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

We can certainly derive joy as we observe and reflect on the work of God in our midst - within our hearts, as we are brought into and grow into a relationship with Christ and externally, beholding the evidence of the presence of God. The Bible teaches us in Psalm 16 that there is fullness of joy in His presence, and when we bring Him our despair and disappointment, He will meet us there and give us a sense of worship, adoration, and rejoicing.

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We are now into our third week of the Advent season and have arrived at Day 12 of the Faith Radio Advent Guide, "25: A Christmas Advent-ure."  This year's theme is Unwrapping Christmas, and before we move into today's gift, let's look back at what we've covered and discovered so far. 

The gift list already unwrapped as we approach the halfway point of our journey are: salvation, mercy, satisfaction, holiness and righteousness, excitement, and His presence.  Also, we have worship, eternal life, and unconditional love. 

Over the weekend, on Day 10, the gift was: the truth of God's Word. The accompanying Scripture was John 1:14, which says: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory."

Sunday was Day 11, and the gift was: peace with God, about which we're reminded in Romans 5:1, which states: "Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Today's gift is: unlimited joy.

There is a passage in Psalm 16 that contains today's corresponding Scripture verse - we can read, starting in verse 7:
7 I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

And, our theme Scripture for today's gift:
11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

In the Lord, there is much about which we can rejoice.  We can experience the joy of the Lord because we have been brought into a relationship with Him.  That joy, we're told in Nehemiah, is our strength. In Him, we can experience a sense of wonder and amazement, bringing confidence and as the Christmas carol says, "a thrill of hope."

We can rejoice when others come to know Him, as well. In Luke 15, we see an instance in which Jesus talks about finding that which is lost:
3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'
7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

He followed this up by sharing the parable of the woman who found a lost coin after looking for it diligently.

So, we can rejoice as we see God at work.  A recent MinistryWatch piece spotlighted the ministry of Youth for Christ and the harvest of souls it has seen.  The article says:

Youth For Christ USA released its 2021/2022 annual report, citing a huge spike in meaningful discipleship relationships between its staff and volunteers with youth. The ministry says more than 7,000 youth made informed decisions to follow Christ (a 99% increase from prior year), almost 5,500 youth were in a discipleship relationship (59% increase), and more than 2,400 shared their faith with peers (68% increase).

The Billy Graham Library website notes:

Billy Graham served as the first full-time evangelist of the Youth for Christ ministry in the mid-1940s. Torrey Johnson, the founder of Youth for Christ, called a young Graham to take over one of his radio programs in Chicago. At the time, Billy was serving as pastor of a small Baptist church in Western Springs, Illinois. After several months on the air, Johnson offered Billy Graham an even greater opportunity – to kick off the first night of “Chicagoland’s Youth for Christ” meetings and, eventually, become the first vice-president of Youth for Christ International.

On the Youth for Christ website, President and CEO Jake Bland is quoted as saying:

“I know that God is going to use YFC to bring revival to today’s kids. YFC is currently celebrating that twice as many kids made first time decisions to follow Jesus when compared to last year. God’s Spirit is moving through leaders everywhere across the nation, The Gospel is as needed and as effective as ever, especially as the unfailing love of Christ meets today’s changing youth landscape.

The YFC article notes: "The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that today’s youth are dealing with depression, anxiety and behavioral disorders in ways never seen before. Globally, one in seven 10 to 19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds."  

Bland says, "It’s no secret that there is a growing need among young people,” adding, “The U.S. Surgeon General recently declared youth mental health as a state of emergency. 20 years ago, the biggest issue for teens was drunk driving or teen pregnancy. These days, those kinds of issues have dropped dramatically, and youth mental health needs are rapidly rising."

But he also pointed to how the Gospel can help young people deal with these issues, saying: "YFC knows all the anxiety, fear, and worry in today’s society stems from a deep-rooted need for identity, purpose, belonging. This can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ and the abundant and the eternal life that He brings."

The movement of God can result in the momentum of joy. As I pointed out, seeing the work of God, and specifically in the work of evangelism, as people come to know Christ, that sets off a sense of rejoicing in heaven. And, here on earth, we can rejoice when people come into a saving knowledge of our Savior.  

Youth for Christ demonstrates how despair has become so prevalent among our young people.  But, we know that the joy of Christ and the knowledge of God can lift that despair.  When we are hurt or disappointed, we can turn to the Lord and experience the joy that comes through being in His presence. 

(ADVENT 9) Unwrapping Christmas: Unconditional Love

This is a season in which we can reflect on the hope of the gospel - that God loved us in our state of separation from Him because of our sins; He sent His Son, who gave His life, even though we were undeserving of His grace. Romans 5 reminds us:
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We can look to this world for our security, but it will disappoint us. The source of true security is found in Almighty God, who loved us and loves us so greatly. When we are discouraged or feel rejected, we can turn to the One who died for us, so that we, by dying to self and receiving Him, might know the greatest love there ever was and ever will be. We can be confident in God's love, and that can make our hearts secure and give us peace in our souls. 

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Today is December 9, the 9th day of our Faith Radio Advent Guide, "25: A Christmas Advent-ure." This year's theme is Unwrapping Christmas, concentrating on gifts that have been made available to us because God sent His Son, Jesus, to the world. Today's gift is unconditional love.

God has loved us unconditionally, even in our sinful state, in a place of separation from Him. But, we can also respond in love to Him and continue to love Him, even when He does not move in our lives the way we think He should. He also provides for us the capacity to love others without condition. 1st John chapter 3 gives us some insight:
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

The World Cup soccer tournament, bringing together teams literally from throughout the world, continues in Qatar, and even though the U.S. men's team made it into the Round of 16, it was eliminated in a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands.  The tournament is now into the Quarterfinals, the final 8, which continue through tomorrow.

In its first three games, the U.S. allowed one goal - to Wales in a penalty situation, according to a Movieguide article which featured center back Walker Zimmerman. The article noted:

When he learned the news of his starting role on the U.S. team, Zimmerman thanked God.

“A lifelong dream come true. Praising God for this opportunity. Here we gooo!” he wrote.

On a Sports Spectrum podcast recently, he said: "From a very early age, I think I had a very strong understanding of not only having morals and what it’s like to love other people, but also it created a foundation for me spiritually, where I think my faith has played a huge role in kind of my development over the years..."

The Sports Spectrum website states:

Zimmerman became a father in June 2021, which he said has given him a greater appreciation for the love his Heavenly Father has shown him.

“Really, it’s about finding the patience and learning about how sacrificial God’s love is for us through my love for my son,” Zimmerman said on the podcast. “It really kind of changes the picture for me and helps you realize actually what a great sacrifice Jesus was on the cross when you think about God giving His only Son for us.”

Walker Zimmerman is an example of recognizing the unconditional love; that love that 1st John 3 tells us has made it possible for us to be children of God.  And, his understanding of that concept has been enhanced through the birth of his own son.  Sports Spectrum noted that Walker is the son of a pastor, so I would say that he was raised with a strong Christian foundation, which contributed, as he said to knowing, "what it's like to love other people..."

When we recognize and receive the Father's love, it can give us confidence and a sense of belonging. We can know to whom we belong, and as we come to know Him and grow in His love, we can reflect that in the way we relate to the people around us. 

And, as a parent, as Walker noted, you can see a living manifestation of that unconditional love that God has for us - He has blessed us with children, the Bible says they are gifts from God, and we can develop in God's love as we love and nurture them - it's a great picture for us.

Finally, when we think about God's unconditional love, I think we have to reject the enemy's deception.  He would like to whisper in our minds that because we mess up, we miss the mark, that God won't love us anymore - he breeds insecurity in our hearts and minds about God's great love. But, we can remember that God loves us without condition and that love will not stop even when we don't obey Him.  Throughout the Old Testament, even though Israel was chided for their rebellion, God didn't stop loving them - in fact, He kept telling them that the Messiah was coming to bring reconciliation. We can hold on to God's love even when we are discouraged.