Pentecost Sunday! What else would you come to expect from God who so loved the world?

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And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:16-17 (NLT)

One of the harder words to tell anybody is goodbye but telling someone you love goodbye can be gut-wrenching.  You say the words and you feel the emotions and grief deep down, even if the goodbye will be short-lived. I still feel the emotions of that morning in January 1983 when we said our goodbyes to family and friends at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, walking down the breezeway knowing it would be almost five years before we would see everyone again. We had done our best to get ready for this day but when the moment came, all the preparation seemed to disappear and the tears came.

I could tell my aging parents that we would come back but I knew the separation would hurt. We would write regularly and keep them informed. We would pray for them daily. We would even send pictures of where we would be living. It wouldn’t be the same as being physically present but it would provide encouragement and comfort until we returned.

Jesus knew his departure was coming soon so he started preparing his followers for his goodbye. The Gospel of John records various exchanges between Jesus and his disciples about his role, their role, and the life ahead. Confusion, fear, doubt, and uncertainty marked the tone of his disciples. How could Jesus leave them? What will happen to them? Jesus gave them a promise that they wouldn’t be left behind.

Similar to a mother who reassures her little boy that she will come back for him, Jesus reassures His followers. “No, I will not abandon you as orphans.”  In all their confusion, knowing Jesus wouldn’t leave them made all the difference. Yes, the little boy left in the nursery doesn’t know when his mother will come back but even amid his tears, he believes she will come back for him.

How great the words must have been to the disciples when Jesus said, “I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.” –John 14:25-27 (The Message)

The days have passed quickly for the disciples since they watched Jesus’ death on the cross and then experienced the life-changing event of His resurrection. Lots of things have happened during these days since Jesus’ resurrection. Now the day came when they would hear Jesus tell them goodbye.

Over the years we have witnessed a lot of goodbyes at the airport – watched lots of airplanes taxi out to the runway for departure, stood at the window watching until the plane is no longer in sight. The disciples heard Jesus as he departed, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…”—Acts 1:8a They had no clue as to what all this meant yet. What kind of power? They would be witnesses at home and to the ends of the earth. Sounds incredible!

Yesterday marked Pentecost Sunday commemorating and celebrating the promise Jesus gave to his disciples and us.  It was a day that empowered a ragtag bunch of men and women to become the church that would change the world.

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” –Acts 2:1-4,12

Pentecost Sunday reminds us that God is true to His Word. The day reminds us that nothing escapes His attention. At the end of their Pentecost Sunday, this little band of disciples who had been afraid of their shadows just a few days before now spoke with boldness and power.

The account in Acts 2 gives a list of the nations and peoples who experienced Pentecost firsthand. On that day they came to hear the Gospel in their heart language and 3,000 or so persons were added as followers of Jesus.  This first encounter birthed the unstoppable movement of God that is moving towards the day when Revelation 7:9 is fulfilled. “After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.”

Pentecost Sunday! What else would you come to expect from God who so loved the world?

God is great!

Memorial Day reflections

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And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. –Revelation 21:23-27

 

 “From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!”

 

Strange sounding words from this old Scottish prayer. Yet it captures the long-held fear of the unknown. Throughout history, the night has been terrifying and unnerving as we waited for the morning dawn. The prayer ends with our need to seek God’s protection. It is in the darkness that we are reminded of our vulnerability and our dependence upon God.

Physically we hear the bumps in the night but we also hear them spiritually. With the advent of electricity and technological advances in the last few decades, the world is now flooded with light and 24-7 noise. We can now hide the physical darkness with artificial light, extending our day into the night. We extend the hours of light in hopes we can reduce the vulnerability that we feel in the dark. However, much in the same way as we try to hide the physical darkness, we attempt to hide our spiritual darkness with superficial light. Trish Harrison Warren writes. “Instead of sitting in the discomfort of vulnerability, we run to alcohol, work, social media, movies, entertainment, even political debate.”

In our need to keep away from things that go bump in the night, we do everything humanly possible to secure our surroundings and ourselves. Since 9/11, the United States has spent $7.6 Trillion on defense and homeland security seeking security. The increase in violence has caused projected revenue in the security segment to reach $5.82 billion in 2022.

The Psalmist writes in Psalm 77, “When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help.” Through the course of the night, as he prays and seeks God, the Psalmist comes to the realization, “But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember…” At this point, he can finally move from the darkness to the light proclaiming, “O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?

We will never find in our artificial spiritual light what gives meaning to our souls. Only in the pure light that radiates from Jesus will we find the light to walk without fear, face the unknown and rest in his presence.

“Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.” (The Book of Common Prayer)

Memorial Day can be a beautiful time to meditate upon the hope of God’s Kingdom. Yes, there will come a day when the darkness is finally gone.  A time when the gates of the city are kept open and no evil will be in the city. No longer will we face the dark waiting for morning. For now, we rest in the calm assurance that, “The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.” (Psalm 121:5)

Shortly after the Civil War, the deadliest conflict in our nation’s history, a time of remembrance was set aside to commemorate the lives of Americans killed in battle.  Since the revolutionary war, over 1.3 million men and women have died in war and armed conflicts. On this Memorial Day, we remember those who died fighting against darkness.

Take time this Memorial Day to reflect and give honor for the lives of young men and women who never made it home. Memorial Day was created to honor those killed in war. However, it can also be a day to stop and use as a time of deep reflection in these times of darkness.

Reflect and give honor:

  • As we mourn the loss of 19 beautiful innocent children and their teachers who fell victim to the demonic actions of a young man.
  • As we grieve the senseless violence that has spread across this nation creating chaos and pain.
  • As we pray for the peoples of Ukraine and Afghanistan who are victims of tyranny and injustice.
  • As we lament the spiritual condition of our souls and seek the fresh touch of God in our lives.

Father, we honor those who sacrificed their lives in battles for freedom and peace. We pray for families who gave up their sons and daughters as they never returned home. Today we mourn the death of innocent children who simply went to school, shoppers who simply went to the store to buy groceries, for worshippers who simply went to church. We know life is not simple and we desperately cry out to you for help. Would you awaken our nation and ourselves to your presence to receive your gift of salvation and hope? We long for the day when the city gates are open, when there is no darkness and no evil is allowed to enter the city.  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

God is great

 

Tell the Next Generation

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After the plague the LORD said to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, “Take a census of the whole congregation of the Israelites, from twenty years old and upward, by their ancestral house, everyone in Israel able to go to war.  Numbers 26:1-2

Florida State University legendary coach Bobby Bowden died last year. Bowden’s football record and accomplishments were truly impressive.  One of these was being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Yet his football accomplishments paled in comparison to his spiritual legacy. Bowden’s son, Tommy said of his father that he “coached until age 80 because the high-profile profession offered so many opportunities to share Jesus with others. He wanted to coach as long as he could to advance the kingdom of God and that his dad wanted to take as many people as he can to heaven with him.”

His football fame will become interesting statistics but his spiritual impact will last for eternity. Bowden once said, “Faith allowed me to stay focused on things within my power while leaving the rest of it in God’s hands.” The most important parts of Bowden’s past continue to impact the future.

 

“Close to you I waken in the dead of night, and start with fear-

are you lost to me once more? Is it always vainly that I seek you,

you, my past?

I stretch my hands out, And I pray- and a new thing now I hear:

The past will come to you once more, and be your life’s enduring part,

through thanks and repentance. Feel in the past God’s forgiveness and goodness,

Pray him to keep you today and tomorrow.”

 

These are the words from the last stanza of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s poem, The Past. Our past is really forever since our tomorrow will soon be our past. Our past is both the ordinary and spectacular events that makeup life and yet, the richest part of our past is the people who intersected with us in life. They are the individuals who shaped us, taught us, loved us, and occasionally hurt us. We remember events most often because of the people who shared that moment of time with us.

Bonhoeffer’s understanding of the past as reflected in his poem most likely formed his understanding of the importance of connecting the spiritual generations together. Writing from his Tegel prison cell to his nephew at his baptism, Bonhoeffer said:

“You are the first of a new generation in our family, and therefore the oldest representative of your generation. You will have the priceless advantage of spending a good part of your life with the third and fourth generations that went before you. Your great-grandfather will be able to tell you, from his own personal memories, of people who were born in the eighteenth century; and one day, long after the year 2000, you will be the living bridge over which your descendants will get an oral tradition of more than 250 years.”

Moses had walked faithfully with God through the wilderness leading the nation of Israel. God commanded Moses to count the people by their family heritage. The census became a family tree for those getting ready to enter the promised land, a record of faith that has been passed down from one generation to the next. It was a past that was not always glorious, but a past that linked each generation to the next.

Biological family trees are critical in reflecting our connection to life. However, maybe just as important is the richness of one’s faith family tree. Our spiritual family creates a unique bond that establishes generations together in ways our biological family is unable to do.  Our faith family trees often include many of our biological family members and many others such as school teachers, neighbors and Sunday school teachers.  These relationships add much depth and richness to life. “To be deeply rooted in the soil of the past makes life harder, but it also makes it richer and more vigorous.” (Bonhoeffer)

Who makes up your faith family? What relationships, writers, artists or places have shaped your ways of believing and worshipping? Try the following exercise during a personal spiritual retreat. Create a faith family tree of spiritual influencers in your life by drawing yourself at its base. Then on the branches and trunk nearest you, write the names of those most directly engaged in your spiritual journey. As you move away from the base, place names or descriptions of other influences on your spiritual life.

Allow this exercise to become holy ground for you as you pray and reflect upon those who God has used to water and shape your tree of faith.  Pray over each name, place, or event that shaped you as a gift of gratitude. In this personal retreat experience, let it become a precious and moving time of worship.

“Take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children.” Deuteronomy 4:9

God is great,

Walking Billboards for Jesus

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The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. Leviticus 19:1-2

Leviticus – the third book in the Bible, that many try to speed read on their way through their “Read the Bible in a year” plan. However, if and when we slow down in our reading we realize that “Be holy, for I am Holy” is at the heart of Leviticus. We come face to face with the holiness of God.  If your church still has hymnals, pick up one and let the words of this great hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy” speak to your heart in a new and fresh way.

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee:

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Leviticus is not normally read as good news and most certainly not in the context of how the world now determines what is a modern, culturally acceptable worldview. However, J. A. Motyer looks at Leviticus differently. He writes, “Leviticus is good news. It is good news for sinners who seek pardon, for priests who need empowering, for women who are vulnerable, for the unclean who covet cleansing, for the poor who yearn for freedom, for the marginalized who seek dignity, for animals that demand protection, for families that require strengthening, for communities that want fortifying and for creation that stands in need of care. All these issues, and more, are addressed in a positive way in Leviticus.”

Spend some time meditating upon chapters 18 and 19 in Leviticus. Try reading these verses as one who seeks God, treating life as holy, and allowing God to have control of your life. At the heart of each requirement is the holiness of God in the life of his people, a people set apart from the world. Culture no longer determines the standards, only God does.

As you read these two chapters, mentally or literally, create two columns. At the top of the columns, title one “God’s values” and the other “Human Values.”  It doesn’t take long to realize God’s values and human values are worlds apart.

Augustine wrote that “The LORD himself not only shows us the evil we are to avoid and the good we are to do (which is all that the letter of the law can do) but also helps us to avoid evil and to do good things that are impossible without the spirit of grace. If grace is lacking, the law is there simply to make culprits and to slay; for this reason, the Apostle said; “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6)”

Unfortunately, chapters 18 and 19 are not a Golden Corral buffet of principles. We don’t get to go through the line choosing what we like and leaving out the others. It can be so easy to pick a verse and sling it at someone, yet at the same time avoid verses we would prefer to overlook. The problem is that God didn’t give us a choice. Each requirement interlocks with each other forming a strong family, church, community, and culture.

Leviticus’ requirements set a people apart from the other nations. Jesus would take the law and empower it with grace. “Christ came provided with the Holy Spirit after a peculiar manner…that he might separate us from the world, and unite us in the hope of an eternal inheritance.”—John Calvin

Living a life set apart from the world requires God’s grace. Our focus shifts from the world to God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote that “Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God.”

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis won the NFL 2021 Bart Starr Award for outstanding character, integrity, and leadership on and off the field. His wife, Tamela told the Christian Post, “Our primary mission has always been to be a walking billboard for Christ, so that others may be able to see and encounter Him through us and our experiences.”

Undoubtedly, Leviticus is a challenging book with some difficult passages, yet what a difference when our heartbeat is that of being holy. Take some time in prayer and reflect on where you are in light of God’s values. What will it take to restore and empower you to live a life set apart for God? Thomas Kelly wrote, “It is said of St. Francis not merely that he prayed, but that he became a prayer.”

Maybe in a world that is growing indifferent to God’s message, the best way we can reflect a different image is to become “walking billboards for Christ,” or as Jesus said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” –Matthew 16:24

God is great!

Celebrating the Fourth Week of Advent – The Angel Candle – Peace

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Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14

Peace and goodwill – the seemingly ever-elusive state that the world seeks, but never quite achieves. Lots of options are offered every day but only one source of peace will endure forever. Peace is not found in activities, methods or materials, but in a person. Peace marks the fourth week of Advent.

Merriam-Webster defines peace in very good technical terms as “a state of tranquility or quiet. Freedom from civil disturbance. A pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity offered the possibility of a negotiated peace.”

Yet why is peace so elusive?

The Institute for Economics and Peace released their annual Global Peace Index for 2021 report showing that the level of global peacefulness deteriorated again this year. It is the 9th deterioration in peacefulness in the last 13 years. Based on 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators measured across three domains of societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and degree of militarization. Iceland remains the most peaceful country, with Afghanistan coming last and The United States ranking 122 out of 163 nations.

For American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, peace seemed such a distant memory as he sat in the medical tent holding the wounded body of his oldest son, Charles following a battle during the American Civil War. The pain of his son stirred the pain within himself as he still grieved the death of his beloved wife. It was in this moment of despair that Longfellow heard the church bells tolling in the background for Christmas day. How can there be peace? Longfellow began to capture his thoughts in the poem “Christmas Bells.”

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

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

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

Peace will always be elusive if we look for it in world power, politics, and earthly wealth. Jesus gives the only valid answer to the question, yet why is peace so elusive? “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

External surroundings no longer define inner peace because of the birth of Jesus. Over the decades since Longfellow captured the words to his poem, hundreds of wars have raged, civil unrest has erupted within nations, economic disasters, and personal tragedies. Yet the truth of that night in Bethlehem still echoes power and hope for us today. Jesus – The Prince of Peace!

God allowed the ringing bells to awaken Longfellow out of his hopelessness. His poem has inspired many songwriters since that Christmas morning to adapt the poem to music, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. Yes, the struggles you face are real, the challenges seem overwhelming. Yet may you hear again the bells on Christmas morning that Jesus came to offer life and peace for you this day!

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 NLT

God is great,

 

Celebrating the third week of Advent: The Shepherd Candle – Joy

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And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the LORD appeared to them, and the glory of the LORD shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the LORD. Luke 2:8-11

One of the most beloved and famous of our Christmas carols, “Joy to the World” didn’t start as a song, especially not a Christmas carol. Isaac Watts published a book of poems based upon the Psalms. “Joy to the World” was an adaptation of Psalm 98 as Watts interpreted the psalm as a celebration of Jesus.

               Joy to the world! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King…

               Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ….

               No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground….

               He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove…

Joy to the world became a reality for a group of shepherds working in the cold, dark night of Bethlehem’s fields. These men probably wouldn’t rank high on the social and influencer scenes of their day, yet these lowly shepherds experienced what the sheep owner may never have experienced: joy.

These nameless shepherds may not have had warm beds to crawl into that night, they didn’t have a cozy house to eat dinner in that night, nor did they have job security if raiders stole their sheep.  However, they had something far greater, they had a life-changing encounter with the Christ-child. Their status in life didn’t change, but their hearts and lives were forever and dramatically changed. They experienced the joy that superseded any expectation of happiness.

As the previous week’s Hope and Faith Advent candles burn, this week the Joy Advent candle is lit. A candle reflecting the anticipated joy of the coming Messiah. According to the most recent United Nations “World Happiness Report,” The United States ranks number 19 among the world’s nations in terms of happiness. The report is based upon external things that supposedly make a person happy.

This week’s advent candle doesn’t celebrate happiness but something far more profound: joy. Though people often interchange the terms, in reality, they are a world apart.  “Things” may seem to make you happy but will never bring you joy. However, on the flip side, the lack of “things” never impacts one’s joy.  Barbara Johnson shares the story about a man on her bus who understood the reality of joy.

“The day started out rotten. I overslept and was late for work. Everything that happened at the office contributed to my nervous frenzy. By the time I reached the bus stop for my homeward trip, my stomach was one big knot.

As usual, the bus was late—and jammed. I had to stand in the aisle. As the lurching vehicle pulled me in all directions, my gloom deepened.

Then I heard a deep voice from upfront boom, “Beautiful day, isn’t it?” Because of the crowd, I could not see the man, but I could hear him as he continued to comment on the spring scenery, calling attention to each approaching landmark. This church. That park. This cemetery. That firehouse. Soon all the passengers were gazing out the windows. The man’s enthusiasm was so contagious I found myself smiling for the first time that day. We reached my stop. Maneuvering toward the door, I got a look at our “guide”: a plump figure with a black beard, wearing dark glasses, and carrying a thin white cane.”

I doubt if the shepherds ever experienced what the world considers wealth. What I do know is that they experienced the greatest treasure of all time—Jesus.  The shepherds left the stable that night transformed.  “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:17-18,20)

Happiness may or may not be found in brightly wrapped presents under the Christmas tree. Maybe the size is all wrong or the color is not what you wanted or what you wanted is still on a ship in the middle of the harbor. Whatever the gift, it will be temporary.

Joy will be found this Christmas and every Christmas after when you receive the gift of Jesus. A gift that never grows old, wears out, or becomes outdated. It is a gift that is new every day, a gift that is eternal.

Joy to the world! Jesus, the true joy of Christmas.

God is great,

Second Week of Advent – The Bethlehem Candle – Faith or Preparation

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Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The LORD has spoken!” Isaiah 40:3-5 NLT

A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the LORD. Matthew 3:3

“The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

These words of Bonhoeffer resonate well as we move into week two of this season of Advent. 2021 has been a chaotic year in so many ways, filled with every conceivable emotion. Most of us have at one point or another been “troubled in soul.” Out of the anxiety of the year, we can light the second candle symbolizing faith or preparation.

Throughout the generations, the nation of Israel had been holding onto the promise of God that He would bring comfort to the people. The same is true for us today as we celebrate the coming of Jesus with the anticipation of His return. “Advent reminds us that Christian hope is shaped by what has happened and what’s going to happen again.” Jay Y. Kim

I didn’t grow up in a church tradition that emphasized the practice of Advent. Only in recent years have I come to appreciate the beauty and celebratory nature of Advent. You will never control the excitement of children on Christmas morning. In much the same way, Advent prepares our hearts for that same uncontrollable excitement.

During this advent season of waiting and looking, you quickly realize that faith has a preparatory element to it. The lighting of the second candle is often called the Bethlehem or faith candle. “Bethlehem is a story about a humble couple on an unwanted journey, at an inconvenient time, to visit a tiny insignificant town.” – BJ Lawson

Joseph and Mary prepared to leave for Bethlehem to register for the government-mandated census. However, preparation for this birth had been made centuries before when Micah wrote, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (5:2)

Isaiah had told of the preparation God was making to come to a people that were exiled in a broken and parched wilderness. God’s redemption would “make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” God would come as a shepherd feeding, leading and caring for the weary flock.

Joseph and Mary loaded the donkey and set off for Bethlehem fueled by faith that was based upon a promise. Over the rugged terrain, they made the journey based upon the promise of God.  They only had a small glimpse of what this journey would mean to them, to the nation and ultimately to every generation to follow.

One of faith’s dictionary definitions is “Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.” Advent reminds us that our faith is based upon the faithfulness of God to keep his promises. Over the ages, God had promised a Savior and He kept that promise.

The story is shared of a Southeast Asia village experiencing Advent tangibly in the International Mission Board’s Week of Prayer guide. “When a woman called “Momma” heard Bible stories, she told her family, “There might be something to this Living God.” Momma has seen miraculous answers to prayer that have led her and others to the Lord. One miracle involved the family’s valuable pig. One day Momma’s daughter came with the disastrous news that their pig had died. In this area, a pig can be sold for the equivalent of two or three months of income.

Momma marched down to the pigpen where this crowd had gathered from the village. She just crawled into the pigpen and got down on her knees and said, ‘God, if You’re real, then show these people that You’re real.’ And while she was praying, the dead pig stood up.”

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in the dark street shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

Advent answers the question, “God, if You’re real, then show these people that You’re real.”

God is great,

Words – Use Wisely

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Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. — Colossians 4:2-6

 

I can’t believe he said that to me! Did you hear what she just said? I finally got word they were OK.

Every day roughly 16,000 words are spoken according to a University of Arizona study with no discernable difference between the number that men or women speak. That’s a lot of words! Words that encourage and words that deflate. Words that bless and words that curse. Words to give information and words to bring comfort.

Thankfully you are no longer limited to the approximately 470,000 words in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, they just added 455 new words and definitions in October. Language continually evolves, adding new words almost daily. Surely with this number of choices, you can find a word that is appropriate for the occasion.

Men no longer have a slight belly, they now have a ‘dad bod.’ You can now be a ‘digital nomad’ if you normally work over the internet while traveling. You no longer have to settle for a simple sandwich, you can have a ‘fluffernutter, horchata, chicharron, or Goetta.’ It shouldn’t come as a surprise but “Vax” is Oxford Languages’ word of the year.

No one can escape the word saturated culture we live in today. According to recent statistics, the average time Americans spend on mobile devices is three hours and 54 minutes a day. You can add to this number another three hours and 22 minutes for TV watching. This climate of word saturation can set a pattern of use that no longer encourages us or honors God. Christine Wang writes, “as a society, we like to swear. Swear words have a strange power over us. It starts when we are young when they are deliciously taboo. Then, as we age, our dependence on swear words increases to the point where as an adult, we find that the magnitude of our emotions can only be captured by cursing.”

In this vast reservoir of words to draw from, what do you do with your words? We could use the newest, trendy words. Or we could use the good, old-fashioned curse words.  Whatever, or however, we use our words, “Words have power. With your words you can wound and weaken the people who matter most in your life, such as your colleagues and subordinates, your family members and friends, your neighbors near and far. Or you can use your words to bless those who are close to you, to build them up, encourage, and energize them.” — Mark Roberts

Without a doubt, we need new words to describe our ever-expanding world of language. I guess the world is better off now that the words “blank check company, a doorbell camera, air fryer, ghost kitchen, halotherapy” have found their way into the Merriam-Webster list of words.

Most likely the trendy words of today will be out of vogue with the next generation. However, Jesus offers words that this generation and the next and the next will need long after the air fryer goes to the dump. “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” –John 6:63

Jesus knew a few things about words since he is the ultimate Word. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14

Words do have power, use your 16,000 words today with grace and wisdom. Our world is greatly in need of words that give life. Words that give hope. Words that glorify God. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” — Psalm 19:14

 

God is great,

Yes, God does forget

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…. for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. Jeremiah 31:34

No game safari would be complete without at least one encounter with elephants. The massive African elephant and the slightly smaller Asian elephant enjoy the distinction of being the largest land mammals on earth with life spans that can reach 70 years. These gentle yet powerful creatures move about the land gracefully and majestically. The beautiful creatures also have a remarkable memory that gives us the saying, “An elephant never forgets.” According to a 7-year Kenya study, the matriarch passes her knowledge on to other members of the herd. Additional studies revealed that as an elephant ages, its memory improves.

I’m sure San Francisco resident Stefan Thomas would have welcomed an elephantine memory when he couldn’t remember the password to access a secure hard drive that contained 7,002 bitcoins valued at approximately $220 million. Forgetfulness is a common problem with 39% of Americans having forgotten or misplaced at least one everyday item in the past week according to a Trending Machine national poll.

We are not surprised when we forget things but what about God? How could God, who is omniscient, forget anything? How could God who created all things, forget anything? How could God who knows our inner thoughts, forget anything?

It is no surprise that God forgives us of our sins. Scripture tells us that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9).

We can have confidence that God forgives but forgets? When it comes to our sins, God has total amnesia. “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Hebrews 10:17. “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.” Isaiah 43:25(NLT) “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12

It is amazing to think that God chooses to forget. In that moment of forgiveness, God also chooses to forget. God chooses not to keep bringing up our past. God chooses not to throw our mistakes and failures back into our faces. God chooses to maintain a relationship with us that is new and fresh each day.

Unfortunately, the one who can’t forget is yourself. Knowing we are forgiven doesn’t seem to be quite enough. We choose to carry the baggage of our past until the weight breaks us from enjoying the beauty of forgiveness. Yes, you will remember but “remember your sin redemptively.”

“We are not capable of forgetting. The memory of a difficult event will always be with us. But we can choose to remember in a redemptive manner. We can remember the event as a time of real pain but also as a testimony of God’s forgiveness and grace. We will always remember our mistakes, but we can also remember that they led to healing.” (James Bryan Smith)

Could it be that Peter stood at the water’s edge reflecting on how Jesus pulled him from the waters of his fear? Could it be the woman caught in adultery walked by the temple spot of her condemnation reflecting on Jesus’ words of grace and healing? Could it be that Paul again walked the road to Damascus but remembered the gift of salvation he received?

Could it be now as you look back you remember “that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Cor 5:17NLT)

God is great,

Until the End

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The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke.

Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I; send me!” Isaiah 6:4-5,8

“Send me” is the only response Isaiah can make. In this moment of complete surrender, Isaiah said he would go. In this moment of total worship, Isaiah knew he had to say yes. In this moment of overwhelming emotion of his own sinfulness, Isaiah said yes.

If you had been standing there, would you have said yes, “send me”?

The call of God hasn’t changed over the generations. He still calls us to go into this world that needs Him. We may be called to the marketplace where we encounter the lost. For some of us the call is to the ends of the world, to other cultures and people groups. Granted the call for most people will never be quite as dramatic as it was for Moses, David, Peter, Paul or Isaiah but the impact will still be Kingdom changing.

Sitting in the Regal Cinema watching the Mission Aviation Fellowship documentary “Ends of the Earth,” I couldn’t help but think, God is still asking the same question, “who will go?”  “It’s a mysterious part of the gospel that says God loves the people at the very edge of what the world thinks matters, the people who are marginalized. You know, even among Christians there’s a kind of calculation about return on investment (ROI) and “bang for our buck.” You hear this with mission work too. But we can’t really approach this from an ROI perspective. The gospel is costly. Jesus comes and he gives his life so we can have life. And he’s the shepherd who goes after the one lost sheep.” David Holsten, Pres MAF

The gospel is costly in so many ways. It puts you in the crosshairs of our secular culture. The cost will require you to sacrifice time and energy. For some such as MAF pilot, Joyce Lin who was killed in a plane crash in Papua, Indonesia. Her yes to “send me” cost her life. In Haiti this week, 17 missionaries were kidnapped. Their yes to “send me” is a loss of freedom and maybe worst.

Your yes to “send me” will cost you. Will the cost be worth it?  Isaiah doesn’t ask what he will suffer, his only question, “How long, O Lord?” God’s answer: forever. Isaiah doesn’t think, he simply says, “send me”. Frederick Buechner writes, “And that is what a prophet does for a living and, starting from the year that King Uzziah died, when he saw and heard all these things, Isaiah went and did it.”

A young coal miner from Iowa said yes to God’s call. George Bennard became an itinerant missionary and preacher. When he was interrupted and harassed in a service by those mocking the cross, it caused Bennard to think deeply about Christ and the Cross. As he meditated on the meaning of the cross, six initial words “I’ll cherish the old rugged cross” birthed the hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross.”

Our yes to “send me” will cost us something. Our yes to “send me” will look different from anyone else’s yes. Yet in the end, our yes will be worth it. The words from the final verse of Bennard’s hymn says it well:

“To the old rugged cross I will ever be true; its shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away, Where His glory forever I’ll share.

 So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown.”

Use me Lord to the end. Let others see you in me. Give me eyes to see, ears to hear your call in my life. Fall fresh on me. Fall fresh on me. Amen

God is great,