The Real History of Halloween

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10 ESV). Halloween, or “All Hallows Eve,” is known for much more important events than trick-or-treating. This was the day when with a hammer in one hand and a large scroll under his arm, Martin Luther approached the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, paused to take a couple of nails from a pouch hidden in the folds of his dark woolen habit and then began pounding his 95 theses to the church’s heavy wooden doors. This act changed the course of human history and the way we practiced Christianity forever. Luther’s protest was not against ghosts and goblins or children dressing up to trick-or-treat. He chose All Hallow’s Eve because it was the night before All Saints’ Day, a day when most of Wittenberg’s inhabitants would be in church. It was good advertising. This was not the United States of America where freedom of speech is protected as a Constitutional right. The Catholic Church was the supreme authority in the land: those who went against the Church did so at the peril of their lives. As Luther studied Scripture, his eyes were opened to a new concept: the concept of God’s grace. Passion burned inside him as he read verses like our reading today. The established Church in Luther’s day misled people into thinking they could be saved by their own works through pilgrimages, confessions and by purchasing indulgences, which were basically “get out of hell free” cards. It became clear to Luther that men could not purchase God’s grace: it was freely given. This conviction led him to write out 95 main points of contention with the Catholic Church, his “theses,” which he ended up nailing to the door of the church in Wittenberg. Today many Christians debate the proper stance to take toward Halloween. Some believe that the holiday glorifies witchcraft and evil, while others see it simply as innocent fun. One of Satan’s most successful tactics is to incite Christians to fight each other on matters of doctrine. Perhaps we would do better this year to focus on what is most important to God, just like Martin Luther did on that fateful day in history. Luther was determined. He was passionate. He was willing to sacrifice his credentials, social status, even his life for the sake of sharing the news about God’s saving grace.

A Spooky Night

How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire? Remember how short my time is! For what vanity you have created all the children of man! What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? (Psalm 89:46-48 ESV).

We are almost to Halloween, 2016. It is a time of the year when it seems there are images of terror on every hand. According to USA Today reports of clowns haunting more than 20 states have people on edge. And, the reports keep coming. Recently, a Philadelphia school district reported that police were investigating threats made by creepy clowns on social media. Likewise, the Spring Independent School District in Texas issued a security statement due to new clown threat hoaxes made online. There are many people who are genuinely concerned for their safety. And, while that concern and wisdom for you safety is well placed, the truth is that none of us are going to get out of this life alive! I love the story that Peter Marshall used to tell of the legend of the merchant of Baghdad who sent his servant to the market in the ancient Middle Eastern city. The servant returned, pale and trembling, and the merchant asked him what was wrong. The servant told him he bumped into someone, looked up, and saw Death in a dark hooded robe pointing at him. He asked the merchant, “Please let me borrow your horse so I can flee to Samara where he can’t find me.” The merchant agreed. Later that day, the merchant went to the crowded market and saw Death standing to the side, and he asked, “Why did you frighten my servant?” Death responded, “I was only shocked to see him in Baghdad, for tonight I have an appointment with him in Samaria.” We all have a rendezvous with death. For every life, there is death. The statistics on death are 100%. There should be wisdom and caution in life; however, there is no need to fear death. The fear of death is removed by faith in Christ. With faith, we can concentrate on living this life to the fullest. I have developed a third personal proverb over the years: I will do all I can to live as long as I can live; however, I cannot wait to die. That may sound a bit morbid, or spooky to you at first read; however, it is the expression of the thought from the Apostle Paul as he reminded the Philippians: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. (Philippians 1:21-24 ESV). That belief takes the “spooky” out of life completely!

It's Still Empty!

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. (John 20:1-9 ESV).

A friend of mine recently sent me a link to an article describing the excavation of the Tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. This photo was taken October 26th and shows the moment workers remove the top marble layer of the tomb. According to the Associated Press, a restoration team peeled away a marble layer for the first time in centuries in an effort to reach what it believes is the original rock surface where Jesus' body was laid. Many historians have long believed that the original cave, identified a few centuries after Jesus' death as his tomb, was obliterated ages ago. But an archaeologist accompanying the restoration team said ground penetrating radar tests determined that cave walls are in fact standing — at a height of six feet and connected to bedrock — behind the marbled panels of the chamber at the center of Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre. "What was found," said National Geographic archaeologist Fredrik Hiebert, "is astonishing." (Dusan Vranic/National Geographic via AP) (The Associated Press). So, I’m going to be very brief. The astonishing thing they have found is nothing. And, the more they dig, the more nothing they will find. That tomb has been empty for almost two thousand years! I know we don’t really celebrate the resurrection as we could. That message is usually reserved for the spring of the year at Easter. However, it is the fundamental basis for all of our hope. We have nothing but a hope-so, maybe-so kind of faith without Jesus’ resurrection. The empty tomb gives us all we need to persevere. even under the greatest challenges of life. Just as Jesus did not end his life with his earthly death, nor will we. Death is merely the change from the encumbrance of mortality to the freedom of eternal life. Whatever you may be experiencing today, rest in that kind of hope. He is not there!

Cross-country Running

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25-30 ESV).

This year my granddaughter, Faith, ran cross country. While you would think that the courses would be flat and relatively unchallenging in Texas, the truth was they were very hilly and often difficult to run the requisite two miles without a significant effort and technique. In the hot afternoon, sometimes topping the 100 degree heat index, it was only the strongest and smartest runners who managed to navigate the course. Faith did very well in this first year of her cross country experience. Perhaps the most important skill she learned was the pace of the run. There were some runners who would begin the race at a sprint. They were not the eventual winners. In fact, some of those racers were unable to even finish without walking as they made the turn at the one mile marker. Spiritually we can learn from this example. There is no doubt that the frenetic demands of life seems to continually increase stress and worry. There seems to be no end to the demands on our time and energy. It is important that we learn the pace of our spiritual life. We accomplish this by partnering with One who has already run the race and won the victory. He is willing to come along side us and help with the burdens of our lives. Jesus declares that he can teach us a new way to pull the load of our lives. This way isn’t one that offers escape from the demands of life, but one that guarantees rest in the midst of the race and the fast pace of life. Jesus says, “Come to me if you are tired and burdened. I’ll make your load lighter, and help you carry your burden.” Jesus offers us rest amidst the stress. Christ doesn’t always take us out of life’s demanding situations. Instead, He invites us to allow Him to help us handle the demands. He wants to face each day and each challenge with us. Walking with Jesus Christ daily and trusting Him for guidance and wisdom to handle whatever comes, is the way to experience rest in the race. Turn to him today and let him show you how to run to win.

Sleepwalking Through Life

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:13-21 ESV).

Sleepwalking is also called “somnambulism.” It is a parasomnia. A parasomnia involves undesired events that come along with sleep. Sleepwalking occurs when you get up from bed and walk around even though you are still asleep. It can also involve a series of other complex actions. Before walking, you might sit up in bed and look around in a confused manner. At other times, individuals may bolt from the bed and walk or run away. They may be frantic to escape from a threat that they dreamed or imagined. You might talk or shout as you are walking. Your eyes are usually open and have a confused, “glassy” look to them. You might begin doing routine daily actions that are not normally done at night. We can sleepwalk spiritually if we are not intentional about the use of our time. All of us have the same amount of time. There are one hundred sixty-eight hours a week, divided into twenty-four hours a day. It is not how much time we have; it is how we use our time. This is a spiritual, as well as practical, issue. Our reading urges us to “Be careful, then, how you live, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time.” What are the keys to accomplishing that in our lives? Let me suggest two things that might be helpful, especially as we are about to begin the holiday season with all of the demands placed on our schedules. First, make a list of the top three to five priorities of your life. This list will help you prioritize how you spend your time. Take your time in making this list. It should be a reflection of both what you actually do and what your desire to do is. Second, classify each of these according to priority. As I approach each day I like to assign colors to my tasks. Red is for those things that must be done now. The house is on fire; get the fire put out now. Yellow is for those things that might turn into a fire. Get them done if you can. And, then green for those things that are good to do, but can wait if necessary. This process seems crisis oriented, and it is; but life is often a series of such circumstances. Plan for them. Third, don’t let life happen to you. Take control of your time.

Casting a Long Shadow

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16 ESV).

The idiom of “casting a long shadow” has often been used to describe influence. Something or someone that casts a long shadow has considerable influence on other people or events. This is certainly the kernel of truth that Jesus teaches in our reading today. I was reminded of this principle recently when I read an illustration of four preachers who were discussing the merits of various translations of the Bible. One liked the King James best because of its simple, beautiful English language. Another preferred the American Standard version because it is more literal and comes nearer the original Hebrew and Greek. Still another favored the New King James Version because of its up-to-date vocabulary. When the fourth preacher was asked his opinion, he replied, "I like my mother's translation best." The other three were a little puzzled. They were unaware that his mother had translated the Bible. "Yes, she did," he stated, "she translated the Bible into life. She lived what she read, and her translation was the most convincing one I ever saw." So, let’s examine the need for positive influence for a moment today. In the early days of the church, the Bible tells us that the apostle, Peter, had become such an influential, powerful man of God, that people would bring the sick on pallets and cots in the streets where he might pass by, hoping his shadow would fall over them and, hopefully, they would be healed. Such was the aura of greatness around that man. It causes me to remember that my shadow goes with me wherever we go; never falling on me, but on others. We’re rarely aware of where it falls. We all influence someone; parents influence kids, coaches influence players, teachers influence students. If we aren’t asking ourselves what kind of shadow we cast, we are missing an incredible part of our journey. I saw an episode of “Mountain Men” a few weeks ago where Eustace Conway had traveled miles in the mountains of East Tennessee to find just the right salt to cure the pork they had carefully spent the last few years raising on their mountain farm. He said, “Not just any salt will do.” Isn’t that what Jesus alludes to in calling us to be salt in life? Today, spend a little time looking inwardly to answer the question of what kind of shadow you are casting.

Self Control

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:16-24 ESV).

There are those times when I read the Apostle Paul makes such straightforward declarations that it is nearly impossible to understand. Today’s reading is one of those for me. He simply says the fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” I usually don’t have much trouble with love, joy, or peace; but, the others might as well be sitting on Mars! This is especially true with self-control. It is often difficult to maintain the balance necessary to accomplish the controlling of my desires in favor of wise choices. I almost always have a great reason for failing to restrain myself, though they are always rather empty upon any real examination. I mean eating a bowl of Cocoa Puffs for supper is quick, easy, and does have some nutritional value; but really, it’s not a good choice. A good choice can be made, even in the face of persistent temptation. Let me make some suggestions. First, recognize what your temptations are in your life. We all have a different point of weakness, and we are all relatively powerless to overcome them. Perhaps the first tenet of the Twelve Steps is best reviewed here: We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable. Alone we are powerless against the temptations that so frequently present themselves. Being intentional about admitting that is the first step to overcoming them. Second, believe the Holy Spirit is powerful enough within you to take control over your temptations. The truth of this cannot be debated from the apostle’s declaration. While it is not easy, it is now possible to exercise self-control through the indwelling presence of Christ. Third, make prayer and meditation a regular daily practice in your life. The more you develop your relationship with Christ, the easier it is to draw on his power. This is done through prayer and meditation. Start with these and maybe Cocoa Puffs will be a thing of the past!

The Lighthouse

Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. (John 12:31-36 ESV).

I ran across an old story of a captain of a battleship who, in the middle of the night, saw the light of another ship coming directly at him. The captain radioed the oncoming ship and said, “Turn south immediately.” The response was, “You turn south immediately.” The captain was furious. He radioed back, “This is a battleship. I command you to turn south immediately.” The response was, “This is the lighthouse. You turn south immediately.” Often we have an attitude like that of the captain of the battleship. In our persistent self-sufficiency and prideful arrogance we simply believe that we are always on the right course. We expect others to either get out of our way or join us on our path. We ignore God’s guidance for living our life. Then, suddenly, we find ourselves shipwrecked and feeling foolish. Thinking along these lines I went to our reading today. Jesus clearly contrasts the two choices of our lives. We can go toward the light and find safety; or, we can continue in the darkness of the world and end shipwrecked and adrift. Jesus Christ is the lighthouse trying to warn us of danger, and lead us to safety. I encourage you to trust Christ and be willing to follow His leadership in your life. He will keep you out of a lot of trouble. I did a little search and found a video of the old Gospel Song, The Lighthouse, by J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n0CQ-XZrpA). Give is a click and enjoy the wonderful old message of the grace of God through Jesus. It’s one of my all time favorite songs. Walk in the light. In Him there is no darkness at all. Trust every step Jesus gives you to take in your life. You will not be disappointed!

Straight Arrows - Pt 4

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5 ESV). The last part of the construction of an arrow that will be a part of this deadly arsenal for the defense of our city is the arrow’s broad head, or point. Our finely-crafted arrow is nearly complete. Only the front end of the shaft needs a finishing touch. The point of the arrow reminds us of the last essential quality we want to craft in a child. We all need a mission; we need a reason to live, a driving passion or calling that provides meaning and impact. We need to ask ourselves, "Have I more passion for the values of this world's system than for the things of God? What are my goals in life? Are they ones I want my child to copy?" Every child should be helped to understand that life is a dynamic relationship with God that overflows in love to other people; it is this love that the Holy Spirit uses to reconcile the lost to God. Everything else, as good or innocuous as it may be, is only a prop to facilitating this mission. I think most of us know what it means to be intentional. But we struggle with making that a reality for our lives. The day to day living is consuming. It’s easy to derail if our attention is myopically focused only on the here and now because we lose sight of the big picture. We can only complete strong arrows by being intentional. This means we set goals with the end in view. When I taught Aaron to drive, it was my desire to equip him to drive a manual transmission. I did the same with both Kyle and David. We took the truck to an empty parking lot and went through all the steps before ever turning the ignition on and starting the engine. However, I also knew that learning to drive with a manual transmission was not the end. The end of the lesson was to learn how to safely drive a vehicle. That necessitated teaching the need to focus on the road ahead. If that principle is ignored the focus would be drawn to the immediate space in front of the car and the driving would be erratic. The application is clear for our parenting. When we become hyper-focused on the daily to the exclusion of everything else, we lose sight of long term perspective. We become susceptible to every idea that’s out there and our family life becomes a series of swerves. Advance progress slows to a crawl. If we don’t snap out of this tunnel vision we can easily get to the end of our children’s childhood and look up to realize that we didn’t progress very far or worse, we are going in the wrong direction. As parents we are the keepers of the BIG PICTURE! This is the way to put a sharp, deadly point on the arrow.

Straight Arrows - Pt 3

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5 ESV). As we continue the construction of the arrow we look at the addition of the arrow’s nock. All of the pent-up power in a bow is of no value if it cannot be effectively transferred. That's why every arrow, at the rear of the shaft, has a small groove that holds the bowstring. This is called the nock. The nock keeps the arrow in place on the string until the power is released. The nock can be compared to the third core ingredient necessary in a child's life: relationships. When someone's life intersects with God and with people, a power transfer occurs. None of us was intended to make a journey through life alone. We need the strength, comfort, encouragement, resources, and power provided by God and others. I am always a little bemused by the abdication of our children’s training to other entities. We want the school to train them in practical and applied education. We want the church to train them in practical and applied spirituality. Neither of these is the primary educational tool for our children. The home is God’s designed means for the physical, emotional, and spiritual development of our children. Let me mention four strategies to accomplish this task:  First, make prayer a part of your family fabric. We should help our children understand that prayer is the conversation we have each day, throughout the day, that ensures our relationship with our heavenly Father.  Second, we ought to insure that our children recognize our dependence and interest in the Scripture. This is done through making it the fundamental repository for the truth that determines our behavior.  Third, guide your children in the devilment of their community. Of course this includes a community of faith; however, it also should include their circle of friends.  Fourth, insure that you teach your children the importance of mission. This is that component that develops an other-person focus. It insures that our children will not become self-centered and selfish. Children also need parents who will build into them the ability to love others. And, of course, all this must be wrapped in relationship. Teaching truth without a relationship with your child produces rebellion. Similarly, relationships without truth can result in a self-indulgent teen, one who is spoiled. The best school to learn about relationships and resolving conflict is in the “University of Family.” Get a secure nock!

Straight Arrows - Pt 2

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5 ESV). Today we continue with the second part of the arrow. An essential part of the crafting of an arrow is the fletching, or the feathers. They are always placed at the end of the shaft so that they may most effectively create drag when the arrow is in flight. This keeps the back end of the arrow behind the front end, which is pretty important! It also stabilizes the arrow as it flies to its target. An arrow without good fletching is undependable and dangerous. If an arrow has the right kind of feathers, properly installed, it will fly straight. I think of this as character. Character development is a major theme of God's work in people. And it's one of the major assignments God gives us as parents. Character is how your child responds to authority and life's circumstances. It is "response-ability," and comes as a result of training our children to submit to God and His Word. Character is defined as strength of moral fiber. A.W. Tozer described character as “the excellence of moral beings. As the excellence of gold is its purity and the excellence of art is its beauty, so the excellence of man is his character. People of character are noted for their honesty, ethics, and charity. Descriptions such as “man of principle” and “woman of integrity” are assertions of character. A lack of character is moral deficiency, and persons lacking character tend to behave dishonestly, unethically, and uncharitably.” A person’s character is the sum of their disposition, thoughts, intentions, desires, and actions. It is good to remember that character is gauged by general tendencies, not on the basis of a few isolated actions. We must look at the whole life. For example, King David was a man of good character (cf. 1 Samuel 13:14) although he sinned greatly on occasion (cf. 2 Samuel 11). And although King Ahab may have acted nobly once (cf. 1 Kings 22:35), he was still a man of overall bad character (cf. 1 Kings 16:33). Several people in the Bible are described as having noble character. Ruth was one of those people in the Scripture (cf. Ruth 3:11). No one can deny how much of an effect she had on the continued development and future of Israel. She was indeed a woman chosen for that time; however, she also had to do what she was called to do. Her life was characterized by persistent moral virtue. As we model this trait for our children we should not forget how much they look to us. They are always watching and listening to everything we say and do. Work toward more and more consistency in your life. That will make for straight feathers on your arrows!

Straight Arrows - Pt 1

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5 ESV).

Happy Birthday, Aaron! After Mary was in labor for three days the doctor walked into the room of Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler, Texas, on October 20, 1983 and simply announced that the baby could only be born through a cesarean section. We were not prepared for that, but the doctor assured us that it was a simple surgical procedure for both mom and baby. Certainly that was debatable, but it did ease our anxiety. A short while after that, Mary was taken to the surgical suite and Aaron was born. And, good to his word, all was well with both he and Mary. It was a great day indeed. Like the psalmist declares in our reading, it was a great “reward.” I have counseled many parents who have had incredible challenges in their families and each time as I helped them navigate their journey, I found more and more reason to be thankful for our children. Of course, we have faced various challenges with each of them, but they have each proven to be inspirations and blessings to our lives. They are more than that according to our Bible reading today though. The psalmist says they are like “arrows in the hand of a warrior.” I’ve thought about that through the years. So, let me use today as an excuse to encourage all of you who are facing the daunting task of parenting in our culture. So in the next few days we will begin to look at the construction of this image of the psalmist. Any arrow to be useful must have a shaft, fletching (feathers), a nock (the groove at the end of the arrow into which the bow string fits), and a point. If all of these four are made well, the result is an effective arrow, beautifully designed for impact. These four qualities give us four clear goals to pursue as we craft our children. Nearly every issue or trap our children will encounter can be linked to a young person's need in one of four areas. First, we begin the crafting of an arrow with the shaft. Obviously, since every other part of the arrow must attach to the shaft, this part of the arrow is a lot like a child's identity. If a child's self concept is warped, not straight and strong, his direction in life may be wobbly. Every person is born with a unique, divinely-imprinted identity. If we want to properly guide our children to a healthy self identity, we must acknowledge and support God’s design. We ought to communicate with them the essential message that they are made in the image of God, and are valued above all other creations.

Is This the Day of the Lord?

Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. And if the family of Egypt does not go up and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain; there shall be the plague with which the LORD afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. And on that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, “Holy to the LORD.” And the pots in the house of the LORD shall be as the bowls before the altar. And every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holy to the LORD of hosts, so that all who sacrifice may come and take of them and boil the meat of the sacrifice in them. And there shall no longer be a trader in the house of the LORD of hosts on that day. (Zechariah 14:16-21 ESV). The talk of the Second Coming of Christ seems to be increasing this year more than I can remember in the last twenty years. Perhaps it is because of the general unrest and spiritual malaise we see in our culture, especially in America. I haven’t read or heard of any “predictions” as were common in the seventies, but those may be surfacing soon as well. I can say this with certainty: no one knows when Jesus is coming except the Father. That does not excuse our vigilance and preparation. A part of that vigilance is the understanding of prophetic passages in the Scripture. Today’s reading is one of those. It is certainly different than any other prophecy in the book. Zechariah has given us lofty visions, stirring promises, fearsome warnings. Now his climax, his closing chapter, his final word, is all about cooking pots and horse bells! The Old Testament operates with three moral categories: the holy, the clean, and the unclean. The holy meant “limited access.” Moses’ bush and the inner room of the Jerusalem temple are notable examples. The clean required diligent attention to meticulous laws. Eventually those laws became dysfunctional, so that Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for excessive attention to them. The unclean category was wide open: most people and many things fell into it at one time or another. But here’s Zechariah’s grand prediction was that someday there would be just one category: the holy. God makes all things new; common stuff becomes holy, outsiders are included. The end of the story comes to pass. This world belongs to God at last. Everyday things are sacred in the new creation. The simplest communication technology (horse bells) and the most ordinary implements (cooking pots) are now “holy to the Lord.” The foreigner is no longer shunned. God is sovereign, and everything at the periphery is now brought close to the center, sanctified, it’s true value revealed. The world is the way it should be, at last. What a day that will be! If this is that day, then my response is Hallelujah! Be encouraged. It is going to get better!

Hungry and Thirsty

Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! Why would you have the day of the LORD? It is darkness, and not light, as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him. Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:18-24 ESV). The chorus has often been sung: Fill my cup, Lord; I lift it up Lord; Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more. Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

And, to be sure, Jesus promises that he would indeed fill it. But as with most of the beatitudes, this promise comes with a requisite demand. Jesus’ promise of filling is strictly limited to those who first “hunger and thirst.” The hungry and thirsty in our culture are invisible to most of us. They exist primarily in the underbelly of our excessive affluence. The kind of hunger and thirst Jesus talks about here is equally desperate. Can we even imagine what it would mean to want justice like someone dying of thirst wants water? Hunger and thirst for righteousness is not, of course, a physical craving. It is a spiritual one. In Jesus’ kingdom such desire is not just a concept or nice thought, a pious wish or polite prayer. The kind of hunger and thirst Jesus blesses is a powerful inward drive for justice, powered by passionate self-sacrificing love. This is the only law in the new kingdom. We crave righteousness so much that we will die without it. That may sound a bit melodramatic; you may be tempted to think I am speaking metaphorically. However, it is a clearly stated truth. The prophet makes it very clear in our reading today that this desire to seek justice for others is the focus of God. All of the religious acts in the world cannot compare to our desire and effort toward justice and mercy. It has become so fashionable to be the “schoolyard bully” I am afraid we have forgotten how to be merciful and just. Perhaps we simply are not hungry and thirsty for that in our culture. We should be. It is what God desires.

Lifting Heavy Weights

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25-30 ESV).

We are getting to the end of the construction process of our move back to Texas. And, the first week of November has been scheduled for the delivery of our stuff. While I am excited to get to be in our new home, and excited to be able to sleep in my own bed, I know the hard work that is yet to come. I have been involved in some of the construction in a physical way. That was demanding, but it will be nothing compared to what is still to come. It really is work to lift and carry box after box to whatever location is more convenient to unpack. That combined with the fact that I am not nearly as fit as I once might have been is a recipe for a sore back! While doing all this “lifting” will be good in the long run, that is not true in our emotional and spiritual lives. Carrying heavy burdens is never a wonderful experience. We were never meant to go through life with loads of worry, sin, and guilt dragging us down. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were heaping rule after rule on the people for them to follow in order to gain God’s favor. It was a tremendous burden for them. In contrast, Jesus invited them to believe in him to find relief from these burdens. Real acceptance from God eliminates the need to carry our burdens alone. Not only do we have Jesus to help us through every burden, we also have the community of faith. Our invitation is to “come.” When we accept Jesus, he lifts our sins, making us acceptable to a holy God. Along with removing our burdens, he invites us to learn from him. As we learn to trust him more, we will find that giving him our worries will come naturally. Heavy lifting is only good in the weight room. The more we trust Jesus, the lighter our loads become. What is your burden today? Let me suggest that you bring them to Jesus. Confide in a trusted friend or counselor who will be able to help you connect with the resources God has provided for you comfort.

Jambo

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones. In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’” (Zechariah 13:7-9 ESV).

There are many interesting languages in the world. One of those is Swahili. While the typical greeting is Jambo, which translates more like our “How are you?” Many times the preferred greeting is Habari, which literally means “Do you have any good news?” It is strange that the typical reply is Nzuri. It means “No news, all is well.” If you know anything at all about that region of our world, everything is far from well. Life is hard, hunger common, jobs scarce, and hope dim. Today’s reading is a short poem from the prophet that acknowledges how tough life is, how fragile is our hold on happiness. Life is more prone to trouble, suffering, and loss than to lottery winning. We can expect worries, sickness, and losses. Even the Lord felt such pains. No one is spared. But the end result for us will be greater love for God and God’s greater voice in our lives. We grow closer to God because the Shepherd too felt the sword. He was also tested and perfected by suffering (cf. Hebrews 5:8-9). This passage uncovers the deep consequence of sin and rebellion, so deep we fear to face it. Yet the truth must be told. Zechariah reminds us that the Creator is holy and that he will only make his creation holy again through the work of Christ. This is the “good news” that makes “all well.” Of course, Zechariah leaves much unsaid. The rest of the Bible fills in the gaps. But the poem holds core truth. God will redeem us, lead us, and welcome us back through every hit and hardship we endure. That is the enduring hope we have to carry us through every trial and difficulty we face in this life. Spurgeon said it this way: “Let this one great, gracious, glorious fact lie in your spirit until it permeates all your thoughts and makes you rejoice even though you are without strength. Rejoice that the Lord Jesus has become your strength and your song – He has become your salvation. “ As that truth seeps into your heart, be encouraged today!

The Greatest Con Man

“On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. And on that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness. And if anyone again prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the LORD.’ And his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he prophesies. On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive, but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a worker of the soil, for a man sold me in my youth.’ And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your back?’ he will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends.’” (Zechariah 13:1-6 ESV).

“Count” Victor Lustig, 46 years old at the time of this picture, was America’s most dangerous con man. In a lengthy criminal career, his sleight-of-hand tricks and get-rich-quick schemes had rocked Jazz-Era America and the rest of the world. In Paris, he had sold the Eiffel Tower in an audacious confidence game, not once, but twice. Finally, in 1935, Lustig was captured after masterminding a counterfeit banknote operation so vast that it threatened to shake confidence in the American economy. A judge in New York sentenced him to 20 years on Alcatraz. In our reading today, Zechariah foresees a day when all religious “con-men,” false prophets, are swept away and God’s truth is revealed without ambiguity or spin. So confident is Zechariah that he imagines even the parents and friends of these false prophets rejecting them completely. In a day when our culture’s leadership has developed “the spin” to a fine art, this will be a welcome change for those who value truth. We will not need to “fact check” our leaders in that day. Zechariah’s violent image underscores the refusal of God’s people to accept phonies and hypocrites any longer. The great damage done by false teachers is finally ended. I know that we should be slow to accuse a leader of falsehood. Suspicion spreads like a virus. Young adults grow easily cynical about Christian ministry, when a measure of charity would check our tendency to judge. We tend to accuse and label other people as hypocrites quickly, before we hear their side; however, false prophets do infiltrate churches. Gullible Christians can be led down a path to huge spiritual and financial losses. I encourage you to keep your eyes open, but your heart pure, especially in the coming days.

Growing Up

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:41-52 ESV).

I have heard it said that our lives can be summed up with the phrase “the cradle to the grave.” Certainly those words bring to mind the progression of growth; however, they don’t really tell the story of growing up. Our reading today describes some of the growth of Jesus. We don’t have many references to any of his experiences as a child. So, what Luke says here is very revealing. Mary says, “Child, why have you treated us like this?” (v. 48). Believe me, that’s a lot more polite than I would have been if my twelve-year-old son had left me for three days without telling me where he was going. This passage is the only glimpse we have of Jesus’ boyhood, and Luke concludes it with the observation that “Jesus increased in wisdom and in years.” He grew up. When our boys were in their growth years Mary and I would measure them standing with their back against the door jamb. We would put a pencil mark on the jamb to measure their progress. Over the years they could look at the door and see the marks, showing how they had grown. All of us, young and old, should be growing in our Christian faith. “We must no longer be children…” says Ephesians, “… but speaking the truth in love we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (cf. Ephesians 4:14-15). Are you growing up as a Christian? Can you see the pencil marks moving higher? Are you becoming more forgiving? Is your prayer life becoming deeper, richer? If you’re like me, there’s much growing still to do. Let’s start today.

Interruptions

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:8-20 ESV). I am a list maker. Every morning I make a list of things I need to do that day. As I go through the day I mentally scratch things off my list as I accomplish them. Invariably, at day’s end, I am dismayed that only a few items have been scratched. I’ve been busy and worked hard; but things just seem to happen throughout the day that I didn’t plan for. The phone rings. People visit. Various “emergencies” arise during each day. Just the other day I had planned to do some study and finish some things for a Parenting class I am teaching at my church and I received a call from the general contractor of our house telling me I need to go and get the kitchen sink right away. It wouldn’t really seem like much of an interruption at first glance, but it took two hours out of my day I had planned on. As a rule, I don’t like interruptions. They seem to break up my tidy, organized life. But what if interruptions are God’s way of breaking into my life? C.S. Lewis wrote: “We must stop regarding unexpected things as interruptions to real life. The truth is that interruptions are real life, the life God sends us day by day.” What a splendid insight. When our children or grandchildren interrupt us, then, or when someone visits at an untimely moment, we should see those times as God directing us. They should not be a distraction to us. I am not having my agenda ruined; I am having it rearranged. The shepherds were minding their flocks, when suddenly God breaks in. God rearranges their agenda. The angels announce that heaven has come to earth. The Messiah is born. Their response was perfect. They immediately went to see this great sight. What does God have for you today?

Greetings

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-38 ESV).

In the days of the military draft, a young man selected to serve would receive a notice from the President of the US. It began with: “Greeting… you are ordered to report for induction.” I found a WWII example recently. The tone and message was ominous. It made the draftee understand that they were considered fungible, expendable, an item to be processed, serial numbered, and regarded as war material. In fact, it is from this concept that the foot soldiers of those years were simply called “GI’s.” It was the abbreviation of “General Issue.” They may not have been much more important than their issued weapon. While we still have a registration for the draft; the draft ceased to be used on January 23, 1973 as the Vietnam War came to a close. Our reading today carries with it another “draft notice.” The angel Gabriel unexpectedly enters into Mary’s life to announce that God has called her to do something and has enabled her to do it. She is pregnant. We glibly pray that God will help us to know what we are called to do in this life. But we don’t actually expect that to happen! When it does happen, Mary discovers, as Moses discovered before her, and Abraham before him, that God’s call is not as much fun as we thought it would be. There is danger and uncertainty. But Mary says yes to the gift that is within her. She accepts God’s call. “Let it be with me according to your word.” A calling, as Mary discovered, is frightening and perplexing; but it is also exciting and invigorating. To be called, and enabled, by God to do something in this world is an incredible gift. God has called you to something and enabled you to do it. Make your answer to that calling the same as Mary.

The Promises of God

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:1-7 ESV) At the outset of his gospel Matthew draws special attention to Jesus’ descent from King David, just as the apostle Paul does at the beginning of his letter to the Romans, which we see in our reading today. King Herod was very sensitive about the fact that he was not from the house of David. How enraged he would have been to see Jesus’ royal family tree! If, as Matthew records, Jesus Christ is the son of David, the son of Abraham, then he is the fulfillment of the greatest of all God’s promises. When God called Abraham, he promised: “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (cf. Genesis 12:1-3). As time went on that promise was focused upon David and his line. “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots” (cf. Isaiah 11:1). And the fulfillment of the promise came at last with the birth of great David’s greater son, Jesus. God always keeps his word. We may forget his promises or lose hope in them, but God never forgets; if he says something, it will come to pass. J.C. Ryle said, “Christians should remember this . . . Their Father in heaven will be true to all his engagements.” Here are just a few of the thousands in the Scripture: I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. (Isaiah 44:22 ESV). I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless. (Jeremiah 15:21 ESV). For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ESV). For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 ESV). That’s just a little of the Good News. Be encouraged today!

Take Courage

In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.’” (Haggai 2:1-9 ESV). Perhaps the Book of Haggai is not on your regular reading list. Today we will begin to look at a few of the passages in this prophetic book. The book of Haggai is Narrative History and Prophetic Oracle. The prophet Haggai wrote it approximately 520 B.C. Haggai is among the most carefully and precisely dated books in the entire Bible. It is a post-exilic book, meaning it was written after (post) the captivity (exile) in Babylon. Key personalities are Haggai, Zerubbabel, and Joshua. The purpose of this book was that Haggai was called by God to encourage the people to finish the construction of the temple in Jerusalem. The construction had ceased because of opposition and because the neighboring countries, and the Jews were frightened. He encouraged them to take courage.

Abraham Lincoln knew that he needed to free the slaves in the Confederate South. He had the power, he knew it was right, and he had even written the document, but it lay on his desk, waiting for a military victory to turn the tide of the war, giving him and the people courage to believe that his words could effectively do all they would say. In our reading today, Haggai asks no less of the returned exiles here. Be strong, he tells the governor and high priest. Take courage, all you people, and rebuild God’s house. If God opened the captors’ doors so you could return to Jerusalem, then build! Do it with full and confident hearts, despite all opposition and every uncertainty about the future. For Lincoln, the Union’s victory at Antietam in 1862 was the courage-making event. Soon after, the President published the Emancipation Proclamation, and history turned a corner. God turned a corner when Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. Take courage!

A Group Hug

Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. And if the family of Egypt does not go up and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain; there shall be the plague with which the LORD afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. (Zechariah 14:16-19 ESV).

Not long ago I saw this outdoor signage, “What This World Needs Is a Group Hug.” It belies a sentiment that has existed for millennia. Genghis Khan was a great Mongolian warrior whose armies almost did what every conqueror dreams of, uniting all nations. Alexander the Great also tried. Perhaps the Roman Empire came closest. The United Nations keeps trying to negotiate peace and unity in the world. Politicians from nearly every first world country have tried to bring peace and harmony to the world. All of them have thus far failed. The Scripture has a different message of world unity. In our reading today, Zechariah’s vision of world unity is based on united worship of the world’s one God. Worship is what the world was created for. The world at its best is a world that is worshiping God. Further, worship in Zechariah’s prophecy is all-voluntary. The penalties he mentions for refusing to go up to Jerusalem show that everyone is free to choose. Jerusalem is journey’s end and harvest home. God reigns as Lord of all. Some few don’t like it, but God’s sovereignty is known to all. Each person must declare his or her position toward God, either as worshiper or rejecter, subject or rebel, child or orphan. “Come to Jerusalem” is the biggest, best invitation to be all you were meant to be, God’s son or daughter. In Zechariah’s time this “global unity” day was called the Feast of Booths. The great day Zechariah points toward won’t need a special name. Its celebration will eclipse all previous holidays and never end. My caution to all of us is that we not be deceived by coming to believe that somehow we are capable of making world peace and unity a reality without the work of Christ in our lives. A group hug, no matter how sincere and heartfelt, will never be enough without Christ’s work of redemption. That was the missing ingredient in Zechariah’s day. The Temple feasts and sacrifices were simply not enough; nor are they enough today. No wonder that the prophet points us to that day. Let’s all look to Jesus today. He is the author and finisher of our faith!

Every Knee Bows

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 ESV).

At the climax of “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” Nazi culprits show supreme arrogance; they open the Ark of Israel to possess its treasures. Now even the great powers of the Old Testament God will belong to them. Or so they think. But the scene turns quickly from pride to horrific destruction. The onscreen images are bone-chilling, the kind where adults cover the eyes of young children. This is too much like a nightmare; God’s power is scary. He destroys them all! The Biblical truth is not far from this fiction. If the prophetic books were illustrated, you wouldn’t show the pictures to youngsters at bedtime. They tell a story that should thoroughly frighten anyone who thinks God wants to be just a casual friend, or that God doesn’t care what we do. The “Big Buddy” version of God is repeatedly warned against in the Scripture. God is patient, but his patience is not eternal. Fierce and decisive will be God’s way of cleaning up this world’s mess when the time comes. Never imagine you are calling all the shots. God has the power; all lesser powers will someday submit. God’s holy plan leads to peace and joy, but on the way and especially “on that day,” God will triumph over every stubborn enemy. This is the message of the Apostle Paul in our reading today. In the day when Jesus comes and sets up his kingdom on earth, when every enemy is finally vanquished, then “every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord.” For those who have been born again it is a willing exercise. For those who have continued in the stubborn refusal to follow Him, the strong and mighty hand of God will force them to confess. No power is sufficient to withstand that force. They will submit and forever be condemned. My hope and prayer for you is that you will be with those who gladly kneel and praise the name of Jesus as Savior. That ushers us into our greatest moment. Heaven really begins then!

It's a Wonerful Life

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:8-16 ESV).

It’s a Wonderful Life”, released on December 25, 1946 has become a classic film. It is actually a dark, bittersweet post-war tale of a savings-and-loan manager who struggles against a greedy banker and his own self-doubting nature in a small town. Earnest do-gooder George Bailey (James Stewart) recognizes his life as wonderful and truly rich, even in its humdrum and bleak nature. It is only after suffering many hardships, mishaps and fateful trials, including compromised dreams of youth to leave the town and seek fame and fortune, other sacrifices, dismay, losses and the threat of financial ruin, and suicide that he is given encouragement by a whimsical, endearing, trainee-angel named Clarence (Henry Travers). After George wishes he had never been born, Clarence shows him how many lives he has changed and impacted, and how they would be different if he was never there. We can say many things about life; however, “wonderful” is not one of them. In fact, Jesus promised his disciples a difficult life (cf. Matthew 8:20). The Scripture teaches us that life is a journey. From the call of Abraham to the exodus, to the exile, and even to Jesus’ great missionary mandate, God’s people are always on the move. Sometimes they travel as fugitives or prisoners, sometimes as ambassadors of God’s good news. In the book of Hebrews this journey metaphor can suggest the struggle against sin, or the quest for faith, or our final destination, this is the “city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (v. 10). In that place, God will give you peace. Your battle against sin will finally be won. Our journey is easier with this great hope as our focus. Sin and its terrible effects still discourage us. But this is one thing you can count on, God has a place for you where peace and joy never end! That city is for all God’s people, and it’s just around the next turn, at the end of the journey.

The Upset of All Time

The oracle of the word of the LORD concerning Israel: Thus declares the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God.’ “On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves. And they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem. “And the LORD will give salvation to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not surpass that of Judah. On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, going before them. And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:1-9 ESV).

Although Kyle Field isn’t exactly the easiest environment to play in for visiting teams, the UCLA Bruins, led by Heisman candidate Josh Rosen, still entered their Week 1 clash with the Aggies as the highly-touted club, sporting a Number 16 national ranking. Unfortunately, despite our preconceived notions heading into the new season, the Bruins were unable to live up to the hype. The Aggies shocked the visiting team with a 31-24 victory in overtime. Of course, it was an upset, though no one would call it the upset of all time. There have been many other victories, athletically and otherwise, that were much more unexpected. Zechariah talks about one of those victories in our reading today. Zechariah’s sweeping view of history tells of a winner without bragging rights. The House of David, Judah (represented by Jerusalem), will turn out to be history’s surprise winner, still standing when all other contenders lie wasted on the battlefield. This little people with hardly a leader since David and multiple offenses toward God, they will be the winners. But the glory for their victory belongs to God alone. He makes it happen. God gives the vision, supplies, energy, and courage to win. Without God, there’s no chance. Because of God, the people celebrate. The greater application is for us today. Your life may have had setbacks. Some were the result of mistakes or poor choices. Other setbacks came for no apparent reason, due to nothing you did or didn’t do. But God has a victory in store for you. Trust in Jesus!

Pitch Black

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:1-9 ESV).

The Natural Bridge Caverns are the largest known commercial caverns in Texas. The name was derived from the 60 feet natural limestone slab bridge that spans the amphitheater setting of the cavern's entrance. One of the tours through the cavern takes you for seventy minutes through the underground where you can see some of the most incredible natural underground formations imaginable. At the midway point of the tour, the guides will sit you down and turn off the lights. At that moment you will experience true darkness; you can see absolutely nothing, not even your hand in front of your face. It is what I would call “Pitch Black.” When the lights are turned back on, you breathe a sigh of relief. It is almost involuntary. As I thought about that, I was drawn to our reading today. Because the light dispels the darkness, we always are relieved in the light. In our ordinary experience, darkness never overcomes light. Rather, light always dispels darkness. Sin in the Bible is compared to darkness. Prior to the coming of Jesus, darkness ruled the world. It was as if sin had the control switch and simply never turned on the light. Now Jesus, who is Light itself, has come and taken control of the darkness. He has overcome sin and death on our behalf. He has given us the brightest light imaginable. John says, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (vv. 4-5). The light dispelling darkness is another Bible picture for Christ’s work. It may be that you feel as if you are stumbling around in the darkness. It may be some personal failure in your career; it could be some illness that you simply find it more and more difficult to deal with; or, it could be some issue in your family, relationships that are failing. Whatever the circumstance you are facing today, come to Jesus as the light and receive light. He will show you the next step in your journey toward the ultimate eternal light. He will turn on the lights for you and you can then breathe a sigh of relief.

Leadership

Then the LORD said to me, “Take once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd. For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs. “Woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!” (Zechariah 11:15-17 ESV). We are back in Zechariah for our reading today. And, we are in one of the most difficult passages in the entire book. I find the message to be very contemporary. In our culture we have seen the lowering of the bar for leadership sink to incredible lows. We would do well to listen to the prophet in reference to our direction. Zechariah offers us a parable about terrible leaders. In John 10, Jesus describes a good shepherd as kind, courageous, and self-sacrificing. But Zechariah writes about shepherds who will kick you when you’re down and who laugh as they eat your last bit of food. They are hideous and self-centered, immoral and unlikeable. It is not unthinkable to ask why God seems to endorse such leaders. Remember this is a parable. If you have leadership responsibility, this passage is not your permission slip for cruel or insensitive treatment of others. In fact, it is just the opposite. Zechariah’s message is that, as part of his righteous judgment, God will put his wayward people under such awful leaders that their lives will be bitter and hard. They will feel what empty hopelessness is in a world without God’s goodness. Let me be practical. Here are some characteristics of good leadership.  The first characteristic is humility. Humility willingly acknowledges its own need; it is open to be helped, and it is open to being taught, and it does not resent good advice or counsel.  The second characteristic is mutual helpfulness. Competition in relationship is always destructive.  The third characteristic is strength. The power that we need does not come from within ourselves. It is the strength of God's might with which we must be strengthened.  The fourth characteristic is selflessness. No leader can live for himself alone. We ought to maintain strength not for ourselves alone but for the benefit of God's people.  The final characteristic is surrender to the will of God. It is always amazing to me how often I hear prospective leaders claim the ability to “make” something greater or better. The path to that accomplishment is only through the strength and will of God. Be that kind of leader. Be that kind of shepherd. Look for that kind of leader to follow. Look for that kind of leader to support.

A Lost Generation

Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedars! Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, for the glorious trees are ruined! Wail, oaks of Bashan, for the thick forest has been felled! The sound of the wail of the shepherds, for their glory is ruined! The sound of the roar of the lions, for the thicket of the Jordan is ruined! (Zechariah 11:1-3 ESV).

The cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) is a tall evergreen tree which has been prized for its high quality timber, oils and resins for thousands of years. The national emblem of Lebanon, it was famously used to build the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, as well as the ships and temples of the Egyptian pharaohs. The resin of the cedar of Lebanon was even used in mummification by the Ancient Egyptians. This conifer usually has a single, thick trunk with many horizontal, spirally arranged branches, which can be quite strong. In younger individuals, the crown of the tree is cone-shaped, but it broadens and flattens with age. The bark of the cedar of Lebanon is dark greyish-brown and becomes deeply cracked and fissured in older trees. It has been prized throughout the world for millennia. Sometimes a child says something “out of the blue,” unpredictable. The comedian Art Linkletter rode to fame on children’s spontaneity. We all laughed and learned too. Sometimes the writers of the Scriptures do this as well. To use Linkletter’s phrase in this regard, “Prophets Say the Darndest Things.” Their calling was to see and write things no one else was thinking about. In our reading today Zechariah laments the destruction of the cedars of Lebanon, their glory gone. The impact is felt everywhere. Even lions roar at the loss of thicket. It is a sad poem about a great loss. It would take a generation or more to replace the loss of these trees. Of course, he could have been speaking literally; however, I prefer to read the poem as prophetically symbolic. Tall trees are prideful leaders whose arrogance needs trimming. Their pride is tenacious and prone to overgrowth, but God lays them low. If this is the case, there is certainly some similarity to our present culture. More and more I am reminded by the things I hear and read how prideful and arrogant our society in general has become. We see our leaders as the ultimate answer to all our difficulties. We should hear the prophet speak. Zechariah saw the fall of Lebanon in his life. His culture, his way of life collapsed. It would be an entire generation before it would be rebuilt and recover. I wonder if that is the real message to our nation. I have no doubt that we must turn our eyes toward Jesus if we are to have any hope of surviving these days ahead. Who are you looking toward today?

Some Special Words - Pt 6

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:15-23 ESV).

Of all the words used to describe the process of our new standing in Christ our word today may be one of the most complex. It is “reconciliation.” The Greek word is ἀποκατήλλαξεν, pronounced “apokatēllaxen.” Strong’s uses the word in the context of “I reconcile, change from one state of feeling to another.” Let me see if I can illustrate with a common story about two fictional characters named John and Mary. They were both exhausted. They had been yelling at each other for an hour, but no true communication had taken place. Both were angry; neither of them at this point wanted to be near the other. And it had happened so often lately they simply didn’t know if they could go any further with one another. Divorce seemed imminent. They were hopeless. What this young married couple needed was to have someone to sit down with them, encourage them to truly listen to each other, figure out how to forgive each other, learn to give and take, and be reconciled to each other. It wouldn’t be easy; reconciliation requires hard work. That often is the task I take up in my marriage counseling. By the time most people get to a counselor, the situation is dire and seemingly impossible to “reconcile.” Our spiritual condition is like this without Christ. We have all sinned against God, and he has every reason to be angry with us. We feel uncomfortable to be in his presence. Yet we do want things to be better. We want reconciliation. Well, God has taken the necessary steps, difficult though they were, for us to be reconciled to him; he has done so through Jesus’ death on the cross. What incredible love God has shown in doing that. What seemed impossible is now finished in the cross. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Some Special Words - Pt 5

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26 ESV).

Today we will see our fifth special word from the Gospel. It is “justification.” The Greek word used in our reading today is δικαιούμενοι, which is pronounced “dikaioumenoi.” The Apostle Paul only uses this variance of the word in this passage and should best be translated “and have been freely justified by his grace.” It is a past tense verb that declares the action finished and complete. Justification is the declaring of a person to be just or righteous. It is a legal term signifying acquittal, a fact that makes it unpalatable to many in our day. We tend to trust more in our own ability thus we dismiss anything that would suggest a judgment without a sentencing of some sort. We should be clear that our hesitation was not shared by the biblical writers. In their day it was axiomatic that a wealthy and important citizen would not be treated in a law court in the same way as a poor man. In the ancient Code of Hammurabi it is declared plainly that if a citizen knocked out the tooth of another citizen his own tooth should be knocked out. But if the victim was a vassal it sufficed to pay a small fine. Nobody expected strict justice in human tribunals but the biblical writers were sure that God is a God of justice. Judgment had to require sentencing. Our guilt required our death (cf. Romans 6:23). The law demanded the ultimate payment. The great news of the Gospel is that God ahs paid our debt with the life of His son, Jesus. While we all have little choice but to plead guilty before the divine tribunal, if we have a relationship with Jesus Christ, he has already paid the penalty for our sins, and we can go free. That is the picture behind justification. That term means that God has declared us free from sin and free from punishment, for Christ took our punishment on the cross. We have been “justified freely by his grace.” There will be no need for further declarations or appeals. We need not merely wait until the assigned hour for the carrying out of our sentence. Jesus has already met that appointment and completed our punishment. Justice has been served and we are free from our penalty. Hallelujah! What a Savior!