One More Day

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. (1 Timothy 4:7-10 ESV).

I have often used the illustration of the time of day to describe where I might be in my life. I have said that I am much nearer midnight than morning. And, with being morbid, average life-span of an American male makes that a reality. Today, being New Year’s Eve, makes us all think a bit more about time. Certainly we will see an ending of sorts and a beginning of another. This year will soon become “past” while the “future” dawns. That truth really doesn’t impact our life. We all live in a very specific span of days. God has already determined the length of those days. Our choice is then not how many days we have left, but how we shall use them. So, if you received an official notice today that this is your last day to live, what difference would it make in the things you do? Would you try to make more money; or stay late at the office working on that special project not yet completed? Would you spend the time with your family, or express thanks to those who’ve helped you along the way? Would you seek to get right with God? What would you do? We tend to focus on the material and the temporal and neglect the eternal and relational. None of us knows the number of days God has planned for us. It is essential that we not procrastinate until tomorrow the really important things you can do today. God became a man in the person of Jesus to show us how. Start there, and show your family how much you love them. Surprise them by occasionally coming home early. Tell them you love them. Plan fun things to do with them. Help someone you care about, someone who needs you at the office, in the neighborhood, or maybe someone who needs a friend. Certainly this is the Apostle Paul’s instruction in our reading today. This is where we should spend our time. It may not be the last day you live here on earth, but it may become a great day for you and those you care about.

All Your Strength

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength [emphasis added].’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31 ESV).

Jesus now says we are “…to love the Lord your God …with all your strength” (v. 30d). Disney’s portrayal of strength is epitomized in the characterization of Hercules. He proves his strength by flexing his muscles as the devil measures him. If only it were that easy in real life! As we approach the New Year we should see this last phrase as a whole-hearted, life-encompassing allegiance to God. The context of our reading today stresses that treasuring God’s oneness and uniqueness needs to be personally applied to our lives. It needs to impact relationships, and what goes on at home and in the work place. Jesus is calling us to wholehearted, life-encompassing, community-impacting, exclusive commitment to God. This truth means that every closet of our lives needs to be opened for cleaning, and every relationship in our lives must be influenced. This call to love God this way destroys any option of being one person at church and another person elsewhere. What you do on the internet needs to be just as pure as what you do in Bible-reading. The way we talk to our parents needs to be as wholesome as the way we talk to our pastors. There needs to be an authentic love for God that starts with God-oriented affections, desires, and thoughts, that permeates our speaking and behavior, and then influences the way we spend our money and how we dress, and drive, and our forms of entertainment. Whether we’re eating or singing, jogging or blogging, texting or drawing, love for God is to be in action. And, that means all of our energy. It’s interesting that the word Mark uses for “strength” also means “ability.” It means that God has given all of us talents and abilities. You see, to love God with all of our energy, with all of our abilities, with all of our spiritual gifts, is the means for our serving the Lord. It’s a way of expressing our love to Him. It means holding nothing back when it comes to our energy level in showing our love for God. It means that when we’re using all that energy in our vocation, or in school, we’re doing it because it is pleasing to God to make the most of our abilities for Him. We are loving God with all of our abilities, with all of our being, with all of our strength. There’s a focus for your New Year!

All Your Mind

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind [emphasis added] and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31 ESV).

The third thing Jesus says about loving God is that we should “… love the Lord you God… with all your mind” (v. 30c). This one is significantly easier to understand that yesterday when we explored loving God with all our “soul.” It can be said that Jesus is drawing our attention to an intellectual love of God. There are several components to intellectual love for God. First, it is a sincere, practiced dedication to know God. This is more than just knowing about God. I can describe in great detail every part of some of my most pleasurable experiences; however, you would never know those things until you also experienced them. You would merely know about them. Second, Jesus is encouraging us to think clearly and truly about God so that we don't have false ideas in our minds. This can only be accomplished by a thorough and consistent study of the Scripture. Last, intellectual love of God means not being satisfied with merely an intellectual awareness of his attributes, character, and acts but intentionally devoting that mental effort to serve the affections for God. If a person doesn't move from intellectual awareness of God and right thinking about God to an emotional embrace of God, he hasn't loved God with his mind. The mind has not yet loved until it hands off its thoughts to the emotions where they're embraced. And then the mind and the heart are working in what feels like such harmony, and you experience it as both intellectual and affectional love for God. One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Isaiah 55:8 and 9. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” That’s a beautiful passage in the Word of God to describe why the word of God is so unique. Because everything we read here in this life tends to be contrary to what God’s Word is saying. We need to immerse ourselves in the word of God as a way of getting to know God, so that we can love God with our minds. This New Year, dedicate yourself to loving God with your mind.

All Your Soul

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul [emphasis added] and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31 ESV).

Next Jesus says, “… you shall love the Lord your God … with all your soul” (v. 30b). The soul is a little more difficult to understand than the heart. We don’t often use this kind of language in describing a part of our being. However, we can define the soul as our personality and the seat of our will. Think about it this way. When a man and woman fall in love, they often marry. While passion may have drawn them together, it is a decision of the will that keeps them together in a committed relationship. The fact is that sinful human nature often causes us to be tempted to be unfaithful to our spouse. It’s during those times that we have to completely ignore temporary feelings and by an act of the will, decide to stay faithful. We express our love through this long-term faithfulness, loyalty, and devotion. It’s the same with God. When we give our heart to God, we begin that relationship with Him. Then along the way, we’re tempted to fall into sin. And if we simply followed our feelings, we would give into the temptation. But if we’re really going to love God, we choose to be faithful to Him, no matter what we’re feeling at the moment. We love God when we choose to root our entire lives in the hands of God. Then we will begin to discover the contentment and peace that we have been searching for all our lives. We will find meaning and purpose and value and worth in the unconditional love of God. And the best part is that we will find that all these thing s will belong to us in increasing measure no matter what circumstances life may throw our way. Life does have a way of keeping on coming at us. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out something comes along to mess the whole thing up. Car breaks down. Recession hits. Job gets cut. One you thought you trusted betrays you. Lab report comes back positive. Rejection notice shows up in the mail. Death of a loved one stops everything in its tracks. We try our best to pretend that we have things all under control. But we know that all it takes is one single moment in time to shatter that illusion. Knowing this is true, we worry. We get angry. We lose our patience. We grow desperate. Some of us even we give up. Loving God with all your soul means that no matter what circumstances come your way you will continue to trust that your soul, your very life, is firmly rooted in a foundation that will never be shaken.

All Your Heart

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart [emphasis added] and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31 ESV). Yesterday we looked at the majestic beauty of creation as a motivation for continuing to develop our relationship with our heavenly Father. Today I want us to look into what has become known as “the Great Commandment.” Jesus was asked the question as to the greatest commandment. He answered, “…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (v. 30). We are going to look at each of these separately for the next few days.

The first is to love God with “all your heart.” It means to love God with all of your feelings, with all of your emotions and with all your passion. Now, passion is a very hot term in our contemporary culture. People ask, “What’s your passion?” What they’re asking you is what is it that really gets you excited? It could be a certain ideology, social cause, activity, or interest. Perhaps it’s a passion about the theatre, movies, or music; or it could be something as basic as making money, physical fitness, or watching college football. You can be passionate about a lot of things, but the number one passion of your life needs to be your relationship with God. Think about your relationship with God this way. When you first came to Christ there was no problem in feeling passionate about God. You had a hunger for the word, to be in worship, and to tell others about Christ. You were excited about it and there was a very real passion rooted in your mind. As time went by and life presented its many challenges and opportunities, it became easy for other things to become a higher priority. That’s our natural response to everything. New things, new relationships, new seasons of our life are always more exciting in the beginning. As we settle into the routine of those things, we simply don’t feel as passionate about them any longer. If we were talking about your marriage, we might be tempted to think we were no longer “in love.” The truth is that we simply let our passion shift to the next newest thing. The solution is not someone or something new. The solution is to change our focus. We accomplish that by revisiting what we already know through our experience. Remember the great gift God has given to you; recall the incredible wonder of His grace; and, recount the many blessings of His presence. How’s your heart?

Majestic Beauty

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31 ESV).

Our reading today so simply states the obvious. When God finished creating, “he saw everything, and behold, it was very good.” In my new “study/guest room” we have hung one of our favorite watercolors by Jim Gray. It is titled “Winter Sunset.” We acquired this painting many years ago on one of our trips to the Smoky Mountains. Gray is retired now, though he still maintains a gallery in Gatlinburg, where he lives. It is a reminder for me that God’s creation is indeed a wonder to behold. As we begin to move through this week and the end of this year, I think it will be encouraging to look at some of the wonders of God. I’m always amazed when I watch the Discovery Channel or a National Geographic special on an in-depth study of a place or an animal I’ve rarely seen, gaining insight about what makes them unique and how wonderful they are. Even though God is rarely, if ever mentioned on these shows, it causes my faith to be strengthened, for I’m reminded that God thought of every little detail in creating the universe. Everywhere you turn in creation, there’s evidence of intelligent design, the work of the Master Artist. When you see a great painting, DaVinci’s Mona Lisa, a piece by Van Gogh, or a scene of American life by Norman Rockwell, do you have more awe of the piece of art than of the artist? Not likely. Yet we do this all the time with God’s creation. And we miss the real message of God. The Scripture is so clear in declaring the ultimate reason why God created. The psalmist says, “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). I’ve often been asked how I can believe that earth is the only inhabited planet and man the only rational inhabitant among all the universe.” Well, the answer is easy for me. It’s not about us. It’s about God. And that’s an understatement. God created us to know him and love him and show him. And then he gave us a hint of what he is like. He is like the universe. When God created the world he did not create out of any need or any weakness or any deficiency. He created out of fullness and strength and complete sufficiency. Jonathon Edwards said, “Tis no argument of the emptiness or deficiency of a fountain that it is inclined to overflow.” So we don’t glorify God by improving his glory, but by seeing and savoring and showing his glory, which is the same as knowing, loving, and showing. We know this from our relationship with Him. As we approach the New Year, let the majestic beauty of God’s creation draw you into His arms!

Merry Christmas!

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7 ESV).

Merry Christmas! Sounds easy enough doesn’t it? However, with all the various challenges of any holiday, I wonder if it really will be a merry day. Sometimes the inconveniences of the holidays really can be frustrating. As I meandered through the newest update and installation of emoticons of IOS 10.2 I saw one that was all too familiar. I sincerely hope you do not feel the need to express yourself with this one. At any rate, it got me thinking about some of the inconveniences of Christmas and especially the first Christmas. Saying that is was inconvenient for Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem to register and be taxed at this time in their lives is certainly an understatement. It would have been very easy to berate the “greedy government officials” for imposing such a tax and registration. It would have been easy for them to have felt that this new decree was more than they could bear. Yet there is no indication that they complained. Others in the Christmas story had the same conveniences to deal with. The shepherds didn’t complain about their disrupted night. The wise men didn’t fuss about their long journey. ave had doubts, there were also reassurances along the way—the word of angels, the prophecies of Scripture, the star to follow. Whether they knew it or not, God was arranging all the details of this unique event. He had planned it long before Jesus’ birth and revealed pieces of the plan to many prophets throughout the years. I suspect that throughout Mary’s life she searched the Scriptures and continued to make connections between the prophecies and the life of her son. I’m sure Mary was disturbed to hear from Simeon, “a sword will pierce through your own soul also” (Luke 2:34 ESV). Her baby was still tiny, but already a shadow had appeared. And before too long they’d have to go to Egypt to avoid Herod’s wrath. Their celebration of a new life was probably nothing like they’d anticipated. It reminds me that no matter what challenges we face during the holidays and at year-end, and how tempting it can be to grumble, the birth of Jesus helps put things in perspective. God chose to send His Son into a dirty, sinful world, under terrible conditions, just because He loved us too much to let us go. And because He did, one day we will be freed from all the struggles, sin, sickness, and death that is part of this fallen world. That’s something worth celebrating! Merry Christmas!

A Story of Family

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:18-21 ESV).

Christmas Eve sees many different kinds of celebrations. Let me take you back forty-seven years to a particular Christmas Eve. As you know, Mary and I were married on December 21st, forty-seven years ago. We had decided to honeymoon in South Texas seeing some of the people and places that Mary had known as a child growing up in Carrizo Springs, Texas. At the end of our trip we were scheduled to stay at one of the grandest hotels in San Antonio, the St. Anthony. It is still one of the most beloved of San Antonio luxury hotels and has been restored to the opulence that made her storied halls the haunt of politicos, princesses and a-list celebrities. Overlooking Travis Park it is three blocks from both the Alamo and the River Walk. However, in all of that grandeur, in that day, there wasn’t anything open on Christmas Eve in San Antonio! AS Mary and I walked the nearly deserted streets, we saw one building that was open. It was the St. Joseph Catholic Church. And, of course, they were celebrating Christmas Eve with a high mass. Mary had never been to a Catholic service. So, we decided to venture in. The sights and sounds were incredible; however, the scent of the strong incense was more than my bride or I wanted to endure. We left quickly and returned to the hotel. Sitting in the room, we both decided it would be a good time to call our family. That made the night pleasant indeed. Christmas is a time for family gatherings. This interaction can bring great joy or great stress. Estrangement or ill will from past conflicts can explode. Joseph and Mary had their share of family challenges. Consider their circumstances. With the strange news of her pregnancy while a virgin and the dream Joseph received from an angel, he certainly had reason to be confused, angry, and disappointed. However, he felt none of those things. Joseph followed instructions and cared for his family. His continuing commitment to Mary and Jesus played a significant part in the child's birth and early childhood. With God's help, the family overcame major obstacles. I know there are those circumstances where it simply isn’t safe for a family to be together with some of the other family members. However, short of that, is it time for you to restore those family ties? That may be the best gift you can give or receive this Christmas.

Bethlehem

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. (Luke 2:1-5 ESV).

If you could travel from Nazareth in a straight line to Bethlehem you would need to go about eighty miles. However, there is no “straight line” from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary would have gone through the hills and mountains, through villages and around rivers. Christmas pictures always show Mary riding a donkey but we really have no idea of their mode of travel. Whether on foot or on the back of a swaying animal it couldn’t have been an easy journey, especially for a woman nearing the end of her pregnancy. I’ve often thought about the many things that could have gone wrong. Even in today’s world of modern health care, giving birth is no easy task. They both must have been anxious about the trip and what it might mean for both they and their child. We all know that the Roman government had decreed a census and that everyone had to go to their “own city,” the place their families called home, for this official registration and counting. Perhaps Mary was also quite ready to leave the village of Nazareth where tongues were wagging about her pregnancy and unmarried status. But Mary and Joseph knew they were going far from family and into a city whose streets would be clogged with traveling strangers. They were assured of no warm welcome, no cozy place to birth the expected child. Perhaps they hoped for a small house or a distant relative or a way for Joseph to earn money for their keep, but in almost every way, they were traveling into the unknown. The journey was long and hard, the destination uncertain. Nearly nine months before their arrival in Bethlehem, Mary spoke life-changing words to God; they were words that were to comfort her in the many uncertain years ahead. She confessed, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” With those simple words of faith, she could endure the long journey on the back of a donkey, the cold streets of Bethlehem, the staring faces of strangers, and even the crude stable with its straw-lined manger. I wonder if you have been forced to travel to your Bethlehem? Has the path been long, the people uncaring, or the circumstances burdensome? When we submit ourselves to a loving God, we can in quietness and confidence add “May it be to me as you have said” no matter the place or position in which we find ourselves. Trust Him to see you through it all and work it together for your good.

Prove It!

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (John 11:17-27 ESV). Most of us are of the ilk that we find great reason to be skeptical of spiritual things unless we have seen the proof. Further, we pride ourselves in being logical creatures who demand proof before believing. Yet, a professor can tell us that there 100 trillion stars in the sky, and we accept it without question. We accept as absolute fact that an atom has neutrons and electrons spinning around a nucleus, even though we have never seen any of them. We know that light travels 186,000 miles a second even though we’ve personally never measured it. And we agree that Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address, and that E does, in fact, equal mc2. We accept all these things as facts without ever demanding the proof of their authenticity. So many people will reject Jesus for the same reason. They would rather risk their eternal souls than believe, even when presented with solid proof. You may be tempted to ask what proof is there. There is the witness of thousands of people who saw the miracles of Jesus. There are testimonies from dozens who witnessed His death, then saw Him alive after His resurrection. There are scores of prophecies that have been fulfilled concerning Jesus. However, even after being shown so much solid evidence, many enlightened, logical people reject Jesus as “just some myth for the gullible.” In fact, the divinity of Jesus is just about the only thing people refuse to accept, even when evidence is overwhelming.

With the same evidence we accept the Christmas narrative with little or no effort. And, the resurrection remains elusive to modern man. That is the dilemma Mary and Martha faced in the grief of their dearly loved brother, Lazarus. So, Jesus makes it easy for them. He raises Lazarus from the dead. Then there could be no denial as to his power and authority. Faith became easy for them. This Christmas season take that leap of faith. Once you do, your life will be changed forever. You will never again need to wonder about eternity. You will forever be destined for immortality.

Happy Anniversary, Mary!

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. (Proverbs 31:10-12 ESV).

Hard to imagine that Mary and I are celebrating our 47th Wedding Anniversary today. I know that seems even more incredible given the fact that Mary doesn’t look old enough to have been married for that length of time. I remind people that she was just three when we married (she will never get over fifty in public speech from me – and don’t ask me what I’m going to do when we celebrate our Fiftieth Anniversary). You can tell from the picture I decided to post with this devotional that Mary has changed very little through the years. By the way, the backdrop for this picture is the Little Pigeon River in the Smoky Mountains. They haven’t changed over the years either. I am often asked what the secret is to our lengthy years together. Normally I answer only half jesting that our longevity is completely based in Mary, not me. So, it seems appropriate as I think about the Smokies and our years together to meld the verse today together for some brief words of encouragement and inspiration. Solomon lists two things in this reading that have been important to us over the years. Perhaps they will help you as they have us. First, he says the excellent wife is “precious.” That word really means “treasured.” Like our beloved mountains, she is a treasure. Being “retired” now has given us a new perspective on that truth. While we now can spend much more time together, the time together has not lessened the value or enjoyment of that time together. I can’t remember going to the mountains and not spending some time cruising slowly through Cade’s Cove. Nothing has really changed over the four decades we have done that; however, each time is just as wonderful as I remember the last. For a marriage to last, really last, it’s not about something “new.” It’s about recognizing and treasuring the value of one another. Second, he says the excellent wife possesses an attitude to “do good” to her husband. I know I used an action verb in the word “do”; but, it more of an attitude than a behavior. While we have not always agreed in all things, we have more often than not sought each other’s good. The mountains are like that for me. I never go that I don’t lower the windows, turn off the radio, and listen to magical sounds of the silence of the mountains. We haven’t been able to do a “quiet walkway” through the paths of the woods there in a while, but when we did, I was always amazed at the wonder of those sounds. It did me good. They refreshed my heart and restored my hope. Our conversation with one another ought to always seek the end of restoring one another’s joy and hope. I’m out of space again; and, not nearly having exhausted the topic I must conclude. Happy Anniversary, Mary!

Ranting and Raving

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 2:9-11 ESV).

The contemporary idiom “ranting and raving” has seen a very clear illustration in our country over the last few months. It’s never been very far from our consciousness as so many people at one time or another find themselves participating in that form of communication. The most common definition for the phrase is to “talk loudly and vehemently, especially in anger, as in ‘There you go again, ranting and raving about the neighbor's car in your driveway.’ This idiom is a redundancy, since rant and rave mean just about the same thing, but probably survives on account of its alliterative appeal.” Now, I am sure you are wondering what a definition of “rant and rave” has in common with the Christmas story and our reading today. However, I hope you will stick with me for a bit longer. And, I sincerely hope this little bit of daily encouragement doesn’t seem like a rant. My desire is for it to be a clear look into the future and the vital necessity to know and share the real message of the birth of Jesus. So, I will start at the beginning. Last week I saw a kind message on social media where someone was thanking a business owner in their hometown for putting “Merry Christmas” on their windows rather than “Merry X-mas.” He spent a few sentences expressing his appreciation and then proceeded to “rant and rave” about the deplorable nature of leaving the name of Jesus out of Christmas in our culture. First, can I simply say that “X-mas” does not eliminate the word “Christ” from Christmas. The “x” is actually the Greek letter chi which is the first letter of “Christ” in that language. It is an abbreviation; and, perhaps there is some validity in insisting that we not abbreviate the name of Jesus. I’m just not sure it requires a rant or a rave to communicate that, especially when so many more important things need to be said in a world that is hopelessly lost without Jesus. Second, no one, no matter what they do, can ever eliminate the name of Jesus. The Apostle Paul reminds us that because of his work of grace on the cross, his name will one day be required when “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess” his lordship. And that’s the real message. Perhaps we should spend our time talking about that rather than abbreviating Christ in Christmas. The good news is that Jesus has conquered death and hell on our behalf. Celebrate that today in our actions and words!

No Exchange, No Return

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:2-12 ESV).

The day after Christmas is one of the most crowded days at retail outlets. It’s not usually because of all the sales and mark-downs available. It’s because of the thousands of gifts being returned or exchanged. Jesus’ teaching in our reading today speaks a little about the gifts that are given to the believer through the work of God’s grace. For those who are classified as “poor in spirit” their gift is the “kingdom of heaven.” That certainly would not be a gift anyone would want to return or exchange. Luke recognized another great gift to a group of men who would have been considered “poor.” In the beginning of his Gospel he writes: 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. (Luke 2:8-11 ESV). You can bet the shepherds weren’t headed for the return line at BethlehemMart that night. This gift was a keeper! Joy invaded that hillside as they went to see what the angels were singing about. The “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” propels them back to shepherding with thanksgiving on their lips and spring in their steps. Light has broken into their darkness. A revolutionary and countercultural miracle has been revealed to them, the lowly and disrespected. A new Shepherd, a Good Shepherd, a Savior, has come! Joy erupts from both heaven and earth. Angels sing, shepherds praise, wise men rejoice exceedingly with great joy. Their voices echo Mary’s refrain from the beginning of her journey: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47). Join the chorus, sing along, and take pleasure in His grace. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come”!

Expectations

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. (Matthew 9:1-8 ESV). I have a confession. It’s one week before Christmas and we have not put a tree up in our house. Mary and I decided to forego the traditional tree in favor of getting everything else put in its place from our final unpack and the move from Tennessee. We did put out a few decorations, but our house is not nearly as festive as it has been in years past. I must also admit that I’m a little disappointed about that. I suppose that I could’ve avoided my disappointment by adjusting my expectations based on the final schedule of the move and the completion of the house. Strange how easy that sounds and how hard that is to actually accomplish. That’s especially true this time of the year, isn’t it? Let me give you a few examples. Picture yourself seated at a beautifully decorated Christmas dining table. Cheerful Christmas music plays softly and a twinkling Christmas tree stands in the background. This is the time of peace on earth, good will toward others. Now picture your family and relatives all sitting together around the table. Do you picture them… arguing? Sometimes, in spite of our efforts, people disagree disagreeably, even at Christmas. Or, perhaps you’re hoping that this year your children will be cheerful, patient and thoughtful of others. Well, if that’s how they are from January to November, you might have a shot at it in December. Or you might find them pulling ornaments off the Christmas tree and opening presents saying, “I already have this.” Christmas is packed with expectations. There is a better way to approach this time of the year. Look at why we have Christmas. Christmas is celebrated because of the birth of Jesus. Now the whole world doesn’t celebrate my birthday. Why is he so special? Well, Jesus said he was God. If you look at Buddha or Confucius or other religious leaders, often it was their followers who declared them “God” long after they were dead. In contrast, Jesus clearly and repetitively told people he was God. Jesus said he could give people eternal life and forgiveness for their sins. That brings things into a better focus. Looking toward Jesus guarantees hope, and that produces peace. Give it a try!

The First Gift-Giver

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. (Matthew 2:7-12 ESV).

For centuries, St. Nicholas has been remembered by Christians for his generosity toward children and the poor. The real St. Nicholas lived in Turkey, where he served as bishop in the town of Myra, during the fourth century. According to Dutch legend, Sinter Klaas (St. Nicholas) brought gifts at Christmastime, either through an open window or down a chimney. This legend is the basis of the Santa Claus we know and love today. Prior to the 16th century, gifts were exchanged during the feast of St. Nicholas on December 6th. After that time, German Protestants began celebrating Christkindl on December 25th, a feast day for the Christ Child. Soon the two days merged into one, although, today many people in Europe continue to celebrate both days. As early as 1773, the name "St. A Claus" appeared in print. But Americans did not have a detailed description of St. Nicholas until Washington Irving included a drawing of him in the 1809 publication A History of New York. Then, in 1823, Clement Clarke Moore wrote 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (or A Visit from St. Nicholas). It was Moore's account that characterized Santa as a jolly old man who rides in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer and slides down chimneys to deliver gifts. However, there were others who gave gifts at Christmas. Our reading helps us with their identity. The Three Wise Men, as they came to be known, brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus. Gold is the gift for a king, an expensive gift symbolizing belief that Jesus was born to be a king. Frankincense is the gift for a priest, reminding us that Jesus is the ultimate High Priest, a mediator between God and man. But myrrh was an unusual gift for a child. It’s a precious spice or perfume used to anoint a body at death. Why myrrh? It was a prophetic gift. Even then, these were not the first “gift-givers.” God was the first. He gave us His Son, Jesus who would die to be our Savior. His gift was greatest of all. As you secure that “perfect gift” for your loved one, remember the most perfect gift of all. How he loves us!

God With Us

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25 ESV).

The Hebrew name Immanuel occurs twice in the Old Testament, both times in Isaiah, both in prophecies concerning the Messiah. In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet writes, "Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel". In 8:8 he writes, "...and the spread of [the Euphrates', see v. 7] wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel". Seven centuries later, Joseph finds Mary, his wife to be, with child and is understandably befuddled and anxious. But an angel from God visits him in a dream and quotes Isaiah, saying that Joseph's little family is the target of a famous, seven hundred year old prophecy. The Child will be called Immanuel (Εμμανουηλ, Emmanouel) eventually, but for now he should be named Jesus, as we see fulfilled in our reading today. “God With Us” is the best translation. It is so easy to race past the meaning of the name. After all, God is everywhere, so it stands to reason that it is a small thing for him to be with us. Yet, so many feel alone much of the time, especially around the holidays. Some feel it in a crowd; and others feel it when they are by themselves. Sociologists say that never before in history have so many people lived so close together and felt so far apart. Loneliness is an experience of modern man. There’s no doubt that singles bars are filled with people battling loneliness. I recently spoke with a young divorced person, tired of one-night stands, who confessed with great regret that “Sex is readily available in the American singles scenes, but friendship is not.” The message of Immanuel is that one can still be alone, but not lonely. At the root of all loneliness is alienation from God. Years ago, a man named Augustine espoused that God has made us for Himself. Our soul is restless until we find rest in Him. We may seek to fill the void with activities, crowds, and noise, but a nagging loneliness will always be there until we have a personal relationship with God. Go to Him today!

Then Sings My Soul

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. (Psalm 22:1-5 ESV). Swedish pastor, Carl Boberg, was enjoying a nice walk through the woods when suddenly, a thunderstorm struck. He sought shelter underneath an ancient oak tree and braced himself from the cold rain and wind. Then, as suddenly as it appeared, the storm subsided, leaving a clear blue sky and the gentle scene of nature at its most glorious. Boberg heard the ring of a church bell in the distance and a feeling of peace enveloped him as the words to one of Christianity’s greatest hymns formed in his heart. First popularized in America by George Beverly Shea, “How Great Thou Art” has been recorded by hundreds of artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Billy Preston, Alan Jackson, and Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill. They, along with believers the world over, use these words to honor, glorify, and praise the Creator of the universe. Each year about this time, as we lead into the Christmas season, I encourage you to take a moment to read through the lyrics and make them your own, praising and thanking our magnificent Creator for His marvelous love. The song and its meaning never go out of style! Spend a few minutes and listen to this wonderful old hymn knowing that God is indeed great on your behalf. Here’s the link (and if you want to sing along the lyrics follow): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnvg0OtupuI O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made. I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed. When through the woods and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur And see the brook and feel the gentle breeze. And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin. Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art. Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art! May God grant you the unshakable knowledge that His greatness is on your behalf. He turns all things to our good!

Missing Christmas

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. (Matthew 13:10-13 ESV).

Mary and her sister, Susan Mincey, returned recently from a brief junket to New York City. While they were there they were able to see The Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. Of course, the performance was great, but the pictures they took reminded me of how special the lights and decorations are this time of the year in the city. I do love the way everything seems so special at Christmas. I know there are those who would complain that it is merely the commercialization of Christmas that has led to such wonderful sights; however, aren’t we at least a bit better for it? That thought brought me to today’s reading. I am afraid that too many people miss Christmas because it’s not “pure” enough for them. It’s always been that way. There are at least three in the New Testament who missed Christmas: Perhaps the first to come to mind was the innkeeper. He was so busy; he had a full hotel and so many people with their own agendas and needs. In his mind, there was simply no time or place in his inn for Jesus at Christmas. Others who missed Christmas were the religious leaders around King Herod. When the wise men came inquiring about the birth of a kingly Messiah, the religious leaders told Herod that God’s word said Bethlehem. Yet, they were so focused on staying close to worldly power that they didn’t take God’s word seriously. They missed Jesus at Christmas. Most tragically the one who missed Christmas in the worst way was King Herod. He tried to eliminate Christmas before it could unseat him in his position. He tried to eradicate Jesus completely. People are still seeking to use political power to do that today. Spend some time today and ask yourself, “Will you miss Christmas?” There may be dozens of legitimate reasons that come to mind that would take time away from the real impact Christmas could have in your life. However, I hope you will find Jesus in all the commotion. It is more than worth the effort!

Pondering the Mysteries of God

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. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:15-21 ESV). The Bible could never be accused of whitewashing the heroes of the faith. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, and Peter all had some pretty serious flaws and failures. When we come across a biblical personality who had no recorded obvious flaws and sins, we take note. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of those who was always found faithful. And what faith she had! She was a Jewish teenage virgin visited by an angel, and told she would give birth to God’s son. I love Mary’s depiction in the Gospel. She is portrayed as genuine and very human. She initially responded like any teenage virgin would today. Disbelief, shock, bewilderment, and probably wondering what her betrothed and her family would think, she asked, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” But after the initial shock, she chose to believe God’s Word.

There’s a great word Luke uses in our reading to describe her reaction to all the things surrounding Jesus’ birth. He says she was “pondering” them. The Greek word is συμβάλλουσα (symballousa). Strong’s says of this word, only used six times in the Bible: “I throw together, hence: I ponder, come up with, encounter, with or without hostile intent; I dispute with; mid: I confer, consult with, contribute.” I like the definition online too. It says it is to think about, contemplate, consider, review, reflect on, mull over, meditate on, muse on, deliberate about, cogitate on, dwell on, brood on, ruminate on, chew over, puzzle over, turn over in one's mind, or overthink. I found a blog titled “justsomethings” that had this wonderful rendering of what Mary might have looked like as she considered all that had happened. I’ve had those moments in my life. Circumstances and events begin to unfold in my life and I am forced to just wonder. Most of the time I ask the question: “Why?” Unfortunately that’s always the wrong question. Mary is a great example for us. She asked, “Who?” Her answer was ultimately the root of her faith. It was God who had overseen all the events surrounding the miraculous birth of her baby. It would be enough for her to take the next step. Her anxiety was softened knowing God had brought these things into her life for good. That’s our promise as well. Spend some time pondering your experiences with that truth in mind.

The Grinch

Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:12-17 ESV).

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (promoted theatrically as The Grinch) most recently was a 2000 American comedy film directed by Ron Howard and written by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman based on the 1957 story of the same name by Dr. Seuss. It was the first Dr. Seuss book to be adapted into a full-length feature film. It follows the Grinch, a grouchy, solitary creature who attempts to put an end to Christmas. Cindy Lou Who is a little girl in grade school who wants to crack the case of why no one talks about the Grinch. She eventually convinces the Grinch to come down from his mountaintop and accept the role of Holiday Cheermeister. During a part of the ceremony, the Grinch feels betrayed and goes on a rampage to destroy the town. After the town picks itself back up, the Grinch knows what he must do to break the town's spirit; he must keep Christmas from coming. He steals everything in everyone's houses, and thinks he has done an insanely good job during his hilarious montage. When he hears the Whos sing in the morning, the Grinch realizes that this holiday means a lot more than just getting presents. In a sudden surge of new emotions, the Grinch's heart grows three sizes. Cindy Lou comes to see him, and he brings the gifts back to the town. Despite his efforts, Whoville's inhabitants still celebrate the holiday, so the Grinch returns everything that he stole and is the guest of honor at the Whos' Christmas dinner. Before Jesus was born, crucified, and resurrected no one could legitimately expect to have a celebration of peace and joy. Sin and death had stolen those things from mankind. I find it so important to think about the real gift of Christmas. It was only through the love of God that we had any hope at all. “Dwelling in the shadow of death and living in darkness” was the lot of men everywhere. Thankfully God did not need to have his heart grow at all. From the beginning he has determined to save his children; and, at that perfect time Jesus was born. He was born expressly to sacrifice himself for us. He came so that we could live without guilt and shame. He became a man in order to restore God’s original perfect plan for us. This is the light that has now dawned!

O Holy Night

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!” (Luke 2:8-14 ESV). As I write today’s devotional I am also listening to Pandora Christmas music. Chloe Agnew of the Celtic Woman is singing “O Holy Night” at one of their Christmas concerts (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ-8jYpa1-o). I listen to Christmas music much of the time during December. It just seems to spark a deeper sense of God’s grace in my heart. This particular carol has some interesting history. On Christmas Eve in 1906, Reginald Fessenden, broadcast the first radio program, where he played “O Holy Night” on the violin. Therefore, the carol is the first piece of music to be broadcast on radio. “O Holy Night” (“Cantique de NoÃl”) was set to music by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the lyrics of a French poem written by Placide Cappeau, a wine merchant and poet. Cappeau had been asked to write a Christmas poem by a parish priest. Another bit of trivia is that it was originally was composed in French and yet the English translation rhymes. The music is so overpowering in its beauty that we sometimes fail to notice the perfection of the lyrics. As you listen to the video contemplate the wonder and blessing of the birth of Jesus. Here are the lyrics to help in your meditation: Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appear’d and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angels’ voices! Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born; Oh night divine, Oh night, Oh night Divine.

A Great Start

“A Great Start” by Don Emmitte Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. (Psalm 5:1-3 ESV).

The web site says, “The crunchy flakes perfectly coated with sweetened frosting gives every morning a great start.” Mary prefers to have Multi-grain Cheerios for a breakfast cereal; and, with my sweet tooth, I like to have something a bit more sugary. Frosted flakes are my choice. After all, Tony the Tiger says “they’re Gr-r-reat!” I have been told on multiple occasions that I don’t like the things that are good for me. There’s something about not eating right that just tastes better to me. While I am not recommending that practice in life, it does seem to work for me in my choice of foods. And that brings me to today’s reading. A great start to the day really has very little to do with what we eat. Starting the day best ought to begin with a relationship to our heavenly Father. Some might protest they are simply not “a morning person.” And, it is true that the population is about evenly split between being a fast starter and not. Study after study have proven that a vast number of people don’t get going until about three o’clock in the afternoon. That’s when their creative juices start flowing and when they really feel alive. For me, the day begins much earlier. I am one of those people who follow a philosophy of “not burning daylight.” If the sun is up, I like to be up and going as well. Either way, night owl or early riser, let me suggest a great way to start your day. It begins with the declaration of David in our reading today. He says, “In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice (or prayer).” It makes sense to be in touch with the One who created the day. Why not begin your day by spending a few minutes alone with God each morning? Study God’s Word and share with Him through prayer your heart and your concerns. It will help get you in the right frame of mind. You’ll find your day will start and finish a whole lot better. Private devotions aren’t magic. We can be tempted to think that if we just figure out the secret formula, the right mixture of Bible meditation and prayer we will experience the joy of “real” communion with the Lord. And if that doesn’t happen, our formula must be wrong. We can learn from good marriages a great deal about our relationship with the Lord. It is the consistent, persistent, faithful, intentional, affectionate pursuit of one another during better and worse, richer and poorer, sickness and health that cultivates a capacity for delight in each other far deeper and richer than any other thing. Similarly, devotions are one of the ways we cultivate delight in God. Many days it may seem mundane. But we will be surprised at the cumulative power they have to deepen our love for and awareness of him. Develop your great start more and more this season.

A Feeding Trough

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7 ESV).

The last verse of our reading today is very interesting. In most of the translations we see the word “manger” used to translate the Greek word, φάτνη (phatné). We all know the story of the birth of Jesus well. However, I think we rarely think of the real circumstances of this event. The word “manger” should best be translated “feeding trough.” It would have been made from a hewn log or block of stone. It would have been anything but clean and comfortable. It was used day after day with little care for those things. Sheep, goats, donkeys, and other farm animals wouldn’t have cared about the sanitary conditions of their trough, neither did the inn keeper. It’s easy for us to sanitize the reality of the situation, and thereby remove some of the irony. The fact is the Savior of Mankind, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, was wrapped in rags and set to rest in a trough. We might question why Joseph and Mary would allow such a thing is of some interest. The truth is they simply had no choice; there was no room for them anywhere else. The better question would be why would Jesus’ heavenly Father His only begotten Son to be treated in this manner? Well, in addition to prophecy being fulfilled, maybe God also knew that His Child had to experience humanity. He needed to know what it was like to be homeless, helpless, and in poverty. Later, He needed to understand hunger, the death of loved ones, persecution, and even death itself. Jesus needed to experience humanity fully to identify with mankind and redeem us. And that, my friends, is the real Christmas story. Think of what that means to us today. Whatever circumstance we may find ourselves, Jesus has already been there. The pain and disappointments of life are not foreign to him. He both understands and walked in that path. Our journey is of such concern to Him that He traveled it before us. When the carol declares that he “will bring us goodness and light,” it is a much deeper truth than God declaring it. This great gift of eternal life and renewed relationship with God was much more involved than that. His love extends to every detail of our lives both in theory and practice. Ponder that this Christmas season and rejoice in such a wonderful heavenly Father!

A Griswald Christmas

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. (John 8:12-15 ESV).

Mary and I have been known to ride through the surrounding neighborhoods looking at the Christmas lights. We have also been to ICE at the Gaylord Resort in Nashville, Tennessee. It was indeed something to see. In our neighborhood everyone takes care to make their displays as beautiful as possible. Every so often we all come across a truly awesome display covering the house and yards and trees and one of us will remark, “Now that’s a Griswald Christmas!” Of course, she is referencing the classic Christmas movie, “A Griswald Family Christmas.” Normally she will also say, “Bless their hearts” as well. That’s our way in the south of saying, “that’s pitiful.” You may be one of those that have such a display. That’s great. It gives the rest of us a beautiful display to see. However, the really good news for all of us is that it is a great reminder as to the real meaning of Christmas. You see, lights are an important symbol of the meaning of Christmas. Jesus entered this world to be the Light in the darkness, and God got in on the original light show. After all, the angels appeared to the shepherds, and whenever angels appear they often have this dazzling array around them. And then there was the star over Bethlehem that the wise men were drawn to. Even the celebration of many Christians in the lighting of the Advent Wreath finds its meaning in this truth. Advent, from the Latin word adventus meaning arrival, is the four week period prior to Christmas. It is a time to meditate on the great sacrifice that Jesus made for us by coming to earth as an infant. He lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death, and rose from the dead for us. He saved us from our sins and eternal damnation because of his great love, and adopts each person individually into his family through baptism and faith in him. That why each of the candles lit on the wreath symbolize hope, faith, joy, and peace. Jesus brings each of those to our world and to us individually through His atoning work. Now, that’s good news! So the next time you go driving around looking at the lights, remember the coming of Jesus, as the Light of the world.

The Gift to the Magi

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-11 ESV).

The reading today is a bit longer than usual; however, the context is important. When we think of the wise men who visited Jesus, we normally picture the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh that they brought. But if you look closer, you will realize that the real story of the wise men is not found in what they gave, but in what they received. Look at what happened after they acknowledged the star that would lead them to Jesus: Matthew writes, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly!” They were filled with joy and emotion because they were going to do what all of us are created to do. They were able to worship the Son of God who came to reestablish their relationship with their Creator and heavenly Father. Of course each of the gifts had a dual meaning. They were certainly valuable in their own right, but there was more symbolism in each. Gold was a symbol of kingship on earth; frankincense, which was incense, was a symbol of deity; and, myrrh, which was used as embalming oil, as a symbol of death. The latter is of great importance to us today. It is that death which is the great gift to both the Magi and men throughout the ages. This Christmas season, if you’ve never encountered Christ, the good news today is that He waits for you, desiring to give you a life of deep joy and satisfaction and an eternity with Him. That’s the good news of Christmas. But if you do know Christ, rejoice that every day you have the privilege of worshiping the King. And one day we will join the everlasting, eternal song that will never end as we see Him crowned the King of Kings and Lord of all!

December Babies

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. (Matthew 1:1, 16-17 ESV). It seems that lately there is another baby boom happening in our country. I have seen more announcement this month than I can remember in previous years. Perhaps that’s because we are expecting spring twins in our family. December babies is a bit surprising though, especially when you consider that Americans are statistically less likely to give birth in the winter months by a pretty huge margin. I did a little research and it turns out scientists are pretty fascinated by the effect the season of your birth has on your health and general well-being, and they've come up with a whole lot of research on what it means to be born when it's freezing cold outside. For example, here are just a few of their conclusions:  Winter babies are bigger than at other months.  Winter babies are generally smarter than babies born at other times of the year.  Winter babies are more likely to be premature.  Winter babies are better behaved.  Winter babies are more prone to general poor health. I know that information falls into the category of barely useful trivia; but, it is interesting in view of the fact that we celebrate Jesus’ birth in December, even though most theologians believe he was born around the time frame of March-April. At any rate, I return to our reading for today. It is a birth announcement. Matthew lists all of Jesus’ relatives in his genealogy and then declares, “Today in the city of David has been born for you a savior who is Christ the Lord.” “Savior is the key word. God’s Word is clear that we need a Savior because all of us sin, and in the process, find ourselves separated from God. If we die separated, that means hell, and that’s bad news. But Christmas is about good news, because Christ came to pay the penalty for our sins so that we could be forgiven and made right with God. For those who believe, He saves us from sin and that’s pretty important. There are so many things to be concerned about this time of the year. There are family members to be planned for and gifts to be purchased. There are so many decorations to be set out and decisions to be made about dozens of invitations to parties, social gatherings, and church activities. So, s you rush around getting ready for Christmas, remember why He came and believe it. That’s the key to having a Merry Christmas.

Peace at the Mall

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!” (Luke 2:8-14 ESV).

The angels said, “on earth peace among men.” Well, if you’re much like me, you’d settle for a little peace at the mall when you have go fight the crowds for that special gift! In the late seventies Jean Staeheli and Jo Robinson, writers from the Portland, Oregon area, were asked to develop a workshop on handling Christmas stress for a small college in their area. The school was seeing an increase in problems with both staff and students during the holidays. There are some very practical suggestions in their book. I encourage you to consider them as you seek the peace God desires all of us to have, especially at this time of the year. First, make an inventory of all of the tasks you do to preparation for the holiday. Using the color code “Red – Yellow – Green.” Red means it’s on fire. You gotta put it out. That task has to be done first. Yellow means it’s important, but it can wait until the others get done. And, Green can wait for sure. Be sure to add some intrinsically valuable things to your list. Be a peacemaker in your family and the world; spend enjoyable time with your immediate family; reunite with your relatives; and, celebrate the birth of Christ. Second, make note of your experience from deeply satisfying holiday celebrations of the past. Create a Christmas plan with two or three goals to help transform your celebration to be in greater harmony with your values. Usually after we have evaluated our own values and desires in comparison to what we are actually doing at Christmas, it becomes evident what tasks need to be eliminated, delegated, or simplified. Third, worship with a community of faith. It is always important to celebrate corporately during this time of the year. Find a place you feel welcome and know you hear the Gospel.

Tis the Season to be Kind

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar. The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. (Proverbs 19:20-23 ESV). The Christmas season is complicated. It teems with unrealistic expectations and extra tasks; an over- abundance of social obligations and the burden of financial pressure. Add to that the left-over dreams and un-granted wishes from childhood and the pressure to buy, starting with the dash for Christmas deals that now start on “Black Friday,” and you may experience a sense of being harried rather than holy. It is a season that can be a time of gladness, wonder, beauty, celebration, service, and love.

A Christmas Carol, Charles Dicken’s classic novella, is an important commentary on Christmas, its message still relevant 170 years after it was written. You remember the story. It tells of the poverty and misery of the lower class, the struggle just to survive. Bob Cratchit, overworked, underpaid, living in poverty with great difficulties, nonetheless approaches life with cheery hope, despite his despairing circumstances. Scrooge, Cratchit’s employer, is struggling in his own way. But he is wealthy and tight-fisted, bitter, and downright mean to his fellow beings. His nephew, Fred, a good-willed man who seeks to bring Scrooge into the fold of family and celebration visits Scrooge’s office to invite his Uncle to Christmas lunch. Scrooge is angry and annoyed. “What right have you to be merry?” he challenges the nephew. “Much good it [Christmas] has ever done you.” The rest of the story unfolds proving Scrooge to be wrong. Dickens wrote his timeless novella to address poverty, injustice, and the inhumane treatment of poor children in Great Britain at the time. A Christmas Carol has never been out of print since it was first published Dec. 17, 1843. Our reading today points out the timeless wisdom of the Lord, “What is desirable in a man is kindness” (v. 22). Acts of kindness inspire us, whether it’s taking time to help an employee at the office, or defending a person being picked on by bullies. The recipients of these acts of kindness are always grateful. That’s the example of Jesus. His kindness cannot be denied. Whether he is healing the sick, teaching the multitudes, or welcoming the children to his lap, he is the epitome of kindness. This season, even in the midst of the craziness of our cultures commercialization of Christmas, be kind. Especially in a busy world where so many seem to be looking out for number one, acts of kindness are always appreciated.

Happy Birthday, Maggie Lynn!

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 2:8-10 ESV). Today is our granddaughter’s birthday. Maggie is two years old! It hardly seems like two years has passed with all the changes that have taken place over the last two years it has made it seem very short indeed. My tradition of writing something centered around the birthday of family members started today with our reading. It may seem a bit odd to go to such a deeply theological passage; however, the last verse seemed to be just right.

Maggie, also known fondly as “Munch,” continues to surprise us with her ability to bring joy and happiness regardless of the circumstance. When the Apostle Paul said that “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” he surely had Maggie in mind! All of our grandchildren have been absolute joys to us. Since moving back to Texas we have been able to be geographically closer to Maggie. That has brought a greater level of involvement in her life. Her jaunty personality never ceases to remind me of the importance of our children and grandchildren. She has been a bit slow to warm to me, though she took to Mary very quickly. This has given us a glimpse into her independent mind. David or Becca might be holding her and they will offer here to go to grandpa. She usually throws her head back a bit with a wry smile and announces, “Nope!” Of course there are times when she gladly comes to my arms; however, there are also those times when it simply doesn’t suit her desires. I’ve thought some about that. It reminds me how often we may have missed the warm, loving arms of our heavenly Father simply because it didn’t suit us at the moment. Even though we are created for such a relationship, we may at times independently stand against the idea of such a dependency. We are always the worse for it, yet we repeat the same mistake always getting the same result of a loss of his embrace and protection. Christmas is a time that we can easily be reminded to run into the arms of our heavenly Father. Even in our culture we have reminders all around us of his love for us. He sent Jesus to show us that love in his atoning work on the cross. Might I encourage you to say “Yep” the next time you see his arms open wide to receive you? You’ll be glad you did. And… Happy Birthday, Maggie!

Getting Older

Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble. (Isaiah 46:3-7 ESV).

In one week, on December 9th, Kirk Douglas will be 100 years old. When he was 97 he said, “Age is in the mind. I’ve survived a helicopter crash and back surgery. I have a pacemaker. I had a stroke that almost made me commit suicide. But I tell myself, I have to continue growing and functioning. That’s the only antidote for age.” Well, I haven’t walked that path; and, certainly haven’t walked for that long. However, I do know this: old age sure ain’t for sissies. In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon agreed. He wrote of how the things we take for granted when we’re young cause us to lose delight in living when we’re old. Our eyesight grows dim. We start with reading glasses and move to bifocals. Our hearing grows weak. We’re constantly saying “Huh?” to our spouse. We have time to sleep late but we wake up early. Our hands start to tremble. We get old. Old age isn’t for sissies, and without God it can be meaningless. But with God, there is wisdom, strength, joy, and the hope that when the body finally gives out, there is life, real life in heaven with God and all those who have gone on before us. It’s something to remember when you’re young and when you’re old. Here are some things to practice to make it easier. First, enrich the lives of those close to you. Second, develop activities that will take you out of your normal routine. Third, attack the “I'll-Do-It-Tomorrow” projects you’ve been dreading. The more focused you become on enriching the lives of others, the more sense of purpose you'll have. The more you begin to explore new interests, the more engaged with life you'll become. The more you begin to tackle long-postponed projects, the more empowered you'll feel. All these things put in to practice will result in a heightened enthusiasm for life. The more energized and optimistic you feel, the more you'll be moved to express your gratitude to God. Thank Him for this wonderful life you've been given. A spirit of gratitude, more than anything else, will help determine whether you grow old gracefully or just grow old.