merry christmas

Today, Christmas, is the day that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Last week I heard a news story entitled "The War on Christmas." It was about various efforts to ban public acknowledgment of Christ in Christmas--lawsuits over manger scenes on court house lawns, insistence on using phrases such as "Season's Greetings" and "Happy Holidays" in preference to "Merry Christmas," etc.

I don't really want to argue such points with anyone--whether online or in person. If you are a Christian then you know the love of the Lord and the accomplishment of his life on earth. Really, every day is a celebration of his life and the fact that it was easier for him to bear the sin of the world than the thought of me (and you) being separated from God for all eternity and helpless to change it. At church last Sunday, a lady told her story and shared that, having come to know the Lord, she leaves a manger scene up in her house all year long. I think a great Christmas verse is John 1:14: And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, may I invite you this day to read the story of his birth in the Bible in the gospel of Luke, chapter 2. You may or may not be one who takes offense at manger scenes or the mention of Christ; either is OK, just read a story. While you're at it, consider this observation by Blaise Pascal:

Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.

good

How often have you heard someone say, "God has been so good to me?" Have you ever said that? I have. The thing is, that statement frequently finds basis in our experience. Restored to health; got the job. We tend not to talk about God's goodness if things aren't going as well. As we grow in Christ, He builds in us the character that allows us to live thankfully, no matter what our experience is. We learn from his Word that God is good by nature; it is part of his very being.

The error that can sneak into our thinking is that our positive experiences are indicative of God's goodness and therefore less than positive experiences are not. This is why it is so important to base our relationship with God on the truth of the Word rather than our experience. It is a matter of faith to know that what God reveals about Himself in his Word is true whether our experience would support it or not. Consider this observation from Philips Brooks:

Faith says not, I see that it is good for me, so God must have sent it, but, God sent it, and so it must be good for me. Faith, walking in the dark with God, only prays Him to clasp its hand more closely.

People who do not know God have difficulty with this idea; when bad things happen, one might say, "Why did [a good] God let this happen?" A Christian knows (or should know) that bad things happen as a consequence of living in a fallen world, and his hope (through faith) is that one day God will be faithful to keep his promise to make the world right again.

In the meantime, when I lift up requests to God in prayer, I try not to watch expectantly for the answers I want but to content myself with the knowledge that God is able. If I truly believe what I profess, that God is good, loving, wise, and all-powerful, then I know that his answer, according to his plan for me, will be best for me--whether or not I understand or agree.

God usually answers our prayers so much more according to the measure of His own magnificence, than of our asking, that we do not recognize His benefits to be those for which we sought Him.

—Coventry Patmore

spiritual health

As a Christian, when I realize that I am in a "dry spell," a time when my relationship with the Lord seems to have cooled, when I have little or no zeal for the Word, it is a pretty safe bet that He has been replaced by someone else. Not something else, but someone else. That someone is invariably me.

This can come about for many reasons, but the net effect is that my thinking is off and that my focus moves from outward to inward. The irony is that one of the symptoms (little or no zeal for the Word) is a huge obstacle to the remedy: To get back into the Word so that He can renew my mind.

Reading in Philippians immerses us in the love of Christ and reminds us to regard others as more important than ourselves. This was the attitude that Jesus had and that we are to have. To serve others, focus on their hurts, pries my mind off of myself. As Abraham Lincoln said,

To ease another's heartache is to forget one's own.

Such service, motivated by the love of God, is service that honors Him; it glorifies Him by allowing His life lived in me (not my life) to shine in the world.

What is it to serve God and to do His will? Nothing else than to show mercy to our neighbor. For it is our neighbor who needs our service; God in heaven needs it not.
--Martin Luther

The Christian needs regular input from the Word, not merely because that's what Christians do but in order that we see God's transforming power at work in us as our minds are renewed. When "spiritual anemia" sets in, remember that Christ Himself is the cure:

Above all the grace and gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self.
--Francis of Assisi

strugglin'

About a week ago, I ran across this from Jim McGuiggan:

Those of us who are most familiar with the Spirit's promises are in the greatest danger. ... familiarity may not breed contempt, but it takes the edge off awe ... promises that drop the jaws or widen the eyes of newcomers but provoke no more than a raised eyebrow in the old-timers who have ceased to dream.

Since I saw it, I've been meditating on it (kind of in the background.) It struck home with me because I for a little while have had the spiritual doldrums. My faith in God is strong, but I seem to lack zeal for my personal study of the Word, fellowship with my dearest friends and with people in general. A sort of fatigue.

And friends have noticed (bless you!) "Where are you?" they say.

During this time of pondering, I've been reminded of something my friend Bill said many years ago during a Bible study. Quoting some preacher somewhere, he contrasted the new believer with the "spiritually mature" as "Ignorance on fire" versus "Knowledge on ice." If you've been a believer for a long time as I have, perhaps you've become aware of how easy it is to lose the sense of wonder about God and all he has done, is doing, all that he is. God wants us to know him better and better, but we must guard against a familiarity that "takes the edge off awe."

I don't really know [yet] if this lines up with the sense of fatigue that I'm currently feeling, but I intend to heed McGuiggan's danger warning. In the past when I have encountered people at various plateaus in their walk with the Lord, I have counseled them to read Paul's letter to the Philippians every day for a week. It isn't a long letter and it is a great tonic. For encouragement and uplifting, it can't be beat! So as God leads me out of this funk (as he has always done) I'm taking my own prescription for the next week. Will you join me?

thanksgiving

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we learn that it is God's will that we live thankfully. Every day is therefore Thanksgiving Day. Most people take so much for granted (I will not excuse myself from this fault) and offer little more than perfunctory thanks other than on the fourth Thursday of each November.

Well, instead of griping that we should all be more thankful and mindful of God's provision (no matter how true it is,) today I though I'd share the proclamation that originally set aside Thanksgiving Day as a special day.
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WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficient author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been able to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington

know who did it

This morning, I am sitting in my campsite, enjoying a portion of God's creation. Trees. Wildlife. Sunshine. Earlier there was fog. Nature is quite a work, composed of wondrous brush strokes from the Master's hand. I love it, and even though I won't attend church today, I find it very easy to worship Him.

When one talks of creation, I believe that certain specific things typically pop to mind, such as elements of nature. You and I were created by God. If you know Jesus Christ as your savior, as I do, then you are a new creation of his, and he uses us in his good works, his ministries.

I awoke this morning thinking of my friends out in Mississippi. They are wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ; when I was serving as webmaster for my church's website, God used me and others to help them get a small church started (their first contact was through our website.) The wonderful friendship started ten years ago did not start because of me or my service; the little church in Mississippi was created by God according to his will. Their enduring friendship is the blessing God gave to me.

Whether it's our own salvation (spiritual new birth) or the outcome of any ministry, good work, or service we offer, let us always keep clearly in mind who did it. As John Calvin said,

We must always speak of the efficacy of the ministry in such a manner that the entire praise of the work may be reserved for God alone.

recent reflections

The turning point in our lives is when we stop seeking the God we want and start seeking the God who is.
- Patrick Morley

I have over the years thought about the fact that even the most mature Christian will tend to reduce God to understandable bounds. Not necessarily even consciously--it's just very easy to depend on what we know or understand rather than living by faith in the Lord. In Him. Several dear friends whom I greatly love and respect have talked about this here and here.

Recently I have been reflecting on this again as there are several people that I have come to know who do not know the Lord. One has even said something to the effect of, "I've read the Bible and it makes no sense." To see their lives (rudderless,) to listen to them speak (lost,) I hurt for them and pray for the right (better, the opportunity) to be heard by them and to address that error. After all, "...the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..." (emphasis mine.)

Even though I began with Patrick Morley's observation on the point, I've recently been mulling over several other quotes that have been brought to mind by all this, and I think that they are excellent thought-provokers for everyone, whether one knows the Lord or not:

If God were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshiped.
- Evelyn Underhill

A God who let us prove his existence would be an idol.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

One of my favorite books is Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer. I believe it is an excellent resource in helping us think rightly about God.

no, really--thank you!

The last several years, and the last year in particular, have been rough at my church. I have witnessed many casualties as Satan has sniped at our people, especially our leaders. God has done marvelous things in, through, and for the church body over the years, and it should come as no surprise to witness the faithfulness of Jesus Christ during this hard time as he cared for His bride. It has been a time of pruning, a time of growth. I feel that I've had a ring-side seat (better, maybe a seat in the ring!) to witness in operation the principle espoused by Robert Murray M'Cheyne when he said,

I know well that when Christ is nearest, Satan is also busiest.

My purpose in mentioning this is that during our services yesterday, we sought to publicly thank our staff for the extraordinary effort and commitment shown during this time. I believe that any such expression will fall short of what is merited (I think ours certainly did,) so for any of our fine staff who may read this, I want to remind you that it is God who will exalt you at the proper time, and I am certain that there is treasure stored up for you because of your selfless service. And now may I humbly offer to you, my brothers and sisters, my heart-felt thanks for having made yourselves available to God for His use during this difficult year.

where's your heart?

Sitting in the worship service yesterday, the worship leader at one point said something to this effect: "..I want you to take a deep breath, lay aside the stress and worry of last week, and focus on God..."

C. S. Lewis said,

The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God.

Don't misunderstand--I was glad that our leader said what he did. But the fact of his comment left me thinking: How often do we bring a heart of stress and worry to our worship on Sunday rather than bringing a heart of worship to our stresses every day? It seems to me that a proper view of and relationship with God is the right starting point for every human pursuit--not just church.

now what?

Watchman Nee said,

“Our old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the resurrection.”

I became a Christian at the age of 12. I think that I understood that I was a sinner and that Jesus' death on the cross had accomplished forgiveness of my sins. It would be quite a few years before I realized what I didn't understand: "Now what?"

You see, I had learned the Gospel--the good news. "Christ died on the cross for my sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day." I could recite it. Many could recite it. And I heard the cross preached a lot (you are sinful, spiritually dead--separated from God; Christ's death on the cross accomplished forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God. Trust in Him!) Except for the recitals, though, I rarely heard taught that Christ is risen from the dead. I had this vague notion that Jesus was in heaven, alive, and that one day I would see Him.

Something I knew very clearly, though, was that I still had the same struggles, temptations, and failures in my life here. Now. And if I had had the presence of mind to literally ask, "Now what?" the answer I perceived was "Don't sin! Lead a virtuous, obedient life!" How? Knowing I couldn't, I ran away from church, and Christ, or so I thought.

It would be fifteen years before I would hear God say, both in His Word and through my life's circumstances, "You can't; only I can."

Getting plugged back in, I encountered some great teaching about the resurrection. About the risen, living, Savior. The difference made in my life was so profound that I questioned my earlier conversion and salvation up to that point. But yes, I had really been reconciled to God at age 12, but I had missed the "other half" of the gospel, eloquently highlighted in Romans 5:10.

For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

I think that many come to understand their need for Jesus and they trust what He did to save them, but they then say "Now what?" because they don't know Him. As Major Ian Thomas said, the Gospel is not intended to get us out of hell and into heaven--although it has that effect. It is intended to get Him out of heaven and back into us, in the person of His Holy Spirit. What a joy it is to be aware of the presence of the living, indwelling Savior!

I love to meditate on Jesus' words to John in Revelation 1:18: "...I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore..." Was dead, past tense. Am alive, present tense. Forevermore.

Watchman Nee's comment echoes the apostle Paul: "...in Christ...the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come." What I've come to understand is that allowing Him to live His life in and through me will result in that virtuous, obedient, abundant life.

a cud we all should chew on

"The amount of loafing practiced by the average Christian in spiritual things would ruin a concert pianist if he allowed himself to do the same thing in the field of music. The idle puttering around that we see in church circles would end the career of a big league pitcher in one week. No scientist could solve his exacting problem if he took as little interest in it as the rank and file of Christians take in the art of being holy."

A. W. Tozer

1 Peter 1:15 says, "...like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior."

giving of what we receive

Find out how much God has given you and take from it what you need; the remainder is needed by others.

Certainly God knows and meets our needs, and I have been richly blessed over the years as I have learned to freely share what He has given me with others. But sharing material things was not what was on my heart and mind as I remembered this quote from Augustine.

I have mentioned before that I meet with a group of men on Thursday mornings for Bible study. This morning we began reading 2 Corinthians. In 2 Cor. 1:3,4 (NASB), we read,

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

I've long been familiar with this passage and understood the difference between affliction in my life and God's use of affliction in my life. Many years ago when my mother passed away, that was not a good thing, but good has been realized from it as God has since then ministered through me to others who have lost parents. Just as God comforted me, others have been comforted through me.

But this morning when I reread this passage, the words so that in verse 4 jumped out at me. I guess that I always subconsciously separated God comforting me from me comforting others (granted by God's power.) But God's purpose in comforting me, His child, is more than my solace. At the time my mother died God comforted me through many loving people that surrounded me and loved on me; He comforted me so that I would be useful in His hand to comfort others.

This morning I was reminded once again that my relationship with God in Christ is not about me; it's about Him. When I live in surrender, according to His power, He has in me legs to walk with, arms to hold with, ears to hear with, tongue to speak with, mind to think with, and heart to love with. Let's give of what we receive--not only of the abundant means he may give but also of the rich blessings he pours out, always motivated by His love for us.

noise

"Cease striving and know that I am God..." (Ps. 46:10) This morning, I was out walking and thinking about how busy life is. I realized (for the first time again) that the "busy-ness" of life can easily squeeze out any time to meditate on such nuggets in God's Word.

I have been considering for several days now this idea that letting the many demands of life fill each day, hour, even minute, robs one of a needed foundation for living: Time spent with God. One must be cautious and guard against the devotional time, Bible study, worship service, or even prayer becoming another task to check off of today's list. When that happens, one's relationship with God can become shallow and distant. Yet God desires intimate, personal relationship with each of His children ("I will never leave you or forsake you...")

A. W. Tozer said:

We Christians must simplify our lives or lose untold treasures on earth and in eternity. Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible. The need for solitude and quietness was never greater than it is today.

Let's resolve to take time to devote ourselves fully to God. When we do, we need never ask for blessing because it is inevitable. He also in this way equips us to overcome the challenges that life on earth throws our way.

the wonderful tragedy

Quite a number of years ago, I dabbled briefly with writing poetry. Every year at Valentine's Day, my wife and I write poems to one another; part of the game is to hide these verses so that the other will find them on that day. Sometimes the poems are pretty good, but more often they are bad, meaningful only to us because they represent a shared intimacy.

One year, though, I kept writing. I wanted to write something meaningful, perhaps to share with others what was on my heart, or maybe more accurately what was washing around in my head. What I think I learned was that, while I could convey my thoughts, I lacked the gift of being able to beautifully express those ideas.

One of the poems I wrote was entitled "The Wonderful Tragedy," in which I sought to share my heart about the cross of Christ: A tragedy in which the son of God became man and was executed as a criminal; wonderful in that it was the realized plan from all eternity of a loving God to reconcile sinful man to himself without denying his own righteousness and justice.

I remembered the poem today when I read this from Emil Brunner.

Only at the cross of Christ does man see fully what it is that separates him from God; yet it is here alone that he perceives that he is no longer separated from God. Nowhere else does the inviolable holiness of God, the impossibility of overlooking the guilt of man stand out more plainly; but nowhere else does the limitless mercy of God, which utterly transcends all human standards, stand out more clearly and plainly.

the next time you are "wronged"

Pride has many different looks. The world might identify pride as self-respect. The Christian knows pride (generally) as haughtiness. Boastful arrogance. False humility. One of the most insidious expressions of human pride is the "need" to be right--self vindication. The common element in all of these is self.

One of my co-workers had to stay at home for a few days this week after some rather extensive dental work, and so he subjected himself to several hours of daytime television. He commented on the number of advertisements by lawyers ("Get everything you deserve! I'll fight for every dollar you having coming!") To me, this is just one illustration of how individualistic and self-focused American society has become. This stands in stark contrast with what the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2:3: "...with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself."

Consider Charles Williams' comment:

Many promising reconciliations have broken down because, while both parties came prepared to forgive, neither party came prepared to be forgiven.

Something to think about the next time we're "wronged."

of him, through him, to him

Each Thursday, I meet with a group of men for coffee, fellowship, Bible study. This morning, our discussion came to the decline of American society, and one of the men mentioned a generational difference: "Today it is more common to preach about God than to preach God."

What a rifle-shot distinction between religion and relationship! I remembered that Oswald Chambers had similarly drawn this distinction, differentiating between preaching Christ and preaching our beliefs about Christ. As important as it is to know what we believe and why, doctrine (a systematic expression of the truth) cannot eclipse God. Jesus' invitation, after all, was not "learn about me" but "Come to me."

When we come to him, walk with him, he teaches us and reveals himself. As William Temple said,

Knowledge of God can be fully given to man only in a Person, never in a doctrine. Faith is not the holding of correct doctrine, but personal fellowship with the living God.

what do I really want?

You know, I'm no hero. As a matter of fact, a life not characterized by trial, hardship, burden... That sounds pretty good to me.

Now don't misunderstand; I don't mean to say that I've endured lots of hardship or many trials. I certainly don't wish to say that I've had a hard time or to compare myself with others who to my way of thinking have indeed had it harder than I have. The fact is, I've been richly blessed all my life, but that doesn't mean that there haven't been trials.

What if a trouble-free life was handed to me--would I be happy? I have heard all my life the phrase, "It builds character," and I've got an idea that if suddenly all adversity were removed from my life, my life (character?) would be degraded and a continual downward slide would ensue.

Except--

I believe that God is the only character-builder, and as such character is only built in me by adversity as a result of God's use of it in my life. But whether or not there is conflict, burden, or trial in my life, character building of any eternal significance will only occur as I learn to trust God in more and more areas of my life. I think this was what led Oswald Chambers to say

I feel sorry for the Christian who doesn’t have something in the circumstances of his life that he wishes were not there.

I need not fear adversity with God in my life. As a matter of fact, living dependently on God allows me to embrace James 1:2ff, Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,...

my first post

Several weeks ago, a person at my church (someone that I have known for some time and have thought highly of) vented some frustration in a blog post. When I saw it, knowing exactly over what and why this person was frustrated, I nevertheless was so torn down by it that I left work early that day, I was so upset.

The reason that I share this is that we should always remember that electronic communication (blog, e-mail, etc.) is an excellent filter; that is, elements of communication that a person [perhaps unconsciously] depends on for full and proper understanding, such as body language, mood (joy, sadness, anger,) and so on, are unavailable.

With this in mind, as I begin sharing my love for quotes through this blog, God placed on my heart the following quote from Philipp Melanchthon:

Nothing can be said so clearly as to preclude the possibility of it being misunderstood.

Until next time, God bless.