When I was a kid, I remember people using the phrase “Thank God It’s Friday.” There was a song on the radio and even a movie by the same name. It seemed that everyone was waiting to get to that wonderful day, Friday. Friday would be the last day of work and subsequently the first night of the weekend. A night that would be spent… going to the football game, dancing, dinner, partying, at the movies, or anything you can think of fun. So when I went to church and they said next week is “Good Friday”, I naturally smarted back, “Aren’t they all!”
Not exactly! While most Friday’s are certainly enjoyable, there is one particular Friday that stands alone. This particular Friday is one of the three most important days for Christianity. Yes, Christmas, whatever day that falls on is important as well as Easter Sunday, but let me tell you why Good Friday is so crucial. You see… there would be no Easter morning without Good Friday. Some might think that it was a bad day. After all, Jesus, the Son of God, did go to the cross after being tortured, beaten, and humiliated and died as a common criminal. How can there be any good in that?
That is the day that Jesus went to cross and took all the sins of the world and heaped them upon himself and destroyed them. The fact that Christ died on that day for our salvation makes it “good” for you and I. In that event, Christ’s death cleaned us all from our transgressions. This “good news” is what early Christianity is founded upon. In the crucifixion, Christ, God Himself, made us whole and worthy. He gave His blood so that you and I can have life eternal. We could never have earned our own way to heaven. It took a dramatic and decisive act on the part of God to enable us to be made worthy of life eternal. The power of sin and death had to be destroyed so that we understood that living our earthly lives in obedience and discipleship could be done free from the law. What is the law? Living under the law is a life of wondering constantly if we are loved and accepted and relying on our own actions and often trivial movements to win God’s favor. Christ broke those chains and freed us to live a life of deep, heart-felt, thankful response instead of a shallow existence built upon following rules to the letter. Good Friday is the day we were set free and justified by God.
It reminds me of a story of a small boy who came to our church during a communion service. As the elements were being passed around, the father reminded the boy about his baptism and what the elements of bread and juice meant. The boy came forward to receive the bread and juice. After taking the bread into his mouth and drinking the juice he responded, “that was good’ with loud excitement. Suddenly it hit me that this boy had echoed the appropriate sentiment. Indeed… it is very Good! Find yourself a church and attend this week!
Friday, July 07, 2006
Who Stole Christmas?”
One of my favorite holiday traditions is watching the wonderful Dr. Seuss tale about the mean old green skinned Grinch who lives on the top of the mountain overlooking Whoville. He cannot stand the noise or sight of the Who’s celebrating the Christmas holiday season. He sneaks in during the dark of night and steals all things associated with Christmas and proudly journeys back to the top of the mountain in anticipation of hearing all the “boo-hoos” rising up from the village when the Whos realize that Christmas is not coming. But there are no “boo-hoos” just joyous singing. The Grinch then realizes that Christmas is not about all of the boxes and bows, toys, glitz, glamour, and food. Christmas came. The Whos joined hands and The Light came down and joined with them. Of course we know the rest. The Grinch’s heart grew three sizes that day and he returned all the stuff he had stolen. He even joins in the celebration by carving the roast beast!
This lesson is timeless. It is not about stuff at all. Christmas is Christmas because it’s not about us. It’s about Jesus and Jesus alone. He was a child born of a miracle birth, fully human… fully God. Jesus grew up to preach salvation and love. He called people accountable for their lives and had mercy and compassion on the poor, healed the diseased, and forgave the repentant. He showed us who God is so that we would know the Triune God. He suffered and died as a criminal, yet He returned to tell us that death has no hold upon us if we believe in Him. He continually pointed to God the Father and promised the Holy Spirit would be with us always. He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and Living Water for those who thirst. There is no other!
Is this what you think about when you think about Christmas? It should be! Put aside for awhile Rudolph, Santa, and Frosty. Fairy tales are fun and have a place in children’s imaginations but they should not be our primary focus.
Our focus should be on Jesus Christ and His birth. For the true story of Christmas can be found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Know these stories by heart and tell your children so they can repeat them back to you. Let the children know that Christmas is about more than a trip to the mall or waiting on a fat guy in a red suit. Without these timeless truths it may be that the Grinch who steals Christmas will turn out to be….YOU!
God loves you, forgives you, and wants to know you.
This lesson is timeless. It is not about stuff at all. Christmas is Christmas because it’s not about us. It’s about Jesus and Jesus alone. He was a child born of a miracle birth, fully human… fully God. Jesus grew up to preach salvation and love. He called people accountable for their lives and had mercy and compassion on the poor, healed the diseased, and forgave the repentant. He showed us who God is so that we would know the Triune God. He suffered and died as a criminal, yet He returned to tell us that death has no hold upon us if we believe in Him. He continually pointed to God the Father and promised the Holy Spirit would be with us always. He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and Living Water for those who thirst. There is no other!
Is this what you think about when you think about Christmas? It should be! Put aside for awhile Rudolph, Santa, and Frosty. Fairy tales are fun and have a place in children’s imaginations but they should not be our primary focus.
Our focus should be on Jesus Christ and His birth. For the true story of Christmas can be found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Know these stories by heart and tell your children so they can repeat them back to you. Let the children know that Christmas is about more than a trip to the mall or waiting on a fat guy in a red suit. Without these timeless truths it may be that the Grinch who steals Christmas will turn out to be….YOU!
God loves you, forgives you, and wants to know you.
A Church Holiday To Remember
Did you enjoy the recent holiday? I sure did. It was a wonderful day. No, I am not talking about Memorial Day. Yes, that is a terrific day to remember those men and women who served this country and enabled me to write this column. But, the holiday I am talking about is the church holiday of Ascension Day. Last Thursday (40 days after Easter) marked the day that Jesus Christ ascended into heaven as described in the book of Acts 1:9. Jesus disappeared into heaven after telling the people He would send an advocate, the Holy Spirit, to assist them (and us) from that time forward.
You may say, “Why should that particular day have any significance to me?” I thought you’d never ask! At that point, we know for sure, if we didn’t before, that God is aware and in touch with the human condition. In Jesus, we have THE human. The incarnation or birth has brought forth the ultimate human to make us holy and blameless before the Father. But this is no ordinary human. This man, Jesus, is God in the flesh, fully human fully divine, Emmanuel, God with us! Consequently, we understand that history is working in an organized fashion. We are not simply adrift in the world on our own like a ship at sea with a failed engine. No, we have a God who lives within history and at the same time outside of history. Our God is larger than history itself. In Jesus, God lets us know that He has taken the lead in our salvation, an achievement we ourselves cannot reach. In Jesus, the decisive moment in history has occurred. Jesus did not simply take off his humanity as if He were shedding an old overcoat. No, on Ascension Day, the human part of Jesus ascended to be a part of the Triune God forever. While humanity was inescapably plunged into darkness, the actions of the Triune God overcame it and brought us out. It is this victory accomplished by God, through Christ, that the Holy Spirit is revealing to the world. So, not only did God create the world and everything in it, God became one with us as well in order to break the grip of sin and death. Thus, God doesn’t care about our religion, only about how the work of Christ is breaking forth within our lives and showing itself to the world through our actions. In other words, God accomplished an incredible act in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ and it should burst out of us every day. Therefore, the way to find our own life is discovered by knowing that God has entered into our world and situation on a personal level in Christ. We have a God who claims each of us and calls us His children and wants the best for us. He knows us, both good and bad, and loves us anyway. WOW! That is Good News!
You may say, “Why should that particular day have any significance to me?” I thought you’d never ask! At that point, we know for sure, if we didn’t before, that God is aware and in touch with the human condition. In Jesus, we have THE human. The incarnation or birth has brought forth the ultimate human to make us holy and blameless before the Father. But this is no ordinary human. This man, Jesus, is God in the flesh, fully human fully divine, Emmanuel, God with us! Consequently, we understand that history is working in an organized fashion. We are not simply adrift in the world on our own like a ship at sea with a failed engine. No, we have a God who lives within history and at the same time outside of history. Our God is larger than history itself. In Jesus, God lets us know that He has taken the lead in our salvation, an achievement we ourselves cannot reach. In Jesus, the decisive moment in history has occurred. Jesus did not simply take off his humanity as if He were shedding an old overcoat. No, on Ascension Day, the human part of Jesus ascended to be a part of the Triune God forever. While humanity was inescapably plunged into darkness, the actions of the Triune God overcame it and brought us out. It is this victory accomplished by God, through Christ, that the Holy Spirit is revealing to the world. So, not only did God create the world and everything in it, God became one with us as well in order to break the grip of sin and death. Thus, God doesn’t care about our religion, only about how the work of Christ is breaking forth within our lives and showing itself to the world through our actions. In other words, God accomplished an incredible act in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ and it should burst out of us every day. Therefore, the way to find our own life is discovered by knowing that God has entered into our world and situation on a personal level in Christ. We have a God who claims each of us and calls us His children and wants the best for us. He knows us, both good and bad, and loves us anyway. WOW! That is Good News!
Is Your Faith Game Ready?
This last week marked the end of our children’s Little League baseball and softball seasons. As a parent I was certainly glad, but in the midst of the two plus month ordeal, the question constantly arose, “who has a game and/or practice?” Beth, my wife, and I have been the Faulk Taxi Service for three kids and some of their teammates. It was a time of daily indulgence in getting children to and from at the appointed hour. While I found it a bit of a hassle at times, I also found it to be extremely enjoyable. I realize as well that this is simply a stage of parenthood. My kids will not forever need me or even want me to cart them around. Even if they do not continue to play ball, I should look at this as a time of kids being kids and committing themselves to being at practices and games.
Practice! That’s what it takes to put the bat on the ball. Practice! That’s what it takes to throw the ball well and accurately. Practice! That’s what it takes to do just about anything else well, even when it comes to Christianity. It’s my opinion that Christianity is a lot like playing baseball. When it comes to faith and discipleship, sometimes we strikeout… sometimes we knock it out of the park. Jesus refers to some who have struck out like the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17) who could not part with his money and possessions to follow Christ and enter into the Kingdom. Others like Joseph of Arimathea (Luke 23:50) hit a homer when he risked money and status in asking for Jesus’ body and had it placed in the tomb. In her book, Practicing Our Faith, Dorothy Bass states that many people simply yearn for a better life and never take the necessary steps to make that happen. Someone goes to church a few times and simply thinks that something either miraculous or magical will occur and life will be changed for the better. She says it (Christianity or discipleship) happens when we practice, beginning with small steps, doing what God wants us to do. It may simply start small and grow. One can practice kindness. One can practice attending church regularly. One can practice stewardship and giving. One can practice repentance. One can practice prayer. One can practice any number of things which will lead them to know God better. Such practices lead to individual growth as well community growth when one knows that others are living out their lives in a similar fashion. Yes, there will be days filled with good productive practice and other days where errors and frustration abound. Even so, we must keep practicing. Maybe that’s what I really want my kids to know about life as I take them back and forth to practice. Success is the result of preparation (practice) meeting with opportunity. God can use each of us in our own ministries. The game of life has already begun! So practice and be ready so that you can do your best for Christ.
Practice! That’s what it takes to put the bat on the ball. Practice! That’s what it takes to throw the ball well and accurately. Practice! That’s what it takes to do just about anything else well, even when it comes to Christianity. It’s my opinion that Christianity is a lot like playing baseball. When it comes to faith and discipleship, sometimes we strikeout… sometimes we knock it out of the park. Jesus refers to some who have struck out like the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17) who could not part with his money and possessions to follow Christ and enter into the Kingdom. Others like Joseph of Arimathea (Luke 23:50) hit a homer when he risked money and status in asking for Jesus’ body and had it placed in the tomb. In her book, Practicing Our Faith, Dorothy Bass states that many people simply yearn for a better life and never take the necessary steps to make that happen. Someone goes to church a few times and simply thinks that something either miraculous or magical will occur and life will be changed for the better. She says it (Christianity or discipleship) happens when we practice, beginning with small steps, doing what God wants us to do. It may simply start small and grow. One can practice kindness. One can practice attending church regularly. One can practice stewardship and giving. One can practice repentance. One can practice prayer. One can practice any number of things which will lead them to know God better. Such practices lead to individual growth as well community growth when one knows that others are living out their lives in a similar fashion. Yes, there will be days filled with good productive practice and other days where errors and frustration abound. Even so, we must keep practicing. Maybe that’s what I really want my kids to know about life as I take them back and forth to practice. Success is the result of preparation (practice) meeting with opportunity. God can use each of us in our own ministries. The game of life has already begun! So practice and be ready so that you can do your best for Christ.
Little Habits of the Mind
I have begun a habit which I am almost ashamed to admit. Why? Because if I admit that I do this, I will admit that I am getting older. I read the obituaries! I look at the obituaries to see if I know anyone. It might not be so bad if I only looked at the ones in our local area, but I often pull up newspapers on the internet of places I have served as pastor. Do you do this to some extent as well? Is this a bad habit or a good habit? Is it morbid curiosity or concern? Well, I like to think that it is concern for those folks I have known and the families to whom I may send a card of condolence. It goes to show that as we get older, our priorities change as well as some of our habits.
Recently when I conducted an Ash Wednesday Service I was reminded again that our time here on earth is fleeting. Not only will we return to the earth from which God created us, but in the meantime, we reach a point in life when we realize that our best physical years are behind us. (If you are 40 or over, it is likely you know what I mean!)
My point is that even though our physical bodies may peak, our minds and hearts should continue to grow stronger in Christ Jesus. I think this is what Jesus is speaking about when He is asked which commandment is the greatest in Matthew 22:37. Jesus replies “love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.”
As we enter into the Lenten Season (40 days before Easter excluding Sundays) we are called to re-examine our lives and look deep within ourselves for answers. In those times when we drop the pretense and truthfully acknowledge who we are, I believe that we are people who desire a closer relationship with God, not merely a superficial one. But we are distracted by so many other things in our lives. We would love to spend more time in prayer and Bible study, if only we had the time. We would love to do more for those around us who are in need, but we have schedules to keep and bills to pay. Much of the time, life itself gets in the way of feeling better about our eternal life. Is that really true? If you don’t want to be offended, you had better stop reading now. Are you ready to look beyond the excuses? Are you ready to hear the truth and the gospel?
The truth is… we make time for those things we love and hold dear. Yes, it can be difficult and yet, it can be so easy. It is simply a habit, like my looking up obituaries on the internet. Simply taking the time to say a prayer each morning, to read a scripture verse (try placing a Bible in the rest room and read a little each day), ponder deep questions of life, or turn off your cell phone and carry on a conversation with God in the car on the way to work. Lots of little things will make our relationship with God more meaningful to us.
As for God, you are and always will be, His beloved, but I am absolutely sure that God wants you to use that wonderful mind that He gave you to think about Him. So, do yourself a favor and make a few extra moments for God in your schedule. You may wonder how you got through life without them. My hope for you is that such small, yet vital, moments taken now, will make the next life (eternity) seem that much more of a comfortable place for you to look forward to.
Recently when I conducted an Ash Wednesday Service I was reminded again that our time here on earth is fleeting. Not only will we return to the earth from which God created us, but in the meantime, we reach a point in life when we realize that our best physical years are behind us. (If you are 40 or over, it is likely you know what I mean!)
My point is that even though our physical bodies may peak, our minds and hearts should continue to grow stronger in Christ Jesus. I think this is what Jesus is speaking about when He is asked which commandment is the greatest in Matthew 22:37. Jesus replies “love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.”
As we enter into the Lenten Season (40 days before Easter excluding Sundays) we are called to re-examine our lives and look deep within ourselves for answers. In those times when we drop the pretense and truthfully acknowledge who we are, I believe that we are people who desire a closer relationship with God, not merely a superficial one. But we are distracted by so many other things in our lives. We would love to spend more time in prayer and Bible study, if only we had the time. We would love to do more for those around us who are in need, but we have schedules to keep and bills to pay. Much of the time, life itself gets in the way of feeling better about our eternal life. Is that really true? If you don’t want to be offended, you had better stop reading now. Are you ready to look beyond the excuses? Are you ready to hear the truth and the gospel?
The truth is… we make time for those things we love and hold dear. Yes, it can be difficult and yet, it can be so easy. It is simply a habit, like my looking up obituaries on the internet. Simply taking the time to say a prayer each morning, to read a scripture verse (try placing a Bible in the rest room and read a little each day), ponder deep questions of life, or turn off your cell phone and carry on a conversation with God in the car on the way to work. Lots of little things will make our relationship with God more meaningful to us.
As for God, you are and always will be, His beloved, but I am absolutely sure that God wants you to use that wonderful mind that He gave you to think about Him. So, do yourself a favor and make a few extra moments for God in your schedule. You may wonder how you got through life without them. My hope for you is that such small, yet vital, moments taken now, will make the next life (eternity) seem that much more of a comfortable place for you to look forward to.
Thinking of Eric
Not long ago I was thinking about Eric. Eric was a young man on the rise. He was handsome, bright, and had a wonderful wife and two beautiful little girls. He worked for a computer company based in New York, yet he lived most of the time in Jacksonville, North Carolina (where I was a church pastor). It was January 8th, 2003. I remember the day because it was the day that I least wanted to be Eric’s pastor because it hurt. And yet it was the day that it was most important to be a pastor to his family.
I got a call from Eric’s mother. He had been on a commuter plane that took off from the Charlotte airport that morning. It flipped over just as it left the ground, hit the end of the runway, and exploded on impact. That day I looked at his wife Andrea and his two children Victoria and Kaitlyn and was aware that no theology class prepares anyone for this moment. It was simply a time to grieve, to pray with them and be present for them.
Words could not adequately express the pain of that situation. Only time and reflection can allow such events to be spoken about with any theological clarity. Now, we can see that Eric boarded a plane created by fallible human beings. In fact, it was discovered that the weight of the plane directly caused the crash. Maybe this knowledge has saved countless other lives? Whatever the reasons for the crash, a life was ended too soon.
For some people, questions still lingered… “Did God do it?”, “What did those people do to deserve that?”, “Was it their time?” Too often I have heard questions like these when people suffer. It reminds me of the passage in John 9 where Jesus heals a blind man. The disciples ask Jesus “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” “Neither” replies Jesus. He heals the blind man and uses the moment to praise God.
Indeed, there is suffering in this world and suffering is part of the human condition. We are fallen creatures living in a fallen world. Yes, there are times when we cause our own suffering from wrong choices, but sometimes we are dealt blows that seem to come out of nowhere. That is the time when we must cling to God as our refuge and our strength. Unfortunately, some people wait until suffering occurs to look for God. There is good news! God is there with you in the midst of suffering…before, during, and after.
The pain of Eric’s death will never go away for his wife, daughters, parents, and friends. Even now, three years later, I think about him. Yes, life is fleeting. We could all die tomorrow. Eric’s death reminds me of how fragile life is and moves me to pray for those who suffer, pray for those who do not have the anchor of Christ in their lives, and pray that when the suffering of life hits, people will reach out to God, a God who knows the suffering of the cross and who knows what it is like to be human.
I got a call from Eric’s mother. He had been on a commuter plane that took off from the Charlotte airport that morning. It flipped over just as it left the ground, hit the end of the runway, and exploded on impact. That day I looked at his wife Andrea and his two children Victoria and Kaitlyn and was aware that no theology class prepares anyone for this moment. It was simply a time to grieve, to pray with them and be present for them.
Words could not adequately express the pain of that situation. Only time and reflection can allow such events to be spoken about with any theological clarity. Now, we can see that Eric boarded a plane created by fallible human beings. In fact, it was discovered that the weight of the plane directly caused the crash. Maybe this knowledge has saved countless other lives? Whatever the reasons for the crash, a life was ended too soon.
For some people, questions still lingered… “Did God do it?”, “What did those people do to deserve that?”, “Was it their time?” Too often I have heard questions like these when people suffer. It reminds me of the passage in John 9 where Jesus heals a blind man. The disciples ask Jesus “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” “Neither” replies Jesus. He heals the blind man and uses the moment to praise God.
Indeed, there is suffering in this world and suffering is part of the human condition. We are fallen creatures living in a fallen world. Yes, there are times when we cause our own suffering from wrong choices, but sometimes we are dealt blows that seem to come out of nowhere. That is the time when we must cling to God as our refuge and our strength. Unfortunately, some people wait until suffering occurs to look for God. There is good news! God is there with you in the midst of suffering…before, during, and after.
The pain of Eric’s death will never go away for his wife, daughters, parents, and friends. Even now, three years later, I think about him. Yes, life is fleeting. We could all die tomorrow. Eric’s death reminds me of how fragile life is and moves me to pray for those who suffer, pray for those who do not have the anchor of Christ in their lives, and pray that when the suffering of life hits, people will reach out to God, a God who knows the suffering of the cross and who knows what it is like to be human.
God Loves Me This I Know, For Jesus and the Holy Spirit Tell Me So
When I was a child, I knew that God was hovering over me. God was watching each and every move I made and was keeping tabs of all the things I did right and all of the things I did wrong.
When I was a teen, I had the notion that God was somewhere just not here. The world seemed to tell me that I could do my own thing and when I looked over my shoulder, God might be watching… or maybe not! It was likely that I was on my own and only when I went to church did I meet God and have to “fess up” to what I had done. Of course, if I didn’t go to church, then the less “fessin’ up” that had to be done, so church became a game of going only when I absolutely could not avoid it… usually Christmas and Easter. I guess you could have called me a “Lily” and “Poinsettia” as I now refer to those folks I see at church only twice a year. God seemed far away and I really felt okay about that.
When I went to college, I knew life had more meaning to it and a search for that meaning led me right back to church. I got involved with a college group at a local church and began attending. It didn’t hurt as well that my girlfriend went to the same group! We went on a mission trip that Spring Break to Philadelphia. We worked to help those who were in need. I realized then that life had it’s meaning in God’s call to serve others and worship. But still God seemed “up there and out there.” Finally as a grown up, I realized through Sunday school that God was present with me and with you. We do not worship a God who died many years ago, but a living God who, in three persons, has been revealed to us. This season we celebrate the human birth of one of the three persons of the Holy Trinity, Jesus. Emmanuel means God with us. It may not seem that meaningful at first glance, but it is of total importance. God is not “out there” in space or up in the clouds. God is with us… then, now, and forever more. When we rejoice about the birth of Christ, we can rejoice that God chose us. God wanted to be one of us so that we might know the truth about God. God is no longer a total mystery. While we will never understand God in totality, we do know this… God has come to earth, lived a human life, died a human death, and has been raised from the dead. God has come to us through the third person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit and resides with us, among us, within us, and all about us now and forever more. God is no longer a stranger. God has the face of you and me… the face of a child. A face that loves, teaches, corrects, laughs, smiles, cries, suffers, and forgives. God is with us and we know that we can try to avoid God, run from God, claim to be separated from God, but Romans 8 tells us differently. Nothing keeps us separate from the love of God. God has chosen to love us and nothing can change that, whether we realize it or not. Isn’t that something to celebrate this Christmas and all throughout the year?
When I was a teen, I had the notion that God was somewhere just not here. The world seemed to tell me that I could do my own thing and when I looked over my shoulder, God might be watching… or maybe not! It was likely that I was on my own and only when I went to church did I meet God and have to “fess up” to what I had done. Of course, if I didn’t go to church, then the less “fessin’ up” that had to be done, so church became a game of going only when I absolutely could not avoid it… usually Christmas and Easter. I guess you could have called me a “Lily” and “Poinsettia” as I now refer to those folks I see at church only twice a year. God seemed far away and I really felt okay about that.
When I went to college, I knew life had more meaning to it and a search for that meaning led me right back to church. I got involved with a college group at a local church and began attending. It didn’t hurt as well that my girlfriend went to the same group! We went on a mission trip that Spring Break to Philadelphia. We worked to help those who were in need. I realized then that life had it’s meaning in God’s call to serve others and worship. But still God seemed “up there and out there.” Finally as a grown up, I realized through Sunday school that God was present with me and with you. We do not worship a God who died many years ago, but a living God who, in three persons, has been revealed to us. This season we celebrate the human birth of one of the three persons of the Holy Trinity, Jesus. Emmanuel means God with us. It may not seem that meaningful at first glance, but it is of total importance. God is not “out there” in space or up in the clouds. God is with us… then, now, and forever more. When we rejoice about the birth of Christ, we can rejoice that God chose us. God wanted to be one of us so that we might know the truth about God. God is no longer a total mystery. While we will never understand God in totality, we do know this… God has come to earth, lived a human life, died a human death, and has been raised from the dead. God has come to us through the third person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit and resides with us, among us, within us, and all about us now and forever more. God is no longer a stranger. God has the face of you and me… the face of a child. A face that loves, teaches, corrects, laughs, smiles, cries, suffers, and forgives. God is with us and we know that we can try to avoid God, run from God, claim to be separated from God, but Romans 8 tells us differently. Nothing keeps us separate from the love of God. God has chosen to love us and nothing can change that, whether we realize it or not. Isn’t that something to celebrate this Christmas and all throughout the year?
Did I Hear That Right?
Merry Christmas! What? It’s Easter, not Christmas! But I am sure that I heard a church member say “Merry Christmas” to someone. I can’t remember who said it to whom, but I know that I heard it!
Actually, after some consideration, I think that it is quite appropriate for this time of year. In a unique way, we are celebrating the incarnation of God into humanity in the body of Jesus. For this we can be extremely grateful, but there is much more to it. In our politically correct society, it might be helpful to do a word study to get to the bottom of this issue.
The word “Christmas” unites “Christ”, the Messiah or Savior, with the word “Mass” which actually means death. Mass is a term coined by the early Roman Catholic Church. It was used to describe the death of Christ and how Christ is distributed in the sacrament of Holy Communion (as the “host” flesh and blood is represented by bread and wine.)
The word “Easter” is quite controversial. Easter may come from the word Eostre or Ostera, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of fertility. There was a festival celebrated in her name during the vernal equinox or Spring season. Here is the controversy: it is not clear whether the word was borrowed from the name of the Goddess or if the Goddess was named for the holiday. Some churches call it Pashca which is a derivative of the Hebrew word for the Passover. The Bible says, “for Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed (I Corinthians 5:7). Indeed, the Gospel of John states that Christ died on the day of Preparation for the Passover (John 19:14, 31) While the lambs were being slaughtered for the Passover meal, so too was the ultimate lamb… the Lamb of God. Thus, you may ask the question concerning the Last Supper, “was it a Passover meal or simply a last meal?” (But… that’s another article entirely!)
Linking this passage to the Passover of the Old Testament we find that God brought the final plague upon the Egyptians. This plague killed the firstborn of every household that did not have the blood from a lamb over the door to the home. Through the death of Christ, it is His blood shed for you and I that keeps everlasting death from claiming us. His victory is complete on Sunday morning when the women find the tomb empty and Christ appears… ALIVE! Yes, Jesus Christ, God incarnate gives to each of us the gift of eternal life. Of that, I am extremely joyful! That IS the best gift of all. So, maybe we should be saying, “Merry Christmas!”
Actually, after some consideration, I think that it is quite appropriate for this time of year. In a unique way, we are celebrating the incarnation of God into humanity in the body of Jesus. For this we can be extremely grateful, but there is much more to it. In our politically correct society, it might be helpful to do a word study to get to the bottom of this issue.
The word “Christmas” unites “Christ”, the Messiah or Savior, with the word “Mass” which actually means death. Mass is a term coined by the early Roman Catholic Church. It was used to describe the death of Christ and how Christ is distributed in the sacrament of Holy Communion (as the “host” flesh and blood is represented by bread and wine.)
The word “Easter” is quite controversial. Easter may come from the word Eostre or Ostera, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of fertility. There was a festival celebrated in her name during the vernal equinox or Spring season. Here is the controversy: it is not clear whether the word was borrowed from the name of the Goddess or if the Goddess was named for the holiday. Some churches call it Pashca which is a derivative of the Hebrew word for the Passover. The Bible says, “for Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed (I Corinthians 5:7). Indeed, the Gospel of John states that Christ died on the day of Preparation for the Passover (John 19:14, 31) While the lambs were being slaughtered for the Passover meal, so too was the ultimate lamb… the Lamb of God. Thus, you may ask the question concerning the Last Supper, “was it a Passover meal or simply a last meal?” (But… that’s another article entirely!)
Linking this passage to the Passover of the Old Testament we find that God brought the final plague upon the Egyptians. This plague killed the firstborn of every household that did not have the blood from a lamb over the door to the home. Through the death of Christ, it is His blood shed for you and I that keeps everlasting death from claiming us. His victory is complete on Sunday morning when the women find the tomb empty and Christ appears… ALIVE! Yes, Jesus Christ, God incarnate gives to each of us the gift of eternal life. Of that, I am extremely joyful! That IS the best gift of all. So, maybe we should be saying, “Merry Christmas!”
Oh! The Joy Of It All
Did you enjoy all of the college football in the last few weeks? My alma mater N.C. State was victorious against… Central Florida (a team one step above Division II)!
While that may not have been much of a game, I truly loved watching the Rose Bowl pitting Texas against USC for the National Championship. Even a few of my Texas A & M friends enjoyed watching the University of Texas win what may be arguably the greatest college football game ever played and likely the greatest “big game” performance ever by Horns’ Quarterback Vince Young.
What does football have to do with religion you may ask? Dr. Baxter Kruger tells the story of ten year old Billy. Billy loved to play baseball. It didn’t matter if it was a game or simply practice, Billy loved it. The team practiced on Wednesday afternoons and toward the end of practice, Billy’s mom arrived to pick him up for evening church service. One day Billy felt bad that he had to go early and he told the coach (Dr. Kruger) that he was sorry he had to go to church. Dr. Kruger responded by telling Billy that he had already been in church and it was okay to continue to do so. Puzzled, Billy asked what Coach Kruger was talking about. “Do you think that your love of playing baseball comes from within you or do you think God loves baseball too? God not only loves baseball, but even your love, your joy, of the game comes from God. So in a way, this baseball field has been like being in church.”
In the first chapter of the gospel of John, the writer makes it clear that all things were created by God. This means that the Triune God as the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit created everything… including us. Further, we would do well to realize God created joy. That’s right even the joy that we feel when we play baseball, hold a baby, kiss a loved one, or see our team win comes not from within ourselves, but is a gift from God. Such joy is placed within us as a result of the communal relationship between the Father and Son and given to us by the Holy Spirit. Perichoresis is a theological term used to describe the shared love of mutual delight between Father, Son, and Spirit. As the Father, God is for us; as the Son, God is with us; as the Spirit, God is in us. By God’s grace, we have a significant relationship with each person of the Trinity. God is with us and we are with God. Isn’t that wonderful to know! The next time you do anything and experience emotion, shopping at the mall, talking with friends, watching your team win or lose, holding a baby, or even walking alone, you are, whether you think about it or not... like little Billy, “in church.” God is with us in all places at all times.
While that may not have been much of a game, I truly loved watching the Rose Bowl pitting Texas against USC for the National Championship. Even a few of my Texas A & M friends enjoyed watching the University of Texas win what may be arguably the greatest college football game ever played and likely the greatest “big game” performance ever by Horns’ Quarterback Vince Young.
What does football have to do with religion you may ask? Dr. Baxter Kruger tells the story of ten year old Billy. Billy loved to play baseball. It didn’t matter if it was a game or simply practice, Billy loved it. The team practiced on Wednesday afternoons and toward the end of practice, Billy’s mom arrived to pick him up for evening church service. One day Billy felt bad that he had to go early and he told the coach (Dr. Kruger) that he was sorry he had to go to church. Dr. Kruger responded by telling Billy that he had already been in church and it was okay to continue to do so. Puzzled, Billy asked what Coach Kruger was talking about. “Do you think that your love of playing baseball comes from within you or do you think God loves baseball too? God not only loves baseball, but even your love, your joy, of the game comes from God. So in a way, this baseball field has been like being in church.”
In the first chapter of the gospel of John, the writer makes it clear that all things were created by God. This means that the Triune God as the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit created everything… including us. Further, we would do well to realize God created joy. That’s right even the joy that we feel when we play baseball, hold a baby, kiss a loved one, or see our team win comes not from within ourselves, but is a gift from God. Such joy is placed within us as a result of the communal relationship between the Father and Son and given to us by the Holy Spirit. Perichoresis is a theological term used to describe the shared love of mutual delight between Father, Son, and Spirit. As the Father, God is for us; as the Son, God is with us; as the Spirit, God is in us. By God’s grace, we have a significant relationship with each person of the Trinity. God is with us and we are with God. Isn’t that wonderful to know! The next time you do anything and experience emotion, shopping at the mall, talking with friends, watching your team win or lose, holding a baby, or even walking alone, you are, whether you think about it or not... like little Billy, “in church.” God is with us in all places at all times.
The Father’s Love
I love NASCAR! I grew up in eastern North Carolina. My father took me to the track when I was very young and I fell in love with the sport. Back then my favorite driver was Richard Petty. Weekly his Dodge #43 battled for the lead and often he won. Now the sport has exploded and become a nationwide sensation. In all parts of the country NASCAR plays to hundreds of thousands. That is a long way from the early years when drivers stood for hours outside of the ticket booths and signed autographs for fans who just bought tickets, usually during the week before the race. As a kid, I remember meeting Benny Parson, now an announcer, and actually touching his car. What a thrill! Now my son, Daniel, roots for Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson (not the one from Port Arthur). He even got Johnson’s autograph after a race in Charlotte.
Boy that was a special night. I remember it so very well, as if it were yesterday. Why? Because that night was special for my son. Oh yes, I had fun too, but it wasn’t the same as it was when I was a kid… it was better! There was nothing like the grin and excitement of watching my child meet one of his heroes, if only for a moment. Johnson took the time to speak to Daniel, asking his name and his age. He didn’t have to take the time either, Daniel was standing there with his hat and pen waiting and being a boy, Johnson could have walked on by, but he didn’t. He made a fan for life… make that two.
You may or may not know that I have four kids; Daniel 10, Hannah, 8, Abigail, 6, and Lydia 1. Yes life is busy, but as I write on Lydia’s first birthday, nothing is more special to me than those children, except Christ. But the most wonderful thought is that that is the way it is supposed to be. You see, I did not take a special course on loving my children or a magic “good daddy” pill. No I simply get to be a conduit for the love of God for those children. The love I have for them doesn’t and never did come from within me. That love, that wondrous and most incredible love comes not from any human being, but from the Triune God. This is the love that is shared between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is as if you are simply a light bulb. The energy to make the light does not come from within. In fact, the power to produce electricity is not even in your home or office unless you are using a generator. That power often comes from a long distance and we cannot see it by simply looking out our window. We have to trust that the power company is operating when we plug in or turn on anything electric. That too is how God’s love operates. We are simply enjoying the love that is generated between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit acts as the power line to bring all that is God to us, like revelation, knowledge and yes, love. And what love it is that flows! God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son. (John 3:16)
As we approach Easter, I hope you will think of those people and things you love. Stop for a moment and consider… your spouse, your child(ren), a relative, a friend, a hobby, a sport, even your job. Anything that you love is loved first by God. Now think about how great it is to see others when they love something… a pet, a gift, etc… Isn’t that even better! We love because God loves and you are His beloved.
Boy that was a special night. I remember it so very well, as if it were yesterday. Why? Because that night was special for my son. Oh yes, I had fun too, but it wasn’t the same as it was when I was a kid… it was better! There was nothing like the grin and excitement of watching my child meet one of his heroes, if only for a moment. Johnson took the time to speak to Daniel, asking his name and his age. He didn’t have to take the time either, Daniel was standing there with his hat and pen waiting and being a boy, Johnson could have walked on by, but he didn’t. He made a fan for life… make that two.
You may or may not know that I have four kids; Daniel 10, Hannah, 8, Abigail, 6, and Lydia 1. Yes life is busy, but as I write on Lydia’s first birthday, nothing is more special to me than those children, except Christ. But the most wonderful thought is that that is the way it is supposed to be. You see, I did not take a special course on loving my children or a magic “good daddy” pill. No I simply get to be a conduit for the love of God for those children. The love I have for them doesn’t and never did come from within me. That love, that wondrous and most incredible love comes not from any human being, but from the Triune God. This is the love that is shared between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is as if you are simply a light bulb. The energy to make the light does not come from within. In fact, the power to produce electricity is not even in your home or office unless you are using a generator. That power often comes from a long distance and we cannot see it by simply looking out our window. We have to trust that the power company is operating when we plug in or turn on anything electric. That too is how God’s love operates. We are simply enjoying the love that is generated between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit acts as the power line to bring all that is God to us, like revelation, knowledge and yes, love. And what love it is that flows! God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son. (John 3:16)
As we approach Easter, I hope you will think of those people and things you love. Stop for a moment and consider… your spouse, your child(ren), a relative, a friend, a hobby, a sport, even your job. Anything that you love is loved first by God. Now think about how great it is to see others when they love something… a pet, a gift, etc… Isn’t that even better! We love because God loves and you are His beloved.
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