MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRYCHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS

I was never a big sayer of "Merry Christmas," until this year. I didn't used to be taken back or take offense to Happy Holidays. Becasue I considered them as Christmas and New Year's. But now, I consider Happy Holidays a backhanded salute to the season, and not the celebration of the birth of the King.

I also notice I don't care much for Santa any more. Not that he ever displaced Jesus. But I saw him as someone who was kind and brought joy to the Christmas season. Not as a rival or a subtitutionary figure for Jesus, but an aside, a diversion that wasn't harmful. I mean he had a good heart and a lot of stamina to deliver all those presents to all those kids in one night. I do remember thinking as a child who still believed in him, that he must get awfully full if he ate something from everybody's house that he visited. But he was no threat.

Maybe he's still no threat, but our society is so secular now that I'm not so certain. To those with little spiritual awareness, he may just be taking the place of Jesus. Obviously I don't like that at all. So Santa is becoming irrelevant to me. I still like the reindeer and sleigh, but I don't know. Maybe it's all the PCness in the world.

At our Small Group last night, one of our friends shared how she's having to struggle to deal with her company's Holiday Party because some co-workers are doing a skit making fun of "Silent Night", by altering the lyrics. It's not as if they don't know her religious beliefs; nor or they trying to be mean to her. They're just spiritually void.

It's getting to be that way. I remember when I first heard the term secular humanism. I thought those to be on the lunatic fringe. Suddenly, well not so suddenly, but now they're mainstream.

Rather than wring our hands, we have to look at this change as an opportunity for us to reach the members of our society who don't know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Maybe we can begin by saying Merry Christmas and letting others know that we'd really appreciate it if they made fun of lyrics from non-religious Christmas or holiday songs. Or to paraphrase, "Let there be Merry Christmas on earth and let it begin with me". (Sorry, maybe that paraphrase is as bad as the parody on "Silent Night"). All I know, and I do have an answer this time, is that Jesus is the reason for the season (you don't even hear that much anymore) and it's time to celebrate that. And add to His kingdom.

Merry Christmas 2007!!

JESUS: LORD AT BIRTH



And the Magi came. It took them awhile to get there. Maybe as long as one or two years. But they were persistent in their quest. They were determined to see the Holy One.



When the church doors are opened on Sunday, we should have that same persistence. We should be on the lookout for the Holy One. When we miss worship service, we miss out on corporate worship. We deprive ourselves of a spiritual blessing.



The Magi saw. They saw Jesus. At His house. They didn't get there in time for the manger or grotto. But they saw the Lord of Lords as an infant. They came looking for hope, and they found Him.



When church doors are opened on Sunday, we can see Jesus. We see saints who are trying to live for God everyday. We see people struggling with life. But they come. Sunday after Sunday. If we come looking for hope through God's grace, there's a great possibility that we will find it. That we will be victorious in our quest.



The Magi worshipped. They fell on their knees. They brought gifts. Three gifts. One which was used for the dead. Foreshadowing the cross, for which He was sent.



When church doors are opened on Sunday, we can worship. We can experience the presence of God. We can make worship significant in our lives. We can give His tithes and our offerings. To demonstrate He is sovereign and to further the kingdom.



Yes, we are the Magi. Don't miss out like so many others at that time. And the present time. Come, let's adore Him.

SMILE, JESUS LOVES YOU OR DON'T WORRY:BE HAPPY

I never much liked people telling me I should be happy. I don't even like it when someone snaps a photo and tells me to smile. I never liked the smiley face. But I'm not a grump.

Psalm 100 tells us to worship the Lord with gladness: we are His people. I have no problem doing that. I love being called His people or heir to the kingdom. I love being in worship service. As I've shared before, I just feel better when I'm at church. I feel as if my load has been lightened, and it has.

But Thessalonians 5:18 tells us "to be joyful always. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you." Ok, I'm back again with making a choice I don't like.

But I'm wrong in my thinking that way. We must remember who is there with us, by us, yoked to us. And what He has done for us in the past. But sometimes that is so hard. Even when I think of God's faithfulness, of God's promises, I still have trouble overcoming loss. Of not focusing on what will not, cannot be.

A friend of mine last week lost his 35 year-old son to a sudden heart attack. He's a strong man of faith, and I'm so glad he is. If I know him, he's gone to scripture for comfort. I hope he turns to Psalm 100:5 "The Lord is good and His love endures forever." We must show reverence to God in all situations; not just when we want to feel good at church. We have to let God be God and know that we must focus on the future. We know He's in our corner and that He does no wrong.

And if that's as hard for you to do as it is for me. If you don't want to smile just because someone tells you to, then maybe we can take heart in a prayer that an English pastor prayed after disasters in his life. It went something like this,"Thank you Dear Lord that times like these don't last".

I pray that they go quickly for my friend Lou. His son will always live in his heart. Just like his God.

WHEN IT'S TIME TO GET NOSEY

As part of my wife's ministry, on a small scale, she takes care of printing personalized birthday and anniversary cards for members of our Adult Bible Fellowship class. All the other members sign the cards with a brief note. People seem to appreciate them and CQ enjoys making them.

We have three couples who have dropped out of our class and our worship services. I suggested we send Christmas cards to them with words of love and encouragement. I signed one of the cards while my wife signed the other two.

I simply wished them a Merry Christmas and great 2008 and told them we really missed them in our class.

But I'm thinking I should have written more, or more to the point. It should have gone like this:

Dear friends,

Where have you been and what are you thinking? Why did you decide to leave our church and not attend another? Do you think God would approve? I'm certainly not judging nor condemning, even though it may sound that way. We want you back. And not for selfish reasons that we want a larger class. We just miss you and are calling you out. If there is anything any of us can do to help, please let us know. We never want to cause or see a Christian brother and sister stumble, but if you have, then we're offering a hand to help you get back to where you belong. In Christ's love, T and CQ

That sounds way too harsh. I think it's the way scripture tells us how to deal with Christians who have sinned, but I'm glad I didn't write that. Somewhere in between. That's where the answer is. Somewhere in between what I wrote and what I wanted to write.

WHAT ARE THEY TEACHING THESE KIDS ANYWAY(S)?

I have a few friends still in seminary. In different parts of the country. One recently shared with me a tidbit that one of his professors shared with a class recently.

It seems that this professor was questioning whether or not Solomon was in Heaven. To begin with, I didn't think it was for us to judge, but as a former non-seminary professor of mine used to say, "no never mind".

My student friend asked him if he meant that someone who had written 3 books of the Bible (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon) or 1/22nd of the Holy Bible breathed by God was not in Heaven? "Well, that's a good point," was the answer he received.

The seminary prof had apparently based his view on the fact that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Now had he questioned that Solomon was the most intelligent man ever, based on that fact, then I could understand. But a seminary prof questioning whether or not any person is in Heaven, and to base that presumption on his lifestyle or works is not what I have read about salvation and God's gift of grace.

Without a doubt, God uses all kinds of people for His purpose. But I don't think He would use a person separated from the Father for all eternity to compose three books of Holy scripture.

WERE YOU THERE?

If we look towards the other end of the birth of Jesus this Christmas season we look squarely at the cross. And who was there.

Some were there for sorrow. Certainly His Mother, Mary Magdalene, Mary's sister, John, and another woman who some say was Jon's mother. But there were thousands on the hill at Golgotha that day. Some were there to mock, to dance, to tease Jesus to come down from the cross.

Where were the throngs? Where were the other followers? How about those who received His magnificent miracles? The 5,000 He fed? The shepherd was stuck and the sheep scattered.

It's a good thing we're not like that today. That's what I find about the people from Jesus' time and before. They just didn't act right. They weren't religious enough. Not like us. And if you haven't noticed my firmly planted tongue in cheek, then you're not reading closely.

How many times have we grown weak in a place of confrontation about Jesus? How about our silence in situations where non-followers of Jesus have been? Have many times have we pushed Him aside and ignored Him? Guilty as charged? Without a doubt.

And all the while on each side of the cross Jesus forgives. Only by God's grace are we taken back into the fold. Jesus didn't desert us, and He never will. "Stand up, stand up for Jesus," should be easy, especially this time of the year.

R STANDS FOR RIGHTEOUS IN THE EQUATION

Righteous is simply right thinking. I know, it's used disparagingly in these days. By some. Some who don't know.

It's first used in Genesis 15:6 where the Lord credited righteousness to Abram. For his belief in God. Abrahm's actions had demonstrated his obedience. Especially when he refused the spoils offered to him by the king of Sodom. But it was his faith and not his works that God noted.

Just as in our salvation, we can't get the horse before the cart. After we first believe and trust in the Lord, then we will want to perform good works. The good works will never save anyone. They will follow naturally as a new way of life.

In addition, we each have spiritual fruit unique to us as believers. We no longer are to envy others or be conceited. (Gal 5:26) That's not what we're about anymore. The fruit of the Holy Spirit, whom we received when we accepted Jesus as our savior, produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23)

And why are these fruits unique to us as believers? Because it's only through God's grace that we can attain them. God doesn't want us to be independent because He knows we would fail. But with His help we can make great strides in attaining them.

Will we always demonstrate these spiritual fruits? C'mon. No way: we love and trust God, but we're still human. We will fail. But God's there to catch us when we fall and restore us to righteousness. Praise Him.

ME AND JOHN THE BAPTIST

We both love the outdoors. We both love Jesus. We both have been in the Jordan River. And we both have announced.

"Number 55, a senior forward--John GOOOOOOOgenOOOUURR." My last game as varsity basketball announcer. One of my last starting line up introductions. A scorekeeper for the Cahokia Commanches turned to look at me and shook his head. For, you see, I hadn't introduced his team members quite as excitedly and they were the opponents of the MTV Rams that evening.

Although I announced football longer--19 years to 10 years, I really enjoyed basketball more. I could ham it up more in the introductions. I worked with the Pep Band percussion section and with wild drums approaching the Blue Men Group, we would liven up an old high school gym right out of Hoosiers. I used to welcome all the guests to "the Snake Pit, Chagnon Gymnasium, Home of the MTV Rams". Some family member complained about my reference to the hallowed gym as a snake pit, but I meant no disrespect, so I dropped that part of the introduction.

But what about John the Baptist? How cool was it for him to be called the greatest prophet of the Old Testament? Furthermore, how awesome was it to announce to the world that Jesus was Messiah! Yes, the Son of God they had been waiting for! And He had come! Right there in their presence!

John the Baptist was honored to be able to make that announcement. We should be honored to be able to follow Him. To serve Him. To have a love relationship with Him.

Thanks, John. You got it right!

WHEN I FALL IN LOVE

The third principle in last night's BSF lecture, I didn't completely get. The second principle in last night's lecture escaped Discussion Leader buddy Brad who asked to see my notes. We both are capable note takers. It's not our first year in Bible Study Fellowship. Actually it's my 6th. Our teaching leader Dennis is a very good speaker. He enunciates well; he repeats the principles about 3 times each for emphasis. So what gives?

For me, the impact of his words. As I was taking the first half of the notes, thoughts raced through my mind and I was unable to brush them away long enough to complete the notes. The part of the third principle I got was "Christians must keep no competing allegiances to Christ." Even before Dennis finished, I was assessing. Do I do that? Even when he was repeating I was thinking, yeah I do. And when Dennis added, "After I got married, I don't think my wife would have wanted me to keep an old girlfriend or two around, and it's the same with the Lord."

Sometimes scripture you've known for years really jumps off the page when you re-read it. Maybe for the twentieth or fiftieth time when it never did before. It speaks directly to your heart. That's what this lesson did for me this week.

I had long known the scripture from Matthew 10:37-38 where Jesus is explaining the cost of being one of His followers: " Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me, anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me." I think I had rationalized this by convincing myself that He was talking only about the 12, or at the most really devout Christians, the kinds persecuted in Foxes' Book of Martyrs. But for today's Christians, well that's not all that practical. We can rationalize about anything if we put our minds to it.

I have spoken many times of Gale Sayer's book, I am Third, in which he prioritized God is first, his family second, and him third. I love that. But I've been so guilty of number 2 being ahead of number 1; of number 3 being ahead of number 2 and number 1 so many times that I can't count.

But being told that my allegiance to loved ones is competing with God just as an allegiance to old girlfriends would be competing with my wife, well that clarified things for me. Since no one is comparable to God, then how could someone(s) compete with Him anyway(s)? Sometimes, just re-wording or looking at something from a different perspective makes the obvious clear.

I wonder what Brad missed from the second principle: "Christians can expect hostility from the world but comfort from the Lord"?

MY MAN!

I had to share, in my own words with inauthentic picture, an internet story passed on to me by a good friend. I'm sure it's fiction, but I hope it's not.

It seems there was this atheist who went to court to secure a date on the calendar that atheists could celebrate. He argued before the judge that Christians had Easter and Christmas. He continued that Jews had Yom Kippur and Hannukah. But atheists had nothing.

The judge announced, "Case dismissed," and banged the gavel with a loud rap.

"But why, Judge?" the atheist pleaded.

"You have your holiday. It's April 1. According to scripture, in Psalm 14:1 'A fool says there is no God.' April Fool's Day. That's your holiday. Now get out of my court."

Sometimes fiction is better than truth. But how our country needs judges like this!

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

"Lord, I want to still myself in Your strength," prays author Joni Tada. And I prayed that same prayer with her.

I'm not much into meditating. Our youth and music pastor Jason illustrated a great way to meditate on scripture. Part of it included memorization of scripture. I find as I get older I don't have that capacity as much as I did in my youth. In our study of The 40 Days of Purpose, and in our recent study of Seeking Him we were asked to memorize verses. One per week was all. I might have memorized 3 total. So that's definitely a spiritual discipline I need to improve on.

There are so many others that I'll need the Lord to bless me with a long life to be able to complete, or in some cases just make headway into them. For example, today.

I awoke with a cold, somewhat better but still nagging. It was raining. Certainly a blessing in the desert. But except for one afternoon this week, we have had cloud cover like the Midwest. Warmer temps for November, no doubt. Over coffee I read the newspaper which reported a 0.38 inch rainfall in the last 24 hours. Former Pastor Keith Stanford would have said,"Balderdash!" Present Pastor Rob would probably have said, "Yeah, right." I mean c'mon. It has been reported nearly every place in the valley has received between 1 and 2 inches of rain. With more coming today.

Besides, our paper has become so negative, so far left in editorial writers' views and letters to the editor they choose to run. And in today's paper they advertise a "7 foot inflatable manger for the religious aspect of the season". What? For the religious aspect? That's completely what Christmas is about. If you celebrate something else, well sorry, but you're simply adding on to Christian coat tails. And yesterday's paper ran a picture of Glendale's tumbleweed "holiday tree". Not Christmas tree mind you. Holiday tree.

So do you see why I need meditation. And it's not even 8 AM yet. But God sees all. Maybe He even sees my anger as holy anger or righteous anger. But I'm afraid now I'm trying to control Him. Would I do that? Boy, do I need a lot of work.