The "Dark" side of Christmas

I’ve really been enjoying my advent readings this year. The first week was full of amazement as I read the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus. I was so moved about God’s zeal and preparation for the event.

The second week was fun as I read about the actual events of the birth of Jesus. Again I was moved by God’s plan – sending John the Baptist to prepare people, having Magi travel to see Jesus, having angels inform lowly shepherds that Jesus was born. I know the story but each time I read it I’m moved.

And then came this week. The reading guide I’m using jumps to the last weeks of Jesus’ life. Now suddenly the story of Jesus isn’t about a baby in a manger. But it’s about a man of suffering. The Lord Jesus who has come to give His life for His friends. For his loved ones. It’s so easy during Christmas to forget about what is coming. Even in reading Psalm 22, which is all about suffering, it was easy to see the last verses of celebrate why Jesus came - to set us free. But the pain of the cross is always in the background of the Christmas story.

The Baby Jesus did come to set us free. He came because he loves us. He came so we might have life and have it abundantly. But He also come to die for our sins. This is the "dark" side of Christmas. It's still good news - Jesus came to give His life, but as we look at the Baby we mustn't forget what's next.

The Gospel (good news) is that Jesus loves us and he came for us as a baby. That’s Christmas. But let’s not forget the rest of the story. Let’s not forget the background of the cross that waits for our Baby Lord Savior.

The Right to Become a Child of God

Read John 1:1-18

When I became a true follower of Jesus it was a three step precess. It all happened within a years time right in the middle of my college education. Step one happened when a friend got me to consider and even believe that there was a God. Before that I would have said I was an atheist. Step two happened about 6 months later when I prayed to become a Christian – primarily because I wanted to avoid hell.

Step three happened when I fell in love with Jesus. It was then when I decided to follow Jesus, to be devoted to him. I was in a Bible study with one man, my Navigator campus minister, and he convinced me to come to the bigger fellowship meeting. At that meet a student shared that he had become a “child of God”. I wanted to know what that was. I had believed in the message of Jesus and according to the diagram I was given I got to go to heaven and not to hell. But this student was a child of God. I asked my leader what that was and he directed me to John 1 and 1 John 3:1.

The way the Navigators did Bible study back then is that we were given a booklet with Bible passages in it and we would fill out the book on our own and then get together to share our answers. I remember vividly the night I filled out this study – the night I realized that I had become a child of God. I even remember the date (And I don’t remember many dates, but this one is funny)- April 1^st, I am a fool for Jesus! (For my international friends, April 1^st is “April Fools Day”). The house I was living in in Arcata California had a living room with a wall full of windows facing the street. My roommate and I were both pretty poor at the time and we had no drapes and no furniture except for a roll top desk that I had brought from home and a very large piece of driftwood that we had found on the beach and we used for seating. The Bible study had lots of passages but two stood out. John 1:12-13 and 1^st John 3:1. Read these passages – they are all about being a child of God.

As I read these passages I realized that there is something better than avoiding hell. I can be a child of God. Instead of just joining a religion I was adopted. All the passages in the Bible about God loving me now came alive (see John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 John 4:9-10) . Jesus didn’t just come to save me from hell. He came to adopt me. He came to help me have a new relationship – a relation ship with Him– a relationship with God. Now comes the embarrassing part. I realized that I didn’t just join a club – a religion, but that I now had a relationship with God. I was a child of God. As I realized this I became full of Joy and I began dancing around my living room – In front of the big window, and I was singing the few Christians songs I knew. Very few people, including my wife, have seen me dance. I don’t dance. But that night anyone who was outside on Dorthy Court in Arcata California, cold have seen my dancing like a fool in my living room. That night I discovered that I was a child of God. It is amazing that Jesus came to help us become children of God.

The Maker of Time Became Flesh . . .

Read Luke 2:1-20

I saw this poem in a church bulletin many years ago. Whenever I read the Christmas story I think of this poem with all of it’s amazing contrasts. Enjoy.

The Christmas Sermon of St. Augustine

When the maker of time, the Word of the Father, became flesh,

He gave us His day of birth in time.

Today Christ is born.

And He, without whose bidding no day runs it’s course,

In His incarnation reserved one day for Himself.

God Became man.

For He, Himself, with the Father, precedes all spans of time,

But on this day, issuing from His mother, He stepped into the tide of years.

Glory to God!

Man’s Maker was made man, that He, Ruler of the stars,

Might nurse at His mother’s breast,

That the Bread might be hungry, the Fountain thirst,

The Light sleep, the Way be tired from the journey.

Glory to God, Wonderful circumstance.

The Word was made flesh that the Truth might be accused by false witnesses,

The judge of the living and the dead by judged by a mortal judge.

Justice be sentenced by the unjust, the Teacher be beaten with whips,

The Vine be crowned with thorns, the Foundation be suspended on wood!

That Strength might be made weak, that He who was well might be wounded,

That Life might die.

Alleluia!

Glory to God in the highest!

Mary's song

There really is so little to say about this morning’s passage. I believe it is so beautiful that it stands by itself. Mary visits Elizabeth and becomes so moved she breaks into song. She sings to glorify God’s name. She has a couple lines to sing about her condition but she is so overwhelmed about God that she sings about Him. Look how many lines begin with “He has”. Look at all the things God has done. It’s beautiful.

Luke 1:46-55

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.”

*********

Here is one of my favorite modern songs based on Mary's song. John Michael Talbot is a Christian artist who as he grew in his faith become a monk but continued to compose and perform his music. His community lives in Eureka Springs Arkansas, not far from here. Enjoy his song.

Advent: Let it be.

Read Luke 1:26-38

What an amazing passage. Yesterday we saw the angel go to the elderly priest with a message about his miracle and special baby. Today the angel goes to a young virgin about her miracle and special baby. Most scholars I read believe that Mary was a young teenager, the age women get pledged to be married back then. And to the young woman the angel tells her she is going to have a baby. And again this baby will be a special baby – he will be the Son of the Most high God. He will sit on David’s throne – very common language for a Jewish woman to know that he will be the long awaited for Messiah. His kingdom will last forever. (We know this language from our readings in Isaiah.)

The teenage Mary’s response is what is so amazing. First she asks “How will this be?” This is not the question of doubt that Zechariah the priest poses. Zechariah asks “How will I know this is true” Mary asks “How will this happen since I am a virgin.” Zechariah’s asks for proof, Mary asks for an explanation of the process. For a young teenager this certainly seems like a good question. She is saying “okay this is happening but I don’t understand how.”

But her last response is even better. “I am the Lord’s servant, May it be to me according to your word.” Mary knows her status before God. God is Lord. Mary is His servant. She will submit to Him. Of course what she is agreeing to is a wonderful privilege. She is highly favored. She will be the mother of the one Isaiah prophesied about. She will be the mother of the Messiah. She will be called blessed for all generations.

God’s zealous (Isaiah 9.7) plan to redeem mankind is being set into motion. The forerunner of Jesus has been announced. Now the mother of the Messiah knows the plan. He is coming. He is coming soon.

Advent: Missing the point

Read Luke 1:1-25

It’s fascinating to me. Zechariah is told at least three amazing things:

1. 1. He and his elderly wife are going to have a baby boy.
2. 2. His son is going to bring people back to the Lord.
3. 3. His son is going to prepare people for the Messiah – meaning the Messiah is coming soon!

Zechariah seems to hear only one of these – you are going to have a baby. Instead of saying “Wow the Messiah is coming.” Which really is the big news, he focuses on the long odds pregnancy of his wife.

The Messiah coming is the big news, and yet he misses it. I wonder how often we do that.

Advent: All the Ends of the Earth!!

Read Psalm 22:22-31

Last night our group, ISCA, sponsored “International Christmas Fest”. For me it was a moving night. We had performers from all over the world presenting a variety of acts – All because of Jesus. We had two great children’s choirs: One from China and one from Korea. We had poetry from Nigeria, music from Peru, some student from Cameroon performed for us what Christmas is like in Cameroon. We had memories of Christmas from China, Macedonia, Rwanda, and Eritrea. We had a dance group from American and the University of Arkansas Inspirational Singers sang. As I sat in the back watching all of this I kept thinking of Psalm 22:27-28:

All the ends of the earth

will remember and turn to the Lord,

and all the families of the nations

will bow down before him,

for dominion belongs to the Lord

and he rules over the nations.

All the ends of the earth were at University Baptist Church remembering and proclaiming the story of Jesus!

Most of Psalm 22 is painful to read. It reminds us of what Jesus had to go through on the cross. But in verse 22 the tone changes and begins to remind us of the global impact that the birth of Jesus has on the people of the earth. Jesus was born to set his people free. Jesus went through the pain of the cross to bring forgiveness to us all. He did this for all people and all generations.

Look at verse 30-31. He had done it!

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:14

Jesus' Psalm

Read Psalm 22:1-8

Jesus knew what was ahead for Him. I guess we don’t know when He knew but He knew. It’s clear in His years of ministry that He knew because He kept telling His disciples that He must suffer and die. As a young Jewish person I wonder how often He had His daily Bible reading time in Psalm 22. Psalms are thought of as songs of praise. But for a person who knows the cross is ahead for Him what did He think of Psalm 22. Psalms were written hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Yet Psalm 22 so accurately describes what happened to Jesus. When He was on the cross dying He quoted the first line of Psalm 22. Was He using scripture memory to comfort Himself? Or was He acknowledging this Psalm was always about Him.

For the next three days we will read a part of Psalm 22. As you read it think about what Jesus thought every time He read this Psalm. Think about what this baby savior had ahead of Him.

The cost of needing a savior

Read Isaiah 52:13-53:12

In our readings so far it’s been all good. We have a child savior who is coming to lead us. He will bring us peace and his government will be wonderful. He will forgive our sins and bring us closer to God. The lion will lie down with the lamb and life will be so different.

But today we discover that there is a cost to this great story. Since mankind first turned it’s back on God (see Genesis 3), God has had a problem. God loves humans. He created us not just as a “science project” but he created us “for” fellowship with Himself (see Colossians 1:16). When God created mankind He said it was Very Good. God is love and He so loved the world he created. But mankind rejected God. We said “This is good but we’ve got a better idea.” And we went our own way (see Isaiah 53:6 from our passage today). God not only is Love but God is Holy and Just. Love may want to turn a blind eye on disobedience but Holiness and Justice demand that a price must be paid.

Anyone who has been a victim or has had a close friend be a victim of a crime knows the intense frustration when Justice doesn’t happen. So often as humans we say “That isn’t fair” when a person gets away with crime. Fact is that happens in human justice. But God IS just. God IS holy. It cannot happen within him to let injustice happen. So a price must be paid for our turning away.

Not only must a price be paid but the solution must be just. So not just any person can pay the price. The solution must be perfect. God really has quite a conundrum. His love compels him to seek after mankind. His Justice and Holiness demands a perfect solution.

The answer is God himself must enter into history and must pay the price. He must suffer and pay the price that justice demands for disobedience. “By His wounds we are healed” (Look at Isaiah 53:4-5). Now reread Isaiah 52:13-53:12 and notice all God had to go through for us. All that this baby savior has to look forward to so that he can save us.

But don’t forget to notice Isaiah 53:11. This is the fruit. After He has suffered He will see life and be satisfied. The needs of Justice will be met and He will see life! Jesus will bear our iniquities. He will pay the price and in the end it will be good.

So as we celebrate Christmas and as we sing of this beautiful baby, let’s not forget the price the baby will have to pay. Let’s not forget the reason the baby had to pay this price. Let us celebrate but let us also stand in awe of the suffering servant who has come to pay the price.

Thank you Lord Jesus. Thank you baby Jesus.

Advent: See and Lift Up Your Voice

Read Isaiah 40:1-11

I remember many years ago when I was living in Bakersfield California Michael Dukakis, the governor of Massachusetts who was running for President, came to Bakersfield for a campaign stop. He was beginning a train ride up the San Joaquin valley. I went because I thought it would be fun to see a presidential stop. I don’t remember at all what was said but I remember vividly how it was staged. They had blocked off a street and the train caboose was backed up right to the middle of the street. When we arrived there was a rope across the street about 100 years away from the train and I thought it was too bad we couldn’t get closer. But then just as the candidate was ready to step out and speak the rope was dropped and the crowd surged forward to get a better view. A friend told me later that they do that so the crowd gets excited and so that the TV crews get a picture of an excited, moving crowd. Even though I was in the middle of the crowd I had a great view of the candidate. After it was over there were people in the crowd passing out flyers with important facts about Governor Dukakis and they were telling us to go home and tell our friends. We had a great view and now we were to go tell our friends.

Isaiah 40 begins with comforting words about comfort coming for the people who have been struggling. Verse 2 proclaims that their hard service is completed, their sins have been paid for. Great news – but the question is how? Where?

Verse 3 begins the answer. Prepare the way for the Lord. This verse is quoted in the New Testament in talking about the ministry of John the Baptist. It’s a great image. When a king comes through he would send out advance teams of people to make sure the road was ready for the king and so that the people could get a good view of the king. John the Baptist’s job was to get people ready to receive the king Jesus. In Isaiah the goal is clear – look at verse 5: The glory of the Lord will be revealed and all the people will see it!

“Seeing” is so key to this passage. Look at verse 5, 9 and 10. (in Verse 9 the word “here” is the same Hebrew word used in verse 10 for “See”.) See you Lord comes with power. See his reward is with Him. As we approach Christmas, the coming of our Lord Jesus, look for how he comes to provide comfort. Look at the good news of a Savior who is coming to save us all from our sins. To save us all from our “hard service”. Jesus comes to save and we must see Him.

But this passage doesn’t just tell us to see the good news. Look at verse 9: Go on top of a mountain and lift up your voice! Lift it up with a shout! Don’t be afraid but lift up your voice and proclaim the Good News of the savior Jesus coming. Lift up the great message of sins being forgiving. Lift up the message of comfort. For all of us who have seen Jesus and chosen to follow him we have a mission- lift up your voice and proclaim the real reason for Christmas – the coming of the savior is brings forgiveness and comfort. He will comfort us like a shepherd. He will lead us like a shepherd.

So go, see Jesus this Christmas and then make it easy for others to see Jesus and proclaim to all around the great message of comfort. It’s an amazing message that this world needs to hear.

An Amazing Leader/An Amazing Child

Read Isaiah 11:1-10

Whenever there is a new leader there is new hope – or at least there is proclamations about the new hope. People get excited about the tough days of old will now end and the new leader will lead us out of these days (whatever these days are).

With the kings of old proclamations would be written declaring how this new king will lead us to prosperity. How this new king will rule with righteousness. How this new king will bring peace to the land. New kings, new leaders, will always tell us how they give us hope.

But what is so different in this passage in Isaiah is that it is not talking about the new leader in office. It’s telling us about a baby! And the baby is yet to come. At least the baby is yet to come when these words were written 2700 or so years ago. For us today this baby came and we anticipate that coming with our advent readings and we celebrate that coming in our celebration of Christmas.

Let’s take a look at this child:

Verse 1 – the root of Jesse. This is a poetic way of talking about Jesus. Jesse is the father of the ancient Jewish King David (about 1000 years before the birth of Jesus). God had promised that the savior would come from David – in other words the root of Jesse.

This child will come with a spirit of wisdom, counsel, might, knowledge, and a fear of the LORD. In fact he will delight in the fear of the LORD. Fear doesn’t mean being scared but means reverence. This child will delight is revering God.

Then look at verse 6. We begin a series of Utopian statements about how nature will be calmed so much that even predators will lie down with their prey in peace. It’s an amazing image: A wolf relaxing with a lamb, a leopard with a goat, a lion with a calf. There a TV commercial running right now for Traveler’s Insurance showing just this image: of animals of all kind living in peace with each other. This is the image Isaiah is using showing the completeness of the peace this child brings. Look at the last line of verse 6 – and a little child will lead them. A little child! What the Traveler’s Insurance commercial needs is a little child walking in the midst of it all making it all happen – Jesus is the leader of this Utopian vision!

Finally look at verse 10. When you raise your banner it is a sign to all that you can come to the banner and the king will be there and it is a rallying place. It was often used in war as a sign to come here for rest. The end of verse 10 tells us His resting place will be glorious. This little child, the one we celebrate at Christmas time – Jesus -- will give us a Glorious Resting Place. That is why he is coming! That is why He already has come!

So for politicians they create slogans to tell us how great life with them will be. For Jesus, the child that is coming, the root of Jesse, the one who delights is God - He gives us a promise. A promise we can trust in.

Amen.

Advent with Zeal

Read Isaiah 9:1-7

Zeal: eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something.

Isaiah 9 is such a great passage about Jesus and Advent. It looks to the future about when a people walking in darkness will see the Light (Remember, Jesus is the light! John 8:12). And this light will remove the gloom as a child will lead us – a child with such amazing names as “Wonderful Counselor”, “Mighty God”, “Everlasting Father”, and “Prince of Peace”.

There is great news in Isaiah 9:1-7. I think we would do well to study this passage closely.

But this morning I want to focus on just the last sentence: “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

This is an amazing passage of victory and peace and a vision for the future. And it will all come about because of God’s zeal. GOD’S zeal! God has “eagerness and ardent interest” in giving his people a leader that will lead to eternal peace. That leader is the baby in the stable: Jesus.

What do I have zeal for? Outside my religious interest I’d have to say I have a zeal for really well made pizza. People today seem to like the cheap, ready made bargain pizza. I like pizza with flavor. When a new pizza place opens I desire to go there and try their pizza. When I arrive in the pizza place I smell the air. Pizza that is made on the premise (as opposed to the dough being made elsewhere and trucked to the location) should give a wonderful “yeast” aroma to the building. When the pizza arrives at my table the first thing I do is taste the crust. Good pizza must have a good crust. Then I take a bite but I don’t just chew, I focus on tasting the sauce – it’s the second most important part of the pizza. I actually have other steps but this gives you an idea of my crazy zeal for pizza.

In Christmas God has this kind of crazy zeal for mankind! When the first Christmas finally came God smelled the air. God watched with ardent interest. The angels sang. The heavens rejoice. People marveled and God “zealously” watched it all. He was more excited about Christmas than a razorback fan at the LSU game. God cheered while Christmas unfolded!

I pray we all will have that kind of zeal at the birth of Jesus.

Jesus is the Light: Advent Readings

John 1:4-5; John 8:12

I didn’t become a true follower of Jesus until my college years. Before that I actually called myself an atheist or skeptic. But my youth was spent going to church (mom made me go) so I had memories of what Christians did and once I became a follower I wanted to experience all the celebrations of my youth but as a true followers of Jesus.

When my first Christmas came as true devotee of Jesus I was excited to experience the true meaning of Jesus – the celebration of the incarnation of Jesus. I figured it would be so cool as a true believer. I was extremely disappointed. The “Christmas season” got in the way of my celebration of the birth of Jesus. I was busy working extra hours at a lumber yard so I could afford gifts. There were people everywhere in a hurry. And Christmas eve and Christmas day seemed to be all about food, relatives, and opening gifts.

At first I was disappointed in my culture but then I realized I did little to make it different. I wanted others to do things so I could have a “real Christmas”. But what to do? I did two things: One I bought a “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” button and I put it on my coat the next Christmas. This might seem minor but it actually was an important ritual for me every Christmas for many years.

The second thing I did was far more important. I was introduced to the concept of the season of Advent – a special period of time that started four Sundays before Christmas. It was a time period of daily Bible readings that pointed my mind to Jesus. Advent is a time to remember the coming and over over the years I added things to celebrate Jesus’ coming.

One thing I started doing is putting up Christmas lights. But not for the cultural reasons, but because of the Bible today’s Bible verses! Jesus is the light of the world and the light shines in the darkness. Every year I’d put up lights, either on my house or in my room when I rented a room. On the first Sunday of Advent (this year Nov. 28^th) I’d turn on the lights and I’d say “Jesus is the light of the world and the light shines in the darkness.” This might seem simple but for me it has become a special moment for my celebration. When I finally decided to follow Jesus, Jesus brought light into the darkness of my life. I’m a very different person today because of that light. Christmas is about the light and I’m going to light the lights to begin my celebration.

I am so thankful that the light of Jesus shines in my life and as I begin remembering the most important moment in history, before Easter, I want to light the lights to daily remind me that Jesus is the light.

Advent Readings

Advent means a “coming”. Many Christians prepare for the celebration of Christmas by reading daily “advent” readings. The goal of the readings to look at the whole Christmas story. It actually begins in the Old Testament with some prophecy about Jesus and then goes to the New Testament and looks at the events of Christmas and Jesus’ life. Advent always begins four Sundays before Christmas (Dec. 25^th). To use this guide read the passage of the day each day and ask yourself “What do I learn about Jesus today and what does it mean to me?”

Week one: Jesus will come

Sunday Nov. 28^th John 1:4-5; John 8:12

Monday Nov. 29^th Isaiah 9:1-7

Tuesday Nov. 30^th Isaiah 11:1-12

Wednesday Dec. 1^st Isaiah 40:1-11

Thursday Dec. 2^nd Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Friday Dec. 3^rd Psalm 22:1-8

Saturday Dec. 4^th Psalm 22:9-21

Week two: Jesus has come!

Sunday Dec. 5^th Psalm 22:22-31

Monday Dec. 6^th Luke 1:1-25

Tuesday Dec. 7^th Luke 1:26-38

Wednesday Dec. 8^th Luke 1: 39-56

Thursday Dec. 9^th Luke 2:1-21

Friday Dec. 10^th Luke 2:22-40

Saturday Dec. 11^th Luke 2:40-52

Week three: What Jesus did

Sunday Dec. 12^th Luke 4:1-14

Monday Dec. 13^th John 1:1-18

Tuesday Dec. 14^th John 18:1-11

Wednesday Dec. 15^th John 18:12-27

Thursday Dec. 16^th John 18:28-40

Friday Dec. 17^st John 19:1-16

Saturday Dec. 18^th John 19:17-42

Week four: What it means to me

Sunday Dec. 19^th John 20:1-23

Monday Dec. 20^th John 16:5-16

Tuesday Dec. 21^st John 16:17-33

Wednesday Dec. 22^nd Ephesians 2:1-22

Thursday Dec. 23^rd Hebrews 10:19-25

Friday Dec. 24^th 1^st Corinthians 15:50-58

Christmas day:

Saturday Dec. 25^th Luke 2:1-20

(re-read the Christmas story)

I hope you enjoy these readings. I'll be posting my reflections on my advent readings on my blog throughout the Advent seasons. After you read the passage yourself feel free to check out my reflections.

Have a great celebration of the birth of our Lord. It's an amazing story.

Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus?

Brief Reflections on 1 Samuel 12

In 1 Samuel 11 we see Saul, the king the people wanted, step up and actually lead the people successfully. He really shows he is their leader. And he does it well.

But then 1 Samuel 12 comes along and Samuel, their leader and prophetc, confronts the people and their attitude. He defends his time as leader of Israel. He then recounts history about how when the people got in trouble they called to the Lord for help and the Lord provided them with a judge that lead them. This actually is the whole repeated cycle in the book of Judges. The people call out for help and God provides. This is the way it should be, but it’s a challenging way. Each time trouble comes you have to call to God and trust that he will come and help.

I have to raise my support to do the work I do (campus ministry). I am not a superstar of fundraising. In fact for many years I’ve been underpaid because of the lack of funds. I’ve taken classes to learn the right way to do fundraising and I’ve put those practices into practice. Sometimes it seems to help other times not. So because I fail so much at raising money, I pray a lot for our needs. And I have a list stories were God has provided when our funds were gone. Two of the cars I still own are examples of this:

1986 Nissan truck. I’ve had this truck for something like 18 years now! It’s not nice looking but it does what we need it to do. This truck has been a workhorse for us. Many times our “other car” – the family car, has died and we have turned to this truck as our only car. The Nissan came to us in a miracle: Cynthia and I went to the California coast to teach at an IVCF fellowship there. After teaching we went up the coast for a weekend in a friend’s house in Cambria. We brought our new bikes and had a wonderful time enjoying the coast. On Sunday we loaded up and headed home. But on the way home the car actually caught on fire and we had to return to Cambria. Now we are stuck in a small beach town. Cynthia had to get home on Monday and some friends on the coast loaned us a car for her to get home. I stayed in Cambria with our burnt car hoping to get it fixed. I had just my bike to get around (which was actually fun!) On Tuesday I had a meeting at my church back at home that I was going to miss so I called the church and told them my story and that I was stuck on the coast. They replied “Wow, we just had a call from Gary and he has a truck that he has decided he want to sell half his listed price to someone in ministry.” That same day I had got news that our car was beyond repair. So Cynthia came and got me. We still needed a loan to buy this truck so I made arrangements with Gary to meet me at the bank to apply for a loan. Gary showed up and said he didn’t want me paying interest to a bank so he wanted us to make 6 months of payments to him. A great answer to prayer – but it doesn’t stop there! A month later, after our first payment, I saw Gary on campus and he said his taxes worked out better than he expected and he didn’t want me to make any more payments. The truck was ours! And now 18 years later the truck has needed very, very few repairs and is still running (just not stopping so well). We had a need, God answered.

1996 Honda Accord. Much more simple story here. Our minivan was needing a lot of repairs and our family of 4 was relying on my Nissan truck more and more often. We began praying for a new vehicle. A person in our community group, who knew our need, had just accepted a transfer to Georgia that included getting a new vehicle. So he contacted me and gave us his Honda that he had taken great care of. That Honda is still our main family car!

In both cases we had a need, we prayed, and God answered. And I have other stories like this for computers, money, vacations. . . . And yet I still often wonder how much easier life would be if I was rich (won the lottery? Won McDonalds monopoly game? Mysterious rich supporter drops a million dollars off on the front step? ) In reality I’m saying to God, can’t you just give it all to me know so I don’t have to rely on You?

That’s what Israel wants when they ask for a king. They have a history with God that when they needed help they called to God and He provided. But now they want a king so he can always protect them. They want security of a king so it’s his job to provide and he will be to blame. And that is the sin that Samuel mentions in 1 Samuel 12:17. The sin of not wanting to trust in God.

They said “Give us a king so we will be safe, even though you have made us safe many times before”. I say “Give us a million dollars so I can provide for my family without worry, even though God has provided for us many times before.” Both are sin.

Let us all repent and put trust God before we trust man made security.

Amen.

Follow up: After I wrote the above I was moved to sing the song “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus” so I grabbed my dulcimer and started to sing. But after awhile I thought – “what a hypocrite I am singing this song. I don’t think it’s “sweet” to trust in Jesus. I think it’s difficult”. However it is sweet when God provides (like in my vehicle stories). But then I saw the last line of the song: “Oh for grace to trust Him more”. It is sweet when God provides and I need more grace to find the sweetness in waiting. I then sang a new song we are doing for our Satsang: Hum Bole Prabhu Yeshu nama – I cry out to the name of the of Jesus. And then the last line: Jai Yeshu Nam, Jai Yeshu – Victory in Jesus name, Victory in Jesus. What a wonderful worship time: the sweetness of trusting in Jesus followed by singing about Victory in Jesus’ name. May we all trust more often and celebrate the victories more loudly!

Jesus and Lights

Diwali and Jesus

Yesterday the Friends of India had the Diwali celebration on campus. Diwali is one of the most popular celebrations in India – it is called the “Celebration of Lights”. Chris Hale, from Ardhana, shares on Aradhna's blog a brief reflection from a booklet he read that gives interesting insight into Diwali (his link is http://aradhnamusic.com/)

I just received an amazing little booklet of Christ's words in the Sermon on the Mount, in typical North India Bhojpuri poetic style. I've been meditating on them over the last couple days. The booklet is put out by the Mukteshwar Math (Mutt) in Varanasi, where our dear friend, Swami Muktanand lives. The Math and Swami ji are featured in the upcoming DVD, Sau Guna in the songs Holy River and Yeshu Bhajan. I've attached a picture by Michael Wilson, that was taken at the Math. The little booklet is called, Sanatan Guru Yesu Ki Vani (the Word of the Eternal Guru Jesus).


Here is a line for our Diwali meditations. (sorry all you English speakers, skip down to the translation!)

Deep na jala rakein koi neeche
Rakhat sab jan deewat ke unchen
Ho ujiyaar bhavan sab taasen
Mudit banat sab jan tam naasen
Chamke Jyoti Janan bich aise
Chamkit deepak-deewat pe jaise
Lakh jisse tumhare bhal kama
Karei stuti, Prabhu pitu naama

No one lights an oil lamp and hides it somewhere
It is placed for all to see
So that light spreads through the whole house
It makes all joyful and casts off the darkness
So like a lamp stand shining out its light
Let your beautiful works be
They will praise the name of the Lord, our Father

If you aren’t familiar with Aradhna look around their website. They have influenced our Yeshu Satsangs greatly. Many of my favorite worship songs are now in Hindi! Aradhna has a new album coming out soon!

Christmas Fest is coming

Christmas Fest is coming!

Dec. 4th.

Here's a slide show of some previous Christmas Festivals.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Leaders that lead

Brief Reflections on 1 Samuel 11

Sometimes people get gripped by fear and they literally don’t know what to do. What they need is a leader. While there are actually many people around to be a leader – someone needs to step up. This is what we see happening in 1 Samuel 11 (Read it here).

In Chapter 10 of 1^st Samuel Saul becomes king. Chapter 10 ends with Saul going home with some “Valiant men” going with him. And then it tells us that some “scoundrels” doubted that Saul can save them. The last line of Chapter 10 is curious: “But Saul kept silent.” In previous chapters about Saul he didn’t look very impressive. He wandered around trying to find lost donkeys. He didn’t know much about the prophet that was leading his people. When he was appointed to King he hid in the baggage area. And now he is mocked and is silent.

Chapter 11 begins with the horrifying challenge of an invader in a city in Israel. This invader threatens to gouge out the right eye of every citizen in this city. The city sends out a call to the cities of Israel asking for help. The response? They wept. They didn’t rise up and say “how dare they attack us.” They didn’t even form a committee to discuss the problem and find a resolution. They just wept. So paralyzed by the events surrounding them that they didn’t do a thing.

Then we are told that Saul comes into the city, walking behind his Oxen (apparently the king is doing yard work). Now, as I’m reading this story I’m not very hopeful. This Saul guy really has not been very impressive. I expect him to say something like “I found my oxen.”

But Saul steps up! He inquires about the problem and then he takes actions and organizes the people. And they move out to a quick and easy victory. The people could do it, but they just needed someone to say let’s go. The story doesn’t tell us that Saul was a great fighter that endured much pain in leading the people into battle (That’s how Mel Gibson would have told it in a movie). Instead Saul organized the people and led them to a victory.

My college group use to sell Christmas trees as a fundraiser. I remember being there as the trees were being delivered. We had a lot of trees and the truck driver was in a hurry to get them off his truck. So we unloaded them and just piled them by the truck. The truck drove off and there was a crew of us staring at all the trees. We began talking about what should be done but nothing was happening. But then the leader showed up (he actually wasn’t in charge, he just drove up and saw the mess). He immediately started telling us what to do and we went to work. We did what we already thought might work – but we weren’t doing anything. But a leader got us moving and in short time the pile of a mess was organized. That was one of my first lessons in seeing a leader lead by leading!

Too often we have people and leaders who are immobilized by fear: school is too difficult, I might not know what to say, I’m not the right person, my life is busy and I can’t do anything else, the Christmas tree pile is too high. These people aren’t leaders. They are too busy (or think they are too busy) or too fearful to step up and lead.

But a leader steps in and takes action. A leader makes things happen. Saul has not been an impressive leader, at least not yet, but he steps up and makes a difference.

But I left one important fact from the passage out. Look at verse 6. The spirit of the Lord came on Saul with power. Saul didn’t just decide to become a leader, but the spirit filled him and made him respond as a leader. A Spirit filled leader is the one who is led by God to step in and make a difference. The Spirit filled leader is guided by the Spirit as he leads the people.

We need leaders who don’t get overwhelmed by what is happening around them or by what might happen. We need leaders who rely of the Spirit of God and who are willing to step in and make things happen. To step up. To lead us.

Prayer and Expectation

Prayer and Expectation

When I was a young Christian in my college days, in the early 1980’s, I remember a speaker teaching us about the Country of Albania. He told us it was an officially atheistic country and it was a totally closed country to any outside influences. He challenged us to pray for Albania. I took up that challenge and began to pray regularly for Albania. At first I prayed with get enthusiasm but as time went by it became one of those things that I always prayed for. It’s not that I didn’t believe in prayer, it’s just that I got use to praying for this closed country that had been closed for some time.

Then in 1991 reports came out that Albania was opening up. I good friend of mine told some amazing stories as he traveled into Albania around that time. As all of this started happening I had two emotions: First I praised God for answering these prayers. But Second, I felt a little guilty that while I still prayed for Albania, I had stopped praying with expectation. It became something I just prayed for.

I’ve been reading 1 Samuel for my devotions lately. In chapter one we are introduced to Hannah, a woman without child. It was a torment to her to be childless (read the story 1 Samuel 1:1-10). So she prayed to God out of her “deep anguish”. Hannah had a desire and she prayed – with earnestness. So much so that the priest thought she was drunk because she was being so animated as she prayed (1 Samuel 1:11-18). She had a passion and she wasn’t going to quit praying.

God answers her prayer and she says a prayer (sings a song?) of praise to God. (Read the prayer 1 Samuel 2:1-11). She concludes the prayer with:

“It is not by strength that one prevails;

those who oppose the Lord will be broken.

The Most High will thunder from heaven;

the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.

“He will give strength to his king

and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

Hannah sings praise to God and she put the power in the right place – God gives strength. God will “thunder from Heaven.”

When I prayed for Albania I was praying to the God who gives strength – the God who will thunder from heaven. That is worthy of praying with great expectation that God will respond.

Jesus challenges us to pray this way. The Bible says Jesus “told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (Read the parable: Luke 18:1-8) Jesus concludes this parable saying “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?” (Luke 18:7)

Hannah cried out to God, and God answered – he brought about justice for Hannah.

I (and a great number of other Christians who inspired me) cried out to God for Albania and God thundered from heaven.

So the question is: what do you need to be praying for?

Are you calling out to God day and night?

Are you praying with the expectation that he will answer?

There are some amazing things that we can be in prayer for.

· For salvation to come to family and friends

· For God’s blessing in our fellowships

· For the message of Jesus to go out to unreached corners of earth

· For peace in the middle east

· For world leaders that are considered “despots” to understand, receive, and follow Jesus. (Have you ever prayed salvation for Osama bin laden? Kim Jong-il? Ahmadinejad? Others?)

Can you pray prayers that Big? Can you pray with expectation?

We need prayer warriors that can pray big prayers.

Olivia Noel Ray

Today is a sad day.

At least to some of us. One year ago this day my daughter’s best friend was hit in a crosswalk by a car and died. Olivia was my daughter’s best friend and also a part of our family. The Ray family is special to us also. My wife Cynthia often says that Oct. 3^rd really defined our family’s year last year.

John Ray and I actually met in a ministry context before Olivia and Bekah had met and before Jane and Cynthia became friends. I don’t remember why John and I met but I know for quite some time John use to join me in prayer for ministry to international students back when few people were interested in ministry to international students. When my daughter started going to nursery school she met this really cool girl there and they started to do things together. Then my wife and the mother of this cool girl started to do things together. I don’t remember who realized it but at some point the wives and kids discovered that the dad’s had been praying together for some time. At that point our lives became interconnected.

Olivia and Bekah are so alike. Both have a tomboy side. There is never a tree that they didn’t look at and try to climb. I remember Olivia once climbed the swing set at Wilson Park and walked along the top rail! WE have a great picture of the two of them in a tree together. One of my last interactions with Olivia happened about a week before Oct. 3^rd. Olivia and Naomi and Bekah didn’t have school that day and were at our house all day. I was at work but when I came home they were outside creating something. Then a little later I was in the kitchen getting a glass of water when I heard a bicycle in our den. I looked in and there was Olivia with her bike getting ready to put the bike on the treadmill. In my wisdom I said “uh, let’s not do that.” I think those were my last words to Olivia. I often look at that treadmill and wonder what would have happened if she had succeeded in putting the bike on it and started the treadmill.

Olivia and Bekah both also have that “girlie” side to them. After climbing trees they’d come in and have a tea party together. We have another great picture of Olivia and Bekah and their other best friend Naomi sitting in Bekah’s room dressed up as princesses.

Olivia always played a game with me. When I would come home she’d walk around behind me or slip into the car behind me and I’d pretend to not know she was there. At some point I’d turn around and say “hey how did you get here.” I think she was old enough by the end to know that I was goofing off, but she still did it. I miss that.

We have a big indentation in the gravel in front of our driveway that when it rains it would fill up with water and become a pretty big pond. After the rain was over Bekah and Olivia would get into swimsuits and go out and play in that puddle. After Olivia died Bekah would sit at that puddle and talk to Olivia. I would usually cry when I saw that.

Bekah talks to Olivia a lot still. Whenever there is a birthday party Bekah and Naomi make sure that the picture of Olivia is at the table. Bekah has put candies on the ledge of the picture frame for Olivia. Recently a piece of candy that was on the refrigerator fell off the fridge onto the Olivia picture frame that is on a shelf by the fridge. Bekah told me that Olivia must have tried to get some candy.

After Olivia died Bekah would get up early every morning while I was having my morning devotions and she would sit on my lap. She didn’t talk, just sat there holding me. This went on for months after Oct. 3^rd. I would also read the paper at this time and Bekah just sat there and held on to me. On the day that the paper had an article about the investigation into the accident Bekah took the paper from me and beat it up. She was pretending to goof off but I think it was therapeutic for her.

I started this remembrance saying “today is a sad day”. One person doesn’t agree with me. Cynthia told me that the other day Cynthia had said to Bekah how Oct. 3^rd is a sad day and Bekah said “No it isn’t, it’s a happy day. Olivia has had one year with Jesus!”

Today my family and Naomi's family are going to go and sit at the Butterfly bench at Leverette school that the Ray family had made in memory of Olivia. We’ll go there at about 2 PM. Some, I’m sure, will cry. Many will be driven to silence. And at some point the girls will play on the playground. Like Olivia did.

It is a sad day because we miss Olivia here, but I have a feeling Bekah has a better perspective.

We love you Olivia. We miss you. Enjoy Jesus.