Merry Christmas!

We listen to Christmas songs as we work preparing our Christmas feast to enjoy with friends and family. We at least attempt to keep some order in the house as we prepare for guests and allow gifts and toys to be enjoyed. Today we celebrate God’s faithfulness. What the prophets foretold has come to pass. Christ the Messiah has come. His entering in so long ago reminds us and assures us of his continuing presence today…here and now.

Last night as we gathered with friends and family on Christmas Eve, we sang familiar carols and some silly songs. After all, what child would really want a hippotamus for Christmas? We heard the old familiar story… In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree…once again reminded of grace. Once again reminded of the true source of peace. Peace comes down from heaven.

Once again we see the nativity scene reminding us of Christ’s coming, entering into our mess, overcoming, promising never to abandon us. That Christ would leave the majesty and grandeur of heaven, travelling such a distance to make his bed in a manger, putting on flesh in order to clearly demonstrate God’s love, all this still amazes me!

Majesty in the midst of manure reminds me Christ still does. God is present now in the midst of our mess offering peace, true peace from heaven. It matters not how far you have gone from God…there is no place where His love can’t reach!

It matters not how flagrant your foul, nor the depth of your disobedience nor the reach of your rebellion…there is no place! Christmas reminds us love, hope and peace exist not in circumstance but relationship. God gave His only Son so that we might be in relationship with God!

May this day bring you great joy as you rest in the peace Christ has brought!

Merry Christmas….

The Perfect Gift

Christmas lights…check.

Tree’s up…check.

Decorations out…check.

Shopping done…well almost and there’s the problem. What to give? Someone on the list seems always to present a challenge of what to give and it’s not always the same person. Years ago, I learned my idea of what they need or want contrasts sharply with what they hope for this Christmas.

Before we married for Christmas one year, I gave Kelly a sewing machine. She loved it! Another year, I bought her a set of china, which we still have. Again, she loved it, so I concluded, she wants practical, things-I-can-use gifts! Our first Christmas as newlyweds, I gave her something that plugged in. I can’t even remember what it was as I have suppressed the memory deep within. I recall only that the item was purposeful and useful in the kitchen but not the right gift.

Seeking the perfect gift may reflect our desire for peace at Christmas. As a parent you want to hear the excitement of your children as they receive their gift. You search for visual or verbal confirmations of your gift-giving skills.

Often, we seek a peace bound up in circumstance. We seek out a recipe which when closely followed will bring a peaceful Christmas day and as the day falls so close to New Year’s, we hope this peace will carry over to the new year as well. Yet too often peace gets packed up as we put away the decorations and take down the lights and the tree.

The angelic declaration to the shepherds proclaims says “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” According to the angels, peace comes only to those ‘on whom his favor rests.’ Now, this passage has been translated in many ways.

The New International Version has “…and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests,” which seems a bit arbitrary. The Common English Bible has “…and on earth peace among those whom he favors,” which seems to cast a broader net. The New Living Translation has “…and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased,” which seems to depend on my behavior. The International Standard Version has “…and peace on earth to people who enjoy his favor!,” which seems to capture the meaning best.

His favor is not so much arbitrary as it is abundant. Consider the parable of the sower Jesus shared. The sower extravagantly broadcasts the seed on good soil and bad, alongside the road and on the road, and in fertile soil and rocky soil. So God favors humanity, all humanity. God takes pleasure in us not because of our performance but rather as a loving creator and heavenly Father. God, the abundant, even wasteful sower of seed, freely spreads his favor or mercy including those who would not receive it.

All  this may be true, yet I still miss it. Peace. His peace too often escapes me. I seek it in ‘paper, packages and bows’ or I attempt to arrange it through controlling my circumstances or situation or even the people in my life. I attempt to fabricate peace or manipulate my way.

The angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” The first Christmas carol, the first Hallelujah chorus, reminds us peace comes from heaven not from earth and certainly not from amazon.com! Neither does peace come from my wrangling or negotiations.

Peace on earth comes on those who enjoy his favor. God gave a perfect gift. Perhaps this is why we try to find the perfect gift to those we love. God’s favor, abundant and available, rests on us. My challenge, and perhaps yours, comes in resting in his favor. Resting in this peace and knowing that this peace, too often, is a gift unopened at Christmas or any other time.

So as you wrap up those last minute gifts, complete the decorations and prepare for the celebration, enjoy God’s favor and find peace this Christmas!

Flee all this…

Okay, I admit it. I am not the guy to go to for exercise pointers but I do understand running. When it’s necessary, I run. Someone or something chasing me? I get it. I run. Years ago, I was out running on a cold, frozen Indy morning when I heard something behind me. As I turned, I saw what I thought was a large black dog just about to nip my heels. I turned my head and sped up. Well, at least, I acted like I was running faster. Realizing I was about to be captured, I turned to see my assailant.

The black dog was actually my shadow against snow covered road! Relieved, I slowed my pace and laughed at my vivid imagination.

While clearly this was not a real terror, there do exists some I must flee. Running. Paul advises. Run. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness….(1 Timothy 6:11).

Flee all this…all what?

Well, Paul has just discussed our “…unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind” (1 Timothy 6:4).

There are others but fleeing this desire to argue or debate proves to be challenging, yet Paul urges us to sprint away, run as though our lives depended on it. Words and debate may be necessary at times but very soon we sound like talk-radio hosts whose only real desire is to gather a following, increase their influence and so their marketing prowess. Now, I may be simplifying the issue a bit, but Paul makes the connection as well. Those who have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels do so as a means to financial gain.

So Paul redirects our actions, while we are fleeing this temptation pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Right living captures the meaning here for righteousness. Our lives not our words declare the message of our lives. Pursuing right-living puts to work what we do understand about call of being a Christ-follower. Recently, a good friend of mine describe a process he was going to use to transfer raw video into this seamless, flawless, incredible teaching video. We both laughed as we agreed, “Well, that’s the theoretical view!”

Our debates move from obedience to disobedience while we argue concerning how we might do something but we never quite get around to doing anything. Paul tells us, “Flee this and pursue righteousness!”

Pursue godliness not simply imitation or activity but revealed in devotion to God. Some might define godliness as character or activity but these all flow from devotion to God. Our character transforms out of this devotion. The activity of our lives flow from this devotion. We have all met ‘good’ people who were not devoted to God. Their character reflects a sense of godliness but they were never devoted to God.

We have all, also, played the part, going through the motions of godly activity while our hearts were not devoted to God. In fact, Jesus’ admonition to those who prophesied, preached, cast out demons in his name was ‘…depart from me! I never knew you!” speaks to this reality and quite frankly ought to stir us and even frighten us a bit.

Pursue faith especially in the midst of circumstances which we might interpret as God’s absence or silence. Pursue love as a natural response and with endurance as loving as Christ loved demands continuing sacrifice. Pursue gentleness as without gentleness actions are empty, void and vain.

Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Our faithfulness revealed as we pursue these things. Flee from those things others chase after. They are elusive and in the end we lose our lives. Pursue these things faithfully.

Amazing

Amazing! Babies amaze me. Each one I hold, talk with, cuddle and rock amaze me! During Thanksgiving my amazement continued playing, walking, and exploring with my grandchildren. Listening to them talk, playing with their cousins, or just watching them sleep—amazing! The range of their ages from newly born to over 14 amazes and shocks me. Am I really this old?

Bella our oldest granddaughter, now 14, but moments ago she was this cuddly, little, cute baby wrapped in a blanket with eyes that captured you, now I see a young woman and I am amazed, encouraged, and a little scared! Watching her grow I could see much of her mother in her eyes and behaviors but still like every child her unique character and personality…amazing.

Her youngest cousin, Adaline, not quite four months old, could not keep up with her but never did we expect it. She’s not old enough. She lacks maturity and she should she’s only a baby!

A child born brings hope, laughter and joy. Gazing at each of my babies, I remember this intense feeling of gratitude. But a child born also brings concern. We carefully watch their growth and while we anticipate their maturity, we know life sometimes surprises us, so diligently we parent them toward maturity.

Paul talks about babies as he instructs believers in Ephesus and urges us toward maturity so that “…we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14).

Pursuing faithfulness calls us to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received,” which Paul defines in this way: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3).

Tis’ the season to celebrate birth especially of one who loved so much that he came wrapped in swaddling clothes but grew “in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). While we are celebrating this birth and the accompanying amazement, why not consider the questions concerning our own maturity.

As the old quote goes, “It’s possible to grow old in the Lord and never grow up!”

Some questions to ponder…

Am I living a life worthy of the calling I have received?

Would people describe me as gentle, humble, or patient?

Pursuing faithfulness demands putting off childish ways and taking up attitudes and actions of Kingdom Citizens.