Forgotten Heroes or God's Mercy on Mary.

I honestly love this time of year. I am aware of the commercialism and the fact that this is the celebration of the first advent, the birth of our Lord and not His precise birth date. However, I enjoy the lights and the trees and the crisp air. For at least twenty-five years I have done an Advent series leading up to Christmas Day. As an aside, I also do a resurrection series leading up to the Resurrection so there is balance in my preaching. I have had a few of these seventy-five to eighty lessons share a common theme, but I have never reused a message. There is always something new to consider. This year I spoke on the forgotten Heroes, the background folks from the Christmas story. People like Zacharias,Elizabeth, Simeon, and the messengers God sent to alert a few chosen people of the birth of His Son. In the process I spent some time looking at the visit of the angel, Gabriel, to the young maiden, Mary. It was in this exchange that I was given a fresh appreciation for the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father. Tucked into Gabriel's message is a profound message for us as well. Just a reminder of the tenderness of the God who loved us an sent His Son, Emmanuel, God with us, on that first Christmas Day.

In order to appreciate the power of the angel's message you must do two things. First, you must remove Mary's halo and allow her to be just a young Jewish girl who is looking forward to becoming the wife of Joseph, the town carpenter. Second, you must drop out of your American Culture and become a Jew form 2000 years ago. and for good measure, pretend you never read this account before. You are now Mary. A teen-aged young woman.Your marriage was arranged, as all marriages were, by your parents some time ago. A binding covenant had been publicly signed and a dowry paid. All that remained was for you to become of marriageable age and for Joseph to have a home and business to support you and the family you would build together. That time was drawing near. Today begins like any other day until you have an angelic visitation. The account is recorded as follows:

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:26-38).

Mary is a Godly young woman. She is remarkably well versed in Scripture. Just consider how many verses and books she quotes from when she shares her praise with Elizabeth. She has just been told that she will give birth to the long awaited Messiah. Her son will reign on David's throne forever and ever. Quite a bit to take in as a teenage girl. She asked her obvious question. "How can this be as I have never known (had sexual relations with) a man?" Gabriel explains that this will be a supernatural God thing. And the child she bears will be called the Son of God. Mary accepts the assignment and the angel Gabriel departs. An amazing story of an amazing young woman.

As you read the story were you touched by the tender thing that God does for this young virgin? Did you see the depth of God's compassion and concern for a unwed girl who is to be found with child before her wedding night? She is a human woman. She is not "Super Girl" or some special genetically enhanced being. She is a young woman about to go through her first pregnancy as an unwed mother with a story that no one in town has been made aware of. And then there is Joseph. How could he ever accept her story? With all that in mind God does the most tender and compassionate thing He can do. Were your emotions stirred as you read verse 36? Let me highlight it for you as it may have been lost in the text and with the familiarity you may have with the story, "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren." If you did not catch what God did, Mary did. See Luke 1:39-40, "Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth."

God tells Mary there is a place to go. There are only two people on the whole planet who know who the Angel Gabriel is. There are only two people on the planet who know of the soon arrival, of the birth of Messiah. And one of the two cannot talk. Gabriel's message from God the Father is, Mary, you are not alone. You have a close relative who knows of the power of God, especially in matters of conception. She is a short distance away. Mary obviously knows of the couple, The Godly priest and his wife living close by in the hill country of Judah. Mary understands and heads to the house of Zacharias and Elizabeth. She is greeted with exuberance and confirmation that the child she now bears is Emmanuel. She spends three months there with no questions to answer and time to get through those first months of pregnancy. Now, I do not know if Mary had morning sickness, odd cravings, or got nausea from the smell of  gefilte fish. However, Our Lord did enter this would as a baby and He grew inside Mary's womb like any other child. So, just maybe Mary shared in some of the joys and challenges of those first months. The point is, God in His tender compassion did not have her go through this alone. She and Elizabeth shared a sacred bond that no one else could. Each carrying a son announced by God's Angel Gabriel, before they even conceived. Each aware of the hurtful things people can say. Each aware that the truth about their pregnancy would not be believed by those around them.

Mary returns home, after three months of comfort, encouragement, understanding, and the blessings of being with the older Elizabeth to face the town that would not understand. To face the man who was under a covenant to take her as his wife. To know an answer that could not be explained. God's mercy stretches to Joseph with a dream of an Angelic messenger telling him why Mary is with child. He does not hesitate to believe the angel and quickly takes Mary as his wife, knowing the questions would not go away.

We could play the "what if" game here. What if God had not directed Mary to Elizabeth? How challenging would those three months have been? Instead, in His great compassion and mercy the Lord gives Mary and Elizabeth each other. Mary had the comfort of an older woman who absolutely believed her, without question. And Elizabeth had a friend who understood the importance of her little one coming in the power and spirit of Elijah. It also gave her someone to talk to, Remember, Zacharias wasn't saying much.

The Story of our Lord's birth has a number of forgotten or overlooked heroes if we read the familiar passages too quickly. Take some time this Christmas Day, or even in the days to come, and reread the stories, Read them a bit more slowly. Think about the people and the times they lived in. Perhaps you will see the wonder of God's tenderness and grace in  a new or surprising way. Merry Christmas and may the peace of God keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.      

"Tom and the Trust Factor"

Even though I have done a few posts on my friendship and remembrance of Tom Earl I feel a bit compelled to write one more. To be honest, it stems from the odd question of "why" that has haunted me a bit. I think fondly of Tom and really do miss him. I miss what we shared together as two guys trying to walk along with Jesus and finding ourselves, all to often, a bit off of the straight and narrow only to be drawn back by the grace of God. What haunted me was the truth that I was not sure why I felt such a bond with this man. Sure we were Elders together. Served together. We loved our wives and children and shared some of the frustrations and challenges that go with being human. Yet, I knew that there was something more than that. I  just could not settle what it was in my mind or spirit. I believe the Lord knew of this unsettled feeling and the disquiet that touched my soul. He found an unusual way to help resolve this odd heart issue.

Strangely enough, the answer came from the last episode of the television series, "Enterprise". I am a bit of a Star Trek addict. I own all the movies. I have viewed the original series numerous times. I moved on to the "Next Generation", "Voyager", and "Deep Space Nine". There was Captain Kirk,  Captain Picard, Captain Janeway, and Captain Sisko. I have viewed the bulk of all these episodes. However, Captain Archer never caught my attention. Then we dumped TV and subscribed to Netflix. There before me was the complete series "Enterprise". My Star Trek addiction returned. How does any of this have to do with my friend Tom? Well, it brought into focus the difference between a trusted friend verses a friend I can trust. Let me explain.

I have shared with a number of people that I shared a trust with Tom that let both of us be real. It was not that we met weekly to share in that trust but simply knew, without a doubt, it was there. In the last episode of "Enterprise" the writers combined the cast of "Next Generation" with the "Enterprise" crew. Forgive me if you are unfamiliar with the Star Trek series, however, that will not be necessary when I get to the odd point of God's revelation to me through this episode. In the story Commander Riker is faced with a difficult decision to make. Counselor Troy suggests he visit the crew of the first Starship Enterprise to gain some perspective. He does so via the holodeck where he can interact with the original crew. In one of the last scenes Riker poses as the ship's cook and has a conversation with Chief Engineer Charles "Trip" Tucker, who is also best friends with the Enterprise Captain, Jonathan Archer. Trip is sharing his admiration for his captain when he tells Commander Riker just why he feels this way. This quote captures and answers the question that has hidden in the shadows of the "why" for Tom Earl. Trip says, "I can count on one hand the number of people I trust. [not like] I only trust you like you aren't lying to me or I trust you won't steal my money. But, I'm talking about the kind of trust where you know someone's not going to hurt you no matter what. Where you know they will always be there for you no matter how bad things get, You ever know anybody like that?"

Yes, Trip, I knew a man like that. There have been and are a number of people I trust. People that I know would never lie or take something from me. People that would support me and even come to my defense. But very few that would never leave no matter how bad things got. I have been in church ministry for over forty years and most of that time it has been pretty positive and rewarding. However, there have been a few times when the leadership of the church was assaulted and I among them. In many of these instances, men I trusted, walked away. They didn't desert me in particular, they had just had enough of the battle and left the conflict behind. Leaving me, and the flock they were called to care for, behind as well. Tom didn't do that. There were times when those who disagreed came after me with a vengeance that few knew.  On the surface they played nice, but in private and covertly, they came after me and even my children with little thought to the damage they accomplished. In the midst of these times it would have been easy to walk away, but my trusted friend never did. He actually made the suggestion, on an occasion, that I find a new ministry and leave the conflict behind. But, I could never leave and break that trust with him either.

Trusted friends are not easy to find. Actually, it seems you just find each other. You never intend to, God just extends grace to let you know there is someone who, like Him, will never leave or forsake you. They do not ignore your faults. They help you become better than you were. Like Trip, I can count these on one hand and the hand got smaller with Tom's passing.

So thanks to Star Trek, I understand a little better what I have lost. Perhaps, it is better and more honest to say, it helped me know what I had found. A trusted friend who helped me move upward on the path to glory. He just got a bit of a head start on me. I'll catch up in God's timing. Until them I just have one more thing to be thankful for. A trusted friend, no matter how long it lasts, is a gift from God. Merry Christmas Tom. See you soon.

Should We Leave the Leaves Alone?

Is it Biblical to be raking the leaves out of your yard? Is it more an act of futility or a subtle sign of rebellion against God? I know some of you are reading this and wondering if I have suffered some minor brain damage or if this is one of those odd sarcastic posts that occasionally find their way to my blog. However, I think we might want to give this a little thought and see if there are lessons under the surface that we have missed before we leave the subject of leaves behind.

Leaves were designed by God to decorate trees, provide shade, and give the trees an opportunity to photosynthesize and survive. We could go into a tangent on the wonders of creation or the remarkable faith of evolutionist who believe trees and leaves came to us by random chance. For the sake of this argument we will go with the "God of all creation made trees of diverse kinds". Some of them came equipped with leaves. By the Lord's design many trees shed their leaves come fall. I have lived in the states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Kansas, Maryland, Virginia, and New York. They all have trees and leaves, admittedly some more than others. Sorry Kansas. Most of the trees drop their leaves come autumn. True, there are a few obstinate oaks that hang on to theirs until spring, but they are clearly the minority. One might ask why this is so. Some theorize that it is due to their sap retreating to the root systems when the weather turns chilly so the leaves lose their grip. Perhaps, it is to form a natural blanket to keep the roots warm. I think it may be a defense mechanism to avoid having wet snow stick to the leaves causing limbs to break off and get tangled in electric lines. I cannot think of anyone who would want their limbs to break and get zapped by electric lines. The trees are wise enough to shed their leaves and avoid the pain.

From my early years leaves were to be raked and carted away to be burned or dumped into the woods behind our house. I have come to question this practice. It seems to go against nature, against the divine design. I mean, God intended the leaves to fall off on purpose. They rot and add nutrients to the soil. We remove them and then add artificial fertilizer to the ground after the leaves are taken away. Leaf removal has become quite the process. We can purchase rakes, leaf blowers, nifty sweeping mechanisms to push or drag along behind a lawn tractor. Then there are the industrial strength vacuums to just suck the majestic colors into a box truck. We are conflicted as we marvel at the colors God paints across the landscapes of autumn and then gather the beauty for burning. Still, every year God grows the leaves back and then drops them in your yard. Perhaps this is an exercise in futility or going against that which is the natural order of things. I assume the leaves have value where they fall, though, as a steward of God's planet, I do bear some responsibility to the vegetation in my yard. A heavy layer of leaves could compromise the survival of my lush green crabgrass. So I have compromised by mulching leaves with my mower. True, neighbors wonder about my mowing the lawn in December; however, the leaves stay where they fall, they are just ground up to more easily return to the soil from wence they came.

I am guessing that there is a divine balance in leaf management. Left in undisturbed piles they not only rot but kill the grass under them. Left on a porch or deck they can, in time, compromise the integrity of the wood. However, investing significant time and resources for their removal does not seem to be the best answer either. I suppose it is one of those ambiguous areas of spirituality where the Scriptures leave room for differing opinions, No need to break fellowship over the doctrine of raking verses mulching.

For all our efforts to remove the leaves from our yards we may be less concerned with removing spiritual leaves from our lives. Wounds and disappointments can blow into the corners of our minds and slowly smother the very life that keeps us vibrant in our walk with the Lord. We may refuse to mulch up the thoughts that can fester into bitterness and darkness in our souls. On the other side we may spend time trying to reattach the leaves that God chose to cast off years ago. Old things are to pass away and new things will come. As painful as it might be, that can be true with relationships and dreams we once held dear. Clinging to the past can trap us in the autumns and winters of life. The God ordained spring may never be realized as the leaves of the past cover the promise of new growth. Perhaps, like leaves, we need to sort of grind up the past and allow it to improve the future. Laying aside that which drains life and absorb the nutrients that come from loss that only the Spirit of God can allow.

Life, like the trees around us, has its cycles. Times of remarkable growth, when the vision of leaves bursts forth in unexpected glory. And times of rest that comes from the shedding of those very leaves that used to fill life with meaning. For, in God's spring time, new growth will come. New visions, new dreams, new life. As the Apostle Paul told those in Philippi, "one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead" (Phil 3:13). It is hard to move forward when we are anchored to the past.

Are there some leaves in your life that need to be cast off? Some leaves that need to be mulched by the Spirit of God so new growth can come? Some past leaves, whose brilliant colors need to be released, so spring can begin? Maybe we all can benefit from the lessons of the leaves.           

Can You Be a Tender-Hearted Snail?

How soft is your heart? There are those who find it easy to be touched by the discomfort or joy of others. Their emotions are moved by the slightest tug on their hearts. They tear up during scenes portrayed by Hollywood to depict the sorrows and joys of life. Even commercials can break the barrier of the tear ducts and have them reach for a tissue. Others tend to be far more guarded and a bit stoic. Some of this is due to culture and our upbringing. However, God has instructed us to be "tender hearted" followers of Christ. Are those easily moved just more "Tender hearted" than those who feel deeply but reserve their tears? Just what does it mean to be tender hearted and how do we get there? It seems important to know, seeing as the Lord expects us to live that way.

To be honest, there are times when the personal nature of God's Word can be hard to grasp or accept. Vulnerability is not high on our "to do" list. We like to keep ourselves protected. To guard our hearts so we do not get wounded or abused. Every hurt or betrayal, no matter how trivial, puts a brick in our emotional wall. We may buy the lie that isolation from potential pain will keep us warm not knowing it leads to the disease called isolation that leaves us chilled to the core. I fear petrified hearts run rampant among the children of God. Yet, the Apostle Paul tells us to be gracious and tender-hearted toward one another. How do we integrate this truth into our lives in a world where self preservation and self protection are a priority in life? In addition, we have this growing movement that tells us almost any act of compassion or concern could be interpreted as sexual harassment. If you notice a person whose body language proclaims they are emotionally hurting do you dare ask if they need someone to talk to? Do you dare offer comfort or your time just to listen? What does Paul mean when he encourages us to have a tender heart toward one another as brothers and sisters in Christ? God knows there are times when we need more than just a verse, we need some flesh and blood warmth that tells us someone understands or at least cares enough to ask.

In Paul's letter to the believers in Ephesus he instructs them to, " Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32. Simple kindness is to be one of the marks of the believing community. However, to be tender-hearted is more. The Greek word is a compound word εὔσπλαγχνος or eusplagknos the εὔ means well or good the second part σπλαγχνος literally refers to your intestines. Thus the King James often translates the word as "bowels". It is a deep seated emotion that touches the core of our physical being. Even in American English we say something is "gut wrenching" or that we have a "gut" feeling about something. Tender-hearted people are moved deeply concerning other people, their needs and their emotional state. The NIV translates the word as compassionate. However, that really does not capture the intensity of how Paul is challenging us to relate to one another. The truth is we cannot respond to one another in a tender-hearted way and keep our distance. This sort of community takes vulnerability and time. Two commodities we often are not willing to part with. The tender-hearted expend themselves and open their lives to the possibility of being wounded. Sometimes deeply.

In my college days we had a large African-American guy in our dorm who was blind. He was a bit older than most of us and was lovingly known as Papa Bear. Some of us held the distinction of being his cubs. For a blind man he saw extremely well. He saw past the facade that most of us wear. He knew when you were discouraged and hurting. He would find his way to your room and ask how you were doing. Then sit on you, sometimes literally, until you told him of what you were in the midst of. He would never betray a confidence. He would grieve with you. He was tender-hearted. He once told me that the way God builds a tender heart was by repeatedly allowing it to be broken until our comfort was fully in Him so we could bear the pain of others. God uses broken people to heal the wounded. This is not the experience most of us invite into our lives. Caring for others is costly for they may not care in return. They may even turn back against you or leave you alone with barely a word. The depth of your sorrow may be splagknos, gut wrenching personal discomfort.

As followers of Christ we are to feel deeply about things, especially about people. This does not mean we are glum and pitiful, for joy can be felt deeply as well. It does mean that we must be vulnerable enough to care and allow ourselves to take the risk to enter into the life of someone else. And to let them enter into ours. Anything less misses the point of being tender-hearted. It also robs us of being able to truly forgive, as Christ has forgiven us. Until we experience some of the pain He did in being vulnerable for us we cannot see the depth of the forgiveness He so freely granted us.

Just briefly let me touch on the other aspect of being tender-hearted. This one is less intrusive and far easier to accomplish. Time. Time spent with others. Time spent listening. time used to let others know we care and are thinking and concerned for them. Let me suggest a profound yet simple way to achieve this. Send someone a "Snail-Mail" letter of encouragement. A typed or hand written tangible physical piece of paper that expresses your prayer and concern. Be honest if you do not know what to write. Just write, "I was thinking of you and praying for you. I honestly do not know how to put my thoughts into words for I cannot fully understand what you are going through ... " See how easy that was? We live in an impersonal world guarded by technology so we can avoid being vulnerable or the need to expend time. We can text, post on Facebook, express all we need to in the limited characters of a tweet. 

We can hide behind our smart phones and never feel the pain of a real relationship. Or we can sit down and write, and rewrite, and maybe rewrite again, as we try to find the words that express our concern or joy for a brother or sister in grief or celebration. It may just be a few words on a card. I have noticed that the New Testament is mostly letters that people took time to write. We have Luke, who writes two massive letters to his friend, "I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus" (Luke 1:3). Then there is John who sends a postcard to Gaius called Third John. We have some pretty diverse examples to follow when we add personal letters to Timothy, Titus and an appeal to Philemon. There is something different about that paper letter. It took time to write, fold, put in an envelope, address, add a stamp and drop it in the mail. It took time to care, to be a little tender-hearted and then trust the "snail-mail" folks to get it there. Something to arrive that was not an ad or a bill, just a note from a friend who cared. It just might lift someones day. It might be placed in a box to be read and reread when life seems more than they can bear. A simple reminder that they are not alone. For they have a tender-hearted friend.

"There in the Shadows, Tom's Friendship Remains"

I am just a little haunted by the shadows of November. For those in America, we just celebrated Thanksgiving. Some time ago our government set aside the fourth Thursday in November as a day of national thanksgiving. At least that seems to have been the original intent. Now it is more about overeating, football and early "Black Friday" sales. For me it is mixed time of remembrance. I am incredibly thankful for the privilege of living in the USA. Here we have bounty unlike any nation and freedoms that are hard to be compared to. We live with little fear of terrorist attack, though that is changing a bit, still we have far fewer threats than much of the planet. I have a loving and wonderful family, a devoted and supportive wife and many friends. Materially I am better off than most people in the world and enjoy pretty good health. In addition to this I hold a strong spiritual confidence in the God who loves me and gave His Son so that I might have life eternal. So, yes, I have much to be thankful for.

However, November holds some darker memories, as well. My mom went to be with the Lord just days before Thanksgiving over 34 years ago but I still remember trying to get from Kansas to Pennsylvania on one of the busiest air traffic days of the year. I remember a dear friend who passed a couple of years ago just weeks before the holiday. I still think of him and his beloved wife each time I pass by their road on the way to our Thursday Morning Bible Study. Another close friend had the home going of her mom just days after thanksgiving morning. The pain of that event still lingers and I understand a bit of that pain. The deepest cloud that overshadows my November remembrances is the departure of my friend Tom. He was taken into the presence of his Lord just a year ago today. The images of that day are burned into the grey folds of my mind in ways that keep the moments past all too present. Saying goodbye. Being, pretty much assaulted by an over-zealous hospital staff. Spending time with the family and seeing a hole form in my soul that will take more than time to heal. November reminds me that, like David, my life walks through the valley of the shadow of death. Shadows cannot hurt you; however, they are unsettling and can leave your soul with a measure of uncertainty. It can leave you with a feeling of quiet anguish even when you know that death's sting has been quenched and that it holds no victory. Still the loss remains.

I am aware that Tom dwells where there is no more pain or sorrow or tears or brokenness. But I do not dwell there. Life goes on and the days turn into weeks and months and a year has passed. I drive by his house three times a week on my way to the gym and pray for his cherished wife who will wake up alone again that morning. I pray for his son and daughter-in-law who live just downstairs and two beautiful grandsons. I understand that it will be hard for them to remember their loving grandfather and as a "Papa" myself, it grieves my heart. I think of his daughter just a few miles down the road and how amazing God's grace has been in all of their lives.Tom would be proud of how they have lived and loved and survived the days and nights that have passed without him present. How his son Jon stepped up to be more than a big brother at the celebration of  his daughter Melody's wedding. My eyes still get a bit misty when I reflect upon the "Brother/Sister" dance as Jon tenderly held Melody in his dad's absence at the reception. Amazing grace, amazing love.

For me there have been days when I missed the brother who always had my back. I miss the Pizza Hut buffet and times at Dunkin Donuts. I miss ice cream at Friendly's with our wives and long talks in the parking lot after Elders and Council meetings. I miss the flipping of his high beams as I turned onto Greycourt Road just to say good night and know even then he was thinking of me. The Lord has brought some pretty amazing healing in the past year, but, I still miss my friend. There are still times when I want to reach for the phone to see if we could just have a little time to talk. Thinking back it seems that those times were pretty scattered and not as often as we would have liked. However, the reality is that if we needed to talk we would always find the time. For a Pastor to find a friend, a brother, who simply accepts you for the flawed person your are is rare. To have someone who holds no special expectations of your calling and allows you to be real is a treasure that cannot be replaced. That friendship hole continues and I have no real expectation for it to go away. It will just be a part of life to know that something is gone that used to make my life a little more complete.

I have no magic verses or visions from God to end this post with some remarkable spiritual revelation. No special passage that makes this any easier. No resolution for the loss. No expectation that I will forget. Instead I have two phrases from songs that rattle around in my head when I find myself in moments of this kind of reflection. One comes from Joni Mitchell's song "Parking Lot": "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got til its gone." The other comes from Jim Croce, another musician and guitarist taken before I was ready to let go. Back in college days, when I could play a guitar, I played lots of his songs. The diversity that gave us "Leroy Brown","Roller Derby Queen", and "Rapid Roy" on one end and "Photographs and Memories, "Operator", and the one drifting through my mind even now "Time in a Bottle". Jim was right, "There never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do, once you find them."

I am left with the reality of an absence that continues to cast a shadow over my soul from time to time. I am left to treasure the moments I still have with the ones I love and the people I care for. It has been said that life is not lost in weeks or days but moment by moment. My mission now is to build memories and take time to enjoy what time I have. The truth is I still find my days too full and the moments passing so very quickly. For all of us who loved Tom Earl, whose lives were touched and made a bit better in his presence we share a common blessing of a friendship that is irreplaceable. But, I don't think I would want it any other way. Friendships like these are to be treasured, never replaced. The memories revisited to warm our souls one more time.  

The Christmas Question, Is it Biblical?

It is that time of year of colored lights, brightly wrapped packages, cookies and carols. It is also that time of year when social media and my email account is invaded by the Christmas question. I have had believers come to me and ask if it is okay to celebrate Christmas. They have friends, fellow believers, who see Christmas as somewhat appalling. Their friends explain that the roots of Christmas stem from paganism and its symbols are elements of pagan worship. They are concerned with Christmas trees, Christmas wreaths, Christmas lights, mistletoe, and those stockings hung by the chimney with care. These folks grew up with the celebration but their well meaning Christian friends present a good case to abandon, if not actively oppose, this "pagan based" festival. They do enjoy the holiday and focus on Christ but they want to be true to God's Word, thus the Christmas question.

The anti-Christmas scholars usually have three arguments to enlighten those who are trapped in this unbiblical tradition. First, unlike celebrations like Passover, there is no clear call by God in the Bible to set aside a day of celebration for Messiah's birth. Second, the festival was originally the celebration of the winter equinox, tied to the worship of Roman and Greek goddesses. And third, December 25 could not possibly be Christ's birthday. The arguments have a grain of truth, but is there more here than we might see at first glance?

I should make it clear that I have no objection to those who have an objection to the Christmas celebration. They are free to hold their opinion and to be obedient to their conscience and convictions. I do get concerned when they somehow feel that they have a better standing with God or that those who disagree are somehow immersed in some unbiblical celebration. That by celebrating the arrival of God's Son, Messiah, in December is an affront to God, if not an out and out sin. Let's take a look at each of these objections.

First, there is no call of God to have this Celebration. True, but does that make it wrong? There are required celebrations in God's Word. The three pilgrim festivals of Passover, The Feast of Tabernacles, and Pentecost. There is also the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kipper, Rosh Hashanah, among others. God also commanded an observation of the New Moon, (which, by the way has parallels among the pagans) and a weekly seventh day Sabbath observance. If these are commanded in Scripture shouldn't we observe these? It seems that, if no Biblical basis can be found for a Christmas  celebration, we should eliminate such a celebration, then shouldn't finding a Biblical command for celebrations obligate us to those Biblical celebrations?

Speaking of celebrations, it seems reasonable to consider a well known Jewish holiday called Hanukkah. This tradition comes from Maccabees, writings that are recognized as valuable but not on the same level as Scripture. Also, the celebration of Purim comes from a decree signed by Queen Esther and Mordecai (See Esther 9). The Lord never commanded either of these celebrations, but God's people, the Jews, follow them faithfully. They are reminders of God's deliverance and His faithfulness. I could point out that Mary, Joseph, the angels, the shepherds and some Gentile Magi celebrated the birth of Messiah. If we choose to do so, it seems we are in good company. Many of those who find aspects of the Christmas traditions unpalatable tend to ignore the commanded celebrations and few would take off every new moon as a day of rest and reflection (Numbers 29). I am told, that the reason that these Biblical and traditional celebrations are not required, is that we are under grace, not the Law, so such legalities do not apply to believers today. So grace applies to celebrations we ignore but not to one, Christmas, we might choose to celebrate. I'm not sure I follow the logic in that argument.

Second, the festival was originally the celebration of the winter equinox tied to the worship of Roman and Greek goddesses. Actually this is not quite true. It is true that there was a long standing celebration in both Greek and Roman mythology of a goddess of fertility or love, or some such variant, who needed to fulfill her obligation to go to the god of the underworld at the time of the winter equinox. Her absence would bring cold and the apparent death of the earth. Come spring she returned and everything came back to life. The winter celebration was a sort of goodbye party filled with drinking and no small amount of debauchery. The Romans en masse enjoyed the celebration. Enter Constantine. Constantine credited his rise to power to an epiphany he experienced before a major battle. Constantine became a believer in God and His Son. He declared his empire to now be the Holy Roman Empire and required all Romans to believe. He was also no political novice. To retain favor he, along with the early church fathers, proclaimed a day of celebration for the birth of Christ to be held at the same time as the equinox celebration. The tradition of this Christmas celebration has been observed for the many centuries that have followed. Is there some element of a connection here? Well, yes and no. It was to appease the masses who wanted the equinox celebration to continue, but the celebration was not to honor the gods or goddesses of Greek or Roman mythology. It was to honor the birth of God's Son.

Third, December 25 could not possibly be Christ's birthday.This one is true and is backed up by scripture. Luke 2:8 informs us that the shepherds were in the fields keeping watch over their sheep. The only time of year this would be true would be the fall, around September, or the spring, around April. It would not have been true in the winter, in December. I lean toward the spring time due to the temple service of Zacharias and the timing of Elizabeth's and Mary's pregnancies. The reality is we do not know the precise date. It is also true that December 25 is not even close. Yet, the day was set up as a celebration of His birth, not necessarily His birthday. However, it is an event worth celebrating. By the way, you may have noticed the pagan goddess celebration pretty well died out. Few still honor her on the winter equinox. However, much of the world celebrates the birth of God's Son. I guess Constantine's idea won.

God's people, the Jews, determined that the events of God's deliverance in the days of Esther were worth remembering. They also decided that God's miraculous burning of the oil in the time of the deliverance in Maccabees was likewise worth celebrating, even if God did not command them. It seems the arrival of The Deliverer would be worthy of celebrating as well.

If you disagree, I am fine with that. I am actually a bit more miffed that we ignore the Jewish calendar for Passover, leading up to the resurrection of our Lord. Many call the day Easter, which is a variation of the name of that pagan goddess returning from the underworld she went to in December. But that is for another day.  For now I wish you all a Merry Christmas, or not, I will leave that up to you.

Is Thanksgiving Enough?

Have you ever thought about how vital thanksgiving is to the Lord God? As believers we may well toss the word around pretty freely. That is not a bad thing. We should be most grateful and thankful to the God of all creation. Everything we have, even the next breath you take, is a gift from Him. He is indeed worthy of our thanks and appreciation. God even included offerings of thanksgiving in Torah (see Leviticus 7:12). David records offering a thank offering in Psalm 116:17, "I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD." Hezekiah does the same in 2Ch 29:31. Thanksgiving and thank offerings were a part of the worship practices for the people of Israel. As those who now know Messiah, we are called to be thankful for ... well ... everything, "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). In writing to the Romans the Apostle Paul gives an indictment against those who reject God. In the midst of the record of man's rejection and ungodliness Paul says, "because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21). Those who refuse to give thanks to God are designated as fools and futile thinkers. Not a group many of us would want to be included in.

Thankfulness is an essential part in our relationship with God, but is it enough? Gratitude and a thankful heart are pleasing to the LORD. However, bringing God a thank offering, or an offering of thanksgiving is not all that is required. Thankfulness also acknowledges who God is. It reflects on what He has done and His very nature. Thus Samuel reminds us, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams" (1 Samuel 15:22). An attitude of thanksgiving without an attitude of submissive obedience falls short of what God deserves. It falls short of what He requires.

Perhaps our culture gets in the way when we consider the things that we learn are required to be pleasing God. We tend to look at the list of what we think God requires and do a little personal evaluation. I am to be thankful, trustworthy, faithful, humble, obedient, generous, and joyful. Just a few of the things we could put on our "pleasing to God" list. There are certainly many more that could come to mind. We should probably tack on the rest of the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit as they are of the Spirit. Then there are those negative things, like do not covet, do not be angry, do not judge. This could get cumbersome, maybe even intimidating or discouraging. We could opt out with the excuse/reason that we all fall short and apply the Jesus salve. You know, that soothing spiritual ointment that says all my sins are forgiven so the list doesn't really matter anyway. If this is so then we have a lot of irrelevant Scripture and unnecessary stories recorded in the Bible. It appears that all the stuff we could put on the list matters. So how do we prioritize? It seems obedience is better than sacrifice but thankfulness should be pretty high on the list as well.

The issue is not what is on the list or how to prioritize the list. The issue is the list itself. American/Western culture loves lists. We love to compartmentalize everything in life. God reveals Himself through a culture that is integrated. When Jesus said, "If you continually love Me it is imperative that you actively keep My commandments" (John 14:15). He was giving less of a rule and more of a statement. The natural outgrowth of honestly loving Him is obedience. Obedience is not a list of rules, it is the reality of a life that is integrated into the Person of God. All of those "do's" and "don'ts" listed above, and any other things you might add, are not to be a list but the substance of our relationship with God. In being thankful we are also loving and joyful and compassionate. Our gratitude is shown in our forgiving and generosity. Even what we choose not to do, like holding a grudge, gossiping, or coveting, is controlled by the attitude of gratitude that pervades our existence. Bringing a thank offering while being at odds with another reflects the truth that you are not really thankful. One who fully understands why they are thankful to a holy God would desire reconciliation before the offering.

Matthew 5:24 makes this pretty clear, “leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." We are not being told to have a check list before we come to worship but to know that my relationship with my brother is related to, integrated with, my relationship with the Lord.

We might want to take a moment at this Thanksgiving Season and think about how all those things on our "how to be spiritual" list are connected. To consider the truth that the Lord has not called you to a list but invited you into a relationship where everything you do is integrated into Who He is. Go ahead and bask in the wonder that He really does care about every little aspect of your life. That the life He provided is to be lived abundantly, not chained to a list. Now go and have a Happy Thanksgiving.