Saturday, December 21, 2013

God Became A Man

   “He Became A Man and Dwelt Among Us” by Louis Cassells: Once upon a time, there was a man who looked upon Christmas as a lot of humbug. He wasn't a scrooge. He was a kind and decent person, generous to his family, upright in all his dealings with other men. But he didn't believe all that stuff about incarnation which churches proclaim at Christmas. And he was too honest to declare that he did. "I am truly sorry to distress you," he told his wife, who was a faithful churchgoer. "But I simply cannot understand this claim that God became man. It doesn't make any sense to me." On Christmas Eve, his wife and children went to church for the midnight service. He declined to accompany them. "I’d feel like a hypocrite," he explained. "I’d much rather stay at home. But I'll wait up for you." Shortly after his family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window and watched the flurries getting heavier and heavier. "If we must have Christmas," he thought, "It's nice to have a white one." He went back to his chair by the fireside and began to read his newspaper. A few minutes later, he was startled by a thudding sound. It was quickly followed by another, then another. He thought that someone must be throwing snowballs at his living room window. When he went to the front door to investigate, he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They had been caught in the storm, and in a desperate search for shelter had tried to fly through his window. "I can't let these poor creatures lie there and freeze," he thought. "But how can I help them?" Then he remembered the barn where the children's pony was stabled. It would provide a warm shelter. He put on his coat and galoshes and tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on a light. But the birds didn't come in. "Food will bring them in," he thought. So he hurried back to the house for bread crumbs, which he sprinkled on the snow to make a trail into the barn. To his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs and continued to flop around helplessly in the snow. He tried shooing them in the barn by walking around and waving his arms. They scattered in every direction -- except into the warm, lighted barn. "They find me a strange and terrifying creature," he said to himself. "And I can't seem to think of any way to let them know they can trust me. If only I could be a bird myself for a few minutes, perhaps I could lead them to safety...." Just at that moment, the church bells began to ring. He stood silently for a while, listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas. Then he sank to his knees in the snow. "Now I do understand," he whispered. "Now I see why you had to do it."

[John 10:1-15; Colossians 1:19-20 & 2:9-10] I think there’s a lot to be said in the old adage; “If you want it done right, do it yourself”. John testifies, “The Word (of God) (John 1:1-5) became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). God became a man to show us the way to safety and spiritual survival, free from sin and shame, which separates us from the love and grace of God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17). Thank you Lord.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Put The Goats Out

    Tis the season of giving and receiving, taking inventory of our ordered life and giving thanks for all the ‘stuff’ we’ve accumulated throughout the years. At the same time we’re bombarded from all sides by worthy causes asking us to give up a small portion of our ‘stuff’ to help others who have little to nothing, or are suffering with severe physical problems. Well, we think, maybe a little, and cynically deposit a small donation. Without a direct relationship to a cause, our heart isn’t moved to excel our actions. Not to discount our feelings for others, we continue to ask “Why?”, when we hear reports of accidents, fire, theft, murder and strife bringing ruination to other families, not giving a second thought that it could happen to me at any moment. We live in the midst of war, retaliation, mental illness, racism, you name it, and there’s no doubt in my mind as to why people are challenging themselves to greater heights of self-satisfaction – it’s all an attempt to escape the unexplainable atrocities of life. The reality of it all is, you can’t escape, so learn to live happily and blessed with what you have. We can’t all be rich beyond our dreams or enjoy world-wide fame, but we can all be the best we can be with what we’ve got. “I’m satisfied with, just a cottage below, a little silver, and a little gold…” I don’t care if I ever gain my fifteen minutes of fame on this earth, “…I’m not discouraged, I’m heaven bound; I’m just a pilgrim in search of a city; I want a mansion, a robe, and a crown…” Through faith I’ll achieve my goal.

    George Mikes writes: In Budapest, a man goes to the rabbi and complains, “Life is unbearable. There are nine of us living in one room. What can I do?” The rabbi answers, “Take your goat into the room with you.” The man is incredulous, but the rabbi insists, “Do as I say and come back in one week.” One week later the man comes back looking more distraught than before; “We can’t stand it!” he tells the rabbi, “the goat is filthy!” The rabbi tells him, “Go home and let the goat out, and come back in one week.” A radiant man returns to the rabbi a week later exclaiming, “Life is beautiful. We enjoy every minute of it, now that there’s no goat – only the nine of us.”

    [Isaiah 64:7-9; Romans 9:14-21; 2 Corinthians 4 & 2 Timothy 2: 20-22] Now come on, that’s not a lot of reading. One cannot expect to understand God and life without reading the Word of God. We say we are thankful for all we have and enjoy, yet at the same time we have this tendency to complain to God about our present situation of discomfort. When it gets right down to it, we have nothing to complain about. Nobody said life was fair with a sense of equality for all. We feel wronged, and it’s because we don’t know God. Isaiah reminds us: “…O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Paul says: “…we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” Looking to God with faith in his promise of eternal life is a greater comfort in this life than any self indulgence can produce. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not trying to be a prude here. God wants and expects us to have fun and enjoy life, but this world is not our home. This is where the Bible comes in. Do you want to go to heaven? Then you need to know how to get there. Strangers will not be welcomed there. God is your friend not your enemy, and life is great, when the goats are outside.

Saturday, December 07, 2013

Just At The Right Time

Tuesday, September 11, 2001 nearly 3000 people died when the World Trade Center came under attack and was ultimately destroyed. In the midst of this tragedy are many stories of survival and other stories of just plain dumb luck, because some people took the day off or were late for work. The head of a company survived 9/11 because his child started kindergarten that day. Another fellow lived because it was his turn to bring the donuts. One woman claims she was late because her alarm clock failed to wake her. One person was late, stuck in traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike, due to an auto accident. One missed his bus, another couldn’t get her car started and another couldn’t find a taxi for some reason. One man tells the story of the new shoes he wore that morning. His normal three modes of transportation, one of which is walking some distance, developed a blister on one foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.

Do you believe in providence? Webster says providence is foresight; prudence; God’s care and protection. I hold a strong belief that I am where I am, doing what I am doing, providentially, under God’s guidance and direction. I believe God is active in my life every day and that I should take the opportunity to seek His favor in everything I do. As I’ve grown older I’ve learned to recognize the opportunities of service God is placing before me. Often, at just the right time, I’m there to do His will.

I’ve been without “man’s best friend” for several years. After the loss of my thirteen year companion, any time the subject of a replacement arose, my wife would say “No”; but the opportunity to melt her heart had not presented itself, until a few months ago. As we were dealing with one of life’s bumps in the road, at just the right time, “Bella” entered our life. She’s now a three and one half month old, two and one half pound, white Chihuahua, with the ability to flat wear out a sixty-three year old man. She and my wife get along great, as both hate the cold weather and love being waited on. My wife was not looking forward to the day I would eventually bring a dog home and at the same time I swore I would never start with a puppy. Just when I needed something to divert my mind from a troubling time, God deemed it time to surprise us with a baby to care for. We got everything we didn’t want, and love her to death. Spoiled brat!

[Galatians 3:26-4:7 & Romans 5:1-11] “…But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” And, “…at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” The Law was a good thing; a stable platform of righteousness for those who wanted to please God. But, it condemned even the righteous and condemned everyone as slaves of sin. “…But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus lived the sinless life, righteous and pleasing to God in every way. He has shown us the way to achieve eternal life in the presence of God. He shed his blood, was sacrificed to God, for you and me, for the forgiveness of our sins. It is through our belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and our baptism into his death, burial and resurrection that we have been saved from our sins (Romans 6:1-14). I have been freed from the slavery of sin, now reconciled with God, to live in his love and grace for ever and ever. Years ago, at just the right time, Jesus entered my life. Jesus was not what I was looking for, but I’m so glad I’ve got him.

Comfort In Tragedy

The beginning of this holiday season has abruptly put me in my place as to my true age. When I heard it has been fifty years since the assignation of John F. Kennedy I could hardly believe it. That day seemed like it had only happened a few years ago. I got to thinking about that somber Thanksgiving holiday, with the sadness and fear that hung in the air. While passing through the halls of my high school, heading for the last period of the day, and the week, looking forward to a week off from school, there was some buzz about the killing of a government official and the wounding of the governor of Texas. Rumor said it was probably someone from Mexico who got shot. We were settled in class when, arriving late, our teacher came in and sat quietly at his desk. He was a combat experienced retired Marine, now English teacher, with tears running down his cheeks. He looked the class over and said in a quiet voice, “John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the President of these United States, has been assassinated this day in Dallas, Texas. Our President is dead.” The ex-Marine, who still held a great love for his country and its Commander and Chief, broke down and cried. While leaving school that day a deafening silence filled the air like I’ve never experienced since. I remember the TV burning up electricity like never before, and the newspapers, and the magazines, filled with everything you would ever want to know about any one person. My elder sister went about compiling all the media she could get her hands on and I believe she still possesses that collection of memorabilia to this day. My dad even set up his 8mm movie camera on a tripod in an attempt to record history from the TV. At thirteen-years-old, I still had two paper routes, an impending atomic war to worry about, Communists and puberty to complete, which put me somewhere between, should I cry too, or just be scared, but I’ll never forget that day and the Thanksgiving that brought people to the table giving thanks with feeling and prayer for peacefulness.
[Isaiah 64; Revelation 2:25-26, 3:10-11] We have all found ourselves under pressure due to the actions of others, be it personal or multilateral. The one thing that normally happens; we turn to God for answers. Job never got the answers he was looking for. Isaiah wondered if God was going to come and finish everyone off. Men of today are no different. In questionable times they are turning to God in fear of His wrath rather than looking to Jesus for comfort. “He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:15-17). There is not one CEO on this planet that can even come close to the superiority of Christ Jesus, and even He doesn’t have all the answers (Mark 13:32-37). So what are we to do in times of question? In the Revelation of Jesus Christ recorded by John, Jesus has some simple instructions for each of us to follow without having to have all the answers. “…Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” Hold on to God’s promise of eternal bliss through obedience to his word, and peace and comfort will fill your troubled soul (Hebrews 10:23).

Getting Back Up

A dozen weeks ago I said I needed some time to re-evaluate my life and perhaps let some things go. Well, I’ve taken a deep look into my life only to discover it’s true, I’ve made some drastic mistakes and have behaved rather poorly in times passed. I also discovered I have improved greatly throughout the years, probably most improved since ridding myself of some debilitating addictive habits nearly twenty years ago. Unfortunately, my change has not come quick, complete or perfect enough to satisfy everyone in my life, but God’s still working on me, and if He chooses to force me to examine myself in the light of how others perceive me to be; so be it; it has been done. I’m still not perfect and walking on eggs will need a lot of spilled milk to make a decent omelet. I’m not going that route the rest of my life. I’ve been knocked down, but not knocked out. I’m getting back up and getting back on the road to forever, traveling a lot wiser and fitter for the future alterations of life I’ll surely have to endure.
In his book, “A View from the Zoo”, author Gary Richmond describes the birth of a giraffe. Did you know that when a giraffe is born, it tumbles five to ten feet to the ground, landing on its back? Within seconds the baby giraffe rolls over and stands, struggling on long untried legs. In the wild the mother positions herself directly over the newborn, swings her leg outward and kicks the baby, sending it sprawling! If it doesn’t get up, she kicks it again! If it grows tired, she will kick it to stimulate its efforts to stand. Each time the baby giraffe manages to get to its feet, the mother kicks it once again. Admittedly, this behavior sounds cruel, but there is a good reason for it. The mother is working diligently to prepare the baby for survival. The little giraffe must learn to get up quickly and run with the herd when danger comes; otherwise, it will not survive. Aren’t you thankful we’re born helpless and in need of tender loving care? Some of us, especially at sixty-three, need a stimulating kick to get us moving.
[Psalm 118] (Inspiration - AudioEvangelism.com) At first glance it doesn’t seem to make much sense for a mother giraffe to kick its baby. However, there is a good reason for it. Likewise, at first glance, it may not seem reasonable to us for God to allow us to suffer in certain ways and endure various trials, but he has reasons beyond our understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9).He loves us and wants what’s best for us (Romans 8:28). There is a lesson here for Christians. We must learn the same lesson that baby giraffe’s do: When life kicks you down, it ought to encourage you to get back up! When you’ve been dropped on your back (so to speak), giving up is not an option. Lying there, feeling sorry for yourself, is not acceptable. Our spiritual survival depends on our ability to persevere. Our Lord himself said, “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22) “…Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10) Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:3, “Endure hardship with us as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” James 5:11 reads, “As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” Satan would love nothing better than for you to throw in the towel and give up your faith. He wants you to forsake the church and turn your back on Christ. Refuse to lose! Get back up! You are the winner already! (James 1:12)