Jews, Christians, Muslims

Jews, Christians, Muslims. Long, hopefully worth it.
I was genuinely touched today. Just for old time's sake, I walked into a little old grocery store on the corner of 27th and Holdrege Street in Lincoln. When I was a child, this was our grocery store, Diamond's Market. Mr. Diamond was an elderly Jewish man who was always so kind to our family.  Whether we had coupons for food or not  he always pretended we did and gave us deep discounts .  Maybe it was because my dear mother had 5 children with her.  As he was tallying us up at the register, he would always say that we forgot our ice cream, and I would get to go back to the freezer case and pick out a half a gallon of ice cream, free! It is now an African/Arabic/Muslim grocery store. Isaac, a Sudanese man, is one of the proprietors. We struck up a beautiful conversation about the store, about family, and about religion. As I got ready to leave, he urged to me to take a drink out of the refrigerated case. I was going to pick up a Snapple tea, but he suggested I take a bottle of this. Well, I thought exactly what you're thinking, that looks like beer! It is a middle eastern lemon flavored malt beverage and is non-alcoholic. It's actually pretty good. But here's the thing, this Muslim man, who knows I am a Christian Pastor, insisted out of the kindness of his heart that I take something as a gift from his store, 45 years after a Jewish man did the same thing for a Lutheran family. Made my day.

Christmas Thought: The Security Blanket

I have watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas” several times. You probably have also.

And there is a subtle statement in the movie you may have never noticed before, but it is powerful.

Linus (who is never without his security blanket) drops his blanket when He quotes from the Bible, Luke 2:10.

“Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Charles Schulz was a believer, and this scene (the dropping of the "Security" blanket) was "on purpose."

Fear not friend, Jesus has come to deliver you from your fears. 

God’s Attention to the Details of My Life – Psalm 139

A person, like myself can get a little excited to consider the richness of this Psalm. That God knows me so intimately, my thoughts, my actions, my words, even the elements that I am made of, and He knows them past, present and future. And yet, He cares deeply for me and will never leave me. Notice His attention to detail: 

He has searched me, He has known me.1

He knows when I sit, when I stand and when I sleep.  2

He not only knows me, but He understands me. Each thought is known to Him. 2

He is acquainted with everything I do. 3

He surrounds me whether I am engaged or asleep. 3

He knows every word I say. 4

He is in front of me and behind me and His hand is upon me. 5

How is this even possible? It boggles my mind. 6

There is nowhere I can go where He is not already there. 7-9

Wherever I am, I am upheld by His right hand.  10

He can see me in the dark!  12

He knew me before I was born, while I was being formed and what I am made of. 13-16

He already had a plan for me back then, every part of me was already accounted for in His book of life. 16

Yet, as imperfect as I am, He deigns to think of me, and His thoughts toward me are precious and many. 17-18

I am secure in Him at all times. 18

Therefore, I will love what He loves and hate what He hates. 19-22

So , I ask that He continue His scan of my heart, my thoughts, my life. 23

I pray that He alerts me when I am in the wrong. 24 

I plead for Him to lead me to do right. 24 

Friend, we matter to God! I told Him this morning that the ratio of His care for me and my care for Him must be 1 billion to 1. And yet, His watch care over me remains forever unchanged. 

Psa 139:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Psa 139:2  Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Psa 139:3  Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Psa 139:4  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
Psa 139:5  Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
Psa 139:6  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Psa 139:7  Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Psa 139:8  If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Psa 139:9  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Psa 139:10  Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
Psa 139:11  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
Psa 139:12  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Psa 139:13  For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
Psa 139:14  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Psa 139:15  My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Psa 139:16  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Psa 139:17  How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
Psa 139:18  If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
Psa 139:19  Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
Psa 139:20  For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
Psa 139:21  Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
Psa 139:22  I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Merry Christmas from the Angels!

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

See also: Luke 1:26-33 and 2:9-13

Our culture’s most common advent greeting is “Merry Christmas.” A furor has arisen over the last several years about our holiday greetings. Political correctness has forced many in the workplace and in schools to offer the “Happy Holidays” wishes so as to not offend people of other faiths, or no faith.

Tonight, my daughter’s public school’s winter concert will include the Hallelujah Chorus of Handel’s Messiah, in which hundreds of attendees will rise, honoring the long-standing tradition started by England’s queen its first performance. I will raise my hands in humble adoration to Him Who reigneth forever and ever as I yearn for the coronation day when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.

I can only imagine the consternation of the atheists and agnostics present and the bewilderment of the Muslims in attendance who will be befuddled by the overwhelming corporate reverence shown to a Figure over which they thought their tolerance and inclusion law suits had relegated to the church services in houses of Christian worship. Truly, we wish no offense to man, but all honor to God!

I digress. I actually personally prefer ‘Happy Holidays” over “Merry Christmas” having a choice between the two, though I am careful not to make a big deal out of it.

(Christ·mas – Origin - Old English Crīstes mæsse or, Christ Mass.)

Surely you see the problem. Many of those who spend Facebook space trying to keep Christ in Christmas by requesting “likes” and “Shares” for one greeting over another in advertising and personal interactions, probably don’t care much for what the Mass represents.

Holidays, on the other hand, comes from Holy Days, which I find much more palatable considering my own religious sensitivities.

Now, if we were Spanish speakers, the greeting “Feliz Navidad” is a wonderful expression used by the faithful. It means happy or merry nativity. Or, to the French, “Joyeux Noel” does no theological harm. It means joyous birth. Noël comes to us from the Latin verb nasci, meaning “to be born.” These terms succinctly express our holy day wishes without reference to the mass, which technically is simply the prayer or song for the dismissal of the liturgy, but what we commonly consider the sacrament of the re-crucifixion of the Lord, wherein wine literally turns to Christ’s blood and the wafer to His body, ingested by participants in order to receive grace.

But in the long ago and far away, none of these greetings held a candle (sorry for the allusion) to the simple repetitious greeting of the angels, “Fear Not!”

Heaven had been pretty much silent for 400 years. Jews went about their days hoping for a deliverer but feeling forsaken by heaven because of their backslidden ancestors. A few miracles transpired during those silent centuries: Chanukah and the Maccabees; troubled waters at the pool of Bethesda… but no real continuing works of God as seen in the olden days. Angelic visitations were not welcome in those times. The appearance of an angel usually meant death or disaster for a lot of people.

But now, as Heaven speaks and angels visit, as shepherds quake and virgins give birth, as wise men journey and espoused husbands fret, miracles occur once again. But there is only good news. Mary would be the first one to (literally) carry the Gospel, the Good News that Christ was to appear on earth. It was in the fullness of time that God would send His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Galatians 4:4-5.

The holiday greeting of the day was Fear Not! Fear not Mary, that which is born of you is holy. Fear not Joseph, your wife is of child by the Holy Ghost. Fear not shepherds, unto you is born a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Fear not people of the earth, the peace Child is born, goodwill to men.

So, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Feliz Navidad and Fear Not!

Message to Self: Seek God's Approval, Not Man's

Psa 119:45  And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

For many years as a believer and a Christian leader, my walk was in bondage, not at liberty. Mine was a life of failure, unmet expectations and even guilt.

I was in bondage to legalistic dogma which dictated that my dress, my speech, my music, my entertainment, my comportment and so much more, line up with ecclesiastical pontiffs' dictums.

Then, through a series of eye-opening incidents, most of which resulted in great failure of the legalistic system, I began to learn, and still am trying to absorb, what are the clear precepts of the Lord.

His commands, word, law, precepts, testimonies, judgments and statutes are not located in the student manual of a Bible college or in the notes of a high-powered evangelist or in the philosophy of tyrannical mega-church pastors. They are delineated in the 66 books of the Bible, and especially in the final 27, and taught by the Holy Spirit to those who love God, who are committed to His ways and who immerse themselves in His teachings.

I am not at all against rules. A life, a family, a school, a society must have guidelines to function and secure safety. Those rules should reflect scriptural precepts. But when the black and white of a student handbook or a preacher’s sermon notes implies that those rules carry the weight of Scripture and must follow you throughout life, or when some preacher indicates not that you should follow him as he follows Christ, but that you should submit to him as he submits to Christ, you have ventured outside of abundant life Christianity and into Taliban oriented religion.

God never meant for your faith to be a list of regulations, but a lift of relationship with Him. Your walk is not meant to focus on do’s and don’t’s but on the Author and Finisher of our faith. You are not meant to live in guilt and fear but to walk at liberty.

When it comes down to it, miserable and failed Christianity will result from people-pleasing. Abundant, joy-filled living comes from seeking His precepts and His person. 

Of Saints and Aints

Psa 106:16  They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.

Aaron, the saint of the Lord?

He is the one that had his arm twisted by those impatient ingrates to fashion a calf god for Israel to dance around and worship. Eeeyeew!

This goes to show, it is the Lord, and not us who determines who is and who isn't qualified for saintliness. If it depended on us failed saints, we would be "aints."

Thank God for His forgiveness, for His understanding that we are but dust and are at best, reclaimed sinners, covered by the blood of the Savior.

I wonder that we've never seen a church called, St. Aaron's? After all, I have seen a St. Dimas Church. In fact, I lived in San Dimas, CA for a while. He was the one who forsook Paul in favor of loving the world.

Just some thoughts for the day.

Blessings saints!

The Wonderful, Redemptive Gift of God to His People through His Son

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Our verses of promise are surrounded with hopeless darkness. Surrounding God’s hopeful promise, we see the words: affliction, vexation, death, darkness, burden, oppression, confusion, noise, blood, burning, etc.

Here is where God's glorious promises shine brightest, against the blackest backgrounds. His most beautiful and aromatic roses appear among the prickliest thorns.

This Gift unfolds as a rose bud in Spring, evolving into greater splendor with each portion of the promise.

This Gift, like a precious diamond, supplies us with multifaceted wonder.

Earth's status quo causes the heart to sigh and the shoulders to slump. As promised so long ago, all creation is groaning and travailing in pain. Wars, violence, rioting, hatred and division weaken our spirits. From the depths of our souls, the saints cry out for healing and/or deliverance.

Onto this darkened canvas appears God’s brilliant promise of a Gift. And it comes in the form of a Child, a Son.

Please observe with me the facets of His jewel, the pedals of His rose:

A Child: Speaks of innocence and simplicity. “He was tempted in all points, like as we, yet without sin.”

A Son: Speaks of inheritance.

A Ruler: Speaks of His Authority. “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.”  Ps 45:6

A Name:

-Wonderful

-Counsellor

-Mighty God

-Everlasting Father

-Prince of Peace

A Government:

-Increase: speaks of its development

-Peace: speaks of its character

-No end: speaks of its perfection

-Throne: speaks of His right to rule

-Judgment and justice: speaks of its righteousness

A Zeal: speaks of the immanence of His kingdom.

Oh, troubled citizen of this gloomy, reeling world, be assured that the Child King born to Mary in the stable two thousand years ago in the midst of darkness, will come again to our sin-darkened world to establish His eternal kingdom. Until that radiant day, this wonderful Counsellor seeks admission to your black night to light illuminate it and to rule in righteousness upon the throne of your heart.