In 2009, I will be blogging on some of the current events effecting our faith.  Some of the blogs you will enjoy more than others but they are designed to help us think about our faith and the message it gives to the world. 

I covet you comments.   Click on add a comment in the Guestbook column and leave your comments.  Remember this sight is visible to all and please respect the tenor of this blog.

Michael

DEARBORN, Dec. 30--In one of the largest demonstrations in Dearborn in recent years, organizers estimated that some 5,000 people formed a human chain along Warren avenue in Dearborn, the heart of the Arab-American community in metropolitan Detroit, to express solidarity with the plight of the Palestinians now under siege in Gaza by the Israeli military.

Chanting slogans such as "Free, Free Palestine", the crowd flew Palestinian flags on the street along Warren avenue as well as from automobiles driving up and down the streets surrounding the demonstration. Although most of the demonstrators were of Palestinian and Arab heritage, there were several anti-war, peace and solidarity organizations represented who are based in the United States.

These groups oppose the aggressive policies of the Israeli government as well as US funding for Israeli military operations. Some of the groups present at the December 30 action were Jewish Voice for Peace, Solidarity, the Green Party of Detroit, the Palestine Office of Michigan and Jewish Witness for Peace.

"We demand that President-elect Barack Obama end his silence on the terror attacks and condemn Israel’s actions immediately. The millions of people who elected Obama did so in large part because they want peace and an end to endless war and militarism. The murderous onslaught against the people of Gaza requires the voicing of yeah or nay – to remain silent is to condone Israel’s barbaric genocide against the Palestinian people."

Having traveled in the Holy Land and having befriended both Jew and Palestinian, my heart aches for the tragic nature of their conflict.  Some say it is inevitable.  Some say it is God’s will.  Some just call it tragic.

I would like to know what you think. 

Michael

What is in store for us? Or perhaps the better question these days: what are we storing?

In the coming days of 2009, maybe we need to think of the good that is possible.

One Christian writer says that all of us are blessed to live in a time of purification. That means simplification, and we should welcome it. It's the way of the manger.

Let's face it: we reached an extreme -- everyone was "rich," everyone could afford a new car (or an SUV, every few years), everyone threw items away after a few uses, everyone had all they could eat (to the point where the biggest health problem among our poor was obesity) -- and now we may experience the opposite.

What goes up must come down and God has been incredibly gentle and patient in trying to nudge from a path that we saw as "prosperous" and thus "good" but that too often was actually wayward (out of accord with His Plan). We were trying to recreate and reshape and complicate everything He made -- or through our greed were destroying it.

An economic trends analyst, Gerald Celente of Upstate New York, predicts that by 2012, we will have witnessed the end of the "retail Christmas." After a false lift for a couple of years (perhaps in response to government infusions of money, which may take us halfway back), we will see a great retraction and breakdown during which we'll go back to making hand-crafted gifts instead of the current way of malling the holidays; there will be more localism, family, and community.

And so we head back in a way that some call a "depression" but should depress no one. There are a few excellent trends: people are looking more toward items that last a long time; patronizing second-hand stores; repairing clothes; and wasting less food.

When we are asked what we should do to "prepare" for coming times we say that when God acts it is in a way that transcends preparation.

Rely on God. Rely on community.

It really is a joyous time. Dramatic? Time will tell. Celente, of the Trends Research Institute, who is often featured on networks like Fox Business, CNN, and ABC, correctly predicted the meltdown in subprime mortgages and now foresees that by 2012 America will become "the first undeveloped nation of the world." There will be another "tax revolution," marked by "food riots," "squatter rebellions," "tax revolts," and "job marches."

It sounds over the top. People are still flocking to the stores and retail "plunged" four to eight percent this season (not really a plunge like there can be a plunge), but one can also point to the forty percent drop in stocks, which is the greatest drop since 1931. Things are rapidly changing.

Americans, Celente claims, are going to "take a hit like never before" -- especially those many with "McMansions" -- as America goes through a profound transition.

The only preparation you need is holiness.

What do you think?

Michael

My kudos to the following mother’s insight.

So I took the kids out to the mall to shop for Mom two days before Christmas. I want them to know that Christmas is not just about receiving but giving as well.

Now let me ask a weird hypothetical. If I showed up at the Mall wearing only briefs and say my wife showed up in a minuscule bra and panties we'd likely be dragged from the premises and arrested. And rightly so, especially if you've seen me in briefs. But no matter what, it's bad, right? So why is it OK for some of these stores to have huge window displays of essentially naked people. I mean, are these store owners out of their minds. Walking by Abercrombie or Victoria's Secret is essentially a walking tour of porn for children. Hey kids step on up and peer inside the sick twisted mind of adulthood where we view others as vessels of flesh waiting to be boarded and devoured.

It's lunacy.

So as we're passing a bunch of sex-soaked stories, I do my best to distract the kids from the window display. I start singing a loud Christmas carol and they all become embarrassed by me and try to stop me from singing anymore. So for anybody who saw the fat bearded dad singing in front of a ten foot porn window display with children laughing and climbing all over him, it was me.

But here's the thing. I know my kids saw it. They didn't mention it. But I know they see it. They see it. They internalize it. They think that window display represents the realm of adulthood. They intuit that adults desire 8-pack abs and 38 D breasts. And kids want to be adults.

Here's the truth. If a man was caught showing pictures of topless women in pink underwear holding their breasts or men in wet briefs, they'd be arrested. But when a store does it, it's capitalism.

So a few hours later I'm making the call I never thought I'd make in my life. I call the mall two days before Christmas to complain about the lewd window displays. The funny thing is that while I'm on hold I'm feeling like I'm the crazy one. I'm feeling like "I can't believe I've become the guy who complains about lewd window displays." I didn't think I'd ever use the word 'lewd' never mind call to complain about aforementioned lewdness. I'm feeling like I have to convince this guy on the phone that I'm not one of these crazy religious types.  But then it hits me. I'm the sane one. Those displays are crazy to have in front of children. So instead of getting into a morality type conversation with the guy I just decide to speak his language. "I'm just calling to let you know that my family which comes to the mall often will not come back unless you guys stop allowing pornographic window displays."

So I make the call and I'm feeling proud of myself. And I walk back into the room where the children are watching The Polar Express on ABC Family. And then comes a commercial about some show about a fifteen year old girl who is pregnant. "Fifteen!?" says my nine year old.

"How can you have a baby if you're not married," asks my six year old.

They all look at me. "Hey guys Polar Express is back on!" And thanks to my amazing powers of distraction I muddled through yet another awkward moment. But I know my kids. Nothing escapes them. Questions build. They never fade away.

And we wonder why are children are ending up sexualized. It's simple. Somewhere between the Merry-go-Round and the pretzels they're seeing and interpreting the adult world. They're unprotected out there. The adults want too much to be like children and the children want to be adults. It's time for adults to start acting like adults

Amen. Amen.

Michael

Let me know what you think.

Mention the name Rick Warren and you are likely to start an argument depending on whether you like his work or not.  No one can deny his impact and influence on the emerging church in America and now the world.  Rick Warren is causing the church to take notice of how they do church.

Warren's outlook has come at a price. Many from the Christian right don't trust him.

A registered independent who does not endorse candidates, he has called old guard evangelical activists too partisan and overly focused on gay marriage and abortion.

In the run-up to the Saddleback forum he led last August with Obama and Republican Senator John McCain, those giving Warren the most grief were conservatives. They were convinced he wouldn't be tough enough on Obama. (Obama wound up stumbling in his appeal to religious voters while answering Warren's question about when a baby gets human rights. Obama said it was "above his pay grade" to respond "with specificity.")

"For probably the last 25 years, evangelicalism became co-opted, and for most people it became a political term," Warren said. "And it got identified with a certain style of political leanings."

The attacks on Warren stretch to how he presents the Gospel — watered-down and soft, according to his theologically traditional critics.

Warren's phenomenal best-seller, "The Purpose Driven Life," which has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, partly reflects the self-help ethos of baby boomers, although he insists it isn't an advice book and he defends its religious content.

Still, the tone of his writing is deliberate. Warren, 54, is among a generation of pastor-CEOs who use marketing studies, polling and census data to create congregations that will attract people who never go to church. One of Warren's most important mentors was the late Peter Drucker, considered the father of modern management.

Warren started Saddleback with one other family in 1980 in California, a state with one of the lowest percentages of churchgoers in the country. Saddleback now draws more than 22,000 worshippers each week.

As the church grew, so did the critiques. "The pioneers get the arrows," he says.

Warren survives the pounding partly because of his personal integrity. He donates 90 percent of his many millions in book royalties back to the church. He says he stopped taking a salary from Saddleback six years ago. No scandals have tainted his ministry.

He is also one of the savviest leaders among his peers.

His speaking invitations range from church groups to the Davos World Economic Forum and the United Nations. Saddleback's reach is now so broad, it's nearly its own denomination.

Warren provides sermons, study materials and guidance to hundreds of thousands of clergy worldwide through pastors.com and his other Web sites. Warren's "40 Days of Purpose" spiritual campaigns have been conducted in more than 20,000 churches, and he recently joined forces with Reader's Digest to launch a multimedia global juggernaut based on his "Purpose Driven" writing.

Now he is trying to revolutionize faith-based humanitarian work through his P.E.A.C.E. program. It unites local churches, businesses and governments to fight poverty and disease, promote peace, and combat what he calls spiritual emptiness. The pilot project for this effort began in 2005 in Rwanda, which has been dubbed the first "purpose-driven nation."

It is no surprise that he and Obama have become friendly. Each tries to operate outside a strict liberal-conservative divide, and has risked angering his supporters to do so.

"You can't have a reformation without somebody opposing it," Warren says. "If I wasn't making a difference, nobody would be paying attention."

Whatever your position, it is refreshing to see the church engaged in dialogue and not just criticism.  Rick Warren is still a story in the making.  2009 will have much to say about whether the world takes him at his word.

Michael

Myth #1: Sugar causes hyperactivity in children. Regardless of what parents might believe, sugar is not to blame for out-of-control little ones. At least 12 scientific studies have found no correlation between children eating more sugar and becoming more active. However, some studies have determined that parents who think their children have had too many sweets do perceive that the kids are becoming more hyperactive, even when they have not actually had any sweets and have not demonstrated any change in behavior.

Myth #2: Suicides increase over the holidays. While holidays can bring out the worst in us with the stress of family dysfunctionality, loneliness and added depression due to the darkness of winter months, there is no good scientific evidence to suggest a holiday peak in suicides. In fact, studies show that suicides are actually more common during warm and sunny times of the year.

Myth #3: Poinsettias are toxic. Even though public health officials have reported that poinsettias are safe, many people continue to believe that this is a poisonous plant. However, no one has ever died from exposure to or ingestion of poinsettia, and most (96%) did not even require medical treatment.

Myth #4: Going hatless leads to excess heat loss. While it is wise to wear a cap or hat when it gets cold, current studies show that any uncovered part of the body loses heat and will reduce the core body temperature proportionately.

Myth #5: Nocturnal feasting makes you gain weight. A common suggestion to avoid unwanted weight gain is to avoid eating at night. However, in fact, people gain weight because they take in more calories overall than they burn up, no matter what the time of day.

Were you as fooled as I was?

Michael

READ | Matthew 1:18-2

Names have great significance in the Bible. Jesus was called Messiah in Hebrew, which is translated as Christ in Greek. The terms both pointed to Him as an anointed One who would become King. Immanuel was another important name He was given. It means “God with us” (Matt. 1:23).

To understand the difference it makes to have God with us, consider how this blessing affected three biblical leaders. First of all, the Lord’s presence was the reason Moses repeatedly approached Pharaoh to demand the release of the Israelite slaves—God’s promise enabled him to overcome his fear (Ex. 3:12).

Second, after Moses’ death, Joshua was appointed to take Israel into the Promised Land. Imagine what it meant to this new leader to realize that the Father was always near. As commander, Joshua would face many challenges, including travel, combat, and rebellion. He could be a courageous leader because he knew that the Lord would never leave him.

Third, as a young shepherd boy and later as king, David knew the Lord’s presence well (1 Sam17:37; 2 Sam. 7:18). In Psalm 23, he wrote that in his darkest times, he would not fear evil because God was with him.

Our Father has pledged to be with all those whom He has redeemed (Isa. 43:1-2). If you have received Jesus as your personal Savior, then His Holy Spirit dwells within you. No matter what hap­pens in your life, God remains with you to strengthen, guide, and comfort.

As we said yesterday, what an indescribable gift.

Keep Phil Patton in your prayers.  He is not responding well to the medication right now at Methodist.

Michael

To the only God, who alone is all-wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever! Amen.   Romans 16:27, GNT

OUR HEARTS — our spirits — wait for the coming of the Christ child. We have worked hard during this Advent season to listen to God’s voice, to turn over our fears and worries, to make a place in all the chaos to be able to welcome God into our lives and hearts. During these last days of Advent, we continue to wait. May these final days include times of quiet. Open wide the door to our hearts. Let there be spaces, silences, and open places. Let us give ourselves the gift of time.

I pray your are experiencing the presence of Christ this Christmas.

Michael

It's a few days till Christmas and Christmas songs are playing on the radio and in stores. Advent candles have been lit. Homes are decorated. Choirs are performing their holiday programs and offices are gathering for the annual Christmas parties. But underneath it all is an anxiety that is coming from the current financial crisis. And I've been wondering, what does it mean to be a follower of Christ during these scary times? I think Christmas speaks to that.

Do not be afraid. These words are proclaimed over and over again in the Advent story, a message from God in the voice of angels. "Do not be afraid, your prayer has been heard" (Luke 1:13). "Do not be afraid, ... for you have found favor with God" (Luke 1:30). "Do not be afraid; for see -- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people" (Luke 2:10).

I think that God is saying, "Do not be afraid, I am with you." "Do not be afraid; trust in me." "Do not be afraid. I am walking with you and everything will be okay."

Have faith. Jesus invites us to have faith, to trust in God. Jesus says, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear" (Matt. 6:25). I once heard someone say that faith is the opposite of fear. Faith in God can replace my feelings of anxiety and fear.

God is saying to us, "Have faith in me." "Turn your life over to me and trust in me." "Don't worry.  Trust me."

Pray. When times got rough, Jesus prayed. "After he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray" (Matt. 14:23). "They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here while I pray'" (Mark 14:32). Prayer is the antidote to fear and despair. It's our lifeline to the God who loves us and wants the best for us.

God is saying, "Turn to me and I will meet you with arms that comfort and support." "Have faith; do not be afraid. I am standing here beside you.  Let's talk."

In these days of Christmas may you have hope, trust, and faith. Open your hearts to God's presence with you in every situation. Be comforted. God is with us; we are not alone.

Pick up those last few gifts and make sure you worship the newborn King.

Michael

Sara Parsons is a Christian writer.  She has a unique view of these short winter days.

Mary said, “My heart praises the Lord; my soul is glad because of God, my Savior.” Luke 1:46-47, GNT

The days are short right now where I live, and the nights are long. We North Americans can command light at any moment, with the flip of a switch. I tell myself that natural darkness shouldn't affect me, but somehow it does.

The changes in my activities and my mood are barely perceptible, even to me. I can still do most of the things I like to do. But in summer, when the days are long, I might go out for coffee in the evenings more; I might go to the park and throw the Frisbee; I am more likely to meet someone for a run.

In the winter, even though I could still do most of those things, it's harder to get myself out of the apartment. It's easier to get myself into the bathtub with a book. So I socialize less, and my life changes with the season, partly because of the darkness.

Much of the Christmas story is told in images of light and darkness, images so familiar that I gloss over them in my reading, looking for something else, for a big event.

I take images of light for granted, but this year, for some reason, the images stand out for me: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness -- on them a light has shined" (Isaiah 9:2, NRSV); "The angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them" (Luke 2:9, NRSV).

FAMILIAR DARKNESS

At a spiritual level, I know something of the darkness the scriptures are talking about. For me, it has to do with a sense of isolation, loneliness, far away from myself, maybe, or from God, or from friends or family.

I recently read an article on "desolation," chronic emotional pain, and the article pointed out that pain is not so much the problem; it's the accompanying isolation that we really cannot bear: "The human spirit can survive onslaughts of tragedy and suffering, but it cannot abide complete abandonment."¹

As hard as it can be to celebrate some years, Christmas is very timely if it comes in the midst of a hard time: "The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light ... on them a light has shined."

TRANSFORMING LIGHT

If we know what a dark room looks like, we must also know the joy of a candle lit in that room. A small golden light dances on the walls and changes everything.

Suddenly this is a place you want to be; this light is a warm presence with you, even if nothing else about your situation has changed: same room; same furniture; same person sitting in it; same pain, fears and worries; even the same essential darkness surrounding you. But now there's a candle. This is entirely different. This has gone from being an experience of abject loneliness to one of solitude, maybe peace, maybe warmth.

LONELINESS AND SOLITUDE

We all find ourselves alone some of the time. We enter the world alone and leave it alone; this is the human condition. This is not to say that we don't need other people; we do, very much, and we get plenty of human companionship along life's way. But in our deepest inner lives, at our very cores, we find ourselves alone with God.

There are two ways we can turn with this aloneness. In Reaching Out, Henri Nouwen makes a distinction between loneliness and solitude. Depending on how we approach our own inner aloneness, he says, we can experience an excruciating loneliness, or we can cultivate a garden of solitude.

We can run from our aloneness, frightened and disturbed, thereby intensifying the loneliness. Or we can sit quietly in it, knowing that God is with us ... easier said than done. Nevertheless, God's companionship in our solitude is much like the lit candle that changes everything about the room.

To me, Christmas is about this candle; Christmas says: it's not about the darkness anymore. Focus on the light. It's just a candle, just a bit of light, just a baby born.

It doesn't take our aloneness away, yet it changes our entire experience here, our present and our future. In place of loneliness and anxiety, there is comfort and peace to be found in this room. May we focus on that candle this year, and rest and rejoice.

Light a candle in the darkness tonight at your home.  Then light one in a dark world that needs it.

Michael

It's December and Christmas songs are playing on the radio and in stores. Advent candles are being lit. Homes are being decorated. Choirs are performing their holiday programs and offices are gathering for the annual Christmas parties. But underneath it all is an anxiety that is coming from the current financial crisis. And I've been wondering, what does it mean to be a follower of Christ during these scary times?

Do not be afraid. These words are proclaimed over and over again in the Advent story, a message from God in the voice of angels. "Do not be afraid, your prayer has been heard" (Luke 1:13). "Do not be afraid, ... for you have found favor with God" (Luke 1:30). "Do not be afraid; for see -- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people" (Luke 2:10).

I think that God is saying, "Do not be afraid, I am with you." "Do not be afraid; trust in me." "Do not be afraid. I am walking with you and everything will be okay."

Have faith. Jesus invites us to have faith, to trust in God. Jesus says, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear" (Matt. 6:25). I once heard someone say that faith is the opposite of fear. Faith in God can replace my feelings of anxiety and fear.

God is saying to us, "Have faith in me." "Turn your life over to me and trust in me." "Don't worry -- trust me."

Pray. When times got rough, Jesus prayed. "After he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray" (Matt. 14:23). "They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here while I pray'" (Mark 14:32). Prayer is the antidote to fear and despair. It's our lifeline to the God who loves us and wants the best for us.

God is saying, "Turn to me and I will meet you with arms that comfort and support." "Have faith; do not be afraid. I am standing here beside you -- let's talk."

In these days of Advent may you have hope, trust, and faith. Open your hearts to God's presence with you in every situation. Be comforted. God is with us; we are not alone.

Have a day of courage.

Michael

Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. - Galatians 1:17

The apostle Paul tells us in the first chapter of Galatians some of the facts surrounding his own conversion. He tells us that he clearly understood the call Jesus placed on his life. He did not have to consult other men about this calling. But before he was released to begin his own mission, He went to Arabia for three years. Why did Paul have to go to Arabia for three years before he ever met another disciple of Jesus Christ?

The Scripture does not tell us plainly why Paul spent three years in Arabia. However, based upon many examples of God placing special calls on people's lives, we know it often requires a time of separation between the old life and the new life. No doubt, Paul had plenty of time to consider what had taken place in his life and time to develop an intimate knowledge and relationship with the newfound Savior. His life was about to change dramatically.

So often, when God places a call on one of His children, it requires a separation between the old life and the new life. There is a time of being away from the old in order to prepare the heart for what is coming. It can be a painful and difficult separation. Joseph was separated from his family. Jacob was sent to live with his uncle Laban. Moses was sent to the desert.

Perhaps God has placed you in your own desert period. Perhaps you cannot make sense of the situation in which you find yourself. If you press into God during this time, He will reveal the purposes He has for you. The key is pressing into Him. Seek Him with a whole heart and He will be found. God may have a special calling and message He is building in your life right now. Trust in His love for you that He will fully complete the work He has started in you.

A thought for all those living in a desert right now.

Michael

Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth,
    but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you.
All nations will come to your light;
    mighty kings will come to see your radiance. [Isaiah 60:2-3]

In its original setting, this prophecy of Isaiah emphasized the worldwide impact of the Lord’s blessing of Israel. As God revealed his glory to Israel, this glory would be reflected to all the nations, who would be drawn to Jerusalem in order to see the light of God.

This is exactly what began to happen in Jesus Christ. As we read in John’s gospel: “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” Jesus, the ultimate revelation of God’s glorious grace, was the Savior, not just of Israel, but also of the whole world. The birth of Christ was the pathway for the world to experience God’s glory through him.

This passage from Isaiah reminds us that we are to reflect God’s glory into the dark world around us. As we communicate God’s truth, as we reach out with his love, as we offer forgiveness and mercy, people will see God’s glory through us and be drawn to him. That is an essential element of this holy season of advent.  Now more than ever, we reflect the glory and goodness of Christ. 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: When have you experienced God’s glory this Christmas? How do you reflect God’s glory in your part of the world? What could you do this Christmas to help those around you experience the goodness of God?

PRAYER: All praise be to you, O God, because you are glorious beyond all measure!
All praise be to you, gracious God, for you have revealed your glory to us!
All praise be to you, Lord Jesus, for you are the ultimate revelation of God’s glory!
Help me, dear Lord, to see more of your glory, that my mind and heart might be filled with awe and wonder!
Help me, glorious Lord, to reflect your glory in this world, so that people might be drawn to you!  In the name of Jesus, the glorious Word of God, Amen.

Keep our Gift of Love Christmas service this Saturday in your prayers.  We have over 200 of the local families coming to share in the message of Christmas.  I also hope to see you at one of our Choir Christmas performances this Wednesday or Sunday.

Enjoy the goodness of our King.

Michael

“And this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever. I, the LORD, have spoken!” [Isaiah 59:21]

Through Isaiah, the Lord promises that his words will be “on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever.” This promise, once given to Israel, speaks to one of the deepest yearnings of our own hearts. Those of us who care about children, whether they’re related to us or not, want so much for God’s words to be on their lips and in their hearts. We ache for the next generations to know the Lord and walk with him.

Though younger people in our society do show considerable interest in “spirituality,” this doesn’t necessarily extend to orthodox Christianity. Moreover, according to the recent book unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity . . . And Why It Matters, younger people in our day are increasingly negative about the church. If we want God’s words to guide the lives of the next generations, including our own children and grandchildren, then we need to commit ourselves to this goal. It will impact how we live each day and how we function as the church. It will require new authenticity, openness, and integrity. We have no more important calling than to pass on our faith to the next generations.

What an honor it was to see Millie Blair give her life to Christ today.  We have such good young people.
 
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How are you impacting the faith of young people in your world? What can you do to live in such a way that the next generations are drawn to the Lord through you?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today I’m praying for my children and for the children of this world. May your words be on their lips and in their hearts. May they know your Word. May it shape their lives and guide their thoughts.
Help me, dear Lord, to speak and live in such a way that younger people are drawn to you through me. Forgive me when my words and deeds don’t match. Use me to reach out to the next generations with love and grace.
Help your church, Lord, to connect with younger generations. May we do this, not simply as a program to build our churches, but as a way of helping young people to know and love you. Give us courage to live out our faith with authenticity. Help us to be open to change, even change that makes us uncomfortable. Amen.

READ | Luke 2:1-14

Galatians chapter four, verse four tells us, "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son." With those simple words, the apostle Paul sums up much of the Old Testament. The fullness of time refers to all of God's preparations for sending Jesus Christ into the world to die for our sins. The Father's hand was organizing world events to bring about the most powerful incident ever. The story of Christ's coming is the story of human history.

Pleased by Noah's faithfulness, God saved his family from the worldwide flood. That preserved the Messianic line through Shem (Genesis 7:13; Luke 3:23-38). Later, after the Israelites made it to the Promised Land, they ended up losing it. Eventually the Persian king Cyrus defeated their Babylonian captors and allowed the Jewish people to rebuild Jerusalem.

With Alexander the Great's conquest of the known world, the Greek language spread, giving people a common tongue. More time passed, and the Roman conquests ushered in a new era of peace. Traveling became easier as good roads were built, and the seas were safe to sail.

Then, when the time was right, Jesus Christ was born. He would be crucified and resurrected in the rebuilt city. His Gospel could be shared in a common language and carried to faraway countries.

We think we do a lot to plan for Christmas.  We pale against the preparations for the first Christmas.  While you are busy shopping, hanging ornaments and such, remember what really went into preparing for Christmas.

Michael

READ | Galatians 4:4-7

Since Creation, God was orchestrating world affairs to set the stage for the arrival of His Son. In the meantime, He used prophecy to keep alive people's hope for a fresh beginning and a new relationship with Him.

So many Messianic predictions are recorded in the Old Testament that the likelihood of one man fulfilling them all was slim. However, Jesus Christ's birth, life, and death happened exactly as the prophets foretold. Isaiah proclaimed, "Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name [God with us]" (Isaiah 7:14).

Micah told the Jewish people their leader would come from the tiny town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). The timing of Messiah's arrival was revealed to Daniel, who recorded the timeline in his writings. (Note: The word "week" in Daniel 9:25-26 actually has the meaning of "seven years"—just as in Genesis 29:27.)

God Himself gave a direct prophecy in Genesis 3:15, when He told Satan, "[The seed of woman] shall bruise you on the head." It was an indication that Christ would defeat him. A careful comparison of Jesus' life with the prophecies of Scripture leads to only one conclusion: Jesus is the promised Messiah, who brings every willing person into a new covenant relationship with the Father.

The hope of a coming Messiah sustained the Israelites through centuries of chaos and captivity. That messianic hope is still available in our day through the One who came, died, and rose again for us. Those of us who have received Jesus Christ as Savior have an unbreakable covenant relationship with God—and the promise of eternity with Him.

Such a Christmas promise should sustain us in the worst of times and prepare us for the best of times.

Michael

"For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith" (Heb 4:2-3).

You run into anemic Christians everyday. They have a form of religion but fail to mix their belief with faith and obedience. The apostle Paul described them when he said "these people have a form of godliness but deny its power."

What are the telltale signs of anemic faith? When you no longer pray about decisions, you have anemic faith. When you fail to speak to others about their relationship with God, you have anemic faith. When you're unwilling to spend time with God everyday, your faith has become anemic. You no longer have a living faith.

God spoke to John, the apostle, through a vision and told him about some Christians who were part of the church in Laodicea:

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see" (Rev 3:14-18).

These are strong words from our Lord. We are all susceptible to growing cold and anemic in our faith. 

This Christmas, review your decisions, witness and time you spend with God.  Is your faith strong or a little bit anemic.

Michael

READ | Revelation 21:22-22:7

Death is inevitable. The thief on the cross knew when his would occur, but we can not predict our own. After his death, the crucified criminal went to live in paradise with Jesus. Some of us will also live eternally in God's presence. But others will be separated from Him.

If we receive Jesus as our Savior, our penalty for sin is paid. We are adopted into God's family, and Heaven is our eternal home. If we reject Jesus, we remain alienated from the Lord and under judgment for our sins. We know better.  God won't accept any of man's excuses because there is no acceptable defense for unbelief (Acts 4:12).

The Christmas story is familiar to the world.  Every year it is regaled and recounted.  But most still do not see its meaning or worth to their lives.  Can anyone you know imagine standing before God and feigning ignorance? 

Yet many believers will forfeit opportunities to worship or serve Him during this holy time.  They will offer busyness as an excuse.  Unbelief takes on many forms.  The simplest is disobedience and disregard.  Don’t take Christmas for granted.  It is a time to renew the story and our devotion.

What if this Christmas is to be your last?  Would you celebrate it any different?  The choice is yours.

Michael

READ | Luke 23:32-43

In yesterday’s message, I reminded you that death has a place at Christmas.  God was mindful of it when he sent his son.  God offered a answer for death with his Son’s  birth and eventual death.

The thief on the cross—condemned by both God and man—was just hours away from death. But before he took his last breath, something glorious occurred. The criminal, in the very process of dying, was rescued by Jesus right in front of the mocking crowd. The thief's name was written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and all of heaven rejoiced. Jesus promised him a place in paradise in the presence of God.

On those three crosses at Calvary, one robber died in his sin. Another man, the Son of Man, died to pay the penalty for sin. And the third, also a thief, was redeemed from sin. His sin-debt was paid in full, and he became part of God's family.

But what evidence do we have that his deathbed conversion was real? First, there's his change in behavior. Initially, both thieves hurled insults and blasphemies against Jesus. In a total turnaround, the redeemed robber later chastised the first man for his words (v. 40).

Second, the thief's admission of guilt is evidence of his conversion. He publicly acknowledged being justly punished for his wicked deeds (v. 41).  The truth had finally sunk in.

The third piece of evidence is the robber's expression of faith in the Lord. The man called Jesus by name, acknowledged He was a king with a kingdom, believed there was life after death, and asked Jesus to rescue him.

The final evidence of his deathbed conversion is Jesus' promise to the thief. The Lord told him in Luke 23:43, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

God will take care of saving us through Jesus but will we take care of turning to him and being truly converted.  What better Christmas could you have then getting your relationship with God worked out.  Then Christmas will truly be Christmas.

Don’t wait till death is at your door.  Make your peace today.  Then celebrate Christmas.

Michael

READ | Philippians 4:10-20

Grand, sweeping statements can be hard to take. We've all turned on the TV and heard confident claims such as, "Got a problem? God has the answer!" That can cause something in our spirit to just tighten up.  As we approach Christmas and face a extended period of recession, we find it hard to trust anyone.

Whenever someone makes any kind of bold statement, we must consider the source. Who is making the claim? Does that person really understand my situation? If we are in the midst of a struggle, we may wonder, Is this a person who knows what pain feels like? Or we ask ourselves, Is this someone I can trust?

So, when we read Philippians 4:19, "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus," we have to stop and ask, Can I trust the writer? The answer, without a doubt, is yes.

Paul was not always a bubbly, happy-go-lucky communicator. He was bold and brash, spreading truth whenever and wherever it was necessary. He also knew what it meant to be in need. In fact, he wrote the book of Philippians from an Ephesian jail where he was most likely chained to a prison guard. More importantly, Paul knew where to get his needs met. Even in this dark situation, not knowing when or if he would ever be freed from his chains, Paul reveals something amazing: his contentment. He trusted that God's hand was at work, no matter how the outward circumstances appeared.

As you consider your present circumstances—your place in life and current needs—would you say you're content? Do you believe the Lord truly can and will meet your needs according to His glory?  Remember what is important and what you really need this Christmas.

See you at His worship tomorrow.

Michael