Lessons About The Birth of Christ
Galatians 4:4 & Luke 2:1-20
(c) 2008 Don Detrick
MAIN THOUGHT: The Christmas story offers hope to all people, in all places, for all time.
1. God’s purposes are always redemptive.
As much as it pains me to have to say it, a woman was responsible for bringing about the fall of mankind. It was Eve who first ate the forbidden fruit and then shared it with her husband Adam (1 Timothy 2:13-14). Through the disobedience of our original parents, sin was passed down to all of us (Romans 5:12).
Of course the serpent, Satan, was responsible for tempting the woman in the first place (Genesis 3:1-8). The consequences of sin were both immediate and delayed. Genesis 3:14-15 says “So the LORD God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, you will be punished. You are singled out from all the domestic and wild animals of the whole earth to be cursed. You will grovel in the dust as long as you live, crawling along on your belly. From now on, you and the woman will be enemies, and your offspring and her offspring will be enemies. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
In theological terms, this is called the protoevangelium[1], literally “the first gospel, or good news.” Symbolically, it alludes to the future coming of Jesus Christ as the One who would “crush the serpent’s head” – a fatal blow, while at the same time having “His heel” bruised, or struck by the serpent. Though Jesus died on the cross, the resurrection was the fatal blow to Satan’s domination of the human race, and through the passion of Christ, God made possible redemption of the human race.
God has always had a plan, and His plans are always redemptive. In essence, that which was lost through the original sin of Eve was rescued, restored and redeemed through the work of the Savior. So it is significant that just as a woman was responsible for bringing about the fall of man, God used a woman, Mary (Galatians 4:4), to bring redemption to mankind through the birth of the second Adam, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:22-45).
Mary was convinced of God's mighty power. Her faith led her to believe that He was able to do anything. And because of her faith, she was a willing participant in God's plan for eternal salvation. In response to the angel's message (Luke 1:37 NKJV) "For with God nothing shall be impossible,” Mary replied (Luke 1:38 NKJV) "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."
For us, redemption often means rescue, or something good coming from something potentially bad. Mary had been invited to a wedding in Cana, along with Jesus and His disciples. Probably the worst thing that could happen at such an event was for the host to run out of food or drink. When the host came to Mary with the news that he had run out of wine, the stage was set for Jesus to perform His first miracle. And it happened because of Mary’s admonition: "Whatever He (Jesus) says to you, do it." (John 2:5) Because of her faith in His Word, the first of many redemptive miracles occurred in the ministry of Jesus.
Mary understood the concept of redemption. After all, she was chosen by God to play a key role in His plan of redemption. She must have marveled as she listened to the words of the prophet Isaiah, and realized that he was speaking about her: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” As she stood at the foot of the cross, watching her Son's tortured death, she knew that He was dying for her sins, as well as the sins of the whole world. No doubt Isaiah’s prophecy gave her solace in her hour of grief:
He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked; But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:3-11 NKJV)
2. God can use little, insignificant things for significant purposes.
A digit in a telephone number isn’t big, but what a big difference one digit can make when trying to reach a specific party. Little things like spark plugs, batteries, valves, and seals are seldom thought about until one malfunctions and your automotive wheels of progress grind to a halt. Little snowflakes create huge avalanches and little viruses can cause major diseases. I once heard Paul Harvey say that two cats and their offspring can produce a total of 17 million cats within nine years! A person who pays attention to the little details will avoid a lot of major problems in life.
On the other hand, most people don’t pay a lot of attention to the little details of life. And it is for this very reason that many people feel they are just another face in a crowd. Not worthless, but not significant either - just average, without much expectation of grandeur.
It’s not that average people don’t think they could become heroes or successful. It’s just that their talents haven’t been discovered yet, or other people get all the breaks, or they are never in the right place at the right time, or they just don’t have the right connections, and on and on the list goes. This tension between reality and what we dream about must have led Thoreau to write that the “mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”[2]
When I was in the 6th grade, I was enthralled with The Monkees (a ‘60’s rock group) and my little sister and I never missed their television show if we could help it. Their theme song contained these lyrics “Hey, hey we’re the Monkees, you never know where we’ll be found. So you better get ready, we might be coming to your town.”
That last line always bothered me. I saw it as kind of a cruel joke. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see them in person. I wore a stocking cap like Michael Nesmith and wanted to play a 12-string guitar like he did. But when they sang, “we might be coming to your town,” I was always profoundly disappointed. Even though I was young, I was smart enough to know that a popular group like The Monkees weren’t ever coming to my town. Nobody important ever came to a backwater town like Newberg, Oregon. The Monkees only went to places like New York City, Los Angeles, or Chicago. Even if they came to Portland or Seattle, it was a sure bet my parents wouldn’t take me there for that purpose. Though I now cherish my rural upbringing, I resented it then. It seemed to me like nothing exciting ever happened in my hometown.
One of the most significant Bible prophecies about the birth of Christ is about a small town. Micah 5:2 (written about 700 B.C.) states that Christ would be born in Bethlehem. "But you, Bethlehem, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2 NKJV) Have you ever felt insignificant, like a small number in a world full of billions of numbers, “little among the thousands?” The birth of Christ in Bethlehem illustrates the fact that God can use little, insignificant things for significant purposes.
The Old Testament book of Ruth is set in the region of Bethlehem (Ruth 1:1-2,19,22; 2:4; 4:11). Ruth chronicles how Bethlehem became the hometown of David and the place where he was anointed. (1 Sam. 16:1-13; 17:12,15). Perhaps you’ve never thought of some of the little details about Bethlehem that had significant consequences in biblical history. Here are a couple to think about:
Little words can leave lasting impressions: Ruth’s words to her mother-in-law Naomi may not have seemed significant at the time, but they have been remembered throughout history: "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” (Ruth 1:16 NKJV)
Little choices can have dramatic consequences: Ruth chose to go to Bethlehem with Naomi, and because she did, a drama ensued that reached from her day to ours. In Bethlehem, she met her husband Boaz. Their son was named Obed, and he became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. As a result of her little choice to accompany her mother-in-law to Bethlehem, she became the great-grandmother of King David, and her name is included in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).
Bethlehem, meaning “house of bread,” was a small village in the days of Ruth. It is not a large city today, lying approximately five miles southwest of Jerusalem. While it once had a significant Christian population, the town is now controlled by the Palestinian Authority and has an Islamic mayor. Poverty and war fill Bethlehem this December.
Because of the conflict in the region, no large crowds of pilgrims will arrive to celebrate Christmas 2008. In recent years, the few Christmas trees decorating the town have not contained lights or ornaments, but pictures of martyrs in the Islamic jihad[4].
Since Herod killed the children in the area around Bethlehem, the town has seen a lot of trouble. Over the centuries Bethlehem has been ruled by dozens of different governments and leaders, yet this small town’s significance is forever established in history: From here was born the One who would rule the world and reign over the universe forever and ever. All of which leads me to my final point:
3. God is always in control, even if it doesn’t seem like it to us.
We have an old adage, "the only things that are certain are death and taxes." That saying was true in Bethlehem when Jesus was born. An emperor's taxes caused Him to be born there, and an earthly king's decree ordered all babies to be killed. Through Divine intervention, He escaped. God was in control, even when it seemed like someone else was calling the shots.
When Jesus was born Augustus had been ruler of the Roman Empire for twenty-five years. He was the grandnephew of Julius Caesar and the first true emperor of the entire Roman Empire. After the death of Julius Caesar he defeated Brutus and Cassius in a battle at Philippi in 42 B.C. He defeated Antony & Cleopatra in 31 B.C. at the Battle of Actium, thus gaining control of the entire Empire at the age of 35. The Roman Senate changed his name from Octavian to Augustus (literally "Reverend" - an honorary title to indicate his power and dominion).
Augustus was influential in establishing the system of Roman roads - many of which exist to this day. He was responsible for establishing the concept of the Pax Romana - the Roman Peace. This emperor was able to do what no one had done for at least 200 years before him - brought peace. He reigned as Caesar for 41 years. Two words characterized his life and influence: glory and peace. Writer N.T. Wright says about him:
This man, this king, this absolute monarch, lifts his little finger in Rome, and about fifteen hundred miles away, in an obscure province, a young couple undertakes a hazardous journey, resulting in the birth of a child in a little town that just happens to be the one mentioned in the ancient Hebrew prophecy about the coming of the Messiah. And it is at this birth that the angels sing of glory and peace. Which is the reality, and which is the parody? [5]
Many Bible scholars speculate that Joseph still owned property in Bethlehem, therefore he was required to travel there for the census. The Bible Background Commentary says it was quite possible that Mary was also originally from Bethlehem and needed to return to that town. "Although tax laws in most of the empire required only the head of the household to appear, the province of Syria (then including Palestine) also taxed women."[6]
Herod (73 B.C.- 4 B.C.) had built a massive fortified palace nearby. In fact, it was the largest in the world at the time. The Herodium, like Masada, was one link in a chain of desert fortresses King Herod built during his reign, and was located 5 miles east of Bethlehem.
The circular protective wall had four circular watchtowers with 200 marble steps leading to the summit where there were rich royal apartments, providing Herod with security and beauty. Within the wall below were enclosed a palace, hot and cold Roman baths, a synagogue, and a banquet hall as big as a football stadium, all 2600 feet above sea level and 980 feet above the desert floor.
In addition to the mountaintop fortress, the Herodium complex, which covered more than 50 acres, originally included a large monumental palace and a huge football-field sized swimming pool surrounded by a luxuriant royal garden, both fed from distant aqueducts built at great expense. Distinct remains of a thousand-foot long hippodrome, or horse race track may be seen even today.
While Herod lived in unbelievable opulence, splendor and security, the real King, Jesus Christ, was born in a stable nearby. When I did or said something foolish as a youngster, I might be asked, “Were you born in a barn?” How ironic that the One who formed the universe, and breathed into man the breath of life, was willing to come to earth and literally be born in a barn!
Appearances can be very deceiving. Don’t despair. Even when things seem most chaotic, most confusing, and most difficult – God is still in control. He can be trusted, because He has a plan (Romans 8:28). He knows the end from the beginning and the beginning to the end because He is the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13).
The birth of the King - Jesus Christ - was not announced to King Herod, but to shepherds and wise men. Though He was only a baby, Herod feared him. He knew Jesus was the One who would be greater than all earthly kings. Thus, he ordered all male babies under the age of two in the region around Bethlehem to be slaughtered. This infanticide was only one of a multitude of atrocities committed by the tyrannical Herod.
Shortly after the birth of Jesus, Herod died in Jericho. The ancient Jewish historian Josephus describes Herod's funeral procession from Jericho to the Herodium where he was buried:
After this they betook themselves to prepare for the king's funeral; and Archelaus omitted nothing of magnificence therein, but brought out all the royal ornaments to augment the pomp of the deceased. There was a bier all of gold, embroidered with precious stones, and a purple bed of various contexture with the dead body upon it, covered with purple; and a diadem was put upon his head, and a crown of gold above it, and a sceptre in his right hand; and near to the bier were Herod's sons, and a multitude of his kindred; next to whom came his guards, and the regiment of the Thracians, the Germans also and Gauls, all outfitted as if they were going to war; but the rest of the army went foremost, armed and following their captains and officers in a regular manner; after whom, five hundred of his domestic servants and freedmen followed, with sweet spices in their hands; and the body was carried two hundred furlongs to Herodium, where he had given order to be buried. And this shall suffice for the conclusion of the life of Herod.[7]
With all his pomp, power, and splendor, Herod is dead and forgotten by most, but Jesus Christ still lives on. We celebrate His birth this December, not just as the Bethlehem baby, but also as the Ruler of the universe. His power is greater than any politician. His compassion is stronger than the hatred, evil, and bigotry of Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban. His wisdom transcends every philosophy known to man. His Gospel is more powerful than any religion. His forgiveness covers every sin known to mankind. And His love reaches out to every person on planet earth, including you and me.
APPLICATION :
· Even if your circumstances right now are difficult, how can God help you to make them redemptive?
· Thank God for the little blessings that come to your life this week.
· Jesus is the real gift of Christmas. If you have never accepted His gift of eternal life, why not do so today? (John 1:12; 3:16)
[1] http://www.bibleteachingnotes.com/ot/gen/gen03.asp
[2] Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) quoted from Walden, “Economy” (1854).
[3] http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2001/12/03/LatestNews/LatestNews.39273.html
[4] “Palestinians say Israel steals holiday joy” Jerusalem Post; Jerusalem; Nov 26, 2001; Reuters;
[5]"The Most Dangerous Baby" by N.T. Wright. Christianity Today, December 9, 1996, p. 35.
[6]Keener, Craig "The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament." Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1993, p. 193.
[7]Josephus, Antiquities Volume XVII, Chapter 6, p. 1-8; Wars I. Chapter 33, p.1-9.
Friday, November 21, 2008
God's Greatest Surprises: A Christmas Message
God’s Greatest Surprises
James 1:2-4 NLT & Selected Scriptures (c) 2008 Don Detrick
MAIN THOUGHT: God sometimes surprises us by concealing miraculous opportunities in unlikely people, unexpected places and unfavorable circumstances.
A beautifully wrapped gift, carefully tied with a ribbon and bow, symbolizes this season of the year for many. But you can’t always tell a gift by its package. I’ve received some beautifully wrapped gifts in my day and many of them turned out to be duds. On the other hand, some of the most wonderful and enduring gifts I’ve ever received didn’t come beautifully packaged.
If you’ve read the Purpose Driven Life, you’re familiar with the phrase, “transformed by trouble.” Sometimes God’s greatest surprises are opportunities He carefully conceals behind a façade of trouble. James wrote, “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” (James 1:2-4 NLT)
Someone once paraphrased this passage by saying, “We miss great opportunities because they often come cleverly disguised as problems.” Perhaps a more generalized anecdote would be this rendition: “We miss great opportunities because they often come cleverly disguised.”
The truth is, opportunities are often missed not because they appear to be problems, but because they appear to be ordinary. Sometimes we miss opportunities because they swiftly and unexpectedly appear in unforeseen places so we aren’t prepared to seize the moment. And at still other times we throw away opportunities because we fail to recognize the potential value in them.
Aunt Eddie Ogan, is a 70-something lady from Colville who has given so much to missions and penned the story, “The Rich Family In Our Church.” In a letter a few years ago she wrote:
By now you all know the Yankees went to the World Series and lost. Because I loved Babe Ruth so much as I was growing up, I always want the Yankees to win. When I was growing up in the 30’s and 40’s you got baseball cards in your bubble gum. I wanted the Babe Ruth cards. Girls never saved them, but everyone knew I was a tomboy so when girls didn’t want their cards, I’d take them. Then I’d trade with the boys, several cards I didn’t want for one Babe Ruth. That was all I wanted, Babe Ruth cards. I always kept them clean and neat. They were my prized possession. When I went to work for the telephone company at age 18, I really started to collect, even buying some.
In 1952 I got married. I knew I was too old to be collecting baseball cards, but I kept my 64 Babe Ruth cards. I never told people about them, because I was embarrassed to be a married woman who had a collection of Babe Ruth cards. At the end of November 1953, my husband was returning from 20 months in the service so I was cleaning out the bedroom at home where I had been living with my parents. My stepfather had the burn barrel going and I burned a lot of old stuff. I was ready to leave for my new apartment with my husband. The only thing left was my precious box of Babe Ruth cards. I opened the box and looked at each card one last time. Then I straightened my shoulders and walked out to the burn barrel and threw in the box. I was ready to enter my new life as a full-fledged adult.
A few years ago when one of our foster sons collected baseball cards, I was surprised to learn from a Beckett book what vintage baseball cards were worth. I almost had a heart attack when I read the current value of the Babe Ruth cards I had burned in that burn barrel. I thought about what I could have done for missions with all that money and decided the best thing to do was just try to forget!
We’d all love to be able to find a knickknack on a shelf at home that turned out to be worth a million dollars. The Antiques Roadshow is a very popular television show for the simple reason that we are amazed to see ordinary people bring in trinkets or family heirlooms and discover they are worth a fortune. We may have overlooked a vast resource of potential treasure in our own closet, attic, garage or backyard because it wasn’t packaged in a conventional way.
We often judge by outward appearance, and our judgment is superficial. The Bible says, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV) You would be surprised if you could see the heart of every person and really get to the heart of every matter. Let’s take a look at a few of the ways God surprises us.
1. God surprises us by using unlikely people to fulfill His purposes.
It takes so little to be above average. A study showed that the average American spends $240 a month eating out at fast food restaurants. The same study showed an average American spends only $5 a month helping the needy.[1] If you give more than $5 a month to missions or some outreach to help others, you are above average. Yet we often think of ourselves as unlikely candidates to accomplish great things. The Bible record tells us otherwise.
It shouldn’t surprise us that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things and unlikely people to fulfill His purposes. For example:
· God used a farmer with no maritime experience to build the greatest floating vessel ever constructed and lead a voyage to save the human race. (Noah – Hebrews 11:7)
· God used childless senior citizens, who were too old to qualify for life insurance policies at any price, to bring forth a baby boy named Isaac, who would be a patriarch of God’s chosen people. (Abraham and Sarah – Hebrews 11:8-12)
· God used a man with a speech impediment to be His spokesman and debate the undisputed leader of the most powerful nation on earth at the time. (Moses – Exodus 4:10)
· God used a young shepherd boy with no military experience to defeat the greatest military giant Israel had ever faced. (David and Goliath – 1 Samuel 17)
· And God used a poor young girl from an obscure village to give birth to His only begotten Son.
In the Roman world at the time of Christ, leaders gave themselves grandiose titles to try and elevate themselves to godlike status. Caesar Augustus ruled the world when Jesus was born. He died August 19, A.D. 14 and a description of his funeral gives some indication of his power and wealth:
On a couch of ivory and gold, with purple and gold coverings, lay a wax image of the emperor in triumphal garb; his body was in a coffin underneath. Senators carried the couch and coffin to the Forum; behind it came other images of him and of his ancestors and relatives. After various eulogies and ceremonies, his body was carried to the Campus Martius and placed on a pyre. Around it marched all the Roman priests; then came all the equestrians, with cavalry and the Praetorian Guard, throwing on the pyre their own military decorations. Centurions lighted the pyre with torches, and as the corpse and wax image were consumed an eagle flew upward from the pyre to carry the emperor’s soul to heaven. The senator Numerius Atticus took oath that he had seen the emperor ascending to heaven, for which the emperor’s widow, Livia, paid him a million sesterces.[2]
Here’s my point: As self-appointed “king of the world,” Caesar Augustus would never have considered marrying anyone other than a blueblood royal with a pedigree longer than her name. In fact, his own father (by adoption), Julius Caesar, had made Cleopatra Queen of Egypt. The world expected pomp and circumstance to surround the birth, life and death of a royal figure.
After the death of Julius Caesar, Augustus defeated Brutus and Cassius in a battle at Philippi in 42 B.C. He defeated Antony & Cleopatra in 31 B.C. at the Battle of Actium, thus gaining control of the entire Empire at the age of 35. The Roman Senate changed his name from Octavian to Augustus (literally "Reverend" - an honorary title to indicate his power and dominion).
Now here’s the surprise: the real King of Kings and Lord of Lords was actually born during the reign of Caesar Augustus, but it wasn’t Caesar’s son. And He wasn’t born to a Cleopatra or a Livia.
He was born to Mary, an impoverished peasant girl living in a backwater town. God chose Mary not because of her outward beauty, wealth, or intelligence, but because of the beauty in her heart. The Bible says,
The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.” (Luke 1:28-30 NIV)
Mary’s heart was right with God and she was convinced of God's mighty power. Her faith led her to believe that He was able to do anything. And because of her faith, she was a willing participant in God's plan for eternal salvation. In response to the angel's message (Luke 1:37 NKJV), Mary replied, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." (Luke 1:38 NKJV)
2. God surprises us by using unexpected places as settings for miraculous events.
We tend to commemorate celebrity appearances and enshrine memorials of their visits. The McKinley Stump in Chehalis, WA is such an example. A Google search on the Internet for “Chehalis McKinley stump,” brought forth this information from the Travelcascadia[3] website: “The McKinley Stump holds claim to the origin of a "stump speech" when President McKinley stood on the historic stump to deliver a speech in 1903.”
Actually, that would have been quite a fete considering the fact that President McKinley was assassinated in 1901, two years earlier. Actually, McKinley had been scheduled to make an appearance in Chehalis and a huge old growth stump was brought into town from the woods to serve as a platform for the occasion. It was so large, they had to widen the road to bring it into town.
And the truth is, it was pretty common for politicians in the old days to stand on a stump while pounding the podium in order to be noticed and get the crowd’s attention. “Stumping” became a term to describe political campaigning way before the 20th century.
After McKinley’s assassination, President Teddy Roosevelt did make an appearance in Chehalis and addressed 10,000 people from the stump in 1903. So why it isn’t called the Roosevelt stump? Probably because McKinley took on larger-than-life status after his assassination, thus in those days “McKinley” sounded a lot more magnificent than “Roosevelt.” Just as we might think “Kennedy” conveys more prestige than “Johnson.”
Whether we like it or not, a sleepy little town like Chehalis isn’t exactly on the map of places you’d be most likely to spot a celebrity. After all, the stump was originally provided for McKinley. Thus, to enhance the popular perception of the day, the residents of Chehalis opted for the more glorious “McKinley stump” than the mundane title, “Roosevelt Stump.”
In the days of Caesar Augustus, Bethlehem wasn’t exactly on the map of places frequented by the rich and famous, either. True, Herod had built a huge fortress nearby, but he and his entourage would never have considered partying in the town.
Bethlehem was known as the “house of bread” – an impoverished community inhabited by shepherds and farmers and working poor. The Old Testament book of Ruth is set in the region of Bethlehem (Ruth 1:1-2,19,22; 2:4; 4:11). Ruth chronicles how Bethlehem became the hometown of David and the place where he was anointed. (1 Sam. 16:1-13; 17:12,15).
One of the most significant Bible prophecies about the birth of Christ concerns Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 (written about 700 B.C.) states that Christ would be born there. "But you, Bethlehem, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2 NKJV) The birth of Christ in Bethlehem illustrates the fact that God can use unexpected places as settings for miraculous events.
Jesus did not travel to exotic or metropolitan places to perform miracles. He didn’t live in a gated community surrounded by security guards. He went wherever people were and performed miracles wherever He found people in need. The Gadarene demoniac (Mark 5) was healed near a graveyard way off the beaten path. But He healed blind Bartimaeus as he begged by the roadside (Mark 10:46). Jesus wants to do miracles for us today, wherever we live or wherever we are.
3. God surprises us by using unfavorable circumstances to show forth His mighty power.
An old song says, “If I never had a problem, I’d never know that God could solve them.” Not only does God remind us that our problems are opportunities for a joyful response, but He seems to rejoice in helping us solve our problems. He has lots of experience. The birth of Jesus Christ was fraught with problems. Consider just a few:
· His earthly parents were poor.
· His mother was forced to make a long journey on foot just before His birth.
· Once at their destination, there were inadequate facilities available for lodging, not to mention the birth of a child.
· He was born with the stigma of illegitimacy.
· The regional government threatened the baby’s life.
· The parents were forced to flee to another country to protect the life of the child.
It’s almost as if God was saying, “Surprise! You expect My Son to be born in a palace, surrounded by princes and princesses, but I want Him to be born in a stable – the place where lambs are born.” Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God (John 1:29), was born in a stable.
When I did or said something foolish as a youngster, I might be asked, “Were you born in a barn?” How ironic that the One who formed the universe, and breathed into man the breath of life, was willing to come to earth and literally be born in a barn!
The apostle Paul wrote, “I was chosen to explain to everyone this plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. God's purpose was to show His wisdom in all its rich variety to all the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. They will see this when Jews and Gentiles are joined together in His church. This was His plan from all eternity, and it has now been carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:9-11 NLT)
From our side of history, with a clear understanding of Bible prophecy and Scripture, the birth of Christ makes perfect sense. After all, we know the rest of the story. But what if we were transported back in time? And what if we didn’t know the rest of the story? Wouldn’t it appear that things were totally out of control?
This is an important lesson for us. Unfavorable circumstances can be fertile ground for planting seeds of faith. And those seeds can sprout into a harvest of miracles so glorious that you almost forget the planting process.
Don’t despair, because that is what all of life is: a process. Even when things seem most chaotic, most confusing, and most difficult – God is still working and still in control. He can be trusted, because He has a plan (Romans 8:28). He knows the end from the beginning and the beginning to the end because He is the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13). God often surprises us by using unfavorable circumstances to display His mighty power. Are you ready for a surprise?
Some Suggestions:
· As you send out or receive Christmas cards next month, pray for the recipient or sender.
· Even if your circumstances right now are difficult, how could God surprise you with a miracle?
· If you have children at home, help them memorize Luke 2:1-14, and encourage them to do so before Christmas.
· Memorize Colossians 4:5, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” (NIV)
[1] “Go Figure,” Christianity Today, December 2003, p. 19. Source: University of Rochester, Mobile Register.
[2] Augustus To Constantine by Robert M. Grant. Barnes & Noble, 1996, p. 5.
[3] http://www.travelcascadia.com/chehalis/
James 1:2-4 NLT & Selected Scriptures (c) 2008 Don Detrick
MAIN THOUGHT: God sometimes surprises us by concealing miraculous opportunities in unlikely people, unexpected places and unfavorable circumstances.
A beautifully wrapped gift, carefully tied with a ribbon and bow, symbolizes this season of the year for many. But you can’t always tell a gift by its package. I’ve received some beautifully wrapped gifts in my day and many of them turned out to be duds. On the other hand, some of the most wonderful and enduring gifts I’ve ever received didn’t come beautifully packaged.
If you’ve read the Purpose Driven Life, you’re familiar with the phrase, “transformed by trouble.” Sometimes God’s greatest surprises are opportunities He carefully conceals behind a façade of trouble. James wrote, “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” (James 1:2-4 NLT)
Someone once paraphrased this passage by saying, “We miss great opportunities because they often come cleverly disguised as problems.” Perhaps a more generalized anecdote would be this rendition: “We miss great opportunities because they often come cleverly disguised.”
The truth is, opportunities are often missed not because they appear to be problems, but because they appear to be ordinary. Sometimes we miss opportunities because they swiftly and unexpectedly appear in unforeseen places so we aren’t prepared to seize the moment. And at still other times we throw away opportunities because we fail to recognize the potential value in them.
Aunt Eddie Ogan, is a 70-something lady from Colville who has given so much to missions and penned the story, “The Rich Family In Our Church.” In a letter a few years ago she wrote:
By now you all know the Yankees went to the World Series and lost. Because I loved Babe Ruth so much as I was growing up, I always want the Yankees to win. When I was growing up in the 30’s and 40’s you got baseball cards in your bubble gum. I wanted the Babe Ruth cards. Girls never saved them, but everyone knew I was a tomboy so when girls didn’t want their cards, I’d take them. Then I’d trade with the boys, several cards I didn’t want for one Babe Ruth. That was all I wanted, Babe Ruth cards. I always kept them clean and neat. They were my prized possession. When I went to work for the telephone company at age 18, I really started to collect, even buying some.
In 1952 I got married. I knew I was too old to be collecting baseball cards, but I kept my 64 Babe Ruth cards. I never told people about them, because I was embarrassed to be a married woman who had a collection of Babe Ruth cards. At the end of November 1953, my husband was returning from 20 months in the service so I was cleaning out the bedroom at home where I had been living with my parents. My stepfather had the burn barrel going and I burned a lot of old stuff. I was ready to leave for my new apartment with my husband. The only thing left was my precious box of Babe Ruth cards. I opened the box and looked at each card one last time. Then I straightened my shoulders and walked out to the burn barrel and threw in the box. I was ready to enter my new life as a full-fledged adult.
A few years ago when one of our foster sons collected baseball cards, I was surprised to learn from a Beckett book what vintage baseball cards were worth. I almost had a heart attack when I read the current value of the Babe Ruth cards I had burned in that burn barrel. I thought about what I could have done for missions with all that money and decided the best thing to do was just try to forget!
We’d all love to be able to find a knickknack on a shelf at home that turned out to be worth a million dollars. The Antiques Roadshow is a very popular television show for the simple reason that we are amazed to see ordinary people bring in trinkets or family heirlooms and discover they are worth a fortune. We may have overlooked a vast resource of potential treasure in our own closet, attic, garage or backyard because it wasn’t packaged in a conventional way.
We often judge by outward appearance, and our judgment is superficial. The Bible says, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV) You would be surprised if you could see the heart of every person and really get to the heart of every matter. Let’s take a look at a few of the ways God surprises us.
1. God surprises us by using unlikely people to fulfill His purposes.
It takes so little to be above average. A study showed that the average American spends $240 a month eating out at fast food restaurants. The same study showed an average American spends only $5 a month helping the needy.[1] If you give more than $5 a month to missions or some outreach to help others, you are above average. Yet we often think of ourselves as unlikely candidates to accomplish great things. The Bible record tells us otherwise.
It shouldn’t surprise us that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things and unlikely people to fulfill His purposes. For example:
· God used a farmer with no maritime experience to build the greatest floating vessel ever constructed and lead a voyage to save the human race. (Noah – Hebrews 11:7)
· God used childless senior citizens, who were too old to qualify for life insurance policies at any price, to bring forth a baby boy named Isaac, who would be a patriarch of God’s chosen people. (Abraham and Sarah – Hebrews 11:8-12)
· God used a man with a speech impediment to be His spokesman and debate the undisputed leader of the most powerful nation on earth at the time. (Moses – Exodus 4:10)
· God used a young shepherd boy with no military experience to defeat the greatest military giant Israel had ever faced. (David and Goliath – 1 Samuel 17)
· And God used a poor young girl from an obscure village to give birth to His only begotten Son.
In the Roman world at the time of Christ, leaders gave themselves grandiose titles to try and elevate themselves to godlike status. Caesar Augustus ruled the world when Jesus was born. He died August 19, A.D. 14 and a description of his funeral gives some indication of his power and wealth:
On a couch of ivory and gold, with purple and gold coverings, lay a wax image of the emperor in triumphal garb; his body was in a coffin underneath. Senators carried the couch and coffin to the Forum; behind it came other images of him and of his ancestors and relatives. After various eulogies and ceremonies, his body was carried to the Campus Martius and placed on a pyre. Around it marched all the Roman priests; then came all the equestrians, with cavalry and the Praetorian Guard, throwing on the pyre their own military decorations. Centurions lighted the pyre with torches, and as the corpse and wax image were consumed an eagle flew upward from the pyre to carry the emperor’s soul to heaven. The senator Numerius Atticus took oath that he had seen the emperor ascending to heaven, for which the emperor’s widow, Livia, paid him a million sesterces.[2]
Here’s my point: As self-appointed “king of the world,” Caesar Augustus would never have considered marrying anyone other than a blueblood royal with a pedigree longer than her name. In fact, his own father (by adoption), Julius Caesar, had made Cleopatra Queen of Egypt. The world expected pomp and circumstance to surround the birth, life and death of a royal figure.
After the death of Julius Caesar, Augustus defeated Brutus and Cassius in a battle at Philippi in 42 B.C. He defeated Antony & Cleopatra in 31 B.C. at the Battle of Actium, thus gaining control of the entire Empire at the age of 35. The Roman Senate changed his name from Octavian to Augustus (literally "Reverend" - an honorary title to indicate his power and dominion).
Now here’s the surprise: the real King of Kings and Lord of Lords was actually born during the reign of Caesar Augustus, but it wasn’t Caesar’s son. And He wasn’t born to a Cleopatra or a Livia.
He was born to Mary, an impoverished peasant girl living in a backwater town. God chose Mary not because of her outward beauty, wealth, or intelligence, but because of the beauty in her heart. The Bible says,
The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.” (Luke 1:28-30 NIV)
Mary’s heart was right with God and she was convinced of God's mighty power. Her faith led her to believe that He was able to do anything. And because of her faith, she was a willing participant in God's plan for eternal salvation. In response to the angel's message (Luke 1:37 NKJV), Mary replied, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." (Luke 1:38 NKJV)
2. God surprises us by using unexpected places as settings for miraculous events.
We tend to commemorate celebrity appearances and enshrine memorials of their visits. The McKinley Stump in Chehalis, WA is such an example. A Google search on the Internet for “Chehalis McKinley stump,” brought forth this information from the Travelcascadia[3] website: “The McKinley Stump holds claim to the origin of a "stump speech" when President McKinley stood on the historic stump to deliver a speech in 1903.”
Actually, that would have been quite a fete considering the fact that President McKinley was assassinated in 1901, two years earlier. Actually, McKinley had been scheduled to make an appearance in Chehalis and a huge old growth stump was brought into town from the woods to serve as a platform for the occasion. It was so large, they had to widen the road to bring it into town.
And the truth is, it was pretty common for politicians in the old days to stand on a stump while pounding the podium in order to be noticed and get the crowd’s attention. “Stumping” became a term to describe political campaigning way before the 20th century.
After McKinley’s assassination, President Teddy Roosevelt did make an appearance in Chehalis and addressed 10,000 people from the stump in 1903. So why it isn’t called the Roosevelt stump? Probably because McKinley took on larger-than-life status after his assassination, thus in those days “McKinley” sounded a lot more magnificent than “Roosevelt.” Just as we might think “Kennedy” conveys more prestige than “Johnson.”
Whether we like it or not, a sleepy little town like Chehalis isn’t exactly on the map of places you’d be most likely to spot a celebrity. After all, the stump was originally provided for McKinley. Thus, to enhance the popular perception of the day, the residents of Chehalis opted for the more glorious “McKinley stump” than the mundane title, “Roosevelt Stump.”
In the days of Caesar Augustus, Bethlehem wasn’t exactly on the map of places frequented by the rich and famous, either. True, Herod had built a huge fortress nearby, but he and his entourage would never have considered partying in the town.
Bethlehem was known as the “house of bread” – an impoverished community inhabited by shepherds and farmers and working poor. The Old Testament book of Ruth is set in the region of Bethlehem (Ruth 1:1-2,19,22; 2:4; 4:11). Ruth chronicles how Bethlehem became the hometown of David and the place where he was anointed. (1 Sam. 16:1-13; 17:12,15).
One of the most significant Bible prophecies about the birth of Christ concerns Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 (written about 700 B.C.) states that Christ would be born there. "But you, Bethlehem, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2 NKJV) The birth of Christ in Bethlehem illustrates the fact that God can use unexpected places as settings for miraculous events.
Jesus did not travel to exotic or metropolitan places to perform miracles. He didn’t live in a gated community surrounded by security guards. He went wherever people were and performed miracles wherever He found people in need. The Gadarene demoniac (Mark 5) was healed near a graveyard way off the beaten path. But He healed blind Bartimaeus as he begged by the roadside (Mark 10:46). Jesus wants to do miracles for us today, wherever we live or wherever we are.
3. God surprises us by using unfavorable circumstances to show forth His mighty power.
An old song says, “If I never had a problem, I’d never know that God could solve them.” Not only does God remind us that our problems are opportunities for a joyful response, but He seems to rejoice in helping us solve our problems. He has lots of experience. The birth of Jesus Christ was fraught with problems. Consider just a few:
· His earthly parents were poor.
· His mother was forced to make a long journey on foot just before His birth.
· Once at their destination, there were inadequate facilities available for lodging, not to mention the birth of a child.
· He was born with the stigma of illegitimacy.
· The regional government threatened the baby’s life.
· The parents were forced to flee to another country to protect the life of the child.
It’s almost as if God was saying, “Surprise! You expect My Son to be born in a palace, surrounded by princes and princesses, but I want Him to be born in a stable – the place where lambs are born.” Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God (John 1:29), was born in a stable.
When I did or said something foolish as a youngster, I might be asked, “Were you born in a barn?” How ironic that the One who formed the universe, and breathed into man the breath of life, was willing to come to earth and literally be born in a barn!
The apostle Paul wrote, “I was chosen to explain to everyone this plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. God's purpose was to show His wisdom in all its rich variety to all the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. They will see this when Jews and Gentiles are joined together in His church. This was His plan from all eternity, and it has now been carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:9-11 NLT)
From our side of history, with a clear understanding of Bible prophecy and Scripture, the birth of Christ makes perfect sense. After all, we know the rest of the story. But what if we were transported back in time? And what if we didn’t know the rest of the story? Wouldn’t it appear that things were totally out of control?
This is an important lesson for us. Unfavorable circumstances can be fertile ground for planting seeds of faith. And those seeds can sprout into a harvest of miracles so glorious that you almost forget the planting process.
Don’t despair, because that is what all of life is: a process. Even when things seem most chaotic, most confusing, and most difficult – God is still working and still in control. He can be trusted, because He has a plan (Romans 8:28). He knows the end from the beginning and the beginning to the end because He is the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13). God often surprises us by using unfavorable circumstances to display His mighty power. Are you ready for a surprise?
Some Suggestions:
· As you send out or receive Christmas cards next month, pray for the recipient or sender.
· Even if your circumstances right now are difficult, how could God surprise you with a miracle?
· If you have children at home, help them memorize Luke 2:1-14, and encourage them to do so before Christmas.
· Memorize Colossians 4:5, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” (NIV)
[1] “Go Figure,” Christianity Today, December 2003, p. 19. Source: University of Rochester, Mobile Register.
[2] Augustus To Constantine by Robert M. Grant. Barnes & Noble, 1996, p. 5.
[3] http://www.travelcascadia.com/chehalis/
Monday, November 10, 2008
When People Throw Stones - from Enrichment Journal
When People Throw Stones:
Protecting Your Marriage and Family
By Don and Jodi Detrick
Sunday, December 9, 2007, dawned cold and crisp, like most December mornings in Colorado. But unlike most December Sundays, shots rang out as a gunman aimed at worshipers leaving the morning service at New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Frightened parishioners, gripped with terror, suddenly turned from lunch plans and fellowship to survival tactics and barricades. As the drama ensued, the gunman took two young lives and wounded three others. A female security guard bravely intervened to end the massacre by wounding the shooter, who then took his own life.
Earlier in the day, the same gunman unleashed a torrent of bullets in a dormitory at Faith Bible Chapel in nearby Arvada, killing two Youth With a Mission students and wounding two others. What had motivated Matthew Murray to such violence?
Murray’s parents had home schooled him and raised him in a Christian atmosphere. A few years earlier, nevertheless, Youth With a Mission had dismissed 24-year old Murray. Embittered, he had recently sent hate mail to the Arvada campus. For Murray, the wounds ran deep. His perceived offenses and unresolved pain turned to resentment, bitterness, hatred, rage, and ultimately the revenge he unbridled against innocent victims on that cold December Sunday.
In the wake of the New Life shootings, many churches are taking another look at security and evaluating their plans and procedures regarding the health and safety of their parishioners. We call this risk management. Perceptive churches have been doing this for years. Armed guards may seem an extreme measure, but how does one determine the importance of security, particularly when children are in the sanctuary — a place that is considered safe from harm and intruders?
Fortunately, tragic events such as the New Life shootings tend to be an anomaly, rather than a regular Sunday occurrence. Most people do not fire bullets in church. But many do throw stones — but not the kind that might shatter stained glass windows. Instead, the stones they throw shatter emotions, hearts, dreams, and hopeful perspectives. These stones can hurt. Ask any pastor who is nursing wounds he received from the verbal ambush of an unhappy parishioner or board member.
My wife and I have been there, too. After pastoring for nearly 30 years in small, medium, and large churches — while raising three children — we have had experience and education in triage while staffing our own first aid stations. Since serving as a district official for the past few years, I frequently help pastors and their families express angst and maintain their balance while recovering from stonings at the hands of those they serve.
My wife and I believe in the importance of risk management to protect our marriage and children from those who would intentionally or even inadvertently cause them emotional harm. How many adult children of pastors loathe the church and are far from God because no one protected their dignity and shielded them from assaults in church while they were growing up?
How many ministerial marriages that seemed made in heaven ended because conflicts in the church disrupted and eventually destroyed family life? While you cannot hire security guards or build a fence to protect your marriage and family, consider these suggestions.
You can read the rest of this post at:
http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/200901/200901_070_ThrowStone.cfm
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Divine Destiny
The tissue of the life to be,
We weave with colors all our own.
And in the field of destiny,
We reap as we have sown.
~ John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892)
Without a sense of purpose or destiny people who possess tremendous potential often flounder. For Christians, discovering our gifts and calling should be a priority pursued with careful, prayerful thought and preparation. 2 Peter 1:10 says, “. . .my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.” (NIV)
A person can begin the process of finding his or her destiny at any point in life. It is never too late, as we learned from the late George Dawson, an African-American whose grandparents had been slaves. George started working full time as an 8 year old and never had a chance to attend school. He didn’t learn to read until he was 98 years old. For the next five years, he got up nearly every day to attend remedial education classes. He continued to learn until his death at age 103 in 2001. He said, "Every morning I get up and I wonder what I might learn that day. You just never know."[1]
Rather than waiting until you are 100 years old, it is far better to start early in your pursuit of God’s purposes. When a young person seeks and finds God’s will, he or she has a lifetime to fulfill God-given dreams.
When Jesus looks at a man, woman, boy or girl, He sees not only who that person is, He sees who they can become. He sees not only the liabilities in a person; He also sees the possibilities.
Once someone came upon Michelangelo chiseling away on a huge, shapeless piece of rock. When asked what he was doing, the sculptor replied, "I am releasing the angel imprisoned in this marble."
There is potential for greatness in each of us. In fact, it is our Divine destiny. We must give control of our hopes and dreams to the Master Sculptor, Jesus Christ. When we do, His strength and power transforms us to release the Master’s greatness through us.
A. B Simpson wrote, “God is preparing His heroes; and when the opportunity comes, He can fit them into their places in a moment, and the world will wonder where they came from.”
[1] REMEMBERING GEORGE DAWSON1898 - 2001 at http://www.readin.dcccd.edu/dawson/dawson.htm
We weave with colors all our own.
And in the field of destiny,
We reap as we have sown.
~ John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892)
Without a sense of purpose or destiny people who possess tremendous potential often flounder. For Christians, discovering our gifts and calling should be a priority pursued with careful, prayerful thought and preparation. 2 Peter 1:10 says, “. . .my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.” (NIV)
A person can begin the process of finding his or her destiny at any point in life. It is never too late, as we learned from the late George Dawson, an African-American whose grandparents had been slaves. George started working full time as an 8 year old and never had a chance to attend school. He didn’t learn to read until he was 98 years old. For the next five years, he got up nearly every day to attend remedial education classes. He continued to learn until his death at age 103 in 2001. He said, "Every morning I get up and I wonder what I might learn that day. You just never know."[1]
Rather than waiting until you are 100 years old, it is far better to start early in your pursuit of God’s purposes. When a young person seeks and finds God’s will, he or she has a lifetime to fulfill God-given dreams.
When Jesus looks at a man, woman, boy or girl, He sees not only who that person is, He sees who they can become. He sees not only the liabilities in a person; He also sees the possibilities.
Once someone came upon Michelangelo chiseling away on a huge, shapeless piece of rock. When asked what he was doing, the sculptor replied, "I am releasing the angel imprisoned in this marble."
There is potential for greatness in each of us. In fact, it is our Divine destiny. We must give control of our hopes and dreams to the Master Sculptor, Jesus Christ. When we do, His strength and power transforms us to release the Master’s greatness through us.
A. B Simpson wrote, “God is preparing His heroes; and when the opportunity comes, He can fit them into their places in a moment, and the world will wonder where they came from.”
[1] REMEMBERING GEORGE DAWSON1898 - 2001 at http://www.readin.dcccd.edu/dawson/dawson.htm
Friday, November 7, 2008
Pleasure and Pain
The older I get, the more aware I become that life brings with it a balance of joys and sorrows, pleasure and pain. With anxiety comes hope—so grows our faith. And every time I discover an answer, I also discover another question. But of one thing I am certain: Whatever happens, God is still in control and He will see us through! I base that statement on both the promises of the Bible and my own personal experience.
Paul wrote 2 Corinthians as a defense of his ministry and apostleship. Even after coming to Christ, his was not an easy life. He explained to the Corinthian believers:
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NIV)
Do you catch the drama and trauma Paul is describing here? He was under stress and pressure – so much so that the New Living Translation says, “We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it.” (2 Corinthians 1:8b NLT)
Have you gone through hard times? Then I suggest you read Paul’s description of his perils in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30. He was shipwrecked, beaten and jailed (among other things) for his faith in Christ. While your suffering may be very real, reading about Paul’s problems can help put your pain in perspective.
You can make it through difficult experiences the same way Paul did. He trusted in God’s faithful provision to be in control and see him through:
(God) Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us. . .. (2 Corinthians 2:10 NKJV)
Do you notice how Paul covers all the bases here, past present and future? God always has been, is, and always will be in control. He will see you through.
It is hard to imagine, but six years ago this month, my Dad went to be with the Lord. Back then, while waiting near my Dad’s bedside we heard the joyful sounds of children just outside his window. You see, the nursing home was located right next to a day care center. Just a few feet away from where my dad was struggling to take his final breaths, children were blissfully playing.
Dad was about to leave behind his worn out 86-year-old body and enter into the joys of eternal life. Several times he said, “I’m crossing over. It’s my time and I’m ready to go.”
And several times I asked, “Dad, are you in pain?”
“Not at all,” he replied. I think the anticipation of heaven’s pleasure was greater than the
pain of death.
It reminded me that life is full of both pleasure and pain. And we can’t truly appreciate one without the other. It’s kind of like our experience of leaving behind yesterday and welcoming today. Whatever it holds, God is in control and He will see us through!
Paul wrote 2 Corinthians as a defense of his ministry and apostleship. Even after coming to Christ, his was not an easy life. He explained to the Corinthian believers:
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NIV)
Do you catch the drama and trauma Paul is describing here? He was under stress and pressure – so much so that the New Living Translation says, “We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it.” (2 Corinthians 1:8b NLT)
Have you gone through hard times? Then I suggest you read Paul’s description of his perils in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30. He was shipwrecked, beaten and jailed (among other things) for his faith in Christ. While your suffering may be very real, reading about Paul’s problems can help put your pain in perspective.
You can make it through difficult experiences the same way Paul did. He trusted in God’s faithful provision to be in control and see him through:
(God) Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us. . .. (2 Corinthians 2:10 NKJV)
Do you notice how Paul covers all the bases here, past present and future? God always has been, is, and always will be in control. He will see you through.
It is hard to imagine, but six years ago this month, my Dad went to be with the Lord. Back then, while waiting near my Dad’s bedside we heard the joyful sounds of children just outside his window. You see, the nursing home was located right next to a day care center. Just a few feet away from where my dad was struggling to take his final breaths, children were blissfully playing.
Dad was about to leave behind his worn out 86-year-old body and enter into the joys of eternal life. Several times he said, “I’m crossing over. It’s my time and I’m ready to go.”
And several times I asked, “Dad, are you in pain?”
“Not at all,” he replied. I think the anticipation of heaven’s pleasure was greater than the
pain of death.
It reminded me that life is full of both pleasure and pain. And we can’t truly appreciate one without the other. It’s kind of like our experience of leaving behind yesterday and welcoming today. Whatever it holds, God is in control and He will see us through!
Sacred Places or Religious Spaces?
Last year an issue of U.S. News & World Report featured a cover photo of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro along with a feature story titled, “Sacred Places.” The accompanying article states, “Sacred places range from entire cities to that special room in your home, and can be man-made or part of nature. Often associated with saints or holy figures, they are places that draw pilgrims—sanctified, in some cases, by great churches, mosques, temples, or shrines.”[1] One thing is evident from the article: most sacred places so designated are monuments to, and relics of, the past. Few, if any, would be considered dynamic organizations making a positive societal impact in the current era.
In contrast, I am aware of many churches that are making a difference in society and a positive influence in our culture. This is not the result of random selection. Those influential sacred places are more about people than geography, and have arrived at this opportune moment in history because of intentional choices made in the past to form a culture or ethos of influence. For them, “What would Jesus do?” is more than an ephemeral slogan, it is an incarnational mandate.
The challenge for Christian denominations in the twenty first century lies in our ability to maintain our alignment in a day when many are questioning the value or role of denominational affiliation—or the need for stick and brick institutions at all for that matter. It is no secret that mainline Protestant denominations and many evangelical denominations are suffering from decline and struggling for identity. In contrast, many of the fastest growing and most influential churches in postmodern America have no traditional denominational affiliation. In my own Seattle backyard, Mars Hill Church, Overlake Christian Church, Westminster Chapel, and The City Church serve as prime examples.
In his recent work on denominational structures, George Bullard addresses the post-denominational era and suggests that perhaps what is really taking place is a time of denominational transformation as opposed to the death of denominations. He cites the growth of ministry networks, and how new denominational forms or associations are growing in the number of congregations and total membership. He states, “Real denominations are genuine, authentic, exceptional, positive, essential, and incarnational—to name a few characteristics. They are denominations who care more about making kingdom progress than the thriving of the denomination as an institutional presence.”[2]
I can speak on behalf of the Northwest Ministry Network and affirm that we are in a time of great transition. While we have already made many changes from a hierarchical structure to a more collaborative leadership model, we continue to change as we embrace the values of a learning organization. We view ourselves as more of a resource center than a command and control center. Executing this vision is not as simple as it sounds. The pathway is often fraught with tension as we attempt to fulfill our vision of “strengthening and developing empowered leaders and churches.” If we are able to leverage that tension in the proper way, we can stay in tune with the Spirit’s leading with more harmony than discord.
The fact is, some of our churches and ministers don’t particularly feel a need to be strengthened, developed, or empowered by us, particularly those who place a great deal of value and security in the past and in the way things have always been done. They confuse theology with praxis, substance with style, and view any change from the status quo with suspicion. It is not difficult to understand the sense of security felt by those who have retreated into their sanctuaries of tradition, where change is obscured by the comforting patina of familiarity. Nevertheless, leaders who would train transformational leaders recognize the comfort of living in nostalgic niches comes with a price. It must be exchanged for irrelevance in the present and extinction in the future. To me, that doesn’t seem like a very good exchange.
Simply put, our world is changing. And the implications of our changing world will greatly impact our religious institutions—particularly our colleges and universities, and the denominational structures that birthed and support them. Unless we in the Assemblies of God are willing to work together with our institutions of higher learning to engage the culture, while embracing our values and purposes, we will quickly lose sight of our mission and lose relevance in the world. If we fail in this task, we will experience decline and waning influence as both the church and the university founder in the throes of an identity crisis.
However, if we succeed, and we surely can succeed if we set an intentional course to align our vision for the future with our purposes and mission, we will emerge from our present identity crisis and experience robust growth and expanding influence in our world. The key to our success lies in our ability to weave together the threads of our core values, theological truths, biblical purposes, and mission in order to create a compelling tapestry that will explain a timeless story to a new generation in a new way—a way that does not just tell, but show. This tapestry must be gripping and persuasive enough to engage the seeker on the journey, the parishioner in the pew, the pastor in the pulpit, and the scholar in the university. Some call this missional thinking, some call it incarnational ministry, but it is really just doing what Jesus modeled and asked us to do.
It would be a mistake to expect that this will be an easy task. However, even the most complicated of tasks can be broken down into basic components, building blocks in a strategic design. While it may seem like the impossible dream, we need to formulate a strategy that holds forth the promise of balancing the most treasured parts of our heritage with a compelling vision for the future. In short, it must invite us to engage our culture, while embracing our own values, and in so doing, make a difference in our world for Jesus’ sake.
Without the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit, any institution or denomination, and particularly academia, can easily be bogged down in the mechanics of organizational anxiety. Prayer and spiritual formation must remain central to all that we do. This component from our heritage will ensure a bright future for both the church and our schools as we equip students and parishioners to think theologically and live out their faith with passionate hearts. However, we must learn to focus on the future, not the past. Driving while constantly looking in the rear view mirror is a certain path to disaster.
The world of 2008 is not the world of 1914, when the Assemblies of God was birthed. In those days, the Temperance Movement, fueled by Wesleyan Holiness and Pentecostal preaching, was about to usher in the ratification of the 19th amendment, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages for the most part in this nation. There were no mega churches within our ranks, most of our constituents were suffering from poverty, the War to end all wars (WWI) was about to begin, infection from a simple wound or catching the flu could kill you, and sacrifice was a way of life. Foreign missions held the prospect of journeying into the unknown regions beyond, wherein lay great adventure and serious dangers.
In the context of today’s flattened world, individuals have many choices, and technology has removed many of the barriers of time and space. In this environment, can we expect to survive unless we step up to the plate with contemporary ministry to meet contemporary needs? While we recognize our arrival in a postmodern, post-Christian era, we must also recognize that many of our churches are still trying to figure out the modern age, and fighting against it with a separatist mindset. In some churches, purchasing a video projector is met with suspicion and pity the poor pastor who tries to preach from anything other than Paul’s Authorized KJV! As a denominational executive with some experience in untangling church conflicts, I can tell you that many of the issues dividing our churches have nothing to do with the mission of God, but everything to do with petty cultural preferences; many of them firmly entrenched in the early 20th century.
We must recognize that we are not all the same, that we can have unity in spite of our diversity. Last year I preached in one of our Seattle churches where, as a white male, I was in the minority. I wish I could say this is true in more of our churches, but sadly, the color of our churches does not reflect our society at large. The only way this will change is through intentional effort on our part by embracing diversity and encouraging people of color to associate with us by giving them a seat at the table and a warm welcome. In the Northwest Ministry Network, we have recently added new members to our governing board, the presbytery, to reflect the ethnic diversity of our constituents. We also offered seats to those of the female gender, recognizing the value of their representation with voice and vote. In order for us to more accurately reflect the ethnic diversity we hope to achieve, we must also discover ways to remove many of the cultural barriers that build walls and learn to build bridges instead. In John McCain’s recent concession speech, he made reference to the fact that Theodore Roosevelt was severely criticized for inviting Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House more than a century ago. Today a member of Washington's race will call the White House his home.
We find ourselves in a time of great transition in an emerging church in an emerging world. And times of transition are always fraught with anxiety and tension mingled with moments of exceedingly favorable opportunity for those willing to take a risk and journey beyond the familiar avenues of the past. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit thrust the original disciples from their familiar inside surroundings onto the streets where the people were gathered. In the twenty-first century, does the Holy Spirit want to do the same thing, strategically thrusting Spirit-empowered students and adults into the culture where they can make a lasting difference?
If we are to survive and thrive in the future, we will need to leave our holy huddles and impact society by empowering servants in our communities who will rise to leadership positions within their discipline or vocation. Churches will be considered sacred places and not just religious spaces when they are truly offering refuge and hope to the communities they serve, by partnering with those who will do good works, love justice, and walk humbly with God.
Many pastors comment that they are “having good services.” I wonder if the community cares much about the services they offer? Would your community notice or care if your church ceased to exist? If we offered services that truly served our communities, they might be more interested in our “church services.” Through incarnational works of service, new young leaders will exert influence on public policy and serve at all levels of government.
Visionary, transformational leadership requires today’s leaders in the Assemblies of God to rise up to the challenge and leverage the security of our own success to ensure the success of future generations. King Hezekiah was given a fifteen year life extension in response to his prayer for healing. Nevertheless, poor judgment later brought a severe reprimand from the prophet Isaiah, the consequences of which would be felt in the next generation as their treasures would be pillaged, and their sons emasculated and taken into captivity.
Hezekiah’s response to Isaiah was almost flippant, “‘This message you have given me from the LORD is good.’ But the king was thinking, ‘At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.’” (2 Kings 20:19 NLT)
Hezekiah represents those leaders who choose to live in the present on the storehouse of the past, while ignoring diminishing returns and ultimate destruction of the institutions they have held dear. “As long as everything stays the same for my lifetime, I’m happy with the status quo,” they think. May that never be said of our leadership. Instead, let us embrace the vision of our churches as sacred places—not just religious spaces—where spiritual vibrancy, biblical authority, theological purity, academic integrity, incarnational ministry, community unity, global visibility, and ethnic diversity converge in order to affect societal and spiritual liberty—for the glory of God.
[1] Jay Tolson, “Sacred Places.” U.S. News & World Report, November 26, 2007, 36.
[2] George Bullard, Real Denominations Serve Congregations: Seven Practices of Greatness. (Seattle: Amazon Shorts, 2007), 2.
In contrast, I am aware of many churches that are making a difference in society and a positive influence in our culture. This is not the result of random selection. Those influential sacred places are more about people than geography, and have arrived at this opportune moment in history because of intentional choices made in the past to form a culture or ethos of influence. For them, “What would Jesus do?” is more than an ephemeral slogan, it is an incarnational mandate.
The challenge for Christian denominations in the twenty first century lies in our ability to maintain our alignment in a day when many are questioning the value or role of denominational affiliation—or the need for stick and brick institutions at all for that matter. It is no secret that mainline Protestant denominations and many evangelical denominations are suffering from decline and struggling for identity. In contrast, many of the fastest growing and most influential churches in postmodern America have no traditional denominational affiliation. In my own Seattle backyard, Mars Hill Church, Overlake Christian Church, Westminster Chapel, and The City Church serve as prime examples.
In his recent work on denominational structures, George Bullard addresses the post-denominational era and suggests that perhaps what is really taking place is a time of denominational transformation as opposed to the death of denominations. He cites the growth of ministry networks, and how new denominational forms or associations are growing in the number of congregations and total membership. He states, “Real denominations are genuine, authentic, exceptional, positive, essential, and incarnational—to name a few characteristics. They are denominations who care more about making kingdom progress than the thriving of the denomination as an institutional presence.”[2]
I can speak on behalf of the Northwest Ministry Network and affirm that we are in a time of great transition. While we have already made many changes from a hierarchical structure to a more collaborative leadership model, we continue to change as we embrace the values of a learning organization. We view ourselves as more of a resource center than a command and control center. Executing this vision is not as simple as it sounds. The pathway is often fraught with tension as we attempt to fulfill our vision of “strengthening and developing empowered leaders and churches.” If we are able to leverage that tension in the proper way, we can stay in tune with the Spirit’s leading with more harmony than discord.
The fact is, some of our churches and ministers don’t particularly feel a need to be strengthened, developed, or empowered by us, particularly those who place a great deal of value and security in the past and in the way things have always been done. They confuse theology with praxis, substance with style, and view any change from the status quo with suspicion. It is not difficult to understand the sense of security felt by those who have retreated into their sanctuaries of tradition, where change is obscured by the comforting patina of familiarity. Nevertheless, leaders who would train transformational leaders recognize the comfort of living in nostalgic niches comes with a price. It must be exchanged for irrelevance in the present and extinction in the future. To me, that doesn’t seem like a very good exchange.
Simply put, our world is changing. And the implications of our changing world will greatly impact our religious institutions—particularly our colleges and universities, and the denominational structures that birthed and support them. Unless we in the Assemblies of God are willing to work together with our institutions of higher learning to engage the culture, while embracing our values and purposes, we will quickly lose sight of our mission and lose relevance in the world. If we fail in this task, we will experience decline and waning influence as both the church and the university founder in the throes of an identity crisis.
However, if we succeed, and we surely can succeed if we set an intentional course to align our vision for the future with our purposes and mission, we will emerge from our present identity crisis and experience robust growth and expanding influence in our world. The key to our success lies in our ability to weave together the threads of our core values, theological truths, biblical purposes, and mission in order to create a compelling tapestry that will explain a timeless story to a new generation in a new way—a way that does not just tell, but show. This tapestry must be gripping and persuasive enough to engage the seeker on the journey, the parishioner in the pew, the pastor in the pulpit, and the scholar in the university. Some call this missional thinking, some call it incarnational ministry, but it is really just doing what Jesus modeled and asked us to do.
It would be a mistake to expect that this will be an easy task. However, even the most complicated of tasks can be broken down into basic components, building blocks in a strategic design. While it may seem like the impossible dream, we need to formulate a strategy that holds forth the promise of balancing the most treasured parts of our heritage with a compelling vision for the future. In short, it must invite us to engage our culture, while embracing our own values, and in so doing, make a difference in our world for Jesus’ sake.
Without the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit, any institution or denomination, and particularly academia, can easily be bogged down in the mechanics of organizational anxiety. Prayer and spiritual formation must remain central to all that we do. This component from our heritage will ensure a bright future for both the church and our schools as we equip students and parishioners to think theologically and live out their faith with passionate hearts. However, we must learn to focus on the future, not the past. Driving while constantly looking in the rear view mirror is a certain path to disaster.
The world of 2008 is not the world of 1914, when the Assemblies of God was birthed. In those days, the Temperance Movement, fueled by Wesleyan Holiness and Pentecostal preaching, was about to usher in the ratification of the 19th amendment, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages for the most part in this nation. There were no mega churches within our ranks, most of our constituents were suffering from poverty, the War to end all wars (WWI) was about to begin, infection from a simple wound or catching the flu could kill you, and sacrifice was a way of life. Foreign missions held the prospect of journeying into the unknown regions beyond, wherein lay great adventure and serious dangers.
In the context of today’s flattened world, individuals have many choices, and technology has removed many of the barriers of time and space. In this environment, can we expect to survive unless we step up to the plate with contemporary ministry to meet contemporary needs? While we recognize our arrival in a postmodern, post-Christian era, we must also recognize that many of our churches are still trying to figure out the modern age, and fighting against it with a separatist mindset. In some churches, purchasing a video projector is met with suspicion and pity the poor pastor who tries to preach from anything other than Paul’s Authorized KJV! As a denominational executive with some experience in untangling church conflicts, I can tell you that many of the issues dividing our churches have nothing to do with the mission of God, but everything to do with petty cultural preferences; many of them firmly entrenched in the early 20th century.
We must recognize that we are not all the same, that we can have unity in spite of our diversity. Last year I preached in one of our Seattle churches where, as a white male, I was in the minority. I wish I could say this is true in more of our churches, but sadly, the color of our churches does not reflect our society at large. The only way this will change is through intentional effort on our part by embracing diversity and encouraging people of color to associate with us by giving them a seat at the table and a warm welcome. In the Northwest Ministry Network, we have recently added new members to our governing board, the presbytery, to reflect the ethnic diversity of our constituents. We also offered seats to those of the female gender, recognizing the value of their representation with voice and vote. In order for us to more accurately reflect the ethnic diversity we hope to achieve, we must also discover ways to remove many of the cultural barriers that build walls and learn to build bridges instead. In John McCain’s recent concession speech, he made reference to the fact that Theodore Roosevelt was severely criticized for inviting Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House more than a century ago. Today a member of Washington's race will call the White House his home.
We find ourselves in a time of great transition in an emerging church in an emerging world. And times of transition are always fraught with anxiety and tension mingled with moments of exceedingly favorable opportunity for those willing to take a risk and journey beyond the familiar avenues of the past. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit thrust the original disciples from their familiar inside surroundings onto the streets where the people were gathered. In the twenty-first century, does the Holy Spirit want to do the same thing, strategically thrusting Spirit-empowered students and adults into the culture where they can make a lasting difference?
If we are to survive and thrive in the future, we will need to leave our holy huddles and impact society by empowering servants in our communities who will rise to leadership positions within their discipline or vocation. Churches will be considered sacred places and not just religious spaces when they are truly offering refuge and hope to the communities they serve, by partnering with those who will do good works, love justice, and walk humbly with God.
Many pastors comment that they are “having good services.” I wonder if the community cares much about the services they offer? Would your community notice or care if your church ceased to exist? If we offered services that truly served our communities, they might be more interested in our “church services.” Through incarnational works of service, new young leaders will exert influence on public policy and serve at all levels of government.
Visionary, transformational leadership requires today’s leaders in the Assemblies of God to rise up to the challenge and leverage the security of our own success to ensure the success of future generations. King Hezekiah was given a fifteen year life extension in response to his prayer for healing. Nevertheless, poor judgment later brought a severe reprimand from the prophet Isaiah, the consequences of which would be felt in the next generation as their treasures would be pillaged, and their sons emasculated and taken into captivity.
Hezekiah’s response to Isaiah was almost flippant, “‘This message you have given me from the LORD is good.’ But the king was thinking, ‘At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.’” (2 Kings 20:19 NLT)
Hezekiah represents those leaders who choose to live in the present on the storehouse of the past, while ignoring diminishing returns and ultimate destruction of the institutions they have held dear. “As long as everything stays the same for my lifetime, I’m happy with the status quo,” they think. May that never be said of our leadership. Instead, let us embrace the vision of our churches as sacred places—not just religious spaces—where spiritual vibrancy, biblical authority, theological purity, academic integrity, incarnational ministry, community unity, global visibility, and ethnic diversity converge in order to affect societal and spiritual liberty—for the glory of God.
[1] Jay Tolson, “Sacred Places.” U.S. News & World Report, November 26, 2007, 36.
[2] George Bullard, Real Denominations Serve Congregations: Seven Practices of Greatness. (Seattle: Amazon Shorts, 2007), 2.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Some Thoughts About Time
In our present dimension of living, time is a certainty. Einstein factored it into equations. We expect that just as yesterday was, today is. And there will be a tomorrow. But that is not true for all of us, because the future – time beyond the present – is an uncertainty for the individual. And most of us have lived long enough to understand that while time remains constant, times change. The Bible gives honorable mention to the sons of Issachar because they were men “who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. . ..” (1 Chronicles 12:32 NKJV) Do we understand the times we live in? Are we willing to adapt and change as necessary when the times demand it? Do we seek the Lord in order to “know what we ought to do” in our lifetime, to make a difference in our generation?
"God, who is liberal in all his othergifts, shows us, by the wise economy of his providence, how circumspect we ought to be in the management of our time, for he never gives us two moments together." --Francois de Salignac de La Mothe Fenelon
"Time is our destiny. Time is our hope. Time is our despair. And time is the mirror in which we see eternity." -- Paul Tillich
"God, who is liberal in all his othergifts, shows us, by the wise economy of his providence, how circumspect we ought to be in the management of our time, for he never gives us two moments together." --Francois de Salignac de La Mothe Fenelon
"Time is our destiny. Time is our hope. Time is our despair. And time is the mirror in which we see eternity." -- Paul Tillich
Why Tradition is a Slippery Slope
I am basically a traditionalist. I love history and antiques. But these things must be kept in perspective or they can easily become shrines to what used to be. Nostalgia always clouds opportunities in the present with the foggy memories of prior success. To worship at the shrine of the past is to plant the seeds of tomorrow's harvest in the dry, sterile soil of yesterday's dust. Those seeds might survive as relics in a museum, but in that environment, they will never produce life.
"The greatest opposition to what God is doing today comes from those who were on the cutting edge of what God was doing yesterday."--R.T. Kendall
"The greatest opposition to what God is doing today comes from those who were on the cutting edge of what God was doing yesterday."--R.T. Kendall
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