Your Questions and Wonders Requested!

THIS WILL BE THE LAST POST UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS!

Today I am looking for questions.  Questions about Christmas, Jesus, discipleship, faith, the Old Testament or New Testament, the Apostle Paul or anything you wonder about the Bible or Religion.  

You are my readers and I want to write what you want to talk about. To answer this post just click on the title and you should get the opportunity to comment.  If not you can email me!

All comments will be anonymous so don't be shy!

I wish all of you a blessed Holiday and a New Year filled with joy.

Has It Made A Difference?

The reading for Christmas Eve, from Isaiah 9:1-7, has been a favorite of mine and many for years.  It is a promise that only God can make, to a people in terrible darkness — terrible fear.  The promise is one of hope!  Relief from threats and oppressive leadership!  It is a wonderful word to hear on the eve of Jesus’ birth.  

Because that promise was realized at Jesus birth!

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.

Only the Prophet Isaiah is not actually talking about Jesus.  Isaiah was dealing with the serious situations of his day.  Kings who had, according to God, evil intentions; Who wanted to take over the people of Israel.  The people were in great fear of losing their personal and religious freedom.  So at one particular point in the mess, a pregnant woman was in the crowd.  Isaiah pointed to her and said: “before the baby she is carrying “knows good from evil” the tread of the king will have pasted (Is. 7:14-17) 

You see, the promise of a new born, in the face of such terrible threats, seemed a bit lame.  And apparently wasn’t too impressive. 

But God prompted Isaiah to use the very same example again in the next chapter as well.  This time the child would be born to the prophet himself (8:4).  

Again, it did not bring a whole lot of hope to this direr situation. 

At this point I am imagining that the people were wondering: what in the world do we need with another baby in this messed up awful world we live in?  We need God to come with a mighty force and kick that king out into another world.  We need God to come with a new Moses and lead us out of this Egypt we now face.  What they wanted was a Goliath!   Someone big and strong! 

Yet, in chapter 9,  the promise comes again!  “a child has been born for us, a son given to us.” (9:6) The yoke of their burden will be broken, and all the garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire…. This child will be: “Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…He will establish and uphold it with justice…the LORD of host will do this.”(Isaiah 9:4-7)

Yet again it made no difference!

No matter how many prophets God sent, to solve the problems of human egos, it never seem to work out.  People just kept pushing and shoving and ignoring God.  And, it was quit easy to do!  It was easy, since God really wasn’t right there in front of them.  It wasn’t difficult to ignore God!  

Besides, they like the way they were.  Pushing and shoving and bullying their way though life worked!  And if it works, it don't need fixing!  The truth is!  If God would just leave them alone, they would do just fine.  And those that didn’t like it!  Well, they could just jump high and get over it!

So, years later, I’m not at all sure how long, a baby was again promised. But this time it was not  announced to the broken world, in a public way. Not by a prophet standing in the city courtyard!  But by an angel that came to a young girl name Mary.  

Now God was going to do a new thing!  Do his warning and teaching another way!  

He no longer would rule from heaven above.  That was not working out so well.  His crazy human creatures did not listen, with God up above. 

They weren’t really all that good with invisible!  

God decided that they needed someone physically with them.  Someone who could get nose to nose with them.  Someone who could slap them around if they needed it.  In loving way of course!

So God changed the plan and became proactive.  He would actually come to earth personally to do what was needed.  In person!

He came in the flesh of a baby born in a private stable.  The only announcement was by a choir of angels, singing the good news, to a few tired shepherds in the middle of the night.

That was over 2000 years ago.

Has it made a difference?  Do we know good from evil?

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.(Is. 9:2-7)

An Example of Hope!

The other day I left you with these questions about hope:

“What, then, is the expectation?

What is the  good news…?

What is your hope?

And on what does your hope rest?”

I have had a requests to talk a bit more about “examples” of the manifestation of hope.  Instead of asking questions! 

But, first let me say that my questions are often the avenue into your own hearts and minds.  What you think or wonder about the topic.  With my questions, I am inviting you to reflect on your own examples of the concept being discussed.  

I do this because it has become clear to me that people don’t really take the time to think about what Jesus has given to the world.  I think this is most especially true in reference to the Christmas story.  And maybe even the Easter Story!  It is like they bundle all the peace, hope, joy into one feeling of “the Christmas feeling” — the “excitement of the season.”  And the gift of Christmas, the gift of Jesus’ coming, gets lost. 

Gets lost not just during the season of Christmas!  But all year long!  All life long!

Now, I will answer the request to give a true example of the manifestation of hope. One I have personally been witness to.

I will call her Jane.  Jane came to me about five years into my first call.  She was one of the young women who had been sexually misused by the pastor who was asked to leave our congregation for sexual misconduct.  She was also a victim of satanic worship as a small girl and teenager. 

Jane was highly depressed.  She had been through several counselors.  And psychiatric treatment more than a few time.  She originally came to me about the pastor’s inappropriate behavior toward her.  But it was the satanic experience that took the longest to deal with.  I am thinking it took at least three years of work.  Maybe more!

Those years, with me working with her faith journey, paralleled her continuing to see her counselor.  I do not in any way pretend to take on phycological issues.  I am not a trained counselor!  

My job with Jane was to help her to know a God of love and forgiveness.  At first it was an impossible task.  Jane seemed to thrive on being depressed and hopeless.  Not matter what I said in one session, it  needed repeating in the next.  This cycle continued a long, long, long time. With return bouts on the psychiatric floor of the local hospital.

About a year, and months, of no significant change in Jane, God give me a slap on the head.  I told her that I wanted to try something new.  I gave her a spiral notebook; and asked her to start writing to God. I suggested that she write as though she were  praying to God. And then, at her next session, we would talk about what she wrote.  It took about six to eight months before she began to really get into her own issues.  The issues that were keeping her from letting go of her need to be depressed.  Being the victim!  

One evening, as I sat there listening to what she had written, a light bulb thought went off in my mind.  She had named a major problem, a major block, that I thought was keeping her from freedom.  I said to her: “Did you hear what you said?”  She looked at me kind of frustrated; and responded in the negative.  She wanted me to tell her!  I said, “no! You have to figure this one out on you own.”  She was not at all happy with me.  She liked me to tell her what was signifiant in her writings.  She left my office without much more conversation that night.

At the next visit she had done some good work realizing what she had written; and then had written more.  That was the very tiny step toward hope for Jane. As time pasted, God moved her into a new and healthier way of thinking.  Her trips to the psychiatric  floor got fewer and fewer.  She actually began to cautiously enjoy living.  She even join the choir at church.   She had a beautiful voice.  

I was grateful!

Jane’s journey from deep depression to the freedom to live with the expectation of a better, more healthier emotional life, is hope.  Hope for a future with no more fear!  No more guilt, anger and blaming!  By the grace of God she began to take responsibility for herself and her decisions. 

Jane’s hope rested on the truth that God loved her.   Loved her no matter what her past had been. And that God would alway walk with her as she moved into a new hope for tomorrow. 

Joy to the world that Lord is come!

Why Shepherds?

So far this Advent Season we have talked about Angels announcing,  A baby leaping in the womb,  the Messiah coming in a tiny baby boy, John the Baptist,  Peace,  Joy,  Hope.

What has only been briefly noted was the Shepherds.  Those grungy men who slept with the sheep.  Walking through their poop.  Probably covered with those dirty animals wool droppings.  But none-the-less, for the most part, honest hard working men.  Women couldn’t be shepherds in those days!  

It was to these most common of persons that the  angels brought the first news of Jesus’ birth.  It must have seemed both awesome and frightening. Who were they to be in the presence of such holy messengers?  With such a holy message! I wonder if it made them want to wash their faces and shave?  Or, at least, change their clothes!  That probably would have been my first thought (; 

Why shepherds?

Or maybe the question is:  Why not shepherds?

After all Jesus called himself a shepherd!

It is not uncommon for people to feel that they are not worthy to have special notice from God.  Often the assumption is that you have to be someone extraordinary to get God’s attention. Someone who does great things.  Or is somehow more faithful.  Whatever that means!  

However, if you think about it, it was always the simple ordinary people that Jesus was drawn to.  Those less respected by the more elite.  Some of them were even labeled “sinners.”  

I always have to laugh at that expression.  

Who of us is not a sinner?

The very basic truth is: every soul upon this earth has missed the mark in honoring God!  A “sinner” being one who disrespects God in one way or another.  Opposite of righteous!  Not able to live up to perfection!  

It was to those “sinners” that Jesus came to with the most love and mercy!

And if the truth be told!  Jesus was not all that impressed with those who claimed righteousness!

If I do nothing else, in this Call I have been living for the last twenty-nine years, it will be to convince people of their worth to God.  To help them to understand that the words adequate, common and ordinary are not bad assessments of one’s character.

All anyone has to do is to read the Gospels to understand that Jesus stood for the little guys of this world.  The less privileged of society!  The working class! 

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

This message, given to the shepherd all those years ago, is the message to all the world that there is hope in the coming of the Christ child for you and me and all people.

 I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 

All people!

As a matter of truth, he took on those lowly roles as his definition of leadership.  He claimed servant and shepherd as his titles.  Think about the very last lesson he taught his disciples before he was arrested.  After they had their last meal together; he bent down and washed their dung dirty feet.  "That," he said, "is how to love one another.”

Be a servant!  The lowliest kind of servant!

That is how you lead with integrity!  

Humbly! 

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.(Lk. 2:8-20)

What Is The Hope Today?

Hope is another one of those concepts that moves around the Christmas Season. 

What is the hope? 

  

“Hope is a subjective projection of the future….The expectation of good!  It is linked with trust and yearning…”(Theo. Dic) 

1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news… 

What, then, is the expectation?

What is the  good news…?

What is your hope?

And on what does your hope rest?

In the very first line of the Gospel of Mark Jesus tells his listener:  The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,….   This announcement is the hope for that time in history.  The hope of a future with Jesus as the one who brings good.       

In Isaiah (the Old Testament for the third Sunday of Advent) the hope promised is:  comfort for all who mourn; to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

Don’t you wonder how this promise impacts the world today?  Is this truly what people are expecting?  Hoping for?

Just another wonder!

1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to This announcement 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. 5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines; 6 but you shall be called priests of the Lord, you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory. 7 Because their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs. 8 For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. 10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.(Isaiah 61:1-11)

Why John The Baptist?

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The Gospel, for the third Sunday of Advent, is an interesting read.  At first you think it is about John the baptist.  And it is!  But the meat of the passage is cut out.  We have to wait until Christmas morning to hear that part.  

Although, you are free to read the missing verse any time you like.  They tell a most extraordinarily revealing truth!  A truth about Jesus!

But I digress!   John is the same John who leaped in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary came to visit after conceiving Jesus.  

John had a God given purpose!  To tell the world about the coming of the promise Messiah.  

The powers that be are trying to shut John up.  Or maybe just put him in his place.  They want to know why he is there doing what he is doing. Saying what he is saying!  What right-does-he-have to be drawing the crowds to listen to his call to repentance?  Who gave him permission?  That is, by what authority?

This courtroom interrogation, of who and what John is, is quite interesting.  It reminds me of the same kind of modern discussions human minds have about God.  Those religious leader had an agenda.  They were, after all, the religious authority of the day.  And John was saying and announcing things that they had not approved of. He did not fit the mold of someone sent by God.

 How many of us do?  

John would not be put into one of their well defined boxes.  And, he would not be silence!

His answer?  “I am the voice” he tells them.  I came  as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.… 

He is in this world to testify to the one who is to come.  Actually the one who is already among them waiting to have His own voice.  John makes it clear that he is not the one who is to come.  Just the one who speaks before Jesus voice is heard.  

Now why would knowing about John be of interest to Christians today?  You might be tempted to say: nothing!  However, I want you to think about our main purpose as God’s people today.  First of all we are to love God with our entire being — heart, soul and mind.  Secondly we are to testify, tell others, what we believe about Jesus.  

Right?

Now!  It is true that John was apparently a pretty weird kind of guy. He dressed in strange clothing and ate strange things.  One could be tempted to see him as kind-of-crazy.  Or even a loose cannon!  He was not at all the model of gentleness and warmth.  (See Matthew 3:1-12)

Despite all of that, there is a good lesson to be learned about how John did that testifying.  He did not go along with the accepted Jewish teaching, and understanding, of God and God ways.  He was more like Jesus!  In that he had a mind of his own to think and believe.  He talked about what he somehow knew on his own.  I am thinking that he, like Zechariah, Mary and Joseph before him, must have had some angel intervention as to his specific purpose and what he was to do and say. 

I like John because he wouldn’t be forced to fit their mold.  He was not going to be manipulated into someone he  was not.

So very cool! 

All we can do as those who believe, this unbelievable story,  is tell people what we believe.  

They have no authority to  judge us!  

Neither can we judge them!

Leave the all-knowing-would-be-authorities to their delusions!  Their delusions of being right.  

None of us are worthy to untie the thongs of his sandal.  

We are blessed if we know that!

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.… 19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." 22 Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the Lord,' " as the prophet Isaiah said. 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" 26 John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.(John 1:6-28)

The Promise of Christmas!

“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”(Isaiah 40:1-11)

I only use these few verse of the Old Testament Reading for the Second Sunday of Advent; because the full passage (verse1-11)  Would not be all that helpful without full exegesis of the text.  And what I chose to write on is just the main point of Isaiah’s message.  Which is: the word of our God endures forever!

When compare to God!  People’s attitudes, actions and opinions are like grass. That soon withers and fads. Blown away by the LORD’s wisdom and tender strength. 

That is the message of the Old Testament reading from Isaiah 40:1-11: the word of our God endures forever! 

It is an important truth that has never faded or withered through all of history!  

People can do all manner of mean, cruel, destructive things.  They can prance around and make terrible decisions.  They can be hateful and arrogant.  They can throw their money, and so-called-power and authority around, in the face of all kinds resistance.  And!  Seemingly win!  

But!  According to Isaiah, all that horrendous activity will soon wither!  It will soon be blown away when the breath of the LORD blows upon it.  

And the nation will be restored!

The promise of Christmas is peace! Joy!  

The promise of Christmas came in a tiny boy tender and sweet.  A boy who grew into a man.  A man who was actually God!  This God/man walked the earth in sandals and a common robe.  He spoke of love!  Servanthood!  Forgiveness!  Mercy!  He lived and ate with sinners.  That is, the lowly of society not respected by the more elite crowd.  He challenged the religious leaders unfortunate assessment of their God.  He did this by telling many stories/parables that made them take a step back and reassess their thinking.  

The leaders didn’t like what Jesus did and said!

But do you know what?  His word has never faded!   Or withered!  It has outlived human boldness and destructive behavior!  

And is doing so even today!

And evidence of that truth is proven over and over again as people come to worship this little boy’s legacy.  His precious bequest!  His living truth of God’s strength and reality!

They come each week. Or just on Christmas or Easter.  

But they come!  

And they come because they believe!  Or maybe just because they want to believe!

They come because there is something very true, in this whole wide universe, that matters.  Matters, above and beyond the rattle of the counterfeit imposters of power.  

They come because they want to be reminded.  Reminded of God’s love and steadfast presence in our crazy world.

And I think they come because they are still searching for the meaning they are graving in their own busy lives.  Lives surrounded by the human definition of what life really isn’t. 

Joy To The World, The Lord is Come!

One of the most favorite Christmas hymns, other than Silent Night, is Joy To The World. The very first line announces a profound truth.  Joy to the world, the Lord is come.!!  The Lord, who “rules with truth and grace” and wonders of his love” brings joy to earth.  

That is, brings a phenomenon, an epiphany, of something exceptionally good.  Something that will make a huge difference upon the earth.

Peace and Joy live side by side!

Both are basically impossible to describe!

God is the source both peace and joy.  It is a feeling of calm, contentment and a since that all is right.  Joy is often brief.  Fleeting!  Momentary!  Gone but not forgotten!  Sometimes the moment last for a little while before it begins to fad.

Try this one on:  In the ancient Hebrew joy denotes “a gracious disposition that finds expression in a gracious action.”  God is the source of this action!  Action that: “expresses spontaneous goodness!  God’s grace converted into acts.”

Reflect on that a minute!

What do you hear?

There are some passages from John that refer to this phenomenon of joy. 

8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.(Jn. 15:8-11)

There is a participation involved in this God-joy!

24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.(Jn. 16;24)

God prompts something in us to be!  To be, to feel, to act, and to think opposite of the expectation of the world.  When we “abide in” — submit to — Jesus’ love; there is something that allows us to respond in away that, “expresses spontaneous goodness.”  

Or as I suggested yesterday: Kindness!

When we act with spontaneous goodness something inside of us changes.  We take pleasure in the tiniest thing.  We begin to see others with distinctive eyes.  Eyes that are new, and I’ll say, clearer.  Maybe our judgment is less critical.  More loving!  When we grow, with God’s joy prompting us, life begins to take on a less tense emotional track.  Not so many “have toos” and more “get toos.”   

Jesus came so that we might learn to live with faith in His truth.  His way!  And when we do, we begin grow into deeper trust in his truth, we find a life with many moments of pure joy.  

10 …I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

Joy is abundant life!