Browsed by
Category: Encouragement

A Prayer for Our Nation

A Prayer for Our Nation

I have been very troubled by recent events, and was moved to write a special prayer for our nation and our people.  I prayed this prayer in our worship services.  Afterwards I shared it on our church Facebook page.  It was well received, so I share it here as well.  Feel free to pray it yourself.  May it be a blessing!

Dear Lord, our nation is splintered and our people divided.  Unrest abounds … not just in our streets, but in our government and in the minds of our citizens.  Fingers of blame are being pointed every which way.  Politicians and people alike are turning on one another.  Power plays abound across society.  There are different supposed truths being shared by different media sources.  No one knows whom they can trust or what they can believe. 

Almighty Lord, we come to you at this time because you are our only hope.  You are our only hope personally and our only hope as a nation.  You urge us in your Word not to place our trust in human leaders, but rather in you.  You promise us that you are overseeing all situations, controlling everything, and working all for the good of your people.  So we bring these requests to you in faith:

Where there is deceit, let the truth be revealed.

Where there are sinful, selfish plots, let them be overturned.

Where there is unrest, let peace reside.

Where there is distrust, let true trust replace.

Where there is fear, let calm confidence preside.

Where there is bitterness and caustic words, let the balm of encouragement be applied

Where there is anger, let kindness be born.

Where there is hatred, let love overcome.

Where there is violence, let gentleness prevail.

Where there is unbelief, let faith in you germinate.

Where Satan currently controls, let you, Lord Jesus, reign supreme.

Where priority is given to the empty words of people, let there be instead a longing for your meaningful, powerful, saving words.

You, Lord, are our only hope.  We bring these requests to you and confidently place our trust in you.  Heal our nation.  Heal our people.  Amen.

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.

Engage! Please Engage!

Engage! Please Engage!

The purpose of this post is not to discuss the physical impacts of COVID.  Those are well documented and can be found in a plethora of places.  Rather, I would like to address something that isn’t getting as much attention, but which undoubtedly affects more people than the actual virus does: the psychological impact of the pandemic.

I know a few who have been physically impacted by the virus itself; I know many who have been psychologically impacted by it.  And I’m not even sure if most of them realize it.  Or at least realize how significantly they have been psychologically impacted.

As I have ministered to the people in our congregation, it has become increasingly obvious that many were approaching life differently the past nine months.  Now obviously life has been drastically different, so of course people are approaching life differently!  But that’s not what I mean.

Rather, I am referring to how people seem to be thinking and interacting.  Or more to the point, not interacting.

As time went on, folks seemed to become more insular.  It became more and more challenging to get people involved in ministry.  And not just to participate, but even to respond to simple requests!  Even responses they could supply quickly and easily from the comfort and convenience of their homes!  Things that in the past would be simply accomplished within the congregation had suddenly become daunting to get done. 

Volunteers have been asking me, “Why can’t I get more people to reply?”  And I have answered, “I have experienced the same thing.  Unfortunately, that’s just how it is right now.”  This dilemma is not unique to our congregation; my brothers in the ministry around the region are experiencing the same challenges in their congregations!  And I am sure that it is not just congregations and ministry which are impacted!

Now I am not naïve.  I recognize the tremendous pressure the pandemic brought to people and homes.  In fact, our homes have become the office, the classroom, the bank, the store, the restaurant, the entertainment facility and even the church for many or most.  Our entire society was overturned and our lives flipped upside down.  People are busy adapting and busy in general, and they are stressed and exhausted from it all.

Still, from my observations, it seems that many or even most have adopted a “bunker mentality.”  They are hunkering down at home and peeking out every now and then to see if things are any better. 

I want to be clear: I am not criticizing anyone for taking this approach!  While this is not normal nor healthy psychologically in typical circumstances, this is actually quite normal for situations such as currently exist.  However, it’s still not healthy.

My goal is simply to call attention to this psychological reaction, make the unaware aware, and suggest some simple steps that might benefit each of us, our families, and our congregations.

Studies show that isolation impacts us.  Being mostly alone affects us psychologically. 

“… People who are quarantined are very likely to develop a wide range of symptoms of psychological stress and disorder, including low mood, insomnia, stress, anxiety, anger, irritability, emotional exhaustion, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms.  Low mood and irritability specifically stand out as being very common, the study notes.  (“Lockdown Is World’s Biggest Psychological Experiment,” World Economic Forum – weforum.org)

Furthermore, “prolonged lack of social connection alters the brain and makes humans more antisocial. …  ‘There are a lot of people who, when they are socially isolated, find it harder to reach out to people than they normally would,’ says Chris Michel, a psychiatrist in California with over forty years of experience working in the field.  The brain structures that facilitate the creation of social connections shrink during perceived social isolation. These alterations make it even harder to form bonds.”  (“What Isolation Does to the Brain,” Think Global Health – thinkglobalhealth.org). 

And if that isn’t enough, here’s another nasty psychological twist to isolation: “Chronic isolation … [leads] to a persistent fear-response and greater aggression.  … A team at the University of Pisa in Italy discovered that socially isolated subjects show signs of hyper-vigilance and diminished impulse control.  In a pandemic scenario, these changes may result in “intense anger towards people …” (“What Isolation Does to the Brain,” Think Global Health – thinkglobalhealth.org).  Events from this past Summer and this past week certainly seem to support this finding!

The Mayo Clinic shared an excellent article on how COVID is impacting people’s mental health.  After pointing out the effects of social isolation, the staff makes some specific suggestions for maintaining good mental and emotional health. 

It actually begins with caring for one’s body.  The self-care strategies they offer for better body health are getting enough sleep, participating in regular physical activity, eating healthy, avoiding tobacco, alcohol and drugs, limiting screen time, and relaxing and recharging.

As for mental health, they urge keeping a regular routine, limiting exposure to the news media, staying busy, focusing on positive thoughts, falling back on one’s spiritual beliefs for support, and setting proper priorities and reasonable goals … and then celebrating reaching them.

All of which seem exceedingly practical!  But here is the part of the article I found most interesting and important!  The third aspect the Mayo medical staff discussed was to, “build, support and strengthen relationships.”  They supplied specifics here as well:

“Make connections.  If you need to stay at home and distance yourself from others, avoid social isolation.  Find time each day to make virtual connections by email, texts, phone, or FaceTime or similar apps.  If you’re working remotely from home, ask your co-workers how they’re doing and share coping tips.  Enjoy virtual socializing and talking to those in your home.”

“Do something for others.  Find purpose in helping the people around you. For example, email, text or call to check on your friends, family members and neighbors — especially those who are elderly. If you know someone who can’t get out, ask if there’s something needed, such as groceries or a prescription picked up, for instance” (“COVID 19 and Your Mental Health,” Mayo Clinic – mayoclinic.org).

In other words … engage!  Engage in an active and wholesome way.  Turn your attention off yourself and onto other people.  Communicate.  Reach out and brighten someone’s day.  Be involved.  Decide to climb out of your bunker and make a difference. 

The Apostle Paul advocates for these very things!  “We urge you, brothers and sisters, … encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. … Always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.  Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:14-18).

Leaving one’s bunker doesn’t necessarily mean leaving one’s home.  But it does mean leaving behind a bunker mentality!  So, God’s people, I urge you to engage!  Please, engage!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.

A Simple Approach to All Situations

A Simple Approach to All Situations

As I watched the news feeds on the Washington DC rioting, and as I thought back on the Summer protests, it occurred to me that I as a Christian and a pastor should address the attitudes and activities we have witnessed.  Recognizing these should be addressed was the easy part.  Determining what to say was much harder!

Of course, God’s Word is chock full of insights and applications to all circumstances, and certainly to these situations as well.  But it seems to me that the last thing people want right now is a long dissertation.  So I decided to keep it simple. 

God always says it best.  So here is a simple approach for all situations, provided by the Lord Himself in his Holy Book:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” 

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.”

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:12-17).

There it is; a simple approach straight from God that will make all situations better. 

I realize that these words were written to Christians, and that Christ is at the center of these attitudes and approaches.  Non-Christians don’t and won’t approach life this way.  Which only underscores how critically important it is that we share the message of Jesus with as many as we possibly can!

My prayer is that all of us as Christians always exemplify this approach, and that more people (many more people!) learn to know Christ, and thereby learn to live Him.  When that happens, the people of our nation, and subsequently our nation, will be the better for it!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.

A Mountain of a God!

A Mountain of a God!

In my humble point of view, there is nothing quite as visually impressive as a mountain.  Rising up from the land, jutting high into the sky and dominating the horizon, mountains can take your breath away with their majesty.

And is there anything else in the world that seems as immovable as a mountain?  Is there anything as unchangeable as that monstrous piece of solid stone?  Anything as eternal as that rock-hard, in-your-face, unable-to-be ignored piece of granite?  Anything as invincible as that unbending, unyielding, undeniably solid wall of rock?

In reality the mountains can and do change.  The rock on the mountains is slowly eroding.  Glaciers, ice and snow impact the heights.  Landslides happen.  Volcanic mountains can blow their tops, as we know only too well here in Washington.  Humans can scar and change the mountain face.

Yet, I submit that there is nothing else on earth that seems as reliable as a mountain. There is nothing else in the world that seems as immovable, unchangeable, eternal, or invincible as a mountain

Consequently, the mountains are a magnificent picture of God’s power and protection.  The Lord truly IS immovable, unchangeable, eternal, and invincible … just like a mountain seems to be.

That’s exactly how David describes the Lord.  “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.  Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.  Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge” (Psalm 62:5-8).

Fitting words as we close down a tumultuous year and embark upon another potentially challenging one!

I am confident that every one of us will acknowledge that it is God alone who is “my rock, my fortress, my refuge, my salvation, my rest,” and “my hope.”  We agree with those statements verbally and mentally, and yet all too often that’s not how we live our lives.  We are constantly tempted to look elsewhere for our joy and security.

Whenever we are leaning on the things of this world to support us, we have moved our life’s foundation from the mountain that is God to shifting sand that is most definitely not.

As David states so clearly in Psalm 62, it is God alone who can fill all our needs.  He is our “go-to God” for everything!  And indeed, he carries quite a resume’.  Rock!  Fortress!  Refuge!  Plus, he’s our salvation, rest, and hope as well!  Sounds like exactly what we need (Who we need!) as we roll into another year.

The Bible actually contains about 50 references to God as the Rock.  In other words, it’s a picture that the Lord wants his people to remember and embrace.  Clearly, it’s a picture that is intended to bring God’s people comfort.  And indeed it does!

It’s important to note that many of the Bible’s 50 references to God as the Rock imply that believers are grounded in that Rock.  Half a dozen other times the Bible stresses specifically the importance of being on the Rock.  In other words, not only is there no alternate for the Rock that is the Lord, but there is also no substitute for being on that Rock. 

In fact, it’s crucial that we are not only ON the Rock, but IN the Rock!  A person can build a house on top of the largest rock on earth, but if that house has no connection to the rock, it is destined to collapse.  Rather, a house built on a rock has to be anchored in that rock.  And when it is, there is nothing that can shake it.

So it is with us.  The Lord makes it clear that he is our Rock upon which we find our stability, strength, safety, help and hope.  But the only way we will reap the benefits of the Rock is if our spiritual roots are sunk down deep into him.  And when our foundation is the Lord and his Word then, as David writes, we “will not be shaken.”

As we embark on 2021, after enduring 2020, there certainly is no shortage of uncertainty and instability in our world and our lives.  All the more reason to be centered on the unchangeable, eternal, invincible, immovable Rock that is our God!

Is there anything quite like a mountain?  I don’t think so.  It’s a picture of stability and power.  And that is exactly what our God is.  He is the mighty rock, the mountain that cannot be shaken.  What an excellent place to be anchored at the beginning of a new year, and always!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.

God With Us?

God With Us?

How constantly aware were Joseph and Mary that when they were with Jesus, they were in the very presence of God himself?  Not just spiritually, but physically? 

Angels from God informed both Mary and Joseph separately that this baby she would be bearing was no ordinary baby.  Some elements of the two messages were similar.  Both were told that Mary’s conception would be a miraculous one brought about by the Holy Spirit.  Both heard it would be a boy and that he should be named Jesus, which means “The Lord Saves.” 

Mary was given the additional information that, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32-33).

Immediately after recording the angel’s message to Joseph, Matthew adds the parenthetical statement, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’)” (Matthew 1:22-23).

Joseph and Mary were God-fearing Jews, well trained in the Scriptures.  They were very familiar with the prophecies about the Christ, the Messiah.  So, of course, they also knew of the Savior being born of a virgin, and that this baby would be “God With Us.”  It just never occurred to them that Mary would be that woman, or that they would have to raise the “Son of the Most High!” 

Nor did they anticipate becoming husband and wife quite so immediately, (albeit without consummating the marriage until after Jesus was born.)  Just that quickly their entire lives were turned inside out.  It was an incredible privilege; it was also a daunting responsibility!  How does one properly raise the Son of God?

One doesn’t forget the appearance of an angel or the message that angel brings.  Nor does a Jewish believer in their day forget the critical prophecies of the Christ.  But how constantly aware were Joseph and Mary that they were raising “God With Us?”

From our perspective, Baby Jesus is always acknowledged as the Son of God – the Savior of the world.  That truth is in our Christmas hymns.  It’s the centerpiece of Christmas sermons.  It’s addressed in every Christian Christmas card and alluded to in all the Christian Christmas traditions.  Consequently, it’s nearly impossible for us to separate Jesus’ divinity from the human baby he was.

But was Jesus’ God-hood always in Mary and Joseph’s consciousness as they cared for the little boy?

The famous Christmas lullaby, “Away in the Manger,” describes Baby Jesus with these words: “The baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.”  Since crying is one of the only ways a baby can communicate discomfort, that’s a pretty significant leap of logic.  Was that really how it was?   Maybe.  But maybe not.  (We know Jesus cried as an adult.)

If Jesus had to share an important need to his parents, and if he did that by crying, did it register with Mary and Joseph as they stumbled to his side in the wee hours of the night that these tears were being shed by God himself?

As they washed the afterbirth off him and cut his umbilical cord, did they view this newborn infant as the eternal God?  As they changed his fouled “diapers” and wiped his bottom clean, were they always aware of his holy identity?  As they looked on the helpless baby and as they lifted his uncoordinated body out of the manger, did they marvel that this was somehow also the almighty God?  As they struggled to understand and address his infant needs, did it astound them that he was also the all-knowing Lord?  As they filled the basic physical demands for this infant boy, did it strike them that they were caring for the One who had created them … and all things?  As he nursed from Mary’s breast, did the stunning incongruity of it all ever strike her? 

When they snuggled with little Jesus, smelling his unique scent, did they realize this was the aroma of heaven?  When they kissed his cute little cheeks, did it register that they were kissing Jahweh himself … the one so sacred the Jews dare not even mention his actual name?  When they tussled his dark locks, did they consider that they were handling holy hair?  When they held his tiny hands, did they recognize him as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?  When they hugged him, did they understand that they were embracing the one who referred to himself as “I Am Who I Am?” to Moses at the burning bush? 

Was it always on their minds that Jesus was so much more than just a baby boy?  Did they daily reflect that this little one wrapped in flesh and blood was quite literally “God With Us?”

How does one wrap their mind around these things?  How does one retain their cognizance of such heavenly truths while they handle the many mundane matters an infant demands?

And did they fully understand precisely what Jesus would have to endure to accomplish his mission of saving sinners?  It’s doubtful.  But they certainly understood his purpose in a general way; the angels had made it clear to both of them.

Yet almost certainly those future events didn’t dominate their thoughts.  Mary and Joseph were too preoccupied with caring for the infant.  Undoubtedly they often forgot that he was “God With Us” because Baby Jesus looked like a typical baby; he smelled and sounded like a typical baby; he acted like a typical baby.  Yet he was so much more!

It likely slipped Joseph and Mary’s minds, at least temporarily, that Jesus was “God With Us” because he was “with them” constantly.  We, on the other hand, forget that Jesus is still “God With Us” … because He isn’t always so visible in our lives.  At least not to our physical eyes.  But this doesn’t change the wonderful truth that he is indeed “With Us.”  He is still “God With Us.”

I find it interesting that when Jesus was born into this world, he was referred to as “God With Us.”  Then, just before he physically ascended back out of this world, he emphasized: “And surely I am with you always!”  (Matthew 28:20).

How incredibly comforting to know that Jesus was the “God With Us” at his birth, that he is still “God With Us” today, and that he will always be “God With Us” for all of eternity!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.

‘Twas the Morning of Christmas

‘Twas the Morning of Christmas

“‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” is perhaps the most well-known (and loved?) Christmas poem of all.  There have been many “spin offs” from the original.  Here is mine.  I am including the original with my version for comparison sake.   Mine is drastically different as I focus on Jesus’ arrival instead of Santa’s.  However, there were a few places I could borrow or mimic some lines from the original.  I hope you enjoy it!

‘Twas the Morning of Christmas

 By David H. Birsching

‘Twas the morning of Christmas, when all through the land
Not a creature was stirring, not even a lamb.
The shepherds were watching o’er the sheep with care,
And hoped that the sunshine soon would be there.

The sheep were bedded down all deep in their sleep,
Certain their shepherds their care safe would keep.
The shepherds themselves rested close to the fire
A quiet early morning their greatest desire.

When out of the darkness a brilliance appeared
And an angel of God changed their calm to great fear!
They turned ‘way in terror, their hands o’er their eyes,
Their sheer consternation hard to disguise.

The angel said, “Please don’t fear my glorious view.
I bring you incredible, joyful good news!
The long-promised Savior is born now this day!
I’m sent by the Lord the great news to relay.”

“This newborn baby is Christ the Lord,
The prophesied one from cent’ries before.
He’s born in Bethlehem, laid in a manger;
God living among you, what could be stranger?”

Suddenly a full host of angels appeared,
And joined together for the shepherds to hear:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven!
May God’s peace be known forever and ever!”

As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
And meeting an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the heavens the angels they flew,
Confident their message the shepherds now knew.

The news wouldn’t allow the shepherds to stay,
But forced them to leave without a delay.
They soon found Joseph and the mother, Mary
And just as was promised, the little Baby.

The Babe was dressed in rags, from his head to his foot,
His clothes were all covered with hay and with soot.
In a manger he lay, so frail and so small;
It was hard to imagine he was God over all.

But his eyes showed a wisdom, a knowing them deeply;
A love beyond words, a caring completely.
How could this little one view them like that?
In awe of their Lord, they trembled … and sat.

On God’s promise fulfilled they settled their gaze;
On Jesus their Savior they stared, quite amazed.
Their sins he would carry; their debt he would pay
And his mission began on this very day.

The time finally came for them to return,
But the news they learned within them did burn.
“The Savior is born!” they lifted the call,
To the utter amazement of one and of all;

Though no angels appear, a message to bring,
At Christmas we still have full reason to sing!
Though no journey will take us the Baby to see
That Baby is still Savior for you and for me!

So spring to your worship!  Your praises lift high!
Your thankful hearts full ‘cause your Savior came nigh!
And may everyone hear, who’er is in sight
“Merry Christmas to all, for Christ made all things right!”

Twas the Night Before Christmas

By Clement Clarke Moore

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.

A Different Christmas?

A Different Christmas?

Let me begin by stating the obvious: it will indeed be a very different type of Christmas this year.  This is publicly and privately acknowledged, often with great grief.

There is no one unaffected by this pandemic.  Some readers have had to personally fight the virus.  Some have lost loved ones to it … loved ones who won’t be sending a Christmas card this year and who won’t be available to talk with this season.  Others were laid off from work and are wondering how they will pay the mortgage and the car payments, much less purchase Christmas presents.  Some didn’t just lose their job; they lost their entire business.  

Discouragement, depression, and even despair are more prevalent than usual.  Arguments and abuse are escalating.  General discontent, widespread unhappiness, frustration and “cabin-fever” are commonplace.   People are “so ready” for their situation to be better.

Not to mention the impact of the safety precautions upon Christmas plans.  The majority of the traditional annual visits to see loved ones won’t be made this year.  Large, boisterous family gatherings are undoubtedly postponed.  Crowded tables around delicious feasts are unlikely.  Gift-unwrapping parties will probably be much more private than in the past.  Those who are usually alone and always looked forward to Christmas when others would be with them will even be lonely on Christmas this year.  There will be fewer to share the Christmas cookies with this season.  (More Christmas cookies for one’s self would normally be a welcome turn of events!  Not this year.)  Much of the festivity of the holiday seems to be lost.

Even Christmas worship services will be impacted.  Some of the Christmas traditions that congregations have been doing “forever” won’t be observed this year.  Special arrangements and adjustments will be made by many churches, but even so attendance is likely to be down.  For some life-long Christians, it will be the first Christmas in their entire lives that they do not attend a Christmas service.

And no one knows when things will return to “normal” again.  All of which makes this a very different Christmas than usual.  For some, the grief is palpable and the mourning profound.

I will not patronize you with flowery, fluffy epithets or lovely but empty phrases.  We are all affected.  We are all hurting.  We are all sorrowful.  It’s undeniable; in multiple ways (in most ways!) this will definitely be a different Christmas than usual.   And it will be a different sort of Christmas for everyone.

But there is one way that this Christmas is exactly the same as every other Christmas.  It’s summarized in the message the angel shared with the shepherds on the very first Christmas: “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

May this unchanging truth be your beacon of hope and joy this Christmas.  Regardless of the personal challenges and sorrows in your life this season, your Savior entered this troubled world for you.  Regardless of how very different this Christmas may be from a typical Christmas, there is still cause for celebration.  Jesus was born for you to grow up to die for you.  He came to earth to bear your wrongs to the cross and make your relationship with God right again. 

All of which is amazing enough.  But death could not hold him.  Jesus is alive again!  Which makes Christmas just a wonderful prelude to Easter.  And what is more joyful than celebrating a living, loving Savior?  So during this “different” sort of Christmas, anchor your emotions in these truths … Jesus was born; Jesus has died; Jesus has risen; Jesus is alive; Jesus is still lovingly engaged in our lives!

Perhaps this pandemic and all the impact it is having on our world and our Christmas this year is actually an amazing blessing.  Of course, we know that the Lord is bringing blessings through it, as he does in all situations (Romans 8:28).  Undoubtedly the Lord is bringing many blessings.  But perhaps one of those blessings is that this pandemic synthesizes this season down to the simplest but most significant thing: Jesus our Savior is born.  No matter how many other traditions may be different this year, the simple truth remains: Jesus our Savior is born.

In that way at least, this Christmas is the same as every other Christmas.  Thanks be to God, in that way this Christmas is exactly the same!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.

A Better Option

A Better Option

“Why Jesus Is Better than Santa” has been bouncing around the internet for some time now.  I couldn’t find an original author, but whoever it was caught the attention of many people.  (Including me!)  There are often slight variations in the wording, but generally the phrases remain the same in all the listings.  I borrowed some of those original ideas, I modified others, and some I omitted.  Most of the thoughts below I “penned” myself, though the Biblical concepts are not original to me, of course.  So even if you’ve seen the original version somewhere, you haven’t seen this version.  I hope you enjoy reading and reflecting on these contrasts between Santa and Jesus.

Here are 25 reasons that Jesus is a far better option to focus upon at Christmas than Santa:

1. Santa lives at the frigid and frozen North Pole. While Jesus carried out his ministry and purpose on earth, he actually had no home to call his own.  Now Jesus’ home is (again!) in glorious, warm and wonderful heaven, and he is preparing a special place for us there.  But Jesus is also everywhere.  Most astonishing, he even lives in our hearts!

2. Santa’s helpers are elves; Jesus’ helpers are angels. Santa’s helpers make toys; Jesus’ angels guard God’s people while they play, work, and go about their lives.

3. Santa says, “You better not pout. You better not cry.”  Jesus’ message is very different.  He says, “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.”  Furthermore, Jesus will personally wipe all the tears from our eyes one day when he welcomes us to heaven.

4. Santa is said to give gifts to good boys and girls. Jesus, on the other hand, was the Gift intended for all people, young and old, all of whom are very bad (sinners).  Santa says “You better be good.”  Jesus says, “I was perfect for you, so you are good!” 

5. While Santa checks who’s being naughty and nice, Jesus watches over his followers to bless, provide for and protect them. Santa keeps a list of names and updates it often.  Jesus has his own list called the Lamb’s Book of Life, and he’s written our names in it!

6. When Santa sets off on his Christmas journey to deliver his gifts to the children, he travels the lengthy journey from the North Pole. Jesus’ journey was even more extraordinary; he left heaven to deliver the Gift of himself to the whole world when he was born on the first Christmas.

7. Santa comes just once a year; Jesus is an ever-present help.

8. Santa drives a sleigh; Jesus drives the cosmos. He swings from the stars, skips through the Northern Lights, leaps from mountain peak to mountain peak, rides on the winds, swims in the depths, and walks on the water.  Jesus heals the hurting, comforts the comfortless, fixes the unfixable, and restores the discouraged and discarded.

9. Children have to wait in line to see Santa and share their requests, and must hurry to keep the line moving. Children, teens, and adults – any believer! – can talk to Jesus anytime they want, and they can talk to him as long as they want.  Jesus always has the time to listen; he always hears and answers.

10. Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly; Jesus has a heart full of love.

11. Santa greets folks with a merry “Ho, Ho, Ho” and a twinkle in his eye. Nice enough but rather shallow.  Jesus exudes happiness, and passes a significant, deep-seated, and enduring joy along to all who know him in faith. 

12. Santa asks, “What’s your name?” and “What do you want for Christmas?” Jesus already knows our names and our deepest hearts’ desires.  And everything else about us as well!  Which means Jesus’ gifts are always wonderfully appropriate.

13. Santa secretly slides down chimneys.  Jesus’ first arrival was announced by angels and a miraculous star.  His second coming will be even more spectacular.

14. Santa enjoys the cookies children leave for him.  Jesus however has his children join him one day at the heavenly feast.

15. Santa fills stockings with goodies; Jesus fills our hearts and lives, and supplies all our needs.

16. Santa puts gifts under Christmas trees.  Jesus himself became our ultimate Gift and died on the tree of the cross.  Santa’s gifts are worldly, temporary gifts; Jesus’ Gift of himself fosters others spiritual gifts that will last for eternity.

17. Santa carries a bag of toys over his shoulder; Jesus carried a wooden cross.

18. Santa wears a red cap on his head and a red coat across his chest.  Jesus wore a crown of thorns and was covered in red as well … the red of his own holy, precious blood, shed for you and me.

19. While Santa’s hands are calloused from the reins, Jesus’ hands carry nail holes.

20. When Santa dies (which assumes he is actually alive), he will remain dead.  Jesus as true Man died, but as true God rose back to life three days later.

21. When Santa dies, his gifting is over; when Jesus died, his most significant gifting had just begun.

22. Santa is involved in Christmas.  Jesus is crucial to Christmas, Good Friday and Easter. And every other day of our lives too!

23. If he existed, Santa would have had to be created; he would have a beginning.  Jesus, on the other hand, always was.  He is eternal – existing before time and actively involved in the creation of all things.

24. Santa apparently does a little magic; Jesus does monumental miracles.

25. Santa has many stand-ins; Jesus is the One and Only.

“To whom will you compare me?  Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.  Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?  He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.  Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing” (Isaiah 40:25-26).  “This is what the LORD says — Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.  Who then is like me?”  (Isaiah 44:6-7).

So which contrasts did you appreciate the most?  Can you think of any to add?  Please share your thoughts below!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.

Turkeys’ Revenge?

Turkeys’ Revenge?

Many, many years ago I had the “Deer Hunter” video game loaded onto my computer.  The object of the game was, of course, to bag a big buck from the comfort and convenience of one’s desk chair.  It was a game that even my children enjoyed playing.

A friend gifted me with the “Dear Hunter” parody game called “Deer Avenger.”  In that game, everything was turned catawampus.  In “Deer Avenger,” a vengeful deer hunted the hunters, and hung his quarries’ heads on the wall if successful!

In the same vein, do turkeys impart a bit of revenge following our Thanksgiving dinners?  Is tryptophan, that ingredient in turkey that makes us lazy and lethargic following our indulgence in turkey meat, the turkey’s revenge? 

Tryptophan has typically been regarded as a somewhat sinister, sleep-inducing chemical that takes its toll in the wake of a Thanksgiving meal. And indeed it does benefit our sleep!  Tryptophan enables our bodies to produce melatonin and serotonin.  Melatonin helps regulate a person’s sleep cycle; serotonin stabilizes one’s mood and assists with falling asleep.  Which definitely seems to support the idea of a turkey’s revenge!  We eat turkey; we inevitably slip into oblivion afterwards.

Which leads to an important question.  Like a nap after turkey, does spiritual lethargy tend to follow our Thanksgiving thankfulness?  We’ve done our duty on the day of giving thanks, and now we inevitably slide (back) into apathy afterwards?  

Becoming drowsy after our turkey dinner is acceptable; sleeping on our thankfulness to God is not!

As for tryptophan inducing nearly immediate naps, that’s actually a myth.  It does tend to produce drowsiness, but not until many hours (5!) later!  Rather, the drooping eyelids occur as a result of the multiple platefuls of carbs consumed.  It is the amount of food eaten that is actually the culprit.  Digestion is exhausting work!

In reality, Tryptophan happens to be extremely beneficial for our bodies.  Tryptophan is an essential amino acid.  Amino acids are fundamental building blocks of protein and are key ingredients in helping our bodies function properly.  The melatonin and serotonin that tryptophan enables our bodies to produce are great blessings!  In addition, tryptophan is used by our bodies to make niacin (vitamin B3), which helps regulate our metabolism and keeps our cells healthy.

Other sources of tryptophan are chicken, eggs, fish, milk, cheese, peanuts, pumpkin and sesame seeds, tofu and soy, and chocolate.  (Which means chocolate contains both tryptophan AND caffeine.  What a combination!)

So enjoy your turkey dinners, and embrace tryptophan.  It’s good for you!  And just as tryptophan is good for the body, so is continual, Gospel-induced thankfulness to our loving Lord good for the soul.  It changes our perspectives, positively affects our attitudes, sparks our motivation, and produces ongoing joy … both in us and in the people around us.

The psalmist has it right:  “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the LORD is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100).

Consequently, we are constantly thankful … not just because turkeys don’t take revenge, but because our merciful Lord is ever-gracious!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.

Fail or Full?

Fail or Full?

It was horrible disease.  Those who bore it were banished from home, family and society.  They couldn’t work; they couldn’t shop; they couldn’t worship; they couldn’t interact with anyone.  (No, I’m not referring to those diagnosed with COVID, but to those with leprosy in Bible times.  There are certainly some similarities between the two, but leprosy was usually much worse.) 

Leprosy was the most feared disease, bar none, and was regarded as “the kiss of death.”  If one had leprosy, the odds of recovering were slim.  Leprosy typically meant a long and lingering death sentence, making lepers true-life versions of the living dead.

The only people lepers were allowed to associate with were other lepers, so they gathered themselves together in little banished colonies outside cities, well away from their homes and the comfort of loved ones.  Horrific doesn’t begin to describe the life of one with leprosy.

One day ten lepers (their personal leper group) stood at a distance from Jesus and called out to him, begging for mercy and healing.  The Lord instructed them to “Go, show yourselves to the priests,” which is what healed lepers were to do to be reinstated back into society.  On their way, their leprosy disappeared!

Nine ran joyfully on to the priests, leaping, laughing and shouting, eager to get back to their families and their lives.  Imagine their exuberance!  It was over; they were healed!  One of the ten however, when he realized he was suddenly leprosy-free, ran in a different direction.  In his exultation, he sprinted back to Jesus and fell at his feet, praising and thanking him.  (Luke 17:11-19)

Nine of the healed lepers demonstrated a thank-fail.  Only one showed a thank-full.

Have you ever considered how you might have reacted if you were one of the ten?  It’s easy for us at a cool, calm distance to subjectively convince ourselves we would have shown thank-full-ness like the one.  But it’s not unlikely, in our excitement and selfishness of the moment, after being diseased perhaps for years and slated for certain death, that we would have been guilty of thank-fail-ness, just like the nine.

Of course, Thanksgiving approaches. I will go on the record to state that I am opposed to Thanksgiving Day.  I am NOT opposed to thanksgiving, but I AM opposed to the concept of only giving thanks to the Lord on one day.  (Sadly, more and more people fail to even acknowledge God or give him proper thanks on the holiday!)  But when a person honestly reflects upon their blessings from the Lord, it becomes clear that setting aside a single day for being thank-full, and implying that there are 364 other days to be thank-fail, is inexcusable.

Forget the ten lepers for a moment.  What is our own attitude today? 

Yes, I know we are all struggling at the moment.  No one is unaffected by the virus.  Everyone is impacted.  Everyone’s life is more complicated at the moment.  Difficulty, frustration and discouragement abounds.   We are so ready to be done with it all.

And in the midst of it all we are tempted to slip into thank-fail.

But the Lord is still Lord.  He is still our Rock, our Fortress, our Shield and Defender.  He is still our almighty, all-seeing Leader and our ever-present Friend.  He is still our loving, providing and protecting Shepherd.  He is still our Healer and Blesser.  He is still the Promise-keeper, faithfully fulfilling all his promises to us and always working everything for our good. 

Most importantly of all, he is still our Redeemer and our Living Savior.  The cross is behind him and his tomb is empty.  He makes us victors along with him – all-encompassing forgiveness is won; death and the devil are defeated!  Jesus, the King of kings, now lives and reigns in heaven, watching attentively over us in our lives, accompanying us every step of the way, and waiting to welcome us home to heaven one day. 

So no matter our difficulties, we are blessed beyond degree.  Beyond comprehension!  Beyond our wildest hopes and dreams!  Which means we simply cannot react with a thank-fail.  Rather, our hearts of faith respond to our loving God with a thank-full!

“Praise the LORD.  Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.  Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise? … Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.  Let all the people say, “Amen!”  Praise the LORD!”  (Psalm 106:1-2, 48).

May your every day be a thank-full day!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.