Author: Don

Dear Friends,

In his book, Because of Bethlehem, Max Lucado reminds us, “We live between the Advents.” At Christmastime we look back in history to Jesus’ arrival as a small baby in a manager. The Second Advent is a future event when Christ returns in glory to take his place as King of kings and Lord of lords. We know the approximate date of Jesus birth, but as for the Second Coming, Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:36, “’But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’”

Of course, many of those who engage in eschatology (the study of end times) look at the signs of our times and believe that Jesus’ return is just around the corner. Their arguments notwithstanding, for any of us, the end time may be just beyond the next sunrise. Which leads to an interesting question, “What would you do today if you knew for certain that you would meet Jesus tomorrow?”

Now there are flippant answers, and there are theological answers to that question. The flippant answers can be fun, so let’s consider some of them first.

“If I knew I’d meet Jesus tomorrow, the politician might say, “That’s one recall I’ll be glad to be a part of.”

“If I knew I’d meet Jesus tomorrow, an over-eater might respond, I’d have a large banana split and a sheet cake, with one fork. I’d deal with the weightier issues tomorrow.”

If I knew I’d meet Jesus tomorrow, one might — as W.C. Fields was reported to have said —“Scan the Bible looking for loopholes!”

“If I knew I’d meet Jesus tomorrow,” the addict might say, “I’d know for sure that I could give up smoking, or drinking, or swearing, or you name it!”

The atheist might respond, “If I knew I’d meet Jesus tomorrow, I’d say, ‘Jesus? Who is Jesus?”

The atheist’s response actually moves us from the flippant to theological. Jesus wants to know who we say he is. “Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets. “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?’” Mark 8:27-29a (NIV)

The first Advent answered Jesus’ “Who am I?” question. We find the answer in the words spoken to the shepherds, “And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.’” Luke 2:10-11 (KJV)

Who you say Jesus is will determine how you anticipate the Second Advent. With this in mind, if I knew for certain that I’d meet Christ the Lord tomorrow, I think I’d invest in some heavy-duty knee pads. In fact, I think I’ll start praying more today.

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

“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.”
Isaiah 9:6 NIV

Here we are in the season of Advent: a time when Christians prepare for and remember the real meaning of Christmas. It’s also a time for the annual debate over how retailers can effectively increase sales volume without offending anyone who may have a hyper-sensitivity to the words “Jesus” or “Christ.”

To Walmart
If “Happy Holidays” seems right, and makes your lawyers smile;
It’s not my place to criticize as I walk down your isle.
Yet, as I give my credit card and start to walk away
Accept my “Merry Christmas – and have a Christ-filled Day.”

I used to get really upset when a sales clerk would say, “Happy Holidays,” instead of “Merry Christmas.” Now, rather than vent, Bonnie and I seek ways to make Advent a time of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10 (NLT)

Advent Habit #1: Discover quiet time by starting an “electronics fast.” Set a specific time period each day when you commit to turning off your computer, your phone, and your television. Use that quiet time to read your Bible or an inspirational book, such as Because of Bethlehem by Max Lucado.

 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises! Psalm 47:6

Advent Habit #2: Listen to the words. We all love the melodies of Christmas carols, but they are much more than elevator music. The words tell the story of the birth of our savior. The poems that lie beneath the melodies of “Oh, Holy Night” or “Mary Did You Know?” serve to remind us what a blessed time this is.

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

Advent Habit #3: Give Jesus a gift. The Salvation Army, Samaritan’s Purse, and Toys for Tots are just a few of the charities that serve our community.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy …” 1 Corinthians 13:4

Advent Habit #4: Show your love. Yes, there will be crowds. Yes, people will be impatient; and yes, there will be that sales clerk who rubs your last raw nerve. We show our love by how we act and by how we react.

In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul wrote, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

The pattern of the world is to strip Christ out of Christmas. We can help put Christ back in Christmas by putting more of him in us.

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 (NIV) reminds us to ”Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” With this verse in mind, let’s look at grace said at mealtime.

Jesus made it a habit to offer thanks before meals. “
And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.” Matthew 14:19

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’” Matthew 26:26

Grace is a prayer.
Whether we offer a simple, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” or take time to thank God for everyone — from the farmer who planted the seed to the men from Waste Management who pick up the garbage — we offer grace for the grace we have received.

Those who come from an episcopal background are probably familiar with the prayer: Bless, oh Lord, this food to our use and us to Thy service, and make us ever mindful of the needs of others – In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.

This prayer reminds us to be “mindful” of the needs of others. South County Outreach, The Peace Center at Saddleback, and other foodbanks serve our community by providing food for those less fortunate. We can make our donations of groceries tangible prayers of thanksgiving.

Grace is a way to witness.
When there are children or grandchildren in the house, saying grace before a meal is a way to remind them that God is the ultimate source of our daily bread.“We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.” Psalm 78:4 (NLT)

My niece decided to have her wedding reception at a buffet in Las Vegas. The sound of slot machines and people talking didn’t provide the most romantic setting. But the atmosphere changed dramatically when she asked my brother to offer a prayer before the meal. You could have heard a pin drop; it seemed as if everyone stopped what they were doing and listened respectfully. When we pray in public we become witnesses to the goodness of God. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1 (NIV)

In business situations or in groups that include people of different faiths, we may be uncertain what to do. I have found that we can show our love for God and our respect for others by asking if those present would like to join us in a prayer of thanksgiving, and by praying a silent prayer if anyone feels uncomfortable praying with us.

There is a wonderful story in the twenty-seventh chapter of Acts about the apostle Paul being on a ship that was caught in a hurricane. For fourteen days the crew did what they could to save the ship. Just before dawn on the fifteenth day, Paul encouraged the men to eat. Notice what he did next. “³⁵ After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all.” He really meant it when he wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances.”

Grace can take many forms.

Whether you are eating in the solitude of your home or sitting at the table of honor at a banquet, you have the opportunity to honor God with your prayer of thanksgiving. Remember, Thanksgiving is just a day. Giving thanks is a lifestyle.

Verse for the week: “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.” 1 Chronicles 16:8

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ

Dear Friends:

When I was nine or ten years old I ran up to my mother and whispered into her ear something that I had heard about a neighbor. She gave me one of those looks that only a mother can give, then said softly, “Whispering is lying; lying’s a sin. If you ever get to heaven; you’ll never get in.” Mom, like most of us, knew how easy it is to slip into the sin of gossip.

Just how serious is gossip? The flippant answer might be, “Depends on whether you are the gossiper or the gossipee,” but the Bible doesn’t see gossip as a minor infraction.

Psalm 39:1 puts it this way, “’I will be careful how I act. I will not sin by what I say. I will be careful what I say around wicked people.’”

Need a picture of a gossip? Check out Psalm 64:3-4: “They sharpen their tongues like swords. They shoot bitter words like arrows. They hide and shoot at innocent people.They shoot suddenly and are not afraid.”

Anyone who has been the victim of gossip may feel like the psalmist who wrote, ” When I was in trouble, I called to the Lord. And he answered me. Lord, save me from liars and from those who plan evil..” Psalm 120:1-2

Proverbs 11:12-13 reads, “A person without good sense finds fault with his neighbor. But a person with understanding keeps quiet. A person who gossips can’t keep secrets. But a trustworthy person can keep a secret.”

Proverbs 17:4 makes it clear that listening to gossip is on a level with speaking gossip: “An evil person listens to evil words. A liar pays attention to cruel words,” and Proverbs 20:19 offers advice, “Gossips can’t keep secrets. So avoid people who talk too much.”

Need more? In the book of Romans gossips are grouped with slanderers, God-haters, the insolent, those who are arrogant and the boastful. The apostle Paul also wrote of his concerns about the Church at Corinth, “I am afraid that among you there may be arguing, jealousy, anger, selfish fighting, evil talk, gossip, pride, and confusion.” 2 Corinthians 12:20

The apostle James wrote a searing indictment of gossip, “A person might think he is religious. But if he says things he should not say, then he is just fooling himself. His “religion” is worth nothing.” James 1:26

And the apostle Peter offered his Amen when he wrote, “A person must do these things to enjoy life and have many, happy days. He must not say evil things. He must not tell lies.” 1 Peter 3:10

Turning again to the book of James we see the emphasis the apostles put on controlling the tongue. “We all make many mistakes. If there were a person who never said anything wrong, he would be perfect. He would be able to control his whole body, too.” James 3:2

Do we control our tongues as much as we would like to?

The Gossip’s Plan I made a plan to never say a thing that isn’t true; To never talk in whispered breath about a friend like you; To never ever gossip or lend an eager ear; It’s just the thing we’re told to do – I think I’ll start next year!

The apostle James explains, “People can tame every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have tamed them. But no one can tame the tongue. It is wild and evil. It is full of poison that can kill.” James 3:7-8

All of the scriptures this week come from the International Children’s Bible. After all, the message is one we’ve been hearing since we were kids, “If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.”

Verse for the Week: Psalm 19:14 “I hope my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock, the one who saves me.”

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ