Don’t Give Up Missions

There came a point in Jesus’s earthly ministry when he was no longer welcomed in the synagogues. With no other option, Jesus began to teach in the open air and began to tell parables. Parables are practical illustrations from daily living. Parables are not fables with a moral lesson. Parables are not analogies, where each character represents a contemporary character. Parables are different, because they illustrate a single divine truth.

Our reading, Matthew 25:31-46, the parable of the sheep and the goats, is a judgement parable. That generation saw the scene regularly. As a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, so God will separate the righteous from the unrighteous. The righteous will enter heaven, because they responded to human need. They provided food, drinks, companionship, clothing, and medicine to those in need. The unrighteous were sent to hell because they failed to respond to human need. They were preoccupied with their owns needs and desires. The point of the story is clear – Jesus expects us to respond to human need. In the life of the church, we call responding to human need missions. Christian missions is an excellent way of expressing your appreciation to God for saving your soul. My goal in this blog is to help you appreciate the mission work of the church. I will do that by making three statements about mission work. I hope these statements make you think.

This is statement number one. Missions involve interpersonal relationships. Once you learn the name of the person you are helping, everything changes. Once you get involved in their story, missions come to life. Missions is not charity, missions is deeper. There is nothing wrong with collecting food, paper products or warm clothing. There are many people who need them. The problem is, you never get to know the person who will eat that food, use those paper products or wear that scarf. Charity is fine, but the needy always remain at a distance. Missions involve interpersonal relationships. In my life, I cherish the relationships I have made while helping someone in need. They changed my life while I was helping them. I think and pray for them regularly. If you want to thank Jesus, get involved in someone else’s story. Missions involve interpersonal relationships.

This is statement number two. Missions expose a person’s spiritual maturity. Spiritual babies only think about themselves. The spiritually mature grow to understand that life is about others. No activity in the life of the church exposes spiritual maturity more than missions. If it is true of people, and it is true of churches. If you show me a church that is not involved in missions, then I will show you a church that is on the way to extinction.

On the day missions take a backseat to everything else, your church will begin to die. If you want your church to close, then frustrate every mission opportunity. It is easy to do. You can justify your opposition based on sound business principles. Others will support you because there are other spiritually immature people. The church was never meant to be a business. The church was meant to be an extension of Christ in the world. When the winds of Pentecost blew, the only thing that mattered to those charter members was Jesus. The only thing that should matter to you is Jesus. The spiritually mature understand when we care for the needy of this world we are really caring for Jesus. When we ignore the needy of this world, we are ignoring Jesus. That is what the Master said in the parable. Missions expose a person’s spiritual maturity.

This is statement number three. Missions involve a certain amount of risk. Can I state the obvious? There are many frightened people within the life of the church. Whenever I have gotten involved in a mission project, well-meaning people try to stop me. When I went to the Philippines, people told me, don’t go! Their government is unstable. When I went to Mexico people told me, don’t go! You could get a disease. When I went to Haiti people told me, don’t go! You could be held hostage. Every time I traveled to the former Soviet Union, some well-meaning person warned me that I could be arrested and interrogated. When I tried to help the poor in my nearby city, people asked me, “Aren’t you afraid to be in the city? Someone seems to be killed every day.”

Yes, missions involve a certain amount of risk. Yes, the government may be unstable. Yes, the food may be bad. Yes, the residents may not like Americans. Yes, you may fall in love with someone in need and get your heart broken. However, this is what experience has taught me: The reward of helping those in need is greater than the risk. There is a world of needy people out there whom God loves. How can you turn your back on them? If you don’t believe God is calling you to go, then don’t go. Stay home. But, if God has called someone else to do something, then don’t discourage them. Encourage and pray for them. Never forget, God is with the person he has called into missions. Missions involve risk.

Ernest Henry Shackelton (1874-1922) was born in Ireland on February 15, 1874. His father wanted him to be a doctor, but he wanted to be a sailor. At the age of sixteen, he joined the merchant marines and saw the world. His greatest desire was to travel to the South Pole. In December of 1914, he got that opportunity. He was the captain of a ship called Endurance, which had a crew of twenty-seven men. For years, I read about an advertisement he ran to recruit his crew. This is the fictitious ad:

Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.

The story ends by saying Shackleton could not take all the men that responded to that ad. I was saddened to learn several years ago that story is not true. I wanted that story to be true, because I longed for an adventure. I didn’t just want to live and die. I wanted to make a difference. I am not alone. Many long for an adventure and to make a difference.

I believe you long for an adventure and want to make a difference in this world too. I believe you are desperate to find a way to thank God for saving your soul. The world is filled with people who are in need. How are you going to respond? Pastor of the Saddleback Church in California Rick Warren (born 1954) once said, “The only way to serve God is to serve other people.” Never give up on missions!

Why the Transfiguration is Important

According to the Revised Common Lectionary, this Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday where Matthew, Mark and Luke tell of the transfiguration. We are looking at Matthew’s version, Matthew 17:1-8. The scene is set up in the previous chapter. For in that chapter, Jesus gives the disciples a little quiz. There are only two questions. This is the first question: who do people say that I am? They give a variety of impressive answers. Then, he asks the disciples the second question: Who do you say I am? Only Simon Peter’s answer is recorded, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” That answer in itself means the disciples are making spiritual progress.

To show his approval, Jesus takes three of the disciples, Peter, James and John, to the top of a mountain. The Mountain was probably Mount Hermon, which raises 9,000 feet above sea level. The inner circle must have believed they were going to receive some special instruction from the Master, but they received so much more. According to Matthew 17:2, Jesus was transfigured. We are not exactly sure what that means. It will have to suffice to say, Jesus was glorified. His face began to shine like the sun and his clothes began to glow. It was an amazing scene. Then the scene grew more complex. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared. They are endorsing Jesus’s ministry. The disciples are rattled, but then the truly miraculous happens. God, himself, suddenly appears. He identifies Jesus, so his identity is clear to everyone. Verse five quotes God. He says, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” The scene ends as quickly as it began. It is one of the great scenes in the Bible, but what does it mean?

Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) was an American pastor, Bible teacher, theologian and author. He said there are four things about the transfiguration of Jesus that should never be forgotten. Each one is Biblical. Consider them with me, they have merit.

The glory of His person – The transfiguration of Jesus came from his inside. It was not something that happened to Jesus, like a spotlight. It was something that came from within Jesus. His glory was permitted to shine. (Hebrews 1:3)

The glory of His kingdom – Moses and Elijah represented the Old Testament law and the Old Testament prophets. They were the great characters in the Old Testament however they are inferior to Jesus. Everything in the Old Testament pointed to Jesus and his ministry. Jesus was the final piece of God’s plan of salvation for the world. (Hebrews 1:1)

The glory of His cross – The transfiguration reminds us that suffering and glory go hand in hand. In time, the transfigured, glorified Jesus would be nailed to the cross and die. (1 Peter 1:6-8)

The glory of His submission – In many ways, the transfiguration is the beginning of the end. Jesus did not go to the cross because he wanted to go. Jesus went to the cross because it was part of God’s plan of salvation. Jesus submitted to God’s will.

The transfiguration of Jesus reminds us of the supremacy of Jesus. Within the life of the church, if we don’t have Jesus, then we have nothing at all. In my forty years in the ministry, I have reminded people of that divine truth countless times. It sounds simple, but it is easy to forget. Churches get so involved with building maintenance, fundraising for a good cause, and helping the needy that they forget about Jesus. Churches are not service clubs or community action groups. Churches are different because they are all about Jesus. Without Jesus, churches have nothing at all. That is why every congregation must keep Jesus the focal point of its ministry. That is why denominations must keep Jesus the focal point of their ministries. It is sad when churches forget about Jesus.

If you know me personally or read my blog regularly, you know I attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. During those years, I served a small membership church between Danville and Lancaster, Kentucky. It was called the Pleasant Grove Christian Church. I am happy to report it is still active. I have nothing negative to say about that congregation. They were kind to me at a time when I needed kindness. In those three years, I got to know other churches in that community as well.

One of those churches was the Mount Olivet Baptist Church. In Kentucky, at that time, every church was Baptist, regardless of the sign. Their theology leaned to the right. It was named after the Mount of Olives. Since I left that area, the Mount Olivet Baptist Church closed. The reason is sad. The church simply shattered over a series of differences of opinions. It all began when the Board of Elders held an emergency meeting. They were upset their pastor, and his wife had filed for divorce. They believed in the Bible and the Bible’s teaching against divorce. They decided to let their preacher go. The problem was the church was divided over his dismissal. Everyone who had suffered through a divorce, or had a family member who had been divorced, was upset. There was an ugly church meeting and A large portion of the congregation left. They swore they would never return. That group was true to their word. They never returned.

A search committee was formed to find a new pastor to fix the mess. They collected a few names. One of the names was a woman. She was by far the most qualified. She had an excellent education, could preach up a storm and was effective in every church she served. There was only one problem – she was a woman, and you know what the Bible says about women speaking in church. For that reason, she didn’t get the call. They called an inferior man, who made a bigger mess. Everything was supposed to be done confidentially, but the word leaked out. Once again, the church was in an uproar. Everyone seemed to know of a gifted and effective female pastor. From that moment on, the Mount Olivet Baptist Church splintered. Both sides quoted Bible verses, and each side claimed they were right. Both sides memorized Bible verses, but both sides forgot about Jesus. Everyone used the Bible to support their opinion. They forget we are called to love people, not judge people. In the end, the once healthy church struggled paying basic bills. In time, the church building and property were sold to a local brewpub. It wasn’t all a loss. I hear both the food, and the beer are great. Can I ask you a question?

Why do you think the Mount Olivet Baptist Church closed? Did it close because of a lack of Bible? Did it close because the people were not passionate about their church? Did it close because of a lack of money? I believe Mount Olivet Baptist Church closed because they forget about the supremacy of Jesus. Without Jesus, churches have nothing at all. Do you remember what God said? He said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Praying for Loved Ones

Today, Amanda Knox (born 1987) is an advocate for the unjustly incarcerated and a campaigner for just reform. The reason is obvious. At one time she was unjustly incarcerated. Do you remember her story? She was a University of Washington student who went to Italy to study. It should have been a dream come true, but it became a nightmare. In 2009, she was found guilty of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kercher (1985-2007). In 2011, that verdict was appealed and finally revised. On the day that verdict was read her loved ones gathered, including her grandmother, Elizabeth Huff (born 1942). No one can question Elizabeth’s love for Amanda. She went $250,000 in debt from the legal fees. Huff said, “I have been praying for Amanda every day. She is a good girl, and she needs a hug. I need a hug too!” When was the last time you prayed for a loved one? That takes us to our scripture reading.

Our reading is Philippians 1:3-11. The city of Philippi was a prosperous Roman colony in present day Greece, whose citizens were considered Roman citizens. The background of this epistle is interesting. Paul wrote this letter to them from a Roman prison cell in the year 61 A.D. You can consider it a thank-you note. He is responding to a gift they had sent him. In other words, Paul and the Philippians had a connection; there was an intimate spirit between them. They had history. That congregation understood Paul; they respected Paul. They knew the importance of his mission, so, they sent him an unknown gift. However, the gift wasn’t just a gift – it was a reminder. They wanted him to know he wasn’t alone. They were praying for Paul, and Paul was praying for them. Paul’s prayer is very personal. This blog is about praying for loved ones. Our reading will help you when you pray for your loved ones. Paul’s prayer acts as a model for us. Consider these three things. This is the first one.

When you pray for a loved one, be appreciative. For many years. Kathryn and I traveled to Russia to help orphans who would never be adopted. On many of those trips we traveled to Dmitrov, which is approximately fifty miles north of Moscow. It is the home of the Renewal Orphanage. Those trips were life-changing for everyone who traveled with us.

One year, we took a teenager from my church. I met with his mother before we left.

She said, “I am looking at this trip to Russia as a once in a lifetime opportunity. I want him to see how the rest of the world lives, so he will appreciate the things we have in America!” She was right. It was amazing what you miss about home when you are gone. However, it is my experience, the thing team members miss the most are the relationships they have in America. What do you miss when you travel? Who do you miss when you travel?

When you pray for a loved one, be appreciative. In other words, their very presence is enough for you. Verses three and four say, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.” Those are positive words. How thankful are you for the people in your life? Their very presence is enough. Pray with a positive spirit when you pray for someone in your life. Are you thankful for their very presence? How would your life change if they were suddenly gone? Never take your loved ones for granted, be appreciative. This is the second one.

When you pray for a loved one, be reflective. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was born on February 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. He had a hard life as a young man. He wasn’t close to his father, Samuel (1778-1851). Their relationship was difficult. Lincoln didn’t even return home when his father was near death. His biological mother died when he was nine years old. When Lincoln was ten his father married a widow from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Sarah Bush (1784-1818). She had three children of her own. However, she treated young Abraham like one of her own. Lincoln recognized her as the greatest influence in his life. From the very beginning he called her mother. She was the first one to recognize his brilliance and encouraged him to study.

When you pray for a loved one, be reflective. In other words, reflect on how that person has changed your life. Verse seven says, “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.” That is not a general proclamation, it is a personal comment. Paul changed their lives by introducing them to Jesus, but they changed Paul life as well. How have the people in your life improved you? Who has had the greatest influence on your life? When you pray for your loved ones, be reflective. This is number three.

When you pray for loved ones, be purpose driven. Verses nine through eleven says, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” In other words, Paul is reminding them what is important in life – Jesus!

One of the greatest challenges in life is finding your purpose. Your purpose is not necessarily your profession; the two are not necessarily the same. However, they do stand side by side. Your profession is how you make money. Your money does two things. First, it meets your needs. Second, it funds your purpose. In 1648, The Westminster Confession of Faith was finalized and has influenced the Presbyterian Church since. It says the purpose of life is to glorify God. How are you glorifying God in your life? When was the last time you prayed for someone else’s purpose? Let me end with this question.

When was the last time you prayed for a loved one? It may be an aging parent who is struggling to remain independent. It may be a child on the first day of school. It may be an adult child who is self-destructive. It may be a sibling who can’t keep a job or find love. It may be your spouse, you have a front row seat to their drama. They are tired, stressed out, sick, depressed or overwhelmed. After all, life is not easy. Have you ever prayed for a loved one’s salvation? How could you enjoy eternity without them? Those are personal prayers. I would guess most of our prayers revolve around our closest relationships. How often do you pray for the people in your life? In those prayers be appreciative, be reflective and be purpose driven. American Episcopal clergyman Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) once said, “A prayer is a wish turned Godward.”

Never Give Up!

Our reading is Luke 18:1, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never give up.” The parable Jesus told was the parable of the persistent widow. At that time and place, widows were particularly vulnerable because pensions, government assistance and life insurance were not available to them. The only weapon this woman had in her arsenal was perseverance. In the end, the widow was rewarded for her perseverance and received justice. As with all parables there is only one point – the point of this parable is to persevere in the Christian journey. In the end, we will be rewarded for our perseverance too. Webster defines perseverance as: doing something despite difficulty or delay. We must never give up!

The word perseverance resonates in American society, because our society values persistence. It has been said many times that no one likes a quitter. We wonder about the couple who call off the marriage after a few months. We despise parents who abandon their children. We salute the retiree, who labored at the same job for decades. We marvel at the person who celebrates their one-hundredth birthday. We celebrate the couple on their gold wedding anniversary and admire the century home. We respect the farmer whose family has owned that land for generations. Many treasure a well-aged wine. Our society values things that take time. Why should the Christian life be any different?

Paul knew what Jesus knew during his earthly ministry, that there is power in perseverance because longevity has a way of changing us. Roman 5:3-5 says, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” That was Paul’s story. He endured many hardships, but he remained faithful to Jesus. I led worship for decades. I was a true pastor; I knew my people and their problems. Some faced great challenges, yet they were in worship weekly. They refused to walk away from the faith. They would agree persistence is important because it does three things. Let me look at each one.

First, persistence transforms you! Life is not easy and many times we go to God with our problems and concerns. Those times with God are valuable because it is at those times we change. God is influencing your life, and you are becoming a better person. You become a kinder person. You become a more compassionate person. You become a more loving person. Are you a better person today than you were ten years ago? How much time do you spend with God? Spending time with God will transform you.

Christian writer Max Lucado (born 1955) admits he was a closet slob. Prior to being married, a messy home never bothered him. There was always a pile of old newspapers. There was always a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. The bed was never made. Everything changed when he got married. His wife, Denalyn (1956), liked a clean house. She forced him to pick up and he didn’t like it. For several years, he was in training then one day his wife announced she would be going away for a few days. He was going to miss her, but he looked forward to living like a slob again. He wasn’t going to clean or pick up things until the day before she returned. When she first left the mess began to build. It was at that moment something happened he didn’t expect. The mess began to bother him. He began to clean on his own. He was a reformed slob! His wife had changed him. The same thing happens when you spend time with God. Persistence has a way of transforming you. Never give up on the Christian journey!

Second, persistence humbles you! Looking back, there was a time in my life I was living the life of a fraud. I wanted to convey to the world my life was perfect. I was an independent thinker, who could provide for my own needs. Time taught me this simply wasn’t going to happen. I do my best to control the controllables, but there are many things in life that are out of my control. I am comfortable confessing; I am more dependent on God today than ever. I hope he is controlling my thoughts, and I know he is providing for my needs. Persistence humbles you.

In 1857, a woman by the name of Cassie Chadwick (1957-1907) was born in western Canada. At the age of 24, she moved to Cleveland, Ohio and began her career as a fraud. She always appeared to be someone she wasn’t and was excellent at it. She became famous. She defrauded several U.S. banks out of millions of dollars claiming to be the illegitimate daughter and heir of Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919). When she died at the age of fifty, she went by eight different names. Sometimes things aren’t what they appear. I hope that is not your story. How has life humbled you? Are you tired of living the life of a fraud? Persistence has a way of humbling you. Never give up on the Christian journey!

Third, persistence helps you to focus on God! Philippians 3:12 says, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Keeping Jesus, the focal point of your life, is not easy. Life is filled with many distractions. Some of those distractions are challenging circumstances, illness and natural disasters. How many of our distractions are good things – our relationships, jobs, and hobbies. Those are good things, but they are not the best things in life. The best thing in life is God. Hardships and troubles remind us we have a spiritual side. Perseverance helps you focus on God.

It is my experience that people do not return to church after years of being absent because of the music program or they want to make new friends. It is my experience personal crisis leads people back to church. It may be the loss of a loved one, a health challenge, a relationship issue, or they are facing a stressful life experience, like relocating, starting a new job, or retirement. Each returning worshipper wants a stronger connection with God and inner peace. Persistence helps us focus on God. Never give up on the Christian journey!

In 1972, NASA launched the exploratory space probe Pioneer 10. The satellite’s primary mission was to reach Jupiter, photograph the planet and its moons, and beam data to earth about Jupiter’s magnetic field, radiation belts, and atmosphere. Scientists feared the asteroid belt would destroy the satellite before it could reach its target. They had nothing to fear. Pioneer 10 accomplished its mission and much, much more. Swinging past the giant planet in November 1973, Jupiter’s immense gravity hurled Pioneer 10 at a higher rate of speed toward the edge of the solar system. At one billion miles from the sun, Pioneer 10 passed Saturn. At some two billion miles, it passed Uranus; Neptune at nearly three billion miles; Pluto at almost four billion miles. By 1997, twenty-five years after its launch, Pioneer 10 was more than six billion miles from the sun. And despite that immense distance, Pioneer 10 continued to beam back radio signals to scientists on Earth. The last radio communication with Pioneer 10 was on January 23, 2003. Pioneer 10 was designed to last 21 months, yet it lasted more than 30 years.

We remember the name Pioneer 10 for one reason – it is a story of perseverance. It never gave up. How will you be remembered? Will you be remembered as one who quit the Christian journey because life was hard? Or will you be remembered as one who persevered? Jesus told the disciples years ago what he expects from us today. We must never give up!

Cultivating An Eternal Friendship

Our reading is Luke 11:1-4. It was the custom of every rabbi to teach their disciples to pray and each rabbi taught their disciples a unique prayer. For example, John the Baptist taught his disciples a specific prayer. If you knew the prayer, then you knew the rabbi; that specific prayer was their identity. Jesus’ disciples wanted a unique prayer because they wanted to be identified with Jesus. So, they asked Jesus the question in verse one, “’Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’” The prayer Jesus taught the disciples has become a model of prayer for generations. Obviously, prayer is important! Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible then to be alive without breathing.” What is prayer?

Don’t think of prayer as a way of getting something you desire from God. Think of prayer as a tool used to develop a friendship with God. That shift changes everything. You know how to have friends in this world so let me ask you these two questions. First, if you treated your friends like you treat God, would you have any friends? Second, if you treated God like you treated your friends, how would your relationship with God improve? In this blog, I want to talk about three things that must be present in all your friendships, especially in your friendship with God. These thoughts are not original. They came from United Methodist’s James W. Moore (1938-2019). Each one is illustrated for us in Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer. Let me begin.

First, if you want to cultivate a friendship with God, then a spirit of gratitude must be present. Is a spirit of gratitude present in your prayers? Verses two and three say, “He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread.’” Those are words of gratitude. You are anticipating God’s blessings. There is no such thing as an ungrateful Christian. If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, then you are striving to become like Jesus. The Master was thankful for everything. Are you thankful for everything? How many blessings in your life do you take for granted? If you want to be friends with God, then you must be thankful for everything!

I led worship in various churches for forty years. I never served a megachurch. I served small and medium size congregations. It was the custom in those churches to ask for prayer requests. Each week it was the same. Hands would fly up. People asked for all kinds of things. We prayed for replaced knees and hips. We prayed for hearts and lungs. We pray for strangers who are facing terminal illnesses and battling depression. We prayed for dogs whose noses were no longer wet and cold. The list was endless. Everyone seemed to have a prayer request, but our joys are another issue. Periodically, I would ask, “What are you thankful for today?” The reaction is completely different. Instead of hands flying in the air, I got the deer in the headlights look. There was an awkward moment of silence. After a few painful seconds the leader of the group would say something like, “I am thankful I am on the right side of the sod.” Everyone laughed and was relieved it was over. The whole scene was sad. It was not the fear of public speaking, it was the absence of a grateful heart. Jesus was thankful for the simplest things. Do your prayers reflect a spirit of gratitude? If you want to be friends with God, then you must be thankful for everything!

Second, if you want to cultivate a friendship with God, then a spirit of forgiveness must be present. Verse four says, “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” No one is perfect. From time to time our friends disappoint us. It is at that moment we must decide – do we forgive the person, or do we end the friendship? If you want to have a friendship with God, then you must have a spirit of forgiveness. Do the people in your life consider you a forgiving person? When was the last time you forgave someone else? When was the last time you asked God for forgiveness?

One of the great masterpieces in the art world is Leonardo da Vinci’s (1452-1519) The Last Supper. It is said the great artist had a fight with a fellow painter during its creation. To get back at his foe Leonardo decided to paint his face on Judas Iscariot. He did so and then he turned to work on the face of Jesus. With hatred in his heart, the creative spirit of da Vinci ceased. For several days he couldn’t paint a single stroke. He knew the problem. He had to forgive the fellow painter, and he did. That night Leonardo da Vinci dreamed, and he saw the face of Jesus. That face is the face that appears as Jesus in the Last Supper. The point is clear – we can only encounter God when there is a spirit of forgiveness. Is there someone in your life you need to forgive? Do your prayers reflect a spirit of forgiveness? If you want to be friends with God, then you must have a spirit of gratitude and forgiveness!

Third, if you want to cultivate a friendship with God, then you must have a trusting spirit. The prayer ends by saying, “lead us not into temptation.” To be led by someone means you must trust them. Do you trust God? Each one of the spiritual heroes in our faith trusted God. One example is Abraham. Do you remember his story? It is found in the twenty-second chapter of Genesis. For a lifetime Abraham and Sarah waited for a child. Isaac was born in their old age. He must have been the joy of their lives. The story should have ended on a happy note, but we are told Abraham first had to be tested. Abraham must sacrifice the most important thing in his life, Isaac. It is not a story about child abuse or human sacrifice, it is a story about trust. Abraham trusted God. How far to you trust God? Do your prayers reflect a trusting spirit? If you want to be friends with God, then you must have a spirit of gratitude, forgiveness and trust! Let me end with this story.

Mother Teresa (1910-1997) is remembered for her work with the orphans in Calcutta, India. One day, the head cook was upset because a food order hadn’t been delivered and she was expecting three hundred for lunch in less than an hour. Everyone expected Mother Theresa to contact one of her sponsors. Instead, she looked at the kitchen staff and said, “I suggest you go to the chapel and pray about this situation. They did, and ten minutes later a stranger showed up at the front door holding a clipboard. He requested to see Mother Theresa. When she arrived, he said to her, “The teachers have just gone on strike, so school has been canceled today. I have 7,000 extra lunches. Can you help us use them?” Isn’t it great when prayer is answered with a yes? I learned long ago; God hears all our prayer and answers them in four different ways. Sometimes, God says yes. Sometimes, God says no. Sometimes, God says later. Sometimes, God answers our selfish, narrow-minded prayers by saying, are you crazy? (Like when you pray for the Cleveland Browns to win the Super Bowl.) Never forget, the point of prayer is not getting what you desire. The point of prayer is cultivating a friendship with God. Danish theologian and philosopher Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) said, “Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays.”

The War is Over!

When the Civil War ended there was a great deal of hatred in America. Some feared the hatred would never end. However, time has a way of healing old wounds. In time, former General of the Union forces and former President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) died. Four years later, former President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis (1808-1889) died. Their widows, Julia Grant (1826-1902) and Varina Davis (1826-1906) lived on and settled near each other. As fate would have it, they became close friends. They did something their husbands failed to do, they modeled peace for a new generation. This is the good news – Jesus came to offer us spiritual peace. That takes us to our reading.

Our reading is 2 Corinthians 5:18-20. The Apostle Paul wrote these words in the year 55 AD, which means he wrote them a year after he wrote First Corinthians. Much has been written about the vastness of the city of Corinth. It was both a political and commercial giant. It is impossible to overstate the diversity of Corinth. In our time, diversity often leads to conflict, yet that is not what Paul addresses. Instead, Paul talks about reconciliation. Webster defines reconciliation as the restoration of a friendly relation. 2 Corinthians 5:18 says, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to him through Christ.” He understood that Jesus brings three kinds of reconciliation. In this blog I want to examine each one.

The first kind of peace Christ offers is peace with God. It is a personal peace. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” On the day I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior I experienced one emotion – it wasn’t joy, it was relief. The battle was over. I was at peace with God, and I knew I was going to heaven when I died. My personal desires were replaced by living for God.

In 1555, English bishop Nicholas Ridley (1500-1555) was burned at the stake because of his witness for Christ. On the night before Ridley’s execution, his brother offered to remain with him in the prison chamber to be of assistance and comfort. Nicholas declined the offer and replied that he meant to go to bed early. He knew he was going to meet Jesus the next day because he was at peace with God. How did you sleep last night? Are you at peace with God? The war is over!

The second kind of peace Christ offers is the peace of God; it is a trusting peace. According to the Bible, the peace of God is a harmony of calmness of body, mind, and spirit that comes from trusting in the power of God. The Hebrew word for peace, “shalom,” embodies wholeness, completeness, and love. In the Christian context, it is associated with Philippians 4:6-7 which says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

In a few days, we will begin a new year. Our world is facing some massive challenges. The list is not small. There is climate change, global poverty, inequality, armed conflict, hunger, water security, lack of access to healthcare and education, and human rights issues. I find that list humbling. There is very little I can do to help any of these issues, but I have the peace of God. I believe God is all knowing and all powerful. I believe God will address these issues in his time. I live with the peace of God. Do you? The war is over!

The third kind of peace is peace with others. Not everyone was happy when poet Elizabeth Barrett (1806-1861) married Robert Browning (1812-1889) in 1846. Her father did not approve, so the marriage was performed in secret. After the wedding the Browning’s sailed for Italy, where they lived for the rest of their lives. But even though her parents had disowned her, Elizabeth never gave up on the relationship. Almost weekly she wrote them letters. Sadly, they never replied. After 10 years, she received a large box in the mail. Inside, Elizabeth found all her letters; not one had been opened! Today those letters are among the most beautiful in classical English literature. Had her parents only read a few of them, their relationship with Elizabeth might have been restored. How many people do you know who can relate to the Elizabeth Barrett Browning story? Can you relate to the Elizabeth Barrett Browning story?

For many people the Elizabeth Barrett Browning story is the story of Christmas. Is anyone in your life an expert at holding a grudge? They just can’t forget or move on? The event may have happened years ago, the details may have gotten fuzzy. At some

point the details stopped mattering. Only “the principle” mattered. Pride has set in and forged a wedge between the two parties. One party is always going to teach the other party a lesson. The truth is no one ever wins in those situations; no one ever learns a lesson. The only thing that really happens is opportunities are lost and loneliness wins. Both parties demonstrate their smallness. It takes a big person to initiate reconciliation.

Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are called the children of God.” If you applied Jesus’ lessons to your relationships, then how many of your relationships would improve? Are you at peace with others?

This is the good news of Christmas. Our great big God has made the first move to resolve the conflict between Him and the world, but also the conflict between Him and you. Listen to what the choir of angels said in Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” In other words, Jesus came to end the conflict between us and God. We hear it more clearly in Second Corinthians 5:19, “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” That is part of the Good News of Christmas. The war is over. Jesus came into the world to end the conflict with the world. The God of the universe wants to have a relationship with you!

Wouldn’t it be nice if you modeled peace for your world? Wouldn’t it be nice to settle the war that is waging in your heart? Jesus makes it possible. Wouldn’t it be nice to live at peace with God? Wouldn’t it be nice to live in peace with others? Jesus came to offer reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18 says, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to him through Christ.” The war is over!

A Time to Celebrate

Motivational speaker and author Leo Buscaglia (1924-1998) never forgot the day his father came home from work and announced to the family that his partner had absconded with the firm’s money. There was no other option. He was going to have to declare bankruptcy. The family was devastated. However, his mother didn’t just react to the news, she responded. The next day she went out and sold some of her jewelry and bought food for a sumptuous feast. Other members of the family scolded her for it. But she told them that “the time for joy is now, when we need it most, not next week.” I believe she was right. Now is a time to celebrate.

The year 2024 is almost over! How will you remember this year? For many it has been an extremely difficult year. How many people do you know have lost a loved one this year? Your life is not the same without them. How many people do you know have struggled medically? They are still recovering from surgery. They are still battling some kind of disease. How many people do you know struggled with depression? You know God has been good to you, but you have a hard time getting out of bed. How many people do you know struggle with anxiety? It is the price we pay for living a fast-paced life. How many people do you know struggled economically this year. Everything seems so expensive. How many people do you know ended a mistaken relationship this year? Could it be you are afraid of 2025, because you don’t know what the future holds. Leo Buscaglia’s mother was right! The time for joy is now. Now is the time to celebrate. There is not a second to waste!

That is what makes Christmas so wonderful. Christmas is a time of joy. Christmas is a time to celebrate! Don’t shortchange yourself. Christmas is not just a time to visit with family and friends. Christmas is not just a time to buy presents and send cards. Christmas is not just a time to go to parties. Christmas is a time to celebrate God’s great love for the world. You really can’t celebrate Christmas until you embrace the Good News. God left the perfection of heaven and entered our imperfect world in human form to experience the human condition. Jesus was the incarnation of God, Himself. The birth of Jesus change everything. Do I have to say it? Christmas is worth celebrating!

In this blog, I want to examine three points of basic Christian theology that are worth celebrating. These points are not original. They come from Rick Warren (born 1954) of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. Each one blossomed when Jesus was born. They are part of the spiritual side of Christmas. They are what makes Christmas worth celebrating! If you truly embrace each point, it will change the way that you experience Christmas.

First, at Christmas we celebrate God’s love for us! John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.” 1 John 4:8 says, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” As a matter of fact, love is the very nature of God. It is impossible for us to fully understand God’s love for us. It is like an ant trying to understand the internet. Love is the very nature of God. Never forget, God loves you!

There is an old preaching story about a medieval monk, who announced he would be preaching the next Sunday evening on “The Love of God.” When that evening came the congregation gathered as shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lit a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First, he illuminated the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. There was nothing else to say. The baby in the manger and the man on the cross cannot be separated. When we stop and consider the pain of the cross. How can you question God’s love for us? Never forget! God loves you!

Second, at Christmas we celebrate the fact that God is with you! God is omnipresent. In other words, God is everywhere. Consider these two pieces of scripture with me. Psalm 139:7-10 says, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Hebrews 13:5 says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Emmanuel is one of the names for Jesus in the Bible. Emmanuel means “God with us.” The Good News is you don’t have to face any situation alone because God is always with you. Many try to ignore God, but He is always present. Never forget, God is with you!

Third, at Christmas we celebrate the fact that God is for us! In other words, he wants us to enjoy our time in this world. He wants you to live with meaning and purpose. The problem is our world is broken. Consider these two verses with me. John 3:17 says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” In other words, God is for you!

I love the story of the man who decided to join a monastery and one of the rules of the group was that you were only allowed to speak two words every ten years. At the end of ten years he said, “Bad food!” Ten more years passed, and he said, “Hard bed!” Finally, on his 30th anniversary with the brothers, he thundered, “I quit!” And the priest in charge responded, “You might as well. All you do is complain anyway.” That is not the story of God. With all the grumbling and mumbling we do about the hardships in life, God doesn’t grow tired of us. God wants you to be happy and successful in your life. Never forget, God is for you!

Christmas is a time for joy and a time to celebrate. God took human form and became one of us! It has been written, “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.” Those words still hold true. Christmas is a time for joy is now. Christmas is a time to celebrate.

A Highway for Our God

In 1780, Colonel Abraham Davenport (1715-1789) was the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives. On May 19 of that year, the sky of Hartford darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the windows, feared the end was at hand. Quelling a clamor for immediate adjournment, Davenport rose and said, “The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought.” The point is clear. Rather than fearing what is to come, we are to be faithful until Christ returns. That story takes us to our reading.

Our reading is Luke 3:1-6. It is impossible to read the Bible and ignore the Second Coming of Jesus. Did you know there are 1,845 references to Christ’s second coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence? Did you know there are 260 chapters in the New Testament where you will find 318 references to the second advent of Christ? Did you know twenty-three of the twenty-seven New Testament books refer to this great event? Did you know one out of every 30 verses in the New Testament deals with Christ ‘s return? For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ’s first advent, there are eight which look forward to His second! Advent is a season to remember Christ’s first coming, but Advent is also a season to remember someday Christ will return. Do you believe in the second coming of Jesus? According to the Pew Research group, 62% of all Americans expect Jesus to return. The date of Jesus’ second coming is a great mystery. Matthew 24:36 says, but about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

The main character in our reading is John the Baptist. According to the text, the word of God came to him while he was living in the desert. Like a broken record, John only had one message: all must repent their sinful ways. It is Luke who aligns John the Baptist with the prophet Isaiah. Luke quotes Isaiah 40:35:

A voice of one calling:
                “In the desert prepare
                the way for the LORD;
                make straight in the wilderness
                a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be raised up,
                every mountain and hill made low;
                the rough ground shall become level,
                the rugged places a plain.

And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Those words sound strange to our generation, but to John’s generation the message was clear. In those days when conquering armies attacked, the land was prepared ahead of time. The number of soldiers was massive. The sheer number of soldiers made it necessary to straighten the roads and level the ground. The work of the engineers was as important as the work of the soldiers; without the engineers there would be no battle.

That is what John says we must do before Jesus arrives. However, our preparation has nothing to do with geography. – our preparation has more to do with our spiritual condition. We must be prepared for his Second Coming. Luke 12:40 says, “You must always be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you least expect him.” In this blog I want to help you to be prepared for Christ’s second coming. Consider these three things with me.

First, you must prioritize your life. At the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin, Germany, is a painting by German painter Adolph Menzel (1815-1905). It is only partially finished. It was intended to show King Fredrick the Great speaking with some of his generals before the Battle of Leuthen in 1757. Menzel painted generals in the background but left the king until the end. He drew an outline of Fredrick in charcoal but died prior to finishing the painting. Isn’t that the story of countless lives? How many people do you know focus on the minor issues and characters of their lives, forgetting what is important? Does God play a major role in your life or have the minor characters in your life taken over? We need to prioritize our lives and make God our top priority.

Second, you must purify your witness. According to the book Life of Francis d’Assisi, Francis once invited a young monk to join him on a trip to town to preach. Honored to be given the invitation, the monk readily accepted. All day long he and Francis walked through the streets. They rubbed shoulders with hundreds of people. At day’s end, the two headed back home. Not even once had Francis addressed a crowd, nor had he talked to anyone about the gospel. Greatly disappointed, his young companion said, “I thought we were going into town to preach.” Francis responded, “My son, we have preached. We were preaching while we were walking. We were seen by many, and our behavior was closely watched. It is of no use to walk anywhere to preach unless we preach everywhere as we walk!” You may be the only Bible someone in your life will ever read. How pure is your witness?

Third, you must perceive our Savior. One of the highlights of my ministry was being the pastor of a church that co-hosted a youth workcamp in Youngstown, Ohio. We did it twice and called those camps Mill Creek Workcamp. I remember seeing the excitement of those 400 campers from around the country. They reminded us of something we had nearly forgotten, God is moving. Every night at worship they would report on seeing God in numerous ways called “God sightings”. One night a work crew reported seeing God in the neighbor of their resident. God was well disguised. On Monday the crew arrived, and the neighbor opened his door and welcomed the workers with some ugly language. However, on Thursday the same neighbor opened the same door and told the workers that he had tools and they could use them, if they wished. It had to be God. God is alive and well in our world. When was the last time you saw God in your neighborhood?

The second coming of Christ is a complex topic. If you do not believe me then ask William Miller (1782-1849). He studied the Bible for fourteen years and was convinced Christ would return on April 3, 1843. His followers believed him. Some of his disciples went to mountaintops, hoping for a head start to heaven. Others were in graveyards, planning to ascend in reunion with their departed loved ones. Philadelphia society ladies clustered together outside town to avoid entering God’s kingdom amid the common herd. However, April 3, 1843, came and went, but Jesus never returned. William Miller may have been discouraged, but he did not give up. He went back to the Bible and recalculated his figures. He admitted the April 3 date was wrong and announced that the real date for Christ’s return would be March 22, 1844. The problem was March 22, 1844, came and went without the appearance of Jesus. Once again William Miller was disillusioned. There was more Bible study and calculations. He announced a third date, October 22, 1844. That date came and went without Jesus. Too bad he didn’t read Matthew 24:36.

We do not know when Jesus will return, but we know he will return. So, we need to act like every day is our last day. We need to prioritize our lives. We need to purify our witness. We need to perceive our Savior. John the Baptist said it best, “Make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.”