Come Lord Jesus

As we rush into Christmas day , have we spent anytime just meditating on what it means to celebrate the day at all. Many will have a totally secular day , with lots of food,drink,presents and gaudy decorations.Others will be thanking "god" its over .Some will be worn out from working too much over the  rush. For  many it will be a time of tears for broken relationships or lost loved ones.

Even Christians are not immune .We can be so busy ,so frazzled that we rush through it. We can also suffer as well from loss or economic troubles ,putting pressure to meet the worlds standards.All these things destroy the real joy and gift that was given to us when God became  flesh.

May we remove the glitter , the trappings of the season and just relax. There is nothing wrong with enjoying family , exchanging gifts , watching the excitement of little ones opening presents , holding your wife or spouse and enjoying a kiss under the mistletoe. God is no killjoy , just look around at the beauty of His creation . Nor does He frown on loving each other .It only becomes a problem when these things replace Him as the central core of this day . As much as non believers wish to keep Jesus out side , He will not be silent . To might Church bells around the world are ringing heralding His coming .

So as you rise Christmas morning , take a moment and reflect on the gift given in Christ. Spend some time with the Lord and let His glory penetrate the day . But may each day begin that way and may His light , the light that is shining still some 2000 years later , penetrate that darkness around us .

So come thou long expected Jesus and set your people free.

God Made Flesh

Although the movie The Nativity Story crammed a lot in the last few minutes with some historical inaccuracies like the Wisemen showing up at the birth . The one thing I truly liked was the birth was a real birth . Granted a bit kid friendly but it was a real young woman , screaming with labor pains to bring the maker of all things into this sin filled world.


[15] He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [16] For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. [17] And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. [19] For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, [20] and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
(Colossians 1:15-20 ESV)

Read through the passage above slow and with intent .Let it overwhelm you with the majesty and wonder of who Joesph and Mary cradled that faithful night 2000 years ago. Cut through all the clutter and come and worship , our Lord and Saviour . That is the majesty of Christmas , that is the wonder .

Scrooge - The Morning After ...

This final scene in the great Alistair Sim version of A Christmas Carol shows the stellar performance of Sim in all its nuances.The joy he exudes and happiness is contagious. I love the look on Bob Crachits face when he fully expects to be fired by this hateful and stingy man,not realizing what he is encountering is a transformed man .

Regardless where one is this year , if we have encountered the living Christ ,we should have a joy and peace that transcends life circumstances .Just as Scrooge is overwhelmed by this new person he is , may we realize that in Christ we are a new creation . Rise up this day and renew the hope and joy we have in Christ . It is eternal and everlasting . Christmas need not ever end .

A Peter Day

Ever have a day ,you rise with zeal ,think you are ready and eager to follow God . Your heart feels right , your step has purpose and you think bring on those lions . But it all comes down within a heart beat it all comes crumbling down. You sin and that leaves you deflated ,broken and leaves you powerless.

These days I call my "Peter" days. The one thing I love about the word of God it doesn't cover up the failures or blemishes of the saints . Peter , there he was ready to rush head long into death ,pulling his sword to protect Jesus in the garden . He was ready ,was he not . But within a minute he was fleeing for his life . Then mustering up some courage to follow close enough to  the capture and trial to of Jesus be recognized. Then he makes his bold stand  , I'm a follower of Jesus . Oh no,what does he do deny him not once but three times, even swearing to God he knew no Jesus.

Then in Acts we read Peter preach an amazing sermon and thousands are added to the church . So that seals it , Peter having been restored and forgiven is on to victory . Nope . Read a little later and Peter falls back to start to appease the Jews. Then he has the new upstart , Paul rebuke him publicly .

But then when we read Peters epistles  , we read about a man who has grown ,who has repented of his sins and has persevered . Tradition tells us he chose to be crucified upside down because he was not worthy to die like his Lord and Saviour.

So when I fail and struggle , I take strength in knowing that the same Holy Spirit that lived inside of Peter and convicted him of sin ,leading him in a life of repentance ,turning to Christ and trusting Him ,lives inside of me.

We will all have Peter days ,the question is , may we not fall into despair but live in repentance .Getting up from our failure ,dusting ourselves off and  fix our eyes on Christ , the author and perfecter of our faith.

The Christmas Messenger One of My Christmas Memories

This wonderful Christmas special was released in 1975 but if my memory serves me I first saw it in 76 , so would  have been 13. I have always had a fondness it . Even though the special was pure fiction ,the strong Christian message resonated with me . It made me pause to to think about deeper things.

Return to the Past

We are living in changing times . As Christians we have seen the rise over the last decade a new brand of aggressive atheism . One that is loud,brash and full of fight with the likes of Hitchen and Dawkins. We also have a rise in those who claim no religious affiliation .My Pastor touched on this in his Sunday sermon. The sadder stat was more children recognized Ronald McDonald then a picture of Jesus. With the rise as well of a global interest in wiccan and pagan beliefs , the landscape is shifting fairly fast. 

We have been spoiled in the west due the cultural influence of the Christian faith. In my Grandparent days ,the church still played an important part in life . Moving to my parents day , the shift began to occur. This was the 60's . This was the generation that began to not attend church . But at the same time , there was still a respect for the Church and the Christian faith . At Christmas Jesus would be mentioned and it was clear why the day was special. But now this new generation , that has grown up as descendants of the 60's ,were God is dead movement first appeared , feminism  , the sexual revolution ,rock n roll that preached rebellion and self love , well  what has happened has been a huge shift. Christians in the west have seen their comfortable position as a respected religion , to it being mocked , laughed at and seen as a archaic myth .

However in reality , we are returning to  the world in which Christ came . The Jews were a marginalized people, their land occupied by the a hostile pagan empire . The Romans looked down upon their beliefs and after Jesus was crucified , rose again, ascended and sent out followers to preach good news and Christianity took root,the attitude was the same. The world was pagan ,full of superstitions and unbelief. Christians in the west have lost sight that the early Church was persecuted. Open hostility was what the followers faced. 

So as this shift continues to happen in the west , we will realize what our early brothers and sisters in the faith faced. It will also make us closer to Christian living in non western countries who have suffered greatly for the faith. 

To believe in the truth of Christmas , that God came in the flesh , lived amongst us , was put to death for His peoples sins , rose again , ascended to heaven and is coming again , will leave one open to more tribulation and a hostile world . Jesus warned of this when He said ,"[33] I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 

(John 16:33 ESV)

But truth be told , I hold that the coming hostility will not only be a good thing (even though no one wants to face persecution) , it will force each of us to look in the mirror and say , who is my treasure, my life allegiances belong to. In the past many people called themselves "Christian" because they thought themselves good. It was acceptable  to go to Church , learn morals but that is not Christianity . We hold that we are not good , that we are vile sinners , that God is holy , that we were hell bound sinners under God's rightful wrath but in Christ , God was reconciling sinners to Himself by sending that baby Jesus , who grew to a man and went to the cross . Our substitute . That we can't earn salvation because we can't ,but God gives it by grace , He has done all the work. 

We have an answer , we have the truth , we have the promise of Jesus that the gates of hell will not prevail . Lets not be dismayed at this change but with the same boldness of those early believers , preach clearly that the light of the world has come and may we shake the foundations of the world . 

 

Born to Die

This is the song that should have been posted that goes with my previous post . Great song by Bebo Norman and great message .