Devotion

The warmth of Christmas

/ The Pastor

Yesterday was Holiday Fest in Jackson.  It is an annual celebration that ushers in the Christmas season.  I wish they would call it something different, but that’s another blog entry (see my other entries in the "Christmas" category)

At 4:30pm eight of us braved the cold weather and sang Christmas carols at the clock tower in downtown Jackson.  Various churches had signed up for half hour time slots.  The music was broadcast throughout downtown on the sound system.  Believe me…I help provide quantity…NOT quality.  But then again, if you are listening to a group a carolers and you are judging their quality, then you have a problem (at least as far as I am concerned).  I am just glad people showed up when they could have chosen the warmth of their homes.

During the late afternoon hours, various stores had open houses where they served soup, hot beverages and other Christmas goodies.  It was nice to walk into a store without someone bugging you with a sometimes overly enthusiastic, "Can I help you!"…"No thanks I am just looking."  Last night was about fellowship, not money.

At 5:30pm the Holiday Fest parade started.  Up to that point people were mingling on the street talking and trying to keep warm.  But when we saw the cop car with its lights on, silence ensued.  We all knew what was coming next…the color guard.  People stopped what they were doing; adult and child like to show respect for our nations flag.  The first float behind the color guard was one carrying a local soldier.  People waved and I heard shouts from the crowd, "Thanks for serving".  It gave me goosebumps to hear that support.

After the last float went by we rushed back inside to await the grand finale…the fireworks display.  That’s right…you read correctly…fireworks were on tap next.  I was standing in the entrance of the movie theater with some other Holiday Fest goers, trying to get warm again, wondering when the fireworks would start.  Just then we heard a loud BOOM!  I guess they were going.  All at once we rushed the whole one block to the river and saw a wonderful sight.  It was probably the best display I have seen in many years.  People cheered and car horns were honking.

Even though it was 10 degrees above zero; we forgot about how cold we were.  I shivered from time to time, but the Christmas cheer downtown last night was enough to keep me warm.  It is amazing what a does of Christmas cheer can do.  I firmly believe it could have been -10 degrees and people still would have come out to celebrate.

Jackson has it’s issues (like any other town) but for a few hours last night, none of that mattered.  I just wish I could bottle that Christmas cheer from last night and keep it for the next time people start bickering and arguing for stupid, trivial things.   We can co-exist in peace.  Last night was proof of that.

I guess it is true what they say, "Love is all we need".

Praise be to God and Merry Christmas. -EDH-

Advent

/ The Pastor

"The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate." (citation:  http://www.cresourcei.org/cyadvent.html).

For those of you not familiar with church seasons and holidays; Sunday, December 3 marks the first Sunday of Advent.  It is a season of anticipation of the coming/arrival of Jesus Christ (see above definition).  Advent is not just a day that marks the "appropriate" time to put up Christmas decorations, but it reminds us of God’s love for a fallen world.  God heard the cry of creation and came to us in Jesus Christ.  But Christmas is not only about the birth of Jesus, but the reason Jesus came into this world.  LOVE!  Jesus lived among us and went to the cross where he suffered and died.  But this is not the end of the story; Jesus rose from the grave and smashed to pieces death’s grip on our lives.  Jesus lives and reigns victorious and that victory is passed onto us.  This is the wonderful message of Christmas; love, life, and salvation.

Coming Dec. 1 is a movie I can hardly wait to see.  It is called "The Nativity Story"  (http://www.thenativitystory.com).  See this movie.  Don’t wait until it comes out on DVD, but see it now.  Experience the story and know it is for you.  Whether you are seeing and experiencing the story for the first time or not, the story of Jesus’ birth is one for the ages.  See it again and again and proclaim to the world the true meaning of Christmas; don’t let Satan win through commercialization.

Advent is here.  Christ has come.  Christ is coming again.  Praise the Lord and Amen. -EDH-

Finally here!!!

/ The Pastor

It felt great to pull out my Christmas CDs again.  The next step is to get out the Christmas decorations tonight (Sunday) and "go to town".  There is nothing quite like Christmas:  lights, decorating, great music and of course the most important thing of all…the celebration of the Christ child.

As you get yourself ready for this great season; as you put up your Christmas tree and lights; remember why we do those things.  It is not because everyone else is doing it.  It is because God has given us a reason to celebrate and be joyful.  With Jesus, we might as well "pack everything up and go home".  For without Christ there is no hope.  Without Christ there is no life.  Without Christ…well…you get the picture.

We don’t celebrate Santa Claus this time of the year.  Santa is a fictional character.  We celebrate Jesus Christ and Jesus IS NOT a fictional character.  Jesus is our Lord and Savior; who gives us hope and life everlasting.  Don’t worship a fat guy in a red suit, but worship our God; the Father almighty.  Have a very merry Christmas and God bless. -EDH-

Merry Christmas

/ The Pastor

I know, I know…It is not Christmas yet.  It’s not even Thanksgiving yet.  But if you go to stores like Wal-Mart, you will see their Christmas stuff up already.  Many big department stores are also getting their displays up and starting the huge holiday push.  For the retail industry, the Christmas season can’t come soon enough.  It seems they are in the Christmas spirit earlier and earlier every year.  I’ll get there, but get me through Thanksgiving first; then I will show you a Christmas spirit that is not tied to sales receipts.

But then this morning I started to have some hope for the retail industry.  The Today Show had a story about Wal-Mart bringing back "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays".  I started to have more respect for Wal-Mart, if only for a few seconds.  But my respect for them was quickly brought back to reality as the story continued.

Apparently Wal-Mart (along with other retail outlets) received a lot of pressure, last year, from groups like the Catholic League about removing "Christmas" from the Christmas season.   People like me like to hear the greeting "Merry Christmas" but if you shopped at Wal-Mart last year, you probably did not hear that from an employee.  This year you will.

Has Wal-Mart and some other retail outlets finally seen the light?  Have they discovered the true meaning of Christmas?  No.  As the story continued Wal-Mart talked about a dip in the sales last year because of the boycott the Catholic League headed up.  So Wal-Mart as bowed to the pressure and has returned to saying "Merry Christmas".  I have no problem with this change.  But before you start thinking that Wal-Mart and others in the retail industry are having a change of heart, remember that for them it is about money and it always will be.  That will never change.

Thanksgiving is a week from Thursday.  As you prepare for Thanksgiving and get ready for the Christmas season, let me be one of the first to remind you to get ready in the right way.  Remember why we celebrate Christmas.  It is not about receiving something off you Christmas list you have always wanted.  Rather Christmas is about one thing and one thing only…Jesus Christ.  Don’t be fooled by clever advertising slogans to buy, buy and buy some more.  Don’t be taken in by the Christmas spirit unleashed by the likes of Wal-Mart and others.  Be taken in by the spirit of God.  Be taken in by the manger scene and know that that baby (Jesus Christ) is the reason for the season and nothing else.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving…and MERRY CHRISTMAS! (sorry…I couldn’t resist) Take care and God bless.  -EDH-

Election day

/ The Pastor

Today is Tuesday, November 7 and we all know what that means…it is election day.  Yup that’s right…and I am excited.  I am almost as giddy as a cat watching a truck overturn in its front yard spilling out pet mice, birds and fish.  There is a sense of relief washing over me similar to that of a pitcher watching his center fielder rob a potential game winning grand slam in the bottom of the 9th inning in game seven of the World Series.  There is a feeling of freedom washing over me comparable to a 10 year old running out the front doors of their school on the last day.  Election day is here and I am excited.  Can you you tell?

One of the things I am not going to miss is the increased number of phone calls.  You see…I used to have this sense of wonder at who might be calling when the phone rang.  Sometimes it’s church related business. Sometimes it’s Connie’s mom(so I let Connie deal with that call…thank God for caller ID).  Once in a while it’s a friend calling.  But these past few months the sense of wonder has disappeared and turned to annoyance; because more times than not, when the phone rings, it is a political call.

Now when the phone rings I always check the caller ID so I can mentally prepare myself for those two seconds before I push the "call" button on my phone.  When I see it is a political call I do one of three things; I either ignore the call and let the machine deal with it, I might answer the phone and promptly hang up again or I will answer and get a little feisty.  But these candidates are getting smart and having computers make these calls with recorded messages.  It is hard to be feisty with a machine.  They don’t seem to care.  This completely takes the wind out of my sails.

But now these calls are coming to an end.  I will be out of the house today until well after supper and by then the polls will be closing.  I might have a stray message on the machine, but those are easy to deal with.   

Other things are also coming to an end.  The annoying political ads on TV will be replaced with annoying commercials.  Our "decorated" landscape (of campaign signs) will slowly look naked again.  And the talk downtown at the coffee shop will return to the usual; the weather and the pathetic Vikings.

But as I look back at this latest season of campaigning the following words/phrases come to mind: mud slinging, negative, attacking, double talk, who to trust?, calculated/programmed responses, and <fill in your own word/phrase>.  I wonder…do these candidates actually think they can win votes through negative means?  Do they think you can scare people into voting for them by telling them how bad their opponent is?  Why can’t campaigning be about telling people good news?  Why can’t politicians do more than just tell people want they want to hear rather than what they need to hear?  I guess Jesus would’ve made a bad politician according to today’s standards.

And I am glad Jesus is a "bad" politician.  Jesus tells us what we NEED to hear; that we are sinners in need of a Savior.  We are lost sheep in need of a Shepherd.  We are powerless on our own.  We have no direction or life without Him.  Jesus tells us what we need to hear.  We may not like it, but then again, take a harder look at yourself.  What Jesus tells us is indeed true.  But also what Jesus tells us is life saving.  For if you "elect" Jesus as the Savior of your life, you won’t be taking a shot in the dark with some candidate, you will be putting your eternal life in Jesus’ hands. 

So looking back (and forward) to Jesus campaign (one that will never end) these are the words/phrases that come to mind: Eternal life, forgiveness, healing, love, compassion, family, welcoming, acceptance, tenderness, <this is fun isn’t>, gentleness, peace, and I could go on and on. 

"I am the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end." (Revelation 21:6) This is a campaign slogan I can get on board with.  Jesus is THE Savior of the world.  There is no other viable candidate.  There is no other option.  Jesus is one we can trust.  Jesus is one we can live with (and will live with through faith).  Jesus is the One for us.  So get excited…Jesus reigns and he will reign forever.  Praise be to God and Amen! -EDH-

Victory over death

/ The Pastor

I invite you to read John 11:32-44; the raising of Lazarus.  Jesus is not only Lord in our lives, but Jesus is Lord over death.  So thanks be to God who gives us victory over death through Jesus Christ our risen Lord and Savior.  Let us pray…

…Living God, I am constantly amazed at the signs of your glory all around us.  Just when I think I am dead and lost; without hope, you show up to bring me out of the grave and heal me.  You do not recoil in disgust from the stench of my sin.  But rather you unbind me through the community of saints; freeing me from my past, my pain and my sin.  Work through each of us to roll stones away to reveal your glory; the resurrection of you dear Son, Jesus Christ.  The One who gives us life.  Loving God, may your name be praised always and forever. Amen.

Live in victory for Jesus reigns!  God Bless!  -EDH-

Identity

/ The Pastor

"Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)…

…but be careful with what else you broadcast to the world.

It finally happened to me.  Someone stole my credit card information and made some fraudulent charges on my account.  Fortunately my credit card company was on the ball and called me that day because the charges were out of character for me.  The first charge was mine but the next two were not.  We immediately closed my account number and I am not responsible for any fraudulent charges.  As far as I know the rest of my identity is fine.  I have viewed my credit report and am taking all necessary precautions now to protect myself.  This is one part of my identity that I do not want the world to see.

The part of my identity that I do want to get out is my identity in Jesus Christ.  When we are baptized we are given a new identity – a child of God.  With this label we are claimed and marked with the cross of Christ forever.  No one can steal this identity from us, but hopefully they can see it and then relay it on to others.  Your "account" in Christ will never be canceled or closed.  It can not be overdrawn or be tagged with a late fee.  Your identity in Christ is one that is forever, one that is protected and for all to see.

So be careful with your credit and financial identity, but be reckless with your identity in Christ.  Broadcast it for all the world to see. 

"Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

Praise be to God always and forever!  Amen! -EDH-

Freedom

/ The Pastor

Sunday, Oct. 29 was Reformation Sunday.  The actual day of the Reformation is Oct. 31, 1517; the day Martin Luther nailed his 95 Thesis to the door of the Wittenberg Castle.  It was a day that set many people free.  On this day Luther introduced people to a God that they had never seen or heard of before; a God of love and grace, not a God of wrath. 

But to this day we too often take our freedom for granted.  We have the freedom to vote, but we either forget or just plain don’t exercise this freedom. We have the freedom of speech, but yet too many people remain silent in the face of injustice.  We have the freedom of religion, but too many people don’t stand up for their faith.  We have freedom in Christ, but yet we live loose and recklessly, forgetting about the love God showed us in Jesus Christ.  We live as if we were captive to sin.  We don’t come before God even though we are free to do so. 

The following is an excerpt from my sermon for Reformation Sunday 2006 (for the whole manuscript go to my sermon blog link after Oct. 30):

"Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the true, and the truth will make you free’" (John 8:31-32)

Let us pray:  Loving God, you gave us freedom through sending your Son, Jesus Christ to the cross.  But we have used that freedom to turn away from you, trusting in our own strength and wisdom.  Turn us back to you so we may see your unimaginable love.  Search for us as a shepherd searches for a lost sheep (Luke 15).  Welcome us back as the father welcomes the prodigal son(Luke 15).  Heal us so we may proclaim this freedom to all people; living for you alone.  Now may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, Oh Lord, our Rock and Redeemer, Amen!…

…"There is an old story that Abraham Lincoln went down to the slave block to buy a slave girl.  As she looked at the tall, white man bidding on her, she figured he was just another white man that was going to buy her and then abuse her.  He won the bid, and as he was walking away with his property, he said, ‘Young lady, you are free.’  She said, ‘What does that mean?’

‘It means you are free.’

‘Does that mean,’ she said, ‘that I can say whatever I want to say?’

Lincoln said, ‘Yes, my dear, you can say whatever you want to say.’

‘Does that mean I can be whatever I want to be?’

"He said, ‘Yes, you can be whatever you want to be.’

‘Does that mean I can go wherever I want to go?’

Lincoln said, ‘Yes, you can go wherever you want to go.’

The girl, with tears streaming down her face, said, ‘Then I will go with you.’ (Citation: Steve Brown, Preaching Today, #58)

That is my prayer for you; that you will go with God.  So go and enjoy a freedom like no other for "if the the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)  And you are free.  For Jesus paid the ultimate price for your life.  So where will you go?  Who will you go with?   What will you do with your freedom in Christ Jesus our Lord?  Praise be to God always and forever. Amen! -EDH-

You have not “gone bad”.

/ The Pastor

Have you ever opened your refrigerator and noticed a container that you knew has been there a little too long?  Maybe you stood there looking at it trying to remember what is in there.  Then you tried to remember exactly how long that container has been in there.  Eventually you have to pull out the container and open it.  But just as you are about to open it you get a light whiff at the impending slap in the face.  So you stretch out your arms as far as they go and turn your face to the side.  You slowly open the lid and take a little peak; trying to protect your nose from the potential pungent oder.  Nothing yet…so you turn your face to get a better look and…WHAM-O…you smell the beast that has been living in your refrigerator.  Soemthing has gone bad.

I have come across people who feel the same way about church.  Maybe you can relate.  You stay away because you are afraid at what you will find when you open those doors.  Maybe you feel that because you have been outside "too long" you have grown into something nobody wants; thinking your presence will shock people and turn them away.

But who can blame you.  The church is just as guilty.  Many churches have turned into private clubs.  If you are gone too long, then the church "cleans out the refrigerator" and boots you off the roster.  If people are not "fresh" then they are not welcome.  That message is not preached or posted on the side outside, but it is often implied.  The unspoken message is that the church is a place for people who have not "gone bad"; for people who have it all together.

But "Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’" (Luke 5:31)

Did you catch that?  Did you hear who Jesus came to call?  Jesus came to call sinners to repentance.  All of us wreak of sin and deserve to be tossed out.  But Jesus came to forgive our sins so we would not be tossed out into the garbage.  No one can claim to be righteous.  Only Jesus can claim that.  So how can we claim to judge others?

But here is the Good News:  Even though we cannot claim to be righteous, we are made righteous and "saved by grace through faith" (Eph 2:8) in Jesus Christ.  Jesus does not clear out those who have "gone bad", but searches them out and welcomes them in.  Jesus heals each of us through forgiveness and welcomes us into the kingdom of God.

As a church, let’s not just pretend to be welcoming, but actually be welcoming.  As a child of God, don’t be afraid to open those doors.  No matter who is in side, God is the one with his arms open wide.  God is the one who loves you beyond measure.  God is the one who says to you, "You are my beloved child".  You have not "gone bad", but rather you have been saved and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ our living Lord and Savior.  Praise be to God and Amen! -EDH-

Getting re-connected

/ The Pastor

I did it.  I still can’t believe it but I did it.  What did I do…well…I created a MySpace site.  You can find the link to my site in the left side bar.  But don’t worry, this blog is still safe.  "The Heart of a Pastor"  will continue to be my main site where I will continue to post ponderings that God places on my heart.

So why did I create another website?  Well, I think it has to do with re-connecting and staying connected with people.  I am finding that more and more people are creating sites like MySpace to re-connect and stay connected to friends.  I recently attended a wedding of a good friend of mine where I was a groomsman.  During the weekend I found that a number of the guys I used to hang out with have these sites.  Now I am looking forward to re-connecting and staying connected with them.

That is what it is all about.  Re-connecting and staying connected.  It is amazing how fast we lose touch with people.  But now all I have to do is type in a name in the search window and if they are on MySpace…wham-o…we are re-connected.  I love it.  It is just that easy.

Have you lost touch with God?  Well, believe it or not it is even easier to get re-connected with God, because God never goes anywhere.  God is always right next to you, waiting for you.  The way we re-connect and stay connected to God is through prayer and regular Bible reading.  It is never too late.  You can never stay away long enough for God to forget about you.  You can never turn God away from you.  Re-connection to God is a simple prayer away.  Jesus Christ made sure of that by dying on the cross and rising from the grave all for you and me.

Get connected to God and share a "space" with God like no other.  God loves you!  Amen! -EDH-