Thursday, December 30, 2021

Lonely Time

 I love the feeling I get at the end of the year of closing something out and starting something new.  It's kind of like finishing the end of a gallon of milk in the refrigerator so I can throw it away and make room for something else.  The end of the year is the one time I look over successes and failures from the previous year (personal and business) and make plans to be better in the coming year.  I would guess my goals aren't that different from most other people - eat less, exercise more, read more, learn more, spend more time with family and friends, work less, produce more.    One of the other goals that I always have, but am terrible at achieving is to spend more time quiet - not working, not watching TV, not listening to music - just quiet.   Being quiet should give me more time to listen, and I think that should be good  for me.  Some of the other goals come easier to me, so I think I will focus on that one this year.  I think I will do that right now.

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Believe

There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”   At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: "Glory to God in the heavenly heights,  Peace to all men and women on earth who please him."  Luke 2: 8-12 (The Message)


There are no better words to describe why those who believe are doing what they are doing this week.   I hope you believe, but either way, I would love to talk to you about it.

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Funeral Favor

 

Caroline and I are taking an unexpected trip to Durham, NC this week.  Regrettably, it is to attend the funeral for our Uncle Dicky.  Dicky's wife, Delma, passed away earlier this year, and now Dicky is with her again.  He missed her desperately.  His world revolved around her, and she took great care of him always, but even more as his health was failing.  After her death, I got to see his daughter-in-law, Tanya, step in and take charge of his care, along with help from the rest of the family and some professional help.  While all of us will miss  Dicky, I am comforted knowing that his health is restored and he has been reunited with the love of his life.   I used to dread funerals.  But as time goes on, I have found a way to see the beauty in a family's love on full display, and the love of God for all of us.  He will be there with us at the funeral - and always.

Thursday, December 9, 2021

The Temptations

 When Jesus was tempted by Satan, I always assumed that He had a choice as to whether to sin or not, but He chose not to.   Jesus IS fully human.  W.G.T. Shedd wrote, "When the logos goes into union with a human nature, so as to constitute a single person with it, He becomes responsible for all that this person does through the instrumentality of this nature...Should Jesus Christ sin, incarnate God would sin."  And we know that is impossible.  I have know way to know if Shedd is right or wrong, but his body or work pretty much ensures he knows better than me.   So, if we know that Satan's temptation of Jesus could not result in Him sinning, what is the point of the temptation?  I believe God wants us to know Satan is real and that Satan's main purpose is to lead us away from God through sin.  By Jesus taking on flesh, he wanted to experience all that we will experience and demonstrate to us how to resist temptation and encourage us that we can.  Some will say, "how could He have experienced what we do if He was God?"  Fair question.  I hope I get to ask Him one day.  Until then, I will keep trying to understand.

Friday, December 3, 2021

He Gets Us

 


Christians frequently get a bad wrap. And a lot of times we deserve it.  Believers in Jesus are sinners that want to be better. We want to become more like Him, but we will never make it,  until we see him face to face.   The Servant Foundation is a non-profit organization that wants those who don't know Jesus to understand this about us.  They recently released a media campaign to help paint a different picture of who Jesus is.  Take 30 seconds to see an example of what they are up to, and click here for more information on The Servant Foundation and their work.