Who Are You (Conclusion)

The LORD… formeth the spirit of man within him (Zechariah 12.1)

As the fireworks begin to celebrate the coming of another New Year I am reminded of the fleeting nature of my life. If I were not a part of a grander plan I would see hopelessness and helplessness all around me. I still see both but know that God will have his way in the end. Will this be the year that the Savior returns? Hope so! May I share his Gospel faithfully until he returns.

Ending our look at Zechariah 12.1 I want to focus on the last of the three statements that God seems to mention in passing. It is here that I am overwhelmed with wonder and emotion. Jehovah God who has just stated his vast power in the creation of the universe and what we call planet earth, now turns our attention to the inner universe of our spirit.

I am always fascinated by “Nature” or God’s creation. Just the other day I was looking at our passion fruit plant. It has grown like a weed in the last three weeks and has a nice little fruit already forming.

As I looked closer I noticed two wonders of God’s creativity. The flower of the passion fruit is spectacular. I’d never seen one before but it is lovely. While I was looking at that flower I noticed a very strange but lovely bug. I had never seen anything like it either. It was intricate in color and design. That little creature and lovely flower are yet further proof that God spared nothing while using his vast imagination in the universe’s formation. Yet in it all God formed my spirit.

When God breathed the breath of life into Adam’s nostrils it was a magic moment. It was the beginning of something eternal. That spirit has been passed from Adam to Mike through birth. Adam’s spirit is still alive today whether with God or not I don’t know.

My spirit will live forever too. What is involved in forming a spirit? I don’t know. But one thing that I do know is that when this vast universe and whole wide world is gone my spirit will still be around. Though vast the universe will pass away. Though huge the earth will vanish. Though invisible my spirit is eternal and safe in Jesus!

The Holy Spirit is the deposit that guarantees my place with the Savior. As you start this New Year won’t you allow your Creator to have his place in your spirit? It is a good question that needs an answer today! Say yes Lord thy servant hearth and allow him to take the center of your universe.

Who Are You?

…the LORD … formeth the spirit of man within him. (Zechariah 12.1)

Facing a new year can be daunting. Not only does it bring reflections of the year past but apprehensions of the coming three-hundred-sixty-five days.

Google is an interesting concept, whether or not you like and use it, but it can’t predict the future. For example try this search, “Will I die in 2011?” It should bring up, among other things, “The Death Clock.” OOooooooo scary.

I decided to give it a try and inserted my information. It gave me, Sunday, April 11 2027 as my date with the Grim Reaper. Its weird to see a proposed date for your death.

I’m a skeptic. So, I put my dad’s information into the Death Clock. Dad was born in 1907 and died in September of 1993. The Death Clock promptly said, “Your time has expired. Have a nice day.” However, it gave November 25, 1980” as his death date. OOops.

We laugh at Death Clock type scenarios. We know that death is an important subject but we rarely dwell on it as far as we are concerned. Newspapers use buzz words like, “bloody, grizzly, ghoulish, morbid, cruel, sudden and unexpected” to grab our attention. And those key words usually grab us as we read about the grizzly deaths of Joe Blows all over the place daily .

Let’s think for a minute about our own life and death. We find a fascinating look at life in, of all places, the book of Zechariah chapter 12 and verse 1. There the prophet receives a vision from God that he is to pass on to Israel. In the introduction of that vision we read an astounding statement.

The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

Jehovah God talking to Israel and everyone else for that matter, says some amazing things about both himself and you! Be careful how you read that verse or you’ll miss its full impact. It says that the LORD:

• Stretcheth forth the heavens
• Layeth the foundation of the earth
• Formeth the spirit of man within him

Did you grasp that? The LORD God Almighty, Creator of the Universe, the earth and all that are in them, formed your spirit. In this sentence we see some fascinating aspects of both God and us.

God begins the description of his creative powers in the vastness of the Universe. He then moves to planet earth and finally into the innermost reaches of man, our spirit. The text shows the immensity and intimacy of our God. Whether or not you know him personally.

I want to literally explore more of this thought tomorrow but let me leave you with this for now.

NEVER, NEVER consider yourself a worthless speck in our huge universe. Whether that universe be the Galaxy or your cubicle. God knows you and he wants you to know him. If you have never asked him to save you from yourself and sin, turn to him now. Ask him to help you into an intimate relationship with him. It will be something that you will not regret nor forget. It will make the New Year one of purpose and promise! I promise.

Did God Suffer Empty Nest Syndrome? (Part 2)

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3.17)

The Holidays bring with them not only much anticipation of church programs, choir presentations and time with family and friends, they also bring anxiety. Those who are separated from aforementioned traditions find adjusting to their new surroundings difficult.

Thus I began the article yesterday. I’m just imagining here so bear with me. Did God suffer with Jesus departure from heaven and birth in Bethlehem? Let’s look at a few examples from the Scriptures of what I believe are demonstrations of His feelings .

Remember his words to Mary just before Jesus birth? They were delivered by the Angel Gabriel. However, they were God’s words:

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end… And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (Luk 1:32,33,35).

Of course the Angel was explaining who Jesus would be but do I hear a twinge of Fatherly pride here? “This is MY SON! I want everyone to know who HE is! He will reign. He is great. He is eternal!” That’s silly. It can’t be. God never twinges.

What about at Jesus’ baptism? You remember the scene. Jesus comes up from the muddy waters of the Jordan and is greeted by his Father’s voice from heaven which says, … This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Mat 3:17).

Again that Voice was announcing who Jesus was to all the onlookers. But do I hear another twinge of Fatherly pride in that Voice? Mike you are imagining things! God is immutable. He never changes.

What about the time when Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mount where he was transfigured before their eyes? Peter begins to babble about making tabernacles when a cloud covers them and again the Voice says, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him (Matthew 17.5).

This simply cannot be another seeming twinge of pride and, “I’m missing You My Beloved Son!” Because, again, God doesn’t miss anything. Missing means lacking and God never lacks.

We can say that none of these incidences moved the Father in any way. But, I think that they did! What’s my proof?

First let me say that in no way will I ever surrender any of God’s power, majesty or sovereignty. However, notice the intricacy with which He cares for me His adopted son. He knit me together in my mother’s womb. He guards my tears in His bottle. He watches over every step I take and He knows my thoughts from afar.

He who wrote my name in His book and who knows when every sparrow falls, could it be that He was unfeeling when the eternal intimacy changed with Jesus birth? I don’t know. I’m just imagining.

Usually when our baby’s are born we rejoice. When they graduate and leave the nest we mourn. With Jesus birth the “separation” began for God. True Jesus said, “I and the Father are one!” But could it be that because God is SO great that he can be one with Jesus and yet feel separation as Jesus departs for Bethlehem. Again, I’m imagining but note Jesus words on the cross as he somehow feels separation from the Father for the first time in history, “My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken ME!”

I know that the theologians probably have the answers to my imagination. And I am sure that God didn’t experience what we know as “Empty Nest” syndrome. But God did feel something!

He can identify perfectly with me now. Want some proof? Look at how Paul, using God’s words, describes Jesus’ homecoming in Philippians 2.9-11:

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Empty Nester, God knows how you feel and he cares. Meditate on that truth and he’ll fill the void you feel! I know from personal experience.

Did God Suffer from Empty Nest Syndrome?

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3.17)

The Holidays bring with them not only much anticipation of church programs, choir presentations and time with family and friends, they also bring anxiety. Those who are separated from aforementioned traditions find adjusting to their new surroundings difficult.

Soldiers, for example, find themselves a million miles from home and familiar holiday happenings. The “other-culture” of their new home away from home lacks the feel of Christmas and the hugs from loved ones. Not only do they fight a foreign enemy they fight their very foreign emotions and emptiness.

Missionaries too struggle with this drama. Their feelings are pacified some what when the whole immediate family is on the field together. When the nest becomes empty those feelings run raw. We’ve been through this choice experience for two year now and have earned a new facet on the jewel of our lives. We can identify with those who have or will soon experience these feelings.

With Christmas upon us once again a thought came to me, “What was it like for God when Jesus left heaven to be born in Bethlehem? Did the Almighty feel ‘Empty-Nest’ syndrome?”

I can hear the theologians who read my blog sighing collectively just now. All one of them! Or are they snickering? I don’t believe that there are many theologians who read my blog. And that is just fine with me.

A theologian would be quick to remind me that God cannot “suffer”. God is above suffering. He is outside of his creation and time. God is immutable, which is a theological term meaning, “unchanging.” God has no needs, he is unaffected by anything but himself. Our God is sovereign. He is in complete control of everything all of the time. He is never taken by surprise by any one, any thing or any circumstance. He is omnipresent. Which means that he is everywhere present in all of his being. How could God feel alone?

Amen! With my limited theological studies I would have to acquiesce to the learned theologians. But I still wonder. I hear God speaking in the Word at times and I wonder. I’d like continue this thought tomorrow? Hope that you’ll come back to hear the rest of my musings.

Feliz Natal

Wishing one a Merry Christmas often seems a trivial pursuit. “Wishing” seems so fantasy like. However, my WordWeb dictionary assures me that wishing is a valid way to Invoke upon you all the very best of this lovely day.

Wherever you find yourself remember to look to the Savior. He loves you and thus left Heaven to rescue you from yourself. He gave himself up for you so that you might give yourself back to him.

Think about that one. Jesus the Creator, King and God left heavens glory to be born into a fragile, limiting and humble body because he loves you. He suffered the weakness of infancy, the dependence of childhood, the awkwardness of the teen years and the poverty of adulthood to demonstrate his love.

He mounted a rude cross and let spike, whose molecules he was holding together, be driven into his wrists and ankles. Then he died. Why? It was the ultimate demonstration of his love.

Just last week a little girl from our church came up to me after Sunday school and shoved a roughly folded and crumpled piece of paper into my hand. I hesitated to take it at first but when she said, “Take it! It’s for you!” I couldn’t resist. I opened it and looked at the childish scribble. There was a sun between two clouds an ocean and scrawling words that read, “Feliz Natal Pastor Miguel.”

That simple act from the hands of a little girl who comes to church in rags was a tear-jerker. It was an expression of love. It probably took her all of five minutes to think it up and draw it out yet it touched my heart greatly.

How much more should what Christ did be received and cherished. If you have the privilege of holding a baby today or in the coming week, think of Jesus the Christ child. He was that frail for you. If you know Him cherish your relationship. If you don’t know Him, why not? He couldn’t have done anymore than he’s already done to help you to have a wonderful and meaningful Christmas. So then, Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Not Your Average Nativity Scene

And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. (Revelation 12:2)

I got an early jump on my next years Bible reading plan. This one has me reading a passage in the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs.

This mornings readings took me to Zechariah 1, Revelation 12, Psalm 140 and Proverbs 30.17. There are battles in heaven, a dragon, Michael the Arc Angel, evil enemies and vulture plucked eyeballs. Quite a combo. There is also a lot of allegory, sometimes heavy on the gory.

I’d like to focus for the next minute or so on the Revelation 12 reading. The Revelation is not easy. It is full of vivid word pictures mixed with fantastic future events that are hard to imagine. Many people avoid the book for these very reasons.

Chapter 12 is quite an action packed passage where two spectacular signs appear in the heavens. There is pregnant woman screaming in childbirth and a huge dragon whose mouth is open wide to receive the newborn. The woman is clothed with the sun. The moon is under her feet. She has a twelve star crown on her head. This is not your average birthing room scene.

Now let me tell you, my wife has given birth three times. Each experience had its peculiarities and uniqueness and in each there were anxieties. But in none of those experiences did my wife wear a crown. She had a funny paper hat, tubes and a not-quite-big-enough hospital gown but never ever a crown!

Ladies, did you ever wear a crown in the birthing room? I hear those shouts, “NO!” So, what was John seeing here?

If you use your imagination and ten commentaries you see about 2,000 years of history and a tiny bit of the future in these first five verses of chapter twelve. The woman is Mary. The child is Jesus and the dragon is the Devil.

At birth the Devil was waiting to destroy Jesus. Kill the baby change History. His plan was foiled. In fact verse five seems to jump from Jesus’ birth to his job description and then to his ascension into heaven in sparse words. Verse six describes a future event where Israel will flee to the wilderness to escape Satan’s wrath for three and a half years.

We’re celebrating Christmas tomorrow. Today is what we call December 24. Let’s imagine that Jesus really was born during the early morning of December 25 two-thousand years ago.

Something wondrous happened that morning. I’m sure that Joseph didn’t see it. He barley had two nickels to rub together. There was no brilliant clothing, moon-like footstool nor starry crown in that dimly lit cave where Mary struggled in delivery of her firstborn. There wasn’t even a little glowing halo like the baby Jesus supports in most of our Christmas cards.

As Mary looked into that little one’s eyes, so many years ago, she had no idea who she was cuddling. She held the greatest gift ever given. His birth was the most wondrous event ever. God had become flesh. He was to dwell among us and his arrival would make the Devil’s defeat and our Salvation possible. All of history points to that special morning, even yours. You will bring glory to Christ. Whether you celebrate him as your Savior or your Judge. Your knees will bow in admission of your debt and his payment. I hope that you’re singing Christmas carols on that day!

Private Acts

Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. Matthew 26.13

Our tiny church of twenty-five has tiny everything. We have a tiny orchestra, a tiny kids choir and even tiny hymnbooks. Saturday we took our tiny production on the road to present our Christmas Cantata in front of the bakery across the street from our house.

The kids did a very nice job. The music was lovely and the play was adorable. The story of Christmas was presented clearly and plainly.

The only problem that I noted was that there was nobody there to hear and watch it all. Sure the baker was there; his helper was there too. But in the end it seems that it was bad timing on our part. 2:00 PM is not the busiest time to be at a bakery.

Usually our street is so busy that one fears for their life as they try to cross it on foot. Both Dawn and I have almost been hit by speeding cars. Saturday however, during our twenty minute presentation, only four cars passed. It was as if our Cantata was a private act. How could it have any affect. How could any good come from it?

In Matthew 26 we read of a private act that gained historic and worldwide recognition. Just after dinner with his disciples and while still reclining at the table, Jesus is approached by a woman. In the presence of his men, the home owner and his family, she anoints Jesus with costly perfume.

You know the story. Though it was a relatively private act of worship it became a historic event. Why? Because Jesus brought attention to it. Jesus said, roughly translated, “Where the Gospel is preached what this woman did in worship will be shared.” Her private act rings through the corridors of History. Her act was recorded by the Holy Spirit inspired Gospel writers and now, where ever one goes in our busy world, the story is familiar.

What about our choir presentation? We’re just a small church of twenty-five people. On Saturday we presented to a baker and his helper. I am certain that we will not get world wide recognition. Unless of course Jesus calls attention to our simple private act of worship. What affect will that private act have? I don’t know yet. But one thing that I do know, you’re reading about it! And where are you in this BIG old world?

Scrooooooooge! Scroooooooge!

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine 2 Timothy 4:3

One of my life long “Christmas traditions” has been to watch the movie versions of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol.” My favorite was the 1951 film with Alastair Sim. Although the George C. Scott portrayal was also a great one. It is a classic story that I am sure you are very familiar with. In fact you haven’t heard the phrase “Don’t be a Scrooge” you’ve lead a sheltered life.

I love the storyline and always want to cry when Tiny Tim says, “God bless us every one.” as he toasts his figgy pudding… or whatever it is that they eat at Bob Cratchet’s table. And in the end when Ebenezer goes skipping down the snowy, narrow London street with healthy little Tim on his shoulder! Well it’s a classic moment.

Thinking of my “Christmas tradition”, where in the world is Christmas in this beloved tale? Supposedly the whole story focuses on a spooky warning by dead friend Bob Marley…. Oh no it’s Jacob Marley. Marley sends three ghostly visitors who appear just after midnight on Christmas morning to help change Scrooge’s mind. They show him his past, present and future based on the “chains” he is forging by his cruel lifestyle.

Granted Ebenezer’s Christmases, to date, have been wretched. He is nearly left alone at boarding school because of an indifferent father. On another one his beloved sister Fran dies giving birth to Ebenezer’s nephew. And on still another one Scrooge allows the love of his life to leave him because of his infatuation with money.

His present Christmas isn’t much better and his future ends with a tawdry little group groveling over his paltry possessions. He then is taken to the graveyard where the dark ghost of Christmas future points with his bony finger to the tombstone with Ebenezer’s name on it.

My question again is, “Where in the world is Christmas in this tale?” There is snow, there are festivities, the word Christmas is used a few times and Tim says, “God bless us everyone.” But what does the story have to do with Christmas.

“A Christmas Carol” was written in a six week period in October/ November 1843 according to website enotes.com. Now think about that. Even way back then Dickens’ Christmas was a humanistic affair. A Christmas Carol is nothing more than a story that takes place on December 24/25 in frigid London in which an old Scrooge makes a radical decision to become a helper rather than a “humbug!” Whatever a humbug is.

This story with its faint connection to Christmas is a classic that turns our attention from rather than to Jesus Christ. If you listen carefully to this story it SHOUTS, “YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR OWN DESTINY!” If you have a bad dream and decide to become a good guy you, and you alone, can change how your life will turn out.

That, my dear reader, is HUMBUG! Jesus came to dethrone that very mindset. “I can do it myself” is the attitude that shouts, “I DON’T NEED JESUS!” It was that attitude that drove two terrorists pilots into the World Trade Center on 9/11/01. In that drastic act they were saying, “I can get what I want in the future life by making radical change now!”

From Scrooge to terrorists. Wow, how did we get here? Humanism. Humanism says, “If I try hard I can get whatever I want whether in this life or in the next.” Humanism is what has taken over our “Holiday” celebrations for the most part. Do you agree or disagree? I’d like to hear your ideas.

Thinking of Christmas

During the night I awoke with visions of sugar plums dancing in my head… or were they cobwebs? Whatever they were they focused on Christmas. Let’s meditate on that for the next few days.

In the Detroit area there are some radio stations that begin to play “Christmas” music just after Thanksgiving day. It’s played virtually nonstop until December 25. My daughters always loved that idea and had their radios tuned to those stations.

What bothered me about that “Christmas” music was that most of it had nothing to do with Christmas. Sure, it brought memories of Christmas past mostly because the same music is played every November/December. But what do songs like Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song”, “Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer” and “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” Have to do with Jesus and his birth, if that is what Christmas is really about?

I even began to think, which can be dangerous, “What does “Christmas” have to do with Christmas? I mean what does the word Christmas mean? It sounds like a Roman Catholic type celebration. “Christ Mass?” Why do we in the United States of America hyperventilating between Thanksgiving and December 25?

If we were to go back in time about 2014 years give or take a few we wouldn’t have seen one Christmas tree, Christmas light or manger scene. Unless, of course, we were in Bethlehem and at the right cave. Christmas isn’t biblical. By that I mean that Jesus never said that we were to celebrate his birth. In fact he said just the opposite. Remember? Paul put Jesus’ idea this way, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Corinthians 11.26).

Nowhere in the bible do we see people celebrating Jesus’ birth. The angels announced his birth and the shepherds went to see the newborn but there were no presents exchanged, Christmas dinner nor Christmas eve service. “WAIT JUST A MINUTE!” I can hear you screaming, “WHAT ABOUT THE WISE MEN?”

First of all there is debate about whether the wise men visited the Nativity scene. Some believe that Jesus might have been as old as a year and a half, based on Herod’s reaction in killing all babies in Bethlehem two and under. Second the Magi entered a “house” when they came. They did bring gifts it is true. That’s because they were entering the King’s presence. Their gifts were valid. Ours, well? There nice but have nothing to do with Jesus.

Try this the next time that your little Johnny celebrates his birthday. Have all of his little friends bring gifts for each other. And watch Johnny’s reaction. Take video and post it on Youtube. You might win some money!

There are various passages in the Old Testament where we can get a look at Christmas before Christmas existed. Isaiah has much to say about Israel’s coming Messiah. Whether you believe it or not Christmas is about Christ. Christ is the Greek word transliterated from the Hebrew word Messiah.

I believe that much of what we do today at Christmas time really has nothing to do with Christ and everything to do with commercialism. Most of what we do is more a distraction than a memorial. Christ is not the Reason for the season. We Christians have scrambled to make Him the Reason but the world is winning that race.

Lest you turn me off now let me say that I am not totally against what we do. Nor am I against a good Christmas program at church. I don’t want to be considered an old Scrooge. Oops! Where’d that come from? We’ll think about him later. Right now I want YOU to think about what you do during this Holiday season. Evaluate it with a spiritual eye and let’s talk more later.

Christmas Angels

and low an angel of the Lord came upon them. (Luke 2.9)

Have you ever studied the different angels of the Bible? We have a preconceived notion of what angels looked like don’t we? I believe, however, that for the most part angels looked like humans. Sometimes they looked spectacular but more often than not they were the “Angels unawares” type mentioned in Hebrews 13.2.

For an example of a non plus encounter with an angel notice Mary’s reaction in Luke one when none other than Gabriel comes to announce that she has been chosen by God to bear the Christ child. She doesn’t seem terrified by his appearance. The text simply says that, “she was troubled [by his greeting.]

Mary, being the godly girl that she was, you might think that there would have been some, “falling on your face” type adoration going on here. But no, she is puzzled by Gabriel’s salutation. “What does this stranger mean when he calls me ‘highly favored’”?

Joseph’s angelic encounters are similar though each time they come in dream form. After each angelic dream he simply awakens and does all that the angel has instructed him to do. Isn’t that peculiar? You dream of angels and don’t freak out!

We might even say that the Shepherd’s knee knocking terror with the arrival of the angelic hosts was more related to the fact that, “The Glory of the Lord shone round about them.” God’s glory brings meltdown fear. Just ask Isaiah!

Speaking of Isaiah, it is in his vision that we see that the angels, more specifically the “seraphims”, have wings. However, you’ll note that they have SIX wings or apparently three pair, and each pair has a specified task.

The Bible doesn’t say that the Christmas angels flew. A literal translation of Luke 2.9 might read, “the angel of the Lord ‘stood before them.’” It changes our perspective doesn’t it? We’ve seen so many Christmas cards with an angel hovering over the shepherds that we think that was what happened.

It may have been quite different. The angel might have simply appeared in the middle of their small band as the shepherds lit up with the Glory of God. He then made an earth shattering announcement. Possibly as Mary was giving birth. Then a multitude of “heavenly hosts” appeared covering the humble hills surrounding Bethlehem shouting praise to God.

Then suddenly… Poof! They are wisped into the heavens. Would you be surprised if an angel visited you? Maybe not. Or maybe they have visited you and you didn’t even know it.

The angel’s visit to the shepherds caused several reactions.
They said, “Let’s go see”
They ran to Jesus
They saw
They left the scene telling everybody about their experience!
They went back to work changed men: Glorifying and praising God!

Whether or not an angel visits you is unimportant. It is rather whether you have visited the Christ and whether that visit has changed your life. It would be a great Christmas gift, salvation.