HIS WAY, HIS TRUTH

A friend emailed me and mentioned that Psalm 86 was one of his favourite psalms. As I read it today (it is already Dec. 31 in this time zone) I thought: "What a great passage on which to begin 2013! " I love the way the psalmist affirms the greatness of God. When our minds are filled with thoughts of the greatness and goodness of God, they cannot be filled with doubts and worries.
"You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you." vs. 5
"Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord: no deeds can compare with yours." vs. 8
"But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." vs. 15
In the middle of the psalm comes a request and commitment that should be ours, wherever we are and whatever we hope to do in 2013.

Teach me your way,Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness;give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. vs. 11, 12

Yes! I want to know His way and walk in His truth. In a world of so many attractive things and seductive voices that can pull me away and splinter my focus, I want an undivided heart. I want to listen closely to His Word and His Spirit and then respond in absolute obedience. I want to rely on His faithfulness in a world of rapid change.
If this is our desire and commitment, then 2013 will be a great year for each of us.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.

ANTICIPATION, JOY AND THEN

Anticipation is half the fun and sometimes more than half. Whether it is a vacation, graduation, a new job, marriage, a birth, retirement or simply another Christmas, the waiting, the anticipation is often such a positive warm part of the actual experience. Of course the actual event brings (we hope) the actual joy itself. But there is always an "and then" as well.
I wonder how great was the anticipation of Joseph and Mary? Angelic messengers had been sent to both of them. They knew the child forming in Mary's womb was to be unlike any other baby. This One was to be the Messiah; the One expected by all of Israel for centuries. Finally Jesus was born and with his birth, shepherds came telling of an angelic choir exclaiming over the joyous birth.
Perhaps life was ideal in the months that followed. Perhaps Joseph found a good job in Bethlehem and the little family settled in with relatives there. We are given no details. After many months the Magi arrived bringing expensive gifts and recognition that their son is indeed "born King of Israel".
But then came the angel's warning and instructions to leave for Egypt.
Not much joy in this announcement. Frightening actually. Powerful, vicious Herod wanted to kill their son. And so they packed up meagre belongings and left for Egypt under cover of darkness. Being parents of the Messiah was not going to be easy apparently.
We all experience something of this, don't we? So often after the anticipation comes the reality that life is still difficult. Even if the vacation is ideal, it does not last. Even if the new job, marriage, baby, whatever, is wonderful, life still offers many challenges. No matter what has been added to our life; no matter where or with whom we have entered this new life chapter - after the initial joy we find we ourselves are much the same person and life still offers both good and bad.
Joseph and Mary had to live by faith, trusting in God while in Nazareth, while journeying to Bethlehem, then living there; journeying to Egypt, then living there; returning eventually back to Nazareth. Each move providing its own share of blessing and difficulty.
And so it is for each of us now that Christmas, 2012 is over and the New Year of 2013 is about to dawn. I hope you experienced real Christmas joy wherever and with whomever you celebrated. I hope you anticipate good things in the year ahead. But we need to remember that lasting joy is found only in our God. Yes, we should keep anticipating and enjoying what eventually comes after the waiting. But we actually can really live only in the present. And in the present we always have our God "who was and is and is to come" - eternally present One.
So my wish for you today and every day of 2013: choose to obey the simple command of Philippians 4:4.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!'

THREE THOUSAND YEAR FAITH

I ambled slowly through the first ten psalms today. It is good sometimes to have no time limit as we read Scripture, but rather just read and think for as long as you wish. The tenth psalm presents so well the quandry we believers deal with daily. We believe in a loving God who is ultimately in control. Yet we see around us on a personal and national scale so much sin, pain and injustice.
We should be encouraged when we read to find that our "caught between the two" feelings are three thousand years old. The struggle between heartfelt questions of God and warm, confident faith in God is nothing new but rather is a commonality among all true believers. Consider the contrast between the statements of struggle and of faith expressed by the psalmist centuries age; and take heart.
Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? vs. 1
Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. vs. 12
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. vs. 14
You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror. vs. 17, 18

¹⁵ 

We do live by faith, not by sight. Like the psalmist in these verses, we both wonder why God does not seem to "hide" or to "forget"; and yet at the same time we affirm that God does see, does hear and indeed does intervene. Our thoughts and perspectives are not the same as His; our all knowing, all powerful and all loving God. We hold on to an eternal perspective, believing there will be a final day of judging and of rewarding.

As an old year draws to a close; a new year with unknown challenges looms ahead. We choose with the psalmist to believe and to rest in our God. We often will not understand, but always we will trust Him who loves us and gave Himself for us.

THE CHILD IS BORN

This story comes from a Bible Gateway daily devotional. The same God who reached out to our world in the sending of Christ is still reaching out in love to people around the world. The message never changes: 

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, ---

Chinese evangelist, Brother Xi, was travelling one very cold Christmas Eve in
the rugged province of Gansu. As he came to the next village he sensed
something was wrong. He introduced himself as a bearer of good news. A small
man interrupted, “Well we have only bad news here right now. A couple has just
had their baby stolen.” In the poorer areas of China, where couples are
restricted to one child, it is not uncommon to have child snatching, even
stealing babies for wealthy childless couples in the cities.

He stepped inside the house to find both husband and wife staring quietly at
him. The couple’s grief hung heavy in the air. He said, “I’m so sorry to hear
about your plight, but I know someone who may help...God. Let me pray to Him.”

There was no reaction on the couple’s faces, so he went into prayer, feeling
very uncomfortable indeed. “Dear Father, many years ago at this same time of
year you sent a child into the world and rescued us all; we ask today that you
will send back this child to us, and deliver this village from the sadness
which grips it, Amen.”

Suddenly the young husband spoke, “Shut up and go away. We have prayed to our
gods and nothing has happened. Why should yours be any different?” He was
grabbed from behind by the other villagers and propelled out of the village.
“Don't you dare come here again!” they bawled.

He wandered the hills in a daze of humiliation, tears, and crying to God. Then
he thought l went to that village expecting a hero’s welcome, or at the very
least, I relied on being a curiosity, quizzed and entertained by people who
live very dull and isolated lives. Instead, I had only been treated a little
like Christ was treated.

Kneeling there in the snow, he knew what he had to do—go back to that village,
knowing for sure he would be despised. This was to follow in the Master’s
footsteps. With a pounding heart he turned and began to walk slowly back
towards the village. Suddenly, across the still late afternoon air, he heard a
baby’s cry coming from what appeared to be an old well shaft.

Sure enough six feet down was a little baby, wrapped in a thick blanket, lying
at the bottom of the dry-well. He climbed down to hug some warmth back into
it. It was a baby girl. Those who snatched it did not know it was a girl, and
finding later that it was, left it in this old well to die.

He walked back to the village with the precious bundle of life. The villagers
came running. They were amazed and overjoyed as they led him to the cottage of
the poor couple, and the smile on the mother’s face as he placed her baby into
her lap was unforgettable. “Come, warm yourself by the fire” said the husband.
They drew up a chair for him, and as the other villagers crowded round, he
asked, “Who was that God you prayed to?”

What an invitation. Here he was, the honored guest, looking at thirty eager
people, waiting with bated breath to hear the Gospel. “Well,” he began, “He
came to earth in the form of a little baby, just about this time 2000 years
ago...”

 --- and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    EverlastingFather, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the greatness of his governmentand peace
    there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever."

Merry Christmas1

I BRING AN OFFERING

Among all the Christmas carols in our morning service today, we sang the song, "I bring an offering of worship to my King" this morning. Later in the service, I preached from Matthew 2:1 -12, the story of the Magi. Such familiar words, yet if we pause and focus, we always find something new; a new challenge, a new thought, a new appreciation.
I was impressed again this week at what it cost these men to visit the "new born King." Travelling by foot, donkey, camel or some combination, the trip took weeks, if not several months. It is a long way from the south end of the Arabian Peninsula or from Babylon (near present day Baghdad) - must be  a thousand km. at least. A costly trip with costly gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
If Mary and Joseph were shocked by the visit of the shepherds on the night Christ was born, imagine their shock when they opened the door to wealthy Gentiles from a distant land seeking a King?
Had they settled into their new home and new life in Bethlehem? Had Joseph found a job with a local carpenter? Were they now feeling like "normal people" since nothing out of the ordinary had happened for months? Were they wondering what would happen next as they parented this holy child?
Suddenly these three (or five or a dozen) men are bowing before the King, presenting their very expensive offerings to Him, the "one born King of the Jews".
Aren't you glad they came? No one else offered gifts. But God moved in the minds and hearts of these unknown scholars/astrologers to offer their homage and the first, very appropriate gifts to the baby King Jesus.
And we get to do the same: at Christmas and on every other day.

WHAT WE WON'T GET

The Christmas Season delivers many painful feelings to millions of people.
The pain of loss: family loved ones who have passed away; united family life broken by separation and divorce; siblings who have failed to cultivate and keep close relationships.
The pain of distance: thousands who would love to make the song "I'll be home for Christmas" happen this year but cannot because they lack the necessary money, or time or because they have been called to serve far away.
The pain of not being able to give: many who would love to give much to those they love feel severely limited due to finances.
The pain of not receiving: commercials can make it seem that if you don't give and receive the wonderful things companies wish to sell you, then Christmas must be disappointing.

I've just completed my "through the Bible reading for 2012." So let me remind you of the joy Christ provides if we keep our eyes on the future. Rejoice with me in this Christmas Season because of all you won't get when you one day arrive in the Presence of our Great King. When we finally are with Him, we will never again get: tears, or death, or mourning, or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4
Add to that list of what we will not have when we are present with Him: "No longer will there be any curse." Rev. 22:3 Imagine: all the sadness, wounds, deformities, scars of all the years because of "the fall" and the curse that followed - gone.
Oh, and on that day you will receive an eternal day: there will be no more night (of course this is not meaning you will therefore be tired due to lack of rest. Rather it is telling us that all of the evil things that usually happen under cover of darkness will be banished by the light of His holiness.) Rev. 22:5

If you experience any pain during this Season: momentary or long lasting, severe or mild, physical, emotional or spiritual, please turn to Revelation 21 and 22. Read, look up and look forward. There is a huge amount that we won't get when we pass into His Presence. That should cause you to smile, sing and praise.
As one old preacher (Vance Havner) said: "It's only the hope of dying that has kept me alive this long." 

NOT IN CANADA

Tonight we went Christmas "carolling" with a large crowd from our Hanoi International Church. We did it in the centre courtyard of a new shopping centre near our apartment. We would probably not be allowed to do that in any Canadian shopping centre - it was too Christian. And of course we did it in the outside plaza where the temperature tonight was 23 degrees. Lovely.
After one church related appointment and on the way to another church appointment I accepted a ride offer from my co-worker at HIF. What that meant was hopping on the back of his motorbike and riding through rush hour traffic. And since he did not have a spare helmet, I went without one. I don't think I've been on the back of a motorcycle in Canada - and of course I would never do it in without a helmet. But here the traffic slows everyone down, and although riding without a helmet is against the law, it is a little flexible, kind of like the speed limit in Canada. I promise to rarely do this again.
We hosted two groups of young adult Vietnamese recently for informal Christmas party. Our two Vietnamese Christian friends promised that if we hosted they would bring people. So on on one night they brought three friends and on another night they brought six friends. We had a great time: Jan showed them how to make paper snowflakes; they decorated cupcakes Jan had baked and we played a game of opening a tightly wrapped present while wearing gloves. During the evening we discussed the history of Christian which was unknown to most.
Oh one other recent event we've never experienced in Canada. We were invited to dinner by an Asian family who are musically very, very gifted. After supper the family trio: father (piano with 2 masters degrees in music), grade ten daughter who is already a virtuoso on the violin and grade seven daughter on the cello (she only practices 90 minutes a day) provided a mini-concert for us.
They will also play for all of us on Christmas Eve.
Oh yes, in spite of all of the above - we'd love to be home for Christmas.

WORTHY

I don't watch athletic contests on TV here in Hanoi, except for occasional 5 minutes of football. However I do follow on the internet a variety of professional sports. Recently baseball players have signed contracts paying them far more money than they are "worth". In comparison with what is paid to  those who really make a difference in our societies, how can a ball player be worth $25 million a year? Not worthy!
Jan and I enjoy watching the popular TV show "The Voice". It is a "feel good" program for it features talented young singers and judges/coaches who are always positive in their comments. However there are many times when it is evident that these coaches have run out of compliments and have not more adjectives to use in expressing their appreciation for the singers.
I confess to a little mockery as the praise becomes far more than these young singers deserve. With thousand of gifted musicians in every country, these Voice competitors are not worthy of being told "you are only one of a few singers who could do this" or "nobody else could do what you do." They are good but they are not yet worthy and perhaps never will be worthy of the words of praise coming from these well meaning coaches.
I don't need to go on about the almost "worship" given to certain entertainers - in the movie and music industries. They are not worthy of the amount of attention, the amount of money or the amount of significance the media and public give to them.
I don't need to say much about the kind of power and wealth gained; the kind of loyalty and near worship given to powerful rulers in certain countries. They are not worthy.
There is One who is worthy - worthy of the greatest compliments; the most attention; the best gifts; the highest praise. It is impossible to give to Him too great a sacrifice or too excessive a compliment. We are free to use the best of our language skills to praise Him and with the help of our most gifted poets and writers, we still fall short.
"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power ---."
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength, and honor and glory and praise." Revelation 4:11; 5:12
So we worship and sing His praise at Christmas, all year round and forever. For He alone is worthy! 

LISTEN CLOSELY

I really love Christmas Carols. I am not one of those "crazy people" who begin to listen to them in September. :) However around December 1st or earlier I begin to listen. This month I've played some of them through my computer almost every day. I know you are wondering so let me tell you, I do have a favourite carol: O Holy Night.
I have often requested that it be sung when I was in the role of Senior Pastor. I love the rendition by Celine Dion and the one by the Celtic Women. Jan has never told me, but she may be tired of hearing me play this lovely carol so often in December. I really, really enjoy both the words and the music.
But to my point for today's blog: we need to pay attention to the words, not just enjoy the "feeling" of these familiar carols. Many contain great theology; some emphasize hard facts; others wistful hopes. Though most were composed for one congregation, many provide very thought provoking words. An example from my favorite carol:
"Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, and in His name all oppression shall cease."
These are not startling words today for many of us who grew up safe in a democracy; distant from serious poverty and any form of slavery. However these words were written in another time, another century. They were written after the emancipation laws passed in Great Britain but two decades before the American Civil War.
Cantique de Noel was a Christmas poem authored in France in the mid19th century. The literal translation of the poem's lines I quoted reads something like:
He sees a brother where there was only a slave, Love unites those that iron had chained.
What a wonderful truth; true to Scripture; true to what our God wants for all peoples. Sadly still not experienced as true by so many people around the world. May God's love and our love for the Saviour born on the Holy Night move us to do our part in bringing people out of slavery: enslaved by personal sin and addiction; enslaved by deep rooted poverty; enslaved by merchants of human trafficking.


His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall c

y

His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.Truly He taught us to love one another,

His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.

FOREIGNERS

This is a typical Saturday morning for Jan and me. We started the day a little slowly, our time with God (quiet time, devotional time) coming an hour or two later than on other days of the week. Today during our "quiet time" we have been accompanied by loud amplified music and singing from the school courtyard below us. It may be a group singing competition: we see different coloured clothing on groups below. We cannot see the covered stage or the audience sitting under a very large red and white tent. And because our Vietnamese is extremely limited, we have no idea what they are singing or saying. It was hard to concentrate on Scripture and prayer today. It was another reminder that we are foreigners here.
We are very thankful to be in Vietnam and really enjoy numerous parts of life here. However we admit that it is not always easy to be "strangers or aliens" in a foreign country. Language and culture "barriers" are consistently a part of life whenever you are away from your home country. We cannot read any signs unless they are in English and we are sometimes surprised by preparations for a special day because we've not yet become accustomed to the many Vietnamese holidays.
Even though you may be living in your "home" country, you too should feel like a foreigner. The Apostle Peter was very conscious of this reality as it applies to followers of Jesus. If we are shaped by Scripture, by Jesus and the work of God's Spirit then we will not "fit in", no matter where we are living: in the place we were born or in a distant country. Those who belong to Jesus belong to the family of God; to an eternal city. So Peter twice uses terms that underline this fact.
"Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear." I Peter 1:17
"Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul." 2:11
Yes, like us in Vietnam, there are many people and things to enjoy when you are a foreigner. But we are "not at home"; we can never fully "fit in". So it should be for every Christian, wherever you live. We should never feel fully at home. Our perspective, our goals, our values are shaped by Another. The more we grow to be like Christ, the more we will feel like foreigners, even when with those we love dearly; even with our unbelieving family or friends. If we ever feel fully at home here on earth, it is a warning signal that something is wrong; we should be "looking for a better country - a heavenly one." Hebrews 11:15
Our joy of belonging to Christ and our anticipation of spending all of eternity in God's presence carries with it, in this life, the burden of being "foreigners and exiles." At this time of year, as much of the world celebrates Christmas, we believers rejoice and yet we feel the clash with the secular and commercial celebration; we feel the sadness of celebration if it goes no further than being with family and friends. If this were really our longed for home country, than everything and everyone would be centered on the Christ of Christmas. We rightly feel like foreigners because "our citizenship is in heaven." Philippians 3:20

SEASON FOR SACRIFICES

When talking about worship, I often like to go to the following passage that speaks of three ways in which NT believers can offer sacrifices to God.
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."Hebrews 13:15, 16
I find it easier in the Christmas Season, (busy and commercial as it is) to offer God my "sacrifice of praise" than at any other. We play more "praising music" in our home at this time of year than at any other. In fact as I write, the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir is singing Christmas praises for me - I am joining in, but silently.
Here in our Vietnamese apartment building, filled with mostly Vietnamese, the muzak in our hallway sometimes includes Christmas carols in English words! A friend told me that this week he heard a Christian Christmas Carol in a local grocery store - surprisingly sung in Vietnamese! The Good News sung publicly in our country! Sacrifices of Praise!
In this Christmas Season it is also easier for most of us to make room for sacrifices of "doing good and sharing with others." We had an opportunity to do that last night. Two of our young adult Vietnamese friends brought three of their friends over for a small Christmas Party. Jan prepared well: she taught them how to make snow flakes by folding and cutting paper just the right way. None of them have ever seen snow except on TV so had fun making snow flakes.
Then Jan provided a small cake for them each to decorate as their own Christmas cake. We ate some of the cakes as well as some fruit. While we sat at the table, I asked them if they knew the history of Christmas. Two of them knew almost nothing about the Christmas Story, so we enjoyed a great table discussion about what the coming of Christ was all about.
Monday night we will host a small farewell/Christmas party for a young woman who has been teaching English here but moves later this month to south Vietnam. Then on Wednesday we will host another party. Our two Vietnamese friends want to bring five more friends to our apartment to play games, eat, and talk about the history of Christmas.
Thank you God for opportunities to offer you sacrifices of doing good and sharing. I hope you really enter into this special season with its many extra opportunities to offer sacrifices to our Lord.

OTHERS

The Bible is so realistic, so relevant, so encouraging and yet so direct. We preachers, teachers and other enthusiastic Christians may give unbalanced messages, but the Bible provides such balance. We can sound either positively over the top about how great the Christian life is - or we can sound quite negative about how much sacrifice and difficulty there is in following Christ. The Bible provides a balanced view of the joy and the pain of following Christ.
In Hebrews11, the author highlights in a sentence or a paragraph a few of the OT heroes from Cain to Rahab. Then he lists a few names mentioning that through faith they "conquered kingdoms, administered justice --- shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames --- became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies."This makes the life of faith sound even more awesome than what is promised by preachers of the "prosperity gospel", so popular today in parts of the world.
But then, this realistic author, our balanced Bible shifts focus with the word, "Others". With a screeching of the brakes we are turned away from the successful heroes who experienced victories and miraculous rescue. Now he writes, we need to turn away from those heroes and consider God's "other" heroes. These women and men, these faithful believers, did not experience prosperity, apparent victory or dramatic rescue. Consider these "others".
"There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground." Hebrews 11:35 - 38
Whew! This does not sound like an attractive, Good News kind of life. This sounds like the kind of cost and sacrifice Jesus spoke about when He used the word "cross".
We often don't know why some Christians are blessed with health, wealth, miraculous healing, special experiences, Divine protection, etc. We often don't know why others experience terrible pain, loss of finances, persecution and suffering. We do know the Bible tells us we may experience blessing or suffering. We do know that we must be prepared for both, and trust God through both.
Naturally we would all like to be in the first group - the ones who seem to have an easier life. Yet the Bible tells us there are special rewards for the "others", those in the second group: those who by faith endure and rejoice through difficulty and pain; those who persevere through the more common, normal problems of life and especially those who are faithful witnesses for Christ even when enduring fearful opposition. These "others" need our prayers.

OUR NEW HOME IS READY

Jan and I are occasionally asked: where will you live when you move out of Vietnam. Our honest answer is: we don't know. We look back with fondness over our many years of married life and ministry: 8 years in Florida, 15 years in Toronto, a combined 15 years in Alberta. We have children in three different states and siblings in another state and one province. So where is home?
It is easy for us to identify with those described in Hebrews 11 "who are looking for a country of their own."11:14 Reading this chapter today, I was struck by the phrase that says God "has prepared a city for them." I checked my Greek Testament and sure enough, the verb in Greek as well as in English is the same one Jesus used in John 14. Read and enjoy these two verses side by side.

"My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:2, 3

"Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:16

I could write a lot about these verses. However today, just notice with me the verb "prepare" used by Jesus and the author of Hebrews. In John the verb is present tense looking toward the future. Jesus says He is leaving planet earth to prepare a place for His followers. In Hebrews the author affirms that future home, that eternal city is already prepared (past tense).
Have you ever known friends who were all ready to move, but their new home was still under construction? We've known friends who've had to rent a temporary place for months because the building was so delayed. No fear about that happening with God's construction project.
I won't "build" a theory of place on verb tenses. I will not enter a debate about the location of our eternal home. However I will rejoice that our - your - new home is ready for you. It is a perfect place. The perfect city. The architect and builder is God! (11:10) Think about it!
So do the Annans know where they may be living in 2 or 3 or 4 years? No. Do we know where we will be living in the not too distant future? Yes. Our new home is ready and sometimes I can't wait to be there!

WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT

The Old Testament prepares for the New. The thousands of lambs sacrificed point to the one final sacrifice of the Lamb of God. The prophets prepare the way for the coming Messiah. All this we know if we have any familiarity with the biblical story.
Yet I still love the way the author of Hebrews writes about the Person and Work of Christ. I have dozens of favourite verses found in almost every chapter of this book. What especially captures me is the wonderful way in which the author, while appreciative of the old, wants us to truly understand how great is the new.
For example in chapter 7, the author demonstrates through the example of Melchizedek, that Christ is the superior priest; the one great High Priest. He meets our need because He is "holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens." Hebrews 7:26
But the author wants us to understand and appreciate more of what we believers now enjoy. Here is just one verse that captures this theme.
"But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises." 8:6
Jesus is our superior, excellent High Priest. And He has a "superior ministry"; has established a "superior covenant" and it is based on "better promises."
We live in a world inundated with overwhelming advertising making unbelievable claims. However when you are shopping for a new washing machine, a new car or a new computer, you should ignore the commercial claims. If you can find one that is actually superior in several ways, purchasing it rather than one of the competitors is a no brainer. Of course we want the better, the superior one.
And so I read this one sentence claim of what Jesus provides for us, in a world of competing religions and no religions, and I rejoice. Yes, by God's grace we have the superior Saviour and through Him we find that all He provides and will provide is better, is more excellent.
This is the Good News we've believed and begun to enjoy. It is the Good News we have to share with others who can find Someone so much better who provides so much more!

THE INCARNATION

In the Christmas Season, we turn to familiar Scripture passages that remind us of the miracle: out of His great love, God fully identified with us: He became truly human. We read again the joyous accounts from Matthew and Luke of a divine baby born in Bethlehem. We delight in the wonder of shepherds and magi; in the angelic chorus announcing His birth. We turn back to the prophet Isaiah who wrote about the coming event, 700 years before Christ was born.
We don't often think to turn to the book of Hebrews.  Yet the author of Hebrews believed very strongly in the incarnation. He writes:
"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels ---." 2:9
"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity ---." 2:14 or again:
"For this reason He had to be made like his brothers in every way ---." 2:17
 Yes, Hebrews emphasizes the reality of Christ's humanity. The emphasis of course is not upon the stage of His infancy or the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. Rather in this wonderful part of the NT, the emphasis is how Christ identified fully with our weakness, our temptations and sufferings. It emphasizes that He is the One who obtained our salvation; the One who now is our great High Priest; fully God - yet able to understand from personal experience what it feels like to be human.
Yes, the baby born in Bethlehem, now enthroned in eternal glory, is our sympathetic High Priest. (2:17, 18 and 4:14 - 16)
"Thank you Lord Jesus that you were born in Bethlehem; died on the Cross, enduring the pain and shame for our sake; and now represent us in heaven as our High Priest. On this second Sunday of Advent we rejoice in all that You are and all that You have accomplished."

IT TAKES EFFORT

We've just finished praying with good friends who were visiting with us. We prayed for them that they would lean hard on God; that they would remember that ultimately it is God who works in us and through us; that He is the One who empowers and uses us.
What we didn't pray or say is what our friends and we know is also hard clear biblical truth. It takes effort, real effort to live a godly life; to serve Jesus well. It involves more than simple faith and resting in the power of God. I am reminded of this truth whenever I read through the book of I Timothy. Consider these phrases or verbs used to describe the Christians life.
"train (discipline) yourself to be godly" 4:7; "Be diligent in these matters --- Watch your life and practice closely. Persevere in them ---." 4:15, 16; "Keep yourself pure." 5:22; "But you man of God, flee from all this and pursue ---. Fight the good fight of faith ---." 6:11, 12
Notice the verbs of effort and energy. We don't just ooze into Christian purity or maturity. To live a godly life demands discipline: the discipline of saying "no" to some attractive things and saying "yes" to some things that at first may not attract us at all. It requires diligence and perseverance.
We must take Christian discipleship seriously. We must share with young believers the reality that it will take all that they can give to live godly lives in an ungodly world. Yet, and it is a large, biblical "yet", they must pray and trust God for the strength to live this way. They must pray expecting that He will change their desires and give them the strength to persevere.
Strong faith in our God who supplies all we need, coupled with strong commitment to do all we can in living like Christ. It takes effort.

CHRISTMAS RECIPE

Sometimes Jan and I have spent evenings with Christian friends that were fun and very enjoyable. Yet we have gone away commenting that there was little or no specifically spiritual conversation during the evening. In fact we might have had a similar evening with a group of “not yet believers” - who don’t love Jesus and don’t read their Bibles. Shouldn't the recipe even for our fun social gatherings often mix in some spiritual content on most occasions?

A few weeks ago, along with our weekly staff meeting that includes prayer, we’ve added to our church staff week a share and pray hour. We begin by each sharing a Scripture verse or verses that we’ve read in the last few days and then commenting on this was special to us. I’ve really enjoyed hearing what Marian, Jinggoy or Jacob have been enjoying in their daily Bible reading. Usually as we then pray, our first couple of prayers will reference some truth that was just shared from Scripture.

Recently Jan and I were invited to dinner at an HIF home. The hostess asked us all to come prepared to share a Scripture with the group. There were ten of us at the meal. During the evening, we talked about many things, some serious and some very funny. But at one point we were asked to share our Scripture. It was delightful to hear a variety of Bible verses along with meaningful comments as to why the passages were chosen.

Another variation on this: if you are with Christians you don’t know well, ask each one to share something of their spiritual journey. Hearing what God has done in the life of others can be very encouraging and causes us to praise God for what He has done and is doing.

Many of us may spend extra time with Christians during the Christmas Season. I hope you laugh a lot and maybe even eat too much. But I encourage you to take the initiative and into the recipe “mix some depth into your gathering.” Christian friendship and fellowship should often go a little deeper, don’t you think?

IF ONLY

Wouldn't community life be wonderful if everyone was compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient and loving. Imagine life together if we all accepted each other just as we are and quickly forgave when offended. Imagine the strong sense of unity that would prevail in every community that was full of people like that.
Most of us may have to use our imagination because we've never, or rarely experienced such a community. Yet what I've described was the inspired "prescription"the Apostle Paul gave to the church at Colossae 2000 years ago. One small paragraph in the letter of four chapters.

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:12 - 15

This is the prescription for church community life given to all of us. It is as clear and simple. Don't you wonder why these kind of people are not the vast majority in every congregation? Don't you wonder what has gone wrong when you "bump" into people who claim to have followed Jesus for decades and yet display little of this kind of Christian character?
Local churches should "ooze" with peace - God's peace; with love, forgiveness and unity. Of course you can't expect this from the average church? Or can you? Of course you can expect this - if the local church is submissive to the Word and filled with God's Spirit; if the local church focuses on character and on love as priorities. This should be true of any "average church." And true of me and you.