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.