We Three Queens

We have the pleasure of playing co-host to three international students for a while over Christmas break.  Since they are from Japan and Mongolia, My daughter invited them to spend the time with us while the dorms were closed at her school.  This is the first time we have ever attempted such a hospitality event due to our small house and thanks to great friends with extra bedrooms and generous hearts, it is working out.  We have spent many hours talking about the differences in our cultures and getting to know each other, but the most exciting times for me has been sharing about Christmas.  It was the first time I had personally heard anyone say, "We do not have Christmas in my country."  I was reminded of Narnia where it is always winter but never Christmas.  Some of the girls celebrated Christmas as a festive holiday involving family and gift giving, but they all seemed to not know the origin of Christmas as the celebration of the birth of Christ.  When we opened our nativity set to place it under the tree one of they said, "I have seen this many places, who are these people?" My response in my heart was "WOW, what an opportunity to share."  Little by little, we and our friends have been given the opportunity to share our faith in Christ.  We have once again been reminded that in order to show Christ to others we need to love them and get involved in their lives on a personal level.  They have come to church with us this past Sunday, but I believe the personal interaction and showing them how we live and pray on a daily basis is the best witness.  I would never have decided to be a part of this sharing on my own, but thanks to my daughter and wife and friends who were open to hosting these girls, I believe I have learned that a great way to share Christ with the world is not only to "go ye into all the world, " but to invite the world to live the life of Christian with you.
I know God is using us to lead these three visitors from the east to learn about the Christ child.  I hope they continue their search and learn the true nature of His kingdom.

 メリークリスマス, Zul saryn bolon shine ony mend devshuulye, Merry Christmas 

Living in the Thorn Bush

Once again today, I read in Mark chapter 4 about Jesus telling the parable of the man who is sowing seeds. Later, Jesus' disciples ask Him to explain the story and why He told it. He very specifically explains it to them. Those seeds which fall by the road and are eaten by birds represent those who hear the word of God and Satan immediately takes it away. The rocky soil represents those who receive the word with joy and then due to persecution and affliction, their lack of roots cause the word to die away in their lives. I think we all understand about the good soil and how it represents those who receive the word and cultivate it into their lives and allow it to bear fruit for the kingdom of God.

Jesus also talks about the seeds of the word which fall among thorns. The plants begin to grow, but are choked out by the thorns and it yields no crop. I have heard this many times and this time, due to some other items God has brought to my attention, I gained a deeper understanding of what Jesus was saying. In the past, I have seen this as a statement of how thorns (anti-christian) forces can keep people from living for Christ. I viewed it much the same way as the rocky soil and considered the thorns to be another version of persecution and affliction. I never stopped to consider that those thorns could be things we allow to grow. But Jesus gives example of what those thorns could be. He says they are the worries of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things. These are the exact things that choke God out of our lives today. The worries of the world keep us from making decisions to stand for Jesus in the face of bills to pay, families to support, careers to grow etc. Because we are worried about circumstances, we decide to work on Sundays instead of going to church, not fellowship with Christians, and not use our gifts to freely minister to others. The deceitfulness of riches cause us to use our resources to stay ahead of the Jones' and dream about financial status and comfort instead of increasing our understanding of and service to God. The desires for other things cause us to place our physical, emotional, and worldly desires ahead of God and turning His plan for our lives into Our plan for our lives. We choke God out of our lives by the decisions we make. We allow the thorns to grow around us.

I always pictured the seed growing and the thorns choking it out until it dies, however, the story does not say that and Jesus' explanation does not say that. He says that it "yielded no crop." It His explanation, Jesus says that it "became unfruitful." To me that seems like a worse fate for a plant. To continue growing and not produce fruit. A plant's design is to put all of it's energy of growing and producing fruit and reproducing itself. To grow and grow and not have results, not fulfilling it's purpose, but only grow for the sake of staying alive and then dying is not a beneficial life.

Jesus explained that these people heard the word, but then allowed their circumstances to develop in such a way that it was nearly impossible to continue to hear the word. Jesus said those things choked the word. Are we Christians living in the thorn bush? Are we living for the sake of living, but allowing the world to choke the word in our lives to such an extent that we bear no fruit? Is the plan God has for us being replaced by our plan of living and dying and not much more? Are we living for ourselves or are we living to fulfill our purpose? It's time to get out the clippers and trimmers and go to battle against the thorns in our lives. Let the "Son" shine in and let the word give us nutrition and strength to grow and bear the fruit we were created to bear.

Love is being care-full

Recently attended a funeral. I had never met the person who passed away. I attended the funeral with 4 of her adult children who live in an adult care facility. They were a few of the over 300 foster children that this woman had cared for in throughout the 92 years of her life. I thought to myself about how unique this woman was yet she lived a quiet, ordinary life. As I watched people file into the room, I noticed many other "special needs" adults who had once been cared for by this amazing lady. As I watched, many children (in their 40s and 50s) greet each other with tears and remembrances, I began to focus on the people that had come in with them. I watched the "care-givers", the foster parents, those who provided sheltered work environments and those whom God had brought in their lives just to be a friend.

I share a kinship with these wonderful people, because I was blessed to share my life with my sister, Sherry, who had down's syndrome. Her presence in our lives taught us about many of the amazing shades and colors of life that many people miss. I had experienced the loss of my sister and how great a loss it was to our family and her friends. Now I have seen how God can walk through life and death experiences with those who struggle to deal with daily life and show them how to do what we all should be doing.... loving one another. Their "mother" understood this about life. She cared for others, not just as an emotion, but as a verb. She fed, clothed and took care of the physical needs of all of those children who would have had no one. She also cared for them emotionally, by spending time and listening. When she could no longer take care of herself, she moved into the same care facility where her children lived so she could see and care for them as much as she was able. She loved them and they loved her.

When Jesus said the second greatest commandment was to love each other, I think this is what He had in mind and how we need people like Sherry and other "special people" to teach us the way. What a wonderful legacy.

Burden of Proof

I just finished reading Luke chapter 24:13-53 today. Jesus, having been crucified and buried 3 days and has been reported alive by two women who met with heavenly beings at the empty tomb, appears on the road to Emmaus. He joins two of the disciples who are talking about the events of the previous few days and as Jesus joins their travels, they are kept from recognizing Him. Jesus asks them to tell Him what they are discussing. They tell of the death and burial of Jesus and that some have reported the grave empty. They say that they are disappointed because they were hoping that Jesus would have been the one to redeem Israel but that those who found the empty tomb did not see Him alive. Jesus tells the two travelers that they must not have believed all the things the prophets had spoken because it was clear that the Messiah had to suffer all these things and then enter His glory. He tells them all the scriptures have to say about him from Moses through all the prophets. When they reached their destination, Jesus' identity was revealed as he broke bread for their supper. Then he disappeared before their very eyes. The two disciples ran back to Jerusalem immediately to tell the others and while they were telling their story, Jesus appeared in the room to all of them. They all recognized Him and examined Him. They ate with Him to show that He wasn't a ghost. He then took them out near Bethany where he gave them some final instructions and then ascended into Heaven.

I believe this is an important part of scripture. Jesus knew the disciples would have trouble believing the accounts of his resurrection, just like we all would. We would say that someone was telling a story out of "wishful thinking" or just to gain attention or importance. We might also fail to understand why this happened and miss the fact that the prophesies of hundreds of years earlier which came true are also a witness to the truth of Jesus as Christ. We have been given eyewitness accounts by those who knew Him best as well as many other proofs yet the world still tries to find any number of way to avoid believing that Jesus was who he claimed to be. Other gospel accounts give more examples of how Jesus made his identity undeniable through His words and actions. He knew of our weakness of faith as well. Consider the evidence presented in scripture and history and open your heart and mind to the truth that Jesus is the living Messiah.

Table for How Many?

It has been a while since I have posted something here, and it hasn't been because I didn't have anything to share, but that I have been very busy with things to do. Since my last blog I have visited a large number of family and friends, officiated my first wedding, and continued to get into the lives of people around me. I try to post something when it seems like God is showing me something new and I sense that lately. I am becoming more and more aware that people tend to settle into "life" instead of running the race toward God. I see people I have known for a long time, who are wonderful, kind, helpful, moral people and discover they have not been to a church or prayed to God for a long time. When tragedy or sorrow comes along, they turn to God, but they don't really know Him. He is just one more way of "dealing with" life. He is the "last resort." What they don't understand is that God is Life. All of the effort I see them putting towards temporary things, getting worked up into a frenzy as if this life is all there is. This life is the training ground. This life is the meeting place. This life is the staging area where we learn about eternal things like the nature of God and how to love Him and each other, because that is what we are going to do once this life is over, if we are ready.

We go out to eat much more than we should and usually there is a little desk where the host asks how many are in your party, do you want smoking or non-smoking, and sometimes ensures you are dressed appropriately for the dress code. We sometimes have to wait our turn and share some tiny benches with people we don't know. We sometimes feel like we are wronged when other people are seated before we are. But in the end we usually forget about all of that once we are seated and are enjoying the conversation over the feast set before us. Our lifetime is that little area with the tiny benches and the little desk where we sometimes have to wait our turn. How sad it is to see people get upset while they are waiting. To spend so much time trying to get a better spot on the little benches, complaining about the cramped standing room, worrying about who is getting better treatment, only to realize as the restaurant is closing that they have forgotten to sign in with the host. They are never going to get to visit with family and friends over the great feast, because they placed more importance on the waiting area than on making sure they were "on the list' to be seated. I have made sure that my name is known to the host and have become personal friends with Him. And I know that, as He said, Jesus is preparing a place for me. So, while he is preparing the table, I am learning all I can about him and the place I will spend eternity dining. I am talking to the others who are waiting, discussing the menu, focusing on what is to come. Is your party ready to be seated?

Children's Camp

Just a quick blog entry to share the song lyrics from the children's camp song this year.
Here it is. Our theme was God's Text. Hebrews 1:1-2 "God has spoken to us through His son, Jesus."

GOD'S TEXT
God used to speak to Adam
In the garden in the cool of the day.
But Adam and Eve disobeyed Him
and their Chat Room ended that day

So God started speaking through the prophets
He told them just what to say.
But He didn't like someone else doing all His talking
so He found a better way

CHORUS
God sent the word, Jesus is God's Text
carrying a message of His love for you and me
God sent the word, Jesus is God's Text
Telling us He loves us and from sin we can be free!

Jesus started sharing God's message,
with everyone He could see.
They wrote it down and put it in the Bible
to share with you and me.

CHORUS
CHORUS

BRIDGE
Today, He's my BFF and he left this promise to me
I'm going to Heaven to prepare you a place,
but don't worry, I'll BRB!

CHORUS

You should be able to listen to the song on the mp3 player in the right side of this page. Go to soundclick and you can download the mp3. Thanks for listening.

Right Before Your Very Eyes

My daily Bible study has brought me to Luke 11:29-32. Jesus has been healing and casting out demons in the presence of a large crowd of people. His power is obvious and some begin to question how He is doing these things. Some accuse Him of using evil forces to accomplish these things. Others believe it is trickery and ask for Him to perform a miracle so great that there will be no doubt about His power.

Has God been performing miracles right in front of your eyes? We have prayed for healing among sick people in our church and have rejoiced when it happened. Our family, like others, have prayed for help in financial situations and then had fund appear from unexpected places to take care of us. Time after time, God has shown us that He is here and that He has the power to overcome. Why do we still doubt? Do we forget too quickly or are we just wickedly and selfishly refusing to accept the facts that are happening in front of us?

Jesus tells the people that they are witnessing the greatest sign of all..... Himself.... and that previous generations have repented and believed in Him with lesser signs. What will it take for us to turn our lives over to the awesome, miraculous power and person of Jesus, the Son of the Living God? Take an honest look around you and see the miraculous signs and wonders of the all powerful God of the universe who gives us a choice to accept or reject Him and accept those signs as proof of who He is. The answer is right before your very eyes.

and justice for all.

I have learned that as I study new topics throughout my life, my mind is continually opened to more than I expected to learn. Common connections illuminate dark areas of mind in new ways. This happened today as I was studying about God's authority. Authority is based on expertise or power. God has both in an endless supply. The idea that shed light into a back closet of my mind, was the idea that authority can be transferred in small amounts to others. In the old movies, they used to deputize men to help the sheriff who had the full authority. That means that a small amount of authority has been given to them to fulfill a task for the one who has permanent authority. I thought about the meaning of that as a Christian and how I am a part of God's "posse," and I am sure I could write about that, but in light of the increase in news coverage of our government, a different train of thought left my station. All of my life, I have heard the words of our founding fathers about "E pluribus Unim" and government "of the people, by the people, and for the people." I hear "power to the people" shouted on the news at rallies and I have always believed that to be fundamental to our country. But today, when the idea of authority was introduced into the mix, a new illumination of what I already believed took place.
I am repelled by politicians who say, trust me or that they are doing something for our own good. I am watching laws being passed despite overwhelming votes of the people in the opposite direction. Why does this bother me so much? When I, as an American, am forced to accept something by a "government authority," I have to ask, what authority? In many countries, authority comes from military power, noble birth, or other source that the people have accepted or been forced to accept. NOT AMERICA. The authority in America, is unique. The authority in America is in every single person. We call this freedom. Authority comes from the bottom up. 60 million people with authority give a little bit of their authority to "deputies" that we call representatives. They are supposed to help us with the jobs of "forming a more perfect union, establishing justice, insuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, insuring the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." That is why "we the people" with authority ordained and established the constitution of the United States of America. When I hear our deputies speaking about taking the authority we have given them and using it to wield power over us, I know we have forgotten where their authority came from. It is time to "undeputize" some of them. In reality, we are responsible for the power we gave them, because our authority as "we the people" comes from a small piece of authority given to us from God himself. He gave us the freedom that became our authority as Americans. One nation, under God, with liberty...