Bringing Home The Point

Sometimes preachers have difficulty bringing home the point.  Parishioners are probably saying, "Land the plane!"  I get it, but still I have my moments.  God doesn't!

The Christmas story in Luke 2 is all about God doing 2 things.  First, God "lands the plane" of fulfilling numerous Old Testament prophecies.  Words from Genesis, Isaiah, Micah, and even Leviticus become fulfilled (completed) in the birth of Jesus.  He brings to fruition what we, in the Church, have been discussing for weeks (we lit the candles of Hope and Peace over the past two weeks), as angels sing about the Hope of the Messiah and Peace on Earth.

But God also does something that we might not see.  Luke 2 isn't just an arrival ... it is a departure.  Yes, God lands one plane, but He also sends all of creation on a new journey.  Jesus calls it the coming of the Kingdom of God (on earth as it is in heaven).  John the Baptist announces, "The Kingdom of God is at hand (Jesus is walking up, Mark 1:15)."  Then, Jesus begins to tell us "the Kingdom of God is like ... 

Do you get it?  Do you see it?  The message ... the point ... is that Jesus both brings the Kingdom to earth and is getting up a load of believers who will be part of His eternal Kingdom that will have heaven descending ot earth (Revelation 21:2)."  And WE (the Church) get to be part of that majestic and beautiful plan!

So, for those of you who are in the throes of the daily grind, or in the busyness of the Christmas season ... never forget that "Greater things are still to come (John 14:12)."  Not my words, but God's!

Peace Through Strength

When you read the above phrase, you might think of an American Foreign Policy standby. The idea is that we can create the environment for peace by being the strongest, most well-funded, and most technologically able fighting force in the world. The idea has mostly worked, though the current environment of terror-warfare is much more of a moving target than we would like.  Still, we are the top dog ... for now.

But battles come in many forms.  Our world is full of what Paul called "powers and principalities" ... all ready and willing to take us from relying on God to relying on self, stuff, wits, and our own understanding.  The Bible warns us to avoid reliance on these things, but every day we are tempted, encouraged, and even expected to depend on everything but God.  The battles become ours, so we strengthen ourselves in cultural ways, and we wonder why we seem to be losing the war.  It is frustrating for sure.  And ... it is NOT peaceful!

Let's ponder, just for awhile, another path of peace.  A lasting and persistent peace.  One penned by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1863, on Christmas Day, still mourning the loss of his wife in a fire, and the severe wounding of his son in battle.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day, Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,the belfries of all Christendom, Had rolled along the unbroken song, Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, A chant sublime, Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth, The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound the carols drowned, Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent, the hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn the households born

Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And in despair I bowed my head; “There is no peace on earth,” I said; “For hate is strong, and mocks the song. Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail,    The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

Longfellow found his peace ... not through his own strength ... not in his sorting out earthly chaos ... for these things do not bring peace.  But the God who lives, and does not sleep, is a place and a peace we can rely upon.  Our wits, our strength, our stuff, will always fail us.  Our God will be with us, "even to the end of the age!"  AMEN!