A new look at Christmas

A friend send me this as her Christmas greeting today. I think it's really good - so appropriate for where we are. I share it and pray, too, for a new, real, Holy Spirit-led unity, mercy, and grace to fall upon us.

Something happened this year, I am not sure what. The economy crashed. We were daily deluged with news of wars, rumors of wars, global warming and pending environmental catastrophe. We watched politicians battle in ways that cause children to be sent to their rooms, or students to be kept after school in detention halls. My job became overwhelmingly stressful. It rained much of the summer... I don't know, something.... Suddenly it is Christmas Eve, and I have not made cards or baked, have not put on Christmas music, have not felt that "Christmas Spirit" that usually comes to my heart this time of year.

So this morning I am pausing for an attitude adjustment. I step back and consider this beautiful planet, all the peoples on her, and all the sources of hope they are. It is my faith that God is, that God is watching, and that everywhere a human soul looks up and opens their heart, right there the Spirit can enter the fray of all our troubles - with kindness, compassion, giving, innovation, creativity, solution. I am sure the answers for all the woes that plague us exist in God. They just need to be found, discovered, implemented by those who will stop the rushing about and hear/heed the Spirit's whisper.

It is my prayer for you all this Christmas Eve that you will join me in stopping for a minute to just listen, listen for the Voice of Spirit, the Voice that is always there trying to give us our answers. As Christ said, "Let those who have ears, listen."

Depression

¹ Save me, O God,

for the waters have come up to my neck.

² I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold.

I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.

³ I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.
My eyes fail, looking for my God. (Psalm 69 NIV)

"My spouse died yesterday after a long battle with illness. I know it's best the suffering is over, but it makes Christmas tomorrow so different...."

"My husband's been out of work for 18 months, we can't sell our house, we have two daughters in college; we don't know what to do...."

"My mom died this year. She loved Christmas - decorated her house like no one I've ever seen. Loved the music, loved the gifts, loved the grandkids...She was gone so suddenly last spring. How will my dad and the rest of the family ever make it through this first Christmas?"

"A year ago she was fine, living on her own. Now she's in an assisted living facility and can't remember who I am day to day. I miss my mom. I miss our conversations, her humor, her fullness of life. She's just not the same."

"My mom died on Christmas and my sister committed suicide because of depression. Now I'm seeing the same signs in my wife...What do I do?"

And so I pray in the words of the psalmist:

¹ My God, my God, why do you seem to abandon us?
Why are you so far away when we groan for help?
² Every day we call to you, God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear our voices, but we find no relief.

³ Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
⁴ Our ancestors trusted in you,
and you rescued them.
⁵ They cried out to you and were saved.
They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

¹¹ Do not stay so far from us, for trouble is near, and no one else can help us.

¹⁵ Our strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
Our tongues stick to the roof of our mouths.
You have laid us in the dust and left us for dead.

¹⁹ O Lord, do not stay far away!
You are our strength; come quickly to our aid!
²⁰ Save us from the sword;
spare our precious lives from these dogs.

²² We will proclaim your name to our brothers and sisters.
We will praise you among your assembled people.
²³ Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!

²⁴ For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help.

²⁶ The poor will eat and be satisfied.
All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.

²⁷ The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
²⁸ For royal power belongs to the Lord.
He rules all the nations. (Psalm 22 NLT, alt.)

God, for those hurting right now, facing the depths of the abyss, I pray that you will reveal yourself to them, deliver and protect them, encourage and uplift them, be their strength and their joy. May they know your love and grace in a profound way. Amen.

The New Norm

I the LORD do not change. (Mal. 3:6a NIV)

²⁹"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' ³¹The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12 NIV)

¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28 NIV)

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. (John 21 NIV)

⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8 NIV)




In the last several months I have done a lot of reading about our current economic/political situation. One very interesting book I read was by a man who was exploring the demographic trends/cycles that led to our current point in history. One comment I see repeated in his writings is "Welcome to the new norm." He says that because of the demographic trends, their resulting economic impact, and the political decisions being made, we can expect about ten years of economic depression. So, therefore, we shouldn't expect our society to go back to the boom years of the 1990's and early 2000's. I've read stories about unemployed people who are still living a lifestyle as if they had that six figure salary -- evidently, they don't realize the New Norm is here to stay.

(By the way, don't let the title scare you; the book is really interesting: "The Great Depression Ahead: How to Prosper in the Crash that Follows the Greatest Boom in History" by Harry S. Dent.)

I think the disciples didn't get the New Norm either. One day they are fishing for a living, collecting taxes, doing normal every-day things. Then in a moment it all changes - a traveling rabbi invites them to "come, follow me" and they leave everything to go with him. They wander around Israel for about three years, listening to his teachings, watching him heal people and cast out demons, witnessing his interactions with the religious leaders at the time. Their time with him seems to culminate as they enter Jerusalem, their Leader on a donkey, surrounded by people praising him. It must have been an amazing moment.

And then, in a few days, it all came crashing down.

Jesus. Dead. Crucified like a criminal. Followers in hiding, fearing for their lives.

Dead.

Dead.

Dead.

Or.....alive???? Could it be?? Are Peter and John and the Marys right??? IS JESUS ALIVE?

A new norm indeed - has anyone ever risen from the dead???

And then Jesus reappears...and he fixes them a meal on the beach...and he shows them his scars...and he recommissions them to go and make disciples...to feed his sheep...to tell others what they have seen and heard.

Another new norm.


Everyday life. Then life with Jesus. Then life without Jesus. Then life empowered by the Holy Spirit to go tell people about Jesus.

Talk about your "norm" having changed!



The new economic norm we live with is that we must live differently than we did even two years ago. The new norm the disciples lived with is that they had witnessed the greatest event in history - God becoming man and living among us - and then were sent to tell people about it.

But some things haven't changed. The disciples call to go and make disciples is also our call. The imperative to go to the ends of the earth with the Good News of Jesus Christ is also ours. The commandment to Love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves remains. God does not change.


We may not have wanted a "new norm;" some of us did very well under the old "norm." But whether we like it or not it IS here. We either adapt or (figuratively) die. Even though few of us want to change or adapt, just for the fun of it, the good news is that GOD is with us. God does not leave us or forsake us. Instead, God calls us to be strong and courageous:

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9 NIV)

Even as we travel into this new norm, we can trust in God's promise that he will be with us wherever we go.


God of strength and courage, give us your heart for the lost, give us your wisdom for ministry, give us your viewpoint of our circumstances. And may our lives be a pleasing offering to you. Amen.

Interconnected

Lately I am struck by how interconnected our lives are -- not just our lives as a family, community, or church body, but as citizens of the U.S. and the world.  If a factory closes here and a comparable one opens in a different country, families are affected, for bad and for good, in both locations.  If a tariff on imported sugar beets helps the farmers in one country, it hurts the farmers in another.   If a beautiful work of art is created in one place, it has the potential to help beautify many places....  and the examples go on.    

Through Facebook I recently reconnected with some people from high school and grad school I hadn't talked with in years.  In addition to Facebook, email and phone calls, I even connect with friends through those "old-fashioned" face-to-face conversations!  Technology provides us with avenues to keep connected in ways we didn't have 10-15 (or more) years ago.  And yet, in some ways, our local communities have become less interconnected.  I know one set of neighbors pretty well, one lady more than by name, and two other houses by names.  The rest of my block I don't know their names.  If calamity happened in the middle of the night, would we know each other well enough and trust each other to help each other?  Or, to put it another way, would I be interconnected enough with the people around me to know we would "have each others' backs?"   Tis' a strange, paradox of a world we live in.

But, if we are followers of Jesus Christ, we know we are interconnected.  Paul talks about the parts of the church being like parts of a body:  that all are important and each need each other.   We suffer together, we rejoice together.  And Jesus prayed for unity among the believers in John 17.  Maybe that's because he knew us - knew that we, even with good intentions, find ourselves pushing for things that may cause disunity within the church.  Maybe because there is always some little whisper of chaos the Enemy is trying to stir up within a church.  Even when we don't want to be (for whatever earthly reason), we are interconnected by a God who wants us connected to Him.

So, we pray....

God of Life and Love,

Remind us of the gift of being connected to you.  Help us live a life connected by your Spirit to the Source of the Abundant Life.  Keep us mindful of those in this world whose lives are affected by our actions, and help us to be the hands and feet for your Word to go forth.  Remind us how to love and to continually seek you so we can remain unified as your children and your church.   Show us your most excellent way and give us one heart and mind with each other and with you.  Guide us by your hand into the paths of peace.

Amen.

^20-23I'm praying not only for them 
   But also for those who will believe in me 
   Because of them and their witness about me. 
   The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— 
   Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, 
   So they might be one heart and mind with us. 
   Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. 
   The same glory you gave me, I gave them, 
   So they'll be as unified and together as we are— 
   I in them and you in me. 
   Then they'll be mature in this oneness, 
   And give the godless world evidence 
   That you've sent me and loved them 
   In the same way you've loved me.

 ^24-26Father, I want those you gave me 
   To be with me, right where I am, 
   So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me, 
   Having loved me 
   Long before there ever was a world. 
   Righteous Father, the world has never known you, 
   But I have known you, and these disciples know 
   That you sent me on this mission. 
   I have made your very being known to them— 
   Who you are and what you do— 
   And continue to make it known, 
   So that your love for me 
   Might be in them 
   Exactly as I am in them.  (John 17 MSG)

 ¹⁴Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. ¹⁵If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁶And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

 ²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" ²²On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

 ²⁷Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹But eagerly desire the greater gifts. 
      And now I will show you the most excellent way.  (1 Cor. 12 NIV)

Going to the place God will show us

"This world has nothing for me...I will follow you..."  *

God told Abram to pack up his household and go to the place "I will show you." 

Jesus called to the disciples, "Come follow me."  And they left their nets and followed. 

Tonight I talked with friends who are preparing to move out of state because his factory has been closed here and they are hoping to have a job in Virginia.  They have both been a lifelong residents of this area.  Yet, they are prepared to uproot their lives, move away from families and friends, resettle four children (including one in high school and one in middle school), and start over in a brand new place.  But she's told me they have great peace about moving out there.  In fact, both their teenagers are excited (and THAT has to be a work of God, right??!!)  It's like God is saying "pack and go to the place I will show you.  The economy certainly isn't "calling" them to Virginia, like God was calling Abram, but this may be a time when God is calling them to a new field of ministry.  And they are willing to go.

We've probably each been through times in our lives where God has called us to GO but not told us where we are going.  Or we may be discerning now what God's call is or how to follow him.   Our church is searching for a new pastor...what if this isn't a "simple" pastor hire?  What if God's call is more involved to us -- maybe to "pack up" the way we've been doing ministry and "go" to a place God will show us?  I don't know that for sure, but sometimes the simplest invitation - "Come, follow me" - can have the most profound impact on our lives.  

So my prayer for this week...

God of Provision, Wisdom, and Perfect Timing,

Help us seek first your Kingdom

Help us listen to your Wisdom and put it into practice

Help us know the plans you have for our future, a future with hope

Help us trust you when we are walking through the chaos of decision making

Help us to be patient and recognize that your strength will hold us up when we are waiting for direction

Help us be willing to quit what we are doing and then follow you when you call us to a new place

We need you, Jesus, to come to our rescue; where else can we go?

Capture us with grace; we will follow you...

Maranatha, Lord Jesus, come guide our feet into your paths of righteousness

Holy Spirit, come, refresh, revive, restore, comfort, and whisper peace into our storm-tossed souls.

May our words, thoughts, and deeds be pleasing and acceptable to you, our Rock and Redeemer.

Amen.

Genesis 12 (NIV)

The Call of Abram

 ¹ The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

 ² "I will make you into a great nation 
       and I will bless you; 
       I will make your name great, 
       and you will be a blessing.

 ³ I will bless those who bless you, 
       and whoever curses you I will curse; 
       and all peoples on earth 
       will be blessed through you."

 ⁴ So Abram left, as the LORD had told him...

Matthew 4:18-20 (New International Version)

The Calling of the First Disciples

 ¹⁸As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." ²⁰At once they left their nets and followed him.

* "Rescue"

You are the source of life

And I can't be left behind

No one else will do

And I will take hold of You

My heart is Yours for life

I need Your hand in mine

No one else will do

I put my trust in You

'Cause I need You Jesus

To come to my rescue

Where else can I go

There's no other name

By which I am saved

Capture me with grace

I will follow You

I will follow You

This world has nothing for me

I will follow You

This world has nothing for me

CCLI Song No. 4084763

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Jared Anderson