Monthly Archives: December 2010

Luke 1:78-79

Because of our God’s merciful compassion the Dawn from on high will visit us

to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Those are Zechariah’s words on the birth of his son, John. After nine months of silence (he was struck dumb because of his disbelief in the angelic word-see Luke 1:19-20) his heart was filled with a deeper and more profound sense of God’s work. And isn’t that the real point of the Christmas story- in the darkness God was at work, in the silent night of what appeared to be His absence God was at work. The opening chapter of Matthew’s gospel records the generations preceding the birth of Jesus…even when all seemed lost and Israel was in exile, God was working.  AW Tozer writes, “When the Eternal Son became flesh, He was carried for a time in the darkness of the sweet virgins womb…It is as if God were saying, ‘What I am is all that need matter to you, for there lie your hope and your peace. I will do what I will do, and it will all come to light at last….”(The Knowledge of the Holy,p. 69-70).

The Dawn breaks on Christmas morning with the news that “a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David” (Luke 2:11). The light has come. Let us live in the reality of the light that the Dawn will come and even when darkness seems to hide God’s face we who believe will testify to the presence and power of our God.

Merry Christmas! 

DECISION POINTS

George W. Bush

New York: Crown Publishers, 2010

Having read a number of presidential biographies and autobiographies I was recently given the opportunity to read Bush’s work. Like most autobiographies of politically significant individuals some of the writing is self-serving- particularly as he defends his decision to take out Saddaam Hussein of Iraq.

With that caveat, the book is a great romp through recent American history. Instead of a chronological approach the book is organized  around significant issues in President Bush’s life. The first chapter “Quitting” describes his choice to stop drinking with brutal and refreshing honesty. Chapter 3, “Personnel,” was an enlightening look behind the scenes of his presidency and the principles Bush used to make significant choice. Chapters 9 and 10, “Leading” and “Katrina” were helpful explanations of principles that guided President Bush during difficult and demanding times of crisis. The last chapter, “Financial Crisis” was very helpful in laying out the roots of the financial crisis of 2009 and Bush’s efforts to ease President Obama’s transition into office.

Woven throughout the chapters are poignant portraits of his family. Bush makes no excuses for his own failings as a son, husband, and father. He also draws a picture of a man who seeks to learn and grow through each experience in his life.

Also throughout the chapters we are treated to portraits of President Clinton and other significant political leaders in the United States and abroad. Based on extensive experience Bush paints an honest assessment of Putin of Russia as well as Chirac of France.

Perhaps the most significant section of the book is President Bush’s retelling of the horrific event of September 11, 2001 and the days and weeks following. His sense of helplessness in the face of an unprecedented attack and his visceral reaction to do something in response remind readers that President Bush is simply human, experiencing the same anger and shock that most of us remember from that event.

Reading this autobiography helps understand the reality that all Presidents must face- humans are fickle. We cheer people when they act in ways that make us comfortable and we jeer them when they make decisions that make us uncomfortable. President Bush explains his choices and his decisions not in order to gain our approval but that we might better understand the principles that guided his thinking as he served.

In Acts 26 Paul was given permission to speak to Herod Agrippa in his own defense: “And now I stand on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers” (Acts 26:6). Some of our Christmas songs feature the idea of hope- “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!”[ O Holy Night]; “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight” [O Little Town of Bethelehem]; are two examples. Of course children live in hope around Christmas time…fueled by advertisements on television children hope for a Christmas filled with new toys, fun gifts, and a promise of something new.

But adults live in hope as well around Christmas time. We hope for a safe and stress-free family time. We hope that the weather holds so we can run all the errands that need to be run, so that we can finish all the tasks that need to be done before the holdiay’s are behind us. When pressed some adults will ‘hope’ for things such as peace, family harmony, and a healthy new year.

But Paul is not on trial for merely hoping for new things or a better life or even a more comfortable life. The hope for which Paul is on trial for his life is a hope expressed in a promise- that God would use His people to make Himself known. This hope expressed in a promise made Paul’s life more difficult, not easier (see 2 Cor 11-12). This hope expressed in a promise created divisions and it did not bring peace (see Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:34-39).

Nearly two thousand years later people all across the world are still imprisoned and put on trial for this hope expressed in a promise. Though most of us reading this post have never experienced any serious opposition because of this hope expressed in a promise, the reality is that God’s promise provokes hostility and anger in many places around the world.

So, what exactly is this ‘hope expressed in a promise’ that Paul and countless others have been willing to stand trial for? What is the content of this hope? First, it is the hope that is contained in the coming of Christ. The hope of His coming is that God is still involved in His world. The hope of Christ’s coming is that redpemption is possible, that sin will not have the last word.

The promise is the assurance that what God has begun He will complete. The redemption the creation longs for (Rom 8:19-25) will be finished. What God began in the Garden and has made possible through the Second Adam (i.e. Jesus Christ) will come to God’s intended fruition.

The hope of the promise is the fuel of Christmas—God in the flesh means God made real in a way we can access and a promise that He is coming again.

Merry Christmas

Most of last week was lost to the fog and darkness of depression and anxiety. Friday morning the fog began to lift and I once again could see light and life. Thanks for praying for me.

This morning (12.6.10) I was reading the 25th Psalm. Verses 6-7 (ESV) read like this:

Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,
   for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
   according to your steadfast love remember me,
   for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

I prayed that God would not remember me according to my sin, my fleshly failures, my lustful heart, but that God would remember me according to His steadfast love. I remember my sin too well. The adversary takes pleasure in reminding me moment by moment of how sin should disqualify me from God’s service. I desperately need God to remember me according to His goodness, according to His revealed nature.

All this has prompted me to ponder: As I come to know God more fully (and thinking rightly about God is absolutely crucial…(see Dr. Mohler’s post at http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/12/03/the-knowledge-of-the-self-revealing-god-starting-point-for-the-chrisutian-worldview/ ). Late last week someone retweeted a note from DA Carson that suggested the greatest failure in American evangelicalism is a lack of knowledge of God. This morning I read a post from James Emery White at www.churchandculture.org overviewing a book titled, America’s Four Gods which suggests a great deal of confusion among American’s about the nature of God. All this to say…too often I as a pastor and teacher am guilty of communicating a wrong idea of God. My deepest hunger is to know Him accurately- even if that takes me through the fog and darkness of depression. It is in those valley’s I must trust His presence because I cannot feel anything but discouragement and anxiety. It is in those days and weeks (yes, sometimes the fog lasts for weeks…) that I must depend on God to remember me according to His mercy, His steadfast love and His grace.

Well, it’s Monday…and I am slated to lead my Pastor’s Bible Class in a few minutes (we are studying together 1 Samuel 18-20 this morning) so I’d best get to the auditorium!

Steve

Last night as we were praying at our weekly prayer gathering I was reminded again that our view of God is often shallow and superficial. Many of our prayer concerns are self-centered and bordering on selfishness. Yes, we are to bring every need to the Father in prayer. But to listen to our prayers an outsider might think that God is some all powerful being who exists just to make us comfortable and provide all the conveniences we need.

How do we dig deeper into the nature of God? Have I as a leader and teacher furthered this shallow and superficial view of God? In our busy-ness we have eliminated time for deep thinking and deep praying. I know that I often cut short prayer time so I can get through my to-do list, so that I can be on time to all the meetings that I have overscheduled in my life. Shame on me.

Lord, help me to learn to focus not on what you do but on who you are – even as I pray for the needs of my family and my church. Lord, may your name be hallowed as I make myself available to you as a reflection of your character as Christ is being formed in me by the Holy Spirit!

I seem to be living in Psalm 13:2 ” 1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take ycounsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ps 13:1-2). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.)
But life goes on. Time pushes forward. Living with depression is wearying. Yes, I realize I am better off than most people in the world. Yes, I realize that I am healthier than I deserve. I know all these self-evident truth’s in my head…it seems to be the heart where I struggle.
So, I keep putting one foot in front of the other. I continue to press on knowing that their is a progression in Psalm 13. Look at Psalm 13:6b “I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.” (The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ps 13:6). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.)
Writing about depression helps…so, till next time…
Steve