Deceived

You must warn each other every day, while it is still today, so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.  Hebrews 3:13 (NLT)

I think the phrase “deceived by sin and hardened against God” pretty well describes a place that is easy for any of us to end up.  In my experience and observation, the “deceived by sin” part comes first…..and we end up hardened against God, even though that’s not what we want.  I’ve been thinking about three friends of mine that are personable, likeable fellows, and I believe they try to be good people….but I think they’ve become “hardened against God.”  I’m not throwing rocks cause I’ve been there myself, and slip back there from time to time.  When I’m in that place I’m quick to point out hypocrisy in the church and other Christians, and that I am at least as good as “those people” and  I would never do “that, ” and besides how I want to live my life is my own business.  Sound familiar? 

Deceived, deceived, deceived….  We want to live our lives the way we want and trust that good intentions makes us good people.  In fact, good intentions can make us blinder to paths we’ve actually chosen sometimes.  Our actions have consequences, and despite God’s love and grace, where we end up is largely a result of the actions we take and the decisions we make.  And we become convinced we’re ok when we’re not, we’re blind to our sin, and deaf to those that try to help us get back on paths that lead to life. 

We all need to be warned daily.  So here goes, “If we keep doing what we’re doing, what will likely be the result?  Where will this ultimately lead us?  Is that where we want to be?” 

Why Shepherds?

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.  They were terrified, but the angel reassured them.  “Don’t be afraid, he said, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. …..”  Luke 2:8-10 (NLT)

It’s not a new theme for me to admit I get too busy.  With all the activities surrounding Christmas it’s easy to get caught up in visiting, and eating, and going places, and eating, and getting presents, and eating, etc.  It’s fun and tiring and fattening all at the same time, isn’t it?

As I was reading this morning, I started wondering why God would choose to favor these shepherds with the birth announcement of His son.  There’s no indication that they were particularly holy people that earned God’s approval.  I think He just chose to share His good news because they were sitting there with nothing to do but watch sheep.  I think they got to see angels because they were outside, away from the crowd, and had time to look into the skies and watch the stars. 

The ONLY way to slow down at Christmas is to do it on purpose.  It won’t be easy as I plan to enjoy my family and the festivities over the next few days, but I’m also gonna try to take some time to get alone and look up, and thank God for what happened in Bethlehem.

Christmas gift suggestions

Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Matthew 2:11b

None of these are as extravagant as the gifts of the Magi, but you’re on a budget, right?  And if you’re like me you HATE spending money to give people useless (or worse) stuff for Christmas.  Here are some stocking stuffers that I’d recommend highly if you still are struggling for just the right gift for your family and friends. 

1) High speed internet hook-up.   It makes the web a joy instead of a pain.

2) An I-Pod is one of those hyped bits of technology that lives up to it’s promise.  Downloading music, or in my case podcasts, is a much better alternative to buying CD’s.  Being able to download and listen to Andy Stanley’s stuff from Northpoint alone is worth the price.

3) CD’s (my favorites of 2007): REMEDY (David Crowder Band); FEE (Steve Fee); RECOLLECTION (Nichole Nordeman)

4) Books (best reads, or re-reads of 2007):  THE JESUS I NEVER KNEW (Philip Yancey);  PEPPERMINT FILLED PINATAS (Eric Bryant);  EVERBODY’S NORMAL TIL YOU GET TO KNOW THEM (John Ortburg); FAITH OF OUR FATHERS (Chris Seay)

5) DVD’s (teaching): INDESCRIBABLE (Louie Giglio); CHOOSING CHRISTMAS (Andy Stanley); IT CAME FROM WITHIN (Andy Stanley)

6) Gift Cards: Less impersonal than cash, but still let’s recipient pick what and when.  Best Buy, Cracker Barrel, Books A Million, and Outback make me happy.

7) Charitable Contributions: Give to a worthy cause in someone’s honor.  It shares some of your heart with them.  Children and teenagers probably won’t appreciate this so much, however

Take a risk and give up a little of your “image” this Christmas.  We know you’re faking, cause we’re doing the same thing.   Give some of your true self and make it a gift totally without strings.  That’s a lot harder than you might think. 

Live Nativity

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  Luke 2:7 (KJV)

I’m traveling on business and went past a church prepping for their drive-through live nativity display.  I’m sure it’ll be more realistic than the still-life ceramic and plastic scenes in front yards and on coffee tables.  People will enjoy it.   Looks like the are going all out.  There will be church people in period costumes, and stable sets, and probably even some live animals from all appearances.  But even so I suspect it’ll still be a sanitized version.  The real thing was too shocking and messy.  I don’t think we’d put that scene and those people on on display.  If we did….

We’d have a working-class teenage unwed mother and her intended probably looking exhausted, dazed and confused.  Surely they would remember that God had given them some startling promises several months back, but no angels lately to help them out.  They were alone in the dark and far from home.  Nobody would be headed to a warm bed and hot cocoa in a few hours.  They and their baby son would bed down for the night out with the animals.  Was there even a roof over their head?  I doubt that they, or the animals, or the manger, or the cloth they wrapped the baby in were very clean.  I bet it smelled.  There was blood. 

God could have come to save us any way He chose.  When Jesus was born, it wasn’t neat and clean and comfortable and respectable in the least.  It was scandelous, with no regard for good taste. When you think about it, the same can be said for His life, His death, and His amazing love for us all…..

Remember…..

He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, He who turns dawn to darkness,  and treads the high places of the earth— the LORD God Almighty is his name.  Amos 4:13 (NIV)

He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns blackness into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea  and pours them out over the face of the land— 
the LORD is his name.  Amos 5:8 (NIV)

In these verses the prophet Amos, who was a sheep-herder by profession, reminds the Hebrews Who they are disrespecting and disobeying.  They had gotten too comfortable with their idea of a small, passive God.  Amos is letting them have it for their unfaithfulness, tossing in these little reminders of Who God really is.

When my kids disobey, I get mad….not necessarily because I’m concerned about their character…. but because they don’t show me the honor and respect I think I deserve as their father.  Now they should  obey me because of my position, though whether I always deserve their honor and respect is certainly questionable.   I’m a weak, flawed human being like they are.  The real distance between us is pretty small. 

When I approach God, and decide how much of my attention and obediance I’m going to favor Him with,  my temptation is always to vastly overestimate me and vastly underestimate Him.   I need to remember what an awesome, incredible God He is.  The Lord God Almighty is His name!

Got weakness?

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.   2 Corinthians 12:9b (NAS)

This is Paul speaking, in the midst of a rather long discussion on how he serves out of devotion to God and has learned to embrace weakness and humility, empowered by the power of Christ.  All that sounds great and Christians like me will nod their heads in pious agreement, but I don’t live in that place very often or for very long. 

Weakness isn’t fun.  Weakness won’t get me promotions and raises.  Showing weakness will get me beaten up (at least metaphorically) by people that enjoy using power.  Candidates that admit that they have weaknesses don’t get elected to office.  Weakness isn’t respected and admired in this world.

I don’t like to ADMIT weakness, much less BOAST about it!  What or Who could even begin to move me in that general direction?  Towards seeing that I actually AM weak whether I admit it or not.  Towards trading the illusion that I’m powerful and in control for the truth that only God is strong.  And towards EVERY SO SLOWLY AND PAINFULLY learning that He can fulfill and use me when I’m empty, not when I’m full of myself.

Jennifer Knapp has a line in one of her songs that I think sums this idea up well…

“I’m weak, I’m poor, I’m broken, But I’m Yours.”

Blog excursion #1

So I’ve been spamming my friends and colleagues for a couple of years now with Bible verses and my take on life.  Thought about moving to a blog a year ago, but a couple of readers told me they were too lazy to go to a web site, but that I was welcome to continue filling their inbox.  That seemed wrong, then and now, but I went with it.  I hate it when someone asks for input and then they ignore the input.  My “lazy” readers have since left me anyway, so I think I’ll try the blog thing a while.  Not that I have anything all that insightful to offer.  Just a way to get out there and share my faith journey with anyone that might be willing to listen.