Merry Christmas!
I have heard it over and over again. The voicing of the question continues to mount, becoming increasingly loud and progressively annoying. I hear it in my mind, out on the streets, in the church, and everywhere else you can think of. I'm afraid the question won't go away - at least in the next week or so. I'm sure you have heard it too. "Are you ready for Christmas?"
A good question, depending on how you interpret it. On the one hand, and probably the most popular interpretation, the question is asking if I have all of my Christmas shopping done. If I interpret the question that way, anxiety builds and I am reminded of my ineptness toward buying gifts and the actual pain it brings to my life. Not that I have anything against buying gifts, or receiving them for that matter. It is not something I am good at and it takes a lot of brain and will power to go Christmas shopping. As far as the brain power goes, I need to be careful not to use too much, lest I lose it all (ask my wife).
The least popular interpretation, and one in which I am inclined to espouse, is asking me if I am ready for Christ and the true message He wants to bring to me this season. Am I ready for God to come into the darkness of my life and transform those areas I have neglected this year? Am I ready to embrace the reality of God's love for me and for others? Am I willing to live out of that love? Am I able to lay aside my rigid understandings of God, and embrace the fact that He came to me and to us in a way that was least expected? Am I willing to open myself up to the reality that the baby Jesus came to shine the light of truth into the deepest crevices of my darkened soul?
I guess when it's interpreted that way, the question has much deeper meaning. It also make me more uncomfortable. I have been asking myself these questions and I pray that I can honestly say yes to every one of them. Remember, Jesus' birth is the beginning of the good news story. There is so much more to this birth than giving presents and accepting the gift of the baby Jesus. God is asking me, and maybe you hear Him asking you, "Are you ready to go deeper with me? Are you ready for Christmas?"
"Heavenly Father, thank you for this season of preparation. Prepare me to fully receive the gift You have for me this Christmas. Help me to be ready to go deeper with you and to fully receive the abundant life and light that Jesus brings. In His holy name I pray. Amen."
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
SEE the Child
Good evening!
Last Saturday, we had our annual charge conference (an organizational part of the institutional United Methodist Church). This year, we shared our conference with two other churches in the area. It was wonderful to hear how God was moving in and through other United Methodist churches. Before the meeting started, the secretary from Community UMC in Westcliffe saw me, gave me a big hug, and handed me her latest entry into their church newsletter. She wanted to share with me a part of her journey since I last saw her.
As a pastor, I get handed many things and I get asked to read more articles, emails, and books that I can keep up with. I have to admit, there are times that my pile gets so big, I do not read everything. I can't if I want to stay sane. However, I am able to get to most of them and, luckily for me, this one was a short one.
The bulk of the article talked about an experience her daughter had with her two children, but what struck me most was the quote she shared at the end of her article. She said:
"Philips Brooks, whose UMC carol #230, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," routinely rolls off our tongue tips each Yuletide, once penned something less well known: 'He who helps a child helps humanity with an immediateness which no other help given to human creature in any other age of human life can possibly give again.' Wow. Is Brooks enjoining us to SEE in every child a Christ Child? Then to ACT accordingly - not frenetically spend and consume - in ALL Seasons? Seems to me. How about you?"
As we prepare our hearts for the new life that the Christ child brings, it is important to ask ourselves as well, "Do I receive every child as I hope to receive the Christ child this season? Do I SEE the children around me? Do I SEE that God created them - the unborn, the infant, the toddler, the terrible threes, the child, the tween and the teen?" Then ask yourself, "Do I act and treat them in ways that honor their Creator?"
It has been said that you know the spiritual state of a person, a community, and a nation by the way they treat their children. May we welcome the children among us with the joy and open arms that we hope to receive the Christ child this season. May we SEE their needs and ACT in ways that love them and honor who they are, just as God sees our needs and acted by coming to us in the form of an infant child.
"Gracious God. Thank you for the gift of Your Son. As we receive Him, remind us that we must also receive all of your children. As you came to us as a child dependent upon His mother and father, we come to You...dependent upon Your grace and love. Give us eyes to see the Christ child all around us and give us the strength and courage to act out Your love, not only this season, but in all seasons of our lives. In Your Name we pray. Amen."
Last Saturday, we had our annual charge conference (an organizational part of the institutional United Methodist Church). This year, we shared our conference with two other churches in the area. It was wonderful to hear how God was moving in and through other United Methodist churches. Before the meeting started, the secretary from Community UMC in Westcliffe saw me, gave me a big hug, and handed me her latest entry into their church newsletter. She wanted to share with me a part of her journey since I last saw her.
As a pastor, I get handed many things and I get asked to read more articles, emails, and books that I can keep up with. I have to admit, there are times that my pile gets so big, I do not read everything. I can't if I want to stay sane. However, I am able to get to most of them and, luckily for me, this one was a short one.
The bulk of the article talked about an experience her daughter had with her two children, but what struck me most was the quote she shared at the end of her article. She said:
"Philips Brooks, whose UMC carol #230, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," routinely rolls off our tongue tips each Yuletide, once penned something less well known: 'He who helps a child helps humanity with an immediateness which no other help given to human creature in any other age of human life can possibly give again.' Wow. Is Brooks enjoining us to SEE in every child a Christ Child? Then to ACT accordingly - not frenetically spend and consume - in ALL Seasons? Seems to me. How about you?"
As we prepare our hearts for the new life that the Christ child brings, it is important to ask ourselves as well, "Do I receive every child as I hope to receive the Christ child this season? Do I SEE the children around me? Do I SEE that God created them - the unborn, the infant, the toddler, the terrible threes, the child, the tween and the teen?" Then ask yourself, "Do I act and treat them in ways that honor their Creator?"
It has been said that you know the spiritual state of a person, a community, and a nation by the way they treat their children. May we welcome the children among us with the joy and open arms that we hope to receive the Christ child this season. May we SEE their needs and ACT in ways that love them and honor who they are, just as God sees our needs and acted by coming to us in the form of an infant child.
"Gracious God. Thank you for the gift of Your Son. As we receive Him, remind us that we must also receive all of your children. As you came to us as a child dependent upon His mother and father, we come to You...dependent upon Your grace and love. Give us eyes to see the Christ child all around us and give us the strength and courage to act out Your love, not only this season, but in all seasons of our lives. In Your Name we pray. Amen."
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
An Advent Prayer
Happy Advent!
As we enter into this holy time of year, my prayer for all of us is that we are able to experience the sacredness and joy of this season without getting wrapped up in the chaos.
In my preparations for the second Sunday in Advent, I came across a prayer that has challenged me over the last couple of days. I would like to share it with you.
"O Lord our God, wehre a rainbow bends in the midst of thunder, or a flower blooms in the midst of sand, you are there. Where a dream persists in the midst of conflict, or a protest arises in the midst of calm, you are there. Where a candle glows in the midst of winter, or a river thaws in the midst of spring, you are there. Where a cradle rocks in the midst of suffering, or a hand is held in the midst of pain, you are there. Where a prayer ascends in the midst of cursing, or passion flares in the midst of uncaring, you are there.
O God, you are in our midst. and because you are here, you tell us, "Do not fear; let not your hands grow weak." But we are not so easily comforted; we are not so quickly inspired. You surround us, but we cannot see your face, we cannot hear your voice, we cannot feel your embrace. How can we trust you? How can we have courage? How can our hands be strong?
We confess this, Lord: We would rather trust ourselves. We would rather venerate our past - our pride in family lines, honored traditions, historic institutions. We would rather glorify our future - our opportunity for posterity, prosperity, and popularity. When we implore, "What shall we do?" we do not ask one of your locust-eating, leather-girdled prophets, who would summon us to the wilderness and demand that we change our ways! Instead, we ask the keepers of our law, the caretakers of our culture, and the custodians of our religion, for we know that their answers will be pleasing to the taste. Their answers shall become our answers, dripping like honey from our tongues but falling like vinegar on your ears.
O Lord, how merciful you are for not forsaking us! You send us messenger after messenger, only to be mocked, and word after word, only to be despised. Now your greatest messenger is about to be born, a messenger who not only will speak and do your word, but embody it. Do you know what you do? We can smile at a baby, but shall we not scorn the man? We can shelter the child, like a hen gathering her chicks under her wings, but shall we shelter the Christ, or hide in the upper room?
O God, you send this child into our midst to make your presence among us tangible, visible, touchable. But will the child make you understandable, acceptable to the stoners and killers of prophets, to us who so easily become afraid, whose weak hands so quickly seek to crucify? Can truth really walk safely among the deceitful; or justice, among the vengeful; or love, among the hateful; or grace, among the spiteful?
Help us trust you, Lord. We cannot comprehend this thing that is about to happen, this baby who will be our savior. We have learned well how we can be custodians of law, guardians of culture, and champions of religion; we do not know how - or if - we can be disciples of such a one as this. Prepare us for the bearer of the gospel, O God, lest we receive the good news as bad news, and turn our backs.
Be with us, Lord, as you send him to us. The thunder rumbles: Lead us to the bending rainbow. The sands creep: Lead us to the blooming flower. The winter blows: Lead us to the glowing candle. The spring breaks: Lead us to the thawing river.
The suffering one comes: Lead us to the rocking cradle!"
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
As we enter into this holy time of year, my prayer for all of us is that we are able to experience the sacredness and joy of this season without getting wrapped up in the chaos.
In my preparations for the second Sunday in Advent, I came across a prayer that has challenged me over the last couple of days. I would like to share it with you.
"O Lord our God, wehre a rainbow bends in the midst of thunder, or a flower blooms in the midst of sand, you are there. Where a dream persists in the midst of conflict, or a protest arises in the midst of calm, you are there. Where a candle glows in the midst of winter, or a river thaws in the midst of spring, you are there. Where a cradle rocks in the midst of suffering, or a hand is held in the midst of pain, you are there. Where a prayer ascends in the midst of cursing, or passion flares in the midst of uncaring, you are there.
O God, you are in our midst. and because you are here, you tell us, "Do not fear; let not your hands grow weak." But we are not so easily comforted; we are not so quickly inspired. You surround us, but we cannot see your face, we cannot hear your voice, we cannot feel your embrace. How can we trust you? How can we have courage? How can our hands be strong?
We confess this, Lord: We would rather trust ourselves. We would rather venerate our past - our pride in family lines, honored traditions, historic institutions. We would rather glorify our future - our opportunity for posterity, prosperity, and popularity. When we implore, "What shall we do?" we do not ask one of your locust-eating, leather-girdled prophets, who would summon us to the wilderness and demand that we change our ways! Instead, we ask the keepers of our law, the caretakers of our culture, and the custodians of our religion, for we know that their answers will be pleasing to the taste. Their answers shall become our answers, dripping like honey from our tongues but falling like vinegar on your ears.
O Lord, how merciful you are for not forsaking us! You send us messenger after messenger, only to be mocked, and word after word, only to be despised. Now your greatest messenger is about to be born, a messenger who not only will speak and do your word, but embody it. Do you know what you do? We can smile at a baby, but shall we not scorn the man? We can shelter the child, like a hen gathering her chicks under her wings, but shall we shelter the Christ, or hide in the upper room?
O God, you send this child into our midst to make your presence among us tangible, visible, touchable. But will the child make you understandable, acceptable to the stoners and killers of prophets, to us who so easily become afraid, whose weak hands so quickly seek to crucify? Can truth really walk safely among the deceitful; or justice, among the vengeful; or love, among the hateful; or grace, among the spiteful?
Help us trust you, Lord. We cannot comprehend this thing that is about to happen, this baby who will be our savior. We have learned well how we can be custodians of law, guardians of culture, and champions of religion; we do not know how - or if - we can be disciples of such a one as this. Prepare us for the bearer of the gospel, O God, lest we receive the good news as bad news, and turn our backs.
Be with us, Lord, as you send him to us. The thunder rumbles: Lead us to the bending rainbow. The sands creep: Lead us to the blooming flower. The winter blows: Lead us to the glowing candle. The spring breaks: Lead us to the thawing river.
The suffering one comes: Lead us to the rocking cradle!"
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
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