My Appointment With An Empty Can

This morning, Christmas Eve, I had a divine appointment with an empty beer can.

I don’t normally come into work on Saturday mornings, but then again this has not been an average week.  My schedule has been rearranged and thrown topsy turvy by all sorts of seasonal excitement.  My nights have been late working in “Santa’s Workshop” and the mornings have been early thanks to a double ear infection in my youngest. 

For some reason when I got into my car this Christmas Eve morning I opted out of Christmas music on the iPod and went for some Mumford & Sons.  The driving bluegrass folk rock does nice things to my psyche and their lyrical content is amazing.  But I digress.

Dawn was still breaking, the trees were bare and the chilly 24 degrees was just enough to remind your lungs why most stay indoors this time of year.  The ride was very quiet as most people are still shaking off the cobwebs.  

As I drove into Hawley I saw it.  In the middle of the road there was an empty beer can rolling around haplessly back and forth submitted to the will of the car drafts that were pushing it. 

I wondered who had the drink that came before the discard.  Why would they discard and pollute the planet, the carelessness of possibly drinking and driving.  What sadness grips a person to drown in substances that destroys?  Then my ear turned to the music I was listening to.  The haunting melody played the perfect soundtrack for what I was seeing:

And there will come a time

You’ll see

With no more tears

And love will not break your heart

But dismiss your fears

Get over your hill and see what you find there

With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair

All of a sudden, I felt like was punched in the chest and was overcome by the sense that what I was experiencing was something far bigger than myself, my day, my Christmas.  I was experiencing something holy.

I was blindsided by the reality of what we celebrate as Christmas.  I always know-but there is a big difference between head and heart knowledge. 

This was for the heart. 

As I thought about the empty beer can, the image of Jesus as a baby in the manger penetrated my heart: discarded and unknown to all except a few first century peasants.  His obscure birth and humble life were all intentional and part of the design for us to experience the divine.

Christ came for the obscure and discarded to bring them joy.  And when I say joy I mean what is described in the aforementioned lyrics.  Who would not want to leave the pain that brings about tears?  To possess a love that does not break your heart, but dismisses your fears.

This is not something reserved just for people who can afford it but the humble birth of Jesus shows that God seeks out all.  It is a gift that feeds a deeper part of the soul than any physical object or possession.  So as you celebrate tonight and tomorrow I ask you to just step away. 

Make time to step away. 

Grasp at something that goes beyond what will come and go.  Reach for the eternal who has become a centerpiece of this season.  Don’t let it be just a gentle decoration see off to the side of a party.  But let it be a deep truth. 

Christ comes to feed and enrich the deepest parts of the human soul.  To bring us back to the divine.  To show us real love.

The Waiting Room

As I read the various events transpiring in the world today - the escalation of widespread violence, the decline (or absence) of morality, the global political unrest, the unprecedented weather phenomena, etc. - I sometimes desperately yearn for my heavenly home in ways I suppose I hadn't when I was younger. I recognize that there is much to do while here, and don't get me wrong, I am excited "being about my Father's business" - yet still, a part of me is homesick . . .

This reminds me of an entry in a devotional I read recently, where the author was in a doctor's waiting room, very impatiently aware that he was long past his scheduled appointment time. He was getting more and more frustrated and annoyed at "the people who show up late for their appointments, and expect everyone else who arrives on time to understand the ensuing delay!" All of a sudden, the doctor himself arrived, went into the back offices, after which the nurse announced that the doctor would begin seeing patients now. Needless to say, the author was ashamed of himself for not having realized that a simple delay for him might have meant the difference between life and death for someone else!

Likewise, our heavenly Father delays the return of His Son not simply to dishearten us or to have us doubt our faith regarding this matter; but rather, to allow many more to hear and respond to the good news of salvation. So, as I pass my time in this "waiting room" of life - Lord, give me Your heart that is so greatly concerned with the redemption of humanity, starting in my own backyard!

"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."    2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)



Maria McKiernan

WAR!

     Lately I feel like I am under attack. The devil is trying to stop me from doing Gods work. He has tried to stop me from getting to church. He has tried to stop me from getting to bible study. He has even tried to stop me from getting this blog written.
     In the past two weeks my car has been in the shop twice, the oil burner was acting up and I seem to have a hard time finding time to write this blog.
     In war you are usually not in any danger until you come out of the trenches and start fighting. We are soldiers in Gods army and the devil is going to try to attack us. He is going to try to stop us from doing God's will. He will try to stop us from being active Christians.
     The devil will also try to draw us away from God by tempting us.  So we need to be aware of who is tempting us and resist. James 4:7 Submit yourselves to God resist the devil and he will flee from you.
     The only way the devil can win is if we surrender. So resist him and keep on fighting the good fight. In Ephesians 6:11 Paul tells us to "put on the full armour of god so that you can take your stand against the devils schemes."  in vs 16 Paul tells us to "take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."
     And when you are under attack don't just stand there with your shield blocking the devils attack fight back with the word of God That is what Jesus did when he was tempted. When Jesus was tempted he just quoted scripture.
     The devil can attack us but he is powerless against those who resist him with the word of God!

Chris sherman

Holey People, Holy God

I was raised by my grandmother, and she spent the last years of her life in my home, while I cared for her. I've learned many life lessons from her, one of which I remembered today. 

She had a favorite gray, woolen sweater that was so well worn, it had developed several holes. When I offered to darn it one day, she objected, saying that the sweater had now become an indicator to her of how much she really mattered to someone. She said that when visitors came calling, if they couldn't take their eyes off the holes in her sweater long enough to pay attention to what she said - then, that was their last visit. Her time, at 95, was too short to waste on superficial people!

I kept that sweater after she died - as a matter of fact, I'm wearing it now - and it makes me smile to think of how much we matter to God, despite our many "holes". As a matter of fact, it's because of a certain God-shaped hole in all of us, that we come to desire a knowledge of spiritual things, which hopefully leads us to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It doesn't really matter how many other holes we may have, God is ALWAYS waiting with open arms to welcome us, and lavish His love and attention on us!

So, needless to say, if you see me wearing a certain gray sweater . . .;-)

Maria McKiernan

Descending Into Greatness

by Jim Corbin

Remembering childhood experiences can often be difficult given the biblical command to ‘become less’. What kid ever enjoyed being last in line at a party with piping hot pizza? Most high school boys rarely wanted less in the muscle department and few girls ever wanted more ugly. In borrowing this title from pastor and writer Bill Hybels I would like to call our attention to an important matter of depth as Christ followers: God and his will are always first and foremost. Jesus said it this way – Not my will but your will be done. Do I have an idea? It must fit into his idea. Do I have dreams and ambitions? They must meet his criterion for the future. Do I want to do great things? I really have to know how to define great! ‘He must become greater; I must become less,’ says John the Baptist.
Pursuing greatness often results in blurred vision. Our initial pursuit seems outstanding combined with energy and awesome reason for our chosen path. “This is gonna be great,” we say. Sometimes we even enlist others to go along for the adventure. So what’s the big deal you may ask? Your mission may be an iron clad reflection of God’s heart. However, the heart of the human is drawn to those things that feel good and bring pleasure. Instead of staying simple in God’s call for us we begin noticing all the perks along the way. We gather more and more stuff as we go. We begin to lose sight of the simple call of God to love him and others. We ignore the prayer he taught us to pray when he only mentioned possessions once: give us this day our daily bread. Just enough for today! Descending into greatness takes hard work. It means giving sacrificially. It requires submitting to your leaders even when you want to prove your point. It calls for a return to a life of peace, joy and serenity based in a trusting relationship with God, through Jesus.
Joy. Peace. Contentment. Wow – that sounds great! Happy New Year.
It is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest. Luke 9:48

Who Is your Support Crew?

by Chris Freet

As some of you may know, I enjoy running as a means of exercise and stress relief.  There is a man named Dr. David Horton who is an exercise science professor at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.  Dr. Horton is also a legend in the world of ultra running.  For example, he has the third fastest time in history for running from Los Angeles to New York.  He is only one of nine men who finished the Barkleys ultra marathon--100 mile run has been around for over 25 years!  He also has held numerous speed records on long trails such as the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Coast Trail.  The Pacific Coast Trail is over 2600 miles long and he ran it in 68 days!

But I bring Dr. Horton to your attention for another reason.  Not only is he a running legend but he is also a born again believer.  And during his attempt at the PCT spped record a few years ago God laid something on his heart.  The illumination Dr. Horton received was this:  We need people.  Sounds simple, right?  It is really more important than we realize.  Dr. Horton could not have set the speed record on the PCT without a good support crew--people hiking food to remote spots, a doctor to 'doctor' his feet and blisters regularly, people to set up camp daily so that when he arrived at the certain point everything would be ready.  This simple but deep truth is something that is vital for Christ-followers as well.  For example, the apostle Paul wrote:

"Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  - Galatians 6:2

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  - Hebrews 10:24-25

You see, in the New Testament alone there are over 60 "one another" verses calling the church (gathered people, not an organization) to encourage, build up, edify, etc.  This means that it is vital for the church to regularly meet together.  If we are not regularly meeting with the church then how can we edify each other?  This is the point of spiritual gifts according to Paul in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians.  They are given to edify and build up others.

With this we can see how important it is to meet together with other believers.  It is not something that can be negelcted if we are to grow in our faith in Christ.  Like Dr. Horton realized so must those who call on the name of Christ--we need people.

So this is Christmas

     You have probably all heard the song "so this is Christmas" written by John Lennon. well I was thinking about the lyrics to this song "so this is Christmas and what have you done" as I pondered them I thought "what have I done this Christmas" what have I done other than shop for presents, bake cookies, decorate the tree and sing Christmas carols?
 well I was very disappointed in myself. I know the true meaning of Christmas. I know that I am celebrating the birth of our lord and savior Jesus Christ but what have I done. Then I realized Christmas is not about what I have done it is about what God has done.
"for God so loved the world he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16.

There is nothing wrong with giving presents putting up Christmas lights and decorating a Christmas tree as long as we remember to keep Christ in all these things.

So when you give gifts remember the gift God has given his son Jesus.

When you hang your Christmas lights remember that Jesus is the light of the world.

When you decorate your evergreen tree remember the everlasting life that we have through Jesus.

Christmas should bring us great joy our saviour has arrived!

                                                                                                                         Chris Sherman