A Little Bird Told Me

One of my favorite Christmas time stories tells of a man who was not really much of a Christian. In fact, he considered himself more of an agnostic. He would believe in God if he could see any sense in it, but he never really went to church, because he felt no need. His family, however, and especially his wife were very devout. They went regularly to services and worshiped with the others there.

One Christmas Eve, the family dressed and went out into the cold and snowy night to church. The man preferred to stay home by the cozy, warm fire and read. As he was sitting there alone, he heard a thump or a crack at the window. He looked out, but saw nothing. Then he heard it again. It was as if someone were throwing something against the glass. When he went over to the window, he saw a tiny sparrow lying stunned in the snow, and he watched with interest as the little bird slowly got up and fluttered to a nearby branch. The poor creature sat there all huddled and cold looking in the window where it was obviously warm and dry. Then it flew toward the window and hit the glass with a thump. Again, it fell back into the snow.

Finally, the man realized what the sound he had heard was. It was the sparrow trying to get to a place that was warm and dry. The man felt sorry for the little bird, and decided to let it in. He opened the window, but the bird became frightened and fluttered away. Then the man went to the door, and opened it, but the bird only hopped to another branch further from the large scary figure of the man. The more the man tried to encourage the bird to come in and be warm, the further away the bird went, until, finally it flew away all together.

This bothered the man extremely, and he couldn’t say why. He thought of all the ways he could have tried to get the little bird to come in. He might have put out some seed or suet to lure it in. He might have left the door open and gone away, but then the house wouldn’t have stayed warm and inviting for long. He thought of all kinds of things, but the only way he could think of that would have effectively gotten that little bird to come into the house would be if he could become a bird himself. Then he could have told the bird that the man wasn’t so frightening, that he meant no harm. He could have led the way, showing the bird how to come in and where to get warm.

Just then his family arrived home, with the children all excited and singing merrily. And his wife asked him how his evening had been. He thought about it a moment and then he said, “Very good, indeed. A little bird came and told me a Christmas story about how God came to earth to be human like us, and to show us the way to heaven.”

Help in the Midst of the Storm

This week has been one of worry and even a sense of panic for many people on our island of Grand Bahama. We have all watched the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in south Texas, and now there is Hurricane Irma breathing down our necks. Many of us have barely recovered from Hurricane Matthew, and many have not recovered yet. The question that keeps coming up over and over again is, “Where is God in all of this?” Some theologians have suggested that it is the failure to answer this question adequately that has led to so much apathy and agnosticism about God and faith in our world today.

            Whenever I deal with this issue in a sermon or Bible study, people are eager and anxious to get answers to the questions they have been wrestling with, sometimes for years. This is no exception. How and why are we seeing one hurricane right on the heels of another?

            You all know I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe God guides our steps and orders our path. This week, we looked at Romans 8:35, where Paul says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” An excellent question, to which Oswald Chambers responds, “God does not keep His child immune from trouble; He promises, “I will be with him in trouble . . .” (Psalm 91:15). It doesn’t matter how real or intense the adversities may be; nothing can ever separate him from his relationship to God. “In all these things we are more than conquerors . . .” (Romans 8:37). Paul was not referring here to imaginary things, but to things that are dangerously real. And he said we are “super-victors” in the midst of them, not because of our own ingenuity, nor because of our courage, but because none of them affects our essential relationship with God in Jesus Christ. I feel sorry for the Christian who doesn’t have something in the circumstances of his life that he wishes were not there.

“Shall tribulation . . . ?” Tribulation is never a grand, highly welcomed event; but whatever it may be— whether exhausting, irritating, or simply causing some weakness— it is not able to “separate us from the love of Christ.” Never allow tribulations or the “cares of this world” to separate you from remembering that God loves you (Matthew 13:22).

“Shall . . . distress . . . ?” Can God’s love continue to hold fast, even when everyone and everything around us seems to be saying that His love is a lie, and that there is no such thing as justice?

“Shall . . . famine . . . ?” Can we not only believe in the love of God but also be “more than conquerors,” even while we are being starved?

Either Jesus Christ is a deceiver, having deceived even Paul, or else some extraordinary thing happens to someone who holds on to the love of God when the odds are totally against him. Logic is silenced in the face of each of these things which come against him. Only one thing can account for it— the love of God in Christ Jesus. “Out of the wreck I rise” every time.

The thing to hold on to as we face difficult and uncertain times is that God is with us, even in the midst of the storm. When we ask, “Where is God?” the answer is, “He is right by our side.”

The Sin of Racism

 This week I did something I have never done before in 35 years of pastoral ministry. I preached a sermon on racism. It seemed odd, because racism is one of those topics I had assumed that everyone understood was wrong. I always thought it was something that was self-evident, like love your neighbor. Apparently that is not the case.

I was reminded of that very clearly this week by the events in Charlottesville, VA. A group of white supremacists, including neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Clan, planned a rally to protest the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee from a local park. But it turned violent when the group was met by another group of counter-protesters. Fists flew, the police were called in, three people lost their lives and dozens more were injured. It was clearly one of the darker days in American history.

What fascinates me is that people on both sides of the issue are claiming that God is on their side, that faith and religion plays a central role in what they believe and how they express their beliefs. What does our faith teach us on the issue of racism, and how should we respond as Christian people? How should our faith inform our politics? How should what we believe affect how we live our lives each day?

There are lots of people who have strong opinions about racism. But where do those opinions come from? Is it their religion or is it their politics? How can you tell the difference? On many issues, it may be difficult to discern the difference, but I think the Bible is pretty clear on this one. There are a couple of things that I believe very strongly and that I want to make perfectly clear.

First of all, the Bible makes it clear how we are to treat one another. It is not with bitterness and hatred and violence. I think we know what scripture says. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Eph 4:32). And Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) Anyone see any love in Charlottesville? Anyone see any kindness or compassion? If you didn’t, then you didn’t see Christians acting like Christians. I am not saying they weren’t Christians, I am saying they weren’t acting like it. Anytime we engage others in political discussion, or even protest, it must never be with violence or hatred, no matter how much you disagree with their views. That person, too, is a child of God. That person, too, is a person for whom Christ died. Each one should be treated with dignity and respect. We should be willing to “Do unto others as we would have them do unto us”. That is the Christ-like way.

Secondly, I think we have to recognize that racism is a sin. I need to be very clear when I say that. Racism means much more than merely recognizing that different races have different characteristics. That much is self-evident. When it becomes dangerous, and even sinful is when a prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism is directed against people of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. When you begin to think that you are better than somebody else because of the color of your skin, no matter what color it is, that is when racism becomes sinful. When I say, “sinful,” I very specifically mean that it is counter to, and opposed to what is taught in the Bible.

Let me give you some examples. In Acts 17, Paul is addressing some Greek philosophers in Athens. The ancient Greeks saw other races as barbarian, and thought of themselves as superior – the very definition of racist. But Paul makes the case that we have all descended from one common ancestor, and we all have the same Creator. He says that God made all nations, and that we all come from him. Therefore, all human life is precious and valuable, and we should not put ourselves or our own race above that of others.

In Ephesians chapter 2, Paul is discussing the clash between Jew and Gentile, a racial clash if there ever was one. But he says that through the blood of Christ, we are no longer separate in race or religion, but one. Beginning in verse 14 he says, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” That is powerful language, that Jesus has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, and has created in himself one new humanity out of two. He says something very similar in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” We cannot hear such words and continue with the sinful attitudes of racism.

As many of you are aware, there have been lots of comments this past week about racism by Christian leaders. After, all it is our Scripture that speaks so powerfully against it. But I think Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, said it extremely well. In his blog this week, he said, “We must see claims of racial superiority–and mainly that means claims of white superiority–as heresy. That is not a word we use casually. Heresy leads to a denial of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the eclipse of the living God as revealed in the Bible. A claim of white superiority is not merely wrong, and not merely deadly. It is a denial of the glory of God in creating humanity—every single human being–in his own image.”¹

Let us not mistakenly think that the whole world will line up behind us and appreciate this biblical position. There are powerful forces lined up against it; forces of hate and anger, forces of greed and political power. The Christian must always deal with the impact of these forces when he expresses the truth and the implications of his faith. 

In Charlottesville, Heather Heyer was killed as a car was driven into a crowd of protesters. I doubt she had any idea she would be in physical danger that day. She just wanted to stand up for what she believed, for what the Bible proclaims; that we are all God’s children and that he loves each and every one of us, no matter the color of our skin. We should not be surprised that the message of the Gospel is still an offensive message today. The Gospel writers knew this first-hand. Many were arrested and tortured.

I have been reminded this week that anytime we proclaim the truth of the gospel, there will be those who oppose us. There will be those who will be angry with us. Perhaps even those who would do violence to us. We are shaking up their world. God is shaking up their world.

1. http://www.albertmohler.com/2017/08/13/letter-berlin-lessons-history-heresy-racial-superiority/

Today I Planted an Olive Tree

     Today, I planted an olive tree. I planted it in the church yard. Our church has a lovely garden that, like much of the island of Grand Bahama, was decimated by Hurricane Matthew that came roaring through the Bahamas on October 6, 2016.

There were many and varied responses to the devastation of the hurricane, both by our church and by people in the United States and elsewhere. People gave money. People brought food and water to communities that were devastated by the storm. People brought tarps and blankets for those who had the most severe damage. And people are still helping with roof repair and building supplies and temporary housing where necessary.

Many of these things were done by our own church. Our Crossreach ministry has been in place for years and so we had the infrastructure to help facilitate the distribution of many of the donations that were made. We are still doing that. I am proud to be part of a church that takes so seriously the biblical call to help the poor and needy.

But I planted an olive tree. It seems an odd response to all that has happened. Why in the world would I do such a thing? I did it for several reasons. Our church has a lovely garden, as I have said, and I did it partially to help restore its beauty. Many trees and shrubs were stripped bare, and others were literally ripped out of the ground by the 150 mph wind. It was sad for me to see the grounds in that condition.  I like to walk in the garden and look at the plants. I like to think about the One who made them, and me, and what God’s plan might be for the future. So, I planted an olive tree.

There is a Messianic passage in Isaiah 11 that we often read during Advent. “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him…” As this tree grows and (hopefully) bears fruit, it will remind me of this passage.

Isaiah wrote hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Prophets are notorious for their long game. They are concerned about what God is doing now, but they also have an eye to what God will do in years to come, sometimes many years to come. Olive trees are extremely long-lived. Many are documented to have lived for hundreds of years. Perhaps this one will as well, and it will remind me that God has a long term plan in place, not just a short one.

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Israel and one of our stops was the Garden of Gethsemane. It was quite moving to think that in this very place, Jesus poured out his heart to his Father and said, “Not my will be done, but Thine.” Maybe in years to come, I can sit under that tree and pray the same prayer. I think that most Christians don’t say it nearly enough.

The tree also reminds me that, much like the olive garden where Jesus prayed, we often have to go through difficult and trying times to get to God’s blessing and salvation on the other side. Jesus saw the big picture, and he knew what lay on the other side of the pain and suffering he was about to experience. Unfortunately, we cannot see what lies beyond our pain. We don’t know what it all means or what purpose it may serve. But, perhaps this tree will serve to remind me that there is suffering that leads to salvation and resurrection. It is still suffering, but is, or at least can be, redemptive. Perhaps that will help me to endure, and even, as Paul is somehow able to do, rejoice in suffering.

It is ironic that on two occasions when I have preached on theodicy, (the question of why we suffer when we believe in a good and powerful God) there has been unprecedented disaster. The first time this happened, I was preaching through The Lord’s Prayer, and when I reached the phrase, “Thy will be done,” it was the second week of September, 2001. The Tuesday before I was to preach that sermon, the towers in New York City came crashing to the ground, and with them many people’s faith and confidence in God

Strangely, as I was to preach on the “Difficult Question” of Why Good People Suffer, the island where I live was devastated by the worst hurricane to hit this island in recorded history. Maybe I shouldn’t preach on that anymore!

Or, maybe God is trying to remind me, and the congregations I serve, that there is mercy and there is hope, even when the darkness is all around. There is purpose and there is redemption in suffering. We may not see it, but God can use it to build up His kingdom.

That’s why I planted an olive tree today.

Tedium

I was working on my regular Bible study in Philippians, when I ran across this gem from A. T. Robertson:

"The dull monotony of religious routine palls on a person. But there is but one thing to do, and that is to keep on going in the same path. There is monotony in work, the tedium of household cares, the grind of church services, the petty details of pastoral life, the minutiae of scholarship and all forms of Bible study, the treadmill of spiritual exercises (prayer, reading the Scriptures, singing, church attendance, work for Christ), the humdrum of things like three meals a day and going to bed every night—these things tend to pall on the sensitive spirit. But we shall die if we do not eat, sleep, walk, work, breathe. We shall die without the common details in the spiritual life. The lesson for our time is precisely this—to keep at it."

For many of us, that is precisely the problem. We want our lives to be interesting and exciting. The same for our faith, or "spirituality." We don't want tedium. And yet, almost anything amazing that has been accomplished has been preceded by a vast amount of tedium. Olympic athletes work out daily for years to achieve their goals. The same is true for musicians, artists, and intellectuals in almost any field you can name. Why should we think the life of the Spirit should be any different?

I am probably as bad as anyone in that I want things to happen instantly and immediately. Most things in life don't work that way. Babies take months to be born, and then years to grow to maturity. The same is true in our spiritual lives. We can't be mature believers right away, and we won't ever be if we don't do the hard work of spiritual exercise. Just like physical exercise, it's not fun, but it yields incredible rewards, if only we will keep at it.

A New Adventure

Ever since I announced that I would no longer be serving the First Presbyterian Church of Sand Springs, folks have been asking what it is I will be doing. I have to admit that I have been wondering that myself. I have looked at several options, from teaching to serving other churches. I have sent out resumes, e-mails, and even had a few personal contacts with other pastors and leaders who have been in my situation.

The result of all this is that I have been accepted as pastor of the Lucaya Presbyterian Church in Freeport, Grand Bahama. It sounds like an appointment to paradise, and in many ways it is, but it will be no picnic.

The church was founded about 50 years ago by the Church of Scotland as a mission to the indigenous people and the expatriates who lived there. About five years ago, the church decided to join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in the United States since Florida is much closer and more able to provide ministry support. I will be received into the EPC and serve as their first pastor from that denomination.

The Bahamas is a chain of nearly 700 islands that stretches from the southeast coast of Florida to just northwest of Haiti. Only about 30 of the islands are inhabited, with the vast majority of the population living in Nassau. There are about 300,000 people in the Bahamas, and nearly two-thirds live on New Providence, where the capital is located.

As I said, the setting is beautiful, but the ministry will be challenging. The island the church is on, Grand Bahama, is the northernmost of the outer islands of the Bahamas. This is not Nassau, with its bustling city and five-star hotels. Unemployment on the island is around 25%, so there is a lot of need among the people there. One of the issues they have is that tourism, which is down right now, provides about 60% of the GDP, and employs about half of the nation’s workforce. When tourism is down, it puts a lot of people out of work.

The church supports a ministry called CrossReach, which feeds 50 families a month to help them make ends meet. This ministry is overseen by Jerry Coleborn, who has been doing it for the past few years. Expenses are in excess of $1,000/mo, all of which goes to local families.

The church itself is very international, as you might expect. It consists of Bahamians, as well as citizens of many different countries, like England, Scotland, Canada, and even Lebanon. In many ways, it is like a church in the US; they have worship on Sundays, outreach ministries, and even a youth group. So my responsibilities will include things like preaching, planning worship, training elders, and helping the church in its outreach ministries.

But because of their unique setting, there are many other challenges as well. There is a lot of poverty on the island, and a need for better education and health care. Many of the native people live in small, family-related communities.

This will be a huge change for our family, but a great opportunity to bring God’s message of love and peace to a community in need. I appreciate all the support this congregation has shown to my family, and I would appreciate your continued prayers for this transition. Rest assured that you will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

I will still have the same e-mail address, so you can contact me that way, and I will probably still post on facebook from time to time, and update my blog. The church does have a website, so you can also keep track of us there. It is at lucayachurch.com.

Remember the words of Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

May God continue to bless and be with us all.

The Real Meaning of Christmas

By guest writer Martha Noebel

  

    It's that time of year again. December has come and with it all the joys of Christmas. But what is the real meaning of Christmas? Is it the gifts under the tree, the lights in the windows, the cards in the mail, turkey dinners with family and friends, snow in the yard, stockings hanging in the living room, and shouts of "Merry Christmas" to those who pass us in the streets? Is this really Christmas?

      For many people, however, Christmas is a time of sorrow. They don't have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends. Many are saddened at Christmastime when they think of their loved ones who will not be able to come home for various reasons. Turkey dinners may be only a wish and not a reality for some.

      Yet, Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength. You see, Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born as a human. His birth brought great joy to the world. Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. They knew this was no ordinary baby. The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child.

      But, why did He come? Why did God send His son to this sometimes cruel and hard world? He sent Jesus to us so that one day, He would grow up to become a very important part of history. His story (history) is one of truth, love, and hope. It brought salvation to all of us. Without Jesus, we would all die in our sins.

      Jesus was born so the price could be paid for the things we have done that are wrong. The Bible says that all have sinned. We are all born with a sin nature. We do things that do not please God. Through the sins of Adam and Eve, we have all inherited that sin nature. We need to have that removed. The only way is through Jesus. Jesus came so He could die on the cross for ALL of our sins. If we believe that Jesus died for our sins, we can ask Him to come into our hearts and forgive us. Then, we are clean and made whole. We can know that heaven is a place where we can go to when this life is over.

      We can truly be happy at Christmas! No matter what may be happening, we can know that we are His children. We then become sons and daughters of God. We can be part of the Kingdom of God.

      Look at Christmas in a new way this year. This is the year you could invite Jesus into your heart. You will then have a truly "Merry Christmas." The joy and peace you will receive will last all year long as you celebrate what God has done for you.

      Jesus Is The Reason For The Season! Rejoice!

to see this blog on its original page, see: http://www1.cbn.com/devotions/real-meaning-christmas