T'was the Day After Christmas

Twas the day after Christmas and all through the malls
everything was half off...even the walls.
The stockings were hung in the clearance aisles
in hopes to bring the shopkeepers smiles.
The people all clamoring to get through the door
to fill up their carts like they did two days before.
Maddy in her new sweater, James in his new hat
pushed through the crowd to find that toy cat.
When over the loudspeaker, a voice from heaven
announced, "Extra ten percent off in aisle seven!"
Away to that aisle the people did fly,
most of them not even knowing why.
To the dismay of those who came along last,
aisle seven's shelves were empty except for the shadows they cast.
But wait! In the bottom corner there stood
a tiny reindeer made out of wood.
Alas, this poor reindeer had a scratch that was deep.
But hey, that's okay as long as it's cheap.
In the cart went the deer beside red and green socks
destined for greatness...a year in a box.
Now Aimee! Now Curtis! Now Patty and Kristin!
On Connor! On Heather! On Gary and Tristin!
To the next aisle, to the front of the line!
Grab two more gift bags, no five, no nine!
Tragedy in electronics, the manager yells with a frown,
"Watch out! We've got a shopper down!"
Jump over that shopper, jump over her cart
mercy is for the rich, this is not time to have a heart.
This is a one day sale, lasting only a week.
Gotta get ready for next Christmas (hope no one will peek).
A Barbie for Kailee, a dinosaur for Billy.
They won't outgrow them, that would be silly.
A wallet for father, a teapot for Sue.
If she gets one for her birthday?....Then she will have two.
The bargains are just too good to pass up.
Now, what can we find for our future new pup?
All the aisles are emptied, the rush now is slowing.
They struggle to the counter, their carts overflowing.
Visa? Master Card? American Express?
None are due today, so they could care less.
The tills are all ringing, the owners are giddy.
Maddy and James had found their toy kitty.
The cars were all packed and now driving away
and I think I heard somebody say....
"Happy 26th of December, oh - what a day.
But Christmas is only 363 shopping days away!

The Christmas Search

We spend our entire earthly lives searching for Him. Even when we find Him-- we search.

The meaning--the reason--truly, do we ever know?

Could we ever grasp Him in His entirety? Who is He?

Lord--Savior--Prince of Peace--God incarnate. The names we know but even as we utter them, do we hold there reality in our hearts? Can we fathom the unfathomable?

We must start with the manger and the innocence it held.

A baby--a child.

Approach Him. See Him look out from the simple cloths that wrap Him. See the chubby hand as it wraps around His mother's finger. Hear His sigh and smell His sweet breath as He sleeps.

Love Him simply.

Love Him as you love a baby. Unconditionally--no questions.

Then slowly, prayerfully, realize this is how He loves you.

This perfect, wondrous baby--is your KING.

Your God has come to you--Emmanuel!

Place yourself beside His manger and worship your King--your God.

Then allow your soul to celebrate this gift and your journey to understanding will truly begin.

The journey that ends only when you look into His eyes as He reaches to embrace you in your heavenly home.

FEAR FACTOR

The definition of a Christian is, “a follower of Christ”. So how, then, have we fallen so far away from Him?

We are commanded to go into the world and spread the good news yet we, many times, find ourselves alienating those who are seeking God by turning our backs on them as we turn to worship Him.

Kathleen Norris wrote in her book, Amazing Grace, that she had to walk away from her Christian inheritance when she reached adulthood. The Christianity that was handed down to her in her childhood left her feeling, “Stranded with a boogyman God.” She would eventually welcome religion back into her life but she did so with caution. As Kathleen took a closer look at the faith that was given to her in her youth she describes the difficulty of welcoming some of her ancestors that had a hand in her upbringing.

“It can feel like a curse – to include in my welcome the difficult

ancestors: The insane, the suicides, the alcoholics, the religiously

self-righteous who literally scared the bejesus out of me when I was

little, or who murdered my spirit with words of condemnation.”

I find it interesting that she casually includes the insane, the suicides and alcoholics but goes on to tell us of the scars that the religiously self-righteous left on her.

Norris mentions reading a book called, Memories of God, by Roberta Bondi. She must have felt a connection with Bondi as she also was scarred by the (revival-style) theology that she grew up in. In Bondi’s words:

“Only believe that God loves you or he will send you to hell forever.”

Despite a fear-filled religious upbringing both women have found their faith. Others, however, leave and never come back. Phil Jackson, a North Dakota native whose parents were Pentecostal preachers, is one of these. He grew up with the fear factor so instilled in him that when he came home from school to find that his mother was uncharacteristically not home he was convinced that the rapture had taken place and he had been left behind. He began meditating in high school. This led him to Buddhism, which he continued to practice. (Sacred Hoops, by Phil Jackson)

Where does this fear come from? How do we get to feel so condemned? Is it God’s judgment that overshadows His love or is it our judgment?

Emily Dickinson also had painful experiences connected to religion. When she was sixteen she attended Holyoke Seminary during the great revival. The girls at this school were asked to stand and declare themselves for Jesus. Emily was the only girl who remained seated. She found herself isolated in a room full of those declaring themselves for Christ! But it is her next phrase that hit me hard.

“What strange sanctification is this – that brings Christ down,

and shows Him, and allows Him to select His friends!”

Ouch! How horrible and yet how often do we see it? How often do we do it?! How can we, who are unworthy of Christ and yet claim Him, be so good at making those who are still searching feel so unworthy that they can’t claim Him?

But we don’t stop with the unbeliever. We find ways to cut down our fellow brothers and sisters using the same judgment that creates this fear of; “I’m not good enough”, “I’m not doing it right”, “I’m still not good enough.” We condemn those whose narrow view of God is not the same as our narrow view.

There is a twelve-year old girl who attends a Catholic church as well as an Evangelical youth program. A Catholic friend tells her that Evangelicals are not Christians. Her Evangelical friends tell her that if she skips a youth night she doesn’t love God. (May God bless her with ears to hear His whispers above their shouts)

When did we stop focusing on building the Kingdom of Heaven and start focusing on how to go to hell?

Have we become the modern Pharisees? What authority do we claim to be able to condemn, lookdown at, or even have pity on other human beings when we ourselves are so pitiful?

How is it possible that we who are merely dust feel secure in telling the unbeliever anything other than of the love and grace of God that saved our sorry butts? Or with our fellow believer have anything other than a shared sense of awe and gratitude?

If we have indeed become today’s Pharisees then we should heed the words that Jesus spoke to them:

“…you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces.

You yourselves do not enter nor will you let those enter who are

trying to…. You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and

when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as

you are….. (Matt 23: 14,15 & 23)

We are Christians – we are followers of Christ.

We are human and fall easily into the snares of this world including pride. Therefore, let us allow humility back into our faith. Let us take hold of Paul’s warning not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought (Romans 12:3). Let us remember James’ words, “ Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (James 2:13).

We are Christians – Disciples of Christ.

The same Christ who said,

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples,

if you love one another.”

(John 13:35)

Biblical Journey - Day One

Let There Be Light

Genesis 1:3-5; 4:14-18

On the first day,

God said, "Let there be light", and there was light. God saw that the light

was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the

light 'day', and the darkness He called 'night'.

On the fourth day,

God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day

from the night"......... God made two great lights, the greater light to govern

the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God

set them in the expanse of the sky to give light to the earth, to govern the day

and the night, and to separate the light from darkness.

It is obvious that the sun, moon and stars were all created on the fourth day. So what was the light that God created on the first day?

To begin to answer this question I took a closer look at how the light in day one was described compared to the light in day four.

I started with the easy part... day four's lights:

-- "Let there be lights..." There were more than one light.

-- These lights were set in the expanse or the sky which had been created on the second day.

--These lights were made to govern, or rule over, the day and the night which were already in

existence.

--These lights were the sun, the moon and the stars.

So what do we know about the light on the first day?

--The light was good.

--The light was separated from the darkness that was already there.

--The light was called "day" and the darkness from which it was separated was called "night".(Remembering that the sun and moon were not yet created)

--On that first day there was evening and morning.

The question remains, "What IS that light?"

Interestingly, only a few Sundays ago in church, the sermon was about the awesomeness of the universe that God created and how small we humans are compared to it's vastness and yet He chooses to be concerned with even our smallest troubles. During this sermon it was stated that when God said, "Let there be light"....POOF!...the big bang...and the universe began.

In this theory then, the light was the sudden explosion of all the matter and energy of space that had been condensed into a singular point..... or The Big Bang.

I suppose acceptance of this interpretation would depend on whether or not you are a strict creationist or if you allow for some scientific answers on how God created. As for me, this theory is a perfectly plausible one but I did not let that stop me from investigating further.

I thumbed my way through several different translations of scripture to see if any of the differing verbiage would give me a clue about this first day light. For the most part I found that there were different words for the terms expanse (firmament, dome, space) and sky (heaven) but nothing for the word light. However, while looking in a New American Bible there was a postscript that lead me from Genesis 1:3 to 2 Corinthians 4:6 which reads:

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness", has shone in our hearts,

that we in turn might make known the glory of God shining on the face of Christ.

I also remembered that John 1:1 started with, "In the beginning" just like Genesis 1:1. In John, Jesus is described as, "The Word" who was there at the beginning with God and was God. In verse 4, John tells us that in Jesus,

was life and that life was the light of men that shines in the darkness and the

darkness has not understood it.

Here again we find a light and a darkness that have nothing to do with the sun, moon nor stars or the absence of them.

In John 9:5 Jesus says, "I am the light of the world" and similar verses are found throughout the new testament.

Is that,then, the first day light? The light that shines in the hearts of men? The light of God's glory--the same glory that shines on the face of Christ who is the light of the world?

Perhaps the very first task on the very first day was to "Let there be light"......

Let God's glory be separated from the darkness and shine.

Let that light, the glory of God, separate night from day even without a moon to rise.

Let there be morning and evening even without a sun to set.

Perhaps it was this....

Perhaps it was the Big Bang....

Perhaps it was something totally different...

but whatever it was

--it was good!

BIBLIBAL JOURNEY- MAPS

The “maps” for our journey are the resources we use in our travels. The Primary map in this journey is the Bible itself.

The Bible has many different translations. For the most part it does not matter which translation one uses. However, knowing the background of the map we use most – where it came from, who drew it, etc. - can give a little insight on how a verse or two should be read.

I have done some reading on how today’s Bible came to be and the story is a fascinating one.

I have also been made aware that there are some translations that do not stay as true to the original text as we would like. I will give you two examples.

The first is a translation that I only read about in my readings. I did not actually see it myself but apparently in this translation the word “darkness” was replaced with the word “night” because it was thought that “darkness” sounded too much like the offensive word “darkies”. This was an unfortunate decision as “night” and “darkness” have two different meanings. Let’s look at Psalm 107:14:

“He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away the chains.”

Now read,

“He brought them out of night and the deepest gloom and broke away the chains.”

The darkness in that verse has nothing to do with the night. It is the darkness of ones soul or situation. The meaning of that verse is changed when the word is changed.

The second example is when a translation is “tweaked” to fit the purposes of a particular group. The New World Translation used by the Jehovah Witnesses, who do not believe in the Trinity, has added one little word to John 1:1. See if you can spot it.

NIV translation – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

New World translation – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.”

Small word – big difference!

I have also heard of translations out there that do their best to be politically correct. Bible’s that say He/She when referring to God or man in general.
Again, never actually saw one personally but under those requirements I suppose Romans 11:32 might look like: “For God has bound all men and women over to disobedience so that he/she may have mercy on them all.

The primary “map” that I use is the New International Version (NIV) Student Bible. I have used this particular Bible for over 20 years. I am endeared to it because of the many side notes it contains giving me a glimpse into the context of the verses I am reading. Knowing the context of scripture; the who, what, when, where and especially the why has made a large impact on how they speak to me. Not only am I reading God’s own words but I am struggling to understand them with the likes of Moses, Joshua, Elisha, Peter and Paul. They all become more than just characters in a story. They become very much like me with fears, failures and doubts. Also, the times in which they lived were so unlike ours. The more I understand those times the easier it is to step outside of my 21^st century thinking long enough to see the world as they did. When I do this, the lessons that they teach become clearer.

It is always good to have two or three different translations to read and compare during Bible study. Many times that can give us a better insight as to what is meant in the text. I plan to use a variety of translations on this journey as well as other books and resources. But my primary map will be my NIV. That is the translation I will quote unless otherwise noted.

So grab your map and let’s take our first steps….

BIBLICAL JOURNEY

INTRODUCTION

This spring I added a new application to my phone—The Bible. I was excited about the idea of carrying God’s Word with me easily and at all times. As I was investigating all the options of this modern day Bible I discovered it had several reading plans from which one could choose. The one that caught my eye was, “The Bible in 90 days”. I felt myself being challenged. Summer was just beginning, could I really read the entire Bible in just 3 months? It was a challenge I was hesitant to take - but I took it all the same.

I was surprised to discover that the reading process seemed to go a lot faster when the words scrolled up a one and a half-inch screen. I believe it seemed easier because I was able to just focus on the cube of words in front of me and not be intimidated by the four columns of text that is found in a traditionally bound Bible.

Throughout this Biblical journey I found myself fascinated at how much I did not know. How entwined the Old Testament is with the New and visa-versa. It seemed that as I gained knowledge in one area I gained a deeper understanding in another. It is true that the more you know the more you want to know.

I had set a second goal for myself this past summer – to see the Dead Sea Scrolls while they were in Minneapolis. Before traveling on that pilgrimage I delved into all the information I could find about them. Toward the end of summer I finally saw them for myself. Well, five small pieces of them… but the exhibit was incredibly packed with information about the times and places of which these scrolls were written. I was thrilled when I came upon portions that were familiar to me because of what I read in the Bible and the historical and archeological information that was presented at the exhibit made what I had read explode with realism. No longer were they just stories of people in “Biblical times”. They were the stories of the woman who used that clay jar, the girl who wore that bracelet and the man who wore those sandals. Knowing how they thought, ate, drank and worshipped opened my eyes to many things in scripture I easily missed before. I was able to look beyond my limited 21^st century vision and see the Bible in the context of which it was written.

I finished the Bible in 89 days…. And quickly realized that was only the beginning.

Therefore, I am adding another portion to my blog… a sort of sub-blog if you will. It will be under the title, “BIBLICAL JOURNEY”.

My plan is to once again dive into this Holy book called The Bible. But this time there is no deadline. Instead of jotting down short notes, I hope to fully explore what I find intriguing, interesting or confusing.

I am inviting you to join me on this journey with the understanding that I am not a trained Bible scholar. My research is limited to the books, podcasts and discussions I have time to invest in. (Which I will document along the way). Prayer for God’s guidance is my first and foremost priority for nothing is of value unless it comes from God. The opening of my eyes and heart to His Truth is my desire and quest. I will move through this journey with the knowledge that I do not know the mind of God and have limited understanding and ask those who join me on this quest to keep that fully in mind. Please feel free to comment on any discoveries we make along the way. We were not meant to travel this road alone.

Shall we begin…..?

IN THIS WORLD -- NOT OF IT

1 Corinthians 5

“We are in this world not of it.” What does this mean?

Some might see it as a call for separation from all that does not fall under the ‘Christian’ banner. Those who see it this way may shop at bible book stores happily paying more for Veggie-tales than they would at the local Wal-mart; drink their mocha’s at the coffee shop where K-love has been known to be heard over the speakers and if a Christian school is not affordable, homeschooling is a must.

All of these things are well and good. Nothing at all wrong with supporting our brothers and sisters in Christ (after all, wouldn’t we shop first at a relative’s store before any other?) as well as making assurances that our children are taught the same values and morals that God demands from us.

The problem is not the fellowshipping and supporting of our Christian family, the problem comes when in doing so we shut out everyone else. When we find ourselves avoiding all unbelievers even as we attempt to convert them.

Paul wrote a letter to his church in Corinth addressing the problem of immoral acts committed by members of that church. I love what he says:

“I have written you in my letter not to associate with immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral…. in that case you would have to leave this world!”

Paul is trying to clarify that he did not intend for the church to remain secluded from the world and it’s unbelieving population. In order to do that, he quips, you would have to leave the world!

He continues with his clarification by saying:

“You must not associate with anyone who calls himself a BROTHER but is immoral.”

He goes on to say:

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside.”

So what are we to think about the unbelievers who are living with their girl/boyfriends, following different religions – or no religion at all, use coarse language? Are we to judge them and hold them accountable to that which we believe? No – We are in this world with them and are commanded, in fact, to love them. Paul tells us it is God who will judge them and we certainly are not God!

It was the Pharisees who grumbled that Jesus welcomed the sinners and ate with them (Luke 15:2). Yet, Paul warns us that we are not to eat with fellow Christians who are immoral (1 Corinthians 5:11). Why? Because we who follow Christ are held to a higher standard. The reason we shun our brothers and sisters who are acting immorally is to hold them accountable to their calling as a follower of Christ as well as keeping ourselves from falling into the same discretions.

Some may think that as Christians we are to love our brother and judge the unbeliever but the opposite is more true – we are to love the unbeliever and judge our brother. By doing so, we show love by our concern for him/her to get back on track.

“We are in this world – not of it” then, is less about where we eat and with whom we hang out but more about how we act. We do not act like those who are of this world. We hold each other and ourselves accountable to the standards that were given to us by our God and Savior. We do so because our lives were deemed worthy enough to be salvaged by the death and resurrection of God Himself! So we hold our heads high -- not in arrogance – but in appreciation for the precious gift we were given. We should then immerse ourselves IN this world with hopes that those OF this world will see the love of God through us and also accept His gift offered to all.