Imagine

A blue 2003 Buick drives north on Eastman Avenue.  There are four people in the car, dad, mom, and a couple of friends.  They are on their way to Applebees for dinner.  They drive by the Midland Free Something-or-other building where the Church meets and all four of them do a quick glance at the sign without making it obvious.

"Do you have hope for 2011?"

One of them thinks, "it's about time they took the "Merry Christmas" down.  Another remembers last year when she saw her name on the sign.  A third hears his mind think, "no," before he can control it.  The forth is thinking about fajitas.

It's that third person that we work with, that we live next to, that we are friends with.  It's that third person that we need to talk to.  It's that third person that needs to know about the hope of knowing Christ.

I think about the church people that the third person knows.  I wonder if they are able to live hope in front of him.  I wonder if they know how important their life is to Him.  I wonder if they know that they don't have to preach.  I wonder if they know the third person doesn't need religious clichés or memorized answers to questions they aren't even asking.

It's that third person they we wanted to reach in 2010.  It's that third person that I have in my mind as we start the New Year.  Sometimes that third person comes to our church.  Sometimes that third person may be... you.

Imagine

The hope of love that won't leave you.

The hope of faith that won't give you easy answers.

The hope of a tomorrow that's deeper than what I get or what I lose.

The hope of a spirit that is confident that it will remain solid through any storm.

Imagine that for you.  Imagine that for your relatives.  Imagine that for the person you've given up on.  Imagine that for the 3rd person. If I can imagine it I can pray it.

I'm starting the New Year looking for the 3rd person.  "Do you have hope for 2011?"

Answering "Yes,"

Pastor Dave

Merry Christmas

This morning I thought about changing a Christmas tradition.  I know it's easier to steer a freighter with a spoon, but let's at least talk about it.  Some things that we do we don't think through why we do them.

 

Have you ever heard where the tradition of Christmas trees comes from? But, that's not the one.

 

Do you know that we really have no idea how many "magi" there were.  Just because there were three gifts doesn't mean there weren't 40 givers.  But, "we forty kings of Orient are..." doesn't role off the tongue as easy - but that's not the one.

 

Everyone has favorite songs to sing during Christmas, Why don't we sing "Ding Dong Merrily on High?" or, "Good King Wenceslas?" or, why don't we actually eat "figgy pudding."  That's not the one either.

 

My crosshairs are aiming at "Merry Christmas."  You can do the google search and see where and when it came up, and I'm not saying it's bad... it's just not enough.

 

Is that the best followers of Christ can do?  Is being "merry" what we are really longing for people?  In light of the full Christ event do we want to limit people to a "merry" day?

 

"May you have a true encounter with a repentant heart and an awareness of His forgiving grace Christmas," doesn't seem to be marketable even if it might be more theological.  That wouldn't fit on cards or in songs.

 

"Have a deep realization of the eternal ramifications of the incarnation." may not be the best replacement either.

 

"I hope the anointing of the Holy Spirit of God heals and makes you whole bringing His gift of salvation, His complete sanctifying work, and His seal for your eternal home with God." isn't going to cut it either.

 

Maybe asking for a change in the phrase isn't a good plan.  What about a change in heart?  What about believers saying, "Merry Christmas," and praying in their spirits, "I pray that you would know Jesus in a new way."  We could say what tradition has said and mean something much deeper.  Hidden in those two words there could be intercession, and longing, and passion, and blessing.  They could be said from a heart set on fire.  They could be said with eye contact when possible.  The same thing could be said in a new way.

 

I'll go first.

 

"Merry Christmas"

 

Pastor Dave

 

Expectations

Expectations.  As I sat in my chair reading this morning my grandson quietly discovered a stash of grandpa's "candy."  He was curious enough that he had to see what they tasted like and sneaky enough to be sure that his back was to me so I couldn't see him sample the treasure he found.  He knew the treat would be wonderful.

 

Expectations.  Sometimes they are flat unfair.  It's when I inflate the potential of the unknown to be enjoyable without a hitch.  It's when I think people will change when they find out I want them to.  It's when I plan for situations to change solely because I don't like them.

 

Expectations.  In some areas they are too high and in others they are too low.  We have high expectations that our spouse will never miss a cue, and low expectations when we meet with God.  Sometimes we don't have the faith that God will move.

 

Expectations.  Ours of God should be high and should be purified by a strong faith in God.  This is a great season to let your faith grow, and your let faith lift your expectations.  It's Christmas.

 

Expectations.  What are your Christmas expectations?  Flawless dinner - the perfect gift - family harmony - snow on the lawn and not the road?  Do you expect certain flavors, sounds, smells, and emotions?

 

Expectations. Isaiah found himself huddled around a handful of grandpa's candy - Fisherman's Friend cough drops.  His sample licking did not produce the flavors he was hoping for.  Determined, he licked a few of them to see if they were like jelly beans, "there must be one here that tastes like candy!" If you haven't had them before - imagine a fuel oil and rotten egg popsicle.  He was quite disappointed when he placed them in my hand, shook his head, refused to close his mouth so he wouldn't have to taste the remnants on his lips, and proclaimed, "yucky!"

 

Expectations. Our expectations on the "things" of Christmas are too high.  Our expectations on the Christ of Christmas are too low.  The result is - yucky.  The thing is - I set my expectations.

 

Expectations.  Faith based expectations that come from an accurate view of God's nature are never disappointing.  Having my "expecter" set on high when I worship God is not a waste of energy.  Spending time with God is not a disappointment.  Opening my will to Him is not a let down.

 

Expectations.

Mine for God are high.  Mine for a new Corvette are low.

Mine for the move of God's Spirit are high.  Mine for perfect weather are low.

Mine for a demonstration of God's strength is high.  Mine for stuff to satisfy me are low.

 

Going to buy some real candy for my "hiding place" because I don't ever want to see that look on my grandson's face again,

 

Pastor Dave

Preparing

The decorations are up... most of them.  Presents are bought... most of them.  Plans are made... most of them.

 

Preparation is an interesting thing.  Preparation itself is an expression of faith.  We are behaving in faith that the end of the month is going to be here.  We are counting on the repeat annual event.  The calendar page has been turned and we can see the 25th coming.  Planning.  Faith.

 

How do you prepare for Jesus to revive your soul through this Christmas season?  How does our church plan for the Spirit of God to demonstrate Himself in a new way?

 

1. Looking Forward.  As this is being written we are getting regular calls from Nathan and Lynsee about them coming home.  Monday they will be on their way back to Michigan.  We're looking forward to it.

 

Somehow we need to find the hope to look forward to the good thing that God wants to do in and through us.  We don't manipulate God into action; we know enough about Him to look forward to what He longs to do without us even knowing what that is.

 

I'm excited about what God is going to do in our lives this month!

 

2. Be Willing.  This is a willingness to participate not a just a willingness to witness. "God, I will take my place in what You long to do and make myself available to You as You see fit."

 

Sometimes we are only willing to know what we have already known and do what we have already done.  The problem with that is God may have something new in mind.

 

3.  Pray. 'nuf said.

 

Ask God to do more than we could ask or imagine.  Not because He has something to prove to us, but because that's His will for us.  His will for us is greater than what we can understand.

 

Let's prepare.  That's what Advent is all about.

 

Pastor Dave