Craving Christmas? You're Not Alone.

 As we inch our way closer to the end of 2020, many of us are searching for joy. This year has definitely been one for the history books. The worldwide pandemic known as COVID19 dramatically affected most of what we had planned for the entire year. Significant life events, such as graduations, weddings, funerals, even births were all affected. Virus induced isolation from loved ones has taken a tangible toll on our mental (and for some physical) health. The wearing of masks even affects our abilities to relate with perfect strangers. The result: many Americans are craving connection, but most importantly, I think they are craving hope. 

Proverbs 13:12(MSG), puts it like this, "Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around." Hope defined is the cherished desire or expectation that something good is going to happen or that life events will turn out for the best. 

So it is no surprise then as we bookend 2020, we find the majority of Americans craving Christmas.

Social media is flooded with images of people putting up their Christmas tree and decorations since the beginning of November (far earlier than years past). These are symbols for what our souls really crave which is hope. And I'm here to tell you, that you are not alone. There were others at Christmas who were craving for hope. And they knew exactly where to find it. It had been promised to them and they were given explicit directions on exactly where to find it. That sounds great, right?! A road map to hope? Let me explain. 

We need look no further than the original Christmas story. The individuals I am going to highlight are the Shepherds. Most of you know the account in Luke chapter 2.

 

"In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.  And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is [h]Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a [i]manger. "  

Just like us, these men were also looking for hope, but  it was not to be found in decorations. The source of their hope was 'wrapped' up in a person known in scripture as the Messiah. Messiah means "promised one", or the person who was to deliver the nation of Israel. The first thing you should also know is that these were not just any shepherds. These shepherds were in Bethlehem. This is significant for two reasons. First, it was foretold in the Bible hundreds of years prior that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Micah chapter 5 explicitly states, "But for you, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will come forth for Me to  be ruler in Israel." Secondly, these shepherds in particular had a unique job. Bethlehem shepherds were responsible for raising the sheep that were to be sacrificed for the atonement of sins by the priests for the people at the temple in Jerusalem. Therefore, they had to be perfect, without blemish or defect. Their job was unique. Bethlehem sat on a hill and at the top of this hill was a lookout tower, called Migdal Eder. It was a place where the shepherds could get a vantage point to keep watch over their flocks. This tower also had another purpose. When it was time for young lambs to be born, the female sheep were brought into the base of the tower. The newly born infant lambs were then wrapped tightly in cloth and placed in a trough to keep them from thrashing around and potentially injuring themselves, getting stepped on or causing a defect. The strips of cloth were likely made from the priestly garments of the temple priests since these lambs ultimately served a holy purpose, the atonement of sin. 

So when the angels appeared to the shepherds and told them they would find the Christ in Bethlehem, wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger, they knew exactly where to go. Some translations actually say the wording wasn't "a manger" but instead, "the manger". The Lamb of God, who would be the one to take away all sin, would be found in the tower where all sacrificial lambs are born. He would be wrapped in priestly clothing. The source of expectant hope they were desperately craving would be found in a person, THE person of Jesus Christ. 

"Lets go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, that the Lord has made known to us."

What was true for them is still true for us. As you round out 2020, are you craving hope and joy? As we approach the end of the year, do you find that your soul is craving connection?  I want you to know, it is found in a relationship with the person named Jesus. The apostle Paul affirmed this in Timothy 1:1. "Jesus Christ, who is our hope."  God sent his one and only son, so that you __________ (insert name here) can find hope. John 3:16 puts it this way.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him."

You are craving hope because your soul is wired that way. Stop and read that sentence again.

 It is wired for eternity. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) And when your eternity is secure, your perspective will change. It will change the way you view viruses, disappointments, elections and unfulfilled plans. You will be able to find hope, even in the middle of a pandemic. God wants that kind of life for you and for me. How can we know this? Because He gave us His Word (the Bible) as the 'roadmap'; it is embodied in the person of Jesus. God always keeps his promises, and one of them is "those who diligently seek me, will find me." (Proverbs 8:17) Let's make Christmas 2020 the year where we intentionally restored our Hope. 

Keto for Christians: What Builds Faith?

Recently I have been spending a lot of time pondering interpersonal relationships. They are complex, complicated, and sometimes messy. Always dependent on good communication between two parties, it is interesting how they can ebb and flow like tides or take dramatic turns entirely more like a river. Relationships with non-believers can be expected to be difficult at times to navigate. We are expected to share the Gospel with them, but not to be intimate with them. This can prove challenging. But relationships among believers are supposed to be different. We share a unity in Christ that is meant to supersede any individual differences. So what can cause these bonds to fall apart? The bible says it is spiritual immaturity. Let me explain.

I remember one of my pastors said once, "If you look around and see a lot of conflict in your personal life, that's a sure sign of spiritual immaturity." I didn't like it when he said that at all. At that time, my life and my relationships were full of conflict and his comment hit me straight between the eyes. At the time, I wasn't even sure what he fully meant; so I interpreted his comment to refer to emotional maturity. And to some degree that can also be true. But time has shown me the difference, and even greater, the importance of why growth in Christ that leads to our spiritual maturity should be our primary goal. Why? Because our maturity directly correlates with our ability to live out the Gospel.

What is spiritual maturity among believers? Essentially it is the daily process of looking more and more like Christ in your thoughts, words, and deeds. It begins the moment you accept Christ as your personal savior. Right away, one should realize that full maturity will never be possible this side of Heaven. But rather, maturing in Christ, is a lifelong journey (or race) for each believer and church body as we grow in our relationship to Christ through reading the bible and applying it to the circumstances in life we face. (Phil 3:14-15)   Paul puts it this way in Ephesians 4:

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. " In other words, a mature Christian, and subsequently, a mature church body, knows their calling in Christ, is allowed to express it, and only does that which builds up others for the sake of unity, to ultimately reflect the mind of Christ to a fallen world. In its purest most ideal form, this would embody John 13:35..."By this they will know you are my disciples, by the love you have for each other." John isn't talking about the world's kind of love that is fickle, outcome dependent, and selfish. He is talking about God's kind of love that is long suffering, patient, and humble.

So why is this important? Because when we lack maturity in Christ, certain sequelae naturally occur. The first is division or lack of unity. Paul talked about this to the church at Corinth. The letter he writes in 1st Corinthians was written because the church was divided and quarreling over which leader they wanted to follow. He asks them, "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?" He goes on in chapter 3 to tell them that their quarrels reveal their immaturity in their faith. " I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ (immature).  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? "

The second sequelae is an inability to withstand trials. Jesus told us this in the parable of the soils. "The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." In other words, they are worldly and controlled by the flesh instead of the spirit. So when difficulties, fear, conflict, or challenges come along, they quickly fall away. 

I recently saw this quote and realized this is the prevailing message of the world and unfortunately for some Christians: "People don't understand that spirituality is duality. You can have beautiful energy and still curse like a sailor. You can read an enlightening book and still turn up. The internet has y'all thinking you have to be a certain way. Nah, just be yourself."

 

The truth is only the first sentence of this quote is correct. Spiritual growth does have duality; you must choose to gratify either the flesh OR the Spirit. It is not both/and. They are directly contrary to each other and lead to entirely different endpoints. Galatians  5:17, "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so you are not to do whatever you want." Romans 8:6, "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." When you indulge the flesh, it leads to death, including the death of relationships. 

So how does a believer gain maturity? Unfortunately this is not something we can affect without God. Eugene Peterson said this, "Maturity cannot be hurried, programmed or tinkered with. There are no steroids available for growing up in Christ more quickly. Impatient shortcuts land us in the dead ends of immaturity."  I think this is important because we often think that increased knowledge leads to increased maturity. Maybe the more podcasts, bible studies or books I read will lead me to be a "better Christian." But Paul tells us "Knowledge puffs up, while love builds up." (1st Corin 8:1). This is particularly relevant because in this passage Paul is speaking to Christians about how to deal with someone who is less mature in the faith; it isn't with knowledge, it is with love. 

The bible tells us in James 1:4 and in Hebrews chapter 5 the only way to gain maturity in your faith is to read the word of God and actually put it into practice in your life, and particularly during trials when your faith is being tested. James 1: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." To build spiritual muscle, you have to exercise it and fuel it with the proper diet. In other words, trying to get out of conflict instead of seeing it through and trusting God, stunts your maturity. Maturity comes by knowing God's word and allowing it to work in your life. When we take short cuts, we don't get to witness God being faithful to His word. This is what matures your faith. The enemy knows this so he will always try to offer a worldly substitute to temporarily ease your discomfort.  Hebrews 5:14, "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."  Daily reading of your bible, and the spiritually divined wisdom that is revealed to us by doing so, is what helps us gain the maturity we need to distinguish between what our flesh desires and what the Spirit of God desires in our lives.

Relationships are complicated, especially because we are all on different journeys as we are maturing in our faith. Maturing in Christ is a process that none of us will fully achieve until we see Him face to face. But if we err on the side of choosing love as it pertains to our relationships with others, the result is that we ourselves grow.  Paul put it this way : "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. "

 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

This passage in 1st Corinthians begins with "Love is patient, love is kind." There is a difference between nice and kind. Niceness arises from selfish desires and masquerades as a virtue. Kindness puts the well being of the other individual first. Love is Kind.  The answer, brothers and sisters, is always choose love. 

 

Behold

Behold

When I finally stopped looking at just me

The divine moment where I started to see

A beauty who breathed in pursuit of my wayward heart

Because you created and knew mine intimately from the start (Psalm139)

You knew exactly what words to say

That would break through my every defense.

And yet you still chose me, despite all the dark places I tried to protect

You picked up my head and whispered my new name (Rev 2:17)

 Though your gaze I’d tried hard to deflect

Slowly you’ve taught me your Word

The beauty of which I can never unfold.

I see your hand in every page of that book

At first glance, as a mirror, I naively saw me in those words of old

But with time, your enduring patience and grace

It’s now You I longingly read to behold (Acts 4:12)

As my life passes by and I look back on my walk

I see your hand constantly at work

Though I don’t always understand, my trust has grown deep,

And I know you always make sense and recycle the hurt. (Romans 8:28)

God help me to fathom your heart

In your own words, so lowly, humble and deep (Matthew 11:29)

For without it I cannot begin show your kind of love

To a world, my world, who needs it right now from me

And help this be my ever-present goal

For all of the rest of my days

No matter what challenge sure lies ahead,

Press on and to finish the race.

For to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Phil 1:21)

I now know this life only dimly reveals

That beauty I will one day behold

As I breath my last breath, taking hold of yours

And see you face to face.

Earth Day 2020: The Earth Gets A Sabbath

I have to admit before this year, I really didn't give "Earth Day" too much thought. Sure, I love the beach, the outdoors and nature as much as anyone who lives along 30A. And I want to continue to enjoy all the beauty our Emerald Coast has to offer for generations to come. However, true introspection of how all of creation is intimately connected has taken on new meaning in the past few months. This year is very different. All would agree 2020 has seen unprecedented events world wide. Corona virus has changed our daily lives in ways that most of us have never experienced. What is interesting however is not only how this pandemic is affecting human behaviors, but also the effect that it has had globally on the environment. It isn't uncommon at all for natural disasters to affect human behavior. After Hurricane Michael, our entire community experienced significant ripple effects to the economy and livelihood. Lives were uprooted in a moment, and neighboring communities responded with compassion. The difference between what we are seeing with Corona virus and other natural disasters, is that all the changes we are making now are voluntary. Rather than humans changing their behavior because of nature, it has been reversed. Humans changing their behavior has directly impacted the Earth. And guess what? That is truly what Earth day is all about. Let me provide some specific examples.

 The nitrogen dioxide emissions and production of greenhouse gasses over China have dropped over 25% since the Corona virus pandemic began significantly reducing air pollution. This can also be seen in the smog over Los Angeles and all of Northern California. Historical data from the EPA suggests that this may be the longest stretch of clean air there since 1980. Beirut Lebanon, a city known for high levels of pollution, has also shown much clearer skies and improved air quality. Similarly, it is said that inhabitants in India can see Mt Everest and the peaks of the Himalayan mountains
which haven't been visible for thirty years due to pollution. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-09/himalayas-visible-india-pollution/12136856

 The same improved air quality has also been demonstrated in Italy. With decreased commuting and transportation, the canals of Venice are crystal clear again and fish are seen swimming there.  Residents there cannot remember a time when this was true. Although these are potentially temporary outcomes, they are significant, and should be noted. 
 https://nypost.com/2020/03/18/venice-canals-are-crystal-clear-after-coronavirus-lockdown-in-italy/

In India, the lack of human pollution and intrusion has allowed Olive Ridley Turtles to nest undisturbed. Last year in 2019, they did not come to this beach at all. But now in 2020, with the effect of Corona virus on human activities, over 70,000 turtles came en masse to lay their eggs.
 https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/coronavirus-lockdown-undisturbed-mass-nesting-of-olive-ridleys-at-odishas-rushikulya-rookery/article31166566.ece

Experts predict the same may be true here in the southern United states this year. The first Leatherback turtle has already nested here in Florida on Hutchinson Island which is the earliest nesting recorded in Florida to date. 
Out west in our National Parks, rangers report more visible wildlife than they can remember. Some estimate the visible bear population has quadrupled in Yosemite; without people, they are coming out of the shadows along with other wildlife enjoying the new freedom to roam.

Observing these phenomenon, how should we interpret what we see? The Earth and the pace of our lives are intricately connected. Our voluntary captivity in our homes during this time of social distancing has caused the pace of life to markedly slow down. Families are spending more quality time together. Churches and individuals have stretched themselves to think outside the traditional confines of four walls to help others. There is a genuine returning of people to the Lord worldwide and distractions have been removed to allow our faith to deepen and mature. In essence, the Earth has been given a Sabbath. Prioritizing rest is important; in fact God commanded it. Exodus 20:6, "Remember the Sabbath by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is Sabbath to the Lord your God."  Also read Leviticus chapter 25. Levitcus 25: sabbath year.  God also commanded that the land be allowed to have a sabbath rest every seven years.
 And truthfully, humans and the land are far more productive when allowed periods of rest. Farmers know this; you must allow your fields a fallow year to be more productive.  The bible assures us you will accomplish more in six days, with one day devoted to your family, others, and the Lord than you can accomplish in seven days working at full steam.  There was a time in the bible when the people of Israel for generations did not honor this command, among many others. In fact, 2nd Chronicles tells us they neglected the Sabbath for 490 years. In their disobedience to Him, the Lord allowed them to be taken to Babylon into captivity. So if you do the math, that is 70 years of missed Sabbaths owed to the land.

"(But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands. and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant)......Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate and you are in the country of your enemies; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. All the time that it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not have during the sabbaths you lived in it." (Leviticus 26:34-35) 

Guess how many years Israel was in captivity? If you guessed seventy you guessed correctly. As the writer of 2nd Chronicles tells us, "the land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the seventy years were fulfilled." (2nd Chron 36:21) The bill came due and the captivity wasn't lifted until it was paid in full. In the book by Pastor Robert Morris, "Take the Day Off", he makes the case that the people of Israel may have wrongly assumed God wasn't serious about all of this because they had gotten away with it for so long. Similarly, we make the same assumption about our lives and the Earth around us until the bill is due and demands to be paid.

 Let's be a people who chooses to take notice during our confinement what God is trying to teach us by drawing us closer to Himself and allowing the Earth to heal. And when life returns to a more "normal" pace, as we are allowed to come out of our voluntary captivity, I pray as a nation we choose to remember the value of obedience to the Lord and His Sabbath. The health of the Earth and our own lives are directly connected both physically and spiritually. Corona virus has revealed that to us. Happy Earth Day! 

COVID 2020: When God Flipped the Script

I think we can all agree 2020 has been an unprecedented year thus far. Who would have thought that terms like social distancing, voluntary isolation and quarantine would become a part of our daily language, especially in the current social media age? Although not commonplace prior to the last few weeks, almost everyone now understands their practical meaning and implication: a state of forced isolation and restraint of activity designed to prevent the spread of disease. But did you know the literal meaning of 'quarantine'? It is literally "a period of 40 days".

The length of 40 days in the bible has significance. It is the number associated with a period of waiting, testing, preparation or trial.

One of the most familiar of these examples of 40 days of preparation and testing is when Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days. Scripture tells us that being led by the Holy Spirit, and shortly after his baptism by John, Jesus went into the Wilderness for 40 days. During that time he ate no physical food. At the end of this time, the Devil came to tempt him. Jesus relied on scripture to resist. Immediately afterward, Jesus began his ministry of the Gospel for the next three years. Towards the end of his ministry and right before his last Passover, he retreated with his disciples near the Wilderness in a place called Ephraim. The name Ephraim means "the Lord has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." Jesus was about to go the Cross, which was God's ultimate act of reconciliation between Himself and his people. The Cross was the fruit of Jesus' ministry; it is what allows his followers to become disciples who make more disciples.

So the question to ask is this: What is God wanting to do with His church during this time of forced isolation? How will we respond to this 'quarantine'? Most people agree the forced change in our daily lives has in many ways been good. It has made us appreciate things we may have taken for granted and realized some things we can live without.

 In Hebrews 12: 26-29, God tells us that " I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain."

 Sometimes God will allow a flip in the script on our daily lives to remind us what is really important. Even things the Devil means for evil, God will work through them for our good. Just look at the Cross.  Modern distractions that prevent us from hearing or leaning into his voice have been temporarily removed. The ramifications have affected both people and the Earth itself. (Check the news for the affect of COVID on the environment)  I'm going to suggest this may be the take home lesson of COVID 2020. Less distraction and more interaction. Less noise and more care.  God speaks that to us in a small quiet voice. You have to remove distractions to hear Him.  

(After 40 days the Lord appeared to Elijah. He asked him, what are you doing here?) .....

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1Kings19 

If you want to hear God's voice,  next you have to press in. I believe in this season God is preparing his church for something. The same question He asked Elijah we should ask ourselves. What are you doing?  How will you spend this time of resting from your normal routine? I believe God wants to remove a lot of what we normally consume, and like Jesus, in the wilderness, have us subsist on a different kind of  daily nourishment. What is it? The daily bread (Manna) that comes from God's word. Read your bible. Pray. Love your family and your neighbors in tangible ways. The church has left the building so to speak. Therefore we need to learn how to be the church outside those walls that normally define us. Ask God what He is preparing for you to do? He will primarily reveal this to you in His word. 

In America we work tirelessly to achieve the rest we ultimately think will make us happy. In our own strength we think the fruit of our labors and physical work will lead us TOWARD our fulfillment, retirement, or whatever you want to call it. I think with COVID 2020, God is flipping the script. Instead He is telling us to work FROM a place of rest to achieve a season of fruitfulness like we haven't seen before. While we are hunkered down at home, let's choose to abide in Christ. I think the church is getting ready to see a harvest. 

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."- John 15