Christmas Eve Eve

This is the night before the night before Christmas. This year I've been in the Christmas spirit for the start. Usually I begin with Bah-Humbug and end up with Merry Christmas. For some reason I began with Merry Christmas and it's only been getting better. You know, it feels so good!

Tomorrow night we have our Candlelight Service - I'm really looking forward to the time with the church and the Lord.

Then comes Christmas. Cheryl is planning a wonderful meal and the three of us will be together for Christmas. Last year this time Danny was in Haiti. Now he has been home with us for most of the year.

I thank God for his love and grace. What a wonderful God we serve!!

God help us to help those in need.

This picture is from Fr. Marc Boisvert's blog on the Pwoje Espwa web page, which can be found at http://freethekids.org. He writes: "Abner comes by almost every day looking to get some food for himself and his sister. The blue cut-out container is his and the metal pot is for her. Recall the quote from Isaiah this morning? Abner cannot hear the good news until his stomach stops hurting. Thanks to all who support our ministry." Pwoje Espwa is located in Les Cayes, Haiti, as well as three other sites in the south of Haiti.

Our church is encouraging its members to contribute this Christmas to another project in Haiti, not in place of Pwoje Espwa ( we support Fr. Marc's work) but in addition. The group is called Lambi Fund and can be found at http://www.lambifund.org. We are especially interested in the clean, potable water projects of Lambi Fund.

Fr. Marc is particularly clear when he said that Abner cannot hear the gospel until his stomach stops hurting. It is well and good to tell people that Jesus loves them, but if we do not try to take care of their physical needs at the same time, then our message will probably fall upon deaf ears. I was reared as a Quaker, and one of the hallmarks of Quaker missionary efforts, especially in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, was that schools and hospitals were established before the preaching began in earnest. In some areas, the adults came in because their children were being educated in Quaker schools.

I have visited Haiti three times and can attest to the fact that Haitian people are beautiful and loving and eager to share what they can with their guests, even when they have almost nothing. We who have so much cannot do any less. God so loved the world that he gave...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Those who know me know that I don't like snow. Living in New York (and before that in Indiana, Maryland and North Carolina) has taught me that no matter how much I dislike snow, I can't stop it. I'll admit that snow is beautiful - when it first falls. But it turns into real problems, such as vehicular accidents, trees and wires down, dirt tracked all over the place as it melts, blocking access to houses and driveways, etc.

One of the groups with which I am associated has a zillion slogans, and one of them is "Live life on life's terms." That doesn't mean having to like everything that happens, but it does mean having to accept the fact that things happen.

This morning we woke up to snow. The picture posted on today's blog was taken earlier this morning. Our church looks beautiful in the snow, I have to admit. It's nice and warm inside - actually, this morning is not real cold - the snow turned into rain.

So, as the Christmas song goes, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

May our hearts be warmed by the story of Christmas, namely that Jesus came as Light into a dark world, to bring the warmth of God's love.

Another line from another Christmas song has been going through my mind this morning: "The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight." (O Little Town of Bethlehem) I plan on using that line as the theme for our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight service. Come join with us.

Non-blogging blogger

I haven't posted anything since March, so I guess that makes me a non-blogging blogger! Someone wrote me to say they actually read my last post and wanted to see more. Wow!

Since March a lot has happened. I had a birthday and am now only one year away from Medicare or Medicaide or Medi-something. I missed getting the senior citizen hunting license by half a year - and they moved the age up to 70. So, I still have to pay full price until then. Cheryl and I took a trip to Georgia to visit my sister Ann and brother-in-law Doug; then I went back in October to visit them after Doug had by-pass surgery - successful surgery!! I am on another team for Tres Dias - Men's #151, which meets January 14-17, 2010. Am preparing for a men's retreat in February. And in church I started a series on Romans which is taking a long time, but is giving me a real appreciation for what Jesus has done for us - and for all humanity. God is no respector of persons - Jews and Gentiles, white, black, red, male, female, slave, free - EVERYONE is the object of his work on the Cross. And how we need it! None is good. Only by the grace of God can we escape sin and its penalty.

Tomorrow I get into chapter four: "For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.'" (v. 4) Justification by faith, and faith alone - one of the pillars of the Protestant Reformation. Whether we be Reformed or not, we are heirs of that great theological insight. It is not by our efforts, our works, but by faith alone that we can come to God for justification.

Recently I have had occasion to reflect on my sobriety - twenty-four years and counting, one day at a time. Why is it that I was able to stop drinking and have the compulsion lifted, when some of my friends are still out there drinking alcoholically or, even worse, dead! It is purely the grace of God. I recently told a congregation at a funeral that we have to give up trying to be better; give up trying to overcome our addictions; give up trying to lose weight, quit smoking, or whatever our particular problem might be. We have to give up and give it to God. We can only come to God through Jesus and his Cross and lay it before the Cross. The only appropriate response to grace is "Thank you." And I do thank Jesus for all he has done in my life - there is a ton of work for him to do yet, but thank God for what has been done!

The Shack

One of the greatest ways to keep me from reading a book is to say, "You've got to read this book!! It's great! You just gotta read it!!" And one of the best ways to get me to read a book is to say, "This book is terrible - it is full of heresy." The Shack is a book that everyone has been reading for a while now, and I just didn't have any desire to read it. Then I heard from a few people, and read some comments on the web, that made me want to check it out to see if it really is as bad as some say. Well....

I read the book this past week, finishing it a couple of days ago. Overall, I liked the book. The story is quite good. There are a couple of places where I feel the author is off-base theologically, especially where he deals with evil. I have much the same feeling about one of my favorite Christian authors, Teilhard de Chardin. Evil is more than just the absence of good or mistakes. I don't know much about the author's faith - one person wrote me to say that the author is a universalist, and indeed there are areas in the book where universalism seems to rear its head. But the thrust of the book is basic, orthodox Christianity.

I can see where some might be upset at the way God is portrayed when Mack gets to the shack. But come on, we all know that God has no gender and certainly no ethnic/racial characteristics. Jesus is a male, yes! And middle-eastern at that. Even the term Father has less to do with maleness as with parenthood and personhood. Given Mack's background experiences God was portrayed perfectly.

There are those who are out to strip the church and her servants of any creativity whatsoever. That extends to ministries such as Rick Warren's Purpose Driven programs, fresh attempts at translating the Scriptures, emerging church themes, seeker-sensitive approaches to evangelism. In the Twelve-Step Programs there are a zillion slogans and one of them is "Take the best and leave the rest." The Shack was a treat to read and will leave a lasting impression in my heart and mind about the overwhelming and captivating love of God for all of us who have ever suffered loss in our lives. And I am glad that God is bigger than my little ministry in Clintondale. I am glad that God continues to move Christians to creativity and risk in ministry. It is only through creativity and risk that we grow.

One Month Already?

It's been a month since I last posted, and a lot has happened since then. The biggest news is that our son Dan has returned from Haiti and is settling in here in Clintondale. It's great having him back!
Our church has been listening to the New Testament through a program called Faith Comes By Hearing, and it has been terrific. We use MP3 discs, players, CD's - acquired through the organization Faith Comes By Hearing to do the listening. There are a number of small groups in the church that meet weekly to discuss the segments we heard. I've been a student of the Bible for nearly forty-five years, and this process of listening has opened up a lot that I missed when I just read. I highly recommend the program - check it out at Faith ComesByHearing.com.
God has been pressing me closer to him through the Holy Spirit. I want to know Jesus more and more. I am tired of "business as usual." I want to see the move of the Holy Spirit here in Clintondale. There is nothing that I can do to make it happen, except put myself in position. The actual movement is up to God. It's not that nothing is happening or that our church is dead. Far from that - Clintondale Friends Christian Church is alive and well. But there is so much more that we can know about Jesus and his Kingdom. Come, Lord Jesus!! Come, Holy Spirit!! Your will be done, Father!!

Valentine's Day

Today has been Valentine's Day, the day that people send cards of love, buy chocolate, go out to eat dinner, etc. It is a day of love. I heard on the radio that the day was originally designated to honor St. Valentine, a martyr who gave his life for the faith. Jesus said that no one can have greater faith than this, to lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:3) So, all love ultimately leads back to God, who in his Son, gave his life for us. I didn't research the truth about Valentine's Day - maybe I heard correctly, maybe the information was correct. Maybe not. But the fact remains that Jesus not only is the model for great love, but he is the very reason and power for love.

I have found great love in the church I attend and pastor. Our family came to the Clintondale Friends Church in August of 1986, and we were embraced by a loving congregation. We were not in the best of shape, and over the years we have been able to grow healthier through the love around us. God has shown up in the people of this church. I am so grateful.

One of the movements that I have been a part of is called Tres Dias. It is a renewal movement for Christians. The main purpose of Tres Dias is to develop leaders in the church. We encourage believers to listen to God for what he might want them to do - not just to be busy with church work, but to be about the business of the Kingdom. The heart of Tres Dias is the love of God shown through believers. Our local Tres Dias community is called Mid-Hudson Tres Dias and can be found at http://www.mhtd.org.

As mentioned in earlier posts, our son Dan has been living and working in Haiti at Pwoje Espwa, found on the web at http://freethekids.org. This is an orphange where over 650 boys live, and many, many more attend school. They have vocational schools, a clinic, a farm - so much going on, all to show the love of God in tangible forms. I have been to Pwoje Espwa three times and can testify to the the love there.

There are many other ways that God shows his love, but it is always through people. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and he does it through love. May God's love continue to be shed abroad the earth.

Barak Obama's Inauguration

I am writing just after Barak Obama has taken the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States. What a monumental event, the first African-American President in our history. While many may disagree with many of Obama's views (I am one) it is encouraging to see the peaceful transition of power and the very positive way that Obama began his presidency. His speech was wonderful. I pray that he can continue in the same spirit and bring the confidence and sense of responsibility that we need so desperately in this nation.

I was also glad to hear Rick Warren's invocation and Rev. Lowrie's benediction to open and close the ceremonies. And President Obama called upon God in his inaugural address. I believe that these references to God were genuine and that we are obligated to take them as genuine and continue calling upon God as we move forward as a people.

Our son has been living in Haiti for three years and Cheryl and I have visited Haiti on several occasions. Haiti is a very poor and disadvantaged country. I was particularly impressed with President Obama's reference to the poor. May our nation begin to take note of those in need and extend help without any motivation other than to be of help. May we end domination over those in need; may we cease to oppress but rather to help set free those who are being oppressed.

Those of us who believe in Jesus Christ need to call upon him daily to be given strength and wisdom for the days ahead. Barak Obama is inspirational, but he is not our savior. He may turn out to be a great leader, but the one we must put our trust in is Jesus Christ.

I believe that President Obama loves the Lord and, even though he has a number of political positons that I find abhorent, he has my prayers and my support as he seeks to lead. Americans can disagree on a number of issues, but we must agre on this: we are a nation dedicated to truth and freedom, and we depend upon divine guidance. We cannot tear each other up and apart, but rather join together as one people to seek the highest and best we can, depending upon God for his wisdom and strength.