Christmas Gifts

CHRISTMAS GIFTS  (or, a father’s Xmas wish)

At our family Xmas party, looking around the room filled with family, I asked the youngest, “would you rather have this bowl of chocolate, or a signed, blank check?”  Of course, he reached out for the treat, oblivious to the value of the paper.  Point being, how often do we opt for the immediate over the immortal, the exciting over the eternal, the trash over the truth?

Xmas means gifts! (To all, except scrooges!) Where did this get started?  Some would point to St. Nicholas. (4^th cent. bishop who secretly gave gifts to his church flock)  Others would look deeper to the Magi. (what three gifts?)  But, the “root” of this Xmas “tree” is God himself!!

Gift-giving is a big deal in December, but, moreso it is an important theme in Holy Writ.  -- Matt.16:26  “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”  And, Isa.9:6 “… to us a child is born… a son is given…”  And there is the crucial theme verse -- Jn. 3:16 “God loved us so much that he gave his own son…”

The Father gave, but make no mistake, it runs even deeper -- Jn.10:1-18 “good shepherd … no man takes my life; I lay it down freely…”  (Jesus gave his life; it was not taken from him.)  The Apostle Paul gets to the crux with his crescendo -- Rom.6:23 “… free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”  One of my touchstone passages, Eph.2:8-9 “saved by grace through faith… it is the gift of God” --  this free gift is both our faith, and our salvation!  Look around!  How few have faith in their heart.  And, how weak is the faith that flickers in too many hearts.  What a great gift is belief!

Challenge:  John writes that he has no greater joy than to hear that his children are faithful. (3Jn.4)  As Job sacrificed continually for his children, daily I pray for my children.  The gift of FAITH I would pass on. (and, so would fathers gone home from among us.)  Joshua’s challenged -- “choose ye this day…” yet, too few choose, or, even feel the need to choose, …  What will it be?  Chocolate ice cream, or the real treasure? Let this choice, for faith, be intense, as Paul challenges -- Rom.12  “give your life as a living sacrifice”  And, then pass on this precious gift of faith!  Mt.10:8 “freely you have received, freely give…”  Oh, and one more!  Acts 2 “…you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…”

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Matthew 1:18-25 (KJV)

 ¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
 ¹⁹Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
 ²⁰But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
 ²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
 ²²Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
 ²³Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
 ²⁴Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
 ²⁵And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

TERMITES IN THE TEMPLE

TERMITES IN THE TEMPLE
 

Why would a man continue to smoke and drink after nearly dying?

One cigarette seems harmless enough.  One drink hurts little.

But, over a lifetime of abuse, taste is dulled and wind shortened.

The joy of life has been robbed by the polluted pleasures given.

It makes no sense that one cannot see this happening.

Then, I stop to consider the little “cigs” in my life.

What bad little habits are robbing me of the abundant life?  What “termites” are slowly, but surely, undermining and destroying the life God had planned for me?  A little here and a little there and a lifetime has been wasted.  What might have been will never be realized.

Thinks on things above …

 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. (1Cor.3:10-15)

sin can be so insidious, so subtle, so sneaky, so saturating, so ...

we can seemingly get away with it for years, but it is eating a hole in our hearts, in our mind, in  our soul.  it is frightening what can be going on under the surface, undetected, but destruction that is untold in its magnitude.

I have to wonder how my heart responds incorrectly to my world because of the sin that infects me.  I have to wonder how my thought processes are distorted because of sin that has crept into my life, or worse, I have invited.  One begins to rationalize, excuse, redefine, ...

It reminds me of cancer.  So many people are in the latter stages of the disease before they are even aware of the problem.

Let us regularly go the the great Physician for checkups and for the meds we so desperately need! 

Solomon was a fool?!

Solomon Was a Fool

Quick, who was the wisest man ever?  Many would answer “Solomon”, and with some good reason.  But, in another way, Solomon was a fool.  How so?  Old SS’ers surely remember the story of the two mothers, one of whom had lost her child and secretly swapped the dead infant for the other.  Solomon was confronted with the task of determining who was lying.  (This was in the pre-DNA-testing days.)  What to do?!  “Split the child in two halves and give them each a part,” was his unbelievably wise response.  The liar sneered, “sure, I will take half”  But the true mother cried for mercy and sobbed, “give the whole child to the other woman…”  You see, God had given Solomon a wise heart as he humbly requested – 1Kgs.3:12 “Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.”  Solomon was the wisest in the earth – 1 Kings 4:29-30 “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.  And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.”  Indeed, Solomon’s reign was a great time for God’s people -- 1 Kings 4:25  “And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.”  The Temple of God was built under his direction.  Great sacrificial worship was offered up.  2 Chronicles 9:22 “And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.”

But, as the Apostle Paul chided the Galatian believers, “…you started out so well, but…”

Nehemiah 13:26 “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.”  1 Kings 11 -- "But king Solomon loved many strange women … Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods ... and his wives turned away his heart. 4For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 7Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. 9And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 10And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded."

The source of the troubles of Solomon could too easily be blamed on women.  The real issue is faith.  These women were not believers in the one true God.  And, moreso, Solomon the Wise foolishly chose to experiment with substitutes for the fear of God.  We read in Ecclesiastes how Solomon began to experiment with pleasure, wealth, whatever he desired.  Some of his pursuits were seemingly harmless, even noble, like work and education; but they became substitutes also.  But, in the end he finally concluded, recognized and acknowledged that fearing God and obeying Him is what it is all about.

Jesus says we should learn from the life of Solomon.  Matthew 12:42 -- “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”  And, Jesus (the one greater than Solomon) has summed up life with two commandments – “love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and love others as yourself”.  But, what do we love?!  For what do we hunger and thirst?  What causes us to pant like a deer?  Is it anything beside God?  Anything else is a substitute confusing our appetite like a drug or poison.  It dulls our desire for what really fulfills and nourishes.  And, then we can become an addict that has lost control and is slowly poisoning himself.  Or, we can go to the last chapter, and learn from the wisest man in the East -- Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Thoughts for further study:

“fool for Christ”

Marks of a fool?! (“fool” comments in Proverbs ) vs. “bear in my body the marks of Christ”

fool, fake, failure, faithful-fighter

Rupert – Gone Home, One Year

The morning started with me telling the maintenance manager thanks for stocking “goatskin gloves” which are durable but comfortable; but more importantly, they pulled up a forgotten memory of my daddy giving me my first pair when I was a student-worker in the 70’s.  As I drank my coffee at 9am break, I remembered daddy buying me a cup of coffee at the mill storeroom, for 10 cents, one of those same summers.  

Everything we did today brought silent, secret smiles to my face – the nonsense of the crew banter (daddy loved to horseplay), someone quoting a “Lonesome Dove” line (one of RD’s favorite mini-series), the stock washer wires and lip seals we had to do today (a pulp mill scene common for daddy).  I got out of my pickup truck this morning thinking of daddy as I was listening to Jeremy Camp wailing “Jesus Saves”;  and, I had several opportunities to share a Tony Evans’ quote with contractors around me.  Again, Rupert was “apt to teach” (an elder for several years) and often placed “toilet-truth-tracts” for stall-throne reading better than the graffiti!  Mischievousness is not the only thing he passed on to me!

Sometimes, I see RD in the shadows of the pulp mill basement, aligning a pump, as I walk through, looking up and smiling at me.  You see, today, 10/26/11, is the first anniversary of the departure of my daddy, Rupert Dickson Cornelson.  He has gone home; but, his shadow and memories remain strong.

Battle Scars

Down my back are long, rakish claw marks.  These are from running away, but not fast enough.  About my neck and face are fang wounds that have healed over.  These are from looking at the demon a little too long, sometimes even foolishly embracing the disguised “from-the-pit bull mutt”.  In my heart are streaks of hardened tissue.  These are from damage cause by taking in poison from the pit.  And, in my head are misfiring neural circuits that have to be re-routed because of demonic input that has left viral attacks of confusion and distortion, which have needed isolation and neutralization.  They must resemble dead cancerous tissue that threatens relapse, but lies dormant, at best.  Deformity and disfigurement have replaced the pristine original of youth, before the demons came.  These words come to mind -- “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Rom.7:24)

                Resonating in my ears are the words from the Book, “…soldier not entangled…”  [“Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.” 2Tim.2:3-4]  But why have I so often forgotten or ignored this warning and advice?  Far too often I have returned from liberty that enslaved me!  On leave I have left my mind?  In the name of fun I have acted a fool.  So many others act far worse?  But, they are only more derelict and deceived?  What does the phrase mean, “The sin that so easily entangles…”  [Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.Heb.12:1]  I sit at the medic office, and examine the pictures of heroes of previous years of the war.  Medal of Honor recipients!  What focus!  What fearlessness!  What fervor!  What fidelity!  And now I need a shot.  Maybe I should just be shot?!

                Let’s think about this for a moment.  I do “bear in my body the marks…” of some previous battles.  [“From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus”. Galatians 6:17]  Lord knows, some of these scars I got trying to do the right thing!  Turn off that blaring radio and ignore that lying “Hanoi Jane”.  There are things I have lost in this war, things I have left behind, things given up.  Some victories have been glorious.  Does some failure define character?  I am no fake!  I just fumble sometimes.  What of the struggles that have ended with the enemy running?!  Me and the “mighty ones” have come through some pretty difficult conflicts!  But, then there are the times I ran or played dead while the battle raged around me.  No full-blown treason, but would that be any worse?  The CO has even complimented me a few times.  But, does he know the whole story?  Likely he does.  But, he still lets me go out on patrol.   I am just glad to be a part of this god squad.  I cannot undo yesterday, but today is a new day (which He has made). 

Sometimes my mind wanders to thoughts of “civilian affairs” but, I will put back on my boots, my flack-vest, my tactical gear, my helmet, and pick up my rifle and take the next hill.  Let me be the faithful foe, that when my feet hit the floor every morning, it causes the Snake to announce, “Hell, he’s up; let’s go, you imps, now!”. 

Bring on the scars!  Let’s blast them back to Hell, where they came from!  Hllljh! 

Harpies, Demons, and Sirens

Harpies are locked away in the cage, screaming and cursing;

The demons have been sent back to the pit, hissing and roaring.

Sirens are still singing in the mist, tempting onto the rocks.

But all ears are securely covered, and eyes look up and away.

And, they all are hardly heard over psalms being hummed.

The source of the anger and pride surely remains at large;

But, the knife will no longer be turned destructively inward.

Instead, eyes have been removed and the heart circumcised.

And the knife itself is cast into the furnace of forgiveness.

Transformed into prayers 
and pity, it heals, not harms.

There never really were any lies; but, the imposter is gone.

The true man, a failure, but no fake has been raised up again.

Some sort of Solomonic foolishness was substituted for a while.

But true Wisdom has regained the throne, forgiving and healing.

Regrettably, the larger truth is hidden by a deceptive, smaller truth.

But, as always, reality shines through the darkness lighting the way.

Honesty and humility, hunger and home-sickness are the keys.

May mercy be shown to us all as we focus ahead and above.

Lord, cage the harpies, banish the demons, squelch the sirens.

AT THE CROSS – 4 X 4

(This devotional is the culmination of mental meanderings based on a comment the preacher made last Sunday; 
sorry it is outline form, but maybe could be a sermon outline?!  Probably needs to be four lessons)

1.      At the Cross, God’s wrath was …

1.1.   Stirred/incited/enraged

1.1.1.      “what are they doing to my son?!”

1.1.2.      Finger was on the ultimate button!

1.1.3.      “I could have called ten thousand angels…” (Mt.26.53)

1.1.4.      The Temple-cleanser could have cleaned house!

1.2.   Stayed/stopped/sandbagged

1.2.1.      “Father, forgive them …” (Lk.23.34)

1.2.2.      “not my will, but thine be done” (Lk.22.42)

1.2.3.      Imagine God’s hand holding back the heavenly holy hordes!

1.2.4.      He could have washed his hands, like Pilate, of the whole mess

1.3.   Satisfied/paid-off/ransomed

1.3.1.      “it is finished” (Jn.19.30)

1.3.2.      Devil bought off

1.3.3.      Aslin shorn and slain for Narnians

1.3.4.      “he paid a debt he did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay…”

1.4.   Shalom’d/calmed

1.4.1.      “peace be still” (Mk.4.39)

1.4.2.      Threshing floor of Araunah (1Sam.24.16)

1.4.3.      Serpent lifted up in camp (Num.21.9; Jn.3.14)

1.4.4.      God had “counted to ten” and relented

2.      At the Cross, God’s holiness was …

2.1.   Stretched/tested/ (He did it all!)

2.1.1.      Priest (Heb.4.14;10.12)

2.1.2.      Sacrifice (Heb.7.27;10.12); “Lamb of God”

2.1.3.      Altar (Heb.13.10)

2.1.4.      God, being appeased

2.2.   Serious/somber

2.2.1.      Sin is no joking matter

2.2.2.      Many a lamb was bled-out making this point

2.2.3.      The Lamb of God has died!

2.2.4.      A healthy fear of falling into the hands of a Holy God would do us all good

2.3.   Stern/solemn

2.3.1.      “Not bood of bulls and goats…” (Heb.10.4)

2.3.2.      “no angel his place could have taken…” (Heb.1)

2.3.3.      If there is any other way (Gethsemane plea)

2.3.4.      Sweat drops of blood?! (Lk.22.44)

2.4.   Substituted

2.4.1.      You need an A+; only way is to cheat!

2.4.2.      “imputed righteousness” (Rom.4.11,22)

2.4.3.      Unless your righteousness exceed Pharisees -> r. of Christ(Mt.5.20;Phil.3.9)

2.4.4.      Abram believed – acct’d righteousness (Jas.2.23)

3.      At the Cross, God’s love was …

3.1.   Slain (my beloved son…) Love personified

3.1.1.      “…this is my beloved Son…”

3.1.2.      Except a seed die – mighty oak

3.1.3.      Came back, even more passionate

3.1.4.      Obi-Wan Kenobi killed “cannot imagine how powerful”

3.2.   Shown/evidenced/proved

3.2.1.      Jn.3.16 this is how much God love the world…

3.2.2.      Farmer in winter trying to lure birds into barn…become a bird?! Jesus?!

3.2.3.      “If while sinners, how much more…” Rom.5.8-9

3.2.4.      “…no greater love…” (Jn.15.13)

3.3.   Sealed/made sure/assured

3.3.1.      The old, rugged cross is the ultimate Mizpah (Gen.31.48)

3.3.2.      Redemption Rainbow! Not destroy the world

3.3.3.      Ebenezer is raised. (1Sam.7.12)

3.3.4.      “divorce is not an option” (counsel in side room before wedding)

3.4.   Strutted/shown-off/swaggered/exalted

3.4.1.      The best, ever July 4^th has nothing on Good Friday!

3.4.2.      Post-lent mardi gras parade?!

3.4.3.      Imagine all the angels doing a fly-over making the Blue Angels blush!

3.4.4.      Million-Dollar Band would stand in awe at this half-time show!

4.      At the Cross, God’s power was …

4.1.   Surrendered/susceptible’d/vulnerable’d

4.1.1.      “bull in the ring, with hands tied and blind-folded!”

4.1.2.      Armor was off; warrior down

4.1.3.      Aslan on table with demons dancing on him

4.1.4.      Wallace rode into camp with hands in air.

4.2.   Stealthed/secret-ed/sneaked/Trojan-Horse’d

4.2.1.      Ultimate double-reverse halfback-pass!

4.2.2.      Greatest “Sting” of all eternity!

4.2.3.      Aslan awoke and stormed onto the battlefield

4.2.4.      On the third day, Satan surely roared, “he did what?!”

4.3.   Shouted/Screamed

4.3.1.      “death has died!”

4.3.2.      Passover lamb slain and train leaving bondage, get on board.

4.3.3.      Day of Atonement  - annual ritual, imagine the excitement then

4.3.4.      “we are the champions, my friends; you are the losers…” Queen

4.4.   Showered/Spread/scattered/ strewn/sown to all who’d receive it

4.4.1.      Imagine Disney’s gates opening crescendo-ing with Tinkerbell’s magic touch

4.4.2.      Pyrotechnical angel set off the fireworks, with warheads attached! Demons retreating!

4.4.3.      “To all who believe, God gave power to become… (Jn.1.12)

4.4.4.      “God is not willing that any should perish…! (2Pet.3.9)