A Reflection For Ash Wednesday

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"(Mark 1:14-15)

With these words Jesus begins his three year ministry that will lead him to the cross and the empty Tomb. With these words we begin the season of Lent. Where will these words lead us?

Just a few short months ago we were in the season of Advent. In that season, which prepared us for the birth of Jesus, we were governed by the words "Watch and Wait." These were passive words. Words that drew us to the wonder of the One who had come into our world from above. Now as we begin the season of Lent we are to be lead by two different words: "Repent and Believe." These two words are quite different from the words of Advent. For these words are not passive and reflective. They are active and call forth a response.

Now the first question that should come to our minds is this: "To what are we called to respond?" Jesus exclaims that we are to respond to the good news that God's kingdom has come near to us. When we talk about the kingdom of God we are not referring to some place, some location where God has now set up a physical throne. Rather Jesus is calling us to respond to the rule of God over the whole created order and specifically to his desire to reign in the human heart. In our hearts.

"How then are we to respond to this offer of God?" Jesus exhorts us with those two key Lenten words: Repent and Believe. It is important for us to first note the order of the words. Repentance comes first. What does it mean to repent? It does not mean to feel guilty or sorry for your sins and shortcomings. While it is important to feel sorrow for your sins, mere sentiment is not enough. The word repentance means to "turn around, to seek a new direction." It is to admit that all my life I have been going the wrong way and I now know I need to turn around and return to God. To repent means to change your actions. The second half of our response to the good news is to Believe. Once we have begun to change our actions, we will find that our attitudes and thoughts begin to change. Our emotions, our feelings, and our spirits get in line with the will of God. We find we no longer have to work so hard at the daily acts of repentance. We find ourselves wanting and desiring the things of God.

Someone has captured the heart of this Lenten season with this modern analogy: "In a crowded airport terminal, hundreds of people are scurrying in dozens of directions. Above the steady buzz of noise a voice booms through the loud speaker, "Flight 362 is now arriving at gate 23. Will passengers holding tickets for New York please check in at gate 23; you will be boarding soon." Some people, of course, never hear the announcement and continue on their way. Others hear it, but having reservations on another flight, pay no attention. Some, however, want to go to New York and who have been nervously awaiting such and announcement, look up expectantly, check their ticket for the flight number, gather their baggage, turn around and set out with some urgency for gate 23."

In this Lenten season, as our world rushes here and there at break-neck speed, are you listening for the good news that God's Kingdom has arrived? If so, then above the noise of society hear the voice of Jesus calling out to you. And then be willing to change your direction and rush to him. Lent is a time for action!

et al.

It is with a bit of bemused resignation that I consider the latest "approach du jour" in the RCA. For as long as I can remember the denomination has followed every fad promising growth and revitalization. Of late we have become enamored with "missional" thinking. Just a few years back it was the "incarnational" that would change the way we do things. Just off the top of my head, I can think of a few others we have tried and discarded in recent memory. We have been asked to be: relational, intentional, generational, racial, natural; et al. All attempts to bring about the revival we so desperately need. Yet so far to no avail. I have little hope that missional will fare any better. Recently one of the early proponents of the "missional movement," Dan Kimball is confessing that maybe this approach is flawed as well.

But have no fear, another guru and another approach waits in the wings. Reggie McNeal interviewed about his newest book, Missional Renaissance, says that if you aren't getting the numbers you like, just "change the scorecard," you might be more influential than you think. And according to this interview - guess what denomination will be the first to adopt this newest thing? The Reformed Church in America!

If at first you don't succeed...et al.

Don't get me wrong, I believe the RCA needs to change its approach to reach the world around us. I just wish we would try Biblical!

Joseph's Story

A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers...and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. (Matthew 1:1-2,16)

For Matthew, Christmas begins in the star-filled dreams of an old man. Forty-two generations before the birth of Christ, Abraham looked into the heavens and believed the word of God. A word, a promise that one day his descendants would number as the stars and would usher in a blessing that would be for all people. Such was the dreams of an as yet childless Father. But with the birth of Isaac -- the dream was alive. And so it continued...this dream, passed on from father to son, generation to generation, age to age. Matthew traces the dream in the lives of the famous and infamous, recording the names of both sinner and saint, known and unknown. Yet each a vital link in a golden chain. Each a single piece in a heavenly puzzle passed from parent to child. And with each piece the dream grows clearer and brighter. Yet the longer the chain stretches the more fragile it becomes...And now the chain is about to be broken. The dream of Abraham under a starry sky is coming to an end.

Joseph, betrothed of Mary, wants a divorce. Mary is with child. A child not his own. We are not told how much Joseph agonized over his decision. Angry or sad over Mary’s apparent infidelity we don’t know. We can speculate and postulate, but all we are told is that he was a righteous man and had in mind to divorce her. Quietly -- to perhaps spare her shame or to avoid the scandal, but divorce her nonetheless. A marriage entered into with hopes and dreams now to be reduced to smoke and ashes.

But it is not only the hopes and dreams of a young couple that hang in the balance. Generations of the faithful who have nurtured and passed on the dream of Abraham look on in fear as its fragile thread in plucked. A tapestry woven with the toil and tears, the laughter and the labor of all who have gone before slowly unravels as a tired Joseph puts his head upon the pillow to sleep.

Yet God will not let this dream die. This dream cannot disappear in the morning light. So he sends another dream to another man under another starry sky. An angelic messenger with an anxious plea. “Joseph,” the angel speaks his name. “Joseph, son of David.” A gentle reminder of all who have gone on before him. “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Abraham’s dream is finally named. Jesus. Abraham’s night is illumined by the light of one bright star. The Savior. One grand and glorious name that will justify and sanctify all the names and all the generations that have gone before. A name that must be spoken by Joseph.

Forty -- two generations hold a collective breath as God comes in a night vision to ask a humble carpenter to make a place for his Son. A Son who will be Immanuel. God with us. But only, but only...if he is first a child with Joseph. The dream of the ages will only be realized if this man says yes. Yes - God - I will take your Son to be my son. My house will be his house. My name will be his name. Yes, I will save Mary the shame, so that he might save the world. Yes, I will make room in my life -- so that Immanuel might find room in the lives of others. The request is simple. “Will you allow the dream to live on in you?” The implications are staggering. God will come to his world -- but only if he might first come into Joseph’s.

For Matthew this is the drama of Christmas. The drama of Christ’s coming. It is a very human drama. There are no annunciations, no shepherds, no singing chorus of celestial beings, as of yet no wiseman. Save for an angelic voice in a troubled sleep, no assurances are offered to him. No guarantees. As Joseph turns upon his bed, there is only a question. And upon his answer will depend the generations to come.

Have you ever pondered the fact that Joseph never speaks in the Bible? Mary has The Magnificat. Angels sing The Gloria. Even Zechariah the old priest has a voice. But no words pass the lips of Joseph. Someone has dubbed him “Joseph the Silent.” But if he speaks no words, his actions speak volumes. The Scripture says that he awoke determined to do what the angel had commanded him. I sometimes wonder if it was in the middle of the night when Joseph awoke? I wonder if he shook his head and took a walk outside under the heavens. And I wonder if on that very night from a field of stars -- one particularly star shone brighter that all the rest? Well we know the rest of the story... “and he took Mary as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”

For Matthew the Gospel rests upon the response of Joseph to the question of God. One question for one man. One question for every man. It is a question that is placed before each one of us this Advent Season. Amid the hustle and bustle, the hoopla and the hype of this holiday will we allow the dream to live in us? Dare we listen again to the angel’s admonition to not be afraid? To trust God as Joseph trusted? Will we make room in our lives for Immanuel? For God to be with us? Because of the faith of Joseph, Christ has come into his world...but has he come into yours?

The Secret Behind Christmas Lights...

I would venture to say that if you looked at the labels on your Christmas lights you would see that they were made in China. No big deal you think, most of our stuff comes from China anyway right? BUT, do you know who made your lights in China?

Worldserve Minstries provides the answer...

PICTURE THIS! A COLD, DARK PRISON CELL IN THE NORTHERN INTERIOR OF CHINA.
The cell is only 20' by 20' and occupied by 40 prisoners. One of these prisoners is a Chinese underground church pastor in his mid-40s, sentenced to a three-year prison term for preaching the Gospel of Christ. At 5:30 a.m., after being allowed four hours of sleep, a swift blow awakens him to his back from the boot of a communist prison guard. Pastor Stephen is allowed to have one of the two bowls of soup that will be his food for the day including the one small steamed roll he is given each day, he will consume perhaps 500 calories.

Now all 40 prisoners are taken to a room and put in two lines facing each other and forced to kneel. In front of each prisoner is placed a box containing unassembled Christmas lights. The guard viciously barks out the command and Pastor Stephen quickly grabs the empty strings of lights and begins to assemble them. He takes the tiny individual light bulbs and threads the two small metal wires extending from the glass through the plastic holder and bends them into place. Before long, his fingers are raw and bleeding. Then he puts the bulb into the fitting on the string of lights and clamps it into place with his teeth, as prisoners are not allowed tools. His quota for the day - 5000 bulbs. Work will continue for 16 to 20 hours or all night if necessary. If the guards are unsatisfied with the speed or quality of the work, he will be beaten mercilessly. Such is a normal workday for this humble servant of God.

When he is taken back to his cell, he recalls the many verses of Scripture he has memorized and thanks God for His faithfulness in spite of the hardship. Then quietly he begins to sing worship songs he has hidden away in his heart and he begins to pray for the well being of his family. Tears of thanksgiving begin to roll down his face as he ponders how blessed he is to be considered worthy to suffer for Christ. Blessed because he is a part of the underground Church of China - the largest Church in the world, numbering over 80 million believers. A Church that is vibrant and passionate and deep in the things of God. A Church that is paying a great price for this great turning to God with persecution and suffering.

That's right, your tree is probably trimmed by lights made by Christian pastors persecuted for sharing the Good News of the True Light of the World! Check out The Lights of Christmas website for more information and what you can do to support these Chinese pastors and their families.

Here is a video that tells their story.

Do You See What I See?

Advent/Christmas is a Season of Surprise. And our God is a surprising God, who delights in acting in unpredictable and sometimes unbelievable ways. To a group of lonely shepherds huddled on a Judean hillside he came with trumpets sounding and glory a’popping with an unexpected invitation to a birthday party for his son. But when the shell-shocked shepherds arrive they find that the Savior is wrapped in diapers. After the angels, it all seemed so ordinary...so innocent...so tame. Not at all what they expected. Yet rather than being put off by this domestic scene they responded by glorifying and praising God for all that he had done. They were able to see through the circumstances. And for them the ordinary was forever transformed. They would never look at a night sky again without wonder. In the gentle breeze they would always hear an angel song. And in the face of every newborn child, they would see the face of God.

What will you see this Christmas? Will the bright lights and the majestic music sway you? Will you be content to bask in last night’s glory huddled on the hillside trying to catch a glimpse of an angel? Will you strain your ears for an angelic chorus or a newborn’s cry? Someone has written: “We have stayed too long on the hillside, busily trying to imitate the glory and the music of angles, instead of following the shepherds to Bethlehem. Not until we approach that humble manger will we see...”

We often talk about the need to put Christ back into Christmas. But if we are willing to look past the twinkling lights, the glittering tinsel and the sweet carols, we will find that Christ never left. God continues to come to those who will look through this season and find the heart of Christmas. He still comes to those with shepherd’s eyes and ears with unexpected invitations to celebrate. For it is not in the glory but in the ordinary that our Savior still chooses to come. The sights and the sounds are just the ribbons and bows...the outer wrapping. The true gift lies within.

Scott Nichols