Satan Uses Turbo Tax

This week I received my IRS Form W-2, my wife’s W-2 and a loan interest payment record and a record of my tithes and offerings to God through my church. I’m also paying out some money on my son’s wedding. While the realities of money are perking in my subconscious my oldest son turns away from the computer and says to me, “Dad, this article says that money is the number one reason that marriages come apart. I need to send this to Jon (his brother that’s getting married).” He quickly added, “Not that I think Jon’s marriage would ever not make it. I just thought it was important information.”

I agree that our attitude toward money and our use of money is very important. That’s not only true in marriage but especially true in our relationship with God.

When you have a few minutes check out the YouTube piece created by Life Church in Oklahoma. With a touch of humor they have accurately portrayed the dangers of money and the strategic tool it is by our enemy, the devil, to undermine our relationship with God.

Check out the Life Church web site sometime. It’s loaded with resources. Their current Sunday theme is “How to Be Rich”, which teaches how to be rich with what you already have.

Don't Blink

This is a surreal week. Jon, my youngest son is getting married. My wife and oldest son have been pulling out old pictures in order to create a slide show for the wedding reception. Sunday night I was viewing a video tape that was 20 years ago to the day.

The video cast me into a 20 year reflection. Flashing across my mind were memories of people that I have loved and served and done life with. Some have died. Some have become outstanding men or women of character. Some have made a mess of their one and only life.

Some of the years were marked by exciting and scary adventure such as when I packed up my family and moved 2,300 miles to the Seattle area. Some of the years were marked by painful life growth as grandiose dreams of youth gave way to humble reality. Mostly the years are filled with thousands of small daily decisions and actions, the sum of which makes the totality of life. God has blessed me way beyond what I deserve. He has been gracious to me and full of mercy.

Sunday night I allowed myself to reflect on the coming 20 years. What grandchildren will be a part of my life? What loved ones will have died? Who else will I be privileged to see become the person that God dreamed and who will wash out? Who will I be?

I need and I want the Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth, to be the Author of the coming chapters. I’ll trust Him with the ups and downs of life’s roller-coaster and that in the end He will have written a good story with my life.

Kenny Chesney captures a lot of what is in my heart today with his song “Don’t Blink” (click here to listen). The chorus says,

“Don’t blink
Just like that you’re 6 years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you’re 25 and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don’t blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning in to moms and dads next thing you know your “better half”
Of 50 years is there in bed
And you’re praying that God takes you instead
Trust me friend a 100 years goes faster than you think
So don’t blink.”

What's In A Name?

The list of the most popular baby names for 2007 was recently released. You can see the list here.

I took note that there were many biblically based names listed, most of which have significant meaning behind them. And, I noticed that my name, “Scott”, was nowhere on the list of the top 100. Wow, disappointing.

Seriously, beyond a curiosity the list provoked a quick reflection. I’m eternally grateful that my Heavenly Father both knows and cherishes my name. Jeremiah 1:5 tells us of God, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.”

Songwriter Tommy Walker articulated that sentiment in his song, “He Knows My Name”.

“I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was
in His hands.

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and hears me when I call.”

I frequently talk with people who are stressed, angry with self for not being more organized so they can be less stressed and generally have a diminished level of joy in their heart. These friends are sons and daughters of God. I’ll ask, “What is God saying into your life?” Usually the answer is “I don’t know” to “He wants me to do this or that”.

Yes, God often speaks DIRECTIONALLY into our lives. I need that and want that. But more so, God speaks RELATIONALLY into our lives. “I love you.” “You are precious to Me.” “I delight and take pleasure with you.”

Some children grow up hating it when their parents call their name. It usually means that they are in trouble or they have a task to do. Many children of God have the same mentality about the Lord calling their name.

Often God calls your name just to call you closer to Him and to enjoy relationship with Him.

Banned From Church

Friday’s Wall Street Journal carries the story of Allen Baptist Church in Allen, Michigan practicing what is commonly referred to as church discipline. It seems that 71-year-old Karolyn Caskey (pictured), a church member for 50 years who taught Sunday school and tithed 10% of her pension had been banned from the church for gossip, slander and idolatry. When she showed up for church anyway the pastor called 911 and had the police come and arrest Mrs. Caskey for trespassing.

Journalist Alexandra Alter goes on to let us know that Mrs. Caskey “moves with a halting gait, due to two artificial knees and a double hip replacement. Friends and family describe her as a generous woman who helped pay the electricity bill for Allen Baptist when funds were low, gave the church $1200 when she sold her van and even cut the church’s lawn on occasion. She has requested an engraved image of the church on her tombstone.”

The article goes on to describe how church discipline has been increasingly practiced in churches across America and several times has resulted in lawsuits of the shunned church member against the church.

From Alter’s information there is no question that the church is wrong, right?

I appreciate Alter’s article and, the case in question is obviously fascinating. I do wish Alter had told a little more of the other side of the story, namely that many times church discipline has positive and healthy outcomes. When gossipers clean up rumors and the sexually impure clean up relational messes and the financially unethical begin dealing honestly, it is to everyone’s benefit.

In some ways the church is in a no win position in the court of public opinion. One of the major criticisms of the church is that people are hypocrites. But, when a church seriously deals with character flaws and thus the hypocrisy issue, then the church is charged with being judgmental.

First let me quickly admit that many times church discipline is poorly handled. The goal of church discipline should always be the loving restoration of an erring member. Many times the discipline simply comes off as punitive rather than redemptive.

Church discipline is supposed to be a process as outlined in Matthew 18 which has most of the engagement with an erring member happening in a private and confidential manner. It only goes public when the member refuses to respond with repentance. Banning or shunning should always be an absolute last resort.

Let me also admit that I don’t know who is right in the case of the Michigan church. My reflection on the article really centers on the public sentiment that churches are harsh or judgmental if they enforce a high moral standard. The bottom line is that the Church, which includes every local congregation, belongs to Jesus Christ. He is the one that sets the standards and He is the one that calls for the purifying or sanctifying of the Church.

Remember, it was Jesus who came down pretty hard on the Pharisees and priests (religious people) because He expected more out of them than who they had become.

Who's Right?

In the picture to the right, who’s right?

Increasingly I’m reading in the blogosphere about the esteem for Jesus but disdain for his church. Articles and books have been written and panels have discussed the matter.

The groaning usually centers upon hypocrisy, judgmental church members, cold/dead institutionalism or orthodox/doctrinal disputes. For the record I’m sickened and grieved by all the above. However, the movement (it’s debatable about whether it is significant enough to call a “movement”) away from churches to increased individualized Christianity is unbiblical.

Jesus established the church, died for the church, and continues to carry out His mission in this world through the church (which of course is people, not a building). Therefore, joining Christ in the work of reforming the church is not an option. It is a necessity. This is a time for better and more creative investment in the church, not abandoning the church.

Of course, a great deal of what Christ is up to in us (believers, His people) is transforming us into forgiven, forgiving, and loving people. If that is to be lived out rather than just theorized then we must engage hypocritical, judgmental, spiritually dead and contentious people and by the power of Christ become a healthy community. That process changes my life. I can’t stay the same if I’m going to learn how to love “hard-to-love” others.

And by the way, WE are all “hard-to-love” to someone.

God help us to BE the church and DO church as envisioned by the Founder of the church.

A la carte, 1/17/08

Occasionally I’ll have so many things going on that I don’t have much time for blogging. That’s when I share several things at one time “a la carte” (click here to see the last time).

God’s Provision
On the day that I was trying to help someone with a need that was going to involve several hundreds of dollars, we prayed for God to provide. The next day I received a note from someone that I haven’t seen in more than a year with a check. The note read, “I don’t know what is going on but God told me to send this money to you because someone needs it.” I had the privilege of passing the blessing on to the person in need.

God’s Power
For the past couple of months I’ve been carrying a burden that I may share more about at another time. But the burden was beginning to weigh me down. I never stopped sensing God’s presence or stopped sensing God’s direction (it never got dark or silent with God) but my heart was becoming so heavy I was becoming depressed. Then of all things, I was reading/studying about the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3 and God brought power to my heart that began to break through the heaviness of the burden. When was the last time a genealogy was a part of a breakthrough for you. Only God can do such things.

God’s Presence
I spent time with ministry leaders from another church last week. These are good hearted people who love God and love people and serve both above themselves. However there was a real fatigue at work in their lives and thus the need for a retreat. Through our time together I had the pleasure of watching one after another begin to be bathed in God’s presence and renewed at deep places. I never get over how delightfully God makes Himself known to us through worship, prayer and the reading of His word.

God’s Plan
In recent weeks I’ve been speaking and teaching about God’s plan to bring the gospel to each person that would want to receive it. During such conversations I’ve been a witness to more than a dozen lives that have been devalued, abused, discarded, but reclaimed, redeemed, and released by God to whole, sane, loving and dynamic living that is making a difference in our world.

A few weeks ago a friend gave me 7th row tickets to see the Seattle Sonics and Boston Celtics play. What tremendous seats. You can see so much more of the nuance of a game from the 7th row than you can from the “cheap seats” or even television.

I feel like God has given me one of the “best seats in the house” to witness His magnificence in our midst.

Does Faith Disqualify Mike Huckabee from being President?

Floyd McKay is a contributor to the Seattle Times and a former journalism professor at Western Washington University. In Wednesday’s Times he wrote a compare and contrast piece on presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and former President Bill Clinton.

Both are from remarkably small Hope, Arkansas. Both rose from very humble circumstances. Both served as Governor of Arkansas. Both became respected leaders in their political parties. McKay grants that both are inspiring figures with exceptional life stories.

Then McKay offers the contrast. Clinton attended Georgetown University and then was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford. He went on to marry his brightest classmate at Yale Law School. Huckabee stayed in Arkansas and graduated from a small Baptist college 40 miles from Hope, married his high sweetheart, attended a Southern Baptist seminary in Texas and then became a preacher.

McKay opines that the White House is too large and too important of a stage with too much complexity for a preacher. Clinton was broadened by his education. Huckabee was limited by his education as is seen in Huckabee’s support for teaching creationism.

McKay quotes a NY Times blog that declares Huckabee is a hick who has “exploited Wal-Mart Republicans” for eight years.

McKay claims to like Huckabee and concludes that Huckabee’s faith-driven decency and compassion commend him to public service but not to the presidency.

McKay writes an interesting piece and I’ve referred to it in a few conversations over the last day. These conversations have immediately jumped into “faith fears” that if elected Huckabee would simply pray and ask God what to do and not consult or work with knowledgeable experts; he will impose his religion on the nation; he will ignore and/or violate laws and legislation that differ from his convictions; etc.

All of this initially strikes me as stereotypical but upon further reflection it occurs to me that if someone is not evangelical Christian and doesn’t live in that world then most of one’s information about evangelicals would come from the main stream media and perhaps some would come from personal experience.

In either case one’s opinion is likely to be unfairly shaped. Let me hasten to concede that there are some strange evangelicals who say and do strange things. But, there are large numbers of evangelicals who are the embodiment of life’s finest virtues and social characteristics.

Obviously the primary season is the time to investigate candidates, both in character and competency. In our “sound-bite” world it is too easy to dismiss or embrace caricatures. Let’s not “judge books by the cover”.

Is faith important? I would argue that it is. So are experience, intelligence, diplomacy and world view. I would also argue that faith alone should not disqualify Huckabee or any other candidate.

The Foolishness of Preaching

This week I’m going to spend two and a half days with about 30 leaders from another church. It’s their annual leadership retreat and they’ve asked me to come and speak. I’ve been preparing for a few weeks and now that I’m close to the time of the retreat I’m freshly reminded of the truth of 1 Corinthians 1:21.

Most of the 30 leaders are lay leaders. That is to say, they work full time jobs outside of the church and volunteer significant amounts of time to do ministry within the church. That means they are taking off from work to attend this retreat.

Some of them have been serving God and people for a period of time and in ways that has taken a lot out of them. Thus the retreat’s aim is to provide “rest” in the sense of spiritual refreshment, renewed vision, and encouragement to endure in a worthy endeavor.

With all of the above in mind I have begun to feel some pressure about my assignment. I’m going to speak in five different sessions and the thought has occurred to me, “What if I do a poor job of speaking?” Here they have taken vacation days from work, given precious time to be away from their families, and have come with hope and expectancy that they would be invigorated and renewed. And then I “drop the ball”.

It was at this point of reflection that I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 1:21 where Paul marvels and declares how God chooses to use “the foolishness of preaching” to penetrate our lives and do saving, redemptive work. What does that mean?

Think about it. It’s crazy or foolish to think that one person can speak one message and it is profound or enlightening or encouraging to 30 different, unique people at the same time UNLESS God chooses to take those words and empower them by His Spirit.

That reality doesn’t excuse me from the work of preparation but it does relieve me that the weight of my speaking finding a meaningful connection with a listener rests upon God’s Spirit. Of course the listener has to accept some responsibility in listening.

What assignment do you have today that calls upon your work, your investment, the use of your gifts or abilities but also needs empowerment from God? Let us call upon God and experience His power.

What About "God Talk" In Public Life?

In the years that I’ve followed presidential elections I don’t remember there being so much “God talk” in all of the campaigns of both Republicans and Democrats. No doubt the candidacy of former Baptist pastor Mike Huckabee has been catalytic as has the Mormonism of Mitt Romney.

Some reporters are obviously tired, even sick and tired of mentioning religion while others are spending a lot of time and space in trying to figure out the significance religion is playing in numbers of votes.

This is also a busy football season with college bowl games and NFL playoffs. Many athletes are verbal about the role their faith plays in their athletic success. Sometimes I feel a collective cringe from the bank of reporters interviewing an athlete who would like to thank “my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”.

Kathy Orton mentions in her blog, “Praying Fields” that she noticed the reporting on Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow’s (pictured) receiving The Heisman Trophy had a conspicuous absence of Tebow’s references to Jesus and God. Tebow is the son of Christian missionaries and often speaks at Christian events and churches. His faith is central to who he is and at the Heisman award ceremony (here on YouTube) he thanks Jesus and God at least 3 times. Tebow also thanks his teammates, coaches, parents and siblings.

Many reporters have chosen to no longer report on the role faith plays in a person’s success because they have deemed it inappropriate and irrelevant. Some reporters even cry that it is insensitive and an intrusive attempt at proselytizing.

William J. Baker in his book “Playing With God” said, “I’ve always wondered why athletes felt compelled to mention their faith during an athletic event. It didn’t seem to me to be the time or the place for such declarations.” Baker believes that Tebow’s purpose in faith declarations via highly covered sports events is winning souls for Jesus.

My reflection on this conversation is, “So what?” What if Tebow is trying to win souls for Jesus with his testimony? He has religious freedom to express it and others have religious freedom to reject it.

When athletes also testify, recommend or endorse a certain workout routine, diet, shoe or coach’s system, are they not also seeking to influence others to “do it” the way that works for them? Some athletes proclaim their routines of mental preparation, concentration, envisioning tactics and focus. So what?

“Well, when someone says that ‘Jesus is the way’ they are saying at the same time that everyone else’s religion is the wrong way.” So what? Again, when advocating a diet, shoe or technique the same dynamic is in play. People that wear Adidas instead of Nike don’t scream about intolerance and prejudice.

One comment on Orton’s blog declared, “God really doesn’t CARE about football, and anyone praising and thanking him for their own achievements on the gridiron sounds like an idiot…You want to play football? Shut up about your ‘god’.

The commenter has the right to his opinion and the freedom to express it. So does Tebow. If the athlete, politician, businessman or Hollywood celebrity is Muslim or Hindu, I'd be interested to know. It is a part of who they are. Objective reporting lets me know about it.

Is there too much “God talk” in public today? It’s a matter of opinion. But reporters who choose to omit the “God talk” from their coverage of a religious person are failing to give objective reporting.

Do You Own Stuff or does Stuff Own You?

Josh Harris has written an important series of posts entitled “Affluenza”. I certainly don’t want to jump on those who have a hangover from shopping and loading up their credit cards in recent weeks. Those soon-to-arrive statements will jump on you enough.

However, I am focused upon what needs to change in me and our world this year. Our mismanagement, abuse and waste of our resources and finances are near the top of the list.

Josh advocates in a clear and compelling way for us to--
1. Guard against all kinds of greed.
2. Get our financial house in order.
3. Push back against materialism.

(read all 6 parts to get the full treatment)

Along the way Josh referenced a 20 minute video presentation, “The Story of Stuff” featuring Annie Leonard. When you have the time I encourage you to reflect on her presentation prayerfully (view here). By prayerful I mean, ask God to speak to you through the presentation. I’m not sure I agree with every part of the presentation and I haven’t done the homework to check her sources for the “facts” she sites. Nevertheless, if half of what she says is true then we have cause for alarm and a need for change.

The acquiring and use of stuff tap into very important biblical/Christian issues/values:
a. Stewardship--we’re responsible to God as to how we use and take care of His stuff. He owns everything in the world.
b. Contentment--we’re promised as followers of Christ that we can experience contentment. The Bible makes it clear that experiencing contentment does NOT happen via stuff. Contentment is found by enjoying relationship with Christ.

With my first post of the year I’ve shared much that deserves our reflection, and proactive steps of change.

What Will 2008 Be Like For You?

“If money were no object, what would you do for the rest of your life?”

Many of you have been asked that question before as a facilitator or life coach sought to get you to think “outside of the box” and dream a dream or see a vision.

Pastor Craig Groeschel recently posed the question to about 50 Christians. He expected that some would respond with:

“I’d volunteer my time at the Crisis Pregnancy Center.”

“I’d adopt children from a third world country.”

“I’d mentor young inner city kids.”

Sadly, the most common answers orbited around personal comfort. Instead of Spirit-led, selfless responses, virtually everyone gave answers like:

“I’d quit working, buy a nice car, a new house, a boat.”

“I’d travel.”

“I’d hire people to help me around the house.”

Then Craig asked these same 50 Christians, “Besides ministering to your family, what do you believe is the number one, most important thing that God wants to accomplish through you?”

The most common answer was, “I don’t know.”

Craig was dismayed and commented, “Do we really think God sent His Son so our greatest life’s goal would be a new boat? Do we think He created you and me uniquely and wonderfully, with all our gifts and passions, so we wouldn’t have to work another day in our life? Or even worse, just so we would stumble around for years, ignorant of our reason for existence?”

Craig’s survey and comments have stirred my own reflections about my life and about the lives of those that I love. There’s nothing magical about the turning of a page of a calendar. But, it does serve as a worthy time to determine--

“Why am I here? What needs to happen this year to successfully address my life purpose?”

Blessings on you and yours as you embark on the next part of life’s journey.

Tom Brady Asks "The" Question of Life

New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady appeared on 60 Minutes Sunday. Brady is only 30 and already has “Hall of Fame” credentials. He’s a 3 time Super Bowl winner; 2 time Super Bowl MVP; named to the Pro Bowl 4 times; and last week was named the AP Male Athlete of the Year.

He dates actresses and supermodels and is considered one of the most desired bachelors in the world. My wife saw Brady on TV tonight, didn’t know who he was or what the TV program was about but immediately gushed, “Wow he’s good looking!”

Brady makes millions of dollars and by most standards would seem to “have it all”. Yet, as Steve Kroft conducted the interview the following statement was made--

“Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater
out there for me? I mean, a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what is.’
I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, ‘God, it’s got to be more
than this.’ I mean, this isn’t, this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be.”

Innately Brady knows there is more to life than professional success, international fame, and exorbitant wealth. What is it?

I could quote great saints and theologians through the centuries. I could pass on dozens of scriptures which I believe to be the word of God. I could point to contemporary thinkers and philosophers. But, when I first heard Brady’s comments the words of a 6 year old boy came to mind.

A few years ago I was sitting with a group of children. I had asked them to bring something in a small brown paper sack that made them think of God. I took turns opening the bags, examining the contents, letting the child comment on its meaning and then I tried to tie it all together with a Bible lesson.

One child opened his bag and took out a donut and a small round pastry that we commonly call a “donut hole”. The 6 year old said, “This makes me think of God because I’m like the donut with the hole in the middle. God is like the donut hole. I have a hole in my life that only God can fill, just like the donut hole goes in the middle of the donut.”

Tom, that is what the “more” is that you innately know is missing from your life. I don’t mean to be insulting with the simplicity of such a claim but Jesus did say that if one responds to the Gospel he must do so as a child. It is simple faith in the saving work of Christ.

I’m praying for Tom Brady to find and experience Christ this Christmas. And, dear reader, I pray the same for you. Merry Christmas.

Is Christmas About to End or Begin?

We’ve almost arrived at December 25. Will that be the end of Christmas or the beginning for you?

For most North Americans December 25 will mark the end of Christmas. Most of us began encountering Christmas decorations and Christmas “sales” before Halloween. In recent days one can’t drive near a mall or post office without encountering traffic jams with last minute shoppers and shippers trying to take care of the mission of getting and giving gifts.

For most December 25 will be a welcomed conclusion to a commercialized and pressurized Christmas.

For some December 25 will be the beginning of Christmas. For centuries the church celebrated Advent for four weeks preceding Christmas. This was/is a celebration of anticipating the birth of Christ. December 25 then marked the beginning of the 12 Days of Christmas (remember the song?) that would conclude on January 6, Epiphany.

Epiphany is the climax of the Advent/Christmas Season. The word means “to make known” or “to reveal”. Though the day also began to commemorate the arrival of the wise men to worship the Christ child, Epiphany was the day to look ahead to the mission of the Church, the “revealing” of Christ to the world.

Traditionally Protestant churches focus on the mission of making Christ known from Epiphany until Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent and the celebration of Easter.

This year Meadowbrook Church, where I serve, will be experiencing this ancient path of celebration, worship and mission. Although I spend a lot of time considering ways to make the Gospel of Christ make sense to a contemporary world, I’m looking forward to walking an ancient path across the coming weeks.

This Is The Truth

I reflected on this video several times. The way the message is turned upside down by God so that it is full of hope and purpose is part of what stirs me.

What do you think?

No Time For Pretending

What a horrific episode in Colorado on the weekend of December 9. A disturbed young man, Matthew Murray, first went to a YWAM (youth with a mission) training center in Arvada and killed two people and then went to New Life Church in Colorado Springs and killed two more innocent people.

A church security guard shot Murray in the church hallway before he could kill anyone else. Murray then took his own life with a self-inflicted shot. Apparently he was loaded with guns and ammo and planning to kill many.

What would you imagine the gathering for worship at New Life Church to be like the following Sunday? Unfortunately I’ve been around enough churches for enough years that I truly feared the church would put on a demeanor of “overcomers who will fear no one but God” and similar bravado. I believe in being an overcomer and having high trust in God that casts out our fear.

But I also believe that trauma, tragedy and loss deserve sadness, grief and mourning. Jesus said, “Blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

According to the Denver Post, Sunday December 16 the church was filled and Pastor Brady Boyd (pictured) led the church in praying for the families of the victims and then preached about tribulations, noting that many people in many places have endured some of life’s greatest difficulties.

One church member was quoted as saying that we’ve mourned long enough and that “it’s time to put this behind us.” Well, come on. One week, seven days is by no means too long to spend on significant life issues like, “Why did this happen?”; “How do we forgive someone like Murray?”; “How do I begin to feel safe at church again?”; and so many more questions.

Most of us are in a hurry to put painful experiences in the past. However, most of us who hurry don’t really succeed in putting painful experiences quickly into the past. Rather we end up suppressing the pain and then pretending that everything is okay.

To those in pain everywhere, Colorado, Omaha, Iraqi and Afghan battle fronts, the unemployed, the sick, the abused and so many more, turn to God with your pain. The Bible says, “Cast your cares upon Him. He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

In prayer and with friends who will “be with you” in painful times, ask your questions aloud, cry, be angry and by God’s grace filled process, begin to trust and hope again.

Integrity

This morning I began my regular routine of cutting into an apple for my breakfast. I have an apple about four days a week. I buy a lot of apples.

I was reminded this morning that no one ever really buys an apple. When I go to the store and pick up a granny or gala or red delicious or my favorite, honey crisp, I inspect the apple visually and physically. I look for defects or bruises and I feel for mushiness. That being said, what I end up buying is an apple peal. I take it by faith that inside the peal will be a tasty apple.

This morning I cut into my apple, which had no bruising and felt firm, only to find out that on the inside it was rotten. How could that be?

When it comes to apples, bananas, watermelons, etc., we are always inspecting the outside and by faith believing that the inside will be what we’re hoping for.

Something that is the same on the inside as it appeared on the outside has integrity. I was surprised and disappointed this morning that my apple didn’t have integrity since it appeared to be a healthy and edible apple but was in fact rotten and ruined on the inside. My apple was a hypocrite.

Within seconds of my feeling disgusted and disappointed with my apple I felt a nudge by God’s presence. It was if He was saying, “You look great on the outside. I want you to tend to the inside.”

Inside of me there remain rotten places of anger, covetousness and pride. While I go about my work responsibilities today I also have some life work to do.

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Twenty-six years ago Tammi Smith (pictured) was a 15 year old grief stricken girl. Her half-brother, Robert Sellon, was brutally murdered by 17 year old twins, David and Michael Samel in a Grand Rapids, Michigan pool hall.

Michael was sentenced to 35-55 years in prison. David was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Soon after the killing Tammi went to the county jail where David was being held and cursed him for destroying her family.

Today, Tammi is an advocate for the release of David and Michael. What happened?

In short, Tammi became a follower of Christ. About 6 years ago it occurred to Tammi that Michael would be coming up for review with the possibility of parole. She wondered if he had changed so she wrote him a letter. Michael wrote back, and so did David.

A regular correspondence developed between the three of them including the sending of birthday cards and Christmas cards. Tammi, with the grace and power of God, had chosen to forgive her brother’s killers. God’s grace further enabled her to have friendship with the Samel twins.

When reading this story I was reminded of an old hymn, “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”. One verse of the hymn says,

“Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who
believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His
grace receive?"

Tammi received God’s grace and now bestows God’s grace. People think that she is crazy to forgive her brother’s killers. She thinks that she is simply responding to a work of grace that God is doing in her heart.

Tammi takes out and lays three pictures side by side, Robert Sellen along with David and Michael Samel. Tammi then asks people to pick out the one that is her brother.

Tammi then explains, “All three of them are. I may have lost one, but I gained two more.”

Senseless, Sadistic Slayings, a Part of Christmas in the 1st & 21st Centuries

Robert Hawkins was a 19 year old high school dropout that had been kicked out of his home by his family. Befriended by another family who reported that Hawkins was perpetually depressed, Wednesday Hawkins went to a shopping mall in Omaha, Nebraska. There he pulled out a gun, began firing into a crowd, killed eight people and then himself.

Hawkins left behind a suicide note that said he loved his parents and left his Jeep to his mother. He also commented that he would no longer be a burden to anyone and that he would now be famous.

With premeditation Hawkins took the lives of eight innocent people that he didn’t know and thereby sought to make something of his name. One mall patron commented, “It’s a terrible way to start the holiday season.”

As I imagine the grief of those whose loved ones were killed I’m saddened, angered and somewhat mystified. More will probably be said later about the psychological state of Hawkins and some will no doubt suggest that he was something of a victim himself. Those conclusions may address his suicide but not the killings.

Just as I did with the Virginia Tech killings, (see my post here) I’m going to contend again that what we’re seeing is evil. There is evil in this world and there is an Evil One who works evil against humanity. It is the presence of God in the lives of believers and in this world that holds evil in check to the degree that it is. Remove God from this world and we haven’t even begun to see how evil everyone and everything can be. It would be like removing the sun from this world, leaving it to complete pervasive darkness.

Please hear me carefully. I’m not trying to condemn Hawkins, his parents or anyone else in proximity to this tragedy. I’m simply pointing out that the reason the coming of Christ into this world and into our lives is Good News is because this world and our lives are bad news.

This was just as true at Christmas in the first century as it is in the twenty-first. You may recall that when the wise men came seeking the Christ child so that they could worship Him, King Herod evilly commanded that all the children in Bethlehem that were two years and younger should be put to death. Why, because Herod wanted to maintain a name for himself. He was not going lose his fame and name to some baby in a barn.

Friends, as fun as Santa and reindeer and trees and presents can be, that sentimental and commercialized expression of Christmas distracts us from the reality that we live in a broken and fallen world that desperately needs a Savior.

Saint Nicolas Day, December 6

Yes, there really was a Saint Nicolas! In the 4th century in the country that we now call Turkey, Nicolas was a follower of Christ and a servant of the church who eventually became a bishop.

Renowned for his generosity, on one occasion Nicolas secretly gave a gift of gold coins to a family in need by placing the coins in the stockings that were hanging over the fireplace.

Gift giving secretly in the night, stockings over the fireplace, candy canes, and seasonal concern for the needy are all traced back to the real St. Nicolas, a man of faith who lived his life in devotion to Christ.

After a Roman imprisonment for his faith, Nicolas was later released and participated in the formation of the Nicene Creed. He died on December 6, 343 AD.

I’m reflecting today on the life and example of a Christ follower from long ago and I’m inspired to continue the journey of becoming like our Savior.

Christmas is a "Highlight"

When I was a kid Christmas was a highlight of the year. I looked forward to getting out of school. Out of town family came to visit. We would devour a delicious turkey dinner. And, most of all I would get to open presents!

As an adult Christmas is a “highlight” in a completely different way. Like a yellow marking highlight pen draws your attention to a word or sentence that is buried in a page of words and sentences, Christmas tends to highlight life realities that are buried in “life pages” of experiences.

Recently I served with my Rotary Club to put on an annual Christmas party for challenged families that live in the Redmond area. We matched up forty something children with an adult shopping buddy and took them to a local department store and bought them clothes and toys. Afterward we all had breakfast with Santa and enjoyed a magic show.

The following Monday I received a few calls on behalf of the families who had been invited but didn’t come. Mostly the parents were simply dysfunctional and irresponsible and didn’t get up and drive to the party. Now they wanted to know if they could still get money to go shopping on their own. They live this way all the time and the children frequently suffer because of it. It is highlighted and more obvious at Christmas.

For many, marital tension will run high over the next few days. Financial pressures will squeeze. Dissatisfaction with the status quo will be acute. Others who have had a low grade depression will sink further.

I’m not trying to be gloomy. It’s all just “highlighted” for me at this time of year…..and that’s not bad.

It’s difficult for us to see and appreciate Good News if we’re not well aware of the bad news. Life is hard. For many, life is sad and debilitating.

Christmas is not only a highlight of what is broken in this world but it is THE highlight of God’s provision for brokenness, Jesus Christ.

I’m praying that we all get the Christmas “Presence” that we most need.