Christmas Card Redux

Background:

As I was handing out my 2008 Christmas card this season, I had several people comment that they still had my Christmas cards from past years. Many have asked me to reprint my very popular 2006 card, so with the last gasp of 2008, I will bow to the will of the people. I offer my apologies to Clement Moore, and his original A Visit from St. Nicholas. Clement Moore made millions from his “little trifle”; I’m still waiting for MY royalty checks to start rolling in.

 

Christmas Card 2006:

'Twas the Night Before Christmas
(or A Visit from St. Ewe-pea-ess)
by David Alan Hoag - December 18, 2006 

'Twas the night before Christmas, and I was upset;
though I’d ordered nice presents, none had arrived yet.
All of the web sites said, “delivery was free,”
in time to be wrapped, and placed under the tree. 

The children had reluctantly all gone to bed,
while a vision of ‘no gifts’ soon filled me with dread.
And my wife, in the bedroom, was starting to bawl,
“we’d have all the gifts, if I’d shopped at the mall.” 

When far down the street, there came a faint growling,
At first, all I heard was the stormy wind howling.
“Light flurries,” predicted by some weather wizard,
had turned into the season’s worst winter blizzard. 

The moon was obscured by the wind-driven snow,
and the streetlights emitted a pitiful glow,
when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a UPS truck, moving slow, in first gear. 

The driver was quite skilled, and this much I know,
He knew how to plow through the new-fallen snow.
How in that blizzard, he could find my address,
made me think that his truck had a new GPS. 

The camera, the X-Box, and with any luck,
the new Elmo X-treme would be on his truck!
So many gifts, for delivery this season,
That this truck had them all, was far beyond reason! 

Turning into my driveway, spewing snow in his wake,
I was praying the driver must know how to brake,
But I needn’t have worried, he slid to a halt,
and jumped down from his truck with a well-practiced vault. 

He was wiry and lean, quite a pleasant young chap,
dressed in UPS brown, from his slacks, to his cap.
He checked his list twice, and I knew when he waved,
that he had all my parcels, that Christmas was saved. 

He spoke as he worked, as he got my stuff out,
“All these THINGS are NOT… what this season’s about.
The greatest delivery is a small baby boy,
and if you accept him, you get peace… love… and joy.” 

Then he sprang to his truck, put the engine in gear,
And drove off in the storm, without any fear.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
"May your ways be made straight, and your burdens be light!" 

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

All the best in the coming year! Your brother in Christ,

Dave

With Angelic Hosts Proclaim…

I was listening to a Christmas carol today, and I thought about how little I understood of the true meaning of the words when I sang the carol as a child… or even as a young man. The carol, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, is pretty familiar to most of us, but I’m going to include it here anyway (at least the first verse). Just see if you can read it without the melody making you sing it. 

Hark the herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled"

Joyful, all ye nations rise

Join the triumph of the skies

With angelic hosts proclaim:

"Christ is born in Bethlehem"

Hark! The herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"

 

An interesting aside is that this Christmas carol was written by Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church, in 1739. A somber man, he requested slow and solemn music for his lyrics and thus “Hark the herald Angels Sing” was sung to a different tune initially. Over a hundred years later Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) composed a cantata in 1840 to commemorate Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. English musician William H. Cummings adapted Mendelssohn’s music to fit the lyrics of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, already written by Wesley.

When I was a kid, I thought the angel’s were all named Harold… thus, “the Harold angels sing.” The Michael and the Fred angels didn’t make the cut, I guessed. Later, I came to understand these angels to be kind of like celestial town criers… proclaiming the fantastic news. And it must have seemed utterly fantastic to the shepherds who were among the very first to hear the angels proclaim the good news. I mean, it’s pitch-dark, the shepherds are out in the fields with their flocks, and this incredibly powerful heavenly creature appears! And the first words the angel speaks? “Do not be afraid.” Yeah… like that’s gonna help. Shock and awe! But the angel certainly had the shepherd’s attention, and they did listen and hear:

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the city of Bethlehem a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:10-12

As if that were not enough, the one (very terrifying) angel (see Luke 2:9), was suddenly joined by what the Bible calls “a great company of the heavenly host.” Now, if a host is an army… and we are talking about God’s army of angels… I would guess that there were a whole lot of angels that filled the sky. And they were not content to just hover there; they began to praise God, saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:14

 

When half a bazillion angels appeared and began to praise God, I’m betting the sky was a terrifying sight, the sound was overwhelming, and the ground was probably shaking from the force of their combined heavenly voices. The shepherds were thinking: “Do not be afraid. Yea… RIGHT!”

After the angels finally left and went back to heaven, it was probably a while before the shepherds regained enough composure to talk about what had just happened. They were probably all like: “Did you see that?” Were we dreaming?” “What just happened?” But they figured that Bethlehem was pretty close by, so they all went off to see this great thing that had just happened. How could they know what it was? They weren’t scholars, or scribes, or rabbis, or prophets, or wise men… they were simple shepherds… but they recognized that God had invited them to some great happening, so off they went to see.

What an amazing night for those shepherds. When they got to Bethlehem, they found everything just as it was told to them concerning the child. Their hearts leapt for joy, and they spread the word; they shared their great joy with everybody they came in contact with, and they glorified and praised God.

God has already done the angel thing, so don’t expect it this Christmas Eve. You have, however, been given the “good news of great joy,” as it was given for ALL people. Have you dropped what you were doing, and gone to see the Savior? Are you spreading the word? Are you glorifying and praising God?

Think about this: We will have peace on earth, when God’s favor rests on all of us!” (See Luke 2:14) This will only occur when all of us come… and have our hearts changed… at the manger!

To all of you, I wish a merry Christmas, and proclaim:

“Glory to the newborn King!”

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

A Christmas Card for You

Many years ago, I started my own little Christmas tradition: making and personally handing out my own Christmas card creations. If you’ve known me for more than one Christmas, then you have probably received a card from me. This year, I’m extending the tradition into a new medium… the blog. Basically, you are getting the content of this year’s card here in the blog. I hope you enjoy it. Oh, by the way, if you want the Word document for the card so you can print out one for yourself, just drop me an email, and I’ll honor any requests for the digital image of the card. Just print it on your own printer, fold it, and place it on display for your friends to admire. LOL!!! Alright then… here’s the card to start your Christmas:

What can I say about Christmas?

By David Alan Hoag (written December 13th, 2008)

What can I say about Christmas?
That hasn’t already been said?
Yet, why should a wonderful
Magical day
Approach with foreboding and dread?

Perhaps it’s the rat’s nest of tangled-up lights?
To be hung from the rooftop with care?
Is there stress while replacing
A shorted-out bulb,
As I hang thirty feet in the air?

What of the fruitcake from sweet old Aunt Hazel?
Which, this year, she’s selling online.
Does she know that I’m lying?
While choking it down,
When I smile, and claim it’s divine?

With each Christmas card I receive in the mail
I predict with a terrible hunch
That the letter included
Will tell me too much
Of your details of breakfast and lunch.

Oh, Christmas is coming; that terrible strain,
I stress-out and get all light-heady.
And I’ve still got tree trimming,
And cards yet to mail!
How can it be coming already?

That Christmas is hectic? Well what else is new?
But we’ve made it all stressful and wild.
With each new decoration
And hurried event,
We lose sight of the birth of the Child.

What can I say about Christmas?
That isn’t just more window dressing?
Long ago, in Bethlehem,
A babe was born.
At Christmas, thank God for that blessing!

Blessings to you and your family,
as you celebrate God’s love at Christmas time.
My prayer is that the peace, love, and joy
that come from the salvation through Jesus Christ…
be yours at Christmas, and all through the year.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

The Borg

“We are the Borg. Resistance is futile. Prepare to be assimilated.”

If you are a Star Trek fan, you recognize those words. In the Star Trek universe, there is no greater threat to civilizations than the hive intelligence that assimilates all intelligent life into the Borg collective… and obliterates all resistance. Assimilation means that individuals are surgically altered to connect with and serve the collective. The Borg, in their search for perfection, only assimilate in as much as they reprogram and enhance life forms to fit the need of the collective; what once was a unique intelligence becomes a drone for the hive. As in the picture, the body is enhanced to perform better… often by the addition, or replacement, of machine parts to create cyborg-like creatures… hence the name: Borg.

Who would allow their eye to be replaced with circuitry and lenses? Who would allow their thoughts to be programmed so that they would only serve an alien mind? Who would turn their existence over to such a soulless enemy? Well, when resistance really appears to be futile, most people pretty much just queue up for assimilation.

Ah, but that’s science fiction, right? Can’t really happen to us, right? Too late! You’ve probably already been assimilated… no, not by the Borg, but by something very similar. Broadcasting on all know communication frequencies, the conquering statement is:

“We are the world. Resistance is futile. Prepare to be assimilated.”

Our assimilation begins almost as soon as we are born. Can you feel the programming that tells you to discriminate against a certain kind of person? Can you see the lenses that only allow you to see yourself as clumsy, stupid, or useless? Many of us grew up with parents that the world had assimilated long ago. So, of course, they began our assimilation process as early as possible. Many find it difficult to remember that there is any other way to see, except through the lenses that have been placed in front of their eyes.

The world uses some pretty powerful weapons to obliterate any resistance, too. Constant pressure through radio, television, movies, books, the internet, and peers forces us to assimilate ideas that initially seem evil to us… cultures of: greed, lust, envy, dishonesty, immorality, abuse, prejudice, fear, jealousy, and ungodliness. Pretty soon something that is “abhorrent to God” is now just “a lifestyle choice.” Eventually, the world hopes to assimilate all of us. The world would have us see no right or wrong… only what’s best for the collective. The world would have us believe that there is no use for God… especially when the world has changed and enhanced, and assimilated us… making us perfect beings in its collective.

Here’s the Good News: Christ came to free us from the world! Christ proclaims:

“I am the light of the world. I bring hope. Prepare to be freed!”

In Christ, we are children of God. We can do all things in Christ, who strengthens us. In Christ, we can throw off the lenses that color our perceptions, and begin to see ourselves as gifted and talented creations of a loving God. We can then see God as perfect, and us, through our salvation at Christ’s expense, as inheritors of God’s kingdom.

So the next time you see some poor soul shuffling along preparing to be assimilated, give them some hope… broadcast on all know communication frequencies:

“Christ is the light of the world. He brings hope. Prepare to be freed!”

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Preparing for Christmas

A few years ago, I interviewed some of our Sunday school kids. I started with a kindergarten class, and told them they needed to answer a few questions and that they would have to think really hard to come up with the right answers. The little pinched masks of concentration broke into smiles of relief, and every hand shot up when I asked: “How many of you have experienced more than one Christmas celebration?” My next question was greeted by a chorus of answers from little people who, even though they raised their hands, couldn’t wait to tell me the answer to my second question. The good news answer to: “Who’s coming on Christmas?”

Their unanimous and enthusiastic response? “SANTA CLAUS!”

“But wait,” I protested, “don’t we expect someone REALLY important on Christmas?”

Faces lit up and hands waved frantically: “My Mom!” “My Daddy!” “My Aunt!” “My cousins!”

“Isn’t Christmas a celebration?” I asked, “Who do we celebrate on Christmas?”

“JESUS!” shouted the entire classroom in unison.

“Ah…,” I exclaimed, “so then… what do we NEED TO DO to prepare for Christmas?”

A few hands went up while the rest wrestled with the answer to this new question. Their responses: “Put up Christmas lights?” “Send Christmas Cards?” “Put out milk and cookies for Santa?” “Shop for presents?” “Decorate the tree?”

For each of their answers, I simply asked: “Won’t we still celebrate Christmas if we don’t put up lights? …send cards? …put out milk and cookies? …buy presents? …decorate a tree?” Slowly the hands went down. They were stumped. “Well,” I asked, “it’s a celebration, isn’t it? A celebration is like a party. What is the first thing we need to do to prepare for a party?”

This time, I had finally asked the right question. “Ask people to come,” said one. “Invite people,” said another, to which the others wholeheartedly agreed.

I’m not sure what kind of answers I expected to hear from 5-year-olds, but I was surprised that I heard nothing about setting up a manger scene, lighting Advent candles, or anything faintly religious in nature. As much as the kindergarten class surprised me, however, the first grade class blew me away! The first-graders seemed even less aware of the spiritual significance of Christmas than the kindergartners had been!

I was still stunned over how the older kids could be even more focused on Santa Claus and all the commercial aspects of Christmas as I sat down for worship later that morning. We had a guest preacher, Pastor Dave Nagler from San Diego. Although Pastor Nagler was preaching on giving, he had answers for me that morning. He spoke about the book Let the Children Come unto Me, and how the world “sells” us on our needs; suddenly he had answered my question.

It was simple, really. The first-graders, being a year older, had been exposed to hundreds of hours of more television, radio, recordings, billboards, peers, and the rest of the secular world. The younger children had simply not had as much exposure… yet. I wonder if we would be so quick to plop our children down in front of the TV if we could SEE a steady stream of lethal sludge pouring out of it, directly into our children’s pure little minds.

Now I am not condemning anyone, here. I am just as guilty as anybody. As a matter of fact, the seriousness of the situation really didn’t hit me until I experienced, and actually measured the numbing effect of the world on our spiritual lives, and the lives of those we love and care about. I challenge you, ask children about the latest new game or fad, and they will be able to tell you everything about it, right down to the tiniest little detail. Think back over the years, and you may remember Pokemon, Harry Potter, Transformers, Elmo, Dora the Explorer, and many other toys and games. If we take the time to listen, our children can expound at length on most of the strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics of their favorite games and characters. Ask those same children about the 10 Commandments, and you will only get a blank stare. The sad truth is that the world is fighting to win… not just our children, but every one of us! We are certainly in this world, but we are not called to be of this world, rather we are called to be Children of God.

So then, what do we NEED TO DO to prepare for Christmas, after all?

You probably have already guessed that it doesn’t have anything to do with trees, or wreaths, or presents, or lights, or even manger scenes. You can be certain that it’s not any tradition. You don’t have to memorize anything, learn a carol, or even attend a service. Those things may comfort us, but they won’t prepare us for Christmas. What then?

Remember, Christ ALREADY came to Earth. He was born, performed his ministry, was crucified and died for us, and defeated death by rising from the grave. He is not born again every Christmas like some video on an endless cosmic loop. Christmas is a remembrance of that, a time to reflect and focus, and remember that Jesus is waiting to be born. Not in Bethlehem, but in your heart.

Jesus wants to come into each of your lives. He comes as a precious baby, not as a demanding tyrant. He comes to lift you up, not weigh you down. He comes, not to add another responsibility or burden to your life, but as a loving friend and caring healer. He comes at Christmas. He comes today. He is here, knocking at the door of your heart. Will you be like the innkeeper, and be too full to let Him in? “There’s no more room. Sorry, the world has filled me up. I just can’t fit you in, Jesus!”

Preparing for Christmas isn’t difficult. Focus on Jesus. To quote an overused phrase: “He’s the reason for the season.” Let people know about Jesus… about the free and unmerited gift of salvation that they can receive. And that includes your children; you need to tell them as well. Are you listening for the quiet little knock? Will you throw open the door to your heart? Or will there once again be… no room at the inn?

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Up in Smoke

As I mentioned in last week’s blog entry, I was out of town last weekend, so I missed most of the terrible firestorms that tore through Southern California… and especially our Brea, Yorba Linda, and East Anaheim area. Seventy mile-an-hour winds fanned huge walls of flames that bore down on communities with frightening speed and ferocity, while wind-blown embers jumped fire lines, hilltops, and 12 lanes of freeway with equal ease. At least 3 families from Messiah lost their homes to the blaze. The young hostess at Joaquin’s Mexican Restaurant, where I dine with family and friends every Friday night, evacuated with her family just moments before the inferno consumed their house. She escaped with little more than the clothes on her back. Sadly, with hundreds of homes lost to the fires, and so many people displaced, her story is not even unique. Years of memories, effort, and investment… up in smoke.

On Thursday, the day before I flew off to Ohio, I had my own fire to contend with. At about 2:30 in the afternoon, I was notified that the company that had employed me for the last 9 years was reducing its workforce by 20 percent. Needless to say, it came as a bit of a shock that my position was being eliminated. Sadly, with hundreds of jobs being lost each day, my story is not even unique. Years of memories, effort, and investment… up in smoke.

They say that it’s a Recession if your neighbor loses his job; it’s a Depression when YOU lose YOUR job. From my perspective, it’s definitely a Depression. LOL!!!

As if all of that weren’t enough, all of us have to contend with the fires in the financial markets that are burning through 401K retirement savings, stocks, and real estate. According to the LA Times, retirement is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Sadly, with billions in lost investments, the stories of financial losses are anything but unique. Years of memories, effort, and investment… up in smoke.

After I lost my “supposedly secure” job, I was probably the most positive person around. I recognized the blessing of getting handed a severance package along with the lay-off. I saw an immediate end to schedule pressures and stress. I saw some long delayed time off. I saw immediate savings by not having a long commute every day. I saw immediate and future opportunities in an independent business I had already put in place, and I’m really secure in the knowledge that God is leading and protecting me.

I overheard someone talking about me, though… they said: “Dave’s putting up a brave front, but I know he must be upset and worried about finding another job.” Actually, I am not. Christ taught his disciples, and he teaches us today, about worry. He absolutely says: “DO NOT WORRY!” Get out your Bible and read Matthew 6:25-34, where Jesus asks: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Those passages from Matthew also give us the key to a positive attitude:

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:33-34

In seeking God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, we need to come alive in God’s Spirit, and that… is a Spirit of power, not one of worry or fear. Seek God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness in His Word, in worship, in fellowship, in prayer, and in service. When you walk every day with Jesus, it’s really hard to have a negative attitude.

Most of us know the truth in the statement that: “Each day has enough trouble of its own.” How we respond to trouble shows the world exactly where our heart lies… as orphans of a dark and uncertain fate, or as beloved children of God. Christ wrote the end of the story on my heart, and nothing is going to change the joy I know and the peace that fills my soul.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Say the Word…

You won’t see me in the parking lot or in worship at Messiah Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda this weekend. You see, I’m off attending a Leadership Conference in Columbus, Ohio through this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I’m way too busy to write anything, let alone post anything to this blog. And yet… here it is, a blog posted right on time. If I didn’t take a laptop with me, if I’m not accessing the internet from Ohio, how can I be attending a conference and publishing at the same time?

The answer is simple: my servant is publishing the blog for me. In this case, my servant is technology. The blog software allows me to publish an entry, and specify exactly when I would like it to be posted. I suppose that I have to have some faith that the technology will work, but we exercise that type of faith every day. We use cruise control in our cars, expect alarms to wake us, and fly in planes that, if not completely computer controlled, at least use an auto-pilot. Basically, we specify what we want done, and it happens.

Some people are used to having their orders carried out by employees or servants. LOL… some bosses don’t seem to get the difference between the two!

In either case, most of us can relate to the story of the Centurion from the book of Matthew:

“When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. "Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”

Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.”

The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, 'Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.”

Matthew 8:5-13

Wow! What amazing faith! This man was a three-strike offender in the eyes of everybody. He was NOT a Jew… he was Roman… AND he was part of the force occupying Israel at that time. And yet, Jesus says: “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” Jesus warns his disciples, all of Israel, and… all of us today… that though we might have been set aside as subjects of the Kingdom, without faith we will be thrown outside… into the darkness. This centurion… this man of faith… stood before Jesus and in faith said: “Say the word.”

Say the word, Jesus… and heal our hurts.
Say the word, Jesus… and heal our brokenness.
Say the word, Jesus… and heal our homes.
Say the word, Jesus… and heal our children.
Say the word, Jesus… and heal our churches.
Say the word, Jesus… and heal our country.
Say the word, Jesus… and heal our hearts!

In faith, Jesus, I turn to you and say: “Say the word!”

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Hallelujah

Hallelujah! “Praise the Lord” is what “hallelujah” means in Hebrew.

The other day, I was watching the DVD of Shrek with Jeffrey (my awesome 15-month old grandson). Actually, I was watching it, and he was mostly excited about dancing to the various songs that run through the movie. He is completely unconcerned with any of the machinations of storytelling or movie making… to him, it’s all colors, motion, sound, and (best of all) music. Eddie Murphy’s karaoke version of “I’m a Believer” at the end of the movie seemed to be his personal favorite. And again, he can’t yet relate to choreography. And yet, his dancing is full of wild abandon and joy; mine is full of knee-popping and injured muscles that scream for me to knock it off. In the midst of his joy, I cry “hallelujah” for the blessings and joy that the Lord showers on me.

Then came a part of the Shrek movie where an overheard conversation is misinterpreted, angry words are exchanged, and it looks like anything BUT a happy ending. As all of the main characters continue sadly along paths that can only lead to unhappiness, a song substitutes for dialog as the movie follows the unhappy progress of the characters.

That song stuck in my mind… long after the movie ended… for days, so I finally looked it up. The song, “Hallelujah” was written in 1985 by Leonard Cohen, and then reworked a bit and performed in the movie Shrek by Rufus Wainwright. It’s full of Biblical imagery. I see: King David, Sampson, the Garden, Christ’s ministry, and salvation… even in our brokenness! Ah, but lyrics and music are interesting, eh? Each of us brings our own experiences and background to our perception of what we hear. Listen to the following audio, and consider the lyrics (maybe, even as you follow along)… what do YOU see?

Rufus Wainwright - Hallelujah
Copyright © 1985 Leonard Cohen and Sony/ATV
Music Publishing Canada Company.

I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Maybe I've been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time you'd let me know
What's real and going on below
But now you never show it to me do you?
Remember when I moved in you?
The holy dark was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Maybe there's a God above
And all I ever learned from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
It's not a cry you can hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

A funny thing developed after I repented in my own brokenness and asked Jesus to come into my life as my Lord and Savior: my eyes were opened to perceive so much more of the joy that was already in my world, and I could also see so many more “hallelujah” moments in life!

Hallelujah!!!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Who Will Serve?

It’s almost 1 a.m. on Election Day, and according to the news services, passions are running high. The polls won’t open here for another 6 hours, but voting in the rest of the country is already well underway. Actually, with absentee ballots and early voting, a surprising 14% of L.A. County has already cast their ballots.

I have always exercised my right to vote… indeed, I count it a privilege to be able to cast a free ballot, to voice my opinion, and to campaign without fear of reprisal. I thank God for the blessings and protections that we enjoy (and often take for granted) in this country. I urge you to cast your vote, too. Whatever your affiliations, leanings, or views, I hope you take the time to let your voice be heard.

In many ways, this is a historic election. Well, aren’t they all? LOL!!! Either way, we will make history; either by electing a black president, or a female vice-president. Besides the national, state, and local elections, there are measures, amendments, issues, and bond acts to decide. And that’s where it comes down to the question: Who will serve? Who will get elected to serve a term in office? Which measures best serve the common good, and which serve only a few special interests?

Hmmm… who will serve? What about us? Will we support the newly elected officials, or will we cry “foul” if our candidate loses? Will we support the amendments just voted into law, or will we rush to court to try to invalidate them? Will we serve our country and our communities, or will we continue to serve only ourselves? So many people seem to be caught up serving the gods of politics, party affiliation, and self interest that the thought of serving God cannot occur at all.

I can understand Joshua’s frustration with the people of Israel when he said to them:

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:14-15

As for me, I will serve the Lord! I will share the joy and the peace I have found in Christ with those around me. I will pray for wisdom, patience, humility, strength, courage, and faith for OUR new president-elect this week. I will pray for this country… for a healing from divisiveness, brokenness, frustration, and hate. I will pray for a renewal of spirit and faithfulness in this country, so that more and more people will decide to serve the Lord.

So choose! Who will YOU serve?

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Faith Stories

Back in April of 2008, I posted “God Calling”; a poem from a booklet titled Faith Stories that our church had published. Well, it turns out that we have that booklet available on our church’s site. Read the booklet’s introduction to find out about “memorial stones”, and why they are important! As you read the words in the booklet, you may find that your relationship with the Living Word may grow ever deeper. For all of the Faith Stories, just click on the following link:

http://www.messiahyl.com/content/devotion/FaithWeb3.pdf

This is going to be a very short post, because I’m challenging everybody to read (or re-read) through Faith Stories. Consider which of the stories moved you most, and then post a reply about how and why. Hopefully, your thoughts and words will not only stimulate this blog thread, but will also encourage the Faith Stories authors.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave