Breaking the Chain

On January 17^th, 2009 I published a post (Alive in Prayer) in which I referenced an excerpt called “The Lord’s Prayer” from the book “If God Talked Out Loud” by Clyde Lee Herring. I mentioned that there were untold numbers of emails circulating that contained some form of Mr. Herring’s conversation with God.

How awful!

It’s awful because every single one of the dozens of variations I have seen of the Herring piece not only do not credit Mr. Herring as the author… worse, they are included as part of a chain letter. Far worse… is the fact that these types of chain letters prey upon Christian believers!

I get dozens of these types of emails every month from well-meaning friends, family, and associates. Each one follows a familiar pattern: 

1. The Hook
   
2. The Plea
   
3. The Threat
   
4. The Reward 

The Hook is usually a story. It can range from being spiritually uplifting, a reminder of faith, or simply a collection of ways to show love to the world. Other times it may be a story of hope, a plea for prayer, or how faith overcame suffering, sickness, or loss. These are something that any of us would gladly share with our friends. Almost always, though, the stories are fiction… or a downright hoax. It’s hard to break the chain. 

The Plea is a request for something. In snail-mail chain letters this was most always a request for money; often cloaked in clever schemes (send just a dollar to 10 people on the list…). In the email incarnation of this (apparently targeted at Christians), all you are asked to do is just forward the email along to 10 people. What could be the harm in that? Well… if you do the math… if everybody did as requested for just 10 cycles of this email, well over ONE BILLION emails would be sent! If you have ever forwarded something like this along, don’t complain that your internet seems slow; junk messages like this are a huge problem to Internet Service Provider (ISP) companies the world over. It’s hard to break the chain. 

The Threat is just that: a threat. In chain letters targeted at Christians, it is soooo easy to craft a threat that works really well. All the author of the letter has to do is imply that you don’t love God if you refuse to pass on such a wonderful message. “Christ sacrificed his life for you, and you won’t send this to 10 people?” Often, they will use the words of Christ to threaten you: 

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”

Matthew 10:32-33

They imply that if you do not send the email to 10 people (sometimes to your whole address book), that you are refusing to acknowledge Christ; perhaps, even, that you do not even truly love Christ… or God! It’s hard to break the chain. 

The Reward is even more insidious: the implication is that if you send this along, you are doing God’s work, so god will love you more, and you will be closer to heaven. In addition, blessings will flow to you, prayers will be answered, health will be restored, and financial good fortune will follow you all of your days. It’s hard to break the chain. 

When atheists and non-believers get an email like this, they get more negative ammunition. They see it immediately as a chain letter, and then identify the Christian who sent it along to them as either superstitious, ignorant, or a fool. When these types of chain letter emails are passed along, they are NOT helping to improve the world’s perception of what Christians are all about. You, however, can break the chain! 

Christ commanded us to “…make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19), not to beat our fellow brothers and sisters with an electronic hammer; certainly not to lay some guilt trip on them if they don’t do as commanded by some “holy” email! If you read the rest of Matthew 28:19, you will find that Christ has given us a blueprint for how to make disciples of all nations: “…baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”; an intimate and personal connection with God’s family of believers. 

Often, I receive an email that touches my soul in a profound way. I bet you get those, too. Can we not pass that spiritual uplift along? Of course you can, just do so without including any chain letter elements in your email, and there is never any reason to send something to your entire address book. It often helps to research what you pass along… it may turn out that you may not want to pass along something that turns out to be a hoax. And don’t forget to connect in a personal way: “I just read this, and immediately thought of you,” or “I was really lifted up by this message… let me know what you think about it.” 

For myself, I pray that I can really be more of a disciple each day. I want to know my Lord and Savior better. I want to learn and grow. I want to share the blessings and joys I enjoy with others. Consider: how do people see you? Do they see a disciple at home? Do they see a disciple at work? Do they see a disciple online? Do they see a disciple in traffic? Do they see a disciple at church? Do they see a disciple of Christ at all? It’s a tough question we need to ask ourselves: “What am I doing to live, grow, and connect as a disciple of Jesus?” 

Your brother in Christ, 

Dave

Make Plans to Attend!

There is an old saying:

People don’t plan to fail…

They just fail to plan.

Carmen Pease and her team have put together a series of equipping workshops. I have attended all of them, and they just keep getting better and better. This is a fantastic opportunity to grow and learn, and the next one is coming right up on the last Saturday of January (1/31/2009; 8:30am to 11:30am). Breakfast is provided between 8:30am and 9:00am, with plenty of goodies to keep you satisfied throughout the workshop. Childcare is also provided. The cost for all this AND the workshop... it’s free! But you MUST register by 1/26/2009.

This workshop: “How to Effectively Communicate in Difficult Situations,” will be led by Dr. Debra Holland. If you’d like to know more about Dr. Holland, take a look at her web site at:

            http://www.drdebraholland.com

Who doesn’t need THIS workshop? This workshop will equip you for ministry opportunities, but it will also equip you for better communication with your spouse, your children, your parents, your boss, and your co-workers. 

So… don’t fail to plan. Don’t be left out. Do it now… register! It’s easy; just pick up the phone and call: 

714-579-2991 

Or, follow this link, and sign-up online on the Messiah, Yorba Linda site: 

            http://www.messiahyl.com

Come and join us. Come and learn… come and grow… come and see where the Spirit will lead you. Sign up online, at the Information Booth, call the office, or talk to me. I’ll see you on Sunday, and I’ll be there for the workshop, too. 

Your brother in Christ, 

Dave

Alive in Prayer

Just exactly how are we supposed to come alive in prayer, anyway? When I was growing up, I was forced to learn prayers by rote. As a Roman Catholic, I was given penance after confession, and since that usually consisted of saying something like 5 "Our Fathers" and 10 "Hail Marys", prayers became something to be rattled off with lightning speed, and very little actual contemplation. Certainly, I never considered my prayers to be a conversation with God. Prayer was not a dynamic with God, it was a religious duty; to be completed as quickly as possible. It was not until MUCH later, after coming to Christ, that I learned how to draw closer to God in prayer, how to open my heart in prayer, and how to hear God's still, small voice as I really came alive in prayer.

In his book, "If God Talked Out Loud," Clyde Lee Herring presents us with the scenario of somebody coming alive in prayer with God for the first time. There are literally thousands of sites on the internet that use the following piece by Dr. Herring, and most of them give him no credit. Even more emails pass this wonderful story around, and attribute its authorship to Unknown.

 

THE LORD'S PRAYER

This is in two parts, the prayer (in blue type) and GOD (in red type) in response.

*********

Our Father Who Art In Heaven.
Yes?
Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.
But -- you called ME!
Cal led you?
No, I didn't call you.
I'm praying.
Our Father who art in Heaven.
There -- you did it again!
Did what?
Called ME.
You said,
'Our Father who art in Heaven'
Well, here I am.
What's on your mind?
But I didn't mean anything by it.
I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.
I always say the Lord's Prayer.
It makes me feel good,
kind of like fulfilling a duty.
Well, all right.
Go on.
Okay, Hallowed be thy name.
Hold it right there.
What do you mean by that?
By what?
By 'Hallowed be thy name'?
It means, it means. . .  good grief,
I don't know what it means.
How in the world should I know?
It's just a part of the prayer.
By the way, what does it mean?
It means honored, holy… wonderful.
Hey, that makes sense.
I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before.
Thanks.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Do you really mean that?
Sure, why not?
What are you doing about it?
Doing? Why, nothing, I guess.
I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control,
of everything down here like you have up there.
We're kind of in a mess down here you know.
Yes, I know;
but, have I got control of you?
Well, I go to church.
That isn't what I asked you.
What about your bad temper?
You've really got a problem there, you know.
And then there's the way you spend your money --
all on yourself.
And what about the kind of books you read?
Now hold on just a minute!
Stop picking on me!
I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at church!
Excuse ME.
I thought you were praying
for my will to be done.
If that is to happen,
it will have to start with the ones
who are praying for it.
Like you -- for example …
Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups.
Now that you mention it,
I could probably name some others.
So could I.
I haven't thought about it very much until now,
but I really would like to cut out some of those things.
I would like to, you know, be really free.
Good.
Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together -- You and ME.
I'm proud of You.
Look, Lord, if you don't mind,
I need to finish up here.
This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.
Give us this day, our daily bread.
You need to cut out the bread.
You're overweight as it is.
Hey, wait a minute! What is this?
Here I was doing my religious duty,
and all of a sudden you break in
and remind me of all my hang-ups.
Praying is a dangerous thing.
You just might get what you ask for.
Remember,
you called ME -- and here I am.
It's too late to stop now.
Keep praying…  (pause)
Well, go on.
I'm scared to.
Scared? Of what?
I know what you'll say.
Try ME.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
What about Ann?
See? I knew it!
I knew you would bring her up!
Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories.
She never paid back the money she owes me.
I've sworn to get even with her!
But -- your prayer --
What about your prayer?
I didn't -- mean it.
Well, at least you're honest.
But, it's quite a load carrying around all that bitterness
and resentment isn't it?
Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her.
Boy, have I got some plans for her.
She'll wish she had never been born.
No, you won't feel any better.
You'll feel worse.
Revenge isn't sweet.
You know how unhappy you are --
Well, I can change that.
You can? How?
Forgive Ann.
Then, I'll forgive you;
And the hate and the sin,
will be Ann's problem -- not yours.
You will have settled the problem
as far as you are concerned.
Oh, you know, you're right.
You always are.
And more than I want revenge,
I want to be right with You … (sigh).
All right all right …
I forgive her.
There now!
Wonderful!
How do you feel?
Hmmmm. Well, not bad.
Not bad at all!
In fact, I feel pretty great!
You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight.
I haven't been getting much rest, you know.
Yeah, I know.
But, you're not through with your prayer are you? Go on.
Oh, all right.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Good! Good! I'll do that.
Just don't put yourself in a place
where you can be tempted.
What do you mean by that?
You know what I mean.
Yeah. I know.
Okay.
Go ahead. Finish your prayer.
For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen.
Do you know what would bring me glory --
What would really make me happy?
No, but I'd like to know.
I want to please you now.
I've really made a mess of things.
I want to truly follow you.
I can see now how great that would be.
So, tell me . . .
How do I make you happy?
YOU just did.

______________________________

How's YOUR prayer life? Is it alive? Are you open to God's Spirit moving in you and stirring you up during your time of prayer? Do you pray in the morning? Do you pray at night? What about praying "at all times... in all situations"? Jesus taught us the Lord's Prayer, but I suspect that His prayers started off with something like: "Abba... Father...".

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Passion

I have often heard it said that if you are not learning, you are not growing, and if you are not busy growing, you are probably busy dying. 

This week, I present you with an opportunity to learn from a spiritual mentor of mine: Mark Gorman. I have had the great privilege to support Mark’s ministry over the years (in my meager capacity). I have heard Mark speak in churches, auditoriums, and arenas across the country. Mark’s message, his leadership, his faithfulness, his caring, his intelligence, his insight into God's Word, his excitement and enthusiasm, his humor, and most of all... his love... inspires me to follow his lead. He inspires ME to want to share what he teaches me to my family, my church, my community, and the world. Here’s Mark: 

Follow The Leader 

Life is a giant game of "Follow the Leader." In this game, many people believe that, "to be a leader is to have a title." We become obsessed with gaining titles, and increasing our leadership sphere. Unfortunately, the bond between leadership and a name tag that says "Leader" is weaker than most know. You see, people don't follow titles. People follow what inspires them. The tell-tale sign of a leader is not a title, but a lifestyle that inspires others to follow.

When I think of true, inspirational leadership, I think of William Wallace, the main character in Mel Gibson's movie, "Braveheart." In the movie, Wallace is a simple man, with simple ambitions. He was not born into the aristocracy. He was not wealthy or famous. He was not uniquely gifted or talented. He was just like his fellow countrymen in every way, except for one important distinction. William Wallace came to a moment of decision in his life, where he had to choose between what he believed to be right, and what he knew to be safe. It was this decision, away from comfort and towards conviction, which separated him forever from a life of mediocrity.

You see, most people's greatest passion in life is comfort and convenience. But this is not the character that inspires men to greatness. William Wallace held no position in his country's aristocracy, and yet an entire nation followed him. Why? Because when his countrymen looked at the aristocracy, they saw men of comfort and convenience. But when they looked at Wallace, they saw a man of passion. They saw someone who stood for something, and it reminded them that they, too, had something worth standing for. He inspired them to follow.

Your effectiveness as a leader has nothing to do with your title, but with the amount of influence you carry with those around you. John Maxwell says it this way, "Leadership is influence. Nothing more. Nothing less." When people see that you believe deeply, they will want to follow you, because passion influences those who are near it. Are there men and women in your life who inspire you to be a better person? Are there people who would say that you inspire them to be better? People won't "follow the leader" just because of a title, so don't waste anymore time striving for such things. Instead, devote yourself fully to being a person of passion, and others will naturally begin to follow. In the words of John Wesley, "light yourself on fire, and people will come from miles around to watch you burn."

(This devotional is excerpted by permission from Mark's talk entitled, "Becoming A Leader." If you would like to learn more about this or other titles Mark has to offer, you can visit Mark’s site at www.markgorman.com) 

So… how’s your influence? How’s your passion? 

We have a great opportunity for you to grow and learn in the next of our Leadership Workshops coming up on the last Saturday of January (1/31/2009; 9am to 11:30am). This one is: “How to Effectively Communicate in Difficult Situations,” and will be led by Dr. Debra Holland. Come and join us. Come and learn… come and grow… come and share your passion with other leaders… come for a great morning. Did I mention the fantastic food? Now, the people that provide the breakfast and snack goodies are truly passionate about their calling! Come see where the Spirit will lead you. Sign up online, at the Information Booth, call the office, or talk to me. I’ll see you on Sunday, and I’ll be there for the workshop, too. 

Your brother in Christ, 

Dave

Happy New Year!

Thirty five years ago, I bought a very large, and very beautiful conch shell. I had been told that if I cut the end off, I could blow through the resulting hole and create a unique sound. So I bought a diamond saw blade, spent days sawing through the shell (much tougher than I thought), and then cut my lips to ribbons blowing through the hole I created. While it looked pretty smooth, sawing had left tiny jagged edges that pretty much simulated dragging my lips over broken coral. After using polishing grit on the hole for a week, my lips were healed enough for a second try. It sounded pretty weak… but I kept at it, and got better. Now when I lift the shell to my lips, a pure, deep note resonates from the shell. Picture a young Hawaiian standing on a bluff overlooking the village… his rippling muscles catching the last few rays of the setting sun… as he lifts a conch shell to his lips and sounds a beautiful call to the luau with an impossibly long blast on his conch shell horn. That’s what I imagine every time I blow the thing. I know… I know… I have an incredible imagination! Hahaha!!!  

Well, almost every year since then, I have rung in the New Year with long blasts on that conch shell horn… often to the embarrassment of my family. I guess it qualifies as a tradition. Of course, every year there are tens of thousands of people who watch a ball drop in Times Square in New York City; millions more watch it on television. Whatever the tradition, people find ways to celebrate the start of the New Year. 

Now all of this celebrating is being done by those of us who follow the Gregorian calendar. If you are Jewish, the New Year starts on a completely different day. The Chinese New Year is different, too, and so it goes for many of the cultures and people of our planet: different calendars, different New Year’s days, different celebrations, and different traditions. But no matter how we celebrate, one aspect remains the same in all cultures… we say farewell to the old year and welcome in the New Year. We take stock of the things in our lives that haven’t worked out so well, and make resolutions to do better in the coming months of the New Year. We hope for a happier, healthier, more prosperous New Year. We wish each other “Happy New Year,” but in a couple of weeks (months at the most) the resolutions are forgotten, and life continues on pretty much as it had for the past year. 

I have had only one truly memorable New Year’s Day in my life, and it wasn’t on January 1^st… it was on September 4^th, 1988. It was on that day, in Charlotte, North Carolina, that I experienced the first new day in my life. It was close to noon that day when I opened my heart and asked Christ to come into my life. Immediately, Christ came into my life and it was a New Day… a New Year… a New Life! The awesome joy of that moment makes all New Year’s celebrations pale by comparison. Paul knew that joy, and wrote of it in 2 Corinthians 5:17… 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

This is such great news, that Paul ends the sentence with an exclamation point!!! (I may be a bit of an overachiever in THAT department) 

I encourage you to do the following to start this New Year:  read the whole of that Scripture passage     (2 Corinthians 5:16-21).  After you have read it, think about it, pray about it, settle it into your heart,  and then… consider how you might apply that news to your situation. How could that news change what’s happening in Israel and Gaza? How could it change things at work, at church, in your family, perhaps even during your daily commute? 

Make no mistake, I do wish you all the best in the coming year. It’s just that “Happy New Year” seems so shallow and formulaic… when we could be embracing a new brother or sister in Christ, proclaiming with joy and excitement: “Happy New Life!” 

Your brother in Christ, 

Dave

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