While looking thru the Christmas cards in the church mail today, I suddenly realized that it was either this week or never! Last year while recuperating, I indeed had time to send some 200 plus cards. Not so much this year so I decided I’d write a LONG note conveying our Christmas greetings.
We have certainly been blessed this past year as we indeed hope you were as well! And in so many very diverse ways! As Pastor Carl outlined for us this morning, we may not always choose an (1) awareness of how deeply God has historically and yet even today, longs to be intimately involved in sowing peace amidst the abundance of conflict in our intersecting relationships, even in this community. It’s not like we don’t know we need Jesus big time everywhere! Perhaps we’re so “tightly wound or bound up” we’re immune to any degree of (2) anticipation of anything significant beyond mere survival, and certainly not, (3) already joyfully aware of his gifts, not to mention anticipating broadening and facilitating his gifts in greater exciting dimensions as He empowers us through the Holy Spirit.
So once again, after the Christmas Season is laid to rest, (perhaps even before) and our spiritual eyes have glazed over, and we return to our pews (if we even showed up) to simply sit, soak and sour. And if this Season’s Greetings stuff is just all too mundane, troublesome, or worry some, we may even just split and withdraw from the festivities totally.
Wow, is that ever negative! Or, is there an element of truth present? I maintain either a Christmas or Easter based transformation is actually our only antidote. Cuddling up with one more Hallmark Christmas rendition and all our inherited culture and legalism will not empower meaningful spiritual joy in our hearts and minds and for sure, not in anyone else’s either. Aptly summarized, I’ve heard it said true worship is revealed by who we obey, not merely who we sing to. Ouch!
Quoting beginning from John 17:31 “Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? ….. These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” And from John 3:17, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Folks, scripture such as the above has been the bedrock of our faith. Our need for peace and overcoming may someday be experienced in a dimension we cannot now fully even imagine. I totally understand books are written daily to substantiate any passing whim or anticipated market. I just listened last week twice to a book by an agnostic author I’ve not read prior (hence the listening twice) by name of David Horowitz titled “Dark Agenda: The War to Destroy Christian America” that basically connects all the historical dots I have thus ”lived and witnessed” in my 71 years revealing a candid first hand reporting that I find both enlightening and so very disgusting, considering the current world events.
Somehow I feel like we’re entering a time similar to that of the correspondence between Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Maria von Wedemeyer 1943-45 in the book titled “Love Letters From Cell 92,” as edited by Ruth-Alice von Bismarck. The writings of David Horowitz may deeply disturb all of us on different fronts and levels, but his pedigree is unequaled being raised in a Jewish communist/socialist family investing half of his life in such causes but because of some bitter life experiences, awakened and converted during early midlife and is now today one of the few authors who publicly speak of the major role the Reformation played in birthing this unique American experiment of government.
Quoting from Dark Agenda, “By 1776, the colonists had come to a revolutionary conclusion. These 150 years of experiments in colonial government had persuaded them that the theocratic government was not only a bad idea, but an un-Christian one as well. A theocracy was invariably oppressive because it allowed no room for dissent, no freedom of conscience for the individual. Contrary to the claims of Christopher Hitchens, and other detractors of Christianity, America is the logical, if not the inevitable, development of the Protestant Reformation. Hitchens was the most articulate and entertaining of the New Atheists, first meeting David Horowitz as a budding radical in London in the 60’s and then as a close fiends for the decade before his death in late 2011.
Two core doctrines of the Reformation were “justification by faith” and “the priesthood of all believers” (I would add ‘in community, and not individually,’ the latter being so prevalent today)” The first reflected the Augustinian view that human beings were flawed and sinful by nature and, therefore, can only be saved by God’s grace. This led logically to the American idea that government requires checks and balances to restrain the devious impulses and desires of its citizens and officials. As James Madison, one of the principal framers of the Constitution, put it: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” The second core, “the priesthood of all believers” led directly to the principle at the heart of the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal” and endowed with rights by their Creator – rights no government has the right to deny.
And I would add, doing so in community rather than “in our own eyes,” to insure equality and rights are lived out and perfected in actual practice; or, if you would, “caught” not merely “taught.”
So be alert to the new definitions of “created equal” and “endowed with rights” in light of current events!
Now we will transition from the “big-picture” historical to the current events at the Erb residence at 2417. I recall my Christmas joy last year was permission from my doctor to put partial weight on both legs. And now 15 months later after the accident 9/18/18, I’m glad to report I have no pain or limitations whatsoever in either leg. Rather amazing considering the grim verdict before going in to surgery. I was so very fortunate to have another opportunity at continuing my mobility.
As I say in the by-line to my blog, merlinsmustache, “Retooled & Thriving,” none of you have any idea just how true that R & T is for me. But not just because I made a choice; it was because I was given another opportunity to make a choice! I do not take that opportunity lightly as we all know “timing” is everything, whether in basketball or your life, a split second or five feet more may introduce us to eternity.
For Loretta and I, we did begin 2019 with everything up for grabs. We were indeed reluctantly considering some serious downsizing. And then in October, after more than year of intensive prayer and soul- searching, God suddenly provided an answer taking us in a whole new direction, all occurring ironically within 48 hours of our implementation of daily reading “decrees and declarations,” and within minutes of us seriously considering accepting a “low-ball’ offer on some real estate. Simply amazing how God has once more provided so abundantly! In addition, it was determined that Loretta’s mother who has lived in our rental out front for the past nine years should now move in with us for her continued safety which she is eagerly anticipating. So now we will have a brick rancher to rent early next year if anyone is looking.
And yes, I am no longer debating changing vocations. Now I find it difficult to believe I so resisted a career change. Indeed, what was I thinking? God has opened so many doors and opportunities for us to experience life during the past 15 months, it is almost breath-taking. And so deeply satisfying!
And this is where we best close. We do wish each of you a Merry Christmas and a most Joyous New Year as we move forward “exercising” our opportunities of faith by living and knowing that “Jesus did in fact overcome the world” as exhibited in his birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and his ever-present gift of the Spirit. Go forth in 2020 both knowingly empowered and endowed! merlin