Devotion 12.31.20

Happy New Year!

Response:  And also with you.

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:16 - 25 

2020 has been quite a year by any standards, historical, personal or other such measures. Not that each generation doesn't believe its period of time to be unique.  We hear people say today that "it is worse now than ever in our history," completely ignorant of the fact that they were saying that in 1920, 1820, 1720.... you get the idea. Still, in my 61 years of living, 2020 has been unique.  

It is my first pandemic of sorts, although I was born at the tail end of rubella (German measles), as well as being born at the tail end of polio and small pox, the vaccines of both being administered to eradicate the disease in my lifetime.  I had the measles, chicken pox and the mumps, and I have met people who had polio who are close to my age.  Yet still, it has been a few generations since we've had to face a pandemic (this is NOT a political statement or writing, so don't read any opinion in this).  

We also had an election the likes of which I've not seen in awhile.  In my youth, I vividly remember 1968, which brought two assassinations (on the heals of a presidential assassination in 1963) and an election.  There were riots and more riots and counter protests at the Democrat National Convention in Chicago. 2020 has seemed to be equally contentious to that period as well, but whether or not we have peaked has yet to be seen. 1968 seemed like the peak at that time looking back in history.

All that to say, 2020 has been quite a year, at least as we are still standing on this side of the timeline with 2021 set to kick off tomorrow (Jan 1). Interestingly enough, I heard a person speak on this topic this week in a brief meeting, during which she challenged all of us to reflect on 2020 this way: 

3.  What are three lessons you learned in 2020? 

2.  Two stories from 2020 that speak to you?

1.  What is one question you take away from 2020? How will it make you different as you seek the answer to it?

She then shared a story and said one of her lessons is this:  We are all "carriers." Certainly that comes from COVID-19, but in a broader sense, we are, have been and always will be "carriers." We do carry things and share them with one another.  Sure, it can be a virus or a bacteria, but it can also be attitude, knowledge, actions and behaviors. As you look to 2021, what is it you want to carry?

Paul wrote that we carry the sins of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit.  In a sense, as I look to 2021, that is my hope: That I bear fruit of the Spirit.  I note that Paul says that against these behaviors, "there is no law." The law was written to curb the flesh.  So, what do we hope to bear as we move forward in our lives? What do we hope to "carry with us and share with others?"

Pray that we becomes carriers of the fruits of the Spirit at the very least, and that perhaps we carry with us the unbridled enthusiasm to share that good news with others who are also seeking answers and searching.

Devotion 12.28.12

"Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." Luke 2:15

And so the shepherds speak in terms that would have driven several of my college professors insane, saying "thing" in a sentence.  It seems that "thing" is an over-used, non-descriptive word in the world of academia. It lacks precision. The temptation to use "thing" is great because it's general and covers a wide-array of subjects or objects. 

"The thing about the game yesterday...."  "The thing that drives me crazy these days...." You get the idea because you use it too. So, here are the shepherds, awestruck by the sight of an angel, and then further a heavenly host singing "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among those with whom he is pleased!" (Luke 2:14) The shepherds have just learned about the birth of the Christ (in a form of announcement not available to mortals here on earth, we seem to be awestruck by gender reveals that have a small detonation that blows up blue or pink).

The angel plainly says, "...you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger," (2:12) to which the shepherds say, "this thing that has happened."  This is why I am convinced these were common laborers, skilled in the methods of tending flocks. They were blue collar types in those days of everyone being blue collar except those privileged in some way.  They've been spoken to by an angel, sung to by a chorus, and the best they can say is "this thing." The thing about it is, their lack of precision still meant something to them, and to God. They knew and He knows what we mean.

Paul tells us in Romans 8 that "...we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words." (v.26) The shepherds go on to start the process of spreading the good news of Christ immediately after seeing him in the manger, clearly not worrying about the precision of their language.  That had to be quite a night, from one angel to several to Christ himself.  Their joy and excitement had to be overwhelming as they left feeling compelled to tell anyone who would listen about the good news of what they had witnessed.

Our prayer is that we, too, share that same level of joy and witness to the good news of Christ to others.

Devotion 12.24.20

 "And he said, 'Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there a voice came to him and said, 'What are you doing here Elijah?'" 1 Kings 19:11-13

When you picture God, what do you picture? What's He look like to you? When I think of God, personally, I get an image of something along the lines of Michelangelo's painting on the Sistine Chapel, a clearly older image of God in a gray beard, hand reaching out to touch man, finger to finger.

We learn that words are worth 1000 pictures when it comes to God.  God has come to us in scripture in various forms throughout the Old Testament.  We see Him in the Garden with man, walking and talking to Adam and Eve.  We see Him as a pillar of fire and a cloud of smoke in the Exodus accounts.  We see Him as a whirlwind in Job, voice thundering, as He stands Job to account. The image of God is difficult to develop because He is vast, powerful, filling man with fear and awe when He appears.  How can you capture that image?

Elijah looks for God in the obvious:  great wind, earthquake, fire.  But God will not be contained to man's image of Him. God comes to Elijah in a whisper.

Isaiah tells us "... a little child shall lead them," (Isaiah 11:6), but our minds find that hard to believe.  A kingly and royal God coming down from His heavenly throne tossing aside power and might to be a lowly human, born as an infant to a young woman. God as a whisper and God as an infant are not the images that come to my mind when I pray or think of God, but it is the image we are given as we near Christmas Day. Fragile, small, needing everything done for Him as He relies on His mother and father, like all of us in the first few years of life.

As we prepare for Christmas Day, these are the images we are left with, and we lift a prayer of thanksgiving for God's presence in our lives as He cares for us in our own fragile state in life.

Devotion 12.23.20

 "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is might has done great things for me, and holy his is name." Luke 1:46 - 49

I had an opportunity to hear a story about a child who is about to give birth to an infant - soon in fact.  What age is this child? you ask. I believe around 19 or 20, which to me is a child. According to the person sharing this information, this child has no idea what she is in for. Since it is a true story, she needs our prayer because she is relatively "clueless" about not just childbirth (not really aware of the pain she will endure), she also has absolutely no idea what she's getting into when the baby comes into her life. The length this person sharing this with me to prepare her for the tremendous responsibility has been admirable, but like with anything, the learner has to be ready to learn.  In this case, she sounds sweet, but again, she has no idea of the responsibility she's taking on.

What a great story to hear at this time of year.  Mary, probably much younger than this girl, has a great deal of preparation, thanks to appearances by the angel from God, to visiting with her cousin Elizabeth, also the recipient of a miracle from God being pregnant with John. All this helps Mary's state of being, her mindset, as she takes on the responsibility, along with Joseph, of being the mother (parents) of God in the form of Christ.

We hear Mary, fully aware of her tremendous honor and responsibility in "The Magnificat" (Luke passage above), as she praises God for all He has done for her.

We, too, have opportunities at all times of year with great responsibilities in terms of our own family and relationships that God has gifted us with. What's our mental framework as these opportunities arise?  I can only confess to my own which at times was either/or. Either I handled it like a champion and rose to the occasion or I went into denial and sunk to the occasion, hoping it would just go away.

As we observe Advent's closing hours, let's pray that this preparation has set before us a mindset to take on the tasks and challenges God gifts us with, that we rise to these occasions with the joyful heart of a servant of God in Christ.

Devotion 2.21.20

 "In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings O favored one, the Lord is with you!" Luke 1:26 - 28

Ever been involved in a truly disruptive event. Disruptive events historically speaking are those events that dramatically change the course of things. The Great Depression, Pearl Harbor, 9/11 are three that occurred in recent history.  Disruptive events can occur in the ordinary man's life as well.  Loss of a job, loss of a loved one (especially out of the order of life - a younger person for example like a child), a big move to a strange and foreign land.

For us, it occurred twice in our marriage:  a tornado hitting our home directly only three months after our twins came into our lives in 1992, forcing us to move and rebuild; and, the move to Lubbock from Houston for a career move.  One was done in crisis mode and the other well-thought out and planned, but both had a similar impact of disruption.  The disruption is marked by a change in how things are done.  The tornado was clear, but the move unfolded as I moved from being a certain and known person in education to a "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." I went from a trusted environment where people usually took my word to a move to a land where I was viewed with skepticism, to be tested at every turn from the simple to the complex.  In the end, it made me much better at life, but the path was difficult.

You have your story too.  Of this I am certain because you are living and breathing here on earth where disruption is certain.  That is all a set up to say this:  Can you even begin to imagine being Mary? Engaged to be married in the Jewish tradition to a man, plans probably if not certainly have been made. One night an angel visits and life as you know it will never be the same again.  Later in Luke after our introduction in the verse above, we see the beginnings of the disruption as Joseph considers divorcing Mary "quietly" until God via Gabriel intervenes again. This is the beginning of many disruptive events in her life, when it is likely she only had the simple dreams of any woman of her time in her culture of being married, having a family, and raising them in the Jewish faith as well as teaching them a skill or a craft.

How does Mary respond and model for us at all of this? "Behold, I am a servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." (v 38) Most people we've seen in the bible fight, resist, or deny God's initial request.  One even runs to give us a humorous look at trying to flee God's will (Jonah).  But Mary remains faithful and seems to take God's call as it is.  

We pray when disruptive events come our way that we turn to God and "let it be to us according to your word." We pray for God's guidance as these disruptions occur, knowing that He will certainly be there to guide us and send His Spirit to strengthen us and give us wisdom.

Devotion 12.17.20

In the book "Freakonomics" by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, we are treated to analysis of the unlikely. In a chapter on cheating, for example, the authors draw lessons from two sources, sumo wrestlers and teachers. Both are professions of honor, and both, if conditions are right, can be lured into cheating.  The incentives have to be there. For example, a teacher (a profession I know very well) can be lured into cheating by providing a system to check and change answers on important tests, like tests that determine the rating in an accountability system. It has to be a perfect storm though, one that offers an incentive (or disincentive) such as a monetary award for great scores or loss of a job if the scores over time are poor. Sumo wrestling is cheating your way into a different weight class for the opportunity to wrestle in a category where the wrestler has an advantage.  To win is great honor in Japan, so the incentive is there for the wrestler to work to fudge the numbers.

People do, however, cheat if the opportunity is there and the perceived or actual incentive is right.  My accountant, who reads this, has a saying when it comes to deductions on taxes, "The difference between a pig and a hog is this: You feed a pig.  You slaughter a hog. So, do you want to be the pig or the hog?" (when it comes to declaring deductions on taxes). Lesson:  Don't be a hog. It's a good lesson for all of us in tax season.

Runners in long races wear computer chips these days to track time.  Races provide them for the serious runner who is there to run a specific time or better in order to qualify for the great races (like New York or Boston Marathons).  Yet, the check points are known in these races, placed at specific points along the course, with one exception.  It seems as though runners will be tempted to shave off portions of the course in order to improve their time, usually because they are seeking to qualify for these other races.  So, the course director has a couple of surprise check points that are not known before the race. To fail to cross them means you probably were guilty of attempting to shave off a portion of the run. In essence, you get caught.

This takes me to the 2017 Astros.  What on earth was the incentive to do what they did? This was a team that had a history of working hard, learning the system and playing hard using metrics in ways no one else had.  They were the darlings of sports writers, making the cover of Sports' Illustrated four times in a short period.  They were hailed as the team doing things right.  Then it all came crashing down on them (and us, their fans). Not that cheating doesn't exist in baseball.  Baseball will even say it is okay within reason.  The runner on second taking signs and trying to get the pitch to the batter.  Players in the dug out watching for signals from other dugouts or base coaches. The 2019 Washington Nationals, playing the Astros, were well aware of their system and changed their method of signs completely to throw them off because baseball players are drawn to take the edge regardless of what it takes sometimes.

What was the incentive?  You can say a World Championship title, but it's not that simple.  Somewhere in the Astros organization, the drive to win had to be incentivized in 2017 to the point of taking a short cut and making the outcome worth it. I'm still, as a recovering fan, waiting to learn of that part of the take.  It had to be pressure, money, reputation, pride, arrogance and several other things on the line to make it worth it to knowingly do what they did. Worth it in their minds that is.

Fortunately, because of our cheating ways, God had and has a plan. We see it unfolding in Luke chapter 1 during Advent, as the flurry of activity is swift.  Creation has come to the point of two births:  John's and Jesus.  One will prepare the way for a wayward people and the other will be the salvation.  God took no short cuts.  He didn't shred up all He created and start over. He didn't destroy what we had ruined.  In the end, God's plan unfolds and is here before us as we wait for Christ's second coming. In the end, God triumphs over our cheating ways and other short cuts in life we take.

We lift a prayer of thanksgiving for God's plan as it unfolds during Advent, that He chose to redeem us from ourselves.

Devotion 12.14.20

 "But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days." Daniel 12:13

Rev. Dr. Michael Ziegler, the Lutheran Hour speaker, delivered a message yesterday everyone should hear (click here for that message). First, the church in China is growing.  That growth is fueled by the Spirit working through brothers and sisters in Christ willing to risk all earthly status and belongings.  They grow in homes instead of churches which may be taken if it's discovered they are worshiping in them. They use prison as a place to teach the word when they've been sentenced to prison for teaching the Gospel. In the face of persecution, they have grown to 100,000,000 in China.  

Ziegler takes that to the POW's in Vietnam, and one in particular mentioned in the book "Good to Great." In the chapter called "The Stockdale Paradox," Jim Collins interviewed and cites Admiral Stockdale, a former POW (and one-time VP candidate to Ross Perot), who talked of survival.  "What was the one characteristic that was a fatal flaw to survival in the POW camp?" Collins asked.  "Those who were optimistic that we would be freed soon." The paradox, it seems, is that survival is facing the brutal reality of the situation.  In China, it's preaching the Word of God knowing the earthly cost if you are apprehended. In Vietnam, it was knowing that the situation was not good, but survival required that sober assessment to communicate in the face of torture, deprival, and substandard conditions.  

Ziegler then takes that to the prophets.  They were not given good assignments from God.  They were told to go tell Israel the truth.  In the New Testament, we read of Elizabeth, old in her years, becoming pregnant with a son who will prepare the way for Christ.  He will get Israel to turn from their ways to ask for repentance to prepare for Christ who will offer that forgiveness.  Luke chapter 1 has Gabriel telling Zechariah of the impending pregnancy and birth of John. Daniel, the prophet, was given a difficult assignment as well.  He's helping the occupied land of Israel survive that occupation with God's hand guiding him every step of the way. 

Like all prophets, their message is dire but there is also hope (the paradox).  We see the last verse in Daniel as Daniel has lived a long life a prisoner of the various kings of Babylon who is occupying Israel.  Daniel has maintained that sober assessment of his life.  Now God gives him the future he will enjoy (as did Isaiah in chapter 61 yesterday in church).  That's the "Prophet's Paradox." Knowing and speaking to Israel and to us about our current condition, but reminding us God has a plan.

In a year like 2020, we need to hear that and know the conditions we face, but also know God has a plan. We pray we listen to God and seek His plan for us.

(Lutheran Hour, Michael Ziegler, December 13, 2020 message)

Devotion 12920

 "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these this take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." Luke 1:19

And he (Gabriel) The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born to you will be called holy, the Son of the God."  Luke 1:35

Gabriel, an angel, sent from God's presence to deliver messages.  Both passages above are responses to people like us, one Zechariah who will be John the Baptist's father (at an advanced age) and the other from Mary (a virgin who is engaged). Both are startled by the sudden presence of an angel, and both are skeptical about the message he is delivering on behalf of God. "How can this be, my wife is old?" or "How can this be, I'm a virgin?"

The only thing missing from this story is a reach, a touch, a grabbing of what he is wearing to see if he is real or if Zechariah or Mary are hallucinating. No question for credentials or something official for them to see.  Other than that, the story is real for us.  "You're saying what now? Me? At my age or condition? Really? Please...."

I find the flurry of activity interesting.  Heaven is making its move.  Angels dispatched to deliver messages.  Angels speaking with calm but authority.  People in disbelief but now in the middle of God's plan.  Can you imagine being at an advanced age and telling your family you need furniture and clothing for a baby? Can you imagine having to tell people how it is possible to be pregnant but not from your fiance (or really, any other man at this moment) and that all plans for the future are on hold.

This is but the beginning.  For generations, God's chosen people have been waiting for this moment.  The unbelief of the moment will continue throughout his life, to the point that the unbelief will result in his suffering, death and resurrection to forgive us from our own sin.  God's plan is unfolding, and at Advent, we acknowledge it will unfold again, as Christ returns to us.  

We pray that God hear our petition that we "do believe, help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24) We pray that God continue to strengthen us when we, like Zechariah and Mary, are skeptical.  Lord, help our unbelief!

Devotion 12620

 Matthew chapter one opens with the genealogy of Jesus and concludes with an angel appearing to Joseph to tell him of the birth of Jesus to Mary, the virgin, as fulfillment of the event foretold in Isaiah, "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call him Immanuel (God with us)." (v 23)

Pastor Dan noted yesterday of the family that Jesus came from, and how families are depicted in our society and in scripture. Dan shared Christmas stories from his own family with us, traditions born intentionally, to pass down to new generations.  That's the image we want for Christmas, but I also thought of Robert Earl Keen's song about Christmas, "Merry Christmas from the Family," that paints an accurate picture of Christmas for many as well.  Drinking, smoking, running to the store for stuff, inane banter about life... it's all there.

Now, at this point, you may draw a line and say, "That's not really appropriate for Christmas time in a devotion." Oh really? Dan pointed out the complete dysfunction in our society in families that is reflected in scripture from the fall of man forward. 

That Jesus, our savior and "God with us," came from the family tree that He did is amazing, as noted by a recent devotion from the Lutheran Hour's Kari Vo.  We see murderers, liars, adulterers, and a host of other sinners blotting the lineage for Christ. Abraham and his intent on taking on God's vision himself through his maidservant.  David...  You know his story.  Solomon, born from an illicit affair.  

Yet God saw fit to unfold His plan in time for Mary to bear His Son to come and save us from sinners like ourselves. We know our sins, our fall from grace, and yet we see God using people just like us to deliver us a savior, Christ the Lord.  At Christmas, perhaps we should focus on the blessings from God through His Son's life on earth.  Maybe really explore the Christmas story with our families.  Our prayer is that Christmas is more than just gifts and presents, and that we take on traditions that lift the Christmas story to the point that we know of God's amazing grace given to us.

Devotion 120320

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

What is the opposite of fear? Believers are taught not to fear as far back as God established a relationship with His creation, even after it fell.  God commands Joshua in Joshua 1:9, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

So, is the opposite of fear courage and strength? Christ echoes these words in Matthew 28:19 - 20 (the Great Commission) when in v 20, He says, ".... And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." So then, are we to assume we can exercise a certain amount of courage because God/Christ is with us?

Ken Blanchard, a leadership author and speaker, has a book titled, "Servant Leadership in Action." The book is compromised of essays from various authors in the field of leadership including names like John Maxwell, Stephen MR Covey, Patrick Lencioni, and others.  In one essay, Raj Sisodia says this radical notion as he examines the acronym for servant leadership he uses:  "SELFLESS." The first "L" in SELFLESS stands for "love," and he notes, "The opposite of love is fear."

For example, should we fear death?  It is natural we will, but John 3:16 puts us at ease when John writes, "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son to die for us that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."  It doesn't stop there.  There are many bible verses that put love at the top of the list of attributes from God and that we are to have love toward one another.

So, why do we fear, as in a year like 2020 - fear of the unknown and what we believe we know or may actually know? Peter gives us a clear example as he begins to sink after walking on water toward Christ:  He takes his eyes off Christ and looks down (Matthew 14).  When we take our eyes away from our LORD, Christ, we immediately forget the command to love God with our whole heart, mind, body and spirit.  We remove the trust we have in God and place it in ourselves or something else.

Will we fail?  Absolutely, but when we do, we turn our eyes back to Christ because forgiveness and eternal life are at hand for us to be strong and courageous.  Our prayer is that we do not take our eyes of Christ, for forgiveness when we do, and that the Spirit strengthen us daily so that we keep our eyes on Christ.

Hope Men's Ministry