Do you hear what I hear?

It's amazing how we can learn to ignore the things which surround us, especially when we who are adults are constantly dealing with the demands of life. We often reach a point that much of what goes on around us is just blocked out. A few years ago we lived about one block from a train track. For the first few weeks we lived there we heard the train constantly, it would even wake us from our sleep at night. However after a relatively short time we learned to ignore the noise, some how we just blocked it out. Sometimes when people would visit and a train would pass they would ask how we could stand that noise. We of course never even noticed the trains passing.

 

I was reminded of this when our daughter-in-law shared this recent event with us. It seems that "Bing Crosby was on the radio crooning out: 'Remember Christ the Savior was born on Christmas day.' Upon hearing this song our 4 year old granddaughter Allison exclaimed excitedly: 'They're talking about Jesus!!'"

 

How many times have you heard that song (especially this time of the year) and not consciously though about the meaning? I know this is a problem in other areas of life also, but what about when you sing a hymn in a church setting? How often do you just sing the words from memory and not really contemplate the meaning?

 

The apostle Paul giving instructions to the church in Corinth wrote, "I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also," (1 Corinthians 14:15 KJV). That seems to say that it is important how we listen as well as how we sing.

Singing is a very important part of our Christian life and fellowship. Paul writes about this in Ephesians 5:19-20 where he says, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Our singing is in part speaking: "to one another," (this is group participation, exhortation and encouragement), as well as "to the Lord," (it is worship). He also says that the music is made "in your heart," (it is a personal involvement coupled with understanding).

So, the next time you join with the church, don't just sit there and be entertained. Participate in the worship of our Lord, encourage and exhort one another and stop and think about what you are doing or singing. After all, if a 4 year old can recognize that songs sometimes talk about Jesus, shouldn't we? Do you hear what I hear?

NOT EVERYONE BELIEVES IN CHRISTMAS!

I know this may come as a shock for some, but Christmas is a real difficult time for some folk. You may or may not celebrate the holiday as the birthday of Jesus or you may just celebrate it as a national or family holiday, or you may even choose not to celebrate it at all.

Whatever your choice, that's OK, we don't find it in the bible, but the bible give us the liberty to celebrate things other than just the things mentioned there. So, you may proclaim, "I don't believe in Christmas", and that's OK, because the important thing is that you believe in Jesus.

A friend sends me the following little story that makes an important point. "It seems that there was a woman who was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys & everything else imaginable, and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids.

Finally, the doors opened to an already crowded elevator. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff.  When the doors closed, she couldn't take it anymore and said, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found and hanged."

From the back of the elevator everyone heard a quiet, calm voice respond, "Don't worry.  We already crucified Him."  For the rest of the trip down it was so quiet you could hear only the breathing of the people in the elevator.

You see, whether you believe in Christmas or not is really not important, but if we don't understand the sacrifice that was made on our behalf we believe in nothing. Paul reminds us: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8 (NIV)

So for me I really don't believe in Christmas as a bible based holiday, but I do believe in the one that the holiday remembers. His birth was indeed miraculous, if it weren’t, it wouldn't have been recorded the way it was. But it is his death, burial and resurrection that saves us! Yes, our sins crucified him and he loves us anyway! Now, that's what we really need to remember.

Life Without God...

Someone wrote, "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil, it has no point." That sounds like a cool, insightful saying to those of us who are Christians, but what about those who are not. I received a question as to how to answer a non-believing friend who had responded to this quote in this way: "Life with God is like a lead pencil; you sharpen it and it keeps breaking, eventually there is no more pencil." So, lets think about that response.

How do you respond to someone who sees life and God in that way? My first thought is that obviously this person doesn't know MY God! The first analogy is not that God is like a pencil, but rather that life without him has no point! To the response, of God being like a continually breaking pencil, it makes me wonder when this person tried to find an answer to something that broke in their lives, but when they didn't they choose to blame God. Now, this may or may not be a correct conclusion, but I've known several people through my lifetime that have reacted this way.

Does God break? Does God fail us? I don't believe he does. However there is another problem that comes into this equation. What if you don't believe in God in the first place?

The problem with any answer that might be given from the standpoint of a believing and practicing Christian is that all of our answers are based upon faith; which are based upon scripture, which are based upon provable, confirmed historic facts and information. (1 Corinthians 15:1-9 for example).

Those who do not accept the idea that there is a God who is in control of our universe, really have nothing in common with us. Most of our beliefs and doctrines are rejected out of hand because they refuse to believe that there is a God. Whereas our basic tenant of life is based upon our belief that there is a God.

The point where the rubber meets the road (so to speak) is that our belief, our faith gives us something that those who reject God can never and will never have. That is a hope, a belief, a faith that there is something better for us than just this world with its problems and grief. It is a belief that causes us to live, make decisions, raise our families, have certain work ethics, guides our relationships and so much more. All of those things are based upon our belief in God and the hope he gives us that (if you will) the lead in the pencil never breaks or is used up.

For the non-believers this will not mean much, but to those of us who believe, the words of the Apostle Paul seem appropriate here. He wrote:

Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.

 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:11-13, The New Living Translation)

I don't know about you, but I much prefer my life of HOPE, than one without any.

Russ Lawson, Messages From The Heart

Books by Russ Lawson @ http://www.lulu.com/russlawson

IS JESUS THE REASON?

 

One of the often seen quotes at this time of the year is, "Jesus is the reason for the season." Of course that is in reference to the coming Christmas Holiday. I realize that for a lot of folks that is a very true statement. The question is, should it be that way?

 

What makes the month of December any more holy or inspiring than any other time of the year. Samuel Johnson wrote this about this season: "(We as a people or) the Church does not superstitiously observe days, merely as days, but as memorials of important facts (or events). Christmas might be kept as well upon one day of the year as another; but (I feel) there should be a stated day for commemorating the birth of our Saviour, because there is danger that what may be done on any day, will be neglected."

 

Are we in danger of neglecting remembering the day of the birth of Jesus? Well, in all honesty you have to admit that the church we read about in the bible never celebrated that day. Was it a momentous occasion? Absolutely! It received a detailed description of the day in the gospels. The problem as I see it is not the keeping of Christmas, but remembering Jesus every day.

 

Our daughter-in-law Mylinda shared these words of wisdom from our adorable 4 year old grand daughter Allison: One morning Allison told her mom: "Jesus lives in your heart. That's where I keep MY Jesus, in my heart, all day long!"

 

You see, too some Jesus is the reason for this particular season; yet those with more insight realize that Jesus is the reason for EVERY season. My prayer is that like that 4 year old little girl; I can keep Jesus in MY heart all day long. Not just this season or this month or on the 25^th of December, but every day.

 

From now on, whenever I hear the phrase, "Jesus is the reason for the season," I'm going to try to respond, "No, Jesus is the reason for every season, "because I have him right here in my heart all day long.

 

Russ Lawson, Messages From The Heart

 

When you're an Old Coot

WHEN  YOU'RE AN OLD COOT  

I've been rereading a book that about a year ago my daughter-in-law and son gave to me. Looking back on it I figure they are making a statement about me, and they may not be far off the mark. The title of the book is, "When I'm on old coot, witticisms for people who refuse to grow old gracefully." I got to thinking about that and thought I'd do a little research. Just in case you are not familiar with the word, "coot," it is defined in this way: "a harmless simple minded person," Used in this way, "Don't mind him, he's just a crazy old coot." (Webster's Dictionary)

Humm, makes me begin to rethink the nature of the gift? No, really, I know it was just a gift that was given in fun, I think! Actually, I know why they thought of me with a book with this title. It is because I don't usually make the expected decisions or the do the things that "folks of my age," are normally expected to do. I know that more than one person has thought my decision may at the least be questionable (by accepted, safe, comfortable standards).

I also got to thinking about the word, "gracefully." It is defined as: "pleasing or attractive in line, proportion, movements or actions." Humm, again not me! I don't fit into any of those categories.

So, let me see if I understand this: I'm an old crazy person who is not always pleasing or attractive in my actions. Probably a few of you can identify with me in these things (or not). The truth is, I don't mind being different (if you hadn't guessed), but especially I don't mind being different from the world, seen as crazy, don't fit in, not pleasing or acceptable in my attitudes or actions to the worlds views. If fact, that is even biblical!

Take a look at what Peter wrote to Christians in 1 Peter 4:3-6: "You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy, their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. Of course, your former friends will think you are crazy when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they'll call you a crazy old coot or simple minded. But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead.  That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead, so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit." (Paraphrase by R.L.)

Forgive my taking a few liberties with the scripture, but I believe it contains the thoughts of the original message. As I said I don't mind being different from those around me, when it comes to pleasing God. What about you?

Russ Lawson, Messages From The Heart

In case you are wondering where to get this book for your "special someone," you can find it at www.gibbs-smith.com

Books by Russ Lawson @ http://www.lulu.com/russlawson

Thanksgiving, I don't think so ....

THANKSGIVING, I DON'T THINK SO

You may not have stopped to think about it, but not everyone is thankful at Thanksgiving. Some are like the suffering person in the note below.

"I really don't get this 'Thanksgiving thing.' I don't have the 'Leave it to Beaver' family, never did. Sure it's a big time for families, but I'm alone on Thanksgiving, so what's the big deal. My kids don't live near me; I'm not close to my brother or sister, my husband left me, so what's to celebrate, Being alone? Being miserable? I'll just snuggle up in my blanket on the sofa with my TV dinner while the rest of you go on with your fairy tale lives." (Anonymous)

Now, you may think the above note is a little extreme, but is it really? Think about your life and the lives of folks you know. How many of them are truly happy? How many times do you or they worry about things in this life? There may be a family member who is sick or who had a bad report from the doctor. You may be looking at the loss of a job, a cut in your hours at work. It may be that your employer may be downsizing, or you worry about the drop in the value of your home or your savings or retirement funds.

For some people, it is difficult to celebrate the holidays in November and December. I read somewhere that there are more suicides at this time of year than any other. Why? Probably because people are reminded that they don't have the storybook lives they would like to have and they feel like they never will.

You may be wondering what worry has to do with Thanksgiving. The way it connects is that the inability to give thanks comes from the same weakness and struggling in our spirits that causes us to worry. It is a basic losing of our faith in the one who sustains us.

Did you know that at least 9 times in the New Testament we read the words, "May God be with you." Do you really believe that God is with you today? Do you recognize his power and strength around you? Could it be that you are spending so much time focusing on the negatives things that might happen, that you forget to count your blessings for today?

You see our sense of well being; the ability to give thanks is in proportion to our faith in God. Paul writes these words in Ephesians 5:19-20, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymn always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps right now, this moment, would be a good time to begin singing the old song that tells us to, "Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

Is it a time for Thanksgiving? YES! I definitely think so!

Is your string securely tied?

IS YOUR STRING SECURELY TIED?

I recently heard a story about a little boy who was sailing his little sail boat in a pond in the park. He had tied a string to the boat so he wouldn't loose it, but it had come untied. The boat began to drift out further into the pond than the boy could reach and of course he became very upset. His father was watching the whole thing and walked up and began throwing large stones to the far side of the boat. The idea of course was that the splash and the ripples would begin to move the boat back towards the shore. Before long the boat was back within the reach of the boy and he was happy once again.

I wonder if sometimes that is how God works in our lives? We begin to drift away from him, fail to talk with him, fail to worship with his children, do we fail to live lives which would honor him. Then something happens to upset the calm waters of our lives, it makes a big splash and cause ripples. Hopefully these things will cause us to begin to drift back towards God. Do you think that God ever uses those bad or difficult things that happen in your life to get your attention and shove you back into his arms?

I think the problem is that sometimes our string becomes untied, we loose our anchor and we drift. We sometimes sing the old hymn, "Will your anchor hold", notice some of the words:

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,

Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?



We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.

The writer of the book of Hebrews uses this theme to assure us that we can trust in God. God never changes and never goes back on his word and is always there for us. Notice what the writer says: "God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls."(Hebrews 6:17-19, NLT)

Is your string securely tied? Will your anchor hold? Will you recognize that the ripples or storms taking place around you may be God trying to get your attention? If you are "fastened to the Rock," then you can speak the words of Psalms 23 with security and serenity of one whose father is watching over us. You can sing the words of the song knowing even the storms won't cause you to drift?