Monday, December 26, 2011
Please join us
We hope that you have enjoyed sharing Advent with our Church. If you would like to continue on the journey with us, we publish weekly devotionals throughout the year at www.jmdevotional.blogspot.com and daily through Lent at www.jmlent.blogspot.com.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Devotional 12-25-11
Light shines through the lectionary Gospel reading for Christmas Day - the
stunning Prologue to the Gospel of John:
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:6-9)
Most times when I read this prologue, I am focused on John the Evangelist’s powerful description of how Christ came into the world as the Word: the Word that was with God, the Word that was God, the Word that was in the beginning with God, and the Word that came as life and light. I am often stunned by the power of this poetic prologue and what—and how—it tells us of the God who chose to become human, as life and flesh and light, and a God who is involved with us. Yet, in the midst of the stunning description of the Word, I am drawn back to John—the one who we call the baptizer, the one who prepared the way, who as the Scripture puts it, “. . .came as a witness to testify to the light. . .” Testimony to the light coming into the darkness!
We need darkness. I find myself uncomfortable with the ways that we perpetuate stereotypes that hold that all that is good is light and bright and white, and all that is evil is dark and black. We need darkness. The seed in the ground, the child in the womb, a night of sleep, the body and soul in rest and dreaming! We must have times of shelter from the light in order to grow in the ways that God calls us to grow. The prophet Isaiah says from God, “I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name” (Isaiah 45:3). Classical spiritual writers speak of the “dark night of the soul”.
And yet, even as we are called to accept the gifts within darkness, the holy season of Christmas bids us to recognize our ancient longing for light - to celebrate the God who came to us as light into the world. In the midst of the shadows in our lives, in the dark nights of the soul, God calls us to look deeper, and to look more closely. We find the presence of the Christ who dwells there – the light of the world. And, when we find that presence of Christ in our lives - to bear witness to the light!
How do we, in our own lives, do what John the baptizer was called to do with his life? How do we bear witness to the light of Christ in our family, our home, our community, and the world?
Entering into the holy season of Christmas, here at the end of our Advent journey, join me in this examination of conscience:
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:6-9)
Most times when I read this prologue, I am focused on John the Evangelist’s powerful description of how Christ came into the world as the Word: the Word that was with God, the Word that was God, the Word that was in the beginning with God, and the Word that came as life and light. I am often stunned by the power of this poetic prologue and what—and how—it tells us of the God who chose to become human, as life and flesh and light, and a God who is involved with us. Yet, in the midst of the stunning description of the Word, I am drawn back to John—the one who we call the baptizer, the one who prepared the way, who as the Scripture puts it, “. . .came as a witness to testify to the light. . .” Testimony to the light coming into the darkness!
We need darkness. I find myself uncomfortable with the ways that we perpetuate stereotypes that hold that all that is good is light and bright and white, and all that is evil is dark and black. We need darkness. The seed in the ground, the child in the womb, a night of sleep, the body and soul in rest and dreaming! We must have times of shelter from the light in order to grow in the ways that God calls us to grow. The prophet Isaiah says from God, “I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name” (Isaiah 45:3). Classical spiritual writers speak of the “dark night of the soul”.
And yet, even as we are called to accept the gifts within darkness, the holy season of Christmas bids us to recognize our ancient longing for light - to celebrate the God who came to us as light into the world. In the midst of the shadows in our lives, in the dark nights of the soul, God calls us to look deeper, and to look more closely. We find the presence of the Christ who dwells there – the light of the world. And, when we find that presence of Christ in our lives - to bear witness to the light!
How do we, in our own lives, do what John the baptizer was called to do with his life? How do we bear witness to the light of Christ in our family, our home, our community, and the world?
Entering into the holy season of Christmas, here at the end of our Advent journey, join me in this examination of conscience:
- In the days, weeks, months to come, how will I bear witness to, point toward, open myself to and share the God who came as life and light?
- Are there any shadows that I’ve grown too comfortable with, any places of darkness that God might be wanting to stir around in and shed light on?
- Are there pockets of ignorance or indifference within me that God might be desiring to illuminate?
- Is there some dark corner of my soul that I’ve been content to leave in the shadow, in mystery, where God might be inviting me to light even a small flame and wait in the stillness to see what God reveals?
- What light beckons me? What does God want of me as God’s witness?
Wherever your path takes you, may this Christmas be
for you and yours a season of celebration, one of hope, and a time of peace - a
time of light in the darkness!
Rev. Dr. Bill Wilson
Rev. Dr. Bill Wilson
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Devotional 12-24-11
Please read Luke 2:1-7
“When Christmas morn is dawning, I wish that I could be
There by the manger cradle, God’s son, newborn, to see.
There by the manger cradle, God’s Son, newborn, to see.”
Christmas Eve. Does Christmas Eve mean relief that the season is drawing to an end? As I write this, a local radio station has already been playing Christmas music for two weeks. Christmas displays are out before Halloween! True, Christians stole secular traditions such as winter solstice lighting of trees, but we have allowed the secular world to steal the truth of Advent anticipation from us. Let me rephrase that: it’s one thing for the secular world to do what it does; it is not so fine that we allow the meaning of our faith to be steamrollered by the secular and commercial world. Christmas Eve becomes the “last minute” for attending to secular desires and holiday preparations instead of searching for the manger cradle, “God’s Son, newborn, to see.”
“How kind of you, our Savior, for us to come to earth.
O may we not by sinning, despise your lowly birth.
O may we not by sinning, despise your lowly birth.”
Through the birth of the human child Jesus, we receive the revelation of God to us. In a prayer, Professor Laurence Hull Stookey petitions: “Grant that, being born in our hearts, he may save us from all our sins, and restore within us the image and likeness of our Creator.” Jesus Christ, born into this world, is the gift of our salvation from sin and death. What does it say about us to receive the gift of salvation if we then willfully displease to God? “O may we not by sinning despise your lowly birth.”
On this Christmas Eve, let your mind and heart feel the emotion of God’s tender love for this world. Focus away from secular concerns toward the love radiating from a cow’s feed bin. Heaven knows, this hurting, struggling world needs God’s love! In the experiences of our lives, WE need God’s love! More importantly, don’t we have some tender love to share?
Let this be our prayer:
“We need you, O Lord Jesus, to be our dearest friend.
Your love will guard and guide us and keep us to life’s end.
Your love will guard and guide us and keep us to life’s end.”
The poetry is attributed to Elisabeth Ehrenborg-Posse, translated by Joel Lundeen. It is set to a German folk tune in our United Methodist hymnal and reflects the reading from Luke. May God’s full blessings be yours this Christmas Eve. See you this evening, Christmas Eve at Johnson Memorial! Merry Christmas! Love, Jack Lipphardt
Rev. Jack Lipphardt
“When Christmas morn is dawning, I wish that I could be
There by the manger cradle, God’s son, newborn, to see.
There by the manger cradle, God’s Son, newborn, to see.”
Christmas Eve. Does Christmas Eve mean relief that the season is drawing to an end? As I write this, a local radio station has already been playing Christmas music for two weeks. Christmas displays are out before Halloween! True, Christians stole secular traditions such as winter solstice lighting of trees, but we have allowed the secular world to steal the truth of Advent anticipation from us. Let me rephrase that: it’s one thing for the secular world to do what it does; it is not so fine that we allow the meaning of our faith to be steamrollered by the secular and commercial world. Christmas Eve becomes the “last minute” for attending to secular desires and holiday preparations instead of searching for the manger cradle, “God’s Son, newborn, to see.”
“How kind of you, our Savior, for us to come to earth.
O may we not by sinning, despise your lowly birth.
O may we not by sinning, despise your lowly birth.”
Through the birth of the human child Jesus, we receive the revelation of God to us. In a prayer, Professor Laurence Hull Stookey petitions: “Grant that, being born in our hearts, he may save us from all our sins, and restore within us the image and likeness of our Creator.” Jesus Christ, born into this world, is the gift of our salvation from sin and death. What does it say about us to receive the gift of salvation if we then willfully displease to God? “O may we not by sinning despise your lowly birth.”
On this Christmas Eve, let your mind and heart feel the emotion of God’s tender love for this world. Focus away from secular concerns toward the love radiating from a cow’s feed bin. Heaven knows, this hurting, struggling world needs God’s love! In the experiences of our lives, WE need God’s love! More importantly, don’t we have some tender love to share?
Let this be our prayer:
“We need you, O Lord Jesus, to be our dearest friend.
Your love will guard and guide us and keep us to life’s end.
Your love will guard and guide us and keep us to life’s end.”
The poetry is attributed to Elisabeth Ehrenborg-Posse, translated by Joel Lundeen. It is set to a German folk tune in our United Methodist hymnal and reflects the reading from Luke. May God’s full blessings be yours this Christmas Eve. See you this evening, Christmas Eve at Johnson Memorial! Merry Christmas! Love, Jack Lipphardt
Rev. Jack Lipphardt
Friday, December 23, 2011
Devotional 12-23-11
“Someone With Skin On”
At the feet of my friend and mentor, Kathy, I learned the practice of looking to the person of Christ in fleshing out emotions and experiences. Kathy taught me to ask “When did Jesus feel this way?” when facing something uncomfortable and to find comfort in the knowledge that He had. For example, “Did Jesus ever feel sad?” He did. See John chapter 11; He cried when his friend died. “Was Jesus ever betrayed by someone He loved?” Yes, and the betrayer’s name was Judas (see Matthew 26).
In this season of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth, I am grateful. Grateful for His life and the comfort I find in knowing Jesus experienced many of things I experience. I invite you to read the following story from MaxSmithOnline.com. I love this story because it reminds me that Jesus’ life’s purpose was more than to be our savior, redeemer and ransom. He is our example, our comfort.
A little girl had been tucked in bed one night after the family prayers. It was a stormy night, the lightning flashed across the sky and thunder shook the house. The youngster endured this as long as possible. Then, she scurried to the living room and threw herself into her mother’s arms exclaiming, “I am afraid.” The mother quieted the child as she put her back to bed saying, “Remember, honey, God loves you and He will keep you safe.”
But, no sooner had the mother returned to the front room and seated herself comfortably, than the child appeared in the doorway crying, “Mommy, I’m still afraid.” Mother put the child back to bed telling her, “Honey, you must stay in bed, you are perfectly safe, I told you that God loves you and He will take care of you.” The little girl replied, “I know God loves me mommy, but, when it is thundering and lightning, I want someone with skin on to love me.”
God knows that we, like the little girl in the story, need someone with skin on to love us. Someone to walk like us, talk like us, love like us, hurt like us… to be like us. Jesus came to us. Became flesh. Put on skin. Walked. Talked. Breathed. Healed. Taught. Lived. Died. And loved. Let us also love. Glad tidings to you of comfort, and of joy. Amen.
Marcia Canterbury
At the feet of my friend and mentor, Kathy, I learned the practice of looking to the person of Christ in fleshing out emotions and experiences. Kathy taught me to ask “When did Jesus feel this way?” when facing something uncomfortable and to find comfort in the knowledge that He had. For example, “Did Jesus ever feel sad?” He did. See John chapter 11; He cried when his friend died. “Was Jesus ever betrayed by someone He loved?” Yes, and the betrayer’s name was Judas (see Matthew 26).
In this season of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth, I am grateful. Grateful for His life and the comfort I find in knowing Jesus experienced many of things I experience. I invite you to read the following story from MaxSmithOnline.com. I love this story because it reminds me that Jesus’ life’s purpose was more than to be our savior, redeemer and ransom. He is our example, our comfort.
A little girl had been tucked in bed one night after the family prayers. It was a stormy night, the lightning flashed across the sky and thunder shook the house. The youngster endured this as long as possible. Then, she scurried to the living room and threw herself into her mother’s arms exclaiming, “I am afraid.” The mother quieted the child as she put her back to bed saying, “Remember, honey, God loves you and He will keep you safe.”
But, no sooner had the mother returned to the front room and seated herself comfortably, than the child appeared in the doorway crying, “Mommy, I’m still afraid.” Mother put the child back to bed telling her, “Honey, you must stay in bed, you are perfectly safe, I told you that God loves you and He will take care of you.” The little girl replied, “I know God loves me mommy, but, when it is thundering and lightning, I want someone with skin on to love me.”
God knows that we, like the little girl in the story, need someone with skin on to love us. Someone to walk like us, talk like us, love like us, hurt like us… to be like us. Jesus came to us. Became flesh. Put on skin. Walked. Talked. Breathed. Healed. Taught. Lived. Died. And loved. Let us also love. Glad tidings to you of comfort, and of joy. Amen.
Marcia Canterbury
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Devotional 12-22-11
Living the Joy of the
SeasonScripture References: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98
Advent begins for the northern half of the world
during the darkest, bleakest time of year – winter – a time of short days,
dreary weather, and restless waiting…
In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis tells us how young Lucy Pevensie discovers entry to the mythical land of Narnia through the back of a wardrobe. Narnia is an intriguing, somber, snow-covered place inhabited by talking animals and creatures who endure a dismal existence because Narnia is under the powerful spell of the white witch. It is a place, Lucy is told, “where it is always winter and never Christmas.” It is a place without joy, without warmth, without reason for celebration.
Yet the citizens of Narnia are not without hope. They await the arrival of Aslan, the great lion, who alone is able to break the power of the white witch and her hold of eternal winter. They have heard the prophecy; they know the signs heralding Aslan’s arrival; they cling to the hope the prophecy will soon be fulfilled. Then, a messenger, Father Christmas, arrives with the joyous news that Aslan has come!
Aslan’s presence begins the weakening of the power of the white witch. Christmas arrives and Narnia begins to celebrate. Spring begins. Ice and snow dissolve. As Aslan moves through the land, grass and wildflowers explode with new life; the sun breaks through the overcast sky; the sea reverberates with the sound of its waves once again rushing to meet the shore.
This season of Advent we await the coming of Christ – in quiet anticipation; we contemplate the birth of the One who brings life and meaning to all we are, to all we do. May we give thanks for Jesus Christ, God’s Holy Child, given to us to break the power of the eternal winter of our souls and bring joy to our lives.
Gracious Father, renew in us the warmth of Christmas joy through the love of Jesus Christ. Bring us to the manger with eager hearts and willing spirits. Let us kneel in loving worship. Send us forth in loving service to share the Good News that our LORD has arrived and His light has overcome the darkness of our world. Amen.
Linda SummersTo leave a comment for the author, go to www.JMAdvent.blogspot.com
In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis tells us how young Lucy Pevensie discovers entry to the mythical land of Narnia through the back of a wardrobe. Narnia is an intriguing, somber, snow-covered place inhabited by talking animals and creatures who endure a dismal existence because Narnia is under the powerful spell of the white witch. It is a place, Lucy is told, “where it is always winter and never Christmas.” It is a place without joy, without warmth, without reason for celebration.
Yet the citizens of Narnia are not without hope. They await the arrival of Aslan, the great lion, who alone is able to break the power of the white witch and her hold of eternal winter. They have heard the prophecy; they know the signs heralding Aslan’s arrival; they cling to the hope the prophecy will soon be fulfilled. Then, a messenger, Father Christmas, arrives with the joyous news that Aslan has come!
Aslan’s presence begins the weakening of the power of the white witch. Christmas arrives and Narnia begins to celebrate. Spring begins. Ice and snow dissolve. As Aslan moves through the land, grass and wildflowers explode with new life; the sun breaks through the overcast sky; the sea reverberates with the sound of its waves once again rushing to meet the shore.
This season of Advent we await the coming of Christ – in quiet anticipation; we contemplate the birth of the One who brings life and meaning to all we are, to all we do. May we give thanks for Jesus Christ, God’s Holy Child, given to us to break the power of the eternal winter of our souls and bring joy to our lives.
Gracious Father, renew in us the warmth of Christmas joy through the love of Jesus Christ. Bring us to the manger with eager hearts and willing spirits. Let us kneel in loving worship. Send us forth in loving service to share the Good News that our LORD has arrived and His light has overcome the darkness of our world. Amen.
Linda SummersTo leave a comment for the author, go to www.JMAdvent.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Devotional 12-21-11
Read Titus 2:11-14
Christmas is the time of celebration of one of the mysteries of the Christian faith, the Incarnation. The root word “carn” means flesh; God took on flesh and dwelt among humans. Other words in the English language with the same root word invoke negative images. Statistics of war and catastrophe are measured in carnage, or the number of bodies slain. Preachers warn not to be interested in carnal pursuits. And, while I’m a fan of his music with partner Paul Simon, the seventies movie Carnal Knowledge certainly conjures up some negative images for me of Art Garfunkel.
Interestingly, this negative association is not seen in Spanish. The root of encarnación has the same root word and meaning, but without the negative associations. Moreover, it has connections to everyday words in the language that help lead to an understanding of the Incarnation as God’s flesh and blood in human history. One can readily see the link, for instance, between the flesh of the Incarnation and the meat, or carne, being sold at the butcher shop, or carniceria. Author Luis G. Pedraja suggests that these subtle language differences help lead to an understanding on the part of Hispanic people that in the Incarnation, God enters into ordinary, everyday human life.1
If that is true, does our language suggest that we do not want to think of God having entered the human realm as a helpless baby in the same messy way we all did? After all, why would God do that?
The writer of the Letter to Titus attempts to answer the question. It was God’s gracious act to come down here and show us how to live. We needed an example, someone to show us what it really means to fulfill God’s law. In Jesus Christ, God gave us that example, not so that we can wait for some heaven that is light years away, but so that we can live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly.
Dear God, thank you for the Incarnation, and for showing us in human form how we ought to live. Give us strength to live up to that example. Amen.
1Luis G. Pedraja,Teología: An Introduction to Hispanic Theology(Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003), 130-135.
Jeff Taylor
Christmas is the time of celebration of one of the mysteries of the Christian faith, the Incarnation. The root word “carn” means flesh; God took on flesh and dwelt among humans. Other words in the English language with the same root word invoke negative images. Statistics of war and catastrophe are measured in carnage, or the number of bodies slain. Preachers warn not to be interested in carnal pursuits. And, while I’m a fan of his music with partner Paul Simon, the seventies movie Carnal Knowledge certainly conjures up some negative images for me of Art Garfunkel.
Interestingly, this negative association is not seen in Spanish. The root of encarnación has the same root word and meaning, but without the negative associations. Moreover, it has connections to everyday words in the language that help lead to an understanding of the Incarnation as God’s flesh and blood in human history. One can readily see the link, for instance, between the flesh of the Incarnation and the meat, or carne, being sold at the butcher shop, or carniceria. Author Luis G. Pedraja suggests that these subtle language differences help lead to an understanding on the part of Hispanic people that in the Incarnation, God enters into ordinary, everyday human life.1
If that is true, does our language suggest that we do not want to think of God having entered the human realm as a helpless baby in the same messy way we all did? After all, why would God do that?
The writer of the Letter to Titus attempts to answer the question. It was God’s gracious act to come down here and show us how to live. We needed an example, someone to show us what it really means to fulfill God’s law. In Jesus Christ, God gave us that example, not so that we can wait for some heaven that is light years away, but so that we can live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly.
Dear God, thank you for the Incarnation, and for showing us in human form how we ought to live. Give us strength to live up to that example. Amen.
1Luis G. Pedraja,Teología: An Introduction to Hispanic Theology(Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003), 130-135.
Jeff Taylor
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Devotional 12-20-11
Christian belief, he says, should understand Eschaton metaphorically and with
the affirmation that the second coming of Jesus occurs over and over again for
modern man. He asserts it can come in the form of the Eucharist; be present in
our daily experiences of the Spirit, or be expressed in the celebration of
Christmas, which occurs year after year.
My goal is not to claim that Borg is right and orthodoxy is wrong. In fact, as a Karl Barth loyalist, I often shutter at some of Tillich’s theology. But, just for a moment, let us suppose that T. S. Eliot got it right about the end of time in his poem The Hollow Men: this world ends with just a whimper . . . there is no big bang. Or, consider the present day lamentations of those environmentalists who claim that it will be our carbon footprint which causes all life to cease on this planet rather than in parting clouds or descending visions. Will such an end make a fraud of our faith? Of course not. God is God, and only He knows the time and the season and the method for the world’s end.
Therefore, rather than ducking our heads and shrugging our shoulders about the meaning of the Book of Revelation, should we not give some deference to Tillich’s and Borg’s faithful witness? Doesn’t Jesus, in truth, come again and again to each one of us to comfort us in times of turmoil and to motivate us to daily feed the hungry, heal the sick, and end warfare and racial discrimination? Doesn’t Jesus come to each of us again and again at each Christmas after blessed Christmas?
The absolute truth is that no one knows the end game and no one will until it arrives.
Until then, we can be fortified by the awareness that both eschatologies may be right. Our Jesus can both come to us daily as well as at the end of time. So, welcome Christmas, hail Jesus, please come into our world for a second time this Christmas Day for, in my case, at least the 65thtime, and, for all of us, every other day thereafter.
Tom Craig
My goal is not to claim that Borg is right and orthodoxy is wrong. In fact, as a Karl Barth loyalist, I often shutter at some of Tillich’s theology. But, just for a moment, let us suppose that T. S. Eliot got it right about the end of time in his poem The Hollow Men: this world ends with just a whimper . . . there is no big bang. Or, consider the present day lamentations of those environmentalists who claim that it will be our carbon footprint which causes all life to cease on this planet rather than in parting clouds or descending visions. Will such an end make a fraud of our faith? Of course not. God is God, and only He knows the time and the season and the method for the world’s end.
Therefore, rather than ducking our heads and shrugging our shoulders about the meaning of the Book of Revelation, should we not give some deference to Tillich’s and Borg’s faithful witness? Doesn’t Jesus, in truth, come again and again to each one of us to comfort us in times of turmoil and to motivate us to daily feed the hungry, heal the sick, and end warfare and racial discrimination? Doesn’t Jesus come to each of us again and again at each Christmas after blessed Christmas?
The absolute truth is that no one knows the end game and no one will until it arrives.
Until then, we can be fortified by the awareness that both eschatologies may be right. Our Jesus can both come to us daily as well as at the end of time. So, welcome Christmas, hail Jesus, please come into our world for a second time this Christmas Day for, in my case, at least the 65thtime, and, for all of us, every other day thereafter.
Tom Craig
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