Pastor John’s Corner
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” These words from Luke 2:10-11 are a singular discourse and account of the birth of Jesus. Matthew, in his gospel, only says “Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea during the reign of King Herod.” He then tells us the story of the visit of the royal astrologers or “wisemen” as we tend to call them. Mark and John speak nothing about a miraculous birth.
Why then do you suppose it was so important for Luke to tell us about a “miraculous birth” with angels and shepherds on the hillsides and all of the other things that we have come to associate with the Nativity scene? And of course the second question would be; “Why, after 300 years, did we suddenly decide that this was event that needed to be told in this particular manner.”?
I think the answer lies in the simple word: “hope”. By the year 313 AD approximately 90% of the Roman Empire had “converted” to Christianity, however, there was a large split looming in the faith because of a division over the acceptance of the divine nature of Jesus. So the Emperor Constantine, at the Council of Nicaea, established and wrote the Nicene Creed, thereby “officially establishing” for the church, the Divinity of Christ. That then brought into play, Luke’s gospel and the telling of the Nativity story as we know it today.
I personally love the Christmas story because it is a story of hope. It tells of a longing of people to be a part of the kingdom of God. It gives us hope to know that God loves us enough to send his very own son, and that makes the birth of Christ very personal to me. Luke wrote of the birth because he felt it important that we hear the story and realize that this wasn’t just a man that God tapped on the shoulder to give a good message. This man had been miraculously conceived and angelically announced. This man was God’s Son.
I hope you too have a miraculous Christmas.
Pastor John
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Pastor John's Corner- November 2008
Vacations are a wonderful time if we only let ourselves physically and mentally actually take one. Probably one of the hardest things for me to do is to “let go” and walk away to let someone else do the job. Kathy will be the very first to attest that I am a person who has not learned to relax. But this last week Kate and I again made our way to Nevada and California, and for once I think I really relaxed and refreshed myself.
I owe part of that relaxation, and my sincere thanks, to Julie Wallis who shared her book with us called “The Shack.” I read this book from start to finish in one sitting, (four hour planes rides will give you that opportunity) and I believe it truly set the tone for our vacation. If you have not read this book, I would suggest you put it on your personal Christmas list of “things to do for myself.” I guess I would call it a “Christian fiction” book, but it is deeply theological and will not only give you much to think about, but will maybe even challenge your ideas about God’s essence and will possibly open you up to new and insightful thinking about faith ---- not religion ---- faith.
The second book I read, (yes, on the plane ride home) was called “FIREPROOF”. This story is about a couple who discovered, almost too late, that the power of Christian faith and the Holy Spirit were the only answers that might save their marriage. The book has just recently been released as a movie. Buy this book somewhere and read it.
My other relaxation blessing came as Kate and I were driving through the Lake Mead and Valley of Fire National Recreation areas. The convertible top was down, the sun was sitting low on the mountain horizon, the scenery was breath-taking and suddenly the “Hallelujah Chorus” came wonderfully and loudly through our Sirius Satellite Radio Station. God is Still Speaking! --- And when God says “take a break,” God not only means it ---- God provides the tools and the setting.
Christ’s Blessings,
Pastor John
I owe part of that relaxation, and my sincere thanks, to Julie Wallis who shared her book with us called “The Shack.” I read this book from start to finish in one sitting, (four hour planes rides will give you that opportunity) and I believe it truly set the tone for our vacation. If you have not read this book, I would suggest you put it on your personal Christmas list of “things to do for myself.” I guess I would call it a “Christian fiction” book, but it is deeply theological and will not only give you much to think about, but will maybe even challenge your ideas about God’s essence and will possibly open you up to new and insightful thinking about faith ---- not religion ---- faith.
The second book I read, (yes, on the plane ride home) was called “FIREPROOF”. This story is about a couple who discovered, almost too late, that the power of Christian faith and the Holy Spirit were the only answers that might save their marriage. The book has just recently been released as a movie. Buy this book somewhere and read it.
My other relaxation blessing came as Kate and I were driving through the Lake Mead and Valley of Fire National Recreation areas. The convertible top was down, the sun was sitting low on the mountain horizon, the scenery was breath-taking and suddenly the “Hallelujah Chorus” came wonderfully and loudly through our Sirius Satellite Radio Station. God is Still Speaking! --- And when God says “take a break,” God not only means it ---- God provides the tools and the setting.
Christ’s Blessings,
Pastor John
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