For years, it seemed I would bungle through Advent hit or miss. I would start thinking about Advent on December 1st, and then when I looked at the reading list and realize I was already days behind. That is if I could manage to find the reading list from where I had tucked it away last January. Then throughout December, I would pull out the list and wonder... now which verse are we on tonight. Are we in the 3rd week 4th day?
But I finally got smart. By getting smart, I mean that I made up a calender. A calender which shows which day each reading was supposed to be done. Not only that, but I could also write each child's name down on the day that was their day. The day they were to pick the song, light and blow out the candles on the advent wreath, then hang up the marker on our countdown to Christmas calender forever indicating that we were one more day closer to Christmas.
(For a copy of our advent calender just click the link below)
There is certainly is no right or wrong way to do Advent. There isn't even anything in the Bible instructing us to celebrate Christmas much less establishing a formal Advent season. After all, Jesus most likely wasn't even born in December. The Puritans, who I consider arguably one of bravest and greatest Christian groups in all of history, didn't even celebrate Christmas because it had degenerated into a raucous party back in merry old England.
But today, who would want to miss out on a chance to join the rest of the world in the biggest of all celebrations. Especially, when it is our celebration. And Advent keeps our family focused on what it is all about: The virgin birth of Jesus the Christ.
How does your family do Advent or keep your focus on Jesus Christ over Christmas?
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." - Jesus
Mathew 11:28-30
I am sure a vast majority of us have always taken great comfort from the words, “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” But strangely, I had never connected the earlier verses in Matthew leading up to this well known statement of encouragement.
We see earlier in verse 24, Jesus crying out to the cities who should have been his greatest “supporters.” Those who were most familiar with him, but who refused to repent either with the preaching of the "greatest of old testament prophets" John the Baptist or the miracles of Jesus.
In verse 25, there is the challenging revelation that Christ reveals himself to the "babes." The unexpected part of the population. Throughout the new testement, he brings out that he most often reveals himself to those who would not be considered wise and full of common sense by the establishment.
And to these, those who come to Christ by his call. Who the establishment would consider the least, to these who walk yoked, connected like oxen, to Christ. The burden or phortion (the freight of a ship) is light or elaphros (agile).
The key word here that I have often missed is repentance. To be yoked with Christ, we must be repentant. We must turn from our selfishness, greed, love of the world, and love of the world's approval.
I also am suspect that in our pride and over zealousness, we try to carry burdens we aren't capable of carrying. Burdens that are Christ's, but we try to do alone. Things that belong to God.
The saving of the world…The changing of hearts...The separating of the chaff from the wheat....
Do you feel that we as Christians here in America feel unnecessarily burdened?
Have you ever thought about changing the "procedures" on how we conduct church? It could be that you have thought that there should be a better way each Sunday to help the local body of Christ feel connected as one unit instead of various different groups? If so, a Family Integrated Church could be what you are looking for. These Churches minimize activities and programs. Especially, those that segregate groups by age (i.e. Sunday Schools and Youth Groups). They also emphasize the parents responsibility and privilege of discipling their own Children.
Here are some Pro's and Cons to Family Integrated Churches: Pros: - They are as close to the Biblical model as we can find. The Bible is not filled with detailed instruction on how to conduct a church service. Even though there is room for debate on this, from the best we can determine the early church did the following: Preach the Word, administer the sacraments, share a meal, and share hymns. Nowhere is there mention of Sunday Schools and Youth Groups in the Bible. (Please note that just because they aren't mentioned does not, in and of itself, mean we should not have them.) - They provide an encouraging environment for parents to disciple their own children. There is always that feeling in our current model that there is a safety net just in case we don't get around to doing it ourselves. This means that sometimes us parents just don't get around to it. - They eliminate the need to recruit Sunday School teachers. If you have ever been in charge of this, you understand what a daunting and frustrating task this can be. Plus, not all Sunday school teachers are qualified for the job. - They limit "counter recruitment" opportunities. Not everyone in Sunday School and Youth Group is there to grow in their faith or to ask honest questions. I have had many a Sunday lesson diminished as one child tries to mock and distract those who are enjoying and learning. Or maybe you were asked, as I was, when growing up to join the church youth group on a retreat because it was a great place to smoke pot. - They are easier on Moms. Most people who teach in Sunday Schools are Moms who have kids in the Sunday School. This means after watching their children all week, they go to church and watch their own children, and everyone elses, and miss the the nourishment of the service. - They help put families all on the same page and teach children and young adults that church is not an oddity reserved only for grown ups. Everyone hears the same sermon and can later chat about it. This is great news! Cons: - They go against our current tradition. This means that if your church switches to this "format" some people will leave your church. - They can be a bit noisy. But not as noisy as you may think.This is especially hard for pastors who are producing a TV show each Sunday to be aired over the Internet or local television. - They can be hard on Moms. It isn't always easy to sit in the service with your children. Of course, even in Family Integrated Churches kids and young adults aren't always perfectly behaved. There is no "format" that leads to perfect behavior. Some Sundays can be taxing. But your children can do this, and most enjoy it. - There isn't the opportunity to teach Sunday School. For me, a now defunct Children's Pastor this is the worst part. However, most likely, you are the best person to disciple your own child. A couple books worth checking out are Family Integrated Church by Mark Fox or Voddie Baucham's Family Driven Faith. Comments and Questions?
1. You don't need to pray. In Luke, the disciples asked Jesus how to pray. However, it's great that you have life well under control and don't need much of God's assistance.
2. You don't need to go to church. The rest of the Body of Christ drags you down from your spiritual high. After all, you have missionary work to do at the ski slope. Next week, it is the yard work ministry.
3. You always know more than the Pastor. Every Sunday is an opportunity to critique the delivery, message, and dress of your local servant of God. A career on American Idol as a judge is sure to come your way soon.
4. Certain parts of the Bible just aren't for you. Because of your outstanding negotiation skills, you have made a special deal with God. Parts of the Bible have been ruled "not applicable" to your life.
5. You have the 67th Book of the Bible at home on your laptop. Included in it are all the solutions to the World's problems. If only God would get it in gear and have some knucklehead publisher agree with you...
If one of the above five reasons has caused you to chuckle at yourself good, I have not wasted my time. I confess that I have been guilty of most all of them at one point in my life. My hope is that you really are better than the rest of us.
I have lately seen the words pride and legalist bandied about quiet a bit. Most of the time, it appears the victims of these words are those people who are passionate, sometimes overly so, about certain positive aspects of the Christian life. I think pride can sometimes be a little bit more sneaky. It comes when we are tricked into believing special rules apply just to us. In James, we are reminded to work out our salvation with "fear and trembling." But often our own pride can blind us into complacency. Your thoughts?
In the Apostle Paul's famous chapter 13 in the book of Corinthians, Paul wrote about heaven that, "...I shall know just as I also am known." These words stand against an American media culture (i.e. reality TV etc...) which says all should clamor for attention. A world that says it is better to be known for something, even if it may be bad, than to live a life of obscurity. It appears from many of our actions that we are easily tricked into thinking that God notices and rewards people in the same way the world does. There is no Biblical proof of this I can find. We are encourage to live quiet lives both in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 and 1 Timothy 2:2.
Interestingly, there is nothing in the Bible that indicates that there is such a thing as obscurity for the believer. Paul says we will be known. I believe we will not only be known to God but also to our fellow saints in Heaven. Our enemy, the Devil, would love to discourage us otherwise. He would especially like to discourage what I see as still a small but growing phenomena in American Christianity. Women who put off glitz and glory of our time to live quiet lives for the blessings of our nation's children and for the community.
The hope of American Christianity lies with their work. We all must support them and their families. I have read reports that it takes 40 people in a church to bring one person to Christ. But the average home school mom has a 90% success rate in producing Godly offspring. Do the math. It is no wonder that our enemy would like to trick this demographic into thinking that putting all they have into child raising is misapplied energy. Even near where I live, there is a popular ministry focused on children and young adults started by a women who got tired of being home with her children. Go figure.
Moms: You are the most critically vital and important demographic group in America. Be encouraged. God is not overlooking anyone doing His will. I can tell you even from my business world experience that those who focus their energy on raising children are not missing out. Most weeks, I would rather spend a week at home with my kids than traveling about the country.
God knows us. And in Heaven, we will be known. We will be rewarded for the small things we have been faithful in (Mathew 25:14-23). How that reward plays out. I do not claim to know. We can only have faith that it will and our work will not be unknown. Not only that, but God says whatever we do for our own glory will be of no importance in Heaven. God is not tricking any of us into giving up anything of value. He saved us from destruction and perdition and is only keeping us from wasting our lives. Even though the work of child raising and daily discipleship can be hard, those doing this are doing a great work!
Your thoughts: How can we encourage families and especially Moms in raising their children for God?
We are a nation in which one of our declared purposes is the pursuit of happiness. I have always thought that this was a bit of a hedonistic statement. Did our founders make an error? Some historians think that the statement was from John Locke and originally read, "life, liberty, and property." It was then improvised by Thomas Jefferson to read, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
But if we truly are or were a Christian nation (which some critics claim we never have been), shouldn't Jefferson have said something a little bit more selfless? Did our brave forefathers goof causing us to veer off course tricking us into building big houses on golf courses instead of more important pursuits?
Of course, happiness is hard to define. In academia, they don't even like the word happiness. They prefer the term "subjective well being" instead. If you think America is the best place for "subjective well being," you may want to check out Eric Weiner's book "The Geography of Bliss." Be prepared to grab your wallet, passport, and plan on moving soon because America may not be the spot you think it is. We are somewhere in the middle of the pack when it comes to this certain type of "well being."
In ancient Hebrew, the word 'ester' is often translated blessed. But it also translates happy. Strong's defines 'ester' as "happiness, blessedness." In Psalms 84, the Psalmist puts it plainly. 'Ester' (happy) are those who live at your temple. Happy are those who are always praising you. Happy are those who strength is in you. Happy are people who trust in you. Happy are those who cry out to be with the Living God. In short, happiness is found in the pursuit of God. The pursuit of happiness is actually an ideal goal for a nation founded by various groups of Christians based on Christian ideals.
I pray America's greatest legacy will not be be our riches and the liberty we enjoy at least for the moment. But that we will be forever known as a nation that pursues happiness in pursuing God. The Psalmist implies that in our pursuit of God comes all the things we may long for and desire in our nation. What can we do to change the direction of America and make us a nation chasing happiness in God instead of riches or a socialist utopia?
The car dealer told us the 12 passenger van we had just purchased had been used by a local band previously. As we were test driving the vehicle, I pictured a bunch of high school kids driving around in the van with tubas packed in back. But when we looked up the band name he had mentioned upon return home, we found that the group was a popular punk band. In their brief bio, they also claimed to be known as unapologetic Christians. Though I praise God for their salvation, the one video I watched didn't seem very "Christian."
Watching the video, brought up a question? Should music like Rap and Punk Rock, which are essentially born out of rebellion and defiance of authority, be used in glorify God? Does using this type of music draw those on the outside into the church as its performers and proponents claim? Or does it draw those on the inside of the church away from God to the world as an unintended consequence? (Right now, some claim 70-80% of youth are separated from the church at the end of college). In other words, does form matter as long as the lyrics say "Praise Jesus?" After all, weren't some of the great hymns of the faith originally viewed with suspicion and written by ex-scoundrels.
What do you think? Is one form of music or style better in the glorification and worship of God? Or should those who think so be forever banished as a legalists?
In the middle of the night my wife asked me why I wasn’t able to sleep. I had to confess, “I am just lying here sinning. I can’t keep from worrying.” I thought I had a lot to worry about. We just had a new baby and needed a new car. I was debating on whether or not to take a new job offer, should I let two of our daughters go and tour Europe with a local orchestra they played in, etc... Though none of these things are life and death matters, I did think I had a lot of legitimate things to worry about.
As I was lying there going over the same thoughts, the same scenarios, the same conversations again and again, it struck me that I had been teaching our children that we need to live out our lives as the Word of God instructs. We don’t have to the right to underline the parts of the Bible we like, only living those parts out, and ignore the other parts we don’t like. The apostle Paul tells us in his 2nd letter to Timothy, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
That must include Jesus statement in the Gospel of Matthew to not worry about even the basic things of food, drink, and clothing. I must also follow Paul’s letter to the Philippians, when we are told not to be anxious about anything. When we worry, going over the same things over and over in my mind, we are actually rebelling against God. He does not give us the right to worry.
But here is the rub. Quitting worrying doesn’t seem that easy. Worry just sort of happens. I think it would be easier to quit something more tangible like robbing banks. That would be easy to quit. Bank robbing is dangerous, takes a lot of work, and there is severe consequences for failure, plus it is obvious to everyone that it is wrong. But worrying is easy. And everyone worries. Don't they?
In order to stop worry, we must have faith. A faith that God just might know what he is doing. A faith to trust that even if our worries come true. We can know that even then God never abandons those he has chosen. Even if we have to look to the end of the age for things to be made right.
Though a subject for another day, I also realize that not worrying is not permission to engage in foolishness. But the question of the day is how do we quit worrying? We have to have faith that what God is telling us is correct. But sometimes it is hard to apply that faith. Paul tells us to cast our cares on him with prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving. Here are some suggestions I have found to help stop worry. But feel free to help add to the list?
1)At night, quit lying in bed worrying, get up and read your Bible. (This is from Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa fame.)
2)As soon as worry starts begin going over a memory verse in your mind
3)If late at night when worry seems to strike with a vengeance, get up and click on the worship network www.worship.net (in my opinion one of the few good Christian TV programs)
4)Start going through your mind, good things that have happened…(i.e. thanksgivings)
What's does your Church sign say? There is one down the street from me which says,"Soul Out of Shape, Let God be your Personal Trainer." Another states,"Sorry Looks Back, Worry Looks Forward, Faith Looks Up!" An hour south from my home, I saw a sign which read, "Every Choice Leads Somewhere." The quote was even attributed to God himself.
I have become increasingly burdened about how our major media outlets ignore the pain and suffering of people around the world because they are Christians. Five hundred Christians, mostly women and children, in Nigeria murdered and there is barely a word mentioned. A young poor Pakistani girl attacked then thrown into prison for contacting the police? Nothing on CNN. China repatriating escaped North Korean Christians to almost certain death. You don't read about that on the news flashes when you sign onto your Yahoo email account. A father of ten and a pastor in the most dangerous place in the world killed for his faith in Christ. That doesn't make the evening news.
We Christians do, however, have tens of thousands of church sign boards across the USA. What if instead of telling people to "Smile for Jesus Today" we say, "Pastor Thrown in Prison. Wife Hungry " "Korean Girl Thrown in Concentration Camp for having Bible." What if we turned from catchy snippets to telling a blind world about the battle going on with "principalities of darkness." It may get peoples attention; which we don't have now. It might get some to walk back through those church doors because they are looking for something of such value that people are willing to give their lives for it. Let's not let such great promotional real estate go to waste.
I have been driving around town looking for the Easter banners put up by the local civic authorities with the word Believe on them like they did at Christmas. But apparently they had forgotten to put them up.
I was at the mall looking for the mass of shoppers preparing for Easter Day, and thought I would wander through the store looking at and enjoying the Easter decorations. It must have been the economic malaise that has recently hit this country, because except for the Card store it seems everyone forgot to check their calender.
On the drive back to my house, I turned on the radio to listen to some Easter music on the easy listening pop channel that each year plays Holiday music. There wasn't any. I clicked on the Christian radio station to catch a couple of hip versions of "He is Risen." But alas nothing.
I know that Easter has not been completely forgotten. There was a nice collection of dresses for little girls at the department store. I got an advertisement from a local church on special services. And I did read that the average family spends $200.00 on Easter each year for candy, decoration, and dinner.But lets just be honest here, society just doesn't change like it does at Christmas. There is no Easter Spirit among the community at large.
Like it or not, people have a tendency to be different at Christmas. More prone to be generous, secular musicians sing songs about Christ, and profound atheists have symbols of a Turkish Bishop named St. Nicholas all over their children's rooms. But at Easter...it...well...just doesn't happen.
Is it that bunny that lays eggs and decorates with pastels? Or is it that secular society says enough is enough. We will go along with you on Christmas and give you the virgin birth. But raised from the dead, that we call a halt on. I just don't know. It is just that, be honest, for most of America Easter doesn't have it.
However, one of the great problems with Christmas is that it doesn't stick around. All those good feelings slide away as the credit card bills come at the end of January. Those who catch the Easter vision. It is more than just catching a wave of societal goodness. The realization that you have been chosen by God for eternal life. That Christ died and rose again for you is permanently life changing, and the spirit doesn't quit two weeks into January.
In P. J. O'Rourke's now aging irreverent book, "All the Trouble in the World" he makes the case that there has never been a shortage of food, at least in modern times, but there has been a shortage of ethical generous behavior. All those starving people seen on TV are starving not because there is no food somewhere. They are also not starving because people don't want to send it to them. But they are starving because evil people want to steal the food (and everything else they can get there hands on) for themselves.
We, as God fearing lovable anti-abortion American Christians, of course would never condone such a thing. After all, we are the ones often sending the food to be stolen by the evil warlords and government dictators. But have you ever thought about this? Are we depriving young wonderful fun loving kids of life, because having another child will hurt our pocket book, increase our time to retirement, or cause our spouse to quit work making us sell a car, and imagine if we ran out of time to watch our sports in the evening. Well, hum maybe?
But we are running out space here on this earth you say? Nonsense! You can give every person in the world in an 2200 sq. foot two story house and fit all the houses in Texas. Of course it would be pretty cramped, but you get the picture. The rest of entire world would all be fodder for the Nature Channel and thousands of miles of fields of grain.
The replacement rate to keep the population even here in the United States is 2.13 kids per family. We are just about even right now. But that is mostly because of immigrants coming to our wonderful Christian land (thank you Puritans, Quakers, and Anglicans) and having kids because it is a great thing to do. The rest of the world, especially Europe, which we seem to want to have as a model these days,is sliding backwards on a slow train to extinction.
Children are wonderful...go forth and fill the world with fun loving kids. Remember, he who has the most kids wins...sort of.
The mythology that I would rather be rocking and rolling with my buddies in Hell, then bored floating around in the clouds in Heaven, is alive and well in America as seen in this recently opened "performing arts center" called Hells Kitchen in Tacoma. This myth as been perpetuated through the years from bands as diverse as: AC/DC Highway to ...well you know where, Mr. Billy Joel "I'd rather laugh with the sinners then cry with saints," to Death Cab for Cuties recent hit, I will follow you into the Dark.
Strange that I can't seem to find any evidence that "good time rocker" people get to party on in Hell with their buddies. (Seems even here on earth most eventually grow tired of it. ) However in interest of an open mind, I will give anyone $20 bucks and a free night out at Hells Kitchen to anyone who can send such evidence .
But I finally got smart. By getting smart, I mean that I made up a calender. A calender which shows which day each reading was supposed to be done. Not only that, but I could also write each child's name down on the day that was their day. The day they were to pick the song, light and blow out the candles on the advent wreath, then hang up the marker on our countdown to Christmas calender forever indicating that we were one more day closer to Christmas. 
