Advent Week 1 2020 "A New Hope"

 Ed. Note - When I wrote these words, I was unaware of the death this weekend of David Prowse, the man behind the mask of Darth Vader. RIP David, may the force be with you.

“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…” (Cue John Williams fanfare)

How many remember when they first saw those words explode on the screen? Episode 4, “A New Hope.” Of course, after nine films, multiple tv series and spin off films, that hope seems a long, long time ago and very far, far away, some would even say disappeared after Jar-Jar Binks. But hope always found a way to come through.

With today being the Advent Sunday for hope, I want to tell you another story using one of my favorite Christmas verses.

A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away…

a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. ² She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. ³ And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. ⁴ His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. (Rev. 12)

How many have a red dragon in their Nativity? We think of Christmas as nice and pretty with Ruben’s angels flying around and sanitized straw on the floor. But Jesus didn’t come into a world all perfect. He came into a world at war with Him, a war we caused, and He meant to take it back. He came in like a covert agent, in the form of a child, to become the hope for mankind that had no hope.

To see why, we go back to the beginning. God created the earth, the plants, the animals, then Adam and Eve, and called them all good. Satan tried to throw a coup in Heaven, and was thrown to the earth with 1/3 of the angels who rebelled with him. Needless to say, not a happy camper. From that point on, Satan was out to destroy God’s creation, and win the war he started.

Well, with the help of Adam, Satan did just that, and was given dominion over all the earth, and all it’s inhabitants. Just as all seemed hopeless, God intervened. God told Adam and Eve that through them a Savior would be born that would destroy the serpent, and restore God’s Kingdom. (Genesis 3:15, God actually directed this comment towards the serpent) After that, Satan’s purpose was to make sure that Savior never came. For 5,000 some odd years, almost as long as the Star Wars saga, the world kept hoping, then loosing hope, the hoping again. Even when the world flooded, God provided a way for hope to endure. Even when Israel was enslaved in Egypt, God provided a way. In spite of invasions, and wars, and evil kings, and false prophets, God ALWAYS provided a way. And when that child was born in Bethlehem, the most unlikely hope was made flesh. And Satan was furious. And scared. His sole purpose then became to kill the child, the man, that could be his destruction. But God always has a way, and even death wasn’t enough to stop the hope.

Let’s face it, 2020 has not been the most encouraging of years. There’s not a lot we can trust in, much less that creates hope. So if God always finds a way, where is our hope? We can’t trust in governments, because governments can fall. We can’t trust in mankind, because mankind is frail. Even David wondered, but he also knew the answer. Psalm 121 says:

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From Where comes my help? My help comes from the LORD.”

And it is from there our help still comes. But an even bigger question is WHY would God be the hope we are looking for? It is because he loves us. In spite of the disappointment, in spite of the outright betrayal, He loves us so much that He sent His only Son to repair the relationship we destroyed. And after Jesus gave His life, he STILL continues to love us. He didn’t just say “OK, I’ve done my part, you’re on your own.” He STILL continues to be our hope.

We are still in a world at war. Hope seems almost non-existent. But if we can’t find hope, we’re not looking in the right place. Our hope is in the LORD, and God will ALWAYS make a way, even through a pandemic. Question is, are you willing to drop your hope in other ways, to trust and leave your problems with Him? We have to trust Him, Believe in Him, even when all around seems lost. Because He is above and beyond all others, and God WILL make a way. He alone is our hope. He sent Jesus into the world to be our hope. Will you put YOUR hope and trust in Him?

Who Are We To Be?

"Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."
-Matt. 24:35, Mk. 13:31, Luke 21:33

In his Easter message to the United Methodist Church, Bishop Kenneth Carter, Jr. said "Easter is the moment where who we are, what we believe and what we do becomes clear". I think that holds very true this Easter, because with the worldwide pandemic, those things are in flux more so than in the past. We are stripped of the things that we use to fill our time, and must contend with those things that are essential. Better said, must face those things that are essential. Often, the things that we use to fill our time are those that allow us to not consider things directly around us. With more people working from home, internet connections have often gone down, forcing us to have (gasp!) conversations. With congregations not being able to gather for coffee, donuts and gossip in person, services have gone online, causing us to rethink what worship actually is and should be.

So what do we do once this crisis is over? Do we go back to our lives as they were, or do we strive to a new normal? Humankind has been given a unique opportunity to reinvent itself into the people they have always had the vision to be. To become a nobler, kinder, gentler people, not hindered by the reality of the world. You know, "I'd love to be that way, or think that way, or do better things, but you can't do that in the real world," Well guess what? The real world is no longer a hindrance, and how we react now is what the new world can change into, at least for us individually.

So what is our "essential" to use as a foundation? I Corinthians 13: 8-10 gives us some help. "Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away, as for tongues, they will cease, as for knowledge, it will pass away." The verse above takes it even further. "Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."  This verse is repeated, in the same context, in 3 of the 4 gospels. We are in a time now where we can truly transform by going back to what will not pass away.

And transformation IS what Jesus is all about. He transformed from God to man to live among us. He transformed from unblemished to taking on the sins of the world. He transformed from life to death to Life Everlasting. And his transformation was not just for himself. He is just the first of all who would follow him.  Romans 6:4-5 says "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead, by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like this, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."

So, now that we are down to essentials, who are we to be?

Fly like an Eagle

And while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

-John Gillespie Magee, Jr., WWII Royal Canadian Air Force Pilot

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

-Isaiah 40:31

For those of you who can remember when television didn't broadcast 24/7, you may remember a sign off from the 1960's. It featured a single jet airplane, soaring through the sky, with majestic music in the background to a reading by William Conrad of the poem "High Flight". It was written by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. in a letter home to his parents in 1941, just months before a tragic mid-air collision took his life. Whenever I could stay up late enough to watch it, it always touched me somehow. It suggested that we could go beyond the cares of earth, and rise to something greater, to be something greater. The full version can be seen on YouTube. I would suggest you check it out.

But then there is an old saying "How can I soar with the eagles when I'm stuck down here with the turkeys?" (And we all know turkey's can't fly - WKRP in Cincinnati taught us that if nothing else!) It's so easy to get lost in the circumstances around us, that we forget our souls have wings that were meant to fly. The only way to counter that is to not look at, but BEYOND our circumstances. If life truly is a journey, then the only time we get stuck is when we fail to move. And we fail to move when our vision is no longer on our goal, which is Christ. We may each have a different path, because we are each individuals, but the end of each journey is still Jesus. So, I challenge you (and me) to change our focus from around us to ahead of us. From under the circumstances to beyond them. From our own hopelessness to the author of hope. Then, we can fly. Then we can put out our hand, and touch the face of God.

Anchor Down

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Psalm 1:1-4

First off, about the title. No, not talking about Vanderbilt here. (Although I AM a fan, much to the chagrin of many in my family. If any of you family members need to know what chagrin means, just let me know *snicker*.)

I'm thinking rather of an actual anchor, used to hold a ship in place, regardless of the tempest around it. We have had some rather extreme situations put upon the world in the last few weeks, and it's easy to be swept up in the chaos. (But hording toilet paper?? Really?? Come on!)

The trouble in going with the chaos is that once you give in to it, it will carry you wherever it wants to, spinning round and round like a whirlpool and sucking you down, everything moving so fast there's nothing to grab hold of. We need to drop anchor, and not be tossed by the waves around us.

So what do we anchor ourselves to? Obviously, not anything of the world. By this, I mean money, power, ego, politics, absolutely nothing that is man created or man perpetuated is immune form the turmoil in our world, not now, never before, and will not be after. All these things are temporary and have no real substance. (All is vanity-Ecclesiastes) (Heaven and Earth shall pass away - Mark 13:31)

So what do we hold on to?The rest of that verse in Mark gives the answer: "but my words shall not pass away". Is this just referring to what Jesus spoke? No, not just this, because Jesus IS the living, breathing Word of God. He is eternal, He is steadfast. He is our rock and mighty fortress. If we hold on to Him, though life be whirling like a tornado around us, we can make it through. Psalm 91 has been popping up a lot lately in response to this crises, and I've gone to it often myself in times of trouble. I would suggest, when life seems out of hand to anchor down and pray this Psalm for yourself and those around you. You may be surprised at the peace there is in giving God control, and putting yourself in His hands. They are strong enough to hold you and gentle enough to love you.

As a last note, I listened to a little bit of Don Finto's message last Sunday from Belmont Fellowship. He said there is bad news and good news. The bad news is, there are bad things happening around us. The good news is, there are also GOOD things happening around us! And God lets those grow together, until He separates the wheat from the weeds. (Matthew 13:30) So hold on, there is also goodness out there.

Also- Go 'Dores!

Peace In the Midst of the Storm

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (ESV)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,     I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff,  they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (ESV)

What a year the last couple of weeks have been! The Sunday after the tornado, my wife and I went walking around our Little League park, and watched so many children and their coaches practicing and running and throwing and hitting and laughing. One field even had adult men and women training to be umpires. Training. To. Be. Umpires. Who knew that was even a thing?

A week later, those fields are deserted. Seasons suspended. What a tornado couldn't do, a pandemic has. It's like we've been thrown into a giant Jumanji game. People working from home, or as I like to put it "Working from houses to antagonize their spouses"! Everyone knows someone or three that has either contracted or been exposed to COVID-19. And places of worship, normally a haven of peace in a time of turmoil, are suspending meetings in order to stem the spread of the virus.

What are we to do? The verses above offer some guidance, but seem to stop short of God taking the problem away. "you will have tribulation", "through the valley of the shadow", "surpasses understanding". In all of this, God is not the author of pain and suffering, but promises to be there with us through the suffering. Remember Job? It wasn't God who sent the troubles, but rather watched and waited with Job as he came through to the other side of those troubles. So we know that God is always there, ready to take our hand and lead us through as soon as we ask. (Which Job didn't by the way. Just sayin'.)

Even so, it is very easy to feel isolated and alone. How do we reach out? This is where social media, so much of a isolating presence in modern society, can actually become useful for something other than cat videos. 

Pastors, do you have access to a phone with video? Live stream your worship service, however downsized it my be. Continue to share the Word and Heart of God. 

Church members, does your church have a Facebook or Twitter account? Use it to connect with each other, encourage each other, pray for each other, share each other's needs and sorrows and joys. We could actually become more like a "family" of God than we ever have been, and not just spectators. 

A.W Tozier once said, "Worshipers never leave church...we carry our sanctuary wherever we go." There is also a hymn in the United Methodist hymnal that goes "I am the Church. You are the Church. We are the Church together. All of God's people, all around the world, yes, we're the Church together." Now is the time to show it.

If you have been quarantined (self or otherwise) then another verse may apply.

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 (ESV)

In our busy life, we often go non-stop until we drop. Now is the time to rest. Now is the time to relax in Him. Take the time to read, listen to music, study, pray. Or as a friend of mine once said, "Sometimes, you have to just sit and watch the cobwebs grow."

In all things, God promises to make good come from the bad. We can't see it because we don't have the view God has. We can only see darkness and sorrow. But joy comes in the morning. Amen. Even so, come quickly. Amen.

02/25/1960

February 25, 1960. A huge snowstorm has Nashville covered, and the city pretty much shut down. The top 20 playlist has everything from Percy Faith and Mark Denning to Dinah Washington, Marv Johnson and Lloyd Price. JFK took office just a month ago. At 6:18 am, Frances Mills has a baby boy, kicking and screaming with a mop top of red hair. (Me, not her.) 

A lot has changed since then. Snow hardly ever falls, but we do get slush. The Top 20 playlist is so homogenized every song sounds the same. We lost JFK before he even finished office, and Vietnam went into high gear. As for me, I don’t kick and scream so much as stand and groan. And the hair? Definitely not red, and unless you count my back, not nearly as much as before.

Things change. It is the way of life. CS Lewis remarked that we are made for both stability and change. God shows us change by the seasons of the year, but stability in that they follow in the same order. (In Tennessee, that is sped up somewhat from yearly to weekly!) To not change would be to not grow. To not change would be to not live.

Our Christian life is the same way. We start at the beginning as children, learning from and leaning on Jesus for our every need. As we start to take our own steps, growing in our faith and knowledge, we begin to stand separate from, but still with, Him. Our problems begin (and this is a universal problem with us) when we think we have reached completion, and can hold our own with God. We no longer feel we have to grow or learn, and think we know everything we ever need to know. 

Children of God, we will NEVER reach that point. We are of Adam’s seed, and we will always fall short of God’s glory. We will always need to rely on His guidance, not ours. Our mission is not to judge others who do not match the qualities we think we have achieved, but have not in reality. Our mission is to love others, faults and all, just as He loves us.

Yet there is, just like the seasons, stability in our lives as well, and that stability is in God alone. His love is never ending. His Peace passes understanding. He is steadfast, faithful and true. All love comes from Him. He is love, He is goodness and He is light. If our goal is to grow into His likeness, then our path is to love. Love others, all others, as He loves us. To do less is to deny the truth of God’s love. To judge others, is to pass that same judgement on to ourselves.

We must continue to grow in knowledge and love, and continue to depend on our Savior as little children. The older we get, the more we need to remember the child in all of us, and others. Love, grow, forgive. Love.