WE BEHELD HIS GLORY

Some atheists have been putting up billboards around town, busily trying to bah humbug Christmas.  It's a curious thing, finding one's identity in a disbelief; thinking it important to dissuade others from faith.  If they are right, what possible difference would it make what anyone thought.  Or did, for that matter.

Nearly 40 years ago, Francis Schaeffer wrote these words: If man is not made in the image of God, nothing then stands in the way of inhumanity. There is no good reason why mankind should be perceived as special. Human life is cheapened. We can see this in many of the major issues being debated in our society today: abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, the increase of child abuse and violence of all kinds, pornography, the routine torture of political prisoners in many parts of the world, the crime explosion, and the random violence which surrounds us.

I'm happy that these folks are using their resources to start a conversation.  Other faiths reject the idea that we are image bearers of God, and they might take violent offense to such messages, but I am encouraged that they continue to be bothered by the very possibility of a holy and righteous God.  May we all revel in the deep truths of Christmas this year.  God loves us so much that Jesus came to live among us.  We beheld His glory.  And He suffered and died on the cross that we might have life by trusting in Him.  The answer to all of the upheaval around us (and in us!) lay in that manger long ago.  Have a blessed Christmas season!

Long-Term Praying

When each of my three children was born, I began to pray for the someone each would someday marry.  While I had no idea who that individual might be, I figured she (for David) and the two he's (for Beth and Joy) were out there somewhere, growing up and learning things and forming godly character.  It recently occurred to me that I started praying for Evan two years before he was born.  When Joy becomes Mrs. Evan Leister on September 20, I will have experienced the third great answer to those many prayers.  I am so very grateful to the Lord for providing godly, loving mates for my children.  Our four grandchildren hopefully have four corresponding little ones out there somewhere, learning to walk and talk and say the alphabet.  And learning about the great love of Jesus for them.  So my work is not done.

May I challenge you to do some long-term praying for those you love...and for those you will one day love?  Marriage is a wondrous and challenging thing.  Can't think of a better wedding gift for Evan and Joy than 27 years of prayers.  Can't think of anything better than seeing God answer so fully!

A Thankful Dad

Better to go into a house of mourning... (Eccl. 7:2)

I was honored recently to share at the funeral service for a dear lady at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church.  Selena was born in 1927.  She lived during a challenging time in our history, as a teenager in World War 2 and as a registered nurse throughout the Civil Rights Movement years.  As I sat in the packed auditorium of the church where she had faithfully served as a member and teacher for decades, I contemplated how her world changed in that lifetime.  People told stories of how Selena had touched their lives in profound ways.  And I learned so much I had never known about her.  She and her sister have been a part of our Community Bible Class for the past 20 years.  Just a month before her homegoing, she stopped me for clarification.  "Now, when I am teaching this to my class, I want to get it right...."  May I finish my race still learning and growing like that.

Understudy Paw Paw

Sometimes it's the little things.  A few days ago, my nearly two year old granddaughter decided it was time to talk with Paw Paw.  As we Face Timed together, she pulled a tissue from the Kleenex box in Chattanooga and held it up to the camera as if giving it to me.  I grabbed a tissue from my box in Memphis, held it up to the camera, and pretended to drag her gift through the computer screen.  Her look of surprise turned to a knowing twinkle in the eye and then laughter.  Magic!  The original "Paw Paw"--Charles Finney--would have been proud.  He was the real Paw Paw, the guy who brought his special brand of sparkle into the life of Lily's mom for nearly 30 years.  Lily met him only briefly in the final fleeting moments of his remarkable, dazzling, fun-filled, touched-by-God's-grace life.  She was too young to remember those moments.  As the unworthy understudy, my job is to keep the magic alive.  I accept the challenge.

 “But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.” 

Sam Gamgee 

WISE GUY

Speaking on Hebrews 4 recently, I spent some time trying to think of someone who captured the idea of enjoying God’s rest here & now.  I was thinking of some older saints I know & admire, but my favorite example turned out to be a 23-year-old guy who won an Olympic Gold Medal in Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe at Sochi.  His name is David Wise.  NBC published an article about him, & the headline caught my attention:  “David Wise’s Alternative Lifestyle Leads to Olympic Gold.”  That “alternative lifestyle”?  He’s 23.  He’s married.  He has a 2-year-old daughter.  He goes to church regularly.  He thinks one day he may become a pastor.  Rather than take offense at the headline, I think David Wise should wear it as a badge of honor.  The Christian life is not the norm.  Certainly not in the ranks of snowboarders & freestylers.  He has chosen the path less traveled.  And listen to his words:  “When you’re out there skiing for something bigger than just yourself, it just takes a lot of the pressure off for me.  I’m happy & content, fulfilled.  I have an amazing life outside of skiing.  I don’t have to perform at any time, I just get to go out and do what I enjoy doing.”  He has entered into “God’s rest”!  Who would not want to say the same thing?  Maybe the headline writer was trying to be a little snarky.  The article had nothing but praise and respect for this young man.  May his tribe increase.