Christmas Eve Sermon - "Signs and Wonders"

Matthew 1:18-2:11

¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. ²⁰But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²²All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ²³“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” ²⁴When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, ²⁵but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

2

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ²asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” ³When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ⁶‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” ⁷Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

⁹When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Sermon:  “Signs and Wonders”

         I’ve always wondered why, out of the 4 Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – only Matthew and Luke decided to include the Christmas story – the story of Jesus’ Birth.  Mark and John never explain why they don’t include it, but if you read each Gospel, you’ll find that each writer isn’t merely writing to just write a biography, each is writing to cast Jesus in a certain light – or to prove something about Jesus. 

         For example, John begins his Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God…”  John is trying to prove that Jesus, God’s Son existed for all eternity and was active in the creation of the world, and that he was both God and Human. 

         But, today, we heard the words from the Gospel of Matthew.  And if you listened closely, you’ll find that the Christmas Story was filled with Signs and Wonders.  Did they really happen? Yes. But Matthew chose to emphasize them to  emphasize the miraculous nature of Jesus coming and dwelling on earth. 

         First, we find Mary pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  Now, if that isn’t a Sign or a Wonder, I don’t know what is!  Things like this just don’t happen on a regular basis!  What would you say if someone told you that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit? What if that person were your wife, sister, or girlfriend?  Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes – I mean sandals – for a moment.  Think of what he thought of the situation.  Just because this is in the Bible doesn’t mean we’re not dealing with regular people.  We often think – Joseph – Bible – He’s used to miracles.  Well, let me assure you…That’s NOT how it worked.

         The next sign that happened was that an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him it would all be OK.  A dream?  Now, think about that – Am I the only one here who has weird dreams?  Am I the only one who has VIVID weird dreams?  But still, Joseph trusted it was from God – and he was right.  Talk about a Sign – A Wonder!

         For some reason, Matthew decides to fast forward the story 2 years or so.  He doesn’t make it obvious unless you pay very close attention to the details in the scripture – When the wise men reached the baby Jesus, he was living in a house – he wasn’t in the stable.  It’s true our traditional manger scenes show the wise men showing up on the same night Jesus was born, but that’s not how it really happened.  But when you think about it, does the date really matter?  The fact THAT they came is the sign – the wonder that is more important.  They came following a star, and we’ll come back to that one.  But first, let’s look at the gifts they brought: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Are these signs of anything?

         Gold is a sign of royalty.  Gold is the sign that the baby Jesus is King and would be King forever and ever.  The frankincense was a sign of Jesus being God in the flesh.  In the Old Testament, frankincense was used in the Temple worship whenever the name of God was mentioned, so when people smelled frankincense, they associated it with God.  The final gift, myrrh, is a resin that came from small thorny trees in the Middle East.  This resin was used in the embalming of bodies as well as in the Temple as incense.  Myrrh was a sign of what Jesus’ future held – his life would be a sacrifice for the world.

         Now, back to the star.  The star had to be the most significant sign and wonder of all.  Astronomers have said that a Supernova occurred at the same time of Christ’s birth.  I’m no scientist, but I do know that a supernova is an exploding star.  Astronomers say this star would have been visible exactly over Bethlehem.  So, God caused a star to explode to announce the birth of his Son.  But, if that wasn’t wondrous enough, I know enough about stars to realize that it takes years for the light of a star to reach the earth – sometimes thousands and even millions of years.  Even the light of our own sun takes about 8 minutes to reach us.  So the light we see is 8 minutes old.  So, God essentially caused a stellar explosion thousands, if not millions of years before Christ’s birth to mark the exact date of Christ’s birth!  Take a few moments to think about that!

         But signs and wonders don’t end at Christmas time.  God is still speaking.  The baby who was born in a manger is the same God-Man who rose from the dead and is still alive today.  We can notice signs and wonders every single day if we just keep our senses open to them.  Some are huge, and some are tiny. 

         Have you ever gotten a feeling that you should do something or say something? Or the opposite – you SHOULDN’T do or say something. We often call that a “gut feeling” or your “conscience speaking.”  But, isn’t that just another way of saying God is giving you a sign?  Have you ever been in a bad situation and the “right words” just came out of your mouth?  Afterwards, you probably looked back and thought, “Where did that come from?”  That’s just one of God’s Wonders – Giving us the right words at the right time.

         Did you ever feel lost? I don’t mean lost in direction – I mean lost in life.  You didn’t know what to do, how to handle a situation, or even where to begin.  Whatever you were facing was so drastic that it seemed as if you were defeated before even beginning.  But look!  Where are you now?  Maybe you’re still in the middle of the situation, but you’re here – surrounded by people who love you – and yes, people in this church love you – and more importantly, you haven’t been abandoned by God.  That’s why you’re here.  Isn’t that a wonder – a miracle?

         If we want a sign from God, all we have to do is keep our senses open.  Listen – you’ll hear God speaking through others, through the laugh of children, through music, hear the beautiful words of Scripture; See – you’ll see God at work in creation, in the work of his people, in the Church, in the selfless unfailing love shown to people who are given 2^nd, 3^rd, and even 10^th and 11^th chances and even more, see the word of God written in the Bible; Feel the breeze – the wind that is God’s breath, the touch of a friend’s assuring hand on your shoulder, the feel of someone else’s shoulder as you place your hand on their shoulder to comfort them; Smell the beautiful smells of nature – flowers, pine, grass, rain, the smell of cold, the smell of a new born baby, the smell of a home cooked meal made to say, “I love you,” or a last minute meal put together to say, “I wish I could take your pain away, but I’m here for you – Let this meal I made for you help take a little of your stress away;” Taste the gift of food that God has given us, notice how food brings us together with total strangers in the seemingly mundane act of eating, taste the simple taste of bread and grape juice we use to remember the body and blood of Christ and the entire story that recalls.

         God uses all of our senses to show signs and wonders.  It only depends on how you decide to look at the world.  The world can be “doom and gloom” if you want it to be, or you could take God seriously – He sent his son at Christmas for a reason – to give us Signs and Wonders in a never ending cycle of Signs and Wonders – to let us know, in the words of Julian of Norwich (a Christian Mystic from the 1300’s): “All shall be well, and all shall be well. And all manner of things shall be well.”

My Personal Christmas Message

Dear Friends, Family, Readers of my Blog, and Followers of my Twitter Account,

It's customary for me to write a sarcastic Christmas letter every year around this time, but for some reason, I just don't feel this is the year to do that.  No, I'm not going all sappy on you. Yes, you can expect one in the future.  But this year, I really felt the need to write a general letter about specific things.

I'm not good at expressing emotions verbally.  That's why I took up writing this blog.  I can much better express what I want to say in writing than I can with my voice - that is, when it's something from me.  I can easily speak on issues which I am passionate about, but when when expressing my own feelings, I often find myself at a lack of words, or finding myself (gasp) choked up.

2012 has been a tough year for me, and it has reminded me why I need all of you in my life.  At the very beginning of the year (literally - on New Year's Day), our entire household was sick with a stomach bug. I'll spare you the details, but let me tell you it was NOT pretty!  You do the math - 4 people, 2 bathrooms, 2 adults, 2 SMALL children - nothing good can come out of that situation.  But, we healed slowly but surly.

Just a few days later, a very close friend of ours died of a failed heart transplant. My wife and I felt an unbelievable amount of grief.  And if we felt that, I can't imagine what her family felt!  Though it wasn't fair, and it wasn't good, seeing God's people at work was amazing.  Her husband, also a very close friend, was taken care of as were her twin boys she left behind.  Neighbors, Church Members, and Friends from across the country stayed at the house making sure he had every need taken care of.  The sense of community was amazing.  It was something I never saw before.  Our Friends are African - they followed their tradition from their home country.  I think we need to adopt that tradition.  I learned a lot from the people there.  I learned the true meaning of community and love.

I went through a long period of severe migraines.  I've had migraines all my life.  But they were worse than ever.  They rendered me useless for days at a time.  For a while I really thought I was dying from a condition the doctors hadn't discovered.  It turns out that I have several causes to my migraines.  Genetics are not on my side - they run on both sides of my family.  Stress causes migraines, and going to seminary is stressful - the amount of work is literally unreal.  Add on top of that the fact that I pastor a church and have a family.  Don't get me wrong, even if I could, I wouldn't change any of it.  Then the weather also provokes the migraines.  Thankfully, they found a medicine that works most of the time for me.  It's not 100% effective, but it works most of the time.  It took me half the year to start to feel normal again, but I'm getting back to life.

Most of all, I want to thank all of the people in my life.  I can't name each person because I know I'll forget someone.  But, if you are reading this, rest assured, you have in some way made my life better.  You have taught me how to live, you have raise me, you have challenged me, you have read the things I've written, you have disagreed with me, you have encouraged me, you have put up with me when I've been difficult, you have put me back in my place, you have given me knowledge, you have kept me from feeling too arrogant.  Whatever it is, and whoever you are, I thank God for you.  Is this "generic?" Yes.  But, you know who you are, and you know how we've interacted, and you know where you fit in.

I want to thank my family - both immediate family and distant relatives.  In today's world, it's nearly impossible to live close to our families.  But thanks to technology, we can stay in contact.  Of course, it's not the same.  The days of the "living room" polka parties and square dances that my Grandma told me about are gone.  I have to wonder whether we are better or worse without them.  OK, I could do without the polka, but I think you know what I mean.  Just because we are not close in distance, you are all close to me in heart and spirit.  I am who I am because of my family.

I want to thank my friends.  Let me be honest - It's not easy to be my friend.  I have a lot of things that make me, well, unique.  But my friends have put up with me, allowed me to be me, and have been there for me - even when I haven't for them.  I can't ask for a greater group of people.

Through my blog, I've met many people I'll probably never see in person.  Some have been pleasant, some have not.  But either way, I give thanks for each.  They remind me of my importance, but that I'm not "too important."

My new church family deserves a huge thank you!  They received a "new pastor" with open arms.  Yes, we've had our ups and downs, and like any family, we will continue to have those.  But, I can honestly say that I can feel God at work through our Church, and I am honored to serve as your pastor! I am impressed at how you selflessly serve God and others in so many ways.

I want to close by acknowledging my favorite teacher.  I won't mention her name out of privacy.  If you read this and know her, you know who I am talking about.  (You will also know that she'd flip out because I ended the last sentence with a preposition).  She was my High School English Teacher.  She passed away this week after a battle with cancer.  She had been retired, but was not old.  She was more than a teacher, she was a mentor, and dare I say a friend.  She was about 4'6" and weight 90 lbs. if she were soaking wet, but she commanded respect.  Though she could have ruled by fear, she didn't.  She earned respect and showed respect. I knew since I was a child that I wanted to be a teacher, but once I had her, she was the type of teacher I wanted to be.  I hope that in my teaching career I was only half as effective and made even a partial impact that she did.  The world is a better place because she lived, and Heaven is a better place because she is there now.  But, I don't despair because as she always said, "We have miles to go..."

Friends, Readers, Family - "We have Miles to Go..."

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Tom

War Has Been Abolished

Guess what?  It hasn't worked. At its "best," it has only managed to subdue one group and allow another to dominate.  That is until the subdued group regains some strength and decides to "rise again." What is "it?" WAR!

Let's do a cost-benefit analysis of War.  Let's take World War II as our example.  Everyone likes to use that one as an example.  It's the war that "couldn't be avoided."  It was the "just war." That's what so many people say.

     * First, look at the "Belligerents"(That's the fancy word for the nations that fought):  We had the "Allies" and the "Axis" - Without taking into consideration the smaller nations (and this implies no disrespect to them - it implies that I don't want to type that much - Here are the Belligerents:
          -Allies: USA, Soviet Union, Britain, France, and China (and a host of smaller nations)
          -Axis:  Germany, Japan, Italy (and a host of smaller nations)

     * Death Toll:  Allies: 61 Million (Civilians AND Military) - Axis 12 Million (Civilian And Military)

     * Causes - German invasions of nearly everyone they could invade, and Japanese invasion of everyone they could invade.  The Italians tagged along and did their own invading along the way.  The Europeans began by fighting Hitler's Army, the USA joined the war after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor (joining both the European and Asian fronts).

     * Results:  The Allies defeated Germany and Italy in Europe in conventional warfare.  The Allies defeated Japan after dropping 2 Nuclear Bombs on the Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Cost - Benefit Analysis
What the Allies Won vs. What the Allies Lost

Won                                                                          Lost                                                             
Stopped being invaded                                       61 Million People
Revenge                                                             Had to Rebuild Europe and Japan at their expense
Stopped Hitler/Musolini/Hirohito                       Gained Stalin and the Cold War

Analysis - Was it worth it?
1. First of all, it stopped evil dictators - that would be an argument for a "yes" answer.
2. Second of all, it stopped invasions - another "yes"
3. Third, it gave a sense of safety to the world - strike a check in column "yes"
4. BUT, it started the Cold War where Nuclear War became a reality - That's a "no"
5. The US and USSR became the competing superpowers of the world determining the fate of literally every nation - that would be a "yes" for US and USSR, but a "no" for every other nation
6. The Allies got revenge - Depending on your stance on revenge, that would be "yes" or "no"
7. It took 61 Million lives of the ALLIES vs. 12 MILLION of the Axis to win the war - That is very disproportionate - I would say that is a "no"
8. The entire war took the lives of 73 million people - Is ANYTHING worth that many lives - I would say "no"

Were there Alternatives?
The question behind this question is always, "What about Hitler?"  That is a very fair question to ask.

This is where I appeal to the title of this blog post.  "War has been abolished."  Why has war been abolished?" War is abolished because the last sacrificial death that had to be made was that of Christ.  Sure, I can take a bullet for you, push you out of the way of a bus and get hit by that same bus and killed, but all you keep is your earthly life.  You gain nothing else - unless you want to see me die, then you get the pleasure of that too.  By Christ's death and resurrection, humans gain eternal life.  Death has been abolished - or rather, death can be abolished if we choose Christ.  If so, there is no such thing as "life after death," because there is no such thing as death.  There is only "life after life."

By abolishing death, Christ has abolished the need for sacrificial death.  We don't have to die for each other anymore.  Let's take a time out to address some things.
     * I get your fears. Any reading this who are parents or have a child in your life - you would "die" for that child if that would prevent the child from being killed.  I too would do the same.  But, let's not lie to ourselves - all the child would gain is an earthly life, not an eternal life.  The child would have to choose God to gain the eternal life.
     * What about those who don't know God or are of another Religion?  The good news is that we serve a fair and loving God.  I don't have the answer except that it will be a fair and loving judgement.  All people have the chance to know God.  How that works, I have no idea.  All people are God's children.  God will give everyone a chance.
     *  So, soldiers and police and fire fighters are wasting their time?  Not at all.  God gave us this life as a gift. Keeping this life is not sinful.  Saving this life is not sinful.  Stopping those who would take this life is not sinful.  The sin comes in when we think that we can die an atoning death for someone else.  OUR death at most can only give someone more of THIS life - not eternal life.

Is this complicated? Yes.  Do I contradict myself? Yes.  All life, eternal and worldly, is full of contradictions.

Now, what about Hitler?  First of all - when Hitler came to power, there was a Confessing Church movement.  They stood in opposition to Hitler.  Why didn't the "Christians" of Germany listen to them?  The short answer is that people confuse Christianity with Patriotism.  Patriotism is not a bad thing - we should like our nation and be proud of where we live.  But, our ultimate identity is that of a Christian.  The Germans - and mostly the Nazi Party forgot that.

What if a Hitler comes to power? Force is definitely one option to deal with a Hitler.  It is not the only way.  There is also non-violent resistance.  People could have said, "no" to the Nazis.  Yes, they would have faced punishment, but if enough people joined them, I have to wonder if the Nazis would have gotten as far as they did?

Let me propose this question?  Why do citizens fear governments to the point of blind obedience?  Of course, I don't want to get shot or put in prison or tortured.  But, on the other hand, I am not willing to have my Christian Integrity compromised either.  I follow the law to keep the peace.  When the law violates God's law, I have to consider whether it's severe enough to break that law or to go along with it.

Until the rule of Constantine, the earliest Christians were "outlaws."  Just by being Christian, they broke the law by not worshipping the Emperor or the Roman gods.  Many died for this refusal.  Many civilly disobeyed.  Read the Gospel accounts of Jesus in his last days.  Read the Letters of Paul and the persecutions he underwent.  Find the writings of ancient Christians - there are many translated into English and other languages.  They did not wage war on their oppressors - they were civil to them, but refused to compromise their Christian Integrity.

Aren't you just disrespecting soldiers and the military?
I can see where you could come to that conclusion, but no, I'm not.  Let me explain.  First of all, though I am a pacifist, I have the utmost respect for our military and all who serve in any capacity.  I can only speak for American policy (since that is all I know). I believe it is the American duty to serve our Soldiers upon return from service.  From all the soldiers I know, return to civilian life is very difficult. It should be the American Government's duty - that same Government who sent these men and women into very difficult and unspeakable situations which they did valiantly - to now help them adjust to civilian life again. I'm not a soldier, so I don't know what that would look like exactly.  I would assume it would involve counseling where needed, job training where needed, helping them catch up on bills/mortgages until they can find a job.  They served us without question - We owe it to them to serve them without question.  As with any "service to people," the question comes up, "Won't some take advantage of the system?" I answer, "Probably."  But, that happens in ANY human system.  We can't sacrifice what we owe the multitude for a few rotten apples.  And what determines "taking advantage?" Each person is different.  One does not just "get over" combat experiences.  For some, they may be able to function quickly after. For others, it may take a long time - even a life time.

But, back to the point at hand.  This is in no way disrespecting soldiers.  This only puts their service into perspective.  Soldiers defend THIS life, not ETERNAL life.  Soldiers defend an EARTHLY kingdom, not the HEAVENLY kingdom.  I doubt many soldiers would disagree, though I can't speak for them.  The ones I have spoken to agree with me.

I am not calling for the abolishment of the Military. I'm calling for the Abolishment of War.  There will still be evil in this world.  There will still be need to get aid (food/water/etc.) to areas of this world.  The military would make an excellent force to protect the innocent lives of civilians.  I'm not a military strategist - I'll leave that up to the military to determine how that should be done.  This puts the military on a defensive role with strict rules of engagement.  This is not war, this is defense of the innocent.  Instead of "hunting," they would be watching.  No one would have to die without choosing that option.  Only if people violate the military perimeter or attempt to harm innocent people, would lives be in danger.

I realize this is not complete pacifism.  For the theologically trained, I'm coming close to Niebuhr's "Christian Realism" - a doctrine I fully denounce.  I realize I have contradictions.  This is not a perfect plan.  But, it's better than what we have now!

When Was War Abolished
War is ineffective.  It doesn't work.  America has been in Afghanistan for 10 years, and though we have an "exit strategy," the fighting persists.  The Palestinians and Israelis continue to fight since 1948. The Congo continues to be a battle ground.  I could go on.

War only subdues unless an all out genocide is committed.  Even then, unless every last person is killed, revenge is always on the minds of those left behind.

War was abolished when Christ rose from the dead.  Christ died the last meaningful sacrificial death that would ever be needed - He defeated the last enemy - DEATH.

It's time now that we look at Christ's life.  What do his teachings say?  I'll summarize with my own commentary.  It's time for enemies to talk until they can negotiate.  Stop sacrificing your own people in the name of your greedy desires.  Stop sacrificing the innocent people of your enemy who have nothing to do with your war.  Let the innocent people live their lives, Mr. and Ms. Politician! If you can't act like the person you were created to be, then go out and fight yourself - quit sending the young adults of your nation and making them think they have a "duty" while you sit in your air conditioned office and play your political games.  God sees what you are doing.  People see what you are doing.

Quit equating your desires with "God's will." God doesn't like to be mocked. Even if your enemy is wrong, God is big enough to handle the problem.  God has no need for you to "crush" anyone.  God has not made you a "righteous defender" of anything.  If God has said this to you, don't go see a priest, see a psychiatrist.

Just because you're in power doesn't make you right.  If you are fighting to stay in power, just maybe you need to leave.  Your time is over.  Or do you think you are God? I can't judge you, but I would hate to be you on judgment day.  It's not too late to turn.  I'd do it sooner rather than later.

Since the dawning of time, war has simply not worked.  It's taken the lives of millions, and probably billions of people.  What have we gained?

Instead, it's time for a new revolution - one of peace.  You may say it won't work, but the old way hasn't either.  Why not give this one a try? Talk instead of shoot. Understand instead of hate. Protect instead of attack. Give instead of loot. Share instead of steal.

Christian Joy and the Newtown, CT Shooting

I've been silent on the blogosphere when it comes to the Newtown School Shootings for the past few days.  Like almost everyone, I have opinions, but they have been made in haste and not thought through.  I have more questions than answers.

This shooting fell on the week of Advent that we are "supposed to" preach about Joy.  Let's be honest - There is NOTHING joyful about this shooting or ANY shooting or act of violence.  There is nothing Godly about any of this. What happened was an evil act and a demonic act.

When I first learned about the shootings, I was dumbfounded.  I had no words.  I couldn't pray. I didn't even know what to pray for.  What does one ask God for in a case like this? Still, I don't know.  Do we ask for vengeance against the killer? That was the first thing on my mind, but that, too, isn't exactly Godly.  Matthew 7:1-2 says, "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. ²For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get."  In other words, praying that God holds this killer to a different standard would mean that we would be held to that same standard.  BUT, let me clarify:  It IS NOT judging if we say this is an evil act - that is fact. That is discernment.  It IS NOT judging to say that the murderer acted in an unGodly manner - that again is fact.  Saying we have a vote in his eternal state IS judging.  But, don't fear - God will be fair.  God will not just let this shooter off the hook and say that everything is "ok." Even if God shows mercy, there will be justice.

I've been asked as a pastor, "Why did God let this happen?" Well, that's tough to answer.  First of all, God didn't let it happen if you mean that God controls our every move like children control their dolls or action figures.  God didn't make this happen.  Because God gave us free will, there is the chance that other people will suffer and that we, ourselves will suffer.  Every action has a consequence - good or bad.  The consequence can be mundane - I flip the light switch and the lights come on. Or the consequence can be huge - I choose to drive intoxicated and innocent people are in danger.  That doesn't mean that God let this happen.  I have no doubt that God was working in this shooters heart and mind telling him not to do it; telling him there are other ways to express his anger; telling him there is nothing to gain by doing this.  I'm sure that God put people or circumstances in his way to make this act inconvenient - traffic, phone calls, car problems, something like that.  I'm sure that God did something to try to change his mind.  But, in the end, he chose to act against God.  At the same time, God was present with the victims and others in the school.  God was giving them bravery, God was giving them reminders of what to do in an emergency, God was giving them peace of heart when their last moments came.  God was with the first responders. God gave them the strength to come to a gruesome scene and still be professional and do their duty.  Yes, these first responders are trained to deal with these issues, but in this case, I'm sure emotions took over.  But God helped them through the day and will be with them in the days to come.

So where does Joy come in?  First of all, we need to understand what Joy is.  Joy is not mere laughter and giddiness. Joy is loving God and knowing God loves you.  When you contemplate that one reality, how can you help but be joyful?  Yes, there are dark times! The darkness may last a long time.  But God is with all of us through it all.  God is with the people of Newtown through their upcoming years of grief.  We can be sure of that!

We cannot let our Joy be taken from us.  Actually our Joy cannot be taken, we can only give it away.  We cannot give it to those who would take it. The enemy wants us to live lives of despair and hopelessness. We must live lives of assurance and hope.  

This is not a fairy tale hope.  The same baby of Christmas is the same God-Man of Easter!  Let that Joy forever live in your hearts!
 

I Like Strawberries Too - In Memory of My Grandma

Today, December 14, 2006, marks the 6th Anniversary of my Grandmother's death.  I suppose I express my feelings best by writing.  I won't make her into a saint.  Too often, when someone dies, everyone conveniently forgets their faults and that person becomes next to Jesus in nature.  But at the same time, my Grandma was a special person.  She was everything I could have asked for in a Grandma.

Grandma Ernie (Yes, that was her name - she always hated it - who knows, her dad did run a moonshine still...maybe that had something to do with the name) was the truest form of the matriarch of the family.  She had 6 children. 5 Boys (including my dad) and 1 girl.  She was very possessive of her children.  Even as adults, they were HER children.  Her daughters-in-law and son-in-law had to earn their place in the family.  How did they know they made it?  When Christmas came around, if there was a gift for them instead of for the couple.

Grandma Ernie could cook!  I never remember a meal I didn't like that she made.  Her specialties were fried chicken, and her Turkey/Stuffing/and Mashed Potatoes!  I've never had Mashed Potatoes as good as hers!  What was her secret? I asked a bunch of times.  Her advice? "Beat the hell out of them!"  I've come close, but I still haven't mastered them.

So, why did I call this "I like Strawberries too?" Honestly, I forget the exact story.  Grandma Ernie was hard of hearing.  Someone...my cousin, I think...said something to her, and her response was "I like strawberries too." The conversation had nothing to do with strawberries.  That was the butt of every joke for years to come.

I remember that Grandma had a wild side. At one family reunion, someone broke out the stick on tattoos.  People were putting them on their arms, their necks, their ankles.  When it came to Grandma's turn, next thing I know, she hauls out a boob.  TMI, Grandma, TMI!!!

If guilt trips were real vacations, most of her family (me included) would have travelled the world. She was the queen of the guilt trip!  One day, I decided to do a reverse guilt trip.  She was making me feel guilty about living so far away, so I made an unexpected reversal and tried to make her feel guilty for not keeping in touch.  Well, not to be out done, she started crying.  Well played, Grandma, well played!

Grandma's coffee was probably her trademark.  No one could visit her without partaking in her coffee.  It was the best coffee I've ever had and I can never replicate it! It was also so strong that you could stick a spoon in it and it would stand straight up.  After 2 cups, you were wired the rest of the week.  I won't accuse her of adding Meth, but...

Grandma Ernie was the true model of a homemaker.  There was always the smell of fresh baked bread or pies or cookies.  Her house was always decorated.  And she did this on a small budget. She wasn't a rich person when it came to money, but no one would have known.

Grandma Ernie was everything I could have asked for in a Grandma.  Yes, I got angry with her. Yes, she wasn't perfect. But, she loved her family. She loved her Grandchildren.  What more can a person ask for?

Prayers for Congo

Prayer Pointers: Blessed are the peacemakers

Pray for political will and determination from the DRC government and other actors, both international – Rwanda and Uganda – and national, to engage and persevere in dialogue to find resolutions to the hugely complex issues of this conflict in order to bring about lasting peace in DR Congo.

Pray for church leaders and workers, leaders of civil society, health and aid workers, and MONUSCO (UN peace-keeping/stabilisation force) as they work in hugely challenging and often dangerous circumstances. Pray for wisdom and strength as they minister and respond to needs. Remember especially Bishops Bahati (Bukavu), Isesomo (Butembo) and William (Boga).

Pray for provision of international aid resources to tackle the needs for food, shelter, sanitation, healthcare and education for those affected by conflict and displacement.

Pray for an end to impunity, and justice for those who perpetrate violence, rape, kill and maim, abduct, steal and destroy.

Give thanks to God for all those who have opened their homes to displaced people, for their sacrificial giving and sharing of slender resources, and pray for provision of their needs.

Pray for God’s protection on the minds and lives of young people, for healing and psychological treatment for those who have seen and experienced things no child should be exposed to, and for access to education.

Give thanks for the work of HEAL Africa in Goma and Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, and other church groups working amongst rape victims, and pray for God’s blessing on their multi-faceted work tackling medical, psychological and spiritual needs.

Pray that God will heal and bring comfort and care to all those who have been raped and tortured. Pray for an end to sexual violence and restraint of this evil behaviour.

Give thanks for the extraordinary resilience and firm Christian faith of many Congolese; pray that many would turn to the Lord and know him as their refuge and strength. Praise God and pray for health, education, peace and reconciliation, and development work undertaken in Christ’s name in DRC.

What follows is a liturgy proposed by www.congochurchassn.org.uk and accessed from http://www.congochurchassn.org.uk/prayerweek.pdf to be prayed during a certain time period.  I apologize for missing that time period.  Thankfully God is not confined to time nor space, and ALL prayers to God are not in vain.  Feel free to pray this liturgy as printed by the Congo Church Association working with the Anglican Church, or use it to adapt your own prayers.

As you pray a liturgy, even if you pray it by yourself, realize you are never alone - you are surrounded by a "could of witnesses" who pray with you.  So pray the responses as if you are in a congregation.  

NOTE: I have taken some editorial liberties to make the prayers more universal to all Christians. This is not intended to be a disrespect toward Anglicans, but rather an invitation for all Christians to pray these prayers.

A short prayer, based on part of the South African national anthem:
God bless Congo: guard her children, guide her leaders. and give her peace; for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen

Longer intercessions:Almighty God, maker of all, enemy of none, we pray to you for the people of Congo, whose troubles are in your heart and ours, whose hopes are set in your promises. 

Touch those whose lives have been scarred by violence and death;

Stretch out your arm, your mighty hand, and touch this wounded land.

Lord of heaven and earth: bring peace and healing. 
as they look on the cross of Christ, bring them from pain to joy.

Lord of heaven and earth: bring peace and healing

Touch those who are guilty of greed and cruelty; by your Spirit bring them through repentance to new life.
Lord of heaven and earth: bring peace and healing 

Touch those who wield power, of government, of arms, and of commerce:
give them a vision of Congo rebuilt, united, free and prosperous. 
Lord of heaven and earth: bring peace and healing

Touch your church, troubled and tired, and give it new strength, so that with Bible and hoe, prayer and medicine, it can tell of your love and show your compassion.
Lord of heaven and earth: bring peace and healing 

Touch our hearts too, renew our solidarity with our brothers and sisters,
and show us how we can support them in their difficulties. 
Lord of heaven and earth: bring peace and healing

Stretch out your arm, your mighty hand, and touch the wounded land of Congo; for Jesus’ sake. Amen

A dialogue based on Isaiah 43

Leader The God of Israel has redeemed us
All He has created us and called us by name 
Leader He is with us and we need not fear
All Rivers will not overwhelm us 
Leader Flames shall not consume us
All For the Holy One of Israel is our Saviour.

Litany:For the diverse beauty and potential glory of all your creation, and especially the land and people of the Congo, we give you thanks O Lord.

For the faithful and perfect witness to your love borne by Jesus Christ your Son to the whole world, including the people of the Congo, we give you thanks O Lord.

For all those who despite their flaws have mirrored that witness in the proclamation and living out of the gospel among the people of the Congo, we give you thanks O Lord.

For the worship and mission of the body of Christ in Africa, and particularly of the Anglican Church of the Congo, we give you thanks O Lord.

For faithful and persevering parishes, for health care and education, for work with young people and for the Mothers’ Union, for evangelism and training, for ministry and service to the desperate in the Congo, we give you thanks O Lord.

For your steadfast love, for Christ’s bearing of the world’s woe, for the promise of ultimate reconciliation and the hope of glory even in the Congo, we give you thanks O Lord.

Silence

As we move from thanksgiving to intercession, the response to the words ‘...and we turn to you’ is ‘hear our cry O Lord

When we recoil from the worst of the forces of evil, from oppression and corruption, from cruelty and great suffering, and we turn to you, hear our cry O Lord

When we long for the leaders of the peoples, especially in the Great Lakes region of East Africa, to find in their hearts compassion, wisdom and the springs of right action, and we turn to you, hear our cry O Lord.

When we fear for the well-being and the very lives of your poor and those we love, when our hearts are breaking and we turn to you, hear our cry O Lord.

When we see discord and hatred seeming to prevail and bitterness fuelling human hearts for violence, and we ache for change and we turn to you, hear our cry O Lord.

When we hope with passion for the development of life, material emotional and spiritual, and find our hopes in part frustrated and we turn to you, hear our cry O Lord.

When we wait boldly for the coming of your kingdom and lament the dullness of our perception of your mission and the fragility of our participation with you, and we turn to you, hear our cry O Lord.

Blessed and holy Trinity, within the mystery of your perfect love the Son knows the depth of human brokenness, the Spirit is constantly in movement for abundant life, the Father is working out your glorious purpose; receive our thankfulness and attend to our plea for the whole life of the Province of the Church of the Congo, heal its brokenness, renew its life, and bring to fulfilment your purposes for it and through it, for the sake of your kingdom, through Christ, Amen

A Prayer for the People of DR CongoO God, Loving parent of all, comfort your children displaced, wounded, lost or orphaned by conflict in D R Congo; and give the people of that country courage to seek enduring peace with justice and freedom, that their children might grow up without fear, for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ Amen

My Notes and Commentary:

The language that says, "God bless Congo" should not be mistaken to be at the expense of any other nation or people.  God blesses all people and nations.  Congo is facing major suffering - I did not edit this out for that reason.  

We do not pray this at the expense of other nations. We do not pray suffering on other nations. We pray for peace in Congo.  This same prayer can be used in war-zones in any other area of the world.

All prayers are heard by God.  You can adapt this liturgy as you see fit. Pray part of it. Use it as a model. Make up your own prayers. But whatever you do, pray! 

Journalistic Trash

Unfortunately, I came upon this piece of Journalistic Trash.  I hesitate to even comment on it.

I do not want to gain a readership or numbers count for this piece of trash (to call this a tabloid would be an insult to the tabloid industry).

 In America there is a wise saying that one should never get into a pissing contest with a skunk.  If this website calls itself "journalism," it does not know the definition of the term.

The Exposer is a Rwandan run propaganda website.  At a cursory glance, even the casual reader will see that this is no where near "journalism."

For the record and before accusations come at me:  I run a blog - I am not a journalist.  I do not claim to be a journalist.  I have no journalistic training.  My posts are not "academic quality," though most are researched and backed up with facts that are cited.  Again, this is a blog - my posts run the gamut of topics.  I post on a variety of issues.

The Exposer "will expose those who claim to hold the truth, instead twisting it for their own interests." (See here for Citation of this quote)

What is Wrong with The Exposer?
Honestly, I would have an easier time answering what isn't wrong with The Exposer.

FIRST:  This is not journalism - this is propaganda.  Go to Google and look up "Nazi Propaganda" or "Soviet Propaganda" or whatever propaganda you would like.  Then compare it to the cartoons that are on The Exposer.   Yes, The Exposer is mainly cartoons - not photographs.  (Exceptions, yes; but as a rule, cartoons are the majority).

SECOND:  The cartoons are inflammatory.  They depict Human Rights workers who dedicate their lives to the well being of others as sex-workers, concubines, prostitutes, AIDS victims, AIDS spreaders, and apply other lies and inflammatory statements to these people.

THIRD:  They take document facts and call them lies.  Fact: Rwanda has armed M23 Militia in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  I'm sorry - there are documented facts.  Deny if you wish, but that doesn't make it true.  Paul Kagame jails opposition leaders to silence them on trumped up charges - go ahead and vilify them if you wish, but people such as Victore Ingibire is only "guilty" of saying that Hutus died in the '94 Genocide as well.  Truth is not a crime.  They make a dictator into a hero.  Call him what you will, but Paul Kagame is responsible for the deaths of over 6 Million people and the fact that many Rwandans live in fear today.  Yes, Rwanda has modernized, but at what expense.  Oppose this if you wish, but facts are facts.

FOURTH:  They say they speak facts when in fact they speak opinions.  If they were an "opinion site," fine.  I may not agree, but an opinion is an opinion.  I cannot say that the Yankees are the best baseball team and make it so.  They are to me (in my opinion), but in reality, only a win/loss record can determine that.  The same goes for political opinions.  Just because they disagree with those who oppose Paul Kagame does not make the opposition liars.  It makes them of a different opinion than those who run The Explainer.

FIFTH:  They are downright vulgar.  News is not vulgar unless it is reporting on an issue that necessitates graphic details (and then, journalists will usually warn readers that what will follow is of sensitive nature).  The Explainer does nothing of the sort. They make accusations that are vulgar and lies.

Why Do I, a Pastor and Promoter of Peace Address This?
The issues facing the DRC and Rwanda do not need exacerbated by propaganda.  War Crimes are being committed on a regular basis.  The world sits back and does little to nothing.

The Explainer makes a mockery of those who do take a stand.  Activists expect opposition.  It comes with the territory.  Trust me, I could share stories!  This is beyond opposition - this is mockery of not only activists but of victims.  By harassing the activists, they are hurting those who suffer.  They are hurting refugees, those who have been injured and maimed, those who have lost loved ones, those who are starving, those who have been raped and are victims of other forms of sexual violence, children who have been kidnapped and forced to kill, and the list goes on - All in the name of attention for their egos.

What can you do?
If you have not seen this website, I'm sure you are curious and will visit it - I cannot stop you.  Maybe you need to see the horror.  But don't let that view be the end.  Speak out against it.  Write against it.  Go on record with your opposition to what they see as a game.

The suffering of humanity is not a game.  God has made all of us "our brother's [and sister's] keeper." The people of the DRC need those of us who can help now.  One day we may need them.  We cannot fail them.  We each have a different mission in life.  We all have different talents and callings.  Put them together, and we CAN make a difference!

We may not shut this junk down.  We may make them double their efforts.  But we can expose them for what they are - EVIL.  Also, remember - We do this in love.  We are not against the people of The Explainer. We are against the demonic forces that cause them to think what they are doing is right.  These people are also created in the image of God.  It appears they forgot that.  Let's remind them.

Questions for M23 and M23 Sympathizers

This post is not intended to hurt anyone, but it is rather to educate myself.  I know some will be angry that I even engage M23. Though I respect your right to be angry, I am doing this for myself - I, personally, want to learn the motivations behind this group. I want to hear from them and not from a 3rd party. Is that controversial? Probably. Is it wrong? I don't know - right now, I fell this is what I need to do.

 NOTE: If comments on this post become abusive or involve name calling, I will delete them

Recently, on Twitter, I've been followed by some people who are sympathizers of M23.  By all UN reports and Western Media, M23 has been characterized as a militia supported by the Paul Kagame Regime of Rwanda that has destabilized Eastern Congo.  They deny these charges.  In order to be fair, I am going to give these people the chance to speak for themselves.

You can answer in the comment section below, or answer on my Twitter account @tomhallberg1.  If you don't want your name used, that is fine, but if you don't use your name, please be honest and respectful.

For other readers - Though you may not like what you read, feel free to respectfully ask questions in the comment section below.

As stated above, all abusive comments will be deleted.  People are suffering and dying in East Congo, and we do not need to contribute to that - I believe every side agrees to that.

Here are my questions I would like answered:

1. What are the goals of M23? Why pursue them through military means and not diplomatic means?  (Yes, I realize the complexity of politics and especially DRC politics; are those politics too hard to negotiate?)

2. From what I understand (and I could be wrong - so please correct me if I'm wrong), M23 says they are representing an oppressed people.  I'm assuming those are Tutsis after the Rwandan Genocide of 94 who are in DRC.  How will you represent the oppressed without hurting the innocents in the majority? In American terms - in the 1960's we had a Civil Rights movement to gain equal rights for Black Americans.  Obviously this caused tension between White Americans and Black Americans.  But, not all White Americans were opposed to Civil Rights, and some stood side by side with Black Americans.  It's true that Whites didn't suffer what the Blacks did, but there was solidarity.  Can there be peace with Hutus?

3. How do you plan to protect innocent civilians?  In any war/battle, images of refugees flood the media.  Can you promise not to harm innocents and allow food/water aid to reach civilian areas?

4. Many accusations have been made by the UN.  Are you, or are you not supported by Rwanda.  If not, where have you received your weapons?

5.  I admit I am a White Westerner from the USA.  But, as a Christian, I believe that despite our location or color, we are all brothers and sisters.  What roll do you see for a person like me.  I can't travel to Africa at the moment, but I do care about your people.

6.  Can you achieve your means in peaceful manners?  I'll admit upfront that I am a Christian Pacifist and that I believe taking a life is wrong. To explain that would take too much time right now.  In fact, in a discussion, when someone talked about hoping for the death of a war criminal, I argued against it.  I acknowledged his crimes, but to take his life would only add to the injustice.

Please know I ask these questions in good faith to understand.  I don't want prepared statements, I want conversation.  Despite our differences, we have more in common.  I can't promise I will agree with you, and I may ask follow-up questions, so you may want to bookmark this page. But, I promise I will consider everything you have to say.  I ask other readers to do the same.

(Advent Week 1) Catching the Christmas Spirit - Hope

Scripture - Matthew 6:19-34

Hope is a word that is so often thrown around, but very few people know its true implications.  What does it mean?  It's such a small word, but it has such a big meaning?
     - It could mean that I HOPE to get something. I WANT something. - "I hope to get a motorcycle." But, in our Scripture, that's not how "hope" is used.
     - In our Scripture, "hope" means living in the promised expectations that God will act and deliver his promises despite what we see or feel now.

Let's look at our definition again.  Hope is a way of living.  It's living in expectation.  But more than that, it's a PROMISED EXPECTATION FROM GOD that GOD will act AND deliver his promises no matter what we see or feel now.

In other words, things may seem horrible now, but God is still active, and God will deliver.

This Scripture comes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.  From Matthew 5-7, Jesus delivers a beautiful sermon on life and the promises of God.  This is just a selection from that sermon.

In our Scripture, Jesus tells us, "Don't store up treasures on earth, but store them up in heaven."  What can that mean?  It's easy to store up things here on earth - just check the book to human ratio in my house and you'll see what I mean.  I'm sure many of you have tons of things you don't need and don't use and don't intend to use just taking up space.  We store up a lot here on earth.  So, what is Jesus saying?
     - Is Jesus saying, "Don't save money?" "Don't get new things?" "Don't ever splurge?"
     - Honestly, I can't answer that - Jesus probably isn't saying we should never do those things, but he is saying we shouldn't rely on those things.  Sometimes, we may be called not to save money, buy a car, buy a house, go out to dinner, etc., but we are always called not to rely on those things.

How long does money last?  Only as long as you save it.  How long does a car last.  Only as long as the engine and body last.  BUT, how long do Heavenly things last? Things like love?  They last forever!  Not only do they last forever, but they are passed on and carried on by others through your example.  We sow seeds, but we never know how they grow.  Just because we don't see them grow now doesn't mean that God isn't active.

Jesus goes on to say, "Your eye is the lamp of your body."  That means that where you focus your attention is where your heart is.  There are 2 things, among others, that determine your commitment.  The way that you spend your time and the way that you spend your money determines your priorities.  How many people do you see that say that their #1 focus is their family but they spend hours upon hours working?  I don't mean the busy season of work, I mean working by choice.  How can your priority be your family or God if you spend all your time at work?

Jesus says that you can't serve God and wealth.  Obviously we need money to live in this world.  Jesus isn't telling us to quit our jobs. BUT, he is telling us to remember what is important.  Money will not bring the happiness that the things of God will.  Money will corrupt and cause greed.  Have you noticed that the more money people have, the more they say they need?  And all this is over paper and metal...People worship paper and metal.

But now come the words of HOPE!  And here is where we should focus this first week of Advent!  Remember that these are not empty words - they are not words of a "Fairy Tale."  They are not words of a good man or a wise teacher.  They are words of a Living God.  Yes, we're looking forward to Christmas, but don't forget Easter and Pentecost.

Jesus tells us not to worry about our life - food, drink, or clothing - then he asks, "isn't life more than those?" He says that God takes care of the birds and the flowers...Aren't we more important?  Will worry add even one day to our lives?

Think about that - We all worry - I suppose it's part of being human.  I'm not excusing it, but just saying it's part of our sinful nature.  We all play "what if" games in our heads.  Do they add anything to our lives?  If anything, all that worry probably subtracts time from our lives!

This is the problem.  As Jesus said, God values our lives more than the birds and the flowers, but do we value our own lives?  Most likely, we can't value them as much as God does.  But, we can see purpose for our lives.  We can even see purpose in the mundane parts of our lives.  We don't know how God is using us in even the most boring/routine moments.  As long as there is breath in your body and your heart is beating, God has a purpose for you.

This is the hope into which we live!  Things may be bad.  We put our hope into God.  Things may get worse.  God hasn't abandoned us - God is closer than ever.  But, we live in the hope that God will make good on the promises he has given us either in this life or the next!