_ Shopping is over. No more playing bumper cars in the grocery store parking lot – at least for another year. Lots of food – more than I need.  Packed out Christmas Eve service – I don’t think we could fit another person in our facility.  Family Christmas Day service.  Fun.  Relaxing. Love the carols. Then home with my family to eat and open gifts.  Today… the day after.  Whew. Take it easy.  Exhale.

We willingly dive into this whirlwind we call Christmas to focus our attention on those relationships closest to us. I could do without the shopping and store parking lots but Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate my relationship with Jesus, my family, my church family and friends.  Christmas is the season which brings out the best in us.  Yet If we are honest, Jesus receives more of our attention at Christmas.  We cut our families and friends more slack at Christmas.  We pack the building for worship more at Christmas.  What’s wrong with this?  Nothing, at least for a day. But what about the other 364 days of the year?   I wonder how our life would change if we celebrated Christmas everyday? Hm, let’s see – Jesus would grab our attention more and more every day.  Rather than singing “Joy to the World” once a year we would be joyful in all things, every day. (Phil 4:4)  We wouldn’t reserve one day a year to cut our family and friends slack, but we would freely offer forgiveness at all times, daily seeking unity and reconciliation with all. (Col 3:13, 14)  Not only would we pack the church in worship on Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of our Redeemer but we would pack the church regularly to worship Him because we recognize our Redeemer was born so we could be born into an eternal relationship with Him.  We would worship in recognition that our redeemer was born so He could die as a sacrifice for our sins, making eternal life possible. (John 3:16)  We would worship because death did not and will not prevail. Jesus conquered death. He rose again, bringing the power of His resurrection into our relationships, our church, our jobs, our hurts, our family...our lives. Through such worship we would weekly encourage each other to live out our faith in tangible ways that would reveal God's Kingdom to a hurting world.  (Hebrews 10:24-25)

My New Year’s resolution is to celebrate Christmas every day.  How about yours?

Christmastime is here.   It seems only yesterday I was stuffing myself with turkey.  With the first Sunday of Advent, November 27, we began a new Advent teaching series, The Songs of Christmas.  We are examining The Song of Mary, Zechariah's Song, The Angel's Song and Simeon's Song, all from the gospel of Luke.  In each of these remarkable passages of scripture we see how God was preparing the hearts of those who would be chosen to participate in the arrival of the greatest gift ever known - the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Each week I'll post the sermons online. May God put a song in your heart as you celebrate Christ this Christmas.

Japan 2011
I'm on week 2 of a 2 week mission trip to Japan. This country is a striking mixture of cultural heritage, customs, incredible natural beauty and 21st century technology. Against this backdrop is damage and devastation beyond imagination. The immense power of the March tsumani is only imaginable viewing from the aftermath or from Youtube video accounts. In contrast to the rubble, gutted out stores and homes are a beautiful people with an incredible spirit will , courage and the will to rise from the ashes of this tragedy. It has been and is a privilege to be a small part of helping them get back on their feet.

We've had numerous opportunities to serve.  Initially we planned to work alongside a local church, but that didn't happen. Instead we have gone to the Kesennuna volunteer center daily and taken jobs alongside numerous other volunteers. We are fortunate to have 3 people on our team who speak Japanese, so we've been able to manage quite well. Our jobs have been varied. The dirtiest would easily qualify for the TV show, Dirty Jobs. Most of the street drains in Kesennuna are filled with decayed muck, sludge, and who knows what else. We've “mucked” out drains for a day. You must wear masks because of the overwhelming smell of decay. In the midst of “dirty day” we made friends with shop owners adjacent to the property. They allowed us to wash off. We met a wonderful, friendly golden retriever, Corella. We spent a day at a local gym where thousands of photos have been found in the mud, undergrowth, etc. It is estimated that there have been in excess of 1 million photos found. Each one is hand washed and restored as much as possible by volunteers. People come in daily searching for photos of their family. We cleaned bolts at a local business. We spend the day at a home helping clean drains, washing damaged windows and doors. Every job is a drop in the bucket – yet an important drop.

Japan has historically been very cold to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe we have been able to share His love in tangible ways. In several instances we have made genuine friendships which I hope will continue beyond this visit. The Japanese people are so remarkable, innovative and disciplined one can only imagine the world wide impact they will make as they turn their lives over to Jesus Christ. I believe it's coming. That's my prayer.

I thought this blog entry was over,yet walking back to the camp the ground began to shake...and shake....and shake.  Another earthquake.  It is nearly a daily occurrence.  The best way to describe the sensation is to walk under the tracks of an (elevated) train in NYC.

I've uploaded some pics from the trip.  Check them out in the photos section.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Rob

How often do you experience a crisis of faith?  You may not make a formal proclamation but in your heart you begin to doubt God's goodness and consequentially quietly pull away from Him.  Perhaps there are situations in your work environment that you've prayed about, yet God seems silent.  You pull away.  Perhaps you have relational expectations with a spouse, child, friend.  You pray but are still disappointed.  You pull away.  Perhaps you've lost someone or something you deeply care for: a loved one, a dream, a promise, a job.  You pull away. 

Many have been praying for a young Chinese Christian, Alim, who was imprisoned because of his faith in Jesus.  He has been incarcerated for two years.  His case finally came up for review.  Please read the report I received today.

"Alim's unjust prison sentence went before a high court for review, but the high court has not overturned his sentence.  Alim's wife, Gulnur was able to visit him on Feb. 16 and he told her that the court decided that his 15 years prison sentence still stands. Despite this, Alim  seemed to be in good spirits. He told Gulnur that this is what a life of faith may require and he is able to accept it. Please continue to pray for this dear family. The added pressures that Gulnur faces, apart from having her husband away from her and in jail, are many."
You may read the summary of Alim's case at  http://www.chinaaid.org

I read this and find myself ashamed at the issues of my life which create turbulence in my faith.  Sometimes things don't work out and as Alim said, "...this is what a life of faith may require."  The question is - are we willing to accept it?

Here's a shout out to crash bars on motorcycles. I had to lay down the bike this morning entering Route 23. The truck was coming too fast and it was lay it down or get run over - only a gimpy ankle, bruised rear and scuffed  up helmet to show for it. God is good and crash bars are useful.  Riding home I first thanked God that apparently an ace bandage is all I need.  Then I thought about God's crash bars when our life skids out of control.  Just like my bike crash bars kept me from some serious personal damage this morning- God's Word, prayer and spiritual community provide the support when my life gets a little slippery.  If you feel like your life is sliding out of control, try using the crash bars first. :)
Soli Deo Gloria

I returned from a 3 day Prayer Summit in Tuscarora, NJ - lots of great worship, teaching and plenty of time for prayer.  What I was most struck by was an emphasis this year on 'being".  It is so easy to be consumed with "doing" when in ministry because of the myriad of expectations.  Doing is important, yes essential.  But if doing precedes being, then doing is generally powerless, frustrating and draining.  One speaker talked about the early church practice of praying 3 times a day.  I'm not talking about a prayer before breakfast, lunch and dinner, but a real prayer time, probably an hour each time.  We wondered - what would our life be like if we intentionally set aside 3 times a day to pray?  There is a story of a community caught in a blizzard. You couldn't see to walk from your house to the barn.  People who ventured out became lost in theirown backyard and many died just feet from their doorsteps.  People would attach a rope from the house to the barn.  As long as they held onto the rope they could find their way back to the house in the middle of the storm.  I wonder if we were teathered to God like that throughout the day, if we would be able to weather the storms of life better?  I'm going to try it.  Why don't you?

The Serenity Prayer is arguably one of the most famous prayers.  Reinhold Niebuhr, Protestant theologian, adapted the prayer in 1943.  Some believe its origins can be traced as early as 500AD.  I don't know about that, but I do know this prayer has brought comfort to untold millions.  Here are a few of my reflections on the prayer.  Share your as well.

         "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;”

There are things in life we can’t change.  Life is sometimes difficult.  Yet through it all God says trust Him.  We are to give thanks in all circumstances – even those I can’t change. (1 Thess 5:18) So often I have to ask God to give me peace (serenity) that passes all understanding, even when I don’t understand the why.  (Phil 4:6-7)

                            “…courage to change the things I can;” 

If following Christ means anything, it means I am actively, intentionally involved in bringing change – into my life and into this world – which reflects the values of God’s Kingdom.  Joshua was at the edge of the promise land.  God could have just handed it to him.  You know – just have faith and receive? But God didn’t.  Joshua had to go forward and fight for it.  To do this, Joshua needed courage to accompany his faith.  God knew this and He commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous. (Joshua 1:9)  There are issues in my life that I often must change.  I pray in faith, but I must act with courage.  “Courage to change the things I can” is simply “putting feet to your prayers.”  To carry this further – the Kingdom of God is built on justice and righteousness. (Isaiah 9:7)  Sometimes it takes courage – lots of it – to bring justice where there is none, righteousness where there is none.  Ask Martin Luther King or Rosa Parks.

                              “…and wisdom to know the difference."


The most difficult thing is knowing when we are called to fight for something and when God says – my grace is sufficient for you.  I held on too long to a dream which consumed much of my life.  I prayed.  I actively made decisions which would have, should have altered my circumstances to bring this about.  But in the end, it wasn’t God’s will.  Oh, to have had the wisdom to have known and accepted this 20 years earlier. It could possibly have altered the trajectory of my life.  I’m not talking about sin areas, habits, addictions.  God never grants serenity to be at peace in sin.  But there are many times God closes doors, changes our paths, allows hardship.  Some I can change.  But some I can’t.  As James was writing to Christians who were suffering hardship he said.  James 1:5 (NIV) “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”  

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."

This is a prayer worth praying.

As an interesting aside, Niebuhr extended the prayer.  Here is his complete text.


God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Karl Reinhold Niebuhr

Peace,

Rob

This past week I went to Dallas for the RightNow conference.  Great speakers, good break out sessions.  The thrust was about being missional;  that is, being missionaries in your own neighborhood and community.  Speakers hammered away at recurring themes God has been working on in my life, such as, what does it mean to allow Jesus to live through me?  Or, how can I extend the influence of the Kingdom of God in the world immediately around me?  Or, and I like this given our recent study, how can we minister in the power of the Holy Spirit like Jesus did? I am convinced we – the church and the world – are on the cusp of a major spiritual outbreak.  The power of the Holy Spirit is being manifest more and more and as God’s power is revealed people are drawn to Him. Maybe you’ve followed the cholera epidemic in Haiti.  It only took a few UN workers bringing the virus into the country and before long it spread through many regions.  I want my faith to go viral – to infect (in a good way) those with whom I come into contact.  I don’t know about you, but it’s a constant struggle to stay aligned with God and empty myself so that God can fill me with His Spirit.  I know, just like it took only a few UN workers infected with cholera to create an epidemic, it only takes a few Christ followers infected with a love for Christ and this world to radically change the world.  A handful of believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, turned the known world upside down.  Is God preparing people for that today?  I think so.