Stars...They Already Have a Name!

Have you ever sung this nursery rhyme:

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are!"

Stars are amazing! I find it fascinating and never tiring to take a moment to look up at the stars at night. I was particularly mindful of stars this past week as my family gathered outside to look at the lunar eclipse. What a spectacular cosmic display of beauty! I was also reminded about stars while I was listening to the radio as I was driving home from work and heard a very interesting advertisement that invited me to pay nearly $55 to "name a star after someone." I thought that was very interesting. If I sent this company my money, I would receive a "Star Chart" containing the name of the constellation and the telescopic coordinates where I could "find my star" by looking through a telescope. The more I thought about this the more it sounded like a waste of money…although at first it sounded like a neat idea. I began to wonder about what God would think about a company taking peoples’ money to "name a star" after someone. So, I looked in the Bible to see what God had to say. I found the answer in Psalm 147:4 which says in the Contemporary English Version that "[God] decided how many stars there would be in the sky and gave each one a name." WOW! All the stars in the sky ALREADY have a name! Although we may never know all the names God has given to the stars, we can take comfort in realizing that God not only knows how many stars are in the Universe, but that He knows each one by their name. So, the next time you look up at the sky at night and see all the stars, just remember that YOU CAN KEEP YOUR MONEY and your suggestions as to "what to name a star" because the God who placed each one of those stars in the universe is the same God who has already given each one of them their name. May astronomy never be the same again! Happy star-gazing!

Lent - Finding Identity

The forty days of Lent is a time for us to remember that we are to give up something that is a sacrifice, an act of self-denial, or some act that will remind us of Christ. Lent is sacred and spiritual for every Christian. This is the season that reminds us of the great sacrifice of Christ for each one of us. Centuries ago Jesus Christ went through an agony, a scourging, a crowning and a crucifixion. The tragedy of Good Friday led to the triumph of Easter Sunday. The acts of self-denial, the acts of sacrifice we make during this season helps us identify with the sacrifices of Christ. Uniting our sacrifice with that of Christ, uniting our pain with his, Lent is set aside just to remind us of these factors. Lent is not just a season we reflect upon and apply only to ourselves. Our acts of self-denial, our acts of sacrifices not only are directed to Christ, but to our neighbor. The whole thrust of the season of Lent is to increase one's spirituality. This comes from the simple knowledge that anything worthwhile in life demands a sacrifice. I think it's safe to say that all of us have experienced some sort of agony, a scourging, a crucifixion. It might be the agony of trying to forget a past mistake, it might be the scourging of some physical illness that just won't go away, or watching a loved one make tragic mistakes over and over again in life. You, in this year, might be going through a crucifixion of a different kind. Lent reminds you that Christ has already been where you are. Lent reminds you that if you identify your suffering with the suffering of Christ your cross will become lighter. Lent reminds you not only of the suffering of Christ, but of the love of Christ. The more you realize the sacredness of this season, the more you offer your suffering in union with the suffering of Christ, the more you identify with Christ, the more spiritual you become, the more sacred your Lent becomes.

Off the Cuff is Off the Mark

Most 'off the cuff' remarks, although paritally true, cannot stand up to scruitiny simply because they are laced with as much inaccuracy as fact. If you are going to make claims, statements, and rebuttals always take the time to think through what you are going to say. It is so easy in "the heat of battle" such as arguments and disagreements to fly off the handle with accusations such as "you're always late!" "You always say that!" and "I've had to work every weekend!" These are what I call "off the cuff remarks" because the person making these statements has not taken the time to "think through" what they are actually saying. For example, if an employee arrives late to a staff meeting and you verbally assualt the person with "you're always late" then you better make sure that it can be proven by fact that this person has been late to every single meeting since they were employed. If they have been late to 4 out of 30 meetings then how can you rightfully say "you're always late" to them? If you, after seeing the newly posted work schedule, exclaim "I'm always working weekends" but, just three months ago, were given not only Christmas, but New Year's AND the Martin Luther King holiday weekend off, how can you rightfully say "I've worked EVERY weekend? You may be RIGHT in saying "it seems like I am working every weekend" or "it seems like you've been late for a few meetings this year" but you are totally WRONG when stating these facts with the words such as "always" and "every" to make it appear like it happens all the time. Proverbs 16:13, "Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth." Exodus 20:16 "You must not testify falsely against your neighbor." When speaking and addressing issues of interest just make sure you're not speaking "off the cuff" because you could end up "losing your shirt."

The Revelation of EPIPHANY

Epiphany...my, what a word! To most, what looks like the small spattering of letters a child would randomly type on the computer, is actually a significant event of the Church Calendar. Epiphany, the twelfth day after Christmas, is the conclusion of the Christmas season. The word "Epiphany" means "to show" or "to reveal." It is also a historical date because it marks the arrival of the "three wise men" from the east who came "to show" and "to reveal" to all the world that this little 2-year-old toddler was Lord and King (Matthew 2:9-11) This is why we celebrate Epiphany! We celebrate to recall how God has been "showing" and "revealing" Himself to us ever since that one night the Kings of the Orient bowed their knees and presented their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to this little boy named Jesus. Be on guard! Watch! Our transcendent God is ever present and working in His creation to show us and to reveal to us how much He loves us and desires to have a close, personal, intimate, and loving relationship with us. A brilliant sunset, the warm hug of a grandparent, a confirming compliment from a parent, the warmth of the sun's rays on a cold winter day, the purring of a cat, the rambunctious playfulness of a dog, and the joy of fellowship with our family during the holidays...all things God uses to show and reveal His presence...His love for us. "Happy Epiphany!" How will you be "on the look out" for God's "Epiphany" to you today...this week...this year? My prayer is that you'll take notice and see a lot of God the Father in 2008!

2008: Will I "BE" or Will I "DO?"

When I was a kid, it seems that every time an adult asked me about "my future" the question was always stated as "what do you want to be when you grow up?" I can't say that anyone ever asked me "what do you want to do when you grow up?" I think I know why! I've learned there is a HUGE difference between "doing" and "being." What we want to do in life is not nearly as important as what we want to be in life. "Doing" is related to earthly things such as "vocation" or "career." But, "being," on the other hand, goes much deeper because it relates to character, who we are, and how we use our life. "Doing" is related more to tangible things such as annual income, trophies, medals, awards or material possessions. "Being" has more to do with the things in life that can't be measured by literal yardsticks, trophy cases, or bank statements. "Being" is built on character, morals, integrity and, most importantly, upon the foundation of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives. That means, by "being," we are trustworthy, dependable, loyal, kind, and loving people who give generously of themselves and of their possessions. By "being" we live out what Jim Elliot so eloquently stated that, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." As the New Year approaches, vow to "be" in 2008...and beyond. Happy New Year!

Presents or Presence for Christmas?

Commercialism, consumer spending, gifts, trees, office parties, and decorations...many things we associate with Christmas. Unfortunately, if you noticed, Jesus was not mentioned in the list. I did that intentionally just to see if you noticed it or not. We can sometimes get so wound up and caught up in the "concept" of Christmas that we forget the "Christ" who gives us Christmas. It is rather difficult to forget about Jesus at Christmas. Jesus is our Master, the Bridegroom, the Good Shepherd, our Prophet, Priest, and King. He is the Lord of lords and King of kings. Jesus Christ...the Holy One of God. He truly is "Emmanuel," God with us. Christmas isn't about a "holiday season" called Christmas...it is about Jesus Christ. It isn't about "presents" of toys or clothing, but Jesus Christ's "presence" in our lives. It is my prayer that you will desire God's presence within you more than presents from under the tree this season (and always). Don't get consumed in the consumerism of celebrating Christmas. Just celebrate Jesus! May your life be a continual declaration of Thomas' revelation in John 20:28, "My Lord and my God!" Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year in 2008.

Merry X-Mas

Merry WHAT??? Grrrrrr! Don't you dare replace the name of "Christ" with an "X!" I'm being a little facetious, but in all honesty, I can't tell you how irritating I use to find people who used "X" instead of "Christ" when displaying or writing out the word "Christmas." The same was true for any marque, business or sign that displayed that big 'ol "X" instead of the name of "Christ." I thought "how lazy, irreverent, and sacrilegious must you be to 'x-out' Christ?" Until I learned an interesting theological point behind the "X" did I finally become comfortable using the "X." You see, we must go back and learn that the Greek word for Christ is Xristos. Did you catch the first letter in that word? YOU GUESSED IT!! It is an "X!" Thus the abbreviation is simply a “X.” Therefore, the term X-mas is not taking Christ out of Christmas at all. So, now, instead of being offended, I simply grin with a modest chuckle realizing that those who THINK they are taking "Christ" out of Christmas by using an "X" are actually KEEPING the name of Christ in Christmas after all! You just can't silence the message of Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Have a blessed Christmas season and, by the way, MERRY X-MAS!!

The Money Song

I was fortunate enough...or should I say "blessed"enough...to grow up in the church. As the years passed it became apparent that beyond the standard flow of the Sunday service such as hymns, prayers, and sermons, there were other "expected" responses such as "The Gloria Patri," "The Lord's Prayer," "Apostles' Creed" and one song known as "The Doxology." Interestingly enough this one particular "song" was always sung right after taking up the offering. I began to believe that this song was the "money song" or the "offering song" since it was sung while the ushers brought the offering plates forward to give to the pastor. However, now that I have become a pastor/chaplain, I have had the opportunity to study and teach the true meaning behind "the money song" which is known in most bulletins as the "DOXOLOGY." I quickly found that this word is anything but "just the money song" sung after the offering. You see, the word doxology is actually two Greek words in one. The first is doxa which means "glory" and logos which means "words" or "to speak." So, doxology can be words, songs, or any other form of speech that is used to give God glory for His provisions, mercy, and love. So, the next time you find yourself in need to thank God (which is basically all the time and for just about everything), try singing the doxology to Him. Also, try singing the doxology as your supper prayer…maybe sing the doxology before concluding your prayer and devotional time, or the first conscious moments of the day as your alarm clock awakes you from your night's sleep. It can make a big difference in your day...or should I say will make a big difference in your day...as much as it will give God worship and glory. I'm so glad to know that this wonderful song is so much more than just "the money song." Let's lift our voices..."Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen."

Thankfulness

Today is Thanksgiving which is hopefully a day known more for thankfulness and gratitude than for gorging ourselves on food. I love the traditions and the wonderful memories of a house full of relatives and friends packed with the aroma of cooking and baking. I think it is the only time in late fall that we run the air conditioner due to the heat generated by cookers, ovens, stoves, and the hot air coming from a lot of boisterous conversations!! :) For me, I still feel just an itsy-bitsy twinge of sadness "way down inside" that all these childhood memories are just that...memories...as those days past will never be repeated. My grandparents are no longer with us meaning that "the family"...you know...the uncles, aunts, cousins, brothers and sisters" hardly ever get together any more for the big feast. Now, nine years in the making, the traditions are now with my family. It is just the five of us and we celebrate John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." I have been blessed with "more abundance" than can be measured. I am thankful to God for His gifts of my family...each one that you see in the picture that accompanies this article...from left to right...Jabin, Jennalyn, and Tristian. Our precious children who will, one day, take what we are doing now as a family and pass it on into the future to their children as "family traditions." So, I leave you with some of Colossians 3:15, by saying "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...and be thankful!"

The Art of Subtraction

We are a society that would probably associate the word "subtraction" with negative things such as "losing" or "things taken away." I wonder if we have ever considered looking at the word "subtraction" as a very positive word. In one book that I was reading I was intrigued by a concept used by Mother Teresa in regards to her ministry when she was surrounded by people who dealt with so much pain, misery, death, and sickness. Someone had asked her how could she not be overwhelmed when there were obviously more people than she could help. She could only scratch the surface. She responded by saying that looking at it that way (by seeing that the need is greater than my ability to "help everyone") was applying the wrong math. She used subtraction. Every time she loved and cared for a destitute and dying person, every time she rescued a girl from prostitution, every time she comforted a hurting soul, she was subtracting from the despair and adding to hope. DON'T EVER UNDERESTIMATE the power of just doing a little!! Remember Matthew 10:24, "And if anyone give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." Go out and make a difference by doing good things that can subtract from the despair and brokenness of this world.

Offensive Ministry??

Does it bother you and make you feel uncomfortable to be around someone who is known for being verbally aggressive, offensively opinionated, and outwardly negative and critical on "hot topic" subjects such as race, sexual orientation, and the government? Does it also bother you to know that this same person claims to be a Christian? I've come into contact with several. We are not called to threaten, make offensive remarks, make off-colored statements, or even attempt to verbally "corner" a "sinner" to get them to repent. We are not called to beat people over the head with the Bible (nor shove it down their throats). 2 Corinthians 6:3 is a powerful verse because Paul says, "We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed." Yes, I know sin is sin. Yes, I know we all sin...some more than others. But, I also know it is not my calling (nor anyone's) to purposely single out people to confront them for no other purpose than to get some sort of satisfaction with pointing out to them "how sinful" their sin is "according to the Bible." Please reconsider the long-term damage you could inflict upon someone when the urge hits to confront someone over their sin. You never know, but they are probably fully aware of their struggles...and more than likely they could be at the critical point of making a change. DON'T BLOW IT by interfering with how the Holy Spirit may be working in the person's life by making an ill-timed, unwarranted critical statement to them. Work on loving them and reaching out to them. Don't be guilty of hating both the sinner and the sin....don't create an offensive ministry.

Try Anyway

There are a lot of things I really don't know how to do so I am willing to leave those things to those who can. There are a lot of things I don't know how to do that I must attempt anyway despite how anxious, unwilling, or fearful I feel towards having to do it. That's pretty much how the military goes...especially at our service schools. Despite risk of injury in an obstacle course...climb up the 10-foot ladder, hang from the rope, and traverse the bridge 6 feet above water...whatever the risk...try anyway. Despite never running more than 3-4 miles run the 10k race anyway. Despite having no previous knowledge or experience with course subject matter speak up and offer what opinion or thoughts you do have. If there is one thing I've learned in all possible scenarios in the military is that you WILL NOT be criticized for trying. I've also learned (the hard way) that YOU WILL be criticized if you DON'T take a chance, make an attempt or at least speak up and say something as a way of contributing to the conversation. Regardless of what you think of your abilities or what you feel others think of your abilities, people want you to actively participate. In the military, we call that "contributing." Nothing will kill you more in a team-oriented environment than not contributing. No matter what...TRY ANYWAY. ....you face your fears...you overcome your anxiety...you swallow your pride...you boldly stand up and face the unknown with confidence...whatever, whenever, however...try anyway...CONTRIBUTE. Whenever you feel yourself scared to death that is the first indication that it is time to step up to the plate and step out to lead. Take a chance...stop spending so much time worrying over the various probabilities you might have to fall flat on your face...just try and put your effort and energy into the 1 or 2 possibilities that at least have a chance of working. Again, the least that could happen is that you will get applauded for trying. You will be shunned and booed for "playing it safe" and for not trying or contributing. The next time you are challenged to step out of your comfort zone or presented with a situation where "walking away" is so much easier than risking failure, GO FOR IT...LEAD THE WAY...TRY ANYWAY.

Fragile Ego

I was given a new assignment and reported to my new work center with anticipation of a different perspective of ministry, outreach and opportunity. I was hit, instead, with a dose of reality. I was accused, belittled, and made to feel severely "inferior." Sadly, that was just the first day at work! WOW...our first meeting together. What I thought would be a "welcome" speech turned out to be a "this is the way it is around here" directive so that I understood very clearly that I was "at the bottom of the totum pole." Yikes!! He definitely wasn't the "welcome wagon." Sadly, over the course of the last two months, I have found that it's not just my new boss who is "sensitive" but some of my colleagues as well. What is this I'm talking about? I'm talking about fragile ego. Fragile ego is when a person "over-reacts" as if everything you do is purposely orchestrated as a threat to their career, themselves, and/or their livlihood...maybe even an attempt to "upstage" them to make them look bad in the eyes of the boss. To "protect" themselves they not only give you the cold-shoulder throughout the course of the week, but find ways to interject degrading, cutting, and demeaning "responses" to the ideas, input and contributions you make. You know...they always have to say something negative to make it look as if what you said was the stupidest thing every uttered in the history of the world. They are hard to deal with when they are "jerks" on purpose. I found an interesting saying from Mother Teresa that could help us when we work and live with these mentally immature, ego-protective individuals. My wife found it...of all places...in a CBD catalog. It said, "People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give your best nayway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It never was between you and them anyway." Yes, love is patient, kind...and not easily offended. May we all strive to have BIG hearts and thick skins. After all, it was never supposed to be about me in the first place.

What Will It Take?

Think about all the things you've done for Jesus and God's kingdom today...last week...this month...this year. Seriously! How far have you extended yourself to express your faith? Why are you drawing a blank? What have you really done? What makes us so inclined to do very little? No accountability? No incentive? No motivation? No fear of consequences? I heard an interesting quote that proclaimed that "Christians are just like tea bags. You never know how strong they are until you put them in hot water." When it comes to living out your Christian faith what will it take to make you get serious about ministering in the name of Jesus Christ? In other words, what will God have to allow to happen in your life in order get your attention that you've been apathetic, lethargic and unmotivated with carrying out the ministry he has called you to do? What has to happen in order to get your attention to start doing something about the sinful habits you have become accustomed to doing? Although not the case in all situations, I see many "Christians" with health issues, financial troubles, miserable marriages, wayward children, dismal job performances, and a host of other melancholy life-stories that just don't seem to make sense or appear to come at a very unique time. It makes me wonder if there is something going on in their life from a spiritual sense. After all, these unusually bleak occurrences are not the type of life God planned for us. In Jeremiah 29:11, God tell us, "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Are you getting nowhere in life? Does "bad luck" seem to be the end result of a lot of your endeavors? Does it seem that no matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to "get a break?" Maybe it is time to stop and seriously consider what has become of your relationship with God. Where is it and at what level? Head knowledge? Conscious awareness? A deep, intimate relationship built on Scripture, prayer, communication, service and confession? What is it going to take for you to come back into a proper relationship with God? What will it take for you to get serious about your faith? For some, it takes a tragic accident or a horrific string of bad circumstances. Others, it takes losing a job, a home, or even a spouse. For most of us, it really doesn't require much such as a uniquely timed illness or a minor financial loss to get our attention to repent and turn back to the Lord. Ephesians 5:15-17 tells us, So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do." Let's not "push the issue" of Grace. Let's work and focus on our relationship with God now while we have the opportunity. I pray that you won't procrastinate. I pray that you won't wait until God has to intervene in order to give you the incentive. God loves you too much to leave you where you are...he wants to see you grow, mature and succeed in your life and ministry. You can't do that sitting still, letting time pass, and thinking that simply going to Church on Sunday is "enough spirituality" for your life...invest the time while you still have the privilege...don't wait for an incentive!!

Eulogy

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it is safe to say that if you REALLY wanted to hear how much someone was loved, appreciated and admired, you would have to attend their funeral! When you go to a funeral, you normally hear all these amazing and wonderful things about the person who now lies dead in a casket. Why do we wait until the funeral to say all the things that we should have said to them when they were alive? Why do we have such a twisted understanding of what a eulogy is in the first place? How did our society ever become comfortable with associating "eulogy" as "those nice things you say about the deceased at their funeral service?" Ask any person on the street to define "eulogy" and I'll bet you they will automatically start mentioning things associated with a funeral. Let's first start by defining the word eulogy. The word "eulogy" is derived from the two Greek words "speak" and "well." We also derive our English word "bless" from the combination of the two Greek words. However, the more accurate and literally English translation of the two words "speak" and "well" is the word (you guessed it) EULOGY. A eulogy is taking the time to bless someone by speaking well of them while they are still alive to hear it! Wouldn't this world be even better than it is today if we would ponder the true meaning of "eulogy" and figure out some way to at least say one or two nice things about the people we come into contact with on a daily basis? Instead of telling your wife after dinner "that wasn't bad," how about saying "honey, you did it again...a very delicious meal. You really know how to cook!" What uplifting and encouraging compliments can you think of to say to someone today...tomorrow? Do it soon...and by all means...don't wait until the funeral!!