But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart—Luke 2:19, ESV
Christmas Eve and Christmas turn our thoughts and hearts toward the birth of Jesus. Even the most avowed Atheist must recognize that the reason we even celebrate at this time of year is because of a baby born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. Tonight, I deliver a Christmas Eve homily. Not really a sermon, just a meditation upon Christ and Christmas. Reading through Luke 2, what struck me most was verse 19.
Throughout the Advent season, we light candles. Candles are used to celebrate Christ because, as Jack read from John 1, He is the True light the gives light to all men. Tomorrow morning we celebrate the arrival of True Light.
John’s Gospel gives us a slightly different take on Christmas. Luke 2, which our kids reenacted last Sunday, gives us the traditional Christmas scene: manger, stable, shepherds and all. John’s gospel dispenses with the historic details in favor of explaining Christ’s birth by it place in human history. Certainly the other gospels do likewise, but John (as inspired by the Spirit) gives us this rich picture of a light stepping into darkness. This Christmas Eve, let’s try to understand Christmas as John presents it. And to do so, let’s go back to Eden. Continue reading
Before Christ’s birth was celebrated on December 25 the Romans and the Iranians celebrated their gods. For the Romans it was the Day of the Invincible Sun. The Iranians celebrated the birthday of the idol Mithras (also a Sun god). Both celebrations were timed to follow the shortest day of the year. This history, however, does not mean Christmas began as a pagan festival.
In fact, it began as a rival festival—a Godly alternative to the pagan revelry surrounding December 25. Different congregations had observed Christ’s birth at different times. Noting the parallels between the false gods Rome worshipped and the True Son of God, Church leaders choose December 25. In doing so they weren’t seeking to baptize a pagan holiday but to start an alternative holiday. And we can see they were right. 1668 years after the first ‘official’ Christmas the idols of Rome are forgotten, but the Son of God is still worshipped!
Last night was our weekly prayer meeting. It’s usually a small group of prayers who come to praise and pray for many needs. We pray for our congregation and community, but we also pray for requests we receive from many others. Folks in hospitals, a church in Mexico—folks from all over who share a request with one of our prayer team. Those requests are prayed for and, whenever possible, followed up on.
Recently we’d been praying for a woman from our town with cancer. She’d been having a very, very hard struggle. Last night we received word her cancer was gone. We’d also been praying for another woman with cancer—while its not gone, it is shrinking. These updates reminded me of two amazing stories that come out of our Sunday night prayer meeting.
The first is an older woman with breathing problems. When I first met her she was on oxygen. She wore an oxygen tank to church, keeping a spare in the building just in case. She needed the oxygen to survive. We prayed for her for quite awhile, not just looking for a miracle, but for the grace to endure. One Sunday she comes to church with no oxygen. When I asked what was going on, I found out her most recent tests showed no need—her lungs were inexplicably working fine, again. When pressed about it her Doctor confessed it must be a miracle.
The second is a young girl, dying from cancer. This little girl didn’t just want prayer she also wanted answers. I tried my best to answer her questions, and we prayed for her and her family. Now, this little girl was not healed. However, something even more amazing happened. Before cancer claimed her, Christ claimed her. This little girl accepted Christ, and even asked to be buried with one of the letters I wrote—so she could show it to God! The peace with which she died, and this request led her parents—non-Christians—to ask their own questions. Even though they lived two states away (they were in our area for her treatment) we prayed for them and put them in touch with a good church.
A few months later I received a letter from that little girl’s mom. In it was a picture, which still sits on my desk, and a note. That note shared how she and her husband came to know Christ, and how they could see God’s mercy. She understood that her little girl died so that the girl, the mom and the dad could find eternal life. She believed that it was a part of God’s plan, and though painful, worth it.
Those stories are why I pray. I don’t claim to be a miracle worker; in fact I’d point to a couple of the other prayers whom I believe are the ones God is listening to. However, I know that not only does He hear us, but also He acts. I hope God allows you to see the impact your prayers have on others, so that you, too, might be encouraged to pray.
This is why I’m a huge Piper fan. I think he not only gets it, but is uniquely passionate about Christ.
YouTube – Stopped engine aerobatics.
The man mastered energy management. Absolutely phenomenal.
I wonder what we could be like, if Christians put the time and energy into following Christ that Bob Hoover put into mastering aviation.
Deuteronomy 6:5 contains what Jesus called the greatest commandment—‘Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength,’ (NIV). This verse is not just the greatest commandment; it is the beginning of a framework. In Deuteronomy 6:4-9 we find a blueprint for parents to disciple their own children. We see God’s plan for reproducing faith, values and lifestyle in the next generation. Continue reading
Part of leading any organization, I suppose, are dreams. Dreams about the future, about what could be, what must be. Over the past few years God gave me a dream for our congregation. Three years ago our community lost our full-time Youth for Christ worker. The local ministry has continued with a part-timer and her volunteers, but they can’t do a full-time work. Two years ago my oldest started Karate. As we’ve gotten to know other parents, we’ve heard a common complaint–nothing for youth in our small town. Shoot, we don’t even have a movie theater.
So, as our new building began to take shape, one of the dreams I found was a drop-in center. A place where community kids could come after school, hang out, be safe, have fun and hear about Christ. It seems to be strategic, in that there is really nothing for the youth of Beecher. It seems to be missional, in that we can love the families of Beecher through this ministry–and win the opportunity to share Christ.
Like all dreams, this one has costs–financial costs, volunteer costs and, no doubt, unknown costs. Currently I’m praying for 100 kids, and the volunteers, money and whatever else we need to minister to those kids. As I’ve already written about, God’s been faithful with this building. And He isn’t giving it to us as a knick-knack–He wants it used. I look forward to seeing how God will do more than we can ask or imagine in using this ministry to reach this community for Christ.
Brandon Markette 