And the #1 Resolution is...

I'm not making new resolutions this year ... I'm trying to keep the old ones. (See the background on these resolutions here.)

And my #1 resolution is this...

GRACE- Resolved that I will seek to live as a channel of God's grace -- lavishly receiving it and lavishly expressing it.

As we enter 2007 - Resolution #2

I'm not making new resolutions this year ... I'm trying to keep the old ones. (See the background on these resolutions here.)

And my 2nd resolution is this...

NOW- Resolved that I will seek to live in the present tense -- enjoying all God has for me in the moment, and redeeming the time with others.

Note: it is so easy for me to live in the future ... planning instead of being. This is a resolution I really want to put into practice more this year.

As we enter 2007 - Resolution #3

I'm not making new resolutions this year ... I'm trying to keep the old ones. (See the background on these resolutions here.)

And my 3rd resolution is this...

FAITH - Resolved that I will seek to live by faith -- seeing the unseen God in my circumstances and trusting His sovereign control.

As we enter 2007 - Resolution #4

I'm not making new resolutions this year ... I'm trying to keep the old ones. (See the background on these resolutions here.)

And my 4th resolution is this...

SPIRIT - Resolved that I will seek to live in the Spirit -- relying on His power, direction, and joy.

As we enter 2007 - Resolution #5

I'm not making new resolutions this year ... I'm trying to keep the old ones.

As we enter a new year, I'd like to share some resolutions I made at the beginning of this decade. On the eve of the epic year 2000, I made five resolutions. They have anchored me ever since. They are in my PDA and I review them at least monthly. I was inspired by the great American theologian Jonathan Edwards and his resolutions. I will share one resolution a day for the next 5 days beginning with the fifth.

I begin each resolution with this statement:

Being very aware that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I humbly ask Him, by His grace, to empower me to keep these Resolutions, to the degree that they are in keeping with His will, for His glory.

And my 5th resolution is this....

LOVE - Resolved that I will seek to put others before myself -- knowing that as I love them I am loving God and myself.

Our Christmas Tree

On this amazing holiday, join with me in making a commitment to not only celebrate Christmas, but beyond that, celebrate Christ. Glory to God in the highest.

Why a Manger?

Our nativity scenes have sterilized the manger. Cartoon sheep and glow in the dark figures. I appreciate the sentiment. But I’m afraid these images have inoculated us against the shock that the shepherds must have experienced when they first heard that the Savior would be placed in an animal’s feeding trough. Jesus wasn't born in palace but a stable - a place that smelled like animals lived there.

Has it ever crossed your mind why Jesus would be placed a manger?

The angel said it was a sign. ("This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:12) And when the Bible using the term, sign, it carries the idea of significance. What would be the significance of the manger to these shepherds? Historians of the 1st Century say that Jesus was born in a cave; which makes sense because in those days sheep, and other animals, were often sheltered in caves. No matter what, it is pretty clear that Jesus was born in an area meant for sheep and other livestock.

Now consider this: Bethlehem at that time was the center of raising sacrificial lambs for the Temple in nearby Jerusalem. Therefore at least some of the sheep that these shepherds would raise, were considered korban, that is, they were set aside from birth as perfect, sacrificial lambs.

Trace with me, for a moment the life of one of these Bethlehem lambs:

· Born in a lamb’s cave,
· fed at a manger,
· perfect and without blemish
· led by its shepherd to Jerusalem
· where it would shed its blood for the sins of the God’s people

Maybe the manger was a sign. Where else would the Lamb of God be born?

What if the animals understood?

Here's a pretty cool quote I used last Sunday. Barrie Shepherd, in his book, Faces Around the Manger, imagines what would it would be like if the sheep and donkeys themselves could understand the significance of Jesus’ birth.

“Of all the witnesses around the holy manger perhaps it was the animals that saw best what lay ahead. For they had paced the aching roads, slept in the wet and hungry fields, known the sharp sting of sticks and thorns and curses, … the tendency of man to use and then discard rather than meet and pay the debt of gratitude. For them the future also held the knacker’s rope, the flayer’s blade, the tearing of their bodies for the sparing of a race. In the shadows of the stable, might it be his warmest welcome lay within their quiet comprehending gaze?”

Useless Gifts

"The Magi presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." Matthew 2:11

There are those who think the wise men could have brought more practical gifts to the baby Jesus. They didn't bring soft blankets, diapers, or footsy pajamas. Instead the gifts the Magi brought for the baby Jesus were impractical and completely useless … for an infant, that is. Gold. Incense. Myrrh. Extravagant, yes! Exotic, expensive, over-the-top, to be sure; but altogether useless for a baby. I guess, Mary and Joseph could eventually cash them in for living expenses, but what would a baby do with these?

It turns out that, in that day, these were the gifts you would give to a king. Gold, incense and myrrh were gifts for royalty. And everything about this scene emphasizes Jesus' identity as King. Here we see these advisors to the kings, who trafficked in the realm of royalty, bowing down in reverential posture, and presenting Jesus with these outlandish, expensive, fit-for-a-king gifts.

What do we give to a God who has everything? Our worship, our service, our offerings? He certainly doesn’t need them. Is it possible that we need no other reason to worship Jesus or give Him our gifts than because of who He is? When we give to Jesus that which we value, we are declaring that He is our King. Hallelujah!

His Word, My Mouth

In the Old Testament, one of the promises by God to anyone who would assume the role of prophet was this: "I will put my words in his mouth..." Deut. 18:18. This would also serve as a test of their authenticity. As I seek to engage people with the truth of Scripture, how I long for this dynamic - His word, my mouth. There is a temptation, I feel it, many preachers feel it, to put their words in God's mouth. That is, to use the pulpit to express their feelings in the name of God. Here are some things to keep in mind as you seek to have "His word in your mouth" when preaching.

• Be grounded in a biblical text when you speak
• Make sure you've done your homework as to the context and genre
• Let the passage set the topic
• Ask "What should I know, feel, and do because of this passage?" ... and stick to that
• Preach through all parts of the Bible
• Speak to everybody ... but not to somebody in specific (if you feel like you need to tell a person something, don't do it in a sermon, do it one on one)
• Preach to yourself
• Don't just tell it; grapple with it, as God's Word, even as you speak

There's Something about Mary

Have you ever wondered why God chose Mary as the favored one to birth His Son into the world? Was she more spiritual than others? More righteous, pure, maternal? I wondered, and so I took a closer look at how Mary is described when the angel appears to her and announces that she is to be the chosen vessel for the Son of God. I was surprised at what I discovered.

Mary was troubled - Luke 1:29
Mary was afraid - Luke 1:30
Mary was confused - Luke 1:34

Of course, all of this is completely understandable. How else could she respond to this angelic news? Any of us would have been troubled, afraid, and confused.

Sometimes we get the impression that God can only use people who are trouble-free.... that God is looking for someone without issues. Mary was troubled. You don’t have to be an emotional rock. Mary was afraid. You don’t have to have it all figured out. Mary did not have all the spiritual answers. Isn’t it interesting that at the first glimpse we are given of Mary, she is troubled, fearful, and confused … but still a recipient of grace?

Ultimately, if Mary had anything going for her at all, it was simply this: She had a willingness to let God be Lord in her life. As a recipient of God’s grace in the midst of her trouble, fear, and ignorance, she was open to God’s leadership even though she did not understand it, even though she was fearful, even though at times she was still troubled. Her words at the end of that encounter make a wonderful life prayer: "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." Luke 1:34

Why the Virgin Birth?

The interest in the new movie, the Nativity Story (see trailer below), has stirred a renewed interest in the individuals that surrounded the birth of Jesus, and especially Mary, His mother.

Why was it necessary for Mary to be a virgin? This, it turns out, is more than just an interesting or incidental fact about Jesus' birth. It was absolutely essential that the Messiah arrive on our planet through a divine conception. It boils down to this: Jesus needed to be both fully God and fully human.

The Bible is a bit vague on the details, but it describes the conception of Jesus like this. A angelic messenger from God told Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35). While we are not privy to the genetic specifics, it is clear that Jesus received his human nature from his mother. Because of this, he was fully human. He felt like us, lived like us, and bled like us. It is imprecise to say that, at conception, Jesus received his divine natue from God, since Jesus already existed before that. It is more accurate to say that somehow when the power of the Most High overshadowed Mary that Jesus, while never shedding his divinity, also embraced a human body. And while Jesus left behind some of the attributes of diety (for example, while on Earth he was no longer omnipresent -- in every place at the same time), he never lost his God-nature. Jesus was both fully God and fully human. As a figure of speech, we might say that Jesus had both human and divine DNA.

Therefore, because he was God, Jesus could bring God to us.
Because he was human, Jesus could bring us to God.

Because he was God, Jesus could take upon himself the sins of the world.
Because he was human, Jesus could identify with our humanity, weakness and temptation.

Because he was God, Jesus can stand as our advocate in Heaven.
Because he is human we can be assured that the God of Heaven knows how we feel.

The Nativity Story Trailer

Here's the Preview. Go see it!

Amazing response to the Nativity movie

I can't wait for tomorrow night at the local theatre where tons of folks from GVC will attend the opening night of the Nativity Story. I've been blown away by the response. I initially (in faith) secured 200 tickets. The theater's largest auditorium could seat 300. As of yesterday we just sold 400 tickets and have now taken over two complete theater rooms. The best part is that many of those who bought tickets are bringing friends -- many of whom I think will be quite moved by this film. What a great way to start the Christmas season.

Free Burritos

When Jesus told the famous parable about The Prodigal Son, it is a bit convicting because I see how easily I can become like the older brother.

One of the older brother's chief complaints against his father was this: You never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' Luke 15:29b-30

I become like the older brother when I compare myself with others.

About a month ago I set up lunch with our worship pastor. He suggested we meet at Chipotle Restaurant and then says, “Hey I’ve got great news! On Halloween if you dress up like a Chipotle burrito you get a free burrito!" Which meant wrapping ourselves in foil.

So there we were, in the parking lot, wrapping ourselves head to foot in Reynold's Wrap. From below my knees to under my armpits I was covered with aluminum; not to mention the attractive, reflective head covering. We shuffled across the parking lot getting all kinds of looks. My colleague says, "Great news! No one else in there is dressed up!" I’m thinking this is not great news! This was a promotion from last year and we’ve wasted our time. As we get in line I am wondering, "Will this work? Does this qualify? Is this good enough? Have I done enough to earn a free burrito?" Sure enough, we got the free burritos.

But this is where it got interesting. As we were filling up our sodas, a guy comes in with a three inch band of foil wrapped around his wrist. Hardly bigger than a wristwatch. And I’m thinking, there is no way he is getting a free burrito. Five minutes later here he walks out. I have to ask him, “You paid for that burrito, right?” He looks at me and says, "Dude, no. Got it free. Dressed up like a burrito!" as he shows off his shiny bracelet. And I’m thinking. "This is not fair! This is wrong! Look at all that I’ve done. And he gets by with just that?! That should not qualify. Unfair!"

But why am I complaining? I got a free burrito too. There’s a little bit of older brother in all of us and it reveals itself all the time. I also get more like the older brother when I compare myself with others.

Over the years I have realized that God's plan for each individual is personalized. It doesn't help to compare ourselves with the work of God in someone else's life. Instead, as in Jesus' parable, accept the grace God has for you. Consider His work in your life. Follow His plan for you. Cherish His personalized goodness to you.

my photo

Coming Home

This image has captured the essence of all I've wanted to say this fall in our series, "Once I was lost... finding my way back home." This is Rembrandt's depiction of the return of the prodigal son (Luke 15). The more I look at this painting the more I am moved by it. By the way, I plan to show this image coming up during my message on Sunday, Nov. 26.

Lost & Found

Has there ever been a time when you have lost something precious and then, after much searching, found it again? In these simple lost and found experiences, we get a glimpse into the heart of God who rejoices over finding lost people.

One day Jesus told a simple story about a housewife who lost a valuable coin. She became completely focused in the effort to find her missing treasure, and when ultimately it was found, "she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, `Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' " Luke 15:9 It was such an ordinary kind of event: A woman scouring the house for a lost coin and then celebrating with some girlfriends over finding it. The coin was valuable, the search was thorough, the joy was profound. Is there anything in your life that you recently lost and found again? Jesus’ point, of course, was that the joy we experience in finding our lost treasures is but a glimpse into the heart of God, who rejoices over finding people who are created to spend eternity with Him. Compared to the items we look for, how much more valuable are the lost individuals around us? How much more urgent should be our quest? How much more profound will be our joy?

Is there anyone in your life that is lost who needs to be found again?

On His Shoulders

In one of Jesus' most familiar parables, there is a sentence that often gets overlooked. Jesus compares Himself to a shepherd who goes to great lengths to rescue a lost sheep. This is the line I love: "And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home." (Luke 15:5-6) Now, if we had written this parable, we might have scolded the sheep and chased him back home. Maybe the sheep would have raced ahead of Jesus back to the flock. Something in us would have wanted the sheep to get home in his own strength, but that's not what Jesus said. Jesus seemed to indicate that the only way home is on His shoulders. A few months ago I was looking at our golden retriever, and for some reason, I just felt like putting him up on my shoulders. I lifted him up with the fireman’s carry - his two front legs over my left shoulder, his two back legs over my right shoulder. He looked pretty awkward. It was not his favorite moment, I'm sure. I kept saying, "Relax, relax." Sometimes it isn’t easy for us to be carried on Jesus’ shoulders..... to give up control and to let Him lead. Nonetheless, He keeps saying, “Relax, relax … you’re not going to make it in your own strength.” The only way home is absolute trust.... on His shoulders.

Authentic Lives

The first thing they did was hide. Earth's first couple, aware of their failure, fabricated self-made coverings and ducked into the trees. When God showed up (He always does) He asked a question. This is the question God asked Adam: Where are you?" (Gen. 3:9)

Now God didn't ask this question because Adam's camouflage worked so well. It wasn't as if God is saying, “Olly, Olly Oxen Free! I have no idea where you are, come on out.” God’s questions are always for our benefit, not His. As it turns out, this is a question God asks us every day, “Where are you? What are you hiding behind?”. Ever since the beginning we have been tempted to hide and cover. We are afraid to reveal our imperfections; afraid of being vulnerable. But just like with our first father, God invites us to come out of hiding into His presence. More than that, He invites us to drop our self-made facades and be real with Him. The spiritual life isn’t, first of all, about being good; it’s about being authentic. And admitting our brokenness is the first step to transformation.