GOD'S MATH

BY STEVE DUNN 

Reading: Luke 2.18-20

  When I was in high school they introduced something called “the new math.” At that point it was from a parallel universe. For my math teacher, Mr. Iams, who was nearing retirement after teaching mathematics for 40 years, it was “math from another planet.” The concept was good. It was trying to help us rethink the way we approached the science of mathematics so that we would be better prepared for the intricacies of the future that would be computers, space travel, and a burgeoning electronics industry. And at that point, the internet was more a concept than a reality—certainly not the life-dominating reality that it is the second decade of the 21st century. 

 Most of us struggled with this new math because we had lived too long with the old math. Our minds found it difficult to wrap around those concepts, let alone do something practical with them. In fact, more than once some of us said, “Do we really need to do it this way?” 

By now most of us are familiar with the Christmas story, of how a virgin conceived by the Holy Spirit so that she might carry the Very Son of God in her womb, of how a cousin in her older age gave birth to the messenger who would prepare the way for the Savior’s message and ministry.

And then there are the improbable events recorded in Luke 2.8-20: There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told! – THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION 

The world would find such an entry for the King of Kings totally out of its frame of understanding. Even today, 2000 years since that moment in history, more than one person would confess, “This does not compute.” Kings come from kings and power comes from the end of a gun. The strong win and the weak—well, they just get walked over. Confession and repentance do not add up in a “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps world.” And that whole virgin thing—it is impossible! Yet the way to eternally living in the Kingdom of God is through humbling yourself and taking on the form of a servant. To gain your life you must give it up. A teenage mother, a backwater town like Bethlehem, a baby born into the poverty of a manger—what can be more humble. 

But in God’s math, what that brings is more precious than anything else in the whole world. © by Steve Dunn

HEADING FOR THE MANGER

by STEVE DUNN

This post originally appeared in this blog on December 17, 2010

 

Reading: Matthew 2.1-12

We are now seven days before Christmas Eve.  People are hustling around trying to complete their Christmas shopping (or grabbing some time to wrap presents). There may be one or two Christmas parties left.  Family schedules are being adjusted so that we can get to all the stops we need to make for Christmas Day.  Many of us in this group will be in church Friday night to celebrate the Birth.

This is the story of the visit of the Magi to the manger. The Magi were royalty who had the time and leisure to be scholars--astronomers, it appears and students of the religious writings of the Middle East. In those days, stars were believed to be signs of momentous events or life messages. It was a bit more substantive than the current day's astrology and horoscopes. They were likely from Persia.  We do not know exactly when this occurred, but given the distance they would have traveled and the response of Herod after their departure, the journey could have been up two years.

By their own report, they started their journey after the saw the Star.  The scriptures leave us to understand that the Star first appeared in the night sky on the day of Jesus' birth.

They also came prepared--with gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.Gold is a gift for a King, symbolising Jesus' kingship. Frankincense is an incense used by priests, thus symbolising Jesus' priesthood. Myrrh is used in embalming the dead, which prophetically signifies that Jesus was born to die. These are the symbolic meaning of these gifts, but they must have also had a practical purpose. It is likely that Mary saved the myrrh for Jesus' burial; although it is also likely that some of it was used for Joseph's burial as well. The Frankincense may have been used in the home of Joseph when they celebrated te Passover.

The point here is this.  These men rearranged their lives to come to the manger, and they came with gifts that expressed an awareness of what Jesus would need. So here's the question - are you arranging your life to make sure that Jesus remains at the center, not only for this season but the whole year?  And have you asked yourself, what does God want me to offer Him as a reflection of my worship and thanksgiving?

MARY'S SONG

 BY STEVE DUNN

Reading: Luke 1.46-51

 "As followers of Jesus Christ we are invited into a life where our story merges with the story of God, an intersection if you will, where His dreams become our dreams and we begin a journey of faith to increasingly love him and increasingly love people." - Nick Francis Stephens


And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,  for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.

Imagine being a young woman dreaming of her wedding day.  Her betrothed is a handsome young craftsman, a carpenter named Joseph.  He is older than she, but he has treated with respect and knows just the right gift to make her feel special.  He’s handsome and communicates easily with the elders of the village—and with her father. The other girls are envious of her good fortune.

Then she gets a visit from an angel who tells her that she is going to be impregnated by God through the Holy Spirit.  She will become the mother of the long-awaited Messiah, the Liberating King for her people.

Joseph is thinking about stepping away from the marriage to spare her embarassment, but now says God has let him on the secret.  To keep the secret a little longer, her family has sent her to live with her cousin Elizabeth. And Elizabeth is in on the secret as well.

Her life is about to begin a totally new adventure--not only for Mary, but for anyone.  A new adventure for the world itself.

But Mary sees it and proclaims as invitation to be blessed and to be a blessing.  For she is united with the Lord.

There will never be a need for another virgin named Mary, but know that God has dreams for you as well.  Are you ready to embrace and celebrate and live by those dreams? 

(C) 2012 by Stephen L Dunn

ADVENT REFLECTIONS - WHAT YOU MEAN IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS

BY STEVE DUNN

    Reading: Luke 3.2b-6

It has begun already.  If you turned on your radio on Black Friday or wandered in the malls, you heard it. You know what "it" is; I know you know.  I am talking about Christmas music.  Now it's not what I call Christmas music, Handel's "Messiah," or classic Christmas carols, or even knew classics like Michael W. Smith's "All is Well."

It's "Sleigh Bells" and "Frosty the Snowman" and "I'll Be Home for  Christmas" - the syrupy, sentimental, secular stuff that brings a smile but not good old-fashioned JOY to the world that could use a multi-dose of joy.

For Christians, at least those of us who are deeply in love with Jesus Christ - the One Who brought joy to the world; those things and the consumer madness and the mad round of parties - this season is special and holy.

And as much as the marketers and the ABC Family Channel would prefer to be otherwise, it's also not Christmas.  It is Advent.

 

Advent is the season of preparation FOR Christmas, but is not Christmas.  Advent is based on a little bit of biblical history.  This from Luke 3.2b-6.

 ... the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. ³ He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴ As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.
⁵ Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.
⁶ And all people will see God’s salvation.’

John the Baptist was the son of a priest.  He was a man with a mission. His mission was preparation--preparing people for the coming of Jesus.  He was the man whose preaching and call to repentance were intended to get people's attention for the One who would change the world forever.

John fulfilled the prophecies of persons like Isaiah who announced the universe altering reality that God would end humankind's bondage to sin and separation from Him.

Advent's purpose is to focus our minds and souls first on our need for God, then on the promises of God, so that when the angels sing "Joy to the World" once again in a few weeks, we won't miss what it really means.

BY THE WAY - IT'S NOT YET ADVENT, EITHER.  ADVENT BEGINS THIS SUNDAY.

(C) 2012 by Steve Dunn

DO LESS BETTER

 by STEVE DUNN

I have always  been a person who seems to seek busyness.  I once described myself as a "recovering workaholic" and someone who knew me well quipped, "Relapsed would be more accurate."  My schedule generally has been full and I have had several Facebook friends who have said, "Your Facebook page makes me tired." I tend to be optimistic about how much I can accomplish in a day or week, and my assessment would be accurate if days had 28 hours and weeks had nine days.

There is no Bible verse to proof text this attitude.  "Busyness is not next to godliness" unless you are reading 2nd Imaginations in the latest version of the Apocrypha.  The outcome of extreme busyness is generally not pretty. Whether you rust out or wear out - out is out.

It's taken two bouts with burnout to get me to give serious attention to my busyness addiction; and even now I need to be vigilant about saying "yes" when I need to say "no".  At some point busyness robs you of joy and true productivity.  It's hard to be content and fulfilled when you're exhausted. Some things take time and solid attention. Trying to do too much usually erodes quality or sustainability.

One of the lessons we need to learn to combat this insidious busyness is to claim a new core value:
DO LESS BETTER.

Many of us carry some old tapes that warn against laziness.  "Idle hands are the devil's workshop" has been used many a time to provide a verbal kick in the rear to someone.  Yet sometimes, idling is needed to get warmed up for the journey.

Some of have tapes that say "Measure up!" or "Prove yourself!" or "Always Look Busy!" As a result we press on to produce and take our worth in the quantity we produce rather than the quality of what we produce.

But our self-worth is first tied to who we are. What we do comes next.  And in God's scheme of things, quality always trumps quantity.  "Whatever you do in word or deed, do it as unto the Lord." (Colossians 3:17)

Maybe we find greater joy if we attended to doing what we do well and not worry so much about how much we do.  White Castle and other mass producing hamburger joints can plow out tons of little meaty sqaures fried in onions, but does anyone seriously think they as good as that turkey you ate at Thanksgiving which cooked for hours before it was served?

So here is my counsel, especially as you get ready for the insanity that is the pre-Christmas season in America.  Do yourself a favor. DO LESS BETTER.

(c) 2012 by Stephen L Dunn

A GUEST POST

I am reposting this from the Facebook age of Andrew Draper and his church Urban Light in Muncie IN.  I hope it deepens your appreciation of Thanksgiving. - Steve

Urban Light Community Church

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. --Philippians 4:6

In her classic autobiography, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom tells of the time she and her sister went through Nazi inspections at a death camp. They were forced to suffer the humiliation of taking off their clothes. Corrie stood in line feeling forsaken, defiled, and desperate for answers. Suddenly she remembered that when He hung on the cross, Jesus too was naked.

During that seemingly degrading moment, Corrie was struck with a great sense of awe and worship to God. In her amazement of His holiness, she leaned forward and whispered to her sister, "Betsie, they took His clothes, too."

Betsie gasped and said, "Oh, Corrie, I never thanked Him for that."

Thanksgiving does not require any re-payment, but instead requires recognition of what our Savior has already done for us. Some people are appreciative by nature and others aren't. It is the latter who especially need God's power to express thanksgiving. Thankfulness is the opposite of selfishness. The selfish person believes they deserve what comes to them, but the unselfish person realizes that everything is a gift from God.

During this season, survey your own life and make a list of things for which you are thankful. Maybe it is the small favor a friend did for you, the house you live in, a loved one who phoned to see how you are, a Bible study group you're active in, the ability to walk, or the opportunity to worship freely each week in God's house. Take some time to thank the Lord for His blessings and at least one person who has blessed your life this year.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for the gift of life, salvation through Jesus Christ, His Word by which you are to live, His constant comfort and love, His provision, and the eternal life we have with Him.

WHO SHALL I FEAR?

Thanks to Tammie Gitt for bringing this to my attention.

HOLY BOREDOM

“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;     I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46.10

“Holy Boredom”

By Stephen L. Dunn

Recently Dianne and I were blessed with the gift of four days at a rustic cabin in the mountains of Fulton County PA.  We were celebrating our 40^th Anniversary with some special time together.  It was also a chance to escape a house that was almost neck deep in boxes as we were in the midst of packing up our house of eleven years to move.  (Did you ever notice how much you collect and then forget you ever owned until you have to move it to a new location?)

Our hosts, Dennis and Jean, graciously introduced to its comfortable amenities—which included being at the end of a lane in an area where the very few neighbors are very friendly, but things are quiet enough that you are likely to see deer standing in the field right outside your front door or hear a car on a road over two miles away.  It had a microwave and dishwasher so no one needed to spend much time in the kitchen.  Comfortable furniture inside where it was air conditioned.  Windows strategically placed to see the beauties of nature in every direction.  A front porch simply to rock and relax.

It also had no television or internet.  The nearest place with Wiifi was a McDonalds eleven miles away.  If you are a communications junkie, you were isolated beyond your wildest imagination. If you were hooked on ESPN or Rizolli and Iles, you were simply out of luck.

And that also made it incredibly quiet.

It was a place where media junkie or someone who always required the background noise of a TV to function—it was a place to be bored out of your skull.  There were times that even the nothing I was doing got old and I would seek something new to do from a selection that leaned towards stasis.

Most contemporary Americans find silence unnerving and boredom tends to be the unforgiveable sin from the day we are born.  We fill our days with many things to do, too many things usually to be done sanely if accomplished at all.  We find meaning in activity and worship accumulation as a measure of accomplishment—which is the measure of our self-worth.

It is interesting then that we hear these words from our Creator, “Be still and know that I am God.”  God rarely shouts or engages a publication relations firm.  He chooses silence at times to deliver His most compelling messages.  He tends to wait until we are ready to listen.

Busyness is the enemy of the soul because we rarely stop to hear God at all.

Perhaps a little holy boredom is God’s way of getting our attention.  That is, if we don’t rush to escape that boredom.

It’s a lesson that I, as a not-so-recovering workaholic, am trying to learn.

© 2012 BY STEPHEN L DUNN

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WHO ARE YOU INFLUENCING?

“WHO ARE YOU INFLUENCING?”

 

 BY STEPHEN DUNN 

“Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings.  All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.” – Philippians 4:21-22

      Years ago there was a religious commercial on television.  It took place in a busy airport.  A high-powered businessman was racing through the turmoil accompanied by his entourage. The next scene was a little boy carrying a box of prized possessions walking carefully down the middle of the concourse, eyes fixed firmly on the contents of the box lest he lose some.  Then the inevitable happened.  The onrushing businessman collided with the little boy, knocking the box from his hands and scattering the contents.

      The little lad looked forlornly at the debris, somewhat immobilized with shock.  The businessman stopped and stooped, and began helping him retrieve the items.  His horde had passed by and then one of them spun on his heels and shouted, “My God, man, hurry up!”

      The boy looked up into the eyes of the businessman, and wide-eyed himself asked, “Are you God?”  The man smiled, finished his task and moved on.

      We often go careening through life with little thought upon our impact or influence.  We can be more focused on our agenda or our circumstances than on anything else, including those whose lives intersect ours.  Even when we have to slow down or are tied down to a situation, we do not stop to consider what our lives are communicating.  And we rarely plan what that witness will be.

      Yet unplanned or unplanned—our lives have influence and impact.

     The apostle Paul found himself imprisoned in Rome awaiting trial by Caesar.  A free spirit and constantly on the move apostle, he was now confined to a house in the center of the empire, under guard by soldiers from Caesar’s household guard.  Obviously Paul recognized this opportunity, albeit constrained and planned to continue his ministry to the Gentiles even with the uncertainty of whether or not he had much of an earthly future once Nero decided to try him.

      And in those words found at the conclusion of his letter to the Philippians are the evidence of that intentionality.

      What influence and impact are you planning, given the mission and the mission field that God has given you?

© 2012 by Stephen L. Dunn

SABBATH

by Steve Dunn

"Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed." - Exodus 23:12

This Monday I awoke at the usual time around 4:30 am.  But this was an unusual Monday.  For the first time in nearly eleven years, the term "pastor" referred to my profession but not my position. The day before had been my final day as the Lead Pastor for a magnificent group of people living on mission with Jesus, the Church of God of Landisville.  I now have entered a period of transition because I do not know where God wants me to be next in ministry.  Because I have to eat and pay my bills, I have resumes in; but churches tend to move slowly in their decision-making, especially in the summer; and seminaries hired their faculties much earlier in the summer.

So this week I have attended to getting ready to sell a home. (In my denomination it is considered both inappropriate and unethical to take on a pastorate within easy driving distance from your previous one.) I am also cleaning out 11 years worth of files both in cabinets and on the computer before turning them over to my successor to spare him the irrelevant and to declutter my own home and life.  This means I have had "work" to do each day - including housework, shopping, etc. (my wife, on the other hand, still continues working this summer.)  I have, however, started each day with coffee and breakfast, USA today, my email correspondence, and my devotions at Panera's (pretty much how I tended to start my days when I was employed as a pastor).  I've added walking around 5:30 to beat the heat and to shed some pounds.

 

This morning as I drove to Panera's I had an epiphany.  I was thinking about my agenda for the day and then found myself moving ahead in my mind to Friday and Saturday.  And then it struck me.  I was planning to work every day.  I no longer had formal pastoral work to do (including wrapping up a sermon or counseling or shuffling papers) but I was still working on life and all of its responsibilities.  Work is not simply defined by a job, but by the efforts that go into providing a living for your family, maintaining what you possess, carrying out your family business, the errands and shopping that goes with restocking your cupboards, etc.

The command to rest is "for all your work."  That means no work. Instead, a time of rest, refreshing, and renewing your relationship with the Lord--Who sustains you all seven days of your week and Who ultimately provides for your needs.

Since Friday has been my sabbath for 11 years, I am keeping Friday as my sabbath--even if I am not yet again gainfully employed.

(C) 2012 by Stephen L. Dunn 

Reprint permission: You have permission to reprint for your ministry or repost as long as you do not alter the post and give credit to its author. An email note from you would be appreciated by the author and a link back to this blog is always appreciated.

FIREWORKS

 

He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. - Matthew 12:39

Americans are fascinated by fireworks. From the kind you buy at road side stands and ignite in your drive way, to the six figure extravaganzas that light up the night skies over celebrations, baseball games, and outdoor concerts.  They will endure mosquito-infested riversides, bumper-to-bumper traffic, political speeches, a high-priced concerts in order to share in the experience.  They will talk about it for weeks ahead and days afterwards.  And no matter what the venue or what precedes it, fireworks always seem to be a good show, worth the "price" of admission.

Unless, of course, you are in San Diego, California on July 4, 2012 when the fireworks show, albeit as spectacular as any, is over in fifteen seconds. I suspect that a whole lot of people had their day "ruined" by the computer glitch that ignited the entire show at once.

But fireworks are like that even if they last longer.  Even at best they are over in 25-30 minutes.  They may attract your "ahs" and "ohs," but when it's over what you are left with is a night sky, smoking drifting away, a strain in your neck - and only a  memory.  It may be a powerful memory, but somehow the night sky is not quite the same if your has been filled with these spectacular pyrotechnics.

People seem to always want fireworks before they believe.  And often those fireworks more resemble the fizzled ones in San Diego--over in a hurry and soon forgotten.  Jesus said our desire for spiritual fireworks was more a symbol of our sinfulness than our righteousness. A desire for entertainment rather than life transformation.

Ultimately he gave a most spectacular sign--the sign of Jonah--the Resurrection from the Dead.    Curiously, even that sign does not seem to move many of us faith or keep us in the faith during difficult and dry times.

The sign we should really be seeking is the love of God at work unconditionally and unrestrained in our lives.  When we see God at work within us--that's the sign we should we seeking and trusting and sharing.

(C) 2012 by STEPHEN L. DUNN