WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS

BY STEVE DUNN

Part of a Series: Preparing the Way

    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 newer 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 Hallmark Channel would prefer to be otherwise, it's also not Christmas.  It is Advent.

 

Advent is the season of preparation FOR Christmas, but it 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.  That he would do it by coming to the earth into our lives.

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.  Advent begins preparing us to be and do what God desires to do in and through us.  And we prepare so that we can help others find the "Way, the Truth, and the Life."

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

© 2018  by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com 

WISHFUL THINKING OR FAITH-FILLED HOPE

BY STEVE DUNN

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for ... These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,  since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. - Hebrews 11.1-2, 39-40

A lot of us live by wishful thinking.  We say and do things that reflect a basic denial of reality.  I cannot tell you how many times as a pastor I heard someone say,"I know what you're saying, but my experience is different.  I am an exception to that rule."  Usually what they were saying was, "I want to do what I want to do, but don't want to be held accountable for my choices.

Before someone accuses me of being a hypocrite or Pharisee,I need to confess something.  Diabetes runs in my family.  Almost 20 years ago my doctors dropped the adjective "borderline" from their diagnosis.  They told me how to combat it, particularly the importance of diet.

I really didn't make that many changes, except to slow down on regular soft-drinks. I would eat carefully for a few days and then in times of boredom or at buffets, I would abandon all boundaries.  Now hundreds of milk shakes later, I find myself taking drastic measures to get that diabetes under control.

Wishful thinking can be very dangerous, especially when God has made it clear that only His way works.  There are no exceptions to his rules.

But one of his rules is "with man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  In our faith life some of us are so grounded in being practical or realistic that we think that only the things man controls are to be pursued.  Comfort zones are where we choose to live.  Walking on water is for Jesus and foolish humans. After all, look what happened to Peter.

The problem with that is that God Who always keeps His promises feels no need to provide instant gratification and whose rewards which are eternal start closer to eternity than the present moment.

Be careful of wishful thinking.  If it is contrary to God's word or way of acting - it is foolishness, often tragically so.

But when God says let go, look beyond, follow me - the foolishness is in our comfort-zone, control-obsessed response.

© 2016 by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com 

SEVEN MORE DAYS TO CHRISTMAS

BY STEVE DUNN

Reading: Luke 2.1-7

I walked into Walmart Saturday morning to be greeted by their Christmas Countdown sign which read; 7 MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS.  They were wrong.  It was 6 days!  It was early in the morning but someone was not on the ball.  The shelves were filled--jammed, in fact, clearly having been refilled the night before.  Walmart was obviously hoping Christmas did not arrive too soon. They still had tons of merchandise to sell before Christmas Eve evening arrived and even Walmart would be closed. 

I suspect Mary and Joseph, making that compulsory journey to Bethlehem were also hoping that Christmas did not arrive too soon.  Having a baby on the back of a donkey on a rugged road, or nestled in a rock cropping next to that desert  road were not ideal either.

How many of us have such busy lives that one of our more frequent refrains is, "If I just had a alittle more time"?  How many of us are so disorganized that time slips away from us as we occupy it with running in circles instead of getting anywhere useful?

It is important always to remember that ultimately God is in control of Time--He is its Lord.  Time is a ;precious commodity, precious particularly because God gives us time for His purposes under Heaven not for our desires.  So important, in fact, that Paul reminds, "Redeem the time."(Ephesians 5.16-18)

Christmas will arrive now in six days--ready or not. Are you ready?

Christmas also reminds that there is a second arrival of the Christ,  A time when time will be  no more.  Are you ready for that time, as well?

© 2015 by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com 

 

A WELL FULL OF JOY

BY STEVE DUNN

Reading: Isaiah 12:2-6

     As I drove to work today I have used a seeing eye dog--or a seeing eye "something" to go in front of my Toyota.  The fog was so dense that I barely see 20 feet in front of me and 30 feet beyond me was a total mystery.  Even my memory of the road was not sufficient to give me confidence to drive above snail speed and I was fooled more than once, making me even more apprehensive.

     Fear and apprehension are good words to describe the world how we live in the world today. From Isis to food contamination to winter storms to identity theft hackers, it is very easy to live with the sense that disaster could destroy us in a heart beat.

    Arriving at the office, I began my quiet time and my devotional guide took me to Isaiah 12.2-6.

'God is my salvation;
    I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense^[a];
    he has become my salvation.”
³ With joy you will draw water
    from the wells of salvation.

⁴ In that day you will say:

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done,
    and proclaim that his name is exalted.
⁵ Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
    let this be known to all the world.
⁶ Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
    for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

     The words that captured me today were in 3 and 4: “he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” It reminds of the lyrics to a contemporary song, “If grace is an ocean we’re all sinking.” People live with a sense of loss, a fear of having their resources diminished.  This brings depression and it is also brings selfishness—an inward focus instead of a Godward one.  If we truly understand what our salvation means and what it affords, should not our response instead be one of joy

     This Advent, when you begin to feel yourself sinking--turn again to Isaiah's source of strength.