BETTER THAN THE SUPER BOWL

Carol and I enjoy watching football and Sunday were thrilled to see our favorite team, the Denver Broncos, win the AFC (American Football Conference) championship. They are a great team and we wish them well in the Super Bowl on February 2. Quarterback Peyton Manning is a remarkably talented athlete and student of the game. Several years ago I wrote about him and his football family in my book, DAILY WALK WITH JESUS, in a devotion coincidentally meant to be read on February 2.

We also watched the NFC (National Football Conference) championship game in which the Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers. After the game one of the Seahawks players shocked the interviewer with some insulting words, words I am sure today he wishes he had not spoken. 

After the game Carol and I watched a short video on Facebook which contained a wonderful Christian witness from several young Seahawks players, including their Quarterback Russell Wilson and one of their coaches. A pastor named Mark Driscoll asked them, "Who is Jesus?" Here are some of their comments:

"Jesus is everything, He'll meet you at the worst time of your life and or at your highest."  "He's the Alpha and the Omega." "Jesus is love and He comforts us." "He is the Son of God, who humbly came to earth, and all He gives us is free."  "He's the greatest treasure in the universe."

One comment that drew some smiles from the other athletes was, "Jesus is better than the Super Bowl. When the Super Bowl is over and behind us, Jesus will still be there for us." 

Well said! Our world adulates the celebrity, the rich and famous, the gifted athlete and the movie star. We mimic them, wearing their fashions and emulating their styles. But mimicking the rich and famous can also lead us into the temptation of  narcissism and self-adulation. Thus, when we hear Christian witness coming from their mouths, we are almost shocked. 

In our increasingly secular world, we are surprised to hear public praise for Jesus Christ. In a culture that denies and defames God, we are grateful for those willing to give Him honor, whether in public or in private. We should be thankful that amid money and power and success, people will give glory to God instead of self. In that way we should emulate them. 

After all, it was our Lord Jesus Himself who said, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

In Jesus Christ, we are all winners!

CLEANSED BY OUR LORD

Have you confessed your sins recently? Someone told me a joke about a priest and a parishioner in a Confessional Booth that wasn't all that funny. We may joke about it if we wish, but confessing one's sin itself is a good thing, no matter when we do it.

Confession empties the spiritual dust, dirt and cobwebs from our heart. Most of us will empty the dryer filter after each use or empty the dust buster bag when it needs it. If we don't empty dirt-gathering appliances regularly, they will work less efficiently until they are finally plugged and not work at all.

The same is true of our faith. If we don't repent of our sins frequently and ask God for His forgiveness, the garbage and dirt of daily life will clog our faith and make it weak and useless. Most of us are walking dirt bags, spiritually speaking of course. I know I am. Because of sin, we all are.

We may wonder why our faith seems weak, why we feel far from God, or why "going to church just isn't what it used to be." Part of the reason may be we haven't come clean with God, or that we're holding some sin back, something we don't want to change. Confession isn't just talking to God about sin or lamenting sin in general. It is getting specific, telling Him you know what you've done and asking Him to show what you need to change.

Have you let God empty your dirt bag completely? Most Christian worship services include confession and forgiveness. Coming clean with God can make worship more helpful and even enjoyable.

Jesus' purpose in coming to earth was to earn forgiveness for us, so that when we ask Him in faith, He will remove our sins. St. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that Jesus actually BECAME SIN. "For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

Several years ago I found a nearly-new vacuum cleaner next to the dumpster at the end of our Arizona winter season, left there by someone who didn't want it but thought it too good to toss out. I took it home, cleaning its clogged pipes and discovered it worked perfectly. I still use it today. It is a model aptly named, "Dirt Devil."

Some people may be uncomfortable in using an appliance filled with someone else's dirt, but that's what Jesus did. Indeed, He went even further - He became our sins. He removed our deadly dirt on the cross and cleaned our pipes with His resurrection from the grave. Jesus still cleans the dirt from life today and He offers to cleanse us from all sin when we confess it.

What dirt does Jesus need to clean from your life?

WISDOM AT EPIPHANY

January 6 is Epiphany Day, the day Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of the Savior Jesus and also recall the visit of the Magi from the east who came to see the baby.

There is an old story about the star in the east, that when it had finished its task of directing the Magi to the baby, it fell from the sky and dropped into the city well in Bethlehem. According to some, that star can still be seen by looking into the well, and the hearts of people who see it will become pure and clean.

Legends about the Magi are plentiful. People once believed there were twelve Wise Men, but now most believe there were three, based on their number of gifts. Legend even has named them: Old Melchior had a full beard and gave the gift of gold; Balthasar was younger and gave the baby myrrh; beardless young Casper gave the gift of frankincense.

Another legend says that after seeing the baby, the Magi continued on to Spain, telling people of the newborn King. Legends often add color to true stories that don't need it. Sometimes legends become so colorful they make the true story seem unbelievable. Today we don't need anything more that makes the Bible seem like a book of legends.

The Bible is God's Word, and it stands on its own. It needs no proof or justification. God offers salvation to the world through His Only Son born in Bethlehem. The baby grew to become the Savior, and all who believe in Him will benefit eternally from His work of salvation.  

Years ago on January 6, we made the first contacts to begin a new church in a town which had a forty foot lighted star high on a hill. We named it Epiphany Lutheran Church. In our eight years there, the star guided over 400 wise men, women and children to join our new congregation. I thank God for all who still seek and worship the King of kings.

 "We have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him." (Matthew 2:2)

Wise men and women still come to worship Him!

CONFESSION IN THE NEW YEAR

I recently heard a joke about a priest and parishioner in a Confessional Booth that wasn't all that funny. But it reminded me that people often make light of the Confessional with insinuations and humor. But whatever you may think of the Confessional, confessing one's sin is a good thing, especially at this time of year.

Confession empties the spiritual dirt and dust from life. We know it's necessary to empty the dryer filter right after using or  if we have one of those new bag-less ones, empty the vacuum container after each use. If we don't empty such appliances regularly, they will work less and less efficiently until they are finally plugged with dust and dirt. 

The same is true in our life with God. If we don't repent of our sins frequently and humbly ask God for His forgiveness, the sins of daily life will clog our life and eventually make our faith so weak it's almost useless. Many a person is a walking dirt bag, spiritually speaking of course and all because we don't see a need to get rid of our sin.

Because of this we wonder why our faith in God seems weak, or why we feel far from God, or why "going to church just isn't what it used to be." The fact is, we need to come clean with God. Confession isn't just talking to the Almighty about one sin. It is coming clean with Him, confessing to Him all our sin, emptying our life's dirt bag so that our days won't be clogged with old stuff that should long ago have been removed.

Have you let God empty your dirt bag lately? Or is there some of that ugly stuff you never let go?

Most worship services I conducted during my ministry contained confession and absolution. Being able to come clean with God makes worship more helpful, maybe even enjoyable. Most Christian church services include confession and forgiveness and they should. Jesus' purpose in coming to earth was to earn forgiveness for us, so that when we ask Him in faith, He will remove our sins. "As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our sins from us." (Psalm 103:12)

Several years ago I found a nearly-new vacuum cleaner next to the dumpster at the end of our Arizona winter season, left by someone who didn't want it but thought it too good to toss out. I took it home, cleaned its clogged pipes and found that it worked perfectly. I still use it today. It is a name brand aptly named "Dirt Devil."

A friend told me he'd be uncomfortable using an appliance filled with someone else's dirt. I told him that's what Jesus did for us. He unloaded our dirt on the cross and unclogged our pipes with His resurrection from the grave. I think that's what I told him. If not, I should have. Jesus still cleanses our dirt, and will do so until our life ends.

What dirt does Jesus need to clean from your life in the coming New Year? 

O COME EMMANUEL

Azariah set down the last stone of the day as there was no longer enough light to see and the floor of the temple was nearly finished. He was old, exhausted and wished for an end, an end to the day, end to the project, and most of all an end to their life in Babylon. The men of his crew trudged wearily to their quarters speaking few words even though it was the first time they could openly speak to each other that day. 

"We cannot do this much longer," Mishael muttered as they walked slowly. "How much longer will the Lord God have us suffer this exile?" "Only He knows," said Azariah, "and He has not yet told us." Kenaniah, the eldest said, "The Scriptures say a Deliverer will come, so we must trust Him and wait." 

Azariah stepped inside his hut and smelled the delicious aroma of food. Sitting down on the mat next to his wife Miriam and their two boys, he lifted his eyes heavenward and said, "Let us pray. O God our Father, we thank You for this food that blesses our bodies. Come, Lord God and send Your Promised One. Save us, O Merciful God. Come, Emmanuel and end our exile here, amen."

The year was 539 BC and in less than a year God would answer the prayers of His people. Cyrus the Great had already decided to allow the Israelites to return to their own land. But Azariah's prayer would be repeated over and over, sung in prayed throughout the coming centuries until Jesus of Nazareth, the Promised One of God, would be born in Bethlehem and live to fulfill God's promises. 

Yet this song would not stop there. Early believers in Christ would continue to pray for His promised second coming, that He would again be Emmanuel, their "God With Us." In the eighth century AD, an unknown monk would compose a Latin song, “Veni Emmanuel,” in which he would plead for Christ's promised second return in glory. The song continues to this day in the Advent hymn we love, translated by Henry Sloane Coffin: 

"O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel 

That mourns in lowly exile here, until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel."

"Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:21) 

WHAT WE REALLY NEED

Once again a school shooting has raised its ugly and tragic head in Colorado my home state. But this time it was more personal as I watched national media cameras zero in on Shepherd Of The Hills Lutheran Church, the congregation where I pastored eleven years. It showed hundreds, perhaps a thousand, youth being joined with anxious parents in the church parking lot, tearfully grateful to take their children home.

Television stations carried a short weekend clip on Shepherd Of The Hills as they ministered to school youth and adults. I felt proud and grateful their pastor and people opened church doors to the shaken students and parents and are seeking ways of providing spiritual counsel to questions.

The answers are elusive, but the cause is simple. Evil and sin are gaining a stronger foothold in American culture. But what can be done about this most obvious trend? Just another angry child taking out his vengeance? A young adult who legally possesses a weapon, a boy who turns a wrong corner in his journey? What can be done in A weary and callous nation which shakes its head at tragedy, then turns away to other things? Or political movements pointing fingers, poised to defend their own philosophy? What can be done?

It's one thing to know the answer and another to do something about it. Homes need to be strengthened, Jesus needs to be honored, not feared, and schools need to teach basics rather than trends. People of all ages need more real face time and less tech time. Teachers need our prayers, and students need good adult examples. Churches need to reach out and pews need to be filled in honoring God. 

We are told we live in enlightened times. Who needs God when we've got technology? Why talk about sin when choice is what matters? Don't talk about evil! Youth simply need more choices and schools just need more money. We don't need more God, just more human answers, more educated guesses and less religion. Then someday we will wonder why it happened again.

But one of the first responders this time was a church and its pastors. And the church went into action, not preaching but living its faith in the large parking lot, with open door for human needs, with hands outstretched and soothing voices to show the way as people to meet those they love. 

And all this because a Christian Church is where Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords.

"Unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)

START WITH THE BABY

Carol and I spent time decorating the house last weekend. We've added a screened-in breezeway and now have room enough for our big Christmas Tree. We had it brought down from Colorado by friends passing through town from the Black Hills on their way to winter in Arizona.

In a box of the decorations here is our African Nativity set our daughter-in-law brought back for us three years ago when she went to get their newly adopted daughter from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This ebony creche has sleek, tall figurines, so we arrange them on a small table and use a dab of Elmer's Rubberized Tack to keep the figures standing up.

As we took them out of the box, I wondered aloud where the pieces should go. Without hesitating Carol said, "Start with the baby. Put Him right in the middle in front, and the rest of the pieces will fall into place." Considering this briefly, I said, "I believe there's a message in what you just said. 'Put Jesus in the middle of things and the rest will fall into place'."

Do you believe that's true? As Christians we know in our head this should be true, but are we able to do this in our hearts on a daily basis? How difficult is it to put Christ first in our lives?

I find it very difficult. I am a guy who wants to take charge and do things my way, and this has helped me often in my ministry. I've learned this trait is a gift from God so long as I don't get proud of it. Furthermore, I am often quite direct with God as to how I would like Him to answer my prayers and even to right the wrongs in the world.

But God doesn't always follow my suggestions. He's smarter than that. it's easy to think we have most of life figured out until reality changes things, and the world quickly becomes different. Then adage is really true, "Put Jesus in the middle of things and the rest will fall into place."

Maybe that's what He meant in Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

May we all put Him in the middle of things this Christmas.