An old video of a wonderful trip to Uganda. Enjoy!

Pushing Through Hay

Advent is a time of striking contrasts: a King who becomes a Servant, a Virgin who births her God, a Creation that births its Creator, Christ conceived in a Cave and Resurrected from a Cave.

There are theological contrasts as well. For example, the Ethiopian Coptic church directly links Mose’s Burning Bush with the Virgin Mary. Why? Because both contained the Word of God, yet were not consumed.

“Wood” is a theme I often reflect on this time of year. Wood is a symbol of hardened “humanity”. Jesus was laid upon the hard wood of the manger at his birth, and upon the hard wood of the cross at his death. 

Though fully Incarnate, the Son of God was rarely  recognized because we was just like us.

When the Shepherds showed up to worship him at the cave it took real “intent” for them to recognize the Newborn God buried somewhere there under the hay, alive in the wood. He was there alright - just as the angels said. They just needed to get through hubbub of the census, find the dimly-lit cave, and refocus their eyes upon the Heart of the Matter. 

Fast forward two thousand years. Santa appears on Coke cans, people stream in and out of malls, rushing and bustling through the halls to get that package wrapped and under the tree, those cards out in time for Christmas rush, or that last string of lights blinking and synchronized with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's A Mad Russianʼs Christmas. 

We have all seen people like that. We have been people like that; mindlessly roaming through mobs like Seasonal Zombies, blinded by  the glitz of commercialism from the Real Presence of the Infant Savior, lying there somewhere, buried under the hay.

Pushing through hay and seeing the true meaning of the Season takes work. Itʼs like the Priests of old moving through one veil and through the next, until finally arriving at the Shekinah-lit Ark of the Covenant. But itʼs a good work. Without it everything gets hollow, not hallowed. 

May we all have the grace to see the Christ Child face to Face in this most magical season. Christ, be born in us today!

Agreeing with God

Zacharias was going about his duties as he ministered to the Lord in the Temple when Gabriel appeared and informed him that he and his wife, Elizabeth, were going to have a child. Zacharias set his mind and heart to disagree with the plans of God. He was instantly muted, crippled in life and expression.

Nine months later it was time for Elizabeth to birth the Plan. (You see, God's plans continue along whether we agree with them or not. It is us who suffer, not Him.) When the time came to name the child Zacharias had come to the point where he was able to align his mind and heart to the Plans of God. That's when everything changed for him.

"His name is John" (Luke 1:63). Immediately he was able to speak. Even in spite of the others who were questioning his agreement of the Plan he remained firm. In addition, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and received the gift of prophesy (Luke 1:67) - AND wrote a song of praise to the Lord! It was evident that, over the course of nine silent months, God had done a deep work in the heart of Zacharias.

Things go well with us when we humble our hearts and agree with God's Plan. We may not like what we hear. We may scoff at the absurdity of it all. But questioning saints do nothing more than snare themselves in their pride and refusal  give in. But as we agree with the Plan - regardless of how irrational it seems - and sway to the Greater Understanding we are immediately freed from our bondage and filled with the Holy Spirit to proclaim the mercy of God.

Has God brought you into a place that you have yet to agree with? Bless him. Agree with him. Sacrifice the logic of your mind and the hurt of your heart to the One who knows all, loves you, and has a Plan. The childlike embracing of the Plan will fill you with his Spirit and enable you to become an instrument of mercy in the world around you (Luke 1:72).

Prepare to Meet the Living God

Recently member of our church prepared an amazing meal - rice, pita, seasoned chicken, and tomato-cucumber salad. It was delicious. 

“How long did it take to prepare all this?” 

“About an hour,” she replied. 

“If I were a King and [pointing to another staff member], and she was a Queen, how long then would have you spent preparing it?” 

She laughed and without batting an eye said, “A week.”

A lot of life is about preparation. Spend a moment thinking of how you have prepared for dates, weddings, arrival of newborns, vacations, retirement, and special times with family and friends. 

God prepares, too. He prepares with you and I in mind. “I saw the Holy City,” writes John. “The new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven... prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Rev. 21.2). David writes, “You prepare a table for me in the midst of my enemies” (Ps. 23:5).

Preparation is important concept in the Kingdom of God. This is especially true with regard to Sunday mornings.  While “outsiders” may enter the Sanctuary with a sense of detached curiosity, we are different. We enter his courts knowing he will reveal his glory and power (Ps. 63:2). There is a direct correspondence between the expectations of any given event and our preparation of that same event. An imminent encounter with the Holy Spirit needs to be rightfully reflected in one’s preparation to enter the Holy of Holies   

Preparation takes many forms. When I was a child I polished my shoes every saturday night (took about a-half hour). But, as adults, we understand that preparation is primarily a discipline of the heart - creating a highway of holiness, lowering mountains and raising valleys (Luke 3.4-6) and getting humble before the Lord our God (Mic. 6.8). How is this done? Primarily by  consecrating a designated period of time for him beforehand. Some marinate in the Scriptures to be preached. Others get in a full night’s rest. Still others arrive at church early to sit, simply “being” before the Lord in intentional silence (Ps. 46.10).

A prepared congregation changes everything - songs become more sincere, prayers become more natural, expressions of worship (lifting of hands, kneeling, bowing, etc.) become less mechanical and more authentic, and fellowship becomes refreshingly transparent, laced with with God’s grace and healing. Preparation is the spice of our worship. Let’s take all week to get there!

I prepare my heart, I prepare my mind,

To receive the precious flesh and blood in bread and wine.

Poured out on the Cross, Nourishing my soul

Is my Lord and Saviour Christ who died, and makes me whole.

The Sweet Fragrance of Sacrifice

I've been reading the Old Testament from the Septuagint. It's nice. 

This morning I was reading the instructions for the building of the Altar of Sacrifice in Exodus 27 when I stumbled across the words "incense bowls" (v.3) What? There was incense at the first Altar? So I went to the NIV and saw that it translates those same words as "fire-pans." I like incense better - as the Sacrifice of Christ is a sweet savour to the God - and that Christ carries in his Body - the prayers of the saints.

"... when Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed..."

When the Amalekites attacked Israel in Rephidim Moses went to the top of the hill and gazed down at the skirmish from on high. He had two men, Aaron and Hur, supporting his hands to the left and the right. Moses knew his mission. He had to keep his hands lifted in order to ensure victory from below. But a time came when he needed the support of his brothers to either side. (Full story at Exodus 17:8-15.)

I'm sure there were times when his mind drifted, when he could do no more, and he completely resigned himself to the strong arms of those around him.

Aside from the exhortation to have a couple of covenant buddies to help us in our missions, this passage also provides a foreshadowing of Christ on the Cross. Like Moses, Christ was lifted above a valley and his persistence in following through had everything to do with our victory over sin. There may have been times when he, too, looked into the bleak souls of the criminals, crucified on either side, and - seeing their utter helplessness in the face of such an enemy - was encouraged in Love to stay the Course of his Mission. Sometimes one look into the eyes of one completely ravaged by sin raises within us the almighty compassion of the Creator.

Pastoral Fire

Even in the most magnificent events God can be relied upon to care for us in the most minute detail.

The Israelites had been plummeted with one crises after another. First it was Moses' appearance as their redeemer, the signs and plagues he and Aaron performed before the hardened heart of Pharaoh. Then it was the chaos of finding first born lambs, slaughtering them, splashing their blood on the doorposts, and the horror of the wailing of all uncovered families mourning the deaths of their beloved. They were told to make haste, to leave their homes, and - before they could process it all - they had been miraculously rescued from hundreds of years of bondage, just like that.

Then the Bible records, "God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it was near... they may change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt" Exodus 13:17.

God knows our humanity better than his humans. For their sake he chose to take them the "long way out" in order to calm their hearts, minds, and souls. His sheep had been traumatized and, as the Great Shepherd, he understood that. In addition, he knew the possible threat of war would push them completely over the edge, casting doubt on their very redemption. With this in mind he diverted them into peace. It was the longest and most loving way into the Land of Promise.

Sometimes we may feel caged and rattled, sometimes we may want to "get there" on the fast route and wonder why God just doesn't take us in a bee-line into the place we all know we're going to end up anyway. But he knows the manner of our beast. He directs steadily and strategically, each day being orchestrated for us to arrive wholly healed and ready to rock in the sweet spot of his perfect timing.