O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
The verses of this favorite Advent hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" remind us that Advent is about our journey from whatever despair has seized the human spirit to an active hope in the Second Coming of Christ. The problem is that so many of us have worked hard to let nothing of the world and its misery touch us. Sometimes we have a false notion of comfort and we become spectators - detached from the hurts of people in other parts of the world and in denial about what hurts at home. Small wonder that we are inclined to rush through this season of preparation to get to the joys of Christmas.
Yet the truth is: No matter how intently we work to isolate ourselves from other people’s misery, we can’t escape the reality that the human family experiences unbearable suffering and tough times come to us all. We “mourn in lonely exile here” — hoping, waiting for something or someone to divert us from the many roads leading to our destruction. Come, O Come Emmanuel!
This Advent season we’re teaching a series called “Eyewitness Accounts” – which I hope will take us by the hand and lead us on this journey from despair to hope. We will take a closer look at some of the personalities involved in the Christmas story. We will also be reminded that we have not been permanently abandoned to an existence that has no hope and no future. God has a better plan for our lives — as evidenced by the fact that Christ has come once and Christ will come again. While all may not be well with ourselves or all the people around us, the Son of God will one day appear in victory and glory to make all things right.
Advent was never meant to be a month-long fa-la-la-la-la. Instead, Advent is a time to remember just how much the whole world needs Christ. Pastor Rod
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Our Nation's Future
Most Americans, who value our heritage of liberty, are grateful for the opportunity to have voice and vote in the process of choosing candidates who will represent us at the local, state and national levels. The basic principle that governed voting in colonial America was that voters should have a "stake in society.” Yet, we are told that Americans vote less than any other people in Western societies. Just half of registered voters actually vote in presidential elections, and many fewer vote in state and local elections.
Even those who do take this freedom seriously, I assume, are pleased when election season is over – because it means no more negative political ads on TV for a while, no more political signs in the neighbor’s yard, and fewer telephone calls at mealtime pleading for a donation to your favorite political party.
Personally, I get tired of the partisan posturing and look for candidates who demonstrate character and integrity. It’s important to me to vote for a candidate that reflects the biblical values I’ve come to embrace – not just giving lip-service to whatever may gain them a few votes among certain constituencies…but who have core principles…and demonstrate them in how they live and serve. I look for authenticity.
Recently, I ran across a poem by Edgar A. Guest, about the roads we take in life. It says: “The easy roads are crowded and the level roads are jammed; The pleasant little rivers with the drifting folks are crammed. But off yonder, where it’s rocky, where you get a better view, You will find the ranks are thinning and the travelers are few. Where the going’s smooth and pleasant you will always find the throng, For the many - more’s the pity - seem to like to drift along. But the steeps that call for courage, and the task that’s hard to do In the end results in glory for the never - wavering few.”
The point of the poem is simply this: where you end up one day will be determined by the path you choose today.
In the New Testament, the Apostle Peter speaks to us about the importance of Christian character development. He says:
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1: 3-11)
Peter says that the development of Christian character should be priority for us because when we make Christian character development our daily pursuit . . .it will insure that our life is not wasted (v. 8); it will insure our proper appreciation of salvation (v. 9);
it will present a positive witness to others (v. 10a); it will prevent us from bringing criticism to the name of Christ (v. 10b); and it will guarantee a rich welcome upon entering heaven (v. 11).
But if this is going to be true of your life and mine, where do we start? How do we proceed? What path must we take to know the benefits associated with developing Christ-like character? Let’s notice what Peter tells us. It begins with a personal and growing knowledge of Christ. It continues through reliance on God’s power and promises. And it leads to real life change from the inside out.
In recent years, many in our nation seem to act as if politics is somehow exempt and separate from the faith of America’s Founders - and those in public office are not always held to the highest standards of character - like trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, honesty, fairness, kindness, honor, caring and citizenship.
However, our nation’s future will be determined by the path we choose today. So, exercise your right and privilege on November 2 and VOTE! virtue
Even those who do take this freedom seriously, I assume, are pleased when election season is over – because it means no more negative political ads on TV for a while, no more political signs in the neighbor’s yard, and fewer telephone calls at mealtime pleading for a donation to your favorite political party.
Personally, I get tired of the partisan posturing and look for candidates who demonstrate character and integrity. It’s important to me to vote for a candidate that reflects the biblical values I’ve come to embrace – not just giving lip-service to whatever may gain them a few votes among certain constituencies…but who have core principles…and demonstrate them in how they live and serve. I look for authenticity.
Recently, I ran across a poem by Edgar A. Guest, about the roads we take in life. It says: “The easy roads are crowded and the level roads are jammed; The pleasant little rivers with the drifting folks are crammed. But off yonder, where it’s rocky, where you get a better view, You will find the ranks are thinning and the travelers are few. Where the going’s smooth and pleasant you will always find the throng, For the many - more’s the pity - seem to like to drift along. But the steeps that call for courage, and the task that’s hard to do In the end results in glory for the never - wavering few.”
The point of the poem is simply this: where you end up one day will be determined by the path you choose today.
In the New Testament, the Apostle Peter speaks to us about the importance of Christian character development. He says:
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1: 3-11)
Peter says that the development of Christian character should be priority for us because when we make Christian character development our daily pursuit . . .it will insure that our life is not wasted (v. 8); it will insure our proper appreciation of salvation (v. 9);
it will present a positive witness to others (v. 10a); it will prevent us from bringing criticism to the name of Christ (v. 10b); and it will guarantee a rich welcome upon entering heaven (v. 11).
But if this is going to be true of your life and mine, where do we start? How do we proceed? What path must we take to know the benefits associated with developing Christ-like character? Let’s notice what Peter tells us. It begins with a personal and growing knowledge of Christ. It continues through reliance on God’s power and promises. And it leads to real life change from the inside out.
In recent years, many in our nation seem to act as if politics is somehow exempt and separate from the faith of America’s Founders - and those in public office are not always held to the highest standards of character - like trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, honesty, fairness, kindness, honor, caring and citizenship.
However, our nation’s future will be determined by the path we choose today. So, exercise your right and privilege on November 2 and VOTE! virtue
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