SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY

Recently we were invited by good friends to join them, their family and others on the special occasion of the dedication of their first child.

We had had the pleasure of marrying this young couple last year in a beautiful outdoor setting: now came this extra joy of seeing their son meaningfully blessed indoors - in a church by a special lady pastor with a great message and a challenge to guard his future spirituality.

But there was something else that caught our attention – prior to the service beginning, a warm welcome was extended to everyone on the three large auditorium screens – left, centre and right. We saw that church in a different light from how we see many that have little idea how to really welcome people.

How did we know the welcome was to everyone attending? The word Welcome kept repeating in a variety of languages. We doubt if any visitor or regular attender was missed.

Welcome - a warm word meaning ‘A kindly greeting to one whose coming gives pleasure.’

Seeing Jesus’ welcome
We were reminded of two biblical incidents – especially one that involves Christmas. Luke 2 tells of Joseph and the expecting Mary arriving at Bethlehem only to discover there was no room available at a certain inn.

Verse 7 reads, ‘She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.’

No room! Think in terms of ‘No welcome, no place, no room for Jesus.’ Room – this is topos, a location, particular spot, place.

Interestingly Jesus used this word topos in John 14:3 when he assured his disciples that he was going to his Father to prepare a room, a place for them! By inference, he who had no room prepared for his birth has ensured there’s a place prepared for everyone accepting him as Saviour – at our ‘new’ birth.

What a day that will be when we hear his welcome of ‘Well done good and faithful servant.’

That eternal place is really going to be something fantastic. There’s no way we can fully comprehend it just now while we’re still in this earthly body with its limited mindset. We can but let our imagination run wild, dream a lot, even recall some precious old hymns and choruses such as Eliza E Hewitt’s 1898 number When We All Get to Heaven with its splendid words:

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, sing his mercy and his grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed, he’ll prepare for us a place.
When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory!

With our ‘spiritual mind’s eye’ let’s see it in faith now and rejoice. Sinners saved by grace alone and our acceptance of Jesus as our Saviour, we’ll be most welcome there!

Seeing church differently
Every church is meant to be a place of welcome for everyone.

You’ll find several articles on this in month’s Connect (the ACA onliner we’ve been editing - www.connectmagazine.com.au). For example, Anna Kosmanovski’s Church - It’s the Place to be for All Generations!

Good friend Steve Cross in his article, Time for a Change, says he sees himself as a man with a second chance, and part of a great local church.

Maureen writes about the importance of seeing our children as having great potential for Jesus and ministering in the anointing. See her article, The Very Centre of Kingdom Life.

And in Breaking News, our Kids in Ministry International friend Becky Fischer points out that Jesus himself sees kids as so valuable and has need of them.

Then there’s another interesting aspect of that word topos is scabbard – the sheath into which a sword or dagger fits tightly and perfectly and won’t fall out of. Churches must ensure that their people – both new and longstanding regulars – ‘fit neatly’ feeling secure, acknowledged and cared for. That those with talents are encouraged and used wisely. This too is an important facet of that word ‘Welcome.’

Disabled Tait Berge, Church Relations Mephibosheth Ministry Director, writes along these lines in Breaking News. His Anglican church welcomed him with open arms from the beginning of his going there. They saw the man, not someone in a wheelchair, that his pastor ‘says his congregation wouldn't be complete without my being part of our body.’ Churches that don’t welcome the disabled are lacking, believes Tait. He tells about the importance and advantages of welcoming such, and about his new book, In the Accessible Church.

Perhaps it’s time to think of church in fresh terms. Less mumbling about some matters that aren’t really all that important and to start concentrating on what really counts in gaining more for and in our churches. Such as making room for people usually shunned by society and recognising the incredible potential in our children and young people.

And of course being grateful for the wisdom and experience of our seniors, especially ministers who are often cast aside disrespectfully by some thoughtless young people.

Seeing the bigger picture
Many times in life people feel downcast because of certain difficulties. Times when thoughtful, caring people who see the bigger picture can encourage because they see things in a different light.

We also think of the amazing opera singer Paul Potts. It was Maureen’s birthday last month and we went to see the brilliant movie One Chance which tells his story – that of a kid with an outstanding voice who could only think of singing opera from when he was so young. Other schoolboys mocked him, his father and others including a most famous opera singer couldn’t see how he could make it.

Adulthood offered some promises but mockery after mockery, putdown after putdown, accident after accident and loss of voice seemed to doom him from ever seeing his dream fulfilled.

But the love of his young wife, her standing by him, her belief in him and her seeing things as they could be encouraged him to win a UK talent contest that gained him victory and renown. Not a Christian movie but a great one and full of godly principles!

Http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Hzgzim5m7oU&vq=medium is about a disabled man in need but getting nowhere. Until a thoughtful young lady comes by and lovingly helps others see things differently on his behalf. Check out how she makes a difference.

May we all be willing to welcome all sorts of people not only into our churches, but into our hearts and help them to achieve much through our seeing the bigger picture.

Oh, yes, about Christmas time and Jesus, may we never forget that it’s his right as Lord to have a topos – a special room, a definite spot, a particular place in our lives. And not just at Christmas time but always!

His Name is Jesus, not Geez!

For years one has been hearing the exclamation, ‘Geez!’ or ‘Jeez!’ - even from Christians.

It’s a popular in-thing seemingly denoting surprise or amazement. But in fact it’s a diminutive of ‘Jesus’ and therefore a subtle form of swearing. We’re used to the Lord’s name being taken in vain in public, movies and TV but it’s bad to hear Christians, especially church leaders, casually using this abbreviation publically.

Check a dictionary or better still, the web, and you’ll find that ‘Geez’ and ‘Jeez’ are defined as ‘Used to express mild surprise, delight, dissatisfaction, annoyance, and a shortening and alteration of Jesus.’ 

Jesus is a name to be revered!
Christians believe Philippians 2:9 that states clearly Jesus is the name above all names, that one day the whole earth will bow before the one who owns that name, that in that name demons flee, prayers are answered and miracles happen.

When one is sick, for example, one calls on the name of Jesus and, recognising and acknowledging that this name is far above the name of the illness, claims healing and expects to receive it. It’s the same with other difficulties in life... finances, job needs, marriage problems, church difficulties. We use the powerful anointing that’s in the name of Jesus and we repeatedly get results.

Therefore every Christian must be so careful how the word Jesus is used, that it is honoured not derided! We must recognise the tag ‘name’ indicates ‘character’ and authority.’

When we use the name of Jesus we’re calling on his authority to meet needs, to intercede or intervene in the circumstances we’re bringing before God in prayer. Let’s honour that name not belittle it.

Christmas, not Xmas!
Over the centuries the celebratory term Christmas has been reduced to Xmas, supposedly to accommodate limited advertising space or simply for cuteness or through unquestioned habit.

On the web you’ll even find ‘Christian reasons’ stated for doing so, such as quoting the usage of the ☧ labarum Chi Rho, an early Christian symbol representing the name of Christ. But you’ll also find a quote from evangelist Franklin Graham: ‘For us as Christians, this is one of the most holy of the holidays, the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. For people to take Christ out of Christmas... happy to say Merry Xmas, let's just take Jesus out - Really, I think, (it’s) a war against the name of Jesus Christ.’  

Christmas is meant to be a great joyous time of festivities of fun, fellowship and family. But we must honour Jesus Christ above all else. In doing so, let us remember that X is also a mark, one that is used for cancelling out. If X is to used in connection with the word Christmas it should be used as a cross, reminding us of the real reason the Son of God came to earth – to die on Calvary’s cross, not to be cancelled out!

Abbreviating is a habit
Like those annoying and off-putting ‘You knows’, ‘You know what I means’, ‘Ums’, ‘Ahs’ and ‘Ers’ that careless preachers and speakers use, abbreviating names is a bad habit that needs correcting.


Even I have to correct myself in such matters. Oh, not in respect of the exalted name of Jesus but in little things such as shortcutting certain words while typing. And I could probably make an excuse by saying ‘Well, even the great CS Lewis did such things in his letters to people.’ But, really, there is no excuse for people in the public eye.


To me (Robert), a most annoying habit is the abbreviating of first names. Personally I would never consider doing so unless I was requested and permitted to do so. For countless years when I’ve introduced myself as ‘Robert’ the immediate response has been either ‘Hi, Rob’ or ‘Hi, Bob.’ I do not hesitate but quickly point out, ‘No, it’s Robert, not Rob or Bob’ and endeavour to set the record straight.


But this is not about ‘My name is Robert, not Rob or Bob.’ No, it’s about drawing attention to the great truth that if our precious Saviour were to write this, he’d write ‘My name is Jesus, not Geez or Jeez.’


In Matthew 1:20-21, we learn that Joseph was to take Mary home as his wife. This meant that he would become her protector. This young carpenter, simply but powerfully described as ‘a righteous man, was also told that Mary would have a son by a miracle and he was to call the boy Jesus for he would become the Saviour of the world. Jesus...not Geez or Jeez! Today we should be protectors of the name of the one Mary bore.


Joseph carried out heaven’s direction to the letter. In his case ‘letters’ not an abbreviation.  Jesus is the name our Saviour was referred to throughout Never Geez or Jeez! Even when the so-called religious leaders of the day wanted to slur his name they used the derogatory term ‘this fellow.’


The need to be wise
A few years back some Christians began to loosely use certain words in their conversation with non-Christians. Afterall, they wrongly reasoned, it was the cool thing to do. But, really, it wasn’t right and removed a major difference between saved and unsaved people.In would slip ‘damn’ and ‘damnation’ as well as ‘hell.’ Such expressions, when properly understood, relate to the endless eternal condition of every human that hasn’t accepted God’s ‘Christmas gift’ of a Saviour – Jesus!  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
Today we hear the regularly repeated TV shows expressions of ‘Oh my God!’ or even just ‘My God!’ or ‘O God’ coming from the lips of Christians. Sadly we hear some Christians loosely using these exclamations.  Include ‘Geez’ or ‘Jeez’ and it should tell us that it’s time to make some important adjustments to one’s vocabulary.


In honouring Jesus this Christmas, let’s enjoy the season and give thanks to God for its real reason - his amazing gift to all humankind of a Saviour. But let’s also be determined that from here on we will always remember that the name of Jesus is very special and is always to be honoured. 

CHRISTMAS? So what, who cares...rah, rah, rah!

Yeah, it’s the usual end of year thing…a rush to complete a lot of stuff, planning parties, family get-togethers, presents still to be bought, gifts exchanged, road safety warnings, holidays, marriages, babies born, Christmas focused movie reruns, popular carol services, Christmas cakes, puddings and turkeys.

But it can also be a time of broken hearts as some tragedy strikes. Unexpected tsunamis, deaths, marriage break-ups, sicknesses, ongoing wars, car and home accidents, evictions, job losses, people feeling so lonely and unwanted…and other such sadness.

And for those without faith based on a solid Christian upbringing or background, it is a meaningless time – apart from a brief holiday and perhaps some parties and gift giving. For many, Christmas church activities and Christian’s beliefs about Christmas are a lot of ‘Rah, rah, rah, so what, who cares?’

Forgotten original meaning
In today’s busy commercialised world, the original meaning of this festive time is usually neither understood nor appreciated. Santa Claus or some other revered figure has replaced Jesus Christ! Christmas debt has replaced God’s free gift of a Saviour. The odd manger scene is cute but not understood. Commercialism has replaced the spirit of Christmas generosity.

New Age or occult teaching that we can save ourselves by looking out for number one has replaced the need of a God-provided Saviour due to universal sin.

Even some Christians don’t bother celebrating the true meaning of Christmas any more. Corporate and individual thanksgiving is neglected. Churches’ Christmas services don’t get the attendance figures they used to know.

The first Christmas gift
Yet Christmas is the second most important Christian event on the church calendar (Easter must always be number one!)

The Bible states that God valued the world so much that he freely allowed his Son, Jesus Christ, to become our Saviour so that we could find forgiveness of sins and a real satisfying and meaningful life through him. And so God sent Jesus from heaven to earth some 2000 years ago…the first Christmas gift as it were…because he cares for us and loves us.

God is good! He is love itself! He doesn’t want anyone being robbed of a good life and without any hope for eternity. He doesn’t want anyone living miserably. He wants to bless us all, give us support, and all kinds of security and help.

Why Christmas?
Most mature Christians realise that no one knows exactly when Jesus was born but that long ago it became traditional for believers to celebrate his birth at this time of year with joy and thanksgiving to God. A time to rejoice and relax with family and friends

Our giving of Chrissie presents is symbolic of God giving his present – the greatest present possible – his own Son, Jesus, to become our Saviour by dying in our place … the perfect and only substitute for the punishment we are guilty of through our sins, waywardness, rebellion and wrongdoings, even evil deeds.

What a gift! And what a hope for 2010 and the future! (if we will fully trust in a good and generous God!)

Despite financial recovery in some nations, we still live in uncertain times. Sicknesses, criminal acts, pornography, divorces where couples aren’t prepared to work on their problems, desertions, job insecurity and increasing subtle witchcraft. And in churches the rise of the notorious Jezebel spirit.

A lot of people have no real assurance of a good life at this festive season. And that's sad!

Message of real hope
But the real Christmas story is one of hope for the Bible gives a promise of good news and hope…'Don’t be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Saviour – yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born tonight in Bethlehem…Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to all whom God favours’ (Luke 2:10, 11, 14).

That was the great and welcomed message God’s angels brought to troubled hearts all those years ago. Today the message of hope is still real. No matter what troubles us this Christmas, we can receive stupendous comfort, not from an angel but direct from the Lord himself. This can be your best Christmas ever!

Yet some people begrudge Christmas. They don’t understand its real meaning or why it’s so important to Christians – and to the world. While some misled people seek to remove or marginalise Christmas and not allow schools or stores to celebrate Christmas, it’s good to know that there are mayors, principals and government leaders that refuse to be influenced or pressured this way.

As we celebrate Christmas this year, let’s think of others. Let’s take God-given opportunities to share the real meaning of Christmas. Perhaps there’s some lonely person we can invite home or give a simple pressie to.

Remember when you’re saying grace for Christmas meals and gratefully receiving your own pressies, to joyfully give thanks for your and your family’s salvation through the greatest of all gifts – the Lord Jesus Christ.

And spare a prayer for those who do not know him or the real reason for the season.

12/09

2008's Christmas Motto

Christmas is meant to be a wonderful end-of-year time. There’s a great Chrissie spirit in the big shopping centres and local radio stations are playing cherry old-style Christmas carols mingled with modern hits. It’s mid-December and the usual end-of-year hectic rush to complete getting pressies and cards is in full swing.

Next the really good Chrissie stuff will start… parties, family get-togethers, exchanging gifts, those Christmas-focused movie reruns, carol services, the ever popular annual Melbourne Sidney Myer Bowl Carols by Candlelight, traditional baking of Christmas cakes and puddings and holidays.

But for those without personal faith or a solid Christian upbringing or background, December can be a meaningless time – apart from a brief holiday and perhaps some parties and gift giving. To many, Christmas church activities and Christian beliefs about Christmas are a lot of ‘rah, rah, rah’ and ‘So what, who cares?’

There’s even been a move to eliminate Christmas from some schools, to rob children of the joy of performing in annual school Christmas plays…how sad. The truth is that today the original meaning of the season is usually neither understood nor appreciated. Santa Claus or Harry Potter or something else has replaced the true centrepiece, Jesus Christ!

Buy Now, Pay Later
For now, we’re being strongly urged to ‘Buy Now to Your Advantage!’ and with the current world financial crisis, many retail outlets have dropped their prices in order to attract us to do just that. Some stores are offering ‘No payment required until 2010!’ Even the government is giving special bonuses to pensioners and parents.

True ...the bargains are there to be had. But people need to be wise and cautious as they spend that bonus and use their credit cards. Ignoring the reality that bills will inevitably come in a month after the Christmas cheer ends, means that unless they’ve planned their finances they will be hit hard! Yet some TV news interviews and reports already indicate that many, especially young people, intend ‘spending up big’ with government incentives.

Christmas ‘spend now, pay later’ debt has relaced God’s free gift of a Saviour and trusting a generous, loving God. The unique manger scene comes across as cute but is not fully understood. Commercialism has replaced the spirit of Christmas generosity. Today’s thinking that we can save ourselves by looking out for number one has replaced the need of a Saviour due to universal sin.

Why Christmas?
Even some Christians don’t bother celebrating the true meaning of Christmas any more, yet it’s the second most important Christian event on the church calendar (Easter must always be number one!)

The Bible (God’s directions) states that ‘God so loved the world that he gave his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as our Saviour so that we could find forgiveness of sins (our wrongdoing, faults and breaking of his laws) and discover a satisfying and meaningful life by accepting him.’ God sent Jesus some 2000 years ago…the first Christmas gift as it were…free and willingly because he cares for us and loves us.

God is good! He is love itself! It’s a God thing! God doesn’t want people being robbed of a good life and without hope for eternity or living miserably today. He wants to bless us, give us support, and all kinds of security and help.

Now most Christians realise that no one knows exactly when Jesus was born but that long ago it became traditional at this time of year for the church to celebrate his birth with carols, cheery songs and thanksgiving to God.

Our giving of presents is symbolic of God giving his present – the greatest present possible – his own Son, Jesus, to become our Saviour by dying in our place, taking on for the punishment for our sins, waywardness, and wrongdoings, even evil deeds.

What a gift! And what a right thing for us to do at this time… celebrate God’s goodness through worship and gift giving! And what a hope for 2009 and the future! - if we will fully trust in a good and generous God!

The Other Side of Christmas
Christmas is indeed meant to be a wonderful time of family, friends and fun. But it can also be a time of sadness for many.

Foolish binge drinking, deaths, marriage break-ups, sicknesses, ongoing wars, road or home accidents, unexpected incidents such as the terrible tsunami of a few years ago, funerals, evictions, job loses, further financial worries as the worldwide financial tragedy worsens for many, people on their own feeling so lonely, lost and unwanted…these tragedies don’t stop just because it’s the festive season.

We live in uncertain, dangerous times, even in our own great and blessed nation. Times of new illnesses, uncertain financial investments, terrible criminal acts, rampant pornography even against children, divorces where couples aren’t prepared to work on their problems, desertions, job insecurity and increasing subtle witchcraft. Sadly a lot of people have no real assurance of a good life at this festive season. If ever we needed the real Christmas it’s this year!

Hope and Trust
Many emails and online articles that I read indicate an absence of trust in a good, generous and loving God - even though most comes from Christian sources! For example, reports continue to remind us of the monetary downturn and the insecurities around us, but few offer real or much hope in Jesus.

Yes, no doubt God is speaking to his people but we must put our trust in him and believe that he will act on our behalf. He delights when we rely on him, as did Daniel, Moses, Gideon and other Bible heroes in their own dangerous times.

Faith is always the key! The great ‘Apostle of Faith’, Smith Wigglesworth, once said: ‘Inactivity of faith is a robber, which steals the blessing. Increase comes by action.’

We live in days when we too must exercise faith. By so doing we will gain increase of blessings, unusual provision and protection, not the reverse. Don’t be despondent, dismal or undecided no matter what the perpetual bad news reports say or if you’ve lost out with investments and have other financial worries. Don’t yield to fear and negativity - trust in God and his word and his promises will bring you through!

Your Real Christmas Motto
The great truth is that the real Christmas story eternally remains a positive one, for the Bible gives a Christmas promise of good news and positive hope…'Don’t be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Saviour – yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born tonight in Bethlehem…Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to all whom God favours’ (Luke 2:10, 11, 14).

That was the great and welcomed message God’s angels brought to troubled hearts all those years ago. And it can do so afresh today if we reach out in faith and accept it. For today the message of hope is still real. No matter what troubles us this Christmas, we can receive awesome comfort, not just from an angel but direct from the Lord himself.

Unfortunately some people begrudge Christmas. They don’t understand its real meaning or why it’s so important to Christians – and to a shaky world. It’s good to learn that some state premiers have encouraged schools to celebrate Christmas and not be influenced or pressured by those who would stop great traditional school celebrations. That’s good advice to everyone!

As we celebrate Christmas this year, remind God that you’re trusting him and relying on him and his love and generous heart.

But think about yourself and your difficulties! Think of others. Take opportunities to share the real meaning of Christmas with others. Perhaps there’s some lonely person you can invite home or give a simple gift to. Remember when you’re saying grace for the Christmas lunch and your own presents, to joyfully give thanks for your own and your family’s salvation through the greatest of all gifts – the Lord Jesus Christ. And spare a prayer for those who do not know him or the real reason for the season.

May your own Christmas motto this year not be ‘Buy Now’ but ‘Rely Now’ indicating that you know the one you’re relying on to bring the true Christmas cheer no matter what uncertainties you or the world may be facing!

Hope for Today!
My wife, Maureen, has a favourite scripture that she repeatedly offers to people with heavy hearts…Romans 15:13: ‘May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’

Hey…that’s not just a great all-year-round scripture, it’s especially good to take onboard this Christmas!