CARRIED!

My, how quickly they grow! Seems like it was only yesterday I was carrying them. Now these strapping youths—my nephews: a college freshman and the other in high school—carry me with ease. There I am, at their mercy. And thankfully, mercy they had, for they didn’t deposit me on the floor to pay me back for the hard times I’d given them all these years! I trusted them to bear me without damaging my delicate structure. But those muscles of theirs, now bursting with vim, and those joints today bouncing with vigor will, alas, one day be felled by feebleness and fractured by frailty. In other words, they, too, will end up like me—old and decrepit, out of kilter, weak in constitution! We humans are programmed to end our earthly days in such ignominy. There is only One whose muscles and joints unnerved and unhinged never become. If you have ever wondered who will hold you without failing, take heart. This One declares:

Even to your old age
I will be the same,
and even to your graying years
I will bear you!
I have done it,
and I will carry you;
and I will bear you
and I will deliver you.
Isaiah 46:4

One may trust muscles and joints, wallets and banks, honor and reputation—but they will all, without fail, come to naught. Only the omnipotent God can bear us through these days of tumult and trauma—the Creator God who is never tired or taxed, stressed or strained. Instead He lends us His strength, His might, His power.

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God,
the LORD, the Creator
of the ends of the earth
does not become weary or tired ….
He gives strength to the weary,
and to him who lacks might
He increases power.
Isaiah 40:28–29

Though bearing us through the turbulences of life and imbuing us with strength is cause for thanksgiving, let us never forget that this is a God who bore much more!

Surely our griefs
He Himself bore,
and our sorrows He carried;
yet we ourselves
esteemed Him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through
for our transgressions,
He was crushed
for our iniquities;
the chastening
for our well-being
fell upon Him,
and by His scourging
we are healed.
… the LORD has caused
the iniquity of us all
to fall on Him.
… the Righteous One,
My Servant,
will justify the many,
as He will bear their iniquities.
Isaiah 53:4–6, 11

Yes, He did, our Lord Jesus Christ who …

… Himself bore our sins
in His body on the cross,
so that we might die to sin
and live to righteousness ….
1 Peter 2:24

And this God of love …

… who did not spare
His own Son,
but delivered Him over
for us all,
how will He not
also with Him
freely give us all things?
Romans 8:32

Ours is a God who can be trusted, as He reminded the Israelites.

The LORD your God
who goes before you
will Himself fight
on your behalf,
just as He did for you
in Egypt before your eyes,
and in the wilderness
where you saw how
the LORD your God carried you,
just as a man carries his son ….
Deuteronomy 1:30–31

Relax! This same God is carrying you.

Like a shepherd
He will tend His flock,
in His arm
He will gather the lambs
and carry them in His bosom;
He will gently lead
the nursing ewes.
Isaiah 40:11

He’ll bear us through 2008. Happy New Year!

HEART!

After several years’ absence, I made it back to an old haunt—our fair city, Boston, the unofficial hub of New England. It was a delight to connect with church friends from my days in that metropolis as a dermatology resident about a decade ago. Brothers and sisters in Christ with whom I had the privilege of serving our great God: we were Bible Study members together, led worship and made music together, worked on leadership teams together, sat on a pastoral search committee together, laughed and cried and worked and played together. Those were fun days!

However, I question the sanity of one who chooses to venture into this part of the world in winter. I must be losing it—Vienna during Thanksgiving and now Boston around Christmas. Bostonians have already been through three major storms this year, one wicked nor’easter dropping over 24 inches of the detestable (at least to me) white stuff just days before my arrival. Consequently, our aircraft meandered in the skies above Boston’s Logan airport for the good part of an hour seeking to squeeze into the line of planes hoping to land on the only runway open. And the cold wind! Brrrrr ....

Yup, winter has arrived. I can fully identify with Christina Rossetti’s opening lines …

In the bleak midwinter,
frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
water like a stone;
Snow had fallen,
snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Just like this past week! But that less-than-desirable circumstance, long time ago, did not restrain our God.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter
a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

Hardly what one would imagine as circumstances fitting for the arrival of the King of Kings.

Angels and archangels
may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
thronged the air;
But his mother only,
in her maiden bliss,
Worshiped the beloved
with a kiss.
Rossetti, 1872

Not only were His first days strange, this King’s last days on earth were equally incongruous—crucified on a cross. The King of Kings disregarded, disrespected, disbelieved, disobeyed.

The Gospels poignantly echo with the implied challenge: How will you, dear Christian Reader, respond to this King?

What can I give him,
poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man,
I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him:
give my heart.
Rossetti

All of us humans are called by God, firstly, to place our trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior—“giving our heart.” This is to believe that Jesus Christ, God incarnate, paid the price for our sins, precluding, for those with faith in Gods’ provision of salvation, eternal punishment and separation from God forever.

For God so loved the world,
that He gave
His only begotten Son,
that whoever
believes in Him
shall not perish,
but have eternal life.
John 3:16

And, secondly, Christian responsibility now calls us believers to live lives marked by the love of God in Christ—“giving our hearts” to Him daily.

And you shall love
the Lord your God
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
Mark 12:30

May this Christmas be a reminder to us all that …

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Isaac Watts, 1707

TEACHER!

We celebrated a celebrity today. John, about two months younger than my father, turned 80 this week, and that was cause for festivities. Prof at Dallas Seminary now for over 35 years, this man is an institution in himself. He got his Ph.D. in communications when I was four years old—oh, about twenty years ago (not!)—and since then, has been teaching, preaching, pastoring, and administering. Church planter. Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at DTS. Retired chaplain (Lt. Col.) in the USAF Reserves. Chairman of the Department of Pastoral Ministries (where I serve) for fourteen years. This is the guy who grew up in a farm, and who, it is rumored, once said, “I got along really well with animals, it’s people that bothered me.”

The influence he has had on virtually every member of the PM Department at DTS and on many pastors and teachers outside the Seminary is legendary. He is everyone’s grandad and mentor! I’ve had the privilege to be his student, to benefit from his sage advice, to be cheered by his kind words, to have him on my ordination committee ….

He has taught us well. And not just homiletics and pastoral ministry, but also how to be a faithful husband for over five decades; how to survive the tragic loss of a daughter (about five years ago); how to shepherd grandchildren; how to encourage; how to be loyal; how to be positive. And the list goes on and on ….

We love him!

This is a man who has used his gifts—nay, his entire life—to portray to all who come into contact with him, the grace of his God.

As each one has received
a special gift,
employ it in serving one another
as good stewards of the
manifold grace of God.
1 Peter 4:10

In whatever he does, God’s grace works through him.

Whoever speaks,
is to do so as one
who is speaking
the utterances of God;
whoever serves
is to do so as one
who is serving
by the strength
which God supplies.
1 Peter 4:11a

Speaking by God’s grace, and serving by God’s grace. John’s is a gracious God!

… so that in all things
God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ,
to whom belongs the glory
and dominion
forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:11b

John has taught us well. He would never say this but, like Paul, such giants in the faith have reason to exhort …

The things you have learned
and received and heard
and seen in me,
practice these things,
and the God of peace
will be with you.
Philippians 4:9

Because John himself was imitating Christ.

Be imitators of me,
just as I also am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1

And, in turn, we, too, must be examples to others, just as the Thessalonians, who followed Paul, became models to other believers.

You also became imitators
of us and of the Lord …,
so that you became
an example to all the believers
in Macedonia and in Achaia.
1 Thessalonians 1:6–7

We think much of him.

But we request of you, brethren,
that you appreciate those
who diligently labor among you,
and have charge over you
in the Lord
and give you instruction,
and that you esteem them
very highly in love
because of their work.
1 Thessalonians 5:12–13

And we could wish for nothing more for others than that every believer have a mentor like John, and that all of us, in turn, mentor others. For our great God’s glory!

COMFORT!

Somewhere during my peripatetic circumlocution in Europe. Berlin. The place has tons of coffeehouses and cafés; konditoreis and backereis galore dot the landscape. Lots of them mom-and-pop outfits. And the caffeine they furnish is outstanding, too. Yet, here I am sipping the good stuff at—of all places—Dunkin’ Donuts. Innumerable other institutions I could patronize, but I pick Dunkin’ Donuts. First store (still standing) opened in 1950 on 543 Southern Artery, Quincy, in ye olde state of MA. Dunkin’ Donuts—the quintessential American store (with a lot of franchises abroad, as well). And I chose that brand … in Berlin. Shame on me!

I like to stay within my comfort zone! And that cold spring morning, comfort meant Dunkin’ Donuts. Berlin or Boston, I couldn’t care less. As long as it was Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. Nice feeling. Familiar décor. Recognizable styrofoam. Accustomed taste. Dunkin’ Donuts! Nope, I’m not the adventurous type! Gimme my comfort zone.

He was God, but he became a human embryo, a foetus, a neonate, a toddler, a child, an adolescent, and an adult. God became man and suffered hunger (Matthew 4:2), thirst (John 19:28), and tiredness (John 4:6). Incredible! Deity in a distinctly “uncomfortable” zone. Jesus Christ …

… who, although He existed
in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
a thing to be grasped,
but emptied Himself,
taking the form
of a bond-servant,
and being made
in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:6–7

Emmanuel—God with us!

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Charles Wesley, 1739

And all for our sake.

For you know the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that though He was rich,
yet for your sake
He became poor,
so that you through His poverty
might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9

For our sake. To die for our sins. To save us.

He Himself bore our sins
in His body on the cross,
so that we might die to sin
and live to righteousness;
for by His wounds
you were healed.
1 Peter 2:24

And canceling out the effects of sin for the believer, He brought us to God.

For Christ also died
for sins once for all,
the just for the unjust, so that
He might bring us to God ….
1 Peter 3:18

Deity took on humanity for me, to save me.

Being found in appearance
as a man,
He humbled Himself
by becoming obedient
to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:8

The sinless One made sin. Out of His “comfort” zone. For us.

He made Him
who knew no sin
to be sin on our behalf,
so that we might become
the righteousness of God
in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21

Absolute, perfect holiness of Deity, dwelling amongst the total depravity of humanity. And suffering and dying as man.

Surely our griefs
He Himself bore,
and our sorrows He carried;
yet we ourselves
esteemed Him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through
for our transgressions,
He was crushed
for our iniquities;
the chastening
for our well-being
fell upon Him,
and by His scourging
we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4–5

And here I am ensconced in my little comfort zone imbibing Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.

Have this attitude in yourselves
which was also in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5

Let’s step out of our comfort zones and live boldly for Christ. In the power of His strength, through His Spirit, let’s boldly live lives of holiness, humility, witness, and sacrifice. Even if it makes us “uncomfortable.”

COMING!

One of the great museums in Europe is the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, housing most of the imperial Hapsburg collections. Not only are its accumulations of art marvelous, the building itself, opened in 1891, is a magnificent structure in the style of the Italian Renaissance. I spent several happy hours in this home of art (away from the freezing temps outside!), thoroughly enjoying both “container” and “contents,” the latter ranging from Ancient Egyptian and Roman antiquities to Medieval Art to the splendor of the Renaissance and Baroque.

Among its fascinating permanent exhibits was a room dedicated to the Emperors of the Imperium Romanum (Roman Empire). Busts of sovereigns and their children fill the eerily lit room. Here you’ll find good ol’ Julius himself, as well as Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Vespasian, Titus, Domitian, Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, Diocletian, Constantine, and a host of others.

While for the most part the expansion of their reach to much of Europe, northern Africa, and parts of the Middle East, and the Pax Romana—the relative Roman peace in the land during the first and second centuries AD—were good things, these rather nefarious characters on the throne thought a bit too much of themselves. They named themselves Augustus (= majestic), Autocrator (= autocrat), Basileus (= sovereign), Imperator Destinatus (= destined to be emperor), Pontifex Maximus (= chief priest), etc. One of them, Domitian, even labeled himself Dominus et Deus (= Lord and god); this was the guy who supposedly condemned the apostle John to be boiled in oil. Coins of the period refer to him as the “father of the gods”!

And then there was this other King in the first century whose we celebrate this month. His names, though, are for real!

For a child will be born to us,
a son will be given to us;
and the government will
rest on His shoulders;
and His name will be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

The one who is truly Dominus et Deus.

And on His robe
and on His thigh
He has a name written,
“King of Kings,
and Lord of Lords.”
Revelation 19:16

To a world lost in darkness, to mankind stricken with the tragedy of sinfulness and stained by the trauma of sin, came this King. Today is the first Sunday of the season of Advent that celebrates His arrival.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Charles Wesley, 1745

Not only does Advent celebrate the First Coming of this King, but during this season, the church expectantly awaits His Second Coming as well. A remembrance and an anticipation. Looking both backwards and forwards. In Wesley's words ...

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

He’s coming again and soon! And for those who eagerly await his Advent, a special reward is promised.

In the future
there is laid up for me
the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord …
will award to me on that day;
and not only to me,
but also to all who have
loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:8

Even so, Lord Jesus, come!