Resolutions

As 2009 comes to a close I thought it only fitting to make some "want-tos" for the upcoming year. Notice I did not say "resolutions". This is because normally whenever I make a resolution if fail to follow through with -- especially the New Year's type. So for what its worth, here are a few of my New Year's want-tos.

1)love God more
2)love my wife more
3)love my children more
4)love my friends more
5)love God's family more
6) love my students more
7) love those in my minstry team more
8) love my missionary partners more
9 love those who don't know God more

Notice the trend here? Finally my want to #10 for 2010:

10) love my enemies more.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for Love is of God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He that loves not, knows not God, for God is Love, so Beloved, let us love one another." 1 John 4:7-8

Contextualization of Christmas

Recently I had the opportunity to engage in a discussion over the merits of celebrating the birth of Jesus as a special day. The opponents of celebrating Christmas had some valid points, most dealing with the tendencies of Christians to turn Christmas into a day of rampant commercialism or tradition, devoid of any significant meaning. Furthermore the argument of the early NT church not celebrating the day does hold some merit. As the discussion wound its way around our group, it became apparent that no clear cut persuasive arguments would end the discussion in favor of one side or the other. It was at this point that I took the time to interject a simple missionary thought. Christmas, or the celebration of it has become a part of our culture, good or bad. The key I believe is to accept its presence and use it as an opportunity to contextualize the gospel message. Too many Christians fall into the trap of syncretization when it comes to this "holy"day, leaving nothing of worth or value to its real meaning. We need to see Christmas for what it is a day on the calendar where we remember that God became flesh and dwelt among us. Immanuel became a physical reality. But more than just celebrating Christmas on one day a year or in one season, I think it would be better to live out the significance of Christmas daily throughout the year. Doing this while recognizing the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, makes a proper celebration.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

There are many Christmas hymns which celebrate the advent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many contain awe-inspiring lyrics requiring dynamic vocals to capture the full essence of the song. (Oh Holy Night, for example) Others such as Away in a Manger for example, describe the various events surrounding the event with child-like clarity. But for me the essential message of the birth of Christ is contained within a couple of powerful lines found in the hymn Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail, the incarnate deity
Pleased as Man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.

You see Christmas is exactly that. The exact moment in time when the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us, HIS creation. This is the message being heralded by the Angels in the song.

This is the message we must herald to those around the globe who have yet to hear!

Merry CHRISTmas and keep singing!