By the time you read this our family has repeated our annual Christmas morning parade, dogs and all, to the tune of “Deck the Halls.” We have also shared a more reflective time reading aloud from the Bible the story of Christmas. May your day be “merry and bright” as you welcome the “baby who changes everything” into your homes and lives!

We have much to celebrate living in a country where we are free to worship this newborn king. We remember Herod’s cruel massacre of the children in his attempt to kill Jesus. We remember that our mission pastor and his members in Bangladesh are forced to be cautious about the public displays of their faith in a Muslim country. 

We also know that Christmas is not about the month before or even the day. It is about the truth that Jesus was born to love us and lead us and save us every day of our lives. Given the hectic nature of the season, we might even get a chance to focus on his presence more nearly and dearly. On this Christmas Eve, rejoice with the prophet Isaiah who predicted the joy of the baby’s birth. The truth is, because “the baby changes everything,” Christmas is not one day but everyday.

This week I would like to pause and reflect on the question, “How will the baby change our lives this year?” I will be using the ancient prophecy of Isaiah as a resource to answer this important question. Isaiah was writing some 700 years before the birth of Jesus but he anticipated what it would mean for all who believe and trust in him.

Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

There are those who carry with them a scarcity mindset in which they believe there are not enough resources for everyone. Only the strong survive or gather as much as you can and hold onto it before someone else takes it. The problem with this mindset is that as we close our fist tighter around the things we have, it does not allow the things we are lacking to come into our lives. A closed fist cannot receive anything more but only retain what it is gripping. Paul reminds us of changing our mindset from scarcity to prosperity in Christ. He writes the following to the young pastor Timothy.

1 Timothy 6:17–21 (NIV): 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. 

Grace be with you all.

Paul reminds us that God is our provider. He also reminds us that wealth is fleeting. Even though we might have the same amount in our bank, it can erode away when there is inflation or markets crash. The struggle to hang onto things in this world is a fool’s errand. None of it lasts forever. The apostle John writes in, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” 

There are some things that are eternal. Life is short, people are precious, and the words of God are eternal. May you have an open hand to receive from God the things He wishes to give to you. As you change your mindset from scarcity to prosperity, you will begin to realize that the loss of some items will be replaced by other items from a God who loves you. And you might just be surprised by the new that He places into your open hand.

Pastor Aaron

Continuing on in looking at 1 Timothy we come to a section on those who teach heterodoxy or false doctrine. Paul writes the following, 1 Timothy 6:3–8 (NIV): 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

People seem to get very excited when some new theory is proposed about Scripture. Yet the church has been doing theology for about two thousand years. The problem with new ideas is that it can lead to friction and quarrels. An important word to remember is heterodoxy. Wikipedia defines it as “any opinions or doctrines at variance with an official or orthodox position”. So it is not heresy but it is comments and questions that lead people away into speculation and other forms of thinking. Typically this results in trying to match the Bible to the current cultural trends rather than us trying to move our lives to the Bible. 

Think about it. Orthodoxy, which is the practice of ancient doctrines, is boring because we have been doing it for a long time. Heterodoxy is exciting because it is new and speculative. We live at a time where trends change every 24-hours by the news cycle. We get used to all the new trends. Yet God comes to us in our condition and offers us love and grace.

The best way to fill our hearts and minds with what is good is to stay with the classics. I was reminded of this in our own church constitution of the confession of faith and how we state the importance of the Augsburg Confession and Luther’s Small Catechism. Both of these were written around 1530 A.D. A long time ago and yet they assist us better in the understanding of the doctrines of the Bible better than the latest copy of Newsweek and Time. 

I would encourage you to heed the Apostle Paul’s admonition to not fall into speculation and begin reading those pieces of the faith that are ancient in their time and yet keep us anchored in the sola scriptura; the ancient Scriptures of faith.

Pastor Aaron 

One boat began falling behind. Not enough fuel. There had been plenty of coal for the trip, but not enough for a race. As the boat dropped back, an enterprising young sailor took some of the ship’s cargo and tossed it into the ovens. When the sailors saw that the supplies burned as well as the coal, they fueled their boat with the material they had been assigned to transport. They ended up winning the race, but burned their cargo.

God has entrusted cargo to us, too: children, spouses, grandparents. Our job is to do our part in seeing that this cargo reaches its destination.

Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:8 “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Ouch. Strong words from the Apostle Paul to the young pastor Timothy. Things are slightly different in modern America today. Yet, part of God’s grace to us is the institution of the family. This week my parents and my father-in-law have come to stay with us for Christmas. We have three extra bodies in our home for the next two weeks and I smiled this morning when I heard the talking and laughter over cups of coffee. Even though the children are now sleeping in the living room and our days are crazier with three extra people it is good to have them all with us. 

I am reminded today of God’s kindness to me. I was told years ago that I might not have children due to an experimental treatment I had to take and yet I am married with three children. My children have their grandparents who spoil them silly. Do we drive each other crazy? Sometimes. Yet God is reminding me through my children to have more patience and to not take myself too seriously. I am also reminded about life not being about what I want but how I can serve those in my family. I feel His grace molding me and helping me to reflect His Son Christ, in my life with those He has given to me. 

Sometimes in seeing the bad during this time of the year, we need to change our perspective and see God’s grace in who He has placed in our lives. I think God is more interested in what we are becoming than what we are acquiring. If this is a challenging time for you this year, my prayer is that God’s grace will help you to have a different perspective. May you receive the ability to have eyes of faith rather than a heart of bitterness. In spite of your circumstances may the joy of Christ fill your heart this year.

Pastor Aaron 

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways And no message could’ve been any clearerIf they wanna make the world a better placeTake a look at yourself and then make a change

Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:15-16, “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

A mirror never lies. I look one way in the mirror when I first get out of bed and then I look totally different after a shower and a cup of coffee. Mirrors show us who we are on the outside. Yet, where is the mirror for the inside of our lives?

The only way we really know is in the situations of life. Everyday events are the finals to know who we are becoming on the inside. Paul reminds us that there is another mirror and it is Scripture. He reminds Timothy to look closely at doctrine and himself. 

James writes in James 1:23-24, “22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”

Scripture reveals who we are from God’s point of view. Then we are left with the question of “Who do I want to become?” Do not be the one who walks away and quickly forgets what was seen in the mirror. Remember that change in the world begins with me. As I look in the mirror of Scripture, I must change. It is always easier to say someone else needs to change but the truth is that I am the one who needs to change. It must start with me.

Pastor Aaron 

I was reflecting on Timothy 4:9-10 that says, “This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.” 

I know sometimes I forget that I break the rules. I am well aware of those who break the big rules and cause harm but sometimes I need to be reminded that I am a rule breaker too. As soon as we forget that we break the rules too and need to be saved is when we fall into a pit in which we cannot receive help. It is only those who can recognize that they need help who will receive it. 

I am not always sure how this works with God but I know from my experience that things change in my life when I remember this trustworthy saying that my hope is in the living God who saves. So to myself and to you, this Christmas reach out and receive that which has been given to you. Receive it in faith for we all break the rules and we all need some help. 

Pastor Aaron 

Imagine someone handed you an old treasure map, like the kind you see in storybooks, with an X marking the spot. Would you just toss it aside, thinking it’s a hoax? Or would you drop everything to search for the gold, dreaming of what you could do with the fortune? Most of us would go on the treasure hunt. We’d be fools to ignore something so valuable.

But there’s something infinitely greater than a buried chest of gold. The kingdom of heaven is the ultimate treasure, and we have access to it without a map. Salvation and eternal life with Jesus are worth more than anything you could find in this world.

As believers, we know the way to heaven—His name is Jesus. Do you realize how priceless a relationship with Him is? Would you lay down everything to seek and obtain it? Often, the only risk is your time as you learn to follow Him, and the reward is beyond worth it.

Where is your treasure?

Pastor Chance

“God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.” – Daniel 1:17

Wow, this morning I started reading the book of Daniel, and what a joy it is to get a good word in the present season. This happens during a time when the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem and exiled many Israelites to a foreign land led by King Nebuchadnezzar. The king took young strong boys from Judah’s royal family, including four teenagers: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (better known by their Babylonian names: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego).

The king wanted them in his court but required three years of training in the new language, culture, and affairs. He provided them with the finest foods and wines, like a Las Vegas buffet! Though tempting, this food violated God’s dietary laws. Daniel and his friends chose to obey God and requested a vegetable and water diet for 10 days. If they looked unhealthy compared to the others, they would eat the king’s diet. After 10 days, they looked healthier and even gained weight!