Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

Life is a stage...

This morning I was at Productions, Unlimited picking up a bulb for a spotlight at the church, and I saw a sign they had above one of the doors that read, "If life is a stage, I want better lighting." For those of you who don't know, Productions Unlimited specializes in stage lighting, so that makes sense. On a different level, though, don't we all feel like this sometimes? Don't we all wish that we could have better lighting to see more of what is in front of us and to our left and right? I know I do. The truth is, however, that we usually don't get the chance to see what's any farther than one step ahead of us.
Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." A light to my feet, not to what is in front of my feet, but on my feet. God gives us just enough to take the next step. Just enough for us to say, "Okay, I'm taking this step of faith, and I'll deal with the next step when I get there." I think there are a couple of reasons God works this way, although I'm sure I could never figure out exactly why God does anything the way He does, because He is God and I am not. Anyway, if we knew the ten steps, or five steps, or even the next two steps, then the next step wouldn't require faith, because we'd know what was coming. Another reason, I think, is because if God were to show us just what He has in store for us, we'd freak out. He has so much more planned for us than we could even imagine, so He shows us just enough for us to get moving in faith toward the goals that He has already placed on us.
Here's a challenge for you: sometime in the future, when you're in a very safe area, take a walk at night where there aren't any street lights, and take a flashlight with you, but only shine the flashlight at your feet, so you can only see where the next step will take you. I used to do this in college and at Awanita to remind me that God will show me the next step, but very seldom will I get to see what is beyond that. (If you don't live in a safe place, then turn all the lights out in your home and do this.)

May you, today, rely on God to show you your next step, and believe that He will guide you to the one after that when the time is right. Remember, faith in God results in action.

Vacation

Sarah and I are taking a few days off, so I won't be blogging for a few days (not a surprise, I'm sure). If I don't get back before the 25th, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

SOnTheM 14

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." Matthew 5:21-22

The phrase "you have heard that it was said" refers to the things which the people had been taught their whole lives. When Jesus says "but I tell you," He isn't saying that they were taught wrong, that is to say, that the Old Testament Law was wrong and He is right, but rather that the people took the Law far too literally and did not apply the principles from it to other areas of their lives. Jesus already stated that He was not there to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17), so why would He contradict the Law? He wouldn't. He was simply giving a new interpretation of the Law, which is, of course, the correct interpretation.
Just like in our society, a murderer would be tried and face the judgment of the court. Jesus states that anyone who is angry is also subject to judgment, but how can a jury decide whether a person is guilty of being angry? This fact points to the idea that the judgment is the judgment of God, not of men. The important fact is that "the root of murder is anger, and anger is murderous in principle" (Expositor's Commentary). Refraining from murdering someone may keep you out of prison, but harboring anger and bitterness towards someone is known by God, and His judgment awaits that person.
Remember that your heart is what God is concerned with, and your actions will follow your heart.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Revisited

My face was melted off. This was the best I could do to replace it.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra was totally awesome last night! Put it this way, a six-piece band, including two keyboards and two lead guitars, plus an eight person string group, plus an eight person vocal group, all standing on one stage. Eighty speakers, not including subs, and more lights than can be counted. Add to that the fact that there were flames coming out behind stage, and you’ve got the rockingest show ever! The light racks hanging from the roof even moved, so that the lights for every song were different. I remember thinking at one point that everything but the stage moved, but then at the end, part of the stage rose 25 feet into the air. If you include the 9000 people that were there, of all different ages, it was a night one could never forget. Totally awesome!

Trans-Siberian Orchestra!!!

Tonight Sarah and I, along with our friends Jim and Sara Thompson, are going to go see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the Bi-Lo Center. We are both SUPER PUMPED! It's going to be a rawkin good time. As I told Jim on the phone yesterday, we're going to have to bring trash bags and something to scoop with, because our faces are going to be melted off and laying in a heap on the floor by the end of the night. Tomorrow I'll let ya know how it was, and mock those of you who didn't go. Until then, check out this video of the TSO performing Christmas Canon Rock.

SOnTheM 13

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-20

The Law, in case you aren’t sure, refers to the Levitical Law found in the five books of the Bible. It is what God gave to Moses way back in the day after the Israelites escaped from Egypt (of course, men added to the Law and seemed to turn it into a list of do’s and don’t’s which were to be followed). What was the purpose of the Law? Was it so that we could do everything in it and then be righteous? NO! The purpose of the Law was to show us that we CAN’T do everything in it to be called righteous. The purpose of the Law was to show men that God would have to intervene for them to have a relationship with Him.
Does that mean that Jesus first coming should remove the Law? Jesus said it doesn’t meant that at all. He was saying the Law will stand until “everything is accomplished.” That could refer to everything concerning the life of Jesus, His birth, life, death, and resurrection, or, I think, it could refer to more things to come—that is, the end of days. I could see the argument for both sides of that. However, one thing is certain, the Law was not removed simply because the Messiah had arrived. The Law was still very important, as Jesus goes on to talk about further in the chapter, only He expounds on the spirit of the Law, instead of setting rigid rules based on the letter of the Law.

Today, may you know that the Law proves that you cannot be righteous without Christ, and that Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice for you, so that you would not be subject to the Law of Moses, but to the grace of Jesus Christ.

SOnTheM 12

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-6

Funny how here Jesus says that His followers are the light of the world, and in John 8:12 he says that He is the Light of the world. Do we take the place of Christ? Of course not! Remember how we learned way back when that the moon does not shine its own light, but reflects the light of the sun? I think that’s sort of what this means. We reflect the Light of Christ through our lives, and thus illuminate the lives of others. Christ chooses to use us as His vessels to reveal the Light to others. What a privilege!
Have you ever been in a room so dark that if you lit a match, it wouldn’t light up at least part of the room? No, you haven’t. In fact, you could really define darkness as the absence of light. With this is mind, we are called to light the darkness of the world, and the very fact that there are Christ-followers here means that it is not completely dark and that there is some way for non-followers to see the Light of Christ.

May you live as Christ lives and love as Christ loves, and, in that way, you will be the light of the world.

Sidenote

Just a sidenote: my wife is awesome. Just thought I'd share.

SOnTheM 11

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salt again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Matthew 5:13

Salt is common substance. In Jesus' time, it was even more common, because they used it for much more than we use it for today. It was used to flavor foods (as it is today), as a preservative, and even as a fertilizer. Salt slowed decay in meat, so it was used with food to make it last longer. Looking at this from a chemistry standpoint, salt cannot lose its saltiness. It will always be salty. The way they got salt back then, however, could result in a salty residue which was not useful for anything. Anyway, you and I, as Christ-followers, are called to a purpose. In fact, the very fact that we are Christ-followers gives us this purpose. So, if we are not fulfilling our purpose, then we are doing no good, and should be (although God is merciful and forgiving and loving and often chooses not to do so) thrown out...to the wolves of this world.

Therefore, retain your saltiness! Fulfill the purpose for which you were created. And remember...SALT IRRITATES!!!

SOnTheM 10

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12

Rejoice! Be glad! Rejoice, Oh My Soul! The world hates me because I love Christ and want to follow Him! What a blessed place to be! I am in good company, for all those who have sought my God with all their hearts have been in the same place, persecuted for His sake.

Stand strong. Keep the faith. The road will be hard, but you will receive your reward. Run to win.

SOnTheM 09

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10

It may seem counterintuitive, but it is natural that those who seek to make peace become those who are persecuted. I've noticed that, in human nature, people love and cherish their hate. They love hate so much, that they are willing to go to great ends to stop those who proclaim that hate is wrong and love is right. Think about it. Haven't almost all great peacemakers of all time been killed and not died of old age, as you would expect of someone who seeks to make no enemies, but to love all? Crazy, huh? True righteousness, which is the basis of this persecution, is convicting to others, regardless of what the righteous person does or says, even if they never do or say anything against the convicted person.

Again, your reward is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Go forth into your world, and as you create peace, be prepared to be persecuted for it, and be willing to persecuted, and know that it is Christ in you who is persecuted, and not you yourself. Be glad, therefore, that Christ has chosen you to be persecuted for His sake.