6...5...4...3...2...1...1?

The geniuses are at it again. They've decided it's necessary to add one second to the end of 2008. Their explanation? It seems that the technological marvel of man's own making, the atomic clock, is "much more precise than the rotation of the earth" which God set in motion. So to allow the earth to "catch up" to man's ingenuity, one second will be added to the year.

I'm always amused when I hear this kind of drivel. I often marvel at the audacity of mankind in thinking we know better than God, or can create something that trumps the handiwork of the Creator. But I'm not sure God's amused.

"... the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
~ 1 Corinthians 1:25

So tonight, as you ring in 2009 in whatever way you choose, take an extra second to ponder the awesomeness of a God who spoke and all things came into being. And, if you have a spare second, to realize that He holds all of the elements, including time, in the palm of His hand.

"Well, It's Happened Again. And I Wasn't Ready Again."

This was just a few weeks ago:

"I'd like to ask your permission to ask your daughter to marry me."

Unless you've heard those words come from the mouth of a young man sitting across the table from you, you'll never know the mix of thoughts and emotions that swirl around you. Part of you is thrilled because you believe that this is the young man the Lord has for your daughter. Another part of you wants to reach across the table and choke this clown. Who does he think he is? How dare he even think he's good enough for your little girl.

Then, the phone call I knew would be coming:

"Daddy, I'm engaged! I'm getting married!"

I've already been through this once with Sheila. Now, it's Alisha's turn. You'd think by this time I'd have it all together. No big deal, right? This ought to be old hat to me. But it's not. It's not any easier to hear your second little girl say those words than it was with your first just a few years ago. The memories of their whole lives run through your mind in the fleeting moment those words hit your ear and run through your brain. "I'm getting married!" And just like that, you know that things will never be the same.

Now, the planning begins. A June wedding. In just a few days time, I've been reduced to the old guy with the checkbook. But I really am happy. I'm happy to see my baby girl so happy.

Congratulations Alisha and what's-his-name. I pray your life together is everything you've dreamed of.

A Bailout for Santa

Found this on Chaplain Anne's blog. An instant classic!

Simply Christmas

My wife and I were talking about how simple our whole Christmas has been this year. We haven't shopped like we have in past years. We haven't let ourselves get all frazzled about what to get the kids or grandma. There haven't been any "can't miss" parties to rush off to. We've scaled back on the Christmas card list and generally tried to keep it more low-key than it's been over the years.
And you know what? It's been great!

Yesterday, our pastor reminded us of the simplicity of the Christmas message. The angel called it "...good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people." A baby in a manger. The Son of God became a man so that we could become sons and daughters of God. That's it! The good news of Christmas.

Too simple? Maybe. But what God desires of us is even simpler. Just believe.

Emmanuel Indeed!

... and they will call Him "Emmanuel" which mean "God with us."
~ Matthew 1:23

I can't get this short verse out of my mind. Emmanuel. God with us. That's the way God meant for it to be. He's always desired to be 'with us.' The problem has always been on our end. We haven't wanted a God who would be right here. We've been too afraid. Or embarrassed. Or ashamed.

From the time He walked with Adam in the garden, to the day he invited the people of Israel to meet with Him on Mt. Sinai, you can see it. As He called to humankind through His prophets, you can sense it. His heart's desire to be with us.
In Jesus Christ, He is.

He's not God near us. Or God above us. Or even God watching over us. He is "God with us!"

Wherever you may find yourself this Christmas season, may that single thought bring you comfort and joy.

Cotton-Headed-Ninni-Muggins

A Wise Man Once Said ...

"It's only when the tide goes out that you learn who's been swimming naked."
~ Warren Buffet

www.santa.com?

Who Cares?

This morning I was asked the question I knew was coming. In fact, it eventually comes every year about this time. Why should this year be any different?

The question? "Chaplain, why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25? You know, Jesus wasn't born in December. He was born in April!"
I've also been told with great assurance over the years that He was born in August, September, and May. One went so far as to tell me it was an absolute certainty that Jesus was born on August 22, 4BC. (That young man said he could prove it.)

After giving the inmate my answer this morning, (the same answer I've given every time the question is asked) I was curious. So I Googled the question "When was Jesus born?" Try it. Without exaggeration, there were 1,160,000 results to my query.
Again, the various determinations as to the 'real' exact date of the birth of Christ ranged from early spring to late autumn. And every one (of the nine or ten I purused) worked hard to prove its validity with much intellectual wrangling.

Maybe you're wondering what my answer to the inquiring inmate was? Well, with as much scholarly wisdom as I could possibly muster, I replied, "Who cares?"

That's really how I feel about it. Does it matter? Is there any real benefit to knowing for sure the exact date of His birth? I think not.
What really matters is that He came. He became "Emmanuel." I don't care when. But its vital to me that He did.

I'm afraid that too many who choose to enter the fray of such debates end up missing out on the simple truth: "They shall call His Name, Emmanuel," which translated, means "God with us."

Here's Another Favorite (I can't help myself)

Baptism

I will be baptizing fifteen men at Charlotte Correctional Center this evening during our worship service. I'm stoked! It's always a big deal for me.

My All-Time Christmas Favorite

He Always Comes

"Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. And it had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them."
~ John 6:16-17

I've been right where the disciples were. In the dark... and wondering where Jesus is. It's a scary place to be. I can't tell you how many times over the years I noticed the darkness all around me, and I've wondered where the Lord is. But I've learned something. He always comes.

There have been times when the darkness has seemed overwhelming and I've wondered if He will. When the doctor said, "Cancer!" the darkness came suddenly, and I wanted Him to be there right then.
There have been other times when the darkness was of my own making. Bad decisions. Carelessness. Sin. I've wrapped myself in darkness like a thick blanket. I had no business expecting Him to come. But still, He always does.

He comes because He's always faithful to His Word. The promise is He'll never leave us or forsake us. So He always comes.

His Story Looks a Lot Like Us

Typically when we read the Christmas story through Matthew's eyes, we begin with these words: "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise..." But that's verse 18 in Matthew 1. There are seventeen verse that most of us tend to skip to get to the birth. They are verses filled with "so-and-so begat so-and-so" and so on and so forth.

This is where I think we find the real story. Actually, we find a number of stories. Some not-so-nice stories. Here we find the stories of liars and cheaters and schemers who seem to have no regard for the holy. Let me point out a few:

"Judah begat Perez and Zerah by Tamar" (Matthew 1:3) - Tamar was Judah's daughter-in-law. You see, old Judah was a pretty despicable fellow who slept with what he thought was a prostitute while on a business trip. It turned out to be his daughter-in-law who had conspired to deceive him because he had lied to her.

"Salmon begat Boaz by Rahab" (Matthew 1:5) - You remember Rahab, don't you? She wasn't even an Israelite; she was a descendent of the people of Canaan. And she was a prostitute.

"David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urriah" (Matthew 1:6) - Ouch! The biggest mistake in David's life. A scandalous affair in the king's house. Adultery. Murder. And here it is, a glaring reminder of David's treachery.

What's my point? Simply this: The story of Jesus Christ is our story. The family tree is filled with less than reputable folks who'd lived life in the fast lane. Not the kind you'd expect to find at a church social. Yet God included them in the story of His Son. They weren't banished to the obscurity of the Old Testament with the hope that they'd be overlooked or forgotten. They're there in the Savior's story for all to see.
And they look like us.