A Heart For The Harvest

In Matthew 9:35-38, we are given a picture of the heart of Christ.  Jesus was busily traveling throughout Judea, teaching, preaching, and healing. But in verse 36 we are told that He paused for a moment and just looked at the condition of the multitude around Him.  They had come to the end of their own resources, they wandered around in confusion, and they didn't know what to do or who to turn to, and it touched the heart of Christ.  He had compassion on them.  It was this  poignant moment of need that led to His famous challenge to His disicples, "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest."  It is from this narrative that we get the theme for our Missions Conference that begins tomorrow night.  We are asking God to give us "A Heart For The Harvest."  Sometimes we get so caught up in the necessary busyness of life and service that we fail to take note of the multitudes around us.  As a result, we lose compassion for their needs.  I would like to challenge you to pray for three things as a result of the services this week: 1. That God would make it very clear in your own heart how He wants you to be involved in the Harvest.  2. That God would stir up in our church a new passion for missions and for reaching our community and our world for Christ.  3. That God would provide the vision, the resources, and the manpower to make our church a base of operations to turn the world upside down.
Let's begin by committing ourselves to be in every service of the Missions Conference and to listen for His voice through the sermons and presentations.  Let's welcome God to speak to our hearts and then be prepared to put into action the things that He leads us to do.
The only thing that has changed in the 2000 years since Christ made this statement is that the harvest is now even more plenteous.  Let's get busy reaping.

Wonders in the Night Sky

Okay, I confess, I am a “wonderholic.” Call it what you will, mushy sentimentalism, hopeless romanticism, mindless preoccupation...I prefer to call it child-like wonder. Long ago, I made a choice to put my faith and trust in the Word of God as the basis for all truth. I accept it at face value and it shapes my world view and my outlook on life. I don’t need proof in the physical realm, because God has done his greatest work in my heart and soul. I know He is real because He is at work in my life on a daily basis. But when He puts on a show like He did last night, I am struck with wonder, just like a child in awe of His amazing artistic power and prowess. A couple of days ago, I heard that there was going to be a total lunar eclipse, a fairly rare event, but the fact that it was going to fall on the Winter Solstice made it a first in the last 372 years. The fact that it would be visible over most of the northern hemisphere was also something that intrigued me. On my way home from a hospital visit in Joplin, I saw the full moon rise in all of its splendor and I was struck with its beauty. I decided that I wanted to see the eclipse, so when I got home, I looked up the timing of the event. It was to begin at 12:35 AM…..OK, did I really want to see it that bad? So I made one concession to the fact that I am no longer a teenager. I went to bed at the regular time and set my alarm for 12:20 AM. When it went off, I got up and got dressed and made my way down to the Honey Creek Landing so that I could get a good view of the moon over the lake. It was a gorgeous night. The lake was calm and the temperature was in the mid 50’s. The sky was clear and as the moon progressed into darkness, the stars shone even more brightly. I was struck by the beauty of the scene; The lights of the bridge reflecting off the water, Christmas lights from the houses on the shore twinkling in the distance, and the mist rising up off the lake in the cool darkness. Even though I was alone, it struck me that others all over the country were looking at the same spectacle that I was. We were sharing a moment of wonder over God’s majestic handiwork. I stood there for an hour and a half in awe of what I was seeing and experiencing. As the light of the moon came close to being completely eclipsed, another image began to appear, a brownish, red reflection of the earth that became more evident as the sunlight reflecting off the moon was blocked from view. It was a beautiful sight, but looking back on it this morning, I can see a faith lesson to be learned from last night’s majestic show in the heavens. When Jesus proclaimed that we are the light of the world, the light that He spoke of was very similar to the radiant light of the full moon. The moon itself produces no light. The light that we see is simply a reflection of the light from the sun. In the same way, the light that shines from the life of a believer is light that is simply the reflection of the Light of Christ. An eclipse happens when the earth in it’s rotation around the sun, passes between the Sun and the moon. The eclipse gives us a pretty clear picture of what takes place when a Christian allows the world to come between him and Christ. Before long, the Light of Christ is completely covered up and what becomes visible in the life of the Christian is a reflection of the world. These rare but spectacular events should be taken as a reminder from God not to let the world get in the way of our testimony for Christ. Fortunately, the eclipse doesn’t last for long. After only a few minutes of darkness, the light became visible again and progressed slowly, but deliberately back to its full strength. Ultimately, the message of Ps. 19:1 was confirmed to be true. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork,” and like a child, I still look on in wonder.

Christmas Is...

Christmas Is…

Christmas is a time for memories,

Christmas is a time for joy,

Christmas is a time awaited

by all little girls and boys,

Christmas is a happy season

Filled with tiny sparkling lights

We look forward to the time

Of snowy days and silent nights.

But let us not forget the reason

For this time of joy and mirth

Is the coming in this season

Of our blessed Savior’s birth.

For without Him all the glitter

Of this holiday refrain

Would be nothing more than ashes

And our lives would be in vain.

By Marty Hughes

Christmas Angels

These little angels, depicted in a frescoe by Rafael in the Sistine Chapel, look bored and impatient with whatever it is that they are witnessing in heaven.  After what I saw yesterday morning, I am sure that Rafael must have used children performing in a Christmas program as the inspiration for his masterpiece.

These little cherubs put on quite a show for us yesterday morning.  The church was full of visitors, mostly family members, who had come to see their "little angel" perform.  The young ones timidly sang their songs and recited their verses and then impatiently waited while the rest of the program continued on to its conlusion.  The antics of the children is always one of the most memorable aspects of any Christmas program; the stumbles, the mumbles, and the missteps that cause us to giggle just a bit as the old familiar story is told.  Children are notorious for their short attention span and their delightfully innocent ignorance of what is appropriate at such austere occasions. 

This adorable picture of our little cherubs, brought a lesson to my mind about how we must look to God at times.  Our Father has set in motion an elaborate presentation of His eternal plan of redemption.  The stage upon which this story is set is much larger than we can imagine.  He has chosen to give us a starring role, but our part is only a small piece of the whole.  It is an epic story, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to die for those who had turned their backs on Him.  He sent that Son into this world through a virgin birth in a lowly place with a lofty goal of changing lives for eternity.  Those of us who have received this amazing gift are then called upon to be His messengers, proclaiming this magnificent story to the whole world.  Yet in the middle of this amazing spectacle, we are often found, pouting and disinterested. 

I know that Christmas in the 21st century lays a heavy layer of demands on most of us.  I know that the commercialized version of Christmas in America strays far from its original intent.  But I'd like to challenge you to remember what it really means, what its all about.  And never forget that you are His "little angel" entrusted with the task of proclaiming good tidings of great joy that shall be to all people. Stand up straight, let His light twinkle in your eyes, and speak up so everyone can hear you.  Your Father is watching.

Christmas's Cast of Characters

The story of Christmas is a wonderful revelation of God’s eternal plan of redemption illustrated in the lives of the cast of characters in this cosmic drama. The Virgin Mary, a young innocent, who willingly offers herself to be the vessel that God will use to bring hope to mankind. Her hopes and dreams, her character and reputation, all must be laid upon the altar of service to the Lord. Joseph, a man whose faith is tested by the unusual nature of God’s plan. He didn’t insist on personal vindication, but simply responded to the message of the angel to take Mary to be his wife, even though she was already with child. Sure, he had an encounter with an angel, but he knew that his story of how she had come to be in her condition would be greeted by most with derision and ridicule. Still, he responded lovingly and faithfully to the role that God had chosen him to play. The humble shepherds represent the meek and lowly of the world, the common man to whom God revealed His plan with pomp and circumstance. It was to these humble laborers that God’s message offered forgiveness and redemption. Their front row seats to this grand entrance show that God’s love truly does embrace all mankind. The wise men from the east remind us that God reveals himself to those who seek Him. Wherever He finds an enquiring heart, His light shines forth to lead the way to Christ. The magi observed the message written in the stars, the handiwork of God that leaves all mankind without excuse. They doggedly pursued an encounter with the Messiah and God rewarded them with a one on one audience with the infant King. But there were others whose response to the blessed event left something to be desired. The inquiry by the wise men filled Herod with suspicion and jealousy. He saw the Promised One as a threat to his position as a ruler. He would rather destroy the long-awaited Messiah than give up his station in life.

The scribes and Pharisees displayed a knowledge of God’s promises, but a level of faith that was insufficient to carry them the short distance from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Their indifference caused them to miss the event that they had waited all their lives hoping to witness. Even the innkeeper has a lesson to share. The torrid pace of everyday life, the overwhelming stress of the rat race, caused him to lose sight of what was really important. When Jesus came knocking on his door, he had nothing to offer but the leftovers of an overly busy life. As a result, he continued to wait tables only a few yards from the pivotal event in human history, and he never knew it. The Christmas story is played out again and again in lives all around the globe every day. When some souls are confronted with the Savior, they respond with submission and faith and the result is miraculous. The angels rejoice and their lives are changed forever . Others spend their lives seeking Him and their efforts are rewarded with a personal encounter with the God who made the stars and set the world in motion. And yes, there are those whose pride and position cause them to reject and oppose Him to their own detriment. Some let their indifference sap their religious ritual of all meaning and efficacy while others are simply too busy to consider the claims of a Child whose life journey led Him from a manger to a cross to an empty tomb. So this Christmas, when you see the stars twinkling in the midnight sky and feel the brush of angels’ wings, don’t miss your chance to celebrate the coming of the newborn King.

The Gift

Well, the Christmas season has officially begun.  No not the Christmas shopping season, Walmart has been pushing Christmas ever since they put away the Halloween decorations.  No not the Christmas music season, Shelley never misses a chance to play a little Christmas music, even if it is 70 degrees, sunny, and the middle of September.  For me the real Christmas season begins with preparations for the first Sunday in December.  That is when we start singing Christmas carols in church and I start preaching about the starry night that changed the world forever.  Christmas time is a busy time around a church.  Parties, programs, and presentations fill every waking moment.  Add to the frenzy of the holiday the fact that final preparations for the New Year are also being made, and you have a somewhat chaotic time.  Just as the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping has a tendency to exhaust rather than fuel our Christmas spirit, the full calendar of Christmas events around the church can distract us from the most important point of this and every other season.  God loved this world soooo much that He gave us a very special gift, His Son.  This gift was a costly one.  God gave that which was most precious to Him, in order to pay the price for our rebellion and denial of His love.  Wow! Hard to understand, isn't it?  The details of the story, the manger, the shepherds, the inn that was full to overflowing, all serve to illustrate the wonderful plan of redemption that God established.  Anyone who is foolish enough to believe that their good works are sufficient to win them favor with God, just doesn't get the underlying story of Christmas.  Christmas is all about a loving God's response to fallen man's desperate need.  Man's inherent sinfulness had condemned our race to judgment and death, but God "so loved the world" that He made the only provision possible for our dilemma. He sent His Son to be the very first Christmas Gift.  He came into the world that the world might be saved.  Through his birth, life, death, and resurrection, He offered us the gift of eternal life, something that we were incapable of earning.  That is the true meaning of this hectic season.  So over the next few weeks, as you prepare for the time that you will spend celebrating the holiday with your family and friends, don't forget that the reason for the season is the gift, God's gift to you.

Accumulated Grace

On Tuesday of this week, I celebrated my 51st birthday.  Shelley wasn't feeling well and went to bed early that evening, so I sat up for a while and thumbed through the old photo albums and reminisced about my life.  It was fun seeing all of the pictures of my childhood and early adult years.  It reminded me of all that I have to be thankful for in my life.  Each picture brought back memories about the stories that surrounded that particular event.  People that have played such a big part of my life that now have moved on, either to heaven or down the path that their own journeys have taken them on, others who still have a daily impact on my life, all were gifts of God's grace to me at a time when I needed them most.   That stroll down memory lane helped me to realize that what I am today is the product of the accumulated grace of God over these many years.  His creative nature has continued to mold me and shape me through the interaction that I have had with the poeple that He has brought into my life.  Some experiences have been soft and sweet, feeding my spirit and helping me to grow.  Others have been tough and abrasive and God has used them like sandpaper to knock off the rough edges. The influence of some has come in a few, occasional short doses, while others have been a constant, faithful, abiding presence upon which I have been able to rely, but now I see that each was sent from the hand of God to make me into what I am today.  This seasoned, rugged, 51-year-old body and soul has stood the test of time.  It has a few scars and a few constant aches and pains, but for the most part it is still strong and capable.  I know that I still have a job to do and that in order to do it, I still need a daily dose of God's grace and mercy.  I am thankful that He has given me a goodly number of friends and loved ones to continue the process of building, molding, shaping, and, yes, sanding me into a more representative likeness of His Son.  And after all, you're only as old as you feel, right? :0)