Christmas Is

Christmas is fun and special. It is for buying gifts. Christmas is noisy and sometimes stressful. Certainly, Christmas is beautiful. Mostly, Christmas is necessary. Humanity, especially me, needs a Savior and Lord.

Throughout human history, we have proven that our ability to run the show has been a dismal failure. If given power and authority, we oppress. If we help people in the wrong way or too much, they stop trying and expect others to be responsible. We lie, cheat, steal, kill, abuse, etc. No government works very well for very long. The whole world system is a mess.

Christ came to earth declaring himself as supreme ruler. His kingdom is foreign to us. We want him to blow away our enemies; he tells us to love them, pray for them and do good toward them. We want him to promote us because we are his faithful followers; he tells us to die to our self-interests and to live for others.

The best human effort is a dismal failure. Perhaps, Christ's way is a better way. Perhaps his kingdom is superior to our ways. We looked for a conquering ruler; he came as a shepherd caring for his human sheep. Isaiah 40:10-11, "Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules from him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young."

In Ezekiel 34, God promised to send us a shepherd who will search for the lost sheep. He will rescue them from the places where they have been scattered. This good shepherd will feed them with good pasture. He will strengthen the weak and heal the sick. He binds up wounds. This shepherd brings justice to the oppressed. When God came to the earth, he came as a shepherd.

In this season of Advent, as we celebrate what the Lord has done in coming to us, we also look for his coming again. Peter exhorts us in 2 Peter 3:11-12, "...what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God..." As we reflect on Advent and look forward to Christmas, let us hasten the coming of Christ by taking up his mission of tending to the human sheep. In Matthew's gospel, Christ looked with compassion upon the crowds coming to hear him and to be healed by him, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. They were harassed and helpless in this state. Christ made a statement in this moment, "The harvest is great but the laborers are few, therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

We, the body of Christ on the earth, are the answer to Christ's plea. Christmas is necessary, because we need a shepherd. Let us observe this season by seeking the lost, healing the sick, binding up wounds and feeding his sheep.

Peace,
Stan

Observing Advent

Yesterday, Sunday November 27, marked the beginning of Advent. Advent means coming or arrival. We celebrate the First Advent of Christ while we anticipate the Second Advent. As the church celebrates God's breaking into history in the Incarnation, we also anticipate the consummation of history for which "all creation is groaning awaiting its redemption." In between these events the church confesses and expresses our responsibility to love God passionately and to love our neighbor genuinely.

Advent is filled with longing and preparation. We yearn for our deliverance from the present evil age. We long for the injustice of this world to be made right. We strain daily to overcome the curse of sin. We work out out our own salvation with fear and with trembling.  Our hope is in the return of Christ.

So, in observation of Advent, I share with you a reading plan. I found this selection of reading concerning Christ's first and second comings. I hope you enjoy reading them along with me this year.

Peace,
Stan

Day & Date	First Coming	2nd Coming/ Prophetic Lit
Sun, Nov 27th	Matt 1-2	Deut 32
Mon, Nov 28th	John 1	Deut 33
Tues, Nov 29th	Luke 1-2	Psalm 2, 24
Weds, Nov 30th	Luke 3-4	Psalm 47, 48
Thurs, Dec 1st	Luke 4-5	Psalm 72, 75
Fri, Dec 2nd	Luke 6-7	Psalm 110, 118
Sat, Dec 3rd	Luke 8-9	Song 5, 8
Sun, Dec 4th	Luke 10-11	Isaiah 2, 4
Mon, Dec 5th	Matt 1-2, John 1	Isaiah 9, 11
Tues, Dec 6th	Luke 12-13	Isaiah 24, 25
Weds, Dec 7th	Luke 14-15	Isaiah 32, 35
Thurs, Dec 8th	Luke 16-17	Isaiah 40, 53
Fri, Dec 9th	Luke 18-19	Isaiah 62, 63
Sat, Dec 10th	Luke 20-21	Jer 25, 33
Sun, Dec 11th	Luke 22-24	Dan 2, 7
Mon, Dec 12th	Luke 1-2, John 1	Joel 2, 3
Tues, Dec 13th	John 2-3	Zeph 3, Hab 3
Weds, Dec 14th	John 3-4	Zech 13, 14
Thurs, Dec 15th	John 5-6	Mal 3, 4
Fri, Dec 16th	John 7-8	Matt 24, 25
Sat, Dec 17th	John 9-10	1 Cor 15, Heb 12
Sun, Dec 18th	John 11-12	2 Tim 3-4
Mon, Dec 19th	Matt 1-2, John 1	1 Thess 4, 5
Tues, Dec 20th	John 13-14	2 Thess 2, 3
Weds, Dec 21st	John 15-16	1 Pet 1, 2 Pet 3
Thurs, Dec 22nd	John 17-18	Rev 5-6
Fri, Dec 23rd	John 19-20	Rev 14-15
Sat, Dec 24th	John 21-22	Rev 19-20
Sun, Dec 25th	Matt 1-2, Luke 1-2	Rev 21-22

Staying Young

As a lead pastor of a local church, it is important for me to honor people of all ages. We honor those who are aging. They have sacrificed much to build our church and to bless our community and world. We are grateful for all they have done. We also glean from their experience and wisdom.

However, the we must also tap into the passion of the young. When Christ chose his closest followers to be with him constantly, he chose young men. Many church historians believe that most of the twelve were teenagers, when they started following Christ. As a church we must appeal to the youth. Not only are they the future, but they are also the present. The world belong to the young. In the same way Baby Boomers changed the world forever, today's young people will change the world again.

Last night I had the great privilege of speaking to a group of university students. After, Michelle and I went out to coffee with a small group from our church. It is obvious that those with experience and wisdom mesh with those with zeal, energy and new ideas. It is also a great way to stay young.

Older people spend too much time groaning about "young people these days." It is time to connect with young people and to believe in them. Christ left his earthly kingdom to a small group of young people to lead. Perhaps we should follow his example. Let's be the ones who invest in the future, instead of glorifying and holding on to the past.

Peace,

Stan

Blessed

People who abuse others have themselves been abused. However, not everyone who has been abused becomes an abuser. On a positive note, people who bless others are blessed themselves. The purpose of God's blessings in a person's life is to become a blessing. Are you blessed?

Ephesians 1:3-6, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."

In Christ we are blessed. We are blessed to be a blessing. You are blessed. Go out and be a blessing to others today.

Peace,
Stan

Seedtime and Harvest

Grace allows us to receive what we do not deserve—salvation. Our relationship with God is based on his grace. Our relationship with others and with the world around us is based mostly on reciprocation, or cause-and-effect. Newton’s Third Law of Motion is to every action force, there is an equal and opposite reaction force.

The Hindus and Buddhists talk of karma—the idea that action brings upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad. I completely reject the reincarnation aspect of karma. In everyday life karma, or what-goes-around comes-around, or planting and harvest is spot on. In my relationship with God, I trust in the grace of God, not in planting and harvest. But, planting and harvest is a law that governs life on earth.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (NKJV)
      To everything there is a season,
      A time for every purpose under heaven:
      A time to be born,
      And a time to die;
      A time to plant,
      And a time to pluck what is planted;

When is comes to planting and harvesting, like begets like. Whatever kind of seed you plant, you will harvest the same kind of produce. Apples produce apples, bears produce bears, hatred produces hatred, etc. Not all seeds produce in the same way. Some seeds multiply quickly. Others require more patience.

Farmers plant from 25,000 to 45,000 seeds per acre. According to the Iowa Corn Producers the average yield per acre of corn is 183 bushels. There are 72,800 kernels in a bushel of corn. So, each acre produces about  13,322,400 kernels. Every seed planted yields at least 300 kernels of corn at harvest, just a few months later.

Oak trees are far different from corn. Only 1 in 10,000 acorns become an oak tree. Oaks don't start producing acorns until they are at least 20 years old. They only reach their maximum production after they are 100 years old. A mature oak produces about 2200 acorns yearly. Their average life span is around 200 years. So, oak trees produce about 350,000 acorns in their life span.

Nearly everything in life can be considered a seed. Time, words and money are all seeds. Not every seed will produce the same. Some seeds will multiply quickly. Others are like acorns. Not every kind action will be immediately rewarded. Yet, kindness will certainly be rewarded richly if practiced continually over a lifetime. Kindness toward others will beget kindness in return.

A good portion of your time and money should be used to bless others and to advance God's kingdom. Words destroy, so you should put a guard on your lips. Words edify, so you should be generous with compliments and words of comfort.

All seed left in the bag will never produce, and will usually rot.

Peace,

Stan

I Love My Church Family

I love my church family. Cornerstone Church is a warm, close, genuine church family. The church is Christ's answer to a cold, lonely world. At church we worship, serve and grow together. Mostly, church is where we connect with other Christ followers.

I appreciate my personal relationship with God. I am grateful that I can go to the throne of God's grace myself to receive the help I need. However, there is no such thing as Christianity outside of the context of body. We are the body of Christ.

The body of Christ is local. Paul wrote letters to local churches. Jesus addressed local churches in Revelation. I am so glad to be a member of the body of Christ known as Cornerstone Church in Chillicothe, Missouri. Cornerstone is a place where you do not have to put on airs. You can come as you are, but you will not stay that way. We grow together. We mourn together, and celebrate together. We pray for one another, and serve one another. We reach out with help and healing to our community and to our world.

We are close knit. Yet, there is always room for one more in the fabric of our community. I love my church family.

Peace,
Stan

Teamwork

Everything is better together. We are not meant to go through life alone. When I was younger I tried to do most things myself. The stress was great. Additionally, there were so many things I was not proficient in. Therefore, many areas of my life and ministry were deficient. I found that I do only a few things very well. I discovered that God designed me to be dependent upon others. Most of us do not like being dependent; we would rather be independent.

1 Corinthians 12 uses the imagery of the human body. Just like the individual parts of the body are dependent upon each other part, so we as humans are dependent upon one another. Each of us have strengths and weaknesses. Instead of trying to improve my weakness, I try to surround myself with people who are strong where I am weak.

The Cornerstone Church pastoral staff is a great example of teamwork. We are all quite different. Yet, we share the same values and the same vision. I love my team. I love working with them every day. They love God and love people. They believe in other people. We have a great time dreaming and planning the future together.

I love to hear each of them preach or teach. Brent is quite different from me. I am quite different from Kortney, who is quite different from Aaron. Blend in Chad and Whitney and Michelle into our leadership mix, and we present a great flavor to the world. We are able to do together what we can never do alone.

Who is on your team?

Peace,
Stan