Sin Spin

A new type of coffee bean is making headlines.  Black Ivory Coffee is selling coffee beans that are freshly picked from elephant dung.  Here is the process: elephants are fed pure Arabica coffee beans, the beans are digested, and then harvested from Elephant dung the following day.  Some say these beans brew the world’s smoothest cup of coffee.  They sell for $500 per pound.

Our world works hard to mask unpleasant things.  We spin and market and pedal the negatives as qualities.  In extreme cases, we sell dung as a delicacy. 

This takes place in our spiritual lives too.  The world describes the negative effects of sin as a positive.  Materialism is “distinguishing taste.”  The exploitation of others is “shrewd business.”  Narcissism is merely “self confidence and ambition.”  Regardless of the marketing, no matter how you slice it, it still stinks.  Sin is sin.

Jesus cuts through all the spin and empowers His people to do the same.  In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells His followers, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  In other words, Jesus and His teachings help us see things truthfully.  Then, we find freedom in that truth.

As you go through the coming week, seek Christ so that He can cut through all the spin.  See things as they are and be free.  You do not have to be a part of the lies.  You can recognize what is really good, whole, pure, and true to the fullest.  Besides, with the truth, you don’t have to start your day with a cup of really expensive elephant dung.              

Speaking in Other Tongues

Watch a great video that pokes fun at how Evangelical Christians talk by clicking HERE.

Proactive Forgiveness

About a year ago, ESPN fired one of its writers for writing an insensitive headline about NBA star Jeremy Lin.  The writer, Anthony Federico, said the headline was a mistake and he never intended to insult the famous basketball player.  He lost his job none-the-less.

Hearing about Federico’s troubles, Lin’s family contacted the writer.  Lin wanted to meet Federico and buy him lunch.  It took a while to fit into the star’s schedule, but the two met and all was forgiven.

Federico described the meeting in saying, “The fact that he reached out to me…The fact that he took the time to meet with me in his insanely busy schedule. . . . He didn't have to do that.  We talked more about matters of faith [and] reconciliation.  We talked about our shared Christian values and what we're both trying do with this situation . . .We didn't talk about the headline for more than three minutes."

It is odd that Lin went out of his way to buy lunch for the guy who insulted him.  That isn’t how apologies usually work.  Most would think that Federico should have offered to take the star out as a way to pay for damages.  But, Jeremy Lin sees things differently.  His Christian values don’t give him the right to wait around for wrong doers to make things right.

Lin’s Christian values come from the teachings of Jesus Himself.  In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells His disciples, “If your brother or sister sins against you, go to them…”  According to Jesus, those who have been wronged share the responsibility of reconciliation.  Jesus’ people seek out their wrong doers with the intention of making things right and with an eagerness to forgive.

As you go through the coming week, be eager to forgive.  When someone wrongs you, let them know and then let it go.  Approach all you do with an intentional lifestyle of forgiveness.  As you do, those around you may be shocked to the point that it changes headlines.            

Hidden Treasure

It is important to not hide your treasure.  Earlier this month, a man from Bend learned that lesson first hand.  According to the Bend Bulletin, Dale Parkinson hid a large part of his life savings in the secret compartment of a safe.  He had pulled over $50,000 out of the bank in 2007 for fear that it would be lost in the choppy stock market.  He hid his fortune away, thinking it would fair better in the secret compartment.

Years later, Parkinson sold the safe to a local locksmith in Bend named Bryan Donnell.  It had been so long since Parkinson hid his treasure, he forgot the small fortune in the secret compartment.  When Donnell took possession of the safe, he took the treasure with it.  After a closer look, Donnell was shocked to find the money.  Wanting to do the right thing, Donnell returned the money and all ended well.

Parkinson’s error is a great illustration of an error many of us make in our spiritual lives.  We receive incredible treasure in our relationship with Christ and the promise of salvation.  Because we appreciate the treasures of the faith, we lock it up in a secret compartment.  Being in that secret compartment, that faith has little to do with the lives we live every day.  With time, we forget it is even there.

Jesus warned against that type of spiritual hoarding.  In Luke 19 Jesus tells a story about a servant who hides money away.  The servant is scolded for not putting the treasure he has been entrusted with to good use.  The lesson: the treasures of the Christian faith are given to us in order to bless the world around us.

As you begin the New Year, put the treasures of life with Christ to work.  If Christ has made a difference in your life, tell someone about it.  If Christ has been generous with you, be generous with others.  Let the treasures of the Christian life inspire a different way of life.  That way, no one will be shocked by your faith because they witness its riches at work every day.

Love Made Visible

Dave Brubeck isn’t well known for music that makes profound theological statements about Christmas.  He is better known for progressive jazz songs like “Take Five” and “Take the ‘A’ Train.”  But, later in his career, Brubeck and his wife Iola crafted a lyric that could inspire the best of Christmas sermons.

One day, while driving down the road, Brubeck announced to his wife that he had finished a new song.  Being familiar with the song, Iola disagreed.  She said, “No, you haven’t finished it.” Brubeck asked, “Well, what did I leave out?” She suggested a new lyric: “God’s love made visible. He is invincible.  God’s love made visible.”  Brubeck said that her lyric “finished it.”

I think that statement could finish a lot of talk about Christmas.  Christmas is the time when God’s love is made visible.  The Gospel of John agrees in saying, “The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  On Christmas morning, the glorious love of God was seen in Jesus Christ.  His people experienced that love as they came to know Jesus.  That love spreads through them as they love the world.  As Jesus works in and through the actions of His people, the world sees the love of God.

As you go through Christmas week, make God’s love visible.  Look for Jesus Christ in the midst of all the holiday business.  As you see Him, let His love flow through you to a hurting world.  God’s love is visible this Christmas.  Your life can be a testimony to the truth of that profound lyric.

The Christmas Jesus That Preaches Repentance

I love the Advent story in the Gospel of Mark.  Jesus arrives and says, “The time has come, the Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news,” (1:15).  In other words, “Check yourself! The Son of God is looking you in the eye. Pledge your undying allegiance to me!” Mark does not mention the birth or childhood of Jesus. He allows Matthew and Luke to fill in that information.  He doesn’t wax theologically about the Word incarnate.  He leaves that to John.  Mark instead announces a grown up Son of God who proclaims God’s authority, demands repentance, and imparts the Holy Spirit. This not-so-cuddly Jesus is just as much a part of the Christmas story as the baby Jesus introduced in the other gospels.

Mark’s Christmas message is different than what we hear at the mall.  The scene is set at the mall: everyone adores the sweet baby Jesus because He is as cute as a cabbage patch doll (a great stocking stuffer for your daughter, on sale for only $49.99 at Toys R US). Seldom does the mall’s depiction of the Christmas story tell the rest of the story. It doesn’t mention the perfect God of the Old Testament. It doesn’t mention human sin and the death that sin causes. It doesn’t mention that because God became human in Jesus Christ, God has conquered sin and death! That little, wonderful baby holds the keys to the world’s salvation!  The mall doesn’t share that message. It might be bad for business.

At Faith Center, don’t let the mall’s portrayal of Christmas change the Christian’s portrayal of Christmas. This Christmas, don’t let your worship stop at the historical fact that Jesus of Nazareth was born a couple of millennia ago.  Let the reason WHY Jesus came penetrate your life. Whether you are a new convert or lifelong believer, take Mark’s good news to heart. Jesus Christ is Lord of heaven and earth. He is declaring the closeness of His Kingdom. He is calling you to repentance. Believe His good news and follow Him.  Jesus will save you.  Merry Christmas!

The Gift of Ol' Saint Nick

Saint Nicholas was a Christian Bishop who lived during the fourth century in Turkey.  Among many other things, Nicholas became known for giving gifts anonymously.  Legend has it that Nicholas gave to a poor man who needed money to help his daughters.  Saint Nicholas gave the money anonymously by sneaking purses filled with gold coins into the poor man’s house.  He gave one purse, three nights in a row, one for each daughter. 

           

After giving the second purse, the poor man realized Nicholas was the giver and confronted him.  Nicholas insisted that God had provided for the poor man.  In order to not be seen the third night, Saint Nicholas climbed on the man’s roof and dropped the third purse down the chimney.  The third daughter had just so happened to wash her stockings that night and hung them above the embers of the fireplace to dry.  The third purse of gold fell into the stocking, helping the poor man’s last daughter.

Anonymous giving is a healthy spiritual exercise for all Christians – not just Ol’ Saint Nick.  It allows the giver to serve others out of complete devotion to God.  Anonymous giving removes any temptation to give out of a desire for recognition or something in return.  It also allows the recipient to recognize God’s provision through His people. 

Jesus uses vivid imagery in promoting anonymous giving.  In Matthew 6, Jesus tells His followers, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.”  Though it is impossible for our left hand to not know what our right hand is doing, it is a helpful illustration of the importance of giving without recognition.

Faith Center is organizing an opportunity for our church family to give anonymously.  We have placed Christmas ornaments on the Christmas tree in the sanctuary.  Each ornament lists needs and wishes of families who could use help this Christmas.  You, your family, or your Growth Group, can take those ornaments, purchase gifts, return them to the church, and we will make sure they make it to the family in need.  Your left hand will be none the wiser and God will be honored because of it.

This Christmas, join the tradition of Ol’ Saint Nick.  Give out of complete devotion to Jesus.  Give so that the world knows that God is providing.  Give because the God you love gave all, two thousand years ago, in a manger in Bethlehem.