Tomorrow, we will celebrate Christmas — time with family and loved ones, opening presents, soaking-in the laughter of children, and eating way too much. It is a time of joy as we celebrate the Greatest Gift… Jesus.
As we observe this holy day, let us remember the words of Isaiah, uttered nearly 700 years before the Child, born of a virgin, lay in a manger in a stable on a Bethlehem night…
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~ Isaiah 9:6
From my family to yours, may you have a merry and blessed Christmas, overwhelmed by the true Spirit of Christmas!
It is an unseasonably warm December (even for Tennessee) as I write this blog. Yet in spite of the weather, the Christmas season is in full swing — the music, the lights, the decorations, the frantic shopping, the live nativities and musicals at houses of worship — the usual season build-up until December 25th. Except for the lack of heavy coats, scarves, and winter hats (and yes… snow), everything says “it’s Christmas-time in the city.”
Unfortunately, in many corners of the world (and the United States), people seemed to miss the “Peace on Earth” memo.
Radical Islamic groups like al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Hamas continue to blaze a path across parts of the Middle East in their quest for a caliphate and a revived Ottoman Empire. These barbarians are wiping out cities, destroying historical artifacts from past civilizations, raping and slaughtering the inhabitants of these regions (many of whom are our Christian brothers and sisters) — all in the name of their false religion.
In recent months, Islamic terrorists have brought their particular brand of jihad to places like Paris, France, San Bernardino, CA, Chattanooga, TN, and others. And while world leaders are calling out this enemy by name, our own “leaders” can’t seem to form the words “Islamic terror”, instead chasing the “windmills” of climate change with a passion that would make Don Quixote proud.
The battle for our culture has been taken to the streets because of racial division, vilification of law enforcement, disrespect for military personnel, marginalization of our Judeo-Christian heritage, and immorality in the name of gender-equality and marriage equality. Places like Ferguson, MO, Baltimore, MD, Washington, D.C., and the United States Supreme Court have become the stages where these tragedies of rebellion and ungodliness have played out.
“Pastor, you paint a bleak picture for Christmas. Are you going somewhere with this???”
Yes, I am… to Cambridge, Massachusetts… Christmas Day, 1863… to the desk of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Following the tragic death of his wife, and the wounding of his son during the American Civil War, Longfellow hit one of the lowest points of his life. It was on Christmas Day, 1863, that he penned the poem, Christmas Bells… his poem from which the song I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day was later born. This Christmas poem also painted a pretty bleak picture, of a nation in conflict and hopelessness…
And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Yet in spite of the tragic tone in this poem, it concludes on a note of triumph…
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”
We serve a living God. He is not dead. He is not asleep. He is not unconcerned, disconnected, or apathetic about the affairs of men. He is loving and kind. He is holy and just. He is a God of grace, mercy, and righteousness. He is the Christ-child, born in a manger in Bethlehem, heralded by angels, adored by shepherds, worshiped by kings, followed by fishermen, revered by the regulars, and reviled by the religious. He was considered both Rabbi and rebel, was beaten by sinners, nailed to a cross by unbelievers, and raised to life again by the God of the universe.
He is the risen King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and the Savior of the world.
One day, He will return.
One day, all will be made new.
One day, peace on earth will be a reality.
One day, we will understand the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, because on that day…
“Frankenstein’s monster (Boris Karloff)” by Universal Studios – Dr. Macro. Licensed under Public Domain via CommonsI thought this week, since most Americans are in some way, form, or fashion recognizing Halloween this Saturday, I would talk a little about… Monsters.
Well, one monster in particular…
Frankenstein’s monster.
Since it first appeared in 1818, Mary Shelley’s classic monster story Frankenstein has undergone dozens of re-tellings, from the horrifying to the comical. The common version is of a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who robs body parts from various cadavers with the intention of re-animating dead tissue. When faced with the hideousness of the monster he brings to life, he rejects it, only for the monster to embark upon a murderous rampage, killing those closest to Victor, including his beloved fiancée. But even as Victor pursues the monster to remote regions of the world, he is unable to kill his creation.
A pretty far-fetched tale, right?
Or IS it…
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. ~ Proverbs 18:21
While we may not be digging up graves in the middle of the night, we in the church have been inadvertently creating monsters for a long time. While Jesus came to offer us life and freedom, through our own words, we create monsters out of the very people He came to save.
Don’t believe me? Let me ask you…
When was the last time you called someone “stupid”?
Worthless.
Loser.
Moron.
Jerk.
“That’s pretty harsh, Pastor. I don’t call people those kinds of things.”
Ok. How about…
Difficult.
Unlikable.
Disagreeable.
Unfriendly.
While people often do things or act in ways that we may not agree with, does that always constitute who they are as a person?
What about you? Just because you have a bad day, or a traumatic experience, should you be relegated to playing that role for the rest of your life? Sure, there are moments that define us, and there are actions and events we cannot change. However, for the most part, the majority of the things that we experience are moments in time that are soon forgotten, not life-defining events. The fact is, we never know what a person is truly going through at any given time.
Is that person who sits in front of you at church, that you call unfriendly, simply a person with a quiet or shy personality?
Is the child or teenager that you see as unruly actually a victim of abuse or neglect, and simply needing positive attention?
Is that difficult person merely more passionate or committed to the task than you are? Does that person simply have a different definition of success, or “set the bar higher” than the average person?
Does that weirdo raising his hands during worship simply love Jesus more than you do?
I’ll be the first to admit: Friendships and relationships take effort, and getting outside of our circle of influence requires us to step into the unknown and often uncomfortable places. Honestly, in many cases, it is not that a person is __________ (insert negative adjective here). It’s that we’re too lazy to take the time to find out who that person really is. It’s just easier to slap a label on someone than it is to learn what makes them tick. The problem with that is that words have power, and the more a disparaging word is spoken over a person, the more they begin to believe that is who they are. I have counseled good people who have gotten derailed from their true identity because they began to believe a lie that was spoken over them. Yes, we are responsible for our own actions and attitudes, and I am not giving a pass to bad behavior. However, when a person is beaten over the head with words of worthlessness and defeat, it doesn’t take long before those words hit their target (the mind), and they begin to believe a lie. Once that happens, the “monster” comes to life.
Seldom did Jesus use labels…
When He did, it was often in criticism of the religious establishment (see Matthew 12:34). However, for the average “sinner”, His words were life and grace…
Jesus didn’t call Peter a loser or coward after he denied knowing Him in His hour of need. His forgiveness was not only obvious… it was unspoken. He never mentioned the incident (see John 18 & John 21).
Jesus didn’t call the woman caught in adultery a cheater or whore. He challenged those attacking her, and when they backed down, He sent her on her way, unharmed and forgiven (see John 8).
When Jesus saw Zacchaeus in the tree, He didn’t call him a crook or a swindler (he was a tax-collector… an occupation disdained by most people). He simply said, “Come down Zacchaeus… I’m coming to your house.” That encounter became a life-changing experience for Zacchaeus and his whole house (see Luke 19).
So what can you do?
What are those words that you have spoken over someone that have been a curse instead of a blessing?
What was that hurtful thing you said that you don’t think you can come back from?
What were those disparaging remarks that you wish you hadn’t said?
Not sure where to start? If you are guilty of creating a “monster” through your words, two simple words can start the process of restoration…
I’m sorry.
Ask forgiveness of the person you hurt through your words.
Ask forgiveness from the Father, Whose blood-bought creation you wounded with your words.
Learn to make your first reaction and response to those around you words of life, health, and peace.
Maybe YOU are the monster you created…
Maybe you have spoken curses and negativity over your own life, and are wondering why you are the way you are — why you have low self-esteem. Start now by confessing to your Heavenly Father that you are not those things, that you are who HE says you are (overcomer, victorious, child of the King, etc.), and begin to walk in your true identity.
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.
It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire,
and is itself set on fire by hell. ~ James 3:6
We can use our tongues for evil or for good.
We can use our tongues to speak life or to speak death.
If you choose to speak life, you are speaking the language of Heaven — the fountain that flows from the throne of God and brings blessing to the soul, and health to the heart.
However, if you choose to speak words of negativity and death, don’t be too surprised by the misery that comes from the “monsters” you help to create.
Recently, my son Dr. Ronnie Phillips, Jr. wrote this blog, and I wanted to share it here today. With the football season in full swing, I thought it was a great time to share this word…
My first love was the sport of football.
I grew up idolizing Deon Sanders, Warrick Dunn, Derrick Brooks, and Coach Bobby Bowden. I got to meet Coach Bowden as a 12-year-old boy in Orlando at the Southern Baptist Convention in front of 40,000 people. My father was able to arrange this special time for me and I’ll never forget Coach Bowden’s words to me. Crying my eyes out in awe, I said “Coach Bowden you are my hero and I would like to play for you.” He said, “keep your grades up” and then he said in his southern twang, “Boy, why are you crying?” Coach Bowden then said something I have never forgotten: “Boy, what your daddy does is a lot more important than what I do.” I got to meet with Coach Bowden two more times, and my children got to meet him the year before he retired, when he spoke at Abba’s House.
Football teaches you many life lessons, and very few make it past the high school level. I have been running a football league and have coached youth football for the last 9 years. I have had the privilege to coach my boys, win some championships, coach some outstanding players, and share my faith with many people. There is no other sport that compares to football, in my opinion. It is a sport of sacrifice and leadership for the purpose of teamwork.
All three of my boys play football. They are all pretty tough, but my youngest son Ryce (6) plays flag football because he was born with some heart issues, and we are holding him out of contact as long as we can. Last night, he scored a touchdown in his game. He has scored many because flag football offers that opportunity to many kids, but I haven’t seen him play much because I am busy coaching my middle son Reid’s (9) football team, as well as running our local football league. Before Ryce went to bed last night he said, “Did you see my touchdown, Daddy?” I paused and went back to my childhood, and remembered how I cherished the times my dad would get to see me play. My dad didn’t get to coach me or come to practices like many of these over zealous parents do today, but occasionally he would sneak in and be watching (or yelling) from a safe distance. My friends would always say that I played better when he was watching, and they were right. All my boys have asked me questions like that one. I responded to Ryce’s question last night by saying, “Yeah buddy, I did. You did great!”
I was reminded of the fact that our Father in heaven is always watching our faithful deeds. He sees what we do for Him, both in private and in the public arena (Matthew 6:4), and rewards us for our faithfulness. Christians are the children of God (Galatians 3:25-27), and we all long for our Father’s approval and affirmation. Thank God we don’t have earn His approval. He loves us, affirms us, approves of us, and is looking on with love in His heart when we serve Him. Sometimes, like Ryce, we wonder if He is watching. I’m here to tell you that He is watching, and He is proud of those who serve Him.
I now do what Coach Bowden said was the thing more important than football. I do what my father taught me. I preach the word of God and tell people about Jesus Christ. I believe my dad is the greatest expository preacher of the gospel still left on planet earth, and I have studied many great preachers and theologians. Although I am grown and have a teenager, I still light up when I get a text from my dad after I preach. It is not his style to compliment me directly although he does sometimes. I got a text a few weeks ago from him after I finished preaching on a Wednesday night. He was watching and I didn’t know it. He simply texted, “Masterpiece, son. Excellent!” I guess you never grow out of how that makes you feel.
For those of you who have never experienced the love of a father, you can through Jesus Christ by faith.
God’s love is free (John 3:16). His grace is free (Ephesians 2:8-9).
His approval, however, comes through faith. Abraham had to hold onto the promise of God by faith. He had to be patient with God and eventually offer this promise (Isaac) to God as a sacrifice by faith. Abraham was not perfect, but he was a man of faith that was approved by God. If you need approval from God, accept Him by FAITH, love Him by FAITH, and believe His promises by FAITH.
Romans 4:23-25 (GWT)
But the words “his faith was regarded as the basis of his approval by God” were written not only for him, but also for us. Our faith will be regarded as the basis of our approval by God—each of us who believe in the one who brought Jesus, our Lord, back to life. Jesus, our Lord, was handed over to death because of our failures and was brought back to life so that we could receive God’s approval. ~ Romans 4:23-25
Ryce needed my approval. We ALL need God’s approval. Does the Father see what good you do? You bet He does!
I recently watched the movie Woodlawn about how a city was transformed by the faith of a young chaplain (Hank Erwin), Christian quarterback (Jeff Rutledge), and a dynamic running back (Tony Nathan). Two high schools were transformed by FAITH, two destiny’s were changed by FAITH, and a city was transformed by FAITH. Racism can end by FAITH. Our nation will be great again by FAITH. You can be saved by FAITH! I encourage you to go see Woodlawn and pray for unity in our nation. There truly is only One Way!
…Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~ John 14:6
A young Ronnie Phillips and Coach Bobby Bowden.
For more information about Dr. Ronnie Phillips, Jr. and his ministry, please visit www.ronniephillips.org
Dr. Ronnie Phillips, Jr. has called all of us to share our testimony, invite an unsaved or unchurched friend, and pray for a powerful Homecoming harvest weekend. Sunday, October 11 will be a significant day in the life of someone you know if you get them here.
Every LifeGroup, every leader, every deacon, and of course every staff member needs to have someone here this weekend.
The absolute importance of witnessing to children, restoring families, and church impact will all be lifted up this Sunday.
You can make it easy for a friend to come! How can you do that, you ask?
Don’t just invite them, bring them to church if possible. Encourage your students and children to invite friends, and agree to pick them up them as well.
If you cannot bring them, agree to meet them at a certain time and place on campus. Make it easy for them to get around campus and to feel comfortable here.
Remind them of the free gift book and packet for all guests.
Tell them they do not have to dress up.
Call them Saturday with a quick reminder.
Tell them that they will hear a miraculous story about one of the presidential candidates.
Saudi Arabia (which is ancient Medina) has extended the war against ISIS rebels in Yemen. In the meantime, our leadership in America is waltzing us into a world war and no one in Washington gets it.
Look at the record…
War in Iraq. After achieving victory, things are now a total disaster with Iran (Persia) gaining ground.
Libya. Civil war, total chaos – the murder of our Ambassador Chris Stevens and others – takeover by ISIS is imminent.
Egypt. Our government, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, supported the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamist government in ushering in the “Arab Spring”. Outraged Egyptians overthrew this radical Islamic government and installed a moderate leader. Our government now fails to support this newly elected leader.
Syria. What was ancient Phoenicia – a peaceful and beautiful country torn apart by ISIS, as we purportedly supported rebels against the government of Bashir Assad, providing the weapons which ISIS is now using to kill, maim, rape, and behead Christians, moderate Muslims, Jews, and American citizens.
Jordan. Opens fire on ISIS in Syria and our government refuses to send weapon support, effectively abandoning King Hussein.
Ukraine. As the communist-leaning government of Russia invades, President Putin laughs at the protests of our leadership.
Secretary of State John Kerry. As our porous borders are open and our enemies are flooding in as we speak, this man believes global warming is the greatest threat to world peace. He recently stated that global warming refugees could overflow our nation.
ISIS in America. With 70 known locations where possible Islamic extremists are operating in our nation, will disaster have to strike to awaken us again? Our President may be doing what he thinks is right, but it has all ended in disaster.
Iran (Persia). I believe Iran will have a nuclear device in 2 years if we sign the proposed treaty with them. Our president claimed, “If Iran cheats, we will know…” Hopefully, the tell-tale sign won’t be a mushroom cloud in the Middle East.
Israel. In what many would characterize as a childish and reckless move, President Obama exposes the details of Israel’s nuclear program as an excuse to let Iran continue their centrifuge program. To add insult to injury, our President openly shows his disdain for the Prime Minister of Israel while embracing radical extreme Islamists in the White House.
Is it just me, or are all of these things unsettling to the rest of you? I believe that all of us should contact our senators and congressmen (or women) to ask that they rise up and put a stop to this insanity. You can find contact information for your representatives here.
Still … none of this has caught God by surprise.
Do not keep silent, O God!
Do not hold Your peace,
And do not be still, O God!
For behold, Your enemies make a tumult;
And those who hate You have lifted up their head.
They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more. ~ Psalm 83:1-4
Could we be on the verge of a Psalms 83 war? Are our leaders re-positioning our nation, putting us at odds with God in relation to our support (or lack thereof) of Israel?
The important thing now is for all of us to get on our knees and pray to God for the future of America and safety and peace of Israel.
Some don’t want to believe it. Some don’t want to talk about it. Some want to look the other way and pretend it doesn’t exist. Regardless of what those who choose to ignore reality may want to believe (or want you to believe)…
It does exist.
After portions of my message, America’s War with Islamic Terror, aired on television, we received a call from a person who had lived in the Middle East, and lived through the horrors of Islamic ideology and terrorism. This person thanked us for speaking the truth about Islam, and encouraged us to keep spreading the truth, and sharing the love of Jesus. It is that love that sets the captive free, changes the heart of the sinner, and gives hope to the person lost in the darkness of Islamic ideology and culture.
I would like to share this message with you now, and encourage you to share it with your friends, and join us on the front lines of this war we can win through the power of the shed blood of Jesus.
What an amazing kickoff day to this year’s Fresh Oil New Wine Conference. The worship has been powerful, and the ministry has been wonderful. Last night, after Dr. Dwain Miller spoke, young people flocked to the altar, and strong anointing was released.
We live in perilous times, and it is easy to look at the news and become discouraged, frustrated, and fearful. But none of what is going on on the world stage is getting by God… none of it is catching Him by surprise. And here’s the catch…
YOU were put on this earth for such a time as this!
I hope you will join us for Fresh Oil New Wine 2015. If you cannot join us in person, be sure to tune in every session for our live streaming. Evening session are every night this week through Thursday at 6:30p.m. (EST), and morning sessions start Tuesday at 9:45a.m. You can watch live streaming at abbashouse.com/live
How do you expect me to soar with eagles
when I’m surrounded by turkeys??? ~ Anon
Ever the symbol of nobility, eagles have, in our society, come to represent freedom, liberty, integrity, stature, loyalty, and strength. In Scripture, the eagle is alluded to many times, one of the most quoted being Isaiah 40:31…
But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
So how do we “mount up with wings like eagles?” How do we rise up above the fray of “turkeydom”, and take our place in the heights as God intended? Here are three characteristics about eagles that may give you some insight into why this beautiful creature is held up as such a majestic symbol…
The Eagle Knows Commitment.
Eagle Stare Down by Julie Gentry
A male eagle, when he sees a female, thrusts out his chest and struts. If she accepts his proposal, she soars thousands of feet in the air and he follows her. When they are way up high — thousands of feet — they interlock their talons and they begin to fall toward the treetops. He is stroking the back of her neck with his beak on the way down. Right before they hit the treetops they spread their wings and they go back up a second time. This time she strokes the back of his neck with her beak. They go way up farther the third time, and on the third drop they mate for life. Just before they hit the ground after mating, they spread those wings. They’ve set their course in that relationship. An eagle will stay with it’s mate until one or the other of them dies.
What a beautiful picture for the way God intended marriage to be. Jesus explained it this way…
And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who madethem at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” ~ Matthew 19:4-6
The Eagle Exhibits Wise Use of Energy.
Eagle at the Beach by Debbie Waumsley
Unlike other birds that we see fluttering about our yards on a day-to-day basis, when eagles fly, they actually flap their wings very little. Eagles rise above, fly to grand heights, and utilize the atmosphere to simply spread their wings and soar. From that vantage point, the eagle can identify potential danger, food, and conserve its energy for hunting and defense against enemies.
In Matthew 6:34, Jesus says…
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Learn to utilize your energy wisely. Don’t spend your time “flapping your wings” over things that don’t matter.
The Eagle Understands Humility and Dependence.
Although most do not live that long, eagles can live up to 120 years. After the 60th year, if it lives that long, the male eagle returns to the rock where it was born. The female, especially if she is younger, nourishes her husband because he strips all of his feathers off, he beats his beak off, and she tears every claw out of him. He is laying there helpless, a spectacle, humiliated, stripped of glory and helpless. The only thing you can see are the wounds of previous battles that now appear on his skin. He is taken by the mother eagle to the nearby rushing water and drinks the running water and allows it to bathe him. She brings him honey and he eats honey. He returns to the rock and is warmed by it. He remains there 30 days, protected by his mate. By the 30th day, all feathers, talons, and the beak grow back. The eagle never fully matures until he has been through this process. However, once it goes through it, the eagle is literally dead to what it had been before.
Now, let’s look at Isaiah 40:31 again…
But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Can you see the eagle laying there 30 days with no feathers, no claws, totally defenseless, with only the female to protect him? Let me tell you, sometimes you’ve got to get defenseless and let the bride (the church) take care of you. But on that 30th day, you’re looking young again — strong again. They that wait on the Lord shall be like the re-molted eagle, shall be like the renewed eagle that’s been through the process of death, that’s been wounded, and hurt and broken, but is renewed and ready to mount up and soar to new heights.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time. ~ 1 Peter 5:6
On one of my travels, I stayed in a lovely home with a beautiful stacked-stone fireplace in the living room. The craftsmanship was wonderful, and the stones themselves were exquisite, with veins of black running through each stone, adding to the beauty of the design.
A year or so later, I was back in the same town, and we passed by the home, only to find that it had burned to the ground. It was explained to me that the beautiful stones that comprised the fireplace were actually the cause. The black veins that ran through each stone were actually veins of petroleum that would ignite when the temperature of the stone reached a certain temperature. On one cold winter’s day, the fire reached the ignition temperature, and BOOM… the fireplace exploded into flame, burning the house to the ground.
Christian, what does the house of your life look like?
Are you so intent on doing good things, you may not be doing the right things?
Are the things you are doing driven out of selfish motivation, or the motivation of the love of Christ?
Are you building a seemingly beautiful house of good works out of incendiary materials?
How has what you have done with your life impacted the world for Jesus?
In 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, Paul tells us…
… Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
When we enter eternity, we will ALL be judged. For the believer, when our works are put through the purifying fire of His holy judgement, only what was done for Christ will last.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:10
We will all have to give an answer for what we as individuals have done. We will all have to take responsibility for our own attitudes and actions. In light of that, we should all examine ourselves, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us those areas that we need to surrender to Him, and pray as David did when he said…
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ~ Psalm 139:23-24
I close with a thought from British missionary C. T. Studd…
Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
— from the poem Only One Life, ‘Twill Soon Be Past written by C. T. Studd
Tomorrow, we will celebrate Christmas — time with family and loved ones, opening presents, soaking-in the laughter of children, and eating way too much. It is a time of joy as we celebrate the Greatest Gift… Jesus.
It is an unseasonably warm December (even for Tennessee) as I write this blog. Yet in spite of the weather, the Christmas season is in full swing — the music, the lights, the decorations, the frantic shopping, the live nativities and musicals at houses of worship — the usual season build-up until December 25th. Except for the lack of heavy coats, scarves, and winter hats (and yes… snow), everything says “it’s Christmas-time in the city.”
Following the tragic death of his wife, and the wounding of his son during the American Civil War, Longfellow hit one of the lowest points of his life. It was on Christmas Day, 1863, that he penned the poem, Christmas Bells… his poem from which the song I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day was later born. This Christmas poem also painted a pretty bleak picture, of a nation in conflict and hopelessness…
Saudi Arabia (which is ancient Medina) has extended the war against ISIS rebels in Yemen. In the meantime, our leadership in America is waltzing us into a world war and no one in Washington gets it.
We live in perilous times, and it is easy to look at the news and become discouraged, frustrated, and fearful. But none of what is going on on the world stage is getting by God… none of it is catching Him by surprise. And here’s the catch…
The Heart of Abba - Ron Phillips 