21-22
Dec 2019, Christ Mountain Top
Dec 2019, Christ Mountain Top
Praying
the Scripture, Psalm 80
the Scripture, Psalm 80
Advent
Wreath, from Isaiah 7.10-16
Wreath, from Isaiah 7.10-16
used at 6 pm for praying the Scripture
Children,
Matthew 1.18-25 (Joseph and Mary)
Matthew 1.18-25 (Joseph and Mary)
Message,
Luke 1.67-79 (Canticle of Simeon)
Luke 1.67-79 (Canticle of Simeon)
Mission
Moment, two widows connect (Mission Central)
Moment, two widows connect (Mission Central)
Years
ago, I played in a men’s over-30 indoor soccer league. The artificial turf was
very fast and, because we played with walls like hockey, the ball never went
out of bounds and play never stopped. Our team was the class of the league and I
got some of my best coaching ever from Victor Torres, our captain and player-coach.
He taught me individual technique, respect of my limitations, and a more
sophisticated offensive and defensive philosophy.
ago, I played in a men’s over-30 indoor soccer league. The artificial turf was
very fast and, because we played with walls like hockey, the ball never went
out of bounds and play never stopped. Our team was the class of the league and I
got some of my best coaching ever from Victor Torres, our captain and player-coach.
He taught me individual technique, respect of my limitations, and a more
sophisticated offensive and defensive philosophy.
Because we were the class of the league, we
had a target on our back. Every opponent showed up in numbers, showed up pumped
up, ready to take us down. One game, we were facing one of these rivals and we
ended up short handed. We had to play an entire hour down a man in a very fast
paced environment against a team that had two full lines to throw at us. How
would we hold up?
had a target on our back. Every opponent showed up in numbers, showed up pumped
up, ready to take us down. One game, we were facing one of these rivals and we
ended up short handed. We had to play an entire hour down a man in a very fast
paced environment against a team that had two full lines to throw at us. How
would we hold up?
We had Victor, and he was in charge. He
explained our modified team shape, gave us all our assignments, and put me at
point for high pressure and the outlet pass. It wasn’t my job to score, despite
my position on the field, just to get the ball, hold it a moment, and play it
back to a teammate before pressing and forcing an opening in their defense.
explained our modified team shape, gave us all our assignments, and put me at
point for high pressure and the outlet pass. It wasn’t my job to score, despite
my position on the field, just to get the ball, hold it a moment, and play it
back to a teammate before pressing and forcing an opening in their defense.
I was never worried about the outcome,
because Victor was in charge. I was actually excited to see what he would cook
up, what tactics he would employ to break them down. And, boy, did we.
because Victor was in charge. I was actually excited to see what he would cook
up, what tactics he would employ to break them down. And, boy, did we.
Frankly, there’s not much at stake in a
moment like that. But it is nice to face adversity with peace in your heart. As
we celebrate the gift of peace today, we are reminded that the peace of God
comes to those who trust.
moment like that. But it is nice to face adversity with peace in your heart. As
we celebrate the gift of peace today, we are reminded that the peace of God
comes to those who trust.
When
Robin and I have faced our most difficult struggles, we have found that place
of trust and peace holding each other in bed and talking. We’ve spent hours
talking through Jesse’s mental health struggles, various parenting challenges,
and how to meet and take the big risks in our calling like Robin heading off to
Lesotho (in Africa) for six weeks of HIV-AIDS work while the kids were little
tykes, the call to start a church from scratch, the call to move to Mountain
Top at great personal cost. We spent hours laying there talking through STUFF,
our talk a prayer, both physically and emotionally putting our trust in each
other and in the God who brought us together, and as we trusted finding peace.
We participate in peace by means of faith – our TRUST in another.
Robin and I have faced our most difficult struggles, we have found that place
of trust and peace holding each other in bed and talking. We’ve spent hours
talking through Jesse’s mental health struggles, various parenting challenges,
and how to meet and take the big risks in our calling like Robin heading off to
Lesotho (in Africa) for six weeks of HIV-AIDS work while the kids were little
tykes, the call to start a church from scratch, the call to move to Mountain
Top at great personal cost. We spent hours laying there talking through STUFF,
our talk a prayer, both physically and emotionally putting our trust in each
other and in the God who brought us together, and as we trusted finding peace.
We participate in peace by means of faith – our TRUST in another.
There’s
a peace in knowing whom you can trust in your times of greatest adversity.
There’s a peace in knowing whom you can trust when the world is spinning off
its axis. Today’s Scripture, and the final verse of Joy to the World,
enthusiastically proclaim that Jesus is in charge. And that’s even a bigger
deal than coach Victor or partner Robin. Jesus is in charge.
a peace in knowing whom you can trust in your times of greatest adversity.
There’s a peace in knowing whom you can trust when the world is spinning off
its axis. Today’s Scripture, and the final verse of Joy to the World,
enthusiastically proclaim that Jesus is in charge. And that’s even a bigger
deal than coach Victor or partner Robin. Jesus is in charge.
He
rules the world with truth and grace
rules the world with truth and grace
and
makes the nations prove
makes the nations prove
the
glories of his righteousness
glories of his righteousness
and
wonders of his love
wonders of his love
and
wonders of his love
wonders of his love
and
wonders, and wonders of his love
wonders, and wonders of his love
But
… have you seen this old world? Does it look to you like Jesus is in charge?
Does it look to you like a world shaped by righteousness and love? Nope. And that’s
exactly what all the powers want you to think – that the cynicism we embrace is
the best we’ve got. But all this craziness, all this upheaval, is really
because the powers that be are unwilling to let go of their fragile hold on
power. This crazy world spinning off its axis is a symptom of power struggling
with all their might to keep power when they don’t really have it. The reality
is that Jesus rules. Jesus is in charge. So, when the defecation hits the
rotation, and boy does it, I put my trust in him and I live in peace.
… have you seen this old world? Does it look to you like Jesus is in charge?
Does it look to you like a world shaped by righteousness and love? Nope. And that’s
exactly what all the powers want you to think – that the cynicism we embrace is
the best we’ve got. But all this craziness, all this upheaval, is really
because the powers that be are unwilling to let go of their fragile hold on
power. This crazy world spinning off its axis is a symptom of power struggling
with all their might to keep power when they don’t really have it. The reality
is that Jesus rules. Jesus is in charge. So, when the defecation hits the
rotation, and boy does it, I put my trust in him and I live in peace.
That is, of course, easier said than
done.
done.
It
is the problem that faced king Ahaz in his conversation with the prophet
Isaiah. And it is the problem that faced priest Zechariah in his conversation
with the angel Gabriel. When all the evidence points in the opposite direction,
how do you learn to trust that God is in charge, that Jesus shall reign?
is the problem that faced king Ahaz in his conversation with the prophet
Isaiah. And it is the problem that faced priest Zechariah in his conversation
with the angel Gabriel. When all the evidence points in the opposite direction,
how do you learn to trust that God is in charge, that Jesus shall reign?
Ahaz, king of Judah, was concerned about matters
of national security, about the kings in Aram and Damascus and Samaria whom he
faced in war. The prophet tells him not to worry, that God is in charge. “Ask
for a sign.” “No, I won’t ask for a sign. I won’t put the LORD to the test.” Come
on, man! So, you are too righteous to presume upon God. But you are not willing
to trust without a sign. You can’t have it both ways and I’m offering this to
you!
of national security, about the kings in Aram and Damascus and Samaria whom he
faced in war. The prophet tells him not to worry, that God is in charge. “Ask
for a sign.” “No, I won’t ask for a sign. I won’t put the LORD to the test.” Come
on, man! So, you are too righteous to presume upon God. But you are not willing
to trust without a sign. You can’t have it both ways and I’m offering this to
you!
So, God gives him a sign: The young woman
– who is Isaiah’s wife – shall bear a child and before he reaches the age of
maturity (which may have been twenty in that society) those two foreign nations
will be gone. And within sixty-five years Samaria, the capital of the kingdom
of Israel, will be shattered. And the child shall be called “God with us.”
Because even when all the evidence points to the contrary, God is in charge. And
if we trust, we can live in peace.
– who is Isaiah’s wife – shall bear a child and before he reaches the age of
maturity (which may have been twenty in that society) those two foreign nations
will be gone. And within sixty-five years Samaria, the capital of the kingdom
of Israel, will be shattered. And the child shall be called “God with us.”
Because even when all the evidence points to the contrary, God is in charge. And
if we trust, we can live in peace.
Unfortunately
for Ahaz, his unbelief was judged: “If you do not believe then you will not
endure.[1]”
for Ahaz, his unbelief was judged: “If you do not believe then you will not
endure.[1]”
Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth had
prayed for years for a child, but remained barren. The time for prayer had passed,
menopause was past, there was no possibility for the unique joy of parenthood.
Then the angel Gabriel appears to the priest while he is leading worship and
tells him that they are going to have a baby, one who will be named John, one
who will be the harbinger of the Emmanuel, the “God with us,” to come. Like
Ahaz, Zechariah doubts. Because an angel showing up in worship was somehow not
enough of a sign, Zechariah asks for proof. His unbelief was judged by an
unusual sign: “You
will be silent and not able to speak until the day these things take place, ⌊because⌋
you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.[2]” Because
even when all the evidence points to the contrary, God is in charge. And if we
trust, we can live in peace.
prayed for years for a child, but remained barren. The time for prayer had passed,
menopause was past, there was no possibility for the unique joy of parenthood.
Then the angel Gabriel appears to the priest while he is leading worship and
tells him that they are going to have a baby, one who will be named John, one
who will be the harbinger of the Emmanuel, the “God with us,” to come. Like
Ahaz, Zechariah doubts. Because an angel showing up in worship was somehow not
enough of a sign, Zechariah asks for proof. His unbelief was judged by an
unusual sign: “You
will be silent and not able to speak until the day these things take place, ⌊because⌋
you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.[2]” Because
even when all the evidence points to the contrary, God is in charge. And if we
trust, we can live in peace.
The king, not believing, refuses to ask
for a sign and is given one anyway. Zechariah likewise unbelieving, gets one
sign and asks for another. In both cases, a child is involved. For Ahaz, the
sign was Isaiah’s child “Emmanuel” and for Zechariah the sign pointed to his
child John who was appointed to be the forerunner of Jesus, our Emmanuel.
for a sign and is given one anyway. Zechariah likewise unbelieving, gets one
sign and asks for another. In both cases, a child is involved. For Ahaz, the
sign was Isaiah’s child “Emmanuel” and for Zechariah the sign pointed to his
child John who was appointed to be the forerunner of Jesus, our Emmanuel.
The
contrast to these two stories is in the story of Joseph. Everything has gone
wrong for him. He and Mary are pledged to be married and now she is pregnant. And
he knows he is not the father. This is a total disgrace, and completely upsets
his life plans, setting off a very restless night. An angel comes to him in a
dream. “Joseph, do not be afraid but trust. This is God’s child, to be named
‘Jesus’ or ‘Savior.’ To be known as ‘Emmanuel’ or ‘God with us.’”
contrast to these two stories is in the story of Joseph. Everything has gone
wrong for him. He and Mary are pledged to be married and now she is pregnant. And
he knows he is not the father. This is a total disgrace, and completely upsets
his life plans, setting off a very restless night. An angel comes to him in a
dream. “Joseph, do not be afraid but trust. This is God’s child, to be named
‘Jesus’ or ‘Savior.’ To be known as ‘Emmanuel’ or ‘God with us.’”
And without the need for additional
proof, Joseph trusts. Joseph knows peace. Because God is in charge even when all
the evidence points in the opposite direction.
proof, Joseph trusts. Joseph knows peace. Because God is in charge even when all
the evidence points in the opposite direction.
And
there’s another Joseph story today, another story from Joe Tweedle. Last week
you may remember his story of Christmas in Korea over sixty years ago, what he
called “the saddest day of my life.” I told the story of the Christmas feast
that his captain arranged by taking from the officer’s party in Seoul to serve
the enlisted me on the front. From Mary’s song, “He fills the hungry with good
things and sends the rich empty away.”
there’s another Joseph story today, another story from Joe Tweedle. Last week
you may remember his story of Christmas in Korea over sixty years ago, what he
called “the saddest day of my life.” I told the story of the Christmas feast
that his captain arranged by taking from the officer’s party in Seoul to serve
the enlisted me on the front. From Mary’s song, “He fills the hungry with good
things and sends the rich empty away.”
One other piece of his Christmas story: They
cut down a tree for Christmas that evening, using what they had to hand as
decoration: grenades and 50 cals. It calls to mind another of Isaiah’s
prophecies that we have read this advent:
cut down a tree for Christmas that evening, using what they had to hand as
decoration: grenades and 50 cals. It calls to mind another of Isaiah’s
prophecies that we have read this advent:
They
shall beat their swords into ploughshares
shall beat their swords into ploughshares
and
their spears into pruning hooks.
their spears into pruning hooks.
A
nation shall not lift up a sword against a nation,
nation shall not lift up a sword against a nation,
and
they shall not learn war again. [3]
they shall not learn war again. [3]
And
it reflects some themes from Zechariah’s song, the first words that came out of
his mouth after nine months plus of silence:
it reflects some themes from Zechariah’s song, the first words that came out of
his mouth after nine months plus of silence:
And
so you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,
so you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,
for
you will go on before the Lord to prepare his ways,
you will go on before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to
give knowledge of salvation to his people
give knowledge of salvation to his people
by
the forgiveness of their sins,
the forgiveness of their sins,
because
of the merciful compassion of our God
of the merciful compassion of our God
by
which the dawn will visit to help us from on high,
which the dawn will visit to help us from on high,
to
give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to
direct our feet into the way of peace.” [4]
direct our feet into the way of peace.” [4]
In
that strange Christmas tree, swords were beat into ploughshares. In that
strange Christmas tree, those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death
were directed into the way of peace. In the midst of a world spinning off its
axis, they broke through to the truth that God is in charge, that peace is
coming and has come, that Jesus shall reign. They put their trust in that
promise, in “God with us,” and they knew his peace.
that strange Christmas tree, swords were beat into ploughshares. In that
strange Christmas tree, those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death
were directed into the way of peace. In the midst of a world spinning off its
axis, they broke through to the truth that God is in charge, that peace is
coming and has come, that Jesus shall reign. They put their trust in that
promise, in “God with us,” and they knew his peace.
He
rules the world with truth and grace
rules the world with truth and grace
and
makes the nations prove
makes the nations prove
the
glories of his righteousness
glories of his righteousness
and
wonders of his love
wonders of his love
and
wonders of his love
wonders of his love
and
wonders, and wonders of his love
wonders, and wonders of his love
[1]
Harris, W. H., III, Ritzema, E., Brannan, R., Mangum, D., Dunham, J., Reimer,
J. A., & Wierenga, M. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English
Bible (Is 7:9). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Harris, W. H., III, Ritzema, E., Brannan, R., Mangum, D., Dunham, J., Reimer,
J. A., & Wierenga, M. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English
Bible (Is 7:9). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2]
Harris, W. H., III, Ritzema, E., Brannan, R., Mangum, D., Dunham, J., Reimer,
J. A., & Wierenga, M. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English
Bible (Lk 1:20). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Harris, W. H., III, Ritzema, E., Brannan, R., Mangum, D., Dunham, J., Reimer,
J. A., & Wierenga, M. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English
Bible (Lk 1:20). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[3]
Harris, W. H., III, Ritzema, E., Brannan, R., Mangum, D., Dunham, J., Reimer,
J. A., & Wierenga, M. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English
Bible (Is 2:4). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Harris, W. H., III, Ritzema, E., Brannan, R., Mangum, D., Dunham, J., Reimer,
J. A., & Wierenga, M. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English
Bible (Is 2:4). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[4]
Harris, W. H., III, Ritzema, E., Brannan, R., Mangum, D., Dunham, J., Reimer,
J. A., & Wierenga, M. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English
Bible (Lk 1:76–79). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Harris, W. H., III, Ritzema, E., Brannan, R., Mangum, D., Dunham, J., Reimer,
J. A., & Wierenga, M. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English
Bible (Lk 1:76–79). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
