Unwrapping Christmas

“There must be something wrong with me, Linus,” Charlie Brown says to his friend in the classic program “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, “Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy.  I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel.  I just don’t understand Christmas, I guess.”  If I were a betting man (and I’m not), I’d wager that many, in the quietness of their hearts, can resonate with Charlie.  Or perhaps you relate with Lois Lane; in a Christmas episode of the TV show “Lois and Clark” she said, “For once, I’d like to feel Christmas.  Discover it.  Unwrap it and be surprised by how wonderful it is; instead of having it relentlessly shoved in my face like half-off coupons at a swap meet.”

 

The truth of the matter is Christmas is wonderful.  But the essence of Christmas – what makes it so amazing – has been buried under an avalanche of added cultural layers that can easily depress and confuse us. For example, consider the film “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”.  A reindeer is ostracized by his peers because of his abnormal feature of having a red nose.  But when a foggy Christmas Eve hits, Santa Claus puts Rudolph in the front of his sleigh to let his red nose act as a beacon to lead them through the fog.  Rudolph is cheered as a hero.  This is a good movie.  The underdog triumphs over adversity.  But, the reality is, this film has nothing to do with the essence of Christmas.  One has to keep digging.

Another factor of this topic is the gift giving element.  We run at mach speed to find the best gift for all of our family, friends, and everyone else on our list.  Is it wrong to do this?  Certainly not.  It’s good to give.  But this hustle and bustle thoroughly exhausts us (and probably puts us into credit card debt too); worst of all, this tradition is only a shadow of why we celebrate this season in the first place.

Further, there is pain in many hearts during the Christmas season.  I know as surely as I know my own name that someone is reading this and you are facing this Christmas without your parent, spouse, sibling, or best friend.  This person passed away and now you are walking around with immense pain in your heart; a pain that you almost feel guilty to bring up due to the expectation that you are supposed to be having “a holly jolly Christmas” because “it’s the best time of the year”.  I know all about this one.  This is my third Christmas season without my dad since he passed away, and the pain can still be visceral and intense.  I love Christmas, but his absence makes December a much more difficult month.

So what, then, is the conclusion to all this?  Why do we celebrate Christmas?  The sad truth is many celebrate it because that’s just what they have always done since childhood.  But there is so more to Christmas.  As a matter of fact, my dad once wrote about this in one of his songs.  Perhaps one day I will share the lyrics, but for today, it’s sufficient to state that Dad focused on how Christmas has many fun elements (Christmas lights, parties, Santa Claus, mistletoe, gifts under the tree, etc.), but they are not what Christmas is about; Christmas is, in his words, “a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus.”

 

Someone is thinking, “OK. I can concede that.  But why does Jesus’ birth have any relevance to my life today?”  That is the question that I want tackle in the next blog.  But let me leave you with this: it has been my prayer that you would, as Lois Lane put it, unwrap Christmas and see just how wonderful it truly is.  Not because of Santa, or elves, Rudolph, or Frosty the Snowman, but because of Jesus Christ’s arrival into this world.

To be continued!

Kevin

Blogs of Christmas past #4 (of 4)

Today I want to wrap up this collection of blogs from the past I’ve been sharing.  Here is one I wrote last year.

‘It has always seemed rather odd to me that there is a song about Santa Claus with this lyric: “He sees you when you’re sleeping; he knows when you’re awake.  He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!”  The song I’m referencing is called “Santa Claus is coming to Town”.  The implication is that Santa is some sort of all-knowing being.  Such a notion is, of course, preposterous.  But I want you to think about this assertion with me for a moment anyway.

If such an idea were true, it’s interesting how people seem to intuitively know that they haven’t been good; they have only warranted a lump of coal in their stocking.  This was recently evidenced to me when I was shopping at a retail store.  Two Christmas shirts caught my attention.  They are humorous, but also illuminating.  One said, “Dear Santa, I can explain.”  Another read: “Dear Santa, define good.”  Rather than parading their own goodness, they are offering excuses.  I think it’s an accurate assessment of the human heart.

 

The fact of the matter is this: even though Santa Claus isn’t an all-knowing omniscient deity, the God of the universe has perfect knowledge of everyone.  In Psalm 139, the writer says to God, “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.”  God knows.  And, make no mistake about it: He sees that we are not “good for goodness sake.”  He sees that we fail, falter, and sin.  God knows the worst part of your heart and mine.

Greg Grandchamp, in his book “In Pursuit of Truth” writes, “In the eye of the Lord, none are good, not even one.  All are deserving the wrath of God…However, He already knows precisely who are you and what you’ve done.  And He sacrificed [Himself] anyway because He loves you.”  Amen to that!  Later on in the book, Grandchamp writes, “Christianity is a person.  It is a relationship with that person…our sin has caused a cavernous gap, one that we cannot – in our own effort – cross.  Christ is the bridge that reconciles us with God.  All we need to do is choose it.”  It’s my prayer that, if you’ve never done that, you would do it today.’

To conclude, as I’ve been looking back at blogs I’ve written, I realize just how different my life is now compared to when I started this blog back in 2011.  So much has changed.  I look back at some of those words from the past, and I don’t even feel like I am the same person as I was back then.  But one thing hasn’t changed: my zeal for someone to give up the fight and yield their heart and life to Jesus Christ.  On Christmas 2011, I ended that blog by saying, ‘It would be the privilege of my life if just one person saw their need for Jesus, and through simple words in a blog, someone chose to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  That’s my earnest hope and my sincere prayer.’  That remains my heart’s sentiment today.

Kevin

Blogs of Christmas past #3 - Jesus' destiny

I am continuing on in my presentation of what I’m calling ‘blogs of Christmas past’.  This next installment was written in 2015.

‘One of the interesting aspects of the superhero genre for me is the origin story.  The origin story is almost like the prologue before the main event.  For example, a young Bruce Wayne witnesses his parents brutally murdered right before him.  This forever changes the course of his life.  He wants to pursue justice.  It takes him decades, but he ultimately puts on a cape and cowl and becomes Batman.  But that’s only his origin story.  Any superhero has a story of their humble origins, but it’s only the beginning act.  Many battles are still going to be fought.

In a similar way, the account of Christmas is really just an origin story.  So many seem to believe that the entire saga ends with Jesus in a manger; this is simply not the case.  This was only the beginning, the prologue, the origin story.  Jesus grew up and lived out His destiny.  What was Jesus’ destiny?  From the moment Jesus was born in that manger, it was His destiny to give His life on a cross to pay the penalty of the sin of mankind. 

Why would His death accomplish this?  Because Jesus is God incarnate, or to put it in simpler terms, God in human flesh.  Every Christmas we hear these words, and it’s easy for us to gloss over them, but listen to this again.  “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin shall be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means, “God with us.”” (Matthew 1:22).

Jesus was fully man, He was also fully God.  Immanuel – God with us.  That’s why His sacrifice on the cross is so important.  Only Jesus, the God-man, could take on the role of sin-bearer for mankind’s sin.  This Christmas season, I’m remembering Jesus’ sacrifice made for you and me, out of pure love.  Let me illustrate this:

I was so intrigued by a storyline in a recent episode of “The Flash”.  Two villains teamed up and hatched a near perfect plan.  They placed one hundred bombs throughout the city.  They threatened to detonate them and murder thousands of innocent people.  But what they actually wanted to do was destroy The Flash.  Check out this choice they give to the hero.

“Here’s how it’s going to be: you are going to stand there, and let me end you, very publicly and very painfully, and I’ll let everybody live.  But if I see if a little flicker of electricity on you [in other words, if he attempts to run], casket makers in this town are going to have a very merry Christmas.  So, Flash, what’s it going to be?”  Selflessly and heroically, The Flash concedes and lets the villains pummel him.  Blow after blow hits him, and even though he has the power to fight back or flee, he doesn’t. 

As I watched this unfold, I was thinking, “He intends to give his life as savior for the city.”  Ultimately, The Flash doesn’t die.  Thanks to the quick thinking of his friends, the bombs were diffused; the crisis was averted.  But I hesitate to even mention that detail.  The fact is, he was ready to give his life for the citizens he loves.  This is a Christ-like scene.  Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrated His love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.”  1 John 2:2 says that Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world.”  I am so thankful for Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross for my sin.  Without that, I would have no hope.’

Kevin

Blogs of Christmas past #2 - Joseph's righteousness

Last time, I began sharing Christmas themed blogs that I’ve written over the years.  Today, I want to look at a blog that I wrote in 2014 about Joseph.  I began by describing how Mary might have told Joseph the news that she was pregnant.

‘“An angel from Heaven came to me,” Mary remarks.  “I was told that the Holy Spirit was going to “overshadow” me.  God has chosen me for a special privilege: to give birth to the Son of God.”  What was Joseph’s initial reaction to all this?  First of all, the law in that day stated that the consequence for infidelity was death (Deuteronomy 22:20-24).  But Joseph, we are told, didn’t want to bring shame and disgrace to her.  Joseph was simply going to, “Divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:19).  The betrothal was more binding than being engaged is today; it required much more than to simply call off the wedding.  A divorce was necessary to break the betrothal.

The overarching point here is that Joseph was gracious.  He could have been vindictive, cruel, and unkind toward Mary upon her announcement that she was pregnant by someone (or better stated ‘Someone’; capital S) other than Joseph.  But he didn’t go that route.  He was sympathetic, kind, and civil with her.  He wasn’t going to marry her anymore, but what a gesture by Joseph here!  He simply was going to “divorce her quietly” and move on with his life.

 

But that’s when God intervened.  To summarize Matthew 1:20-22, an angel speaks to him in a dream.  He tells Joseph that Mary is speaking the truth, the baby is indeed from the Holy Spirit; he is to go ahead with his original plan and marry her.  Notice Joseph’s response in verse 24; it says, “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.”  Joseph obeyed.

Consider what God was asking him here.  To go back to that situation was to endure scorn, ridicule, and condemnation from everyone in town.  Once again, it’s not like our day where a couple might have a baby and then get married.  It was a very different world back then.  But Joseph said, though his actions, “I’m in.  Sign me up.  I’m going with God’s plan.”  Well done, Joseph!  By the way, God communicated with Joseph by dream on three other occasions.  Each time, the text says that Joseph was obedient to what God revealed to him.

Matthew 1:25 highlights something else regarding Joseph’s character; check this out: “But he kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son” (NASB).  Wow!  It’s one thing to practice sexual abstinence before marriage, but it’s an incredible thing for me to contemplate being sexually pure and chaste after marriage.  What restraint and self-control Joseph had to resist his natural, God-given urge to have sex with his new wife until Jesus was born!

 

In conclusion, Joseph is an unsung hero in the Christmas story.  Mary had an incredible privilege of being the virgin that God chose to give birth to Jesus.  Her faith and trust in God is commendable.  But Mary was not alone; God chose a special man too.  Joseph had an important part to play as well.  He displays several admirable characteristics for us.  Joseph truly was, as it says in Matthew 1, “a righteous man” (verse 19).’

Kevin    

Blogs of Christmas past #1 - Mary's faith

In an effort to help us get into the Christmas spirit, I’ve decided that I’m going to share several Christmas themed blogs that I’ve written in previous years.  For today, I want to relay a blog that I wrote back in 2013 regarding Mary, the special woman that God used to deliver the Savior of the world.

Before I do, let me share this as I continue my introductory thoughts.  On Thanksgiving Day, I watched a movie cinematically capturing an Old Testament book in the Bible.  Overall, I thought it was done well.  One could nitpick about a minor detail here and there, but by and large, it was enjoyable and faith-building for me.  But I was disappointed when, at the end of the credits, I read these words: “The persons and events in this motion picture are fictitious.”  I don’t know why these words were in the credits, but whatever the rationale was, that message was absolutely wrong. The persons and events in the Old Testament – and the New Testament – are real, not mythical characters that someone dreamed up. 

Furthermore, Mary is a real woman who once literally walked on planet Earth.  Joseph is a real man that existed in history, just as surely as Abraham Lincoln did.  Jesus is a real figure from history, not a fictional character.  With that stated, here is what I wrote that day:

‘In the gospel of Luke, chapter 1, we read that an angel named Gabriel (verse 26) announces to Mary, “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus” (verse 31).  The angel goes on to speak of how Jesus will be called the Son of the Most High (verse 32).  God will give Him the throne of David and He will rule in a never-ending kingdom (verse 33).  But Mary’s mind can’t think that far ahead.  She’s still stuck on a question that she finally vocalizes.  “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin” (Luke 1:34)?

At this point, Mary was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, but clearly they were not sexually active to this point.  Mary says, “Wait a minute!  Time out!  A pregnancy is the result of sexual reproduction, and my fiancé and I haven’t done that.  So how is it even possible that I’m going to be pregnant in the first place?”  Gabriel answers that the Holy Spirit will “overshadow” her (verse 35).  He adds this in verse 37, “For nothing is impossible with God.”  Mary responds with exemplary faith in God: “I am the Lord’s servant.  May it be to me as you have said” (verse 38).  Mary says, “You say that God has a plan, and that I have a part to play; count me in.”

Some people read this account and they come away with skepticism.  They ask: “how can a virgin supposedly give birth to a child?”  The answer is this: because the God of the Bible is the God of the impossible (Luke 1:37).  I wholeheartedly believe in the notion a literal virgin named Mary giving birth to Jesus.  Why?  Because the God I worship and serve is an amazing God who can perform miracles that are humanly impossible.

Once again, I love Mary’s response: “I am the Lord’s servant.  May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).  She could have said, “Before you go, I have a few more questions: first, what exactly do you mean that the Holy Spirit will “overshadow” me?  What am I supposed to tell my parents, or Joseph?”  She could have asked for a detailed explanation, but she chose to put her faith and trust in God and His plan.  I want to be like Mary.  I want to trust in God, even though I still have lingering questions.’

Kevin

An important maxim - Thanksgiving 2017

“Gratitude changes attitude.”  That’s the statement that I recently heard from a Christian radio announcer.  Haven’t you found that statement to be true?  I certainly have.  The more I choose gratitude, the more my attitude changes from a grumbling, complaining disposition to one of happiness and thankfulness.

The Bible says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 18:22).  You say, “But you don’t know about my life.  You don’t know the pain, anguish, and heartache that I’m going through.”  I may not know your specific details, but I certainly know what it’s like to have the pressures of life hit you, and weigh you down.  I’m acutely aware of how intensely painful life can be.  But over and over again we read in the Bible to be thankful (see, for example, Colossians 3:15-17 that mentions this notion in every verse).

God’s prescription is to choose gratitude over grumbling.  I was recently in a church service where the pastor stated it this way: the more thankful you are, the happier you become; conversely, the more ingratitude you have, the unhappier you become.  The football, food, family and friends are an enjoyable part of this day.  But even in the midst of these activities, it is possible to be miserable, if a disposition of ungratefulness is chosen.  But remember: “Gratitude changes attitude.”  We can choose thankfulness.  We can choose gratitude for the abundance of blessings that God has given us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kevin    

Thanksgiving list (part 2)

Last time, I began sharing some of the things I’m thankful for (I’ve decided to give ten, but this list is just scratching the surface).  Let’s get right back into it.

6. Health/healings

As I was preparing the content for today’s blog, a very noteworthy episode occurred at my work.  I was taking the order of a teenage girl.  Without warning, she seemed to zone out and then she just collapsed.  It was a wonder she didn’t hit her head on the counter as she fell.  Apparently, from everything that I heard, she was about to have a late breakfast (it was 10 in the morning), and she had simply fainted from low blood sugar.  She had no history of anything like that ever happening to her before.  Thankfully, she is all right, but it was a gripping example to me of how fragile health is.  This is a gift that we should never take for granted.

One of the first people to help this girl was the man behind her in line (he was perhaps in his mid to late 40’s).  He was quick to jump in because, I later learned, this man has had his own health challenges.  In fact, he told me that he once had such a bad seizure that he actually fell through a window at his house!  I have to take this opportunity to publicly thank God for His miraculous touch in my life.  I had seizures when I was a baby, but the Lord, quite dramatically and miraculously, healed me from them.

7. Entertainment

We lead such busy lives today.  I’m certainly no exception to that.  So it is a gift to be able to stop and view entertaining programs that help me decompress and unwind from the pressures of life.  I’ve been watching the tenth and final season of the TV show “Smallville” of late.  Overall, it’s a good season.  I want to share this tidbit: in the episode entitled “Homecoming” Clark travels to the future and even meets his future self; a man that is quite experienced with the Superman/Clark Kent duality.  When Clark looks at a newspaper to see the point in time that he traveled to, he discovers that it is October 15th of 2017!  I said to myself, “Wow, last month.”  It was a trivial detail, but it amused me.

 

8. The message of the gospel

I love the song titled “The Gospel” by Ryan Stephenson.  At one point in the song, he states, “In a world where our hearts are breaking and we’re lost in the mess we’ve made; like a blinding light in the dead of night, it’s the gospel…that makes a way.  It’s the cure for our condition, it’s the good news for us all; it’s greater than religion, it’s the power of the cross.”

 

There is so much powerful truth in that.  I could write multiple blogs on that little excerpt alone.  Later on in the song (and I’m paraphrasing him here), he focuses on how the gospel transformed him.  He shares how the good news of the gospel gave him the glorious opportunity to have his sins forgiven and the chance to begin a relationship with the God of the universe.  I say the same thing for myself.  There is simply no greater gift in life than this.

9. My job

I am grateful for the gift of my job at Chick-fil-A.  God has blessed me with favor among the people there.  It can be hectic, but that’s not really a bad thing.  Did you know that work is regarded very highly in the Bible?  There’s actually a passage in 2 Thessalonians where we are told to respect those who work hard; “hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work” (5:12-13).

10. You, the reader!

Several years ago, I had the chance to see the show “Cats”.  After the show, the performers thanked the audience for choosing to see the play.  “We love performing this show,” the actor said.  “But it wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable to do if we didn’t have an audience.”  Similarly, I love to write; I love to compose these blog installments.  In fact, I wish I could submit more blogs than I do.  But if nobody ever read it, if there wasn’t an audience, so to speak, what’s the point?  But I’m so grateful to know that these words are read.  You take the time to read my thoughts.  To consider this fact honors and humbles me.  So, in conclusion, I want to say thank you.  Thank you so much!

Kevin

Thanksgiving list (part 1)

I love Thanksgiving because it’s a glorious opportunity to remember the blessings that God has lavished on us. I want to share my Thanksgiving list.  I have 5 for today, and I’ll share the other 5 in the next blog.  It’s not an exhaustive list by any means, but it’s been enjoyable to compose it.

1. The incredible adventure of life with God

Rebecca St. James once said, “I think a lot of people that don’t really understand Christianity think that the Christian life has to be boring…and it’s never fun.  But actually, I believe that the Christian life is the most incredible adventure.  Because think about it: we have nothing to worry about; our future is in God’s hands; we’re safe, we’re secure, we’re forgiven, we’re free.”  I deeply resonate with those words.  Life with God is the most incredible adventure.

2. Protection from God

We live in a world that is frightening and dangerous.  My heart has broken many times this year when I heard of the lives that have been lost due to violence.  We saw the sickening images of the massacre in Las Vegas.  There was a church shooting in Texas, another terrorist attack in New York, and right here in Colorado – in a Walmart that I have actually shopped at on occasion – 3 people were killed by a lunatic with a gun.  But it’s not just violence, you take your life into your own hands when you get into a car and drive somewhere.  Unfortunately, there are fatalities on the road as well.  To arrive home safely after the day’s activities truly is a gift from God to be very thankful for.

3. Superheroes

Not surprisingly, I could go on and on with this one.  But for today let me highlight two superheroes.  First of all, let me bring up Spider-Man.  I have been meaning to blog about how much I love the new Spider-Man movie “Spider-Man: Homecoming” anyway.  I will always have a special place in my heart for Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man.  I actually became a Spider-Man fan because of Tobey’s portrayal.  But there is an equally memorable and impressive Spider-Man now.  Tom Holland hits a home run.  He captures Spider-Man’s humor, valor, and inner angst.

Second, let me bring up The Flash, specifically the TV show starring Grant Gustin.  I appreciate this show because The Flash (A.K.A. Barry Allen) is a figure of light, righteousness, and optimism.  He strives to be the best person he can be, even though he knows all about tragedy and pain.  This trait inspires me. I also want to say how much I’m enjoying this current season of the show.  The 4th season is just getting started, and in my opinion, the show continues to just get better and better. 

4. Family and friends

I’m having trouble finding the words to express just how much I love and appreciate my family.  They are gifts from God.  I think when you suffer a loss like my family has it brings you closer together and makes you realize how each day you have to be together is a gift. 

As for friends, someone said you can’t choose your family, but you can choose your friends.  What a blessing to have people in my life who love and accept me because of the bond of friendship, even if we are not related by blood!

5. Music

Many years ago, before this blog existed, I wrote about how much I appreciate uplifting, edifying music.  I wrote when the clouds of discouragement gather above me, one of the great gifts that dispel them is music; music that focuses on God and His amazing faithfulness, love, grace, forgiveness, and so on.  I still feel that way today.  I also want to submit to you how much I love singing songs of praise to God with my brothers and sisters in Christ at church.  It lifts my spirits and reminds me all over again that life is not about me; it’s all about God.

To be continued!

"All other ground is sinking sand"

Someone said, “As oxygen is to the body so is hope to the soul.”  Essentially, we cannot survive without hope.  Before we go on, let me define this concept.  What is hope?  Got questions.org has an excellent definition: “Hope is a confident expectation or assurance based upon a sure foundation for which we wait with joy and full confidence.  In other words, “There is no doubt about it!”” (https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-hope.html)

Unfortunately, hope can be elusive.  Adrian Rogers once told the story of when he had a conversation with a man on an airplane flight.  Adrian was reading a Christian book and the man inquired about it.  When he learned the subject matter, the man had an immediate angry response; he said, “I hate God.  I don’t care for the devil”; to paraphrase, he went on to state that he didn’t care for anyone on the plane, and that his only god was alcohol.  Adrian later learned that the man’s wife had joined a cult; she had left him and taken the kids with her, at the cult devotee’s advice, since his beliefs differed from what they taught.  In essence, this man was without hope.

I wonder if someone reading this is right there.  You are completely without hope.  I know that life is tough, but there is hope.  Where is hope found?  Is it found in vicariously living through the success of your favorite football team?  No, my favorite football team – the Denver Broncos – have lost 5 straight games, and their last two losses have been a combined score of 92-39 at the hands of the Eagles and the Patriots.  Is it found in alcohol?  No, Proverbs says, in the end, alcohol will bite like a snake and poison like a vapor (23:32).  Verse 33: “Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things.”  Well, maybe it’s in living what one author calls “the pleasure driven life”.  Is hope found there?  The answer is no.  Ultimately, that lifestyle leaves you feeling empty.

Where, then, is hope found?  I want to return to the story Adrian Rogers told because I actually left you hanging right in the middle of the story.  After the man had calmed down after his outburst, Adrian replied, “You don’t hate God…you don’t know enough about Him.”  The caricature of God that he had in his mind was not the God of the Bible.  Adrian Rogers told this man about the love, grace, and forgiveness that God, in Christ, offers.  Before the airplane landed, that man put his faith, trust – and yes, his hope – in Jesus Christ.  When they were about to part ways, this man gave Adrian a giant bear hug, and declared, “I love you.”  The song lyric says it all, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…on Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

To conclude, let me say that knowing God and having an intimate relationship with Him doesn’t mean that your life will somehow magically not have its difficulties.  Jesus told His disciples, “In this world, you will have tribulation” and He was right.  To live on this planet is to be subjected to pain, heartache, and trouble.  

For example, I still think about my dad every day.  He unexpectedly entered his after-life in 2015, even though he appeared to be in picture perfect health.  I miss him, and it is tougher at this time of year as we enter the holiday season.  I know firsthand about the storms of life.  Even so, hope can be found; it is found in a relationship with God.  I don’t mean just checking in with God on a Sunday at church and forgetting about Him the rest of the week.  I mean a daily communion with God.  Run to Him.  Return to Him.  Put your hope in Him. 

Kevin

Finding satisfaction in God

I love Psalm 63.  The opening verses read, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek You; my flesh thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, beholding Your power and glory.  Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You.  So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift up my hands” (verses 1-4; ESV).  Amen!

Pay close attention to the beginning of verse 5: “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food.”  The older I get, the more patently clear it is to me that only God truly satisfies the deep hunger and thirst of the soul.  John Piper often puts it this way: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”  I used to wrestle with that sentiment, but I believe that he is right.

The other options just leave you with a bad case of indigestion, as it were.  They leave you with regret, heartache, and shame.  How do I know that?  First, because that’s what the Bible says (see Isaiah 55:2); second, because to be transparent with you, I have chosen disobedience and sin at times in my life.  It always leaves me guilty, unfulfilled, and despondent.

In acknowledgement of the day being Halloween (and with the recognition of all the candy you will have), I thought I would conclude with talking about Snickers.  The Snickers advertisements tell us “Snickers satisfies.”  I've even found the word “satisfies” right on the snickers wrapper.  Well, I like snickers, and while it may temporarily lessen hunger, ultimately it doesn’t really satisfy.  God alone satisfies.  He satisfies you at the deepest part of your heart and soul.

Kevin     

Words from days gone by

The other day, I found a CD of a very special broadcast of my dad’s radio program.  Back in 2001 a generous listener – who actually wished to remain anonymous – gave money to the radio station requesting a broadcast that honored Jerry Bauer and his family.  What an amazing honor!  April 24th, 2001 was the day of this unique broadcast.  Both my mom and dad hosted the program; my brother Mark and I also had the chance to say a few words.  I confess that I shed several tears as I listened to this CD.  There were so many memorable moments in the broadcast that are worthy of being shared again in this blog.  But I wanted to share what I had to say that day.

“Hi, my name is Kevin Bauer.  I’d like to thank the anonymous listener for making this possible and providing this time for me to give my testimony.  To start off, the doctors injured me doing the birthing process when I was born.  In fact, I still have the spot on the top of my head that the doctors gave me.  Then the doctors told my parents months later that I had a disease called Infantile Spasms; I was having up to 200 seizures a day.  I still have the journal that my mom took on how many seizures I had with and without the medicine.

But when I was 10 months old, I was in my hospital crib and actually died for three minutes.  When God brought me back to this Earth I had no signs of having Infantile Spasms anymore.  I haven’t had a seizure since that day!  All glory and praise goes to God for me being the only one of thousands of people to ever be healed totally from the disease.

If that wasn’t enough, when I was 6 years old, I had what the doctors called HSP, which basically means that I had blood in my urine.  After 18 months, I was healed from that.  Most people who get HSP have to go on dialysis for the rest of their lives, a process that takes 20 to 25 hours per week.  Currently, at this chapter in my life I am 19 years old.  I’m working at a retail store called Lord and Taylor.

When I think about my life, without a doubt, the most important thing that I did was to give my life to the Lord at a Billy Graham crusade.  God has told me to talk with you about what Billy Graham talked about with us that night.  Unfortunately, we have to start with the bad news.  In fact, it’s really bad news; which is the fact that every single one of us is a sinner.  That’s what the Bible says in Romans 3:23: ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’  You may respond to that by asking yourself questions like, “So what?  What’s the big deal about sin?  Why does that affect me?”  The Bible gives us the answers.

 

The Bible says that all sinners stand condemned before God.  John 3:18 states, ‘He who believes in Him (Jesus Christ) is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son.’  Sin also separates us from God since He is perfect.  That’s what the Bible says in Isaiah 59:2: ‘But your iniquities have separated you from your God and your sins have hidden His face from you.’  And Isaiah 59:12 says that our sins testify against us.

This problem of sin presents an extremely urgent need for a life-changing solution.  Sadly, however, the human response is typically just to try to make sure that our good works outweigh our bad works and just hope that we will somehow win God’s approval.  But God is too perfect and holy to say to Himself, “Well, that guy is a sinner, but since he’s just such a good person, I’ll just not worry about him.”

But there’s good news.  Christ’s solution for our sin was to perform the ultimate work of good on our behalf.  He died and paid the penalty of our sins on the cross, and resurrected in three days.  The Bible says that God made Him who knew no sin – Christ – to be sin for us (that’s in 2 Corinthians 5:21).  It also says ‘whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’  Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’  Each and every one of us now has a choice to make: accept or reject.  Accept God’s plan of salvation or reject it.  Which choice have you made?  Have you accepted Christ’s forgiveness or are you continuing to reject it?  There is no other solution.  I pray that you will live for the Lord now and forevermore.”

I want to conclude this blog today by sharing a paragraph that my dad wrote way back in 1971.  It’s amazing to me how these treasures from Dad’s life of faith continue to be discovered.  I didn’t know about these words until just a few days ago.  Ten years before I was born, my dad wrote these words:

“My friend, how long has it been since you talked with the Lord and found that He really cares about you?  I know that I’m nearer home than I was yesterday and so are you, so why not come to Him now.  God knows everything and He also leads to victory.  Since God heard my prayer, He is able to hear yours.  Jesus is coming soon, what a day that will be, when my Savior I shall see for they that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  So don’t be afraid, don’t turn Him away.  My God specializes in things thought impossible.  Come to Jesus now!”

Seven days since a horrible tragedy

A week ago, there was a horrendous display of violence, carnage, and evil in Las Vegas.  A gunman opened fire on a group of people in what was supposed to be an event of fun and distraction.  In the end, hundreds were injured and 58 people were murdered.  My heart was broken and filled with deep sadness when I heard this terrible news.  I know something about unexpected loss.  The lives of 58 families are forever changed.  They now have to endure that terrible phrase of a “new normal” of life without their loved one.  I know they are struggling with grief, sadness, and heartache.

After such chaos and bloodshed, many are probably also questioning the goodness of God.  Got questions.org posted a good article about this subject matter.  In fact, recently it was their question of the week.  For the rest of the blog, I just want to cite this entire article.  I enjoyed reading these words, and I hope it will be a blessing for you as well.  Of course, you can find this content at got questions.org.  The title of the article is “How can I believe in the goodness of God when there is so much evil in the world?”  Here is what is said to answer:

“The evil in the world did not come from God.  If Adam and Eve had only obeyed God, then they may have lived on earth forever, walking with God, tending the garden, working together – what might God’s “Plan A” have been?  After they sinned, the created ones were just not on the same page with God anymore.  God cannot tolerate sin and has no sin within Himself, so mankind hid from God in guilt and fear.  One could perhaps blame Adam and Eve for the evil in the world, as they blamed each other and the serpent; however “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  It is safe to say that, had we been in the garden instead of Adam and Eve, we would have sinned in the same way.

God is good in that He has a plan to redeem fallen mankind.  The salvation Jesus provides attests to His goodness and love (Romans 5:8).  The effect of the Fall is universal, but so also is the offer of divine grace (John 3:16).  The Bible clearly indicates the devastating effects of sin upon man and the hopelessness of man in solving his own sin problem.  The proper understanding of the doctrine of sin is essential to understanding God’s remedy for it.

God is good in that He has sent His Son “to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).  Jesus called Satan “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), which means Satan has been allowed a certain amount of authority over this earth.  The blame for the evil in this world should be placed squarely upon Satan.  Much is written about the devil – he comes only to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).  He is a fierce enemy (1 Peter 5:8).  He is a liar and a murderer (John 8:44).  By contrast, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11).  He is the Lamb of God, sacrificed for us (Revelation 5:6).  He is the truth and the life (John 14:6).  Jesus is the “seed of the woman” to crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).  Jesus is Goodness incarnate.

 

God is good in that He is implementing a plan to rid the universe of evil once and for all.  He is the God of justice, and He will one day make all things right (Psalm 89:14; Revelation 21:5).  Sin and evil will be dealt with in perfect judgment (Revelation 20:13).  Because of Christ, we have the promise of Romans 16:20, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”

God is good in that He provides for His children (Matthew 6:33).  He gives life to all and upholds all things by His wisdom and power (Hebrews 1:3).  He is patient with sinners, desiring them to come to repentance and to find eternal life (2 Peter 3:9).  God gives us eternal life and abundant life now, free from the death penalty of sin (Romans 6:23).  He is “rich in mercy” because of “His great love for us” (Ephesians 2:4).

Just picture the Sinless One who created everything, willfully hanging on a cross and spilling His blood for the sin of those who put their faith in Him.  Who can charge Him with injustice (Romans 9:14)?  Jesus proves God’s love.  “Love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).”

I was reminded of a line from a Rebecca St. James song: “Everybody asks, ‘is God good?’  I believe He is.  In fact, I know He is.”  Amen to that!

Kevin

Part 2; understanding the context

As I said in the last blog, the basic ideology of the TV show “The Good Place” is erroneous.  It asserts that if you pile up enough good works, you are granted entrance to “The Good Place” or Heaven.  But this is flawed logic.  Last time, I quoted Ephesians 2:8-9 as one example from the Bible that declares that we are put in a right relationship with God by grace, through faith, not works.  These powerful verses are even more potent when you consider the context of this passage.

The context starts in Ephesians 2:1, which says, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world.”  I’ve underscored that phrase “you were dead in trespasses and sins” because I’m going to get back to that in a minute.  For now, contemplate with me that the Bible is telling us that we all once walked in sins and we followed the course of this world.  I’m convinced that someone is reading this and inwardly you are disagreeing with the Bible’s assessment.  But we must go with what the Word of God says, even if makes us uncomfortable; the Bible unequivocally declares that all have sinned, and therefore, stand guilty before Him.

Thankfully, we are not left there.  Look at verse 4 of Ephesians 2: “But God…” let me stop there.  These two words are like beautiful music.  We were dead, helpless, sin-soaked, and rebellious, and we didn’t even know or care, but God chose to do something about it.  “But God…because of His great love with which He loved us, [verse 5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.”  When you put this together with the terminology underscored in verse 1, we see that we were dead, but now through Christ, we are alive.  Let me illustrate this.

Recently I was about to mow the lawn when the lawnmower decided that it didn’t want to start.  I wasn’t out of gas or oil or anything like that; the mower was simply unresponsive to anything I did.  Further, this lawnmower is really old – probably 20 something years old – so I speculated that the mower had simply died of old age (which made me sad, because it’s my dad’s lawnmower).  A few days later, I tried to start the mower again, and it started right up!  The mower that was dead is now alive.  Yes, I know that I probably just flooded it or something, but for all intents and purposes – at least in that moment – it was dead.  In the same way, we were dead and unresponsive to God until He made us alive.  It wasn’t because of anything we did; it was God’s power alone.  This, dear readers, is the context of Ephesians 2:8-9.

But we dare not stop at verse 9; I love Ephesians 2:10 as well.  It reads, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (italics added).  This verse answers the question that I’m sure has been plaguing you for almost two blogs now.  Inwardly, you’ve wondered, “Are works important for the Christian?”  The answer that comes screaming from the Bible is a resounding yes.  “We are not saved by our works,” writes Constantine Campbell in his book “Grace: Accepting God’s Gift to You”; “They are not for salvation, yet good works matter.”

This is further crystallized by these words at the end of verse 10: “which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  What an encouraging thought!  Once again, to quote Campbell’s words, “This means that even our good deeds are given to us by God.  God doesn’t just save us by grace and then leave us to our own devices…God plans the good things he wants us to do, and he enables us to do it…we should take comfort in that.  He is in the driver’s seat, and we are glad to go where he takes us.”  Amen and amen!

Kevin

God "helps those who help themselves"?

The other day, I watched the first episode of the TV show “The Good Place” on Netflix.  The premise of the show is a woman is killed and she enters her after-life.  She goes to what is referred to as “The Good Place” (they try to dance around the idea that it is Heaven, but it is).  The tension revolves around the fact that it was only through a clerical error that this woman entered “The Good Place” to begin with.  She didn’t do any of the good things that the records had tallied for her; in fact, in her Earthly life, she was rude, selfish, and unpleasant.

There are a lot of reasons why I don’t like this episode or this TV show in general, but my biggest complaint is that the show asserts that everyone who enters “The Good Place” does so exclusively through the good works that they have done on Earth.  It is explained that anytime someone does something good, it is recorded, and if you reach a certain plateau of points, you are able to enter “The Good Place”.  By the way, yes, there is also a destination they call “The Bad Place” (the dialogue acknowledges that “The Bad Place” is a place of torment and agony; they don’t call it Hell, but I’d say that’s what it is).

I find the premise of this show troubling.  Why?  It’s best summed up by a statement given in the film “Catch Me if You Can”.  Frank Abagnale, a master of deception (played very well by Leonardo DiCaprio) put it this way: “Keep pushing the lie; keep pushing it, until it becomes true.”  You don’t go to Heaven by performing good works.  But the more that lie is presented the more readily it will be accepted as fact.

So many Bible verses teach that salvation isn’t because of good deeds.  I could quote Titus 3:5, Acts 13:39, Romans 3:28, it’s actually stated several times in Galatians 2:16 alone – repetition aids learning.  But check out this passage from Ephesians 2: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith…it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (verses 8-9; italics added for emphasis).  It is by grace, through faith, that a person can be assured of Heaven one day, not as a result of accruing enough points through good works.

 

You see, grace is God giving us something that we don’t deserve to get.  Grace is God saying, “I have a free gift for you.”  Grace is unmerited favor.  Bill Oudemolen once put it this way in a sermon: “I believe Satan’s greatest lie about God is God delights in rewarding human effort.  ‘God helps those who help themselves.’  Which, by the way, is not in the Bible.  God doesn’t help those who help themselves; God helps those who don’t deserve it.  God bestows unmerited favor.”

There’s more I want to say, but that will be in the next part.  For today, I’ll conclude with this: Constantine Campbell in his helpful book: “Grace: Accepting God’s Gift to You” writes a memorable true story.  He tells about how at the 1998 Golden Globe awards, actor Vine Rhames won a Golden Globe.  Rhames surprised everyone by asking Jack Lemmon to join him on the stage.  When Lemmon did so, Rhames said, “I believe that being an artist is about giving.  And I would like to give this to you, Mr. Jack Lemmon,” and he handed his Golden Globe Award to Lemmon!  Jack Lemmon received the award and said that this gesture was one of nicest, sweetest moments of his life.  Beloved readers, only one word can describe that event: grace. 

To be continued!      

Forever in my heart

I’ve been thinking about a specific scene from the TV show “When Calls the Heart” of late.  A little boy named Cody, probably 8 years old or so, begins acting out of character.  He is angry, getting in fights, and ditching homework.  But Jack Thornton knows what is provoking the errant behavior.  Jack and Cody share a poignant talk.  

“You’re upset because you miss your dad,” Jack states. “That’s why you’re getting into fights; that’s why you won’t finish your essay.  Because it hurts to think about him.  It hurts to be alone.  It hurts to not have the people you love to tell you it’s going to be OK.”  “You don’t know anything,” Cody replies.  “Yeah, I do," Jack answers.  "Because I lost my dad, too.”  At this point, Cody finally begins to listen.

“It feels like someone took something from you,” Jack continues.  “Like there’s a giant hole inside of you.  But one day, that feeling that you’re feeling right now is going to go away, I promise.  But just because your parents aren’t here doesn’t mean they’re not with you.  You’ve got them right in here,” pointing to the boy’s heart, “every moment of every day.”  The two share an embrace.  Apparently, these writers know something about personal loss; take it from someone who knows, Jack’s words ring true. 

Even though my dad is in eternal paradise with God in Heaven, today is still his birthday.  Dad loved to take pictures.  So I want to present a few pictures that capture his life.  

Dad at the radio station - in 1973

Dad lived out the vow "til death do us part"

Love this one.  Dad with my Grandpa (and DeJean the dog)

A bit blurry, but I love it.  Father's Day, 2011.  Dad with my brother and me, and my niece, Anna

Dad expressing his faith in God by praying - his on-air prayers were always memorable

Dad took thousands of photos of God's creation - I love this one!

Jerry Bauer - my dad - will always be with me, in my heart

John 15:5 revisited (part 2)

We’ve been contemplating John 15:5 of late.  Today I want to focus on this question: what does Jesus mean when He says “abide in Me”?  In John 15, Jesus presents an analogy of a vine and a branch.  He invites us to abide in Him.  But what exactly does it mean to abide?  And if we realize that we aren’t abiding in Him, how can we decide to do so?

According to my Bible concordance, synonyms for this word are “stay, remain, live, dwell.”  I love the way one translation puts Jesus’ words: “I am the Vine, you are the branches.  Get your life from Me.  Then I will live in you and you will produce much fruit” (italics added for emphasis).  To abide simply means to draw life from Christ.  But how does that work exactly?  What are the mechanics of this?  First, you have to establish a right relationship with God, through Jesus.  I’m not going to spend a lot of time on this, but it is extremely important.  You can’t abide in Jesus if you don’t have a real relationship with Him. 

Secondly, be in fellowship with Christ.  It is possible to be in genuine relationship with God and yet not be in fellowship with Him.  For instance, is it possible to be married and not be in communion and intimacy with your spouse?  Of course it is.  Is it possible to be a child and not be in close fellowship with your parents?  The answer is yes.  You are still their child forever; that relationship remains intact, no matter what.  The issue is your lack of fellowship with them.  The same is true with our relationship with God.

I wonder if you can relate to this subject matter as strongly as I do as I write it.  There are episodes in my life where I run after things that are essentially plastic, stale substitutes.  I should know better, but the old hymn had it right, my heart is “prone to wander.”  In those incidents, salvation isn’t lost, but my fellowship and relational intimacy with God is affected.  Psalm 16:4 says, “Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god” (NKJV).  If you can resonate, may I remind you that Jesus is the vine?  Get your life from Him.  In fact, the Bible even declares that He is your life (Colossians 3:4).  Run back to Him.  He wants to restore and embrace you.

Abiding in Christ isn’t a formula; it’s a relationship.  Abiding in Christ isn’t checking off a set of boxes to make sure you’ve done the things needed to ensure that you are abiding.  It’s looking to Jesus daily – hourly – to sustain, fill, and empower you.  Let me conclude with this: Stephen Skelton in his book “The Gospel according to the World’s Greatest Superhero” writes, “Superman gets his powers from the sun (his body stores solar energy), forging a…link to Christ, who is the Son – and the one we get our power from.”  I love that picture!  Look to the Son to get everything you need.

Kevin 

John 15:5 revisited

In John 15:5 Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches.  He who abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit.”  A branch can’t survive when left to itself; it needs to be in connection with the vine.  Jesus is declaring that He is the vine; He is the One that will provide the life, vitality, and sustenance that is needed.  It’s a striking metaphor.  Context is also helpful; a few verses earlier, Jesus stated, in no uncertain terms, “I am the true vine” (verse 1).  What a statement!  Only Jesus can truthfully say that He is the “true vine” because Jesus is the God of the universe in human flesh (Colossians 1:19).

Furthermore, consider this: For Jesus to proclaim that He is the true vine also implies that there are other competing vines that assert that they will provide us with real life, when in reality, they cannot do so.  I’ve been thinking of some of these artificial vines.  There are hundreds of examples, but let me list a few.

For example, some abide in the vine unrestrained sexual expression.  I’m a man who is a virgin in his thirties, so I know very well that we live in a “just do it” world.  Today’s sexually drenched society says not to restrain yourself when it comes to sexual desire.  If a man desires a woman sexually, and she desires him, they should simply jump into bed together, even if it’s just a “one night stand” (to say nothing of the inevitable consequences of such a choice).  But, the truth is, this kind of lifestyle will ultimately leave you feeling empty, unfulfilled, and miserable.

Please don’t misunderstand me on this one.  I’m not saying that sex is dirty or wrong.  Far from it.  I’ll never forget the analogy I read when I was a teenager.  The author likened sex to a fire.  When it is used properly, the writer explained, fire is a source of warmth, comfort, and security; however when it goes out of bounds, it becomes a source of destruction that can obliterate an entire forest.  Many today who have ruined their life through abiding in the vine of unrestrained sexual expression would attest to the truthfulness of that illustration.

 

But make no mistake about it, God Himself created sex.  As the author of such an incredible gift, He knows – and repeatedly advocates in His Word – that sex is best in the confines of marriage (see Hebrews 13:4 for one example).  Someone may want to ask, “Why so many rules?  Why can’t we live without them?”  Rob Petrie, in an episode of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” put it so well when he said, “Marriage, like a lot of other things, has boundaries.  To some guys those boundaries represent walls and that makes marriage a prison to them.  But to other guys, those boundaries hold everything that is good and fun in life.”  And, of course, his words apply to both men and women.

   

Secondly, some people abide in the vine of sports.  I recently saw a commercial that was advertising an upcoming preseason football game for the Denver Broncos that illustrates this.  This declaration was made: “We don’t just cheer for the Broncos; we live for the Broncos.”  Well, I hate to have to break it to you, but if you “live” for the Broncos (or any team for that matter) you will ultimately be disappointed.  You are not hearing me say that it is wrong to watch sports.  In its proper place, sports can be delightful.  I certainly look forward to the upcoming NFL season.  But if you make it more than it’s supposed to be, you will discover that it is an imitation vine that is incapable of providing nutrition to the branch.

I could go on.  I could mention climbing the corporate ladder; achieving college degrees; the accomplishing of dreams; even the gift and sanctity of marriage.  These are all wonderful things, but they will not – and indeed cannot – give life.  Jesus Christ, the God of the universe, the lover of your soul, said “I am the true vine” (John 15:1).  He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches.  He who abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit” (verse 5).  If you’ve been clinging to an artificial, imitation vine, I invite you to abide in Jesus instead.  He will fill you up; He will provide you with the nourishment, life, and sustenance you need.  That’s exactly what He did for me.

Kevin