Well, it's the end of another year, and time to review the past twelve months. On the blog, we've had 456 posts (the most in any year), so let's think over what we've been doing.
We began the year in Dundonald, and are seeing the year out in Dundonald as well, now as a second year Curate Assistant, having been ordained as a Presbyter / Priest back in June. Over that time I've preached at least 37 times (several times using the same sermon basis in different contexts and situations), conducted approximately 10 Funerals, and two Baptisms.
We had one addition to the family, when a baby niece, Elizabeth, was born in July.
Lyns has been on several rotations in various places. We enjoyed holidays in Lanzarote, New York, and a week on the north coast at New Horizon.
For more details, check out the monthly updates from the year: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Through all that has happened this year, I've been glad to recognise and celebrate God's goodness and faithfulness through 2009. I don't know what 2010 holds, but the Lord does, and he holds me in his hand.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
December Review
It's now the final day of December, and the last day of 2009. By the end of tonight, we'll have had 41 posts in December, and 456 in 2009.
December is obviously the month of Christmas, which was adequately covered on the blog, in the form of adbusting a very expensive Christmas, carol singing, street evangelism, home Communions, the possibility of a white Christmas, and the visit.
Christmas also featured in my reading this month. We had Joy to the World: Preaching the Christmas Story, and Can Reindeer Fly? The Science of Christmas. Earlier in the month we also reviewed Richard Coekin's book Our Father and we just got the review for John Grisham's The Associate in before the end of the year.
There were a few Christmas sermons in my preaching too, from John 1, Luke 2, and Titus 2. Additional sermons were from Ephesians 5, and Job 42. From Hebrews, there were a few articles on Christians falling away and on eagerly waiting.
On the music front, there were various features, ranging from the condemnation of Britney's new thing, to the commendation of Daniel Renstrom's album, via spending Christmas with Hayley Westenra.
My favourite blog post of the year was Stafford Carson's word of the week. A wee bit of Ulster Scots never harmed anybody!
December is obviously the month of Christmas, which was adequately covered on the blog, in the form of adbusting a very expensive Christmas, carol singing, street evangelism, home Communions, the possibility of a white Christmas, and the visit.
Christmas also featured in my reading this month. We had Joy to the World: Preaching the Christmas Story, and Can Reindeer Fly? The Science of Christmas. Earlier in the month we also reviewed Richard Coekin's book Our Father and we just got the review for John Grisham's The Associate in before the end of the year.
There were a few Christmas sermons in my preaching too, from John 1, Luke 2, and Titus 2. Additional sermons were from Ephesians 5, and Job 42. From Hebrews, there were a few articles on Christians falling away and on eagerly waiting.
On the music front, there were various features, ranging from the condemnation of Britney's new thing, to the commendation of Daniel Renstrom's album, via spending Christmas with Hayley Westenra.
My favourite blog post of the year was Stafford Carson's word of the week. A wee bit of Ulster Scots never harmed anybody!
Book Review: The Associate
If you had to choose just one fiction author's books to read for the rest of your life, who would you choose? Perhaps if you're into horror, then Stephen King. Harry Potter fans would have to choose JK Rowling's output. Maybe Agatha Christie or PD James would get your vote. Mine, and I suspect, quite few others, would go for John Grisham.
I can well remember reading my first Grisham book. I was sitting in my first car, the red Renault Clio, in a car park in Whitehead while my wee brother was playing junior soccer. Dave Lowry had lent me a double volume, and I was hooked. The Partner was quickly read, and I soon had purchased the entire back catalogue to read them in my own time and to have the books for multiple re-readings.
Well, after twenty or so books, John Grisham is still on top of his game, writing to the highest quality. The stories are gripping, with excitement mounting, the characters are believeable and you do feel as if you know them. The suspense continues throughout, and the ending to the stories is sometimes unexpected bit always fitting.
In this particular story, The Associate is a highflying law student, about to graduate. His plan is to work for a public interest firm for a few years before working for a big firm and making his fortune. But something is haunting him from his past, and the information has fallen into the wrong hands. Kyle finds himself being blackmailed into spying in the top law firm in the world for their opponents in the run up to a huge trial.
Along the way there's an insight into the life of a lawyer starting out, the heavy hours, the work conditions, and the pressures to perform. The themes of fraternal friendship, of repentance and of the past's hold on the present are discussed. And as the final hundred pages are reached, the tension increases with every page. How is it all going to finish up?
Within the story there are also some particularly Christian themes. We're introduced to a pastor who was converted in prison with a lengthy account of his conversion and subsequent dependence on the Holy Spirit. I'm assuming that John Grisham is a Christian himself, because similar themes have appeared before, most notably in The Testament, where one of the main characters is a missionary in the Chaco. I also enjoyed his description of a by-the-book Episcopal funeral service, where the person remembered wasn't known to the rector. A nice touch and very realistic!
As I said at the start, give me John Grisham's writings any day and every day. My favourite fiction writer, and The Associate fits the bill nicely.
I can well remember reading my first Grisham book. I was sitting in my first car, the red Renault Clio, in a car park in Whitehead while my wee brother was playing junior soccer. Dave Lowry had lent me a double volume, and I was hooked. The Partner was quickly read, and I soon had purchased the entire back catalogue to read them in my own time and to have the books for multiple re-readings.
Well, after twenty or so books, John Grisham is still on top of his game, writing to the highest quality. The stories are gripping, with excitement mounting, the characters are believeable and you do feel as if you know them. The suspense continues throughout, and the ending to the stories is sometimes unexpected bit always fitting.
In this particular story, The Associate is a highflying law student, about to graduate. His plan is to work for a public interest firm for a few years before working for a big firm and making his fortune. But something is haunting him from his past, and the information has fallen into the wrong hands. Kyle finds himself being blackmailed into spying in the top law firm in the world for their opponents in the run up to a huge trial.
Along the way there's an insight into the life of a lawyer starting out, the heavy hours, the work conditions, and the pressures to perform. The themes of fraternal friendship, of repentance and of the past's hold on the present are discussed. And as the final hundred pages are reached, the tension increases with every page. How is it all going to finish up?
Within the story there are also some particularly Christian themes. We're introduced to a pastor who was converted in prison with a lengthy account of his conversion and subsequent dependence on the Holy Spirit. I'm assuming that John Grisham is a Christian himself, because similar themes have appeared before, most notably in The Testament, where one of the main characters is a missionary in the Chaco. I also enjoyed his description of a by-the-book Episcopal funeral service, where the person remembered wasn't known to the rector. A nice touch and very realistic!
As I said at the start, give me John Grisham's writings any day and every day. My favourite fiction writer, and The Associate fits the bill nicely.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
2009 Books
How many books did you read this year? What was most helpful? Which did you enjoy best?
As much for my own reference, here's a list of the books I've read this year (and the links to the reviews on the blog).
1. The Shack - William Paul Brown
2. The Reason for God - Tim Keller
3. The "Fifty Nine" Revival - Ian Paisley
4. Angels and Demons - Dan Brown
5. Cast of Characters - Max Lucado
6. Death by Love - Mark Driscoll
7. The Essence of Darwinism - Kirsten Birkett
8. The Appeal - John Grisham
9. The Cross of Christ - John Stott
10. The Horse and His Boy - CS Lewis
11. Christ in the Passover - Rosen
12. A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini
13. Living the Resurrection - Eugene Petersen
14. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
15. The Challenge of Islam - Patrick Sookhdeo
16. Digging Ditches - Helen Roseveare
17. Prince Caspian - CS Lewis
18. Inside Prince Caspian - Devin Brown
19. Jesus Among Other Gods - Ravi Zacharias
20. Shakespeare - Bill Bryson
21. Beyond Greed - Brian Rosner
22. The Work of the Pastor - William Still
23. The Deliberate Church - Mark Dever
24. Drumcree - John Pickering
25. Sign of the Cross - Chris Kuzneski
26. God's Undertaker - John Lennox
27. The Prodigal God - Tim Keller
28. Miracles - CS Lewis
29. The Sound of Laughter - Peter Kay
30. Jesus Wants to Save Christians - Rob Bell
31. Out of the Storm - Christopher Ash
32. The Year of Living Biblically AJ Jacobs
33. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
34. Preach The Word - Leland Ryken and Todd Wilson (eds.)
35. Fern-seed and Elephants - CS Lewis
36. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism - Mark Dever
37. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
38. Our Father - Richard Coekin
39. Joy to the World: Preaching the Christmas Story - Paul Beasley-Murray
40. Can Reindeer Fly? The Science of Christmas - Roger Highfield
41. The Associate - John Grisham
Incidentally, this is the only list of books in which The Shack would sit on number one for me - it wasn't a great read at all.
My top five for this year have to be:
1. Jesus Among Other Gods
2. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism
3. The Hobbit
4. The Kite Runner
5. The Cross of Christ
For previous reading lists, see my 2008 reading, and 2007 reading. Sadly there's no corresponding posting for my reading from 2006 or 2005...
As much for my own reference, here's a list of the books I've read this year (and the links to the reviews on the blog).
1. The Shack - William Paul Brown
2. The Reason for God - Tim Keller
3. The "Fifty Nine" Revival - Ian Paisley
4. Angels and Demons - Dan Brown
5. Cast of Characters - Max Lucado
6. Death by Love - Mark Driscoll
7. The Essence of Darwinism - Kirsten Birkett
8. The Appeal - John Grisham
9. The Cross of Christ - John Stott
10. The Horse and His Boy - CS Lewis
11. Christ in the Passover - Rosen
12. A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini
13. Living the Resurrection - Eugene Petersen
14. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
15. The Challenge of Islam - Patrick Sookhdeo
16. Digging Ditches - Helen Roseveare
17. Prince Caspian - CS Lewis
18. Inside Prince Caspian - Devin Brown
19. Jesus Among Other Gods - Ravi Zacharias
20. Shakespeare - Bill Bryson
21. Beyond Greed - Brian Rosner
22. The Work of the Pastor - William Still
23. The Deliberate Church - Mark Dever
24. Drumcree - John Pickering
25. Sign of the Cross - Chris Kuzneski
26. God's Undertaker - John Lennox
27. The Prodigal God - Tim Keller
28. Miracles - CS Lewis
29. The Sound of Laughter - Peter Kay
30. Jesus Wants to Save Christians - Rob Bell
31. Out of the Storm - Christopher Ash
32. The Year of Living Biblically AJ Jacobs
33. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
34. Preach The Word - Leland Ryken and Todd Wilson (eds.)
35. Fern-seed and Elephants - CS Lewis
36. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism - Mark Dever
37. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
38. Our Father - Richard Coekin
39. Joy to the World: Preaching the Christmas Story - Paul Beasley-Murray
40. Can Reindeer Fly? The Science of Christmas - Roger Highfield
41. The Associate - John Grisham
Incidentally, this is the only list of books in which The Shack would sit on number one for me - it wasn't a great read at all.
My top five for this year have to be:
1. Jesus Among Other Gods
2. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism
3. The Hobbit
4. The Kite Runner
5. The Cross of Christ
For previous reading lists, see my 2008 reading, and 2007 reading. Sadly there's no corresponding posting for my reading from 2006 or 2005...
2009: The Year in Pictures
It's time for the annual recap of the year's best photos taken by me and shared on Flickr.
January:
Dundrum Bay
February:
Playing Games
March:
Memories of Lanzarote
April:
Lisburn Jungle
May:
Donaghadee
June:
Ordination Retreat at Rostrevor
July:
Grasshopper
August:
St Peter's, Belfast
September:
Street Dancers in New York
October:
Cobweb Church
November:
Metro Wheel Reflection
December:
Christmas Communion
It'll be interesting to see the favourite photos from 2010, and the year of 365 photo challenge pictures.
Which is your favourite from this year?
January:
Dundrum Bay
February:
Playing Games
March:
Memories of Lanzarote
April:
Lisburn Jungle
May:
Donaghadee
June:
Ordination Retreat at Rostrevor
July:
Grasshopper
August:
St Peter's, Belfast
September:
Street Dancers in New York
October:
Cobweb Church
November:
Metro Wheel Reflection
December:
Christmas Communion
It'll be interesting to see the favourite photos from 2010, and the year of 365 photo challenge pictures.
Which is your favourite from this year?
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
A Green Christmas
Bing Crosby sang about a White Christmas. Elvis Presley sang about a Blue Christmas. This year, I think we had a green Christmas.
The motto has been around for a while now - reduce, reuse, recycle.
It was certainly a reduced Christmas for us. First of all, we didn't get round to posting out Christmas cards. Things were a bit hectic and we didn't get round to buying or writing the Christmas cards. So while it means a little less revenue for Royal Mail, it also means less paper and card consumption.
As well as this, the Christmas cards that we received this year were a lot smaller than in previous years. Many of them would have been A6 size or even smaller. So while the number of cards received may have been something similar (or maybe even slightly more), the actual paper used to produce the cards will have been less.
We also didn't use as many Christmas lights this year - last year I had strung some lights up the handrail of the stairs, but I didn't bother this year, leading to less electricity being needed.
What ways did you seek to produce a green Christmas? What more can we do next year for a better environmentally-friendly Christmas celebration?
365 Countdown
We're now just a couple of days away from the beginning of 2010, which means that my 365 photo challenge is about to begin. Several other bloggers and Flickrites are getting involved in the project, and I'll have a special links section created down the right hand side in due course. For now, why not check out my dedicated 365:2010 blog, where all the photographs will appear, and think about joining up yourself.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Book Review: Can Reindeer Fly? The Science of Christmas
I've previously talked about seasonal reading, and this book had been in my library for several years without being read. In fact, it was one of those bargain bucket finds in Eason's which I regularly made in both Belfast and Dublin. But every year, as December rolled around, I missed the chance to get through it. This year, then, in addition to the book on preaching the Christmas story, I fitted in the scientific Christmas book by Roger Highfield.
Can Reindeer Fly is actually a collection of Highfield's science articles on Christmas topics from the Daily Telegraph over the last few years. An interesting series of chapters ask and seek to answer questions such as what was the Star of Bethlehem? Could the virgin birth have happened? How can MRI scanning help find a sixpence in a Christmas pudding? What does alcohol do to the body? Why is Santa so fat? How does he deliver all those presents in one night? Where did Christmas cards and Christmas trees originate?
The articles are humorous, but sometimes get somewhat complicated with too much detail. There are the expected over-reliance on the theory of evolution a few times, and a scepticism about the miraculous being possible. So the chapter dealing with the virgin birth (really, a virgin conception) discusses many far out possibilities for parthenogenesis to occur, ending up with Mary having to be a hermaphrodite with female sex organs but too much testosterone which enabled her/him to produce a male son by him/herself (because creatures which do have parthenogenesis only produce female offspring, but Jesus was male). It seems that the science is virgin on the ridiculous rather than admit that God intervened and formed the life of Jesus in Mary's womb.
I'll probably return to the book for some Christmas sermon illustrations as the stories and details were interesting. But can reindeer fly? Definitely not!
Can Reindeer Fly is actually a collection of Highfield's science articles on Christmas topics from the Daily Telegraph over the last few years. An interesting series of chapters ask and seek to answer questions such as what was the Star of Bethlehem? Could the virgin birth have happened? How can MRI scanning help find a sixpence in a Christmas pudding? What does alcohol do to the body? Why is Santa so fat? How does he deliver all those presents in one night? Where did Christmas cards and Christmas trees originate?
The articles are humorous, but sometimes get somewhat complicated with too much detail. There are the expected over-reliance on the theory of evolution a few times, and a scepticism about the miraculous being possible. So the chapter dealing with the virgin birth (really, a virgin conception) discusses many far out possibilities for parthenogenesis to occur, ending up with Mary having to be a hermaphrodite with female sex organs but too much testosterone which enabled her/him to produce a male son by him/herself (because creatures which do have parthenogenesis only produce female offspring, but Jesus was male). It seems that the science is virgin on the ridiculous rather than admit that God intervened and formed the life of Jesus in Mary's womb.
I'll probably return to the book for some Christmas sermon illustrations as the stories and details were interesting. But can reindeer fly? Definitely not!
Word of the Week
The word of the week, perhaps even the year and maybe even the decade comes courtesy of the Presbyterian Moderator, Stafford Carson:
Oxtercogging!
To find out the context of this wonderful word from Culleybackey, check out his blog on the Culleybackey Winter Olympics!
Oxtercogging!
To find out the context of this wonderful word from Culleybackey, check out his blog on the Culleybackey Winter Olympics!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
A Late Substitution
The Sunday after Christmas is my Sunday off. A nice break after the rush and busyness of the festive season. Yet early this morning I got an urgent text from a friend in need. Poor Adrian has been taken by a tummy bug and had a rough night so couldn't take his service in St Peter's this morning. What to do?
Well I couldn't leave him in the lurch, so off I set to the church!
At such short notice, I wasn't preaching on the lectionary readings, so instead preached a remix version of my Christmas Eve sermon on Titus 2:11. It was good being with the St Peter's congregation, and hopefully Adrian will be better soon.
So it's back to the holidaying with the problems of a broken shower and an unspinning washing machine!
Well I couldn't leave him in the lurch, so off I set to the church!
At such short notice, I wasn't preaching on the lectionary readings, so instead preached a remix version of my Christmas Eve sermon on Titus 2:11. It was good being with the St Peter's congregation, and hopefully Adrian will be better soon.
So it's back to the holidaying with the problems of a broken shower and an unspinning washing machine!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
On The Twelve Days of Christmas...
iTunes gave to me, not a partridge in a pear tree, but twelve freebies! Check it out at the 12 days website. Perfect if you got a new iPhone or iPod for Christmas, or just want to get some free songs and videos. Today's special offer is the Snow Patrol song 'An Olive Grove Facing The Sea'.
Friday, December 25, 2009
To All My Readers
Merry Christmas!
May you be blessed today as you reflect on the message of the angels, the good news that Immanuel, God is with us, and that Jesus came to save us.
May you be blessed today as you reflect on the message of the angels, the good news that Immanuel, God is with us, and that Jesus came to save us.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Eve Sermon: Titus 2:11-14
How would you summarise the Christmas story? What is the essential Christmas message? Communications are getting shorter and snappier these days - Twitter has a limit of 140 characters. How would you share the news of Christmas in brief?
Tonight, I want to focus on just six words from our Titus reading. They are, I believe, the heart of the Christmas story, and help us to understand the shepherds and angels and all the rest of the Christmas accounts.
The words come from the very start of our reading: ‘The grace of God has appeared.’ But what does it mean? Perhaps to help us see the good news, we need to think for a moment or two about Santa Claus.
According to popular tradition, and the old song (which I’m not going to sing) Santa is coming to town, and he’s making a list, trying to find out who’s naughty and nice. For the naughty people, there’s a lump of coal, and for the nice people, a stack of toys and presents waiting on Christmas morning.
Santa is then used as a threat to children for the month of December. If they’re being naughty, or there’s a chance of them being bad, or they won’t go to sleep (particularly on Christmas Eve), then they’re told: ‘Santa is watching’ or ‘Santa knows about...’ Be good, or Santa won’t come. So the kids try extra hard to be good for the last two weeks of Christmas, looking forward to the reward awaiting them. It’s a form of blackmail or bribery!
Because of this, we think that it’s the same with God. Some of us may see God as a Father Christmas figure, who keeps an eye on us, who wants us to be nice, and then will give us everything on our big Christmas list.
There’s a problem. None of us are nice, according to God’s standards. Each of us have sinned and we fall short. We don’t deserve anything good; we deserve to be punished for our sins.
Christmas, as we remember the birth of the Lord Jesus, is a great reminder of how God in his love and mercy and grace, has invaded the world to rescue his people. As Paul writes to Titus: ‘The grace of God has appeared.’
That word grace means God’s active favour, God being ‘for’ us - God giving us what we don’t deserve. As one person has said: ‘God’s grace is his active favour bestowing the greatest gift upon those who have deserved the greatest punishment.’
It’s not that we deserve to be accepted by God and welcomed by him, as if our place in heaven is ours by right, based on what we have done. No, we don’t deserve anything, yet God takes the initiative in coming to save us, taking our punishment himself, so that he can bless us and pour out his good gifts on us.
As Jesus is born, God’s grace invades the world. Bethlehem is like the beachhead, the first piece of captured land, the entry point for the invasion. Even there, on that first night, God’s grace is celebrated - not by the rich and powerful and religious, but by the outcast shepherds.
God’s grace is bringing salvation - the child lying in the manger is the Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. The angels praise God by saying ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’ - God is pleased with us as we are in Christ, as we receive his grace, giving us what we don’t deserve.
How do we know that God is gracious towards us? How can we be certain that God’s action towards us is grace? The grace of God has appeared. It’s not that God’s grace is somehow floating in the air, or whispering in the wind. No, God’s grace has appeared. Made visible. God’s grace has appeared in the manger of Bethlehem, in the person of the Lord Jesus.
The word appearing is the same word that’s used of the sun at dawn, appearing. God’s grace has appeared in the person of the Lord Jesus. Into the world’s darkness, the light of the world is shining. It’s precisely what Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist says in his song: ‘because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ (Luke 1:78-79)
Tonight we celebrate that ‘the grace of God has appeared’ as we remember the first Christmas. But what does that mean for us tonight, tomorrow, and every day? Well, as Paul continues, as the grace of God appeared, Jesus brought salvation - through his life and his death. God offers his grace to us freely - have you accepted his free gift?
Paul also tells us that because of God’s grace in Jesus, we are called to say no to ungodliness and become more like Jesus - self-controlled, upright and godly lives, as we wait. Because as we celebrate the appearing of the Lord Jesus as a baby at Bethlehem, the appearing of God’s grace, we also look forward to another appearing: ‘the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.’ Let’s not forget that Jesus is coming, and will appear again in glory - not this time in a manger as a tiny baby, but in his rightful place as King of the world, and every eye will see him.
Tonight, on this Christmas Eve, we can celebrate as we look forward to the appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, because of that first Christmas, when the grace of God appeared. We didn’t deserve it, but God has showered us with his undeserved favour, which is much better than anything that Santa Claus can give.
This sermon was preached at the Christmas Eve Communion in St Elizabeth's Church, Dundonald on Thursday 24th December 2009.
Tonight, I want to focus on just six words from our Titus reading. They are, I believe, the heart of the Christmas story, and help us to understand the shepherds and angels and all the rest of the Christmas accounts.
The words come from the very start of our reading: ‘The grace of God has appeared.’ But what does it mean? Perhaps to help us see the good news, we need to think for a moment or two about Santa Claus.
According to popular tradition, and the old song (which I’m not going to sing) Santa is coming to town, and he’s making a list, trying to find out who’s naughty and nice. For the naughty people, there’s a lump of coal, and for the nice people, a stack of toys and presents waiting on Christmas morning.
Santa is then used as a threat to children for the month of December. If they’re being naughty, or there’s a chance of them being bad, or they won’t go to sleep (particularly on Christmas Eve), then they’re told: ‘Santa is watching’ or ‘Santa knows about...’ Be good, or Santa won’t come. So the kids try extra hard to be good for the last two weeks of Christmas, looking forward to the reward awaiting them. It’s a form of blackmail or bribery!
Because of this, we think that it’s the same with God. Some of us may see God as a Father Christmas figure, who keeps an eye on us, who wants us to be nice, and then will give us everything on our big Christmas list.
There’s a problem. None of us are nice, according to God’s standards. Each of us have sinned and we fall short. We don’t deserve anything good; we deserve to be punished for our sins.
Christmas, as we remember the birth of the Lord Jesus, is a great reminder of how God in his love and mercy and grace, has invaded the world to rescue his people. As Paul writes to Titus: ‘The grace of God has appeared.’
That word grace means God’s active favour, God being ‘for’ us - God giving us what we don’t deserve. As one person has said: ‘God’s grace is his active favour bestowing the greatest gift upon those who have deserved the greatest punishment.’
It’s not that we deserve to be accepted by God and welcomed by him, as if our place in heaven is ours by right, based on what we have done. No, we don’t deserve anything, yet God takes the initiative in coming to save us, taking our punishment himself, so that he can bless us and pour out his good gifts on us.
As Jesus is born, God’s grace invades the world. Bethlehem is like the beachhead, the first piece of captured land, the entry point for the invasion. Even there, on that first night, God’s grace is celebrated - not by the rich and powerful and religious, but by the outcast shepherds.
God’s grace is bringing salvation - the child lying in the manger is the Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. The angels praise God by saying ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’ - God is pleased with us as we are in Christ, as we receive his grace, giving us what we don’t deserve.
How do we know that God is gracious towards us? How can we be certain that God’s action towards us is grace? The grace of God has appeared. It’s not that God’s grace is somehow floating in the air, or whispering in the wind. No, God’s grace has appeared. Made visible. God’s grace has appeared in the manger of Bethlehem, in the person of the Lord Jesus.
The word appearing is the same word that’s used of the sun at dawn, appearing. God’s grace has appeared in the person of the Lord Jesus. Into the world’s darkness, the light of the world is shining. It’s precisely what Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist says in his song: ‘because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ (Luke 1:78-79)
Tonight we celebrate that ‘the grace of God has appeared’ as we remember the first Christmas. But what does that mean for us tonight, tomorrow, and every day? Well, as Paul continues, as the grace of God appeared, Jesus brought salvation - through his life and his death. God offers his grace to us freely - have you accepted his free gift?
Paul also tells us that because of God’s grace in Jesus, we are called to say no to ungodliness and become more like Jesus - self-controlled, upright and godly lives, as we wait. Because as we celebrate the appearing of the Lord Jesus as a baby at Bethlehem, the appearing of God’s grace, we also look forward to another appearing: ‘the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.’ Let’s not forget that Jesus is coming, and will appear again in glory - not this time in a manger as a tiny baby, but in his rightful place as King of the world, and every eye will see him.
Tonight, on this Christmas Eve, we can celebrate as we look forward to the appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, because of that first Christmas, when the grace of God appeared. We didn’t deserve it, but God has showered us with his undeserved favour, which is much better than anything that Santa Claus can give.
This sermon was preached at the Christmas Eve Communion in St Elizabeth's Church, Dundonald on Thursday 24th December 2009.
McFlurry's McLinks (11)
Here's the final McFlurry's McLinks of 2009, unless there's a flood of blog material between now and New Year's Eve. Some highlights and some challenging reads from the blogosphere:
It's Advent, and Advent seems to bring out the best in some preachers. Ian Poulton discusses the Great Divorce, and the return of Jesus, Kelvin Holdsworth distorts the words of a Santa song to warn of Jesus' return, while Dave Keen links to lots of Advent resources.
On a Christmas theme: Unashamed Workman highlights some challenges in Christmsa preaching, Jessica Melling has a great Christmas present idea, James Cary considers the comedy of Christmas, and Dave Keen has a health and safety assessment of some traditional Christmas songs.
Stuff Christians Like continues in top form, wishing there was a Christian version of Lady GaGa, inviting people to church, boxes, and the use of social media, and this fine piece of work on the most dangerous days of the year.
The Simple Pastor warns that Ministry can kill relationships. Irish Calvinist discusses living out your theology, as well as sharing a news story of a man saved from a cess pool.
The Ugley Vicar asks is the Bible anti-gay? Stafford Carson, Presbyterian Moderator indulges in a spot of Anglican prayer.
On a photography theme in the run-up to my 365 project commencing, check out these unusual angles.
On this Christmas Eve, UCCF have a great Christmas video:
It's Advent, and Advent seems to bring out the best in some preachers. Ian Poulton discusses the Great Divorce, and the return of Jesus, Kelvin Holdsworth distorts the words of a Santa song to warn of Jesus' return, while Dave Keen links to lots of Advent resources.
On a Christmas theme: Unashamed Workman highlights some challenges in Christmsa preaching, Jessica Melling has a great Christmas present idea, James Cary considers the comedy of Christmas, and Dave Keen has a health and safety assessment of some traditional Christmas songs.
Stuff Christians Like continues in top form, wishing there was a Christian version of Lady GaGa, inviting people to church, boxes, and the use of social media, and this fine piece of work on the most dangerous days of the year.
The Simple Pastor warns that Ministry can kill relationships. Irish Calvinist discusses living out your theology, as well as sharing a news story of a man saved from a cess pool.
The Ugley Vicar asks is the Bible anti-gay? Stafford Carson, Presbyterian Moderator indulges in a spot of Anglican prayer.
On a photography theme in the run-up to my 365 project commencing, check out these unusual angles.
On this Christmas Eve, UCCF have a great Christmas video:
Matthew's Begats
Ever wondered about the genealogy at the beginning of Matthew's Gospel? Why the big list of unpronounceable names? Is there any way of remembering the names?
Check out this song by Andrew Peterson, entitled Matthew's Begats:
The song comes from a Christmas concert Andrew has put together: 'Behold The Lamb of God'
Check out this song by Andrew Peterson, entitled Matthew's Begats:
The song comes from a Christmas concert Andrew has put together: 'Behold The Lamb of God'
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The Visit
Christmas is a hectic time of the year. You'd think they would move it to a less busy time! Today the local radio news was warning of traffic delays and congestion around every shopping centre car park. Glad I steered clear, but I was busy with other things.
Christmas is a busy time for ministers. There's the rush of celebrating Home Communions with those who can't get out to church. There's the other visits as well, to the housebound, ill and infirm, making sure we see everyone before the big day. So I was dashing around the parish doing lots of visits, calling in with people, reading the Bible with them, and then praying into their specific situations - perhaps bereavement in this past year, or loneliness without family to share Christmas with, or illness. Lots of visits.
But it's so important to not lose sight of The Visit, the visitation that is the reason for the season, and what gives us something to celebrate. Three times in the Gospel according to Saint Luke, we find a reference to the visitation:
1. 'Blessed by the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people'. (Luke 1:68)
The start of Luke's Gospel is packed with special songs. Mary breaks into the Magnificat; Simeon teaches us the Nunc Dimittus, and Zechariah sings the Benedictus. Mary is calling with Elizabeth, after Gabriel's news of Mary's pregnancy, and John the Baptist has just been born. Zechariah praises God, because he has visited and redeemed his people. Jesus is the visitation of God to his world, to rescue his people.
2. 'God has visited his people!' (Luke 7:16)
Jesus has grown up and launched into his ministry, healing the sick, teaching the crowds, and in chapter 7, raising the dead. The widow of Nain's son is brought back to life as the funeral procession made it's way to the cemetery, and the people realise that something special is happening in and through Jesus Christ. The whole of verse 16 combines the witness of the shepherds at the birth of Jesus - fear and glorifying God: 'Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"
Good news indeed, that God's people have not been left helpless or hopeless, but that God has visited them, become one of them, in order to rescue them. And yet, not all recognised what was happening. The outcast shepherds were the ones who praised the Lord, not the respectable members of society. And so later on, Jesus warns about the terrible destruction of Jerusalem which would take place in 70AD, when the temple was destroyed:
3. 'And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.'
Sometimes people get annoyed at missing my visits. I'll knock the door, ring the doorbell, but they just don't hear. Perhaps they're out at the back, or having a doze. I always leave a card, with my phone number and a rough idea of when I'll call again. It's annoying to miss someone, to not realise they had called. But here, God's people, the people of Jerusalem, had seen Jesus, yet didn't realise the significance of who he was. The destruction of Jerusalem is because they didn't see who was visiting - they killed the Lord Jesus.
What a lesson for us, as we prepare to celebrate another Christmas. Will we grasp the wonder of the Christmas story, that God has visited us to rescue us? Or will we miss him yet again amidst the parties and tinsel and turkey?
Christmas is a busy time for ministers. There's the rush of celebrating Home Communions with those who can't get out to church. There's the other visits as well, to the housebound, ill and infirm, making sure we see everyone before the big day. So I was dashing around the parish doing lots of visits, calling in with people, reading the Bible with them, and then praying into their specific situations - perhaps bereavement in this past year, or loneliness without family to share Christmas with, or illness. Lots of visits.
But it's so important to not lose sight of The Visit, the visitation that is the reason for the season, and what gives us something to celebrate. Three times in the Gospel according to Saint Luke, we find a reference to the visitation:
1. 'Blessed by the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people'. (Luke 1:68)
The start of Luke's Gospel is packed with special songs. Mary breaks into the Magnificat; Simeon teaches us the Nunc Dimittus, and Zechariah sings the Benedictus. Mary is calling with Elizabeth, after Gabriel's news of Mary's pregnancy, and John the Baptist has just been born. Zechariah praises God, because he has visited and redeemed his people. Jesus is the visitation of God to his world, to rescue his people.
2. 'God has visited his people!' (Luke 7:16)
Jesus has grown up and launched into his ministry, healing the sick, teaching the crowds, and in chapter 7, raising the dead. The widow of Nain's son is brought back to life as the funeral procession made it's way to the cemetery, and the people realise that something special is happening in and through Jesus Christ. The whole of verse 16 combines the witness of the shepherds at the birth of Jesus - fear and glorifying God: 'Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"
Good news indeed, that God's people have not been left helpless or hopeless, but that God has visited them, become one of them, in order to rescue them. And yet, not all recognised what was happening. The outcast shepherds were the ones who praised the Lord, not the respectable members of society. And so later on, Jesus warns about the terrible destruction of Jerusalem which would take place in 70AD, when the temple was destroyed:
3. 'And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.'
Sometimes people get annoyed at missing my visits. I'll knock the door, ring the doorbell, but they just don't hear. Perhaps they're out at the back, or having a doze. I always leave a card, with my phone number and a rough idea of when I'll call again. It's annoying to miss someone, to not realise they had called. But here, God's people, the people of Jerusalem, had seen Jesus, yet didn't realise the significance of who he was. The destruction of Jerusalem is because they didn't see who was visiting - they killed the Lord Jesus.
What a lesson for us, as we prepare to celebrate another Christmas. Will we grasp the wonder of the Christmas story, that God has visited us to rescue us? Or will we miss him yet again amidst the parties and tinsel and turkey?
Monday, December 21, 2009
Book Review: Joy To The World - Preaching The Christmas Story
What with it coming up to Christmas and all that, I always like to have some seasonal reading. A particular book which focuses on the Christmas story, or some aspect of it, which concentrates the mind on the good news of the King born in Bethlehem. This year there's another factor in my choice of seasonal reading, given that it is my first preaching Christmas (having missed out on last year's with flu!).
For any pastor, just to survive one Christmas is demanding. But to survive one Christmas after another and still have something fresh to say is a true challenge.
Paul Beasley-Murray has put together a great book of Christmas preaches from his twenty-five years of pastoral and pulpit experience. It's not that the sermons are there for the taking, just read it straight from his book on the night - but that as he covers the Christmas story according to Matthew, Luke and John, as well as the prophecies in the Old Testament and the Epistles as they reflect on it, ideas are given, and new insights are uncovered. His handling of the text is good, and the range of Scriptures dealt with are broad enough to avoid repetition for the congregation!
The best bits of his section on Matthew include the discussion on the genealogy of Jesus as he observes that 'Jesus is not just one member of the family tree, bur the goal of the whole family.' He also has a helpful comment on the scandal of Mary's pregnancy which would be well heeded by Glynn Cardy and St Matthew's Church in New Zealand in connection with their controversial and terrible billboard:
The suggestion is frequently made that Matthew - or at least his source - borrowed this idea from Greek legends, which tell of gods mating with human women. But there are no parallels to the virginal conception which we find in the Gospel accounts of the birth of Jesus. For such 'divine marriages' always involve the god impregnating the woman either through normal sexual intercourse or through some substitute form of penetration. By contrast, the Spirit's work in Mary is to create new life; his role is purely creative, and not at all sexual. (Italics mine)
And finally from Matthew, 'only in [Jesus]' death could his birth receive its meaning.'
As he turns to Luke's account, he discusses Gabriel's greeting addressed to Mary, highlighting the fact that Mary is 'in receipt of God's favour; and the clear implication is that this favour is undeserved' and not, as the Latin Vulgate Bible suggests that Mary is full of grace in and of herself, deservedly. Perhaps the best line in the book, on discussing that nothing is impossible with God, 'a virgin birth is inconceivable.'
In John, he focuses in on the Prologue (1:1-18) and John 3:16, with some helpful insights. I was particularly taken by Luther's comment that John 3:16 is a 'little Bible', because it expresses in brief the good news to be found in the whole Bible.
There was just one issue that I wasn't entirely sure on: his handling of the virgin conception and virgin birth. To be clear, he strives to follow the texts carefully, examining what they say, and what they mean. Perhaps it was just a shock to discover that, in his opinion, the prophecy of the virgin being with child being called Immanuel wasn't a Messianic prophecy which was expected to be fulfilled, nor was it expected to be a virgin - the word in Hebrew in Isaiah 7:14 refers to a maiden (who would have been a virgin as she was unmarried). 'It was only after the event that Matthew saw a special significance in this particular prophecy: there was no way in which it could have created the event.' Later, when writing about Galatians 4:4, and observing that this is not explicitly about the virgin birth, his comment is that 'the wonder of the birth of Jesus is not 'how' he came, but 'that' he came.'
With this slight reservation (and a tiny error concerning Rahab and the spies), the book is still worth a read, particularly for preachers, with many useful asides to preachers and suggestions for themes to develop in our own style. But it's not just for preachers. Any Christian will be encouraged and taught by the comprehensive collection of Christmas sermons.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Sermon: John 1: 4-5 Life and Light
Darkness.
You can tell when it’s getting close to Christmas. The days are getting shorter, nights get longer, and the darkness is with us. As they used to say at home ‘the nights are drawing in’. Darkness. The nights seem so bleak, without hope. If you’re caught outside at night, it’s hard to find your way.
[ I remember one time a few summers back I went out for a walk with a friend, but went a bit too far out into the country from Dromore, and so it was dark by the time we were coming back - it was hard to find our way along the road. ]
That’s why we always look forward to getting the Christmas tree up in our house - the decorations, and especially the lights brighten up the room. It’s also why the big towns and cities make such a fuss about the official switching on of the Christmas lights, with the big celebrities lined up to press the button. For example, the big celebrity this year in Belfast was, erm, Bob the Builder... (maybe not then!)
This evening, to help brighten the dark church building, we’ve used lots of candles - giving us light (as well as some festive atmosphere). These are lights shining in the darkness, and yet John isn’t writing about lights on a Christmas tree or candles in a church building.
Each of us are in darkness. We’re far from God, having turned our back on him. Things are bleak - there’s no hope in the darkness, no way out. We can’t see where we’re going. It’s a dangerous place to be.
Yet John says that there is ‘the light’. So what is the light shining in the darkness of this sinful world? What is the light to show us the way?
John writes that the light of men, the light for all people comes from the life in him - in Jesus, the Word, who has made all things. ‘All things were made through him’ so Jesus is the one who gives life. Jesus is the life-giver, the source of life, and his life gives us light.
Outside of Jesus, we have darkness, and because of our sin, death. With Jesus, we have light, and because of his life, we have light.
At Christmas, we celebrate the great news that Jesus who is the light of the world came into the world, he was born. We’ve already sung it tonight: ‘Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting Light’
But we can’t leave him in the manger, for ever the beautiful baby. Jesus came to show the light of life as he revealed God to us as he taught; as he healed the blind and lame; and as he raised the dead. As verse 5 says: ‘The light shines in the darkness’
Jesus, the light, was born to die, thirty-three years later, on that cruel Roman cross. The darkness seemed to be triumphing, as the light was seemingly extinguished. Darkness is not just the absence of light, but active evil and rebellion against God’s light and truth. As the words of ‘In Christ Alone’ put it:
There in the ground, his body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain
But death could not hold Jesus. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, that Easter Sunday, and lives forever! Jesus is not dead - he is alive! The darkness did not win, light has triumphed - the Lord Jesus is King. ‘The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.’
This is the glorious message of Christmas - that the light of the world has come, and has triumphed over the darkness. The question is: Where are you? Are you sitting in darkness, without God and without hope? Everything seems bleak, you can’t see a way through, this Christmas may seem to be a dark time.
Remember that the light of Jesus will defeat your darkness. Look again at that verse carefully: Everything up to now has been past tense. In the beginning was the Word... was, was, was. But in verse 5 we have a change: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ John was writing these words long after the resurrection. The light of Jesus continues to shine two thousand years later - The light still shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it - indeed, the darkness will not overcome it.
The very last book of the Bible gives us a glimpse of what heaven will be like. Darkness is finished forever: ‘Night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever.’ (Revelation 22:5)
Jesus says: ‘I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.’ (Jn 12:46). Jesus offers us light, hope and life this Christmas - eternal life with God forever, which we can begin to enjoy here and now, as we trust in him. Will you remain in darkness, or live in the light?
This sermon was preached at the Carols by Candlelight service in St Elizabeth's Dundonald on Sunday 20th December 2009. John 1:1-14.
You can tell when it’s getting close to Christmas. The days are getting shorter, nights get longer, and the darkness is with us. As they used to say at home ‘the nights are drawing in’. Darkness. The nights seem so bleak, without hope. If you’re caught outside at night, it’s hard to find your way.
[ I remember one time a few summers back I went out for a walk with a friend, but went a bit too far out into the country from Dromore, and so it was dark by the time we were coming back - it was hard to find our way along the road. ]
That’s why we always look forward to getting the Christmas tree up in our house - the decorations, and especially the lights brighten up the room. It’s also why the big towns and cities make such a fuss about the official switching on of the Christmas lights, with the big celebrities lined up to press the button. For example, the big celebrity this year in Belfast was, erm, Bob the Builder... (maybe not then!)
This evening, to help brighten the dark church building, we’ve used lots of candles - giving us light (as well as some festive atmosphere). These are lights shining in the darkness, and yet John isn’t writing about lights on a Christmas tree or candles in a church building.
Each of us are in darkness. We’re far from God, having turned our back on him. Things are bleak - there’s no hope in the darkness, no way out. We can’t see where we’re going. It’s a dangerous place to be.
Yet John says that there is ‘the light’. So what is the light shining in the darkness of this sinful world? What is the light to show us the way?
John writes that the light of men, the light for all people comes from the life in him - in Jesus, the Word, who has made all things. ‘All things were made through him’ so Jesus is the one who gives life. Jesus is the life-giver, the source of life, and his life gives us light.
Outside of Jesus, we have darkness, and because of our sin, death. With Jesus, we have light, and because of his life, we have light.
At Christmas, we celebrate the great news that Jesus who is the light of the world came into the world, he was born. We’ve already sung it tonight: ‘Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting Light’
But we can’t leave him in the manger, for ever the beautiful baby. Jesus came to show the light of life as he revealed God to us as he taught; as he healed the blind and lame; and as he raised the dead. As verse 5 says: ‘The light shines in the darkness’
Jesus, the light, was born to die, thirty-three years later, on that cruel Roman cross. The darkness seemed to be triumphing, as the light was seemingly extinguished. Darkness is not just the absence of light, but active evil and rebellion against God’s light and truth. As the words of ‘In Christ Alone’ put it:
There in the ground, his body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain
But death could not hold Jesus. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, that Easter Sunday, and lives forever! Jesus is not dead - he is alive! The darkness did not win, light has triumphed - the Lord Jesus is King. ‘The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.’
This is the glorious message of Christmas - that the light of the world has come, and has triumphed over the darkness. The question is: Where are you? Are you sitting in darkness, without God and without hope? Everything seems bleak, you can’t see a way through, this Christmas may seem to be a dark time.
Remember that the light of Jesus will defeat your darkness. Look again at that verse carefully: Everything up to now has been past tense. In the beginning was the Word... was, was, was. But in verse 5 we have a change: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ John was writing these words long after the resurrection. The light of Jesus continues to shine two thousand years later - The light still shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it - indeed, the darkness will not overcome it.
The very last book of the Bible gives us a glimpse of what heaven will be like. Darkness is finished forever: ‘Night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever.’ (Revelation 22:5)
Jesus says: ‘I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.’ (Jn 12:46). Jesus offers us light, hope and life this Christmas - eternal life with God forever, which we can begin to enjoy here and now, as we trust in him. Will you remain in darkness, or live in the light?
This sermon was preached at the Carols by Candlelight service in St Elizabeth's Dundonald on Sunday 20th December 2009. John 1:1-14.
A White Christmas?
Snowy Sunday Morning
Originally uploaded by Garibaldi McFlurry.
Could we yet have a white Christmas? This morning we woke to the sights of a light covering of snow which fell overnight. As I write, it's just coming on again - very festive for our Carol Service this afternoon, although perhaps not if some people can't make it by car or foot, and especially if some of our older people don't venture out in the frosty snowy weather.
The last White Christmas I can remember was in 2004, when Dromore got a nice snowfall for Christmas Day. Can we get the same this year in Dundonald?
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