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December 23

Monday, December 23rd, 2024

As I write this it is hard to believe that Christmas is only two days away. Of course, if you go according to the retailers Christmas has been happening for a couple of months. I heard yesterday that WalMart already has Valentine’s Day stuff out. Well…so much for Christmas.  Let me rephrase that: so much for the commercial side of Christmas. I’m biased enough as a Christ-follower to realize that the season holds a much deeper meaning than presents, trees, endless “elevator Christmas” music, and debt.

Christmas often has hackneyed words or phrases which are used that diminish or even misrepresent the season. We often hear “Joy to the World” and yet it is during this time that more suicides happen, more sadness is prevalent, and endless violence (can anyone say a car careening through a marketplace in Germany for no real good reason at all) seems the norm. Our culture is in the throes of an antisemitic mindset that makes us forget that the very Savior whose birth we celebrate is both Jewish and middle eastern.

But I’m off on a rabbit trail with that. My whole purpose for writing about hackneyed phrases is one we hear often. Each time I hear it I cringe. I give grace because so many mean well, but the truth is that the phrase is not true.  I know what the saying is trying to say and I know that those who say it are truly trying to keep the focus where it belongs, but I believe it gets it wrong. That saying?

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

I can hear the gasps now. “How could you Bill? How can you possibly say that is wrong?” Easy. Because it is.  I’ll say this as simply as I can:

JESUS IS THE MEANING OF THE SEASON. WE ARE THE REASON.

The whole reason Jesus came to earth as God in the flesh, was to purchase our salvation by dying on a cross for our sin. We were lost and desolate and had no hope of a future because of sin. Sin had separated us from God. Not from God’s love (hence the reason why Jesus came), but from a relationship with Him. John 3:16 is clear on that. Sin brought separation; Jesus’ death brought salvation. But all that was not possible on our own. It was only possible by the humble act of God becoming flesh in the form of a baby. Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

So you see…we are the reason.

And I hope you now see that Jesus is the One who gives this whole season any meaning.

I’ll get off my hobby horse now. 🙂  I’ll simply wish you a joy-filled Christmas as you remember the real meaning of the season.  This will be my last post this week. We leave early tomorrow morning for Ohio to spend some precious time with Janna, Mike, Braden (our grandson), Cameron (his girlfriend…although to call her that is so 90s), and Andrew (Mike’s son). We will plan to be back home on Thursday. I know I will run into a ton of traffic tomorrow and hopefully not as much on Thursday. I’m just hoping that all travel is safe for all.  I will be back here, Lord willing, on Monday, the 30th.

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December 5

Thursday, December 5th, 2024

Years ago I bought a book by the late Francis Schaeffer entitled No Little People. It was a collection of 16 of his sermons. My favorite was No Little People, No Little Places. The gist of that sermon can easily be seen by the title. No one or no place the follower of Christ is should ever be seen as too small or too insignificant.

In his December 3rd devotion from Everyday Gospel Christmas Devotion, author Paul David Tripp wrote, “God calls us to represent Him in this fallen world not because we are able but because He is.” When Moses found himself before the burning bush in Exodus 3-4, he was filled with excuses on how God made a mistake calling him to face the Egyptians and to free His people in Egypt.

Moses does what many of us do. God calls us or leads us to do something and we pull out the “Excuses-to-use” book. “I’m insignificant.” “I can’t talk.” “They won’t believe me.” “Send someone else.” Excuse after excuse. Comparison. Feeling inadequate. All in an attempt to avoid heeding God’s call. 

Over the years I’ve learned something important. God doesn’t call people because they are multi-talented; can woo the socks off people; are a good fund-raiser; have an outgoing personality; or any other welcome trait that we put a premium on. No, God actually uses people who are not full of themselves. He’s not looking for those who think they are God’s gift to the human race. He is looking for people who are willing to be used. Those who realize they are nothing and can do nothing without Him.

He’s looking for people who are humble and small and willing to follow and trust Him. Hmmm. Seems to me like the precedent was set over 2000 years ago by a baby in a manger.

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December 2

Monday, December 2nd, 2024

December 2nd! Hard to believe, isn’t it, that Christmas is a mere 23 days away. In the church world, we have already begun preparing for that day. In yesterday’s message, I made a statement that I firmly believe in. It is one, I said, you can drive a nail through. That statement was God remembers His promises; God remembers His people.

Due to a messed up sleep schedule from the knee surgery, as well as rehab appointments in the early morning, I have had to adjust my time when I have my daily devotions. But I have still tried to stay on track each day. For this season, part of my time is using Everyday Gospel Christmas Devotional by Paul David Tripp. Keeping in mind the statement I made yesterday in my message, this is what Tripp’s December 2nd devotion said:

“When I read the story of Abraham and Sarah’s long wait for a promised son, I think of another Son that was promised. The hope of the world rested on the shoulders of this promised Son, but as century followed century, it seemed as though this Son would never come. But one night in a stable in Bethlehem, to a lowly carpenter and his wife the promised Messiah came. Nothing in all of those centuries that has passed was able to stop the promised of God. Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, the Lamb, the Savior was born at just the right time to provide justification, reconciliation, forgiveness, and new life to all who believe. God’s promises are not limited by human weakness or the passage of time. Don’t give way to fear; God will do what He has promised to do.”

Those words by PDT simply confirm what I said. God remembers His promises; God remembers His people. Long thought forsaken, God’s people had virtually given up looking for their Messiah. But God was not done yet. He brought to fruition every word He ever said; every act He ever did; every feast ever enacted, by the birth of a tiny baby in the city of Bethlehem. God in the flesh, the Messiah, Jesus.

My hope and prayer for you and for me is that the awareness of God’s gift becomes even more alive in us as we celebrate His birth this month.

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October 16

Wednesday, October 16th, 2024

See if any of these (or those like them) sound familiar:

  • I sure hope it doesn’t rain today.
  • I hope he isn’t mad at me.
  • I hope my car starts with it being so cold.
  • I hope my team wins.
  • I hope I pass this test.
  • I hope you like what I made.

We say that a lot: “I hope.” So much so that I suspect that it loses its oomph. It also loses its strength of meaning.

Look deeply at hope. At your way of expressing it. Your source for hope. Consider this: we are often so intent on finding hope that we lose sight of the truth that the source of hope is right next to us. Hope will never be found horizontally-at least not the eternal kind that God promises us. God doesn’t just promise hope. God doesn’t just give us hope. He is the SOURCE of hope. In fact, God is hope.

Paul David Tripp in his book, O Come Let Us Adore Him” (yes, I’m reading Christmas devotionals 🙂 ), writes:

“It’s true that hope isn’t a thing; it’s a person, and His name is Immanuel. Celebrate hope this Christmas.” (p.93)

Hope is found in the Christmas message. In fact, it is just one of the messages in the Christmas story. But, in reality, you can have hope all year ’round by focusing-not on people, places or things-but on Jesus. Start your Christmas early (Hallmark has already so you might as well join in) by seeking hope in Immanuel, Jesus, the Son of God.

{Note: There will no devotional tomorrow unless I get a wild hair. Braden, our grandson, celebrates his 18th birthday tomorrow as well as Senior Night on Friday as a member of the Worthington Kilbourne football team. We will be in Ohio starting today through Saturday celebrating him and getting to see our daughter and Mike, her significant other. Prayers would be appreciated for safe travel}

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September 30

Monday, September 30th, 2024

I know I’m early. Like almost 3 months. September 30th to December 25th early. Not a snowflake has fallen. The temps have not dropped to frost level. I haven’t seen men in red suits yet. Sadly, I did see displays this past Friday. By now you know I’m referring to Christmas.

Here it is September 30th and I’m pulling the “early Christmas move” I accuse Hallmark and different stores of doing. Halloween hasn’t even arrived and I’m talking Christmas! Mine is a lot different. Knowing Christmas will be here sooner than I expect, I begin reading devotionals in September. I’ve already read one and have 2 in the works. It not only focuses me on what is to come, it also feeds my “pastor/preacher brain.” 🙂

What spurred me this morning was talk about names. I have never really liked my name. I don’t mind “Bill”; I’ve never been fond of “William.” I definitely don’t like my middle name or the initials that go along with it. Try monogramming WAG or BAG. See what I mean? My middle name distinguished me from my dad and kept me from getting the moniker of “Junior.” As bad as I think my name is, I found one that may take the title of “Worse Name in the World.” In I Samuel the wife of one of the priests gave birth to a son in great stress when the news came that the Ark of the Covenant was stolen by the Philistines. (Where is Indy when you need him?) She named her son…wait for it…Ichabod. Ichabod! It means “the glory has departed.” I realize there is significance there since a heathen nation was now in control of the Ark. But can you imagine going through life with a name like Ichabod? Imagine the jokes about the “ick factor.” Imagine introducing him to your parents: “Mom. Dad. This is Ick.” I know silly.

All kidding aside, there is one Name that changes everything. Say His Name in a crowded room. A speech. An interview. Watch people’s reaction. Man and women known for their speaking suddenly become speechless. Uncomfortable. Suddenly the “Aaaah yeah” factor comes into play.

J.E.S.U.S. The Name above every name. The Name the Apostle Paul says will cause “every knee to bow and every tongue to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” (Phil. 2:10-11) Carry that name with you today. Wear it proudly. Speak of Him in awe and wonder. There is no other name like His.

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September 25

Wednesday, September 25th, 2024

Yeah. I know it’s early. Early for what? “I know Bill does these devotions at 0-dark-30. Is that what he means?”

In all honesty. No. As soon as I write what is to follow you will understand.

In one sense, the whole of Scripture is both a lesson in history and a promise for the future, in order that we may become like Jesus and glorify Him in the present. It’s often been said that in the Old Testament Jesus is predicted, in the Gospels He is revealed, in Acts He is preached, in the Epistles He is explained, and in the book of Revelation He is expected. (p.159)

Okay, so may that wasn’t so revealing. 🙂 This will be:

Christmas isn’t only a celebration of what our newborn King came down to earth to save us from; it’s a celebration of what He came to save us for-eternal life with Him in His perfected kingdom. (p.163)

Now you get my drift? This whole month of September I’ve been reading a new book by Alistair Begg entitled Let Earth Receive Her King. Yes. Christmas devotions. 24 of them to be exact. The preceding two excerpts were from #23, which I read this morning. “Seems awful early to be reading Christmas devotions,” you might be thinking. Really? Have you seen the Hallmark Channel? Christmas in July…August…September…October…you get my drift. 🙂

Putting all kidding aside, as I read #23 today-and particularly highlighted those  two excerpts as I read-it struck me how the Scripture all comes together. It is like one big woven story. I once heard someone say, “There is a scarlet thread that weaves its way from Genesis to Revelation.” I’ll add to that: the thread makes its way from the heart of the Garden and Adam’s sin through the sacrifices directly through the heart of the cross all the way through to the return of Jesus.

See the Bible as a whole-not as random pieces slung together. It tells a story-a redemptive story-one woven through the fabric of every scene, specifically designed for us to see and know and learn.

Don’t neglect the Book. And don’t slough off the story of Christmas…even though it is only September. In this one way the Hallmark Channel can teach us that the Christmas story-the real Christmas story-is timeless and to remembered all year long.

{Selections excerpted from Let Earth Receive Her King by Alistair Begg- The Good Book Company- Copyright 2024}

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#WhatDoesItAllMean?

Friday, December 29th, 2023

Victory

The final Sunday of 2023 is rapidly approaching. I know…hard to believe. Right? But it is a fact that Christmas is over and 2024 is staring us right in the eyeballs.  In a few days people will be staying up and watching the ball drop. The only thing I watch drop is my eyelids as I go to bed at my normal time. Usually that time is around 9:00. I may actually push it to 10:00 but I’m not counting on it. 🙂

This sermon ends my theme of VICTORY for 2023. It has been an interesting year in many ways. I took my first ever foray into preaching on Revelation.  I started it on January 8 and preached to the end of February. I took a break for the months of March and April to take a look at Characters of Easter, then preached some on Joshua as I focused on Mother’s and Father’s Day. In July and August I went back to Revelation and got to chapter 13.  During that time Pastor Ryan and his family took a 7 week sabbatical. It was a super busy time for me, but I was able to be involved in some of the young people’s ballgames (I loved it). In September and October I preached a much-needed series on The God We Worship which culminated in the church’s 19th anniversary.  During the months of November and December I honed in on More Than a Holiday (Thanksgiving and Christmas being more than a holiday on the calendar). 

And here I am…the last Sunday in 2023 and finishing up by asking “What Does it all Mean?” You can visit my other blog, Cycleguy’s Spin, for a more complete idea of the sermon. I’d like to invite you to visit us online or in person this Sunday (if you live in or around Spencer or if you are visiting McCormick’s Creek State Park). We would love to have you. We have two services: on at 9:00 and one at 10:45. Both are live streamed.

Have a good end of the year and may your 2024 bring you closer to Jesus.  I will talk about the theme for 2024 in next week’s post on the Sunday gathering.

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December 25

Monday, December 25th, 2023

Merry Christmas everyone! We left this morning for Ohio and will be home tomorrow so I’ll be taking a break from posting here. But due whether I will post this week or just include something about the sermon for Sunday. In either case, have a great week.

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#Don’tMissIt!!

Friday, December 22nd, 2023

Victory

What do the Innkeeper, Herod and the Religious leaders all have in common?  Well…I suspect the title of this post gave it away.  They all missed Christmas. Well…not Christmas as we know it. Obviously. But they did miss the significance of the birth which took place right under their noses.

At the same time there are some who did not miss Christmas. The most obvious are Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men. But there were two who had waited a long time and finally saw their wait come to pass.  I am, of course, talking about Simeon and Anna (See Luke 2:25-40 for their stories).

Back to the first three. This Sunday I will talking about how they missed Christmas and why. I thought I would give you a taste of what I will be saying.

1. The Innkeeper missed Christmas because he was too preoccupied. Have we gotten so preoccupied with life that we miss it?

2. Herod (and others like him) miss Christmas because they refuse to believe or they see Him as a threat. Like Scrooge, they work without a thought given to others or the true meaning of the season.

3. The religious leaders missed Christmas because of their religion. The big question-the huge question-is this: if the religious leaders knew of Messiah’s birth and where it was to take place, why did they not go with the magi or form a group to go together? I mean, if I had been looking for something to happen for years, and I knew it was prophesied to happen, why would I stay home? Surely they had some curiosity. But then again…maybe not.

We have one service on Sunday morning at 10:00 so if you plan to attend or watch online please keep that in mind. We also have a Christmas Eve service planned at 5:00 that will be laid back, involving singing some carols, hearing some testimonies, taking communion together, watching a Christmas video, and listening to Mollie Wainscott play O Holy Night on her violin. The morning service will be live streamed but not the evening.  I look forward to seeing you.

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December 20

Thursday, December 21st, 2023

There are just sometimes you just couldn’t orchestrate something any better even if you tried. Know what I mean? Case in point: this morning.

I have an almost constant pattern in the morning. I seldom deviate from it. Other than the shower, etc I take every morning, I have what I call my Encounter Time (ET). Some call it their Quiet Time. During my ET, I use several different resources to read and meditate on, but the crux is my reading from the Bible.  I am almost constantly reading from Psalms (usually 2 chapters a day, except 119); every other month the book of Proverbs (1 chapter/day = 31 days); and from the NT. This year I have read through the NT twice and am now on my 3rd time. This will obviously carry on into 2024. Today’s reading was from Psalm 39-40, Pr. 21, and Mark 15-16. There was some great stuff in Psalms and Proverbs today, but the real irony was in Mark. Mark 15-16 is about Jesus’ death and resurrection!!

This is Christmas…the birth of Jesus and I’m reading about the death and resurrection. The irony didn’t escape me. Birth. Death. Resurrection (Life). The story of His life and purpose. Then the words to a well-known Christmas song came to mind. Here is a snippet: “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity; Pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel…Mild He lays His glory by, Born than man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give us second birth.”

The irony-no, the truth-does not escape me. Birth. Death. Life. They go together. For Jesus. For us. Or maybe I ought to say, “For Jesus. Because of Jesus for us.”  The birth needs the death and resurrection to give meaning. The death and resurrection needs the birth to have a beginning. “Born to raise the sons of earth/Born to give them second birth/Hark the herald angels sing/Glory to the newborn King.”

Celebrate His birth with the future (His and yours) in mind.

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