Hope

Many of us have memories of family gatherings, traditions and laughter at Christmas celebrations. Yes, I have had my share of all these things. But growing up my family was not close, whether they were immediate or not. It is one reason I love visiting my wife's family. They actually hung out and enjoyed each other, other than holidays. There was no masquerade. As I got older, and the presents faded, Christmas lost its ferver to the point that I am sometimes called Grinch because of my cynicism.

When I became a Christian I finally understood that the baby boy we celebrate at Christmas was sent straight from our Heavenly Father. That is the greatest gift we could ever receive and that is what Christmas is really about. But I get bummed because of what Christmas has become. I don't believe this is what God intended for the Savior of the world. We think, "Oh, this person gave me a gift so I have to give them a gift." What?!?! Don't misunderstand me, gift giving is not wrong, but giving a gift should come from the heart, not a sense of obligation. But more importantly Christians have lost the reason for Christmas. I expect the world to not understand this time of year, but Christians get just as caught up in the drama of it all. Maybe that is why I enjoy Thanksgiving more than Christmas - just family and food!

As I started to think about Christmas this year only one word came to mind. HOPE!!! The prostitute that was about to be stoned to death by the religious - Jesus stepped in and brought her hope of a new beginning. Jairus, as his daughter became sick and eventually died, Jesus intervened and brought her back to life and gave the family hope for better days. To the criminal on the cross with Christ, when Jesus said "today you will live with me in paradise" He brought hope of eternal life. To the disciples, some living criminal lives and others just going through the motions of life, Christ said "follow me". Those words gave them purpose and meaning.

Jesus is a Savior of hope!!!

For us. We were blind but now we see. We were lost and confused, now we have a future and a hope. The void has been filled and purpose has come. We have hope for better days, restored relationships and mended wounds.

So I wonder if the first time Jesus opened His eyes did He realize that He would be my Savior? And the first time that breath left His lips did He know that He would change the world forever?

I thank God for Hope!!!

Be blessed,
Steve

The Jesus of Suburbia

Adapted from the book, The Jesus of the Suburbia, by Mike Erre

In Luke 2:41-51, we see the boy Jesus being left by his parents in Jerusalem. As Mary and Joseph were traveling they realized that they had left Jesus behind.

"This story brings to mind much of modern American Christianity. It seems in many ways we are like Jesus' parents on the road to Jerusalem: We think He is with us, but we've moved on without Him. Do we as western Christians reflect Jesus or obscure Him? Can we say that we, His Church, teach what He taught, love what and whom He loved, and hate what He hated? Are His priorities really ours? I think we have lost sight of Jesus among all the trappings of the Christian religion. Amid all the hype about the growing political power of evangelicals, the growing numbers of mega-churches, and the booming, billion dollar Christian subculture industry, I wonder if we have left Jesus behind. Or, worse, if He has left us behind? Much of what passes for modern, western Christianity isn't of Jesus. We can (and do) lose Jesus right in the middle of prayer meetings and worship services. We can miss Him in the Bible and in church. As the Scriptures remind us, not all worship is pleasing to God, not all Church services are attended by Jesus, not all teaching is sound, and not all prayer is "in Jesus name". Is it because we have substituted human traditions for the teachings of God? Have we made our Jesus the Jesus of Christianity, not the Jesus of the Gospels? We may think we worship Jesus of Nazareth, but in reality we worship the Jesus of suburbia. A growing number of people are awakening to the same thought Mary and Joseph must have had: we've lost Jesus, and we need to begin searching for Him."

Be blessed,
Steve