Celebration of Death

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. (II Corinthians 2)
Today we will walk through a day which is for many a celebration of death. The skeletons are hanging everywhere. Even in the religious background, with the idea of "all saints' eve" is the fact that the saints are those who died for the faith.  We must make it through this day, realizing there is one death that really matters - Christ on the cross for our sins.  But we do not stop there; we move on to His triumph over death. For His followers, we are marching in a parade celebrating new life in him, as we go past those who are dying.  Let's invite them to join us in celebrating not death, but life. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It1XzDf-pFo

One of ONE

 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. (Ephesians 4)
So, I woke up with a song in my head I cannot get out, nor can I find it on the internet.  It is a worship song about us being "One" as the body of Christ. So the scripture above will have to do. (Not a bad thing...) What is our biggest challenge as believers? What does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of our calling in Christ? To know, believe, and act like we are one member in the body of Christ, and our job is to do what He has called us to do in that One body. And it's a challenge, because we all look out for number one.  May we actually live what is true in the eyes of God.  Meanwhile, for our edification...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riWye9M0L4E

Are you a "Good Read"?

 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (II Corinthians 3)
You are being read.  My mom used to tell me "I can read you like a book", or as Paul would say, like a letter.  We show on the outside what is on the inside. Do we show Christ, and the power of the Spirit in how we live? Do we have hearts of stone, and lives that look it, or hearts open to His working and leading, which are seen as an open book, honest and sincere, seeking to live for Him? 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm1L3wDfPKQ&list=RDfm1L3wDfPKQ&start_radio=1&t=0

Are you building walls?

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. (II Corinthians 6)
Walls are good things: they protect, support the roof, etc.  But so are doors and windows - they open.  Sometimes we build walls to hide, to shut out others, to try to forget instead of deal with sin, pain, or decisions.  I am amazed, though not at all surprised at how often professing believers build walls, turn their backs, and try to ignore broken their broken relationships and lives and leave behind fellow believers, preachers, and churches, as if those things will not some day be seen and open by the One Who sees all.  It's not doing anyone any good - only making us proficient at building walls.  Open the door, the window, and your heart.  People really care, and so does God. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbdJXKqVgtg

You mean they don't all wear white hats?

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
    and I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
    and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
    then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
    and you shall be sons and daughters to me,says the Lord Almighty.”

(II Corinthians 6)

Growing up, cowboy movies and shows (westerns) were big fare.  One of the rules, we were told, is that the good guys always wore the white hats.  Often it proved to be true, though never clear whether it was cause or effect.  Being a follower of Christ should make us stand out as different from the world around us - not in a self-righteous "look at me" kind of way, but in that it is apparent that Christ lives within, and we walk with God day in and day out.  There will be certain things we do and do not do because we understand the message being portrayed when we violate God's laws: we are attacking His very character; we are acting as if we are not His children; we live as if we have not been changed from within. May we allow God to show us today, through worship and His Word, ways in which we are not being those family pictures He wants to present...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm1L3wDfPKQ

The Blood of Christ

17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (I Peter 1)
Waking up with a headache can be interesting - your brain flows in and out of full function. This morning all I could think about was the phrase of a song about the blood of Christ.  What He did for us is our greatest motivator for living life to please God, for living life period. The shed blood of Christ gives us life. It gets us up in the morning to ask: what would you have me do today, Lord? Take a few minutes today to think on that...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hltztj0NNMY

The Abuse and Neglect of the "Altar"

18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. (Matthew 23)
To be sure, the altars of the Old Testament are far different to whatever we would refer to as an altar in worship today. But there are touchpoints worth mentioning, the most of which is coming before the throne of God, humbly worshiping Him, seeking Him, and submitting to Him.  In this passage, these religious people were making too much of "the altar", putting more stock in it than in God Himself.  But Jesus presumed that people would and should "come to the altar" in worship, bowing before the Lord.  If not, something is wrong. There was, and still is, abuse and neglect.  We can put too much in "the place", and too little in the meaningfulness of being willing to come before Him without shame or restraint.  The neglect of the altar is pride. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KShVx3jtvI

Healthy "Fear"

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
    and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
    if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
(Proverbs 9:10-12)
The Fear of the Lord.  Somehow that phrase still gets my attention. Even after seeing, hearing, and reading it for decades.  It grabs me by the collar, yet embraces me.  When we embrace it back our lives are changed. Not only are our good days longer, they will be less lonely.  Running from God only makes us more lonely. Standing in His presence brings light to the fact that we are not alone and stand with us in a Revelation kind of way - seeking to worship Him.  Humbly bowing before Him is the path to life, especially when we stand by the side of "the way, the truth and the life, Jesus Christ.  Have a healthy dose of fear today. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ5SnupM8Ws

Same Power or Same Pride?

16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. (Exodus 9)
These verses, planted in the midst of theological controversy actually pose a simple question: Are we living by pride against te power of God, or as willing vessels for the power of God? Are we willing to submit to the sovereignty of God, or shaking our fists as we try to break loose from His loving embrace? As Paul tells us, we have the possibility of seeing the power of God in our lives - the same power that rose Christ from the dead. What will it be? For or against?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InsifiZxVXU

Christ Alone, from Beginning to End...

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
    and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (I Corinthians 1)

I like bookends. They keep things from falling over, neat and organized. They can even look classy (Like my Charlie Brown and Snoopy set?) In the two letters of Paul preserved in scripture, we find such bookends. He begins here in the first chapter of the first letter with this proclamation: "I know not everyone will get it, but the "weakness" of God in Christ is stronger than any strength of man. Now, fast forward to the closing two chapters of the "second" letter and we find that in his weakness, Christ makes him strong. It is indeed in Christ's strength alone that Paul found His energy and ambition to go on in life and accomplish anything at all. May the same be true of us...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwyuPvNjhUM

Carry the Light

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 
(II Corinthians 4)
So... my wife likes raspberries... and we had none - except out in our yard, in the dark.  So I took my handy dandy phone and did what every red-blooded American would do - used it as a flashlight (anything except a phone).  It was quite dark, but the light did the trick.  Sometimes we forget just how dark this world is in sin. With electric 24-7 and lights at the flick of the switch (or an app on our phone) we can be surrounded by light - until there is no electric. May we be reminded today that many (or most?) around us are lost in darkness, without hope and without God. They need someone to shine the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ into their lives.  We are instructed to "carry the light":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnsrjFCkYjw

Praise Ye the LORD! (Hallelujah!)

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
    praise him according to his excellent greatness!

3 Praise him with trumpet sound;
    praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
    praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals;
    praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

(Psalm 150)

Woke up this Morning Praising God, with this simple song we have been singing every week.  It is one of those "can't get it out of my head songs" (Thanks Worship Team), but combined with the Psalm above, and the prospect of worshipping with God's people today, it's not a bad place to be.  And if the old version is too calm, try this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuODF9Kbgnw

Built on the Best

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2)
When building a building - especially a larger one, nothing is more important than the cornerstone and foundation. The same is true of one's life and relationships.  If we want our life to stand, we cannot build on the sand, and we need a Solid Rock around which to build ourselves.  If we want our relationships to last and weather storms, we need to both, or all, be building around Him. He holds us together.  Are we making him a cornerstone, or trying to just use Him for decoration? 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvLxZEU02uI

Christmas Countdown Calmness...

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2)

Yes, I'm really going there.  I've had to be in a lot of stores this week, and there it is, looming behind the 1 or 2 rows of Halloween and Fall clearance: Christmas decorations leading to fast-filling shelves of toys. But I refuse to give in to the rising tide. I find solice in the calming voice and words of Linus: "good news... peace."  And for those of you who must have Christmas music at least 10 weeks in advance, the tune lulling in my head as I awoke; may it bring you peace...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBTAee5IfOw