CHRISTMAS MORNING TRADITIONS

BY STEVE DUNN

I was up early today.  5:55 to be exact.  Lately that has been "sleeping in" for me.  Spending this particular Christmas at home of my daughter Christi and her husband Tim in northern Kentucky. A little after six, I heard the first stirrings of my grandson Jake, a 5th grader, who will have the responsibility of waking everyone "when it's time."

Long ago our family began a Christmas tradition that I have discovered is now part of the Christmas tradition in all the families my adult children have established.  Before we open the presents, my wife Dianne will read to us from the Nativity account in Luke 2.  Then we will thank God for the incredible (and most costly) gift we have ever received--the gift of his Son, our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

And then, we will open what this year appears to be a "ton" of Christmas presents (the evidence you can see under their Christmas tree).

Last night we kept another tradition, attending a Christmas Eve Service together.  Not returning to a church that had been our family church forever (my family church closed almost a decade ago) nor in a small church steeped merely in nostalgia, but this year in a large mega-church quite different than where we would normally gather but in a place but with a group that shared our deep-rooted believe that the Birth of that Bethlehem Baby brought hope, eternal living hope to our world.

My adult children have added to their family traditions - interactive Advent calendars that they use to teach their children and variations on "elf on the shelf" that break the routine of ordinary days by adding little adventures to their day.

Like many others who still value "family" or have families to value, we will intersperse the days with phone calls to loved ones.  Those calls used to go to parents and grandparents of our families, but that category is down to one set.  Dianne and I are now the grandparents, so our calls go out to children and siblings spread across the land.  Still, this tradition persists in our lives reminding us of connections formed first in the birth canal and shaped by shared lives.

Tradition sometimes gets a bum rap in our ever-changing culture.  It's given the labels of progress-impeding or relevance-ignoring. Sometimes, tradition is indeed an justification for not being open to the new thing that God is doing in our lives or in our world.  But tradition can also be the anchor that keeps us from shallowly accepting the newest fad which will soon disappear and then struggling to find a new anchor as the rip tides of our this present age send us careening into dangerous waters.

As a Christian I reminded that tradition can also keep us connecting to something deeper.  A faith that is ancient, that was conceived in the mind of God at the foundation of the world.  Not the empty ritual practiced by so many but the vibrant faith that comes from a religion rooted a relationship that sustains us in all seasons and all decades.  Not the faith that worships the forms but the one that serves the Person, who is the living God,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it ... The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." – John 1.1-5,9-14

I pray that each of you are blessed by and keep those traditions that provide a richness rooted not in the passing, but in the eternal.

© 2018  by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com 

HEARTS OCCUPED BY JESUS

BY STEVE DUNN

My devotions this morning were from John, chapter 1.  It is sometimes referred to as John's "Nativity Story."  In that chapter speaking of Jesus' arrival in the flesh, John writes:

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1.4-5 ESV

Sadly this Advent and Christmas I have found myself reflecting too often on the dark times in which we live.  Our economy is not in good shape, the homelessness problem unabated,, the worship of guns and the random or terroristic violence in our streets has grown.  

The government is now in a shut-down.  The President has dismissed or chased away any advisors who disagree with him or would offer a counter way of looking at the world.  The political atmosphere in our country is beginning to resemble the Watergate days of my college years. Both major parties seem more intent in cultivating the ideological extremes on both ends of the spectrum rather than find a middle way that is best for all.  

Russia and other powers that have long been the enemies of democracy are once again ascending in influence and power.  People are fleeing the crime-ridden nations in which they live but are being rejected and feared by a nation that fears they will impact the places where they seek asylum.  

Oxycodone and other drugs have invaded the homes of the Middle Class.  The Church is viewed with increasing suspicion because of the child abuse coverups in a portion of the churches in our land.  Trade wars being fought in the name of our workers are hurting the workers in many industries and on farms.  Secularity has taken deep root in the worldview of our culture while evangelicalism has been badly diluted by the so-called "self-identified evangelicals" so pursued by the politicians and media.

It is a depressing list.  Yet I could name anecdotally hundreds of stories of ordinary people and local church communities and neighborhoods rallying in their small way to combat the darkness that has descended upon their individual communities  

But I know that they alone will not be enough.

What the world needs is the One who is "the light of men. The light that shines in the darkness" The Light which the darkness CANNOT overcome.  More than keeping Christ in Christmas, we need to

keep Christ in our hearts transforming into people of light.  We need this to be going on daily.  And we need to be inviting and assisting people to let this light into their hearts,

It will not be enough for our politicians and leaders and schools and government and communities and churches to become more "enlightened."  The growing belief that there is "fake news" allows us to hold onto darkness and that darkness will always find a welcome home in a heart that is not occupied by Jesus.

Now, more than ever, the world needs Jesus.

© 2018  by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com 

AN OLD TRUTH THAT MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN

by Steve Dunn

"Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world

Red and yellow, black and white

They are precious in His sight.

Jesus loves the little children of the world."

I learned that little song while a small boy in Sunday School.  It spoke to a truth that God's love knew no boundaries of race, granted no "favored-nation status" to one country over another.  God held a passionate and sacrificial love for children living in democracies, political dictatorships, hostile religious movements.  Where man would build walls, He had sent His son, Jesus Christ, to break down those walls.  He grieved the death of the unborn and watched over the first steps of the newborn.  Crack babies, refugee children, children of privilege, and children with handicaps--crippled, ADHD, autistic, or illiterate.  They are precious in His sight.

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." - Matthew 7.12

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." - Mark 12.30-31

It is so tragic for the children of the world that they share the planet with adults who have forgotten these two non-negotiables from God. (And sad that so many of those adults would still claim to be Christians."

For the sake of all the children of the world - and all those "grown up" children God loves as well -- LET'S GET THIS RIGHT !!!!!!!

© 2018  by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com 

THANKSGIVING AND GRATITUDE

BY STEVE DUNN

Which of the scenes to my right resemble the main activity of the way your family will celebrate

Thanksgiving? Will your celebration be shortened because you have an appointment with Black Friday--which is still arriving despite recent campaigns--on Thanksgiving Thursday afternoon? Will the meal be scheduled around the big football game or consumed on TV chairs instead around a family table?  Will you have an elaborate family meal marked with some words of gratitude and a prayer, savored in its fullness until you are forced to push back from the table?

I know that every year someone will launch into a critique or diatribe against the erosion of the

sacredness of the Thanksgiving swept up in the madness of sports and even great madness of battling the frenzied crowds in shopping centers.  That's not my intent today as I and my family observe the Thanksgiving holiday.

My desire is to reflect with you on a truth that has shaped my life for much of the past 67 years and recently become an even more precious value.  Let me lead into this with some quotes:

"Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; 

but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude." - E.P. Powell

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~Melody Beattie

Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. It liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation. - ~ John Ortberg

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. - Psalm 103.1-5

Do you hear the thread that works way through these thoughts?  True thanksgiving comes from grateful hearts-hearts that recognize that all that we have is a gift from God.  Not the least of which is our lives, but also our families, our gifts, our opportunities, and yes--even our challenges .  Long ago Paul wrote these words to the Ephesians: "Rejoice in the Lord always, and I will say it again--rejoice!"

Too many of us focus on what we don't have or worse, we believe that we are self-made men and women who author our own blessings.  Too many of us look at what God has given us and measure against what He has given others and feel cheated.  Or we elevate what God has given us to a place He never intended.  Like the Pharisee in the parable, "Oh God, I thank you that I am not like other men … like this sinner over there."

"He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” - Luke 8.9-14

True thanksgiving is recognizing the indescribable gift that God has given us--which outweighs anything else we possess--and living lives that express our gratitude in the way in obedience to Him.

© 2018  by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com 

HOLY TUESDAY - SPIRITUAL ABUSE

BY STEVE DUNN

"Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.” - Matthew 21.12-13 NIV

This passage of scripture appears in all four gospels and John's gospel adds the detail "So he made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple ..."  This passage is one that is the favorite of people who are trying to justify a roaring outburst of violent anger.They like to say, "Jesus was not always a nice guy," and that is true.  Jesus was not a cute little Precious Moments figure.  But neither was he the spiritual equivalent of the Terminator.  In fact, it is the only account in scripture of Jesus engaging in action that could be described as physically violent.  He had very harsh words on many occasions, especially towards those who were twisting God's Word, but even this episode was not describing Jesus as out of control.  In fact, given his zeal about the issue, it is most definitely a intentional and controlled act.

Focusing on his method often causes us to miss the point of the story.  The money changers and merchandisers were in the Temple courts under the sponsorship of the High Priest and other religious leadership.  History tells us that this arrangement led to great abuses of honest worshippers, gouging unreasonable payments from pilgrims preying upon people who had honestly come to express their deep devotion to their God.

They had turned a house dedicated to prayer and worship--perhaps the most important acts of love and devotion one can carry out towards God--into a polluted mockery of the holy Temple.

God considers this to be a particularly egregious sin--not simply as utter disrespect of His holiness but as an abuse of those whose love for God is unashamed and genuine.

We must always remember that God will not let such sin go unnoticed and unchallenged. And the abuse of those who love Him by those who are supposed to be their spiritual leaders will always arouse His righteous anger.

© 2018  by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com 

LIFE MATTERS - CHRISTMAS EVE 2017

 BY STEVE DUNN

Christmas Eve reminds me that in just the right time, while we were yet sinners (or as Paul describes it, God's enemies--a Savior was born who is Christ the Lord.  This is my favorite song of Christmas sung by David Phelps, a man of tremendous God-given talent.  May its message its invitation blessyou this Christmas with new life.

David Phelps - O Holy Night [Live] from david-phelps on GodTube.

MONDAY MORNING REFLECTIONS - THE DREADED FRUITCAKE

By Steve Dunn

I love this cartoon. I share its sentiments.  I never have met a fruitcake I liked. I think most fruit cakes are better suited as a door stop. I have no one I dislike so much that I would inflict a fruitcake upon them; although I confess that in my early adulthood I did “re-gift” a fruitcake to someone who actually wanted one and was disappointed that no one had given them.  (I think they are still my friend.)

Although a fruitcake is not a person and does not have feelings, I sometimes wonder if my contemptuous dismissal of its attraction and value to someone doesn’t say something negative about me as a person.  Something that might create a hole in my heart as a Christ-follower.

The Bible tells me that sin deserves my contempt but not the sinner.   Although God does not want us to remain in our sin because it ultimately results in our spiritual death, He does not stop loving the sinner. There is no contempt towards the person in the words recorded in John 13:17, “For God did not send His Son into the world condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

Harboring contempt towards persons for whom Christ died is the first step towards a judgmentalism that stops seeing the value that Christ sees in them.

So maybe I need to give the lowly fruitcake a break.

© 2017 by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com.  For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com