Great Reads from 2015, Part II

In my last post I mentioned seven of the best books that I had read in 2015. This is part two of that original list. As I stated in the original posting, these books are in no particular order. They are all wonderful and I commend them all to you, the reader, both for knowledge and for enjoyment.

The Man in the High Castle, by Philip K. Dick, 288 pages.

Philip Dick wrote this alternative history novel in 1962. The Allies have lost World War II and the Nazi's occupy the United States from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountain States. The Empire of Japan occupies the Pacific States up to the Rocky Mountains. The Rockies act as a neutral zone between these two powerful forces.

This Hugo Award winning novel was made into a steaming video series by Amazon this past year. While I immensely enjoyed the Amazon series (I read this book after binge watching the series!), this novel, to put it simply, is not the series. The storyline of the novel can be found within the series, but it is but one of many plot lines unfolding in that ten week storyline. Basically, if you love history, you'll devour this book. I read it quickly--indeed, I had a hard time putting it down!

Geneva Two: A Parable of Christian Community and Calling, by Russell D. Smith, 150 pages.

Full disclosure: I know the author of this wonderful story and consider him to be my friend. That being said, Russell Smith is one heck of a story teller. He is also a very thoughtful, deep, intentional, thinker. This book is about the concept of living in an intentionally Christian community. Geneva Two, we learn early on in the story, is an organic community living within the Cincinnati metro where many of the residents have made a decision to live as Christians. This idea may puzzle some of you reading this post-- after all, aren't a majority of Americans Christian?

The short answer to that question is that most Americans don't intentionally live their faith in a holistic fashion. While I would hesitate to classify this book in the "Utopian" genre, the author does flirt with that idea throughout. This is a fast moving story written from the perspective of a reporter who has come to Geneva Two to learn more about this unique community. He learns that Geneva Two is not a perfect place, but it is a beautiful place...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Fools Rush In: Where Monkey Fear to Tread-Taking Aim at Everyone, by Carl R. Trueman, 241 pages.

This is a fun book. Truman is Professor of Historical Theology and Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He is also the host of the podcast, "The Mortification of Spin."

For those who have not been introduced to Dr. Trueman, you will need to know that he is brilliant, funny, English, Reformed, and confessional. The forward to the book, written by Rodney Trotter, perhaps sums up this book the best, "The essays, aphorisms, and brief jottings in this book are not united by any internal theme beyond being reflections, whether direct, satirical, or merely subversive, or contemporary Western and particularly American culture, especially as it bleeds into the Christian world and receives inadequate responses therein. To the literal-minded, there is much here that will simply confuse; to those who prefer emoticons rather than whole sentences with built-in irony, I would simply suggest that you look elsewhere for inspiration." (page ix).

This is a great read that is funny and will make you think. If you don't want to ponder serious issues with a touch of satire and irony, stay away from Trueman!

Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering, by Timothy Keller, 353 pages.

I first became acquainted with Dr. Keller when I read, The Reason for God several years ago. Since that time I have read several of his books and been blessed by every one of them. This particular book addresses the ancient question of theodicy. That is, why do bad things happen to seemingly good people? Or perhaps viewed through a different lens, why does God permit evil and suffering to exist?

After a thoughtful introduction by Keller, he divides this book into three sections: Part One-Understanding the Furnace; Part Two-Facing the Furnace; and Part Three-Walking with God in the Furnace.  To grab the readers attention, Dr. Keller opens this book with the following lines, "Suffering is everywhere, unavoidable, and its scope often overwhelms. If you spend one hour reading this book, more that five children throughout the world will have died from abuse and violence during that time. If you give the entire day to reading, more than one hundred children will die violently...Thousands die from traffic accidents or cancer every hour, and hundreds of thousands learn that their loves ones are suddenly gone. That is comparable to the population of a small city being swept away every day, leaving families and friends devastated in the wake..." (page 1).

If you are looking for a deep reflection on the question of pain and suffering from a distinctly Christian perspective, this book is highly recommended. Keller is not a "name it and claim it" preacher. Rather, he is a deeply compassion pastor with a heart for God and God's people. This work is immersed in Scripture, prayer, study, and reflection. It is written in lay man's prose so most people can easily handle it. It has been a blessing to me.

Robert Frost: Selected Poems, by Robert Frost, 128 pages.

I have had a love-hate relationship with poetry since I was first introduced to the genre in Mrs. Pat Aegerter's sixth grade class at Central Elementary School in Hannibal, Missouri. Mrs. Aegerter had us memorize Henry Van Dyke's America For Me as homework, which I loved. This new found love for verse followed me through junior high and high school and remained with me until my college years at Western Illinois University (Go Leathernecks!).

It was at WIU, in literature classes, that the professors began to press their political agendas into the poetry--even choosing poems that to me didn't say anything worthwhile, yet claiming they were fantastic works of prose. Crazy lefty-literature professors (and their political agenda!) drove me away from a budding love of poetry for many years. [DISCLAIMER: Dr. John Hallwas, Professor of American Literature at WIU was the sole teacher who actually grew my love of this medium. His was the sole, lonely voice in a dark plain of activism that embraced the author for who their were--not what we desired for them to be and say.]

It was not until I began reading Eugene Peterson in seminary that I rediscovered an appreciation for the great poets. Peterson pointed me to Gerard Manley Hopkins. I found Billy Collins on my own, completely by chance, and an old memory of seventh grade English class, studying "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost that brought me back to this American Titan. It has been stated that in his poetry, "Robert Frost made plainspoken men and women eloquent philosophers of the human condition." If you have an interest in "earthy" poetry and prose, I encourage you to read some Frost.

Great Reads from 2015

As 2015 finds herself winding down and finding closure with each progressively darker day, there is much on my heart and mind that I find troubling. I have not blogged for several months, I believe, because my heart is heavy regarding a number of sensitive moral, political, and religious issues that are being debated in our country today. Perhaps it would be more accurate to state that my heart is heavy regarding a lack of moral and religious considerations taking place in our political discussions today.  

Rather than dwell on those heavy subjects I have put together a list of some of the best books that I read in 2015. Please note that many of these were not written in 2015 but simply read in that year. While I read other books that were very good, these were the ones that really stood out above the others.

These books are not in any particular order other than this is the order they are stacked up on my desk next to me as I type. I welcome your thoughts on these books and any suggestions that you may have for great reading in 2016.  

Looking Through The Cross by Graham Tomlin. Dr. Tomlin, Dean of St. Mellitus College in London. 217 pages.

This book is a delightful, thought-provoking meditation on the meaning of Jesus' cross in today's complex and increasingly syncretistic religious environment. The church I serve used this book for a Lenten study this past year and it was very well received. 

Chapter titles include: The Cross and Wisdom; The Cross and Evil; The Cross and Power; The Cross and Identity; The Cross and Suffering; The Cross and Ambition; The Cross and Failure; The Cross and Reconciliation; The Cross and Life.

God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades by Rodney Stark, Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences, Baylor University. 276 pages.

This was probably my favorite book from 2015. While it is a heavily end-noted, deeply researched academic book, this text reads like an action-adventure novel. 

Over the past several years many politicians, including our president, have cited The Crusades as being one of the primary causes of radical Islamic terrorist groups hatred toward the West. The crusaders are often portrayed in the media as being little more than blood-thirsty savages hell-bent on killing the Muslim infidel, filling entire cities with rivers of blood. Dr. Stark STRONGLY refutes and rebukes that generalization of the crusaders. 

These men (and some women) left their homes, families, lands, and aristocratic responsibilities not to be killers, but to serve God. They accepted the offer of the pope to take up holy orders through military service to preserve and protect the Holy Land for Christian pilgrims. Yes, there was bloodshed--but it occurred on both sides of the battlefield. If you are looking for a book that pushes back against the popular stigmatized portrayal of the crusaders, then this is the book for you!

How Dante Can Save Your Life: The Life-Changing Wisdom of History's Greatest Poem by Rod Dreher. 300 pages.

This remarkable book is Rod Dreher's sequel to his bestselling story The Little Way of Ruthie Leming: A Southern Girl, A Small Town, and the Secret of a Good Life. If you have not read Ruthie Leming (which is a true story about his sister's battle with cancer and how his family and home community responded to her), I STRONGLY suggest you read that title first. It is a wonderful story.

Rod Dreher tells us, in this book, that he came to the topic completely by accident. He had recently moved his wife and children from Philadelphia, where he was a highly successful writer, back to his hometown of St. Francisville, Louisiana. At first everything went well, but then a deep depression set in on his life. I don't want to give the story away, but know that he began to read Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy during this traumatic experience in his life and he was forever changed.  

What is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense by Sherif Girgis, Ryan T. Anderson, and Robert P. George. 130 pages.

One of the more divisive issues facing our country today is the question of marriage. What is marriage? What constitutes a marriage? Who can be married? As an orthodox Christian who attempts earnestly to uphold the historic faith of the church, I hold to the historic definition of marriage as between one man and one woman. I realize that many of you just labeled me an intolerant bigot who hates gay people--that is unfortunate. It is also not true.  As a people, for the common good, we must learn to stop labeling people and start listening to one another. 

One thing I have noticed in various conversations I have had with people regarding marriage is that we are basically talking about two different understandings of one institution. There is the conjugal view, and the revisionist view. The conjugal vision of marriage is one that has long informed the law, along with literature, art, philosophy, religion, and social practice. The revisionist vision understands marriage as a loving, emotional bond; one distinguished by its intensity. (page 1) The authors do a very nice job of describing both views fairly--and then advocating for the conjugal understanding.

This short book is not an easy read but people with a high school reading level should be able to handle it if they work through it. I don't make that statement to sound condescending. It took me multiple efforts to work my way through the book. Whether you hold to a traditional view of marriage (conjugal) or are a revisionist, this book is worth your time and effort.

Institutes of the Christian Religion: 1541 French Edition (The First English Translation) Translated by Dr. Elsie Anne McKee. 735 pages.

As a student at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary years ago I took a class on John Calvin where we read the two volume 1559 edition of his Institutes of the Christian Religion translated by John McNeill. That edition, while a true gift to the church, is a massive tome, originally written in Latin--the language of the academy in the 16th century.

This particular edition, which was written in Calvin's native French, is a much smaller window into his this theological thought process. I did not read this book initially for fun and pleasure. Rather, I am in a theological reading seminar group sponsored by the Foundation for Reformed Theology and this is the text my group decided to study for our week together in Dubuque this past August. Dr. McKee has done a wonderful job in translating the French into easily readable English prose while protecting the thought process of Calvin.  I was blessed by both the reading and the discussion around the table regarding this book. If you are looking for an academic read that lifts up the historic faith of the church from a theologically Reformed perspective, this text is highly recommended.

Special thanks to Dr. James Goodloe IV of the Foundation, and to my seminar brothers: Will Shurley, Jim Gunn, Matt Wright, and David Webster for reading and discussing this book with me. 

God Dwells Among Us: Expanding Eden to the Ends of the Earth by Greg K. Beale and Mitchell Kim. 211 pages.

I received this book earlier in 2015 because I forgot to return my card to the IVP Book Club telling them not to send it to me as the book of the month selection. I am glad that I made that mistake...

For those unaware, Dr. Beale is among the foremost Biblical Theologians in the United States today. Biblical Theology, simply stated, is the intentional process of reading the Holy Bible as one unified story of salvation. There isn't a "Hebrew Bible" and a "Christian New Testament." Rather, there is one Bible in two testaments that both bear witness to the Lordship of Jesus, and his primary intent: to bring new creation out of the old; to restore that which has been broken through sin, both in humanity (God's greatest act of creation) as well as in the created world/cosmos.

This doctrine of new creation has been the hobby horse of Dr. Beale for many years and I have a number of his books already on my shelves. These include: Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, A New Testament Biblical Theology: The Unfolding of the Old Testament in the New, The Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God, The Book of Revelation (NIGTC Series) [Beale brings an amillenial perspective] and Handbook on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament: Exegesis and Interpretation.

After reading this book, it seems that the co-author, Dr. Mitchell Kim, has helped Beale to write a book that is more friendly to lay people.If you are a lay person who understands the basic storyline of the Bible I think you will find this book highly enlightening. If you are excited about the Christian faith, and want some protein (as opposed to milky fluff like Joel Oesteen) consider this book. You will be blessed!

Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee. 288 pages.

Scout is in her late twenties, Jem has died young, and Atticus is an old man.

I don't want to share much more than that if you haven't read this book yet. One of my favorite novels of all time is To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Go Set a Watchman, released fifty-five years after Mockingbird is part two of that wonderful story.

I have read all of the bad press about this book. Critics state that Lee takes the readers to places that make them emotionally uncomfortable. There is also the contention that Harper Lee didn't actually write the book at all. My thought is that if you have read To Kill a Mockingbird and felt it had any kind of impact on your life, then you need to read this book. It will take you out of your comfort zone. It will make you struggle with issues that you don't want to struggle with. It will make you think....

Some Musings from a Christian Perspective on Natural Disasters

Fairdale, IL after an F4 tornado.

 It is common for people of faith to ask the question of “why?” whenever a natural disaster takes place in the world reaping havoc, mayhem, and death in its wake. This may be especially true for people in northern central Illinois in the wake of the F4 tornado that recently ripped through the small community of Fairdale, leveling over twenty homes and taking two lives. Natural disasters have been happening on the earth for nearly as long as the earth has existed. In the 21^st century alone several horrendous disasters have taken place:

• ·      In January 2010 over 230,000 were killed and another 300,000 injured when a massive 7.0 earthquake erupted in Haiti.
• ·      In April 2008 over 100,000 people were killed with another 50,000 people missing (presumed dead) when Cyclone Nargin unleashed its fury over Burma and Sri Lanka.
• ·      In August 2005 over 1,800 people died, primarily in New Orleans, when Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast.
• ·      In December 2004 a tsunami in the Indian Ocean killed over 230,000 people within a matter of minutes when thirty foot waves cleared a path of death.

To have any kind of thoughtful theological reflection of why these types of terrible things happen we must go back to the beginning—to Genesis. In Genesis chapter one we are given a brief account of the creation of the cosmos. Over the course of six days, God speaks creation into existence ex nihilo (out of nothing). We read in Genesis 1:31 “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” In studying the original languages of the Bible, we learn that whenever a double descriptor is used, such as “very good,” that it could read as “perfect.” So, on the sixth day, God looked at all that he had made, and behold, it was perfect.”

The Scriptures reveal to us that God is a creative God—and that God creates with intent and purpose. Creation did not come into existence by chance, and neither did humanity appear on the earth on a whim.  Rather, God had a particular vision for his creation—he had a plan for its existence.  We read in Genesis 2:15, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Both the Hebrew and the Greek Old Testament use verbs in this verse that are typically translated as “work” and “keep.” Later in Scripture (Num. 3:7-8; 8:25-26; 1 Chron. 23:32) we see these exact same verbs being used together to describe the work being undertaken by the priests and the Levites regarding the tabernacle, only they have a slightly different translation as “minister/serve” and “guard.” This reveals to us that the man’s (and later Eve’s as well!) role is not to be only some sort of gardener/caretaker of the garden, but also its’ guardian and priest.

           

In other words, the role of humanity (the only part of creation created in God’s image) is to act as the caretaker, the guardian, and to be the priest of the Garden of Eden. The Garden appears to be some sort of temple to God where humanity offers up the worship of creation to its’ Creator. In Ezekiel 28:11-19 Adam is portrayed dressed in the clothes of the high priest, functioning as a high priest. Also, later in the Old Testament, the Temple was the place of God’s special presence where he made himself known and felt to Israel. That is exactly how his walking with Adam and Eve in the Garden is depicted. (Genesis 3:8)

            

All that being stated (and trying to stop this brief reflection from getting too in-depth!), when Adam and Eve, the priests of creation, ate from the tree expressly forbidden by God, they ushered in complete brokenness into the creation.  Not only was humanity now marked by original sin and separated from God—all of creation fell into brokenness as well.

            

The Apostle Paul is keenly aware of this when he writes in Romans 8:20-22, “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now…” The concept that creation is waiting to be redeemed gives added weight to both the Easter story and the expectation of Jesus’ bodily return to earth sometime in the future. The Lord Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, ascension, and bodily return to earth are rooted in the commitment of God to see his creation live into the vision he has for it.  In other words, humanity and creation have been alienated from God because of sin; both are in need of redemption. Jesus’ work of redemption on the cross was not limited to restoring humanity to a right relationship with its’ Creator.  Rather, Jesus’ work of redemption on the cross was to restore the entire created order back to the plan that the Creator has always had for it before he ever spoke creation into existence. 

            

Jesus was never God’s plan B.  Rather, God, in his sovereignty, knew that his creation would fall into sin before creating.  He knew the only way to restore his vision for his creation would be to give fully of himself on the cross—and he chose to create anyway! Jesus was always God’s Plan A! What a beautiful act of love!

            

The end of the Bible reads similarly to the beginning.  It is the story of God recreating creation.  In

The River of Life in New Jerusalem.

Revelation 21:1-4 we read,  “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  And then I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” In Revelation 22:1-2 we are given very descriptive sentences of what this new city/dwelling of man and God will look like. One of the most impressive features is the appearance of the Tree of Life, which was present in the original Garden of Eden (Ezekiel also has a vision of this new re-created Eden in 47:1-12).

            

The story of Scripture is really the ongoing story of God having a vision for creation, enduring the contamination of creation, redeeming that creation, and then recreating it.  Just as God desired to dwell openly with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, so will God dwell openly with us in the restored, recreated Garden/New Jerusalem. Only then will natural disasters cease to happen—and peace will prevail.

Full Revelation-True Love-The Ultimate Valentine's Day Present

Harry Hughes (my dad).
September 11, 1937-January 30, 2011

My father was a real delight in my life.  He was raised on a small family farm in west-central Indiana, graduated from high school, and became the first member of his family to ever attend college.  He met my mother at Purdue University and they dated for several years before marrying on June 4, 1961. They raised three children together, the best they could, within the Lutheran and Presbyterian traditions of the Christian faith. I am the middle child, having sisters that flank me in ages.

I never knew my dad to be a person of secrets.  He lived a relatively transparent life and was an intensely loyal person, working for JC Penney for nearly thirty-eight years.  He was a man who loved his family deeply and was very committed to the community in which he lived. I never questioned whether or not my father loved me.  I always knew that he loved me, my sisters, and my mother. As I flex my memory muscles this afternoon, it is hard for me to remember a single tennis match, basketball game, band concert, or other school or church event that I was involved in that he was not present. I am sure that he missed a few events, but I have no recollection of any...

Dad was never afraid to show emotion.  I remember that he cried when my two grandfathers died. He cried when he and my mother dropped me off at the airport in St. Louis as I was preparing to fly to South Korea for a year long deployment in the US Army.  I can also remember him crying as he was walking my sisters down the wedding aisle.  Dad was over 6'3" tall and weighed around 230 pounds. He was a big guy, yet he was never afraid to tell his children that he loved them, and in appropriate times (in his mind) to cry in front of them...

I don't know how many college dormitories and apartments he helped to move my sisters and me into over the years, but he surely could have received an honorary degree in "moving furniture sciences." His longest move was when he moved my younger sister from Macomb, Illinois to Syracuse, New York.  I helped with the Macomb loading, but he did most of the physical work on the Syracuse end himself.  He would do anything for his children.

In contrast to my relationship with my father...

I recently watched a fascinating documentary movie on the life of former spy William Colby titled,"The Man Nobody Knew." Colby, born in 1920, had served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II behind enemy lines, and then later served for decades in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).  He would eventually be nominated by President Gerald Ford to become the Director for Central Intelligence from September 1973-January 1976.

The movie was directed and narrated by his son, Carl Colby, and told the story of both Colby's public and personal life. Colby married Barbara Heinzman in 1945. They had five children together and raised them within the Roman Catholic tradition of the Christian faith. The documentary weaved Colby's family life, through interviews with Barbara and former coworkers, as his public work life took him and his family from Sweden--> Italy --> Washington, D.C. --> Vietnam --> back to Washington, D.C., --> back toVietnam--> and then finally back to Washington, D.C. where he stayed until his public service retirement in 1976.

The storyline driving the documentary was centered on the assertion that while William Colby worked around some of the same people for many decades, and raised his family within the Roman Catholic tradition of the Christian faith, nobody really knew him.  That is, William Colby, who was a master spy, lived a life of secrets.  Layer upon layer of secrets bathed both his personal and work relationships.  The life of keeping secrets took its toll on these relationships as he never felt like he could truly open up and be honest with those he loved the most.  Carl Colby stated on at least two occasions that I remember from the film that his father never said "I love you" to his children, nor did his father show much emotion at any time toward any of the children.

The storyline held my attention, I believe, because it revealed a man deeply torn and living in two separate worlds at the same time.  William Colby loved the United States and felt a deep calling to serve her through the intelligence services to protect her and her great ideals.  At the same time, it seems, he did love his family and want the best things for them. He raised his children in the faith of the church, yet was not ever able to fully come to terms with how to raise them in an emotionally sensitive environment.  Indeed it wasn't until two weeks before his father's mysterious death in 1996 that Carl ever received any kind of note from his father expressing some sort of regret regarding how he had raised his children.
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The church I serve in Kansas City, Missouri has been on a long journey through THE STORY. Beginning back in September, 2014 we have been reading an essentially chronologically abridged edition of the Holy Bible.  Divided into thirty-one chapters, THE STORY, tells the story of salvation history in a manner that will hopefully wet the appetites for those who read through it, who will then go back to the actually Bible and begin prayerfully reading. The first twenty-one chapters of THE STORY are rooted in the Old Testament.  The last ten chapters are based in the New Testament.  Throughout this journey the congregation is reading and studying the book in small groups, and then I am preaching a pericope from that week's reading on Sunday morning.

This week we entered into the New Testament, chapter twenty-two. THE STORY blends readings from Matthew, Luke, and John regarding the birth of Jesus.  My preaching for Sunday is rooted in John 1:1-18, commonly referred to as "the prologue." To prepare for this week's sermon, I went back to the September 14, 2014, sermon video, which was the first Sunday I preached THE STORY at worship.  I was reminded, by myself!, that:

• God is a creative God.  That is, God has a particular vision for his creation and will go to great lengths to see that vision accomplished. 
• God, who spoke creation into existence "ex nihilo" (out of nothing), knew before creating that his creation would reject his plan and vision.
• God, who loved and chose/predestined us in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1) went about the process of creation knowing full well that his greatest act of creation (humanity, made in the imago dei) would reject him and his plan/vision.
• God, even in the midst of the fall (Gen. 3), promises redemption to his creation.
• God knew that this promise of redemption must be fulfilled in himself--and God knew before creating out of nothing, that this would be necessary.
• God knew, and created anyway!, knowing that he must die in order to save... 

The Old Testament is the story of God covenanting with his people, assuring them of his promise to redeem, and pointing them to the coming fulfillment of his promises in the Lord Jesus. The Old Testament spans at least two millennia in length, yet the witness of the Scriptures is amazingly consistent. The God who created the heavens and the earth out of nothing is the same God who would reconcile the brokenness and disobedience of his created beings in order to see his vision of creation through to fruition.

Karl Barth wrote (and I don't have the exact reference in front of me right now) that the incarnation of

the Lord Jesus into the world is God saying "no" to our "no."  Or, in other words, Jesus' birth in Bethlehem two thousand years ago is the result of God rejecting our rejection of him. In the birth of Christ Jesus we are shown that God's love is greater than our selfish disobedience.

In John 1:1-4 (ESV) we read, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men." The Word is not created, but rather, is eternal.  The Word is part of the divine economy of God, along with the Father and the Spirit.  What is remarkable about the opening lines of John is his assertion, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father  full of grace an truth." (1:14, ESV)

In other words, God fully became a human being in order to lay down his life to reconcile his creation back to himself, so that his vision and intention for creation may come to pass. In the incarnation of the Word into flesh (the person and Lordship of Jesus), God rejected our rejection of him.  He committed himself fully to his creation, to the people he had made in his own image. He became a human being so that he may suffer on our behalf so that we might be saved from the ravages of the brokenness that our sin had brought into the world. He bore the wrath of God's holiness and divine judgment upon himself that we may be made found innocent in God's eyes.

Unlike William Colby, who refused to be vulnerable in front of his family, God-in-and-through-Jesus fully gave of himself on our behalf.  This is the greatest act of love the world has ever known. The Apostle Paul writes, "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross..." (Philippians 2:5-8, ESV) God, in a sense, in the death of Jesus on the cross, became the very definition of vulnerable, in order to seek and save the lost.

This is what Valentine's Day is really all about.  It's not about candy, dinner, a romantic night, or receiving a nice piece of jewelry.  Rather, Valentine's Day is about real, true, passionate, abiding love.  There is no greater love than the love for us in Christ Jesus the Lord.

Happy Valentine's Day!                             Soli Deo Gloria!

Some Musings on Epiphany in Light of New Year's Resolutions

Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV)

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

As I write this post on the evening of January 1, 2015 I have just spent several minutes reading the posts of friends on Facebook.  Many of the posts I read were reflective of the start of a new year; i.e.., there are many posts pertaining to New Year's resolutions and hopes for a better 2015 than 2014.  I found it interesting that the feed I was receiving from Facebook pertaining to my 618 "friends" included but one post of the season of Christmas still being ongoing, and zero posts pertaining to Epiphany, which is officially on January 6, but it is celebrated in many churches this coming Sunday, January 4.  Epiphany comes from the Greek "epiphanai" and simply means "manifestation" or a "striking appearance."  It is twelve days after Christmas (hence "The Twelve Days of Christmas") and the Biblical text for this day revolves around Matthew 2:1-12 (see above), which is the story of the magi/wise men bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Jesus the child.

This story is striking to me for a number of reasons.  In no particular order--and bullet pointed due to my thinking on the text at this point:

1. The men in this text are magi; that is, they are astrologers. This makes them doubly unclean to the first century Jewish community.  They were not ethnically or religiously Jewish (converts), and they were worshipers of creation rather than worshipers of The Creator.                   

1. Despite being doubly unclean, God had reached out to them through a medium they would understand (the stars).  These men responded to God's invitation with eager hearts, not fully understanding what would await them after many weeks of dangerous travel.

2. They recognized the divine in creation (the star) and responded to it, but this general revelation of God did not bring them to Christ.

1.                         It was only after arriving in Jerusalem--the city of kings--that Scripture was consulted to locate the birth of the coming king.  That is, a revelation of God in nature (the star) could bring them to a general sense of God, but it was the Scripture which showed them the location of the new king in Bethlehem.  Without Scripture they never would have found Jesus.  
2.                         The same holds true for us today.  In Romans 1, the Apostle Paul writes, "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." (ESV)  In other words, there is no excuse for anyone not to recognize the existence of God as the Creator.  But a general, natural sense of God does not bring one to Jesus.  It is God's Word, revealed by the Holy Spirit, which brings people to Jesus.

3. The magi are outsiders to the Jewish community.  Matthew goes to great pains to reveal to the reader of his gospel that GOD LOVES OUTSIDERS.  In the genealogy account in Matthew 1 we read about four different women who were unclean--outsiders--who are in Jesus' family tree: Tamar (who tricked her father in law into sleeping with her), Rahab the prostitute, Ruth the Moabitess, and the wife of Uriah the Hittite (she's so scandalous her name is even given! [Bathsheba]). Matthew lets us know early on that all are welcome at God's table.

4. When the magi arrive in Jerusalem they meet King Herod and his scribes.  It is interesting that when the Scriptures are consulted it is the outsiders who "get it" while the insiders completely miss the significance of the star, the arrival of the magi, and their journey to Jerusalem.

5. After the magi had an encounter with Jesus they couldn't go back the way they came.  Sure, they were warned by God in a dream not to go back to King Herod, but it seems deeper than that.  These men were forever changed.  They had met Jesus, worshiped him, and they knew that they would never be the same again. They couldn't return by the road they had previously travelled.

Epiphany is significant for us today for a number of reasons.  In light of the beginning of a new year perhaps it is worthwhile for us to simply reflect on what the magi did when they arrived in Bethlehem at the home where the Holy Family was staying.  They dropped to their knees, presented their gifts, and worshiped the Lord.  It was an event of simply, humble, worship of the King. It wasn't pretentious...it wasn't fancy...it didn't have all of the trimmings...it was simple, and it was beautiful.

Oftentimes when we consider the beginning of a new year we think selfishly, perhaps for the best of reasons, about ourselves.  What are our resolutions for the new year going to be? How will they benefit us? How will we grow as people? Will they help us gain influence in work or personal relationships? Etc...

Perhaps the story of Epiphany teaches us not to be selfish with our resolutions, but rather, to live selflessly:  

•   Do we recognize that we are sinners utterly undeserving of God's love for us in Jesus the Christ (this is grace!)? 

•   Do we bow to Jesus and recognize him as both Lord and Savior...that we cannot save ourselves despite our best efforts?

•   Do we know what our gifts are in which God has blessed us, and do we present these gifts to the Lord for his glory and praise (rather than our own advancement or blessing)?

•   After an encounter with the Lord do we live the same way as before, or, are we mired in the sinfulness of our previous, unconverted life?

•   Do we look for Jesus in the Scriptures, or, do we try to find him in other "spiritual" ways such as meditation, nature walks, astrology, palm reading, or crystals?

As you start 2015 I pray you will do three things that are rooted in Epiphany (and all of

Scripture for that matter!):

1. Make a conscious decision that you will regularly attend worship services. There is nothing more important than this.  The Christian faith is to be practiced and celebrated within a covenant community.

2. Pray daily.  Set aside a block of time whether it be in the morning, afternoon, or evening to spend time alone with God.

3. Read Scripture daily.  I had a professor in seminary who regularly told us that we cannot love God deeply without knowing God deeply.  The place we come to know God deeply is where he has revealed himself in Jesus--the Bible.  Even if it is only a few verses a day, be in God's Word.  I have linked some Bible reading plans below.

The Essential 100 Bible Reading Plan

A link to a compilation of Bible reading plans by Ligonier Ministries

Grace and peace to you all as you journey as disciples of the Lord into 2015.