Advent 2022 - A Season of Hope

November 22, 2022

The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do. The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—for all its strength, it cannot save you.

But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.

He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.

Psalm 33:13-22

Gary Thomas, wrote an article in Christianity Today many years ago. In it he described an apparently true story that involved a world famous atheist.

Former Vice President George Bush was sent to Russia as the diplomatic representative of the United States Government for the funeral of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. While there, it seems that Bush was deeply moved by a silent protest carried out by Brezhnev's widow.

When it was near the end of the service, she stood motionless by the coffin until seconds before it was closed. Then, just as the soldiers touched the lid, Brezhnev's wife performed an act of great courage and hope; a profound gesture in the midst of everyone there - she reached down and made the sign of the cross on her husband's chest.

There, in the citadel of secular, atheistic power, where God was nowhere to be found, the wife of the man who had run it all hoped that her husband was wrong. She hoped that there was another life. She hoped Jesus was truly the Son of God and that the same Jesus might yet have mercy on her husband. (Gary Thomas, in Christianity Today, October 3, 1994, p. 26.)

She hoped.

Hope - it’s defined this way by the American Heritage Dictionary: a.) To wish for a particular event that one considers possible; b.) to have confidence or trust; c.) to desire and consider possible.

The great G.K. Chesterson put it this way: “Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all...As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength.”

If there was ever a time of the year we desperately need hope, it is betweenThanksgiving and Christmas. With all of the colors, lights, food, festive gatherings, traditional movies to watch, and carols to sing - we find out that it is also the time of the year when depression, loneliness and sorrow strengthen their grip on humanity. It is a time of utter hopelessness for many. Maybe even you.

And, it is true, tears often accompany hopelessness.

One of our favorite contemplative authors Eugene Peterson says this: “History is lubricated by tears. Prayer may be most prayer when it is accompanied by tears. All these tears are gathered up and absorbed in the tears of Jesus.”

Or as the Psalmist writes: “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book” (NLT - Psalms 56:8).

So, let the carols be raised. Let the lights twinkle. Let the kids get giddy. Let the coffee be stirred with a peppermint stick (the kind that melts in your mouth). Let the stockings be hung.

And, know this, it’s ok to cry. It’s ok to feel overwhelmed. It’s ok to miss your loved one. It’s ok to wish it was all done and over with and January 2, 2023 was tomorrow.

How do we know this?

Jesus wept.

And, that our friends should give us all hope. The One who will “wipe every tear from our eyes” himself wept. He knew loss. He knew pain. He knew abandonment. 

How comforting that is to those of us who struggle at times emotionally and mentally.

The Advent season is marked by “waiting; expectancy; hoping.” Jesus has indeed come. He is coming again. And the next time, he will not leave us to ourselves but will bring us with him and we will cry no more forever. That is a reason for hope.

And Advent is a not–so-gentle reminder that this is a season of hope. We wish you all a hope-filled holiday season.

Missy and Steve

Love Conquers Fear

 

There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God - Romans 3:11

For the heart of this people has become dull - with their ears they scarcely hear and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them’ - Matthew 13:15

Little Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup. But, Johnny didn't want to go. He stopped and looked straight into his mom’s eyes: "It's dark in there and I'm scared to go in there all alone," he said. She asked again, yet he still persisted that he not go in there alone. Finally she said, "It's okay, Johnny, Jesus will be in there with you."

Filled with a glimmer of courage Johnny walked hesitantly to the pantry door and slowly opened it. He peeked inside and saw it was dark. With his voice barely above a whisper, Johnny said: "Jesus, if you're in there, would you mind handing me a can of tomato soup?"

Fear. It’s not a laughing matter.

Fear is so prevalent nowadays we have had to develop new terminology to describe fear. Things like peladophobia: fear of baldness and bald people. Aerophobia: fear of drafts. Porphyrophobia: fear of the color purple. Chaetophobia: fear of hairy people. Levophobia: fear of objects on the left side of the body. Dextrophobia: fear of objects on the right side of the body. Auroraphobia: fear of the northern lights. Calyprophobia: fear of obscure meanings. Thalassophobia: fear of being seated. Stabisbasiphobia: fear of standing and walking. Odontophobia: fear of teeth. Graphophobia: fear of writing in public. Phobophobia: fear of being afraid.

And of course, sermonophobia - fear of a sermon going too long…ok, we made that up.

What are you fearful of? What causes you to freeze up? What gives you the heebie jeebies?

If you read the Psalms you find that time and time again David wrestled with fear. In the Gospel of Mark you read about a young man who ran away naked out of the Garden of Gethsemane. And, of course, in the book of Acts you read about the sons of Sceva who faced off against evil and were beaten up and ran away.

Yes, fear is found throughout the Bible.

But, at the same time, fear does not have the final say. In this life or the next.

The Word of God reminds us: 

    1.) “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” - I John 4:4

    2.) “What shall we say in response to all of these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” - Romans 8:31

    3.) “...because everyone who is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith” - I John 5:4
    4.) “...the battle belongs to the LORD…” - I Chronicles 5:22
    5.) “The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can a person do to me?” - Psalms 118:6.
    6.) “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness” - Isaiah 41:10
    7.) “So do not be afraid; you are worth more than the sparrows…” - Matthew 10:31

Now, the Bible is just a collection of books, thoughts, wisdom, history, songs, prophecy, and the sayings of a homeless, wandering Rabbi - unless you apply them to your life. If you place your faith (trust) in the Bible as the word of God then they become more than words. They give life. They become life.

Unfortunately, people do not read the Bible anymore, unless they are facing a crisis. They are afraid and they have nowhere else to turn. Then, they may crack open that book covered in dust. That leads to a life of fear.

We live in a culture that is based on fear. The news, social media, political parties, businesses - they all feed on people’s fears. Give people something to be scared about and then offer them the solution. That is how they control you. That is how the world operates.

God does not operate in fear. As a matter of fact, all of the teaching, preaching and shouting about hell and damnation - is nothing more than a ploy by people who want to “scare” people into heaven or control their behavior. 

Sure, there are words in the Holy Scriptures about judgment upon sin and those who refuse grace and mercy. Judgment on sin is coming.

That said, God’s love destroying our fear is much more prevalent and powerful in bringing people into God’s kingdom.

After all, it’s why we remember Jeremiah 31:3, “...I have loved you with an everlasting love.”

It’s why we repeat the words of our Savior: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son; so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.”

It’s also why we close this week’s note out with these words:

“All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first,” - I John 4:15-19.

LOVE CONQUERS FEAR

Out of Focus - Out of Faith

 

01-18-2022

When Moses had finished speaking these words to all Israel, he said to them, “I am now a hundred and twenty years old; I am no longer able to come and go, and the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.' 

The LORD your God Himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will dispossess them. Joshua will cross ahead of you, as the LORD has said. And the LORD will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, when He destroyed them along with their land.

The LORD will deliver them over to you, and you must do to them exactly as I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with these people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” 

Deuteronomy 31:1-8

As we put together this week’s newsletter we are busy getting ready for our church’s Annual Conference this coming Sunday evening. We will get to see our wonderful District Superintendent, Kevin Brouillette and share what God has done for his people at Cornerstone Community Church this past year and focus on what we hope to see our heavenly Father do this year.

This is a vital exercise for our faith because we need to remember what God has done and focus on what he is and is going to do - for that is the springboard of faith to trust him.

To be honest - we don’t know what 2022 holds in store for any of us. We are not sure of anything at this point. We think most of us may be a little uncertain of what we are supposed to be doing. The Church, as we know it, is rapidly changing. Ministry is going to look alot different moving forward. We think all of our lives are going to look different moving forward as well. And, maybe that’s a good thing.

With that in mind we offer the following verses to guide us as we journey into 2022...

John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 6:31-34: “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Now, notice a few things which will undoubtedly encourage you in the days ahead…

1.) Become aware of how many times these verses point to where our focus should be. God. Yahweh even speaks to himself as the place where we should concentrate. So often we revert to situational faith where we center on our problems. God says, in a nutshell, “Your situation is temporary. I am eternal. Look to me - I do not, will not change nor will I leave you.”

2.) This world is filled with obstacles and disruptions, disease and disaster. Nothing is going to change that. Rich or poor, healthy or unhealthy, loved or unloved. No one escapes struggles. The sooner we accept this truth the better we will better understand —

3.) God has overcome the world and its problems. WHATEVER, WHOEVER, WHEREVER - God has already overcome. Victory is his and therefore ours. Hence —

4.) Don’t worry about a thing. Rather, seek. When worry comes - and it will for ALL of us - take that worry and move it to seeking. Seek God. Seek his comfort. Seek his peace. Seek his strength. Seek his hand of mercy. Seek his kingdom. When you do —

5.) God, through his Son Jesus the Christ and his Holy Spirit, will provide what you need…he will provide the way. Not the way out. Not the way around. Not even the way through. Wait. What? Remember, He is the way…”For I am the way, the truth, the life…” IE: He will provide himself. What more do we need?

So many questions face the bride of Christ (the church) presently that it’s difficult to know where to begin. Some of the issues Missy and I are struggling with: Can we continue in the ministry full-time or is it time to revert to being a “tentmaker?” Will fellowships of faith need to focus more on collaborative ministries…or even come together and unite under one roof? Is it time to do away with the “system” which has run the church for the last 70 plus years? Where will the funds come to support what the local church seeks to do? What role does fellowship play moving forward? To what extent do local missions mean more? How do we care for our online friends? 

Yes, we are worried about a lot - therefore we need to be focusing on God and his deliverance. We need faith. You need faith. We all need more faith. The great Christian George Muller once wrote: “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.”

André Masséna, was a French military commander during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. As one of Napoleon's generals, he one time suddenly appeared with 18,000 soldiers before an Austrian town which had no means of defending itself. The town council met, certain that surrendering was the only answer. Why risk the lives of all of the innocent people of their town?

The old caretaker of the church reminded the town council that it was Easter and encouraged them to hold services as usual and to leave the trouble in God's hands. Rather than focus on Masséna and his 18,000 soldiers, the man of faith urged them to focus on the resurrection of Christ. Incredibly, they followed his advice. 

The caretaker went to the church and rang the bells to announce the service. Loud and long they rang. The French soldiers heard the church bells ring and immediately concluded that the Austrian army had come to rescue the town. A quick decision was made to brake camp, and before the bells had ceased ringing, the entire group had vanished.

Let the words of Paul remind us all how we are to make our way through 2022: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:6-7.  

Focus on God. Focus on your faith. If we do, perhaps we will “see” our way out of this.

Steve and Missy

What? Me Worry? Yep...

 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own."

- Matthew 6:25-34 (NET Version)

  

For years a woman had trouble getting to sleep at night because she feared burglars. One night her husband heard a noise in the house, so he went to investigate. When he got there, he found a burglar. "Good evening," he said. "I am pleased to see you. Come upstairs and meet my wife. She has been waiting 10 years to meet you."

How many of us are waiting for something bad to happen? How many of us continually worry about things that may or may not occur? I would say all of us are, at some point in our lives, in that same boat. To misquote Shakespeare, “To worry or not to worry, that is the question.”

To the followers of Jesus at Philippi - during Roman occupation - Paul the apostle quipped: “Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.” That’s a great statement - but oh the difficulty in actually placing that truth into action.

Seriously - can we actually live a life free of worry? Is that even possible? In all honesty it seems to be complete and utter nonsense. After all, can anyone live a worry-free life? Anti-anxiety if you will…

The Greek word for worry/anxiety is μεριμνάω (merimnáō) which means, literally, “drawn in opposite directions,” "divided into parts." Figuratively speaking we might use the phrase "to go to pieces" because continual worry and anxiety pull us apart in different directions. Hence, as we can see, in the New Testament it is invariably used in a negative light. So, what are we to make of this?

Well, a couple of things. First - when the Bible speaks of worry it does so in a sense that means to be a constant worrier - ie; someone who NEVER has any faith or who NEVER trusts that things will work out. It DOES NOT MEAN that we won’t ever have anxiety or fear or worry. It simply means that it will not cripple us or pull us away from Christ. Anything that pulls you away from Jesus is sin...continual worry is just that. Not everyday-going-through-life worries and concerns - that is not sin.

Secondly, the Word of God is actually trying to not focus on the negative (worry/anxiety) but rather on the positive (faith/trust). Many people (believers in Jesus and non-believers) read the scriptures and focus on the negative aspects rather than the positive. These people also have the same mentality in their normal lives - the culmination leading to depression, all types of disorders, and even psycho-somatic conditions (I’ll let you google that so you’ll feel smarter).

Yet, God’s word is about healing, hope and wholeness. God is NOT a divine being who is bent on destroying your life and making everything cumbersome… God IS the Divine Being Who gave his own Son’s life in order that you might have joy - and that your joy would be complete.

Some of you are really struggling right now. We are really struggling right now. Smiles and lies aside, we feel that most of us are dealing with multiple issues and at times unbearable weight. We miss one another. We long to embrace one another. We hurt incredibly over the loss of loved ones. We weep over our children being sick. We are broken over our parents and their isolation.

We worry about tomorrow. We are anxious about paying our bills. We are stressed over going into more debt without any relief on the horizon. We are worried about jobs. We are anxious about vaccinations working or not working.

Yes, it is okay to worry. It’s not a sin. Just don’t be pulled away from your faith by your worry. Don’t be divided in your love for Jesus by your anger against your neighbor. That is sin.

We are anxious to hear how you are doing and join with you in worrying what tomorrow might bring. But, we are trusting the hand of the One who holds tomorrow. Are you?




Steve and Missy