Jan 9 - Eleven Faithful Apostles

Though these didn’t send at Christmas,

the principles remain the same

 

Legend tells us that The Twelve Days of Christmas

was a secret catechism during times of persecution.

For these twelve days let’s focus on twelve teachings:

The Eleventh Day of Christmas

Eleven Pipers Piping

 

My son Jay is a piper … and a fifer.

 

The first time he did a Revolutionary War re-enactment, an experienced drummer was coaching my little twelve-year-old. He explained that the fife and drums were signal callers of the unit. In the heat of battle, the wail of fifes and pipes can be heard above the musket fire. At the officer’s command, they’d blow “advance” or trill “retreat.”

 

“In battle,” said the portly drummer, “we will essential follow the line of soldiers.” Re-enactments aren’t real battles, of course. Pretend fifers don’t issue real commands. “Instead,” said Jay’s experienced coach, “When the soldiers advance, we advance behind them. And when they stop to load their muskets and fire, we kneel behind them. It was how the young drummer boys and fifers stayed safe.”

 

So Jay did as he was told. When the soldiers advanced, he stood and advanced. When they stopped and fire, he knelt behind the lines. It was up and down. Kneel and advance. Kneel and retreat. Shots were continually fired. Pretend soldiers were continually “keeling over dead.” It was up and down, up and down. Kneel and advance.

 

One time as the soldiers stopped again, the portly drummer beside Jay knelt again. But this time his pants split wide open! He whispered anxiously to my boy, “Jay, take my drum. At the next gunshot, I’m ‘dying’!”

 

Fifers and pipers were signal callers. They relayed the commands. And that’s what the eleven pipers piping represent.

 

The eleven pipers are the eleven faithful disciples (remembering, of course, that Judas, the twelfth, betrayed Jesus). But after Jesus’ death, the eleven remaining disciples were “sent to war.” Ten out of eleven were killed as martyrs. The eleventh – John – was tortured and imprisoned. But they were brave pipers, sent into hostile territory to call out the signals and commands of Jesus the King.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s willing to take

a bullet for the kingdom

(and wonders why to many are so shy

to proclaim the good news when it’s a whole lot

less embarrassing than splitting your pants)

 

SPIRIT OF JOY 25th ANNIVERSARY: Feb 1, Spread the Word!!!

You are invited! … and spread the word …

invite all your old friends too, please.

Founding Pastor, John Propst, Preaching!

Other Special Guests Too!

Join us Sunday, February 1, 2015 + 10am!

Jan 8 - Ten Commandments

Though these didn’t send at Christmas,

the principles remain the same

 

Legend tells us that The Twelve Days of Christmas

was a secret catechism during times of persecution.

For these twelve days let’s focus on twelve teachings:

The Tenth Day of Christmas

Ten Lords a Leaping

 

Yesterday we said, “If you want to dance, allow the Spirit to help you live according to the nine fruits of the Spirit.”

 

Today we say, “If you want to leap … to soar … to hope and fly and aspire … allow the Spirit to help you live according to the ten commandments.”

 

Human nature makes us want to chafe at the Law. We want to do what we want to do. But the path to true blessing is the exact opposite.

 

When we are loving God – which is what the first four commandments are about – we are following God’s life-giving priorities rather than the world polluted principles. As we said yesterday, these principles may not seem to get immediately be rewarded; but when we follow God’s path (including his rules), we begin to see God (as well as discover greater love, joy, and peace).

 

And when we are truly loving our neighbor – which is what the final six commandments are about – we are creating a life-giving relationships … and it’s that one of life’s greatest hopes and goals. Loving our neighbor has another positive effect: It recreates the world! In small, gradual, wonderful ways, loving people tend to create around them a world of love, honor, dignity, forgiveness, and selflessness.

 

Most people live like this: If I break a law, if I fudge and cheat, I’m not hurting anyone but myself. Not true. We are polluting the world. We are contributing, even subtly, to the disintegration of society. People joke about “raising a little hell,” but the fact of the matter is that fudging and cheating causes us to reap a whole lot more hell than we realize. Compromise breeds the disintegration of society.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants to leap

rather than be grounded

by the anchor of sin

 

Jan 7 - Nine Spiritual Fruits

Though these didn’t send at Christmas,

the principles remain the same

 

Legend tells us that The Twelve Days of Christmas

was a secret catechism during times of persecution.

For these twelve days let’s focus on twelve teachings:

The Ninth Day of Christmas

Nine Ladies Dancing

 

Recently a friend was diagnosed with a time-bomb in his chest. Doctors warn him: “Your vessels are weak. They could blow. Therefore, don’t do anything to raise your blood pressure.”

 

This active man took it first, and understandably, as a punch in the gut. “Don’t do,” was how it sounded.

 

But then the Holy Spirit spoke. It wasn’t, “don’t do.” It was live according to the fruits of the Spirit! Indeed, “your blood pressure won’t rise if you highest goals are …”

 

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Generosity

Faithfulness

Gentleness

and Self-Control

 

“I need to write my doctor a thank you note,” said this friend. He just prescribed living spiritually … which is what I was supposed to be doing all along.”

 

… and because of this … he’s going to spend his life dancing. Indeed, this is what the nine ladies dancing is really all about. If you want to dance, ask the Spirit to help you live according to the nine fruits of the Spirit!

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants

to learn to dance

 

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Jan 6 - Epiphany Devotion

“Where is the child who has

been born king of the Jews?”

Matthew 2:2

 

Today is Epiphany. It is one of the more major Christian Feast-Days. It is also a celebration we often forget.

 

Epiphany means “a revealing.”

 

At his birth, Jesus came into this world. But he’s had millions of “revealing-points” throughout history.

 

Scripturally, we’re familiar with the stories of when he was “revealed” as a child.

 

·         He was revealed to shepherds.

·         He was revealed to wise men – the traditional story for the day of Epiphany.

·         He was revealed at his eight-day-old dedication in the temple to Simeon and Anna.

·         As a twelve-year-old, he was revealed again in the temple, as people listened to his wisdom.

·         He was revealed at his baptism – “This is my Son, the beloved.”

·         He was revealed at his first healing … and his second healing … and his four-thousandth-and-forty-fifth.

·         He was revealed at each new sermon.

·         He was revealed through each miracle.

·         He was revealed as the fulfillment of prophecy upon the cross.

·         He was revealed as triumphant king at his resurrection.

·         He was revealed … again … and again … and again.

 

Wait! Notice the verb. “He WAS revealed.” “Was” is past-tense. And if we want, we can make Jesus “past-tense.”

 

But He is not!

 

He IS risen! He IS alive! He IS continually revealed – whenever and wherever honestly ask like the Wise Men, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?”

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who still sings

Christmas Carols on Epiphany:

O holy Child of Bethlehem

Descend to us, we pray

Cast out our sin and enter in

Be born to us today

(That’s the “revealing” that I pray for!)

 

Dec 31 - Seventh Day of Christmas

Legend tells us that The Twelve Days of Christmas

was a secret catechism during times of persecution.

For these twelve days let’s focus on twelve teachings:

The Seventh Day of Christmas

Seven Swans a Swimming

 

The seven swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 

Appropriate for our Christmas season, these seven gifts are first enumerated in Scripture in a famous messianic prophecy, Isaiah 11:1=3. Jesus the Messiah is from the line of David, and David’s father Jesse is the “root” or “stump” from which the promised king will come …

 

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of (1) wisdom and (2) understanding, the spirit of (3) counsel and (4) might, the spirit of (5) knowledge and (6) the fear of the Lord. 3 His (7) delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

 

1.    Wisdom – The Spirit helps us recognize and live by truth.

2.    Understanding – The Spirit helps us comprehend Scripture and the doctrines of the faith.

3.    Counsel – The Spirit helps us discern between good and evil, between right and wrong.

4.    Might / Strength / Fortitude – The Spirit helps us stand up for God and truth, and do it without fear, even in the face of persecution and evil.

5.    Knowledge – This is different than the “understanding” of scripture and doctrine. This is the “knowledge” of self. The Spirit helps us comprehend how God is calling us personally to fulfill our unique destiny in the kingdom.

6.    Fear of the Lord – The Spirit helps us bow in wonder and reverence before the awesomeness of God.

7.    Piety – This is the hardest to see in the list, but “delight[ing] in the fear of the Lord” is piety. It is following God’s ways with joy and integrity. The Spirit gives us this ability and delight too.

 

How is the Spirit acting in these ways in your life?

 

We said earlier that this is a Messianic prophecy. Jesus was the first to have the Spirit fully alight upon him. Therefore, he was the first-fruits of those who could aspire to life of true wisdom, understanding, counsel, and might. Yet we have the same Spirit too.

 

As you prayerfully examine how thoroughly you exhibit these seven characteristics, discovering more is not a matter of working harder; it’s a matter of yielding more and more of your heart to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who likes the way

that our old Lutheran hymnal

wrote these seven gifts

in our baptismal prayers;

the seventh gift was translated:

“and the spirit of joy in your presence.”

May Spirit of Joy fill your New Year!

 

Dec 30 - Sixth Day of Christmas

Legend tells us that The Twelve Days of Christmas

was a secret catechism during times of persecution.

For these twelve days let’s focus on twelve teachings:

The Sixth Day of Christmas

Six Geese a Laying

 

Laying an egg is a creative act. It’s designed to produce life.

 

The six-geese-a-laying represent history’s most creative active. As their highest goal, the six days of creation were designed, indeed, to produce life.

 

As a Christmas telling of creation, listen today to John 1.

 

To make sense, first however, of the opening lines and imagery, we need to know that John theologically describes Jesus as “the Word,” the logos, who “became flesh and lived among us … as of a father’s only son.”

 

What does that mean?

 

In simple terms, we use our words to explain our mind, our thoughts, our desires, our will. The Father sent the Son to reveal in words and actions the Father’s heart, will, hopes, and actions. Indeed, as verse 18 in this chapter says, “No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.”

 

With that explanation of Jesus-the-Wprd, listen today to the Christmas telling of Creation story from John 1. And according to the image of six-geese-a-laying, listen for both Jesus’ coming and the six days of creation as history’s most creative act, designed to produce life.

 

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

 

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

 

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who gives thanks

that you listen occasionally

to my logos – my heart.

Happy New Year!

 

Dec 29 - Fifth Day of Christmas

Legend tells us that The Twelve Days of Christmas

was a secret catechism during times of persecution.

For these twelve days let’s focus on twelve teachings:

The Fifth Day of Christmas

Five Golden Rings

 

The first five books of the Bible are known as The Torah.

 

The Jews call it “the Law.”

 

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy reveal three main things: 1) the condition of the world (the creation and the Fall), 2) the calling of a people, Israel, and 3) rules for how to fashion a society.

 

These five books are the heart of Jewish theology. Most revere these five books like Christians know and love the Gospels. It tells them their identity. It continually binds them together as an ordered society.

 

Christians treasure these five books as well. Why? Because it’s part one of our story too. The coming of Jesus doesn’t make sense until we understand the creation and the fall. We don’t understand God’s love for his people, until we understand God’s continued care for Israel. Yes, these five books – also called the Penteteuch – are still an indispensable foundation for faith.

 

So … here’s the question: Why five golden rings to represent these books?

 

The Bible wasn’t originally written on pages in a book, but on long scrolls. The scrolls were obviously rolled up. In formal synagogues, what held these five scrolls together? You guessed it: five golden rings.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who would choose

Genesis and Exodus as two

of his five indispensible books,

(If I was only allowed

to read only five for

the rest of my life.)

P.S. the other three are:

Mark (or one of the Gospels),

Romans (or maybe Ephesians)

and Psalms.

(Those would be my five golden rings)

 

Jan 1 - Eighth Day of Christmas

Legend tells us that The Twelve Days of Christmas

was a secret catechism during times of persecution.

For these twelve days let’s focus on twelve teachings:

The Eighth Day of Christmas

Eight Maids a Milking

 

The eight maids a milking are said to represent the eight beatitudes.

 

In the greatest teaching unit of Jesus recorded in Scripture – Matthew 5-7 – Jesus ascended a mountain and outlined, among other things, a godly ethic. And he started with these words …

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

 

1.   “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2.   “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

3.   “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

4.   “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

5.   “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

6.   “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

7.   “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

8.   “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [Indeed, as a continuation of beatitude eight:] Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:1-12

 

What do the beatitudes tell us?

 

The world has an upside-down way of viewing what’s important. The world rewards riches, power, conquering, shrewdness, and selfish gain. In the end, however, those pursuits are not what God will reward!

 

God values peacemaking and mercy. Righteousness and integrity. Gentleness and generosity. Courage and steadfastness.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who thinks he’ll like

heaven and its gentle principles

more than life and it’s corruption

 

Dec 28 - Fourth Day of Christmas

Legend tells us that The Twelve Days of Christmas

was a secret catechism during times of persecution.

For these twelve days let’s focus on twelve teachings:

The Fourth Day of Christmas

Four Calling Birds

 

The four calling birds are the four Gospels. The Word of God calls to us in faith. The life of Jesus calls to us and stirs our hearts.

 

The four Gospel writers are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. What do you know about them?

 

Two of them were disciples. Two were not.

 

Matthew

 

Matthew was a disciple. Also known as Levi, Matthew was once a tax collector. He knew a life of betrayal – he’d sided with the Romans, repeatedly stabbing his own people in the back. He might have been rich, but he was a hated outcast. Jesus’ love and forgiveness saved him. It saved him eternally, of course, but it also saved him from a life of loneliness and purposelessness.

 

Matthew’s Gospel is the most Jewish of the Gospels and it includes the greatest collections of Jesus’ teachings, like the Sermon of Mount.

 

John

 

John was the other of the four who were original discipleships. He was one of the first four to be called, all fishermen – Peter and Andrew, first; then James and his brother John. John was also in Jesus’ inner circle. Jesus had increasingly closer circles of influence. He ministered to crowds (5000 and more), groups (70ish), small groups (12), and an inner circle of three (Peter, James, and John).

 

He was known as the Beloved Disciple, enjoying perhaps the favor of a little brother; John was, indeed, the youngest of the twelve. Most of the Gospels are episodic – a collection of quick short episodes for Jesus’ life. John’s a story teller, telling fewer but deeper stories. They’re also more theological in character.

 

Luke

 

Luke was not one of the twelve. He was, rather, a companion of Paul on many the Apostle’s evangelistic journeys. As Paul was a missionary to the Gentiles, Luke’s Gospel is less Jewish and has more of a Gentile character, explaining the life of Jesus to peoples less familiar with the Lord’s Jewish roots.

 

Not having known Jesus personally, Luke, a physician, reveals in the first pages of his Gospel that he was the scientist and historian who researched the events of Jesus’ life thoroughly before recording them. The Gospel of Luke contains Scripture’s greatest abundance of parables.

 

Mark

 

Mark was also not one of the original twelve. Mark was known as a partner of Peter’s. Mark’s Gospel was the first written of the four; in fact, it was probably copied in large part by Matthew and Luke. No, plagiarism wasn’t a crime. Rather Matthew and Luke took Mark’s pattern, adapted it to their more Jewish or more Gentile audiences (respectively) and added more teaching and parables (respectively again).

 

Some view Mark – which is short – as simple, even simplistic. Personally, it is my favorite of the four. I see nuances that are subtle and sophisticated. Doing more than just telling a story, Mark draws the reader on a journey of faith.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who was saved, in part,

by four calling birds

 

Dec 27 - Third Day of Christmas

Legend tells us that The Twelve Days of Christmas

was a secret catechism during times of persecution.

For these twelve days let’s focus on twelve teachings:

The Third Day of Christmas

Three French Hens

 

One of the most beautiful passages of scriptures is 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient and kind; never jealous or boastful; never arrogant or rude.”

 

We read it all the time at weddings as one of life’s highest ideals.

 

This wonderful chapter ends with these gracious principles: “faith, hope, and love.” “And the greatest of these,” says Scripture, “is love.”

 

These are the three French hens, that the song sings about.

 

These are the Three Great Theological Virtues.

 

Indeed, our lives will be most sure and most blessed when our foundation is these three principles.

 

When we come to Christ, we are transferred into a new kingdom, a new reality. But this new kingdom is not simply a destination; it’s a journey. Faith is trust – growing trust. Hope is desire – an increasingly holy desire. And both help us step further and further into the blessings of eternal life.

 

Faith and hope are indeed beautiful blessings. And yet love far surpasses these two majestic companions. Why? Because love is the character of God! And as we grow in faith and journey forward in hope, we discover that we love because Christ first loved us.

 

Yes, some forms of love are natural. We tend to love those who love us. But a kingdom version of love is greater. It is patient with annoyance and it forgives even enemies. Kingdom love forsakes self as the highest goal of life and causes one to lay down their lives on behalf of others.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who once had three red hens,

but I think I prefer Faith, Hope, and Love

to Iris, Rose, and Daisy

 

Dec 26 - Second Day of Christmas

Legend tells us that The Twelve Days of Christmas

was a secret catechism during times of persecution.

For these twelve days let’s focus on twelve teachings:

The Second Day of Christmas

Two Turtledoves

 

The two turtledoves are said to represent the two Testaments – Old and New. Thus, the two turtledoves are God and His Word calling beautifully to us.

 

Now, we could spend all day talking about what these two Testaments are and mean to us today … but let me ask a simple question instead: Did you know that scripture actually talks about “two turtledoves”?

 

Let’s start the story behind a Leviticus 5 reference to “two turtledoves” with a quick explanation of the two Testaments of Holy Scripture:

 

·         The Old Testament tells us about the reason for our separation from God – our sin and our rebellion.

·         The New Testament tells about God’s solution to our sin – he gives his only begotten Son so that we might be forgiven.

·         Yes, there’s a more to these massive Testaments than just this! But problem and solution is a pretty good and simple explanation. The problem is sin. The solution is Son.

·         Let me say that more technically: Our problem is sin. And our only solution is finding a covering for sin, which is the Son and the covering of his blood.

 

Okay … now the “two turtledoves” …

 

Leviticus is a book of the Law. As Israel as a nation was preparing to going into the Promised Land and live as God’s Covenant People, God was instructing them on how to live successfully in relationship to Him and to one another. His primary advice was …

 

·         Sin separates us from God and one another.

·         Therefore, there must be a cost to sin – a cost steep enough to keep us from continually repeating it.

·         And there must also be a covering for sin – a way to make things right again and keep moving forward.

 

So in God’s Old Testament law, what was the cost to cover a sin?

 

·         The cost for a sin was a sheep. (Indeed, at a couple hundred dollars a sin, don’t you think that’d help you cut down on your transgressions?) Leviticus 5:6 reveals the cost in this way: “You shall bring to the Lord, as your penalty for the sin that you have committed, a female from the flock, a sheep or a goat, as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement on your behalf or your sin.”

·         But what if you were poor? In the next verse – and here come our turtledoves — God made a provision for you too: “But if you cannot afford a sheep, you shall bring to the Lord, as your penalty for the sin that you have committed, two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.”

 

What do the two turtledoves of the two Testaments tell us? Our problem is sin (Old Testament). And our only solution is finding a covering for sin (New Testament).

 

What do the two turtledoves of the two Levitical turtledoves tell us? Our problem is sin. And our only solution is finding a covering for sin (some blood sheep or some bloody bird).

 

In the Levitical law, the covering for sin was two bloody birds. In the light of Christ’s bloody cross, the two Testaments call to us that the covering for sin is Jesus. Indeed, when John the Baptist first met Jesus, he called him “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” A fulfillment of the Leviticus 5:6 call to sacrifice a sheep, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was the cost for covering our sin.

Therefore, do you trust in these two turtledoves – the Old and New Testaments? In olden days, trusting in two literal birds brought forgiveness, hope, and life. Today, when we entrust our lives to two figurative birds (two great Testaments), we discover through faith that through the cost of Jesus’ sacrifice, our sins are covered and we are made right with God.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who is not rich

enough in sheep or doves

to pay for all his sins

(but is rich because

the Lamb of God

paid them for me)

 

 

Dec 25 - First Day of Christmas

Legend tells us that The Twelve Days of Christmas

was a secret catechism during times of persecution.

For these twelve days let’s focus on twelve teachings:

The First Day of Christmas

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

 

The partridge is Jesus.

 

The pear tree is the cross.

 

And the first day of Christmas – indeed, Christmas Day – focuses us on the first and most important truth of the Christian Faith: The baby who came to us at Christmas was bound to die.

 

Think about it: His swaddling clothes as an infant prefigured the grave clothes of his death. Indeed, little baby Jesus came for one and only one reason: to die. Why? Because only his sacrificial death would ever cover our sin.

 

So, while partridges and pears are poetic … and sheep and mangers are picturesque … the cross is ugly and violent and bloody.

 

It is also beautiful.

 

As C. S. Lewis once said, “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who is singing today:

I wonder as I wander

Out under the sky

How Jesus the savior

Did come to die

To save lowly people

Like you and like I

I wonder as I wander

Out under the sky

 

Dec 24 - Psalm 6b

and I will dwell in the house

of the LORD for ever

Psalm 23:6b

 

Where do you live?

Specifically.

Chances are that you named a city or a street.

Well ... it's a temporary address.

Some of us, someday, will transfer our mail to another street in another town. Some if us will transfer directly from this temporary address to our truly permanent address.

On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 15:2-3).

I like my current home. I'm thankful for my current address. But my permanent address will be much cooler. A mansion!

That's the house I want to dwell in forever! And any of us can transfer our mail there permanently whenever we believe.

Indeed, just three verses after promising us a mansion, Jesus gives us the keys.

He says, "Here's how to get in."

He says, "6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

In Christ's Love,
a guy whose favorite
C.S. Lewis quote is:
"Aim at heaven and
you will get earth thrown in.
Aim at earth and
you get neither"