A Promise Fulfilled

There are many favored and treasured Christmas stories we have listened to in our years of growing up and growing older. Some of these stories we have read in books such as Dickens’ A Christmas Carol; some of these we have seen on the big screen such as Jimmy Stewart’s It’s a Wonderful Life; many of these we have watched on television. One of my favorite Christmas stories that I try to watch every Christmas comes from the well known cartoonist – Charles Schulz. It’s called A Charlie Brown Christmas.

In this show Charlie Brown is trying to direct the children’s Christmas program; he’s trying to keep the true meaning of Christmas at the center of the play, yet nothing is going quite right. The children won’t take direction, Snoopy is being a character, and no one seems to understand what Christmas is truly about! Charlie is left standing on the stage where they have been rehearsing and in his frustration he cries out, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

Linus, who is standing there with thumb in his mouth and blanket tucked up under his arm replies, “Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about”

Linus walks to the center of the stage, calls out “Lights please” and as the lights dim he begins to recite from the Gospel of Luke:

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Lk: 2:8-14)

That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown. Unto us is born this day a Savior – Christ the Lord. A babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in the manger.

As we look around we see the sights and sounds, the symbols and the fragrances, the traditions and the lights, the decorations, the parades, the parties, the plays, the pageants, the music, the worship services – all celebrating the birth of the little baby in a little town called Bethlehem some two thousand years ago.

I suppose it is the mystery and majesty and enormity of the gift of this child to us that leaves me in amazement. Have you ever wondered, as I have, that when God chose the means of revealing himself to us, of entering into our world, that he chose to do so not as a philosopher, nor an emperor or established monarchy but as baby?

This is different than anything God had done before. Noah was 600 years old when God spoke to him and he began to build the ark in anticipation of the coming flood. Abraham was about 100 years old when God spoke to him commanding him to leave his home and travel to some unknown place where God would make of him a great nation. Moses was around 80 years old when God spoke to him from the burning bush commanding him to lead his people out of Egypt.

Yet, Jesus enters this world and from the very start – as an infant – begins to make a difference in the lives of those around him. There are shepherds who come down from the fields to see this baby whom the angel has told them about. There are wise men that travel from the east to give this child of their gifts. And of course Mary and Joseph gazed upon their newborn child and wondered at what was taking place. The little bit we know of Jesus as an infant and child reflect that he was making a difference right from the very beginning of his birth.

A baby means to us a new hope. Who among us has not held a baby in our arms and saw not only the smiling face and waving hands of cute little child, but looked into the future and saw the promise of what this child could become. We wonder what the future holds and not only for this child, but for ourselves as well, with this child.

I imagine those who looked upon the infant child Jesus saw something of the promises of things to come.

One of the Old Testament prophets Ezekiel, delivers God’s word of a promise fulfilled, many years before Jesus is born. He tells the people, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.” (36:26)

It is this promise and this fulfillment of this promise that becomes the very heart of our Christian faith and our Christmas celebration. A new heart and a new spirit are realization of the promise God made to us through Jesus Christ.

Luke and even Linus remind us that we have received the good news of a great joy that is for all the people. For unto us is born in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the Lord. Now is the time for all of us to bring this good news to the poor, this message of hope to the hopeless and help to the helpless.

As we go about our Christmas celebration, out into our own part of the world, let God shape our new hearts and spirit that we might become for those in need the sign of Jesus Christ alive and well and active not only this season, but throughout the year.

Merry Christmas to you my friends – May Christ be at the heart of all you do.

There Is Dirt On The Way To Heaven

Last year, around this time, I spent a couple of hours with a man who is on a 5-year bicycle journey across the states raising the awareness of a POW in the Iraq war. He came into my office shedding many layers of clothing and then spent an hour or so telling me his story. In the end I asked how I could be of help to him, resulting in my taking him to the Comfort Inn and putting him up for two nights and buying him lunch at McDonalds. From there he would continue his biking journey into Minnesota. After unloading his bike, his huge pack and some of his clothing from the back of my Saturn and him from my front passenger seat I noticed quite a bit of dirt and slush from the snow in the back as well as some grease on the passenger seat. I tend to obsess a bit about neatness and the ‘dirt’ left behind caused me a small amount of anxiety. With rags, vacuum, and Resolve to the rescue I was able to get past that moment.

In reflection of my helping the man, but being a bit anxious about the dirt left behind, I realized that there is dirt on the way to heaven. We encounter dirt in many forms as we strive to live better lives and help those around us. John Wesley wrote what is known as the General Rules for Society. One of these rules tells us we are to be merciful and when possible do good, in every way, to all humanity. Yet, in doing so we often times have to go outside our comfort zone. I am very comfortable when things are nice, neat, orderly and just so. Unfortunately, that isn’t always how it is for me. Life itself isn’t very nice, neat, orderly and just so and sometimes I just have to resolve myself to this. No pun intended!

Quite a number of years ago I spent two years overseeing the Feed the Homeless program for our church in Madison. The people I met were homeless folks who hadn’t showered, brushed their teeth or changed their clothing in days. Nevertheless, they were interesting and in different ways quite wonderful people. I served them dinner, sat next to them, and ate meals with them. I’ve also worked on missions’ trips helping to rebuild buildings, cut back brush and dig ditches. I remember going back to the church where we stayed barely having enough energy to take a shower. I was tempted to fall asleep with several layers of dirt on me more than once. In my own younger life I have strayed, at times, from the path Jesus put before me – delving in my own forms of ‘dirt’.

There are many kinds of dirt in our lives, isn’t there? Yet, with a bit of resolve (or Resolve), with faith in Jesus, with prayer, with help from those around us, with being part of a faithful church family, with strength from the Holy Spirit and with commitment to Christ we can make our way through the dirt. We can be washed clean. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 7)

Let us go forth today knowing we are cleansed on our way to heaven even as we give ourselves to God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Until next time peace and blessings,


Pastor Patrick

Let Our Hearts Be Broken

As president of the Greater Milton Ministry Association I will be meeting with the local pastors and district school superintendent in just a few days. I'll lead the time of prayer and open the discussion with a focus on the economic situation and how it affects the families in our communities. Let me share with you the devotion and prayer I have written for this meeting. I believe with my whole heart that it speaks to all of us.

Devotion for Dec 17th

My prayer this morning is going to be a simple one, yet I believe it has far reaching implications. My prayer is this: God, break my heart for the things that break yours.

This morning as we gather together we are going to discuss our economic situation and how this affects the families in our community. Many of us see the adverse affects of our economical downturn in our churches as well as our school systems. While each of us has, in our own ways, contributed to this situation of excessive debt it is time for us to be leaders not only in our churches but in our community by helping to contribute to the solution. I’ll be honest, I’m not entirely sure how we are going to do that, but my faith in God tells me that together – with one another and with God leading the way – we can find a way.

I have talked with numerous people, families and individuals, who have lost their jobs, who are struggling to put food on their tables, who are being evicted from their homes because they are unable to pay rent, who are unable to get their medical prescriptions filled. There is a trickle down effect of the GM plant closing, other companies laying off or eliminating shifts, and of soaring prices. Thankfully the gas prices have come down a bit – and this has helped.

The biblical mandate given to us as followers of Jesus leaves us no option other than to keep the broken and the poor at the center of our priorities. “Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.” (Proverbs 41:1). May we keep this in mind as we meet today and as we go forth from this table and back into our own churches and micro-communities, let us pray that God will continue to move us to lead in a way that helps bring hope to the hopeless and help to the helpless.

Let us pray: Gracious God, find it in our hearts today that we may come together as Christian leaders to find ways to bring relief and ease to those who are hurting. May our hearts be broken by the very things that break your heart. Amen.