Certain events in history have continuing impact on the world even though far removed by years. The expansiveness of the Greek and Roman Empires continue to affect our views of civilization. A single monk’s outcry against Rome altered the religious landscape of the world. The scholarly linguist, William Tyndale, altered the course of history and the English language with his English translation of the Bible. Even more recent events of the past century continue to affect the way we live and think.

Sixty-two years ago, 350 Japanese planes left their six carriers and fleet, following Commander Fuchida some 200 miles to the United States’ Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. With the signal, “Tora! Tora! Tora!” the flying armada dropped their first bomb at 7:55 on Wheeler Field. It was followed with savage bombings of the Oklahoma and the Arizona, and other vessels moored on that seemingly quiet Sunday morning. In those brief moments the destiny and future of our nation drastically changed. Isolationist policy was over. A nation much divided over war in Europe and the Pacific suddenly came together. Roosevelt called it, “A date that will live in infamy.” It appears that most every development that we have grown accustomed to as Americans has its origin in that infamous attack, and the events that followed.

But there’s a yet more significant event than all of the highlights in world and American history. That’s what we celebrate during this time of the year as the greatest event affecting the history of the world. To borrow and alter Roosevelt’s phrase, what we celebrate is “a day that will live in majesty.” It focuses upon the solitary event that turned the tide of spiritual darkness in the human race – when God the Son became part of our race so that He might redeem us from the curse of sin. We call it the Incarnation – when the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity forever took on humanity. Heaven, earth, and eternity are forever affected by that majestic event. Your relationship to God depends upon the trustworthiness of the Incarnation. So, as we consider throughout the month of December, this event that lives forever in majesty, we’re not just following the Christian calendar. Instead, we’re probing the underpinning of our redemption through Jesus Christ. It hinges on the Incarnation. Give this some careful thought as you ponder the Christmas story and listen to the well-known story of Christ’s birth read and taught. Use the opportunities with your family to discuss the significance of what Christ has done for us. Think of the great mercy of God in sending His Son to become one with the race that He came to redeem. May you know the great joy of our majestic Lord!

Pastor Phil

How do you use your free time? Is it simply a respite from an already too busy schedule? Can it be something more? Can you use even your free time to further God's kingdom and glorify Him?

A few years ago, Jim Elliff wrote an article on The Value of Hanging Out. In it, he argues that every moment of our day should be a living out of the gospel message and mandate. He looks at the life of Jesus, and sees that the majority of His life was purposeful "hanging out":

Christ constantly moved about a small area, especially around Capernaum, which could be considered his home town, and Bethany, the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, a favorite hub close to Jerusalem down south. He never kept hours or had an office. He always "ate out." He never seemed to have organizational meetings. He spent lots of time with his followers, dined with "sinners," answered lots of questions, taught when he could get a crowd or small group of listeners, took special times to pray and get away to stay focused, made use of the synagogues to raise issues, healed and did miracles. It seems that much of his time was spent just being among people, and in that context he did what he was sent to do. Paul, of course, did similarly.

In this article, Elliff gives nine steps to how you can be a better witness to the good news of Jesus in your everyday life. I would list them here, but I would rather you go and see them for yourselves ;-)

I think the edifying part in what Elliff has to say is that bearing witness to Christ doesn't have to be some kind of elaborate scheme to get someone to ask the "right" questions, or a scheduled event in which we all gather to go knocking on doors. While those means may have their place, we should be about living the gospel at every moment, recognizing that how we act and talk around others is either leading them down the road to Christ, or putting up barriers in their hearts and minds to hearing about Him.

Do not take this as yet another reminder of your failed attempts, and great lack of, evangelism. That is in the past. Take this article as an encouragement to begin living out the very mandate that brought the gospel to you.

We hang out everyday! So why not do it with a further purpose of living and speaking Christ to people? Learn people's names. Ask them how they are doing. Find out about their lives. Be around them! Not as an attempt to be seen as a great person, but with a view to a God ordained appointment that He may have with a person.

You are responsible for the time He has given you to do that which He has commanded. Paul says in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Be faithful to those works, not as trying to earn God's favor (for you cannot do that - it is a gift), but as a means of worshiping Him as your creator and provider.

So go ahead - go to your favorite coffee shop, bookstore, or eatery - and hang out to the glory of God!

Carpe Diem,
Ben