Of course we all know that Christmas isn’t just about a secular celebration of fellowship and food and presents – although that is part of each of our Christmas celebrations. 

But in the church, we proclaim that Jesus is the “reason for the season.” And so we talk a lot during the Advent season and on Christmas about a baby in the manger who was born to Jewish parents named Joseph and Mary. That moment of God entering into human history – becoming part of the world God created – is indeed the real meaning of Christmas. Well, sort of …

It’s actually a lot more than just a moment in history some 2000 plus years ago in a little town called Bethlehem. That was the first Christmas day … and that is good news, but that’s not this Christmas day! 

You see, on this Christmas day, we celebrate the good news that we carry within us — something not even death can destroy; that we were all made in the image of God and because of that we have an inner life which is divine and indestructible. This eternal life within us is what shows us our true worth, which doesn’t depend on our achievements. Rather, it has to do with who we really are, as children of God made in God’s image. Every single one of us.

And what God wants on this Christmas day is about you … and your relationship today with the babe in the manger, who is Christ your Lord. What God really wants for Christmas this year is to begin anew with you. So just as God did with Jesus in the manger some 2000 years ago, today God wants you to be a manger, so that Jesus can be born within you. 

If you’re ready to give God this gift on Christmas this year, then I want you to take a moment of settle yourself … wherever you may be … on this holy day … I want you to repeat these words aloud as your present to God this Christmas –

‘Thank you, God …  for loving me … and for sending your Son … to die for my sins. …  I sincerely repent … of my sins, … and tonight receive Christ … as my personal savior. … And now …  as your child, … I turn my entire life … over to you. … Amen and Merry Christmas! 

Peace to all <><

Pastor Bob

Sunday’s Scripture: 

This Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Advent — the Sunday of Love! After all, love is the culmination of all that God is doing for us on Christmas morning!

Our scripture this Sunday is the Apostle Paul’s “salutation” from his letter to the church in Rome. It’s the very first words he speaks to these believers in Caesar’s city, the capital of the Roman Empire, and for all intents and purposes the center of the secular world. In the salutation Paul makes clear what this “Way” — this Jesus movement — is all about. He explains how God has been working through history to come to this point, and the obligations that puts on his followers – if, indeed, they should make the decision to give their life to Jesus. Thus, it’s a fitting text for our final Sunday of preparation for Christmas: to know what Christmas is really all about and to make it last eternally in our lives. 

Romans 1:1-7

I, Paul, am writing this letter. I serve Christ Jesus. I have been appointed to be an apostle. God set me apart to tell others his good news. 2 He promised the good news long ago. He announced it through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. 3 The good news is about God’s Son. He was born into the family line of King David. 4 By the Holy Spirit, he was appointed to be the mighty Son of God. God did this by raising him from the dead. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 We received grace because of what Jesus did. He made us apostles to the Gentiles. We must invite all of them to obey God by trusting in Jesus. We do this to bring glory to him. 6 You also are among those Gentiles who are appointed to belong to Jesus Christ.                                                                                                                                                                     7 I am sending this letter to all of you in Rome. You are loved by God and appointed to be his holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Reflections:

Reading this from Paul for our last Sunday in Advent feels like our “Last Chance Saloon” – our last opportunity to drink the “living water” of Jesus before Christmas comes. And for me, it’s like having one last chance to convince the people of a Roman-like Empire to take a leap of faith that sounds most illogical; to join the small band of Jesus followers known as “The Way.” 

OK – maybe that’s a little too dramatic — and a little too much pressure to put on myself — but how can it not be urgent, and important? What if this Christmas was our last chance? What if God didn’t want one more Christmas to pass without your heart, my heart, and the heart of Vine Street Christian Church, to be surrendered totally and completely to Jesus — finally realizing in truth the words we often say – “Jesus Christ – My Lord and My Savior”?

One last chance. That’s what Paul must have felt like when he took to writing to this “church” in Rome. He had never been with them, but he had invested much of his work and prayers to the establishment of this spiritual outpost for God in the midst of the Rome – the “sin-city of the 1st century.” Paul knew his life was getting shorter and shorter by the day, and yet bringing a Jesus movement to Rome was paramount to his plan to reach all the Gentiles. So, every word that he wrote had to be on-point and compelling. If he never made it to Rome, he could at least say he gave it his best shot in this letter. 

These first 7 verses of his letter to Rome are all we need to prepare our hearts to make the decision that God is praying we make this Christmas. The question, then, is upon us. What decision will we make when there are no more empty promises and lame excuses: 

A Brief Lesson on Bible Reading from Pastor Bob

Imagine a Bible where everything that is spoken by the prophets is true. Imagine a God who promises the people a way to cleanse themselves of all they have ever done wrong … and then delivers on that promise! Imagine a person who came to us as “God’s Son” and told us that when this world was over, our lives would be secure for eternity — that he had conquered death. Now, imagine that all of this is true:

> All the prophecies were right 

> God is doing everything that the Bible said. 

> God has sacrificed his Son for our sins — so that we could be made holy and pure even in our earthly existence.

> God has conquered death and opened the gates of eternal life to all peoples.

And then there is this: Imagine a Bible that told us exactly what God was going to do for us, and it was so good that many of us still can’t believe it, won’t believe it, or don’t even know how to believe it!

Well, all of these things … and more … are the truth, and are happening right now in our midst. 

You’re probably scoffing at me by now: Just another pastor pitching his propaganda. It’s so simple to say that all of this is true. But why don’t you prove it? Why can’t I see it? And what good is it doing anyway? If it’s all so good, why does so much seem so bad? 

And so the question becomes the same as Pilate asked Jesus on that fateful day: “What is truth?” 

Truth is all around us. But today, let’s start with the Bible. The Bible is God’s book of truth. But the Bible’s truth must be revealed by God’s Holy Spirit for us to learn its meaning. Let me be clear – without the assistance of the Holy Spirit within you revealing to you the truth, then the Bible is just another big  book, and it can be a very confusing book, and at its worst, a very dangerous book. 

Hang in there. Let’s try this:        

Have you recently sat down in a quiet place and spent some time reading a passage from the Bible? Or have you ever done that? That’s what I thought! So, let’s start there. Are you willing to try that? Hopefully so! BUT, before you start reading, let’s clarify what you’re seeking in your reading. You see, the Bible contains all kinds of stuff: a lot of history, some science, some really sweet poetry and some really boring generational lineages — not to mention a whole bunch of confusing and complicated rules, laws, and commandments that seem to have very little relevance to our daily life. And that’s not all — there’s more … much more! 

So let’s start here: the Bible is actually a book of books – a library if you will — that includes writings from many ages and authors, in styles that range from myths to visions to letters. So, to read the Bible correctly, it helps to understand what it is you’re reading in the Bible. 

Here’s what I mean: Since we have been focused on the prophet Isaiah this week, let’s think about the writings of the prophets. The prophets were chosen people by God to speak truth to the world — including to the people of God who had fallen into sin, and their leaders who had led them there. But, the words that God gives to the prophets are not just words for one time and place and audience — they are words whose meaning goes far beyond any particular time and place. 

So, if you’re learning how to discover the true meaning of the words of the Bible – reading the prophets is a good place to start. Their words reveal the eternal and universal truths of God — for all times and for all peoples. And that is what the whole purpose of the Bible really is: revealing God’s eternal and universal truths to the world and all its people … right now! 

Are you still with me? Now listen closely: That truth will not be revealed if we read the words of the prophets literally — and restrict them to a particular group of people or situation in history. The truth of the prophet’s words is not in the words themselves! The truth is in their meaning. And this is how the whole Bible should be read — for the meaning of truth, not the literal interpretation of the words. 

So, how do we do that, you ask? That is where the power of the Holy Spirit helps us. Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would enable us to know everything we need to know. Thus, the Bible (especially) should only be read with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. 

For instance, consider these words from Isiah:

A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse’s stump, from his roots a budding Branch.

The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him, the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding,

The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God.

Isaiah is not offering these words of God’s truth to the people to teach them about plants or branches or anything that can be taken literally from his words. In fact, Isaiah is teaching us about things that are beyond mere words. The truth of his words is beyond the letter of the words he speaks. In this passage, Isaiah is actually offering God’s truth to us about the coming of a person from the lineage of King David (Jessie’s father) and how that person will be more than you can imagine — beyond description. That person will be filled with the “life-giving Spirit of God” in a way that will give him powers and abilities beyond us mere mortals. Isaiah is telling us in these words God’s truth of how God is coming into the world and what form God will take. That is the true meaning of his words. 

Let’s try this again. Later in the same passage, Isaiah says this: 

The wolf will romp with the lamb, the leopard sleep with the kid.

Calf and lion will eat from the same trough, and a little child will tend them.

Cow and bear will graze the same pasture, their calves and cubs grow up together,

and the lion eat straw like the ox.

If you just read the words as they are, you’d think that Isaiah was teaching us about some really neat kind of petting zoo where all the creatures live together in peace and love each other. But that is not the meaning of the words. What Isaiah is really telling us is the truth about the kind of world that this new person that is coming will bring with him. It will be a kingdom of peace … and love … yes, more than you can even imagine. He says, it will be like wolves and lambs playing with each other and calves and lions sharing a meal. That is the eternal and universal truth about God’s kingdom … which has already come with the arrival of Jesus into the world. 

    How are you doing so far? That is just one small example of how the Bible should be read. Now, try it yourself: Think of a Bible story you’re hung up on, the one that you just cannot buy into. Now go back and read it again. But before you read, ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and your mind, and help you hear the true meaning of the story as you read the words. 

That’s a big start! Now, if you make a commitment to this prayerful style of reading the Bible, God will begin to speak to you in ways that you have not yet experienced, and that could change everything you thought you knew and believed about the Bible … and about God.

I know you’re busy. I know your schedule is already beyond full. And I know that reading the Bible is probably not at the top of your priority list for this season. And I will tell you that all of those reasons are the very reasons that you should make reading the Bible a part of your daily life. In fact, I would say reading the Bible would be the very best Christmas present you could give yourself … and in so doing you might come to realize that the true meaning of Christmas is so much more than you ever imagined! 

Merry Christmas … and happy reading!

The 2nd Sunday of Advent is the Sunday of Peace. Peace may be one of the most elusive feelings for the world we live in. There are wars in almost every part of the world today, and it seems more are on the verge of breaking out. And even in our own daily lives, the notion of peace can seem like a pipedream – something we long for but rarely ever possess. But the prophet Isaiah has a message for us. Isaiah tells us that peace has come to earth; that it is in our midst; and that God has started building a Kingdom of Peace that we can all be a part of – today! Many folks get confused about prophecy. When we hear that word today we think about predictions – someone predicting something that might happen in the future. But biblical prophecy is something else. God’s prophets in the Bible were messengers of God’s word to God’s people. They didn’t make predictions. They spoke God’s truth. No “maybes.” Often these prophets warned the chosen people of God about the disastrous consequences that come to them when they do not follow God’s will. 

Isaiah did some of that kind of prophecy. But he is best known for his “messianic” prophecies – telling us of the coming of something new that God would do, and what that would mean for the world. He told the people about the coming of the Messiah. 

In the 11th chapter of the Book of Isaiah, he talks about this Messiah to come: A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah is telling us that the Messiah will come from the lineage of Jesse, who is King David’s father. And he tells us this Messiah will be unlike any king we’ve ever seen. He will have wisdom and power that comes directly from God. Indeed, he will be God with us. But even more, Isaiah goes on to tell us about the kind of world that this Messiah will establish. He describes a Kingdom of Peace that is coming with this Messiah. Further on in Chapter 11, Isaiah describes this kingdom: 

The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Let’s be clear: these are NOT predictions. No “maybes” about this. Isaiah speaks the universal and eternal truth of God. Ever since Jesus came, the doors to this Peaceful Kingdom have been open to us. And even today, in the midst of war, violence, hate and injustice, there will be “Peaceful Kingdom” sightings all over the world. Everything that God intended to bring to the world when he became a little baby in the manger, God has delivered. It is all here. The only question that remains is, when will we join his Kingdom? Jesus has come, and he is coming again. His birth is an amazing gift of God that gave each of us the choice to change our lives and the world we live in. But, we are works in progress! We still have not fully embraced the reign of this new king. We’re still learning how to live the life of love and mercy that he calls us to. The problem was, and is, that we’ve gotten quite comfortable and secure just the way things are. And comfort and security are mighty powerful forces against any change in our lives. Plus, let’s face it; it’s hard to tell if we really believe Isiah anyway. And so Christmas will come and go … again … and nothing will really change. Or maybe not this year — That’s what Advent is for. We still have a great lesson to learn, beginning with Isaiah. That lesson is this: With the coming of Jesus, we are being called to leave the past behind and open our hearts to something brand new. Like Isaiah says – the coming King may be of the root of 

Jesse and the lineage of David — but he will be bringing a kingdom that they could never have imagined. Unlike David, he will not come to set up an earthly kingdom and rule over nations on behalf of the Israelites. Instead — if you can imagine this — he will be bringing a heavenly kingdom — a “Kingdom of God” as he calls it. And in order to understand what this means, and how to be a part of it, you must become willing to surrender your old ways of thinking about God, your old religious beliefs about who God is, and your old prejudices and biases that came along with these traditions — and allow yourself to be consumed with something brand new that God is doing. We have a problem with this! Have you noticed? We prefer to hang on the old stuff that we know and that we’re comfortable with. If we are already the chosen people, then why should we change anything? In Jesus’s time, these people were called Pharisees, among other things. Pharisees are deeply religious people who have devoted their lives to their faith, their Temple, and to God. They consider themselves favored ones who will be “saved” by God and live with him eternally in heaven. Does this sound like you? But what happens when God does something entirely new … and amazing … and miraculous? Pharisees struggle with change. They resist it. Often, they refuse it. They have been known to crucify it. And yet, the Kingdom of God movement continues … moving forward without them. As Isaiah tells us, God is about to do something entirely new this Christmas. It will have ties to the past … but it will be brand new. It will lead us to a kingdom of peace … and indeed already is. This Christmas, will you be ready to accept this new thing that’s coming? This Advent, will you prepare yourself for whatever God has in store for you? Will this Christmas be like all the others … a season of fun and frenzy followed by severe burnout? And in the end, nothing’s changed. Or will it be different this year? Will you be ready to let go of the past — everything in the past – wipe the slate clean — and start a new life with the savior that will come and fill your heart with love? And peace! It all depends on whether you believe the prophecy — whether you trust the truth — whether you are willing to take a leap … of faith … for Christmas! Advent Blessings! 

Pastor Bob 

I have loved this sculpture ever since I saw it first-hand in 2006. I was with a peace delegation of Disciples’ seminary students in Bosnia, and it was the last day of our 2-week trip. We spent that last day and night at a monastery known as the “House of Peace” in Scit-Rama Lake. The monastery sits in a beautiful setting in the middle of the lake, and it is adorned with many wonderful religious sculptures. I have a copy of the famous “Rama Cross” in my office, but it was this sculpture of The Lord’s Table that captivated my consciousness. 

At first glance, I thought that either the artist left the work unfinished, obviously leaving out one of the disciples. But my guide instructed me that was not the case. Rather, the vacant spot at the table was the spot left for me! And you! And for absolutely and unconditionally anyone else in the world! All of us, just as we are, invited to join the other disciples at the table with our Lord Jesus. 

It still astounds me that Jesus was God’s answer to all of us sinful people in the world today. Jesus never rejected anyone. He never said “No” to anyone. He never said you are not welcome to be part of my following. And despite what so many of our misled religious denominations say, he never ever said, “I’m sorry, but there is no place for you at my table.” 

You see friends, as hard as it is to admit for so many of us, Jesus came to us and sacrificed himself for us “so that the whole world might be saved.” (John 3:17) In case you can’t or won’t acknowledge it, that simply means that God loves all people (even the worst of us) unconditionally, and that all of us will be welcomed home with God … in God’s time and according to God’s will. There are no exceptions to this. 

Now, I know many of you have been trained in the ways of a judgmental God that will “separate the sheep from the goats” and send the sheep to heaven and the goats to hell. But that is not the message nor the spirit of Jesus’ teaching. For example, the “sheep and goats” story is from Matthew 25, and it’s a story of how we are supposed to live here on earth – today. In essence, Jesus is teaching us that we can create our own “living hell” based on how we live … not after we die. Jesus came to open the gates of eternal life for all of us, here and now – never qualifying that salvation based on religion or doctrinal beliefs or earning our way there. Jesus came and delivered “grace” to all of us – a free gift from God that shows us what unconditional love looks like when it meets imperfect humans. 

The Lord’s Supper is the perfect replication of this unconditional sacrificial love offered to all of us by grace alone. There is nothing you have to do to earn it. All you have to do is receive it! And I believe that ultimately all of us will receive it, some sooner than others. For me, based on my life experience, the sooner the better! Because living a life for God is soooooo much better that living a life for me. In fact, that life for God today is my salvation – here and now! That life is my “Kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.” 

We Disciples are known as “The People of the Table.” The Communion Table is almost always at the center of the altar in a Disciples church. The serving of Communion is the centerpiece of our worship service. And, we come to the Table of the Lord every single Sunday – and sometimes more often than that. 

Let us NEVER let the Table of the Lord become routine or blasé for us. Take another look at the picture of the sculpture of the Lord’s Supper. 

Focus on that vacant spot at the Table. Imagine yourself, being there, seeing the other disciples at the Table. You even recognize some of them. And then Jesus motions you forward. He tells you that there is nothing you could do to ever separate you from His love. And then He points to the open spot … which you solemnly move into. He tells you that His body will be broken for you and His blood will be shed for you. And then He feeds you. The Bread of Life and the Cup of the New Covenant. And you become filled with His glory and His grace. 

And right then and there, in that very moment, you make a promise to yourself and a covenant with Jesus – that you will never ever again take Communion as a matter of routine or be even the slightest bit blasé about it. That vacant spot is yours now … eternally. Claim it and own it. And salvation is yours!

Meet me at the Table this Sunday!

LET US PRAY!  

This week we celebrate our sermon series on Spiritual Disciplines by focusing on the discipline to PRAY! Adele Calhoun begins her chapter to Pray with this proclamation: “Prayer is a word that describes a relationship.” 

Have you ever thought of prayer as a way to maintain and attend to a relationship in your life? 

And not just any relationship – but THE most important relationship you have! Think for just a moment of the things you do throughout the day … the week … the month … the year … to maintain and attend to your most important relationships. Now … think if you spend that much time and make that much effort in your relationship with God. 

I like to say, to pray is to say to God, “I welcome you into my life today – just as it is. And I give all power over my life to you – just as you are!” In doing this, you can access the most mighty power on earth – that of God. 

An ancient quote from Theophan the Recluse puts it this way: “To pray is to descend with the mind into the heart (remember Pastor Bob saying the longest hardest journey for any human being is from the head to the heart!), and there stand before the face of the Lord, ever present, all-seeing, within you.” Wow! I love that quote! Don’t you? 

I know this sounds cliché, or even corny, but it is absolutely true – prayer is the answer for your life today! Whatever is going on with you today – the good, the bad, and the ugly … prayer is the answer. You may ask how I know that: I know that because I believe that prayer is simply the answer for all of life. 

And yes, I know that other much more “practical” things often “solve” the problems way face on a daily basis – but where do you think those things came from? How do they even exist? How do you think your life connected with them in your moment of need? And friends – let’s be honest: Why is it that we’re so quick to blame “outside forces” (yes, even God!) for the bad stuff that comes upon us, but yet so hesitant to praise God for all the good stuff? Truth is we’re more apt to credit ourselves for the good stuff!  

One thing prayer does is help us overcome this dominance of self-will in our lives. Prayer helps us learn to humble ourselves before God and helps us understand that God is the primary force working in our life today and that ALL good things come from God. 

So YES! Prayer is the most important act you can take for the most important relationship in your life. Any questions? Well – the truth is we have a lot of questions about prayer, don’t we? 

This Sunday – join us at Vine Street Christian Church as we attempt to answer some of the questions we all have about prayer – and help to turn our lives a little bit more toward God, the most mighty and amazing power on the face of the earth! 

Come pray with us this Sunday!