Resolution Means "I Will!"

Life is filled with so much unfinished business.

One of my former bishops was visiting a church I served as we celebrated our 100th year of ministry. He asked me, "Jack, if you had to sum up the guiding points of your ministry practice what would you say." Now notice that he was not asking about theology. He was asking about practice.

I answered him, "I am on time. I pray hard. I work hard and I play hard." He was amused at the first item. The bishop chuckled and said, "You are ahead of more clergy than you realize just by showing up on time!"

My father worked in radio and television all of his life. Most folks do not realize how much this industry is run by time. Every minute and sometimes seconds are set in a log. The producers of the show have a menu of items to be run, played, and started on a time cue. Loss of time means loss of revenue and content. When my father visits my church (to this day) he will tell me if I started on time, ended on time, and how long the sermon was. He has taught me the economy of my most precious possession--time.

As the New Year begins, we look at our time. Some of us look back and see how time has passed us by. Some of have found that during this year, time seemed to stand still. Resignation has replaced resolution. Fewer of us will look forward to the gift of time before us!

In his book, Drew Brees reveals that the mantra that made the Saints successful in their journey to the Super Bowl last year was "Finish Strong!" The team and its leaders realized that winning was about using the will and the ability to complete the game. Maybe that is why we continue to see the Saints win many games this year in the fourth quarter.

The men from the East showed up despite all that would keep them back. They resolved to find the Christ child. Their wisdom led them to turn life's "I could'..s" or "I should...s" into "I will..." Isn't it interested how much of life that we choose to do that is not really high on the meaning scale?

The question that all of us face as we begin this year is what will we do with the year ahead of us? A theological way of saying this is to ask the question, "What will you do with the news that Christ is born?" Will you begin the journey that God has invited you to make? Will you finish the unfinished business of life that really matters? Or will resignation win out over resolution?

It all begins with the will......you make the call.

Make Room for Christ

The Christmas play was the big event of the year for the children. Each child had been given a part and appropriately dressed. However, there seemed to be one character in the drama that was having trouble with his lines--the innkeeper. All the little boy had to do was appear as if opening a door, look at Mary and Joseph, and say in a harsh tone, "There Are No Rooms!" You see, Mary and Joseph would go to several doors until finally finding a place to stay. Knowing that Mary and Joseph were the parents of Jesus, the little boy just could not do it.

Finally the time came. He was convinced to do his part. They had told him that he was not a "bad" boy for saying his lines. So Mary and Joseph came to the place. The little boy innkeeper looked at them and with all of his might said, "There Are No Rooms!" You could hear the sigh of the director of the play. But he wasn't finished. As Mary and Joseph turned to go away in another direction, the innkeeper shouted, "But you would be welcomed to come have a cup of coffee!"

Is there room in your life for a Savior to be born?

Many of us have filled our days going hither and yonder, over the hill and over the dale to grandma's house and back. At the end of the day we have fallen into the bed totally exhausted while thinking of still more things to be done. We have our calendar jam packed with every occasion. There is no space or place for Jesus to be born.

I remind myself often that space and time in my life is finite. The only way that I can increase my capacity for love is to remove the hatred that occupies the space. The amount of love in my life is in proportion to the removal of hatred and all that goes with it. I have to make room for the love of Christ to be born.

Time is also finite. Each of us has twenty four hours a day with an allotted time for our life span. I wonder if we are able to look back at our life that we will have spent time in things that matter. I have to tell myself to guard certain areas of my schedule--my reading, prayer, family time, and habits of health. I have to make space in my life schedule for God to do what God can do.

We are like that little boy innkeeper. We know who Mary and Joseph are. We know that Christ was born. The question now is can Christ be born again in our lives? Will we make room for the Christ?

Today Christ is born. May Christ be born in your life!

God Colors Outside the Lines

She was an ordinary teenage girl with ordinary dreams. It was supposed to be one of the happiest times of her life. Although the man she was going to married was older than she was, it was a part of their world. And then it happened.

There is no record of earlier conversations with God. The angel just appeared. God has a way of doing that in life--just appearing. She was chosen. She had found favor. She was what--going to have a baby? She was going to bear the Son of God? All of this was overwhelming to her. Then it happened. God made love to Mary.

She knew that it was a reality as her body began to change quickly. She was fearful of what was going to happen. Would Joseph believe such a story? Would he leave her? What would her friends and family say? Where would she go?

All of these questions while being in the forefront of her mind, were nevertheless nothing to compare to the love she felt inside of her. She would make it. Every time she was about to be overwhelmed, the child would move and it would calm her fears.

Mary learned that being chosen and favored in the eyes of God is very different that what one expects. God colors outside the lines of life.

The lines of life are about power and being right in the eyes of the world. It is about doing things to be seen or doing things that are expected but for the wrong reason. The lines of the world invite us to look after only ourselves.

The birth of the baby that Mary carried was God inviting us to get out of the lines of this world and into the picture of another world. This baby invited the poor to the banquet, touched the untouchables, and offered good news of great joy to those whom the world had forgotten. That is what happens when one experiences the love of God.

The love of God was born to an unwed mother at a time when there were no comforts of home--in a cave as they journeyed. As you experience the miracle of Jesus' birth, remember. God tends to color outside the lines of life!

Will You stay?

He must have been a very brave man. He must have had great courage and resolve. He was able to do what many men would never think of doing. He stayed through the dark night.

When he became engaged to her, he knew her family. He knew her. He had watched her grow up as a little girl. She was so full of energy and beauty. Her beauty was inside and out. So when she became of age for marriage, he approached her family with honor and tradition. The marriage was arranged as most were in that day. He was the happiest man alive. He had dreamed of this day. It was only a matter of time.

Then life changed.

The news was not what he wanted to hear. To be pregnant before marriage was not acceptable in this day and age. He could not believe that she would do such a thing. Had she lost her mind? Had she been fooling him all this time? Had the age difference between them become more than she could bear? What would he do? What would those who knew them think? He was a man of honor. Their families were well respected in the community.

He would let her go but quietly. There is no need for more disgrace. The situation had created enough disgrace. He was hurt, but sad.

His mind raced so quickly that it tired him. He needed to rest. He went to bed with the hope of feeling better when he arose.

Then life changed.

When he awoke, it was all clear what had happened. The dream was as real as anything he had ever experienced. He was sure he had been visited by a messenger from God. The angel explained all that had happened. The story was unbelievable, but he believed. He believed in God and he now believed her.

The next morning he hurried to find her. He ran and put his arms around her. He assured her of his love for her. He assured her that he would stay. He told her of his dream. Her smile and tears running down her cheeks were matched by his own smile and his own tears--tears of joy.

So he stayed. Joseph stayed when everything in life told him differently because Joseph believed in a dream. Joseph stayed in obedience to God and because of his love for Mary. And Joseph named the child, Jesus.

And life--all of our lives--changed, because Joseph stayed.