Christmas Memories

 

The Christmas ornament shown above is older than I am. My mom bought it in the early 1950s, and I was born in the late 1950s. It decorated our tree until the 1980s, when my mom finally decided to retire it. This ornament is the only Christmas item from my childhood that I still have. Each Christmas Eve, I enjoy looking at it and reflecting on memories from the past. Time truly flies.

As the years pass, I find myself reflecting more on my childhood. I am grateful to have had parents who always made Christmas special for me. Both of my parents grew up during the Great Depression. My father...was the son of a farmer. They were not poor. My grandparents had a considerable amount of land, and although they weren’t wealthy, they never went without necessities. Dad recalled one Christmas when he got a toy cap gun, peppermint, and fruit. They led a simple life, working hard and having all they needed. 

My mother's story was different. Her Dad was a coal miner and died when she was a little girl, around four or five years old. She remembered a time when her family home had a dirt floor in its kitchen. And times when the Salvation Army supplied her and her six siblings with Christmas presents. 

She never forgot those days. She made a point to write a check to the Salvation Army around Christmas time every year.

This Christmas season, I’ve found myself reflecting on the Christmas of 1969. I was in the sixth grade that year. Hot Wheels were a hot item that Christmas. I was eagerly anticipating my first Hot Wheels track.

 Our sixth-grade classroom was located in the older section of the school. We had a large cloakroom where we stored our supplies and hung our coats. It was a place we enjoyed spending time in. One day, two of my friends and I were discussing our excitement about the new Hot Wheels track we were going to receive for Christmas.

When we asked one of our classmates what he wanted for Christmas, he hesitated. He mentioned that he wasn’t expecting to receive anything this year, but his dad had promised to buy him a mini bike in the spring. Something about his story felt off. We suspected that his dad was just putting him off and giving him false hope.

 I truly believe that God touched our hearts that day. We decided to ask our parents for money to buy our classmate a Hot Wheels track and some cars. My mom was fully supportive, and the other kids' parents helped out as well. Together, we purchased the gifts. My mom even gave me some extra money to hide in the box of one of the cars. We chose not to tell our teacher or any other students about what we had done. You’ve never seen a happier kid! I can still picture his face as he thanked us.

Looking back on this experience, I realize that God taught me a valuable lesson: “It’s better to give than to receive.”

Merry Christmas!

A Spiritual PSYOP?

 

“Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23 

“As we use our power of choice to turn our minds to God, we have greater contact with God throughout our day, developing a conversational relationship with him. We bring the reality of God into our lives by making contact with him through our minds, and then our actions are based on the understanding that results from the fullness of that contact.” ~ Dallas Willard (1)

“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” - (Gen. 6:5 NET)

” People had taken their God-given capacities and used them to devise evil.” (2)

We find a sobering warning in Romans 1:28: 

“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”

An individual or society as a whole can turn to evil as a result of rejecting the revelation God gives. The mind is the target of both physical and spiritual enemies. When boundaries God has established for our benefit and flourishing are ignored, chaos ensues. God destroyed the earth once with a flood.  The next time it will be by fire. And God will give us the new heavens and a new earth with no more sin, sickness, death, or war.

“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” ~ 2 Peter 3:7 ESV

“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” ~ 2 Peter 3:13 ESV

The most important job a follower of Jesus has is to guard their heart. A heart full of anger, pride, envy, lust, etc., will eventually act on these impulses. Indwelling sin is part of the human condition. Jesus said, “Without me ye can do nothing (John 15:5 KJV). Sin dwells in our bodies, but those who learn to watch over their minds experience an increase of freedom in their lives. The Holy Spirit was sent to give us power to testify to the resurrection of Jesus with our words and our lives.

A.I., social media platforms, and news media outlets disseminate propaganda to foster division in our society. 

Some argue that PSYOPs are aimed at the United States by foreign powers or elites that seek to cause armed conflict in the U.S. I believe that is true. Even so, ‘doom scrolling’ on the internet is causing high levels of anxiety in our population. Below is the definition of PSYOP from Wikipedia.

“Psychological operations (PSYOP) are military operations designed to influence the beliefs, emotions, and behaviors of foreign governments, organizations, and populations to achieve U.S. objectives. They involve the strategic dissemination of information to persuade or manipulate target audiences, often during both peacetime and conflict.” (3)

I've been shocked to see how many people celebrate the death or wish death upon those they disagree with. This is the result of dehumanizing them. The leader of this PSYOP is Satan himself.

The enlightenment didn’t erase the reality of the spiritual world. Satan is real; he’s called ‘the god of this world.’ He’s not God’s equal but a lesser adversary who controls those who reject the Son of God. 

I’m not trying to be harsh. We all need the grace and mercy of God. But Jesus claimed to be God, and I believe him. His Resurrection proves it.

How do we survive in such a toxic society? I think the answer is to “... seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness…” 

To seek God’s righteousness is to seek his character. This type of lifestyle requires us to sell out to Jesus.

Only a close relationship with God will sustain us in these times of uncertainty. Reality is hard to discern, and we desperately need discernment. 

Your friend on Facebook who disagrees with you is not your real enemy. Now is the time to rid ourselves of the toxicity of our society by learning to trust in and rely on our Savior, the Prince of Peace.

Make contact with your Creator. Watch over your heart.

1. Dallas Willard, The Scandal of the Kingdom, page 48 Kindle 

2. Bible Gateway

3. Wikipedia

Deep Prayer: The Prayer Series

Deep prayer focuses on God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It is found in a place of stillness and receptivity to the workings of the Holy Spirit. King David said, "I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8) The Psalmist sensed the LORD right beside him.

That sense of His presence is available to us today. To experience a deeper prayer life, we need to eliminate distractions, retreat into our prayer closets, or find a place where we can be alone. As Jesus taught us, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)

It’s an act of humility to invite God's presence as we open our Bibles for guidance. Spending time quietly reflecting on all the good things He has done for us is essential. We should thank Him for the trials He has helped us through. Most importantly, we should thank Him for who He is. Time spent in gratitude is never wasted.

David prayed, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11) One of God’s attributes is His immanence, which is more than just a theological term to study. It simply means that God is present and actively involved with His creation. Some religions misunderstand this concept and worship the creation rather than the Creator (see Romans chapter 1).

While some may focus on studying the doctrine of God’s immanence, others may desire to experience it firsthand. Why not do both? 

Note: The practice of contemplative prayer is a controversial topic among many evangelicals, despite its rich history within Protestantism. I prefer the term "Deep Prayer" because my goal is a prayer life that is informed by both the Word and the Spirit. I have no desire to empty my mind; rather, I want to fill it with Scripture while experiencing the presence of God.

Utopia?

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 14:17 ESV

“ Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”- Luke 17:20-21 ESV

City in my head, Utopia

Heaven in my body, Utopia

It's time for me, for me to go
City in my head, Utopia
Heaven in my body, Utopia
Into the sky, it rises now” - Todd Rungdren, Utopia, 1974

The lyrics above are from Todd Rundgren's song “Utopia.” I often listened to this song as a teenager. It seems like the artist was looking for some state of perfect bliss. As humans, we all have needs that no one or anything except God can meet.

Definition: Utopia

“utopia, an ideal commonwealth whose inhabitants exist under seemingly perfect conditions. Hence utopian and utopianism are words used to denote visionary reform that tends to be impossibly idealistic.” - Britannica

As a young man, I sought bliss and harmony through destructive habits. I knew God but thought I knew better how to obtain the happiness I sought. 

The Utopia that so many have sought since the Garden of Eden doesn't exist apart from Jesus. Human nature apart from God’s intervention is corrupt. 

Some scholars say that we are born guilty of Adam's sin. Others say that is not so. Still others say we are born broken with the inclination to sin. One thing I know for sure: you don't have to teach a child to lie, it comes naturally. Sin comes naturally to us all.

 Until Jesus’ return and the destruction of this present evil age, the kingdom of God will only be in the hearts of his followers. The perfect world or Utopia is an illusion apart from Jesus and “the new heavens and the new earth” that is coming.

Jesus came to the earth and brought his kingdom with him. He is the Word made flesh. He is the wisdom of God, the Son of God. As the second Person of the Trinity, he is God and became man. 

All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in him. Everything was made for him and by him. His message was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17).

His followers are called to “ … make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19-20). We share the good news that Jesus died on a cruel cross to pay our sin debt. And he was resurrected from the dead and victorious over the devil. 

No political party or movement nor any ideology is capable of bringing Utopia to the earth. Marxism and Totalitarianism are failed experiments. 

The New Age movement and various religions desire what can only happen through the life of Jesus imparted to the human heart.

Politicians pontificate about solutions to the increase in crime in our society. Good legislation is helpful. But rarely do we hear them discuss the problem of the sinful human heart.

Until Jesus returns we can live in what theologians call “the already but not yet of the kingdom.” We live in a broken world and Jesus said,  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - (John 16:33 NIV) 

And again he said, “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV)

An important part of our assignment as followers of Jesus is to do good works. Feed the poor, educate, and bring relief to those in need. We can help alleviate poverty but we will never end it. 

When Jesus returns to the earth he will make every wrong thing right. We live with a sense of sadness yet we can experience peace and joy knowing that Jesus will one day make sense of it all. 

When we experience supernatural peace despite our circumstances - see the sick healed - people delivered from addictions, we experience a foretaste of the kingdom.

 Through God’s sovereign grace and the prayers of his people, we get to experience a temporary touch of his kingdom now.

Prayer: Father, may your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” - Revelation 21: 1-4 ESV 

Hunger For God

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. - Matthew 4:6 NASB 1995 

It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. The two little ones above were hatched in my family's yard a few years ago. This is a vivid picture of hungering and thirsting to be filled by a source other than ourselves. 

When we experience regeneration ( born again) - we immediately look to God for spiritual nourishment. The kingdom of heaven is made up of those with childlike dependent hearts. 

A sign of true hunger for God is our desire to read Scripture. It becomes a glorious obsession. 

The condition of our hearts determines what we get out of daily Bible reading. The Spirit is present to guide a humble obedient heart.

When we receive this gift of righteousness we develop a hunger and thirst for the Holy Spirit's transforming presence. God makes us righteous. Righteousness is received not earned (we don't deserve it). It begins as a legal transaction, but the Holy Spirit leads us in a lifelong process to become more like Jesus. The transactional becomes experiential. Although we never achieve sinless perfection in this life. We must not lose heart! God promises to conform us to the image of Christ - if we don’t give up. 

Another way to say it: God wants us to live a righteous life and do righteous acts. This kind of life can only happen when we totally trust Jesus. We start our salvation journey with faith in Jesus which leads us into the faith of Jesus. Which is complete confidence in the Father’s ability to provide.

God is attracted to those with childlike faith. He promises to draw near to those who draw near to him (James 4:8).

If you have lost your hunger and thirst for him - why not ask God for more? Jesus’ invitation still stands. He's knocking on the door of our hearts. He wants to fellowship with us. Are you tired? He will give you rest. True satisfaction is found in a life fully surrendered to Jesus.

Justification By Faith - June 11th 1738 John Wesley

 

(The picture above is from St Mary’s Church in Oxford, England. My son and I visited there in 2023. Our tour guide sent me this excerpt of a message John Wesley preached there. C. S. Lewis preached his famous sermon, “The Weight Of Glory,” here. Dr. R.T. Kendall believes that preaching the doctrine of Justification by Faith is a key to the next move of God. This sermon may sound harsh by today’s standards but hell is real. And Jesus is our only savior. How can one be found if he doesn't realize he is lost?)

John Wesley

"Justification by faith"-June 11^th,1738.

He gave this sermon at the Church we all visited (St Mary the Virgin)..this was about 3 weeks after his dramatic encounter with The Holy Spirit (May 24th) at Aldersgate London.

After this encounter Wesley was dramatically changed-and this sermon was one of the first fruits of that change:

                                   JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH-June 11^th 1738

"......Thou ungodly one who hearest or readest these words, thou vile helpless miserable sinner!

I charge thee before God,the judge of all,go straight unto Him with all thy ungodliness.

Take heed thou destroy not thy own soul by pleading thy own rightousness..more or less go as altogether ungodly-guilty-lost-destroyed-deserving and dropping into hell......and thou shalt then find favour in His sight and know that He justifieth the ungodly...as such thou shalt be brought into the blood of sprinkling.....as an undone-helpless-damned sinner!

Thus look unto Jesus-there is The Lamb of God who taketh away thy sins!

Plead thou no works-no righteousness of thine own.......

No-humility-contrition-sincerity!-in no wise that were in very deed to deny The Lord that bought thee....no plead thou singly the blood of the covenant......

....the ransom paid for thy proud stubborn soul....who art thou that seest and feelest both thine inward and outward ungodliness?

Thou art the man!

I want thee for my Lord!...I challenge thee for a child of God by faith!...The Lord hath need of thee.

Thou who feelest thou art fit for hell, art just fit to advance His glory-the glory of His free grace, justifying the ungodly and him that worketh not.

O come quickly!. Believe in The Lord Jesus and thou, even thou art reconciled to God".

Hope that will help put the finishing touches to your Christian history trip to Oxford.

Shalom and Blessings,

Steve