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Did you see this story in the newspaper about Justin Burger?
He looks much too warm down there in Florida.
Here is a text version of the Christmas Eve sermon. The “live” version is slightly different because I preach from notes rather than a full manuscript. But this will give you the idea.
I wonder what it was like on those streets of Bethlehem that night, as Mary and Joseph looked for somewhere to spend the night. Did they squabble at all? Did Mary remind Joseph that they should have called ahead? Did they argue about whether they would have found a spot at the inn if they had not stopped twice to eat along the road? Did the words “I told you so” pass through Mary’s lips at any point that night as they wandered about looking for some place to stay?
A couple years ago, my family headed south for Florida the day after Christmas. All went well, until we hit Chattanooga, Tennessee. There we became part of the biggest parking lot in the United States – one that stretched from north of Chattanooga to nearly the Florida state line. We were caught in a wave of humanity. We were just one speck in a vast tide of people seeking the sun in Florida. Our car, our family, was itself not worthy of any notice at all. We were just another car on the road. read more…
Luke 1:39-45
Bishop Mike Coyner shares the following thoughts in his latest e-pistle:
Recently one of our excellent Indiana Conference pastors, Herb Buwalda, used an interesting phrase that has captivated me. We were talking about all of the terminology which various churches use about reaching the “lost” or the “unchurched” or the “seekers.” None of those terms seems to fully capture the essence of the difference it makes to live one’s life as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Herb offered this thought: Since many people in our culture claim to believe in God, the real issue is not belief. It is being convinced that this belief can and should make a difference in my life. It is, he said, all about “living as one of the convinced.”
I think he is onto something. During this season of Advent and Christmas, we will hear and see lots of what might be called “cultural Christianity” as people give lip service to the birth of Christ and to their belief in God. Our American culture loves to feel good about Christmas, and there will be TV specials, community programs, and decorations to honor our belief in Christ.
But … and here is Herb’s point … will any of that make any difference in how most people actually live their lives? Sure most people say they believe in God (according to the Gallup study “The Unchurched American” nearly 90% of Americans claim to believe), and a vast majority even express belief in Jesus and his resurrection (over 2/3 according to that same Gallup study). But when it comes to living our lives as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, those “beliefs” seldom translate into action. It seems that most people believe in the basics of the Christian faith, but they are not convinced that such belief should really guide and change their life.
The real danger of this season is not “Bah-humbug” of those who oppose Christmas, it is the “Ho-hum” indifference to the true essence of the Incarnation.
We have an opportunity as Christians during this Advent/Christmas season to do deeper. We have an opportunity to explore how we can live like those who are convinced that Jesus makes a difference in our lives and in our world.
We have an opportunity to live as one of the convinced.
