Just the Beginning

"Hark the Harold angel sings,

glory to the new born king.

Peace on earth and mercy mild,

God and sinner reconciled."

The second half of the third verse is my favorite: "Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth." Christmas is about more than just Christ coming to earth. The Pastor at the Christmas Eve service reminded us that the incarnation of Christ is not the end and that it is meaningless unless it is followed by a cross.

Christ was born, lived, and died in the cycle of life just as any human does. But he was "born that man no more may die", he lived perfectly, and died for the world's sins. Unlike humans, he rose again to complete his work on earth.

Isaiah said, "The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (7:14). The Gospel of Luke records Mary's response to the angel's news that she would give birth to a son, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (1:31, 34). Micah wrote,

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times" (5:2).

Luke recorded that "Today in the town of David" (2:11) the Messiah had been born. In prophesy, Isaiah pronounced, "For to us a son is born, to us a son is given" (9:7). In announcement, the angels proclaimed in Luke, "A Savior has been born to you" (2:11).

The angels sang, "On earth peace to men on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14b). May we never forget, "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him" (Isaiah 53:5).

The crude wooden manger was where our Saviour was first laid. A crude wooden cross is where he drew his final breath, finishing the work he had begun. "Born that men no more may die"; Christ took on human flesh so I would never taste death.

Isaiah transcribed God's words which are incredible:

"And now the LORD says--

he who formed me in the womb to be his servant

to bring Jacob back to him

and gather Israel to himself,

for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD

and my God has been my strength--

He says:

"It is too small a thing for you to be my servant

to restore the tribes of Jacob

and bring back those of Israel I have kept.

I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth" (Isaiah49:5,6).

Of course Luke records the words of Simeon: "For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel" (2:31-32). God did not leave me, a Gentile, out. Thus, I am given life for Christmas.

Jesus made it very clear, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17b). The virgin birth, the angels' announcement, God incarnate are just the beginning. The hope of Christmas is in Christ's death and resurrection which are made all the more glorious by his birth. "Born that man no more may die". Christmas is just as much about the coming of Christ as it is about his ascension. As Christians, we were guaranteed life for Christmas.

--HM

Patience

This photo is a picture of patience. Now, you might be wondering how a picture of bread could be a symbol of patience. But before that bread was a shapely loaf it was a blob of goop overflowing the mixing machine into a soupy mess on the counter. And I, I fell apart just like that dough because it wasn't turning out. I could claim I was overly tired from getting up early and going to bed late or I could cite stress at work as an excuse for my reaction. The plain truth is I am a sinful creature and as Paul writes in Romans, "I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members" (7:23).

I speak honestly when I say that in my meltdown I deserved a swift kick in the pants, perhaps a slap on the back of the head with the phrase, "It's just bread dough!" exclaimed to me and then a command to go to my room until I mature a bit. But I speak honestly when I say that is not what I received. My mom came and prayed for me, she gave me a kiss, and told me how proud of me she was. Is this not an extreme measure of patience?

Our Heavenly Father did the same with us. In his justice he offered Christ as a sacrifice of atonement "because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished" (Romans 3:25). I deserve more than a slap for my sins yet God, in his "kindness and love...saved us, not because of righteous things we had done but because of his mercy" (Titus 3:4). He patiently changes us through the work of the Holy Spirit to become like Christ Jesus. "He does not treat us as our sins deserve" (Psalm 103:10). Verily, our sins are as far from him "as the east is from the west" (Psalm 103:12).

My hope is that which Peter writes: "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9b). Thus, this picture of bread is a picture of patience, a reminder of my mother's and my Heavenly Father's patience with me. May I echo Paul's words: "Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24, 25).

--HM

O Come Let Us Adore Him

The Gospel of Luke is the source for what most of us know as the "Christmas Story". It records the events surrounding John the Baptist's conception and birth as well as the Virgin birth. However, the story of Christ coming to earth has been declared in Scripture since the third chapter in Genesis! Thirty-nine books of the Old Testament build to the first apex in human history: the birth of the Messiah.

In Genesis, immediately after Adam and Eve's fall into sin, God promises that the seed of the woman will redeem mankind from sin.

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel" (Genesis 3:15, emphasis added).

Then in Deuteronomy Moses declares the Word of the Lord to the children of Israel regarding the Messiah. He would be one of the people who had God's word.

"I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him" (Deuteronomy 18:17, 18).

Further along God promises King David through the prophet Nathaniel that the Christ would be one of his descendants, sitting on the throne of Israel forever. He would be God's son, loved by Him.

" 'I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you: When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me and I will establish his throne forever, I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever' " (1 Chronicles 17:10b-14).

Scores of other passages point to Christ's coming and in Isaiah, the picture becomes even clearer. First, God reveals that He will be born of a Virgin and he will be called Immanuel. Next, Isaiah records in Chapter 9: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given" (Isaiah 9:6).

Christ, the Savior of the world, was born "to us". We are the recipients of this gift! Granted, Christmas (and life in general) is not about "us" but about glorifying God and it always has been. In this passage, it was God edifying to say that Jesus was given to the race of men: "to us a child is born, to us a son is given."

Now come back to the Gospel of Luke. The Savior has been born, the time has come. On cue, with the words given to them by Christ, the angels appear to shepherds and declare: "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you" (Luke 2:11). "To you", again we see a reiteration of Isaiah's passage. Christ was born not to nature or to the angels or to the creatures of the earth but unto "men on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14).

Thus, it is to us the carol writer calls, "O come, let us adore Him." Christ was given to us, saving us from our sin and ultimately, bringing glory to Himself. This is Christmas. Joyfully and triumphantly, we come, not to an elaborate palace or a vast temple or an extravagant church building, but to a humble stable, kneeling before, not a glorious altar, but a crude manger, before a new infant, "who is Christ the Lord."

--HM

Second Sunday in Advent

"Advent: (from Webster's 1828 Dictionary) A coming; appropriately the coming of our Savior, and in the calendar, it includes four sabbaths before Christmas, beginning of St. Andrew's Day, or on the sabbath next before or after it. It is intended as a season of devotion, with reference to the coming of Christ in the flesh, and his second coming to judge the world."

A wonderful time of the year for many people is the Christmas season, or "holiday" season as we read in the Sunday advertisement circulars. The wonder is generated by many emotions of various origins - colored lights, decorated houses and stores, acts of kindness, Christmas caroling, home-baked cookies and goodies, traveling to relatives homes for celebrating family.

Admittedly, the "holidays" elicit mixed emotions for many. The sudden passing of a loved one, the loss of a job, the lack of money for the children's presents, an ongoing debilitating health issue, these and other situations make for a depressing time of year for many.

For Catherine and me, Advent was and is a time of family and hope. Our family memories of Advent are evening devotions, candles being lit on an Advent wreath, the singing of Christmas carols, opening of the doors on the paper Advent calendar, Christmas Eve church services, and anticipating opening gifts from those who love us. We continue these traditions with our children today.

Why the hope? Imagine your family being a part of a community that expected to hear from God through various prophets, those who spoke the words given by God. This was your tradition; it had happened for thousands of years.

Now, imagine that your family was a part of the history where God was not speaking. For the past 399 years, God had not spoken. That's a long time; many generations had passed from this earth since the last time a prophet spoke life from the Creator of the heavens and the earth. These were dark days filled with silence.

Then in the 400th year, out of God's great grace and mercy, at the perfect time to fulfill all righteousness, a child was born, God's Son was given. During the course of the next 33 years, Jesus Christ lived a perfect life of obedience because we sin and are incapable, he died the death that we were due because of our sins, and he was resurrected to his place beside His Father to show us our heavenly heritage as children of the King. In the span of a year, all darkness and all silence was ended.

These 33 years of life, death and resurrection by Christ is the only reason we hope. Otherwise, as St. Paul says, "If Christ has not been raised (from the dead), your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." I Corinthians 15:17

We also give thanks to God for His great grace and mercy that He set us here to live at this time of history when Christ has already come, the first advent is completed, and we anticipate the second advent, when Christ comes again to bring home His children.

May the genuine hope of light and the Word of God fill your heart this Advent season as you prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ and anticipate His return. Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

- CFM

Movie Review: Spiderman 3 -- A Sermon on Steroids

Introduction

In May of this year, Spiderman 3 was released as a mammoth summer blockbuster . The DVD came out a few weeks ago. Invariably, the third installment stays true to the swinging, combat, special effects loaded structure of the previous two movies. However, Sam Raimi, the director-writer, and Ivan Raimi, co-writer, try to impart a message of forgiveness, loyalty, doing right, and reconciliation which though good, overloads the story until it is a preachy sermon on the subject.

General Overview

Spidey 3 picks up where Spiderman 2 left off: Peter Parker is basking in the glory of being the famous Spiderman and, finally, getting his girl, Mary Jane (MJ). Quickly, his world is disrupted, first, by the fact MJ breaks up with him and, second, by the mysterious substance from space. To top it off, Harry is trying to kill him, the city is in danger from the Sandman, and he (Peter) is struggling to keep his job at the newspaper and to rid himself of the evil space creature. Peter now has to fight not only the evil that has attached to himself but also the city's criminals.

Preach it, Preacher

To commence, the movie was more than a tad too long in telling the story. From the beginning, the film starts on its positive messages. Peter is cocky in his Spiderman success. So cocky in fact that he is blind to MJ's pain (she lost her starring role in a stage play). Lesson number one: don't get so caught up in your own glory that you fail to communicate with and aid others in their struggles. "A man's pride brings him low" (Proverbs 29:23).

Next, the filmmakers show us the negative side of revenge as both Harry and Peter contend to redress the death of their father and uncle respectively. Also, Peter who is struggling with the lost relationships with MJ and Harry, now finds out that his uncle's killer is still on the loose. Meaning that the man he interposed retaliation on in the first movie was the wrong guy. Lesson number two: Justice cannot be satisfied by revenge and it only destroys more than it rectifies. "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," [ Deut. 32:35] says the Lord" (Romans 12:19).

In this state, the martian creature from outer space attaches to Peter and his suit, transforming him into a darker version of himself. With this creature, he has more power but he is also more cocky, prideful, smooth with the ladies and down-right annoying. Lesson number three: If it is black goo from outer space, don't touch it! But seriously, "do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its evil desires" (Romans 6: 12).

Peter is freed from the goo and it, in turn, attaches to another man turning him into the creature Venom. In an attempt to kill Spiderman, Venom and the Sandman kidnap MJ. Peter and Harry are reconciled, working together to save their friend. In the end, Harry is killed, having taken the death blow from Venom in Peter's place. Lesson number four: The ultimate sacrifice is to die for someone you love. "No greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

A desperate struggle ensues as Peter battles Venom. The man, Eddie, entrapped by Venom "likes to be mad" as he puts it. He actually relishes the evil that has inhabited him. Peter finally extracts Venom from Eddie but in his love for the creature, Eddie joins it in its final destruction. Lesson number five: Giving into one's sin leads to destruction. "He who pursues evil goes to his death" (Proverbs 11:19b).

Since Venom is taken care of, Peter goes after the Sandman. He comes face to face, then, with his uncle's killer. Instead of a mad rush to destroy this man, Peter has a brief conversation with the Sandman, hearing the true tale of his uncle's death. The Sandman doesn't expect Peter to forgive him but a moment later, Peter tells him, "I forgive you." Both are then freed: one from guilt and the other from revenge. Lesson number six: Forgiveness is pretty powerful stuff and should be used instead of revenge. "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Colossians 3:13).

Finally, Peter and MJ are reconciled and, the audience is led to believe, take up their relationship where they left off--in love. Lesson number seven: Never give up on a person, no matter how badly they may behave or inconsiderate they may seem. "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8a).

Conclusion

The above lessons are excellent and it is hard to find a film today which displays this kind of biblical truth. The problem is that this is a story, not a sermon. The multiple morals weight down Spiderman 3. Every story has a lesson or two to be learned but it doesn't beat the audience over the head with it. Never should a story bombard its audience with its lessons. Instead it should subtly and beautifully allow the audience to discover the lesson on its own. The lesson is a treasure to be found.

Spiderman 3's story is also old. It's the same one audiences experienced in the other two: Peter Parker struggles with his identity, his relationships, and the evildoers; in his relationship with MJ, every two steps forward result in three steps back. The tag line for this movie is: "the greatest battle lies within." Jesus summed up the law by stating that mankind is to love God with all his heart, mind, and strength and to love his neighbor as himself. This was his essential message, as the writers of the Westminster Confession showed, but Jesus varied the message through parables, stories or sermons. The Spiderman trilogy can be summed up with the quote from movie #1: "With great power comes great responsibility." Sadly, Spiderman 3 over uses this mantra and the result is a less than satisfying story.

--HM

A Series on Love: The Final Part--"The Greatest Commandment"

Jesus was asked during his ministry what the greatest commandment was. His reply summed up both the law and the prophets: "The most important one is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:29-31, NIV).



Love is the glue that holds Christians together. Though we differ on numerous theological points and hail from different denominations, the common thread is that our Heavenly Father loves us, His children, and we love him. By this love, the world will know we belong to God.



Indeed, the unconditional love we have experienced should shape our every action toward and interaction with believers and unbelievers alike. If God loves me despite my sinful nature because of Christ, then I am to overflow with love for others: love as I have been loved.



We have been adopted, called Children of God and not treated as our sins deserve. Our Savior then tells us to love God and love others. That's it, man's chief purpose in a nut shell. This is the "most excellent way" (1 Cor. 13:1).



The glory that comes to God, the joy, the reward, because we obey this, the greatest of commandments is overwhelming. God is glorified because in our love we point to Christ and his atoning work on the cross. The joy comes from the fact that the more we love, the greater the glory to God. And the reward is summed up in the rest of the passage from the Gospel of Mark. The young man who had asked Jesus about the greatest commandment replied, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God" (Mark 12:32-34).



--HM

A Series on Love: Part 4 - - "What Manner of Love"

Adop'tion, n. Webster's 1828 edition of the "American Dictionary of the English Language" defines adoption as: 1. (T)he taking and treating of a stranger as one's own child; 3. God's taking the sinful children of men into his favor and protection.

I ought to know the definition by heart since I participate in both definitions. My wife and I adopted Grace, our youngest of five, from China; God adopted me into His family.

One year ago, Grace, initially a stranger, joined her four siblings when she returned with my wife and me from China. She benefited quickly and her future soon outweighed her past.

When our jet from China touched down on U.S. soil, Grace became a U.S. citizen with all the rights and privileges thereof. Grace more importantly secured the full rights and privileges of being a child in the Miller family, as if she had been born into the family like her biological sister and brothers. My wife and I promised never to abandon our children and always to be there. Grace has been placed in a forever family.

As a Miller, Grace plays with her siblings and has begun to create relationships with extended family. She participates in dinner around the supper table, family devotions and simple routines. We expect that Grace will continue to love the outdoors, be home-educated and continue in close relationship to her brothers and sister.

My wife and I treat her no differently than her brothers and sister; we love and disciple her in the fear and nurture of the Lord. Over time, we are convinced that Grace will learn, by God's grace and mercy, what it means to be a "Miller," to love God and love others.

Then, when her mommy and daddy pass from this earth to their Lord, Grace will share in the estate of her parents equally along with her sister and brothers. She is a co-heir.

Many years ago, probably before time began, God chose me for His family. Like Grace, I did nothing to deserve this adoption. Like Grace, I was totally unaware of the great love and sacrifice for me. Unlike the adoption of Grace, my adoption cost the life of Jesus Christ, God's only Son (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8).

Like Grace, I share the same Daddy as many others (some call Him, "Abba"-Romans 8:15). Like Grace, I have many siblings (Hebrews 2:11). What a joy that with my adoption, my Daddy saw fit to provide brothers and sisters so that when we get together, we can celebrate the life we've been given here on earth, freed from our past (sins). What comfort to know He will never leave me or abandon me (Hebrews 13:5). I have been placed in a forever family (Psalm 68:6).

What comfort to experience His Spirit, Who provides truth within (John 14:26) so that I can know my Daddy better and over time know what it means to be a "Christian" or follower of Christ. What joy that my Daddy sees fit to discipline me so that I become more like Him (Hebrews 12:10; 2 Corinthians 3:18) and promises that when I see Christ, I will be like him (1 John 3:2). What joy to anticipate the life to come with my big brother, Christ, with whom God has made me a co-heir in his kingdom of heaven (Romans 8:17) and invited me to share in His great feast at the wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God." - 1 John 3:1

--CM

A Series on Love: Part 3 -- "The Greatest Action"

Paul starts his discourse in 1 Corinthians 13 in a most interesting way. He begins with, "And now I will show you the most excellent way" (1 Corinthians 13:1). From there, he launches into what many Christians call the "Love Chapter" of the Bible, defining love:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

Love is the greatest choice or action (since making a choice leads to action). Peter declares that "love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8b). Jesus explains to a confused Nicodemus who has just exclaimed, "How can this be?" by telling him, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Love, no matter what the commercials, advertisements or Valentine Day cards say, doesn't mean never having to say you are sorry. Love means acting as if the other person was you. We all love ourselves; that's pretty easy. I want to make sure I get the best piece of pie, I get all the presents I want, I get served first. However, Christ commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves. To turn it around, love means making sure the other person is comfortable, the other person gets what they need, the other person enjoys the event. "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).

Paul wrote to Philemon in regards to his run away slave, Onesimus, who has since become a Christian. The reason for the letter is to entreat Philemon to welcome back his slave as a brother. In his argument, Paul calls on his brother to accept Onesimus on the "basis of love." Even though Paul could have "ordered you to do what you ought to do" because of Christ, he appeals on the groundwork, on the footing, on the foundation of love because an action without love is nothing and love, as Peter pointed out, "covers a multitude of sins".

Love is the first of the fruits of the Spirit. Love accepts and prays for the enemy. "Love never harms its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Paul began 1 Corinthians 13 with a unique statement and ends with the culmination, the summary of love: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (v. 13).

--HM

A Series on Love: Part 2 -- "Unconditional, Absolute, No Strings Attached"

My mom told me the story once of an event that happened at the college she attended. The school had a mud football game and students would eagerly partake in the competition. Though my mom personally didn't play, she had a girlfriend who did. One time her friend came out of the mud pit after the game and gave my mom a big, wet, muddy hug. Mom did not quite appreciate this gesture of camaraderie. There was a reason she didn't compete in mud football and it wasn't because she was not an athlete!

Imagine, then, that a person willingly hugs you not minding the mud, or dirt or wetness or smell. They don't mind that their clothes get dirty in the process. Truly, they don't even notice all of the above.

Ayn Rand, author of the influential book Atlas Shrugged, stated, "To love a woman for her virtues is meaningless. She's earned it, it's a payment, not a gift. But to love her for her vices is to defile all virtue for her sake--and that is a real tribute of love, because you sacrifice your conscience, your reason, your integrity, and your invaluable self-esteem" (1.). Unfortunately, she missed the point regarding love. As John Piper wrote, "Mercy in the Christian sense is not "because of" vices, but "in spite of" vices" (2.).

"In spite of" is a powerful phrase. And it is what is called unconditional. The saying goes, "A friend is someone who knows everything about you but still loves you any way", in spite of our faults. It is the willingly bestowing of a hug to a person who is covered in the mud of life. Unconditional love is not based on actions because as imperfect creatures, we will fail. Our love is based on the absolute love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who never changes. "As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34).

Loving as Christ loved sounds good on paper but in action it can be difficult. If my younger siblings listen to me, don't touch my work, and do what they are told, then everything is just peachy. But if they ask too many questions, do everything they have been told not to do and interfere in my work...well, I get irritated, want them to go away, and am, sometimes, downright rude. My love is conditioned, based on appropriate, perfect behavior!

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:5). Not while we were getting our act together, not after we took a shower to clean off the mud, not when we realized the depravity of our souls but when we were dead in our sins. We didn't even know we were in the mud pit to begin with. Nevertheless, God in His unconditional, absolute, no strings attached love climbed into the mud pit to show us the way out. Not only that but he cleaned us off, too! The prophet Zechariah conveyed this writing, "Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you""(Zechariah 3:3).

Clothed in the richness of Christ's righteousness, loved unconditionally with our sins taken away, we, as Christians, are called to love as Christ loved us. To embrace each other, even when the other person may be in the wrong, even when the other person may be covered in filth. We love as Christ loved us, not because of our sins but in spite of our sins.

--HM

Endnotes:

1. Quote taken from article by John Piper, "The Hole in Her Universe". World Magazine: 27 October, 2007

2. John Piper. "The Hole in Her Universe". World Magazine: 27 October, 2007

A Series on Love: Part 1 -- "By This"

The Pharisees obeyed 613 rules above and beyond what God had originally prescribed in the Pentateuch. As if the Levitical system and laws given by Moses were not difficult enough to follow, they added another six hundred for good measure, just in case, to be on the safe side. When confronted by God himself, they could make no excuses. Christ said unto them, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices -- mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law -- justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel" (Matthew 23:23, 24, NIV). In perfecting the external, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees had neglected the internal and the eternal. What they had forgotten was to obey God and practice justice, mercy, and faithfulness; in a word, love.

In conservative circles, Christians are donning a unique and sometimes radically different look and behavior. Trends are occurring in these circles. Our girls wear dresses, have long hair, and bake bread from freshly ground wheat. Families have 10 children in homemade clothes (by their sisters), all homeschooled, who sit still for all of the church service and who obey immediately. We drive big conversion vans, have submissive wives, sons who are chivalrous, and girls who desire to be good mothers and wives, too. We don't date and we do everything as a family. The above is all good. In fact, it is great! On the other hand, we can not cling to these things to distinguish us from the rest of the world. Christ explained just after Judas left to betray him what separated the elect from unbelievers: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35, emphasis added).

So it isn't having 10 children and gentle wives and making homemade bread and having family worship every night and having children who obey immediately, completely, and with a happy heart and educating at home and practicing courtship and understanding tough doctrinal issues (pant) that signals to the rest of the world, "These are Christians!" No it isn't. In fact, Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 13 that unless our actions are bound up in and driven by love, they are meaningless.

We will be known by love because God so loved us with an "everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3). 1 John 4:7 explains, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." "God is love" (1 John 4:16) and "love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Then are the above things (large families, obedient children and wives, home cooking, etc.) bad or unnecessary? Of course not but we can not detach the internal and eternal (love) from the external (actions). We were not saved through our actions but through the love of our Heavenly Father. As Jesus pointed out, we must practice action without neglecting the important matters of the heart. Then the world will know we are Christians by our love.

--HM

Are You My Father?

I wonder if Darwin realized the impact and hubbub his little book, Origin of Species, would cause? Did he ever ponder what effects his theory might have? As he was writing, did Darwin lay down his pen and think, "This will change the world?" It would be curious to know if he ever considered other scientific guesses such as Aristotle's theory of Spontaneous Generation that crippled science until it was proven wrong before he published his work. Fast forward to today, and the world is still trying to unravel Darwin's theory. The Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly will be taking a vote to ban creationism and intelligent design from schools. Thus, only evolution will be taught. The Council argues that only radical religion and extremists believe in intelligent design. Perhaps they have over looked the fact that one has to be pretty crazy (or have extreme faith) to believe all of mankind evolved from monkeys?

One could use all sorts of scientific arguments to combat evolution. A person could site the complexity of the human eye or how the brain sends signals without our help to the heart to keep pumping and to the lungs to keep breathing. Or one could look to the human cell, as microbiologist Michael Denton explains, "What we would then see would be an object of unparalleled complexity and adaptive design" (1.). However, one of the first things I learned in Junior High science class was: science can't prove anything. What science does do is point, like a bright neon sign, to Creator God. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -- his eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20, NIV).

So in an appeal to logic, we turn to a different avenue. Mankind throughout the ages has turned to gods and religions to fulfill their inner desires and to answer questions of life and death: "What is ultimate reality? What is the nature of the world? What is the nature of humanity? What is humanity's primary problem? What happens after death?" (2.). The authors of the college textbook, Communications Between Cultures, comment: "Whether it is the teachings of the Bible, Vedas, Koran, Torah, or I Ching, people have always felt a need to look outside themselves for the values they use to manage their lives and guidance on how to view and explain the world" (3.).

Therefore, if non-Christians and Christians alike agree that man has "always felt a need" to search for a being beyond themselves, how can anyone believe in Evolution? Evolution preaches man is the ultimate. Through random chance, he evolved from pond scum to ape to human. If man has evolved and keeps on evolving toward perfection, why do we all need a being greater and outside ourselves to fulfill us? Why has man always needed a Greater Being help him in life if he has and is doing it all on his own as evolution teaches?

None of us would ever take a look at an ape sitting in a zoo and say, "I wonder what his offspring will invent." No one sends a guerrilla a birthday card because he's a "distant relative." Darwin wrote Origin of Species because he, like all of us, was looking for answers to the meaning of life. Evolution and science is not the end-all. Instead, both send man on a quest to find what they point to: Christ Jesus. For those who persist in this hunt, great is their reward: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be open" (Matthew 7:7,8).

--Hannah

Endnotes:

1. Halverson, Dean C., The Compact Guide to World Religions. Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers p. 13

2. Samovar, Larry A.; Porter, Richard E.; McDaniel, Edwin R., Cummnication Between Cultures 6th ed. California: Thomson Learning, Inc. p. 75

3. Halverson, Dean C., The Compact Guide to World Religions. Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers p. 22

On the Threshing Floor

Imagine being childless in a culture that sees children as a blessing and then losing your husband with no immediate opportunity to add a child to your family. If a son was produced, then the family lineage would continue. Without a son and a husband, you now have no opportunity for security through inheritance, no one to look after you in your later years, no hope or future. In addition, your current provision disappears since your extended family, father-in-law and brother-in-law, both died.

In the same situation, your mother-in-law intends to return to her homeland. She's heard that her god was providing for his people there in the midst of a famine. The lack of food originally drove your father-in-law to your homeland where food was present. That is how you met your husband.

Now, your mother-in-law is leaving for her place of birth and encourages you and your sister-in-law to go to your home, to marry again, and then sends you off with a blessing from her god. Your sister-in-law decides she will go back. Possessing nothing, you decide to leave your homeland to follow your marital family's god. Out of your mouth, you declare to your mother-in-law, "Where you go, I will go. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God."

You pause momentarily and ponder where those words of dedication originate. You decide that a continuing relationship with her is sweet for the soul. With nothing to lose, the two of you head out.

Arriving at Bethlehem, your mother-in-law, Naomi, is greeted by the townspeople, her relatives and friends. They are excited; Naomi exclaims that she is bitter and explains that her Lord has afflicted her.

Since it is harvest time when you arrive, Naomi instructs you to glean the fields of barley. Turns out that Naomi's God and the God of this people, has instructed those who plant to not harvest ever single grain or fruit of the crop of the field.

As you gather the grain, the wealthy, influential owner of the field greets all of the workers with blessings from his God. He tells you that he has instructed the men working to not interfere with you, and, when you are thirsty, you may drink from the jars of water filled by men.

You stand in wonder because this man has treated you with respect, showing kindness and protection. You were used to filling jars with water for the men, not the other way around.

"Why," you ask, "are you showing me this favor? I am a foreigner in your land." The wealthy owner responds and says he has been informed of the reason for your recent journey, the kindness you have shown your mother-in-law, and then blesses you once again in the name of his God. Later, he invites you to share in his meal.

When you arrive at your home, Naomi seems to no longer be depressed. She proclaims the wonder of her God, telling you He has not stopped showing His kindness. She proceeds to tell you that the owner who has shown you kindness is Boaz, a close relative, a kinsman-redeemer, who can buy your husband's land and even wed you.

Armed with this information, Naomi instructs you to bathe, perfume and prepare yourself to go to Boaz this evening. Specifically, notice where he lies down for the evening but do not let him see you. Uncover his feet, lie down and he will tell you what to do.

Motivated by love for your mother-in-law and the kindness of strangers, you obey Naomi. In the middle of the night, Boaz wakes to find you at his feet but he does not know it is you. He asks your name and you respond with, "I am your servant, Ruth. Spread the corner of your garment over me since you are a kinsman-redeemer."

Boaz responds by blessing you in the name of his God. He compliments your character and respect for elders - it's all over town; he noticed that you did not lie down at the feet of a younger man and is blessed by your kindness. He then tells you that another kinsman-redeemer exists who is first in line to your husband's land and will give him the opportunity to redeem. However, if he does not redeem, Boaz swears to you by his God, the LORD, that he will.
Wanting to return the kindness and preserve Boaz's reputation, you leave for home before morning carrying your shawl full of the grain Boaz poured into it, six measures! He continues to be generous to you.

Later in the day, word reaches you that Boaz has proclaimed his relationship of kinsman-redeemer with you in front of the town elders. He presented the facts to the relative first in line for redeeming your husband's land who was set to take the land until he found that a widow was also involved. At that discovery, he said he was unable to fulfill and proceeded to release his right to the land and to Ruth.

Having cleared the only hurdle to becoming a kinsman-redeemer, Boaz declares his intentions to the elders and those in attendance: To redeem the property of Naomi and to wed you.

The elders and those at the gate proceed to bless...YOU!

Time has passed but where you are now, time does not exist. You are endowed with looking at the past with a complete understanding not found while you lived on earth. You can now see the grand plan conceived prior to time.

• After the wedding to Boaz, the Creator opened your womb. You conceived and gave birth to a son, Obed.
• Your son, Obed, fathered Jesse who was the father to King David, whose lineage brought forth, the Son of God, Jesus the Christ.
• Christ became your kinsman-redeemer, you now see. He was the only One who could save you. You had nothing within you to save yourself - no right to inheritance, a stranger and alien to God's chosen people, His elect.
• In fact, you realize that your people and heritage were declared enemies of God. His Kinsman-Redeemer, Christ, received God's wrath that you were due as His enemy.
• You marvel how God chose you to be in His family. You see now His desire worked out in your life when you left your homeland with your mother-in-law despite her encouragement to you to stay.
• The story, you see and tell everyone you meet (and they back to you), is really all about the Holy One Whose plans and purposes to glorify Himself were decreed before time and continue to be carried out as He designed.
• As you tell those you meet, you hear:

"Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." Revelation 15:3-4

--CM

Music Review: Superchic[k] Beauty From Pain (2005)

Inpop Records

Genre: Pop/Rock

Style: Girl rock band, cross between Black Eyed Peas, Barlow Girls, and TobyMac

World View:

"Here's to the one's who don't give up." "Get your hands up." "Today's your day/ So c'mon bring it on." "You need that boy like a bowling ball dropped on your head/ Which means not at all." These are just some of the lines from the songs in Beauty From Pain. Although Superchic[k] is a Christian artist, they do not openly sing about God. The closest they get is "...And let somebody know that the Most High cares...", "Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above...", and "...You will bring beauty from my pain..." Who is this unknown deity Superchic[k] is singing about? These terms, Most High, You, and [gifts from] above, can be used in almost any religion, but they do say in their "I would like to thank..." paragraphs that they thank God and "Jesus, my Lord and Savior" for the blessings of recording another album. Yes, that's nice, but Nickelback says the same thing and they are a secular group that I do not recommend. Superchic[k]'s songs are mainly about relationships that didn't make it. Many music groups and singers come from the same angle and many of them are secular. Why do "Christian" artists need to sound like the world? Yes, you may sell more albums, but does it have any Biblical truths, any meat, that Christians can sink their teeth into? You be the judge.

Overall Quality:

If you like pop/rock music with okay lyricks, this is your CD. Tricia, the lead vocals, has a whiney rock voice in the songs Anthem (Track 1), Bowling Ball (3), Wishes (5), It's On (7), and Suddenly (8), but she also has an incredible singing voice in Beauty From Pain (6) and We Live (10). This the type of music that you can get energized to. So, if you need a boost, pop in the CD, and start jammin'.

Jonathan

Movie Review: Nancy Drew

Introduction:

When we begin to read a book, literary experts encourage us to enter into the "Great Conversation." We are to interact with the story, inquiring into its message. Ask the 5 W's of journalism: Who, What, When, Where, Why. In the end, learn from what we read.

Movies are no different. The same "Great Conversation" occurs in movies; but instead of reading the story, we watch it unfold before our eyes. Directors, actors, and special effects experts do all the work of making a tale come to life, leaving very little for our imagination to create. Consequently, it takes less brain power to watch Sense & Sensibility than it does to actually read Jane Austen's classic. However, this doesn't give us license to check our brains at the door when we go to the movie theater.

Geoff Botkins, a film producer who has helped produce Vision Forum's Independent Christian Film Festival in San Antonio, Texas, stated that films are a teaching medium. Those who write the screenplays and direct the films are communicating their beliefs. We are to never watch films as passive entertainment but are to be active in understanding what these people are trying to teach us--the "Great (Film) Conversation."

Hence the goal of these movie reviews: to identify what the screenwriters, directors, and actors are trying to teach us and what worldviews they set before us.

A Plot Overview:

When I was younger, I read a few of the Nancy Drew books but never got into them though I am a great mystery novel fan. From the little I read, I could appreciate who this girl was: an inquisitive, go-getter who was always thinking outside the box.

The film then is no different character-wise. Emma Roberts embodies the innocent and inventive Miss Drew wholeheartedly which gives the film a cheery, light-hearted overtone.

As the writers and director work, they incorporate the classic 1930s and 1940s character with modern technology. This time Nancy Drew has to solve the mystery of her and her father's rental mansion in L.A. with the help of her iPod, cell phones, and the Internet.

Girl on a Mission:

From the very first moment of the film to the closing credits, we are shown a young girl who is unique and interesting. Modern movies are consistently parading characters who try their very hardest to be "cool", "hip", and "in-style." (The Princess Diaries and Freaky Friday come to mind.) In this movie, however, not only is Nancy Drew not trying to fit in but she doesn't even try to be "normal." When confronted about her style of clothing, she confidently states with a smile, "I like old-fashion things." The film makers show, quite well, that it is acceptable, and even encouraged, to be who you were created to be (and we would say as God created you to be). It is a refreshing message to be sent in a world of constant peer pressure.

Nancy Drew's wardrobe is topic of discussion in the film and will be here as well. Ms. Drew's entire wardrobe seemed to be constructed of modest, yet tasteful clothing; fashionable yet covering. On the other hand, the teen-age girls who do wear the modern style which is quite revealing are presented as well, rather distastefully dressed. Again, a message that is not normally sent via the silver screen.

Finally, in the center of all of Nancy's sleuthing is the desire to help other people. This is a lesson we are told she learned from her father. Together they try and help those who cannot do it themselves. With powerful gifts, they have a unique position to aid others and this they do most willingly.

A Few Words of Caution:

Though the film has a great deal of positive messages, there are a few of disappointing areas.

Nancy and her father move from River Heights to L.A. where her dad takes a temporary job. Because he is going to be very busy with work and Los Angeles is a very different world from River Heights, Mr. Drew asks his daughter not to do any sleuthing while in the new city. Directly against his wishes, Nancy investigates the mystery of their mansion. The desire to be who she is (a detective) conflicts with her father's request to not solve mysteries. The film shows "following who you are" overrides the command to obey your parents. Scripture tells us, "Honor your father and your mother that it may go well with you." Not once did I hear an apology from Nancy for not obeying her father.

Nancy's father also encourages her to be "normal" which to him means doing the normal thing teenagers do such as throw a rowdy party (see next paragraph). It is disappointing to see that the filmmakers showed this stereotype of a father. Instead of encouraging his daughter to not compromise who she was and just not sleuth, he told her to go be like the "other kids." This is not a happy thought when we see who the other kids are.

A word might be said here to those worried about the party scene that is shown in the trailers. Nancy Drew was throwing a birthday party and handed out invitations at school. However, two of the girls invited decide to bring their own friends to party. Thus, the event gets rather out of hand. Loud music is blared, teens are destructive to the property, and a reference is made to "making-out". At the end the police are called because of the disturbance. Mr. Drew congratulates Nancy on trying to be "normal" and having a rowdy party. This type of get-together between teens is not necessarily encouraged but neither is it discouraged.

In Conclusion:

My mom and I had a thoroughly wonderful time together at this movie and it is truly a girl flick!

Much can be said for this film who's main character doesn't compromise who she is and never once feels bad for being so. As my mom likes to quote, " 'Normal' is just a setting on the dryer!" This is the truth that could have been this films tag line. Nancy is just fine the way she is. In fact being "un-normal" makes her all the more likable.

So for an afternoon movie that is a mile wide and an inch deep, it is a lighthearted story that encourages young girls to be modest and innocent, yet not oblivious to the wonderful world around them.

--HM

An Established Phenomenon

It rained yesterday.

Now that is nothing profound since we are in the rainy season and it rains almost daily. However, I never tire of rain showers. When our little storm was over, my dad called out, "There's a rainbow!" All of us scurried excitedly to different windows to catch a glimpse of this phenomenon.

"Phenomenon?" you may ask. "We see that all the time!" I'll agree, it is a frequent occurrence. Science even has broken it down into a technical explanation:

"An arc-shaped spectrum of color seen in the sky opposite the Sun, especially after rain, caused by the refraction and reflection of sunlight by droplets of water suspended in the air. Secondary rainbows that are larger and paler sometimes appear within the primary arc with the colors reversed (red beinginside). These result from two reflections and refractions of a light ray
inside a droplet. " (The American Heritage Science
Dictionary)

But a rainbow is much more than droplets of water suspended in air. According to Scripture, it is an established sign, an everlasting covenant between God, Noah, Noah's descendant's (that's us!), and all living creature on the earth.

"And God said, 'This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and ever living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.'" (Genesis 9:12-16,emphasis added)

After the thunder clouds roll away and the rain clears up, we stand here on earth and see a rainbow. At the same time, God in heaven promises he will see the rainbow as well and remember His promise. Is that not incredible? Sometimes I can't quite wrap my mind around it. That a sign established thousands of years ago is being enacted every day with God taking note. Yes, it is indeed incredible!

So I urge you next time you see a rainbow to keep in mind that the God of the universe is at that moment witnessing with you the sign of His promise: never to destroy the earth with a flood again! Gather your family to the windows and view this amazing phenomenon.

--Hannah

Welcome to The Wicket Gate

When Christian finally makes it to the Wicket Gate after many a set back, he desires to know how to release his burden. The gate keeper, Good Will, says to Christian, "As to thy burden, be content to bear it until thou comest to the place of deliverance; for there it will fall from thy back itself." The gate keeper's job was to direct Christian to the cross of Christ.

In Matthew 7: 13 & 14, Jesus stated, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

According to Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, a wicket gate is: "A small gate or door, especially one forming part of, or placed near, a larger door or gate."

Thus the reasons for the name of our humble blog, a small gate amongst many large ones. Our goal with this blog is to help direct unbelievers to Christ and to help other Christians along in their personal relationships with our Mighty God. In the process, we also desire to grow in our relationship with Christ Jesus. Each week we hope to post one or two of the following: ideas, musings, movie and music reviews, nutritional tips, important theological points, the love of Christ, and the hope we have in Him.

But our family also wants to learn and grow from you. As iron sharpens iron, so we desire to hear your comments and the truth God has revealed to you through Scripture. We would love to have you post comments (in fact we highly encourage it!) and even would enjoy articles from you in response to subjects mentioned in postings. All we ask is that it be based on Scripture and that its goal would be to glorify Christ and Him crucified.

So we eagerly begin our blog and this journey with you as we work out our faith with fear and trembling, trusting that God in his mercy and grace will continue to reveal "how high and long, wide and deep is the love of Christ" for his children.

--HM