A sinner!  Who me?  Yes.  Sin is personal.  It’s not simply an action or a deed.  It’s not merely misbehavior.  It’s instead our human condition.  It’s that which permeates human nature and existence through and through, so much so that the psalmist was right when he prayed,

“Create in me a clean heart, O God and restore a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

The psalmist is right to pray to God, because only God who created the world can affect this kind of radical transformation.  No monarch or prophet, no ruler or nameless suffering servant can author the new creation that God intends us to be.  There is only one who identifies himself with our situation, who steps in between us and our past and makes us once again bearable to God and the world.  Not that we might progress to the point of taking this place ourselves, but rather that we might never fall again into this place.  As Paul was asserting,

“So, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

On this first day of Lent, let the ashes with which we mark ourselves remind us that from nothing we, each of us, were created and that the God who created us will not rest until we are at last transformed.  Amen

“as a word so beautiful and magnificent that it is almost untranslatable in English.” 

This week we read the story of Mary’s declaration that “nothing will be impossible with God.”  Upon hearing that she would miraculously conceive and bear the Messiah, she lets us know that this can only be God’s story, God’s initiative.  God is doing the impossible work of newness in the world and in us.  Newness and steadfast love are all God’s doing in the first place.  It’s not that there is nothing we must do to make this moment happen; it’s that there is nothing we can do.  Only God can make this impossible child.  Only God can author loving kindness and steadfast love.  Only God can create real newness.  Only God can do forever.  And in this story—this true story, God will.  There are very few things that are steadfast in our human experience.  The retaining wall at the lower end of my house is bowed like an old man’s back.  The stock market is as fragile as crystal.  Relationships dissolve like the sun as it dips below the evening horizon.  The image that we see in the mirror faintly resembles the vibrancy and youthfulness of earlier years.  Everything is tenuous—except this.  God’s steadfast love, which by definition is unconditional and eternal, brings us to Mary.  The power of God to do impossibly new things is backed by His unending faithfulness; unasked for, unimagined, unmerited.  The rule of this impossible child will have no end.  The promises of God for his steadfast love fulfilled in Jesus are forever.  And for this young mother, at that moment, as far as we can discern from the story, there is only joy.  May that same untranslatable steadfast love be yours in Jesus, this season and forever. 

Luke 1:26-38; 47-55; Romans 16:25-27

“Joy is at the heart of who God is and we will never understand the significance of joy in human life until we understand its importance to God!”  G.K Chesterton

        In his book Orthodoxy, G.K. Chesterton describes how the joy experienced by a child is just a fraction of the joy that exists at the heart of God.  In one of the most beautiful pieces ever written, he says: 

“Because children have a bounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged.  They always say, “Do it again.”  And the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead, for grown up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony.”

        But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony.  Is it possible that God says every morning, “Do it again!” to the sun, and every evening, “Do it again!” to the moon?  It may not  be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike.  It may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never gotten tired of making them.  It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy, for we have sinned and grown old and our Father is younger than we.

        We have sinned and grown old.  I’ve thought about that statement again and again.  We have sinned and grown old.  We become jaded and tired.  We live with a host of worries and irritations.  Like old men and women the monotony grinds us to a halt.  But our eternal God is like a child who says “Do it again!”  Nothing is taken for granted though God has seen everything there is to see.  He has knowledge of everything that has or will be known.  And every day when the sun breaks our horizon, God gets excited like a little kid.  Do it again!  And if we’re not filled with awe and wonder and delight, it’s not because we have everything we need.  It’s because we are broke.

        We will never understand God until we come to realize that he is the happiest being in the universe; that joy is his basic character and his eternal destiny.  Why does that matter?  Jesus says:

I have told you these things so that you can have the same joy I have and so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.                 – John 15:11 NCV

        To miss out on joy is to miss out on the reason for your existence.  May you know the joy that comes only through knowing the Savior of the world who authors this season.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126:1-6; I Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

            Yet the failure or reluctance to look within is not without pain.  Do we really want ‘a voice of one calling; “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD.”  I think we’re good with the “glory of the LORD revealed and all mankind together will see it.”  But the call of repentance?  Who’s really on board for a redirection of life that prepares the way for the LORD?  Who among us will acknowledge a bulging deficit of personal and global virtue that can only be filled by ‘”making straight paths for Him?”  The prophetic voice of Isaiah and the prophetic fulfillment of John the Baptist bear witness to a peace that we might not be ready to acknowledge.

            Individually, we are where we are by choices that direct the trajectory of our lives.  As a nation, we are where we are by a million daily decisions in the name of liberty, Wall Street, wishful thinking or foreign policy.  A ten-year war, securitized mortgages, the pandemic of personal debt, growing entitlement, the option of God, the election of ideologues—those didn’t just emerge mysteriously.  Our fingerprints are all over them; decisions, demands and choices made at the crossroads of conscience, belief and haste.  And so we cry out, “God, this isn’t the way it’s supposed to be.  Come and fix it.”  And he has.  And he will.

            He has promised.  He has come.  And he is coming.  We may not want the peace he offers or the answers that he provides.  They force us to face the facts; and face ourselves.  But the way of peace has been provided.  Before the fullness of the kingdom can be made known, the rough ground must become level and every mountain be made low and God be glorified.  Only then will the peace of God fill our hearts, our nation, and our earth.  Only then will the shepherd gather his flock and carry us close to his heart.  Only then will things be as they were intended to be.  Peace. 

Isaiah 40:1-11 (TNIV)

¹ Comfort, comfort my people,
   says your God.
² Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
   and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
   that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD’s hand
   double for all her sins.

 ³ A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
   the way for the LORD^[a];
make straight in the desert
   a highway for our God.^[b]
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
   every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
   the rugged places a plain.
⁵ And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
   and all people will see it together.
   For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

 ⁶ A voice says, “Cry out.”
   And I said, “What shall I cry?”

   “All people are like grass,
   and all human faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
⁷ The grass withers and the flowers fall,
   because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
   Surely the people are grass.
⁸ The grass withers and the flowers fall,
   but the word of our God endures forever.”

 ⁹ You who bring good news to Zion,
   go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,^[c]
   lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
   say to the towns of Judah,
   “Here is your God!”
¹⁰ See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,
   and his arm rules for him.
See, his reward is with him,
   and his recompense accompanies him.
¹¹ He tends his flock like a shepherd:
   He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
   he gently leads those that have young.

 Mark 1:1-8 (TNIV)

 ¹ The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,^{[a][b] 2}as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

   “I will send my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way”^[c]—
³ “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
   make straight paths for him.’”^[d]

 ⁴ And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I baptize you with^[e] water, but he will baptize you with^[f] the Holy Spirit.”

            This Sunday is the start of Advent.  It’s the beginning of the Church Year for those that follow the liturgical calendar.  You might think it strange that as a more contemporary interdenominational church we choose to fully embrace this holy and ancient celebration.  However, the significance and relevant message of Advent is undeniably current and profound.

            The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.”  The focus of the next four weeks is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent.  It’s a time of anticipation and waiting; words that really run counter intuitive to our culture.  It’s also for us who live “between those times” a bit troubling.

            The disconnect between church and secular calendars may never be greater than on the first Sunday in Advent when the theme is “HOPE”.  The irony is that both calendars obviously share the same goal: preparing the world for Christmas.

            The commercial world is using every medium possible to hawk its urgent message.  Our mailboxes, newspapers, television and radio stations, in-boxes and web pages overflow with one unanimous appeal: buy gifts now. Christmas decorations are already up in our city.  Target displayed their seasonal merchandise in October.  We want to start the party now.  Yet God allows us to wait.  He invites us to partner with those who for centuries have cried out in hope “O come, O come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lovely exile here until the Son of God appears!”

            The hope for us, says the church in Advent, is that we are out of hope, and we know it.  We know in our better moments where our quest for self-fulfillment and affirmation has left us.  We know too, what it is like to wander after putting our trust in anything other than the One we hope for.  We so easily miss a thousand little gifts from Him in order to secure and receive the next big gift that we absolutely must have.  The Advent prophet shocks us though with the reality of our state:  “All of our righteous acts are like filthy rags . . . like the wind our sins sweep us away . . . you have hidden your face from us” (Isaiah 64:6-7).

            That’s why the church generally refrains from singing Christmas carols during Advent.  We dare not rush to greet the Redeemer prematurely until we pause here and wait and hope and admit that we do need redemption.  Nothing within can save us.  No thing can save us.  Our hope must be in someone out there who comes to us; and He does, in His time.  We find our way only because One does appear, takes our hand and leads us home.  That is our hope, our only hope. May that gift and the anticipation of it, far surpass anything this secular world could ever offer.

~ Doug

This Week’s Readings – Hope:    Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7; 17-19; I Corinthians 1:3-9

Among the huge contingent of support were also a small handful of protestors exercising their freedom of speech.  They displayed signs filled with hateful slogans and extreme expressions of bigotry.  I’m thankful that I live in such an amazing country that allows free speech for every person, and in the case of Westboro Baptist Church, no matter how vile, venomous and bigoted it may be.  Earlier that day, this same group picketed in front of the Nashville Islamic Center as well as the Gordon Jewish Community Center.  I hope and pray that those who abhorred the presence of this group of protestors would also feel equally strong against the bigotry displayed that day toward Muslims, Jews, homosexuals or anyone else who was not a Westboro follower.

I can’t even begin to fathom how those who profess faith in Jesus Christ could display such arrogant, hateful and blatant bigotry.  As a Christ follower, I don’t even have a grid to plug that into.  It defies logic and mutilates the heart of the gospel. 

I wonder though when the prophet Micah wrote, “And what does the LORD require of you?  To do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8), how and where do we draw that line?  Because unfortunately, more often than not, that line gets drawn.   

Doug Varnado

“Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”  Matthew 17:4-5

            Whatever happened on that mountaintop, the disciples of Jesus understood, for a moment at least, that God was with him; that when Jesus spoke they needed to listen, because it was God speaking.  They also needed to watch what he did, watch very carefully from then on, in him God was acting.

            What does transfiguration have to do with us?  First, the miracle of Jesus is that he comes not at our invitation, not because we have earned the right.  He comes to us because that is what love does.  In addition, it means that he has revealed himself to us for who he truly is. Every other altar or tabernacle; shelter or idol is to be removed in the presence of the One, and only One, to whom we listen and follow.  Yet, how do I know if there are competing altars in my life?  Am I certain that those altars, however good or benign they may be, have not become my idols?  Have I truly been honest with myself about my altars?  Have they become idols?  As honestly as you can, consider these questions:

• Am I content at this stage in my life with the money and possessions that I have or do I feel I need more?
• Am I seeking more power and control in my life or do I feel this is sufficient for me at this time?
• Do I have or am I pursuing a relationship in my life that I feel that I must have for my life to be truly fulfilled or meaningful?
• If no one would find out or I would not be caught, is there anything that I am willing to betray my values to obtain?
• What craving is so strong that it can distort my thinking and make me engage in denial, self-justification, and  secrecy?
• Am I able to identify the things that keep me from following Jesus fully?  Are they, in my life practice, sufficiently stronger to influence or control me than what I profess to believe?

            God gives us those rare moments in life when there is no fog, no haze, no trees, no obstructions where you clearly see the truth about Jesus, and the truth about yourself.  He gives those moments of clarity where you know something is the way it is supposed to be.  He has revealed himself to you for a reason.  Have you surrendered yourself to it and to Him?  That is our moment of truth.  Listen to Him.  Just listen to Him.

Perhaps just this – the encounter is love for your day. The endless possibilities of its presence to hold you through the disappointment, debt, divorce, decision and death that are part of life on this fragile planet.  It’s Jesus, whether you call on him or not, reaching down, extending his arms, taking his hands to cup your face and say to you, “Have you caught a glimpse of how much I love you?  How I came to you in many different ways so that there would be one that would capture your mind and would cause your spirit to wake up and see me – see how much I love you?”

Still it seems so impractical . . . until maybe next year or 10 years from now when a circumstance brings you to your knees and God nudges your heart so that suddenly, with eyes wide open you SEE and HEAR, and it becomes real and practical and personal TO YOU.  The encounter with Jesus who says, “See I am your rock. Climb high and rest here and be safe. See, I am your door to belonging. Walk through and find your purpose. See, I am your bread. You thought you needed all these things and what you needed all along was me. I love it when you see who I AM to you.”

How are his words fleshed out in the everydayness no less than in the crises of our own experience? “It’s when,” as a friend said today,

“His presence is the focal point of our consciousness, all the pieces of our life fall into place.  As we gaze at Him through the eyes of our heart, we begin to see the world around us, and ourselves, from His perspective.  The fact that He is with us makes every moment of our life meaningful.”

So today, this day, February 1, 2011, what difference does it make in my life, even as I sit reading these words.  How do I apply what I have heard and come to believe?

Here it is.

Turn the next page.

Click the link.

 The Word of God seeks to embrace us right where we are.  In the most practical, attainable and concrete way God says to us, embrace me and I will live out life through you.  Who He is and who I am in Him, becomes what I do.

Do you want life? There is no event so commonplace but that God is present within it, always leaving you room to recognize him and recognize where He is leading you.

(God is smiling.) I AM old and I AM new.  I AM being and I AM doing.  I AM love and I AM life.  Today.  2011?

How about LIFE APPS!

Hang on. It’s here. This year as we introduce the theme LIFE APPS at Community Church, we will offer specific life applications to assist us in living out this beautiful encounter with our Savior.  Log on www.cchdevotions.org today and each day to meditate on the daily scripture readings and the promise of more than you can imagine!

Doug Varnado

               You and I are motivated by many things.  It might be fear or pain; joy or reward.  Social pressures factor in to much of our decision-making.  On the other hand, motivation and preferences are based on more noble or lofty ideals.  Maybe it’s a sense of love that dominates.  We move out of protective instincts that surface when faced with justice or fairness issues.  Our preferences are ignited by many different emotions, feelings or beliefs.  In this Christmas season I’ve thought again and again about God coming into our world.  What an unsettling event that disturbs our preferences.  What a surging power that touches every aspect of our life.  It’s something so big we can’t get our mind around it.  It’s a newness that has been witnessed, a newness that ushers in full humanity into a world filled with disability.  It’s newness though that annoys us.  It’s unsettling.  It shatters all our structure.  It declares that our control and understanding of reality is no longer adequate or functional and it asserts that newness is entirely possible.  Even more disturbing, it’s a newness that we can’t predict or manage according to our cherished interest.  No wonder it’s an undesirable choice.  It insists that the world won’t be ordered according to our preferences or become the service provider for our advantages.  It’s really annoying. 

               The incarnation isn’t just about baby Jesus being born into this world.  It’s about a power and reality at play that we can’t begin to control or manipulate.  It’s a power to make human life possible in every failed place.  Your preference?  If it’s the declaration of this power from God that the world can’t overcome, know that you embrace a minority opinion.  It’s a very dangerous opinion in the arena of the status quo.  However, it is also a very powerful possibility in the world in which we live—the world in which He came.  And, the world continues to be astonished and annoyed.  Yet this dangerous power shatters our complacency and overrides our despair.  It makes life possible in our deadness.  It makes healing possible even in the midst of our hurt and anger and fear.  This power, this God, places us in the crisis of his coming and we are never again the same. 

               Your preference?

Doug Varnado

            The lady with the noisy child should have implemented better parenting skills.  Why was I required to fill out five pages of information?  It was thirty degrees outside.  It didn’t feel much warmer in the office.  The receptionist could have brushed up on her social skills.  What right-minded person puts The Watchtower magazine in a waiting room?  My mind and judgment were in a sprint and it wasn’t going to be a pretty journey; all because I was bothered and inconvenienced.

            Where does that judgment come from?  How are we so quickly changed from a people whose desire is to irrigate a community with hope to someone who feels the need to weigh in with such critical and condemning intent?  Maybe there’s a sense of justification because we feel the subject is too heinous or for that matter, too light.  

            If we paid as much attention to Leviticus 25 as we do to Leviticus 18, then we might discover that God is at least as interested in economics as in sex.  If our concern about the horror of gossip was as intense as it was for the more salacious morsels that we tend to chew on, then our minds might find a place of balance.  As it is, judgment often dominates and they red line on thoughts and feelings that the Accuser seductively places and scatters in fertile soil.

            God came to liberate our minds ( “. . . be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” Rom. 12:2), to renew our minds.  I can’t do this.  You don’t have the power to accomplish it either.  We can monitor our minds.  We can seek God’s desires and practice his presence but we can’t accomplish renewal.  That’s a God work.  “The mind controlled by the sinful nature is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).  That’s our source of control.

            So what happens when we find ourselves at a place where the Accuser sows in those seeds of temptation?  And it happens . . . continually.  We either resign ourselves as victims of whatever thoughts pass through our minds or we learn to identify the temptation and give it over to the One who can bring renewal.  For me it has been many years of a daily recitation of a prayer that finds its roots and promise in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.  It goes like this:

            “Almighty God, in the name of Jesus Christ, I acknowledge the sin of __________.  I declare that it has no place in my life as a child of the King. I am helpless against its power but I claim your power to demolish strongholds and anything that sets itself up against the knowledge of you Father so I take captive every thought in Jesus name and make it obedient to you Lord.  Amen.”

            Next time the temptation comes, try it.  And try it again and again until the words and their truth become a familiar gift.   

- Doug