A Simple Word for Complex People

"Put the Christ back in Christmas!" they say. And I totally agree, but not in the way you might think. It's time we put Christ back in Christmas, so we can reclaim the Christmas story, and take back the responsibility of telling the story the right way.

Advent is a time when we anticipate God entering our world, but do we have a preconceived notion of how that will look? Or can we remain open to "expect the unexpected," as God so often calls us to do? God is a God of new things, and just may surprise us in how we see Jesus in our midst this year.

This year has been difficult to be be sure, but we are a people of hope! There’s always hope. ALWAYS. Don’t ever let anyone steal, dampen, alter, or downplay your hope! We live in a Good Friday world, but the church stands as a testimony that no matter how bleak Friday feels, Sunday’s coming!

In times of chaos and trouble, when nothing else seems reliable, we may need a reminder that there is One who still has all things under control. This can be especially true after contentious times when families and friendships have been fractured -- traditional support networks that may no longer be as strong as they once were. If your faith has been tested, you're not alone. Maybe this will help.

My "farewell" message to the people of Community Congregational Christian Church in Citrus Springs, FL. This text is a perfect summary of who we are called to be and what we are called to do. Everything else is distraction, and our calling is too important for distractions.

It was the clergy of Jesus' day who challenged Him, but the people in the pews who followed Him. Frankly, it's still true today. Be students of God's Word; don't rely on clergy to tell you what it says. Pastors are not set above others to rule; they are set apart to serve. That's a really important distinction, and key to maintaining the health of any church. 

Moses knew he couldn't take the people the step of the journey without God leading the way. We needed God to get where we've gotten, and we need God to get where we're going. We are not equipped to do everything that is required of us, and thanks be to God, we don't have to be.  

As Christians, we don't have the luxury of being "selectively merciful." When we hitch our wagon to Jesus' train, we submit to a higher standard of conduct, even during election season in America, and even when a controversial figure contracts COVID-19. We are the church, and it's time we start acting like it. The world needs us.  

The stories of the Bible aren't just cute moral tales for dusty Sunday School rooms ... they teach us how to interpret our lives and circumstances. But fewer and fewer of us know those stories, so those who do need to tell the stories, and share what they mean. 

Heaven sounds awesome, doesn't it? Especially these days. So, what's keeping us here? Let's talk about that.