Do you have your Christmas list all made out? Have you already added a couple of holiday pounds? Are you children snuggled in bed with visions of sugar plums... well you get the idea. This year has really seemed to just pick up speed for myself and seemingly everyone one I have spoken with over the past couple of weeks. Don't you wish that we could just put on the breaks and bring life,occasionally, to a screeching halt. A chance to stop and figure out what you are forgetting, who you are forgetting, and what you wish you could forget? Let this just be a gentle reminder not to forget whose birthday it is that we are celebrating. Don't forget to put Jesus on your list. How do you put Jesus on your list? The last time I checked there are hundreds of ways. Jesus said, if you give a drink of cold water in my name you give it to me. If you visit the sick you are visiting me. So do you know anyone a bit less fortunate than yourself? Do you know anyone who won't be having much of a Christmas this year, by making someone like this the recipient of a blessing you are giving Jesus exactly what He wants for Christmas this year.

Thanksgiving... already?

It's been a strange year. Thanksgiving seems to have just come out of no where, but here we are 2 days away. The irony is that there hasn't been a year in recent memory that I have had more for which to be thankful. First and foremost God's love and the gift of His Son, some would say that should go without saying, I say that should never go unsaid. I am thankful for family and friends, my wonderful daughter and my beautiful wife.

Those are personal. While looking back over the year we have had at Cornerstone I can say with confidence that we have truly been blessed. In a year when most churches have had to cut programs and ministries because members have lost jobs due to a lagging economy, and not been able to give like they have in the past, our giving has increased. Our baptisms have increased. Our membership has increased. Our attendance has increased. And while all of those things are wonderful, more than all of that I have seen remarkable growth in the love and compassion our members have shown to one another. I told our congregation at the beginning of the year that this was going to be a year when we would be tested to see if we were going to bond together and be there for one another and I thank God that we have been tested and more so, that, in my humble opinion, we have passed the test.

Risky Calls

I love the Indianapolis Colts. What would you expect from a boy born and bred in the Hoosier state? Last night's game with the Patriots will go down in history as one of the greatest regular season games of all time, but not because the Colts won but rather because of the call the Patriot's coach made to go for it on 4th & 2 from his own 28 yard line with a 6 point lead. When you talk about risk you don't get one any bigger than that in football. He rolled the dice and it cost his team the game.

Interestingly enough as the game was starting we were visiting with our friends from Kyrgyzstan. Anara has been a Christian for about 5 years but her husband who just came to the states 3 months ago, as of yet has not placed his faith in Christ. We have been sharing with him for the past 3 months and he seems genuinely interested in Christianity but just isn't quite ready to take the final step. Last night we felt it was time to encourage him to really consider if he believes everything we have been telling him or if it is just interesting history. Our biggest concern is the risk he is taking if he continues to wait. In football if you gamble and make a risky call it can cost you the game, in choosing Christ, taking the risk of waiting can cost you your very soul. Luke 12:20 says; "You fool this very night your life will be demanded of you..." Is it worth the risk?

Is the H1N1 virus more virulent than other flu bugs? I don't know. I know the media is having a hey day with all the sensationalizing of the illness. But when you consider the fact that during any given week during the regular flu season 1000 people die we simply need to remember that any illness can become serous if not taken seriously. Simple steps like thorough hand washing especially after contact with another person will go a long way to helping avoid the spread of this disease. Any illness not taken seriously can lead to sever complications just like when we don't take sin seriously. Sin's attack is subtle, no one walks out and decides, today I am going to commit adultery. It begins with an innocent compliment from or to a coworker. It leads to confiding in that person, and long before any physical act has taken place the sin of emotional adultery has long since been committed. No one wakes up today and says today I am going to commit murder typically it takes a long line of lesser crimes before one builds to the taking of a life. We extinguish small fires because when we don't they burn down homes and country sides. Satan loves to ignite little flames just to see how big of a fire he can get going in your life. Sin is sin and we need to recognize it as being sin. There are not big sins or little sins. In the eyes of God, sin is sin and we must never forget that God does not take sin lightly.
"Be sure your sins will find you out." Numbers 32:23

In Case of Emergency

The mayor of Moscow promises a snow free winter. Maybe you have seen the headlines, Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov promised to use the Russian air force to drop chemicals on the moisture laden clouds before they get to Moscow causing them to drop all of their precipitation before reaching the city. Is manipulating the weather manipulating God? I don't think so but do we not, at times, try to manipulate God? “If you save me God I'll be a missionary.” Okay God here’s $5 now bless me. I asked my congregation yesterday, who is God to you? For many of us God and our communication with Him are, "In Case of Emergency" only. He is kept safely behind the glass of self sufficiency. But like the glass you break to get to the fire alarm God sometimes has to shatter your pride, or smash your sense of arrogance in order to remind you that He is God. What a shame it is that we require such reminders. How sad it is that God is our parachute, we’re glad He’s there but we sure hope we never have to pull the rip cord. Ask yourself this, if prayer were like a telephone, would God be on your speed dial because, like your best friend, you call him often, or because He is like 911, the button that is there but you certainly don’t want to need?

Is There Joy in the Journey?

I wonder if there is joy in your journey. We spend too much trying to get somewhere. We have to get to work; we have to get to the store; we have get the kids to school. I am learning that God's will for my life is not a destination, it is an adventure. Did you ever take a walk on the beach? Where were you going? That is the way we should view life, as if each and every moment of each and every day is a precious treasure from God. Those moments getting ready, those moments getting the kids ready, those moments stuck in traffic. If you don't have these moments then you have no life, because that is what life is, a succession of moments. Take them for what they are, treasures to be treasured. And we would do well keep in mind that once the moments have passed they are gone they can never be retrieved, or relived, only remembered.

Reunited

It is so great to see God’s hand at work in the lives of those you love and care about. We have been a part of Anara’s life for several years now. When we met her she was a shy little lady from Kyrgyzstan who just wanted to be free to be a Christian, something she could not do in Kyrgyzstan. We never had reason to question her faith. As she was always inviting friends and neighbors to the Russian language Bible study we were conducting in her home. Many of them, because of Anara’s persistent invitations and her witness, gave their lives to Christ.

After many appointments and rescheduled hearings Anara had her day in court. It was a day that had God’s hand of blessing all over it, because in the end she was granted asylum. After winning her case she began the process of bringing her husband and son to America. After lots of applications, fees and red tape last Thursday at 12:10am after not having see one another for 5 years, Anara’s husband and son walked through the gate at Cincinnati international airport where we were privileged to witness a reunion that we will never forget. Midst the hugs and tears we got to meet Almaz and Ruslan and welcome them to America. On their first Sunday in America Anara brought her reunited family to Church.

BFF to BFFE

I marvel at the inhibitions of 3 year olds. When we go to play at the mall, the park or Anna Maria's favorite Chick-da-fla (Chick-fil-A) as she calls it, she always says, "Look daddy my friend." Every child we see has the potential to be her next BFF (Best friend forever) even though we will never see them again. They will play until one insensitive parent finlay says that it is time to go and these two, who have bonded for life in a matter minutes, are tearfully ripped apart never to see each other again.

Where do those inhibitions go? Why, as we grow older, are we terrified as to what others will think of us? As Christians we are to let others see Jesus in us, which is a good thing because the likelihood of them hearing it from us is about as likely as my baptizing the Pope. Why are we so afraid to wear the name Christian. Sharing our faith can be so terrifying. Most would prefer a trip to the dentist over witnessing. Something I learned as a missionary in Russia is that people will enquire as to books. When I studied Russian in coffee shops I would often times have people ask me what I was studying. This helped me practice Russian but it also opened doors to witnessing. Now I like to take an overtly Christian book to these places with Anna Maria because I have found that people will often times ask, "What are you reading," which opens the door so that while Anna Maria is with her most resent BFF I might have the opportunity to help someone find their BFFE, Best friend for eternity.

Is it any wonder that Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me." When they come, they come without baggage. Come to Jesus before your load is to heavy to get there.

A-pi-ko after mushrooms

Uganda was a beautiful country with beautiful people but communication was a bit of a problem. In a country roughly the size of North Carolina they spoke 42 languages! I picked up a little Lugandan and a bit of Swahili but that was it. In contrast Russia spanned 12 time zones (that is half the world for you geography buffs) and they spoke one language. Our home is roughly 1500 sq. ft. where we now speak 4 languages. English, Georgian, Russian and Anna Marian.

Lets see if you can figure out some of our favorites. Oatpea cookies - not too tough Oatmeal cookies; Clyda - a dear sweet lady in our church that most know as Claudia; Cindanella - pretty close to its English equivalent Cinderella; Kepuch - one our favorites and Anna Maria's too because she eats ketchup on every thing; Lispit - chap stick or lipstick; Mushrooms - no, not what you think, the -mallow after marsh is too tough so she adds -rooms cause its easier; but our all time favorite, because it was her first, and still most often used is A-pi-ko - not a clue? Us either for probably a year. Then one day I was standing at the fridge, door open, Anna Maria standing with me, looking up saying, "a-pi-ko, to my elation I grabbed a jar and ran to Nino telling her I had discovered the mystery that had plagued our household for, what had seemed like centuries. Now when anna Maria finishes her cookies, her ice cream or mushrooms she always wants to finish with a-pi-ko and while we would not select it after sweets we now know that she loves to crunch on a - pickle.

Language is a process as is our walk with Christ, I often remind my congregation that justification is instantaneous, while sanctification is a process. Sometimes a long and slow process. I wonder how often God just scratches his head and wonders if I'll ever get it right. I am just glad to know that my salvation is secure and that God does not, never has, nor ever will give up on me, even when my choices seem befuddling.

Let people be people and God be God

I was in a store not too long ago and I overheard a young lady who was looking at clothes, she found a shirt that she liked. The shirt, however, didn't have a price tag. To which she said,"I hate people." It really concerns me that something so simple could elicit such a strong response. While I could be wrong, to me, it honestly sounded like there was hate behind the comment and not just an off the cuff remark.

A long time ago I decided to let people be people and to let God be God. My faith is and always will be in the later. People are always going to let me down, if I put too much faith in them. That is why I choose to give them the freedom to make mistakes, and not have to worry about living up to my expectations. I want to love people in spite of their failings. Don't get me wrong, as a pastor I want to encourage and challenge people to live up to what God would have them to be, namely more Christlike. But if they fail I don't want them to fear disappointing me. The reason, I know how often I fail others. I know that many times I have let people down and disappointed them.

I am sorry that this young lady didn't find a price on the shirt she liked. In retrospect I wish I had said, here let me see if I can find someone who can tell you how much it costs. Who knows had I done so that feeling of hate might have subsided, but it also might have gotten redirected. Where? At me.

I fear that such a statement of hate shows something of the character that lies within that young lady. I read somewhere that your spirit, your inward character is in process of becoming something, (If you are in Christ we call that sanctification). Something either unbelievably good or something unimaginably dark. That something is the main thing God sees when he looks at us. I hope you are more concerned about what God sees than what I see.

Feel-like-it-ness

My goal is to try to post something new every Monday. But yesterday I simply didn't feel like blogging. So I had the choice of either trying to so something half-heatedly, or give it a day and see if I felt more productive today. We live in a world of fast paced, high stress deadlines. When it comes to preaching on Sunday, I can't get up and tell my congregation, "could you all please come back tomorrow, I don't feel like preaching today." At least I don't think I could get away with that... While my blogging does not come with such pressure I do realize that we cannot simply put things off because we don't feel like doing them right now.

I am so thankful that God's timing is perfect. I so glad that God's acting on our behalf is not dictated by His whims. As I read my Bible thru this year, as I have done every year for the past 10 years or so, I am struck by all of the promises that God makes. I have cool Logos Bible software and it allows me to do all kinds of different highlighting and notes in the Bible. One of the things I have been highlighting is God's promises. And you know, not once does God say, "if you obey and I feel like it..." or "Now you be good and I a happen to be in a good mood..." God's promises are based on His faithfulness not His 'feeling-like-it-ness.'

I am sure that Jesus did not feel like going to the cross. But I praise God that Jesus did not get to the garden and say, "Dad, I can't do it. It's harder than I thought it was going to be, we are going to have to find another way." I am driven to my knees with appreciation by the fact that Jesus, as the nails were about to be driven into his hands and feet, did not call time out and say, "Okay dad this is going to hurt way too much, those legions of angels, bring em on." I am glad that He did not look down through history and see me and think, "Naaa, Tom really isn't worth all this." Aren't you? He hung in there until He could say, "Tetelestai" (It is finished).

There is only one Light of the world

Where does the darkness go when you turn on the light? Does it run and hide? Is there a darkness warehouse where it is kept until it is needed again? Is it banished to darkness hell? No, the darkness simply ceases to exist because darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. Darkness has no power over light what so ever. There is no such thing a a flash dark. Or new special lower watt dark bulbs, to save you energy or deluminating ones to cut down on annoying bright spots. You can't extinguish a cigarette with a darker.

But there are times when the sun can be eclipsed, the moon waxes and wanes. In such cases we know that the source of light is simply obscured. The source is still as present and bright as ever. This concerns me when I think about the fact that Jesus is the Light of the world. I worry about the things that obscure Him. Last week a poll showed that more people consider Barack Obama to be a hero than do Jesus Christ. My intent is not to speak badly of Barack Obama, but at the moment he is obscuring the Light of the world. The reason for this, I believe is temporary. Obama has risen to such a state of fame and popularity that it is no wonder when asked who people think of as a hero he would come to mind. I think that we will see in a few months that people will realize that Barack Obama is just a man. Will he do great things for America? Only time will tell. But no matter what, he will never be the savior of the world. Can he deal with Americas problems? Don't know? Can he deal with your sin? Not a chance. But that is not his job. That is why Jesus will always be the one and only Light of the world, and He shines just as bright today as He ever has. Let's make sure the obstructions don't last.

Knowing where daddy is

Being a pastor makes you think especially when you have a Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening to prepare for, all of which you want to be filled with fresh, attention getting and keeping thoughts, ideas and illustrations. I hope you will enjoy the one I used last night.

Anna Maria is now 3 and she has discovered the game of hide-n-seek. She, however, has her own variation of the game. She takes daddy into the bed room and shows him where he needs to hide. She then leaves the room and mommy helps her count to 10, she can only make it to 7 on her own. She then comes back into the room and wouldn’t you know it she has no trouble what-so-ever finding daddy. Then when it is her turn daddy leaves the room and counts to 10, without mommies help. When daddy gets back in the room he hears a sweet little voice giggle from under the covers or behind the door or in the bathroom, “I’m over here daddy.” She seems to like to know where daddy is and for daddy to know where she is. Now while this may not be your traditional game of hide-n-seek it made me think about my heavenly Father. To say, in my humble opinion, that the world is going to “hell in a hand basket” is an understatement. One thing that lends me comfort is knowing where my Father is and that He knows where I am. While it may be fun to play games it is nice to know that there is no where that I can go and hide from Him and while it may not always seem like it, He would never ever hide from me.