First

This Week's Readings:

Monday: Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Tuesday: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Wednesday: Romans 10:8b-13
Thursday: Luke 4:1-4

Friday: Luke 4:5-13

Deuteronomy 26:1-11 (NIV)

¹ When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, ² take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket.

^"8 ...So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders.

⁹ He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey;¹⁰ and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O LORD, have given me."

Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him.

Gratitude is a powerful thing.

To be truly thankful for what we have. To believe that it has come to us, unmerited, as the gift of a generous God.

These are the things that can give life meaning and joy.

But it can't be merely lip service, at least not according to scripture.

Often, we are wounded when others doubt our beliefs, or our intentions. But actions speak more powerfully than any words ever could. They reveal the real movements of our hearts.

So let's ask ourselves. Are we really grateful for the blessings that come from God?

Really?

Our checking accounts will tell the story.

What do we give? Not "how much." The number will be relative to each person's circumstance. But do we make giving, to someone, somewhere, a priority?

Is there some sense in which we regularly and clearly return a portion of the first and best that God has given us?

It's important. Try it. God gave us this instruction because it puts feet on our thoughts and feelings. And it changes the very core of who we are.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Tomorrow: Psalm 91

Greatness

Luke 9:37-43 NIV

The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.

³⁸A man in the crowd called out, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. ³⁹A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him.

⁴⁰I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not."

⁴¹"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here."

⁴²Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion.

But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father.

⁴³And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

As we wrap up this week of transfiguration scriptures, I want to simply point out that Jesus does here what the disciples could not.

He heals, casting out a demon, because he is so closely aligned with the power of God the Father, at work within him.

Of course, Jesus is more than "aligned." He is one and the same. He is "of the same stuff" as the Father, but his example of the perfect human life reminds us that the power of God waits to work within us to any degree that we will allow it.

I hope you'll take a few minutes with this wonderful film about the transfiguration below, and really reflect on what it would mean to let God's power be seen...and how all who see it might then be "amazed at the greatness of God."

Keep the comments coming, and come be part of worship at SOTH this weekend!

Peace -- Adam

Awake

Luke 9:28-36

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. ²⁹As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.

³⁰Two men, Moses and Elijah, ³¹appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

³²Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

³³As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)

³⁴While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

³⁵A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."

³⁶When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.

Have you ever been so tired, that you just could not get up and going?

I had a minor version of that feeling this morning. Last night was a late one at the church, as was the night before. This morning came early and sleeping in at all was not an option.

What could make you "fully awake" at such times?

A couple of years ago, at about 2 AM, one of our cats decided to jump in the bathtub, in the bathroom adjacent to our bedroom. He knocked shampoo bottles into the tub, he went crazy trying to get back out, and the whole thing (in my deep, deep sleep), sounded just like a gang of intruders trying to break down our door.

Holly says she had no idea that I know kung fu, or that I'm secretly a ninja, but that I bolted straight out of bed and assumed a Mr. Miagi fighting stance.

Adrenaline flowed, and I was weirdly, fully, awake.

How could this happen to us spiritually?

If you haven't noticed, it's "glowing face" week in the lectionary, as we talk about the transfiguration.

No, I don't really know the details of what the face-glowing could really mean.

But I do know it gets attention. I know it's a sign of an incredible closeness with the power of God. I know that when Peter and the other disciples experienced this moment, they wanted to stay there.

Until the "cloud" came. The cloud, and the voice of God himself. And then the silence.

I don't think they said much to each other, and certainly not to Jesus, as they walked back down that hill.

They were awestruck, fully awake.

Do we dare to want a taste of that kind of power in our own lives?

I think we do. Let's dare to ask God for experiences of his presence that will leave us wide awake, and forever changed.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

And, the response to the inclusion of a song yesterday was so good, let's give it another go. Don't know if you've heard this 80's pop song used on Christian radio, but if you think about the lyrics in terms of Christianity and especially this transfiguration story, it's pretty good...listen to references to being "awake," and to "light and heat."

Not Fade Away

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 (The Message)

With that kind of hope to excite us, nothing holds us back.

Unlike Moses, we have nothing to hide. Everything is out in the open with us.

He wore a veil so the children of Israel wouldn't notice that the glory was fading away—and they didn't notice. They didn't notice it then and they don't notice it now, don't notice that there's nothing left behind that veil.

Even today when the proclamations of that old, bankrupt government are read out, they can't see through it. Only Christ can get rid of the veil so they can see for themselves that there's nothing there.

^16-18Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face!

They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone.

And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete.

We're free of it! All of us!

Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face.

And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

The powerful description we read, just two days ago, takes on a sad dimension today's reading from the Apostle Paul.

Moses' shining face, radiant from his visit with God at Mt. Sinai, begins to fade.

Paul says the veil mentioned in that Old Testament story was there to hide Moses' shame that the glow was passing away.

How sad it is to spend time with congregations, or entire denominations, or with individual Christians who spend much more time looking backward at what was, than focusing on a present connection with the face-to-face God.

Paul advocates a complete ripping away of the veil. In fact, he says that is exactly what Jesus came to do.

Relationship with the living Christ can never fade away.

There is no "constriction." There is not oppression. There is joy and life and a pulse!

Ours is not a religion of "chiseled stone." What God offers is relationship, presence and power.

If you haven't experienced that, ask God to bring that into your life. If your church is determined to protect the chiseled stone...perhaps you have to find a place of life, for your own spiritual health. If we find ourselves more concerned with legislation than love...we must let the Holy Spirit speak, and we must be willing to listen, and change.

But really, this isn't something that can be preached. It must be shown. Once "transfiguration" happens, nothing else will do.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Today's Bonus: Could this be a "Transfiguration Sunday" song?

Terrible

From Psalm 99 (The Message)

"...Great and terrible your beauty:

let everyone praise you!
Holy. Yes, holy.

^4-5 Strong King, lover of justice,
You laid things out fair and square;

You set down the foundations in Jacob,
Foundation stones of just and right ways.

Honor God, our God; worship his rule!

Holy. Yes, holy."

I wonder if you've ever witnessed the "great and terrible" beauty of God?

You have, no doubt. The question is whether any of us acknowledge what we're witnessing in that moment, or somehow dismiss it and walk away unchanged.

I can think of a few of those "great and terrible" God-revealing moments:

The birth of my children, and the times as a pastor that I have been privileged to be present with families during the passing of their loved ones

The first time I saw the ocean as a child (and every time I get back there)

When I've stood in the vast wilderness of the Cherokee National Forest, and anytime I'm in the mountains for that matter

Seeing the expansive stars from the pitch-black Honduran countryside.

Watching the sunrise from 30,000 ft.

Standing inside the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem.

Sitting at the edge of the Sea of Galilee.

What about you? What moments have been both "great and terrible" in their revelation of God for you?

Great, in that they reveal the awesome power and grandeur of God...

Terrible, in that they reveal exactly how tiny and powerless we are as human individuals. Terrifying, in the Biblical sense, because they make us acutely aware that we are not God. That we could stand in God's judgment, but are saved purely by God's love.

They are the moments that leave you stunned and mumbling..."Holy, yes, holy."

They are the moments when God has to say, "don't be afraid."

But we are. We slowly return to business as usual. The worst thing is, sometimes we try not to look again.

Let's dare to have some Psalm 99 moments today.

Where do you see the great and terrible, awe-inspiring presence of God?

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Glow

This Week's Readings (Revised Common Lectionary):

Monday: Exodus 34:29-35
Tuesday: Psalm 99 (UMH 819)
Wednesday: 2 Corinthians 3:12–4:2
Thursday: Luke 9:28-36
Friday: Luke 9:37-43

Exodus 34:29-35 (NIV)
²⁹ When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.

³⁰ When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.

³¹ But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. ³² Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.

³³ When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face.

³⁴ But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, ³⁵ they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.

Moses' face "glowed" because he had been in the presence of Yahweh. Take a second and really imagine that. It's an unbelievable, very-hard-to-understand kind of thing.

In fact, it was so confusing that for a large piece of Christian history, the passage was misinterpreted from the ancient Hebrew. Because of the mistake, Michelangelo depicted Moses with horns on his head.

I've met folks who had "horns," and they definitely didn't glow with the presence of God.

But I have met some wonderful people who truly do seem to shine.

They are people who honor others. They are the people who have built such a connection to God, over time, that they've come to truly trust in his love, no matter the circumstances. They are people who exude...peace.

I've never seen them "glow" with physical, divine light...but there is no doubt that time spent in the presence of God gave them a different kind of presence in this world.

I can only imagine that the glow surrounding Moses gave him a particular authority when he delivered God's commandments. What if we could give similar authority to those who "glow" with the love of God in our lives?

Too often, we easily blow past such people, considering them too soft or slow or weak. The truth is, their grace and peace is the most powerful force in this world. It could transform us, if we take the time to listen, and really see.

Perhaps, with enough time, and with attention to the presence of God, we might even take on a little shine ourselves.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Tomorrow's Scripture: Psalm 99

Lookin' Like a Fool

I was recently asked to be a guest blogger on a friend of mine's blog. His name is Joseph and he is a youth director in South Carolina. The following was my first post to his blog from this past week.

__________________________________________________________

I live and work in the Atlanta area, so when I heard of General Larry Platt’s audition on American Idol this season, I took great pride in his representation of my beloved city. Actually “pride” might be the wrong word. Truthfully, while I did find his audition entertaining, I worried what the world might think of the rest of Atlanta’s citizens.

All worry and speculation aside, Larry speaks a profound Biblical truth when he sings: “Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground. Walkin’…Talkin’ with your pants on the ground.”

Do I have your attention? Allow me to explain:

I’ve been walking my youth through Ephesians 6:10-17; What the Armor of God is comprised of and how we go about “suiting up,” so to speak. The first piece of said armor is the belt of truth. Now at first I balked at the idea of considering a belt a piece of armor. However, if you read theNKJV interpretation, its place amongst the other pieces becomes clearer as “gird” can be defined as “to arm.”

I asked my kids why they thought truth was so important to the armor. Our ultimate response was because without truth, we are faking it. Without sincerity attached to our beliefs and what they ask of us, we are not being truthful to what we claim to subscribe to as Christians. And when we get caught in this lie, it is like being caught with our pants on the ground. We feel exposed and embarrassed.

This belt of truth…this call to make tangible in our lives the beliefs we hold in our hearts and minds…is all important. Without it, we might as well forget about the other pieces of armor because the truth is that with our metaphorical pants around our ankles we are immobile (I mean, have you ever tried to run with your pants at your ankles? Not an easy feat, let me tell you.). We are stagnant. We become what God calls lukewarm in Revelation 3:16; neither hot nor cold. We even play into the Christian stereotype of the hypocrite as we say one thing but act on another.

It’s time we pick our pants up off the ground and secure them with the belt of truth; to not be found wanting of the fruits of the Spirit, but to rather keep in step with Him. Otherwise, we’re lookin’ like fools with our pants on the ground.

Catch

Luke 5:6-11 (New International Version)

⁶When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

⁸When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" ⁹For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." ¹¹So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Peter's problems changed pretty rapidly: from no catch at all, to so many fish that two boats were sinking before his eyes.

For him, it was the outcome of obedience. He put his nets in on the other side...when the easiest thing in the world would have been to throw out all of the reasons something as simple as that could not work.

But it did.

And Peter realized that he was in the presence of someone "almighty."

"Get away from me, I'm a sinful man." Do those words ring a bell?

They are the same words said by Isaiah, the words that we considered in this blog on Monday. Peter and Isaiah, two giants of the Judeo-Christian tradition, were so deeply aware of their own sinfulness that they did not want God to remain in their presence.

But they were the ones God had chosen.

Why them?

Why not?

Why not you or me?

"With God, all things are possible."

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Because

Luke 5:1-5 (NIV)

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, ² he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.

3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."

⁵ Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."

"Because..."

That's always a good answer, right?

Have you ever resorted to that as a parent?

What's interesting here is that Jesus didn't have to say it. Peter realized that words said by Jesus were worth following, simply "because" he had said them.

What about us? Is there someone in your life that you respect enough or trust enough to just do what they ask, "because?"

We tend to be very self-directed people. We like to do what we like to do, and anyone who makes us do otherwise is a "boss" to be avoided, or someone that we complain about.

What would it mean for us to really submit to the authority of Jesus Christ? To learn what his teachings, life, death and resurrection are all about and then apply those lessons to our own lives?

With his help, this could be a good day to start trying.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Lightening things up a little...

It was just "celebrity doppelganger" week on facebook. In other words, folks were supposed to post pictures of the celebrities they've been told they look like. This was really funny to me, because I've got 4 that tend to come up fairly often. Enjoy, all non-facebookers.

If you're wondering who these characters are -- clockwise, Kevin James, Andy Richter, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Drew Carey. Yes, comments are welcome.

Grace

I Corinthians 15:1-11 (Message)

"...the Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it; that he was buried;

that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says;

that he presented himself alive to Peter, then to his closest followers, and later to more than five hundred of his followers all at the same time, most of them still around (although a few have since died);

that he then spent time with James and the rest of those he commissioned to represent him; and that he finally presented himself alive to me.

It was fitting that I bring up the rear.

I don't deserve to be included in that inner circle, as you well know, having spent all those early years trying my best to stamp God's church right out of existence.

^10-11But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am.

And I'm not about to let his grace go to waste."

Paul is reminding us of a basic Biblical truth once again...real strength is always humble.

By the time Paul wrote these words in I Corinthians he had planted churches around the Mediterranean world, had risked life and limb. There would be attempts on his life. He would be arrested multiple times. He would be rejected and outcast and misunderstood.

Through it all, he was never discouraged from proclaiming The Message.

He says, "it was fitting that I would bring up the rear" (in meeting the risen Jesus).

Maybe Paul was never able to let himself off the hook for the terrible atrocities he committed against Christians before his conversion. God forgave him, and he forgives us. Self-forgiveness usually lags far behind.

But he certainly knew the value of the gift he had received.

"Because God was...so very generous, here I am."

Can we say those words and mean them? What's the difference between believing that we "got here on our own" versus receiving a gift of new life from a gracious God?

If we're thankful for the gift...we cannot let it go to waste.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

HAITI PRAYER SERVICE UPDATE:

Wow, what an incredible experience last night at our gathering with about 50 representatives of the Haitian community of Douglasville. Powerful prayer, and we're thankful for the sharing of Pastor Guito Pierre and the songs of their youth choir. Thank you SOTH Prayer Team for a wonderful vision and a great ministry!

Below is a powerful video used last night (warning, some of the images are somewhat graphic)

Lowly

Psalm 138 (NIV)

⁶ Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.

⁸ The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.

An essential mystery of our faith: God is far away..."on high," but also close..."in the midst of our trouble."

So which is it?

A fair question, from our human point of view. But altogether wrong.

The answer is both. Thank goodness that's the answer, because that's exactly the God we need.

I need to know that God is "on high," that he sees it all, that there is an order in the midst of endless chaos. But even more, I need to be "lowly," so that I can allow God into my trouble and pain. What I do not need is to feel that I'm down here to figure out this world on my own.

Right now, there is immense tragedy unfolding to our south, in Haiti, on a scale that few of us can even imagine. Some will use this terrible situation to prove that God does not exist, or that if he does, he is unmoved by human suffering.

Tonight at SOTH, we will tell another story. The Haitian Christian community of Douglasville is coming to our church and we will pray together. We will listen as their pastors and leaders share stories of death and loss, but also hope and God's presence and action in the midst of their desperate trouble.

Perhaps a relationship will begin between our congregations that will show us all just how much God loves the lowly.

Let's all be lowly, and looked upon by the Lord. May we see his purpose fulfilled within us.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Jumping Back In...Weekly Scripture Posts

Alright...after a loooooong time off, let's see if there's still anybody out there?

My plan is to return to the habit of making daily scripture reflections on this blog each day. Thanks to everybody from SOTH, and to my partner in blog crime, Mike Adkins for all of the posts that have passed this way over the last several months. My sincere hope is that this will continue to be a group venture, and the most important part of that group, of course, is you who read along.

Every week, we'll work through the lectionary readings for the upcoming Sunday. Though I rarely preach from these texts, the lectionary is a great tool for walking through scripture in a systematic way. Over a 3 year cycle, the lectionary would take you through much of the entire Bible.

So, for now, and the time being, I think it will be one of our tools on the SOTHblog. You can find the entire Revised Common Lectionary as used in the United Methodist Church, here.

And, here's where we're heading this week:

Today: Isaiah 6:1-13

Tuesday: Psalm 138 (UMH 853)
Wednesday: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Thursday: Luke 5:1-5

Friday: Luke 5:6-11

Isaiah 6:1-13 (NIV)

⁴ At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

⁵ "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

⁶ Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷ With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

What reaction is most common when someone in scripture comes face-to-face with a heavenly being?

Pure, unadulterated, FEAR.

Standing next to the divine reminds us just how earthly we really are.

When the temple filled with smoke and Isaiah encountered the "burning things" known as seraphim, he was overcome with terror.

In fact, such Biblical encounters actually tend to follow a pattern.

Fear

Objection

Reassurance

Commitment

When Isaiah said that he was of "unclean lips," the seraphs fly to pile of burning coals, pick one up and burn him right in the mouth. Painfully, Isaiah was scalded clean.

When God asked who would go, Isaiah was ready to volunteer.

So...what about us? What excuses do we make? How might God (painfully) show us that we are worthy if we are chosen by Him?

What might we be called to do? What would it take for us to say, "Here I am?"

Grace & Peace, and meet you here tomorrow --

Adam

Do The Famine

It's the beginning of a New Year which means that the youth ministry here at SOTH is beginning to raise awareness and funds for World Vision through their 30 Hour Famine Program. If you're not familiar with the program or its accompanying statistics, I want to implore you to visit the following link and allow your eyes to be opened to one of (if not THE) greatest problems of our modern world:

http://www.30hourfamine.org/portal/pages/about/world_hunger.html

World hunger is a plague whose fingers are reaching further and further every day; whose grasp proves too great for a staggering amount of people whose lives are taken each day due to its effects.

We partner with World Vision every year to do the best we can to alleviate hunger around the world - even in our country's own back yards.

A $1 donation feeds a child for a day. We spend four to six times that amount on coffee from Starbucks - the effects of which may last an hour or so.

Each kid in our youth program is equipped to take your donations and even provide you with a tax deductible receipt. I think it would be AMAZING if the youth werent the only people within our church asking for donations, too! Adults: If you can and are interested, please ask me (Mike) for a funds packet and I would love to provide that to you. We have a goal set this year of raising $8000. That's enough money to feed 22 kids for a whole year.

Wont you join us in this effort to save lives and raise awareness?

If you ask Jack, it's not a matter of IF...its a matter of HOW MUCH:

Getting the Giving

You've all surely heard the familiar holiday cliche:

"Its better to give than to receive."

I'm not a big fan of cliches because they have a tendency to generalize. For instance, I can think of an exception to this cliche: Go Fish. You know...the card game. Its much better to receive the cards you need than to give them away. A more Christmas-appropriate example: No one playing the Dirty Santa or White Elephant gift exchange game wants to keep the socks. They would much rather give them to the dude with the $15 gift card to Blockbuster so they would get the gift card that broke the $10 limit.

But you can ask my mom: When it comes to Christmas, I am much more passionate about what I give to others than what I ask for myself. I try to be thoughtful and specific with the gifts I give. When my mom asked me for what I wanted this Christmas I told her (verbatim): "One of those ceramic spoon-holder thingies you set in the middle of the stove so that when you're cooking you have a place to rest your spoons."

The reason I am more passionate about the giving is because I get more satisfaction from the joy of the recipient than I get from the joy of receiving. On Christmas morning, the novelty of receiving for me ends when the cleaning up of the piles of wrapping paper begins. But the joy of giving carries over every time I see someone using or enjoying what I gave them. And almost invariably I feel that no matter the gift I gave, I receive more joy from the giving than the recipient gets from the gift.

I wonder if God is the same way.

We spend the Christmas season praising God for the gift of Himself in the form of a babe in a manger. We marvel at the paradox of God being a helpless baby born among the animals. We reflect on that birth's fulfillment of generations of prophecy and the promise of the prophecy yet to be fulfilled:

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities. - Isaiah 53:5, 7-11

As we are filled with the joy of His gifts during this season, I wonder if He is not even more happy to have given. After all, since before there was time He had been planning this gift. Dropping hints about it. Twiddling His thumbs in anticipation. He knew this would be the perfect gift.

Our smiles fade as Christmas Day passes further and further into the past.

I'm willing to bet that His smile has not and will not ever fade.

Take the time this Christmas season to get God's giving. To imagine our own joy concerning His gift multiplied infinitely and not even coming close to the joy God experiences in the giving.

Cast Iron Christmas

I love to cook.

I don't do it nearly enough, but I do love it.

I love to cook with a lot of heat. I love to sear and stir fry. I like to hear the sizzle and smell the great things that happen as the deep flavors are drawn out.

I think my favorite cooking is kind of like taking the grilling mentality and bringing it indoors to the stovetop for the winter.

I don't really like recipes. I'd much rather cook on the fly.

I refuse to ever willingly make a casserole (but I will definitely eat them).

To me, improvisation is where it's at. And there is one cooking medium that I love more than any other.

Cast iron. Accept no substitutes.

Man, what a thing a cast iron skillet really is. I have watched 3 generations of family cook in cast iron, and for us southerners, there really isn't anything else that comes close.

Think about it: you can fry bacon, or make cornbread, or do a million other tasks in between, right in the same pan. Cultures throughout the world have known the utility of cast iron cooking for thousands of years.

The best part of all? Cast iron only gets better with time, if you use it regularly. It grows darker, and smoother, and even more non-stick as time goes by. Carbon builds up on it, and it just becomes an aged and seasoned thing of beauty.

Every time I take my favorite cast iron out of the cabinet, it's like meeting an old friend once again. Treated right, that skillet will outlast me. No matter what technology comes...I feel sure I'll be cooking in that same cast iron, God willing, in 2059.

I just got a brand new cast iron grill pan, and when Holly gave it to me, she realized the serious nature of the gift.

This pan is a new, but long-term member of the family, and it will take time to build the relationship. But oh, the stories of steaks and fish and chicken and pork chops we will one day be able to tell.

Cast iron reminds me of Christmas. Really, it does.

When I was a child, the story of the baby Jesus was shiny and new.

I can remember those childhood Christmas pageants in those tiny country churches. We stood still as statues. Clad in our fathers' bathrobes, we were 6 year old, twentieth century, American shepherds who had never seen a single sheep.

I think I can remember hearing Silent Night for the first time...and I know I can remember the first time that I really listened to the words and took in the beauty of the gentle melody.

Little did I know then that the song...and much more, the story of Jesus' birth was already a perfectly seasoned old skillet.

Even though to me the story was shiny and new, 2,000 years of carbon had been deposited upon that nativity scene, and it had only grown more powerful and beautiful with time.

My first Christmases found me more concerned with Santa Claus than baby Jesus...but it's the baby who has the staying power. Eventually, the old man in red becomes a cartoon and novelty. He burns up easily in the scorching heat that the tests of time bring to us all.

But the star, the shepherd, the manger...those people and places only deepen with complexity as life unfolds.

In the decades (really?) since my childhood, I like to think that I've become a little more seasoned myself. But I know that I have many miles left to travel.

And that's ok.

We need to let the fact that we're not finished be ok for all of us, and we don't give ourselves that freedom in grace often enough.

No great skillet that I know of ever got seasoned overnight.

And though the grace and forgiveness of God is instant...discipleship takes a lifetime.

It's wonderful to know that we are neither what we were...nor what we will become.

No matter what the future holds, some things won't change. God willing, I'll be reading this very same Christmas story come December of 2059. What great tales of Christmas grace we'll be able to tell by then!

Luke 2:7-14 (KJV)

⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. ⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Salvation Army Santas

Its that time of year again. You know the time well: The time when you cant walk into most stores without hearing that oh-so-familiar ring-aling of the Salvation Army Santas.

Ive had some beef with those people over the years. They make me feel bad about my personal financial decision to never carry cash. They plant themselves at the entrance AND exit of every store I frequent and their bell lays on the guilt. And if that isnt bad enough, they wish me "Merry Christmas" as I both enter and exit the store.

But the Salvation Army Santas hold a very special place in my heart. I know of very few people who are on par with or more humble than the SASs. They stand for hours in public often dressed in full Santa garb and ring their bell for a good cause. They greet all who pass by. I admittedly have done zero research on the SASs, but Im guessing they are volunteer. Even if they are not, no amount of money could motivate them to be so engaging to those who pass. I mean, look at the people who are paid to hold signs advertising out of business sales or new homes near the roads. Very rarely will you find one who does not sequester him- or herself off from the passers-by with an mp3 player or, sometimes, a book.

The SASs have huge hearts. It is love that drives them to ring that bell without ceasing. As Ive matured and come to focus not on their annoyance but on their purpose, I have come to respect the SASs. Beyond that, I have come to engage them. I dont always have cash, but I do have a firm handshake and words of thanks.

And, as a side note, I have discovered a newfound respect for the SASs. Not that I ever considered it, but now I know better than to mess with them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeY83qBMSps&annotation_id=annotation_261210&feature=iv

"For I Know the Plans..."

From Jamie Blankenship, Reflections on the flood...and the recovery...

We each have our flood story, in some way, this event impacted all of us. So, why did it happen? Was a dark force at work that day? Or was it God?

When I first saw the flood damage, I winced, heaved a sigh, and a “Really? Again?” It is sad that my life experience had brought me to a place where I knew exactly what to do to extract the water, what to throw away and what to dry, how to remove baseboard and sheetrock… I began to wonder if God was training me for a career in water damage restoration. But I never once thought this was something the devil did to me.

I firmly believe that God is always in control.

But why, God? Why?

Yes, I didn’t know – and when you don’t know stuff– you pray. Then, you go chin up and shoulders back. You fake confidence and take baby steps to go forward one day at a time.

But then I got sick. Some nasty virus that drained my energy, stole my voice and wore me down. And it just went on and on, with no relief.

At this point, I was falling behind in every aspect of life. I was letting people down. They were letting me know this, too…I “dropped my basket,” family terminology for breaking.

This involved hosting myself a big pity party, recounting everything unlovable about me and believing that I deserved every bit of misfortune that had come my way. I am an unruly child of God. I sin. God should punish me. Insert sobbing. I was a blubbering blob. Not an attractive look.

In God’s view, a blubbering blob is probably pretty good. He can easily shape a pliable blob. Once you are in a “malleable” state, the Master can really work.

In hindsight, I see the bigger picture. I don’t think God was punishing me. He was preparing me.

See, without pressing the pride right out of me and reducing me to a blubbering blob, I wouldn’t have been prepared. I would not have been able to accept the help offered until I was in a place where I really believed I couldn’t do it by myself. People, it took a lot of pressing to get that belief out of my bones.

I don’t really believe God punishes people. I do believe He disciplines us. Discipline is a process. Discipline teaches and refines with the goal of making us better. I believe God uses discipline to transform us into the servants we need to be to carry out His plans.

For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD.
"They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

The mission this weekend was incredible. Not just because a whole bunch of stuff at my house was fixed –that is incredible- but because we could see the hands of God working. Not just literally raking leaves and laying tile, but changing lives.

So many people were instruments of restoring lost hope and providing a glimpse into the future that God has promised. New relationships were born, deeper relationships were grown. God’s love was abundant. I believe everyone that participated knows for sure we were where God wanted us that day. I don’t believe there is anything more powerful than knowing you are exactly where God wants you to be.

Was the mission this weekend from God? There is no doubt.

Could it have happened without the flood? No.

Is His plan always perfect? Yes.

Grace & Peace,
Jamie Blankenship

Now, That's Awesome

I’ve been thinking about young people a lot recently. Keep in mind that my hands-on experience is limited so if my observations neglect to mention the horrors of raising children, feel free to laugh out loud at my ignorance.

This past weekend was awesome. A friend asked recently if there was an age at which the word “awesome” becomes inappropriate. My answer, not if you go to SOTH. This is a House where the Pastor has actually been heard to say “whoot, whoot.”

Friday night at SOTH, I saw one of the most amazing, moving things I’ve seen in a very long time. I saw more than a dozen kids (ahem, some older than others: Cindy, Tracey, Andrea, Lynn) rocking out! Anyway, these kids were lined up in front of the altar, singing, dancing, and touching with more abandon than I’ve ever seen at any concert ever. My immediate thought “now THAT is the future of our Church.” These kids LOVE God, each other, and us. Wow. Now that indeed is awesome!

If ever I needed reminding that I can trust in God for all things, it’s been in the last 4 months. Those kids were only the icing on the reminders I got last week. Funny how the minute you actually let go of things you can’t control anyway and trust, grace happens.

Our youth, our family – that’s love, that’s grace. I’ve heard it takes a village. What it really takes is a Church.

Peace --- Joy Shaver, SOTH UMC Prayer Ministry

Pre-Sunday November 22

This week's Pre-Sunday Event is LIVE! Check it out!

http://www.youversion.com/groups/sothumc

Your help this week will actually help outline a series I am starting this Sunday called "Our God is a God of ___________." YOU fill in the blank at YouVersion!

It's Raining Men, Hallelujah

At my house today it is raining men.

It started sprinkling earlier this week, and before Sunday, I am anticipating a downpour…I know, I need to explain!

Recently, in the September flooding my house was damaged. It wasn’t devastating. We didn’t lose anything we couldn’t live without. Our house was still pretty much liveable. A little unstable, but liveable… As I described it, it was just going to take some work…and since there was no insurance or FEMA funds (they said I had “insufficient damage” to qualify) it was also going to take money…and time.

Since I am a team of one, this flood really was overwhelming. Discouraging. I used all my energy and strength to remove the damaged stuff and try to save the crazy carpet. I did get some help from my dad…he helped me take everything to the dump, and started working on cutting up the fallen trees. I had just decided to work on it bit by bit as I saved for the materials to replace the damaged drywall and gathered ideas on how to replace the damaged sunroom supports…

During this time, many people in my area were facing the same situation, or worse. My pastor (Shepherd of the Hills UMC) kept asking me if we were ok, and what our damage was…I always gave a funny or sarcastic remark and never got into the details. Finally, he said, look this is what is happening. I served as an associate Pastor at a church in August that has a Disaster Relief Ministry…they have trailers of tools and a teams of workers. (Wesley UMC, Augusta, GA) They want to come here. And, quite honestly, I don’t really know what to do with them. But they told me to get it figured out because they were coming.

We need to come to your house, so, you have three weeks to get ok with accepting this. Oh, and by the way, we have a goal of raising $10,000.00 for this project-repairing 4 flooded homes completely. We are already half way there and I am confident the rest will come.

That was three weeks ago. I am almost there. See, I don’t like taking help. Especially when it is something I can do…of course, I can do everything. And I am sort of a control freak. I don’t really think I am, but I do solidly believe I am always right and my way is best…and that is sort of the same difference, right?

And, I don’t hire people to work on my house. I figure out how to do it and do it myself. One, I save money. Two, I do it my way. Three, no creepy guys in my space. And, I don’t have to clean the house for company.

But, on last Saturday when the “Scotts” Scott Samples and Scott Buchanan came to my house to see what needed to be done, I got really excited. I couldn’t imagine TEAMS of people working on my house. Since then, I have been preparing – also know as – PRAYING for me to accept this blessing and for the people helping me to be blessed. Prayer is really all I can offer them.

Wednesday, as soon as it stopped raining, two men from our church, Wendell Felch and John Ellison came to my house and began preparing and working on some of the projects. These men are so dedicated!! Did I mention their combined ages equal 156? I hope I live so long and can keep serving others as faithfully as they do!

Today, more men have appeared to work! And Saturday, there will be even more. I am so thankful to God for this, even though I am not completely convinced that I “deserve” it or “need” it, I have such an overwhelming sense of relief. A weight has been lifted. And it is so awesome to see the love of Christ pouring out through all the hands of the people serving in this ministry. This gift is so beautiful in so many ways!

I have tried to tell everyone about this amazing gift, at least this week. (Yes, it really has taken some time to come to terms with it, understand it, and embrace it.) And, I actually was telling this story to a man in Macon, Georgia, that was familiar with this ministry of disaster relief – his life had been touched through it as well after tornadoes went through their town…how cool is that?

Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Psalm 105:1

Enough writing, I need to go pitch in- but I wanted to take a moment to share this miracle in my life. I am so thankful. God is so Great.

Grace & Peace --

Jamie

Jamie Blankenship, LRE (Listening, Relating, Encouraging Ministry) Leader