Celebrate the Sunrise!

"...the sunrise shalll visit us from on high,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace." -Zechariah (Luke 1:78-79)

It's Christmas morning. Do you see that blush of light creeping through the eastern sky? It's the most spectacular Sunrise ever! Look how it spreads throughout the centuries, swallowing up more and more of the darkness.

"...the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned." Mt. 4:16

"In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." Jn. 1:4-5

"Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" Jn. 8:12

Today, if Jesus Christ, the Light of Life, has put a flame of hope in your heart and a sparkle in your eyes, you have reason to celebrate!! Let's go and tell the world.

"Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you." Is. 60:1

The Imitation of Christ(mas)

Christmas is almost here again. And I think I hear the helpless wail of a baby. A baby in a cold, damp cave with the lifeblood of the universe pumping through His little heart. The baby who was not always a baby, and who never had to be one. (Much less enter the world in a dark, smelly cave.)

The God who allowed Himself to be confined in a human body because He so loved the world.

We know the story well, so well that it has ceased to amaze us. He lived here for thirty-three years, and then He died. Actually, He was murdered. And in His life and His death, He taught us how to live and die. But death was not the end of the story, and it will not be the end. He burst the bars of death, and hope surged through the universe. He ascended to the Father, and yet, through His extended body, He remained in the world. This Christmas, the weary world can still feel a thrill of hope because He still remains.

Christ, born in a stable two thousand years ago, still walks the dusty trails of earth. His Body is still present, ministering to those who are not afraid to call themselves needy. His hands still feed the hungry. And His feet still walk with authority into the darkest places on this earth. After all, what would you expect His hands to do? Where do you think His feet would go?

There are many of us who like to talk about being His hands and feet. But actually, we don't like the dark and the cold. We'd rather not feel the sweat or the blood that stood in beads on His forehead. Or cry the heart-wrenching tears of compassion. We'd rather not get close enough to the grime to pull someone out of it. We like our clean clothes and un-scarred hands.

And we don't want to give even the cup of cold water because...well...it's more comfortable in my recliner.

I am guilty. Lord, forgive us. Forgive us, change us, and equip us to be Your hands and feet to this world...those far away and those in our homes and on our doorsteps. This world You loved so much that You gave up the splendors of heaven itself.

Perfect Love Casts out Fear

"The Voice of God is a friendly Voice. No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it."

--A.W. Tozer

Ode to My Love

(a sonnet)


True love that holds me up and gives me love

Who never leaves or fails in faithfulness;

Who rescued me and made me His belov'd;

One glimpse of love like this, and I confess

He is the King, and so I must believe.

'Tis dark without the glory of His face,

And to reject His touch is not to live,

For life and death both have a bitter taste.

But not with Him, for He is Life indeed;

Unending life is found in Christ who died.

From darkness and from sin forever freed,

Let me each day with joy be crucified.

Because of love the world is fresh and new;

My Lover true, may I be true to You!

You are the Light of the World...

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

--from "Go Light Your World" by Chris Rice


Jesus, please make us more like You!!

A Vote for Jesus!

So here is my Election Day post...a month late.

I think American Christians can easily cloud the vision of the Kingdom they are truly seeking in their desperation for a leader who shares their moral values. Let us not forget that Jesus taught us by example how to live in the world. He did not choose to usher in His Kingdom by political means, but rather by becoming a servant. The other day I found a powerful poem by a fellow blogger. (Thanks, Laverne!)


A Vote for Jesus!

My ballot doesn't have his name

He must still be dead

Will you help resurrect him?

Will you vote for my King?


A cup of cold water to the thirsty

A coat for the shivering

A sandwich for the hungry

A vote for Jesus.


A crib for the unwanted child

A father to the orphan

A room for the homeless

A vote for Jesus.


A visit to the sick

A chat with the prisoner

A drop in for the widow

A vote for Jesus.


Hugs for the crying

Care for the pregnant moms

Love to the troubled youth

A vote for Jesus.


Forgiveness to the murderer

Freedom for the oppressed

Pardoning for the debtor

A vote for Jesus.


A welcome to the stranger

Freedom for the slave

Care for creation

A vote for Jesus.


A meal for Hussein

A bed for Bin Laden

Enemy love

A vote for Jesus.


Embracing the victims

"Thy people will be my people"

"Where thou goest I will go"

A vote for Jesus.


The banner is a cross

Death...inevitable death.

Resurrection!

All Hail, King Jesus!


I have a dream!

Swords beat to plowshares

Spears into pruning hooks

All Hail, King Jesus!


I have a dream!

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation

Neither shall they learn war anymore

All Hail, King Jesus!


The Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of Peace

The tree of life for the healing of the nations

All Hail, Prince of Peace!


Change we really can believe in

Change we so desperately need

A resurrection from the dead

A vote for Jesus.


In the world

Not of the world

But for the world

A vote for Jesus!


For those of you who, like me, say that you "don't vote" because your allegiance is to a different Kingdom...do we not often use this as an excuse for laziness? We are called to advocate that Kingdom by our servant's hearts, through our actions and not just our words.

Whether or not you voted on Election Day, I pray that all of us will step forward at the call of our True King.

I cast my vote for Jesus.