Christmas Day: For Us.

 For unto us a child is born…

   The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

The baby we celebrate on Christmas day, is like every child, but different. This is the One “conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary” (Apostles’ Creed). It’s all God’s doing. Man in his usual roll must step aside and the woman alone comes forward saying, “Let it be with me according to your word" (Lk 1:38). This is the Child “born for us and for our salvation” (Chalcedonian Creed). As the Apostle puts it: “If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for us” (Ro 8:31-32). On Christmas Day we celebrate the humble arrival of our “for us” Savior.

This Christmas, like most, takes place in the midst of our contentious world—lots of political, social, and religious fussing. The Baby was born to set us free for something different: “Peace on earth and goodwill towards all” (Lk 2:14). That’s why the prophet prophecies that the child would become the Prince of Peace. As Jesus would teach us from the mountain; “Blessed are those who make peace!”

When Jesus departs this troubled world he leaves behind his peace: “My peace I give, not like the world. Do not let your hearts be troubled …so that you may have my peace” (Jn 14:27 & 16:33).

That’s how the Apostles’ begin their letters to us: “Grace and Peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.” We can’t get to peace without grace. So, today especially, let us be gracious towards one another and towards all people. Remember, our Savior, is the Prince of Peace.

 

 

First Week of Advent: Critical Studies

 Luke is with me.

   Get Mark and bring him with you…

   also, bring my books. (2 Timothy 4:11-13)

 

Dear Priscilla,

So you learned all about “Q”—something you never learned in Sunday school. It was a delight to discuss it face-to-face with you during our family beach house Thanksgiving Week. You return from your first stint at college discussing the “Synoptic Problem.”

That’s what happens when you study the Bible critically. Critical studies are good. It’s to the church’s credit that it has raised more critical questions concerning its sacred text than the world has ever raised concerning its claims. Why do Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell a similar story (synoptic)? Yet, not altogether similar? Matthew and Luke follow Mark, but then go their own way as in their genealogies of Jesus, for example. Or, sometimes Matthew and Luke stick together but leave Mark behind as in the story about the foxes; or, Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem (word for word, Mt 23:3-39 & Lk 13:34-35). How come? Could it be Matthew and Luke made use of a common source—something like “Q” perhaps? It is hypothetical, but a Computer Science major like yourself would find such musing interesting—like piecing together a program that works.

The Apostle Paul’s last recorded words concern a literary project that required his books along with the presence of Mark and Luke—a collaboration. Luke lets us know from the beginning that he makes use of such sources:

Since many have undertaken to

            -write down an orderly account

of the events that have been fulfilled among us,

just as they were

            -handed on to us by those who from the beginning

were eyewitnesses

and servants of the word, 

I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed (Lk 1:1-4).

 His sources are both written like Mark and maybe “Q”; as well as eyewitness accounts like Mary, Peter, James and John. All that work just for Theophilus? Maybe Luke “investigated everything carefully,” for all of us who, like Theophilus, can’t help but wonder, “Can it really be true?”

Love Papa

 

Ordinary Days #37: Gathering

Gather at the place

   the Lord chooses. (Deuteronomy 14:23)

Dear Priscilla, 

That’s how the ancient people of God gathered for Thanksgiving: “You shall gather at the place the Lord chooses to eat of your grain and drink of your wine and eat of your flock.” It appears, this year, the Lord has chosen that old beat-up beach house in Mission Beach for our Thanksgiving gathering.

I’m so excited you and Abby are going to make the journey. It looks like the whole family—uncles and aunts and cousins, all sixteen of us will gather together for Thanksgiving.

There is something magical about your first Thanksgiving home from college. I remember gazing in amazement at your mother when she came home from college for Thanksgiving. I can’t find a word to describe it; maybe, “sublime.” Not the best word, but the best I can come up with. You left home for Baylor as the teenage daughter of your parents; but, now you come back as your own person.

If Papa tears up, don’t make fun. It has to do with “sublime.” Instead of making fun, let’s have fun. For example, ask me anything about what you have learned and see if I know the answer (excluding computer science). If you stump me, I’ll owe you an ice cream cone, okay?

Love Papa

 

Ordinary Days #36: Stranded

 Like cold water to a thirsty soul,

   so is good news from a far country.

   (Proverbs 25:25)

 

Dear Priscilla, 

Grammy and I woke up to “Anna where are you?” We continued to follow the texting through the night until Abby’s text from Austin popped up: “I have her! Package secured.” Thank you Abby for scooping up Anna and taking her to your home in San Marcos.

We still haven’t pieced together the story, other than Anna was supposed to fly from Waco to Dallas to home; but, somehow found herself stranded, in the middle of the night, at AUS. That’s when we heard “Good news from a far country.” “I have her!” Abby text.

Nothing is a sure thing. Bad news always lurks. All the fun of your Baylor weekend could have ended otherwise. That’s why Grammy and Papa always pray for journey mercies and rejoice when we hear “good news from a far country” (Pr 25:25).

Love Papa & Grammy

 

Ordinary Days #35: Chalkboard

Thy word is a light

   unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)

 

Dear Priscilla,

Look what Auntie Jen wrote on the family chalkboard:

 

I guess I did say that; but, I would not have said it had not the Apostle said it first: “Workouts are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so” (First Timothy 4:8).  Maybe that’s how God’s Word becomes “a lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (Ps 119:105). Of course, the Apostle wouldn’t be the Apostle without Jesus who is the Light of the World and who is Himself the Way. “May the Angel of our Lord go before you and cause your way to prosper!” (Gn 24)

Love, Papa

 

Ordinary Days #34: Game Day

Workouts are useful,

    but a disciplined life in God

    is far more so. (First Timothy 4:8)

 

Dear Priscilla,

Seems I write on game day, like today’s home game against the West Virginia Mountaineers. You have turned me into a Baylor Bears fan. I see it will be nationally televised. I’ll be watching.

It is not only big game day, but cousins’ day: Owen and Anna flying all the way to Waco just to be with you. Grammy and I were just with Owen and family watching Adam play football, and Elizabeth play volleyball (your sport), and Owen play varsity basketball. At the same time Anna celebrated her Senior Day in water polo. As much as I love all that sports stuff, the Apostle reminds us that there is something even more important: To live a life disciplined by our faith and trust in God. That is the real game of life.

Owen’s top priority is to go to a school where he can play ball. Remind him, for me, that there are other reasons to choose a college. You might be forging a trail to Baylor. Your cousins are all cued up: Anna next year and then Owen the following, then Sarah and Joshua, and then Elizabeth. Counting you, that makes six grandchildren in a row making their matriculating decisions. It is a big decision; don’t you think? 

Love, Papa

Ordinary Days #33: Wisdom

Have you considered

    Job’s integrity? (Job 2:3)

Dear Priscilla,

I see you study Job next week. It’s all in Job. Pay attention to Satan’s second round; and, in particular what God says about Job and about Himself: “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? …He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.’" (Jb 2:3). Can it be true that Satan incited God to destroy Job “for no reason”? Your BASB chicken’s out. What do you think?

The Book of Job has the courage to raise all sorts of troublesome questions. It is a theologian’s nightmare. His friends seem to say what is theologically correct while Job seems to say what is suspect at best. But, in the end, God says, his friends were wrong and Job had it right (42:7). Maybe the thing that is right about Job is that he speaks with integrity. After all, that was the wager.

Love, Papa