tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-101346042024-03-09T18:46:05.582-08:00John's CoffeehouseSitting, enjoying a pleasant cup of coffee or a mocha, just conversing about what crosses my mind...have a seat.John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.comBlogger244125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-74257368166128452472023-12-24T17:00:00.000-08:002023-12-24T17:00:00.133-08:00Christmas Eve: the Christ Child<p style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOH6Ug52-GWn3hoZzARTNFYKCHf7dcmJKeNKiU7w7zkV9NsNht0vwPHkeAQKlyCXBB8KheIWK6lGbR2ZXaWMFjlKR6id_0QPveh-nd1w-Wv2-feJFibQvWVkuqvktPonr0Cm9Bt8BwA5C0Qm_MxY4DshHheddmG_owHNZUhjT5jiSf5rI6MnA/s1024/advent-wreath-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="1024" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOH6Ug52-GWn3hoZzARTNFYKCHf7dcmJKeNKiU7w7zkV9NsNht0vwPHkeAQKlyCXBB8KheIWK6lGbR2ZXaWMFjlKR6id_0QPveh-nd1w-Wv2-feJFibQvWVkuqvktPonr0Cm9Bt8BwA5C0Qm_MxY4DshHheddmG_owHNZUhjT5jiSf5rI6MnA/w640-h372/advent-wreath-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><i><br />"And this will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."</i> - Luke 2:12 ESV<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">A simple birth, heralded by the angels. A simple birth, witnessed by poor shepherds. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">When my kids were younger, there was always a frantic gift wrapping extravaganza that went on from 10 PM or so, when my ex and I were sure they were asleep, until sometimes 2 AM or 3 AM - just to get everything wrapped and the stockings filled. More than once I taped packages, or filled stockings with my eyes weary from the lack of sleep. Christmas Eve, back then, was less about the birth of the Christ Child, and more about logistics. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But I've never forgotten the significance of Christmas Eve. This whole concept of God becoming man, and doing so as a helpless newborn, is really challenging to fathom. Oh, sure, 2000 years later it's easier for us to swallow, but it still can be difficult to wrap our head around. This was not man trying to find a way to God: this was - and is - God's way to come to man. In fact, since the Book of Genesis, God has always sought a relationship with us: in Genesis 3:8, God is walking in the Garden of Eden, and in verse 9, He calls out to Adam and Eve, <i>"Where are you?"</i> He has always sought us out, to connect, to become one with Him. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">And this little baby, so frail, so needing help, is the means by which God achieves that oneness - a means to have a relationship with us. And that relationship starts with the angels telling the shepherds where to go, and how to find He who is <i>"...Christ, the Lord."</i> (Luke 2:11b ESV)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">On this Christmas Eve, may you hear the call of the Angels, and seek the small baby in the manger, who is Christ, the Lord. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Thank you for following John's Advent journey. Please follow this blog, johnscoffeehouse.blogspot.com, or on Facebook, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/johnscoffeehouse" target="_blank">johnscoffeehouse</a>.</p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-40677665621312518032023-12-24T08:00:00.000-08:002023-12-24T08:00:00.249-08:00Fourth Sunday of Advent: Love<p style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoNEk7pKjhUmB8u72xojTK6mKn-mC5m9Kfaacp785VMpmyLXagN6Bc7a4Hw44ILmkB_8e9KxMOHtkXacJjhlX57_Lb14RJP9fKgna57pSAiGdS8BjQSyDHkcym9VEto_zpd5UTZSCYNf6LtRqJPvEv-7-KAHd7mRvtlDSy6fwjtU5ldwvvt6r/s736/4th-Sunday-of-Advent-larger-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="736" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoNEk7pKjhUmB8u72xojTK6mKn-mC5m9Kfaacp785VMpmyLXagN6Bc7a4Hw44ILmkB_8e9KxMOHtkXacJjhlX57_Lb14RJP9fKgna57pSAiGdS8BjQSyDHkcym9VEto_zpd5UTZSCYNf6LtRqJPvEv-7-KAHd7mRvtlDSy6fwjtU5ldwvvt6r/w640-h480/4th-Sunday-of-Advent-larger-image.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><i><br />"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends"</i> - John 15:12-13 ESV<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">For nearly 18 months my church went through the process of calling a new pastor. I prayed daily for this person to be someone who preached and lived the Gospel, and most importantly, created an environment of love, both within the congregation and out into the community. During this time I read and studied the Gospels, particularly the Gospel of John. Throughout my study of the Gospels - especially John's Gospel - one single theme became apparent: love. Not just the love that God has for us, but how we are, in response to that Love, to be loving to others. Thankfully, my church did call a pastor who preaches the Gospel, and effuses love to us in the congregation, and encourages us to spread that love into the community. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I cannot tell you how many times I've watched <i>The Chosen</i>, the crowdfunded 3-season series that you can find on Prime, the CW, and on <i>The Chosen</i> app. There is so much in that series that I enjoy, but I am drawn to it mostly due to the love that is evident in the character of Jesus. He simply loves - no conditions, no biases, nothing impedes him from loving. And that love is expressed verbally, and to a great extent, with affection for His followers. This Jesus is portrayed as loving in his healing actions, in his words of consolation, in his gentle touching of others, and in his very tone as he asks a paralytic "Do you want to be healed?" And it brings me back to those verses in John 15, where Jesus simplifies all the law and the Commandments in a simple phrase: "...love one another as I have loved you."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I am old enough to remember Dionne Warwick's cover of the Burt Bacharach song, "What the World needs now, is love, sweet love". That was a worldly love: a love of simply being kind to one another. The Love that Jesus calls for in John 15:13 is a sacrificial love: love even if it hurts. That is a challenging love to do, one that requires a level of selflessness that Bacharach really didn't write about. It's a love that commands us to love the unlovable, forgive the unforgivable, to actually BE a follower of Christ, not just say we are Christian. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It is the love that came down at Christmastime, as so eloquently expressed in the Christina Rossetti poem:</p><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love came down at Christmas,<br /><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love all lovely, Love Divine,<br /></span><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love was born at Christmas,<br /></span><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Star and Angels gave the sign.<br /></span><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Worship we the Godhead,<br /></span><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love Incarnate, Love Divine,<br /></span><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Worship we our Jesus,<br /></span><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But wherewith for sacred sign?<br /></span><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love shall be our token,<br /></span><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love be yours and love be mine,<br /></span><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love to God and all men,<br /></span></i><span style="white-space: normal;"><i><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love for plea and gift and sign</i>.</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Let us, as this Advent season turns into the Christmas season, set our hearts upon the love of God, and be love to our family, friends, and the unlovable. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Follow John's Advent journey here on his blog, johnscoffeehouse.blogspot.com, or on Facebook, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/johnscoffeehouse" target="_blank">johnscoffeehouse</a>. </p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-62668055506655397372023-12-17T08:00:00.000-08:002023-12-17T08:00:00.138-08:00Third Sunday of Advent: Joy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZK5Y2U99yxT2BxT_Q1qS0ksAT_Sxl_eoUKgUoIE41UNNb5o0FQKlbta7dIzihIR_zbNEHG1fv9SwApeiGBW5Gh09qqRs2Xznr1dJpOJsGQac68mWOdiP2Ecuqi2wXzuAjs083qIRulxOJR7vm8qnrE1qN9qojnwg-4wa-olqc7u33oKIcYU0t/s760/3rdSund.Advent-wreate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="760" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZK5Y2U99yxT2BxT_Q1qS0ksAT_Sxl_eoUKgUoIE41UNNb5o0FQKlbta7dIzihIR_zbNEHG1fv9SwApeiGBW5Gh09qqRs2Xznr1dJpOJsGQac68mWOdiP2Ecuqi2wXzuAjs083qIRulxOJR7vm8qnrE1qN9qojnwg-4wa-olqc7u33oKIcYU0t/w640-h350/3rdSund.Advent-wreate.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My old choirmaster would choose one of two hymns to close out the annual Advent Lessons & Carols service, with one of them being Isaac Watts' <i>Joy to the World</i>. It was a glorious hymn to sing as the choir processed out of the sanctuary to the narthex, walking in the aisles surrounded by joyfully singing congregants. I could feel my face smiling as I sang the lyrics:</div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Joy to the world! the Lord is come; <br /></i><i>Let Earth receive her King; <br /></i><i>Let every heart prepare him room,<br /></i><i>And heaven and nature sing,<br /></i><i><span> </span>(And heaven and nature sing)<br /></i><i>And heaven and nature sing,<br /></i><i><span> </span>(And heaven and nature sing)<br /></i><i>And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.</i></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;">But we often forget that there are lyrics in the 3rd verse (sometimes omitted in the singing of the carol) that remind us of why we are singing, and why The Lord has come:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>No more let sins and sorrows grow,<br /></i><i>Nor thorns infest the ground;<br /></i><i>He comes to make His blessings flow<br /></i><i>Far as, far as, the curse is found.</i></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;">Our joy, our infectious, lively joy, is because the Lord has come to remove our burden of sin and sorrow through His Gift of Grace. And the thorns that infest the ground are the thorns that choke out the seeds of faith, as Christ shared in the Parable of the Sower: <i>"Other seeds feel among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them." </i>(Matthew 13:7 ESV).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Advent is a season of hope, peace, and today, joy. The joy of knowing our Lord has come. The joy of knowing that all of our sins, all of our sorrows, all of the weeds of life, are removed, because as the 3rd and 4th line of the 3rd verse assure us,</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>He comes to make His blessings flow<br /></i><i>Far as, far as, the curse is found.</i></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;">John writes in the first verses of his Gospel, <i>"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." </i>(John 1:5 ESV). The darkness - the curse - will be overwhelmed and consumed by The Light. In receiving this true King of the Earth, we welcome that Light, and welcome it into the dark corners of our life, where the sin, sorrow and choking thorns can be exposed, and wiped away. </p><p>JOY to the World! </p><p>Follow John's Advent journey here on his blog, johnscoffeehouse.blogspot.com, or on Facebook, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/johnscoffeehouse" target="_blank">johnscoffeehouse</a>.</p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-73326199187971463462023-12-10T08:00:00.000-08:002023-12-10T08:00:00.156-08:00Second Sunday of Advent: Peace<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPa7pT-JoxgmpfZqSn8K7gNmtVgtQqGpOQRfQ69VXbT6Uz5kJz3VF40uZHeFGqdafvItPxhL4uLg_SgOVgey46r1lPUmrGq9hGKHlhPBrxMkLGDt8xtrz4YjKG78O2l4zfM59kZApeyV0yLahrauBn_Vrku6Az1VZ4ph-Z6mb8YoP-tbP8__K8/s640/2ndSund-advent-wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPa7pT-JoxgmpfZqSn8K7gNmtVgtQqGpOQRfQ69VXbT6Uz5kJz3VF40uZHeFGqdafvItPxhL4uLg_SgOVgey46r1lPUmrGq9hGKHlhPBrxMkLGDt8xtrz4YjKG78O2l4zfM59kZApeyV0yLahrauBn_Vrku6Az1VZ4ph-Z6mb8YoP-tbP8__K8/w640-h480/2ndSund-advent-wreath.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"</i> - Luke 2:14 ESV</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">When I was a young keyboard student, one of the songs that my teacher had me learn was <i>Let There Be Peace On Earth</i>, the sappy song from the mid-50's. And yet, during those years that I learned that song, there was anything but peace on earth: the war in Vietnam; the invasion of Grenada; the bombing of the US Marine barracks in Lebanon - I could go on and on. And today, here during Advent of 2023, war in the Holy Land, where the Prince of Peace was born, fills our daily news feeds. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But the Peace that the angels sang about (while Luke states that the angels spoke the words, to me, they were singing those words) was not an earthly peace, carved out by treaties and alliances for mutual benefit. The peace that they sang about, during a time of Roman occupation and Rome's <i>Pax Romana</i>, was a different peace. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Prince of Peace, whose birth was heralded by the angels, was to bring a peace - a reconciliation - between us and God. A true alliance, a true treaty of peace between ourselves - steeped in our pride and greed - and the goodwill that God intended on those whom He is pleased with. Those of us who accept God's "terms of surrender" - His Gift of Grace - will find the true Peace. The Peace that Jesus assured the Apostles with in John 14:27 - <i>"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you."</i> That peace of knowing that, through His mercy and grace, His Peace, the peace <i>"which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."</i> (Philippians 4:7 ESV) </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Yes, we can and should pray for earthly peace. But as that sappy song (which I HATED) stated "let it begin with me", must take root in ourselves, and from there, we become the messengers of that peace, as Paul wrote in Romans, "<i>And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”</i> (Romans 10:15 KJV). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">May the Peace of Advent fill your heart, mind and soul, and may you bring Peace on your little corner of the earth - let it begin with you and me. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Follow John's Advent journey here on his blog, johnscoffeehouse.blogspot.com, or on Facebook, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/johnscoffeehouse" target="_blank">johnscoffeehouse</a>.</p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-11923186438760132552023-12-03T08:00:00.000-08:002023-12-03T08:00:00.146-08:00First Sunday of Advent: Hope<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9bKY0fxZXhJURYPozQdp2yAdmfNpBqF-wu1oJwBlqPiYQ7lwkTULebwLcY7JQ-OC1Sk6ZEvGSwmJ8o_D73G53qaFVxolmw3einho6fObDObpaXlwXNs8L82BVXScVXmVLumfmAFftf_YzQMDPAAgHc6rqb3NpbEOaG_dn6w0ycUJk5GVHWCv/s1024/week1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9bKY0fxZXhJURYPozQdp2yAdmfNpBqF-wu1oJwBlqPiYQ7lwkTULebwLcY7JQ-OC1Sk6ZEvGSwmJ8o_D73G53qaFVxolmw3einho6fObDObpaXlwXNs8L82BVXScVXmVLumfmAFftf_YzQMDPAAgHc6rqb3NpbEOaG_dn6w0ycUJk5GVHWCv/w640-h480/week1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone." </i><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">- Isaiah 9:2 ESV</span></div></i></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The <i>Shawshank Redemption</i> is one of my "remote drop" movies. If I'm channel-surfing, and it's on, I will stop and watch it. Some folk might see it as a dark movie. For me, it's a movie about hope. The main character, Andy Dufresne, who is wrongly imprisoned for the murder of his wife, comes out from a stint in solitary confinement, and speaks of hope. His best friend, Red, quickly puts him down, saying that hope while in prison can drive a man crazy. In the final frames of the film, as Red is walking along the beach, he constantly speaks of the hopes that he has with his new freedom. He hopes, he hopes, he hopes.....</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since the time of Moses, the Israelites hoped for the coming Messiah. Even their greatest prophet, Isaiah, shared that hope in Isaiah, chapter 9. In verse 6, he shares that a child will be born, a son given, and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. The hope of our salvation was to be in a child born, a son given.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Where is our hope today? Often, our hope is for our daily living and tasks, "I hope I get that raise". "I hope I can get to the DMV and the line is short." "I hope those shoes are still in stock on Amazon." But there's another hope - a hope for something for something intangible. Something bigger than ourselves. Hebrews 11:1 gives us the answer: <i>"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."</i> Let's face it, being a follower of Christ requires not just faith, but a hope that what we are told, what we read, what we experience in our relationship with God, is absolutely true. And like Red hoped to see that the Pacific ocean was as blue as he'd been told, and hoped that he'd see his friend, Andy, we hope that someday, our faith will be rewarded by seeing and experiencing God in all His fullness.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We can only hope....</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Follow John's Advent journey here on his blog, johnscoffeehouse.blogspot.com, or on Facebook, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/johnscoffeehouse" target="_blank">johnscoffeehouse</a>.</span></p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-72044874300364755272023-11-07T18:00:00.001-08:002023-11-07T18:00:00.141-08:00Seek Ye First....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZg7L84JidKjtrZNjnSj6dDNKIaj4kWxt-VadWZT-cs5vzIdBjbDTX5hwaG6sICUvJZxITHHfO0SxNlnu62Nb-DJsBDIia9cY98m_b8HAbPQXov3QpFe9W3pPD1DVy2jbSMGozvp8GjZ6_yvGhL7l_WFcMn_F973qjH2GqHfJw6quA-7gc3Fy/s5472/IMG_8321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZg7L84JidKjtrZNjnSj6dDNKIaj4kWxt-VadWZT-cs5vzIdBjbDTX5hwaG6sICUvJZxITHHfO0SxNlnu62Nb-DJsBDIia9cY98m_b8HAbPQXov3QpFe9W3pPD1DVy2jbSMGozvp8GjZ6_yvGhL7l_WFcMn_F973qjH2GqHfJw6quA-7gc3Fy/w640-h426/IMG_8321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:23, ESV</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love those serendipitous moments when you feel like you're struggling to define your life, or your art, or your passions, and then, when least expected, God sends you a small reminder of what you really should strive for. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Over the last several years I often ask myself "what do I want to do with my photography?" I know that when Brenda and I retire, travelling and doing photography will be high on our list. I know that I'd like to teach other photographers how to "see". I don't have grand aspirations to sell prints, or publish books. But I do want to do SOMETHING with my gift. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And then just now, it hit me. "But seek first the kingdom of God....and all these things will be added to you." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Is it THAT simple? As I continue on my journey to know God better, should I (no pun intended) focus on Him, and through Him, He will guide my not only on the journey to know Him better, but my steps as a photographer as well? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I already know that my journey has brought me into a closeness with Him that I've never experienced in my 50 or so years of being a Christian. I know that it has enhanced my relationships with friends, family and coworkers. I know - and she reinforces this - that it has been instrumental in the quality of my relationship with Brenda. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So, maybe it IS that simple. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria</i><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-57614677727714119662023-10-19T18:00:00.002-07:002023-10-20T06:20:16.754-07:00Into the Grove<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGCAEzY2DiDPDlRofRvm5yQ9M_RIuFePBgPMp6Psr2p6wynpcjHtBJlGQ8oUhagME2sa65SuGQshxl2R87Q5Rp7qTMr7P7IHYwG3o0ZWq9kf6W7lEn49P_oF4cBww2o2z8KrbApbncSCsjOp8I9VQ9b_A373VlmwIouogz8XNApafJj5yFFcV/s4032/20231016_125935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGCAEzY2DiDPDlRofRvm5yQ9M_RIuFePBgPMp6Psr2p6wynpcjHtBJlGQ8oUhagME2sa65SuGQshxl2R87Q5Rp7qTMr7P7IHYwG3o0ZWq9kf6W7lEn49P_oF4cBww2o2z8KrbApbncSCsjOp8I9VQ9b_A373VlmwIouogz8XNApafJj5yFFcV/w300-h400/20231016_125935.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For the past several days my wife and I have been enjoying the beauty of fall in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. We've driven the paved and unpaved roads that take us to the places where we drain our smartphone batteries taking photographs of the brilliant yellows and golds of the aspens around us. As we've travelled these roads I see so many folk with their smartphones or cameras, standing at the side of the road, taking their own photos of the fall spectacle. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Yet, only a few of them go into the trees. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I was thinking this morning of how I love to walk into an aspen grove, rather than following the lead of the others and stand at the side of the road taking pictures. I like going into the grove to hear the sound of my boots crunching the fallen aspen leaves. I like hearing the breeze as it winds its way through the treetops, singing a song and dropping leaves on my head. I like hearing the sound of the nearby creek as it rushes and trips over the rocks and boulders in its path. From within the grove, I find peace, quiet, stillness: the grove clears my head of all the noise of life that surrounds me, so that I only hear the noise of the grove. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">To me, this is how I see my relationship with God. When I'm with God, nothing else matters. Nothing intrudes into my time with Him. It's just He and I, present and in that moment. The grove is a place where He and I walk, perhaps silently, but with the knowledge that He's there. The grove is where I listen to the crunch of His footsteps on the leaves, or His breath as it breathes on the trees, and where He drops leaves playfully on my head. The grove is where He and I sit by the creek and listen to its song - a song that He has had it sing for millenia. The grove is where I meet God. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I see all those folk who stand at the side of the road and take pictures, but don't go into the grove, and I equate that to someone who goes to church and listens to the pastor on Sunday, but does not have a relationship with God. They read the Bible, and perhaps memorize verses, but none of it speaks to them. They take communion, but it has no meaning for them. They pray, but only to ask, never to thank, never to acknowledge God. They are like those who stand at the side of the road, but fail to go into the grove. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I choose to go into the grove.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">You can follow my Facebook writing page at <a href="http://facebook.com/johnscoffeehouse">facebook.com/johnscoffeehouse</a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: aspens, McGeek Creek Canyon, October 2023. Smartphone capture. </span></i></p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-72796713700943597212023-07-13T18:00:00.001-07:002023-07-13T18:00:00.146-07:00Spending Time with God<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eYowK2zJ4KYMjh6UumuiMKqUFEctdv751r_EcvEDc6VA_UrLW6j_BF1uIdfOJMawNFlGSc4ASiUh28okR4_3VicrSwSHgCsqKy6FpFa1XOn_HsrSbL67juJ8JYMtX4tBt6Ntgoi8r25v1T98poyBUQUHIFaL_fxyMENMlIX_UYuBCvsxL8-u/s724/rear-view-friends-sitting-on-beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="724" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eYowK2zJ4KYMjh6UumuiMKqUFEctdv751r_EcvEDc6VA_UrLW6j_BF1uIdfOJMawNFlGSc4ASiUh28okR4_3VicrSwSHgCsqKy6FpFa1XOn_HsrSbL67juJ8JYMtX4tBt6Ntgoi8r25v1T98poyBUQUHIFaL_fxyMENMlIX_UYuBCvsxL8-u/w640-h426/rear-view-friends-sitting-on-beach.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">If you Google "spending time with God", you'll get a return of 277,000,000 results. Obviously, there is a lot to say on the internet about spending time with God. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">But this morning, as I was doing my prayers, and thanking God for the time I spend with Him, I also - for the first time - thanked Him for the time He spent with me. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">When we spend time with good friends, we might comment afterwards how good it was "to spend time together", or "how great it was to spend the afternoon with you!". It's easy for us to say that because we are physically seeing and interacting with that friend. Our minds, our spirits, see that as time with them or time together, or both.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So as I sat and prayed this morning, I chose to pray as if God was seated next to me. I prayed as if we were having a chat, with me doing all the talking. But I felt that God was listening, just as a close friend does when you need to "unload". So, at the end of my prayers, it was easy for me to say "thank you for the time I have spent with you this morning." And then I added, "But also, thank you for spending the time with me."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When we pray, when we read lessons from the Bible or books on faith or spirituality, we need to think that God is physically present there. That our time spent with Him is WITH Him. We need to remember, and more importantly, accept that it's not a one-way street where we just push our thankfulness, concerns, and petitions to Him, as if He was some emotionless city clerk collecting our water bill. No. We need to realize that in prayer, in thought, in worship, that when we are engaged in those practices that He is also spending time with us! It is a two-way street where we engage with the Father in a spiritual communion, and that He IS there, with us, listening. And most importantly, that He does wish to spend that time - with us. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">If you like this post, please follow my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/johnscoffeehouse</p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-15149946546820977892023-06-13T04:00:00.001-07:002023-06-26T19:57:50.710-07:00The Song in the Night<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwfEzEB7BNOmk3aWF_eBeR63i4UVWmffE0rp0983BNqJyDrbGFiDn8hmcK21t9Ipz57aybPZkiRQiXlYEqv9HdhL7q4DuQzxT6CYDCAle3juGpBwifbugIsVju60NXw743KVWDO7waASuHSzgEgqAUTy14-XWCaCbfksmiFRFa_RvTBBjow/s1200/525880401-1200px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="1200" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwfEzEB7BNOmk3aWF_eBeR63i4UVWmffE0rp0983BNqJyDrbGFiDn8hmcK21t9Ipz57aybPZkiRQiXlYEqv9HdhL7q4DuQzxT6CYDCAle3juGpBwifbugIsVju60NXw743KVWDO7waASuHSzgEgqAUTy14-XWCaCbfksmiFRFa_RvTBBjow/w640-h338/525880401-1200px.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">A few mornings ago, when I awoke at 4 AM from an odd dream that slightly unsettled me, I heard the soft, velvet hooting of one of our local great horned owls. It was answered by the low, velvety hooting of the other local great horned owl. I knew, from the sound, that this one owl was in our yard, possibly in one of the tall trees that hug the fence that separates our property from our southside neighbor. And, in that moment, I thanked God for the owl. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It also reminded me of something that had happened when I was a tweener, young enough to be scared by bad dreams but not yet old enough to shake myself out of that fright. The bad dream I had this one early spring morning when I was 11 or 12 was tougher to shake. And being that age I felt that I was too old to be running to my parent's bed to take shelter in my mom's loving arms. After all, I was almost a teenager. I was a big boy. I shouldn't be frightened by dreams anymore. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But I was. And in the darkness of that pre-dawn morning, I prayed to God to take away that fear. I prayed that He would do something to help me, because I was scared. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">And then the mockingbird sang. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Not too long before having this bad dream I had read "Voyage of the Dawn Treader", the third book in C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia"*. There is a scene in there where the Dawn Treader comes upon a mysterious island which is enshrouded in dark clouds. As the Dawn Treader continues to sail deeper into the darkness the crew rescues a half-crazed man from the water, who tells them that the island is one where dreams come true. Immediately the crew starts to think of various dreams they've had - daydreams such as one sailor's desire to someday marry the woman he loves. This reverie is interrupted by the just-rescued half-crazed man, who tells them it's not DAYDREAMS that come true, but dreams, in all their horror. The joy among the crew changes to fear, and they quickly attempt to reverse course to return to the light. The half-crazed man taunts them, telling them they'll never escape, and that soon, they too will be like him. Lucy, the innocent protagonist, seeks out Aslan, the Great Lion, to rescue them. And then, in the thick darkness, a glowing, white albatross appears, and begins to lead them out of the darkness and into the safety of the light. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, in that darkness of that spring morning many years ago, that singing mockingbird was my albatross, assuring me that there was no need to fear. I was sure that God had sent that mockingbird just as Aslan had sent (or become) the glowing albatross. I will always cherish that mockingbird's song as the Song in the Night that sang for me, just as I welcomed the songs of the owls recently. For God sings in so many different voices. And in those songs He often brings solace and comfort, and peace. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria. </i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*For clarification, if you purchase the set of "Chronicles..." today, they are arranged in chronological order of the stories, not in the order that they were written and published. The set of books I had - and still have - were arranged in the order in which they were published. </span></i></p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-16833597716942690892023-06-02T19:00:00.003-07:002023-06-02T20:09:48.286-07:00A Mirror of Christ<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVyAkwLXKweS3qgYweeqwMuz3FxIt2zHON-0LmjTyt08vF7gAOVqfG35ZXaPOIvN4LZa2tLc9Do525qyR_UCMPXAvCE6cZDBDF-bv-3hDjXl-6sy-I61NlSDah57lMwZC9gRhq1qDhlKMYI7ko-py2mdO4oxbApzmtjtKLYB0DUUHfU3CIw/s570/f3f9467f9451d378cba332056885b3ef.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="570" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVyAkwLXKweS3qgYweeqwMuz3FxIt2zHON-0LmjTyt08vF7gAOVqfG35ZXaPOIvN4LZa2tLc9Do525qyR_UCMPXAvCE6cZDBDF-bv-3hDjXl-6sy-I61NlSDah57lMwZC9gRhq1qDhlKMYI7ko-py2mdO4oxbApzmtjtKLYB0DUUHfU3CIw/w640-h426/f3f9467f9451d378cba332056885b3ef.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Let my life today be a channel through which at least a little of your love and compassion may reach the lives of those around me." - John Bailee, Diary of Private Prayer, Day 2, morning prayer, edited by Susan Wright. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">"Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words." - attributed to St. Francis</p><p style="text-align: justify;">My daily prayers cover many themes and topics: praise; forgiveness; thankfulness; petitions for my family and friends; and healing for my family, friends and myself. But part of my daily prayer is this simple request: "Let me be a mirror of you; a Carrier of Christ to others."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Today, as I prayed both my own prayers and the daily prayer written by John Bailee 100 or so years ago, and edited into modern vernacular by Susan Wright, the simple line that I started this post with stood out to me: we are channels of God's love to others. We are Carriers of Christ to others. In reading the Gospels as I have lately, and watching "The Chosen", I am struck by how effectively Jesus channeled God's love all around Him. In word, but mostly in deed. In "The Chosen" we see a Jesus who is gently affectionate with not only His close-knit friends and followers, but for those who He will only touch for a brief moment. Not only did He preach the Gospel, He WAS the Gospel. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I like to smile at people, just in passing. If someone and I see each other say at Ralph's or our favorite Chinese take-out place, if their eyes meet mine, I smile. Sometimes that smile is just in my eyes. Sometimes it's a warm smile accompanied by a simple "hello" or "good morning". We are to take every moment and every opportunity to be a Carrier of Christ. Perhaps someone has had a rough and lousy day. A simple smile, or letting them ahead of you in line, can turn that day around for them. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">A mirror reflects that which is in front of it, be it you, or the room the mirror is in. To be a mirror of Christ means that if someone looks at us they see Christ: they see His love, His gentleness, His forgiveness. We are to take every opportunity to be that mirror of Jesus, to reflect His love on others. The effect on others can be simple, or profound. And the effect on us can be truly living a life where we preach the Gospel every day, without words.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Soli Deo Gloria</div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-64564674668153639742023-04-22T19:00:00.001-07:002023-04-22T19:00:00.168-07:00The Journey Continues: seeing a verse of scripture<p style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnbEb9uxuoTX2mxi6Gz4rWBmcwlyZmE0JEVeDBAd4UaiLuKBKUouxITRXw4JfpjH97mIVxwKw7cBrRKQh5uZzeQgZTgEpkwDcLPuq5_ahE1omftMeC2WFfJawFbfkKc0cPQ2Ol_J4cNvXjWeErqCSrYZqauPSaIeObMMCastKCznOVLRF7A/s1200/Chosen2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnbEb9uxuoTX2mxi6Gz4rWBmcwlyZmE0JEVeDBAd4UaiLuKBKUouxITRXw4JfpjH97mIVxwKw7cBrRKQh5uZzeQgZTgEpkwDcLPuq5_ahE1omftMeC2WFfJawFbfkKc0cPQ2Ol_J4cNvXjWeErqCSrYZqauPSaIeObMMCastKCznOVLRF7A/w640-h426/Chosen2.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><i><br />"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." - Matthew 7:7, ESV</i><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">That might be an odd title to this post: "seeing a verse of scripture". But if you know me at all, you know that I am visual - just look at my photography. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sometimes when I read, especially if I'm reading a work of fiction, having seen a visual presentation of it first allows me to read the book easier. For example, watching "Of Mice and Men" with Gary Sinise and John Malkovich made reading the book more enjoyable. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But I have found, over the years and even in these last several months of reading the Gospels of John and Mark, that I still see Jesus as that sterile and lifeless guy depicted in that famous painting of Jesus knocking at the door. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Then I watched "The Chosen". </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'll admit I was hesitant, even resistant, to watching "The Chosen". I've avoided the "Left Behind" series, and with very few exceptions any faith-based film. I remember watching "Jesus of Nazareth" in the mid-70's, and the Jesus they cast was a limp, anemic person. It just put me off of any visual depiction of Jesus. After all, Jesus was a carpenter's son, so he was by no means frail or even feminine. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But "The Chosen" cast a rugged man. Not "rugged" in an American sense, but rugged as a Jewish carpenter who walked a great deal would be. He gets dirty. He sweats. He gets fatigued. And even though Jesus was God incarnate, he was fully human, and subject to the same physical limitations a man of his age and health status would be. And as this Jesus of "The Chosen" speaks, we not only hear the words straight out of the Gospels, but we hear them in a voice that speaks confidently, calmly, and with authority. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">And today, as I read the verse above, for the first time in my life, I heard it as Jesus may have spoken it. Not in a dry pedantic way. But with emphasis and assurance. Notice that this is an active verse: "Ask"; "seek"; "knock". The image of a passive, androgynous Jesus saying this has never worked for me. But the Jesus as portrayed in "The Chosen" is not passive: He is active, and He is engaged. He touches willingly, both the sick and His followers. He speaks not in a monotone "holy" voice, but with dynamics and a cadence that pulls you into the message. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Jesus of the Gospels is not passive: He is truly engaged in our lives. He doesn't invade our souls, but if we ask, if we seek, and if we knock, He will engage with us. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you wish to watch "The Chosen", and wish to watch select episodes, please watch Season 1 episode 7, where Jesus meets with Nicodemus (the 3rd chapter of John). Seasons 1 and 2 are on Amazon Prime, season 3 can be streamed on the Angel app.</p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-14012552445528765182023-01-08T18:00:00.001-08:002023-01-08T18:00:00.155-08:00The Journey Continues: The Cup<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeP1Y32jqkqlPi1VMphPMARp_vX4duSSgStMlM6RfDi9DAIhjOWgIInrPbuIYhLxSWlKYxQEvC1Rl2OtsbyhxgP1_hK-SfT6IPtr45UXyLYQIB_CAFAPWzE8FiPUeg4xexxvu0_D__l9ZI-MxRrRQ5gPo968h6jCYt4-Q2KKRQ1qhjs82iUw/s1024/agony-in-the-garden-1-1024x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeP1Y32jqkqlPi1VMphPMARp_vX4duSSgStMlM6RfDi9DAIhjOWgIInrPbuIYhLxSWlKYxQEvC1Rl2OtsbyhxgP1_hK-SfT6IPtr45UXyLYQIB_CAFAPWzE8FiPUeg4xexxvu0_D__l9ZI-MxRrRQ5gPo968h6jCYt4-Q2KKRQ1qhjs82iUw/w640-h480/agony-in-the-garden-1-1024x768.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i>"And he said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.'" - Mark 14:36, ESV</i><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">When I was young, and even as an adult, I thought that this verse was Christ pleading that God would release Him from the pain, suffering and humiliation that was coming soon in His torture and death on the cross. Even the commentary on this verse on bibleref.com states that Jesus' prayer was to be released from the agonizing death that came with the cross.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I see it differently. For when I look at Mark 15:34, and Jesus' lamentation <i>"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"</i>, the prayer in the garden takes on a different meaning, and I was reminded of that as I did my study this morning in Mark's Gospel.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It's a good bet that many of us started 2023 by promising ourselves that we'd get in shape. Maybe we joined a gym, started to run, jog or walk. Or we have finally put that Peloton that we bought during the pandemic to good use. Of course, there is pain at the start. Our bodies are not used to working out yet, and our muscles and joints may object. But we know that in the end there will be a reward: a healthier body; perhaps a reduction in our blood pressure or weight. We are willing to suffer physically for what we know is going to be a better future. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I am confident that Christ, while in the garden, was not praying for a different path from the physical nature of death on the cross. He knew that His death would lead to His glorious resurrection, and bring Man into oneness with God. He knew that, He foretold it several times (Mark 8:31, 9:30-31 and 10:33-34). Jesus knew He would die and rise again: He knew that there would be a better future. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, what could be so horrible that Jesus - the Son of God - would plead that it be taken from Him? Look again at Mark 15:34 - we see the rejection of Jesus by His Father. The rejection of sinful man's nature by our God being placed fully on Jesus, the Son of Man. God turned His back on Jesus, His beloved and begotten Son. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Can we not think of times in our lives where we faced rejection from a loved one, be it a sibling, spouse, or parent? And does not the pain from that rejection cut deeper? Can we now, looking at Mark 14:36, think it could mean anything other than Jesus asking God to take that rejection from Him. I think not.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But our assurance rests in knowing that Jesus, the Son of God, faced and took that ultimate rejection upon His shoulders, <i>"...bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."</i> 1 Peter 2:24, ESV</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria</i></p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-85024229625752467812023-01-01T18:00:00.003-08:002023-01-01T19:21:08.107-08:00The Journey Continues: Forgiveness<p style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSu0KnTMJH0GCD3maJQWzh8ErBJICQ2YI9ryVb9boroNfg27jBpVk_u9h_lfsfTm8CEvILjIsykcL_ZlJuwdUn02jqEpTiyS-sOXCOQANPnt4O7mN4H6Q-73NfYGY9vJaX5TeLh8wEKBlWYeFsxx4pQGV8NAb6EruRfyEx0pDiVxi3kq6fg/s620/9-Steps-to-Forgivess-SIZED.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="620" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSu0KnTMJH0GCD3maJQWzh8ErBJICQ2YI9ryVb9boroNfg27jBpVk_u9h_lfsfTm8CEvILjIsykcL_ZlJuwdUn02jqEpTiyS-sOXCOQANPnt4O7mN4H6Q-73NfYGY9vJaX5TeLh8wEKBlWYeFsxx4pQGV8NAb6EruRfyEx0pDiVxi3kq6fg/w640-h362/9-Steps-to-Forgivess-SIZED.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><i>"and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." - Matthew 6:12, ESV</i><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>"And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." Mark 11:25, ESV</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Forgiveness. It's been on my mind a lot lately.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This past summer, as I began to incorporate daily prayers as part of my devotions, I recognized that I needed to add to my prayers that time of confession, and assuredness of forgiveness. I added Psalm 51, verses 2 and 7 to my daily prayers: "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." I felt that assurance each time that I had confessed my sins (and yes, there are times when I do confess specific sins that I know I have committed). But the irony was that I never included the idea of forgiving others. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><u><i>Forgiveness is a two-way street</i></u> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">At least on two occasions in the Gospels, Christ was firm on the need for us to forgive others as a part of our being forgiven ourselves. I must confess that for most of my life I've missed that. So, as I added to my prayers a statement that I forgive those who have hurt me or wronged me intentionally or unintentionally, it raised questions and made me think deeper about forgiveness. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i><u>What does it mean to forgive others?</u></i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I asked that very question to a friend of mine, and his response was that in forgiving others, we give up the right to retaliate. I can think of an instance in my life where someone I knew was offended by my actions, and cut off all communication and socialization with me. I tried to reach out to continue our two-decade long friendship, but this individual wrote me a letter (with no return address) stating that Jesus commands us to forgive those who hurt us, but does not require that we remain friends. I had difficulty understanding that. Psalm 103:12 tells us that <i>"as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (NIV).</i> So, to me, this friend had not truly forgiven. So, even if one has forgiven another, if that one is still holding a grudge, have they truly forgiven the other? I confess that I still struggle with that. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><u><i>What if we're upset with someone?</i></u></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Or what about the times we might be upset with a family member or coworker, and we keep it inside and resent them - is that a case of not forgiving something. This could fall under the "intentional or unintentional" hurt as I include in my daily prayers. One cannot have work or family relationships, or friendships, without that risk of something being said that can hurt. So, to me, that begs the question of scale: what is a forgivable offense? At what point of hurt or insensitivity do I say to myself "meh, it was nothing", or feel truly hurt? And how do I respond to that? </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i><u>Our tendency to pull it back</u></i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I think one of the biggest hinderances to our forgiving others, and moving on in a healthy direction, is that odd desire to pull back the memory of the hurt, and literally feel angry or upset again. I will confess that is one of my weaknesses: I sometimes will recall some perceived injustice from a long time before to stew on it again, or even use it as a weapon. But as you can see, just from saying this, doing this is not healthy: it poisons our relationships with others; the resurgence of resentment can literally make us "stew" in our own juices by an increase in blood pressure, or anxiety; finally it poisons us spiritually in that we are wrestling back from God that which we gave Him to remove from ourselves. While there might be momentary satisfaction in doing this, the results from this are far from healthy or beneficial. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, what does it mean to forgive? I admit that I do not have the answer, and this post is not intended to provide an answer, but to encourage our own examination of how we forgive others. What I do know is that God's forgiveness is complete, and the assurance of our forgiveness is stated clearly in 1 John 1:9 <i>"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (ESV)</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">May we resolve, in this New Year, to journey on the healthy path of forgiving others. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria</i></p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-55772870752938731452022-12-25T09:01:00.008-08:002022-12-25T09:01:00.163-08:00God with Us<p style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-sDLz-zsXWQwTd2ibQCA7VZ56zcNzcffQWibgu5TBzeajPCIB2g_TvnEj-SaaQJhsvl8zZkbDwsatO-vx2rmZkaUDlQPizvntvdC2CuJ1J2YNtiri2zWE5hONTIC8Pe_oRgZt5NjagYVCYe09VrN6xJ-HJtx8dzTZhJNZGX3um_TKqXz1Q/s1000/nativity-baby-jesus-christmas-2008-christmas-2806967-1000-5581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-sDLz-zsXWQwTd2ibQCA7VZ56zcNzcffQWibgu5TBzeajPCIB2g_TvnEj-SaaQJhsvl8zZkbDwsatO-vx2rmZkaUDlQPizvntvdC2CuJ1J2YNtiri2zWE5hONTIC8Pe_oRgZt5NjagYVCYe09VrN6xJ-HJtx8dzTZhJNZGX3um_TKqXz1Q/w640-h358/nativity-baby-jesus-christmas-2008-christmas-2806967-1000-5581.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><i><br />"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us)." Matthew 1:23, ESV</i><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This Advent season has been different for me. Usually the Sunday evening Advent Candle lighting is ritual, more for keeping a tradition alive than anything. But this Advent, the readings and the significance of this family tradition meant more. The music I've been listening to has not been the music I've always listened to in the past. I've discovered new (at least new to me) music that has been just as beautiful and filled with meaning as the music I've typically listened to. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">If anything, this Christmas feels a little unsettled, and yet, at the same time, comforting. Unsettled in that I don't have that same sense of Christmas routine that I usually feel and have felt, even during the COVID Christmases. At the age of 61 my body seems to be saying "Ok, time to FEEL your age!" My wife's sister is staying with us as she recovers from surgeries and injuries due to an auto accident. And while last weekend we had Christmas with my wife's daughter and her partner, and my daughter, it was not at our house but a Airbnb that they had rented for the weekend.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But there is comfort in all of this, for the comfort is that while all this is going on around me, I feel that I am understanding more the true nature of Christmas: that God came down to earth as a little baby. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">This mystery of Christmas, the idea that God, the boundless uncontained God, would put aside His nature to become a baby born in a stable still confounds me, but I feel that I understand it more. The all powerful God is a helpless baby, dependent upon his mother for food and warmth. Born in poverty. Born a refugee. Yet, there He was. And who are the first witnesses of this birth? Not the leaders or royalty of that time, but lowly shepherds. God chose the least to be the first to hear of the Good News - that <i>"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." - Luke 2:11, ESV. </i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I also feel that now I see this time as two seasons, not just Christmas Day. There is Advent, the time of preparation. And I feel that I have been preparing my heart for His coming. Christmas starts today, and goes until Epiphany on January 6th. We are now in the Twelve Days of Christmas! This is a time of celebration, not just on Christmas Day, but every day. And I think I've got that now. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Merry Christmas, and may the Spirit of He who lay in the manger be with you now and always. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria </i></p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-48342382160644814602022-12-24T18:00:00.001-08:002022-12-24T18:00:00.160-08:00Love Came Down at Christmas<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1LjEuE7BRVeVbc6WLZndT3f9nroUvW2z_gJkDN-wgqjbFCVIQV_dRN5qdpb6F5cEC1b-nn05eF8ANhEIxkY1M-ItHFlyqREcMRzYLzVJdRI1nxXUwFc8bTT9vI_Ry6eXA6vgNvnpsmjt92l1GXmnGDYPlHylOS5s0XdbNoKGv_7CCVCgjQ/s995/DEFB957E-BCF3-4927-8E50-8B6785046D7B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="995" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1LjEuE7BRVeVbc6WLZndT3f9nroUvW2z_gJkDN-wgqjbFCVIQV_dRN5qdpb6F5cEC1b-nn05eF8ANhEIxkY1M-ItHFlyqREcMRzYLzVJdRI1nxXUwFc8bTT9vI_Ry6eXA6vgNvnpsmjt92l1GXmnGDYPlHylOS5s0XdbNoKGv_7CCVCgjQ/w640-h372/DEFB957E-BCF3-4927-8E50-8B6785046D7B.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><i>"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:34-35, ESV</i><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I recently completed a self-study of the Gospel of John. I had chosen to study that particular Gospel because I felt - I KNEW - that it was about Jesus and His oneness with God. It was about the Love of God for us, His children. But even though I'd read John's Gospel before, I stopped and re-read the passage from John 13 several times. A new commandment, that we love one another as He loved us. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">When I was younger I thought love was just a feeling: something akin to the multiple crushes that I had on the girls at church and school. I thought it was romantic, and affectionate. A warmth over you like a comfy blanket on a chilly evening. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Years ago, though, I realized that love was not a noun, but a verb. Love is an action. Love isn't how we feel for someone, but what we do for that person to show them that they and their needs are more important than ours. And while it was easy for me to identify that love was a verb - an action - it has taken time for me to even slightly understand it. And that is why John 13:34-35 has such an impact on me. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">There are other verses in John's Gospel that speak of God's love, such as the famous John 3:16. That is the example of God's love for us, in that He gave us the means to be one with Him through His Son. But the love that we are to live here on earth, the Love given to us by the Holy Spirit, is the love that Jesus speaks of in chapter 13: we are to love one another. And that is the love that I acknowledge today as my family and I light the Fourth Candle. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">And on this night, Christmas Eve, we light the Fifth Candle, the Christ Candle, and I pray that we truly practice the Love of God amongst ourselves, as Jesus commanded us to do.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Merry Christmas!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />Soli Deo Gloria</i></p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-14364467756193669482022-12-21T18:00:00.003-08:002022-12-21T18:00:00.157-08:00A light of Hope in the Darkness<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEDsgnw_3b9d0cs6lnvRNbt1NJTZ9DgnLlTdRio_4GZO7md6v3sHkpLsFBBDpozS4h4jhV27pbg6OGqeJMDMgXGdJglKuvsyIYLo_DhsEAMaZYnvFKrd-jSxI_ljfcta1FzDlikFc-njLJ91qmEaFAQzqe5ffku6ctW-zdzoXXDHvhA1tIw/s1919/Winter_wallpapers_158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1919" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEDsgnw_3b9d0cs6lnvRNbt1NJTZ9DgnLlTdRio_4GZO7md6v3sHkpLsFBBDpozS4h4jhV27pbg6OGqeJMDMgXGdJglKuvsyIYLo_DhsEAMaZYnvFKrd-jSxI_ljfcta1FzDlikFc-njLJ91qmEaFAQzqe5ffku6ctW-zdzoXXDHvhA1tIw/w640-h360/Winter_wallpapers_158.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Today is the first day of winter. The Winter Solstice. And while I am usually a joyous person during the Advent and Christmas Seasons, today, I feel the darkness of this time as well. Not just that today has the least amount of sunlight of the year, but that an absence of Hope still exists. <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I received an email yesterday from the church that one of our members, a man about my age, had died by his own hand. He had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and was to start treatment the day he took his life. He had met with our pastor, and the email shared that he was in a good place spiritually. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I won't judge here. I won't speculate on what changed. I won't guess as to where he was spiritually. That's between the man and God. So, today I prayed for his family, losing a son so close to Christmas - a traditional family holiday. I prayed for us at the church who knew him and liked him, which included me. He had left our church for a while to attend another one closer to his home. But then he returned because he felt that our church was his "home". I liked him, and I was always glad to see him at church, and I made a point to greet him any Sunday he was there. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But I did ask myself why was he without hope? Why a man who professed to be a follower of the Living God chose to do something that seemed to be a surrender to hopelessness? Yes, that may seem judgmental, but it was something I was asking myself as well. For you see, I, too, have been diagnosed with cancer. And while my form of cancer is not as serious, I am in a brotherhood with this church friend. I am in this brotherhood and sisterhood of those who have cancer. For some in this brotherhood and sisterhood there is no hope. For some, like me, the survivability of my cancer with treatment is high. So I have a strong hope of a long and fulfilling life. But for some in this brotherhood or sisterhood, they are perpetually in the darkness of a Winter Solstice, where light seems so far away. There is no hope of survival. The day is short and the night seems so long. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have no answer, and this post is not meant to provide an answer. I can say, though, that I understand. I understand when hope seems so distant. I understand when the day seems so short and the night seems so long. But just when I feel like the darkness is too deep to overcome, the words of St. Francis of Assisi ring in my ear: </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>"where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy."</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Light of Hope in the Darkness. This is the promise of God to us, the promise revealed in His Word, from the Old Testament to the New Testament: </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>"And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth...." 2 Samuel 23:4, KJV</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>"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." John 1:4-5, ESV</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." John 8:12, ESV. </i> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">What we must remember about the Winter Solstice is that each progressive day will be lighter and lighter. That while things are so dark now, light is coming. We must grasp onto that - the Hope of light returning, and vanquishing the darkness.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria</i></p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-1077446380536249932022-12-18T18:00:00.001-08:002022-12-18T18:00:00.158-08:00The Fourth Sunday of Advent - Love<p style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xBMPuAjVCg_M-vDZB_ux9L8m4qNV2x_ANDgk-lmqw9W_E1SNCXeAGo-ea7pGNjUXfw5zekxPbLIZKTbmaP04L4_o1uWR7dRIIJPW02gof6laDOnPKX1lZYqSxPsANLMI8hqKAuAErvKCknXFXASAsr0JAvhYS7wpsc4cISDH_8llDgiyZg/s1024/Week-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xBMPuAjVCg_M-vDZB_ux9L8m4qNV2x_ANDgk-lmqw9W_E1SNCXeAGo-ea7pGNjUXfw5zekxPbLIZKTbmaP04L4_o1uWR7dRIIJPW02gof6laDOnPKX1lZYqSxPsANLMI8hqKAuAErvKCknXFXASAsr0JAvhYS7wpsc4cISDH_8llDgiyZg/w640-h480/Week-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><i><br />"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16, KJV</i><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Love. It permeates the Word of God. If you enter "love" in the search field of Bible Hub, it returns 1118 verses. 1 Corinthians 13 is called "The Chapter of Love", because it helps define what love truly is. On this, the Fourth and Final Sunday of Advent, we light the Fourth Candle, the Candle of Love. For Christmas is the time when God became Man in the person of Jesus, a tiny, helpless baby born in a place of humility. It is the time when God provided to us - to ALL of us - a means to become one with him again: to become his children. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">How many of us can recite John 3:16 by memory, or identify it as soon as it's read? Or how about when we used to see the multi-colored wigged man at NFL games with the big "JOHN 3:16" sign? Other than the 23rd Psalm, John 3:16 is probably the best-known and most often recited scripture in The Bible. And we most likely tend to quote or think of the well-known KJV translation at the beginning of this post, with its poetic wording. But I wish to share with you two other translations that say the same thing in a way that is not only easier to understand, but for me, changes the entire perception of how God loved the world, that He loved us: </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>"Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life." - John 3:16, ERV</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Wow! For me, the archaic "For God so loved the world" just doesn't present to me the vastness of God's love. But being told that "God love the world so much that he gave his only Son..." does. When we are kids we often ask our parents how much they love us, and our parents may hold their arms open wide as a way of illustrating how much love they have for us. But when I read that God loved the world "so much" that he gave his only Son - that he sent Jesus to be the bridge between ourselves and Him - well, that has a greater impact on me. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Another translation has <i>"For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16, CSB.</i> This translation shows us that God's way of demonstrating His love for us was the giving of His Son. That, too, is powerful. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">As we approach Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, let us not forget the measure of God's love for us, demonstrated in the giving of His Son. And let us believe and hope in the promise of everlasting life through Jesus Christ, whose birthday we celebrate this Christmas season.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Merry Christmas!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria</i></p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-36562554860794356272022-12-15T18:00:00.003-08:002022-12-19T05:10:35.539-08:00The Journey Continues: Change<p style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_p8u4Z5yE2zIus_rovMo8NNoOEOlmOekZ1ahhl2o76ZD2myFUNykU_sWxjpRIXvGdMEi_GsS_v0fdok5Sic7-R5l-3yL7GiHBDuQJLqnJTmK0N5CiIl9y1LG-WA3iTZ6hmbEcJtovCIKYOwdlz0OkK6SqJpoQjxyopKwFnx57J7IGsgfceQ/s400/gerasene-demoniac.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="400" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_p8u4Z5yE2zIus_rovMo8NNoOEOlmOekZ1ahhl2o76ZD2myFUNykU_sWxjpRIXvGdMEi_GsS_v0fdok5Sic7-R5l-3yL7GiHBDuQJLqnJTmK0N5CiIl9y1LG-WA3iTZ6hmbEcJtovCIKYOwdlz0OkK6SqJpoQjxyopKwFnx57J7IGsgfceQ/w640-h460/gerasene-demoniac.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><i><br />Mark 5:1-20</i><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">There are a few stories from the Gospels that stand out to me, and as I was doing my study of the Gospel of Mark, I came upon chapter 5, which contains stories of fear and faith. The story of the woman who had been hemorrhaging for years is one I've written about <a href="https://johnscoffeehouse.blogspot.com/2015/07/who-touched-me.html" target="_blank">before</a>, but today I wanted to focus on the first 20 verses of chapter 5, the story of Legion. The story of change. The story of fear.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I think we all know it: Jesus and the disciples exit their boat and as they climb the hill towards the cemetery outside of the village of Gerasa, they are confronted and even challenged by the man possessed of many unclean spirits. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Look at this man: living in the cemetery; unable to be chained or bound by the locals. Living a life of an internal hell that causes him to inflict wounds upon himself. In torment he approaches Jesus, even calling him "Son of the Most High God". The spirits recognized Jesus. They knew what he would do. They pleaded for mercy, of sorts, and Jesus obliged, sending the unclean spirits into a herd of swine that then ran off the edge of a cliff, into the sea, where they drowned. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is a dramatic event, to be certain. And we see the transformation in the man in verse 15, "sitting there, clothed and in his right mind." This man who, in fear, approached the Son of God and pleaded for mercy. And Jesus, expelling the demons, was merciful to the man. This change, this transformation, was embraced by that man, even to the point where, in verse 18, he begged to follow Jesus. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But what is odd in this story is the fear and rejection by the people of Gerasa. Here was one that they feared, a man unable to be bound, who probably screamed and acted very strangely and unpredictably. And they became comfortable and accepted that fear. It was part of their daily lives, even if they did not really like it. And when that "comfortable" part of their lives was disturbed, they acted out their fear and begged Jesus to leave. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have always loved this story for the drama that plays out in it. My former pastor delivered a sermon way back in May of 1983 that I still remember to this day, and thankfully, I have a printed copy of it. Pastor Todd's delivery of the sermon impacts me, because he emphasized how Jesus brings change to us, as well as our fear of change. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I will confess that the last 9 years have been times of momentous change for me, some of it unwanted and unplanned, and the rest welcomed. My semi-OCD nature is comfortable in routine, and in the past, change was not something I wanted. But being laid off of a job I'd been at for 30 years, and then going through a divorce - well, that forces you to change. It is when we embrace change: when we step back and realize that our normal path is blocked and we take the alternate route - accept the change and the path before us - that we can experience growth. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But that is not as easy as it may sound. We love to hold on to what we know, even if it's something that causes fear in us. Like the Gerasenes, we reject change. We reject the opportunity for growth and a newness of spirit and life. We get comfortable in sameness, in routine, even if it causes fear or uncertainty in our lives. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But as Pastor John Todd preached nearly 40 years ago, "Change is always just a bit frightening, when the old order - even if not particularly good - is altered. But change is at the heart of the Gospel. And whenever Jesus walks into a life, the order of things will surely be reshaped. Jesus wants to step into our lives and bring change: in what we think, [and] in our relations to one another."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I've always read this story in Mark as a story of change. And I reflect on my own life and how I now embrace change (with still a desire for routine) more readily and easily than I used to. Because I have discovered that when I allow that change, if, as John Todd put it, I'm vulnerable to the changes that Jesus brings, my life takes the unexpected and serendipitous side roads that reward me with so much more than I already have.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Soli Deo Gloria</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-533899372657494672022-12-13T18:00:00.005-08:002022-12-19T05:07:41.850-08:00The Journey Continues: A Mirror<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdD7b2ytJzxntz-3S0VrlVuZ4N3lghyoGBPPKBvSyItJoGUJFwvDN3VfBqd2jlRSAD2w2pvl56nIbFzUXJlgtbWgsI3KebLAkEzJrD_yquLCmgVtLPQw5cvyeA8XTW3ubVQrKsSzUDYw-4IZzJfsQCtNj2059UcFaTGLAV3hBsz7L4ZpZtyg/s2000/edev_020322_2000x833%20jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdD7b2ytJzxntz-3S0VrlVuZ4N3lghyoGBPPKBvSyItJoGUJFwvDN3VfBqd2jlRSAD2w2pvl56nIbFzUXJlgtbWgsI3KebLAkEzJrD_yquLCmgVtLPQw5cvyeA8XTW3ubVQrKsSzUDYw-4IZzJfsQCtNj2059UcFaTGLAV3hBsz7L4ZpZtyg/w640-h266/edev_020322_2000x833%20jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><i><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>"Men are mirrors, or 'carriers' of Christ to other men." - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book 4 chapter 7</i></div></i><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This passage from my daily C.S. Lewis readings struck me. As I have journeyed through this path of faith and growth, I have realized how true this is. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Since I am now 100% remote work from home, I like to take breaks in the morning and afternoons, get away from my desk and stretch my legs by taking short walks in our neighborhood. One of our neighbors down the street, a very friendly and outgoing fellow named Edward, always greets me if he's in front of his house. One time I stopped, introduced myself, and had a nice chat with him. As I started to walk away he told me how I had brightened his day, and how he received a good vibe from me, and that it was a pleasure for him to meet me and chat with me. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">As I walked the short distance back to the house I tried to put into words that which Lewis stated so clearly: at that time, with Edward, I was a "carrier" of Christ. In fact, in the following sentences in this morning's reading Lewis states that sometimes there are those who unconsciously are carriers of Christ, and that it was people who were not Christian that helped Lewis return to Christianity. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have found that because of my daily time of prayer and study that I am changing. This inward change is outwardly expressed in the interactions that I have with people, both family and strangers. And it ties into the idea of personal evangelism that Jesus did with Nicodemus in John 3 and the Woman at Jacob's Well in John 4. I don't know where this will lead me, but I know that it will be wonderful, wherever the path takes me. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Soli Deo Gloria</p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-27444846057088434472022-12-11T17:00:00.000-08:002022-12-11T17:00:00.161-08:00Third Sunday of Advent - Joy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCT0AHE8yxD3gDLCUisV6iRXC0BhvdIP8XeKuFCfEr6iNVXYZ7KcImD2TCXzELgYdxCzgMPh4CfWxzA-LJS2crMM8U9HR8VaBx-2XdWAr_26Lfnk0aQ-p8Nej77REMR0K5cYAC6tRqF3jgWvY0_QUdINJAMcWVY32EZQWaV8LQeQfVb4_OQQ/s1024/Advent-Wreath-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCT0AHE8yxD3gDLCUisV6iRXC0BhvdIP8XeKuFCfEr6iNVXYZ7KcImD2TCXzELgYdxCzgMPh4CfWxzA-LJS2crMM8U9HR8VaBx-2XdWAr_26Lfnk0aQ-p8Nej77REMR0K5cYAC6tRqF3jgWvY0_QUdINJAMcWVY32EZQWaV8LQeQfVb4_OQQ/w640-h480/Advent-Wreath-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." - Luke 2:10-11 KJV</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Joy is a prominent theme of Christmas. Not only do we have the angels proclaiming joy to the shepherds, but our Christmas carols and hymns are peppered with the word "Joy": "O tidings of comfort and joy". "Joy to the World!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Joy is also referenced frequently in scripture: Galatians 5:22 speaks of joy as one of the fruits of the Spirit; the Psalms are sprinkled with the word "joy" throughout; Matthew's Gospel shares that the Magi rejoiced "with exceeding great joy" when they saw the star (Matthew 2:10); and Hebrews tell us that Christ, who for the <i>"joy that was set before him endured the cross" </i>(Hebrews 12:2). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">What is joy? The Oxford Dictionary defines it as "a feeling of great pleasure and happiness". Yet I wonder how joyous our Advent and Christmas seasons are. We get so wrapped up (pun intended) in the trappings of the season: decorating; gift-buying; Christmas cards; baking; singing or attending Christmas concerts for our kids, friends, or ourselves. We get so busy at Christmas that the joy of the season eludes us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Look at the shepherds in Luke chapter 2. They were watching their flocks in the fields near Bethlehem. It was night. They may have been asleep, or perhaps a few were still awake, keeping a close eye for nocturnal predators. But they were resting, or at least still. And suddenly <i>"there was with angels a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'" Luke 2:13-14. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I know for many of us, reducing our holiday obligations may not be easy. We may have a couple of family events, or for my singing friends, paying gigs that are needed for financial support. We may be having to work on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. We may be hard-pressed to find that "perfect gift" for a spouse or partner. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But the Joy of Christmas will be best-served if we follow the example of the shepherds, and still our hearts for that unexpected Joy that comes from living the Advent and Christmas seasons in our hearts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria</i></div></div><p><br /> </p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-35009440973040702032022-12-06T18:00:00.001-08:002022-12-06T18:00:00.174-08:00The Journey Continues: The Mustard Seed<p style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3R99q1N_unkEe2_nbL78KEWd_RXvRt2iP1WkCGkIO5_l2kP6j8_OXDy9QJ0blEVYgJk5arII4xavk1PO2lb9E95QGbmjIMzXIMJSPZbKrcXar2VfK5ErN87oHnYZXh_mVYW3jrxt00dbobXfOWZ9R3KOYsVo0dCzVifBM4bRs8mRHOItuaQ/s920/Mustard-seed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="920" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3R99q1N_unkEe2_nbL78KEWd_RXvRt2iP1WkCGkIO5_l2kP6j8_OXDy9QJ0blEVYgJk5arII4xavk1PO2lb9E95QGbmjIMzXIMJSPZbKrcXar2VfK5ErN87oHnYZXh_mVYW3jrxt00dbobXfOWZ9R3KOYsVo0dCzVifBM4bRs8mRHOItuaQ/w640-h252/Mustard-seed.png" width="640" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><i>"And he said, 'With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.'” - Mark 4:30-32</i></i></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">My late grandmother was a huge Robert Schuller and <i>Hour of Power</i> fan. She purchased every little "gift" that was offered, including a ball-point pen that had, at it's end, a small mustard seed. The pen was clear, and there was an insert in that referenced the parable of the mustard seed. I still remember that pen, and its shape (not round but 3-sided), and the sound the mustard seed would make whenever I jiggled the pen. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Like many of Jesus' disciples, I too was baffled by that parable. Faith as the size of a mustard seed? Even though I'd read that parable, I never understood its meaning until my study of Mark's Gospel with a study Bible. And suddenly the parable gained a profound nature to me.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I think when we read this parable we tend to focus on the seed. I know that I interpreted this parable to mean that having the faith the size of a mustard seed meant I could do many wonderful things. Many of us may look at this parable and interpret it that the seed becomes many branches, an indicator of our faith growing like a mustard bush. But we tend to leave it at that - at least, I know I did.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But the commentary that I read spoke of Jesus' example of the mustard seed as opposed to something larger and grander, like say the cedar. And when I read the parable again with that in mind I interpreted the parable differently. Because the parable doesn't just mention the small mustard seed growing into branches, it closes with the results of the growth. Look at verse 32:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>"yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade"</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It's not just that our faith grows from a tiny mustard seed into a large bush: it's the results of that faith growing that benefits others - that's what I found to be the deeper meaning. Much like the parable of the fruit of the vine, and that Christians are intended to bear fruit, our faith, when growing, is to provide shelter for others, in whatever form that may be. It might be in caring for a sick or infirmed family member. It might be volunteering at your church's or a local food pantry. It might be spending time in your church nursery or teaching Sunday school on Sunday mornings. It might be going into prisons or working at a homeless shelter. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Jesus' use of the mustard seed for this parable shows the paradox of His teachings: that it isn't something mighty or grand that comes from our faith. It is the small, the seemingly insignificant, that grows into something vital and important - that is the crux of this parable. And whatever form of "shelter" we provide, we are taking our faith, the faith of a mustard seed, and allowing God to grow it into a large bush that He then uses to spread His Love.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria</i></p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-82264509681722931702022-12-04T08:00:00.002-08:002022-12-04T08:00:00.152-08:00The Second Sunday of Advent - Peace<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4g5lLZ7kzN2AJeSkaBas7eOqjWnL98P0ZCz4jJJ7w2lxkEKTdMiIt4QYdNE1EmPQ2SAZHz-_5wr6wykHQ8B5MQgo189fAT7EYx1jTW6bYxuG65pUfe298Ycfkk5904bQo_a2Jjr_Dq4ZQoKhshS_aS1CRGp0pSCcdXdDY635bkv6W6rOhsw/s1024/Advent-week-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4g5lLZ7kzN2AJeSkaBas7eOqjWnL98P0ZCz4jJJ7w2lxkEKTdMiIt4QYdNE1EmPQ2SAZHz-_5wr6wykHQ8B5MQgo189fAT7EYx1jTW6bYxuG65pUfe298Ycfkk5904bQo_a2Jjr_Dq4ZQoKhshS_aS1CRGp0pSCcdXdDY635bkv6W6rOhsw/w640-h480/Advent-week-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6-7</i></div></i><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Music at Christmastime can range from the silly "I Saw Momma Kissing Santa Claus" to the profound "Coventry Carol". It can have texts that speak of mistletoe, presents, snow, sleigh bells, and the Christ Child. While I cannot claim to have sung in a lot of Christmas or Advent concerts, I've had my fair share, and one of my favorite choruses to sing is "For Unto Us a Child is Born" from Handel's "Messiah". It is a joyous chorus, not morose or foreboding: the music bounces, and has 16th-note runs that can test a choir's skill at vocal articulation. Its text is from Isaiah 9, and speaks of the names that The Child shall be called, one of those being "Prince of Peace".</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Today is the Second Sunday of Advent, and the candle that is lit today represents Peace. It is also called the Bethlehem Candle, to remind us of the lowly and humble birth of The Christ Child. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">And while the chorus "For Unto Us a Child is Born" is joyful and thrilling, and repeats that the child will be called many things, including Prince of Peace, we must realize that Jesus was born in a very humble state: He was not born in a palace which most might associate with kingship. He was not born of wealthy parents - in fact, other than Him being God incarnate, Jesus' only claim to fame was lineage to the House of David - King David. He was born in humility, and lived His life as a humble Servant of His Father.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We, too, in order to foster peace, need to recognize that peace requires that same kind of humility. If we are proud, and expect our way, there is no peace. When we are humble, when we recognize it's not about ourselves individually, but collectively, there is peace. Jesus' humble birth illustrates that, but even more so, His LIFE illustrated that. His Peace, from His Father, was a peace of spirit, a peace of the soul, that leads and encourages us to live humbly, and to think outside of ourselves. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">May the Peace of the Advent Season fill your soul. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria</i></p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-3908689608993510652022-11-27T08:00:00.002-08:002022-11-27T08:00:00.153-08:00The First Sunday of Advent - Hope<p style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-ayRawXcm9y4tc8YA47MKjmWFXNxBNQsfwM3unKbvNZYSkK2zO2L-EOSP7HeOIDSC2modZ8nbw84HPJmbcsy4IWX5VQS4xw44Kqt883_FgVw4CpMvr7zApWMQK6cqH1fSf24oVYlEf2WpW1rC5WsTSDINri09eaKfie_2YR4RJkBciAW5g/s1024/week1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-ayRawXcm9y4tc8YA47MKjmWFXNxBNQsfwM3unKbvNZYSkK2zO2L-EOSP7HeOIDSC2modZ8nbw84HPJmbcsy4IWX5VQS4xw44Kqt883_FgVw4CpMvr7zApWMQK6cqH1fSf24oVYlEf2WpW1rC5WsTSDINri09eaKfie_2YR4RJkBciAW5g/w640-h480/week1.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><i><br />"And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you." - Psalm 39:7</i><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of my favorite movies - a remote drop if it's on TV - is "Shawshank Redemption". While it's fairly raw in its portrayal of prison life, there is a recurring theme between the main character, Andy Dufresne, and his best friend, "Red": hope. After some time in solitary, Andy returns to the cafeteria table and talks about hope, even after being in the hole for several days. Red discourages Andy from that thought, but at the end of the movie, as Red travels into Mexico to meet up with Andy, he says hopes to see his friend, he hopes the Pacific is a blue as he has been told. He hopes. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">After centuries of oppression, capture, exile, and now occupation by the Romans, the Jews were longing for the hoped Messiah. And while many were seeking a Messiah that would liberate them from the Roman oppression and occupation, a few understood that the liberation would come in a very different form: salvation. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Mary understood this as she sang her Magnificat in Luke 1:50 - "And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation". Later in Luke 1, Zechariah, no longer a mute which had been caused by his disbelief in God's message, praises God in verses 68-70 - "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Today is the first Sunday of Advent, when we light the first candle, the Candle of Hope. This candle represents the Hope that not only was sung and spoken about by Mary and Zechariah, but the hope that we have of our salvation by the Grace of God, given to us by His Son, Jesus, whose birthday we will soon celebrate. This is the Hope that colors our days with eagerness and anticipation, not for just Christmas Day, but for the days that follow and the days that we will spend with God.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Let us, during this Advent Season, be hopeful, for our todays and our tomorrows.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria</i></p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-52842459906699102762022-11-26T05:03:00.002-08:002022-11-26T05:08:37.118-08:00A Lesson from Bob Cratchit<p style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTx2ExKB0L2hHUAJ25XMDa3STjoLbpQhYUlQGBr_Tkt0AhzJA0E14eVFSvQpN4AHOZqJkvoJmVh4ec4v1bcNMPERr8KJ3_Ncu9WsobCCHAMrloj_1xX51DAQvd9AHkPPC3lCyONTKCWFWIM48xL39jJ74DOXwFJIt9NOCknYyXhu1BBQk3w/s1134/159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTx2ExKB0L2hHUAJ25XMDa3STjoLbpQhYUlQGBr_Tkt0AhzJA0E14eVFSvQpN4AHOZqJkvoJmVh4ec4v1bcNMPERr8KJ3_Ncu9WsobCCHAMrloj_1xX51DAQvd9AHkPPC3lCyONTKCWFWIM48xL39jJ74DOXwFJIt9NOCknYyXhu1BBQk3w/s320/159.jpg" width="193" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><i>"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." - 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (ESV) </i></i></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Recently my wife decided to apply these verses from 1st Corinthians 13 to her life, specifically in how she responded towards a co-worker whom she thought had treated her unfairly. In doing so, not only did her attitude towards that coworker change, but the coworker responded back in a way that showed that they did care for my wife, and the veil of bitterness and resentment was removed. She demonstrated a deeper love, a love changed her corner of the world. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Love, as defined in Paul's writing to the Corinthians, does that. And as we approach Christmas, I offer no better proof than the famous character from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" than Bob Cratchit. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I think we can easily attest to love in Bob Cratchit's heart when we see how dearly he loved his family. He honored and raised up his wife in praise of her cooking. He adored all of his children, even feeling pain with the idea that his Martha might not be present on Christmas Day for dinner. And, when we witness his behavior at Tiny Tim's passing (presented so sorrowfully in the Disney animated version), we see that his love for that poor, sickly child, was even more deep than his heart could bear. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But the love that Paul writes of is a different love: it's a love that, as stated in verse 7, "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things". Bob Cratchit's endurance of the poor treatment he receives from Scrooge for all the years he worked for him does not result in grumbling or belittling his employer, even when his wife is doing so in front of the family. Bob Cratchit, in his act of love, will not dishonor his employer. He, neither recounted in Dickens' own writings or the countless film versions of the story, never says ill against his employer. He is a dutiful clerk. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, some may say he's spineless or a whimp for not standing up for himself. Some may chide him for not joining in the chorus of negative voices that we hear when Scrooge's name is spoken. But Bob Cratchit demonstrates something much higher: love for his fellow man. An understanding that, regardless of our station in life, we are called to Love, from the great Creator of Christmas Himself. It's the kind of Love that Christ, while on the cross, showed for those who crucified Him in praying <i>"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34 ESV)</i>. It's the kind of Love that will not allow Bob Cratchit to dishonor Scrooge, especially in front of his children. While we may cheer on Mrs. Cratchit for calling out Scrooge, we must recognize that Bob Cratchit, in front of his family, is displaying a moral character and deep love that goes beyond his family and his personal situation. It is a deep Love that echoes God's Love for us, in that He sent His only Son. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">As we now journey into Advent, and prepare for Christmas, let us take this deep Love, this "Love of Cratchit" into our lives. As the busyness of the Holiday surrounds us, let us practice this deep love among the shoppers we run into at Target or the grocery store. Let us spread charity to the Starbucks barista. Let us be kind to the Amazon delivery driver. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Let us be like Bob Cratchit. And God Bless Us, Everyone!</p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134604.post-38657208076297684192022-11-24T10:35:00.001-08:002022-11-24T10:53:36.612-08:00The Journey Continues: Personal Evangelism<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AQIQDgsjY6GkoYl9S9bLdnz3xzTrQ8z-bxtjhzRWVl0XOptR4YcbPyh7Pr7hBFcfvhld7I1Lq5ezMIk30-a8v0kGeQGupM3Om37FJpPJhY5UnAU3fEAR-qR1fxwgNSZeH1F_FNP-bHA-OG8dy7N5sgkdtaS8UqYy1a2k8CXVtCyysS2Bhw/s2064/il_fullxfull.1493665702_hm88.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2064" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AQIQDgsjY6GkoYl9S9bLdnz3xzTrQ8z-bxtjhzRWVl0XOptR4YcbPyh7Pr7hBFcfvhld7I1Lq5ezMIk30-a8v0kGeQGupM3Om37FJpPJhY5UnAU3fEAR-qR1fxwgNSZeH1F_FNP-bHA-OG8dy7N5sgkdtaS8UqYy1a2k8CXVtCyysS2Bhw/w320-h238/il_fullxfull.1493665702_hm88.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A few weeks ago I finished my personal study of the Gospel of John. I really didn't use any guide, other than the commentaries in the two study Bibles that I used. I had gone into the study intent on learning about God's character as revealed in Jesus Christ, and I feel that I learned enough to know I wanted to learn more. I went in looking for recurring themes, such as "light" and "love", which were peppered throughout John's Gospel. But it's what I didn't expect that gave me a deeper understanding of not only John's Gospel and the nature of God, but something that I never really understood before: personal evangelism. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In an earlier <a href="https://johnscoffeehouse.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-journey-continues-gospel-of-john.html" target="_blank">post</a> I wrote about the Samaritan woman at the well, and Jesus' interaction with her: an example of personal evangelism. But as I continued to read and study John's Gospel, I found that there were other instances of personal evangelism: times when Jesus, whether one-on-one, or in small groups, focused on one or two individuals with the intent to minister to them personally: Nicodemus in chapter 3; The official and his son in chapter 4; The lame man by the Pool of Bethesda in chapter 5; The blind man in chapter 9; Jesus' time with the Disciples in the Upper room, chapters 13-17; Jesus and Mary Magdalene at the tomb and His appearance to the disciples in chapter 20, including His time with Thomas, and encouraging Thomas to place his hands and fingers in Jesus' wounds. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But what is "personal evangelism", and how can I apply that to my life today? </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The example that we see in John's Gospel shows us God in human form engaging people on a personal level: one-on-one. With the woman at the well, He knew things that revealed His knowledge not only of the woman's past, but her soul. It exposed her deep-seeded Samaritan vs. Jewish belief of where to worship God. Jesus blew past all of that to get to her innermost being, and from there, He showed her great love and compassion. Verse 6 tells us that Jesus was weary. Yet despite that weariness, He engaged this woman for something much greater: her, and other's, salvation. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I find that social media gives us great freedom to interact one-on-one. But it lacks something, and that's the actual physical presence of being with someone, engaging them in conversation, be it about faith, or family, or what we may be feeling at the time. Jesus' example of this personal evangelism is that it must be done even when we are weary, even if there is a personal cost. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">So again, how do I apply that to my life today? Frankly, I don't know. I pray daily for God to use me in some form of service. I have felt, in the past, a call to be a pastor, and that was confirmed when two people asked if I'd ever thought of that. Lately it's been a feeling that I want to help the homeless, in some form, either through my local church body, or in some form of faith-based ministry. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But what about the one-on-one? I tried that once, and feel like I did not succeed. Only recently have I understood that while I may not have "led the person to Christ" at that time, now over 40 years ago, maybe I planted a seed, and that person today is a follower of Christ. I marvel at my wife and how she is able to find words to witness for Christ, yet I feel that if the same situation were to happen to me, I'd be tongue-tied. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But there is a reassurance in John's Gospel that even if our personal evangelism is not overt, it can be there. In one of the greatest verses from chapter 13, Jesus commands His disciples <i>"...that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Personal evangelism is not just a one-on-one engagement or encounter: it's a way of life. Living our very lives as examples of the love we receive from God through Christ, and how we extend that love towards those we love, and those whom nobody loves. We may not think we are engaged in that unique experience of witnessing to someone. But we are, nonetheless, being evangelists for the Kingdom. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Soli Deo Gloria</i></p>John Protherohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432801717187025195noreply@blogger.com2