Burns Church of Christ

James 5:7

As we approach the New Year it is important for us to “make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil”. (Ephesians 5:16)  This time of the year we are more likely to evaluate where we are in our relational, financial, physical and spiritual lives.  If things have gone well we can approach the New Year with confidence.  If things have gone sour for us this year we will look at the New Year with some fear and trepidation.

It is a wise man who knows how to be patient.  Many are there who want everything today and don’t give a hoot about tomorrow.  Some want everything yesterday but can’t pay for it tomorrow.

he times are going to put a strain on us and we may find that it is wise to be patient and fugal as we look to 2009.  It probably is wise to live this way in any and every year.  Those who have lived frugally and have been diligent in their approach to life will fine the new year will turn out right.  Those who have overextended themselves will be found scrambling for ways to meet the demands of the New Year.

There is an old saying that goes something like this:  “All things come to those who wait”. But those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

The New Year will have many challenges.  We may be faced with tough decisions about life, family, finances, health, jobs, children and homes.  Those who go into the next year with Jesus as their companion and determined to follow His ways have a better chance of making it through with flying colors. Until the coming of the Lord.

Something amazing happened on December 24, 1914.

Battle-hardened soldiers began to crawl out of their trenches in Belgium and met on the land that hours before was a battlefield. German warriors began singing Stille Nacht (Silent Night) and the Scottish troops responded with English Christmas Carols. By the end of the night, the combatants were engaged in a new conflict: a soccer match with each other in what had been known as “No Man’s Land” – the field between the trenches.

Soldiers met together to pray, exchange cards, and enjoy Red Cross supply packages with little bits of chocolate and goodies from home. They worked together to collect the dead and give them an honorable burial. The men read aloud the words of Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd…

Sadly, this peace was short-lived. Within days these men were back to the routine of war where violence and death reigned supreme, but none of them ever forgot that day of peace.

When Jesus was born the shout of the heavenly host was, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:114 ESV) Isaiah 9:6 prophesies this Savior, a Prince of Peace who will reign for us forever. It’s not surprising that in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that peacemakers will be blessed.

There certainly is conflict, unrest, and violence on earth. Jesus didn’t promise to rid the world of uncertainty, but He did come bringing peace to the hearts of those whose trust is in Him.

St. Francis of Assisi is said to have written this prayer in the 13th Century: Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

As God’s people, may this always be our prayer!

I recently received a magazine called The Voice of the Martyrs. It is a collection of stories and information from areas across the world where Christianity is persecuted. In it was the story of the way religious freedoms were destroyed in Cuba.

When Fidel Castro came to power, he first banned the construction of new church buildings. His advisors believed that limiting future growth of the church would effectively bring about its slow and quiet death. After all – if you’re not growing, you’re dying right?

That plan didn’t work. People who wanted to continue to worship, study, and grow, realized that church buildings were nice-but not necessary. Home-based churches began springing up across the country and the number of folks who claimed Christianity continued to grow. Castro wanted to do something to curb the enthusiasm and growth of these people, so he enacted Resolution 46 in April 2005. Among other things, he forbade churches from assembling more than three times per week.

If our President enacted Resolution 46-would it affect the church at Burns?

If the regulation limited worship assemblies to no more than twice weekly, would it affect you?

It’s true that the Bible doesn’t give a command with a number of required weekly church meetings. It is also true that it does give an example:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. …  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 NIV)

Do you think they would have noticed Resolution 46?

Want a friendly piece of holiday advice? Avoid stores.

It is amazing to me what happens every year on “Black Friday” – people abuse a wonderful day off by getting up at three in the morning just in the hope of snagging a good deal!

In New York a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death by a crowd of bargain hunters-who all wanted to be first into the store. Several others, including a pregnant 28-year old were taken to the hospital with injuries.

How does this sort of thing happen? The people in these crowds aren’t evil folks who woke up bent on doing whatever it took to get the deal at the expense of others. They didn’t plan on hurting anyone-in fact, they didn’t even think about anyone getting hurt.

Therein the answer lies: they didn’t even think. That morning these people woke up very early for a particular goal. They invested time and emotional energy into getting the good deals. When they arrived at the stores, their hopes were dashed by the presence of hundreds of other people competing for the same goal. Disappointment turned to frustration; frustration paired with desire led to a fiercely competitive spirit. When one person inched towards the door, the three surrounding him had to move forward two inches-or their emotional investment would surely bankrupt. It’s the perfect storm of greed, pride, and mob psychology.

Before long this cycle spirals out of control. People no longer act human – they behave like animals in a herd. They don’t consider the feelings of others, the well-being of self, or anything other than moving forward. That’s how a crowd becomes a mob. That’s how God’s created image-bearing-person becomes no more than an animal.

A mob once cried out, “Crucify him!” and “His blood be upon us and on our children.” A mob raided the house of Jason in Acts 17 upset with the teaching of Paul and Silas. A mob dragged Paul out of the temple and tried o kill him (Acts 21).

One thing that should make us different than the world is the way we are to think about the interests of others. We have the perfect example who did just that-even in the face of an angry mob (Phil 2:1-11). My prayer for us is that we never lose sight of our call to look out for the interests of others.