Wednesday, February 12, 2025

“Suddenly, God, you floodlight my life; I’m blazing with glory, God’s glory!’  (Psalm 18:28, The Message Bible)             

                “Jesus bids us shine with a pure clear light, Like a little candle burning in the night.
                  In this world of darkness we must shine, You in your small corner and I in mine.”

                 According to the all-wise, all-knowing Google, this coming Saturday will the mark the Chinese celebration of the Lantern Festival. (But, hey, men, don’t forget it’s Valentines Day on Friday.) It’s the final day of the festivities for the Chinese New Year. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “The Lantern Festival aims to promote reconciliation, peace, and forgiveness.” People decorate their homes with brightly coloured and elaborately decorated lanterns. “Festival celebrations also include lion and dragon dances, parades, and fireworks.”

                Whatever its purposes and origins, I am for anything which brings more light and joy into our world. I am tired of snow, of politics, of wars, of all the negativity which surrounds us these days. I have my SAD light on as I write this but I am pretty sure it is not adequate enough by itself. I crave more light. So, I pray like the Psalmist, “Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.” (Psalm 43:3, the Living Translation)

                There is a much said and written about light, lamps and darkness, for that matter, in our scriptures. One might say that there is on-going battle between light and darkness, at least in symbolic terms.  The RSV translation of the above text is a little less flamboyant than The Message but bears repeating, “You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.” When our spirits, souls, hearts and minds are being overshadowed by gloom and doom, the Love of God shines through. “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119: 105)

                John picks up this theme, beginning in his prologue to his Gospel. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:5) In fact, the word ‘light” is used over a dozen times in his Gospel. Usually, it is in reference to Jesus himself as being the Light of the world. “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’” (John 8:12) Jesus is God’s brilliant lantern for us, in full display and brightness. “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.” (John 12:46)

                “Out of my bondage, sorrow and night, Jesus I come, Jesus, I come. Into Thy freedom, gladness and light, Jesus, I come to Thee.” (W.T. Sleeper)

                But wait, there’s more. We are to be  lanterns, too, in this dark world. We are to  reflect the Love of God, the works and words of Jesus. We don’t just selfishly absorb the Light but reproduce the Light through our lives, actions, words and works. “You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5: 14 -16, The Message Bible)

                The saying is that it is better to light a single candle than curse the darkness. Our times need all the light it can get.

                Lord, the light of Your love is shining
                In the midst of the darkness, shining
                Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
                Set us free by the truth You now bring us
                Shine on me, shine on me.

                As we gaze on Your kingly brightness
                So our faces display Your likeness
                Ever-changing from glory to glory
                Mirrored here, may our lives tell Your story
                Shine on me, shine on me. (G. Kendrick)

                Let us all shine indeed!

Dale

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

“The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the native-born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.’ (Leviticus 19:34, New Revised standard Version)

               How did “immigrant” become a four-lettered word in North America and Europe? Why have we demonized these outsiders? Why have we turned then into monsters who are invading every nook and corner of our lands? Why have we labeled them all as rapists and terrorists and murderers? (At least, according to some of the recent American election ads.) Since when are immigrants the targets of our prejudices, fears, repudiation and lack of toleration?

                Unless we are among the indigenous peoples of North America, we are all of immigrant stock. My father’s family came from Germany; my mother’s side from England. They all found and made a good home here in Canada.  They prospered and contributed to the goodness of this country. But they were first immigrants, looking for a new home, a fresh start, a place to thrive and prosper. Good citizens, if you will.

                Today’s immigrants are from a host of countries and cultures. Unlike maybe Germany or England, their customs, language, cultures, food seem strange and alien. They tend to keep to their own people, understandably and some, not all, are slow to integrate. But the immigrants whom I see are trying to make a honest go of it.  Like Abraham and Sarah, they have left a familiar homeland to go to a new and strange land. They take menial jobs, and some more than just one, to begin to eke out a living. They work hard. We find them as maids in our hotels, janitors in our churches, running our corner variety stores, cleaning staff in our hospitals or picking crops in our fields.

                There was a Ukrainian woman who was one my mother-in-law’s palliative care givers. She had been a doctor in Ukraine. But we won’t give her accreditation here in Canada or even help her to get her certification other than to make it a long, drawn-out process. She is a warm, caring, compassionate and very competent health-care provider. Susan and I are without a family doctor right now; and I would sign up with this woman in a heartbeat if she was allowed to come to Peterborough to practice family medicine.  

                Are there bad apples among immigrants. Sure, as there are in any sorts of people, no matter their or our nationality. Does it frustrate me when a telemarketer phones and I am unable to understand because of the thick accented English? Yep! But I also need to understand that this might the only job they could get. For all I know, I could be talking to an engineer, a lab technician, a professor or a researcher.

                As our text above indicates, God wanted to ensure that immigrants or aliens were safe and accepted among the Jews. “You shall love the alien as yourself…”  It is interesting to me that there are those folk who will quote Levitical law to bash and condemn certain people, but will totally ignore this statement. But the Law says a great deal on this matter: “When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien.” (19:33) Yes, there were ideals and expectations within the Law which were outlined for the immigrants to adhere or obey.  “You and the alien who resides with you shall have the same law and the same ordinance.” (Numbers 15:16)  But they were to be cared for with compassion. “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the alien: I am the Lord your God.” (23:22) God himself has passed this into law. His signature is right there. “Thus says the Lord: ‘Act with justice and righteousness and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place.’”(Jeremiah 22:3)

                Of course, Jesus leads by his own example in his ministry. We should remind ourselves that he and his family were immigrants in Egypt, shortly after his birth. But it is his relationships with outsiders, foreigners, gentiles which should inspire us and soften our attitudes towards those not-us. He was open to all people and accepted them and reached out to them with his love and compassion. It is as if immigrants have become modern-day lepers to be kept out of our way, out of our presence, out of our lands. But Jesus has demonstrated that even “lepers” can be loved, included, restored and brought into the fellowship and grace of humanity.

                “You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.” (Ephesians 2:19-22, The Message Bible)

Dale

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

“He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:16, New Living Translation)

                Holy Lego set, Batman!

                Yes, it is that time of year, in the middle of January’s winter doldrums, that I am, once again, tackling an adult Lego set. It says right in the box – 18 years plus; I am very much in the “plus” category. This year, it is a cityscape of Gotham City from the Batman sagas. There are 43 bags of Lego pieces which add up to thousands of pieces, many of which are quite tiny. There are two thick instruction manuals with meticulous details for step-by-step construction. I am currently on bag 17.

                It gives a whole new meaning to the words “I am falling to pieces” or “Get it together.”

                It makes me think of the man who was possessed by an evil spirit and was out of control. He cried out “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” (Mark 5:9) He was torn apart in many directions. There was no consistency, no inner harmony, no lasting internal structure or any sense of peace and steadiness. He was a broken man. Jesus took compassion on him and cured him. Later on, in the story, we find the man “perfectly sane” (v.15) In fact, he becomes an evangelist, of sorts, visiting towns in the region “to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him…” (v.20)

                The love of Jesus is a wonderful stabilizer for us. His Spirit helps us to make sense of life’s instabilities and brokenness. His words lead us through times of confusion and fragmentation. His Voice mends the broken-hearted and heals the disintegration of our spirits and souls. Jesus is at the core of our psychic unity, our inner harmony, our sense of having it together. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.” (John 14:1) Jesus knows the Way and he gives us his direction. “Since I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19)

                This gift of peace and harmony extends into our relationships. “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly…” Paul often mentions the need for unity and harmony in his letters to the churches. But I am taking the liberty to suggest that we can apply his remarks to any of our close relationships like families, neighbourhoods, or anywhere people are trying to get along to make a difference for good. It is hard to get a group pf people to come together for a common purpose and mutual benefit. It always seems that arguments, different agendas and disagreements arise.  But the sign of a mature, healthy church or family or group is that even in difficult situations our faith supports conflict resolutions: “So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life.” (1 Corinthians 6:3)

                Jesus is the glue that binds us personally and in fellowship with others in love. If and when we feel that life is falling apart, that our relationship are in tatters, that nothing makes much sense, that we are going “insane” in some measure, then we need to be open to the loving Voice of Jesus which can bring clarity, coherency, and restore us to our senses. “He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.” (Ephesians 2: 15 -16) In the same spirit, he tears down the barriers between families, church folk, races and religions. Christ is the author of a world-wide effort to bring Love, Peace, Justice and Hope to people. It’s called the Kingdom of God. It begins with each of us personally and then spreads from brother and sister to others.

                I don’t build a 43-bag set of Lego in a day or even a week. It takes time to put all those pieces in the right place. Likewise, it takes work and effort for each of us to “get it together” and build a life of goodness and holiness. The same is true of our relationships.

Hear this bold statement: “He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.” (Colossians 1: 17) Trust that “he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.” (Colossians 2:19)

Bag #17, here I come!

 Dale

 Wednesday, January 22, 2025

“He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” (Colossian 1: 20 -22, New Living Translation)

               “This includes you who once were so far away…”

                Our minister, the Rev. Dr. Peter Holmes, preached a great sermon, this past Sunday, as he related his experience in a hospital waiting room to the idea of the church as sort of hospital in its own right. The church welcomes the vulnerable, the hurting, the broken and offers healing, restoration and curative blessing. Amen to all that! Well said!

                But it also reminded me of a recent experience which Susan and I had in our hospital’s waiting room as we waited for her regular bi-monthly appointment with her oncologist. These waits tend to be long at the best of times. It’s just part of the process. You learn to live with it. Just don’t plan anything else for the morning. When we finally were escorted into the examination room, we waited for Dr. Shandoake to arrive. We really like Dr. Shandoake, a lot. He’s friendly, thorough and relational.  But after an hour in the examining room, it seemed an exorbitant amount of time to wait. I finally went out into the hall and spoke to a nurse. Within a minute or two, Dr. Shandoake rushed into the room,  full of apologies.  We had been forgotten. His notes got buried under a pile of other notes and he didn’t know we were waiting until he accidently came upon our appointment.

                We had been forgotten. It was nothing personal, of course, just a snafu in the system. Probably won’t happen again.  But nobody likes to be forgotten – or ignored or snubbed or neglected or disregarded.

                Yes, the church can be like a hospital, full of compassion, hope, care, TLC, prayers and love.  I am convinced that the regular, weekly, pastoral prayers of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church have played a crucial element of Susan’s recovery from her cancer. We are so very grateful.

                But I also know that church can sometimes be negligent in assuring that everyone gets that same level of concern. Not everyone gets included. Some get overlooked.  I recall a few times when someone would criticize me that I hadn’t visited them in the hospital. It was usually because no one had told me that they had been the hospital or their stay was just a day or two before I heard about it. But apologies and reasons don’t cut it if a person is feeling unimportant. Nothing makes a minister cringe than when a visitor says that the church wasn’t very friendly. Nothing stains a church more than gaining a reputation for snobbery. Nothing undermines a church’s status more than cliques, power factions, or those who act like the church belongs to them and to them only. Nothing pollutes a church more than judging others, excluding others, shutting out others, losing others. Anything that distances any person from the Love of Christ is a blemish on the church’s record.

Our text reminds us that Christ’s sacrificial Love was all-inclusive. Even those who feel far away from the Love of God are included, Consider Jesus’ own personal ministry – touching lepers, eating with tax-collectors, rubbing elbows with the Romans and other Gentiles, including women. What did the “church” carp about? “He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!” (Luke 7:34) Or Mark puts more starkly: “Why does he eat with such scum?” (Mark 2: 16)

But the Love of God in Jesus Christ includes all who were once far away.  No one is forgotten, neglected, missed by mistake, or overlooked. Even enemies are loved by this Christ and offered new life. We are, of course, different from one another and may see things from different points of view, even disagreeing once in a while. Yet the Love of God in Jesus Christ is more than enough to smooth out the rough edges and sweeten our dispositions. “Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!” (Romans 12:16)

Hey, this includes you!

 Dale

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2, The Living Bible)

               “Unique means one of a kind. My grandmother is a unique, one-of-a-kind person.”

                Way back, in grade seven or eight, our oldest son, Nick, was required to write a speech and give it in class.  He chose his grandmother, Barbara Neal, Susan’s mother, as his subject. They had a very close relationship and Nick adored her (as have all our grandchildren). In his speech, he explained why she was so special and unique. He actually made it to the city’s finals because of it.

                Those words take on a special poignancy this week as we remember Grandma Barb who passed away on Sunday night.  She was 93 years old. These words sum her up beautifully yet don’t begin to describe the full,  exceptional character of my mother-in-law. But I can say, with much love and appreciation, that Barb Neal was something else!

                I am sure that much will be remembered and said about her gracious and welcoming hospitality, bringing people from all sorts of backgrounds and nationalities into her home, invited to share a meal or a cup of coffee. University students were a favourite of hers. That’s how I got to know her, as a student in McMaster University, long before Susan Neal became the centre of my love. I was a frequent visitor in their home. Mum Neal always made time for me as she had for many throughout her life.

                Dad, Bruce Neal, was the centre of her world. Together, they made an incredible ministry team.  Mum used the telephone like an extension of her arm. She checked in on seniors, the lonely, the bereaved, church members and on and on it goes. She was the epitome of compassion and kindness.

                But, of course, we saw a side of her, not in the public eye. She was exactly the same. We, her family, were treated with the same love, compassion and concern. Our children loved to visit Grandma Barb and Grandpa Bruce which was shortened to G & G over time.  Their Grandma wouldn’t spoil them with gifts and candy and the like. But she gave them a far more valuable gift – her time and focus. There would be frequent trips to a local park along Lake Ontario, sometimes packing a picnic even though it was icy and cold. It was always followed up by a trip to Dairy Queen. She was always planning some experience for them. Once, they took young Nate to a wolf reserve because he was interested in wolves at the time. At Christmas, she would treat us all to go see the Nutcracker Suite or the like. Our kids never came home saying they were bored, but rather they couldn’t wait to go back.

                One time when Nick was about 5 or 6 years old, I was reprimanding him for something he shouldn’t have been doing. He had the sass to say to me that since we were at Grandma’s house, he didn’t have to listen to me. I can never remember a time when Grandma scolded, disciplined or chastised a grandchild. She used words to persuade, or she distracted them or got their minds on better things. It always seemed to work. Besides, it would be devastating to hurt Grandma’s feelings in any way, shape or form.

                A delightful side of her was her mischievous and sometimes, slightly risqué sense of humour. In the middle of some conversation, she would drop one of these bon mots to see what reactions she would get from the kids. They would hoot and laugh and tease. She knew exactly what she was doing but could look so innocent. Dinner tables at the Neal's was a cornucopia of joy, laughter, stories and now for-ever memories. They will always be holy and sacred memories.

                This just scratches the surface. Remember those old Reader’s Digest articles, “The Most Interesting Person I ever Met.”  Barbara Neal would be near the top of my list. It was hard to choose an appropriate scripture text that would speak to the life she lived. She embodied texts like Romans 15:7: “Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.” Or she lived out the parable of the sheep and the goats from Matthew 25, doing good for the  least of her brothers and sisters, never looking for praise or recognition.

But I will close, in tribute to Mum Barb, with these words from Romans 12: “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.  Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”

Uniquely, one of a kind!

Dale

Tuesday, December 31, 2024 – New Years Eve

“Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.” (1 Corinthians 16: 13, The Message Bible)

                
                After the angels have soared homeward to heaven… what then?
                After the shepherds have returned to their fields… what then?
                After Mary and Joseph have left the stable… what then?
                After the Magi have taken new roads for home… what then?
                After the Star of Bethlehem has dimmed and winked out… what then?

                When we put up our Christmas tree a couple of weeks ago, instead of an angel, we set a star on top of the tree. It had lights on its points and we needed to insert batteries into a small battery pack for those lights to work. But this meant that the star would be lit continually, day and night, as long as the batteries lasted as I wasn’t about to climb a step ladder to change the batteries. Ladders and I do not get along. Slowly as Christmas got closer, the lights on the star began gradually to get dimmer and dimmer. Finally, a day or two before Christmas Day, the lights went out, the battery power depleted. But it was nice while it lasted.

                Regrettably, Christmas doesn’t last forever. The beauty of the season fades as we welcome in a New Year. It would be wonderful to enjoy the power of hope, peace, joy and love for as long as possible. But eventually, the real world reasserts itself and Christmas becomes a distant memory all too quickly.

                After the gifts are unwrapped and sorted… what then?
                After the tree is taken down and the ornaments packed away… what then?
                After our families has gone back to their cities and homes… what then?
                After the Christmas music fades and is heard no more… what then?

                We need to remind ourselves that the Christmas Story is but the beginning of the whole story about Jesus Christ. The Nativity of Jesus is a wonderful, sacred, mystical story but it only sets the stage for what is ahead in our encounter with Jesus. We leave the Christmas accounts from the Gospels in order to meet the man of Galilee, the One who has come from God and has left the manger to meet us in our real world.

In a way, our encounter with Jesus is also a type of nativity – ours, a new birth of our redemption, our salvation, our healing, of reconnecting with God in a healthy and transforming way. “Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That’s why the prophet said, ‘The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries up, flowers wilt, God’s Word goes on and on forever.’ This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.” (1 Peter 1: 22 -25, The Message Bible)

                 But we will need to recharge the spirit for this New Life to be effective. Left neglected and unattended, we take the risk of allowing God’s Spirit to fade from our lives. We need to seek out meaningful and intentional ways to nurture and nourish the Love of God which sustains us in our daily lives. Prayer, of course, is essential. Worship is important. Reading and meditating on scripture is helpful. Loving others as we are loved is necessary.  Our New Life in Christ can be a fragile and vulnerable state of living unless we feed it, encourage it, sustain it and allow to grow and prosper.

                Christmas isn’t actually over, but it points us in a different direction and leads us on a new venture. Christmas proclaims that there is far more to come, just as amazing, just a miraculous, just as life-changing, just as satisfying, just as amazing.  We are still and always will be  in the Presence of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, the one who has come into the world to save us.

                So, as we enter this New Year, let us indeed stand firm in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Give it all you got! Resolve that nothing will distract you or persuade you to give up. Christmas isn’t done with you or me yet.

                Here is the blessing for your 2025: “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, New Living Translation)

Dale

               

Tuesday, December 24, 2024 – Christmas

“The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1: 9, New Living Translation)

               “It’s what I really wanted for Christmas.”

                Many years ago, when our eldest daughter, Katie, was about 6 or 7 years old, we had a church Christmas supper at First Baptist Church in Ottawa. As was the custom, after supper and some carol singing, Santa made his appearance for the children. Each child came up and sat on Santa’s knee and told Santa what they wanted for Christmas. But when Katie got to Santa and was asked what she wanted, she shouted out in an exasperated cry, “I don’t know what I want for Christmas!”

                Now, I am sure that she did all right that Christmas once her Christmas list was written. Our children may not have gotten everything off their lists but we made sure they were few if any disappointments. I stopped Christmas shopping with Susan for the kids after seeing Susan march up to the counter at the near-by Toys-R-Us store with a shopping cart filled to overflowing. The final price tag made me blanch! Our adult kids marvel now at how Susan and I managed to make sure our four children had a great Christmas.

                But I grew up in a similar vein at Christmas. I had poured over the Simpsons and Eaton’s Christmas catalogues (toy sections, of course) and made my Christmas list. Again, I didn’t get evryth8ing, but I never remember a Christmas when I didn’t get the items at the top of my list. Table top hockey set, skates, race car set, hockey equipment, and the like.  I was never disappointed.

                All of us can probably remember a Christmas or two when a gift was extra meaningful, extra special, and was at the top of our wish list. Maybe, it was homemade. Maybe, it wasn’t expensive but it was obvious that the giver put a lot of thought and care in choosing the gift. Perhaps, it was something that you never would have gotten for yourself. Maybe, it spoke of the love and affection the giver had for you. Perhaps, it came as a surprise, something delightfully unexpected but wonderful just the same.

What I really wanted for Christmas comes in all sorts of shapes, sizes and meanings.

This should remind us that the gift of the Christ Child is exactly what this old world needs today, what you and I need.

In the book of Isaiah, we hear the prophecy, “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  (Isiah 9:2) Perhaps, we may not totally relate to the description here. Although I would claim that because of the game of thrones our world leaders engage in through their Herod-like arrogance, wars, lies and abuse of power, we are badly in need of a new power that cancels them out and restores the goodness of God’s Creation. Jesus Christ is that power: “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” (Colossians 2: 15)

                We may feel wistful for Isaiah’s promise but we all understand the need for light. We understand what it is to live in darkness and have the deep need for someone to light the way ahead. We identify with the shepherds who spend the dark night tending to their ordinary lives and then are amazed at the new light that leads them on a different journey. “The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”

                Jesus is exactly what you and I want and need this Christmas. All of us need some portion of this amazing gift: emotional healing, physical comfort, encouragement, his grace, his forgiveness, his love, his peace, his joy, his Presence so that we see our way through the darkness and obscurity which hurt and wound us.  We need his Light in our lives. God put a lot of care and thought into this Gift. “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12)

                Just what I wanted for Christmas!

                May you all experience a very blessed and happy Christmas!

Dale