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It’s Christmas Eve, 2014. It’s been great so far. Last night we gathered with the Sigur clan. When you are the eldest of nine children, that’s a big crowd. Today we have our precious great grand as a guest. I took her shopping and twice gave in to her “Just one thing” plea. It’s what grandpas do. Rose read her a Christmas story and we have grocery shopping and house cleaning to do. That’s okay because we will do it together and somehow make it fun. Tonight Rose and I will be alone. That’s okay, too. Maybe we will light a fire. More likely we will sit together and watch Christmas movies and marvel that God has let us do this together forty-four times. If a child’s birth had this impact after two thousand and fourteen years, that would be miracle enough. If that child grew up to share wise and wonderful things, it would be a greater miracle still and plenty enough to celebrate. It seems unthinkable that such a child, born in such a lowly place would be God himself, sent to save us from our sins. That’s the truth of this wonderfully impossible miracle. To God all […]

Lot’s of people have the flu or something like it including some of my favorite people. One of them is very little and another I will always think of as little. It’s tough when they are little or you still think of them that way.  It’s Christmas time and it just doesn’t seem right. What could God be thinking? Christmas is about family getting together and celebrating and smiling and fun. Flu is about back rubs and home-made soup, quiet time just being there and talking. It’s about praying for the ones we love and appreciating them a bit more. I think I know what God was thinking. He’s so smart. I guess that’s why He’s God and why I’m not.  

Give me Words to speak Don’t let my Spirit sleep Cause I can’t think of anything worth saying But I know that I owe You my life So give me Words to speak. Aaron Shust I have recently been writing for Covenant Spotlight.  It’s been a learning experience. I have picked up new terms like “word count” and “byline” and “pull quote.” I have had to reduce what I have to say to a few words. That means making every word count. Like Chief Joseph, I have learned that it does not require many words to speak the truth. As an attorney, I had long ago learned that a long and rambling argument usually was an attempt to hide a bad case. Using Twitter, we are limited to a 140 characters. It’s a good exercise in being precise. If we pay attention in daily conversation, we learn the value of a few words. After hearing  a couple of sentences, our eyes start to glaze over, our attention wonders and we begin to plot what we will say or how we can shut the speaker up. Words are a valuable resource. Our chance to influence and change lives is limited. […]

Last night I was asked to don a Santa suit for the Twelve Days of Christmas. My first thought was “Isn’t this supposed to be about focusing on Christ in Christmas?” There is a lot about Christmas that isn’t very Christian. There is no doubt that our modern Christmas is very commercial. It’s only Christmas that saves most retail businesses with end of the year sales. There is also the attempt to secularize Christmas, substituting “Happy Holidays” for “Merry Christmas.” Some of my Christian brothers and sisters are pretty radical about this. You would have to say they are “anti-Christmas.” Consider this quote: “The very foundation of the Christmas holiday is a lie. The Messiah was not born December 25th. He did not ask us to celebrate his birthday. He did not say to set up a tree in our house and decorate it and our houses with anything. Santa Claus does not exist. He doesn’t have reindeer that fly and he isn’t going to come down anyone’s chimney on December 25th and leave any gifts. Everything is a lie.” http://www.eliyah.com/paganexp.html All that is true. December 25th was originally a pagan holiday. Trees and greenery have pagan origins. Saying Santa […]

I spent ten days going through ten indictments against the church. It was exhausting. I took the last couple of days off. Each of the indictments is right and we should all be working to respond. However,  I would be guilty of massive imbalance if I didn’t talk about The Good Church. Not everything is gloom and doom. Not every “christian” is controlling, self-centered, and demon influenced. There are plenty of selfless, loving followers. The Church is Christ’s bride and it is alive and, in significant spots, is looking good. As evidence, I offer the following: Amana Christian Fellowship – Forgive me if I start with my church. I know it best and am extremely proud of it. We have a wise and loving Senior Pastor. We have an energetic, humble, and giving pastor. I am amazed at the depth of knowledge in one so young. I learn something every time I hear him teach and, more importantly, I learn when I watch him work. The last couple of weeks I sat on the last row and Christ’s words about loving each other came to mind. Sunday we had to dig out three dozen extra chairs. This morning one […]

Indictment 10: Lack of Discipline The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. These liars have lied so well and for so long that they’ve lost their capacity for truth. You’ve been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. Verses from 1 Timothy 4 Some of the lies. I’m from the government and I’m here to help you. God wants you rich. (Guess that’s why the Son of Man had no place to lay his head.) Only the faithless are ever sick, poor or struggling. (Christians in Sudan and Iraq […]

  A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,     but a mocker does not respond to rebukes. Proverbs 13:1 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20 Indictment 9: Replacing Biblical Discipleship with sociology and psychology.  It’s about time. Recently I have spent even more time with my grandchildren, especially my grandson Nick. His father died when he was very young and he is getting to that age where his Dad’s absence is very significant. It’s fun. I have greatly enjoyed the time together. I pick him up at school on Fridays. We do things together: some play, some work. We are looking forward to a day trip to the New Orleans Bowl next Saturday. It’s God’s way. The obvious has  become clear to me: that God’s plan is for us to disciple through personal contact. Jesus spent time with His disciples. Paul did the same with Timothy. For much of history, parents spent time with their children. Fathers trained their sons in the family business. Mom’s taught daughters how to run a house. I know how very old-fashioned that sounds. I’m not suggesting that we go back in time. I […]

14Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; Hebrews 12. The Eighth Indictment is that the church is Ignorant about Holiness. We score high on “holier than thou” and apparently don’t understand that’s not the same thing. Let’s hit some basics about holiness. Holy means to be separated for a divine purpose. When most of us think of “holy” we think, “super good.” It’s actually being separated for a purpose. Since that purpose is divine; a certain amount of purity is certainly involved. That’s where the “goodness” comes in. Holiness is achieved through Sanctification. Sanctification is a divine process. It’s something that God does and nothing for us to get big-headed about. After He saves us, He sanctifies us. What do I do? We do play a role in sanctification. We have to keep our eye on Christ. We have to abide in Him. We have to look to Him for direction, guidance and power and execute the “plays” we are given. Anyone who spends […]