Author: BJ Armstrong

After Christmas

December 25 has come and gone. Many individuals look forward to Christmas day. Many individuals look forward to the Advent season. What happens after the 25th? Many times in our society we are anticipating the arrival of something. Many times in our society we look forward to the day. What happens after the day has come and we are left with the aftermath.

The holidays bring many different types of emotions and expectations for all individuals. For some individuals the holiday brings back memories of happiness and joy and peace in the giving of gifts. For others the holidays bring sadness, loss, and grief from the past. What we have to remember is that the holidays begin with Christ coming. The Christmas child brought peace and joy and hope. The entrance of Christ into the world brought with it Hope and the Holy Spirit.

In today’s society we have access to the Holy Spirit but there are other variables and factions that try to change the meaning and the hope of the Holy Spirit and of the Christmas celebration. We have to look forward into and acknowledge that with Christ came into the world And brought peace. This peace disrupted the chaos that had been upon the earth for millennium. That chaos still is here today and will not allow us to fully enjoy the Christmas spirit.

This chaos can be seen in every family: no matter creed, race, religion, or socioeconomics. But we have to understand and acknowledge that chaos and acknowledge Christ conquering that chaos. A couple examples I remember, as a child meeting with everybody in the family at our assigned place of celebration and having a great time. But in the mist of the celebration there was always some type of chaos that would come up. Be it a disagreement from 5 to 10 years ago. Be it a life decision or choice that somebody has made and others are not in agreement. But the chaos always tried to disrupt the joy that the spirit brought.

This year chaos tried to take away the joy of Christ in our life. On Christmas day we had a small incident that change the outcome of our Christmas dinner. But we have been blessed to be able to listen to Christ and the Spirit of God to see how his provisions will not be changed by a circumstance. We were able to enjoy each other that day and that evening. The circumstance allowed us to reflect on God’s love and protection for us.

This brings us to do three points of the after Christmas:

1.) Christmas is not the end of the celebration but the beginning of the celebration. This time of year is not the time to stop the joy and giving, but is the beginning of refreshment to continue through the next year. We need a refreshment of joy and happiness and peace and that should not stop at 25th of December but continue on into perpetuation throughout the year.

2.) God is in control. We think that we are in control of the gift giving and the things that go on preparing for Christmas.

But we have to remember that God is always in control. No matter what we have been given or what has been taken, God is in control. The Spirit of God will always be the final word in the Christmas story. No matter what chaos that we are going through, no matter what feelings of despair that we are going through. God is in control. We have to remember that He has already conquered all of our fears in all of our tribulations.

3.) No matter what the situation, God will be able to use it for His purpose. For example, if your car has died on Christmas Eve and you were concerned and worried about transportation, this is an opportunity for God to bring you a new car without a car note. If you had the despair of losing your house, this is a chance for God to show that He will provide for you in the mist of all of the turmoil. If you have lost a love one, this is the time of the season to show their love and the love of God has given us to others. Each situation that God has seen us through is an opportunity for God‘s love to show in the most amazing ways. These are hard times and can be detrimental. But if we allow God to show us how he works he will give us peace.

May the Spirit of God be with you in the continuation of this season of renewing enjoy and hope. May the Spirit of God open your heart and your spirit to the possibilities of wonder.

Lynden McGriff

Silence is golden. This is a staple that became popular in the late 80s to early 90s in many movie theaters. It was a statement to respect others so that everybody could enjoy the movie.

As we are continuing to prepare for Christmas, one of my favorite hymns is silent night. It is important to understand the importance of silence and that’s what we have in today’s reading.

At the beginning of Luke, the story starts with  the birth of John the Baptist. In these first verses we are introduced to Elizabeth, which is Mary‘s cousin and Zachariah. It sets up the lineage and the background of John the Baptist and Christ. It tells us that Zachariah is a priest that is in one of the highest orders during this time. This priesthood is a priesthood that originates when David builds the Temple, the order of Abijah.  Next Elizabeth is shown to have a direct descendent from Aaron and Moses. These two connections are very important to show that the priesthood that was established by ancient times from both Moses and from king David continues through with John the Baptist and Christ.

Zachariah and Elizabeth were both advanced in  age.  Some text and references state that Zachariah and Elizabeth were in their 50s.  While others show that by the time that John was born they were in the 80s and 90s . This also shows  their wisdom and earthly experience.

The next item is Zachariah has been randomly chosen during his time at the Temple.  This is  the only time in his life that he has been granted to enter the Holy of Holies and is doing this time that the angel Gabriel speaks to Zachariah. So this setup is showing us that with advanced age, wisdom, family lineage, being in the right time in the right place things lined up and we should plan accordingly and act in a certain way.

While Zachariah is performing his priestly duties, the angel Gabriel presents himself and Zachariah stands in awe as he has been given a message from God.  Instead of accepting it or reveling in the acknowledgment of it, Zachariah questions God‘s revelation for
him. Number one:  In the presence of God we need to be silent when he speaks to us. So from this visit Zachariah has been given a great gift, but how many times in our life have we been granted a special gift or special items or a blessing and we question it?

Not accepting God’s blessing in the manner in which it was exhibited, it was presented that Zachariah was given a consequence.  Zachariah is made to be silent for 9 plus months to up to a year.  We know that after his visit he goes home and Elizabeth conceived and has a child. We do not know exactly how long between him leaving the temple and her conceiving so nine months probably a year. During this time he cannot speak to anybody. He cannot communicate. So he has this knowledge and he cannot convey it to anybody. He has been given the opportunity to reflect and pray and meditate to God daily about the new joy that is coming into the world. Number two: sometimes the silence is not a punishment but a time for reflection and preparation.

As we have journeyed through these last several days of Advent we are preparing our minds and bodies for Christmas and the Christ-child. In the same way the anticipation of the early church and the Jewish people were expecting a change. During this time there was so much chaos and hurt strive that the world was so noisy. The Spirit of God was not awakened for everyone to experience and the Spirit did not dwell in us. This was a time of a lot of noise, a lot of chaos, and a lot of disorder. But when Christ came, that moment when Christ was born created a new silence for the world. This silence was one that had not been seen or experienced since the creation of the world. That’s why we can sit in reference to the song silence night. It is to this story of Zachariah and Elizabeth that we are able to grasp the meaning of silence in a better way. We are able to adventure and take some time and silence and prepare.

May the continuation of this Advent, allow you to have some silence for yourself. May this silence be a time that God can connect to you. May the silence bring you closer to your loved ones and acknowledge how much they mean to you. May you be blessed.

Lynden McGriff 

Malachai 3:1-6

I think often about who God created us to be.  I picture perfection.  Surrounded by God’s love, living in perfect peace and harmony.  There is no suffering, no hunger, no thirst.  Sounds a bit like heaven, doesn’t it?  Unfortunately, we’ve screwed it up.  While we can all point back to the Garden of Eden for evidence, we are all cheaters.  We are the adulterers of God’s love. I’ve known this since I was young.

As a child, I remember reading the book of Revelation with terror.  I was certain that I would be among the people that were caught up in the blood bath of God’s wrath and vengeance.  I could almost feel my teeth being gnashed.  Dealing with the fear of God’s retribution was impossible.  He is, after-all, sovereign, supreme, and the ruler of all things.  Even as a child, I was keenly aware of my inability to behave appropriately.  I could never measure up.

“Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me” (Malachai 3:1).

I knew of Jesus when I was young.  I knew that he came to save me from my sins.  In fact, I was baptized so “poof,” I am saved, right?  I did what every kid did.  I invited Jesus into me to hear so that I could be free from God’s wrath.  I did not want to go to Hell.  If I am honest, that did nothing to remove the guilt and shame I felt for things I had done.  In my heart of hearts, I knew I would do them again.  I knew what I deserved.

But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. (Malachai 3:2).

Looking back on 45+ years of living with Jesus, I see where he has changed me.  Sometimes it’s taken the pain of fire and occasionally it’s been a gentle scrub, just like Malachai describes.

“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years” (Malachi 3:3-4).

I am not yet finished.  At 50 years old, I am not yet who I was created to be.  So, I commit again to sit with the refiner, allowing him to purify me, slowly by slowly, as he did the Sons of Levi.  Today, I have a better understanding that my efforts will never be enough to satisfy the perfection of God.  Thankfully, One stands in my place.  Perfecting my offering.  I am able, at once, to sit in perfect love and peace.  It is the cleansing blood of Jesus that makes it so.

John 19

What has been your reaction to 2020?  Resentment?  Rage?    Do you want revenge?  Those feelings are the result of the anger and chaos that lives inside of us.  When we harbor them, we become something that we don’t want to be.  Victims.  It often sounds like blame.  If you are like me, you’ve blamed problems on the virus, the lock-down, the governor, even the president.  It’s crazy!  We can’t wait until 2021, right?

Do we really know what we are asking for?  Consider this.  What if Jesus made our choices?  Instead of instructing Pilate “you would have no authority over me at all unless it was given to you from above,” he relented to emotion, cowering from the suffering that lay ahead of him?  What if, instead of saying “forgive them, father,” Jesus took our approach and condemned them all to hell?  Honestly?  I don’t even want to imagine it.  In fact, its easier to believe it’s not possible.

Sometimes, I try to justify Jesus’ choices.  “He had it easier,” I think.  I mean, he’s God.  He’s a deity.  Of course, he will make the right choices.  But no. the Truth is, he was human, just like you and me.  He was confronted with temptation and the allures of life.  He could have chosen the easier path devoid of pain and suffering.  Just like me.  But, he didn’t.  How did he prevail?

There is one simple truth about Jesus.  He wasn’t conflicted.  When his plans were disrupted, he doesn’t try to regain control.  He didn’t have to, because he never lost it.  For him, it’s simply a matter of understanding that the way to achieve the goal has changed.  And he will stop at nothing to accomplish it.  Even death on a cross.

Dear God, help us see where our faith is misplaced.  I know that you are moving, right now, amidst the chaos and crisis that are ruling our lives.  Show us where.  Also, give us courage.  Courage to come into your presence and take it out into the world so that everyone can see who you are.

John 7

What is the picture you are painting for tomorrow, or next year?  If you are like me, that picture is far more uncertain today, than it ever has been.  The world has changed so much.  For example, I have no idea how COVID will shape the coming months, although I have some suspicions.  It affects every aspect of our lives.  Think of all the good things we are missing out on!  Things like Church, athletics, weddings, and even funerals.  It’s not just COVID, there is also a new government coming in January.  With it, comes a whole new set of worries.  What about taxes and healthcare?  Will Biden really stack the Supreme Court?  What will happen with abortion and college tuition and how in the world will we pay for a $3 Trillion-dollar stimulus plan?  How will we survive?

As I stir up those feelings inside of me, I can feel the torture on my heart.  I’ve done it before.  Sometimes I find myself dwelling there.  Maybe you have too.  The question is, how do we stop it?  What would it look like to be on the other side?  To live in a world of hope, abundance, and joy, no matter the circumstance?  There is only one way, according to Jesus’ words in John 7:37.  First, he says, you must thirst.

The analogy of being thirsty is a good one because there are many things that might quench our thirst, but only one thing really satisfies it.  In his book “Streams of Living Water,” Richard Foster talks about eating an apple in the desert.  Sure, the apple would be a delight if you had nothing to drink.  I would eat it gladly and heartily savoring all of the precious juices I possibly could.  Sure, I would want water, but the apple will do.  If tomorrow there are still apples nearby, I will continue eating the apple.  Even, instead of looking for water.  Apples would not and will never be, however, be anything close to drinking a glass of water.  Only water will fully satisfy.

Second, our thirst must be augmented by belief.  Not just any belief, however.  Jesus asserts in verse 38 that satisfaction comes only from believing in him.  That’s right, there is nothing else we pursue that can satisfy us like Jesus Christ.  He is the water.  In fact, Jesus fills us so perfectly that out of us will flow His living water.  What does that mean?  It means that COVID and elections have absolutely no bearing on my life.  They cannot change my trajectory and will not alter my course.  They are irrelevant because my life, my energy, my entire being is wrapped around Him.

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers. Psalms 1:3 (ESV)

According to the American political system, the way to victory is through hate.  Twist the words, tell parts of the truth, blame others, and hurl insults.  Someone must think that it is working because it keeps happening, the same way, day after day, and election upon election.  It makes me wonder, could someone use love to win?

The tone would be different.  The campaign trail would be filled with talk of hope and encouragement.  People would leave feeling good, ready to engage in their lives, and share with others.  The crowds would grow larger and larger to listen to this unique message.  Their listening would lead to renewal and transformation.  These people would change the world.

But, not everyone wants to change.  Some like their lives the way they are.  Their lives are built on the system where money, status, and power matter.  They will do anything to protect their way of life.  Anything.

You already know the story. 2,000 years ago, there was a man that built his reputation on love alone.  He didn’t get wealthy.  Instead, he was robbed of everything, beaten, and spit upon.  He didn’t gain status either.  I’m beginning to see why nobody since has run on love.  Why did he do it?

Jesus did it because love is his nature, there was no other way.  He gave it all for you and me so that we can be here, today, living with hope, peace, and love.  When we embrace his renewal and transformation, we become the people that can change the world.

Isaiah 8:13-15

As we have been following along the attributes of God, I would not have predicted a trap and a snare to be among them.  I mean, God is good, right?  He is all about love and peace and harmony; honey on a biscuit.  According to Isaiah 8:14, that is only partly true.

Let’s start at Isaiah 8:13.  “The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. He will be a holy place.”  Isaiah’s language is pretty clear.  Regard God as holy and fear him.  If you do, God will be a holy place.  I don’t think any of us would contest that.  But, what if you don’t regard him as holy?  What if you do not fear him?  Isaiah answers those questions in verse 14.

“He will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.  And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.  Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured.”

As I try to better understand this, I found it helpful to remember Isaiah was a prophet.  He was foretelling a story of Jesus.  More directly, he was warning God’s “followers.”  Maybe you remember them as Pharisees.  I cannot explain this better than David Osborne.  In his book Accidental Pharisees, he says: “Don’t forget, the Pharisees of old saw themselves as God’s biggest fans. They praised him. They worshiped him. They spoke out in his defense. Yet when he showed up, they vehemently opposed him.”  If God can be a stumbling block, a trap, and a snare, surely that is what it looks like.

The same is true for us.  We can do all the right things, say the right stuff and show up at the right places.  At some point in our journey, God is likely to show up in a way we don’t understand or He will do something we disagree with.  Even worse, he may show up and we don’t recognize him for who he is, just like the Pharisees.  I see now that Isaiah’s warning is very much for me.

Osborne, Larry. Accidental Pharisees: Avoiding Pride, Exclusivity, and the Other Dangers of Overzealous Faith (p. 27). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

I never much cared for English class.  It was probably the sentence structure that did me in.  I still can’t tell you the meaning behind an imperative, participle or conjunctions.  Maybe I was just bored with the details.  I mean, I know how to speak.  Shut up already!  Yes, that was my young naiveté.  I didn’t understand the power of words.  I wasn’t willing to slow down enough to study the details so that I could later appreciate and employ the tools for myself.  For example, do you know how words are constructed?  Let’s look at one simple add on to a verb.  Do you know what happens when you add “er” to a verb?

Consider that I build houses.  It’s my occupation.  When we add “er” to the word, build, I become a builder.  Simple, right?  While this feels like a silly exercise, I have to admit that noticing the two words build and builder together, give me a better picture of who I am.  In fact, when I say that I am a builder, you get a certain picture in your head of what that looks like and how I will act.  That is your picture of “builder.”  Do you need one?

Don’t be offended.  This is not a commercial for my building services, but I do know that if you want to build a house, it’s likely that you will consider hiring a builder.   That is, if you think you need the services of a builder.  I am always amazed at the people that don’t think they need any help.  Apparently, they are experts in building.  On the other hand, many people realize that they are not able to build a home themselves.  If that is you, I hopeful that you would choose me.  Then, I would be your builder.  When people ask you who I am, you will respond, “he is my builder.”  It is a valid description of who I am and what I do.

If today, someone asked you who Jesus is, what would you say?  There are countless descriptions.  He is hope, he is love, he is the Christ.  Have you ever called him a redeemer?   A redeemer pays debts.  Or, according to google dictionary, he “gains possession of [us] in exchange for payment.”  Fitting.  Right?  Thing is, he doesn’t become a redeem-er, until someone allows him to do the work.  Do you need it?  Or, are you an expert at redeeming yourself?  Here’s the thing.  When you do finally call in the expert to root out the stubborn weeds of sin and darkness, he is ready.  In fact, he wants to be your redeemer.  In the end, you will describe Jesus as “my redeemer.”

Today’s scriptures are writing from both David and Job.  Each of them, for their own reasons, found redemption in God.  When calling upon him, or describing him, they use the phrase “my redeemer.”

Psalms 19:14 (ESV) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Job 19:25 – For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth

My grandaparents were world travelers.  There was nothing more exciting to them.  They loved the sights and the sounds, the people and probably the cocktails.  Upon their return, they were bursting with excitement.  They couldn’t wait to share all of the amazing things they had done.  So they did.  For a whole night.  With a slide show.  And lots of talking.  Lots, and lots of talking.  That’s right, full descriptions of every picture.  They described who was in it, what it smelled like, how this tasted, how that looked.  You know how it goes.  Problem is, it doesn’t matter how much they talked, they could never relay the full experience.  And, it was worth sharing.  Their excitement was contagious.  I found that when I engaged my heart and my mind, I was able to get a glimpse of how great it was.  In fact, it made me want to know more.

Guess what?  The apostle Peter shares with us his account of experiencing God.  We find the story narrated in Matthew 17:1-6.  Jesus took Peter and two others up a mountain.  Then, “As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.  Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.”  Clearly, this is a unique experience.  I’m betting that Peter was pretty excited to share it.  Wouldn’t you be?  I’ll bet he would have given anything to have a camera.

Of course, Peter did not have a camera.  He could not assemble a slide show and bring it along to share with everyone.  He had only is exuberance and his words.  This is what has me fascinated today.  His eyewitness description of the experience is found in 2 Peter 1:17.  Are you ready for it?  “Majestic Glory.”  That’s it.  Two words.  No flowery description or a nauseating list of adjectives.  Just the simple words Majestic Glory.

My first read through those words was disappointing. “That’s it?” I thought.  How could such an amazing experience be distilled into something so short and simple?  Then, I stopped and tried to consider both of those words.  Majestic.  What does it look like?  How many colors are there?  Does it have a taste and a smell?  When I put my heart and mind into it, I can feel it.  It emits an energy.  So does Glory.  When I focus deeper, I see that it has light and colors.  Its intimidating and inviting.

As your soul soaks into Majestic Glory, remember that you are seeing a picture of Jesus.  A crude one to be sure.  Keep looking and He will make it more clear.