This post is definitely a reflection. It's an issue I've noticed, but haven't formed a complete opinion on yet. I'm still thinking through it. I think humans like bickering. Or we just like being stubborn in our opinion, and that leads to bickering. It tends to be over petty stuff such as what color the walls should be or what we should eat to be the healthiest. We aren't exempt from this as Christians - have you heard about those people who think you can't be saved unless you're baptised? Or, *gasp*, what about those who think we're predestined and have no free will? How about those who are all up in arms over whether women should have long hair or not. I absolutely refuse to join in my siblings conversations about what the end of the world is going to look like.
It seems to me like we're caught up in the fine, legalistic details and are distracted from the pure, simple, wonderful truth of the gospel. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. Each of the things which distract us are a minimal part of the Bible. Should the end of the world make any difference how we live today? Should we get so caught up in hair length that we forget our call to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all Christ has commanded us? See all my question marks? Maybe it's okay to be really opinionated on these issues. I have opinions of my own on them. It just seems like they are causing a divide in the church of Christ, causing us to miss out on the beauty of Christ's amazing, loving gift. And that's something that I think is not okay.
The ninth lesson: John unfolds the mystery of the Incarnation
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
(John 1:1-14, NLT)
An Unfinished Story
Phillip Godfrey
It was a night in December, cold December when a light came into our world,
A light sent from up above us, one night Bethlehem beheld.
But is that night in December all we remember of the light heaven chose to send?
An unfinished story is what we are hearing, but we can determine its end.
For he was sent to protect us, he was meant to direct us like a star shining overhead.
He pointed the way to heaven so clearly with what he said.
But will the world ever hear him, gather near him as a guide, guardian, and friend?
An unfinished story is what we are hearing, but we can determine its end.
Rejoice, all the angels sang, rejoice, as the church bells rang.
Would we hear them say were they here today?
This is an unfinished story, filled with glory such as we cannot comprehend.
A wonderful story is what we are hearing but we can determine its end
Rejoice, all the angels sang, rejoice, as the church bells rang.
Would we hear them say were they here today?
This is an unfinished story, filled with glory such as we cannot comprehend.
A wonderful story and we have been given the chance to complete it,
A chance that we must not suspend.
The chance to complete it the way we would like it to end.
Rejoice!
I Got Proof
Kareem Manuel feat. Lecrae
If you go through the Bible consisteAnnotatently (that means read it)
Realize there’s no inconsistencies, start looking at things differently
When a soldier in his infantry looks at Genesis 3
God said it was him, the messiah that crushed the head
Of the serpent as I read, saw it all come to a head
Told of the suffering at Judas’ hand
The promise seen through Abraham
Prophecies Isaiah said, all fulfilled through Christ who bled
The Da Vinci code or Zeitgeist film
Couldn’t convince me not to die for him
Without their fame and prominence
Their arguments don’t make no sense
How you gon’ convince me that I’m simply a product of chance?
That the Big Bang came, and made a monkey that done made a man?
If you want to follow theory or die you got...?
Then there’s clearly nothing left to be said
Cus Christ is alive, rose to the sky
While all your truths are surely dead
[Hook]
I got proof, I got proof, I got proof
That he’s still living
I got proof, I got proof, I got proof
That he is risen
And this is why I die, why I live my life
For the sake of Jesus Christ, cus I believe that he’s alive
[Lecrae]
Witness not based on what I witness
But due to the word of an eye witness
But get this I don’t wanna wanna miss this
Business is serious like sickness
Arguments get me weary, man
They don’t use any history
All they have is a theory mayne
Why they tryin’ to Da Vinci me?
I spit a couple flows, did a couple shows
Met a couple bros who was all into doin’ no-nos
That and they into reading pros off of Dead Sea scrolls
Come on bro tell me that don’t sound loco
Cus Jesus died, took our sins into the sky
And a hundred times five seen him in the flesh alive
And the light in Paul’s eyes got him on his knees cryin’
Mention Jesus died tonight, runnin for his very life
They think that’s a lie, but Paul really died
Like millions other Christians who gave their life up for Christ
Hook
They wanna know why I’d die for him
Confused on why I ride with him
Got questions about Christian living
He’ll answer like Iverson
Heard me say Christ in all my songs
Dude run up on me like what if I’m wrong
I said I’m not then I saw his jaw
Stretch out and lay on the floor
He asked me how so I told him more
Christ in the clouds, and people saw him
Witnesses told them their report
Got them killed still they held on
To what they knew was no mistake
Got crucified, burned at the stake
If this wasn’t true, then dude I say
Would you die for what you knew was fake?
So I hope this hitting home, I ain’t reached this on my own
But why I preach him in every song
If he ain’t rise then find his bones
Been looking in the tombs, still looking in the ground
Keep searching bro, no where to be found
I ain’t Sherlock, but homes I’m found
So believe he ain’t no where around
"An Unfinished Story" is based off of a bulletin from a church service I attended in South Africa. I will give credit to individuals throughout the series, but the bulletin is from St. Thomas' Anglican Church, Linden, from the 18th of December 2011 at 6:30 pm. I edited to make it more modern.
The Eighth Lesson: the wise men are led by the star to Jesus
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
are not least among the ruling cities[c] of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’” Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
(Matthew 2:1-9, NLT)
On this Feast of Epiphany, the day following the twelfth day of Christmas, I want to share two songs: a traditional rendition of We Three Kings and a less traditional version of Little Drummer Boy, the second being sung by a group making their way into the spotlight.
We Three Kings
Sung by Jennifer Avalon
Little Drummer Boy
Sung by Pentatonix
"An Unfinished Story" is based off of a bulletin from a church service I attended in South Africa. I will give credit to individuals throughout the series, but the bulletin is from St. Thomas' Anglican Church, Linden, from the 18th of December 2011 at 6:30 pm. I edited to make it more modern.
