George Ann Geyer’s column today (Dec. 20) put a lot of thoughts into my head. Her argument that peace is brought about, not by people who call for peace and live lives of constant turmoil, but by people who live peaceful lives and call others to follow is not ground breaking, but it is true. Those who claim to be disciples of Christ are painfully aware of this foundational fact. We cannot simply call people to be disciples of Christ if we are not first disciples of Christ ourselves.

Look at the words we Christians camp on. Grace, peace, hope, forgiveness, compassion humility and service are just a few of the words we believe to be fundamental to being Christ like. If we truly are disciples then these words have daily meaning rather then just being theological conversation fodder. If we are people of grace shouldn’t that grace be evident in the way we treat our husbands, wives, children and friends? How can we say Jesus is a savior who brings peace when our own homes are full of strife? How do we speak to the world about forgiveness when we are so slow to forgive our own brothers and sisters much less those who are not believers? It is division, strife and hard hearts that seem to be our hallmarks rather then broken and contrite hearts. If Jesus is Lord, how is that divorce runs rampant in the Body of Christ? Shouldn’t those who claim to follow Jesus be the first to forgive a spouse, the first to reconcile and the first to model commitment?

I could go on but I imagine you get the point.

Recently four members of the Christian Peace Makers were kidnapped in Iraq. Their kidnappers said they would be executed. Political commentator, Rush Limbaugh’s response was that he liked it. Here's why I like it… any time a bunch of people that walk around with their head in the sand practicing a bunch of irresponsible, idiotic theory confront reality, I'm kind of happy about it, because I'm eager for people to see reality, change their minds if necessary, and have things sized up.” My concern is not that a political commentator takes a non-Christian stand but I’m afraid of how many Christians heard this and agreed.

Limbaugh was right about one thing; these people’s viewpoints are idiotic. We disciples have had an idiotic view of life since day one. If you follow Jesus that’s just the way it is, the world will see you as out of touch with reality. If we live out these words we say are true, we will be seen for what we are, fools for Christ.

If we who call ourselves disciples are to be salt and light, we will be salt and light first in our homes, our work places, among our friends and in our house’s of worship. We cannot call people to be something we are not.

This year has not been easy and so it stands to reason that these holidays will not be easy. Our family has suffered a tragic loss and we will suffer all the hurt and misery that come with an empty chair at this time of year. There are no answers for our questions and while there seems to be no release from our grief we know that one way or another we will survive this Christmas and we will see a better one next year, Lord willing.

In light of this I’m reminded that Jesus birth brought not only peace and joy but also pain and suffering. We’re quick to remember shepherds amazed and wise men worshipping, but there was also “Rachel weeping for her children” and an old man promising Mary a sword would pierce her soul too. While Immanuel brings life and light not every one will choose to open that gift. Unconditional love will not be the norm but it will be the mark of those who worship this child.

Good and bad, right and wrong, joy and suffering, peace and unrest, they all mark our world. Jesus came to bring light and life and so he did, but we still live in a fallen world that hasn’t quite been redeemed. We accept the good and bad and look forward to the day when we will be seen for what we really are, the sons of God, and live in a place where there are no more tears.

The Christmas shopping season has finally arrived. For those of you who shop early you don’t know what the shopping season is. A rough definition of the Christmas shopping season is any time after December 20. Any time before December 20 is basically Thanksgiving shopping.

Now there are basically two types of Christmas season gifts. The first is the thoughtful gift. This is a gift that perfectly suites the recipient. The thoughtful gift is preceded by much thought, (who would have guessed) planning and effort. These gifts usually receive excited reactions when opened on Christmas morning because the one who receives the gift has had their hearts desire fulfilled. The second type of gift is the panic gift. This gift is bought in a rush with the hope that some how some way the one who receives it might have possibly wanted it or will be kind enough to act as if they did. Panic gifts are greeted with a wide variety of responses on Christmas morning, anything from tears to laughter. If I have to choose one of the responses I’ll take tears because that means the healing has begun. Laughter is usually followed by where’s my real gift and then your in real trouble. To be perfectly honest violence can also be a reaction to a panic gift.

There is one more type of gift that I haven’t tried giving yet, but I am considering this year. This is the rare but useful give her what you want gift. After being married for 25 years my wife and I know each other very well. We have become more alike over the years. Our taste, likes and dislikes are very similar now. It only stands to reason we would enjoy many of the same gifts. If careful crafted and done in the proper atmosphere I think my wife would love a first rate fishing rod and reel.

So I’m off to shop for my bride. If something happens to me don’t forget that violence thing I talked about.

Yesterday I got to fish, a beautiful day on the bay with a good friend. Almost every time I'm on the water I find a reason to be thankful. I'm not sure if it's the intimate encounter with God's creation or just escaping the pressures of life for a few hours but time spent in pursuit of fish generally make me a better person.
The longer I'm alive the more convinced I am of simple truths. The best life has to offer is found in very simple things, good friends, good family, good food and simple pleasures. It's hard to beat feeling a fish on the end of your line, laughing with good friends and experiencing the beauty of Gods handiwork.
Life can be hard and miserable but life can be good. One of the more frustrating concepts to accept is that life can be hard, miserable and good all at the same time. While I know that's true, it's hard for me to figure out so I think I'll go fishing.

We finally got both kids home last night. The Holidays have officially started! Ops, I guess what I should say is the Christmas season has officially started. Is it just me, or does all the flap over Happy Holidays, vs. Merry Christmas strike you as kind of silly? You would think people starving, poverty, injustice and the lost would make that kind of drivel irrelevant. I feel the same way about boycotting Walmart and Target. I don’t know what they did to make the religious right so mad but I think there are more important things to deal with.

Is there any wonder why people think Christians are idiots? We have a tendency to obsess over the wrong stuff on a consistent basis. If we would just go about the work of the Kingdom there’s no telling what might happen. People might even start saying Merry Christmas

Here’s my wish list for the 12 days of Christmas.

I want an exercise machine that will give me a deeper more centered life in thirty minutes a day, 3 days a week.

I want a pair of glasses that will allow me to focus on the good that is in the church rather then its shortcomings.

I want a new cap that will make sure I’m more concerned about the hungry and helpless then the latest Christian argument.

I’d like a guaranteed effective, How to Have Perfect Relationships in Three Easy Steps, manual

I want a replay switch that allows me to get a second chance every time I mess up.

I want an entertainment center that recreates my spirit.

I want an electronic device that mutes my voice every time I’m about to say something I’ll later regret.

I’d like a lifetime supply of innocence.

I’d like a two-week vacation from my obsessive need to deal in reality.

I’d like a study aid, one that would do the hard work of study while I went fishing.

I want a love potion I can put in the water at church to make all these Christian get along.

I want peace on earth.

I have no idea why people say I’m hard to buy for.

I know God works. I know good is happening. I know grace and forgiveness, the lifeblood of discipleship is real and is working some how some where. I know there is joy and peace and true life found in the here and now. I also know that sometimes the follower of Jesus ends up in the desert.

How do you deal with the dry times? How do you continue to follow when all you see in front of you is a dry dead desert? I’m past the shallow modern day wishful thinking that tells us a positive attitude will win the day and God wants you to be happy and will do whatever it takes to make you happy. I see through the “your best life now” bull that refuses to deal with reality. I want to know if the disciple who finds himself in a desert sits and wait for God to lead him out of it or if there is something he’s supposed to do to get himself out?

I keep landing in Hebrews 11. Not the fun first part where God shows up and every story has a happy ending. I’m talking about that huge but in the middle of vs. 35. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prison. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed by the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute oppressed and mistreated. What about these losers? They lived in the desert and no one came to help. No one came and made life better. These folks just toughed it out and hung on for dear life.

These are the people I want to talk to. These are the saints that I want to sit with and ask how in the world did you hang on? Its people with scars, burns, broken bones and deformities that I want to be around. I have little use for the follower who seems to have everything in place, all the answers and no scars. It’s the disciple who is so beat up their on life support who draws my attention.

Maybe I have answered my own question. Grace and forgiveness look like scars and deformities the majority of the time. When people hang on in spite of suffering, maybe that is the true essence of grace.

When the Church focuses on a standard and achieving a reward we are a breeding ground for hatred, envy and division. Basically we fall prey to all the evils that competition brings. There is only one winner when competition rules. When there is only one winner there can be no community.

When the church focuses on community and calling others to join the purpose of that community, then we experience all the love, encouragement, peace and joy the scriptures teach and Jesus provides. Community provides the place where every one wins and so every one remains connected.

Competition verses community. Which one works for you?

I tend to think about words quite a bit. Considering I make my living preaching, teaching and writing this shouldn’t come as a shock. The struggle comes in trying to live out the words that I teach and preach and calling people to live those words out.

Words like forgiveness, confession, compassion, brokenness, humility and contrition don’t find easy expression in our lives. These words strain against our sinful nature. Words like these demand fearless self-inspection and that’s never easy. I know its much easier to “be who I am” rather then be formed into the image of Christ.

So how do I live out these words that supposedly define who I am as a Christian but to often define what a failure I am? How do these words become reality in me and the people I preach to? How do these becoming the defining words of the church rather then words like pride, self-righteousness, fear, anger and division? How do we as Christians grow up?