Gear Up!

 

All-The-Gear-All-The-Time

Judging by the title of this post one might think I have put it up on the wrong blog and that it belongs on Iron Side Up rather than here at Calvary’s Thread. While I have posted about gear in my biker/travel blog, I have this post in its correct space.

As a motorcyclist, I subscribe to ATGATT – All-The-Gear-All-The-Time. For the bridge from biker reference to my Christian faith I refer to Ephesians 6:10-18:

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

My church, La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, adopted the following as part of our mission statement:

“We are a community of imperfect people, united by God’s Spirit, discovering new life in Christ. Our mission is to love God with all our heart, love our neighbors as we love ourselves, and grow as disciples of Jesus, as we make new disciples.”

There is an idiom that comes to mind, “Be careful what you wish for.”

One of my favorite westerns is “Tombstone” staring Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp. In a pivotal scene, Marshall Earp is standing over Ike Clanton with a double-barreled shotgun as he says, “All right, Clanton…you called down the thunder, well now you’ve got it!”

We have put up our mission statement on our website for billions of people with internet access to see and read. We have called down the thunder and we had best gear up.

I am a part of the Pastor Nominating Committee now searching for a new pastor for our church. Almost without exception of the dozens of pastors we have interviewed, they have pointed to our mission statement as something that attracts them to us. There is more to the mission statement than I quoted here but this is the piece they point out and tell us that this is what the church, any church, should be all about.

Invariably, the pastor God has called to us and for whom we search for will be passionate about growing disciples who will make new disciples and they will “call down the thunder” for us to rise to the challenge. Speaking for myself, I had better gear up and put aside any qualms I have about sharing my faith or teaching others and helping them grow in Christ. I cannot go out and buy this armor at my local Christian Book Store – it is ‘the full armor of God’. It’s His, and by grace, He offers it to me.

A pastor so ardent for the Gospel, for the deepening of discipleship in their church, and for making disciples in a broken world will want a community of faith which knows this requires a total commitment on a 24X7 basis; nothing half-hearted, half-lived, or half-baked. And because ‘we are a community of imperfect people’ we will need the great blessing of His Grace ‘in good measure, pressed down and overflowing’ (Luke 6:38, KJV).

Be alert and gear up people!

In His grip and in His armor,

jerry

 Note: On March 25, 2020 I posted on Iron Side Up “ATGATT”. Just so y’all know.

O Holy Night

O Holy Night

I was brought up short by a comment Jim made on a post I’d put up just over eight months ago, ‘Roll Back the Stone’. Brought up short is about the only way to get my attention during these days of celebration; Thanksgiving, Christmas, birth announcements, weddings, and all sorts of things I need to be doing. Somehow Jim took a post where I confess that I keep a stone across my heart mostly to keep Jesus out rather than in and followed it up with a question that stopped me in my tracks.

Jim askes when considering ‘no room at the inn’ during this Christmas season, “Do our daily lives shuffle Jesus to our barns?”

Oh my yes, regrettably so. I am the posterchild for this. I’ve been keeping an action item list over the last month or so and the category of household/family items far outweighs two important categories for me – Writing and LCPC/Spiritual Growth. I agonize over it every time I go to the list.

One of the beauties of Jim’s comment is that he provided a link to Kerrie Roberts’ performance video of her singing ‘O Holy Night’. If you don’t read any further, take a listen – I’ve included the complete lyrics below the main post. Here is the link:

'O Holy Night' by Kerrie Roberts

A wine merchant and poet named Placide Cappeau was persuaded to write a poem to commemorate the renovation of a church organ. Adolphe Adam composed the music for it and it was premiered by opera singer Emily Laurey in 1847. There are a number of variations and performances of the carol and it has long been a favorite of mine. Research on its origins and translations has done nothing to render my love for ‘O Holy Night’ any less and "Cantique de Noël" has taken rather more significance for me.

I love the hope it gives – ‘For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.’

I love and seek to obey the command – ‘Fall on your knees!’

I have loved reading the second verse and bridge, parts of the song I wasn’t aware of until now because they are not performed by Roberts nor any others I’ve listened to leading up to this post. And I now cling to the promise – ‘In all our trials born to be our friend. He knows our need, to our weaknesses no stranger’. And the command at the end of the second bridge – ‘Before Him lowly bend!’

The third verse gives us admonitions to ‘love one another. His law is love and his gospel is peace,’ and ‘in His name all oppression shall cease.’

Finally –‘Let all within us praise His holy name.’

Sing people! Let Jesus out of our barns. Fall on our knees and before Him, let us lowly bend and praise his holy name.

As Jim signed off to me, so I sign off to you, ‘joy to the world. Let every heart prepare him room.’

jerry

O Holy Night

O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees, oh, hear the angel voices

O night divine, O night, when Christ was born

O night divine, O night, O night divine

Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother

And in his name all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we

Let all within us praise His holy name

Christ is the Lord

Then ever, ever praise we

Noel, Noel, O night, O night divine

Noel, Noel, O night, O night divine

O night divine, O night, when Christ was born

O night divine, O night, O night divine

Blog Post Notes: You can find much of this information in the Wikipedia and a list at the bottom of notable renditions of the songs. Some of the dates don’t match other sources I read and put the writing of the lyrics and music in 1847, the same year it was debuted. The list of performers is impressive and worth a scan. Maybe you can find a favorite version of your own.

Also note that as I was finishing up the first draft of this John Denver’s version started playing from his ‘Rocky Mountain Christmas’ CD. I hadn’t listened to before and had no idea he did ‘O Holy Night’.

Finding Sea Glass

@Cayucos - birds and people searching

We were in Cayucos, CA and I wrote the first draft of this from our room at the Shoreline Inn. We had what I can only lamely describe as a lovely day together. The purpose for our visit was underscored by our somber gathering to remember of my beloved mother-in-law. However, were I to regale you with a recount of our day, I would miss the central point I am making but nonetheless enjoy the writing.

We had driven roughly four hours from home, the last half of which was through intermittent rain squalls. As I checked in at the counter, Cindy walked Oliver out to the beach where he is allowed run off-leash. (Cayucos appears to be the most dog friendly place on earth) I joined them after having unloaded the car and was refreshed by both the fine rain and pounding surf. As I looked up and down the beach, I saw people either standing in one place or moving slowly along while gazing intently at the rocky shoreline and I wondered what they could be looking at or for.

The young lady I spoke to at check-in had invited us to bring Oliver in to meet her and shortly after showing Ollie the room we walked him over and made the introduction. During our time chatting she shared her collection from the day of sea glass that she found during her morning break. This is what all those folks were doing up and down the beach, looking for sea glass. Sea glass are shards of glass washed on shore after having been polished and the edges worn smooth by the action of the surf for years. Apparently this is the time of year for the search as the sands have washed out to sea by winter tides and left a rocky strand. Cayucos has an annual Sea Glass Festival in March where sea glass arts are featured. I think we’ll need to go back for this.

I’d found a couple of pieces during a quick walk on the beach later and followed that up with a successful find in the afternoon. Every time I looked out at the surf and over the beaches, there were people searching for the stuff. My best luck, if you’ll allow the term, was walking along toward one place or another and simply watching where I was stepping. I could see the glass standing out from the surrounding rocks and then harvest it. However, I found that when I peered in any particular spot looking for shards, I was unable to find any. Once, I had spotted a piece, I looked up to greet Oliver, and then was unable to find the glass when I searched diligently for it.

The first day's find, destined for a cynene creation

 I was thinking that, for me, finding God’s hand in anything can often be like finding sea glass. The harder I look for it, the more difficult it is to identify. When I expect to see it, look intently where and when I think I should see it, His influence is often masked. I have found that if I have a task or a particular destination and I am moving toward my target, I find Jesus along the way. As long as I remain open to finding him, just as I am hoping for sea glass while walking along the beach, I see him and find him in the darnedest places or people.

The key for me is to go through life hoping to see Jesus, expecting that somewhere along the line, he will be there. Just walking along rarely does it for me. Would that be like vigilant ambivalence? Could there be such a thing?

Upon further reflection I have to say there are many ways to find Sea Glass. Some peer for long moments at a single square foot of rocky beach. Others walk a step or two, stare down, and shift the rocks about with their feet. Still others sit down and sift the sand and rocks through their fingers or scoop out depressions between their splayed legs and search as though shards of Sea Glass will drop in their lap. Whatever the strategy, the key are the same – look expectantly and always hope for a piece that fits perfectly to your life.

Take a walk, look for the simple shards of Jesus’ presence, and be rewarded.

In His grip,

jerry

Passion or Obligation? That’s a Question.

photo courtesy of graphicstock.com

Ever done anything, no matter how good and noble, out of a sense of obligation and passion for it was never in the same room with you? Or even the same Zip Code? There is a numbness that comes over me when I let that happen. Joy is not a part of the task and a task is what it becomes. There is no joy in the equation and energy is not a multiplier in the formula for getting it done, I just slog through to the completion. I know I’ve crossed all the t’s and dotted all the i’s and something is still missing when all is said and done and I know someone can tell. I can tell. And when it’s done there is a sense of relief.

On the other hand, when an obligation, even a disagreeable necessity, is taken on with passion the outcome is different. The t may be barely slashed and dotted i’s off kilter and still somehow the results are more satisfying. People can tell the difference. I can tell. And when it’s done there is a sense of accomplishment.

What is the difference between a task taken on because of obligation and without passion and one with? Love. Love for the task or activity or a love for the beneficiary infuses the outcome with life and even the onus, or the disagreeable necessity, is lite and fulfilling. Jesus, as he so often does, says it very well, ²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30, NIV)

The Passion of Jesus is generally defined as the short period of time from Jesus's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and culminating with his death on Good Friday. This culmination was the most disagreeable task God has undertaken and it would never have had its intended effect without passion. Jesus was passionate about doing everything the Father showed him and completing every task the Father laid in front of him, no matter how onerous.

Picture Jesus strolling along into Jerusalem, shuffling his feet, head down, and barely avoiding bumping into everyone while his disciples wondered in without anticipation because their Christ had no passion. Every once in a while he’d reach over and touch somebody and mumble, “You’re healed, go your way.” See Jesus ambling up to Caiphas’ place and rapping on the door and saying, “Hey bro, I’m the Christ, Son of God. I hear you want me dead. Let’s get this over with.”

Do you see? Without Jesus’ overwhelming love for everything the Father said and needed done, the sacrifice wouldn’t have worked and maybe would never have taken place. Without Jesus unfailing love for his disciples they never would have gotten it, the Church would never have been born and we wouldn’t be eagerly awaiting his triumphant return and we'd be without salvation.

When it comes to those things we know we need to be doing for God’s Kingdom, all those things we need to do as servants and ambassadors for Christ we need to make sure that our furnace is stoked with passion. Things we need to do for our churches, our families, and our friends need to be backed with a love that allows us a satisfying outcome lest all our accomplishments be in vain. We must love the Christ and do all things as unto him even when we are doing them for the least in our world.

Notice back in the first paragraph where I said, “…when I let that happen”. It is ultimately up to us to stoke the fires and find the passion to drive us to finish well even the little things we need to be about and doing.

Let us not forget the ultimate goal is hear these words from Lord or words of similar sentiment from the beneficiaries of our efforts: “"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:21, NIV)

Peace and Passion friends, stoke it up!

jerry

God With Us

Emmanuel, in Hebrew: עִמָּנוּאֵל meaning, "God with us".

The season of Advent is upon us and Cindy and I along with my mom and sister Denise, hit the ground running at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Grants Pass, Oregon. It was a wonderful service and the Advent Hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” set the pace early and its refrains tinged the service throughout with a sense of yearning. “Prepare ye the way of the Lord” set the tone and underpinned the message that we need to prepare, lest there be no real Christmas.

As I write this I have YouTube running through the hymn with vocal and instrumental artists’ seeming infinite variations; my personal yearning is sustained and the sense of preparation is being heightened.

I could simply pound out the words to the hymn, tell you to read it, ask you to pray it, hope you live it, and let it go at that but it would be the cheap and easy way out for a post, not that I’m above that sort of thing. However, I prefer to ruminate on the hymn and its central theme of advent for the coming of our Lord and have instead placed the words as a post script below.

During the season leading to Christmas Day we are busy with preparations for family gatherings and the exchange of gifts. We need to leave time for advent and the preparation for Emmanuel and give ourselves over to the yearning for Christ’s presence. Imagine if we were to combine our family celebration anticipation and preparation with our desire for Christ’s presence. Would His presence be with us? Yes - yes it would.

Let’s focus on the first verse of the hymn. It tells us that Israel, God’s people, are captive and in exile on earth. We don’t need to look very far to know that this is true. We should be mourning the fact that God’s Kingdom has not yet come on earth as it is in heaven. We mourn until the Son of God appears in His fullness. He will so appear and we see glimpses of Him in the actions of Heaven’s ambassadors, Christians out and about doing the King’s work. We are Him from time to time, even I am Him now and again.

O come Emmanuel, come again in me.

At the end of each verse we are told to rejoice because Emmanuel shall come to us. Paul exhorts us in Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (NIV) Indeed, we must rejoice at each hint and every manifestation of Christ on earth while at the same time letting the yearning for His fullness run deep. We never cease preparing the way.

Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Rejoice! His Kingdom is near at hand. Revel in advent, strike a match and light the candle.

In His grip, jerry

For our edification:

O come, O come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan’s tyranny

From depths of Hell Thy people same

And give them victory o’er the grave

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come.

And open wide our heavenly home;

Make safe the way that leads on high,

And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O Come, O come, Thou Lord of might,

Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,

In ancient times did’st give the Law,

In cloud, and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel