December 22, Merry Christmas, indeed!

How many more times will I say it, 'Merry Christmas?' I suspect many more. For, in all the years I've been so doing, I find this greeting no more compelling than now. Why? Well because of the response. For though most all always are nice - and though some will add a 'thank you' and even echo the self-same back. There are others, a growing number I find, who now politely, almost 'correctively' say... "Happy Holidays to you, too!" And for this, I am compelled to insist my greeting remains - 'Merry Christmas, indeed!"

Now... before you either decry or applaud me, may I first insist on being clear. I am not asking congress to pass a law that the phrase be a must. Or, that retailers be strictly black-listed for not so using. No! I am simply electing to use what has become in my lifetime a wonderfully powerful witness and testimony. For as the saying has fallen from the masses, it now may trickle from the lips of those joyfully in Christ once more.

So... do not grow weary this Christmas 2009 and beyond. Let the world in which you live hear aloud your good witness - even in the simplicity of that age-old greeting. And... let the redeemed of the LORD say so -

Merry Christmas, indeed!

Pastor Sam

December - a marvelous month to me

When it comes to months of the year I face no dread in December. I suppose this means I am fully crossed over in my mind to the world of 'pastor', because I know this is not nearly so true among all, but... December is a marvelous month to me. In December I preach of but one thing - Jesus. In December I concentrate on but one function of my calling - people. And, in December I strive to allow but one activity unto the example of my life - giving.

Now my reason for this, I know, lies squarely within the message of Christ - He gave to us so that we might give to others. Yet it also lies in the community called ParkwayHills. I love you all so very much. The lights are up on your houses and streets, the wind turns decidedly from the north, and the ParkwayHills 'Parade of Parties' begins. How I love coming into your homes in December - from the grandest to the most humble, and among the very youngest to the old. Belinda and I find joy as we visit with you and share in your journey - and December makes a perfect month for such.

For many of you, this year has been a journey of joy - one of gallantry and courage. For others it has been a journey fraught with burden - one of sorrow and pain. For all of us, however, this is a month we may lay what is or is not aside and come together around our common journey point - the coming of Christ into our lives bringing salvation regardless of health, income, status, race or creed. Who doesn't want to celebrate that?

So, today, may this pastor be a voice of encouragement to you? May I sound the call for celebration? For certainly, December - this marvelous month to me - really is a marvelous month indeed.

Pastor Sam

Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.

Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.

The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. Isaiah 52: 8-10

Veterans Day - a day to say, 'thank you.'

Tomorrow, November 11, our country will honor it's Veteran's. Officially, this is both a state and national holiday and it is posted as such by the words, "Veterans Day" (that's right, no apostrophe as the attributive, rather than the possessive, case is set as the official spelling).

Now I know that many today have little idea what this day is for, and, though this in itself is sad, it is, at the least, my intention to give in this blog some meaning and, prayerfully, merit for this day. To do so, let me touch on two things to help -

1. The origin and purpose of the day

2. What we each can and should do, both as citizens and Christians, to give the day the full dignity it deserves.

ORIGIN AND PURPOSE

A quick search from Wikipedia reminds us that U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. Also, that the United States Congress passed a concurrent resolution seven years later on June 4, 1926, requesting then President, Calvin Coolidge, issue another proclamation to observe November 11 with appropriate ceremonies. On May 13, 1938, an act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) was approved making the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday; "a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'."

In 1953, an Emporia, Kansas shoe store owner named Al King had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who served in World War I.The Emporia Chamber of Commerce took up the cause after determining that 90% of Emporia merchants as well as the Board of Education supported closing their doors on November 11, 1953, to honor veterans. With the help of then-U.S. Rep. Ed Rees, also from Emporia, a bill for the holiday was pushed through Congress. President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law on May 26, 1954

Congress amended this act on November 8, 1954, replacing "Armistice" with Veterans, and it has been known as Veterans Day since.

WHAT MIGHT WE DO TO GIVE THE DAY THE DIGNITY & SIGNIFICANCE IT DESERVES:

1. As citizens, we can say "thank you." Our country owes a great debt of gratitude to those who have served this country, and, indeed, the world, in seeking after and preserving peace. Whatever anyone else may think of us, history will tell the true story: that brave men and women from this country have long served the world, giving the ultimate sacrifice, often, of their very lives, in its quest and its preservation of peace. Even today, these real heroes make life as we enjoy it possible for us. If you don’t believe this, then just talk to persons in any kind of intelligence or national security and they will set you straight. This world, and each of us in particular, owes them our thanks.

2. As Christians, we can pray. Wilson was a seeker of peace. His efforts in support of the League of Nations, which are written in our history books, speak plainly of his aspirations and strong desire. Was he naive? Many thought so. Was he wrong in his desire? Absolutely not! Scripture tells us that as Christians we are to seek peace, live in peace, pray for it, and do what we can to preserve it. President Wilson took this on.

So tomorrow is not just another day. It is a day that our country does well to observe. Our children should know of it, as should we, and we should teach them by our own example. Take time as a family tomorrow to seek out a veteran and say to them, 'thanks.' Maybe that veteran is a grandpa, an uncle or an aunt. Maybe he or she is a cousin or a friend. Whoever they are - just do it.

Secondly, take time with your family to pray for our troops - those at home and abroad. Pray for their safety, their courage and their families. Make Veterans Day a day that we really do what we ought to do - say thanks to those who’ve served, both us, our world and the causes of freedom and peace. Something President Wilson hoped for. Something, admittedly, we know will only be found ultimately in Christ. But… something we all should and must aspire for as long as God gives us breath.

Pastor Sam

After Ft Hood, "Why?" - The character of God

A challenge in my role as a pastor is the daily question from those hurting of 'why?' 'Why did God do this?' 'Why did God do this to me?' Or, after yesterday, 'what have we done that would cause God to allow this to happen to us?'

Of course, the questions themselves reveal how most of us view or think of God. We think of Him as in charge - as Sovereign - and though answers to any questions concerning Him are to be found in His Word, I must admit that, even there, they are not always so easily gleaned. The same Bible which reads, "God makes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust" (Matt. 5:45) also reads, "He visits the sins of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation" (Ex. 34:6-7, Deut. 5: 8-10, also Num. 14:18), which begs my title, 'the character of God.' For, by understanding this - God's character, we will journey toward carrying on - even in troubled times.

The whole of scripture teaches us that here are two traits to know of God that can help us cope. The first is God is love and the second, God is just. Today I want to deal with the first - the love of God. In the days ahead we will look at the second - the justice of God. So first... His love.

In his blog of Sept, 1, 2006, Dr. Ben Witherington, professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary writes:

The chaplain ran to help the man lying on the beach of a South Pacific island, who had been hit by a shell. The young man was dying, and as the chaplain administered the morphine to him, the young man looked into the chaplain's eyes and asked "Surely you must know--- what is God like?" The chaplain, my former college Bible Professor, Bernard Boyd said-- "God is suffering love, he is just like the Jesus who died for you. And at this very moment he is with you in this pain for he said-- "inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me." (for more on this see the poem by Geoffrey-Studdert Kennedy "The Sorrow of God").

Jesus once said, 'if you've seen me, you have seen the Father for I and the Father are one" and this statement is one I have hung my life, ministry and thoughts of God upon. The Bible says that "God's way's are past our finding out,' but then Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." If there is a picture of God, then it is Christ. If there is an inkling, this side of Glory, that enables us to know what God is like, then it is in knowing and following His Son, Jesus. So that when we think of the love of God, we think of it's divine/human expression, God the Son, dying on the cross and saying, 'Father forgive them.' So, my friends, God is love.

I may not know, from this or heaven's side of eternity, all there is to know about God, but I can tell you this - God is love. I know so because I know His Son. God is not a God of murder, chaos, violence or revenge. God is a God of love. What happened at Ft Hood was not from God or by His hand. That evil was because of man's sin - expressed, on this day in an individual or ideological soul, be it intentional or from a crazed maniac out of his mind. Likewise, it is not our role, now or ever, to perpetrate similar or same actions upon others under the pretense of acting out 'God's plan' - for this cannot be so - God is love. We must resist reducing God, both in mind and action, to anything like this. Why? Because we have as our highest example our Savior - God Himself - Jesus Christ His Son.

Till next time, then -

Pastor Sam

Top 10 Reasons Why Letterman's Recent Exploits are NOT funny

Late Night TV Host, David Letterman, has long been a comedian I've enjoyed, at times. However, his recent admission of having "sex with women who work for me on the show,"' summarily applauded by his worshipful audience, leaves me disappointed. Not just because of his action - I am quite accustomed to hearing of this, thank you - but because of a perception of his 'cavalier comic' attitude and 'cheatingly friendly' venue in so explaining.

Now I do applaud his efforts to aid authorities in uncovering the 2 million dollar extortion scheme attempting to gain from his foray/s, but I DO NOT applaud the means by which he chose to share this. True Dave is not a preacher nor a politician, and one might argue he should not be held to their standard. However, he is a man upon whom many look and admire and, by his chosen response, he has sent one more grand signal to an up-turned world that sin is ONLY in the eye of the beholder, and that a good man's measurement is simply 'honesty,' and not behavior.

Well, Dave, with the love of Christ in my heart, under His grace as to my own sin, and by the value of His precious Word, I disagree.

So... here you g0 - Here are my Top 10 reasons why your actions and response to such are out of line.

#1o. A 'workman is worthy of his hire,' - nothing more or less (Matt. 10:10)

#9. It is an 'eye for eye and tooth for tooth,' - not _____ for a paycheck (Exodus 21:24)

#8. Sodom and Gomorrah were 'an example' of 'fire',- not fun (Jude 1:7)

#7. 'No man lives to himself or dies to himself, we are the LORD's' - (Romans 14: 7)

#6. "Masters, give your servants what is just and equal, knowing you have a Mater in heaven - (Colossians 4:1)

#5. "Watch out that no one deceives you after the world and not after Christ" - (Colossians 2:8)

#4. "Be not conformed to the world but transformed by Christ" - (Romans 12:2)

#3. "Father's, do not exasperate your children" - (Colossians 3:21)

#2. "Present your body as a living sacrifice to God" - Romans 12:1

And... reason number.....

#1. 'Thou shalt not commit adultery.'

Pastor Sam

Mary Travers - thought & reflection of her time

My musical propensity toward 'folk' was born from the smooth sounds of groups like the Kingston Trio, The Weavers and, later, Peter, Paul and Mary. Yes, before 'folk rock', there was folk, and though but a boy when such appeared on our American music scene, I liked it, learned to play it, and think fondly of it still. "Hooked" - I even enjoyed 'Up With People' and the 'Smothers Brothers' - the latter not just for their comedy but their music. After all, who didn't appreciate "If I Had a Hammer" and the "Ballad of John Henry" simply performed with vocals, acoustic guitar and a stand-up string bass.

But now, frankly, until yesterday - when news that folk music legend, Mary Travers, died at 72 of Leukemia, I hadn't thought much of this genre in a long, long time. Mary was the 'Mary' of "Peter, Paul and Mary" - whom my parents thought of as 'certainly' a 'Christian group' based on their first names, actually only their given names, as New Testament 'biggies,' but, as we all know, this was not so. Not entirely, though Paul Stookey did publicly profess faith in Christ by the late 60s - but that 's a sideline, so let's get back to Mary - she was born in Kentucky in 1936, to journalistic parents. In the 50s her parents moved to New York's Greenwich Village, where Mary was likely influenced by both her parents and the 'bohemian-like culture' of friends and neighborhood. Hip before hippies, this culture greatly influenced what was to come - a brooding in America needing only a cause, and perfectly delivered by the 60s itself, Civil Rights, and the Vietnam War.

Now I know that "Puff the Magic Dragon" may have (perhaps did) offer an alter or ulterior meaning - or at least I was warned. And I also know that many of the young people of that day and time, were, well... a mess. But we/they did think - if only for a while - and were changed because of it, though I confess to looking about now at what has and hasn't been and wondering, "where has our 'hammer' gone?" And though as an evangelical pastor I do not espouse to a politically liberal ideology or body-politic, I do espouse to a thoughtful, world-changing one, thank you very much! One, yes, that still challenges the status quo. For, if Jesus is not that towards this time, then we've misunderstood Him. For we of all people should be careful that we do not rob our own children of the one thing that the folk youth of the 60s held onto - which was hope. The hope that things could be, should be, must be better. Yes, I think we -even we Christian's - are woefully remiss when we sound only the bell of doom. For if our Christian youth are to change their world in Christ, it will be with the gospel - which is certainly a gospel of hope and not doom.

Mary Travers was 72. She has now passed from life to life eternal - and will be judged based upon what she did with Christ, as well as what she was or was not in Him. Period! Her time on earth was six score and 12. Her songs were the easy, at times woeful, songs of hope - if only for things least hopeful. By contrast, we have been given real hope in Christ. So... let me ask... 'what's our song?'

Pastor Sam

09.11 plus 8

Knowing that I was in New York City, staying just 15 'city' blocks north of the World Trade Center on a mission trip, people often ask of my memories and impressions of that day - now 8 years past. And though I certainly claim no extraordinary or prolific abilities as a writer, I am known to do so - so that folks are justifiably curious that I have not written more about that day. Sure, my thoughts are recorded - my journal of the event was immediate - and, sure, the day is often mentioned in my sermons and conversation. Yet, still, some days leave us with an impression so strong and so multi-layered, that putting such to pen is, simply, well... difficult.

On this day, however, this 8th anniversary of that day - I 'd like to make a start by recording a few words, followed by brief lines of comment, concerning how it was I felt on 09.11.2001

Confusion - From a morning jog under a beautiful blue sky, to thoughts of horrible accident and then attack - in a matter of minutes each of these 'realities' came to my mind - and we were there.

Fear - Where's is the president? Talking to Belinda by cell phone, I began to fear the worst. Where is he? Is he coming back to Washington? Is he on a plane? I have no control!!!!

A Dad's attempt - On the phone with Taylor - saying what I should regardless of how I felt - 'It's OK Baby Doll. I am safe. The world is not ending. Don't be afraid. I promise you - I WILL come home!'

Shock - There is more! A plane is down in Pennsylvania. All are lost. The Pentagon has been hit!

Anger - Someone has to pay for this. Who made these people God?

Depression - We live in a fallen, confused world. Innocent die everyday. This world is not to be worshipped, I know, but why God? What is our purpose? I know the truth, but it's not enough. Not right now. Hide me under a tree!!!

My father's teaching - 'son, there will be a day you will want to quit. On that day your decision to not do so will be the real measure of who you are as a man.'

God's Word - 'yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil - for thy rod and thy staff comfort me.'

Our common humanity - the people on the street are no longer looking down. They are looking out, around, at each other and at me. They need my eyes to look at them. They need me. I need them.

Pride - New York is no longer 'them,' it is 'us.' It is an American melting pot. People from around the globe live here - and they have touched me forever. Most embrace the opportunity of this land - and are glad for it. This place, New York, is America - just like Texas is - not perfect, at times flawed, but a place I am proud of today.

Resolve spoken - I will not live in fear. Terror will not win. I will not take life, my family, my church, my community nor my responsibility for granted. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever!

Sleep - Blue sky is gone. Dust fills the air. Weary from a day I pray to never know again, I lay down on a bunk in a building near 7th Ave. & a street called B - just 15 city blocks away from the worst devastation ever performed through attack that this nation has known - and slept. Not perfectly, but some.

Resolve defined - the next morning I awoke. Dust, and now death, filled the air. This was not a dream. Sirens still sounded and people still cried - but I, along with you, got up, bowed my head, and thanked God for America and for Christ Jesus my LORD - my saviour, my country, my home! Then I dressed - and went out of the building and onto the streets of a cIty called New York - never to be the same again.

Pastor Sam