Movin' On Up...

As of Monday, January 5th, I will be posting on:

polus.wordpress.com

All of the posts from here have been exported to there.

Christmas Reflections, Part 3

"But the baby in her womb, He was the maker of the moon, He was the author of the faith that could make the mountains move..." 

- Andrew Peterson - Labor of Love (from the album Behold the Lamb of God)

(Cynthia and I just recently went to Andrew Peterson's (pictured to the right) concert. What a compelling performance! If it ever comes to your neck of the woods, it is well worth the time and effort to see. I'll write more about it some other time, but really just incredible.)

Christmas Reflections, Part 2

"So wrap our injured flesh around You; breathe our air and walk our sod. Rob our sin and make us holy, perfect Son of God. Perfect Son of God, Welcome to our World."

    - Chris Rice, "Welcome to our World"

Peace. Good tidings of great joy. Good will to men on whom God's favor rests.

But what actually happened? Read Matthew 2:13-18. It's not pretty. It's not tame. It's hardly flannel graph material.

Jesus entered a world full of hostility toward God. Throughout His life, it would never subside. It would only escalate until finally it reached the point that created beings would cheer the death of the Creator.

And yet things always seem to get worse before they get better. This hostility that Jesus endured would become the pathway to life for those who trust in Christ.

Christmas Reflections, Part 1

"The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight..." 

- From "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

Hopes - Hundreds of years. Waiting for a deliverer. Is He ever going to come? How long, O Lord!!

Fears - What if God has abandoned His people? What hope is left for mankind? Will the unjust reign forever?

I love the imagery of this song. It recognizes that all of history converges on Bethlehem on that night. It is the apex of God's plan (or the beginning of the apex of God's plan).

And is this not the way God delights in revealing Himself? It is not in the pomp and splendor, but in the quietness of obscurity that this servant Savior will make His entrance.

Who Is God and How Do We Know? (5 of 5)

The Christian life is full of paradox. For example: 

(1) We live in this world, and yet are not supposed to be polluted by its values (James 1:27)

(2) We are adopted as God's children (1 John 3:2)

In the same way, God's character can be paradoxical but is also well worth the time to reflect on...

So, who is God and how do we know?

God abounds in gracious attributes, but also maintains justice. He holds all of this in perfect balance.

The Bible tells us so...

John Rankin and Jeremiah Wright

Give Thanks to the Lord...

"...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving with Family and Friends!