"The shepherds went back to work, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, which had happened just as they had been told." (Luke 2:20 J.B. Phillips).

It's especially challenging to get back to work after the Christmas holidays. The festivities of the season break up our calendars with enough change of setting and schedule to help us detach from the daily grind and fo ...

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.'" (Luke 2:10 NIV)

"Remain in me...remain in my love...obey my commands...that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:9-13 NIV)

Jesus said that he ...

It is easy for a Scrooge to react with a scowling grunt of 'humbug!' to the people and situations around him he considers bothersome. We are more ready to blame the rest of the world for going sour than admit our own cantankerousness. We are mentally self-programmed to justify our words and actions so much that we believe they emerge out of our own sweet and unsullied sincerity. How can there be any 'sin' in sincere? We excuse our self-indulgence by saying "After all, I'm just being real. I'm ...

The following is an anonymous nineteenth century composition that you might want to pass along during this holiday season:

ONE SOLITARY LIFE

"He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a f ...

'Faith' is one of the most misunderstood words in the Christian's vocabulary. It is often confused with 'belief'. Faith is more than belief. A belief is a mental acceptance, personal conviction or an ideological persuasion. Wars, acts of terrorism and horrible atrocities have resulted from people going to battle with their 'beliefs'. Shameful acts of hatred have been perpetrated in the name of Christ by those who held Christian 'beliefs' but failed to exercise Christian 'faith'.

A missionary with Africa Evangelical Fellowship included a copy of the following letter. The author is unknown, but is believed to be a young pastor in Zimbabwe who was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ. It was found in his study:

"I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit's power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made -- I'm a disciple of his. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, ...

The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelatio

Here in New England we are accustomed to a variety of inclement weather patterns: hurricanes, northeasters, blizzards and heat waves. While living in England we would often experience what we called, 'pea soupers'; periods of thick fog. The fog would be so dense that we literally would not be able to see 5 feet in front of our faces. Traffic would come to a standstill. On one occasion, we were dri ...

Today a relentless barrage of words, images, sound bites and slogans politicize every issue and event. Survey data is packaged to bolster whatever opinion is preferred. A media blitz in itself can shape public sentiment without ever having to appeal to facts. This manipulative treatment of information has become such a part of our culture that we have become quite accustomed to it. We are feeding on short, simplistic, pre-digested, emotionally laden, one-stop conclusions.

Britis ...

In business circles there has been a lot of discussion in recent years about developing a corporate culture with the clear communication of vision, internalization of core values and contagious passion for your particular company's mission. These components have proved to have more persuasive and permeating power than the circulation of thick procedural and policy manuals.

Jesus spent three years orientating His select team to the vision, values and passionate agenda of the King ...

Career fulfillment does not come by gaining recognition or attaining a desired income. It comes by aligning and engaging with our true vocation. Our job (occupation) is not necessarily equal to our calling (vocation). Our job may be a means towards which we fulfill our calling. A person might have the God-given vocation of raising a family. Their present job may be just a means of providing the necessary income for the fulfi ...

There are times we feel our emotions are on the boil and we need to let off steam. Our concept of the ideal self is not prone to emotional expression. As a result we pull in the reins on our emotions so tightly that we damage them.

Even Jesus expressed anger. The Bible does not say that anger is a sin. Anger is an emotional response to a perceived injustice. Anger is an emotion. Emotions are neither good or bad. They just are. Jesus expressed his feelings. We read in the gospel ...

Some people are shaped by their times. Others are shaped for their times. Jesus told his followers, "You are the salt of the earth; You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:13-16). He was saying that we are to be on the cutting edge of His redemptive activity in the world. As the Father has sent Christ, so He is sending us (John 20:21). Salt is useless if it remains in the saltshaker. Light serves no purpose if it remains under a bushel. Jesus said that His people ar ...

In the Hebrew calendar we are now in the period known as "The Days of Awe" (the ten days between the Feast of Trumpets and The Great Day of Atonement). It is a period when God's people are called to reflect deeply, repent thoroughly and return to God completely.

The Book of Leviticus chapter 23 outlines the seven feasts of the Lord. Each of these are occasions of solemn assembly appointed by the Lord.  There are four spring festivals-

Membership in the body of Christ is more about having an active 'role' IN the church than having your name on the 'roll' OF the church.

"For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." (1Corinthians 12:13).

The baptism of the Spirit brings us to a well that never runs dry - the fountain of living water - the indwelling life of Christ. By v ...

"A man of many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24).

This nugget of wisdom from the Book of Proverbs reminds us that friendships can be a curse or a blessing. They can lead to our downfall or our salvation. When road tested for endurance they can prove to be perilously superficial or powerfully significant. They can spur us on to love ...

Saying 'No' Can Be a Very Positive Thing. However, in our culture, it has become a very difficult thing to do.

A salesperson can achieve a record number of sales and be honored as 'employee of the month' by expanding his work hours at the expense of other important commitments, such as those to his family, faith community and friends. His public commendation by company 'higher-ups' triggers the attention of other members of the sales force. They, in turn, adopt the practice of e ...

"A name you can trust."

"Just mention my name."

"We sell only name brands."

Names today not only identify people, they are closely associated with reputations, products and services.

Names have great significance in the Bible. They reflect more than reputation or trade. They usually disclose some insight such as a personality trait ev ...

"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?" (Jeremiah 12:5).

The Christian life is supernatural. It is involves more than a Christ-centered religion, it involves an experience of Christ living His life through our redeemed humanity. He is willing, able and pr ...

Will Rogers, American humorist, once said, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."

Procrastinators come in all shapes and sizes. There is the 'accidental' procrastinator who puts off the seemingly trivial task due to the fact that they are occupied with seemingly more important matters. They postpone checking the oil in the car, doing the laundry, taking inventory or purchasing groceries. Such procrastination can lead to major co ...

Recently we had a powerful electrical storm here in New England. The wind caused tree limbs to bend and break. Hail stones dropped like Styrofoam chunks from the sky until they hit the windows and rooftops like a spray of bullets. A friend of mine stopped his truck as lightning hit an electric power pole in front of him and sparks spurted out from the transformer like a blazing firework. It was in such a display of nature's power that the Lord spoke to Job (Job 38:1). Even with all our impressive a ...

To a great degree the outcomes of our lives are determined by the decisions we make. Each day we are called upon to choose attitudes and actions that will ultimately affect our character, our relationships, our career, our spirituality and our destiny.

A major proposition of the Bible is that God loves us. We matter to Him. Certainly if we matter to Him, so do the outcomes of our lives. God wants to partner with us in our decision making so that we might realize those desired re ...

"When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, 'If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.' So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle." (Exodus 13:17-18 NIV).

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. ...

"Then the LORD answered me and said, 'Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run.....though it linger wait for it.... for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.'" (Habakkuk 2:2,3,14 NIV).

Palest ink serves us better than our strongest memory. It is too easy to forget what we have seen and heard in t ...

"Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox." (Proverbs 14:4 KJV).

This ancient proverb reminds us that there is a price to pay for productivity. Oxen are animals known for their ability to work. They can lift loads, bear burdens, and pull machinery beyond the ability of the human frame. The oxen represent that which expands our personal production cap ...

You have a full-time job. Whether you are presently earning an income or not, God has given you a detailed job description: You are an ambassador for Christ (See 2Corinthians 5:20).

Most would consider ambassadorship a prestigious position. An ambassador represents his or her country of origin in a foreign land. They are delegated authority to articulate governmental policies to heads of state and citizens of the country to whom they have been sent. They seek to promote the agen ...

"So I say, live by the Spirit... Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:16, 25 NIV).

The Christian life is about walking with God in the rough and tumble of life. It is a daily adventure in which we offer ourselves to God with a fresh willingness to cooperate with what He wants to do. The New Testament describes our ongoing experience of God as 'walking ...

Richard Wurmbrand tells the story of a Christian from the former Soviet Union who when released from prison wrote in a letter how he began to see his own frustrating circumstances in a different light. "My outward appearance is not attractive. In the slave labor camp, I worked beneath the earth. I had an accident that made me a hunchback. Once a boy stared at me and then asked, 'Uncle, what do you have on your back?' I was sure that some mockery would follow, but I still answered, 'A hunchback ...

Warren Bennis, professor of Business Administration at the University of Southern California and author of many business related books specializing in leadership, has recently written a book with Patricia Ward Biederman, titled "Organizing Genius". His subject is what he calls "Great Groups", organizations that foster exceptional creative collaboration. He determines that "Great Groups" aim to do more than fix a problem. They are out to change the world. They aim to ma ...

Just a few days prior to his crucifixion, Jesus spoke to his disciples about future events, including his second coming. On the Mount of Olives, he accurately predicted the destruction of the holy temple. This would occur forty years later in 70 AD. He spoke of disasters, such as nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom, wars and rumors of wars. As a young person I remember periodic drills at school where we were huddled into dark basement shelters in case of nuclear attack. The 'rumor ...

In the Robert Bolt's drama, "A Man for All Seasons", Sir Thomas More returns home to Chelsea from a prestigious meeting with the Cardinal at Hampton Court. Richard Rich, a young man who has been hounding More for a position on the High Court, is waiting for him.

"Have you been here all night?" Sir Thomas asks. "Yes." Richard replies, "You said you had a post for me." "Oh yes. I'll offer you a post with a house, a servant and fifty pou ...

The reconstitution of Israel in May of 1948 is not only an historical exception, it is a phenomenal vindication of Biblical prophesy. After 2,500 years without self-government and 1,800 years of dispersion throughout the globe, the comeback of this nation was unparalleled in history. When the Jews numbered less than 100,000, they were captives of the Babylonians who far outnumbered them and ruled the world. While other nations have blended into new ones or become extinct, the Jewish people have bee ...

Many times fear causes us to stall at Life's intersections. We fail to move forward when God has given us a green light to proceed. We get stuck in 'park' or 'neutral' while a prescribed course of opportunity remains untraveled; an adventure lies unclaimed.

The promises of God are a series of 'green lights' encouraging us to keep moving towards our goal. Jesus said, "The words I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." When the Spirit of G ...

"Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." (1Thessalonians 5:19-22 NIV).

As the Word of God spreads throughout the world many people-groups are experiencing the renewing work of the Holy Spirit resulting in genuine conversions and contagious Christianity. All over the globe believers are recognizing ...

Our culture is no stranger to big screen special effects. Millions of dollars are spent in studios to make phenomenal events 'appear' on the screen, whether it be an earthquake, alien invasion, endangered space flight or sinking Titanic.

In a number of incidents in the Old Testament, God used special effects to bring His people to victory (2Kings 3; Judges 7). In each instance a faithful remnant was invited to participate in His plan. Each account underscores the principle that ...

On April 6, 1997, a front page article on the Boston Globe focused on the seemingly endless mounting tension in the Middle East. This time the subject was not a territorial dispute, the increase of terrorist acts, or the threatening presence of a new Israeli housing development in east Jerusalem. The center of controversy was the birth of a red heifer.

"That cow represents the risk of a massive religious war," said Avraham Poraz, a member of Parliament from the leftist ...

In a survey of mall shoppers published in the Wall Street Journal only 25% of those interviewed were shopping for a specific item. About 53% of grocery and 47% of hardware store purchases are 'spur of the moment'. 93% of American teen-age girls reported store-hopping as their favorite activity. The average American will spend approximately one entire year of his or her life watching TV commercials. The message saturates our culture: 'acquire more'. 'Spend more'.

The 'consumer ag ...

Simplification begins with an examination of who we are, not what we do. Our lives get off track when we let our 'doings' define us. It has been said that "Insanity is when we continue to do the same things over and over again expecting different results." What we are doing may be taking us further away from the truth of our true identity. One of the first questions asked in our modern culture is "What do you do?" as if the answer will disclose who we are. We exchange business c ...

THE RESURRECTION PROOF - WE CAN BE SURE

After his resurrection, Jesus showed Himself alive with many convincing proofs (Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:5-8). The disheartened disciples were transformed to bold witnesses ready to lay down their lives for the sake of Christ and His gospel. The resurrection of Jesus Christ vindicates His teachings, His unique claims of deity and sinlessness, His miracles, prophecies and promises of forgiveness and eternal l ...

"Every town should have something like this," was the response of a woman from a neighboring town who attended the third annual noontime celebration of Easter at Monument Square in the center of Concord, Massachusetts. She had come because she had read about it in her local newspaper. Christians are invited to transcend denominational differences, assemble on the town green after attending their respective places of worship and give a one sentence public declaration of the crowning creed ...

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:37 NIV).

This week as our mission team overlooked the city of Port-au-Prince, in Haiti, we sensed God's compassion for the desperate multitudes. On the day of our arrival there was a general strike and a published threat that 'the streets would be empty or the ...

Junkitus is a disease that slowly strangles your time and sensibility. Although your brain remains intact, your creativity, sensitivity and concentration are dulled. Thinking is replaced by things. No longer are victims able to reflect upon that which is ultimately beautiful and meaningful. They are taken up with searching and paying for seemingly irresistible bargains and activities that only add clutter to their lives.

How much time and energy are wasted wanting, wishing for, ...

It happens all the time. A seemingly brilliant man is caught in a scandal of immorality. A wife is betrayed. A family is fractured. Hopes are dashed. A child grows up in a home without a father. Gangs become the new family for those who are emotionally orphaned. Without moral models, young men search for their manhood in exploits of sex and violence. Illegitimacy rises. The poverty trap swallows the new progeny. Such scenarios have become part of our societal landscape.

The sexu ...

The name, 'Jesus' means, "God to the rescue." There is no one more needed in the entire history of the human race than Jesus Christ. Yet this fact is constantly obscured and the name of 'Jesus' is made an obscenity worldwide by the spiritual forces of darkness at work in this present age.

The true meaning of the name of Jesus and the exposition of His saving work on the Cross has always been offensive to human pride. Our culture has room for Jesus as a religious leader ...

"Set an example.. in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." (1Timothy 4:12 NIV).

We are to be examples of purity in the workplace. We are to demonstrate purity of speech, life, love and commitment. Perhaps we are dissatisfied with our present job or situation. We may have new work lined up and are counting the days until we make the transition. Purity of commitment requires that we ...

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." (Matthew 5:13).

Once, when asked what was the number one problem in the church, missionary statesman and author, E. Stanley Jones, replied, "Irrelevance."

This is a sad irony because the church is called to minist ...

The numbers of '21' or '18' charm the adolescent who longs to qualify for independence by reaching the age of adulthood. This 'coming of age' symbolizes their freedom to pursue their own plans for their lives rather than those of a parent or guardian. The gospel of John records Jesus' assessment of the disciple Peter's 'coming of age' interestingly enough in John 21:18. (Those magic numbers reappear!)

"I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yoursel ...

"The world is waiting for you," said the mother to her four year old daughter. "You are not here in this world for yourself. You are here for God and for others." These thoughts expressed a theme in the household of William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army.

As she grew up Katie Booth would repeat to herself the words of her mother: "The world is waiting for me. I am not in this world for myself. I am here for God and others." Little Katie gr ...

In the late 1960's Thomas Kuhn, a scientific philosopher, dusted off a phrase that has become a popular description of a radical change of viewing data: the 'paradigm shift'. In Kuhn's case he noticed that scientists who gathered information to fit their particular interpretative grid (paradigm) were unable to receive any incoming data that contradicted their presuppositions. Because we are accustomed to looking at life in one particular way we are blinded from seeing it any differently.

There are times we are called upon to make 'people decisions': the choosing of a spouse, the choosing of friends, selecting a team for a particular project, hiring workers or installing leaders.

Scriptures give us valuable insight regarding people decisions: Throughout the Biblical record, God chooses people with whom He wants to work. He calls Moses at the burning bush (in Exodus 3); Gideon under the oak in Ophrah (in Judges 6); Paul on the Damascus road (in Acts 9). Sometimes ...

After giving the nation of Israel the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20), the Lord gave them the civic law (Exodus 21-23).

The first law abolished the practice of slavery and substituted it with a six year labor contract (Exodus 21:3; Deuteronomy 15:12-15). No man was to ever hold another man or woman as his lifelong 'property'. Laborers were to be treated with respect. On the seventh year the contracted servant would have fulfilled all of his or her obligations and would be permitted ...

Narcissus was the handsome youth in classical mythology who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool. Because he was unable to tear himself away from the image, he wasted away and died. His self-absorption led to his destruction.

The Bible warns us that the opposite of success is disaster (Jeremiah 29:11). True success is more than a satisfactory completion of goals. It is the escape from that which keeps us enslaved by self-interest, self-aggrandizement and self absorptio ...

What do we mean when we wish someone a 'prosperous new year'? The word 'prosperous' comes from the Latin, 'pro spere' meaning 'according to one's hope'. In wishing someone prosperity we are saying that we wish they will realize the future they are hoping for. As we enter a new year it is good to reflect upon what we are hoping for. Do we have worthy goals? Do have what it takes to succeed?

Some people have a fear of success. This is because there is so much distortion about what ...

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14 NIV).

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Throughout the year we have been sharing "Thank God It's Monday"- (meditations encouraging us to put our faith into action throughout the week). Each week our on-line family of friends grows.

Yesterday our friend Eric Villanueva, who trains church planters in Romania, spoke at New Life Community Church in Concord, Massachusetts. During the year of 1989 our Sunday School children here were actively engaged in praying for the children and people of Romania. The overthrow of a communist dictatorship in December of that year was a real faith builder for our children (and for all of us)!

How thrilling it is to hear of the fact that thousands of new churches have been plan ...

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14 NIV).

It stands behind every utopian dream; every desire for social justice; all longing for relational harmony, material prosperity and inner contentment. The kingdom of God is what we were made for: the Creator-Redeemer extending His loving rule over all of creation and through all creation--