Peace on Earth?

"I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself."    George Frideric Handel, after writing "Hallelujah Chorus"

Have you noticed tension and tragedy in the national and world news?

George Friderick Handel (1685-1759), composed
Messiah in only 24 days. During that time he rarely
ate or left his room.

This Christmas and beyond we desperately need a compelling vision of something larger than us and our differences, that puts our problems into perspective. Handel caught a glimpse of such a vision as he wrote his musical masterpiece "Messiah". The vision was so overwhelming that, according to a friend who visited during that time, Handel sobbed with intense emotion as he composed it. Later, as Handel groped for words to describe his experience, he quoted St. Paul, saying, "Whether I was in the body or out of my body when I wrote it I know not. God knows". (1, 2)

Oh that we would be overcome by the beauty and power of that vision.

Grasping the Vision
The lengthy vision embodies a love story of powerful intervention into the sufferings of humanity, the eventual destruction of death and evil, and the renewal of all things.

Specifically, it is a journey through many prophesies about the Messiah (Jesus Christ), His birth, sufferings, death, and resurrection, and His promised return to wipe away sorrow, destroy death, and make all things new. (3)

It is a vision about love, mercy, forgiveness, and redemption, encompassing the incomprehensible sacrifice and sufferings of Christ to intervene for all who accept His payment on their behalf. (4) 'He came to pay a debt he didn't owe, because we owed a debt we couldn't pay.'  His work gives us great hope and joy even in the midst of pain. It reinstates our place in His Kingdom, now and forever.

The vision is also about justice, judgement and vengeance. ' king of kings and lord of lords', a prominent line in 'Hallelujah Chorus', is from Revelation amidst a description of Christ and his armies destroying the forces of evil. (5)

At first, that may not sound like peace. But think of it. All the murder, rape, theft, and injustice of history, and even death itself and the enemy behind it all will be judged, avenged and destroyed.

Jesus warned things will get worse before they get better. (6) This Lord of the Rings video gives a glimpse of what that day may look like.

We need this vision. It is much larger and more powerful than any troubling headline of our day. 

Peace on Earth?
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." So the angels declared as they announced the birth of Christ that first Christmas night many years ago. (7) Dare we believe it?

I believe we can. The book of Revelation in the New Testament proclaims that countless people from every nation will praise God, (8)  and that the "the leaves of the 'tree of life' will be for the healing of the nations." (9)

The nations at peace. No more death or mourning or crying or pain. All things made new. All injustices undone and made right. 

That's something to hope for.

Hallelujah Chorus!
Andres Rieu directed the choir in the video below, telling his audience "no matter what last year brought to you, I know of no music that brings more joy and more hope than this song". The optics of his choir are powerful too, an illustration of the nations praising God.

As you listen, ponder the vision Handel and others have experienced. 
 
May you experience the King of Kings this Christmas season and for all eternity!

HANDEL - Messiah (Johann Strauss Orchestra and Harlem Gospel Choir) from Joe Orgill plus joe.orgill.slcc on Vimeo.

From Andre Rieu's "Live From Radio City Music Hall" in New York City 2004.

Hallalujah Chorus Lyrics
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah!
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah!

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah!

The kingdom of this world is become
The kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ!
And he shall reign for ever and ever!

King of kings and Lord of lords!
King of kings and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever!
Forever and ever!

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah!

Footnotes:

1. https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1701-1800/messiah-and-george-frideric-handel-11630237.html

http://www.gfhandel.org/handel/anecdotes.html

2. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4

3. For a list of verses in Messiah, see website: http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/libretti/messiah.htm

4. Without the intervention of Christ, no one could stand in the presence of God and live, for we are imperfect and sinful. Isaiah understood this when, in a vision similar to that in Revelation, he cried "“Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and...my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:5) See also Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:13.

5. 'I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war...He is dressed in a robe soaked with blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:  king of kings and lord of lords.'  Revelation 19:11-16

6. Matthew 24:3-9

7. Luke 2:14

8. "...there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:"
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”  Revelation 7:9-10

9. Revelation 22:1-2

Hidden Figures

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"
                                         Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The movie "Hidden Figures", set in the early days of NASA in the 1960s, does a great job of illustrating the blatant racism so prevalent in American culture at that time. Some of the scenes seem shocking by today's standards; for example, having a "colored bathroom" or "colored coffee pot". Thankfully there were people courageous enough to take a stand against racism and in so doing, changed our culture.

"Hidden Figures" was thought provoking and afterwards I pondered: Are there significant issues in our culture that we may be blind to today? As I prayed about this, the words of the Psalmist came to mind: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body." (Psalm 139:13-16, italics mine)

Alternate Hidden Figures

Dr. Alveda C. King.

Psalm 139 answered my question, revealing a different angle to the term "hidden figures". Unborn children may be hidden to us, but not to God. This brings up a very controversial topic in our culture: abortion. I am uncomfortable with controversy and would rather keep a low profile on such things. But I am immediately challenged by scenes from the movie, where people had the courage to confront racism, even though it was scary and uncomfortable for them.

Interestingly, Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., views the pro-life movement as a continuation of the civil rights struggle. She had two abortions that she later regretted, but testifies she now has peace through God's forgiveness and healing. (1) She is Director of Civil Rights for the Unborn.

 Abortion has been called a modern-day holocaust (2) by none other than Norma McCorvey. You may know her as "Jane Roe" in Roe v. Wade; Roe petitioned for abortion rights in that Supreme Court decision. Norma McCorvey later regretted her role in Roe v. Wade and spent the rest of her life trying to overturn it. Her life was also transformed after coming to faith in Christ. 

Truth and Grace 
The topic of abortion needs to be discussed truthfully but with compassion towards persons in crisis. Dietrich Bonhoeffer addressed it well:

Destruction of the embryo in the mother’s womb is a violation of the right to live which God has bestowed upon this nascent life. To raise the question whether we are here concerned already with a human being or not is merely to confuse the issue. The simple fact is that God certainly intended to create a human being and that this nascent human being has been deliberately deprived of his life. And that is nothing but murder.

A great many different motives may lead to an action of this kind; indeed in cases where it is an act of despair, performed in circumstances of extreme human or economic destitution and misery, the guilt may often lie rather with the community than with the individual. Precisely in this connection money may conceal many a wanton deed, while the poor man’s more reluctant lapse may far more easily be disclosed.

All these considerations must no doubt have a quite decisive influence on our personal and pastoral attitude towards the person concerned, but they cannot in any way alter the fact of murder. (3)
 
Protect the Hidden Figures
Unfortunately the rhetoric surrounding the pro-life v. pro-choice debate is often harsh and divisive. However, as a Christian my conscience tells me abortion is wrong. Should I be silent about this? I think not. As Bonhoeffer wrote: "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act."

As a Christian I also believe that people facing difficult decisions about (or consequences of) abortion deserve compassion and help. In Manhattan, Kansas I am happy to support (along with my church) Life Choice Ministries (4), which "exists to serve the needs of women & families dealing with issues of sexual activity and pregnancy crisis". If you find yourself in such a crisis, I encourage you to contact them or someone like them in your community (Note: Please do NOT go to Planned Parenthood).

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
    they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Footnotes:
(1) http://www.priestsforlife.org/staff/alvedaking.htm
(2) Since Roe v. Wade there have been more than 59 million abortions in the US.
(3) Dietrich Bonhoeffer, as quoted in Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer, 472, paragraphing added.
(4) www.lifechoiceks.org/

The Arrival

Advent: the arrival of a notable person or event 

Advent is the season leading up to Christmas. A time when Christians celebrate God coming to earth in human form (Jesus Christ) to save his people from their sins (1). An incredible act of love and humility (2).

The Humanity of Christ
Near the end of his earthly life, Jesus was hailed by people as a king as he entered Jerusalem. Yet as he approached the city, he wept (3).

Earlier, Jesus wept as he stood at the tomb of his friend Lazarus, who had recently died (4).

Jesus' weeping is a powerful example of his humanity. But the reasons why he wept may not be as apparent as you think.

For example, as he approached Jerusalem he wept not for himself even though he knew he would be tortured and crucified within the week.

As he stood by his friend's tomb, he wasn't weeping for Lazarus, for he knew that within minutes he would raise Lazarus from the dead! (5)

'And Jesus Wept' Statue at the national memorial for the
bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The Divinity of Christ
Jesus' tears reflect his humanity, but they also reflect his divinity. Throughout the Bible, God expresses grief over the condition of humanity. (6)

At the tomb, Jesus wept when he saw the people sobbing and grieving the death of Lazarus, and a deep anger welled up within him. (7) He wept because he was saddened by their pain and sorrow, but why was he angry? I believe he was angry at death and sin (8), which are the cause of suffering and grief. His response was to exercise his power over death by raising Lazarus.

Jesus also knew that many didn't understand, and some even rejected who he was and why he came. As Jesus approached Jerusalem weeping he said "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—". (9)

The Prince of Peace (10) was entering into their presence, but they knew it not despite his constant attempts throughout his life to explain it.

"—but now it is hidden from your eyes.", he continued, "The days will come upon you when your enemies will encircle you and...dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls...because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” (11)

Who Do You Say That I Am?
This is a question each of us must answer about Jesus Christ.

When Jesus asked his disciples that question, Peter correctly answered “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (12).

This advent, I urge you to reflect on the arrival of the 'Son of the living God', who came to rescue you from the power of sin and death. (13)

My prayer is that you will recognize the time of God's coming to you, before his weeping stops.


Footnotes

Risen - The Movie

“I have seen two things which cannot reconcile. A man dead without question. And that same man alive again”
                                                - Clavius, Roman Military Tribune

The Resurrection from a Skeptics Perspective
If you haven't yet seen the movie "Risen", I highly recommend it. With a great cast, impressive production budget, and of course a great story line, you will be entertained and find yourself pondering the events surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

This movie isn't just for Christians. The producers worked hard to maintain Scriptural authenticity while balancing it with cinematic creativity. They had a broader cross section of cultural society in mind for an audience (rather than Christians only) as they produced the movie, and I believe they hit their mark.

A Personal Journey
The movie is the story of a man's personal journey. Clavius is a military leader assigned with the task of ensuring that three criminals being crucified are dead before sunset, even if he has to hurry it along. He apparently is aware that one of them claimed to be a king of some kind, but he is indifferent. By the time he arrived at the site of the crucifixion, Christ had already died.

To me, the scene of the crucifixion is amazingly haunting and thought provoking. And of course as a Christian I was moved by the depth of love that Christ exhibited for me (and all his followers) by suffering and dying that way. Later in the movie I was also moved by the tenderness of the resurrected Christ towards Peter and Thomas as they wept over their earlier denial and doubt, respectively, of their leader Y’shua (Jesus). It is a beautiful picture of Y’shua's posture towards all of us who follow him, yet are imperfect.

But I get ahead of myself! After Christ's body disappeared from the tomb, Clavius was ordered to find the body at all costs in order to put down a rumor beginning to circulate that the man Jesus had risen from the dead. So Clavius began a relentless search, which required him to play the role of detective. He aggressively chased down and interrogated anyone who had spoken of Christ being alive again, and also searched for his disciples and close followers who may have known where the body was. But the evidence he found was not what he expected, and eventually it led him to write down the words quoted at the top of this post.

The Implications of The Resurrection
This movie is not preachy or cheese ball as some Christian-themed movies of the past have (unfortunately) been. But it does explore a historical event that is foundational to Christianity. For as the Apostle Paul himself said: "...if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith" (1). But he then went on to say: "But the truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries." (2) If that is true, then the implications of the resurrection are profound for your own life and is at the very least worth serious consideration, including an examination of the strong historical evidence for the resurrection of Christ. (3)

However, regardless of what you think of the resurrection story, this movie is worth viewing.


Footnotes:
(1) 1 Corinthians 15:14
(2) 1 Corinthians 15:20
(3) William Lane Craig wrote an excellent article on the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ at this link:  http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-resurrection-of-jesus

Below is a lecture by William Lane Craig on the same topic, presented at Yale University.

Jesus and Joy

At Christmastime, we Christians celebrate Jesus' birth as a real baby 2000 years ago. God comes to Earth in human form. (1) (2)

But why did he come? There is a lot more to it, but we are given a clue in Hebrews 12:2:

Because of the joy awaiting him, [Jesus] endured the cross, disregarding its shame.

And what was the joy awaiting him? (Sorry, as a professor I can't help but to ask questions!)

A little background is required here. At the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden (3) (hinted at at the beginning of the video in this post, or at this link: http://youtu.be/gmnSnNC8UJk?list=FL54WMG1VODIB2lLnCmBkn5w), something profound was lost. We lost our ability to commune with our Creator - God.

But God lost something too...

He lost us.

And losing us was more than He was willing to bear. He loved us too much to not offer a rescue, even though such a rescue would be costly.

Adoration of the Lamb, painting by Jan van Eyck (1432).
More information at: http://www.artbible.info/art/large/187.html

Jesus Christ, the Son of God and perfect Lamb (4), would have to die an atoning death on the cross in our place. It was the only way.

He came to pay a debt he didn't owe, because we owed a debt we couldn't pay.

Back to the question: What was the joy awaiting Jesus by enduring the cross?

The joy awaiting him was relationship with US...our restoration with God for eternity, for those who receive him! (5)

He finds JOY in making us whole! (6)

No wonder the Bible is about Him, that so many songs have been sung and so much has been written about Him, and that so many lives have been transformed by Him throughout the centuries.

What a comforting truth to hold onto at Christmastime and throughout the coming year!

Footnotes:

A Mysterious, Beautiful Fog

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth -

Put out my hand and touched the Face of God.

From poem High Flight, by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Sitting by a Piper Pawnee C, which I flew as an aerial applicator

Dang! I thought to myself as I woke up at 5 am that Sunday morning in the summer of 1980. I had hoped and prayed to awaken to the sound of a strong wind or perhaps rain outside. But besides a few crickets, all I heard was silence. I peered anxiously out my window and could see the stars shining brightly. It looked like a beautiful day for crop dusting, and therein laid my dilemma.

One week earlier my pastor had asked if I would read Scripture at church on this Sunday morning. I was excited and honored to be asked, and readily accepted. However, even as I accepted I felt trepidation about asking my boss at the airport if I could take off a couple of hours to go to church. He was a stern man and not a churchgoer. And in the business of crop dusting you flew whenever the weather was agreeable, no questions asked. But I figured sometime during the week I would find an opportunity (and the nerve) to ask for time off.

Well, you’ve probably guessed that one week later, on the Sunday I was scheduled to read at church (my name was probably in the program too), I hadn’t yet asked my boss. Okay, not the most responsible, I’ll admit. But I was for the most part afraid of my boss, and especially of what his reaction would likely be to my request (like maybe come at me with an axe or something! Maybe I’m exaggerating, but only a little)!

As I pedaled my bicycle down to the airport, which was only one mile from my home, I contemplated and prayed about how I might handle this. Finally, like any good procrastinator, I decided I would fly a couple of loads and then ask my boss closer to 10:30 am (when church began). I reasoned (okay, hoped against hope) that MAYBE he would be more willing to give me a couple of hours off, if I worked a few hours first.

Later that morning as I nosed my airplane back towards the airport, I knew that show-time had arrived and I either had to ask for time off or take the coward’s route – to just let it go and then tell my pastor I couldn’t get off work. Oh man, I had been so sure I should accept my pastor’s invitation and was genuinely sorry I had let it go this far. I prayed that somehow this would turn out well despite my bungling.

As I approached the airport, I could not have been prepared for what would happen next. I noticed a few
wisps of fog moving up from the river, which was about ½ mile from the airport. No big deal, I thought, as this late in the morning the fog probably wouldn’t amount to much; fog was rarely an issue, and even then only around dawn. But I had no sooner landed my airplane when the fog closed in so thick that there was no way we could fly. I was still processing this when my boss stunned me by telling me that I might as well go home until the fog lifted (he easily could have found work for me to do at the airport).

What could I say? This was no coincidence. The timing was too perfect. This was a very personal response from God to my desperate prayers, and a rescue from my mishandling of this situation. I raced home, changed clothes, and made it to church just in time. Interestingly, the fog stayed during the entire church service! After church, the fog lifted and I was flying again by early afternoon. I don’t think I ever told my boss about any of this.

Slipping the surly bonds of Earth in my Piper Cub!

Now, more than 30 years later, I clearly remember the events of that morning. In my heart, I know I experienced a miracle - a small one, perhaps, but a miracle, nonetheless. Through it I learned something about God’s wonderful nature and was drawn closer to him.

Perhaps this seems a small deal. And it may beg the question of why other prayers seemingly go unanswered – big prayers; life and death prayers. I don’t have all the answers but I believe the Apostle Paul was speaking to this when he said: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7). These verses instruct us to thank God even before we know the outcome of our prayers; that we are not to be anxious but to trust that no matter how he answers, he is good and will give us a supernatural peace.

God may not always send a “fog” to rescue me from difficult situations, but I am slowly learning that he is always near, he is in control, and I can trust him in any situation.

Let Mercy Come

"So let mercy come
And wash away
What I’ve done"
                    Linkin Park

Regrets
The 2007 song by Linkin Park, "What I've Done", is another example of how popular music reflects a broken humanity (listen below or click the following link to listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8sgycukafqQ). This song stunningly describes a desperate need that, although not acknowledged in the song, is answered directly by Christianity. (1)

 

Who among us doesn't have regrets for things we've done? The thing is, how do we cope with them? Especially if they have resulted in shame, anxiety, depression, despair, hopelessness, etc. 
Haunted by the Past
Many years ago I watched a PBS special about a man who had served in the Chinese Army during the Cultural Revolution. As a young soldier he was impressionable and wanted to please his "superiors" (commanding officers); perhaps he also feared what would happen to him if he didn't carry out their orders. Although he inherently knew it was wrong, he apparently had executed and possibly even tortured people. Now, many years later, the horrific images of what he had done were tormenting him. No matter what he tried, he couldn't shake the regrets of the past, and his life was shattered. 

Forgive Myself
The song by Linkin Park takes a stab at what we should do:

"I'll face myself
To cross out what I’ve become
Erase myself
And let go of what I’ve done
I start again
And whatever pain may come
Today this ends
I’m forgiving what I’ve done!!!"

The song acknowledges that "sins" from the past must be faced and dealt with. But consider this statement from a person trying to cope with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)(2).

"I was wrong, even though it's over.....the shame.....it is so deep, so embedded. ...[nothing] will ever change the fact that I did it. Oh geeze, why would I go against my most fundamental beliefs? How can I ever forgive myself? How can I live with myself? As hard as I work at overcoming.......that shame will never disappear."

Pain doesn't have to come from PTSD to make forgiveness of oneself impossible. Consider this excerpt from another, older popular song (Careless Whispers, by George Michaels) about regret from being unfaithful to a lover:

Time can never mend
Guilty feelings...
Though it's easy to pretend
And to the heart and mind,
Ignorance is kind.
There's no comfort in the truth,
Pain is the home you'll find.

I applaud Linkin Park for recognizing a deep-seated need in the human soul to be forgiven, to cleanse ourselves from the "sins" of our past. But their solution, while on the right track, falls very short. Simply trying to forgive myself by the power of my own will may the best our post-modern, secular world has to offer, but true forgiveness requires much more. Hear how an old saint describes what typically happens when we try to accomplish something like this by using our own strength:

What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise...I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it...My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? (3) 

He Took the Punishment that Made Us Whole
We are entering Passion Week, depicting the entrance of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem and his subsequent torture, crucifixion, and resurrection from the dead. The events of that week are powerfully described in chapters 18-20 of the book of John; I urge you to read it!

But to make a long story short, the cost of our forgiveness is high, much greater than we can muster through our own strength. Receiving forgiveness requires a power from beyond ourselves. That is why the crucifixion of Christ is so crucial to Christianity, because it represents true payment and the ONLY way to find relief from and forgiveness for our sins. Seven hundred years before Christ, the prophet Isaiah foretold what would be accomplished by Jesus on the cross:

Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted. 
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all. (4)

We are promised that if we accept his sacrifice on our behalf, we are no longer condemned; we are forgiven! That is what the blood of Christ accomplished, and it is the only form of forgiveness that can give you real peace. Here is how it is described:

With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. (5)

If you feel the need for forgiveness, it is available to you. Why not accept the only forgiveness that is genuine, deep, healing, and everlasting? 

Footnotes:

Les Miserables - Life Killed the Dream I Dreamed

“If I speak with the tongues of men and angels but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” I Corinthians 13:1.

Me, Go to a Musical?

They say music is the language of men and angels.

I was skeptical as I went to the see the movie Les Miserables, because I am not a big fan of musicals. I had seen the 1998, non-musical version of Les Miserables starring Liam Neeson, which was very good. Perhaps viewing that version helped me to follow the musical version now showing at the theaters; I don't know. But the bottom line was that I was not prepared for how much this movie would move me. It literally brought me to tears not once, but many times through the movie (watch trailer below or click here).

Hope and Joy  This movie powerfully brings you through themes of tragedy and destitution, merciless legalism and self righteousness, mercy and redemption, and freedom, love, and self-sacrifice. There is a scene where Ann Hathaway, at the depths of despair, sings a beautiful but heart-wrenching song that concludes:  I had a dream my life would be so different from this hell I'm living...Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

But there was one man, Jean Valjean, who intervened in her world. I'm not going to go through a step-by-step review of the movie. But one thing this movie caused in me was self examination. How do I respond to people? Do I judge them based on outward appearance? Do I love them, especially if it requires involvement and self-sacrifice? I wish I could say I have always acted in love. But as is so elegantly demonstrated in this movie, there is hope. Any of us can change...we can be redeemed and transformed. Indeed, the lives of others may count on it. For you never know when you may be the only person who can make a difference in in someone else's life.(1)

I highly recommend that you see this movie. With a great cast (Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, and Amanda Seyfried), great cinematography, and most of all a great message, its a pretty sure bet you won't be disappointed. Footnotes:

Your Original Glory

"I daresay we've heard a bit about 'original sin', but not nearly enough about 'original glory', which comes before sin and is deeper to our nature"      John Eldredge

The truest part of us isn't our sin or
our struggle, it is our redemption.

Stairway to Paradise, by Thomas Kinkade. When I saw this
painting I was deeply moved. To me it is a vision of what is to
come. Walking up the stairs and into the beautiful light beyond...

I was born an original sinner, I was born in original sin... So went the lyrics of the pop song "Missionary Man" by the Eurythmics in the 80's. For most of my adult life even as a Christian I identified myself as a "sinner". Granted, I believed I was saved by grace, but I didn't really understand grace. To me, grace was an old lady at church whose name was "Grace", and she was kinda scary to me as a kid!

The Heart is Desperately Wicked

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, wrote the prophet Jeremiah (1). Look around at all of the heinous happenings in our world brought on by mankind and it is easy to believe. Even Jesus said: ...how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (2). I grew up in the church but somehow I remained pinned down by my belief that even though I was saved by grace, I was at my core still a sinner ("snow-covered dung", if you will). Perhaps this conviction was subconscious, but nevertheless it kept me from experiencing the freedom, joy, LIFE in Christ that seemed to be promised in the Scriptures.

A few years ago I read Waking the Dead by John Eldredge, and he took this crippling belief head on (This book rocked my world!). To say that our hearts are wicked even after coming to Christ is untrue and unbiblical, Eldredge said, [this belief] is a religious fog of poison gas from the pit of hell.

I Will Give You a New Heart

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (3). Jesus came to give us "heart surgery", so to speak. To remove our "wicked heart" and replace it with a noble and good heart. Does that sound almost like heresy or blasphemy? Many of my friends in the church seem uncomfortable with it (unfortunately). But I believe that this is part of what makes the Gospel such very good news. And without understanding that as Christians we have good hearts, we will never live the victorious, powerful lives that Christ intends for us. The truest part of you isn't your sin!

Consider this: Your story didn't start with sin and it does not end with sin.

When God created man and woman, we are told that he looked on them and called them good (4). Have you ever considered that when God created you, he endowed you with a glory unique to you that is good? (5,6) I had never thought of that. That is your "original glory".

Our story didn't begin with sin!

Obviously we live in a fallen world and thus, have been marred with sin (hence, 'original sin'). And without accepting Christ and repenting of our sins, we remain marred. But Jesus told us that he came "to seek and to save what was lost" (7). He came to restore our hearts. "God made him who had no sin [Jesus] to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (8). In Christ we have been transformed, even as we are being transformed (9). We've been given a new, good heart; he is restoring our original glory (10)!

Our story doesn't end with sin!

Let all of this sink in for a moment. Does it change anything or cause a hope or thrill to rise from deep within you? If you are a Christian, you have much more to rejoice about than you ever imagined. If you aren't a Christian, why miss out on such an offer? He extends it to everyone! (11)

Footnotes:

Beauty For Ashes

...he will give a crown of beauty for ashes. Isaiah 61:3

Burning the tallgrass prairie in NE Kansas

in the spring, which leads to new growth

the rest of the season!

My engagement was over.  And like the YouTube clip of the "Destruction of the USS Enterprise" in my last post (Coming to the End of Myself), my life felt shattered. My "destruction" wasn't visibly spectacular like the Enterprise as it blazed through the atmosphere towards Earth, but emotionally it seemed like it. I felt alone and sad. Such was my life in August 2002, and I didn't bounce back quickly either (as some of my friends know).

But God was using this situation to break several of my dysfunctional habits. Or as John Eldredge describes it in Wild at Heart, God was shattering my false self. One thing God destroyed was my belief that I was inferior. Although I felt incredibly inferior right after the breakup (I felt rejected, after all), God taught me that I was valued by him, and in Christ I was inferior to no one. Learning this was not just through an intellectual analysis of the Scriptures, although they certainly speak of our incredible value to God. My learning this was also at the heart level, through personal revelation from God (through a sort of vision). He didn't speak audibly but his communication with me was so personal and real that I now have no doubt of my worth to him. Although I sometimes still struggle with feeling inferior, I know in my deepest heart that I am not inferior but rather a child of the King of kings!

This Sunday is Easter (Resurrection) Sunday. As Christians, we believe that Jesus was literally resurrected from the dead (1). Think of it, power over death! This fills me with incredible wonder!! Because of Christ's resurrection, we know and are promised that we too will one day be resurrected (2). And if Jesus has power over death, he can certainly bring clarity and healing to the mess that we make of our lives! He can make all things new! (3) The Scriptures tell us that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (4) And although the process won't be completed until we arrive in heaven, we don't have to wait till then for the healing and restoration to begin.

But before God can begin our restoration, our old life has to be dealt with. Watchman Nee put it this way: God sets us free from the dominion of sin, not by strengthening our old man, but by crucifying him; not by helping him do anything but by removing him from the scene (5).  Or as Paul, the former Christian slayer himself said My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me (6).

In August 2002 my life seemed to be ashes, emotionally almost without hope. But God can work good through all things to those who love him (7), and he used that tragedy to bring new life to me. I now know my worth in Jesus. And in 2007 I married a beautiful woman, and we are very happy!

Happy Easter!!

Footnotes:

Invasion at Bethlehem

"Christmas is the most stunning rescue story of all time. Under cover of night, in a remote village in Palestine, in a world held captive by the dark prince, God comes to earth as a human being, a little boy. He invades the human race in order to rescue the human race...The beauty of the act cannot be adequately expressed."  John Eldredge

"God has too much on his mind and is way too busy maintaining this huge universe to be concerned about me and my problems!", a friend once told me. Undoubtedly my friend isn't the only person in the world who has felt this way.

Christmas is the perfect time to ponder this. After all, what is Christmas and what does it say about God and what he thinks about us? The next couple of blog posts will be dedicated to this.

In "The Return of the King" (Lord of the Rings), Aragorn takes his

rightful place on the throne of Gondor. This is symbolic of Christ,

who is the King of kings and will one day return in this role

(Revelation 17:14) (5).

To me, Christmas demonstrates an intentionality in God's love...of God's "coming for us." At Bethlehem, God through Jesus "personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all" (1). But his birth was opposed. Recall that after Jesus' birth, King Herod killed all the baby boys who were 2 years old or younger in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill the prophesied King Jesus (2). Revelation 12 presents a fascinating description of the tumultuous events surrounding the birth of Christ, and offers an alternative perspective from the peaceful nativity scenes we typically see at Christmastime. To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, Christmas represents an invasion into enemy-occupied territory (the world) by the rightful king (Jesus) (3), who came to cast out the evil "ruler of this world" (4). Spiritually speaking, this is no silent night. It is D-Day. God came to rescue us! (See my earlier post The Great Rescue).

This is good news, and is the meaning behind the words "A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices" in the Christmas song "Oh Holy Night"!

So Jesus came to "set right" humanity (yeah!), but humanity is mighty large. And a single person can get lost or feel very small or insignificant among 7 billion people. But be encouraged, the Gospel really is good news and by its very nature is personal and intimate! Let's look at that side of Christmas with the next blog post. Stay tuned...(see post "Immanuel - God With Us").

                                                                                                            
Footnotes: