Communication

Christmas Eve 2011

The email subject line read: “Polar Bear Attacks Man.” The message itself said, “Warning: The following pictures document an actual polar bear attacking a man. The pictures were taken while people watched and  could do nothing to stop the attack! Reports from the local newspaper say that the victim will make a full recovery.” And then you scroll down to look at the pictures.

The information was accurate but misleading. When you first heard “Polar Bear Attacks Man” I doubt these are the images that popped into your head. And that is the problem with communication. You may say something that is true and correct, but that does not mean others will understand what you are trying to convey to them. Communication is a difficult thing. People do not always understand what you tell them.

A while back I came across an article about people ordering cakes for special occasions. You would think that ordering a cake would be a simple thing, and it usually is. The problems come from what people want put on the top of the cake. Someone ordered a cake for her daughter’s graduation. She told them she wanted a graduation cap, some flowers, and the year. They asked her if she wanted anything else on the cake and she said, “I want sprinkles.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One lady ordered a cake to celebrate the birth of a baby girl. They asked “What do you want on the cake?” She said, “Why don’t you write ‘Welcome Baby’ in pink.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can hear the person saying “Best Wishes Suzanne” Underneath that “We will miss you.” And that’s what they got.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This last person knew this bakery’s reputation, so when asked what he wanted on his cake, he answered “Nothing.” Be careful what you ask for!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Communication can be very difficult. I have found that to be true in my profession. Sometimes people hear me say things that I don’t say. It is hard to accurately convey a message in a way that it will be understood by others. You may think you have made yourself clear, that you got your point across, only to be completely misunderstood. The video that played at the beginning of the worship service had all those children sharing their misconceptions and misunderstandings about the birth of Jesus. I can picture the teachers and parents sharing the story only to be surprised to hear the children share what they heard and understood. This illustrates just how difficult communication can be. This is true on every level of our existence, whether it be the guy working on your car, the person on the other end of the telephone, a subordinate at work, your neighbor across the street or the person to whom you are married. Communication takes work and effort and care if you are going to do it properly.

The same is true for God communicating with His creation. He tells us what we need to know, but we don’t always hear Him, we don’t always understand Him. He told the first people “Don’t eat the fruit of that tree or you will die.” Well maybe He didn’t really mean that. They ate, and so we all die. Ever since, God has been clear and consistent with His message. “You’ve sinned. You deserve death. I’m going to send you a Savior.” That message didn’t change, but people have not always understood it, or they have refused to listen. What we had was a failure to communicate. And that is why the Word Became Flesh.  God came down to make Himself known to mankind in terms that we could understand. He came as one of us, someone we could relate to. He lived among us. He lived the life of perfection God’s righteousness demands. And then offered that life as payment for our sins. That is God’s message. Everyone who hears and takes this message to heart receives forgiveness and life and salvation for Jesus’ sake. That is why the Word became Flesh – to communicate this message to the world.

As I already illustrated, the lack of communication can at times be amusing. It can also be disastrous. If people do not hear God’s message, if they do not understand it, if they do not come to faith, if they do not know and believe in the reconciliation accomplished through Jesus, they will not get what He earned for them. That means death and condemnation. We should not want that for anyone, to go to hell. God doesn’t. He wants His promise of life and forgiveness and salvation to be known. He wants everyone to come to faith in Jesus and be saved.

Paul Harvey had a wonderful ability to share stories. What follows is one that he shared for many years on his radio broadcast at Christmastime.

Now the man to whom I’m going to introduce you was not a scrooge, he was a kind, decent, mostly good man. Generous to his family, upright in his dealings with other men. But he just didn’t believe all that incarnation stuff which the churches proclaim at Christmas Time. It just didn’t make sense and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn’t swallow the Jesus Story, about God coming to Earth as a man. “I’m truly sorry to distress you,” he told his wife, “but I’m not going with you to church this Christmas Eve.” He said he’d feel like a hypocrite. That he’d much rather just stay at home, but that he would wait up for them. And so he stayed and they went to the midnight service.

Shortly after the family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window to watch the flurries getting heavier and heavier and then went back to his fireside chair and began to read his newspaper. Minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound. Then another, and then another. Sort of a thump or a thud. At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against his living room window. But when he went to the front door to investigate he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They’d been caught in the storm and, in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his large landscape window.

Well, he couldn’t let the poor creatures lie there and freeze, so he remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter, if he could direct the birds to it. Quickly he put on a coat, galoshes, tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on a light, but the birds did not come in. He figured food would entice them in. So he hurried back to the house, fetched bread crumbs, sprinkled them on the snow, making a trail to the yellow-lighted wide open doorway of the stable. But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs, and continued to flap around helplessly in the snow. He tried catching them. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around them waving his arms. Instead, they scattered in every direction, except into the warm, lighted barn.

And then, he realized, that they were afraid of him. To them, he reasoned, I am a strange and terrifying creature. If only I could think of some way to let them know that they can trust me. That I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them. But how? Because any move he made tended to frighten them, confuse them. They just would not follow. They would not be led or shooed because they feared him. “If only I could be a bird,” he thought to himself, “and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to the safe warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see, and hear and understand.”

At that moment the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind. And he stood there listening to the bells – Adeste Fidelis – listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas. And he sank to his knees in the snow.

What will it take for the Good News of God become man, the Word made flesh, to get through to people? Has it gotten through to you? Is it in your heart? How will it be communicated to others? Will you be one who shares it?

Immanuel. God with us. Born as one of us to be our Savior, our Redeemer, the one who would pay the price for all sin. God wants to communicate this message. He wants you to know that. He wants everyone to know that.

You Are The Message

One church sends in its statistical report year after year that looks like this:

Number of members added by Baptism                            0

Number of members added by Confirmation                   0

Number of members transferred In                                   0

Amount raised for Home Missions                                    0

Amount raised for Foreign Missions                                  0

At the end of the report is this statement: Pray for us, brothers, that we may continue faithful to the end.

Too many congregations are accurately described by that report. In fact, there are enough similarities here at Grace that should make us at least squirm a bit. I know that a successful ministry is not determined simply by numbers, but what we should ask ourselves, individually and as a congregation, is this: Where is our focus?

I know I’ve said this before: we do a pretty good job of caring for one another here in this congregation. Not perfect, but pretty good. Where I think we fall short is in our witness to the community, at least on the congregational level.

Do you know how people around here identify our congregation? When people ask me what I do, I tell them I am a pastor. When they ask what church, I tell them “Grace Lutheran.” Most of them will ask where it is, so I tell them. And more often than not they get a look on their faces that tells me they have made a connection. You know what they say? “Oh, you’re that church that…” What? “Oh, you’re that church that puts up the crosses.” That’s a good thing. It gives me a chance to tell them what we believe, that God loves life, all life, including those not yet born. And I can tell them that God loves them so much so that He was willing to let His Son die to pay for the sins of all people. Like I said, that’s a good thing. It is a positive identification in the minds of people. That’s a lot better than when I first came here. Those of you who have been around for a while know what I’m talking about. We used to be known as “that church that owns the liquor store,” even though that was never true. Many in this community had a negative view of our congregation. Now they have, for the most part, a positive image of Grace. And that is good.

So why do I stand up here today and suggest that our focus is wrong? Consider this. What would it be like if when you identified yourself as a member of Grace Lutheran Church, people would say, “Oh, you’re that church that cares about people. You’re that church that helps the community. You’re that church that really shows God’s love to everyone.” What would it take for us to be THAT church? What has to happen for people to think of Grace and think not just “See how they love each other” but also “See how they love everyone?”

Let’s consider the church in Thessalonica. When Paul started his letter to them, he described how they were known outside of their community: And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it…  “The Message” puts it this way: “The news of your faith in God is out.  We don’t even have to say anything more – you’re the message!” The way they lived was clear evidence of their faith in God. They were the message. Would Paul look at us as a congregation and say the same thing? Are we a model to believers around us?  Do we live out our faith individually and corporately in a way that shows Jesus to this community? If not, what do we have to do to make it so?

Paul marvels at the quality of character the believers in Thessalonica possessed.  Inspired by their hope in Christ, their lives are a reflection of Jesus to others. Knowing they are members of God’s kingdom, sharers in His glory, and having the hope of joining Jesus in heaven is something that shows in their living. This is true in spite of being persecuted for their faith in Christ.

God promises to provide for you, protect you and to give you strength. You are not exempt from suffering. In fact many believers in the world today are being martyred, abused, and denied basic human rights. For many people being a Christian means taking up a cross of persecution. And those are the places from which we hear testimony about amazing displays of faithfulness.

Is that what it will take for us to prove faithful, persecution? I don’t think so. What we need to do as a congregation is take seriously the Good News we have. God has revealed to us his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. We are the ones who have been rescued. We are those who have been washed from our sins by the death of Jesus. Our faith lays hold of God’s promise and assures us of forgiveness for all sins and eternal life. With that Good News and assurance in our possession, we are called not to just tell others about Jesus, but to be Jesus to them.

You may nod your heads in agreement, but talking about it is easy. Doing it is another thing entirely. In this passage, Paul says that the believers in Thessalonica endured in their faith because they were inspired by the hope that came from believing in Jesus. They had an “inspired endurance.” They remained faithful and showed God’s love in spite of difficulties.

• It is easy to forgive your neighbor, until he does something really mean. Then you are tempted to strike back and hold a grudge.
• It is easy to be faithful in worship and Bible Study attendance, until you get company over the weekend or you stay up too late the night before.
• It is easy to support for the work of the congregation financially as long as you still have money to do everything else you want to do and buy what you want to buy.
• It is easy to support the education programs of the congregation as long as someone else teaches the classes.
• It is easy to bear witness to Jesus as long as it doesn’t interfere with your social activities.
• It is easy to love others as long as they love you and don’t do anything that makes you mad.

Do you see how Satan is at work to keep you from being the people God wants you to be? Do you see how he is trying to keep us from being the congregation God wants us to be? God has given us a tremendous opportunity to represent Him in this place. People need to see Jesus. We have the chance to show him by the way we live, by what we do as the members of Grace Lutheran Church.

The Spirit of God has called you to faith in Jesus. This is supposed to be a transformation, a change that takes place. The change is to be such that you display the characteristics of God to the world around you. And that is what we should be showing this community as a congregation. When people look at Grace Lutheran Church, we want them to see Jesus. We know the Good News of the life and salvation that has been given to us through Jesus. And now you, all of you, are the message.

Church Picnic 2011

Memorial Day weekend we set up our tent for an outdoor worship service and a church picnic. A band from the Bonham VA called “Disciples of Christ” provided music before and after the worship service. The service included a recognition of those who had family members die in military service, those who are veterans, and those who have family members now serving in the armed forces.

The old fashioned picnic included sack races, a balloon toss, and a three-legged race. There was also a “pie contest” with thirteen entries, and Susan Knowles won the blue ribbon with an apricot/blueberry masterpiece. Gladys Longpre was third place with a rhubarb custard pie and Linda Hixson’s blueberry rhubarb was the second place entry.

The Men of Grace provided and cooked the burgers, bratwurst and hot dogs, and everyone else brought lots of great food to share.

We also held the drawing for the Ipad 2 raffled off by the Youth Group. This raised over $2000 to help the Youth attending the servant event at Camp Restore in July. The winner was Debbie Morris, a co-worker of Penny Williams.

It was a wonderful day of fresh air and fellowship and praising God together.

Special Voter’s Meeting May 22

The Church Council has called a special Voter’s Meeting for the purpose of considering the construction of a pavilion on our property. This would eliminate the need to set up our well worn and well used tent for outdoor activities, worship services, meals, and the like. The Council has secured several bids and these will be presented at this special meeting, which will be held after the late worship service on May 22. If you have questions or concerns, please contact either Lindel Davis or the Church Office.

Once Upon A Time?

OOPS!

Because of nothing more than a slip of the finger and a typographical error, several folks arrived an hour late for our Good Friday service. The time for the service was listed incorrectly on our website calendar as 8 p.m. instead of 7 p.m., the time for all our evening services. We are terribly sorry for this unfortunate mistake, and hope that you will forgive us.

Big Jungle Adventure – VBS 2011

June 13,14,15

9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Come join us for an awesome jungle adventure where kids learn about Jesus and how he cares for all of His people.  Kids will hear story from Scripture and learn to relate these Bible truths to their own FAITH JOURNEY.  We will have water games, crafts, music and the big water slide on closing day.  Lunch will be provided as well each day and also for parents at closing.  Each day we will be taking up an offering for our chosen mission.  This year we will be collecting monies for malaria nets in Africa, This will be a wonderful opportunity for everyone to hear the Good News of our Savior.  Please join us and remember to bring a friend.

To REGISTER YOUR KIDS click here!

Click here to VOLUNTEER.

 

Bible Theme Verse:
The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom.  To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen   2 Timothy 4:18

Snow Day at Grace Feb 9

Due to the predicted ice and snow storm, all activities at Grace on Feb 9 are cancelled: NO Ladies Bible Study, NO quilting, NO LWML meeting, NO Midweek. Stay home and stay safe.

Life Sunday 2011

Our display of crosses is up. We will observe Life Sunday on January 23, focusing on the high value that our God places on all human life and the forgiveness that He freely offers to everyone through Jesus Christ. Check out the photos of our display here.

Peace on Earth

December 26, 2010

[Play the video – online readers can find it here:

http://www.ignitermedia.com/mini-movies/1063/Retooning-The-Nativity  ]

We all have images in our minds of what the first Christmas looked like. Many of these images are imprinted on our memories from what we see in nativity sets, or on the cover of Christmas cards, or from television depictions, in children’s pageants, or the lyrics from Christmas Carols.

But as this little video explained, not all of those images are historically accurate. We envision that the newborn baby in a manger has a halo, as do his parents. We visualize a little drummer boy playing his drum while the animals in the stable sway and keep the beat. We imagine that the Wise Men arrive on the night of Jesus’ birth, and these Wise Men are royal kings. But all of these images are fiction, pious embellishments of the biblical story.

I’d like to direct your attention to one other fiction associated with the Christmas story today, and it has to do with the angels. When you picture the angels appearing to the shepherds, what image comes to mind? I think our artwork and mental image would have us believe that they were gentle, frail, and smooth-skinned beings dressed in flowing robes who wouldn’t hurt a flea, and that they spoke with a soothing voice, “Excuse me, could I have your attention.” Do you realize that every time an angel appeared in the Bible, it was a fearsome and awesome sight. That’s why Luke’s gospel states that the shepherds who saw the angels on Christmas night were filled with fear. Or, as the King James Version puts it, they were “sore afraid.” The appearance of these supernatural beings brought terror to the shepherds.

Accordingly, the first words out of the angel’s mouth were “Fear not.” The angels had come not to instill fear in the hearts of their viewers, but peace. That’s why their song announced “peace to God’s people on earth” (Luke 2:14).

The greeting which God delivered at Christmas could be distilled to these two words, “Fear not.” Of all the ways in which God could have come to earth, the way in which he chose to come to us says to us, “Fear not.” He could have come as he did at Mt. Sinai, with awesome displays of smoke and lightning, earthquake and thunder. God could have blazed the sky with his brilliant presence and blinding light. But instead he chose to come to us by becoming a tiny baby. He came to us in a peaceful way in order that he might impart to us his peace. All so that we need “fear not.”

Christ brought that message of peace because his mission was not to destroy sinful humans, but to reconcile himself to them. Jesus would later declare: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17). Even before Jesus was born, the angel appeared to Joseph and instructed him: “You are to call his name Jesus [which means ‘the Lord saves’], for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). On the night of Jesus’ birth the angel announced to the shepherds, “Fear not! For I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all people. For unto you is born today in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

That is why Jesus came—to be our Savior, to save his people from their sins. He didn’t stay “away in a manger.” He grew up to be a man. And as a man he lived a perfect life. You would think that this would get him far with others. But where it got him was onto a cross. Because a dark and fallen world couldn’t stand such light. Today’s scripture reading describes it this way: “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (vv. 9-11).

Think of it—God coming in peace to make peace with his people. But they turn on him to kill him. You might expect that this would mean the end of peace between God and humanity. Yet it is precisely by Christ’s death that God makes peace with us. From a wooden manger to a wooden cross—that was his mission. As the Christmas carol reminds us: “Nails, spear shall pierce him through, the cross be borne for me, for you.”

Indeed, for you the cross was borne to reconcile you to the Father. In the birth of the Prince of Peace foretold by the prophet, we have peace with God. More than that, we are adopted into God’s eternal family. “But to all who received him,” the Apostle John writes in today’s scripture reading, “he gave the right to become children of God, who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (vv. 12-13). Far from being alienated from God because of your sin, through Christ you are reconciled with him, made his children, and joined to his family. The Apostle Paul writes: “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

The Christmas message of the angel to the shepherds was “Fear not.” The message to you this Christmas as well is “Fear not.” Fear not your sin. Fear not God’s judgment. Fear not even death. Fear not! For unto you is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. In him there is peace, peace to God’s people on earth. Amen.

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