I’m fortunate to pastor one of those churches where you don’t know exactly what’s going to happen in a church service. You don’t know what God is going to do, nor for the fact of the matter – what people are going to do. Some people may be uncomfortable with that format, but I’ve discovered that you can’t put God in a box. God doesn’t always move in predictable methods – nor do people.

In a church service recently a little girl, who sometimes is a little rambunctious, slipped out the door and went down the steps to the mailbox. Down the aisle of the sanctuary she came toward the pulpit – her face beaming – she raised her arm with a fist full of mail and announced, “Preacher, you’ve got mail!”

Charles Schultz, the originator of the “Peanuts” comic strip and special television shows, had a talent of humorously zeroing in on the human personality. Charlie Brown’s friend, Lucy summed up his personality with, “You’re a good man, Charlie Brown.”

It is unfortunate that in our day and age “heroes” are not extolled or admired for their goodness but rather are noted for their “badness”. In the early history of the United States, men and women were looked up to for their goodness. Children were taught to emulate such leaders as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington Carver, Davy Crocket, Clara Barton, Susan B. Anthony, Jonathan Edwards, and William Booth. Those who helped others were honored – not those who served themselves or expected everyone to serve them – not the greedy, “ganstas”, or the “glamorous”.

I have friends and relatives who work in corrections and law enforcement. They tell me that they must stand in their place of authority. Although they show respect to the inmates and respect the danger of the criminal element, they cannot be “buddies” with them. To do so would put their lives and the lives of those they protect in jeopardy. They must stay in their position or place of authority.

As believers in Christ we have a place of authority. Adam once had dominion over the whole earth. (Genesis 1:26) When Adam sinned, he forfeited or relinquished his position of authority. (Luke 4:6) When Jesus – Immanuel – was begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, he was given the legal right to regain what was lost.

Recently, while having dinner with our son and his family, our 4 year old grandson, Noah, turned to my wife and said, “Grandma, you’ll never be lost because God is always with you!” Perhaps he had experienced being lost or learned a new truth.

Have you ever been lost? If you know and trust God, you’ll never be lost because God is always with you. Like Noah, you can experience God’s promises. “For he hath said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). “And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).

Many people set goals for the New Year. As believers we should prayerfully set spiritual goals. To have powerful and effective goals one should know the heart and mind of the Lord. Before his ascension back to heaven, Jesus revealed his purpose and power for his followers – the church. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Jesus taught that it is imperative that every believer be a witness. He sent the Holy Spirit to fill and empower every believer. Ask yourself this New Year, “Am I a witness? What kind of witness am I?” Let’s consider how we can be a more effective witness.

Bart was desperate. He was flunking fourth grade. His reputation, his career, his life would be ruined. When he flunked his book report on Treasure Island because he only knew what was on the cover was the last straw. Bart’s teachers, parents, and school psychiatrist decided that Bart should repeat the fourth grade.

Bart pleaded. “Look at my eyes,” he said, “See the sincerity? See the conviction? See the fear? I swear I’ll so better!”

Bart came up with a plan. He made a deal with Martin the Brain. He’d teach Martin how to be cool if Martin would help his pass his history exam. If he passed, Bart would be allowed to graduate.

Joshua waited with anticipation for his father to escort him downstairs to the birthday party planned in his honor. The big white house was full of happy guests and friends invited by his father. Laughter filled the house and the joyful noise of the celebration drifted upstairs to his room where Joshua waited to be escorted downstairs to the party at the appointed time.

Finally, with delight, he descended the long spiral staircase with his father. Then together they entered the vast living room. His beaming expression soon turned to one of shock, confusion, and dismay. All of the guests seemed to ignore his presence. His father tried to get their attention with his booming voice. But very few would listen or even look his way.

Israel was chosen and blessed by God. After coming into the Promised Land they decided they wanted a king like all the other nations had. They weren’t satisfied that God himself was their Sovereign protector and provider. He redeemed them from slavery and dwelt among them. They were actually rejecting God as their Sovereign Lord and Father.

God let them have a king to rule over them. He sent the prophet Samuel to anoint the one that He had chosen. Saul was not from a great or renown family but notice what God said about him, “This is the man the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all of Israel is his equal!” (I Samuel 10:24 NLT)

They don’t produce television programs like they use to. Much of the early TV programming had moral themes inter-woven in each episode. But now Hollywood and our culture has lost its moral footing. As a child, one of my favorite heroes was the Lone Ranger. After righting wrongs and helping damsels in distress, the Lone Ranger would ride into the sunset on his white horse shouting, “Hi-ho Silver!” The rescued would be left standing and asking one another, “Who was that masked man?”

In a world bombarded with greed, terror, and destruction many are searching for an answer and asking, “Who is Jesus?” The Holy Scriptures reveals that God “masked” himself with humanity when he was born of a virgin named Mary. He was called Immanuel – God come in the flesh. (Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:23; John 1) Jesus came to bring redemption, mercy, grace, truth, and justice.

I was incredulous as I saw the intense contestant miss such easy answers. How could he not know that the capital of South Dakota is Sioux Falls, or that the all time home-run hitter was not Mark McQuire, but Mickey Mantle, that Moses built and floated the ark, or that Abraham Lincoln was the seventeenth President, elected in 1776. Just think of the money that I could have won had I been the contestant!

The popularity of the game show, “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” took the television producers by surprise. The program, along with other such game show genre such as Greed, draws millions of viewers each week. Many like to second-guess the contestants, knowing that they could do a much better job if only they were in the hot seat.

Who is Jesus to you? To some, Jesus is only a myth, or a mystical mantra to give them peace, or a magic wand to satisfy their wants. To some, Jesus was a good teacher or a prophet. Some refer to Him as “The Man Upstairs.” Sadly, to many, he is only a curse word. But who is Jesus to you?

The essence of Christianity is summed up in one mind-boggling sentence: Jesus Christ is God. (John 10:30) C.S. Lewis put it bluntly: “For Christ to have talked as He talked, lived as He lived, died as He died, He was either God or a raving lunatic.”

It hit me personally almost a decade ago. As I drove into the parking lot, a wooden cutout of an old black crow and a bouquet of black balloons dancing in the wind greeted me. They announced to the world and reminded me, as if I needed reminded, of who was “over the hill”. Many have encountered the same revelation or questioning of themselves that I did that day. Some call it a “mid-life crisis”. We wonder what we really have achieved in life that is significant. Some are disappointed that their goals and expectations were not realized. Others perhaps reached their goals but wonder what’s left in life.

I could not help but notice the family sitting next to me in the restaurant one day. The harried looking mother was trying to corral her rambunctious preschoolers and get them to eat. Suddenly one of the little girls spilled her milk. As the milk ran over the table, spilling onto the floor the mother yelled, in exasperation, “You’re a bad girl! Now sit there until everyone else finishes.”

It was all I could do to restrain myself as I looked at the sobbing littler girl and the angry mother. I wanted so much to tell the mother that her little girl was not a bad girl for spilling her milk. Perhaps she needed reassurance that she was loved and that she should be more careful the next time. Would the little girl grow up thinking that every time she spilled her milk or made a mistake that she was bad, no good, worthless, or unloved?

It only takes surviving a hurricane, a fierce gale of wind at sea, a destructive tornado, or an earthquake to make one a believer in the power of mother nature. The disciples of Jesus knew what it was to face a fierce gale of wind and monster waves while trying to row a small boat at sea. On two separate occasions they encountered a storm at sea. In Matthew 14:24 the gospel tells us that “the boat was already many stadia away from land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary”. The disciples were straining at the oars.

I didn’t have an alarm clock – I didn’t really need one. Regularly at daybreak the rooster crowed awakening me from slumber. When I was just a little boy my grandmother would send me to the hen house to collect eggs. It was a dangerous assignment. In the chicken yard was a big old rooster who didn’t like me. It would constantly sneak up on me and attack me, jumping up and aiming its deadly spurs at me. One day in the hen house he came after me. I knew that if I could beat him to the door, I could slam it shut and be safe.

One has a lot of time to think and pray when you are sitting in the ER of a hospital. My mom has been sick and I found myself sitting with her in the ER waiting to see a doctor. I noticed a disabled and hearing impaired woman visiting with a doctor. Then out of the blue she asked him, “What’s your nickname?” Before he could answer he was called away and I never did find out the doc’s story. But the woman’s question got me thinking about nicknames.

When I was a boy I thought it was remarkable that many times total strangers knew my name. My parents gave me the nickname Buddy.

Caleb Quaye discovered what’s in a name. David Letterman called Eric Clapton, famed rock musician, as being the greatest guitarist who ever lived. Eric Clapton replied, “I’m not the greatest. Caleb Quaye is the best guitarist in the world.” English rocker Caleb Quaye found that success and fame were unreal and transient. In his book A Voice Louder Than Rock and Roll, Quaye reveals what it was like to produce music and play guitar for great names like Elton John, The Who, the Beatles, and many others. Quaye became a world famous guitarist. But one day he found himself in front of a mirror after a life of drugs, girls, fame, and fortune.

What do Eilin, Trang, Juan, and Peter have in common? They all have recently become citizens of the United States of America. With proud and radiant smiles they swore allegiance to the USA. Some people like to “slam” the US and point out its faults. But it’s interesting that millions of people want to come to America and very few want to leave America.

What makes America so great?

First – THE FOUNDING “FATHERS” were great men and women of faith. The early pilgrims and political leaders had courage, foresight, and a sense of God’s guiding providence.

As I walked up the street with my golden retriever, I saw her standing in front of the small village post office. She was looking up at the sun through her fingers. I could tell she was probably autistic. When she saw my golden retriever, she looked at us through the slits in her fingers. “Does it bite?” she asked. “No, she loves people”, I replied. Coming closer, she asked if she could pet her. “Sure,” I replied, “Her name is Miki. What’s your name?” “Candie,” she said, as a smile brightened her face. “That’s a sweet name,” I told her. “You can pet Miki while I go into the post office for a minute.” When I returned, we said goodbye to Candie and went on our way.

The Lionel train raced around the track puffing smoke with its bright headlight beaming through the darkness. I can still smell the smoke belching from the engine’s smoke stack some 40 years later. What is the greatest or most memorable gift you remember receiving for Christmas? Perhaps it was a care package or letter from home while serving in the Armed Forces at a lonely outpost far from home.

Christmas is giving. The very spirit of Christmas is giving. It’s not in material or monetary gifts but it is about the love that motivates the giver.

It seems that the storms and stresses of life throughout the world have increased exponentially sense that dreadful day of 9/11. In fact Jesus said that in the end times, “men’s hearts would fail them for fear of those things that are coming upon the earth” (Luke 21:26). In Matthew 24 Jesus gave some future signs that would point to and precede His return to earth. He referred to this time as “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8). He described it as being like a woman in labor pains. Could we be in “the beginning of sorrows” that will usher in the triumphant return of Jesus Christ to planet earth?

Sixteen-year-old Elizabeth and fourteen-year-old Jennifer called their mothers shortly before 11:30 pm on a June night in Houston. They were coming home from a friend’s house. But as they cut through a wooded area they came upon gang members drinking beer and fighting one another. The gang turned its hostilities towards the girls.

Four days later the bodies of Elizabeth and Jennifer were found – strangled to death with a belt and a shoelace. Six young men were charges with rape and murder. One of the boys had appeared on a local television show the before, hoisting a beer and boasting “Human life means nothing”.

On a wonderful fall morning I sat on our backyard swing wondering where all the beautiful birds were. On the ground below our birdfeeders was a flock of sparrows joyously feeding in the grass. I’ve honestly never been too excited about sparrows. They seem so common, colorless, and, you know – ordinary. This particular morning God began to speak to me about the sparrows.

Jesus drew the attention of his disciples to the sparrows. “’Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father knowing. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

“Everyone loves Thanksgiving except the turkey,” reads the marquis at a local real estate business. The first Thanksgiving in America was a simple but joyful celebration. After the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, the first winter the colony was decimated by exposure, sickness, and starvation. In the spring some friendly Native Americans taught them how to plant crops in the New World. In the fall they had an abundant harvest and decided to have a feast of thanksgiving to God. They invited their friends to celebrate with them. Tradition says that turkey was part of the thanksgiving feast.

In 1776, America’s founders gathered in Philadelphia to draft the Declaration of Independence. A new nation was born – free and independent – the United States of America. In 1787, after the American patriots had won our independence on the bloody battlefields, representatives met to draft the Constitution of the United States.

The Constitution has been amended over the years, but its broad language is illuminated by the Declaration of Independence where the founding fathers outlined their moral vision and the government it implied. The opening lines are perhaps the most important: “We hold these truths to be self-evident.” What were the moral truths? “That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”