You Say Tomato

It really does appear to be the case that things are not what they seem. A scientist friend of mine was explaining to me that a red tomato, for example, is not actually red. We see it as red because red light waves can’t be absorbed by the tomato, like the other colour waves in the light spectrum. These red light waves are bounced back at us, so colour-wise we see what the tomato isn't, rather than what it is. The colour tells us more about what's happening on the surface than it does about the deeper nature of the fruit. His comment left me in deep thought for the rest of the day.

If it's difficult to fully understand the nature of what's in front of our very eyes, how much harder is it to know what we mean when we talk about that elusive term 'God?'

Throughout the centuries men and women of every faith, and none at all, have projected on to God a variety of images - some light, some dark. Wise people recognise that what 'obviously' seems to be the identity of God, may in fact be more an indication of what God is not, rather than what God is. This suggests that we should be cautious in our claims about God.

I can't help wondering if, contrary to popular belief, Holy Scripture doesn't give us the identity of God, but constantly reminds that God is more than we can ever imagine.

You think God is Almighty; here we are waiting for Him to come into the world as a baby. You think God is King of all creation; here He is crucified and dying on a cross. You think God loves the righteous; here He is eating and living among sinners. The message seems to be that the minute we think we've got God pinned down, all we've done is crucify the very nature of what we're trying to express.

During this Advent week, now is the time to increase our awareness of how we bring Christ into our lives. Let us open our hearts to allow God's spirit to live within us.

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Preparing for Christmas

Advent - Moving from Darkness to Light

How to Choose The Right Christmas Present

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Preparing For Christmas

According to Greek mythology, King Augeus owned a stable with 3,000 oxen. Their stalls had not been cleaned out for 30 years—hence our English word Augean, which refers to something exceedingly filthy.

Hercules, the mythical strong man, was commanded to clean the Augean stable in a single day. When He first saw the stable, he was dismayed by its size, filthiness, and steaming stench.

As he thought about how he would undertake such a task, he noticed that the stable was located between two great rivers, the Alpheus and the Peneus. So Hercules applied his great strength and worked throughout the day, diverting the rivers so that they flowed through the great building. And within a short time the rushing waters flushed the stable clean.

The story is a myth, of course, but myths by their very nature preserve the yearnings of the cultures that embrace and perpetuate them. I believe the story is reflective of our own longing to have the accumulated waste and filth washed from our lives.

At this time, when we are moving from the darkness at the beginning of Advent, to the light of Christ’s birth, we are reminded of the powerful river of forgiveness that flows from the cross. Nothing - no defilement whatsoever, can withstand the cleansing and healing flow that comes from our relationship with the living Christ within us.

As we once again prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth, perhaps it’s time to first cleanse ourselves. By lightening that load we’re carrying, perhaps we’ll gain a greater perspective on what we really should value on Christmas day.

Loving Father, give me courage to confess, to bare my heart to You. Forgive my transgressions, Oh Lord, that I may use my renewed life to serve You and be a living image of Your word. Amen

It's a Wonderful Life!

Moving From Darkness to Light

Faith is Not a Crutch For Living

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Giving Gifts

The apostle Paul wrote rather pointedly: 'None of us lives as his own master and none of us dies as his own master... Both in life and in death we are the Lord's.'
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None of us possesses either our life or our gifts as absolute possessions, but as loans from a generous God who gave us both life and gifts for a specific purpose, namely, to be shared with His family.

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To decline to share our life and to carry our gifts to those who need them is not only bad stewardship, it is stealing from those for whom the gifts were intended in the first place.

So where do you stand on the gift continuum? Are you sitting on your gifts and hoarding them for some unnamed rainy day, or are you learning the God-like joy of giving your gifts and talents away? 
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Where you stand on this most basic question is probably the key to how and where you'll be spending your eternity, so it will be wise to consider your answer well.

Gracious Lord, You have bestowed us with the greatest gifts of all. Help us to use our talents and gifts wisely and to share them with joy and compassion. Amen

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Advent - Moving From Darkness to Light

The Power of Words

There's More Than Just Courage

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