First Sunday of Advent – The Prophecy Candle – Hope

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” Malachi 4:5-6

Four centuries these last words of Malachi echo across the land of Israel as they wait and look, while continuing to place their hope in God’s promise of the coming Messiah.  Even in the midst of silence the flicker of hope continues to burn. They wait for the promised Elijah to proclaim the Messiah.

G. K. Chesterton wrote that: “Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all…As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength.”

Such was the night that Gabriel, the angel of the LORD came to Zechariah, announcing that he and Elizabeth would give birth to a son who would be named John. Though they are long past their childbearing years they kept a flicker of hope burning that God could use to keep His promise. They would have a son in their old age but not just a son. He will be the one who would “make ready a people prepared for the LORD.” Finally, after four hundred years, the prophecy candle would be lit.

A few months later Gabriel makes his way to Nazareth with another birth announcement that would rock the world forever. In this small, politically insignificant village, he made his way to an unmarried young woman. Mary hears the words, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:31-33)

Hope is often found in the most unusual ways such as this illustration from a large city school system that had a special mentoring program for kids in the hospital to help them keep up with their school work. One day a teacher who was assigned to the program received a routine call asking her to visit a particular child. She took the child’s name and room number and talked briefly with the child’s regular class teacher. “We’re studying nouns and adverbs in his class now,” the regular teacher said, “and I’d be grateful if you could help him understand them so he doesn’t fall too far behind.”

The hospital program teacher went to see the boy that afternoon. No one had mentioned to her that the boy had been badly burned and was in great pain. Upset at the sight of the boy, she stammered as she told him, “I’ve been sent by your school to help you with nouns and adverbs.” When she left she felt she hadn’t accomplished much. But the next day, a nurse asked her, “What did you do to that boy?” The teacher felt she must have done something wrong and began to apologize. “No, no,” said the nurse. “You don’t know what I mean. We’ve been worried about that little boy, but ever since yesterday, his whole attitude has changed. He’s fighting back, responding to treatment. It’s as though he’s decided to live.”

Two weeks later the boy explained that he had completely given up hope until the teacher arrived. Everything changed when he came to a simple realization. He expressed it this way: “They wouldn’t send a teacher to work on nouns and adverbs with a dying boy, would they?”  (Bits and Pieces)

Yesterday, as we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent, the first candle on the Advent wreath was lit. However, in this challenging year, it is an important one: it is the Prophecy Candle – Hope.  It is important to reflect upon this candle of hope as we struggle with the impact of 2020 on our lives, our families and our world. In a dark world, one candle’s light is similar to a floodlight through the dark night. God wouldn’t send his son to offer hope if we were dying without hope, would he?

“There are no hopeless situations: there are only people who have grown hopeless about them.” -Clare Boothe Luce. To followers of Jesus, Christmas is the very essence of hope as we experience God coming into the world, “Emmanuel, God is with us.” (Matt 1:23)

This Advent season pray:

For attentiveness to what truly matters, without being distracted by trivial things.

For opportunities to encourage others who may be without hope.

For the grace to rest in the midst of the uncertainty and unrest in your life

For hope that comes anew each day through God’s love and grace.

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

“Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.” Colossians 3:15

It is fast approaching two weeks since the elections, yet some locations are still counting ballots, others are in the midst of doing or planning recounts and lawsuits are being filed. If you had asked me last Tuesday night who won, I would give you the same answer as today, I WON!

I won because I am alive, in good health, just had a good meal and am blessed with a wonderful family. Unfortunately, not everyone around the world can make this statement.

I won because I live in a nation where all citizens have the freedom to cast their vote regardless of race, religion, economic status or birthplace. Unfortunately, there are nations where is not the case.

I won because I will not let a politician, political party or political direction come between me and my family, me and my fellow church members or my trust in God. Unfortunately, not everyone in our nation fits in this category.

I won because I know lasting change will not result from the actions of those same politicians, political parties or political directions but instead is a result of the transformed lives of individuals like you and me who follow Jesus.

I won because I refuse to be pulled down into the cesspool of anger, hatred or despair. It’s a nasty place to live.

I won even though there are issues which I strongly disagree with that will probably require me to pray harder, work harder, become more involved and voice my concerns more often.

I won because even though some bad decisions will be made from those elected, there will be some good decisions made for which I can be thankful.

I won because the God I serve will always be greater than any politician, political party or political direction. My fate is not in their hands but in the hands of one who loved the world enough to give His only Son that we could have everlasting life.

I don’t know which candidates you wanted to win or lose on November 3 but I hope post-election you are still telling your family members you love them, that you are enjoying your daily times with God and that you are not allowing fear to overwhelm you. Maybe you also are even in a place, regardless of the poll numbers, that you can say, I WON!

“Send us out all over the world so that everyone everywhere will discover your ways and know who you are and see your power to save. Let all the nations burst forth with praise; let everyone everywhere love and enjoy you! Then how glad the nations will be when you are their King. They will sing, they will shout, for you give true justice to the people. Yes! You, Lord, are the shepherd of the nations!” Psalm 67:2-4

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

Unleashed – As you go – Pray

“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.” Romans 12:2 TPT

On November 3 our nation will officially cast their ballots for multiple individuals across the nation, for both national and state level offices. I have experienced lots of elections, both in the United States and overseas, and, unfortunately, as we become more secularized as a nation and world, the negativity and mudslinging increase.

Regardless of who you vote for, some will win, others lose. Results may drag on for days, weeks, or maybe months. One party or the other will probably contest the election. Commentators will analyze the results and give their “unbiased” opinions. Frustration and disappointment, or satisfaction and celebration, will be equally expressed across the nation.

We watch as our cities overflow with anger, hatred, violence and destruction. We have witnessed the worst of politics through the degrading of other’s characters and ideas. We were bombarded with accusations and half-truths. Yet our hope is not in the ugly events of the day but in Jesus Christ.

So, I ask the question as a Christ-follower:  “What do I do on November 4?”

My short answer: I will do what I did the day before and what I will do the day after, keep my eyes upon Jesus. I can’t control the outcome of the election but I can control my attitude. I can’t control the violence in the streets but I can be a refuge of peace for others. I can’t control the bitterness that comes out of others but I can control the words that flow from my soul.

On November 4 the world is going to need us to be springs of living water for them to drink from. Let the world see Christians, who may have disagreed on the election, still come together on Sunday to worship, pray and fellowship together. Let the world see us united in the One who gives us life.

On that day, as every day, let our life be lived as Romans 12 Christ-focused people. As followers of Christ we will focus on:

• Love that is sincere, devoted to one another in love and honoring one another
• Serving the Lord with spiritual fervor
• Being joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer
• Sharing with those in need and practicing hospitality
• Blessing others even if they persecute us
• Rejoicing with those rejoicing and mourning with those who mourn
• Seeking to live in harmony with one another, not prideful, not conceited, not repaying evil for evil
• Taking care to do right, living at peace and rejecting revenge
• Overcoming evil with good

Living a Romans 12 lifestyle could have a transformative impact on a world that is in need of a drink from the cup of grace that only God offers.  However, it only happens as we stay in oneness with Jesus. As Oswald Chambers wrote, “Keep at the Source, guard well your belief in Jesus Christ and your relationship to Him, and there will be a steady flow for other lives, no dryness and no deadness.”

“Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.” Romans 12:1 TPT

God is great on November 4 – as He is forever!

Pastor Lynn

 “But I know the loving God will redeem my soul, raising me up from the dark power of death, taking me as his bridal partner.” Psalm 49:15

In a couple of weeks our nation will select men and women who will become the leaders of this nation. Ballots will be marked out of heartfelt convictions, anger, party loyalty or fear as we give individuals positions of power and authority. Some will become leaders who use their power wisely. Others will abuse their stations.

However, Psalm 49 is a powerful reminder that what is important is not the wealth of the world, the power of the moment, or the influence of politics—all these things will eventually vanish. The only remaining reminders will be streets named after the dead and lifeless monuments where birds come to roost. The real riches of life are found in God. He reveals the wisdom that will live forever.

Frank Viola shares the story of a young French pastor conducting visits in the homes of his congregants. At one of the houses, the wife was away so he was able to talk only with the husband. Upon returning home, the wife blasted her husband with questions about the pastor.

“What did he say? “, she asked.

“He asked, “Does Christ live here?”, the husband replied. “He didn’t really ask me anything else. Just, “Does Christ live here?”

“Well, surely you told him that we are the church’s biggest supporters?” she replied.

“He didn’t ask that,” the husband repeated. “He only asked, “Does Christ live here?”

Her response was, “Well, you must have told him that we read our Bible and say our prayers every day?”

Once again, the husband replied, “He only asked, “Does Christ live here?”

“Well, did you tell him that we attend his services every Sunday and sit in the front?” the wife persisted.

“He didn’t ask about that. He only wanted to know, “Does Christ live here?”

The Psalmist reminds us “The brightest and best, along with the foolish and senseless, God sees that they all will die one day, leaving their houses and wealth to the others. Even though they name streets and lands after themselves, hoping to have their memory endure beyond the grave, legends in their own minds, their home address is now the cemetery! The honor of man is short-lived and fleeting. There is little difference between man and beast, for both will one day perish. Such is the path of foolish men and those who quote everything they say, for they are here today and gone tomorrow! (49:10-13 TPT)

History will record the results of the election. Commentators will talk endlessly about the results. Those who won will be elated. Those who lost will be deflated. Yet how quickly the results will vanish from the news. The next day will be another story, and the next day, another story ad infinitum. However, the real story that begs an answer is, “Does Christ live here?”

For this is the only question that God will someday ask of the rich, the powerful, the poor and the destitute: “Does Christ live here?”

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

Unleashed – As You Go – Pray

“Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.” Proverbs 27:10

How could a small city such as Crosby, North Dakota make the national news headlines? There wasn’t a presidential debate in the city. There were not political protests or social unrest occurring on Main Street. Much to the dismay of everyone in town there was not a grand opening of a new Chik-fil-A!

No, what made the headlines were actions taken that showed what living as community is all about. Neighbors and friends coming together to help someone through a tragedy.

Lane Unhjem suffered a heart attack while working on his farm. Transferred from Crosby to Minot and finally to a Minneapolis’ ICU, the Unhjem family was facing a devasting loss of their livelihood. Without Lane there was no way the family would be able to get the crops harvested. That is until neighbors heard of their plight and came together for a “Harvest Bee.” Sixty farmers pulled onto the Unhjem’s farm piloting 11 combines, 11 semi-trucks with trailers, and several grain carts with tractors to begin harvesting the crops spread across Lane’s 1,000 acres farm. Seven hours later the crops were harvested and safely in the storage barns.

However, there were more headline making actions to come. The next week another group of farmers came together to haul in 714 large round hay bales that will provide the feed to get the cattle through the coming winter months. Meanwhile a “cooking bee” produced a month’s worth of meals that were put into the freezer for the family. Neighbor and friend Don Anderson shared that “the outpouring of support for Lane and his family is not surprising for those of us who live here. We have a long history of helping people in our community when they are faced with tragedy or hardship.”  He went on to say, “when friends band together to help you when you’re down, that’s something money can’t buy.”

Crosby, North Dakota is a great example of a Kenyan proverb that says, “In times of danger it is important that people act together.”  I understand the importance of neighbor helping neighbor having grown up in rural Oklahoma.  I grasp the depth of “better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away” after years of living in Africa. I hope that all of us understand the importance of being part of a loving church family as we follow the pattern of the early church in Acts 2 “they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

Unleashed has been FBCPTC’s “harvest bee.” In August 2017 we pulled our “combines and tractors” into the field to get rid of an overwhelming debt. Week after week, all working together determined to finish this “harvest of debt.”  Together we have done what no one person could have done alone. Only as a focused, determined, church family have we been able to bring ourselves closer to being Unleashed. The field is almost cleared to allow us to focus more resources on other Kingdom purposes. We can do it!

“If you want to walk fast, walk alone;

If you want to walk far, walk with others.” (African proverb)

God is great,

Pastor Lynn Burton