Gleanings: Inspiration & Encouragement https://www.hvpc.org A blog offering inspiration and encouragement. Tue, 21 Jul 2026 18:06:59 -0400 https://www.churchplantmedia.com/ Who God Made You https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/who-god-made-you https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/who-god-made-you#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0500 https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/who-god-made-you I love the idea of the acronym SHAPE. Rick Warren introduced the acronym in his book, Purpose Driven Life. Here is what it represents:

  • Spiritual Gifts - A set of special abilities that God has given to you to share his love and serve others.
     
  • Heart (Passion) - The special passions God has given you so that you can glorify him on earth.
     
  • Abilities (Skills) - The set of talents that God instilled in which he wants you to use to make an impact for him.
     
  • Personality - The special way God wired you to navigate life and fulfill your unique Kingdom purpose.
     
  • Experiences - Those parts of your past, both positive and painful, which God intends to use in great ways.

The E, representing Experiences, is particularly important, especially if you have had a “salvation experience” – that moment that you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior – after which, “all things became new.”

Often, people refer to their life as BC and AC, meaning “before Christ” and “after Christ.” Everything that was BC, they view as wasted time and of no value. They quote Philippians 3, where Paul seems to imply that his past was “rubbish.” The belief is that BC experiences are to be forgotten and left behind, separated from our new life in Christ, “as far as the east is from the west.”

I don’t agree.

Paul was referring to those things that he thought made him righteous, which really only served to make him self-righteous, and so were “rubbish” compared to the path to true holiness through Christ. He was not disparaging his past. In fact, Paul’s past education and experience was supercharged when he came into relationship with Christ.

Paul’s entire life, from beginning to end, was redeemed, and so he could also write, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

When we come to Christ, our sins are forgiven and we are accepted – wholly made holy – in Christ, in whom we continue to grow and mature. The past, before Christ, is as much a part of who we are as is our present and future in Him.

Who we are today, in Christ, is the result of a long God-driven process that still has a long way to go; it did not start or end at the point of salvation. Eugene Peterson, author of The Message paraphrase of the Bible, referred to it as “a long obedience in the same direction.”

From before we were born, there has been a continuous involvement of God in our lives over time. This is what leads us to repentance and is part of our working out our own salvation.

While it’s good to throw out or put off sinful behaviors, grieve over wrong decisions, and turn away from ungodly lifestyles, we don’t need to walk away from all of who we were before we became a follower of Jesus.

If you were a painter or sculptor or accountant or teacher before you accepted Christ, you can continue in these roles now. The content of what you do through your role will be different, but you don’t need to toss out your skills.

On the other hand, if you were a prostitute, liar, embezzler, drug addict, or something along these lines, you will need to drop these lifestyles and behaviors.

But now you can use your past experiences in your redeemed life to reach out to others who are still trapped in destructive lifestyles. You can use your knowledge to help your new Christ-following brothers and sisters understand how to minister to people doing what you once did.

If you were abused, you are now able to more effectively help those who are still being abused. If you have gone through divorce, you are the one best equipped to comfort those going through divorce now.

Even if you’ve committed sin “after Christ,” once you’ve confessed and been restored, you are the best one to minister to other believers who fall and fail in their walk with Jesus as you do.

The point is this: Your life, past and present, is not a waste. We have no reason to fear our past just as we have no reason to doubt our eternity.

Jesus doesn’t throw the baby out with the baptism water. God loved you then, He loves you now, and He will love you tomorrow. The difference is that now, you have access to the Holy Spirit and are alive in Christ, able to fulfill the calling for which He created you.

And that’s why I like that acronym, SHAPE. The E comes last because our redeemed experience is the foundation for all the rest.



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]]> I love the idea of the acronym SHAPE. Rick Warren introduced the acronym in his book, Purpose Driven Life. Here is what it represents:

  • Spiritual Gifts - A set of special abilities that God has given to you to share his love and serve others.
     
  • Heart (Passion) - The special passions God has given you so that you can glorify him on earth.
     
  • Abilities (Skills) - The set of talents that God instilled in which he wants you to use to make an impact for him.
     
  • Personality - The special way God wired you to navigate life and fulfill your unique Kingdom purpose.
     
  • Experiences - Those parts of your past, both positive and painful, which God intends to use in great ways.

The E, representing Experiences, is particularly important, especially if you have had a “salvation experience” – that moment that you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior – after which, “all things became new.”

Often, people refer to their life as BC and AC, meaning “before Christ” and “after Christ.” Everything that was BC, they view as wasted time and of no value. They quote Philippians 3, where Paul seems to imply that his past was “rubbish.” The belief is that BC experiences are to be forgotten and left behind, separated from our new life in Christ, “as far as the east is from the west.”

I don’t agree.

Paul was referring to those things that he thought made him righteous, which really only served to make him self-righteous, and so were “rubbish” compared to the path to true holiness through Christ. He was not disparaging his past. In fact, Paul’s past education and experience was supercharged when he came into relationship with Christ.

Paul’s entire life, from beginning to end, was redeemed, and so he could also write, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

When we come to Christ, our sins are forgiven and we are accepted – wholly made holy – in Christ, in whom we continue to grow and mature. The past, before Christ, is as much a part of who we are as is our present and future in Him.

Who we are today, in Christ, is the result of a long God-driven process that still has a long way to go; it did not start or end at the point of salvation. Eugene Peterson, author of The Message paraphrase of the Bible, referred to it as “a long obedience in the same direction.”

From before we were born, there has been a continuous involvement of God in our lives over time. This is what leads us to repentance and is part of our working out our own salvation.

While it’s good to throw out or put off sinful behaviors, grieve over wrong decisions, and turn away from ungodly lifestyles, we don’t need to walk away from all of who we were before we became a follower of Jesus.

If you were a painter or sculptor or accountant or teacher before you accepted Christ, you can continue in these roles now. The content of what you do through your role will be different, but you don’t need to toss out your skills.

On the other hand, if you were a prostitute, liar, embezzler, drug addict, or something along these lines, you will need to drop these lifestyles and behaviors.

But now you can use your past experiences in your redeemed life to reach out to others who are still trapped in destructive lifestyles. You can use your knowledge to help your new Christ-following brothers and sisters understand how to minister to people doing what you once did.

If you were abused, you are now able to more effectively help those who are still being abused. If you have gone through divorce, you are the one best equipped to comfort those going through divorce now.

Even if you’ve committed sin “after Christ,” once you’ve confessed and been restored, you are the best one to minister to other believers who fall and fail in their walk with Jesus as you do.

The point is this: Your life, past and present, is not a waste. We have no reason to fear our past just as we have no reason to doubt our eternity.

Jesus doesn’t throw the baby out with the baptism water. God loved you then, He loves you now, and He will love you tomorrow. The difference is that now, you have access to the Holy Spirit and are alive in Christ, able to fulfill the calling for which He created you.

And that’s why I like that acronym, SHAPE. The E comes last because our redeemed experience is the foundation for all the rest.



=======

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]]> The Most Important Healing https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/the-most-important-healing https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/the-most-important-healing#comments Wed, 30 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0500 https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/the-most-important-healing “And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all” (Luke 6:17-19, ESV).

Crowds tended to form around Jesus most places he went. Luke gives two initial reasons why the crowds come. They come to hear Jesus, of course. But they also come to be healed of their diseases.

That the latter is by far the most important reason to the crowds is made evident by the description that follows, literally by the number of words Luke uses to describe the healings in verses 18-19.

And isn’t it marvelous, even reading about it a little over 2,000 years later? Troubled with unclean spirits? Such people were cured. And it was sufficient simply to touch Jesus, who was overflowing with power for healing.

We read other accounts in the gospels where this is the case as well. This would be in contrast to the elaborate ceremonies and attempts at healing common in the culture at the time, both in Jewish circles and the general culture. Elaborate ceremonies aren’t necessary. Jesus’ power to heal is direct and effective, needing nothing in addition. No wonder he attracted large crowds!

But the first reason is not forgotten, is it? The crowds came to hear him, which is also very important. Luke uses this to introduce Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, a parallel account of the Sermon on the Mount, but likely given at a different time and place. If the number of words and the description of the healings and Jesus’ power indicates how important healing was to the crowds, then how much more important is what Jesus had to say emphasized. Many more words and a great deal of rich and radical content that begin, in verse 20, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”

The physical healing was important, but Jesus’ teaching was more important because it literally goes to the very heart of the matter. It’s the gospel, the implications of the gospel, which mean ultimate spiritual healing, and that’s the most important of all.

Jesus is no longer physically with us. We can’t touch him and feel that power, though sometimes he delivers it anyway in unexpected ways. But his words, his teaching as preserved in the gospels are with us always, and we have access to them -- and hence to Jesus himself -- at all times and at any place. We just have to open the Book (the Bible) and read!

This is where healing begins, only to end with the second coming of Christ and his direct presence with us forever. As Peter says, "...you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God" (1 Peter 1:23).

Open the Book. Read it. Study it. Memorize it. Believe it and abide by it. Here is the source of true eternal healing.

 

=======

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]]> “And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all” (Luke 6:17-19, ESV).

Crowds tended to form around Jesus most places he went. Luke gives two initial reasons why the crowds come. They come to hear Jesus, of course. But they also come to be healed of their diseases.

That the latter is by far the most important reason to the crowds is made evident by the description that follows, literally by the number of words Luke uses to describe the healings in verses 18-19.

And isn’t it marvelous, even reading about it a little over 2,000 years later? Troubled with unclean spirits? Such people were cured. And it was sufficient simply to touch Jesus, who was overflowing with power for healing.

We read other accounts in the gospels where this is the case as well. This would be in contrast to the elaborate ceremonies and attempts at healing common in the culture at the time, both in Jewish circles and the general culture. Elaborate ceremonies aren’t necessary. Jesus’ power to heal is direct and effective, needing nothing in addition. No wonder he attracted large crowds!

But the first reason is not forgotten, is it? The crowds came to hear him, which is also very important. Luke uses this to introduce Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, a parallel account of the Sermon on the Mount, but likely given at a different time and place. If the number of words and the description of the healings and Jesus’ power indicates how important healing was to the crowds, then how much more important is what Jesus had to say emphasized. Many more words and a great deal of rich and radical content that begin, in verse 20, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”

The physical healing was important, but Jesus’ teaching was more important because it literally goes to the very heart of the matter. It’s the gospel, the implications of the gospel, which mean ultimate spiritual healing, and that’s the most important of all.

Jesus is no longer physically with us. We can’t touch him and feel that power, though sometimes he delivers it anyway in unexpected ways. But his words, his teaching as preserved in the gospels are with us always, and we have access to them -- and hence to Jesus himself -- at all times and at any place. We just have to open the Book (the Bible) and read!

This is where healing begins, only to end with the second coming of Christ and his direct presence with us forever. As Peter says, "...you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God" (1 Peter 1:23).

Open the Book. Read it. Study it. Memorize it. Believe it and abide by it. Here is the source of true eternal healing.

 

=======

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Is there a topic you would like to see covered in a post? Email it to communications@HVPC.org.

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]]> Home Is Where the Heart Is https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/home-is-where-the-heart-is- https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/home-is-where-the-heart-is-#comments Wed, 23 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0500 https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/home-is-where-the-heart-is- Being without a home, a place to come back to at the end of a day of labor, a place to hide away from all of life’s threats and challenges, is a hard thing. A scary thing.

When confronted with eviction, even the demons begged not to be made homeless (Matthew 8:31). To them, the entrails of living pigs was a better fate than to wander the wilderness.

In the Old Testament, being homeless was a curse, a punishment. Lamentations 1:7 sorrowfully declares, “During the days of her affliction and homelessness Jerusalem remembers all her precious belongings that were hers in days of old. When her people fell into the adversary’s hand, she had no one to help. The adversaries looked at her, laughing over her downfall” (HCSB).

Joseph and Mary traveled from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. They stayed in Bethlehem for around two years, and then, instructed by an angel, fled to Egypt. At least twice, probably more often, they were homeless for some period of time.

Later, as an adult, Jesus declared that, unlike foxes and birds, he had no home where he could lay his head (Luke 9:58).

Paul and other early messengers of the Gospel were essentially homeless, traveling ceaselessly, depending upon the kindnesses of fellow believers, sharing all they knew about Jesus with all they met. It was a hard life (1 Corinthians 4).

And yet, there was joy in the journey. Joy in the message. Joy in the hardship. There was a freedom in earthly homelessness that allowed them to never lose sight of their real home.

Walking the earth as strangers and aliens (1 Peter 2:11), recognizing that, as believers, our true citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), allows us to hold lightly to transitory stuff. Even our homes.

Having a place of our own is a good thing, but must not be an obsessive thing. Insisting on being given a new home in Pork Place did not work out well for the demons. We would do well to avoid their error.

Where our heart is, there also is our home. Earth is not it (Hebrews 13:14). Here, we are truly homeless, but always in His care. There’s no better place to be than there.

 

 

=======

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]]> Being without a home, a place to come back to at the end of a day of labor, a place to hide away from all of life’s threats and challenges, is a hard thing. A scary thing.

When confronted with eviction, even the demons begged not to be made homeless (Matthew 8:31). To them, the entrails of living pigs was a better fate than to wander the wilderness.

In the Old Testament, being homeless was a curse, a punishment. Lamentations 1:7 sorrowfully declares, “During the days of her affliction and homelessness Jerusalem remembers all her precious belongings that were hers in days of old. When her people fell into the adversary’s hand, she had no one to help. The adversaries looked at her, laughing over her downfall” (HCSB).

Joseph and Mary traveled from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. They stayed in Bethlehem for around two years, and then, instructed by an angel, fled to Egypt. At least twice, probably more often, they were homeless for some period of time.

Later, as an adult, Jesus declared that, unlike foxes and birds, he had no home where he could lay his head (Luke 9:58).

Paul and other early messengers of the Gospel were essentially homeless, traveling ceaselessly, depending upon the kindnesses of fellow believers, sharing all they knew about Jesus with all they met. It was a hard life (1 Corinthians 4).

And yet, there was joy in the journey. Joy in the message. Joy in the hardship. There was a freedom in earthly homelessness that allowed them to never lose sight of their real home.

Walking the earth as strangers and aliens (1 Peter 2:11), recognizing that, as believers, our true citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), allows us to hold lightly to transitory stuff. Even our homes.

Having a place of our own is a good thing, but must not be an obsessive thing. Insisting on being given a new home in Pork Place did not work out well for the demons. We would do well to avoid their error.

Where our heart is, there also is our home. Earth is not it (Hebrews 13:14). Here, we are truly homeless, but always in His care. There’s no better place to be than there.

 

 

=======

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]]> Nix the Entertainment https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/nix-the-entertainment https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/nix-the-entertainment#comments Wed, 16 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0500 https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/nix-the-entertainment Who doesn’t love Christmas? It’s just so Ho! Ho! Ho! holly and jolly! Even Scrooge and the Grinch couldn’t maintain their animosity toward the holiday.

Whether infused with or devoid of spirituality, the season is viewed by all -- or nearly all -- as festive and entertaining.

Yes, entertaining.

We are entertained with TV specials, holiday movies, cheerful music everywhere, season-specific food, colorful and silly clothing -- even store displays are designed to entertain as well as attract our dollars.

What about in church?

More entertainment! From kiddie skits, to organ recitals, to full-blown pageants with live animals, the entertainment factor is high.

Well, maybe not this year. Which could be a good thing. After all, there was no merry at the first Christmas, either.

Reality check

On that first Christmas, which actually played out over weeks, months, and years, what was happening was enormous and provocative and not fun.

Jesus (Remember him?) was injected into human history as a baby -- a tiny containment vessel for an infinite God. It was a hard and messy business for all the primary players.

The event was so significant, so dark-earth-shattering, that angels -- a whole host of angels -- were commissioned to announce it to shepherds, not kings.

Why not kings? Because this was something that was most meaningful to the least of the least, the smelliest of the smelly. And it was all about an unlikely King, by earthly standards.

There was nothing about what unfolded that was particularly entertaining for Mary and Joseph, or anyone else involved. Far from it. If anything, it was often nerve-wracking, frightening, exhausting, emotionally and mentally taxing, dumbfounding.

Good but dangerous

That first Christmas -- and all the events that surrounded it -- was not entertaining, but it was glorious. And dangerous. And treacherous.

The glory, in part, was that this was the culmination of centuries of prophecy. Isaiah declared very specifically that, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel.” Emmanuel means “God with us.”

You can’t get much more glorious than that. But this was not an easy glory.

The danger was manifold. The reputations of Joseph and Mary were under threat. Her life was at risk since stoning wasn’t out of the question for a pregnant virgin. Then there was the difficult 100 mile or so trip on foot from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Followed by a messy, non-antiseptic birth in a queasy setting.

No Uber, no Motel Six, no brightly lit sanitary hospital.

The treachery came years later with the wisemen being diverted from returning to Herod, the enduring threat of Herod’s sword, the slaughter of toddler boys, and a desperate flight into Egypt. Again on foot and on the sly.

Arighting Christmas

So how should we view this season?

Perhaps, in between bites of figgy pudding and sips of wassail, instead of seeking entertainment we could seek soberness and a greater sense of solemnity.

The word entertain also means “to consider; contemplate: entertain an idea, to hold in mind; harbor.” These conjure a mood of quiet, focused meditation. Perhaps pointing us to an attitude of mind more appropriate for the season than one of seeking endless entertainment.

Being merry at Christmas, enjoying the sights and sounds, getting caught up a little in the hustle and bustle is not a sin. But it is important to not miss the heart of Who we are celebrating.

COVID-19 could be just the gift we need this year to help us refocus.

Rather than lose Jesus in the hustle and bustle, the parties and presents, we can bring Him front and center. We can take time to marvel at the mettle of Mary and Joseph and their stubborn faithfulness in the face of crippling hardship. We can allow ourselves to be humbled to our knees by the perseverance of God to move history in our favor. With the fun toned down just a little, we can tune up our sense of awe and attitude of worship more.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:6-7, ESV).

 

 

 

=======

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]]> Who doesn’t love Christmas? It’s just so Ho! Ho! Ho! holly and jolly! Even Scrooge and the Grinch couldn’t maintain their animosity toward the holiday.

Whether infused with or devoid of spirituality, the season is viewed by all -- or nearly all -- as festive and entertaining.

Yes, entertaining.

We are entertained with TV specials, holiday movies, cheerful music everywhere, season-specific food, colorful and silly clothing -- even store displays are designed to entertain as well as attract our dollars.

What about in church?

More entertainment! From kiddie skits, to organ recitals, to full-blown pageants with live animals, the entertainment factor is high.

Well, maybe not this year. Which could be a good thing. After all, there was no merry at the first Christmas, either.

Reality check

On that first Christmas, which actually played out over weeks, months, and years, what was happening was enormous and provocative and not fun.

Jesus (Remember him?) was injected into human history as a baby -- a tiny containment vessel for an infinite God. It was a hard and messy business for all the primary players.

The event was so significant, so dark-earth-shattering, that angels -- a whole host of angels -- were commissioned to announce it to shepherds, not kings.

Why not kings? Because this was something that was most meaningful to the least of the least, the smelliest of the smelly. And it was all about an unlikely King, by earthly standards.

There was nothing about what unfolded that was particularly entertaining for Mary and Joseph, or anyone else involved. Far from it. If anything, it was often nerve-wracking, frightening, exhausting, emotionally and mentally taxing, dumbfounding.

Good but dangerous

That first Christmas -- and all the events that surrounded it -- was not entertaining, but it was glorious. And dangerous. And treacherous.

The glory, in part, was that this was the culmination of centuries of prophecy. Isaiah declared very specifically that, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel.” Emmanuel means “God with us.”

You can’t get much more glorious than that. But this was not an easy glory.

The danger was manifold. The reputations of Joseph and Mary were under threat. Her life was at risk since stoning wasn’t out of the question for a pregnant virgin. Then there was the difficult 100 mile or so trip on foot from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Followed by a messy, non-antiseptic birth in a queasy setting.

No Uber, no Motel Six, no brightly lit sanitary hospital.

The treachery came years later with the wisemen being diverted from returning to Herod, the enduring threat of Herod’s sword, the slaughter of toddler boys, and a desperate flight into Egypt. Again on foot and on the sly.

Arighting Christmas

So how should we view this season?

Perhaps, in between bites of figgy pudding and sips of wassail, instead of seeking entertainment we could seek soberness and a greater sense of solemnity.

The word entertain also means “to consider; contemplate: entertain an idea, to hold in mind; harbor.” These conjure a mood of quiet, focused meditation. Perhaps pointing us to an attitude of mind more appropriate for the season than one of seeking endless entertainment.

Being merry at Christmas, enjoying the sights and sounds, getting caught up a little in the hustle and bustle is not a sin. But it is important to not miss the heart of Who we are celebrating.

COVID-19 could be just the gift we need this year to help us refocus.

Rather than lose Jesus in the hustle and bustle, the parties and presents, we can bring Him front and center. We can take time to marvel at the mettle of Mary and Joseph and their stubborn faithfulness in the face of crippling hardship. We can allow ourselves to be humbled to our knees by the perseverance of God to move history in our favor. With the fun toned down just a little, we can tune up our sense of awe and attitude of worship more.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:6-7, ESV).

 

 

 

=======

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]]> Crèche Control https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/cr-che-control https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/cr-che-control#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0500 https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/cr-che-control Every year it came out of the basement to make a prominent appearance, usually on top of our TV. This was back when deep-tubed screens were housed in large wooden boxes with fancy faux cabinetry and only three channels.

Even though most appropriately labeled a crèche, we simply called it “The Nativity.”

It was made of stiff die-cut cardboard decorated with smatterings of glued-on straw. Packed away flat, the walls folded up where the cardboard was scored. Assembled, the walls connected with slots and tabs. The roof, a separate piece, once snapped into place, held it all together.

This stable, a holy dollhouse, was an open-fronted room with windows all around. Breezy, for sure.

The figures were molded plastic, poorly painted. Mary, Joseph, a one-piece combination baby Jesus and manger, three kings, a couple of shepherds, a sheep, a cow, a camel, a donkey. Fake greenery planted in foil-covered wooden thimbles graced either side for “realism.”

Above it all a star and an angel. The star was a candle. There was also a small bulb positioned inside at the back, just out of sight, that, when on in the evening, offered a perpetual sunset glow.

This was our traditional Christmas imagery. The key elements of the story compacted into one still scene. A sacred 3D snapshot of compressed time.

Then I heard in some sermon somewhere that it wasn’t a stable, but a cave, where the holy family sheltered. Hewn from the rocky hills, damp and stuffy, but at least offering a little more protection from the elements.

Next, the elements themselves were called into question. There was no bleak midwinter snow on snow or moaning frosty wind as Christina Rossetti has misled us. Rather, it was most likely balmy, possibly fall. Perhaps at night it was a tad cooler, but no snow.

Then it was exposed that the three were not kings, nor necessarily three, and definitely not there at the birth. Neither was the star. The star and the wise men came later, as much as two years. After their visit, the wise men left, amazed and in secret, triggering a small massacre that isn’t talked about much.

And it’s not implausible that Mary and Joseph did not employ a donkey for transportation or travel alone. Instead, they may have been part of a foot-borne caravan, a moveable feast of fellow travelers.

There’s also no report of any angels hanging about at the scene of the birth. Odds are, some have said, there were no animals lowing or adoring either. Not even camels.

And now, the stable that morphed into a cave, is said to be, perhaps, a guest room in a relative’s house. Or, more likely say some, a ground level room that served as a sort of secure sheep-hold for an animal or two at night.

But that would mean there were animals, after all, right?

Who knows.

The Bible’s accounts skimp on certain details we have artfully imagined over the years. There was no curmudgeonly innkeeper or even an inn, in the traditional understanding of holiday inns.

No talking animals. No angels at the door. No Amahl. No night visitors named Melchior, Balthazar, or Gaspar. Definitely no drummer boy.

Regardless, there is one thing that holds true. The manger. The feeding trough. And Christ as a baby in it.

Now, the manger, the cross, and the grave are empty. But, hopefully, not our resident hearts. This is immutable: Emmanuel, God with us.

Oh, holy night, indeed! It is more than enough to draw us to our knees in adoration.

Even if our imagery is off a little.



=======

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Is there a topic you would like to see covered in a post? Email it to communications@HVPC.org.

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]]> Every year it came out of the basement to make a prominent appearance, usually on top of our TV. This was back when deep-tubed screens were housed in large wooden boxes with fancy faux cabinetry and only three channels.

Even though most appropriately labeled a crèche, we simply called it “The Nativity.”

It was made of stiff die-cut cardboard decorated with smatterings of glued-on straw. Packed away flat, the walls folded up where the cardboard was scored. Assembled, the walls connected with slots and tabs. The roof, a separate piece, once snapped into place, held it all together.

This stable, a holy dollhouse, was an open-fronted room with windows all around. Breezy, for sure.

The figures were molded plastic, poorly painted. Mary, Joseph, a one-piece combination baby Jesus and manger, three kings, a couple of shepherds, a sheep, a cow, a camel, a donkey. Fake greenery planted in foil-covered wooden thimbles graced either side for “realism.”

Above it all a star and an angel. The star was a candle. There was also a small bulb positioned inside at the back, just out of sight, that, when on in the evening, offered a perpetual sunset glow.

This was our traditional Christmas imagery. The key elements of the story compacted into one still scene. A sacred 3D snapshot of compressed time.

Then I heard in some sermon somewhere that it wasn’t a stable, but a cave, where the holy family sheltered. Hewn from the rocky hills, damp and stuffy, but at least offering a little more protection from the elements.

Next, the elements themselves were called into question. There was no bleak midwinter snow on snow or moaning frosty wind as Christina Rossetti has misled us. Rather, it was most likely balmy, possibly fall. Perhaps at night it was a tad cooler, but no snow.

Then it was exposed that the three were not kings, nor necessarily three, and definitely not there at the birth. Neither was the star. The star and the wise men came later, as much as two years. After their visit, the wise men left, amazed and in secret, triggering a small massacre that isn’t talked about much.

And it’s not implausible that Mary and Joseph did not employ a donkey for transportation or travel alone. Instead, they may have been part of a foot-borne caravan, a moveable feast of fellow travelers.

There’s also no report of any angels hanging about at the scene of the birth. Odds are, some have said, there were no animals lowing or adoring either. Not even camels.

And now, the stable that morphed into a cave, is said to be, perhaps, a guest room in a relative’s house. Or, more likely say some, a ground level room that served as a sort of secure sheep-hold for an animal or two at night.

But that would mean there were animals, after all, right?

Who knows.

The Bible’s accounts skimp on certain details we have artfully imagined over the years. There was no curmudgeonly innkeeper or even an inn, in the traditional understanding of holiday inns.

No talking animals. No angels at the door. No Amahl. No night visitors named Melchior, Balthazar, or Gaspar. Definitely no drummer boy.

Regardless, there is one thing that holds true. The manger. The feeding trough. And Christ as a baby in it.

Now, the manger, the cross, and the grave are empty. But, hopefully, not our resident hearts. This is immutable: Emmanuel, God with us.

Oh, holy night, indeed! It is more than enough to draw us to our knees in adoration.

Even if our imagery is off a little.



=======

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Is there a topic you would like to see covered in a post? Email it to communications@HVPC.org.

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]]> Our Magnificent Hope https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/our-magnificent-hope https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/our-magnificent-hope#comments Wed, 02 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0500 https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/our-magnificent-hope It’s Advent! Advent heralds the coming or arrival of something -- or someone -- significant.

In the first chapter of Luke, there are a couple of stories of anticipation, of Advent. One involves Mary, the mother of Jesus.

The angel Gabriel visits Mary and tells her that God has chosen this young virgin to give birth to his son. Mary responds in all humility, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.”

Later, while visiting Elizabeth, Mary lets loose with what’s referred to as The Magnificat. It’s a magnificent canticle, a prayer, a poem, a song of praise to God:

Mary said, "With all my heart I glorify the Lord!

In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.

He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

He shows mercy to everyone, from one generation to the next, who honors him as God.

He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.

He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed.

He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, just as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”

(Luke 1:46-55, Common English Bible)

In fewer than 150 words, Mary declares the glory of God, the favor of God, the mercy of God, the strength of God, the justice of God, the provision of God, and the faithfulness of God.

The prayer reveals that this teenager -- some say she was around 15 or so -- is saturated in God’s word. A trait we should all emulate. John Piper writes, “Mary is so steeped in Scripture that when she breaks out in praise, the words that come naturally to her lips are the words of Scripture.”

There are hints of 2 Samuel and Isaiah, and there’s a prophetic aspect as well. You can hear a pre-echo of elements of the Sermon on the Mount. It’s an outline of sorts for the ministry of Jesus as he breaks his Kingdom into the world.

This prayer of Mary can serve as a model for us, how we view God, how we view ourselves in Christ, how we should view the world, and how we should serve the world.

As did Mary, we must extol the glory of God, pledging our allegiance only to him as he is the only true authority worth serving. He is our creator. He is our sustainer. He is above all other gods, all other rulers, all other powers. Period.

We can rejoice in the favor God has shown us. As blood-bought believers, we are the recipients of immense mercy and grace. And we must pass this grace and mercy on to others.

We can rest in the strength of God, knowing that he is able “to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). And we can teach others to trust in his strength.

We can count on the justice of God knowing that “He won’t break a bruised reed;  he won’t extinguish a faint wick, but he will surely bring justice” (Isaiah 42:3). And we must encourage others by actively seeking justice on their behalf.

We can rely on the provision of God, knowing he will provide our daily bread for our physical needs, as well as satisfy our soul’s thirst. And we must pass on this provision to others, by meeting physical needs and ministering to hurting and lost souls.

And finally, we can have hope in the faithfulness of God, who fulfills his promises, knowing that his word is true and that he “who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). And we must shine the light of the gospel into the world and, as did Mary, proclaim the message of the hope we have in the faithfulness of God.

Throughout this time of Advent, meditate on the themes of God’s glory, God’s favor, God’s mercy, God’s strength, God’s justice, God’s provision, God’s faithfulness.

These are the elements that fuel our faith in Christ. And it is only in and through Christ that we have hope. A magnificent hope.



=======

Thoughts on this post? Please share them in the comments.

Is there a topic you would like to see covered in a post? Email it to communications@HVPC.org.

Enjoying these posts? Like them on Facebook and share them with friends!

]]> It’s Advent! Advent heralds the coming or arrival of something -- or someone -- significant.

In the first chapter of Luke, there are a couple of stories of anticipation, of Advent. One involves Mary, the mother of Jesus.

The angel Gabriel visits Mary and tells her that God has chosen this young virgin to give birth to his son. Mary responds in all humility, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.”

Later, while visiting Elizabeth, Mary lets loose with what’s referred to as The Magnificat. It’s a magnificent canticle, a prayer, a poem, a song of praise to God:

Mary said, "With all my heart I glorify the Lord!

In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.

He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

He shows mercy to everyone, from one generation to the next, who honors him as God.

He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.

He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed.

He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, just as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”

(Luke 1:46-55, Common English Bible)

In fewer than 150 words, Mary declares the glory of God, the favor of God, the mercy of God, the strength of God, the justice of God, the provision of God, and the faithfulness of God.

The prayer reveals that this teenager -- some say she was around 15 or so -- is saturated in God’s word. A trait we should all emulate. John Piper writes, “Mary is so steeped in Scripture that when she breaks out in praise, the words that come naturally to her lips are the words of Scripture.”

There are hints of 2 Samuel and Isaiah, and there’s a prophetic aspect as well. You can hear a pre-echo of elements of the Sermon on the Mount. It’s an outline of sorts for the ministry of Jesus as he breaks his Kingdom into the world.

This prayer of Mary can serve as a model for us, how we view God, how we view ourselves in Christ, how we should view the world, and how we should serve the world.

As did Mary, we must extol the glory of God, pledging our allegiance only to him as he is the only true authority worth serving. He is our creator. He is our sustainer. He is above all other gods, all other rulers, all other powers. Period.

We can rejoice in the favor God has shown us. As blood-bought believers, we are the recipients of immense mercy and grace. And we must pass this grace and mercy on to others.

We can rest in the strength of God, knowing that he is able “to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). And we can teach others to trust in his strength.

We can count on the justice of God knowing that “He won’t break a bruised reed;  he won’t extinguish a faint wick, but he will surely bring justice” (Isaiah 42:3). And we must encourage others by actively seeking justice on their behalf.

We can rely on the provision of God, knowing he will provide our daily bread for our physical needs, as well as satisfy our soul’s thirst. And we must pass on this provision to others, by meeting physical needs and ministering to hurting and lost souls.

And finally, we can have hope in the faithfulness of God, who fulfills his promises, knowing that his word is true and that he “who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). And we must shine the light of the gospel into the world and, as did Mary, proclaim the message of the hope we have in the faithfulness of God.

Throughout this time of Advent, meditate on the themes of God’s glory, God’s favor, God’s mercy, God’s strength, God’s justice, God’s provision, God’s faithfulness.

These are the elements that fuel our faith in Christ. And it is only in and through Christ that we have hope. A magnificent hope.



=======

Thoughts on this post? Please share them in the comments.

Is there a topic you would like to see covered in a post? Email it to communications@HVPC.org.

Enjoying these posts? Like them on Facebook and share them with friends!

]]> Serving Seriously https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/serving-seriously https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/serving-seriously#comments Wed, 25 Nov 2020 10:00:00 -0500 https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/serving-seriously "Just then [Jesus] looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, “The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all!” (Luke 21:1-4, The Message).



In the face of an outstanding effort, whether in sports, business, the school recital, we make comments like, “They gave their all!”

“They left everything they had on the field!”

“That was a one hundred and one percent effort!”

“They did their very best!”

“Bravo! Excellent! Encore!”

When someone has diligently prepared, invested hours of time and energy, and poured passion into a project, it shows. When serving in the Kingdom, God asks us for our first and best fruits (time, energy, talents, gifts, finances, etc.). Is that what we’re giving?

As a kid, often when something stopped working as it should, became a little worn,  or fell out of fashion, someone asked, “Do you think the church could use this?” And the answer seemed to always be yes.

This is how church closets become cluttered with not-quite-but-mostly-useless stuff. While all things are new at home, the old, broken, and unwanted stuff too often shows up at church.

Malachi 1:14 cautions, “Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations” (ESV).

When we donate second-hand leftovers to the church and then buy ourselves a new replacement, aren’t we kind of doing the same thing? Sacrificing what’s blemished?

Or, far more importantly, how about when we offer our time and talent to some ministry at church and then do it when we get around to it? Or do it in a rush at the last minute, not giving it close attention? Or even blow it off altogether, claiming it’s not really as important as other things in our life that easily keep us away from church?

Imagine the Creation story in Genesis concluding, “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, even though there was more that could be done this was good enough, given that he had only a little time leftover and an entire universe to manage, plus the big game between the Milky Way and Andromeda was about to start. He’d finish Creation when he got around to it.”

What if Jesus only sort of but not really died on the cross, forgiving us for just a few of our sins whenever he got around to it? We’d be in a real mess!

The Sunday school class you’re teaching, the small group you’re leading, the committee you’re heading, the soundboard you’re manning, the choir you’re in -- however you’ve been gifted and whatever you have signed-up for at church -- deserves your best efforts.

This is true even if you aren’t leading! Engaged participation is also crucial.

When a leader or any participant offers lackluster leftovers instead of their best, the whole effort is dragged down. People stop coming to Sunday school, fade away from the small group, remove support from the committee, and the church dies in drips and drabs.

Dr. Ken Priddy states, “Leaders must truly lead and people must sacrifice.” He points to Judges 5:2 that reads “...the leaders took the lead in Israel...the people offered themselves willingly...” (ESV).

Leading and participating fully in church requires sacrifice, commmitment, cost. Time and energy that could be put into other activities must be redirected toward ministry and worship. More than anywhere else, quality must be job one in church.

God is expecting our best. When we are serving in or gathering with the body of Christ, are we offering our best first fruits or stale leftovers?

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord...” (Colossians 3:23).



=======

Thoughts on this post? Please share them in the comments.

Is there a topic you would like to see covered in a post? Email it to communications@HVPC.org.

Enjoying these posts? Like them on Facebook and share them with friends!


]]> "Just then [Jesus] looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, “The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all!” (Luke 21:1-4, The Message).



In the face of an outstanding effort, whether in sports, business, the school recital, we make comments like, “They gave their all!”

“They left everything they had on the field!”

“That was a one hundred and one percent effort!”

“They did their very best!”

“Bravo! Excellent! Encore!”

When someone has diligently prepared, invested hours of time and energy, and poured passion into a project, it shows. When serving in the Kingdom, God asks us for our first and best fruits (time, energy, talents, gifts, finances, etc.). Is that what we’re giving?

As a kid, often when something stopped working as it should, became a little worn,  or fell out of fashion, someone asked, “Do you think the church could use this?” And the answer seemed to always be yes.

This is how church closets become cluttered with not-quite-but-mostly-useless stuff. While all things are new at home, the old, broken, and unwanted stuff too often shows up at church.

Malachi 1:14 cautions, “Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations” (ESV).

When we donate second-hand leftovers to the church and then buy ourselves a new replacement, aren’t we kind of doing the same thing? Sacrificing what’s blemished?

Or, far more importantly, how about when we offer our time and talent to some ministry at church and then do it when we get around to it? Or do it in a rush at the last minute, not giving it close attention? Or even blow it off altogether, claiming it’s not really as important as other things in our life that easily keep us away from church?

Imagine the Creation story in Genesis concluding, “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, even though there was more that could be done this was good enough, given that he had only a little time leftover and an entire universe to manage, plus the big game between the Milky Way and Andromeda was about to start. He’d finish Creation when he got around to it.”

What if Jesus only sort of but not really died on the cross, forgiving us for just a few of our sins whenever he got around to it? We’d be in a real mess!

The Sunday school class you’re teaching, the small group you’re leading, the committee you’re heading, the soundboard you’re manning, the choir you’re in -- however you’ve been gifted and whatever you have signed-up for at church -- deserves your best efforts.

This is true even if you aren’t leading! Engaged participation is also crucial.

When a leader or any participant offers lackluster leftovers instead of their best, the whole effort is dragged down. People stop coming to Sunday school, fade away from the small group, remove support from the committee, and the church dies in drips and drabs.

Dr. Ken Priddy states, “Leaders must truly lead and people must sacrifice.” He points to Judges 5:2 that reads “...the leaders took the lead in Israel...the people offered themselves willingly...” (ESV).

Leading and participating fully in church requires sacrifice, commmitment, cost. Time and energy that could be put into other activities must be redirected toward ministry and worship. More than anywhere else, quality must be job one in church.

God is expecting our best. When we are serving in or gathering with the body of Christ, are we offering our best first fruits or stale leftovers?

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord...” (Colossians 3:23).



=======

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Is there a topic you would like to see covered in a post? Email it to communications@HVPC.org.

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]]> You're Not Wearing That Are You?!? https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/youre-not-wearing-that-are-you https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/youre-not-wearing-that-are-you#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0500 https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/youre-not-wearing-that-are-you Clothes are a big deal aren’t they? Just take a look in your closet!

We have different clothes for every occasion, activity, and season. We spend a fortune trying to keep ourselves and our family reasonably in fashion, particularly when it’s back-to-school time. But what about our spiritual clothes?

Of course, we know how important it is to "put on the full armor of God." But the Bible describes a richly varied spiritual wardrobe available to us as God’s children, all bearing the King’s Kids label. Check out these verses:

  • "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10, ESV).
     
  • “Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by” (Zechariah 3:3-5).
     
  • “For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53).

And there are many, many more such as Romans 13:12-14, Colossians 3:12, 1 Peter 5:5, Galatians 3:26-27, 2 Corinthians 5:1-3. (If you have one, you can look in your concordance and find more. Look up cloth, clothing, clothes, garments, raiment, etc.)

There are even descriptions of not-so-attractive spiritual clothing:

  • “Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment” (Psalm 73:6).
     
  • “May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!” (Psalm 109:29).
     
  • “...for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags” (Proverbs 23:21).
     
  • “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15).

Just as we choose what to wear every morning, our spiritual clothing is our choice as well.

In Ephesians and elsewhere, Paul says we are to "put off" the old, and to "put on" the new (see Ephesians 4:22-24, 6:11-13; Colossians 3:10, 14). Just as we choose what shirt and slacks, or blouse and skirt we’ll wear every morning, so too we choose what spiritual clothing we’ll wear each day.  

How we dress spiritually will affect our attitudes, moods, and effectiveness. How well we dress our spirits will impact others. We need to choose to put on clothes that are washed in His forgiveness and freshly pressed by His mercy, and throw out those old rags of self-righteousness.

It’s a daily activity since we can’t get dressed once-and-for-all. And if we get dirtied during the day, or start out in the wrong outfit, we can always choose to change into fresh clothes any time.

Layering with holiness, purity, love, peace, and humility is always fashionable. And there’s no better power suit than one tailored with faithfulness, righteousness, and compassion.

Before you go out, assess your spiritual demeanor. Are you dressed like a King’s kid -- Très chic! -- or a candidate for the spiritually worst-dressed list?


=======

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Is there a topic you would like to see covered in a post? Email it to communications@HVPC.org.

Enjoying these posts? Like them on Facebook and share them with friends!

]]> Clothes are a big deal aren’t they? Just take a look in your closet!

We have different clothes for every occasion, activity, and season. We spend a fortune trying to keep ourselves and our family reasonably in fashion, particularly when it’s back-to-school time. But what about our spiritual clothes?

Of course, we know how important it is to "put on the full armor of God." But the Bible describes a richly varied spiritual wardrobe available to us as God’s children, all bearing the King’s Kids label. Check out these verses:

  • "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10, ESV).
     
  • “Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by” (Zechariah 3:3-5).
     
  • “For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53).

And there are many, many more such as Romans 13:12-14, Colossians 3:12, 1 Peter 5:5, Galatians 3:26-27, 2 Corinthians 5:1-3. (If you have one, you can look in your concordance and find more. Look up cloth, clothing, clothes, garments, raiment, etc.)

There are even descriptions of not-so-attractive spiritual clothing:

  • “Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment” (Psalm 73:6).
     
  • “May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!” (Psalm 109:29).
     
  • “...for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags” (Proverbs 23:21).
     
  • “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15).

Just as we choose what to wear every morning, our spiritual clothing is our choice as well.

In Ephesians and elsewhere, Paul says we are to "put off" the old, and to "put on" the new (see Ephesians 4:22-24, 6:11-13; Colossians 3:10, 14). Just as we choose what shirt and slacks, or blouse and skirt we’ll wear every morning, so too we choose what spiritual clothing we’ll wear each day.  

How we dress spiritually will affect our attitudes, moods, and effectiveness. How well we dress our spirits will impact others. We need to choose to put on clothes that are washed in His forgiveness and freshly pressed by His mercy, and throw out those old rags of self-righteousness.

It’s a daily activity since we can’t get dressed once-and-for-all. And if we get dirtied during the day, or start out in the wrong outfit, we can always choose to change into fresh clothes any time.

Layering with holiness, purity, love, peace, and humility is always fashionable. And there’s no better power suit than one tailored with faithfulness, righteousness, and compassion.

Before you go out, assess your spiritual demeanor. Are you dressed like a King’s kid -- Très chic! -- or a candidate for the spiritually worst-dressed list?


=======

Thoughts on this post? Please share them in the comments.

Is there a topic you would like to see covered in a post? Email it to communications@HVPC.org.

Enjoying these posts? Like them on Facebook and share them with friends!

]]> True Unity https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/true-unity- https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/true-unity-#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0500 https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/true-unity-  

I often joke that of the three -- religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin -- I now only discuss the Great Pumpkin. In this Charlie Brown special, only Linus historically takes offense with the others’ disagreement, but he’s fictional anyway. Actually, all the characters are!

What isn’t fiction is our recent election. It has been contentious and raucous, with both sides predicting near apocalyptic consequences if the other side makes it into office. There are scars and wounds.  

Now that it’s essentially over, how do we move forward? We have both sides represented in our congregation, so how do we respond and how do we relate to each other?  

Here are two principles I recommend we apply:

The Gospel

The Gospel is the transcendent truth which is as far above our earthly concerns -- including politics -- as the sky is above the earth. The Gospel is our defining truth, the truth which makes sense out of everything else. It’s our starting point which fits everything else together.  

Who we truly are is not grounded in being a republican or a democrat, or even in our national or racial identity. It is in the Gospel where we find our primary identity. Paul declares, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28, ESV). This is where we find our true identity.  

Paul goes even further stating, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). It’s via the Gospel that we can move forward to true unity.

True Unity

President-elect Biden has stated that now is the time to forget our differences and work toward unity. But where do we find true unity? It’s not in politics, certainly, as the Psalmist reminds us, “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation (Psalm 145:3).” The political and ideological rifts, heightened by rhetoric unimaginable even 20 years ago, are so deep that unity on that score will be impossible.  

We find true unity only through the Spirit of God as we confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Sin creates dichotomy and division, and only something as transcendent as the Gospel, the work of Christ accomplished and applied, can heal that division.  

True unity based in the Gospel is far more real and substantial than the transitory nature of this world and its ills.  

Paul explains, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).” Paul is specifically talking about his apostolic ministry, but the principle is general and applies to the entirety of our existence. We are new creations in Christ.  

The church is not an earthly club or political party but a supernatural (meaning, above nature) creation of the Holy Spirit. Our unity is therefore far more real and substantial than anything else that might unite or divide us, “For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

How do we practically apply these principles? We focus on them. We study them in the Scriptures. We own them through daily prayer. We assemble with one another and celebrate our unity in Christ through worshipping our Lord and Savior. We take the focus off ourselves and put it squarely on him. This will give us the foundation to work through even the most difficult earthly issues which divide us because we see them in proper perspective.

 

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I often joke that of the three -- religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin -- I now only discuss the Great Pumpkin. In this Charlie Brown special, only Linus historically takes offense with the others’ disagreement, but he’s fictional anyway. Actually, all the characters are!

What isn’t fiction is our recent election. It has been contentious and raucous, with both sides predicting near apocalyptic consequences if the other side makes it into office. There are scars and wounds.  

Now that it’s essentially over, how do we move forward? We have both sides represented in our congregation, so how do we respond and how do we relate to each other?  

Here are two principles I recommend we apply:

The Gospel

The Gospel is the transcendent truth which is as far above our earthly concerns -- including politics -- as the sky is above the earth. The Gospel is our defining truth, the truth which makes sense out of everything else. It’s our starting point which fits everything else together.  

Who we truly are is not grounded in being a republican or a democrat, or even in our national or racial identity. It is in the Gospel where we find our primary identity. Paul declares, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28, ESV). This is where we find our true identity.  

Paul goes even further stating, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). It’s via the Gospel that we can move forward to true unity.

True Unity

President-elect Biden has stated that now is the time to forget our differences and work toward unity. But where do we find true unity? It’s not in politics, certainly, as the Psalmist reminds us, “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation (Psalm 145:3).” The political and ideological rifts, heightened by rhetoric unimaginable even 20 years ago, are so deep that unity on that score will be impossible.  

We find true unity only through the Spirit of God as we confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Sin creates dichotomy and division, and only something as transcendent as the Gospel, the work of Christ accomplished and applied, can heal that division.  

True unity based in the Gospel is far more real and substantial than the transitory nature of this world and its ills.  

Paul explains, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).” Paul is specifically talking about his apostolic ministry, but the principle is general and applies to the entirety of our existence. We are new creations in Christ.  

The church is not an earthly club or political party but a supernatural (meaning, above nature) creation of the Holy Spirit. Our unity is therefore far more real and substantial than anything else that might unite or divide us, “For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

How do we practically apply these principles? We focus on them. We study them in the Scriptures. We own them through daily prayer. We assemble with one another and celebrate our unity in Christ through worshipping our Lord and Savior. We take the focus off ourselves and put it squarely on him. This will give us the foundation to work through even the most difficult earthly issues which divide us because we see them in proper perspective.

 

======

Thoughts on this post? Please share them in the comments.

Is there a topic you would like to see covered in a post? Email it to communications@HVPC.org.

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]]> Give Away Your Gifts! https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/open-your-gifts https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/open-your-gifts#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0500 https://www.hvpc.org/blog/post/open-your-gifts “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)



If you were around in the 70s or a fan of Bob Dylan, “you’ve gotta serve somebody” is a familiar line from one of his songs. He was referring to serving on, what you could call, a macro level: “Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, But you're gonna have to serve somebody…”

Dylan was right. But, for the Christian who has chosen to serve the Lord, there’s a micro level of serving as well. In fact, it’s service on this micro level that is an expression of your service on the macro level.

Simply put, everyone who accepts Christ as Lord is infused with the Holy Spirit and gifted for good works. Paul talks about these gifts in 1 Corinthians 12.

But even pre-dating the New Testament, there are several times recorded in the Old Testament where God, through the Holy Spirit, gifted people with special talents and skills.

One instance is when God instructed Moses to build the tabernacle, he also instilled in various individuals all the necessary skills and giftings needed to complete the work. For example, Bezalel, who God “filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft” (Exodus 35:31-33).

There are also several New Testament passages addressing spiritual gifts.

Take a look at Ephesians 4:11-12, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ....”

Or Romans 12:6a, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them....”

Or, 1 Timothy 4:14, “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.”

The primary points to grasp are (1) that there are many gifts, (2) they all come from God, (3) every believer is gifted in some way, and (4) how a believer is gifted plays into how they serve in the church.

God does not call someone to something that He doesn’t also gift them to do, and he gifts everyone to do something in service to the Body of Christ, his church on earth. Yep, even you!

As believers in Christ, we are all gifted and called to use our giftings to serve one another. That means we need to have an idea of how we’ve been gifted.

Do you know what your gifts are?

One way to gain insight into your giftings is to take a spiritual gifts survey (or test). There are several online; just Google “spiritual gifts survey” and they’ll pop up. Most are free and will give you the results immediately or send them via email. Here’s one to get you started: https://www.sdrock.com/giftstest/. A caveat: These tests or surveys are not authoritative or definitive, but are simply good starting places.

Another way is to search scripture for passages about spiritual gifts and study them prayerfully. Consider the kind of service you are drawn to, such as hospitality, singing, organizing, and so forth. Think back over your life and take stock of the activities in which you participated where you had fun and felt fulfilled. Make lists and rank the items by most enjoyed to least enjoyed.

Finally, a third way to learn how you may be gifted is to ask those who know you best. Ask your friends, your relatives, even your co-workers what gifts and talents and skills they have seen you exhibit day-to-day. You may be surprised by what they reveal to you!

My recommendation is to employ all three approaches and do so with intentionality and awareness. Trust that the Holy Spirit will reveal to you how he has gifited you for service in the Kingdom of God.

Then go serve! The proof is in the doing.

You and your giftings are needed. God has put you here for a reason and part of that reason is to serve him with joy and humility.

Every Christian is a necessary part of the Body of Christ. And we all gotta serve some Body!



=======

Thoughts on this post? Please share them in the comments.

Is there a topic you would like to see covered in a post? Email it to communications@HVPC.org.

Enjoying these posts? Like them on Facebook and share them with friends!

]]> “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)



If you were around in the 70s or a fan of Bob Dylan, “you’ve gotta serve somebody” is a familiar line from one of his songs. He was referring to serving on, what you could call, a macro level: “Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, But you're gonna have to serve somebody…”

Dylan was right. But, for the Christian who has chosen to serve the Lord, there’s a micro level of serving as well. In fact, it’s service on this micro level that is an expression of your service on the macro level.

Simply put, everyone who accepts Christ as Lord is infused with the Holy Spirit and gifted for good works. Paul talks about these gifts in 1 Corinthians 12.

But even pre-dating the New Testament, there are several times recorded in the Old Testament where God, through the Holy Spirit, gifted people with special talents and skills.

One instance is when God instructed Moses to build the tabernacle, he also instilled in various individuals all the necessary skills and giftings needed to complete the work. For example, Bezalel, who God “filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft” (Exodus 35:31-33).

There are also several New Testament passages addressing spiritual gifts.

Take a look at Ephesians 4:11-12, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ....”

Or Romans 12:6a, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them....”

Or, 1 Timothy 4:14, “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.”

The primary points to grasp are (1) that there are many gifts, (2) they all come from God, (3) every believer is gifted in some way, and (4) how a believer is gifted plays into how they serve in the church.

God does not call someone to something that He doesn’t also gift them to do, and he gifts everyone to do something in service to the Body of Christ, his church on earth. Yep, even you!

As believers in Christ, we are all gifted and called to use our giftings to serve one another. That means we need to have an idea of how we’ve been gifted.

Do you know what your gifts are?

One way to gain insight into your giftings is to take a spiritual gifts survey (or test). There are several online; just Google “spiritual gifts survey” and they’ll pop up. Most are free and will give you the results immediately or send them via email. Here’s one to get you started: https://www.sdrock.com/giftstest/. A caveat: These tests or surveys are not authoritative or definitive, but are simply good starting places.

Another way is to search scripture for passages about spiritual gifts and study them prayerfully. Consider the kind of service you are drawn to, such as hospitality, singing, organizing, and so forth. Think back over your life and take stock of the activities in which you participated where you had fun and felt fulfilled. Make lists and rank the items by most enjoyed to least enjoyed.

Finally, a third way to learn how you may be gifted is to ask those who know you best. Ask your friends, your relatives, even your co-workers what gifts and talents and skills they have seen you exhibit day-to-day. You may be surprised by what they reveal to you!

My recommendation is to employ all three approaches and do so with intentionality and awareness. Trust that the Holy Spirit will reveal to you how he has gifited you for service in the Kingdom of God.

Then go serve! The proof is in the doing.

You and your giftings are needed. God has put you here for a reason and part of that reason is to serve him with joy and humility.

Every Christian is a necessary part of the Body of Christ. And we all gotta serve some Body!



=======

Thoughts on this post? Please share them in the comments.

Is there a topic you would like to see covered in a post? Email it to communications@HVPC.org.

Enjoying these posts? Like them on Facebook and share them with friends!

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