So I was driving back from Joann's fabrics this evening after buying some Avengers fabric for some new atikluqs (kuspuks) and our awesome red minivan came to rest at a stoplight.  The vehicle in front of us had a bumper sticker on it that simply said, "Jonah 4:9-11."  No picture, no other words, just the verses' address.  How many of you could recite Jonah 4:9-11 from memory?  What's that?  You can't?  That's ok, because I can't either.  (Probably my Hebrew professor could, but not most people).  So I asked Shirleen, who was in the passenger seat, to look it up on her handy dandy smartphone Bible (we like YouVersion: www.bible.com).  She read it and I sure had to think about it for a minute.  For your reference, here is the passage:

Jonah 4:9-11New International Version (NIV)

9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”

“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”

10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”


When I got home I googled "Jonah 4:9-11 bumper sticker" and you know what came up?  Nothing.  My only guess is that the bumper sticker was a custom creation.  I would love to know why they made it.  I can only imagine.  

After hearing those verses, my thoughts were, "Stop complaining about yourself, and start caring for others."  Jonah was so angry about God not being fair and God not taking care of himself that all he could think to do was complain.  But God put Jonah in his place.  God basically was saying, "Stop being so selfish and look at all those people who were on the path to eternal damnation!  Start caring for those who need to know God's love!"  Stop whining and start caring.  I think that is an awesome message for those of us in comfy cozy America.  There are so many people in this world that are lost and hurting that need the love of God.  Why do we complain so much about our own lives?  Let's get out there and feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the fatherless and the widow, welcome the refugees, adopt the orphans, and most of all, share the Gospel message of Eternal Life.  

I think I want a Jonah 4:9-11 bumper sticker.

Stop whining and start caring.

Merry Christmas everyone!  Just a quick post this week.  I'll be back after the holidays!

​​It’s hard to think about joy today for those of us in Unalakleet, our small village of about 750.  Yesterday, we found out that we lost another person in our community to a tragic death.  I’ve lost track, but I believe this is the 9th person we have lost just this fall.  Our village is full of the tears of those that grieve.  God gives us tears to bring about healing.  It is good and right to grieve.  And yet, we do not grieve as those without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).  We cling to the promise that Jesus gave us, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
 
This advent season, we have taken a look at how we celebrate the love of Christ, the peace of God, and today we look at the joy of the Lord.  Like love and peace, joy is something that may seem fleeting if separated from God.  However, when we have the joy of the Lord, this is something that cannot be taken from us or destroyed.  Christ loves us unconditionally, the peace of God surpasses all understanding, and the joy of the Lord is our eternal strength.  None of these depend on us, but are firmly rooted in who God is, what He does, and the glory of His Kingdom come. 
 
That is why we, as Christians, faced with great grief, can sing songs like the Bible Camp song, “Trading My Sorrows.”  It is a song that is based off of several Scriptures and is an encouragement to me today.  The author, Darrell Evans, says in an interview that he hopes that this song is sung as an intercessory prayer for someone that is experiencing sorrow, pain, sickness, or shame.  http://www.crosswalk.com/church/worship/song-story-trading-my-sorrows-by-darrell-evans-1236482.html.
 
I invite you to pray this song with me today.  Maybe you are grieving and you are the one that needs the joy of the Lord to be your strength.  Or maybe God has brought someone to your heart to pray this song for today.  Either way, let us lay down our burdens and take up the joy of the Lord.
 
Trading My Sorrows – Darrell Evans, © 1998 Integrity's Hosanna! Music
 
I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
And we're singing

Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord, Amen

I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
And we're singing

Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord, Amen

I am pressed but not crushed,
Persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I am blessed beyond the curse
For His promise will endure
That His joy is gonna be my strength
Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes in the morning

I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
And we're singing

Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord, Amen

And we're singing
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord, Amen

Yes Lord, Amen
Yes Lord, Amen!
 

​Do you have peace?
 
In a world of war, terror, famine, disease, refugees, widows, orphans, homeless, and great troubles of every kind…how can we, as Christians, claim to have peace?
 
In this second week of Advent; the week of peace, I shared part of these thoughts on KICY radio during the prayer program, Careforce, this morning.
 
Peace: More Than a Feeling –
 
Part of the problem we American Christians have is that we often believe the world when it tells us peace is a temporary, fleeting feeling.  To the world, often, peace is equal to comfort, or safety, or quiet.  This fragile description of peace can shatter at any time.  According to the world, much like losing the feeling of love, we can lose the feeling of peace.  But love is much more than a feeling: it is a sacrificial commitment and a constant conscious decision to put another’s needs first.  Likewise, peace is much more than a feeling: it is the objective state of being in a restored harmonious relationship.  Humans can fail to love, but God never stops loving us.  Human peace can fail, but if we have surrendered our lives to Christ, God will never again war against us.
 
Peace: A Treaty –
 
What the world cannot fathom is that the peace of God which surpasses all understanding is not based on conditions that change.  However, we are not born with God’s peace.  We are born with a sin nature that causes us to be at war with God, at war with others, and even at war within our own souls.  The only way to bring a stop to the hostility is by accepting the peace treaty that was written with the blood of Jesus Christ.  When we accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, we are accepting a peace treaty with God.  The peace of God only can come through the condition of a surrendered life walking daily with Jesus Christ.  When we do this, no longer will God pour out His wrath upon us.  Though we may sometimes stumble and fall, though the world around us rages on, God will never falter on His end of the peace treaty.
 
Peace: A Restored Relationship –
 
When we have the peace of God, we not only have a restored relationship with God, the Creator of the universe, but through the seal of the Holy Spirit, we have a restored relationship with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  Not only does the peace treaty of Jesus Christ call for a ceasefire between us and God, but it also calls for an end to hostilities between all Believers.  No matter what great trouble is going on in the world, the Body of Christ remains constant.  We can count on the fellowship of those who have accepted God’s peace treaty.  Though we as individuals may fail, the Holy Spirit within us will not.  Furthermore, the peace of God also restores the relationship we have with our very own souls.  When we accept the peace of God, we accept what our true identity is: a dearly beloved child of God, made in God’s very image. 
 
When we have a restored relationship with God, with others in the Church, and with ourselves, we realize that we have a purpose much great than seeking a feeling of temporary comfort, safety, or quiet.  Peace leads us to our purpose to go into all the world to declare the Good News, preaching, teaching, baptizing, and discipling.  When we cling to the peace treaty of Jesus Christ, we hold to a permanent, unwavering, restored harmonious relationship.  That is how we as Christians can claim to have peace in a world with every kind of great trouble.  And it all started in a humble manager with the birth of the Prince of Peace.
 
Do you have peace?
 
Isaiah 9:6 – “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.”
 
Ephesians 2:12-22 – “12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

Happy Holidays!  Advent season is upon us.  The following is an Advent Youth Group lesson that I'm doing with the Unalakleet youth this week.  How are you waiting for Jesus?

What do you do when you wait?
            You can wait passively: doing nothing, or you can wait proactively in anticipation: preparing.

How do you wait for Christmas?
            Passively, or proactively?  What does your family do to get ready?

Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. 
‎
Today we are talking about advent…and about the 3 wise men.
      Why talk about wise men during advent?  
             They waited proactively – they waited expectantly and prepared.

When did they leave their home?  
      They traditionally would have left BEFORE Christmas
             (Traditionally, they arrive between Dec 25 (Western Christmas) and Jan 6th - Orthodox Christmas Eve)

Let’s look at their story in Matthew 2
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod,Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with giftsof gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.“Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

The term “Magi” comes from the Greek Magoi. 
Magi is the plural of magus, from which we get the word for magician…but don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the Magi were magicians, but rather wise men…and some may have seen their wisdom as magical.

Why were they called wise? 
They were experts in astrology (study of stars), alchemy (chemistry), and dream interpretation (psychology). 

Magi were scientists – genius level – like Stephen Hawking…(keep in mind they didn’t have science classes or books…).

Where did they come from?
Traditions say they came from Persia, Babylon, and India - one legend says that Doubting Thomas joined the Indian Magi after the Ascension to baptize the Magi and plant the Indian church.  Others say they may have come from China…Many others also say one was Ethiopian.

Why are they sometimes called Kings?
The identification of the Magi as kings is linked to Old Testament prophesies that have the Messiah being worshipped by kings in Psalm 68:29, Psalm 72:10, and Isaiah 60:3:
Psalm 68:29 “Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts”
Psalm 72:10-11 “May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts.  May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.”
Isaiah 60:3 “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”           

​Regardless of whether they were kings or not, or of whether they came from China, Africa, or India; Matthew uses the word “Magi” to show they were amongst the wisest, smartest people in the world.

If you where the smartest person in the world, what would you do with your life?
The Magi spent their lives looking for God all around them and looking for the Son of God who would be the Savior of the world so they could worship Him.

The Magi had 2 choices – they could wait for the Son of God to come to them where they were…they could just passively wait…OR they could be proactive and go to Him.

How can you wait proactively?  How can you look for and go to God with everything around you?
The Magi read the Scriptures and follow the signs in the stars to Bethlehem…perhaps they even were so focused on looking for God that they heard the voice of the Holy Spirit, or maybe an angel told them in a dream like the warning they received about Herod…one thing we know for sure is that they knew the star they followed was the Messiah’s.

When the Magi finally go to Jesus, what did they plan in advance to give Him?  
More than just their material gifts – comfort – time – life – worship – sacrifices…
The Gold was fitting of an earthly king...
But why frankincense and myrrh?  Incense is a fitting offering to God…
The Magi likely recognized Jesus’ humanity, royalty, and divinity.

What does it look like for you to sacrifice this Advent season?
How are you waiting expectantly and preparing? – Not just for Christmas…but for Jesus’ return and for eternity?
What does it look like to proactively wait for Jesus in your lives as students?  As children? 
For those of you that have surrendered your lives to Jesus and call yourselves Christians – what does it look like to proactively wait for Jesus as a member of the Body of Christ?

What is keeping you from proactively waiting – from expecting or preparing for Christmas?
Have you been failing to wait proactively?  Do you need to recommit to doing the good things that God has called you to?
Have you been using your time waiting by doing things you know you shouldn't?  Do you need to ask for help in avoiding the things that God has called you to avoid?
Maybe what is keeping you from expecting and preparing isn’t about actions, but about what is going on in your heart and mind.  Do you want to be peaceful and joyful, but inside you are hurting?  Do you need to share those hurts with an older Christian?
Maybe you've never surrendered to Christ.  Maybe you’ve heard what it means to pray the sinner’s prayer, or ask Jesus into your heart, but you’ve never really understood what it means to surrender your whole life to Jesus…maybe you don’t really know what it means to call Jesus Savior and Lord.
​
If any of these things are keeping you from expecting and preparing for Jesus this Christmas season, we invite you to a time of prayer and reflection.