Refuge: Island of Misfit Toys

     I love the Christmas season! With all the food, colors and smells that remind us our  get-togethers with friends and family are right around the corner. As a kid I couldn't wait for all the Christmas decorations and bright, colorful lights to start popping up on the houses in my neighborhood. My favorite television shows  like "Its a Wonderful Life", "Its Christmas Charlie Brown!" and "Frosty the Snowman" would be scheduled into the seasonal, weekly programming. Do you all remember the TV movie "Rudolf the Red nosed Reindeer"?  There is one scene from the movie where the three of characters run away from Santa's Village to the island of misfit toys. They didn't  fit into Santa's Village because they were all thought to be flawed in some way. For example, the rest of Santa's reindeer laughed at and made fun of Rudolf's red nose, remember it even glowed! And there was the elf, who didn't want to make toys but rather wanted to become a dentist. Bringing up the rear was a burly, gold miner who couldn't seem to locate the allusive mineral any time he landed his pick in the snow and ice.

    Have you ever felt like you don't fit in somewhere? Maybe at church? When all the people around you seemed connected, engaged, smiling and enjoying fellowship while you are just sitting there unnoticed, another broken toy destined for the island of misfits. I know that feeling, its a very ugly feeling especially when its coming from people who are calling themselves Christians. Ergo, I didn't feel like going to church, would you?

    So in our script our actors end up after a long, cold boat ride on the island of the misfit toys. The island becomes a sanctuary for toys that are not functioning as they were once designed. For example, the Jack in the Box doesn't open when the crank is turned, the doll has lost a button eye, the remote control plane cant fly and the locomotive has no whistle. So while our three friends successfully reach their destination, the island of misfit toys, they quickly realize that they are not as bad off as the rest of the broken toys around them. But they were just made in a different way with special gifts and talents. After their epiphany they can now start their return trip back to Santa's Village to help their friends.

   Its really sad to think about how many people who come to church just to "fit in" don't end up actually doing that? In fact they don't even get a "hello" or a handshake? They were probably motivated  by loneliness and were just waiting for someone to notice them sitting there...but nobody did. And they often leave feeling worse than when they first walked into the building.

   Refuge means: shelter or protection from danger or distress. A place of protection. We are all refugees, and we need a shelter from all the garbage that exists in this world. My refuge is God. He supplies all my needs. I want to not only welcome people to the safety of God's protection but continue in fellowship with them and grow as a family. The idea of the "church" of late is really misunderstood, many believe it is a place to "Do your time" show up on Sunday and keep checking your watch so you don't miss the football game that starts at noon. I believe as children of God we need each other. Its in that common bond of believing in Christ that we find true fellowship, love and refuge from our fears.

    So back to the story of our three misfits.  Rudolf, the red nosed reindeer,  because of his glowing red nose was able to provide the needed light for Santa's team of reindeer to be able to fly in the very dark, inclement weather that would have normally grounded Santa's Sleigh. The young elf had been told and pushed into thinking that he had to make toys because that is what elves do but what he really needed was to follow his heart and use the gifts that God had given to him in the field of dentistry. And the burly, gold miner while he searched everywhere for gold and riches never really looked in the right spot! He never found gold but he did find two very golden relationships with a red nosed reindeer and a tooth pulling elf. So be sure to smile warmly, give a hug or two and reach your hand out to someone who is hurting this Christmas season. Merry Christmas!

Whats in a Name?

 “The gospel of Luke presents the perfect, divine Son of God, as our great High Priest, touched with the feeling of our infirmities, able to extend help, mercy, and love to us.”  J. Vernon McGee

    

     I love the gospel of Luke. Its where we see the birth of the Perfect Man and the announcement of the births of John and Jesus. After the prophet Malachi spoke as a prophet of God about the coming Messiah there was 400 years of silence until the angel Gabriel appears and speaks to Zacharias. God’s first words after His long silence was “Don’t be afraid!”  Isn’t God wonderful! He cares about every little detail in our lives. Look at some of the names we find in the beginning of the book of Luke.

Zacharias means: “God Remembers”

Elisabeth means: “His Oath”

When you put them together you get “God remembers His oath”. 

     What oath, you might say? Take your pick. Look at Psalm 89:34-37: “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that has gone out of my lips. Once I have sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah”. The book of Malachi is the final book in the Old Testament.  There would now be 400 years of silence before God would speak through the angel Gabriel to Zacharias as recorded in Luke 1:11-17.  A New Covenant is going to be born beginning with the birth of Jesus and will go into effect at His death. The Israelites were becoming complacent once again so the Prophet Malachi comes to warn them and call them to spiritual renewal. They were going through the motions of religion but their hearts were not after God. God wanted a real relationship with them, not just the outward appearance of obedience (religion). Look at Malachi 3:1; this verse foretells of John the Baptist preparing the way for the Messiah (Jesus). Also in this verse, Jesus is referred to as “the Messenger of the covenant”. Between verse 1 and verse 2 of Malachi chapter 3 is where we are at the present time in history as verse 2 has yet to be fulfilled. Mark 1:2 identifies Malachi 3:1 as being John the Baptist. Also Malachi 4:5 is quoted by Luke and Isaiah 40:3 is quoted by Mark to describe John too. Elijah will be coming to prepare the way for the Lord before the second Advent of Christ. Jesus will return to the earth at His second coming after the Great Tribulation period which is foretold in the book of Daniel.

     Now in verse 18 of the first chapter of Luke, Zacharias responds to the angel Gabriel “How can I know this?”  In other words “I don’t believe you or No way that can happen!”  I believe our response to God is often very much like Zacharias. “No God, you can’t do that for me!” please someone tell me why we don’t really believe in God and what He can accomplish?

Elisabeth and Zacharias are told to name their promised son John.

John means: “Yahweh has been gracious”

    Gabriel is very busy during this time in the history recorded in Luke chapter one. He now  appears to Mary and Mary is told she is going to have a Son too. Although the child she would give birth to would be the Son of God.  She also responds with doubt but unlike Zacharias she is not made mute. Its interesting that Zacharias doubted and was made mute while Mary doubted and she is not made mute. Some of us feel that Mary didn't doubt the same way Zacharias did but Mary's concern was more "How is this going to be accomplished since I am a yet a virgin. 

    Mary is told to name Him JESUS. Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua in Hebrew which means: “Yahweh is salvation”   Jesus Christ means: “Yahweh is salvation” and the title of “anointed one” or “Messiah”.  Jesus is the clearest picture of God the world has ever seen! Immanuel, which means "God with Us"  

    So this Christmas season as you trim your tree, bake a ham or just hang up some lights remember God is with us! He always was, always is and always will be what a comforting thought that is. What a gift to the whole world was this Emmanuel and never forget that God would never push you into anything against your will. Salvation is the gift of God, its free for the taking but one must make up his mind, reach out and receive this wonderful, glorious gift! Jesus!

The New Church

    I'm studying today for our first church meeting and bible study of  Refuge. God is so very good! We will be studying the gospel of Luke and there is so much information there just in the first couple of paragraphs of chapter one. So I will have to break out my guitar, dust it off and practice a few worship songs. Cyndie P. has opened up her home in Alpine, Ca. as a place where we can start to gather new members to the fellowship. She has also offered to help me with worship. She has a very beautiful voice and is a very hospitable host, thank you Cyndie!
   There is this pastor and friend of mine, Greg Kelly, who is a really gifted young man. God has given him a real talent to be able to communicate His word in a very "down to earth" kind of way. Greg  is a very funny person, his quick wit allows him to often draw and shoot from his hip. He is also a very capable  bible teacher, who is able to present God's word in a modern way that makes it come alive even more than usual. Greg is married to Katie and has two very energetic, beautiful children.
   Greg and I will be equally sharing all duties and tasks associated with the shepherding of a church body. Eventually, I will be teaching a mid week "Through The Bible" study while Greg will host a High School / College age fellowship at his home. There will be plenty of work for all of you to do so please come and get involved. Greg and I will also be hosting a radio talk show which will premiere early next year on San Diego's own K-Praise KPRZ 1210 AM, stay tuned in for more information.
    So here I am on the eve of becoming a senior pastor along side of my good friend Greg and together with the support of my wife Pam, Greg's wife Katie and the power of the Holy Spirit we will be witnesses to what God can accomplish when people yield to His leading.