Experience Blessing

Ralph Waldo Emerson, nineteenth-century American poet and lecturer, once said, "It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." I suppose, if we take Emerson's words to heart, there are then few, if any truly selfless gifts, for to bless another is in essence, to experience blessing yourself. The apostle Paul said in Acts 20:35, ".. we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." We exist as a church to worship the living God and to serve others in the name of Christ.

That is the motivation behind Hypothermia Prevention Week at Westwood. February 5-12, Westwood will become a shelter for the homeless in our community. They will find among us a warm place to sleep, hot meals to eat, and welcome hearts and arms that will receive them in Christ's name. To help these men and women is to experience the blessing of God at work within all who participate in this special emphasis of love. They will be blessed by the warmth of our Christian community...we will be blessed by sharing the love of Christ.

Yes, to share the blessings of Christ is to experience blessing. Pray, give, volunteer in whatever way the Lord leads...there will be enough blessings to go around!

Jim Abernathy

Fix Your Attention

Presidential politics have once again taken center stage in our nation. I must say, the race to the White House has become somewhat like preparations for Christmas...it seems that both now come earlier and earlier with each cycle. It's not that I don't enjoy Christmas nor that I believe that the free process of electing leadership for our nation is insignificant. Preparations for both events are important...and yet, the preparations seem these days to be as important, or perhaps even more important than the actual events themselves.

Perhaps it has to do with our short attention span, moving retailers and politicians to continually remind us of what they believe is important, and therefore should be important to us. Maybe the reason for this early and constant bombardment of interest is our seeming addiction to filling every moment of every hour and day with something to occupy our minds, therefore, the constant advertisements of "seasonal sales" and "pertinent" political information that seem to run non-stop. The cynical among us would say that it's all about money, fostering a climate of materialism that often motivates consumers to spend money on things that they and others really don't need, while politicians spend much of their elected lives raising obscene amounts of money so they can keep their job. (The National Retail Federation projects 469 billion dollars was spent on retail sales for Christmas, 2011, while newsmax.com estimates that 8 billion dollars will be spent by all candidates in the presidential election of 2012.) Maybe we simply lack the self-control to say "no" to these excesses that seem pervasively present in our culture.

The hype and protraction of significant events in our lives that threaten to dilute their importance and heighten the cynicism that unfortunately comes as a by-product, are very present in our current culture. I believe we are losing sight of what is truly valuable in a sea of dollar signs and non-stop rhetoric. From time to time we hear the call to return to simpler values where in another time such abuses didn't exist. Such nostalgic longing is, however, usually not the answer. As I have quoted the great American humorist Will Rogers before, "Things ain't what they used to be, and probably never was." No, we can't turn the clock back and we can't simply apply old patterns to current circumstances.

The words of the Apostle Paul seem appropriate here as he writes in Romans 12:2, as translated through The Message, "Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Perhaps we have become so "well-adjusted" to our culture that "without even thinking," we accept and become part of a culture that is "always dragging {us} down to it's level of immaturity."

Those who follow Jesus Christ are called to be salt and light in such a culture. It begins one by one, heart by heart, person by person as transformation in Christ begins. And so, let us not be conformed to the immaturity of a culture that chases after that which cannot be sustained, rather, let us "fix {our} attention on God, and be changed from the inside out." Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Grateful to God, Win or Lose

The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos will play football tomorrow evening in Foxboro, Massachusetts. It's a playoff game and there will be a lot of hype surrounding the game. Don't be surprised to see a fan in a Bronco uniform with the number, 15, somewhere in the stadium, with the name "Jesus" on the back of the jersey. Now, Jesus won't be playing quarterback for the Broncos tomorrow evening, but there are some that think He's somehow working miracles in the throwing arm of Tim Tebow. If you watched the Bronco's victory over the Steelers last week, you might begin to believe that Jesus has taken a special interest in Mr. Tebow as he threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. Known for having "3:16", a reference to John 3:16, painted on his face, he interestingly threw for 316 yards, 10 completions for an average of 31.6 yards per catch. His throwing style has been much maligned, with football purists denouncing him as a passing fad (pardon the pun) whose star will quickly fade. Others, however, believe that he is divinely inspired, empowered by God to do what no one thought he could do.

For his part, Mr. Tebow takes every opportunity to praise God, and to draw attention to his "Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." It seems that he doesn't necessarily believe that Jesus is the source of his football success, however. I am glad to know that our Savior isn't a Bronco fan, though some might believe the prophet Isaiah's identity given him as the "suffering servant" would qualify him as a Redskin fan. I have found it interesting that Tim Tebow has received a great deal of support from purely secular sources, including the media, who recognize him as a genuine young man for whom there seems to be little, if any pretense. His religious expressions have been noted by columnists in the Washington Post as reasonable in the context of a professional game that has many different kinds of demonstrative expressions, religious and non-religious.

I'm not quite sure what to make of it all. I suppose Jesus would be a fine quarterback if he chose to be. Whether or not He empowers the arm of Tim Tebow, guiding his wobbly passes to streaking receivers, may be a mystery. Perhaps what's more important here is not whether Tim Tebow succeeds or fails, and he will probably do both over the length of his NFL career, but that his faith in the living Christ remains strong, no matter the game's outcome. Lots of players thank God when they win...my hunch is that Tim Tebow will be grateful to God, win or lose.

Jim Abernathy

Moments of Surprise

I'm a bit confused. The temperature gauge on the dashboard of my car just registered 67 degrees outside, and this is January 6. The bitter winds of Tuesday have given way to the balmy sunshine of Friday. My only regret at this moment is that I didn't take advantage of an invitation to play golf today. Something about golf in Virginia in January just doesn't seem right.

Of course, there are many moments in this life that leave us scratching our heads as things aren't as we think they should be. Most of us have lived through the disappointment of one of our favorite sports teams being upset by an obvious underdog. Some have just been through that moment of surprise when the most beautifully wrapped Christmas package yielded not the wonderful treasure you might have hoped for, but instead, socks!!! For some, there are much more serious consequences of surprise in finding their employment terminated, their investments lost, or their health suddenly in question.

One of the characteristics of the new year is the sense of unknown that accompanies it. We have certain plans for the new year, for this particular year, and some of those will be realized. However, there will be surprises along the way that we just didn't see coming that will have an impact on our lives, our families, and friends. Surprises are certainly not always negative, but many times, they do catch us off guard.

Can one be prepared for surprise? By its very definition, surprise would seem to answer a resounding "No!". And yet, we are not completely left to the whims of the unknown. As a person of faith whose trust in the Living God isn't dependent on what I can see, touch, or even plan for, I can step forward into the unknown believing that God will walk with me. In threatening circumstances that often seemed uncertain, the Psalmist declared in Psalm 23:4, " Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid. You are with me." (NIRV)

There will most likely be a number of confusing, head-scratching, joyous, and disappointing surprises along the way in 2012. Walking together with the Lord in faith will prepare you to deal with whatever comes, for God will be with you. That is the greatest thing we hope for in the new year...that is enough!

By the way, temperatures Sunday are supposed to be in the 50's. Don't be surprised to see some in shorts and sandals. Who knows, maybe there will be snow for Memorial Day!!

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional - December 25

December 25

Luke 2:1-20

“Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

Luke 2:19

In James Cameron’s epic movie, “Titanic,” the main character, Rose, through whose aging eyes the story is told, sums up what she has experienced with these enigmatic words…"A woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets."

The Christmas story, as told by Luke in our text today, concludes with the heart of Mary. Much has happened to her is a relatively short period of time…the angel’s astounding news, Joseph’s gracious acceptance of her circumstance, the trip to Bethlehem, the birth of her child, and finally, the strange cast of characters that come to see her child. What does it all mean?

This day, Christmas day, calls us to ponder once again what the birth of Christ means in our lives. To contemplate the love of God is to be touched, as Paul said in yesterday’s text, by a mystery whose depths are immeasurable. How does one truly understand the gift of God’s love through Jesus Christ?

The New International Reader’s Version of our text says, “But Mary kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. She thought about them over and over.” Today, and tomorrow, and throughout the coming year, as you ponder what the gift of Christmas truly means, think about God’s love over and over and over again. You may not fully understand it, but treasure it unlike any other gift you receive this or any Christmas.

Prayer: God of Christmas, whose love is offered through the gift of the Christ child, may we treasure the birth of our Savior and ponder its meaning for our lives, over and over again. Amen.

Thanks for allowing me to share these devotionals with you through the Advent season. May the Christ of Christmas reign in your hearts today and throughout the coming year.

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional - December 24

December 24

Ephesians 3:18-21

“…to understand the greatness of Christ's love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is.”

Ephesians 3:18b

How do you measure God’s love? In a culture that often seeks to measure its success quantitatively, this question truly perplexes us. Can we fully understand what is beyond our comprehension? Can we know the height or depth or width of God’s love? The Psalmist says in Psalm 103:11-12 that “as high as the sky is above the earth, so great is his love for those who respect him. He has taken our sins away from us as far as the east is from west.” These are immeasurable distances that remind us once more of the wonder of God.

On this Christmas Eve, perhaps you and I would do well to ponder anew the immeasurable distance of God’s love. Yes, we see that love in the manger of Bethlehem, but can God’s love truly be contained in that single story? God did not suddenly burst on the scene in Bethlehem as if he had been silent since humankind’s failure in the garden. God has been redeeming his creation from the beginning, and the coming of Christ is the continuing story of that great love. Ponder today the persistence of God’s love in never failing to honor his promises. Ponder today the grace of God that sees beyond the sin of our lives to the goodness he created within our hearts. Ponder today the unfathomable love of God that became flesh, took up a cross, and overcame death.

Prayer: Immeasurable God, we cannot fully understand your love, but we catch a glimpse in the manger of Bethlehem. May we seek to know more and more of your great love. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional - December 23

December 23

Jonah 3-4:3

“I knew you would choose not to cause harm.”

Jonah 4:2b

After all that Jonah had gone through in running away from God, finding himself in the belly of a great fish, witnessing the repentance of the people of Ninevah, and God’s grace shown toward them, he still thought he knew a better way. He angrily confronted God, telling God that he knew God would have mercy on the people.

It is interesting here that the very characteristic that draws us as human beings toward God is the characteristic that angered Jonah the most. The New Century Version translates chapter three, verse 2a as follows; "When I was still in my own country this is what I said would happen, and that is why I quickly ran away to Tarshish. I knew that you are a God who is kind and shows mercy.”

Most of us desire kindness and mercy. In the midst of our failures, grace is greatly appreciated. However, we are not always willing to extend that kindness, mercy, and grace to others, and we are not sure, like Jonah, that we want God to extend it to them either.

The angels came first to the lowly, to shepherds, to tell them the good news of Jesus’ birth. Few would have thought them deserving of such a gift and responsibility. The angels told them that this great news was for all people. That, you see, is the message of Christmas…God loving the world so much that he gave a son. Praise God this message isn’t just for a few…it isn’t just for those we, or anyone else, might deem worthy. God would choose not to cause harm. God would choose to love, forgive, and restore.

Prayer: Thank you God for choosing to love, forgive, and restore through the gift of Christmas, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Jim Abernathy