Treasures Beyond Black Friday

The term "Black Friday" was first used in in the nineteenth century after a catastrophic day on Wall Street. Since, there have been "Black Mondays" and probably other "Black" days to signify big losses in the financial markets.

In 1966, the term "Black Friday" was used in Philadelphia by local police to identify what was for them, one of the worst traffic days of the year in the downtown area as people flooded the streets to shop the day after Thanksgiving. In the mid seventies the term began to catch on in other areas, signifying the profits retailers hoped to make the day after Thanksgiving. Today it is term that describes a shopping craze noted by stores that open at midnight, have shoppers camping outside their doors overnight to be first in line for those one-of-a-kind "door-buster" sales. It is chaos that I have chosen not to participate in anymore, particularly since I have learned the joys of on-line shopping. My computer is my "Black Friday" friend!

There was a degree of chaos the first Christmas as well. This chaos was not created by frenzied shopping, but rather, the burden of taxation. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem for the census even though she was due to give birth to her first child very soon. No rooms could be found for them to find rest...ultimately a stable was secured and there, the Savior of the world was born. No "one-day-sales" ensued, in fact the first visitors who came to see the child were the poorest of society, shepherds who said to each other after the angels announced to them the birth of Jesus, ""Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." (The Message) I suppose the first rush of Christmas was to see the Christ-child. What a novel idea...drop everything and come to Jesus!

Perhaps the shepherd's example is one we should follow as well. In the midst of a season often characterized by distraction and chaotic frenzy, we are called once more to hear the angel's proclamation of good news and come at once to the manger to see God's great gift of love. The treasures of Black Friday cannot compare.

As we begin the season of Advent,come, join us as we make our way to Bethlehem "to see for ourselves what God has revealed to us."

Jim Abernathy

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Art Linkletter made a career out of the phrase, "Kids Say the Darndest Things." Now some of you may not know who Art Linkletter was...ask your parent or grandparent and chances are, they will know who he was. The son of a minister, he came to television in the 50' and 60's by interviewing children on a variety of subjects, getting their perspective on life issues that often brought laughter, and sometimes a poignant moment when the words of a child captured truth in a powerful way.

I'm not sure why I thought of Art Linketter this evening...haven't seen his old show in probably thirty years. Perhaps it was the encounter I had this morning with a few hundred fourth-sixth graders at Navy Elementary School in Fairfax. Their music teacher, who by the way also says the darndest things from time to time, invited me to attend a special assembly the children were leading in recognition of Veteran's Day. They sang patriotic songs, led the pledge of allegiance, shared essays they had written about the significance of the day, and also asked a lot of great questions of a United States Navy Reserve pilot who spoke to them about his experience flying Navy jets. They asked him if had ever crashed, dropped a bomb, or landed on an air craft carrier. His answers were met with smiles and an occasional look of wonder, followed quickly by more hands raised with more excited voices wanting to ask questions.

There were several veterans in the room who enjoyed this give and take, fascinated by the rapt attention of the usually squirmy children, and appreciative that these young minds were focused on the service and sacrifice of those much older than they. I walked away from that assembly having been instructed well by these young teachers. They taught me the darndest thing...they taught me lessons of appreciation and honor...sacrifice and service...wonder and awe. Perhaps Art Linkletter had it a bit backwards several decades ago...maybe the real challenge was not in the answers children often give, but rather in the questions they ask.

As Veteran's Day passes from the calendar for another year, I am grateful for lessons learned from the questions of children, and for the willingness of so many men and women to serve this nation so faithfully. Children will keep asking questions...may we all keep remembering the blessings of freedom made possible by those who answered their nation's call.

Jim Abernathy

The Wonder of God's Creation

Our WWW.go group enjoyed their "leaf peeping" trip this week and it looks like this weekend will be prime time for taking in the wonders of God's great canvas known as Autumn.

Ever hard to please, we sometimes complain about the inconsistency of the fall foliage. Perhaps we would rather have a switch that simply turned the colors from green to yellow, orange, or red, but that's not how it works. Temperature, moisture, and the type of tree all are factors in the transformation process we see in the seasons. Like many things the Creator has made, we want to think that we could improve upon it in some way, but how can that be done??? The beauty and wonder of nature is not dependent on human improvement. God, the Eternal One, the Maker of heaven and earth has fashioned this world, and like the Psalmist, we must come before God to affirm the glorious things that God has done. In Psalm 8, the writer proclaims, "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers...what are mere mortals that you are mindful of them." To view and experience the wonder of God's creation is to marvel at all that God has done and to praise God in everything.

As you look around you during this season and notice that some trees are ablaze with color while others are more muted, while still others seem to have little color, recognize that God is at work in all things, and that everything God has made is beautiful in its own way, and that includes you!

Enjoy the view!!!

Jim

What a Fellowship!!!

We announce to you what we have seen and heard, because we want you also to have fellowship with us. Our fellowship is with God the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We write this to you so we may be full of joy." (I John 1:3-4)

Fellowship is an important element of community life, particularly within the church. Now I'm not just talking about pitch-in meals, picnics, homemade ice-cream fellowships, or receptions that Baptist churches are known for...though at Westwood these make for some mighty fine culinary experiences! Fellowship within the church cannot be defined by a particular event or setting. Fellowship might best be defined within the context of the local church as the quality of love shared among the people, that reaches within and beyond that particular people.

Case in point, the fellowship at Westwood has been wonderfully displayed over the past ten days in response to the tragedy in the Nelson family. When news began to spread about Garrick Nelson's tragic death, calls began to come in to the church office..."What can I do to help?" Many have not only asked, but acted to provide meals to Jamie and her family, volunteer their time in the church office during Jamie's absence, bring food for and/or serve at the reception following the funeral to name just a few things that have been done. Westwood also welcomed and expanded our sense of community as hundreds of people attended the memorial service for Garrick, a good number of whom do not attend our church...some who attend no church. Again and again I heard from them what I often hear about Westwood..."This is a warm and welcoming church." I agree. I believe we take seriously the meaning of fellowship, loving and embracing those who are known to us and those we meet for the first time. To welcome others in Jesus name, whether their hearts are heavy because of tragic loss, or whether they are visiting with us for the first time while searching for a new church home, as we greet them with the love and compassion of Christ, we open doors for the Spirit of God to work.

Our fellowship is built on relationship with the Creator God and with the Son, Jesus Christ, as John wrote. We show that such fellowship is authentic when we embrace each other and the world around us in the name of Christ. As a result, blessings abound in words of compassion, smiles of affirmation, hugs of encouragement, and other wonderful expressions of fellowship.

With gratitude to God for sharing in such fellowship through the community of faith known as Westwood Baptist Church, I am indeed blessed, as are you. Let us be "full of Joy" as God continues to be at work in our fellowship.

What a fellowship...what a joy divine!!!

Jim Abernathy

No One Died, But.....

It was a strange way to begin a sports talk radio show..."Nobody died, but......" The conclusion of the statement was, "can you believe what has happened to Stephen Strasburg?" Of course, what motivated this maudlin opening was the just-broken news that Nationals star pitcher Stephen Strasburg would probably miss at least a year, perhaps more, because of a torn ligament in his elbow that would require surgical repair. Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo was interviewed later in the show, and with tongue placed firmly in cheek, he said, "We're not quite ready for the funeral yet." No, a life had not been lost, but perhaps what was slowly ebbing away were the dying dreams of Nationals fans, hungry for a winner, whose hopes and dreams had been placed squarely on the shoulders, or should I say, the 102 m.p.h. fastball, of Stephen Strasburg.

I was in Nationals Stadium the night Strasburg debuted, and it was a wondrous occasion. Every pitch was celebrated, every strikeout highlighted on the scoreboard. The delerious fans cheered continuously after he was taken out of the game until he stepped back out of the dugout and waved his cap in recognition that he was the great hope for a baseball team previously consigned to the cellar of the National League East. Ticket stubs were being bought that night as fans left the stadium by speculators who assumed they would one day be worth a goldmine. Now, in the immediate aftermath of an MRI report, it wasn't a great stretch for some to speak of this moment in the same breath while mentioning life's last great enemy, death.

Sports talk hyperbole aside, I got to thinking about the phrase, "No one died, but..." This phrase is not unfamiliar to me. I have heard it used in a variety of ways over the years. I suppose it is a perspective builder, in a negative sort of way. "The good news is that no one died; the bad news is......" and that sentence could be finished in a number of ways. I suppose the greatest loser in this situation is Stephen Strasburg, whose injury could potentially end or alter his baseball dreams. The team may lose money, some fans may lose interest in the team, and sports talk radio will have to focus its attention somewhere else. No one died, but....

Over the years I have walked with many people through a great many problems. I have on occasion heard one of them say, "Well, as bad as it is, there are others worse off than me." Their attempt to minimize their own pain by focusing attention on others can be admirable, and yet it often sells their own difficult struggles short. For some, this is an attempt to pull themselves out of the mire of self-pity that often accompanies personal struggle, and we tend to admire that. Yet in all the pain and disappointment that accompany life's challenges, many are affected by the outcome, but none more than the one at the heart of that personal struggle. Nats fans are disappointed, but for Stephen Strasburg, the impact is the most significant.

Many folks around us are dealing with challenges that are significant...perhaps life-altering. Sometimes we stand at a distance and watch, wondering how they will handle their situation, perhaps afraid about getting involved. Those moments are not as much about how we feel, though there may be disappointment or hurt, but rather, they are about that hurting person and what can be done to help him or her, particularly from the perspective of faith, in the name of Christ. Jesus said that when we are reaching out in love to help others, we are reaching out to Him.

I believe it was near the end of the great musical, Les Miserables, that Jean Valjean sings, "...to love another person is to touch the face of God." In the world around us there are many hurts, many struggles. Some are proclaimed in media blasts, some often go little noticed. You and I have an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ, reaching out, loving, encouraging, healing, for as we do this for others, we are truly doing this for Christ.

For Stephen Strasburg's sake, I hope there is complete healing. The rest of us will have to be content, at least for a while, with run of the mill 88, 90, or perhaps even 93 mph fastballs from our hometown pitchers. Maybe there's a lesson of perspective for us all in that.

Jim Abernathy

One More Tomorrow

Cindy, Clayton, and I are traveling north on I-75 through the mountains of Tennessee and Kentucky today. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and the views are gorgeous. God truly has made a beautiful world! Thus far on this trip, we have visited with two of my three sisters, my mom, and been to six college campuses, with at least one more to go. Our purpose is to let Clayton see some of the schools we have been talking about that he might want to attend in a couple of years. To him college seems far away. For his mother and me it is coming much too fast!Looking to the future is wise if it does not become too much of a distraction for the present.

Sometimes we become consumed by the future or the past, losing sight of the blessings and opportunities of today. Jesus, speaking to his disciples about the provision of God, said, "Don't worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself." His words were not a prohibition on planning or forward-thinking, but rather a reminder that all our days, past, present, and future are in God's hands. If, as the writer of Hebrews said, that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then I can trust it all...the known and the unknown, into the hands that have created and redeemed me. So, regardless of where your journey takes you today, next month, or over the next few years...in whatever direction you look, know that God is there to give you strength and wisdom for the journey.

As I have been writing, we have crossed into Kentucky. In a few hours we will be on the campus of The University of Kentucky in Lexington...hallowed ground for Clayton. We keep mentioning the phrase "out of state tuition," but it hasn't seemed to phase him yet. Oh well, I guess that is one more tomorrow we will have to leave in the Lord's hands.

Along the way...

Jim Abernathy

Driving Lessons...Life Lessons

We are adding a new driver in our household. Clayton has had his permit for several months now and is taking the "Behind the Wheel" course at Lake Braddock this week. He appears to have few of his father's bad habits as a driver. The few times I have had to correct him for something, I have found myself later, more aware of my own mistakes. One example: a few weeks ago, Clayton approached a stop sign and prepared to stop, only he didn't come to a full stop before making the turn onto the next street. I reminded him that to fail to come to a complete stop on his driving test, would probably result in failing the test, not to mention the danger that rolling through a stop sign invited under normal driving conditions. He acknowledged the correction and has done a much better job when approaching stop signs as a result. A few days after that experience, he was a passenger as I was driving. We approached a stop sign and as I drove away from the intersection he said, "Dad, you didn't come to a full stop," and he was right. We smiled at each other as I acknowledged my transgression, and his recognition that the flaws of his father had been exposed once again.

As parents, we try to teach our children right and wrong, we encourage them to make good choices, and though our words are important, there is no substitute for a good example. Most of us, as parents, have experienced that uncomfortable moment when forced to address the glaring "gap" between what we have said and what we have done as our children have observed. "Caught," we sometimes make excuses for why those rules don't apply to us, or perhaps how the whole thing was just a big misunderstanding...yet, there are times when parents admit before their children that they were wrong...that they fells short...that they (I) should have come to a complete and total stop instead of rolling through the stop sign.

I can tell you that I have thought more about my own driving habits since Clayton has started driving. My driving faults are numerous and I am working to correct them. Clayton, for his part, is gracious in his recognition of those bad habits...usually acknowledging them with a sly smile, or perhaps a cleared throat as subtle reminders that there is still work to be done. I suppose such experiences serve as a reminder that each of us is a work in progress. Whether driving for 37 years or 37 weeks,
we can still learn and improve, no matter what we do.

Our faith journey reminds us of this truth every day. None of us arrive at a place of conclusion this side of heaven, where we know all there is to know or have mastered the truths of Christ-like living to perfection. There is always more to learn, experience, and share, and oh yes, more correction needed.

In Ephesians 4:13, Paul speaks of maturity as the goal of discipleship..."attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Maturity doesn't guarantee perfection, but in matters of faith, it does speak to a growing relationship with Christ that is evident in the things we say and do. Narrowing the gap between word and action is indeed a worthy goal for all of us.

In the meantime, I'll be driving with Clayton...hopefully a learning experience for us both!

Jim Abernathy

Looking for God

A number of times over the years I have heard someone ask, particularly in the context of grief and anguish, "Where was God when..." and then they finish the question with their particular heartache or uncertainty. These are great questions for they challenge us to think about the Creator as one whose presence among us is assumed and whose action is anticipated. What we miss often in these questions, is the degree of personal bias we bring to our inquiries. What we are often really saying is, "why didn't God act as I thought God should act?" We, like Jonah, seem to presume that we know what is best and therefore, how God should act.


God sent Jonah to Nineveh. Most of us know the story of Jonah's fear and of his running away from God. We know of the big fish that swallowed him and then spit him out, and of his relenting to go where God wanted to send him. We forget at times, however, that when God looked with grace upon the Ninevites and spared them, Jonah became angry with God, ultimately because God did not act as Jonah thought God should act.


Today, we still struggle with our understanding of how and why God acts. We, like Jonah, believe at times that we have it all figured out, yet are surprised when God doesn't come through as we would prescribe. "My ways are higher than your ways," God said through the prophet Isaiah, "My thoughts are higher than yours." To hear those words doesn't help us to always understand the action or inaction of God. But perhaps it reminds us that we do not have the last word...that we do not always have the last word...that we are not the center of the universe.

Where was God when...? Trust that God was there and trust that God will continue to be there and at work in the midst of whatever you face. By definition, isn't that what faith requires?

Jim Abernathy

Making the Most of the Upgrade

I am writing this entry from my new computer in my office. It is faster than my old computer, has a much bigger and brighter screen, as well as new programs my old computer did not have. It is definitely an upgrade. But I must admit, there are a few things that will take some getting used to. Now don't get me wrong, I don't want my old computer back, but this upgrade will require some work on my part to learn new applications. I will be challenged to learn new ways of doing things that will in the long run make me more efficient in the use of this computer. I could be satisfied with what I had, or step forward to embrace the new and allow it to enhance my work.

God has a way of doing new things within us, challenging us to think and act differently as we study scripture and are led by the Spirit to follow the way of Christ. In some moments we recognize this new path as obviously better than our old ways, yet at other times we find ourselves tempted to return to our old, contented ways. The apostle Paul said that to be in Christ is to be a new creation and that in Christ, all becomes new. You and I have the opportunity to live in newness every day, shaking off the contentedness of routine, learning new lessons from Christ that empower us for every moment.

Don't settle for the familiar routines that limit possibility...embrace the new, accept the upgrade that God brings to your life every day through faith in Jesus Christ. There are wonderful possibilities that lie before you if you are willing to try something new. Make the most of the upgrade...live in the possibilities before you as offered through the living God.

Jim Abernathy

The Car Wash Dilemma

The recent snows and their messy, muddy aftermath have left a lot of things looking quite dingy. My car is one of those dingy things. I should get it washed, after all, the salt and grime left on the roads has formed layers of dirt that may never come off...or so it seems. Yes, I should wash the car, but to tell you the truth, it is still so messy on the roads that after a washing, and a few more minutes back on the road, it would be dirty again in a matter of moments. Maybe I will wait for spring when all the snow has melted road spray from the salt and puddles is gone away.

Truth is that in the spring, there will be enough dirt, mud, and rain on the roads so that washing the car will not last long either and will probably just be a waste of time. Perhaps in the summer when it is dry and hot, I will wash the car. Yes, the summer's drought will afford the best opportunity to keep the car clean...except for the dust and dirt that collects on the finish when there is no moisture to sate the earth. Maybe there's no good time to wash the car. Maybe it's just not worth the effort when it will just get dirty again!

We have entered the season of Lent, a time of reflection and repentance as we journey toward the cross. Seems like just yesterday we were at this same place. Every year the season of Lent calls us to introspection and confession...to recognize anew our need for forgiveness when confronted with the matchless gift of God's love in Jesus Christ. In reality, repentance and forgiveness are continual themes for the Christian as every day we recognize our sin and ask God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ. I suppose, like a dirty car in the middle of winter, we might assume it unnecessary to find cleansing in the forgiving grace of God, after all, we will just sin again. Yet, unconfessed sin is a barrier to right relationship between God and sinners like me. Perhaps like a car, there are stains that after a while begin to eat away at the paint and damage the finish if not cleaned. Continuing to carry the burden of my sin without repentance allows that sin to compromise a vital, empowering faith. New Testament writer John encourages sinners to be intentional in seeking God's forgiveness, as he writes, "If we are faithful to confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." To ignore that sin is carry the dirt and filth of sin when it could easily be cleansed.

I think I will take my car and get it washed right away. Yes, it will get dirty again, but I must admit that keeping it clean will make a difference to the finish of the car, and probably make me feel better as well. Confessing my sin and seeking the forgiveness of God regularly, makes a difference in my life as well. That is a truth for Lent and every season of the year.

Jim Abernathy

Love in Action

In I John 3:18, the wise apostle writes, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." In other words, don't just talk about love, do it. We are fairly proficient, particularly in this national capital region, in talking a good game, whether it is a political hot potato, fiscal challenge, or simply a competition between friends. But talking is not the end-all when it comes to exercising significant change...there must also be meaningful action.

New Testament writer James said that it is not enough to tell a person without a coat to go and be warmed...to truly make a difference one must give the coat that helps keep another warm. As the old adage says, "actions speak louder than words."

The pictures from Haiti are hard to fathom. Hundreds of thousands dead, millions homeless or at the very least, displaced by the terrible earthquakes that have ravaged the country. We might grieve such hardship and mourn such devastating loss of life...to do so is to recognize the need. But if that is all we do, we have done little more than the disinterested person James describes who did nothing to warm a cold body and soul. How will we respond to the massive needs in the country of Haiti?

Westwood will do so in at least four ways. First, we pray. This is not a last resort when nothing else can be done. Prayer is the first response when there is any need. Second, we receive a special offering February 14th...indeed, a perfect day for a "love offering." This offering will be divided among our ministry partners, The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and the Baptist World Alliance, who have persons on the ground in Haiti and are working through local congregations there to meet needs. Third, in March we will receive medical and personal hygiene supplies that will be shipped to our ministry partners there that will be used for the foreseeable future. Finally, we hope at some point in the future to send a team to Haiti, though we know that will probably be quite some time before this happens.

Is love truly love if it does not motivate one to action? To love others in Jesus' name is to show that love. I invite you to join the Westwood family as we seek to love the people of Haiti in word and action.

Jim Abernathy