The End of the World?

While shopping the other day, the clerk and I were making small talk as the card reader was slowly processing the transaction. When asked if she had finished her Christmas shopping, she replied, "No I'm waiting until after the 21st this year. No sense in spending a lot of money if the world is coming to an end." Of course, she was speaking of the ancient Mayan calendar prophecy that some have interpreted as an apocalyptic event. I suppose it's understandable that one would be cautious about spending for gifts to be presented after the world comes to an end...seems like a total waste of good money. The clerk smiled after she said those words, betraying a cynicism that communicated that she was more of a procrastinator than a true believer in Mayan prophecy.

Every generation has its doomsday prophets. For some reason, the last few years have been full of these "end of days" forecasts. Some have sold everything they own to proclaim the news. Some have made pilgrimages to certain "holy" sites to greet the apocalypse, while others have seen these warnings as opportunities for partying and revelry. In a world where it seems that the challenges of every day are enough to deal with, the distractions of global destruction, based on questionable prophetic sources, seem to command an inordinate amount of our time and energy. For some of us, it's difficult enough just to get to the mall, find a parking place, and then the perfect gift for Christmas, much less worry about the end of the world!!! What's a person to do???

OK, my cynicism got the best of me there. To a world of uncertainty, war, extreme poverty and civil unrest, a baby was born nearly 2000 years ago. Of course, many babies were born, but this one came as a unique gift. You see, this baby was the Son of God. His birth was common in nature in that he was born in a stable and placed in a manger...no room at the finer places for his parents to dwell. His birth was uncommon, however, in that the announcement of his birth was made by an angelic choir to lowly shepherds tending their flocks. His birth did not signal the end, but the beginning of hope, for the Creator of the universe had come to live and dwell among his creation. This birth did not hail the end of all things, but the glorious rebirth of the human soul through faith in the living Christ...the Word made flesh. Mayan predictions and nonexistent parking possibilities at the mall aside, that is the wonderful news for our world on this December 21, 2012. With headlines bearing the news of fiscal cliff impasses, funerals in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shootings, and all that accompanies a world that often seems bent on some kind of apocalyptic expression, there is good news, "for to you, in the city of David, is born a Savior, Christ the Lord." Remember that good news when you read the headlines, consider ancient tribal prophecies, or search for that elusive parking place before Christmas.

Jim Abernathy

Prayer in the Aftermath of Newtown Shootings

The news of this latest school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut has once again shocked our nation. The relative sanctuary of an elementary school was shattered by a lone gunman with semi-automatic weapons, shooting indiscriminately, taking the lives of children and adults, most of whom he probably never knew. The senseless and violent nature of such an act can erode our sense of security and well-being, leaving us with questions of life and faith that can be very difficult to answer.

Tomorrow morning, my sermon title is "News Worth Repeating," based on Philippians 4:4-7. The text begins, "rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say rejoice." This title and text were chosen before the events of yesterday, but speak quite clearly to us in great joy and devastating sorrow. Our focus will be on the way we live and respond as people of hope in the aftermath of life's unknowns. A word to parents of young children...our preschoolers will be in extended session during the sermon time, but since we do not have children's church in December, elementary children will be in the sanctuary for the sermon. I will not speak to the specifics of the elementary school setting nor speak in any specific detail about yesterday's events that might be difficult for children to hear or process. I will, however, speak to the comforting presence of God in the midst of joy and sorrow, the hope we have as we trust in God, and the calling of Christ to love others in His name, regardless. As with any message, my desire is to convey help and hope for our continuing journey of faith in the midst of ever changing circumstances, and to remind us that God is present, whatever we face.

Spend time in prayer today for the families who have lost loved ones in this tragedy. Pray also for teachers and counselors who will work with the children when they return to their classrooms, first responders who must now process what they have witnessed in responding to this tragedy, ministers and other religious leaders who will walk with grieving families and their community for some time to come, elected officials and school administrators who will grapple with the response to this horrific event, and moms and dads who will sit down with their children to talk about something they would prefer not to discuss.

The Psalmist reminds us in the thirty-seventh Psalm, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." May that presence encourage and strengthen next steps for these very difficult days.

Jim Abernathy

Finishing Well

I received a wonderful book this week from a dear friend that contains a treasure trove of home-grown country sayings, full of good humor and straight forward common sense. In a section entitled, "Completing a Job," were these words about expediency: "We ain't got time to do it right, so just hit it a lick and give it a promise." Most, if not all of us, can relate to that moment when you're in a hurry or distracted by something else that needs to get done, and attention to detail in finishing the matter at hand suffers. Finishing a task well is the mark of a faithful worker.

As we approach the close of 2012, there are a number of things that we can finish, not expediently, but well as members of the Westwood family.

1. Giving Tree Gifts...if you took a card with names and wishes for Christmas, complete your shopping and have those presents back to the church no later than Tuesday, December 18. In doing so you will truly brighten someone's Christmas celebration.

2. Global Missions Ingathering...this Sunday, December 16, during morning worship, we will bring forward our gifts for global missions and place them in the manger as a sign of our continuing commitment to share the love of Christ with people near and far. This meaningful moment will be concluded as long time Westwood member and missions advocate Kay Cumbie leads our prayer of dedication for these gifts. If you cannot be present Sunday, Global Missions gifts will be received through the end of December.

3. Worship Opportunities...as mentioned above, this Sunday's worship will feature the Global Missions Ingathering and special music from our preschool and sanctuary choirs. We will also light the Advent candle of joy! Our wonderful handbell ringers will present several special pieces in

morning worship on the 23rd, and of course, the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service is always one of the highlights of the year. You can share these

blessings by inviting someone to join you for these special services.

4. Year-end Giving...Westwood has a strong history of generous year-end giving. Your faithfulness throughout the year empowers our ministry efforts. By finishing strong, we express our gratitude for the blessings God has given us as individuals and as a church family, and build momentum to move into the new year, expecting and attempting great things. In our stewardship emphasis this year we focused on the theme, "Building the Kingdom...One Gift at a Time." Your faithful gifts over the next several weeks and beyond will indeed make a difference.

Let us do more than "hit it a lick and give it a promise." Let us finish this year well and look forward with hopeful anticipation to what God will do in and through us in the days to come.

Make the most of this beautiful day! I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

Jim Abernathy

Promises Remembered and Commitments Honored

On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, drawing the United States into the second world war. The following day President Franklin Roosevelt, in a radio address to the nation, identified December 7 as "a date which will live in infamy."  Seventy-one years later his words, and the horrific events of that day, are indeed still remembered.  

 

You and I are marked by many different experiences that become part of the narrative of our lives.  I was not yet born when Pearl Harbor was bombed, but there have been other events I have witnessed that are remembered still.  These memories become mileposts along life's journey, drawing us to recall different times and circumstances that have in some way shaped us.  Of course, not all of these remembrances are as tragic or painful as the events of December 7.  Joy and sorrow mark our lives...opposite poles of the continuing spectrum of life.  Our memories hold treasures and trials that instruct, confound, and yes, even comfort.

In the sixteenth chapter of I Chronicles, the ark of the covenant is brought into the tent David has erected.  He blesses the people in the name of the Lord, reminding them of the faithfulness of God, and then the priests come before the people to sing praise to the Lord.  They shout, "He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations..."  These words of praise give voice through the generations to you and me, calling us to praise the One who remembers His promises.  That is the good news of Christmas...God has remembered His covenant.  In the midst of the challenges that mold our lives, there is hope in the One who remembers...the One who has fulfilled his promise.

 

Regardless of your memories of this or any other day, find courage in knowing that God has remembered His promises and honored His commitments.  Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

 

Jim Abernathy