“Merry Christmas!”

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory,

the glory of the one and only Son,

who came from the Father,

full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 (NIV)

May the joy of Christ’s birth fill your heart and home with peace.

David

“But Then You Came”

[This first appeared on December 5, 2013, as a guest post on Mitzi C. Smith’s blog “Written Reality” (www.writtenreality.com).]

But then you came.

Several Advents ago, I heard a story from a sermon by Rick Ezell. As I recall the story, one day a young wife and mother snapped and ran away. She answered her husband’s frequent phone calls but wouldn’t tell him where she was. She ignored his repeated pleas to come home.

When weeks became months, he hired a private investigator to locate her. The husband booked a flight and made his way to her cheap motel room. Trembling, he knocked on the door.

When it cracked open, he said, “The kids and I love you. Please come home.”

“A Faith Like Mary’s”

A Visit From Gabriel

If I were the Virgin Mary, I’m not sure my faith would have been as trusting as hers. Do you ever wonder how you might have responded if you’d been in her sandals? How many people do you think would have believed your story?

The angel Gabriel did not deliver his world-changing announcement to a mass audience.

No video was filmed to be shown on all the major networks and cable channels.

No reporter came to take a picture and write a story for the Nazareth newspaper.

No smartphone selfie proved God’s messenger really had visited her.

And the angel didn’t even go with Mary to break the news to her parents or to Joseph. Gabriel had a private conversation with Mary and then departed.

“Five Thanksgiving Prayers for You”

Take Your Pick

Here are five prayers for your Thanksgiving dinner. 

May a spirit of giving thanks live in us year round, not just on the fourth Thursday in November.

Moravian Blessing

Come, Lord Jesus, our guest to be

And bless these gifts bestowed by Thee.
And bless our loved ones everywhere,
And keep them in Your loving care.

“Do You Give Like Cain or Abel?”

First Fruits

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil

as an offering to the Lord.

But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.

The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.

Genesis 4:3-5a

Adam and Eve’s first two sons were Cain and Abel. Cain farmed, Abel tended flocks. Each brother gave an offering, but God only accepted one of the gifts.

Why?

One brother gave God the very best, off the top.

The other did not.

“Trying to Smell the Color 9”

Nine Isn’t a Color

The wilderness stretched to the horizon in all directions. Which way was the shortest path out? Like Job, God never answered my why questions.

Comprehending God’s purpose in that situation was like trying to smell the color nine. (Thank you, Chris Rice, for releasing your song “Smell the Color 9” in 2000.)

A sister in Christ listened to me unload a tractor trailer full of disappointment, doubt, and hurt. When I finished, she leaned forward and shared her story. In her pain, she found God is big enough to absorb all the anger we hurl at heaven.

Then she said, “Today you’re in the wilderness. Tomorrow you will go even farther into the wilderness. Yes, God has you in a really good place right now.”

“The Fable of the Filial Fugitive”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

This story is full of “f” words—yet both of my grandmothers would approve.

This humorous rendition of Jesus’ parable comes from “The Fable of the Forgiving Father” (author unknown). Dr. Jeff Miller of Milligan College adapted that piece for his Bible classes and shared it with me. I tweaked it further for a storytelling contest.

I hope you enjoy the alliteration in this version of Luke 15:11-32.

“Tradition vs. Traditionalism”

The Conversation Continues

A friend asked me to explain what I said last week in “Remember Your Roots”:

 

Every group has strong preferences and valued customs. That’s normal. The key is not to let tradition become traditionalism.

Tradition: living faith of the dead.

Traditionalism: dead faith of the living.

Remember, Jesus told the Pharisees, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27, NIV).

“Remember Your Roots”

What Do You Remember?

But as for you,

continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of,

because you know those from whom you learned it,

and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures,

which are able to make you wise for salvation

through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:14-15

“Children don’t get anything out of church.” Really? We don’t know what kids may pick up on and remember when they’re adults.

It’s true I can’t recall any of the sermons or anthems I heard as a child. But forty-plus years later, I remember that as a little boy, I enjoyed Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring as the organ prelude. That song always connected me to God. 

What childhood memories do you have about God?

“Love Costs Everything”

An Eye-Opening Documentary

200,000,000 people. That’s how many fear for their lives daily because they follow Christ. They face persecution because they live and love as Jesus taught.

How much is 200 million? If all Christians facing violence and death lived in one place, it would rank as the sixth most populous country in the world. Those persecuted for their faith would fill a country between the size of Brazil (202 million) and Pakistan (196 million).

Love Costs Every Thing is a documentary on global Christian persecution produced by Christ In Youth in association with Voice of the Martyrs. Disciples in places like Iraq, India, and Columbia testify about being beaten or family being murdered. Yet despite horrific pain and loss, the persecuted respond with forgiveness and love for their persecutors.

Sunday night my church’s youth showed this film. They shared their hearts by organizing and leading this event. Afterward we prayed in our seats and at stations around the church.

“When God Must Fill Your Mouth”

Speaker’s Block

Last week what I wrote didn’t sound right, so I deleted it rather than post it.

The same principle applies to spoken words. Too often a comment runs from my brain to my tongue before the filter kicks in. Not everything I really want to say should be uttered.

The opposite problem occurs. I stare at an empty screen, fingers frozen on the keyboard. Or I’m dying to think of a good response, but my mental search engine responds, “No results found.”

But when it counts, God will fill your mouth. He did for me.

“Is Your Knot Secure?”

Love At Its Strongest

They literally tied the knot.

On Saturday in Wrightsville Beach, NC, I officiated a wedding for two friends whose families mean a lot to me.

To symbolize the unity of their relationship, the bride and groom could have lit a unity candle or poured together colored sand. Instead, they tied a sailor’s knot.

After Josh and Catherine exchanged rings, their mothers brought up a strand of rope to represent each family. The happy couple tied the two ropes as I read the following:

“The Grumpy Roommate”

My September 8 post at Christian Devotions

On Monday, Christian Devotions published one of my stories. God taught me a valuable lesson when I was new to pastoral ministry. For those who didn’t see it, my devotion will double as this week’s blog post.

If you aren’t yet a subscriber, I encourage you to receive daily inspiration from them at www.christiandevotions.us. A recent major malfunction crashed their old site, but their new site should be up and running soon. Meanwhile, their temporary site doesn’t offer a sign up box. To subscribe, please contact Cindy K. Sproles, the executive editor, at cindyksproles@gmail.com.

People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. I Samuel 16:7 NIV 

I braced myself and entered the room at the nursing home. (read more at http://christiandevotions.us/the-grumpy-roommate-david-brannock/)

David

“Under the Fig Tree”

Jesus’ Unusual Response

When they first met, Jesus said Nathanael was a man of integrity. “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.”

The disciple asked, “How do you know me?” 

Jesus replied, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you” (John 1:47-48).

What’s the big deal about Jesus seeing Nathanael under the fig tree?

“Ferguson, Jena, and Hope”

Meet Leigh Powers

Leigh Powers and I crossed paths at a writing conference this year. She lives in Texas with her husband and children. Besides serving God as a pastor’s wife and a mother, she also ministers through her blog and other writings.

Leigh gave me permission to share her August 19 post on Ferguson, Missouri. 

[Christ Jesus] himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall. –Ephesians 2:14

I’ve grieved as I’ve watched the news streaming out of Ferguson… (read more at more at http://leighpowers.com/2014/08/19/ferguson-jena-hope/)

David

“Popcorn From God”

Notes On My Church Bulletin

When an important idea enters my mind, I hurry to capture it before it vanishes.

I was born a note taker and a list maker. I’ve always written down stuff to help me remember. But at midlife my memory isn’t what it used to be, so I rely on notes and lists more than ever.

Each week I fill my bulletin with notes, sermon and personal. On Sunday during the offering I scribbled a thought: “The Lord’s prayer says, ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ Like manna, each day God will give me what I need for my book.”

Who knew God would use my scribal tendencies to give me a surprise?

“Who Is Your Timothy or Timothea?”

Passing the Baton
Name five people who have made a significant impact on your faith in God.

Now, name five people who might include you on their list above. (This takes more thought, doesn’t it?)

On Sunday my pastor began a sermon series on 2 Timothy. He challenged us to ponder how we’re passing on our faith.

Who is your Timothy?

For whom are you a Paul?

Into whose life are you investing so they can love and serve God for eternity?

“Grief Etiquette 101”

A Golden Opportunity

When death occurs, we can console the bereaved…or not. At funeral homes and churches, we can give genuine comfort to the family. We can also offer well-meaning but misguided attempts to help.

John Wesley told the Methodists, “First, do no harm.” If you can’t improve a bad situation, at least don’t make it worse.

Proverbs 17:28 (NIV) supports this idea: “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”

The Bible says Job’s friends heard about his horrific loss of family, possessions, and health. At first, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar came and sat with Job silently for a whole week (Job 2:11-13). But they ruined everything when they opened their mouths and tried to explain his suffering.

“Where Is God in a Storm?”

When Trouble Hits

Three tornadoes were among the severe storms that struck east Tennessee on Sunday night. Hail and wind toppled trees and damaged homes and property. Thankfully, no one was killed or hurt.

I refuse to call bad storms “God’s will.” Harmful weather is an act of nature, not an act of God.

Imagine a toddler standing atop a flight of stairs. Would God push that child down the stairs? Then why would God intentionally knock us (or our house) down with a tornado?

If you had to sleep elsewhere because your roof was gone, would you want other people to wonder what you did wrong for God to punish you like that?