Leaving a Legacy: Molly Fox Gregory

Today I will preach the funeral service for one of my aunts – Molly Gregory. I wanted to print my sermon for two reasons: first, I wanted to do something memory of her and, secondly, I wanted her life and the Gospel to inspire you.

We turn to the bible to find hope and comfort in times like these. In the passage I am going to read first, the Apostle Paul was writing to a young pastor named Timothy. Paul was facing death, and in this letter he summed up his life and spoke of what was next.

2 Timothy 6:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close.

The word "departure" is a word with many meanings in the bible.

Paul is using it to describe his own death.

It was a term that sailors used when their ship would set sail and set out.

It was a term that soldiers used when they would fold up their tent and move on according to their commander’s orders.

It was a term that political leaders would use for the setting a prisoner free.

It was a term that farmer would use when they would take the yoke from off the oxen, when he would lay aside their burden. So,

• Like a ship, Molly has sailed into another port.
• Like a soldier, Molly has folded her tent.
• Like a prisoner, Molly has been set free.
• And like a beast of burden, Molly has laid her burden down.

What is next for Molly?

2 Timothy 6:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.

• Molly fought the good fight,
• Molly finished the race,
• Molly kept the faith,
• Molly longed for, looked for, and loved the coming appearing of Jesus.
• AND NOW, I believe Molly is receiving her crown of righteousness, as was given to her by the Righteous Judge, the Lord Jesus Christ!

The 2nd passage I want to read to you is Philippians 1:20-24. When the Apostle Paul originally wrote this letter to the church in the town of Phillipi, the circumstances of his life were tough. He was in prison. Paul was a prisoner, chained to a Roman Guard and yet almost this entire letter it sounds like a pep rally. A form of the word "joy or rejoicing" is found 15 times in the 104 verses of this short 4 chapter letter.

Paul is telling us, in this letter, what Molly showed us. Our faith experience is meant to honor the life and purpose of Jesus Christ. Jesus is to be working in our lives, whatever our circumstances might be.

Molly lived the last 6 months of her life a prisoner in a sickly body, she was in pain a lot of the time and she was unconscious a lot of the time. Yet she seemed to show joy whenever someone would come for a visit.

Listen to these words…

Philippians 1:20-24 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ—which is far better— 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.

I just want to spend a few minutes today looking verse 21: “For me, living is Christ and dying is gain”

You see Paul understood and I think that Molly also understood, God fulfilled His purpose for the world through Jesus. God fulfills His purpose for us through Jesus. God has a purpose for our lives – for His glory. “Living is Christ!”

• For Paul, life was not about getting or doing things to acquire happiness, Life was not about finding joy in circumstances.
• For Paul, life was about pointing others to God- living for God’s glory. Life was all about Jesus. It was about giving God the glory for everything.
  • For good times, because they are a blessing.
  • For hard times, too, because God uses them to make him stronger.
  • God has a purpose for each of us. We are not drifting on a rubber raft in the ocean. We are not wandering in the dark. We are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which has God prepared for us. “Living is Christ!”

God has a purpose for each of us, and Molly seemed to tap into that purpose.

• Because Molly knew Jesus and followed His example, she was one the most generous people I have ever known.
• When she retired from being a public school principle.
• She helped others through her leadership.
• She helped others through teaching school,
• She helped others in her family: (in fact she spoiled many of us – Progress report) by being a good wife, a good mother, helping her sisters.

And, just as God has a purpose for life – that is, for His glory – God has a purpose for death – for our gain.

For the Christian, death is gain. For Molly, leaving behind this old world and trading it for a new one was a serious upgrade. In heaven we gain so many things. What do we gain?

1. We gain a better body – a glorified, immortal, resurrected body.

   In this present body we’re subject to all the sorrows and tears that life deals out. (Cerebral palsy, Back pain, Fibromyalgia, M.S., Parkison’s disease, Dementia, Kidney Disease and eventually failure) Old age, sickness, and finally death are the inevitable. But in death and the resurrection we gain a better body, one that can never grow old, know disease, suffer pain, and can never die. In heaven there are no prescriptions, no canes, walkers, or wheel chairs, no doctors, nurses or hospice, to disability parking spots, hospitals or nursing homes. We gain a better body.

2. We gain a better home.

   However beautiful your earthly house maybe, it is nothing compared with our mansion in heaven.

   Look at the promise of Jesus

   John 14:1-3 “Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.

   Jesus promised that He would prepare our heavenly home. WE will live in His presence forever.

3. We gain a better inheritance.

   Our final reward is not here – it is in Heaven. Living for God on earth for His glory has its advantages - purpose, meaning, hope, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self control – to name a few.

   But the full value of “the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give us” will be ours for eternity.

4. We gain a better fellowship with Jesus.

The Christian life on earth was one of faith, believing before seeing. But heaven works different from that. We will see the Lord face to face.

“What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see, when I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace. When He takes me by the hand, and leads me through the promised land, what a day, glorious day, that will be.”

• As God had a purpose for Jesus, God has a purpose for our lives right now God’s purpose is His glory.
• As God had a purpose for Jesus’ death, God has a purpose for our deaths Dying is gain.
• Saved by God’s grace, following the example of Jesus, Molly lived for God on earth, and she is experiencing His glory in her death.

I will never forget what Molly said to me as we sat outside of the rehabilitation center in Broken Arrow. She said four times in our brief visit. “Lets go home.”

The Apostle Paul had a vision of heaven. He wrote down this vision in his letter, “The Revelation.”

Revelation 21:3-4 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, …

Revelation 21:22-23 I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Molly has gone home. To God be the Glory!

Dr. Phil Sallee, Pastor
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Befriending my spouse. Trick or Treat?

On Friday I started a series that addressed the importance of modeling gospel driven marriages. God is the Architect of the brilliant plan to capture the hearts of the generations through His families (Malachi 4:6).

God has designed the family to be the channel to pass on His plan for redemption to the next generation (Genesis 12:1-3; Psalm 78:3-8). NBFamilies are working to discover providential opportunities where - traditional parents, single parents, grand parents, step parents, foster parents - can experience God’s life changing presence in their homes.

Let this sink in:

• Our kid’s hearts are being shaped by observing our marriages.
• Our kid’s faith is being influenced by observing how we treat each other as husband and wife.
• Our kid’s faith, their ability to trust, their sense of safety and security, is either being bolstered or being destroyed every day, as they watch us.
• Since marriage is a metaphor for God’s love for His church, (Ephesians 5:25-32) what are our kids learning as they study how we relate to one another?

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NEW CONTENT

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Friendship is a key component in marriage. But when couples begin to work at maintaining their life together (earning income, paying bills, keeping up with the household, the kids, the extended family, etc.), sadly, friendship is the first thing that is neglected and ignored. Friendship is typically what started the couple down the path to marriage. But when friendship is ignored and neglected, destructive feelings like grief, loss, frustration, disappointment, can replace the feelings that friendship can bring.

A friend is . . .

• Someone who is delighted to see you and does not have any plans for your immediate improvement.
• Someone who can relate to your struggles and weakness
• Someone who gives comforting favor when we are our ugliest
• Someone who shows respect for your opinion
• Someone who is careful not to give unwanted advice
• Someone who has an interest in what is happening to you

We need three basic things from our friends—especially when that friend is our spouse:

1. Acceptance - Proverbs 17:17-A friend loves at all times. A gospel driven friendship between a husband and wife must be characterized by essentials of the gospel.
   • The admitting of mistakes
   • The gift of repentance
   • The gift of forgiveness
   • The gift of mercy
   • The gift of grace 

2. Affirmation – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing. With every encounter, make it your aim that you spouse is better off for having been in your presence. Affirm them regularly and often. Affirm them even if they disagree that they are worthy of your affirmation. The bible is full of commands to affirm one another:

   Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10 For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? 12 And if somebody overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

   A gospel driven friendship between a husband and wife must be characterized by essentials of the gospel.
   • The gift of presence. Be present when you are with your spouse. Make eye contact. Silence your smart phone. Listen attentively.
   • The gift of hope. Tell your spouse how they are right for you. Demonstrate faith with health anticipation of a brighter and better future. Talk about days that you are looking forward to experiencing with them.
   • The gift of extravagance. Spend precious time, money, and energy on your spouse. Make a sacrifice of any size, but the greater the sacrifice, the greater id characterizes the gospel.
3. Accountability – Galatians 6:2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. This characteristic of friendship may be the most delicate. Knowing whow and when to be accountable to you spouse requires wisdom (James 1:5). Pray for your spouse. Encourage them without nagging or expressing disappointment. Lighten your load by being honest and open. Real intimacy shares responsibility mutually. A gospel driven friendship between a husband and wife must be characterized by essentials of the gospel.
   • The gift of transparency
   • The gift of authenticity
   • The gift of loving truthfulness.

Jesus doesn't promise you will always feel like friends, but He promises you can have an eternal anchor for your soul: THE GOSPEL (John 16:33). Our kids need to see what it looks like to follow Christ more than they need to hear what we say it is like to follow Christ. Parents are the models of following Christ. This is no easy task. Yet there is no better way to teach them than to show them. Our kids need to see us struggle, mess up, yet reply with gospel centered reaction.

Our responses to one another, especially in the arguements, must be graceful and gospel centered:

1. Mistakes are made,
2. Grace is offered,
3. Forgiveness is experienced,
4. Repentance causes change and
5. Mercy is enjoyed!

The gospel response is always the best response and this is how our kid’s faith will be influenced. Is it time to have a conversation with you spouse and begin living a gospel centered marriage? That is my prayer for you.

God bless our marriages!

Dr. Phil Sallee, Pastor
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Top 10 Blogs (Past 52 Weeks)

1 Year Anniversary = 52 Blogs

A couple of weeks ago was my one year anniversary at New Beginnings. We have had an incredible time during our first year! It truly has gone so fast. We feel like we’ve barely scratched the surface on seeing a shift in culture to see all types of different family structures to truly begin to live out the implications of Deuteronomy 6:1-9. 

Top 10 Blogs (Most Read)

• I know…I know…some of them are really long. Everyone says there is another name for blogs that go that long—it’s called chapters or research papers. Some say that there would be even more readers who would read if you can see the bottom on the same page it begins. Others have said they get carpal tunnel from scrolling so much on one of my blogs. Just last night, we were having dinner with some new close friends and she said that she told her husband that my blogs should be in “Audiobook” form—like for trips out of state! 

• I don't really write or teach just to gather the greatest number of listeners. At the end of the day, if I'm not true to myself and the identity I've found in Christ and how He's formed me, then I haven't really understand the gospel. I know people turn to blogs, see the length, and decide off of that, instead of content, whether it's worthy of our time. I know for myself, I’m the same way. When I click on a blog and the little scroll bar is the size of a pencil—I’ll probably read it. When that bar has turned into a dot—I may read the first couple of paragraphs to see how helpful it is. But again, I want to stay true to myself in these blogs. 

• I have enjoyed writing over the last few years as I’ve prepared many sermons, lessons, research papers, and now blogs. It was just a few years ago that I realized how much I enjoyed the time I spend writing. As you can see with the blogs, when I have 10-page papers at Southern, it usually ends up about 22 pages. If it’s a 15-pager, I usually go over 25. I’m sure it’s frustrating for the Garrett Fellows (graders) as well. 

• Because of the enjoyment and thought that I hope it brings to discussions, I have contemplated the idea of starting a blog page where I have blogs on Tuesdays and Fridays. I think I can handle two a week. The Tuesday blog would be the same one I have on our New Beginnings (nbfamilies.info) site, and the Friday blog might be hitting different issues on theology, discipleship, and cultural influencers. In doing so, you’d have options! I might try to keep the Tuesday one more practical and possibly shorter, while allowing the Friday one to be covering different issues of complexity in theological discussion. More info to come on this!

That being said, we really do appreciate, but most importantly hope that these blogs are helpful in making us think through this Person, Jesus, and the implications He has on all aspects of life. We are all “in-process,” in need of thought-provoking discussion, challenge, accountability, and encouragement as we try to live for this invisible King in a fallen world. 

If you've just started reading lately, here are some of the most popular blogs I wrote over the past 52 weeks. You should really check out the other guys writings as well. We let each of the pastors write for one day of the week--Matt Fowler = Matt Mondays, Sankie Lynch = Sankie Tuesdays, (coming soon Mike Krebs = Mike Wednesdays), Terry Langenberg = Terry Thursdays, Phil Sallee = Phil Fridays. Plus Phil writes a daily blog that our members use for discipleship training, sermon notes, D-groups questions. Phil has us beat by a few tens of thousands of readers (His Doctorate is dealing with discipleship through media--not fair). Great resources from some highly intelligent and gifted guys. 

Here are the Top 10 Blogs the last 52 weeks:

#10 — Getting to Know: Sankie Lynch

We decided, as a staff, that we would take this week and give you a glimpse into our lives to let you know what makes us tick. I actually missed the deadline and posted mine a week later than the other staff guys—they’ve never treated me the same since!

#9 —What’s Essential For You? 

The Point: We are revealing to our children what matters most to us as parents. We are pointing and influencing our children to live for certain things. The question for us is what are we pointing them to pursue in life? 

#8 — I Just Wanna Be Like You

Featuring one of the boy's favorite songs by Lecrae, this reminds us that our children are watching us and modeling after us much more than we would like to admit! 

#7 — Praise To My Wife On Mother’s Day 

This was written a couple of weeks after we had the miscarriage at the four month point. It was touching that so many people responded to this article. Here's a quote:
"Jamie understands, though difficult at times, that she did nothing to deserve to lose a baby. And at the same time she knows she could do nothing to deserve to teach other’s children about the God who has saved her. 

       She did nothing to deserve saving grace. She was content serving herself when Christ pursued her and the Holy Spirit opened her eyes to see Him as supreme. She’s captivated by this Christ. He captured her heart another day of loss as she sat at her own sixteen-year-old brother’s funeral. She realized that day that it was not an option to live for herself and her own small pursuits in life—but to live for something much more grand and glorious."

#6 — New Semester = New Crushing Stress If Not For Grace

This was my first blog I wrote at New Beginnings. 

#5 — 7-Year Olds: Pharisees or Jesus Freaks

How to you shepherd your children's hearts and help them understand that we are accepted because of what Christ accomplished on the cross--not because of our own rule-keeping? And how do you shepherd their hearts from the lies of false idols to trusting in God as the one supreme reward and treasure in all of life? 

#4 —Update: Lynch Family

This was an update for the many friends who wanted to know how our family has transitioned with our move to Tulsa over the past year and how we're doing after the recent and late miscarriage. God is beautiful--when things could be ugly. 

#3 — Anniversary News: My Wife Loves Another Man—More Than She Loves Me

I'm seeing a pattern develop--when I write about my wonderful wife--the numbers spike in readers! It's alright, I think she's wonderful too!

#2 — Come…Follow A Failure

This follows us through some real-life experiences and the unperfect and frustrating times that come with attempting to have Faith Talks as a family around the table. We hope to show everyone that these are difficult things for many of us--no super spiritual people--just fellow failures! For more info on Faith Talks, Faith Walks, and Faith Mission you can click the tabs at the top of this page. 

#1 — God’s Presence In Grief

Here I wanted to give some theological guidance as to what we personally look to when tragedy hit our lives. We had a late miscarriage and some other difficulties all hit at the same time. I try to share a Biblical understanding of grief that is not led by emotions, but instead allowing truth from God to override what we are feeling at the time. 

Sankie P. Lynch

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God’s Presence in Grief

Last Tuesday in my blog I wrote about the celebration of baptism for Sankie, our oldest son. Thursday of that week we found out our baby (four months in pregnancy) had died. 

We cannot see nor understand what caused the death of this little baby. But it is not unknown by God. This situation is "totally meaningful," as Piper declares. At the moment, grasping and desiring hope, because hearts are hopeless. That is meaningful. Treasuring and enjoying little lives around us and the birth of new babies to friends. That is meaningful. Experiencing pain and loss and crying out for a better world void of those things. That is meaningful. Celebrating new spiritual life in a son and looking at the resurrection of Christ as all-sufficient for his future in the midst of losing another child. It is all meaningful. 

In the same week we were sobered by the reality of Jesus’ death on the cross and then celebrated His resurrection, along with our son’s baptism, we were humbled by the reality of suffering and loss just a few days later. 

Where is God in the middle of pain and suffering? Where is God’s presence in grief? 

The week prior to that our church had held a funeral service for the death of another young man from our church body. 

At the same time, we saw the birth of new babies and the joy of new life in several families around us. So as we celebrate the joyful occasion of new life we are also halted by the reality that life is a vapor and not only passes quickly, but can be snuffed out at any time and at any stage. 

So again, where is God in the middle of personal tragedy and loss? Many people have murmuring thoughts, though those thoughts may not become formalized into a statement from their lips. The thoughts swarming in our hearts and heads can be “Why do we see so much evil if God is so good?” 

There are actually many questions that we hear:

—Does God cause these things to happen to us to get our attention or as punishment? 

—Did we do something wrong and God is now correcting us through these circumstances?

—Was God so busy with major world events that this personal tragedy slipped by Him?

—Even if God did not cause it, did He allow this to happen or was this just one of those freak incidents? 

—If God didn’t cause it, but He did allow it, knowing that it would cause us great pain, then how loving is that God who has the power to change circumstances—but doesn’t? 

God has not remained silent on these matters. In the dark hours after personal tragedy, as warm tears roll down your cheeks and as you feel that tightening ball of muscles in your stomach—there is a temptation to let the silence speak for God. “Why!!!?…Why her!!!?…Why us!!!?…Why at this point in life!!!?” Yet there is silence. 

Some people desire to hear an internal “voice” from God. Some people wish for a dream to comfort them about the recent tragedy. Others want God to give answer to their hurting souls in the middle of those moments. Yet silence. That silence, however, does not mean that God has not spoken. God has spoken in His word, the Bible, that directs our hearts back to truth. 

Our difficulty is that we allow feelings and emotions to override the truth God has spoken to us in His word—and specifically in His Son. God created our emotions and feelings. Emotions and feelings are good, but they need to be appropriately responding to truth from God, about God, and about us, fallen man. 

Sure, there are swirling thoughts with heated, heart-pounding emotions in many moments for many weeks and months after personal tragedy. But God’s word solidifies and grounds our thoughts in truths about who God is—His character—His attributes. Truths that bring faith-building, emotion-filling, heart-rending strength in the middle of crushing weakness. 

So how does God break the silence in our mourning and grief? Where is God’s presence in grief? 

—Does God cause these things to happen to us to get our attention or as punishment? 

—Did we do something wrong and God is now correcting us through these circumstances?

• The Bible is clear that God is not the author of sin nor the cause of sin. There are three main influencers that direct towards sin: 1) Satan and his minions; 2) the fallen world around us that has been corrupted by sin; 3) our hearts. Those are the influencers towards sin—Satan/demons, a fallen, corrupted world, and sinful hearts. But God is not the author of sin. 

See James 1:13-18

• God is the “Giver” of all good things. Good things including babies. All small babies, at day one of conception are valuable because they are both human and they are made in the image of God. It is a great mystery how all beings can be, at the same time, sinfully depraved and deserving wrath, yet intrinsically valuable as would-be image-bearers of God and so valuable that God sent His Son seeing them as redeemable. 
• When large scale tragedies or disasters occur (tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes) some people attribute it directly to God’s judgment because the people affected are thought to be “deserving” of God’s wrath. But God’s word does not tell us that New Orleans or Bangledesh deserves God’s wrath more than other cities. In that thinking, what about Joplin? What about Moore? So when a Christian leader attributes a tragedy as God’s punishment—we need to be careful in who we’re listening to. 
• On a more personal level, when tragedy hits a home, it is both common and almost “normal” for many questions to arise wondering if it was something God actively did for a wrong we’ve done. The difficulty with this stance is that God is neither currently writing nor audibly speaking to each person on this. Everything from traffic jams, flat tires, stomach flues, chicken pox, being out of milk, and losing a baby could fall into the category of God punishing me because of a personal sin. So discerning any kind of “internal voice” or “feeling” or “God told me” is such a dangerously subjective path that it’s difficult to come to solid conclusions. So, again, we need the truth that we know God has given us in HIs word to bring us clarity. 
• God does discipline HIs children, so we need wisdom from God to interpret and understand difficult issues (James 1:2-5). But most importantly, God punished His own Son for the sins we have previously and currently committed. Jesus took that punishment for sin. 

—Was God so busy with major world events that this personal tragedy slipped by Him?

• This type of thinking usually points to a person’s view of God. Is God all-sufficiently sovereign? I’ve sat in funerals and other situations where good-intentioned comforting friends tell grieving families that “If God could have just made it there a few seconds earlier this accident would have been avoided,” or “God would never have allowed this to happen. Maybe your faith was just weak?” The intention is to comfort. The thinking is horrific. Is God so insufficient that He is merely hurrying through the earth from accident to accident, making it to some barely in time, yet making it to some just a little too late? Does God not know the events of the future down to every last increment?
• If God is not the God who knows the exact place of every colliding molecule in all the universe—then He is not God at all. In seeking comfort and peace, it does not help me to think of a spiritual ambulance-driving God who makes it to some scenes late because He didn’t know about it til too late. 
• I want a God who is a rock and a refuge. I don’t want a small, weak, unknowing, tardy God. I want the God of the Bible who knows the end from the beginning (Is. 46:5-11) and knits together every atom of the universe (Job 38; Psalm 139) and whose same Son who holds those atoms together (Col. 1:15-17) is the same One who came to give Himself as a ransom (1 Tim. 2:5-6) for the whole fallen mess. 

An omniscient, omnipotent, omni-benevolent high and exalted Godhead is the One me and my wife and kids must lift our eyes to in those moments of halted silence. This God, who watched and saw the events unfolding in our lives is not cold nor unattached. This God, is the One who is present with us and will walk us through it, though pain may never cease while on this earth, but this God knows the loss of a perfect, innocent Son who traded places with individuals who didn’t deserve His life. This same God holds the power of new life and resurrection. 

—Even if God did not cause it, did He allow this to happen or was this just one of those freak incidents? 

—If God didn’t cause it, but He did allow it, knowing that it would cause us great pain, then how loving is that God who has the power to change circumstances—but doesn’t?

• This mystery is commonly referred to as “The Problem of Evil.” It is meant to discredit the idea of a God who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving. It states that if God does know all events occurring (birds dying, cancer, deer laying wounded on roadsides, babies suffering, abuse to children) and is at the same time all-powerful—then wouldn’t that God do something to act and stop those events from causing ongoing pain and suffering? And if that God does know about these events and has the power to stop it but doesn’t—then would that God really be considered loving? The conclusion is that if God is defined as all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving—then there would not be evil in this world (because He would stop it). But since we do know there is evil in this world—then this God must not exist. 

• There are many books and writings expounding on both sides of the problem of evil. Apologetics courses and theology courses walk you through answering some of these tough questions. Those can be very rich discussions. I simply would ask, “Why is there not more evil?” 

• I would suggest that it is only because of God’s general grace, His everlasting love, His enduring patience, His extending mercy, and His compassion for HIs people is what keeps us from experiencing more evil. 

The Real Problem of Evil? 

So, why not more evil? Why are there not more epidemics, more natural disasters, more atrocities, more deaths, more suffering? Why is so much evil held back when we all deserve so much less grace and less mercy? 

I come back to the same question I had last week at Sankie’s baptism…”Why so much undeserved grace?” 

Where is God's presence in grief? 

It was most brilliantly and shamefully and disgracefully and gloriously displayed on the cross of Jesus Christ. God is present with us, right now, in grief, because Jesus took on the type of grief that causes holy innocence to cry out, "Father, if this cup could pass (the cup of God's wrath) let it pass, but let Your will be done." 

Our only true hope in grief is to look to the same Jesus and His cross to see and understand  and know that God is with us in this light and momentary affliction. 

Psalm 34 

Sankie P. Lynch

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sankie@nbchurch.info

Christmas Shattered—Hope For the Undeserving

As I write this today, we’re nine days out from the day we celebrate as Jesus’ birthday. My boys start each day (and several times throughout the day) asking “how many more days until Christmas?” 

But I also write with a heavy heart from many situations and circumstances. I just received a call yesterday from a close friend whose mother had died and another call this morning from a lifelong friend whose grandmother had passed away and they both asked me to perform the funerals this week. Funerals are not the fun part of this calling. Death of a loved one, suffering, and grief of family members is as real as the skin we live in each day. And these two separate families are experiencing deep sorrow and loss in a season supposed to be filled with joy and hope. These were both really special people and really great families. And yet, sorrow, death, and suffering are no respecters of persons nor families. 

So what happens when Christmas becomes shattered with stark realities? What if the first Christmas was actually a little more messy and less glamorous than we’ve been led to believe? And what if God’s intentions of sending His precious Son to humble beginnings were to show us more about God and more about ourselves? Let’s take a look. 

Let me tell a little different version of the often romanticized American story of Jesus coming to earth. 

Luke 2:1-5
The 1st Christmas was in an unimportant, undeserving Bethlehem. 

• Bethlehem was no Jerusalem. Nothing special about this small, rural community. 
• It happened to be prophecy in the OT that foretold Jesus’ birth there. 

Luke 2:5-7
The 1st Christmas was in a stinky, dirty, undeserving animal stall. 

• (4-7) Now keep this in mind: all of the angels and beautiful creatures in heaven that are in God’s presence are watching as God’s next step unfolds. And all of those angels and creatures know that God is sending His Son, to be born in human form. They also know that this Son of God is—at the same time, God, the second Person of the Trinity. 
• What kind of place would they expect God’s Son to be born? 
• (v.7) Notice that she gave birth to Jesus in a manger because there was no room for the birth of Jesus at the inn (motel). Instead, Joseph and Mary were allowed to go to an animal stall (that was a small cave). Can you imagine the stuff you would see and the stuff you would smell in this animal stall? 
• There was “no room” for the entry of God into this world. The “inn” was full of people, while the place God becomes flesh and dwells among us is a cold, miserable, unspeakably foul cave/animal stall. 
• The guests at the inn enjoyed warmth and drink and food—and just outside God came to earth. CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATED INITIALLY IN A DARK, WET, STINKY STALL. 
• It reveals King Jesus was humbling Himself to come and live among and rub up against dirty, messed up, grossly sinful, revoltingly rebellious, hideously immoral mankind. 

Enter the highest, most exalted, indescribably righteous and holy God-man, coming in the flesh to a messy, dirty, problem entrenched, despicably sinful, mucky, dank, urine-smelling animal stall. Immanuel…God with us! And that’s the setting to which God chose to send His perfect Son!

Luke 2:8-14
The 1st Christmas Party Welcomed Grimy Shepherds 

• (vv.8-14) Luke now tells how God chose to send angels to lowly shepherds to announce to them the coming of God’s King. 
• Shepherds were not always considered nice people. In fact, shepherds in those days were considered outcasts. They worked with animals all day out in difficult weather conditions. Therefore, they were smelly, stinky, and dirty. 
• They were not trusted. They were not considered very honest. They were some of the lowest types of people in those days. 
• But God chose to send angels to lowly shepherds instead of to the most important people in society. 

>>> If we’re not careful—we begin to think that God sent Jesus only for the “good people.” But this shows us that God sent Jesus for ALL PEOPLES of all classes (poor/rich, dirty/clean), all ethnicities and colors of skin (Arabs, Chinese, Indonesians, East Indians, Sudanese, Haitians, Americans, ALL PEOPLES!). 
When God in the flesh came to earth—it was not in one of the best places—it was in a tiny, smelly, stinky, wet, animal stall. His first visitors were lowly shepherds who were considered dirty outcasts by society. And yet that was God’s good plan. He was powerful enough to change all of that—but that was His plan. 

Luke 2:10-12

The 1st Christmas Tweet (The Angel’s Message)

• (v.10) “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Those words, “good news,” is where we get the word “gospel.” It was “GOOD NEWS” that brings GREAT JOY that is FOR ALL PEOPLE!
• The angel also mentions four titles for Jesus: a son “of David”; Savior; the Christ (Anointed One); Lord. All in one sentence this angel points to Jesus as the One who fulfills all of that!
• So we see even in Jesus’ birth—God shows humility for Jesus and has a love for all types of people in their worst and darkest sins--all undeserving!

Luke 2:15-18, 20
The 1st Christmas Implications  (Shepherds Spread Good News)

• (v.15) They left their flocks to see this baby that must be extremely important. They knew God had spoken and they wanted to see what God had revealed. It was of upmost importance!
• (vv.17-18) They became proclaimers of the GREAT NEWS and the GREAT SON who had been born. 
• These shepherds were not considered special by anyone—yet God sent them the message of good news. And they responded by taking that good news that had come to them and telling everyone else about it. 

>>> As we get older—it may seem that this story is not as exciting and not as awesome as when you first heard it. For some, it doesn’t seem as important anymore. Don’t do that with this story. Don’t do that with this Jesus! Remember, this is the most beautiful and exciting story ever! This is one of the greatest events in all human history! 

>>> So, we’ve seen that Jesus came the first time as a baby and He came to rescue us from our sins through His death on the cross. But let’s not forget—that’s not the end of the good news. He is coming again soon! 

—Undeserving Bethlehem
—Undeserving animal stall
—Undeserving Shepherds
—Unworthy Proclaimers

Why all that? Why not the best of the best? Because He alone is captivating enough! 

Sankie P. Lynch
nbchurch.info
nbfamilies.info
sankie@nbchurch.info

A Change of Plans

Earlier in this week of Spring Break, Monica and I took our youngest son, Kenny and our nephew Kolby, on a short trip to St. Louis for a little getaway. This was a perfect time to do that since they both had a couple of days off from their high school baseball schedule. We had the whole 2 days of events planned out. Unfortunately, one of those planned events we did not get to do because of a mistake we (the parents) made in the scheduling process. What happened in response to that mistake is what made the experience worth talking about in this blog.

Both boys were very excited about going on the trip, as were we, so when we found out we were not going to get to do this one particular scheduled event, it was disappointing to all of us, but even more so for the boys.The question now was, how were they going to handle the disappointment?

I can imagine that if it was me at age 15, I would have probably made my mom and dad feel miserable for next 24 hours or until I was done punishing them for over promising and under delivering. And if you asked my mother or father right now how I would have handled it, they probably would agree with my explanation as well.I can also tell you at that time of my life, I was not a born again Christian, my dad was an alcoholic and my parents were divorced. I had a pretty large chip on my shoulder from all of that and when more disappointment came my way in my life, especially when it was at the fault of one of my parents, I wasn't going to let them getaway with causing any more pain without inflicting some myself (just being transparent here).

Now you are probably curious as to how Kenny and Kolby handled their disappointment.They both showed their disappointment right away in their facial expression, body language and commenting on it being a "bummer" that they weren't going to get that experience on this trip. But over the next hour, I watched both boys notice the grief and disappointment in Monica. I listened to their words in how they comforted her, how they made feel like it was going to be OK, how they forgave us for the mistake we made and then they moved on. They didn't bring it up every hour to remind us how disappointed they were, they didn't have a negative attitude about our "Plan B" ideas, they just moved on and enjoyed the rest of the trip. They were very appreciative, loving and thankful.

So what is the big deal about that? First, it shows their ability and willingness to forgive us when we had unintentionally broken a promise. Second, it shows their heart was softened to care more about their mom and aunt and her feelings than their own desires and disappointment. Third, they didn't carry a grudge or bitterness over the next hours or days. They forgave us, they cared about others feelings, they were thoughtful and thankful. Monica and I could not be more proud and blessed by the response of our son and nephew to a disappointment in which they had no control.

Life is like that some times, isn't it? There will be times when Plan A changes: some times it is your fault, some times it is the fault of someone else and some times it is no one's fault, like the death of a loved one, a tornado, an ice storm or a hurricane.The question is: how will we handle it? What is our attitude, our response and what is it inside of us that causes us to react one way or another? It's the presence (or the quenching or total absence) of the Holy Spirit in our heart.

In the book of John 14:25-27, Jesus says,  ²⁵ “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. ²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful."

Romans 5:5   ^"This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Colossians 3:12-15 ¹² Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, ¹³ accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. ¹⁴ Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.

 Proverbs 27:19 says   "As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the person."

What is your heart reflecting? 

 

  Terry Langenberg
Twitter: TheLangenberg
Facebook: TheLangenberg