The Grinch Redux

“How could anyone not want Christmas to come!” The Grinch sure hated it? Was it the shoes that were too small? The head screwed on wrong?

The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!


Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.


It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right.


It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.


But I think that the most likely reason of all


May have been that his heart was two sizes too small. (Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 1957)

Whatever the reason, he hated the season! (unfortunate rhyme)

It was before the commercialism and the unfortunate accident with the reindeer that befell Grandma! It was prior to the rise of fruitcakes and that dreadful “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas song”! I have written previously about Herod’s feeble attempt to stop Christmas from coming; but the greater question is “WHY”?

During Jesus Ministry there were numerous times when people didn’t want him around. Think of the people of the region of the Gadarenes. Jesus shows up and heals the demon-possessed men and they pleaded (parakaleo) him to leave, just as the demons pleaded (parakaleo) with Jesus to send them into the pigs (Matthew 8.28-34). I guess seeing power in practice can frighten some people! (unfortunate alliteration)

The Pharisees tried to get rid of him after he healed a man in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Matthew 12.9-14). I guess seeing love trump law would alienate some people! (unfortunate alliteration)

When Jesus returned home and tried to teach in the synagogue, the people took offense (skandalizo) at him (Matthew 13.53-58). Skandalizo is the word from which we get our English word scandalize. It usually implies a removal of the offender (Matthew 5.29-30; 18.9; 24.10). The people in his own hometown wanted him to go away. Just three verses prior they were amazed at his teaching; now they are offended. I guess seeing a native prophet (hb. nevi if you want to continue with the theme) can offend some people! (unfortunate alliteration)

But what was Herod’s deal? During Jesus’ ministry, he was not shy about telling people to make a decision about him. He knew who his family was (Matthew 12.46-50)! But this baby; what was really polarizing about him? It was usually when Jesus taught that some people would get angry; but now well before he told his first parable, or gave his first sermon, Herod was angry!

I have very few Christmas songs that I enjoy. The North Point’s iBand is a nice change of pace for me (check them out here); but I really only like a couple Christmas songs. My personal favorites are “Hallelujah He is Born” (Sawyer Brown does a great rendition here) and “Little Town of Bethlehem”. There is one line that stands out to me in “Little Town of Bethlehem.”

“Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;


The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” (Phillips Brooks, 1867)

Herod saw the possibility of his throne being usurped. He wasn’t the only one who would be scared. On that night the world met the Savior and was force to decide what to do with him: To Worship or to Worry! (the alliteration is just flowing now)

John said it best:

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1.10-11)

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3.19)

He came, though men would try to stop Him from coming (Herod i.e. The Grinch) and men would argue and rebel (the Pharisees); and now we must decide how to receive him. Will receive him as the Magi and Shepherds did offering praise; or as Herod a threatened politician whose only thought was: "I must stop Christmas from coming somehow!"

The Misfit

As I was watching Rudolph the other night, the plight of an anthropomorphized reindeer wasn’t at the forefront of my mind. Instead it was the words that one of my professors spoke in college about Mark 15. Mark Scott, in summing up the crucifixion, said: “there he hung; between two criminals. Just like his ministry, he spent time with losers.” I would take it one further: just like his ministry and his crucifixion, so to was his birth.

Jesus ultimately came as a misfit; to save misfits! As I read through the story in the book of Luke (with a little help from Matthew); the misfit motif permeates the story. It really started in the 8th century B.C. with the words of the prophet Micah. Micah 5.2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me on who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.” The smallest clan! O little town of Bethlehem would be touchdown for the greatest Extra-Terrestrial visit of all time. Even Micah seems to down play Bethlehem. Fast foreword to Matthew and we see a family of Misfits. Matthew 1 lists the genealogy of Jesus. All the men and women in there have problems. You don’t even get out of the first verse of Matthew without seeing 3 of the 10 commandments broken! Every one of them has issues!

Looking at Luke 2 we see more issues. We have Bethlehem reappearing. Nothing more than a village in the foothills; sitting under the watchful eye of Jerusalem and under the watchful eye of the self appointed king Herod, 6 miles away. In verse 7, we find them in a barn. They couldn’t even spare a room in the inn. Misfit! Finally, look at who came to see him. The shepherds came. Like Charlie Brown, these were the guys whose invitation to the party was usually lost. Shepherds the unclean profession. Shepherds were on the Rabbinical lists of unclean professions! They were looked down upon by the upper class and were thought to be thieves. Fits in pretty well with the theology of Luke! He seems to have a special place in the text for those the world looks upon with contempt.

How does Rudolph fit in? Rudolph and his elf/dentist friend Hermey are outcasts of society; ostracized by the jolly man himself: Santa! The world viewed their place in society with disdain. Jesus felt the same derision! When Jesus bursts on the scene in John 1.46 what is it that Nathaniel claims: “Nazareth, can anything good come from there?” Sure enough the origins of Jesus brought problems! He would be arrested and condemned to die in place of Barabbas, another “misfit.” The “misfit” whose cross he took; possibly between two of Barabbas’ men.

And so ends Jesus life. Hung on a cross; between two criminals (Luke 23.32). Luke even puts words in the mouths of the criminals that hung there! Just like the advent; just like his ministry; so to his death! He spent time with Misfits! He became a misfit; to live amongst misfits; to save misfits! Aren’t you glad we have a great high priest who was tempted and lived as we do (Hebrews 4.15) who suffered daily as we do (Phil. 2.5-8).

The greatness that took place that night in Bethlehem is that our salvation; our worth; our purpose; and our chance to no longer be misfits came that one night in a little Judean town. Jesus put on flesh (John 1.14) and visited our own little island where misfits abound. Therefore we are no longer “misfits” but citizens (Ephesians 2.19); no longer “misfits” but children of God and heirs with Christ (Romans 8.17)!

sometimes you hop into a fight you cant win

I love fighting bulls! THere are times when you hop in there and know you are going to get hit! The shots that hurt the worst are the ones you don't expect.

Up the road from the church is a middle school: Robinson. As I was heading home from work, I saw two girls yelling at each other in front of the school. One girl called another girl a name and I saw the book bags drop. In the time it took me to take of my sunglasses Girl A had a hold of Girl B's "nappy fro" (I use this term simple because Girl A used it to describe Girl B's hair). A couple sharp rights by Girl B had put Girl A in a backpedal; but if you have been paying attention Girl's A hand was stuck in the locks of Girl B's hair! So the girls are intertwined in a flurry of nails, dreds, and fists! They hit the ground with a thud and rolled down the embankment toward the street falling off the curb.

At this point I had pulled off my hat and sunglasses and pulled my truck over. I shut the truck off and hopped out. I bolted across the street just as the two girls were pulling hair and rolling down the hill into the street. Girl A slammed Girl B's head into the concrete just as I put Girl A into a head lock! They each got to their feet at the same time and I positioned myself to make a "pick" on girl A and take her away from Girl B. I still had Girl A in a headlock as i turned my body toward her to take a position between the two. I didn't quite make it all the way! Girl A threw a haymaker that did not land where she had hoped! It was her intention to land her shot in the face of Girl B; however, it landed on my Zygomatic arch just below my eye! I just held on until the principals showed up!

At the end of the day; I would rather deal with the bulls than the rough shot by a 80 lb jr. high girl! I kind of like working in the hood!

Rodeo Bible Camp 2010

I spent last week having the most fun doing ministry I have ever had. The problem is; I'm not sure why?

Theory 1: The people I was doing ministry alongside. Most of you probably remember Zac Sanger (the man I introduced you to last year in the newsletter and on this blog). I got to spend another week with him. He prefers to do ministry one horseshoe at a time. We talked a lot aboutshoeing horses (something I know nothing about) and ministry (something I thought I knew a lot about). Zac is the type of guy who will have a conversation about God with anyone and he will be the first to tell you that it has more than once cost him a client. Part of my job is having conversations about God; yet sometimes they never happen. Boldness is a quality he has in abundance. Another guy that I had the pleasure of serving

alongside was Seth Reynolds. He is the same type of guy as Zac. Willing to talk about Jesus with whomever, whenever. I had met Seth a year ago at a Rodeo Bible camp and had no idea he would be in Colorado this week. Two guys whose love for Jesus spills out of their lives. That is something that will make it fun to serve. Seth and Zac both took the time (outside of their assigned duties) to speak truth into the students lives. They have a passion for God that expands the time card. There are a ton of things I took away from that week!

Theory 2: Rodeo. It is always fun doing rodeo! Always fun fighting bulls!

But if I hadn't been rodeoing at the time; I still think that I would have had fun and enjoyed serving! Theory 1 is the winner!

What I learned this week; or should I say was reminded of this week was that ministry is about the people. The people you come into contact with and the people that change your life. Zac and Seth are two guys that changed the way I do ministry and changed my relationship with God. You wanna have fun serving God; find people who are passionate about Him and surround yourself with them! There is never a dull moment with Zac and Seth and they are livening up the Christian lives of anyone they come into contact with: this guy included!

Jr. High Camp

I just realized that I had not updated my blog to show the video from jr. high camp!

We went to King Solomon Christian Camp this year in Solomon, Kansas. As you can see from the video; we kept the kids fairly busy! One of my favorite parts of camp was the maze. We placed all the kids in a maze blindfolded. What they did no realize was that there was no way to get out the maze. We roped off the entrance after they had entered. The only way out was to surrender. It was a great illustration of the Christian life and accepting Christ! It was a great week of ministry that ended with our group growing much closer to each other and God!

Dino Day

Dinosaurs for years have been used (unintentionally, I believe) as the perfect example of how the Genesis account of creation is a myth. In my opinion churches have often not stepped up to give an answer to the question of Dinosaur origins and a biblical precedent for their existence. Too often, we as churches have spent our time letting the Institute for Creation Research; Creation Truth Foundation; Foundation for Advancing Christian Truth (FACT); or Answers in Genesis to answer their questions for us; however, God has given the local church the daily contact with people's lives in order to answer the questions that they have! The goal of Dino Day was to give our kids a biblical look at dinosaurs. They excavated a 18' T Rex, made their own fossils and are now in possession of an actual fossil that Colby and I picked up over at Calhoun Bluffs. We talked about Genesis 1 and when Dinosaurs were created. We discussed Job 40 and the animals that were discussed there: Behemoth and Leviathan. We ended the day with the Extinction of the dinosaurs and the role of the Flood of Genesis 6 in their disappearance.

It is our job as the local church to answer every question that our kids might have! Interestingly enough, it was the youngest kids who already knew that dinosaurs live 65 million years ago...church we are behind the game! Its time we start listening; start studying; and start answering!

A Good Man is dead because he was Good

The downfall of Uriah the Hittite was his loyalty and righteousness! Years ago a shepherd boy (David) was more righteous than God's annointed leader (Saul); and now we have a Hittite man (Uriah) more faithful than the King of God's People (David). As I read through the story of Uriah I can't help but see how his faithfulness and loyalty sealed his death.

After David had called him back from the front the first time; Uriah refused to sleep with Bathsheeba. Instead he slept on the steps to the palace because he was to be afforded no comforts while his men were at battle (2 Sam. 11.9-11). The whole predicament happened because David was affording himself comforts while his men were off at battle (11.1). Score one for Uriaih!

David would get him drunk the next day. Propositioning Uriah to go home, even in his drunken state the Hittite would be more righteous than the King of Israel was just weeks prior! David is covering his tracks and Uriah is too dependable to falter!

"In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it he wrote, "Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die." (2 Samuel 11.14-15)

Uriah carried his own death sentence. A man with lesser integrity would have checked the message that he was delivering, but not the man who refuses to rest while his troops were out in battle! Uriah was known by David as a fiercely loyal man. He had probably ran and hid with David and stood by him during Saul's chase. You don't get to the place in life that Uriah had attained with out some honor and dignity.

I hope someday that my integrity and loyalty will be the death of me as well!