An ordinary evening, they thought. “We can light a fire, huddle round, and watch the sheep dozing. Hopefully it will be a quiet night.”
It just so happened that God had a different plan.
Suddenly the peace and quiet was broken. A messenger from God, an angel, appeared and spoke reassuringly: “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” (Luke 2 v10)
These shepherds, the lowest of the low, are sent to Bethlehem as eyewitnesses to the arrival of the Messiah- the baby born to Mary. Before they could get over the shock and “explain it all away” a host of angels arrived as backup, praising God and proclaiming glory and peace.
I find it hard to imagine that a “host” of angels would be anything other than awe-inspiring as they spoke/shouted/sang… so much for a “quiet night.”
How very fitting that it was shepherds who witnessed the arrival of Jesus, the Lamb of God – “who takes away the sin of the world.”
May your Christmas Eve be special- and your Christmas Day a celebration of hope and Love. Peace and grace be with you!
I love that delicious moment when we find ourselves at the edge of a passing storm… the sun peeks through, and a rainbow ignites. Arching across the skies, those gorgeous colours offer us hope.
Life will always have storms. But the Lord God gives us rainbows. Do we fear the storm- or celebrate the rainbow?
One encouraging phrase sometimes used during tough times is “This too shall pass.” It’s true enough- I have a 100% record of surviving bad times (so far). But that is small comfort when we have to face the harsh realities of sickness or grief, when we -or those we love- seem caught up in a tornado of trial or terror.
Jesus offered something more reliable: in Matthew 24:35 (NLT) he says:- “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.”
That promise shines like a rainbow against the darkening sky. A technicolour guarantee! Jesus speaks- and gives Life.
Later, in 1 Cor 13 v13, Paul commented that it all boils down to this:
“Faith, Hope, and Love shall remain- and the greatest of these is Love.”
Why take a photograph? Using flowers and plants as an example, let’s answer that “why” question.
Before cameras were invented, naturalists illustrated their work with carefully crafted drawings and paintings. Many of these were exquisite, detailed and accurately coloured.
Then came film and modern lenses: almost perfect replicas of the subject, unadulterated by any human mis-perceptions. Such photos are a stunningly accurate copy, which is fine if you are illustrating a textbook. Yet if photography is ART, arguably some different qualities are needed.
The “why” comes into play. What drew the eye to the subject? Is it the shape, the form, the colour, the contrast, the light? Perhaps the scent? Pictures can’t help with that last one!
Art interprets as well as records. By controlling the composition, the lighting, even the lens used, the photographer selects the desired qualities of the subject and then attempts to succeed in capturing a satisfying representation that pleases the eye, mind, and emotions.
Some would say the photo “tells a story” or conveys something important to communicate to the viewer.
What about this picture? It’s a dark-orange sunflower called “Red Sun” and I spotted it one morning just as it was starting to unfurl its petals. It looked spiky and soft at the same time! The gentle light softened the leaf colour, and the unfocused background made the dark petals jag out like a crown of spears against the pale greens and blues.
Tiny, delicate hairs add texture and finer detail as the eye explores.
A few hours, a day later, and the “normal” flower shape would be established and probably make this sunflower more ordinary.
For me, the shape matters: and the harmonious spread of pastel colours behind the dark, stark petals makes me want to look again; it holds my interest, and captures a specific moment in time for this particular plant.
I have to say that I find the concept of random existence and evolution unsatisfying. The qualifying word there is “random.” Faith and science sometimes collide- and sometimes they mutually enrich. All too often scientists and theologians have butted heads like angry goats! Usually, because theologians don’t understand science AND scientists don’t understand theology. (Both disciplines are complex and multi-faceted, and require a lifetime of study in order to reach the point of realising we only scratch the surface of knowledge and meaning. That’s the point at which a bit of humility and mutual respect makes the conversation fruitful.)
Faith asks questions about mystery and addresses those mysteries via the self-revelation of God, which weaves through all things like a glorious golden thread.
Meditation on a photograph, an interpretation of reality, allows the mind and spirit of a human to ponder beauty; and perhaps discern the fingerprint of the Artist. Add to that an examination of the life, nature, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and an Eternal Light shines through into our own present reality.
Sounds a bit grand, rather high-faluting, and possibly ambitious! But is it so unlikely that a Creator leaves a “signature” on the supreme Art of existence? Only one way to find out- give it a try!
The iconic Ferris Wheel in Vienna should have been demolished in 1916- but the Empire couldn’t afford it. Since then it has become a famous landmark, and appeared in the film “The Third Man” and also in a Bond film, “The Living Daylights.”
A local saying is that if you ride the wheel and see the whole of Vienna from there, you will love the city forever.
On our visit to Vienna, we didn’t have time to queue for tickets, so we only saw the Ferris Wheel from the tour bus. The effect worked at least partially- I’d love to go back and spend more time in Vienna- a city of beautiful architecture and great culture.
But apart from the classic engineering and the stunning view, the wheel has little value. It goes round, the cars rise, crest, and descend- and that’s it.
Is that how most of us see life? A treadmill with a good view?
Repetitive behaviour is part of life. We sleep, wake, eat, work, eat, and sleep. Assuming we are fortunate enough to get more than meal a day.
A Ferris wheel is essentially an entertainment. Life is a journey with purpose- or should be. Western society is in danger of being entertained to death! There must be more to life than this.
I am reminded of the experience of Zaccheus in Luke 19:1-10. He was a tax officer of dubious ethics- the basic way of tax collecting for the Roman provinces was to raise whatever the Governor told you to collect: and anything else you could extort was yours to keep. To say they were unpopular is a major understatement.
Yet Zaccheus realised his life was a failure. Having heard that Jesus was nearby, Zaccheus (a short bloke) climbed into a tree to listen. Imagine his shock when Jesus (against all custom and religious purity) invited himself to Zac’s place for a meal and chat! Everyone else was horrified- didn’t Jesus realise this was a SINNER, traitor, collaborator, tax collector!!!
Of course Jesus did. Upshot- Jesus was unpopular with the self-righteous snobs, Zac’s life was turned around, and the people who’d been ripped off were generously compensated. The Kingdom of God moved in, and turned the world upside down.
Jesus said that He was here to do what the Heavenly Father required. His call to Zaccheus (and us today) is to follow that way- to walk alongside Jesus, and do what God wants done.
It’s riskier, but it sure beats a Ferris wheel ride!
It is all over, they think. The Romans, who are VERY good at killing. And the religious authorities- they found their traitor, rigged a trial, and persuaded Governor Pilate to do their dirty work.
Those in the crowds believed it is a “fait accompli”– some with sadness, others with patriotic pride. Rabbi Jesus is past tense.
Scattered to the four winds to hide, most of his special friends and followers are grieved, despairing that the cryptic words Jesus had spoken now have a HUGE cross-shaped full stop ending the sentence. Even the ones who actually buried Jesus were thinking of doing a “proper” anointing of the corpse after the Sabbath. A final farewell, instead of the rushed job of the Friday evening.
Now we wait.
Today WE wait in impatient expectation, ‘cos WE have read the ending of the Gospels. THEY wait in grief (or satisfaction) for the world to be “normal” again.
Perhaps Lazarus, raised from death by Jesus, had a tiny seed of hope? Perhaps also fearing the mob will come for him too…
We have no clue what the Hosts of Heaven thought or knew. Had they seen the plan? Do angels wait with bated breath?
Saturday will be weird as we wait.
And about 2,000 years forward from THEIR day of sorrows, a bright preacher is saying “It’s Friday- but Sunday’s coming!”
Before computers, typewriters. Before that, paper & pen; earlier still it was engraving stones or using papyrus. Humans love to write things down! An aid to memory, a splash of propaganda, and expression of the soul, a way to define facts and truth. Often, writing tells our stories, the values that we hold most dear.
We interpret things in Nature as “writing” or symbols or facts.
A crab leg left on the sand at low tide. Is your imagination at work? Relic left by a fisherman? The result of a crab squabble, or a seagull raid? Has our coastline been visited by seals, otters, sharks, or rays? A helpless remnant, pincers defiantly ready- but too weak or too late?
One hour later, and the inrushing tide will erase the story and the evidence. The crab leg will be gone, who knows where.
Now, if Jesus wrote stuff down, we’d want to know what He meant. But the only incident where Jesus wrote anything down was rather odd.
People trying to condemn Jesus as a breaker of the Law of Moses captured a woman engaged in a sexual relationship. Hoping to catch Jesus out, they demanded He tell them what to do with her… either Jesus would condemn her to be stoned to death (which would cause BIG trouble with the Romans who didn’t allow the Jews to kill their “sinners”) OR Jesus would be forgiving and therefore in breach of the letter of the Law (meaning He would be condemned as a denier of the Law).
Jesus said nothing. Then stooped to write something in the sand with His finger. AND WE DON’T KNOW WHAT HE WROTE! Aargh! How frustrating… Written in the sand, and blown away by the wind.
Then Jesus spoke. “Let the one without sin throw the first stone.”
Gradually the crowd disappeared- none of them was sinless. THEN Jesus said to her “I don’t condemn you- but change the way you live! Don’t do it again.”(Read the full story in John 8:1-11.)
Written in the sand, yet justice and mercy were lovingly engraved on that woman’s heart. And His words were ALSO written in letters of fire on the conscience of the crowd!
It is written. Pay heed to the Teacher lest we lose sight of Truth.
In the gardens of a National Trust property not far from home is this stairway heading up to a Japanese-style wooden framework atop a small mound.
Depending on how tired the visitor is at this point, you can climb the steps to get a broader view of the lovely garden. I wonder what percentage of visitors make this climb? Certainly, on the day of my visit, the majority passed by the opportunity to climb and see more of the carefully planned layout.
“People only see what they are prepared to see,” observed Ralph Waldo Emerson. That is a very perceptive comment! It helps explain why some people find conspiracy theories addictive; and why the followers of certain types of politician find it impossible to criticise their chosen “guru”.
Another perspective on this: the sarcastic description of people of very fixed opinions prejudices- “Don’t confuse me with facts, my mind is made up.”
We’ve all met (and knocked heads with) such people. It’s very trying!
As a pastor for over 30 years, I’ve come across Christians with a vision shortfall. Their faith and expectations reach so far… but ask them to climb up and look beyond, and their horror is evident! To be honest, there have been moments when I have suffered similar limitations of vision… and I have missed blessings and fruitfulness as a result. We all have “comfort zones” – but Jesus took delight in challenging the crowds (and certain named individuals) to raise their eyes to see a bigger vision. “Peter, do you want to be a fisherman all your life? Leave it all behind, and follow Me!” (See Luke 5 for the whole story.)
An interesting thing about photography: changing your “standing point” and eye-level does wonderful things to your pictures. Yet probably 80% of photos are taken at standing eye-level. Moving to one side, or going to knee-high, or climbing a ladder or hill can turn “nice snaps” into dynamic art.
Lord, what am I truly prepared to see? How does that limit the vision You want me to be part of? How much should I move or climb to see YOUR vision?Please help me grasp the courage to keep climbing- and give me the curiosity to want to climb some more steps!
It’s Polling Day in the USA: and there is justifiable concern about the outcome in a very polarised, deeply divided electorate. Probably half of the electorate will be upset/furious whatever the result. The result will have consequences, at this stage not entirely predictable.
Most of us will have opinions about one or both candidates: and though the best choice seems blindingly obvious to me, there will be sincere voters who won’t agree!
I don’t have a vote, anyway.
My hope and trust is in God, the Eternal Three in One, whose Will shall ultimately be done (however this election and the current world political brouhaha turns out).
As Jesus taught us to pray, “May Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Alongside that prayer, I’ve chosen a photo that displays something of the wonder of this world: bright scarlet autumn rose-hips with a small Shield Bug crawling after food or shelter. Even as winter draws on, life continues with flora and fauna blissfully innocent of human politics. Although vulnerable to change and “chance,” this world- so far- has a good record of surviving human dramas (though we seem to be trying to spoil that record through greed and injustice!).
The Sun will rise in the morning. It will set tomorrow evening. And the American election result will NOT have shaken Heaven’s foundations, nor given God a horrible surprise. All things are ultimately in the Best Hands… the hands that were marred by nails on the Cross. That was a dreadful Day: and it was followed by Resurrection. Life finds a Way.
So, Father God- as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord Jesus every day. Please grant us peace and faith, even in our fears and the uncertainties we face. Keep pouring out Holy Spirit truth and compassion. Have mercy on Your troubled world- which we have diminished and defaced. May Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. May Your Kingdom come! Come soon, Lord Jesus, and rule as King of Kings and Master of Presidents and politicians. Amen.
Two aspects of Light: the first photo is taken inside Linz Cathedral, showing the colours from the stained glass windows on the stone wall. It reminds the worshipper that God is Light, the Saviour who brings freedom and forgiveness. The cathedral is clean, peaceful, and beautiful.
Second: a memorial Cross made from the timber of the old barracks in Mauthausen Concentration Camp, a few miles up the road. What is left of the camp has been turned into a Memorial Centre which tells the stories of some of the 90,000 prisoners who died there. It is a place of grief and remorse- but the Christ who was crucified understands suffering. That cross belongs there.
So close together- a building designed for worship, and another building built for mass murder.
This is the human dilemma in a nutshell. We are capable of love- and also capable of immense cruelty. Some would prefer to have a faith without a Cross- others would like to cover up the evidence of brutality. Without these reminders, we could ignore the chilled conscience and say “I didn’t do it, I didn’t know, I’m not to blame.”
Jesus shines Light into the darkness, invites our response, and says “I have come to bring LIFE in all its fullness.” (John 10:10)
When we come to the Cross, we begin to walk in the Light.
Salsify flower and seed “parachute”. Which part of this flower-cycle is most important? The flower or the seeds? Hmm.
This is an interesting but essentially irrelevant question! Without both stages of life, the flower species will die out. Flowers attract pollinators; the pollinators “cause” seeds to form; the seeds in due time provide the new plants for next year. Every year.
Like the famous “chicken and egg” dilemma, there is no definitive answer. (By the way- with so many foods said to “taste like chicken” – how come eggs don’t?)
Christians have from time to time debated vigorously about “interesting” questions. One historical classic : “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” What a waste of time! What a diversion of energy from essential Kingdom purposes… But theologians thought it worthy of debate.
What is more important- spiritual gifts or spiritual fruit? Both!
What matters most- correct doctrine or correct practice? In real life, it’s almost impossible to have one without the other. We truly need “Jesus-think” alongside “Jesus-love.”
As James puts it, faith without action is worthless. Paul writes “Be transformed through the renewing of your minds” (Romans 12:1).
Thinking in a holy way (Christ-like) will lead us to act in a holy way (Christ-like) even if that sets us against the accepted norms of society. Just remember that Jesus showed Love- and did so by applying justice AND mercy. He was the most attractive personality, the most stimulating, the most provocative, and lived in full integrity. He overturned tables in the Temple as well as healed the lame: he taught in stories and performed miraculous signs. He spoke the Word of Creation; and smashed the power of the grave.
How about we just follow and obey Jesus the best we can? With all that we are?
Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” (Matt. 22:37, Message)
Look, See, Pray 