Today’s article is based on the sermon given at Five Mile Church of the Nazarene. View this sermon and other resources here.

Prayer is a fundamental way we communicate with God, yet many of us find it challenging. As we enter a new season in our church and in our personal lives, we’re called to become a praying and fasting community that seeks God’s will above all else.

Why Is Prayer So Important in Our Christian Walk?

Prayer isn’t just for emergencies or for the spiritually elite—it’s for everyone. Mother Teresa once said her secret was simply that she prayed. When asked what prayer is, she responded: “Prayer is simply talking to God. He speaks, we listen. We speak, He listens.”

The purpose of meaningful conversation with God is to get to know Him better, just as we get to know others through conversation.

Biblical Reasons Why We Pray

• Because God asks us to—He wants relationship with us

• Because prayer changes us, even when it doesn’t change our circumstances

• Because God hears us—both our words and the things we can’t express

• Because prayer brings peace, reminding us God is in control

• Because Jesus taught us how to pray

A prayerless Christian might be described as powerless, anxious, disconnected, vulnerable, and ineffective. In contrast, a praying Christian is equipped, empowered, and well-positioned to seek and live out God’s will.

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So God created adam (people, humankind)
in his own tselem (image, likeness, idol)

—Genesis 1:27a (NIV)

God created all humanity—adam—as idols made in God’s own image and likeness. This status as an idol separates the human being from other created beings. The human being created in God’s image resembles God as one who can think, communicate, make moral decisions, be creative, experience relationships, and more. Most importantly, it means that humans are like God not only in these ways but also in our function and purpose.

We were created to partner with God, to take on a God-like function in this world created and ordered by God. We, too, are tasked with creating, cultivating, and carving out an ordered space in the wilderness of chaotic disorder.

In the ancient world, an image was thought to carry the essence of that which it represented. People worshipped idols made of stone or wood because those objects were believed to hold the essence of the deity. The idol's power was not in its physical form—not because it looked like the deity—but because it was believed to be a “container” of its power, presence, and authority.

Share Do Everything In Love

We, too, are designed to hold in us the presence of Christ and the essential essence of God — love, faithfulness, righteousness, mercy, creativity, and power.

in the tselem of God
he created them (people, singular);

—Genesis 1:27b (NIV)

The previous line is repeated, but this time in reverse order. The greater emphasis now is on a foundational essence of all humankind—“in the image of God. The line then ends with a singular “them,” reminding us that all humanity is together with one identity. We are adam, a singular creation of God, with a unique purpose and mission within this created realm. Somehow and someway, as a collection of diverse humanity, we have within us a faint shimmer—a remnant perhaps—of God’s likeness.

male and female
he created them (people, plural).

—Genesis 1:27c (NIV)

The second repetition of “he created them” ends with a plural “them,” reminding us that humanity is a community—male and female—and that neither, on their own, represents the full image of God. We are individuals with personal uniqueness, each carrying within us a reflection of God’s image (blurry from sin, though it may be). Still, the full image of God is fully known only when we are united in fellowship, purpose, and mission.

Written from within a patriarchal society, this final line carries great power and meaning.

Both female and male are God's special, unique, and wonderful creation.

Both the male and the female are God-breathed.

Both female and male are the representative tselem of God.

Both male and female are created equally in God’s image and likeness with God-like function and purpose!

Paul, writing to the church in Galatia, reminds us of this—

There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female…

Galatians 3:28a (CEB)

There is no distinction, no difference. In Christ, the divisions caused by the brokenness of sin are once again removed, taking us back to the reality of adam in the garden. There are no ethnic, social, economic, or gender privileges to be had in God’s original creation or in our new creation in Christ.

…for you are all one in Christ Jesus”

Galatians 3:28b (CEB)

All year long, I knew I’d be preaching the message at my local church on New Year’s Eve, bringing our year-long “Outreach” emphasis to a close while also welcoming in the new year. What I didn’t know earlier in the year was that this would be my final message at the church we’ve called home over the past couple of years.

So, when it came time to begin preparing for this message, I had difficulty clarifying my thoughts and narrowing down the swirling tornado of ideas in my heart and head.

Do I focus on closing out the year of outreach?

Do I focus on bringing closure to 2023?

Do I focus on ushering in the new year?

Do I share a message of personal testimony and thanks?

What was God laying on my heart?

I sketched out several different outlines and even began fleshing out a couple of them. But nothing “clicked,” as I had a nagging feeling like there was something else that the Spirit was prompting me to share.

The picture was unclear, but it involved telling parts of my story, the story of God’s work in my life, and encouraging others to tell their story, too.

With the busyness of Christmas Day passed, the image of snapshots came into focus. So I searched through some photos and newspaper clippings and thought about some of the critical moments in my life and those people who helped me come to where I am now. I reflected on some Scripture and then thought about it in the context of the past year, the year to come, and living a missional life in the present.

I have been blessed and encouraged as I’ve spent some time preparing for this message. As always, the Lord works in me every time I take on the task of preparing to share. This message is probably more personal than any I’ve ever preached, but my hope and prayer was that those who listened would see their life reflected in mine.

Here’s the message in video form. Over the next few weeks, I’ll spend some time going deeper into some of the stories I told in this message, providing some additional context, details, and how the Lord worked in me through these times.

[Sermon begins at 19:25]

If there is a single word in the English language that needs to be divided up into multiple words, it’s the word LOVE.

I LOVE pizza…and spicy Thai curry.

I LOVE the Portland Trail Blazers…and the game of basketball.

I LOVE beautiful, sunny autumn days…and the first snow in winter.

I LOVE to sing…and play guitar.

I LOVE my mother…and my neighbor.

I LOVE God…and my church.

I LOVE all these things…but not each in the same way.

We really need a different word to describe the LOVE of food and the LOVE of a family member.

We need more words.

One word that helps—although it’s not an English word—is found in the New Testament. This word is agape. Let’s take a look at this word in this video from the Bible Project:

Most people, even if they aren’t very churchy, have heard of the Golden Rule: Do to people what you would want them to do to you (Luke 31).

Some people might also be familiar with the words of Jesus, which have come to be known as the Law of Love or the Greatest Commandments — LOVE God and LOVE your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31).

And if you are or have been a church-goer, you might even remember that Jesus went way beyond God and neighbor (which includes your mother), instructing his disciples to

…LOVE your enemies and pray for those who harass you so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven… If you LOVE only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.

—Matthew 5:43-48 (CEB, capitalization mine)

According to Jesus, it’s not enough only to LOVE God.

It’s not complete, not whole.

Even more, it’s not enough to only LOVE family and friends.

If this is your limit, you are still lacking.

Love your enemies — those people who are different than you, those with different values and beliefs, those who live very different lifestyles, and even those who oppose you and treat you poorly.

LOVE them, Jesus tells us. This is what it means to be a child of God. This is complete. This is whole. This is the full meal deal.

This adaptation of the classic hymn, Love Divine All Loves Excelling, reminds us that it is God’s LOVE that finishes this work in us—

(“Love Divine” — view below)

What did Jesus mean?

If you’ve ever come face-to-face with the confusion and difficulty of translating ancient texts (such as the Bible) across massive canyons of time, culture, and languages, then you understand that there are almost always variations, alternate translations, and sometimes things that cannot be known with certainty.

Here’s an example:

When Jesus told his followers, “Love your neighbor,” he quoted from the Old Testament, where the Hebrew word for LOVE is ahavah.

But Jesus was not speaking Hebrew. In Jesus’ Aramaic, the word is rakhmah (which is similar to the Arabic and Indonesian words for mercy and grace).

But the New Testament was not written in Aramaic, so the Greek word used was agape. So, as Jesus’ earliest disciples wrote and proclaimed the good news of Jesus they were taking ancient texts that had crossed cultures and centuries and redefining them by what they had seen and heard in their time with Jesus.

Jesus became the embodiment of the agape form of LOVE.

I cannot agape spicy Thai curry or even the beauty of God’s creation.

If I am to consider myself a child of God, I must learn to agape the people around me…all the people around me!

Some people want to ask the question, “Which is more important—loving God or loving my neighbor?” For Jesus, it seems, the two cannot be separated. If we LOVE God, it must leak out into how we relate with people. How we LOVE people (who are created in the very image of God) is part of how we LOVE and honor our Creator and God!

Have you ever noticed that the people who were nothing like Jesus liked being with Jesus? And Jesus seemed to enjoy being with people who were nothing like him?

He loved them.

For Jesus, agape LOVE is not warm-fuzzy feelings or a feel-good Hallmark movie.

Agape is a genuine LOVE for God and others that seeks people’s well-being without expecting anything in return, even toward those you can’t stand. It’s a generous love that imitates and reflects God's very character and heartbeat.

LOVE is as LOVE does

LOVE is a verb.

It’s a doing word…an action word…a walk-the-walk word.

Jesus did not find victory over sin and death by harnessing the power of military might, economic influence, legislative control…or even by utilizing cable news networks or a barrage of Facebook memes!

Nope.

It was LOVE — living out the things he talked about.

Serving and helping people in tangible ways.

Directing his gaze and his life in the direction of his heavenly Father.

Jesus found victory by harnessing the power of the upside-down-kingdom of God—by moving down and out toward the poor and hurting rather than up and in toward the centers of power and influence—by entering into the messy lives of people and showing genuine LOVE to those who were forgotten, ignored, and mistreated.

Then, on that Easter morning (pause)………yes, I know this is advent, and we are preparing our hearts for Christmas. Christmas is, we must remember, the first chapter of the Easter story………(unpause) Jesus and his followers claimed that it was the power of God’s AGAPE for the world that was revealed in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. As Paul wrote:

…God shows his LOVE for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

—Romans 5:8 (CEB, capitalization mine)

Or, in the words of John:

This is how the LOVE of God is revealed to us: God has sent his only Son into the world so that we can live through him…if God loved us this way, we also ought to LOVE each other.

—1 John 4:9,11 (CEB, capitalization mine)

So, being a Christian is a life of giving to others the same grace we have received…blessing our neighbors as we have been blessed…showing mercy in the same way it has been shown to us…and loving others, even amid their mess, just as Christ died for us in the midst of ours.

This is love…agape LOVE.

God’s call is for all to come.

Whomever you are…come.

Wherever you are…come.

Whatever your mess may be…come.

Christ is born! And he agape's you today!

(“O Come, All You Unfaithful” — view below)

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The meaning and history of ‘Little Drummer Boys’

For centuries drummers have been used on the battlefield to keep time, regulate and maintain the marching of troops, and provide different combinations of drum beats to communicate with troops from long distances.

To do their job well, these drummers needed to be near the front lines of military action. This required them to be brave…and incredibly vulnerable.

“The Little Drummer Boy” is generally thought to be written by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941, originally with the title “Carol of the Drums.” Others, however, believe that Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone penned the lyrics to the song. It seems to have been based on a Czech melody, though some believe it to have been inspired by the old French Christmas carol, “Patapan.”

In the first verse, we are introduced to the young drummer, though he has not yet been identified. In the context of the song, people are bringing their “finest gifts” to Jesus, the newborn King. The young drummer is invited to come near. In doing so we see that the drummer carries the attributes of the romanticized drummer boy leading the troops in wartime—brave and vulnerable.

“The Little Drummer Boy” been recorded by many artists over many years. From Bing Crosby to David Bowie, The Jackson Five to Carrie Underwood, and Pentatonix to bands such as King and Country.

In the second verse, we learn that this drummer boy is poor and has no fine, expensive, or shiny gift to offer—nothing worthy of a king, or so he thinks.

“Shall I play for you?” he asks, as if to say, “It’s the only thing I have to offer…there is nothing else.”

The high point of the song comes in the third verse, as Mary nods her approval of the drummer’s request to give the only thing he had to give. The drummer boy begins to play. The oxen and lambs, who also have nothing else to give, join in by keeping time.

The drummer boy gives what he has.

The drummer plays to the best of his ability.

He was brave.

He was vulnerable.

And the baby Jesus smiled.

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“Go, eat rich food, and drink something sweet,” he said to them, “and send portions of this to any who have nothing ready! This day is holy to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the JOY from the Lord is your strength!”

—Number 8:10 (CEB)

A starting point for JOY

JOY is a happy word. Who doesn’t like happy words?

JOY is such a great word that it has even become a name—most generally, a female name in English.

JOY, however, is much more than being happy or in a good mood. It’s more than a smiley face or a sunny, cheerful disposition.

There are several “JOYful” words in biblical Hebrew—simcha, sason, or giyl. In the Greek New Testament, too, we have khara, euphrosune, or agalliasis.

Languages have multiple words for things that are important. In Indonesia, where rice is a foundational staple of one’s diet, there are at least five words to describe rice. In American English, we have one. JOY is an important concept, and each word used to describe it comes with its unique nuance and flavor.

Each word has its own unique nuance, but they all refer to the feeling of joy and happiness.

• What kinds of things in your life bring you JOY?

• What is it about these things that help you feel this way?

JOY in the Bible

People find joy in the beautiful and good things in life. Consider Psalm 104—

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God while I’m still alive.
Let my praise be pleasing to him;
    I’m REJOICING in the Lord!

—Psalm 104:33-34 (CEB)

In Scripture, we see joy at weddings (Jer 33:11), in children (Prov 23:24-25), and even in having a good friend (Prov 27:9).

At the same time, we live in a world filled with selfishness, loss, and death. Life is not all smiles, laughter, and happiness. Because of this, biblical understanding of JOY gives us an important reminder:

JOY is an attitude of the heart that we adopt, not because of favorable or happy circumstances but because of hope in God's love and promise of peace.

The Israelites sang for JOY in the middle of the desert because God had rescued them and promised them a new home (Psalm 105:43). Our JOY is not determined by our circumstances today but by the promise of tomorrow.

Later, as Israel suffered under oppression from foreign empires, Isaiah looked ahead to the day when God would raise up a deliver, like Moses, to once again rescue God’s people. On that day, the prophet writes, those rescued would return to Zion with great shouts and eternal JOY (Isaiah 51:11)!

• What are your life circumstances right now?

• Are you seeking JOY even amid less-than-idea circumstances?

• Are you living in JOY, paying forward the blessings of God in your life to others?

REJOICE, Daughter Zion! Shout, Israel!
        REJOICE and exult with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem.
The Lord has removed your judgment;
        he has turned away your enemy.
The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst;
        you will no longer fear evil.
On that day, it will be said to Jerusalem:
        Don’t fear, Zion.
        Don’t let your hands fall.
The Lord your God is in your midst—a warrior bringing victory.
        He will create calm with his love;
        he will REJOICE over you with singing.

—Zephaniah 3:14-17 (CEB)

Ever singing, march wе onward
Victors in the midst of strife
JOYful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life

—Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Henry Van Dyke, 1907)
(Rend Collective version below)

Jesus JOY

Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified.

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, JOYous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”

—Luke 2:8-14 (CEB)

Jesus’ birth was “good news” that brought to the entire world—all people—great JOY! He repeats the same message of joy that transcends our circumstances and looks forward to what’s ahead—

 “Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me. Be full of JOY and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven.

—Matthew 5:11-12a (CEB)

The Christian communities were well-known for being “full of joy” (Acts 13:52), even in times of persecution, when circumstances were neither beneficial nor pleasurable.

Paul, writing from prison, reminds the church to “be glad in the Lord” (Phil 3:1). James encourages his readers to consider their difficulties as “occasions for JOY” (Jms 1:2, CEB). When Jesus is present, there is reason for JOY, no matter the circumstance.

This does not mean we must suppress our sorrow, turn our frown upside-down, and never let ‘em see us cry. Being joyful always does not mean wearing a smiley face mask or refusing to be vulnerable.

Instead, we must become comfortable letting sorrow, mourning, and lament flow through river beds of joy. Even in tears, we can look ahead with bleary eyes to the promise of what lies ahead.

This is JOY.

• Do you have the JOY of Jesus in your life today, or are your circumstances making it difficult to find joy?

• Where is your HOPE today? Do you believe that Jesus can bring PEACE into your life?

• Ask the Lord to help you see your circumstances as “occasions for joy” today.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy

—Joy to the World (Isaac Watts, 1719)
(Pentatonix version below)

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"O Holy Night," originally titled "Cantique de Noël," was written in French by Placide Cappeau, a wine merchant and poet, in 1847. Adolphe Adam, a French composer, later set the poem to music. The song was first performed at the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve in the small French town of Roquemaure.

The English version of the song was created by John Sullivan Dwight, an American Unitarian minister, in 1855. Dwight's translation is the one commonly used in English-speaking countries today.

"O Holy Night" gained popularity over the years and became a cherished Christmas carol. It has been translated into numerous languages and recorded by various artists across different genres. The song's powerful and emotional melody and poignant lyrics contribute to its enduring appeal.

O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error, pining
' Til He appears, and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel's voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O Holy night, O night divine!

"O Holy Night" is first a song depicting the birth of Jesus. We are immediately taken in with a sense of deep solemnity for the moment. At the same time, we are confronted with the deep contrast between our need — long lay the world in sin and error pining — and the explosion of hope that comes with this birth — a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

And the appropriate response is to fall on our knees in worship.

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by the light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the Wise Men from Orient land
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend

Christ came to redeem and save humanity from sin. We are led to the side of Christ's cradle — led by the light of faith serenely beaming — just as the wise men were led by the light of the star sweetly gleaming. And even though we are invited to come near to the cradle during this time of advent, we are reminded that he knows our needs, understands our weaknesses, and was both to be our friend, walking along with us through our life.

And what is our appropriate response? To see and bow humbly in worship.

Truly, He taught us to love one another;
His law is love, and His Gospel is Peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us Praise His Holy name
Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim

In the final frame, we find a dramatic and emotional call to remember and acknowledge the significance of this birth. We are invited to look ahead at the words Jesus would speak and the life he would live — truly, he taught us to love one another; his law is love, and his gospel is peace. Then, we are reminded of the words of Isaiah that Jesus quotes in Luke 4:18–19, the very mission and purpose by which we are to live — chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother, and in his name, all oppression shall cease!

And once again, our response is to praise the Lord with all that is in us and with all we are!

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Traditions are powerful things. The celebration of the birth of Christ is among some of the most long-standing and influential traditions in the world, even though they took several centuries to get up and going.

Traditions, however, are not static — they evolve over time and as cultures, languages, and societies change. Words and phrases that once had deep meaning no longer carry any contemporary meaning at all. Customs and rituals that once touched souls become tired practices of which people grow weary. Things that once held great significance get lost in the wave of progress, development, and contemporary concerns.

Christmas is no exception. It is our challenge as contemporary Christians to find ways to express the meaningfulness and significance of Christmas in ways that connect to the people in our time and place, wherever that may be. To do so, we need to know where our traditions came from, how they have developed, and how we can move forward — keeping some traditions intact, transforming other traditions as possible, and (perhaps) allowing some to be laid aside.

With that in mind, here are seven things you may or may not have known about the traditions surrounding our celebration of the birth of Immanuel, God with us.

1. Christmas wasn't always celebrated on December 25

While many Christians nowadays celebrate Christmas on December 25, that wasn’t (and for some still isn’t) always the case. No one knows the actual date of Jesus’ birth with certainty. Celebrating the birth of Christ wasn’t even a thing until centuries after the establishment of Christianity as a religion. Even so, many Biblical historians think it is likely that Jesus was born sometime in the spring.

It seems that December 25 was chosen not for historical accuracy but rather because the winter solstice already had any number of pagan festivals and celebrations (the festival of Saturnalia, for instance), which honored the agricultural god of Saturn and featured celebrations and gift-giving. If this is the case, December 25 may have been chosen in part as a way to make it easier for those converting from their pagan beliefs to Christianity—an alternative celebration, perhaps. Jews also had their Festival of Lights, Germans had a yule festival, and Celtic and Scandinavian legends also had events centered near this time of year.

2. Evergreen trees were an ancient tradition

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We hear a lot about PEACE in our world.

Middle East PEACE talks…

PEACEkeeping missions…

Getting your piece of the pie…oh, wait…different kind of piece.

But pie…yum.

Jesus is called the Prince of PEACE.

But there doesn’t seem to be an abundance of PEACE in our world today.

What’s the deal?

To get us started, let’s begin again with a great video from BibleProject.com —

In the Bible, PEACE can refer to a lack of conflict (the way we most often think of the word in English), but it can also point to something much deeper. Rather than simply indicating the absence of something, PEACE in the Bible can point to the presence of something that takes the place of conflict.

In your life, what kinds of situations foster PEACEfulness?

The Old Testament word for PEACE is shalom; in the New Testament, it’s eirene. Shalom refers to something complex, with many pieces, that is found in a state of completeness or wholeness. Like shalom, eirene can refer to the absence of conflict but also points to the reconciliation of a relationship or restoring wholeness to something broken.

I am reminded of the lyrics of the third verse of O Holy Night, one of my favorite advent songs:

Truly, He taught us to love one another,
His law is love, and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name, all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Shalom in the Old Testament

Shalom can refer to a person’s well-being, as when David visits his brothers on the battlefield and asks about their shalom (1 Sam 17:22-23). Life is busy, complex, and always moving from one thing to the next.

Do you feel sometimes like life is a little bit too busy, too much, and too fast?

Our shalom is broken when any part of our complex lives is out of alignment or lacking altogether. It’s not whole. It’s not as it was intended to be. We need restoration, reconciliation, and renewal.

Shalom, when used as a verb, means this very thing. Soloman shaloms the temple by finishing its construction (1 Kings 9:1). When I ate my roommate’s box of cereal, I shalomed him by buying a new box.

Are there relationships in your life that are broken and in need of shalom-ing?

Is there wholeness lacking in some areas of your life? Where?

Is there anything that you can do to help bring shalom into these relationships?

When the prophet Isaiah talks about the coming of a future king, his vision is of a Prince of Shalom. A king whose reign would begin unending shalom, making right all that was wrong and bringing restoration, reconciliation, and renewal (Isaiah 9).

He is the song for the suffering
He is Messiah, the Prince of Peace
Has come, He has come
Emmanuel

—Lauren Daigle, “Light of the World”

Eirene comes in the New Testament

When the angels in Luke 2 announce Jesus’ birth, they sing the words,

 Glory to God in heaven, and on earth PEACE among those whom he favors.

—Luke 2:14 (CEB)

Later, Jesus offers this same eirene to his followers,

Eirene I leave with you. My eirene I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid.

—John 14:27 (CEB)

In time—it wasn’t immediate—those who followed Jesus came to understand that Jesus had come to bring eirene to the relationship between God and the royally messed up human beings that God had created. The death and resurrection of Jesus are all about bringing wholeness—restoration, reconciliation, and renewal.

Jesus is the full, complete human being—the kind of human you and I were created to be (but have failed miserably at being). But, in an act of extreme humility and self-surrender, Jesus gave his life to us as a great gift of grace. Jesus, writes Paul, is our PEACE (Eph 2:14a). Because Jesus has given us his life, then we are also called to carry PEACE into our world—not only passively resisting conflict, but actively pursuing restoration, reconciliation, and renewal of ourselves, our families, our churches, our communities, and our world!

This requires humility and patience. It requires self-surrender and self-giving love. It involves forgiveness, mercy, and grace. It requires all the things Jesus gave us…the way Jesus showed us how to live.

Where has God placed you as a “carrier of PEACE” in your family, church, and community?

Where is God asking you to show humility, patience, self-giving love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace?

Happy [blessed] are people who make PEACE, because they will be called God’s children.

—Matthew 5:9 (CEB)

PEACE-making is hard work.

It’s taking what is broken and restoring it to wholeness in our lives, relationships, and world. We can’t do it alone and only in our own power, but we are responsible for putting our faith into action. As God’s people, we bring shalom and eirene to our world.

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Some people LOVE giving gifts — the planning, the presentation…all of it.

Other people feel nothing but STRESS from the expectations.

Some people judge the gifts they give and receive by the money spent.

Other people judge the gifts they give and receive by how much thought, the time taken, and how much of themselves they put into the gifts they give.

I used to fall squarely into the “stress” group, but that has been slowly changing as I learn to put myself into some of the gifts I give. There is satisfaction in doing something, creating something, or giving something that is appreciated, meaningful, or perhaps unexpected. There is joy in thinking and planning a gift for a loved one, something that will be kept and treasured, whether it be an object, an experience, or a memory.

With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of low and no-cost gift ideas that might help us move beyond simply buying gifts to a place where we implant a part of ourselves in the gifts that we give to family, friends, and neighbors.

So, in no particular order, here are a few ideas to consider:

Baking and Cooking

• A loaf of bread?

• Christmas cookies?

• Homemade pizza?

Share them with your neighbors or take some to the nearby retirement home if they accept such things. Or, take it a step further and invite people to your home for

• smores

• homemade soup

• BBQ

I remember my parents inviting friends who didn’t have family nearby for a Thanksgiving meal. These were special and memorable times.

Books, Puzzles, Ornaments, or something else you already own

I remember one time a friend of mine in college gave me a used copy of A Prayer for Owen Meany wrapped up in a paper napkin. Admittedly, I didn’t fully appreciate the gift, letting it sit on a shelf for a few years. But when I pulled it out and read it, I was moved by the story and the meaningful gift that this friend had given me.

Think about sharing a

• puzzle that you’ve enjoyed putting together

• favorite Christmas ornament

• something else that has meaning for you.

Variation — If you don’t have these things, visit your local second-hand shops to find unique, good-quality, and low-cost items.

Create something

• Digitize photos and create a digital photo album.

• Make a family home video — sing a song, video your children playing an instrument, or give a personal Christmas message to those who are far away…or those who are close.

• Write a poem or a song — perform it live or on video.

• Write a heartfelt letter.

• Draw a picture or create some form of artwork (painting, drawing, photography, crafting, etc).

• Create a homemade recipe book.

Spend time together

• Visit a new location (or an old favorite) to go for a walk, take photos, or sit and enjoy the scene.

• Spend a day cooking together, knitting, reading, or other enjoyable activities.

• Binge-watch a television series or watch a favorite movie

• Teach one of your favorite skills or hobbies — cooking, baking, a musical instrument, sewing, woodwork, photography, surfing, or…

These are just the tip of the iceberg of ideas.

Be creative.

Be meaningful.

The payoff is well worth it.

Questions to think about:

1.     How does a homemade or creative gift differ from something purchased at a retail store?

2.    Would you rather receive a heartfelt gift or an expensive gift?

3.    What creative ways could you give gifts to your family, friends, and neighbors? Share a couple of your favorite ideas in the comments.

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Have you ever found yourself waiting for something?

Anticipating the future?

Giddy and excited about something that is yet to come?

We call this HOPE.

It’s essential for human existence…and a fundamental concept in the Bible.

To get us started, here’s a great video from the BibleProject.com —

So, in the Old Testament, two words give us a glimpse into the meaning and purpose of HOPE.

The first is yakhal, which means “to wait for,” like Noah waiting for the earth to dry out (Genesis 8). Noah had to yakhal for a long time until the dry land reappeared, and they could resume their lives on solid ground.

Have you found yourself yakhal-ing recently?
What are you hoping for, waiting for, and expecting to come about?

The second word is qavah, which is like the tension produced when you stretch a rubber band—the potential energy stored in the rubber band longing to be resolved. The tension and pressure bring some stress, along with the HOPE that, in time, the tension will be resolved.

Have you found yourself in the tension of qavah-ing?
What stress are you feeling as you HOPE and wait?

Throughout the Old Testament—from Job to the Psalmist and throughout the prophets—the people of God yakhal and qavah for God’s blessing, protection, and rescue. With great anticipation, they HOPE for the time when God will move. In particular, they wait for the arrival of the promised Messiah.

This HOPE is seen clearly in the well-known hymn of Charles Wesley—

HOPE in the Bible is not just a sunny outlook

HOPE in the Bible is not the same as optimism or a sunny outlook. It’s not rose-colored glasses or choosing to see the glass half full. This is how we often use the word HOPE in modern English. We HOPE things will turn out well. In these cases, HOPE is based on circumstances and uncertainty— wishing for a positive outcome that will match one’s desires but not wholly convinced such an outcome will come to be.

What do you wish for?
In which circumstances of your life do you desire change?
Where is your hope?

In the Bible, HOPE is based not on circumstances but on a person. Even when there is no evidence of things turning out well or going our way, we choose HOPE regardless. We place our HOPE in God.

At a time when foreign powers were oppressing Israel, the prophets chose HOPE, echoed in the haunting Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanual” —

Jesus is our Living HOPE

The early followers of Jesus put their HOPE in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus—the one who would, in time, be seen to be God’s unexpected answer to the HOPE of Israel from ages past.

The empty tomb revealed a new HOPE — elpis, in the Greek. In Christ, there is

• living HOPE,

• HOPE of glory,

• HOPE that in Christ people can be reborn, renewed, and recreated into a new kind of people.

This elpis is based on the reality of a person, the risen Messiah, who overcame sin and death. This hope was not for humanity alone but represented a glimpse of all God has willed for the universe — that “creation itself will be set free from slavery to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of God’s children” (Rom 8:21, CEB).

Those who are in Christ have been saved and transformed in Christ.

Those who are in Christ are being saved and transformed in Christ.

Those who are in Christ live in the expectation, tension, and HOPE of being saved and transformed—a HOPE of ultimate glory in Christ.

The Christian HOPE is bold. Could it be true that not only I but the entirety of the universe is to be rescued from the shackles of evil, sin, and death?

This is the Christian hope—a choice to yakhal, qavah, and elpis for God to work to bring about a future that might seem as unlikely as a crucified Messiah. We look back on what Christ has done to wait in hope for what is to come!

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O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear

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Joyful Haiku

Sunrise paints the sky, 
Joy in hues of golden light, 
Heart’s warmth takes its flight.

Joyful Limerick

There once was a feeling so bright, 
Joy danced in the sun’s warming light. 
With laughter and cheer, 
It banished all fear, 
A blissful and contagious delight!

Joyful Sonnet

Upon life’s stage, where shadows often play, 
Emerges now a radiant refrain, 
A symphony of joy in bright array, 
That dances through the heart, dispelling pain.

In sunlit fields, where laughter takes its flight, 
Joy weaves a tapestry of hues so bold, 
Each thread a moment, pure and shining light, 
A melody of bliss, forever told.

With every sunrise, joy’s soft whisper calls, 
A gentle breeze that stirs the soul’s song, 
In moments small, within love’s hallowed halls, 
It paints the canvas on which we all belong.

Oh, joy, a cherished guest in whom we all delight, 
In your sweet presence, our hearts are forever bright.

In the quiet embrace of November’s end, 
A tapestry of amber and russet blend. 
The trees, once adorned in a fiery array, 
Now stand bare as winter claims its sway.

Read more

Small local and family-owned businesses are the backbone of neighborhoods and communities across our country. November 25 is designated as Small Business Saturday, so here are some ways to encourage and support your local small businesses on that day and throughout this holiday season!

• Recommend your favorite places to others — talk them up and let people know where they are and what they do.

• Give positive reviews and feedback when possible — improve the online reputation of your local businesses.

• Join memberships and take advantage of reward programs — help yourself by helping them.

• Like, share, tag, and follow on social media — help your local business be seen!

• Join email lists and newsletters — keep up-to-date on what’s going on.

• Attend special events, sales, and other promotional events — a crowd invites a crowd.

• Buy gift cards for yourself and others.

• Pay a little more to keep local businesses in business!

• Organize a Small Business Crawl — Gather some friends and plan to visit several small businesses in your local area.

• Partner with a small business — if you own a business or offer a service, consider collaborating with another local company to offer a special promotion.

Finally, remember to show patience and compassion. The holiday season is a busy time for everyone, including local merchants and restaurants, many of whom continue to be understaffed.

My name is Steve. I’m a writer, photographer, teacher, and pastor. You can see my book of photos here, along with other things I’ve printed and published.

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25 things for which I might be thankful

1. My family and loved ones

2. Good friends

3. My home and safety

4. Clean water to drink

5. My job and opportunities to provide for my family

6. Food to eat…even healthy food, should I so choose

7. Good sleep and opportunity for rest

8. My education and opportunities to learn

9. I don’t have pets, but I know many who are thankful for theirs.

10. Four seasons

11. Weekends!

12. Good and semi-reliable transportation

13. Weekends

14. Fresh air to breathe.

15. Technology to enjoy

16. Good books to read

17. Art and music to enjoy

18. Teachers and mentors who care

19. Healthcare

20. Beautiful colors all around us

21. The opportunity to give gifts

22. The opportunity to receive gifts

23. The opportunity to worship God

24. The opportunity to love and be loved

25. God’s good grace in my life

25 more things for which I might be thankful

1. Indoor plumbing — yes! (Especially in the winter!)

2. Fuzzy socks — warm feet are NOT overrated!

3. Half-price drinks on the Sonic app.

4. Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and __________.

5. Waking up before my alarm

6. Deodorant — yes, please!

7. Toilet paper. Sure, but I’d also add a bidet to this list. Someday, perhaps.

8. Wifi — can you even remember NOT having wifi in your home?

9. Food delivery services…maybe?

10. Duct tape. Enough said.

11. Good hair days — Ooohhh…I’m lookin’ good today!

12. People who, by their own actions, remind me that everybody messes up once in a while.

13. GPS — I was good with maps…but not having to fold up maps when finished with them is truly a blessing!

14. The ability to Google any question. It’s crazy when you think about it

15. The five-second rule…I’d never eat without this rule.

16. Bacon. Yep.

17. Fortune cookies with perfectly timed fortunes.

18. Cat videos. If this is you…bless your heart…

19. Chapstick…feels so good…

20. Clothes fresh out of the dryer. Ahhhhhh……

21. Inside jokes. One of the great joys of life.

22. Auto-save — yes! And also CTRL-Z

23. Spellcheck — watch out for autocorrect, though.

24. Naturally missing every crack in the pavement — don’t wanna break your mother’s back.

25. Getting everyone to smile in the family photo simultaneously—has this ever happened?

25 Things To Be Thankful For Thanksgiving

1. Time with family and friends

2. A good meal… don’t overdo it.

3. A comfortable couch or chair (after you overate, see #2)

4. Gratitude notes given and received

5. The freedoms we enjoy.

6. The smell of freshly baked cookies

7. Unconditional love — we all need it.

8. Uncontrollable laughter — we all want it.

9. Your favorite Thanksgiving side dish — mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce?

10. Teachers who don’t give homework on Thanksgiving break

11. Cake…cookies…pie…yes, yes, yes!

12. Road trips with people you like.

13. Hot Showers and warm beds

14. Finally getting to wear your favorite sweater — don’t let anyone tell you no!

15. Falling asleep by the fire.

16. Seeing old friends

17. Learning from unique cultures or traditions

18. Good neighbors and people ready to lend a helping hand

19. Old photographs and sharing old memories

20. Spending time with grandparents

21. Sit-down dinners with conversation and laughter

22. A nice cup of hot chocolate or peppermint mocha

23. Fun (and silly?) family traditions

24. Mutual respect, admiration, and love

25. Not being the turkey. :-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

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"Our World" 2024 Calendar by Steven E. Fairbanks

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This special offer is only available until November 21!
Calendars will be mailed out in early December.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…

Genesis 1:26a (NIV)

In ancient Near East stories, the gods created things for their pleasure and use. Humanity, for example, was created as a result of a need for slave labor to provide for the gods a convenient, comfortable existence. We also see humanity created using a mixture of clay and blood from the slain bodies of other gods. Humans, then, are believed to be formed from “bloody mud, tainted by the gravest guilt and shame.”1 Creation, in these stories, results from conflict, bloodshed, and death.

In contrast, the Biblical story of creation shows God bringing light and new life to the formless and empty wilderness, creating space from out of the darkness and deep for adam (humanity). God creates, separates, and orders the world to function on behalf of humanity.

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Then God said, “Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us…
— Genesis 1:26a

We’ll spend some time here in these verses as they set the stage for some foundational understandings that will reverberate throughout the remainder of the Biblical story.

Humanity—adam in Hebrew—is created in the image of God. Another way to say this is that people were created as images, or reflections, of God.

Let’s investigate an important aspect of what it means to be an image of God. The Psalmist says of idols made of silver and gold that they are —

…things made by human hands.
They have mouths, but they can’t speak.
They have eyes, but they can’t see.
They have ears, but they can’t listen.
No, there’s no breath in their lungs!
Let the people who made these idols
and all who trust in them
become just like them!

(Psalm 135:15b-18, CEB)

The point the Psalmist is trying to make is that the carved-out, manufactured idols do not speak because the gods they represent do not speak. They do not breathe because the gods they represent are not living and breathing.

On the other hand, humanity is made in the image of God. Tselem, translated as “image,” could also be translated as “Idol.” So, it is not unreasonable to translate Genesis 1:26 as “Let us make humanity as our idol to resemble us.” If we were to rewrite the passage above for God’s creation of humanity, it might go something like this —

…made by the hands of the Creator.
They have mouths, and they speak.
They have eyes, and they see.
They have ears, and they listen.
There’s breath in their lungs!
They are idols made by their Creator
Let them trust in God
and become just like their heavenly Father

As idols, or images, of God, we speak because God speaks!

We see because God sees!

We listen because God listens!

We live and breathe because God is living and breathing!

We resemble the Creator, our Heavenly Father!

As we will see, this resemblance is not a physical likeness but a partnership in purpose. We were created to partner with God in the creation project that God initiated!

On May 2, 2014, during Game 6 of the Western Conference first-round series between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Houston Rockets, Damian Lillard hit a buzzer-beating, series-clinching three-pointer to give the Trail Blazers a 99-98 victory. This iconic shot instantly became one of the most memorable moments in NBA playoff history, and Damian Lillard earned a reputation as a clutch performer in critical moments.

The moment is a moment I’ll remember forever, partly because of the shot, partly because I was watching it with my son — 10 years old at the time — in the student lobby of Northwest Nazarene University. The game was over. We knew it; everyone knew it.

Down 2.

0.9 seconds to go.

What were the chances?

Well, that depends. Are you considering the probabilities based on universal norms of basketball? Or are you referring to the probabilities based on the opportunity to give Lillard the ball with time enough to get up a shot?

The two are not the same.

And the rest is history.

I think that might be the moment my son traded in his fondness for Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors for an allegiance to the Portland Trail Blazers…and a love for Damien Lillard.

In the ensuing eight years, we have watched many a game together, have seen other miraculous shots (including the “bad shot” he took against Paul George and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2019 playoffs), and games where “Dame Time” was in full effect.

We watch Lillard demonstrate loyalty and dedication to his team and a love for the city of Portland and its fans. We watched his leadership as he took players under his wing and invested time and energy into others. We watched scoring prowess and clutch performances. Lillard’s community involvement and charitable activities were to be admired.

Ultimately, however, Dame was never given a team that could legitimately compete for a championship. This is the one thing he never got, the one thing the fans never got to see.

And so, days before the opening of training camp 2023, Damien Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Teaming up with Giannis Antetokounmpo and friends, he will have a chance to compete for a championship — a capstone for a brilliant career.

I genuinely wish the opportunity had come for him as a Trail Blazer.

I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.

I will enjoy watching a young and exciting Trail Blazer team this year, but I’ll also have my eyes on the Bucks. If my team can’t win it all this year, I hope Lillard will.

And I’ll be watching with my son, now 18, as we welcome a new era of Trail Blazer basketball.