It's time we tell you - You're adopted.

Galatians 4

1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

I have a friend who just returned home from Columbia where they adopted a little girl. They have posted dozens of pictures and given a running account of the process which began years ago with applications and even another prior adoption which fell through at very much the last minute.

The mommy posted a simple note on FaceBook Christmas morning saying, "This is my first Christmas season relating to Joseph as the adoptive parent. God's love is amazing for all of us!!! Merry Christmas to all far and near!"

Hope and I attempted an adoption close to 25 years ago. I still have a tiny hole in my heart over the entire thing - the mother changed her mind at the last moment and backed out. We wanted so badly to help little Alexander out of a tough situation, but it was not to be. We had taken very few steps really - we had spent some time with an attorney (a friend who was going to help us find another attorney who specialized in private adoption), we began plans for converting our other bedroom into a room fit for a little man, we bought some toys - OK, I bought some toys, Hope was far more reserved about the whole thing. And we traveled to southern California to pick the boy up for a weekend 'trial.' - we lived in San Jose, CA at the time.

My point is that we went way out of our way to adopt this boy. But we didn't go nearly as far as our friends who ended up spending weeks in Columbia meeting diplomats, officials, agents, going to consulates and embassies - just to be sure all the paperwork was finished before flying home JUST in time for Christmas.

But even they didn't go to the great lengths that God went to, just to adopt you and I as sons and daughters. Wow. Thanks.

Newton

Momentum.

Years ago in Physics class (and lab), I studied various 'laws.' One of them states that "a body in motion tends to stay in motion, while a body at rest tends to stay at rest."

This is Newton's first law of motion - if you want to see the detailed version, here it is:

"Every body remains in a state of rest or uniform motion (constant velocity) unless it is acted upon by an external unbalanced force. This means that in the absence of a non-zero net force, the center of mass of a body either remains at rest, or moves at a constant speed in a straight line."

Newton did not discover this, it had been around for centuries, but he put it together and refined some of the formulas, so he is generally credited with being the father of modern physics.

I had to do countless hours of calculations based on f=ma, and we got into the differences in linear vs. angular momentum. I had more trouble with the algebra and trig than the concepts - for some reason I could totally understand and 'picture' all of these theories, and had no trouble expressing them in words or even pictures, but I had a lot of trouble working out the simple math of the formulas. But I digress.

A heavy object requires force to get it into motion from rest, and it will also require force to bring it back to rest. A simple practical example would be the amazing amount of power it takes to accelerate a jetliner from a standstill up to takeoff speed, and then the equally large amount of force to bring it back down from flying speed to a stop upon landing. The heavier the airplane, the larger the amount of force required - but also the faster the airplane is going, the more force it takes to stop it.

What I didn't expect was how much this applies to my life in a more philosophical sense. A person at rest requires a lot of force to get them into motion. A church at rest requires a lot of force to get them into motion. And 'rest' in this case can very much be equal to moving in a steady direction at a steady speed. Doing the same thing requires no real thought or effort once all the habits are developed.

But a person in motion tends to take quite a bit of force to bring them to a stop, or to change their direction, and I don't mean physically. Now, in classical physics it is a matter of mass versus force, which can tell you the amount of force needed, and Heavy vs. light, fast versus slow, more acceleration vs. a gradual change in speed, etc. But there is one variable missing in the physics which is very much present in the personal:

Time.

The longer a person (or church) has been doing something, the more force is required to bring it to a stop, or even change it's direction. Tradition, habit, comfort, and about a dozen other words all communicate that once we get in the habit of doing something, it is very hard to stop.

Unless we are acted upon by an outside force.

Lord - be the 'outside force' that I need, because I do desire to change.

"And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn"

Jesus came to earth. That really should be enough, because we needed Him to do so. He came to die in our place - the ultimate in covering a debt we couldn't cover ourselves. But the way He came speaks volumes.

Born into the lineage of David (as prophesied)to show His divine connection to the chosen people of God. That set Him up as a royal member of the Kingdom of God - or the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus' message (later in life) was that we need to 'repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.' He had the full right to say so on this basis alone, but he was also correct in His proclamation because he IS God.

Born in Bethlehem (as prophesied) for many reasons, but from our eyes it was because of the census and the fact that his parents were required to go there to register, once again because Joseph was of the lineage of David, who was foretold to have an unending royal line. But also, keep in mind, it was foretold:

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times." (Micah 5:2)

He was born in a stable - and I can't think of a prophesy which specifically says anything about a filthy barn, or cave, or slop-holder, but there are plenty which indicate that Jesus left behind the riches of heaven, humbled himself and came to preach to the poor and simple people of earth.

6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-11)

And that includes you and I - thank God!!

Merry Christmas!

Tron

I went to see the movie "Tron" yesterday. The best part was being with my daughter KJ and family friend Elizabeth. The movie was a snore.

I find it so interesting that a company can spend millions upon millions of dollars to create a movie like this, and then enough people will pay for the privilege of seeing it that it can make all that back and millions more. Even movies which are rated as "box-office bombs" can earn millions of dollars in profits for the studios: they can still sell lots of toys, collectible items, clothing items, and then of course: the DVD or Blu-Ray disc which inevitably comes out and sells more than anyone thought it would.

So - I can see why there are so many people who dream about getting into movies. But I sure do weep for the morality and collective conscience of our nation if the people who star in these things are any representation of where our nation is headed. Women are objectified, sex outside of marriage is seen as the norm, young people are shown as wiser than adults, rebellion is something to be revered, the list goes on. But we don't sit and watch movies with our critical discernment turned on, because the very nature enjoying a movie is that we "suspend disbelief."

I just don't like that we also tend to "suspend our moral standards" as we do so.

God help us.

"Soused to the gills"

Hammered-head shark dies

By ANNIE KARNI
"A Serbian man reportedly has become a hero in Egypt -- by accidentally killing a shark with his butt while drunk.

Dragan Stevic was soused to the gills while partying at the Red Sea resort Sharm El Sheikh when he inadvertently felled the beast that had been terrorizing tourists for weeks.

Stevic cannonballed into the water from a high-diving board, according to a Macedonian news agency.

Instead of making a splash, he came down right on the shark's head, killing the toothed terror instantly.

The fun-loving party boy was immediately touted as a local hero who saved tourist season, which had dried up after the shark had injured three people and killed one vacationer.

Stevic swam to shore and is currently in the hospital recovering from alcohol poisoning."

The article above brought a smile to my face, as I tried to imagine a more unlikely 'hero.'

I find it amazing that God can truly make anything - ANYTHING - work for good in our lives. Even raw unmitigated stupidity.

Guess I need to trust Him more.

The Truth

John 18:36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate."

Jesus said that He came into the world to testify to the truth. And even though Pilate doesn't seem to know what truth is, I do. And you do too, if you read the word at all. The Bible contains the truth - but sometimes it is hard to swallow. For example, the reason God sent Jesus into the world? Because we need a savior. Why do we need a savior? Because "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Which means, in other words - if God had NOT sent Jesus, we all would be doomed. That's the truth. Not that we deserve it, not that we were his special one, or that we were so close to being perfect that we needed just a little help ... no. We were and are corrupt, ruined, damaged, separated from God and destined for eternity in Hell. And were it not for what Jesus did on the cross for us, that's exactly what we would be headed for, still.

And THAT, my friend, is the truth.

Tuesday

Well dear reader - I want to thank you for showing up here again. I try to post things that might be of interest, things which challenge me to grow - and I hope might also challenge you in much the same way. But you just never know what is strictly for me, and what is strictly for you.

So - today it's all about Sheep.

I was just reading Revelation 5, where there is a scroll with seven seals. That means it was sealed by God, because 7 is God's number, so to speak.

But who would be worthy to come forward and break the seals and open the scroll? Sure, there is a lot of imagery here, we are reading a careful description of heavenly things put down as well as a man can do so. But of course, overseen by the Holy Spirit.

Who comes forth to break the seal? Who is worthy? A lamb.

I have been in arguments with other Biblical Students (and teachers) over whether or not this Lamb was a four-legged lamb, or a representation of Jesus Christ. The conclusion I come to is that if John had seen a man he would have written something else, like "Lamb of God," or "Son of Man," or "Son of God," or "THE Lamb," etc. He wrote "a lamb."

And then he goes on to say, "looking as if it had been slain," which tells us that even though it was a lamb, it was also The Lamb. That would be Jesus - the one who died for you and I.

The only one who was worthy to do so - is now the only one who is worthy to do this.

God has such detailed plans - and yet we fear. We doubt. We forget that even the tough parts of our lives work in perfect harmony with God's plan for us - because I doubt that any of us would volunteer to leave God's side, descend to Earth, and then to die in pain and agony. And even fewer of us would volunteer to do that for a bunch of people who had a proven track record of turning their backs on you.