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Christmas Comes When You Want It

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By Dan Amos

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I like the music, the lights, and—when you can find it—the goodwill. Fran and I normally wait until after Thanksgiving before we do any decorating, and we get a tree while others are shopping. But this year, we both wanted some cheer early, so we got decorations out the first week of November. I put up lights outside. I haven’t done that in a while, but I just wanted some color and Fran put up an artificial tree and decorated it (followed by a cut tree after Thanksgiving). You know, “Christmas starts with a tree.”

I have a radio in my office playing Christmas music, but it’s mostly weather—because, Baby, it’s cold outside—or traffic reports about Grandma’s unfortunate encounter with a reindeer. Those songs are fun, and I enjoy them, but I really like the traditional songs we sing when we gather. One of my favorites is “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”:

God rest ye merry gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay

Remember Christ our Savior

Was born on Christmas Day

To save us all from Satan’s pow’r

When we were gone astray

Oh tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

Oh tidings of comfort and joy

(verse 1)

That’s Christmas right there. Our Savior was born because we needed Him, we needed rescue. “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

In Bethlehem, in Israel

This blessed Babe was born

And laid within a manger

Upon this blessed morn

The which His Mother Mary

Did nothing take in scorn

Oh tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

Oh tidings of comfort and joy

(verse 2)

Why Bethlehem? Micah prophesized, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

But Joseph and Mary, who was great with child, lived in Nazareth, 100 miles away. Why should they be in Bethlehem? They went to Bethlehem at great discomfort for her to obey the directive of the government with which they probably didn’t agree.

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.” (Luke 2:1-5)

God used taxes and the Roman occupiers to fulfill prophecy. And that gives me great hope. In times when God’s people were under oppression, when things seemed lost, God sent his Son and He made the seemingly impossible, possible. This Christmas caps a distressing year, but God remains in control. Looking at our tree or the bushes in the yard or the trees on Elim’s stage, I am reminded of that hope, the promise of Christ.

Hark, the herald angels sing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”

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Why I Do What I Do

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By Dan Amos

Saturday, I drove a 20-foot moving van to north of Bellingham. One of my sons and his wife moved there to start the next chapter in their life together. For her it will be graduate school, and for him it will be starting a new job. The truck was large and fully packed. It was wide enough to fill the lane of any road, and when you add the mirrors on either side, it stretched from line to line. Halfway there, I picked up one of my other sons. I was looking forward to the time together, and we were talking about jobs and technology and life. It was great, but about 30 or 40 minutes into that leg, the brake lights on the cars directly in front of me suddenly flashed. Smoke billowed from their tires from hard braking. Almost simultaneously, plastic parts filled the air and I think one of the cars was lifted into the air from its now-missing bumper.

On Sunday, Pastor Steve preached from Philippians 3, where Paul contrasts a life by works and a life by grace. Paul recounted his previous attempt to gain favor with God by what he (Paul) did. He was born one of God’s chosen people, followed the law, and persecuted those who chose Jesus. After his encounter with the resurrected Christ, he realized none of that mattered. Nothing he could do would be good enough, and Jesus had provided the only way to salvation. He did not deserve it, but it was given to him by God’s grace.

I’ll admit, I am a mass of insecurity and contradiction, but my bedrock faith is in Christ. The Bible shapes my worldview. In the good times, I understand the nature of sin and its effects. Bad things happen, sometimes without my having done anything wrong. I say “in the good times” to say that in the bad times, I already know that it is the result of a fallen world. God is sovereign, He is in control, and He is active in our lives. He knows the beginning and the end. He is grieved by sin and its consequences, but through Jesus we can be rescued, reconciled, and renewed. Still the consequences on this earth, at this time, remain. I’m treading into deep theological waters, and that’s not the point of where I’m heading.

Many of you know that nine years ago I was unemployed for 54 weeks. Gene Davies consistently prayed for me and would greet me each Sunday with “Do you have a job yet?” He was convinced God was going to give me a job. I will forever remember him and be thankful for him, but I did not share that same conviction. Instead, I was convinced that God would see me and my family through to whatever would achieve his purposes. God’s promise in Christ is true. The belief in promises of material blessing is made up and dangerous. I can find no other explanation for the real suffering of Christians whose faith is so much greater than mine.

Along with my view of God, sovereignty, and sin, the Bible gives wisdom. We can choose to do things that put us at risk, but we are taught to recognize danger and act accordingly. I honestly can’t say how the accident unfolded in front of me. I jumped on the brake and Fran, who was following behind me, says the truck tires smoked as they brought us to a stop. We stopped in a straight line a truck’s length or two from the four or five vehicles that collided. It happened so quickly, I don’t know if I reacted from the instant it started or further along. I think a half second or so divided us from being a part of that mess. If we had collided, the mass of that truck could have caused serious injury to those people.

The point is before setting out on the trip, I consciously thought about driving an unfamiliar, large vehicle and determined to stay in the right lane and keep an extra distance between me and the cars ahead. Sometimes that meant dropping below the speed limit, which is frustrating to me on a long trip. It was a prudent choice based on the conditions. I could have driven normally, and I would have been much closer and had less time to react. But again, it happened so fast, I can’t say if our safety was due to cautious actions or divine intervention or both. I do know that I expressed my gratitude to God for the outcome. No one appeared to be injured, though several vehicles were a total loss.

Right now, 2020 feels like an unfamiliar truck hurtling down an interstate on a variety of levels. I want to get to the other end of this journey as quickly as possible, but I have chosen a path of caution. I know some will agree this is prudent and others will disagree that it is unnecessary and needlessly disrupts our fellowship together. These are extra-grace-required situations. But I hope you will understand why I do what I do.

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My Story Isn’t Over Yet

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By Dan Amos

A couple of weeks ago, I realized my children knew very little of my history before them. And when Fran and I told our stories of salvation at community group, she said we need to tell them to our sons. So, on Father’s Day, after one son gave thanks for the food, we dished up and headed outside to eat. I got to go first and got started eating before everyone else came out. I had a plan. I now had a captive audience and I declared executive privilege on Father’s Day. While they continued eating, I told my story.

It wasn’t the quick three minutes Pastor Steve suggested, because even the slower eaters were done before me. I started by telling about my parents. My mom was involved in an evangelical church when she was a teenager and accepted Jesus then. She then introduced her mother to Jesus, but I don’t know about how my grandfather became a Christian. I should have asked my grandma when she was telling me her story shortly before she died. 

My dad was raised in a Catholic family, but I didn’t get the impression it was meaningful. He lived with his dad, who I think owned a bar, and his aunt who raised him after his mother died when he was around 10. But I only knew him as a Christian growing up. By the time I was born, my parents were attending a Nazarene church in Southern California, where my dad was stationed. The only birth announcement I have is a clipping from the church bulletin that gives a couple of options for my name, neither of which ended up on the birth certificate.

I grew up knowing about Jesus and the need to submit my life to him. I can’t say when this happened, but I was probably seven or eight. I heard a lot about Hell and the reality of going there. I learned of God and creation, sin and redemption. This shaped the worldview through which I see things today. It also meant that I was and am aware of my sin and my constant failing, but when I confess my sin, God is forgiving, graceful, and merciful.

I have seen God work in my life through provision, assignments, and circumstances, but one of the most enduring and powerful ways was in providing me a partner for life in Fran. She is my constant support and gentle challenger to examine my choices and life.

I am thankful that I did not see prejudice from my parents. Until I was nine, we lived in Navy communities that were integrated, and my friends had a variety of skin colors. But even though we played together, I did not know their stories. I did not know their struggles or the racism that they had to deal with.

I am learning more about racism and my heart is broken over it. I want my world to change and it starts with listening to the real problem. We have had many discussions at work, and I hope they never stop. We are in a difficult time because passions are high, reactions vary, and criticism abounds. I pray that we conquer this sin and extend grace to each other through it all.

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A Favorite Verse That is So Much More

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By Dan Amos

Have you ever run across a verse that acts as the proverbial two-by-four upside the head? I can definitely point to Romans 1:20 as an example. I read it. Then I re-read it over and over. I pondered it and printed it out and posted it on my monitor at work. It was such a foundational verse, one that underpins my worldview and helps to explain our current situation.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse (Romans 1:20).

This is a verse of incredible hope to me. God created. He’s in control, always has been and always will be. While He has chosen to limit His revelation to us, enough is there that we can know, whether we are a scientist or not. There’s enough evidence to acknowledge His majesty, that we have to actively deny Him to not see it. I see how we are fearfully and wonderfully made and I know that I don’t have the kind of faith to believe inorganic matter spontaneously came alive on its own and overcame entropy to organize into the complex, interdependent organisms that are people.

The rest of the chapter is less hopeful, more instructive as it describes the consequences of our denial:

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ( Romans 1: 21-22)

We know the consequences of our sin and that of our ancestors. What was made very good was spoiled. Life became difficult and finite as a result. What we are experiencing today was not part of His plan, but it is redeemable even in the tragedy and loss.

I count myself fortunate and blessed in this time. I am thankful more than ever and for more than before. I have often given thanks for those who serve in our military, law enforcement and medical service. Now, I recognize my gratitude for the truckers, the clerks, the stockers. I am thankful for all those people who make everyday living possible and who continue on today under difficult conditions and often with smiles under their masks. I hope as we return to a new normal, whatever that may be, that we don’t forget how we were served so well by so many.

There are many who are making an extraordinary effort on our behalf. We have Sunday service because of many sacrificially serving. Every week because of people like Lars P. and Gregg Z., we are getting closer and closer connected while physically apart. How wonderful that they are harnessing technology to serve.

And of course the Good News is we are not doomed to condemnation without hope:

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21-24)

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I DO care

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by Dan Amos

If I had written this a couple of weeks ago, I would have titled it “I don’t care.” But that can be discouraging and easily misinterpreted when what I really intend is to confess my actions reveal I can care more. As Pastor Steve encouraged us to find someone who has followed Jesus for a long time and listen to their counsel, several weeks ago I had such a person challenge me with “You don’t care. If you did, you’d do something.” I recognize circumstances and age have conspired against me to give me less time and energy than 10 years ago. But the real question is, What do I do with what remains?

The Transition Team has been an exciting time for me. I’m not saying I enjoy meetings at all. Nobody would believe that. But a large part of the process has been getting these two dozen or so people to dream together of what we believe is the purpose God has for His church on this corner on South Hill. There’s a hunger to be more, to reach out more, to make a difference in the kingdom. It is exciting to see it manifested in so many. The land lies before us.

On Sunday, Pastor Steve encouraged us with Joshua’s last words to the people of Israel. We, like Israel in Joshua 23, are in the process of a leadership change. We are looking at a new era for Elim. The land is plentiful and ready for harvest. We must remain strong and courageous. I see the giants around us, too, but God is bigger, and He goes before us.

Pastor Steve pulled four actions from chapter 23 for a winning strategy to remain faithful or, in other words, to always care about what God cares about:

  1. Imitate people who have walked with God for many years.
  2. Remember God’s faithfulness to you in the past.
  3. Be sensitive to diluting influences.
  4. Resolve to be faithful. 

That statement, “you don’t care,” was not intended to be harsh or even critical. It was a challenge to reflect and evaluate. It’s been running through my head since I heard it, making it really effective. I am vulnerable to diluting influences. I can make different choices with the time and energy I do have. I do resolve to be faithful. I do care, and it matters.

The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the Lord your God. (Joshua 23:9-11)

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If We Wanted Easy, We’d Be Done . . . and Probably Doing It Again

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By Dan Amos

“Challenging.” That’s the nice way of saying being pushed out of your comfort zone. That’s where I am regarding our transition to our next pastor and exactly where I expected to be. We chose to engage an intentional interim pastor, not because we expected him to do things for us, but because we wanted to be challenged. We want Elim to reach its potential for what God has for us.

In elder meetings and Transition Team meetings, we are looking at where Elim has been and where we want to be in the future. I don’t always like what I hear, nor do I always agree. But the process is important, and I remind myself that we want this and need this. It would have been simpler to immediately form a search committee and hire a senior pastor, but we want to find the right person who will lead us to more effectively reach our community. Even saying “reach our community” is a decision. We could focus internally and create a place where people can come in and worship. Or, we can reach out and bring people in.

We’ve spent a lot of time over the last several Transition Team meetings trying to create a mission statement. Over the decades, we’ve spent a lot of time on mission statements.

An oasis for renewal with God and one another

Nurturing passionate followers of Jesus Christ who know God, grow together in Christ, and go and serve South Hill and beyond

I would be lying if I said I enjoy mission statements. My job title is strategy analyst and I’m no stranger to mission statements. In our exercise at Elim, we are looking for a handful of words that describe who we are and what we’re about. Words that will speak to those outside the church and inspire those within. Words that will be a measuring stick for what we do and whether we’re successful.

Within that, we continue to go back to the Great Commission, looking to tie our mission to what Jesus told us, His disciples, to do. This is exceptionally difficult in just a handful of words that speak to those inside and out, that inspire and draw in, that challenge and measure. But I believe the process has been good. This group of 20 plus people are wrestling with the future of our church. Within this, I have been challenged by a number of thoughts.

We value transparency and authenticity. People can see when we’re trying to hide and when we’re not. We want a place that is full of imperfect people building each other up into something better—Christlikeness. We want a place where we can come with all our faults and mistakes and worship the God who knows them and died to forgive them.

One phrase my wife suggested for a mission statement was doing life together. That challenges me deeply. That means not just coming to church on Sunday and serving here or there. It means being an intimate part of other people’s lives. Sharing in their joy and pain, struggles and triumphs. It means bringing others into mine, too.

The last challenge I’ll share is our current assignment to interview community leaders and unchurched people. We have a list of questions to prompt a conversation, but really, we’re going out and talking to people we don’t know and asking them to think about what our little church can do better to serve and reach our community. Challenging. Necessary. Impactful. A first step . . .

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