12 BLOGS of CHRISTMAS: Day 7

How has your 'time with God' gone this year?

Friendship takes time and effort. We can't expect to know someone unless we spend time in their presence, listening to them as they speak and speaking to them as they listen. 

We reveal ourselves through our words. Words express character. Words disclose emotions. Words unveil thoughts and plans and hopes and dreams. Words unlock relationships.   

So how has it been this year with God's Word? And how has it been this year with prayer? And linked to both: has your relationship with God deepened this year? Has he become more special to you? Do you love him more today than you did on 31st December last year?

Tomorrow we exit 2015 and enter 2016.

Can I suggest something to help you with your relationship with God in 2016?

Make a PLAN.

Relationships don't just happen. They need to be intentional, deliberate, premeditated.

Particularly in a busy world where 101 things demand our time and thought and attention, if you want to relate well to God you need to PLAN for it and the STICK to it.

In previous years I've included links to daily Bible readings plans to help get you started with this.

See HERE for a helpful blog post from Tim Chester which has links to a helpful Bible reading plan and the rationale for reading the Bible in a year.

But this year I've come across a different sort of daily devotion that might just help if you've struggled  to get going with Bible reading plans in the past.

Glen Scrivener is an evangelist who works in Eastbourne. He's known for his creative use of new media to communicate Jesus. In 2016 he's starting a daily 6-7 minute Vlog called 'Line by Line' where he will work through some of the key phrases of the Bible. It looks like it will be a really helpful way of engaging with God's Word if you're someone who struggles. For those of you who travel it also looks like it will be available as an audio podcast as well.

There are various ways to get it.

You can subscribe to his YouTube channel HERE

You can 'like' his Facebook page HERE

Here is Glen's introduction to the series. But it's worth flagging up: it looks like when they start, the Vlogs will be shorter and more polished.

Direct Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqNa0NwOdIY

12 BLOGS of CHRISTMAS: Day 6

This year we added something new as a regular feature to our church noticesheet.

I suspect most people didn't even spot it, but although small, it performs a very important function.

What is it?

A 3D barcode!

If you are one of the 80% of people in the UK who own a smartphone you will probably be familiar with 3D barcodes already (or QR codes as they're also known). The idea is that you point your smartphone's camera at it and it sends you to a website. In our case, the church's website:  www.woodgreenchurch.co.uk

But it struck me recently that as a follower of Jesus, I am called to do the same thing as a 3D barcode.

Barcodes exist to point people to something else. They're inconspicuous. Blink and you miss them. They're never on the front of the packet, they're always hidden on the back or the side. You never see a barcode spotlighted. Barcodes are humble servants. They point you to something much more significant and important and full of meaning.

And that's what I'm called to do as a follower of Jesus.

My job is to point people to something - someone - else. Someone far more significant, important and full of meaning. My job is not to draw attention to myself, my achievements, my greatness or my 'glory'. My job is to be a 3D barcode.

John the Baptist understood this. He understood that he was NOT the light and that his job was to point others to THE light.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. (John 1:6-8)

John's purpose was to point others to the light of the world - to Jesus.

He once said of Jesus: 

'He must become greater; I must become less.’ (John 3:30)

And as disciple of Jesus, that should be myattitude as well. My job is to make sure others see Jesus. My job is to point people to the source eternal joy, hope and life.

My job is to be a 3D barcode.

12 BLOGS of CHRISTMAS: Day 5

Father Christmas is big this time of the year. But do you know the man behind the myth?

Another extract from 'One True Light' by Tim Chester.

It made me smile. I hope it both makes you smile and strengthens your resolve to know the REAL Jesus this Christmas...

Did you know that Santa once threw a punch? The name 'Santa Claus' is derived from 'Saint Nicholas'. Nicholas was a bishop who attended the Council of Nicea in AD 324. The council had been called in response to the teaching of a man called Arius, who claimed that Jesus was a created being. He was willing to affirm that Jesus was the first created being and so supreme in creation, but, according to Arius, he was created. In other words, there was a time when Jesus did not exist.  

The story goes that at first Nicholas listened quietly to the arguments of Arius. But in the end he could take it no longer. He stepped across the room and slapped Arius across the face.  

So maybe on Christmas Day we should punch heretics instead of giving presents. (or maybe not).  

The point is that this truth mattered deeply to Nicholas. It was not just a debating point - it was of crucial importance for the salvation of our souls. If Jesus was created, then he is not truly and fully divine. And John is clear: Jesus the Word already 'was' in the beginning. (John 1:1)

If you want to buy a copy of 'The One True Light' in time for next Christmas CLICK HERE
If you want to buy it now as an ebook for ipad or kindle: CLICK HERE

12 BLOGS of CHRISTMAS: Day 4

During December I've worked my way through Tim Chester's 'The One True Light' book, which are readings for Advent from the gospel of John.  It's been great! 

Here is an extract from one of my favourite days...

God takes on flesh. God lies in a manger. God plays with other children. God eats round the table. God sweats on the roadside. God sleeps in the boat. God shares our human weakness. God experiences our temptations. 

This is the wonder of the incarnation. God is clothed in human flesh: 'For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.' (Colossians 2:9). It's as if the splendour of God has been squeezed into a human body. Imagine trying to pack all your possessions into a suitcase - squashing it, pushing it, sitting on it, trying to cram them all in. That is what God did at the incarnation. He took the fullness of the Deity and squeezed it into bodily form. And nothing was left out. Jesus is truly divine and truly human. Christmas marks the coming of God. 

Christianity is not a call to embrace a system of thought or a religion or a moral code. It's the invitation to embrace a person - or rather to be embraced by a person. It's the invitation to look to Jesus and see in him the kindness, glory, beauty, power and holiness of God. 

The Word became flesh. Wisdom became flesh. Love became flesh. Holiness became flesh. Justice became flesh. Truth became flesh. And his name is Jesus.

If you want to buy a copy in time for next Christmas CLICK HERE
If you want to buy it now as an ebook for ipad or kindle: CLICK HERE

12 BLOGS of CHRISTMAS: Day 3

Think you're an expert on the Christmas Story?

This year the Bible Society produced a superb interactive 'Nativity tube map'. It's designed with smartphones and tablets in mind and every stop has a question about the Christmas story from the Bible to which you have to answer 'true' or 'false'. 

You're then directed to the next 'stop' on the journey. At the end of the line, you get a score so you can see how well you did.

It's a really creative, fun idea, which is very well done. Why not have a go yourself, or do it with the kids.

The place to start is - of course - Angel tube station.

CLICK HERE to get started!

Direct Link: http://nativity15.biblesociety.org.uk/

12 BLOGS of CHRISTMAS: Day 2

Have you ever noticed how many times angels tell people connected to the Christmas story: do not be afraid'?

·       When an angel told Zechariah he would have a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah he prefaced what he said with: 'Do not be afraid' (Luke 1:13)

·         When an angel appeared to Joseph to tell him Mary was pregnant with the Messiah he told him: 'Do not be afraid' (Matthew 1:20)

·         When an angel told Mary she had found favour with God and was going to give birth to God's Saviour Son he said: 'Do not be afraid' (Luke 1:30)

·         When the angels appeared to the shepherds to announce good news of great joy they said:  'Do not be afraid' (Luke 2:10)

However, there is more to this than an angelic catchphrase. 

'Do not be afraid' is a message for us all, which this brilliant 3 minute 'spoken word' video from Dai Woolridge beautifully explores. Grab a coffee, sit back, and enjoy...

Direct Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RTyb26EC6U

12 BLOGS of CHRISTMAS: Day 1

I don't know if you've noticed, but we have a tendency to give names to days at this time of the year.

Some of them are traditional: Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, News Eve, New Years Day. 

Some are fairly modern: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Panic Saturday. 

And some are frankly ridiculous: at the beginning of December the singer Taylor Swift sought to trademark the term 'Swiftmas', which is a word her fans use to describe the random acts of kindness she makes, such as giving them unexpected presents.

But there is one day nobody has suggested we rename (yet): Christmas Day.

Until now that is.

The term Christmas originates from a mash up of two Old English words. Once a year, medieval churches would hold a special service - a Mass - to celebrate the birth of Jesus. They called this 'Christ's Mass'. Over time this turned into 'Christmas'.

However, the original meaning of 'Christmas Day' isn't clocked by most people today. And as an evangelical Christian, I have more than a few issues with the Mass. So how about a new nickname for Christmas?

This year Christmas Day is on a Friday. If you had to add an adjective to 'Friday' to sum up the message of Christmas what word would you use?

HAPPY Friday? CELEBRATION Friday? JOYFUL Friday? NATIVITY Friday?

Here's my suggestion: BRIGHT Friday.

Describing the birth of Jesus, the Apostle John wrote:

'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.' (John 1:5)

The sad fact is we are all in the dark when it comes to God. We refuse to listen to his Word and shut out his light. But when Jesus - the Word made flesh - was born, our world was flooded with light. 

And he has the power to do that in our lives as well, if we put our faith in him.

This Christmas - let in the light.

May today be BRIGHT Friday for you.

O Christ, our Morning Star,Splendour of Light Eternal,shining with the glory of the rainbow,come and waken us from the greyness of our apathy,and renew in us your gift of hope.Amen (The Venerable Bede 672-735)

12 BLOGS of CHRISTMAS

I started doing the '12 BLOGS of CHRISTMAS' four years ago. Christmas is an extended holiday season for many and so it's an ideal time to rest, reflect and reconsider. So I thought it would be good to provide something helpful to prompt thought and reflection each day.

Most people have come across the 12 Days of Christmas today because of the famous song about someone receiving lots of presents from their 'true love'. However, to get to the song there had to be the days to start with!

The 12 Days of Christmas start on Christmas Day and last until the evening of the 5th January - also known as Twelfth Night. They have been celebrated in Europe since before the Middle Ages and were traditionally a time to remember saints and other religious figures who each have a day dedicated to them. (Fellow Worcesterites  will be interested to know that they 6th day, 30th December, is in honour of St Egwin from Worcester!).

However,  my 12 blogs are designed to encourage devotion to one supreme person - Jesus - and to stimulate a desire to live for him more wholeheartedly in the year ahead.

So while they will have Christmas flavour, they will increasingly become a prompt to look forward and prepare for the year ahead.

They start on Christmas Day. Look out for them. I hope you find them helpful.