By God's Grace, not our righteousness

“And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. And He will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full.

Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them; then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land that the LORD is giving you.”-Deuteronomy 11:13-17

The Old Testament is full of passages like this. God will say, ‘If you do this, I will do this. If you don’t, then I will do this.” It seems like God is more dependent on man’s actions than man on God’s actions. Is God setting up a system of works-based salvation? There are many conditional statements setting apart those who act one way vs. others who act another way. There are many ultimatums declaring people as sinners or as holy, and these statements are based on the peoples actions. So, is this a works-based salvation? That if the people could just love God more, serve Him more, do this or that less, and do this or that more, then they would be right in the eyes of God. But the New Testament says that salvation is by grace through faith and not by works, so that no man may boast. (Eph. 2:1-10) Does mean that there is a contradiction in the Bible?

No way, not possible.

God chose these people, not because of their righteousness but because of His choice. He chose to love them. Simple as that.

“Yet the LORD set His heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.” – Deuteronomy 10:15

Why does God love the Israelites? Not because they are righteous and so easy to get along with, but because He loves them. He loves them, because He loves them. Great logic, huh?

“Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people. Remember and do not forget how…” – Deuteronomy 9:6-7

Moses then goes on to remind the Israelites of all the ways that they had rebelled against God. He goes on and on about how messed up they are and how it is only by God’s choice that they are His people, not because they did something special.

Ok, so they are His people because He chose them, but what about God commanding them to do certain things or they would be cursed? Does that not mean that His love is based on their response in obedience? If God says, “if, then”, then His actions seem to be based on their actions, not His choice, right?

Moses after bashing the people towards the end of Deuteronomy 10 says some important words for us to understand this mystery.

“And now, Isreal, what does the LORD your God require of your, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good? … Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For the LORD your God is God of gods, and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God … You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve Him and hold fast to Him, and by His name you shall swear. He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen. Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.” – Deuteronomy 10:12-22

Moses says look. Look at the LORD your God. How beautiful! How powerful! How awesome! How strong! He chose us! The God who did all those things chose to speak to us and love us. The God, who is faithful to keep the promise of a multitude of offspring to our father Abraham, loves us. Moses says remember. Remember that all that God has done has been for your good. His commandments and statutes are not burdens, but a way to joy. God commands obedience, because God is after our highest joy. Himself!

God has already chosen these people, so salvation is not the issue. Their joy in Him is the issue, and obedience is the best way towards that joy.

By God’s Grace, not our righteousness.

Voice of the Martyrs

On Saturday, I went to a Voice of the Martyrs’ Conference here in Midland. I wish you could have been there with me to hear the stories of our brothers and sisters from across the world who have suffered persecution, torture, imprisonment and abandonment for the sake of Jesus Christ. I was deeply moved and reminded of what it means to be a Christian. According to Scripture, to be a follower of Jesus means sure mistreatment, hate and persecution. (Phil. 1:29, John 15:18) The speakers at this conference surely understood this.

Getanah Getanah was a pastor in Ethiopia years ago. He spoke about losing his family, starting an underground church, being tortured for claiming Jesus as Savior, baptizing at 2 a.m. to avoid angry mobs, and running through jungles to escape with his life. Getanah still works with VOM to free prisoners and provide support to the persecuted church in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Jabuti, and Somalia.

Bob Fu was an aspiring young mind in China who just wanted to be Prime Minister, before God opened His heart through a smuggled Bible. Bob was the one of the leaders of the students that were massacred at Tiananmen Square in 1989. Bob was captured, imprisoned and tortured for years before his eventual release. Bob has since founded ChinaAid and works to expose human rights violations in Communist China.

Sarah Liu became a believer when God opened her heart at a meeting of the underground Church in China. She became an editor of an underground Christian newspaper, but was imprisoned and tortured for 6 years before God rescued her. She wants to go back and be an evangelist to her people.

Gracia Burnham, an American missionary to the Phillipines, was captured and held hostage along with her husband Martin by a militant Islamic group in 2001. They were forced to hike through the jungle day and night, starve, and fend off attacks from the military for some 370 days. Martin was killed in the last firefight, but Gracia was saved. Gracia wants to go back and prays daily that her captors would come to know Jesus in the prison in which they are.

The stories were very moving and challenging, but it all seems so far away. The Christians they spoke of sound so different than most of the ‘Christians’ I know. The stories of torture, abuse, and abandonment are so far outside of my little world. If I was not careful, they became just cool stories and not real people suffering even now for the sake of Jesus.

Where is that in the American church? Have I ever been hated because of my stand on the exclusivity of Jesus? What would it take for this to be the case in America? Why is this not present here? What can I do to help?

Tertullian, an early Christian writer from Carthage, once said, ‘The blood of the martyr’s is the seed of the church.’ In areas of the world with the highest persecution, the church is growing at an astounding pace. However, here in America we are experiencing a stagnant church, focused on itself not on repentance.

My college pastor spoke about this last week and it has resonated with me after this conference. He was preaching on Daniel and his unwavering commitment to God even in the face of certain death.

“Daniel did what he had always done. He did not change once the law was passed. What you are doing now is what you will be doing when persecution comes.

Are we different from the culture at all? Are we distinct? Have we been set apart; that is, have we been made holy? That is the reason there is no persecution in the American Church; there is no distinction.”

I think that statement provides some insight into the state of the American Church and myself. Am I allowing the Holy Spirit to make me holy–to set me apart from the culture? Or am I too scared of people saying no, not liking me, or at worst spreading lies about me. At least I have the protection of the government here and some sense of justice. I am tired of holding myself back and limiting what God can do through me. He is the King of kings, LORD of lords, and He is the same God of me as those being persecuted. I refuse to be held back any longer. To be persecuted is to be identified with Christ, and that is what we are after, right?

The one sentiment and request echoed from all five speakers was the call to prayer. That is one thing that we can be doing, as well as giving to support the persecuted church around the world. They recalled many times where the prayers of the saints gave them strength to persevere through their trials. This was something that I was challenged with and am repenting of my ignorance and laziness. They asked that we pray for perseverance and for the persecuted to be found faithful even unto death, but not that the persecution would stop.

‘Blessed are you when you are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’ –Matthew 5:10-12

Grace in Numbers

I am continuing on in my study of the Bible in 100 days. This past few days has put me in the Book of Numbers. Perfect for an engineer, right? Here’s a journal entry written on 1/14/11.

‘I think I begin to realize everyday more and more how wicked my heart is. It does not take much at all for me to turn from the paths laid out for me. I choose my own way almost every time. God, help me to choose You and give me a heart each day that wants You.’

Tonight as I read some in Numbers, I could not help but get a little frustrated with the people of Israel. Think about what has happened to this point and what God had done.

·         God brought them out of slavery that had lasted decades upon decades.

·         God miraculously saved them from the Egyptians at the Red Sea, but for some reason the people wanted to go back to Egypt. Slavery. Death. (Num. 11:5-6)

·         God powerfully provided food and drink for them in the wilderness everyday, but the people were not satisfied with His provision. (Num. 11:1)

·         God laid out His way for them through Moses, but they chose not to follow it. (Num. 15:32-36)

·         God showed them His presence everyday with a cloud or a fire, but for some reason they tried to go without God to places that He did not want them to go. (Num. 14:39-45)

·         God has even showed them a glimpse of His future provision/promise (the Promised Land), but the people do not trust that God will be faithful to His Word. (Num. 13:25-33)

·         God clearly revealed Himself through Moses countless times, but for some reason the people rebel against Moses. However, the people that rebelled (and their families) were literally swallowed up by the earth and consumed by fire. (Num. 16)

At this point, the people of Israel had seen God prove Himself over and over, yet still found ways to rebel and not love God. They had clearly seen God. They had seen God. They saw God everyday. They saw God’s provision every morning. They had seen God’s future provision. They had seen and had no excuse. God had proved Himself faithful and loving over and over, yet still they turned to their own way.

Like I said, I was just irritated with the people. Then, I took a look back in my journal and read what I had written some 10 days ago.

I am no different than the Israelite people. I choose my own way – almost always. Though I have seen God provide, though I have seen God be faithful, though I have seen God be powerful, though I have seen God move, though I have seen, I still choose to not honor God as just that. The one, true God, Almighty.

Something else that I cannot seem to fully grasp is Grace. I have been thinking more and more about it. I listen constantly for people to say ‘the grace of God’. I am constantly looking for the manifestation of God’s Grace around me. It is here at this point that I have been stuck for a while now, and I want to stay right here.

God is so Gracious. God gives when we take. God provides when we rebel. God loves when we hate. God is merciful when we deserve death. God knows our wickedness and still pursues, loves and saves. God’s Grace comes when we are at our worst, not our best, but even at our best, we would still need Grace, because our best is as dirty, filthy rags to Him. How could be ever feel deserving of such a love? How could we ever say we deserve anything?

God commands the people to wear blue tassels on their garments to remember a few things. (Num. 15:37-41) To remember to follow the commands of God. To remember to not follow after their own heart and eyes, which God says they are inclined to whore after. The blue represents their calling to be a royal, chosen priesthood. God wants them to love Him. God wants them to know that He chose them long before they would ever choose Him. God wants them to know that He will continue to choose them by His Grace, even when they do not choose Him.

Thank You for choosing us. Help us to choose You, no matter what. Thank You for Your Grace, which is completely undeserved on our part. Help us to remember.

Leviticus? Really?

Been working through some Old Testament, specifically Genesis through Leviticus this week. I know you’re thinking that you want to click out of this post because I am about to talk about Leviticus, but don’t. I have been learning some, but I want to learn more.

If you don’t know, through most of Exodus the Bible is narrative and easy to follow along. In fact, I believe there is so much to learn about the nature and character of God just through the end of Exodus. God created the world and filled it with His Glory, but sin entered the world through man. God chose a people for Himself. God shows himself faithful and sovereign countless times. God delivers His people from slavery. God paints pictures of Jesus and His future sacrificial atonement on the cross. So much good stuff packed into these two books.

However, once you hit Leviticus you really get into some of the nitty-gritty of the Law that God gave to Moses to give to the Israelite people. I am not sure if I have actually ever read Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy in their entirety, but I will be in the next week or so. I have been a little hesitant about reading through these books, but a few things have kept me going.

1. The Israelite people only had these first five books of the Bible for a very long time, but still managed to know God and follow Him.
2. Paul says that ALL Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and so much more.

Here are a few thoughts about Leviticus and the ‘less-stimulating’ parts of the Old Testament thus far:

• God is Omniscient – God knows the details. The tabernacle building instructions were elaborate and extremely meticulous with detail. The different rituals for different kinds of sacrifices were very detailed. God is showing us that He knows all and is in all.
• God is Creator – God knows the beauty, form, function, design and purpose of every thing that He creates (specifically in the Tabernacle). God also created you and I, and thus He knows us intimately and knows the beauty, form, function, design and purpose of every one and every thing.
• God is Holy – God sets a standard of right/wrong, clean/unclean, pure/impure, and holy/unholy for His people to understand that He is Holy. Completely set apart and righteous. God is the definition and essence of all that is right, just, clean and pure.
• God is Redeemer - The Law came that we might know our wickedness and our need for penal substitutionary atonement, which just means that we need someone to take the punishment that we deserved. God knew that we would not love Him with all that we have by obeying His Law, but God did not create rules just because He knew we could not keep them. God wanted to show His love for us by sending His son to Redeem.

I know that there is so much more to these verses that I do not get, but these are some big truths that God has revealed through these Scriptures that seem quite boring at first glance. If you have any thoughts or insight, I would love to hear it.

Father teach us about You through everything that we go through. Help us to love You!

Stirred to Remembrance

Through a series of divine appointments and events, God’s chosen people end up as slaves in a foreign country. Now, before we go further, this was all by plan. Even God says so.

‘The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.”  -Exodus 7:5

The first time I read this I was thinking that God was saying, ‘I’ll show you, Egyptians! How dare you take my people, without me knowing? I will show you my might because of your sneaking behind my back and oppressing my people! I'll punish you now.’

But I don’t think that is what is being communicated. God allowed His people, and even ordained that they go into the land of Egypt. So really what is happening is that God set up this situation to show the Egyptians, the Israelites, and the whole world who Yahweh, I AM, the LORD is and His power over all things, among many other reasons. God was not surprised by the oppression of His people, but rather allowed it, so that He might show Himself as God Almighty.

Think about that in your life. Push that on your circumstances. Consider that there is a much bigger purpose than you can see and much more being accomplished than pain on your part. God is working in all of creation to show Himself as God Almighty! He wants the Glory and the Fame! When I consider my circumstances in light of Scripture like this, I want to be humbled and quiet, not prideful and loud. Wow.

God then decides, as only God can decide, that the time has come to rescue His people from their misery and suffering. God sends Moses, albeit hesitantly, to tell Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Pharaoh would not let them go, and hardened his heart against God. God instrumented nine different plagues on the people of Egypt to show His power, authority and preeminence. Pharaoh refuses to change after the first nine plagues. God then reveals that He will take the first-born of every household in Egypt including the Israelites. However, God prescribes a remedy. A perfect lamb was to be killed and the blood was to be painted on the doorway.

“The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.”   - Exodus 12:13

God was teaching the nation of Israel (the promised nation to Abraham, his grandfather) and preparing their hearts to understand the nature of perfect blood atonement. He paints an early picture of the sacrifice that Jesus will be for us one day.

What a beautiful picture of that final day. When God sees the blood Jesus on the judgment day – He will pass over us. Nothing else will allow God in His Justice to overlook the sin in our lives. Only the blood of Jesus. Not our good works. Not our nice homes. Only the blood of Jesus will suffice. The perfect, costly sacrifice.

Imagine if the Israelites would have said, ‘We won’t worry about sacrificing our best lamb according to God’s instruction, we’ll just give this little scrawny one over here.’ or ’God knows that we are His people so we don’t have to worry about the sacrifice.’ or ‘Surely we have been good enough, there’s no need in giving up a good lamb.’

I wonder if we say the same things, just not about sheep.

‘God does not really want my whole life. He just wants me to be a generally good guy.’ or ‘He’ll take me home to glory when he’s ready, but I’ll just live how I want for now.’ or ‘Yeah I’m saved, because I prayed that prayer when I was little, and I go to church and I am a lot better than most people.’

I am not so sure that we want to bank life or death, eternity with Jesus or not on trying to bend the words of God to fit our comforts.

‘Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom, which He has promised to those who love Him?’ – James 2:5

‘The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His Grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith.’ – Romans 3:22-25

‘Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.’ – Acts 3:19-20

God commands them to remember this every year by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. One major reason that God tells the Israelites that He is doing this, is so that future generations will know the mighty things that God did for their family. How forgetful are we of the things that God has done in our lives? How long does it take after God shows Himself as faithful for us to begin to doubt Him or question Him? I know for me it is not very long. I often wallow in doubt and fear, because I have forgotten how God has showed Himself so faithful in my short life. We need to remember who God is and what He has done; not only in our own lives, but through His Word that He has given us.

May we be stirred to remember who God is and what He has done.

May we be stirred to know that our salvation is only by Jesus’ blood.

May we be stirred to love Him more.

Living Water - Opportunity to Give

Friends and Family,

Great news! I will be going to Guatemala with Living Water International from May 7^th to May 14^th to help drill a water-well for a village that currently does not have access to clean water. About a month ago, God laid it on my heart to go with Living Water International to Guatemala to drill a water-well. International missions have been a desire that God has grown in me over the past few years. I want my life to be about more than working a job, making some money and just messing around. I want to live and not just exist. Right now I work for Chevron, so my opportunities for International Missions are limited. I trust that one day God will open the door for more involvement, though. But for now, going with Living Water is a great option.

Once I got signed up for the trip, God impressed it upon my heart to provide the $5,000 needed to drill this well. I should probably have said that that God laid it on my heart to trust Him, that He would provide the money to drill this well.

But don’t misunderstand me. I am not writing this to convince you to give, or even to ask you to give. I trust that our God is infinitely bigger than you or I could ever imagine, so I know that He does not need me, you, or anybody to give a few bucks to support a cause. If you do feel led to help give life and the name of Jesus to this community, then that’s awesome. If not; just as awesome. I will not be thrilled or hurt if you choose to give or not. Truthfully, I am writing this so that you might become aware of the needs in the world that we are often so blind to. I am writing this so that you might acknowledge how great and majestic our God truly is. I am writing this to show you an opportunity to walk in obedience with God. I am writing that you and I may know God more.

If you want to be a part of this adventure, then the best way for you to donate money to help sponsor this well is:

1.       Pray about whether God would have you be involved in giving to this well.

2.       If you are so led, please make out your check payable to Living Water and send it to me. My address is:

Byron Smith

4301 Raleigh CT APT 1508

Midland, TX 79707

3.       I also will need your full name and current address, so that Living Water can send you a receipt and a year-end tax-deduction record.  I will send in the checks to Living Water along with the proper paperwork.

4.       The money is due about 30 days before the trip, which will April 7^th. That sounds forever away, but don’t procrastinate and let it slip your mind.

I am trusting that God will provide way before the money is due. I am praying that He might provide for multiple wells, just to show us how powerful He is. But if the money does not come in, or the trip gets cancelled, or we don’t find water, or we can’t fly home, or no one’s heart is opened to the Gospel, or things do not go like we want or expect, let us still praise God for His Grace and Mercy shown to us in love through His Son!

Byron

Unmerited Grace

Here are some things that I have been thinking about today. They originated in God speaking through some sermons that I have listened to, some books that I have read, and conversations that I have had.

At the bottom of all of the Christian’s joy should be God, not ourselves. In other words, the most fundamental of all of our joy should be God, not ourselves. – John Piper. In the end, is my basis for happiness, joy, satisfaction, and contentment founded in God making much of me or in God making much of Himself?

Christianity is not a religion. The premise of religion is that we do certain things to be accepted and loved by God. Christianity is quite the opposite. We cannot please God, because His standard is perfection. Our only hope for acceptance and love is Jesus taking our place in God’s Just Judgment. Jesus is an appropriate sacrifice, because He lived a perfect life and fulfilled the Law of God that we could not. Jesus blood effectively removes all of our sin and in its place, Jesus places His righteousness, so that when God sees us, He only sees His perfect, glorious Son.

How can this be so? How can the righteousness of one take the place of the unrighteousness of many? How can people who have not lived up to a perfect standard receive the benefits of someone who did live a perfect life? We understand the opposite, though. Many ‘innocent’ (insofar as one can be innocent) people can suffer the punishment for one guilty person’s actions. A drunk driver killing a single mom and her kids. A suicide bomber flying a plane into a building. Did the innocent people deserve the punishment of death that the guilty person did? No. But did they receive it? Yes.

Likewise, do we pitiful sinners deserve the grace of God gifted to us in the form of getting to be with God for eternity in intimate relationship? No. But Jesus does, and His righteousness is imparted to those who believe on Him. The unrighteousness of Adam was given to his children, just as the righteousness of one (the Last, Great Adam – Jesus) is given to His children.

Religion states that I obey, therefore I am accepted. Christianity says that I am accepted, therefore I obey. Because of the joy set before us, we endure all things for the Glory of God. In the end, my performance (or lack thereof) will not be good enough for me to be with God for eternity. Only Jesus’ blood means anything in my life. Surely, God will sanctify me. Surely, I will be made more holy. Surely I will become more righteous. But let me not think that any of those will merit favor before a Holy God. Only Jesus’ blood is enough.

Wow. Unmerited Grace.

Being Known

God has given me the inclination and presupposition of being a little more serious and deep when it comes to relationships. My natural bent is to want to know people well and have some depth and not just some shallow external friendship. I truly desire to know people and not just be casual friends.

When I first began to realize this about myself, I sought to have every relationship be this way. I neglected relationships with people that I could not get past the shallow beginnings with, because I wanted so much more but could not there. At the same time, I poured into the relationships in which there was a natural depth.

I have come to understand though that not every friendship that I have can have depth and deep meaning like I want it to. It is not physically or emotionally possible to be that invested in that many people’s lives, because to really know someone requires much work and personal investment. Likewise, most people are not like me, in fact, probably very few people are like me. We all have different inclinations and personalities, and God made us that way for many different reasons.

Knowing people is not easy stuff and requires much toil. It is risky to put yourself out there, because to really know someone requires that you open up the deepest parts of yourself to that person. That is risky business. When people know each other well, people get hurt, offended and betrayed because we are a broken people; sinful to the core. These are part of the reasons that people say that you are blessed if you have a few great friends in the course of your life. I have been blessed if this is the case, as I have gotten to know a number of men over the years well. Straight from the hand of God.

I am noticing recently that although my bent is to have depth in relationships, I also am bent to resist this kind of deep, true community with others. I want it, but I don’t want it at the same time. I want to be known and to know, but I also don’t want to be known and to know. I have found myself not opening up and being honest with others more and more. I have found myself giving shallow responses and not investing myself into knowing others. I have found myself being lazy and not seeking to know others.

In my flesh, I resist when people offer deeper friendship and a more honest relationship. I know that I need solid community, but find myself warring against God’s provisions. I am tempted to ask why this is, but I know that it is fractured humanity working itself out of me. It is my sinful flesh that still thinks that it is in control. This is the part of me that God has yet to refine, but surely will before He is done with me.

I think that deep down I am scared of actually being fully known. I am afraid that people will see the deepest parts of me that are dirty, evil, and unrefined. I am afraid of the shame and explanations. I am afraid of being hurt and betrayed. I am afraid of what man might think of me.

However, I believe that coming from that same place deep within my heart to resist being known is the opposite desire to be known and not have to hide my humanity. I want to shed the disguises that I feel I must hide behind. I want to live and not worry about what man might think. I want to be free to be authentic with others. God has placed that desire within me.

I have never had this conversation with anybody else, but I believe that I am not alone in this. We all want to be known as we truly are, but find ourselves scared of this desire.

David spoke of this in the 139^th Psalm. The intimate language that he speaks with is quite reassuring to me.

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You are acquainted with all my ways. You know my words before I speak them. You surround me and lay your hands upon me. You are always surrounding me. Your hand always leads me. You formed my inward parts. You knitted me together. I was never in secret from You. You planned out my days long before there were any days.

At the end, David asks of God this:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”     -Psalm 139:23-24

I would find it hard many days to ask this of God, because I know what He would find within me. However, these thoughts lead David to praise God – to know Him more – and to be more like Him. That verse is my prayer.

O God, You know me and still love me! How awesome and cool You are! Help me to know and love You!

Spreading Hope

Well it sure has been a long while since I have sat down to write something.

First, I will catch you up on the recent events in my life and then write something of more depth and meaning in another post.

I have been at home on vacation/holiday since a few days before Christmas. I had a great time at home with my family and a few friends. For Christmas, all of my dad’s family spent about 4 days in some cabins in East Texas. It was great to see everybody and get to visit and share stories about our lives. There are 10 cousins between the age of 15-24, so we are at an age in which we enjoy being around each other, but also can have some depth to our relationships. The time spent at Deer Lake with the entire Smith family was wonderful.

We had our first cousin become engaged recently, so her fiancé was able to come join us for a day or so. It takes a real man to withstand the test that is our family. I respect him immensely for sticking it out and making it enjoyable. It will be quite interesting to bring somebody to one of our family get-togethers. I am praying for her even now.

I created a new love-hate relationship with a game called Settlers of Catan. Some of the men on the trip battled many times to settle the lonely island of Catan first; however, I was not the best settler. I knew Jordan would be good at the game, but I never expected him to be that good.

I might have jumped into the Deer Lake off of a paddle boat with my brother and cousin.  I wish I could express in words the joy that brought, but I cannot share the words spoken, sights seen or jokes made. And that’s the way it should be.

I continued my love-hate relationship with the game of golf. I shot the best 9 holes that I have ever shot (a modest 44), then followed that with one of the worst round of 18 that I have ever played (I won’t mention my score). I hit a few shots though that will continue to bring me back to the game, even though I hit hundreds of others that make me want to break my clubs.

I was able to catch a good number of fish and spend some time with two guys that I really enjoy being around. I have loved their generosity and friendship over the years.

Overall, it was a great get-a-way from work and real life. Most of the time was spent pretty selfishly and non-productively, but I was able to grow relationships with family and other close friends. I pray that God would open my mouth more to talk about Him.

I currently am back in Midland, but I am not looking forward to getting back to work on Monday. It will be a short week though, because I get to go to the Cotton Bowl on Friday with my family. Whoop!

I did not get to write any kind of Christmas post, but here’s a good quote from Knowing God by J.I. Packer (one of the few books that I just can’t finish) about Christmas. I think it sums up one of the many messages of Christmas well.

            The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity—hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory—because at the Father’s will Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross. It is the most wonderful message that the world has ever heard, or will hear.

            It is our shame and disgrace today that so many Christians—I will be more specific: so many of the soundest and most orthodox Christians—go through this world in the spirit of the priest and the Levite in our Lord’s parable, seeing human needs all around them, but (after a pious wish, and perhaps a prayer, that God might meet those needs) averting their eyes and passing by on the other side. That is not the Christmas spirit. Nor is it the spirit of those Christians—alas, they are many—whose ambition in life seems limited to building a nice middle-class Christian home, and making nice middle-class Christian friends, and bringing up their children in nice middle-class ways, and who leave the submiddle-class sections of the community, Christian and non-Christian, to get on by themselves.

            For the Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor—spending and being spent—to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care and concern, to do good to others—and not just their own friends—in whatever way there seems need.

I want to spend my life spending and being spent for others. This is my desire. Not being middle-class, middle-of-the-pack, in the middle of nothingness, but to being about spreading hope, that is, Jesus Christ.