I want to say “Thanks” to everyone who has glanced at this journal since it started last month.  As time goes by, I want to post sermon outlines and illustrations, devotional thoughts, personal reflections, preaching tips, and links to newspaper stories that have strong biblical connections.  (Check out this story in today’s Christian Post about 400 members of a church in Kansas City who went to work dressed as Jesus this week)

In the meantime, Katrina and I are leaving after Sunday’s morning service for our family home in Roan Mountain, so this is my last entry for 2008.

While we’re away, we’re going to have a tankless hot water system installed in our home in Nashville.  Our hot water heater went out on Christmas Eve, and we’ve been taking sponge baths (Debbie Warner called them bird baths), heating water in the tea kettle, and using paper plates.

Katrina recalled growing up in a plumbing-challenged home, and she said that as a little girl she bathed in a big tub by the wood stove in the kitchen of her New England house.  There as a square opening in the ceiling, allowing heat from the stove to warm the upstairs, and her brothers sometimes teased her by threatening to peek through the hole.

Now that we’re older, we miss our hot water more, but we recall that Joseph and Mary didn’t have hot water in the stable, either.  Imagine giving birth in a cattle stall without so much as heat or running water.

Well, the Lord bless you as the year closes; and may your New Year be filled with goodness, mercy, and lots of hot water.

If you’re looking for a year’s worth of daily devotions for 2009, let me humbly suggest My All in All. The title is an old phrase that means the Lord is ALL we need in ALL the situations of life. Here’s a sample devotion (the installment for January 24), based on 1 Samuel 12:20: “Worship the Lord with ALL your heart.”

In Writing About your Life, William Zinsser tells of being stationed in Algeria during World War II. A huge map covered the facade of the post office in Algiers, and France was painted entirely in green. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Zinsser joined the crowds in the square to watch workmen painting white stretches along the Normandy coast. Week after week, a while bulge spread south to Saint-Lo, and white ribbons ran north to Cherbourg. By August 21, the map was white all the way to the Seine, and eventually the whole of France was under Allied control.

Can you see yourself in that picture?

Before Jesus invades our lives, our hearts are under enemy occupation, but on our own personal Decision-Day, we receive Him as our Savior, and we are justified. A process of sanctification then begins as our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors increasingly come under His control and we grow in the victorious Christian life.

Satan fights for every inch of territory, and we find ourselves in constant war with the world, the flesh, and the devil–but the victory of Jesus is unstoppable and we are more than conquerors as we increasingly worship Him with all our hearts.

“God paints in many colors,” said G. K. Chesterton, “but He never pants so gorgeously as when He paints in white.”

Today in my Bible reading I decided to read only Red Letters.  I started in Matthew and made it through Mark and Luke, skipping over the black print in the Gospels and reading only the Red Letters.  I was surprised at how quickly I covered entire books and what a blessing it was to “hear” the voice of Jesus in a constant stream of dialogue.

So I became curious about who had invented the first “Red Letters” edition of the New Testament.  His name was Lewis Klopsch. I haven’t figured how to pronounce his last name yet, but he was a German-born Christian journalist who was very successful as the owner and editor of a prominent evangelical magazine known as the Christian Herald.  The New York Times gave him quite an obituary when he died following surgery in 1910.

One day Dr. Klopsch was reading Luke 22:20, and he saw the words, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood….”  Instantly he thought of printing the words of Christ in red in the Bible.  He organized a series of biblical scholars to work on the project, and the first Red Letter Bible was published in 1901.

As I’ve read just the words of Christ in the Gospel, I’ve wondered if I might prepare and preach a series of sermons under the general heading:  “Red Letters for Rough Days” or “Mottos from the Master” or “How the Words of Christ Can Lighten Your Load and Brighten Your Day.”  I’ll mull over it for a possible 2010 series.

Anyway, if you have a chance, try this experiment.  Read through one of the Gospels (Try Mark is you don’t have a lot of time; John if you have all evening), reading only the words marked in the color of the blood of the New Covenant.  What better way to spend some time celebrating Christmas!

We think the Gettysburg Address is a masterpiece of economy. All that America means to us is compressed in a few statements that we memorize in the fifth grade. But there has never been an announcement of such infinite importance with such life-shaking content in so few words as Luke 2:10. This is an eternal masterpiece of heavenly brevity. This little message contains twelve great rays of truth. I used a portion of the outline below during my sermon last Sunday, and I’m planning to use it in full during my Christmas message next year. It tells us:

1. That fear is now obsolete in the human heart–Do not be afraid.
2. That it is an angelic message, other-worldly, from heaven—I (an angel)
3. That we have a Gospel—Good News—I bring you good news…
4. That we have Great Joy—of great joy…
5. That we have a Global Message—which shall be to all people.
6. That this news is immediate—Today…
7. That we have a new king—a descendant of David, who fulfilled Messianic prophecy and is going to claim the Davidic throne—in the city of David…
8. That we have one who saves us from sin, death, and hell—a Savior…
9. That He has arrived on earth via human birth—has been born…’
10. That it is very personal—for you
11. That He is the long-promised Messiah (the Christ)—He is Christ…
12. That He is Lord, one who is above all—the Lord

Never was so great a message compressed into so few words!

Some time ago in England, I purchased a biography of King George III by Christopher Hibbert. George III loved going out of London, to his home at Windsor Castle. Sometimes while there, he’d take off by himself on long walks, and occasionally he would surprise the neighbors by popping into their homes. One day King George walked into a barn, and there was a woman milking a cow. She had no idea that he was king. He asked her where all the other laborers and farm workers had gone. They had all gone to see the King, she said, adding, “I wouldn’t give a pin to see him. Besides the fools will lose a day’s work by it, and that is more than I can afford to do. I have five children to work for.”

Taking some coins from his pocket, George gave them to her. “Well, then,” he said, “you may tell your companions who were gone to see the King, that the King came to see you.”

And that’s just what God did at Christmas. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords came to see us. It’s just as real as that, and just as delightful. May the Lord give you a blessed Christmas week!

This morning I used a story at the end of my sermon, and in case you missed it I wanted to summarize it here. Several years ago, a man wrote a newspaper columnist saying: “Is there any place where we can borrow a little boy three or four years old for the Christmas holidays? We have a nice home and would take wonderful care of him and bring him back safe and sound. We used to have a little boy but he couldn’t stay, and we miss him so much when Christmas comes.”

The columnist ran the letter and added this note: “If anyone has a little boy to lend over Christmas, write to this column as early as possible, marking ‘Christmas’ on the outside of the envelope.”

As remarkable as it sounds, someone answered the letter. There was a woman whose husband had died in combat, leaving her a little boy to raise alone. She answered the ad, and found that the writer was a widower whose wife and little boy had both died the same year. He was now living with his mother.

That Christmas, Mrs. N. H. Muller and her boy had a great day with the lonely man and his mother. In fact, it was a joy that continued Christmas after Christmas — “because,” she wrote, “this man became my husband.”

I love that story because it reminds us that God loaned us a little boy on the first Christmas, and that story, too, ends happily. I’m always on the outlook for good stories to borrow and incorperate into my messages. That one came from an old book I picked up at a sale–”The Guideposts Christmas Treasury,” published in 1972. The article was written by Mrs. N. H. Muller. If you’d like a copy of my entire Christmas Sunday message from Luke 1-3, just punch here. Also the little three-year-old boy in the above picture is my grandson Elijah!

Two interesting articles appeared in today’s edition of the London Daily Mail.  One is rather discouraging.  Only a third of Britons believe in the nativity, even though 43% claim to be Christian.  This poll was commissioned by St Helen’s Church in Bishopsgate, London, in order to raise awareness about the meaning of Christmas.  New Testament expert Dr. Paul Barnette is quoted as saying, “Using routine historical analysis, we conclude that the outlines of Jesus’ life, teaching, death, and resurrection as we find them in the Gospels are historically reliable.”  The problem is that our culture assumes the nativity to be a fable without investigating it.  You can read this article here.

The other article is encouraging.  Increasing numbers of scientists are pointing to the reality of God.  Professor Sir John Polkinghome of Cambridge and a world-renowned particle physicist said, “Science is great, but it’s not the whole story…. There are very striking things about the world that are best understood as the work of God.”

Another scientist, Oxford mathematics professor John Lennox, said, “The evidence (for God’s existence) is cumulative and of two sorts — objective evidence that comes from science, and what I see in Jesus Christ, who, as Christmas reminds us, is the Word become flesh, God encoded in humanity.”  Read this article here.

During the rush and shove of the holidays, it’s good to remember that stillness is a biblical virtue, and it’s necessary for our well-being. This morning I rose before dawn, got a cup of coffee, and sat down to watch the early news. When the remote control didn’t work, I was rather pleased. I sat by the fire, sipped my coffee, and enjoyed the quiet.

Our English word noise actually comes from the Latin word noxia, which means injury or hurt. The connection is easy to see. Noise pollution affects our physical and mental well-being, and it’s often detrimental to our spiritual health. In earlier eras, we had the whinnying of a horse; now it’s the honking of horns. Once it was the symphony of crickets; now it’s the blasting of television. Once it was the rooster’s crow; now it’s the shriek of an alarm clock. Once it was lowing of cattle; now it’s the roar of trucks and jetliners.

“Be still and know that I am God,” commanded the Lord in Psalm 46; “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

When the disciples were terrified on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus said: “Peace, be still.” He wasn’t just addressing the winds and waves, but the men in the boat—and you and me. We shouldn’t fall into panic or flurry; we should fall into stillness. Moses told the frantic Israelites at the Red Sea, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13). When the Moabite maiden, Ruth, was concerned for her future, Naomi advised, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out” (Ruth 3:18).

When King Jehoshaphat and the Judeans were facing annihilation from the combined armies of their enemies, the Lord told them, “Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you” (1 Chronicles 10:17). During Ezra’s conference in Nehemiah 8:10-11, the Levites quieted the people, telling them, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength…. Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” Job’s friends advised him, “Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God” (Job 37:14). The Psalms say, “Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still…. Put your trust in the Lord…. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother” (Psalm 4:4-5 and 131:2).

Today remember this great promise from Isaiah: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).

PS – The above painting of Mabry Mill in Virginia hangs on my wall to remind me of this very thing. It was painted by Ken Simmelink. You can check out his other paintings at www.kens-paintings.com.

Several years ago, I visited the Israel Museum in Jerusalem to view a handful of critical archaeological finds related to the Bible. One of these was a small ivory pomegranate that archaeologists claimed was used in the original temple of Solomon. It is the only artifact ever found from the First Temple.

I was distressed later when some critics claimed that it was a forgery, and it was withdrawn from the Museum exhibits. Frankly, I disbelieved the critics.

Now comes word that the ivory pomegranate may be authentic after all. This is exciting news. If the story is correct, the implication are very significant. You can read details and a commentary by Hershel Shanks, the editor of Biblical Archaeology Review, here.

If you’re looking for something to relax your mind and encourage your heart during the holidays, check out my book, “Come, Let Us Adore Him.” It features the stores behind our greatest Christmas Carols. Included in this book is the picturesque story of one the greatest of our Christmas hymns — “Silent Night.” It was first performed in a little chapel in Oberndorf, Austria, in the shadow of the snow-clad Alps. The year was 1818.

I’ve found a great website devoted to “Silent Night” and it even features a live webcam from the Oberndorf Church. You can listen to a webcast of services from this tiny Austrian chapel. To check out this great Silent Night Site, check here and select the English link.