Hope or dystopia?

But Jesus’ light can’t be extinguished by darkness

John 1:1-18 In the beginning the Word already existed. … The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. … So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. … Jesus Christ has revealed God to us.

I’ve missed you! And I’ve enjoyed focusing on other things, like vacation. And the details of publishing Facing the Faeries 1906.

I’m returning to this blog halfway through the season of Epiphany, which ends with the beginning of Lent on February 14. The readings for this season have included the Gospel of John, with his emphasis on Christ as the Light of the world.

Epiphany began on January 6, the day selected by early church fathers to remember the magi visiting baby Jesus in Bethlehem and bringing him gifts. The magi were not Jewish, hence the connection with Jesus bringing light to the world, not just to the people God chose to be his earthly family and lineage. The wise men illustrate for us the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that through him and his descendants, all the earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:18).

Returning to twice weekly postings on this blog, I have four opportunities to think about John’s view of Jesus as the Light of the world before we enter Lent. It seems John can hardly wait to get into this theme. As one of Jesus’ disciples, walking with him for at least three years, John was well positioned to tell us what he personally saw and experienced of what he calls Jesus’ glory, the divine light of unfailing love and faithfulness shining through him.

John was no pushover. Jesus called him and his brother James “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). They wanted to call fire from heaven to burn up a Samaritan village that didn’t accept Jesus (Luke 9:52-54). Yet in John’s writings (he’s the most prolific New Testament writer after Paul), his emphasis is on love. His life was transformed by the light of Jesus shining into his personal darkness, gentling him and dramatically changing his perspective on the “others” in his world.

For us, you and me, grappling daily with the darkness, violence, and brokenness of the world, John’s introduction to his Gospel is tremendously encouraging. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” Think about that. Isn’t it good news, solid rock on which to place our feet, a promise we can count on no matter how dark things get? We don’t see it yet, but the ending of the story will be glorious!

Tucked inside my fortune cookie! Isn’t that cool?

Thinking about this promise, I feel my anxiety for the world dissipate like air leaking from a balloon. My thoughts turn to my small role in shining his light into the darkness around me, beginning in my own heart. What a relief to know I’m just a minor character in this huge story God is writing. He has the whole thing figured out! Hallelujah!

Amy Grant celebrates this: Lighten my darkness …

And have you been enjoying the Advent ABC playlist? It still brings me to tears.

Speaking of stories, watch this space for an announcement about Facing the Faeries 1906!

Advent ABC: A to Z, Alpha and Omega

Isaiah 46:9-10, Revelation 1:8 I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” … “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”

We’ve reached the end of the alphabet, but not the end of worshiping Jesus for the variegated tapestry of who he is that we learn from Isaiah. We can circle back to the beginning and celebrate him each of the remaining days of Christmas (until January 6) and for the rest of the new year. Here’s the link again for the Advent ABC playlist, which you can find as well on the home page of ButGod.blog.

Dave and I are traveling tomorrow. I’ll see you back on this blog in February.

Happy New Year!

Alpha and Omega, Gaither Vocal Band

Sanctuary/Alpha and Omega, Israel Houghton and New Breed

Advent ABC: eXalted Yahweh (Lord)

Isaiah 52:13, Acts 2:33 See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. … Now Jesus is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand.

When Jesus appeared in human form,

he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God exalted him to the place of highest honor

and gave him the name above all other names,

that at the name of Jesus …

every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:7-11

Exalted (Yahweh), Chris Tomlin

Advent ABC: Word

Isaiah 40:8, 21; John 1:14 The Word of our God stands forever. … Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the Word of God—the Word he gave before the world began? … The Word became human and made his home among us, full of unfailing love and faithfulness.

In the beginning, the Word already existed.

The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He existed in the beginning with God.

God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought life to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:1-4

Adore, Chris Tomlin

Advent ABC: Victor

Isaiah 53:12, Revelation 5:5 (Isaiah 52:10, Revelation 17:10) I will give [Jesus] the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many. … The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory.

Continuing Advent ABC to the end of the alphabet …

I like the fact that my Christmas candle is misshapen. The truth it tells is not immediately obvious. Like the baby in a stable.

Victor’s Crown, Darlene Zschech

Advent ABC: It’s Christmas!

My Christmas gift for you: A playlist of all the wonderful music we’ve been listening to this Advent! Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpeaoAOPcUc&list=PLPKlZ6WXGYq_MRnOY6hH_YadWaIwg-jnX

The link is also on the home page of ButGod.blog. Enjoy!!

Christmas celebrates one of the biggest But God moments of all time.

I couldn’t find a video with lyrics of the song I chose for today, Sandi Patty singing Carol of the Bells, so here’s my attempt to transcribe them. Enjoy!

Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away

Christmas is here, bringing good cheer to young and old, meek and the bold,

Ding-dong ding-dong, that is our song with cheerful ring all caroling

One seems to hear words of good cheer from everywhere filling the air

Oh how they pound, raising the sound, o’er hill and dale, telling their tale

Gayly they ring while people sing songs of good cheer, Christmas is here

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas …

(Repeat first section)

On, on they send, on without end, their joyful tone to every home (repeat) …

Gayly they ring …

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas …

On, on they send …

(End with) Hear the bells ring, Christ the Savior is born! Hallelujah!

Carol of the Bells, adapted and arranged by David Hamilton, from the Ukrainian “Shchedryk” by Mykola Leontovich , sung by Sandi Patty

Advent ABC: Upholder

Isaiah 41:10, Colossians 1:16-17 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. … I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. … Everything was created through Christ and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

It’s an interesting juxtaposition, considering Jesus as the Upholder and sustainer of all creation and of our individual lives just as we remember his decision to confine himself to a woman’s womb, to take on all that it means to be human, to limit himself to time and space, to choose dependence on imperfect parents. This mystery, I think, can only be addressed through poetry.

Descent, by Luci Shaw

Down he came from up,
and in from out,
and here from there.
A long leap,
an incandescent fall
from magnificent
to naked, frail, small,
through space,
between stars,
into our chill night air,
shrunk, in infant grace,
to our damp, cramped
earthy place
among all
the shivering sheep.

And now, after all,
there he lies,
fast asleep.

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, sung by the Tennessee Gospel Choir

Advent ABC: Truth

Isaiah 11:5, 16:5, Revelation 19:11 (John 17:19) The Branch will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. … He will rule with mercy and truth. … [Jesus] was named Faithful and True.

Jesus can only speak truth. Because that’s who he is (John 14:6).

Our enemy, the devil, can only speak lies. Because that’s who he is (John 8:44).

Holy Spirit, give us the discernment to listen to the right voice (John 14:17).

[Jesus said] Dig deep and lay your foundation on solid rock (Luke 6:48, Isaiah 28:16).

Shutterstock: Andrey Yurlov

Truth I’m Standing On, Leanna Crawford

Advent ABC: Shepherd

Isaiah 40:11 (49:9-10) The Lord will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

Karis was ten. We were in Detroit for surgery on her intestine. The rest of our family was at home in São Paulo, Brazil. (I learned later that eight-year-old Rachel had started a fire in the kitchen trying to cook for her siblings while Dave was out. A neighbor “happened” by, put out the fire, took my children to her house to feed them, and later had words with their father. But that’s another story…)

Before she was taken through the double doors into the surgery suite, I overheard Karis tell a new friend at the hospital that she wasn’t afraid, for herself or for me, because of Isaiah 40:11. The Holy Spirit shot that assurance straight into my heart, puncturing an expanding balloon of worry. Every time I hear Jesus referred to as Shepherd, I flash back to that precious moment.

Our Brazilian friend Roseli painted this for Rachel.

Turn to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls … The Lamb on the throne will be your Shepherd. He will lead you to springs of life-giving water and wipe every tear from your eyes (1 Peter 2:25, Revelation 7:17).

The Lord’s My Shepherd, Stuart Townend

Advent ABC: Ruler

Isaiah 9:6-7, Romans 9:5 (Isaiah 32:16, 40:10, 51:6, 60:17-18, Matthew 2:6, Ephesians 1:21-22) The government will rest on his shoulders. … His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. … Christ is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

Jesus’s entire life as recorded in the Gospels shows us his authority: over illness, death, the wind and waves, the enemy, Satan (who is called the ruler of this world), the traditions of people, and on and on. In his last conversation with his followers he said, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). He didn’t then say, “Now destroy the Romans.” He said, “teach everyone to obey the commands I have given you,” chief among them the command to love (John 13:34-35).

I think it’s easy to forget that Jesus’s Kingdom is not of this world. He wants to rule our hearts. He said, “The Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). He told Pilate, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight …” Paul wrote, “The Kingdom of God … is living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus also said the Kingdom belongs to those who are like children (Matthew 19:14), so for fun on this first day of winter, let’s listen to a children’s song.

Jesus is the King, Ben Sams

Mary, Did You Know, by Mark Lowry