Advent Repentance

Sitting at my desk and getting ready for our Christmas Celebration on December 26th, I was putting together the program and practicing a special I hope to sing as part of the service. It is one of my favorite Christmas songs because of the soaring majesty of the music and the lines that proclaim the truth of Christ's coming.

I was singing and enjoying the music and came to these lines:
"Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name."

And as I sang the second line a familiar lump formed in my throat. I pressed on, but as I came to the line "for the slave is our brother and in his name all oppression shall cease" I broke down in body-shaking sobs. The song played on and I heard "Fall on your knees!" I nearly did just that as I thought of all those who suffer in slavery this year around the world (and in our own nation) who are our brothers and sisters and because they do not live next door we have forgotten them. I cried out for forgiveness for our continued use of his name to justify our wars when he came to bring us peace!

"How long, O Lord, how long will you endure our willful ignorance of your offered peace? How do you bear our blasphemy in claiming your abundance for ourselves while pushing away thoughts and reminders of the poor among us? How is it we have not fallen under your wrath?" These were my thoughts as the song continued to play.

And then I realized that the one who came to bring peace, brings our pardon. He stands in the gap and pays the debt of our ignorance and disobedience. He does it with love and grace and desires that his intercession will bring about change in our hearts. This made my tears come all the more as I considered how unworthy I am to receive all that he offers.

I have been so busy this Advent season with events and keeping my personal fast, all of which seems so "not enough," so meaningless, so shallow in comparison to his coming and sacrifice. I needed this reminder today of my need for repentance and dependence on him; of my need for continued growth and renewed dedication to his purposes.

"Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh holy night,
Oh night divine"

Thank you, God for Advent Repentance and the knowledge that you are at work and your purposes will be fulfilled. Have your way in me. Transform me into the likeness of your Son. Amen

Message, Lewis Kemper Funeral Wednesday June 16, 2010

When we come to the end of life, as we walk the valley of the shadow of death, events from our lives crystallize in perfect clarity. The good times become all that much sweeter, and the bad times all the worse. What do we do with that contradiction? What do we do at the end of a life filled with joy and pain? Some choose only to remember the good, and never mention the failures. Others harden themselves to the pain of loss by choosing to keep fresh the painful memories, blocking out the happy times. What do we do when those we love are not perfect?

I want to present a different option, one that can embrace the joy while recognizing the pain. That option involves looking at our own lives and seeing that we too are people with strengths to serve the world, and faults that can cause pain. We all are unique creations of a loving god whose desire is to bless us and others with the good gifts he has given. We also find ourselves in a fallen world with fallen natures that give in so readily to sin. The question of what to do with our imperfect loved ones becomes another question “what do we do with ourselves?” Thankfully, I know the answer to that question.

I know what I do with myself. I seek to honor the gifts God has given while trusting him to mend the broken places caused by my sin. I seek to rejoice in the gifts God has given me in those around me. I want to embrace and encourage them to use the talents they possess to glorify God and serve his people. I want to set them free. Free to revel in God’s goodness. Free to taste and see that God is good. And when those people fail—which they will do as people—I must trust that the God who can restore my broken places can also restore theirs. God is the healer of the broken heart. He is the one who sets the captive free. He is the creator and the redeemer of all things. He can restore you. He can soothe the pain you feel; pain caused by your sin as well as pain caused by the sin of others.

I am so thankful today that God did this for my grandfather, Lewis. Grand-dad was blessed with gifts and talents that he used to serve others. Grand-dad also had weaknesses and broken places that invited sin in the door. So we love him and we were hurt by him, but we love him. And God loves Lewis, too. He has loved him all through life, just like he loves each of us. I believe God loves Lewis now. I believe that according to his promise to make all things new, God has finally restored Lewis to the whole and complete person that he was always meant to be.

In that belief there is hope. There is hope that God will do for each of us what He has done for Lewis. And even better is the faith that God can begin that process now. We don’t have to wait for death to begin to experience healing and restoration. We don’t have to wait for heaven to experience peace and wholeness of self. I believe that God wants to heal you now, he wants to heal me now, and today is part of that process. Will you let him in to those broken places? He wants to make you whole.