What Christmas Means for Us

What Christmas Means for Us

Mat 4:17-20 NLT - [17] From then on, Jesus began to preach, "Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near. " [18] One day as Jesus was walking along the shore beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers--Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew--fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen. [19] Jesus called out to them, "Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!" [20] And they left their nets at once and went with him.

The Christmas message is all about Christ’s gift of salvation to the world. But salvation involves so much more than simply being saved. Salvation is a complete revolution. It is the complete death of the old self and the new birth of the new man. From the Gospels we gather this truth. The Gospel of our Lord does not end at Matthew 2 or Luke 2—it continues onwards. In Matthew 4 we see where we fit into God’s plans. Redeemed man not only receives eternal life, He receives an eternal mission: the ministry of God. Simon and Andrew are called to their ministry by Jesus. They are called to “Come [and] be [Christ’s] disciples, and [He will show [them] how to fish for people.” They respond as God’s children must respond: they leave their nets and follow Him.

Just as Christ was called away from the manger and into His ministry, He calls us into our ministry. The word “ministry” has changed meanings over the past few years to imply pastoralship. That is not at all what the Biblical meaning implies. Each of us have a ministry to the Lord. He has knit in each of us a purpose for which the Kingdom of Heaven will be strengthened. It is difficult to think that we can impact the Kingdom of God, but we can. Indeed, we must. As receipients of salvation, we become proclaimers of salvation. Our spiritual gifts to the Lord are used to proclaim the Good News all around the world. Christmas means that the gift God gave to us bears more gifts. It bears the gift of fruitfulness. May we be fruitful Christians. May we live as people of purpose and enlighten the world from its darkened state into the glorious light of the Gospel, which began so humbly in the manger. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

A Star is Guiding Us

Mat 2:9-11 NLT - [9] After this interview the wise men went their way. Once again the star appeared to them, guiding them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. [10] When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! [11] They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

In this digital age where bits and bytes are bountiful, one of the most useful inventions has been the GPS(Global Positioning System). Originally developed for the Army during Desert Storm, the GPS has become a household name, guiding travelers all over this vast country of ours. After having just moved into Birmingham, I’ve found this little device to be one of the most useful pieces of technology I have. Today I made a wrong turn and got lost. All I had to do to get back on track was press “Home,” and listen to the device tell me which way to turn and what street to turn.

It’s nice having someone to guide you. I’m sure glad our Heavenly Father decided to guide us. Surely the prophet Isaiah was correct when he prophesied that “the people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9.2). Like lost sheep, we have received the salvation through our Lord, Jesus Christ. This season we celebrate His entrance into that world. His entrance marks the beginning of an eternal age, an age where “God and sinner are reconciled” (Hark the Harold Angels Sing). It is truly an age where we are guided daily by the hand of a living God.

The wise men certainly experienced the Lord’s hand upon them. Through their coming, they perhaps delayed Herod long enough for Joseph, Mary, and the Christ-Child to escape to Egypt. You see, God has a plan for us. He guides us to accomplish His will in us. His purposes are our primary reason for being here on this earth. Yes, each one of us has been assigned a special task by our Creator: a purpose for which we can only imagine. Like the wisemen, a star is guiding us. The star of the Holy Spirit is upon our vision. We can see it from afar, burning brightly often, and dimly at other times, but always there. If we will only follow the star, our Lord can have His way: we can awake each day knowing that He is accomplishing His Holy plan through each of us. The plan extends from the wise men to us today. Will you be a part of it? Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

Wrestling with God

Gen 32:24-30 NLT - [24] This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until dawn. [25] When the man saw that he couldn't win the match, he struck Jacob's hip and knocked it out of joint at the socket. [26] Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is dawn." But Jacob panted, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." [27] "What is your name?" the man asked. He replied, "Jacob." [28] "Your name will no longer be Jacob," the man told him. "It is now Israel, because you have struggled with both God and men and have won." [29] "What is your name?" Jacob asked him. "Why do you ask?" the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. [30] Jacob named the place Peniel--"face of God"--for he said, "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared."

The story of Jacob wrestling the mysterious “man” or “angel” depending on the translation has baffled scholars and readers of the Bible for centuries. One interesting indication we receive from the text lies in the clue of Jacob’s appeal that he will “not let [the being] go unless [the being blesses] him.” The concept of the blessing parallels back to Genesis 25, where Jacob deceives his father and brother into selling Esau’s birthright. Furthermore, this is evidenced by Genesis 32’s mention that Jacob’s tribe was preparing to meet Esau’s. Is there more to this struggle than is immediately obvious? Was this man even perhaps Esau, considering Genesis 25’s description of “the two children struggl[ing] with each other in [their mother’s] womb.” We don’t know the answer to these questions, but the question itself brings up a matter perhaps more relevant to the story than the identity of the mysterious wrestler: Jacob was struggling with God.

Whether this fight was a sort of trial from God for Jacob’s deception regarding his birthright, or the initiation of God’s covenant promise seen in its first physical form and reflected by the physical struggle between man and God, we see a valuable lesson: man often struggles with God. Indeed, we “wrestle” with God. Our human nature drives us towards the natural desires, but God wrestles us away from them. All of us as Christians have felt such a fight with God. The curious thing is that we can win: by submitting to His will. Jacob’s blessing comes not simply in the proclamation of His father Isaac, but here in Genesis 32, where Jacob earns his birthright. He learns something that night that earns him the name that shall go on for thousands of ages: Israel.

The question that we have to ask ourselves is, are we willing to submit to God when He wrestles with our hearts? When our desires collide with His, will we keep pressing against Him, or submit to Him? The Holy Spirit’s call upon our hearts is stronger than we can imagine, yet Christ will let us neglect it. Let us not neglect it, beloved. For the will of God is always right. We can never beat God in a wrestling match—His outcome will always be fulfilled. Just as He had His will with Jacob, so He has His will for you and me. May we obey Him today! Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

Listen with Your Heart

Listen with Your Heart

1Sa 3:7-10 NLT - [7] Samuel did not yet know the LORD because he had never had a message from the LORD before. [8] So now the LORD called a third time, and once more Samuel jumped up and ran to Eli. "Here I am," he said. "What do you need?" Then Eli realized it was the LORD who was calling the boy. [9] So he said to Samuel, "Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, `Yes, LORD, your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went back to bed. [10] And the LORD came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Yes, your servant is listening."

When I was younger, I strongly desired to hear the audible voice of the Lord. Of course, looking back, I now understand that the Lord’s direct, audible voice is not sound produced from some heavenly throat, but a gentle or firm tug on the heart. There are some examples of the audible voice of the Lord, but very often we must learn to listen with an instrument better than our audible nerves sending signals to our brains. We must learn to listen with the heart.

In 1^st Samuel, the Lord makes his first appearance to Samuel. When does God speak? When the boy least expects it—while he is trying to go to sleep. That is often how God speaks, isn’t it—when you least expect it. A constant and convenient voice of the Lord would indicate that such a God is no more than a convenient human invention to bring order and stability to the natural world. He would be a magical wish-granter, delivering our every desire based on a simple prayer that we “feel” is God’s voice.

Christians must learn to be strong in matters of the heart. Listening with the heart involves the innocence and responsiveness of Samuel. Notice that when the Lord calls Samuel for the 4^th time, Samuel replies "Yes, your servant is listening." How we need to learn such submissiveness and commitment! More often, we say, “Speak, Lord, I’m listening, but this better be good.” We would rather hear the Lord’s proposal and then decide if we want to act based on the difficult surrounding the circumstance. As we grow in the Lord, this is usually quickly followed by a firm burden of guilt. This is the voice of the Holy Spirit calling us. What a loud voice it is! When God calls, He shouts in whispers. His voice could not be heard by the man standing closest you on the subway, but it clashes in your mind louder than a thousand pots and pans all crashing to the ground at once. We are compelled to do the Lord’s will.

How do we obtain such an ear for the Lord? By learning to listen. By being ready as Eli told Samuel to be. The Lord has a message He wants us to bring, just like He had for Samuel. That message is vital to the mission of God and His kingdom. Will you learn to listen, and will you respond? Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

Expect Miracles

Expect Miracles

Jhn 2:1-11 NLT - [1] The next day Jesus' mother was a guest at a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. [2] Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. [3] The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus' mother spoke to him about the problem. "They have no more wine," she told him. [4] "How does that concern you and me?" Jesus asked. "My time has not yet come." [5] But his mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." [6] Six stone waterpots were standing there; they were used for Jewish ceremonial purposes and held twenty to thirty gallons each. [7] Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars with water." When the jars had been filled to the brim, [8] he said, "Dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies." So they followed his instructions. [9] When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. [10] "Usually a host serves the best wine first," he said. "Then, when everyone is full and doesn't care, he brings out the less expensive wines. But you have kept the best until now!" [11] This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was Jesus' first display of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

We live in an age where science is the supreme expectation for miracles. Medicine is modern magic, and technology the tools of the gods. Men trust in these two things to the fullest extent, and very often over what they ought. For in this endless pursuit of progress, not of itself a bad thing, we have forgotten He who is chief over the natural laws themselves: our Lord. Man may very well be able to manipulate the natural order to great extents. Modern medicine is even researching the ability to repair genes to disrupt the aging process. In the end, however, it is Christ who determines the state of Man.

The miracle at Cana is Christ’s first miracle and is unique in that it does not follow Jesus’ common pattern of divine medical healing. In fact, the miracle appears rather trivial when compared to His latter miracles. But we see here the beginning of what would obviously be a common thread in all such miracles: the unexpected reaction to the miracles by the recipients of them. Many at the wedding must have known of Jesus’ divine birth, yet we see only Christ’s mother asking Him to turn the water into wine. Not even His disciples ask it. This choice is likely due to the triviality of the need. Running out of wine at a wedding does not constitute the end of the age. But that is precisely the grand disease of humanity: we do not expect miracles.

If we are to follow our Lord, we must learn to expect miracles. Medicine and technology can carry us only so far, but God can carry us where He wishes without boundary. The trick is learning to expect His intervention in every situation. The triviality or necessity of the situation may vary, but in each case, whether it be water into wine or rising from the dead, demonstrates the bearing of the Father’s will into the lives of His servants. Miracles are instituted to carry out the will of God. We must learn this. We must expect this. When we do, the randomness of life will fade, and we will find ourselves far less often contributing much to “luck.”

May we begin to see Christ’s hand in everything we do. May we learn to expect miracles, for they are the Father’s will for us. We know not every reason our Lord performs miracles, but we know that each one contributes to His glory over this world. May we share in spreading that glory by being His instruments. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

Expect Miracles

Expect Miracles

Jhn 2:1-11 NLT - [1] The next day Jesus' mother was a guest at a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. [2] Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. [3] The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus' mother spoke to him about the problem. "They have no more wine," she told him. [4] "How does that concern you and me?" Jesus asked. "My time has not yet come." [5] But his mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." [6] Six stone waterpots were standing there; they were used for Jewish ceremonial purposes and held twenty to thirty gallons each. [7] Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars with water." When the jars had been filled to the brim, [8] he said, "Dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies." So they followed his instructions. [9] When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. [10] "Usually a host serves the best wine first," he said. "Then, when everyone is full and doesn't care, he brings out the less expensive wines. But you have kept the best until now!" [11] This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was Jesus' first display of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

We live in an age where science is the supreme expectation for miracles. Medicine is modern magic, and technology the tools of the gods. Men trust in these two things to the fullest extent, and very often over what they ought. For in this endless pursuit of progress, not of itself a bad thing, we have forgotten He who is chief over the natural laws themselves: our Lord. Man may very well be able to manipulate the natural order to great extents. Modern medicine is even researching the ability to repair genes to disrupt the aging process. In the end, however, it is Christ who determines the state of Man.

The miracle at Cana is Christ’s first miracle and is unique in that it does not follow Jesus’ common pattern of divine medical healing. In fact, the miracle appears rather trivial when compared to His latter miracles. But we see here the beginning of what would obviously be a common thread in all such miracles: the unexpected reaction to the miracles by the recipients of them. Many at the wedding must have known of Jesus’ divine birth, yet we see only Christ’s mother asking Him to turn the water into wine. Not even His disciples ask it. This choice is likely due to the triviality of the need. Running out of wine at a wedding does not constitute the end of the age. But that is precisely the grand disease of humanity: we do not expect miracles.

If we are to follow our Lord, we must learn to expect miracles. Medicine and technology can carry us only so far, but God can carry us where He wishes without boundary. The trick is learning to expect His intervention in every situation. The triviality or necessity of the situation may vary, but in each case, whether it be water into wine or rising from the dead, demonstrates the bearing of the Father’s will into the lives of His servants. Miracles are instituted to carry out the will of God. We must learn this. We must expect this. When we do, the randomness of life will fade, and we will find ourselves far less often contributing much to “luck.”

May we begin to see Christ’s hand in everything we do. May we learn to expect miracles, for they are the Father’s will for us. We know not every reason our Lord performs miracles, but we know that each one contributes to His glory over this world. May we share in spreading that glory by being His instruments. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

The Peace Given by our Lord

The Peace Given by our Lord

Mat 11:28-30 NLT - [28] Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."

Our Lord not only promises salvation, but peace. For it is written that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it” (John 3.17). If our Lord intends to save us, He certainly means to grant us peace eternal. He proclaims this in Saint Matthew 11 when he dares those in need of rest to “come to [Him], all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and [He] will give you rest.” Jesus’ promise is not only a promise of eternal security, but of an everlasting peace that ought to overwhelm us. He confirms this by imploring us to “take [His] yoke upon [ourselves].” Normally a yoke holds an animal into the reigns of its master. It bears down on the animal and leads it in the path its master wishes. But what does our Lord’s yoke do? It lightens us. It directs us in the paths of righteousness and favor with the Lord. Christ explains that “[his] yoke fits perfectly, and the burden [he gives] us is light.”

The paradox of a light burden and a freeing yoke are indicative of the perplexity of our Lord’s reign on our lives. Peace in the midst of a chaotic world appears a wishful and fruitless dream, but it is so through the Holy Spirit’s power. Jesus promises us that, if we follow Him, “[we] will find rest for [our] souls.” The rest of God cannot be oversold. The subtle yet powerful sustenance we are given by Jesus each day delineates the power of the Holy Spirit’s working in our lives.

Christ’s yoke and burden are easy and light. Will you accept the peace of our Lord? Recall it each day, for it is most needed each day. There is never a time where peace cannot help us. Let Jesus’ peace sustain you today, tomorrow, and forever more into eternity. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

The Faith of Abraham

Hbr 11:8-16 NLT - [8] It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. [9] And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith--for he was like a foreigner, living in a tent. And so did Isaac and Jacob, to whom God gave the same promise. [10] Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. [11] It was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was able to have a child, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren. Abraham believed that God would keep his promise. [12] And so a whole nation came from this one man, Abraham, who was too old to have any children--a nation with so many people that, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them. [13] All these faithful ones died without receiving what God had promised them, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God. They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth. [14] And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own. [15] If they had meant the country they came from, they would have found a way to go back. [16] But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them.

Faith is not a mere belief, but a lifestyle. Hebrews 11 reminisces on the great heroes of faith. Their actions were not merely one-time events, but a pattern of living that reflected they were “looking forward to a country they [could] call their own.” One such example is the faith of Abraham. Such a popular example this is that Abraham is often called “the father of faith.” Why? Abraham’s story is not only a story concerning the origin of God’s nation, Israel, but a journey revealing God’s faithfulness to man and man’s faithful response to God.

Notice the Scripture immediately states that “Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and to go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance.” Without question, God’s children ought to follow Him. I do not mean that Abraham likely questioned where God was leading him or how he would get there, but that Abraham went knowing that God would provide a location and a means of travel. Hebrews says that “he went without knowing where he was going,” and that “even when he reached the land God had promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in a tent.” Even when we do know where God is leading us, truly faithful men and women will “live there by faith.” Through trials and tribulations, the man of faith continues to camp in foreign lands because God has a plan for him.

Also recognize that God provides for Abraham during his journey. Verse 11 says that “it was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was able to have a child, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren. Abraham believed that God would keep his promise.” Even when we are exactly where God wants us to be, it is natural for us to have desires and needs. We often worry that God will not provide, but Genesis 15.6 explains that Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD declared him righteous because of his faith.” Abraham knew he had needs. He knew, however, that God would provide for him. We need men and women of such faith! We need to believe God is our provision even when the world is crashing around us. Remember that when the impossible needs to be done, God does the impossible. If God can give a barren aged woman a child, He can provide for your needs. We must only trust Him!

Verse 16 says that the heroes of faith “were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them.” Abraham was looking ahead to a day where he was with God. That is our true home. The weaker Christian thinks of eternity and imagines a life trapped in an infinite array of floating clouds with an old bearded man. The man strong in the Lord sees an eternity spent with the One he is mad over—the One he is infatuated with and can’t stop thinking about. Faith means believing that we will receive such a kingdom. That is why Hebrews 11.1 says that “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” What do we hope for? Do we hope for a day where we will be forever with Christ? Let us be men and women of faithfulness—men and women who seek God continuously, and long passionately and obsessively about that day when we shall see eternally His face. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

Generous Salvation—It's Not What We Earn

Generous Salvation—It's Not What We Earn

Mat 20:9-16 NLT - [9] When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage. [10] When those hired earlier came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage. [11] When they received their pay, they protested, [12] `Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.' [13] "He answered one of them, `Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage? [14] Take it and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. [15] Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be angry because I am kind?' [16] "And so it is, that many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now will be first then."

Mat 11:27-30 NLT - [27] "My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." [28] Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."

Grace is the foundation of Christianity. Without it, Christ’s death is meaningless because it does not address the issue of what is to be done with human wickedness. Many people are surprised to hear this term, “human wickedness.” “Are we not,” they ask, “essentially good?” That is the great danger of humanism thought—the idea that humans are essentially great, moral agents who do what is right at their core. But I once had a psychology professor who awakened me to the reality of what Christianity teaches: we are not good at our core. He explained, quite rightly, that the Bible says Man became corrupted with sin after eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Thus, humans are fallen creatures in desperate need of a complete transformation.

Our Lord provides us a way out. He teaches us this in Saint Matthew. His parable explains how, in spite of some workers working only a few hours compared to others working a whole day, every worker received the same pay. Economics teaches us this is impractical. Law teaches us it is unjust. Grace teaches us it is precisely correct. The employer in the parable asks, “Should you be angry because I am kind?” He explains that he “wanted to pay this last worker the same as [the previous worker].” Jesus wants to grant us repentance. Grace is within His nature; it is the God we serve. His salvation is generous.

Of course, humans, still in their fallen state, struggle to accept grace. It is, I will admit, a difficult habit to accept. We are taught that we get nothing for free; indeed, even the laws of the universe teach us that. And yet here is our Lord promising to give us something for free: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11.28). He does not prefix or postfix the gift with any requirements other than belief in the Father and Son. Indeed, His “yoke fits perfectly, and the burden [he gives us] is light” (Matthew 11.30). As Christians, we must learn that salvation must be taken freely. Our mistakes and misgivings, our ill attitudes, our bad days, and our flaws are all acceptable to Him. He did not die for the perfect, but for the imperfect. He died for you and me. He has “taken us in.” He does not say, “Clean yourself, then come to me;” He immediately proclaims, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens.” Jesus wants you just as you are so that He can make you just as He is. That is the nature of grace. The unconditional willingness to do so is the nature of love.

If you have been trying to live your life like the first workers, trying to earn your wages, don’t attempt it. It is futile to earn anything before God. I heard a pastor once say, “You don’t owe God anything, and He isn’t asking you for anything.” All Jesus asks is our life. Let His generous grace and mercy sweep over you. “Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down over me,” a worship song goes. Is His grace sweeping over you? Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

Christian Faith

Christian Faith

Hbr 11:1-3, 6 NLT - [1] What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. [2] God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith. [3] By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. ... [6] So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Mar 11:22-24 NLT - [22] Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God. [23] I assure you that you can say to this mountain, `May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and your command will be obeyed. All that's required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart. [24] Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it.

My favorite Star Wars scene occurs in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. In it, Jedi Master Yoda requests that his mentor Luke Skywalker pull his ship out of a swamp using the force. In desperation, Luke proclaims the task impossible. The wise Master Yoda, however, exclaims, ““Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is.” After Yoda pulls the ship out of the water, Luke shouts, “I don’t believe it!” “That,” Yoda replies, “is why you fail.” You can watch the clip here(http://bit.ly/ax06v5).

There is an eerie parallel to this story with the sort of faith Christ calls us to have. In Mark 11, Jesus tells us to “have faith in God.” He “[assures us] that [we] can say to this mountain, ‘May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and [our] command will be obeyed.” Most of us assume this passage is metaphorical, but I believe our Lord meant it literally. He tells us “all that’s required is that [we] really believe and do not doubt in [our] heart.” Yet it is always doubt which clouds our faith, isn’t it? We are taught to be skeptical of nearly everything, and while there is perhaps nothing wrong with this, if we are not taught to also believe in what has been proven trustworthy, our lives will be lived in miserable mistrust.

The writer of Hebrews explains that faith “is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot see. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” Why are we confident in the unseen? What evidence is there of our Lord? A simple little hymn proclaims, “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.” We have faith in God because He goes with us every day. He has never left us or forsaken us, even in our times of darkest gloom and deep despair. In our greatest hour of need, He has comforted us. In times of joy, He has cheered us onwards. In seasons of stagnation, He has kept our spirits bright. In droughts and famine, He has brought us food. In the strongest storms, He has given us shelter. “What a mighty God we serve!”

Yes, Christ proclaims we can move mountains. The real question, however, is if we could do it if He asked. Most of us are not there yet, not because we are unable, but because of our unbelief. Jesus says, “Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it.” It is not the prayer that concerns us, nor the receiving, but the belief aspect. Doubts are like cracks in the surface which slowly grow and undo the foundation above it. Doubt can destroy our entire request. That is why faith is so crucial to a Christian’s life.

Will we have faith today? Can we move a ship out of a swamp, a mountain into the sea, or even the salvation of a loved one? “Size matters not,” Master Yoda examines. Does God see our prayers differently depending on the size? Of course not! We can just as well raise the dead to life as we can heal a sour attitude. What do we lack? Faith. Let us have faith to do the seemingly impossible. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

Listening to the Lord's Voice

Listening to the Lord's Voice

1Sa 3:9-10 NLT - [9] So he said to Samuel, "Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, `Yes, LORD, your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went back to bed. [10] And the LORD came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Yes, your servant is listening."

Biblical history informs us that those men and women on whom God took the most favor have generally been individuals willing to listen to His voice. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, and an innumerable collection of others all succeeded in accomplishing the Lord's will because they listened to Him. Here in 1 Samuel, we see a rather unique example of that. Samuel is called up from bed three times by the Lord. Finally, after Eli realizes this is the voice of the Lord calling Samuel, he instructs the boy to “[g]o and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say 'Yes, LORD, your servant is listening.'” What wise advice. The man or woman who wishes to do the Lord's work must be willing to listen to His voice. What man goes to learn a subject while putting headphones in his ears while the professor is lecturing? What does one expect to learn from a sermon if he is too busy catching up on his sleeping deficiencies, or too unwilling to go altogether?

In this same manner, it is of critical importance that the Christian be willing to listen to the Lord's voice. Like Samuel, we need men and women who lie down at night asking the Lord to work through them. People just waiting to hear a message from God. When the Lord calls, “Samuel! Samuel!”, are we willing to reply, “Yes, your servant is listening?”

And yet we live in a world filled with such noise--“Cling and Clatter” one lyricist put it. Our music gets louder and louder every year. Our little iPods are maxed out at full volume. Our tweets and social networks and televisions are all blaring. There is nothing inherently wrong with any of these things, so long as we are able to draw away from it and listen to the Lord. I encourage all of us to take some quiet time to spend with the Lord. Turn of the television or stereo, draw away from the crowds, and spend some time listening to the Lord's voice. I feel like too many times we spend so much time telling God the things we want and need, that we forget that conversation is a two-way street. What is the Lord speaking to us? Not only will you receive instruction from the Lord, you will be relieved. The stress of life will not seem so burdensome. You will learn things from the Scripture, from life's lessons, and your relationships with others. You will learn how you've been acting lately, and what you need to work on. Yes, listening to God's voice also means listening to our own heartbeat. What is our heartbeat saying? Are we doing the Lord's work? I encourage you to spend some time each day to listen to God. The chaos of the modern world will suddenly be transposed into the ordered, peaceful harmony of a world where we are in tune with Christ and His will. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

Walking with the Lor

Walking with the Lord

Pro 3:5-10 NLT - [5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. [6] Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. [7] Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn your back on evil. [8] Then you will gain renewed health and vitality. [9] Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything your land produces. [10] Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with the finest wine.

Gen 5:24 NIV - [24] Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

Gen 3:8 NIV - [8] Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

One of the things that has always struck me when referring to the fellowship between God and Man is this idea of “walking with God.” We first see the phrase implied in Genesis 3, where God is said to have been “walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” The implication is that God's presence was in the garden with Adam and Eve. They walked with God. Again in Genesis 5.24 we see a similar reference, although likely not literal: “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” The New International Version says Enoch “walked with God,” but the New Living Translation translates this passage as “[Enoch] enjoyed a close relationship with God throughout his life.” Both versions place an emphasis on this idea of fellowship with God.

But just what does it mean to walk with God? The writer of Proverbs explains it: “trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek [God's] will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.” Walking with God means trusting Him. It means seeking Him with all that we are. It means that we rely on His plans and His own self to sustain us. In this sense, it is perhaps better to say that God carries us. You will very likely find this implication when speaking with a Christian who has rooted himself deeply in the faith. This sort of man will speak often about how God is providing for Him, what wonderful things He is doing in his life, and what good things He has planned for the world. In other words, the man who walks with God is optimistic. He does not know where the path ahead lies, but He knows who is leading Him. That is why the Scripture says “He will direct your paths.” Many Christians like to see it the other way. They wish to direct their own path and drag God alongside them, or chain Him behind them. But this is not what it means to walk with God.

Walking with God means that we focus our lives on Him. He is not something we drag along as a good luck charm, a mere object of comfort or intellectualism, or a bodyguard in times of stress. No man who really loves a woman will marry her just because she happens to conveniently be good at cooking and providing pleasure. The carnal man will say such a thing, but Christians ought not even joke about them. Likewise, the Christian must not joke about His relationship with God. It must not be a mere “get out of jail free card.” Just as the man who really loves His wife spends time with her, makes sure to treat her with love and gentleness, so the man who really loves and walks with God will pursue passionately a relationship with Him. We must remember that it was Christ who first walked this journey: He is the one who stopped to bring us along with Him. Just as He led the disciples, so He leads us daily.

May we allow God to direct our paths. May we, like Enoch, walk with God in fellowship and in love. God, let us be a generation that passionately pursues your face! Let us be the Psalm 24 generation! Walk with Jesus every day. He will comfort you, instruct you, and love you. Most of all, He will lead you to His home, and He will help you find others to begin the journey. Let's start walking! Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

"Hi, I'm a Christ Follower"

“Hi, I'm a Christ Follower”
Act 16:22-34 NLT - [22] A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. [23] They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape. [24] So he took no chances but put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. [25] Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. [26] Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! [27] The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. [28] But Paul shouted to him, "Don't do it! We are all here!" [29] Trembling with fear, the jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down before Paul and Silas. [30] He brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" [31] They replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household." [32] Then they shared the word of the Lord with him and all who lived in his household. [33] That same hour the jailer washed their wounds, and he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. [34] Then he brought them into his house and set a meal before them. He and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.

A major contemporary problem in Christianity today is the prevalence of Christian culture in place of Christianity. I was talking with a friend today about how focused we have become on getting as many people we can saved and in the church building, but we are not interested in changing them. We live in a nation where we are taught to “get saved and get right with the Lord.” Rarely do religious discussions go beyond this. In many places, church is a contemporary social activity, whereby one gains acceptance into the community by engaging in that society's ritualistic habits. Yet if this is what we label Christianity, we have missed the point, and we are no different than the pagans who sacrificed every year to the Corn King because it was expected to uphold their family and community's sense of honor. A parody video of the “Mac vs. PC” ads illustrates this point with the “Christian vs. Christ Follower” advertisement. In it, one man shows all external appearances of being a good Christian: he is dressed to the nines, decked out with Christian bracelets, bumper stickers, and a mountainside of theological books. Proud of his appearance, he asks a young, casually dressed man what he wears to show Christ. The man replies, “Well, nothing, I guess. I don't know, I just try to follow Christ in the way I live my life.” The video can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RtfNdg1fQk.

The point of this video is to show what true Christianity looks like. Unfortunately, our culture has really begun to believe that being a good Christian means merely going to church every Sunday, praying before supper and bedtime, and not cursing or stealing or doing any of those sorts of awful things. In other words, Christianity has become a mere external shell by which a man's commitment to Christ is shown only in his willingness to dedicate two hours of his Sunday and 20 seconds of his meal.

But is this the Biblical picture? Can we really keep playing Church and playing Christianity? Can all we are really be reduced down to a line in a typical country song or a stereotypical portrayal on a film? The Scripture doesn't seem to think so. Isn't it interesting that every time we see an instance of persecution, witness, or salvation in the Bible, it involves a radical transformation and dedication of one's life? It is a continual pursuit of God that often leads to great suffering and death.

In Acts 16 we see yet another scenario. Paul and Silas, after casting out a spirit from a fortune-teller, are thrown into prison for upsetting the profiteering occurring from the fortune-teller. Notice especially the spirit of Paul and Silas in prison, however. They “were praying and singing hymns to God.” Now, this certainly shows us why we sing those hymns, be they modern or antiquated. Now we see why we pray. We pray and sing because the joy that is within us from Christ overflows and overfills us even in times of desperation. It has been in the moments of suffering, in the moments where I believed God should be furthest away, that I felt Him closest to my heart. Following Christ fills us with an overwhelming love that can't be contained. It spreads out. The scripture says “the other prisoners were listening.” True Christianity doesn't need t-shirts and bracelets, though they may often times be used to help spark an interest in unbelievers or serve as great reminders to us. True Christianity doesn't need a pew, nor a building. It simply needs Christians. If Paul and Silas can worship in a prison cell and impact the prisoners, you and I can do the same! Wherever we are, we must remember who we are following. God's true Church is filled with love and compassion. It is filled with godly men and women willing to die for the truth than to live in separation from God. Christians are so concerned with people that they can't stand to allow the world to live in eternal separation from God.

I hope the picture you see from Paul and Silas presents clearly and precisely the image of the true Christian. Becoming a Christian isn't just a goal. It isn't just something you check off a list and write in your Bible. It isn't something you appeal to occasionally for some cultural value but then do not actively live out. Christianity cannot not be lived out. We must be very concerned about those who have proclaimed Christ as their Lord and yet live for years in sin, never acknowledging Him. The Scripture says of them: “if they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them” (2 Peter 2.20-21). Beloved, we must not allow depravity to invade our lives. We must not become cultural Christians, but become Christ-Followers. We must also do everything we can to bring back those who have become that way. If you have become a mere cultural Christian, won't you turn back to God today? Won't you see what it is like to fully and passionately follow Christ in a relationship that is based on love and commitment, not on guilt and social acceptance? Amen.

With love in Christ,




Austin Aldrich

Loud World

Loud World
Psa 4:3-5 NIV - [3] Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him. [4] In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah [5] Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord.
Psa 1:1-2 NLT - [1] Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. [2] But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law.
Isa 30:15-16 NKJV - [15] For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." But you would not, [16] And you said, "No, for we will flee on horses" Therefore you shall flee! And, "We will ride on swift horses"— Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!
We live in a loud world. Sound levels are constantly rising on our music, television, advertisements, portable devices, and telephones. We want things bigger and louder--we must be fed our entertainment. We mistakenly believe that this noise is the only way we can stay sane. Silence is deafening to us, because we believe it hinders progress. I once had a music professor in college say our society is moving so fast that we are going to hit a bottleneck. I think there is wisdom in that: we are moving too fast to do what the voice of the Lord is telling us. The famous mathematician and great Christian philosopher Blaise Pascal once said, "All human evil comes from a single cause, man's inability to sit still in a room." Old Pascal was right--we can't sit still and ill is to come of it.
God wants us to be silent sometimes, however. Away from the constant noise of life, we are to come to him in quietness and solitude. The Psalmist says, "when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord." This is what many call "Christian meditation." It is a vital aspect of our spiritual lives. Without it, our spiritual condition will deteriorate, much as a man who does not workout his muscles will watch them slowly atrophy. Quiet time with the Lord is not only essential, however. It is a comforting, relaxing experience that connects us with God, ourselves, and helps us with our relationships with others. Take time each day or night to find some quiet place to talk to God and to meditate on His word. Some choose their beds, others choose a quiet place in nature, while others may spend that time in their cars. In the midst of a world drowning in noise, their are crevices filled with pockets of silence by which our prayers may go out to God.
The Psalmist also informs us that meditation aids us in learning about God and His laws. He says that those who follow God "delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law." Just as one studies for a test or reads a book, so too we must learn about God's ways in our own study. It is not enough to merely attend Sunday school and worship services or conferences or university courses: we must have time to study on our own. In my field of software development, one must continually renew his knowledge of new technologies and design philosophies so he won't fall behind on his craft. The same is true with the Christian, although the truths of God are not constantly changing. The Christian must study fervently: he must read God's word on his own and with others. From there, many desire to seek out other useful materials in growing the mind and body and spirit into Christ's image. The more we learn, the better off we are.
I urge you to find some time each day to be quiet before God. Talk to Him, learn from Him--you can only better yourself by doing so. Allow His voice to pierce the constant chatter that surrounds our world. We live in a loud world, but we serve a louder God. But sometimes listening to the loudest voice means listening to the most quiet voice. The book At the Back of the North Wind by George McDonald notes this. The young boy Diamond is met by the mythological North Wind, who takes many forms, both big and small. On one occassion, the North Wind speaks to Diamond through a toy windmill:
There were the sails of a windmill going round and round almost close to his ear. He thought at first it must be one of those toys which are wound up and go with clockwork; but no, it was a common penny toy, with the windmill at the end of a whistle, and when the whistle blows the windmill goes. But the wonder was that there was no one at the whistle end blowing, and yet the sails were turning round and round—now faster, now slower, now faster again."What can it mean?" said Diamond, aloud. "It means me," said the tiniest voice he had ever heard."Who are you, please?" asked Diamond."Well, really, I begin to be ashamed of you," said the voice. "I wonder how long it will be before you know me; or how often I might take you in before you got sharp enough to suspect me. You are as bad as a baby that doesn't know his mother in a new bonnet." "Not quite so bad as that, dear North Wind," said Diamond, "for I didn't see you at all, and indeed I don't see you yet, although I recognise your voice. Do grow a little, please."
We all ask God to grow a little, don't we? We want Him to be just as loud as our world. Sometimes we must simply be quiet and listen to His tiny voice. You see, it is not the size of something that makes it large: it is the nature of the thing itself. God, while infinitely large, lives in our tiny hearts. What a concept! Listen to His voice today. Amen.

With love in Christ,



Austin Aldrich

Faith with Works

Faith with Works
Jam 2:14-20 NLT - [14] Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone. [15] Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, [16] and you say, "Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well"--but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? [17] So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all--it is dead and useless. [18] Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." I say, "I can't see your faith if you don't have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds." [19] Do you still think it's enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! [20] Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless?

What does Saint James mean when he speaks of faith and works? It is an age-old question that has sparked debate over many ages. Is it enough to have faith, or must we prove our faith through works? This is naturally troubling to many Christians, given that we are taught that "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2.8-9, NIV). The issue here, though perhaps seemingly academic and unrelated to our everyday lives, actually contains a solution which is vitally important to our daily lives.

Let us consider what James says: "it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all--it is dead and useless." Faith without works is dead not because it once lived, but because it never existed in the first place. James explains this when he says that he "will show you [his] faith through [his] good deeds." Faith, then, is like a light that shines itself through a glass window. The light itself exists, but it manifests itself through its shining down on the building. Faith, then, serves a purpose. It is both a verb and a noun. As a noun it is known as faith, but as a verb it is called works. The man who proposes otherwise is as naive as the sort of man who tries to argue four quarters and a dollar are not at all the same. He may be technically correct in his assertion that the two are different, for one is made of paper and the other of zinc, but the two are functionally the same.

Now, what is the significance of works? It is a natural display of our faith. If Christ indeed lives within us, He will also live without us. What I mean to say is that He radiates through us, like the infectious smile of a young lover or an innocent child. What radiates is called works. As Saint James says, works would not merely proclaim "good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well," but then do nothing for the person on whom we are pronouncing blessings. Rather, it takes the "brother or sister who needs food or clothing" and gives him food and clothing." Christ's compassion flows through us, for He is indeed living within us. It is often said that the Church is losing its relevance, for the sort of goodness it once gave to the world is now administered through government ministries and non-profit groups. I say that the mission of the Church is more vital than ever, for it is not the mere physical bodies which we are trying to save, but the soul of the whole person. A Christian who concerns himself with these matters obviously demonstrates faith by his works. His works are evidence that he is, in fact, living his life through the Holy Spirit.

Consider today whether your faith is being demonstrated. Like a dusty window, our faith can grow dim. The windows must be cleaned for light to come through. Let us examine ourselves. Are we doing things which please Christ? Is our faith evident to others? How will others see the Gospel if they do not see us living it out day by day? Amen.

With love in Christ,



Austin Aldrich