Immanuel

Who is your favorite superhero? Mine has always been Superman, though I do confess to watching and enjoying that cheesy Batman series in the 60's.

For some reason, as we were singing the third of six (yes, there really are six verses) of Silent Night at the Christmas Eve service at my sister's church in Kitchener last night, the Christmas Story became about a real-life Superhero.

Silent night! Holy night!
Brought the world peace tonight,
From the heavens' golden height
Shows the grace of His holy might
Jesus, as man on this earth!
Jesus, as man on this earth!

There it was, the root of all superhero stories - the Creator of the universe came from the heights of heaven with all His holy might, as a man on this earth... showing His grace. Amazing! Beyond comprehension! It's even beyond the imagination of the superhero story writers!!

In "Labor of Love", Jill Phillips sings about the baby being the "Maker of the moon", and the "Author of the faith that could make the mountains move." It's the making mountains move part where the story is even more amazing - look at 2 Peter 1:3-4

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Perhaps this Christmas is more meaningful as we see the reality of the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. That's what the headlines have been about for weeks and months now. We long for a superhero to rescue us - look at the expectations put on President-elect Obama!

Immanuel, God with us, gives us hope. Immanuel means we can participate with the Divine, the Creator, and escape the corruption caused by evil desires. John 3:16-17 affirms that as the purpose for Christmas:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

What a phenomenal Superhero, one most worthy of our faith, not just this Christmas, but every day. And not just in our minds, but in our lives!

better to light a candle

It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

I always thought that was from the Bible, but apparently it's not. The closest I could find was Jesus talking about not hiding a candle under a bushel, instead putting it on a candlestick. Still, it's a good philosophy for life.

The church is too often known for what we're against, rather than what we are for. I know the issues are complicated, but to me, denouncing what we are against sounds more like cursing the darkness than lighting a candle.

During recent days and weeks, we're heard a lot of cursing the darkness, whether it be speaking out against Democrats winning the election in the US, greed behind the financial crisis and that unfortunate Black Friday trampling death in Walmart, or the Coalition here in Canada. The media have certainly been quick to whip up fear with the constant barrage of negative news, providing yet further opportunity to curse the darkness.

I'm reminded of Jesus's words: "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone". In response, I have determined to do my best to light a candle.

Through a series of circumstances, I have come to the point of starting a business - in fact, it has now been incorporated for a week. This will be a "Kingdom" or "light a candle" business, doing the best it can to operate according to Kingdom or Biblical principles. This means being concerned for more than merely profit, but being servant-hearted in doing the right thing for all stakeholders: customers, team members, the environment, and return any financial blessing into Kingdom initiatives. I understand that's how corporations were originally conceived, but we've lost that in our "modern" day.

I know this is only one little candle, and may not make a huge difference on its own. But I can imagine the impact on our world if all of who align with the cause of Christ were to light a candle. It may be something as simple as $5 for two pair of shoes!