Keeping Christ Central in Christmas

Keeping Christ Central in Christmas

by | Nov 23, 2020 | article

   In one very factual way, encouraging one another to keep Christ central in Christmas is rather naive. Christ is central to Christmas! Christmas is totally dependent upon Christ. The very word, Christmas, has no meaning without Christ.

   Keeping Christ Central in Christmas can, and often has become, a cliché. Christians become dismayed with culture’s attempts to retain the “holiday spirit” while making every effort to expunge any mention of Christ.  There is a fascinating reality to the world’s substitution of Happy Holiday for Merry Christmas.  It is a simple admission of ignorance, since the word holiday is from the old English hāligdæg, that is holy day which, in its context, was a reference to Christmas.

   As a young Pastor I had people who wanted to do away with the Christmas tree.  They saw it as a pagan remnant dragged into the Christian world.  While acknowledging that there were some pagan origins behind the development of the Christmas tree, it was not the intention of those who are responsible for the tradition to impose any form of paganism upon Christmas.  My response was to think through the tree with all its various decorations and develop a symbolism for each one.  This became the subject of a Sunday night sermon encouraging parents to use the tree and the decorations as teaching tools when they gathered their children around the tree.

   The question persists.  How do we, as Christ followers, implement practicing keeping Christ central in Christmas?  When I was a boy, in the 1940’s, Christmas was about a tree, colored lights and toys.  Church was about sitting still and enduring the “man up front” droning on for what seemed hours (it really was only about 20 minutes I learned later).  There also were variety of  plays in which children were supplied wings to become angels or robes to become either wisemen or shepherds.  Obviously, the liberal church of my childhood days did little to keep Christ central in Christmas.

   When I became a Christ follower at age seventeen and entered the world of evangelicalism, the message of Christmas was clearly articulated.  Nonetheless, the holiday was largely about cultural traditions.  Much that took place in the church was more about culture than Christ and looked not much different than my youthful liberal church.

   But the question persists! How do we keep Christ central? Certainly, you have heard discussions on this issue heretofore.  They run something like this, Only play church music in your home or in your car from Thanksgiving till Christmas.  Be sure to be in church every Sunday of the Advent season.  Be sure children’s programs revolve around the birth of Christ.  Read the Christmas story and not silly things like The Night Before Christmas to your children.  You get the picture.  All these may have merit and are useful ways of reminding us that Christmas is about the birth of the Savior.

   Once more, the pesky question.  “How do we keep Christ central at Christmas?”  Well here is the answer I propose.  Keep Christ central 364 days a year and you will keep Him central on the 365th day.  Is Christmas special?  To answer that, let me ask, Is communion special?  The answer to both is yes.  In my denomination (the PCA), we emphasize self-examination and personal preparation during the week prior to communion so that we come to the table with an intensified desire to worship by our participation.  So, Christmas is an opportunity to intensify our awareness that God became man in order that man might be reconciled to God and hence, worship the King.  Jesus instituted the sacrament to induce our remembrance.  Throughout the Bible there are many examples of commemorative holidays intended to remind God’s people to keep God front and center.  Christmas, with lights and gifts and glorious music in a variety of genres all enhance our remembering that all this tensile only exists because of Christ.  In the final analysis, keeping Christ front and central in Christmas boils down to a personal decision to recognize Him as King every day of our lives.  

 

*Dr. Eyrich is a retired PCA pastor. However, he continues to pursue ministry opportunities from preaching, to counseling, to supervising counseling trainees, to writing and teaching for Birmingham Theological Seminary where he also serves as Director of the Doctor of Ministry—Biblical Counseling Program.

Wild Game Recipes

Wild Game Recipes

by | Nov 23, 2020 | article

Venison Tenderloin Marinade.

This is a great recipe to be cooked on the open grill, to be enjoyed with your favorite beverage. Make sure your tenderloin has been aged and then combine

5 green onions

¾ cup vegetable oil

½ cup soy sauce

1 ½ tsp. ginger

1 ½ tsp. garlic powder

3 Tbls. Honey

2 Tbls. Vinegar

all ingredients. Pour marinade into gallon sized Ziploc bag. Add tenderloin and seal. Marinade whole venison tenderloin up to 2 days in refrigerator. Cook on hot grill. Don’t overcook it!

Wild duck Breast Wrapped with Bacon.

Whether you have domestically grown ducks or enjoy hunting these winged birds at your favorite spot, a good recipe with bacon goes a long way to rounding out the day. Ducks can be cooked as whole or breasted. This recipe is to simply,

6 wild duck breast, skin removed

1 pkg. Italian dressing mix prepared according to package instructions

2 Tbls. Worchester Sauce

1 clove of garlic crushed

¾ tsp. ground cloves

1 lb. pork bacon

Soak duck breasts in salt water for 30 minutes, dry with paper towels and place in shallow pan. Combine dressing Worcestershire, garlic and cloves and pour mixture over duck breasts. Marinate overnight in the refrigerator.

Remove duck from marinade and wrap each breast in two or more slices of bacon.

Place duck breasts on broiling pan and broil about 3 inches from heat for about 5 minutes on each side, or until internal temperature reaches 155 degrees. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Alternatively, you may also cook them on the grill over hot coals (must use water soaked tooth picks to hold bacon together if you decide to grill them rather than broil).

Serve and enjoy.

Courtesy of Mapleleaffarms.com

Honey Roasted Wild Rabbit in Honey Mustard Sause.

These little fellows can be found almost anywhere or again breed then at home. There are very high in protein and low in fat. First you need a roasting pan and

1 2.2lb whole rabbit

5 Tbls. butter

1 tsp. finely chopped parsley

½ cup hot chicken stock

2 Tbls. Honey

1 heaping teaspoon wholegrain mustard

Pinch of salt, if needed

Take the rabbit and place it in a roasting pan. Take butter and pinch off pieces and smear it onto the rabbit, all over inside cavity and outside. Scatter with the parsley and roast uncovered in 165 C oven for 30 minutes.

Remove pan from oven, pour the hot stock into the bottom of the pan and cover with foil. Slide back into oven and cook for one hour.

Remove rabbit from oven and leave to rest for a few minutes while you make the sauce. To make the sauce, mix the honey and mustard together in a small bowl.

Serve the rabbit, seasoned with a little salt, with the sauce alongside. This would pair well with creamy mashed potatoes and a salad.

Serves 3-4

www.comfortbites.co.uk 

Wild Boar Pulled Pork Recipe.

Wild pig or boar are being seen more and more in Alabama. Either will do the job with this recipe. I enjoy this with a good Shoulder Roast. Start with a good 5 or 6 pounds of meat and

1 wild boar roast or shoulder roast (5-6 pounds)

Olive oil

1 Tbls. Smoked paprika

½ Tbls. Dried rosemary

½ Tbls. Garlic powder

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

2-3 celery stalks, diced

3 to 4 carrots, peeled and diced

Water

Coat all sides of roast with olive oil.

In a small bowl, combine paprika, rosemary, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Rub over entire roast.

Heat a little olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add meat, and sear on all sides until evenly browned.

Place roast, onion, celery, and carrots in a slow cooker. Add enough water to cover the bottom by ¼ inch.

Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours, or until meat pulls apart easily.

Remove meat and set aside to rest for 20-30 minutes before shredding.

Enjoy as a sandwich, wrapped in a tortilla, or as a stand-alone pulled pork dish with sauce

Good cooking and good hunting

Are You Satisfied With the Status Quo?

Are You Satisfied With the Status Quo?

by | Nov 23, 2020 | article

   Status quo is defined as the existing state of affairs.  In other words, status quo is a phrase describing the current circumstances of your life.  Are you staisfied with yoour current circumstances?

   Some of us may have employment troubles.  Or we may have burdensome family issues or personal trials.  The current state of affairs in this nation certainly give rise to many conflicting opinions.  Are we satisfied with these things, or do we want something different, something better?  The bigger question is: if we are not satisfied, can we somehow change the status quo?

   The Holy Scriptures gives us the resonding answer YES!  The Bible tells us that there is an ordained means to change the status quo of our lives.  That means is prayer.  In James 5:16. it is written: “The effectual prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”  It goes on to describe how Elijah prayed for long-term, big changes to the status quo of natural events (the weather) in response to a rebellious people, and his big prayers were answered multiple times.  We are also reminded that Elijah “was a man with a nature like ours” (James 5:17).  So, in many respects, Elijah was just a normal guy like you and me.

    In the scriptures, almost all prayer is petitionary.  This means that we ask (petition) God to do things in the earth.  We ask God to change the way things are.  In doing so, we are in fact admitting that we are not satisfied with the status quo.  Our dissatisfaction will and should gives rise to prayers asking for change.

   But, we need to be carful to distinguish between godly and ungodly dissatisfaction.  Ungodly dissatisfaction is when God does good things for us (even things we think are not good), and we do not accept what He has done.  Make no mistake: God only does good things,  He is alll wise and purposeful, and our response of unacceptance is sinful and dishonoring to Him.  On the other hand, godly dissatisfaction can arise when things of this world are out of balance, displeasing or harmful to us, or impeding the Kingdom of God, and we ask God to change them.  In particular, we ask Him to make things better align with the truth and purposes of the Bible and His holy will.  There is nothing wrong with this type of godly dissatisfaction.  In fact, we need more of it.

   So, let us learn to rightly evaluate the current circumstances of our life, and then pray occording to His will.  If prayer is difficult for you, pray words from the Bible.  The book of Psalms is particularly helpful in this regard.  God is pleased to hear His own words prayed back to Him.  Prayer spoken to Him with a right spirit are always heard and answered.  Though, be prepared, that sometimes, perhaps many times, His answer may be to persevere in your present trials.  Why is this?  He has His purpose that we may not fully understand.

   Nevertheless, press on in your petitions to God as did the widow in her petition to the judge in Luke 18: 1-5.  If we are genuinely respectful and humble, we can be bold in our requests to God (Psalm 141:1) and can ask honest, difficult questions to Him (Psalm 13: 1-2).

   Prayer can change the staus quo in your life.  Always seek to improve your current life circumstances through prayer.

Ephesus and Thyatira

Ephesus and Thyatira

by | Nov 23, 2020 | article

    In the 2nd and 3rd chapters of John’s apocalypse we see some of the most pastorally poignant writing in Revelation: the letters to the churches.  These letters were penned to actual churches located in modern day Turkey.  And these letters continue to be relevant to the life of the church today; even now you have your faithful Smyrnas pleasing to the Lord, and your lukewarm Laodecias, teetering on the edge of judgment and oblivion.

   I want to look at two of these churches: Ephesus and Thyatira.  On the surface, you could not find two more different churches: Ephesus with its doctrinal purity and emotionlessness, and Thyatira with its warm, embracing nature and theological heedlessness.  Ephesus was in some ways a truly commendable church.  The Lord gave them two very meaningful commendations: they could not tolerate evil, and they tested the claims of those who come bearing a word from God.  They found them to be false witnesses, and drove them out.  Yet, the Lord chided them for “abandoning their first love.”

   Thyatira, on the other hand, was a church that was loving.  Christ said he knew their love and faith. These were clearly discernible, and flowed out in their service to God and to people.  Put in modern words, they were a church intent upon “living the gospel”.  Yet, he had a criticism to level against them: they tolerated false teachers.  They allowed anti-gospel teaching to infiltrate the church and put the church itself in danger of falling under the wrath of God.

   These two churches illustrate a divide we often see today: Love vs Doctrine.  Too many churches place such a priority upon “loving people” that they fail to heed all that scripture teaches about the Law, and Holiness, and indeed even about the purity of the Church.  In such churches compromises are made, sins ignored or even celebrated as “inclusive” or “tolerant” (both are words God hates in their modern definitions).  On the other hand, you have the Ephesuses of the world.  These churches practice doctrinal rigor, but in a life choking way.  Doctrinal purity, if pursued rightly, is life giving and enhances the vitality of the church.  But these churches are so concerned with making sure to check every box that in the process they lose their love for God and for their neighbor, thereby nullifying their practice of the two great commandments. 

   These are two different problems to which Christ, through John, gives the same solution: repent.  Has the love of your heart for Christ grown cold, even while your theological rigor remains strong?  Christ says repent, return to your first love.  Have you failed to maintain purity, allowing worldly teaching and philosophy to cloud and taint the doctrine of your heart or that of your church?  Repent, repudiate the works of the world, cast off every form of worldly inclusivism that may have crept in, and cultivate the zeal for God that caused Christ to drive the money changers out of the temple with a whip.

In a simple way, the answer to all of our problems is the same, though in practice it takes a myriad of different forms. If we slip away, the corrective is always the same: return to Christ. Stop making something in our lives more important than his word, his will, his presence. In Revelation 2 and 3, at the end of each letter, Christ enumerates the rich rewards that attend those who faithfully hold to him. It is my prayer that each one of you partakes of the good things which abundantly flow from the hand of God to those who faithfully cling to him. 

Biblical Local Church Membership. Headship, and the Year 2020

Biblical Local Church Membership. Headship, and the Year 2020

by | Aug 24, 2020 | article

   As the unfolding events of 2020 have seemingly brought every human institution to its knees, the American church is in an unprecedented time in its short history.  Church attendance, without a doubt, is the lowest it’s been in recent history.  No doubt 2020 has been a challenging time for local church leadership.  Unprecedented decisions have had to be made.  In the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, as government guidelines were mandated, the majority of churches complied and adapted for the safety of the flock by holding online services.  Hopefully, some data will be out soon, but it seems that many churches are still primarily online five months later.  Some churches adapted by holding drive-in services held in parking lots.  Sunday schools, small groups, and other discipleship groups have either gone to Zoom meetings, or other platforms, or have not met at all.  Essentially, church attendance and church involvement has declined drastically.

   Two things that I want to submit to you all is that this year has reinforced the essential need for biblical church membership and biblical headship.  This is a call that the local church must be calling and answering at all times, not just in moments of crisis.

   Here are just a few reasons, and certainly not exhaustive, for why I think that the call to biblical local church membership and headship is essential, at all times, but certainly within our current context of 2020.

Biblical Local Church Membership

   First, let’s start with a brief but helpful definition of a biblical local church.  A biblical local church is a church that devotes themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the braking of bread and prayers; all who belive join together, attending church, and praising God.  With church attendance and involvement declining, membership will likely decline and if membership declines, many churches will eventually be forced to shut its doors.  Sound biblical local churches need to be in place and ready to minister to those that will carry on in the faith.  In challenging times like these, biblical local church membership is essential to shepherding the flock as God has ordained.

Biblical Headship

   For the sake of clarity and because this topic can be a hot button topic, a clearly defined role of biblical headship would be most helpful.  “… [U]nderstand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of the wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God’ (I Cor. 11:3) (Col. 1:18).  In a time where regular local church worship and discipleship has been restricted, it is the responsibility of the male headship to disciple his family.