Faith | Heartstone Journey

Why Christmas Isn’t About Peace

As we step into the Christmas season we find ourselves caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping to fill that space under the tree, making plans to be with our loved ones in the coziness of our homes to enjoy a nice dinner…and we ponder the joys this time of the season brings.

Christmas trees, white Christmas, Santa Claus, nativity scenes and all the symbols one would find on some card we pick out in the card aisle of our favorite store. Then there’s the yearly conflict on what to call the company party; a holiday or Christmas party. Can I say ‘Merry Christmas’ without getting fired? Is it a holiday tree or a Christmas tree? Is Jesus really the season or is it a pagan holiday? Is it a Christian holiday or is everyone included like on the coexist bumper stickers?

…the conflict of Christmas!

So let me ask you something, do you really think that Jesus traded Heaven for Earth to come and bring peace? Let’s see what the Bible tell us.

Is Going To Church Absolutely Necessary?

Sunday is coming and going to church is looming on the horizon.

Let me know if you can relate to this. There’s allot going on and the tug-o-war begins on how to make everything happen — including going to church. Then it happens…you’re subconscious, a well-meaning church friend or a pushy pastor begins to woodpecker you that you need to go to church.

For many of us, Sundays without church can bring a tremendous amount of guilt! Church can be a wellspring for spiritual development and growth, but it’s not the only place for this to happen. People really buy into the narrative that we can only find our spiritual life within the walls of our church and if we look elsewhere, we’re doing it wrong or the experience is somehow “not real”. If you can’t or won’t find your way into a building called “church” on Sunday, be encouraged because you can fully walking it out and love Him without perfect attendance.

So, is going to church absolutely necessary? The short answer is no, but keep reading…

Worship In The Midst Of A Secular Culture

Matt Redman singing his worship song “10,000 Reasons” live in Times Square, New York. The advertisements in the background are flashing, promoting different products and services, while the crowd sings praises to God.

During a time of such global turmoil in a growing secular culture…it’s just awesome that worship to the one true living God can happen in such a place as Times Square!

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14

How A Stump Can Man You Up

Life is a journey. At times everything can be going great and life’s good, but often there are times when life gives you a solid throat punch! In tough times we can often feel alone and without any sort of compass to guide us. The boy in the legend below is symbolic of you, of me, and what he discovers is an important reminder for all of us on our road to manhood.

There is rite-of-passage into adulthood story for a Cherokee Indian boy where his father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him, and leaves him alone. To pass the test, the boy is required to sit on a stump (or log) all night and not remove the blindfold until the morning sun shines through it.

He cannot cry out for help to anyone. If he survives the night, he is a man. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each youngster must come into manhood on his own.

Why God Uses Symbols To Communicate To Us

When we begin to explore God’s word, it doesn’t take too long to discover that God uses tangible symbols as a way of communicating to us. Often God’s people are instructed to make use of symbols to help them understand or remember what God is teaching them. Some examples of symbols include

the rainbow as the sign of God’s covenant to us that He will never again destroy the earth by a flood (Genesis 9:13),
the placement of the twelve stones in the River Jordan to remind the Israelites of the crossing God had provided for them “as a sign” and “memorial” (Joshua 4:3-7),
the star of Bethlehem to signify the birth of Christ (Matthew 2:2),
the dove to signify the Spirit’s presence at Jesus’ baptism (John 1:32),
water to signify one’s commitment to Christ at baptism (Romans 6:4),
bread and wine to signify Jesus’ body and blood (1 Corinthians 11:23-26),
the symbol of a lamb to represent Jesus Christ (John 1:29), and
my heartstone (Joshua 24:27 NLT).

Also, we still use symbols today to communicate important moments of significance such as wedding rings, birthday cakes, birth stones, and red roses. They are used today as a natural way of communicating significant meaning. There are also many references to the symbolism of stones in the bible, but here are some that I have collected that have significance for me.

Why Christmas Isn’t About Peace

Is Going To Church Absolutely Necessary?

Worship In The Midst Of A Secular Culture

How A Stump Can Man You Up

Why God Uses Symbols To Communicate To Us

Favorite Quotes

Cool Scripture

Never Out Of The Fight!

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