Thoughts About The Cross

Lately, I've been reading about the cross on which Jesus was sacrificed.  I’ve learned many lessons from it.  Apparently, a prophet, Isaiah, described the ordeal in considerable detail 700 years beforehand, saying the LORD had laid on this poor, tortured individual, the sins of everyone, and in so doing, He “healed” them.  Then, in relation to the story, a criminal named Barabbas was allowed his freedom from death, when Jesus was substituted for him.  The man accepted his freedom.  He represents each of us, for we have been freed from the bondage imposed upon us because of our sins.  We would do best to accept our freedom, but many foolishly remain confined by their sins even after having been given a reprieve.

Conversations arose amongst Jesus and the two malefactors on those three cruel crosses.  One man cried out doubtingly, “If you are God, then save yourself and us.”  The other simply asked, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Paradise.”  He was assured that he’d be in Paradise that day with Christ.  It is the same today, that some will believe while others won’t.  Jesus made no stipulation that good works were necessary, which was impossible anyway.  Forgiveness is available to anyone asking in faith.  Only God can forgive a person’s sins and assure eternal life.  Although Jesus is God, He was as human as we are and complained of thirst.

Looking down from the cross, Jesus noted his mother, deprived of her son’s support and He saw John, His disciple there too.  He asked John to care for her as though she was his own mother.  By this, He portrayed a loving relationship between a mother and her son.

Forgiveness was strongly featured from the cross when Jesus lifted His head to the Heavens and prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.”  Of course He was referring to the people who clamored, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” and to the Roman soldiers who nailed Him there to die an excruciating death.  We know His forgiveness was for us too, because it was for everyone who repents of his or her sins that He died.

The words Jesus spoke just before He died were, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  He could have called ten thousand angels, but He died alone for you and me.  His prayer was heart wrenching, but God could not look upon His Son because He represented all the sins of the world.  Although He was sinless, He was made to be sin for our sakes.  No greater Sacrifice could ever have been made for our sinfulness than for God to sacrifice His Son.  God could not look upon sin.  Jesus suffered the despair of loneliness.

Finally, He raised his head in prayer and exclaimed, “It is finished.”  Now, mankind can meet personally with God at the foot of the cross on which Jesus Christ, gave His life.

Several miraculous things occurred when Jesus died.  Besides the earthquake, a curtain preventing anyone from entering the holiest part of the temple was ripped spontaneously from top to bottom.  It was God’s invitation for everyone to come before Him without hindrance.  That moment, when the sky turned dark in the middle of the afternoon, a centurion who witnessed the drama exclaimed, “Surely, this man was the Son of God!”

While Jesus hung on the cross, soldiers gambled for his cloak.  They were close to the cross but weren’t a part of it, not unlike those who attend church as a social outing, without reverencing God.  The soldiers ignored the cross and cast their dice at the expense of the Saviour, like people do today.  Jesus gives us an opportunity to make a new start in life, a fresh beginning by accepting His offer of forgiveness and renewal.  Fellowship with God and the promise of eternal life are amazing gifts.

By Your Good Works!

A friend pointed out to me that the Scripture in Philippians 2:12 says, that it is necessary to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”  He understands this to mean we must work hard to do all that God would have us do so we will be acceptable when our soul goes into eternity.

He hasn’t understood that Paul the apostle is saying, ‘it is because our sins have been forgiven by the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary, that we desire to show our thankfulness by good works.’  God’s Spirit within a person, is the driving force glorifying God, after he or she has requested forgiveness, and received it.  The Bible tells us, “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure, that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” -Colossians 1:10

If a person does good works to make himself acceptable to God, then he or she is attempting to glorify himself rather than God.  God tells us in His Scriptures, that we were made to glorify Him.... “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” -Ephesians. 2:10.  We are to praise Him, as given in Psalm 50:23, which says, “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me.” We are to glorify Him, as in 1 Cor.10:31, where we are admonished, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”  And it is in humility that one works for God, for the Scripture instructs us saying,  “What doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” -Micah 6:9.

As for doing good things to gain favour with God, the Scripture tells us, “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” -Isaiah. 64:6.  “The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression.” -Ezekiel. 7:19  “A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”- Romans 3:28.  Jesus told us, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life.” -John 5: 24.  We are advised that, it is “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy that He saved us.” -Titus 3:5.

Our good works are meant to glorify our Father in Heaven.  Scripture says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” -Matthew. 5:14.  To do good works to make oneself acceptable to God, it is only an act to glorify one’s own self, and not God.

The parable of the prodigal son is a picture of the forgiveness a father has for his wayward son, who is welcomed upon his return home.  It’s a lesson about what it will be like when God the Father in Heaven welcomes us into our eternal home.  Jesus calls us His brothers and sisters, and members of God’s family.  As wayward as we are in our lives, when we call upon our Heavenly Father to accept us into His family, He will do it without question, never thinking to cast us off for not having earned our way back.  We are accepted “In the Beloved,” as any loving father would accept his own child, forgetting his or her inadequacies.  The “Beloved” is Jesus, considered to be our brother, when God is our Father.  

Will Any Name Suffice?

We have met those who say that regardless of whatever name He may be called, there is just one God.  They say it is the various religious faiths that have given God His various names.  However, one cannot honestly say, “I don’t like to be critical of the faith of others,” for in that statement, a person avoids the truth that God exists as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and in nothing else.

Could it be true, that all faiths actually worship the same God?  Can one stand quietly and agree with the person who issued that statement?  No, - there can be only one true God, Creator of the Heavens and the earth.  The Bible tells us, “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:3)  Scripture also tells us, “there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,”(Acts 4:12) and that Jesus said, “I and my Father are one,” (John 10:30) and “No one cometh unto the Father but by me.”(John 14:6)

The fact is that in all faiths, sinfulness requires restitution in order to be right with God, but there’s no other god that offers forgiveness like God of the Christian faith.  No other faith provides a Saviour from one’s sinfulness, a God who paid the price to redeem sinners.  God in the Bible recognized that we are all sinners unable to earn a relationship with Him.  How would a person know when he or she had repented sufficiently and worked hard enough to earn forgiveness for wrongdoing?  Consequently, God has provided the means by which mankind can be redeemed and have personal communication with Him.  Jesus left his Holy Spirit with us, and through Him, individuals may have a personal relationship with God by asking for forgiveness.

It cannot be true that you can call God by any number of names and He will still be the same God, because there is no god that provided such a magnificent Sacrifice for mankind, which was His own self.  People do not have to earn their way to Heaven by their good works, but only believe with all their hearts, that God provided the way by having come to earth to be one of us, and demonstrating that He has the power over life and death.  Only God has the power to overcome death.

Muslims believe Allah is their god and Muhammad is his prophet.  The Hindus have Brahma, and the Jews, Jehovah.  Ancient Greeks worshipped the god, Zeus.  However, in a sense, these various gods are an answer to a basic need to worship some god, one to whom people can look for mercy and provisions.  The folly is in making gods from wood and stone or as in the case of the Israelites, from gold.  In any of these gods, there is no “truth.”  There is falsehood in abiding by many rules or by living a righteous, god-pleasing life to satisfy the desire of a god.  God expects us to please Him however, but it is only by faith in Christ who gave His life for ours, that we have any relationship with God.  Loving God, who first loved us, will result in the good works that we offer Him.  It is not our good works that will earn the favor of God, for we were made for that purpose, and it is our obligation.

There are those who would say, “God is love,” just as John wrote in the Scripture, John 4:16.  Consequently they would give God the name, “Love.”  Their reasoning is that the truths of all religions of the world could be united under one God if He were given the name, “Love.”

The name, “Love,” if given to God, won’t change the characteristics of the gods devised by man.  Love is not a name for God, because it is His nature to love.  To the fullest extent God demonstrated His love when He gave his life to pay for our sins.  The Scripture in John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down His life for His friends,” and “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” -John 3:16

What sets God above all other gods is that He, Jesus, is the “truth,” and the “truth” is that the Spirit of Jesus, who was God in person, is able to free us from sin and its consequences, permitting us to have a personal relationship with God.  God, according to Scripture in John 4:24, is to be worshipped “in Spirit and in truth,” and in John 14:6, the Bible says that Christ is “the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Him.”

Love is a characteristic of God and Jesus showed it by going to the cross in our place.  A poem by David Sper, editor of Our Daily Bread illustrates this.

When Jesus gave His life for me,
Enduring all the agony
Upon the cross of Calvary,
He showed the love of God.
                                        

All the world’s religions are not the same, nor will all people be united by giving their various gods only one name for the purpose that He would be recognized by all.  Love is simply a characteristic of God, and it is not a name we can give Him.  God has so many ineffable names such as Counselor, the Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, Jesus Christ, Saviour, Benefactor and Gracious Father, that each is accurate, yet at the same time, only partly describes our great God of the Universe.  He has existed forever, being the Creator and Sustainer of all.  God is forgiving and merciful, and promises to dwell forever in our hearts when we believe Jesus was sent to earth for our sakes.

People have devised other gods.  Their strength has only been imaginative.  Elijah called upon God to ignite the fire on the sacrifice made to Him, and God ignited the sacrifice though it had been thoroughly soaked.  Numerous gods of men’s devices were called upon, and they all were “asleep.”  To be correct, they were simply non-existent.  Only when we accept Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, will we know the one true God, whose name is Jesus Christ, who can bind people together with His great love.

What to Wear

In today’s society, where casual wear is appropriate for social occasions, we try to choose the most suitable attire.  We have clothes for work, for church, social occasions and various sports, as well as for yard-work, the shop, pipe band practice and parades.

Another way to think of wearing apparel is to consider how we look to others as they observe our attitudes and reactions.  This is using clothing of a metaphorical kind; the correct wearing apparel for the way we interact with one another.  The spiritual apparel for followers of Christ is of more importance than the actual style of clothing we wear.

Dress codes for Jesus’ friends have been given to us in the Scriptures.  We are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.  We must be forgiving and above all, we must “put on love which is the bond of perfection.”(Colossians 3:14)

The Person for whom we go to work each day is Jesus.  We must please Him by how we present ourselves.  The right apparel should be worn!  We must ask ourselves if we have been conforming to His dress code, for the kind of work He would have us do.

                                                O to be like Him, tender and kind,
                                                Gentle in spirit, lovely in mind;
                                                More like Jesus, day after day,
                                                Filled with His Spirit, now and alway.
                                                                                         -Ellsworth

The Miracle of Christmas

A morning worship service in December consisted almost entirely of a pageant and choral singing by children who had practiced regularly after school since September.  It was a special blessing to us because three of our grandchildren were part of the choir.  Their program caused me to think that we should celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ every day of the year, with Christmas being one great celebration of Jesus’ birth, to include beautiful singing and pageantry like we were experiencing that morning.

The pageant made us aware that there are many that celebrate every possible occasion throughout the year, such as Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Canada Day and their home team’s big winning game of the season.  To them, Christmas means holidays, parties, decorations, bonuses and presents.  Their celebrations don’t include carol singing and going to church, but instead, they centre on festivities, gifts and decorations.

A pageant with enthusiastic singing promotes the Spirit of Christmas, and it was wonderful to see how well the children learned the words to so many songs and sang them so well.  The director too, was appreciated for her devotion and interaction.

“The In-betweeners,” a group of young at heart seniors from our church, organized a trip to Warm Beach, Washington, to view an extravagant display of Christmas lighting.  There were huge scenes of ice-capped mountains.  Swans and angels, were reflected in a pond.  The tallest cherry-pickers possible had been used to set lights and ornaments on the statuesque coniferous trees.  Not another location in the United States has as many lights as this park.  There are millions!

Following our walking tour the dinner was superb and then the theatre afterwards was most enjoyable.  The setting for the play was a country home and their entertainment was in portraying the story of Jesus’ birth.  Mary was played by a corpulent farmer, which made the play humorous and enlightening.  Instruments played were the spoons, a washboard, the violin and guitar.  Their singing was extraordinarily beautiful.

In December, “The Fellowship Singers” choir of which I am a part presented a program of Christmas music to the seniors in Westminster House, and again on a Sunday evening at church.  From Vancouver, The Welsh Men’s Choir, along with a Senior High School choir presented an outstanding evening of singing.  Afterwards, those of us from our small community who attended were invited to a lady’s home for wonderfully prepared party food.

Our home is decorated for Christmas, with new LED lights along the gables, and a Noble Fir in the living room, ornamented with the same delightful ornaments used in our family for many years.  Our daughter and her family are expected for a pre-Christmas dinner and games.

A potluck dinner in the home of our bible study leaders is planned for a week before Christmas, with approximately twenty people, and our small neighborhood community will be having a luncheon for thirty.

As a family event, we attended a play called “Robinson Crusoe,” in White Rock’s Playhouse Theatre.  It had no relation to Christmas other than that it was colorful and its talented participants were dedicated to its presentation.

Another highlight in this season’s entertainment will be our trip into Vancouver to enjoy a musical concert by Denzal Sinclair, a notable jazz singer who we first met at McGill University in Montreal when he performed in his graduating year.  This evening of entertainment is a Christmas gift to us from our daughter and son-in-law.

We will attend the Christmas Eve service at our church.  Then, we will have a family gathering at our daughter and son-in-law’s home.  Christmas day will be celebrated as a family time enjoying a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

In keeping with Christmas celebrations, The Langley Legion Pipe Band to which I belong, is planning a concert in Surrey on New Year’s day.  Harmony was assigned to me and it’s a challenge.

With so many special events that surround the celebration of Christ’s birth, we will not lose sight of this great event as the most fantastic one in the entire history of mankind.  It was the fulfillment of a plan by God, to relate to every one of us personally.  Jesus, God’s own Son, came as a tiny baby.  In humility, He was born in a barn.  When He became a man, He gave His life as payment for our sinfulness, to enable us to have a relationship with God.  Jesus arose to live again, giving more evidence of God’s unfathomable love.  We will not let the trappings of the world cause us to take our eyes off the Savior

Playing in the Rain

Wouldn't it be lovely if every piping engagement was either inside a big acoustically perfect auditorium or outside on a warm sunny day, and we wouldn't have to consider what we’d do if it rained?  To be invited to play for a memorial service outside in November in Canada brings definite thoughts about what to do if it rains or if the weather is expected to be so cold that the fingers won’t manipulate properly on the pipe chanter.  One must also consider the possibility of endangering the pipes to cracking, thus ruining them because of the differential of temperatures, inside and outside the pipes.

Those were precisely the considerations for the day I was scheduled to play for a graveside service on November the 30th and the prediction was for heavy rain.  Preparations were made nevertheless, because the weather can change every half-hour in White Rock, and with fervent prayer, God might be compassionate and eliminate the rain.

Much praying was done in the two weeks beforehand and on that morning, my full piper’s outfit was protected with a clear plastic raincoat with a hood.  The pipes were tuned at the cemetery shortly beforehand and there was time for a walk-through on the path that would lead the family to the graveside of their two deceased brothers.  A small amount of rain was falling when everyone was paraded to the location.  “O Rowan Tree” was the selection.  The service went smoothly, with a sister reading the 23rd Psalm.  Her brother presented eulogies and a prayer. “Amazing Grace” was played and soon everyone was led back to the road with, “When They Ring Those Golden Bells.”  The final hymn, “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” was long enough to end the service nicely, yet not so long that it would retain everyone in the cold, damp air.

We thank God for allowing the rain to subside long enough for the service to go well, and that the pipes could be an integral part of this family’s precious moments.

Cold weather and rain are elements that make piping difficult, and certain standards have to be set by pipers regarding their ability to say, “No,” for outside services if there is an expectation of inclement weather.  Definitely, pouring rain and temperatures near freezing are not conducive to good piping.  A cold, wet chanter is difficult to play because the fingers slip and cannot cover the holes properly.  The sound will be embarrassingly affected.  If one finds himself or herself in that situation, it is well to have a dry towel handy, to wipe the chanter dry, and it is also well to have kept the hands under one’s armpits to keep the fingers warm.  A fine set of bagpipes can be ruined by severely cold weather.  It is wise not to consider playing outside when the temperature is too uncomfortable to do so.  It’s best for the piper and his pipes.

In general, one is wise not to accept engagements to play outside in cold or rainy weather.  If the pipes must be heard at the graveside and the weather conditions are not suitable for piping, then a recording of the hymns should be played instead.

Thanksgiving in Connecticut

They were long flights between Vancouver BC and Hartford CT, and three hours difference in time requires several days to readjust, going either way, but it’s all well worth the effort.  Our experiences on this Thanksgiving holiday were wonderful.

A good maneuver was to leave home in White Rock about four in the afternoon.  It became our driver’s concern to get us safely to Vancouver over a busy highway, one that turned dark and dazzling in the rain.  After three-quarters of an hour we arrived at the hotel where we would stay overnight.  It was convenient to be close to the airport when having to leave so early.  Our plane was scheduled to take off at 8:20 AM, which meant arising at five.  Considerable snow had fallen during the night, and the plane needed to be de-iced.  We were an hour late taking off.  Transferring in Chicago was convenient.  Our son and grandchildren welcomed us at the Hartford airport after our day of flying,

Thanksgiving was celebrated by having dinner with our son, daughter-in-law and two grandkids, along with the other grandparents, their other daughter and her husband and their two children.  Everyone enjoyed the occasion, especially the delicious turkey with its cranberry sauce, accessories and pumpkin pie.

Our week was delightful, a highlight being an afternoon in Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts.   Houses and businesses dating to the 1700’s had been relocated on this picturesque property.  One could imagine having stepped back in time, to watch the shoemaker, tinsmith, blacksmith and citizens of the town occupied with their various tasks.  The weather was cooperative, making the stroll between buildings quite easy.

Each day was highlighted by something special.  For example, there was the two-mile walk, with many other people through Willimantic.  It was an interfaith project to underwrite the cost of winter heating for poor people in the area.  Our daughter-in-law baked a number of pumpkin pies, which were sold to help the cause.  On Sunday morning, we attended our son’s church.  A country pizza restaurant was a great place for informal family dining.

Our four-year-old grandson demonstrated his bicycling ability without the help of training wheels.  He delighted in speeding, stopping quickly and wearing out the tire.  While he continued his wipeouts, his two-year old sister loved to ride in her stroller.

One can imagine the commitment of parents who have children ages two and four.  They were so happy to be given an evening to forget about kids and enjoy a movie, and afterwards, hear that their kids went to bed easily, and were resting for the next day.

This dad usually fixes a few things and this time he remounted the key and letter holder on the wall, the coat hanging board too, which had just fallen, and the weather strip at the bottom of the mudroom door.  There’s satisfaction in repairing things.

All in all, it was a great week visiting, interacting with our grandchildren and fixing things.  We look forward to another worthwhile visit in the summer.  As for anticipating their visit, we’ll have to wait until the kids are a couple of years older.  Such a long trip would be extremely tiring for them and taxing for their parents.  It is important to maintain a place in the lives of our grandchildren so they will know and love us.  Our closeness will continue with phone conversations.  Fond memories of a great week of Thanksgiving in Connecticut will be long-lasting.