God Comes to the World at Christmas Through the Unexpected

God Comes to the World at Christmas Through the Unexpected

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Tim Keller, and the Scripture is 1 Corinthians 1 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

God penetrates the world through the womb of a poor, unwed, Jewish teenage girl. We know that in those days women had a very, very low status. For example, a woman?s testimony was not admissible in court because of prejudice against women.

God is deliberately working with people the world despises. The very first witnesses to his nativity and resurrection are people whom the world says you can?t trust, people the world looks down on.

You don?t despise women, but you despise somebody. (Oh, yes you do!) You may not be a racist, but you certainly despise racists. You may not be a bigot, but you have certain people about which you think, They?re the reason for the problems in the world.

There?s a place in one of Martin Luther?s nativity sermons where he asks something like, ?Do you know what a stable smells like?? Do you know what that family would have smelled like after the birth when they went out into the city? And if they were standing next to you, how would you have felt about them and regarded them? He is saying, I want you to see Christ in the neighbor and in the type of people that you tend to despise.

Jesus Christ was the judge of the earth who came not to bring judgment but to bare judgment and to go to Hell for His enemies. Jesus says, I lost my glory, I lost my Father, I lost my life, and I lost everything, so that I wouldn?t lose you. The church should be a group of people who love one another for Jesus? sake. So be patient, it? ll take time, but Jesus has the power to transform your heart to love the despised of this world.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Jesus Took the Blame

Jesus Took the Blame

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Tim Keller found in Nancy Guthrie's book Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, and the Scripture is 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

In all relationships-marriage, parent-child, co-worker-at some point you get into a conversation that goes something like this:

"You're to blame!"

"No, it's your fault!"

"No, it's you."

"No it isn't. It's you."

What's happening? The relationship is falling apart because neither side will take the blame, budge an inch, or make any concessions. Neither side will admit wrong or drop defenses. And as long as defenses are up, the relationship is going awry.

But then something happens:

"You're to blame!"

"No, it's your fault!"

"No, it's you."

"No it isn't. It's you."

"Okay, it's me."

One person drops defenses. The relationship starts to come back because one person is willing to say, "Yeah, it's me. I am to blame here." One person makes himself or herself vulnerable, and the relationship is restored.

There is no way to have a real relationship without becoming vulnerable to hurt. And Christmas tells us that God became breakable and fragile. God became someone we could hurt, and Jesus took the blame. Why? To get us back.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

In All Your Ways Acknowledge Him

Dear Champions,

 

The short excerpt is by Dabo Swinney after he was named Clemson's head football coach last Monday, and the Scripture is Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

 

I need to take this platform that I have been blessed with, and I need to thank God.  There's only one reason that this guy from Alabama is sitting in front of you today, and that's because of the grace of God.  I hope people will listen to me when I tell them what my secret to success is.  That is to put your eyes on the Lord in everything that you do, believe in yourself, and you don't quit.  If you do that; you'll know success, and you'll know true happiness.

 

Last week as I knew this thing (of being the interim coach) was coming to an end, not knowing what was going to happen, I got a little devotional that comes to me everyday.  Tuesday of last week the scripture for the day was Revelation 3:8 (I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.  I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.). 

 

I came in Thursday morning and deleted that email, and it shows up again-the same email and the same verse.  So we had our Thanksgiving service that morning, and I read it to the team.  We've opened a door that nobody can shut.  I had a great peace about it, and I pretty much knew that South Carolina was in trouble on Saturday.

 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

 

P.S.  To read Dabo Swinney's life story and how he endured an alcoholic father and losing his home while in high school and many other challenges, click on the following link. 

 

http://clemson.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=882281