One of the first reasons I enjoy Wright is that his scholarly work is impeccable. He has embarked on what will be a six-volume series called “Christian Origins and the Question of God.” His deep histori-cal work and his attention to the biblical texts forces scholars around the world to familiarize themselves with and address the conclusions of his work. He has a massive tome on the life and death of Jesus that demolishes the popularized myths about Jesus that are often featured in American newsweeklies and television news magazines. His most recent, 800-page volume on the historical and theological truth of Jesus’ resurrection alone has sent shock waves through the academy. I really enjoy reading Wright – a good writer who is both bold and self-deprecating.

Secondly, though, Wright is a bold preacher and wonderfully pastoral. That is to say, Wright doesn’t merely write works for the sake of ivory tower dis-cussion. Whenever Wright publishes a scholarly work, he releases a few more readable books on the same topic for discussion in the church. He deeply cares about the church and the character of Christian Faith in the public square – hence his recent work as a bishop and, accordingly, a member of the House of Lords. He has released a number of commentaries on various books of the New Testament with titles like “Matthew For Every-one” or “Romans for Everyone.” Quite a number of pastors I talk with enjoy these books immensely and recommend them to their churches. We’ve shown a few videos of Wright here

at the church over the years as well.

Lastly, I appreciate Wright for taking upon himself a mantle that I’ve always associated with C. S. Lewis – namely, a hum-ble yet straightforward apologist for the Christian Faith in a world of skeptics. He just released a third book in a recent series attempting to explain and clarify the Christian Faith. The first book, entitled “Simply Christian” is much like Lewis’ “Mere Chris-tianity.” The difference, here though, is that Wright is a New Testament scholar and offers quite a bit more NT reflection and Jewish background to Lewis’ philosophical deductions. The second book, entitled “Surprised by Hope” (again playing off of Lewis’ title “Surprised by Joy”) is a wonderful discus-sion of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (again, a popular book derived from the larger scholarly vol-ume), the end of the world and the life everlasting. The most recent book, “After You Believe” is a dis-cussion of Christian ethics (hence the sub-title “Why Christian Character Matters”). The beauty of this third volume is its emphasis on Christian living, when often most scholars, or teachers for that mat-ter, stop at simply what you know or believe. Wright is intent on describing a Christian “life” that corresponds to a Christian “faith.”

I do not agree with every point Wright makes, though, in his shadow, I am far from confident in my counter-arguments. Yet, if you happen to see Dr. Wright on television, responding to a question of Christian Origins or the New Testament, know that he is a stalwart defender of the Christian Faith and a humble and gracious apologist. I also couldn’t rec-ommend more highly these three most recent works for your shelves. The Gidden’s found Wright’s “Surprised By Hope” to be immensely helpful for them in Zimbabwe. I share their sentiment and pray for the work and ministry of N. T. Wright.

There are a few links for you to follow, that I hope can be of help to you. 

The first is a quick link to a few recommended books by topics on our website: 

• Recommended Reading 

Click on any of the titles listed there to be taken to a more detailed view at Amazon.com. 

The second is a link to the books of my own library: 

• Pastor’s Library

This link is to a new program called “Google Books.”  It lists all the books of my library by category.  To begin with, it lists some of my favorites, what I’m reading now, and what I’m hoping to read soon.  Then, as you scroll down the page, books are listed by category (alphabetically).  You can also jump to the appropriate category on the menu on the left hand side of the screen.  There are typically many books in each category – click on the arror on the right of each line to move through all of them.  Click on the book itself to be moved to a more detailed description and (potentiall) a limited preview of the books contents.

The hope in listing this is that if you are searching for a book on a particular topic or subject, this could help navigate through the mass of books available.  Usually the book of my library are ones that I would recommend, but there are a number that I have on my shelves that I am not necessarily endorsing – just books that I need to be familiar with and engage with.  I hope to be able, when I have time, to rate the books, so to speak – but until then, just ask me if you have a question.

 Our annual budget gives around $10,000 to the work of mission in our Presbytery – for ethnic congregations, for outreach, and for our children’s sake in the mission and ministry of Calvin Crest

• This year we started a home-grown outreach to help feed a hungry village in Zimbabwe in partnership with former members of ours who we love dearly.  We started the project in March – to date we have raised, outside of our budgetary giving, over $11,000 dollars in less than a year to directly purchase food packs that are delivered to a village in Zimbabwe
• We donated over $1500 for our denomination’s One Great Hour of Sharing offering, which is an annual donation given to hunger programs and disaster assistance relief.
• Our congregation has given financially to C.A.R.E. our local food bank.  Our church has also facilitated a monthly donation of food items to C.A.R.E. which has grown considerably over the year.  It has grown to such an extent that other partner churches in the Ministerial Association are going to join our church in monthly giving of food items to accommodate for cutbacks that are occurring in our local distributors of food.
• Our congregation has donated thousands to our Deacons – who helps people in need in our church and community, and who have organized three separate trips to the Salvation Army facility in downtown Modesto, to feed over 125 people on three separate occasions.
• Our Deacons facilitated the giving of gifts to a number of local families, notably this year’s Christmas gift drive, which helped 27 children and 19 adults.
• Members of our church have partnered with other members of our community to donate to the Ministerial Association’s Christmas Fund.  We were able to disburse over $17,000 worth of vouchers to local food markets to needy families in our community, with even more money pouring in.  This is the most that we’ve disbursed since I’ve been a part of the Ministerial Association.  And it happened this year, in all of years?
• All of these examples do not even include that variety of other ways in which members of our church have given of themselves compassionately – when I hear stories of members visiting other members in the hospital or in their homes, when I hear of them gathering together for dinner and praying over each other through difficult circumstances – I cannot help but believe that we are blessed by God to bless others.

 In thinking about this I was reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 8:

 ¹ And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. ² In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. ³ For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴ they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. ⁵ And they went beyond our expectations; having given themselves first of all to the Lord, they gave themselves by the will of God also to us.

 Think of that, a church who having given themselves first of all to the Lord – they gave themselves to others who were in need.  This may or may not be the legacy of this church for the duration of its existence.  All I know is that I, as your pastor, am amazed by 2009 – the grace of God has been poured out on this church.  My prayer is that it continues.

Join us this Christmas season for some special worship services together. On December 13, the children will be sharing the Christmas story with us. On December 20, the Choir will bring us the annual Christmas Cantata. On Christmas Eve, December 24 at 5:30 pm, we will have our candlelight service of Lessons and Carols. (see back page for details)

The Church Celebrates

Our church is holding its annual Christmas Dinner at the Escalon Community Center for the second straight year. Last year’s event was a tremendous event for our church, with well over 200 people in attendance and we hope to have another wonderful evening together. We gather together at four o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday, December 13. During the evening we celebrate together with a wonderful meal, reflect on the ministry of our church and sing Christmas songs together. The event is open to any who would like to attend – and we en-courage you to invite friends and visitors as well. Please let the office know the number of people that will be with you on this wonderful evening – we will be expecting you as we can-not imagine this evening without you there!

The Church Expands

Escalon Presbyterian Church voted in favor of the recommendation given by Session to pur-chase the property to the South of the church on First Street. For those of you who have been a part of this church for some time, you may remember that this property and the house used to be the church manse (housing for the pastor). The property purchase was suc-cessful and we are now in the process of evalu-

ating the property for future use for the mission and ministry of Escalon Presbyterian Church. The Presbytery of Stockton enthusias-tically voted to approve the purchase of the property and agreed to a short-term, 6-month loan of $30,000. As you consider end-of-the-year giving, please pray about giving to the “property acquisition” fund, enabling us to pay back the Presbytery in short-order.

The Church Supports Zimbabwe

The Session of EPC has given approval to a short-term reconnaissance trip to Zimbabwe to visit some dear friends of ours, who are working there and participating in the mission project of First Fruits. First Fruits is a joint effort between them and our church which provides food-packs to hungry people in a village in Zimbabwe. Pas-tor Troy Onsager, Jeff Jarchow (who has been facilitating the First Fruits ministry from its in-ception) and Greg Foulke (who has mission trip planning experience through his work with Habitat for Humanity) will be traveling to Zim-babwe in February for a visit, to observe the work of the ministry first-hand, and to con-sider options for a subsequent mission trip the following year from our church. We are re-questing some donations towards the cost of plane tickets, which will run a little more than $1,500 a-piece. If you’d like to give to this scouting trip, just write a check to EPC with “Zimbabwe Trip” in the memo line.

Thank you EPC for all your prayers and support – we look forward to celebrating with you.

 I recently returned from a short vacation with Leslie and Andrew.  The vacation wasn’t one that was particularly planned in advance – it was admittedly odd timing.  I realized that I hadn’t taken a break since July.  I was exhausted, not handling stress particularly well, and becoming impatient – not a good combination for a pastor at all.  So, we took a break and the timing turned out to be a blessing.

 It got me thinking about the ways in which stress affects our attitudes, our decisions, and our relationships.  Stress tests in the medical field are intended to see how the body will respond to being pushed.  Similarly, in the realm of our Christian walk with the Lord, life-situation stress tests are being administered all the time. 

 Invariably, everybody in our church is going through stressful circumstances of a number of varieties.  The question is not if stress is present, but the degree of intensity and the variable of timing.  Stress in job situations is strong right now for quite a number of people, particularly with concerns about the future.  Family stress in the midst of strained relationships is quite frustrating and discouraging for many.  Health problems from minor though consistent ailments to the all-out chemotherapy fight has been and will continue to be a constant reality in the midst of a community of human people. 

 How does our faith in Jesus Christ inform and guide how we respond to these varying degrees of stress?  How do we treat others in the midst of these times of stress?

 If we’re honest with ourselves, we must admit that we don’t handle stress as well as we should.   More troubling, is that on negative side of these results we usually allow stressful circumstances to justify or excuse any behavior on our part.  We get short with each other, our anger surfaces more easily, hurtful words fly out of our mouths without consideration.  We even are tempted to run others down, criticizing them in a subconscious hope that this will make us feel better.  Yet, biblically, there’s no exempt clause for allowable sinful behavior in times of great stress.  And, on top of that, it’s not as if the damage done in times of stress can be simply forgotten.  As if we can say, “oh, don’t pay attention to that – I was just stressed.”  Rarely is damage ever done when our emotions are under control.

 If we believe our faith in Jesus Christ cannot help with “real life” stress tests, if we become cynical about the way in which God’s word is actually intended to be of help in the midst of stress – then we ignore our greatest hope in our times of greatest need.

 Sometimes getting away is necessary, though rarely is it a cure-all.  For many of you, the stress you are dealing with will be present for months if not years.  Most importantly, is the need for self-examination, to diligently pay attention to how stress affects us and understand the points at which we are most vulnerable to break.  This can only happen through diligent times of prayer and study.  Prayer is needed so that God will open our eyes to ourselves, to a real knowledge of not only our strengths but our weaknesses.  Bible study is needed so that God will open our eyes to Him, a real knowledge of who God is and the help that He intends to offer those who come to Him.

 When Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy-burdened – I will give you rest,” it assumes both of what was just said.  It assumes a knowledge and understanding of ourselves as those who are weary, who are heavy-burdened.  And it assumes a knowledge of a God who in Jesus Christ desires to give us rest, to lift the burden, to see us through.

The relationship of church and state has always been messy business.  There are those who think that the two are one and the same – the Bible makes no such affirmation.  There are also those who think that the two are easily separable – the Bible makes no such allowance.  What we believe, particularly concerning matters of right and wrong, of justice and peace, of freedom and authority, directly relates to how we vote, how leaders rule, and what we expect from our leaders. 

What should be the relationship between Christians and political leaders?

My own view is that on the one hand, we should start from a loose relationship based upon a clear understanding of human sin.  Leaders are fallible people who are incapable of entirely delivering upon what they promise.  The most obvious problem arrives when people, committed to a particular political party or person, will go to great lengths to defend their candidate’s strengths while downplaying their weaknesses.  In contrast, they exaggerate their opponent’s weaknesses while ignoring their strengths.  The popular “conventional wisdom,” as Newsweek weekly puts it, to label leaders as either “all saint” or “all sinner” by an up or down vote is simply historical nonsense. 

Well, leaders are sinners.  A Christian should be able, without any insecurity involved, to commend the strengths and the positions of any party while at the same time critique any weaknesses or obvious departures from Biblical truth.  This is the prophetic role of the Christian – to never be so tied to the machine that we lack in courage to hold them accountable to behavior or positions we disagree with or lack the humility to commend others when they are right.

On the other hand, however, we should be constantly engaged in fervent prayer for our leaders and submission to them as God’s appointed rulers.  The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy:

¹ I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Leaders have difficult roles in protecting the peace, and they need God’s guidance in doing so.  Even more importantly, though, is that leaders have been called by God.  Paul also writes to the church in Rome:

¹ Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The      authorities that exist have been established by God.

Note here that leaders are established by God (whether or not they understand this) – and therefore are held accountable by him (whether or not they understand even this).  Whoever wins elections they are established by God to exercise authority on his behalf.  When they depart from Biblical truth, we can disagree with them, we can participate in the democratic process for change.  But whoever serves in the Oval Office or the chamber of the City Council needs our prayers and intercession and thanksgiving – the Bible tells us to do so.  May we pray constantly for our leaders, may we let them lead, but we may also have the courage as Christians to speak truth to power, regardless of party. 

President Obama, in the midst of his inauguration, swore an oath with the words “So Help Me God.”  The only hope and help for anyone is God.  Our Christian prayer for him should be the same, “So Help Him God” as we pray for ourselves, “So Help Us God.”

Almighty God, our Father:

Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone.  It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory.  History is your story.  The Scripture tells us, “Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.

Now today we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States.  We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.

Give to our new president, Barack Obama,

the wisdom to lead us with humility,
the courage to lead us with integrity,
the compassion to lead us with generosity.

Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.  Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans–united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.  

When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you–forgive us.
When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone–forgive us.
When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve–forgive us.

And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes-even when we differ.  Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all.  May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet.  And may we never forget that one day, all nations–and all people–will stand accountable before you.

We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.

I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life-Yeshua, ‘Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus-who taught us to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

Discipleship Journal Reading Plans

• Book at a Time Bible Reading Plan
• Four Readings Bible Reading Plan

As I reflect upon the past year for our church, it is a reflection that can best be encapsulated by the word “blessed.”  I don’t think this word is terribly unique – as if there were some years where God’s blessings were somehow absent.  I don’t believe that at all.  It’s just that there are times when one stops and looks at all that God has done in our lives and there’s really nothing more to be said than “God has blessed us.” 

 There is a danger, though, in reflecting upon blessing.  Blessing was never intended by God to be reduced or limited to the first person pronoun “I.”  The Bible is full of reminders that those to whom much is given, much is expected.  The Lord rebukes his people for taking the blessings he has given them and squandering them for selfish purposes.  He legitimately asks the question as to how they could, with clear conscience, be so consumed with their lives that they forget and ignore the plight of the alien, the fatherless and the widow. 

 The Bible clearly states that the people of God are blessed to be a blessing.  That is to say, when we stop to count our blessings, it is not limited to how much we have received.  The deep blessing of God is the blessing of the ways and the means by which we can bless others with the blessings we have received.  Here we thank God for using us, for giving us opportunities to serve, for giving us the means by which to help, for not allowing our hearts to grow selfishly cold.

 It was a privilege for me to take part in the delivering the gifts of the Deacon’s Christmas project to a needy family in Escalon.  I marvel at the enthusiasm for service projects at our church.  Just as I was amazed by the outpouring of support, on very short notice, for medicines to be purchased for our Guatemala Trip, I was amazed by the fact that every gift on the tree was taken, plus more.  The project’s success was entirely the work of members of our congregation. 

Yet, as I watched the excited children come pouring out of their trailer, consumed with excitement as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus gave them gifts lovingly presented from the people of our church, I couldn’t help but reflect on God’s desire for the use of his blessings.  The truth grabbed hold of me in a powerful way that day – the truth that there is joy in serving.  There was no time to think about the “self.”  There was simply time to enjoy a child opening a gift they thought they’d never receive.  There was time to watch a parent receive a gift card to help repair their home.  There was time to watch excited laughter and choked back tears. 

 I wish you all could have been there to witness it.  It really was a beautiful time – despite the rain! – where I was thankful for the generosity of our church and the opportunity to help and blessed by the smiles on the family’s faces.  Yet, interestingly enough, it did not produce a feeling of satisfaction in me.  And I think that’s a good thing.  It produced a feeling of “what else can we do?” and “who else can we help?”  God does not want our blessing of others to be limited to a few strategic events – he wants it to be a definition of our daily lives on a variety of levels.

 This is why I say that we are blessed – because God has moved in our hearts to do this!  God has given us the opportunity and the resources to do this!  God desires that we do this!  For this is simply “blessed to be a blessing.”  Our Lord did not make himself nothing and die for our sins for us to do anything less.  God is good – and uses his people to show others that this is true.

 He was visited by a character named Evangelist who instructs him to leave the life he knows and seek the life that can never be lost.  In the book, Evangelist even gives him directions.  As Christian runs off, two neighbors track him down, imploring him not to leave.   Their names: Obstinate and Pliable.  The names are always indicative of their character.  Obstinate (being obstinate of course), can’t believe Christian’s intentions.  Invited to join Christian on the journey,  Obstinate replies:  “What!  And leave our friends and our comforts behind us!”  Pliable (being by definition easily influenced or persuaded) is quickly convinced by Christian’s argument to pursue true joy and trudges along with him.  However, almost immediately, they both fall into “the Slough of Despond” (a mud pit of despair).  Pliable, again quickly influenced by circumstances, cries out, “Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of?”  And he crawls out of the pit and goes back home.

 Christian refuses to go back, or give up, despite the weight of the burden that is still on his back, and flails away in the pit until he eventually is rescued by a man named “Help” who puts him on his way again.

 What I love about this interchange is that all this happens in the first 7 pages of a 278 page book.  In 7 pages Obstinate and Pliable give up, desiring comfort and safety.  And they are not privy to the next 271 pages of the journey Christian embarks on – a joyful, yet incredibly difficult journey.  They desire no journey.  They like life “just the way things are.”  The interchange also reminds me of the great quote by Teddy Roosevelt, another dead person, which I have drawn strength from countless times in my own journey:

 ”It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

 What haunts me are the words “those cold timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”   That’s Obstinate, that’s Pliable.  That’s the fool in the book of Proverbs.  At times that’s been me.  Yet, I’ve been more disgusted with myself in those moments than any painful defeat I’ve experienced.   I’m no longer attracted to that anymore.   I desire to do what Paul instructs – to look back no longer and press on ahead to a life of God-soaked journeys through mountains and valleys.  I don’t want the comfort that Obstinate idolizes.  I also no longer want safety that Pliable demands.  I know, that whatever sloughs come my way – the sloughs of despond, or adversity, or pressure, etc., will be met with “Help” from God.  Failure no longer scares me – timidity, on the other hand, terrifies me.  Standing still, to me, is slow death.

 Obstinate and Pliable go back home and become the “critics” once again – the ones who point out where others stumble, ones who mock those who take risks of faith.  Christian goes on to the “arena” where his face is quite literally “marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly.”  Yet, in the end, he knows more joy than he thought possible.  The next 271 pages are worth the read – and worth the pondering.

How about you?  Are you who you want to be?  Are you content with 7 pages?  Live Philippians 3:12-14.