Currently not being added to, but you are welcome to read previous entries.
 
The Pastor’s Corner is written by the pastor of Coronado Bible Church.
 

The Unintentional Grinch:

Marvin fretted about Christmas. Thelma would know what the grandkids wanted, but she’d been gone for almost a year. Would Emily like a doll or be offended … she was at that age. Henry would love hunting boots, but the way that boy was growing they wouldn’t fit by spring. Ernest loved books, but what hadn’t he read? Marvin also had his daughter’s five to buy for. Finally in desperation, he sat down at his desk and wrote out eight generous checks and eight cards. In each he wrote exactly the same message beneath the appropriate name:
 

Merry Christmas!

Love Grandpa

P.S. Buy your own present.

 
Marvin drove to Seattle where his family had gathered for the holidays. He was greeted with warmth and enjoyed Christmas with family, but the entire time passed with no mention of his gifts. In fact, the grandchildren all seemed a bit distant. Once Emily looked at him, burst into tears and ran from the room … she was at that age.
 
Marvin went home puzzled and a little depressed. Setting down at the old desk, he pulled out his checkbook to pay some bills. From it fell the eight checks he’d written for his grandchildren’s Christmas. Suddenly, “Buy your own gift” had an entirely different sound to it.
 
When God sent the gift of his Son Jesus into the world that first Christmas … He didn’t leave anything out. He not only offered new life in Christ, he supplied everything needed to live it.
 
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:2-3
 
 
 
(reprinted from 12-7-2014)
 
 


‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ … with Faulty Theology

Clarence the simple-minded angel second-class is a wonderful work of fiction. Just be sure you know the difference between fiction and fact.
 
Here’s one thing the movie got right: Angels are sent by God to help us. Scripture teaches that angels are ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). These angels are aware of us, have constant access to God, the Father (Matthew 18:10) and sometimes function as guardians (Psalm 91:11).
 
The movie got this mostly right: Angels do, at times, appear in common human form. Clarence and George are getting eyed suspiciously by Nick the bartender because they are talking about angels. Clarence asks, “What’s wrong? They believe in angels, don’t they? Then why should they be surprised to see one?” Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” If you ever see an angel, you probably won’t know you’re seeing an angel. So … you might want to rethink being rude to strangers.
 
Here’s one thing the movie got totally wrong: Angels are not deceased humans. Clarence is referred to as a clock-maker and wears a dressing gown given to him by his wife before he passed away … 293 years ago. The implication is that humans die and become guardian angels. Some people find this fiction comforting, but it’s not Biblical. The Bible teaches that we will be “like” angels in only two ways; 1) we will not be able to die (Luke 20:36) and 2) we will not be married (Matthew 22:30). We will be “like” angels, but we will not become angels. The truth is far more glorious and comforting! If your loved one was a believer in Jesus Christ, they are currently in His presence (2 Corinthians 5:8) and will one day share more in common with Him than the angels. Our resurrections bodies will be like His (Philippians 3:20-21) and Jesus is far superior to the angels (Hebrews 1:4-6). Now that will be a wonderful life!
 
 


Wonderful Counselor

“And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!” Those words from Isaiah 9:6 are my favorite description of Jesus the Messiah. The passage is so rich that a sermon could be preached on each title … but let me zero in on just one: Jesus the Prince of Peace. When we know the fullness of who Christ is, the good news of Christmas jumps from the pages of Scripture even when we might not be looking for it. Here’s an example:

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.  God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.            2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-21
 
Emmanuel … God with us … in the world, reconciling the world to Himself; Jesus our Prince of Peace. This is the Gospel of Christmas and we are His ambassadors of peace. Is God’s appeal for peace shinning in you this Christmas?
 
 

 



What’s Your Standard

I only brought a small portion of the tools I used to own to Panama … but I brought the best. I made sure to include a good quality tape measure; the wide, stiff kind that makes it easy to take measurements on your own. When I needed to the size of our windows, I was very pleased that I had brought such a tool. After meticulously noting all the dimensions of my project, I confidently headed off to the hardware store.
 
I was chagrined to discover that all my measurements were in inches and all the window shades were marked in centimeters. It wasn’t that I forgot to look at the metric side of the tape … my tape doesn’t have a metric side. It was marketed to a minority nation with a lot of people. In all the world, only Myanmar, Liberia and the U.S. have not adopted the metric system. The U.K. uses the metric system for all important international matters, but allows its citizenry to cling to the Imperial past. It’s not easy being Standard in a Metric World. Standard isn’t the standard anymore.
 
I will grudgingly admit that I’m getting used to metric measurements. I never really was too fond of 32nds and 64ths. I also like the fact that I get to drive at 100 … it’s a constant adrenalin rush for my brain that still thinks in MPH. Despite the fact that we’d spend billions just retooling our gas pumps and changing out our road signs, the U.S. should probably get with the program. We’d seem less pugnacious if we’d stop brandishing our yardsticks. We should go the way of the world.
 
Still, there are times to hold out no matter how odd you look or how the odds are stacked against you. Right and wrong cannot be determined by consensus. God does not poll his people to determine morality. We must conform to His standard … not the other way around.
 
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:9 and 21
 
 
 


Thankful for:

GOD …

  • Who loved me when I was His enemy.
  • Who sacrificed His only Son for my pardon.
  • Who daily shows me new depths of mercy and grace.
  • Who has saved my life and physically healed me multiple times.
  • Who created me in a beautiful world and gave me the capacity to enjoy it.
  • Who has always taken care of our needs and blessed us with more than we deserve.
  • Who has taken everything bad and hard in my life and worked it out for my good and his glory.
  • Who gave me the immense and undeserved privilege of serving Him with my life.
  • Who not only saved me but secured for me an everlasting hope and future.

 

SUE …

  • who has shared and never ridiculed me for my faith. Not every man has that … not even every pastor.
  • who has walked shoulder to shoulder with me through 28 years of marriage and 24 years of ministry.
  • who has helped me understand my gifts and potential and inspired me to be a better man.
  • who has constantly surprised me with her generosity toward others and her willingness to sacrifice for the ministry.
  • who has never given me the slightest reason to question her love and faithfulness.
  • who promised to never use the word divorce in our relationship … and has kept that promise.
  • who makes me laugh every day and still laughs at my corny sense of humor.

 

YOU …

  • who have shown a great desire to hear and understand God’s Word.
  • who have welcomed and loved Sue and me with all our imperfections.
  • who have interacted with me as a friend and not just a preacher.
  • who have fought the good fight for unity and mutual love within the Body.
  • who have bettered the reputation of CBC in the wider community.
  • who have given generously to support the ongoing work of God in Coronado.
  • who have encouraged and challenged me to be a better pastor.

 

Wishing you all a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving
… every day of the year!