Darkness

The people who walked in darkness

    have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

    on them has light shone. 

Isaiah 9:2

It’s easy to feel the darkness. Especially this time of year. Especially in western Pennsylvania. Where the sun *never* shines.  Our oldest son works in a limestone mine.  He mentioned the other day, that he rarely gets to see daylight this time of year – at least during the week.  I remarked back to him, “You haven’t missed anything.”

As I have slowly recovered from foot surgery, my frustrations have been many.  The lack of mobility, the unstable gait, the ‘not sure I should do this’ feeling, has far too often, made me feel dark. I do not like the feeling.  I keep hoping a day is coming, a week is coming, a month is coming that that will feel light, that the worries of mobility, unstable gait, unsureness, will become a memory.

The passage from Isaiah reflects quite accurately how the Israelites were feeling during the exile. And while they did return from banishment, they were – one way or another – under the control of many different nations.  In the years before the birth of Jesus, Israel was a puppet nation with a puppet King all under control of the Roman Empire. For so many, it remained a very dark time for a very long time.

The season we are in now is called Advent. Some have described Advent as a drama between light and dark.  We are still heading into the darkness, as the nights continue to grow longer and days shorter. But soon that will change.  It won’t be very noticeable but someday soon after December 21, the light will start to conquer.

As I think about this, an old carol came to mind. It’s not in our hymnbooks – I looked. It’s called “People Look East.” Some of the lyrics, written by Eleanor Farjeon, go like this:

People, look east. The time is near

Of the crowning of the year.

Make your house fair as you are able,

Trim the hearth and set the table.

People, look east and sing today:

Love, the Guest, is on the way.

Why look east? Because that is where the sun comes up. The detection of a slight return of the light; a morning star heralding in  something new, something brighter.

The light is coming. Soon we will celebrate the birth of the Light of the world.  As John wrote, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  John 1:5 

May we all keep focused on the promise. The Light is on the way. The darkness never wins….

Hummingbird

"Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD.” - Jeremiah 8:7

As I was doing some reading about the Ten Commandments a couple of weeks ago, this verse came up. It is about the Old Testament Law (“requirements”) and what we should inherently know. Should is the operative word.

You see it in creation, most noticeable this time of year. As I write this, most of the songbirds have left Indiana county, hummingbirds are absent, and I haven’t seen a robin in two weeks.

The Ruby Throated hummingbirds are interesting. They are tropical birds, so in our cool months they actually go back home, which is somewhere between southern Mexico and northern Panama. When they are with us, they are visitors, far, far away from their homes. But they are in the process of returning home now. The birds will start moving back north in late January, eventually straggling back into western Pennsylvania in early April.

When flying over land, they travel about 20 miles per day, but at some time on their travels, they have to fly over the Gulf of Mexico, making a 500 mile flight without stopping. And they do so in 20-22 hours.  Amazing! They know their appointed seasons, and observe the time of their migration. Inherent, a gift of God.

The law of the Lord, the ‘requirements,’ are things we should inherently know – yet we struggle with them. God through Jeremiah eventually states, “’This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,’ declares the LORD.” ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (vs. 31:33)

The hummingbird seems to have the advantage, inherently following God’s direction for their lives.  We, on the other hand, work hard to fill our hearts with things other than God’s requirements. Maybe that should be the challenge for us this Autumn. Or at least me as I continue to preach through the Ten Commandments.  Study the law, allow God’s word to steep in my heart, and then…work at living them out. And maybe the day will come where we will automatically live into our appointed seasons, times and requirements.

And counting on Jesus’ truth and grace to get me there. Trusting in him….is our appointed season….

Will you join me in living it out?

Statement of Faith

            I believe that there is only one triune God who exists in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each of the persons has specific functions; theses functions complement each other even when at times they overlap.  This model of unity serves as an example of how the church should function.  I also believe that God is all-knowing, ever-present, wise, loving, forgiving and just.

            I believe that God the Father is the creator of everything.  Among God’s good creation is humanity.  God has created all of humanity in his image; an image tarnished by the effects of human rebellion and sin; but still God’s image remains in all of us and with that comes our value.

            I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the eternal One, who in his majesty and in his frailty lived, walked, and taught among us.  He was executed brutally on the cross for my sin and for all of our sin, and was physically resurrected from the dead, providing a victory over death and bringing eternal life in which all believers share.  This work of Christ is a gift from God and the heart of the message of reconciliation that I am called to boldly proclaim.

            I also believe in the Holy Spirit who is actively working in the world today.  The Holy Spirit points to the rebellion and sin in my life, and drives me to that reconciliation with God that is found only in the great news of Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit prods me to live a godly and thankful life and equips me with earthly and supernatural gifts for service, mission, and ministry.

            I believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the inspired Word of God and the determining authority for life, faith and practice.  This inspiration continues whenever I call upon the Holy Spirit to help in my interaction with and understanding of Scripture.

            I believe that God calls all believers in Christ to lives in which our God-granted talents, gifts, and possessions are to be used in His service.  Along with proclaiming the gospel boldly in word, I am called into compassionate action in my church, community, and throughout the world as a response to the compassionate action of Christ in my life.

            I believe in the Church, both the local Church where we gather as a family to worship, grow and serve, and in the universal church that, through a common faith, through one baptism, and in sharing of the Lord’s Supper, is drawn beyond distinctions in human circumstances and denominational boundaries. I believe God has given the Church the two Sacraments as very visible yet mystical signs of his assurance of forgiveness, love and eternal life.

            I ultimately trust not in my own worthiness, but in the unwavering faithfulness of God, knowing and trusting that in life and in death God claims me for his own.  This claim is not based on any merit I may think I have earned, but is based solely on God’s conventional love; so that I, with an indescribable confidence can conclude as the Brief Statement of Faith joyfully concludes, “With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or death can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  Amen.”

-Chris Enoch

Buckner

 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

Bill Buckner passed away on May 27. 

Bill was a very good ball player.  I followed his career after he first came up to the majors with the Dodgers back in 1969. He had a fine career, first with the Dodgers but also with the Cubs, Red Sox, and few other teams as his career wound down.

He was clutch. Bill was the type of player that  you wanted to see at bat with the game on the line. Or, if you were pulling for the other team, you did not want to see him coming up to the plate with the game on the line.   His career batting average was an excellent .289  and he finished with 2,715 hits. In major league baseball, if you finish with 3000 hits in your career, you are almost automatically given serious consideration for the Hall of Fame.

Bill finished 285 hits short of that mark. He was a very good ball player, but there is no hall of ‘very good.’

When Bill died, there was quite a bit of publicity. Because, according to most, he was best known for an error he committed in game six of the 1986 World Series between his Red Sox and New York Mets.  A softly hit ground ball that inexplicably trickled  between his legs at first base that allowed Ray Knight to score the winning run – leading to the Mets taking the World Series and extending the Red Sox 'Series drought  to 68 years; a famine that was a recognized result of the dreaded trade of Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919.  It would take Boston another 18 years to break that “Curse of the Bambino.”

Most of the articles I read or stories I saw on TV focused on that one miss-play, and yet almost always the reporters would write or say something like, it’s a shame that such a fine player and person was and will be recalled for one simple play not made.

I’d like to offer a slightly different opinion on that. Perhaps that one dreadful play made, not just Buckner’s career, but perhaps his life. And I say that for two reasons.

First, had that play not happened, his passing from Lewy Body dementia on May 27 would have hardly made the news. Maybe just a short blurb here and there. I would have noted it because, as I mentioned earlier, he was very good player whose career I followed…error or not. But most fans would have made the note, had a few memories, and moved on. Buckner was a very good player, but not a hall of fame player.

But the second reason that the ‘play’ may not have been such a curse is found here. Many, not all, news outlets reported a statement put out by Jody Buckner, Bill’s wife of 39 years.  The statement was short and to the point. It reads like this:

“Bill Buckner passed away early the morning of May 27th surrounded by his family. Bill fought with courage and grit as he did all things in life. Our hearts are broken but we are at peace knowing he is in the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

A very small statement that gave a large insight to the man.  Bill was a Christian, and his wife wanted to make it clear that in spite of everything from disease to errors, that was what was most important. Even more important than the Hall of Fame.

I can’t help but think of the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

All things. Even…errors.

Which in turn makes me wonder. What will I be remembered for?  My mistakes, my errors? They are legion. Or maybe how God was able to use my mistakes and errors for the greater glory of the gospel and His kingdom? 

And then…. What do you want to be remember for?

Bill Buckner passed away on May 27.  And there is a lot more to that story than meets the eye.