Posted December 28th, 2007 by Nathan
For twenty-five years my folks have been missionaries in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Since my brothers and I returned to the US for college we have alternated spending the holidays in Brazil and in the US. This year was our turn to be in Brazil.
One of the biggest differences between spending the holidays in Brazil versus the US is the season. While it is winter in the US it is summer in Rio. That is all nice and good except for when you begin to listen to Christmas music. Songs such as: White Christmas, Winter Wonderland, The Christmas Song, Sleigh Ride, and Frosty the Snowman just don’t have the same ring to them when it’s ninety-five degrees and sunny. These songs were clearly meant for Christmas in the northern hemisphere.
However, the song Christmas is the Warmest Time of the Year is able to more directly connect to Christmas in the southern hemisphere. A line from the song says “though the wind blows through your windows it’s ninety degrees in the shade.” Needless to say that is true of Rio de Janeiro in December. While folks in the US are nestled around fireplaces trying to keep warm, here people are diving in the ocean and drinking coconut milk trying to stay cool. The weather certainly gives Christmas a different feel but nevertheless the family is together and that is what Christmas is truly all about. Wherever you may find yourself I hope you and your family are blessed and enjoying a great holiday season.
Posted December 23rd, 2007 by Nathan
It seems that all people, theist or not, at some point wrestle with what is the meaning of life. I will be the first to recognize the multifacetedness of such a question and will admit that I don’t know the answer to such a question; perhaps it is only when humanity is reunited with its creator that the complexity and answer to such a question will be fully grasped and understood. However, the answer to this question seems to clearly have a spiritual element to it. In addressing this topic Ignatius of Loyola states that “man is created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul. All other things on the face of the earth are created for man to help him fulfill the end for which he is created.”
David describes how creation points humankind towards the existence and praise of the creator. Psalm 19:1-4a says: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” The beauty and order of the created world can have a humbling effect that causes the person to simply be in silence marveling at God’s workmanship.
May we give “praise and glory and … thanks and honor … to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (Revelation 7:12)
Posted December 12th, 2007 by Nathan
At the very core of who we are as people is the need for relationships. In the creation narrative we can see that God made human beings with an innate need for community. In Genesis 2:18 God says: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Not long after creating man God recognized that man should not live alone but be in communion with other individuals.
However, this need for relationship is not only horizontal, with other people, but is also vertical, between us and God. Human beings were created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26) and have a desire to be in relationship with Him. Augustine in reflecting on man’s search for God says: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.” God made us for Himself. We have been made to worship God. And it is He who awakens us to delight in His praise, to worship and glorify Him forever.
David speaks about his quest to be in relationship with God in Psalm 63:1-3: “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life …”
Here, David compares man’s longing for God to how a thirsty man longs and searches for water in the desert. Both David and Augustine vividly describe the individual’s incessant longing to find and be in relationship with God. It is that restlessness which drives humanity to search for God in order to discover the purpose for which it was created.
Posted December 10th, 2007 by Nathan
Saturday was Zane and April’s wedding. The wedding was a success since both said “I do.” It took place in Edmond, OK where both attended OC and have numerous friends. Our entire mission team was able to be there to witness their marriage and it was great to share this special occasion with Zane and April. My prayer is that God will continue to pour his blessings upon this new couple and that they might continue to grow in their love for each other and for God.
Posted December 4th, 2007 by Nathan
I read this prayer today and thought I would share it:
Almighty God,
so draw our hearts to you,
so guide our minds,
so fill our imaginations,
so control our wills,
that we may be wholly yours,
utterly dedicated to you.
Use us as you will,
always to your glory
and the welfare of your people;
through our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. Amen.
