Personal discipline and commitment seem to be replacing grace and mercy as the start points for Christianity.

The results are predictable; just read about the Middle Ages.

Unless we admit our own powerlessness to change ourselves, we’re going to continue churning out failing, hidden, and frustrated church-goers.

We need another reformation, from Protestant works-righteousness!

“The reformation was a time when men went blind, staggering drunk because they had discovered, in the dusty basement of late medievalism, a whole cellarful of fifteen-hundred-year-old, two-hundred proof grace–of bottle after bottle of pure distillate of Scripture, one sip of which would convince anyone that God saves us single-handedly.” (Robert Capon, Between Noon and Three)

The Good Shepherd Came Down

Meditations on Psalm 23:6

On Christmas morning I’m going to lead Church of the Open Door through meditations of the wonder of Psalm 23 in light if the Incarnation. Because of Christmas, King David’s words describe the reality of our lives as Christians. The Lord is my Shepherd.

I’m journaling through a verse every morning this week, meditating on the actuality of Christ being my Good Shepherd who showed up in a manger in Bethlehem so that all that David says and feels about his Good Shepherd is true of me.

Here’s Day 6, Verse 6. You may want to subscribe or go to edunderwood.com to keep up with the series daily.

Day 6: Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life  (Psalm 23:6, NET Bible).

It’s (Kind of) A Wonderful Life

One of our Christmas Eve traditions when our children were growing up was to finish off the evening watching that Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life. 

Last night we were trying to do just that with two worn out little Newkirk grandchildren, Zachy and Sam.

They had just about had it. All they wanted to do was go home and go to bed.

I pushed pause on the movie to help Zachy with his pajamas when my daughter, Celia, admitted out loud what we all were thinking, “This just isn’t working. We need to get these boys to bed; it’s been a long day. Christmas traditions just have to adjust to reality!”

She’s right of course.

Christmas traditions just have to adjust to the realities of life.

I’m sure you can remember some Christmases when you’ve had to adjust your traditions to the realities of life.

• A dying loved one
• A wayward child
• A job loss
• A strained family relationship
• A cross-country move.

But He’s (Absolutely) Good and Faithful

The last line of David’s song to the Good Shepherd assures us that whatever Christmases future may bring, there is one constant in our lives–the goodness and mercy of the Good Shepherd.

He uses an interesting verb translated pursue in the NET Bible. The term usually describes the relentless pursuit of an enemy or a stalking beast. Instead of being chased down by a relentless enemy, we’re being pursued by a Good Shepherd. He’s so good and faithful that David personifies these traits as our relentless pursuers.

I don’t know about you, but this helps me in this world where the prospect of future “Merry” Christmases seems more at risk every year.

Question: How have you experienced the Good Shepherd’s goodness and faithfulness this Christmas?

The Good Shepherd Came Down

Meditations on Psalm 23:2

On Christmas morning I’m going to lead Church of the Open Door through meditations of the wonder of Psalm 23 in light if the Incarnation. Because of Christmas, King David’s words describe the reality of our lives as Christians. The Lord is my Shepherd.

I’m journaling through a verse every morning this week, meditating on the actuality of Christ being my Good Shepherd who showed up in a manger in Bethlehem so that all that David says and feels about his Good Shepherd is true of me.

Here’s Day Two, Verse 2. You may want to subscribe or go to edunderwood.com to keep up with the series daily.

Day Two: He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water (Psalm 23:2, NET Bible).

Sometimes I forget that David was a king. Imagine the pressures on his schedule—the endless meetings, the long lines of people needing their king, the palace operatives demanding an audience. And all of this while trying to appease the too many wives and too neglected children of his highly dysfunctional family.

Still, in the blur of his kingly schedule, David prioritized his personal time with his Good Shepherd. Whether on the battlefield, around the palace, with his flocks, or in the charged atmosphere of his home, David made time for his Shepherd.

Why?

Because David knew that only his Shepherd could take him to that place where the two of them could be alone, that place of rest and refreshment.

Right now, on the 21^st of December, I’m so unlike David I’m ashamed to admit it. Unlike David, I’m exhausted. Not from leading armies into battle or settling arguments between the Secretary of State and a Senator, but from celebrating the birth of the Good Shepherd!

But it’s not his fault; it’s mine.

There’s not one sentence in his entire Bible that says, “Okay, Ed, when my birthday comes, make such a big deal about it that you stop just short of killing yourself and everyone else with special events, parties, and activities. That’s what I want from you in December. Wait, that’s not enough, I want you to start all of this right after Thanksgiving…or better yet, before Thanksgiving!”

No, all he wants from me in December is what he wants from me the other eleven months of the year.

He just wants me.

To stop what I’m doing, look up at him, and say, “Hi, Jesus.” And he will take me by the hand and lead me to the same place he used to take David to. That quiet place where the two of us can be alone so he can give me rest and refresh my soul. That place where I lie down and completely relax because I trust my Good Shepherd. He knows what’s best for me, loves me deeply, and cares for my every need because I’m his special concern.

I need to be more like King David as I celebrate the birth of the Good Shepherd who only wants to take me to lush pastures and lead me to refreshing water.

Time to stop what I’m doing, grab my Bible and my journal, and spend an hour with my Good Shepherd.

Questions: Have you lost sight of the Shepherd’s goodness in trying to celebrate his birth? What are some ways you have discovered that you can pause to let him lead you to your place of rest and refreshment? 

The Good Shepherd Came Down

Meditations on Psalm 23:1

On Christmas morning I’m going to lead Church of the Open Door through meditations of the wonder of Psalm 23 in light if the Incarnation. Because of Christmas, King David’s words describe the reality of our lives as Christians. The Lord is my Shepherd.

I’m journaling through a verse every morning this week, meditating on the actuality of Christ being my Good Shepherd who showed up in a manger in Bethlehem so that all that David says and feels about his Good Shepherd is true of me.

Here’s Day One, Verse 1. You may want to subscribe to edunderwood.com to make sure you can keep up with the series daily.

Day One: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing (Psalm 23:1, NET Bible).

But I feel like I lack, Lord. I feel like I lack a lot. The world tells me I lack. When I compare my life to others, it seems like it lacks a lot. And Christmas doesn’t help. That’s when I seem most aware of my lack.

I have to admit that if I’m not careful, I’ll spend most of my time focusing on what I lack.

• I lack an entire sense! Because of this lymphoma, I can’t smell, Lord. I haven’t smelled the ocean or a Ponderosa pine or coffee since 2003. I lack!
• I lack a book contract! You seem to let others publish books that just heap shame and guilt on your people. All I want to do is write about your grace and goodness. It’s not really fair. I lack!
• I lack the opportunities I want to pursue at Church of the Open Door. There’s so much we as staff and elders want to do for you, but we don’t even know if we’re going to be able to fund the ministries we already have because of this economy. I lack!
• I lack opportunities to see my children and my grandchildren. Other people get to spend buckets of time with their extended family. But Judy and I have one family in New York and another in Oregon. We’re not going to be with them this Christmas and it hurts. I lack!

And I’m just getting started. I could go on and on and you know I could Lord. There are heartaches that won’t go away, prayers for marriages and sick people that you don’t seem to hear. I have to go to the doctor too much and don’t get me started talking about the fact that I’m 61 and have no retirement plan! I lack!!!!

But when I read these words, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing,” I know that it’s simply not true that I lack these things. How could it be that I lack anything in life if you are my Shepherd, the One who came to earth so that I could have your life and you could lead me?

Please forgive me for these false conclusions I have drawn from the circumstances of my life that deny my Christmas reality. Please forgive me for listening to this world rather than your Word and my redeemed heart.

I agree with David: The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.

Question: Do you need to make a list like mine, an “I thought I lacked this list,” and confess your denial of your Christmas reality? 

A Song About Christmas

I don’t know what young King David was picturing in his mind when God promised him that one of his descendents would reign forever in a Kingdom that God Himself would establish (2 Samuel 7). I suspect David’s pictures were pretty earthy and everyday.

But I do know what an older, more seasoned King David was picturing in his mind about forty years later, because after God had given him an oracle, a clearer understanding of what he had been promised, David was so overwhelmed that he wrote a song describing the majestic, supernatural coming of his Heir, the Priest-King, Psalm 110. The song has three parts:

• Conversation between YHWH and Adonai telling Adonai to sit it YHWH’s right hand until YHWH sends Adonai to establish His Kingdom (1-2).
• Description of the Coming Kingdom of Adonai (3-4).
• Warning that Adonai’s Coming to establish His Kingdom will involve judgment of the wicked (5-7).

Heresy or Hope?

Jews of Jesus’ time knew that Messiah would be a physical descendent of David, but they were not expecting this physical descendent of David to also be the Son of God. Jesus proved this simply by pointing out to them who was writing verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 110: David. You can read about it in Mark 12:35-37.

And that is our simple Christmas Truth—the baby born at Bethlehem was God.

They would not receive it because to them this was a scandalous idea, a shocking declaration, a shameful proposition. They didn’t want a God who came down to be one of them.

Another Hebrew, the author of the book of Hebrews, put this Incarnation into it’s most practical application: Hebrews 4:14-16. There he speaks of the wonder of the Son of God experiencing life as a human so that He could sympathize with our every temptation, our every trial!

We receive it because to us it’s not a scandalous idea but a cherished truth, not a shocking declaration but a comforting hope, not a shameful proposition but a glorious reason to worship Him and commemorate His birth. We want a God who came down to be one of us.

That’s our Christmas Truth—the baby born at Bethlehem was God.

Whatever pain you’re facing this Christmas, know that there is One who sits at the Right Hand of the Father who knows exactly how you feel. You’re not alone in your pain; Jesus is watching with a sympathetic heart.

The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14).

Looking for a friend?

If you’re looking for that friendship that is totally fulfilling, you need to know that you won’t find it this side of heaven.

On the other side of that barrier is the only One who will not disappoint you, the only One who is always thinking about you and never of Himself, the only One who doesn’t need you.

His name is Jesus.

Friendship:

Since no one thinks about you much,

Unless they need you.

Relate deeply to Jesus;

Expect Him alone to meet your deepest needs.

Question: How do you sometimes put pressure on your friends to “be Jesus” for you?

How We Got Here

Twenty-one years ago I was working for a national ministry teaching creative overviews of the Old and New Testaments. One afternoon the leader called me and begged me to do a seminar at a place called Cannon Beach.

I didn’t have the time or the inclination to go. But he was persuasive and I reluctantly agreed. It was a long drive through the rain and snow. Along the way I complained to the Lord. “This is nuts. Why am I doing this? It’s a complete waste of time.”

When I drove into the parking lot of Cannon Beach Conference Center and Ecola Bible School in 1990, I had no idea how special this place would become to Judy and me. We return here at least twice a year. This spectacular corner of our Father’s creation has become our special place to talk with Him.

We’ve processed a lot of life on that two-mile walk to Haystack Rock and back to the Conference Center.

• We begged Him to let us stay in Oregon in 1996. When He said no, we begged Him to make Church of the Open Door a healing community for us and everyone else who came.
• The first time we walked that beach together in 2001 after this cancer almost took my life was pretty special.
• The two years our son, Bob, was at war it felt like our Father took us by the hand, led us to that rock, and whispered, “He’s going to make it.”
• In 2009 our son-in-law, David, almost died. Our prayer-walks that year were filled with pleading for his young life and Celia’s little family.

Another Year, Another Heartache, Another Meeting

Not a year has passed that we didn’t arrive here with something heavy on our hearts.

Our life is just like yours–messy, confusing, and often painful.

This year is no different. Last night we arrived here at sunset with heavy, heavy hearts. Miraculously for a November on the Oregon coast, it wasn’t raining. “Hurry, honey,” I told Judy, “just throw the stuff into the cabin and let’s hit that beach.”

As we walked and poured our hearts out to our Father, He turned the sky a brilliant orange.

I took a picture of it and posted it with this blog.

We knew what He was saying.

“Ed and Judy, I’m still here.”

Cannon Beach has become our special place to meet our Father. It’s the place He brings us to so that He can get our attention and remind us of His love, mercy, and grace.

Question: Do you have a special place to meet God? If not, why not ask Him for your special place? He loves to say yes to that prayer! 

It was the last thing I wanted to do-be around a group of people.

I was bone-tired and emotionally spent. A desperate phone call the night before had left Judy and me sleepless. Two of our very best friends had been killed in a car accident in Oregon. Not only did this news break my heart, it also drained me as it pressurized my insane schedule. Somehow I had to find time to fly to Portland, do a wrenching memorial service, fly home, and get back to everything else I had to do. (On that list was taking my teenage daughter to the DMV for her driving exam.)

“I’m not going to small group tonight,” I reported to Judy. “This is nuts!”

“You don’t have a choice. We’re baptizing Brian and Lori (two new believers) in the pool. Everyone’s expecting us,” my bride protested.

“You go if you want,” I replied. “I’m not going; I have too much to do.”

(Though I didn’t say it, I was also thinking that the last thing I wanted to do at that moment was be around a group of people . . . even if it was our church small group.)

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This blog is to all the “anonymous” readers of When God Breaks Your Heart. Please know that all of your comments are forwarded to my personal email account and I do pray for you. I try to filter the remarks on this blog so your pain isn’t becoming a curiosity piece for casual readers. But this blog is the only way I can communicate back to you, to assure you of our prayers, and to let you know someone is listening.

My primary lesson for you is this:

God isn’t as distant as you think!

As you know from reading the book, I believe Jesus’ is screaming against your pain as tears flow down His holy face.

Trying to be as much a part of your life as a blog allows.

September 16th, 2001

My sermon for the 16^th of September 2001 was ready to go and I was determined to preach it. Romans 6:15-23 is one of the most critical paragraphs in our Father’s Word—absolute proof that grace does not lead to sin but to righteousness. I felt it was time to get our minds off the events of Tuesday the 11^th and focus on the love and mercy of our Savior.

My sermon was ready to go, but the people were not.

About fifteen minutes into the early service I just stopped and explained that I had miscalculated how we would still be feeling. So I “shot from the hip” with the topic I had planned to teach later that evening. Though I couldn’t remember some of the verses, I did recall the main idea and the three primary points. The second service went a little better since I had some notes.

That was ten years ago. A lot has changed since then, but not our God and His Bible.

So many of you have asked for the outline of my talk, “A Christian Response to America’s Tragedy” I decided to post it on the web. I hope this helps you in some small way to cope. Not only with the events of September 11th 2001, but with every national crisis.

During times of tragedy someone is going to lead. History teaches that cultures sometimes experience dramatic shifts in direction and priorities when people are traumatized. We find our nation, our communities, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods and families seeking insight. Someone is going to lead our culture. Why not the redeemed?

As I considered the question, “How should Christians respond?” three qualities seemed most important:

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