Lightkeeper's Journal

What Christmas Means to Me

 By:  Norma W. Beaird

 

When children think of Christmas, toy trains will fill their minds,

Or baby dolls and Santa, as they gladly stand in line.

 

To meet the white-haired giver of the gifts they truly treasure,

For Christmas is a time of fun, of candy, lights and pleasures.

 

But for the ones much older, it’s a time of added stress,

Of paying for the presents with a wallet holding less.

 

To hope that folks are happy with the gifts around the tree,

Is this the way that you describe, “What Christmas means to me”?

 

If all your Christmas means to you is candy, trees and gifts,

What does this say about the life that you intend to live?

 

The Christmas trees are beautiful and sparkling are the lights,

And fun is many parties and the festive winter nights.

 

If visions of your Christmas are the cards and candy canes,

And shopping malls and Santa as you peer through window panes.

 

Then life for you is empty in the way you try to live,

For Christmas is about the time that God gave us a Gift.

 

A Gift Who’s not found in a store or near a Christmas tree,

A Gift Who always fits the one who seeks and will believe.

 

This Gift is God’s Son Jesus, Who was born to give His life,

To be our Lord and Savior, He became our Sacrifice.

 

For every man and woman and for every boy and girl,

In humble, dark surroundings He arrived into this world.

 

For sin had stained a world so full of pain, despair and fear,

Until a day in Bethlehem when Jesus Christ appeared.

 

The Son born of a Virgin as foretold by prophet men,

In love endured a rugged cross to break the curse of sin.

 

The most important tree of all was placed on Calvary,

Where Jesus Christ my Savior gave His life and died for me.

 

Now when you think of Christmas, don’t forget what Christmas means,

It’s not about the trees and lights; it is the manger scene.

 

For Christmas started when the Lord was born upon this earth,

To give to us the Gift of Love through His prophetic birth.

 

So give your heart to Christ today and you’ll begin to see,

The love of God describes the phrase, “What Christmas means to me”.

 

Copyright 2005, Norma W. Beaird.  All rights reserved.

Clouds and their Creator

 

 

 

Article and Photography by Curtis Beaird

 

I love clouds.  I learned their basic names in seventh grade science.  There were low clouds called cumulus, flat on the bottom and fluffy on the top.  The middle clouds, the big, tall and boiling cumulo-nimbus.  The upper clouds that looked like thin wisps of white streaks high in the sky called cirro–stratus.   I liked them all.    

From the slight puffs of free-floating white to the rain-filled lightning-streaked thunderstorm, clouds have always been a fascination to me.  Their quiet presence floating free in a blue sky......  Their ever changing forms and shapes as they drift on a breeze or hustle by riding a high wind..... They all fire my imagination.   I always wondered why? 

I found the answer in the Bible. 

From Genesis to Revelation, clouds are important to their Creator.   It was a simple cloud that formed the backdrop for the rainbow that would remind everyone who saw it of God’s covenant.  Clouds and rainbows translate into the promise of God’s care.

A cloud was critical to the Hebrews in making their Exodus from Egypt.   Even in their wandering, they would find a guide.

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud…...”

Exodus 13:21

 Then, when Israel “looked toward the wilderness.…..the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.”  Exodus 16:10. 

Whatever clouds might mean, to me, they remind me of the presence of God.

Clouds were important to the unfolding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Once again, God chose a cloud to both signify His presence and to announce Jesus as his “beloved Son”,  Mark 9:7.   At that same moment, instructions were given to three of his disciples, “……listen to him.”

Following his death and resurrection, Jesus describes the future of his disciples as “witnesses” of Him from Jerusalem “to the uttermost part of the earth".  Then......

"while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

Acts 1:8 - 9.

In the last book, a disciple named John has the last word.  “Behold” he says, offering everyone an invitation not only to listen, but to also look and see.  

“…….He (Jesus) cometh with clouds …”   Revelation 1:7  

 “ I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord,which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”   

Revelation 1:8

 

The Road that Leads to Heaven

 

Poem by  Norma W. Beaird

Photography by Curtis and Norma Beaird

 

 The road that leads to Heaven is a road that’s long and steep,

 

Sometimes it’s full of rocks and mud

and cracks within the street.

Sometimes the road is winding

and the stops to rest are few,

We go around in circles and

we don’t know what to do.

 

And then sometimes the narrow road

reveals no end in sight,

You travel long and travel hard

and deep into the night.

You look for signs to light the path

and signs cannot be found,

In fear you steer off course again

and you must turn around.

The road that leads to Heaven

is a road that’s hard indeed,

But on this road you won’t be lost

for Christ will take the lead.

He’ll guide you on the dusty road

and through the wind and rain,

 

 

He’ll take the wheel when all you see

is hurt, despair and pain.

For God has sent a Road Map

that will safely lead you home,

To where the Lord will meet us

at His bright and shining throne.

 

 

The road to Heaven is a road that’s sure and yours to find,

For on this road are paths that lead to love and peace of mind.

 

The road may bend and curve a while

until the journey’s end,

Just know that God was steering you

for He’s your dearest Friend.

The Lord may take you down

some roads

that you don’t understand,

But don’t turn back or be afraid

of God’s unchanging Hand.

For with His hand He leads us

to a cool and peaceful shore,

Where sorrows are forgotten

when we call His name once more.

The trip may leave you battle-scarred by burdens you will bear,

But as you turn the curves of life,

the Lord is standing there. 

 

So don’t despair my friend when life is not as you had planned,

You won’t get lost for God will lead you to the Promised Land.

 

Don’t exit off, just hang on to the Road Map you’ve been given,

For this my friend will guide you on the road that leads to Heaven.

 

The audio version of The Road that Leads to Heaven

Windows Media File

from our "Because of You, I'm Free" CD

 

 

Copyright 2006, Norma W. Beaird.  All rights reserved.

"Because of You, I'm Free" CD project produced by Jerry Richardson

Poems on the CD by Norma W. Beaird

Poem recitation by Curtis Beaird

 

 

The Calling

 

 

Article By:  Curtis Beaird

Photography By:  Norma W. Beaird

 My last article was entitled Sermon or Emotional Massage?  A commenter by the name of Michael Hansen replied with commentary that I would like to respond to in this article.

First of all, let me say that we appreciate comments from everyone, whether in agreement or disagreement, positive or negative.  So, thank you Michael for your commentary. 

Comment by Michael:

Truly I believe that neither one is correct. That doesn't mean I have an answer, but I do know that Christ said "It is finished" To many times Grace eludes the aggressive types. In fact it is non-existent. So the message they put forth is full of anger, and condemnation. "There is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Very simple really. A condemning message is not of the Lord. Period. I tend to think that they are going to be surprised to find themselves among the goats. They beat people with words. and call it love. We are to believe that some formula and much grovelling and begging for forgiveness is the way to Christ. The truth is He weeps over that approach. Just what do you think Christ did on the Cross? Set the captives free. Who were the captives? People held in religious bondage to people who had no idea how the Father worked. Tied people up in law that they themselves could not keep. Christ fulfilled that law and satisfied the wrath of God to those who would believe. All the aggressive types want to do is be Gods hammer to the sheep. If I am forgiven, than I am forgiven, period. Jesus said that it was impossible for man to keep the law, hence the need for Him to do what He did. Why is it that most feel the need to point out the sins of others? and to do it with a 2 x 4 club. Why do you think Jesus pointed out all the sins that would keep one out of heaven? So we all could make another book of law that now includes all the ones we didn't realize were sins? NO NO NO do not be so stupid. To show us just how much in need we were of what it was He was going to accomplish. Which makes His sacrifice ever more rich for those who have the wisdom to see it. No mostly the aggressive ones are babes in the Lord if in the Lord at all. They are nothing more than a clanging symbol. I know this because I once was one. They are modern day Pharisees. The other type are modern day Saducees, and that is about as much time as Christ gave to Saducees too...

Here is my response:

While in Christ there is no condemnation, in life there are consequences.  I may be wrong, but I think most of us live with the scars of past bad decisions.  While thankfully, by the Grace of God, their debilitating power has been removed as far as the east is from the west, our memories serve us all too well.  My question, why take on more pain and live with more scars?

To the man who would say, “I just can’t communicate with my wife."  I think it is appropriate to ask, “Who are you communicating with?"  As a minister, I have done just that.  I had no intention of judging.  That power is not mine.  I am called to care.   In some circumstances, that means raising the thorny question.  The silence that followed the question was deafening.

Another friend having marital problems said to me in the checkout line at the grocery store, no less, that she wanted to come for counsel.  I had known her since she was a kid.   I grinned and asked, "Do you want counsel or permission?"

I see no reason to use the language of grace to avoid the issue.  Universalism addresses the pain of guilt and our sense of failure too lightly.  The warfare has ended.  Salvation is accomplished.   Start the party.  Then, why am I so depressed and feel guilty all the time?

I see no reason to use the language of scripture to condemn anyone.   Fundamentalism addresses the pain of guilt and failure through mental assent to verbal propositions.  Get the right answer and you come up with a conditional pardon.  Huh?

Neither of those approaches fit my job description.   My calling is to face into the hurts of life where grace and the forgiveness of God can do the work of bringing hope and new life. 

But, grace and God's forgiveness are most effective in the context of our acknowledged wounds, failures and sins.  In the "olden days", as my kids would say, they called it confession.   Without that acknowledgment, the conversation misses the possibility of healing and becomes little more than a religious discussion, or worse, a motivational speech.  Instead of a moment of hope and change leading to new life in Christ, it becomes a time for intellectual discussion and debate.  In other words, boring.

Effective ministry as I see it, grows out of the minister’s own need of grace, his experience with Christ, his engaging the Word, his appreciation for the Church as the Body of Christ, and never out of a sense of the power to judge.  I've never seen a minister as a channel of judgment.  As I said, that is not my job.  But, raising the question, at the appropriate time and in a caring manner, that is the calling. 

The model for this style of minister?  Jesus Christ.  In Mark's Gospel, Jesus asked something on the order of fifty questions.  Clearly, they were not of the milk and cookies variety.  In the face of a storm that He speaks into calmness, He asked his frightened and somewhat pouty disciples, "Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?" 

It's a calling.

 

Mark 4:40 - 41 (King James Version)

⁴⁰And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

 ⁴¹And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

 

Copyright 2012, Curtis Beaird.  All rights reserved.

 

Sermon or Emotional Massage?

 

 

Article By:  Curtis Beaird

Photography By:  Norma W. Beaird

 

If you’re not a minister, you are free to skip this read.   Or, read it and find out how your minister functions.

Ministers, preachers, priests, and those claiming to be part-time prophets seem to come in two styles today; those who take the preventative approach to ministry and those who take the therapeutic approach.  The first is more aggressive.  The second leans toward the suggestive and is passive with the message.

The more aggressive minister takes a preventative approach to ministry.  They raise questions that are the constant "elephants in the room" that few care to address.    While they sing Softly and Tenderly, they are as eager to sing ….Up From the Grave He Arose.  They believe everything that is Biblically based can be included in their message and ministry.  Initiative is their middle name. 

When they see someone standing on a railroad track facing an oncoming train, they don't mind shouting a warning, "Get off the track!”  They spend as much time announcing that folks should "prepare to meet their God" as they do meandering through the lilies of the valley.

The more passive minister takes a therapeutic approach to ministry.  Basically, once we have a spill, they rush to do the obvious……clean up the mess.

Until she is pregnant, we don't talk about fornication.  Until Bud gets his third DUI, we don't mention the disastrous effects of alcohol abuse.  Until adultery or pornography ruins a marriage, we focus on locating the lost Jebusites or setting dates for the Second Coming. 

The list of religious dodges is a long one.   Why trouble a congregation?   Ignore the suggestion that there are consequences of bad choices.  Sidestep the pain associated with self-induced problems.  Promise them that God will give them the desires of their heart.   Promise them that a wave of blessings will follow in the wake of the offering plate.   Dismiss as negative anything that illuminates the ambiguous nature of living.

The rules of engagement for the passive, therapeutic minister are simple:  Wait, wait and wait.  Let circumstance force action.  

Aggressive ministers who engage in the preventative approach are not popular.  No one questions their presence or wonders whose side they are on.  They speak the name of God, not as a possibility, but as though all life flows from that one Name.  Safety is not their first concern; proclamation is.  They announce good news.  But, that announcement makes clear the need for change.  ....What?  ....Change?

These awakeners raise the disturbing questions.  They insist on Spirit as the presence of God rather than offering a simpering nostalgic hope for a bygone day of religion.  When inevitable grief cracks open our illusions, the aggressive minister, even in tears, will assert the presence of God.  "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord."

The aggressive minister makes us uncomfortable.  They are the ones with a dream.  While they can and will use the language of inclusion, that language includes the name of Jesus at the top of the list.   We will find a reason to avoid them and their ways.  They have little or no capacity for the politically correct approach.  They ask too many questions.  They may join your club, but they never actually belong.

The more passive minister who follows the therapeutic approach waits with hands quietly folded on the mop handle until the mess runs under the office door.  The wait is seldom long. 

He is wonderful with people and always understands everything.  Drawing explanations from the language of inclusion, conversations tip toward the more psychological.   The name of Jesus may not be included in the message of consolation.  It will always be implied that we have the ability to manage.   The capacity to nurture and listen is unparalleled.  He is such calm in the storm.  If their presence doesn't bring peace to the valley, it will, for a moment, insulate us from the wreckage we are left to pick up as soon as he is out the door.

While we would hope that a minister would recognize the need for both the preventative and the therapeutic, the prophetic and pastoral, it's just plain safer to wait for the mess. 

Unfortunately, the Apostle Paul didn't get the memo.

 

II Timothy 4: 1 – 8 (King James Version)

¹I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

 ²Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

 ³For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

 ⁴And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 ⁵But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

 ⁶For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

 ⁷I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

 ⁸Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing

 

Copyright 2012, Curtis Beaird.  All rights reserved.

Tears and Trauma

 

 

Article By:  Curtis Beaird

Photography By:  Norma W. Beaird

 

It is an easy thing to list the fears and failings, the mistakes and disasters of every day.  Tsunamis and bank failures, kidnappings and government corruption have become the stuff of our daily life.  Turning first to the obituaries and police blotter are old habits for more than a few.  Our color TV’s offer us a ringside seat at a safe distance to view mudslides and human suffering as though it were a spectator sport.

But, is there a more excellent way?  Is there more do to with our minutes, hours, days, weeks and our life than watch the parade of sorrow? Is there something better to do with our energy than fight the sneaky little fear in the back of our mind, "What if that happens to me?"   Is there something more to do with ourselves than complain, and call it living, when by fits and starts we spend ourselves in a cloud of nostalgia, longing for a day lost and long gone?

Nope, there isn't.  That's the best we've got.  Tears and trauma and more of the same are on the way.  Stay tuned, it only gets worse.  "Those poor people, and how long will it be before it's my turn?" 

You got it right; the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train.  The glass is half empty.  It will never be the same.  I sure wish it was like it used to be.   And, on and on and on, all the way down into the bottom of the dark valley.

You might believe in darkness, but the Apostle Paul believed in the light.  "...forgetting those things which have gone before, I press on toward the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.”   Paul had better things to do than complain and live in fear. He apparently believed that there was no way to modulate the human voice in such a way as to make a whine acceptable to God.

So, a man whose days knew whipping, stoning, imprisonment and the fear of being hunted, offers us his counsel to have a bad memory.  “Forgetting those things which have gone before.”  That’s what the man said - Forget.   Instead of Paul locking himself into the bad bind of regret and grief or the pathetic sticky goo of nostalgia, he chose to look toward the better day in Christ's high calling.  

Let's face it.  There are many voices out there.  Most would gladly take us down.   Why not listen to the Voice that would guide us toward the light and the better way?  Listen for the high calling of Christ.

 

Philippians 3: 13 - 14

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

 

Copyright 2011, Curtis Beaird.  All rights reserved.