THE COLOR OF CHRISTMAS
Pastor Steve Lummer

RED: The Color of Christmas
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

A DECLARATION WE ALL KNOW – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

1. WHY RED IS THE COLOR OF CHRISTMAS.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Matthew 26:28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Seven tangible places Jesus sacrificed
1. Gethsemane 2. The Stripes on his back 3. The crown of thorns
4. His pierced hands 5. His pierced feet 6. His pierced side 7. his bruised body.

2. GETTING INTENTIONAL ABOUT GOD’S INTENTIONS.
1 John 4:7-21 – Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

3. THERE ARE NO ACCIDENTS WHEN YOU LIVE IN GOD’S INTENTION
Romans 8:28-38 – 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. ….36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

WHEN WE BLEED WE BLESS.
“Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.” Matthew 9:12 (message)
I just love the impact of some people that change history by their acts of courage.

The brave actions of one man ended the gruesome Coliseum games in ancient Rome for good. For his peaceful protest against barbarianism, Telemachus paid with his life. During the reign of the Roman Empire, Romans attended gladiatorial games at the Coliseum for entertainment. There gladiators would fight criminals, prisoners and vicious animals until death.

Telemachus was a monk. Telemachus was a little simple man who enjoyed living in the out back of beyond, places full of the wonders of God’s creation, a hermit. He was quite content and had no reason to want to do anything else, his life was devoted to prayer. But one day, he felt that God was telling him to go to Rome. He hated Rome. He enjoyed his monastic lifestyle, absent of the hustle and bustle of city life. But God needed him in Rome. So Telemachus left his reclusive lifestyle to obey God.

He entered the streets of Rome on January 1, 404 AD. Immediately, he was overwhelmed by the artwork and monumental architecture, and was also disgusted by the way man worshipped himself in that city.

He got caught up in a crowd of people and was almost involuntarily led into the Colosseum. As he sat in the there, he was shocked by the spectacle of bloodletting and sadism that was meant to entertain the masses. Humans massacring and butchering one another. He could not believe what he saw. As soon as the violence started, he stood up and screamed out, “In the name of Christ, stop this!” His voice carried well in the acoustic masterpiece. Everybody heard him. He ran down the stairs and into the center of the arena, all along repeating his plea, “In the name of Christ, stop this!” People laughed. Someone yelled from the stands, “Kill him! Run him through!” A gladiator threw him out of his way and then sent a spear right through Telemachus. The stadium fell silent. Telemachus, doubled over with the spear in his gut, blood spilling on the ground, dying, said one last time, “In the name of Christ, stop this!” A small old man, lifeless, blood soaked – dead – at the foot of a gladiator. His selfless act changing the course of history.
Silence. Then one man stood and walked out. Then another, and another, until the thousands and thousands of people in the Colosseum had left. But this was not the end. Although there were other factors, the death of Telemachus solidified the opposition to the gladiatorial battles. Emperor Honorius was so moved by Telemachus’ actions, he issued an edict, banning the gruesome gladiatorial battles. The Colosseum had witnessed it’s last fight. Telemachus was designated as a saint for his heroic stance for humanity and truth.
He had done more for God as well as humanity in those few minutes – impacting the lives of many than he had achieved all those years living in a cave out the back of beyond. It’s time for us too, to get out of our caves and yell to this world – IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, STOP THIS!!!

There is a big difference between living INTENTIONAL and living ACCIDENTAL.

We see it everywhere, the word…Xmas.

In our culture the symbol X can represent so many different things. Here are just a few for instance;
it may be used to name an unknown quantity, describe an obscene film such as X-rated, serve as a warning for poison and sometimes even used in place of Christ in Christmas (Xmas.)

In our culture since the letter X, in most cases, is used in a negative form, we just assume that (Xmas)
is negative as well. People seem to be outraged when seeing Christ’s name dropped and replaced by the symbol X. Every year I see signs, bumper stickers, shirts, etc. saying, “Put Christ back into Christmas.” I decided to do some research and check out the word Xmas. Wow, I was astounded at the result.

First, understand that it is NOT the letter X in our English vocabulary that is being represented here.
We see the letter X and obviously assume that it represents the negative. but that is not the case. The X originates from the first letter of the ancient Greek word for Christ – Χριστός (Christos), which translates in English as Christ. Therefore, the first letter of the word Christos is transliterated into our alphabet as X.

The idea of using X as an abbreviation for the name of Christ came into use in our culture with no intent to show disrespect for Jesus.

Actually, if you take time to study, even the symbol of the fish (which stands for Christianity) was derived from the first 2 letters of the ancient Greek word: fish -ΙΧΘΥΣ (Ichthys). This is actually an abbreviation for “Iēsous Christos, Theou Yios, Sōtēr” – which means in English, “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.” The X in the symbol of the fish actually stands for Christ, and the connection of the X for the fish is the I which stands for Jesus.

There is a long and sacred history of the use of X to symbolize the name of Christ, 
and from it’s very origin it has never meant to be disrespectful.

I hope this blesses you with knowledge, so to not be offended, the next time you see the word Xmas.

Blog contents borrowed from Mikel French

Merry Christmas/ Merry Xmas

Here is the outline for the last message in the series Amazing Grazing taught at Discovery Church.

This series is based out of the 23rd Psalm.

AMAZING GRAZING
Part 4 “We The Sheeple”
Pastor Steve Lummer
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalm 23:1-6 (kjv)

1. How can I get past the pain of my PAST?

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

1. DON’T IGNORE IT.
“I kept very quiet… but I became ever more upset. I became very angry inside, and as I thought about it, my anger burned.” Ps. 39:2-3 (NCV)

2. DON’T RUN FROM IT
“I wish I had wings like a dove. Then I’d fly away and rest. I would hurry to my place of escape…” Ps. 55:6-8 (NCV)

3. DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT
“To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do.” Job 5:2 (GN)

4. DON’T RESENT IT
“You are only hurting yourself with your anger.” Job. 18:4 (GN)

WHAT GOD SAYS TO DO WHEN YOU HURT

1. LET GOD SETTLE THE SCORE.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

2. LET GOD SOOTH MY WOUNDS.
“You anoint my head with oil”

3. LET GOD SATISFY MY NEEDS.
“My cup overflows”

2. How can I have faith for the FUTURE?

A. Realize that God is WATCHING OVER ME!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life

B. Realize that Heaven is WAITING FOR ME!
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:1,2

You cannot have a future when your past is bigger than your dreams.

Have a great life .

Pastor Steve

AMAZING GRAZING
HOW TO GO THROUGH WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH
Pastor Steve Lummer – part 3

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4 (kjv)

Examples of Life’s Valleys
The Valley of Calamity — Josh. 7:26 The Valley of Weeping — Ps. 84:6
The Valley of Trouble — Hosea 2:15 The Valley of Deep Darkness — Ps. 23:4 (Heb)

1. WHAT TO REMEMBER IN DARK VALLEYS

1. VALLEYS ARE INEVITABLE.
“In this world you will have trouble.” John 16:33 (NIV)

2. VALLEYS ARE UNPREDICTABLE.
“Disaster follows disaster… In an instant my tents are destroyed, my shelter falls in a moment.” Jer. 4:20 (LB)

3. VALLEYS ARE IMPARTIAL.
“(It) rains on the just and the unjust too.” Mt. 5:45 (LB)

4. VALLEYS ARE TEMPORARY.
“There is a wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here.” I Peter 1:6 (LB)

“Our troubles are short-lived and their outcome is an eternal glory which outweighs them all.” 2 Cor. 4:17 (NEB)

5. VALLEYS ARE PURPOSEFUL.
“… at the present you may be temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials. This is no accident — it happens to prove your faith …” I Peter 1:6b-7 (Ph)

II. WHAT TO DO IN DARK VALLEYS

1. REFUSE TO BE DISCOURAGED. “I WILL FEAR NO EVIL”
“God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient.” Col 1:11 (NCV)

2. REMEMBER THAT GOD IS WITH ME. “FOR YOU ARE WITH ME”
“When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up — the flames will not consume you.” Is. 43:2 (LB)

3. RELY ON GOD’S PROTECTION AND GUIDANCE. “YOUR ROD AND STAFF COMFORT ME”
“The good man does not escape all troubles — he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one.” Ps. 34:19 (LB)

If you were starting your own sports team and needed a mascot you might consider choosing the lions, tigers, eagles, or bears as they give us a sense of power and independence. I seriously doubt that anyone would consider their mascot to be a sheep. Sheep are not known for their agility, strength or independence.
Yet God has chosen the “sheep” to be the mascot of his people. Not lions, tigers, eagles, or bears, but sheep. Why? Because as God’s people we bear a remarkable resemblance to sheep. Isaiah says it best.
Isaiah 53:6a All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way;
I have a cartoon that shows two sheep looking at a crowd of people and one of the sheep is saying, “All we like people have gone astray.” Unlike the bear, tiger or lion of strength we like sheep are inclined to be self-destructive. Our streak of wanting to be independent hurts us. Like a flock of sheep we need a shepherd. To live life without the Shepherd brings about our own demise.

We just wrapped up part two of our Amazing Grazing message yesterday.

Here is the outline.

AMAZING GRAZING
PART 2
PASTOR STEVE LUMMER
ARE YOU UP TO THE “REST TEST”?

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.– Ps 23:2,3 (kjv)

“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High.” Daniel 7:25

GETTING A READ ON GOD’S LEAD

1. The Shepherd leads me to REST.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

REST is about the right SIGHTS and SOUNDS

Free from FEAR. – Free from FRICTION. – Free from FLYS.

2. The Shepherd leads me to REFRESHMENT.
he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3. The Shepherd leads me to RESTORATION.
He restoreth my soul

4. The Shepherd leads me to RIGHTEOUSNESS.
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness

Or we can do life our way.

Psalm 23 – An Antithesis
The clock is my dictator, I shall not rest.
It makes me lie down only when exhausted.
It leads me into deep depression.
It hounds my soul.
It leads me in circles of frenzy, for activities sake.
Even though I run frantically from task to task, I will never get it all done,
For my ideal is with me.
Deadlines and my need for approval, they drive me.
They demand performance from me, beyond the limits of my schedule.
They anoint my head with migraines, My in-basket overflows.
Surely fatigue and time pressures shall follow me All the days of my life.
And I will dwell in the bonds of frustration Forever