This question comes up every year

Pastor Steve, should we put up a Christmas tree in our house? Isn’t the Christmas tree based from a pagan origin?

Well, I wanted to post on this blog just to clarify the answer I give year after year.

The modern custom of a Christmas tree does not come from any form of paganism. There is no evidence of any pagan religion decorating a special holiday tree for their mid-winter festivals, although the Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a festival called Saturnalia in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture. They decorated their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts. Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring. The first Christmas tree was decorated by Protestant Christians in 16th-century Germany. Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early German traditions, and the custom most likely came to the United States with Hessian troops during the American Revolution, or with German immigrants to Pennsylvania and Ohio.

There is nothing in the Bible that either commands or prohibits Christmas trees. It has been falsely claimed by some that Jeremiah 10:1-16 prohibits the cutting down and decorating of trees in the same manner as we do at Christmas. However, even a cursory reading of the text makes it clear that the passage is one in which Jeremiah sets forth the prohibition against idols made of wood, plated with silver and gold, and worshipped. A similar idea appears in Isaiah 44, where Isaiah speaks of the silliness of the idol-worshippers who cut down a tree, burn part of it in the fire to warm themselves, and use the other part to fashion an idol, which they then bow down to. So unless we bow down before our Christmas tree, carve it into an idol, and pray to it, these passages cannot be applied to Christmas trees.

There is no spiritual significance to having or not having a Christmas tree. Whatever choice we make, the motive behind a believer’s decision about this, as in all matters of conscience, must be to please the Lord. Romans 14:5-6a sets out the principle in a passage about liberty: “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord.” The Lord is grieved when Christians look down upon one another for either celebrating or not celebrating Christmas. This is spiritual pride. When we feel that somehow we have achieved a higher plain of spirituality by doing or not doing something about which the Bible is silent, we misuse our freedom in Christ, create divisions within His body, and thereby dishonor the Lord. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

When it comes to Christmas my advice is to light it up full throttle.

family, marriage

MENDING BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS

MENDING BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS
Pastor Steve and Brenda Lummer

“It’s better to eat soup with someone you love than steak with someone you hate” Proverbs 15.17 (Living Bible)

Opposites attract but only up to a point. One of the main reasons many couples break up is that they have not enough in common. This can happen early in a marriage or even sometimes, as it seems recently in growing numbers, after the children have moved out of home. Couples find they have nothing in common. Nothing left to talk about.

1. ARE RELATIONAL DEATHS PREDICTABLE?

RESENTMENT brings relational deaths
“… remembering wrongs can break up a friendship.” Proverbs 17.9 (Good News)

RETALIATION brings relational deaths
“Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone…” Leviticus 19.18 (New Living Translation)

RESIGNATION brings relational deaths
“Someone who holds back the truth causes trouble, but one who openly criticizes works for peace. Proverbs 10.10 (Good News)

2. ARE RELATIONAL RESURRECTIONS POSSIBLE?
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12.18
Forgiveness takes ONE – Reconciliation takes TWO.

3. HOW GOD DEALS WITH RELATIONSHIP ISSUES
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5.18-19

What God Reveals:
* Stop USING YOURSELF AS A FRAME OF REFERENCE.
* Start ASKING GOD TO HELP ME SEE THEM AS THEY ARE..
“We are not fighting against human beings, but against wicked spiritual forces…” Ephesians 6.12 (Good News)

What God Requires:
* Stop RESENTING THE WAY THINGS ARE.
* Start FORGIVE THE WAYS THINGS HAVE BEEN.
“Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3.13

How God Restores
* Stop FANTASIZING ABOUT THE FUTURE.
* Start ACTING IN LOVING WAYS.
“…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6.27-28

family, marriage

TWO ARTIST ONE PAINTING

Are you as a couple working toward a portrait of what your lives will look like in 20 years….or are you on separate paths?

This is a great little message that will help you as a couple in the University of Marriage paint one portrait throughout your lives.

“a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. ²⁵The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” Genesis 2:21 (NIV)

1. MARRIAGE MYTHS.

1. Marriage will meet ALL MY NEEDS.

2. Marriage will end my LONELINESS.

3. Marriage will heal my BROKENNESS .

4. Marriage will ensure my HAPPINESS.

2. WHAT A STRONG MARRIAGE LOOKS LIKE.

Six “Cs” you can see in a strong marriage

1. Commitment 2. Communication 3. Compatibility

4. Control 5. Consideration 6. Coping Skills

3. HOW TO BUILD A HEALTHY MARRIAGE.

Learn to LOVE.

“Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents… Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us, but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.” Ephesians 5.1-2 (The Message)

Practice FORGIVENESS.

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3.14

Accentuate the POSITIVE.

“Finally, brother, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4.8

Place yourself in SUBMISSION.

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5.21

4. Keep at IT – keep at IT – Keep at IT.

Keep painting the portrait of your lives together…Keep the colors flowing and keep the passion growing.

church family, family, Just sayin', marriage, Ministry

YANK THE PLANK

PLANK EYE REVISITED

I just wanted to finish up part two of this blog post on “Negotiating Change with people you care about”

In Bren’s class she is teaching on ways in which we can bring about meaningful and lasting change with people we care about and love the most.

Here are some brief bullet points to negotiating change.

1. Start at the right place.

The first place to start is to YANK THE PLANK out of our own eyes before we attempt to “fix” someone else.

Jesus tells us to start with ourselves ″Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5

2. Resource and understand the power of love.

Here are the five love languages Brenda has taught from Gary Chapman’s book the Five Love Languages.

Receiving gifts

These are visual or tangible symbols of love (presents and gifts).

Acts of service

Doing things for the other such as chores or other caring acts performed out of love not duty.

Quality time

Focusing energy and attention on the other through conversation and showing interest in each other.

Words of affirmation

Expressing love through compliments, praise and encouragement.

Physical touch

Not only sex but holding hands, stroking, hugging, sitting next to each other.

3. Develop healthy communication skills.

Remember, the six interpretations of spoken communication are:

1. What the speaker intended to say.

2. What the speaker actually said.

3. What the speaker thought he or she said.

4. What the hearer needed to hear.

5. What the hearer actually heard.

6. What the hearer thought he or she heard.

4. Timing is almost everything.Husbands really do not prefer a “honey do” list right as they walk in the door after work and wives would appreciate some eye contact and timing.

Just one more note regarding negotiating change with people.

Did you notice this week that we have decided as a nation to send 30,000 troops to another country to engage in more war?

Yep, the issue of war is all about not being able to negotiate change globally, regionally and anywhere else there are at least two people close to each other.

Here is a pretty cool 2000 year old text from Jesus half brother James that speaks right to the issue of why we can’t get along with one another both domestically and globally.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. … “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble….Come near to God and he will come near to you.” – James 4:1- 10

Jesus and James must have had a pretty sweet family.

Arizona, Bikes, cycling, family, Mountain biking, Prescott

TURKEY DAY WEEKEND MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE

Just wanted to post a couple of pics of our Daughter and Dad Thanksgiving weekend mountain bike ride.

We did the 396/Felmier loop today.

As you can tell the temps were a bit brisk.

Love the 396 views. It follows Goldwater lake for much of the trail.

In all it was 9.6 miles of great family memories.

Great day, great ride with the greatest daughter on the globe.

church family, family, Ministry

I Can’t See God part 3

Loving the series I Can’t See God.

cant-see-god

This weekend; I Can’t See God Because I Just Don’t Like His Kids That Much.”

Here is the outline for the teaching.

I CAN’T SEE GOD ……..BECAUSE I’M IN THE WAY
Pastor Steve Lummer
part 3

If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. Proverbs 29:18 ( message)

If we can see God, we can become more like Him.

I can’t see God because I don’t like His kids very much.

How you see GOD is going to determine how you see YOURSELF….How you see yourself can determine how you see OTHERS.

“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. 34″A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:31-35 (niv)

What does ” Love each other” look like?

1. Sincerity and Respect.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9 (niv)

2. Intimacy and Communion .
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:20,21 (niv)

3. Action and Compassion .

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15: 12-13

THE WILL or HIS WILL?

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, Romans 8:17

If I want to see God I need to ask him to help me to love all people with his love not just try attempt to love them on my own ability.

Arizona, Bikes, family, Mountain biking, outdoors

The Best Parts Of Parenting

Proverbs 22:6 confirms what I was feeling on my most recent mountain bike ride with my daughter.

” Point your kids in the right direction— when they’re old they won’t be lost.”

There is just something amazing about being able to be 50 plus and still have a great relationship with you adult children.

Yesterday in the late afternoon I managed to squeeze in some time for a pre sunset mountain bike ride with Natascha my amazingly focused and goal oriented daughter.

Really, I might say she squeezed in the time.

Anyway, as I looked behind me to watch her flying over babyheads and cleaning some “non average terrian” I thought about Proverbs 22:6 and how I have watched Tash find her own way along lifes path without getting lost.

Man, the rewards of parenting for the long haul just keep getting better.

Here are some pics of my reward as well as hers.

up-willow-ta

sparkle-tash

my-connector-ta

Helmet heads having a blast in this life! 🙂

helmets

If you are parenting here is a qoute from one of my heros Pastor Bill Wilson of Metro Church in NY city.

“It’s easier to build boys and girls than it is to repair men and women.”

And just a note to self : It is a lot funner too.

family, Life experiences

Dad/Daughter Date Night

Just wanted to post a note about my night with Tash this past week when we went to see U2 at the University of Phoenix stadium in Phoenix.

I just gotta say the event was above my expectation.

80k plus people – one of the great bands of all times – one of the greatest stadiums in the country and the best daughters in the world, Wow, a great time.

Here are a few pics of their 360 tour’s stage.

bono

edge

ship-3

The “space ship” was a stage designed to create a more intimate setting between the band and the masses. Bono captured the goal perfectly.

Interesting note about the “spirituality” of the band can be found at the following link.

http://www.atu2.com/band/bono/

It is amazing to me that these Welsh born guys were raised in the same place where one of the greatest move’s of God happened on the moderen planet.

As he knelt on the stage, Bono ask the concert goers to pray with him for the release of political prisoners around the world. He also sang a “Bono” redintion of Amazing Grace.

The night with Tash was a blast to remember. The Sound system rocked and the message was one of hope and a future for humanity.

Arizona, family, outdoors

Little things bring us together – Marmot “Pounder Plus”

My son Caleb Called tonight to inform me that his camping gear is now complete.

His Marmont “pounder Plus” sleeping bag had just arrived.

There is something about getting a new peice of gear to rev you up for a new camping adventure in the mountains of Northren Zona.

Here is a pic of the bag that gets dad and son thinking and preparing for another adventure in the wild.

pounder plus

I am really looking forward to pushing up mount Elden labor day weekend and camping with the lad.

AZ06-Flagstaff-1AUG06-17

Also, just going to have to get a lttle single speed mtn biking in while the flagstaff area.

Here is a link from mountain bike bill and the trails on mount Elden.

http://www.mountainbikebill.com/AZ06Flagstaff.htm

Marmot pounder plus stats:

Weight:	2 lb 5 ozs / 1.49 kgs
Main Material:	Astral Rip N-100 DWR
Lining Material:	Omni140 N-WR
Insulation Material:	Primaloft® SB
Size for stre:	183 cm
Size on shoulder:	152 cm
Size on hip:	145 cm
Size on foot:	102 cm

family

“A WISE MAN ESTEEMETH HIS BEAST”

“God made…all the creatures.” Genesis 1:25 NIV

Here is a great story about pets.

In his 45 years as proprietor of Cooke’s Funeral Home Fred Cooke comforted thousands of bereaved people. But when his wife died of cancer Cooke needed comforting himself. So he adopted a golden retriever named Abigail. Cooke lived in an apartment above the funeral home. “Most days I’d take Abigail downstairs with me and let her play in my office while I worked.” But one day Abigail got out and went looking for new friends to play with. When he went looking for her Cooke discovered her in the chapel, curled at the feet of a woman seated near her husband’s casket. Cooke apologized profusely and tried to lead Abigail away. “Does she have to go?” the grieving woman asked him. “It’s such a comfort having her here.” Soon Abigail was sneaking out of Cooke’s office regularly, heading for one of the funeral home’s visitation rooms. “She seems to sense who’s most distraught and that’s the person she’ll go to first,” says Cooke. “She’ll sit at their feet and gaze up at them with those compassionate brown eyes, and within minutes they’ve stopped crying and started stroking her fur. Off duty, you won’t find a more playful pup. But the moment she steps into that chapel she turns into a completely different dog,” says Cooke. Abigail’s only mishap occurred when she was still a pup, and even that turned out well. She ate somebody’s carnations. Cooke rushed out to replace the flowers, but the family wouldn’t let him. “Mabel was a real dog-lover,” they told him. “You can’t imagine how it would make her smile to see those chewed-up flowers.” No doubt about it, pets are a gift from God! So enjoy yours!

codes and the cong

I just love this dog.
Real name: “Courtois” (pronounced “coda way”) a stream in Southern Missouri ( named after the Coutois Indians) This was the first river Codes floated with us when he was a pup 13 years ago in my old town canoe.

Nick names: “Chinka boy “, “Curley Bill”, “Esau”, “Moosehead” , or more simply we call him “Codes”. He his a real retriever and a great friend.

bella

Bella was brought to us from Rescue Golden. She had been bitten by a rattle snake and survived to be our second golden retreiver.

Both of our dogs go every where we go. Loyal Labs for sure.

stevelummer.com

Category Archives: family