Brown's Daily Word & India update12-19-08

Good Morning,
Praise the Lord for this Friday before Christmas. They are forecasting a mega- snowstorm, with predicted snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour for part of this afternoon. Most of the schools have closed in this region. We are going through some Bleak Midwinter, though the winter season has not actually started yet. Where is the global warming that everyone has been buzzing about? Our Lord God controls the whole universe. He has the whole world in His Hands. He infuses us with His own everlasting peace in the face chaos and confusion. He gives His joy to His own.
Our grand daughter Micah called yesterday and said, "Where are you, Grandpa? What are you doing? Where in Grandmom? Have good time in church. Though it was Thursday, Micah always associates me as being over at the church.
"The Peaceable Kingdom" is the title that early 19th-century painter Edward Hicks gave to this benign menagerie of animals - wild and domesticated. He based his work on the Isaiah 11 passage that speaks of such animals as the wolf, lamb, leopard, lion, kid and calf - all sharing the same pasture, grazing and resting together. Hicks’ vision, like that of Isaiah, is of a world of peace, love, and tranquility. In 11:1 Isaiah calls the lineage of the Davidic dynasty the “stump of Jesse”. This is the only time in the Old Testament that David’s line is called by His father’s name. Isaiah predicts that the Davidic dynasty will be completely cut off, so that all that remains is the stump of its family tree. This made more sense after a trip to the Holy Land, and being informed that olive trees, though cut to the ground, will send out little shoots that eventually grow into huge olive trees. They, quite literally, are shoots out of the stump. However, in chapter 11 the prophet also predicts the future restoration of the Kingdom through the re-establishment of a Davidic Messiah. Isaiah states that out of the stump of Jesse’s family tree a “shoot” or a fresh stem will sprout and that the sprout will grow into full bloom until it becomes the Branch of the Lord. Isaiah is saying that, regardless of the destruction of David’s family tree, Messiah will come as a small shoot that will grow into a mighty Branch - the planting of the Lord. In your Bibles the word “Branch” is capitalized because it refers to none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, “the Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 Our world longs for peace. We live in a society where injustice, unfaithfulness, and unrighteousness abound. Each of us has been victimized by it in one form or another. Also, whether we admit it or not, we are sinners; not only have we been sinned against, but we have also sinned against others. We need to repent so that we may find peace. This is why we pray, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Peace - all of us long for it, yet for some reason we stubbornly refuse to yield to Him “whom the Spirit of the Lord Rests upon.” He is the Prince of Peace. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” Isaiah 11:6-10 A wonderful illustration of how our lives can be transformed by God’s peace is found in the life of Archbishop of the Chicago diocese, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin. In his little book, "The Gift of Peace", which he was working hard to complete just a year ago, there is a gripping and moving account of his meeting with Steven Cook, the young man who had accused Cardinal Bernardin of sexual abuse. It is an event best forgotten except for the extraordinary way in which it concluded. In 1993, the accusation became public, and Cardinal Bernardin had to live in the blare of public curiosity, constant media attention and the deep pain of experiencing his credibility and integrity questioned by many people who simply assumed that an accusation is the equivalent of guilt. Then, over time, Mr. Cook acknowledged that the charges were false and the case was dropped. The Cardinal plunged back into his busy schedule but he kept thinking about Steven Cook, his accuser, now critically ill with AIDS, living alone. Then Cardinal Bernardin did a most remarkable thing. He located Mr. Cook and invited him to meet at a seminary outside Philadelphia. Cardinal Bernardin explained that his only reason for wanting to see Mr. Cook was to tell him that he, Cardinal Bernardin, harbored no ill feelings. He wanted to pray with Mr. Cook.Steven Cook accepted that invitation and said that he wanted to apologize for the hurt and embarrassment he had caused. When the meeting happened, Mr. Cook told his story, including his alienation from the church. They talked for awhile. The cardinal said what he had come to say, and he gave Mr. Cook an inscribed Bible and offered to celebrate Mass with Mr. Cook.
Mr. Cook hesitated at first. Cardinal Bernardin took a 100-year-old chalice out of his case. "Steven, this is a gift from a man I don’t even know. He asked me to use it to say Mass for you some day."
"Please", Steven responded tearfully, "let’s celebrate Mass now." Afterward, Steven Cook said, "A big burden has been lifted from me today. I feel healed and very much at peace." Big burdens can be lifted from our shoulders by Jesus, our Savior, who carries our burdens. They are the burdens of unforgiveness, despair, anxiety, and guilt. Let us come to Christ, and lay all of our burdens at His feet. Allow the Prince of Peace to give us the peace we long for.
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Savior, let us remember to pray for Jerusalem and for Israel. Let us continue to pray for the Church around the corner, around the nation, and around the world, so that the Lord of the Church may ignite her with holy fervor and zeal. May the Light of Christmas shine brightly and beautifully in the dark and bleak places, so that the peoples and the nations might come to Christ - journey to Jesus - where they will find life and light. As we prepare to celebrate in our homes and in our churches, may our hearts be gladdened with the wonderful good news of Christmas.
Please continue to pray for the Church in Orissa, India and in other parts of the world where the Church is being persecuted. The persecution of Christians began one year ago, on Christmas Eve, in Orissa, and thousands of Christians will be spending this Christmas in refugee camps. My brother, Potel, is still in jail. Please pray for the Lord's intervention on his behalf, that he may be released.
We praise the Lord for those of you who have sent monetary gifts to help bless the suffering Christians of Orissa. We are sending funds to purchase blankets, new clothing, and food for these precious people. Thank you again for giving with generosity and much sacrifice. May the Lord of Christmas, who became poor that we might be rich, who became homeless that we might find a home, who suffered rejection that we might be accepted grant you rich blessings - a hundred-fold, sixty-fold, thirty-fold.
We are planning, weather-permitting, to attend the presentation of Handel's Messiah tonight at 8 PM at the Forum in Binghamton. Our church is planning for a living nativity tomorrow at Nanticoke Gardens (on 26N) from 5 to 7 PM.
Our choir is planning to present our annual Christmas cantata on Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 AM.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion services are planned for next Wednesday at 7 and 10:30 PM.
Merry Christmas to one and to all. Let us rejoice and celebrate.

In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vf6zgxle-g