The Robot on the Shelf

 24God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

35The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be bornd will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35) 

THOUGHTS: There are those who say there is nothing but this life- there is no spirit, there is no soul- we are just atoms.  Therefore, though we are complicated, we are just material.  The question should be asked then, why should one atom be kind to the next?  Is there some force out there that indicates kindness is a better way for atoms to live?  I think the answer is that there is no ultimate reason for love without a God of love.  If you have no God, the reason for kindness, love, and grace are a house of cards with no foundation or basis.  in our time, the question could be raised, why should humans be favored over robots/AI.  Machines are made to serve humans (like a kind of angel), but if one atom has the same value as the next- and there is no soul- then why should humans not serve a higher intelligence once AI passes human ability (like the grand chess master, Kasparov, was defeated by IBM's deep blue May 1997 or the Go Game champion in 2017).  
     We feed materialism with selfishness and greed.  When Christmas loses meaning to only giving presents it becomes empty and death's sadness (the empty spot at the table) overwhelms the good news of Christ's coming to give life.  But generosity mirrors what God did in giving Himself at Christmas. 
     Without the human soul- and therefore without a God who makes it, there is no ultimate reason to love or have purpose.  This is not just a primitive archaic idea- it is an idea that we really know deep down today.  We are worthwhile- made in God's image.  Christ came in the Spirit to free our spirits.  He came out of love to show us love is the best way- loving God and neighbor.  

PRAYER: Lord, may my spirit be inspired and linked to your Spirit.  Help me to love my neighbor because you have taught it in word and example by coming down for me.   

Spirit vs. Machine in Advent

The Word was made flesh and lived for awhile among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son , who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:14)

In advent, the spiritual intersects clearly with the physical.  So God who is Spirit becomes flesh.  I saw a piece Frontline AI that speaks about how artificial intelligence is replacing humans.  So the world chess champion was beaten consistently by IBM's Big Blue Machine.  So in 2017 the GoogleGo computer beat the world champion Go Game player by seemingly making a move that had never been made before (move 37), winning 4 of 5 games.  It appears that machines can be taught to teach themselves now- almost creativity.  Many machines are replacing jobs (think how many cashiers have been replaced at Walmart), and some new high model cars are basically driving themselves (some semis on I-10 are driving themselves safer than when humans drove).  This sounds a bit like "Brave New World" or "The Matrix."
      In China it appears that cameras with facial recognition are keeping track of millions of people to prevent social unrest.  In the name of the "common good" many controlling things may be done. 
      Whenever such machinist revolutions happen, there is some exhilaration but also some angst.   There is exhilaration that we will not be stuck doing menial things.  But there is angst that we may not really be needed or wanted.  When the Industrial Revolution hit it brought us out of a lot of famine and poverty but it also brought depression.  When weavers were replaced with machines it brought poverty back in the textile south.  When over half the automobile assembly line is robots- that means a lot of people are out of good paying jobs.  While no one supposedly misses the telephone switchboard operators, if you were an operator you might miss it.
     But the other angst is the angst of the soul.   We have been taught that we are worthwhile if we are productive.  But if productivity does not need a human touch, then we may want to challenge our criteria for worth.  The Bible says we are worthwhile because we are made in the image of God.  We are given an everlasting soul that no machine will ever have.  The soul is related to the heart that is able to love and feel.  While things may run more efficiently with a machine it cannot be run more gracefully or lovingly.  We are also worthwhile because Christ came and died for us.  God so loves us enough to come and to sacrifice Himself for us.  That gives us value- by the ultimate Creator.  We are not just sophisticated atoms and fleshly machines.  Machines can understand the commercial value of Christmas- they can wrap and ship faster than humans.  But they cannot understand the joy of love.

Prayer; Lord, Help me to see my value in your eyes.  Thank you that you became flesh for me out of love.

His Angel

My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. (Daniel 6:22) Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me..." (Acts 12:11) "He replied, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked faithfully, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father's family. (Genesis 24:40) Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Heb. 1:14) THOUGHTS: About 15 times the scriptures speak of "His angel."  God is the one who is in charge of the angels.  So he sent Gabriel to speak to Zechariah and Mary to tell them their special babies were on the way.  It was His angel that shut the lion's mouths.  That would have been interesting to see.  It was His angel that opened the gates of the jail cell for Peter and allowed Peter to walk right past the guards.  Abraham was convinced "His angel" would go before Eleazar to help him find a wife for his son.  So the angel of God guides, directs, rescues, speaks, opens and shuts (and more).  The name of the angel is unimportant here.  It is God who sends this angel to serve and help His people.  The angel is the instrument , the servant who serves the people of God.  During advent there is talk of angels and symbols of angels on trees, cards, lights and more.  But really, there are angels around all the time.  An ancient liturgy reminds us that we worship not by ourselves: "Therefore joining our voices with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven who forever sing this song of praise:  Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of power and might.  Heaven and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."  When we worship- the communion of saints is also a communion with the angels above. Prayer: Lord, send your angel this Christmas to bring peace to our strife and hope to our families and land.  Shut the mouths of the evil ones and may your praise be heard throughout our land and the whole earth.

The Angel's Light

18“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

19“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” (Luke 1:19)

26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings,b you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.c ” (Luke 1:26)

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  (Luke 2:9)

Thoughts: Gabriel was an archangel found in Daniel 8 & 9 (apocalyptic literature).  Michael is called an archangel (Jude 1:9);  Deutero-canonical literature mention Raphael, Uriel, and Metatron.  1 Thessalonians 4:16 speaks of the Lord coming back at the voice of the archangel.  Angels are not dead human beings but separate kinds of beings.  While the Bible seems to indicate that each person has an angel (Acts 12:15 et al) each person is not an angel in themselves.  Angels are servants sent to minister or serve others.  The halo idea around an angels head- is sometimes just a way to say they are special.  But others who have said they have seen angels, point out that there can be a glow as they reflect the literal glory of God.  In Luke 2:9 it was when the angel came that there was a glow of the glory of God not only around the angel but around the shepherds- indicating something special was happening.  

     The second advent candle lights the angel or light candle.    God sends angels to deliver messages or encourage the discouraged.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you for angels .  I join my coive with thiers to you as worship.  

8But about the Son He says:

“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever,

and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.

9You have loved righteousness

and hated wickedness;

therefore God, Your God, has anointed You

above Your companions with the oil of joy." (Hebrews 11:8-9)

16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev. 19:16)

THOUGHTS: In the New Testament Jesus, the Son,  is also seen as the King.  No angel is given the throne.  He is the power above all powers.  Long ago David was promised that he would always have a descendant on the throne (2 Samuel 7).  Jesus, who is eternal, will sit on a throne that no general, king, or army could take away.  He is the king who was, is, and is to come because He is alive. 
The importance of the justice and righteousness of Jesus is brought out.  Justice is his scepter- which means a symbol of the kingdom.  Justice is the idea of fairness and judging properly- without prejudice or influence.  Jesus is not influenced by reputation or bribery. 
He also is noted for loving righteousness.  Righteousness is not self-righteousness- but it is doing what is right in God's eyes consistently.  Righteousness is not perfection but it is doing the right thing consistently. 
The blessing of joy will come to Jesus for his love of doing what is right and just.  

PRAYER: Lord, you are the king of kings and Lord of lords.  Let me honor you in my life as the king and Lord.  

The King Comes Back

This will be part of the sermon tomorrow 12/8 at LMPC

6For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given,

and the government will be upon His shoulders.

And He will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7Of the increase of His government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on the throne of David

and over his kingdom,

to establish and sustain it

with justice and righteousness

from that time and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6) 

Why do the nations ragea

and the peoples plot in vain?

2The kings of the earth take their stand

and the rulers gather together,

against the LORD

and against His Anointed One:b

3“Let us break Their chains

and cast away Their cords.”

4The One enthroned in heaven laughs;

the Lord taunts them.

5Then He rebukes them in His anger,

and terrifies them in His fury:

6“I have installed My King on Zion,

upon My holy mountain.”

7I will proclaim the decree

spoken to Me by the LORD:

“You are My Son;

today I have become Your Father.c

8Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance,

the ends of the earth Your possession.

9You will break themd with an iron scepter;

You will shatter them like pottery.e ”

10Therefore be wise, O kings;

be admonished, O judges of the earth.

11Serve the LORD with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12Kiss the Son, lest He be angry

and you perish in your rebellion,

when His wrath ignites in an instant.

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. (Messianic- Psalm 2)

31Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” (Luke 1- Gabriel to Mary)

THOUGHTS:  There is a part of us that wants someone to rule over us.  We want fairness, justice, peace, provision.  This is a hope expressed in Isaiah 9.  There is another part of us that doesn't want anyone to rule over us.  We want to be captain of our soul.  But to fight against God- the King of kings is a losing battle that only leads to frustration.  In our day we discount the idea of a king.  We do not need a political king but we do need someone to turn our chaos into meaning.  God did this in creation.  Jesus brought healing when He came.  God is the only one who can turn meaninglessness and chaos into hope, purpose, and meaning.
     The angel Gabriel told Mary that God would put His son on the throne of David.  It is a promise that God will come back to bring peace (as the Prince of Peace), and joy to people who were in darkness.
      Once King Charles I was deposed from the throne of England and killed.  His son, Charles II fled to Scotland where the Scottish Presbyterians tried to give him back his throne but they were defeated in battle and Charles II fled to Scotland. After Cromwell died England descended into chaos and division.   But nine years later the English begged this king to come back.  The Carolinas were named after Charles and Charleston was also named after him by the Lord's Proprietors to whom Charles gave the land.  Charles was not a perfect king and pales in comparison to the King of kings.  But the hopes of the king coming back and resolving chaos were met.   

     The real question for us is will we put Jesus on our heart's throne.  

(Charles II Coronation Procession)

Fear not.  For behold I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be for all the people.  For to you this day is born a savior who is Christ the Lord. 

THOUGHTS:  Darkness brings mystery, uncertainty and a bit of fear.  When the lights are out and I go for a cup of water in the middle of the night my fear is that I will trip over a toy or a dog Frisbee.  I am also a bit uncomfortable that if I turn on the light I will still be blinded with the adjustment my pupils make. 
    The shepherds that first Christmas were probably blinded by the light.  Some of the great paintings depicting this event show the shepherds with their arms over their eyes in a combination of fear and blindness.  But the phrase "fear not" is given many times in the birth narratives of Jesus.  When the angel came to Joseph and Mary he said the same thing (Lk. 2:30;  Mt. 1:20).  The angel told Zechariah to not be afraid (Lk. 1:13).  The message is clearly to all of us- do not be afraid.  There are tidings of comfort and joy available to those who believe.  The fear is not that we will always be comfortable (after all the baby was born in a manger to poor parents).  But the deep inner fear of purposelessness, apathy and lack of love is gone.  The dark way of life has a ray of hope shining in.  Jesus has come to bring peace, abolish fear, and abolish darkness.  In our world of uncertainty there is hope.

Prayer:  Lord, give me grace to not be afraid but to live in your light and hope