The Legacy of Joseph

This Friday, December 1, the movie The Nativity opens in theaters around the nation. Several months ago I had the opportunity to attend a special preview of the movie. I want to highly recommend it to you. It is inspiring, entertaining and most importantly, true to the biblical narrative. One of the things I most enjoyed was the portrayal of Joseph as a man of faith, courage and compassion

In the third chapter of the Gospel of Luke we read “When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being supposedly the son of Joseph …” Even though Joseph was not Christ’s natural father, he certainly was a significant father figure during Christ’s formative years. Amazingly, we know very little about this man who along with Mary had the greatest influence on the physical, emotional and spiritual development of the Son of God.

Joseph is described as a humble, very ordinary man. Though he was a descendent of the great King David, he was one of the common people. He was said to be a carpenter (Matthew 13:55). The word actually describes any common laborer who worked with wood or stone. His offering as described in Luke 2:24 was the humble offering of doves, rather than the more expensive lamb.

In Matthew 1:19 we find an insight into why God chose this humble, ordinary man to raise his son, “And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man …” What is a “righteous man”? A righteous man is simply one who is right with God and right with others. He has accepted God’s “gift of righteousness” (Romans 5:17), allowing him to experience the forgiveness of sin and acceptance into God’s family.

When facing moral decisions, he consistently tries to do the right thing (1 John 3:7). In his relationship with others, He deliberately chooses to live according to God's commands, treating others as he himself would want to be treated. In Proverbs 20:7, God promises a special blessing for the righteous man, “The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.”

Like me, you may identify with a common, ordinary person like Joseph. We do not possess great gifts or achieve significant notoriety. We like to fly under the radar most of the time. It excites me to think that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. It gratifies me to believe that a righteous man can leave an incredible legacy to his children and grandchildren. May the Lord grant us the grace to be righteous men!

Shoulder to shoulder,

Gregg

A Day in the Life of President Lincoln

For years I have admired President Abraham Lincoln. After reading several biographies of his life, I have a collection of some of my favorite Lincoln stores. In this season of thanksgiving, I thought I would share one with you.

The American Civil War took a heavy toll on the emotional and physical health of President Lincoln. Besides the many meetings with his cabinet and the military regarding the logistics of funding and fighting the war, Lincoln was constantly barraged by people asking for special favors.

At this time in history, it was thought that the people should have unfettered access to their president. As a result, Lincoln’s days, and sometimes evenings, were filled with appointments with people who wanted things. There were businessmen asking for government contracts, politicians asking for political favors or appointments, and many friends or family members of soldiers who were asking for special dispensations. Incredibly patient with all, the President sat and listened to each plea, promising to do what he could to oblige them.

On one particularly busy day, the President sat down to visit with a woman who had requested an appointment. He began the conversation with his obligatory, “What do you need from me?” She responded, “I don’t need anything from you, Mr. President. I cannot imagine the pressures you are under and the hardships you are enduring. I thought I might try to bring you a little relief and cheer. I have brought you some fresh baked cookies and wanted to say thank you for all you are doing for our country.”

Dumbfounded for a moment, the President arose to say, “Dear woman, words cannot express my appreciation for your thoughtfulness. For months I have sat here each day to hear request after request. You are the first person I can remember who has come to give me something, rather than ask me for something. Thank you for your kindness.”

The scripture commands us to “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!” Often we rush into the presence of God to ask for help or to meet a need, which He encourages us to do. How often do we come to Him just to say “thanks.” We teach and expect our children to say “thank you” when they receive a gift. Perhaps we should model a thankful heart for them as well.

Dear brother in Christ, in this season of Thanksgiving, I encourage you to lead your family to experience the true meaning of Thanksgiving. One of our family traditions as we sit down to Thanksgiving Dinner is to give each family member an opportunity to share what he or she is thankful for. As for me, I am thankful for so many things, including you and the privilege or serving as your pastor.

Shoulder to Shoulder,

Gregg

A Coach After God's Own Heart

Last Monday night, October 30, thousands of Ohio State football fans packed an arena on the Ohio State campus. They came from all over the state of Ohio, some driving up to 90 minutes to attend what was being called “The Main Event”. They did not come to cheer on their #1 ranked team or to heap accolades on Coach Jim Tressel and his star players. Instead, they came to hear the coach and several players give God the glory for their successes.

"Once you understand that God is behind everything, it gives you strength," wide receiver Roy Hall told the crowd. Coach Tressel said he wanted to step away from his role of coach and speak "as a child of God." He told the crowd that in 1969 he attended a high school sports summer camp where retired New York Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson asked him, "If the game of life ended tonight, would you be a winner?"

Senior Joe Penton echoed those comments. "We would feel so bad talking about our relationship with Christ tonight, without giving you an opportunity to enter into that very same relationship, Penton says, "When Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, died on that cross, he took on the penalty for our sin. Because he paid it, we can have a relationship with Him. We can know Him personally. We can have the promise of eternal life -- living forever with God."

How exciting to see Coach Tressel and his team using their notoriety to honor Christ and to influence people to believe in Him. Think what might happen if every Christian would use his or her influence to bring attention to Christ and the gospel of grace.

1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” My friend, you were made to do one primary thing – to bring glory to God. That is your greatest purpose and highest calling. If even the most mundane things like eating and drinking, can be used to glorify God, think how more effective it would be to use your gifts, talents, strengths and resources to honor Christ. Today, may God be blessed and glorified in all we say and do.

Shoulder to shoulder,

Gregg

God’s Faith Hall of Fame

He was affectionately known in the world of sports as “Lord Byron.” John Byron Nelson was born Feb. 4, 1912, on the family farm in Waxahachie, Texas, and started in golf in 1922 as a caddie at Glen Garden Country Club in Fort Worth. On September 26, 2006 his wife found him slumped in his chair on the back porch of their Roanoke ranch. He had died quietly at the age of 94.

After graduating from high school, Nelson got a job as a file clerk in the accounting office of the Forth Worth and Denver Railroad and played golf in his spare time. He lost his job during the Great Depression but found work in 1931 with a bankers’ magazine.

The same year, he entered his first tournament, the National Amateur in Chicago, where he missed qualifying by one stroke. With jobs hard to find, he turned professional in 1932. In 1944, he won 13 of the 23 tournaments he played, but it was the following year that will forever live as one of the greatest in golf history.

“The Streak” as it came to be called, was Nelson’s incredible achievement of winning 11 tournaments in a row in 1945. He went on to win 18 tournaments in 1945, also a record for a calendar year. He captured 31 of 54 tournaments in 1944-45, and won a total of 52 events, including five majors. Nelson was voted AP Male Athlete of the Year in 1944 and 1945. He was elected to the PGA Hall of Fame in 1953 and to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Players today say it is doubtful that anyone will match or beat the record of 11 tournament wins in a row.

When asked how he wanted to be remembered. Nelson often responded, “I think the thing people will always talk about me is my degree of consistency on the golf course, winning money in 113 tournaments, but I want to be remembered as a good man and a Christian man. That’s all that really matters.”

Nelson was an active member at the Richland Hills Church of Christ and proudly stated that he was a Christian, churchgoing man who “didn’t smoke, drink or carouse or hang with girls who do.” PGA Tour chaplain Larry Moody, who knew Nelson well, commented, “Byron was a great man and a great golfer, but most importantly he was a great follower of Jesus Christ. He wasn’t pushy, but he would never hesitate to tell you if somebody said he was great that it was because of who Jesus Christ was in him.”

God also has a Hall of Fame. Hebrews chapter 11 is sometimes referred to as “God’s Faith Hall of Fame.” Here we are told that Moses chose to be remembered for his faith, rather than for worldly fame, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”

My friend, I hope you will follow Moses’ and Byron’s example and live your life with an eye on eternity. I encourage you to pursue fame in God’s kingdom so that you may also leave behind a living legacy of faith in Christ.

Shoulder to shoulder,

Gregg