What is in the Name?

I have always found peoples names interesting. What is the most unusual or uncommon name you have ever heard? I have hear some unique ones in my time. Here are a few that I have found interesting Trip, Jalarious, Bear, Orangelo, and the list could go on.


Then there are the nicknames that are given to people that help to explain a persons unique personality or strange mannerisms. If you where to go around a classroom or a place of work and ask people how they got their names you would hear all kinds of interesting stories about how their name was chosen. You may even hear stories of family names that have been passed down for the years. How did you get your name and what does it stand for? You know you can tell a lot about a person name. Most of the time they even live up to their name. This week we are going to investigate how Jesus not only represented his name but carried it out. In biblical times God chose names for people that matched their mission. Abraham means “father of many.” Daniel means “God is my judge.” Elijah means “my God is Yahweh.” Judas means"Crooked Dagger" The list goes on. But how can we live up to our name. The name "Christ-ian" You know when we say yes to God we say yes to a new name. God may even give us a new identity to help you live out that name. This year in 2009 I want everyone to think about what is in a name and what will you do to get the name of Jesus Christ out there.

The Last Week of Searching

The other day I got a Facebook update that said, "Out shopping but having no luck." How often do we go in search of the perfect gift only to come up short or clueless? Maybe the problem is that the only perfect gift is the one that God gave us on Christmas day. This year, I have paid particularity close attention to the commercials. I like the Kay Jewelry's commercial that says,"Every Kiss begins with Kay". Then there is the one that has the guy staying home and giving the family lap dog a bath rather that going to watch the game with his guy friends. Then the commercial says, "because you are not that guy" and it tells you to go to a jewelry store to make the perfect purchase. Then there is the Lexus commercial that begins by showing a kid opening the perfect childhood gift of a big wheel. He says,"How can you top this gift". It then fast forwards the scene to the young man as an adult standing in front of his new perfect gift. A brand new Lexus given to him by his wife. But none of those things are really the perfect gift. The perfect gift is the one that came to save us from our sins. He was the incarnated Savior that came as a man but was perfect in the eyes of God. It is through his perfection that we are made perfect. The best gift ever given is so obvious and yet so often gets totally ignored as we go out in search of someone's perfect gift. Maybe the perfect gift to give someone is the love of Christ. Maybe the greatest gift is just being with and around those that mean so much to us. This Christmas offer someone the perfect gift. Offer them the love and grace that was offered by God and is free for all to recieve. Merry Christmas to everyone and may the Savior invade your soul and overwhelm your being with the joy that truily surrounds this Advent season.

We live in a World of designer "Knockoffs". There are knock off Prada, Oakley, Gucci, and Louis Vutton. The truth is that you can surf the Internet or hit any flea market and you are guaranteed to find some knock off for any designer or name brand that you desire. I remember in College I went to the local Pawn shop and purchased a fake Rolex. This thing looked real as could be on the outside. The problem was that after about three months the thing stopped working. It may have bore the "Rolex" name but the truth is the quality and craftsmanship were lacking. Now during Christmas we focus on the "Baby Jesus", the one so cute and cuddly. But the truth is that maybe we treat Jesus like a "knockoff" item. You see the problem with the knockoff is not the appearance but it is the lasting quality and lifetime guarantee that come with the high price tag of an authentic item. You see Jesus did not stay and infant but he grew into an example for us to try to emulate. Yet so often after Christmas is over we put Jesus away with the decorations. he is but a distant memory and good thought that we will pull out of the attic again next year. But this verse lends itself to some words that show not only the excitement of the birth but the authenticity of this miracle. One of God's greatest attributes is being authentic and never doing anything the same way.

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He 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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[c] the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

This week we will look at these four descriptions to look at how we know Jesus is the real deal and not just some knock off Savior that has led to a lot of hype but no delivery. We will see how a young girl pledged to be married found what see was looking for. She not only found it but she carried and brought him into the world. Still haven't found what you are looking for? This week you just might find the real deal. No, knockoffs here.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (New International Version)
16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22Avoid every kind of evil.
23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

This week we will talk about testing and approving what we are believing in this Advent season. During Christmas we are put to the test to believe some essentials of the Christan doctrine. Christmas challenges us to believe that Jesus was born of a virgin teenager. Christmas challenges us to believe that Jesus was born in a manger in the midst of a cave. It challenges us to believe that Jesus' first visitors were shepherds that were not even worthy enough to give a testimony in the court of law. It challenges us to think about angelical messages and long travels to far off places. These are the things that we are challenged with during this season. But as we test them we see the miracles of God unfold. We also see how these Scriptural truths help us to have the faith and hope that Christ came so that a simple person like myself would be able to be forgiven of my iniquities. These beliefs also lead us to think about the Resurrection. By starting with the theology of Christmas, we are moved to the reality of the resurrection. The Christmas season is a magical season. When you are looking for something this Christmas season just do not look but test it and approve it. this way you will know that you have found something more. You will find what you need, a savior.