At this stage of our lives, we’re certainly attending more funerals than weddings. That’s why I’m thankful for this verse:

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. (1 Thessalonians 4.13, 14, NIV, emphasis mine)

Jesus’ coming reminds us that not only did he die and rise again, but he also demonstrated his power over death while he was here.

And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. (Matthew 9.23 – 25, ESV)

As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. (Luke 7.12 – 15, ESV)

Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” (John 11.39 – 44, ESV)

In fact, our Hope is closely tied with the resurrection – his and ours!

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15.19 – 20, ESV)

In order for hope to be meaningful, it has to be grounded in reality.

Last Friday, I knew that the Air Force Academy would be playing at 1:30p. An article in our local newspaper’s sports pages indicated that Air Force would be playing for a chance to win the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference. All they had to do, in addition to winning their game (they were favored by 18 points), was have either Boise State win or Utah State lose. Wow! That’s cool, I thought. There’s hope that Air Force could win their division and actually host the next week’s playoff game.

Not so fast. The article didn’t lie; it just left out some important information. Boise State (7 – 4) was playing San Diego State (10 – 1) at 10a, and San Diego State also was playing to win its division. Boise State lost by 11. Utah State (8 – 3) was playing New Mexico (3 – 8), also at 10a. Utah State won 35 – 10. So by the time Air Force kicked off, Utah State had already won the division. Air Force won its game 48 – 14, but it turns out Air Force’s hope was more of a long shot than a hope.

Our hope in Jesus is not a long shot.

And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15.12, 13, ESV)

Wow. Is it Advent already? We could certainly benefit from the coming of Jesus into this increasingly chaotic world. Let’s use the traditional Advent candles of Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace to think about what his coming means and how we ought to live as his representatives. His representatives? You bet:

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8.12, NIV)

“You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5.14, NIV)

My goal is that most, if not all, the blogs between now and December 24 have an Advent theme, again, dictated by the candle of the week. I’m excited to see where God will take us.

¹⁸  “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
¹⁹  He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
²⁰  a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;
²¹  and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12.18 – 21, ESV)

I just found out that Billy Ammons, known as Bill the Barber, passed away in February 2021 at the age of 75. The first time we lived in Montgomery, Alabama, Billy was our across-the-street neighbor from 1981 – 1984. Every few weeks he would come over to our house after he got off work and cut our boys’ hair for free. “I just like to cut hair.”

I never saw his barbershop until we went back to Montgomery 2001 – 2006.

You wouldn’t think a non-descript barbershop in an older part of the city would get any attention, but here’s what local station WSFA reported in 2009. I reproduce the transcript in its entirety:

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) –  When the phone rings at Bill’s Barber Shop in Montgomery, you can count on Bill Ammons to answer. He’s been answering the call for more than 40 years.   “I started work here on August 14, 1964,”  Ammons said.

Bill grew up in McKenzie. He was 18 years old and had no idea what he wanted to do. “I didn’t want to farm or pick cotton.” So he learned the trade of cutting hair and got his first job just before his 19th birthday at a barbershop in the Highland Gardens neighborhood, and he’s still there. He’s been cutting his friend Jimmy’s hair for 45 years. “I don’t got clients, I got friends.”

While a lot has changed over the years, the one thing that remains the same, Bill’s low prices.   He charges a whopping $8 for a haircut. “I ain’t got a fancy shop. I’m makin’ a living and these people need to make a living too.”

And don’t plan on Bill putting down the scissors anytime soon. He truly loves his job. “I plan on being here a while, when you retire you don’t last long.”

Bill has already proven he can last a long time, and that’s good news for his long-time customers. – News story from WSFA-TV, Montgomery, AL, August 17, 2009

One Christmas, maybe 2005, my friend Johnny was in a life-threatening auto accident. His first few days in the hospital, he was not expected to live, and the family called me to come and pray. Johnny recovered although he was still in the hospital a long time. Eventually, he needed a haircut. I called Billy, who went to the hospital and cut Johnny’s hair several times, you guessed it, for free.

I write often about how God uses us, and Making Good Work is one of those ways, as well as Ministering Grace and Love. Billy Ammons did both, for a very long time.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4.10, NIV)

Before the Thanksgiving break, we spent the week thinking about my friend Ray Bandi’s observations on how believers should behave in the world:

• We have a different ruler
• We have a different Spirit
• We have a different source of wisdom
• We fight with different weapons.

Ray’s conclusion was simple:

The world is a dangerous place.  Therefore, we must be careful and discerning. 

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5.15 – 17, NASB, emphases Ray’s)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12.2, NRSV, emphasis mine)

And, of course, how do we understand God’s will, renew our minds, and discern what is good, acceptable, and perfect? Daily time with God!

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD. (Proverbs 8.34, 35, ESV)

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. (Psalm 5.3, NKJV)

Here’s an appropriate song…

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5.18, NKJV)

Concluding our series of how believers are to be different from the world, suggested by friend Ray Bandi, let’s think about what should be a difference in how we fight. The Apostle Paul was clear:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10.3 – 5, NASB)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6.10 – 13, NASB)

“We do not war according to the flesh.” Really? Much of the time, Christians argue just like everyone else. And our social media posts are indistinguishable from everyone else’s. And “our struggle is not against flesh and blood,” but we sure act like it is. That person who disagrees with me is the enemy. That person who is doing things I don’t approve of needs to be destroyed.

What is our primary weapon? E.M. Bounds would argue that the closing verse of the armor of God passage tells us clearly:

…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints… (Ephesians 6.18, ESV)

It’s prayer. We might even try prayer when we want to complain about our government.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2.1, 2, ESV)

And we might pray instead of being angry or quarreling:

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling. (1 Timothy 2.8, ESV)

A friend of mine – a man of prayer – told me, “What would you pray for if you knew the prayer gun was loaded?” – Henry Clay

We’ve been thinking about “worldliness,” not, as some of our traditions have defined it, as abstaining from certain activities (every tradition has its own list), but by how scripture differentiates between the Kingdom of God and the ruler of this world. We have a different ruler, and we follow a different Spirit.

Today, again at my friend Ray Bandi’s suggestion, let’s think about a different source of wisdom:

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God… (1 Corinthians 3.19, NASB)

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom…The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3.13 – 18, NASB)

I wrote a few blogs a couple weeks ago about a serious problem articulated in an Atlantic article about church members demanding the church’s teaching align with their politics. The author observed:

The aggressive, disruptive, and unforgiving mindset that characterizes so much of our politics has found a home in many American churches. – Peter Wehner

“Aggressive, disrupting, and unforgiving” doesn’t much sound like wisdom that is “pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, and full of mercy,” does it?

The verses preceding James’ definition of godly wisdom speak to the problem:

[The tongue] is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. (James 3.8 – 10, ESV)

“These things ought not to be so” because we have a different source of wisdom.

It’s November 22, the 58th anniversary of the assassination of President John Kennedy. It’s one of those days that everyone remembers where they were. I was a senior in high school, running an errand in downtown Greenville, SC, at the time. I heard Walter Cronkite pronounce his death on the radio in a store. That was a Tuesday, and the following Sunday, as we drove home from church, we heard this news on the radio: that Jack Ruby had shot Lee Harvey Oswald, the president’s presumed assassin. The photo below was taken by Bob Jackson who later worked for our local Colorado Springs newspaper. I’ve had the privilege of meeting him.

As I wrote yesterday, reminded by my friend Ray Bandi, there is a world ruler whose mission is to promote division and chaos:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10.10, ESV)

Our job is to experience life by following Jesus and his Spirit, rejecting the ways of the world ruler.

…the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. (John 14.17, NASB)

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. (1 Corinthians 2.12, 13, NASB)

As believers, we aren’t allowed to assassinate our presidents nor even assassinate their assassins! I think that applies to our words, also. A friend just sent me an email containing disparaging remarks about President Biden. I’m speaking to myself here, we need to be careful – that’s not the Spirit we should be following. If we do, it’s evidence of a worldliness much worse than playing cards or going to movies.

You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, “You fool!” will be liable to the hell of fire. (Matthew 5.21, 22, ESV)

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. (1 Peter 2.13 – 17, ESV)

When we were growing up in a conservative, legalistic environment, one thing we were often cautioned about was “worldliness.” We didn’t want to be “worldly.” And in our tradition, you were worldly if you participated in any of the “filthy five:” smoking, drinking, card-playing, watching Hollywood movies in the theater (at home on your own television was apparently OK), and dancing. Consequently, we avoided being worldly by avoiding all those activities.

Incidentally, in a sermon I preached three different times at a single church one weekend I mentioned card-playing as one of the non-nos we grew up with. After each service, someone came up after and asked was I a member of _____________ church because that person wasn’t allowed to play cards either. The funny thing is that all three mentioned different traditions, none of which was ours!

Turns out there are more and more important ways to avoid worldliness than that.

I was talking to my friend Ray Bandi, former pastor, now a pastor-coach and disciple-maker the other day. We’ve both been reading 1 John which has a clear caution about being worldly:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2.15 – 17, NKJV)

Ray decided to see what the scriptures had to say about worldliness, and he came up with a set of characteristics of those who have been:

…rescued from the domain of darkness, and transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son… (Colossians 1.13, 14)

I’d like to explore some of these characteristics with you over the next few days. (Interestingly, none of my “filthy five” is on this list!)

• We have a different ruler.
• We have a different spirit.
• We have a different source of wisdom.
• We fight with different weapons.
• We have a different value systems and desires.

We have a different ruler. Chuck Colson used to say, “Salvation does NOT arrive on Air Force One!” Sometimes, many of us live as if it does. No matter how you voted last year, our ultimate ruler (even if you are a U.S. citizen) does NOT live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

In addition, we have to be careful what ruler and what spirit we’re following. More about that tomorrow.

Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. (John 12.31, NASB, emphasis mine)

And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. (John 16.8 – 11, NASB, emphasis mine)