Overcoming the Darkness

On Christmas Eve, a small group of believers gathered in the conference room of our residence in Kabul to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. We were small in number, but mighty in spirit. The text below is a 'paraphrase' of the message that I felt led to deliver that evening in a land far away from home.

Overcoming the Darkness

For those of us who are familiar with the Christmas story, we know it begins in the literal darkness of the night. However, at that time, there was also the darkness of oppression, for God's people were a conquered people. They were a beaten and a defeated people. There was the darkness of persecution. Indeed, it was a despised universal taxation that brought the participants in the story together on that fateful night. There was the darkness of disillusionment. There was an ever-increasing number who felt that violence, not faith, was the most effective path. Yes, on that first Christmas, the mood of all the people was one of despair and resignation.

Thus it was then and thus it is now. We too still live in a world of darkness, don't we? There are wars and rumors of wars, hunger, disease and unemployment, racism, loneliness, and a sense of emptiness. I don't have to tell any of you about the darkness, because in one form or another, at one time or another, it has touched the life of each person here - each of us has our own reasons for coming to this place.

At some time in our lives, we all have been acquainted with the night. We have unexpectedly lost loved ones or lost jobs or been part of a broken marriage or have been wronged by someone we loved….Each of us has our own story of our time within the darkness of despair and pain. Thus, we do not come here this evening to naively deny the existence of the darkness. And nowhere in scriptures do we receive a pep talk and an argument that things aren't really as bad as they seem. Rather, the scriptures affirm for us time and time again that the darkness is real and it is present.

But, scripture also affirms that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “people who walk in darkness have seen a great light.” Luke’s Gospel records: “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” Thus, in a few moments, we come together to sing again the words:

“Silent night holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light,
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus Lord at thy birth.”

Brothers and sisters, the good news of Christmas is that in the midst of a deep darkness there came a light, and the darkness was not able to overcome that light. It was not just a temporary flicker. It was an eternal flame. We need to remember that. There are times, in the events of the world and in the events of our own personal lives, when we feel that the light will be snuffed out. But the Christmas story affirms that whatever happens, the light still shines.

As we heard from several of our scripture readings tonight, the ancient Hebrews were afraid of the darkness. They were particularly afraid of a place they called the outer darkness. To them creation began when God said: Let there be light. To them, where there was darkness there was only void and emptiness. What great meaning and hope it must have been for them when they heard Jesus refer to himself as the “light of the world”.

I believe we need to hear these words this Christmas as the families of Afghanistan and Iraq and Sudan and Somalia are suffering. We need to hear these words as the families of war torn Israel and Gaza, both Jewish and Palestinian, are overwhelmed with grief. We need to hear these words as the families of our men and women of our military long for their loved ones to be home this season. Yes, the darkness of this world is very real. But because of the miracle of Christmas, it will never get so dark that we can't see the light.

Into the darkness of this world, God sends an eternal light. As you walk outside this evening, notice that the darkness does not intrude upon the light. On the contrary, it is the light that intrudes upon the darkness. Light is always stronger than darkness. And the forces of light are stronger than the forces of darkness.

The greatest need in our mixed up and confused world this day is to let people know that there is hope. We need to share with our families and friends that life is worth living no matter what. We should never be discouraged to the point of despair. In Jesus Christ, we shall cling to the hope the life overcomes death, that love conquers hate, and that truth will prevail over falsehood. We are the people of light and we must share that light in a dark and a dreary land.

Why do you think that God chose to use a star to guide the Wisemen to Bethlehem? I am convinced that it was not by accident. It was an eternal reminder to them and to us that in a sea of darkness, it is the light that keeps us going forward. It is the light of hope and the light of Christ that leads the way and dispels the gloom.

It is my prayer that the light of Christmas will shine and enlighten the dark corners of your life and that you, too, will discover the pathway to Bethlehem. It is my prayer this Christmas that the light of Christ will strengthen you and lift you up to overcome the darkness of this world. It is my prayer tonight that the Eternal of Jesus Christ always shines forth from your spirit for all to see – that this world may one day overcome the darkness once and for all.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Russ

Being Who God Made Us To Be

Pastor Rick Warren has a very successful book entitled "The Purpose Driven Life" and it's companion book "The Purpose Driven Church". I've read both and have gleened lots of good points for my ministry and my life. I have come to the conclusion that I need to live my life as I understand God wants me to live my life. That is to say that I must strive to be who God made me to be.

And as I am more aware of that calling and desire, I become more aware of others around me who are doing exactly the same thing. Thus, this posting will be focused on a certain young lady from New Hampshire who just spend six weeks here with us as part of our engineering team. However, her presence here had a far more reaching impact on me and on others than just her considerable engineering talents. I believe that Jessica had such an impact on so many of us because she is geniune - the real deal - and because she was being exactly what God made her to be.

Jessica is a Civil Engineer. Being a female in the traditionally male dominated engineering profession in the US is tough enough, but to come to Afghanistan where women are not usually even encouraged to hold any job outside the home....well, that should tell you immediately what this young lady is made of. I must admit that I was a bit worried when I found out that we were having a twenty-something young lady join us in this environment, but once I met Jessica all my preconceived notions and misconceptions went right out the window.

Not only does she have the engineering skills necessary to make our work here very successful, she has the interpersonal skills and humble attitudes to show our all male Afghan engineering team that a woman can be just as effective an engineer as a man. It did not take long at all for our Afghan staff to accept her - it became quickly obvious that they respected her to the point where they wanted to work with her. In a very short period of time, she was 'adopted' and gained several new fathers and brothers - and not just from the Afghan staff either!

I believe with all my heart that she was just being who God made her to be. Nothing more, nothing less. When we do that without any pretense, without any labels, without any masks - people see our hearts and our spirits. We don't need to speak the same language, live in the same culture or even practice the same religion to love our neighbor.

Jessica was only here for six weeks as a short term technical assistant, but she touched so many lives. It was emotionally obvious when our Afghan engineering staff began to present her with several gifts during her last week here. Not just once or twice, but several times they brought pashminas, shawls, traditional shirts and presented them to her as a token of their respect and affection.....just because Jessica was being who God made her to be.

The last event before she returned home brought it all out into the light and touched me so very deeply that I must share it. Engineering Omar is a man in his fifties who has experienced so much pain and war in his lifetime, but I truly believe in his heart that he has truly adpoted Jessica as his third daughter.

Our engineering team was invited to his home for a traditional Afghan dinner shortly before Jessica was leaving the country. The dinner was fabulous and the company was even better. But what happened after dinner will be forever etched in my memory and my heart. Omar and his wife presented Jessica with beautiful gifts...jewelry, a shawl, a shirt, but it wasn't the gifts that made the moment - it was the look on Omar's face. It was a look of love...all made possible because Jessica chose to be who God made her to be.

In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus is asked what is the greatest commandment. Jesus replied "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

When we give ourselves over to God - heart, soul and mind - we can't help but be filled with His love, gentleness and compassion. When we show that love, gentleness and compassion to our neighbors - no matter who or where they are- we show them the love of God. In other words, when we are living our lives in His presence, we are being who God made us to be.

Jessica has done that and she has made a lasting impression on many of us....but the story doesn't end there. At the end of her six week deployment, Jessica made it clear she really didn't want to leave - and that she definitely wanted to come back. In addition to my written request to the home office requesting her return, every engineering staff member in our Kabul office made it very clear they also wanted her back.

The home office concurred ... and sometime after the Christmas holidays, we will welcome Jessica back to Afghanistan for at least an additional six weeks!

Blessings to one and all this most Holy Christmas season. May God touch every and every one of you in a very special way. May each of us feel led to live our lives as God made us to be.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Russ