Comments on: Stars in our Eyes

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:11:14 +0000

May your life be filled with happiness as you daily experience the blessings of God in the New Year! Bill Williams

By: frthomas

frthomas — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:39:11 +0000

Phil,

First, I enjoy your writing …

You leave us in this article with two questions:

++So how do we keep Jesus at the center of our lives?

++How do use Scripture as a Holy blessing, but not worship Scripture and lose sight of the character and compassion of Jesus?

As a pastor who ministers in the “liturgical-historical” portion of the Body of Christ, I find the answer to those questions quite easy. The key is to realize that for the Hebrews of the Old Covenant and the Christians of the New Covenant, the Scriptures (sacred writings) were not read, marked, learned, and inwardly digested in isolation. The Scriptures for them were part of a spirit-breathed dynamic of life (“culture” or “way of life”)… This pattern or “Way” includes consistent and faithful: liturgical prayer, the Holy Mysteries, fellowship, ministry, and witness. Each of these have a personal and communal expression.

Under the Lordship and guidance (continually yielded with a right heart and allowing the Lord to make one’s heart right when it isn’t) of the Holy Spirit in this context — that HE has instituted — we can fruitfully answer your two wonderful questions not as problematic but a hopeful challenge at the very core of the Christian journey.

God Bless,

Fr. Thomas

Thy Nativity, O Christ our God,
hath shone forth the light of wisdom upon the world;
for therein those who worship the stars
have been taught by a star
to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness,
and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on
high.
O Lord, glory be to Thee!
Nativity Troparion

By: David

David — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:08:53 +0000

Phil,
You’re point is well taken and stikes home to me, about how we use scipture. I’ve been thinking lately, about all this talk of the end times and coming rapture. Though I desire to be with my Lord, I can’t help but wonder about the dangers of focusing on the goal…I read recently about goal setting and focus in relationship to mountain climbing. Though a climbers goal is to summit, his or her focus and energies are directed to each step of progress. I believe that parallels our walk with Christ.
Satan in using our desires to misdirect our focus from seeking perfection in ourselves as we climb the mountain to the summit and sit with our Lord.
Blessings,
David

By: Ralph

Ralph — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:15:32 +0000

Phil,
Just yesterday I preached a sermon on the Magi and found a few of the exact same applications and points you wrote this morning in your entry for heartlight. That\’s kind of exciting to me.
My sermon should soon be posted on the henderson blvd church of Christ podcast, if it isn\’t already there. I mentioned some additional ironies in the story you didn\’t write about, but probably have thought about.
May we all follow what light we are given light to the source of all light – Jesus, Light of the World.
Ralph Walker