The Bungee Cord 12-20-21

Hello,

Passion drives people to do some crazy things. Crazy things like going to a Steelers football game in the middle of December, with winds blowing and temperatures flirting with the freezing mark. I, who am not nearly as passionate about the Pittsburgh Steelers, joined all those passionate people in watching the game, but I watched in the comfort of my warm home. No need for snowmobile suits, multiple layers of blankets, mittens fitted with hand warmers, and scarfs pulled up over my face. But there was nothing keeping those passionate fans from going to that game. Passion drives people to do some crazy things.

But not people only. Passion drove God to do a crazy thing. As incredible as it may be to comprehend, God – the one whose watch stretches the universe, the one whose potters hand shapes every piece of matter in the cosmos, the one who power and might holds it all together – is so passionate about each and every human being that he will not let anything keep him from embracing them in his love forever. So deeply determined that those who were created in his image would abide with him eternally, God broke the barriers of the eternal and took his place in a manger, shared in the struggles and fears of finitude, and silenced the claim that anything else might utter when he brought them to an end on the cross. God was not going to let anything get in his way or turn him away. God is passionate about human beings…..about you and me…and God’s passion drove God to do what many would dub a crazy thing.

And that is why we, at the church where I am the pastor, is going to do a crazy thing. Engulfed in God’s passion for us, we are going to gather in thanks and praise to God on the day we celebrate the eternal God’s inhabiting flesh and blood, and nothing is going to stop us! Not the weather, no matter how cold it is. Not our unwanted houseguest, Covid 19, no matter that it keeps us from gathering inside. Not our busy schedules, no matter what the world tells us we need to do to keep up with things. We are the product of God’s passion, passion that changes who we are and how we live our lives, and as crazy as many might think we are, we are going to be outside on Christmas Eve, fueled and full of passion.

No matter who you are, mighty or small. No matter what you have done, tremendous or terrible. No matter the depth of your faith, microscopic or monumental. No matter the holes you have fallen into, self-dug or pushed into. No matter the reputation that you carry, abysmal or astronomical. Nomatterwhat! Nomatterwhat God’s passion includes you, and the passion of Christmas Eve envelops you, too. So, if you are in the Ligonier area come and join us as we gather outside at 5:00 NOMATTERWHAT. And if the drive might be a little bit far for you, and you don’t own a jet, take some time to read the story of Jesus’ birth found in the first part of the books of Matthew and Luke….and if there’s a safe place to gather with others who are likewise driven by God’s passion, go and join them in thanks and praise when they gather on Friday (Christmas Ever) or Saturday (Christmas Day).

Passion drives God to do crazy things…..and God’s passion makes people do crazy things, too!

Have a wonder-full Christmas!

God’s grace and peace, (ggap)

Pastor Jerry Nuernberger

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