Random thoughts

As we fast approach the ending of one year and the beginning of the new, I pause to reflect:
The Christmas story is one of God coming into a troubled, dark, and hostile world, and from a position of obscurity bringing salvation and hope to those forgotten and marginalized by circumstances. Light coming into darkness, breaking through the darkness, revealing things hidden, shameful wounds, secret sins - exposing them to heal and then restore.
These are difficult, some would say perilous times, economically, politically, spiritually... And at a time when the people of God need to be at their best, we have been beset with scandal, infidelities, financial mismanagement, apostasy, heresies and other junk!
Just a few days ago I was made aware of a situation close to home that broke my heart - it seems that the more we try to build accountability in the Body of Christ, the greater the battle to fracture and destroy our fellowship wages. There seems to be a disconnect between belief and practice, between public pronouncement and private conduct. There is an increasing tendency within the Body of Christ to espouse a grace that covers a multitude of sins but does not seek to uphold biblical standards of behavior and integrity. I pray that 2009 will bring a change and a return to 'Kingdom" thinking.