The Rudder

If praying is hard for you, just pray like this:: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." - Matthew 6:9-10

Do you think we were instructed to pray that things on earth would be like they are in Heaven if it wasn't possible? Now at Christmastime, Jesus came here bringing gifts 2000 years ago. He came in order to penetrate this dark hopeless realm the with the light of hope. He came to bring healing to marriages, replace sadness with joy, and fill meaninglessness with purpose. He came to change things for the better for a world that had no hope outside of God.

Ever since the '05 Mustang came out, my son has expressed his desire to have one...I've always said if we are able, we'll get him one when he graduates... College. What if he just drove the gift without taking the time to learn about it? What if he didn't know he could take it out of 1st gear and go faster? Or drive it at night because it has lights?

Christ didn't come to merely give us a ticket to Heaven (a car that you drive only in the daytime at 20 miles per hour). He came to bring us much more-the Kingdom of God on earth. We, as The Church, do not exist just for Heaven, but for earth as well. The cross has a vertical line (Love God) and a horizontal one (Love your neighbor.) If it existed only for Heaven, then each of us would immediately be taken to Heaven. There would be no reason for us to remain on earth. So why has God allowed us to receive this new birth and remain on earth? It is so that we might bring the Hope of Christmas into our world-our families, our workplace, and our communities, and yes, even our enemies. Life begins at the Cross. Especially at this time of year.