Celebrating Incarnation

On our way to church yesterday morning, it seemed as if very few people were out and about. Are Christmas morning services becoming a thing of the past?

Although there are always plenty of family gatherings to attend during the Christmas season, it would be a shame to discard Christmas worship like used gift wrap.

We heard a very good sermon by Rev. Patrick Edouard on celebrating the Incarnation. We shouldn't feel guilty about participating or enjoying celebrations with family or friends--as long as we do not separate the baby in the manger from the man and his mission.

The Incarnation is God becoming flesh. He became flesh and dwelt among us for a purpose: to save His people from their sin.

During the sermon, I was struck by the imagery of the baby lying helplessly on the wood of the manger and the man hanging helplessly on the wood of the cross. But both instances of apparent helplessness are actually divinely orchestrated events of sovereign intention.

Christ chose to become a dependent baby in a wooden feeding trough. He was not a mere moral teacher who became a victim of circumstances; he chose to become a voluntary sacrifice on a wooden torture instrument. He lay in the manger and hung on the cross intentionally, for the purpose of saving sinners.

As Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:15, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."

It's easy for me to identify with the label, "chief of sinners," but I must also remind myself that Christ came into the world to save sinners like me.

And salvation of sinners isn't the end of the story. God's sovereign plans are all for His glory.

Christ came into the world, He died on the cross; but He rose again and He ascended into heaven where He reigns at the right hand of God. And He is coming again. His first advent was only a foretaste of His second advent.

As we celebrate the beauty and the mystery of the Incarnation, may we anticipate the glory and the majesty of the consummation of Christ's Kingdom.

Libby's Winter Coat

For Libby's birthday, I bought her a fleece-lined corduroy coat. Even though she has very little fur on her underside, she hasn't seemed to mind the cold weather. But when the temperature plunged to zero, I broke out Libby's new coat.

Longsuffering Libby was patient while I put it on her. And she didn't try to chew it. But she just didn't run around like normal while she was wearing it. I wondered if perhaps she didn't want to soil her new coat.

But I think it's more likely that she found it inhibiting. And I've decided that brown really isn't a good color for her.

Morning Star

The following essay appeared in the July 28 issue of The Outlook and can be viewed at Reformed Fellowship's website, but I wanted to post it as a blog entry since it is so timely for this advent season.

When I rise on clear mornings, the dark pre-dawn sky is pierced by the beauty of a bright star throbbing like a living diamond. Joyful hope fills my soul and my spirit sings as the star reminds me of Christ, the bright and morning star.

This is an appellation that Christ gave Himself in His penultimate words to believers: “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you about these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star” (Rev. 22:16, NKJV).

Christ’s self-ascribed title as “the Bright and Morning Star” creates a rich mental tapestry of intricately interwoven threads: Christ’s presence at the dawn of creation, Christ’s incarnation in fulfillment of biblical prophecy, the Magi’s adoration as the first fruits of the nations’ worship, and Christ’s return at the culmination of His Kingdom.

The morning star that seems to pulse in silent rhythm reminds me of the morning stars that sang together in sheer joy at the creation of the world.

God asks Job: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” and adds, “When the morning stars sang together” (Job 28: 4, 7). Realizing the limits of his finitude, Job is appropriately shamed and silent. He wasn’t present at creation.

Christ, however, was.

John writes, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word as with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:1-5).

The morning star shining in the darkness before dawn reminds me of the light that came into this dark world. That light is the Word through which all things were made at creation, when the morning stars sang for joy.

Seeing the morning star also reminds me of a delightful moment in Old Testament history, Balaam’s involuntary prophecy.

In the book of Numbers, we read that the Amorites came against Israel under the leadership of their king, Sihon. The Amorites were not weak; they had recently overcome the Moabites and taken a great deal of their land. But God gave the Israelites the victory as well as the Amorites’ land.

And the Israelite victory over Sihon and the Amorites was not a fluke. When Og, the king of Bashan, brought his people against the Israelites, God proceeded to grant Israel another rousing victory and even more land.

Enter Balak, the king of the Moabites. Balak is shaking in his boots. The Bible says that “Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel” (Num. 22:3).

Moab was “exceedingly afraid” and “sick with dread.” No wonder! How could Moab hope to overcome the conqueror of their conquerors?

Realizing that military might is powerless against the Israelites, Balak decides to bring the metaphysical heavy guns to the front. He sends for the prophet Balaam.

Despite warnings from the Lord via a dream and a donkey, Balaam travels with the Moabite emissaries and meets Balak. And, in spite of Balak’s best efforts to set the stage for a spectacular curse pronouncement against Israel, Balaam is capable only of uttering a series of increasingly affirming blessings.

One of the most beautiful of all the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Messiah is found in Balaam’s fourth prophecy, when Balaam involuntarily prophesies of the coming King of Kings:
“I see Him, but not now;
I behold Him, but not near;
A Star shall come out of Jacob;
A Scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Num. 24:17a).

As in Revelation 22:16, the star is linked to Israel with clear implications regarding the royal line of David.

A cursory reading of Numbers might make it seem as if Balak was the driving force behind efforts to bring down Israel or that Balaam was a helpless pawn in God’s plan, but other passages give a glimpse into Balaam’s motivation and character.

In 2 Peter 2, Peter describes the depravity of false teachers, saying, “They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet” (vv. 15-16).

And in the apocalyptic letter to the compromising church at Pergamos, Christ says, “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality” (Rev. 2:14).

Balaam was depraved and greedy. He loved the “wages of unrighteousness.” He was a false teacher who contributed to Israel’s sins by instructing Balak on the most effective methods for placing “a stumbling block” in the path of the people of Israel.

Remarkably, these two New Testament references to Balaam appear in close connection with the two other New Testament references to the morning star.

Before Peter describes destructive doctrines and the doom of false teachers in 2 Peter 2, he concludes the preceding chapter with a beautiful description of the trustworthiness of God’s Word. In 2 Peter 1:19, he writes:
“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

And just a few verses after Christ’s criticism of those who hold to the false doctrine of Balaam in Revelation 2, Christ provides this vivid promise to the faithful:
“And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—
I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 2:26-29).

These two New Testament references to the morning star are full of hope for a victorious future in which believers will experience the fullness of blessing in Christ and share in His rule over the nations.

Commenting on Revelation 2:28 on p. 73 of More Than Conquerors, William Hendriksen writes, “As the morning star rules the heavens, so believers will rule with Christ; they will share in His royal splendour and domination. The star is always the symbol of royalty, being linked with the scepter (Nu. 24:17; cf. Mt. 2:2).”

In his commentary on Revelation 2:28 in The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text (New International Greek Testament Commentary), G. K. Beale notes how similar patterns in it and 2 Peter 1:17-19 pair the Numbers allusion with the messianic Psalm 2. Like Hendriksen, Beale associates the morning star with the messianic reign and the scepter. He writes, “The application…to believers indicates that they will participate in this reign if they overcome” (pp. 268-269).

The intertwining of these threads is amazing. The wonderful promises recorded in 2 Peter and Revelation 2, which fill believers with hope for the final victory, are found in close proximity to references regarding Balaam. God used that depraved prophet to utter an involuntary prophecy about the coming Messiah, a prophecy that links royal reign and sovereignty with a star.

The singular star shining in the east reminds me of the eastern star that signaled Christ’s incarnation. That star very literally fulfilled Balaam’s prophecy and brought the first adoration from the nations to Christ’s feet.

The wise men associated the star with royalty. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they asked, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him” (Matt. 2:2).

The wise men were products of their age. In the ancient world, certain stars were considered symbols of sovereignty. Some people groups began to worship stars as gods and some ancient kings claimed divinity. Astrology was born in Babylon (Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, p. 41).

The star I see in the east is actually the planet Venus. It shines most brightly before sunrise or after sunset, earning it the titles of “morning star” or “evening star.”

Beale writes that Venus as the morning star “was a symbol of sovereignty in the ancient world and especially in Rome.” He explains that Roman emperors claimed descent from the goddess Venus, Roman generals constructed temples dedicated to the star, and Roman soldiers carried standards bearing the star of Venus (p. 269).

When Christ was born in the fullness of God’s time, a new star appeared above the horizon of the Roman world. This star outshone Roman gods and Roman glories. Emperors would die and the Empire would fall, but this star represented the infinitely superior and everlasting kingdom of the King of Kings.

The final manifestation of that kingdom is described in Revelation 21:23-24:
“The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.”

The wise men kneeling in adoration of the infant Jesus were the first fruits of the nations that will one day worship Christ and bring their glory into His kingdom.

Isaiah prophesied that the “Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isa. 60:3). This prophecy weaves the adoration of kings and nations with Christ’s light and 2 Peter 1’s imagery of the rising morning star.

All of these threads—Christ’s contribution to creation, the fulfillment of Balaam’s prophecy in Christ’s incarnation, and the Magi’s adoration as the first fruits of the nations’ worship—are intrinsically interwoven with Christ’s return and the victorious culmination of His Kingdom. The book of Revelation focuses on Christ’s victorious return and the complete implementation of His Kingdom. And that focus is at the forefront of my mind when I see the morning star.

Which brings me back to Christ’s words in Revelation 22:16: “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

Coming at the end of John’s apocalypse, the imagery of Christ as the Morning Star cannot be separated from the image of Christ as the returning King on the last day. The vivid imagery of Revelation will come to pass in a reality that will fill unbelievers’ hearts with fear, but feel believers’ hearts with joy. Christians may rest in God’s promises and look forward to Christ’s return with joyful anticipation.

The threads twining around the morning star are again apparent in this verse from the conclusion of Revelation. Here is Christ, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Here is Christ, who fulfilled prophecy as the long-awaited Messiah and the true King of Israel. Here is Christ, whose brightness will rise and shine before the nations, who will bow in submission before His sovereignty. Here is Christ, who will lead his followers to conquer every foe and reign with Him in glory.

Beale notes that Christ’s title in Revelation 22:16 combines the star prophecy of Numbers 24:17 with the root prophecy of Isaiah 11:1, 10 “concerning the messianic king’s triumph over his enemies at the end of time” (p. 1146). Beale also sees an allusion to the opening verses of Isaiah 60, part of which I quoted earlier in connection with the worship of nations:
“Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you.
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isa. 60:1-3).

Christ as the fulfillment of messianic prophecies and as the Davidic King affirms what is sometimes called the “already and not yet” aspects of Christ’s reign, or what theologians call the “inaugurated and future” fulfillments. Christ’s kingdom “already” came with His first advent, when He accomplished all that was necessary for our salvation; but His Kingdom has “not yet” come into the fullness that will be implemented at His second advent.

In his commentary on these two aspects, Beale notes further intertwining of the morning star passages:
“That both inaugurated and future fulfillments are intended here is apparent from the use of the dawn of a new day or age as a metaphorical association of ‘the bright morning star.’ Christ has begun a new redemptive day, which he will culminate at his final return. This is also pointed to by 2 Pet. 1:17-19, where ‘the morning star’ is synonymous with the dawning day, both possibly metaphors for the inauguration of the OT ‘prophetic word’ in Christ’s first coming” (p. 1147).

Seeing the morning star reminds me that Christ has already come and accomplished everything needful for my salvation. And it reminds me that—although His kingdom is not yet complete—He soon will come again in glory to usher in the fullness of that kingdom.

Then hopeful joy fills my heart and—with the hymn—my spirit sings, “How Bright Appears the Morning Star!”

Philip Nicholai, a Lutheran pastor in Germany during the Protestant Reformation, wrote the words and music to that beloved hymn. Nicholai was driven out of his first charge by mercenary troops of the Spanish Counter-Reformation. He fled to the Catholic city of Cologne, where he ministered to Lutheran house churches that met in secret. He became Court Preacher for the Count of Waldeck in 1588, and he became a pastor in Unna, Westphalia, in 1596. While he served in Westphalia, the bubonic plague was sweeping across Europe. Hundreds of his parishioners died. Seeing 30 graves dug in a single day inspired him to pen the words to his famous hymn. The song first appeared in his book, Joyous Mirror of Eternal Life, published in 1599 (www.cyberhymnal.org). An English translation appears in the section of hymns regarding Christ’s birth found in the blue 1959 Psalter Hymnal (#336).

When I read the words of the hymn, I feel an affinity with Philip Nicolai. Although my suffering cannot compare with the losses that triggered his words of praise, perhaps I share some of his thoughts and feelings when viewing the morning star.

The hymn focuses on Christ’s incarnation, with a line in the first stanza alluding to Isaiah 11:1 and indirectly to Balaam’s prophecy: “O Righteous Branch, O Jesse’s Rod!” A line in the second stanza calls to mind Christ’s role in creation and His sovereignty over it: “The whole creation’s Head and Lord.” And two lines of the third stanza bring to mind Christ’s victorious return and the worship of the nations: “Ride on, ride on, great Conqueror; Till all know Thy salvation.”

When I look to the east and see the morning star, these different threads of biblical truth regarding Christ weave through my mind. Although my finite mind can see only the tangled back of the tapestry, I know these threads form a beautiful and unified whole that fills me with hope.
Just as surely as I know dawn is near when I see the morning star, I know that the dawn of Christ’s return is near. The morning star’s light pierces the darkness of our inter-advental existence and rekindles the hope of His return and the ultimate dawn.

Catechism Project

The October 29 issue of Christian Renewal contained the following article, which I wrote about a new catechism project in the URCNA.


First United Reformed Church of Chino, CA, is undertaking a monumental task: creating a coordinated catechism curriculum for grades five through twelve.

“It was because there was no up-to-date coordinated catechism curriculum on the Three Forms of Unity available to us and to the other churches that the consistory of the First URC, Chino, decided to create such a curriculum,” says Rev. Ronald Scheuers, who is heading up the project as general editor.

Rev. Scheuers explains that the curriculum, entitled “Life in Christ,” will contain one volume for each grade level, each volume consisting of 25 interactive lessons. Students will be reading an explanation, filling in blanks, evaluating biblical passages, and memorizing text from scripture and the confessions. Although the main emphasis is on the Three Forms of Unity, frequent references to the Westminster standards make the material useful for Presbyterian churches as well.

“With the prayer and financial help of many other United Reformed churches,” says Rev. Scheuers, “we have been able to employ authors and editors, some of whom are doing their work for no pay and all of them for much less pay than they would normally receive for such work, so that we now have over 175 of the 200 lessons written.” All of the written lessons are currently in the editorial process.

Authors for the “Life in Christ” material include Rev. Andrew Cammenga, Dr. Warren Lammers, Mrs. Laurie Vanden Heuvel, Rev. Bradd Nymeyer, and Rev. Ronald Scheuers. Three copy editors are currently assisting with the project.

First URC is still in negotiations with a publisher, but the hope is for the curriculum to be available to the churches by fall of 2010.

As the process becomes more intense and closer to publication date, those involved in the project very much appreciate the prayers of God’s people within the Reformed community.

“We are very grateful for the prayer and financial support of many of the churches in this project,” says Rev. Scheuers.


Although I didn't mention it in the article, I've been helping with the editing for the last few months. The goal is for all editing to be completed by March 1 of 2009, and I figure I have to do at least five lessons per work week in order to meet that deadline. And that is why I am going to get off line and get to work now.

Christ and the Future

A very nice surprise came in my mail recently: the published copy of Christ and the Future by Dr. Cornelis P. Venema. This is an abridged version of Dr. Venema's excellent work, The Promise of the Future, which deals with eschatology (doctrines regarding the last things). Both books have been published by the Banner of Truth Trust.

The Promise of the Future was 538 pages, including bibliography, glossary, and indices. The text alone totaled 488 pages. Christ and the Future contains a mere 224 pages.

The publisher's description states: "Prepared especially with the non-specialist reader in mind, Christ and the Future expertly summarizes the Bible's teaching about the last things. The Christ-centred nature of the biblical teaching on the future is the main emphasis throughout, as the author shows us the future of the individual, the church, and, indeed, the whole universe."

In the author's preface, Dr. Venema kindly acknowledges my contribution to the abridgement with these complimentary remarks: "...Glenda Mathes, a freelance writer from Pella, Iowa, graciously consented to assist in the project. Glenda contributed significantly to the daunting task of abridging the original manuscript. I hereby wish to acknowledge and express my thanks for her considerable contribution to the abridgement of the earlier book."

Remembering all the work involved in the project and recalling primarily the marked-up manuscript, I felt blessed to hold in my hands this beautiful bound book.

Deer Hunting

We went deer hunting when Iowa's first shotgun season opened on Saturday. Dave and a friend who hunts with us filled their tags on Saturday. I didn't.

Dave went out with me yesterday morning for moral support. I saw two, shot one, but didn't bring it down. I've been mentally beating up on myself ever since. I went out again later in the afternoon, but didn't see anything except a gray squirrel.

I think I'm finished deer hunting for this year. The best hunting hours coincide with my most productive early morning hours, and I don't feel as if I can afford any more of those hours away from my office since I have a lot of work hanging over my head like Democles' sword.

It has been my third season of frustration. When I went deer hunting for the first time with Dave, I dropped a deer within ten minutes of sunrise on the first day of season. Please read about it on my December 3, 2005 post, "What I did this morning." It's less discouraging than this report.

Last year was the first time in years that neither one of us got anything. Our meat supply was completely gone. This year Dave got a deer with his bow license and one with his shotgun license, so we have sufficient meat.

My hunting frustrations of the last few years reminds me of my sporadic golfing performance.

I rarely golf and usually play a very poor game. Just about the time I'm ready to throw away my clubs, one of them makes a good enough connection with the ball that I think, "I believe I'll hang on to these things."

It's time to make a good hunting connection.

Puppy Syndrome

Just when I'd begun to think Libby was a big dog, she starts acting like a puppy again.

Libby turned one year on November 13 and I realized that she hadn't had any accidents or chewed on anything prohibited for some time. I began to feel as if I could trust her and thought, "You know, she's really not a puppy anymore."

For months, I had been able to leave Libby in her crate upstairs until 7:30 or 8:00 am. Between 5:00-8:00 am is my productive peak, and I was incredibly thankful that Libby had finally gotten past her early morning rising. I treasured those precious first few uninterupted hours each day.

Enter Thanksgiving break and our college daughter with her cat.

A cat and a dog in the same house create an entirely new dynamic. Especially when the cat has a severe case of social anxiety.

LIbby just wanted to be friends, but the cat would throw a hissy fit whenever Libby was in sight. Things gradually began to improve after extensive behavioral conditioning.

College daughters are not on the same time schedule as their old folks at home. About the time we go to bed, she's just gearing up for the evening. When we get up in the morning, it's the middle of her night.

College daughters and their friends like to watch movies at night, and our TV is upstairs. So Libby's bedtime crate relocated to the basement bathroom, directly under my office, which is beside our bedroom.

Every morning Libby heard our alarm ring and my chair creak. She began waking up at 5:00 am. And in spite of being moved back upstairs, she's still waking up at 5:00 am.

I mourn the departure of my early morning period of peak productivity. I feel like a mother with a teething baby who recalls with fondness the former days when mother and child both slept through the night.

After Libby had been outside at 5:00 am this morning, she wouldn't settle down on my lap and disappeared. Although I have been able to trust her not to get into any mischief lately, I thought I ought to check on her when she didn't quickly return. As soon as she heard me coming, she came running as if to say, "I'm being a good puppy," which is a dead giveaway that she hasn't been. And I found confirmation in a wet, chewed edge on the couch cover.

Libby rarely chews on anything except her toys, and I'm sure she'll eventually and definitively learn that the couch cover is off limits. And I suppose it's possible that she will return to her former good sleeping habits soon.

But our college daughter and her cat will be home for an extended stay at Christmas.

Star Show redux

I went outside this evening and got a couple more shots of the moon and our two brightest stars, Venus and Jupiter, which are still fairly close together.

Star Show

As the stars came out last evening, the crescent moon appeared close to our brightest stars, Venus and Jupiter, which were at their closest proximity in the sky.

I took a few pictures, which didn't turn out very well since one really needs a better quality camera and a tripod for this sort of thing, but perhaps you can get the idea. I may try again tonight if it's clear.

The trio appears low in the southern sky, a bit toward the west, just as it's getting dark.

You can read more about this celestial phenomenon by visiting Stargazer Jack Horkheimer's website. Scroll down to "Current Show Scripts" and read what he's said about it in recent shows.

According to Jack, the best show was last night when the trio formed a triangle of "the three brightest objects we can ever see in the night time sky."

Although the three celestial bodies appear close, Horkheimer notes that "our 2,000 mile wide" moon is "only 250,000 miles" away, while Venus is "93 million miles" and Jupiter is "a whopping 540 million miles" away.

Seeing the three together in last evening's sky, they somehow seemed much closer!

Winter Grinch

I confess: Last year's winter turned me into a grinch.

Sometime in February, I began to think of winter as the "long dark tea time of the soul" (thanks to Douglas Adams who coined the phrase and wrote this book).

With snow on the ground since Thanksgiving and four major ice storms that brought down innumerable tree branches (many of which still need to be cleaned up), it was a very long and very difficult winter.

The older I become and the more arthritis pain I experience, the less I anticipate winter. But this fall, it was not merely that I failed to anticipate winter; it was a case of definite dread.

That dread was compounded with denial when I saw snow began to fall last Saturday afternoon. By Sunday morning, a fluffy blanket of about three inches covered the ground and clung to every tree branch.

When I took Libby out about 5:00 on Sunday morning, the snow was still falling from a cloudy night sky. But a strange light suffused the atmosphere and glowed almost as bright as moonlight.

It was hauntingly beautiful.

I acknowledged winter; I acknowledged the first snowfall; and I acknowledged the Giver of beauty, who promises that "while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease" (Gen. 8:22, ESV).

The cycle of the seasons ought to be embraced for what it is: a precious gift from God.