Friar Tuck's Occasional Wisdom

As the old saying goes, “Welcome to the real world, baby.” In this week after Christmas, put aside your traditional warm and fuzzy stereotypes of the Nativity. The real world that Jesus was born into was a dangerous place… a place of death, violence, abuse, indifference, and neglect. Herod felt threatened by this newborn King and to fix the problem, he killed all the boys in Bethlehem under the age of two. It was a day that lives in infamy. Welcome to the real world, baby! Things haven't changed very much because humanity hasn’t changed very much. In spite of our so called “evolutionary progress”, we still live in a world where people have no room for God. We live in a world of school massacres, constant war, terrorist bombings, and abortion on demand. People are still killing babies and children with abandon every day. Lord, have mercy! -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

The Virgin Birth is unbelievable unless you believe that nothing is impossible with God. But the real argument is not about what Mary was or wasn’t…. it’s about who Jesus is or isn’t. Mary is called the “Mother of God” because her first-born son claimed to be Immanuel, God with us. Jesus wasn’t just “godlike”. He wasn’t “a god” with a small “g”.,, He is God with a big “G”!  He is Creator, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Alpha and Omega, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, the great I AM, the Word become flesh! Jesus is Lord! Being born of a virgin is no big thing for a God this big. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

The Magi came from far away looking for Jesus. This makes them the very first “seekers” in the New Testament. They came in faith, seeking Truth and Light. They came to worship and even though they found Christ in a stable rather than a palace, they bowed before Him because one bows in the presence of a King. They were "overjoyed" to be in the presence of God. Genuine joy bubbles up like fizz in soda pop when it’s genuine and identifies the heart that has drawn near to God. They also came prepared to give and opened their treasures to the newborn King. Joyful worship always give generously. Joy to the world, the Lord has come. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

On that first Christmas night, eternity stepped into the confines of time and lived for a while among us. God subjected Himself to hunger, pain, aging, and even death. Jesus was God incarnate… God in flesh. He was not a created being like the angels -- He is the Creator! Christ’s life breaks free from the confines of time because He created time. He is the great “I AM”. You can kill a man like this, but He won’t stay dead. Although Jesus had a human birthday and a time of death, because He is eternal, He rose again. And those who follow Him will also rise again and receive this same eternal life. Merry Christmas! -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

Christ came to flood the world with peace, not drown it in anxiety. Be done with the anti-Christ spirit of Black Friday and manic gift buying. Rise above the chaos that consumes the marketers and the coveters. They stumble because they are chasing the wrong gods. Bathe in the serenity of “Oh Holy Night”. Make room in your inn. Bring your gifts and lay them before the King. The angels have come near to us. God is with us. Unto us a child is born. Sleep in heavenly peace. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

During this Thanksgiving season filled with food, family and football, could we squeeze in a little gratitude to God? God’s people are called to overflow with thankfulness. This can happen in two ways. We can be so full of thanksgiving that it naturally runs over the sides of our cup and onto those around us. Or our cups can overflow (spill out) when we get bumped hard by life. When our cup gets shaken hard by tragedy, trials, and testing, it will naturally overflow with what’s inside it. We cannot overflow with something we are not filled with. So what’s in your cup?” -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

Be careful what you swear to in front of God and witnesses. Peter declared that he would die before ever denying Christ. He declared it. He promised it. He vowed it. He swore to God. But when the soldiers came, the disciples all scurried like rodents off a sinking ship. They weren’t ready to die for Jesus yet. Later, when he was asked if he knew Jesus, “Peter the mouth” became “Peter the mouse” and swore in a whole different way. It’s easy for us all to do the same. A little denial here… a little silence there… and the next thing you know, we too have become mere church mice. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom    

Happiness is a lot like a carrot on a stick. We chase it until eventually we become consumed by the chase itself. Even if we catch up with the carrot, it’s unlikely that we will really be happy. The truth is, many people already have what you are chasing, but they are still miserable and anxious. That’s because happiness does not come from obtaining success or achieving goals. Happiness comes from knowing God and learning to appreciate what He has provided for us today… our daily bread. This is the essence of contentment. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom 

Just like the child who fights the parent holding them still for a shot of antibiotics, we often struggle against God’s work in our lives. We cry out, “No! Please don’t! It hurts!” But God holds us firmly in his grip and administers what we need to make us well and strong. It may be difficult for us to comprehend, but pain may sometimes be the provision of God for our long-term health, growth, welfare, and protection. Struggle less, cooperate more! -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

God rescued His people from Pharaoh’s army and certain death by providing them a narrow way through parted waters. It took faith to walk through, but they had come to a place where they saw no other way to be saved and so they took it. Very few likely complained about it being the only way to be saved. When death comes knocking and someone offers us a way of escaping it, we seldom protest. The way to life is still a narrow road provided by God. It’s the only way -- the Jesus way. The wise will not complain about it being the only road. They will simply take it and be thankful. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

God’s mercy is never ending! That’s good as so many of us seem deaf to God’s call on our lives. But God’s calling will not go away. If the Lord called you ten years ago and you’re still messing around in the land of procrastination, just know that He will outlast you. He has a lot more time than you do! So, you might as well say yes. And if you’re thinking your time has passed and God couldn’t use you, just look at some of the sketchy old characters in Scripture that God used in a mighty way. If God used them, He can certainly use you. Jesus is waiting. Answer the call. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

It’s hard to walk on water when your eyes are on the storm. We’ve all had those times of doubt and despair when we can’t see God’s hand in our circumstances – times when our near-sightedness won’t allow us to see past the edge of our comfort zone. But then God gives us new eyes and we begin to see with faith, even while in the midst of the storms and darkness. That’s when we realize that God’s plan is not only much bigger than ours, it’s also much wiser, and much more important. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

There is power in the name of Jesus. There truly is something about that name. That is why the world works so hard to keep His name out of everyone’s hearing. Just the name is a threat to the darkness and chaos. Believers, we must not be complicit in this effort. We are called to give what we have, and one of the things we have is His name. Represent the name well. Honor it, publish it, praise it and give it away! Speak His name audibly whenever possible. Do not hold back. Souls are at stake. This is a case where it is definitely okay to be a name dropper. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

The essence of worship is sacrifice. That’s why the prophet Malachi criticized those who were bringing sick, blind, and lame animals to God as an offering. People were keeping the best for themselves and offering God their cripples. They were eating the choice food and bringing what had spoiled to the Lord’s altar. They were giving God their leftovers, like a dog under the table. This is unacceptable behavior -- it was then, and it is now! Crippled sacrifice dishonors God, no matter what form it takes. So rather than looking for those places where worship feels the most beneficial, we would be wise to search for those places where we are moved to be sacrificial, for the essence of worship is sacrifice. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

Eventually, we will all submit to the Lord. While we may enjoy human autonomy for this short season called “life”, eventually we all fade away like mist in sunlight and end up at the judgment seat of Christ. There, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. The wise submit to God while the conscious choice is still available. Those brought to their knees after the breath of life has left them will not fare as well. Today would be a great day to repent and kneel at the foot of the cross. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

Becoming and being a Christian is not just about having a “change of heart”. It’s about getting a whole new heart. Jesus didn’t die on the cross so we could take some spiritual medication to improve our old heart. He died so we could get a new heart via a heart transplant. And the heart we get is His. Christ died so we could live with His heart. When we are finally ready to accept that, Jesus will put His heart into us. Let Him do the surgery. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom   

The enemy that conquered King David didn’t have mighty strength or superior numbers. His greatest foe did not stand nine feet tall or wear heavy armor. Actually, she wore nothing at all as she bathed on a rooftop in David’s line of sight. On that fateful day, David’s eyes were bigger than his righteousness, and he crumbled to the ground like Goliath had done years before… slain by a single stone from the internal slingshot of Lust. Our greatest enemies almost always lie within. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

Peter called Jesus “Lord”, but did not understand why the Lord had come. Suffering and death were not in Peter’s job description for the Messiah. So, when Jesus proclaimed that He had come to die and rise again, Peter took Him aside and foolishly tried to correct Him. The Lord was abrupt with Peter and promptly put him in his place. The outcome will be the same for us if we try to rewrite Christ’s job description to suit our own theological desires. The Lord is still perfectly capable of writing it Himself. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

Now that the cooler is empty, the noise has subsided, and the smoke has cleared, perhaps it’s time to ask yourself in that heart of hearts, “Am I truly free?” And if you cannot answer in the affirmative with integrity, God has an offer for you: genuine freedom. This freedom cannot be gained through warfare, or elections, or vast wealth. It is a gift that can only be obtained by asking the Giver… and if He sets you free, you will be free indeed! – Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

Jesus invited Peter to step out of the boat and do the impossible. Peter had the guts to say yes. God the Inviter still invites us to step out of our boats and onto His waters. Anyone can walk on dry ground. Where’s the glory for God in that? The question today is, “Are you willing to attempt the impossible for God’s glory? -- Friar Tuck's Occasional Wisdom

God called Moses back to Egypt through a burning bush. All of us stand before some form of burning bush and receive our call. And when that call comes, we can either make excuses and stay where we are… or head for our Egypt and do what God sent us there to do. And our “Egypt” might be just across the street. Moses knew that he couldn’t stay where he was and still say he loved God. Neither can we! -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom