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Message from Pastor Larry – December 2007
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over heir flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." — Luke 2:8-12, NRSV
Dear Saints:
Jet Li starred in the 2006 film, Fearless. You may know him from his roles in Lethal Weapon 4 and the movie, Hero. I watched Fearless recently and, when I should have been in bed sleeping, found myself unable to pull myself away, so captivated I was by the story.
Li plays Huo Yuanjia, a young man around the turn of the 20th century who is driven (for the wrong reasons) to become the best martial arts fighter in the province only to have his life come crashing down around him. Devastated, he wanders off into obscurity. Years later he unexpectedly reappears observing that, for better or for worse, western influences had drastically impacted the culture and people of his province. But he’s no longer the man he once was, and good things start to happen as he implements his vision for his people. Eventually, Huo Yuanjia is acclaimed as a national hero.
Fearless has all the martial arts action that one has come to expect from the Chinese film industry, though it’s actually peripheral to the film’s strong storyline. Powerful themes of pride, anger, honor, humility and redemption permeate this production from start to finish.
As I watched Fearless, and the moving portrayal of Huo Yuanjia by Jet Li, my mind kept turning to my own life, and the lives of many I've known—and the persistent love of God that refused to let go until redemption had been accomplished.
Easter is, of course, the time of the year we normally associate with redemption with its images of the suffering Christ, the cross, and the risen Savior with nail scars in his hands and feet. Yet, without Christmas there would be no Easter.
In the movie, the people of a rural farming community came to the rescue of the hopeless Huo Yuanjia. Through his relationship with them he received new life. At Christmas, God comes to our rescue in a tiny babe. Through a relationship with him we, too, gain new life—life everlasting; and our mourning is turned into joy.
Oh, how much we have to be thankful for this Christmas! As we make our way through Advent to that glorious Day, let us count our many blessings one-by-one, and with grateful hearts sing praises to the one who is our hope and our redemption.
Faithfully,
Pastor Larry
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