Month: December 2019

Did Christmas catch you by surprise? One minute it was October and the next, December?

Were you shocked at how fast it’s all moving?? 

Have the ‘holidays’ caught you with your ‘pants down’? 

Or perhaps with them up??

Dag, way up??? 

Don’t despair!! 

While the ‘holidays’ might soon run out, Christmas is a year-round celebration. Real Christmas, the birth of Emmanuel-God with us, is here to stay every day, every year.  It’s a deeply profound concept.  It’s one that never ends.  God, the Father, put the greatest gift of all time, His Son Jesus, in a manger to later die not under a tree, but on a tree (Acts 5:30) and thereby demonstrating the greatest love of all.

 You’re not the only one caught off guard!!!  The world was caught in a daze too!  You see, expected on the scene was something like one of today’s celebrities-one strutting his stuff down the sidewalk with heavy gold chains around his neck wearing the latest fashions with gold sparkling from his ears, his teeth, and his sandals.  The religious leaders and the crowds and mobs were looking for someone to turn heads.  They wanted to shower him with oohhs & aahhs and fall at his feet because he was so rich with bling.

Instead, He came so humble; not a home to be born in; not a warm bed to rest on; not a warm, fluffy pillow to lull Him to sleep.  He didn’t get the Sky-Blue paint color along the walls; there were no designers scrambling to give Him the best and latest improvements trending at the time.  His parents were poor.  His vehicle was a donkey.  God had chosen to confound the world by showing it what real humility is.  By showing it that they didn’t need someone to rescue them from the world but to be rescued from themselves first.  They were slaves not just to others (the Romans), but to sin, and needed redemption from it first and foremost. 

And yes, He will once again, and very soon confound the world when He takes His very own home forever.  Are you looking for the gold-studded king wrapped in bling-bling?  If you are, you’re missing the point.  He came lowly so he can relate to your circumstances.  Though rich, He made Himself poor to understand us; to give us a chance to ‘afford’ Him.   He made the way easy for us-just follow Him.  You don’t need riches, cars, jewelry, mansions, or social media followers to follow Him.  Invite Him into your heart today and you’ll be surprised at how well He can guide your steps.  Look to the tree, He’s there.  Your name is on the gift others may have overlooked.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

TV movies can be a great pastime.  One can sit down or curl up with a cup of hot chocolate or tea and watch as probably 95% of the movies feature the same plot: a guy and girl end up in love and after swearing they’re not part of a small community, end up hitching and settling down in a small, layback town where cakes and cookies are baked, consumed and even given away ‘on the house ’every single day by the dozens. I wonder how the businesses make any money!

Great movies-sometimes.  Some are more real than others.  The real ones deal with real issues, religious convictions, and less Santa Clause issues.  Other movies, where Santa reigns and “Anything can happen at Christmas,” are more fantasy than real life.  And so, every problem can be tackled in a matter of days or weeks.

Seeing Santa and elves and all the decorations can be great entertainment and inspiration.  The negative aspect of it all is that Christmas time happens to be the saddest day (season) of the year for many.  Problems aren’t solved in a jiffy.  The man/woman of your dreams probably evaporated once you awoke.  Bills and debts are ever-present.  Every day that it snows can be thrilling, especially the first time around and as long as you don’t have to go to work or school, or run errands…or plow it.  We all tend to love novelties.  We fall in love with images of what could be and how wonderful fairy tales look.  Reality can be harsh.  

The wonders of Christmas, as far as Christmas lights, garlands, red, silver, gold, and green colors go, is magical.  But the harsh reality of the holiday is that real Christmas and its significance is left out in the cold.  It gets buried in the snow.  It gets forgotten under an avalanche of commercialism. 

So many people feel they have nothing at all in their lives that relates to Christmas, yet they like to give or share with others, they like to ‘treat’ others to meals, movies, games, etc.  We don’t do those things out of our own nature or because ‘That’s just who I am.’  Those qualities are innate because God put them there.  Because He taught us to give; to be generous, etc.  In other words, we do have things or ways that relate to the holiday. We are more like God than we sometimes realize.

So then, what’s the big deal with Christmas?  Who cares if there’s a Santa in every movie or street corner or not?  God says He will not share His glory with anyone (Isaiah 42:8).  If Santa pointed everyone to God as being the one who provides or the one who answers prayers, then there would be no problem.  However, Santa gets all the attention because he makes everyone happy by magically solving everyone’s problems.  The real Gift-Giver, Jesus, came to earth as a gift from God with one purpose: to die and be raised for our sins.  In doing so, He defeated the forces of evil.

Make use of this holiday season to give like Santa but most importantly, to give like God and to love like Jesus.   Real life-answers come from the Man far beyond the North Pole; From the Man, not in a red suit, but whose red blood was shed to turn your red-crimson/scarlet sins, white as snow and wool (Isaiah 1:18).

God Bless,

Sam

It was a cold December morning many years ago when a perfect gift came into the world.  Words like, “Oh Lordy” were most likely shouted out by my wife shattering the morning silence.  They were not in reference to the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus; nor were they said in anticipation of the Christmas holiday soon-to-be upon us.  No, they were words meaning, “Hurry up and get me to the hospital!!”  We’re having us a baby NOW!  We caught a taxi and dashed there.

I’m not sure how Joseph felt when Mary brought forth her newborn.  I don’t think the baby wipes were ready or the milk bottle warm.  He may not have even had a pacifier; I don’t know what they used back then, but after an 80-100-mile journey, they needed something to quiet baby Jesus.  I know I wasn’t ready.  This was like, “Taxi! Get over here and step on it!”  Have your coat? Check; Have your papers? Check; Having contractions? Check, check!!  Out the door we went in the cold, dead of winter.

Now, I’m the type of guy that’s always on the go. I would like all stores to have revolving doors so I can walk in, grab & pay for my purchases and head right out in minutes flat.  I’m sure the Lord knew this that morning, cause a few minutes after arriving and my wife having been whisked off in a rush, as soon as I began to ask the secretary if…she congratulated me!  I assured her she was confusing me with someone else like maybe the lady just dropped off.  I only wanted to know if I should leave and take my wife’s coat and return later, or wait for her so we could head back home. Once again, I was congratulated.  I told the lady that I had just dropped off my wife like three to five minutes earlier.  “yeah, yeah,” the lady said.  She just came in and just as fast gave birth to a healthy daughter, I was told.

 I couldn’t believe it!  That was fast! Just the way I wish the previous two kids would have been born!  I would have wanted to walk up to the desk and said on each occasion, “Here’s my wife and please hurry; this child is to go.”  I’m sure most men would agree with that.  I’m sure my wife wishes it could have been like that too.

Our daughter was in a rush too.  She had my ‘hurry up’ in her genes-and diapers too!  She flew out in a jiffy.  Some crying, some laughter, and in no time, some jokes!!  She’s always been a clown.  She was born with a full set of hair; kind of like a wig.  And even though she was already past her due-date by a week and was born twelve days before Christmas, she was our Christmas child.  Like Jesus, she was born at just the right time-God’s appointed time to bring peace and joy (and laughter) to this world.

Happy Birthday, Princess Sarai Magdalene!

Growing up, I remember always wishing for snow during Christmas and the winters to come.  We rarely had a white Christmas.  We did have several memorable snowstorms.  We enjoyed them all.  One of us guys-on-the-block would hurry to the window and if we saw snow, we’d run back in and get all dressed for the cold.  Boots, gloves, scarves, etc. went on, and out we’d go.  Sometimes, other guys were out too, but if there was no one, we’d start calling each other, or throwing snowballs at their windows to get their attention.  One of my last great snowstorms while growing up was around 1979.  Parts of our neighborhood was under 18” of snow while others got up to 24.”  We were ecstatic!  I remember running to this back street where normally there was little traffic and as I turned the corner, it was a blanket of snow that went up to my knees!!!  I ‘ran’ taking slow, huge steps sinking in with each one.  It was just great.  I walked back to tell others about it and soon we were all going mad everywhere enjoying ourselves.  Everything had been paralyzed.  Trucks and buses were stopped in their tracks.  It looked like a ghost town!  One could walk right into a bus or truck frozen on the road with no one inside! God’s power was marvelous! Tiny dustings of white powder had accumulated to where it had halted everything!

Either that year or the one before, we also had a great time.  We made two teams.  Ours had Georgie, maybe Aaron, and Gil.  Gil was the most feared snowball-maker on the block.  We’d watch him take snow and methodically shape it into a snowball without gloves.  We’d watch as he’d compact it more and more and the water would just drip.  Our faces frozen in fear as saliva trickled down our mouths from the dread of who would get hit by such a weapon.  When finished, he’d throw one at some 70 mph against the metal pull-down gate across the street.  When a loud bang shattered the silence, he’d say, “Yep, I think it’s ready.” We all were like, ‘We want Gil, we want Gil on our side…”

 I know the other team had Edgar, June, and Chicky.   Both teams had crates or buckets of snowballs.  Gil was our snow-making machine, so he pre-made a batch.  On one occasion, it was like on a TV show where we were walking nearing a corner in blizzard conditions, just yapping away trying to find the other team to obliterate them.  Suddenly, we reached the corner unawares, as did the other team with perfect synchronization.  Suddenly, both teams let out yelps and yikes as the crates and buckets flew up in the air as both teams retreated!  Then, we all headed back for our ammunition and began chasing and pummeling each other!  That event was so comical!  It was so classic, so golden, so much a part of who we were.  Though, in our late teens, it was so much fun.  It would close an era of ‘The Guys on the Block.’  It would become the last snowstorm of our lives together.  “To everything there is a season…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

A few years later, in 1993 or 94, I once again had fun in a snowstorm but this time with kids of my own.  We’d go to our large backyard and we’d be the only ones there.  The kids would ride on me like I was a horsey and we’d plow into the snow.  The snowy, blizzard conditions kept the cowardly kids-and grownups inside, so we had all the space in the world just for us.  Our kids ran and jumped and went on the slide and see-saw.  They braved the snow as it bit into their faces.  They threw themselves ‘dead’ flat on their backs on the ground and laid there very still feeling the snow just falling on their faces as they listened to the howling winds.  Now and then, puffs of ‘smoke’ came out through their nostrils as they breathed heavily from the excitement.  They were ‘one’ with the snow.  It was so much fun to lie there having no worries.  There was no one around and they were just savoring the moment. They were taking in the silence and observing the grandness of everything around yet feeling so small in the vast open space.  Behind closed windows, their mom watched and laughed before making hot chocolate for us.

There’s a silence when a blizzard is taking place.  Aside from the (possible) howling wind, there’s no noise, no cars or trucks going by; just a calming stillness surrounding you, maybe interrupted by your own laughter or your own thoughts.  In the stillness, God is there and we can feel him so close to us.  Winter is almost here.  You can cuddle in a warm blanket when the storms come.  You can watch the flurries begin to cascade down the skies.  You can warm by a crackling fire as the flurries now-turned-to- snow storms the windows of your soul.  You can be a kid again and head outside-even if only in your thoughts.  Throw yourself in the snow; feel your heavy breathing, listen to the silence enveloping you.  God’s whisper is louder than ever.  The whirlwind is calling your name; it’s speaking to your heart.  It’s drawing you into His presence.

The fire of the Holy Spirit like a crackling fire can warm a cold and/or lost soul; His fire’s purpose is to bring you into that stillness and make you ‘one’ with Him.

In Job 38:22, God asks, “Have you entered into the treasures of the snow?”  Go ahead and enjoy His treasures.  Invite Him in to your life.  Afterall, He’s enjoyed watching you from the windows of heaven.  Enjoy the spell- bounding glamour of a snowstorm. Every season has a purpose as well as its own beauty.  Reflect on the beauty of winter.  

 Afterwards, sneak inside and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate together; then crash…

God bless!
Sam

All His life He was considered a radical.  People were used to doing things a particular way, but He taught them they could actually be done differently.  Jesus was a misunderstood man.  People knew if someone hurt you, you should hurt them back.  If someone slapped you, slap them right back.  You got a black eye?  Give him one too.  It made sense.  It was an eye for an eye.  But Jesus taught differently: If someone slapped you, turn the other cheek; in other words, say, “Uh, you missed this side.”  Jesus wants us to go as far as to give a cup of water or a plate of food to those who hurt us-to our enemies (Matthew 5:44).

In one word, Radical, is what He expects us to be.

Most of us are accustomed to doing things our own way until we learn a new way.  However, more times than not, we refuse to learn a new way.  Jesus tells us to greet those we don’t know; to invite to feasts those who can’t invite us back to their place.  Again, be radical.  This is a lesson I’ve learned throughout the years.  For some twenty years we’ve invited lots of friends and family over for various occasions, yet, they hardly ever show up.  On two instances, after settling on a date and time for 2-3 days later, my wife has cooked galore with roasted pork and rice and baked cakes only to have no one show up.  When confronted about the situation in each case, the parties involved reacted with either, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” and, “I forgot.” That led us to stop inviting people over.

Our only invitation is for Thanksgiving and 2-3 times in the past we also had a Christmas dinner.  We announce it to our church and the members take it upon themselves to bring those they find along the way (Luke 14:12, 13).  God knows who needs to be here and so He sets it up so those that would otherwise be alone, can fellowship with others and also enjoy a great, hot meal.

In Jesus’ days, He told of a parable where people were invited to a great feast but when it was time to show up, one by one they began to make excuses about attending.  Jesus said that those people were not worthy of being at the party.  So, He had His servants go out to the highways and byways and invite the poor and lonely ones (Luke 14:16-24).  That’s how it is with God’s Kingdom.  So many people have excuses as to why they shouldn’t give their lives to Christ, even when they feel His tug at their hearts.  In essence, they’re telling Him, they’re not worthy to be there; they’ve got better and more important things to do.  When it’s too late, they’ll be crying for a second chance, but it’ll be beyond reach.

Are you one of those invited to God’s Kingdom?  It’ll be much more than turkey, pork, or ham and more than varieties of cakes and pies.  We’re looking at eternal life, eternal fellowship with God Himself and Jesus.  A perpetual feast!  There will be no more pain or sickness or evil to deal with.  Death will be gone forever.  We’ll never age, and no more wrinkles!!!

Be radical!!  Live for Jesus now!

God Bless!

Sam