Month: December 2010

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Joy To The World

The presents are bought (mostly), the house is clean(mostly) and bowl season is well underway.  Amy and I are in the middle of a string of nights with great friends and family coming over to our home to help us celebrate and remember this great time of year.

It seems like an appropriate time to look past the decoration and remember the great gift we are given, with a look back at what the prophets said about him a long time before he arrived on this round sphere we call Earth.

6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.  Isaiah 9:6-7 (New International Version, ©2010)

It’s such a blessing that this child was born, and he died and God rose him from death, and with that – we are free from the worries of death, and therefore free from the worries of our mistakes. The gift that was giving was more then just a baby – it was a gift of a new birth – a gift of freedom, a gift of eternal life.  And the great thing is, the offer always stands!

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 1 Peter 1:3-4 (New International Version, ©2010)

That’s why the angels shout “Joy to the World!”

Merry Christmas!

Oh by the way, today is the 300th post, isn’t that awesome!

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Truly He Taught Us

The other day at work I was listening to some Christmas music whilst I banged out a power point presentation.  After a few rounds of Veggie Tales singing “I can’t believe it’s Christmas, I think I might be getting something”, the shuffle of my iPod took me over to Chris Tomlin’s version of O Holy Night.  One verse in particular stuck out to me, and that was this:

“Truly he taught us to love one another”

and then that is followed by this

“In his name all oppression shall cease”

So here we are, one week from the celebration of the Christos, the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior’s birth.  We will be gathering around Christmas trees with our families, passing the Eggnog and opening presents.  But let’s not forget the lessons that babe taught us as he grew in wisdom and stature. For he did indeed did tell us,

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 (New International Version, ©2010)

Lets heed James’ call and follow the law of love:

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says – James 1:22 NIV

and then we can truly sing along:

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

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Social Media Story

As you all know I enjoy the merits and virtues of Social Media – Facebook, Twitter and even blogging.  Yesterday I discovered this new video. I think its pretty cool and thought I would share it with you. It tells the wonderful Christmas story in a very new and innovative way. I hope you take a moment to watch.  And then post it to Facebook or tweet it!

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to 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. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-12

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Bucket of Thoughts

Man, I am so full of ideas today that my head literally hurts. Unfortunately, none of those ideas are related, and there are so many that I can hardly focus. Even this morning, I found myself thinking about this blog, then cleaning the kitchen, then reading the news, then talking to Andrew, then eating one bit of breakfast, and then back around again – never completing anything. And that’s just a small smattering of stuff that in on my mind today. So off I go to meetings 8-5 and then an evening’s worth of activities.

So with all of these going on, I needed to ask myself what is my real focus today and went directly to this verse

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11 (New International Version, ©2010)

No matter what you have going on today – make sure you let your love abound and fill yourself with the fruit of righteousness, then all the other stuff can line up after that!

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Monkey Day

It’s Monkey  Day!  YEAH!

No, I am not exactly sure what you do on Monkey Day, except consider monkeys, or maybe pick insects and bugs out of your friends hair, or maybe we could be like King Solomon, and have some shipped our way:

22 The king had a fleet of trading ships at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.1 Kings 10:22 (New International Version, ©2010)

My guess however, is that Monkey Day is just to help remind us of monkeys, those animals who share many things with us humans, and to remember that we have been given dominion or rule over them.

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Gen 1:26

And of course, any good ruler, is then, in turn a servant.  Since this world is God’s and we are his followers, we should always remember to take great care and concern around his creation.

So have fun on Monkey Day, the monkey’s will!

Go throw some poo!