Author: Jason

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Because its Christmas

Last night Amy came home from shopping and with a box of Coke cans.  On the box there was a picture of Santa!  Later in the evening she was skimming the online guide for something to watch on the television and while going through the music channels noticed that all 50 ( that may not be far fetched) of the Christmas music channels are now available – Hip hop Christmas, coffee house Christmas, classic Christmas, 50’s Christmas, Christmas Message – you name it.

It happens every year. And as much as I love Christmas, I still can believe that the Christmas season starts the day after Halloween. It seems so rushed, it seems so typical of our fast paced society.  Now, I am all for real time information, fast internet connections, doing more in less time etc, but the rushing and pushing of time seems to be just too much.  John Ortberg wrote one of my favorite quotes in his book “The Life You’ve Always Wanted:

We must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from our lives.

(Boy I wish I could write that I have attained that!)

Don’t you wish the saying “As slow as Christmas” still had some real meaning! Today, I give you a reminder to not blast through the next 50 days and rush headlong into Christmas.  Enjoy November.  Enjoy November 4th.  Look and see what blessings are waiting right here for you.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:33-34 (New International Version)

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Freedom Expressed

It is good to reflect the day after election day on how wonderful a process the elections are.  No matter who won, we have the ability to express our beliefs and vote for who we want.  This freedom is such a blessing.  So today, red or blue, be thankful for the peaceful way we express our desire for leaders and the controlled way the exchange will happen over the next few months. Following that theme here are two mini-thoughts for this post election Wednesday

I think it was interesting that the verse of the day at Bible Gateway today is this from Romans:

“[Submission to Governing Authorities] Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”- Romans 13:1

Whether your man (or women) won or lost, remember that God has established the authorities, and we should give them the respect that is espoused in their position.

The second mini-thought today is about freedom.  Like I said above it is such a blessing.  Today relish in that, and realize that is a gift, however, don’t use it for selfishness, use that freedom each and everyday to bring glory to god.

13-17Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government. (1 Peter 2:15-17, The Message)

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Vote for Christos

Ah, it’s election day!  I have been waiting for this for months.  Finally, the phone calls will stop.  “Hey, I’m Bill the farmer and I support Joe Bob for..”  or “Urgent, This election Day is in 48 hours, make your decision…”.  Man, does anyone really listen to all of that telemarketing?  Seems like a waste of money to me.

But anyway, it is election day, and please no matter who you support, get out and cast your vote.  Voting is such a blessing, and we should not abuse it by neglecting it.

At the same however, make sure you are casting your real vote for the Christos Party, or the followers of Christ.  If I received a phone call with this content I would probably listen::

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2 Peter 1:5-11 (New International Version © 2010)

Now that’s a great campaign speech. That’s the sort of people we want to vote into office and that’s the way we are reminded to live our lives. So lets execute on those campaign promises, possess those qualities in increasing measure and confirm your election!

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All Saints Day

Well its November 1, All Saint’s Days, or All Hallows Day- the actual reason we have Halloween or All Hallows Even.  I am not much of a Saints guy – neither the New Orleans variety or the granting sainthood variety, as I think we all,  everyone of us, have fallen short of the glory of God.  However, we all have an opportunity to become saints or followers of Him.

8-9You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation. (1 Peter 1:8, The Message)

Yep, keep on believing and your will get total salvation.  Salvation for all who believe, so that all of those who believe can become saints!  Now that’s an All Saint’s Day I can celebrate!

14-16“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16, The Message)

Enjoy All Saints Day by being a light to all those around you!

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Happy Halloween

It’s seems like it was just Easter, but here is it Halloween.  ( we know who is coming right around the bend!)

The amazing thing about Halloween to me is the growth of adult costumes.  I remember trickertreatin’ ( that’s is one word correct?) when I was a young lad and remember just one home where the adults would be in costume.  Now it seems that is so much the norm.  A few weeks back we received the costume advertisement with the Sunday paper and I was amazed that there was like 2 pages of children’s costumes and 4 pages of adult costumes.    I guess we do like to dress up and pretend to be something else.

So in the spirit of putting on costumes, I thought it might be good to remember to continually dress up your own spirit and not let it pretend to be (or become) something else.  There’s a verse in Ephesians that talks about putting on the costume of a Roman soldier ( spiritually of course).  That’s a good one to consider as we approach the dress up and eat lots of candy holiday.

13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:13-18 (New International Version)

Get out your orange and black, celebrate another year of bountiful harvest, give and get as much candy as you possibly can and make sure you have your toothbrush handy to keep those teethers from decay!  And most importantly “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power”