Tag: Christmas

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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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Merry Christmas

star

Merry Christmas All! – Peace on Earth , Good Tidings to Man!

Matthew 2:10-11 (New International Version)

10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

When those magi saw the star they were overjoyed, and they worshiped HIM.  Today, check out these stars from the Boston.com’s Hubble Advent calendar.  Be amazed at the mighty works. Let these stars lead your thoughts to the SON, and worship with great joy.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing!

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Unmeasureable Joy

After all there’s only one more sleep to Christmas..Day

-Kermit the Frog

Its herxmastreee.  Set out the cookies and milk – the big guy with the presents comes tonight. You can track him with your little ones with help from NORAD.  For several its a tradition to pass the time away on this night before Christmas driving around viewing the lights.  Well, today, thanks to The Sacramento Bee, the lights are coming to you from around the world.

It only seems right that we travel back to Luke 2 for today.  Enjoy the time with your family exchanging gifts and loving each other, but take a little time and remember the greatest gift – a Savior.

Luke 2:8-14 (New International Version)

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

Wow, his favor rests with men.    I don’t know about you, you may find this all to be craziness, but I find this all to be a source of Joy, unrelenting, unmeasurable Joy!  And for the next few days, I will praise God and thank God for sending his son to this earth, and for all the blessing it has brought to us.

Merry Christmas! – Glory to God in the highest!

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Fun Theory

A few days ago I was sent a video of a piano staircase that Volkswagen built as part of a project they call The Fun Theory.   The tag line from the site says this:

This site is dedicated to the thought that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behaviour for the better. Be it for yourself, for the environment, or for something entirely different, the only thing that matters is that it’s change for the better.

This has really started my mind going.  Fun imagine that- it can change behaviour or behavior?  I showed this to Amy The First Grade Teacher, and she said “That’s why we don’t sit in desks anymore”.  Hm.  Then I think about our churches and for the most part the word “fun” never comes to mind.  I wonder if there is something we can learn from this.  After all, one of the biggest messages of the Bible is about changing your behavior from someone full of evil and selfishness to someone full of love and mercy and grace and concern for others.   This is a half baked thought at the moment, and I am sure this space will be used to elaborate on these thoughts in more detail after the “GREATEST DAY OF THE YEAR” – which is quickly coming upon us.

Oh a quick aside, after missing a day in the countdown yesterday – my count downer was ill – here is BonJovi’s I Wish Everyday Could be Like Christmas to get you through the third day before Christmas!

And back to our thought’s for today-behavior change .  As you have great fun this week, celebrated your blessings with your family, and remembering the gift of the savior.  Let this fun which is transforming you into a gift giving machine continue to change your behavior.  Take a look at those first shepherds.  you know it was fun to see that baby, to bow before the king – awe inspiring –  but fun.  And they walked away changed.  Walk away from this Christmas changed by the newborn babe!

Luke 2:20 (New International Version)

20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told

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Ditto

There’s only four more sleeps until Christmas Day.  I guess I better get out and finish up some shopping!

Or maybe I need to modify my decorations.  Here are a few more great decorations to start of the week.   The first one was voted Best Lights by the Surly Birds (whoever they are).  The second is a take off on one of the pictures from last week.

Ditto

RedNeck Christmas 2

Well, that’s pretty creative stuff.  And since we are speaking of lights.  Take a peek over if John.  Right in the beginning of the chapter.  It talks about Light –  the light of the world.  The Christ, who was born to show others the way.

John 1:1-10 (New International Version)

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.

3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood[a] it.

6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

John, is like the neighbor in the picture above – pointing to the true lights.  That’s also the Christmas light I want to point to.  I wonder if our lives said “Ditto” to the true light how the world would change. I think this guy is on to something – pointing at the true light.  Lets be reflectors, lets be pointers, lets say ‘Ditto’ – lets be witnesses.

Merry Christmas Y’all