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Month: December 2018
Passing the Buck … one week ’till Christmas
Do you remember the “Flip Wilson Show?”
From 1970 to 1974 Wilson was the host for a weekly television spot where he introduced the viewers to a recurring character named Geraldine Jones. By putting on a dress, along with some carefully crafted padding, then altering his voice to a higher pitch, Wilson also introduced the character’s favorite phrase, “The Devil made me do it!”
The skit was hysterically funny, winning great fan approval. I mean really, it’s not my fault right? I had to do it… the devil made me do it!
Not such an original thought, funny though it may be. This phrase leaps off the pages of an ancient text in a way that draws us all to Christmas. Yes, to Christmas!
If we go all the way back to the Beginning (Genesis) we’ll see the story where God asked Adam why he ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam’s response? That woman you gave me, she…
So God asks Eve, and she responds… Hey it wasn’t my fault, it was that snake who said we wouldn’t really die!
Why didn’t God just give up on the human creatures right then and there, and start again somewhere else in the universe?
They were naked and knew it, trying on their own to cover their nakedness and their disobedient unbelief in God’s word, blaming each other and other creatures for their own miserable choices.
In that moment they were lost, and far removed from the relationship with God they once knew.
But God…
Don’t you just love those words?
But God didn’t want to kill them; instead, he had a plan to use this first couple to bless the whole world. So God killed one of His other creatures to make garments for the first couple. [Genesis 3:21]
This event is directly tied to Matthew 1:18-25. God told Joseph about the plan to bring a child into the world through Mary. Specifically God told Joseph to name this child “Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” But why?
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Here’s the thing.
Adam and Eve knew they were lost, and suffered the consequences of their choices, after making all their excuses to God.
The birth of Jesus now provides for all mankind an opportunity to come back to God.
- Regardless of how far we’ve strayed.
- No matter the things we’ve done, or failed to do.
- In spite of who we blame for our choices, including the devil himself.
We all now have an invitation to come back to God, through Jesus, the Savior of the world … Immanuel, God with us.
John 1:12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”Acts 4:12
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.
The truth is the devil can’t make you do anything… including reject God’s love through Jesus. It is your choice alone.
The truth is God won’t MAKE YOU BELIEVE in His Son Jesus… He invites but you must choose to say yes to Him.
Don’t pass the buck anymore… say “yes” to Jesus and His grace and forgiveness today.
Chestnuts anyone?
In April 2018 we began the arduous challenge of remodeling much of our new home. Flooring, painting, some things taken out, new things put in, and now we’re just about complete. It’s been a daunting task at times, giving us a new appreciation for people with more patience than me. Now, it’s only 13 more days ’till Christmas. This song fits me where I am this morning…
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
They know that Santa’s on his way
He’s loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother’s child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
He’s loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother’s child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
And so I’m offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it’s been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it’s been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you
And so I’m offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it’s been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it’s been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you
Songwriters: Mel Torme / Robert Wells
The Christmas Song lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Merry Christmas Everybody!
Trust in God unchangingly…
Don’t miss the last stanza of this old, old song…
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer’s here,
But also when ’tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can’st give me;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can’st give me;
How often has the Christmas tree
Afforded me the greatest glee!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can’st give me.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!
From base to summit, gay and bright,
There’s only splendor for the sight.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
Thou bidst us true and faithful be,
And trust in God unchangingly.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!!”
Merry Christmas Everybody!
21 days until Christmas
When I was young, every year, every kid in the little community where I lived would receive a red net stocking filled with hard candy, fruit, nuts, and candy canes. There were four kids in my family. My mom would take the four stockings, empty them out on the table, then separate the items into groups, and the whole family would share the bounty. The fruit often went first, I didn’t care much for that old ribbon hard candy, but I loved the butterscotch bits. The nuts seemed to last forever in a bowl on the coffee table in the living room. I didn’t want to work that hard shelling the thing for such a tiny nut. The giant peppermint candy cane though, now that was something else. It’s one of my favorite childhood memories.
When I tell this story, some people today immediately feel sorry for me, since in their minds, they believe I grew up in a communist family. That’s their interpretation of the sharing process my mother instilled in us kids. But there is a big difference in Communism, and having all things in common, where everyone’s needs are met in excess.
And here’s the thing.
It wasn’t something my mother just dreamed up on her own. She was just modeling for us what she knew to be true in the Bible about how we are supposed to live. For your consideration, I offer these insightful verses from Acts 2:41-47 as translated in The Message, by Eugene Peterson. This was the birth of the first “church” and displays the nature of transformed lives.
They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
This was the immediate response of the 3,000+ people who became true Christ-followers after Peter preached to the crowd gathered in the streets of Jerusalem at Pentecost. They were hungry for truth, so the focused on the apostles’ teaching. They found a new level of intimate relationship with each other in Christ. Every meal they shared together was a celebration of life. But most importantly, they prayed about everything.
In 21 days we celebrate the birth of Messiah, the Christ, born Jesus of Nazareth. Every time I hear the story, or read the story for myself, I’m moved again by the power of a baby growing into manhood, making the only sacrifice that could accomplish this kind of change in people. Our world today needs this kind of transformation. Our world today still needs this kind of Savior.
Our world today, needs Jesus.
As I was saying... 