Christmas hangover

In my late teens and early 20's, Saturday's used to be pretty ugly for me. Mornings especially. Without going into too much detail, let's just say that it had a lot to do with my antics the night before.

While I no longer participate in those kind of festivities I'm feeling a little hungover today. Sue's parents just left and the enjoyment of their presence leaves me a little "hungover" this morning. And, when I recount the laughs and enjoyment we've had as a family the last few days, I'm a little contemplative and melancholy. I guess it's like this every year. We hustle and bustle our way into December 25 with so many things, including a lot of good things and then it passes leaving us a little forlorn. Maybe that's why the holiday season is so full of emotion on both ends of the spectrum. So many highs but also a few lows. And, for some, not a season of joy at all.

Those of us who follow Christ write, speak and share a lot about the "reason for the season". It helps keep things in perspective, at least for me. In fact, it's really the only cure for this hangover, isn't it? Aspirin won't work. Buying more stuff on sale with gift cards and cash received won't do it. Having relatives stay longer isn't a real good idea if you want the good feeling to last ;-). But, when all the dust settles, Christ still remains. He is the One who won't leave me lacking or wishing for something else. He is the One that fills all of those longings.

So, I'll be a little mellower today (until I have to pay bills ;), a little more sullen. That's OK. That's the Christmas hangover. In the middle of it all, it drives me back to the depth of my desire. It's not in gifts, family, great deal finds or even church gatherings. It's solely my relationship with Jesus...the Christ-child. Thanks, God, for being my "hangover" medication.

A Model for Living Life as a Follower of Christ

Sometimes I like to write about thoughts of things I've read or seen, sometimes I like to ponder and then sometimes I read something that leaves nothing to be said. As I had my quiet time this morning and read this in Titus, I realized that I just wanted to share it's truth and no other words need to be said...so here it is:

3 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, thave nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Tit 3:1-11). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

At The Core of Christmas (or A Bread Maker is always a Bread Maker)

When you peel back all the wrapping that our culture has put on Christmas and get back to the central message you find the celebration of Christmas is about a gift. It's a gift from God to mankind...ALL mankind. Just like any gift, it not only must be offered but it must be actively received and then, used as intended. If someone wraps up a bread maker and gives it to me but I wanted a coffee maker instead, there are going to be a lot of grumpy mornings at my house. I wanted caffeine, not wheat and flour. Not that a bread maker isn't a good gift. But, I can't make or turn it into a coffee maker. That's not what it was made to do and the gift giver assumed it would be used as intended...to make bread.

Despite all the things that get included in the celebration of Christmas, there is a core message or purpose for this historical, world changing event. Babies are born every day. Babies of all shapes, sizes, colors and health. But NO baby like Jesus was or has ever been born. No matter how He's depicted in a manger scene, the fact remains, He is the Son of God. The incarnate God. God, dressed in flesh, coming into the womb of a young betrothed virgin girl named Mary. That IS Christmas. It's not about family getting together---though that's a good thing. It's not about the beautiful, funny or even ireverent songs sung during this season---though they add to the celebration. It's not about the trees, the presents, the food or the tradition---none of which are "evil" or bad. But, they are NOT Christmas. Somewhere over time, we've lost the focus of this celebration. In techno-geeky terms we've swapped the "plug-ins" with the core application. A plug in is no good without the application to "plug it into". And, so it is with Christmas. If we don't fall on our knees at the gift of salvation that the Baby came to give us and accept it for what it is, than Christmas is just another social, retail, economic event. Not a bad thing. Just not THE thing.

I probably won't stop shopping, spending time with family, elbowing the lady next to me to get the last available of something (ok...I'll probably have to stop that), listening to all kinds of Christmas music and the other wrappings of Christmas. But, God...please help me, once again, to fully embrace what You did by sending Jesus Christ to this earth. That Baby changed my world forever when I realized at the age of 17 why He came:

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
(Lk 2:10-14, ESV)

Still Learning after all these years

I just had a great week with my wife in Orlando. It was a mix of work and pleasure...well, kind of. We worked on some things that we just don't get to at home. And, during our time together, some things that were still not working for us caused us some pain as a couple. We'll get through them but these are the same issues we've been dealing with for so many years. I feel like such a failure some times. Most of these problems are my doing. It's either because I couldn't say "no", I said "yes" when I should have said "no" or just didn't think and did it. In any case, it still has caused some major trauma. Yet, despite it all, I know that my wife loves me, is going to stick by me and we'll get this ship turned around.

This whole situation reminded me of God's constant love for me even in the middle of constant screw ups. I'm so glad for a forgiving Savior.

How about you? Are there some things that keep coming up in your life that you need God's promise of grace to remind you that He's not done with you yet? Then, can you see the Holy Spirit working inside you to change you?

The grow big inanimate objects in Indiana and other towns

Words to be remembered by

I was having my quiet time this morning which has been much too eratic lately. As I read the Word of God, I almost always say this at some point either out loud or to myself, "I LOVE THIS...why is it so hard to be in God's Word more frequently?"

Well, I experienced that again this morning. I've been reading out of Acts and just chewing on a few verses sometimes and on a few chapters or stories other times. Today, as I was reading in Acts 11 about Barnabus being sent to Antioch to see what was going on with so many coming to the Lord, I was stopped by the way Luke described Barnabus..."for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord."

It reminded me of a question I had just asked my "really" small group of young men on Thursday night, "What do you want to be known by or said about you when your days on this earth are over." When I was preparing to meet with them and thought of asking this often-asked question, I was reminded that I've often struggled with this. There are a lot of things I'd like people to say about me or to think of when they think of me. Things like...."he was a good father and husband" or "he cared about others"..."he was kind and gentle"..."we enjoyed being with him"..."he made everyone around him better"..."he gave of himself"...just to rattle off a few. But, when I read those words that Luke wrote about Barnabus I stopped and thought, "I think that's it! If those things can be said of me, the other things will follow. Yeah...those are the words I'd like to be remembered by." I guess if those are the words I want to be remembered by, there is no better time than today to start living according to them.

What about you? How do you want to be remembered? Is it God honoring? Is it noble? Does it include something about reaching the lost for Jesus Christ? I guess at this stage in my life after trying to achieve joy and happiness in many other ways, it all boils down to this for me..."for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord."

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Emasculated Words

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