“For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

My Son (in law) Charles was born in the unfortunate month of December. I say unfortunate because birthdays celebrations can become meager when so close to Christmas. This year, a number of things came together, timing wise, so I decided to have a special dinner for him. While yesterday wasn’t his REAL birth date, it WAS convenient. And we had a shindig!

It’s said that a Standing Rib Roast is the most extravagant of Christmas dinners. It is ALSO convenient that Rib Roasts are on sale this time of year. So I figured…’if it’s good enough for Jesus, it SHOULD be good enough for Charles!’ Having only cooked one once before, AND personally knowing some good cooks AND a butcher, I sought tips, advice and recipes.

The house is already decorated for Christmas so we made sure every light and candle was burning. By the time they arrived, the atmosphere and aromas were divine…as was the meal! Afterward, when presented with his favorite pie, he was all smiles. I told him I felt bad, him having his birthday so close to Christmas. He said…”it really isn’t bad!” I’ve been thinking about that!

Because Christ was born…’I’ can be.. and AM as well. This famous Bible verse says that it was God’s LOVE for the world that caused Him to send His son by ‘special delivery’ to us. At this time of year, I have to confess, I don’t really think about ‘the world’ that much! I’m too busy swimming in the extravagant atmosphere of His personal love toward ME! What the REST of the world does with His divine gift…well…that’s up to them!

When Charles and family left last night, they took with them containers of left overs…AND the rest of the pie! What WE were left with was a home that is still decorated in celebration of REAL LIFE! And it still smells good too! AND we have memories, plans and an ETERNITY, being part of HIS family, to PERSONALLY experience the divine Love of God! All because of the extravagant gift of His son Jesus Christ!! Which, like Charles said, ”really isn’t bad!” Now I get it!   Do you?

“Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” Matthew 1:19

Having weighed all the options, and while executing the plan I had decided upon, I found myself in the middle a most disagreeable situation. A major traffic jam! My intentions had been good, honorable and even Heavenly minded! But now that I was stuck, and with anger building to a crescendo, I suddenly ‘found myself…’out of my mind!

Take normal City traffic…then add Christmas shoppers, lunchtime, traffic lights and major road construction…and you have the perfect storm for bringing out the worst in people. As usual, I had taken the bait and was in pre-meltdown mode when God, in His still small voice, whispered my name. I almost missed it! Suddenly, I was out of my mind! And just in time!

Joseph’s story, unlike mine, is full of detail without saying much. If TRAFFIC can do this to me, MY reaction to find my fiance pregnant, and not mine, would be outrage! But Joe seemed more calm and logical. He actually CARED about making a scene…and HER feelings! With Joe’s mindful decision made, God whispered his name! THEN Joseph did the unthinkable!

Take normal, throw in unbreakable rules…then break them! Add family pressure, God’s interruption, time and distance, along with the HOST of Angel Warriors, the powers of Hell, squeeze some strangers into the delivery room, and I am grateful to NOT be Joe! But after He got through him, God STILL had Joe’s attention. Now, while sitting in traffic, He had mine too. When He suggested we pass the time and talk, I thought it a marvelous idea!!

With centuries passed since Joseph’s example, can we just call 2020 ridiculous? With riots, covid, shutdowns and a crazy election, most of us can’t wait for it to be over! BUT…based upon what has resulted, could 2021 be worse? I think it could be the perfect storm that brings out the WORST in people. Which leads me to remember Joseph’s world and how God got him out of his own mind, and into His plan!

After switching my attention and getting peace in the middle of yesterday’s storm, I think I might spend the rest of this Christmas season praying more and thinking less!        How about you??  

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” Numbers 24:17

I guess you COULD possibly call me a prophet! IF, that is, your definition includes one who foretells the future…and it actually HAPPENS! Last week at Church I made the statement, “there will be news and rumors saying that ‘The Star’ which appeared to the Magi will be seen this year!” Before I even got home, someone texted me a news article about the merging of Saturn and Jupiter!!! Apparently my prophetic ability was running a little behind!

Now please don’t get me wrong. I LOVE Christmas and the celebration of the birth of God’s greatest gift to mankind. It is worth celebrating to remember what it actually COST God to come and rescue me! But sometimes, we humans can get so caught up in traditions that we forget the real point of the real thing.

Imagine trying to celebrate Thanksgiving around a bologna sandwich instead of a turkey! It sounds weird, but if it’s all you had, it COULD actually work! That is, IF Thanksgiving is about actually THANKING GOD for His provision, protection and care! But go ahead and try the bologna idea with your extended family and see how well it goes for you! I’m sure you’d experience in reality what I am trying to say here.

There is SO much wrong with our image of Christmas I could not even begin to fit it all here. But THAT does NOT take away from God’s Real Gift! We KNOW BIBLICALLY that there is NO mention of 3 dudes, riding camels, coming to the manger scene in Bethlehem on December 25^th! THAT is the bologna sandwich which decorates every nativity scene ever made. BUT strangely… it still WORKS!

Here’s a fun idea. Go out on the next starry night and pick a star. ANY star! Now try to determine WHICH HOUSE, town or state that star is pointing to!! Is it yours? Your neighbors? Or how about Bill’s house in Georgia!!! You MAY get my point if you realize there is MORE to the REAL story than what we actually KNOW. But it doesn’t take away from the REAL actual event that ushered in the one who saved me from the lake of fire!

Every time I read the story of the Birth of The Savior I learn something new. As I focus on the marvelous depth of the Grace of God toward me, I am immediately humbled. I think, “If I only had a gift to give him, I’d bow down on feeble knees, and in tears of gratefulness, and present my paltry gift to My Savior with as much honor as I could muster.” Then, like some shining star, reality hits me and I realize, I really DO HAVE the chance to give Him, for Christmas, EXACTLY what He’s wanted all along…and that is my heart!

Thank you for letting me point that out!

“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.” 1 Peter 1:3

It was lost. Then it was found. Broken – but still intact…kinda! This Christmas ornament…MY Christmas ornament… has been through a lot. Just like me! Last year it dropped off the tree and broke into 2 pieces. This year, I finally found the box where I had placed it and ran some superglue around the broken pieces. Voila!

65 years ago my mom took an ordinary Christmas bulb and wrote my name and the year on it. Funny thing is, that’s not how I spell my name! And I would NEVER have chosen a pink bulb for myself. But hey! I was a BABY! My mom made the gesture and ‘it’ became ‘a thing’ that, through the years, has gotten attention. But ONLY at Christmas time. You know.. kinda like Jesus!?

A LOT has changed over my 65 years on this planet. Many things I valued are no longer even around. Family members, friendships, moral values, patriotism and Absolute Truth are some of the things I miss the most. Some things shattered are not fixable. While others are holding together by the meekest of efforts. But…it appears they will one day vanish as well.

The greatest treasure of my life is my Faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Born again as a pre-teen, I am genuinely grateful that HE has not changed or gone away. Which IS a surprise, since I have given Him EVERY reason to do so! But the more I see, the more I appreciate my ‘New Birth’ and the ‘unchanging hope’ which hangs over my spirit. All Because HE remains who He SAYS He is!

Christmas Trees have changed, even though I said I would never! But I now have an artificial tree and use twinkle lights instead of the old glass bulbs. Caroling has even been banned, mostly by participants, because of Covid. But the saddest most unbelievable change I see is that, the TRUTH of Jesus Christ, and Faith IN HIM, are not popular anymore. It’s like a precious thing has been dropped…and fixing it is becoming more questionable than ever.

Death is death, sin is sin, hell is real and God’s Word STILL says that MOST will CHOOSE to GO THERE! Which seems ridiculous! Who would EVER CHOOSE to go to a place of eternal punishment? It is HERE that I hear the CRASH! And I now get it!

In a world that changes truth for the lie of convenience…not much is sacred. If the world doesn’t like what someone says or does, it unfriends them! Or tells the REST of the world how bad ‘THEY’ are! The world would ALSO say that, besides its own evolving opinion, NOTHING is absolute or rock solid. And the TRUTH Jesus says He is and talked about??? Eh…that’s all ornamental anyway!  Right???

“Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.” James 1:14

I was with a group of men this weekend at Swampbilly Outdoor Adventures, in Punta Gorda Florida, for a Hog Hunt. Anticipation had been building for weeks, guns had been sighted in and everything was prepared. Sitting atop a large swamp-buggy, all that was missing were the hogs! SOA is a fine business, but the experience would be a complete waste if no hogs appeared. For that…they needed a little enticement!

Our guide climbed down and walked to an automatic feeder, programmed to throw corn feed at certain times. Pressing a button and hurrying back to the buggy, we heard….ZING… then FLING…and we waited for ‘The THING’ to happen. Sure enough, and in a matter of a few moments, at least 20 hogs came running to get the corn. Now all that was left was for the hunter to ‘pick one’ and not MISS!

Now I know there are some folks that think this is horribly unfair. To which I must respond…“they’re pigs!” Then I must add with a snicker…”just like ME” (and you too)! Because based upon what I think, reason and do, there is one thing I know for sure. When it comes to being a sinner, I am a TROPHY OINKER… AND the TARGET of a VERY skilled hunter named satan!

My enemy, the devil, has MANY tricks on how to entice and destroy me. Sadly, HE didn’t have to invent ANY of them. I supply the bait of my OWN demise by showing off my evil lusts and desires. All he has to do is watch, wait, take notes, and then set the trap! Once he sets the trap, it’s ZING…FLING… and then the THING happens! Like a hog, it doesn’t matter how many times I see, or hear it, NOTHING can stop me from running to the feeder of my own destruction! ‘Cept for…!

I believe in the inerrancy of Scripture! Which means that I KNOW Scripture to be 99.9999% accurate! The ONLY verse I disagree with is Paul’s description of himself as “the chiefest of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). I KNOW he is wrong because “I AM!” But I DO agree with him on “The Fixer!” He’s ‘The One’ who came to become a target…just like me! FOR me!

I LOVE Christmas because it fixes my eyes on the birth of God’s most precious gift to me…His Son Jesus Christ! He didn’t come as a hog…but a lamb! He didn’t come to live, but to DIE. And not for Himself…but for ME! And while the MAJORITY of people around the world may focus on having a HAPPY HOLIDAY…I STILL can’t into my head WHY God would love, come and DIE for…all for a pig like me!

Because of Christ, The STING THING OF DEATH itself has been killed. And Jesus Christ has earned, deserves and HAS…ALL my attention! Merry Merry!

“Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” John 10:31-32

There’s a group of men from our church who, for the last 4 months, meet every Wednesday and Friday mornings, between 9 and 10am, at the corner of U.S. 41 and Laurel Road. What started off as an anti-protest, has turned into a ministry of spreading ‘The Gospel’ to the busy world of Nokomis. After Wednesday, I can share something we have learned over time.

As Advent arose, we added several Christmas messages to the sign inventory. After all, how can you go wrong proclaiming the Greatest Gift God ever gave mankind? BUT…let’s just say that when we held up the signs, it wasn’t all ‘Ho Ho Ho!!!!!!’ And even though Jesus Christ, the ‘Prince of Peace’ has been given to us by God, ‘Peace on Earth is elusive as ever! You can tell that by some of the reactions!

I asked the men if they would agree on a reaction that we get, from some people, almost every time we stand out there. This angry reaction comes to us in a strange form I would never have guessed. ‘The Burnout’ or The Stomp on it’ have come to mean that the angry person behind the wheel does NOT approve the message of God’s Good Will! Which surprisingly, in light of today’s verse, isn’t surprising!

When Jesus personally delivered the news that HE was ‘The Way’ of Salvation they had been looking for, many folk grew irate! So much so, that they reached down to pick up rocks with which to stone Him! Thankfully, stoning is a national ‘No No!’ But the ability to display disapproval has morphed into an art form. Belching smoke and burning rubber isn’t illegal, but to the angry…it seems to get the job done!

I am thankful to say that we have not been threatened or shot at. We HAVE been avoided and folks HAVE taken LONG ways around us to avoid personal discussion. Which still proves a point! The Gospel is STILL offensive to those who do not want to see or hear the message of God’s love and forgiveness. But God’s directive to ‘Go tell it!’ still remains on His people. We men at the corner are just joyful that ‘The Message’ is still available and worth proclaiming!

Are YOU a part of the INN crowd? 

“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” John 6:63-64

We held our annual ‘Christmas Quiz’ Contest, at Church last night, to see how much folks REALLY knew about the REAL Biblical Christmas story. It is a rather shocking, and sometimes disturbing event that has a surprising effect on almost everyone. But the REAL surprise is the emotion that often comes when Truth trumps tradition! Shock and unbelief!

Mark Twain once said, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so?“ That statement cannot be more true! Except that, Mark Twain never said it! In fact, it has been ascribed to SEVERAL modern sages, with no proof of certainty!

How would YOU feel if your preschooler came home from school and told you their teacher said that Santa Claus wasn’t real! If you’re like me, you just relieved that POWERFUL emotion with a question, “What teacher has the RIGHT to SAY such a thing to MY child!?” And you would be absolutely correct! But now, you may better understand how Jesus felt when He was teaching about Himself and His Father!

If ANYONE knows the Father it’s the Son! If you are part of God’s Family and His child, you know what it’s like to have lies and half-truths spoken about your greatest relationship! And yet today, Christ’s Church and Bride are being more influenced by lies than by the Truth! We are under attack and are being overrun!

I read this morning that Washington DC is about to pass a Bill that would allow children to get vaccinated WITHOUT their parents consent or knowledge! There are people who think there is nothing wrong with this policy. For them, it is too late! They have already ingested the Kool-aid and aided satan’s goal of destroying God’s intended Family unit! Since I don’t live there, my voice and opinion do not matter. But what about HERE? Am I involved in Truth telling??

There were NO Kings or Wise men at ‘The Stable’ the night of Jesus’ Birth. And there is no mention of any other animals either! But before anyone gets depressed and rips down their manger scene at home, may I suggest picking up a Bible to discover and find, with an open mind, the REAL truth about God’s Greatest Gift to mankind…EVER!  He is worth celebrating along with the REAL Story! And THAT’S the Truth!

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8

After hauling home boxes of Christmas decorations from out of storage, we were relaxing while watching TV. Suddenly, my eye caught a glimpse of movement across the room. Turning my head was enough to freeze the action, just long enough to stare down ‘a mouse.’ As it exited, all I could think was, “here we go again!”

Admittedly, there is not much cuter than a mouse. Those big ears and eyes seem to shout out, “I want to be your friend!” But you can’t teach a mouse how to fetch the paper, sniff out a rabbit or make you breakfast! In reality, there is nothing good that can come from having a mouse in the house. Though cute as can be, they are, in reality…dirty, nasty destructive creatures. So what to DO?

My father was an exterminator before he became a pastor. Living in parsonages growing up made that fact a blessing. I learned how to eradicate rats, bats and mice as a boy. Having an old church as a cabin, I get plenty of practice at catching mice when on vacation. But THIS?? THIS… is my HOME!

I remember the vacation night Katie awoke after the power went out. Lying there in the dark, all she could hear was the scurry of a mouse! Or so she thought! She didn’t sleep well! Now that my job of rodent control was resurrected, it was time for action!

I love Jesus. And I LOVE that I CAN be AT PEACE inside the home of my own little mind. Experience has taught me that there is NOTHING I need to fear, or worry about, that He can’t handle. That DOESN’T mean I will live in this world rodent or trouble free! As a matter of fact trouble, in the form of persecution, tribulation, animosity and hatred, is PROMISED to those who love Christ. But so is His PEACE!

The kind of peace that only Jesus can give is an inside job! After all, loading up my bedroom with weapons doesn’t help my peace if ‘I’ have to be the one who stays awake to keep watch! So I turned it all over to HIM, since He volunteered for the job anyway! I am in His hands, even when I sleep! ESPECIALLY then!

I took the necessary steps, did my job, and can say that we are now ‘mouse in the house’ free! We slept well last night and weren’t worrying about any scurrying! Looking back, the mouse was actually a gift! It reminded me of what I DON’T have anymore…a troubled mind! This Christmastime, I can thank God for having THAT kind of peace!         

How PEACEFUL is YOUR house?

“But after he had considered this (divorcing Mary quietly) an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20

My wife Katie is an artistic wonder. What she sees in her head I can’t even imagine in mine. What I see as a box of stuff becomes, in her eyes and hands, beautiful Christmas WOW! Because of HER talent, I have moved myself into the position of ‘fetcher!’ I fetch it, she finesses it! But because she has been so busy lately, I wanted to take some of the load off of her. Turning thought into action, yesterday, was when ‘Dec-irration’ began.

Setting up the Christmas tree, the next step was the lights. Katie usually places them so they’re ‘even.’ There are some specialty ‘bubble’ and ‘Santa’ light strings she weaves into the mix as well! Convincing myself I could do it…the lights came out of the box!

I was careful, placing and stepping back to look at the progress. It was going well…until halfway through, when I got to ‘the bubble lights!’ Suddenly the strand untangled and hit the floor where one light shattered at my feet. With it went my hope, mission and confidence! Yes, it was that big of a deal to me. For some reason, I couldn’t help but think about Joseph!

Look at the cast of characters Joe is lumped in with in this verse! He’s got an angel, ultra GREAT Grampa David, Mary and the Holy Spirit! Talk about PRESSURE!? Add to them his standing in the community, wedding jitters and pressure from work! How could he POSSIBLY expect to measure up? With broken lights at my feet, I experienced only a small taste of what He had!

God uses people! It is His method! After the creation and fall of Adam and Eve, He determined that MEN and WOMEN were going to be His method of changing the world BACK to Himself. And Joseph was the PERFECT picture of the kind of ‘earthly’ father God wanted for His only Son Jesus! I have no doubt Joseph was scared out of his mind! But God!

I am not a genius, a wonder, an example or even a kind of person anyone would want to hang up as an illustration for ‘Greatness!’ But God tells me, now that I have His son,”I” am the ‘Light of the World (Matthew 5:14)!’ Talk about PRESSURE!? But then… if YOU love Jesus Christ as YOUR Savior and Lord…SO ARE YOU!

After being down for a while, God’s encouragement set in to press me to try again. I was determined to get the job done regardless, and even asked Him for His help. Because NOW, it was PERSONAL! When Katie got home she was surprised! After shouting “WOW,’” she added…”It looks SOOOOOOO GOOD!” Yup!!! She said that!

No matter WHO you are or how talented you may be, God can do MAGNIFICENT things with lil ol you…when you LET HIM! Shine on!