December 28

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

"If Jesus were born one thousand times in Bethlehem and not in me, then I would still be lost." - Corrie ten Boom

THE LOAN
I ran short of money while visiting my brother, so he loaned me $50. After I returned home, I wrote him a short letter every couple of weeks, enclosing a $5 check in each one. A couple of months into this, he called me one evening just to tell me how much enjoyed the letters, regardless of the money. I had never written regularly before.
Eventually I sent off a letter that contained the last $5, completing my repayment of the loan. The next week I found an envelope in my mailbox. It was from my brother. Inside was a check for another $50.

If snow could fall in any flavor, what flavor would you choose?

All my relatives know that I refold the wrapping paper from my Christmas presents for use later.
"Aunt Jane," asked one of my young nieces, "why do you save all that paper?"
"I'm doing what's best for the environment," I replied. "So I'm recycling this paper."
But then my daughter pipes up, "Good thing you didn't ask that question five years ago ... then she was just plain cheap."

Courage to Face the New Year
There is an odd little carol which is sometimes sung on this first Sunday after Christmas. It begins:
There's snow on the mountain and ice on the pond,
The Wise Men are home now in the back of beyond.
The Shepherd's have left us; the heavens are dumb;
There's no one to tell us why Jesus has come.
It ends:
But God's in His heaven, and Jesus has come
To show every sinner he's welcome back home,
To be this world's Saviour from hunger and fear,
And give us new courage to face the New Year.
We have courage to face this New Year because of Jesus. He is Immanuel—God with us and for us.


The Light That Brings Discomfort
In 1992 a lighthouse was built in Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic. This is one of the poorest areas in the world. The lighthouse was constructed to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus. 150,000 people were evicted from their homes in a shantytown to make room for it. The intensity of its light means that electricity is rationed throughout much of the city. The light that brings security for some brings discomfort for others.
Jesus is the light that brings revelation and security but also discomfort and suffering for himself and for others. This is the second point that Simeon makes about this Messiah that is different to the expectations of his day.

Mary's Suffering
There are two well-known pictures, each with the same title, "The Shadow of the Cross." One by Holeman Hunt depicts the interior of a carpenter's shop, with Joseph and the Boy Jesus at work. Mary is also present. The Boy Jesus pauses in his work, and as he stretches himself the shadow of the cross is formed on the wall. The other picture is a popular engraving which depicts the Infant Jesus running with outstretched arms to his mother, the shadow of the cross being cast on the ground by his form as he runs. Both pictures are fanciful in form, but their underlying message is true. If we read the Gospels just as they stand, it is clear that the death of Jesus Christ was really in view almost from the outset of his earthly appearance. At first sight there seems little in them about his death, but as we look deeper we see more. It was part of the divine purpose and plan for him from the first, and very early we have a hint of the cross in the words of the aged Simeon to the mother of our Lord: "A sword shall pierce through thine own heart also."

A number of years ago, when Lou Holtz was at the University of Arkansas, he was taking his team to play a bowl game in Tempe, Arizona. The game was to be played on Christmas day. He was asked how he felt about playing a game on Christmas, rather than being with his family. The coach answered candidly: "I would rather be in Tempe. After all, once you have been to church, had Christmas dinner, and opened the presents, Christmas is the most boring day of the year."


It has been said by many that if you preach the gospel, people will beat a path to your door to hear you. I don't think that is necessarily so. Big crowds are not necessarily a measure of whether the gospel is being preached. Paul surely preached the gospel more effectively than most, and he did not always attract big crowds. Often it was the opposite, working mostly with small groups. While Jesus had his share of multitudes, he also had large numbers who turned away from him when they learned what discipleship was all about.

"Texas gained more people than any other state between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008 (484,000), followed by California (379,000), North Carolina (181,000), Georgia (162,000) and Arizona (147,000)," the Bureau says in a press release. "The only two states to lose population were Michigan and Rhode Island. Michigan’s population declined 0.5% (46,000), while Rhode Island’s fell 0.2% (2,000)."
Census data show that the nation's western states have grown the fastest since 2000.

The devil has no great interest in destroying the church, he wants to run it.

A sign for a revival in the church read, “If not now, when? If not us, who? If not here, where?”

Great churches are not built with spare time and pocket change.

I’d rather walk with Christ in the dark, than to walk alone in the light.

With the bailouts, the rise of climate control and alternate fuels mentalities, the promised infusions of socialistic programs, and the liberal cry of “help to all“, do I hear that ominous hum, click, and thump of money being printed? I wonder if I could help the economy by buying stock in printers, paper, and ink. (Is this the “green” everyone is talking
about?)

We live in a wishy-washy, come what may, live for the moment, couch potato, fairy tale world with no convictions except we don’t want to be bothered by anyone regardless of what we do - unless there’s quick money in it for us. If we were entirely honest, wouldn't the favorites we sing most lustily sound rather like this? "I surrender some"... "He's quite a bit to me".... "Where He leads me, I sometimes follow"... "Jesus is some of what I need"... "I sort of love you Lord"... "Just as I pretend to be" … “Onward Christian Reserves,” … “Oh For a Thousand Bucks to Sing,” … etc! --- Anonymous

Top ten things to say about a Christmas gift you don't like
10. Hey! There's a gift!
9. Well, well, well ...
8. Boy, if I had not recently shot up 4 sizes that would've fit.
7. This is perfect for wearing around the basement.
6. Gosh. I hope this never catches fire! It is fire season though. There are lots of unexplained fires.
5. If the dog buries it, I'll be furious!
4. I love it but I fear the jealousy it will inspire.
3. Sadly, tomorrow I enter the Federal Witness Protection Program.
2. To think I got this the year I vowed to give all my gifts to charity.
And the Number One Thing to say about a Christmas gift you don't like:
1. "I really don't deserve this."


A mother never forgets the first time she sees her child. She memorizes in her heart the wonder of each tiny feature. She runs her fingertip tenderly across her infant’s silken skin. She checks each finger and toe. Her heart skips a beat as tiny eyes look up at her—helpless except for her protection and care. Mary must have felt the same wonder as she gazed down at her sweet baby boy, lying in His manger bed. Jesus was indeed the Savior of the world, but for those first precious moments, He was simply Mary’s Child.

I’m being auditioned to be a model.
Oh? For the “before” or the “after" photo?”

A doctor was stranded on a ski slope after an avalanche. He stamped out “help” in the snow but it took a week for him to be rescued because no one could read his writing.

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.
They'd been worn all week and needed the air.


New Year Thoughts...
I suppose when we wake on January 1 the world will look the same. But there is a reminder of the Resurrection at the start of each new year, each new decade. That's why I also like sunrises,
Mondays, and new seasons. God seems to be saying, "With me you can always start afresh."


At age 83, Granddad was admitted to the hospital for the first time. "What is this?" he asked as he held up the bell cord they had fastened to his pillow.
"That's the bell, Granddad," I replied.
He pulled it several times, then remarked, "I don't hear it ringing."
"Oh, it doesn't ring," I explained. "It turns on a light in the hall for the nurse."
"Well!" he replied indignantly, "if the nurse wants a light on in the hall, she can turn it on herself."


Religious symbolism of The Twelve Days of Christmas
1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of humanity's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved. -- Victor Hugo

December 21

Mary had a little Lamb,
He was born on Christmas day.
She laid him in a manger bed
To Sleep upon the hay.

Angels filled the night-time sky
And they began to sing.
Shepherds heard them all proclaim
The birthday of a King.

Wise men saw a blazing star
Up in the sky that night.
They followed it until they found
The King of love and light.

Mary had a little Lamb,
But He wasn't hers, you know,
He was the very Son of God,
The One who loves us so.

The Father of this little Lamb
Loved the world so much
That He sent his only Son to earth
So we could feel His touch.

He came to give us joy and peace
And take away our sin.
So when He knocks on your heart's door,
Be sure to let Him in.

Why do I love this precious Lamb?
What can the reason be?
The answer is quite plain to see,
It's because He first loved me!


I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done.

When I got to the airline counter, I was impressed by the lovely Christmas decorations. I looked up and noticed that I was standing under a mistletoe, but then I realized that it was there so that I could kiss my luggage goodbye!

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity" -- Albert Einstein


"Computers make it easy to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do, don't need to be done." - Andy Rooney

The Depression -- let’s call it what it is -- leaves us, well, depressed. But there is very good news from around the world. Our enemies are collapsing under the strain of dropping oil and gas prices. What we had all hoped conservation and off-shore drilling would achieve, the global economic collapse is accomplishing: the defeat of OPEC, Iran, Chavez, Putin and the weakening of the financial underpinnings of Islamist terrorism. In each of these nations, the hold of the dictator is weakening as, one after the other, they face the consequences of dropping oil prices.

"Don't prepare the path for the child, prepare the child for the path." -- Anonymous

"What is powerful is when what you say is just the tip of the iceberg of what you know." -- Jim Rohn

"Don't worry that children never listen to you. Worry that they are always watching you." -- Robert Fulghum

"Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones tend to take care of themselves." -- Dale Carnegie

"People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things." -- Sir Edmund Hilary

Young Americans just aren't watching TV like they used to.
Put another way, the older you get, the more you watch, according to a report due out today from Deloitte indicating that "Millennials," the generation of 14- to 25-year-olds, watches just 10.5 hours of TV a week.
That compares to 15.1 hours for those belonging to Generation X (ages 26-42), 19.2 hours for Baby Boomers (33-61) and 21.5 hours for Matures (62-75).
Lest one assume Millennials are shunning broadcast and cable in favor of watching DVDs on their TV screens -- they're not. They spend less time watching DVDs of movies and TV shows on television sets, 4.8 hours a week, than do Gen Xers.


A husband was in big trouble when he forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife told him, "Tomorrow there better be something in the driveway for me that goes zero to 200 in 2 seconds flat". The next morning the wife found a small package in the driveway. She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale. Funeral arrangements for the husband have been set for this Saturday.

After a Dinner Party
When you put plates away for storage, place a cheap paper plate or coffee filter between each one to prevent scratches or nicks. Then cover the stack with plastic wrap, so they don't gather dust and you won't have to rewash before using them.

"Jesus taught profound truths in simple ways. Today, we do the opposite. We teach simple truths in profound ways." - Rick Warren

"Post-moderns will still attend events if they are the right kinds of events! Jesus modeled, and the New Testament teaches, both 'Come and see' evangelism and 'Go and tell' evangelism. Both still work today, if you understand the mindset and mental barriers of unbelievers." - Rick Warren

Scientists have just discovered something that can do the work of five men -- a woman.

"If all of the unchurched people in the United States were a nation of their own, they would be the eleventh most populated country on Earth. Only Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Russia would have a greater head count." - George Barna, Grow Your Church From the Outside

It's hard to be nostalgic when you can't remember anything.

"When the going gets tough, the tough go for ice cream"


THE CANDY CANE
Many years ago in Indiana, there was a Christian candymaker who wanted to make something that would remind Christians that Jesus was the reason we celebrate Christmas.
So, he began with pure white candy to represent holiness, the righteousness, the purity of Christ. Then he added three thin red stripes to represent the stripes that Christ took for us for our healing when He was beaten so we might walk in health. He continued to decorate and added a larger, wide red stripe that signifies the blood that Christ shed at Calvary for our sin to make a way for us to be members of the Kingdom of God.
He made the candy very hard to represent Jesus as our Rock - the One who never fails us regardless of the storms of life that come our way. Also, he made it very sweet - because Jesus is sweet... taste and see that Jesus is the "Sweetest Name I Know". He curved the candy to look like a shepherd's staff... to remind us that Jesus is our shepherd and we shall not want.
And he gave it special meaning... because when you turn the candy cane upside-down, what letter is it? Now, this Christmas when you see a candy cane, don't just see a piece of candy or decoration, but see the real reason we celebrate this wonderful time of the year ... Jesus!!!

Ole and Lena were sitting down to their usual cup of morning coffee listening to the weather report coming over the radio. "There will be 3 to 5 inches of snow today and a snow emergency has been declared. You must park your cars on the odd numbered side of the streets." Ole got up from his coffee and replies "Well, okay."
Two days later, again they both are sitting down with their cups of morning coffee and the weather forecast is, "There will be 2 to 4 inches of snow today and a snow emergency has been declared. You must park your cars on the even numbered side of the streets." Ole got up from his coffee and replies, "Well, okay."
Three days later, again they both are sitting down with their cups of coffee and the weather forecast is, "There will be 6 to 8 inches of snow today and a snow emergency has been declared. You must park your cars on the..." and then the power went out and Ole didn't get the rest of the instructions. He says to Lena, "What am I going to do now, Lena?"
Lena replies, "Aw, Ole, just leave the car in the garage."


I wrote your name on a piece of paper, but by accident I threw it away. I wrote your name on my hand, but it washed away. I wrote your name in the sand, but the
waves whispered it away. I wrote your name in my heart, and forever it will stay.

"Heaven only knows what led a volunteer fire department in the Baltimore countryside to put up a sign advertising 'Holiday Trees.' Would any Buddhists in the neighborhood not buy them otherwise?" - Editorial page, Wall Street Journal

"Home calls to us, tugs to our emotions, pulls us back to places of familiarity. Even those who have rarely had a home ? such as foster children ? yearn for its imagined refuge and respite." - Mark R McMinn, Finding Our Way Home

Food to blame for Christmas fighting
Sixty percent of British families end up fighting on Christmas Day because of what they eat and drink, food scientists claim. The turkey dinner contains high levels of salt and carbohydrates, which help make diners grumpy -- and adding alcohol, caffeine, and the sheer volume of food creates a volatile mix. The review found the traditional Christmas dinner leads to repeated rises and falls in blood sugar levels, which can give rise to feelings of irritability and lead on to arguments later on in the day. To avoid problems go easy on potatoes and bread stuffing and use unsweetened cranberries.

Robert Fulghum says that he placed alongside the mirror in his bathroom a picture of a woman who is not his wife. Every morning as he stood there shaving, he looked at the picture of that woman. She is a small humped-over woman wearing sandals and a blue eastern robe and head- dress (sari). She is surrounded by important-looking people in tuxedos, evening gowns and the regalia of royalty. It is the picture of Mother Teresa, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
Fulghum said he keeps that picture there to remind him that, more than a resident of any nation, more than any pope, more than any chief executive officer of a major corporation, that woman has authority because she is a servant.

December 14

According to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, both male female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year. Males drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, while females keep theirs until the spring. Therefore, according to everything we've seen, every one of those reindeer on Santa's team is FEMALE. "We should have known this when they were able to find their way."


In the good times and in the bad times _ Jesus is Lord.

The Bible is the only book where the Author is always present.

Perhaps the merriest season's greeting of all time was given by the angels when they announced Christ's birth: "Unto you is born this day a Savior..."
• "Unto you".......That is personal!
• "Is born this day".......That is present!
• "A Savior"........That is precious!

Christmas is a gift from God. He gave His light to pierce the darkness of our souls, His love to thaw the coldness of our hearts, His truth to break the chains of our bondage, His peace to quiet the voices of our guilt, His Son to pay the price for our eternal salvation. --D. Valentine

An interoffice softball game was held every year between the marketing and support staff of one company.
The support staff whipped the marketing department soundly. To show just "how" the marketing department earns their keep, they posted this memo on the bulletin board after the game:
"The Marketing Department is pleased to announce that for this Softball Season, we came in 2nd place, having lost but one game all year. The Support Department, however, had a rather dismal season, as they won only one game."

"So much has been given to me; I have no time to ponder over that which has been denied." -- Helen Keller

"No one can defeat us unless we first defeat ourselves." -- Dwight Eisenhower

"A leader, once convinced a particular course of action is the right one, must have the determination to stick with it and be undaunted when the going gets rough." -- Ronald Reagan

"The devil is content that people should excel in good works, provided he can but make them proud of them." -- William Law

"A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life." -- William A. Ward

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities, brilliantly disguised as impossible situations." -- Unknown

"It is not what you say you believe that is important, but what you model, encourage, reward and let happen." -- Patricia Fripp

"Companies with clear written statements of values and principles are more dynamic and profitable than those without. People, too." -- Brian Tracy
JOY 10
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." -- Thomas Jefferson

Lost Donations Due to Economic Downturn
A new survey from The Barna Group shows that more than 150 million Americans said they have been affected by the economic turbulence, and are now passing on their financial pain to churches and other non-profit organizations by cutting back substantially on their giving during the fourth quarter of 2008.
Barna reports that two out of every three families — 68 percent — have been noticeably affected by the financial setbacks in America. Nearly one out of every four (22%) said they have been impacted in a "major way." Interestingly, the people least affected have been those under 30 years of age — perhaps because relatively few of them have substantial retirement funds — as well as Asian households and those who describe themselves as mostly conservative on social and political issues.
During the past three months, one of the ways that adults have adjusted to their financial hardships has been by reducing their charitable giving. In total, one out of every five households (20%) has decreased its giving to churches or other religious centers.
The degree of reduction in giving is significant for churches. Among people who have decreased giving to churches and religious centers, 29 percent dropped their giving by as much as 20 percent, five percent decreased their generosity by 21 percent to 49 percent, 17 percent reduced their giving by half, and 11 percent sliced their provision by more than half. In addition, 22 percent said they had stopped their giving altogether.

The Economy
Much has been written and said about the state of the economy. Pastor Roger Kruger, writing in the November 2008 issue of "Fireflies" offers the following helpful suggestions for congregations:
The mission of the church is not survival but service. For those who look, there will be many opportunities to serve in hard times..Now is the time to begin planning ways to meet the needs of people.
But what can congregations do? I suspect that if congregational leaders are asked to think about it, they can come up with a variety of creative ministries suited to their community.
Think, talk, teach, and preach about faith. If this really has a lot to do with fear, then people need to constantly be reminded of God's faithfulness.
There is good reason to believe that if congregations are seen as making a difference, they will also be supported even in hard times.

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." -- Mother Teresa

In one hand I have a dream, and in the other I have an obstacle. Tell me, which one grabs your attention? Henry Parks

Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish. Jean de la Fontaine (1621-1695) Poet


"Jews and Christians are different in a lot of ways. Some Christian people will actually have religious bumper stickers on their cars. Like 'Jesus is King', 'The Lord Saves'. Jews don't do that. You'll never see, 'Honk If You Love Moses.'" - Gregg Rogell

Flee temptation and don't leave a forwarding address.

Some kid’s misunderstood lyrics to songs:
Oh, what fun it is to ride with one horse, soap and hay
O come, froggy faithful
You'll tell Carol, "Be a skunk, I require"
Good tidings we bring to you and your kid
Gloria. . . . in a raunchy stable.
"While shepherds washed their socks at night"

Gracie Allen's Classic Recipe for Roast Beef
1 large Roast of beef
1 small Roast of beef
Take the two roasts and put them in the oven. When the little one burns, the big one is done

I watched a movie about a baby hen, it was a real chick flick.

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." -- Calvin Coolidge

"The message of Christmas is not about the proclamation of a holiday or the declaration of a season. It is about the proclamation of a Person and the declaration of Salvation. The birth of the child in the manger was an event that prophets had written about, the people of Israel had spoken about, the patriarchs of old had wondered about, and the angels of God shouted about on that glorious night when Christ was born." -- Roy Lessin,


Top Ten Things Wives Don't Want to Hear Their Husbands Say on Christmas Day
10. "You like it, hon? Almost look like real diamonds, don't they?"
9. "That cheese ball was for later?"
8. "I never imagined a deep-fried turkey would flame up like that."
7. "Timmy, why is Mommy's present hissing?"
6. "It's the thought that counts, right?"
5. "Hey, the game's about to start!"
4. "That's right, hon. Your own subscription to "Guns & Ammo."
3. "Wow, thanks, Uncle Ted. Bagpipes!"
2. "It's two sizes smaller, darling- - you know, for motivation."
1. "Well, if it isn't Roy and Angela and their seven kids - - with suitcases! What a pleasant surprise!"

Life Is a Choice "Life's not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it's about doing, being and becoming. It's about the choices you've just made, and the ones you're about to make, it's about the things you choose to say--today. It's about what you're going to do after you finish reading this." -- Mike Dooley

"The message of Christmas is not about the proclamation of a holiday or the declaration of a season. It is about the proclamation of a Person and the declaration of Salvation. The birth of the child in the manger was an event that prophets had written about, the people of Israel had spoken about, the patriarchs of old had wondered about, and the angels of God shouted about on that glorious night when Christ was born." -- Roy Lessin,

In a survey, 71 percent of Christians admitted that their "understanding of faith was fundamentally shaped by childhood religious experiences." Yet, only 48 percent see it as their responsibility as Christians to share their faith with children. At the same time, 71 percent said they like seeing a child understand how the Bible relates to daily life and 69 percent said they want to be part of a child's spiritual development.

When the message was first given it was given not to religious priests, but to shepherds, men of action who were fulfilling their ordinary duties. This put the message into the stream of ordinary life, instead of into the line of dry-as-dust speculation and religious rituals. Had it come to the priests, they would have searched sacred texts to see if it were valid according to the past. -- E. Stanley Jones

December 7

Christians are star-guided people.

Society is in danger of losing its soul because of growing consumerism and the decline of religion.

Consumerism is being sold as an alternative to finding happiness in traditional morality.

.From the "when less is more" department:
* God so loved the world: 5 words
* The Pythagorean theorem: 24 words
* The Lord's Prayer: 66 words
* Archimedes' Principle: 67 words
* The Ten Commandments: 179 words
* The Gettysburg Address: 286 words
* The Declaration of Independence: 1,300 words

Timekeepers have clocked the action in a 60 minute football game to actually be around 14 minutes.


The Weaver
My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me,
I cannot choose the colors He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride
forget He sees the upper but I the under side.

Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly,
shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needed in the Weaver's skillful hand,
as threads of gold and silver in the pattern life has planned

Ideas — What sums up our RSVP – if we don’t respond at this time by returning to God, repenting of our sins, and experiencing His restoring forgiveness and love, how can we share the invitation to know Jesus with others? If John the Baptist preached a good sermon but walked “another talk” all the goat’s milk, honey, and wild costumes would NOT have attracted people to his message! The would have called him a fake and walked away.
God calls us, His very children, to demonstrate in our lives what the “reason for this season is” – do we respond in JOY? Do we invite others to our Christmas celebrations/preparations? Do we give the reason for why we are happy, why we are preparing? Perhaps not because we are so caught up in the earthly preparations for the season that we have forgotten to allow our hearts to respond to the invitation!

Christ loves to show His hand through the unexpected. Often He keeps us from seeing His way until just before He opens it, and then immediately it is all unfolded, and we find that He was walking by our side in this very thing long before we even suspected its meaning.
--A. B. Simpson

There is a "Peanuts" comic strip in which Linus is listening carefully as his sister, Lucy, boasts about her religious faith and her potential as an evangelist.
She says to Linus: "I could be a terrific evangelist. Do you know that kid who sits behind me in school? I convinced him that my religion is better than his religion."
Linus asks: "How did you do that?"
Lucy replies: "I hit him with my lunch box."


This is the Lakota Native American rendition of Psalm 23, "The Lord Is My Shepherd." They call it "The Lord Our Chieftain." The Lord is our Chieftain who provides all that we need.
He gives us a tepee as a safe resting place.
In dry times he leads us to flowing water to refresh us.
His honor makes it his work to prepare our pathways.
He is our guide through tough times.
We fear no hurt from those who dislike or hate us.
Secure in his calming strength, we will eat, play and sleep,
Knowing in deepest confidence that our Chief, our Leader
stands guard over us.


A friend found Socrates eyeing merchandise in the marketplace. The friend asked why he was looking, since he never bought anything. Socrates said: "Because I am always amazed to see how many things there are that I don't need."

A Chance to Warm Up
In a "Peanuts" cartoon strip, good old Charlie Brown says to Linus, "Life is just too much for me. I've been confused from the day I was born. I think the whole trouble is that we're thrown into life too fast. We're not really prepared." And Linus asks, "What did you want . . . a chance to warm up first?"
The Advent season is supposed to be our chance to warm up. It's that time to prepare our hearts and homes for the birth of the Christ child. It's that time when we put all the decorations in their place, the presents are bought and wrapped, the cards sent out and received, and we get ready for Christmas Day. But if we aren't careful the time of preparation will be over and the big day will be here and it will be just another day. We'll finish opening all the gifts; the room will be strewn with scraps of wrapping paper and ribbon; the turkey or ham will have put up a valiant fight but be nothing but leftovers; and we'll be parked in front of the TV watching one of the games. Then all of a sudden that empty feeling will hit us. That feeling of "What's the use?" That Charlie Brown feeling of something missing, as if we were thrown into Christmas too fast. That's when we'll realize we needed time to warm up.

There is a touching scene in an episode of "All in the Family." Archie Bunker thinks his new grandson ought to be baptized and he tells his daughter and son-in-law so. Gloria and Meathead say No, they don't believe in it. So Archie surreptitiously takes his grandson down to the church, meets with the minister, says he wants the boy "done." The minister tries to explain that baptism is not something just "done," but rather a rite of initiation into the church, and appropriate when the parents want to make that commitment. The program ends with Archie alone in the darkened church sanctuary except for the infant grandson he is holding carefully. He reaches into the waters of the baptismal font, brings the hand back to Joey's head and reverently says, "I baptize thee..."


Billy Graham, who has often played the 20th century role of John the Baptizer, had these comments about the disease running rampant in our world: "We're suffering from only one disease in the world. Our basic problem is not a race problem. Our basic problem is not a poverty problem. Our basic problem is not a war problem. Our basic problem is a heart problem. We need to get the heart changed, the heart transformed."

Carl Michalson, a brilliant young theologian who died in a plane crash some years ago, once told about playing with his young son one afternoon. They tussling playfully on their front lawn when Michalson accidentally hit the young boy in the face with his elbow. It was a sharp blow full to his son's face. The little boy was stunned by the impact of the elbow. It hurt, and he was just about to burst into tears. But then he looked into his father's eyes. Instead of anger and hostility, he saw there hi father's sympathy and concern; he saw there his father's love and compassion. Instead of exploding into tears, the little boy suddenly burst into laughter. What he saw in his father's eyes made all the difference!
The sharp blow of God's message to us is: Repentence. But, look into your father's eyes. What he offers you is forgiveness and that makes all the difference. Repent and you will be forgiven.

Henri Nouwen once said, "If we do not wait patiently in expectation for God's coming in glory, we start wandering around, going from one little sensation to another. Our lives get stuffed with newspaper items, television stories, and gossip. Then our minds lose the discipline of discerning between what leads us closer to God and what doesn't, and our hearts lose their spiritual sensitivity.” It’s the hard work of acknowledging our sin and repenting that leads us to God.

In a Family Circus cartoon, the little girl sits her baby brother on her lap and tells him the story of Christmas. According to her version: Jesus was born just in time for Christmas up at the North Pole surrounded by eight tiny reindeer and the Virgin Mary. Then Santa Claus showed up with lots of toys and stuff and some swaddling clothes. The three Wise men and elves all sang carols while the Little Drummer Boy and Scrooge helped Joseph trim the tree. In the meantime, Frosty the Snowman saw this star. We can appreciate her confusion. There is a lot to learn about Christmas. Who does the teaching in your home as you prepare for Christmas?