So now it's Christmas Eve. This isn't going to be a long post. But as you go into the holiday, after all the hustle and bustle of shopping, and into the hustle and bustle of visiting friends and realitives, and using all your gifts, and reading crap in the news, don't forget about the true meaning. I read today some news about a movie franchise that distressed me today. Right after I read it I went to my church's Christmas Eve service. God challenged me to think about the true meaning, and not to worry about dumb little movie franchises.
God Bless and Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
What will you do?
The other day I was in the local pizza place talking with a friend who works there. This older man came in, and ordered a slice and a diet pepsi. He said he would eat it there. It suddenly occured to me that this man probably didn't have a wife, or if he did, she was probably dead. I felt sorry for him. Can't cook for himself. Drives out in the cold to the local pizza place to have his dinner. The only company is the people working at the pizza place.
Then I wondered, what's his Christmas going to be like? Does he have family? Is he going to be all alone Christmas eve, rocking in his rocking chair, missing his wife, remembering all the good times they used to have?
And halfway across the globe, there will be little kids in Manchay, Peru. They will be sitting around in their shacks, no hope of getting anything for Christmas.
We can help. We can make a difference. We can do charity events like the food bank for poor people without food. We can send a shoebox to a foriegn country throw the Samaritians Purse so a little kid can have a gift Christmas day.
A little not-so annual tradition in my family is to make a little gift basket with a Christian movie, a Bible and little booklet, and drive to a hospital. We look for lonely people. People who have loved ones in the hospital, who might not make it much longer. Some Christmas eve. Then, out of the blue, we give them this little gift. We can only pray that it influences them somehow.
So what about you? What are you going to do for someone who might not have a merry Christmas. What difference can you make? What will you do?
God Bless!
Then I wondered, what's his Christmas going to be like? Does he have family? Is he going to be all alone Christmas eve, rocking in his rocking chair, missing his wife, remembering all the good times they used to have?
And halfway across the globe, there will be little kids in Manchay, Peru. They will be sitting around in their shacks, no hope of getting anything for Christmas.
We can help. We can make a difference. We can do charity events like the food bank for poor people without food. We can send a shoebox to a foriegn country throw the Samaritians Purse so a little kid can have a gift Christmas day.
A little not-so annual tradition in my family is to make a little gift basket with a Christian movie, a Bible and little booklet, and drive to a hospital. We look for lonely people. People who have loved ones in the hospital, who might not make it much longer. Some Christmas eve. Then, out of the blue, we give them this little gift. We can only pray that it influences them somehow.
So what about you? What are you going to do for someone who might not have a merry Christmas. What difference can you make? What will you do?
God Bless!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Handel's Messiah
This past weekend I sang in Handel's messiah at one of the best concert halls in the world. (I won't name the concert hall for obvious reasons.) It was by far one of the most exciting experiences of my life. Many of the choruses I found where amazing, simply lyrically and the fact that over 200 people were singing them. Some of these include Glory to God, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, And the Glory of the Lord, and of course, the Halleluiah Chorus.
The Halleluiah Chorus amazed me the most though. When over 200 voices and a symphony are giving it their all at a song that simply praises God, it is truly amazing. To top it all off, the fact that everyone in the sold out concert hall is all standing, many of them not Christians, in respect to God just makes me overjoyed.
If you haven't seen the Messiah live, I suggest you try and find a large choir and orchestra performing it in a good, packed concert hall.
God Bless!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The True Nativity
So many times at Christmas, I notice these Nativity scenes with the manager looking more like a bed. I've acctually seen a "Nativity" scene in a Russian like room, with baby Jesus on a 4 foot high bed. That sickens me.
I hate how we take the Nativity scene and turn it into a cozy little scene. It was disgusting. Walk into any farm barn today and take a deep breath. That was the first thing Jesus breathed. Lie down on a bed of wet het, with animal siliva and other food around. That was Jesus' first bed. Listen to the sound of animals. That was the first thing Jesus heard.
This is humility beyond all things. It would be humility if Jesus was born in the most royal palace on earth. He deserved better then that. But he got a dump.
We should remember this Christmas while we are in our warm home eating turkey and using gifts, what Jesus had for his first Christmas.
God Bless!
I hate how we take the Nativity scene and turn it into a cozy little scene. It was disgusting. Walk into any farm barn today and take a deep breath. That was the first thing Jesus breathed. Lie down on a bed of wet het, with animal siliva and other food around. That was Jesus' first bed. Listen to the sound of animals. That was the first thing Jesus heard.
This is humility beyond all things. It would be humility if Jesus was born in the most royal palace on earth. He deserved better then that. But he got a dump.
We should remember this Christmas while we are in our warm home eating turkey and using gifts, what Jesus had for his first Christmas.
God Bless!
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