THANKING GOD FOR CHRISTMAS PAST, PRESENT, AND BEYOND

THANKING GOD FOR CHRISTMAS PAST, PRESENT, AND BEYOND

Tuesday, December 17, 2019



1Thessalonians [GW] 5:18-21 Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God's will in Christ Jesus that you do this. Don't put out the Spirit's fire. Don't despise what God has revealed. Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good.



  During WWII and the following “recovery years” money was as scarce than hen’s teeth. For Christmas, most of us kids received an orange, box of raisins or hard candy, a (As in “one”.) toy of some sort, and were happy with it. Extended family gatherings were the best thing. My uncles and cousins, WWII combat survivors, were the greatest fun! Especially Uncle John Bullock as he kept everybody laughing with his wit . . . and consequently often embarrassed his wife Helen.

  Most people didn’t have an automobile. I was 6 or 7 when I walked with the older boys to see a neighbor’s wonderful special Christmas gift, a “New used car.” While admiring, one of the older boys snuck a touch. Fearful that the man had seen, we ran home. The tel-a-neighbor communication system of that day could have gotten the news of disrespectful behavior home before we sped around the corner. We were thankful the dreaded message didn’t come as we were concerned it may affect our Christmas.

  I only knew one older boy that got an allowance. His father was an editor for The Baltimore Sun and drove a Chrysler. Most kids didn’t have money to buy gifts. If a gift could be gotten it would be for your Mom. I remember our elementary school teacher bringing oranges and boxes of cloves to make a smell-good thing to give to our moms to put in their clothing drawer. Years later I realized it was sacrificial expense for our teacher. Oranges in the winter were not normal fare. We sometimes got one (1!) in our stocking. Spices were not cheap.

  When I was 9-10 we moved from Hamilton to Dundalk. Then I began earning money selling newspapers on street cars, shining shoes on the sidewalk outside a local bar, mowing grass with reel push mower, weeding, shoveling snow, and other chores for neighbors. (Family work was family work, unpaid.)    

  A favorite winter job was tending coal furnaces for neighbors working night shift in the steel mills. I was quite good at “stoking and banking” so their wives didn’t wake up freezing in the middle of the night. The pay was great. I got a whole dime each time! In 2019 this would be about $1.40. “Big deal.” You say? The big deal was that kids did not have money then.

  It wasn’t long until a neighbor purchased a round screen TV for Christmas. He didn’t mind but his wife didn’t want a bunch of kids “traipsing in my house”, but the husband allowed us to “As long as you’re quiet and don’t step on my flowers to ” watch thru the window. His wife wasn’t happy about this arrangement either. Summer was best because pre-AC we could hear thru the window screen. Winter was a time of interpretation of body language and sometimes resulting in debates as to what the actors said.

  By the next cold season my brother Jim and I were weary of frostbite viewing so we asked Dad if we could get a TV. He smiled and responded “Sure. Earn, save, and buy one whenever you like.” It took a lot of hustling but we finally purchased a small Muntz tabletop TV. I think the cost was 97 dollars including the 1% sales tax, equivalent to about 1,275 dollars today. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madman_Muntz )  (One of the misconceptions about the Good Olde Days is that everything cost less. It did not, especially when considering lack of present-day features and the number of man-hours worked needed to purchase a number of items.)

  It was a wonderful life. The prevailing cultural attitude was gratefulness.

  With GI Generation determination, our nation prospered. Most acquired their own car and TV. AC came, and later became normal even for present day “poor and underprivileged”. Many people now spend more time in car and home “Doing their own thing.” The idea list of what is needed to live changed drastically.   

  Attitude, conversation and action on increasing, maintaining and securing wealth increased to point of now very much dominating society and the proliferation of storage businesses. Affluence brought with it neurosis and accompanying counseling and debt services. TV’s Dr. Phils soon playing an expansive role. Self-help and esteem books grew from almost none to fully stacked aisles.

  More and more, when they knew God, men glorified Him not as Adonai-jireh (Jehovah Provider), losing their sense of true gratefulness, and their hearts were darkened as they increasingly became vainglorious in their thinking. (Rom.1:20-21)

 

Lord, help us please. May we embrace the godly attitude of gratitude and gain Your Christ-mas peace..  EBB4 

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT UNDETERRED

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT UNDETERRED?

Monday, December 16, 2019



2Corinthians [ESV] 5:10-21 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.



  Where did the idea of Christmas spirit come from, the attitude of giving? Was it by way of the Magis’ example in expensive gifts to baby Jesus? Or, was it some brilliant ad-man many years ago that had an idea on how to stimulate commerce, and line his and sellers pockets with gold in the process?

  I’m not against gift giving. I enjoy receiving gifts. (I am not soliciting!) And certainly do enjoy giving. Giving does not however always work out as expected. As we excitedly, lovingly give, the reactions of some recipients are not exactly in what we consider Christmas spirit.

  Years ago, women of the Evangelical Methodist Church, Dublin, Maryland, donated over $8,000.00 (Originally $1,000.00 in 1960.) to purchase Christmas turkey meals for poor families in their rural farming county. Two young deacons eagerly volunteered to make deliveries to 10 families chosen from needy children participating in EMC large Sunday School. (Oddly, SS attendance there was consistently about 20% higher than worship service.)

  At 8 of the 10 households there were numerous adult men sitting smoking and drinking beer though a workday morning. Overflowing ashtrays and empty beer bottles littered the rooms. Asked about their employment status? In all 8 houses to a man they responded with some variation of “We’re looking.”

  Later, when one family’s children were asked by their SS teacher if they enjoyed their Christmas meal, the child sadly replied “No ma’am, the adults got drunk after those deacons left. They fell asleep and left the boxes on the kitchen table and the dogs and cats had their way with it. The next morning there was a big fight over whose fault it was.”

  A caring lady baked a Christmas cake for a poor family. The single mother and children expressed their thanks. The children clambered to cut the cake so as to enjoy it with Miss Barb. The mother smiled as she backed thru the kitchen swinging door carrying the cake. When she doesn’t return as expected, one of the children went to investigate. Suddenly the children loudly wailed. When all entered the kitchen they saw the mother with chocolate on hands and face. In her dysfunction she had ungraciously gobbled the entire cake! The kids scrambled to get the crumbs that had fallen on the table and floor.

  A male mentor, while playing basketball, notices his “little brother” needs news shoes. Joyously watching the boy unwrap his Christmas gift, he is disappointed when the boy complains they’re not the expensive brand his peers wear.

  An adult SS class collects $1,200 to fill a gift list for an inmate’s family. When delivered by a married couple from the church, the response is a “Just put the stuff over there.” as children and adults continued playing their video games and watching TV.

  Discouraged yet? I could go on and on and I’m sure many of you could relate stories of your own experience. Especially those of you involved in rescue missions, jail and prison ministry, and addiction counseling.

  How do we refresh and/or maintain our spiritual sensibility? By looking to The Word (Jn.1:1) for example, direction, and staying power . . . and never losing sight of the fact that we are not fixers, we are messengers; agents telling of God’s merciful reconciliation. (2Cor.5:20)

  God gave His most precious gift, His only begotten Son, Jesus. He was rejected casually and/or cruelly by most then as now. But God did not withdraw His grace! Though betrayed, vilified, crucified . . . His free gift of salvation was and is still largely refused, and even when accepted, too often lived here in mediocrity; significantly without active Christian ambassadorship.

  Let us not turn aside from reaching out to others. Let ours be a heart fruitfully after the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; manifesting Christmas (Christ-worship) now and all year long. (Rom.12:1-3)

  “My dear brothers and sisters, don't be fooled. Every good present and every perfect gift comes from above, from the Father who made the sun, moon, and stars. The Father doesn't change like the shifting shadows produced by the sun and the moon. God decided to give us life through the word of truth to make us his most important creatures. Remember this, my dear brothers and sisters: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and should not get angry easily. An angry person doesn't do what God approves of. (GW James 1:16-20) 

EBB4

A FARMER'S CHRISTMAS TALE

A FARMER’S CHRISTMAS TALE



Dear fellow travelers,

I can never let this joyful season pass without again airing this old favorite illustrative story. Every time I read or hear it and consider the truth recorded in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians it brings tears to my eyes. Be blessed as you read. Bless others by sharing copies.

It is our privilege to serve Him all our days,

Ed   Philippians 2:6-11



  There was a farmer that didn’t believe in God, and was quite outspoken about religion, Easter, and Christmas. His wife, a believer, raised their children to be God-fearing. The man and his spouse loved each other dearly with sacrificial devotion, but there was always what he deemed “The Difference.”

  One snowy Christmas eve, she prepared to take the children to church. As always, she invited him to go with them. As always, he refused, adding his usual “That story is nonsense! Why would God abase himself by living on earth as a man? That’s ridiculous!” So, as usual, she went, he stayed home.

  Sitting at the kitchen table relaxing with a cup of coffee and a hunk of his wife’s delicious Christmas fruit cake, he noticed the wind rising as the snowing increased. Before long a blizzard developed. He didn’t worry about his family as he knew, if need be, they’d stay with friends near the church.

  Suddenly he was startled by a loud thump against the side of the house, then another soon followed.

  Turning on all the yard lights he couldn’t detect anything so he bundled up and went out into the driving storm to look around. In the yard he found a flock of late traveling southern bound geese. They were obviously disoriented and in despair. Knowing they would be safer in shelter with food, he opened the nearby barn’s big doors.

  Returning inside he, concerned, watched them out the window. They didn’t go in the barn where he had scattered corn on the floor.

  Bundling up again he tried shooing them into the barn. It did not work.

  Then he tried laying a path of corn. It didn’t work.

  Next he tried slices of bread. It didn’t work.

  The frightened geese just kept honking and huddling, not noticing the barn or what it meant to them; nourishment and shelter from the storm.

  “Why don’t they follow my lead . . . can’t they see the only place they can survive the storm?”

  He thought for a moment and realized they wouldn’t follow him, a human. “If only I were a goose, then I could save them.” he said aloud.

  With that realization he went to the barn and gathered one of his domesticated geese in his arms, took her to the yard and released her on the far side of the stressed wild flock. Having full knowledge of good sense, she waddled quickly thru the group. They followed to safety.

  Though quite cold by now, he stood silently with the blizzard howling about him and the icy snow stinging his face. Suddenly it all made sense.

  That is what God had done and he was like those lost geese needing guidance.

  Jesus, his dear wife and children, and others, had been showing him the way of salvation, but he had refused and kept milling about in life.

  Suddenly the revelation of truth overwhelmed him and he fell to his knees, begging God’s forgiveness and trusting Jesus as Redeemer.

  As the wind and snow relented, his soul became quiet and pondered the wonderful simplicity of it all; understanding what Christmas was truly about; the reason Christ had come. He then prayed his first prayer of thanksgiving, “Thank you God for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!”

 (Author unknown, rewritten from file notes and memory. EBB4)

CHRISTMAS STRESS

CHRISTMAS HECTICRAMA

Friday, December 13, 2019



   John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

  Philippians [ESV] 4:4-8 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.



  Serenity in the midst of hectic times is possible, depending on its being an integral part of our life.

  Christmas can be very stressful, a hectic scene, a time of confusion and anxiety.

  Hectic-rama: using paraphernalia, the working at trying to create a time of joy and peace on earth; “earth” for most spelled “family”.

  Hectic-rama is easily recognized. It is fleeting life-piece apart from abiding life-peace that Christ-worship, adoration with trust of and in Him alone provides.

  Enjoy Christmas, please do, especially as time with loved ones.

  Do not however let Christ-mas pass as a season, for He alone is life with peace. (Lk.4:4; Jn.14:6) 

EBB4

ACTS 17:11, MORE NOBLE

Acts 17:11, MORE NOBLE



2Timothy [ESV] 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 



  Yesterday I left us with the question “What were the verifying documents the Bereans referred to?”

  Using calendar dates given in study Bible indicates that beyond whatever Old Testament scrolls available to their synagogue they may have had access to copies of the 4 gospels for cross referencing use.

  Considering there was no chapter and verse designations or quick study helps that we take for granted today shows that those Berean Jews didn’t spend much time in casual pursuits. They invested considerable effort in what they had determined was utmost priority. What would I do without an abundance of surrounding books or info just a mouse click away?!

  And yet another thought: Though those Bereans initially doubted the apostle Paul’s credibility they did not doubt the veracity of the Scripture they had.

  And yet another question: Are we today easily put upon without healthy skepticism resulting in our working at seeking verification in God’s Word?

EBB4

MORE NOBLE?

MORE NOBLE?

Wednesday, December 11, 2019



Acts [ESV]17:10-12 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.



  Awoke this morn thinking about Acts 17:10-12, an interesting account. An account easily flown over as a brief bit of history of the developing church.

  The phrase “more noble” should be personally thought provoking to increased action as a student of God’s word. “noble” in the Greek here having to do with ranking. “more noble” in context describing that all who diligently study the Word rank higher than those satisfied with only listening and/or reading. (I identify with this warring as some days I’d rather do housecleaning, dig holes, drive nails or screws et al than spiritual work requiring thought.) The Jews and others at Thessalonica were ranked as students. Those lost souls at Berea are ranked highly as students. God’s saints are ranked in kind. The Lord requires great wisdom, study, and care, to divide and disseminate His Word of truth rightly! (Mt.15:32; 24:45; 2Tim.2:14-26)

EBB4



Question: What were the verifying documents the Bereans referred to?

AN AUTHENTIC CHRISTMAS REQUIRES GODLY CONFIDENCE

CHRISTMAS AUTHENTICITY INCLUDES GODLY CONFIDENCE

Tuesday, December 10, 2019



   John [ESV] 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

   1John 3:16-21 By this we know love, that he [Jesus, the Word] laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;



  What does today’s above Scripture selections have to do with Christmas? Considerable.

  For many folks Christmas is interpreted by lights, gifts, tinsel, and entertainment – hustle, bustle, and stress. Authentic Christmas means Christ-adoration, worship. Authentic Christmas involves a “quickened” life of Ephesians 1:1; 2:1-3 (Also note Col.2:13; 1Pet.3:18) personal resurrection with its peace and freedom; said peace and freedom heart-centered in confidence toward God and His pledge of physical resurrection. (Phil.3:10)

  Confident godly peace and freedom is inseparable from authentic Christmas. Without our heart confident in and by godliness, Christmas is mere pagan yuletide holiday, tinseled at its utmost.

  Truly, authentic Christmas includes the matter of a confident heart. 

EBB4



PS. Indeed Lord Jesus came to bring “peace on earth”. He did not however say earth at peace. Though I too very much emotionally prefer a whitewashed holiday season, check it out for it too is very much a part of the Christmas story: Luke 2:1-14; Mt.10:32-38; Lk.12:51-53