This Special Night

Well here it is Christmas Eve.  This morning my sister-in-law came over to start the fig pudding.  Had a chance to play with Andrew my nephew.  The rest of the day was bringing in the wood, cleaning up in the family room and garage, along with puttering on projects around the house.

I now have a break to reflect on the significance of the celebration of Christ birth, while waiting on the kids to show up for supper.   They will all be here the plan is to have supper, go to the Christmas Eve service at the church and then dessert at Heather's our oldest daughter.

I always have the same thoughts this time of year.  I think of my family, friends and co-workers.  Do they know that this isn't just a casual celebration?  That the birth of Jesus is one of the most significant events since the creation.  What God has done by sending His only Son is to demonstrate a love far beyond our imaginings.  We are truly a hurting and sinful people.  Despite injustice, violence, broken homes and relationships we live in a world that denies there is sin.

You might be thinking that faith is for some people.  You might also think that Christianity is just another religion.  I just want to call your attention to 2 verses only.

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. NKJS

The news of Jesus birth is for all people.  This is great news.  We have a choice on whether to accept this good news.

The next thing I think about is that so many folks are hurting this holiday.  Those I know, those I don't know.  Some are lonely.  Some have lost a loved one.  Some have suffered abuse.  Some have suffered from physical hardship.  Some are in the hospital.  Some are in the military overseas.  Some can't buy presents for their kids.  Some will go hungry.  Some are dying.  Some are lost. Some are homeless.

As we celebrate what God has done, I don't think we can simply ignore the suffering around us.  Truly Jesus birth is good news.  Truly He is the only hope we can have.   As a result of God's gift to us we need to be praying for those who are suffering.  We need to be reaching out to help.  We need to be the light on a hill.

Please join me this night in praying for those who are lost, praying for those who are suffering and remembering to celebrate what God has done for us, by doing for others.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

The Power of Darkness

It's that time of year, I was at work at 4:15 and as I looked out the window it was dark.  Not twilight but dark. As I head home after 5:00 I feel like I have worked overtime since I stayed over an hour after dark. Living in Maine at the eastern end of the eastern time zone the day ends early.  I am not a big fan of the darkness at the end of the day.  The days will only get shorter until we get to December 21st and then it shifts the other way.  Don't get me wrong I love Maine.  I like the seasons pretty much the same.  If pressed I would have to pick fall as my favorite season.  I just fall lasted just a little longer and the days were a little longer.

There are many aspects to this idea of darkness.  We can be locked up as prisoners in a cell away from the light of day.  We can be in darkness in living in a society where truth is suppressed and their isn't a freedom of thought and speech.  We can be in darkness when our freedoms are restricted.  We can also be living in the darkness of a broken relationship to God our creator.

Growing Stronger Everyday

Last Saturday had a great ride with the Calvary Cruisers (Christian Motorcycle Club).  We did something called a progressive supper (actually it started at 11:00 am and went to 7:00 pm).  We traveled up to North Conway and had appetizers with dear a dear brother and sister in Christ who have retired to a development in that area.   Appetizers might be the wrong word for a table spread for 10 people that included fruit dish, cheese and crakers, bread ball with cheese mix, bread pieces baked with cheese topping, ginger butter, apple butter, shrimp dip, veggie platter, eggs wrapped in sausage and baked, cream cheese, pumkin bread, spice bread, rasin bread and some other exotic dishes I can't remember.  From there we traveled over to parsonfield where the Libby family served us brocoli salad and venison stew.  If I wasn't so stuffed by the appetizers I would have had about 3 bowls of stew.  We then traveled to our house for meatball subs, sweet potatoe and sausage casserole, and macaronin and cheese.  Wow!! If that wasn't enough we then went to Rhonda's house for dessert.  Apple Crisp, Fudge Brownies, cookies and something else that was real good but I forgot.  We ate way too much and that is what contributed to our slow progress. A normal progressive supper lasts about 2 hours, ours lasted 8.