Boxing Day

I know Boxing Day has come and gone but I saw this thing on television the other day where they were reporting on the Boxing Day shopping sprees as they do each year. The interesting part was what they said about the origins of the day. Apparently the reason it is called Boxing Day is that it was a day when people that had money would put things in boxes to give to the poor. I just couldn't help being impressed by the irony of it, because as they went on to say in that news spot, Boxing Day is now known simply as a day when people who have money run out and spend it on themselves.

A Christmas Carol

A big part of the Christmas celebration for many of us consists of the ‘holiday classics’. I love the way the best of them each have a key point to make and make it so well. Personally, that’s probably why I never get tired of them. ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ shows us that our lives really do make a difference. ‘A Christmas Carol’ shows us that real change really is possible. And ‘Frosty The Snowman’ … well, maybe some are more significant than others!

I think Dickens’ Christmas Carol has got to be my all time favourite and I know from talking to people that a large number of you share my convictions about it. And of course, Walt Disney has released their new animated version in time for the holidays this year. I haven’t seen it yet but maybe you have? Is it good?

So, if you’ve got a few minutes sometime over the course of the next few days you might want to do yourself a big favour and check out the link that I’m going to post below. It is a Christianity Today article by Lisa Toland. Lisa teaches history at the John Wesley Honors College of Indiana Wesleyan University, and her article is all about ‘Dickens’ London’. It sheds incredible back ground lighting on Dickens’ work. It shows how ‘A Christmas Carol’ was not only charming (Victorian) but brutally realistic.

Published in 1843, the engaging story of Ebenezer Scrooge is set in the context of incredible disparity, child labor, workhouses, the poor law, debtors prisons and many other social factors that when better understood serve to make the story that much more poignant.

By the way, did you know that the first Christmas card, designed in 1843, called for those materially blessed to involve themselves in "clothing the naked" and "feeding the hungry."

Well, if you are a fan, you will definitely want to take the time to read this. And let me know what you think.

Here is the link. And Merry Christmas to you all.

A Modern Day Holiday Greeting

We are just getting smarter and smarter aren’t we?! I wonder sometimes if, in all of our amazing brilliance, there is any room at all left for wisdom?

I believe the following was written by a man named Craig Quesnell, if I have my facts straight. You can correct me if you know better. It is obviously written tongue in cheek but, nonetheless, it does still illustrate the point.


A Modern Day Holiday Greeting Card

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious low carbon footprint, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, low saturated fat, smoke free, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of all other faiths and minorities or those who choose not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

By accepting these greetings you are accepting these terms - This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself or himself or others and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual applications of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of any subsequent holiday greetings, whichever comes first, and the warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

Merry Christmas from me and my attorney

Loosening The Grip

I am not much of a collector but there is one thing that I do sort of collect. I collect quotes. I have a word document where I organize them by topic and that document is presently 28 pages long (at 10 point font).

The other day I heard a quote that I have since added to my list and I want to share it with you:

"The greatest opposition to what God is doing today comes from those who were on the cutting edge of what God was doing yesterday." R.T. Kendall

Now, I don’t know a great deal about R. T. Kendall, but he has put his finger on a facet of human nature that is a fascinating one for sure. When I heard the quote, I had to readily admit that it is quite true, unfortunately. But my second response was to wonder why it is true. What is it about the effects of times passing on us that can cause us to go from jumping right on board in our early years to dragging our feet in the latter ones?

I suspect that, as in so much of life, the answer is anything but simplistic. There could be a number of possible things going on. For one thing, I have observed from my own life, as well as others, that over time, it can just get harder to keep up! Our energy level declines as we age (I’m sounding older than I am), and I’m not just talking about our bodies either. I think this might sometimes be a real factor.

Another reason could be fear. Younger people are quicker to throw caution to the wind, whereas older people tend to (not always but a lot of the time) be much more cautious. Probably one of the major reasons why they have lived long enough to get old!!!

I can think of several other possible factors that may contribute to this human dynamic, but in the end, I’m really only speculating. I don’t really know. It’s a tough one. But, for what it’s worth, here is my best shot – we get attached. As human beings we tend to get attached to things and ways and customs and such. And sometimes, we find it hard to let go even when God is calling us to new things or new ways.

And that is not just an age thing is it? I take some encouragement from the fact that R. T. Kendall is well up into his seventies! And I pray that we all might learn to hold all such things loosely and cling tightly to God alone.

What do you think?

How Great Is Our God?

I think I may have concluded the greatest sin that Christians commit. OK, maybe not, but it is a big one. It’s huge. And it has to be at least one of the biggest. Ironically, it’s pettiness.

We exalt in how great our God is and then we are unwilling to let go even of the smallest of offenses committed against us! We are like the Pharisees who strained out the gnat but swallowed the camel. We are like the wicked servant in Jesus’ parable (Matthew 18) whose banker forgave him an impossible debt and what does he do? He turns right around and grabs some poor guy who owes him a pittance; a mere paltry sum, and tries to choke it out of him.(literally)

How incredible it is that we who worship an infinite God can be so incredibly mean. How great is our God, and yet our lives can be characterized by such smallness.

Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” God has poured out His Spirit upon us (Acts 2) and has ‘poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us’ (Rom 5:5); our ‘cup overflows’ (Psa 23), and yet we become misers of mercy. God’s grace abounds while we offer crumbs. Where is our greatness? Where is our goodness? Where is our generous spirit?

If we only knew. I have often thought about the connection between being miserly and being miserable because the truth is that when we withhold grace and mercy and forgiveness we actually are the ones who lose more than anyone else.

Yep, I think that pettiness is one of our very biggest sins because it so misrepresents the great heart of God. Pettiness? We REALLY should be bigger than that.

Bambi & Thumper

Now, that deer season is over again in Nova Scotia for another year, I thought that it would be safe to post these pictures that Brenda sent me a while back. One of course is Walt Disney’s animated classic of Bambi and Thumper. The other (according to the attached note) was taken in someone’s back yard in Alberta, Canada. I guess Walt Disney’s animated story wasn’t quite as far fetched as it might have seemed! There were actually several photos along with the email that made it pretty clear that the deer and the dear little bunny are actually really good friends. You just never know what goes on out there in the woods do you!!!

Here is a link if you'd like to see some more of the photos:view

A Christmas Letter From Jesus

There is an email circulating lately that is written as a letter from Jesus to us at Christmas. It is actually quite good and significant enough that I wanted to make you aware of it just in case you haven’t seen it yet. The context is the USA but it applies pretty much anywhere. For the sake of space, I won’t post the whole thing but will post the ‘meat’ of it below.

Just to comment briefly on it, it has always bothered me how we Christians ‘whine’ at Christmas time that the world refuses to give Christ the honour He deserves. It is in such poor taste that it is an embarrassment to Christ of great proportions. Why would we insist on the world honouring Christ? Jesus never insisted on it for Himself. It is clearly not the way of Christ.

15Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, 16warning them not to tell who he was. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18"Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he leads justice to victory.
21In his name the nations will put their hope."

So, for your consideration, here is the main text from the email that is circulating. I hope you find it instructive because we really need to get this one right.

“A Christmas Letter From Jesus … If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing to the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court.

And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember ...
I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

Tiger's Transgressions

Well, another high profile celebrity has created a highly public scandal. And the news media, and the public it seems, are loving it. People like to write about it. People like to read about it. It seems that it makes us feel better in a sick kind of way when someone really successful fails. It’s kind of like a contest to see how pathetic we can be.

Tiger’s personal problems are not something that I wish to write about myself. It feels a little bit funny feeling sorry for a star billionaire athlete, but I do. Like the rest of us, he is his own worst enemy for sure. I doubt that it will hurt him a whole lot in the pocket book personally, or on the golf course either, but it doesn’t sound like it is going to be too much fun being Tiger at home these days. And I’m quite certain we’ll be hearing about it for a while as the lurid details, like crumbs, are devoured by a waiting public.

But something that I did find quite interesting was this - When Tiger finally realized that he needed to face the music (the Press), he apologized for his transgressions. The next day, on Canada AM, one of the co-hosts of the show (Bev Thomson) responded to Tiger’s ‘confession’ by drawing attention to his use of the word ‘transgression’. She said something like… “That will probably be the most googled word today because who knows what it means? What is a transgression?”

In my mind I could immediately picture all these people rushing to their google search engine to try and find out what a transgression was. And I thought, have we really reached the point where as a society we don’t even know what the word ‘transgression’ means? It just struck me as odd.

I know that it’s just a word and that words come and go, and new words and new usages develop as well, but I just can’t help but wonder - Are we only losing a word, or are we seeing the loss of the whole concept of moral boundaries out of our language. And how close is the connection between our common language and our social conscience?

And I know that it is nothing new to point out the moral slide that has been taking place in our society but it just kind of struck me when I heard a very intelligent and competent national news show host say, “What’s a transgression?”

Myrtle

Myrtle Kreger died last night. Well, she kind of died. She didn’t actually die because she knew Jesus. She just took a trip, something she has longed to do for quite some time now. She always said that one of the first things she was going to do when she got to heaven was ask Jesus why He took so long. She would have been 99 if she had lived to her next birthday in the spring.

I miss her already. Even though we didn’t get to visit with her as often as I would have liked (that will have to wait for heaven), I have to tell you that Myrtle’s was one place that I always felt welcomed and totally at home. It is kind of hard to describe but visiting her was easy. There are not a lot of places that I can go and feel as accepted and cared for as I did in Myrtle’s home. It was a place where all that was expected of me was just to be there; a place of love and of rest. My wife Florence and I were always made to feel greatly valued and supported whenever we were able to visit. It never felt like work. Even though I was her pastor and even though she always insisted, without fail, that I pray with them before leaving each time, it never felt like anything but sheer comfort and rest to be in her home. It was such a place of peace for me. I remember falling asleep there more than once just visiting. As I say, it is hard to put into words what that has meant to me.

I remember when we returned home to pastor the church here in 1988, when we told Myrtle that we were accepting the call, she got visibly excited and told us that she had been praying that we would come. Her support and encouragement never waned over the years. I have to tell you as a pastor, or leader of any kind, that there is nothing like having people behind you cheering (and praying) like that. Apart from the very affirmation of God, it is the greatest thing on the earth.

I feel so much poorer today with the loss of this sweet, gentle woman out of my life. As they say, our loss is heaven’s gain. What a treasure. What a beautiful woman. Spunky but beautiful. It might sound corny but it feels like the end of an era for me. We love you Myrtle. Keep an eye out for us. We’ll catch up to you some day and it sure will be good to visit with you again.