I just finished reading my second Christmas book of the season. This was a delightful book written by Ed Butchart titled The Red Suit Diaries (A Real-Life Santa on Hopes, Dreams, and Childlike Faith), published by Revell. The book begins with the story of a five year old visiting with Santa. He ambled up the steps and climbed onto my lap, seating himself on my left knee. He stared expectantly into my eyes. This was serious business.
"Well, hello," I said, chuckling. The interview had begun.
"Hello," the little guy responded.
"How are you doing?" I asked.
"Fine."
"Well,"-and here came the inevitable question-"have you been a good boy?"
"Ummm..." The boy paused and looked up at the ceiling. He tapped his chin with his forefinger. "Umm..." he repeated, scouring the ceiling.
"What's he doing?" Trent whispered in my right ear. (Trent was the elf helping Santa)
We followed the boy's eyes to the ceiling to see what was so interesting up there. Nothing. Yet still the litte guy was tapping his chin and searching for...
Ah, I thought, he's looking for an answer. Here's a little man giving great thought to a most important question.
"He's thinking," I whispered to Trent.
"About what?" Trent was incredulous.
"I don't know," I chuckled, "but this ought to be good!"
Suddenly the boy stopped tapping his chin. "Well," he said as his eyes looked intently into mine. "Well," he started over in an effort to get his answer just right, "I had a pretty good August..."
Trent fell off his stool, and I burst into laughter as the kid, clearly puzzled, wondered what was so hilarious. Well, it was probably the first honest answer this Santa had ever heard!
The author goes on to tell many of these kinds of stories, along with some heartbreaking ones, but all pointed to the One who came to redeem us, love us, and give us the hope of eternal life. The Red Suit Diaries will help you keep the proper perspective on this Christmas season, as we bow in worship to the One who came for us. Emmanuel, God with us...
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
The People Walking in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light
As Handel was writing Messiah, the oratorio, just before the wonderful prophecy from Isaiah 6:6-7, titled For Unto Us a Child Is Born, he wrote an aria from Isaiah 6:2 which reads, The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
In addition to reading a couple of new Christmas books this season, I have been reading a book that relates people's near death experiences. While many experiences are similar, they have one thing in common - light. Every single account of a heavenly encounter has light in it. Light that radiates from a central area, light that radiates from heavenly beings, light that is very different from sunlight or artificial light. Light. In some of these accounts, the person involved comments on this light, because it is unlike anything they have every seen. Some of the accounts observe that their are no shadows. On earth, that is nearly impossible, because there are always shadows on the opposite side of the light source. Not in Heaven, the light source in omnipresent.
How about the shepherds? How do you think the Glory of the Lord manifested itself to them? An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Luke 2:9. I think the operative word here is "shone." Light shines... What an encounter for these shepherds. The night shift was supposed to be quiet, restful. Luke tells us that after they had found the Christ child, and had worshiped Him, The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:20 They had an encounter with The Light.
The Magi knew the prophecies of the coming king of the Jews, but it was the Light that compelled them to find him. After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. Matthew 2:9-10 I don't believe that the Magi would have traveled as far as they did just because of the prophecies. After all,, who could decipher the exact time frame? It was the Light, the star that moved, that caused them to set out on their arduous journey. What was the result of their encounter with The Light? ...they were overjoyed.
One of the ways we can celebrate Christ's coming this year is to shine His Light through us. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 A watching world desperately needs to see The Light, shining through us. The other thing you might consider is to find a copy of Handel's Messiah and listen to the first part, the Advent-Christmas section. The powerful scriptures, set to wonderful music, will inspire you to seek The Light.
In addition to reading a couple of new Christmas books this season, I have been reading a book that relates people's near death experiences. While many experiences are similar, they have one thing in common - light. Every single account of a heavenly encounter has light in it. Light that radiates from a central area, light that radiates from heavenly beings, light that is very different from sunlight or artificial light. Light. In some of these accounts, the person involved comments on this light, because it is unlike anything they have every seen. Some of the accounts observe that their are no shadows. On earth, that is nearly impossible, because there are always shadows on the opposite side of the light source. Not in Heaven, the light source in omnipresent.
How about the shepherds? How do you think the Glory of the Lord manifested itself to them? An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Luke 2:9. I think the operative word here is "shone." Light shines... What an encounter for these shepherds. The night shift was supposed to be quiet, restful. Luke tells us that after they had found the Christ child, and had worshiped Him, The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:20 They had an encounter with The Light.
The Magi knew the prophecies of the coming king of the Jews, but it was the Light that compelled them to find him. After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. Matthew 2:9-10 I don't believe that the Magi would have traveled as far as they did just because of the prophecies. After all,, who could decipher the exact time frame? It was the Light, the star that moved, that caused them to set out on their arduous journey. What was the result of their encounter with The Light? ...they were overjoyed.
One of the ways we can celebrate Christ's coming this year is to shine His Light through us. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 A watching world desperately needs to see The Light, shining through us. The other thing you might consider is to find a copy of Handel's Messiah and listen to the first part, the Advent-Christmas section. The powerful scriptures, set to wonderful music, will inspire you to seek The Light.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Celebrate With Abandon
The Christmas season is in full swing. Decorations are out, trees are being trimmed, the music of Christmas is in the air, and for a full month, Christians have a wonderful opportunity to proclaim that Christ is among us, Emmanuel, God with us. In a short article from the Ragamuffin Bible, Brennan Manning writes, Once a year the Christmas season strikes both the sacred and the secular spheres of life with sledgehammer force. Suddenly Jesus Christ is everywhere. For approximately one month his presence is inescapable. You may accept him or reject him, affirm him or deny him, but you cannot ignore Him. Of course, He is proclaimed in speech, song and symbol in all the Christian churches. But he rides every red-nosed reindeer, lurks behind every new doll, resonates in the most desacralized "season's greetings." Remotely or proximately, he is toasted in every cup of Christmas cheer. Each sprig of holly is a hint of his holiness, each cluster of mistletoe a sign He is here.
I love this season of the year because as Christians we can proclaim the Lordship of Christ with abandon. While some Christians feel the need to defend "Christmas" from "Happy Holidays" or the "holiday season", Manning is correct when he says that God's presence is inescapable. Instead of defending, let's celebrate. Let's tell a watching world that Christ came to earth because of God's great love for us. This Love that desires to find us, to embrace us, to live with us forever.
And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God,and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. 1 John 3:23-24
So, let's get out there and celebrate, as you shop, as you gather with friends and family, as you decorate your homes and businesses, as you attend concerts, church services, and parties. Let's bring some peace and joy to a world that desperately needs both. As John tells us, love one another...and by this we know that He abides in us. Merry Christmas.
I love this season of the year because as Christians we can proclaim the Lordship of Christ with abandon. While some Christians feel the need to defend "Christmas" from "Happy Holidays" or the "holiday season", Manning is correct when he says that God's presence is inescapable. Instead of defending, let's celebrate. Let's tell a watching world that Christ came to earth because of God's great love for us. This Love that desires to find us, to embrace us, to live with us forever.
And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God,and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. 1 John 3:23-24
So, let's get out there and celebrate, as you shop, as you gather with friends and family, as you decorate your homes and businesses, as you attend concerts, church services, and parties. Let's bring some peace and joy to a world that desperately needs both. As John tells us, love one another...and by this we know that He abides in us. Merry Christmas.
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