Fading Lights and Drooping Tree's

Well it will soon be 2009. The carols are slowly fading into the distance and the tree is slowly showing its wear. I always feel a bit melancholy at the end of the Christmas season. But I'm reminded that the light that came into the world doesn't dim after things are packed away because Jesus is the light of the world. The things of this world are passing away . Our bodies are stepping another inch towards the grave and sometimes our best laid plans for success can coming crashing down as we have seen with the fall of the economy.

It is only in Christ we have hope . Hope for a sinner such as me to be forgiven , joy in knowing that He has washed me whiter than snow and peace in realizing that thanks to His coming ,living a sinless and obedient life to the Father , and being put to death on the cursed tree, He displayed God's grace in that while we were sinner's ,Christ died for me. As the Westminster Confession states , the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. That's a gift which never fades , nor rusts away.

As this new year comes may you hear Jesus command to repent believe in Him. For He is the only hope for a sinful and depraved man , like me and like you.The clock is ticking and judgment is coming when we stand before a holy God .

Merry Christmas ..

Well the big day is here and we have had a grand time opening presents ...Plus we had a lovely Christmas Eve service at our Church . So now its time to prapare for the feast , with most of our family coming . So as Tiny Tim has said before - God bless us ,everyone.

Joy to the World ...Indeed!

I usually stay away from shopping on Sunday. I have felt for a long time now, that Sunday shopping was never needed. Well today I had to drop my oldest son off to work at Wal-Mart. So needing a black ink cartridge for our printer , I decided to venture into the throng. Now here is my beef , regardless if it was Sunday , as Christmas Carol's played over head , singing songs of joy and love , the frowns and bickering I heard displayed the utter disdain so many have for even being there shopping! Which baffles me . If you do not want to shop and hate this time of year so much , do the staff a favor , go home . No one is forcing you to shop .No one is making you go in debt for stuff you seem to begrudge giving anyway. Having worked in retail for almost 5 years , I would rather have my eye teeth pulled out with a wrench then work behind the counter again . It almost ruined my celebration of Christmas. It took all I could do to focus on the real meaning of Christmas , that Jesus came to save sinners like those I waited on and like me , becoming bitter behind the counter . If you want to see the doctrinal teaching that we are all sinners and totally depraved worked out before your eyes, just spend time in the shopping madness of Christmas and you will realize how bad we need a Savior.

Classics

The 2 Christmas albums that have to be on anyone's list are Perry Como and Bing Crosby. They both bring class and a feel that you are sitting around the fire , the tree is all aglow and the Christmas story is about to read. I still remember watching the annual Bing Christmas specials every year . When I want to feel nostalgic or recall a favorite Christmas memory , these are the ones I reach for .

These of Some of My Favourite Things !

These 2 Christmas albums have to be the most played around the Christmas season. Steven Curtis Chapman truly understands what Christmas is all about . From the first Christmas album back in 1995,to the newest in 2005 , Steven incorporates but classic carols and a few originals to perfection. With the classics he is able to breath life into them with his arrangements and the new are both well written and have that season feeling , if that makes sense. His reverence for the material and his devotion to Christ clearly come through in how he passionately handles the material . You will not find any Santa Claus here but the focus is on the amazing truth of God, in the incarnation , clothing Himself with flesh in the Son , Jesus Christ. These 2 albums will surly help you with both your devotion and keeping centered on the message of Christmas , that the redeemer has come . Both these albums get the snowflake stamp of approval!