Once Upon a Time ,Not!

Every year at Christmas the skeptics and haters of the gospel throw all they have at the Bible , the truth of the virgin birth etc.. whatever it is , they come out with all they have . Year after year . But the reality of the truth if the Bible and gospel will always prevail.

The arguments they used were the same ones I held.That was till I started to open the Bible and read.The one thing that really struck me when I finally decided to read some of the Bible long before I believed , was that it read differently then other "myths". It was not like the Greek "gods" or the Norse , fanciful and removed from real life . No these stories read like history. The language was plain even when it came to the miracles. There was a blood and guts feel , a authenticity .


4] that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
(Luke 1:1-4 ESV)

Luke's gospel was one of the first I read. What struck me was his introduction. How he wrote to Theophilus and assured him that what he was about to read was well investigated and  what was written is truth . The word certainty is one of the key words in the opening . That what Theophilus has been taught , he can be certain of its truthfullness . Not some fanciful tale .

Putting aside for now the doctrine of Scripture being God breathed , that fact they read like real life spoke volumes to me. Read through the gospel of Luke and you find a detailed account of events .He mentions areas , names. The truth of the narrative rings true.

So the next someone throws the old , well those are just fairy tales about Jesus and the virgin birth , remind them none none of the books in the Bible start with once upon a time .

A Tree ,Lights and Sanctification

Most people who really know me would all agree I hope , that I'm a fairly patient man . Having been a teenager and driving my Grandfather over to town in what should have been a  hour at the max,turn into a 3 or 4 hour journey made on either insane or God was teaching me to be patient . It was just something you got used to . You made sure you had music to play,munchies to eat and a book or two to read. Plus driving my Mom and Grandmother around , it was a chance to drive but with it came the reality , you better not be in a hurry .

But in my life there are certain things that still get under my skin. The stupid thing is its nothing of any real importance. Like I cannot stand it if a sound system is out of whack.It has to sound good or its shut off . One of the other things is Christmas lights. Now I don't put them on the tree , my wife does ( she always does a excellent job) .I just hold the string of lights while she strategically places them around the tree . But what drives me insane is when you get them almost done and they flicker ,then go out . Then you try to find that 1 bulb and its like finding a needle in a hay stack. I confess I can become quite ,grumpy! 

So what does this have to do with anything! Well it shows me that even though I may have patience for certain things , my heart still  needs to grow in righteousness. Patience is listed as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22. As a Christian it should manifest itself in a consistent fashion. Towards your kids,wife, friends,family etc... 

So my struggle with lights shows I still have to always fix my eyes on Jesus . My whole life needs be one of lived out daily repentance , and giving the flesh no quarter . So next time I will do what I should have down before anything that can get my backside up , pray through this verse and ask the Holy Spirit to help me. Relying on my own strength will only lead to anger . Remember little "sins", I think ,are a better barometer of the heart , for they show how far we still need to grow.

[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

(Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

If You Don't Like It , Don't Do It!

Look I make no bones about it , I love Christmas. I love the carols, the lights ,putting up the Christmas tree , buying gifts for my family and friends , the old Christmas specials , the Christmas Carol , attending Church on Christmas eve , having the family over on Christmas day for a mighty feast . Do I need to go on? You get my drift.

So let me give some answers to your complaints .

1. Why all the fuss over one day ?  Well let me see, the God of the universe enters into His creation as a baby and you don't think thats a big deal ? You are either stupid as a rock or more likely , dead in sin and can't marvel  that a Savoir came to save a sinner like you .

2. All that spending is such a waste? Then its simple .Don't spend . Show yourself to be the scrooge that your complaint makes you out to be. No one forces you too. Who is holding the Christmas spend gun to your head , oh no body! I hope at the very least you give to a charity!

3.Christmas is for Kids! Nope , hate to bust that bubble but Christmas is for all . All sinners that is and guess what , your one of them (Romans 3:23). That babe in the manger was born to die and make a atonement for your sins .

4. Why celebrate the day anyway , since Jesus wasn't born on the 25th ! No He wasn't but its a celebration of His birth in a general sense. To call attention to the day that God came to earth is a good thing. The holy entered into the ordinary . The most important birth mankind has ever seen or ever will see.

5. For all you closet Puritans (who didn't celebrate Christmas) who say it is pagan and has its roots in heathen  rituals , well guess what ? When the early Church decided to make the decree that they would start to celebrate Jesus birth to compete if you will with the pagans , I say hurray! What Joe or Jill average could even tell you what false deity the pagan world worshiped! But whenever Christ brings forth His light to the darkness , the darkness always looses. That is what happened to the day.

One last thing , for those who say that the Bible never tells us to celebrate Jesus birth , well that is true .But how do you deal with all the joyful proclamations of something so amazing that was about to happen. When Christ was born the Angels of God tear back the veil of heaven and to lowly shepherds tell of Jesus birth. The shepherds after seeing the baby , are filled with joy and tell of what they saw. Wise men from the east mark His birth by seeking Him out , presenting gifts ( probably when Jesus was between 1-2 years old) . So celebrating Jesus birth is not really a foreign concept!

So I say one last time , don't like Christmas , then opt out . But I will tell you upfront , I will joyfully celebrate the birth of my Lord and Savior and hopefully turn your Bah Humbug! to a Hallelujah ,Jesus is born .

Angels From the Realms of Glory - Steven Curtis Chapman

Angels appear only periodically in the Bible . When they do it usually was to announce or proclaim something significant from God. The story of the throng of Angels appearing in the hills of Bethlehem to lowly shepherds is one such appearance. I can only imagine both the terror and wonder when the realm of glory broke into the ordinary .

Christmas too Commercial , Humbug!

You know you heard this over and over to point of you get tired of hearing it , Christmas has become too commercial , we need to get back to the real meaning of Christmas. Now granted there is truth in this statement . If spending,parties and such is all one considers the holidays is about ,it is shallow . As a believer , Christ should take center stage . The awesome ,astounding fact that God came to earth , should stagger ones life. It should be the cornerstone of any celebration of Christmas.

So what are we to make of the commercial side of Christmas?  Is it something that ruins Christmas , and rob it of its meaning for a believer? Should we instead not buy , not spend , instead do works of charity or donate to foodbanks etc...

Here is thing , if you let gift giving some how steal Christ out of Christmas , then you have the problem. Think of the fun and joy it is watching  your child or grandchild light up with joy upon unwrapping that special toy . The fun it is to purchase something for your wife or husband , knowing full well they will truly love it . How does buying something for a good friend rob Christ of His place in your celebrations. In fact giving reflects the gift given at Christmas in Jesus (John 3:16). Therefore in my mind , why not give good gifts .

So buy well . There is nothing wrong with the buying and the giving of things. Make a choose to buy well . Purchase items that make sense to  give to the person you are giving to. If someone doesn't drink coffee , don't buy a gift card for coffee! For children buy gifts that are fun and some learning gifts as well. Also during the season give to charities and foodbanks . Use the Samaritan Purse gift box ministry ,embrace a charity that honors Jesus Christ  like Compassion. Set an example of a cheerful giver. Give out of a heart that is thankful to God for His grace that shines at Christmas and all year.

Plus just think right now if everyone embraced the notion of no more gift giving .Instead they , like Scooge , held on to in his hand like a vice on steel . Businesses would close , masses of people would be laid off and the economy, which depends on the exchange of money for products , would be greatly effected. We live in a free market , consumer based society , which I don't think the Bible condemns . In fact many have argued that capitalism has its roots anchored in the Bible.

A Christian should  give out of a heart that is overflowing with gratitude at Christmas . In fact I would argue , not just at this time of year but giving and generosity should be a mark of a true follower of Christ in everyday life , all year round. Paul records in Acts 20:35 ..... the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
(Acts 20:35 ESV)

So I say Humbug to those who say  that giving gifts robs Jesus of His proper place in Christmas for believers . For the heathen , he or she does not know Christ anyway so why should we be offended at their lack of Christ at Christmas. However in showing a different attitude , even towards giving , we can show the beauty of Christ and open doors to witness.

David Bowie and Bing Crosby - Little Drummer Boy

I grew up watching these Bing Crosby's Christmas specials. Its something you looked forward to as the season drew near. This has to be one of the strangest Christmas duets of all time but somehow it works. It is sad to say , today there seems to be very few Christmas specials that are worth watching.

Guess I will stick to the old classics .

Hard To Fathom

[8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
(Philippians 2:8 ESV)

The truth of Christmas is that God , clothed Himself in human flesh . Born of the virgin , in a lowly state . No fanfare, in terms of worldly pronouncements . When Jesus was born ,the eternal Son of God , He humbled Himself .This is hard to grasp. That the King of all the universe would come and not only leave His glorious throne , but come to die on a cross . For who? The worse of the worse , sinners like me.

When I see my sin and know that the holy , perfect Son had to come and die so that I may be forgiven , it leaves me humbled and speechless.