New Life's Eve

Take a look at many of today’s headlines: “Top 10 Scandals of 2009”, “The Years Dumbest Criminals”, “Most Influential Woman of 2009”, “Best Songs of 2009”, “Top 10 Best Athletes of 2009” and most other articles take a reflective and evaluative look at the past 365 days. 2009 was a challenging year with world economic depression, wars, terrorism and instability. Yet, New Year’s Eve is celebrated by most of the world with a sense of hope and optimism through spectacular fireworks, events, and parties. On this day we experience both a reflective realism of the past and a pre-emptive celebration of hope for our future.

This is an interesting dynamic of our consciousness. If we live in the negative realism of our past we succumb to debilitating pessimism. If we only soar in the heights of what may be, we fail to grasp the work of supporting hope. A healthy balance of realism and dreams, reflection and vision, past and future are necessary and reflect both a time of mourning and birth.

I think we have a personal New Year’s Eve on the moment before we invited Christ into our lives. The Holy Spirit brings us to a point of crisis where we reflect upon the realism of our past (sin and separation from God), and leads us to the hope of our future in Christ’s redeeming power. Let’s call it our New Life’s Eve. On our New Life’s Day (that moment we accepted Jesus Christ into our lives and received his gift of love and forgiveness) we experience the 1st day of our New Life. A few examples are when Jesus teaches Nicodemus about being born again, not of flesh, but of the spirit. The Prophet Ezekiel refers to having a new heart and new spirit, and the Apostle Paul states in his letters to the churches of being dead to sin, alive in Christ, a new creation, a new man and having a new life.

Today on Dec. 31st, I hope you will take a moment to reflect upon your New Life’s Day. If all you have is the headlines of your past “Top 10 Disasters of the Year”, without the living hope of Christ in your future, you are missing out on the most important day of celebration, victory, peace and joy we can ever experience.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, - 1 Peter 1:3

Suspended Moments

Little eyes are filled with expectation, curiosity and hopeful visions of what might be inside the meticulously wrapped boxes. Melodic Christmas tunes jingle merriness all the way, and as I devour sugar and butter baked treats, they quickly overfill my daily caloric intake…but I don’t care. Christmas Eve day with our family sitting around the tree hugging cushions on the couch, sharing stories, laughing, shaking presents…those are memories that stick. This is a rare moment suspending spelling lessons, paying bills, washing dishes, sitting at a desk, and worrying about daily stuff. For me it is in those times and on Christmas day with family and friends that make this a special time of the year.

Actually I dread, the day after Christmas. It is a reminder that “real life” is still waiting like the IRS on April 15th. Life is often messy, hard, complicated, frustrating and disappointing, and that’s just in the morning trying to open a new box of Cherrios. What if we could suspend “real life” each day? What if we had a daily moment to let the worries and challenges of that day dissipate into the fog of our consciousness? What would replace it? One of the gifts God offers us is His presence, the Holy Spirit, for daily communion. We call it prayer.

Prayer can be this suspension of worries, frustrations and pain when we open our hearts and thoughts to God’s love, direction, hope, peace, comfort and counsel. We may quiet our spirits in reflection and meditation, take a refreshing prayer walk, read inspirational thoughts on scripture, listen to worshipful songs, or even let God speak directly to you through his living and active Word. I long for those moments. After such times, my “real life” feels lighter, full of hope, filled with peace and confidence. I know my God walks with me.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

The Courage of Linus

Yes, I admit it, when it comes to the Christmas animated shows I am glued to the TV. The Grinch that Stole Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Frosty the Snowman are classics and beloved even by an old 40+ guy like me. Most were created in the late sixties or early seventies which put me as a first generation child captivated by the state of the art animation and heart warming stories.

However, my favorite Christmas animated classic is The Charlie Brown Christmas. Snoopy, Lucy, Charlie Brown and the entire gang attempt to put together a Christmas production centered around a weak, little, gangly tree. As the character’s frustrations rise Linus courageously stops the commotion, gets everyone’s attention and shares a simple yet heartfelt summary of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. The story moves from chaos, self-centeredness, and frustration to unity, gratitude and worship. All of that in a kid’s animated show. Charles Schulz has given us a timeless animated classic with a focus on true joy and peace found in Christ alone.

I am proud of Linus. He is not an upfront, grab the limelight, attention seeking guy, but rather quiet and unassuming with his security blanket held tight. Yet, when needed, it is Linus who steps forward, takes a risk, and leads with truth, wisdom and direction. We all need a Linus in our daily lives at work, school, home, and community. Sometimes we sit across a table from a Linus as we share our frustrations over hot vanilla latte’, or talking on the phone, sharing lunch at work, hangin’ out after class, and even posting some thoughtful message on Facebook. Maybe you are a Linus.

Maybe there’s a little bit of Linus in all of us. When we have opportunities to share truth, wisdom and direction we can act courageously, step forward and lead. We then become God’s vessel for his message of hope, peace, love and joy to others. I think Charles Schulz had a little Linus in him as well, for when he presented The Charlie Brown Christmas to the network executives, he had to courageously stand firm to include Linus’s speech and the worshipful hymn at the conclusion. I am glad he did.

The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of judgment.
Proverbs 10:21

The Christmas Party

Eggnog, carols, tinsel, white elephant gifts, and sugar cookies are staples to one of the enjoyable aspects of this season, the Christmas Party. Whether it is a family get-together, a church event, dinner with friends, or even a work party the “Christmas party” is a time to put aside daily responsibilities, share stories, divulge in a few extra calories, and laugh at our silliness playing Christmas themed games. Trying to draw reindeer on our heads, or filling in the mystery carol by clever clues, and opening a surprise gift that leaves you speechless create shared memories that define the Christmas party. As I reflect upon some of the silliness, the surprise gifts and the festive foods, it is the treasured friendships that were a little more vulnerable and open during the Christmas party than during the daily routine of work and family responsibilities.

For Christians the heart and soul of Christmas is the celebration of Christ’s birth and His generous gift of love offered to us. As we all enjoy a good Christmas party with friends, I am reminded that there will be a day of great celebration, a feast that with each bite would make an Iron Chef silently pondering its complexity and exquisiteness, an overwhelming feeling of pure joy and excitement, in a party for believers of all nations, and all generations. John in his vision of Heaven in Revelations 19 describes the celebration feast between the Lamb and his bride, the church.

(7) For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready…(9) Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

The Wedding Supper of the Lamb will be the pinnacle of any feast, festival, celebration or party that has ever been. It will be a long anticipated union between man and God, and a fulfillment of God’s plan for an eternal relationship with His beloved and sought after children. A party with Christ, the Lamb as the center will be the ultimate Christmas party, now that’s a party to look forward to, and that you definitely don’t want to miss.

Christmas Myth or Christmas Truth

I recently read an article about highly trained Santa’s who sport real white beards, rosy cheeks and $2,000 Santa Suites. They are assigned to the largest malls throughout the nation, as they sit an average of 6,000 kids on their knees through 4-6 weeks of service. They witness the innocence and joy of children, as well as, the frustration, impatience of parents waiting in long lines. I can imagine that being a professional Mall Santa would be an interesting and exhausting stint, yet as I read this captivating article, I felt the hopes and dreams of Christmas with love, joy, peace, fulfillment, and family were misplaced with many children and adults in the character of Santa Claus. In the end, Santa Claus is our modern myth of innocence, goodwill, giving, and family.

As Christians we understand that Christmas is more than believing in a myth, it is believing in the Truth, with a capital “T”. This Truth is substantial, real, powerful, loving, giving, sacrificing, enduring, and timeless. Jesus Christ is the Truth. He is the Word of God, The Way, The Truth and The Life, The Good Shepherd, The Messiah, The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, our Savior, and we celebrate the gift of Truth each Christmas in His miraculous birth 2,000 years ago.

So, as we enter into December let’s put into proper balance the Christmas Myth and the Christmas Truth. When you have opportunity share the Truth with your children, grandchildren and family this season that they will put their hopes and dreams of Christmas with love, joy, peace, fulfillment, and family placed firmly on the Truth of Christmas.