It's A Wrap

Today's Scripture reading - Luke 2:41-52 - tells us an interesting story of something that happened when Jesus was 12 years old. Read the story from the translation, "The Message."


Have you ever asked God - "Why are you treating me this way?" Notice - that is almost the same question that Mary asked of young Jesus that day!


The theme for our last week of December is simple - "Wrap up the season."

Don't be held hostage by regrets, unfulfilled plans, and mistakes. This is a great time of year to throw out a few things...to cherish the fresh start of a brand new year!

If you do so - maybe you will be able to look around the find Christ more clearly!


Read this piece from Greg Asimakoupoulos:

"Every December I buy myself a gift. I am generally more pleased with the gift I give myself than any I received beneath the tree. I'm talking about my personal daily organizer. The day I purchase my personal appointment calendar for the new year leaves me in the best of moods. When I've made my choice and actually tear off the cellophane packaging and clamp twelve new months into my black three-ring binder, I feel like I've been given a new lease on life. The message of grace incarnated in those unmarked pages allows me to take the grip of the Father's hand. What we failed to accomplish this past year is passed. We do not need to be held hostage by the regrets and mistakes of which we are ashamed!"


For a different perspective on this story from Luke, read this piece called "Love and Rebellion."


Read also this piece called "Stirrings of Divinity," written by former South African Methodist bishop Peter Storey.

Rags and Straw

In the familiar words from Luke 2:6-7, we follow the story of Joseph and Mary’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem:

And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.
And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Think of that for a moment - it was a manger where animals munched their hay.

In most of the Christmas pagenats, we hear the words “swaddling clothes," but the translation above is more accurate. And to be honest “swaddling cloths” simply means strips of cloth – rags, if you will.

The Son of God – the King of Kings – began his earthly life in rags and straw.

If you had been writing the story, you would have come up with a more fitting setting, wouldn’t you? But a cold, damp cave – and a newborn baby surrounded by rags and straw... To put it mildly, the circumstances of Jesus’ birth were “less than ideal.”

If you haven't yet done so, be sure and see the movie The Nativity Story, or be sure to rent or buy it when it comes out on DVD. It will be a great movie to add to your collection, and one worth seeing each year. It will help you come to terms with how "imperfect" the setting of the first Christmas really was.

All across our community – and across our world – there are folks facing their OWN “rags and straw” situations – less than ideal circumstances – that make it awfully hard to celebrate.

There are a lot of folks huddled in cold, damp caves – surrounded by rags and straw this year. But even amid rags and straw, a miracle can happen. The same God who was at work in that incredible moment of Bethlehem – amid the rags and straw – is there for you. Please believe that.

The theme for the last week of Advent is very simple, and very important – “Celebrate whatever your circumstances.”

Mary had a choice – either focus on what’s missing – a warm bed – a pillow – a clean environment. Or focus on what’s there. Each of us must do exactly the same thing. The way to find the Christmas you’ve always longed for is NOT to wait for the ideal circumstances.

Just like the birth of the King, your miracle will happen in the middle of less-than-ideal circumstances. That’s what makes it a miracle, you see.

In the middle of YOUR rags and straw, King Herod will have nothing to offer you...but King Jesus will offer you a blessing beyond compare.

In the middle of YOUR rags and straw, your future may appear to be quite bleak...but King Jesus offers you hope.

How do we celebrate amid rags and straw? Focus on both your IN BOX and your OUT BOX...

Your IN BOX – means what’s coming in. Find ways to bring the holiness of God into your IN BOX. Focus on what you can control. Music is one of the very best ways...to calm and feed your soul.

Your OUT BOX – means what come out of you – in particular, your words and your deeds. Watch your tendency to complain.
Mary could have whined all the way to Bethlehem. But there is no evidence that’s how it went. Her faith helped her see something different – and helped her to realize that God was absolutely working things out despite less than ideal circumstances.

When you are in the middle of the rags and straw – go ahead and tell the Lord how you feel – but don’t stop there – use words to describe how you have seen the presence of God – even in the middle of the unlikeliest of circumstances. Name what God is doing. Let your soul magnify the Lord...let your Spirit rejoice in God your Savior.


This poem by Greg Asimakoupoulos is called "From Quarrels to Carols," and you will enjoy its message!

It's far from a silent night.
The kids are fighting.
The baby's crying.
The neighbors are yelling.
My molded salad's not jelling.
The oven's on the fritz,
and there are bits of tinsel
tracked throughout the house.

But in spite of defective appliances,
imperfect children,
and uncooperative gelatin,
it's not too late to celebrate.
I can still transform this nightmare
into a night to remember.

To calm the quarrels
I put on some carols
and heat up a kettle for cocoa.
Peeling off my Oscar-the-Grouch mask,
I ask my kids to sit with me
and together we bask
in the glow of the lights on the tree
(squinting our eyes to blur the colors)
and sip warm, chocolatey brew
until the chestnuts are through
roasting on an open fire.

Follow Through

Compare a golfer attempting a critical putt with a basketball player attempting a critical free throw. For the golfer, the crowd is silent, and he is allowed to concentrate. For the basketball player, the opposing crowd yells and waves their arms, trying to distract him.

Life is a lot more like that basketball game - for their are distractions galore any time we try to accomplish anything of significance.


Read Luke 2:1-5 and think about what that journey must have been like for Mary and Joseph.


If you go see the movie The Nativity, you will gain a new appreciation of what that journey must have been like.


The account in Matthew 1:18-25 especially helps us to see Joseph's perspective.


Both Joseph and Mary could have been tempted to give up. But the angel spoke to each of them - helping them to gain a godly perspective - and to resist the temptation to be distracted.

Golfers and basketball players must follow through in order to be successful. The same is true for us.

Our task is not nearly so difficult as that faced by Joseph and Mary, but our challenge is the same - to manage the inevitable distractions.


Ask yourself:

What is it that keeps ME from that which truly honors God?

Don't settle for anything less than that which truly keeps a focus on Christ and honors him!


Read these words by author Henri Nouwen:

I realized that songs, good feelings, beautiful liturgies, nice presents, big dinners, and sweet words to not make Christmas. Christmas is saying "Yes" to something beyond all emotions and feelings. Christmas is saying "Yes" to a hope based on God's initiative, which has nothing to do with what I think or feel. Christmas is believing that the salvation of the world is God's work and not mine.


May the words of this prayer be a blessing to you:

Grant to us, Lord, that with peace of mind
we may face all that this new day is to bring.
Grant us grace
to surrender ourselves completely to your holy will.
For every hour of this day
instruct and prepare us in all things.
Whatsoever tidings we may receive during the day,
do teach us to accept tranquilly,
in the firm conviction that all eventualities fulfill your holy will.
Govern our thoughts and feelings
in all we do and say.
When things unforeseen occur,
let us not forget that all comes down from you.
Teach us to behave sincerely and reasonably
toward every member of our families,
that we may bring confusion and sorrow to none.
Bestow on us, Lord,
strength to endure the fatigue of the day
and to bear our parts in all its passing events.
Guide our wills
and teach us to pray, to believe,
to hope, to suffer,
to forgive, and to love. Amen.
(a prayer of the Optina elders)

Magnify!

Imagine if your family and friends held a birthday party - for YOU - but failed to invite you to the party. Wouldn't that be odd? I wonder if that is sometimes how Jesus feels at Christmas time. It's easy to celebrate Christmas with much fervor, and yet end up overlooking the honored guest.

We continue to look at Mary, today looking at her song found in Luke 1:46-55.

Mary song begins with these words - "My soul magnifies the Lord."

What does it mean to MAGNIFY? We usually think of "magnify" as making something larger - but certainly we cannot make God any larger, can we? But "magnify" also means to "make well known," and that is something we can do. When you cooperate with God's authority (as did Mary), you magnify him!

Can you tell what changes in verse 50 of Mary's song. (Go back and read Luke 1:46-55 again.)

In verse 50, Mary's words move from a personal focus ("God, have your way with me") to a Kingdom focus ("God, have your way with the world.") The Jesus story may begin personally - but it never ends there. And, to be honest, there are winners and losers in the song of Mary. Re-read the song, and see if you can identify them.

Who wins? Who benefits? Mary - the lowly servant girl. Those who fear him from generation to generation (they receive God's mercy). Those of low degree (they are exalted). The hungry (they are filled with good things). Israel (who is helped by God).

Who doesn't benefit? The proud (they are scattered). The mighty (they are put down from their thrones). The rich (they are sent away empty).

So does the song of Mary give you hope and inspiration? Does it raise you up?

Or - if you are in a position of considerable influence or position - does the song challenge you, making you think about how you have used that influence?


This week's theme - Keep a Christ-centered focus.

Use your Advent calendar to find practical suggestions to do that.


Finally, I'd like to share an article written by a neighbor pastor, Steve Olsen of First Baptist Church in Bellville. I found his words very helpful in keeping us from being distracted by foolish arguments about how to observe the holidays. To read more go to Pastor Steve's blog. He writes:

"The Christmas season is now upon us. You see the ads on television with Santa endorsing products from egg nog to television to cars. You walk into stores and see the decorations and hear the songs. And in some stores they may say 'Merry Christmas' and others will simply wish you 'Happy holidays.'

I do not get as bothered as some by how our culture does not comprehend or celebrate the meaning of Christmas. The Christmas story as told by the apostle John stated, 'The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.' Jesus was not recognized or received then, and the same remains true to this day.

This may sound trite for me to say, but here it goes, 'Remember the reason for the season.' It is not our culture’s responsibility to celebrate Christmas, it is ours as the Body of Christ, as his followers. Walk around with this attitude that Jesus who is the light of the world now lives within you. He came from heaven and took on flesh and suffered and died for our sins. Through faith in Him we are adopted in God's family and brought close to Him.

It is now our responsibility, our privilege, to share this great news with those around us. What better time of year than this. So don’t be discouraged or bothered that some have missed the divinity of the nativity. That is our opportunity to let the light of Christ shine through us."

Slow Down

During December, our theme is The Christmas You've Always Longed For: How to Recapture the Wonder of the Season.

Christmas always evokes feelings of longing. Almost in spite of ourselves, we begin to expect remarkable things to happen during this season.

Unfortunately, we are all too often disappointed. Fatigue...stress...sickness...overspending...feelings of depression...comparing ourselves with others...it goes on and on and on...

Be encouraged! Christmas doesn't have to be this way. Christmas can become what you have always longed for - a positive, holy observance, no matter what your circumstances!

During December, we will focus on Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Read the familiar story about how the first Christmas developed in Luke 1:26-45.

We see Mary with a sense of hurry in Luke 1:39 -

LUKE 1:39. In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah.

Yet Mary was wise enough to find a place to recharge - she went to the house of Zechariah, and spent time with her older relative Elizabeth, who was also expecting a child. Luke 1:56 implies that this time must have been very valuable for Mary:

LUKE 1:56. And Mary remained with her about three months.

Lessons we can learn from Mary:

• Watch your expectations. Don’t blame anybody else for your December this year. Don’t blame big business. Don’t blame the media. Don’t blame irritating relatives. The only way to come close to the Christmas you’ve always longed for – is to be in charge yourself.

• Watch your language. Even our language contributes to the frenzy. Let your language reflect your values.

• Watch your behavior. You take charge of the things you do that contribute to the frenzy and foolishness. A behavioral change is required to slow down.

The lesson for week one of Advent is simple - SLOW DOWN! Did you get that? Slow down!

Be sure and read the practical suggestions for this week found on pages 16-31 of your Advent calendar!


Here's an additional suggestion. Go see the movie THE NATIVITY. This movie has just been released, and is now showing at the cinema in Brenham, as well as at multiple locations in the Houston area. You will gain additional insights into the experience of Mary! (This review in the magazine Christianity Today suggests that the PG-rated movie should be suitable for children of age 8 or 9 and up.)


A Cup of Silence, a poem by Greg Asimakoupoulos

I poured a cup of silence
(my afternoon repast),
a needed brew of nothingness
to pace my race with rats.
Just a simple cup of quiet
to still the noise of grown-up toys
some call technology.

Silence...

No beepers to buzz off,
no faxes to answer,
no deadlines to bury (for now),
just a sip or two
from this cherished brew.

Silence...

Simon says
(and Garfunkel too)
that silence has its sounds.
I think I would agree:
it's the whisper of a moment--
more tastier than tea--
when I hear the still,
small voice of God.


And a little humor... (??)

TOP TEN WAYS TO GET INTO THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT (anonymous)

10. Use "Silent Night" for your aerobic workout.
9. Go a-wassailing, whatever that means.
8. Floss with tinsel.
7. Egg nog flapjacks!
6. Read the original Christmas story - in Greek.
5. Practice gift-wrapping your children.
4. Try Calvin Klein's new "Frankincense" cologne.
3. Get pregnant, ride on a donkey, and live in a stable.
2. Dye your pets red and green.
And the #1 way to get into the Christmas spirit:
1. Mistletoe! Mistletoe! Mistletoe!


Advent Calendars are still available from the church office for 10 dollars. Day One of Advent is December 3, so get your calendar now, and get started. See pages 16-19 of the calendar for the material for December 3- the first Sunday of Advent. To order an Advent Calendar by mail, click here.


A recommended book for children that helps focus on the real meaning of Christmas is The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, by Susan Wojciechowski.