Author: Don
My wife Bonnie has gone home to be with the Lord. She was the inspiration, the editor, and the heart of this blog. In her absence, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I hope to share inspirational material from a variety of sources. Of course, my ultimate source is God's Word.
Is Civility Disappearing … ?
Civility seems to be disappearing in America.
Recently I found myself behind two ladies in the checkout line at a Walmart. The checker was scanning their large collection of purchases when one of the women stopped her to question the price of an item. The checker pulled out a pocket calculator and verified the price. She started to ring up the next item when the woman once again insisted that the clerk verify the price. Glancing at the melting carton of ice cream in my cart, I became extremely impatient and was prepared to say something snarky. Instead, I turned in disgust and found another line.
There was a time when people were kinder and more considerate of others. There was a time, we are told, when people could disagree without being disagreeable, when opinions could be discussed without the tone becoming disgusting, and when ideas could be debated on their merits, rather than on their conformity to a particular ideology.
Some might attribute the increase in incivility to politics; others might blame the press, while cultural, ethnic, racial or religious differences would be cited by others. The Apostle Paul would lay the blame on EGO.
Paul wrote, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” Romans 12:2-3 (NIV)
Incivility is, for the most part, a by-product of ego, which manifests itself in judgmentalism, selfishness, and impatience. When I think back to the incident at Walmart, I am forced to question whether I would have been as judgmental, impatient, and yes, selfish had the ladies in line been people I knew from church or my neighborhood – probably not.
Not to let myself off the hook, but to put the Walmart episode into perspective, the price checking wasn’t the only thing that triggered my ire. While lady #1 was having the clerk check prices, lady #2 was taking her cart and gathering additional items based on how the price check came out. Not exactly civil behavior.
Nevertheless, I am forced to wonder how often am “I” am less than civil? How often do I edge God out by thinking of myself first? When will I finally internalize the truth that I am a child of a loving God, a God who – as we read in Romans 2:11 does not show favoritism? When will I make it my lifestyle to do unto others as I would have them do unto me?
We can’t change the pattern of the world, but we can change the pattern of our lives. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The time is always right to do the right thing.”
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,” Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)
Verse for the Week: Romans 12:18 (AMP) “ If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Blessings, Your Friends in Christ
Sounds of the Season
Dear Friends,
During the past month we have been blessed to hear the familiar sounds of Christmas. Everyone has their own personal favorites – some enjoy the old standards like “Away in a Manger” and “Silent Night;” others turn to songs by Christian contemporary artists such as Amy Grant, Chris Tomlin, and Casting Crowns. Our personal tastes are quite eclectic, so we run the gamut from deeply spiritual songs like “Mary Did You Know” to outlandishly secular tunes like “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.”
Why does Christmas music fill us with joy? Psychologists report a number of research findings about the immediate psychological and medical benefits of music: increased happiness, less stress, reduced depression symptoms, greater autonomy, and increased competence, hope, and optomism.
For the world at large, it may be that music evokes memories of joy-filled past Christmases. For others, it may be anticipation of a family gathering, a turkey dinner, or a load of gifts. For Christians, it is a time when songs are one way we can express thanks to God for the most amazing gift of all – Jesus.
“Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
break out in praise and sing for joy! ” Psalm 98:4 (NLT)
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.” Psalm 100:1-2 (NRSV)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.” Colossians 3:16
Melodies can be powerful emotional triggers, but lyrics carry the message. The sounds of Christmas have words that remind us of the miraculous birth of our savior. Whether in psalms, hymns, or spiritual songs, when we listen for the message God wants us to hear – we never know what will come to mind.
Recently, we were listening to “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” – not exactly a Christian classic- when a couple of new stanzas came to mind.
Grandmas Got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas Eve.
Now She jingles bells with friends in heaven;
Thanks to Jesus Christ whom she believed.
We are sad that she”s not with us,
But her loss we had to face.
Now at Christmastime we focus
On Christ’s birth and on God’s grace.
Christmas is a very difficult time when you have lost friends and loved ones, as we have. We pray that you will find peace and hope this holiday season by focusing on Jesus and by trusting in God’s limitless grace.
Verse for the Week:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
We wish you a very Merry Christmas.
Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ
Through the Eyes of a Shepherd #2
Dear Friends,
This week we continue our imaginary encounter with one of the shepherds who was present at the first Christmas. Our objective is to breath new life into the characters who adorn our nativities.
“Through the Eyes of a Shepherd – Part 2”
Hello again, Jedediah here. The last time we spoke, I told you how God had blessed me by letting me be part of the first Christmas. Finding Mary and Joseph and the Baby Jesus in that humble stable was just the beginning of the story. When Jesus was about two years old, Magi, or wise men, came to Judea asking, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
Just who were the wise men? Some believe (based on Psalms 72:11, “May all kings fall down before him” ) that they were actually kings from as far away as India or even China. Others believe they were astrologers from either Persia (which is modern day Iran) or Babylon (which is modern day Iraq).
Want to know the real significance of the Magi? This is important. The Magi weren’t even Jews – they were gentiles who had come to worship the King of the Jews. They recognized that Jesus was born a king – not that he would become one – and they realized that he wasn’t just King of the Jews; he is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
I wish I could have been there when the Magi presented their gifts: gold symbolizing Jesus kingship on earth, frankincense symbolizing his deity, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of sacrifice.
Later I learned that King Herod, a ruthless ruler who was overseer of Judea had taken the news of Jesus birth as a threat to his rule and wanted to kill the child. He decided to use the Magi to help him find the young Jesus.
By consulting with the chief priests, herod learned that about 700 years earlier the Prophet Micah had foretold that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem. Micah had written (5:2): “But you, Bethlehem, in the Land of Judah, Are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, For out of you will come a ruler Who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”
I always liked that verse, particularly the part about Jesus being the shepherd of his people. Take it from me, a shepherd cares for his flock.
if one of my sheep gets lost, I will leave the other ninety-nine and immediately go to find the one that is lost. I have read that Jesus feels the same way about us.
King Herod’s plot was foiled when the Magi were warned in a dream, so they left town by another route rather than returning to King Herod. Joseph was also warned in a dream, so he took Mary and Jesus and escaped to Egypt…
I, Jedediah, could never imagine the miraculous things that Jesus would do. I guess it’s true what the scriptures say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Each time I heard of another miracle, I thought back to that tiny baby I has seen in the manger, and wondered why God had been so gracious as to let me share in the miracle of the birth of His son.
At Christmas time, God gives each of you the opportunity to share in the miracle of Jesus birth. May the lights on the tree remind you of the stars that filled the night sky over Bethlehem. May the gifts remind you of the wise men who came to worship the King, and may the tiny baby in your nativity remind you of the greatest gift of all – Jesus.
Christmas Blessings,
Jedediah the Shepherd
Through the Eyes of a Shepherd – Part 1
Dear Friends,
Each year we listen to the story of the first Christmas. It is so familiar that many of us can mouth the words as the liturgists reads, “And there were shepherds living in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people …‘’ Luke 2:8-10 (NIV)
When you see a nativity scene do you think about the humility and pride of a young Mary, the courage of Joseph, the wonderment of the shepherds, and the awe of the wise men? Or, over the years have the characters in the Christmas story become more symbolic than real to you. Today we encourage you to breathe new life into this season of joy by daring to imagine what it might sound like if you were afforded the opportunity to speak with someone who was actually present at the first Christmas.
Through the Eyes of a Shepherd – Part 1
Let me introduce myself: My name is Jedidiah. I’m not named in the bible, but the name Jedidiah is appropriate because it means ‘God loves’. And truly God loves me because he let me take part in the celebration of the birth of his son.
It all began for me one night in the hills above Bethlehem – out in a field with nothing but the soft glow of a campfire. It was a clear crisp night. Thousands of stars like diamonds on midnight-blue velvet formed an awe-inspiring canopy. With only a trace of the moon, it was dark, very dark. Then, all of a sudden, the night became like day. A near-blinding flash, and all around us we saw strange beings that glowed like burning phosphorous.
I had heard my rabbi read Scriptures that spoke of angels, but now, I knew I was in the presence of something miraculous.
We shepherds are not easily terrified – we sometimes have to fight off wolves and other predators to protect our flocks of sheep. But, this was truly beyond comprehension.
One of the angels said “Fear Not.” Then he told us that things the prophets had written about in the Scriptures were about to come to pass; the promised Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.
As quickly as they had come, the angels were gone, and my friends and I quickly traveled to Bethlehem to see if we could find the child. (In case you wondered, we took the sheep with us.)
In Bethlehem, we found the place where the newborn baby was. With no place else to lay her child, the mother, a sweet teenage girl named Mary, had arranged some clean straw and laid her baby in a cattle feeding trough – a manger.
Can you believe it – Immanuel – God with us – in such a humble setting?
After we had seen Mary, Joseph, and the baby, we went off and told everyone we met about the wonderful things we had seen.
I like the part where Saint Luke wrote that all who heard the shepherds story were “amazed”. Amazed? Most were incredulous.
Are you familiar with the Yiddish word Mishugena? How about foolish or crazy? how would you feel if someone approached you and said, “My shepherd buddies and I were out in a field when an angel appeared and told us about a baby who was the Messiah – the Savior and King of all Mankind? How would you react?
Fortunately, we weren’t the only ones who shared in the miraculous events surrounding the birth of Jesus. When Jesus was about two years old, Magi, or wise men, came to Judea asking, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
I’ll stop my story for now – more next week; but before I end, I encourage you to think about what the Magi said. They said, “We have come to worship him.”
This Christmas we can experience the full joy of the season by setting aside time each day to come to worship Him.
Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ
Because He Loves Us Press 