Category Archives: christmas

Advent Attitude

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Welcome to an odd week. After Christmas but still a holiday…ish? As a teacher, I have the week off. But other people do not. I can’t imagine this week being too productive.

Anyway, that was just me saying hello.

If you read my last post you know that I missed something. Rather, I forgot something.

I never posted my thoughts on Advent. I even closed the last blog with a promise to write about Advent the next week.

Sorry about that. I completely forgot.

So, instead of waiting 11 1/2 months to post about Advent, I present to you Post-Christmas Advent!

First off, I didn’t really understand what the word Advent meant. I have heard it all my life.

One could figure out that it was a Christmas thing. Was that all?

Dictionary.com gives us this definition of Advent:

  1. a coming into place, view, or being; arrival:the advent of the holiday season.
  2. Usually Advent . the coming of Christ into the world.
  3. Advent, the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas, observed in commemoration of the coming of Christ into the world.
  4. Usually Advent . Second Coming.

Now, armed with this new knowledge, I have a clear picture of what Advent is all about.

My brain starts meditating on this delicious “food” and begins to process it.

This might not surprise some but I have a three-point outline that details my outlook on Advent.

Before you read the three points, let me offer an alternative title for this blog.

Advent from a Prophet, a Preacher, and Pilate.

Let me explain.

  1. Isaiah (the Prophet) told us in his book that there would be a baby born. Here is verse 6 of chapter 9: “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.” This passage, in fact, the whole book, was written hundreds of years before Christ was born. That fits definition number 2 quite well.
  2. Moving ahead to the New Testament. A Preacher named John came to talk about Jesus. Here are his words from the first chapter of John: “There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.” This also refers to the second definition of Advent.
  3. John 19:14 demonstrates the first definition of Advent. This comes from Pilate who was the ruling Roman authority in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus. The verse states: ““Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.” Pilate tells the Jews (who were wanting to crucify someone) that their king has arrived. Advent.

There are multiple examples of biblical people proclaiming the coming of Jesus.

I am one of them. No, I am not in the Bible. But I most certainly think that Christ is returning. He is coming back!

Look again at the definition of Advent. See number 4? It says Second Coming.

The first coming of Jesus was when He was born of Mary, in Bethlehem, in a manger.

The second time he comes to earth, it will be quite different than the first time.

And all I have to say is that I am looking forward to that day!

I guess you could say that I have an Advent Attitude.

As always, thanks for reading this post. Enjoy your New Year!

Not-so-secret Santa.

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I got my Secret Santa gift at work today.

secret santa

You know how it works. There is a dollar limit and everyone picks a name out of a hat.

You buy, then wrap, the gift.

But the person getting the gift does not know who is giving it.

The gift I received was great. There was a party game and a dozen A Christmas Story socks. Whoever gave the gift did a fantastic job. I loved it!

When living through Christmas every year, one is reminded about the greatest gift ever given.

A baby in a manger.

Have you received that gift? Even though there are billions of people in the world, that gift of salvation is still available.

Here’s the kicker: This gift comes from God, not a Secret Santa.

There are no surprises. No bad gifts. Nothing to return. No gift receipts needed.

We actually know what the gift is going to be before we receive it.

Our bibles tell us everything we need to know.

So as you are ripping apart wrapping paper and cutting through the ribbon on your presents, remember this:

Jesus is a gift that is already unwrapped and you have full access to Him.

opening a gift

This could be your best Christmas ever!

Merry Christmas!

 

 

If this tree could talk…

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Christmas trees. if there is any one thing that symbolizes Christmas, it is a tree.

A small sampling from the internet reveals a plethora of styles and designs.

xmas tree 5xmas tree 4xmas tree 2xmas tree 6xmas tree 1

When did you put up your tree? Perhaps you cut down a live one.

Maybe the fake tree you have used has been in and out of your attic for 15 years.

Whatever the case, I think we can all agree that a tree is a symbol of the Christmas season.

Just for fun, here is my tree:

upside down tree

I pose this question to you:

If your tree could talk, what would it say? 

We take out our trees and decorate them every year. The lights go on first then the ornaments. And finally, the presents are placed underneath the tree.

If you were a Christmas tree, what would you say?

Would you be excited to be decorated?

Or would you be grumpy because you sat in storage for the last 10 months?

Are there family gatherings that you could talk about or do you stand alone in a dark corner of the room?

My purpose is not to condemn or condone the use of Christmas trees. I personally like to see trees all lit up and shining through a large picture window.

May this post be a reminder that Christmas is more than a tree. 

The trees that you see around at this time of year should serve as a reminder.

A reminder that Jesus was born in a manger and that is why we celebrate this event.

My motivation behind a “talking tree” post was two-fold.

  1. I fall into the trap of commercialism at Christmas time. You get so wrapped (no pun intended) up in giving gifts that it is really easy to forget the greatest Gift that has ever been given.
  2. If you have been distracted by all the lights and tinsel, let all that yule-tide bling point you to Jesus.

So as you gather around your tree in a few days, make time for a little baby in a manger.

Don’t worry, the gifts can wait.

Merry Christmas to all!

About 8.3%

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8.3%. That means there is 91.7% of something else.

Can you guess what the 8.3% represents?

Hint: December (or any other month)

Scratching-Head

If you have not guessed it by now…well…

Each month consists of approximately 8.3% of the entire year.

12 months at 8.3% each equals 1 year!

Just for the number’s sake, let’s say a person celebrates Christmas only in the month of December.

This would include hanging decorations and putting lights on a tree. Singing songs (or extra radio listening) about Christmas and wrapping presents.

Perhaps you go to Christmas cookie exchanges. My wife is headed to one tonight. I look forward to all the good stuff coming back home with her!

However one celebrates this holiday, it can only be done in December.

That means that 91.7% of the year is not spent thinking about (or at least celebrating) Christmas.

sad face

Don’t worry. You can think about Christmas all year round!

But for this post, I am saying that people only celebrate Christmas 8.3% of the year!

Put a pin in the 8.3% scenario as I pose another question.

What is the meaning of Christmas?

Why do we fill our homes, yards, and schedules with all things Christmas?

Why do we even have this holiday in the first place?

That was actually three questions.

Now let’s tie these two threads together.

First, answer the questions in bold type.

Now, take that answer and apply the 8.3% principle.

Is (insert answer to the questions here) deserving of 8.3%?

Or, is 8.3% enough time devoted to (insert answer to the questions here)?

Beautiful business woman with idea light bulb above hand isolate

 

Depending on your answer, you might find that you should be spending more or less time celebrating Christmas.

Whatever conclusions you made while reading this post, they are yours. Own them.

Have a great week.

Next post: a unique perspective from a white upside-down tree.

Using a chalkboard will get your hands dusty.

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At my school, we use chalkboards. You heard me correctly. Chalkboards.

Every day I teach, I need to constantly wash my hands and use hand lotion due to the excessive dust from the chalk!

chalkboard

Let me fill in the context.

I teach various science classes at a private Christian academy. We meet on the second floor of an old catholic church. The church is more than 100 years old. They still hold services on Sunday but during the week, there are some 45 students filling the halls with chatter as they rush to and fro through the halls. Here is a picture of the church.

annuciation catholic

The building is old therefore the stuff in the rooms tends to be old as well.

So I use a chalkboard. A dry erase board would be nice.

Now don’t get me wrong here. We have wi-fi in school. I use a computer to show various videos. My two high school classes are intertwined with Google classroom.

It makes for a nice blend of new and shiny versus old and dull.

One of my favorite parts of my day (this sounds really trivial as I type…) is when I clean the board.

A damp cloth is all it takes. The eraser gets most of the lines but the wet rag will make the board look new again. A clean luster shines off the black slate.

cleaning a chalkboard

I am looking forward to 2020. It will be a chance to start new again. Just like that old chalkboard that has seen thousands of chalk lines, there have been thousands of marks in my life.

These marks can be mistakes I have made.

People I have met.

Choices I fretted about.

Places I have visited.

Food I have eaten.

And not all of them are worth remembering.

I smile as I look back on 2019. Most of it is positive or good. But there is always room to improve.

I know that I am forgiven and that God has placed me in His hand.

Of this, I am sure.

I just wish that some of the junk would be washed away.

That is why I like new and fresh starts. The junk seems to be washed away.

May these last few weeks of the year be a great time to reflect on God’s faithfulness.

Remember His goodness.

Re-live His blessings.

And look forward to many more things in 2020!

Teaser: In January, I am blogging about some Old Testament characters. But until then, for the rest of December, I will be looking at Christmas from a rather untraditional and unexpected point-of-view. I hope you join me.

tree, presents, stockings