Tag Archives: christmas

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.

Lent, pt. 38

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Today was pretty cool. There was a men’s conference at our church tonight.

I would guess about 75 men were there tonight. At least 30 of those were from other churches.

It was really cool to hear a bunch of guys singing out praise and worship.

And then we ate BBQ.

So overall, a great night.

Some people have told me that they can worship God by themselves. That they don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.

I don’t believe them.

Once you get a taste of corporate worship, it adds such a flavor to your relationship with God.

It is just plain fun.

Easter is just around the corner. Lots of people will attend church. Lent brings people back to church.

But when Lent is over, how many people don’t see the inside of a church until Christmas?

Don’t be a C&E (Christmas and Easter) Christian. Be an AYL (All Year Long) Christian.

The X-factor

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X+4=7. Solve for X. Remember those algebra days? X is always the unknown. X represents the part that does not have a name or an identity.

The X-factor. The X-factor is the extra part of something. It makes a difference. Provides additional support or backing.

Sports teams know this well. Home field advantage is the X-factor. You can’t really see it. It is difficult to measure. But you can feel it. Its presence is almost tangible.

I live close to Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

lambeau field

The X-factor here is real. Sell-out crowds for every home game. Frozen Tundra.

Yes, the X-factor is a force!

The Word – X-factor

The Worth – We just celebrated Christmas. Or, for this post, Xmas. Why do we call it Xmas?

Here is some information from this website: https://www.vox.com/2014/12/14/7374401/jesus-xmas-christmas

“…the X in “Xmas” literally means Jesus. Allow us to explain.

How can the letter “X” stand for “Christ”?

In Greek, the language of the New Testament, the word Christos (Christ) begins with the letter “X,” or chi. Here’s what it looks like:

Χριστός

So how did that word get abbreviated?

In the early fourth century, Constantine the Great, Roman Emperor from 306-337, popularized this shorthand for Christ…”

Have you made the connection?

In our lives, Christ is the X-factor! He is that extra support. Reinforcement in troubled times. Life comes from him!

The Bible declares that the Holy Spirit dwells in the life of a believer. The very spirit of Christ lives in you and me!

Sure, we can’t always see it or measure it. But we can feel it. The presence of God is very real in our lives.

If Christ is the X-factor and the Holy Spirit lives in us then we become the X-factor!

The Work – There are many days that a believer won’t feel godly. In fact, feeling the opposite seems more true. But whatever you feel today, you are the X-factor.

Live by faith. Your feelings can not always be trusted. Christ will help.

I want to end with an encouraging verse. I Thessalonians 4:1-2

“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.”

God bless you on your journey today. See you tomorrow for the letter Y!