What are your Christmas traditions? We all have them, whether we call them traditions or not. They may revolve around cherished ornaments, special foods, or gift-giving. Our church has the tradition of observing Advent with the lighting of the weekly candles and scripture readings. We also have the tradition of our 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with the observance of the Lord’s Supper. The Christmas Eve service includes carols and special songs, interspersed with Bible readings, and a reading of the Story from the Gospel of Luke. Following the Lord’s Supper there is the passing of the peace and light of Jesus. Another Christmas Eve tradition is the reception and the time to linger and enjoy the sweet fellowship, renewed friendships, and homemade goodies.

Christmas time is partly about being home with family and dear friends. The separation of miles and circumstances, heartbreak, or the loss of a loved one often turns this holiday season into a difficult time for many. When financial pressures, stressful relationships, and dreary days are added to the mix, darkness can blanket the soul.

You probably know someone who is quietly experiencing a sad or lonely Christmas this year. A Blue Christmas Service is the name given to a Christian time of prayer and reflection, usually held around the winter solstice, for those who have experienced grief and loss during the year. This year our Blue Christmas service will be Wednesday evening, December 17, at 6:30 p.m. following our community dinner. The Blue Christmas also acknowledges those who are separated from “home” at Christmas time, such as those in prisons, those in military service, missionaries, homeless, and the displaced immigrant neighbors. Join us, in person or in spirit, as we intercede for all who may be having a melancholy Christmas this year. In addition, our church will be providing dinner from 12 to 2 p.m. for anyone who would like to share a meal together on Christmas Day.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Spread peace and light.  And let’s experience the love and power of God together

If you were to ask our oldest grandson, Carter, to name his favorite restaurant, he would say, Raising Cane’s. He loves their chicken and their sauce, and their sweet tea too. His first job out of high school was at Raising Cane’s. When interviewing for the job, he sold the manager on the idea that Cane’s was the best chicken place anywhere, and don’t forget about the sweet tea. He still works as a part-time fill-in for them. Raising Cane’s advertises that they have one motto and one mission. Their motto is One Love. The one love is fried chicken. Their one mission is to serve the highest quality fried chicken possible. To that end they only serve chicken tenders and one set of sides, and of course, sweet tea.

Do you have a personal mission or motto? Creating a personal mission is not an easy task.  It involves knowing who you are, your place in God’s love, and the tug on your heart. It can become deep spiritual work, so most people do not attempt it. But if you are ready to take the next step of spiritual work, consider spending some time forming your own spiritual action plan. Your mission should be specific enough to stay on track, yet flexible enough to apply to most situations. It is best to keep it simple. The oldest personal mission statement I grew up hearing was this one: JOY—Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last. Other examples are: Be kind to everyone I meet and myself. Treat everyone with compassion and respect. Create new opportunities. Be a person of prayer. The one I created for myself years ago is: Be a blessing to God today, and for generations to come.

Jesus reminds us of the two-fold commandment, which is a great starting point for developing our mission: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…And love your neighbor as yourself.  (Matthew 22:36-40). One Love. One Mission. 

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Live your love. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

I have spent the past few days trying to get things ready. It’s the change of the season—winter is coming. I have been winterizing the yard and the faucets, checking the plants and the bushes, checking the furnace, putting away the summer stuff, getting ready for cold and ice. Also rearranging the stuff. Do we really need all these things we have in the boxes? So many decisions wear me out. Christmas is coming, that means deciding about the Christmas decorations, outside as well as in. Are we ready to put up a Christmas tree? What does the Christmas gift list look like this year? Christmas cards, write a letter, or just skip it all together? I know of people who have been Christmas ready since Halloween. The Black Friday Sales seem to have started weeks ago. Our mailbox is filled with everything but personal mail. Anyone need some extra catalogs?

This Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent season, celebrating the promise of the coming of Christ into this world. Churches will echo with the biblical proclamation to Prepare the Way of the Lord, as foretold by prophets and proclaimed by John the Baptist. It is our call to pay attention to our God as He ushers in His Kingdom into the everydayness of our lives. It is not too hard to lose sight of the message of Christ at Christmastime because of all the busy-ness and materialism of the holidays. By the way, the word holidays is derived from the term holy days. Amid all the decisions to be made, the work to be done, and the money to be spent, Jesus is showing us a better way of living. The Kingdom of God perspective reminds us that Jesus never had a Christmas tree; His tree was a cross. Jesus never wrapped a Christmas present; His gift was the Word made flesh. Jesus never sang a Christmas carol or wished anyone a merry Christmas; His salutation was “follow me.” Jesus never signed a Christmas card; His love was written in red on a cross. When Jesus burst forth from the grave, He conquered sin and death itself. This is more than a Christmas story; it is love and life eternal, and a call to right relationships.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Prepare the way of the Lord. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

I have a nice mid-sized telescope that our grandchildren have been curious about all their lives. I am missing a lens for the eyepiece. It is time to find a new lens and point it to the heavens for them to take a look. So much is happening in the night skies this fall and winter. Solar flares are creating nightly aurora borealis displays even into Oklahoma. Meteor showers are raining, and a mystery comet has social media debating if it is really alien technology or a scouting ship checking out our favorite planet. The deep space telescopes only see an out of focus fuzzy light emitting various chemical emissions that keep changing colors. Right now, 3I/ATLAS as it has been named, is near the sun and will be visible again about December 16. The name 3I/ATLAS is short for 3^rd confirmed Interstellar object discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System. It is predicted to be closest to the earth on December 19 and projected to be off to another solar system in January 2026—unless it is an alien vessel dropping by to say, Greetings. Better images are anticipated.

Even though this object is from outside our solar system, it is not classified as a UFO, Unidentified Flying Object. The term UFO is no longer used by astronomers, although the rest of us have been waiting to see one for most of our lives. The new term is UAP, Unexplained Anomalous Phenomenon. UAP could also be a definition for a miracle or even divine intervention.

Would finding technology or life from another planet alter your view of God, His power, or His word? Would it cause you to question your theology of Jesus, or even abandon your faith? Science does not validate or invalidate God Almighty. God is, was and always will be God.  Discoveries in outer space simply give us additional insight into the wonder of God’s love. That is what God’s creation is all about.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Keep looking up. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

A young squirrel showed up this past August. He is very curious about our church. The other day as I unlocked the north door, I saw him standing on his back legs at the opposite doors peeking like a little child into the central foyer. I have not named this squirrel. We need to see how he fares as the winter progresses. In 2014 I wrote about another church squirrel:

I called him Dauntless. It was a fitting name, I believe, for an intrepid squirrel that lives by our church. You may have noticed that busy squirrel as you attend church services. Dauntless lives in a nest tucked under an old eave that needs to be repaired. He apparently loves our church and is very attentive to all that goes on in and around the building. The brick work on our education building allows him to climb the sides of every wall, giving him the best views of possible danger, or a next meal. He loves to eat. Last winter he shared his nest with a friend.

Dauntless is always working, always vigilant, and always showing off for a crowd.  He is cautious, yet fearless around people. He loves to taunt the neighbors’ dogs. He spends time checking out the dumpster, nibbling on tasty church foliage, and waiting for the pecan trees to produce his favorite treat. Lately he has begun leaving an offering by the church door. First fruits, if you will. Mostly his offering is the remains of not quite ready pecans. But he is consistent. He has a couple of favorite doors, but he has never been inside the church. I’ve had to deal with a couple of squirrels trapped in the church over the years. They get way too stressed-out over lack of freedom, food and water to make good church squirrels. One day Dauntless will go the way of all squirrels, but until then he lives every day under the protection of the church—sheltered and nourished by the church. He is a faithful squirrel.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Be dauntless in faith. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.