A Different Christmas Verse

Those who live well in the face of eternity are keenly and joyfully aware this Christmas season that the eternal One came to earth so that we could spend eternity with him.

Here’s a Christmas verse from the One whose birthday we celebrate: “Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Considering that we are celebrating not our birthday but the one of he who identified with the poor and oppressed, how would a person follow what he says?

AdventConspiracy.org encourages us to make worship a priority, to resist pressure and spend less on gifts, to give to others in ways more oriented to service than materialism, and to use the money we save to give to the poor and oppressed. This is where many of us give “honor cards,” in which we give money to a charitable organization in honor of someone and give that person a card telling what was given. (But you might want to get gifts for the kids either way.) If you’d like to know more about giving in honor of someone, reply, and I’ll be happy to respond. 

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I’m spending my first Christmas in Louisiana with Kim. We often have frost in the morning but no snow. In starting the new church, we have much more difficulty and opposition than we had anticipated. But we have a very small, faithful core group; a great superintendent and fellow pastors; we have a very strong calling from God; and for me, God is working through all this to grow me to a whole new level. So we rejoice. We miss our family and friends in Los Angeles and Minnesota, especially Irena, who is on her own now in LA, but she’s doing well. And I hope you, by the grace of God, are doing well too–in spite of or because of all that life brings your way. Merry Christmas!

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News bit:  I have a new book to be released on February 1st: 
The Sailboat and the Sea:  Encounters with God through the Journey of Life.

If you’d like a peek, here is the first chapter:

LittleBoat watched another sailboat slowly sink in the murky harbor water. Stern first, its mast followed like an arm reaching for help, and finally the bow slipped under water. LittleBoat shuddered. He had to get out of the harbor, away from the other boats who collected barnacles while they yakked about past voyages.
                               —– 
That could have been me. Or it could be me tomorrow. I’d better get sailing.

You have the present, right here, right now.

Something has to change. But I don’t even know where to start.

Change is good. Look and you shall find it.

Maybe there’s more out there—or at least more to sailing—than I thought.

Much more.

I need to be alone and think.

But you are not alone.

I am too.

You are talking to yourself then?

No …. I must be hearing things.

You took years to do it, but congratulations.

What? Who are you?

Just that. I am.

Where are you?

All around.

But no one’s here.

Wherever I go, I am already there.

That’s crazy.

Yes. To a boat.

You’re freaking me out. Who are you?

Call me BigSea. I am the spirit of the sea, the creator of the sea. And more.

You never talked to me before.

You did not have ears to hear.

How do I know who you really are?

You will hear me, though not with your ears. You will see me, though not with your eyes. You will feel my presence as you ride upon my waters.

I’m supposed to believe this?

As you travel you will choose whether you believe or not. I do not promise a nice trip. Along your journey I will allow trouble.

I don’t like trouble.

Your troubled heart is what just opened your ears to me. How else will you stay close to me?

I don’t want to get close to you.

You will.

Oh? And if I do, I’ll just stay close without the trouble.

Not likely.

I’ve got my own life, so let’s leave it at that.

You will love me. You will hate me. You will think I have forgotten you. You may question if I exist, because I am quiet.

This doesn’t look like a happy trip.

Do not worry, LittleBoat.

How do you know my name?

I know every boat’s name. And every boat’s heart.

I don’t even know you.

I see your love, your hate, your joy, your sadness. Whatever I see, I promise you my presence.

You’ll go with me?

I am already with you—where you were, where you are, where you will be.

You’re everywhere?

All the time.

Oh, really? I never saw you with me in bad times.

You only looked at your wounds.

Well, I don’t see you now either.

Your eyes must learn.

Does it matter how I feel?

When your heart is grieved, LittleBoat, what will you do?

I … I don’t know.

Call to me. Even when you rage against me, call to me.

You won’t reject me?

I will comfort you.

No way.

Yes.

Hmmm. I’ll think about it. If I get around to it, I might even try it.

Do not try. Simply do.

So it’s easy?

At times the storm waves will be too much for you. Call upon me. When the waves calm and the sun shines, do not forget me.

And you’ll come?

I will already be there.

So you’re more than just a guide, huh?

I am the origin and substance of all being. I am your judge who rules with mercy. I am your redeemer. Your friend. I simply am.

You can’t be all that.

Do not recreate me in your own image. I am not a boat. But I know your needs.

I’ve got lots of needs.

You will come to know me well.