Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you’ve forgotten that I wasn’t actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that, let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 – 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day they’d close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary– especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those who you love, and remember:

I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!

There has been a lot of flap going on in various organizations about Holiday Trees and Christmas Trees. Several Christian Watchdog Groups have exhorted there mailing lists to beware of this retailer or that retailer, depending on the use if the word “Christmas” in their ads. I will ask you one question, and let you decide the whole “Holiday Tree” or “Christmas Tree” issue for yourself: What holiday, during this time of year, uses a tree in it’s celebration?

Yes, this month Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Notice I didn’t say “birthday” of Jesus Christ. That exact date is not known. According to the clues in the Bible, the birth of Christ (the Lamb of God) occurred when all the animals were giving birth – in the springtime, generally – and not in the middle of the winter. (Remember, the Angels appeared to the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks? The flocks are not out in the wild during the winter, they are kept penned up at home then. In the springtime, the flocks would have been roaming in the fields.)

Another clue is the census, (Luke 2:1-3) for tax purposes – historically, the census took place in the early spring. With all the families gathering at their ancestral homes from far-flung outposts, the inns would have been full and all the relatives’ houses were probably full also. With a not-quite-wife (Luke 2:5) already pregnant, not too many of the relatives of Joseph would have wanted this scandal under their roofs as it were. So, in order to fulfill prophecy, (Psalm 132:11) Jesus was born among the lowest, so that He could be raised to the highest.

While I am bursting bubbles in Christmas Carols, remember the Magi? You know, the Wise Men that are always portrayed as following a star to present gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh to a newborn child? Turns out they didn’t show up at the manger – let’s face it, would you want to hang out in a smelly barn, once you had been counted and had a child? “Let’s get packed up, Joseph – there’s a heck of a draft in here.” Joseph, Mary and their newborn son returned to Nazareth, where Joseph was a carpenter of some renown. In Matthew 2, the travels of the Magi are related, including a summons by King Herod to tell him when the star that they were following appeared. King Herod, in a show of false fealty, asked that they return to him and tell him where they find the child king. The Magi followed the star, and rejoiced when they came to the house where “they saw the child with his mother Mary and they bowed down and worshiped him.” Then they opened their gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. (Matt 2:11) If Jesus was visited by the wise men as a baby, wouldn’t it have said the Magi showed up at the manger? In one of the most profound passages in the Bible, these wise men, once they found Jesus, did not return to the way they followed before. (this is a paraphrase. the wise men had been told by God in a dream that herod wanted to harm Jesus, so they returned to their homes by a different route.)

Now, back to the tree question – besides the attempt to popularize a Hannukah Bush, what other holiday at this time of year utilizes a tree? None. Only Christmas utilizes the tree that is associated with Christmas Lights, Christmas Decorations, and Christmas Gifts.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!

Well, the filling-in for the delivery went OK – except for the lack of sleep part, but I kinda knew that would happen.

Today was a charity auction at TMBWitW’s work; she is the go-to person for the auction, the whole department is supposed to help out and be involved, but once again (for, like, the ninth year in a row) (did i mention she’s been doing this for nine years? coincidence? i think not!) she pretty much did everything. Last night we were up until very wee hours of the morning getting the last minute details worked out. Naturally, MEG decided that since we were up, she needed to be involved. MEG finally crashed at about 11:30. TMBWitW was almost in tears when she was finishing up the wreath she was working on. It was a “Twelve Days of Christmas” wreath, with plasticine ornaments that depicted the twelve gifts. As she was attaching the drummer, the attachment in the top of his head came out. The drummer hit the floor, and broke a leg at the knee and his head was snapped off his neck. It was ruled an accidental death, and TMBWitW sighed, looked at me and said, “That’s it. I’m going to bed. No wreath this year.”

Well, I’m not one to watch a tradition go lightly by the wayside. I knew I had glue that would fix the drummer, but the challenge was in finding it. She went to bed, but I searched. I finally found the model glue (i could have sworn i had crazy glue around somewhere, but i just could not locate it.) and reattached the drummer’s leg, head, and hook.

The alarm was set for 5:00 this morning. MEG beat it by six minutes, when she rolled over and scared herself over the loss of her sleeping aid. I stumbled into her room, found the wayward item, and restored peace to her corner of the world. TMBWitW rolled over, asked me what time it was, and made herself get up when I told her. I mentioned that if she looked on the counter, she would find some encouraging news. She found the drummer, attached him to the wreath, and let me sleep another half hour before I had to get up and feed the animals and get the trash to the curb. I beat the trash truck by about two minutes.

We had to wake MEG up at 6:00, and then hustle buns to get to TMBWitW’s office by 7. I stopped off to grab breakfast on the go, and met her at the parking garage. We had so much stuff to transport that it took both vehicles. All went well, the auction was a success, and MEG was very well behaved all day, for being overstimulated and lacking sleep.

Now, it’s off to church. Tomorrow, I may get to sleep in a bit – but I am not counting on it.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!

Did the new picture throw you for a loop?

I figured I might as well show you what I really look like.

Where to begin…

Friday, the church spent the day adapting the garage area of the parsonage at the new church property to hold service there until the new sanctuary is built. This included patching, painting, and my favorite, hanging six – count ’em – six ceiling fans, four where no electrical existed. This meant running new power from an existing light fixture. In the attic. Well, more of a crawlspace above the garage, than an actual attic, but there was loose cellulose insulation, rough timbers, no headroom, and lots of dust. I loved it. Meeting a challenge of this type head on and conquering it is so darn satisfying. Plus, the fans look really good. We start meeting in the parsonage the first Sunday in January.

Saturday – out to a potential client’s home, to measure for an entertainment center. She has a picture of what the model home looked like, so I can base my drawings on that. Talk eventually got around to pricing, and in the back of my mind I’m in the neighborhood of fifteen, maybe sixteen hundred, depending on the wood and color selection. I asked her if she had a budget figure she had been kicking around, and she cringes a little when she says the words “maybe a thousand?” Keeping my best business face on (similar to my poker face, but I haven’t used my poker face since I quit gambling many, many moons ago…) I say “Well, I’ll take a look at materials, and I’ll be able to give you an estimate on Tuesday or Wednesday, OK?” My gut feeling is that the materials alone will be around 750, so the profit line may be a bit too thin there…

After the estimate visit, I go back to the house I’ve been working on (the one that belongs to the parents of my friends) and the hall bath is ready for paint, a vanity, and the toilet to be reinstalled. Have I mentioned how much I love plumbing? No? Hmmm… must be a reason for that. The vanity was all of eighteen inches wide (this is a small bathroom, in a bungalow in a very tony neighborhood. the parents have lived here for over thirty years, and the area dollared up considerably since they bought their little house. we are pretty sure that when it sells, it will be a tear down, so there are no walls being moved in this remodel) and little ol’ me has to stick head and shoulders inside to connect the fixtures. I’m not bragging, but my shoulders are a bit more than eighteen inches wide. Once I’m squeezed in there, I have to maneuver my arms to turn the wrench. After thirteen and a half years under the sink, I finally manage to get out and turn the water on – to discover that the hot water line washer is no longer viable. After mopping up, I get to squeeze back under and try again. Success on the second attempt, and it’s on the the toilet.

I don’t know if you’ve ever removed and replaced a toilet in your life; I really don’t wish that kind of work on anyone. Helpful hint – while the toilet is off the pipe, place a rag or wad of paper towels in the opening to keep -uhm- things from surprising you, the least of which is the odour emanating from an active sewer line.

Anyway – during the removal process, before the tile floor went down, it was discovered that the feed valve for the toilet was defective. OK, it leaked when in any position except full on. When you are planning on removing the line, this present a problem, since you can’t have the water flowing while trying to tile the floor or paint the walls. Kinda defeats the purpose. The line was capped, and replacement parts for the valve were searched for. Remember, this is an older house, and the plumbing hasn’t exactly aged gracefully. The end result was a replacement valve scabbed onto the old feed output, with a brass cap on the old valve housing. Any other solution would have involved “sweating” pipes and “cutting” pipes and “replacing” joints – did I mention how much I love plumbing? No? Well, there’s still a reason for that.

I think I am pretty much finished with that project, and the final invoice was presented. Good to know there is money coming in.

Sunday – church in the morning, at the present facility. After church, TMBWitW and I head for the Land of Red Aprons (as opposed to orange – I don’t like the land of orange aprons, and only go there when absolutely necessary. like when the local Lowe’s burns to the ground. which hasn’t happened, explaining why we were at the Land of Red Aprons.) to pick up a few pieces of backyard foliage. By a few, I mean about 33 Italian Cypress, two Golden Arbovitae, two Italian Stone Pine, and two Chinese Elms. Yes, it’s fall in Phoenix, which means it’s planting time! After seven years with no shade in the back yard, it’s time to get some trees growing. Slight glitch develops – a friend calls, and begs me to help him during his last week with my former route. Since I know the vendors, and the route, I figure why not – plus, he’s meeting me at the base of the route, so I don’t need to go all the way to the dock. And the pay is very good. The hours – still in the middle of the night, but I am able to get home in time for TMBWitW to get to work. Now, I just need to get in the back yard and start planting some trees so they can start rooting in. This might be a long week. I’ll post pictures!

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!

Now, this is funny, I don’t care who you are…

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!