ExtraChristy

I hope you got to hold your candle and sing “Silent Night” on Christmas Eve. (I did; twice!) A great and moving tradition of Christmas.

I like a different song during Candlelight Services. It is a camp song, “Pass it On” and for me, it goes with the passing of the light from one to another in the congregation…and beyond.

The words and music are by Kurt Kaiser:

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That's how it is with God's Love,
Once you've experienced it, you spread the love to everyone
You want to pass it on.

What a wondrous time is spring,
When all the trees are budding
The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;
That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it.
You want to sing, it's fresh like spring,
You want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend This happiness that I've found;
You can depend on God
It matters not where you're bound,
I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD!
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.

The Lord of Love has come. Pass it on.

Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Deed

One of the members I visited in the hospital last week was in to have his heart adjusted. Actually it was his heart pacemaker that wasn't keeping the correct pace for him so he was in for a tune up.
This is the season where we all are encouraged to get our hearts adjusted. Some may need to have their pace changed…from a mad rush of making a living to the slower pace of living a life. Others may need to quicken the pace of their heart, pumping out more love to those around them.

Even before the first Christmas, an angel told Zechariah, John the Baptizer's father, that John's ministry would be to change the hearts of the people at the coming of Christ:

And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.- Luke 1:17

Getting ready for the coming of Christ means turning our hearts to our families and setting our hearts on righteous wisdom and not disobedience. (Maybe there is something holy at the root of the whole “naughty and nice” concern at Christmas!)

As you make your preparations for Christmas, remember to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Turn you hearts to your loved ones and set your hearts on being right with God and those around you.

Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Deed

I've done an informal survey and I'm persuaded that there are only 3 reasons to make cell phone calls. You're late, lost, or lonely.

Reviewing my own use, I find that if I'm with people, on time and on course; I don't even think of using my cell phone.

Perhaps the speed dial features should include speed message buttons that dial the numbers and then speak one of these messages:

<1 > Sorry, I'm going to be late… (This could also be the default answering machine message, saving us the trouble of answering when we KNOW who is calling and why.)

<2> Where are you? (All men know that we are never lost, the destination is hiding!)

<3> You busy? I just wanted to talk…(This would be the Whatzzup button.)

Sometimes God is treated like a cell phone. Responsibility is dodged until it becomes a crisis, all else fails and we are at the end of our rope, or we are alone in a foxhole of life with enemies all around: then we remember to call God.

Like a cell phone, it is good to have God for emergencies. Yet, there is a function of cell phones we haven't discussed…it can also receive calls from others who are late, lost, or lonely. This requires us to turn it on, carry it with us, and respond to calls even when we don't need to talk.

Hoping you will take God's call.

Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Deed