A Thought On Christmas

A Thought On Christmas

In many homes at Christmas you will find a Manger scene (Crèche) equipped with Baby Jesus, Angels, Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Wise men, Camels and I’ve even seen some with cows, though I’m pretty sure that shepherds and cows don’t go together. And for the time being let’s forget that all these people (and heavenly host) weren’t actually together at the same time, there seems to be the thought surrounding this extraordinary event, that all was calm, all was bright. I’ve even heard some say that the stable where Jesus was born was actually better than the Inn (where there was no room), because it was cleaner and God was taking care of everyone by making things a little nicer.
I on the other hand read the story a little different, call me jaded or Scrooge, but I’ve been in a stable and that’s usually not water all over the ground and it seems like a substantial downgrade from the Inn if you were to ask me.

Which brings me to my Christmas thought. If we weigh how much God cares for us by our comfort, then what do you do with this story? Take a look at Joseph for example, first off there is the event itself, Mary’s pregnant but it’s not his! God provides an intense dream that helps to guide his decision not to shame her and no doubt Mary’s character helps with that decision as well, but suddenly Joseph is involved with something bigger than he could ever have imagined. I would guess that the counsel he was getting from friends or family was different from what God told him to do in the dream, and what God asks of Joseph is not easier, in fact it’s harder.
Look how things continue, after Joseph has listened to God and shown extraordinary understanding, some governor wants to tax the people and so Joseph has to take his extremely pregnant “wife” 70 + miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem on a Donkey! (Yeah, imagine that road trip) And the pay off is a stable? But hold on, it’s not over, later on the wise men show up giving them gifts which I’m sure reassured Joseph that he was doing the right thing and all, but before he can even catch his breath he is warned in another dream about Herod wanting to kill the child and the message to Joseph isn’t “don’t worry, I will protect you and the child”, the message is “run for your lives to Egypt”.
I have to confess, right about now I would be thinking, “God, can You just give me a break?” Now, I’m not trying to ruin Christmas; really I just want to preserve the reality of it. Because it’s in the midst of this incredible hardship, that the hand of God is at work, though everything seems to be going wrong, God is moving, guiding and speaking to Joseph, which is an amazing thing if you think about it.
I was wondering, what if Joseph had put Mary away as he had originally thought, and did not listen to God in that dream? He still would have had to travel to Bethlehem and very well may have made it in time to find a nice room at the Inn (after all, a pregnant women can really slow you down). He may have had a nicer room, but I don’t think he would have had as nice of a view as he did in that stable, to witness the single most important event in all of human history, when God became flesh, and walked among us.

So here is my take on the “Christmas” story, even though the whole world seemed to be bent on keeping this event from taking place, God was at work, in the lives of those involved, moving heaven and earth, so He could be with us.

…and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” ( Matthew 1:23)

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That Smile

That Smile

Well the day finally came when we saw our son Samuel, and I must say that all my anticipation did not compare to the actual time we had today. There are so many aspects to this day that I could talk about, but I want to stay focused on his smile. I will not forget when I first spotted him in his platoon, and when Corinne and I yelled out his name and he glanced our way and gave that smirk he gives when he doesn’t want to smile (and believe me he wasn’t supposed to).

The smirk

He looked great; they were about to begin their five-mile motivational run followed by the emblem ceremony and then we would be able to greet and spend what seemed like the quickest five hours with him for lunch and a quick visit. I was aware of a few things in that time, one was how happy he was. Now I would like to think it was just to see us, but I think a lot of it was the fact that he had completed something that he has wanted to do for a long, long time, plus the fact that he would be going home tomorrow. A second thing I noticed was the connection he had with his fellow Marines. I mean here we were, his family who he hadn’t seen in four months, yet he would go out of his way to say hi and congratulate those he spent all this time with, or they would say these little things that only really they found meaning in. It’s not hard to see why, he had just gone through the most intense time of his life with these people which brought a depth and connection that was special between them. I thought how true it is and why we are told to share one another’s burdens, to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. It brings a deeper growth and bond than probably any other way and it was Jesus’ desire that we be one in John 17. As I was talking with my son over things that stood out to him through boot camp, most of the things he mentioned dealt with the hardship he had to overcome, especially of an event called the Crucible. The word crucible comes from a Latin word having to deal with melting or purifying of metals and really isn’t that what is meant to happen with us in the refining process in our lives as we pursue the Lord? So a life that is blessed (or happy), is a life that is refined. Maybe that is one of the reasons Samuel was so happy, even when he was leaving, going back to more drills and to bed at 9 (still can’t get over that), he said, tomorrow, I go home, with that he walked away, …smiling.

Tomorrow, I go home

Joy

MCRD
(Marine Corp, Recruit Depot)

We arrived at the base around 7:00 after stopping to get a bite to eat. The accommodations are quaint (they're great for 20 bucks a night!) and they have a lot of things here so that the families can enjoy their stay, Corinne and I took a walk around the base for about an hour just looking at where our son has lived for the past 16 weeks and wondering what it's been like for him. Right at 9 o'clock we heard Taps being played which means bedtime for the recruits (imagine, Samuel in bed at 9). It was funny to think that even though we couldn't see him, Samuel was somewhere close by hearing the same thing we were.
Well in less than 12 hours we are going to get to see our son, thank you all who have given such encouraging emails, prayers and emotional support to us, we are grateful beyond words and you have filled our lives with hope and joy through not only Samuel's decision to join the Marines and his time in boot camp, but through all the difficulties in our lives at this time. Your simple Thanksgiving and Christmas blessings, the emails, phone calls and gifts have meant so much to Corinne and I.

Thanks so much for keeping in touch.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow

Well, we’re just about ready to leave for the San Diego area, Corinne Daniel and I are staying at the Marine Base, they have a place for family to stay there. Jordan and Lauren will be joining us later.
We will be seeing Samuel tomorrow and get to have lunch with him as well as spend some of the day with him and then he graduates on Friday and then we get to bring him home.
We found out he is going to be with us and working at the local recruiting office till January 15th, which was great news for us. I don’t know how to put in words what I’m feeling, it’s all over the place, but I will try to journal some of it best as I can. They say it may rain, we’re praying it doesn’t and though the rain may shorten the graduation ceremony, it won’t dampen my spirits of getting to see my son again.

Fingerprints

Fingerprints

Have you ever heard a song that just takes you back? Or maybe certain scenery or fragrances can translate you to a point in time? Funny how we can be moved emotionally by these things, but really, it shouldn’t surprise us, after all it was still us, just some time ago.
This happened to me this past week as I was reminded of a time in my life that I had thought was long gone, but a couple of situations and BAM! There I was in this disturbing time warp, complete with sentiment, heartache and nostalgia. Now usually I just put these events in a little box that I mark “not me anymore” (and thank God I’m definitely not that same person), but I began to think, why am I remembering these things in such a powerful way? And where should this emotional roller coaster be taking me?
One place I don’t want it to take me is back inside the box! Where I live paralyzed to events that are no longer a reality in my present life, but that word reality is really important to me regarding all this, you see the reality is that my life is not separated into boxes of the past or present it is a continuing timeline filled with good, bad, ugly and hopefully redemptive things.
Paul had no problem reminding those who followed Jesus of what they were, he did not put their past in a box, but instead put it before them and said, remember this was you, but it’s not anymore. “Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.” Titus 3:3 (NLT)
Paul was just telling the truth, and unless we too are honest with what has and is taking place with us, how can we know if all things have become new, unless we have something like the old to compare it to.
So even though we like to put our life into little compartments, I don’t believe that God’s view of us is like that, just look at how scripture talks about salvation. We look at salvation as an event in a moment of time, but God seems to refer to it as an ongoing process
For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope… Romans 8:24 (NKJV)
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV)
…for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. Romans 13:11 (NKJV)
We were saved, are being saved and will be saved, our life is a whole and we will either be able to look at the entirety of it and see God at work, or we will be fragmented and unable to relate to anybody, because we are not living an honest or whole life.
So when I hear that old song, or see that familiar scenery, when the memories come flooding in, instead of trying to put them back in a box, I think I will look and see if I can find somewhere in the memory

...God’s fingerprint on my soul.