A Christmas Gift Never Given

 

Most all of us have Christmas memories that are unforgettable and continue to linger.   For some of us, those memories are good and for others of us those memories are not so good.   Christmas 2000 was a Christmas that I will never forget.  My late Mom was in the hospital and nursing home that Christmas recovering from back surgery in early December 2000.   I remember making my way from my home to my hometown of Burlington to visit her in the hospital before I  had some “Christmas moments” with Ann and our girls.   It would turn out to be my Mom’s last Christmas before her death in August   

My brother Tony, my step-father Beamon, and I had made the decision that we would not exchange  Christmas gifts until Mom was able to be back home.    Since Mom had been sick, I had bought her a nightgown for her Christmas present.   Though Ann and the girls were much more proficient in wrapping Christmas gifts that I was, I insisted that I would wrap her gift even though the gift wrapping was far from perfect.

Shortly after her death in August 2001, I discovered her Christmas gift in a closet.   It was a Christmas gift that was never given.   Nursing home visits, rehab, physical therapy, and other things seemed to get in the way of giving her that nightgown.   Though my memory is a blur over 20 years later, I seem to recall that I took the nightgown and donated it to the local Goodwill Store.  Perhaps some other person got the benefeit of a gift that was never given. 

In these December days, many will offer gifts to young and old:   children, family, friends, co-workers, community helpers (like the postman and the person who delivers our newspaper).   I wonder if there is a gift that you will not give this year?

·         Will you offer the gift of an “I’m sorry” to a friend or family member with which a dispute still lingers?

·         Will you offer the gift of a visit to a friend or family member you have not seen in the longest time?

·         Will you give the gift of taking time to spend with God in prayer and praise and get re-acquainted on His Son’s birthday?

While Christmas is only days away, there is still time and these are gifts you can afford if you would only invest the time.    Have a joy-filled week and a blessed Christmas. Emmanuel, God is with us.-  Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER --   God, we give you thanks for the unspeakable gift that is ours in Jesus Christ.   Richly we have been given.   Let us richly give.   Amen.

Untied Church, Untied World: A Christmas Hope

 

Two of the things that have not changed through the years of my life about Christmas is there is always a nativity scene somewhere and most church always seem to have a Christmas pageant.   When I was a boy, we had a wooden nativity scene on the front lawn of our church.   Today, I see them not just at churches but sometimes in the yards of homes in neighborhoods.   Regarding Christmas pageants, I was in a few of them as a child starting out as a shepherd and then being promoted to a wise man walking down the aisle of the church.  

I always assumed as a child that the main characters surrounding the birth of Jesus showed up at the same time just like aunts, uncles, and cousins showed up at our grandparent’s house at Christmas for food and gifts. A college degree  in religion from Methodist University and a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School taught me a different view of the  birth of Jesus.  Wise men?   Formal education taught me that the wise men got there far later than the shepherds because they came from far away and, on top of that, they were probably of a different religious tradition.   Shepherds?     Even though the sheep  at a petting  zoo look cute, those shepherds were considered to be sinners by the religious leaders of the day.    Mary, the mother of Jesus?    Formal education taught me that even though Mary was seen as “highly favored” by the angels, she was looked at with scorn and shame by her community and religious leaders alike in her day.     The real story about the people in the nativity scene at church or the church Christmas pageant was a little bit different.

I wish this Christmas could be a different story for us.    Our family does not gather together anymore at our grandparent’s house because grandparents, aunts, uncles, and even some  cousins have gone  to their  eternal reward.   However, that is not the only thing that is different.    We do  not seem as a people to COME TOGETHER or BE TOGETHER anymore.     In our country, we seem less like the United States, but more like people who are known to be liberal  or  conservative… republican or democrat or independent… rural , urban, or suburban.    Decades ago when the General Conference of the United Methodist Church  was meeting, one hotel  put on their marquee “Welcome UNTIED Methodist”.     In these days, that spelling error is becoming a reality as United Methodist Churches and people  become untied amid differences of opinion about issues many see as quite important.     

I wish this Christmas could be a different story.     Long ago in Bethlehem, shepherd-sinners… wise men from far away places with different beliefs… Joseph and a formerly pregnant and shunned  Mary came together despite their differences to praise the name of the new born King, Christ Jesus.   Like the different people with their blemishes and differing beliefs around the manger of Bethlehem, I wish we could put down our social media post and our vicious rhetoric in our untied country and untied church to be together at the feet of Jesus and in the name of Jesus.    I may not agree with you and you may not agree with me, but I know that I need you and know that we all  need the peace, presence, and power of the Lord Jesus.  Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy L. Wall

PRAYER --   God,  forgive us for the times we have focused on what divides us instead of what unites us.   Knit us together, O God, through the bonds of your love that came down full of grace and truth in Bethlehem;  through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Be Think-ful

 

The people of the United States will celebrate a holiday this week:  Thanksgiving.   Thanksgiving first was a national holiday back in the 1860’s when President Abraham Lincoln declared the 4^th Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving.   That period in the 1860’s was a time similar to our time now.   Americans fought Americans, and brothers fought brothers in a time of civil war.   Despite that, President Lincoln was wise enough to see beyond the current state of affairs to realize that there was much to be thankful for. 

Many years ago, I heard the story of a young man who had a speech impediment.  I do not know the cause of his speech impediment, but am told that as he spoke to a family member one day he uttered the following:    “We…we…we…. Aaaalll…. Needddd… to… be… moooreee.. thiinnkful”.    Anotherwords,  “we all need to be more thankful”. 

It is easy for all of us to think we earned this or deserved that, or to believe that we are entitled to something.   Yet, think about it.    Really think  about it!     There are so many gifts and blessings we know regularly    I am certain that this is a busy week for many of you as you prepare to gather with family or friends… make plans to travel far or near… or prepare a meal or a dish for a thanksgiving gathering.   I encourage you as I encourage myself to THINK ABOUT IT.   Take time this week to look at your life in all its craziness or serenity and consider all the goodness you know.   And most of all, see in the midst of it all the certainty that so many of the blessings you know are ones that find their source in our living and loving God.   Happy Thanksgiving.   Have a joy-filled week.   -  Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER --   Living and loving God, I want to say thank you for all the goodness that comes my way each day knowing that you are the one from whom all blessings flow.   Bless families and friends in their gatherings, and bless those who travel;  through Christ our Lord.   Amen.

The Story of Marine Corporal Ira Hayes

The people of the United States will remember our veterans in a few days as we observe Veterans Day.   Some will take a holiday from work, and some will pause and reflect on those who wore the uniform of our nation’s military.     While Memorial Day is a time when we remember those who  made the  ultimate sacrifice as they gave their lives, Veterans Day is a day and time when we remember those men and women who served in the military and came home.

Many of you have seen the iconic picture found above.   The picture was taken during World War II and shows our nation’s military raising the American flag on the island of Iwo Jima.   Among the folks who fought on Iwo Jima and raised that flag was a man named Ira Hayes.  He was a native American by birth, and lived in the state of Arizona.   He served our nation not only in the U.S. Marines, but he also came home and was a part of a team of “flag raisers” that toured the country after that photo was taken raising monies for the war effort of World War II.   Thanks to Ira Hayes and his associates, millions of dollars were raised for the war effort.    Unfortunately, the war left scars upon the heart and soul of Ira Hayes.   He suffered post traumatic stress disorder and he dealt with the scars of the war by drinking alcohol.   Ira Hayes died in January 1955 at 32 years of age.   The coroner maintained that Ira Hayes died from alcohol poisoning.   What a sad death for this man that truly was an American hero.

In I Samuel 7:11-13, we hear this story where Samuel puts up a memorial to remember how God has helped them:

¹¹ The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.  ¹² Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,^[a] saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”   ¹³ So the Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines.

Let us raise our Ebenezer and remember those who wore our nation’s uniform and served on this Veterans Day.   The greatest way we can remember them is to make sure that each of these men and women who served us have the help they need after they leave the battlefront and come back home.   Have a joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER --   Living and loving God, we thank you for those who served our nation as they served in the military. As they gave liberally to take care of us, let us give liberally to help take care of them; through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

The Beverly Hillbillies and Us

 

Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed
A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed,
Then one day he was shootin at some food,
And up through the ground came a bubblin crude.
Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.

Well the first thing you know ol Jed's a millionaire,
Kinfolk said "Jed move away from there"
Said "Californy is the place you ought to be"
So they loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly.
Hills, that is. Swimmin pools, movie stars.

Some of you reading this will recognize the words above.   If you grew up in the 1960’s as I did or if you are a fan of old television shows, you will probably recognize that these words came from the theme song of “The Beverly Hillbillies” television show.   A man who lived far back in the hills one day had the fortune (or misfortune) to have oil discovered on his property making Jed Clampett and his family rich.  

Suddenly, Jed Clampett and family headed to live in a mansion in Beverly Hills, California.   Most of the comedy in the show came from the fact that though the general public and the bank knew that the Clampett family were rich, they did not act  like it.   For example, they felt they had to make their own soap and had to hunt for their dinner instead of going to buy  it at their local grocery store.   Their mindset came telling them they were poor when they had riches that were the envy of many. 

I believe the story of the Beverly Hillbillies is a spiritual metaphor for so many of us.   Though the Bible tells us in Phillipians 4,  “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus our Lord”,  we (like Jed Clampett and family) have a poor, “woe is me” mindset.  So much of the time, we listen more clearly and attentively to what the world tells us instead of the truth of the gospel.   We know the “treasure” of the abundant life in Christ but let the cares of this world make us blind to that truth.  

Friends, you are sons and daughters of  the mighty, omnipotent God who offers you more than you can ask and imagine.    Live in the joy and riches of His grace.   Have a joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER --   God, thank you for the riches that are found in your abundant grace that is more than we ask or imagine.   Forgive me for the times I fail to live like it.  Help me to abide more fully in you; through Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Bojangles

 

There is a chain restaurant  in our area named Bojangles.   It is well known for  two things: their chicken and biscuits.   My wife Ann and I have been known to frequent that place every now and then or to wait  in line at their drive-thru window.    There was someone else at a local Bojangles location a few months ago:  Dale Earnhardt Jr.   If you are NASCAR fan or a racing fan, you probably know of Dale Jr.  He was recently elected as a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame having retired from racing a few years ago.  From news reports, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was not in the restaurant eating a biscuit or in the drive through ordering a meal.  No, he was working in the restaurant.  He is a spokesman for  Bojangles, and I suppose it was a way to bring publicity to Bojangles.  While there is nothing wrong with working at Bojangles.  I am grateful for those  people that do especially on those days when I am one of their customers.  However, I never thought that he would be working at a local Bojangles location.  

The Book of Jonah is a short book in the Old Testament.    Why, it is only 4 chapters long.   Even those who are not believers and read the Bible regularly know about Jonah in the belly of the fish (or whale).    While I will not take time to discuss every aspect of this book of the Bible, one of the things that Jonah tells us about is that while Jonah is in the belly of the fish, he prays to God.  God hears his prayer and Jonah winds up being spit up  by the fish on the shore.   None of us would expect Jonah to be in the belly of a fish or for God to show up there hearing the prayer of Jonah anymore than most racing fans  would expect Dale Earnhardt Jr. to show up to work at local Bojangles Restaurant.

We serve a God who always shows up in the most unlikely times and places:

God shows up for Elijah not in the thunder but in a still small voice

God shows up for Moses in a bush in the desert that is burning but is not consumed

God shows up for Paul in a bright light on the road to Damascus

I  would not expect Dale Earnhardt Jr. to show up working in my local Bojangles Restaurant but he did.  Thanks be to our God who shows in the most unlikely of times and places.   Have a joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER    Almighty God,   we give you thanks that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Thank you, Lord, for always showing up.   Give me a vigilant hear to see you;  through Christ our Lord.   Amen. 

Changes Come and Go

 

Have you noticed?   The days are getting shorter.  Though there are still many warm days, there the temperatures are not as  hot as they were in July.   Fall is officially here and it is starting to look like.  The times are changing.   One of the gifts of living in my part of the world is that we indeed experience all 4 seasons.   I cannot imagine what it would be like to live in a place where you never saw snow on the ground or ice glistening on the tree limbs… or saw the tree leaves change from green to hues of orange, red, or yellow.  

Changes is hard for all of us.   Many struggle when a software they use in their job has an upgrade.   Students struggle when they adjust to a new school or a new teacher.    What car driver has not found themselves confused when they encountered a detour on a familiar road or a new traffic pattern.

While change is sometimes hard, it also can be good.   When an infant cries, sometimes perhaps they cry because they need a change of a diaper.   Change sometimes is not just good, but change sometimes is of God.   Here are a few examples:

·         No one but God could have changed a man named Saul from a persecutor of Christians to a great missionary

·         No one but God could have changed Peter from a rocky commitment to Christ Jesus into the one who preached a sermon on Pentecost that led to  3000 souls giving their life to Christ

·         No one but God could have changed David from being a shepherd boy to be a great King and Psalm writer

·         No one but God could have changed Joseph from being a little brother shunned by his elder brothers to being the prime minister of Egypt

·         Last but not least, no one but God could have changed a dead, crucified Jesus from one whose life was over into the risen living Lord

The times are changing.   Thanks be to God for the miraculous changes He works in all of us.  Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER    Almighty God,  we give thanks that though the seasons change and the world changes that your love changes not.   We give thanks for the changes you have wrought in our lives; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.