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OUT WITH THE OLD...

12/26/2016

I am writing this blog post on a brand new laptop. With a blitz-fast Intel i7, 2.80GHz Processor with a 64-bit Operating System, 16.0GB of RAM, and a two Terabyte hard drive, it is one more impressive machine! (In layman's terms, all of this just means it is capable of running circles around my old machine.)

Unfortunately, for yours truly, it also runs Windows 10. You see, heretofore, I have been one of the few holdouts who has continued to operate in a Windows 7 world. We are all creatures of habit; and I just did not want to give up my old ways and embrace anything new.

Alas, however, my old machine finally played out. For the last few months, it had been on the digital equivalent of life-support. For this reason, I made the terrible decision to pull the plug and put it out of its misery. It passed this weekend with barely a whimper.

And yet, ironically, the demise of my old machine has actually been good for me. As hard as the intitial adjustment has been, the very transition has already begun to propell me into a more productive future. I have continued to be dumbfounded to discover what all improvements have been built in to the new operating system.

And this brings me to my point. In truth, sometimes it can be good to be jarred from our comfortable routine and forced into an uncertain future. The change can actually be good for us.

Years, like computers, are eventually destined, firrt to play out, and then to be superceded.   Old ones invariably give way to new ones. When they do, we sometimes find ourselves resistant to the change. But we shouldn't. Because the change can be good for us. We can find our lot in life improved and our overall producitvity vastly increased. So, as 2016 gives way to 2017, remember this principle and embrace all that the new year has to offer.

And remember also that as uncertain as the unfolding future appears, God is still in control. Nothing will happen to you in the coming year that God is not in control of.

As the poet has put it...

A year untried before me lies.
What it shall bring of strange surprise,
Of joy, or grief, I cannot tell;
But God my Father knoweth well.

I make no concern of mine,
But leave it all with Love divine.
The sun may shed no light by day,
No stars at night illumine my way.

My soul shall still have no affright
Since God is all my life and light.
Though all the earthly lights grow dim,
He walks in light who walks with Him.

No ill can come but He can cure,
No word doth all of good insure:
He’ll see me through the journey’s length,
For daily need give daily strength!

SOURCE: https://bible.org/illustration/year-untried-me-lies.

DON’T MISS THIS!

12/20/2016

As I have shared before, one of my favorite Bible teachers is Chuck Swindoll. Among his many illustrations is one of my top picks for Christmas. Writing back in the 1990s, he wonders what story Dan Rather would have reported if he was relating the news way back in 1809. Would it have been an event or person living in Europe? In England? In America? Or none of the above?

Swindoll writes, “World attention was on Napoleon whose army was sweeping across Europe. From Trafalgar to Waterloo his name was a synonym for superiority.” He goes on to remind us that at the time of the Little Corporal’s much ballyhooed invasions and battles, unknown babies were being born in less newsworthy parts of the world such as Britain and America. “Who was interested in cribs and bottles? ... History was being made. In 1809 Austria fell.”

But what else was happening in 1809? That was the year that William Gladstone, who was destined to become one of the greatest ever English statesman, was born. Famed poet, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, also came into the world in 1809. As did Oliver Wendell Holmes in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Edgar Allan Poe in Boston. And in a barely known town called Hodgenville, Kentucky, the man who would become the 16th President of the United States also came into the world that fateful year of 1809.

But who cared?! Napoleon Bonaparte had captured Austria. Apparently, nothing else at all mattered.

Swindoll then takes us back twenty centuries as he muses...

“Who could have cared about the birth of a baby while the world was watching Rome in all her splendor? The Mediterranean to the south. Euphrates to the east. Atlantic to the west. The Roman empire was as vast as it was vicious. The queen of all nations had arisen to reign forever.

All eyes were on Caesar who demanded a census so as to determine a measurement to enlarge taxes. Who was interested in a couple making an eighty mile trip south from Nazareth? What were they in light of a mighty Caesar and his edicts? Who cared about a Jewess giving birth to a boy?

God did! Without realizing it, mighty Augustus was only an errand boy for the fulfillment of Micah’s prediction … a pawn in the hand of Jehovah. While Rome was busy making history, God arrived as a baby. Rome is but a yawn in the memory of human history but Jesus changed the world.”

In the fourth chapter (verse 4) of his New Testament letter to the Galatian Christians, the Apostle Paul states: “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.”

Thus we see the significance of an otherwise un-noteworthy birth in an obscure little village called Bethlehem in a backwater country called Judea. For it was here, on that first Christmas day, that the God of the universe entered the world as a little baby – a baby born not in a palace or mansion, but a stable.

And the destiny of this child was not so much to defeat Caesar as to defeat sin. Thirty three years later, on an old rugged cross and in an empty tomb outside Jerusalem that He left behind, this is exactly what He did! He gained victory for all mankind over sin! No wonder we celebrate the birth of our Savior!

STORY SOURCE: This story occurs in various froms in numerous books penned by Dr. Swindoll. Among them: Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, Growing Deep in the Christian Life, and The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart. Each of these is available for purchase at booksellers nationwide. Each is also available online at Google books. See, for instance: https://books.google.com/books?
id=jrnVgYJjk7EC&pg=PA121&lpg=PA121&dq=charles+swindoll+1809&source=b
l&ots=oBqp0EMoLj&sig=lVpvlEF_FeYIV2gFgCtp1yyNCz4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0a
hUKEwjRutSpk4TRAhWO2YMKHTgxCaYQ6AEIIjAC#v=onepage&q=charles%2
0swindoll%201809&f=false.

It has also been cited by numerous other authors. See, for example: https://villageschoolsofthebible.wordpress.com/author/villageschoolsofthebible/
page/5/.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-4.htm.

NOTE: I have referenced Dr. Swindoll’s credentials on several of my previous blog posts. See SLOW RIDE, TAKE IT EASY, 12/4/2015, and YUSSIF, THE TERRIBLE TURK, 1/31/2011 below.

HITCHIN’ A RIDE!

12/15/2016

As promised, I am continuing to post some of my all-time favorite Christmas stories. This next one was adapted by the producers of the old Dragnet Radio and Television franchise. (I have written before of my affinity for all things Dragnet! See my earlier blog post titled “FACING THE FACTS” from 01/07/2016.)

Jack Webb, producer and star of Dragnet on both radio and television, was a very devout Christian as well as a patriotic United States citizen. All of his shows, whatever their broadcast medium, reflect a bedrock belief in the notion of respect for authority, whether that authority be divine or human.

The Dragnet Christmas episode titled “The Big Little Jesus” first aired as a radio version way back on December 22, 1953, only two days before it also aired on television (on December 24, 1953) with the same title.

Fourteen years later, on December 21, 1967, as part of the revamped television version of Dragnet’s second season, “The Big Little Jesus,” was remade as “The Christmas Story”. The 1967 version actually uses the same script and several of the same actors as the 1953 version.

Joanna Wilson, in her wonderful “Christmas TV History” blog, summarizes the plot of the 1967 version well.

In "The Christmas Story," it is Christmas Eve and Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Officer Bill Gannon are working burglary cases. A telephone call comes in from Father Rojas at the Old Mission Church - a statue of the Baby Jesus from the Nativity display is missing.

Though the statue isn’t especially valuable, Friday and Gannon appreciate that it has great sentimental value to the parishioners so the officers take this case very seriously. They have until mass on Christmas morning to try and recover the stolen item.

They question several witnesses and a suspect but their case grows cold. One of the possible witnesses is an altar boy, played by actor Barry Williams in an early role before he was Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch. Friday and Gannon then question suspect Claude Stroup, a down-and-out man living in a dilapidated hotel, who was seen in the church earlier that morning.

When Gannon and Friday's investigation turns up nothing and they've exhausted all their leads, they return to the church later that night. While Father Rojas, Friday, and Gannon are standing there, the statue is returned by a little boy named Paco. He innocently explains that he borrowed the statue to make good on his promise to the baby Jesus: to give Him the first ride in his new Christmas gift of a little red wagon.

For me personally, the very best part of the episode is the very ending, when Father Rojas explains that the reason the little boy brought the statue back on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day is because he had already gotten the wagon a day early, as it was a gift of the local firemen who repaired old toys for poor children at Christmas time.

The Padre then goes on to state that Paco and his family are poor. Sergeant Friday looks at the Nativity with Baby Jesus, just returned by the departing boy with his wagon, and asks: “Are they, Father?!”

(And yes, as with all Dragnet shows, this episode concludes by stating: "The story you have just seen is true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent.")

SOURCES:

http://www.christmastvhistory.com/2013/01/dragnet-christmas-1967.html. Here, Joanna Wilson also notes: “Interestingly, the MacGyver Christmas episode, 1989's "The Madonna," borrows this same story line of the missing religious statue from the church for its holiday plotline. Surely, the MacGyver series writers were fans of Dragnet - the familiar storyline must be a tribute to the classic cop show and not just a coincidence. The MacGyver Christmas episode ends the same way as the Dragnet story - the missing statue is returned by a young boy who is giving it a ride in his new wagon.”

See also: http://www.avclub.com/article/idragneti-the-christmas-story-aka-the-big-little-j-66909.

The 1953 television version of “The Big Little Jesus” can be seen here: https://w
ww.youtube.com/watch?v=pi01Mgj5xlo&t=444s.

The radio version is of “The Big Little Jesus” available for download here: http://
www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/crime/dragnet/big-little-jesus-1954-12-21.

Also, the entire Dragnet Old time Radio Series is available online at: https://archive.org/details/Dragnet_OTR.

LEARNING TO SACRIFICE

12/12/2016

As you may know, the purpose of my web site is to help others to better communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Given that Christmas is one of the more opportune times to share the story of Jesus, I thought I would use the next few posts to share some of the more moving Christmas illustrations I have encountered over the years.

Here is the first one. It is a story purporting to be from pioneer days that well illustrates the true Christmas spirit and is titled simply:

“Christmas Eve 1881”

Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.

It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.

After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible; instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though; I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight." I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what.

Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on.

After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood – the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?" "You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what? Yeah," I said, "Why?"

"I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt." That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. "What's in the little sack?" I asked. Shoes, they're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."

We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern.

We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?"

Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.

"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children – sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out.

"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak.

My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before, filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.

I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."

In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it. Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.

Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine. At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.

Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will."

Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand."

I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children.

For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.

SOURCES: Available on various web sites accross the internet. For instance:
http://www.gospelweb.net/Christmas/ChristmasEveStoryFrom1881.htm.

See also: http://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2009/12/
christmas-eve-1881.html#!/2009/12/christmas-eve-1881.html.

Blogger Greg Jones has investigated this story and tracked it to its original source: in a book written by Rian B. Anderson titled A Christmas Prayer (Christmas Books).

Cf.: https://gregjonesorg.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/the-rifle-a-christmas-story/.

NOTE: A possible angle for sharing this story might be the acclaimed movie: “A Christmas Story”, where the young man named Ralphie desperately maneuvers to convince his parents to get him a BB gun for Christmas, only to repeatedly be told: “You’ll shoot your eye out kid!”. This modern holiday classic is based on writer Jean Shepherd’s collection of semi-autobiographical stories.

NOW YOU SEE ME!

12/8/2016

I love the story related years ago by Marlo Thomas, daughter of famed television star, Danny Thomas. It seems that…

A kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew pictures. Occasionally, she would walk around the room to see each child’s work.

“What are you drawing?” she asked one little girl who was working diligently at her desk.

The girl replied, “I’m drawing God.”

The teacher paused and said, “But no one knows what God looks like.”

The little girl replied, “They will in just a minute!”

I share this story today because it so beautifully serves to illustrate the essence of Christmas. On that first Christmas morning so long ago, a little child was born. But that child was unlike any other person ever born, either before or since; for that child was destined to change both history and eternity!

As that child grew into a man, He showed us more of what God is like than we had ever known. For the Apostle Paul (in the Second New Testament Letter to the Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 21) testifies that that child alone was to live His whole life without ever committing a sin! He lived such a perfect life that He was able to state (John 14:9):

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”

But more than just reflect the Heavenly Father, He literally revealed the Father to us in human form. As the Apostle John’s New Testament Gospel says:

“1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5The light shines in the darkness…”

Then, as if to be absolutely clear, John states:

“14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Little wonder, then, that this child, Jesus Christ, when grown to be a man would also state (John 10:30):

“I and the Father are one."

You see, my friend, as God’s One and Only Son, not only did Jesus Christ show what the Father in Heaven was like, He actually manifested the Divine Presence of God here in our very midst! He was literally God incarnate - God in the flesh!

It was for this reason that the Prophet Isaiah (chapter 7, verse 14) had foreseen His birth and referred to Him in this manner:

“14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

Matthew’s Gospel (chapter 1, verse 23) informs us that Immanuel translates into “God with us”!

And it was for this same reason that Joseph and Mary were told to call him Jesus. In Matthew’s Gospel (chapter 1, verses 20 and 21), the angel said to them:

20 …“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Thus, John’s Gospel account of the incarnation of Jesus includes these amazing words:

12 … “to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

Two chapters later, John was led to pen the words to some of the world’s most beloved Bible verses, John 3:16-18:

“16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned…”

Needless to say, John's earlier satements imbue these famous verses with tremendous meaning!

And for this reason, I thank God for Christmas! I thank God for Immanuel! I thank God for Jesus! And I thank God for the salvation that Jesus, the Babe in the manger at Christmas Who was to destined to serve as the Sacrificial Lamb on the cross at Easter, has now brought to all who believe on His holy name!

STORY SOURCE: Available widely on the internet in various versions. See, for instance: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/05/marlo-thomas-laugh-of-the-day-picturing-god_n_1745538.html.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com.

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

12/5/2016

As the popular song asserts, the Christmas season is the most wonderful time of year! For a great many of us, our calendars are chock full, as are our stockings, and even our stomachs! And well they should be, as we delight in the joys of this very special time of year.

But alas, if we are not careful, it is all too easy for us to lose sight of the true meaning of the Christmas season. We must be careful to remember one great truth amidst all the busy excitement. That truth has been aptly put by a simple bumper sticker that reads: “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”. It is very important, especially for those of us who are believers, never to forget this.

To help underscore this thought, I am posting here today a short piece today that was penned several years ago by M. R. DeHaan, M.D., Founder of the famed Radio Bible Class. It is titled:

Can This Be Christmas?

What's all this hectic rush and worry?
Where go these crowds who run and curry?
Why all the lights - the Christmas trees?
The jolly "fat man," tell me please!

Why, don't you know? This is the day
For parties and for fun and play;
Why this is Christmas!

So this is Christmas, do you say?
But where is Christ this Christmas day?
Has He been lost among the throng?
His voice drowned out by empty song?

No. He's not here - you'll find Him where
Some humble soul now kneels in prayer,
Who knows the Christ of Christmas.

But see the many aimless thousands
Who gather on this Christmas Day,
Whose hearts have never yet been opened,
Or said to Him, "Come in to stay."

In countless homes the candles burning,
In countless hearts expectant yearning
For gifts and presents, food and fun,
And laughter till the day is done.

But not a tear of grief or sorrow
For Him so poor He had to borrow
A crib, a colt, a boat, a bed
Where He could lay His weary head.

I'm tired of all this empty celebration,
Of feasting, drinking, recreation;
I'll go instead to Calvary.

And there I'll kneel with those who know
The meaning of that manger low,
And find the Christ - this Christmas.

I leap by faith across the years
To that great day when He appears
The second time, to rule and reign,
To end all sorrow, death, and pain.

In endless bliss we then shall dwell
With Him who saved our souls from hell,
And worship Christ - not Christmas!

The last line bears repeating. May we always remember to worship Christ and not Christmas! After all, For without Him, there would be neither Christmas nor Christmas trappings! But with Him, all the activity, all the festivity, all the tradition finds its meaning! Indeed, He alone is the reason for the season!

SOURCE: This time-honored piece is available widely on the internet. See, for instance, http://www.dailyintheword.org/content/miracle-christmas.

BRUSH STROKE

12/1/2016

I am a happy camper these days! You might well ask why that is. My answer is that I recently stumbled across several episodes of “The Joy of Painting” starring Bob Ross from back in the day and now available on Netflix. Every one of Ross' thousands of oil paintings is at one and the same time both unique, and yet remarkably similar in its theme.

I have to tell you that my wife and I never tire of watching this gifted man create astounding nature scenes with what he called “happy little” trees, bushes, brooks, lakes, mountains, and clouds in a rapid manner through his technique of wet-on-wet oil painting.

Ross’ show appeared on Public Broadcasting in the United States 1983 to 1994. It also aired in Canada, Latin America and Europe. Sadly, Ross died from cancer. Much too soon he left this world. Nonetheless, he lives on today as an internet celebrity, especially though such websites as YouTube and streaming media services such as Netflix.

As we have been watching these thirty-plus year old programs, we have been reminded that Ross ended each episode with two simple words: “God bless.” Indeed, Bob used his God-given talents to bless and inspire a great many people. Even now, decades later, his testimony serves to challenge us to follow his example and to use our own God-given talents to do things that inspire, motivate, and bless others in turn.

And even if you and I are not be gifted painters like he was, we invariably still have something to offer others – something given to us by God that will inspire and motivate our fellow man. Even if your and my talents are few, we can still have a powerful impact on others just by our attitude and outlook on life.

Some time back, Isle of Man resident Beverley Williams wrote a wonderful little poem titled "If You Painted Your Life". I felt it fitting to post it here today.

If you painted life, would it be mostly grey?
With rare flames of scarlet for each special day
And odd strands of silver where you kept your illusions
Mixed in with the blues showing loss and confusion.

If you painted your life, would there be storms?
For the times you lost courage and agreed to conform
Perhaps you'd paint stars, one for each dream
That gave life a meaning, or so it once seemed.

Has anyone else painted clouds in your sky?
And dulled your bright colours as your chances passed by?
Maybe it is time to take back the brush
Start painting your own life, enough is enough.

You can paint rainbows, banishing grey
And splash on some gold, starting today
Puddles of silver: shimmering: bright
Walk out of the shadows, come into the light.

Perhaps you need mellow, golden nut brown
Are you running too fast, is it time to slow down?
Paint yourself peace and space just to be
Gentle blue mornings, a soft lilac sea.

In your painting of life let the beautiful days
Shimmer in gold and light up the greys
Paint it with courage, thread silver strands
Pick up your brush, life's in your own hands.

Bob would surely agree. He would very likely challenge each of us to pick up our respective brushes. And as he did, he would also likely say, “God bless!”

I follow his example and say, "May God indeed bless you as you pick up that brush and paint away on the canvas of life!"

SOURCES:

https://www.netflix.com/
https://www.bobross.com/
https://52best.com/painted2.asp?utm_source=Sunday+01%2F20%2F13++*+If+
You+Painted+Your+Life+*&utm_campaign=Sandy+Test1&utm_medium=email.