Year's end random thoughts ...approaching 2017, while reflecting back. Of course, we should not miss the moment!!

For you Bible scholars, does this picture represent them going to Bethlehem, or leaving Bethlehem for Egypt??

It is much more than a postage stamp on a postcard, greeting card, or letter ...when I say, "Merry Christmas to each & every one!!!

Though not politically correct in everyone's mind ...and as the song goes, "Peace on Earth!" is it peace in a limited fashion, and what is peace??

It is certainly not about me making peace ...as I am a sinner, who makes many mistakes. But, my greatest hope is that people don't make the biggest mistake in not realizing why Jesus was born.

Jesus wasn't born to guarantee that my sins were covered as in not discovered ...but, rather I am covered as in forgiven. And that is not achieved by me selecting the proper festive stamp for the appropriate time of year. 

Whether your family chooses to celebrate untraditionally, or not ....unconditionally is how He loves us.

Yet, His love is not just a stamp on us. People place labels on us, and we place labels on ourselves ....good and bad, neither being without its problems. But, though God's love is out there, it's not realized nor sufficiently useful unless we make it real on the inside.

No matter what the weather is outside, it is whether we view things in one light or another ...or perhaps in darkness.  It is not the weather that matters, but how we dress ourselves ...or address others, being the climate we create.

Recently, I heard a complaint that has seemed to be a traditional way of thinking ...in reference to Climate Change. The current traditional thought is that people who don't believe in the importance of Climate Change are dangerous thinkers ...and I just heard this again yesterday. 

                                 
                                           *********************

Posted by James Hall

Date: November 28, 2016 ---"Any political ideology finds itself up against this context. Therefore, promoting division and extreme dislike between groups and among varied political orientations is a key and necessary element in preserving the elitist controlled organism of collective perception."

 

"The goal is to train the public to accept that only government or mainstream institutions can offer provisional solutions.  Reality is much different from the popular version of current events or prominent issues. Yet the typical person is unequipped to accept that their worldview is usually a result of psychological indoctrination, peer pressure and mass media distortion. The reason why people act foolishly, often against their own best self-interest, rests upon a deception of deliberate delusion, which permeates every layer of their politically correct society." --- James Hall.

                                         
                                ***********************

What about spiritual correctness?? I think this time of year is a good time to focus again on what we really believe. Do we believe in Jesus?? Do we believe in the Bible?? I believe that God created our earth, that He will handle how long it will last, and that it will last not as long as we protect it ...but, for as long as we cherish His Word.

I believe in the six actual days mentioned in the first Chapter of Genesis ...and I also believe in the Book of Revelation, where we are told that God is going to send us a new earth ...in His time, not our doing.

So, back to the question of whether we believe in Jesus ...and by what source is our belief based upon??

I guess people can say they have Jesus in their mind and in their heart ...but, unless their source is the Bible, it may be that they just swallowed a stamp. In that case, it would be postage due ...and no amount of postage would get you where you'd really like to go.

With climate change, I could always relocate ...but when I did, I'd be more concerned that I'd be able to locate my Bible.

Well, that was no postcard, nor your typical greeting card ...more like a letter. The Bible is God's love letter to us. That being said, I want to say that I wholeheartedly wish you all a blessed & joyous Christmas!!!

And with Jesus ....in another manner of speaking, it at least does say it's a 'Forever' stamp ...no matter who tries to cancel it out!!

I was reminded of a story often heard in church growing up, about a man who drowned in a flood after rejecting help from boat and helicopter saying God would save him.

Yes, I've heard that story many times too. I've had boat rides, so may have waited for the thrill of a helicopter myself. But, the helicopter burns gas ...which causes pollution, so I might catch heat from certain people on that one, though I'd be in a climate where it would be very pleasant (certainly not hot).

And I am all for clean water and clean air ...we recycle, don't put weed killer on our yard, I made a mouse trap out of a milk jug (so I could later release it in the woods ....to work its way to someone else's house?? ---something perhaps a bit embarrassing to a family of hunters), and I try to capture ladybugs inside the house so I can release them outside (probably letting a half dozen more in when I open the door to let the one out). Aside from the clean water and air ...I don't get overexcited if others don't do those other things. 

Yet, I just think it is way overstated when Global Warming has to be changed to Climate Change because someone else is predicting another ice age. We in Michigan just tend to laugh ...and wish everyone else would just 'chill' out. The kids want to go sledding tomorrow ...and I am the one who will likely freeze, if anyone does. Even Yoopers loose some circulation ability upon getting older.  

Yet, upon getting 'older' ...perhaps I can glean a little of the 'wiser' too.  

The wise men didn't exactly know what they were following ...yet, they committed to the fact that it was something very special.  It was worth abandoning all else at that time to follow.  

Though people do commit to abandoning most everything, often including family ...to drinking or gambling, and other unhealthy things, I contend that wise men still seek Jesus.  The difference is, we know who we are seeking ...and are seeking to know Him better.