Affecting Our Culture In 2017

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Christmas Presents All Year Long!

When I was six years old my father died. I don't remember much about that year, but I do remember spending the summer after his death with my only uncle and aunt. Uncle Al and Aunt Becky "took me in" during a difficult time for this young boy.

Later that year, my aunt and uncle visited my mom, sisters, and me for Christmas. I had just turned seven, and was very excited about their visit. The previous summer had forged a strong bond between my uncle and myself.

When they arrived, I helped my uncle unload his car. It was filled with Christmas presents! I remember carrying into our house armload after armload of presents. As I carried them in, I would look at the tags, and saw gift after gift that said "To: Bradley". It was going to be a great Christmas for me!

Imagine my disappointment when opening gifts on Christmas morning, most of the ones tagged "To: Bradley” actually read "To: Becky". You see being only seven, I hadn't learned to read cursive writing yet, and I thought Becky was Bradley.

I did receive some nice gifts from my uncle and aunt. I got over the disappointment of less gifts than anticipated. Life went on.

As Believers, the opposite is true. We have been given the greatest gift of all: Eternal life through Jesus. But we have been given many more gifts, and we don't take them: New mercies every morning, a guarantee of all of our needs met, help in solving problems, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead living inside us... God's Word is filled with the gifts that He has given us.

Imagine how disappointed God is because He has given us so many gifts, and yet we leave them under the tree, unopened.

May we receive what God has given us everyday, and live lives of faith and victory because of all that the Lord has given us!

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Without A Home At Christmas

There were two times in recent years where I was a man without a home. Call it transition. Call it between places. Call it what you want.

One time our family was in the process of moving to Florida from Maryland. I was joining the staff of a church to help while its pastor was gravely ill. My wife and daughter had already moved down there with our "stuff".

I stayed in Maryland because my current church was keeping me on for a few months to aid in the transition of my responsibilities.

I rotated staying at three different friend’s houses in Maryland in their guest rooms. All of my “stuff” that I didn't load onto our moving truck was crammed into the back of my Mini Cooper. Because I was a man without a home. 

I worked three-and-a-half days in Maryland, and three-and-a-half days in Florida, commuting via air between the two places. I did this for three months.

Another time, I was helping a friend start a new business in South Florida, while my family remained in Northwest Florida. I slept on my son’s couch in Ft. Lauderdale, stayed in a friend’s condo, and stayed in a room on the church campus where I led worship. I lived out of my suitcase and Mini Cooper. I visited my family as much as I could. I did this for a year.

Both times I was without a home was during the Christmas Season.

That was my story. It reminds me of the story of another man without a home. He began his life being born in a borrowed feed trough in a borrowed cattle stall.

He once said of himself that he had no place to lay his head.

He traveled a lot too. Not so much commuting, but rather purposeful journeys on foot to be involved in people's lives.

All of his clothes weren't crammed into the back of a Mini Cooper, but rather were worn on his back.

This same man without a home gave up his life so I could have a home in heaven. I am grateful.

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