I Can Not Come . . .

How would you like to have the job of putting a first rate party together? You know, some great party that everyone wants to go to. One amazing, lavish, smashing good party. One that would be recognized by so many & everyone will want to be on the list to attend. I think that would be an ideal occupation.

What more could you ask for than to be the one to not just put it together but take care of even the minutest detail. Everything from food and coffee, to what colour for the décor and you get to pick the table settings. Decide how many at each table and who sits with who. Then the entertainment and of course you would pick the MC and the guest of honour. I know there is some out there already planning it all in your head. You may in fact have your resume in hand ready to apply.

In Matthew 22 Jesus talks about just one such banquet that His Father has prepared and everyone who was invited had some lame excuse why they couldn’t come. Take a moment to go and read this passage and see if you can find yourself in it's words. We even have a hymn telling about the results; “I Cannot Come.” Interestingly, Christmas is one such banquet. It is to celebrate Christ’s birth and He is the guest of honour. We are all invited to come, and we do show up, but I want to ask you, what do we come for?

Every Sunday, in most churches we do a lot of preparation getting ready to come to the dress rehearsal of Heaven’s Banquet. You and I are invited. We show up and step into the presence of God, and see Jesus sitting at His right hand. Then we realize, even though He invited us, it’s not about me and how well I’m dressed or do l like what is being served, it is all about Him. And we are changed in some small way each and every Sunday because we come to Him practicing, preparing and getting ready for the real Heaven’s Banquet. Are you ready? No? Then come and practice with us and get prepared.

Something to think about.

Rob

Silent Night

We all have our one thing of Christmas. Each of us has one piece of the Christmas puzzle that lights our fire and brings a glow within. I have mine and you have yours. It can be that first taste of eggnog or warm apple cider. Maybe it’s the lights or the crowd at the mall. I know someone that starts to glow as they open the first old box of tree decorations. That glow never fades until the last bulb is put carefully away for another year.
Then there are those who experience the beauty of Christmas when it is wrapped in the warm glow of the parents, or grandparent glowing home on Christmas Eve. It’s the family and friends. If you are about my age, Christmas is bathed in memories of the past that sometime, many times, invade the present and we relive it every year no matter what life brings.
For me it’s being caught up in a feeling. A feeling that is transported through time and space. I feel it every year at possibly the same moment as it has for thousands of year. I believe what I see, feel, hear, and experience was akin to the night Jesus was born.
It might have been that moment at the Christmas Eve service when all the candles are lit and quietly we sing; “All is calm, all is bright...” But it’s not then. Everyone extinguishes their candle, we turn up the lights and everyone puts on their coat and calls out, “Merry Christmas”. But it’s not then either.
The conversation going home in the car is all about tomorrow and we talk about Jesus and Christmas and family and presents or forgotten ones. At this time I find myself relaxing, smiling and realizing that all the trappings of Christmas are put aside for a brief moment. Pulling into the driveway, we get out of the car and every year most of us run for the warmth of the fire and that cozy chair.
Me, I stop for a moment outside, feel the chill in the air and look up into the heavens. Much like the shepherd might have done. Maybe even as the Magi when they pitches camp each night on their trip to Bethlehem.  Then it gets very real to me, I experience the calmness of the silent night. No cars or people on the street. It’s very quiet and so, so, calm. It’s a brief moment of peace in this world that we all crave. I believe it was a night like this one that Mary experienced. Everyone was gone to bed and the quietness of that small town surrounded her as she lay holding Jesus. In the silence I catch her  looking into the face of her son, her God and lovingly bending down and being the first one to ever kiss the face of God.
I think about this same moment each and ever year and patiently wait for it’s coming. It’s my special moment when Jesus and Christmas comes together in the words that even now echo in my mind and my heart as Christ in me warms my heart like no other moment and I find myself singing again;
Silent Night, Holy Night,

All is calm, All is bright . . . 

Merry Christmas

Hurry

Is your schedule full? Are you running out of time and energy, let alone money at Christmas? Some people categorically bundle all this doing into what is called the Christmas Spirit. Really? If this is true, this whole month is awesome and amazing and I want more hustle and bustle. Invite me to your open house for the holiday. Call me up and I’ll be there, I want more and more of the Christmas Spirit.

I’m even willing, if it doesn’t fit into my already crowded schedule, to show up a day before your event and be the sampler for your future guests. Not too sure about showing up the next morning for leftovers though. This had me thinking of the mountain of presents to be purchased and wrapped, and in some situations, delivered or mailed before the big day. This really came to me while in church this past Sunday. I thought something was missing. Didn’t take me long to realize there are no gifts under the tree. Maybe they aren’t supposed to be here. Maybe they are just to show up under the tree in our homes. Something more for me to think about.

I found an answer for all the parties, hustle and bustle, the crowded schedule, presents, visiting, singing, decorating, sweeping the rain (lol) and that answer is to follow the advice of Nike – “Just Do It”. Be part of this amazing season of Advent where we not only connect with the people we share our lives with, but relish the experience of being with people we love and people who love us back.

Isn’t that what God wanted when He sent His Son at Christmas? He not only wants to be at our parties and with us Christmas morning around the tree, but He wants to be here loving us and being love back. This Sunday just happens to be LOVE Sunday. For He sent His Son as the most amazing Christmas present for each and every one of the world’s people, past, present and future. He came to present us with God's love and He is still with us today bring love, joy, peace and hope. Just a suggestion, never make your schedule so full that you don’t have time for Him this Christmas. After all, isn’t it Jesus birthday celebration?

Something to think about

Rob

Dad's Wool Socks

I just went through a culture shock of sorts. The movie, Home Alone, was on YTV the other night and I had opportunity to see (for the first time in a while) the Christmas toy ads on television. WHAT! Didn’t know half of them or maybe more! Mind you I did recognize some that I knew about twenty years ago including a new model of Barbie?

This got me to thinking about what gift would you give a child this year. My memory is pretty good and I remember one year where we received a couple of gifts and an orange and some rock candy in our stocking. This, so you know, was one of dad’s woolen work socks that got stuck to the candy. Back then we made our own games and had great imaginations. It was the most wonderful time back then when we took a piece of cardboard and went tobogganing. But what gift would work this year?

I have heard from a number of kids that they want it all and I guess we did the same back when we watched “Santa’s Workshop” on tv right after getting home from school each December afternoon. Our eyes lit up at the thought of having un-numbered presents in the morning. And with most of us, we were never disappointed with what we received.  But what gift would work in 2015?

Christmas Eve at church was an amazing gift we now only recognize after all these years. The tree, the full church, the lights, the glorious singing, the choir, the message and the candles we held as we sang, Silent Night. Oh, what a precious gift of just being there.

In our family, I remember the amazing journey each Christmas of going from house to house all day. We visited Grandma and our aunts and uncles. We played with and enjoyed the toys of our many, many, cousins. It was an amazing day. A long day and sleep always came quickly when we arrived home. Which made me realize another gift was to have people around us on Christmas. Yes, the tree is beautiful, the gifts are just what we want, and dinner was the best yet. But the family, loved ones there to celebrate Christ’s birth is even more spectacular.

There is one more gift that outshines them all, is to have Him, the baby Jesus, Christmas wrapped in swaddling clothes, home for Christmas. Home in our hearts and in our lives. He is the best gift, God’s gift to you and me this Christmas.

Something to think about.