Generations

I visited my mom in the nursing home today and noticed the decline in her health after recovering from a broken hip. I had expected it but actually seeing it got to me. Humanity lives from one generation to the next so I will soon find myself the oldest generation of my family. That gives me a new perspective on the subject.

How does each generation collect the best of the previous generation and pass it on to the next? The challenge is for me to take all that my mother gave me and make sure my darling daughters grasp the importance of it for their own lives?

I span two generations and am the key between them. God help me!

My Christmas Baby

My youngest daughter Larua Lea was born sixty seconds before mid-night on December 24^th. She was so very close to being a Christmas baby and what a joy she was to behold.

I use to worry that she felt cheated by the fact that many times she received combination birthday/Christmas gifts. So we planned every summer a halfway party for her to correct that supposed problem. Later the adult Laura told me that she grew up thinking it was so wonderful that the whole world threw a party on her birthday. My Christmas baby has always had an interesting way of looking at the world.

Laura Lea was my best Christmas present

Christmas Words

                           

We can all see the sights and sounds of Christmas all around us. We can also speak the words of Christmas, words that carry power and feeling. Most of us are most comfortable with the Familiar words like family, friends, fellowship, feasting, trees, lights, surprise and memories.

There are also Bible words like love one another, love our neighbor, love the stranger, love our enemies, and love the Lord with all your heart. These all come from the love God shared with us on that first Christmas.

Then there are the Season's words like peace, service, sharing, gifts, fairness, honesty, greetings, and have a happy. These are words that flow like a gentle stream from Thanksgiving through New Years.

At last there is the Supreme word: Christ, without whom there would be no Christmas. Preachers always want to remind us to keep the Christ in Christmas and I am no different. When ever you are speaking the words of Christmas remember that one supreme word that gives us all the rest.

What does it take for YOU?

The story is told about an angel walking down the street of Old Jerusalem with a torch in his right hand and a bucket of water in his left hand. Another angel saw him and asks, “What are you going to do with that fire and water?”  The first angel replied, “With the fire, I’m going to burn down the mansions of heaven, and with the bucket of water, I’m going to put out the fires of hell. Then we’ll see who really loves God.”

What a thought! Do you have to have hell scared out of you or the promise of golden streets to make you love God? Is it enough for you to love and praise God simply because God is God. Is it enough to love God as the creator of the universe, including the good earth we live on. What does it take for you to really love God?

God has expressed love for us many times but never forces us to love in return. But our love is what God desires from us. To be in love with God can be the most exhilarating feeling one can have. Sadly to few people feel the full effects of that kind of relationship and their lives suffer from the lack of it. Do you truly love God? How do you express you love for God? Does your love flow from a heart filled with joy because of God’s great gift of His son Jesus? What does it take for you to really love God?

Your Many Roads to Bethlehen

There were many roads to the manger in Bethlehem. The family of Jesus took one road; the shepherds took another and the wise men yet another. Today the roads that the pilgrim takes are also many for we come from many places. Can we travel with Mary, the wise men, or the shepherds? Is it possible for Christians to get so caught up in the real excitement of the birth of Christ that we can hear the angels sing?

The pilgrim who has the courage, faith, and discipline to make the journey will discover there the very presence of God. Travel the roads of adoration, joy, and giving as some of your personal roads to Bethlehem and the presence of God in your life. This is a week to put freshness in our faith as we prepare to receive the Christ Child and celebrate the advent of His first coming. This is a time to learn to serve God again, to act on our faith and live it our for Christ.

When you attend worship Christmas Sunday go the House of the Lord as a pilgrim on the road to Bethlehem seeking the light of the ages to guide you. Go and share in the adoration of the Christ Child who was the promise of the prophets and the hope of eternity. Join your fellow pilgrims on the road to Bethlehem.

Children In Church

I think most churches have a “Children’s Sermon/Moment” during worship where the children come to the front of the sanctuary for a message at their level. Adults often get more out of that message than a thirty minute sermon.

Sunday as I sat and looked at the children sitting on the chancel steps my thoughts went to those Connecticut who were missing from their congregations worship services. Pastor Mike mentioned that same thought later in the service. I think how we are so use to seeing our children sitting there and how precious they are. I felt for those parents the sadness of their children not being there.

I know that the whole country is praying for that community and their missing children whose funerals will darken this week’s spirit and joy.

Praying with tears today. 

Bill of Rights Day 2012

On Dec. 15, 221 years ago, the First Ten Amendments to the United States Constitution was ratified. The First Amendment, is the first of ten  known as the Bill of Rights, guarantees our right to worship, speak, petition the government and assemble. 

• First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

• Second Amendment – Militia (United States), Sovereign state, Right to keep and bear arms.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.^[56]

• Third Amendment – Protection from quartering of troops.

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

• Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

• Fifth Amendment – due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

• Sixth Amendment – Trial by jury and rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

• Seventh Amendment – Civil trial by jury.

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

• Eighth Amendment – Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

• Ninth Amendment – Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

• Tenth Amendment – Powers of States and people.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Celebrate and protect your rights as Americans on this Bill of Rights Day.