North Florida Writer

Powerful Thought and Prayer for the Days Between Christmas and New Year's

12/29/2021

Jesus, Our King of Kings

So, Christmas Day is over just as quickly as it arrived and very quickly the running about finally slows and the excitement wanes. Some of us quickly take down the decorations and remove the tree while others do it on New Year's Day with the onset of the new year. And still others, the real traditionalists, wait for Twelfth Night, following the tradition of Old England and so many of the European nations where tradition still has some major religious impact. But whatever the case, most see it as a big letdown, yet also a relief as they will have more time to deal with other things delayed while rushing to make things perfect for Christmas.

Many who are off for an extended vacation will spend time returning gifts and replacing them. Others will enjoy relaxing and visiting with out-of-town friends and relatives and, of course, there are usually a number of Christmas parties still taking place up until New Year's Day. But, don't we have something that's much more important that we should consider? Isn't there something about the story of Jesus' birth that should stay with us and influence us always, not just at Christmas?

I guess the answer to that question depends on what each of us believes Christmas truly is and, of course, we are each entitled to think what we will. That's what free will is all about. So, if we merely see Christmas as a secular holiday, a long weekend or longer off from work and a big party for our family and friends with lots of presents and good food then, when it's over, it's over and we go about our merry way the way we always have. We return to being self-centered, with lots of complaining and dissatisfaction about things at work and in our lives, being impatient when things don't go our way immediately and the snark, oh, the snark, we use as we think that only we have the answers to all that matters in life.

But what if, instead of the above, we took the time to realize that Christmas is something and spiritual, far beyond the toys, the food and the showing of ourselves at a big church service? What if we admitted to ourselves that we don't have all the answers, in fact, very few of them? That would require us to admit our weakness and our frailties and turn to the One who can change us, the One we celebrate on Christmas Day.

In that precious baby boy born on that day so long ago we should see hope, love, joy and promise, the promise of a future beyond anything we can humanly imagine. And when we realize that, whenever and wherever we might be, it opens us completely, our heart and our mind, to the Holy Spirit. He wants to be our guidance counselor to keep us on track and He will, if we let Him. And that, while difficult to follow sometimes, is what we need to do. For if we are sincere and truly accept the grace and love of Jesus, we will give our life to Him and live for Him first.

As our inside connection to Jesus, our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit, sent to us by Jesus after His ascension as our internal guidance counselor, can guide us to the answers to all problems and, what's more, help us secure a place in The Kingdom when this life is done. How? By putting us in touch with Jesus who will take up our case for Eternity with the Father Himself as our Mediator. The birth of the Christ Child added the concept of forgiveness and eternity to the old Law of God and made it human with the opportunity for us to change, but only really understood after His brutal death thirty-three years after His birth by shedding His blood for our sins.. And if we recognize that His life opened the way for us to achieve that eternity, then we should readily change our ways and accept and really follow Him. It will change us and we will look at things differently and the future will be forever. What a glorious opportunity it offers and it was given to us as a complete act 0f love.

The offer is readily available to anyone, no matter what is in our past and it does, as stated, require a major commitment, one made openly and honestly. And that is to have faith and believe in Our Savior, Jesus Christ by that very faith alone without proof.

And here's an idea for how we can make that commitment at this time of year. Why not make it our New Year's Resolution? Pray over it, put it in our hearts and write it down. Then. look at that written document every day as a reminder and live it in all that we do. Just think of the power it would provide if we all did it together. Now that would truly change the world. There will be more on this later in just a few days. Take heart and follow our King.

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The King of Kings is Born

12/25/2021

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And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 (ESV)

Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in a manger in the small town of Bethlehem. His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, had traveled there to meet Caesar's demand of appearing for a census for tax purposes in the place of birth of His father. They had arrived late and there was no other place to stay since all the inns were filled with travelers in town for the same reason. An innkeeper with no empty rooms offered the manger since it at least offered shelter from the weather and he graciously provided bedding to at least afford them warmth for mother and baby.

The life of Jesus on earth, begun in such a simple way, was one about which much of his lifespan is unreported. Certainly we know of His birth and the need for Him to be taken to Egypt to avoid being found by Herod the King, who saw Him as a threat and wanted Him killed. We know about His visit to the Temple at age twelve where He astonished the religious leaders with His grasp of knowledge never seen in a boy of that age, let alone in a grown man. But thereafter, there is not much information about Him except that He had taken up the carpentry profession of Joseph and that He was a kind boy and then man awaiting His call of service to show who He was and His purpose for being here on earth.

That time would come as He approached His thirtieth birthday and with it would come a three year intensive ministry where he would display His greatness, albeit in a life of modest living to teach and preach about God and His own God-given purpose for being here. That three year period, however, is where our Lord's amazing work took place and in that short time He changed the outlook of the world with His great teachings and sermons which spelled out clearly what God expected of us. He told parables, performed miracles and gave guidance on how to live the Christian life. His message took the Law of the Old Testament which formed a basis for orderly life and added to it the gift of hope and salvation as provided by the New Testament which would be written following His death on the Cross and Ascension to heaven. Not only that, but his message was to be offered not just to the Chosen People of God, the Jews, but the Gentiles as well with his followers called upon to spread the Word throughout the world.

Jesus, in human form but also the Son of God came to us in the form of a common man. He had none of the trappings of a King and didn't match the expectations of the rabbis and Temple leaders who expected one with wealth and regalia. For this reason, most refused initially to believe He was the Son of God. But his small band of original followers, also Jews, believed on faith and with Him were responsible for the foundation which which would grow after He was gone into beginnings of what would become the Christian Church and the number of followers would grow quickly. Despite persecution, pain and great suffering, his flock continued to expand and grow and its impact has been world changing. Those of us who are believers today are expected to do the same. And though we may face persecution, pain and maybe even death in a world that is rapidly becoming less godly, we can take comfort in knowing that by loving and believing in Him we will find the joy of life everlasting with Him in His Kingdom when this life is over.

So take joy in what today represents, the birth of our Savior, who as part of the Holy Trinity, offers us the gift of salvation through His grace and mercy. By worshipping Him, the Son of our Father in Heaven, we allow the Holy Spirit to enter us and serve as our guide and advisor to living the life that is expected of us. What a wonderful gift this day represents. Remember it, cherish it and use it to reinforce the strength that it gives us in all our thoughts and deeds.

Merry Christmas! And Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus. We ask you to stay in our hearts always.

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How Will He Reconnoiter the North Florida Swamp in the Fog?

12/24/2021

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A number of years ago I published a story featuring a dear four-legged friend we had recently lost due to an untimely accident. I thought, what could be better than a Christmas Eve story including this big and burly fellow in his memory? So, here it is on its annual Christmas Eve offering. It is my gift for Christmas to children of all ages, one of which I definitely am. It takes a little time to read it, but I believe if you do you will carry forth the Christmas Spirit, both a fun and serious thing given by the Spirit which Jesus Christ sent us after His death, resurrection and ascension to heaven to be with the Father. While He wants us to seriously believe in Him, He wants us to have fun as well, for Jesus loved a good party with good friends. The story features Santa with my dear departed friend and yes, Santa goes everywhere, but he has to improvise his usual mode of travel down here in Gatorland. So, with no further discussion, meet Santa and his new best friend on a night to remember in deep, dark Florida. And when you read this story to children of all ages, take a moment to reflect on that great big helper for Santa, for like all of our animal friends, he was one of God's special gifts to us. And Merry Christmas to all.

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Christmas Eve finally arrived and Santa was in a tizzy. Weather was good over most of the world with the exception of the Sunshine State. It was a real mess down there in Florida. Santa’s regional weather elf informed him that Florida was under heavy fog with almost no visibility. It was thick enough to cut with a knife and it would be impossible for the reindeer to navigate parts of the state not having street lights. Therein was a huge problem.

Now many think that Florida is all beaches and big cities but, in reality, much of her inland area, the spine of a long peninsula, is open country with farms and woodlands, swamps and bogs, and the rolling hills of horse country. The swamp and bog areas teem with gators, black bear, poisonous snakes, a few of the dwindling Florida panther and other wild animals. Most of the swamp country is dark, very dark, and without a full moon or manmade lighting to guide Santa how could he safely navigate the remote areas? For you see, a hearty group of people live in these seemingly inhospitable areas and they have large families, including many boys and girls anxious for the arrival of Santa.

Venturing into an area like this without an expert guide is very dangerous. And since Santa knew that he couldn’t fly with his reindeer into the swamp, he needed someone with appropriate transportation and knowledge of the area to expertly lead the way. Being a smart and special fellow with fast recall of names and talents, Santa instantly came up with the answer to his dilemma. He would call his old friend, Farmer McNab, who had lived on the edge of the swamp for many years. If anyone knew what to do, it was Farmer McNab.

Santa placed a call that was quickly answered. The connection was weak, however, because Farmer McNab only had a cell phone and the fog caused phone problems in these hard-to-reach areas with limited communication towers. He must talk quickly before the signal was lost.

“Farmer McNab”, said Santa. “I’m in a real jam. As you know it’s Christmas Eve and I’m preparing for my all night journey. The weather elf says I can’t fly into rural Florida because of the fog; it’s too dangerous”.

Continuing, he asked for help, “I know you don’t want to disappoint your grandchildren, so I thought you might have a solution. What do you think?”

Farmer McNab scratched his chin thoughtfully and replied, “Well, Santa, I certainly don’t want any children to miss out on Santa this year so if you can make it as far as Gainesville, I can help you from there. You remember Little Jimmy? Well, he’s now a grownup with children of his own and he can help. He’ll meet you in Gainesville with his Jeep and a special friend and they’ll make sure you complete your rounds.”

Santa was curious and replied, “What kind of special friend?”

Farmer McNab laughed saying, “Well, Santa, that’s your surprise. Just trust me. Call me by cell when you’re nearing town and I’ll direct you to a safe landing place. Ok, Santa?”
“Of course, Farmer McNab,’ he replied. “I know I can count on you.”

That settled it. Santa would fly by reindeer to Gainesville, land as directed, and meet the farmer’s son and special friend who would guide him delivering the presents to the little boys and girls in the wilder, more natural parts of Florida. He looked forward to a different kind of adventure.

About twenty minutes from landing, Farmer McNab gave directions to a nice barn on the north side of the city, owned by his good friend Robert. The reindeer would be tended well and bedded down to rest until Santa finished his rounds.

Jimmy was waiting for Santa with his four wheel drive Jeep and his special friend. As Santa hopped off the sleigh, said goodbye to Rudolph and the others and grabbed his large sack of presents, he was nearly knocked down by a large animal who just wanted a hug and a slurp.

Briefly taken aback, Santa looked shocked and asked, “What in the world is it? Is it a wolf? Is it a bear? Is it a pony?”

Jimmy just looked at Santa and laughed and said, “Say hello to my special friend, Santa. His name is Goliath, and he is a one hundred and forty pound Great Dane. By the way, Santa, you need to wipe off the drool.”

Once Santa wiped the slobber and was over his surprise, he laughed so hard that his tummy shook and shook. And Goliath licked him and wagged his big tail. He took to Santa in an instant.

“He loves red, Santa,” said Jimmy, “and he really likes you. And that means that he will
do whatever necessary to make you happy.”

Out of curiosity, Jimmy had his own question to ask of Santa. This whole thing just seemed impossible.

“Santa, how in the world do you get all of your stops made in one night? I mean, really, it will take us all night just to cover the swamp country.”

Santa winked and said, “Well, Jimmy, I’ve got one little trick that I‘ve been given. But it’s only available one night a year and tonight is the night. Since tonight is Christmas Eve, I can make time stand still.”

Seeing Jimmy’s questioning look he said, “Just wait, you’ll see when our rounds are done.”

Then Santa threw his toy sack in the back of the Jeep, hopped in the front passenger seat, and off they went.

“Where’s Goliath?” he asked.

Jimmy chuckled as he responded, “Look behind you, Santa.”

There sat Goliath right beside the sack of presents, looking through his big, sad and bloodshot eyes as if he would guard them with his life. And he would, if necessary.

As they quickly left the city lights, they turned onto a bumpy dirt road that meandered into heavy woods and swamps. In the thick fog it was eerie with Spanish moss dangling from the large oaks and cypress like spider webs. Santa was glad to be with someone who knew where to go. It never looked like this from the sky on a clear night.

“Ok, Santa,” said Jimmy. “As I find a house deep in these woods, you need to get out the right present. I’ll give you a name, and then you give Goliath the present. He’ll do the rest. First stop is the Callahan family.”

They pulled up to a pathway leading through the woods. Killing the engine, they could hear frogs, owls and insects chirping. The fog drifted by in a cool mist and no other sounds were made. Santa handed the present to Goliath, and he gently held it in his mouth as he headed off into the dark.

Santa worried, “Are you sure he’s ok?”

“Not a problem for Goliath”, chortled Jimmy. “One time a big black bear approached him and getting closer, took one look and headed the other way. Even alligators don’t mess with him. Did you know he can take down a three hundred pound wild boar all by himself? He’ll be back in a moment.”

Sure enough Goliath returned a short time later, panting heavily with his tail wagging as he jumped into the back seat, dirty paws and all. When he shook both Santa and Jimmy got a soaking from swamp water mixed with mud.

The trio covered the first part of their trek easily but then Jimmy stopped suddenly. Santa couldn’t figure out why, but he would soon find out.

“Ok, Santa,” explained Jimmy. “It’s time to change our set of wheels. The Jeep won’t go any farther. The paths aren’t wide enough. Follow me.”

They walked through thick brush and brambles which suddenly opened into a small meadow. In the middle was a storage shed. It looked like a tiny haunted house in the dense fog.

When Jimmy opened the door, Santa was surprised to see an almost new, bright and shiny red four-wheeler. It was perfect.

“I thought you’d like the red one for this occasion,” Jimmy laughed. “And you even have a new version of Rudolph. Goliath can find anything with his nose.”

Santa looked puzzled and asked, “What do you mean?”

“Well, Goliath won’t be riding,” Jimmy explained. “He’ll be running in front of us leading the way, checking the path as we go. If we get stuck in a bog or thick swamp, he will pull us out. I told you he is my special friend. There’s no better friend anywhere.”

Santa just couldn’t believe how much darker, wetter and spookier the deep swamp was compared to where they had been before. They could barely see their outstretched hand in front of their faces and eerie bird calls and even the occasional alligator “bark” warned of possible danger at every turn. The fog covered and gnarled trees resembled monsters waiting to grab anyone coming too close.

He asked Jimmy, “Are you sure people live out here?”

“Oh, yes” was Jimmy’s reply. “People have lived out here for over one hundred and fifty years. These folks are tough, deeply religious, know how to live off the land, and they love Christmas. They just don’t like living around big crowds and they live off the land. They hunt, fish, make lures and rigs and guide tourists and sportsmen for their living.”

As they rounded a bend on the trail, suddenly the vehicle was stuck. They were mired in deep mud and the four-wheeler was going nowhere.

Jimmy yelled, “Goliath”, and out of nowhere the trusted Great Dane appeared. He was muddy and wet but happy. This was the kind of place he loved.

Jimmy hitched him to the four-wheeler and Goliath pulled with the strength of an ox. He easily towed the muddy vehicle to dry land again. Jimmy quickly unhitched him and they were once again on their way. And as before, Goliath could be heard panting but couldn’t be seen.

Suddenly off to the left they heard a horrible cry of a frightened animal. Then just as suddenly, the roar of a bear bellowed. Goliath instantaneously was off through the brush.
While Jimmy and Santa saw nothing, they heard the brush and palmettos moving violently and the sound of animals fighting. Jimmy recognized the sounds of Goliath. He knew he was facing off with the bear as they circled one another like two prize fighters itching to find an opening. The roaring reached a maddening pitch as each animal made an attempt to gain the upper hand. There were howls of pain and then quiet. And then, complete silence returned.

Santa was concerned. He asked Jimmy, “Do you think Goliath is ok? Is there anything we can do?”

Jimmy just smirked and said, “I’m sure Goliath is fine. Just wait a few moments and he’ll return.”

True to Jimmy’s word, Goliath returned in a few minutes, no worse for the wear except for some matted blood on his neck. But there was something else. Goliath was softly carrying in his mouth a small but terrified dog. She was a cute little terrier and Goliath saved her life.

Checking him over with a night light, Jimmy found that the blood was not Goliath’s. It was from his opponent. Goliath’s imposing carriage and strength had won the night and Jimmy was proud of him.

Jimmy lovingly hugged and petted Goliath and his new friend and divided a large milk bone biscuit saying, “Good boy, Goliath, you are the best. I don’t know where this little dog came from but you saved her. We’ll take her home to Little Jimmy as a special Christmas surprise.”

Goliath just looked at him with big sad eyes, gave him a sloppy slurp across the face, and continued to wag his tail as if he was saying he was King of the Swamp. By golly, on this night he was.

They made over one hundred and twenty stops that night in the deep swamp. Santa never saw a house, a light or a person but Goliath faithfully delivered the correct package to each one in record time. And as he came back from the last house, Jimmy gave him a special treat. It was a large piece of steak, which Goliath wolfed down in seconds.

Returning the trusted four-wheeler to the storage shed, they jumped in the Jeep for the trip home. It had been a wild but interesting night.

As they reached Gainesville, Jimmy was worried about how much time they had taken. He was expecting to see signs of the early morning sky at any time but they never came. It was still just as dark as when they started.

Arriving back at the farm where the reindeer were resting, Santa couldn’t believe how things looked in the light. They were covered with mud and were quite a sight. Goliath was head to toe slime and muck and the Jeep looked like it was returning from a mug bog.
Jimmy’s friend Robert approached with hot coffee and fresh, homemade sweet rolls. And for Goliath, he brought a bowl of what he called “swamp stew”. Santa was afraid to ask what was in it, but Goliath gobbled it down in seconds.

Santa sat on a picnic bench for a moment to enjoy his coffee and sweet rolls. Jimmy looked astonished. How could Santa sit and relax when he still had the entire world to cover?

Santa read Jimmy’s mind and said, “Remember when I told you about my special gift of stopping time? Take a look at your watch.”

As Jimmy peered at his watch dial he was shocked. They left on their journey at 8:30 that night and it was now 8:35. Time had indeed stood still.

Now Santa jumped up and asked if there was a place to freshen up a little. He didn’t want to continue on his way covered with mud. Robert directed him to a bathroom and offered towels and anything else he needed.

And then another surprise happened. Within fifteen seconds, Santa reemerged. He was clean and spotless. He had entered the rest room empty handed but returned clean and bright with no evidence of his filthy clothes or appearance.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Santa said with a grin. “That’s another special secret that I have for Christmas. It means I don’t have to worry about getting dirty. I do this every time I go down a sooty chimney. Fascinating isn’t it?”

The two men looked at Santa with amazement. Even Goliath looked puzzled. What a night it had been for all.

As Santa hitched his reindeer team and readied them for travel, he winked at Jimmy and Robert and said “So now you know I am the real deal. No one will believe your story except for your dad, Jimmy, and Robert here. So it’s best if you keep it to yourselves. But now you know the truth about old Santa and the Christmas Spirit. Keep it in your heart always.”

And he remembered Goliath as well saying, “I will always remember your wonderful job, Big One. I might call on you again if I need you.”

Goliath barked a hearty response in delight.

With a big “ho, ho, ho” and a “giddy up, go”, Santa and his reindeer, led by Rudolph’s guiding red nose, were off and quickly disappeared into the dark night sky. The last thing Jimmy and Robert heard was a loud “Merry Christmas” and then he was gone.

Suddenly to the east the sky started to lighten. Jimmy looked at his watch and it read 6:30 a.m. Time had caught up. It only stood still while Santa was working.

Jimmy and his dad’s friend Robert were absolutely astounded. Had this really happened or was it a dream? And while they didn’t really know, they suddenly felt tired, as if they had been up all night.

Getting ready to head for home with Goliath, Jimmy went to the rest room to wash up. And there he found it. A note written in longhand on special Santa Claus stationery was sitting by the sink. Beside it was a large bone with a tag for Goliath. What’s more, there was no sign of dirty clothing or a mess from the quick clean up. All doubts vanished. Santa was real and he had been here.

Getting home at sunrise, Jimmy felt more alive than ever. His dad was waiting for him and said, “Jimmy, I know what you’ve been through. Just keep it to yourself. I had the same thing happen to me when you were little. Believe me, no one will believe you. But the important thing is that you know and you believe. Never forget.”

As father and son sat down to breakfast with the rest of the McNab family, the Christmas Spirit was truly alive and had never been stronger. Both men were lucky to have experienced it in a very special way, and they would keep it in their hearts forever.

And for all of you children of all ages reading this, remember that the reason for this wonderful season, the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, also requires us to have faith. Take the birth of this baby boy who grew to be our King for Eternity on faith and believe it with all your heart. You will then find it is indeed the key to all that is real.

I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and wishes for the Star of Christmas to shine over you always. Ho, ho, ho.

Written by:

James Dick
© 2021, James Dick, All rights reserved.

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CHRISTMAS: A Time for a Heart Filled with Light and Love

12/23/2021

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Christmas Shopping Madness

Here we are only two days away from Christmas and for many of us it is still a time of shopping madness. People are pushing in lines, stepping in front of others, grabbing items in short demand nearly out of the hands of others. It is truly maddening in some places, particularly the large retail centers, yet we put up with it as a rite of passage as Americans have done over and over again since Christmas became principally a secular event. And we just go along passively and watch so many wonderful traditions go by the wayside.

Before I go farther, I want you to know that I am not recommending taking Santa away from children on Christmas, for Santa is for children and the experience of watching a little boy or girl with twinkling eyes filled with joy is fantastic, but do we adults have to be just like children on this day ourselves. The overwhelming secularism of what should be a day of faith has turned a holy day into one fit for what Jesus was upset about when He visited the Temple only days before His human death. Materialism, money, power, greed, all of these things have intersected with Christmas to make a mockery of what it was meant to be. Quite simply, Christmas was meant to be the day we recognize the beginning of Jesus, the Son of God, as His son in human form. From the baby in a poor manger to the teacher, preacher and activist for the budding Christian faith to come, He is what we need to put first on His birthday. And I am not exempting myself from criticism, for I have erred on this matter myself for sure, but can't we change the trajectory of the future by making it a simple day for devotion to the being He came into this world to be. Sure, we can have the Santa and fun for the kids, but we adults need to make sure the family also focuses on the more important aspect, the event that would ultimately lead to eternal life for those of us who believe.

So, the point I am trying to make is there is nothing wrong with grown-ups exchanging gifts and, of course, it is essential for the kiddies. But we don't have to go overboard and we need to put our main focus on the Reason for the Jesus, the Baby Jesus. How do we do this? Well, one way is to create a project where gift-giving is more conservative and the money that is saved is used for a good cause. Maybe it is buying food for the less fortunate, or such things as Toys for Tots and other charitable issues. Or maybe it is spending time working in a food kitchen or even visiting elderly folks in nursing homes who so often have no one coming to see them.

What about other fun ways without breaking the bank. We can make handmade gifts, baking and other sweets, even IOU's for different things based upon talents that we have. Things like this can be fun and they allow us to focus on the giving of ourselves instead of "stuff," because we all have stuff that we no longer need and it just gets thrown away when the novelty wears off. And the money saved can be put to good use on the items listed in the paragraph next up. It is a real giving of ourselves, not just laying out cash which really misses the point of Christmas. And while it may be too late for this year, why not think about it and plan for next year. It changes our focus to a more old fashioned, down to earth approach to Christmas which will change the way we look at and celebrate the Holiday in days to come.

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The Final Days Before the First Christmas

12/19/2021

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Just Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)

Living in today’s twenty-first century, we have no concept of what folks went through over the generations to get things done. So, take a minute and imagine what it must have been like in those days long ago leading up to the birth of the Christ Child. The Jews were indeed highly stressed, they had been ordered to go to their place of birth to be recorded in an updated census on the order of Caesar Augustus and there were no exceptions.

Travel in those days was indeed difficult and tiring. One either walked or rode on a donkey along rocky roads, up and down hills and then bedded down overnight in areas where robbers were continually a threat to both their belongings and their very lives. Generally wearing individually crafted sandals, there feet took a beating and keeping clean was nearly impossible. They were also at the mercy of the elements, dampness and cold and biting wind causing significant suffering, yet they weathered on, knowing only that it was their duty to Caesar and failure to do so would bring painful consequences. What most of the travelers didn't know at the time was that in their company was a couple who was doing as they were but also carrying a most important duty assigned by God.

For the head of household for that special couple, Joseph, walking ahead of a donkey with his young wife, Mary riding the animal, faced a very difficult challenge. Mary was near her due date and Joseph had to ensure that they made it to Bethlehem, his place of birth, safely and on time. He was pushing them forward as hard and fast as he could in order to arrive in time to find a safe and special place for her to deliver this special gift to the world.

Imagine sitting by the campfire while on the way, keeping a wary eye out for danger yet appreciating the wonders of the universe so clear above. Except for the light of the fire on the desolate road, it was pitch black on a moonless night but the stars were ever so bright. The heavens showed themselves in all their glory and Joseph knew he could not fail.

So think about this as you go about your shopping, grumbling about the crowds or the difficulty in finding a good parking space. Or if you're still enmeshed in what is being called "fake news" or even if you are reasonably satisfied with things in your life, realize the thoughts and dreams that young couple held as they faced a dangerous and uncertain world. Remember that the earthly custodians of Jesus in His early years were struggling to fulfill the requirement which God had placed upon them, for they knew it was special and was meant to be. Think of their plight, compared to our comfort and ease of life, and appreciate what it means to all of mankind. The Son of God, the King of Kings would soon be born and with His birth the world would change forever. We don't realize it always, but open your heart and let His love shine in and it will infect your Spirit in the most positive way there is forever.

The road to Bethlehem was the first step on the road to the Salvation and Redemption of mankind. We should all be especially thankful for that during this beautiful time of the year. Just look at the life of Jesus, starting as the child of a hard working carpenter with never much money for needed things, a mother who was just a teenager, and an upbringing where he was quite obscure, save a few recorded moments, until his thirtieth year when word of His talents and grasp of moral clarity for God brought Him fame and then ultimately death. We owe our lives to Him since the option for Salvation from sin and evil rests with Him and whether we believe in Him or not. Decide for yourself as free will allows, but remember the right choice must be made before life on earth is done. And that potential gift of Eternal Life is the greatest gift we can receive and His birth signifies the beginning of the life that would give that to us. It is really just as simple as that. Glory, Hallelujah!

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MARY AND JOSEPH: Two Key Players in the Christmas Story

12/17/2021

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Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem.

Of all the miraculous stories in the Holy Bible, none deserves more attention than the beautiful story of Mary and Joseph. That God would choose this righteous but simple man and a young teenager lacking knowledge of the workings of the world, to be the parents of the Man-God who was sent to save us is miraculous indeed. But since we know that God often works in mysterious ways, this combination was likely chosen to show us that Jesus came not as a visible King, but as someone who belonged to the people who needed Him the most and He showed His love and devotion both in his human life and in the horrible death he bore for all of us.

Can you imagine being either Mary or Joseph in those days before the first Christmas over two thousand years ago? Now we're not talking about this day based upon our date for the celebration of Jesus' birth, for we know that Jesus wasn't born in December. But just consider a mere seven days before His birth and what the couple was going through. After all, despite Mary's advanced pregnancy and the stress that can cause in even good times, Mary and Joseph had to travel by donkey along rough roads in any possible type of weather to go the town of Joseph's birth for census taking and tax registration. The distance was over ninety miles, no easy trek due to the rocky and ascending and descending walk paths and the fragile condition of the soon mother-to-be.

But on this particular day of their preparation for the long and arduous journey there were many things they had to pay attention to. Perhaps they were in the last stage of preparing for the arduous journey or maybe they were already on their way. Regardless, it was a tough time and we all know that it didn't get any easier right up to, and including, the birth. I already mentioned the roads were rough, but robbers also roamed the rural roadways and weather was frequently changing with only the shelter they brought with them. And Mary, of course, being at approximate full term was uncomfortable, likely at times miserable. What if she went into labor on a night in the wilderness with nary a creature comfort to give her comfort? And Joseph never experienced such a situation before nor was he completely knowledgeable of Mary’s needs at the time. Yet they labored on and, as we know, they made it and the precious baby who was Jesus came into this world.

And how about the Wise Men or the Shepherds? Ana also the townspeople seeing them on the road to Bethlehem? Were they aware of the miracle coming and what it would mean to the world? Did they have any idea really what would transpire in such a period of time where these two unknown people would become central characters in the play of the Lord's life?

As we focus on Christmas this year, let us take time to remember just how difficult it was for this couple and all the others involved, knowingly or not, in this story for the ages. Remember, Joseph and Mary could have turned down the mission assigned to them by God, yet they didn't, and because of that the Greatest Story Ever Told begins with them.

And what about today and in the future? What if it were today? What would the situation be like and how would people react? And then there is the preparation for his return? Will we be ready to accept the King of Kings as our ruler of the world? It's what is expected of us and it is way past time to prepare. But all of these questions should be answered by each of us at this time of year when we should be focused on His coming (both as a baby and His return). God wants to put the love of Jesus to work for all of us, yet with free will we must make the choice, choosing Him or His evil combatant who is always nearby trying to snare souls. So, what will we do? Will we make the choice of eternal life by believing by faith in Christ? Or will we opt for the earthly state of living and, absent a grand awakening, lose out on the promise that was given us by the Christ His sacrifice that ended His human existence? It’s our choice and in addition to our offer to attain freedom from sin and eternal life by accepting Jesus as our Savior, we need to thank Mary and Joseph for the part they unselfishly played for God to make His story so real to all of us. It is a story for the ages. I hope during this time we all recognize just how fortunate we are to have a loving God filled with grace and love for us, despite how much we often disappoint Him. Let's use Christmas as a reminder of what we should do and how making Christ the center of our lives will offer the joys and tranquility, plus security, that we could never attain without Him. It's the good and right thing to do.

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Santa is Great, But Isn't This Supposed to Be About Jesus?

12/14/2021

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It's a question we all need to answer.

Today, December 14th, we find ourselves in the throes of the rush to be totally ready for Christmas. The retail sales establishments, of course, have been planning for this event for months and now are doing what they can to make sure in these final days that they meet their goals. After all, most know that Christmas accounts for a large portion of their business and a bad Christmas performance makes them look much worse than the bad boy finding coal in his stocking. But thankfully, that is more often fiction than fact. And the children are excited and the adults are reliving their own childhood in the lives of their young ones. But through it all as witnessed by the happenings is one thing that I find quite sad, for something is really missing.

WHERE'S THE LINE TO SEE JESUS?

Think about that question and ponder it. We are willing to drive long distances, stand in line waiting for hours and all for the fun of watching our children have the opportunity for a short, personal visit with Santa. But at the same time, we often have difficulty finding the time to visit with Our Lord and Savior, the one whose birth far exceeds the magic and mystery of Santa as a back-up prop. We can find millions of excuses to use for not spending time with Jesus, yet we will jump over any hurdle for that illustrious visit with Santa. It just doesn't seem right because, frankly, it's not. We should be ashamed of ourselves.

A few years ago, a pretty young woman who is a gifted singer, Becky Kelley of St. Louis, performed a new song about this very subject. The title is the same as the question just posed: Where's the Line to See Jesus? It's a beautiful song and she sings it accompanied by her father, Steve, in a rendition that was adapted to video presentation on U-Tube. It tells us in word and picture just what I wrote about, only in a much more convincing fashion. So, I hope readers will listen to it and take the words to heart, for they are all so very true. And it's okay to carry on that tradition of visiting Santa and awaiting his visit, but just remember that we need to put the "Reason for the Season" first and that reason is Jesus' birthday. That event is what made Him both Man and God on this earth, to preach, teach and ultimately die on Calvary's Cross for our sins. Without the forgiveness that event gave us, we would have no hope for something after mortal life. With it, when we accept it, we gain Everlasting Life, a gift far more valuable than anything Santa or anyone other than Jesus can provide us. It is the ultimate gift that never dies.

Here's the link to the music. Just cut and paste it into your browser. There is also a direct link at the introduction that came with this blog.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OExXItDyWEY

If this doesn't get us in the proper holiday Spirit, I don't know what will. Be blessed and enjoy this joyous time of the year and remember that without Jesus, the holiday would just be another nondescript day.

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The Ever Changing Christmases of North Florida

12/10/2021

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There is one thing that is certain about Florida at Christmastime. Wait a little while and it will change and despite the aggravation it might make on your holiday plans, it definitely makes things interesting. Now after living here in North Florida for nearly twenty-five years, I can truthfully say that when I first got here, I was shocked. I remember spending Christmas afternoon that very first year in our swimming pool, wearing shorts and sandals once I got home from church. The next year on Christmas day I walked the beach in a parka with gloves in snow flurries. Oh, they didn't amount to any accumulation, but seeing snow actually falling in Florida made me just a little homesick for my boyhood days.

That first Christmas and its summer-like weather was quite the novelty. Walking to the nearby shopping center in swim trunks, T-shirt and sandals, I fit in with the locals who just saw it as a way of life. Later, when the temperatures finally dropped below fifty I was amazed at how quickly the smell of smoke became noticeable as the natives and/or longer term residents from colder climes began to fire up the fireplaces as if it was in the twenties. But by my full second year, I understood the concept of the thinning of the blood and I would go jogging in sweats on days when I used to go in just running shorts and a top and that was back in Virginia on a day when it wasn't much above freezing. And my first real freeze, a night when it dipped all the way to the low twenties, made me glad that a Florida cold front usually just lasts for a night or two. It made me quickly realize that Florida is truly a land of extremes, either we get too much rain or we are begging for it and that is something that is difficult to get used to. And since the Sunshine State is often referred to as the lightning capitol of the world, my view of electrical storms has morphed into recognizing both the power and the glory it displays. If you think a fireworks display on New Year's is beautiful, take the time from a safe vantage point to watch the beauty of a thunderstorm and it will put you in awe.

Finally, as the little slide show above shows, Florida also makes use of her very unique yet beautiful environs to celebrate Christmas in lights and amazing supporting display. Some of the light displays I've seen using palm trees are awesome and the only thing that can match them is the same process applied to Saguaro cactus in the desert of Southern Arizona. In both cases, the trees depict a vibrancy that their unique creation allows when lights are added. And if in the resort areas, consider a high rise tourist hotel where the entrance to each room is from the outside and the entry door lights on the outside are changed from standard white to an alternating green and red. That gives quite the impact with the trees and other decorations and it also tells me something else. Why wouldn't plants that thrive in dry climates be perfect for Christmas since the Baby Jesus was born in such a place. Perhaps the environment of America's semi-tropical paradise and her desert Southwest are the most appropriate places to represent the Spirit of Christmas. Then again, maybe it's just my mind working after too many years in Florida and those days that I spent in Arizona, but I really don't think so. In any event, if you ever get the chance to spend a Christmas down here or out there, I think you'll find it special. A look at the moon rising with the Christmas star bright over either Arizona's Catalina Mountains or the tranquil Florida Atlantic provides a peace at Christmastime that we all can understand. That's a memory and a feeling worth keeping for a lifetime.

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VIRGINIA CHRISTMAS MEMORIES: THE SANTA TRIP TO RICHMOND

12/9/2021

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The Jolly Old Fellow awaits the children

Of all of my memories of getting ready for Christmas as a young boy, none is more etched in my mind than the annual trip to see Santa at Miller and Rhoads in downtown Richmond. In those days, downtown Richmond seemed like a much bigger city than my hometown of Newport News with taller buildings and the State Capitol right down the street. And the anticipation of seeing what we truly believed was the North Pole Santa right there in Virginia filled us with awe and excitement.

On one occasion, at the ripe old age of five, the trip was bittersweet. My mother, a woman who was never sick, had recently returned home from the only time I remember her being hospitalized, and Dad took a day off to take me, the youngest, to Richmond. Of course, my dad, a man who was raised by a very frugal immigrant mother, never experienced a real festive Christmas and he was determined that would be different for his own children. And no one loved Christmas better than he, so he was likely as excited about this trip as I was. My older brother and sister were in school, they were likely more aware of the reality of Christmas than I was, so this trip with Dad all to myself was so, so special.

We got up early and were in Richmond about thirty minutes before Santa's arrival. Even then, there were already about fifty children with their families queued up to see the jolly old fellow. By the time my eager anticipation was about to explode, the line started moving and within the hour I was walking up to sit in Santa's lap. His red velvet suit was immaculate. His grooming could only be described as perfection and he wore white gloves that were as white as new fallen snow, occasionally stroking his beautiful beard in thoughtfulness. And when I told him that the main thing I wanted was for my mom to get well, he momentarily looked serious, then laughed from deep down inside and began to speak.

He said, "Don't worry, that will be taken care of, " as he winked at Dad. "I'm sure you will get whatever else you want as well". Then he gave me a bug hug, told me to thank my dad for bringing me and that he would see me for lunch.

As I almost tripped walking away, trying to look one more time at Santa, I wondered what Santa meant by that last remark. So, I asked Dad who was chuckling at the scene.

"Well, Son," he replied, "We've got a little shopping to do for Mom and your brother and sister and then it will be time for Santa to take a lunch break and we'll be joining him."

But how did Santa know? I would only find that out years later.

Just before noon, Dad finished the shopping and we headed for the Tea Room, a large dining area which was decked out for Christmas. Each table had festive decorations and the walls were covered with Christmas pictures, ornaments and large snowflakes and draped in greenery. We were ushered quickly to a table near the spot where the guest of honor, Santa, was to be seated.

Now I can't tell you what we had for lunch, but I can say that after Santa's grand entrance, he started making the rounds of the tables and when he arrived at our table, he sat down with us for a moment. He reminded me that my mother would be fine, gave me another hug and shook hands with Dad with a wink. I was truly amazed at his memory.

By the time lunch was over, I was exhausted since we had been up since five in the morning. So, we started our two hour drive home during which I fell asleep. When I awoke, we were pulling in the driveway and Mom was walking out to the car. She and Dad were both beaming when they saw me rubbing my eyes.

Mom asked, "Was it a long day, Son? And what did you think of your visit?"

I just grinned, gave her a big hug and then did the same with Dad as I told him thank you for a wonderful day. I truly think he had as much fun as I did.

Years later I found out that when Dad made advance reservations, questions were asked for Santa and a number was assigned to each reservation. When we signed in, the match was made by an elf and it provided a "cheat sheet" for Santa to use as he worked the crowd of excited children. But to us it was magic, and I've never seen a Santa so authentic and real in every way since. In fact, years later with little children of my own and living in Maryland, we always brought them to Richmond for Santa. From my adult perspective, it wasn't quite the same as back in 1952, but it was still a wonderful experience.

And that's the important thing about giving our children the opportunity to experience such events. The memories they will retain will last for a lifetime. I know they have for me.
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Dec. 7, 1941: PEARL HARBOR DAY AND WE THINK WE HAVE IT TOUGH

12/7/2021

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On a beautiful Sunday morning the attack came taking the USA into War with Japan

Imagine that you were alive and old enough to remember December 7, 1941. The majority of Americans who were there are now departed since that day was eighty years ago, but just think of what took place. Here in the States most Americans had breakfast and went to church, but by the time they got home they learned that the sprawling Naval Base at Pearl Harbor had been viciously attacked by Japan. Thousands were killed, many more injured and we lost a lot of ships and equipment. Fortunately the carriers were out, something which even Japanese Fleet Commander Yamamoto knew would make his longer term mission most difficult, for the now a vicious attack would result in America losing battles for awhile while it geared up quickly to take on the Japanese directly.

The joys of Christmas were muted, young men by the thousands volunteered to go to war, and with our other fighting men closing in on the Germany territory, a two front war was now underway since Japan was an ally of Germany. Christmas was still celebrated as it was important to keep things of good cheer present in the atmosphere of gloom which filtered through families everywhere. Thousands of young men, some almost boys, were signing up to report for training, tearful goodbyes were soon to be shed, and no one knew fully what to expect except that the future looked rather weak. Even so, industries would quickly retool and the war machine would get in full swing, and while America would take a few lickings in the Pacific, even the Japanese knew that if they couldn't decisively win quickly, in the end they were doomed because they wouldn't have the necessary staying power.

The immediate aftermath of Pearl Harbor was more than two thousand four hundred dead, nearly half from the Battleship Arizona sunk where it was anchored. Sadly it was soon learned that many of the casualties were known to be alive at the time recovery began but there was no way to reach them before their air supply ran out. But the one good thing to report that none of the American aircraft carriers were sunk since they were all out on maneuvers. Even Japanese Fleet Commander Yamamoto knew this would ultimately favor the Americans in the end yet he carried out his duties as any loyal commander would, ultimately committing suicide in the end.

The War in the Pacific would go on until August 1945, only ending due to Japan being finally driven to here knees by nuclear bombs. There has been much criticism in recent years about this, however, had we not used the bomb the death tolls on both sides would have astronomically increased due to the suicidal warfare options pushed by Tojo. Thankfully, it came to an end an America, rather than being a conqueror, returned Japan to self governance where she remains as a close and reliable friend.

So, what can we learn from the events of Pearl Harbor and the ensuing war? Well, first of all, we must realize that if a nation wants to maintain its sovereignty, it must be strong and capable of taking on all comers. We learned from World War II that the lack of maintaining a strong fighting force during the 1930's led to the growing influence of Germany and Japan and a heavy price was paid because of that. We also learned that in war, just like in peace, miracles do happen. For example, the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944 and early 1945, the war to Germany could have been lost due to bad weather. But General Patton directed his chief Chaplain to write God and demand good weather for battle in prayer. Now the good Chaplain did as he was told, somewhat lessened in phraseology, yet it was done and, voila, America's outmanned forces ultimately won. Miracle? Coincidence? You be the judge. And even in the Pacific, had one of the airman searching for the Japanese fleet from the skies above not found a break in the clouds to spot Yamamoto's fleet, the Battle of Midway would likely have been lost and with it, perhaps the war. And there are several other examples but I would just leave the rest to your own research and imagination.

In closing, let's never forget the tragedy that was Pearl Harbor and use it to do what is right and good. You know, when America is in the major leadership role in the world, peace usually happens. And why do we see so much turmoil and chaos today? America has decided it no longer needs to lead the way. That's why the effort going on for freedom in America are so important these days. Stay informed and stay involved. That is something we all must do, regardless of politics, because this is about much more than politics. It is about freedom and liberty.

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<<Previous

Powerful Thought and Prayer for the Days Between Christmas and New Year's

The King of Kings is Born

How Will He Reconnoiter the North Florida Swamp in the Fog?

CHRISTMAS: A Time for a Heart Filled with Light and Love

The Final Days Before the First Christmas

MARY AND JOSEPH: Two Key Players in the Christmas Story

Santa is Great, But Isn't This Supposed to Be About Jesus?

The Ever Changing Christmases of North Florida

VIRGINIA CHRISTMAS MEMORIES: THE SANTA TRIP TO RICHMOND

Dec. 7, 1941: PEARL HARBOR DAY AND WE THINK WE HAVE IT TOUGH

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