Christmas is Waiting for You

The tsunami of December Christmas events is upon us. I was invited to watch the Nutcracker Ballet through the local chamber. I had a conflict because my wife had a Christmas party to attend. So I shared this opportunity with lots of people in my circle. They later said they had a wonderful time. They showed me pictures of the wonderful costumes and sets. I should have gone. The dancing party was fun but we could have gone to both events. That was regret number one.

I didn’t want to go to our church Christmas concert. I planned to but when it came time to leave I had to force myself to change up and drive there. But minutes after stepping in, I knew that night was going to be special. It was. My church is full of creative writers and musicians so they wrote and sang their own stuff. Somehow they shared how the baby Jesus was born as one of us and how he suffered and died without losing the warm Chistmasy feeling. Regret Number two was: I didn’t bring anyone else to watch it with me.

Monday evening it was my turn to lead a Bible Study meeting in a restaurant that was 3 cities away from me (that’s very far for my standards). I didn’t want to spend money since I already cooked our family dinner and I hate driving. Then when I got there, the restaurant was closed. Of all the restaurants in the world, this was the one that was closed! And I drove all the way there for nothing. I guess the dark forces were out to discourage me. Yes, I was getting anxious. It was turning into regret number three — but people showed up and they were cool about buying food somewhere else and dining out in the cold. So it turned into a nice, chilly adventure under the stars. It was one of our best Bible studies.

Have you been hit by the Christmas tsunami yet? Are you torn between staying home binge watching (like you always do) or partying? Take it from me, go out! Partay! Partay! Partay! Just do it! Don’t think about it! No regrets! Just do it! Christ is born! It’s the biggest birthday bash of the year! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It really is!

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA. for this joke.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba. B.C.

Thanks to Hannah of S Dakota

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena

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Overcoming Fear

When I was a kid, not knowing a lot about reality and make-believe, I was afraid of the dark. One night, I decided to get over my fear and locked myself inside a pitch black room and waited for whatever lurked there to come and get me. Nothing … no one … nothing … reared its ugly head. I finally got over my fear. From that point on I stopped believing in Vampires, ghosts, and monsters. But then college came.

My friends  and I were in a boring party in Arlington, VA. Someone suggested we spice things up by playing an Ouija board — you know: those demonic board games where 4 or 5 people slide a glass over letters and numbers? Touching the glass with just our finger tips we invited any spirit to communicate with us. The glass moved. We looked suspiciously at each other trying to guess who was actually moving the glass. No one admitted to it. The “presence” said she was a little girl who died of a sickness during the Prairie era and she lived on that land. The glass danced lively and we would switch off players who we suspected were moving the glass but no matter who was playing, the glass had a power of its own. In fact, when there were just 2 or 3 people touching the glass, I remember it moved so fast that the glass was went ahead of the fingers. We were all freaking out. And it was only when one of our friends picked up the glass and tossed it away that the spell was broken. No one had any answers. We all just felt uncomfortable. That ended the party. I remember going upstairs lighting a rare cigarette to an empty room that night because fear of the unknown had come back. From that day on, I realized the reality of a spiritual dimension.

Many years later, I was a young Christian illustrating manuals for a ministry project. Going home after a grueling overtime, I realized I forgot to turn off my car headlights when I parked it 10 hours earlier. So my car batteries conked out and I needed a push to start the car. It was close to midnight on a quiet road in the city. No one else was in sight everyone was sleeping. Seemingly out of nowhere a man came limping behind me and asked if I needed a push. Seeing that he had a defective foot, I said I would do the pushing and he would get in the car. He insisted to push so I let him. Surprisingly, that handicap had so much strength that he pushed the car faster than I could and I got the car started. I was so grateful that I volunteered to drive him home. He pointed his home at a poor village straight ahead half a mile away but he didn’t need a ride. So I left. Just a few yards away I decided I really should take him home and I turned the car around. There was no other way for that man to walk or run towards that village but the he was gone. Was he an angel?

Several spiritual encounters are recorded in the Bible. I don’t believe in ghosts but I believe there are good and there are evil deceptive spirits out there. To be unaware of this is to be unprepared for the spiritual battle that is constantly going on.

Some people love TO scare, BE scared and glorify death especially come Halloween. I don’t. Movies never scare me anymore. Ever since I trusted in Christ and his protection, I have regained my courage over the unknown. A wise man said: “If you can capture the element of surprise, you’re way ahead of the game.”

But this is just me. TGIF people!

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
— Isaiah 41:10

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA for sharing this joke.

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Scary Chainsaw Accidents

Owning a chainsaw does not automatically make you a logger.
Shared by Tom of Pasadena, CA

Parting Shot

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA who shared this:

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