A Christmas Carol: Raising Ebenezer

I have been telling the story of Christmas this month using Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” as a backdrop. I confess that having watched many a movie based on the story, I had never actually read the book until this month. It has been a reminder of how much of an impression the story has had on us as a society.

The very name of the main character has become a part of our vocabulary. The word “Scrooge” is synonymous with “cranky, selfish miser.” The character of Ebenezer Scrooge is so familiar that if you were to refer to someone as a “Scrooge,” just about everybody in the Western world would know what you mean and they would certainly understand that you were not offering a compliment!

Interestingly enough, the name “Ebenezer” appears rarely in A Christmas Carol. Scrooge’s first name is not even mentioned in the first pages of the book. We don’t hear it until Marley’s ghost speaks the name, first in explaining that he has no comfort to offer his former partner. Marley’s second use of “Ebenezer” comes when he explains the purpose of his visit: “I am here to-night to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate. A chance and hope of my procuring, Ebenezer.”

The only other character to use the name “Ebenezer” is Old Fezziwig, Scrooge’s former employer whom Scrooge holds in high esteem.  There is one final use of “Ebenezer” in A Christmas Carol - Scrooge’s gravestone. This stone completes the transformation of Scrooge, showing him of how his life might end if he does not become a new man.

The words of Dickens have even invaded our church hymnals. Perhaps, you have sung the song “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and wondered about that strange line - Here I raise mine Ebenezer. It is a strange line that practically nobody understands. 

Come thou fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount--I’m fixed upon it—
Mount of thy redeeming love. 
Here I raise mine Ebenezer;
Hither by thy help I’m come.
And I hope by thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home.

The name “Ebenezer” is not original to the English language. In fact, it is a Hebrew name composed of two Hebrew words. This name is a combination of the Hebrew word for stone (eben) and the Hebrew word for helper (‘ezer). Thus, an ebenezer (literally, ha-eben ha-’ezer) would have been a stone that offered some sort of assistance.

In 1 Samuel 7:12, the judge Samuel sets up a stone as a monument in remembrance of God’s special help. It was a “help-stone” that reminded the Israelites of God’s care. It was rather like those little monuments you find along highways throughout the United States. They commemorate some event long past, helping us to remember what we would otherwise forget.

1 Samuel 7:12, “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the LORD helped us.”

These words are spoken over eleven hundred years before the time of Jesus. The entire nation of Israel had just gone through a long period of sadness and trouble. In fact, twenty years before the event in this text, one of the darkest days in ancient Israel happened.  In a single day, Israel not only suffered a terrible military defeat but also lost the Ark of the Covenant into enemy hands. The Ark was the symbol of God’s presence among them. It was the worst disaster imaginable.

Twenty years later, Samuel, the great prophet of the nation, calls a meeting of the nation’s leaders. At Mizpah, the nation gathered in prayer to seek God’s blessing again.  Just at that moment, the Philistine army, the dreaded enemy, saw an opportunity to attack while Israel’s warriors were in prayer. But Samuel learns of the treachery. The soldiers form battle lines. The Philistines are turned back in defeat. A great victory for Israel! 

To mark the occasion of the great military victory and the day of the nation’s return to faith, Samuel placed a memorial marker and publicly dedicated it as a monument to God's help, God's faithfulness, and God's eternal covenant.

1 Samuel 7:12, “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the LORD helped us.”

Samuel placed a large stone at the place where the restoration of the people began. The Ebenezer stone represented a fresh beginning, a reversal of course for God's people. It also said something important about God. His mercies are everlasting and His covenant promise is forever. 

As the people got on with their lives, the stone stood there, visible to all who passed that way, a reminder of judgment and repentance, mercy and restoration. Samuel’s marker wasn’t a memorial to the hard times or to their recent victory. It was a memorial to God’s faithfulness:

Here we raise our Ebenezer because “Thus far has the Lord helped us.”

That’s a reminder we could always use!

Israel didn’t need a memorial to the tough times they had been through. After all, they had experienced them. Those ancient Israelites weren’t likely to forget the twenty years of discouragement. We don’t need a memorial to our mistakes … we do a good enough job ‘beating’ ourselves up over our mistakes – as well as ‘beating’ each other up.  We don’t need a memorial to our victories … we can recount them as well in detail to anyone who asks.

We don’t forget. We have an unusual capacity to remember.

Samuel was a wise and godly man with a good idea. He recognized something that's true about human nature - we're only forgetful about the things we should remember --- How can I remember what happened in a baseball game 35 years ago, but I can’t remember when my wife’s birthday is?

That is not what Samuel had in mind, nor do I … What we need to be reminded of is that which we too often forget - God is with us.

We need to set up Ebenezer stones to serve as continual reminders that we are forgiven, that we have chosen a new direction, that God has made a permanent covenant with all who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

So, as we move past Christmas and get on with our normal lives, we need an Ebenezer - something to stand out and remind us of judgment and repentance, mercy and restoration – We need something to remind us of the story of change and transformation that overcomes each of us at Christmas, but seems to be too quickly forgotten.

Can I suggest that you keep out a Christmas ornament this year?  Place it somewhere in the house where it will be seen.  Let it become your Ebenezer - a reminder that God has helped us in the past - a reminder that God came to be with us so that he might better help us in the present and future.

And if anyone asks about your Christmas ornament, tell them it is your Ebenezer – a reminder that God has helped you – past, present, and future.

The Christmas Story

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Merry Christmas!

A Christmas Carol: Past, Present, Future

At the heart of ‘A Christmas Carol’ lies Scrooge’s transformation from a selfish, greedy and bitter old man, to a grateful, generous and compassionate individual. Scrooge was taken on a journey in which his life passed before his eyes. He was shown his life as it had been, as it was, and finally how it would be in the end. As a result, a man filled with deep regret has his life transformed, to the point where as Dickens concludes “he became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew.”

The story of Scrooge is a story of past, present, and possible futures. Through the story, Dickens delivers a message of hope and transformation. Christmas is but a part of God’s story of love for each of us. God’s story of love is also a story of Past, Present and Future. At Christmas we receive God’s message in the form of his Son, Jesus Christ who came to us long ago in a manger in Bethlehem. It is a story from the past. But Christmas exists within the story and the promise of Easter – an empty tomb and a promise of life eternal.

At Christmas, we must also be mindful of the affirmation of faith declared by the early church:

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Christ – past, present, future.

Christmas past - the birth of a small baby in Bethlehem – Emmanuel - God with us;

Christmas present - Jesus alive and living within each of us this day;

Christmas yet to come - Jesus will return one day to rule as King on this earth.

Christmas is a time of great joy because of all three – past, present, and future.

We can rejoice that God has forgiven us for what we were once –

We can rejoice for all of God’s blessings that make us what we are today –

And we can be thankful that God is not done with us – for there so much more that we can be.

As Dickens’ wrote, we can declare, “I will live in the Past, Present and Future. And I will keep Christmas in my heart all the year!”

For those of us who believe in Christ, we need to honor Christmas in our hearts and “keep it all the year” Then others would say of us, “they knew how keep to Christmas well.”

Perhaps more importantly, others might say that “you knew Christ well.”

On the way to Sunday ... searching for the light

Light in the darkness

The days are shortest leading up to Christmas.  Centuries ago, they would celebrate the Roman Festival Natalis Solis Invicti or Birth of the Invincible Sun.  This festival was celebrated on December 25 beginning in 275. Apparently, there has always been something scary about the dark and joy in the discovery of light. 

In 320, Pope Julius I chose December 25 as the date for Christ’s birthday and five years later in 325 Constantine introduced Christmas as an immovable feast to be celebrated on December 25th every year.

Before we can get to Christmas and December 25th, we must travel through December 21st and the longest night.  This day has the shortest amount of daylight and consequently the most hours of darkness.

For anyone who has been lost in the dark, I do not have to tell you about the joy of finding even the smallest amount of light.

Light and Dark. Joy and Despair.Each is made greater by its counterpart.

God must have understood that when he chose to send us his Son as a baby.

The pains of birth for Mary and Joseph gave way to joy with a new baby!

Our pain in this world - filled with mistakes, tragedy, and regret can give way to Joy when we discover the light brought forth at Christmas.

And perhaps in the midst of our darkness the simple glimpse of light we find at Christmas can give us hope that a better day filled with more light is just around the corner.

See you Sunday ... I'll be the one gazing at all the Christmas lights.


   




 

A Christmas Carol: Christmas Future?

As a society our focus on the future has become one of doom and destruction. There is a range of eschatological beliefs that cataclysmic or transformative events will occur on December 21, 2012, which is said to be the end-date of a 5,125-year-long cycle in the Mayan long count calendar.

I might also point out that this is not the first time, someone has believed the world was coming to an end. The "Prophet Hen of Leeds," a domesticated fowl in England, began laying eggs that bore the message "Christ is coming" in 1806, leading locals to believe the end of the world was upon them - it wasn't.

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson told followers: "I guarantee you by the end of 1982 there is going to be a judgment on the world." Robertson has since said that God told him about pending disasters on numerous occasions and "I have a relatively good track record," he has said. "Sometimes I miss."

Followers of the "Hyoo Go" (Rapture) movement, a collection of Korean "end-times" sects, firmly believed that Jesus was coming in 1992. When the prophecy failed to pass, turmoil broke out among the sects, and some followers tried to attack their preachers with knives.

Harold Camping, the head of the Christian broadcast group called Family Radio, predicted for years that the end would take place on May 21, 2011.

A Nostradamus prediction, made in 1503 is now upon us: 

From the calm morning, the end will come When of the dancing horse the number of circles will be 9 

This is the same Nostradamus who also predicted the world would end in July of 1999. One blogger noted of this current prediction: "I'm pretty sure you guys are familiar with the song 'Gangnam Style'. Well, for those of you that aren't, it was created by a Korean pop singer named Psy. If you Wikipedia Korea you will see that the name translates to 'The Land of the Morning Calm'." This same blogger further points out Psy's signature dance move - a combination of riding a horse and dancing now known as the "giddy-up" is a “match” to the second line of the prophecy. He adds: "Now here comes the part that's a little disturbing: If you go to YouTube and search Gangnam style, the official video has 878,054,797 views. Once it hits 1,000,000,000 (1 billion) views, well... There's nine zeros."

Another blog points out the speculation that coincides with North Korea's rocket launch this past week, a move which many in the international community believe is a disguised ballistic missile test.

So, apparently we're all going to die on December 21, 2012 to the strains of Gangnam Style while dancing the giddy-up.  So much for Christmas this year?

Before we go further, let’s consider also these words from Dickens regarding Christmas Future: 

The Spirit stood among the graves, and pointed down to One. He advanced towards it trembling. The Phantom was exactly as it had been, but he dreaded that he saw new meaning in its solemn shape.

"Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you point," said Scrooge, "answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only?"

Still the Ghost pointed downward to the grave by which it stood.

"Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead," said Scrooge. "But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me."

The Spirit was immovable as ever. Scrooge crept towards it, trembling as he went; and following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave his own name, EBENEZER SCROOGE.

"Am I that man who lay upon the bed?" he cried, upon his knees. The finger pointed from the grave to him, and back again.

"No, Spirit! Oh no, no!" The finger still was there. "Spirit!" he cried, tight clutching at its robe, "hear me. I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope?" 

Scrooge asks the question we should each ask as we approach Christmas once again, “Why show me this, if I am past all hope?"

The purpose of the season we call Advent is to ask questions – to reflect on meaning and purpose. It is important to note that Advent is not celebrated by every Christian or Church. To millions of people, advent is simply a season of wreaths, candles, and calendars. While these elements are ways to mark the days of Advent they are not the essential meaning of Advent. There is much more to advent than counting. Advent is a Latin word that means the coming. Church leaders officially established the season of Advent in the 6th century. Advent was planned as a time when Christians reflected on the meaning of Christmas and when new converts prepared themselves for baptism. Advent was a series of 4 weeks set aside to contemplate what the coming of Jesus meant not only to the world, but to every individual. Advent was to be a time of soul searching. In a sense you could say that the spirits that visited Scrooge provided a season of Advent for him. 

Centuries later, Advent has become a season of wreaths, candles, and calendars. But these elements are simply a way to bring spiritual meaning and purpose to the season. To the early Christians, there were three significant meanings to be found in the days of Advent: 

Christmas Past – The coming of God in human form as a baby Jesus in the manger. 

Christmas Present – the coming of Jesus into the lives, hearts, and actions of those who professed belief in Jesus as their Savior and sought to be one of His disciples. 

Christmas Future – The future coming of Jesus as King on Earth.

Christmas and Advent have evolved and changed over the centuries. Change brought the focus on the coming of Jesus as a baby and our focus on children in the celebration. This chance has shifted the emphasis of Advent and Christmas to the Nativity and away from the present and future rule of Jesus in our lives. But what if the focus of advent was on Christmas future – the second coming of Christ - as was originally done?

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is mentioned 318 times in the 260 Chapters of the New Testament. The second coming occupies one in every twenty-five verses of scripture from Matthew to Revelation. Additionally, a greater number of predictions concerning Christ in the Old Testament are connected with His Second Coming rather than his first.  

Why is it important that Christ come again?

Without Christ's resurrection being physical there is no salvation. If He did not conquer death then we have no hope of him also dying for our sin. The Resurrection is the completion of the gospel story by which we are saved and have hope. Without believing in this second coming in the same way we believe He died for us, we cannot be saved. It is this physical resurrection that we are promised and that we await in the second coming.

The advent of Christ’ second coming is a promise of hope and comfort. It is a word of encouragement to disheartened believers in this day. The purpose of Jesus’ return is to restore all that was lost. This implies life from the dead as 1 Corinthians 15:22 says,“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”

Scripture speaks over and over again about this second coming: 

I Corinthians 4:5 NIV Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. 

I Corinthians 11:26 NIV For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 

Colossians 3:1-4 NIV Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Hebrews 10:25 NIV not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 

James 5:8 NIV You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

We live in the shadow of Christmas Past – Emmanuel has come. But we exist between moments in time – Christmas Past and Christmas Future – the first and the second coming of Christ. We are left in the present to ask like Scrooge, Why show me this, if I am past all hope? The Bible gives us the answer to the question asked by Scrooge:

My dear friends, we are already God’s children, though what we will be hasn’t yet been seen. But we do know that when Christ returns, we will be like him, because we will see him as he truly is. This hope makes us keep ourselves holy, just as Christ is holy. I John 3:2-3 CEV 

When we know that God has a plan for our lives, it should change how we approach today - how we live our lives:

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. I Thessalonians 3:12-13 NIV 

In the midst of world seemingly gone crazy with shootings, storms, death, and destruction ...
In the midst of a life that has more questions than answers …
In the midst of all the worries about tomorrow ...

Never forget:

God is in control.

God was in control in Christmas past –
God is in control of Christmas present –
God is in control of Christmas future.

How then shall we live? Perhaps Scrooge figured out for us: 

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” 

As we live between the time of Christmas Past and Christmas Future, we must not shut out the lessons of the past, present, and future. How we choose to live our faith matters – now and forever.

If we believe in Christ, we need to honor Christmas in our hearts and as Scrooge put it “try to keep it all the year.”  Perhaps in so doing, it would be said of us not only, that “they knew how keep to Christmas well” but more importantly that they knew Christ well.

On the way to Sunday .... The End is Coming!

Although well used to ghostly company by this time, Scrooge feared the silent shape so much that his legs trembled beneath him, and he found that he could hardly stand when he prepared to follow it. The Spirit pauses a moment, as observing his condition, and giving him time to recover.

But Scrooge was all the worse for this. It thrilled him with a vague uncertain horror, to know that behind the dusky shroud there were ghostly eyes intently fixed upon him, while he, though he stretched his own to the utmost, could see nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black.

"Ghost of the Future!" he exclaimed, "I fear you more than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart. Will you not speak to me?" 

It gave him no reply. The hand was pointed straight before them.

"Lead on," said Scrooge. "Lead on. The night is waning fast, and it is precious time to me, I know. Lead on, Spirit."

                                 excerpt from A Christmas Carol: Stave Four by Charles Dickens

Like Scrooge, what is it about the future that we so fear? 

As a society our entire focus on the future has become one of doom and destruction. The calendar of the ancient Mayan civilization ends on December 21, 2012 - World will end! The fiscal cliff is pending - Economic collapse is upon us! And as chicken little once put it, "the sky is falling!" - Aliens are coming from Mars!

No wonder we fear the future. and like Scrooge, we so want the future to speak to us and yet it remains silent and so our fear grows.

But what if we could get past our fears (like Scrooge) and declare: I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart.

Perhaps we could, if like Scrooge, we lived on the pages of fiction.  But wait, I hear another voice from the past speaking ...

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.     Matthew 6:25-34 NIV

Jesus Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the past and the future, has spoken!  Stop worrying and live as God intended you to live:

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  
                                                                                  John 13:34-35 NIV


Should Sunday come ... I'll see you at church ... until then .... love one another

A Christmas Carol - Christmas Present

A Christmas Carol: Stave 3 The Ghost of Christmas Present 

It was his own room. There was no doubt about that. But it had undergone a surprising transformation. The walls and ceiling were so hung with living green, that it looked a perfect grove; from every part of which, bright gleaming berries glistened. The crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe, and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there; and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney, as that dull petrifaction of a hearth had never known in Scrooge's time, or Marley's, or for many and many a winter season gone. Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch, that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam. In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see:, who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty's horn, and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door. 

Come in!" exclaimed the Ghost. "Come in, and know me better, man."

Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head before this Spirit. He was not the dogged Scrooge he had been; and though the Spirit's eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them.

"I am the Ghost of Christmas Present," said the Spirit. "Look upon me."

Much they saw, and far they went, and many homes they visited, but always with a happy end. The Spirit stood beside sick beds, and they were cheerful; on foreign lands, and they were close at home; by struggling men, and they were patient in their greater hope; by poverty, and it was rich. In almshouse, hospital, and jail, in misery's every refuge, where vain man in his little brief authority had not made fast the door and barred the Spirit out, he left his blessing, and taught Scrooge his precepts. 

Are you done with all of your shopping? Are your lists complete? Have you got that one special gift for that special person? Have you been to Jared’s?

The “12 Days of Christmas” is a song about one person’s list of gifts for their true love. It is a unique song that has been turned into many a holiday joke.  It is in fact a French song about a true love giving gifts to his true love during the twelve days of Christmas (Christmas to Epiphany). For the 29th year PNC Wealth Management has tracked the cost of a true love’s gifts for Christmas. This year the severe drought caused an increase in feed costs for large birds that helped generate a 4.8 percent surge in the 2012 PNC Christmas Price Index®.  Based on the gifts in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” the price tag this year is $25,431.18 - a $1,168 increase over last year. The total cost of items gifted by a true love who repeats all of the song’s verses is the most expensive year ever: $107,300.24 for all 364 gifts - a 6.1% increase over last year. 

For those who prefer the convenience of shopping online, the cost of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” gifts are 1.5 percent more expensive than last year and nearly $580 more than this year’s traditional price index. “In general, Internet prices are higher than their non-Internet counterparts because of premium shipping costs for birds and the convenience factor of shopping online,” said Jim Dunigan the managing executive of investments for PNC.

If that is not a startling picture of the cost/value of Christmas presents then considered this data:

The National Retail Federation estimates that $465 billion will be spent between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The American Research Group estimates that the average American plans on spending $646 for gifts. However, that number sits in contrast to the American Consumer Credit Card Council that states the average credit card debt per person is expected to be $935. Additionally, Forbes estimates that if you chose to not celebrate Christmas at all that you could save $1000 – flowers, cards, postage, tinsel, lights, donations, food, candy, drinks, shipping, and gifts. They also estimate you would save an additional $1000 by choosing to not travel during the Christmas Season.

In the spirit of giving, I found these comments by noted author John Marty to be both sad and humorous:
       Most participants in gift exchanges struggle to find a suitable gift for the recipient “who has 
       everything”. So retailers sell us gift cards, allowing the recipient to choose what they want. Not 
       surprisingly, this has morphed into friends merely exchanging $10 or $20 gift cards. My cousin 
       and I decided to avoid the hassle of gift cards and simply exchanged $20 bills this year at our 
       family gathering. 

Christmas Present has truly become the season of gift-giving or Christmas presents. And yet amidst all the gift-giving, Christmas is still the season where miracles happen. Neighbors speak kindly, strangers smile, unknown people open doors, strangers hold elevator doors, children do chores without complaint, unknown people give gifts and money to total strangers, and charitable giving is at its highest.

I contend that most of us remember when Christmas shifted from being about receiving gifts to being about giving gifts. And yet, I write today to argue that Christmas Present won’t hit you - until you rediscover the joy of receiving!

In the Christmas story, the shepherds were the first to receive the news of the birth of God’s gift for the world. The simple act of a child being born was shared with arguably the most meaningless people alive at that time.  Yet it is the lowly shepherds who receive the first gift of Christmas – the good news – God is with us. They were filled with wonder and amazement.  The shepherds did not respond with gifts.  Their response after seeing and hearing everything was to spread the story – not to go shopping! In receiving the gift of Christmas, they discovered the joy of sharing it as well as they told everyone the story of what they heard and witnessed!

This Christmas season as you encounter God in the simple and seemingly meaningless parts of life, what will your response be?

When we receive the gift of “God with us” in all the small things, we are to be filled with joy from the receiving.  And perhaps that is the spirit of Christmas - present? 

We need to learn to be still and receive the unexpected surprises and the messages of wonder and love that God delivers – not only at Christmas, but throughout the year. It is our lesson and it was the lesson for Scrooge: 

It was a long night, if it were only a night; but Scrooge had his doubts of this, because the Christmas Holidays appeared to be condensed into the space of time they passed together. It was strange, too, that while Scrooge remained unaltered in his outward form, the Ghost grew older, clearly older. Scrooge had observed this change, but never spoke of it, until they left a children's Twelfth Night party, when, looking at the Spirit as they stood together in an open place, he noticed that its hair was grey. "Are spirits' lives so short?" asked Scrooge.

"My life upon this globe, is very brief," replied the Ghost. "It ends to-night."

"To-night!" cried Scrooge.

"To-night at midnight. Hark! The time is drawing near."

 
The story of Christmas present- it is fleeting.  Sad words that the spirit of Christmas present last only ‘til midnight for the essence of Christmas is subtle. It is like the air we breathe. It is like breathing itself.  We don’t even think about it – The Spirit of Christmas just appears and then it is seemingly gone just like the cold air that vaporizes as we breathe disappears when the temperature rises in the spring.

Sad that our Christmas spirit disappears with the striking of the clock at midnight. I believe this happens for us because we miss the joy of receiving and get caught up in the giving. Therefore, when the season of giving is over we no longer are able to experience the joy of the season.

What leads you to worship each week? Like the shepherds, did you come knowing that this was a place to worship a newborn King? Or like the wise men are you here searching for something yet known to you?


If you come searching, do not leave without receiving the greatest gift ever given – eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. If you are still searching for the perfect gift to give, stop looking today and receive the gift that was given so long ago in Bethlehem in a manger. Be still this season and receive the greatest gift ever given.

Celebrate this Christmas – Christmas present - by receiving the gift.

The “joy of receiving” is the reason for the season.

May the spirit of Christmas be present with you today and all of your days.

On the way to Sunday .... The Spirit of Christmas Present

It was a long night, if it were only a night; but Scrooge had his doubts of this, because the Christmas Holidays appeared to be condensed into the space of time they passed together. It was strange, too, that while Scrooge remained unaltered in his outward form, the Ghost grew older, clearly older. Scrooge had observed this change, but never spoke of it, until they left a children's Twelfth Night party, when, looking at the Spirit as they stood together in an open place, he noticed that its hair was grey.

"Are spirits' lives so short?" asked Scrooge.

"My life upon this globe, is very brief," replied the Ghost. "It ends to-night."

"To-night!" cried Scrooge.

"To-night at midnight. Hark! The time is drawing near."
                                                                                    excerpt from A Christmas Carol: Stave 3

The story A Christmas Carol is the type of story that is so ingrained in our culture that it is just assumed that you know the story.  I must admit that I have watched too many productions to count of the story on both stage and screen and yet I never read the story until now with apologies to all of my English Literature teachers of the past whom I faked my way through any assigned readings.

So, I must say that I was stuck by the sadness of the words of the ghost of Christmas present:

                  "My life upon this globe, is very brief," replied the Ghost. "It ends to-night." 

Christmas is that wonderful time of the year when everyone is more kind - more generous. Unfortunately, like the ghost states, it all seems to abruptly end at midnight.  Just ask any store clerk working at a return desk the day after Christmas and they will tell you the spirit of Christmas is dead.

What happens? Why does the spirit die?

Perhaps more important, does the spirit have to die?

If in fact the Spirit of Christmas lives in each of us, then it is up to each of us to keep it alive.

What will you do in the days, weeks, and year ahead to keep the Spirit of Christmas alive and well?

See you Sunday ... 
 

A Christmas Carol: Christmas Past

We often catch ourselves saying things like I wish Christmas was like it was in the past. The Christmas we celebrate as Christians is actually very new. It is barely as old as our country. In reality, until the 1800s December 25th was largely a pagan holiday. It was not a time of worship, but rather it was a day of raunchy songs, rum drinking, and street riots. For centuries, December 25th had been a sinful parade of excess. An interesting irony as we look at Christmas today.

How did Christmas past become Christmas present?

By 125 AD the number of followers of Christ had increased in size and under the leadership of Telesphorus, the 2nd Bishop of Rome, a decree was issued that services marking the Birth of Christ should be held. The first services in Rome were held in September during what we know has Rosh Hashanah.  Within a few years there were over 12 different dates being used by churches to celebrate the birth of Christ. The most common date was January 6th. It would take nearly another 300 years before December 25th became the day.

As the early church looked for a day to celebrate, they also began looking for a way to counteract all the wild festivals and parties that occurred during the Winter solstice.  The “re-birth of the sun” was celebrated by nearly every culture: Babylonian, Egyptian, German, Persian, Greek, and the Romans. As a matter of fact, during the first years, Christians decorated their homes with Holly so that their homes would blend in with the festivities of the Roman holiday Saturnalia and thereby avoid persecution. However, the lure of the party was too great and early church leaders were horrified by converts participation in the parties.

By the 4th century the Roman Empire had converted to Christianity. However, Easter was still the most celebrated holiday. The persecution had ended, but the pagan holidays and festivals surrounding Christmas continued.  In 320, Pope Julius I chose December 25 as the date for Christ’s birthday. The religious holiday still took a backseat to the Roman Festival Natalis Solis Invicti or Birth of the Invincible Sun. This was also on December 25 (Since 12/25/274).  Five years later in 325 Constantine introduced Christmas as an immovable feast to be celebrated on December 25th every year. He also adopted Sunday as a Holy day.  Church leaders had lobbied heavily with the Government with the hope that government backing of the holiday would end the pagan festivals.

A LESSON LEARNED: It did not work. Repentance and social change will not come in the form of government legislation.

This then is the Christmas celebration that remained relatively unchanged for centuries - a battle between the church and society.

Jump ahead and closer to home. In England, Mummers, the equivalent of Carolers today, roamed the streets presenting songs and plays that lacked any Christian tone. Those who did attend church did so in wild costumes that mostly closely resembled a mix of Halloween and Mardi Gras. The messages were not very scriptural. Why even gambling was known to take place during the services. After church, the poor stormed the homes of the rich and demanded food and drink.

In 1649 this type of Christmas celebration helped lead to the overthrow of the English monarchy. Oliver Cromwell led a rebellion that saw King Charles overthrown and executed. Cromwell became England’s Lord Protector and ruled for 15 years. Cromwell was part of the Puritan sect and as such outlawed Christmas. Anyone who took to the streets with merry making, carols, or any of the old traditions would be arrested and jailed. The Puritans believed that Christmas was a sober time of reflection.  Unless the day fell on Sunday, you were to do your normal work, return home, and quietly reflect upon what Christ means in your life. There were no Gifts, No Toasts, No Carols, and No Parties!

After Cromwell’s death, his son took the throne. The people demanded the restoration of the Christmas traditions.  When Richard Cromwell refused, the people rebelled and Charles II was welcomed back to the throne as King of England. The holiday was restored to its previous state as a drunken street riot! The often sung carol - We wish you a Merry Christmas - is from this time frame. Large bands of people (called Mummers) would go to the homes of the rich and demand food, drink, and money. If the home owner did not comply the house was often looted and vandalized. When the carolers sang “Give us some figgy pudding and we won’t go until we get some” they meant it!

Christmas day churches were closed and woman and children locked themselves in their homes in fear of violence on the streets. Church leaders were aghast and the police offered no help.  For the next two centuries, the notion of Christ as a part of Christmas would have been completely lost if not for the Catholic and Anglican Church stubbornly holding Christmas eve and Christmas day services in the face of all the revelry on the streets.

Now jump across the pond to America. The Puritans come to America in 1620. One of their first laws enacted – Christmas was banned in all of New England. Churches did not meet, Businesses were required to be open, and anyone caught celebrating was arrested. These laws would remain in effect for more than 150 years. Christmas was ignored in America from the very beginning.

Starting in 1789, the newly formed congress met every December 25th for 67 straight years. No mention of Christmas is ever noted in their business.  In spite of the Puritans success in outlawing Christmas, the growing number of immigrants coming to the NEW World brought with them many of the old traditions.

Laws may have existed, but mobs were ignoring them. In 1828, The New York City Council met in special session to address the problems in the city. A special police force was formed to deal solely with the drunken revelers. BUT, this was all about to change due in large part to 3 separate events:

I. In Germany the Christmas holiday had evolved differently. Christmas in Germany was a time of family and friends - a time to gather and share food and fellowship. Christmas was the 2nd most holy holiday with Easter being first. Simple decorations, homemade treats, evergreen trees, etc. these were all part of a season of great anticipation.

In 1840, Queen Victoria of England married Germany’s Prince Albert. Albert brought to Windsor Castle all the German traditions. Soon all British families were picking up on the new Christmas traditions celebrated by the Royal family.

II. In 1842, Charles Dickens wrote and published A Christmas Carol. The influence of Dickens’ faith on his work is unquestionable. He wrote in 1870 (the same year he died): I have always striven in my writings to express veneration for the life and lessons of our Savior—because I feel it. In addition to being a famous author Charles Dickens was an active social reformer. He wrote A Christmas Carol with the hope that readers would be moved to change their ways in relationship to their celebrations of Christmas and they did.

III. In America a Christmas poem written as a gift for his children gained national popularity about the same time. The son of a preacher, Clement C. Moore, gave birth to Santa Claus as we know him and a new focus for Christmas was born – children. ‘Twas the Night before Christmas portrayed a "jolly old elf" as arriving on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day and with that change Moore "deftly shifted the focus away from Christmas Day with its still-problematic religious associations". As a result, Americans embraced Moore's child-centered version of Christmas as if they had been doing it all their lives.

Finally, the Christmas holiday as know it had arrived - evolving from drunken riots to family, gifts, and worship.  Rather ironic that due in part to Scrooge, Santa and some added help from the Germans we now have a Religious Holiday.

Still want to go back to Christmas Past?

It is time to stop yearning from something that is gone. Christmas is what YOU make of it today.
· It’s not up to the Government
· It’s not up to the businesses
· It’s not up to the Church
· IT IS UP TO YOU

The impact of one individual can make a difference. Just ask:
· Prince Albert of Germany or
· Good King Wencleslas or
· Telephorus
· Clement C. Moore
· Charles Dickens

What will you do this season to put Christ in Christmas and further remove the Christmas of the Past?

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  Luke 2:19 NIV

What will you treasure and keep this Christmas season?

Let’s pray …. In the midst of our hustle and bustle, amid our complaints about the season and our own “Bah Humbugs” help us to ponder and treasure the story of Christmas – the story of God with us – the story of hope – the story of redemption and transformation – amid our festive celebrations help us keep our eyes open to meaning of Christmas found in the gift of your Son – the Christ Child in whose name we pray … Amen

On the way to Sunday ... Advent

I am already tired of all the commercials, all the music, all the sales, all the Fa-la-la-la-la of the season.  It really isn't hard to imagine why Scrooge muttered, "Bah! Humbug!"  

If we are honest I believe many of us lost our Fa-la-la-la-la a La-long time ago.  It really isn’t hard to lose your joy in this world we live in and it is especially easy to lose your joy in this Christmas season.  The messages we are bombarded with daily rob us of our joy and send us in endless directions seeking joy.

Since the beginning of time, mankind has searched just about everywhere in hopes of finding joy in their lives.  Today, most people are trying to find joy in something or someone outside of themselves.  But what exactly does God have to say about this quest for joy? Is it possible that our Heavenly Father placed joy onto the very fiber of our being? 

I believe God gave us each a shot at experiencing joy.  After all we are His most beloved creation.  The problem is that as humans we search for joy in all the wrong places.  Therefore what we receive is just a sporadic sampling, a mere fraction of the real deal, a clever counterfeit of genuine joy.  We look outside – not inside.  The secret to a joy filled life is so close, so obvious, that inside is the last place we look.  We search everywhere but within.  

We all want something more from our lives in some way or another.  We live in a society that is bent on highlighting what is wrong with just about everything.  Good news does not make the front page.  A 70 percent chance of sunshine is expressed as a 30 percent chance of rain.  We are not immune in the church.  We walk out of church on Sunday mornings like Entertainment critics, discussing what we liked or didn’t like rather than considering what God was trying to say to us through the message or music.  Kids bring home grade cards with As, Bs, and C, and we discuss how the lower grades can improve as if the better grades didn’t exist.  Given enough time, we can find fault with just about anything. We constantly put the Spotlight in the wrong place. What if it didn’t have to be that way?


Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.                                                I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Living with joy is our birthright.  It is God’s intention that we be joyful as His children. Being joy-filled does not mean that your life is perfect.  Who would claim that?  It doesn’t mean that your life is great.  What it does mean is that you emphatically trust God and believe that He has great plans for your life, regardless of what is happening right now.  Joy is infectious and uncontainable.  Joy is an outward sign of an inward faith in the promises of God.  

Try letting a little joy into your life this week.  Hum a song. Smile every now and then. If you are still having a hard time, join us Sunday morning.

I'll see you then .... I'll be the one humming a joyful song.