SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, the BIG DAY is over now! But please note that the Christmas Season is not, so let’s continue to portray and put into action those sentiments that the angels proclaimed when Jesus was born: ‘PEACE ON EARTH; AND GOODWILL TO MEN!’ Oh mih people, those words evoke such a powerful and godly inclination that our world would instantly turn into a paradise if more of humanity followed them. And yuh know, if only the majority of Christians applied it, our earth would still be much improved, since we Christians talk a good talk but too often don’t follow it up with the necessary action. And here’s a recent example of that. I heard of these believers going to one family’s home after church on a Sunday morning for brunch. In that group, there was one man apparently deeply indebted emotionally to the older homeowner for their Christian support during a rough time of grief, when his wife passed away. Now some disagreement arose between both men over some innocuous matter, and my talebearer (smile) was most shocked at the manner in which the younger man berated the older one, in front of all their church companions, so soon after church. Obviously that soured the gathering to some extent and could not be construed as peace and goodwill either. Here’s an even more telling example. My local church building houses three different denominations with relations not the best between them, mostly because of monetary matters. But in any case, on a Sunday morning when I’m leaving, another denomination is coming in, and would you believe that many of them pass me by with a stone face, not even a smile or a good morning greeting. I guess I’m also guilty of not engaging them in a friendly Christian manner. Oh mih breddren, what ever happened to 3 Canal’s engaging dictum eh: ‘Morning Neighbuh, morning?’ (smile) But unfortunately Friends, it’s those kinds of things that unbelievers see and hear about that turns them off of the Christian experience. And you really can’t blame them if believers in the same ONE, TRUE, GREAT GOD can’t at least be civil to each other. No wonder the enemy is busy, successfully removing our God from our lives bit by bit, because instead of fighting the evil enemy, we’re fighting our supposed brothers and sisters in Christ. What a crying shame my brethren! That only belittles the Church of Christ and paints everybody with a tar brush. Anyway, enough negative talk this Boxing Day, let’s get positive. So Friends, how was your Christmas Day? I sincerely hope it was most excellent, and that whatever gathering you were a part of had a good time, and Christ was included in some form and fashion. I must say that mine was quiet but excellent, with only close family members. The highlight of my day though was that my ole mother surprised me by showing up at my humble abode in all her arthritic splendour (smile) after insisting that she was not leaving her own home. And I wasn’t happy so much on my account, but for her and her care-giver; that they didn’t have to spend Christmas Day in the little two be four apartment and not actively participate in the seasonal joy and fun-filled fellowship with the rest of the family. Thank you Lord for that! But those of you who know the old girl, know that she can be very stubborn when she feels so inclined. I guess some of her reluctance to go out nowadays is basically due to a combination of shame and pride she wrongly feels because she is wheelchair bound and can’t manage most of her own affairs. But that’s an unfortunate human trait. And Friends, would you believe that the Spirit was also in cahoots with my family on this matter. (smile) I say that because in the afternoon I kept phoning my mother’s place to read the usual prayers for her, but couldn’t get an answer. Obviously I began to get concerned since she never said she was going out, and I almost got into an argument with my family over it when they began making what I considered simplistic excuses. I knew that my younger daughter and her boyfriend had gone out, but I figured it was to visit their own friends. I never even considered the possibility that they had gone to get her, since she had been so adamant about not leaving home. And it wasn’t until I heard some commotion in my driveway that the Spirit finally enlightened me as to what was happening. One moment I heard the noise, and then suddenly, in the next, I received the brainwave. That’s why I can truly say this Christmas Day of 2010: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.’ He truly showered my family with blessings on this anniversary of His Son’s Birth! Oh my people, I also hope that all of you were blessed in some special way this Christmas Day of 2010. And even if we weren’t, please don’t lose hope, faith and trust in Almighty God, for the world might not be fair, but it’s an unassailable fact that the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob IS GOOD! We don’t, and won’t always understand His complicated chess moves, but whatever He does is always in the long-term best interest of His children. So please stand strong and true under His righteous wings, and He will surely see you through. Much LOVE!…whoever sacrifices their only son…especially for undeserving, ungrateful others…must have a big heart…full of LOVE…