Think About It

Did you have a good Christmas?  While today is probably a holiday for most of us, it is still the day after Christmas.  The gifts have all been unwrapped and most of us are working on leftovers from yesterday’s big meal.  I hope you had a great day, but before we move too much closer to the new year, I want to offer a reminder.  A lot of people have spent the last couple of days focused on the coming of Jesus.  Some people set up displays, some attended special worship services while others, in their own quiet way reflected on the incarnation of Jesus.  Before we get too far away from Christmas, I want to encourage all of us to make sure that we don’t leave Jesus behind on December 25.  He is Lord each and every day of the year.  He is just as precious and as powerful on December 26 or July 31 as He is on Christmas Day! One of the most interesting parts of the story of the birth of Jesus comes in Mary’s reaction.  Luke states, “But Mary treas...

Why do you like the Christmas season? Is it because people seem to be in a better mood? Maybe it is gift-giving (and receiving)? Maybe it is the story of the birth of Jesus? Maybe it all the old-fashioned holiday movies or the modern Christmas shows? Maybe it is the food (especially the desserts)? Maybe it is because of the fond memories from days-gone-by? No matter why, most of us enjoy this time of year. As we ponder Christmas – whether our reason for the season is social or spiritual – it can be an enjoyable time of year. Whether the white in our Christmas is from snow or sand, time away from the mundane and a focus on something extraordinary gives us bit of a break from the routine challenges. The day gives a chance to embrace peace, joy and good-will! We hope you get the opportunity to spend a pleasurable time with good friends and family. Enjoy the season and make the effort to make the day something special with unforgettable memories. From our family to yours, we w...

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9). Often, when we read this passage, we think of official envoys or people in public service. Maybe we might consider someone in the roll of mediator as having this quality, but have you thought about how common the need is in every aspect of life. Take this time of year. How many of our family gatherings ended up being times of turmoil? How many of us almost dread the holiday seasons because emotions are raw and relationships that are rocky are put to the test. If there is ever a place for people who are looking to promote peace, it would be in our families during the holiday season. Is your family facing a rift? First of all, if you are a part of it, do what you can to mend it. Maybe it involves offering forgiveness (even if the other person doesn’t ask) … maybe it takes asking for forgiveness (even if you weren’t the one who created the problem). If you find yourself in a position to be able...

I have a computer that I really like. I spend most of my time attached to it – but it has developed a problem. Once I get it booted up and running it works fine, but if I ever have to reboot or restart it, it just can’t get it going. I get the “blue screen of death’ which creates sadness and frustration in me. Usually, I would be happy to go buy and new machine, but I like this one. I just want it to work. I have been told that I probably just need a new hard drive (and I believe that is on my Christmas list), but for now, I have to live with the knowledge that I am not operating at 100%. So far, I have been able to do what I need to do, but my computing foundation is tenuous at best. As I got to thinking about my computer issues, I got to pondering our spiritual foundation. Are we operating our lives from a solid spiritual base or is our basic foundation eroding? We may have been able to keep going so far, but are we limping along on fragile footing? At the beginning of His m...

Traditionally, the last couple of months of the year are filled with opportunities to help our friends and neighbors. Many community leaders and community organizations rely on the generosity inspired by the holiday season to help fund their causes. As someone who has been a part of peripheral fundraising over the last few weeks, I want to say “thank you” to everyone who has donated to help ease the needs of our friends and neighbors or provide opportunities for them to succeed. Whether it was donating coats to those who were facing a winter underdressed, donating gifts to promote a merrier Christmas, participating in events to help mentally, physically or emotionally challenged or provide funds to help those impacted by war, pestilence or natural devastation; you have made a difference! You might have been able to give a substantial gift that, by itself, changed a life or you may have added what you had to what everyone else donated to create a sizeable contribution – either way, ...

For the last several months I have been driving by a business that has a sign that says “Coming in 2022”. I have watched the progress with interest because there is a chance I would do business with them – but the other day, as I drove by and saw the sign once again, it dawned on me that time was running out. If they are going to open in 2022, they’d better hurry! As I processed this process, I got to thinking back to the beginning of 2022 when we made promises (I believe we called them “New Year’s Resolutions”) about what we hoped to accomplish this year. Guess what, we only have a couple of weeks to accomplish our goals. Traditionally, when we think about resolutions this time of year, we dismiss them as failures or add them to the list we plan to make in the next year, but its not too late to make the changes we proposed by in January. Some of our promises to ourselves might take more time to accomplish than the time we have left in the year, but we can get started. (It might ...

Tomorrow is my annual dip in the Potomac River. There are two reasons I am willing to go into the Potomac in December: first, because the jellyfish are all dead and second because it raises money for Special Olympics. Each year, dozens of us gather along the banks of the chilly waters of St. Mary’s County to “splash” for a good cause. Sure, there are saner ways to raise money for a good cause, but sometimes being a little bit “off” makes it more fun. People often ask me why I do this foolishness. I usually smile and come up with some kind of off-the-wall comment; but, in all honesty, I do it because it is the least I can do to help someone enjoy something I tend to take for granted. I have been able to compete in athletic events all my life; but some people aren’t as blessed as me. I am nowhere near a gifted athlete, but I have had the chance to try and if I can give someone else the opportunity to do that in their lives, it is the least I can do. I have been blessed with healt...