Television A Necessity?

Lately, about the only thing I have been watching on television are reruns of Mother Angelica. That's because I really haven't been able to find anything else worth watching. I woke up this morning and turned the television on so I could listen to some news and no satellite connection; so, no television. I often wonder why we waste the money on television. Oh, yes, I remember: football and no it is not me who watches football.

I don't watch too much television. I usually read the news online. Just about every time I sit down to watch something on television I think about the amount of money spent on this mindless entertainment.

I know more than a few people who are and have been unemployed for more than a year and no longer receive unemployment compensation. They are no longer counted in our lowering unemployment rates either. They are having a very difficult time putting groceries on the table; heating their homes; paying their rent or mortgages as others of us throw a hundred dollars a month away to watch blank television screens, football for a season, and reruns of Mother Angelica. I do find her interesting; but, not that interesting. It is not that I feel so guilty. It is more like disgusted. On the eve of the celebration of our Saviour's birth, when so many are struggling to keep shelter over their and their children's heads; when there are so many homeless in this country of such great wealth, how do we reconcile the extreme extravagance? I won't talk about the extreme amounts spent on cell phones this morning in order to "keep up with the Jones'." I, along with so many others, really must confess that I am not the steward of God's gifts that I could be.

I am; however, most grateful today and every day for all that God has given me. But, this Christmas Eve, I am praying for employment for the unemployed so that they might not have to worry over having enough for the very basics of life.

Heavenly Father, give all in need of gainful employment the means to provide their families with their daily bread.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. The wind just changed direction so the satellite signal is back on.

1 John 4:1-6 From God

1 John 4:1-6
God has sent His children into the world to proclaim Jesus the Christ who has come in the flesh. Those who would listen to the good news of Jesus Christ are also from God. But, those who do not listen and spread false rumors are not from God. Do not share in their lies.

Our reading today instantly made me think of that History Channel, that is more like the Science Fiction Channel. I've seen more junk on that channel; things like trying to disprove the virgin birth and that Jesus was an alien and that earth was populated because beings from other planets came and started a whole colony of people with their DNA. Some of the stuff seen on that channel has no basis in either faith or science. It is all conjecture aimed at proving that the Holy Scriptures are false. Have nothing to do with these lies.

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (vs 1)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ephesians 1:1-14 Marked and Sealed

Ephesians 1:1-14 NIV
My memory for names is absolutely horrific. I remember people quite well enough or probably more correctly I should state that I remember their spirit. I remember who and whose they are; just not always their names. I have often remarked that we should be tattooed in our foreheads upon our birth so that we might know and remember everyone's names.

In fact, we were marked with the sign of the cross on our foreheads as we were born again, into the family of God, through the water's of baptism. We were marked; sealed by the Holy Spirit, to the praise of His glory. It is this indwelling Spirit that I recognize in brothers and sisters when I greet them. For those whom I do not recognize as brothers and sisters in Christ, I pray a lot. I cannot imagine what it must be like to have to live without the spiritual blessings that those who believe have received in Christ. I cannot imagine what it would be like to not belong to God or to live without Jesus. I cannot imagine what it would be like to live without the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance as children of God; heirs of His Kingdom.

I would desire that everyone bear the name of Christ; sealed by the Holy Spirit, to live for the glory of God. And... so we pray for all whom we love and as well as for all whose names we may not remember that they too might receive this gift of God's grace. And... so we share the good news that in Jesus we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 2:1-20 - The One Who Brings Peace

Luke 2:1-20 NIV
Fear not! Don't be afraid! We read an awful lot in scripture that we are not to fear. We are not to be anxious about anything. Angels showing up and bringing you a message of peace actually would probably cause a little anxiety just in the fact that angels have shown themselves to you.

Yet, in the midst of anxious times, we can have peace. The angels proclaimed to the shepherds, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2: 14) This peace that God brings is kind of amazing. As we grow in the LORD, we will find that we do know a sense of peace no matter what kind of chaos is around us. It may still be troubling, but we can be at peace knowing that God has a good plan for it all.

A few years ago, I was in the pulpit preaching as usual on a Sunday morning. All of a sudden, I could no longer read my notes. All that I could see was a white light and light shadows of people sitting in the pews. It was a bit disconcerting. But, I did not panic. I kept on preaching, even as St. Paul's vision that brought him to repentance and to follow Jesus came to my mind. I wondered if maybe there was something I needed to repent of even as I kept on preaching; everyone around me unaware of what I was seeing. I was a little anxious about the situation; but, at the same time at peace knowing that God was with me and there was a good purpose for it all. I just didn't know what. I went to the eye specialist that week and was told that I had eye strokes due to the steroid that was in the medication (Advair) for my COPD. I got off the prescription medication and am taking only an herbal, all natural medication. Lo and behold, there was a good purpose. My breathing has improved greatly.

The point is sometimes things happen in our lives that might cause a little anxiety; but, we should know that God is with us and in that knowledge we can know peace no matter what is going on in our lives. Can you imagine a pregnant young woman and the man she was engaged to traveling cross country to sign up to pay taxes? When they get to their destination there is no place for them to stay so they stay in a barn where the baby is born. Can you imagine sitting in a field with the guys watching the sheep settle in for the night and you have this heavenly host singing in the heavens? I'm thinking it was probably, at least, a little unsettling. Yet, the shepherds listen to the angel and go and see this baby that is to bring peace to the world.

Anxiety and peace - sometimes you can have them almost simultaneously. Being anxious about something is human nature; yet, in the midst of anxiety, we can know that God is with us and we can know His peace. Thanks be to God!
God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 1:39-56 - Sharing and Caring

Luke 1:38-56 NIV
There are times in our lives when we truly need a friend. We need to be able to sit back and share our joys, our sorrows, our hopes and dreams, even our fears with someone who cares.

Mary went to see her cousin Elizabeth. They could relate to one another. They had something in common. They had something to share with each other. They were both to bear very unusual children. Elizabeth would bear John the Baptist, the one who would announce our Savior's coming into the world. Mary would give birth to Jesus, the Son of God, our Lord and Savior.

May God grant that we should all have someone to share our lives with; our joys, our sorrows, our hopes and dreams, and even our fears.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 1 - He Has Come!

     "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”)." (Matt 1:22-23 NIV)
     Finally... out of the prophets and into the fulfillment of them. We begin the New Testament today with the fulfillment of the promise that a Savior would come. God, Himself, would come to us, of the lineage of Abraham and David; He would come to us as any man comes into the world, born of a woman, through a natural childbirth.
     "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Isa 7:14)
      But, I repeat myself... Of course to make a point. In spite of all the warnings to those who break God's law in the preceding books, that are found in the Old Testament, there was grace. The promise was there that a Savior would come for God's people. As witnessed by those who walked the earth when Jesus walked the earth; He has come!
     My granddaughter is home schooled. A few years ago, I sat listening in on one of her online (public school) history classes, in spite of her objections to me being there. The instructor was giving the class definitions for C.E. (common era); B.C.E. (before common era); A.D. (Anno Domini - The year of our Lord) and B.C. (before Christ); She looked at me and said "you mean Jesus is real?" I replied, "Are you serious? All this time, did you think I was just telling you fairy tales? Yes, he really was real."
     This history class was a very good thing. Without purposing to do it; this class verified, for my granddaughter, the reality of Jesus' life and death. We hear Matthew doing the same thing today in our reading; he begins his writings using a bit of the history of Jesus' ancestors to verify that Jesus is not just the Son of God; but, the Son of Man, as well. He really is real! Matthew uses history to remind us that a Savior, from the lineage of Abraham and David, would come. He has come!

God's Peace - Pr. J