One group could not stop talking about it

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.” Luke 2:20 ASV

and the second group decided they would leave a different way then the way they came:

¹¹ After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. Matthew 2:11-12 NASB

So after experience Christ this Christmas, will you keep him on your lips?  Is it time to go another way?

As you probably know, the players are rewarded quite well at this games.  The bowl gifts range from TV’s to watches, from iPods to rings. Tons o’ swag – well – of course swag that is under the $300 NCAA limit.  Yesterday however, a few Louisiana Tech players gave their packages to children from the Make-A-Wish foundation.  That’s probably even more incredible than the touchdowns and tackles.  Jump over and read about it here.

And be inspired by the heart of those players, and the magic of the Christmas season.

Keep Giving!

³⁸Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:38 New International Version (NIV)

Given this time of year, and some of the thoughts I have had this week, if I could go back in time today, I would head back to a pasture 2000 years ago.

 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 ¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 ¹⁵When 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.”

 ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2 NIV

I can’t imagine what those dudes were thinking. All of the sudden an angel appears and reveals the greatest message ever given.  Wow, I would love to see that!  Can you imagine?

So today, lets all find our inner Marty McFly or go find the Doctor and spend some time traveling, or at least pretending to travel, through time! 

And as you go, sing “Glory to God in the highest” just like those angels!

I had read this passage so many times in the past, but yesterday it seemed these words were a lot closer to home than before. No, I did not have an angel talk to me. And no, I am not pregnant!. But I do struggle with submitting myself to the commands and directives of the creator of the world. I do struggle hearing those commands and saying “sure if that is what you want!”

But, that’s exactly what that young girl, Mary did.

³⁸And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38 English Standard Version (ESV)

Could you imagine if we actually responded that way to the commands of our Lord? I believe we would see incredible things happening! Her response, is quite an example. Might be worth following that example today?

Let it be to me.

Oh and I found something neat that is happening that weekend- the 12 and 13. It’s called finish weekend. A group of people in Michigan are getting together for the weekend to finish projects that they have started but have not quite completed. I think that’s a pretty cool idea. I am sure most of can join them in Michigan, but you can extend the idea into your home or community or self !

And just to prove my point, I think I will take a verse completely out of context about the need to finish work:

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ Luke 14 NIV

Seriously though, what Jesus says there is correct. We have lots of things that we get started and not completely finish.  That leads me to two thoughts for today.  First, take advantage of this little ‘finish weekend’ idea. Find a project that is lingering around and knock it out that weekend.  You’ll feel great about yourself!

Secondly, lets look at what Jesus was really driving two in Luke where he mentioned the incomplete tower

³³ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Luke 14 NIV

Hm.  He says,’ you have got to give up yourself if you are following me!’.  Hearing that, it maybe that we should also use next week to be finished with something? 

But despite that I think they heard something, and the main thing I told them, is probably something all of us could be reminded of as well.

Before this parable Jesus has been asked to clarify who a person’s neighbor is.  He tells a story that we all know pretty well about a man and his rescuer.  He finished the story by with this little exchange:

  ³⁶“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37

This is really interesting, as if I can paraphrase that last bit, it might be like this:

“Go and have mercy on those who hate you, oh and also have mercy on those that you hate.”

And that’s a pretty amazing way of showing who are neighbor is that we are commanded to show love towards ( with as much love as we show ourselves!!!)

Well, what else can I say, except – Go and Do Likewise!

And because of that, I think, these words popped into my head this morning

Go and do likewise.

³⁶“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37 NIV

If you remember, this these words are the conclusion of the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus’ words are all about action!  He tells us that we should go.  But not only go, but show mercy and help those who we pass, passing along the mercy that we live with.

What do you say,  Should we start off our Monday morning, by remembering to GO and DO likewise?

This little exercise started when I discovered this quote sometime last week

“Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.” – Leonard Cohen

After reading that I started to think about how I acted, but I decided to also take a investigatory look at what I was thinking about – especially since at this time I spend a lot of time alone in my office at work.

As I mentioned above it’s a little sobering.  I was surprised how little time I spent on certain topics and how much I spend thinking about other topics.  Even more surprising was how much time I spent thinking about me!

It’s even more sobering when the Proverbs echo the quote above ( more than likely its the other way around!!!)

Of course then there is this little diddy as well

Hm.  The other day Alex was driving on the interstate for the first time.  We started to swerve toward the shoulder, and Alex said as he was straighten up the car, I was looking over there at that barn ( or whatever it was on the side of the road).  Yep, he learned an important fact, the car goes where you look!  And from that we know, we go where we think.  Spend a little time thinking about what you are thinking about!

After a surprisingly non eventful start to the day, Amy and the boys went off to work.  Following suit, I prepared my self for a day at the ol’ milestone, feed the cats, loading my bags for the post-work activities into my truck and reached in my pocket for my keys.

Except  they were not there.  Nor were they on the nightstand, of the kitchen counter, or my desk.  no, they were in Amy’s purse – that was in Amy’s classroom at Amy’s school.

Not only that, but remember last week when I had no power ( yes Ben, I had no POWER!!!, and it went out again last night!!!! – I think I have moved to a third world country).  Anyway,  remember last week, when I had no power, and no laptop.  You do!  great, because the laptop problem has returned.

So, here I sit, at home, with a laptop complaining about a hard drive it can’t read, and two , count them two cars in the garage which I cannot start, because I have no keys.

Well, actually, I do have one key – I have a key to the car Amy drove to work today.

Oh, it’s Monday!!!

So, what does this have to do about anything, apart from my complaining?  Well, I think it shows how important something foundational or something essential is to the whole works.  Without  a key those vehicles are just big hunks of steel.  Although they are completely functional, they are missing the one element that keeps them going.  It sort of reminds me of these words from John 15:5, which we will put in Red letters

Also I think this is gentle reminder about how to handle something we all deal with everyday – anxiety.  In the end, this whole deal this morning is actually a small thing.  I do have a 11ish appointment that I should be present in the office for, and I do need to get this laptop fixed, which again requires heading to the office, but in the end, being anxious and worrying will not help at all.

 ²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Luke 12 NIV

So, Stay Calm and keep hold of the Key!

And for some reason with the thought of marshmallows I am reminded of a song and, it seems,  cereal.

Anyway, that song it about the only thing rattling around in my brain now, for me it seems more like Toasted Brain day, as I feel as I have sort of been writing the same thing each and every day.   But not to worry, I have some undeveloped thoughts that will be posting themselves very soon.

In the meantime, enjoy the look back at marshmallow days of yesteryear ( or last year!), and as you move through your marshmallow world, make sure you are the yummy goodness inside and not the burnt toasted crunchy part on the outside!

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. ESV Luke 6:31