On Christmas 2009

So it’s Christmas week. The Christmas performances are done, the last of the gifts are (thankfully) purchased, wrapped, and ready for their big day, the cards are all mailed, and I finally have a moment to sit and reflect on Christmas.

I could go through all the commercialization gyrations that I’ve written in many places in years past. But I’m not going there this year.

I could also write about how tired I am of 24/7 Christmas music, and Santa being everywhere I go. Somebody buy that kid’s shoes, get that girl a hippo, and fix that other kid’s front dental work. Sorry, Bing--I don’t want a white Christmas, either. (I’d have to shovel all that snow.) Nope...not writing that up, either.

I could write up the argument about how it’s Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays. While I have issue with how far both sides go with this argument, I’m saving that for next year, maybe. (For the record, there are six major holidays in December, some of which overlap. Seven if you count my birthday. Hence I don’t have as big a deal with “Happy Holidays” as others do.)

I could definitely write about family, and how important that is. It is important, especially to me. But...I’m not writing about that right now. Maybe later.

Instead, I have chosen to quote from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2:

1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (NASB)

That’s what Christmas is all about.

It’s the day we celebrate the birthday of Jesus of Nazareth. No decorated trees, no fat guy sliding down chimneys with a bag of holding, no flying reindeer (including the one with the 12-volt nose), not even a turkey. Just another night during tax season, with one exception: the figure that came to save us from our sins, the man who split time from BC to AD was born in humble estate and laid in a feeding trough. He was born to die for our sins, so that we, who are dead in sin, might be born into new life in Christ.

That hardly seems like a fair trade to me. But I’m not arguing it. I’ve accepted His gift of life, and believe He came here for the very reason stated above.

Contemplate this over the next few days: Why do you celebrate Christmas, if not for the birth of Jesus?

Grace and Peace to you and yours. Have a Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year.

Enough for now.

On Thanksgiving 2009

Ah, Thanksgiving. That wonderful respite between Halloween and Christmas, where everyone except the retailers slow down and takes stock of their blessings. (The retailers are simply trying to move their stock.)

We have a lot to be thankful for in the Crandall household. Deena and I are in reasonable health, and we’re both employed. Sure, we’d like a little more in our bank accounts--who doesn’t, right now?--but we have enough. We have friends and family who love us. Life is good, really, when you stop and count your blessings.

We are also thankful that we serve a Risen Lord who loves us as well. He loves us so much He died for us, then rose again. Now that’s something to be thankful for!

Which is really what Thanksgiving is all about. The modern Thanksgiving holiday can trace its origins from a 1621 celebration at the Plymouth Plantation, where the Plymouth settlers held a harvest feast after a highly successful growing season. This is the event that is generally referred to as the "First Thanksgiving." God blessed the fruits of their labor with enough food to survive the winter. The tradition of giving thanks to God is continued today in various forms. Various religious and spiritual organizations offer services and events on Thanksgiving themes the weekend before, the day of, or the weekend after Thanksgiving. During Thanksgiving Day families and friends usually gather for a large meal or dinner. At home, it is a holiday tradition in many families to begin the Thanksgiving dinner by saying grace; ours (Mine and Deena’s) as well as at both sets of parent’s observes this. Then we eat.

In typically American fashion, we as Americans have managed to turn it into a feast day. (As if we needed an excuse to overeat.) And it’s kind of forgotten by too many people, as it’s hard to sell thankfulness.

What are you thankful for? Look past all the stuff, the large amount of food, the excessive amounts of sports on the tube, the overly fast computer you’re reading this from, and take some time to really think about how God Almighty has blessed you and yours this year. Then take some time to give thanks to God for all your blessings (and not just the food in front of you).

Enjoy your time with your families. We will enjoy the time with ours.

Enough for now.

On Halloween

Halloween used to be different.

It used to be a time where we put some really ugly cardboard stuff on our windows, got dressed in ridiculous outfits with bad plastic masks held on with elastic string, and went out trick or treating. Adults had costume parties, and did whatever it was adults did; we were kids and we didn’t care. The big question was “What are you going to go out as?” We had “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” to watch on TV, and maybe some old movies with Bela Lugosi. The older kids went out and kind of kept an eye on the younger kids, and sometimes they got some candy out of the deal.

It’s becoming increasingly dark. It’s not fun anymore. It’s gone from a fun kind of scary to flat out evil. I can’t tell you the last costume party I attended; it’s been at least ten years and probably longer. In fact, too many people are afraid to have parties anymore; the liability issues aren’t worth it. Kids don’t go out at night on halloween, twilight is about the best they get anymore and they have to have all the candy inspected to make sure it’s safe to eat because you just know some sicko has poisoned it, or added bugs or razor blades to it. That’s if they can get it home without some teenager mugging the kid for it.

In a sense, it’s too bad. Kids today have lost out on yet another childhood ritual, because we adults have held onto things too long. Some of us have made our lives like that of the undead.

I admit don’t get all the goth scene. I’m not into vampires, were-anythings, zombies, or monsters. A Zombie was a cheese filled yeast bun when I was in school, most bloodsucking is best left to the IRS, and with cloning we are creating our own monsters.

When you run in the circles I do, you only die once. Then you face judgement, and if you are not right with God you go straight to hell, do not pass go, do not collect $200. (See Hebrews 9:27.)

And Hell is not a party place. The devil is evil incarnate, and Hell is a place where you are in torment for eternity. (Eternity, by the way, means forever.) It’s dark, you are tormented all the time, there is no rest, and it is a lake of fire.

Not exactly my idea of a vacation destination, kids!

So I won’t be dressing up this year, though I have a nice Star Trek Next Generation tunic with chirping commbadge and can make my iPod a tricorder. (Yes, Virginia, there’s an App for that.) I’m not even sure I want to be home; the U of O is playing USC in an early evening kickoff, ESPN’s College Gameday will be here, and it’s Halloween. Which means the party will start about 4:30 the day before, and is likely to go well into November 1st.

Now that’s scary. In fact, the only thing scarier to me is Nancy Pelosi’s healthcare plan.

Enough for now.