Thoughts & Updates

Congratulations to Lizzy, her family and her friends!  It was a great joy to participate in her baptism!

Although the Bible and science say the earth will end in fire, we Southerners know it will end in snow and ice.  At least, that’s the way it seems every time there is the slightest hint of snow! Wednesday, when I went to Trader Joe’s, the shelves were half empty.  The bread and soup were almost completely gone.  A cashier told me that some people got into fights over food.  That wasn’t the only story though of our winter storm. Thursday morning on WRAL, I saw several young people push the car of a person stuck on a Highway 70 exit ramp near Goldsboro.  The driver got going again thanks to them. It’s an old story.  Challenging situations bring out the best and the worst in us.  The book of Genesis reveals both are part of humanity.  God created humans, male and female, in God’s image and humanity, although created good, turned from God.  The difference is Jesus. Jesus reunites us again with God and our fellow humans.  We are still imperfect.  Sometimes we fail to act in the best way.  I know that’s true for me.  Our better nature though through Christ is the truer one.  The more we focus on Jesus the more we can live into the life changing power of God’s love and be like those young people near Goldsboro. John

I always ask people if they’re ready for Christmas.  As you would imagine, some are and others aren’t.  A few wisely tell me it doesn’t matter whether or not they are, the day will come anyway.

Ultimately, this day isn’t about the decorations, presets, parties and cards, as wonderful as all of those are.  It’s about the birth of Jesus, the Son of God.

Tweet