December 2011 Entries
In a matter of days, we will all be shouting, “Happy New Year!” It’s a warm and hopeful sentiment because we know that happy people live longer, healthier and more prosperous lives. Scripture confirms that true happiness is found in our relationship with God. But do we play a part in feeling happy?
A few Sundays ago, my pastor preached on the passage in Luke 1 where Zechariah is told by the angel Gabriel that his wife Elizabeth would have a child. This proclamation was surprising because Elizabeth and Zechariah were infertile and had been praying for a child for years. Now, past the normal age of child bearing, the couple was living in the reality of disappointment.
Whose idea was it to invent the Christmas cookie and give us days of eating temptation? Actually, the tradition of the Christmas cookie can be traced to Medieval European recipes. During the 1500s, the Christmas cookie was popular all over Europe. Then the Dutch and Germans brought it to the shores of America in the 1600s.
Millions of people feel depressed when they hear the words to that popular Christmas song: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”. For many, the holidays are times of loss and loneliness. If you are lonely, it’s important to first identify the reason for your loneliness. Is it due to the death of a loved one, a recent separation or divorce, a military deployment, distance from family, singleness?
Some Sundays the sermons really hit home. Last Sunday, part of the message was on controlling the tongue and using it to bless others, not curse them. The speaker gave two examples of how important this is in every day life. First, he talked about being in a retail line behind an out-of-control child whose mom was not correcting him. The speaker admitted that he became quite annoyed, but didn’t act on it. Rather, he prayed.