This year Marty and I just didn’t get around to putting up our Christmas Tree. We must have a hundred Rako ornaments but somehow I lost the energy for the day it takes to bring it all up from the garage, get everything out of the boxes, figure out where it all goes and then in just a few days take it all down. So I googled Christmas Trees around the World and it seems we are not alone in celebrating Christmas with trees (See link below).
Here’s hoping that:
“All ye Merry Gentlemen” get the rest they need.
Rudolph comes in off the bench and has a big night for Santa.
Someone with the talent of Irving Berlin and Big Crosby writes and sings a new “classic” Christmas song because I’m getting tired of the tripe that passes as modern Christmas music this year.
Maybe it’s Super Storm Sandy, Romney losing or the horrific School shootings but Christmas doesn’t seem as “cheery” to me this year.
However, lest we forget an Angel appeared to the shepherds and said I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. I’m guessing unless Luke misquoted the Angel it was some really great news for the Angel to come all that way and to remind us that this good news is for all the people – including you, me, the people who suffered from Super Storm Sandy and yes, even the loved ones of the teachers and children in Newtown, CT.
OK, so maybe there’s reason for some of us this year to lose a little enthusiasm for the Baby in the Manger, the Shepherds and the Wise Men. However – The Apostle John tells us: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the Beginning. Through Him all things were made – without Him nothing that you see or know about was created. All things were created by and through Him. This was Act One. And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. As Saint Paul says: When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, that we might receive the full rights as Children of God. That’s the reason for the Christmas story- our becoming children of God!
The Christmas story – accompanied by the trees and the parties and the singing is not the beginning. It’s the Second Act – when God chose to take on flesh and live among us as the first, true Son of God.
The Third act of course is His suffering – both physically and spiritually as he took on the sins of you and me – and died a horrible, painful death by crucifixion. I never could figure out why its called Good Friday.
The Fourth Act is pretty amazing – The Resurrection! The God who always was and is and who walked among his disciples and detractors – Rose from the Dead and is seated at the right hand of God.
The Fifth Act – well that’s yet to come. When that same Lord that they saw rise into the heavens will come again on a White Horse and on his thigh will be written “The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” There’s going to be some real butt kicking and serious judgement on that day.
Wow! I’m surely glad that my Salvation and Eternal Place in His Kingdom as a Child of God isn’t depending on my lack of enthusiasm for putting up the tree this year!
How about you?
Uncle Larry
Uncle Larry's Blog 
Larry, Last year we went treeless but its back this year with our 45 yr. old olive wood Nativity set I purchased in Bethlehem. On our piano is a glass creche we bought in Yangoon, Burma known for its persecution of Christians. It reminds us of the blessing of living in freedom but what brings me the most joy is what we are doing at Church in blessing single parents this Christmas, or choosing to give to Christ’s Birthday offering instead of buying gifts when we need nothing. This is a joyous time for Joy and me. Merry Christmas.
I sent Todd a note about what a good job he did and that despite his negative remarks about cat owners I was enclosing a gift for Christ Birthday offering. Larry
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