Hello. My name is Mark (Hi, Mark), and I'm a Christmas Junkie. I enjoy Christmas music all times of the year, and I keep a 365 day countdown calendar at my desk. I love everything about Christmas (except maybe fruitcakes).
I realize that many would claim Easter to be the more important holiday in the Christian year. I wouldn't disagree with that point. Without Jesus death and resurrection, Christmas would have no meaning, just another long winter day that causes the addition of at least 5 extra pounds of weight. But for me, the distinction is this...When Christ died and rose again, it was once for all our sin. When we give of ourselves for Him, Jesus Christ is born again!
Every time you show love to another, you show him Christ. Jesus is presented new and fresh and, just like Christmas, is born again to someone on Earth. every time you purposely show kindness to another, show love, not hate or judgement, He is born again. New and fresh and surprising, not just to those who don't know Him, but even to those that do.
And this love should be given to all people, not just those to whom it is easy to show love, but to those who make it difficult to love. Especially to those who are difficult to love, because they need to see the love of God the most. And just like the advertisements for a certain gym, that love must be given in a "No Judgement" zone. It is not ours to judge others for what they do, that's between them and God, not us. But if we don't show them God's unconditional love, then that's back on us, not others! Other people can't be blamed for not wanting something they've never seen nor felt, and we've never shown or given.
Back to my point. (I do tend to wander :) )Christmas is something that can come everyday, because every time we love, react, act with kindness, or otherwise treat others as He would treat them, Christ is come into the Earth again. Let's have Christmas Every Day! (minus the fruitcake for me though.)
And now, I have a little poem for you to send you on your way, hope you enjoy it!
Jesus Christ is Born
We celebrate this special day.
Jesus Christ is born.
To all the world we gladly say
Jesus Christ is born.
With friends and family so dear
All our loved ones gathered near
let's not forget just why we're here
Jesus Christ is born.
When we give love to fellow man
Jesus Christ is born.
And offer them a helping hand
Jesus Christ is born.
When Jesus died and rose again
It was just once for all our sin.
But whenever we give ourselves for Him
Jesus Christ is born!
A Christmas offering for all...Merry Christmas!
The Last Night Before Christmas
On a night in the future, time still unknown
All of Earth seems in ruin, humanity gone.
Rumors of Wars have covered the globe
The simplest of food worth its weight in gold.
Tornadoes and earthquakes, fires and floods,
The sun barely light, the moon like blood.
The fish have been boiled by the heat of the sea.
The trees and the gardens as dry as can be.
The rivers are bitter, no water to drink.
All of creation is perched on the brink.
Still brother hates brother, and blames for his woes,
all but himself, and doesn't suppose
His own self the culprit, the reason for ruin.
And so he continues to seal his own doom.
When out of the east, in the clouds should appear
a rider on horseback, a Savior so dear.
His Sceptre in hand, and crown on His head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
With a thundering voice, He calls up His own,
both living and past, to join at His throne.
Then angelic armies, the warriors of God
Soon blot out the sky with their glorious throng.
A charge is then called, final war is begun
And Lucifer's children battle God's Holy Son.
But unlike First Christmas, a baby alone,
This time as a King, reclaiming His own.
When all the dust settles, and fighting is done,
He shall be triumphant, and we shall be one.
New heaven and Earth will be ours on that day.
And all of our tears and our pain washed away.
As once the world waited for Him to appear,
Again it is Advent, His coming is near.
First Christmas has come, we hallow the night.
Last Christmas is coming, when all is made right.
Like First Christmas was, it shall be again,
For God will come down and make His home with man
I love catfish. Especially the catfish my brother-in-law, Mike Jones, used to make. My mouth starts to drool just thinking about it. But apparently, this word has taken on a new meaning. Now, catfish also refers to an online relationship on facebook, but one party is not really who they say they are.The most recent example of this is the Notre Dame football player, Manti Te'o, who had a long term relationship with a girl he never saw, then thought had died, then thought was alive, then found out never was! (Wow, and I thought it was tough back when I was dating!) MTV even has a new reality show, "Catfish", that has two guys exposing these fake profiles.
This phenomenon is nothing new. We've seen it in online dating services, phone date lines, even web chat rooms (BTW, ESPECIALLY if you're under 18, be very careful what you say in a web chat room. You NEVER know for sure who you're talking to!) The question that always arises from this form of relationship, at least by everyone else, is "How can you be in a long term, loving relationship with someone you've never seen?!".
Well, I have a confession to make...I am in a catfish relationship. I know their love is deeper than any sea, higher than any mountain, wider than any river (insert Motown song here). Their love is kind, forgiving and patient, and even though I've never laid eyes on my love, I could not exist without it. My catfish is named "Jesus".
And He even saw this problem coming, some 2000 years ago, when talking to His disciples (John 20:28-29). He's got a pretty full bio published - What He looked like (Is 53:2-3), What He looks like to those who KNOW Him (Luke 9:28-36), His personality (I Corinthians 13: 4-8, and so much more!). And even with all MY faults, His love continues to be faithful. (check out the book of Hosea - This guy had a wife with the unfortunate name of "Gomer". She left and came back so many times you could call her "Yo-Yo!).
The great thing about this relationship is that its not exclusive! Anybody can get in on this good thing (John 3:16-17) and the more, the merrier! (2 Peter 3:9) I know how difficult it can be to love Someone you've never seen. Even St. Augustine said "Unless you believe, you will not be understood". But this love, like ANY love, requires faith and hope to survive. (Hmmm... I Corinthians again...) And half the battle is done because He loved us, each of us, from the foundation of the world (Eph 1:3-5).
Stepping out in faith into any relationship can feel a little scary, and it seems much easier to stay status quo. But look at it logically. If the love of Jesus is false, but you believe in it, at the end of your life you leave the world no worse off, and maybe a little better. BUT, if the love of Jesus is TRUE (and I believe it is), and yet you refused to let yourself enjoy and partake in that love, how much you are missing!
Bottom line, my "Catfish" is an open relationship, based on my faith in Him (and more than a little bit of His faith in me!). I am to love my brothers and sisters, even the ones that don't like me, and His love is to all the world. Want in??
