Sunday, December 23, 2012

Im sure im going to make a few people mad with this post...

OK Ive had it.. I think its time to explore the real first Christmas. You all know what I believe. I think its time to really dig into what it was like that first Christmas. There are a few things that I really want to talk about that i feel need to be brought up. I'm not against celebrating Christmas on Dec 25 but lets be honest how did they come up with that date anyway? I have done some research on that subject and found out that Christmas is actually a combination of two separate catholic holidays. One being Saint Nicholas Day and the Second being Christ Mass. The church started celebrating both of these events on December 25, the date of a traditional Christ Mass.

So if December 25 is the day that they celebrate Christ Mass, what day was Jesus born on? Was he too born on December 25? The the answer to that is no. Absolutely not. The Christmas story that we all read every year gives us an approximate date but nothing absolute. Luke 1 says that in the sixth month the angle of the lord came to Mary and told her that she would conceive. Last time I check there were only six months between the sixth month and the twelfth month. So using this logic, it puts Jesus birth right around March.

So at this point on December 25 we are actualling celebrating the combination of two different days, and not the real birth of Jesus. So I implore to you that this year lets not celebrate the day of December 25. Lets celebrate the events of what happen so long ago. The day that Grace came into the world. The day that true Mercy showed its face for the first time. The day that Satan lost,

The next thing I really want to look at, is the Nativity. Have any of you ever really been in a barn, not like a barn at the petting zoo. An actual working barn, with cattle and horses, sheep and goats. I'm sure that was not the most pleasant smelling place if you know what I mean. So just imagine your savior, being born in a place like this. At night after the livestock had been fed, I'm sure the stalls haven't been mucked out in a while. Christ left his throne to be place in a feeding trough with a bunch of livestock. He humbly gave up is glory to provide mediation between man and God.

I really hope this gives you a clearer picture of what it was like so long ago. The birth of the savior, was not the picture that we have been sold for the last 2000 years, it was an event that took place in a meesy barn, to give us a mansion in glory.

so this year, lets try to celebrate the event, and not a day. thanks for listening to me rant...
see you next time on LIFE IN THE CHEAP SEATs.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Breaking NEWS... Shhh dont tell anyone.

Well it is almost Christmas time, the year has flown by and i cant believe how fast time goes by. With it being a special time of year and a special season, i thought that i would do a Christmas post. I'm sure this is going to shock a few people who have me pegged for a Mr Scrooge, or the Grinch. If that shocked them then this next statement is gonna knock them on the floor. I LOVE CHRISTMAS.

OK ladies getup off the floor, and take a few deep breaths. Let me explain before you go all "12 drummers drumming" on me. I have a deep love and understanding of what Christmas is. What I do not like is the over sensationalizing of what Christmas has become. BUY BUY BUY. You better watch out... Granny got run over by a rain deer. Enough already.  The true meaning family and faith. that is what is important this time of year. Spending time with my girls and wife is what is truly special to me. Taking time to explain to the that there was a baby born and what that baby ended up doing, is what Christmas means to me. So keep your garland and sappy Christmas movies, and give me the baby.

Speaking of the baby, I had the opportunity to listen to a very dear friend preach last Sunday about what the star of Bethlehem actually was, there has be a great debate over this topic through out the ages. Theory's range from astrological events to planetary convergences. I think the most logical possibility is one that I have not heard talked about. So Chris thanks for getting this topic stuck in my head for the past week.

I personally think that the star was a window to heaven. God was watching his son do what he was sent to do. He kept this window open so that he had a line to his son JESUS. Just imagine sending you child away from your presence, God was watching, and was pleased with what he did. This image of God watching over Jesus gives me the picture of a loving father letting go of his child. Kind of like as your son drives away to college for the first time, or as you watch your daughter get on the bus all by herself to go to her first day of school.

God was letting his son go, and he stood there watching till the bus was beyond the horizon.

I know this is just my personal theory, but I think it kind of makes sense. We were made in the image of God, and with that comes his personality and his love for our children. He knew what his son was going to do and he wanted to watch him save mankind.

So yes I do love CHRISTmas, its all the other stuff that I could do without.

Thanks for joining me this time on LIFE IN THE CHEAP SEATS.