[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Blessed Christmas & Christmas 1A sermon

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded:
Dear Friends,
Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Sin Is Like ‘Small-C christmas’- Buy Now-
ay Later! (Dr. Tony Evans)” and deals with the gospel (John 1:1-18).
ere it is:
The Rev. Ruth Lorenson (now in heaven with her Lord) posted this poem
n the web some years ago, and I’m sharing it with you again.  Can you
ind yourself in it anywhere?
Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house,
very creature was hurtin', even the mouse.
he toys were all broken, their batteries dead;
anta passed out, with some ice on his head.
rapping and ribbons just covered the floor,
hile upstairs the family continued to snore.
nd I in my T-shirt, new Reeboks and jeans,
 went into the kitchen and started to clean.
hen out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
 sprang from the sink to see what was the matter.
way to the window I flew like a flash,
ore open the curtains, and threw up the sash.
hen what to my wondering eyes should appear,
ut a little white truck, with an oversized mirror.
he driver was smiling, so lively and grand;
he patch on his jacket said "U.S. POSTMAN."
ith a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox
hen quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox.
ill after bill, after bill, they still came.
histling and shouting he called them by name:
Now Visa, now Mastercard, now Penny's and Sears
ere's Robinson's Jewelry, and Target and Mervyn's.
o the tip of your limit, every store, every mall,
ow charge away--charge away--charge away all!"
e whooped and he whistled as he finished his work.
e filled up the box, and then turned with a jerk.
e sprang to his truck and he drove down the road,
riving much faster with just half a load.
hen I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,
Enjoy what you got. . . . . .you'll be paying all year!"
As Rev. Tony Evans says, “That’s how sin works, isn’t it...buy now,
ay later!”  The big day is over and many people have their trees
own.  Remember, we Episcopalians celebrate ChristMass for 12 days-
ne big day to enjoy and the other 11 days to think, and that’s what
’d like us to do this morning.  This is the second day of ChristMass,
nd I invite you to think about what happened, and more important-
hat it means to us- how we can use it to empower our lives.  In other
ords- ChristMass!  So what!!!
Have you ever heard anyone say, “My ChristMass was ruined this year
ecause _______________________.”  The reasons are as varied as the
eople making the statement.  Maybe the parents or grandparents from
he poem I just shared felt their ChristMass was ruined because their
hildren didn’t appreciate the gifts- just wrecked them.  Or, also
rom the poem, maybe the realization has finally hit that you
verspent and will be paying bills you can’t afford.  Maybe someone
ou love is sick, or a divorce is pending.  Maybe you’re struggling
ith the terminal illness or death of someone you love.  Maybe
inancial or family or personal problems seem overwhelming, especially
t this time of year.  Any of these are enough for many people to say
hat their Christmas is ruined, but remember- there are two kinds of
hristmases: the small “c” christmas and the capital “C” ChristMass.
f you are only a small “c” christmas person (fun, family, food, and
resents, “Frosty the Snowman,” and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”)-
hese things can spoil your holiday in a hurry.  But I’m here to tell
ou that that’s not the gift God gave us- a small “c” christmas.  God
ave us the ChristMass- a capital “C” ChristMass, and that gift really
hows its power in the hard times.  That gift is Jesus, “Immanuel, God
ith us”.  This means that Christians who have really absorbed the
rue meaning and power of ChristMass are like tea bags- the hotter the
ater life puts them in, the stronger they get.  True ChristMass isn’t
or fun; it’s for power.  You’ve heard people say, “If only ChristMass
ould last all year!”  Well, let it last all year in your life, invite
mmanuel, Jesus, God to be with you ever more powerfully in your daily
truggles this year, and nothing will be able to stop you.
Here we are starting a new year tomorrow evening, and not one of us
nows what it will bring.  Mary never guessed when she said “Yes” to
od that she would be nine months pregnant and bouncing along on the
ack of a donkey all 50 miles to Bethlehem.  She never guessed that
er water would break, that there would be no place to stay, and that
he would have her first baby in a stable, helped only by her husband
who knew ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about having babies- men didn’t get
nvolved in things like that then).  Joseph never guessed that he
ould be taking his little family to Egypt to protect the Christ Child
rom King Herod.  When the Wise Men didn’t fall for King Herod’s
rick, and went home another way- do you recall how the king ordered
is soldiers to kill all the baby boys two years old and younger?
hose poor Jewish mothers who had their little boy babies killed by
he soldiers could never have predicted such an atrocity.  Mr. Kevin
owell, one of our feeding ministry guests who was shot two week-ends
go never knew how his life would end and that 2010 would be his last
ear.  We can be sure this next year will provide some huge delights
nd some just as huge sadnesses- that’s life.  Through it all, we
on’t know what the future holds, but our ChristMass (big “C) promise
s: we do know who holds us in his arms as we live through the
nknown- our heavenly Dad.  With Jesus in our hearts and bodies and
ives, we can survive and even overcome anything.  That’s the kind of
hristMass power we can claim.
So, my challenge to you is- access ChristMass power.  Use the New Year
s a start.  Do you have a habit you want to break?  Is there
omething about your life that’s not working?  Is there a relationship
hat needs redemption?  Is your temper getting the best of you?  Is
here healing that needs to happen?  Is there something you’ve been
utting off, knowing you really should do it?  Are you satisfied with
our time with God, your spiritual walk, or have you been
hortchanging your Lord?  Plan to succeed.  Bring it to the altar.
on’t let the devil turn you around- when you slip, just start again.
ou will overcome.
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
isdom statements are posted on our NEW PARISH WEB SITE. The address
s: http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .
Blessed preaching.
udy Boli
t. Paul's Episcopal Church
aginaw, Michigan
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