On 13 December 2011 my first grandson was born.  What a joy it is to hold him.  He was born into an uncertain world, and we do not know what the future will hold for him.  We pray that God will guide him and watch over him and protect him.  Samuel Andrew Vandermolen was born for a purpose - what it is, neither his parents nor his grandparents know.
     When Jesus Christ was born, He was born with a definite purpose. He was born to save.  In Luke 1:30-31 we read:  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus."  Jesus is Greek for Joshua which means Savior.  And in Matthew 1:21 we read:  "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." 
    So while the future of Samuel Andrew Vandermolen is unknown, we know why Jesus came to the earth.  He came to save His people from their sins.

     Have you noticed that the "Shopping Days till Christmas" is now "Days till Christmas"?  It used to be that there was no shopping on Sundays.  For example, if Christmas was on a Monday, the previous Thursday they would say "3 Shopping Days till Christmas."  The days would have been Thursday, Friday and  Saturday, with the stores closed on Sunday and the celebration of Christmas on Monday.  As a child I remembered taking my dime and biking to the store to buy a brother a chocolate bar for his Christmas present.  I distinctly remember doing it on a Saturday afternoon, realizing that the stores would be closed the next day.  But now that the fourth commandment is routinely violated, disregarded, ignored, and broken, in the above example there would be 4 Days till Christmas. 

   It is a shame that people are so interested in making a buck, that they don't sit down and rest.  They are certainly not in the churches on the Sundays before Christmas.  And even on Thanksgiving, the retail workers have to leave early to get to work at midnight.  Does America really need 365 shopping days per year?  Is there no rest for the worker?  Must the fast pace continue so fast that the families feel compelled to shop?  The much disparged Blue Laws protected the workers. 

     So let us observe Sundays as a day of rest.  Spend time in church with God and His family.  Then, visit a nursing home and spread good cheer.  And have a Merry Christmas.

The words of the song "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" are interesting:

    You better watch out!
    Better not cry!
    Better not pout!
    I'm telling you why,
    Santa Claus is comin' to town.

    He's making a list
    and checking it twice.
    He's going to find out who's naughty and nice.
    Santa Claus Is comin' to town.

    He sees when you're sleeping.
    He knows when you're awake.
    He knows if you've been bad or good.
    So be good for goodness sake!

    You better watch out!
    Better not cry!
    Better not pout!
    I'm telling you why,
    Santa Claus is comin' to town.

    Why is it that we spend more time thinking about Santa Claus than Christ?  Santa Claus, a mere mythical human, can judge the world and "He's going to find out who's naughty and nice."  Santa Claus as a judge is well known in the cartoons, whether it is Garfield or Curtis.  We sing about Santa Clause the Judge who gives gifts.  if you are good, you get presents and if  you are very good, you get lots and lots of presents, and only occasionally does he have to put coal in someone's stocking.   
     But we ignore at our own peril Jesus Christ who is coming back to judge the earth.  Because He is God,  He does not have to check the list twice and He already knows who is naughty and nice.  Further, when Jesus Christ returns, He will either bless us with His eternal presence (not presents) if we believe in Him or He will curse us for eternity if we don't believe in Him as our Savior. 

My prayer is that we confess our sins and repent and turn to Him.

Are you ready for Christmas?  Two weeks from today, Christmas arrives.  I remember playing hide and go seek as a child.  As I counted down, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, I would shout "Ready or not here I come!!"  Christmas arrives whether we are ready for it or not.  Most of us are scurrying around make preparations - Christmas cards being sent out, Christmas decorations being put up, manger sets being set out, Christmas trees being set up and decorated, and Christmas cookies and treats being baked.  Despite advance notice, Christmas sometime sneaks up on us.  Before we know it, Christmas is here. 
     Are you ready for Christ's Second Coming?  He has not announced when, but He has announced that He will surely come again.  Yet I fear that many of us will not be ready.  Unlike the Christmas celebration of today, we do not know the exact date.  But that does not mean that He won't come back.  He surely will come back.  So let us be prepared.

Two weeks ago today was Black Friday.  Two weeks and one day ago was Thanksgiving.  Unfortunately, the United States was focused on Black Friday and not Thanksgiving.  Thus, the Thanksgiving Day newspaper weighed several pounds with advertisements of sales and store opening hours.  That way the shoppers could plan the best route.  Target sent out e-mails to its customers titled "Black Friday Eve."  The retailers were looking at the strength of the sales.  In the rush, there was no discussion on how to give thanks, where to give thanks, and above all to Whom to give thanks.  God was pushed right out of the picture.  Instead of thanking God and giving Him praise for all the riches He has poured out on our country, on us, the focus was strictly on the riches.  Our newspaper had one small article on a Thanksgiving service.  But the rest of the paper was dedicated to shopping, shopping, shopping.
   Shame on us for not giving thanks to our Creator and Savior.  In Romans 1:21 we read:  "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."  Our thinking has become futile, and our hearts have been darkened. 
Prayer:  "Lord, forgive us for not glorifying and thanking You."