Praise the Lord for the beauty of the earth and for the glory of the sky.
He blessed us with a beautiful and almost magical day yesterday. The
hills and the dales, meadows and fields are all clad with snow.
It snowed with gentleness and friendliness almost all day in our area
yesterday. Alice I walked in the early evening - it was almost dark
- on the snow clad fields. We put on our winter garb and walked.
It was a silent night, beautiful and peaceful. We walked over
one mile through the fields and lanes.
On this day, on December 23, 1973, my dad died and entered into
the presence of Jesus our Lord. My dad was 48 years old. He was a
farmer, hunter, and outdoors man. He was fearless, courageous,
generous, and kind. My dad looked forward to and anticipated to celebrate
Christmas every year. He exuded the spirit of " Bishop St
Nicholas" in our home and in our village. In anticipation of
Christmas he took measurements of us - all the children.
He would go to town and buy fabrics and give to the best
tailor in town and get our Christmas clothing tailored for us. We, his seven
children, would get really excited for Christmas, for we would get to wear new
clothing for Christmas. That is the only gift we got for Christmas every
year. Those clothing were never wrapped.
On
Christmas day may dad was the main cook. Just before Christmas
day he went to town to the market for Christmas grocery
shopping. He was so excited for Christmas. It was also
harvest time. There was plenty of grain and winter vegetables, along
with free range roosters and capons raised at home for Christmas.
My dad would get up early in the morning before first rooster crow. We
did not have any clocks or watches to keep time so we relied on roosters and
our shadows. He would start cooking making the very special
Christmas cakes, traditional, pastries made from rice flower, all home grown.
He made Christmas dinner with chicken as the main meat. After the
food was all prepped, we had Family Christmas worship time with
hymns and reading from Luke 2. Then we all took baths in the cold water
and got dressed up with new clothes and go to church for main service
where all Christians from the village gathered for worship. The worship
service was spirited, energetic and anointed. Following the Christmas worship
service we went home and shared Christmas dinner. My dad also
served dinner to the villagers who just showed up without any
invitation. He and my mom would serve them the full meal complete
with Christmas cakes and cookies. The going and coming lasted all
afternoon. It was all festive and celebrative. My dad and mom and
my grand parents who lived with us made Christmas very special, festive.
There was a great spirit of generosity. The more the merrier was
our family motto.
I
am also thinking this morning of a beautiful and sweet singer of Jesus.
Donna Netherton , She was part of our ministry team. During every
Christmas Eve Service she sang, "All Is Well". Just before
Christmas few years ago she came to visit us. She spent some time praying
with Alice. A few days after that encounter she died very
unexpectedly. She was in her thirties. She was a great blessing to
the church and to us. Alice will sing "All Is Well" tomorrow
during our Christmas Eve Candle light service at 6:.00 PM. Please
plan to be in the Lord's House wherever you might be celebrating, dancing,
rejoicing, giving and receiving. "Joy to the world the Savior is
born"'.
It is going to be a brilliant day here in Central New York. It is
going to be sunny and stunning. The sunlight will make
the snow glistening and sparkling. Alice is having Christmas
luncheon with her faculty members today. She is making one of her
signature dishes for the dinner. I am making some
authentic Indian curries of Chicken and the "Other white
Meat". There is a curry lovers society here in Marathon.
Praise the Lord for all the simple gifts the Lord has blessed us with
that we can enjoy them and celebrate with friends and family. These
simple gifts remind us if the Inexpressible Gift that the Lord gave of on
Christmas morning.
I
am thanking the Lord for four daughters who love Christmas like their mother
does. They are transmitting those gifts of love, grace, holy imagination,
and creativity. Our oldest, Janice, was born in Corpus Christi,
Texas,where the weather is like Orissa India - warm, sunny, and gorgeous
in December. We celebrated her first birthday in Texas. She is
going to celebrate this Christmas with her family in Boston this year.
Sunita, Andy, Gabe, Addie, Asha are driving to New York today. Jessie,
Tom, and Lindy are coming to New York today. Laureen is also coming
to New York today . We all be together for Christmas and for almost a week
together. This will be my last blog for the year possibly. I will
be busy being fabulous grandpa for next week.
Alice I praise the Lord for you all. May Jesus bless our gatherings,
celebrations, feasting's, sharing, worship, and adoration. Many of us may
be experiencing grief and loss. May Jesus sanctify and beautify our
memories and magnify and intensify our Hope that we have in Christ.
May He infuse us with Christmas "Comfort and Joy".
I
am enclosing the Nativity story penned down by Dr Luke, who I belive was an
OBGYN Specialist. He records the birth of Jesus with detailed
clarity. The Nativity Story is so mundane yer so divine. It is
earthy and yet it so divine. It is so ordinay and yet so
extraordinary and ethereal.
Luke 2:1-20King James Version (KJV)
2 And it came to pass in
those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the
world should be taxed. 2 (And this
taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own
city. 4 And Joseph also went up
from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David,
which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being
great with child. 6 And so it was,
that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be
delivered. 7 And she brought forth
her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a
manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds
abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and
the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for,
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And
this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling
clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising
God, and saying, 14 Glory to God
in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away
from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even
unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath
made known unto us. 16 And they
came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad
the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those
things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them
in her heart. 20 And the shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard
and seen, as it was told unto them.
Man Shall live for evermore because of Christmas day.
Brown
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