Brown's Daily Word 12-7-07

Good Morning,
Praise the Lord for the wonder filled season of Advent and Christmas. Our God, who is Immortal and Invisible, becomes visible in Jesus. The Lord of Majesty and Eternity comes down to dwell among us, surrounded with things that are earthy and mundane. We all become like children, by the grace of the Lord, and somehow begin to be seized by a spirit of wonder and miracle.
My wife becomes radical about this Holy season that celebrates the birth of the Holy Child of Bethlehem. She decorates the parsonage and transforms it in to Christmas house with more than 20 Christmas trees including a 9 feet real tree. One of my rituals is to read the Christmas prophesies and listen to the Christmas carols from around the world. I am adding a new tradition of listening to the glorious Christmas music and carols via God Tube and You Tube. Praise the Lord for all His means of Grace. I also make time to read Charles Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol", published in 1843. It’s one of the best-loved stories of all time to be set at this time of year. We probably think we know the story back to front. After all, it’s been adapted into over 200 films, and is such a powerful tale that it’s credited with helping to define our contemporary understanding of Christmas.
A fresh look at this all-time classic reminds us that it’s far more than just a feel-good festive tale featuring a miserly old humbug with one of the oldest catchphrases in the world. In fact, the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his tormenting spirits helps us to consider what things of life are of eternal value here in the 21st century. For that reason alone, if for no other, it’s worth a closer inspection.
Dickens set out to persuade his readers to summon the spirit of Christmas not just for a week in December, but also for all the year round. His message, sent from deep within the 19th Century, resonates with us today. It has a timeless, universal quality, like all the best works of art.
The book’s main character, of course, is the mean and intimidating Ebenezer Scrooge, who lives to make money and very little else. He certainly has no use for religion or sentimentality. One Christmas Eve, however, Scrooge receives a terrifying wake-up call. The spirit of his business partner, Jacob Marley, who died seven Christmas Eves previous and was a miser like Scrooge, comes to visit, bound and wrapped in terrible chains. Marley has been condemned to roam the face of the earth, tormented in death by the things he neglected to value in life.
He is desperate to give his old colleague a final chance to avoid the same fate. ‘My spirit never walked beyond our counting house,’ he warns Scrooge. ‘My spirit never roved beyond the narrow limits of our money changing hole...’ This, he makes clear, is Scrooge’s last opportunity to turn from his ignorant, selfish, insular ways. Marley’s spirit instructs Scrooge to wait for three more spirits, the spirits of Christmas past, present, and future. Reluctantly, Scrooge understands that this is for real, as he sees Marley float away to join a crowd of tormented souls who are wailing and moaning in the night sky.
On the stroke of one o’clock, the spirit of Christmas Past arrives, and draws back the curtain from around Scrooge’s bed to reveal his face. He takes him on an unforgettable trip down memory lane, on a visit to his own childhood. Scrooge is astonished to see old, familiar faces playing happily in the open air. As the spirit takes him into a schoolroom, however, they see a lonely little boy sitting by the fire, whose only companion is the book he is reading. Scrooge remembers his loneliness, and how he longed for the presence and warmth of friends. He recalls his past desires for the love and approval of his family, but then sees all the people who tried to reach out to him, who attempted to stop his slide into self-absorption and an increasing preoccupation with personal security.
He sees his former fiancée, Belle, who came a poor second to Scrooge’s passion for wealth. ‘A golden idol displaces me,’ she complains to him from the past. ‘All hopes have merged to a master passion; the thought of money engrosses you!’
Dickens explores, through Scrooge’s terrifying ordeal, the love of money compared with the value of relationships. Scrooge’s whole life has come to revolve around his counting house. His insatiable appetite consumes him for more. To him, Christmas has become nothing more than a ‘time for finding yourself a year older, and not an hour richer’.
Back in the 21st Century, we can fall into a similar trap, seeing money (and the things it can buy) as the answer to our problems, especially if our lives have not been that happy, like the young Ebenezer Scrooge’s. We perceive the ‘good life’ as being about an abundance of bigger, brighter and better things. If we start to feel guilty, we can excuse ourselves with the thought that we want our children to have the things we missed out on.
Jacob Marley’s ghostly visit is not just a wake up call for Scrooge. As we hear his words, we should make sure we haven’t lost out on the things that money can’t buy. We all need money, of course, but it’s possible to pay too high a price for it. It’s as if society has caught a cultural disease called ‘affluenza’. The symptoms include always wanting more, despite what we already have. And then there’s the insatiable desire for ‘success’ without experiencing contentment. Consistently, we choose our career over family, and we seem unwilling to settle for less than the best of everything.
If Scrooge has been shaken by the visit of the first spirit, then the second is no less disturbing. The Spirit of Christmas Present arrives to take Scrooge on a tour of the people he now knows. He finds himself standing in the home of his poor clerk, Bob Cratchit, where he feels the warmth of a large and friendly family who are making the best of what little they can afford on the tiny salary Scrooge pays. He experiences their anxiety over the fate of Tiny Tim, the Cratchit’s sick youngest child.
Scrooge is clearly shown the effects of his selfish nature, but the spirit helps him understand that even though he is utterly hard-hearted, others have not entirely given up on him. As they sit down to their feeble Christmas dinner, Bob Cratchit thinks to toast his boss, despite protests from his wife.
The Spirit of Christmas Present then shows Scrooge the harsh reality of life on the streets, together with the absolute determination of the families who live there to stay out of the prisons and workhouses, whatever the cost. Scrooge has never before seen the need to help anyone other than himself. He’s always believed that the poor ‘should go to the institutions provided - if they should rather die, let them die and reduce the surplus population’. But his heart is softening...
Then the Spirit reveals two hauntingly thin and deathly children from within his cloak. They are called IGNORANCE and WANT - two of the grim realities of Victorian life. The Spirit describes them as the ‘children of all who walk the earth unseen’. On their brow is written ‘DOOM’. But it is not the quivering, hollow children who are doomed. As Scrooge pleads for them to be removed from his sight, the Spirit explains that ‘doom spells the downfall of you and all those who deny their existence.’
Before you put someone in his or her place, you should put yourself in theirs. How much poverty do we allow ourselves to see? The Spirit responds, ‘They are hidden, but they live.’ Dickens holds a mirror not just to Scrooge’s face, but also to ours. How do we treat the poor, the weak and the vulnerable? Do we allow our lifestyles to shield us from the needs of the poor and downtrodden? After all, we are not on this earth to see through one another, but to see one another through.
Then comes the final spirit, the Spirit of Christmas Future, who has no face and does not speak. It merely points. Scrooge looks to where the spirit is leading him, and sees the Cratchit family again, worn down in their struggle against poverty, and now without Tiny Tim, who has died for lack of proper medical care. The Spirit takes Scrooge to visit the house of a man who has died in his sleep. A maid and a cleaner are dividing up his belongings before the undertaker arrives. Two associates out in the street are discussing whether it’s even necessary to hold a funeral service, since no one would bother to come.
’But who is this man?’ asks the miser. The spirit leads him to a grave, whose headstone bears the name ‘Ebenezer Scrooge’. It’s a chilling reminder that no one lives forever; that the journey of life is brief. As the Bible says, ‘our days on earth are as a shadow’ (1 Chronicles 29.15).
The spirit asks Scrooge to consider himself from God’s perspective: ‘It may be that in heaven’s sight you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this man’s child.’ What is more valuable in God’s eyes? This is it, the life-changing moment when Scrooge understands that it’s now or never. He asks whether it’s possible to mend his ways and so alter his life and destiny. Surely the Spirits wouldn’t be visiting him if not?
As Christmas morning dawns and he wakes once more, to the world, Scrooge realizes that he has been given a reprieve. He has another chance to be more human, just as Dickens believed we have all been given another chance, because of the birth of the hero of the greatest Christmas story, Jesus. Many of us will recognize the struggles of Ebenezer Scrooge in our own lives. Many of us have been hurt as we grew up. Many of us pass up the offer of friendship or kindness out of a fear of rejection. Scrooge was a man who lived in a prison of his own making, the doors shut and sealed with a bitterness, which he would not let go.
In fact, Dickens symbolizes the consequence of our selfish actions by the chain that traps Jacob Marley’s spirit and weighs it down. Marley tells Scrooge that he alone forged it in life: ‘I made it, link by link and yard by yard.’ His chains were forged with regrets, which he could not release, and hurts he would not forgive. And as he stands before Scrooge, he can see the even greater chains that bind his old colleague: ‘Would you know the weight and length of the coil you bear yourself?’ asks Marley. ‘It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. You have laboured on it since. It is a ponderous chain.’
The good news is that we can learn from the past, to change now so that we can create a better future. Just as the spirits of Christmas wanted Scrooge to change for good, so God knows us better than we know ourselves, and loves us enough to help us to change and make a difference. Christmas is the time and place where God draws back the curtain, so we can see his face. Jesus has come to free us, because we are bound by chains. In fact, because of Jesus, we can commemorate the past, consecrate the present and contemplate the future. Jesus came to give us a new outlook on life.
The good news is that we, like Scrooge, are still alive. It’s not too late: we can choose to change. Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards. Whatever our past has been, we can have a better future. At the heart of ‘A Christmas Carol’ lies Scrooge’s transformation. From a selfish, greedy and bitter old man, we see him become a grateful, generous and compassionate figure. A man filled with deep regret sees his life transformed, to the point where Dickens concludes he became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew.’
Things do not change. We do. Scrooge learns his lesson, and experiences what amounts to a ‘conversion’. He responds by changing his ways and living out the lessons that he learnt on that Christmas Eve. He repents and changes his destiny.
Jesus, the Son of God, invites us to do the same. What better time than Christmas to receive forgiveness, renew our faith, release our fears and rebuild our friendships? Faith, after all, is made real in thought, word and deed.
In case you are still making a Christmas list, here are some timeless gifts that won’t cost you anything, except perhaps, a little pride. You could mend a quarrel, release a grudge, lessen your demands on others, apologize, forgive someone who has treated you wrongly, find a forgotten friend, write an overdue thank-you note, point out one thing you appreciate most about someone you live with or work with, dismiss suspicion, tell someone you love them, or give something away. You cannot do a kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be too late.
We talk about ‘the birth of new ideas’ and of hope being ‘born’ in the human heart. Why not let Jesus be born into your life, this Christmas time? It takes a conscious, personal decision to become a follower of Jesus, which begins by acknowledging that we all need Him - to forgive us for what we have done wrong, and to guide us into real life, the life He promised to give us ’to the full’.
In our consumer culture, Jesus isn’t just another pick-and-mix lifestyle guru; in fact, he claimed exclusively to be ‘the Way, the Truth and the Life’. If we choose to follow him, then we also have to count the cost - of dedication, commitment, perseverance, selfless love and generosity. But the reward - a dynamic, living relationship with the dynamic, living God - is surely worth it. If you want to make this Christmas one to remember, then there’s no need to wait any longer. If you ask Jesus to forgive your past, and invite him to enter your Christmas present, then your life will be transformed - now, and for good.
Dickens sent a message to us in the form of an amazing story. God sends his message in the form of his Son, Jesus Christ, who lives today. In the words of the wonderful carol ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’, we can actually invite Jesus to be with us, like he was, all those years ago at the first Christmas:

’O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!’


May God grant you the light of Christmas, which is faith;
The warmth of Christmas, which is love;
The radiance of Christmas, which is purity;
The righteousness of Christmas, which is justice;
The belief in Christmas, which is truth;
The all of Christmas, which is Christ.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, may God grant you all these things, not just at Christmas, but also throughout the New Year and all the years to come.
Thank you for the gifts that you have sent for the Children in the Children's Homes in Orissa, India. May the Lord, The Holy Child of Bethlehem grant you added blessings to you and to yours , because of your generosity.

In Christ,
Brown



"Pastor Brown ,Please keep my client ,Bethany in prayer.She is having surgury tomorrow to implant VNS to help prevent seizures .Today she was also diagnosed with "retts" which is a degenerative disease.Her family also needs prayer to help cope with this new devastating diagnosis.Thx ,Marilee"




"Good afternoon - and I mean GOOD afternoon!

I wanted to update all on Tim's surgery. I'll tell you what, folks, God is good and does above all that we can ask or think! As you know, Tim had a blown out disc at L3 L1. Instead of blowing out to the side as they usually do, his blew out to the back and the gel inside the disc was migrating down the canal. He was so bad he was reduced to walking with a cane and hardly able to do that! He was to have had a doctor appointment today; HOWEVER, he is instead home recuperating from surgery! The doctor, Dr. John Small, had a cancellation Tuesday, Tim went in and they scheduled him for immediate surgery yesterday morning. Today he came home with little more than pain in the surgery site. He will require two weeks of healing and recuperation time, but should be back to full health after that.

As regards the Florida Orthopedic Institute staff, including Dr. Small, and the staff at UCH Carrollwood, I can't give them marks high enough! It was by far one of the best healthcare experiences Tim or I have ever had. (I made sure to let them all know before we left.) My faith has been restored!!!"


" Late Night Thoughts On Ryan Kerr


So it is one of those nights where I just can't sleep and thought it would be good to update you. We went and got our Christmas tree last week . It was not the same as other years where we were able to cut it down, but we were grateful that Ryan was able to be with us for the event. Ryan continues to decline. He is sleeping more and there seems to be some fluid in his lungs. He sleeps in the chair in the family room at night as he is unable to lay comfortably in a bed. He is surrounded by our cats, one on his lap and one on the footstool at his feet. They have been wonderful companions for him throughout his illness. The uncertainty is getting to us all . One day, you think, wow, he is doing well and sure he will make it until Christmas, and the next day you wonder how many more hours you have together. What amazes me the most is that Ryan never complains.(Except for when we are out of ice cream) It was nice to have some visitors today to break up the day. He is not up for long visits, but seems to enjoy 15 to 30 minutes of company. I have certainly learned a lot from Ryan. It is to make the most of every minute, every day and every experience. I think he would tell all of us to go out and try something new, something you have always wanted to do. I know for me, I have committed to doing several things after the New Year. Ever since high school, I have wanted to play acoustic guitar so I am going to sign up for lessons. I am going to finally master PhotoShop(Ryan thinks I will never get it) and I will learn to use Ryan's new camera that he saved all of his money to buy this summer. I know he would also tell you to slow down this holiday season. Don't get wrapped up in all the consumerism. Doing something for someone else means more than spending hours at the mall finding that perfect gift. It struck me last night as we were having dinner how wonderful it was, not to rush through dinner but to savor every bit of the conversation. Granted, we do not have the demanding schedules that most of you have. Going to the grocery is as exciting as it gets around here. But at the end of the day what matters the most, is our family and friends.
So enough of my preaching, but these are things that Ryan and I have discussed and I felt important to pass on. I will let you know as things progress.
Cindy"

"We the Boyers can't begin to how much your prayers have meant Mom.
She is now at Ideal Living Center for rehab Room 242 Lily Wing"



Praise the Lord for the following:
Praise the Lord for Linda Ayer, the Lord has given her a speedy recovery and she thanks you for praying for her.
Alex and Mary are blessed with a newborn son, Andrew Craig. Happy grandparents are Alan and Bonnie Ewing.
Katherine and Chris are blessed with a daughter, Olivia Ryan. Happy grandparents are Doug and Elizabeth Kerr, great grandfather is Reid Barton.
Jim and Christian are blessed with a daughter, Jenna Rae. Happy grandparents are Howard and Emily Seymour.
Shawn and Becky are blessed with a daughter, Louisa Ileen. Happy grandparents are Dave and Linda Barton. Great grandfather is Reid Barton.
Pray for Mike and Shannan who are expecting their baby in the next few days.
Pray for Desiree and Jason, expecting their son before Christmas in Oklahoma.
Pray for the family of Geraldine Oakes, Gerald died yesterday. She was 88 yrs. old. She was a wonderful sister and faithful friend to Betty DuBois. The service will be held in Albany, NY tomorrow.

Happy birthday to our friend Sandy Jones. A faithful servant to Jesus.
A very early happy birthday to our daughter, Laureen. She shares her birthday with our dear friend Lauren Halverston, on December 15.

Continue to pray for Jack Hoppes and John Pipher, David Bezek who is in hospice in Colorado Springs.
Continue to pray for Ryan Kerr in hospice.
Continue to pray for Connie Perry, George Kossler.
Continue to pray for Mike Musa.

Pray for our evening television program tonight on Cable channel 4 at 7p.m.

In Christ,
Brown