"Has Christianity...Always Had Issues?"

 In my Sunday School class, during our study of the "Christmas Story", I brought up the fact that "Christmas was both an inspirational and evangelistic invention" by the Roman Catholic Church. Being of a Protestant denomination (Presbyterian)... it was received with...well, let's say with uproar, questions, and challenging thoughts....and I couldn't be happier! Why...because it causes all of us to think...about the faith we so richly embrace.....

 When Christ Jesus was here...when He became one of us, He made what some might conclude  "contradictory statements". Yet, I am of the opinion...they were not contradictory...at all.
 First, how Gentiles (those who have been raised in a non-Jewish environment) received the Message of Christ...is an interesting thought by itself. 

 In Matthew 10: 5-6, Jesus is now beginning to send out His disciples...and given them the authority to do things in His Name, to let the people of Israel know...the long awaited Messiah...has indeed come! To prove this, He went on to explain in later verses they were to heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those inflicted with leprosy, and cast out evil in others. These 2 verses go like this: "Jesus sent out the 12 disciples with these instructions: Do not go to the Gentiles..or even the Samaritans...go only to those lost and confused of Israel."
 Then in Matthew 15:21-24...there is another situation...with Jesus. It reads: " Jesus then travelled north...to the villages of Tyre and Sidon. This was "Gentile Territory", and soon after Jesus and His disciples had arrived, a Canaanite woman from the area began to shout at them saying: "I cry to You...in mercy!...You...O Lord...the Son of the great house of David! My own daughter is in misery and full of distress...and...cruelly possessed by a demon!  Yet, Jesus seemed to totally ignore her...and didn't say a word. His disciples then turned to Jesus and said: "Now look! She is bothering us with all her problems and loud commotion..and she keeps begging for help. Would You say or do...something...to shut her up and get her outta' here?'
 Jesus then spoke directly to the Canaanite woman and said: " I am sent only for God's lost sheep...the lost sheep of Israel."

 In John 10:16, Jesus seems to clarify His intentions for coming for all of us...by becoming one of us. Jesus has just concluded on the importance of knowing His Voice...just like sheep...and speaks: " I have other sheep...besides the sheep of Israel. ( Some people think He is referring aliens...I know Gentiles are from other parts of the world...but not from other planets). They are not part of this sheepfold (yet), and I am here for them as well. When they hear My voice...and listen...and know...it is Me, they too will come.When it is all said and done, there will be...one flock...one shepherd."

 And in Matthew 28:18-20, when Jesus is about to return to the Father...He gives these instructions: " All authority...All power of rule...both in heaven and upon the earth...has been given...to Me! ( Do you think Satan was in attendance that day?....I do). 
 Go out...to the people of every tribe and nation...right in the midst of their various manners and lifestyles...and make them My disciples...and confirm this with a public display of baptism, doing all of this in the Name of the Father, and of His Son, and in the Name of the Precious Holy Spirit!
 And by all means...don't stop there! Teach and instruct those who turn to Me, teach them to practice everything...I have given you to practice, through the Commands and teachings I have given you! 
 For you can put all of your trust in this: I will be there...I will be present as you share all this...day after day...after day...even to the very close...of this present age."
                                                                                            Amen (So let it be).

  Personally, confrontations, misunderstandings, offending others...none of that concerned Jesus. He knew why He had come...and He knew exactly where He was going with all this...and that was...He was determined to take us with Him!

 So...did the Early church start out "holding hands and putting flowers in their hair"? Far from it...there were controversies everywhere. Yet, He trusted us to carry out the Message of the True Gospel...in spite of ourselves!

                                    More to come.......

Our Roots Run Deep...you will know...with the "Sounds of a Thankful Heart!"

Saint Paul wrote a letter to the believers in a town called Colossae. Colossae is located 100 miles east of the popular city of it's day "Ephesus", in the country we recognize today as "Turkey".
 The main trade roads of the known world at the time of Paul writing this letter...went right by Colossae........

 Colossae had been a rather large and wealthy city for a number of centuries, but with the growth of Laodicea (10 miles away) and another city named Hierapolis (16 miles away), Colossae was now at Paul's writing a more diminished and small town.
 Like other areas outside the Jewish nation of Israel, the Early Church had developed a group of believers in Christ in Colossae, yet the problem which was beginning to infiltrate the Early Church in general were the false doctrines of Christ that were being introduced by those either outside the faith of Christ Jesus or those who did not know Him....but pretended or acted like they did.

 In Colossae, Paul was deeply concerned that false teachings of Christ had "infected" the local believers, and wrote extensively in this letter about adhering to the true teachings of Christ Jesus. In fact, the letter to the Colossians is in some ways the most extensive writings Paul had on how we are to follow Him...of the entire New Testament.
 Saint Paul goes in somewhat detail on how when one accepts Christ...you become a true believer in Him...and that only coming by receiving Him into your heart. 

 One major point in this particular letter was to encourage Believers not to get tangled up in following rules..to somehow "earn their way" into God's heart. Paul further explains that in the same we accepted Him into our lives...by faith...then we continue to follow Him in the same manner...with the help and strength of the Holy Spirit.
 Paul encouraged this "hunger" for Him to be developed as a tree burying its roots deep within the ground to find water, nutrition, and stability. Paul did not want to see the true message of the Gospel change from its original intent...whether it be a false error of earning our salvation, obeying a certain set of rules to ensures one's salvation, or any teaching that leaves out the main element of our faith...that being faith itself.
 Paul continues to develop the theme of living this new life by faith which is culminated by hearts that are grateful to  Him.
 As Saint Paul describes his concern, he "paints a picture" with his words by comparing the spiritual growth of a Believer with a tree deepening its roots...bringing to mind the Old Testament Scripture from Jeremiah 17:8.

                                          A Gleaning from Colossians 2:6-7

 " Here is my advice to all my friends in Colossae...and I will give it to you "straight up"! Just as you have received the Lord Jesus into your very hearts...continue on in the same manner.
 You have taken root in Him...and these roots are a once and for all deal, now it is best for you to allow these roots fully develop and grow deep...in Him.
 As this process continues, and your roots in Him deepen...you will receive the nutrition you are in most need of. Along with this, the deepened roots that have developed in your lives will provide a stability in you...you won't be easily fooled "blown over by winds, or storms that arrive to break you or destroy your growth (false teachers).
 You have had experience on exercising your faith...when you invited Him into your heart and life...now carry on, and act out what you first believed.
 And here is how you will know your faith is working and your roots have deepened: your heart will begin to express thoughts of gratitude...in fact...you will overflow with a thankful heart...for all the he has done."

NOTE: Being rooted in Christ Jesus reminds one of the passage in Jeremiah 17:8, which reads: " You will be like a tree...planted along a riverbank. Your roots will run deep and spread  alongside the river.
When the heat of the sun attempts to scorch your leaves, it will not phase you...your leaves remain green. Nor will you lose leaves...rather you will  bear the choicest of fruit each and every season...regardless of any drought or how long one may last. Worry or Panic can not come near you....  for your trust is rooted...in me!                                                                                         

Christmas...A couple of Final Thoughts...

As Christmas approaches, I become more aware of a couple of things...

 First, for some...even perhaps many...amidst the carols, the presents, the numerous gatherings one has in the celebration of this season...there are those who suffer from what is referred to as: " The Blues Christmas". 

 I think this...kind of little poetic story by Jean Baudrillad... sums up what we might need to be sensitive to...because there is still time...to reach out....

                                    "The Christmas Syndrome"

 " A woman spent all of Christmas Day
    In a telephone box...without ringing anyone.
    If someone happened to need use of the public telephone,
    She would leave the box, only to return to the box afterward.

    No one calls her, yet...from a window in the street,
    Someone has been watching her...all day.
    The reason being...there was no doubt,
    The person in the window...
                 had nothing better...to do."

 And, we can learn much from the simple things we do...like the lighting of candles in this festive season.....

                                   "The Lesson of the Christmas Candle"

" A Christmas Candle...is a lovely thing,
   It makes no noise, while giving itself away.
   While quite unselfish...it grows small,
   Yet gives to others a lit path...that they might see Him."


 Christmas...as "Bob Cratchett" spoke after receiving the prized turkey from the poultry man, not knowing who had purchased the turkey for him and his family...in Dicken's "A Christmas Carol", said to his wife and family..."God Bless it..."
 May God always bless...Christmas!  

 May God bless you...this very Christmas!

"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens...part 2

A Tribute to Charles Dickens....A Christmas Carol

 Charles Dickens was already an accomplished writer of novels at the time when "A Christmas Carol" was first published on December 19th, 1843.
 His most recent novel had not sold well however, and Dickens feared his success as a writer had peaked.........

 In 1843, Charles Dickens had come into some personal financial adversity, yet, what was even more alarming to him....the misery of the working poor....in "jolly ole England."
 Dickens earlier that year visited a growing industrial city of Manchester, and was heart-wrenched at the conditions the working poor were living in.
 It was in September of the year 1843 that Dickens heart could no longer remain silent....too much suffering...too much pain....too much death... were all around him.
  Charles Dickens became inspired to send a message that would condemn the greed for wealth among the upper 5% of the entire population of England...while the rest of society suffered in tremendous horror. And what better way could Dickens promote a "national protest" than to use his talent in the form of a novel...through a man we have all come to know as "Ebeneezer Scrooge"...or " Mr. Scrooge"...as "Tiny Tim" so eloquently spoke.

 The writing of "A Christmas Carol" provided Dickens with a "national protest" that exposed the enormous monetary gap, educational gap, and social gap that existed between the rich and the poor in "Victorian" England.
 On October 5th, 1843, Dickens gave a speech at a benefit to raise money for the " Manchester Athenaeum", an organization committed to bringing education and a total culture change to the working poor of England's society. 

 "A Christmas Carol"...was about to be born!

 Charles Dickens was deeply disturbed with the British Victorian lifestyle ...not because of the rich having lavish lifestyles, rather, their lifestyles coming at a great price...the suffering of the poor. Dickens himself had experienced the pain of the poor as a child, at one point having to leave school because his father had been imprisoned for debt.

 In the early 1800's, the population of England had grown rapidly. The Duke of Wellington had defeated the great French leader Napoleon at Waterloo, and by 1815 Great Britain had become the richest and greatest power in Europe. 
 In the same year (1815), the population of Great Britain was 13 million, and London became one of the largest cities in Europe, consisting of over 1 million inhabitants.
 Because of such rapid growth of the general populous, combined with the diminishing agricultural work and wages, by the year 1850, half of the entire population in England now lived in cities, and London had doubled in size since 1815...now over 2 million people residing in this large city. In fact, between the years of 1750 to 1850, England's population had tripled in number. During Charles Dickens own lifetime, he witnessed incredible changes amidst his own life and that of general society.
 One thing of note: the agriculturally base of England had experienced a major shift. After the defeat of Napoleon, England went from a major exporter of agricultural products...to a major importer of agricultural products as grain and wheat.As a result, many in the rural community were forced to go to  "the city" to find work, and manufacturing wages....however cruel and hard it was to work under...were higher than the wages offered in farm labor.

 And yet, with all this suffering around him, with personal financial adversity facing him, and with the earlier struggles of his childhood growth....all this became personified.
 In only a 6 week period commencing in October of 1843 and concluding in early December of the same year ...hope came to the working poor of England... through fictitious characters named Ebeneezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchett, and of course...the beloved Tiny Tim.

 The growing industrial prosperity of England, continually improving new inventions to thrust the Industrial Age forward, enabled various products to come from England in massive quantities.
 The "achille's heel" of all this prosperity growth...was the element we call "Greed"..and Greed has no compassion...for human life.
 The people of Dicken's England suffered much. The working poor were subject to disease outbreaks like the cholera, their housing conditions were deplorable, numerous people finding solace and rest in one room shared together, sanitary conditions that only welcomed more disease and various types of sickness, and meager wages that demanded long hours of work.

 Many of the working poor were subject to 16 hour a day work, 7 days a week. Women were also a part of the labor force, and even with all these conditions abounding, women were still expected to raise their young, prepare food for their families, and continue in domestic duties. Many women died during this era...physically exhausted from overwhelming conditions, or trying to escape their hardships through alcohol.
 And then there were..the children. 

 One example were children being sent to work in tin mines, at ages beginning 4 to 5 years of age. The reason being small children could crawl into the crevices of tin mines to retract the metal. They too were not exempt to the 16 hour 7 day work week...and did...until they died.
 At one point, London funerals were rampant and extremely high (1840's), and over 50% of these funerals were...children..10 years or younger.
 Although it was a great time for economic and industrial growth in England, the transition from an agriculturally based society to an industrial society was at the sacrifice...of the working poor.
 And Charles Dickens saw this...all unfold before his very eyes. The Victorian society of England had offered a solution to the working poor's dilemna...as in the question given by "Mr. Scrooge" in Dicken's novel: "Are there not workhouses, and the treadmills...are they not in full operation?"

 And from his heart, Charles Dickens wrote his protest...in the form of a novel "A Christmas Carol"...and the entire world...heard him. The working poor...now had someone on their side!
 "A Christmas Carol" written by Charles Dickens had 6000 copies initially published on December 19th, 1843...in only 3 days...they were sold out. Since it's original publication, "A Christmas Carol" has NEVER gone out of print...the world is still hearing Dicken's protest...even today!

" For the Lord hears, for the Lord listens, when the poor , the needy, and the homeless...cry out! The Lord will not despise, neither will He walk away, He does not forget those who live in dire misery, those we call "the walking wounded". He has come...and will free all those...held captive."  Psalm 69:33

"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens...part 1

Over the course of these next few days, throughout our land will be the my favorite movie of all time....on our TV's. I have probably watched "A Christmas Carol" over 100 times with various versions of the story over the years. George C. Scott happens to be my favorite...most likely because I simply loved "this guy" in almost any acting role......After all, how can any American not like "Patton"?....

 Passion: a powerful emotion that has the ability to reveal itself in our lives in various forms. Passion can thrust itself with a love for others that can literally change the world's views on a particular matter, passion can produce a joy that effects the suffering of those around us and free them from the burdens they might face in life. Passion can have a negative effect as well and produce a fury of hate and anger with its only goal of destroying mankind.
 Passion is an intense emotion...having strong...idealistic...and timeless enthusiasm...whose mission can be carried through...to the end.
  Charles Dickens....was a man of passion........

 Charles Dickens began to write "A Christmas Carol" in September of 1843. In just over a 6 week period, this great novel was complete. Dickens wrote how he wept and laughed...and wept again as the story unfolded. He would often take long walks at night through the streets of London, covering as much as 15 to 20 miles on each walk...going over in his mind the message he was about to send...that would literally change the course of history in how Christmas was perceived. Those long walks and thoughts were gathered on those nights "long after the sober folk had gone to bed" as Dickens keenly observed.

 It was on this date...December 19th, 1843...a mere 170 years ago...the world was introduced to perhaps the most powerful and captivating Christmas story ever to be told...other than the original night itself, when the shepherds came to see the "babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

 Chapman and Hall were the first publishers of this great and passionate novel and by Christmas eve...the first 6000 copies were already...sold out.
 In 6 weeks after the publication, the story came to the London stage and ran for more than 40 nights...only to move on to America, where "A Christmas Carol" was introduced in New York, at a place called the Park Theatre.

 As the critical analysis began to come forth in relation to Dicken's "new novel", Frazer magazine ( not a big fan of Dickens) posted: " Dicken's novel on Christmas is of a national benefit to every man and woman who reads it as a personal kindness."
 Even the phrase, "Merry Christmas" had not reached its wish on a national level, yet, after the reading of "A Christmas Carol", the whole world responded with words to one another...."Merry Christmas!"

 Since its original publication on December 19th, 1843....Dicken's novel of "A Christmas Carol"...has never been...out of print.

 Charles Dickens himself was on stage to read and watch his great novel unfold to those in London, and he had his "own brand" of passing on the Christmas message...to the world.
 For example, it is written that Dickens on his "performance days" would have a strict routine as to how he prepared for his nightly performance. He would start the day with 2 tablespoons of rum flavored with fresh cream...for breakfast, then he would follow that with a pint of champagne. 30 minutes before his performance, Dickens would drink a raw egg beaten...in a tumbler of sherry.
 During the 5 minute intervals of the various acts, Dickens would take the time to drink a type of "beef tea", and before he retired to bed would have a bowl of soup.

 Charles Dickens always presented himself to the audience in this manner: dressed in full evening attire, a bright color (flower) attached to the buttonhole of his jacket, a purple waist coat, and a watch chain...with a whole lot of "bling".
 His stage props included a reading desk, carpet, gas lights, and a pair of large screens behind him...to help elevate his voice forward...on to the audience.

 Charles Dicken's last reading of "A Christmas Carol" was on March 15th, 1870, at Saint James Hall in London. At the conclusion of the play, Dickens said: " From these garish lights, I vanish now for evermore, with a heartfelt, grateful, respectful, and affectionate farewell."
  The audience responded with a loud standing ovation, clapping, hollering, and stomping their feet to his final adieu.
  Dickens passed away 3 months later at the age of 58.

 In 1874, the great Scottish novelist and poet, Robert Louis Stevenson (author of Treasure Island, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, among others), had read "A Christmas Carol", and wrote to a friend with these words: " I want to go out and comfort someone...I shall never listen to the nonsense they tell about not giving money...I shall give money, not that I haven't done always, but I shall do it with a high hand now."

 So....what caused this Christmas novel....to touch the hearts...of so many?.....  
  

Remembering the words...of yesteryear.....

 " I hope it is not rushing the season to recall to you the passage from Dicken's "A Christmas Carol", in which Ebenezer Scrooge is terrified by the ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley.... and Scrooge, appalled by Marley's story of ceaseless wonder, cries out: " But you were always a good man of business Jacob!" Then, the ghost of Marley, his legs bound by a chain of ledger books and cash boxes, replies: " Business? Mankind was my business! Charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were all my business! The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water....in the comprehensive ocean of...my business!"

 Members and guests of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, whether we work in the White House or the State House, or in a house of industry or commerce...Mankind is our business! And, if we work in harmony...if we understand the problems of each other, and the responsibilities that each of us bear, then surely the business of mankind...will prosper."

                                                                      President John F. Kennedy