In 30 or so hours (here in South Central Texas), it will be the year 2011. One of the most popular things associated with the start of the Gregorian New Year is the idea of making resolutions....
However, I have a problem with resolutions. If you break the word down, you'll understand what I mean....
"re"-again
"solutions"-the act of solving a problem, question, etc....
So resolution means..the act of solving a problem, question, etc...again.
See what I mean...you are trying to solve the same problem that you had the year before (and probably failed to do), with the same solution (which will either fail you or you will not do after a certain point)in your wisdom and strength. There is a funny definition of insanity...doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. In a sense resolutions are an expression of insanity disguised as trying to make ourselves better.
So then if not resolutions, then what should I do for the New Year, you say? Well first of all, you have to admit that in your own strength, you cannot do that much....that you need a power greater than yourself in order to do something. That is why we as believer should turn to God to be able to make sure that our plans meet with his approval. Psalms 37:4-5 gives us an word of advice from the Lord which is always good for us to remember:
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
So if you don't want to have a year of failure, let's start by giving our year over to God and let him direct us!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas greeting
Merry Christmas to all! May this Christmas be the most joyous and wonderful time of year, but let us never forget the reason why this season was necessary and thank God once again for the salvation that He provided through His son all those many years ago!
Monday, December 20, 2010
apologize for Christmas?
This morning I was glancing through some of the entries from different places, and I read somewhere that a correspondent apologized for saying "Christmas" and it got me to thinking...Why does someone have to apologize for saying "Christmas"? Is there something offensive about it? Well if you go by the dictionary the word offensive means "causing resentful displeasure; highly irritating, angering, or annoying"....
And if you look at the true message of this season is that it is the birth of the One who told us in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth and the life"....notice how He says it...the way (not one of many), the truth (not a philosophy), and the life (the only way we are rescued from death-and not by our own efforts" and this is something that certainly brings displeasure, irritation, anger, or annoyance....especially in 21st century America where "tolerance", "self-reliance" and "multi-culturism" reign supreme...
I guess that is why so many are trying to get rid of any celebration of this time of year...because it reminds us of what we really needed and the One who provided it for us...Apologize for Christmas...no way! We should be actually down on our knees thanking God that "He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16) to save us from ourselves and if there is an apology owed, it should be our apology to God for our sins and the acceptance of the free gift of salvation!
And if you look at the true message of this season is that it is the birth of the One who told us in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth and the life"....notice how He says it...the way (not one of many), the truth (not a philosophy), and the life (the only way we are rescued from death-and not by our own efforts" and this is something that certainly brings displeasure, irritation, anger, or annoyance....especially in 21st century America where "tolerance", "self-reliance" and "multi-culturism" reign supreme...
I guess that is why so many are trying to get rid of any celebration of this time of year...because it reminds us of what we really needed and the One who provided it for us...Apologize for Christmas...no way! We should be actually down on our knees thanking God that "He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16) to save us from ourselves and if there is an apology owed, it should be our apology to God for our sins and the acceptance of the free gift of salvation!
Friday, December 3, 2010
A humorous article....
At this time of Hanukkah, I remember a humorous article written by my friend Chad Elliott... and I thought I would share....
Christmas and Hanukkah...The Differences
As someone who is about to become part of an inter-married couple, the subject of Christmas and Hanukkah is one of great importance. Kat and I have had a lot of talks about what we will do when the holidays roll around. With that in mind, here is a humorous look at the differences between the two holidays.
1. Christmas is one day, same day every year, December 25. Jews also love December 25th. It's another paid day off work. We go to the movies and out for Chinese food and Israeli dancing. Chanukah is 8 days. It starts the evening of the 24th of Kislev, whenever that falls. No one is ever sure. Jews never know until a non-Jewish friend asks when Chanukah starts, forcing us to consult a calendar so we don't look like idiots. We all have the same calendar, provided free with a donation from the World Jewish Congress, the kosher butcher or the local Sinai Memorial Chapel (especially in Florida) or other Jewish funeral home.
2. Christmas is a major holiday. Chanukah is a minor holiday with the same theme as most Jewish holidays: They tried to kill us, we survived, let's eat.
3. Christians get wonderful presents such as jewelry, perfume, stereos, etc. Jews get practical presents such as underwear, socks or the collected works of the Rambam, which looks impressive on the bookshelf.
4. There is only one way to spell Christmas. No one can decide how to spell Chanukah, Chanukkah, Chanukka, Channukah, Hanukah, Hannukah, etc.
5. Christmas is a time of great pressure for husbands and boyfriends. Their partners expect special gifts. Jewish men are relieved of that burden. No one expects a diamond ring on Chanukah.
6. Christmas brings enormous electric bills. Candles are used for Chanukah. Not only are we spared enormous electric bills, but we get to feel good about not contributing to the energy crisis.
7. Christmas carols are beautiful...Silent Night, Come All Ye Faithful. Chanukah songs are about dreidels made from clay or having a party and dancing the hora. Of course, we are secretly pleased that many of the beautiful carols were composed and written by our tribal brethren. And don't Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond sing them beautifully?
8. A home preparing for Christmas smells wonderful. The sweet smell of cookies and cakes baking. Happy people are gathered around in festive moods. A home preparing for Chanukah smells of oil, potatoes and onions. The home, as always, is full of loud people all talking at once.
9. Christian women have fun baking Christmas cookies. Jewish women burn their eyes and cut their hands grating potatoes and onions for latkes on Chanukah. Another reminder of our suffering through the ages.
10. Parents deliver presents to their children during Christmas. Jewish parents have no qualms about withholding a gift on any of the eight nights.
11. The players in the Christmas story have easy to pronounce names such as Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The players in the Chanukah story are Antiochus, Judah Maccabee and Matta whatever. No one can spell it or pronounce it. On the plus side, we can tell our friends anything and they believe we are wonderfully versed in our history.
12. Many Christians believe in the virgin birth. Jews think, "Yossela, Bubela, snap out of it. Your woman is pregnant, you didn't sleep with her, and now you want to blame G-d? Here's the number of my shrink."
13. In recent years, Christmas has become more and more commercialized. The same holds true for Chanukah, even though it is a minor holiday. It makes sense. How could we market a major holiday such as Yom Kippur? Forget about celebrating. Think observing. Come to synagogue, starve yourself for 27 hours, become one with your dehydrated soul, beat your chest, confess your sins, a guaranteed good time for you and your family. Tickets a mere $200 per person. Better stick with Chanukah!
Christmas and Hanukkah...The Differences
As someone who is about to become part of an inter-married couple, the subject of Christmas and Hanukkah is one of great importance. Kat and I have had a lot of talks about what we will do when the holidays roll around. With that in mind, here is a humorous look at the differences between the two holidays.
1. Christmas is one day, same day every year, December 25. Jews also love December 25th. It's another paid day off work. We go to the movies and out for Chinese food and Israeli dancing. Chanukah is 8 days. It starts the evening of the 24th of Kislev, whenever that falls. No one is ever sure. Jews never know until a non-Jewish friend asks when Chanukah starts, forcing us to consult a calendar so we don't look like idiots. We all have the same calendar, provided free with a donation from the World Jewish Congress, the kosher butcher or the local Sinai Memorial Chapel (especially in Florida) or other Jewish funeral home.
2. Christmas is a major holiday. Chanukah is a minor holiday with the same theme as most Jewish holidays: They tried to kill us, we survived, let's eat.
3. Christians get wonderful presents such as jewelry, perfume, stereos, etc. Jews get practical presents such as underwear, socks or the collected works of the Rambam, which looks impressive on the bookshelf.
4. There is only one way to spell Christmas. No one can decide how to spell Chanukah, Chanukkah, Chanukka, Channukah, Hanukah, Hannukah, etc.
5. Christmas is a time of great pressure for husbands and boyfriends. Their partners expect special gifts. Jewish men are relieved of that burden. No one expects a diamond ring on Chanukah.
6. Christmas brings enormous electric bills. Candles are used for Chanukah. Not only are we spared enormous electric bills, but we get to feel good about not contributing to the energy crisis.
7. Christmas carols are beautiful...Silent Night, Come All Ye Faithful. Chanukah songs are about dreidels made from clay or having a party and dancing the hora. Of course, we are secretly pleased that many of the beautiful carols were composed and written by our tribal brethren. And don't Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond sing them beautifully?
8. A home preparing for Christmas smells wonderful. The sweet smell of cookies and cakes baking. Happy people are gathered around in festive moods. A home preparing for Chanukah smells of oil, potatoes and onions. The home, as always, is full of loud people all talking at once.
9. Christian women have fun baking Christmas cookies. Jewish women burn their eyes and cut their hands grating potatoes and onions for latkes on Chanukah. Another reminder of our suffering through the ages.
10. Parents deliver presents to their children during Christmas. Jewish parents have no qualms about withholding a gift on any of the eight nights.
11. The players in the Christmas story have easy to pronounce names such as Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The players in the Chanukah story are Antiochus, Judah Maccabee and Matta whatever. No one can spell it or pronounce it. On the plus side, we can tell our friends anything and they believe we are wonderfully versed in our history.
12. Many Christians believe in the virgin birth. Jews think, "Yossela, Bubela, snap out of it. Your woman is pregnant, you didn't sleep with her, and now you want to blame G-d? Here's the number of my shrink."
13. In recent years, Christmas has become more and more commercialized. The same holds true for Chanukah, even though it is a minor holiday. It makes sense. How could we market a major holiday such as Yom Kippur? Forget about celebrating. Think observing. Come to synagogue, starve yourself for 27 hours, become one with your dehydrated soul, beat your chest, confess your sins, a guaranteed good time for you and your family. Tickets a mere $200 per person. Better stick with Chanukah!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Hanukkah
Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah (for those who want to know a little about it go to http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/102911/jewish/Chanukah-in-a-Nutshell.htm or http://www.aish.com/h/c/ht/48969531.html), the Festival of Lights, the celebration of the victory of the Maccabees and the re-dedication of the Temple. But once you get past the latkes, the sufganiyot (both of which are making me hungry right now), the dreidels and the menorah, is something that was mentioned in my friend Chad Elliott's blog http://networkedblogs.com/bfPDi and that is about the power of the Lord....in remaining faithful to His promises and bringing light into darkness.....
In my case, bringing light into darkness was how he brought me though the times of my burst appendix and the recovery, first of all saving me from what was almost certain death (you have to remember that the night my appendix burst seven doctors told my parents that I was dying), and then during the time of recovery having His presence there (through His word, the fellowship of other believers etc....) and into healing for which I am very grateful for....
And in remaining faithful to His promises, a thought I want to leave with you...that without Hanukkah, there would be no Christmas....because the promise of God was to bring a deliverer through the line of Abraham and David, and had the Hellenists succeeded in their task, there would have been no Savior and no deliverance for our sins....so actually in a sense we as believers should celebrate this time as well because we see the faithfulness of God in preserving His people and through preserving His people, salvation was brought to you and me.
In my case, bringing light into darkness was how he brought me though the times of my burst appendix and the recovery, first of all saving me from what was almost certain death (you have to remember that the night my appendix burst seven doctors told my parents that I was dying), and then during the time of recovery having His presence there (through His word, the fellowship of other believers etc....) and into healing for which I am very grateful for....
And in remaining faithful to His promises, a thought I want to leave with you...that without Hanukkah, there would be no Christmas....because the promise of God was to bring a deliverer through the line of Abraham and David, and had the Hellenists succeeded in their task, there would have been no Savior and no deliverance for our sins....so actually in a sense we as believers should celebrate this time as well because we see the faithfulness of God in preserving His people and through preserving His people, salvation was brought to you and me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)