Christmas

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Imagination

Wednesday, December 26th, 2012

Jo & I have been the host (much to our delight) of both our daughters and grandson since last weekend. Tami drove in Saturday and Janna came with Braden on Sunday. In fact, they came near the end of our worship service. She came right up and stood next to me during our last song, then I looked back and he was making his way to me after seeing his Aunt Tami and Mamaw. He and I hung out together on Monday while the womenfolk did some last minute shopping. We watched Polar Express, then Transformers 2. We had watched T3 on Sunday. Let me rephrase that: I watched T1, 2 & 3 while his imagination went into overdrive. I don’t think that boy slows down from the time he wakes up to the time he goes to bed. His motto is “when I plays, I plays hard; when I sleeps, I sleeps hard.” I sometimes feel like Clarence the angel in “It’s a Wonderful Life” after he gets kicked out of the tavern with George: “Ohhh, I’m getting too old for this.” My one reprieve, if you can call it that, was Wednesday afternoon when I was outside for close to 3 hours shoveling 3 cars out the 12″ or so of snow. I had my Frontier out earlier, but the three cars would be needed Thursday. I think the first words I heard when I came inside were “Grandpa, can we…..?”

I wrote this post in February of this year about imagination, his imagination. I know you are busy this time of the year so I won’t bore you with the same thing. If you have the time, please read it. But as I was outside shoveling and trying to take my mind off the pain I knew I was going to feel later that evening and the next day (cycling & Bowflex doesn’t prepare one for this type of “exercise”), I couldn’t help but think about Braden’s visit. After I began to mull over in my mind what I was going to say, it dawned on me that I had written about his imagination once before. Ironically, I found myself asking the same questions this time as I did last.

When did I stop dreaming and having an imagination like that?

When did I grow up and stop “playing?”

When did I, and why have I, allowed the cares of this world to dim the enthusiasm for life he has?

I realize growing up does sober a person up pretty quickly, but there is something to be said about living life “out of bounds” (not morally but enthusiastically). The end of the year is approaching (or is that the beginning of a new year is approaching?) and a book is laid open before us.

IT SAYS, “CHOOSE” THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE

Which will you choose?

Now…would someone quickly find an instant energy pill for a 60 year old man to keep up with a 6 year old rocket? Hurry please!

Posted in Christian living, Christmas, Family, Just Wondering, Miscellaneous | 27 Responses »

Finality

Sunday, December 23rd, 2012

I started on a journey the day after Thanksgiving of writing a post about Christmas each day. I was joined by two cohorts in crime: Sele and Ed. I want to thank them for joining me. This will be my final post (I think) in that journey. Of course, you know how preachers are: when they say “In Conclusion” that means they are only getting started. I have tried hard in my preaching to never allow that to be said of me. I think I have succeeded in that. And at this point, I am thinking this will be my last post for this Christmas season. If so, I ought to make it a good one. I don’t know if I can pull that one off, but I can leave you with some thoughts.

First, Jesus is NOT the “Reason for the Season.” I know, I know. I can hear the protests now. It is a pet peeve of mine to be honest. In fact, I cringe whenever I hear or see that. Jesus is not the reason for the season. We are. He is the Meaning of the Season. (If someone markets that I want dibs). Seriously, He came to earth as a baby for us. We needed a way out of the hole we were in (sin) and the only way it could be accomplished was not by a lamb, but by THE Lamb. Like the old classic by David Meece that is usually sung at Easter time: “We are the reason that He gave His life/ We are the reason He suffered and died.” That makes iT doubly clear that we are the reason He came-the reason for this season. So enjoy this Christmas season but keep in mind that it all happened because of us…and the love of the Father toward us.

Second, have a Christmas celebration filled with good things: good friends, good food, and good memories. In all of your celebrating, remember the Christ who came. Celebrate Him.

I pray that you and those you love will have a time of celebration filled with life, laughter, and love. Thanks to all of you who read my blog and take the time to comment. Thanks to you who “lurk.” I deeply appreciate your presence here at Cycleguy’s Spin.

I leave you with what is probably my favorite Christmas song of all. This is one of many versions, it is probably my favorite. Enjoy.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU

FROM BILL AT CYCLEGUY’S SPIN

I will be back some time after Christmas. My two daughters, grandson and sister-in-law are all visiting so I am not sure about posting. Then again, I may want some sanity and find myself drawn to my office.

Posted in Christmas | 23 Responses »

Elusive

Wednesday, December 19th, 2012

If I were to ask you what you thought was one of the most elusive commodities during this time of the year, I would get a lot of answers. If I were to ask you to list 5 things you either hope for or wish could be found this Christmas season, I am willing to guess that many of those lists will include

J…O…Y

Admittedly, for many there are few moments for JOY right now for some. It is an elusive commodity. For others, JOY is missing because of a family crisis or unemployment has depleted their spirits (and finances). I could give more, but why belabor the point?

One of the most beloved Christmas songs is aptly titled Joy to the World. I’m sure you are familiar with it. If not, I reckon I would have to ask you what planet you were from. Isaac Watts wrote the lyrics in response to dull, drab church music that was uninspired and monotonous. He saw no joy or emotion in the standards sung by choirs and congregations. When he complained to his father, his father challenged him to come up with something better. By the time of his death, he composed more than 600 hymns and hundreds of poems. After suffering the loss of a woman due to his looks, he poured himself into his poems. His most famous, the one we are perhaps the most familiar with, did not have any music until 44 years after his death in 1748. Lowell Mason took his poem and put lively (for his day) music to it and we now have the “peppy” Joy to the World. He had actually written the music and called it Antioch (but had no lyrics). He eventually wed the two.

Joy is not happiness. You have probably heard that before. Happiness depends on circumstances; joy does not. Joy is something that comes from inside. It is focused on what we have despite the storms we are facing. It is a calm and prevailing peace that we experience, brought to us by the presence of the Holy Spirit. A person can be wracked with storms and hurricanes raging around him/her, and yet be perfectly tranquil.

I shared this video last year and thought it would be appropriate to do so again. The lyrics are easy to understand, but if you have difficulty click on the “show more” below it. This song says why we can have and celebrate JOY.

Any thoughts you care to share?

Oh yeah…don’t forget to check out Sele and Ed.

Posted in Christmas, Pick me Up | 21 Responses »

Interlude

Tuesday, December 18th, 2012

Time for an interlude. I have been posting some pretty heavy stuff this week so far. If you care to read you can find it here and here. But I personally need to take a break. I don’t have much I want to say frankly, except

“DRINK YOUR OVALTINE”

or something silly like that. This past week I watched a video at this site. I was so taken by it that I showed it Sunday during the welcome and introduction time. I simply said, “I think we often get too serious at Christmas time. We need to laugh some.”

Then I showed this video.

I heard people howling.

I saw people laughing.

I had one of the young people, a 9 or 10 year old boy, whom I know has had a major upheaval in his home life this past year, ask me specifically the guy’s name and would I write it down.

It was good medicine. I think it will be good medicine for you as well. I have seen this several times and still laugh when I do. I needed it. The Bible does say “laughter is good medicine.” I am inclined to agree. So enjoy. While you are at it, why not check some of his other stuff on YouTube. This dude is seriously funny and proves you don’t have to be vulgar to be funny.

Now…resume checking to see what Sele and Ed have been writing the past couple of days.

Posted in Christmas, Little Bit of Fun | 24 Responses »

Hope

Monday, December 17th, 2012

It is hard to ignore what happened over the weekend largely due to the media’s endless reporting. There has been a FB entry I have heard about (since I am not on fb) that is supposed to have come from Morgan Freeman, in which he says to stop listening to the media. Hmmmm, maybe that is not all that bad of advice. Be that as it may, I was listening to Air1 while working out Monday and several times they asked us to pray for the victims’ families and all those associated with the school tragedy. Mr. Parker, whose 6 year daughter was one of the victims, spoke of hope and forgiveness. While I don’t/can’t espouse his theology, I do agree with the need for forgiveness and hope. It is HOPE that rang out to me as I was working out. It is also the word HOPE that drew me to write this post.

FEAR STEALS…HOPE GIVES!

This is the time of year we should be putting up Christmas trees, lights, listening to carols, looking forward to Christmas break, visiting relatives, and (you fill in the blank). But instead, we are wrapped up in a tragedy. Tragically (or is it amazingly) we will react like Daniel’s post talks about. While you are at it, read this one from my friend, Craig. I agree with both of them, just so you know. We will soon forget the tragedy and go on our merry way. We will curse the state of our country and take potshots at current and past administrations, but know there isn’t much we can do (except what Craig suggests). And the ugly truth is what has been stolen most from so many lives in one monstrous act has been HOPE. Many will live their lives in fear from this day on. In Newtown. In Spencer. In Big Town, USA. In Small Town, USA. Parents will withdraw their kids from school seeking to protect them from “crazies.” Many will go out and get an arsenal for protection (I am not against guns, although I ~~don’t~~ never had one). Many children will be afraid to go to sleep or to school because, trust me, they have heard about this.

FEAR HAS STOLEN A VITAL COMMODITY WE ALL NEED…HOPE.

It has been said,

Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air…but only for one second without hope.

If that’s the case, then we better fight for hope. We have one of two choices (as I see it): fight or give up. I know it seems hard right now to fight, but unless we want to lose all reason for living, we must fight. Let me close my thoughts with a quote from Catholic theologian, G.K.Chesterton:

To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.

Pray for the victims…all victims. That would be us. Meanwhile, set your course on HOPE. Any thoughts?

Posted in Christmas, God, Just a Quote | 30 Responses »

Speechless

Sunday, December 16th, 2012

I’d like to make a joke about me being speechless, but this is not the time. Like many of you I am speechless over the events from the weekend. The massacre at Newtown shakes me to the core. A parent’s worst nightmare come to fruit. I teacher’s worst dreams come true. A school leader’s horror. An awakening that all is not well.

We can take potshots at gun control…but that is not the answer.

We can take potshots at parental control…but that is not the answer.

We can take potshots at school security…but that is not the answer.

We can even take potshots at taking God out of the schools…but that is not the answer.

None of the above could have stopped the carnage. An evil man did an evil deed. In China. In Aurora. 9/11.

THERE IS ONLY ONE ANSWER AND IT IS THE ANSWER NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR!

We celebrate The Answer’s birth in just over a week. I’m not going to go into any more detail because I know there will be those who will want to argue that fact. And frankly, I don’t feel like arguing. I am speechless. But I will stand by One Truth: There is only One Answer to the whole mess we are in. Sadly, many will miss it and many won’t even care.

Here is a song that I am sure you have heard before with a slightly different arrangement. The story behind it is heart-wrenching. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote it out of his intense personal pain. The loss of his first wife. Remarriage after 7 years of loneliness and welcoming 5 children into that union. Then tragically, while lighting candles for the Christmas tree his wife’s clothes caught fire and she died. Then the Civil War broke out. He hated the Civil War and when his 19 year old son returned home injured, and he saw other wounded soldiers and families torn apart by death, his hatred turned to rage. He put pen to paper and wrote this poem. It would have been a hopeless effort if not for his last two stanzas. Our best hope is to say the same.

If you have any thoughts you would like to share I invite you to do so.

Posted in Christmas, Pick me Up | 43 Responses »

Names

Thursday, December 13th, 2012

Some of you are old enough to remember the stupid song “The Name Game.” When I say stupid, I mean STUPID! Like in totally worthless. Or someone-had-too-much-time-on-their-hands-so-they-thought-up-a-dumb-song song. And please don’t get me started on the blatant vulgar words that came up with certain names. UGH!

Parents love to play the Name Game. Some go way out of their way to name their child a name that will stand out for a long, long time. Hollywood celebrities tend to set the pace for that: Rumer, Scout, Suri. I love the final scene (but couldn’t find it except in Italian) from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where we find out where Indy got his name. (The dog for the unitiated).

My name is pretty common. Well, it was. In 2012 it wasn’t even in the Top 40 of names for a boy. It means “Resolute Protector.” But my parents didn’t care what it meant. All they cared about was that it was my dad’s first name and since I survived (first brother died), I was to carry on his name. Oh, but they surely could have given me a different middle name. Now my initials are either WAG or BAG. Yeah, like I am going to put a monogram of that on a sweater or any clothing.

All lightheartedness aside, names were given in Bible days as a way for the parents to place upon their child their hopes and dreams. Last week I preached about another name. This week I am going to speak about the name that we probably hear or use the most. You can find it in Luke 1:30-31. He has been given many names. Lamb of God. Light of the World. Bright and Morning Star. Lily of the Valley. The Resurrection and the Life. Alpha and Omega. I like what Max Lucado says,

Trying to capture the grandeur of the Name with words is like hearing the Salvation Army band playing Handel’s Messiah. Nice try but it doesn’t work.

The Name that fits him like Cinderella’s shoe fit her foot is JESUS. Translated it means “God Saves.” I like what Pastor David Jeremiah said:

God knew what He was doing when He named His son. Jesus means, ‘Jehovah Saves’ or ‘The Lord of Salvation.’ And that is who He is- the Salvation of the Lord.

He wasn’t given the name “Joe” or “Benjamin.” His name had meaning. Perhaps that is why the words of Paul in Philippians 2:9-11 carry so much more weight. Peter’s words ring even louder to us at this time: “This Jesus, is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12

I would appreciate your prayers for this weekend. Thanks ahead of time. Do you think there is a more important name for Jesus?

Make sure you check out Sele and Ed for more on Christmas posts.

Posted in Christmas, Preaching, Scripture look, Sermon Series/Topic | 20 Responses »

Closet

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

I am coming out of the closet. NO…not THAT one. For all of you who maybe Googled and saw that word I am sorry to disappoint you. But I do have news…I am coming out of the closet to share a secret that I seriously doubt any of you know. Ready?

I LIKE CLASSICAL MUSIC Take the yellow type and figure I am whispering.

You may be saying, “What? I think Jesus is about to come soon! I thought he listened to rock?” And you would be right. But one time in my past I found that I really liked Classical Music. I also heard it made you smarter when listening to it at night. Couldn’t prove that by me. Now…point of clarification. My “love” for CM (no not Country) STOPS whenever opera or an orchestra & chorus enter the picture. Give me just the music and leave out the high-brow singers who sing in a language I cannot understand (even if it happened to be English). And when you get a boatload of people singing words I can’t understand, well….

So here is another secret (and I hope I don’t get shot for this): I have never listened to Handel’s Messiah. I’ve tried. Believe me when I say I have tried. I wanted so much to say, “I did it! I listened and liked it!” But I can’t. Not even the Hallelujah chorus. Least not in the Messiah. Every year at Christmas it makes its appearance, even though it certainly fits better at Easter. I have heard it done in other venues by other singers and to say it is a majestic piece of music is an understatement. Handel outdid himself. In fact, this quote came from him after composing “Messiah”:

“I did think I did see all Heaven before me and the great God Himself.”

Anyway, I won’t belabor the point. I do appreciate the message of Messiah, and especially The Hallelujah chorus. So with that in mind, I might as well double shock you. Here is what I consider one of the “funnest” and yet well-done versions of the chorus. I featured it in this post with a light show. Now, hear it as it was performed in concert. If envy ever becomes a spiritual gift, I want a voice like Richard (the bass).

Do you listen to CM? What are your thoughts? Oh, one more thing: Handel had something else right:

“What a wonderful thing it is to be sure of one’s faith. How wonderful to be a member of the evangelical church, which preaches the free grace of God through Christ as the hope of sinners. If we were to rely on our works–my God, what would become of us.”

Preach it GFH!! Now mosey on over to Sele and Ed to see what they have to say.

Posted in Christmas, Little Bit of Fun | 25 Responses »

Crazy

Tuesday, December 11th, 2012

I was riding my bike today in 30 some degree weather with a 6-7 mph wind out of the SE and I started thinking how some people would think I am crazy. As in nutcase. As in “Certifiable” written across my name. When my right thumb went numb (how’s that for poetry) and my fingers began to tingle, I knew it was a real possibility they could make a case. But I stopped and put my other pair of gloves on and all was right with the world…except for the wind I had to ride against for the next too many miles.

Long story short…I began to think of other crazy things people do around this time of the year and began to form a list in my head as I was riding. Here are a few I came up with and I’m going to ask you to join in with your contributions at the end.

While the wind was freezing my nose off, I began to think of those “crazy” people who do the Polar Bear swims. You know…that sounds appealing in the middle of a 100+ degree day in August, but for the life of me I wonder what gets into people who bare all but a swim suit (I am guessing) and take a dive in subzero weather into a body of water that is probably close to the same temp. And they call me “Certifiable?”

Since we are in the Christmas season, and by now I suspect the gift-buying is in full swing, I think it is “crazy” to go out and buy things people don’t really ~~need~~ want, and give them (sometimes) to people we really don’t like, and we do it all by using plastic. Not plastic wrap. Not plastic totes. PLASTIC. As in credit cards. Then January/February rolls around and it is then we realize how “crazy” we were. Personally, I am not a Dave Ramsey poster child since I am not out of debt, but I have never regretted the day I cut up all my Plastic (and finally paid it off), except for my debit card. No mon; Nofun. No bills; Big .

It is “crazy” in a sad way how many will be involved in alcohol-related accidents during the holiday season…all because they don’t say NO or have a designated driver. Drivers are crazy enough as it is without self-medicating.

It is “crazy” how rude some people can be and how many Scrooges there are.

It is “crazy” how much chocolate is consumed and diets blown during the holiday season.

It is “crazy” how some churches think they have to have something every night and make their people compete with non-church stuff.

It is “crazy” how many people in Third World countries go without clean drinking water. Check this out.

It might not be “crazy” but it is inconvenient. Listen here

I’m done. What are some “crazy” things you can think about during this holiday season? Join in the fun.

While you are at it check out two other crazy guys who took the Christmas post challenge: Sele and Ed.

Posted in Christmas, Little Bit of Fun | 31 Responses »

PE

Monday, December 10th, 2012

Polar Express.

This past weekend I had some down time so I watched White Christmas and Polar Express. Last year I did a blog post about Polar Express but with new readers and some revisions I thought I would share my thoughts again. Here goes:

Polar Express, based on a book by Chris Van Allsburg, tells the story of one boy’s journey from doubt to faith. He lies in bed on Christmas Eve, hoping to hear sleigh bells, but his doubt grows. Later, he is awakened not by sleigh bells but by a train in his front yard. He walks out front and the conductor greets him with a question: “Well, are you coming?” Boarding the Polar Express soon turns out to be the smartest decision he makes.

The train is an adventure as he meets other children-a sensitive black girl; an obnoxious, know-it-all; a lost little boy who appears to believe all the things people have whispered in his ear- as well as the mysterious man on the roof, and others. He travels to the North Pole, where Santa will give away the first gift of Christmas. During the trip, the young boy continues struggling with doubt. Two messages stand out in the movie (among others).

Lesson #1: “It doesn’t matter where you’re going; what matters is deciding to get on.”

How many times have you allowed fear or hesitancy or the whispers of others in your ear, stop you from getting on the train? We run away instead of run to. When that happens we often grow cynical and bitter and “curse” our lot in life.

Lesson #2: “The most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.”

Talk about a lesson in faith!! Does that not remind you of Hebrews 11:1? I daresay that probably all of us, at one time or another, have questioned what we believe in..even though we cannot see Him.

Those two statements sum up the reality of the Christian life. I choose to get on “the train.” He has drawn me to Himself but the choice is mine to get on board or not. Truthfully we have no clue whatsoever what getting on board holds for us. Faith and hope cannot be seen in tangible ways. It is a great time to hang on and let go. He won’t let go of you…that is a promise!! Let go of your doubt. Let go of your pride. Let go of your cynicism. Let go of your ego. Let go of your fears. Let go of your (you fill in the blank). Try riding the Polar Express.

Have you ever seen the movie? What are your thoughts and do you have any others you would like to add to mine? Feel free to do so. If you haven’t seen it, I think you should. Just try not to groan when the singer at the great event looks and sounds like Stephen Tyler from Aerosmith.