'Twas the Night of Christmas

‘Twas not the night before Christmas, ‘twas the night of Christmas. After spending the day with us, the kids and grandkids were ready to embark on their short trip back to their respective homes. Says my son to his sister, "Can I start your car and warm it up for you, Sis? Oh yes..that would be sooo nice of you. Here are the keys!"

Now, my daughter has a 2005 Ford Escape Minivan. Do you know about all the safety features this vehicle has? Why, you can’t even unlock the door without having the remote sensor’s special code punched in. The doors cannot be opened even with an extra key. You must have the remote sensor to get in. So, I ask you...what happens when the battery in the remote sensor runs down? Well you just take your extra key and unlock the door, right? Wrong! Remember I said you must have the remote sensor. Oh, yeah..that’s right. But..a low battery on the remote is another story for another time. Still, you must have the remote in hand to get into the car.

So..off goes my son to do this wonderful mission of mercy for his sister and he starts her car so that she and her daughter will be comfy cozy on their trip back home. One major problem...after he starts the car he closes the door. "Yeah..duh".. as my granddaughter would say..what’s wrong with that? Remember also I said you must have the remote sensor to get into the car. Where do you suppose that little dude was? On the key chain? That’s right! Ah...the wonderful Ford Escape safety feature kicks in and instantly upon closing the door...all the doors lock. What? All the doors lock? Yes, that what I said...all the doors lock. Wait a minute. How are you supposed to warm up your car before embarking on a short trip on a cold winter’s night? Roll down the window, first? Seems self-defeating for the purpose, doesn’t it?

So..here’s the scenario. We have a Ford Escape sitting in the driveway..running. You cannot get into it. Even with an extra key..you cannot get into it. The engine is running..what do we do? Did I mention... it’s running? Here’s an additional problem. Not only is it Christmas night...in addition there’s seven inches of snow on the ground. The snowplow went through our neighborhood about five hours earlier and it’s still snowing. Now what? Well...lets just call a locksmith on Christmas night with seven inches of snow on the ground. OK...good idea. While the daughter does that I get the old trusty "slim jim" out and start playing between the window and the door attempting to catch the latch and pull it up. After about 15 futile minutes of this I decide to get on the Internet for help. Big help...quit using the "slim jim"...won’t work on a Ford Escape. Another safety feature! "Have you found a locksmith yet, daughter dear?"... I yell out. "No one is answering", she yells back. Can’t imagine that, on Christmas night with seven inches of snow on the ground. "Keep trying"...the engine is running.", I shout back.

Finally...a connection, an answer, and the locksmith is only fifteen minutes away. He places a small air bag between the door and the door post, and after a few pumps of the little air squeeze ball...it forces the door open just enough for a coat hanger to reach inside..press on the automatic window opener and "voila"..it’s open!!! Ninety-five dollars and well worth it. A Christmas to remember....2009.

Overshadowed

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit willl come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the Holy Child shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)

Have you ever stopped to ponder this verse.. especially the word "overshadow" as it applies to the virgin birth. What is the need for this "overshadowing"? Why did the Spirit of God use this word? Why did Mary need to be overshadowed?

This year we read completely through the Bible..cover to cover. I remember it was in Exodus that all of the detailed instructions for the tabermacle and the ark of the covenant and all the other Holy objects associated with it were given to the Israelites. How elaborate were these instructions to keep the Holy Ark of the Testimony from the contamination of the world. Coverings upon coverings and a final covering of blue linen. Even those who had the responsibility of moving and ministering with it were to have special clothes and coverings. And this Ark was only the representation of God’s presence with the children of God...and the instructions were for how it was to be set apart even into the Holy of Holies as separated from sinful man by a thick veil, unto the Lord.

Then.. finally when the fulness of time had come..we see the story in Luke, not of the representation or the type,..but now it is time for the real thing, the substance to come into the presence of sinful men. It is Immanuel..it is God with us. It is the Lord of Glory coming as a baby, overshadowed in Mary’s womb from her worldly contamination and sinfulness wrapped in the protective coverings of the Holy Spirit overshadowing her. Then later she wraps the child in swaddling clothes or clothes that would restrain one from freedom of movement indicating His humanity and self-limitation. How typical this is of the Lord of Glory who came into the world unstained by it and who made Himself of no repute, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, humbling Himself in the likeness of a man and obedient even unto the death of the cross for the believers salvation.

The Apostle John sums it up for us: "What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life...and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us...what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." (1 Jo 1:1-3)

Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth peace, goodwill toward men. Merry Christmas 2009.

A Fox in the Chicken Coop

Check it out HERE. (click cartoon to enlarge)

Pullin' the Wool

(click cartoon to enlarge)

A Convenient Truth

It just seems to be an irony for Al Gore to apply the above quote to those who would question the science behind global warming, especially in light of the latest emails hacked from E. Anglia CRU. Doesn’t he have much to gain, financially? It seems like the pot is disparaging the kettle.

Global warming industry becomes too big to fail.

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Gen 8:22)

Hat Tip: Time for Truth