I Heard the Bells

I was at the mall to do some Christmas shopping. As I was entering, I heard some yelling and I thought I heard the name "Jesus". As I got closer, more yelling and a man approaching in a bright yellow shirt. On his shirt it read in big bold letters, "REPENT! JESUS IS COMING!". Not far behind him were 3 police officers. Not mall cops. Actual policemen.

I got inside and folks were still in a murmur of what had just occurred. One of the officers came in behind me and gave a nod to a group that appeared more disturbed than everyone else.  I put the pieces together and thought how sad. He has good intentions but going about it the wrong way. The result was a poor representation of Jesus.

These are hard days. Terrorist, wars, politics rule the news and most of is bad. Folks being offended by "Merry Christmas". It's a holiday pageant rather than a Christmas pageant. School choir directors changing the words from "O holy night" to "O solstice night". Craziness. 

When I was finished with one of my transactions, I said "Thank you. Merry Christmas." The gal looked up at me and replied in a soft voice as if sharing a secret, "I can't say that, but, same to you." And smiled. 

Later, I was sitting, sipping my mocha and texting my wonderful wife, an attractive couple were coming my way. I noticed them because thet looked like they just stepped out of magazine. One of those If you had a lot of money you'd look like this magazines. Except, they didn't look happy. In fact, they looked downright PO'd. At each other. Sure enough, as they walked by me, their words for one another weren't romantic let's say. 

This is Christmas, yo! 

When I got to my truck, this song was on the radio. It was written during the Civil War. Our nation was not at peace. The real meaning of Christmas was not on the collective minds of its peoples and the song raises that point. But, look at the end of the song. As the nation is at war with itself then, and much like we are today, it raises the point of hope...  

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

and wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along

The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime,

A chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,

And with the sound

The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn

The households born

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;

"For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men."

God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. 

God is in control and proved it with the birth of Jesus. Jesus, with the one purpose of saving us from ourselves. Born to die so that we may live. 

So the world is mess, people seem crazier than ever and things look bad all over. We have a God that loves us and a Savior with outstretched arms saying "Trust Me, I got you"

Amen

Marriage

Divorce is fruit of bad roots. Most marriages begin in lust or being in love with being in love. You need to find the one you are compatible with. Unconditionally. People don't seem to understand that. Marriage is not, no matter what you believe, just a commitment to the other person. It's a commitment to God that you love that person as Christ has loved the church. That's how it was designed from the beginning. No matter what you believe. So, maybe you married the "wrong" person. When you married that person, they became the right person and now, you must be the right person for them. Marriage is work. Hard work. Not magic. Marriage is communication. Not assuming the other should know everything I'm thinking. Marriage is open and sometimes painful. No secrets. NO SECRETS. I'm referring to "normal" marriages, for lack of a better word. I understand that one must seek outside help for an abusive relationship. I understand your safety and childrens safety are of priority. But, even then, with Gods help, a marriage can be saved and flourish. It's a matter of the heart. Only God can intervene there. Every story is different. You can't just throw a blanket on it and say there's your answer. But, no matter what is in the past, you can change the future. Be open and slow to anger. Breathe. Listen. Pray for help. Ask for forgiveness. Be forgiving. You are a team. Not 50-50 but 100%-100%. All in. One more thing. Find an older mature person of the same gender as you that has a good marriage that you can go to. Someone who has beaten the typical challenges of life and marriage. One who is walking upright and true with God. Not your stupid friends at the bar. Not the ones that talk bad about their own marriages and try to give you advice. Someone you can respect and trust.