This Christmas season, if at all possible, hold a baby in your arms. What do you feel, think, and wonder about that sweet, innocent baby? Perhaps you marvel at the new life in your arms and consider the potential of unique giftedness and blessings wrapped up in such a tiny bundle of life.

More that 2,000 years ago the birth of one baby born in the tiny, dusty village of Bethlehem changed the world and divided history into BC and AD. The Babe of Bethlehem became the hinge, the pivotal point on which the destiny of the world turns. As the small land of Israel became a crossroad of the world, so the Babe of Bethlehem became the crossroad that determines the direction your life will take. This Christmas it is imperative that you focus on the Babe of Bethlehem. Consider the true Christmas story. (Read Luke 2:1-40.)

As I was walking down the street the other day, I saw a figure coming toward me dressed in clothes reminiscent of those worn by the Pilgrims.

“Who are you?” I asked, thinking this was a leftover from Halloween, perhaps just now finding his way home. “I am Thanksgiving,” he replied, tipping his hat and allowing a bedraggled turkey feather to flutter to the ground. “What are you doing here?” I inquired.

“I’m trying to let people know that I still exist,” he said. “They seem to have forgotten about me over the last several years.”

Some of my most vivid memories as a young boy have to do with water. I remember the year my grandpa Os planted two or three dozen trees around his homestead. That summer there was very little rain. To keep the young saplings alive they had to be watered. My grandparents didn’t have running water. They had a good well with cool refreshing water. I would pump five gallon buckets full of water and carry them to the thirsty trees. They survived and thrived on the cool life-giving water. Just as those saplings could not have survived the long dry summer without water, neither can our soul live and thrive without the water of life – the Word of God.

One of the delights of spring is the colorful array of flowers. This Easter I observed busy florists surprising fortunate recipients with the delivery of dazzling floral arrangements.

During Easter families have various traditions. On Easter and Memorial Day my family visited the cemetery. For several years we put flowers on the graves of my two brothers and a cousin who were victims of a drunk driver when they were just teenagers. A few years later we added flowers to my dad’s grave who died at the age of 52 from cancer. Over the years the recipients of the graveside flowers has grown considerably.

Fall is a bittersweet time of the year. The dazzling fall foliage and the mysterious migratory flight of birds and butterflies are awe-inspiring. But the deadness of winter saddens me. Yet, I realize that without seasons of life there would be no spring of new life.

If you are in the fall or winter of your life, God has good news. He offers hope in your season of life. We must all go through the seasons of life irrespective of who you are or how hard you try to curtail or prolong the seasons of your life.

The good news is that your strength can be renewed like the eagles. (See Isaiah 40:28-31.)

God speaks to us in many different ways. If we would only listen, we would hear his voice. Of course a word from the Lord is always in agreement with the Word of God – the Bible. God gave me a word a few days ago through the Merry Maids. I had been praying concerning a certain situation. One evening I was driving down the highway, praying as I went toward home. I saw an interesting billboard. It was an advertisement from a house-cleaning service – The Merry Maids. In large simple letters the sign read – “RELAX – IT’S DONE!” I imagine the company was telling us that if you hired The Merry Maids to do your house cleaning you could go home and “relax – it’s done!”

Christianity is unique because Christ is unique. No other religion’s god gave their life as a sacrifice for their people in fulfillment of prophecy. No other god died and arose from the dead as the Son of God did. Good Friday and Easter (Resurrection Sunday) are the most holy days of the Christian calendar. Just as the Day of Atonement and Passover are in the Jewish calendar.

The sufferings and passion of Christ were prophesied (foretold) centuries before Jesus Christ was born in fulfillment of scripture. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29).

As we celebrate another 4th of July we need to pray and proclaim freedom to the captives, as never before. Satan is working overtime to try and take away our freedom on all fronts. That, of course, is his nature. Jesus described the enemy’s character and purpose, ‘The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT).

When General George Washington led his beleaguered troops into battle at Valley Forge, they were an army that had suffered hunger and exposure to the harsh elements of winter. Historians tell us that their march could be traced by the bloody foot prints in the snow. Many of them had no shoes.

A couple of years ago I saw the movie The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. It was scary and powerfully acted by Jim Carey. The grinch thought he could wreck Christmas by stealing all the Christmas gifts. In the end, he realized that Christmas is not the gifts but the giver.

Today, modern day grinches are trying to steal Christmas by bans, laws, and decrees. Some stores and merchants even forbid their employees from wishing their customers a “Merry Christmas”. It seems to be fine to make millions of dollars on the back of Christmas, but don’t mention Christmas, as some merchants demand.

I know that t-ball is far from pro-baseball, but to me it’s more entertaining. This past summer I had the joy of watching my grandson Elijah play t-ball. Elijah and his friend stood between first and second base talking, a girl was chasing butterflies, and another player was blowing dandelion seeds into the air. Parents were reading a book or talking on their cell phones. But there were a few seriously focused on the game, especially the coaches and couple of hyper dads looking for scouts to sign their kid to a major league contract.

This Fourth of July we once again celebrate the independence and liberty secured by the brave patriots and forefathers of our country. They were on a mission. Their determination and sacrifice has made the United States of America the greatest example and bastion of freedom the world has ever known. We reaffirm that mission every time we “Pledge Allegiance” to the flag and “to the republic for which it stands.”

Little Jeremy was on a mission. At six years of age he was visibly moved at the plight of a third world country when his teacher told the class that many children were dying because they did not have clean water to drink.

Multitudes of people throughout the world live in fear and with a sense of stark terror. Bradford was one who wore a mask of calmness and normalcy during the day, but at night, the middle-aged computer programmer lived and slept in constant fear and harassment from “spirit beings.” As October 31st, Halloween, approached, he grew more apprehensive and agitated. Initiated into a pagan religion by his parents as a young man, he was often depressed and had begun to think that the only way out was to take his own life.

For most Americans, Halloween is viewed as simply superstition, fun, and frivolity.

What would you consider to be man’s greatest breakthrough? Perhaps you would say that it some new breakthrough in science or technology. Whatever it might be, it pales in comparison of the most earth-shattering event in the history of mankind. Even the great illusionist, David Copperfield, could not duplicate it. Man’s greatest breakthrough was the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. After dying on the cross for the sins of the world and being laid in a tomb that was sealed with a stone and Roman soldiers standing guard – Jesus Christ arose victorious over death, hell, and the grave. He broke the power of death which is sin (I Corinthians 15:56).

Halloween is a season when many people love to decorate and dress up in costumes and masks of ghosts and goblins. Many view the day as just good fun and as a spoof on spooks. But some people are plugged into the dark side of evil. For them casting spells, Satan, and works of darkness are very real. In some cultures people live in fear of evil spirits. Some people believe that ghosts are real and haunt certain places.

We could say that evil comes from two sources. One is the evil within man. The Word of God teaches that all mankind inherited a sin nature from Adam.

How you greet life many times reveals what is in your heart. I once greeted someone with the expression, “Good day.” He replied, “What’s good about it?” When another gentleman is asked, “How are you?” he always responds, “Marvelous!”

Many people do not feel their life is so wonderful. They feel cheated, disillusioned, and disappointed in life. This Christmas season I’ll probably once again watch the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” It’s the story of a young man who was disappointed in the way his life turned out. George Bailey was a dreamer.

How you greet life many times reveals what is in your heart. I once greeted someone with the expression, “Good day.” He replied, “What’s good about it?” When another gentleman is asked, “How are you?” he always responds, “Marvelous!”

Many people do not feel their life is so wonderful. They feel cheated, disillusioned, and disappointed in life. This Christmas season I’ll probably once again watch the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” It’s the story of a young man who was disappointed in the way his life turned out. George Bailey was a dreamer.

A harried housewife hurried through the crowded store with her whining children in tow. The ringing bells of the Salvation Army grated on her nerves. The press of jostling people vying for the season’s most prized doll wearied her. Finally, reaching the checkout counter, she unloaded her items and exclaimed, “Whoever came up with Christmas anyway?”

Businesses wish their customers a “Happy Holiday”, yet many are not happy. For many the holidays are a time of tiredness, loneliness, depression, or disappointment. How can we prepare to have a happy holiday? Consider some safeguards that will help you enjoy the upcoming holidays.

For many October 31st is a time for fun and games. It’s a time for pranks and parties, for trick or treating, a time of dressing in costumes of ghouls, ghosts, and goblins, devils and Dracula’s, or witches and warlocks. Some view it as the highest unholy night and worship Satan. Some think of it as simply silly superstitions. But the devil is real and hell is real, hot, and horrible.

Because hell is such a terrible place, Jesus taught about it and warned of the awful consequences for those who go there.

As I drove over the Jefferson Barracks Bridge back into Illinois, I was in awe as I took in the row after row of white grave markers that seemed to flow up and down the green hillside of Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. How many thousands of soldiers lie under the sod of the cemeteries of America, those who served our country, to protect and insure our freedom? Our hats go off to you.

This Memorial Day many will flock to the lakes, beaches, and parks on holiday. Many people will have no thought of those who served to safeguard our freedom.

I love holidays and holy days. We need both to help us keep life exciting and in perspective. Times of sacred inspiration and of hilarious celebration give needed contrast to life. A few days ago I took a look at our wall calendar in anticipation of our next holiday. Guess what it is? Your right – it’s February 2nd – Groundhog Day.

We can learn some lessons from Groundhog Day. Someone once asked me “Does God have a sense of humor?” “Well look around you,” I replied, “Look at all of God’s creatures both great and small.” Some are so comical that only the grinch could refrain from laughing.

During Halloween, ghouls, goblins, and ghosts by the thousands parade around the neighborhoods of America, trick-or-treating for fun and candy. Most of them are children masquerading for fun and frivolity.

About 2000 years ago, the Halloween season for the Celts was a time of evil spirits filling the darkness. Bonfires were burned as homage to the sun god, as well as to frighten off evil spirits. Animal and sometimes human sacrifices were made to the Lord of Death, Samhain. Druid priests practiced their magic arts. The people lived in fear and dread of demons and darkness.

October is known for harvest and Halloween. Spiritually speaking, there is little harvest of souls without dealing with what Halloween represents. For many, Halloween is simply fun and games or a spoof on ghosts, goblins, death, demons, and the devil. But the kingdom of darkness is real and deadly serious about destroying and damning souls to a Christ less eternity in hell.

Peter admonishes us, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (I Peter 5:8-9 NLT; NKJV).

Millions of Americans will usher in the New Year with celebrations and wishes of a Happy New Year. But for many the New Year will become more than wishes soon forgotten – they will enter the year of new beginnings. In the Bible the number eight represents new beginnings. God delights in and is passionate about new beginnings. All earthly parties pale in comparison to the celebrations of joy in heaven when one “sinner” repents and enters a life of new beginnings. (Luke 15)

When Joseph and Mary took the Christ child to the temple to be circumcised on the 8th day according to the law, the elderly prophets were waiting there for the “consolation of Israel” – the coming Messiah. (Luke 2:21-38)

For the multiplied thousands behind bars, the Christmas season is a time of extreme loneliness, pain, and despair. But the radiant hope of the good news is shining into the darkness bringing the light of life.

One of the greatest revelations of Christmas is found in the name given to the Christ of Christmas – Immanuel. Isaiah prophesied of His coming, “The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God with us’” (Isaiah 7:14 NLT). In Isaiah 8:8 the prophet cries out “O Immanuel.”

Why do so many Americans promulgate the myths of the tooth fairy, Santa Clause, and the Easter Bunny but do not believe in miracles nor emphasize the most important miracle of all – the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead? Could it be that to believe and admit to the resurrection would then require an acknowledgement and accountability to the living Christ as Savior and Lord?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that He is who He claimed to be – the Son of the Living God – deity. Salvation and eternal hope stand on that bedrock.