Home for the Holidays

I was wondering this week about what it means to truly be at home. The beauty of the phrase, "welcome home" is never more appreciated than when said to someone like a college student who has been deprived of a comfortable bed and real food for months on end (believe me, you start to miss those things real fast!). "Welcome home," is a phrase that, when said to it's full capacity, is one of the most wonderful things to hear. Like when it is said to a soldier coming home from duty, or to a newborn being brought home from the hospital, a loved one entering in the Pearly Gates of Heaven, or, in my case, a starving college student who has forget what real roast tastes like! "Welcome Home!"

I wonder if Jesus ever really felt at home here on this earth. For instance, think about the time when Jesus' parents lost track of him in Jerusalem when he was just a boy and found him at the Temple of all places. When they scolded him for running off, Jesus looked up - probably shrugged - and said, "Don't you know I would be at my Father's house?" (Luke 2:49, Kyle's New International Version). His home was at the Temple, at church, among his Father's presence. So I wonder what it was like when Jesus went back to Mary and Joseph's house at the end of a long day and they would say, "Welcome home, Jesus!" Where did Jesus really call home?

It's not surprising that people travel during the holidays to be with family; 16.5 million one way trips according the Bureau of Transportations to be exact! This year, you may even be traveling to and from places, maybe for family or (gasps) skipping Christmas for vacation! (which is probably the safest thing you could do with all those crazy bargain shoppers milling about at Christmas time). Point is, I'm sure a lot of people will be hearing the words, "Welcome home!" or something of the like. It is a time to come together, after all, and celebrate our Savior with community. Yet, no matter where we end up for the holidays, the words "welcome home" can still be true.

Jesus' concept of home isn't a physical location. At least, it isn't a geographic location. It's an anatomic location. Home is in your heart, when you are among the presence of the LORD. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 has Paul saying that he would rather be in the presence of the Almighty than away from him in just the flesh. God's presence makes a home inside our hearts, a home He wants to share with you and I. The amazing thing about Jesus' birth to me is that he left Heaven, a wonderful and beautiful and glory filled place, to live on this filthy and fouled up planet. I would think a transition like that would be depressing - to go from glorious Heaven to, well, here. But when Jesus came to this planet, he made a home not in a geographic location, but in the hearts of men, a home he intended to share with you.

This Christmas, when you hear, "Welcome home!" may it not just describe where you are, but also the condition of your heart. Ultimately, Christmas is a time when we celebrate Jesus entering this world, making earth his home for a period of time. I invite you to let Jesus make part of his home in your heart as well. If anyone knows what home feels like, it was Jesus, a man who made a home both in heaven, on earth, and in the hearts of men so that he might redeem man from all the mistakes, faults, problems, issues, sin, deceit, and garbage man has made. Baby Jesus - the ultimate homemaker and mender of hearts!

Merry Christmas, and Welcome Home!

KB

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:13-14

Traditional Christmas

Merry Christmas America! It's that time of the year to dust off the ornaments and staple coniferous branches to your wall in celebration of Jesus' birth. This year, like every year, I along with millions of other Americans will celebrate a holiday about our Lord and Savior with fudge, discounted gift items, and the smell of gingerbread. It's ironic that Jesus probably didn't see a single one of these things during his lifetime yet they are symbols of a holiday surrounding his birth. God bless America!

This year, I have decided to make my dedication to Christmas official. How?  I bought my first Christmas tree of course! Every year, 34-36 million Christmas trees are produced to keep up with the demand of them at Christmas time - I got one in my room covered, wrapped, bedazzled, and glowing as we speak. Of course the Christmas madness doesn't end there: over 3 billion Christmas cards will be sent this year in America. On average, each household sends 28 cards to family, friends, and people they want money from and in return, will receive about 28 cards from family, friends, and people who want money from them. Also, 31 percent of diamond sales are made during the season of Christmas, more than any other time of the year (Having worked in a jewelry store, I can validate this one; it's a tiring and hectic time for the diamond people!). In one Gallup poll, 60 percent of American households believed they would spend at least 500 dollars on gifts in 2000.

Oh, we are just scratching the surface here.

This year, "A Wonderful Life" will appear on TV more than any other holiday movie, people will walk approximately five miles in store parking lots during Christmas, 400,000 illnesses during the holiday will be because of spoilt food, and people in Mexico will wear red underpants for luck. Notice that none of those traditions have anything to do with the actual birth of Jesus Christ. Strange, seeing as it is a holiday dedicated to him.

However, one tradition I find myself constantly falling into is the tradition of "rediscovering" the meaning of Christmas. I fall away from the heart of it all, consumed by presents and packages, boxes and bows, Who stockings and roast beast (for all you Grinch fans like me). And I always find myself remembering that the heart of Christmas is really about Jesus, and his birth as a man in a manger so that he might be redemption for all people. It's a frustrating cycle: Christmas glam, gifts, guilt, remembering Christmas, Jesus, turkey dinner. But this year, I want the cycle to change.

Christmas traditions are wonderful things. The spirit of giving and love for each other is greatest around the holiday times. In fact, fewer people see therapists and have psychological meltdowns around the holidays. So why aren't we embracing that aspect of Christmas sooner rather than later? The heart of the holiday is Jesus Christ and his gracious and mind blowing act of mercy of coming to earth in the form of a baby. Beyond that, all the glam and charm of Christmas is a mere addition. Most of us have been blessed to enjoy those extra Christmas traditions, no matter how silly they are. So why not enjoy them with the spirit of Christ instead of just the spirit of Christmas?


In short, may we start this holiday season with a spirit of Christ. Things are tough in the world right now, more than usual. What a perfect time to dwell on the power of God and not the power of man. With all our gift buying, tree decorating, lighted homes, and gift exchanges, may the focus start with Christ, and the other traditions be a mere afterthought. This year, I pray we may find ourselves engulfed in Christ first, and then having to rediscover the glam and glitter of Christmas later on instead. May we start with Christ, and let him be our guide into this amazing holiday!

KB

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill to all men." Luke 2:14


Merry Christmas!