Whether anyone really cares or not, I am offering a brief series on my thoughts regarding the Republican primaries.
Today's candidate is Newt Gingrich.
Newt Gingrich - I like Newt. I hold a deep appreciation for revolution he led in 1994. I appreciate the way he has articulated conservative thought so eloquently over the years. However, in my opinion he just falls flat now. I just cannot gin up any excitement for Newt.
I was privileged to attend Newt's first "Renewing American Civilization" class at what was then Kennesaw State College in the 90's. From the first day, when he gave a compelling and competent defense of prayer in school, I was hooked.
He was always holding up books - many very old - and reading excerpts from them. I found his class to be very inspiring. In fact, no other class in my secondary educational experience left a more long-lasting mark. I have read numerous books since that time either directly or indirectly resulting from his lectures.
The same inspiration he brought to his RAC class, he held forth among the new wave of Republicans in office. They took the stage and quickly fulfilled their list of promises for the first 100 days (as I recall, pretty much all of them) on time.
Then all of a sudden Newt went mute.
I kept waiting for him to step up during the "Government Shut Down" facade, to defend the actions of congress and to present compelling arguments for conservatism but Newt was strangely silent.
It later became apparent that Newt had joined the growing list of politicians under threat of Clinton, Inc.'s Scorched Earth Policy due to ongoing extra-marital affairs.
Newt did his requisite quiet time lurking in the background for awhile (a practice common among exposed politician's and Southern Gospel Music performers).
Then he was back; and in 2008 he toyed with the idea of getting in the Presidential race. He dangled the prospects of his decision for quite awhile - milking it, savouring the attention - and then decided not to run.
I think that is where Newt missed the train.
He could have stepped into a primary race dominated by moderates and would have been the ONLY conservative alternative. And if he had held to the conservative arguments - I think he would have exposed Obama for the "empty suit" he is.
But alas - Newt had "skeletons"; possibly some yet unexposed. I think Newt was fearful going up against Clinton, Inc. again. And my guess is that he saw that whether Clinton or Obama won the Democrat nomination, he would be cast as the dastardly villain ... again.
For whatever reason, he bowed out - but for me his prolonged "flirting" with the option just left a bad taste in my mouth. I think we needed Newt in 2008. To top it off, he seemed to join a chorus of other milk-toast Republicans who, at the time, were saying that just maybe the era of Reagan was over and we needed to move on.
At that point, Newt showed up on my list of stuff I'm done with.
As you may see, most of my decisions were made prior to this election season. Don't expect much analysis or deep thought for tomorrow's offering... I will be looking at Ron Paul.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Mitt's No Fit
In this year's primary vote, I opted for Rick Santorum and continue to feel that - of the present field - he's the best choice. I am doing a little series on why I am not opting for the other guys, then finishing out with some of the reasoning behind my decision for Santorum.
Today the candidate is Mitt Romney.
Mitt Romney - like Santorum, I voted for Romney during the 2008 primary season. And like Santorum, I did so because I thought he was the most conservative of the candidates running (which is not saying much). When I saw the Romney add recently, replaying Santorum's endorsement of Romney in 2008 (and when I heard Romney reference it during the debate), I grinned. It was certainly a clever move.
But then as I thought more about it: who ends up looking noble in that ad - the candidate who once spoke approvingly of one he now withstands; or the candidate who accepted his endorsement and then - for political purposes - used it to stab him in the back?
To me, Rick Santorum comes across more loyal to his friends - nobler.
In 2008, Mitt was the last chance to put down McCain, whom I have long viewed as an opportunist gladly dancing to the pipings of the press. McCain could not seem to restrain himself from fawning to the Left and from pouncing on Conservatives. Mitt folded - much too early in my estimation. It was too sudden. It felt as if the fix was in. I have not since been able to escape the notion that somewhere, some powerful operative of the political machine patted Mitt's hand and said, "back off this time and next time we will throw everything we've got behind you."
Fast forward to 2012 and pundits everywhere have been talking about how Mitt would have the nomination sewed up in fast order. They've talked about how the states would "fall like dominoes" and the delegates would stack up behind Romney, who would be ready by the end of January or February to prep for his race against Obama.
Unfortunately for Mitt, the people kept getting in the way.
Thinking adults - though their numbers appear to be diminishing quickly - recognize that over the past four years, this nation has lurched violently toward the left. Adults realize the burdensome plight ahead of us and know that nothing short of "radical" (dare I say "draconian") reforms are required to get us back on track.
I think the best the Mitt can offer are "adjustments" - not radical shifts.
There seems to be a growing malignancy in our nation's capitol and Republicans appear to be only slightly better than their counterparts. In 2010 - thanks to the Tea Party and other Adults - Republicans were handed a great gift. They quickly took charge of that "gift" and began to try and reshape it. As we approach another election, we see that most, if not all, of their promises are still un-kept. Constituents are bewildered.
Mitt just seems to offer more of the same.
Finally - if for no other reason - I oppose Mitt because I deplore being told what to do.
Tomorrow we will take a look at Newt.
Today the candidate is Mitt Romney.
Mitt Romney - like Santorum, I voted for Romney during the 2008 primary season. And like Santorum, I did so because I thought he was the most conservative of the candidates running (which is not saying much). When I saw the Romney add recently, replaying Santorum's endorsement of Romney in 2008 (and when I heard Romney reference it during the debate), I grinned. It was certainly a clever move.
But then as I thought more about it: who ends up looking noble in that ad - the candidate who once spoke approvingly of one he now withstands; or the candidate who accepted his endorsement and then - for political purposes - used it to stab him in the back?
To me, Rick Santorum comes across more loyal to his friends - nobler.
In 2008, Mitt was the last chance to put down McCain, whom I have long viewed as an opportunist gladly dancing to the pipings of the press. McCain could not seem to restrain himself from fawning to the Left and from pouncing on Conservatives. Mitt folded - much too early in my estimation. It was too sudden. It felt as if the fix was in. I have not since been able to escape the notion that somewhere, some powerful operative of the political machine patted Mitt's hand and said, "back off this time and next time we will throw everything we've got behind you."
Fast forward to 2012 and pundits everywhere have been talking about how Mitt would have the nomination sewed up in fast order. They've talked about how the states would "fall like dominoes" and the delegates would stack up behind Romney, who would be ready by the end of January or February to prep for his race against Obama.
Unfortunately for Mitt, the people kept getting in the way.
Thinking adults - though their numbers appear to be diminishing quickly - recognize that over the past four years, this nation has lurched violently toward the left. Adults realize the burdensome plight ahead of us and know that nothing short of "radical" (dare I say "draconian") reforms are required to get us back on track.
I think the best the Mitt can offer are "adjustments" - not radical shifts.
There seems to be a growing malignancy in our nation's capitol and Republicans appear to be only slightly better than their counterparts. In 2010 - thanks to the Tea Party and other Adults - Republicans were handed a great gift. They quickly took charge of that "gift" and began to try and reshape it. As we approach another election, we see that most, if not all, of their promises are still un-kept. Constituents are bewildered.
Mitt just seems to offer more of the same.
Finally - if for no other reason - I oppose Mitt because I deplore being told what to do.
Tomorrow we will take a look at Newt.
Monday, March 26, 2012
"Everybody goes to Rick's"
As I try to better adapt, demonstrate and live a more Biblical worldview, I have been forced to rethink my ideas about politics. I am trying to re-examine those views which I hold dear - holding them up to the light - in order to detect flaws.
I enjoy dabbling in politics- grew up hearing it discussed often. The conventional wisdom among Christian bloggers seems to lean toward appearing apolitical but I just think that because Americans determine the direction of their country, they hold a higher responsibility than the citizenry of other nations. As Americans - and more so as Christian Americans - I do not believe we can easily afford to pass on political questions. If the country goes awry, we must be held accountable to some degree.
Furthermore, because I find my voice being increasingly boxed out, I am choosing this forum to air my thoughts.
If you have read any of my thoughts previously, you know that I am a hard-right leaning conservative.
In the last Presidential election, I voted -reluctantly- for John McCain; and that solely because of the decision to choose Sarah Palin as his running mate.
In some ways, I felt relieved when Barack Obama won the election. I knew that John McCain would have only prolonged our dismal slogging toward destruction - at least Obama would take us there in a hurry. My hope was that we could ride out the storm and the people would be ready to embrace a return to first principles. I remembered Jimmy Carter's ridiculous term and how that afterward, people would have accepted Richard Nixon back in the White House before voting for him again.
Perhaps Americans would learn quickly that our founder's knew what they were talking about.
I entered the Obama Presidency in the same way I faced my fears as a child on the little train in the petting zoo at Grant Park in Atlanta. We went there each summer for a family reunion and I was afraid of the tunnels through which the train passed. I overcame that fear by riding the train and when approaching the tunnel, I would stare at the floor, shut everything out and practically hold my breath until it was over.
I entered 2009 with an attitude of "holding my breath until it was over".
In this year's primary vote, I opted for Rick Santorum and continue to feel that - of the present field - he's the best choice.
Over the next few days, I will present some of my thoughts about the primary: why I personally am not pulling for the other candidates, and why I am voting for Rick Santorum.
A few years back, R. and I were listening to Rick being interviewed on talk radio (I think it was during his failed attempt to return to the Senate). I told her then - he's grooming for the presidency, his talk is on a national basis.
I wondered why he hasn't caught fire during this election cycle. Perhaps it is due to his lack of funding or the backing of the party. Or maybe he is just simmering.
Tomorrow we look at the primary "front-runner" ... declared so much too early if you asked me ... Mitt Romney.
I enjoy dabbling in politics- grew up hearing it discussed often. The conventional wisdom among Christian bloggers seems to lean toward appearing apolitical but I just think that because Americans determine the direction of their country, they hold a higher responsibility than the citizenry of other nations. As Americans - and more so as Christian Americans - I do not believe we can easily afford to pass on political questions. If the country goes awry, we must be held accountable to some degree.
Furthermore, because I find my voice being increasingly boxed out, I am choosing this forum to air my thoughts.
If you have read any of my thoughts previously, you know that I am a hard-right leaning conservative.
In the last Presidential election, I voted -reluctantly- for John McCain; and that solely because of the decision to choose Sarah Palin as his running mate.
In some ways, I felt relieved when Barack Obama won the election. I knew that John McCain would have only prolonged our dismal slogging toward destruction - at least Obama would take us there in a hurry. My hope was that we could ride out the storm and the people would be ready to embrace a return to first principles. I remembered Jimmy Carter's ridiculous term and how that afterward, people would have accepted Richard Nixon back in the White House before voting for him again.
Perhaps Americans would learn quickly that our founder's knew what they were talking about.
I entered the Obama Presidency in the same way I faced my fears as a child on the little train in the petting zoo at Grant Park in Atlanta. We went there each summer for a family reunion and I was afraid of the tunnels through which the train passed. I overcame that fear by riding the train and when approaching the tunnel, I would stare at the floor, shut everything out and practically hold my breath until it was over.
I entered 2009 with an attitude of "holding my breath until it was over".
In this year's primary vote, I opted for Rick Santorum and continue to feel that - of the present field - he's the best choice.
Over the next few days, I will present some of my thoughts about the primary: why I personally am not pulling for the other candidates, and why I am voting for Rick Santorum.
A few years back, R. and I were listening to Rick being interviewed on talk radio (I think it was during his failed attempt to return to the Senate). I told her then - he's grooming for the presidency, his talk is on a national basis.
I wondered why he hasn't caught fire during this election cycle. Perhaps it is due to his lack of funding or the backing of the party. Or maybe he is just simmering.
Tomorrow we look at the primary "front-runner" ... declared so much too early if you asked me ... Mitt Romney.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
What are They Teaching These Kids? - Daunting Questions from the Seventh Grade
Like Dorothy, who mused to her dust-mop-like mutt: "this isn't Kansas anymore, Toto!" - I realized that our kids were definitely not in the public school system anymore when my daughter posed a question:
"Are we Predestination or Free Will?"
She posed the question to me after intercepting a call to her mother's cell phone.
A few years back, I think I could have given my daughter - who incidentally just became a teenager last week - a very good answer to that question. However, I am fifty years old and I find that I am less sure of anything these days.
I was reared in a free-will theology, a great deal of my grandfather's preaching centered on the free-moral agency of man. But, he was also a throw-back from the older era of Wesleyan circuit riders, in which it was not uncommon for the audience of a differing theological persuasion than the preacher. He didn't seem to mind speaking to groups that might buck some of his doctrinal notions.
One of the few sermons that I remember him preaching was from the 6th chapter of the book of Esther: "On that night could not the king sleep...". As he worked through the story of Esther that night in the small church in LaFayette, Georgia, he stopped the sermon and announced that if anyone there was of the Predestination persuasion they were welcome at that point to dismiss themselves.
It was a joke, but the handful of people in that little church just sat there in stunned silence. In his long history of preaching to non-traditional crowds Grand-dad had often ministered to groups that were well-decided about the origins of their faith. In this case, he was about to agree with the predestination folks as he explained how God neatly brought all of the loose ends of that story into a neat knot.
I recorded that sermon and listened to it many times through the years. The book of Esther became one of my favorites. I really think that that sermon had a strong influence on my thinking, causing me to develop a deep appreciation for the sovereignty of God.
That deeply held awareness of the sovereignty of God over every situation was one of the things that drew me to a Presbyterian church based in the Reformed Theology just a few years ago.
My age, my long-held history in a free will Pentecostal church, and a felt need to be transparent with my family about where I am in this transition - all left me with no simple answers for my daughter.
Since entering the Presbyterian church, I have spent over three years mostly listening. It helps that Presbyterians are very intentional about their worship (nothing is done without purpose) and that we have a pastor who takes the time to explain most every aspect about our worship that may be unique.
It also helps that last year my daughter completed a somewhat grueling Communicants program in the church. It was designed to develop critical thinking and a clear understanding of the foundations of faith as this group of sixth-graders study and apply each of the 107 questions and answers of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
I am so thankful that my daughter would ask such a question - that she is thinking along those lines; and also that her teachers care enough about her relationship with the Redeemer that they would plant it in her mind.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Uncle Roy
I cannot go through a Christmas season without thinking of Uncle Roy. Though only brothers-in-law, he and my Dad were best buddies. Roy was part preacher and part gypsy. He loved to buy, sell and trade and his favorite item was the thing he just bought.
He gave the appearance of tending to love "trading" churches too, since Roy didn't tend to stay very long at most places he pastored. However, that was the "appearance" - in fact, he was quite a hand at step into troubled situations and turning them around. When the operations were running smoothly again - Roy would move on.
He and Dad were always the hub of the commotion that was our family holiday gatherings. They loved to discuss and debate and "carry on" as we would say; those two had a tremendous effect on the volume and hilarity of any celebration.
Roy had grown up in a rough environment and when he came to Christ, the change was overwhelming! He used to joke that he knew so little about the Bible that some of his early sermons came from the book of "PALMS" (instead of Psalms).
At some point Roy completed the Dale Carnegie Course and that, too had a huge effect on his future.
Roy was also an accomplished speaker, addressing banquets and other dinner gatherings. So he always had a ready supply of amusing stories and didn't mind repeating them. Many of those stories still come up every Christmas when my family gets together.
Speaking of Christmas, my memories of Roy have a special attachment to this season. Our families regularly spent a few days together at my grandparents' home during Christmas.
Roy was always a little mischievous and would sometimes sneak outside late on Christmas eve to pretend to be Santa Claus. Dad would work the inside expressing alarm that the noises we heard could very well be Santa, Roy on the outside would be going "bump in the night".
I probably owe two of my prominent character traits to Uncle Roy: I always thought it was cool that he drank coffee all the time. Today, I am probably most comfortable when I have a cup of the dark brew in my hand.
Roy also got excited about old television shows and old movies... he loved a "cowboy-shoot-'em-up-picture". He introduced me to Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". I owe much of my devotion to the wonderful world of black and white - to Uncle Roy.
Roy passed away a few years ago and Christmas - and the world for that matter - just hasn't been the same.
But he still shows up in our family gatherings- through the influence of the life he lived and the memories he made.
I don't really think that heaven is much like things around here . . . but if it were, I suspect that about now he and Dad are leaning back in some cushy LAZY-Boy. It is likely they are discussing politics - national, state and church, or football or people in general. If they get too loud, the other saints have but to wait around awhile; sometime after dinner, they will find the both with feet up, eyes closed and mouths open - enjoying a nap.
He gave the appearance of tending to love "trading" churches too, since Roy didn't tend to stay very long at most places he pastored. However, that was the "appearance" - in fact, he was quite a hand at step into troubled situations and turning them around. When the operations were running smoothly again - Roy would move on.
He and Dad were always the hub of the commotion that was our family holiday gatherings. They loved to discuss and debate and "carry on" as we would say; those two had a tremendous effect on the volume and hilarity of any celebration.
Roy had grown up in a rough environment and when he came to Christ, the change was overwhelming! He used to joke that he knew so little about the Bible that some of his early sermons came from the book of "PALMS" (instead of Psalms).
At some point Roy completed the Dale Carnegie Course and that, too had a huge effect on his future.
Roy was also an accomplished speaker, addressing banquets and other dinner gatherings. So he always had a ready supply of amusing stories and didn't mind repeating them. Many of those stories still come up every Christmas when my family gets together.
Speaking of Christmas, my memories of Roy have a special attachment to this season. Our families regularly spent a few days together at my grandparents' home during Christmas.
Roy was always a little mischievous and would sometimes sneak outside late on Christmas eve to pretend to be Santa Claus. Dad would work the inside expressing alarm that the noises we heard could very well be Santa, Roy on the outside would be going "bump in the night".
I probably owe two of my prominent character traits to Uncle Roy: I always thought it was cool that he drank coffee all the time. Today, I am probably most comfortable when I have a cup of the dark brew in my hand.
Roy also got excited about old television shows and old movies... he loved a "cowboy-shoot-'em-up-picture". He introduced me to Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". I owe much of my devotion to the wonderful world of black and white - to Uncle Roy.
Roy passed away a few years ago and Christmas - and the world for that matter - just hasn't been the same.
But he still shows up in our family gatherings- through the influence of the life he lived and the memories he made.
I don't really think that heaven is much like things around here . . . but if it were, I suspect that about now he and Dad are leaning back in some cushy LAZY-Boy. It is likely they are discussing politics - national, state and church, or football or people in general. If they get too loud, the other saints have but to wait around awhile; sometime after dinner, they will find the both with feet up, eyes closed and mouths open - enjoying a nap.
It's Here!
Wow.
It is that special time - Christmas Eve!
Everyone - even R. - is bedded down and I am listening to Christmas music and basking in the afterglow of this evening.
We attended a very special Christmas Eve service at church. A fresh, simple, no nonsense look at the old, old story. There was singing, reading ( I got a little over zealous with the responsive reading and "helped" the leader out by continuing to read after the "ALL" portion was completed), Advent candles and a brief challenge to recognize Christ, the light of the world - and then to be light ourselves as we go out into the world.
Our Christmas eve dinner with some of R.'s family was again warm - yet simple.
We topped the evening off with our own family's Advent Candle - lighting the Christ Candle.
Everyone seemed to be on their best behavior - maybe it's like the old poem from one of the Childcraft books that said -"jist for Christmas - I'm as good as I can be". Ab and Mom read the Christmas story from Luke's gospel (it's okay that we heard it earlier tonight). And AA regaled us with what has become the annual reading of Ogden Nash's Christmas poem, "Jabez Dawes".
Christmas tends to leave me sort of wistful as I realize that our children are growing up; but there are some definite advantages. I see Christmas holding a deeper meaning with them and it makes me so proud; they are excited but not that wild kind of uncontrollable excited.
I've really been moved by the entire evening.
What a wonderful thing God did, when He came down to be with us. ..
...came down to be like us.
...came down to show us the way...
... came down to die - for us ...
and rise again ... because He could!
Merry Christmas!
It is that special time - Christmas Eve!
Everyone - even R. - is bedded down and I am listening to Christmas music and basking in the afterglow of this evening.
We attended a very special Christmas Eve service at church. A fresh, simple, no nonsense look at the old, old story. There was singing, reading ( I got a little over zealous with the responsive reading and "helped" the leader out by continuing to read after the "ALL" portion was completed), Advent candles and a brief challenge to recognize Christ, the light of the world - and then to be light ourselves as we go out into the world.
Our Christmas eve dinner with some of R.'s family was again warm - yet simple.
We topped the evening off with our own family's Advent Candle - lighting the Christ Candle.
Everyone seemed to be on their best behavior - maybe it's like the old poem from one of the Childcraft books that said -"jist for Christmas - I'm as good as I can be". Ab and Mom read the Christmas story from Luke's gospel (it's okay that we heard it earlier tonight). And AA regaled us with what has become the annual reading of Ogden Nash's Christmas poem, "Jabez Dawes".
Christmas tends to leave me sort of wistful as I realize that our children are growing up; but there are some definite advantages. I see Christmas holding a deeper meaning with them and it makes me so proud; they are excited but not that wild kind of uncontrollable excited.
I've really been moved by the entire evening.
What a wonderful thing God did, when He came down to be with us. ..
...came down to be like us.
...came down to show us the way...
... came down to die - for us ...
and rise again ... because He could!
Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
The Empty Season 3
I have submitted a couple of posts relating to the "emptiness" of the season; here is another:
Because the focus of our Christmas Celebrations seem to be so centered on people: get-togethers, Caroling choirs, mobs of shoppers and the like - those who are lonely may find their loneliness compounded by the season.
In this post, let's look at an article that may be present in many homes this year reflecting that poignant thought . . . an empty chair.
The Empty Chair
Our Christmas will be a little different this year. For the first time in a long time, we will have an empty chair at our family gathering.
For the first time, my Dad will not be there. Now Mom has always truly been the hub of our family gatherings - she has been the memory-maker. Always making certain that folks were fed good, felt welcomed and always supportive of anything that anyone did to contribute to the special nature of the event.
Dad was more of a catalyst - he could make or break the event. Most years Dad could be counted on to develop a case of the "Christmas Spirit" and do something wildly impractical. In recent years around Christmas you would find there were talking doormats, a singing trout and a parrot that repeated everything you said.
Dad was the leader of our family's "anything for a laugh" mentality. Sometimes he went too far - sometimes he sacrificed himself and became the butt of the joke.
Dad made Christmas noisy and Dad made it fun.
At some point there went out a decree from Dad that every Christmas gathering would contain a reading of the Biblical Christmas account. Sometimes Dad would read it, sometimes a grandchild - we all took our turn I think - it is always a solemn and moving time.
So Dad's presence meant that there would be some deep-seated respect and devotion for Christmas. Along with some irreverence and revelry.
We will all be very conscious of his empty chair this Christmas.
Other families will have similar voids; but death is not the only culprit.
For some divorce or separation has seeped in and left its black and icy mark on the family.
For others, duty has called away a military son or daughter, and for those families there is a sadness mixed with deep pride for their noble devotion.
Others still, are separated for reasons not so plain and clear cut: an unforgotten wound, failures unforgiven ... for those the empty chair sits as a cold and silent reminder.
It is pure conjecture - but go with me on this: God, the Father, understands an empty chair.
While it may be assigning Him too many human limitations -I would like to suggest that perhaps the Father once felt the sting of an empty chair when His own Son left heaven for a time.
Leaving to encounter weakness, humiliation, scarcity and a cruel and hideous death - that first Christmas must have been a sad one. All of heaven perhaps missed His presence.
The ironic fact is that His "empty chair" would mean that His presence would soon be available to provide healing for all the empty places that filled the world:
For the wounded - His wounds would provide healing.
For the embattled - He would become the "Captain of their Salvation".
For those the unloved, He would come to bind up their broken hearts.
For those who mourn - He would crush the power of death.
When the angel proclaimed His Christmas birth announcement, they reminded the shepherds - and today they remind us - that "good news" of "great joy", "peace" and "good will" accompany Him.
This Christmas, if you allow Him, He will fill the empty seat at your table.
Because the focus of our Christmas Celebrations seem to be so centered on people: get-togethers, Caroling choirs, mobs of shoppers and the like - those who are lonely may find their loneliness compounded by the season.
In this post, let's look at an article that may be present in many homes this year reflecting that poignant thought . . . an empty chair.
The Empty Chair
Our Christmas will be a little different this year. For the first time in a long time, we will have an empty chair at our family gathering.
For the first time, my Dad will not be there. Now Mom has always truly been the hub of our family gatherings - she has been the memory-maker. Always making certain that folks were fed good, felt welcomed and always supportive of anything that anyone did to contribute to the special nature of the event.
Dad was more of a catalyst - he could make or break the event. Most years Dad could be counted on to develop a case of the "Christmas Spirit" and do something wildly impractical. In recent years around Christmas you would find there were talking doormats, a singing trout and a parrot that repeated everything you said.
Dad was the leader of our family's "anything for a laugh" mentality. Sometimes he went too far - sometimes he sacrificed himself and became the butt of the joke.
Dad made Christmas noisy and Dad made it fun.
At some point there went out a decree from Dad that every Christmas gathering would contain a reading of the Biblical Christmas account. Sometimes Dad would read it, sometimes a grandchild - we all took our turn I think - it is always a solemn and moving time.
So Dad's presence meant that there would be some deep-seated respect and devotion for Christmas. Along with some irreverence and revelry.
We will all be very conscious of his empty chair this Christmas.
Other families will have similar voids; but death is not the only culprit.
For some divorce or separation has seeped in and left its black and icy mark on the family.
For others, duty has called away a military son or daughter, and for those families there is a sadness mixed with deep pride for their noble devotion.
Others still, are separated for reasons not so plain and clear cut: an unforgotten wound, failures unforgiven ... for those the empty chair sits as a cold and silent reminder.
It is pure conjecture - but go with me on this: God, the Father, understands an empty chair.
While it may be assigning Him too many human limitations -I would like to suggest that perhaps the Father once felt the sting of an empty chair when His own Son left heaven for a time.
Leaving to encounter weakness, humiliation, scarcity and a cruel and hideous death - that first Christmas must have been a sad one. All of heaven perhaps missed His presence.
The ironic fact is that His "empty chair" would mean that His presence would soon be available to provide healing for all the empty places that filled the world:
For the wounded - His wounds would provide healing.
For the embattled - He would become the "Captain of their Salvation".
For those the unloved, He would come to bind up their broken hearts.
For those who mourn - He would crush the power of death.
When the angel proclaimed His Christmas birth announcement, they reminded the shepherds - and today they remind us - that "good news" of "great joy", "peace" and "good will" accompany Him.
This Christmas, if you allow Him, He will fill the empty seat at your table.
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