Christmas is fast approaching and most of us know what we want during this time of the year. You and I want something different. More than wanting to have all the gifts bought and even more than thoughts that you might get a useful gift. We want a Christmas that is free of hustle and bustle. We want a Christmas that has a special meaning. A feeling they perhaps had as a child. A Christmas with wonder and joy.
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 During church yesterday, we got a beautiful, fluffy 4" of snow. The snowfall ended by the close of service and the sun came out. It was so bright outside that it hurt my eyes and caused me to squint until I put on a pair of sunglasses. When I entered our home everything looked dim and turning the light switch on did nothing to improve the darkness. My eyes had become accustomed to the brilliant light outside that made our well-lit home seem dim.
Jesus, took Peter, James and John with Him to an eye squinting event. Jesus, showed His glory to those three disciples and it was brilliant. Mark 9:2-10 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. Imagine seeing something so amazing and not being able to tell anyone about it! Everything must have looked dim after seeing Jesus in all His glory. Peter, James & John got to share their eye squinting event after Jesus died and rose from the dead. They shared and wrote more about Jesus being the way to the Father, able to forgive sins and heal our hurts. When you encounter Jesus in a real relationship, everything else becomes dim. Have you had an eye squinting encounter with Jesus? The coronavirus Covid-19 stats for today from John Hopkins University has US at the top of the list for confirmed cases at 213,372 and that is not an April Fool’s prank. CNN reports 4,669 deaths from the coronavirus in the US. That means two out of every one hundred confirmed cases dies. When I first began hearing about this virus, I believed that the media was making it much larger than it was. Comparisons to regular flu virus cases and past viruses showed the coronavirus third to the smallest historically. Aside from my questions, COVID-19 has impacted our nation and our world in ways that has surpassed almost anything else. While considering the number of changes from how we normally do life, my thoughts went to other countries. War torn countries. Countries like Syria. Pictures of empty streets and shelled buildings from five years of war are gripping. When their pandemic is over, they cannot just return to work, school or anything near normal for months, maybe even years. We are not certain when lifted restrictions allow us to return to our workplaces, schools, and churches. I am thankful that we have something worthwhile to return to and I believe we will be better people because of this virus. Matthew 5:1-10 (NIV) Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, 2 and He began to teach them. The Beatitudes He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   2019 has come and we have 365 days to make it a wonderful or wimpy year. I expect to have some victories this year that make me feel successful. I have seen enough years go by to know that there will be disappointments, discouragement and defeats that will be experinced during the year. My hope is that those tests become a testimony of God's goodness in spite of myself or others.
 As a child, April Fool’s Day almost eclipsed Christmas as my favorite day of the entire year. April 1 felt like I could lie legitimately for twenty-four hours without getting in trouble if I shouted, “April Fool’s!” when my lie was discovered.
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Mark Radeke
Husband of one, father of five, pastor and friend of many. Archives
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