Christmas is a time when you get homesick–even when you’re home.”
–Carol Nelson

“There has been only one Christmas–the rest are anniversaries.”
–W.J. Cameron

We are just a week removed from Thanksgiving, so it is only right that I mention two people that I am thankful for, as today would be their birthday.  They were two people that had a profound influence on my life.  One is my mom, Marguerite Jones, and the other is my aunt, LaVern Adkisson, who helped raise me. 
I think at times we take for granted those that God puts in our lives.  Some have a direct influence, others only partial.  There are friends for a lifetime, and there are friends for a season.  Do we take what they give us of themselves and use it to become a better person?
——————
The pastor where I go to church preached a very important message last Sunday.  It most certainly would not, or is not very popular and in our society today would be rejected, yet the truth resounded from it.  I have been saying similar things for three decades now; C.S. Lewis wrote a book alluding the it, “The Abolition of Man.”  I’m going to use some of his thoughts and mix in a few of mine.
Perhaps you did not realize that the term “family” means “Father’s House.”  Just take that one little idea and ponder it.  Let it roll through your mind, or if it is muddled, let it float through.  I was told later in life, maybe in college, that I came from a dysfunctional family.  Now you surely could have fooled me, for I thought everything was good.  Looking at it from the eyes of this ol’ fence post, there were probably two reasons that I didn’t see it as dysfunctional.  One was that I had never heard of the term before and therefore didn’t know what it meant.  The other is that there were still two man-figures there, my Dad and Grandpa.  Did they have faults, absolutely, but they still gave the proper role model.
I have had several parents over the year go almost into depression when they get a point in their life when the children are to leave home.  Society has placed an added burden of the two parents by giving a name, “Empty Nest Syndrome.”  Listen!  One major purpose of the family is to prepare children for life.  To teach and train them to handle responsibility and to overcome obstacles that may be in their way.  But more and more parents cannot cut the apron-string, and the kids, themselves, actually tie it tighter. 
Back to my initial idea–where are the fathers in the family?!!  There are dead-beat dads, there are absentee dads, there is a high level of divorce (even in the church.  One of the things that the Lord says He hates is divorce, yet today little is thought of it).  What is the role of the father in the “Father’s House?”  Notice, it is his house.  He is the protector.  He is the provider.  But if he is not there what happens to “Father’s House”?  There are so many homes, if I can still use that term, where the may be a father, but he is not really involved.  He is more of a person who appeases the kids from time to time.
One more thought for today.  Where there is a father at home what would he do if he saw his wife being raped, or children beaten and mutilated?  Hopefully there would be swift action of some sort.  Yet, we allow the rape and mutilation of the family in a spiritual sense.  What is on TV?  What kind of games, music, and other forms of entertainment do we allow in the “house”?
Our heavenly Father gave us the most wonderful gift that we celebrate at Christmas, the birth of His Son.  This would sure be a good time for fathers (and mothers) to give the gift of themselves to their family.  This is to be done, not only at Christmas, but everyday of the year.  I don’t have the time to go into a discourse on the theology of the family, but just look at the one aspect of being the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical protector/provider of the “house.”

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
–Genesis 2:24 (AMPC)

How many of you can recall that wonderful old Christmas carol, “Hark! how all the welkin rings, glory to the King of Kings”?  The term “welkin” literally means the “vault of heaven makes a long noise.”  The idea is when the King (God) sends forth a pronouncement the “entire power of the King is revealed.” (Collins)  A person, who was a great preacher and orator [George Whitefield], but not as skilled in theology, as Charles Wesley changed the word to “angels,” and hence, we have “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.”

          “Hark! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King;
           Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.’
           Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies;
           With angelic hosts proclaim, ‘Christ is born in Bethlehem.’
           Hark! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King.'”

One of the best and most fondly remembered parts of my youth was going caroling.  The youth and young adults of the church which numbered 20-30 would go out every Christmas and sing carols.  We always went to the elderly and those who were shut-in, especially in the winter when it would be treacherous for them to venture out.  We would sing 4-6 carols, and always 2-3 verses of each, at each home and then travel in an old bus to the next place.  After we made our rounds we would end up either at the church or someone’s house for hot cocoa (not hot chocolate).

          “Christ, by highest heav’n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord:
           Late in time behold Him come, Off-spring of a virgin’s womb.
           Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail th’ incarnate Deity!
           Pleased as mann with men to appear, Jesus our Immanuel here.
           Hark! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King.'” 

Read the words carefully.  Mercy!  Look at the depth of the theology.  Take this carol and others of the past and compare them to most of the new songs.  Where is the theology?  Where is the doctrine?  People say that they do not understand theology, that it is too hard; or that doctrine is boring and legalistic.  Nonsense!  The reason they do not want or like doctrine is that it makes them responsible, and people just like to float along and not be responsible.  One cannot hear or sing this carol without realizing the doctrines that are being taught.

          “Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace, Hail the Sun of righteousness!
           Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings:
           Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die;
           Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.
           Hark! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King.’

           Come, Desire of nations, come!  Fix in us Thy humble home:
           Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring seed, Bruise in us the serpent’s head;
           Adam’s likeness now efface, Stamp Thine image in its place:
           Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love.
           Hark! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King.'”

I guess one cannot blame Wesley for disliking the change, especially without his permission.  In fact, he never sang the song again in his life.  The truth that rings from it cannot be hidden or denied.  But, there is one thing I would like for you to research, check out, and ponder.  Is there actually a place in Scripture that states that angels sing?

Christmas is not a date.  It is a state of mind.”
–Mary Ellen Chase

“At Christmas
A man is at his finest towards the finish of the year;
He is almost what he should be when the Christmas season’s here;
Then he’s thinking more of others than he’s thought the months before,
And the laughter of his children is a joy worth toiling for.
He is less a selfish creature than at any other time;
When the Christmas spirit rules him he come close to the sublime.”
        –Edgar Guest

I really hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  As I mentioned to those who receive the “Coffee Perc”, Thanksgiving is important for a couple of reasons.  The first is, of course, that we should always be showing gratitude for our blessings.  I’m so tired of the whiny-babies out there.  America is evil, we are oppressed, on and on they whine.  My goodness gracious, be thankful for what you have.  Try living in some other country and see the problems that they have.  Or, get out there and do something POSITIVE!  Quite whining and belly-aching, if you really think this is bad do something positive; don’t go around breaking other’s property, holding up traffic of honest-working people.  In other words get in touch with Reality rather than your stupid, dumbfounded ideology.
The second thing is that Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season, or if you wish, the Christmas season.  There is always an uproar of the saying of “Merry Christmas.”  Don’t get caught up in the political correctness of the idiots out there.  All they are trying to do is ruin your Christmas and get you agitated.  They do have a certain arrogance, but if someone corrects you and says, “Happy Holidays,” smile, reply “Merry Christmas.”  They are simply showing their ignorance, and yes, they are being antichrist.  However, even though they certainly don’t know it, but they have just wished you a “Happy Holy Day.”  Now everyday should be holy, but especially that day when Christ was born–what we call Christmas.  It is a holy day because God took a moment, just the right moment in time, and sent to the earth a blessing that cannot be contained.  (Why do you think the fools fight so hard?)
Now I definitely prefer “Merry Christmas” and that is what I always reply.  In fact, say a silent prayer for them, for they are in that realm of being a fool and that is a dangerous position.  Remember, that “Ignorance can be fixed, but stupidity if fatal.”  This folk prefer to live in darkness because they are blinded by their ideas, their sham, their foolishness, and their arrogance.  In fact, look around, especially at the liberal agenda and those pushing it, whether it be the media, the entertainment industry, or the liberal politicians.  When they open their mouths they just seem to spout out their ignorance.
Start to enjoy the season.  Jesus came that we might have life, so don’t let a dead-man (that’s what they are, call them “living zombies”) ruin the season for you.  If you do, then it’s your own fault.  Have life, enjoy life, enjoy the Reason for the season.  Hmmmm, that might be a good response if someone shoves their arrogance at you (remember Scrooge and Bob Cratchit) say “Merry Christmas, and I’ll say a prayer for you.”  Not very politically correct, but certainly Biblically correct.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
–John 10:10 (NKJV)

Over the river, and through the wood,
To Grandfather’s house we go;
the horse knows the way
to carry the sleigh
through the white and drifted snow.”
–Lydia Maria Child

This is one of the first songs I can remember learning in school.  My, that has been a few years ago now.  I didn’t have to get in a sleigh (though this is one of the things I would still like to do sometime) because I lived at Grandma’s house.  Plus, the third verse of that song would get to me now.  My toes ache in the cold.

          “Over the river, and through the wood,
             Oh, how the wind does blow!
                 It stings the toes,
                 And bites the nose,
             As over the ground we go.”

Thanksgiving is soon upon us.  It is a wonderful time of the year and it truly starts of the holiday season.  A word here, notice holiday is not a bad thing to say, “Happy Holidays” simply means “Happy Holy Days.”  This days are joyous and yet they should also be sacred.  There is really very few things more sacred that the celebration of blessing with the family.  Traditions, noise, laughter, the fire in the fireplace, the coffee, eggnog and hot cocoa are all part of it.  Memories galore!  And we must not forget that last verse.

          “Over the river, and through the wood —
             Now Grandmothers cap I spy!
                 Hurra for the fun!
                 Is the pudding done?
             Hurra for the pumpkin pie!”

Pumpkin pie, of course!  But maybe also mince-meat, or apple, or butterscotch. or ….  And Thanksgiving is just the start!  After Thanksgiving we think of Christmas and all the days leading up to Christmas are exciting. Tell you what, I’m not sure if there’ll be a Paine next week, not saying there won’t be one, but why don’t you plan on making some kind of memory?

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”
–Lamentations 3:21-24 (KJV)