Christms is expensive

Time is drawing near for the lighting of the final candles on the Advent wreath for 2007. It is a time for personal reflection and pondering the meaning of Christmas. As I viewed the TV morning shows today I heard no mention of the Christ Child or the meaning of Christmas. I did hear that if you purchase a gift on line it will be delivered before Christmas - but you must order by 3:00pm EST.

These are the last few hours of wrapping presents and preparing for the family gatherings. One thing I absolutely despise is wrapping the gifts. My wife and daughters are very talented at this however, I need help. In my mind I envision a machine to make it easier for challenged individuals like me.

As if you didn’t already know, here’s a news flash:

Christmas is getting more expensive.

That increase is reflected in the annual PNC Christmas Price Index compiled by PNC Wealth Management. According to a Nov. 26,2007 Associated Press report: It would cost $78,100 to buy the 364 items, from a single partridge in a pear tree to the 12 drummers drumming, repeatedly on each day as the song suggests. The cost is up 4 percent from $75,122 last year.

Buying each item in the song just once would cost $19,507, up 3.1 percent from last year’s $18,921. And shopping online would be costlier, with the total for the 364 items costing $128,886, up 2.5 percent from last year’s $125,767. You would spend $31,249 online for each item just once this year. Helping push the cost up this year is the minimum wage hike, which bumped the cost of eight maids a-milking from about $41 to nearly $47.“They have not had an increase since 1997,” said Jim Dunigan, managing executive of investment for PNC Wealth Management. “The good news is, if you’re a maids a-milking, they will also see an increase in 2008 and 2009.”Higher food costs pushed the six geese a-laying from $300 to $360. And reflecting higher gold prices, those five gold rings will cost $395, up 21.5 percent from last year’s $325.

Not everything is more costly. The price of a partridge ($15), two turtle doves ($40) and three French hens ($40) remained the same, as did seven swans a-swimming, at $4,200, and nine ladies dancing, at $4,759. (Click here for BREAKING NEWS and to learn more about the price report.)

I look forward to Sunday morning at NRN as we continue in our Celebration of Christmas. Monday - Christmas Eve will be a great time for the family in our Christmas Eve service at 6:00pm We will be reminded of the real meaning of Christmas. An early Church father Augustine put it this way:

Our Lord came down from life to suffer death;the Bread came down, to hunger; the Way came down, on the way to weariness; the Fount came down, to thirst. —Augustine, Sermon 78

He so loved us that, for our sake, He was made man in time, although through him all times were made. He was made man, who made man.He was created of a mother whom he created.

He was carried by hands that he formed. He cried in the manger in wordless infancy, he the Word,without whom all human eloquence is mute. —Augustine, Sermon 188, 2

THESE MY FRIENDS, ARE TRUSTWORTHY SAYINGS

What do you think? Post a comment. PR

The W in Christmas

As the Sunday before Christmas approaches I am so excited to be in pastoral ministry once again. I love the people at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene New friends and wonderful experiences are coming our way.

Below is something of interest sent to me recently. I thought you would enjoy:

The "W" in Christmas

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song.

As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love." The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down - totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W". The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one’s mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W". Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.

In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear: "C H R I S T W A S L O V E"

And, I believe, He still is.
Amazed in His presence...humbled by His love.

Sent to me by: Michelle V. Gray

In Jesus was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. May the light of God shine in your heart this Christmas season! This is a trustworthy statement. PR

More warm cookies

On Wednesday Stephanie and Alyse arrived at our home and the laughter has abundant! Alyse is so inquisitive about everything. When she saw the Christmas books on the lower shelve of the table she had to investigate. She gave a precious look at her "papa" when I asked what she we was doing. Her little giggle is brings a great joy to my heart.

Later that night we attended a Christmas party for one of our favorite small groups. Alyse was ready to "party"!

On Thursday she helped her mom and "GRAMMIE" with the baking of even more cookies.

Friday was a short but meaningful trip to Triangle Mall in Raleigh. It was time for Alyse to have her first picture with Santa Claus. She did not disappoint any of us when she laughed while standing in line - only to cry when placed on Santa's lap.



Alyse will know more about Santa and grasp the true meaning of the season in years ahead. Meanwhile - this is the first picture placed on our new refrigerator in our home!


Now I must admit that Stephanie has more pictures of our visit including a video clip which reminds her of a hat on my head at the small group party Go to Stephanie's blog scroll down to Christmas check it out with a simple click HERE ENJOY!

I would appreciate knowing you stopped by - please take a moment and post a short comment. You'll be glad you did!

Warm Cookies

JUST A SIMPLE THOUGHT FOR TODAY. The smell of warm cookies is in our home as Sharron prepares for the Church Board Christmas party at our home tomorrow evening. We have enjoyed the times recently with new friends sitting in resturants and sharing moments of laughter together.

This is truly a trustworthy statement. PR

Born as a baby - Returning as our King

Sorry for the long delay in my posting. Living life in the fast lane means we have to take time to set priorities and manage our time and calendar well. I have attempted to do this and placed the blogging lower on my list during this Advent season. Now, for the updates:

Sharron and I are truly enjoying our first Advent season in North Carolina since 1980. On that Christmas in Charlotte our daughters Danielle and Stephanie were less than 2 months old. We were renting our first house and even though we had very limited resources we were very happy. Each Christmas a symbol of remembrance is on our family Christmas tree. Here's the story: Sharron and I were able to drive to the mountains of NC and go onto the property of a friend and cut our Christmas tree. We could only afford two strings of lights and spent and evening stringing popcorn for the tress decorations. When Sharron and I thought about what should go on the top of the tree - I took two pieces of cardboard and fashioned a star which I covered in aluminum foil. That star is still atop our family tree each year.

Today God has blessed us with two beautiful daughters, a great son-in-law and the most beautiful grand daughter I know! We are active in pastoral ministry celebrating over 30 years of serving the Lord in full time ministry. God has lead us to a great church and wonderful people to pastor. We have blessed with a wonderful house which Sharron has converted into a home filled with love. My heart is overflowing with gratitude for the blessings of God, the love of my wife, and the aluminum covered card board star on top of our family Christmas tree!

I have an issue that I find alarming that I feel I must comment on. This weekend was the opening of a new movie - The Golden Compass. Though this movie is portrayed as a "children';s movie" and a movie for the "entire family" I am personally disturbed about the theme and content of this movie and sequels planned. On the FOX NEWS website it described the picture as follow: A children’s fantasy film that stars Nicole Kidman and features a little girl on a quest to kill God has some Christian groups upset over what they believe is a ploy to promote atheism to kids. I have not seen the movie and have no intentions of viewing the film and I hesitate to criticize something with such limited exposure. But I strongly encourage parents to investigate the story and message exposed to your children. Once again, I was personally disturbed when I read a comment on the ABC NEWS website from a parent who stated: Why a religious group would tell me or my kids what's good or not to watch, why I as an adult have to monitor religious ideologies to my kids, I have no right to impose any religion to my kids, they don't know what it is! how a Fantasy tale would ever influence them on how they will think latter on about religion. If they wish to add to a religion, latter on, they will. I don't see why all this buzz, some religions are scared to lost members and money to their pockets. Religious groups are not supposed to interfere with the FREE WILL of people. So if you don't like the movie, turn away, don't watch it, but why try to prevent other to watch a fine fantasy movie? To investigate this movie yourself I recommend the following links: Crosswalk and Especially this article for pastors .

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An excerpt from my personal devotion reading today from A Classic Nativity Devotional, by James Stuart Bell (Adapted from the writings of Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386) :

The prophet Malachi speaks of the two comings. And the Lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple: that is one coming. Again he says of another coming: Look, the Lord almighty will come, and who will endure the day of his entry, or who will stand in his sight? Because he comes like a refiner's fire, a fuller's herb, and he will sit refining and cleansing.

These two comings are also referred to by Paul in writing to Titus: The grace of God the Savior has appeared to all men, instructing us to put aside impiety and worldly desires and live temperately, uprightly, and religiously in this present age, waiting for the joyful hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Notice how he speaks of a first coming for which he gives thanks, and a second, the one we still await.

That is why the faith we profess has been handed on to you in these words: He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

Our Lord Jesus Christ will therefore come from heaven. He will come at the end of the world, in glory, at the last day. For there will be an end to this world, and the created world will be made new.

The birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem was an epic moment in the formation of the Christian faith, but we must always remember that he will one day return from heaven, not as a baby so humbly born in a manger but as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

These my friends are truly trustworthy sayings. Rick