Thanksgiving Christmas Connection

Its Christmastime again in NYC! Even my backyard is 45 minutes from the city line and though Long Island is one of it suburbs, the influence of New York at Christmas is all around us. Miracle On 34th Street even has Santa living out here in Great Neck!

Some family members are heading to see the Radio City Christmas Show next week, we all go to the city for at least one trip at Christmas. Many times I have made that trek in over the years for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Think of all the Christmas movies which took place in New York over the years! The songs like Silver Bells to Its Christmas In New York make this the place to be at these holidays.

As we transition this year into the full blown commercialization of Christmas from Thanksgiving weekend, I hope to be able to make that trip (in my mind) as I did 24 years ago to that City of David, that Little Town of Bethlehem. I want to stand, not as a wiseman but a simple shepherd, and worship Christ the New Born King.

I am thankful the LORD gave me a forever young heart. I am in my element as a kid at Christmas! For after 50 years of celebrating I have come to realize that it is not about gifts (even those Black Friday deals!), not about tinsel and trees or turkeys. Its all about that Baby Who was born on that Night and laid in the manger. Its all about Him. That is what I hope to get caught up in this next month.

Thanksgiving

Giving Thanks

Because of strep throat and all its symptoms I was not able to conduct the Thanksgiving Service last evening at our church. While I am still wobbly this morning this has not diminished my gratitude one iota!

Like many holidays, Thanksgiving evokes memories in my heart as far back as I can remember. One of those memories are when our church fed the homeless of our community. This was long before the Main Street area became the place to eat with all sorts of restaurants. Back 20 years ago it resembled a bombed out area, with many street people and people just getting by. A group from our church would put on an extraordinary dinner each year. Other churches helped. One of those, Calvary Chapel, now carries on this work in their area. Last year over 2,000 people were fed a hot turkey dinner.

I remember my Dad being home on that Day. Even though he went to heaven a few months ago, the memory of that man, his love for his family, his God and his country and life itself remain very much in our hearts.

In my life over the past 8 years, new places have to e set around our table. Our family is growing. How thankful I am for my grandchildren!

I'm thankful that the LORD called me to be a pastor. I enjoy serving Him and His flock in this way. Over thirty years ago, in a little upstate church, a lady named Lee Milligan, put together a food pounding for my family forThanksgiving. While she and many of those dear folks are with Dad in heaven today, that act of love still resounds in my heart and mind.

May each of you have a very blessed Thanksgiving! May you make some wonderful memories! God bless you!

President Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863

By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Storm Reflections

The metro area of New York made history over the past 2 weeks. We had weather from three seasons! In my 45 years of living here I never saw this before. Hurricanes are usually end of the summer events for us. Winter storms are generally a January or earlyFebruary phenomena   when we have our 6 weeks of deep freeze. Fall is Long Island's best kept secret. Indications are that we will return to its mid temperatures over the weeked when temperatures will be in the 60's.

This morning the snow Athena left us and the power outages that were Sandy's signature are leaving. The snow quicker than the outages and the gas lines. We are now rationing gas here. This will just make the lines longer. My heart goes out to those who lost homes as well as those who remain in their homes without power or heat, particularly those  with children and the elderly.

My power returned earlier this week after 8 days. Several older folks who had left the neighborhood to go to be with their adult children during the outage rejoiced when I tod them the power had been retored to our street. They came back home that night!

This morning, as I drank a hot cup of coffee I remembered last week, when I had to go to one of  my daughters' homes or Burger King to get it. I realized how spoiled I am. America has done that to its residents. I thought of Pastor Lyswa Reee's wife in the interior of the Dominican Republic making hot cocoa for me a few Januarys ago. They have no electricity or indoor  plumbing! In China the government shuts off the heat in all apartment houses while it is still cold enough to snow! I remenber going into shops  two years agp and seeing shopkeepers bundled up as they waited for customers. Its interesting how the temporary loss of something I took for granted like electricity brings back these memories. 

This Thanksgiving I am more thankful than ever. My prayers are with our nation. One of my prayers is that we will remember that first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts. 

God Speaks In The Storm

God Speaks In The Storm

Psalm 29

A fascinating Psalm, written by David
David was a lover of nature. This Psalm speaks of the destructive force nature can unleash. We saw this in Hurricane Sandy.

What is God's Word saying?

1. The LORD God Almighty is powerful. vs.4, 7-9

Breaks the cedars of Lebanon. Last night I brought a turkey breast thatbhad thawed out to my daughter's, Theresa, home for her to cook. We had a mini Thanksgiving Dinner! Sort if a precursor to the Day we celebrate in 3 1/2 weeks. My son-in-law was a bit scout. He made a fire pit in their yard with some beautiful stones that he got from a job south of Montauk Highway. He had Tristan and bring him wood from the wood shed he built in the back yard. He split some of these pieces into smaller ones to use as a base. There was oak and a beautiful lighter wood with a familiar fragrance. It was cedar! Solomon used the cedar of Lebanon in building the temple. They brought them into the port of Joppa then hauled them across the Plain of Sharon and up into the Judean hills to Jerusalem. I told my grandson how wonderful God was in providing wood for us to enjoy, even in making fire! No record of cooking until after the fall of man but God is so powerful, He provided in His creation, the ability for us to cook! He is the LORD God Almighty!

2. The LORD God is in control. v.10
Over the remnants if the storm!
I love the relief efforts the church, the people of God are doing. Our denomination, independent churches (Kevin Henesy), Samaritan's Purse here.

Over heaven and earth forever!

3. The LORD God is with us. v.11
Strength
Blesses us with peace:
completeness, soundness, welfare,
safety, soundness (in body), health, prosperity,quiet, tranquillity, contentment, friendship

There are special blessings for those who are here this morning.