Peace Has Come!

I received my church newspaper the other day. The newspaper includes a portion by conference. This week's conference section had a layout designed from the United Methodist Reporter. One page of this layout had scripture from Romans 15:13, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peaceas you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, reminding us of the peace that is granted to us by God from trusting in God. However, the other page had the lyrics from John Lennon's song Imagine. The lyrics at face value seemed appropriate, "Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one."




However, when one knows that these words come from the song Imagine, they take on an entirely new meaning.

When looking at the lyrics to the song Imagine, it is hard to believe that this song would be chosen to be used in a United Methodist publication. The verses which describe the people "living life in peace" read:

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...


I can not believe that the United Methodist church would support such statements.

John Lennon has described this song as "anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic, but because it is sugarcoated it is accepted." He called the song "virtually the Communist Manifesto." Why would the Northwest Texas Conference wish to spread these messages at the Christmas season, the time when we celebrate the coming of our Savior? The United Methodist Church believes that our peace comes not from giving up material goods, dissolving nations, or removing religion, but as Paul wrote in Romans 15:13, from our belief in God and allowing the Holy Spirit to overfill us with God's joy and peace. We spread God's peace through out the world by sharing God's love, not erasing God and religion. The oneness described by Lennon does not seem to be the oneness we have in the Body of Christ.

John Lennon said that he learned from writing Imagine, "Now I understand what you have to do: Put your political message across with a little honey." Apparently a little honey was all the United Methodist church needed to accept such political rhetoric.

Christmas Gift

This Christmas, I received presents like usual. However, one in particular stood out. It was a card from a friend of mine. Inside the card, she included a poem she had written for Christmas. It was the first time I have ever received poetry as a gift and really liked the poem. To top it off, when she wrote my name on the card, she wrote it the same way I wrote my name when I was a kid, capitalizing the first two letters of my fist name. The gift of the card and poem were the best gift I received. I would like to share the poem with you.

Special Glimpse

I made
A special request
For the night of
Christmas Eve.

So set the milk out
And the cookies
And don't
Be so naive!

Santa's coming
With his reindeer,
Eight in total
One can see,

To give
This poem
To my special
Friends and family!

If you're quick
And you tiptoe
You might just
Catch a glimpse

At the long white beart
And rosy face,
That never looks
Too tense!

Don't wait too long
You'll miss him
For he's fast
And he must leave,

But I gave
You this hint
For tonight is
Christmas Eve!


Now the poem does raise a question. How am I suppose to know to go look at Santa if I don't receive the poem until he delivers it?

I Wonder as I Wander

I first heard this song when I played it in my middle school band. I had no idea that it was a Christmas carol, I just thought it was a really cool song. In fact, I didn't know it was a Christmas carol until Christmas this year. I was listening to the radio when this song came on. I finally heard the song. What a great song, both lyrics and tune it is!

Written in 1933 by John Jacob Niles, it is based on part of an Appalachian song he heard. The lyrics are as follows:

I wonder as I wander, out under the sky
How Jesus the savior, did come for die
For poor ornry people like you and like i
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky

When Mary birthed Jesus, twas in a cow stall
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all
And high from gods heaven a starlight did fall
And the promise of ages, it then did recall

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing
Or all of gods angels in heaven to sing
He surely could've had it, cause he was the king

I like the melody of the tune. It has a haunted feel to it, as if this phenomenon being discussed it really weird. And weird it is! That God, would come to be born, in a barn, and die so that I, a person full of mistakes, could be with him. What a weird thing indeed!

Christmas Day Service

Why do so few churches offer services on Christmas Day?

Why I Don't Say Merry Christmas at the Retail Store

As we have seen in other posts, many people are quite upset about retail stores not saying Merry Christmas or using Christmas in there advertisements. I am not one of those. I usually do not say Merry Christmas at the retail store. Here's why.

First, the goal of the retail store is to make money. This is not bad, I have no problem with them wanting to make money. This however is not the reason for Christmas. The reason for Christmas is to remember to coming of our Savior. I am not reminded of it when I am given a new shirt wrapped in pretty paper.

Second, I love Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride. I hear it in just about every store. However, it does not remind me of the coming of Jesus. It reminds me of what an awesome piece of music it is, or perhaps how someday I too would like to go for a sleigh ride. I do not like the song Santa Baby. I find it weird. It also doesn't remind me of the coming of Christ. Songs like Joy to the World, or Hark! the Herald Angels Sing do remind me of Christmas. But I rarely hear those songs.

Third, I am not really that big on the presents. Maybe I am just a scrooge about it. I enjoy giving presents, but not so much the receiving. I do it because I care for the people, but find that giving to charities or the needy to be a much better endeavor.

Many people say Merry Christmas at the retail stores. That's great! I will say "thank you" when you give me my receipt instead. I am not trying to keep Christ out of Christmas, just the opposite, I am trying to keep him in it.

A New Adventure Beings!

I have been accepted into the US Navy. I begin training in a few weeks. I am very excited!