Author Archives: calledtogether

Challenge, Encouragement, Issues of the Day, Just for fun

We’re Five Days Closer to Christmas

The gifts are unwrapped, the cookies are fewer, the surprises and anticipations of Christmas are now behind us. A New Year is just around the corner and we are five days closer to Christmas 2023!

Christmas is a temporal celebration, but the love story found within it is an eternal one. We are forced to consider that our earthly existence is brief compared to eternity. So let’s live that way in 2023. Give the King born in a manger the gift of your life to carry out His will and His mission on the earth. 

What are your hopes and dreams for a brand-new year, two thousand and twenty three? Every day is a gift; every breath is an opportunity. 

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)

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Challenge, Encouragement, Issues of the Day, Just for fun, Parents

Merry Christmas: Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle or Santa Claus?

The story of Santa Claus goes back to the 3rd century. A patron saint, a monk named Saint Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, modern day Turkey. He was known as the protector of children. The name we use today, Santa Claus, was derived from the Dutch nickname of Sinter Klaas.

In 1881 artist Thomas Nast, drew what we recognize as our modern-day Santa: a plump, cheery and white bearded man. It was Nast who provided Santa’s bright red suit and North Pole workshop with elves and a wife, Mrs. Claus. Prior to this image, he was often depicted as a gaunt or scary-looking man.

In the 1890’s the Salvation Army began to use this image by dressing their donation collectors in Santa Claus suits. But where this image received a huge boost was from none other than Coca Cola.

Santa has been featured in Coke ads since the 1920’s and the image used was close to Nast’s original art work. From 1931 to 1964 Coca-Cola ads showed Santa delivering toys, reading his scroll-styled lists and always enjoying a Coke.

While Santa Claus and his imagery are fun for children around the world, it was a very real Catholic monk who was said to spend all his money on rescuing young persons from slavery or prostitution. He gave away his inherited wealth to help the poor and the sick. It is that St. Nick that sounds the most like the Christ, the first six letters of the word Christmas.

May we all display the true meaning and character of this Christ by serving others, giving gifts of meaning and remembering the needy around the world. Let’s celebrate Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas!

A  special Christmas song for you.

And, a special video for your children and grandchildren to enjoy!

(Note: Much of the history above is taken from History.com)

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Challenge, Children, Encouragement, History, Issues of the Day

Two Days Until Christmas

Brief thoughts leading up to the celebration of Christ’s birth and a Christmas carol, Drummer Boy.

Drummer boys. Were they there playing a drum solo for Mary and the baby that night? Doubtful, but drums are still my favorite instrument and I’d love to have played for Him.

A new born King to see

Pa rum pum pum pum, 

Our finest gifts we bring…

What gifts do you bring? Gold prices are up; that’s a great gift. Diamonds are still pretty meaningful and pricey. 

But those are not the gifts He’s looking for. He was sent to earth to dwell in you. Bring Him your best gift: you.

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Challenge, Children, Encouragement, History, Issues of the Day

Three Days Until Christmas

Brief thoughts leading up to the celebration of Christ’s birth and a Christmas carol.

He was there, creating. The first book of the Bible, the first chapter reveals, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” 

Imagine then a seed would fall from heaven and be planted in a young teenage girl’s womb not yet given in marriage–an incarnate One. 

Imagine the One who made the mountains and the oceans, the sky and the multiple variations of life on the earth would come and dwell on that earth in human form.

Imagine this One as a child growing up like you and me, learning a trade from his earthly father. 

Imagine the bewilderment of those around Him marveling at His intellect and uncanny wisdom. 

Imagine His baptism and those affirming words spoken from heaven before His ministry would begin, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am pleased.” 

Imagine this One healing the leper or the blind man who then went leaping with joy.

Imagine His deep anguish in the garden, His stripes received on the whipping post, His body thrown on a splinter-filled wooden cross with His flesh torn to the bone. 

Imagine the joy of His resurrection!

Imagine that, “…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Colossians 2: 10, 11)

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Children, Encouragement, History, Just for fun

Four Days Until Christmas

Brief thoughts leading up to the celebration of Christ’s birth and a special Christmas song for you.

“A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!” It was a Holy Night just as Isaiah the prophet prophesied 900 years earlier: “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:6, 7)

There is no peace greater than the peace of Christ in the heart of man. There is no greater government, no other Son given, no better counselor and certainly nothing close to everlasting life without Him.

He is The Prince of Peace for every need you face this Christmas. Call on His Name. Nothing and no one comes close to His love, His acceptance, His approval and His security.

O Holy Night

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Five Days Until Christmas

Brief thoughts leading up to the celebration of Christ’s birth.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, and Savior came to earth wrapped in a swaddling cloth and placed in an animal feeding trough. This Jesus would usher in the New Covenant, a new relationship between God and man. During His earthly stay, He would declare the love of God, His Father, to the world, heal the sick, cast out demonic presence, turn tables upside down, speak of His home in heaven and confront the religious spirits of His day. 

All over the world Christians will gather and celebrate this historical fact. And the one thing His presence always brings is unity, no matter the ethnic or cultural background. His plan would bring hope to all the world, every nation and every people group. For there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female as we are all one in Christ. (Galatians 3:28) 

For the first time in all of history, salvation would come to everyone! 

This is Christmas; this is the greatest hope and the greatest story for all the world! 

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Challenge, History, Issues of the Day

A Famous Painter 

In the year 1606 a young couple gave birth to a son. He would become one of the world’s most famous artists and he would paint scripturally-focused scenes on his canvasses. Growing up, this budding artist read mostly one book–the Bible. And it was that book that inspired his paintings.

Rembrandt van Rijn’s paintings would fill museums with his masterpieces. Paintings like: The Return of the Prodigal Son, Christ Before Pilot, Christ Appearing to Mary Magdalene and many more. 

Rembrandt was living in Amsterdam and he would use local Jewish persons as his models. He also used street people and his model for King Solomon was a local beggar. Rembrandt had a way of making his characters look like real persons.

In his work, The Raising of the Cross, he included himself in the portrait as one of the soldiers who raised the cross of Jesus. He noted that he was like all human beings who were responsible for the death of Christ. 

Rembrandt died in 1669, but not before giving us Christian art that no painter has ever rivaled. Are you aware that the Christ whom Rembrandt painted so often was also the Christ who gave his life a ransom on the cross?

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Uncategorized

Tying the Knot Tighter; 10 Ways to Grow Your Marriage

We’re all looking for ways to stay married. Whenever you hear of a marriage that has lasted 50 years or more, the question that follows is always, “How did you do it?” I listen very closely when I hear about one of those special marriages. 

I heard someone recently say, “Tie the marriage knot so tight it can’t be untied.” That’s wisdom when it comes to two persons staying together.

So, what are some of those practical, insightful words of wisdom to tie the knot tighter and to grow your marriage to become closer, intimate and stay very much alive? 

  1. Serve God together. Make Him first in your lives and in your marriage. Pray together as it leads to a greater level of intimacy.
  2. Discover your marriage mission­–the “why” of your marriage.
  3. Serve one another. Discover what blesses your life mate and serve them in that area.
  4. Find commonality in things to do together. Find fun things that make you laugh together. Maintain a bi-monthly or monthly date night.
  5. Be challenged in your marriage. Read a marriage growth book together. Go to a seminar on marriage. Attend a sweetheart banquet.
  6. Discover what nourishes your spouse, what their love language is, and pursue those things.
  7. Be committed to a local church family where you can serve together and where you can grow and learn together with accountability for your marriage relationship.
  8. Maintain your sexual intimacy. Never allow it to be stolen from you. Fight for it.
  9. Take time to listen to each other and then reflect upon what you heard so you can also hear each other’s heart.
  10. Evaluate your relationship. Ask yourselves where you can grow and how are you doing spiritually, physically, financially and emotionally.

Marriage does not grow on its own. Anything not exercised suffers from atrophy. You are responsible to take the steps and then you will realize your marriage knot growing tighter.

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Challenge, Encouragement, Issues of the Day, Training

Are You a Thief? You Might be Surprised

I was sitting in a training meeting recently and found myself thinking about robbing God, of all things. I was considering ways that I might be involved in theft and may not even be considering it as a theft. By theft I mean stealing from God or others for my own selfish desires/gaines vs a loving adherence to God’s word and His desires. Further, I was asking myself if I am in any kind of self-deception, i.e., not seeing what God sees. I’ll let you work through the following scenarios in order to ask yourself the same questions.

You might be stealing if…

  • You’re not giving your employer 100% for what you’ve been hired for and are supported for.

(See Colossians 3:23, 24.)

  • You are not claiming on your tax return the “under the table” income you receive.

(See Proverbs 10:2.)

  • You’re withholding from your spouse financially, emotionally, romantically, sexually or spiritually.

(See Ephesians 5:25-28 and I Corinthians 7:5-7.)

  • You are not giving away and/or equipping others in what God has gifted to you.

(See Ephesians 4:11-13.)

  • You are withholding your tithe and offerings and not sowing seed financially.

(See Malachi 3:8, 9.)

  • You’re living with your boyfriend or girlfriend.

(See Galatians 5:19; I Corinthians 6:18.)

  • You’re avoiding fellowship and commitment to a local church, robbing yourself and others from fellowship with you.

(See Hebrews 10:25.) 

  • You’re not lovingly sharing your testimony with others so they can hear the good news of Jesus.

(See I Peter 3:15.)

  • You walked away from the store with too much change and did not return it.

(See Mark 10:19.)

  • You are failing to spend daily, quality time with your Savior and His word, the Bible.

(See Matthew 13:1; 14:23; Mark 1:35.)

Maybe there are areas you can think of which are acts of theft either passive or more obvious. Integrity certainly connects to what we’re doing when no one is looking, checking up on us or following through with accountability. God has so much more for us. Living life in any of the above ways is living a life that is far beneath what God has for every one of us on this earth. 

Please take the time to look up and read the above scripture verses. Let me end with this verse: He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with is own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.  (Ephesians 4:28)

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Encouragement, History, Just for fun

Fun Facts for Thanksgiving 2022

Being thankful is a daily exercise. Someone said our normal position in life should be “thanksliving.” Giving thanks can be and should be a lifestyle. We are encouraged to give thanks in all things. A thankful heart is so much better to be around than an unthankful heart. So, in the spirit of an American national holiday called Thanksgiving, here are a few interesting facts surrounding this celebration. Share them with your family around the table.

  • The American Thanksgiving is modeled after a 17th century harvest feast. However, the U.S. National Park Service states that in 1565 Spanish settlers in St. Augustine, (now Florida), celebrated a meal with Native Americans of pork stew, sea biscuits, wine and beans. It is believed the native Americans provided turkey and venison.
  • Around 46 million turkeys are consumed which is approximately 720 million pounds of turkey. Approximately 89% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day.
  • Forty years ago, Butterball turkey company opened a hotline to answer questions and some 100,000 people call this hotline annually. 
  • The Swanson company began the concept of frozen dinners in 1953 when they overestimated the number of frozen turkeys they would sell. Rather than waste all that meat, they recycled and repackaged it into frozen TV dinners.
  • Thanksgiving became a national holiday when Abraham Lincoln made it one after the Civil War on October 20, 1864. That move was initiated and lobbied for by a woman named Sarah Joseph Hale most known for writing “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
  • Other nations also celebrate this holiday in some form or fashion including: Canada, Grenada, Liberia, the Philippines, Saint Lucia and the Netherlands. 
  • The U.S. president “pardons” a turkey from slaughter on Thanksgiving. Where did this tradition come from? It dates back to Abraham Lincoln’s son who was upset that his family’s turkey was going to be killed for dinner.
  • According to the U.S. Calorie Control Council (who knew there was such a council), an average American may consume 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day.
  • And finally, the day after Thanksgiving is said to be the busiest day of the year for plumbers!
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