Jesus

A Time to Turn

BGCT2VA6 Comments

Click: https://playback.fm/charts/rock/video/1965/the-byrds-turn-turn-turn

If you’ve ever wondered how we all have gotten to this place in time, a time in which nothing much makes sense and everything seems turned upside down, you might have an idea of what’s been churning in my noggin’ for the past several months.

We have stopped watching “news” on television. Our once, mostly reliable, favorite station and their News website have descended into a similarly tawdry version of their British tabloid cousin. It has also proven the broadcaster, Megyn Kelly, correct in stating that, no matter what source you rely on for news or what slant you prefer, the “News” has one job: Scare you and keep you scared. They just keep talking. Click link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IgjUYrDbWI

But, there is something more happening. Something that started out as disliking ourselves and descended into a near hatred of mostly everything else: the inability to see ourselves and others as creations of God. Nothing else can account for what is happening now.

It’s enough to make one throw their hands up and say, “I give up, there’s nothing that I can do.” But, maybe there is another way. A friend recently said, “We’re all here just to help each other walk home.” If we believe that, then we must ask: where is home, who told us we must do this and, finally, how do I do this?

One doesn’t need to be a Biblical scholar to appreciate the profound message in John 13, 34-35: “I give you a new commandment: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also must you love one another. By this, all shall recognize that you are my disciples: if you will have love for one another.” If we recognize the Author of that quote for who and what He is, then we have the answer to the first two questions. But, going about doing it … now, that is the question! Some, volunteer their time at various charities. Others go about doing “random acts of kindness”. Still others donate money to worthy causes that help the less fortunate. All that is good. But, for some, there must be another way. Which brings me to this.

There are six of us. We are not crusaders or “do gooders.” Our backgrounds and experiences are very different. Yet, we do have in common several things: Our belief in the words of Jesus, as quoted in John 13, 34-35, that we must love one another. We also believe, quite unexpectedly, in the truth of Vladimir Lenin’s words: “Give me just one generation of youth, and I’ll transform the whole world” and “Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.” We each also believe that the time for hand-wringing and wishful thinking is long gone. We believe that we must do something to help in the reversal of the moral and spiritual decline and lack of knowledge that has plagued our nation for too many years. Lenin asked that he be given four years or one generation of our children. It seems he was given that several times over. We pledge to give Jesus even more.

We are starting a school. A school based on love of God, love of one another, teaching and learning the Truth and helping, with God’s Blessing, generations of children on their walk Home.

To learn more about our school and its progress, please click here: http://stmarysschoolva.com

I’ll see you all back here soon.

Finding Baby Jesus

BGCT2VA12 Comments

In 1971, the rock band, The Who, released a recording of the song, “We Won’t Get Fooled again” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODKZGBrAtxY.  Written by Pete Townsend, it was a cynical look at both power and revolution.  Many of my generation misunderstood the song’s meaning.  They thought that by adopting  catchy slogans such as, “Question Authority” or aligning with “radical” political groups, they would bring about a better, more “just” world and not get fooled again. The sad thing is that nearly all of the problems that were besetting the world back then in ‘71, still are.  And, more so.  Townsend knew, I believe, that looking toward Power and Revolution as answers to what is wrong in the world is…futile and that by doing so we would get fooled again and again. Boy, was he right.

Here we are, half a century later (I shake my head as a write this!) and we are continually disappointed.  Politicians of every stripe have shown themselves less as true leaders than opportunists. Too many to count “religious leaders” have fallen from grace, leaving many of us shaken and bewildered. Neighbors have grown fearful, suspicious and angry with one another. Why?

“Tell everyone who is discouraged, Be strong and don’t be afraid! God is coming to your rescue…” Isaiah 35:4

2020 started out with so much promise and optimism. And then, in the blink of an eye, it started to unravel. Maybe our current unrest is all – or mostly – contrived. Maybe there are powers or forces that want to cause disruption and fear. Maybe there is a plan to have us turn against one another. Maybe.

“Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.'” Revelation 1:17

I’ve been giving a lot of thought as to what can be done about what’s going on out there.  Organize a protest? I don’t think so. Join a protest? Ah, NO!  Write to some “Elected Official” and tell them just what I think?  Just the mere thought makes me laugh.  After probably burning out more than a few brain cells (and having none to spare, believe me) I figured it out: There Is Nothing I Can Do About What’s Going On Out There. But, there is something I can do about what’s going on in here – within me.

“Immediately He spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.'” Mark 6:50

It is Advent. We await. We anticipate:  Not with Fear, but Hope. With Joy.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

This Christmas, the first in our new home here in Staunton, Virginia, we have set up several outside decorations. One of them is something that I have wanted for a long time, but never had the space to do it: a manger scene. One that I have admired and been touched by for its simplicity is a silhouette of The Blessed Mother, St. Joseph and The Infant Jesus lying in His crib.

Ours is set up in the front yard. It is constructed of heavy white plastic.  Although it is front and center, during the daytime, with a bright sun and a still dirt-filled front yard, it can be less noticed.

Manger

But, at night, when everything is darkest, a simple solar light shines on the crib. And there He is: The Baby Jesus. He is there during the day, of course, right in front of me. But, as I said, sometimes He’s hard to see. Do I just naturally see Baby Jesus during the darkest hours? Or, should I just look harder during the day?  Maybe.

B

“Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.” John 14:27

How will you find the Baby Jesus this Christmas?