NowTHINK!AboutIt

Christmas Story: “Waaait For It . . .”

December 19, 2013 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Christmas Is Associated With
Giving, Receiving And Waiting

For some, Christmas never seems to get here soon enough and the closer it gets the worse the waiting becomes.

The tree goes up several weeks before and the presents start collecting at the base. All the bright wrapping says “guess what I am?” or “ha ha, you have to wait!” and there’s not much you can do to solve the mystery other than cheat, which no one would do at Christmas time, right?

And that’s not all.

There are also surprise gifts, the ones that can’t be easily wrapped – bicycles, trampolines, large stuffed animals, a car in the driveway, etc. Each person knows what they want – and everyone else knows too – but there is no evidence at all, not even a comment slip, to give it away.

So, we wait.

But really, when you think about it, we have it nice. We only have to wait one year for Christmas and even though the anticipation grows the closer it gets, the smell of Christmas keeps us upbeat, so the waiting is tolerable. In some cases it’s fun.

The First Christmas Was Long In Coming

But what about the first Christmas? The one the Old Testament folks knew was coming, even had clues was near, but didn’t know it was there until after the fact. [Read more…] about Christmas Story: “Waaait For It . . .”

Christmas Story: From Cynic To Saint

December 17, 2013 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Ritual Means Little
If The Heart Hasn’t Changed

As I mentioned in a previous post, the phrase “Christmas Story” encompasses far more than just a nativity scene. There are other related events and people that add a lot of color and meaning but receive nothing more than a passing glance. Leaving them out means we get only a partial picture.

Zacharias Is A Good Example

One person connected to the birth story that gets very little attention is Zacharias. His story is found in the first chapter of Luke and takes place six months before the conception of Jesus.

Let me share his experience.

Serving But Possibly Cynical

The story opens with a few background details about Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth.

He is a priest and they are described as righteous and blameless (upstanding) but childless. They are also well beyond their child bearing years. Not a happy state since children were believed to be a sign of God’s blessing. Culturally it was considered shameful not to have kids.

At the time of the story Zacharias is in the Temple burning incense and something very unusual happens. An angel appears and tells him very matter-of-factly that his prayers have been heard. He and Elizabeth will have a son whose name will be John.

There couldn’t have been a more appropriate time for the angel to appear. Incense was symbolic of prayer and this is obviously something for which Zacharias and Elizabeth had prayed. His response, however, was anything but believing. Instead of humbly accepting this good news and being thankful he was skeptical. His response: [Read more…] about Christmas Story: From Cynic To Saint

Christmas Story: The Big Picture

December 16, 2013 by EnnisP 1 Comment

A Camel Passing Through
The Eye Of A Needle
Is Nothing
Compared To The Incarnation

When a person says or hears the words “Christmas” or “Christmas Story” what usually comes to mind? The answer is obvious. A manger scene, including: a barn stall, feeding trough (with hay), a baby, a new mother, a few shepherds, maybe the wise men and a collection of farm animals.

That picture is “Christmas.”

Well, that may be the public’s favorite part of the story but it certainly doesn’t cover all the details. It is only one moment in a long chain of events.

Several other things happened before and after the actual birth of Jesus, over the space of several months and involving people not included in the nativity, which are significant also, albeit not as publicly appealing. The list is long.

Along with Joseph, Mary, the wise men, the shepherds and Herod the Great, there is also:

Zacharias (father of John the Baptist) – a priest who comes across as bored and possibly cynical about his part in Temple ceremonies.
His wife Elizabeth
Simeon
Anna
And John the Baptist

Since Jesus was born in a barn only because there was no room in the Inn we don’t need to mention the Inn Keeper. He never appears in the nativity but his part is represented in the stories that accompany the scene. He isn’t a neglected or forgotten element to the story.

Long List of Miracles

And the same thing could be said about miracles. Even though the Virgin Birth gets most of the attention there is a long list of other miracles some of which are never mentioned:

The incarnation
Joseph’s dream
The appearing of angels to Zacharias – they announced the conception of Zacharias’ first child, John, which he refused to believe without an additional sign. The angel wasn’t enough.
The muting of Zacharias – the sign he got.
The conception of John the Baptist (his parents were very old)
The re-enabling of Zacharias’ speech.
The vision and prophecy of Simeon
The discernment of Anna
The angels’ announcement to the shepherds
The Christmas star that guided the wise men to Judea
And the sparing of Jesus’ life till he was safely established in Galilee

But there is one miracle, the biggest of all, that is rarely discussed. That is the miracle of transforming God the Son into the form of a human. [Read more…] about Christmas Story: The Big Picture

The Big Leap: Moses Mabhida Stadium Swing – Durban

December 9, 2013 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

A Rush You’ll Savor A Long Time

Coming to Durban? Don’t miss the opportunity to take the big leap at Moses Mabhida stadium, the tallest swing in the world. It’s scary but what a rush!

Skip to 1m50s to see my jump.

The numbers to remember:

106 Meters (347 feet): the height of the jumping platform.
88 Meters (288 feet): the length of the jump.
220 Meters (721 feet): the length of the swing arc.
352: the number of steps to the jumping platform.

Looking down on the stadium in person gives the best perspective but the numbers are impressive.

Jump Procedure

I was impressed with the professional and friendly manner of the Jump personnel. The video shows it all but the procedure is:

You’re fitted with a full body harness in the Jump office.
You make your way from the office to the stadium arch.
You climb the steps to the Jump platform safely secured by a guide wire.
You are fitted with two safety wires before climbing down a short ladder to the Jump platform.
On the platform you are accompanied by two Jump managers who carefully connect you to the Jump cord – before releasing your safety wire – and gently guide you to the edge of the platform.
The Jump managers count “1, 2, 3, jump” and you leap into the chasm – after dispelling your one moment of doubt.
Once the swinging stops you’re raised to the Jump platform and reconnected to the guide wire.
Reverse the steps till you’re back in the Jump office.

You even receive a certificate proving you made the Jump and once framed, it gives you bragging rights for years to come.

You can see more great pics in the slider at the bottom of this page.

For address, contact details and directions read further. [Read more…] about The Big Leap: Moses Mabhida Stadium Swing – Durban

Fear: By Tim Pepper

December 7, 2013 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

The following is guest posted by Tim Pepper – single father to one, brother to one, friend to many, master of biotechnology, writer of over 100 songs and singer of many more.

Fear Causes Inaction
It Doesn’t Excuse It

Fear. “Fear will establish the limits of your life.” That statement really resonates with me. I think it’s because I have experienced the limitations that fear can place on a person. Not all fears are bad but I don’t think our lives are meant to be characterized by fear. Furthermore, I don’t think it’s healthy to live in fear and I don’t think a persons actions ought to always be determined by fear.

The counterbalance to fear is apparently Faith. But faith in what? Faith in God? That’s all very well but what is it about God that I’m supposed to have faith in? Am I to have faith that I will inherit a million bucks? Am I to have faith that I will experience no loss or disappointment or difficulty? The things I grew up believing are these: God is good. God is kind. God is loving. God is my father and friend and master. God has a plan. God has a partner for me. God has a purpose for me.

It is hard for me to understand or know exactly what all of that means. I don’t know if I believe anymore that God has a partner for me. I want to believe it but I find it hard to do. As for God’s plan; I don’t know what to believe about that either.

I think about all the problems in the world. Difficult things like idiot countries with idiot laws that oppress their people. Difficult things like people who rape and murder other people. In a world where these things exist it’s difficult to understand how God’s plan is taking shape.

I think about God’s purpose for me and I wonder if I’m right in the middle of that purpose right now? I don’t want to believe that mostly because I don’t really like where I’m at right now. It’s not what I want. But I pray and pray and pray for things to change and nothing changes. So I wonder if I’m supposed to actively try and change things or if I’m supposed to just try and accept what is happening in my life.

I don’t know the answer to that but I think about things like slavery and medicine and wonder what would have happened if the abolitionists had only prayed? What would have happened if a few people hadn’t stowed away some Jews under the Nazi regime? Where would we be if doctors and nurses hadn’t studied and hadn’t administered treatment and had instead only prayed? Would we be here at all?

If you have certain heart conditions you can reduce your chance of having a heart attack by taking half an Aspirin every day. If you simply make the choice to eat right and exercise you can possibly prevent yourself from getting those heart conditions.

There are actions that people take that change the course of their daily lives and even sometimes change the course of history. Sometimes those actions are as easy as taking an Aspirin but I imagine it wasn’t that easy to abolish slavery and I imagine it was fairly fearful to have Jews hiding in your attic when the Nazis came knocking on your door.

People do these difficult (and sometimes easy) things because something in their being tells them that they have to do them. Something tells them that what they are doing is the right thing to do. So they do them despite the difficulty and despite the fear. They do them because they believe in that thing that is talking to their conscience. They have faith. [Read more…] about Fear: By Tim Pepper