BEFORE LETTERMAN

There was God and His Top Ten list. The Ten that only One could keep. The One who saved us from our just reward. Which was death. Because God cannot/will not tolerate or be in the presence of sin.

Today marks the celebration of the birth of that King. Praise God! From His humble beginnings to His humble life to His excruciating death to His marvelous resurrection! Let us celebrate them all.

His birth, certainly; His life, His teachings, The Word made flesh; undoubtedly. His resurrection, of course. But celebrate His death? How? Why?

Without His substitutionary sacrifice for us, we would also die. And be dead in our sins. But by His love, we have eternal life. With Him at the right hand of the Father.

As our pastor said last night in our Christmas Eve service, "Jesus came to earth to do the only thing(s) He couldn't do in Heaven--(suffer) and die." (Parentheses mine.)

And for that, for His actions we celebrate His birth, His life, His death, and His glorious resurrection.

Merry Christmas!

THE IMMATURE CHRISTIAN

What are some signs? When you know the lead pastor is not delivering the sermon on Sunday, you skip church. When you're on vacation, you skip church. When you've been to church for a mid-week service, you skip church on Sunday morning. When you've gone to church Sunday morning and Sunday evening, you skip the next week.

I've even gone as far as thinking that since I was in the church office and had talked to the secretary and preacher during the week, that it gave me a free pass to skip church on Sunday.

By the way, I've done all the others, too, that I listed in the first paragraph.

I wish I could say I'd done them when I was young, but that wouldn't be right. And this is from a guy who claims that being in church has always felt right, has always felt good to him. I guess I must have not wanted to feel too good.

It was like I was parcelling or dosing my time at church. "Be careful; you don't want too much religion." I even turned down a date to a Sweetheart Dance in high school because the preacher's daughter asked me. Had her father be employed anywhere else, anywhere else, I would have accepted. But that's the way I was.

I changed. We almost never miss an opportunity to attend church when we are out of town. One memorable service was in Australia when we heard a Tongonese choir sing in their native language. We even have a quasi-regular church in another city that we often visit.

I find myself in church several days a week sometimes. I no longer keep count, but count it a blessing every time I'm there. I'm so glad I turned in my time card.

"WE HAD IT ALL"

just like Bogey and Bacall, to complete a great song lyric. But they didn't have it all, contrary to those lyrics.

Unless they had accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

I thought about beginning this entry with a personal reflection on some of the best days of my life. Or asking loyal reader(s) to ponder theirs. Then I would point out the best day of our lives was when we answered God's pursuit of us and we became a follower of Jesus Christ.

All the rest of our days, high points along with depths of despair will be burnt up. They'll be gone. What's left is eternity. Make no mistake: there is an eternity for all.

For me, I chose to accept the gift of salvation from our loving and most gracious Lord. If you haven't, well bearer of bad news that I am, you've chosen, too. And you're not going to like your choice unless it's the same as mine.

There is only one God; there is only one Jesus. Both have no beginning/ no Amen. They have always existed: they always will.

Don't not make a decision. For if you do, you've made it. And it's a rejection of Jesus as the One Way to your eternal life in Heaven. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need more information. I'll be exhilarated to help you take your next step with Jesus.

THERE SHE GOES: HERE SHE COMES

It happened again. A grade school and high school classmate of mine passed away yesterday. We weren't close. I can't recall the last time I even saw her.

But what concerns me is her obit. There were all the usual basic references to family, work, and interests/activities. Missing was church affiliation and service.

She served. Working at a local organization with a national charter. She had no doubt volunteered hours of dedication to an arm of that service organization. But her efforts were burned up here.

I'm getting angry. I'm getting tired of people dying without knowing the Lord. Without anyone having helped warm them to Jesus Christ. I know from scripture that God pursues us, "not even one" would pursue Him on our own.

But I also know from Matt 28:20 that we are commissioned to spread the gospel--to share the Good News. We're not sharing enough. Or we're not getting through.

If I could warm one reader of One Way to Jesus, if I could help win one soul to Christ, all my blogging would have been worth it. To the loved ones left behind saying "There she goes," to the ones on the other side saying, "Here she comes," it would be a glorious day on both fronts.

JESUS SEEN APPROPRIATELY AS A ROCK

Jesus sightings are everywhere. Underneath a bridge, in a water spot, on a piece of toast. And people go to visit these spots or to examine the objects.

Jesus as a rock is perhaps the most appropriate of all.

Sturdy, unchanging, supportive, foundational--all equal Jesus, too. While I may go out of my way to see a "Jesus sighting," I don't have to. I have enough evidence that Jesus is who He said He was. The Son of God. And also God. There at Creation.

Now how that be? How can He be both? Because that's the very nature of a sovereign, omnipotent God. It's all in His perfect plan conceived before Creation. And I believe that as surely as believe anything my eyes can see. It's called faith.

Faith in the rock. Faith in The Rock.

GONE FISHING

The Sea of Galilee is one of the most exciting places on earth. I went with 25 other pilgrims in 2006 where we sailed the sea on the Jesus Boat.

Thirteen miles long, 7 miles wide, and 150 feet deep at the center. The Sea of Galilee is bigger than I had pictured. And beautiful and calm on the day we were there.

It isn't or wasn't always so. It was on Galilee that the storm raged as Jesus slept. Where He spent 3 years of His ministry on its shores. Where He performed the miracle of the multiplication of fishes and loaves. And where Jesus appeared after His resurrection.

Where He appointed Peter a place of leadership in the church. Where Levi, Simon, Andrew, John and James, sons of Zebedee were called to discipleship.

Also, where the work of drawing men and women to the Savior began. Where we can continue to draw, to continue to be fishers of men. For the Man from Galilee.

PEGGY LEE IS SPOT ON TARGET

Most may not remember Peggy Lee. Most may not like spot on or spot on target. Some 'splaining.

Scripture tells us to choose today whom we shall serve or follow. In fact, one of our favorite verses is on a plaque just above our doorbell. Isaiah 24:15 "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Just in any case there might be some confusion.

But Peggy Lee had a 60's song "Is That All There Is?" It may not have appeared as a biblically based song or hymn, but as Randy Jackson would say, "Check it out."

"If that's all there is, my friend, then let's keep dancing/ Let's bring out the booze and have a ball/ If that's all there is."

Now, you see, she's right. Of course, thankfully, many do not believe that's all there is. They are the ones who follow Christ. Who strive for obedience as the connector between God and man. Who know there is punishment for sin. Who know that only through the shed blood of Jesus have sinners been justified, ie., (just as if I never sinned). And through Jesus is the only way to receive that forgiveness.

But if one cannot commit, chooses poorly and rejects Jesus as Lord and Savior, then yes, "that's all there is." Oh, yow, I forgot about eternal damnation. You see, there's a lot that awaits both.

EASY AS PIE

"thank you for the birds that sing,

thank you, God, for everything."

There's much in the Bible about little children. Much about their leading adults. Much about their faith.

I didn't go to kindergarten. I went to a private school just around the corner from where I lived. I went half a day. When we ate our milk and cookies, we always said the little prayer I started today's entry with. But is it a little prayer?

The last line,"thank you, God, for everything," is huge. In context, it might be about creation. If I recall, the sky and the moon were also mentioned in the little prayer. And that concept, which easy as pie, has passed so many by in today's secular, humanist society.

But the part that I struggle with is thanking God for everything. Not that I have trouble giving Him thanks for the wonderful things in my life. I do that often. But everything? Even the really unpleasant things? Although we're told to give thanks a la Job for all things, not just the good, well, it's difficult. At least for me.

In our Tuesday morning Bible study, we are looking at Patrick Morley's The Man in the Mirror. He simplified yesterday's lesson by saying the only way to be truly happy is to be happy in Jesus. Of course I continued the hymn in my head with "is to trust and obey". Again, pretty basic. Easy as pie.

Well, it should be. But see, we live in the flesh. And sometimes that makes the pie an upside down cake.

HE NEVER SAID, "I AM FINISHED"

Jesus said, "It is finished." (John 19:30) And for good reason.

It was all finished. Down the drain. No more death. The world had its substitutionary atonement. Jesus had sacrificed His life for ours. The penalty for every sin we ever committed or will commit was paid for us. By His shed blood.

His pain, of course, was finished, too. Because in God's perfect plan, He sent Jesus from Heaven to earth to live as man, as the Son of Man. To fully experience our temptations, to fully understand our failures, our shortcomings. And, ultimately, to die perhaps the most excruciating death known to man. Crucifixion.

Satan's finished, too. No longer would there be a final death. Not for Jesus followers. There is only eternal life. Oh, rest assured there's eternal life for non-followers of Jesus, too. But it's not the kind anyone would want. The lake of fire. Forever being separated from God. Maybe that's more excruciating than what Jesus endured. I certainly think it is.

Today is Easter Sunday. The best day of the year. The original Easter Sunday was the best day in history. Or should I have spelled it His story. For that's what it is. That's what it will always be. Have a blessed Easter, for He is risen. He is risen indeed!

FIGHTING IT

"The Holy Bible was not written for information. It was written for transformation." I'm not at all sure who said it, but it wasn't I, though I agree. And as my title suggests, I fight it all the time.

I find the Bible so fascinating. I love to study it. Maybe that's why I'm in 4 Bible studies. Often I pray that the Holy Spirit will lead me to what I am supposed to glean from The Word.

If not, then I fall into the student trap of studying and learning because of the content. The Bible must change people. It must charge people to act in a godly, holy way. If not, it's not the fault of the Bible which is God-breathed. It's the fault of the reader who hasn't entered into the reading in the right frame of mind.

I've asked God to reveal to me what He wants me to focus on, what His plan for me that day is. It's with that kind of purpose that the Bible can change us. To be filled with the Spirit, not just filled with the knowledge.

JUST A MILD ROAR

He's always done it. God, that is. Put someone smack in the middle of my path. I know it's no accident.

On our recent trip to South America, we were returning from an excursion in Monti Christi, Ecuador. We were very tired having endured a longer than scheduled tour that took us past our normal lunch time. As we were preparing to go through security to re-board our ship, I was delegated to hold a large bag filled with souvenirs. I had to hold the bottom to ensure no breakage. It was like holding a pig.

The timing was very bad. Several other tours were ending at the same time which meant a very long line. After 15 minutes in the line, we approached the gangway. Out of the corner of my eye I could see him. Yep, he cut in line. In front of several people who had been waiting patiently.

"If I were just a little closer to where he cut, I would have had some words with that guy," I announced to my wife and a couple we had met earlier in the week from North Carolina.

"Now, don't let him ruin your day," Finley said.

"Of course, you're right," I replied. "But some people," I trailed off.

And I was reminded of Numbers 11:1 where we are told not to grumble."Now the people complained about their hardships...and when He heard them His anger was aroused." He was so angry that fire consumed some of their camp until Moses prayed to the Lord for the Israelites.

When we grumble, it means we are grumbling against God Himself. We are showing our arrogance, feeling that we know what's better for us than God. That was me with the line-cutter. It took a new friend whom God placed there for me to teach me.

As I said, He's always done that. Sometimes I learn, sometimes I recognize,and unfortunately sometimes I don't see it, much like the pagan prophet Balaam in a later chapter from the same book.

A work in progress--that's me.

IN PRAYER

Rather than show a picture of hands in supplication or one bowing in prayer, I chose the eyes closed. Shutting out the world.

So what to pray about? My goodness, I can't imagine not praying. About practically everything. A recent survey revealed Americans who pray daily numbers only 55%. The poor Czechs numbered something like 17%. So sad.

One of the highlights of our Tuesday morning Bible study on Men of Faith is the Prayer of Application at the end of each week long study. I'll share two of my prayers:

After the study of Peter: "Dear Lord, While I look at Peter and sometimes think, 'how could he?' I know I'm cut from the same cloth. That is, I need forgiveness for my self-confidence, and while I might not deny You directly, I'm afraid I do indirectly. Help me to follow Peter's love for You and like him, overcome my weakness. Amen"

After the study of James: "Dear God, Thank you for this study and showing James, the Just. What a great moniker. James tells us in no uncertain terms to walk the walk. I, too, Lord want my ear pierced with an awl to declare I am Yours. I know I'll fall short as I try for freedom to follow You. So maybe I'll need more than an ear-piercing; maybe a dog collar that keeps me 'in the yard' in Your kingdom. Forgive me as I know You will for my disobedience. Amen"

I'd feel so out of sorts. I'd feel such a loss if I couldn't pray. I mean, He's given us total accessibility to Him. Why wouldn't I pray?

If you're not one to pray, then why not? I'm certainly not what I'd call a prayer warrior. I certainly have heard many express better prayers than I. But praying, I think, is like singing. Just do it. It all sounds good to the Father.

TONIGHT WITH WORDS UNSPOKEN...

There were so many good little puppy love songs when I was at that age. Eighth grade.

Venus in Blue Jeans was another. Town Without Pity. Duke of Earl. Save the Last Dance for Me. I'm Sorry. The Big Hurt.

And lots and lots of others. Lollipop, Lollipop. Sitting in the backseat/kissing and a-huggin' with Fred. Ok, I'll stop now.

But as a 13 year old, one song offended. Sweeter Than the Day Before. Its lyrics were stolen; the melody, at least part was, too. "Everyday with Jesus/is sweeter than the day before. Everyday with Jesus/ I love Him more and more."

Not "Everyday with you girl/is sweeter than the day before/everyday with you girl I love you more and more and more..." And it varies somewhat for the rest of the song. But I knew something wasn't right about that. Yet only one fellow Sunday School class member ever talked to me about that and agreed.

How could people not see? Had they never heard that great song? Where was the outrage?

Maybe that's where it all started?. Where Christians didn't speak up, speak out. Make demands. Ruffle feathers. But who am I kidding? It's been that way all along.

But the greatest thing is we don't have to worry. For He'll still love us tomorrow.

BECAUSE I'VE HELD ONE IN MY HAND

I can tell you the shape of the human heart.

So how did I get to do that? Hold a human heart that is? We'll it was the heart of an anatomy class cadaver. Opened and displayed. And while I was there, with three others, I picked it up thinking when will I ever be able to do that again? I was right, of course, but the memory from 40 years or so ago is still fresh.

It was just about the size of a closed fist as they say. All the connectors, ventricles, aorta, etc were cut away. Much of this guy, in fact, was splayed open for all to see. They did have the courtesy to cover his face, but I wanted to see him, so I uncovered the cadaver's head.

But back to the heart. What I liked about it was that despite all the med school experimentation of the guy, there was no hole in his heart. There was no emptiness. Thus, I conclude, he had filled that hole or rather had that hole filled with the love for Jesus. That's right he was saved by the loving grace of our Lord. No heart is complete without the greatest love the world has ever known.

I'm so glad my cadaver had a full heart. A complete heart. Even though he was dead, he was and is something. He exhibited 1 Cor 13:2 "If I have no love, I am nothing."

Or at least I like to think.

EVEN SINATRA HAD REGRETS (WELL A FEW) WHEN IT DID IT MY WAY

We've all had them. Shortcomings. Misgivings. Do-overs that we would love to have. Some are life changers.

What about Jesus' older brother James? Do you think he ever had any? I mean, this is one cat who lived with a perfect brother for years. Who saw his olde brother never sin. Who saw His public ministry. Who heard about the miracles He performed. Who knew of His following. Yet he didn't believe.

Not until Jesus appeared to him after His death After he had appeared to His disciples and the 500 (1Cor 15:7). Then, and unfortunately for James, only then did he believe.

But it was in time for him to serve. To advance the church. To write a book of the Holy Bible. To grow in the Word and in the Spirit.

But it keeps haunting me. It keeps me saddened for James. He was there. Yet he didn't believe. Until it was too late to have a loving relationship with the Son of Man while He lived on this earth.

But I'm also strengthened by the fact that James has all of eternity to spend with His brother. Better late than never was never better illustrated.

NOW, HOW'D HE KNOW THAT?

Whether one has flown or not, that's where our focus must be. Skywards. Heavenward. For this earth is not our home.

It's so easy to lose focus. I mean we live here. We know now. Even with the faith we have, it's easy to delay, to concentrate on what is the near future. Someone once said, "Faith is like frosting on the windowpane". I'm still trying to understand that.

I like potato chips. Always have. One of my long time friends says she never saw me pass up a potato chip. That's instant gratification. If I could only think, "It will make me look so much better if I'm thinner, if I don't starting eating chips, because when Lays started the jingle, 'bet you can't eat just one', they had me in mind".

So while I can not keep my focus to the future, and I'm talking about my daily trip to the scales, then I can certainly empathize with those who lose focus.

I wish I was more of a hiker. You know, great exercise and all. But for me the exhilaration of the climb is worth it all when one gets to the top to see the sights beyond. Oh, who am I kidding? I'd probably just pack a lunch, including some snack pack 150 calorie bag of potato chips and never get to the summit.

But that's where our focus must be--skyward as Leonardo said. I like this code better than his other one. (I know: it wasn't his idea.)

So I think I'll ponder that thought today. Either that or the frosting on the window pane thing. I'll be back in a minute. I feel a hunger pang coming on. A diet coke and some chips would taste good about now.

SI ALLA VITA IS RIGHT IN ANY LANGUAGE

It means "Say yes to life" and was displayed Sunday at the Vatican commemorating Sanctity of Life Sunday in South Africa. It's not High Time; it's Way Past Time we as a nation get fully behind the Right to Life. It's time we quit calling it Pro-Choice and call it what it is-- Infanticide.

Anyone who has ever seen a sonogram know when life begins. So where's the mystery? And if life begins with the fetus, then how is it not murder to kill that living being?

Since 1973 Americans have been killing babies. God is a patient, forgiving Father, but He also is a loving Father who wants us, who demands us to be obedient if we are His followers. If we're not, then we need to quit asking Him to bless our country.

I can see some humanist pen the words, "We'll bless America/Land that we love/Yes we'll guide us/We'll decide for us/We'll determine what we love".

America can't have it both ways. Yet we try. In his first week in office, our new President signed legislation giving abortion rights money to international countries. There's currently a bill before Congress that gives even more rights to those favoring abortion.

South Africa and the U.S. need more than one Sunday to stand up against abortion. In fact, we should make it everyday. Si alla vita!

I AIN'T SKEERED, BUT I IS TOO FAT

We've started up another session of BOB; that is Band Of Brothers as I call it in our Tuesday morning 6:30 AM Mens' Bible study with our lead pastor. It is so valuable.

This time were are working from a five-day workbook which keeps us focused, well somewhat, at least in the Word on an almost daily basis.

Some tidbits from the past two weeks. Nowhere in scripture are we told to fear anything but the Lord. Is that amazing! I never realized that, though I should have. That fact even helped me at the dentist's office last week when he was contemplating a filling or a crown. Maybe my focus on God while he was examining changed everything. All I know is he decided to take another picture. The x-ray revealed nothing. I danced out of the office. Fear is a great thing to lose.

As I was working my Bible study for next week, I came across the statement that the most unhappy people in the world are Christians with sin in their lives. The trusting Christian who walks with the Lord is at peace. The ones who don't know the Lord are happy in their sins, even though their happiness is only temporary. But the Christian who harbors a sin can't enjoy his sin because the Holy Spirit indwells him and won't allow him to enjoy it however briefly. So he suffers the most.

Now I applied the last one to my attempt to lose weight. I was fat and happy when I made no effort. But since I lost weight over the last year and a half by not gorging, not eating what I really want (oh my gosh would a donut taste great now?) I'm not enjoying my food even though I've put on 6 holiday pounds that I can't seem to shed. I know that application is not too spiritual. I know my body is a temple to the Lord. I know I can't rationalize and say I'm building a bigger temple for Him to enjoy. But maybe the analogy will be helpful to weight loss and weight keep-off.

There are all kinds of reasons that nearly a dozen of us and sometimes as many as 20 get up early on Tuesday morning to study God's Word with our pastor. If your church doesn't have a study like this, then maybe you could implement one like our son has at his church in Illinois where he and another member lead a Saturday morning Bible study at 7:30 AM. It, too, is well worth the effort.

TO KNOW (HIM), TO KNOW (HIM), TO KNOW (HIM)

I thought yada had only 1 d, but it doesn't matter, because I'm talking about yadda in Hebrew. Yada or yadda means to know in an intimate, close way.

Ironically, yada made famous or at least mainstreamed into our vocabulary came from the tv show Seinfeld a few years ago. In that context it meant just the opposite: that is, it meant people saying nothing. It was repeated at least three times for emphasis.

But in Hebrew, the word means desiring a close relationship with the Father. Just how do we do that? By reading and studying His Word. Daily.

Remember when you fell in love? Whether the first time, whether the last time, whether the only time--all you wanted to do was be near that one you loved. You couldn't get enough face time. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Punctuated by phone time, letter writing or text messaging, you had him/her on your mind constantly.

That's the same kind of love our Lord desires from us. David had that kind of love. Known as a man after God's own heart, David is a classic example of yadda love for God the Father. And a great example for us.

Next time you hear someone use, "yadda, yadda, yadda," stop and think how it means just the opposite in Hebrew. They got it right and so should we.

FIVE DEGREES

That's what I call her sometimes. She doesn't much care for it, so I keep it to a minimum. I'm talking about a nickname I call my wife. I tell her that's her comfort level.

Withing a range of five degrees, she'll either be too cold or too warm to partake in outdoor activities. Actually, indoor, too. We have one hard fast rule for indoors--if the temperature is above 60 outside, then we can't have a fire in the fireplace.

So while on a recent cruise heading to Miami on New Year's Day, I convinced her to eat breakfast on the deck overlooking the back of the ship. (I'm not too nautical: I do know port and starboard and forward and gangway, but I don't know what they call the rear of the ship.) We were awarded with a spectacular sunrise. On the first day of 2009.

There were only five others there besides us. One couple, armed with a camera, arrived too late to catch the sunrise as the sun climbed into a low cloud bank. One of the guests, a lecturer, offered, "There'll be another one," to the couple, obviously disappointed.

My wife and I had the same thought. After our longevity together, it happens often. How close some people come to salvation. How many times some have delayed an answer to an altar call. How many times seekers put off making the most important decision of their lives--to follow Jesus.

And, there may not be another one. Another chance. This is where it gets a little tricky. The Holy Spirit must call. I'm not about to say or think that the Spirit might call only one time. But God also gave us free choice. We don't have to respond to the call. Yet God has chosen who will be His children.

So what's the answer? Don't take a chance. No one is guaranteed any more days. If you are feeling the need of salvation, if you're willing to follow Jesus, then do it. Now. This instant.

Don't miss the sunrise today. That is, The Sonrise.

THE LOOK OF A DISPENSATIONALIST?

To me, one of the most divisive issues in a church is legalism vs dispensationalism. If you are unsure of the terms, let me explain. Only recently did I know what dispensationalism was, though I've been one for some time.

Legalism, as it sounds, refers to the law. Specifically, Old Testament law handed down from God to Moses (Ex 20) in the form of The Ten Commandments. God simply can't stand sin and as much as He loves us, there is punishment for sin. Don't blame Him: blame Adam and Eve.

No one can uphold the law. Not even one, scripture tells us. So in order for us to be allowed to be in God's presence, we must be purified, cleansed from our sin. This is where grace comes in. God gave us grace, a kind of mercy/forgiveness for our sins--all sins past, present and future. How He can do this is because of the shed blood of Jesus who died for our sins.

When we sin, and rest assured we do, we are forgiven if we repent and turn from our ways and follow Jesus. After our salvation, of course, which opened the door for us. Then God dispenses, that is, hands out a get out of sin free card of sorts. And that's what dispensationalism is. We will sin, we don't want to, it's not a way of life for us, but we are covered by God's grace when we fail. We don't have to be perfect or in effect even try to be perfect, knowing that we'll fail anyway. But it's not a free pass to sin. We don't want to. We have a choice, thanks to God, and we want to follow Him. But when we mess up, we're forgiven. Romans 6:14 tells us "sin shall not have dominion over you; for you are not under the law [anymore] but under grace."

So that's where some problems occur. Some think, or I should say act, as if they are under the law. They try to live their lives under a microscope. They feel so guilty when they sin. Many of these same well-meaning people also tend to judge others when they sin. The dispensationalists accept their own shortcomings, their failures, their sin, but they still try to turn from their sin and follow Jesus.

I once heard someone say that some Christians are so legalistic that they would have had Jesus crucified for drinking wine. An extreme example, certainly, but one included to paint the differences in the two.

I'm glad I learned the term dispensationalist. But I'm much happier that God is the great dispenser.

MAN, WOULD I HAVE LOVED THIS CHRISTMAS PRESENT AS A KID

In fact, I think it would look pretty good in my garage right now. Once when the Cardinals were building a new ballpark, they were auctioning off all sorts of stuff, including a little car mascot Fredbird drove around the field. Our daughter thought I needed it and looked into bidding on it until the price got pretty crazy. She knew I'd like it for Christmas. She knows me well.

Pastor Rick Warren asked in one of his daily devotionals I get "What will you give to Jesus this year for His birthday?" Well, obviously God needs nothing, but in the spirit of giving, I was challenged.

I decided to pray for someone(s) I didn't know. So everyday, I take the challenge. Some days, I even offer more than one prayer. The first persons I prayed for were sitting fairly close to us at dinner one night. Before they left, they struck up a conversation with us. While that was certainly not in my prayer for them, it seemed kind of nice. Almost as if they knew what I had done. Now, I know that wasn't the case, but I took it as an affirmation.

It's good for two reasons. Number one, we're told to love others. Praying for someone is an act of love. Number two, it keeps us in contact with our Lord. We're told to pray continuously. To pray about everything. Number three (well, it may not be a good reason--remember, I told you there were only two) if just one more person took the same challenge, then we'd double the number of people reached. We could start a movement! Maybe that is a third good reason.

Ok, I'll give you one un-good reason: it's better than buying Jesus that little Cardinal car. I think He actually loves all teams.