49. I am thankful for the ADVENT Season...

Even though I did not grow up in a local congregation which observed "Advent"--we thought that was too "high church"--we always did observe Christmas.

Only after I entered the United States Air Force, did I participate in "Advent" celebrations in our worship gatherings. I love the anticipation and the profoundly deep meaning associated with observing the Advent season.

I can't remember the Christmas holidays ever being a time of joy in our household. Growing up worse than poor (by today's American standards), it was one of those times of year that came around---every year---and we were glad to see it come, and even more glad to see it go. I can remember many, many times not having a Christmas tree, and even more times, having NOTHING under the tree. That's just how it was....

But, now I realize that God's hand, let me repeat that, GOD'S HAND, has been in my life all along.

The Advent Season reminds me that HIS mercies are indeed new every morning. My friend, Pastor Larry Duncan, says that "before I even wake up in the morning, God has already planned a new way to show me His mercies." I really, really like that concept.

The Advent season reminds me that before Christ came to earth as a baby in a barn, He was very, very active in human history--something my pastor (Erwin Lutzer) reminded all of us in a sermon two weeks ago.

The Advent season reminds me that God really did love this world SO MUCH that He would do something that NO ONE else could have ever done...send His Son to die...the very purpose for the Son's coming.

The Advent season reminds me that when the storms are raging all around us, that "the peace of Christ rules in our hearts...." Christ rules....and when He rules, He brings His peace.

The Advent season reminds me that this God Man slept in a boat, thirsted at a well, walked dusty roads, went fishing, attended weddings, was the "life of the party", and was eventually the talk of the town.

The Advent season reminds me that JESUS IS COMING AGAIN! I long for His return.

48. I am thankful for SNOW

Well, the weatherpersons (wanting to be inclusive here---something I learned in seminary) warned us that we would have snow on the ground before daybreak....between 4 and 8 inches...

Right now, there MIGHT be half an inch on the ground in front of my apartment door---but the "day" hasn't broken yet...and it's only 3:43 a.m. Central Time.

The first big "snow" that I really remember was when I was a teenager---I can remember so many things from my childhood (pre-teenager years), but I can't remember the snow, even though I'm sure we had some, even in north Alabama--and it was on a Sunday morning. We had LOTS of snow that day....lots and lots of it. So much, that our Sunday morning services at the Virginia Boulevard Church of God were cancelled....I stayed home and read the Psalms.

I remember more than one snow storm during my college days in Cleveland TN...getting to and from the cafeteria (well, a MAN's gotta do what a Man's gotta do---EAT) was always the adventure, whether it was up and day the hill or across the streets...but one's hunger was always a strong motivator to "buck it up and get to travelin'...." I didn't injure anyting beyond repair, and I didn't starve, most of the time. I grew to intensely DISLIKE peanut butter and jelly sandwiches during those years....back then college food was a very poorly written "mystery" to most people, including those responsible for repairing and serving such a "mystery"...this was not what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he spoke of "Christ and the church..." No local church could be THAT bad...

Then came ten years in the United States Air Force...living in California--where the Sacramento Valley saw it's first snowfall in almost 70 years....and it didn't even stick to the ground---but it sure made the headlines...

And Denver, Colorado--where we would have rain, sleet, snow, and 80 degrees all in the space of 24 hours---I can tell you the time, and take you to the place...I'm not kidding either.

Then Kunsan Air Base, South Korea where the natives LOVED the snow...They would get green golf balls and go play in the stuff....

Then on to Oslo, Norway where the local GRIEVED over the "lack of snow." I must admit Norwegian snow was the prettiest white blankets I've ever seen. It was just magical....absolutely magical. The "hills were alive" with the beautiful snow coverings...the entire country seem to just "wake up" when the snow started falling. But then again, I'm wondering if some of the Norwegians ever went to bed....

I had a very rude awakening on the Wednesday after the November election day in 1992...I moved from Oslo, Norway to Lubbock, Texas (only the AIR FORCE could have hatched up such a scheme) and that very weekend, we had SNOW....I thought I was moving to TEXAS where it would be warm....how wrong I was...well at least for the next few months....I was sadly mistaken...it was COLDER than cold....

Returning to Cleveland, TN for seminary, I was once again greeted by some snow...and in February 1998, a virtual BLIZZARD...well for Tennesseans, it was a blizzard. It was the first day of the Spring semester (February), and it was snowing to beat the band....no one had expected it, and I can't remember the forecasters warning us of the blankets that were going to fall from heaven....but it was snowy. I was working at the hospital at the time, and got a call to come in, if I possibly could....and sure, I could use the overtime pay...

Then I moved to Chicago....my domicile for the last 10.5 years...I've seen lots of snow here...actually, I don't mind....except when it snows in May---like it did in 2002. Someone had bought a billboard downtown (after an unexpected 3 inches fell on the ground) that read, "Will someone turn that GLOBAL WARMING thing on?"

I was on the city bus when I saw this...I laughed out loud, and then called Hollis Gause (my great, great friend) and asked him why he bought a billboard space in Chicago? He swore that he didn't do it..(well, he didn't swear, but he strongly affirmed...)

Now it is snowing again...and I'm thankful.

That's the news from the Windy City.

47. I am thankful for Warm Coats...

I don't remember ever having a good winter coat when I was growing up, and really not ever having one as a teenager or adult...until recent years.

Yep, we were THAT poor (when I was growing up) and Alabama winters can get very cold.

I look through my closet now and count at least FOUR good, heavy coats...and I'm thankful...

It is NINETEEN degrees outside right now here in Chicago, and the high is supposed to be 30 degrees. We are also expecting between four and eight inches of snow....before midnight tonite.

I'm thankful for God's provision....

46. I am thankful for CHRISTMAS CARDS...

Okay, OKAY...I've been away from my blog for a few weeks....I do earnestly repent of this....I have returned.

I'm doing something today, that I've not done for more than 15 years...I'm sending out about 20 Christmas greeting cards. Why just twenty cards, you may ask...and I have a logical, and profound answer:

First, 20 cards came in the discounted box that I bought yesterday at the hospital gift shop. Second, since postage stamps are 46 cents EACH, this endeavor is already going to cost me more than NINE DOLLARS to mail--not to mention the purchase price of these over-priced relics of years gone by, and finally, I won't have the patience to hand-write more than 20 cards--if that many.

There was a time in my life where I would send out at least one hundred (yes 100) Christmas cards every year, if not more than 100. I'd always start addressing them the day after Thanksgiving, and would work almost nonstop on them until I had greeted "everybody."

This year, I am limiting my "greetings" (card-wise, anyway) to only 20....

But I am very thankful for this "relic" from the past....