Today, I have decided to depart a bit from my usual design, social media, technology postings to write about a subject that has been been on my mind the last few days. It was made even more apparent today, so I decided to go ahead and put it out there in my own words..

Most of us grew up either reading the classic Charles Dickens novel, or even watching a variation of A Christmas Carol. The story has been made into lots of movies, including Christian themes, and even with Mickey Mouse.

There might be a few people who haven’t heard of it, but at this time of year it is a fixture. But do we really know the man behind the story? As Paul Harvey used to say, this is the rest of the story.

The main character is Ebenezer Scrooge.  His name has become synonymous with people who pinch pennies as well as people who do not get into a holiday spirit at Christmas time.  We are very quick to judge those who do not seem in a jolly mood as being a ‘scrooge,’ even if we do not know the underlying cause for their lack of enthusiasm.

Some might even blame it on depression or other mental health reasons, but did you ever stop and think there could be a reason for the discouragement, lack of excitement, or even the  lack of free willing generosity of some?

Times Are Hard

Even in the storyline, Dickens wrote about the economic hardship of many much similar to what we are facing today. There was not a lot to go around, and yet people were doing the best they could to survive without help. Wages were down, and  the lifestyle at the time was very diminished. People did not live on credit like we do today, but actually paid for what they used or consumed. In that respect, maybe in some ways it was a better time because they weren’t obsessed with wanting and they didn’t run up huge debt.

However, it is assumed by the storyline that Scrooge is a banker. He loaned money and expected a return on his money.  And for the most part, because of his job, we assume he was a very greedy, selfish man.  He does make his employee work hard, that is without doubt, but as the story unfolds we only think of him as a rude, uncaring individual, and even though his life is displayed before us, somehow we seem to neglect that part.

It is easy to judge people based on what we see, or what stands out in our mind, but we don’t even try to understand how they got that way.

What About Poor Scrooge?

The story talks much about how he keeps to himself, doesn’t really have any visitors, and misses a friend who is no longer around. However, much of what we focus on is what he doesn’t give to others.

Men come to ask him to help out with donations and he turns them down. The assumption from almost everyone is he wants to be alone, doesn’t care about others, and in general is a bitter old man without cause.

Usually missed in the story he gives Bob Cratchit Christmas day off with pay. It seems if you take a step back that people are always asking for something but never giving back in return.  You ever treat anyone like that?

We focus on his attitude and bitterness, but we really do not look deeper into his life to see how he got that way. Maybe if we did, even our attitude toward others who are hurting might change.

Misunderstanding

Underlying the entire story, but missed by most, is that Scrooge is hurting, and yet only Cratchit extends any sort of kindness to him. How do you think you would feel if seemingly everyone treated you that way? Only taking, never giving back.

We see their loneliness, their discouragement, but instead of extending a hand, we only talk to them when we need something. Or rather when we want something they can provide. We don’t ask them why, or try and understand how they got the way they did.

Scrooge was no different. It is in the story, but we miss it.

The Beginning Of Disappointment

As a young boy, Ebenezer Scrooge was sent to a boarding school away from his family. In fact, he doesn’t even get to go home for Christmas. His father, in a sense is willing to pay the school fees but not willing to spend any time with his son.  Over time this would greatly affect anyone. He wasn’t used to spending time with others, because even his own family ‘rejected’ him.

Scrooge works hard to become  self sufficient and take care of himself,  but  most see that as him being a miser, unwilling to share his hard earned money. He does have a low opinion of the poor, but mostly because he believes if I did it, they can.

Because he feels he must prepare for the future, he works more than he should. He must have had some kindness in him because he does get engaged to Belle.

However, she walks away when again he retreats into his work, maybe to make sure she is well taken care of, but instead she sees it as rejection and walks away. 

We don’t know for sure if she was demanding or not, but lost in the story is the possibility he only wanted to care for her like she deserved, and not having been raised in a family that cared, he has a hard time identifying with that.  So, of course he becomes more disengaged and reclusive. Rejected by his father who blames him for his mother’s death, (she died in childbirth, so he never got her love either)  and his fiancée whom he tried to love walks away too. Giving the same circumstance, what would you do?

The Change

Toward the end of the story, Scrooge is visited by a spirit giving him glimpses of his future. He dies alone. Even after his death, people talk bad about him.

He has become so reclusive, keeping everything he makes, not willing to give back and dies without kindness.

However, he takes it upon himself to change the story. He takes charge and takes back some happiness, and we have a good positive ending.

But I find myself wondering, what if someone other than Bob Cratchit had extended him kindness, came around to visit, tried to be understanding of his situation, would the story have been even better?

We get so busy focusing on what seems to be missing from the life of Scrooge, we neglect to look at those who helped to form his demeanor.

Blamed for the hardship of others, even the death of his mother. Misunderstood by the girl he loved, those who would come around only wanted his money, how did they expect him to act?

How About Our Attitude?

In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about being sick and no one visiting; being hungry and no one feeding him; being thirsty and no one giving him a drink.

It is easy to get caught up in our own lives and I understand that. However, are we just as guilty as those who treated Scrooge wrongly? Do we extend our hand to the hurting? Do we visit the sick? Do we try and understand what they are going through? Or do we not take a second thought about it, unless we need something from them?

In taking a look at A Christmas Carol, we focus so much on Scrooge’s behavior, we miss the behavior of those who made him who he was. He gets the blame, even though in the end, his attitude changes.

How about yours?

Do you only take but not give back? Do you forget that the one that is no longer with you is possibly hurting? Do you know the story behind what they are going through? Do you visit them when they are sick?

Or do you walk away like Scrooge’s father and fiancée?

How much would it cost us to give someone a call? Or even go visit them? Do you put money in the red buckets at the entry to most stores?  Do you hurry past them or even those begging beside the road to go get ‘what you need?’ Are they deserving of just being cast aside?

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.  Matthew 25:42-45

Challenge

I challenge you this Christmas to make a change. Instead of just ignoring that Christmas card in the mail, send them one back with a letter, or give them a call. Reach out to someone who might be lonely and invite them to lunch, or at least church. 

Give a little bit extra to those who are collecting for a charity, or take some food to someone who might be hungry. And especially if someone gives you a gift, even if you cannot afford to give one back, show some gratitude. It could be you being Ebenezer next year.

This past week there has been a multitude of news stories both online and on major media about Tim Tebow. It hasn’t been just about his achievements on the field lately, but rather most of the articles or broadcasts focused on the fact that he kneels to pray and give thanks to God.

The way Tim kneels down on the sideline has become such a phenomenon that he has been emulated all over the world.

Tebowing

In school hallways, sporting events, on desert sands, and more there have been people who have kneeled down similar to Tim Tebow does in games. Are they giving thanks to God? Mocking? Or is it just a fad or a salute to the man for what he has accomplished lately?

I really do not know.

Let me set the record straight. I am a diehard Denver Broncos fan. I have been since before Elway. I have jerseys, signed trading cards, and random trinkets of the Broncos. In good times or bad I am a fan. So, it doesn’t hurt my feelings that Tebow has played as well as he has. In fact, I am thrilled.

However, this act of ‘Tebowing’ has caught on so  much there is an actual website called, Tebowing.com. People from all over the world have submitted photos of themselves or others kneeling down in the pose.

Good thing? I don’t know. Are they giving glory to God? Not sure.

Tim Tebow does seem to be a good guy. He seems true to his faith, he is involved in charity, he is a good football player and team leader.

And he has done amazing the last several weeks pushing the Denver Broncos to victory in the fourth quarter.  In fact, they are behind right now, it is the fourth quarter, and he has just ran in for a touchdown. Will he win again? I am not sure.

Fourth Quarter Again

As I have mentioned, somehow they have been pulling it off in the last moments of the game to win.  There have been many images and video posted of Tim kneeling on the sidelines, eyes closed, alone with his thoughts or prayers.

Many have remarked of the miracle of coming from behind and managing to win anyhow. Last week seemed to be a miracle. They won the game in the last few minutes after having been beaten it seemed.  And most gave credit to Tebow, but some actually gave credit to God. Yes, that God.  They took it upon themselves to say God must have been helping the Broncos win.  In the last few moments of the game, somehow God helps us win the victory. Amazing how familiar that sounds?

Most of us treat God the same way, even if we don’t admit it.

Our Fourth Quarter Miracles

We preach it from our pulpits. ‘Hang on, endure, your promise is coming, He will come through!,’ the words have become our anthem.  From our music, to our teaching, to our brochures, and our fired up shouting, we proclaim that if we can hang on long enough God will hear us.  We just have to keep keeping on.

Ever hear that? Sure you have. We all have if we have any sort of Christian background, let alone apostolic.  We have become accustomed to God coming through in the last moments of life, or in meeting our need.

WHY?

Why does God seem to come through in the last few moments before it is too late? Does He somehow enjoy our stress and pain?  Does He not understand what we are going through?  I mean how could He allow us to go through so many trials and struggles?

Did He not say, ‘I am the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. I am God, and there is none beside me. Is anything to hard for God?’ We are talking about the creator of the Universe. The One who is omnipresent, omniscient, all powerful God.

The God of Jericho, the Red Sea, that spoke by fire for Elijah, walked on water, raised Lazarus. That same God, who came to earth as a baby robed in flesh to later die for our sins. Jesus.  The I AM. All power in heaven and earth was given unto Him. And He is coming back for us.

That God!

Why does he let us stew in our troubles, let innocents die at the hands of horrible actions, doesn’t  He answer our need? Or if He does, why did he wait so long? Is He really the God of the fourth quarter comeback? Just in time? An on-time God?

Yes, He is those things, but we have become so complacent, so disrespectful, so ungrateful, yet we expect Him to come through and drag us out of our problems.

Does He not have the ability to answer and deliver in the beginning? In the middle? To even stop the trial or situation from happening? Yes!

The problem is us!

He wins from the beginning, if we follow His plan. And when He wins, we win! He told us exactly how to win. We just get so caught up in trying to figure it all out. We forget to let Him be in charge at the beginning, or we get so excited at the little  successes that we assume it will keep going that way, and we let down on our praise, gratitude, and even think we are the ones doing it. And then we lose.

We preach it from our pulpits how God will answer prayer, and then we try to figure out how he will do it. And when he doesn’t do it our way, our time, our… we give up, whine, murmur, complain, get depressed, and get angry at Him.

The fix is pretty simple really:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Quit making Him be a come from behind, fourth quarter God. Let Him lead from the beginning, listen and follow His way. Win from the beginning.

How is this about Christmas?

Yes, I realize this doesn’t seem like a Christmas message, but it is. He came to earth, born in a manger as a baby because He knew the troubles of life. He came to rescue us once again, and even more, take us to be with Him always. Only problem is we have to put Him in our game, or we can’t win. 

This year for Christmas give Jesus something back. Give Him the gift of gratitude, praise, and love.  He’s been good all year… well always.

Oh, and by the way, today Denver lost.  I wonder what the media will say about this next week?

I came across a new resource today to teach values, share thoughts about the Bible,and have a little fun with your children. 

Maybe you have heard of it, but it was new to me. It is sponsored by Focus On The Family, and is similar in format and style to Sesame Street & Veggie Tales.

It is called JellyTelly, and from what I have seen the videos teach concepts and values on a child's level but even adults could learn something.

If you click on the image above it will take you to a video about Humility, and who among us cannot use a little more humility?

What is JellyTelly?

JellyTelly is an online destination for families, developed in partnership between Focus on the Family and Phil Vischer’s Jellyfish Labs. As a Bible-based alternative to video and gaming sites, JellyTelly provides families with a safe place to learn and play online.

JellyTelly was developed by the creator of Veggie Tales, Phil Vischer because he felt kids were not grasping everything they were taught in Sunday School because it is only one hour a week in most places, versus all of the other forms of information they would get during the week.

Churches are doing wonderful work with kids – innovative work – but a church will get about an hour with a child on a Sunday morning and then before it sees that child again, that kid on average has watched more than 22 hours of Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel. Is it any wonder that our kids are growing up knowing more about Hannah Montana than about the apostle Paul?

We need to do something about this – half of kids growing up in church in America are walking away from church when they graduate from high school.

We can do something about this by using the same technology that kids are adapting to as they consume media in new ways. JellyTelly is a way to bring the Bible to life for kids on a daily basis, to show them the work of the church around the world and the role they can play in it.

JellyTelly is more than just videos though. There are also craft ideas, games, and other resources available to put Christ and values in front of your kids, and teach Bible stories as well.

It is important that we spend more time with our children. But, lets face it, between our own work and activities, and everything our little ones are involved in, it can be hard to find time and know that they are getting sound ideas and teaching.

A lot of parents turn on the Disney channel, and then wonder where little Jonny learned this or that. But I have to ask you, have you actually watched the Disney channel with them? Sure, there are still some programs that have some educational, or positive messages, but not all are.

What do you think about having your child watch a show where the babysitter is a vampire?  If you turn on the so-called ‘family channel’, children are engaged in sexual activity, drugs, and other non-christian activity.

I realize the world we live in is no longer ‘Leave it to Beaver’ but honestly I would not want my child watching a show where one of the main themes, is about sex and babies.

Losing Our Children

Now I understand that as apostolics we may not agree with all the values of secular Christianity, but the truth of the matter is many times the children in our churches are overlooked.  Yes, most churches still have Sunday School, but even that is changing in a lot of our ministries.

As churches gravitate from a multitude of services to just one on Sunday, sometimes the children's ministries are the first to go. Sunday School is more than a babysitting service offered to our members, but it is a sad fact that many churches and even some pastors treat the ministry as an afterthought, or just a place to stick the children until we are done.

The bible says to ‘train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.’ The sad fact, however, is that in most homes there is no ‘family time’ that isn’t playing video games or watching TV, let alone Bible reading, teaching Bible stories, or even stories with good principles. And schools are so regulated, that even our Christian teachers are limited to what extent they can bring in that God created the world, let alone about Jesus dying on the cross for us. So, if our kids do not get some training at home, we just may lose the next generation.

Use What Is Available

No, letting your child watch JellyTelly will not teach your child everything they need to know about God, values, and our beliefs, but it is better than what they are getting on TV. Plus, it is interactive. Coloring pages, games, and craft activities are also available.

Yes, I know it means spending a little extra time with your children, but shouldn’t you be doing that anyway? And its free, online. Instead of spending all that time updating your Facebook, take a few minutes and let your child watch a message that will uplift, encourage, and teach.

Usually most of the information I post on this blog has to do with graphic design and web design for ministries. However, this past week I was privileged to watch some of the IMPACT Conference online.

The messages were very inspiring. On Thursday night, July 28, 2011, Jeff Arnold was the featured speaker. I have to say, I have heard him preach many times, but that night was the most anointed message I have heard from him ever, and the best message I have heard from anyone in quite some time.

He preached on miracles and healings, and the reasons we do not get what we need from God. I felt the anointing so strong over the computer. Several times, he said God told him he would show himself if he could get the people to believe the message.

At the end of his message, there were people flocking to the altar and healings were taking place. Bro. Arnold collapsed, and died.

Several people there, as well as paramedics worked on him. The following message is Bro. Arnold in his own words today.  Yes, God raised him back up.

UPDATE JULY 31, 2011 2:25 PM

This morning was Rev. Jeff Arnold’s 30th Anniversary of being pastor of The Pentecostals of Gainesville. The following video is Bro. Arnold talking about the experience.