16 Days to Christmas, Tuesday, Dec 9, 2025

“Longing for a Corona Christmas”

Have you ever wondered why the media focuses so intensely on Holiday Travel? I mean, really… Does it matter that tons of people will be traveling during the Season? For those who are traveling, the constant coverage just makes us nervous—visions of overcrowded planes, long delays, and airport nightmares. And if we’re driving or taking a bus, we can begin to dread the road trip before we even back out of the driveway.

Most people, of course, aren’t going anywhere. Even though it feels like the whole world is either in the air or on the highways, the truth is that two-thirds of Americans will stay home this year. Pastors rarely travel at Christmas (for obvious reasons). As someone who NEVER travels during the Holidays, I have to admit—I sometimes get a little envious. Yes, I live on a tropical island off the coast of Florida, but now and then I long for snow. You know… the whole Thomas Kinkade scene: a snowy cabin tucked in the woods, a frozen lake, maybe even Santa’s sleigh drifting across the sky.

I miss that sort of thing, even though I’ve never actually experienced it. I stare at an artist’s depiction, likely a product of their own imagination, and I become sad that I can’t recreate it for myself or the people I love. Silly, isn’t it? Longing for something someone else hasn’t even seen. And honestly, not even the annual Corona Christmas commercial can shake the desire to be somewhere else.

Does that make sense?  Most of us probably wish to be somewhere else during the Holidays, and often for good and legitimate reasons. But remember this: wherever we are is exactly where God needs us this season. God will bless our moments if we give the LORD the space to do so, especially when we love God by loving each other.

The great American Holiday artists—Kinkade, Rockwell, Sundblom, and Max—can’t create Christmas for me. And a beer commercial certainly shouldn’t have any sway over me, even though that’s my reality.  So, if God grants me another “Corona Christmas” this year—sunshine, palm trees, warm evenings—I should be, and will be, very, very thankful.

“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.”  (Philippians 4:11, NLT)

 

17 Days to Christmas, Monday, Dec 8, 2025

“It Won’t Be Perfect”

“It won’t be perfect” is one of the things I must remind myself as I prepare for Advent.  These four Sundays, plus Christmas Eve, represent some of the biggest days of the year in nearly every local church. Churches will experience more attendance during this month than any other month (by far), though Easter Day usually boasts the largest single attendance of any one day. I will try my very best this time of year because I want it to be perfect—even though I know it won’t be.

My “perfect,” however, is not what’s important. It’s God’s perfect that I should be striving toward. This isn’t about pressure; it’s encouragement to try my best, recognizing that God simply asks me to try my best. God doesn’t expect me to be perfect. God wants me to be faithful.

Where I stumble this time of year is the details. Sometimes I become so focused on the details that I miss the experience entirely. That’s the danger for folks like me—we can push it too far, especially during Christmas. But it’s not just Christmas.

Weddings are a great example. The bride and groom want their day to be perfect, and in the planning (and in trying to make everyone happy), they can easily become overwhelmed. So in my first meeting with a couple, I break the egg by telling them that the day won’t be perfect. Oh, don’t worry—I’m not raining on their parade. Instead, I’m encouraging them not to let the details carry them into bad or unhealthy places. The most important thing is that they enjoy the experience together. But that’s difficult if someone forgot to pick up the cake, the florist got the colors wrong, or an attendant left the rings in their other set of pants. All the planning in the world won’t fix those game-time mistakes. So enjoy the actual experience that God has created for you!

As we begin the second week of December, it’s unlikely that we’ve become bogged down in the details…yet. So this is the perfect time to be aware of the things that are outside our control. We should do our best. We should always give our best effort at everything we do. But if something goes awry, don’t let it steal the Christmas experience. God is pleased with us, and the very reason we have Christmas is because God knew we needed help—lots of it!

Enjoy the holidays. Plan as best you can; carry out those plans even better. But don’t fret too much, because it won’t be perfect. It’ll be enough, though… because God knows your heart and will bring you the peace that only Christmas can bring.

“Make an effort to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker, who doesn’t need to be ashamed but is one who interprets the message of truth correctly.”  (2 Timothy 2:15, CEB)

 18 Days to Christmas — Sunday, December 7, 2025

Our Piece of Peace

Today is the Second Sunday of Advent, the Sunday when many churches focus on Peace.  To some, peace may sound quiet or even unexciting. But to me — and to many of us — peace is almost everything.

When most people hear “peace,” they think of the absence of war. For thousands of years the world has longed for global peace, and yet it remains something humanity has rarely achieved. Even so, we keep reaching for it, because something deep inside us knows we were created for peace.

For others, peace means reconciliation — two people healing what has been broken between them. Sometimes that feels almost as impossible as world peace. Pride, hurt, misunderstanding, and disappointment can build walls quickly, and when reconciliation doesn’t come, it leaves sadness and grief behind.

Still others hear “peace” and think of being released from physical, mental, or emotional suffering. For someone living with chronic pain, anxiety, depression, trauma, or loneliness, the ability simply to breathe freely can feel like the greatest gift imaginable.

Many families long for peace at home — a space where people speak kindly and love generously. But even those we love the most can sometimes hurt us the deepest. When peace breaks down at home, it leaves scars that take time to heal: feelings of abandonment, betrayal, or fear.

Conflict can emerge anywhere. It shows up in workplaces, in schools, in churches, and everywhere people gather. Wherever there are people, there will eventually be conflict.

As a pastor, I’ve been asked many times why God allows conflict at all — between people, families, communities, nations, or within our own hearts. It’s a painful question, because all of us know what it feels like to be caught in conflict without a clear way through it.

However, I’ve learned this: God does not desire conflict for His people.  God desires true, restoring peace. Scripture is full of stories showing both the presence and the absence of that peace.

At the same time, God has given humanity a profound gift — free will. God did not create us as robots programmed to behave perfectly. God created people who can choose: to love or not love, to forgive or not forgive, to listen or refuse to listen. Real love requires real choice, and free will means conflict becomes possible.

But God has not left us alone in the struggle.  Each Advent we remember that God sent Jesus, the Prince of Peace, into a world drowning in conflict. Jesus did not come to remove every problem at once. He came to show us what peace looks like in a human life, to heal what is broken, and to plant the seeds of God’s Kingdom within us.

So today, on the Sunday of Peace, I pray for all who live in the shadow of conflict — in their homes, their relationships, their circumstances, or within their own hearts.

May each of us experience our piece of God’s peace this Christmas season —
not because everything becomes perfect,
but because Christ draws near.
And where Christ draws near…
peace follows.

“I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.”  (John 14:27, The Message).

 19 Days to Christmas, Saturday, Dec 6, 2025

“Sinterklaas and Christmas:  The Heart of God”

Today is the Feast of St. Nicholas, when much of the Western Church celebrates the life of St. Nicholas of Myra. Born around A.D. 270, Nicholas entered the priesthood and later became bishop of Myra on the southern coast of modern-day Turkey.

St. Nicholas is remembered for his extraordinary generosity, especially toward children. Over time, he became the patron saint of children, sailors, those recovering from fires, and anyone facing financial hardship. But Nicholas also played an important role in Christian history as a participant at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325.

He’s often called the most famous attendee because of a well-known (though unproven) legend. Arius, a teacher at the council, claimed that Jesus was not fully God—a belief that would dismantle the Trinity and the very foundation of our Faith. According to the story, Nicholas finally “had enough” and gave Arius a quick pop in the mouth. It didn’t solve the controversy (yet), but it did leave Christians with a memorable picture of Sinterklaas as both gentle and courageous, a servant who fiercely defended the truth of Christ.

Our English name Santa Claus comes straight from St. Nicholas.  The Dutch called him Sint Nikolaas, shortened to Sinterklaas, which eventually became Santa Claus in our culture. One old tradition says folks should place their wooden shoes outside their bedroom door the night before his feast, so that Sinterklaas can fill them with small gifts, candy, and spare change.  (I love that!) If you didn’t put your wooden shoes outside your door last night, there’s always next year!

Some people worry that we’ve taken Christmas too far.  Maybe in some ways… but not if we remember where it all comes from… Because the story of St. Nicholas, the joy of generosity, the light we celebrate, and the hope that rises each December all flow from the heart of God, who created Christmas for all people.

Nicholas gave because God first gave the Gift.  Nicholas defended the faith because God came near in Jesus, the Word made flesh.  Nicholas showed mercy because God poured out mercy on the world.

So today, as we continue our Advent journey, may every act of kindness point us back to this truth:

“All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.”  (James 1:17, NET)

 20 Days to Christmas, Friday, Dec 5, 2025

“Holiday Fridays are the Best, Unless…”

Wow!  The Holidays are really moving quickly this year.  With 20 days remaining, we’ve already arrived at the first of three remaining Fridays.  That’s right!  Just three Fridays until Christmas!  

Fridays normally feel special on their own, but Fridays during the Holidays seem extra special… unless something happens to change it.    

For instance, what if you spill your bowl of coffee down the front of your shirt when rushing to work today? Does that mess up a Holiday Friday?  When we arrive at our place of employment and realize that we left something important at home, does that completely disrupt our day?  What happens if a terrible driver cuts us off this morning?  Some of us are super-glued to our routines, so anything outside of the norm (even on a Holiday Friday) can snatch all the joy away. 

In a 24-hour time span, one or two bad minutes can alter the entire day.  Oh, I’m not referring to the really big stuff that life sometimes brings.  Instead, I’m thinking of the very small things that tip the balance.  Sometimes, folks will begin counting their “bad” things, expecting that accidents/spills/bad things will happen in threes.  I’ve also known people who allow the smallest thing to contaminate an otherwise beautiful event or perfect day.  I’ve been guilty of both of these things, too.

Today is a Holiday Friday, one of only three remaining.  It should be a great day.  It may even be a perfect day!  If something unhappy occurs today, it doesn’t need to ruin the whole day.  We’re still here, and because of that, God still has something special prepared.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  (Proverbs 4:23, NIV)

 21 Days to Christmas, Thursday, Dec 4, 2025

Solutions for Bad Gift-Givers.

Birthdays, holidays, and special occasions have one thing in common:  the giving of gifts.  For some of us, the giving of gifts is very stressful, but not because we’re selfish, cheap, or ungrateful for our loved ones.  Instead, when it comes to the giving of gifts, our brains are like a giant, unmolded hunk of clay.  What little creativity we have disappears, leaving us empty and helpless.

If this describes you, I want you to know that you are not alone. Lots of us are bad gift-givers.  In fact, I bet we are the majority.  Now, as you ponder on that thought for a moment, take a minute to consider the other problems our bad gift-giving cause.

Problem One:  “We seem unprepared.” 

Problem Two:  “It seems like we are procrastinating.”

Problem Three:  “It’s more expensive because we become emotional buyers.”

Problem Four:  “It appears that we don’t care.”

Problem Five:  “We make poor buying decisions.”

I’m not going to waste time explaining these issues.  Those of you who are thoughtful, organized, and prepared don’t understand any of this.  You are always ahead of schedule and able to take advantage of special Black Friday sales, which is something the rest of us “wish” we could do.  While you’re already down to the last name and gift on your list, the rest of us are stuck somewhere between Problems One and Two. 

Today, those of us who are bad gift-givers are beginning to worry.  It’s already midway through the first week of December and we haven’t begun to make a dent in our gift lists.  Bad gift-givers who also celebrate Hanukkah are really in a pickle, because they must come up with 8 gifts by December 14th, which takes the stress to a whole other level. 

I wish I could offer bad gift-givers a piece of advice to help, such as “Don’t give a piece of fruitcake, especially to a Southerner.”  Sure, we can ask Google and ChatGPT to help, but really, are we so uncreative that we have to ask an inanimate object what gift to give our loved ones?  Yes.  That’s how bad it is.

When it comes down to it, that ol’ saying, “It’s the thought that counts” is always good to remember.  The people receiving our gifts probably don’t care about the gift itself.  Instead, they, too, are just wanting to feel loved, needed, and remembered.  How do we accomplish this?  One solution is to get outside our box of understanding and creep into our recipients’ box for a  minute.  Take them to a show.  Invite them over for a cup of holiday cheer.  Cook them a meal, or pickup a meal and personally deliver it to them.  Give them something they can cherish, such as a framed photo of you and them.  Or, how about this:  Invite them to Church/Mass/Synagogue and enjoy a meal with them before or after.  Talk about blowing their minds! 

We can do it!  We don’t need to be stressed about hitting a homerun this Holiday Season.  Instead, consider a little uncomfortable, focused creativity.  We’ll be surprised how easily our bad gift giving worries are taken away!

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”  (Proverbs 11:25, NIV)

 22 Days to Christmas, Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025

“Something Healthy”

What healthy foods and drinks do you dislike?  This is an easy question to ask older adults like me, because essentially, we consume lots of things that don’t please our taste buds because it’s good for us.

For instance, do you like broccoli?  What about collard greens?  Do you enjoy drinking water?  What about vegetable juice?  What other things do you need to be consuming but don’t because you don’t like it?

The Holidays are not the time to think about diets.  We should save that discussion for Lent (beginning February 18, 2026).  Instead, we give the Holidays a hall pass, choosing to indulge because it only comes around once per year.  Believe it or not, the average weight gain between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is only 1 to 2 pounds, not the 5 to 10 pounds that concern some folks. 

This is great news!  Since the average person only gains a couple pounds, that means I should be able to consume anything I want.  Or, if I want to be healthy, I could just add some flavoring to my healthy foods to make them better.  For instance, if I don’t like broccoli, a few big spoons of cheddar cheese sauce can help.  Collard greens are really healthy, but they taste yucky.  So, I can just add a ham hock and a pound of chopped bacon to solve that problem.  I can add flavorings to water to make it more pleasant, just like I can add a shot of vodka to vegetable juice for a good, healthy breakfast snack.

No, no, no.  That’s not the way it works.  I know better, but still, I know I’m going to bend the rules a little (or a lot) this Holiday Season.  I also know that I’ll end up regretting it on January 1 when I step on the scale.  But, even then, since Lent begins just six weeks after that, I can always wait until Lent to be healthy.

No, no, no.  That’s not the way it works, either.  I can rationalize just about anything, but getting a handle on some of it now will remove lots of worry later on.  For instance, adding a glass of water each day is proven to improve brain function, help my emotional moods, reduce tiredness, and even prevent headaches.  Adding a serving of  broccoli to my diet supports immune function, bone health, heart health, and reduces inflammation.  Go figure.

Is there healthy food or drink in your meal plan today?  I wonder, what would the New Year look like if I just add a serving of healthy food or drink to my daily consumption this month?  Hmmm.  I’ve never tried that, so I might as well give it a whirl.  If the worst case scenario on January 1 is that I’m smarter, my bones are stronger, and overall, I’m a happier person.  That’s not so bad, is it?

“At the end of the ten days they (Daniel and his friends) looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.  So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.  To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.”  (Daniel 1:15-17, NIV)

 23 Days to Christmas, Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025

“God’s Community”

The recent opening of the Chapel’s Christmas Garden was a great success, thanks to the dedication and commitment of lots of volunteers, vendors, and hard workers.  I was so pleased to see the garden full of people hoping to kick off the Holiday Season with a smile.  I was also stunned to receive a giant check from the Bayfront Pickleball Association, which has been collecting funds and Christmas donations to support the Longboat Island Chapel and our Outreach partners.

A year ago, our community was bludgeoned by Hurricanes.  With so much lingering damage causing gloom, we decided at that time to continue our Holiday Garden tradition.  On opening night a year ago, a few folks attended, hoping to experience a little Holiday Cheer during chaos.  This year, the same hard work resulted in a “Full House” grand opening. 

The difference between last year and this year is almost unbelievable.  A year ago at this time, Gulf of Mexico Drive was lined with six-foot piles of sand, debris, and rotting furniture.  Now, the entire island looks beautiful again, due to the tough work of countless people.

When effort like this yields positive results, it makes a difference.  When volunteers can witness the success of their work and sacrifice, it encourages others to help.  Those of us who are compensated for the same work are also proud, because we know how thankful we are to work for God by caring for God’s people and places. 

This little Christmas note is not intended to pat anyone on the back.  Instead, it serves as an example (or metaphor) for other places in our lives where we work hard and sometimes don’t achieve the goals we expect to reach.  Fortunately, every drop of sweat and blood we shed for God’s Community is counted, but not God’s invisible checklist.  Instead, our hard work is evidence of our heart’s desire, which is noticed and greatly valued by the LORD.

So, if you are among God’s special people who serve with your heart, hands, and feet in some messy places, be encouraged this Holiday Season.  You are noticed, and you are greatly valued.  If you don’t receive the rewards or results that you expect, take heart.  You are doing God’s work.  You are among God’s elite, not just because you are special, but because you love your neighbor as yourself.

“Whatever task you must do, work as if your soul depends on it, as for the Lord and not for humans, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward;”  (Colossians 3:23-24a, NRSVue).

 24 Days to Christmas, Monday, Dec 1 2025

“The Best Monday!”

This is the Best Monday this week, guaranteed.  Sure, it’s the only Monday this week, but, I must admit, it’s better than most.  Church was great this past weekend, a dental appointment was rescheduled to another day, clever Christmas commercials have made their debuts, and December has finally arrived. 

If you’ve noticed, December’s arrival signals the beginning of Hanukkah in just two weeks and Christmas a little over a week later.  In other words, we are experiencing a shortened Holiday Season this year because of Thanksgiving’s later arrival.  This really doesn’t mean much, except that our normal “to-do” list needs to be accelerated a little to fit everything in. 

List-makers don’t need my warning because they’ve been working on their list since before Halloween.  Procrastinators don't need my warning either, because regardless of what happens, they’re not going to tackle anything until much later.  Instead, this warning is  for the rest of us, who probably land somewhere else on the spectrum of Holiday preparation.  We neither love nor loathe Monday.  Our decision is made by the world that we encounter today.  If everyone we encounter is grumpy, we will be grumpy.  If everyone is joyful, we will also find some joy today.

Other people have a great influence on our attitudes.  Likewise, we have a direct influence on the people we will encounter, today and every day this Holiday Season.  Most of us can reasonably choose our words and actions.   Making a commitment to have a good Holiday Season begins in those two places:  be aware of the words we use and the actions we take.  Poor words and bad actions tend to hurt so badly that some people can never overcome the pain they experience because of them. 

This Season, we aren’t going to be perfect.  But the Best Day Ever doesn’t need to be perfect to be the best.   To be the best, the Best Day Ever just needs to be a day that we keep God first the entire day, so that our free will is also in conjunction with God’s Perfect Will.

If your day is like that, today will feel more like a Friday than a Monday.  It’ll be the best!

The Lord has done it this very day;  let us rejoice today and be glad.  (Psalm 118:24, NIV)