Shade Tree Wisdom 12/19/09

It promises to be a rather pleasant day today. High of some 60 and sunny, about right for this time of year, the weatherman says. What kind of spoils it is that I read where it will cost up to $2,995 to see Texas and Alabama at a football game. I do not plan to go.

I have a choice. That is ever a problem. The other day I was at the grocery store standing in the cereal aisle. There was a man, white-haired, a little stooped, looking at the display and he said to me, “I can remember when there were Corn Flakes, Quaker Oats, and Post Toasties. Now look at it.” “Well,” said I, “at least General Mills reports they will be adding less sugar to their cereals.” So that’s one plus.

But the modern shopper is faced with many choices. P&G produces an amazing 110 variations of Tide detergent, and there are 25 different ear plugs, and 256 kinds of deodorant! The good news is that stores are starting to shrink selections, so shopping will be a little easier.

What brings all this to mind is the fact that we are now nearing Christmas, the celebration of the Birth if Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as the Babe in the manger in Bethlehem.

For Christians this means that God is carrying out His plan to save sinners. This plan of God was set and is going on as scheduled. For Christians this is the basis of their faith, and their hope for eternal life. It gives them strength, guides their way in this life, and offers sure hope for eternity.

And this faith is no longer held by many Americans, who call themselves ‘spiritual’ rather than ‘religious’. They tend to mix all manner of beliefs and make that their own, instead of accepting what the Bible teaches.

A recent study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found Americans' personal belief often combine aspects of major religions such as Eastern and New Age beliefs such as reincarnation and astrology. Somehow, the culture we live in dictates that such beliefs are more acceptable today.

It disturbs me, because the Lord Jesus, the very Son of God, teaches, “I am the Bread of life”, and “No man comes to the Father but by me”. Jesus, the “Light of the world”, came to do a work that God had set for Him, to live and then die in our stead, to pay for our sins, so we can and do have forgiveness, and the cure and certain promise of Eternal life. “Believest Thou this?” That is the Christian faith.

GPD 12/19/09