Covering of Christmas

Seems just about everyone gets some new clothes for Christmas.  Growing up seems like I always got socks for Christmas.  This year, I got a cool new shirt from my sister in laws and new running shoes from my kids. 

I love the Christmas season.  It’s colder and we get to warm ourselves by a fire and sleep and snuggle up with blankets. 

Even when we think about Christmas, the origins of the holiday, the real date of Christmas, the love the idea of Christmas in winter, and the idea of a White Christmas (have you watched that movie yet this Christmas?) Even the idea of “Snow” is a beautiful reminder of God’ covering for us

Seems like because of the cold weather, and many parties to attend.  Everyone seems to dress up more around the Christmas season.

There is a great old story about a king and his fascination with clothes The Emperor's New Clothes - by Hans Christian Andersen (1805-75) Not the emperor’s new groove although a funny movie.  A picture of thinking that we have got it together, we have all we need, when in fact we are naked!  And the truth comes from and is only seen as a child (Jars of Clay tune “Faith Like A Child”).  Maybe that’s why Christmas is such a great time for children.  Maybe that’s why we are to come to Christ with faith like a child.  Maybe that’s why Christ came as a child.  As I think about the child and clothes it reminded me about God’s covering for me


As you look throughout the Bible about God’s covering for us you find that it came from blood sacrifices, even the Passover, and was made complete once and for all in Jesus dying on the cross for us.

·         Salvation

·         Entrance to the presence of royalty

·         Safety (warmth, protection, hiding)

·         Armor

·         Healing

·         Authority (status, mantle, royalty, acceptance, honor)

·         Remembrance (Jews wore/wear tassles to remind them of the commandments)

This covering comes from a bible word “atonement” which is the central theme of the bible.  The Hebrew word used for "atonement" is kaphar.  Which basically means "to cover."  It is the word for the pitch that Noah used to cover the Ark.  http://www.inchristalone.org/ClothedChrist.htm

From all God’s covering for us it is a sad picture that the best we could come up for a covering of Him coming to us was swaddling clothes… however that’s the picture painted through history.  Adam and Eve the best they could come up with was a fig leaf.  The Bible paints the picture of us is one of “filthy rags”  from Joshua the high priest, to the women who wanted to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, and a wayward  son returning home in the Prodigal Son. 

In closing the last verse from the great hymn, “The Solid Rock”, William B. Bradbury,  1863.

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh, may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Rip Van Winkle

It’s been a while since my last posting not quite 20 years however it reminded me of the story of Rip Van Winkle.  So to jump back in…20 Thots

1.       You look at the simple man and kinda laugh him off…crazy ol koot!  He had some good traits but at closer inspection you see that but it is not enough to bank and rest upon… no one is righteous not even one… Being likely is not the same as being holy

2.       Don’t laugh off others how can we encourage others to be better

3.       Sleep is good in fact it is a gift from God and something I enjoy and am very good at and like to practice especially during colder weather, rainy days, and when you are at a hotel and crank up the air, but… it is also a symbol  for laziness and death

4.       Laziness is not profitable at all… nor is death… the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Idle time is when sin and temptation creeps in.  Guess that’s where those words come from…“creepy” “creep”

5.       Walking off in your anger and frustration and on your obligations is not always helpful.  That’s what we want to do but stuphs gotta be dealt with and not good to let it stew and fester.  After 20 years his problems didn’t go away however some of it died which in the story we laugh as say problem solved but at closer look it is very sad

6.       Not communicating verbally can be costly.  We think it is strange that the men never talked yet I can walk past so many people that I know even in my own home and never speak a word….

7.       Everything will rust, die and fade but the Word of God stands forever

8.       While good to be known as playful and kind to people/children – balance – to be known and hard worker and playful and kind with spouse and home -  all things are permissible but not profitable

9.       Son – learned from Father – sins of the father passed down to the son.  Who did Rip learn it from and why was he let to live like that so long?  I think he missed out on some parenting and a bunch whippins and chores.

10.   Satisfied with just getting by – reminds me of the man with talent and buried in the sand (literally 20 years) he lost it all and was thrown out

11.   Had to live with someone else supporting him - Don’t live to expect your children to take care of you when you are old – make a plan – prepare

12.   Be careful wine is a mocker and you can easily be led astray

13.   Thought only of himself, selfish living – think of others better than yourself

14.   Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church

15.   Be careful when you hear a voice calling your name and go wandering off after it.  Reminds me of “O brother where art thou” movie when the man chases after the women calling his name (sirens).  Later when back with his friends they said, ”Delmar, we thought you was turned into a horny toad”

16.   Be accountable to others in community

17.   How to be carefree and still be responsible – spontaneous, fun, creative, yet excellent, skillful, and prepared.  That’s what I really want to be about.  Maybe I relate to this guy much more than I know

18.   Beware of quiet short funny dressed men that invite you to go bowling

19.   Why didn’t anyone notice him asleep by the tree?  Maybe it’s like the story of the good Samaritan how most people walked past him and did not care enough, or were too busy.  Perhaps Rip didn’t matter much because he didn’t care for anything else much  

20.   To have a crazy story and have nothing left but a rusty gun, dead dog, dead wife, lazy son, resentful daughter is not worth it