Oak Ridge Today

Guest column: Christmas Meditation 2014

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Christmas is the time of year when we think about giving and receiving. For many, the giving part comes rather easily. Indeed, we are reminded how blessed it is to give than receive. But this morning, I want to share how it’s sometimes difficult to be on the receiving end.

One summer when I was a young lad, I attended a day camp, which included horseback riding among its assorted activities. Learning to ride horses for the very first time was very exciting, but it was diminished as I discovered how unkind the instructors (college students from the local college) were to me. I never understood why.

My way of dealing with it was to keep to myself and suffer through the perceived rejection.

One day, I accidently slammed my finger in the door of a truck used to haul us around. It hurt terribly, but I resisted the notion to report it to somebody. My thought was: “Who would care that I smashed my finger?” It was unusually hard for me to ask for help in this particular instance.

Eventually, the pain became so intense I broke down and asked for help. And when I did, I discovered the most remarkable thing: The people I thought didn’t care about me were eager to help me with my dilemma. Their compassion was amazing. Their love for me was evidenced in their care and concern for my injury. [Read more…]

Faith column: When I think of Christmas, I think of Normandy and D-Day

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

When I think of Christmas, I think of the Normandy Invasion, commonly known as D-Day. Years of planning went into that event. First, and the most obvious, was physically amassing the men and equipment needed to pull off the invasion. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, landing boats, airplanes, troop transports, weapons and ammunition, communication devices, food, and medical supplies all were assembled despite the threat of German U-boats that were intent on preventing the invasion.

Then there was the element of strategy. How could the Allies pull off a surprise invasion when the Germans knew that it would happen and would fortify the likely landing zone? We know now that the Allies used quiet gliders under the cover of darkness to allow the paratroopers to drop in behind the German fortifications and take the battle to them from both sides. Our leaders created a unique communication device—a clicker—so that the paratroopers could communicate with one another in the dark. They also used the Navajo language to securely communicate information because of the difficulty of breaking this code.

Finally, there was the sacrifice. The loss of life would be great; the human suffering would be greater. But the goal of freedom required it.

[Read more…]

Faith column: Grasping more meaning from the Christmas story

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20)

The reason that Christ came to Earth was so that we might have life and have it to the full. He wanted us to learn from Him how to live a life that blessed us. He wanted to show His great love for us and His ability to do anything.

The only way for us to have abundance in our lives in a way that really matters is to please God. The only way to please God is to be obedient. And the only way to be obedient is to live our lives based upon God’s word.

[Read more…]