This song flowed through my Reader from one of the newsletters I follow, and I fell in love with it.  I think I’m going to get the CD. 

So, you know, I just had to share.

Happy Day After Christmas!

Here comes the letdown Christmas is over
Here comes the meltdown, there goes the cheer
But before we have a breakdown, let us remember
The light of the world is still here
Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here
The light of the world

Come January I’m ready for summer
The Super Bowl’s over and I’ll settle for spring
Sometimes we all need a change in the weather
But it won’t change the reason we sing

Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here
The light of the world
The light of the world
The light of the world

So take down the stockings, take back the sweaters
Take down the lights and the star and the tree
But don’t let this world take your joy after Christmas
Take joy to the world and just sing

Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here

Please bless our nation, Lord, please guide and direct our leaders.

Thanks to MountainRepublic for the picture. 

Sunday’s on the Way

[in case the video doesn’t play, here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muK1DPKhKJ8 ]

Coincidence?

A Jewish businessman in Chicago sent his son to Israel for a year to absorb the culture. When the son returned, he said, “Papa, I had a great time in Israel. By the way, I converted to Christianity.”

“Oy vey,” said the father, “What have I done!”

He took his problem to his best friend. “Ike,” he said, “I sent my son to Israel, and he came home a Christian. What can I do?”

“Funny you should ask,” said Ike. “I, too, sent my son to Israel, and he also came home a Christian. Perhaps we should go see the Rabbi.”

They explained their problem to the Rabbi.

“Funny you should ask,” said the rabbi. “I, too sent my son to Israel, and he also came home a Christian. What is happening to our young people?”

They prayed, telling the Lord about their sons.

As they finished their prayer, a voice came from the heavens: “Funny you should ask,” said the voice, “I, too, sent my son to Israel…”

Matthew 5:11-12“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

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That verse always stuck with me.  I used to know someone who, every time they got in a fight or argument with someone, it was because they “were being persecuted for the Lord!”  How often I wanted to say, “No, people fight with you because you’re a witch!” 

I think so many people take this verse too lightly, especially in modern day America.  Really, we have little concept of persecution.  Someone cutting you off in traffic is not persecution.  Sometimes people are just jerks and it has nothing to do with your faith.  And sometimes we are just jerks and bring shame to the name of our Lord. 

People are being killed out there because of their faith – that’s persecution.  People are being tortured – that’s persecution.  A lot of other stuff is just human beings being fallen and fallible human beings.  It behooves us to learn the difference.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

I was reading an article by Daniel Hannan, about a poem called Invictus by W E Henley.  He was talking about how this poem inspired the likes of such men as Timothy McVeigh and Nelson Mandela. 

As I read through it, it causes me to feel a lot of things.  Sorrow and pity mostly.  Is anyone ever really the master of their fate or the captain of their soul?  I mean really?  I know a lot of people like to think so.

But I am of the opinion that we only get to truly make one choice in life, just one singular choice.  Will we choose for Christ or against Him?  All other choices are moot, and deceptive in their appearance of being choices at all.  If we are not for Him, we are against Him, it is as simple as that. 

Nobody’s soul is unconquerable.  We all have a limit, no matter how much we like to deny it.  We all have a weakness or 2 lingering about.  And ultimately everyone’s soul will be conquered by either Love or Hate, whichever one you choose to submit to.  Bottom line, if you won’t submit to Love, then you are submitting to Hate.  There really is no other option.  There is only the appearance of option.  Choose wisely.