Church in the Windshield

Christmas Day 2018

 

We light all of the candles on this Christmas Day; the white candle represents Jesus Christ. The Hope candle, the peace candle, the joy candle and the love candle are all a part of the Spirit of God.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

What a day! Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman Empire.  Let me tell you there was a lot of controversy over that one, especially the Jewish who were not too fond of Rome anyway. The prescribed time came and people began pouring into Bethlehem and Jerusalem. People have been coming through Bethlehem for several days now. I would complain myself but I realized that this event could really help my business and other merchants realized that it could help them as well.

About mid-morning people began arriving in Bethlehem at least those that didn’t have far to travel. As the day progressed group after group made their way into Bethlehem. In those days people mostly walked; some rode donkeys and other means of travel. No matter the mode of travel, people usually stayed in groups. These groups varied in size from five to twenty with the smaller groups being the ones that could walk a bit faster. People traveled in groups not only to have someone to talk to on the journey, but there was less chance of highway robbers preying upon them. The slower groups were a bit larger and would arrive later in the day and some of them even toward evening. It was toward evening and my inn was already full of paying customers; I was pleased to say the least. Other merchants were pleased as well and I could hear them in the market place, chanting “Fresh bread . . . fresh fish . . . tents repaired  . . . new clothing” Some of the merchants lit torches so they could collect their profits late into the night.  There was a couple that came to the inn that night, he called himself Joseph and introduced his wife as Mary. Neither of them talked a lot but I noticed that she was obviously pregnant. Mary seemed totally exhausted and I knew the journey had been a difficult one for her.  “Please sir, do you have a place for us to stay,” Joseph asked? I responded, “I wish I did but as you can see, the inn is full tonight.” “You will need to find

another place.” They turned to leave and I saw the disappointment on their faces.  “Wait a minute,” I said, “There is a stable out back that might give you some shelter for the night, if you don’t mind sleeping with the animals.” The couple agreed and I showed them the stable.  They made themselves at home in the stable as best they could. I went back to the front of the inn and spent some time getting ready for the next day. I put the couple out of my thoughts at least for the time being and decided to get some rest myself. 

It must have been a little past midnight when I heard shepherds close to the inn talking about seeing some angels. I wasn’t able to get all of the conversation, only bits and pieces but I thought I heard them say something about a child being born.  Hopefully, it was not that couple that I sent to the stable in the late evening and I had not heard any singing nor had I seen any angels. It could not have been that couple, but what if it was? 

Quietly, I made my way to the stable and noticed the animals were calm and peaceful which was usually not the case when the inn was full. Tonight there was something different, even though the brisk night air gave me chill. There was certain warmth that seemed to emanate from the stable. A baby boy was lying in the manger (King Size Bed) snuggled down in the warmth of a woolen blanket that was swaddled around him. “What is the name of the boy?” I asked. Joseph quickly responded with, “His name is Jesus . . . which means God is with us.” Suddenly, I felt embarrassed that I could not have offered better place for this Jesus person. But I offered the best that I had at the time . . . I did . . . I did . . . I tell you that I did . . . if only they would have made reservations.

Reflections: Jesus was born in a stable away from the crowds of people that could have had coughs, sniffles, flu and other human diseases of the day.  It was a quiet private place where Mary and Joseph could enjoy the peacefulness of the Holy Spirit. The stable was a place where there was some heat from the animals and it was a place where shepherds could come, kneel and give God thanks without disturbing other people.  How often is it in our busy lives we miss seeing the angels or hearing them sing or even pronounce His name?  Perhaps then, we should not be too hard on the innkeeper who did the best he could and gave the best he had. Jesus was born in the best place he could be under the circumstances and . . . God is still with us.

Ron & Sheron

                                Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

 

 

Church in the Windshield

 

4th Sunday of Advent

Today is the forth Sunday in Advent and we light a fourth candle. The first candle was the HOPE candle, the second candle was the PEACE candle; the third candle was the JOY candle. This forth candle is the LOVE candle.

Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)
³⁶ "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
³⁷ Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment.
³⁹ And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

 

 

The Advent journey has been so meaningful . . . so powerful. Sheron and I chose not to travel during this Advent season. Instead, we chose to pick one of the churches that we had written about in the blog; attend that church for the Advent and then travel again.  This, it seems may become a tradition and each year we will pick a church from the blog in which to spend the Advent. Perhaps it will be your church next year.  All of the churches that we have attended have been so wonderful and so inspiring; it made for a tough choice. This year’s Advent church was the Otterbein United Methodist Church in Russell, Kansas.



Ponder for a moment the Advent spiritual journey. We start with hope on the first Sunday; hope is the stepping stone that allows us to be open and receptive to spirit of God.  Where there is hope, there is peace . . . the second candle. Peace is “heart healthy” both spiritually and physically.



Painted on a building just outside of Topeka as we travel east on Interstate 70 is a huge sign that says. “NO GOD NO PEACE . . . KNOW GOD KNOW PEACE.” Every time, I see that sign, I think, stop worrying about the things you cannot change and ALIEVE it to God.

When there is peace in our lives, we have joy and that is so freeing . . . so cleansing . . . so exhilarating. It reminds me of that old time chorus, I’ve got joy like a fountain, I’ve got joy like a fountain, I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul. You probably don’t want me to sing that for you.

The candle that we light for the forth Sunday in Advent is the love candle. Because of love, we give to God to each other and to those around us in need. This past year, we have tried to give as much as possible to those in need like the following scripture says:

Acts 20:35

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

In our journey of giving though, we have been surprised at least three times and they all happened in restaurants. We would be dining, visiting and doing the normal restaurant stuff.  We would go to the cashier to pay and find that someone across the room that we never met or never knew . . . paid for our meal. Do we have an explanation . . . no? Can we predict that it will happen again . . . no?  All we can say is like the song, “thank you Lord for your blessing on me (us).”

Until next time, cling to the hope, walk in peace, express the joy and share the love.

Ron & Sheron

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Church in the Windshield

Third Sunday of Advent

December 16, 2018

 

It’s the third Sunday in Advent and many churches are lighting the JOY candle which is most often a pink candle. Why pink you ask? When parents are planning the birth of a child, they often will paint the baby’s room pink or blue to express the joy of the planned new birth. It’s very close to the time and we expect the birth of Jesus soon.  We have only another week of waiting you know; such excitement, such anticipation and such expectation. The Christian world will celebrate the birth of the Christ child. He will be born and placed in a manger in Bethlehem. We celebrate that as well even though 2000 plus years, have passed, one by one and we rejoice.

Philippians 4:4-7 New International Version (NIV)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Sheron and I think about the joys that we have experienced this year and this Advent.  One of the joys this year has been all of the new friends that we met.  Our extended church family expanded from one church to many churches and we wonder why we didn’t start “Seeing the Church in the Windshield” years ago. “God is good all the time . . . All the time God is good,” What Joy! We serve an “Awesome God.”

Another Advent Joy came Sunday afternoon (December 16) when we attended the CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL at the Stiefel Theatre (old Fox Theater, now remodeled and updated) in Salina. We got there early as we always do; presented our tickets and made our way to the balcony. With an usher’s help we found our seats, mid-section, half way to the top (there are no bad seats in Stiefel Theatre).

As we waited for the performance to begin, we enjoyed watching the great multi-faceted, multi-layered chandelier (estimated 20 foot in diameter) change colors. It sequentially faded and changed from red to blue, to green, to white. Though we were high up in the balcony, the chandelier was way above us, centered in the theater, well out of balcony reach.  In true form, Sheron and I pondered, how you would get up there to clean that thing.

The CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL was presented by the Salina Symphony in conjunction with Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina Chorale, Salina Community Theatre and the Tamara Howe School of Dance. Dr. Ken Hakoda did an absolutely marvelous job directing the symphony. Never have I heard such beautiful music, watched such great choreography heavenly I must say.

For an hour and a half, the orchestra played; adult and youth choirs sang . . . youth danced.  It was such a good mix of both religious and secular music. I thought of all the God given talent in the two hundred plus cast . . . surely God was in this place.  How could one not feel the joy of this Christmas season . . . this Advent Sunday?

During the course of the program, the youth did tap-dance and ballet. I tried to imagine what it would feel like to dance on my toes like that . . . ouch! Then I got this image . . .  elephants don’t ballet, especially old ones and I chuckled, so true. Well the program came to an end but the music is still felt within my soul.

Finally, we leave you this beautiful Kansas sunset picture of God’s joy in this Advent. Only God could paint such a picture.

 

 

Until next time, keep the joy of music within your hearts, step in time to the pulse of life and enjoy the sunsets!

Ron & Sheron, drivers behind the windshield

 

 

 

 

 

 

Church in the Windshield

 

2^nd Sunday of Advent

December 9, 2018

 

It’s the second Sunday in Advent and party plans still occupy our thoughts, minds and focus. For a brief moment we remember the first Sunday in Advent; the hope it gives, the anticipation of what is to come and the excitement of the celebration of the birth of Christ.  It’s going to be a great party, shepherds will be invited to visit the Holy place and angels will be invited to sing. I wonder what they will sing; O Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem . . . Away in a manger? Neither Jingle Bells nor Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer will likely be sung though. Come to think about it none of the above listed songs will likely be sung. Those songs were all written in our time . . . in our place in history and yet we sing them because they bring peace in our hearts and help us focus on what is really important.

Sheron and I reminisce about Jerusalem . . . and Bethlehem after having visited both places.  It’s amazing and intriguing to realize how close the shepherds were to the manger probably within two or three miles; maybe as close as a half a mile. We try to imagine being there and experiencing that now world renown event that goes viral two thousand years later.

In our minds eye, we see that it is a cold winter’s night. It’s a clear night with stars twinkling everywhere like colored fiber optic lights adorned through an inverted colander.

We imagine small herds of sheep bedded on the hillside warmed by their natural coats of wool. The sheep are resting . . . sleeping . . . trusting knowing that the night-watch shepherds will keep them safe from harm. It is so quiet and so peaceful . . . little do they know that the stage has been set for the most significant event in their life time and in ours.

Then an angel appears and then another . . . and another until a whole host of angels has made their debut like a singing flash mob in Time Square. The angles dressed in white hovered over the shepherds . . . and the sheep. They praise God and announce the birth of Jesus in a manager in Bethlehem. 

Sometimes, we think we would like to have been there when the angels came. We would like to have heard the voice and wonder if it was in the language of the shepherds. We would like to have heard the music and wonder if it was like a thousand voice choir singing the Hallelujah Chorus. Or maybe it was an overwhelming and breath-taking sense of peace! Today, we light the second candle, the PEACE candle.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27 NIV)

Until next time, keep the peace with God . . . and with each other.

Ron & Sheron, drivers behind the windshield

Epilogue: The Bethlehem, Shepherd & Sheep, Angel and Music graphics were all borrowed from the internet.

 

 

Church in the Windshield

Advent Preparation

December 2, 2018

It’s hard to believe that it is the Advent Season already! Our motorhome is parked in the “Bus Barn” and we agreed that we would not travel with it until after the Advent . . . unless there was an emergency . . . unless . . . unless.

The weather has been so cold for so long that I wonder if the diesel would even start . . . though I know it would. I go to the building and check the thermometer on the wall; its 26 degrees but the temperature in the motorhome basement (where the water pipes are located) is 33 degrees. Though the building is insulated and the water pipes have always been above freezing, (so far) I still check . . . and day dream about our next trip. Which church will we see next in our windshield?  Perhaps it will be your church; it’s a mystery . . . (to be continued).

As we prepare for the Advent season we ponder over the wonderful journey that we have had these past six months visiting churches, meeting people and hearing great messages! Certainly, we have grown in our faith, appreciated different ways of worship and loved God’s people. What a joy it is for us to share our journey in the blog. We give God thanks for each of you, our readers, and wish you well in this Advent Season.

So here we are in the first Sunday of Advent, we light the first of four candles that surround the white Christ candle. The candle is purple; its flickering light illuminates the altar and casts interesting shadows on the back wall of the church. The shadows dance, wave and sway with a light so inviting . . . so mesmerizing that I can almost feel warmth from it. I stare at the light for a while, and ponder what it means. Even in a darkened room, this little light gives out rays of hope and encouragement.  Somehow then, the worries and struggles of the day seem a little less cumbersome; a little more manageable and life is good.  Is it any wonder then, that the first lit candle on the Advent wreath is the HOPE candle?  The purple candle represents the royalty of God, so rich, so pure . . . so holy . . . so awesome!

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. (Isaiah 9:2)

Until next time, light a candle for Jesus, accept Him and receive the Hope of Eternal Life!

Drivers behind the windshield, Ron & Sheron

Epilogue: Lost my nerve . . . winterized the motorhome!