Monday, December 18, 2006

Are you ready for Divine Appointments this Christmas?

If we look positively at Christmas, despite what it has become in the West, we will be more effective. Here are some suggestions:

-Pray in advance for the people you will be seeing this Christmas who you don't normally see. This is a rare opportunity. Without changing who you are, seek to be Christ to these people. Perhaps, like me, you don't care enough for some of these people, or maybe don't even like some of them. Maybe Great Aunt Bertha gets on your nerves. ... Pray in advance! :)

-Use discussions about Christmas to talk about Christ. Look out for them. Don't miss them.

-Enjoy your Christmas. Have fun! Have a good attitude. Take joy in how kids love Christmas. Make the Christmas of those around you brighter.

-Beware too-high expectations when it comes to gifts and people making much of you. Don't expect much in the way of gifts, or you may be disappointed and experience a Christmas of self-pity. Don't let it happen. Be others-oriented, and you will have a better Christmas.

-Think about watching "The Nativity" in a theatre. I am planning to do this, and know people who have seen it who really liked it. (Let me know if you've seen it, and what you think.)

-Remember those who get forgotten at Christmas. Christmas is one of the happiest times of year for some, and one of the saddest times of year for others. Remember especially those who are away from family or who recently lost a loved one.

-Don't be small-minded. Don't waste too much time complaining about how people say "Season's Greeetings" instead of "Merry Christmas." I recently had to endure a whole sermon of this. If your view of the eternal revolution that is Christianity is to whine about little things like this, you (as is too often true of me) have forgotten that we have much bigger things to talk about. Life is short, and people need Christ, and He's asked us to take Him to them.

Have big vision - for Christmas and beyond.

Merry Christmas!

Or as they say here in England, Happy Christmas! :)
ar TORONTO, CANADA | 2023+

APRIL


MAY

27 Sat (1) 11am Commencement speaker at R. University, (2) ~3pm+ time w/ V/AR+
29 Mon (1) 9:30am VT prayer, (2) 3pm mtg DerCh - Mississauga
30 Tue (1) 10am ph call (AA), (2) 5:30pm video mtg (IsTan), (3) 8pm neighbourhood prayer mtg

JUNE
1 Thu (1) 11:30am Zoom mtg (LM), (2) 4pm mtg (VS,KBr)
2 Fri (1) 10:30am ph call (PVDW; SL w/ boys; ~J working)
3 Sat SL w/ boys and MG
5 Mon (1) 9:30am VT prayer mtg, (2) 2pm Europe call, (3) 4pm mtg/walk (YM)
6 Tue 7:30pm worship night
9 Fri ~J's b'day
10 Sat North Bay trip
13 Tue ~J school trip w/ ~Co | (text BD)
14 Thu 11am mtg (DAy) - Unionville
16 Fri (1) 9am video med appt, (2) 15-km run (Prayer Journey "warm-up")
17 Sat Prayer Journey (my own: 50km GTA bike-ride) and GTA after-party
29 ... July 7 Thu-Fri poss. holiday in Arkansas

JULY
... 7 Thu-Fri poss. holiday in Arkansas
~8-17 SA+ in Toronto; P/H Bell likely visiting too
17-21 Mon-Fri Kids Kapers camp
24 Mon 2:45pm med. appt
26 Wed (1) 3pm Zoom mtg (SMa,SB), (2) 7pm ~J speaking at Greenhouse/Zoe - UofT downtown
27 Thu 10am video MVT board mtg
31 Mon 3:05pm med. appt
July/Aug CCWM board mtg / AGM

AUGUST
6-12 Sun-Fri Cottage w/ O/DN+ and UB/AC - Windermere; plus Muskoka
19 Sat poss. ~J fam beach day - Brighton area
25-29 Fri-Tue MoveIn staff retreat - southern Ontario

2023+
Sep 21 Thu - MVT board mtg
Sep 23 Sat poss. date of GV memorial
Sep 24 Sun ~Ch's b'day
Sep ~26-28 Poss. time in Lushnjë, Albania
Sep 29 - Oct 6 MoveIn Europe Conference+ - Durrës, Albania
Oct 21 Sat poss./unlikely date of GV memorial
Oct 21-27 Dollar-a-Day week
Early Nov Poss. fundraising event - Niagara
Nov-Jan Poss. time in India - Goa; Philippines - Manila+; Indonesia - Jakarta/Bali; LA/San Diego