Jim Preisig

Christmas Wisdom from Charlie Brown

There is a bit of priceless dialogue from the 1966 television special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” If features a conversation between Charlie and his little sister, Sally.

 

Sally: I've been looking for you, big brother. Will you please write a letter to Santa Claus for me?

Charlie Brown: Well, I don't have much time. I'm supposed to get down to the school auditorium to direct a Christmas play.

Sally: [hands a clipboard and pen to Charlie Brown] You write it and I'll tell you what I want to say.

Charlie Brown: [sticks pen in his mouth] Okay, shoot.

Sally: [dictating her letter to Santa Claus as Charlie Brown writes it for her] Dear Santa Claus, How have you been? Did you have a nice summer?

[Charlie Brown looks at her]

Sally: How is your wife? I have been extra good this year, so I have a long list of presents that I want.

Charlie Brown: Oh brother.

Sally: Please note the size and color of each item, and send as many as possible. If it seems too complicated, make it easy on yourself: just send money. How about tens and twenties?

Charlie Brown: TENS AND TWENTIES? Oh, even my baby sister!

Sally: All I want is what I... I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share.

 

Whoa. Stop for a moment. Is any of this painfully familiar to you? Does it sound like anyone you know?

 

If this Christmas is going to be different than all the others, it means breaking the habits of the consumer culture and returning to the habits of the heart.

 

Ask yourself, “What do I really want for Christmas?”

 

Dollars & Sense

Ever notice how spending seems to go crazy at Christmas, and budgets gets absolutely trashed? The reality hits mid January when the credit card bills land in the mailbox and you find yourself wondering how could you let this happen? Again?

You may ask, “When has money and sense ever been used in the same sentence, especially at this time of year?!”

 

Tonight, at The Lee’s Summit United Methodist, at 7 PM in the Worship Center classrooms, I’m offering a class with Patrick Murphy simply entitled Dollars & Sense. Please come join us!

 

The purpose of the class is to help you think clearly, act wisely, and spend prudently in preparation for Christmas. Having Patrick beside me will be such a blessing, as he is a successful businessman who has taught the financial wisdom of Dave Ramsey longer than it has been popular.

 

Come and join us tonight! There will be ample time to answer your questions!

 

Understanding Christmas

This past weekend in worship I used an analogy and told a story that bear repeating, especially in this season of Advent.

 

The analogy was of the bad dreams we all had as children. What did you do when you had a nightmare that frightened you? If you ran to your parent’s bedroom and snuggled under the covers with your mom and dad, you vividly remember the sense of security and serenity that enveloped you within their love. If you remember that, you can understand the story -

 

I remember reading years ago about a 20 something son who had a mental breakdown, a psychotic break. Life became so painful that he withdrew into an almost catatonic state. He was hospitalized, treated by mental health specialists, but all to no avail.

 

As the doctors were explaining the situation to the young man’s parents, one of them said that it was as if their son was living a nightmare that was simply to unbearable, to painful to endure, so he withdrew from the world.

 

It was as if a light went on in the father’s heart – he remembered how his son would run to his parent’s bed whenever he had a bad dream. So the father simply went to the boy’s hospital room, peeled back the covers and snuggled in the bed with his son – for two days. Finally, it was as if the boy awoke, turned to his father with tears in his eyes and simply held him tight and wept. It was the start of the boys recovery to health.

 

If any of this makes sense to you at a deep, visceral level, then you are beginning to understand the depth and passion of Christmas. For at Christmas God sent His only Son to wrap us in his love and set us free from all the fear and terror that grips our hearts.

 

Thanksgiving at The Summit!

via www.youtube.com

From our Home to Yours...

A Joyous, Blessed Thanksgiving!