A few Christmas songs came to mind when I thought of this BLOG title. “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.” and “All I want for Christmas is You.” Here’s the dilemma with both of those songs. Yes, I do need some serious dental work, but I’ve found the closest thing to the perfect dentist in Buford. And answering any question originating from a Mariah Carey song seems a bit shallow. I’d feel like a Miss USA congeniality contestant answering the question, “What would you like for Christmas this year?”
I do have four items that I’d genuinely love as Christmas presents this year.
- I’d love to see America stop the endless bickering of conservatives and liberals. I am exhausted from stories of donkeys vs. elephants. How about the leaders of this great land stop acting like a bad marriage that only got worse when the truth was revealed that both spouses were abusive and cheated on each other. The only people winning in our national divorce are media outlets (on both sides). I’d love it if they stopped IT!
- I’d love it if the churches across American stopped pointing fingers at schools, government, and other denominations with the claim that it’s always somebody else that needs to change. I think Jesus was clear on this one. The church isn’t a denomination or building. The church is you and me. Just to be sure we get it, Jesus was Waterford Crystal clear that we need to stop calling out a splinter in everybody else’s eye while we have a telephone pole sticking out of our eyes. STOP IT!
- I’d love it if our church (Sugar Hill Church) and others committed to becoming the praying church that we are called to be. If we are to follow Jesus with all our heart, mind, and soul, we MUST be the House of Prayer that He has called us too. That’s why we are launching a new series in January entitled “The Climb.” It’s designed to give you a jump start to a great year.
- I’d love it if we didn’t wait until years end to generously give to the work of the Divine. When I think of the mission and ministry that could be accomplished if each family were to give sacrificially (week by week as provided) it blows my mind. In many churches, that last minute tax break, or gifts for families in need for Christmas are the motivations. Both are great motivations, but you get the same tax break when you give in June. And families in need are often in need in August. If every regular attendee of the average evangelical church gave a sacrificial gift of 3% of their income, we would radically change the world!
Okay, while I’m at it…World Peace!
–Chuck
