Just a little light

So many of you know that we have some pretty unusally weather around our parts. Mr. Weather man said it's been about 40 years since we have seen this kind of storm and it stayed around.

Because of that, I didn't have a chance to share my traditional Christmas message. So, here it is ... just a few lines from my 10 minute light message.

Lewis and Clark the great explorers and are well known around these parts …in fact, one of their camps was less three miles from where we are today. Many places and parks were named after these two famous explorers. In fact, back in North of Yellowstone National Park there were discovered a huge underground caverns that today are called The Lewis and Clark Caverns.

Will the discovery of these caverns has an interesting story behind it. You see, one of the original explorers was walking along the top of that mountain and fell through a hole, and he dropped several hundred feet into this cavern and was stuck in almost total darkness for over a week, without food or water.

He cried out every day "Help me", hoping someone would hear his voice and figure he was down in the hole. Sure enough someone came along and heard his faint sound and looked around and found the hole. They dug him out and that’s how they found this giant cavern. They asked him how did you hold on to hope day after day in the dark without giving up. He said, there was one little pinhole ray of light that was coming through and I just kept focused on that ray of light.

We come from all walks of life. Some of us are old, some of us are hometown people, some of us are transplants from another place, some of us are rich, some of us are poor, some of us have love, some of us have loved and lost. Here’s what we all have in common--we have all walked in darkness. Though it would seem that some of us have sinned in greater frequency or greater magnitude than others, we have all been born with something missing in our lives, a God shaped hole in our hearts, as some people call it. Isaiah and John call it Darkness.

But the good news is this, we have seen a great light and furthermore, that light comes to us. Graciously, the light has come towards us and continues to come towards us. As long as we reject the great filling light in our presence, we will continue to walk in darkness. As long as we refuse to forgive, love, share and make peace, that "God shaped hole" will continue to be a "God shaped hole". Why? Because God loves us so much that God gave us freedom. The light is not invasive.

Don’t tell anyone, but I really like candles …. Many of you have been to our home …and I hope to have even more this next year … but when you come to our home, you will see a few candles around our home …not a spoky amount, but a tasteful amount … and when you come, you will find some of the lit

> We do know that remains of candles were found in excavations in Greece and Egypt. dated at around 3000 B.C.

> During the time of the Roman Empire that scientists began to see evidence of the development of candles as we know them today. The Romans used candles not only to light their homes and to facilitate traveling at night, but also for their religious practices.

> By the mid 19th century the Industrial Revolution had transformed the way candles were made. Paraffin had begun to replace the venerable Tallow.

> Today, most candles are machine made by a molding process. As an art form, candlemaking still survives in our modern world.

Candles themselves are a great illustrations of us.

> Candling was a process used in 1800s to examine an egg. One would hold the egg up to a candle to test the egg for freshness or staleness. (we to need light to test us)

Candles are molded and shaped. There are little, short, fat candles; there are long, skinny candles, there are beautiful decorated candles, or basic and plane (like us, we come in all shapes and sizes)

> There is something in the middle of a candle that makes the wax have a purpose (the question for us, is what is in our middle?)

> The darker the night, the greater the light. One small candle may give light to many on a dark night. (some of you have experienced great darkness, followed by great light)

> As the candle gives itself for the light it produces heat, and often times a special fragrance. (we to have aroma’s – good I hope)

> Candles must protect themselves from the wind, else the light will go out. (we to must learn how to protect ourselves from the sceems of the evil one)

> A good candle paces itself, and does not burn at both ends. (are you burning at both ends?)

> A candle’s life has a span, there is a limit. (we to have a limit)

> The more candles burning the greater the light. (I think that is the power of the church today)

But above all … The real purpose of the candle is not cosmetic, the candle must give itself for the light! …You can have all the cosmetics you can muster up, you can have the most beutifly candle in the world, but it falls short of it’s reall purpose if it does not give itself up to the light.

If we do light our candle with the light of God, if we do allow our souls to be ignited with the awesome power of love and forgiveness, peace and sharing, we will find our true purpose in life. The light, the burning of the wick … fills the "God shaped hole" in our lives … Nothing else will fill it … only the light.

That little child laying in a manger brings us light. A light shining in the darkness has a way of drawing our attention. In the midst of darkness it has a way of giving hope. John’s gospel tells us Jesus was the light shining in the darkness. The darkness he’s referring to is the darkness of our world evil, sin hatred, violence, poverty, brokenness, disease, death, anything which goes against God’s original plans for our world. Jesus came to shed light in our darkness to bring hope into hopelessness. We have all walked in the darkness.

Just like we were lit by another, we to have an opportunity to pass on this light …Christ exhibited in a life in which he was reprimanded by the "holy men" for going into the houses of tax collectors and prostitutes. This birth that we celebrate today is not just a birth in a stable 2000 years ago, it is a birth waiting to happen.

Jesus enables us to grow the fruit of the spirit, love, peace, patience, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. These in turn enable us to shine more brightly for Jesus in our lives and to reflect the light of Christ in our lives and the world. The light of God wants to enlighten your life because God wants you to know who you really are a shining faced Child of God.

Christmas is much more than an unlit candle …until the light is shining, it’s not Christmas.

A Pastor was visiting a small village in Haiti, and not wanting to place himself in a lofty position, so, when he was asked to share alittle about himself he simply stated … ...."I am a candle for the Lord, I give myself for the Light!!"

The interpreter said what was that you said?

"I am a candle for the Lord, I give myself for the light"

On the 3rd try to get him to understand. I held my finger up and with the other hand made a flame over my finger, and again said, ---

"I am a candle for the Lord, I give myself for the Light!!"

On each trip after that, they have introduced him to the crowd as "The Candle."

As he walked by the crowds on the church ground, I would hear the people say something, I asked the interpreter, he said, They are saying, Here comes a candle for Jesus.

A candle is really not effective, unless it is lit. Where can you give yourself up for the light this Christmas season … where can you give yourself up in 09. Maybe in the rest home, and maybe in the hospital, or maybe a little child needs a little light. Who needs the light in their dark corner?

For the darker the night the greater the light.

Someone needs your light today!!

Have a Great Day

David