Another radiant cold cloudy day in Michigan (I believe that a glass is half full), time to walk to lunch.  My coat seems to be no match for the refreshing winter wind.  I look up into the sky wishing for a ray of sunlight but none were to be found.  Lowering my head I feel an unexpected moist droplet upon my cheek.  Hum, must be coming from my eye.  No, there’s another and another.  It’s snowing!  Big white beautiful snowflakes.  Childishly I reached out to catch a few snowflakes in my glove remembering that no two are alike and that in a very short time they will be gone.
 
 For some mysterious reason I begin remembering the many friends that have played an important part in my life, how they were like snowflakes - all different and all beautiful.  Could these wonderful snowflakes be God’s gentle reminder for me to slow down and to remember all the magnificent people that He has brought into my life?
 
 It was at this time I feel another moist droplet upon my cheek, but this one was noticeably different. Unlike the first, which was cold, this one was warm.  Realizing why I had a warm drop of  moisture upon my cheek, I remind myself,  “just keep your head down —- no one will notice.”  God’s mission was accomplished!
 
 But isn’t that what Christmas is about?  Remembering all the wonderful snowflakes that God has placed within our lives.  God introduced us to so many different - beautiful snowflakes and to the most  “PERFECT SNOWFLAKE” of all, His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  All of these show the greatness of His love for us.
 
 So, this Christmas Season  “Remember the Snowflakes” within our lives and the precious birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It might cause us to experience a few warm droplets upon our cheeks:  Oh the warmth of God‘s love.  By the way, when you have your head down so no one can see, give thanks to God for all He has given you in life.  No one will notice.
 
  Merry Christmas and God’s Blessings To All,
 
     John

 
       Isn’t it amazing to watch what is happening in our culture today?  Who would have guessed that what we see today in our nation would ever be considered normal…

Years past, creationism was a catalyst used to expand scientific research, today creationists are accused of hindering scientific progress.  In years past our society would go to extreme measures to protect the life of an unborn baby, but today pro-life advocates are accused of hindering freedom.  We had morning prayers in school, but now you cannot ever say “God bless you” when someone sneezes.  Islam is taught in public schools while Christian talk of any kind is banned in the same setting: amazing!
       And the flip-flopping becomes even more pronounced in our liberal “higher” schools of academia.  Patriotism was once notable, now colleges and universities deplore it.  Learning the required skills of an occupation filled the time of aspiring hopefuls, but today dissention against American and political correctness has been placed on the top of the academic syllabus; amazing! It was reported within the national news that an intelligence test administered to college incoming students and graduating students (the tests were identical) had an unexpected outcome.  The results revealed that incoming students received noticeably higher scores than graduating students; really amazing!
        What are we to do?  We must become more active in pointing out these fruitless social weaknesses.  We do this by speaking the truth “with love” more frequently, in more places, and with greater clarity than ever before.  2 Timothy 2:24-26 gives us an excellent example on how to accomplish this, “A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”
         As our cultural war approaches the boiling point, we as Christians must address our waning society and yes, some sectors of the church, as to the wrongs they are attracted to.  We must exercise this responsibility in a clear, truthfully, and compassionate manner.
 If we accomplish the goals God has assigned us then all can experience God’s grace.  God’s “amazing grace” it never FLIP-FLOPS!  
 
                                                                                 John