Christmas Eve Devotional: The Gift

“The Gift Has Already Been Given:  Have You Received It?”
By
Rev. Chaplain George M. Rossi
December 24, 2014
Christmas Eve

Titus 2:11-14
2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,
2:12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly,
2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
2:14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

Christmas Eve surely speaks to the preparation “to give” and “to receive” good gifts tomorrow.  Yet, the Gift (Jesus Christ-fully God, fully Human) has already been given.  In Titus 2:11 the writer declares that the “charis” (grace) of God has appeared (root word for epiphany).  I don’t know about you but God in the flesh certainly still challenges me.  How can that be?  Is it true?  Did the fullness of God come in human form and in the body and bones of Jesus Christ?   It is true.  Jesus has come in the flesh.  Initially, he came as a baby in the manger.  That’s the essence of the Christmas story.  Salvation has appeared and we can either see it or look away.  We can receive the gift humbly or we avoid it.  The God of the Bible became incarnate (pitched a tent with us) and dwelled among the people of Palestine so that He would bring salvation.  That’s not the end of the story though.  The other half of the story is the fact that the grace of God has been brought to ALL people.  The entire world is being called to call on the LORD to receive salvation.  When salvation is received one is given the Gift of God.  It is spiritual wholeness, spiritual safety, spiritual healing from the Savior, Jesus Christ, himself. 

 The name Christian means and assumes that Christ has indwelled the hearts and soul and minds of God’s people.  It is the LORD who has come to live on this earth, but more importantly, it is the LORD who has come to help us to live.  The Christian is called to move away from impurity and worldly passions.  I think the easiest way to understand this calling is in terms of putting God first and following God according to the law of the Spirit and law of Love.   As followers of Jesus the Christ (anointed one of God) we are called to live lives that are self-controlled, upright and godly.  Those are challenging words:  self-controlled, upright and godly (followers of what God endorses).  In the last two verses (vv. 13-14) the writer says that the second appearing of Jesus will eventually happen.  It’s amazing how the writer talks of the advent and coming of Christ, describes the goals of Christian living and then says that Jesus will bring the final redemption and cleansing when he appears the Second Time.  We don’t know the time of that reappearing and until then we are called to live a life of good deeds. 

So, living for God means being an energized and zealous worker that shows and brings God’s love through actions, helping, caring, confronting, challenging, and forgiving others.  We live amidst our own and others imperfections yet others know when the Gift has been received in our lives.  Others can tell when Christians want the best for others and give their best to others.  So, have you received the Gift from the Gift Giver?  If so, let us press on to living a life that shines brightly amidst a sometimes dark world. 

Dear God:  Thank you for the Gift of salvation, wholeness and peace during Christmas.  They are truly priceless.    Amen.

High Cotton: Celebrating Good News

 

Above is a picture of large field of cotton very close to Exit 139 on I-26 near St Matthews and Orangeburg, South Carolina.  I have been watching this field grow during the summer and early fall.  Thankfully I was able to take the picture before the farmer could harvest this beautiful, snow-like field of t-shirts!   I am almost certain that most of us take cotton and maybe even our faithful farmers for granted.   Yet, a field of “high cotton” is something to celebrate.  It marks a moment in time where hard work has paid its dividend.  Clothing of all sorts will probably be made from this field of crops.  I imagine the farmer is thankful to God and to the good sandy soil in the midlands of South Carolina.  Just like farmers we too can celebrate the dividends of hard work and overcoming the trials of life.  Sometimes people go through chemotherapy, radiation, and long weeks in the hospital that eventually produce a good report from the doctor.  People love to hear the words, “you have been cured” and “you are in remission.”  It’s all good news just like the cotton crop that has blossomed and become a good harvest.  Thank God for good news and good harvests.  I hope you will experience “high cotton” moments this week.  Wait on God.  Usually, the waiting is worth it all.

 



Morning Coffee

The coffee mug is a small token of appreciation given to members of the South Carolina Society of Chaplains members. Our new president, Tamara Flinchum, recommended the idea and it seems that the membership has enjoyed the thoughtful gift--me too! I had my morning coffee in it today and it was a bit celebratory given the fact I just finished my third and final year as president for the Society. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve, yet a bit grateful that my time is up. It’s like having a part-time job without pay in some respects. The “pay” is having the opportunity to lead and to share in the friendship and collegiality of some of the best chaplains in the United States. I kid you not!

After our fall meeting last Friday I had a celebratory meal and drink with my good friend Rev Paul Hamilton. He is the director of pastoral care at The Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg. The meal and drink at Chili’s in Lexington were great. Even better yet was sharing a meal with a friend. Serving as president of the Society has allowed me the opportunity to make deeper friendships with other chaplains from across the Palmetto State. It has also allowed me to attend meetings where excellent speakers have presented and shared their ideas and pastoral care expertise. The friendship and education events are twice a year: spring and fall and usually at the offices of the South Carolina Hospital Association in Columbia. The Society is one of many professional membership groups. Dues are 80 dollars a year and worth the money in my humble opinion.

This week (October 19-25) is Pastoral Care Week in the USA. It is a week where chaplains, pastoral caregivers, and spiritual caregivers (same idea…different words) celebrate the spiritual and pastoral care given to people in times of need. The work is unending but an occasional celebration is always good. This year’s theme is titled, “Spiritual Well-Being,” which is certainly a noble goal for all. I hope you are able to give yourself time to enjoy life and work on your spiritual well-being this week too.
　
　

"Back Home: Still the Same Yet Filled With New Challenges"

My plane landed in Philadelphia about 30 minutes before the expected time. The first real cool front had dipped into the South and the tailwind was a real kick in the tail so to speak. I was happy and don’t remember too many airline flights in my life where I landed 30 minutes early. It was only 8:00am so the City of Brotherly Love was barely stirring. There was a cool, crisp feel in the air and my Columbia brand black fleece was the ticket for staying comfortable. I got my rental car in a fairly uneventful manner and even tried to sell my two tickets to the Eagles game that mom and I had planned to attend but were now unable to attend. The Enterprise car rental guy took my number and I told him I would sell both for 125 total. He said it was still early and he would do his best. I thought, “Early! It’s 8:30 on game day and the game starts at 1:00pm, really?!?!” More on the tickets later.

The ride from the Philadelphia Airport to my mom’s apartment in Willow Grove is one that I will long remember. Knowing the area very well left me wondering if I would take the Schuylkill Expressway to the Turnpike or just take the Blue Route to the Turnpike or even instead, make a leisurely ride through Philadelphia. I chose the latter. If nothing else I was able to save a few dollars on tolls but more importantly I was able to take the Schuylkill Expressway, cross the historic river and then reminisce over the fond memories of growing up on the edge of the city in the town called King of Prussia.

The ride from the airport along the river was amazing. It was clear, blue sky. The famous Boathouse Row universities (Penn, Drexel, etc) houses looking as colorful and beautiful as I always remembered them. Then, I took the bridge across the river and traversed the hills of Manyunk and then made my way through Wissahickon, Wyndmoor, Philadelphia neighborhoods and even into the gas station where they told me there was no public restroom. I thought to myself, “Really?” I got over that and held it in until I could get to a gas station that had one.

Along the way I passed recreational football teams of young kids actually playing football on Sunday morning. I don’t remember my team (King of Prussia (KOP) Indians) ever playing on Sunday morning. Anyway, they were playing and it was a great sight to see. I passed our KOP rivals of Wissahickon, Roxborough, Wyndmoor, Cheltenham, Roslyn and then Glenside. I know that mom reminisces about those days too. Dad would as well if he were still alive. The memories of sticky buns, pizza, weigh-ins, and being my with siblings (Mark played and Wendy and Linda cheered) are good.

Now, back to the Eagles game and time with mom. Well, I had lots of people contact me about buying the tickets for the Eagles/Rams game but no one took the plunge. 9:30am rolled around and I decided to check with my nephews and sure enough one of them could use the tickets. As it turned out it was his first ever Eagles game. I could not have hoped for a better outcome if mom and I could not make the game. Mom and I watched the game and I know that it was easier for her to do so than trek the parking lot and stairs of Lincoln Financial Field. Even better yet the Birds beat the Rams 34-28 but not before almost giving the game away, ala the USC Gamecocks (that’s another story!).

So, life is all about making memories, building and sustaining relationships with family and doing one’s part to help people deal with life’s transitions and challenges. I am far from perfect and most certainly, just trying to be a good son and a good brother to my siblings. I will let all of them decide on that.

Finally, the rolling hills and historic homes and even the messy, sometimes dirty city of Philadelphia is full of life. It is in the heart of the once Middle Colonies, rooted in deeply held religious traditions like The Friends (Quakers), Judaism, and Catholism for the most part with an occasional Bible church and Presbyterian church sprinkled into the neighborhoods. It is rich in history where people stay and never move away just like mom who has been there her entire 75 years. It is home to her and my former home. It is filled with great pizza shops and Tastykakes galore. There are rabid sports talk radio shows (WIP 94 FM) and even historic rock and roll stations (93.3 WMMR) that are still working.

The new part is mom’s transition to senior care and transitioning to a new apartment closer to my sister. Eventually it will be all good. Mom is happy. Mom is slowing down yet the best of Philadelphia and her life is held deep in our hearts. Hopefully, some good days are ahead for her and for us as her family. As people say down south, “Can’t complain!”

A Prayer: Dear God: Thank you for family. Help me to be a blessing and to do my best to help. Amen.

Emma - Irmo High School Class of 2014

Congratulations Heather! Wofford College Class of 2014 - BS/Biology

“No, I Don’t Color My Hair and Neither Do I Use the Tanning Salon!”

Two very good minister-chaplain friends of mine recently commented on my hair. One asked me if I dyed my hair and the other made a sidebar reference to his own receding hair line by mentioning my full head of hair. I am not accustomed to people commenting on my hair color or its length. I can say that I prefer the “low maintenance” approach to hair management. I buy shampoo that literally costs $1.49 a bottle and I can comb my hair in about 30 seconds as I get ready for work and the day after showering. My hair management quotient is low!

Then, recently one of my daughters got a part-time job at a tanning booth. One disclaimer first—I have never used a tanning bed before and I am not sure I would admit it if I had! One day recently I was at the tanning salon picking up my daughter from work and had opportunity to walk in and sit down as she finished her tasks. Then something amazing happened. I noticed that about one-third of the customers who walked in were actually men. I was shocked. I never imagined that so many guys used the tanning salon. Their ages seemed to be in the 20-40 range so I would say they were relatively young.

All right, so what does hair coloring and tanning salons have to do with me? Well, not too much other than it is something I find interesting. I have already decided I will live with what the good Lord gives me—brown and slowly greying hair and skin that is pinkish that tans easy. I guess the hair color and tanning phenomena is a matter of “keeping one’s youth” and/or living life in a way that makes one happy. Regarding hair coloring and tanning salons I am trying to practice a “live and let live” or if you prefer the religious approach, “don’t judge your neighbor!” approach to life. But I must say that being asked if I dyed my hair and seeing men in tanning salons is really challenging that ethic. Just bear with me. I live a pretty simple life!

I try to be a “live and let live” person. I trust that I and others know what they need and want in life. So what if a guy colors his hair or uses the tanning booth. Does it really matter? I don’t think so. Instead those cultural phenomenons are just that—they are part of the culture of staying young and looking good. It’s big business in the USA for sure. As for me I am trying to gracefully age or is it age gracefully. Either way the important word for me is “grace-fully” and less so the word “age.”

Dear God: Help me to be a "live and let live person" who "judges not his neighbor." Amen.