"What is the favorite Christmas song aboard a ship?" Deck the Halls.

I used to be one of the biggest Eddy Arnold fans around. I had nearly everything he ever recorded on vinyl. That's right. Yes, Virginia, there not only is a Santa but we, back in the day,  did listen to music recorded on something called an LP, the long play record. Perhaps my most favorite Christmas song that he recorded is this one, "Christmas Can't Be Far Away". You can search for it on YouTube. I just did. It still sounds great. Now that's what I'm talking about! It is Thursday, December 22, 2011, and the song is right on target. Here are the lyrics:

A neighbor tipped his hat to me this mornin'
The landlord even smiled and said good-day
And I want you to know a stranger said hello
Christmas can't be far away


Old tight wad down the street is buying candy

To pass out to the neighbor kids at play
The town is on the go
The weather man said snow
Christmas can't be far away

The small fry on our block have all been saving
And now they're hiding things and looking sly
Mom will get that doodad she's been craving
And Dad'll get his usual Christmas tie

Both young and old are planning sweet surprises
They'll soon be tied with ribbons bright and gay
Good will is in the air
You feel it everywhere

Christmas can't be far away
Christmas can't be far away 

As I read those words I can hear Eddy's golden voice, and it is true that folks, at least most folks, are in a better mood at this time of the year. We that know the Lord are aware that true joy is found only in Him. Last Sunday morning I finished my short series on the Senior Saints God chose to be a part of His bringing His Son into the world. I wrote a few days ago about Zechariah and Elizabeth, an elderly couple chosen by God to be the parents of John the Baptist. This week we looked at two more individuals advanced in years, Simeon and Anna, who were close to God because they had devoted their lives to walking with Him. According to the inspired historian Luke, writer of the Gospel bearing his name and the Book of Acts, Simeon was a man who constantly looked for the coming of Messiah, (the Consolation of Israel). The Holy Spirit was upon this man and had informed him that he would actually see the long awaited redeemer before he closed his eyes in death. When Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the Temple to dedicate Him to the Lord as prescribed in the Old Testament Law, Simeon was there and when he saw them with the Child the Holy Spirit informed him that it was the very one he longed to see. Here's Simeon's response: ".... he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “ Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,  A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2: 28-32) Next we meet Anna, an elderly widow, who had devoted her life to fasting and prayer in the Temple, day and night. She too was moved by the sight of this Child. "And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem." (Luke 2:38)

I encourage everyone to read about all of these people and how God used them, even in their old age, to accomplish great things in bringing His Son into the world. It might just surprise you what you will find. Speaking of surprises, I have been concerned for some time now about our bathroom scale. It is one of those that operates manually but there has always been a discrepancy with it compared to my doctor. I figured my doctor's might be off but when I changed to the new medical team under Medicare, well, the same thing came up again. I figured it was time to do something. I ordered a new one. One that guaranteed accuracy. It came in yesterday. We went through the set up procedure and then we checked the results. It is accurate. We have a five pound bag of flour to prove it. The good news: It is accurate. The bad news: We've been using a very bad measuring device. How bad? About nine pounds. Uh oh! Now we know. That explains a lot. And, it will be up to each of us to take action accordingly. I thought about this in the context of our Savior coming into the world. Most in the world at that time were using a wrong measure in their longing for Messiah to come. They had the same Old Testament used by Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon and Anna. But they had allowed it to become distorted by tradition and the interpretations of men. The result? They looked for a material Savior only, one that would conquer their enemies and restore them to prominence. Those using the right measure, they looked for a spiritual Savior, One that would save His people from their sins. Now those are some important thoughts for us all to ponder as we seek to use the rightly divided Word of God as the final measure for everything that pertains to life and Godliness. Amen.            ......More later.