Welcome to Friday, November 28, 2025, where merchants of all kinds are hoping to get their earnings in the black today, hence, Black Friday. I saw a live news report this morning from one of the big box stores and it appeared to be almost empty. Uh-oh. That's certainly not what they intended. I, in a moment of weakness actually told the wife last night that we might go to the mall today just to see a lot which according to the late Yogi Berra, you can do just that when you are watching. It's like seeing a reality show live. I'm sure there will be antics of all kinds caught on cellphones and uploaded for our viewing pleasure. Things like fights and brawls, crowd surges and stampedes, and, general chaos. Sadly, often some of these activities end up in some injuries or even worse. Okay. I do have a wee bit of a confession here. Watching two ladies go at it over some insignificant trinket of some kind, well, that's pretty entertaining. What about two guys? Yeah. That's more common and doesn't do as much for me. They call the ladies going after it a 'cat fight' because it typically involves scratching, shoving, slapping, choking, punching, kicking, wrestling, biting, spitting, and hair-pulling. Sounds sexist to you? Don't blame me. The tag actually dates back to a book written in 1854 about Mormon women fighting over a shared husband. Since then it has become a part of our culture and a feature of news clips from Black Friday. They will have to do since we no longer have the Friday night boxing I watched as a kid growing up.
Getting back to something more meaningful, I often find myself conflicted about the amount of sharing or the lack thereof in my life when I think about the totality of the blessings bestowed on me. Best I know, giving involves our time, our talent, and our treasure. We like to throw around the slogans like 'Blessed to be a blessing' and one I've thought a lot about recently, 'Thanksliving'. We used to tell the kids in the inner city Bible club ministry how the word JOY stands for Jesus first, Others next, and Yourself last. We did. We really did. Teaching that is one thing, living it is a much bigger challenge. I am thankful for the giving we are involved in, but, I'm also thankful that it still gnaws at me, and, as the South African Christian crooner used to say, "Could it be God?" Here's some inspired insight from the Apostle John,
1 John 3:16-18 "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for
us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If
anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need
but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear
children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in
truth."
I'm reminded about the 'how much' question we also shared with the kiddos in that inner city ministry. "Okay guys, remember what we learned before. How much did Jesus love and give for each of us? Their response: They would stretch out their arms and lay their head down on their shoulder and chest depicting the Cross. And, lest we think we've given much, go and read what Jesus said about the poor widow and her giving as found in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 21, verses 1 through 4. I suppose that's enough conviction for one day and it most likely hits us all. As well as it should on this day devoted to selling and buying. Y'all have a great Saturday and remember Sunday begins a brand new week and the pattern of the New Testament shows that's when the believers met to worship and hear from God. It's called attending a local Church. You can do that too. You can. You really can. It just could change your life. And, may God add His blessings.
Amen.
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