Grady Russell

I have shared with you about my favorite version of the Bible. Now I will share my favorite holiday. Care to guess? Christmas! Yes, Christmas; the day of the year when virtually all commerce grinds to a sputter, streets and highways look quite forlorn for their lack of activity, and people everywhere are gathered with family.

Our home is filled with family. Our children have all made the trek to enjoy the holiday with mom and dad. My kids will inevitably pose the question, “Dad, what do you want for Christmas?” My answer is just as predictable, “To have my family around me.” I, honestly, some-times fear that I will be so convincing that they give me only that! Yet, that is my greatest joy in this life, spending time with my family.

As I consider my years of ministry, I remember many times that I put others before my own. I still do. My family still understands. You see, they are all called to the same journey. Still, my heart yearns for time with these great people that God has ordained to share the journey with me.

I could not have taken the first step along this way without my wife. We have been traveling together for thirty-one years and counting. Yes, it is possible in America to stay married to the same person all of your life. I remember the conversation with God, when I shared my deepest convictions that I could not do what He was asking without her alongside. He agreed, and touched her heart, too! God is so good! I am so often reminded that my convictions were correct. In fact, I need her and love her and enjoy her more today than ever.

She and I have watched with great joy as God has drawn each of our children and their spouses into the journey as well. Christmas has been a great part of our growth as a family and as sojourners with God. It is easy to see why; the Babe in the manger. The darkness of that first Christmas was sent into perpetual retreat by the light of that Child. He is the Light of our world; the light of my world. In every Christmas decoration, every Christmas greeting, (even “Happy Holidays!”) and every moment of the Christmas season, I experience again the wonder of that night in Bethlehem so long ago.

What other event could cause Americans, such noble titans of commerce and industry, to cease from their labors? Only Christmas! After all the pre-holiday madness there is on that day the joy of opening gifts, (yes I got everything I wanted and more!) eating my wife’s fabulous and famous recipes, remembering the events of the year (loss and difficulty as well as blessing and prosperity) sharing stories and laughter with our family, and stopping to consider once again the reason we do these things – that Babe in the manger.

Christmas is my favorite holiday because of all those things and because God found a way to include me in His family. Some have envisioned a place where it is “always winter and never Christmas” but God has given His Son, The first Christmas Gift, so that me and my family, and all who accept that Gift, can live in a world where it is always Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for your journey, as well.

Here is my second entry. I am amazed by the number of readers! Thought you should all know that I am a pastor in Winter Garden, Florida. You can find my church website under my links.

One of the first things you should know about me is that I am a huge fan of the Contemporary English version of the Bible. Don’t get me wrong, I love the King James Authorized Version and the wonderful poetic flow of the language. I enjoy the NIV and the translation called The Message, too. The Amplified is also very useful, but for my daily reading and for most of my sermons, I rely heavily on the CEV.

Let me give a brief comparison of the CEV and the KJV.

In the book of Job, we find that Job loses his children, his wealth, his health, his friends are blaming him, and his wife is telling him to curse God and die. It seems that things could not get any worse. Then a storm of Biblical proportion comes into Job’s hometown and God finally decides to speak. In the 38th chapter of Job, in the KJV we read, “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” Beautiful language but what does it mean? In the CEV we read, “From out of a storm, the Lord said to Job: 2Why do you talk so much when you know so little?” Powerfully descriptive words which tell us to be as brief as our understanding.

I shall endeavor to do so in future entries.

God bless!