As we prepare for our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations I just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

As the presents are all unwrapped and the food is consumed, I pray that the love of Christ fills you and your family on this special day and carries over to all those you spend time with.

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given”

Over the last few weeks the churches, schools and other community groups have been collecting food and toys to help out those in need in the community of Rittman.

Today was distribution for the 2009 Rittman Community Food Basket program.  Over 200 deliveries were made today.  Below is a short video from today’s activities showing the packing of the boxes and the loading as they were sent out.

It was a beautiful thing to see the church and community working together to BE the church.  To DO church and to share the love and light of Jesus during this holiday season.  I am thankful and proud of all of those that were a part of it this year.  Thank you to all in Rittman that donated, answered phones, wrapped gifts, packed boxes, delivered boxes and prayed for this ministry.

2009 Rittman Food Baset Distribution from Jeff Honnold on Vimeo.

I’ve been reading the following verses a lot over the last few days:

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.  But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).  When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”  (Matt. 1:18-25 ESV)

I keep focusing on a few points:

• “…being a just man…“  Joseph was a Godly man; a merciful man and upright man.  He was a follower of the laws of the day – the Jewish laws of the day – the laws of God.
• “…and unwilling to put her to shame…“  Joseph would have been completely within his rights under Jewish law to have Mary stoned to death.  Instead, he initially decided to quietly divorce her.  He wanted to keep it quiet so that he would not bring public shame to Mary.  He didn’t want to do anything to hurt Mary.  I see this as an amazing act of unconditional love.
• “But as he considered these things…“  Joseph didn’t make a snap decision, he spent time thinking (and I would imagine praying) about this before making his final decision.  He thought about the impact of his words and actions.
• “…he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him…“  Rather than do what the world expected, what a part of him may have even wanted to do, he did what God commanded.  He didn’t worry about what his friends and those around him would think or say, but remained faithful to God.

What if we as men followed the example of Joseph?
What if we as men stood beside our wives and always showed God’s unconditional love?
What if we thought before we acted…really thought and prayed about whatever we do?
What if we didn’t listen to what the media and the world tells us is right or OK?
What if we did what God commands us to do and loved our wives the way Christ loves the church?

What do you say, guys?  Let’s be more like Joseph!

OK, I don’t do this too often but I have to share – stop what you are doing – go and read Carlos Whittaker’s latest post about his family’s experience with the “elf on the shelf”.

I dare you not to laugh.  You’ve been warned (and if you don’t laugh and think that my sense of humor is just a little off-center you are probably right).