This year, my annual Christmas card is being published quite a bit earlier than usual. The primary reason for this minor miracle is Greg Curtis, one of the pastors at Eastside. Greg teaches our Next Steps Experience, a 4-week course that helps people take the next step on THEIR faith journey. I passionately believe that EVERY Christian who wants to mature into a Christ follower needs to experience Next Steps. Greg Curtis was the inspiration for the poem in my Christmas card for this year. Thanks, Greg!
As usual, the Christmas card here on the blog is subject to formatting limitations. If you yearn to see it in all of it's original paper glory, you can either track me down for a physical card I'll be happy to bless you with, or... you can send me an email requesting the Word file that you can print out and fold, thus satisfying your DIY Holiday cravings.
For those of you who have always received a snail-mail Christmas card from me, not to worry... I'm continuing that tradition, too... at least for another year. I think I have a forever supply of Forever Stamps!
Alright, enough explanation, already! Here's this year's Christmas card:
Welcome to the Family
by David Alan Hoag - December 8, 2016
Here’s a Christmas card to contemplate
Meant to challenge what we know.
Why is Christmas set in wintertime?
Do we need the Christmas snow?
Meant to challenge what we know.
Why is Christmas set in wintertime?
Do we need the Christmas snow?
While in another hemisphere
Christmas sleigh bells never ring
No chestnuts, and there’s no snowmen
While their summer’s in full swing.
Christmas sleigh bells never ring
No chestnuts, and there’s no snowmen
While their summer’s in full swing.
The babe wasn’t born a Christian,
He was born a baby Jew,
And Joseph and his wife, Mary?
Turns out they were Jewish, too.
He was born a baby Jew,
And Joseph and his wife, Mary?
Turns out they were Jewish, too.
A tree, with lights, and ornaments
Wasn’t there, which gives me pause.
And truth be told, there was no sign
Of all-knowing Santa Claus.
Wasn’t there, which gives me pause.
And truth be told, there was no sign
Of all-knowing Santa Claus.
Inviting ALL, angels revealed
It’s not who or what you know;
The Magi sought the baby out,
With the lowest of the low.
It’s not who or what you know;
The Magi sought the baby out,
With the lowest of the low.
A baby doesn’t take a test,
It belongs on its first day.
It doesn’t need to learn some Creed,
Or profess ALL that they say.
It belongs on its first day.
It doesn’t need to learn some Creed,
Or profess ALL that they say.
Christmas… reminds that followers
Of Christ Jesus, from the start…
Belong. Then grow. Then learn to serve.
As God’s love… fills up their heart.
Of Christ Jesus, from the start…
Belong. Then grow. Then learn to serve.
As God’s love… fills up their heart.
Merry
Christmas to You!
This season, let the words of Psalm 37:4
guide you through Christmas, and into the New Year:
guide you through Christmas, and into the New Year:
“Delight
yourself in the LORD and he will
give you the desires of your heart.”
May this Christmas season bring you
love, peace, and uncontainable joy
to fill your heart, and your New Year, too!
give you the desires of your heart.”
May this Christmas season bring you
love, peace, and uncontainable joy
to fill your heart, and your New Year, too!
Dave Hoag
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