Christmas in July - Oh My!

Last year I was uncharacteristically slow to get into the Christmas spirit. But if my reaction to the shopping channels’ Christmas in July sales are any indication, I won’t have any problem this year.

All of the three major networks (HSN, Evine and QVC) offer some great Christmas décor, food items, and gifts. I successfully avoided succumbing to the wares of the first two, but there were two things I wanted to order again from QVC. Once, I found those presentations, it was easy to spend additional money on other items.

I think that’s typical of how many of us approach life. Once we commit to something, it opens the door and we can’t stop. That’s not a problem unless we do it to excess or to the detriment of ourselves or others.

Sin is often described as excessive behavior. The Ten Commandments seem to support that theory to some extent, but they also mandate that some behavior should just not occur, like stealing. As a former pastor once said, “thou shalt not kill” isn’t an exact translation. We kill all the time. We kill animals to eat, euthanize pets, swat flies, squash spiders, etc. The real issue is murder. Do we kill another human being without cause rather than in self-defense or to protect others?

So when is it appropriate to be a zealot or to be passionate about a matter? I guess that depends upon the circumstances.

Once you begin doing the right things, you want to do more. Random of acts of kindness is something that comes to mind. The opposite can be said for things like little white lies and cheating on taxes. Luke 16:10 states: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (NIV).  I really believe that is a true statement.

So for now, I’m going to enjoy celebrating my favorite holiday even though the temperature is nearing 100 degrees. I love the feeling of the Christmas season, and the opportunity to think of others, even if it means buying some presents five months early. Anything that encourages me or others to do that can’t be a bad thing.

Another Benefit to Reading the Bible

When I wrote Simple Things to Make This World a Better Place, I was totally astounded by some of the wisdom in the Bible to support random acts of kindness and how best to live our lives. It probably shouldn't have surprised me to discover approbation of actions that I didn't even realize were in the Bible such as making monetary loans without charging interest, or providing instructions to gain resolution in a conflict.

Now that I've read the Old Testament three times, the New Testament four times, and Proverbs and Psalms twice, I realize how much I still don't know. Every reading leads to something I missed before.

So how did I read the entire Bible, and especially, how did I begin? It was simple. I just bought one of the read-the-Bible-in-a-year books. After the first time through it, I was ready to read the Bible on my own using the version most utilized by my denomination.

But since I'm an avid reader, I also wanted to still read a variety of other books in myriad genres. That opened my eyes to the possibility of reading two or more books at the same time. It wasn't confusing, as I had thought it might be, to read the Bible and something else. Now, reading two or three books at the same time is what I normally do, but I never would have attempted to do so without first reading the Bible along with those other books.

Being able to read two or three books at the same time was once unfathomable to me. Of course, during school years, we all do that with text books and different courses, but keeping characters and plots separate was different, or so I thought. Thanks to my first reading of the Bible each day, I realized that it is possible to distinguish between different books that are read at the same time. I liken it to watching different TV shows. Sometimes I like comedy, and sometimes I like drama. The same is true with books. Sometimes I want to learn something, and sometimes I just want to be entertained.

I do realize, regardless of whatever I choose to read, it is a gift. It is a gift to read the Bible with all of its wisdom because it is my guide for living a better life. But it's also a gift to read for enjoyment. Literacy is one of those things most of us take for granted unless you might happen to be a writer like I am. Most writers love words and it doesn't matter if we are the ones to write them or to read them.