Men!!

Seasons Greetings to you and yours!  The Christmas season is upon us and oh my, how wonderful it is.  I know many of us have been pushed to the brink of consumerism and its certainly been beat into us to progress to something better each and every year, regardless of what the better may be.  However, its this time, Christmas time when we should eschew the world, forgo the latest Christmas song remake, turn back to Bing Crosby and Burl Ives and fight to conserve the traditions that make Christmas so important.  

Why would this be necessary?  What is it that makes conserving the details of traditional Christmas so important?  For me its summed up in one word…HOPE!  

You see the fear around us, the fear within us, the violence, the humanistic approach to life its because people have lost HOPE.  They’ve lost hope.  It makes sense.  We live in a sinful broken world, we should feel hopeless, except for one thing…Jesus Christ.  He gives us HOPE, he heals the broken world, He makes it all right, He is the HOPE the world is missing.

So don’t give up on Christmas, don’t give up on tidings and good cheer, lean in to the beauty of this season and understand there is HOPE, and its greater than any of us…

One Life to Live

If this was your last week to live, how would you spend it?

This question really convicts me.  It really convicts me of the things accomplished and the things left undone.  

It convicts me of the chances taken and not.

It convicts me of the opportunities accomplished and missed.

It convicts me to keep going, to try hard, to make the most of any and all situations.

One Life to Live 

If this was your last week to live, how would you spend it?

Would we be selfish with our time?  

Would we do all the things that we like?

Could you choose the activities your family likes to do?  I would.

Would you travel to places never before seen?

One Life to Live

If this was your last week to live, how would you spend it?

You need to know who, what, where, and how you would spend this time.  

You need to know how this week looks for you.  

You need to really get down to brass tacks and wallow in the thoughts of the end and what is most important for you.

You need to be aware of the people, places, activities, and conversations that you’d most want to have.

NOW!  Do it.  Do it this week. Do it today.  Do it tomorrow.  DO NOT WAIT!!

Do Not Wait until it is your last week to do the things you most want to do and know you need to do with those that are most important to you.  Do them now!!

Action Time:  Write it down.  Your last week starts tomorrow…what are you doing that whole week.  Write it down.

Trust me, I make these choices every day.  I’m never sorrowful being home for dinner, I never miss the hunting morning when I have breakfast with joyful kids, I never miss the game reading books and prayers at bedtime with my kids, I never miss the show because I refuse a tv in my room so I can be present with my wife.  

I promise you, a life well-lived is measured in moments spent with the ones that love us the most.  Lean into tradition, lean into Christmas, lean into Hope and lean into Jesus; He loves you most.

Plan ahead, pay attention, show love to those in your care and Don’t Fear that Day!

Jonathan Kennedy Jr