The Height Of Church Error: The Dark Gift Of Christmas

Brainflurry.com | The Dark Gift Of Christmas By Paul Luckett

Christmas represents the height of church error and consequently the height of iniquity in the world.

To draw unbelievers we incorporated their practices, even to the extent of creating idols and worshipping them.

We’ve created an entire season, so they’d stop worshipping their idols and worship ours -a demon whose name is More, the hellish spawn of greed, lust and discontent. We worship him saying, “More! More! There’s never enough!”

In service to this idol, we lie to our children outright, unwittingly discrediting The Way and impeaching ourselves as witnesses.

We tell our children myths and fairytales (Santa, etc.) to delight and control them and then expect them to believe our fantastical claims of faith. How, they could reason, is one different than the other?

If it were not enough to defile ourselves with idols and teach our children to do the same, we blaspheme and do it in Christ’s name.

But Christ did not come to give us what we want. We did not get to choose what we would get. And, what He offered we didn’t want. In fact, we were so offended at the Gift that we killed it. We seek satisfaction in our idols but instead find anxiety, burden and slavery. But rather than repent, we double down, thinking the answer is More.

But, so great is His love for us, that while we reject Him and make ourselves His enemy that He desires to give us the things that truly make for our peace – Himself. It is in a relationship with a loving, just and all-wise God that we are made whole because that was the purpose for which we were created. And, God sent His Son, Jesus the Christ, to utterly destroy anything that would separate us from Him -foremost our sin. When we believe Jesus, we are given the right to become children of God and look like Jesus; full of love, compassion and life that we share with the world!

This is the true gift. This is the purpose for which Christ came, to save us, transform us and unite us with the Father through Himself.

Repent. Believe Jesus Christ and receive the real gift.

Holy Savior Day

In Week 52 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for my…

Originally posted on Facebook on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.

In Week 52 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for my mother-in-love, Mary Jean Harris.

"I love you…" I fondly remember the way she would say that, especially when she was on the phone.

She sang it as much as she said it. The vowels would hang for a bit, almost as though they carried a deeper message about her love for you: the authenticity of her love (I-I-I), the intensity of her love (looove) and the certainty of her love (yoouu).

The sound of it was melodious, like a joyous line from an upbeat blues tune. Blues –the music of pain, perseverance and pursuit of brighter days. A fitting soundtrack to a beautiful life. If there was anyone to whom "Life For Me Ain't Been No Crystal Stair" could be applied, it was Mary Jean Harris -she had joy and found ways to share it, even through pain.

The life Mrs. Harris and her husband Willie Lee Harris built in the face of adversity places them among my heroes. In their day it was more important for a child to work than to go to school. But they dared to hope for and pursue a better life. With less than a high school education, they ventured out, overcoming the poverty they were born in to and eventually becoming home owners, all while providing for a large family of six children.

Mrs. Harris meticulously managed their modest earnings with the skill of a banker so that their children and even their grandchildren had not only what they needed but even some of what they wanted. But most impressively she built a house with "good bones". It was a home that kept a family together because, no matter how imperfect (as all families are), it was a home founded on love and built with intentionality. Even until the end, Mr. and Mrs. Harris had the advancement of their children in view and, seemingly against all odds, managed to leave property and money for them -money Melissa and I used to buy our first home.

This is a wonderful, hard-fought legacy and one that we cannot throw away. We owe them our best effort to advance and put the next generation in an even better position.

Thank you Mrs. Harris, for all the beautiful ways you said, "I love you."

We miss you, we love you and are determined to build on your memory. I'm grateful. #52WoG

In Week 51 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for Jamie Jones.

Originally posted on Facebook on Saturday, December 18, 2021.

In Week 51 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for Jamie Jones.

It was a hot summer's day in June and my wife and boys were sitting on the grass just outside George M. Bryan Airport. They were there for two reasons: because our youngest son, Roman, likes to go there just to watch planes take off and land and because they were recording a video for me for Father's Day.

As they were recording, a man began to walk from the hangers in their direction. Thinking that they were about to be told that they could not be there, my family began to get up and leave. But, the man introduced himself and asked if they were there to see the planes. As they talked, they shared how Roman has expressed a love of airplanes even before he could really talk. The man said, "I think I know of something he might be interested in. There's a group meeting in the hanger right now that I think he should meet. Let me introduce you."

That was about 5 years ago, the man was Jamie Jones and that group that was meeting was the MSU Soaring Club. Roman began flying with them at the very next meeting and loved it. He has been flying under the instruction of Dr. George Bennet ever since and is on course to receive his license this upcoming year.

It is rare to find that thing you know without question you were built to do. Because Mr. Jones went out of his way to show kindness to a stranger, he helped my son to find his thing. For that, I am in his debt and he will be forever enshrined in Luckett family history. I'm grateful. #52WoG

In Week 50 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for Pearson…

In Week 50 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for Pearson Liddell. Pastor Gregory Jones…

Originally posted on Facebook on Saturday, December 11, 2021.

In Week 50 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for Pearson Liddell.

Pastor Gregory Jones would say that every man needs these three men in their life: a Paul, Barnabas and Timothy.

That means: a mentor who models new heights of The Way (Paul), a companion who you walk with in The Way (Barnabas) and a mentee with whom you can share what you've learned along The Way (Timothy).

For more than a decade, Pearson Liddell has been a Paul to me, modeling godly masculinity, how to live in dependency on God's grace and what it looks like to lead from a position of service. Not only has he been gracious in sharing his life and hard fought wisdom with me, now he's mentoring my son. Praise God for these mighty rivers of living waters through Pearson Liddell in Christ Jesus! I'm grateful. #52WoG

In Week 49 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for Mr. Oda…

Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, December 5, 2021.

In Week 49 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for Mr. Oda Dakhlalla.

When I got to college, I thought Algebra would be like what I took in high school, but they put "College" at the front of College Algebra for a reason. When I needed help, Mr. Oda Dakhlalla was my tutor. Mr. Oda not only helped me to learn the formulas I needed to solve problems but he helped me understand the underlying logic of mathematical concepts. This helped me to even approach problems that I may not have known the necessary formulas to solve. He was brilliant. He went on to help me with a number of my classes like Stats II.

That was more than 20 years ago.

Mr. Oda has since prepped my eldest son for the ACT, who is now a sophomore in college and is currently working with my youngest son on his ACT and SAT.

But most notably, Mr. Oda over the years has become more than a tutor but a friend. On our most recent visit, he insisted to cook for us. We not only have occasion to regularly share a lesson but life. I'm grateful. #52WoG

*If you or your student needs a tutor in math, stats, physics or chemistry, I highly recommend Mr. Dakhlalla. He's effective and affordable (I was able to afford his services in college). His phone number is 662-722-0020.

“Finding a wife” is not like stumbling upon money on the ground,…

"Finding a wife" is not like stumbling upon money on the ground, but like unearthing rubies, a…

Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, December 2, 2021.

"Finding a wife" is not like stumbling upon money on the ground, but like unearthing rubies, a precious gemstone, that has to be mined, cut and polished. You have to appreciate the value of this treasure, have the understanding to identify what's valuable and be actively searching for it (digging).

Fun fact: you can get totally different gems from the same corundum mineral stone: a priceless ruby or a much less valuable sapphire or a worthless rock – it varies based on the skill of the lapidary (gem cutter) [Husband]. An incompetent man can ruin a great wife. So, learn from the Master.

Jesus teaches us how to "find a wife".

He's clear about:
Who God is, thus;
Who He is.
What He's doing.
Why He's doing what He's doing.
Where He's going.

He then makes an invitation to join Him and is clear about what it costs.

He loves the wife He finds; covering, praying, leading, teaching, providing, giving His life -perfecting her that they may be one in God.

By the grace of God, I "find a wife" in Melissa every day. It's not a one time event. It's a continual process. My example is Jesus as Christ prepares for Himself a bride — in me. I, along with all those who accept His invitation, am His bride.