The Grand Rapids Times
12-26-2008
By Marcel Gamble
Once again it is Christmas and time to celebrate the birth date of all dates. The birth date I am referring to is that of our Christ, Lord and Savior.
It is not a time to be boastful about the gifts you do receive and it is definitely not a time to be unappreciative because of the gifts you do not receive.
Most of us won’t be able to celebrate Christmas because everyone refuses to take out the trash.
When trash is left in a room for long period of time it creates an unbearable stench. It attracts flies which later on brings on maggots.
If someone would volunteer to take out the trash when it is ready to be taken out then the extra baggage such as the unbearable stench, flies, and maggots wouldn’t be a problem that needs to be dealt with.
The trash that I am referring to is the drama and the grudges that are held within families because of previous disputes.
There are the depressed parents that are upset because they can’t afford high priced gifts and there are the children who are ungrateful because they don’t realize that they receive gifts everyday.
I consider the following chaos to be trash; it is trash because it’s ridiculous baggage that people create themselves.
Why can’t the thought of a person being in the presence of their family be a blessing from God and a present? Some people will not have the opportunity to even see their family this Christmas and they will still be able to celebrate the season.
Why are some of us upset when we aren’t able to receive presents during Christmas when we receive gifts everyday?
If you have a coat on your back then you can say Merry Christmas.
If you have shoes on your feet then you can say Merry Christmas.
If you have a house to live in then you definitely can say Merry Christmas.
An individual that has all of the following things or more, and still feels the need to complain, needs to take out the trash. I smell a stench and it is coming from the family that can’t even sit down and celebrate Christmas together.
Somebody needs to take out the t5rash because sister is mad at sister for attracting her boyfriend. Mama is still mad at daughter for lying about her pregnancy.
I see the flies coming. They smell the trash.
Dad is still angry with son for not following in his footsteps.
The trash continues to sit in the house and as long as it sits the celebration of Christmas will cease to occur.
I’m going to leave you all with this; II Kings 14:26; For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Teens Talk - The Unwrapped Gifts
When I was a little boy, Christmas was always my favorite holiday for one reason — the presents.
Every Christmas Eve, I would give my parents unbearable headaches because of the one question I would constantly ask, “When is Santa coming?”
There were years when Christmas was great, times when I would get 20 presents or more. There were also years when I would come down the stairs on Christmas day to find no presents under the tree at all. I would force myself to believe that Santa had just forgotten to stop by my house, or, that I was on the naughty list.
As a child I was too blind to see that I had received gifts, the greatest gifts of all, unwrapped ones. I couldn’t see the unwrapped gifts that were right in front of my eyes because I had my heart set on the gifts that were in big boxes and sealed under wrapping paper.
S.T.O.P. Stop is something that everyone needs to do this Christmas.
If we can’t see the unwrapped gift of life, then how can we celebrate Christmas?
If we can’t see the unwrapped gift of family, we need to stop and open our eyes.
If we can’t see the ultimate unwrapped gift of all, the birth of Jesus, then we are clueless to what we are even celebrating.
How did the celebration of Christmas begin as the celebration of the birth of Jesus and end up as the emptying of bank accounts to please others?
We need to stop this Christmas to recognize the gifts that matter before we go broke buying the gifts that will eventually deteriorate.
I’m not going to make a Christmas list this year because I myself need to focus on the unwrapped gifts that are in my life everyday.
We as individuals tend to get ourselves worked up and anxious to see what is in the boxes underneath the Christmas tree only to disappoint ourselves when we find out that we received something that we didn’t want. Like me and so many others, we do not realize that we have had things we wanted all our lives; we have had the unwrapped gifts.
I’m going to leave you with this, Matthew 1:21; “She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
God saw that we were the unwrapped gifts in His life. Why Christmas day can we not see Jesus as our unwrapped gift?
Every Christmas Eve, I would give my parents unbearable headaches because of the one question I would constantly ask, “When is Santa coming?”
There were years when Christmas was great, times when I would get 20 presents or more. There were also years when I would come down the stairs on Christmas day to find no presents under the tree at all. I would force myself to believe that Santa had just forgotten to stop by my house, or, that I was on the naughty list.
As a child I was too blind to see that I had received gifts, the greatest gifts of all, unwrapped ones. I couldn’t see the unwrapped gifts that were right in front of my eyes because I had my heart set on the gifts that were in big boxes and sealed under wrapping paper.
S.T.O.P. Stop is something that everyone needs to do this Christmas.
If we can’t see the unwrapped gift of life, then how can we celebrate Christmas?
If we can’t see the unwrapped gift of family, we need to stop and open our eyes.
If we can’t see the ultimate unwrapped gift of all, the birth of Jesus, then we are clueless to what we are even celebrating.
How did the celebration of Christmas begin as the celebration of the birth of Jesus and end up as the emptying of bank accounts to please others?
We need to stop this Christmas to recognize the gifts that matter before we go broke buying the gifts that will eventually deteriorate.
I’m not going to make a Christmas list this year because I myself need to focus on the unwrapped gifts that are in my life everyday.
We as individuals tend to get ourselves worked up and anxious to see what is in the boxes underneath the Christmas tree only to disappoint ourselves when we find out that we received something that we didn’t want. Like me and so many others, we do not realize that we have had things we wanted all our lives; we have had the unwrapped gifts.
I’m going to leave you with this, Matthew 1:21; “She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
God saw that we were the unwrapped gifts in His life. Why Christmas day can we not see Jesus as our unwrapped gift?
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Teens Talk - The Everlasting Bad
The Grand Rapids Time
12-12-2008
By Marcel Gamble
People have an awkward way of operating. They act as if they are mechanical machines that constantly have to be upgraded.
Unknowingly they complain and take things for granted. I know because I am one of those machines that break down on a daily bases.
I break down because even though I own 8 pairs of shoes already, I am mad because I still don’t own a specific pair.
I break down because although I have clothes on my back I don’t own the hottest name brands.
It’s accurate to say it’s not only bad that influences me to act a certain way like so many others. It’s also stupidity that gets the best of me.
First, my computer needs reprogramming because I constantly forget that I am blessed with more then I should have. There are machines that do not have a roof to live under, a bed to sleep in, and a bathroom to use.
I think that I am experiencing some shortage in my mechanical body because I should be ashamed to think I am not blessed.
We all need to realize that God blesses us in so many ways that we don’t even notice because we are caught on being known as the best in the world. Set your mind on things above and not on things on this earth.
Secondly, my bolts need tightening because I am always falling apart due to my body that I continually claim is aching when I don’t want to do certain things.
I feel like a worthless machine when I think about the machines that are actually missing limbs and who have physical disabilities.
There is an everlasting bad that is present, surrounding and affecting everyone.
Even in church bad is brought up frequently and good is barely mentioned. Pastor may say, “I am tired of seeing these kids on the corner with their pants hanging off their behinds.”
Unfortunately, pastor doesn’t get around to saying, I’m proud of these children that are changing their lives around. Young machines hear these messages and feel neglected in the church and they eventually stray away from their church families.
If bad is all a young machine hears then its only nature that a young machine burns out before hearing the good.
This bad is making us blind to good.
This bad is causing us to have a materialistic greed.
For example, there is a machine that has a house, a car and a family, but then this machine turns on the television and realizes that his life is still empty.
He wants the house that has a balcony, 4 bathrooms, master bedroom and an indoor pool. He wants the car with the 24 inch rims and leather interior.
He is no longer satisfied with the wife that he has been married to for years. Now he wants 3 girlfriends on the side.
This machine is currently out of order and beyond the stage of reprogramming which means now this machine is scrap metal.
As long as we all allow bad and negativity to control our lives then we all will become scrap metal. There is good in the world. The problem is that we don’t choose to see good.
Galations 2:20; “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
12-12-2008
By Marcel Gamble
People have an awkward way of operating. They act as if they are mechanical machines that constantly have to be upgraded.
Unknowingly they complain and take things for granted. I know because I am one of those machines that break down on a daily bases.
I break down because even though I own 8 pairs of shoes already, I am mad because I still don’t own a specific pair.
I break down because although I have clothes on my back I don’t own the hottest name brands.
It’s accurate to say it’s not only bad that influences me to act a certain way like so many others. It’s also stupidity that gets the best of me.
First, my computer needs reprogramming because I constantly forget that I am blessed with more then I should have. There are machines that do not have a roof to live under, a bed to sleep in, and a bathroom to use.
I think that I am experiencing some shortage in my mechanical body because I should be ashamed to think I am not blessed.
We all need to realize that God blesses us in so many ways that we don’t even notice because we are caught on being known as the best in the world. Set your mind on things above and not on things on this earth.
Secondly, my bolts need tightening because I am always falling apart due to my body that I continually claim is aching when I don’t want to do certain things.
I feel like a worthless machine when I think about the machines that are actually missing limbs and who have physical disabilities.
There is an everlasting bad that is present, surrounding and affecting everyone.
Even in church bad is brought up frequently and good is barely mentioned. Pastor may say, “I am tired of seeing these kids on the corner with their pants hanging off their behinds.”
Unfortunately, pastor doesn’t get around to saying, I’m proud of these children that are changing their lives around. Young machines hear these messages and feel neglected in the church and they eventually stray away from their church families.
If bad is all a young machine hears then its only nature that a young machine burns out before hearing the good.
This bad is making us blind to good.
This bad is causing us to have a materialistic greed.
For example, there is a machine that has a house, a car and a family, but then this machine turns on the television and realizes that his life is still empty.
He wants the house that has a balcony, 4 bathrooms, master bedroom and an indoor pool. He wants the car with the 24 inch rims and leather interior.
He is no longer satisfied with the wife that he has been married to for years. Now he wants 3 girlfriends on the side.
This machine is currently out of order and beyond the stage of reprogramming which means now this machine is scrap metal.
As long as we all allow bad and negativity to control our lives then we all will become scrap metal. There is good in the world. The problem is that we don’t choose to see good.
Galations 2:20; “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Friday, December 5, 2008
Teens Talk - A Christmas Gift To Die For
The Grand Rapids Times
12/5/2008
By Marcel Gamble
When I think about Christmas, to be honest, I think about presents, Christmas music, and family dinner.
My thoughts about what I will be receiving and giving overpower my thoughts about the true meaning of Christmas.
I am ashamed to say that the birth date of my Savior is the last thing that is on my mind during the Christmas holiday.
Like so many others, I am caught up in pleasing my loved ones with expensive gifts rather then being a servant of God and professing to younger individuals the true meaning of Christmas.
Many of us lose the true meaning of Christmas because we get blinded by the gifts that are to die for.
Well, this year, we can all appreciate Planned Parenthood of Indiana because they have gifts that people die for.
“Looking for an unusual, yet practical gift this holiday season? Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) is now offering gift certificates for services or the recipient’s choice of birth control method. The gift certificates can be purchased on line in increments of $25 or for any amount at some of PPIN’s 35 health centers.”
Jesus was born on the glorious day of Christmas, and now people think that it is a gift to take the lives of innocent babies during Christmas.
Planned Parenthood of Indiana is giving everyone a gift to die for this year.
According to an ABC News report, “Planned Parenthood provides contraception, pap smears and other routine health services for women, as well as abortions. The gift certificates, ranging in values from $25 to $100, can be redeemed for all clinic services.”
Let me remind you all that Planned Parenthood of Indiana refers to these gift certificates as being unusual, yet practical gifts.
I don’t know about practical, but I understand these gifts to be ridiculous.
What is so Christmas about encouraging others to have abortions by giving them gift cards to do so.
What is so Christmas about aiding someone in taking a life out of the world the day Jesus was brought into the world?
Through these gift cards what are we telling teens that have already went through the process of abortion?
This present to die for, is this truly what Christmas is about?
Each man’s sacred gifts are his own, but what he gives to the priest will belong to the priest.’ “ (Numbers 5:10).
Once a gift is given to someone, it is his or hers to keep permanently.
Some of us need to think about the permanent damage we are creating this holiday season.
12/5/2008
By Marcel Gamble
When I think about Christmas, to be honest, I think about presents, Christmas music, and family dinner.
My thoughts about what I will be receiving and giving overpower my thoughts about the true meaning of Christmas.
I am ashamed to say that the birth date of my Savior is the last thing that is on my mind during the Christmas holiday.
Like so many others, I am caught up in pleasing my loved ones with expensive gifts rather then being a servant of God and professing to younger individuals the true meaning of Christmas.
Many of us lose the true meaning of Christmas because we get blinded by the gifts that are to die for.
Well, this year, we can all appreciate Planned Parenthood of Indiana because they have gifts that people die for.
“Looking for an unusual, yet practical gift this holiday season? Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) is now offering gift certificates for services or the recipient’s choice of birth control method. The gift certificates can be purchased on line in increments of $25 or for any amount at some of PPIN’s 35 health centers.”
Jesus was born on the glorious day of Christmas, and now people think that it is a gift to take the lives of innocent babies during Christmas.
Planned Parenthood of Indiana is giving everyone a gift to die for this year.
According to an ABC News report, “Planned Parenthood provides contraception, pap smears and other routine health services for women, as well as abortions. The gift certificates, ranging in values from $25 to $100, can be redeemed for all clinic services.”
Let me remind you all that Planned Parenthood of Indiana refers to these gift certificates as being unusual, yet practical gifts.
I don’t know about practical, but I understand these gifts to be ridiculous.
What is so Christmas about encouraging others to have abortions by giving them gift cards to do so.
What is so Christmas about aiding someone in taking a life out of the world the day Jesus was brought into the world?
Through these gift cards what are we telling teens that have already went through the process of abortion?
This present to die for, is this truly what Christmas is about?
Each man’s sacred gifts are his own, but what he gives to the priest will belong to the priest.’ “ (Numbers 5:10).
Once a gift is given to someone, it is his or hers to keep permanently.
Some of us need to think about the permanent damage we are creating this holiday season.
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