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Hi there...hello? Are you there? Has the fog lifted from your turkey coma? Oh! There you are!!! Welcome to the Tuesday after food, family, and football! It's Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! The only blog in the internetosphere to answer the question, is there really pumpkin in pumpkin pie? (actually, we aren't the only blog to answer that question but our incredible staff of researchers tells us..."no, most canned pumpkin includes very little pumpkin and is actually a variety of winter squashes...butternut, Hubbard, Boston Marrow, and Golden Delicious"...we thought those were apples?)
Regardless of your favorite entree' or dessert this season, we hope you were surrounded by the deliciousness of that food, the delight of your family, and declarative cheers for your favorite team, even if it was squaring off as a family in the backyard!
This is a funky Tuesday. We are almost past the belt loosening stage, but not quite to the bell ringing point. Many folks begin celebrations of Christmas right after Thanksgiving ends. I confess our tree and lights went up this past weekend. Too soon? Don't judge me, I have grandkids to think of after all! And there is much to be said about having a Christmastime spirit all year long...but without the tree and garland, etc.
With the anticipation of December and the holiday season it brings, many parents start that age-old tradition...that's right, it's time to start manipulating your children into good behavior with phrases like..."Don't forget, Santa is watching you!' or the classic, "You don't want to get coal in your stocking!". And if push comes to shove, you won't hesitate to bring out..."You better watch out, You better not cry..."
Written in 1934, "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" was first heard on Eddie Cantor's radio show in November of that year. In a 24 hour period after the radio broadcast over 500,000 copies of the sheet music and 30,000 copies of the record were sold. Writers John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie must have been very good that year.
"Santa Clause is Comin' to Town has become a perennial favorite. Over 200 artists have recorded a version of the classic Christmastime hit. Many of those covers have actually made it to the mainstream charts throughout the years. The song has inspired many Christmas television specials, the most notable being the 1970 stop-motion classic of the same name which featured Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney.
"You better not pout, I'm telling you why..."
Have you ever seen folks who seem to have a constant state of "pout"? Not very attractive to say the least. They are not the kind of folks in which you wish to hang out or socialize. They seem to be so dissatisfied with life because they haven't gotten everything the way they want it. For those who have had a restoration to their relationship with God, this should never be a continual motis operandi.
Paul recounts how Israel got into the vicious cycle of being redeemed by God and then pouting about how God didn't do it the way they thought He should. He gives a brief history of the rollercoaster in Paul's 1st Letter to the Corinthian church, chapter 10, verses 1-13 - Christian Standard Bible, The Message paraphrase of the Bible, King James Version of the Bible parallel. As you can see, there are many benefits to staying away from that pushed out lower lip look.
"He's makin' a list and checkin' it twice..."
I confess that I have been on many people's "list" before. You too? How nice to be in good company! Santa Claus' dreaded "naughty or nice" list pales in comparison to a list for which everyone should have great respect. How do you get on that list? Well, it has nothing to do with being good for goodness sake! The Bible affirms that not any of us are truly good. Paul tells us in his letter to the Roman Church, Chapter 3, verse 9-20 CSB/The Message/KJV that none of us are righteous (right enough in God's accounting). So does that mean we are all without hope? Absolutely not!
Fortunately, we did not have to rely on a "jolly old elf so lively and quick" to make us righteous in God's eyes. You see my friend, Jesus did that for us. He died on the cross for all of mankind's sin. For those who believe that Jesus crucifixion was the last sacrifice required by God for us to be saved, there is the promise that God no longer views our life in light of who we are, but He sees our life in light of what Jesus has done for us. Believers wind up in the Lamb's Book of Life. The Revelation to the Disciple John, chapter 20, verses 11-15 CSB/The Message/KJV This is way better than being on the nice list!!!
"He sees you when you're sleepin', He knows when you're awake..."
The idea that someone knows every aspect about us can bring terror or comfort. It all depends on where your worldview stands. There is terror promised for those who have an eternity future separated from God's presence. But for those who have accepted Jesus' Lordship over their lives, there is comfort in the fact that He is in control of all things in our lives and the relief that we are not. Followers of Jesus have an eternity future in God's presence and we can live in this life with an abundance that He has promised. The Gospel of Jesus according to the Disciple John, Chapter 10, verses 1-12 CSB/The Message/KJV
As we make the entrance to this celebratory season, let's keep in mind a few things: 1) Believers never have a reason to pout. 2) None of us are nice enough. 3) There is a list that you DO want your name on. and 4) Believers can draw great comfort from believing in and serving an all-knowing God.
Oh! and one more thing...Santa Claus is comin' to town!
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
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