Raising Hope!

This time of the year is so much about hope. The Christmas story is what hope is all about. No matter who we are hope comes and goes because of our circumstances. Now that 2015 is coming to a close and we look to 2016 we hope that the coming year will be good. Like 2015 and our prior years on this earth so far we have the ups and downs throughout the year. During the year things change some for good and some for bad; we can now say that is what life is all about. We may lose some lives that we know through death or relationships.

 This year like I have mentioned a few times a couple guys that I grew up died only a few days apart. The first Rex passed away in a drowning accident, and Howard died of cancer. Most of time with Rex and Howard was during our childhoods. I did not seem them as often as I like during our adulthood; however, it does not change that I miss them both equally. Both men were quite different from each other except they both enjoyed sports and each had great sense of humor. Rex was very outgoing and enjoyed the ladies very much. Like me he did a lot of talking and did not mind getting in a little trouble. Howard was more of a quiet man who loved music and theatre. In fact he was music director doing both band and choir. In their own ways though different made an impact on many lives. A toast to Rex and Howard! Your family and friends always remember you.

Another area like I said before is relationships. There are those who have gone through divorce or in a strain relationship at this time. Also, other things that you may have to deal with as well; people move away so the relationship changes, one or both of you take different jobs or lose a job.

Going into 2015 I was hoping that life would be an adventure. I have to say it is to some point but not as much as I would like it to be. I haven’t given up on life being an adventure though. It is what can make life so good and exciting. I hope to find a woman this coming year who will want to join me in this adventure. Other words, I hope to add a new relationship or more. Like I have said before the more friends the better; however, the most important is to have a few close friends too.

So the Christmas story is about a baby born in Bethlehem named Jesus. The wise men or three kings came because they heard that the Messiah was being born in Israel. Joseph and Mary the parents of Jesus found it hard to find a place to give birth to him until they found a place outside an Inn because the whole place was full. So King Herod heard that this baby being born and he asked to know the wise men where to find him because he wanted to worship Jesus too. Of course, he was not telling the truth, and he wanted to have the baby boy killed so Joseph and Mary left Bethlehem until word that Herod was dead. So Jesus being raised up as a Jewish boy started proclaiming himself as the Messiah; however, the Jews did not recognize him as the Messiah because they thought the Messiah was coming to rule the earth and bring down the bondage they had lived in for so many years. In their minds the Messiah was coming as a King and not as a servant like Jesus. So Jesus ended up being crucified on a Cross at around the age of thirty-two for the sins of the whole world. You could say the Jews of that time crucified him but in reality it was the reason he came into the world to give us all hope that live in the bondage of sin. So whatever circumstance you are living in right now Jesus is the answer to your hope. All you have to do is accept and believe in him. This is the Christmas story that we can live in each and every day. Happy Holidays!