What’s Faith Got To Do With It?

Is there any person, material possession, circumstance, lifestyle quality, or concern in your life you would sacrifice or do anything for, even unto death?  And if there is such a thing, whereby you would sacrifice even unto death, is it a cause, occurrence, or person for which you have total belief and faith in?  Saying we would sacrifice even unto death is a substantial commitment, and is not a statement we should make lightly.  If we make an announcement such as this, it may be due to our having faith in whatever we would sacrifice for.  We may care so much about what we are sacrificing for, that we throw out the rule book, so to speak, when it comes to caring about our own needs.  Or, we may make such a sacrifice due to an occurrence which brings forth action without thought.  Most of us know and understand life is precious and short, hoping to have lives that are full of meaning, energy and vigor.  So, if we say we would sacrifice our lives for something, it makes sense to think we may have a considerable amount of faith in what we would be sacrificing for.

But, do we really need to believe in something prior to going to any lengths in order to sacrifice for it?  And do we need to truly believe in and have faith in what we will sacrifice for?  Certainly we need to understand what a sacrifice is, for many would have differences of opinions about what executing a sacrifice means.  One definition of sacrifice from dictionary.com is the following: “the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.”  I think our lives would qualify as a sacrifice, for as we are willing to give up our life for any cause or occurrence, then I would have to say it is truly a sacrifice.  I do not believe anyone would dispute giving up our lives is the ultimate sacrifice.  But, what’s faith got to do with it?

Unless one has faith in the cause, occurrence, or person, a sacrifice does not seem likely.  Putting someone else’s needs before our own can be a sacrifice.  We see it during times of crisis, when someone has been dealt a hand in life where they are at risk, such as in Haiti, due to the earthquakes.  People are giving money, aid, and even going to Haiti, in order to assist those in need, those who’s lives are in peril, who’s continued existence on this planet requires people to give of themselves sacrificing their own wants, desires, and possessions for others.  The video of Anderson Cooper was an example of heroism, and sacrifice.  As the boy, who had been hit by rubble thrown at him from angry looters, was down on the ground, bloodied and incoherent, Anderson Cooper rescued him, not giving any thought to his own safety, but only that of the young boy.  Caring and sacrificing for others seems to come natural for many, and can be a spur of the moment occurrence during times of tragedy for others.

But, what about when we discuss what a person believes in, their moral code, their ethics, and their character.  This area of life seems to be one that may shift like wind in a storm for many people.  Having a belief and faith in a way of life, one which directs our moral code, our ethics, and our character, is something many allow to be altered and shaken by what current circumstances dictate in their life.  In our, “what’s in it for me” society, we tend to let our moral code, ethics, and character process through a metamorphosis as our needs, or what we envision as our needs, go through this modification.

In general, is seems to me that many do not have a serious conviction about what they truly believe in, or quite possibly many do not know what they believe in when it comes to their moral code, ethics, and character.  Unfortunately, we are all failed humans, filled with sin, capable of hurting others with or without thought.  It takes a conscious effort, many times, to care more about others then ourselves.  It really boils down to whether or not we truly believe in what we say we believe in.  So, what’s faith got to do with it?

When it comes to christianity, many people are not willing to declare their faith, for fear of retribution.  Jesus said in Matthew 10:21-22, “Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”  What’s faith got to do with it? Faith has everything to do with my belief that we all are sinners who fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and my belief that Jesus came to earth, lived as a man, and died on the cross at the hands of his accusers, resurrecting 3 days later in order to bring us new life.

I have to be completely faithful to that belief, for if not, then what I say is inconsequential.  I have to be willing to sacrifice my time, my talents, and my treasures in order to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a world which needs this truth.  I can not worry about retribution, about persecution, or about how sacrificing for the truth of Jesus will effect my own life.  Of course, I will fail, at times, in being the type of person Jesus would desire for me to be, because I am human.  Regardless, I certainly need to put forth all of my best in order to spread the word of Christ.  I can not consider if people receive this message positively or negatively, for it only my job to share the message.  If I suffer for this message, so be it.  My desire is to be 100% faithful to my Lord Jesus Christ, who made the ultimate sacrifice on the cross for me and you.

I do not want to waste my life with a minimal faith, but one which is all ahead full, seeking only to fulfill the great commission Jesus gave us in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  In order to do this, I must have a faith that is unwavering, can not be questioned, and a faith in Jesus that only seeks to carry His message to the world.  In that process, I can not worry, or be concerned about what negative effects this belief and faith will have on my life here on earth, nor be concerned about what the world thinks about me, for I am first a servant of God, and a servant of His kingdom.  So, what’s faith got to do with it? It has everything to do with it, everything to do with my belief in Jesus as Lord and savior, and with how I live my life.  Without a faith which puts Jesus and His message first in my life, and how I make decisions, act, and exist here on earth, then I might as well not even believe in Jesus.  I should never waiver about how I share the news of Jesus, never cower when speaking His name, or professing who He is.

What’s faith got to do with it? Everything if you believe in Jesus, everything if you take seriously the gospel of Christ, everything if you trust the Bible as 100% truth, everything if your desire is to fulfill the great commission of (Matt 28:18-20) and the great commandment from (Mark 12:30-31), which says, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”

If you are a believer in Jesus, please make sure your faith is overwhelming, that your faith is so strong in the belief that Jesus is your Lord, that you trust Him with everything in your life, every aspect of your life, every occurrence in your life, with your total being, both physical and spiritual.  Make sure you are so tenacious in your faith, regardless of either physical or emotional indifference from the world, that you will forge ahead on your quest to spread His good news, for their is no greater prize then the one which awaits us who believe.  The prize of everlasting life with the creator of the universe, the prize of being able to spend eternity with Him who created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27).  Are still wondering what’s faith got to do with it? Faith in Jesus is the whole enchilada, and should encompass our entire being, for we should have no other way of living then giving our all for Christ.  Your reward for this will be in heaven.

May you have a blessed day,

Daryl Dho

Have You Called Your Mom Today?

For years, a close friend of mine told me he called his Mom every day.  She lived in another state, so he did not have the opportunity to see her very often.  According to my friend, their conversations were not that long, but were meaningful.  If you keep reading this post, you will discover why their conversations were so meaningful.  Unfortunately, his Mom passed away around Christmas, and he passed away last week from a car accident.  My friend would call in the morning, before work, and they would talk for awhile discussing what was going on in their lives.  He loved his Mom, and calling her every day was one way he showed her his love.  Of course, if you don’t call your Mom every day, that does not mean you do not love her, but it can’t hurt!  If you don’t mind, I want to you ask a question; have you called your Mom today? I understand for some of you who have lost your Mom, or do not know your Mom, this may be difficult, and for that I apologize.  But, you have others in your life you care for and love, others who you may need to call today.

I know most of us realize life is short, and the older we get the faster time seems to go by, but what are we doing to capitalize on every moment life has to offer?  Some time ago, I developed a theory as to why life seems to go by faster the older we get.  You see, if you take 1 year of your life when you are 5 years old, that 1 year is 20% of your life.  But, when you are 50 years old, 1 year is only 2% of your life span.  As we get older, a year of our life is a much smaller percentage to our overall years of life on this earth, therefore creating this idea or thought in our head that life is going by faster.  It really is not going by any faster, but seems to be going faster, due to the percentage of time we are measuring being a smaller percentage to our overall age as time goes by.  When we turn 100 years old, which I know is a long shot, then 1 year will be 1% of our total life.  So, a 5 year old does not have many life experiences to measure a year of time with, while a person 75 has 15 times as many years and occurrences in life to measure.  That is my theory.  With those thoughts, we certainly do not want to waste any of our precious and valuable time here on earth, but rather use it wisely, placing value on all of the relationships we have, whereby putting those relationships at the top our list of priorities, or “bucket list”.  Have you called your Mom today?

Since we all should understand time goes by way too fast, therefore desiring not to waste any of it, we need make sure we spend quality time with those we love and care for.  We never know when the minute, hour, or day will come in our lives when we will pass on from this life to the next.  It is imperative then, that we realize life is full of the unknown, including when our physical life will end.  Therefore, without exception, we should treat every moment, every hour and every day as if it may be the last.  Have you called your Mom today?

We should never stay angry with anyone, never go to bed after an argument with a family member or friend, never leave the house in the middle of an argument, until we resolve our dispute.  Holding a grudge or internalizing negative feelings towards others, does not serve any positive purpose.  We need to clear the air, acknowledging what wrong we have done, asking for forgiveness, and then move on.  Harboring hateful or hostile feelings towards others just puts us in an unfavorable place to be, one that can only bring misery and despair to both parties.  It is always best to put aside our pride, be the bigger person, and admitting fault, even if we are not wrong, or believe we are not wrong.  Have you called your Mom today?

Having a dispute with people we care about is not something I believe any of us delight in, but we allow our foolish pride to get in the way, therefore blurring our vision and our ability to make the proper decision about the resolution of the strife that exists between us.  Usually, these quarrels are a disagreement over something with no major importance.  Many times, we can’t even remember how they started in the first place.  Again, we are allowing our pride to take control of our life; whereby we neglect the most important part of the equation, the continuance of our relationship with the person we are in conflict with.  It is not worth existing in an environment which could be considered hostile.  Make the necessary adjustments to rectify what the problem is; then make up with the person and move on.  Life is short.  Have you called your Mom today?

This life goes by in a blink of an eye.  At the end of our lives, nothing we have will go with us, not our money, our cars, our house, our TV, none of it.  Everything we have will stay here on earth, be given to someone else, and eventually will disappear.  What is most important in this life are two things, as Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV), “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  We must care more about our relationships in this life than the pursuit of the temporal aspects of this world which seem so enticing.  Caring for others, including our parents, our spouse, our children, and our friends, should be our priority.  Nothing else matters in the end. Have you called your Mom today?

Jesus consistently talked about how we should love one another, as he said in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”  If we care more for others than ourselves, the reward we receive in return far outweighs what we think we are losing by giving.  This attitude of giving for others carries with it a prize of fulfillment, for when we care for one another, we receive a warming spirit in our lives, an intangible gift that is more wonderful than any physical thing the world can provide.  Have you called your Mom today?

Life is short, do not waste any of it.  Work always towards the building of relationships with your family and friends.  If we put our stock in the relationships of our lives, we will leave behind a legacy that can go on forever, generation to generation, as the thoughts and memories of how we cared for others will be carried on.  If we put our stock in the tangible things of this world, we will only be remembered as long as the stuff we leave behind exists.  Beyond that time, our memories will deteriorate as did our wealth.  Spend this life with people.  Have you called your Mom today?

May God bless your life with an abundance of loving relationships,

Daryl Dho

True Friendships Are Rare

In the relationships of our lives we will most likely accumulate innumerable acquaintances, but at the same time will not acquire many relationships with people I would classify as true friends.  I believe as we navigate through each season of life, we meet and enjoy being around countless individuals, but true friendships are rare.

Sure, we would like to say we have true friendships in our lives, but what does true friendship really mean?  Dictionary.com indicates that a friend is a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard, or a person who gives assistance.  The longer we have been on the earth, the greater number of relationships we will develop with people along the way, giving us the opportunity of having true friends.  Unfortunately, many times life takes a sharp turn, altering our course.  At this junction, we may find the friendship we thought was developing is now a forgotten memory.  Job changes, school, finances, divorce, death, many of life’s unknowns approach us when we least expect them, putting an end to what may have become a true friendship.

In addition to those circumstances that may or may not be in our control, the attitude of so many people in our society is one of self centeredness and selfishness.  Many of us are unwilling to give beyond what is necessary to keep our relationships in a friendly mode, due to the “what’s in it for me” lifestyle we may be engaged in.  It is “status quo” to consider how are relationships are worth having assuming we receive some benefit from it.  This type of perspective towards relationships is a dangerous one, as we soon find we do not have the true friendships we thought we had.  When a time of need approaches in our lives, we find who may or may not be a true friend.  If our “need” will put someone else out in their life, including their time or treasure, then we may discover they can’t fulfill our expectations.

In my life, my family moved all over the country, especially as a child and during my teen years.  Of all the people I met as a child and teen, I can not account for any acquaintances or friendships that have endured from those relationships.  All of the hundreds of people I knew as I grew up are but a distant memory on the path of my life.  As an adult, I have been blessed with a large number of relationships and consider many of these individuals, true friends.

One of my closest friends in life, whom I met in 1988, recently passed away from a tragic automobile accident here in Gilbert, Arizona.  His name is Gary Kudela, and he was a man who cared about others, almost to a fault.  He would do anything he could for those in his sphere of influence.  My family and I loved him dearly, as he was like a brother to me.  We watched each others children be born and grow up to become adults.  We went on family vacations together, laughed together, cried together, got crazy together, and got into trouble together.  He was someone I would do anything for, as he was a man I loved and cared for deeply.

Gary was always there when you needed someone to talk to, hang out with, or lend a hand.  He was the type of man who would give you the shirt off of his back in order to satisfy a need of someone he knew.  He participated in life with many people, enjoying golf, watching sporting events, drinking coffee, eating and drinking a good beer.  He was a true friend in the rarest way, for in all my life he was one of only a few people, other than my family, whom I can say were always there for me, always offering me anything I may need when I was down.

A few years ago, Gary began to question who God was, what the Bible said, and about how he would get to heaven.  He asked me questions about Jesus, about who Jesus was, about what part Jesus played in Gary getting to heaven.  Gary said that he was a good guy, but realized that he was also guilty of many wrongs and faults, as we all are.  He knew that he was not perfect, and was in need of redemption in order to have a way to heaven.  Gary knew it was true what Romans 3:23 (ESV) says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Gary also believed what Jesus said in John 14:1 (ESV), “I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life, Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”  Soon afterwards, Gary made the decision to trust Jesus with his salvation, in turn guaranteeing his path to heaven.

In Gary’s relationship with Jesus, he found a true friendship.  He trusted he would be forgiven for all of his faults.  He knew God would take care of him, even though he was not perfect, for none of us are.  Towards the end of his life, Gary spent time developing the most important relationship, the friendship he had with the creator.  He knew that the importance of having a relationship with God and a true friendship with His son Jesus was a top priority.  I am grateful that I will see Gary when I pass from this life and onto the next with him and Jesus in Heaven.  Jesus has prepared a place for all of us, and it is His desire that we have a strong relationship with Him, while developing that relationship into becoming one considered a true friendship.  True friendships are rare in life, but in the end, the relationship that matters most when considering whether or not it is a true friendship is the one we may or may not have with the creator of the universe.  We must have a true friendship with our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. If you do not, I suggest you stop what you are doing now, and bring close a relationship with Jesus, asking Him to forgive you for your sins, and ensuring a ticket to eternity with God in heaven. Amen. I will see you again in Heaven, Gary.

May God be your closest and truest friend,

Daryl Dho

Marriage is a Roller Coaster Ride, So Stay Committed to the Adventure

Life is similar to riding on a roller coaster, and marriage, being the union of two individuals, is no different.  When two people come together as one, they choose to play a role in each others story together, engaged in the ups and downs of the roller coaster ride we call life.  Since life is jam packed with the unknown, at times bearing its ugly side upon us when we are not looking, all of us should be prepared for what lurks next in our day, week, month, or year.

Most of us would like to write our own story of what will happen in life, they are called dreams.  As a child, we begin to dream about how we will spend our lives in our vocations, who we will be married to, or where we will travel.  We want to pattern our life with the things which we believe are valuable, so we attempt to plan ahead exactly how our lives will progress, and how we will take each step of our journey.  When we finally meet “Mr. or Mrs. Right”, we put together a big vision of how our lives will proceed from that point on, including all of the fairy tale aspects we have dreamed of and how perfect all of the facets of our story will be savored.  It is during this dreaming where many of us fail to realize life, including marriage, is a roller coaster ride, and we need to stay committed to the adventure.

On the 28th of December, 2009, my wife and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary.  As I reflect on the last 24 years of our lives together, with all its joys, triumphs, struggles, and mishaps, I grasp an important truth.  My life, or should I state, our lives, has not proceeded, “according to hoyle”, as the saying goes.  When I began my life as an adult, in time getting married, I had many different plans I desired to be fulfilled, many dreams of how the story of our lives would be written.  Then we began making choices, which at the time we believed were in accordance with our plans, to bring us into our reality of how we could accomplish our dreams.  Many of our plans resulted in failure, or were abandoned.  But there is one aspect of my life that is a huge blessing to me and continues to be successful; my marriage.  It is still vital and wonderful, as my wife and I believe in the commitment of marriage; “til death do us part”, as the wedding vows stated.  I acknowledged many years ago the fact that marriage is a roller coaster ride, so I decided to stay committed to the adventure.

There are no guarantees in life, and we are not promised wealth, fame, or love.  When we are fortunate to have accomplished any of our dreams, we may begin to think we have “made it”.  But, we certainly can all attest to the fact that on the roller coaster ride we call life, what goes up, at some point, must come down.  It’s how we deal with life when we have these struggles that I believe makes a difference in our happiness.  Most people can cope with life when things are going their way, but how do we manage the inevitable difficulties and obstacles we are faced with at some point during our adventure?  How we choose to engage in these activities, which can be very challenging and difficult, is critical to our happiness.  Marriage, being a part of many peoples lives, is a roller coaster ride, so stay committed to the adventure.

Unfortunately, when many married couples find themselves in a situation that doesn’t go along with what they believe is their dream life, then they want to bail out.  At times, all of us have troubles, but many do not want to acknowledge this, because it doesn’t fit into our dreams and plan of life.  So, for many married couples, divorce happens.  During the last 24 years of my adventure with my wife, we have had many ups and downs, joys and sorrows, accomplished dreams and had failure.  But, at the end of the day, I still have her by my side, because we are committed to each other, to our marriage, and to the love we share in our family.  When I married my wife 24 years ago, I married my best friend, not someone who is disposable.  She stands by me, and I by her during every day of our lives, without condition.  I trust, and give trust, I forgive and am forgiven, I love, and am loved, and this is how we make it through every day of our adventure.

In the Bible, Genesis 2:24 (ESV) states, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”  This sacred union is one that should not be taken lightly, but I feel many do.  It becomes convenient for many in our society to throw their marriage into “the muck” when dealt an unfavorable hand, for they have lost the ideal of the commitment made on their wedding day.  Many choose to forget the vows they made, neglecting to continue the lifelong commitment.  Matthew 19:6 talks about our marriage commitment as it says, “So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”  If we do not seriously acknowledge that commitment, as well as the fact that marriage is suppose to be a sacred union designated by God, then I believe we will struggle when an obstacle comes in our path.

I enjoy my life and my wife, as she has given me a lifelong commitment of caring, forgiveness, love, and togetherness.  I believe that is what we all want, someone to share life with.  No one wants to be alone, for life is easier when we have a partner.  It is all the more better when that person is our best friend, the one who will do anything for us, even to the death.  My encouragement to those who may be struggling with your marriage is this; remember what you were thinking about when you first got married, and go back there.  Instill in your marriage trust, forgiveness, and love, in order that you will once again recognize the commitment to each other you made in the beginning.  Life and marriage is a roller coaster ride, so stay committed to the adventure.

May your journey through the adventure of life be blessed,

Daryl Dho

The Christmas Present; Our Journey to the Celebration is Complete

A little boy, 10 years of age and his younger sisters, ages 8 and 5, quietly tiptoed down the hallway of the two story suburban home, whispering to each other, with the oldest girl asking the boy, “are they up yet?”  The boy ignored the question as he lead the two girls down the stairs very slowly, but with purpose, because they wanted to see if Santa Claus had come the night before, bringing them presents.  They were sure there would be presents under the Christmas tree, for most certainly they had been nice this year and were never naughty.  They thought this as they were doing what their parents told them not to do before they went to bed on Christmas Eve night; they were instructed not to go down the stairs before their parents were awake.  But the those instructions did not keep them from the quest of seeing the presents.

As they approached the bottom of the stairs, the youngest girl stumbled, and squeaked out a little shriek.  This action instantly halted the other two children in their tracks.  The boy told the girl to be quiet, then asked her if she was okay.  Of course she was fine as they continued on their journey down the stairs, making a turn and entering the living room, where the Christmas Tree was standing tall and the lights were glowing as it was still dark since it was only about 6 A.M.  When they entered the room, all three children stood there, gazing at all of the presents sitting under the tree, which Santa had carefully set on the floor below the tree.  The lights glistened and reflected off the wrapping paper of the presents, as the three children were now examining to see which ones were theirs. A little chatter was heard amongst the children concerning what they thought might be in the presents, as the oldest girl said to the boy, “let’s go wake up Mom and Dad”.

So, they hurried back up the stairs, down the hallway, opened the door to their parents room, and proceeded to yell and scream, “Santa came, Santa came”, then jumping up and down on the bed.  The Mom and Dad were startled, yet not surprised, as they were expecting this to happen this chilly Christmas morning.  They had finally finished wrapping the presents about 12:15 A.M. the night before, and as it was now 6:05 A.M., they were a little tired, but in the same sense wide awake, as their children were bringing an air of excitement into the room due to their knowledge of what was downstairs underneath the tree. Before we go further, just to clarify, Santa is not real.  I hope I have not just bursted your bubble about the Santa situation, but the parents are Santa.  Yes, every year the parents have to buy, wrap and position the presents underneath the tree.  So that is that, now you know the truth about how the presents get under the tree.  The fun begins.

But what is the greatest, most spectacular and wonderful present you have ever received? Was it a bike, race car set, doll, or something else, like………..? As we conclude this Christmas series about the journey to the celebration, we have to establish what the most perfect present is, the one present that surpasses all other presents as the most memorable present of all time.  As we noted earlier, the presents do not come from Santa, there is not a mystery guy who flies around the earth in one night on a sleigh, bringing all of the children in the world toys.  Yes, the parents put the presents under the tree, and on one night in history, the Father of creation brought us the most perfect present. This present existed before the beginning, before time began as we know it. God sent to earth the baby Jesus, to be born of the virgin Mary in a manger in Bethlehem.  The Christmas present was the son of God, the savior of the world, and we would celebrate His birth forever. Our journey to the celebration is complete, for we have found the perfect present, that of our redeemer.

What a glorious night it was when Jesus was born. As humans in need of a savior, God chose to love and care for us, providing a way we could be with Him for eternity in heaven.  The Bible tells us in Romans 3:10-11 (ESV), “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.”  Then, of course we all have heard what Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”,  We all are in need of a savior, which God provided as the first Christmas present. Jesus, both God and now man, came to the earth to be with us, to walk with us, to die for us on the cross at Calvary. There is not a present, either past, present, or future that will come close to matching the grandeur and splendor of the present that God the Father sent us that one night 2000 years ago. Jesus is The Christmas Present!

I implore all of you who have read my Christmas series to spend time today reflecting about the real reason for Christmas, the real story, the real Christmas present, that of Jesus Christ, who takes away the sins of the world. When we take the time to reflect on Him who saves us from all unrighteousness, then and only then can we truly understand what a perfect gift we have received.  We are not worthy of being in the presence of God on our own accord.  We must have a mediator to pave the way for us, to intercede on our behalf, in order to be cleansed of our sins, becoming children of God, and working towards a righteousness in Christ.  The Christmas present, Jesus, was sent here for you and me to die for our sins, let us not ignore this fact on Christmas 2009.

If you know Jesus as Lord and savior, then reflect on Him now, giving thanks for the present He gave you.  If you do not know Jesus, then I pray and ask that you seek Him out now, that you confess your sins, and be cleansed by the savior of the world.  Jesus is waiting for all who do not know Him to come in repentance, seeking forgiveness and existence for eternity with God.  Jesus is the perfect Christmas present, He is the only present we need this Christmas day.  Seek Him now, He is patiently waiting for you.

May God bless you this day and every day forward.

Your friend and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, Merry Christmas to you all,

Daryl Dho

The Christmas Card, Here is My Favorite; A Journey to the Celebration

My wife and I will be celebrating our 24th Christmas together this year.  Every year we have sent out Christmas cards to our family and friends.  Of course, we also receive Christmas cards, usually from those same family members and friends.  I enjoy receiving them, and at times we have displayed them on counter tops, entertainment centers, and in a card holder box.  It seems like the more cards you send out, the more you receive.  This year, we have received quite a few, but have not sent any cards out.  I wanted to, but as time went on, day after day, the next thing we knew it was Christmas Eve, and there was not any time left in order to get Christmas cards to our family and friends before Christmas.

So, if you are were expecting a Christmas card from Bonnie and I, then I must apologize for not sending you one, because it is not happening.  Trust me, you were definitely in our thoughts, I have no excuse other than this year we just were too busy to send Christmas cards; sorry.  If you get a card from us, it will have to be for a different holiday.

While I was thinking about the Christmas card, and what it means to those who receive them, I began to contemplate about what my favorite Christmas card of all time would be.  After a while, I came up with this one as my all time favorite Christmas card; it is the Bible. The Bible you ask, why are you saying the Bible is your all time favorite Christmas card? You may be saying, “the Bible is not a Christmas card”.  Here is my answer, and it is simple really, since what the Bible talks about is similar to what we talk about and read in our Christmas cards.  The truth, which is spoken through the Bible, is about the reason we celebrate Christmas every year; the Bible is about Jesus Christ, who is God, being born as a child to become a man and the savior of the world.  Yes, on Christmas day we are celebrating His birthday, so let’s party.  When you examine the word of God in the Bible, written by men through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, then you begin to understand why I consider the Bible my favorite Christmas card.

The Bible has poetry, songs, history, and is full of the love from God about how we should live our lives in a meaningful and full way.  God sent His son to tell us about and to be an example of how to love one another, as God loves us.  This Christmas holiday, spend time to think about how the Bible can be considered the greatest Christmas card of all time, and how the love, which is sent to us through His Holy Spirit inspired words, should captivate us in such a way that we never want to discard it, never want to ignore it, never want to stop reading it over and over again.

This Christmas card, the Bible, should be a card that becomes part of our lives, for it is the words of God.  We should share the words from this Christmas card with all who will listen, just like I enjoy doing through my blogs.  We should share them in the work place, in school, around town, everywhere we go we should be excited to tell people about how God, through a period of over 1500 years, inspired men to put His words into written form for all to here and understand.  This Christmas card, the Bible, should be our favorite Christmas card of all time, because God, the creator of the universe, came to earth in the form of a man, in order that we would have a path to salvation from our sinful nature and a path to heaven.  This Christmas card is one we should cherrish, as it gives us the details of why we are celebrating tomorrow the birth of the savior Jesus Christ.  Remember, this holiday is about the birth of Jesus.  Let us not take that for granted, for it is not about Walmart having more sales!  Please be mindful of this over the next 48 hours; Jesus, who is God, was born in a manger about 2000 years ago, and on Christmas day we celebrate His birth.  God’s word, sent to us, is my favorite Christmas card, so go ahead and tell everyone you know about it, for it is eternal, and will never go away.

May the love of God be with you on your journey through life,

Daryl Dho

Everybody’s Got an Invitation to the Celebration, So Don’t Be Late

Have you ever fallen back asleep after your alarm clock goes off in the morning, then wake up after the time you were suppose to be at work has already passed, it is a frightening feeling.  Today, someone I know was late to open a store for large chain retailer. No, it was not me, but I have awaken later than I wanted before, and I know the feeling of panic, fear, and frustration someone has when the realization of their dilemma sets in.  It is especially disheartening when you are the person who is suppose to open a business, and other people are depending on you to be there so they can work, or shop in your store.

There are other occasions when you want to be on time or at least not past “fashionably late”, such as going to a party or celebration, particularly if you are the guest of honor.  When you are an honored guest, everyone is counting on you, for you are the reason the celebration is happening.  At a wedding, it is critical that the bride and groom show up, as there may have been months of preparation for this one significant event, and without you, the ceremony and celebration will not and can not go on.  Don’t be late for your birth either, or your mother may have to go through some additional pain and suffering due to your not being born on time; of course I realize none of us has any say in this, it just seemed like something to say.

It is only 2 days until Christmas, a day when many people will celebrate the birth of the savior, Jesus Christ.  The Bible tells us in Romans 10:13 (ESV), “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  This invitation to us all comes without condition, without a requirement of our doing anything with the exception of having faith in Jesus to take the burden for our sins, for as Romans 10:9 says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  What a party this is, as we celebrate the birth of God, coming to earth as a child who grew and became a man, in order to die on the cross for our sins, for as the scriptures say in Romans 3:23-25, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”

This is certainly not a party you want to be late for, since the guest of honor is Jesus, the Son of God. Really there is only one way you can be late to this celebration, that is by completely ignoring the invitation, by not believing you need redemption, by not comprehending the ramifications of a life lived in unrighteousness.  Although, we are late to the party if we just say “no” to God, never accepting the fact we will live forever for eternity; we will live for eternity either in the presence of God, or outside His presence.  Everybody’s got an invitation to the celebration, so don’t be late for the party.

Know one knows the day or the hour when they will pass on from this life to the next, so all of us should be prepared for when that day comes.  We need to take God’s invitation, the one allowing us to spend eternity with Him through the salvation received from His Son Jesus, and go to the party.  We never know when the end of our life comes, so we should ready now, allowing the Angels to sing in heaven as we accept Jesus as Lord.  This is why Jesus was born, why we celebrate on Christmas, so that we can recognize our Lord and savior, putting Him first in our lives.  There is no tomorrow, for tomorrow is today.  We can not expect to calculate the time when we no longer breathe the breath of this life.  Wait no more, you have the invitation, come to Jesus and live the life worth living, a life in which you know you are on the guest list for the greatest party of all time, the party for those saved by the grace of Jesus Christ.  Then, you can go and celebrate with God when the time comes for you to enter into eternity, and enjoy the greatest party of all time.

May God bless you on your journey through life,

Daryl Dho

It’s a Wonderful Life; A Journey to the Celebration

In the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, George Bailey, who was played by Jimmy Stewart seemed to have the perfect life, but as we all remember, he most certainly did not.  There are some in this world who, when the reality that life is not always as easy as they would like, decide they want to check out.  Many times, I believe this comes from where they put their priorities.  If we prioritize money and things we might obtain in our life, equating our happiness to how much we have, then due to the nature of life, we will surely be let down at some point.  We can not predict what will happen next in our lives, and therefore the unexpected happens, resulting in our either being let down, devastated financially, emotionally distraught, or just plain unhappy, all because we put our importance on the temporal things of this world.

So, because of the many variables in life, regardless of how great, capable, and together we might think we are, or how fantastic our life may seem to be going, it is inevitable that we will, at some point, be disappointed.  I think most people, if they truly search their inner thoughts and emotions in an honest way, will discover they know life is not perfect, and someday disasterous things will happen to them.  The problem therefore lies in the fact that most people just do not want to prepare for the impending negative consequence in their lives.  When that awful circumstance appears, many do not know how to handle it, choosing an even worse alternative, such as suicide, or hurting themselves and others.  Most of us have heard the old expression, people don’t plan to fail, they just fail to plan.  This expression seems simple enough to understand, but difficult to execute.

Jesus, who’s birthday party and celebration is this Friday, December 25, 2009, had a lot to say about this subject.  He told us in Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV), “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Jesus is telling us that we need to have our priorities straight.  Of course, we have all heard we need to do this, but most of us do not understand this concept the way Jesus describes it.  He is telling us we will be challenged in life if we put our priorities on the treasures of this earthly world, since none of them will last forever.  I believe when are describing our lives to someone, we can truly say with all honesty, “It’s a Wonderful Life”.  But, in order to say that expression honestly, we need to have our priorities on the things of heaven, which are eternal.

I was having a conversation this morning with my dentist, who I have been going to for about 12-13 years now, and the subject of our happiness came up, including if we had any regrets in our lives.  If you have read my Bio, then you know I have not always led what one would call a very wholesome life, including probably doing emotional damage to other people in the process, yet I told him I have no regrets, and I would not change one circumstance in my life.  My life was, excuse the expression, “all jacked up”, for a long time, but I still would not change a thing, because what transpired during my life, was just a part of my journey, part of what made me the Daryl I am today, part of the molding of the character of the man you here in my words today.  I have become a man who is passionate about people and their feelings, about how they will spend not only this life, but the next life through eternity.

Yes, when asked about my life, I would be able to truthfully affirm, “It’s a Wonderful Life”.  Not because I have billions, millions, or even thousands of dollars, not because I drive a fancy car, not because I have a great job, not because I am the smartest guy in the world, not because I am the envy of anyone, for none of those are true, but because of these two things: 1) I have a close relationship with God, the creator of the universe, who’s word in Ephesians 2:8 states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God”, thereby my sins are forgiven, and 2) I am continuously working on developing the relationships with those closest to me, such as my wife, children, and friends.

It is also my desire to do what Jesus commanded us when asked by the scribes which commandment is the most important in Mark 12:30-31, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  What a role model and teacher Jesus was.  He knew that in order for us to have a wonderful life, we needed to be close with our creator.  He also desires that we have wonderful, beautiful relationships with those He created in His image, as described in (Genesis 1:26), therefore continuing our relationship with Him.  Jesus told us in Matthew 25:40, referencing how we should take care of the poor and needy, “as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

As we follow the example of Jesus, walking in His footsteps, we can be assured to have struggles in life, as He did.  But, most importantly, we can be assured of being able to state, in reference to the view of our own lives, “It’s a Wonderful Life”.  I can live with that, can you?  Hopefully the answer is yes, because when you can answer affirmatively, you begin to have the peace that only God can bestow in your heart, you begin to look at life with an entire new perspective, you begin to have that wonderful life which all of us truly desire.

May the journey you are on through life be blessed by God,

Daryl Dho

Don’t Stress Out, But Relax During This Holiday Season; A Journey to the Celebration Continues

Working in retail like I do, gives me a perspective on how a lot of people are during the holiday season.  This Christmas season, like most, is making a lot of people all stressed out.  I see them every day at the store, as they are in a hurry, worrying about the gift they need to get for the people on the their lists.  Many people are impatient, don’t want to wait in the long lines, are mad when you don’t have the item they want, and are so caught up in the commercialism of Christmas, they are missing out on all of the blessings the holiday season brings to those who open their eyes to it.  My suggestion is this, “Don’t stress out, but relax during this holiday season; and remember that this is a journey to the celebration.”

It is only 4 days until Christmas, and it would be great if everyone was done with their Christmas shopping so they could relax and look at the outdoor lights, get together with families and friends, put their feet up on the lazy boy chair, even read a book if they wanted to, maybe read the Bible, and about the real Christmas story.  My hope is that everyone remembers that this Friday is about celebrating the birthday of Jesus.  We will all gather with family and friends, but let us not forget that we are at a birthday party for the Lord of the universe.

In the meantime, get less of what someone doesn’t really need anyway, one less stocking stuffer, one less gift for someone who would be happier if you just spent time with them.  These last couple of days bring so much stress into many peoples lives because we are creatures who seem to enjoy putting things off until the last minute, then we get stressed out because we don’t have enough time to get the gifts we think our family and friends need.  The retailers love it because people who shop from now until Christmas Eve do not care as much about the price, they just want to find something for the people they are buying for.  This is when people start throwing everything on credit cards, due their panic about having to get presents.

A greater present can be giving of your time.  I know for me, I wish I had more time in my life to give, because those who know and love me would rather have my time than anything I could buy.  If I could buy time, I would, because my time is a far greater gift than any TV, doll, game, or clothes I can find in any retailer to give to someone I care about.  Think about what is most important to you, is it the people you love and care about, or the things you have?  I hope your answer is the people you love and care about, because “stuff” doesn’t last, but our spirit is eternal.  We should spend the time nurturing our relationships, giving of ourselves instead of merchandise that deteriorates and becomes obsolete.

It is time to take our focus away from the material objects of this world, moving it in a direction towards those around us, their feelings and emotions, their needs and wants from a relational standpoint rather than a belief that they only care about us if we give them “stuff”.  It is nice to get presents, everyone wants them, but at the end of the day we would all rather have someone we care for than a present from them.  My father passed away in 1997, and I would much rather have him here with me now than anything the world could show me.  Who really cares about all of the “stuff” we accumulate in our lives.  Let us focus on each other this holiday season, give our love to each other, give a hug to a child, to your friend and to your family.

Several years ago I had the privilege of preparing and serving a meal, with several of my friends, for a group of patients who had Aids and were all dying.  We spent the evening dining with them, sharing our lives together with them, singing Christmas carols with them, and being loved and sharing love with them.  One of the patients said that normally when people come to serve them prepared meals at these functions, the people preparing the meals for this organization just stay out in the hallway while the patients eat.  Eating with them, sharing our lives together was the best part, I would not have wanted to miss out on that time together.  At the end of the night, as we were saying goodbye, one of the patients, whose name eludes me right now, gave me a hug and boldly said, “hugs are free”. That saying has stuck with my, and now I use it all of the time as I am a big hugger.  So, if you are around me, and get a hug while in a situation that may not seem a normal hugging time, I will probably say, “hugs are free” and give you a hug.  We could use more of the spirit the patients at dinner had that night.  They were all dying of Aids, yet happy and grateful they still had life, and were still able to share of their lives with others.

So, I appeal to you one more time, don’t stress out, but relax during this holiday season, remember we are on a journey to the celebration. Take the time to be with your family and friends, realizing most do not have the expectations we think they have about getting “stuff”, and if they do, then they need to readjust their thinking.  With respect to our children, in my opinion, we all have probably spoiled them to a point where we have done an injustice to them, not allowing them to realize everything isn’t free, and our relationships are more important than the “stuff”.  Lastly, the value of your time has no limit, so give some away today!

May God bless you on your journey in life,

Daryl Dho

Santa Claus, Who is That Guy? A Journey to the Celebration

Santa Claus, who is that guy? Most of us know him as the old, overweight, dude, with white hair and a long beard, wearing a red suit and a hat.  Originally, the inspiration for Santa Claus began with a man name St. Nicolas of Myra, a very religious man who lived in the 4th century, and spent much of his time giving to the poor.  In America, we know him more as the guy who’s legend began in the 19th century, and has the ability to go to every house in the entire world on a sleigh powered by reindeer.  Then he makes himself small enough to go into the house through the chimneys, bringing all the good children of the world toys.  He does this in one night, Santa Claus, who is that guy anyway?

The first time I began to have doubts of Santa’s existence was while I was in the 3rd grade.  A kid living across the street said Santa was not real.  I did not want to believe the kid, so as I recall, I was in the 5th grade before I stopped believing that anyone could go around the world in a few hours to distribute toys to all the kids of the world.  I remember the first Christmas when my Dad realized my brother and I knew that Santa was a fake.  As in every Christmas of our past, all of the presents under the tree said they were from Santa.  Each time my father gave a present to my brother and I, he would say, “To Daryl (or Marc), from Santa, who is that guy“.   My brother was 1 1/2 years younger than me, so the myth and legend did not last as long for him, thanks to me.

Then, I had children of my own, and for my two oldest, their coming to the realization Santa was not real seemed not to bother them, as it was just a time in their life where they matured.  For my youngest daughter, who has a very playful and vivid imagination, her finding out the truth about Santa was very traumatic.  When she was in the 5th grade, her older brother got a Star Wars trash can for Christmas (from Santa) of course.  About a month later, as I went into my sons bedroom, noticed a bunch of trash on the floor and remarked that he should use the Star Wars trash can that his Mother and I got him this past Christmas.  My youngest daughter was standing there, and after I mentioned about my wife and I giving the trash can to my son for Christmas, my daughter began to scream and cry because she now knew the truth about Santa, that he doe not exist except in our imagination.

The big issue with my daughter finding out about Santa was, as she so aptly put it, “you have lied to me for my entire life”.  She was so upset that it took about a day for her to calm down about Santa.  My Son was the one who was able to get through to her about Santa, that it was no big deal, because all we were doing by letting her believe in Santa was giving her a fictional character to have fun with every year at Christmas time.

I am a very faithful to God, and to the believe that Jesus was born on Christmas day to establish a way for me to go to heaven through my faith in Him and His death, burial, and resurrection.  Many Christians would say that believing in Santa, or telling our children about Santa is a bad thing, as if we were worshipping idols.  I know that God does not us to put other gods before him, for the Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 5:7, “‘You shall have no other gods before me.”  Moses gave this commandment he had received from God when he was with Him on Mount Sinai.  Now, if I was worshipping Santa, I would say I have a problem, for God told me not to worship other things, but only God.  So, the question is this; Santa Claus, who is that guy?

Personally, I can not agree with Christians who get all worked up over having some fun at Christmas time with Santa Claus, although I respect their belief.  I just look at Santa as the fictional character he is, a guy who we can have some fun with while the children are young.  We get to take pictures of the kids, while they sit on his lap, telling him what they would like to get for Christmas.  That is fun stuff!  Now, in the case of my daughter, I wish she could have found out about Santa in another way, so that she would not have been upset, but oh well, what are you going to do.

The point is this, Santa is just a fictional character we use in order to have a diversion in life, it is a way for us to break away from all of the reality we live in like the economy, going to work, paying the bills, etc.  Santa is not something we worship or truly believe in.  For children, it is a way for them to expand their imaginations while they are young, for he is harmless guy who brings joy and toys to them at Christmas time.  When they get old enough to realize he is not real, then some of the innocence is lost, and they start wanting to develop other people to look up to like Tiger Woods or Taylor Swift.  We need to remember, we should not worship anyone or anything other than God.

If you are a Christian, then from the very beginning, you should bring your child up with the true meaning of Christmas, that we are celebrating the birthday of Jesus, our Lord and savior.  It is your responsibility to teach your children the truth, but while on the journey of life, it is okay for all of us to have an imagination, to take ourselves out of our normal everyday lives and into a time of letting our imaginations run free.  We are not worshipping Santa, we are having fun with the thought that he brings toys to the children, that’s all, nothing more.  Like when we go to a movie, such as the new Avatar movie which I saw last night, it is not real, but a whole lot of fun to watch.  Each family can do what they want when it comes to their children, but in my view, Santa is the jolly old fellow we see in the cartoons, in the books, and in the movies.  I totally enjoy having fun with Santa.

Last point, have you been naughty or nice, because you know, Santa doesn’t bring toys to children who have been naughty, regardless if you are young or old.  By the way, my wife of almost 24 years says I am just a BIG CHILD, and I have been nice this year; OH YES, I HAVE BEEN NICE.  Bring on the presents Santa!

May God always bless your journey through life,

Daryl Dho