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Cybersalt News

Sunday greetings everyone!

Grandma Cybersalt and I got our flu shots this week and while we were at the doctor's office I also got the results of bloodwork for my thyroid levels and, as it turns out, my cholesterol levels. (I had forgotten that test was on the list as well.)

This helped me discover another plus of wearing medical masks everywhere (other than the benefit of reducing the spread of COVID, of course): when your doctor is telling you how high your cholesterol is and that your chance of a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years is 1 in 5, he can't see the look on your face.

The look that my mask was covering was not one of fear or surprise. It was one of reluctance as I succumbed to the fact that my bacon boat was sunk, my days of buttered croissants had crashed, and my Kentucky Fried chicken had come home to roost. Not only were the levels higher than they have ever been (I have been quite the COVID cupcake these past 9 months), Susan was there, was hearing it all. I even said to my doctor, "You know you are breaking the 'bro' code by telling me this in front of my wife!"

So now I must adjust to life with the health nuts and seedy breakfasts - I mean with nuts that are healthy and breakfasts with lots of seeds. And, please don't think Susan is forcing me. It is the responsible and loving thing to do for her, our kids, and our grandchildren.

And besides, with carefree eating of my favorite foods removed from my middle-aged pleasures, getting a Mustang convertible can move up a spot on the to-do list!

Today's video share is an amazing vocal performance by Jonathan White, who at one point holds a note so long it made me wonder if he even needed to breath at all.

You can watch the video by clicking here.

Enjoy the rest of today's mailing!

~ Pastor Tim

Keep track of your points and check your status at the end.

1. You reuse last year's Christmas cards and send them out under your own name (5 points).

2. You steal light bulbs from you neighbor's outdoor display to replenish your own supply (5 points, 10 if neighbor's whole light sets or lighted Santa goes out).

3. You have dressed a dog or cat as Santa Claus, elf helper, or reindeer (10 points for each; if you dressed an endangered species, 5 extra points).

4. You put out last year's stale candy canes for children (1 point for each piece of sticky candy). If you put out a chocolate or marzipan Santa also, add 10 points.

5. You enclose a shoddy and inferior gift from Target, Wal-Mart, or K Mart in a Bloomingdale's or other prestige box to impress your friends (5 points for each infraction).

6. You make collect long distance phone calls to your family on Christmas day (5 points, 10 if from a cell phone), claiming you are stuck in a phone booth.

7. At the office Christmas party, you horde huge stockpiles of goodies for later consumption at home (5 points; 15 points if you use this stuff for your own party).

8. You steal the wreath from a parked car to use on your own (Southern California only, others ignore: 5 points -- nobody but Angelenos dress a car).

9. After an invitation to a friend's house, you bring a commercially produced fruitcake and try to pass it off as home made (5 points; 15 points if the fruitcake is from last year).

10. Any stealing from the Toys-for-Tots collection bins is a definite no-no (20 points).

Evaluate your score on the "Grinch Scale" from 20 to 100.

20-30: You are just a cheese ball.

30-50: You are an apprentice in Yuletide larceny and are probably wanted by the police for overdue parking tickets.

50-100: Grinch, move over. The Meyer Lansky of Christmas crime has arrived.

I'm only talking to my dog today.

"Be a Billionaire!"

and Help

Refugees and

Persecuted Christians

But wait ... there's myrrh.

"And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent..."

- Taylor Caldwell

It was the biggest night of the year in a little town called Cornwall. It was the night of the annual Christmas pageant. It's an especially big deal for the children in town -- they get to try out for the roles in the Christmas story. Everybody wants a part.

Which leads us to the problem of Harold. Harold really wanted to be in the play, too, but he was - well, he was kind of a slow and simple kid. The directors were ambivalent - I mean, they knew Harold would be crushed if he didn't have a part, but they were afraid he might mess up the town's magic moment. Finally, they decided to cast Harold as the innkeeper - the one who turns Mary and Joseph away the night Jesus is to be born. He had only one line - "I'm sorry, we have no room." Well, no one could imagine what that one line was going to do to everyone's Christmas.

The night of the pageant the church was packed, as usual. The Christmas story unfolded according to plan - angels singing, Joseph's dream, and the trip to Bethlehem. Finally, Joseph and Mary arrived at the door of the Bethlehem inn, looking appropriately tired. Joseph knocked on the inn door, and Harold was there to open the door.

Joseph asked his question on cue - "Do you have a room for the night?" Harold froze. After a long pause, Harold mumbled his line, "I'm sorry - we have no room." And, with a little coaching, he shut the door. The directors heaved a sigh of relief - prematurely. As Mary and Joseph disappeared into the night, the set suddenly started shaking again - and the door opened. Harold was back! And then, in an unrehearsed moment that folks would not soon forget, Harold went running after the young couple, shouting as loud as he could -- "Wait! Don't go Joseph. Bring Mary back! You can have MY room!"

I think little Harold may have understood the real issue of Christmas better than anyone else there that night. How can you leave Jesus outside? You have to make room for Jesus. And that may be the issue for you this Christmas. What will you do with this Son of God who came to earth to find you?

Jesus is the One who trades a throne room for a stable, and the praise of angels for human mockery. This is the Creator who gives Himself on a cross! The Bible gives us the only appropriate response: "The life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal. 2:20) You look at what Jesus did to pay for your sin on that cross, and you say those life-changing words - "For me."

Jesus is at YOUR door this Christmas. Maybe He's been knocking for a long time. Maybe He won't keep knocking much longer. All your life - even the events of the last few months - have been to prepare you for this crossroads moment with Jesus your Savior. Don't leave Him outside any longer. Open the door this Christmas Day. "Jesus, I cannot keep You out any longer. Come on in. You can have my room . . . my life."

Originally titled "Trouble at the Inn" by Dina Donahue

Featured Illustrations are items well suited for illustrating or inspiring a point in a sermon, speech, or devotional. Funny, moving, or perhaps even graphic, the point of them is the point you make with them.

Rev. James Snyder, God's Penman, writes . . . . 

It’s that time of the year when the conversation around the dinner table in the Parsonage has to do with naughty or nice.

I must admit it's not my favorite conversation because what is naughty, and what is nice? That all depends on who you're talking to. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has a different definition of these words than I do.

According to my wife, nice has to do with broccoli, and naughty has to do with Apple fritter. At least I can’t.

The Cybersalt Digest is a ministry of Pastor Tim and Cybersalt.