All I Want For Christmas Is…

Today's Guest Blog comes to us from my good friend and Christian counselor Dave Garrison. Enjoy.
- Dan

Christmas can be a tough time of the year, can’t it? Aren’t you sick of all the commercials this time of year, too? Each one promising the same: a better body, true happiness and a more satisfying relationship…if only you buy their latest wonder product (“In just three easy payments!”). It’s enough to make me want to throw a brick through the TV set.

My kids are most susceptible to the influence of this “want” advertising, and each day brings a new desire to be added to their Christmas List for Santa. I fall prey to it too: Yes, I want the latest Apple gadget, but I also want more money and more certainty in my life. All of that seems shallow and fleeting…and it is.

The Bible makes clear what the real wants of men and women are: “Husbands love your wives” and “wives respect your husbands” (Ephesians 5). Guys, our wives or girlfriends want our love and our nurturing…and likewise, we want (and need) their respect and appreciation. But wanting to make your partner happy can be futile. The shiny, glittery things fade or rust; money is quickly spent (and gone); and there will always be “the next best thing”. Solomon, the wisest, richest guy who ever lived called these things “meaningless” (See: The Book of Ecclesiastes). So what’s a guy to do?!

I’m right in the thick of this.

Looking deeper into my relationship, I want my wife to be happy this Christmas season. You know the saying “If mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy”. But what I’ve come to realize, after many failed attempts, is that I can’t make my wife happy. No amount of money or bright and shiny things can take away the pain and grief she’s experienced this year: the death of her mother. Maybe I can’t make her happy…but what I can do is love her in the mess, and try and make a difference in her world. Like, doing more around the house. Helping out at meal time. Working with the kids on homework and not being so snarky about my own emotional and physical needs. And dare I say it…turning off the television. These are all steps that I know would lead to making a difference in my home.

After taking another look at the Christmas Wish List, I think it should probably look like this:

MY KIDS: My undivided attention (and not just during Halftime)
MY WIFE: My love and active involvement in the day-to-day life of the household

As far as I know, Apple hasn’t come up with an app that takes the place of a dad (thank God!), nor has RonCo created a replacement for a husband (“Slices, dices, does the dishes!”). Not yet anyway. Perhaps God is saying, “Be a good Santa and give your family what they really want…More of you.”

Tim Tebow: God's Quarterback?

God doesn’t play favorites. We all know that, right? I mean, the Bible’s clear on this. God loves everyone the same and wants us all to be saved and know His truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Jesus stood on a mountainside in Galilee and clarified this when He said that God, “…causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:46) —meaning that (in all things) God uses a level playing field. And that includes everyone; those who love and obey Him…and those who deny He even exists. That being said, I have two words for you:

Tim Tebow.

I mean, c’mon! On any given Sunday (and on ESPN on Monday nights) the Astroturf of every American football field is filled with the righteous and unrighteous. From A to Z (or A to W, actually). From the Arizona Cardinals to the Washington Redskins, every pro football team has its share of players who point to heaven and thank God for every tackle and yard gained and, likewise, every team has its share of players who use God’s name in vain as frequently as the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders show off their belly buttons.

But then there’s Tim Tebow. He of the controversial post-game, on-bended-knee, prayer and the spectacular, beyond belief, 4^th quarter, last-minute victory.

And after watching him lead the Broncos to (yet) ANOTHER overtime win this past Sunday afternoon, I have to admit…it caused me to question the whole righteous and unrighteous stuff for a second. Now wait…I still firmly believe that God rules with sovereignty and justice over all His creation, but watching the Broncos beat the Bears in overtime Sunday caused me to wonder if maybe God doesn’t have a little “Tebow Fever” Himself. And I know I’m not the only one thinking that. You too?

All kidding aside, I don’t think God has been reaching down from heaven to help the Broncos win…and neither does Tim Tebow. It’s evident in every post-game press conference I’ve seen or heard. Yes. Tim Tebow is very outspoken about his faith in Jesus, but I have yet to hear him say that God won a game for him. Instead, Tebow’s quick to thank Jesus for the opportunity and ability to play…and equally quick to thank his teammates for the win. And I have a strong feeling that when he loses (which is bound to eventually happen, guys) ,Tim Tebow will be just as gracious to his teammates…and just as thankful to Jesus in defeat as he is in victory.

It’s obvious that Tim Tebow loves to play football, and when he does, I can’t help but be reminded of two things…the first is what Paul writes in Colossians 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

The second thing I think of comes from one of my favorite sports movies, Chariots of Fire—based on the real-life events of two British runners in the 1924 Olympics.  One runner, Eric Liddell, was a Christian who ran the 100 meters. In the movie, Liddell’s faith is questioned by his sister because he’s chosen to run in the Olympics instead of entering the mission field. In that scene Liddell tells his sister, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.”Isn’t that great? And can’t you just hear something like that coming out of Tim Tebow’s mouth at a press conference?

The real truth is, God made all of us (Tim Tebow included) for a purpose. But God also made us (Take your pick) smart, strong, talented, wise, thoughtful, funny, compassionate, etc. The question is…are you fulfilling what God made you for? And are you feeling His pleasure? Tim Tebow reminds me just how fun and various God is with His creation…and how I need to exhaust all He has given me…to fulfill my purpose…and to feel His pleasure.

So…do I think God is winning games for Tim Tebow? No. Not at all! Actually, the only miracle I see happening in this amazing season with Tim Tebow and the Broncos is this: a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan like me (who is STILL smarting from Elway and The Drive) might actually don the blue and orange and root for the Denver Broncos. Now THAT, my friends, would be a miracle!