So Time Again For Another Christmas Message

Tradition: A Fine Balance

Now This is NOT the message…

The Thoughts For this Message as some of you know…

Started out in May 09When an observation in church

bothered me (since when have I become sensitive and

aware of my surroundings???)

So the question that arose and Bothered me was

Can/should Holy Communion be denied in Church

to a believer ?Who

Dressed in a non traditional fashion or wore bodily decoration that maybe considered

sacrilegious by someBut

The believer was unaware of the symbolic nature of the adornment which for some reason

was considered unacceptable

Was this violation of TraditionOR

a regulatory breach based on written/ taught code of conduct of the Church suggesting disrespect of the Sacred ?

ORWas there something in THE WORD that clearly spelled out exclusionary criteria related to unorthodox dress

and adorning?

Tough questions…..

Alas bro’s..BUT No right answers….But… Was I asking the right question

in response to the observation? …

Jesus himself wrestled with the question of Tradition with the Izzy’s

He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God

for the sake of your tradition? Matthew 15:6

THE “P BOYZ” ACCUSED HIM OF VIOLATING TRADITION

• Bro Paul – entrenched in Jewish tradition by birth – Confused us a bit with these words to the

Thessy’s• “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold

to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”

• 2 Thessalonians 2:15

So I scratched my head and said……..

This is too difficult and distracting..

I amGettingMyself

Into a Tangle

We will sort this out later …

JAANE DO YAARBIT BIDDU APPA!

I am Wrapping

Myself In a tangle

Maybe when we get to Heaven…….???We will get the answers there?

OR Will it matter?

The birth of our Lord was preceded by TRADITION:

Rich Tradition that is still cherished around the world

All the way from Papa Abe (PBUH)To

Bro Joe (PBUH)

Now it was Tradition (and a Roman decree- for Lazy Izzy’s)

that took Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem from Nazareth

But…..

Everything else about thatFIRST CHRISTMAS

was quite Non Traditional….

• The Virgin Conception• The Birth in a Manger• The lowly shepherds being the ones called to

worship• Angels singing from heaven• And then a jealous King…trying to get rid of the

baby….– ALL FAR FROM OUR IMAGE OF TRADITIONAL BIRTH OF

A KING!!

But Again ….

I am getting distracted from the TRUE MESSAGE of Christmas.DON’T THINKWe can WAIT

Till we get to heaven to sort this one out.COZ

Getting to heaven depends on THE MESSAGE….

The message is SIMPLE Clearly Spelled Out

In John 3:16

For those of you Lazy to pick up your Biblesor Claim Memory Loss

IT SAYS

The True Message is that of

HOPE…hope that we will be OK despite our weaknesses and not

because of our strengths

The True Message is that of

PEACE: Peace on earth will be here someday but starts in our minds and

souls

The True Message is that of

JOY: an experience beyond the feeling and emotion associated with

IT.

Ah…So Is Tradition Important?

Now this is a different question…And the answer emphatically is

YESThe Good kind of Tradition….

ASK the FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Tevye the Milkman says

“And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one WORD

... Tradition."

AND….• “Because of our Traditions, we've kept our balance for

many, many years. • Here in Anatevka we have Traditions for everything...

– How to eat, how to sleep, – Even, how to wear clothes.

• For instance, we always keep our heads covered and always wear a little prayer shawl... This shows our constant devotion to God.

• You may ask, how did this Tradition start? • I'll tell you - I don't know.• But it's a tradition...• Because of our traditions, everyone knows who he is • AND• What God expects him to do."

S0…Which are the Good Traditions?

• The one that keeps families together• Help us Remember and Pass on Values• In the END• The GOOD T’s• Bring– Love

• Harmony– Peace

» Joy

AND THAT FINE BALANCE IN LIFE!!!

And the BAAAD ONE”S

Lets not talk bout it? We all know those ones!!!

THE DBLOCK BRO”S

• Are deep into tradition• It is what keeps us together–Helps keep our balance

• Where did our traditions start?–In the milkman's words..who knows?

• The story will change every time we meet!!

So Dear Brothers

Enjoy your Christmas Traditions, make memories, spread Love, give Hope, make

Peace, and experience the sheer Joy of the season in your hearts

Have a Blessed Christmas

Until We Meet Again…..

Bro Dee and Familee