Pastor Mike Nodland

Ever had one of those string of Christmas tree lights where half the lights work and the other half won’t unless you shake, drop, or attempt to lasso the garbage can or the ceiling fan with them, hoping to stimulate the unlit bulbs to magically light, for one more season? It’s then that you remember how quickly you stashed those strings away, knowing they didn’t all work.

Or you open the box of glittering ornaments to discover a few of your heirloom ones were destroyed beyond recognition. Then you remember (also from last year) how the lid on the ornament box wouldn’t close after Christmas unless you sat on it. A memory sparked. You remember the delightfully satisfying snapping sound of the plastic lid when you applied the 200 lbs. of your “caboose” onto the storage box…but also thought you heard an eerie crunching noise simultaneously.

Right now, my living room has an upside-down Christmas tree. I attempted to Gorilla glue the plastic tree stand for another year. But even that didn’t work, so I rubber banded the stand. Maybe I could tie the tree off from the ceiling, and no one would notice.

Don’t let this beautiful season get away from you. Enjoy Christmas. Enjoy Jesus! He loves YOU, not the lights and the glitter!

Mike Nodland, pastor

Christian Fellowship Church, Vining, IA