Arresting Gift

Sometimes a Christmas story breaks through the tinsel and hype to arrest you with tingling and hope. A story of generosity out of Charlotte did that for me Sunday.

Cpl. John Hyland has had 16 surgeries since Sept. 10 when his Humvee in Iraq blew apart, crushing his feet and fracturing bones in his back and pelvis. He and his family have been stuck in a hospital 150 miles from home while he received medical attention. They wanted to go home for Christmas but have no working vehicle. A story about their plight in the Charlotte Observercaught the attention of Rick Hendrick, a NASCAR team owner and car dealer.

Reporter Karen Cimino said Hendricks donated a $50,000 Honda Odyssey with a hydraulic lift and added bicycles for Hyland's sons Hunter and Wyatt. Cimino wrote, "Hyland, 37, who grew up in Charlotte, said he didn't expect anything in return for serving his country or for getting injured. He's humbeld by the help and hopes his story inspires folks to give to other soldiers and civilians."

Of course you aren't likely to be able to give a new car but that doesn't dismiss your opportunity to help. Sometimes we think, "Well, I can't do that," so we don't do anything.

Dozens of people who live around you could use a hand in big or small ways. A real helping hand can change your neighborhood.

Other lives are waiting your help with a financial gift. This is the season Baptist Children's Homes receives a special offering for the hundreds of children in its care every day. Woman's Missionary Union is promoting the annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering that enables the International Mission Board to mobilize a force of 5,000 missionaries around the world. Baptist Men just announced a day of prayer for rain Dec. 30 and an offering to help North Carolina farmers buy feed for their animals so they don't have to sell them at a loss and put their farms at risk.

And there are military families far from home, living daily in fear for a loved one in harm's way, who need a hand with a car that won't start, an appliance that needs repair, children without a coat or a utility bill overdue. Here are several sites that can connect someone who needs help with your willingness to serve.

This site. works nationally to connect soldiers to people who want to help. This site. offers ways to contribute or to get an application for someone who may need help. This site. has chapters throughout the country and works to help solider with emercency services, education and morale. This site. has links to hundreds of other support sites.

Posted by jameson ( Dec 17 2007, 06:56:06 AM EST ) Permalink

Alternative Christmas
You talk about it every year, but don't do anything to change. You want to wring the secular commercialism out of Christmas and reclaim it as a religious holiday. You're tired of a "holiday season" but bury yourself in gift wrap that ignores the holiday reason.

You lament the cost of living up to everyone's expectations as a gift provider. In fact, you complain about it every time you swipe your credit card through the slot buying something else nobody needs.

You cry about your children's demands and wonder how they got to be so selfish, while you compile your own list, "in case they ask what I want."

Stores shove Labor Day specials off the shelves to claim the coveted Christmas gift space before the last summer heat wave breaks.

You're wondering why in the world I'm talking about Christmas already, before you buy Halloween candy.

In the Nov. 10 issue, the Biblical Recorder is going to explore alternative Christmas celebrations and observances. There is another way to say Merry Christmas and we want to help you find it.

We will also talk about ministry opportunities unique to the season as emotional issues of stress and grief peak and loneliness is palpable as metallic residue on your tongue.

Here's what we need from you.

We want you to help us identify several families who intentionally observe Christmas with a family tradition of ministry, service or gift giving that flows outside the commercial flood and tell their stories for the rest of us. If you or a friend have a special tradition, please contact me at Jameson@biblicalrecorder.org or add a comment below so we can follow up with your story.

You can help make Christmas truly special for many families as you help them reclaim a special time of remembrance and gratitude for the gift of God.
Posted by jameson ( Aug 31 2007, 12:59:56 PM EDT ) Permalink Comments [1]