Books are doors into imagination!
Not everyday you see an oversized pencil. ✏️ Well I’m the crafty guy and wanted to make something unusual. So I got a $6 wooden fence post at my neighborhood lumber yard. (no commercial endorsement here) grabbed my powered saw and whittled a pencil out. Painted it all pretty and viola! A giant pencil.
2017 has been bittersweet for me, and fast. It seems like it was only yesterday when I knelt down in the middle of Pittsburgh to ask my girlfriend’s hand in marriage. I proposed on December 31 at 11:59 to spend my last minute of the last day of the year to my last love of my life. She of course said yes and it seemed like only a day went by when October 7 rolled around and she said I do as so did I. But the year flew by and my Mom died and now I sit in my new recliner typing that the year is over. Amazing, it feels like only yesterday I was downtown Pittsburgh. That is what life is like, it flies by quickly. A few days before my mom died I sat in her hospital room, in the dark, and watched her sleep. I knew then that she would be gone soon. Cancer sucks. It totally ate her insides out. But as I sat there, I was reminded again on how Quickly life goes on. It seems like it was only yesterday when I was living in my Parents house in Jollytown going to California University. Life happens quick. Enjoy it while it’s here because before to long it’s gone and you can’t get it back. As new years resolutions go, I’m not going to say I’m going to loose weight, but instead I’m going to be a better me. I am going to challenge my self to be the best me I can be. I am going to chase after God, I am going to enjoy life, and spend as much time as I can with the ones I love because, well, life happens too quickly.
I had the opportunity to be a shepherd in a living nativity. At first when I signed up I was just an extra, a fill in. I was the guy who would give either Joseph, or a wise man a break. I was also an assistant director. But when I showed up and did my assistant director job of moving people and getting people in place. my director told me to get a costume on. A shepherd. As simple as it was at first it grew to be a learning experience. As a shepherd I got to experience what a shepherd could of seen when he came to that stable 2000 some years ago. We had a young couple in our church who just had a baby about 4 months or so ago. The father had a nice real beard and the mother looked young enough to pass for mary. Baby Jesus was calm and didn’t fuss one bit. But as the night went on and I kept telling people about seeing angels in the field where I was keeping my flock, Baby Jesus fell asleep in the manger. Yes the real Baby fell asleep in the hay filled feeding trough. And as I knelt down at that manger scene and Mary knelt down too it hit me. I looked at one of the people that was visiting the scene who was not a actor and played my part. I said I left my flock to see the savior. I Have nothing to bring but myself, but I guess that’s all he ask. Indeed. Jesus only wants us. He doesn’t want gold, frankincense or myrrh, he wants our hearts. The shepherds in this Christmas story had the job of shepherding the sheep that would be used for the sacrifices of the Jewish people. The angels appeared to them and told them the news and said do not be afraid. Not just do not be afraid of the angels, but do not. fear in general. the Angels also told them that there would be peace on earth. This peace is not from man to man. this is what I use to think, but this peace is from God to man. God is making his Peace with His children, through Jesus who is born today! I challenge you today to read Luke 2 through a shepherds eyes. These men are in the dark of night. the only light they may have is a campfire or a lantern. Then a angel appeared. As you read Luke you will see it is heavenly host, which would be a large group of angels. The light that came down from heaven with these angels would probably blind the shepherds. Then the angels spoke to them about the Good news. The shepherds quickly left their flocks where they where and ran to Bethlehem. Normally the shepherds would never leave their sheep because the sheep would run away but this news was too good to miss!
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
It’s been a rough few weeks here at Uncle Dave’s Books. I lost my Mother to cancer. I know she is now pain free. My Mom was very proud of what I have accomplished. My mom was a very artsy woman herself. She liked to cross stich, quilt, paint and many other crafty things. She was a wonderful woman and truly going to be missed.