Black Friday... Cyber Monday... what else???

Just when you thought things couldn't get any crazier... we have Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Black Friday is where stores try to guarantee they will make ti in the black that day rather than operate in the red. Cyber Monday? Same thing... but online...

Now the craziness? Just look at below...

People lining up overnight at places to try and get that great deal! I saw news reports about how police and security alike in places in the USA and Britain were dealing with unruly shoppers. Cyber Monday? Watch out for your internet service! So many trying to get that great deal online!

How do we deal with these types of days as believers? Aren't we supposed to be content with what we have like the apostle Paul said? I'll admit I have been guilty of getting excited to see what the deals are for both days. The trick is to say - nice deal, but so I really need it? Or Nice deal, but is it worth trampling others in the process to get that gift for someone? 

Tough call right? 

Keep in mind God's word and what it means to be content in all situations, giving thanks in all circumstances. If you need to get a deal for your Christmas shopping because you want to get someone a gift and be financially responsible at the same time? Great! Do that. But don't go crazy!

Christmas decorations

So here it is Christmas season again. I have seen houses one by one putting up their decorations outside and in too. Some are modest, while some are over the top inflatable this and that and there's hardly a space left on their lawn and on their house. Sometimes it's a nice thing, sometimes... not so much. I grew up in Scarborough and there was a home that every year did a fantastic job of decorating with lights that moved and the more. It looked something like this... (not the actual house but you get the idea)

I often wondered how much their hydro bill was... It was tastefully done and the owner would actually put out a donation bin too. Great idea. Not many can decorate the way they did. Some would say, such waste. I can see that, but I can also see how Christmas lights still point back to Christ and the star that guided the wisemen and that bright host of angels singing to the shepherds. It was bright and some would say "over the top." Why not go all out to celebrate Jesus' birth? 

Romans 4:5,6 says, 5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

We all celebrate in our own way. If someone wants to go all out and decorate their home in a huge way, let them I say! More praise to God! I'll be decorating our home this weekend.

The first snow of the winter season

So yes it's true, the first snow is here and more is coming daily it seems. Looks like winter has arrived at last. I get my winter tires on this week! 

So with the first snow we see how people remember (or forget) how to drive in snow! I saw this on the way to a training day for EA's on the PD Day. Some people thinking because they have an SUV or truck they can drive through anything at any speed... yeah doesn't work and they're in the ditches. Winter tires on cars don't mean we can just drive without care either! 

I had fun because I had only all seasonal tires on that Friday. I got stopped and at one stop sign it was "fun" to try and get going because we were on a slight hill, so I was spinning and thinking "Oh man the people behind me in that SUV must think I'm an idiot!" But I got going after adjusting back and forth between drive, first gear, and low gear in my 2007 automatic Pontiac G5. SO the lesson of the year is - be ready, drive carefully, and have fun! Be patient too when someone is slipping - it could be you!