That is probably a terrible way to start a blog as some people think "freakin" is now a bad word. Well, it's not a bad word, Jesus has told me so in a dream after I ate lots of cookies and went into an altered state called: sugar coma.
 
I really want to ask you in this blog if you feel overwhelmed by the holidays. For me I think I do…and I didn't even realize it, until yesterday. Every year I have been really trying to get into the Christmas swing by putting more lights on my house and bringing blinding light bulb cheer to all my neighbors, but last year I got lazy and never took my lights down. I know it is a major holiday faux pas, my wife tells me I am a redneck for doing it, but I think I am just tired.
 
This year I went out to plug in my lights, which were a lovely red and white last year, only to find that the sun had bleached my red lights and turned them all orangish-pink. Normally I would be horrified at this turn of events, but this year I am tired and busy so I just shrugged my shoulders and left them on. I will not switch them out, my neighbors will have to live with my half hearted ho ho ho (or ho freakin' ho ho) this year. 
 
I could write this blog about 6 ways to gain that Christmas cheer, 5 spiritual lessons from Christmas lights that have faded, or even 10 reasons to love your neighbors by taking down your Christmas lights at the end of the year, but I don't want to, I'm tired. Christmas is a short jump away and I would rather spend my time enjoying life with Jesus, my friends, my family, and my wife (who told me just to leave the lights up another year and they should be bleached white by that time).

John Wesley once said " Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can."

I guess that's a good Christmas admonition, but I like the Apostle Paul's even better in Galatians 6:10 "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
 
I really do think decorating, bringing cheer and joy to those around us is important, but spending time connecting and investing in people is more important. So this year, if you have to pick between lights on your house or spending time with Jesus and friends, choose Jesus and friends…but if you have an extra hour, do the lights too (and replace them if red has turned to pink).