This Christmas, Even in This Dark Time, Enjoy the Light

“It’s Christmas! You should rejoice!” The presence of family, presents under the Christmas tree, rocking around to different versions of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” should encourage everyone to celebrate!

Christmas, a time to rejoice with lights and perfections, can also be one of the darkest times of the year. A close family member—parent, spouse, sibling— may have passed away during this time, and that loss is particularly painful during the Christmas season. There are many alone, homeless, ill. They endure this festive time coupled with their intense, personal privations. For many, Christmas should be a time of great celebration. This pressure adds to their pain.

Christmas has been both a dark time and a bright time for me, too. Some years, there was nothing but joy and victory to ponder from the previous months. Sometimes, it seemed like there was nothing to celebrate.

In the world today, it seems that the shadow of death is not just overcast, but cannot be overcome. Despite victories here and there on the life and liberty front, the forces of evil march on:

1.       In Indonesia, a brutal tsunami wiped out hundreds of lives just three days before Christmas. This is not the first time in recent memory that a horrific tsunami wreaked such havoc during the Christmas season.

2.       Throughout the world, younger generations are determined to embrace socialism, the very corrosive cultural, economic, and political cult which the Greatest Generation had defeated during World War II. Millennials and even post-Millennials know nothing about the Freedom Trio of Reagan, Thatcher, and Pope John Paul II who defeated Communism, and thus ended the Cold War in 1989. Incidentally, he Soviet Union officially ceased to exist on Christmas Day, 1991. Sadly, the Specter of Communism has not be consigned to the ash heap of history after all.

3.     In the so-called Free World of the West, freedoms of speech, assembly, and religions face untold hardships. Tommy Robinson of Great Britain reported the truth about Islam, and he was shut away in a prison for months. Bill Whatcott of Canada endures untold criminal indictments just for preaching the Gospel, and his government is more committed to political correctness than moral uprightness to this day. Aaron and Melissa Klein of Oregon, Jack Philipps of Colorado, and others face civil penalties or unrelenting legal action because they refuse to endorse the LGBT Agenda in their private businesses.

4.       Americans have forgotten the sacrifices which helped bring down the Berlin Wall. At the same time, politicians in Washington DC refuse to build a wall along the United States’ Southern Border to secure our country and legacy.

5.       As of this writing, the stock market is facing an unprecedented downturn. Wealth creation is turning into wealth evaporation for those who bet big on a strong stock market.

6.       The very businessmen and corporations which benefited from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 are using their unprecedented wealth to undermine the very country which made wealth creation possible and essential to its character of free enterprise.

7.       For three years in a row, the opioid crisis and addiction epidemic has cut the average lifespan of Americans. The reason? Many have lost the reason to live, and not just for a season.

It’s a dark time right time.

Despite these tragedies, all of us need to remember what—or rather Who—this season celebrates.

Christmas is about the Light of the World (John 8:12) who came into this darkness. It’s not about pretending there is no darkness, but about remembering that the world has a Savior to rescue and protect us in the midst of the darkness.

The prophet Isaiah declared:

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)

Why?

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

There are so many walking, stumbling in a dark world right now.

But notice that phrase “in the land of the shadow of death.” It reminds us of the beloved 23^rd Psalm: 

“Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.”

Jesus, the Savior of the World, is also called “Immanuel” which means “God with us”. From the beginning, he entered into darkness, relieving and comforting us in dark places. His birth came at a bleak time, more foreboding than our own. Ruthless Caesars in Rome could force a world-wide census upon numerous conquered peoples. There were no rights for all, but ultimately privileges for “citizens of Rome.” Entertainment was a fatuous bloodsport of slaves butchering each other before mindless crowds.

And yet, in a tiny manger in a forlorn stable in an overlooked city, Christ the Savior was born. The Light of the World came into a world that had no hope, no peace.

This Light guides the souls of millions today, and they are not overcome by darkness:

1.       Chinese Christians are fighting back despite Communist regime crackdowns.

2.       From West Hollywood to Boston, Massachusetts, evangelical churches are sprouting up across the United States.

3.       Iranians are converting to Christianity in unprecedented numbers, in spite of persecution in their home country.

This Christmas, we may live in a dark world gone darker, but the darkness does not have to overcome us. This Christmas season, ignore the surrounding chaos and enjoy the Light, just as the Israelites in Exodus weathered the plagues, then enjoyed divine light in their homes (Exodus 10:23). Let us rest and receive the true reason for the season, the Light and Savior of the World, God who became a man, the baby born to die that man could be set free from sin and enjoy life eternally.

Christmas 2018: So Much to Reflect on and Celebrate

Christmas, 2017 was a dark time for me.

I had no stable job, no stable income. Relying on donations to fund my independent journalism and activism had hit a dry spell, to say it mildly.

On top of that, I had no car. I was facing criminal charges for sitting in a city council meeting. On top of that, I was suing the same city which had had me arrested without justification.

Then add to all of this, I had no idea what my future was supposed to be, and where was I supposed to be going. There was such a sense of loss, of darkness, of oblivion.

"Where are you, God? What is going on?" I was asking myself.

Thankfully, I had the time and my father was more than happy to bring me up to Oregon for Christmas that year.

"Just take it easy, Arthur. This is your time to rest," he told me.

And rest I did.

It seemed that I slept a great deal during this time. Depression, a sense of deep loss had overtaken me.

Then one of my friends in California called me to wish a Merry Christmas. That really brightened me up, helping me to focus outside of the immediate hardships in which I had found myself. The rest of my time in Oregon, I got back into writing and researching, preparing for the new year, a heavy election year coming our way in the United States.

Starting in January 2018, within days of my return home, people began donating money. I found other ways to get funding little by little, and I resorted to looking for other work in the meantime. I was ready to go back to the grocery store, to go back to tutoring, whatever it took.

I had been laid off in 2017 from the marketing firm, and after going through all of my savings without being able to find work, I resorted to what I had paid into unemployment insurance. I receive no shame for doing so, since I had paid in and was drawing out what was prepared for me.

July, 2018 was the tipping point. I was at my end point. I needed a clear line of employment that would help me get through life and its demands. I was still looking for a car, and it just seemed pretty dark and hopeless.

I have written about this before, and I share it again: the first week of July, I got so angry at God, and I shouted: "What good is being righteousness if I can't pay the rent?!"

I felt so bad, so distraught. When I was working at the marketing firm, starting in December 2015 (right around Christmas time, in fact!), I had finally arrived in so many ways. I was doing a job that was perfect for me. Reading, researching, writing, and coordinating political events for my employer, I was in my element.  I thought I had "arrived" at that point. I would never have to worry about money again. I would never have to borrow money off my credit card. I would never have to file for unemployment ever again. Things were not bad, and that they would never end up as dire straits.

When I was laid off in March, 2017, I was not sure what would happen next. Working as a freelance writer and activist worked for me just fine. Of course, from getting arrested in June 2017 to the end of the year in Christmas, my fortunes struggled considerably. Yes, I had traveled to Washington DC due to generous contributions from supporters around the country--and the world! Indeed, I was able to accomplish so much in spite of the lack of a stable job.

Then my Buick Century died off in October 2017, just as I was getting geared up for the California Republican Party Convention in Anaheim, just as I was witnessing the downfall of traitor RINOs in leadership who had sold out the state party and every taxpayer.

In spite of piecemeal victories, there I was stuck without my own vehicle. I had to rent cars for periods of time, whether driving to events or going to court, or taking care of other needs and concerns. I had no stable income. Happily, in spite of all those setbacks, from October 2017 to July 2018, other people were ready to rush in and assist me. Thank you, Jesus, for such grateful, gracious friends!

Yet back to July 2018, nearly a year later, I was yelling at God: "What good is your righteousness if I cannot pay the rent?!"

Within a day of reflecting what I had said, I recalled all those times in my life beforehand, when I had plenty of money, when I was able to pay the rent and take care of other needs. At the same time, I remember the unspeakable guilt, fear, and shame which had overcome me. A sense of dread, of condemnation was inescapable for me in those days.

I then realized directly what Jesus had been talking about during His earthly ministry:

"26 For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26)

Then I repented--changed my mind, my attitude--and I realized that no matter what may happen to me, I need to prize the gift of righteousness which I have today because of Christ Jesus. Instead of looking at what I don't have, I meditated and praised God that I would never be punished again for my sins: past, present, and future:

"For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee." (Isaiah 54:9)

And also:

"1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2)

Sunday at Calvary Chapel South Bay, I received such a profound peace from this revelation. "I am righteous! I have been made the righteounsess of God in Christ Jesus! I don't care what happens to me tomorrow, because I am righteousness. I will never be slammed, punished, rebuked, destroyed for my sins, whether yesterday, today, or any other time ever!"

The next day ...

1. MassResistance hired me to serve as their Organization Director
2. A friend of mine offered me a car

Both problems were rolled up just like that!

Thank you Jesus!

Not only that, but I was able to pay back my father for his help which he had offered me earlier this year. My fortunes reversed so quickly from the first week of July to the present day. It's just a full-on testimony to the Grace of God!

Since July, I have visited the following places for work:

1. Sacramento, Dixon area
2. New York City (CNN Panel Interview)
3. Austin, Texas
4. Phoenix, Arizona (I also went to Pheonix in March earlier this year)
5. New Mexico
6. Central Coast, South Bay (San Francisco)
7. Oregon

And more journeys are coming, too!

I just received a new passport. Finally, I took care of that goal.

As the Organization Director for MassResistance, I have worked with an incredible number of activists all over the country--all over the world!--to fight the pro-family fight. So many people have contacted me that I have found my subject matter, my conservative element: fighting for life and family and against the LGBT Hate Machine.

This fight needs to be fought, and the patriots I have worked with in California have joined me forcefully to fight against this bigotry. In four months, we have had an incredible number of victories, and in the bluest states in the country, too.

Yes, I was convicted of two counts of ... not following a police officer's order? Two police officers? I didn't even receive an order from one of them. A kangaroo guided by a lazy judge who was more interested in just getting the trial over with rather than permitting evidence to be introduce that would exonerate me. Add to that the fact that my attorney needed twenty more minutes to look over videos that he had introduced. Then there were the lies stated by the Deputy DA, and add to that the fact that it seemed to me that the jury was more interested in getting out of a trial early.

Where does it stop? I am so grateful to have the support for people all over the country on my behalf.

The next week, I received a rigorous training in righteousness, His righteousness, just as I had meditated on in early July. So many people expressed a lot of fear about the probation imposed on me. I found that very frustrating. They don't seem to know who my Father is--or they don't believe on Him. I had to rebuke so many people about their casting their cares on me.

Then I returned to Isaiah 54 once again for more grace and strength:

"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54:14)

How do we break free of fear, of oppression, especially from the state? We get ESTABLISHED in His righteousness. We don't just think about it, we don't just assent to it--we get fully fixed in it, and recognize that no matter what happens outside of us, whether it's our fault or not.

Righteousness is a gift (Romans 5:17), and we are established in HIS righteousness (Isaiah 54:17). No weapon will prosper against us, and those weapons include unjust verdicts as well as the shame and calumny of an evil horde attempting to shame or degrade us. One pastor refreshed everyone's member about Isaiah 54:17:

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54:17)

Many believers tend to skip past the "no weapon part". There is a promise that comes with God's gift of righteousness to us: "Every tongue that rises in judgment against thee thou shalt condemn".

It's more than "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." We will denounce publicly, condemn those who shame us." Yes! We will have the last word, we will be able to "punch back twice as hard" as Ben Shapiro had remarked to Piers Morgan in 2012.

That has happened many times in my life! In fact, two days before flying up to Oregon, two enemies tried to come together against me, and they were both put to shame publicly!!

And now here I am enjoying Christmas with many friends and family here in Oregon. It's cold, but I am neither depressed nor tired. There is so much winning that has taken place this year, even with the hardships and difficulties, even with the hurts and near-misses, even with the attacks, smears, and outright hatred of others.

This has been a wonderful year, and this has been the best--BEST--Christmas yet.

Stay tuned for more!