The 'Real' Black Friday

'Gotta' have it! 'Gotta' get it! Get 'outa' my way!

Today is one set aside for gathering all the gifts you can get, at the best prices of the year, and often one has to get up dreadfully early to beat everyone else to the store......(and if you believe that, I have some prime ocean front property in North Dakota to sell you.

Over the last 5+ years, Black Friday has been a farce in that the 24 hour period to get good deals has bled over into Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) and even rolling backward into Wednesday. Greed? probably. Trickery? Most likely. (One automobile company is promoting an all month of November Black Friday sale...)

The few deals stores offer in order to hook unsuspecting shoppers are the bait. Once inside the store, shoppers are more likely to spend money on other items that may not be nicely priced. Stores aren't doing anything unscupulous, just banking on human nature to spend money. It works.

(Image taken from Facebook, 11/25/15 - @funny_christians)

The reality of this crazy day revolves around the flawed notion that there are deals out there to bag. I suppose it was fun at one time in the past, but now with accounts of fights breaking out over flatscreen TVs, special toys, and other deals, how much fun is it really?

In the faith commmunity, we celebrate the real 'Black Friday' commonly called Good Friday.

God offered humanity the deal of a lifetime. Our sin was defeated with one fell swoop of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection! Those who realize the deadly grip of sin run as fast as they can to scarf up God's gift offer. They'll even get up dreadfully early to take advantage of this deal.

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly

dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ

died for us. (Romans 5:6-8, NIV)

So, if you are going out to shop till you drop, Godspeed.

If you are already back home smugly admiring your shopping prowess, God bless.

If you are being strangled by sin's death curse, there is great hope! Run to Jesus as fast as you can!

He will offer you the very best deal of your lifetime. Guaranteed!