Smells of Christmas

by JD Blankenship, Cove C-Group leader

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other an aroma that brings life.  - 2 Corinthians 2:15-16

Good food is a central part of my life.   After a once in a lifetime vacation, I am more likely to recall the signature meal than the main event itself.  If I were invited to dinner at the White House, I would probably cast my vote based more on my taste buds than my politics.

It follows that the fragrances of food that accompany Christmas always make an impression on me. The smell of Mom’s pumpkin cake and Granny’s sweet potatoes quickly lift my spirits to a place of comfort and joy.  To me, these aromas are life.  To others, however, the feelings are not so calming.

Our mixed-breed dog, Sadie, has some wonderful qualities. She loves to have her belly scratched and licks you whenever she has a chance. Some traits, however, are not so endearing.  She bangs on the door of her room when it storms and has even jumped through a screen window when I sprayed the house for ants. Baking at high temperatures will elicit similar responses.  Some “blackened” food once set off the fire alarm and prompted Sadie to find the nearest exit.  She pushed the door open and bolted for a less frightening home.  So now, every time the temperature begins to climb in the oven, the familiar scent that ignites my joy results in Sadie having a panic attack.  “To the one … an aroma that brings life. To the other an aroma that brings death.” 

Just as I pursue the smell of the oven that fills our home, more than ever, I am being drawn to the aroma of Christ that permeates every aspect of a Christ- follower’s being.  Christ is full of grace and truth. Like Sadie and the oven, the world has concluded that the “smell” exuded by a Christian leads to death, when in fact, the scent they are encountering is a marker of the life they desperately need.  My desire is that Christ so richly dwells in me that His nature creates an aroma that is not only distinct but also appealing. When people encounter me, do they panic and run for cover, or do they want to move forward in hopes of a taste of the life-giving food that Christ offers?

JD and his wife Janet have been married for 20 years.  In addition to Sadie, their family includes four two-legged children.  JD is a C-group leader at Cove Church.

That Smell

Leigh and Drew Helveston have been members of Cove Church for the past 3 years. Drew serves as a small group leader for 8^th grade boys, and Leigh works with 7^th grade girls. The Helvestons are active in a C-group and have 2 children, Mac and Zoe.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  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.  - Luke 2:6-7

Balsam and Cedar, Red Apple Wreath, Christmas Cookie, Home for the Holidays, Sparkling Snow, and Christmas Eve: these are the different scented candles that the company Yankee Candle has to offer.  Chances are you have enjoyed one of these scents.  They are supposed to capture the different aromas that represent Christmas.  Its funny how I can walk past a candle and instantly think about spending time at my grandmother’s house.  The house would be packed with family running around, parents cooking food, and a feeling of warmth and love.  All I have to do is smell a little bit of cinnamon mixed with the smell of a fresh Christmas tree and my mind takes me to that place.  The simple scent makes me think of Christmas. 

Unfortunately, I have to think that Mary and Joseph have a different idea of what Christmas smells like.  A long day of traveling, sweaty and tired, they searched for a place to stay the night.  There was no room at the inns because the Roman Emperor wanted to take a census for tax paying purposes.  They were not offered to stay in the premium room with the scent of Red Apple Wreath. The only place they could find was in the stables with the animals.  The scent of a long day, manure, and animals probably littered the air with a stench that was pretty strong.  Jesus himself was wrapped in a manger where animals had probably been recently eating.  As a proud parent of two beautiful children, I would like to think that on that night, Mary and Joseph did not care about the smell.  They just wanted a healthy baby.

So this holiday season, I am going to enjoy the wonderful aromas of Christmas.  I am going to enjoy the scents of the trees, food, and candles.  But each time I do, may it be the one thing that makes me think about that brave couple walking in Bethlehem looking for a place to stay, a couple that was faithful and true to God and one which was blessed by God.  The story of Christmas is and will always be about the glorious birth of Jesus, but my hope is that next time you smell these scents, that you will take time to think about that night in Bethlehem and the hardships that Mary and Joseph endured.    

It's the Little Things

by Richard Williams, Chase C-group leader & tech guru

If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?  - 1 Corinthians 12:17

Looking back on my life, no sense brings back memories like the smells from Christmas. Of course, in every Yule Tide season, smell has to struggle with the other senses to be noticed. A dazzling wheel of colored light projected onto an aluminum tree, a nippy Christmas morning that stings the nose and leaves it runny, a rousing Mormon Tabernacle Choir carol played at full volume on our home entertainment system, and the sweet, sweet taste of chocolate-cherry cordials stolen from the kitchen for weeks before – these are the rivals that seek to steal my attention every time the nativity scene is rolled out for display.

But, while the other four senses get all the credit, my nose has excelled at gaining my real attention. One whiff and I’m transported to my past, from childhood to father, from wearing diapers to changing them. Nothing comes close to its range, from the subtle hint of food in the kitchen to the eye-watering reality of cheap cologne packaged in glass cars that my grandmother gave every year. Indeed, smell has left big footprints in my life.

But of all my Christmas memories there’s one that’s dear to my heart. It’s a recent memory, shared by all my family. Five years ago, at the last possible moment, my wife and I decided the family needed a dog. In the eleventh hour, we scoured the internet, searching for small cute dogs that don’t set allergies aflame. Within hours we had chosen a breeder, received pictures of the recent litter, used PayPal to close the deal on our choice, and arranged for my wife to meet the owner halfway between Chattanooga and Knoxville for delivery. After years of begging for a family pet, we surprised our children with a tiny puppy just days before Christmas. I still remember how excited they were on seeing him and how quickly he became one of us.

On that first encounter, this little creature, so tiny and scared, did something that touched my heart. He licked me on the nose. And in that moment, the smell of puppy’s breath was indelibly etched on my heart. That smell, offensive to some and sought by others, became my most treasured Christmas sensual memory. This was something not plastic, not bottled in glass, not cooked or canned. It didn’t need 2 minutes in the microwave, nor shaking and stirring for 5; it was simple and loving and from one of God’s creatures. And I realized how marvelous our God is to remind us of the things we can miss as we rush through each Christmas with our mind on our lists.

Our dog Buck is still with us and loved. And our whole family still says he was the best present ever! Until we’re reminded of the first Christmas gift, with His humble beginnings to His crucifixion because of His deep love for us all. And often I wonder how sweet His breath must have been.

Richard Williams has been a member of Cove Church since 2004 when he and his wife Deborah were moved by God’s Spirit to join.  They and their three children are now all active members of Cove Church @ Chase.  Richard is a C-group leader and also serves in Worship Ministry as the video team leader. 

In the Beginning

by Scott Wood, shaper of young minds in Kids Cove 

As many of you are aware, as we age our senses dull a little.  Many of us require devices to aide with the natural process of aging.  We have glasses for our eyes, and hearing aids for our ears.  But there has yet to be an invention to help our aging “sniffers.”  I wonder why that is?  Isn’t smell just as important as vision or hearing?  Most people would say not.  Why is that?  Is it because people don’t relate smell to Christ? 

This got me thinking!  I have heard many things (people talking, the sound of nature, laughter, etc.) with my own ears and thought, that reminds me of the wonders of Jesus.  Likewise, I have seen many things with my own eyes and thought, only God could have done that!  But how many times, after smelling an aroma or scent, could I honestly say, now that smelled like Jesus!  Initially I thought, not many.  But as I began to search my old database upstairs, I began to realize that there were more memories of the aroma of Christ than I originally thought.  In fact, there were more than that of sight or sound combined. 

Let me explain.  Who has ever smelt the breath of a puppy?  The smell of a new born baby?  Pizza?  Hot dogs at a stadium?  Vinegar at Easter while you are dying eggs?  Christmas scented candles this time of year?  The aroma of your kids as you kiss them good night?   We have all smelt these things and they are all very distinct and unique.  But they all have one thing in common.  They are the aroma of Christ!  You see, like it says in John 1:3 (NIV): “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”  So all these aromas, all these smells and scents, they originated from Our Lord!  So I challenge all of you, the next time you smell something, let your mind focus on the originator of that aroma. 

And remember kids, “people smell better than reindeers.”  Merry Christmas!

Scott Wood and his family have been members of Cove Church for 9 years.  He is an active and enthusiastic volunteer in Kids Cove, where he has been known to sport a wig and a tutu.   

You Just Missed Him

by Stephen Hampton, Chase Campus Pastor

Every Christmas Eve, my grandparents would drive me, my sisters, and my cousins around so that we could see the Christmas lights and look for Rudolph pulling Santa’s sleigh. We would look for that red light that had to be Rudolph’s nose, but we never saw it. The amazing thing about it was that every year, while we were gone, Santa would come to our houses and deliver our gifts. Our parents would always say, “You just missed him.”

So many times, the Christmas season can be that way for me. I am driving around looking for the right presents or busy getting ready for Christmas services, and I miss the most important things. I miss the beauty of Christmas lights, the simplicity of a cup of hot cocoa with my daughters, or a special moment with my wife Jane without distractions; but most of all, I miss seeing Jesus himself.

I don’t want to get to the end of this Christmas season only to hear the words, “You just missed him.” I want to have eyes to see Jesus this Christmas like never before. Here are a few ways that might help you and me see Jesus more clearly this Christmas:  1) Buy a nativity scene, set it up and read the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke;  2) Go serve at Manna House or the Care Center because Jesus can be seen in the face of each person you serve;  3) Pray each morning that Jesus would give you eyes to see him for who he really is that day.

When we see Jesus for who he really is, we are never the same again. The shepherds would definitely agree:

“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told” (Luke 2:20).

May the words “You just missed him” never be a part of my Christmas story, or yours, ever again. May we see Jesus this Christmas for who he really is. 

Stephen Hampton, his wife Jane, and their three girls started attending Cove Church in 2001.  After 10 years as active members on the Hampton Cove campus, Stephen became the campus pastor of Cove Church @ Chase in June, 2011.

Grace and Gratitude

by Rusty Cockrell, photographer and videographer

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.  - Psalm 100:5

At least every two years since I've been alive, we have gone to Enid, Oklahoma, to have our Esau family Christmas rendezvous at my grandparents’ home. Sometimes we would go Thanksgivings, and sometimes on a whim. Now that I’m a grown man, we only make it every two years for Christmas. But my first memories of that place were forged in those long December trips across the abomination that is I-40 -- the 10 hour stretch of death from Memphis all the way across the rice fields of Arkansas, to Tulsa.

To this day, this is where my memory flies every single time. I can see it now. We are exiting off that interstate onto the Muskogee turnpike, then pulling up to the booth and paying the first of five tolls. Then two straight lanes…for miles. On either side there’s a dormant ocean of cut corn, dotted with the green pop of the winter wheat. Golden pastures with every domestic breed of cattle known to man are bedded down in the sunshine. I see the never-ending fence lines and the giant grain silos rearing their heads on the horizon.

           

Grandma and Grandpa’s house was modest, a small, white two story house in a subdivision. My grandparents had 10 children, and I still have no idea how we possibly fit our gigantic family into that house during Christmas.  But what mattered was everybody in that room came from Harold and Leona.  Their children’s spouses were adopted into the family.  It was our homecoming.

One of my many talented aunts would play the piano and everybody would sing together in harmony.  The Bible would open, and Grandpa would read the story of Jesus and that night that changed the course of each and every one of our lives.  I remember his enormous hands grasping that wrinkled cover.  He spoke with mild inflection, but he read intentionally, firmly,  holding on to the word of God as if it was his very life, because it was.  He lived by it more diligently than anybody I have ever known.  I say that with the utmost sincerity.  He was a common man, an ordinary man by the world’s measure.  But I for one saw it in his pale eyes even when I was a kid.  I heard it in his voice, in his conversations, in his prayers.

We would always stay for many days during Christmas, sometimes long after everybody had filtered back toward their corners of America.  The Esau family would dissolve from the gathering.  Those were always sad times.  And it’s still sad whenever we have to hug somebody’s neck and say goodbye.  

Rusty Cockrell has attended the Hampton Cove campus for several years.  He serves in Student Ministry as a small group leader and also chaperones many student road trips (God bless him!).  Rusty is also a videographer and has shared that talent with several different ministries here at Cove Church.  You can read more of Rusty's story here.

Eyewitnesses

by Lidia Zirkel, Cove mission partner serving in Coronado, Costa Rica

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  2 Peter 1:16

The trees were old and full of moss.  The grass towered above our heads.  In the clearing we could see the city below and the volcano above, but how Lord? Where do we begin turning this old diseased avocado farm into a home for children? 

We cut the grass. Cut down old diseased trees.  Cleared an entry and began construction.  Short term mission teams came from throughout the United States.  There were also groups of families, young and old, small groups and large groups, who came to help, and slowly the plan began to take shape.  In March 2011, we opened the first Home and began to receive children.  Sitting on the hillside watching the children play on the playground with the city of San Jose in the distance, we bowed at the faithfulness of our Lord. 

The Home is a place of healing and restoration. The children who live at the Home have all experienced abuse, physical and sexual, in their lives.  They have been abandoned by their parents and are alone and broken.   Each child who comes to live with us hears the story of Jesus Christ:  his birth, death, and resurrection.   Through Christ they are no longer alone.

Four years later, the second Home is open.  This Christmas we will have 21 children living at the Methodist Children’s Home in Costa Rica.  The farm is now green with life.  New trees and plants fill the property.  Yet, the greatest gift this Christmas is the sight of the children who are happy, healthy, and full of life and hope.   

We are privileged to witness the majesty of our Lord every day in the sweet faces of the children who live with us.  We witness His majesty in the healing of the physical and emotional wounds of the children.  We witness His majesty in the generosity of the many churches and individuals who support the Children’s Home through their presence, prayers and gifts.  We witness His majesty in the body of Christ being His hands and heart to the children in Costa Rica.

Thank you church family.  We pray that His majesty will fill your hearts and homes this Christmas season.

Ray, Lidia, Sarah and Emma Zirkel

The Zirkels are long-time mission partners of Cove Church.  They are the founders of the United Methodist Children's Home in Coronado, Costa Rica.