Dear Jesus,

            Happy early Birthday! I know it is not your actual birthday because nobody knows what day you were born and the Bureau of Labor and Statistics did not exist in your time. Anyways, I wanted to buy you a gift that was befitting for my King. Unfortunately finding a gift for a man I admire is not easy. If the gift were for an earthly king it would be easy, just give that man treasures and slather the king with flattery but you do not want either of them. I used to buy gifts based on the individual’s “Wish List” but I found out how useless it is to buy based on a wish. I remember the first gift I gave to my pastor while serving in Japan, I got the Pastor an eagle after praying about it.” I will tell you that eagle meant the world to the man because the gift was from the heart.

It is now Christmas day, and I have yet to produce the perfect gift for you. So here I am still scratching my head wondering what to get you. I remember the vision you gave me after our son’s passing about the millions of souls standing around the throne each with a balloon or some trinket which brought joy to the individual; our son brought a “Bob the Builder” deflated balloon to share with you. I still wonder today what I will bring for you; I will bring a chime or a music box because I love music. I know it cannot be just any old chime or music box; it must be a special one or one that has a special meaning to me.

I understand from the school of “Hard Knocks Bumps and Bruises” where I graduated Magnum Cum Laude,’ gifts are important especially when given from the heart. Gift lists, as I alluded to above, are useless to me because then we are doing the giftee’s buying for them. In Japan it is fitting and proper to bring a gift as an outward sign of appreciation. To get an appropriate gift, it is important to know the person who will be receiving the gift. So, when I buy gifts I need to know why I am giving the gift; I need to remember what the individual means to me; I need to remember how that person influenced me; I need to know the purpose of the gift. For example, the gift is for a teacher, like yourself who has spent years teaching me the ways of the Father. Because you are a King, I must carefully consider my gift to you. Jesus, you do not suffer fools so, I must give my best (Genesis 5:1-15).

Considering the above, I thought it was fitting and proper to offer you all my writing because you taught through the Holy Spirit how to walk in righteousness. I have put a considerable amount of time and effort into these documents and have shared them on my website. When I come to see you, I hope to bring my Bible to you as a gift for all that you have done for me. For the past 12 years, I have read my Bible, colored in key passages, and notated the references. To the world my Bible is no different than any other Bible except, it is Your love letter to me and my love letter to You.

In Fond Affection

Mike – John