Sunday, December 29, 2013

What are we going to do now?

What are Christians going to do now?  The Christmas season is over.  (Oh wait - please don't jump down my throat about the whole 12 days of Christmas stuff.  Just go up to someone and say Merry Christmas today and check out the look they give you.)  What battles are we going to fight?  Where will our 'culture warriors' go?

The week before Christmas is supposed to be a time where we are in reflection about the Incarnation.  In the midst of the busyness of the season and finishing the mandatory holiday outings for shopping, wrapping, and visiting, somewhere we are supposed to think a little bit about God becoming flesh for us and for our salvation.  This can be a challenge but it's something that is important to me.  I make it a point to 'not be busy' the week before Christmas.  So while I am trying do this I am overwhelmed with Duck Dynasty.  By the way - Go duck yourself. 

I have friends on both sides of this issue.  This is not a blog for that - we have been overwhelmed with hipsters and conservatives waxing all poetic about this already.  My point is that as a younger generation Christian, I look to my elders with almost shame this time every year because all the ranting and raving about Keeping Christ in Christmas sort of stuff.  Christmas is over.  Did we succeed at keeping Him in it?  Did we help people truly remember that Jesus is the reason for the season with all the annoying times we have to say that?  Just stop. 

What are we going to rant about now old timer Christian dude?  Back to the same old stuff? It's like we don't have a platform in which to offer a genuine Christian witness or voice.  The problem is that the whole manger in the town square argument is just ridiculous.  Stop it, please.  Can we actually be a people that looks to issues that are truly important.  Now that we have been the cultural warriors for the season of Advent, Epiphany is upon us and we look to the light.  What are you going to do with the light that has come into the world?  What will your voice cry out?  Justice doesn't have a season.  It's always needed.  Maybe we can give voice to something that really matters.    

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Not a Silent Night


Christmas Eve 2013

Not a Silent Night

God come not because it is peaceful in our lives, but because of the chaos.  That's the reason for Christmas.  


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Sunday, December 15, 2013

Raising Jesus


Mary, Mother of God

Advent Sermon Series

12 year old Jesus in the Temple - Mary treasured all these things in her heart. 


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Sunday, December 8, 2013

A Pierced Soul


Advent Series

Mary, The Mother of God

Mary at the Foot of the cross - what did Christmas mean to her then?


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Those with Hope


Advent Series -

Mary, the Mother of God. 

Christmas through the eyes of Mary.  What did Christmas mean to Mary at the end of her life? 


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Sunday, December 1, 2013

The child with the star on his head

It's that time of the year - Hooray! Nothing but Sufjan Stevens all day everyday until Christmas!

Here are the lyrics to "The Child with the Star on His Head"

Once in a while, you may think you see better than the others
Scrambling around in the dark with your drum
There is a time when young men must grow up and be brothers
Are you afraid of growing too fast?

And the child with the star on his head
All of the world rests on his shoulders
And the mother with the child on her breast
Blessed is she among women

And the trust we put in things
In small ideas, in engineering
The world of sports and second best
In consequences we will not put to rest

Why crawl around in the snow 
When you know I am right here
Waiting for you to expect something more?

For I am warm, I am calling you close to my table
Where I have made us a feast 
For the year of troubles, they have gone
The winter brings a Christmas song

And the child with the star on his head
All of the world rests on his shoulders
And the mother with the child on her breast 
Blessed is she among women

Does all the world know better than
When Christmas comes the troubles end
The troubles end, the troubles end

And by the time there’s nothing left
An empty tree, a winter vest
A winter vest, a winter vest

And all the trust we put in things
In dictionaries, in engineering
In calendars, and television
And father’s friends, and consequences

Service


Transformed Living - 

Final week of Series - Service

"You're gonna serve somebody."


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