Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’

I have compiled a Christmas list for those who desire to buy me gifts. I do not think anyone reading this will buy me any of these things (or anything, at all), but I am interested in hearing what you want for Christmas, also.

1. Manifold Witness: The Plurality of Truth by John Franke    Amazon.com    $12.24 | Buy.com    $10.89
2. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas [DVD]    Amazon.com    $18.99 | Buy.com    $18.86 | Overstock.com    $16.82
3. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 4 [3 Discs] [DVD]    Barnes & Noble    $27.99 | Target    $39.98
4. Two pairs of jeans    Gap    ? | Levi    ?
5. Two pairs of dress pants    Express    ? |  Gap   ?
6. Church Dogmatics  by Karl Barth (paperback) Christianbook.com    $499.99
7. Unlocking Romans: Resurrection and the Justification of God by J. R. Daniel Kirk    Buy.com    $20.43 | Amazon.com    $21.12
8. Apple gift cards towards a new laptop!    Apple.com    Any amount

What are you asking for this Christmas?

Bishop N.T. Wright gave a sermon called “The Government Shall Be Upon His Shoulders” on Christmas Eve. I just read it, and I wish I had read it right before Christmas or soon after. So, try to take a step back when you read it, and remember what we’ve felt during Christmas and even the past political season.

Excerpt: Because this night [Christmas Eve], together with its senior cousin, the night of Easter, is the real night for which planet earth was waiting and to which it must look back if it wants to know the way forward. We place too much trust in our politicians because we place too little trust in God, and in the self-revelation of the living God in the child who is born to us. And when our politicians let us down, all we can think of is . . . how to find another politician, who will get it right this time…Past experience suggests that at this point someone will be thinking, I came here tonight to hear about the baby Jesus, not to have a political rant. Well, all right, let’s talk about the baby Jesus…

[read the sermon in its entirety here]

Highlight(s) of the week:

1. We spent New Year’s Eve with a few friends of ours, playing Rock Band and discussing schooling for children (I know, it was late). We had a nice time. It was nice hanging out with people within the same age range.
2. We went skiing at Bear Creek with my family. One injury. Not too bad. I didn’t fall at all, but then again, I’m not necessarily hitting up the black diamond hills. Giselle didn’t go on the hills, but she hung out with my mom in the lodge.
3. My in-laws bought Wii Fit. So, Amanda and I have been bonding over that. I had recently lost some weight, and I thought I was doing awesome. But Wii Fit told me I was “obese “(!). Talk about a killjoy! In fairness to me, I did just eat and had two beers so I think was a little full. I did it the next day, and I was “overweight.” After being told I was obese, I can live with being overweight.
4. E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles! First victim - the Vikings. Next opponent, the Giants (notice, I didn’t say “victim” because I’m not that cocky).
5. Overall, Advent and Christmas seasons were beneficial times for me and my family. Amanda and I had some really wonderful times together, so I’m going to miss have all that time to spend together.

Book(s) I’m reading:

This is a light “What’s Cookin’?” because of the holidays. But here you go…

Highlight(s) of the week: (1) This holiday called Christmas. Maybe you’ve heard of it? (2) Giselle’s first Christmas. She got so many toys she didn’t know what to do with them. (3) Spending time with family is always terrific. (4) The Eagles are in the playoffs after a spanking of the Cowboys! Gotta love that. (5) Advent fast is over! We ate meat and sweets. Feasting away. Oh, cookies, how I missed you.

It is popular this time of year to try to prove/disprove many of the aspects of the Christ’s birth such as the virgin conception, Caesar’s census, two stories or one, and so forth, as events that actually happened. I do find myself on one side of the spectrum in those arguments, but I think these arguments actually are ways of distracting us to such a point that we actually miss what is going on at Christ’s birth. Here’s a few examples:

• The Magi ask, “Where can we find the King of the Jews?” This would have sent up red flags for all the people, and I think the story shows this. Who’s the King of the Jews? Well, Herod is. Thus, Jesus challenges Herod.
• The angels call Jesus the “Savior.” In the Roman world, the “savior” was Caesar. He saved the world. He fixed it. The early readers would’ve clearly understood this as a challenge to Caesar. Jesus is the real Savior.
• Along the same lines, the angels say that this child brings “peace on earth.” If you asked the citizens of Palestine, who brings peace on earth?, the likely answer would be Caesar (i.e., pax romana). Jesus again challenges Caesar. Only Jesus truly brings peace.
• Other challenges to Caesar would be Jesus’ “stealing” of his titles - son of God, Savior, Prince of Peace, etc.

These are just a few examples, but my point is this, when we focus on arguing what actually happened or didn’t happen, we miss the point that Jesus challenges the rulers of the earth. The rulers of the earth think they know how to bring peace, and they do it through violence (how do we keep a crazy dictator quiet? Kill him, of course). That’s how the world handles things. Jesus, on the other hand, brings peace through justice to every person. When we are distracted, we miss these things. We miss the beauty.

The beauty - God decided to live with us, and he’s setting up a new way of doing things, not through violence, but through justice for all people. Turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, and love your neighbor as yourself. This is a different way of doing things.

Therefore, Christmas is a reminder that there is a different way of doing things. Life is no longer as it was. The world is no longer as it was. It is different. Swords are turned into pruning hooks; justice is given to all; the wolf lies down with the lamb. Peace on earth, and goodwill to all people.

Highlight(s) of the week: (1) Family Christmas party at the Cock & Bull in Peddler’s Village this past Sunday. (2) Amanda and I were able to hang out with Jon (brother) & Katie (his fiance) and Phil (brother) & Arielle (girlfriend) afterward at TGI Friday’s. (3) Both Amanda and I are now off from work for Christmas break! (4) Another person and I did the Call to Worship at church on Sunday. It was a responsive “singing.” We read verses from Psalm 13 (How long? passages), and everyone responded by singing the lines “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. And ransom captive Israel.” Didn’t tell Todd we were going to do this ahead of time, but it actually fit into his sermon. Cool. (5) Won our fantasy football league saving me from paying someone else $60! Spanked Aaron 127-67 (at this point, unless his kicker can make up 60 points tonight. I’m calling it a win!).

Highlight(s) of the week: (1) Amanda and I took Giselle to get her pics with Santa (because we’re pagans like that). (2) We also had a chance to go to Longwood Gardens with our friends, Ron and Juli. (3) 3 semesters of my MDiv have been completed. 3 to go!

“1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born…”

-Matthew 2v1-4 TNIV

I had been reflecting on this verse in light of Charlie’s and my conversation about Obama’s possible Department of Peace and Non-Violence. I took one side of the argument, that is, don’t trust the D of P & N but trust Jesus, the author of true peace. I still agree with this, and I think Charlie does, too (?).

I would also like to add another point to the conversation, that is, there have been times in the history of God’s people that the “outsiders” had to remind the “insiders” what they are looking for. During Advent, we are looking forward to celebrating Jesus’ first coming and his second. Perhaps, much like the Magi, who reminded the Jews that they should’ve been looking for the true King of the Jews (where they had trusted other things to save them), we, as Christians, could be reminded that we too should’ve been working for Peace and Non-Violence.

You can almost see the look on the face of the people in Matthew chapter 2. They were disturbed (!) by what they heard. “Uhh…where was that Messiah guy supposed to be born? Oh yes! That’s right - Bethlehem. We forgot.” Perhaps, they were troubled because they forgot? Perhaps, they were troubled because it took these pagan magi to remind them?

Either way, we could learn from them - sometimes it takes our “Gentile magi” (in this case, those proposing the DP&N?) to remind Christians that we should’ve been working for peace and non-violence, but instead, we were too busy looking and placing our trust elsewhere.

Highlight(s) of the week: (1) Thanksgiving! A time for giving thanks. It was nice spending time with Amanda, who had off from work for a few days. Giselle kept us laughing the whole time. (2) We had our first family pictures taken at Sears. Giselle had a cute holiday outfit from Gap. She’s so stylish. (3) We lit the first Advent candle yesterday, and we started out fast from meat until Christmas day. It’s been one day. I smelled bacon earlier, and I really wanted it; but we are trying to use our distractions from the fast to point us back to remembering Christ’s first and second appearings.

Highlight(s) of the week: (1) My seminary retreat. Guest speaker was Andy Crouch, who was awesome! His theme was “Live More Musically” (see notes 1, 2, 3, and 4). (2) Practiced Sabbath this past Sunday, which for me was really turning off my phone. I really enjoyed spending the time with my family without any distractions. (3) Amanda was runner-up for “Teacher of the Month,” which is voted on by students. This is actually a greater achievement than it sounds because she only teaches two grades (versus others who teach 3 or 4) and has only been there for one month. I’m proud of her.