Twas the day before Christmas and all through my home,
I prayed that this Christmas no one feels alone.
That Jesus would be proclaimed with His love,
without conditions or favortism or "you're not good enough."
That gifts would be given straight from the heart,
no matter if bought from Goodwill or Walmart.
That Christians would be humbled by the sight of the manger,
remembering that Jesus did the same despite danger
And that I could forgive with true peace in my heart,
and today is as good as any day to start.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
In response...
I feel I need to respond to my own post. I realize that we cannot make anyone change, let alone a period of time almost 60 years ago. I must start with myself. Take the plank out of my own eye. Thank you "Sing Off" for singing "Man in the Mirror."
Be the change you want to see.
Be the change you want to see.
I picked up a book last night...
I forget how much I love to read. I'm one of those people who around the holiday's realizes the wealth of knowledge at my disposal and asks for 5-1o books. I can tell you that all of those books are currently sitting on my shelf, and I have read a total of 1.
I decided to pick up #2 last night. It's called "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid." I love kids, and I've been in a lame mood lately, so I thought this would be a perfect way to suspend my reality a bit and focus on the joy of childhood.
I didn't finish the 1st chapter, in disgust.
Let me share with you the first couple pages I read, and maybe you'll understand why I felt too sick to move forward. I'll put my thoughts in [ ].
"I can't imagine there has ever been a more gratifying time or place to be alive than America in the 1950s. No country had ever known such prosperity. [really?] When the war ended the United States had $26 billion worth of factories that hadn't existed before the war, $140 billion in savings and war bonds just waiting to be spent, no bomb damage [feel kinda bad for the devestated families of Europe and Japan], and practically no competition. All that American companies had to do was stop making tanks and battleships and start making Buicks and Frigidaires - and boy did they. [woo hoo, just what we need!]
"...almost 90% of American families had refigerators, and nearly 3/4 had washing machines, telephones, vacuum cleaners, and gas or elective stoves - things that most of the rest of the world coul still only fantasize about. [and we're proud of that?] Americans owned 80% of teh world's electrical goods, controlled 2/3 of the world's productive capacity, produced more than 40 percent of its electricity, 60 percent of its oil, and 66 percent of its steel. The 5 percent of people on Earth who were Americans had more wealth than the other 95 percent combined. [I'm starting to feel sick...]
"...We became the richest country in the world without needing the rest of the world." [..while everyone else might need our help]
"...In 1951, the average American ate 50% more than the average European." [that explains our obesity rate]
"...They'd all have a good laugh...and then sit around drinking iced tea and talking appliances for an hour or so. [No other pressing issues around the world or anything?] No human being had ever been quite this happy before."
That last line did me in. Even writing it makes me feel sick. I understand historically that we had just helped end a war and people were happy. I understand that historically we had just come out of the Great Depression. I understand that the author is just trying to convey how great a time it was to be born in the year 1951. But it was hard for me not to read this and not think "America the Beautiful" but "America the Glutton."
I don't bash my country much, if at all. We have great freedom, great resources, great healthcare (for those who can afford it), great education, and overall great people. But these words on pg. 5-6 made me think, "Wow, so often we live in this bubble, and completely forget the rest of the world is NOT like this."
Keep in mind right now I am somewhat sensitive having followed a guy my age doing a hunger strike for 9 days to raise money for deworming meds for starving children. I told another friend I feel like I experience Norman Rockwell's Christmas inside, and then I step outside and am reminded how not everywhere has a Christmas tree, lights, feasts of appetizers, and jingle bells.
Sorry if I'm sounding pessimistic. I swear I'm not bitter. I think I'm just becoming more aware.
I'll leave you today with the lyrics of a Christmas song I heard on the radio as yet another reminder from the Lord about the state of things (yes, the Lord still speaks to me via radio). God bless. Be aware. Do good.
But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it's hard
But when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing
Is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring
There are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you
And there won't be snow in Africa
This Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
I decided to pick up #2 last night. It's called "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid." I love kids, and I've been in a lame mood lately, so I thought this would be a perfect way to suspend my reality a bit and focus on the joy of childhood.
I didn't finish the 1st chapter, in disgust.
Let me share with you the first couple pages I read, and maybe you'll understand why I felt too sick to move forward. I'll put my thoughts in [ ].
"I can't imagine there has ever been a more gratifying time or place to be alive than America in the 1950s. No country had ever known such prosperity. [really?] When the war ended the United States had $26 billion worth of factories that hadn't existed before the war, $140 billion in savings and war bonds just waiting to be spent, no bomb damage [feel kinda bad for the devestated families of Europe and Japan], and practically no competition. All that American companies had to do was stop making tanks and battleships and start making Buicks and Frigidaires - and boy did they. [woo hoo, just what we need!]
"...almost 90% of American families had refigerators, and nearly 3/4 had washing machines, telephones, vacuum cleaners, and gas or elective stoves - things that most of the rest of the world coul still only fantasize about. [and we're proud of that?] Americans owned 80% of teh world's electrical goods, controlled 2/3 of the world's productive capacity, produced more than 40 percent of its electricity, 60 percent of its oil, and 66 percent of its steel. The 5 percent of people on Earth who were Americans had more wealth than the other 95 percent combined. [I'm starting to feel sick...]
"...We became the richest country in the world without needing the rest of the world." [..while everyone else might need our help]
"...In 1951, the average American ate 50% more than the average European." [that explains our obesity rate]
"...They'd all have a good laugh...and then sit around drinking iced tea and talking appliances for an hour or so. [No other pressing issues around the world or anything?] No human being had ever been quite this happy before."
That last line did me in. Even writing it makes me feel sick. I understand historically that we had just helped end a war and people were happy. I understand that historically we had just come out of the Great Depression. I understand that the author is just trying to convey how great a time it was to be born in the year 1951. But it was hard for me not to read this and not think "America the Beautiful" but "America the Glutton."
I don't bash my country much, if at all. We have great freedom, great resources, great healthcare (for those who can afford it), great education, and overall great people. But these words on pg. 5-6 made me think, "Wow, so often we live in this bubble, and completely forget the rest of the world is NOT like this."
Keep in mind right now I am somewhat sensitive having followed a guy my age doing a hunger strike for 9 days to raise money for deworming meds for starving children. I told another friend I feel like I experience Norman Rockwell's Christmas inside, and then I step outside and am reminded how not everywhere has a Christmas tree, lights, feasts of appetizers, and jingle bells.
Sorry if I'm sounding pessimistic. I swear I'm not bitter. I think I'm just becoming more aware.
I'll leave you today with the lyrics of a Christmas song I heard on the radio as yet another reminder from the Lord about the state of things (yes, the Lord still speaks to me via radio). God bless. Be aware. Do good.
But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it's hard
But when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing
Is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring
There are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you
And there won't be snow in Africa
This Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
Feed the world...
Monday, December 14, 2009
Reconciliation this Christmas
And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?
As a worship leader, I have been challenged to actually read the words of th carols I incorporate into the worship list. I was listening today intently to the lyrics for "Hark the Harold Angels Sing" and heard the line, "God and sinners reconciled."
Instead of getting all philisophical, I'm going to get to the point. If I am celebrating the season in which God reconciled me to him through Jesus, I feel as though it is also necessary that I seek to reconcile myself to others.
Sometimes this is not a huge ordeal. It may have been that you've really lacked on your share of the apartment responsiblities (which I have done). It may have been that you allowed your tongue to get out of hand and spoke ill of someone that you actually care about deeply even if you disagree with them on various levels (which I have done). Maybe you forgot to put the toilet seat down (which I have not done, thank you.)
But sometimes it is a huge deal. Maybe you stopped talking to someone out of bitterness (which I have done). Maybe you stood by as someone got totally verbally annihilated and just by listening partook in their abuse (which I have done). Maybe you've done something else that doesn't need broadcasted on a blog post (which I have done).
My prayer for myself and for us during this season is that we would seek to be reconciled to eachother. Even if that means going to your closest friends and asking, "I love you, I care about you, I'd do anything for you, but what have I not done? Have I offended you in any way? What can I do to make our relationship the way it should be? How can I honor you better?" Even if you're not sure you've done anything, I assure you that even the gesture can be a breath of fresh air.
There are some reconciliations that require time, and reconciliation/forgiveness cannot be forced. But if the Holy Spirit puts someone on our hearts, and gives us peace that seeking that reconciliation is possible, I hope we follow through.
Peace on earth, good will towards men. May the Spirit prepare our way as we prepare his.
As a worship leader, I have been challenged to actually read the words of th carols I incorporate into the worship list. I was listening today intently to the lyrics for "Hark the Harold Angels Sing" and heard the line, "God and sinners reconciled."
Instead of getting all philisophical, I'm going to get to the point. If I am celebrating the season in which God reconciled me to him through Jesus, I feel as though it is also necessary that I seek to reconcile myself to others.
Sometimes this is not a huge ordeal. It may have been that you've really lacked on your share of the apartment responsiblities (which I have done). It may have been that you allowed your tongue to get out of hand and spoke ill of someone that you actually care about deeply even if you disagree with them on various levels (which I have done). Maybe you forgot to put the toilet seat down (which I have not done, thank you.)
But sometimes it is a huge deal. Maybe you stopped talking to someone out of bitterness (which I have done). Maybe you stood by as someone got totally verbally annihilated and just by listening partook in their abuse (which I have done). Maybe you've done something else that doesn't need broadcasted on a blog post (which I have done).
My prayer for myself and for us during this season is that we would seek to be reconciled to eachother. Even if that means going to your closest friends and asking, "I love you, I care about you, I'd do anything for you, but what have I not done? Have I offended you in any way? What can I do to make our relationship the way it should be? How can I honor you better?" Even if you're not sure you've done anything, I assure you that even the gesture can be a breath of fresh air.
There are some reconciliations that require time, and reconciliation/forgiveness cannot be forced. But if the Holy Spirit puts someone on our hearts, and gives us peace that seeking that reconciliation is possible, I hope we follow through.
Peace on earth, good will towards men. May the Spirit prepare our way as we prepare his.
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