We, too, reject Christmas.
We, as believers in the message of Christmas, think that rejection of Christ only comes from those whose search for God has not landed them in "our quarters."
Christmas is not an insider/outsider message.
It is a single message--that all are loved.
If we, as bearers of this love, are loveless to those still in the search, we reject Christmas.
To choose faith and not exercise its embrace of all who are searching for God, regardless of how angry and dissenting they may be, is to reject Christ.
Being an insider to the love of Christ simply turns you into one who embraces every outsider.
Christ is not an insider/outsider Lover.
His is a single embrace--in which all are loved.
Embrace the fullness of Christmas.
22 December 2012
21 December 2012
'Tis the Season: God's Radical Capture of Your Attention
This season our radar is attuned with greater spiritual definition; Jesus is the talk of the town at least twice a year and our personal journey, wherever it may be, gets a bit more attention.
However, there are times, not particularly Christmas or Easter, that God radically prepares you for something you never set out to do.
Principal of a brand new school in the early 1990's, I was faced with a student's tragic and sudden loss of both parents--the dad killed the mom. This student became friends with my son, also at the school, and within four months I found myself thinking non-stop about this boy.
I couldn't explain it until...
One night I cried out to God, "What? What are you telling me?"
My now sister-in-law, long before I met the brother of her husband, told me, "You're just not being the friend to me that I need you to be." I just looked at her. She said, "I just keep thinking that."
I couldn't explain it until...
I met the brother, and as soon as we started dating and heading toward marriage, she said, "That's it. You are family. That's what had been bugging me all this time. I knew something more was coming."
Is God radically preparing you for something with an inexplicable capture of your attention? Even if you have no idea of the outcome, stay tuned into all things Jesus more than ever. Simply give Him permission to proceed.
Go the distance. Something phenomenal is coming into view and you are a part.
Could be one of the most memorable seasons of your life.
However, there are times, not particularly Christmas or Easter, that God radically prepares you for something you never set out to do.
Principal of a brand new school in the early 1990's, I was faced with a student's tragic and sudden loss of both parents--the dad killed the mom. This student became friends with my son, also at the school, and within four months I found myself thinking non-stop about this boy.
I couldn't explain it until...
One night I cried out to God, "What? What are you telling me?"
He is in peril.This boy was definitely falling into trouble. Those few words so resonated that I called his family the next day and within a week he was living at our house. I fell in love with this child just like my own. Our two years with him were a vital step in his growth into a successful family and business man to this day.
My now sister-in-law, long before I met the brother of her husband, told me, "You're just not being the friend to me that I need you to be." I just looked at her. She said, "I just keep thinking that."
I couldn't explain it until...
I met the brother, and as soon as we started dating and heading toward marriage, she said, "That's it. You are family. That's what had been bugging me all this time. I knew something more was coming."
Is God radically preparing you for something with an inexplicable capture of your attention? Even if you have no idea of the outcome, stay tuned into all things Jesus more than ever. Simply give Him permission to proceed.
Go the distance. Something phenomenal is coming into view and you are a part.
Could be one of the most memorable seasons of your life.
20 December 2012
'Tis the Season: Do-It-Yourself This Christmas
We all know handmade and homemade gifts are best.
We treasure them. They land themselves on a soft place in our heart and the memory lingers even after the gift is long gone.
You are handmade and homemade by God. His hand created you; your belief in him shows you his home is in you.
That means you are his best gift...ever.
He treasures you. You land yourself on a soft place in his heart and every memory of you lingers until you are long gone...and wonder of wonders, back safely with him forever.
So do-it-yourself this Christmas. Re-present yourself to God as his handmade and homemade treasure.
He couldn't be more pleased to receive...you.
We treasure them. They land themselves on a soft place in our heart and the memory lingers even after the gift is long gone.
You are handmade and homemade by God. His hand created you; your belief in him shows you his home is in you.
That means you are his best gift...ever.
He treasures you. You land yourself on a soft place in his heart and every memory of you lingers until you are long gone...and wonder of wonders, back safely with him forever.
So do-it-yourself this Christmas. Re-present yourself to God as his handmade and homemade treasure.
He couldn't be more pleased to receive...you.
19 December 2012
'Tis the Season: Guard Against Drips
An angry heart drips sarcasm and disapproval.
An anxious heart drips worry and fear.
A counterproductive heart drips restlessness and double-mindedness.
A heart well-seated in the pursuit of Jesus pours out encouragement and vitality, seeing life as a positive adventure with rough spots along the way.
Be a pourer.
Guard against drips.
An anxious heart drips worry and fear.
A counterproductive heart drips restlessness and double-mindedness.
A heart well-seated in the pursuit of Jesus pours out encouragement and vitality, seeing life as a positive adventure with rough spots along the way.
Be a pourer.
Guard against drips.
18 December 2012
'Tis the Season: On the Sane Side of the Chapel
Insane dominates the news; it is the mourning and burial of the children (and adults) in Connecticut.
Unthinkable.
Insane drove the day. We are left with the pieces.
Someone aptly wrote that Jesus was born into just such a time. King Herod, enraged that he was not told of Jesus' whereabouts, ordered the murder of every toddler boy age two and under.
Unthinkable.
Insane drove the day. Precious families were left with the pieces.
If Jesus is the sane side--the Chapel of our worship--what do we do with insane?
We bear it, call it out by name, and, entering into the pain with new action, call on the Sane Side to once again be our Living Chapel.
When Sane is driven out, Insane moves into the vacuum left behind.
That has authored our unthinkable. Unlike Herod, we know the whereabouts of Jesus. He's waiting on us.
May the unthinkable move us back to the Sane Side of the Chapel.
Unthinkable.
Insane drove the day. We are left with the pieces.
Someone aptly wrote that Jesus was born into just such a time. King Herod, enraged that he was not told of Jesus' whereabouts, ordered the murder of every toddler boy age two and under.
Unthinkable.
Insane drove the day. Precious families were left with the pieces.
If Jesus is the sane side--the Chapel of our worship--what do we do with insane?
We bear it, call it out by name, and, entering into the pain with new action, call on the Sane Side to once again be our Living Chapel.
When Sane is driven out, Insane moves into the vacuum left behind.
That has authored our unthinkable. Unlike Herod, we know the whereabouts of Jesus. He's waiting on us.
May the unthinkable move us back to the Sane Side of the Chapel.
17 December 2012
'Tis the Season: The Culture of Your Christmas Energy
You are a culture developer.
Along with any others who lead in your home, you are creating a Christmas culture unique to your family, however extended they may be.
You bring energy to Christmas unlike that you apply throughout the year. It simply requires something more of you.
Two questions emerge:
Or does it have a quiet serenity, ample margin of time and money built in, with no quest to keep up or outdo?
If your Christmas has an intentional watch on meaning and Jesus, you will develop a culture for your family that safeguards against runaway spending and competition.
The children watching you will have an anchor for the future, when Christmas advertising seeks to rob meaning and tempt poor decision-making.
The extra energy is a given. Create meaningful culture.
Along with any others who lead in your home, you are creating a Christmas culture unique to your family, however extended they may be.
You bring energy to Christmas unlike that you apply throughout the year. It simply requires something more of you.
Two questions emerge:
What is authoring your energy?
What culture does that create?Is Christmas a drive to outdo yourself, give away the farm (in gifts), keep up with the neighbors?
Or does it have a quiet serenity, ample margin of time and money built in, with no quest to keep up or outdo?
If your Christmas has an intentional watch on meaning and Jesus, you will develop a culture for your family that safeguards against runaway spending and competition.
The children watching you will have an anchor for the future, when Christmas advertising seeks to rob meaning and tempt poor decision-making.
The extra energy is a given. Create meaningful culture.
16 December 2012
'Tis the Season: When God Shimmers
Part of what we love at Christmas are the lights, shimmering in the darkness, setting the stage for the emotion of the day of giving.
What God loves at Christmas is the Light (of Jesus), shimmering in the darkness (of our lost souls), setting the stage for the emotion of our day of giving (our heart to belief in Christ).
Christmas isn't just December 25th, though we need a calendar date around which to organize and celebrate.
Christmas is an individual moment when the birth of Christ becomes your milestone of deciding that God wants a relationship with you, and that He draws you in through believing in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Christmas story is the portal through which we enter into the mystery of God. Then, in a personal and intimate relationship, uniquely yours, God begins to shimmer in communication with you.
He'll catch your attention, intersect your circumstances, listen endlessly to your heart, and teach you courage and humility.
The Light never goes out, the season never ends, the emotion of the day of receiving His love never ceases.
Have you found your Christmas?
What God loves at Christmas is the Light (of Jesus), shimmering in the darkness (of our lost souls), setting the stage for the emotion of our day of giving (our heart to belief in Christ).
Christmas isn't just December 25th, though we need a calendar date around which to organize and celebrate.
Christmas is an individual moment when the birth of Christ becomes your milestone of deciding that God wants a relationship with you, and that He draws you in through believing in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Christmas story is the portal through which we enter into the mystery of God. Then, in a personal and intimate relationship, uniquely yours, God begins to shimmer in communication with you.
He'll catch your attention, intersect your circumstances, listen endlessly to your heart, and teach you courage and humility.
The Light never goes out, the season never ends, the emotion of the day of receiving His love never ceases.
Have you found your Christmas?
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