This year we have a special opportunity as we are preparing for advent to start.This year we have an extra week after Thanksgiving to allow ourselves to, in a sense, prepare for our preparations. To prepare and get our heart ready and open to grow.
Now if your asking yourself..."what is advent?" we will talk about that also.
Advent is a a time of reconnection and heart preparations for the birth of Jesus. Remember John 1:5 (KJV) "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it", in John, he writes about this darkness, in Isaiah he also speaks about a darkness, this darkness is the same darkness that dwells within the depths of the human heart. Do we understand what we are preparing for during this season?
It was dark time when Jesus stepped into this world, but it was the perfect time! As we come around each year and begin the calendar year again the true time of renewal is not New Years, but Christmas. There's a lot of darkness in this world and sometimes it feels as if it gets darker and darker and more powerful and that could be true of this world.
It's interesting to see the development of Christmas movies over the past twenty years and the continual need to come back to the loss of the Christmas spirit. There's this profound emphasis of the dwindling of the Spirit of Christmas, like our hearts are lacking more every year of this Spirit of Christmas that for at least one day brings all mankind into a form of unity, but that seems to be breaking down. Like the movies imply, perhaps it is the consumerism, the want and greed for stuff that will most literally trample others down in the process.
Advent is a time, that even the church has begun to forget, that allows us to slow life down and re-focus so we can re-connect with ourselves and examine our own hearts. If we want the darkness to be removed, we must first recognize it. Darkness is tricky that way.
I know too often enough that the deadness of the darkness in our hearts will hide itself so well that we can fool ourselves to not realize how dry and wasted our spirits are. One of the reasons I attempt to attend one conference each year is so that I can immerse myself for a few days and see the darkness emerge, so that I might recognize truthfully the deadness dwelling within. Only the light can reveal that darkness.
Each Sunday of advent we light a candle of the wreath as a symbol of the light igniting inside of us and the darkness being overtaken, its a powerful time.
Don't worry about the "right way", just begin the journey, do some research online, pick up a book of advent readings or download possibly for free on your mobile device or Kindle from Amazon.
I can't vouch for everything on this site, but I have found a few articles of worth:
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/index.html
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
A Biblical Christmas - Part One: O Christmas Tree
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. Psalm 84: 5-7, a Psalm of the Sons of Korah
As we prepare to Advent this year, I would like to share with you some scripture that has become apart of my preparations for Christmas each year, my advent celebrations.
The first, being that of Psalm 84. The Christmas tree plays a big part of my Advent celebration in my house with there being roughly 12-14 trees each year within my house. Why the Christmas tree? Yes, it is believed there are some ties to the "bringing in of the greens" and a hope for good luck for the new year (along with numerous other traditions depending on the culture and country you celebrate within) with the tradition of the Christmas tree, but I have a different aspect on the Christmas tree...let me explain.
The Psalm written by the Korahites is a great Psalm, as is the majority of their Psalms, but I greatly enjoy this Psalm because of its focus on the importance of the house of God. The joy found and the yearning to be at the house of God. Not meaning, the church building, but yet in a much broader and real sense, "the place where God dwells". We know that He does not dwell within walls built by men (as Solomon attested as he christened the temple) and Paul preached about as he spoke in Athens, but instead the true temple of God is within the human Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 6 also brings attention to this fact of our bodies being the temple of God)
Let's start from that point: that we are the house of God, where God dwells.
Second, let's move along to the verses quoted above. Those whose strength is found in God, those who set their heart on pilgrimage. To do what, you ask? To Worship God, but in fulfillment, to go home! To return home to the true Zion, to attain that which is pre-loaded into the human heart, eternity; eternity in the presence of God. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
So first, we in a sense are the very temple in which even the birds wish to dwell within. Second, the pilgrimage we are ultimately on is life itself as we head to the grave. Which also reminds me of the words of Scrooge's nephew Fred in regard to Christmas:
"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say, Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"
Charles Dickins, "A Christmas Carol"
It's a time like no other where we actually see each other as people, all on the same pilgrimage, all on the same journey and as we know life is, this journey always brings us to places of sorrow, place of tears, place of hardship and times of dry times. In the Psalms it says they pilgrim, they pass through the valley of Baka, which is the Valley of the Balsam trees. It was a symbol of a place of dryness and sorrow, a place of loneliness, a place of weeping. The Balsam was known as the "weeping tree".
As you know the Balsam is also the traditional American Christmas tree, in which is displayed in millions of homes. So very literally we travel each December through a forest of balsam trees and quite metaphorically for many December and the holidays are a time of loneliness, a time of remembering better days past and too often. Or with my favorite quote from "Mixed Nuts".
Christmas is a wonderful time and a wonderful opportunity. Use it and enjoy every single moment of it. This very weekend begins my preparations for Christmas, this weekend I begin decorating and November 1, Hallowmass begins my countdown till Christmas. Will you join me this year in the sacred journey toward the birth of the Messiah?
Will you reach out this year and consider others as perhaps more than just other creatures bound on other journey, but perhaps as people all on the same journey? Will you open up your shut up heart this year?
Make sure to join my blog and stayed tuned!
As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. Psalm 84: 5-7, a Psalm of the Sons of Korah
As we prepare to Advent this year, I would like to share with you some scripture that has become apart of my preparations for Christmas each year, my advent celebrations.
The first, being that of Psalm 84. The Christmas tree plays a big part of my Advent celebration in my house with there being roughly 12-14 trees each year within my house. Why the Christmas tree? Yes, it is believed there are some ties to the "bringing in of the greens" and a hope for good luck for the new year (along with numerous other traditions depending on the culture and country you celebrate within) with the tradition of the Christmas tree, but I have a different aspect on the Christmas tree...let me explain.
The Psalm written by the Korahites is a great Psalm, as is the majority of their Psalms, but I greatly enjoy this Psalm because of its focus on the importance of the house of God. The joy found and the yearning to be at the house of God. Not meaning, the church building, but yet in a much broader and real sense, "the place where God dwells". We know that He does not dwell within walls built by men (as Solomon attested as he christened the temple) and Paul preached about as he spoke in Athens, but instead the true temple of God is within the human Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 6 also brings attention to this fact of our bodies being the temple of God)
Let's start from that point: that we are the house of God, where God dwells.
Second, let's move along to the verses quoted above. Those whose strength is found in God, those who set their heart on pilgrimage. To do what, you ask? To Worship God, but in fulfillment, to go home! To return home to the true Zion, to attain that which is pre-loaded into the human heart, eternity; eternity in the presence of God. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
So first, we in a sense are the very temple in which even the birds wish to dwell within. Second, the pilgrimage we are ultimately on is life itself as we head to the grave. Which also reminds me of the words of Scrooge's nephew Fred in regard to Christmas:
"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say, Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"
Charles Dickins, "A Christmas Carol"
It's a time like no other where we actually see each other as people, all on the same pilgrimage, all on the same journey and as we know life is, this journey always brings us to places of sorrow, place of tears, place of hardship and times of dry times. In the Psalms it says they pilgrim, they pass through the valley of Baka, which is the Valley of the Balsam trees. It was a symbol of a place of dryness and sorrow, a place of loneliness, a place of weeping. The Balsam was known as the "weeping tree".
As you know the Balsam is also the traditional American Christmas tree, in which is displayed in millions of homes. So very literally we travel each December through a forest of balsam trees and quite metaphorically for many December and the holidays are a time of loneliness, a time of remembering better days past and too often. Or with my favorite quote from "Mixed Nuts".
Christmas is a wonderful time and a wonderful opportunity. Use it and enjoy every single moment of it. This very weekend begins my preparations for Christmas, this weekend I begin decorating and November 1, Hallowmass begins my countdown till Christmas. Will you join me this year in the sacred journey toward the birth of the Messiah?
Will you reach out this year and consider others as perhaps more than just other creatures bound on other journey, but perhaps as people all on the same journey? Will you open up your shut up heart this year?
Make sure to join my blog and stayed tuned!
Friday, October 12, 2012
A Christmas Carol - The Faces of Bob Cratchit
So let's rev up part two with some of my favorite Cratchit's from the history of film.
So let's kick it back off by returning to 1938 with the familiar face of Gene Lockhart. You may also recognize him as the kindly Judge from "Miracle on 31st Street".
Mervyn Johns played in the 1951 version along side of Alistair Sim.
In 1962 came Jack Cassidy in Mr. Magoo's version.
Remember this great song?
In 1970 came David Collings in the musical version.
1971 brought Melvyn Hayes to the role as the voice for Bob Cratchit.
Part One: A Christmas Carol 1971
Mickey plays the role of Cratchit in his version from 1983.
David Warner in the 1984 version. A great job well done.
Kermit brings his own hoppiness to character of Cratchit with the 1992 Muppet version.
and finally comes Richard Grant, who brings a frailty to the role, an even more humble and gently spoken Cratchit. TNT's A Christmas Carol from 1999.
Remember this great song?
Part One: A Christmas Carol 1971
Thursday, October 11, 2012
A Christmas Carol - Ebenezer Scrooges
No fictional Christmas story is perhaps more renown and famous than that of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" so for your viewing enjoyment, begins several posts of a short collection of photos accounting "A Christmas Carol" through the years, this is not an exhaustive list, but simply an account of some of the good stuff. This post specifically will focus on who else, but the very man, "Ebenezer Scrooge". To start it all off first of all I need to share this photo:
This photo is my favorite of all Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, themed photos. If you know where this photo originated please let me know.
< Reginald Owen, 1938
Alastair Sim,1951 >
Mr. Magoo (Voiced by Jim Backus/ Gilligan's Island) as the stingy old Scrooge in the 1963 made-for-TV version of "A Christmas Carol".
The 1970 musical version, starring Albert Finney
The reprisal by Alastair Sim of Scrooge but this time is cartoon. This 1971 version was made-for-TV and has been rarely seen till its limited release on DVD. This version was created by the great Chuck Jones.
Disney's, 1983 "Mickey's Christmas Carol", starring Uncle Scrooge as
Ebenezer Scrooge. Voiced by Allen Young (All Young Show/ Wilbur of Mr,
Ed)
George C Scott, 1984 version & on my top 3 list.
In 1992 came a classic from the Jim Henson family with Michael Caine playing the human counterpart of Scrooge while most of the cast is played by Muppets.
TNT, 1999,made-for-TV film of "A Christmas Carol" starring Patrick Stewart. Of big screen quality and easily on my top three list
< Reginald Owen, 1938
Alastair Sim,1951 >
The 1970 musical version, starring Albert Finney
The reprisal by Alastair Sim of Scrooge but this time is cartoon. This 1971 version was made-for-TV and has been rarely seen till its limited release on DVD. This version was created by the great Chuck Jones.
George C Scott, 1984 version & on my top 3 list.
TNT, 1999,made-for-TV film of "A Christmas Carol" starring Patrick Stewart. Of big screen quality and easily on my top three list
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Christmas Goodies 1 - Pictures
Here's some Early Christmas goodies. Just some simple fun. Enjoy.
This first pic here was the inside of a Ruth Lyons Christmas Album.
From JRR Tolkien's "The Father Christmas Letters"
This is believed to be the earliest Christmas Card.
This first pic here was the inside of a Ruth Lyons Christmas Album.
From JRR Tolkien's "The Father Christmas Letters"
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Bring on the Christmas
I love Christmas. Which doesn't seem to fully express the affection I have for Christmas time.
I have more Christmas decoration than any other type of decoration or item type in my house. Christmas is a multi-month season in my house. It technically starts before Halloween even hits, but usually we hold off decoration at least until our fall party is over which is near the end of October. Fall then by default starts in early August at our house with the brown and orange leaves decorating the fireplace mantle and tables.
Christmas is very important to me. Easter is centrally important too, in no way am I downplaying the importance of the Resurrection, because it's central to all that we do, but without Christmas, we would have no Resurrection. Christmas still holds a power to bring unity amongst people, even if it gets cloudy in the consumerism of our culture. The American movie industry still produces numerous films with the central point that family is important at Christmas and is kind of the point. Though we hold that Christmas has a higher point than even family.
Through the next few months I will be posting my Christmas preparation, from the fun stuff, to some serious stuff. I get a bit overboard on Christmas, but I do all things with a purpose and a reason and will share with you this journey that we call Advent.
So far this "fall season" I have enjoyed some great "fall" related items. I have pulled out and listened to Vivald's "Four Seasons", particularly the movement related to this season of course and also fall related beverages and soon fall related foods.
As I rev up for our Christmas season, which technically is till about two months away, I have pulled out some of my favorite Christmas music from Ruth Lyons to Linda Russell in preparation.
"There are some upon this earth of yours," returned the Spirit, "who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all out kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us." C. Dickens (A Christmas Carol)
I have more Christmas decoration than any other type of decoration or item type in my house. Christmas is a multi-month season in my house. It technically starts before Halloween even hits, but usually we hold off decoration at least until our fall party is over which is near the end of October. Fall then by default starts in early August at our house with the brown and orange leaves decorating the fireplace mantle and tables.
Christmas is very important to me. Easter is centrally important too, in no way am I downplaying the importance of the Resurrection, because it's central to all that we do, but without Christmas, we would have no Resurrection. Christmas still holds a power to bring unity amongst people, even if it gets cloudy in the consumerism of our culture. The American movie industry still produces numerous films with the central point that family is important at Christmas and is kind of the point. Though we hold that Christmas has a higher point than even family.
Through the next few months I will be posting my Christmas preparation, from the fun stuff, to some serious stuff. I get a bit overboard on Christmas, but I do all things with a purpose and a reason and will share with you this journey that we call Advent.
So far this "fall season" I have enjoyed some great "fall" related items. I have pulled out and listened to Vivald's "Four Seasons", particularly the movement related to this season of course and also fall related beverages and soon fall related foods.
As I rev up for our Christmas season, which technically is till about two months away, I have pulled out some of my favorite Christmas music from Ruth Lyons to Linda Russell in preparation.
"There are some upon this earth of yours," returned the Spirit, "who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all out kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us." C. Dickens (A Christmas Carol)
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Inception
Shannon and I not to long after Silas was born had a date night and went to one of our favorite places, a local movie theater where you can also order food. Well we arrived, bought our ticket, and proceeded down the hallway, running a bit late due to dropping off the kids, we hopped into the theater and sat down. The movie was already playing and we sat down, ordered and noticed we were really lost in the film and having a very hard time catching up. Trying our hardest we finally were able to begin to pick up what was happening, at least kind of. Well after about an hour and a half the movie ended, and I looked at Shannon and I realized we walked into the wrong screen.
Normally, when you get your ticket ripped they say what screen. This time they didn't.
We were going to see the movie Inception. Tonight for the first time we actually got to see the beginning and it is hard enough to keep up with and figure out without starting mid-movie.
Life can resemble elements of movies, as with Inception. Many times in life we go through it, as we do in a dream. In a dream we go through the motions of the dream, usually without realizing we are in a dream. In life we commonly do the same, living life without giving even much mind to the fact, that this is life and it is really happening. We live life going with the flow, dealing with the normality of life, giving through what we are going to do today, or what to eat, or when to sleep, what to wear, when to leave and who to see. Well at least until the "kick", those events in life that wakes us up to the reality that life is really going on and its slippy away, that it has an expiration date, that what we do in life has meaning and we should do something about that. These "kicks" can be traumatic or joyous events, but either way they jolt us into reality.
I like how the book of Ecclesiastes tells us: It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. Ecclesiastes 7:2
To remember our own mortality, to remember and appreciate the moments of life, even the mundane, to pay attention to how we got to where we are at, and where we are going is important. It makes us make decisions, it makes us get up, it makes us do something with the breathe we were given to breath. Until we come to that point we will find ourselves living in a dream, not knowing where we came from or where we are going. Life doesn't make sense, our purpose doesn't make sense, until we accept what life is really about, until we accept what is really important.
We often forget that more important than the American dream, more important than family, more important than friends, and houses and cars, and possessions, is a kingdom. Our love for that kingdom must surpass and out love anything else in life or life itself becomes meaningless and worthless. It ceases to be Life.
A lie was planted in our brains, in our hearts, its a disease to make us lose track of what's real. It's a disease that tries to steal Life. Maybe its time you pinch yourself, life is happening, and its more than what you see around you. It's time to live for the Kingdom.
Normally, when you get your ticket ripped they say what screen. This time they didn't.
We were going to see the movie Inception. Tonight for the first time we actually got to see the beginning and it is hard enough to keep up with and figure out without starting mid-movie.
Life can resemble elements of movies, as with Inception. Many times in life we go through it, as we do in a dream. In a dream we go through the motions of the dream, usually without realizing we are in a dream. In life we commonly do the same, living life without giving even much mind to the fact, that this is life and it is really happening. We live life going with the flow, dealing with the normality of life, giving through what we are going to do today, or what to eat, or when to sleep, what to wear, when to leave and who to see. Well at least until the "kick", those events in life that wakes us up to the reality that life is really going on and its slippy away, that it has an expiration date, that what we do in life has meaning and we should do something about that. These "kicks" can be traumatic or joyous events, but either way they jolt us into reality.
I like how the book of Ecclesiastes tells us: It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. Ecclesiastes 7:2
To remember our own mortality, to remember and appreciate the moments of life, even the mundane, to pay attention to how we got to where we are at, and where we are going is important. It makes us make decisions, it makes us get up, it makes us do something with the breathe we were given to breath. Until we come to that point we will find ourselves living in a dream, not knowing where we came from or where we are going. Life doesn't make sense, our purpose doesn't make sense, until we accept what life is really about, until we accept what is really important.
We often forget that more important than the American dream, more important than family, more important than friends, and houses and cars, and possessions, is a kingdom. Our love for that kingdom must surpass and out love anything else in life or life itself becomes meaningless and worthless. It ceases to be Life.
A lie was planted in our brains, in our hearts, its a disease to make us lose track of what's real. It's a disease that tries to steal Life. Maybe its time you pinch yourself, life is happening, and its more than what you see around you. It's time to live for the Kingdom.
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