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)
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
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.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Dark Knight
I enjoy the character of Batman. His character has changed through the years, as superheros tend to do. Superheros changed as the needs of humanity changes. When Batman and Superman first made their appearance it was a different world. As the world changed so did our hero's to meet the needs of the people.
I believe it was about 20-25 years ago, it was introduced strongly that Batman would also be called, The Dark Knight. This idea I believe had been around, but not as profound, it became his dominate character description now. If you remember the Batman of the 1960's, you may remember Adam West, working with the city of Gotham, the special red phone, and the cheesy drama, but Batman was a "daylight" character. Going about in the daytime with nothing about it. As the 80's hit Batman profoundly became a character of the night, not working within the law, but outside of the law.
He became, as the last Batman movie proclaims, he is the hero they deserved, but not the one that was needed. He became the shadowy figure of the night. He became the outlaw the city despised, but needed to protect them. Fighting for Truth and Justice doesn't always end with the nice happy bow, as many Superman flicks. The truth about fighting for truth is that its a bloody battle that ends many times in death or being hated.
Tonight in reading the words of Paul in Galatians I came across this:
Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? Galatians 4:16
If you have read Galatians or remember, the Galatians were being fooled by some slick teachers tricking them. They were falling back into legalism, into trying to earn salvation by keeping the law, something impossible to do and they had been taught that by Paul, and now he is having to call them out on it. He shares his love and concern for them and through the book you can feel his sorrow over this situation, but he is their Dark Knight in this case. He is the hero they deserve, the one needed to call them out. He is not there with them, he is away, and he can't be there, and may even by hated by the job he now must do, but he fulfills that duty.
In being a minister of the gospel, sometimes our role becomes one of a Dark Knight. Having to rebuke and speak truth in love when it doesn't want to be heard and when people don't want your help. It's a hard role to take, the one of the Dark Knight, because you don't get the glory, you don't get the spotlight, you just normally get the gruff. Through your work ground is cultivated and seeds are planted so others may reap and help the fruit grow. Being the Dark Knight you may be hunted, but realize, wickedness always wants to destroy the Truth, wickedness will always accuse the Truth, but the Truth and those who speak it must still hold it out faithfully, even becoming Dark Knights.
The great thing in all of this is that no matter how much we run into the dark being knights of the truth, the light of Christ will radiate and glow. When we hold out the truth into the dark as knights of the gospel, the dark becomes light, the night becomes day, and sin crumbles, death falls apart, and the forces of evil tremble.
We don't walk around with the symbol of the bat painted on our chest, but we walk with the image of Christ tattooed on our soul. The image and the symbol that makes even the strongest forces of darkness fall onto their knees and cry out for mercy from the Consuming Fire, The I AM.
Take heart, you may not be the hero they want, but your the hero they deserve.
I believe it was about 20-25 years ago, it was introduced strongly that Batman would also be called, The Dark Knight. This idea I believe had been around, but not as profound, it became his dominate character description now. If you remember the Batman of the 1960's, you may remember Adam West, working with the city of Gotham, the special red phone, and the cheesy drama, but Batman was a "daylight" character. Going about in the daytime with nothing about it. As the 80's hit Batman profoundly became a character of the night, not working within the law, but outside of the law.
He became, as the last Batman movie proclaims, he is the hero they deserved, but not the one that was needed. He became the shadowy figure of the night. He became the outlaw the city despised, but needed to protect them. Fighting for Truth and Justice doesn't always end with the nice happy bow, as many Superman flicks. The truth about fighting for truth is that its a bloody battle that ends many times in death or being hated.
Tonight in reading the words of Paul in Galatians I came across this:
Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? Galatians 4:16
If you have read Galatians or remember, the Galatians were being fooled by some slick teachers tricking them. They were falling back into legalism, into trying to earn salvation by keeping the law, something impossible to do and they had been taught that by Paul, and now he is having to call them out on it. He shares his love and concern for them and through the book you can feel his sorrow over this situation, but he is their Dark Knight in this case. He is the hero they deserve, the one needed to call them out. He is not there with them, he is away, and he can't be there, and may even by hated by the job he now must do, but he fulfills that duty.
In being a minister of the gospel, sometimes our role becomes one of a Dark Knight. Having to rebuke and speak truth in love when it doesn't want to be heard and when people don't want your help. It's a hard role to take, the one of the Dark Knight, because you don't get the glory, you don't get the spotlight, you just normally get the gruff. Through your work ground is cultivated and seeds are planted so others may reap and help the fruit grow. Being the Dark Knight you may be hunted, but realize, wickedness always wants to destroy the Truth, wickedness will always accuse the Truth, but the Truth and those who speak it must still hold it out faithfully, even becoming Dark Knights.
The great thing in all of this is that no matter how much we run into the dark being knights of the truth, the light of Christ will radiate and glow. When we hold out the truth into the dark as knights of the gospel, the dark becomes light, the night becomes day, and sin crumbles, death falls apart, and the forces of evil tremble.
We don't walk around with the symbol of the bat painted on our chest, but we walk with the image of Christ tattooed on our soul. The image and the symbol that makes even the strongest forces of darkness fall onto their knees and cry out for mercy from the Consuming Fire, The I AM.
Take heart, you may not be the hero they want, but your the hero they deserve.
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