Blog Break

Blog Break til January 5th! Happy New Year

Labor of Love

Ponder God's gift to the world through the Virgin Mary as Jill Phillips sings Andrew Peterson's "Labor of Love".

Pondering

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19)

Of all the verses surrounding Jesus' birth in the gospels, this one line in Luke's story shouts to me from the Word of God. Can you see her? It's hard to envision her when we're surrounded by store ads with the latest and greatest gift ideas in the newspaper and on the Internet and television. The Sony Wii is getting a lot more attention than her.

Focus. Try real hard to look through the ornaments, trees, gift wrap and endless lists of Christmas gift ideas. She's there. At the foot of a manger. She's tired, her body is depleted of blood, water and energy. She has just given birth to her salvation, and ours. She did it without a labor delivery room, doctor or even a midwife. No epidural and the smell of manure is in the air. Her husband, an honorable and faithful man who must have had as many questions as her stands by her side with a bunch of animals. Shepherds come to see the child and explain how angels told them the news.

Hearing their story and reflecting on all that has happened since the angel, Gabriel visited her with the news, she stops and ponders. She is taking it all in and she is treasuring it all in her heart. What are you thinking about? What are you pondering? In the years to follow her Son would say these words in perhaps His greatest sermon: "For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also." She is treasuring this incredible story of faith and God's sovereignty. What are you treasuring this Advent? We would do well to follow her lead at Advent. She simply made herself available and willingly served God to accomplish His purpose for the world. So should we. God bless you Mary, mother of Jesus, our Savior. Thank you for your example and faithfulness even when you didn't fully understand. May we be as faithful!

A Christmas Cult Classic

Enjoy the sounds and harmonies of "Straight No Chaser", a vocal ensemble from Indiana University who sang together in the late 90's and were brought back together by popular demand from You Tube and other blog posts. They have just released their first Christmas album. Turn up your volume for the best, or at least most creative rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas you've ever heard! (Click on the song title for link)

The Kneeling Santa

A few years ago as both of our parents were preparing their wills they asked us (and our siblings) to identify any of their possessions we might want upon their passing. Yeah I know, it's kind of morbid in one respect, but in another it's really smart. I could have chosen anything, but the one item I wanted more than anything else has adorned my mother-in-law's mantel every Christmas for years. It's called the "Kneeling Santa". It's a Santa figurine kneeling in prayer at the manger. I remember when Aunt Joan gave it to Mom (her sister) one Christmas many years ago. It caught my eye and heart immediately. It still does.

Now I know there are a few "anti-Santa Claus" Christ-followers and that's okay. I respect their choice and would hope they would respect my view as well. Fantasy and innocent fun have never been a problem for me. I grew up writing letters to the North Pole and we never hesitated to get a picture of our kid's with the jolly red-suited man at the mall. But let me be clear, in my formative years and with our own children, Santa was never a substitute for Christ at Advent. For me, this figurine represents an appropriate attitude toward Advent. It conveys an attitude of humility, submission and it centers upon the Christ-child. The kneeling Santa reminds me of Paul's words at the end of his beautiful "Hymn to Christ" in Philippians:

...so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I can handle a St. Nick who humbly kneels at the manger and reverently bows to pay homage to the Christ-child---the real Reason for the Season. The red-suited guy who's consumed with, or is used to peddle affluence, presents and possessions is fun, but it seems we have used him to woo our hearts from the One whose coming we celebrate. There are several websites you can browse to research the real St. Nicholas. The Bishop of Myra who came to be known as St. Nicholas embodied the ideals of Advent: charity, concern for the poor, the less fortunate and children. Now there's a Santa I can believe. I'd love to hear your views on Santa.

Stay tuned as the Advent journey continues!