Slappy Christmas and other thoughts

You must read Gene Edward Veith's article on the historical St. Nicholas. It is interesting, enlightening, and funny.

I've been thinking more about the megachurches closing on Christmas. While I am not judging individual decisions to attend or not attend, it is really interesting to me that the Chicago Tribune, CNN, ABC News, etc (all obviously using the same source) ...hardly defenders of traditional Christianity... seem shocked by this decision to close. When was the last time you saw a theologian from Gordon-Conwell seminary quoted prominently in a mainstream media outlet? I think even our "foes" want to see the Church of Christ standing firm and not bowing to the popular culture.

Ben Witherington has great posts on this as well, here and here. A commenter on his blog actually makes a good point that it is not only the large churches, and of course, not all large churches will be closing!

There's a fine line in all of this between seeking God's will and doing what He commands and becoming pharisaical and following the traditions of men. But Jesus didn't set aside the commandments, He fulfilled them. And this whole thing has had the very positive effect of making me want to revisit some of our family's decisions and even non-decisions (lack of really thinking about it) on what is benefical to us on the Sabbath. After all, the Sabbath was made for man, and He uses it for our benefit when we obey Him. God has been using some very difficult and provoking circumstances and people in my life to make me want to be very serious about holiness. "Be holy as I am holy."

Now...if only Barbara Walters had used a theologian from Gordon-Conwell, or better yet, from Westminster, for her "Heaven" documentary. But no...but that's another subject, and I won't go there...I promise!

Megachurches Closing for Christmas

Not really a funny subject, but a very sad capitulation to popular culture and sentimentalism, but this spoof at the Holy Observer is funny (link from Dominion Family, who got it from Izzy).

Even the folks at the Chicago Tribune get it better than the megachurch decision-makers. Here's how they describe Christmas Day:

the day set aside to commemorate the incarnation of God on Earth.

So this decision caters to those with happy and intact families...but what about the broken, lonely, and despairing. Who is there for them on the saddest day of their year?

As for individual families and their decision to attend of not, that is up to them. Dominion Family says it well, so I will quote her here,

The way I look at it, and that may be wrong, is that individual families may or may not be in church Sunday morning. Those families will have different reasons for not being there, some good, some bad. Some families may not be there out of conviction of one sort or another, even. But the church closings definitely say something about our culture and the state of evangelicalism.

This would never happen in Mitford...Father Tim wouldn't dream of it. He knows his catechism too well.

What is the duty of all Christians?
The duty of all Christians is to follow Christ, to come together week by week
for corporate worship...

Okay, getting off my soapbox now. :)

Future Grace

by John Piper...this is definitely on my Christmas list! Can't wait to read this one. Listening, guys? :)

Here's a review by Pastor John Samson at Reformation Theology. Please go there and read the entire review...it is excellent...a sermon in itself. Here's an excerpt:

Grace is stripped of its meaning when it is merely thought of as a "good business decision" on God's part. I am refering here to the mistaken idea that God saw our "worth" and decided that the high price was indeed right, and that He would pay the necessary expense to bring us safely to heaven. No, a thousand times, no! That's not grace at all. That's just a good business deal!

Grace is seen in this - while we were wretches; while we were sinners, shaking our fists at God, hating God, defying God in thought, word and deed - every single one of us; God did something ridiculous - paying an outlandish and scandalous price to redeem us (the blood of His beloved Son). This was not because He calculated it all out and thought it was a good investment on His part; that we were "worth it." No, God was motivated by His radical, amazing, abundant and all conquering love alone, as He set about saving a people for Himself. There was nothing of intrinsic worth in the creatures He redeemed. Any worth we had was entirely borrowed from the God who made us in His image.

I find this especially pertinent at Christmas. It's not some sweet, heartwarming story...it's cold and brutal and heart-breaking. The infinite and eternal and completely holy God became that helpless babe, born to die...for me...not because I was "worth" it, or because I "deserved" it, but only because of His amazing love, and for His own glory.

Fall on your knees...O hear the angel voices...O night divine....O night when Christ was born...
What other response can I give? Lord, keep me on my knees, keep me aware of this incomprehensible truth. Take my life and let it be...all for Your glory.

Boys and how they play

Dominion family has a great post about the "absence" of children in our culture. Makes me think of a funny but scary story a friend of mine tells about her son when they lived for a short time in the suburbs while they were building a house. I think he was about 10 years old, and he was playing in his backyard, dressed in his camo, with his black spray painted gun (horrors...he covered the orange tip!) My friend heard voices in her front yard and went to investigate. There were two policeman, laughing. They had come to investigate a neighbor's report of an armed man in the neighborhood. We still laugh, although it's sobering to think what might have happened.

I am so grateful to live in the country with a creek and lots of open space where my kids can play mostly unsupervised. Yes, it has snakes and ticks and stuff...I have learned not to worry too much, although you don't catch me out there very often! :) We have swords and guns and...gasp...rarely use bike helmets. We've had plenty of stitches, beestings, and even several bouts of Lyme disease, but I wouldn't trade the freedom our kids have to play and run for a "safer" environment.

A List of Sevens...for fun

1. Seven things to do before I die

1. play my violin well
2. go to Scotland with my husband
3. master Latin
4. read, read, read...so many books
5. grow in loving God with all my heart, mind, soul & strength
6. read the Narnia Chronicles to my grandchildren
7. see all of my children loving and serving Jesus as adults

2. Seven things I cannot do

1. read twaddly books to my children
2. give twaddly books or music as presents
3. sing a solo
4. play the piano in church
5. create fine art
6. ski (anymore...I'm too chicken!)
7. read Hebrew & Greek (but those would be on the top 10 list of things to do...)

3. Seven things that attracted me to my spouse.

1. he's extremely handsome and has beautiful brown eyes
2. he has a great sense of humor
3. he liked Bruce Springsteen (I know, but I wasn't a Christian...)
4. he grew up in the Episcopal church (like me, and that was attractive to me, then & NOW)
5. I liked his parents and sister
6. he was (and is) the nicest guy I ever met
7. he loves me

4. Seven things I say most often

1. life's not fair (or you don't want fair!)
2. are you pleasing God?
3. look at my eyes
4. no
5. I love you
6. get your school done! or stop talking, start working!
7. Hi hungry, I'm mommy or You've NEVER been hungry a day in your life

5. Seven books (or series) I love

1. The Bible
2. The Chronicles of Narnia
3. Anne of Green Gables series
4. anything by George MacDonald
5. A Child's History of the World by V.M. Hillyer
6. Goodnight Moon
7. Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible

6. Seven movies I love to watch (or would watch over and over if I had the time)
this is very hard. I'd much rather read a book!

1. Sound of Music
2. The Return of the King
3. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
4. Adam's Rib
5. Heidi
6. It's a Wonderful Life
7. Sargeant York

7. Seven people I want to join in, too
Anyone who wants!!