A Poem for Christmas

People rushing to and fro
Traffic steadily building

Black Friday is going to save us all
Buy, buy, buy

Can't afford it? No matter
Take a year to pay the bill

It's your patriotic duty
Spend, spend, spend

What are we thinking?
We're missing something here

Do we have a clue?
Do we know what Christmas means?

The prophets knew
They predicted it

The angels knew
They sang about it

The shepherds and the wise men knew
They came and worshipped

Herod knew
He tried to have this rival killed

Christmas is a celebration becauseThe King has come
Yet we enthrone our own comfort

Worshipping the golden calf of Wall Street
We lust after power
Political, economic, social

We have forgotten something
We have forgotten this

The King has come
All the kingdoms on earth are His

The King has come
We are His

The King has come
Let us celebrate Him!

Mary's Song

This is reposted from a couple of years ago:

The other day, I was thinking about the song of Mary in Luke 1. It was actually a pretty subversive thing to say in that day. I was wondering what Mary's song would sound like in the 21st Century.

Who would be the rulers in today's world? Who would be the proud? Who are the rich? Who are the humble and the hungry?

What in our consumer driven culture could the song speak to? What would Mary have to say to the Church?

What does it mean today that the King has come and is coming again? What would happen if those of us who say we follow this King lived as if we really did?

Just some questions rolling around in my head.

Any thoughts?

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Christ is Coming: Christine Sine

World Vision Wednesday

If you are looking for last minute Christmas gifts, you can still provide a gift that will change a life. Check out the World Vision gift catalog here.

Third Sunday of Advent

This season can be a stressful time with all the busyness that can capture our attention. As we anticipate the celebration of Jesus' birth and look ahead to his return, let our joy be unrestrained and infectious.

Enjoy:

TGIF

This has been a busy week. Basketball season began this week. My team has started slowly, but there is a lot of potential for a really good season. We'll see. It's still frigid here in the sunny South, and it looks like it's not going to warm up anytime soon.

Here is the good stuff:

Erin is accepting the brokenness.

Becoming the great us.

Matt Mile on encouraging untruths.

An interesting video.

God with us, from Lisa Dye.

Peterson on Jesus as the way.

Matthew Paul Turner has an interesting picture.

Scot McKnight says churches need more focus on marriage.

The Super Bowl and trafficking.

Scot McKnight rants about leadership.

More disciples, fewer leaders, please.

Ronnie McBrayer on religion...and underwear.

The psychology of partisanship.

Jared Wilson says we will outsing the enemy.

On Burger King health clinics and Christian humbug.

Jonathan Brink on the universal nature of grace.

Power and authority.

Alan Knox has a series on the dangers of Sunday. Part 1 is here.

World Vision Wednesday

Millions of children around the world are victims of trafficking. Some are able to escape. Here is the story of one who made it out.

Second Sunday of Advent

Here is another Advent meditation from Christine Sine. Enjoy.

TGIF

It's been an unusually chilly week here in the sunny South, with lows dipping down into the twenties. We had a great time last weekend visiting Jan's sister and her family in West Virginia. It was nice to get together with her family. Jan and I went to our town's Christmas parade tonight. It's the first time we've been able to go in the fifteen years that we've been here. It was a good parade, and the downtown area looks nice all lit up.

Here are this week's top links:

Walking wounded.

This is pretty cool.

Thoughts from Donald Miller.

Watch closely (HT: Josh)

Seeing through the Crystal Cathedral.

The compassion deficit.

Diversity, unity, and submission.

Interesting question.

The results we are receiving.

Thanksgiving thoughts.

Grace to be wrong.

The only constant.

To the consumer driven church.

A season of waiting.

Where is the joy?

Converting our imagination.

The rebel Jesus.

Living in the in-between.

Enjoy your weekend.

World Vision Wednesday

Today is World AIDS Day. For an update on this global pandemic visit World Vision's page here.