For so many years, we celebrated quiet, simple Christmases in Africa - away from family and things familar. The quiet and simple of African Christmases, I miss very much. But spending the holidays with family is a gift exceeding anything that can be wrapped and put under the tree.
We just returned from two days in the place where I learned to drive, had my first kiss, and raced my brother's dune buggy down the road without his permission. The place of my heart. It still holds a special magic for me. Probably more so than ever because I am not exposed to its charms on a daily basis. A mere burp in the road, my hometown does not even boast of a stoplight or grocery store, though we do have a post office and a gas station. However, it has not been influenced by metropolitan growth or urban sprawl. It's still a pure, quiet, clean place on this earth. When we arrived on Thursday night, my comment to my family was, "You all are so lucky that I was raised down here in this quiet and peaceful place so that we can step out of the city during the holidays and just relax." We joke that my parents' house must have some atmospheric drug stealing its way through the house, because when you enter it, you simple want to breath slower, think less, and sleep more. It's a wonderful feeling!
My mother put out a showcase of holiday delights this afternoon. She methodically and purposefully planned it all out, preparing a little at a time until by this evening, her dining room table was ladened with a fresh fruit tray with cheeses, a relish trays with everything from pickled okra to cherry peppers, a delectable seafood chowder seasoned with my homemade herbes de provence (that I took out of a basket of goodies I had prepared for her), chicken wings, potato skins, spinach dip with crackers, a crab dip, pecan and coconut pies, and a pineapple upside down pound cake. Made last week were several holiday tins filled with peanut butter balls, sausage balls, chocolate chip cookies, ambrosia cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, and cheese krispy balls. The delightful myriad of foods prepared especially and exclusively for her family touched me like nothing else.
My mother is the finest example of creating Christmas memories and doing it well that I have ever seen! As I lay my head down on my own pillow in my own bed back in the bright, bustling city that I now call home, my heart is telling me something different.
There's never gonna be another place like where I was these past two days and the lady who made it so special for all of us is one of the greatest gifts on this side of the cross!!
Sweet dreams..........make some memories worth remembering!
25 December 2005
12 December 2005
All I Want For Christmas is.......
Recently someone gave us a mouse pad for the computer that has these thoughts inscribed on it:
Out of clutter find Simplicity
Out of discord find Harmony
In the middle of difficulty lies Opportunity
Profound thoughts that do not seem so easily attainable at times, but I do think I've lived enough life to understand their potential.
Thankfully, the clutter in my house was put to rest on Saturday -- out of the sheer reality that I had 22 people coming to my house that night! So, at least the downstairs has simplicity!
This is not really the season for discord, but is there really a season for discord? However, always being able to find harmony is a little difficult too. It takes a daily, monumental effort to keep things harmonious in our lives and hearts. Why? 'Cause we're human, that's why. There are some people that I just love being around. They build me up, appreciate me for who I am, and encourage me to be even more. They exude the aroma of Christ and His peace. Then there are those who only have critical things to say at every turn, never taking time to look at the good in those that should be most precious to them. If given the choice: which of those would you choose to be around? Which do we choose to be?
I do believe that there is opportunity in every situation, every minute, every day. Often we allow them to slip by for a myriad of reasons. But I do like the reminder that, even in the hard things, there is a beautiful opportunity waiting to be discovered!!
So, if I had my wish, all I would want for Christmas is the simplicity of family and friends, harmony in those relationships, and having the wisdom to see all the great opportunities in this tilted world of mine!!!
Out of clutter find Simplicity
Out of discord find Harmony
In the middle of difficulty lies Opportunity
Profound thoughts that do not seem so easily attainable at times, but I do think I've lived enough life to understand their potential.
Thankfully, the clutter in my house was put to rest on Saturday -- out of the sheer reality that I had 22 people coming to my house that night! So, at least the downstairs has simplicity!
This is not really the season for discord, but is there really a season for discord? However, always being able to find harmony is a little difficult too. It takes a daily, monumental effort to keep things harmonious in our lives and hearts. Why? 'Cause we're human, that's why. There are some people that I just love being around. They build me up, appreciate me for who I am, and encourage me to be even more. They exude the aroma of Christ and His peace. Then there are those who only have critical things to say at every turn, never taking time to look at the good in those that should be most precious to them. If given the choice: which of those would you choose to be around? Which do we choose to be?
I do believe that there is opportunity in every situation, every minute, every day. Often we allow them to slip by for a myriad of reasons. But I do like the reminder that, even in the hard things, there is a beautiful opportunity waiting to be discovered!!
So, if I had my wish, all I would want for Christmas is the simplicity of family and friends, harmony in those relationships, and having the wisdom to see all the great opportunities in this tilted world of mine!!!
07 December 2005
The Politics of Christmas Sunday Services
Today I read an article on Fox News' website in which a writer out of D.C. was lamenting the fact that many "megachurches" were cheating their parishioners out of Christmas worship this year. Some churches were cutting out their Sunday service altogether and others were cutting back to one service on Christmas Day. The author speculated on this movement and even quoted a scholar from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, who was also disturbed by how many evangelical churches were buying into the "consumer" pleasing agenda.
Two things stand out here: first, he specifically indicated that he was concerned about the megachurches doing this. As a matter of fact, the title of the article is: Some Megachurches to Close on Christmas. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,177908,00.htmlNever mind the small, medium, and large churches that are most likely doing the same thing -- it only seemed to matter to him that the supersized churches were doing this fiendish thing. Or perhaps it was just more obvious because he was able to go to websites and find the information. Still, I find it a little odd that he specifically discussed only the largest of the large evangelical churches in America and their Christmas Sunday happenings
Secondly, he tooted the fact that most Catholic churches were having their services as usual and would, in fact, have some of their most highly attended services that day. There was a quote that there was a stark contrast between the loosening of evangelical values and how the Episcopal, Lutheran, and Methodist churches very rarely cancel any services for any reason. (Does this indicate a leaning of the author towards a particular denomination?)
He quoted a staff pastor in a large church up north as saying that it was not a good use of their time or staff when the numbers would be so incredibly down. When put like that, even I seethed a little at how calculating and coldhearted the decision sounded. Having worked in West Africa for many years and perhaps not having a balanced or even entirely knowledgeable view of how things work in megachurches in the U.S., I still offer this observation. My Heavenly Father owns a cattle on a thousand hills and no where in the Bible do I recall the principle of withholding because WE feel it is not large enough, not beneficial enough, not financially or socially pleasing enough, or not conducive to our schedules to perform what we know is right. Are some evangelical churches sending a negative, testimony-damaging signal to society that we are sold out, committed only to our calling when it does not socially interfere with something as major as Christmas (which by the way, unless you are an ostrich, the defense of Christmas and being able to use the term has been in the forefront of debate for weeks now.) Now, after we have regained the general consensus that we can indeed have Christmas back to enjoy as we always have, are we reacting as ordinary society and watering down our commitments for the sake of the very Christmas traditions that we have been defending?
As I said before, I have a very different perspective on these kind of things, and would like to say that I am glad that I am not the one in charge of making the calls of canceling or diminishing the amount of services we will have. In the past two weeks, I have been in two different churches (my home church and another one) and the very same announcement concerning Christmas Day was given. There would be one main service in the later morning, but all other services would be cancelled. I looked for reactions of disbelief, dismay, or discontent, but found none in either church. It's a sure-fire sign that our churches are rubbing shoulders closer to the "world" than we could ever imagine.
On the other hand, God did create families and deems that we give our families the respect due to them as an ordained gift from Him. Christmas is the perfect, traditional time to do this. Most people travel during this holiday, and the switching out of the services really helps. In 1994 when Christmas fell on Sunday, we were not in the U.S., so I cannot compare the reaction of today and then. But somehow I do not believe there was half the stink that we are seeing and hearing this year about Christmas. I would be curious if anyone remembers anything about the trends of the 1994 Christmas Sunday.
I personally feel that scaling down to one service on Christmas Sunday is not, in the sight of God, the abomination that some would make it. In the right spirit of worship and correct attitude, it can be just as honoring to God as if we scheduled four services on one Sunday! (But I could be wrong and only perceiving it in a totally "American" viewpoint). However, I do think we dance close to legalism and living by the letter of the law when we get caught up in the number of times we worship on a given Sunday. God is much, much more concerned about our heart attitude!
In Africa, the focus of Christmas was on the person of Jesus Christ, and in the absence of the means to celebrate in any monetary way, church services were the gifts. The West Africans looked forward to the Christmas services like none other. Even when Christmas was on another day of the week, they still believed in having a Christmas service so that they could offer their praises and adoration to their Savior.
No matter when your service might be scheduled or even if there's not one scheduled, don't let that become your focus. Do not forget that worship always starts in the heart. Open your heart to the Holy One that offers eternal life and abundant peace to you this Christmas season!!
Two things stand out here: first, he specifically indicated that he was concerned about the megachurches doing this. As a matter of fact, the title of the article is: Some Megachurches to Close on Christmas. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,177908,00.htmlNever mind the small, medium, and large churches that are most likely doing the same thing -- it only seemed to matter to him that the supersized churches were doing this fiendish thing. Or perhaps it was just more obvious because he was able to go to websites and find the information. Still, I find it a little odd that he specifically discussed only the largest of the large evangelical churches in America and their Christmas Sunday happenings
Secondly, he tooted the fact that most Catholic churches were having their services as usual and would, in fact, have some of their most highly attended services that day. There was a quote that there was a stark contrast between the loosening of evangelical values and how the Episcopal, Lutheran, and Methodist churches very rarely cancel any services for any reason. (Does this indicate a leaning of the author towards a particular denomination?)
He quoted a staff pastor in a large church up north as saying that it was not a good use of their time or staff when the numbers would be so incredibly down. When put like that, even I seethed a little at how calculating and coldhearted the decision sounded. Having worked in West Africa for many years and perhaps not having a balanced or even entirely knowledgeable view of how things work in megachurches in the U.S., I still offer this observation. My Heavenly Father owns a cattle on a thousand hills and no where in the Bible do I recall the principle of withholding because WE feel it is not large enough, not beneficial enough, not financially or socially pleasing enough, or not conducive to our schedules to perform what we know is right. Are some evangelical churches sending a negative, testimony-damaging signal to society that we are sold out, committed only to our calling when it does not socially interfere with something as major as Christmas (which by the way, unless you are an ostrich, the defense of Christmas and being able to use the term has been in the forefront of debate for weeks now.) Now, after we have regained the general consensus that we can indeed have Christmas back to enjoy as we always have, are we reacting as ordinary society and watering down our commitments for the sake of the very Christmas traditions that we have been defending?
As I said before, I have a very different perspective on these kind of things, and would like to say that I am glad that I am not the one in charge of making the calls of canceling or diminishing the amount of services we will have. In the past two weeks, I have been in two different churches (my home church and another one) and the very same announcement concerning Christmas Day was given. There would be one main service in the later morning, but all other services would be cancelled. I looked for reactions of disbelief, dismay, or discontent, but found none in either church. It's a sure-fire sign that our churches are rubbing shoulders closer to the "world" than we could ever imagine.
On the other hand, God did create families and deems that we give our families the respect due to them as an ordained gift from Him. Christmas is the perfect, traditional time to do this. Most people travel during this holiday, and the switching out of the services really helps. In 1994 when Christmas fell on Sunday, we were not in the U.S., so I cannot compare the reaction of today and then. But somehow I do not believe there was half the stink that we are seeing and hearing this year about Christmas. I would be curious if anyone remembers anything about the trends of the 1994 Christmas Sunday.
I personally feel that scaling down to one service on Christmas Sunday is not, in the sight of God, the abomination that some would make it. In the right spirit of worship and correct attitude, it can be just as honoring to God as if we scheduled four services on one Sunday! (But I could be wrong and only perceiving it in a totally "American" viewpoint). However, I do think we dance close to legalism and living by the letter of the law when we get caught up in the number of times we worship on a given Sunday. God is much, much more concerned about our heart attitude!
In Africa, the focus of Christmas was on the person of Jesus Christ, and in the absence of the means to celebrate in any monetary way, church services were the gifts. The West Africans looked forward to the Christmas services like none other. Even when Christmas was on another day of the week, they still believed in having a Christmas service so that they could offer their praises and adoration to their Savior.
No matter when your service might be scheduled or even if there's not one scheduled, don't let that become your focus. Do not forget that worship always starts in the heart. Open your heart to the Holy One that offers eternal life and abundant peace to you this Christmas season!!
01 December 2005
Without Asking
My mission to get all my Christmas decorations down from their resting place concluded without a shot fired from my well-planned armory. My oldest daughter and her husband came over Monday night (just in time for dinner :) and said they wanted to help us get the decorations downstairs without me asking. I was pleasantly surprised! My mind started thinking that I hadn't even made the chocolate dessert that was to entice and behold my chocoholics (the other three) to my well-laid plans to interject the Christmas spirit into the drudgery of dragging down boxes! However, my oldest daughter is not a chocoholic and her husband just likes food, so steak, sweet potatoes, and a fresh salad was good enough for them. Is this what it's like to have grown kids? Just showing up to help out the parents? I'm liking it, believe me, even though it has been hard to accept the constant change in my household from children to teenagers to college students to married children. I used to tell my girls that they would one day pay rent for the "nine months" of incubation I gave them. This is a great start! :)
So, now my house is in pleasant chaos - I'm using that term for my own sanity. Boxes and boxes of Christmas "stuff" is strewn around my living and dining room. The Christmas tree stands in its place, naked and cold, calling out to be adorned in holiday splendor, but there's just not a moment for that yet. Maybe tomorrow. My world is tilted to the extreme right now!
Our bathroom is under major repair, not because we just have extra money and decided to redo it. When shower tiles start falling off the walls without asking, well, that's not a good thing. The water damage behind those tiles was atrocious, so I guess if you look at it that way, the rebel tiles actually did us a favor! So, our Christmas this year is a nice newly-tiled shower, freshly painted bathroom, and let's just throw in some new flooring while we're at it. Ho, ho, ho!
Thanks, shower tiles for revealing the problem behind the walls (there's got to be a spiritual implication here) and thanks, Shell and Frank, for helping me out "without me asking" to get my Christmas decorations down!
I'm wondering if I do enough for people without them having to ask me?
So, now my house is in pleasant chaos - I'm using that term for my own sanity. Boxes and boxes of Christmas "stuff" is strewn around my living and dining room. The Christmas tree stands in its place, naked and cold, calling out to be adorned in holiday splendor, but there's just not a moment for that yet. Maybe tomorrow. My world is tilted to the extreme right now!
Our bathroom is under major repair, not because we just have extra money and decided to redo it. When shower tiles start falling off the walls without asking, well, that's not a good thing. The water damage behind those tiles was atrocious, so I guess if you look at it that way, the rebel tiles actually did us a favor! So, our Christmas this year is a nice newly-tiled shower, freshly painted bathroom, and let's just throw in some new flooring while we're at it. Ho, ho, ho!
Thanks, shower tiles for revealing the problem behind the walls (there's got to be a spiritual implication here) and thanks, Shell and Frank, for helping me out "without me asking" to get my Christmas decorations down!
I'm wondering if I do enough for people without them having to ask me?
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