Christ child

God With Us

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / Leave a comment

“Suit yourself. The Lord will give you a proof-sign anyway: See, a young maiden will conceive. She will give birth to a son and name Him Immanuel,that is, “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14, The Voice).

Often lost in the barrage of commercials and glitz is the true meaning of Christmas. When Charlie Brown wailed in despair, “Can anybody tell me what Christmas is all about?” Linus responded by quoting the passage about the birth of Jesus found in Luke 2. That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Christmas is all about Immanuel, God with us. Not just for a season or even for a few years, but forever.

The miracle of Christmas extends beyond the Incarnation narrative, even beyond the death and resurrection. The miracle of Christmas is not so much that you can find room in your heart for Jesus, but that He can find room in His for you.

The miracle is that it’s never too late to start over. Even the most timid YES to Jesus will do. After all, all He’s looking for in you is a good place to start (to borrow a quote from my favorite pastor, Mike Glenn).

I believe this is week two of the Advent season, when we prepare our hearts anew to receive the Christ-child, fully confident that He never casts out anyone who comes to Him seeking Him in spirit and in truth.

I hope you will create time and space in this busy Christmas season to remember that it all started in a manger. That’s what it’s still all about.

“How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.”

 

To Starbucks or Not to Starbucks?

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / Leave a comment

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable” (Brennan Manning).

I went to Starbucks and got my caramel apple spice beverage. It’s not on the menu anymore, but I asked for it and they were able to make it for me. It was uber-yummy. I might even get one when I go back.

Yep, I went there. Literally.

I know some people are upset with Starbucks for not having “Merry Christmas” emblazoned on all their paraphernalia. It’s not even Thanksgiving, people. What do you expect?

This is my take. Starbucks is not a Christian company. I never had any illusions that they were. They are a for-profit company. Period. They also make darn good caramel apple spice beverages.

I’m much more bothered by people who profess faith with their lips but deny it with their lifestyles, as Brennan Manning mentioned earlier.

I’m bothered by Christian businessmen and women who will engage in unethical practices and behaviors under the guise of “it’s just business,” as if their faith and their business ethics don’t mix and the people who get turned off by their bad witness don’t matter.

I’m bothered by people with Christian bumper stickers plastered all over their vehicles whose driving gives a very different kind of witness than those faith-based slogans. Not that I ever drive badly. Oh no.

I’m bothered by Christians who are the most obnoxious and demanding people at restaurants, who tip the least, who show the least amount of grace to those who serve them. I’m extremely bothered by the fact that Sunday is the day a waitperson dreads to work most of all because of all of the church people.

I’m bothered by believers who haven’t done a very good job of representing what Jesus was all about– namely, forgiveness, grace, second chances, and a home for all types of broken people. I’m bothered that people know us by what we’re against instead of what we’re for.

I’m bothered that Christians still think that we can elect a savior in the form of a politician who knows how and when to say the right things to tickle people’s ears.

I’d rather see my Merry Christmases lived out than spoken. I’d rather see people who celebrate the birth of the Christ child by following His example and, better yet, by being so filled with the Christ-presence that they bring Jesus into every place where they live, work, and play.

I’m okay with a “Happy Holidays” or a “Seasons’ Greetings.” I don’t expect Starbucks or Target or any other retailers to do my evangelizing for me. It’s not their job. It’s mine.

Oh, did I mention that it’s not even Thanksgiving yet? Let’s at least hold off on the “Merry CHRISTmas” rants until November 27, please. Thanks.

 

‘Tis The Season . . . Almost

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / Leave a comment

Thanksgiving is 4 days away. 4 days, people!

I have a hard time comprehending that, even though I have a short work week coming up.

After that comes the Christmas season and Advent and all things tinsel.

I hope that I won’t get caught up in all the commercial hype and get carried away by all the glitter, but remember that Christmas is about the arrival of the Christ child over 2,000 years ago.

I hope I will instead prepare my heart to receive the infant Jesus and remember that it really is His birthday we’re celebrating.

I hope I won’t get so caught up in the Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays debate that I forget that this Christmas spirit isn’t about one day out of the year, but about all the days of the year. I personally would rather have someone who says “Happy holidays” and is kind and considerate as opposed to someone who says “Merry Christmas” and is rude and impatient.

I’m looking forward to reading my Advent devotionals and seeing the candles lit and being reminded again that Christmas is really about the birth of Hope.

Plus, I’m looking forward to wearing my brand-new tacky Christmas sweater.

 

It’s Christmas (Eve) Again

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / Leave a comment

In years past, I couldn’t help but feel the inevitable letdown that came once Christmas had come and gone. It was as if I spent all that time and energy waiting for one day that went by awfully fast.

But I’ve learned to appreciate Christmas more in and of itself, aside from all the gifts and trappings.

For me, the more I celebrate the advent season, the less Christmas becomes about one single day and the more it becomes about the entrance into our world of the infant Immanuel, God with us.

If you follow the 12 days of Christmas, then you know that Christmas doesn’t really end until January 6. So this year, I’m milking the holiday for all it’s worth.

Yeah, I like presents. I like giving them, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I liked getting them, too. But more than presents, I like being around family and the intentional togetherness fostered by the celebration of the Christ child who came to bring us peace.

I love what I heard in a sermon tonight. Jesus came to take away our fear and give us joy.

That’s what Christmas is really about, Charlie Brown.

 

Just About Everything About Your Nativity is Wrong (But Not Everything)

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / 2 Comments

lego nativity scene

Disclaimer: if you love your nativity scene and don’t want anybody messing with it, you might want to stop reading here. Just FYI. Otherwise, keep goin’. Fun times are ahead.

First of all, the wise men were not at the birth scene. According to Matthew, they didn’t arrive until Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were living in a house and Jesus was probably 2 years old. Already, your nativity scene is getting less crowded.

Also, there was no mean inn-keeper (sorry to burst your bubble, all of you whose dramatic career consisted of playing this one character in the church Christmas pageant). There was probably no inn, either. According to what I’ve learned, the Greek word used for inn in Luke 2 is probably better rendered as “guest room” and was most likely in back of the ancestral home where the family beast of burden would normally stay.

That means there weren’t animals at the birth scene. Again, not 100% for certain, but more than likely not. I don’t know if any little boy showed up and serenaded the Christ child with a drum solo, but it’s doubtful.

As far as the wise men are concerned, there’s no indication in Scripture that there were three of them. Just because there were three gifts doesn’t mean that there were three of them. And they may or may not have been named Gaspar, Melchior,  and Balthasar. For all we know, they could have been named Larry, Curly, and Moe.

The one thing that’s right about your nativity scene is that Jesus is there. The Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us. God took on human skin and became Immanuel– “God with us.” The Almighty became an embryo and the Creator became a helpless infant boy.

So you can keep that part of your nativity scene. You can even add in snow if the spirit leads. But remember that Jesus was probably born in spring, not December, so there was likely no snow that night. I just burst yet another bubble of yours. You’re welcome.