Shalom!
Here is a column from today's WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL. Bill Wineke writes really good stuff (IMO), and here he has found one answer for our cultural war situation: Santa (for a price, of course, will support Jesus as the reason for this season. What can one say?
Shalom!
dave
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/column/index.php?ntid=263339&ntpid=1
DEC 21, 2007 Jesus has a new spokesman by BILL WINEKE Wisconsin State Journal
You can stop worrying about Jesus being lost in all the Christmas hoopla.
Santa is now defending the Christ child.
Of course, Santa charges for the endorsement.
Here 's how it goes: A St. Louis-based Web site, ChristmasGram.com, has developed a video from Santa explaining the "real reason for Christmas -- Christ. "
For $19.95, the company will send your child, via e-mail or DVD, a video of Santa talking about the birth of Christ.
"From the delightful setting of Santa 's Toy Workshop and from his quiet living room, Santa speaks to each child by name, reminding them of the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Christ. "
And why is ChristmasGram.com doing this? This is the best part. ... wait for it:
"We as Christians should not allow others to strip the holiday of its religious experience, " explains volunteer Jan Godfrey. "Who better than Santa to help put Christ back into
Christmas? "
That 's right. These good people are hawking $19.95 ChristmasGrams because they, in the words of their press release, "believe the true meaning of Christmas is being hijacked by political correctness, commercialism and apathy. "
So, there you have it. In order to rescue Christmas from commercialism, these guys are employing the very symbol of commercialism, a made-up character whose visage is used to sell everything from Coca-Cola to pornographic underwear.
If you can get your church or religious group to sell the ChristmasGrams -- to be honest, it 's probably too late to do this now -- they 'll even give you a 25 percent kickback.
All in the name of making Christmas less commercial.
Now, Santa may be a Christian, but that doesn't mean he's a fool. If you go to www.ChistmasGram.com, you will receive a warning that Santa doesn't offer "any liability or warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. " You will also be reminded that "Santa does not condone regifting."
The "Santa " on the video is a guy "also known as Ricky Baldwin, " who has been featured as "Santa in commercials, plays and films. " No doubt, the "commercials" are good commercials and not the bad commercials Baldwin is trying to discourage. He is, at any rate, a "committed Christian who believes that the real reason for the season is not in conflict with Santa's own mission."
Of course not. Santa's own mission has always been to sell the "real reason for the season. " Just ask any merchant.
Contact Bill Wineke at bwineke@madison.com
Friday, December 21, 2007
Mystery worshippers: help or bother?
Shalom!
http://wwrn.org/article.php?idd=27278
It's not a new idea, but it's still intriguing. I note that a couple of English churches got 100% ratings from experienced but not Christian mystery worshippers.
Shalom!
dave
http://wwrn.org/article.php?idd=27278
It's not a new idea, but it's still intriguing. I note that a couple of English churches got 100% ratings from experienced but not Christian mystery worshippers.
Shalom!
dave
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Fantasy for Christmas
Christmas doings in The Little Village (with many, many apologies to Garrison Keillor and others)
Enough fluffy snow has fallen to put folks nicely into the Christmas mood. Wesley’s Quad is bright white with the new snow, and the variety of lights gives a festive look to the whole business area. That wonderful central structure that becomes what is needed when it is needed is featuring the winter setup complete with a roaring fireplace and cheerful seasonal decorations.
Friday night concerts are a highlight of the Advent season. In the warmth and bright light of the park structure local youth and adults take turns sharing their music. The Chamber of Commerce supplies warm cider and cookies, and families gather at about 7 each Friday in Advent to hear violin solos and guitar choirs and forensic declamations and male quartets and the quite well-known Women’s Double Quartet and, of course, the high school band. There’s often some newer music, and there is no rule that says the music has to be churchy. (You can imagine what the high school drum line does for “Little Drummer Boy.”) But at the end of each concert, around 8 or 8:15, folks just seem to expect to sing a few familiar carols together.
We used to have mimeographed sheets with all the words, but now the High School Service Club provides projection equipment and a couple of young people who know computers, and all the words are projected on the wall next to the fireplace. So you kind of have to sit where you can see best in terms of distance and having an unobstructed view and all, but because everyone has their faces up and not pressed down on their chests to read the words, well, the sound is better.
In light of legal issues, the Village Board accepted the offer from the Trustees at First and Foremost United Methodist Church, and the rather attractive nativity set that for years had appeared on the Quad near the central area now makes its home on the front lawn of the church. The Village provides storage space (same as for all the holiday decorations that grow quickly and almost magically annually on the light poles), but a group of volunteers from the churches and the Optimists puts up the display, and the United Methodists pay for the juice to run the spotlights and the boombox that cranks out the carols.
At the coffeeshop, the Grounds for Justification, the regulars enjoy a couple of extra drink specials for the holiday season. There’s a kind of warm eggnog and a peppermint coffee. It’s an internet café, so there are the usual town people who come in regularly to check their email. Maybe after Christmas, there will be fewer as the computers make their appearance under the trees around town.
Pastor at First and Foremost UMC is the Reverend Arnold Geddon, who prefers to be called Pastor Arnie Geddon. There seems to be a lot of conflict wherever he serves. He thinks of himself as a plain man and tries to help the congregations he serves look to the future.
There is a Catholic Church in town. It’s over on Tradition Way, near the village library. Father Favor is the priest at Blessed Beautiful Savior, and he’s been there a long time. The old-timers have a line that goes “We’ve found Favor with God forever.”
The big news around town this year is that Pastor Arnie and Father Favor have convinced the pastors and congregations to do some things together for Christmas. And here I must stop for now. What do you suppose The Little Village churches are going to do for Christmas?
Enough fluffy snow has fallen to put folks nicely into the Christmas mood. Wesley’s Quad is bright white with the new snow, and the variety of lights gives a festive look to the whole business area. That wonderful central structure that becomes what is needed when it is needed is featuring the winter setup complete with a roaring fireplace and cheerful seasonal decorations.
Friday night concerts are a highlight of the Advent season. In the warmth and bright light of the park structure local youth and adults take turns sharing their music. The Chamber of Commerce supplies warm cider and cookies, and families gather at about 7 each Friday in Advent to hear violin solos and guitar choirs and forensic declamations and male quartets and the quite well-known Women’s Double Quartet and, of course, the high school band. There’s often some newer music, and there is no rule that says the music has to be churchy. (You can imagine what the high school drum line does for “Little Drummer Boy.”) But at the end of each concert, around 8 or 8:15, folks just seem to expect to sing a few familiar carols together.
We used to have mimeographed sheets with all the words, but now the High School Service Club provides projection equipment and a couple of young people who know computers, and all the words are projected on the wall next to the fireplace. So you kind of have to sit where you can see best in terms of distance and having an unobstructed view and all, but because everyone has their faces up and not pressed down on their chests to read the words, well, the sound is better.
In light of legal issues, the Village Board accepted the offer from the Trustees at First and Foremost United Methodist Church, and the rather attractive nativity set that for years had appeared on the Quad near the central area now makes its home on the front lawn of the church. The Village provides storage space (same as for all the holiday decorations that grow quickly and almost magically annually on the light poles), but a group of volunteers from the churches and the Optimists puts up the display, and the United Methodists pay for the juice to run the spotlights and the boombox that cranks out the carols.
At the coffeeshop, the Grounds for Justification, the regulars enjoy a couple of extra drink specials for the holiday season. There’s a kind of warm eggnog and a peppermint coffee. It’s an internet café, so there are the usual town people who come in regularly to check their email. Maybe after Christmas, there will be fewer as the computers make their appearance under the trees around town.
Pastor at First and Foremost UMC is the Reverend Arnold Geddon, who prefers to be called Pastor Arnie Geddon. There seems to be a lot of conflict wherever he serves. He thinks of himself as a plain man and tries to help the congregations he serves look to the future.
There is a Catholic Church in town. It’s over on Tradition Way, near the village library. Father Favor is the priest at Blessed Beautiful Savior, and he’s been there a long time. The old-timers have a line that goes “We’ve found Favor with God forever.”
The big news around town this year is that Pastor Arnie and Father Favor have convinced the pastors and congregations to do some things together for Christmas. And here I must stop for now. What do you suppose The Little Village churches are going to do for Christmas?
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Two resources to share
Shalom!
Two things to share. The first is a site that should get you to some options to listen to a podcast with Paul Webster. The long version I listened to was about 14 & 1/2 minutes. Wisconsin United Methodists will recognize Paul's name. He has been an agricultural missionary in Africa since 1992 and is doing really good work.
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/work/missionaries/podcasts/index.cfm?i=15726
The second item is an article by George Bullard. He offers some possible trends for the near future. Click on his site and look for the Nov 28th article.
George Bullard, congregational and denominational leadership coach
http://www.bullardjournal.org/
November 28, 2007
Ten Global Trends Impacting the Future of Congregations
Shalom!
dave
Two things to share. The first is a site that should get you to some options to listen to a podcast with Paul Webster. The long version I listened to was about 14 & 1/2 minutes. Wisconsin United Methodists will recognize Paul's name. He has been an agricultural missionary in Africa since 1992 and is doing really good work.
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/work/missionaries/podcasts/index.cfm?i=15726
The second item is an article by George Bullard. He offers some possible trends for the near future. Click on his site and look for the Nov 28th article.
George Bullard, congregational and denominational leadership coach
http://www.bullardjournal.org/
November 28, 2007
Ten Global Trends Impacting the Future of Congregations
Shalom!
dave
Saturday, December 1, 2007
A Christmas Letter
Shalom!
Received this today via email from a friend in Florida. Perhaps you've seen it. Maybe you wrote it! I found it helpfully provocative. I don't have any other attribution for it.
Shalom!
dave
Dear Children,
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the Christmas season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year, and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival, although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, having said that, let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square, because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you, and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1-8.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her. Really forgive them.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas", that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sundays. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army, or some other charity which believes in Me, and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love, and remember: I LOVE YOU.
JESUS
Received this today via email from a friend in Florida. Perhaps you've seen it. Maybe you wrote it! I found it helpfully provocative. I don't have any other attribution for it.
Shalom!
dave
Dear Children,
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the Christmas season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year, and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival, although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, having said that, let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square, because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you, and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1-8.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her. Really forgive them.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas", that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sundays. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army, or some other charity which believes in Me, and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love, and remember: I LOVE YOU.
JESUS
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
