Christmas Time is Here

I was talking with a friend the other day about Christmas. Shocking, right? Amidst all the stress of finding the right present in the right price range ( a feat nearly impossible for me to do - especially for my nephew) I began to reflect on what Christmas really is. This reflection has been prompted by many events - the latest being the conversation I mentioned above.

I have written before of my love for advent and how during this particular season I feel the most connected to the people of the Old Testament. In the four weeks leading to Christmas we are all bound in anticipation of the coming savior. Granted, I can never know exactly how they felt because my anticipation is for something that has already taken place. Seems a little strange to anticipate a past event, yet that is what we are meant to do. Or is it?

One thing I have learned during my theological study is that our faith is full of past events that have ongoing meaning and significance. The incarnation or the Word of God made flesh (as it says in John 1:1-2) was a unique event that occurred over 2,000 years ago, but ask any evangelical Christian if they have a personal relationship with Jesus, and they'll respond in the positive. How is that possible? Because these events of God are ongoing. They can be placed in history, but they are not limited to history.

Steve Foss, a former boss of mine and Methodist pastor, delivered a sermon on Sunday to a group of his former employees about looking for the ongoing significance of Christmas in our lives today. But really, shouldn't we be looking for God's continuing action throughout history instead? The events of the Christmas story are one story among many of God's love and faithfulness to his people. The real Christmas story begins at creation and never ends because Christmas is about God and what he has done and what he continues to do.

Therefore, as we celebrate Christmas and spend time with family and friends and eat turkey or ham or meatballs or whatever tradition you have, don't forget to tell the story. And not just the parts with shepherds and angels, but the parts where God loves the world he creates and Christ dies to save that world and the Holy Spirit is with us now to lead us back to God.

I hope I haven't said anything too heretical. If you come away from this post with nothing else, remember this: Christmas is only part of the story. A wonderful part, no doubt.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

PS - I'm currently in South Dakota and there have been 2 blizzards since I've been home. Today we had a heat wave - it was 20 degrees above 0! Needless to say - I'll be having a White Christmas.

This paper is going to kill me...

but in the mean time enjoy this video of the group "Straight No Chaser" performing "The 12 Days of Christmas." I heard it on the radio on the way home from work and laughed... like a lot.



Other than that - I have this one paper to finish, one final to take, one day left to work, one concert to attend, two friends to say goodbye to (as they are done at GCTS), and two suitcases to pack before I take two flights to get to Sioux Falls. I'll post more once I'm on the other side of this week.

The Girls of GCTS Elffed

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

a week to be thankful for

Recap:

Monday: I went down into Boston on Monday to meet up with Kim and one of my professors from USF. I met up with Kim at the Prudential Center and we walked around and chatted for a couple of hours. Then we met up with my professor and talked of USF and life in (and around) Boston. Good times. That also marks the first time I have traveled to and from Boston on my own.

Tuesday: I agreed to help out a friend by doing some typing for one of the appendices to his thesis. We went to Borders and he dictated the text to me for awhile. We definitely got a lot of strange looks because the text consisted of theological arguments concerning the practice of believer's baptism. One thing to realize about theology - it can get ridiculous at times. Periodically while typing I would start laughing. One reason is that the text reminded me of a skit that Rowan Atkinson did spoofing the church. (Worth watching!)



Thursday: I spent my Thanksgiving at my pastor Sarah's house with her husband, daughter and another couple from the church. It was wonderful to spend time with them - they have become my Massachusetts family. Since I could not be with my real family - they were the next best thing. I got to help mash potatoes and I made the crumb topping for an apple cranberry pie (so good!)

Saturday: My friend Kim, who I saw on Monday, came up to the North Shore to visit me. We ate at Depot Diner and then went to the North Shore Mall and hung out. It is nice to spend time with someone from home. We spent a lot of time talking about things happening at home. She is from Brookings, originally.

I realized today that I am coming home in less than 2 weeks! I am so ready to be home for awhile. All I have left before I come home is 1 research paper and 1 final. Please pray that I can stay focused long enough to accomplish these two things!

Happy Advent!

Sorry for the delay

I dropped the ball a little bit. I usually try to update every week but last week I was suffering from apathy towards my blog. Forgive me.

There have been a few highlights over the last week.

Last Sunday: I was lay reader at church. This is only interesting because a guy from the finance board stole my lay reading right before I was supposed to do it. Luckily I can go with the flow and managed to find the passage in the wrong translation of the bible for the Old Testament reading. During the passing of the peace I got my lay reading back so I could read the New Testament passage in the "correct" version.

Thursday: I went into Boston with my roommate Jennifer. We saw my friend Kim (from USF) play in an orchestra. Kim is going to grad school in Boston for library science, yet still manages to find time to play in the orchestra. It was so fun! I have a theory that in order to be first violin, one has to be an extremely animated musician. That guy was moving all over the place. I was just waiting for him to hit the girl next to him with his bow! That night Jen and I didn't pay for our subway ride back to Wonderland station. We are bad bad bad girls... oh the shame.

Saturday: In the morning I went to a Bridal Shower Brunch for my friend Shelly. Shelly is going to be done at Gordon Conwell in December and is getting married on February 14. (She'll share her anniversary with my cousin Jeff! Oh yeah... and valentines day...) Anyway this was the second lingerie party I have attended while at seminary/ in my life. It was fun and the food was great.

Saturday night I also went to this fund raising dinner hosted by my friend Jana Pinto. Jana spent the summer in Ghana, Africa working with Liberian refugees on coping with their trauma. She started an organization there called Refugee 2nd Chance. It was such an eye-opening night. We actually got to talk with some of the refugees through a webcam and hear their stories. I cannot even begin to describe what these people have been through. Jana's goal is, through counseling, to help them work through their trauma so the past doesn't keep coming back to haunt them. I really believe in the work she is doing. She has set up a website which she will complete once finals are over here at Gordon Conwell. I hope that you check it out and watch the videos - they are very powerful.

Refugee 2nd Chance

This upcoming week is Thanksgiving (which I am sure you are aware of that fact). For those of you who are worried about what I'll be doing for the holiday - I've been invited to my pastor's house for the traditional turkey dinner. She is even letting me help by mashing the potatoes. It's a big responsibility.

I wish you all a wonderful holiday. And remember, be thankful for more than the turkey.

Unbelievable.

I came across this video today. Unbelievable.

Retreat and Rest

Jen, Kerry and Me (varying shades of red hair at Women's Retreat)

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to attend the Women's Resource Network Retreat in New Hampshire. I'm not going to try to spell the name of the lake where the camp was, but it's a famous one.

The speaker for the 24 hour retreat was Donna Petter who is a professor at Gordon Conwell. She spoke about how God is working on us because we are his temple. Much like people work on their houses to make them fit to live in, or to make them a home, God is doing the same to us. He is working to make us fit for him. In theology, this process is called santification. Her final message was that we are "wired for worship." It was a message that I really needed to hear, so I am thankful for that.

On the retreat I met a lot of women I had never even seen before, even though Gordon Conwell isn't that big of a campus. There is a divide between single students and married students - not intentionally, but since married students live in apartments - they don't tend to eat in the cafeteria where most of the socializing happens.

I also learned a new card game at the retreat called "Dutch Blitz" which is very similar to "Nerts" that I love to play. The game has its own cards that are very Dutch looking. Apparently the game originated with some ultra-conservative Christians who did not think playing with regular cards was appropriate. It is fascinating to me that you can play pretty much the same game, but if you have different cards - it makes all the difference. Anyway - it was fun.

We got back on Saturday night and then I spent Sunday recovering. It is kind of nice that this is my 2nd reading week - I can sleep in and still get work done. I finished a book yesterday by Christopher Hitchens - wasn't very impressed with it. Now I am researching Ralph Waldo Emerson for a research paper - much more enjoyable. Both men critique Christianity - but Emerson is at least respectable.

Not much else is going on. No visitors this break... which is probably good since I have a lot to do!