Merry XMAS Is this a Bad Word?

We often hear about how Christ is removed from Christmas increasingly more in our culture.  This is no doubt true in many ways.  A presidential candidate recently came under intense fire for being so bold as to say "Merry Christmas" in a television spot.  This is true in many spheres of our culture.  Christmas has become secularized, consumerized, and many other interesting -izes.  From time to time we here that one example of Christ being removed from Christmas comes in the form of signs that replace Christ with X rendering it "Have a Merry XMAS."  This is pointed to as a gross removal of the true meaning of the season.  But is it?  No doubt some see it this way and in our day and age it likely has that intent behind it for many.  It is less blatant.  More politically correct perhaps?  But not originally.  We write many things in shorthand.  That's a way of making it easier for us to write out words, less time consuming, page space saving, etc.  Originally, in a place like the Roman Empire where the name Christ began to become a real life hazard for His early followers, a natural shorthand, or code word was used in place of Christ.  Essentially the "X" means Christ.  If I could write in Greek, Christ is spelled XRISTOS.  Much like the fish symbol so popular today that was also used in early Christianity as an acronym for Jesus, the "X" would have had a clear meaning to other Christians that the pagans would not have understood.  "X" is just a letter to them, but to His followers it meant Christ.  If you could write XRISTOS and be fodder for the lions in the Coliseum, or you could write "X" and other Christians know what you mean, but the rest would not, which would you write?  It's not an easy answer is it?  We face nowhere near the level of persecution those in the early church faced.  Were we faced with the same level even as the modern church in China our tunes might be different.  So when you see "Merry XMAS" on a sign somewhere this season, be discerning in your judgments.  It may be a harmless shorthand for Christ, or it may be an attempt at taking Christ out of Christmas.  Let the ones try who would try to remove Him.  They can't succeed.  Pray for them instead, that's what Jesus would do (Hey, there's another popular acronym).  

They Said It

Take a look at a couple of new articles in the sidebar; They Said It, Things From People Much Smarter Than Me.  In the spirit of Christmas, these will be informative.  Can I tell you something?  The people that write the articles that are on the sidebar over there -> are brilliant.  In fact they're so brilliant that when I read them, I want to quit.  Quit what?  Everything.  That's how brilliant they are.  Let's just say God blessed them.  So read what they say.  It's not Scripture, but it is ALWAYS good.

A Deeper Look at Christmas Traditions

Every Wednesday night our church participates in what we call "A Deeper Look."  It's an opportunity for us to examine a topic, a Scriptural passage, a verse, or a congregational question in more depth than we'd have the opportunity to do on an average Sunday worship service.  Tonight we'll be taking a look at the history behind many of our every year Christmas traditions.  Unfortunately there are dozens of traditions we won't have time to cover, but there are a few important ones that we will.  We'll look at the December 25th traditional date for the observation of Christmas.  Why do we celebrate it then?  Come find out.  What about Christmas trees?  Anything in the Bible about Christmas trees?  Well, no, but they're fun, and we'll see where they come from.  Along with the trees we'll examine the lights and decorations and why we do that.  In addition, we'll finish off with the jolly man in the red suit.  Yes, Santa, the kind-hearted saint that flew into Bethlehem on December 25th, just in time to catch the birth of Jesus.  Not sure about that one?  That's b/c obviously that's not where Santa originated.  Want to know the truth?  Come find out.  It's gonna be informative, fun, and enlightening, and you will DEFINITELY learn something you didn't know before.  Join us at 7:00 for A Deeper Look at Christmas Tradition

Late Goodnight Thoughts

I'm trying to slowly work my way through John Piper's "Don't Waste Your Life."  I'm struck by the zeal he has for the glory of God displayed in the cross.  We are zealous for many things.  I regularly taunt my SC Gamecock friends about Clemson's total domination in the rivalry.  Why?  I'm zealous about Clemson football.  I regularly hail the latest movie I saw to my friends, convincing them why they too would enjoy the movie and should go see it.  Why?  I am zealous about good entertainment.  I have many heated political debates (at least I used to) extolling the virtues of conservative politics.  Why?  I am zealous about the conservative views of government.  How often to I boast in the glory of God revealed in the cross of Jesus Christ?  With so much small talk (not a totally bad thing), so much conversation about things that do not ultimately matter a bit, where in those conversations is the cross?  We like men who are powerful.  We respect the man who claims to have pulled himself up by his bootstraps to climb the ladder of success.  This is not what the cross is about.  The cross is the triumph of power in weakness.  The power of what is not powerful.  The glory of what is despised.  The victory of defeat.  It's the paradox that rules our lives.  That in the act of executing Jesus as a common criminal, the spotless sacrifice that would take away our stains was humbled and then glorified.  So will we be too one day.  I do not tremble enough at the piddling little thoughts that occupy my time.  I don't fear enough the trivialities that fill my consciousness.  If I was overcome by the glory of the cross then how could I remain fixated on the least important facets of life.  Die to self.  Take up your cross and follow me.  The call is come and die so you might live.  More paradox.  Die to live.  Live to die.  That Christ may be magnified in my life.  The cross is not easy.  It is not pretty when you really think about it.  It's simply the most necessary act that's ever been performed on our behalf.  Goodnight.  Sleep well.  Dream about the cross.  Dream of how it will affect you when you wake up.  Let it grip you.  Goodnight.

Children and the Joy and Pain of Self-Denial

There are few things in this world that teach a person more about self-denial than having children.  I certainly would not say it is the only thing that teaches this.  There are some that are physically unable to have children.  God knows this and will teach you in other ways.  But for those who are able, and have taken the plunge, there is no better way to illustrate what it means to deny yourself on behalf of another.  A baby enters the world physically helpless.  Totally dependent on another, namely the parents.  A man and wife that decide to have children will soon learn that their lives are no longer their own.  Yes a child is an independent person with their own body and soul.  But in the years the child is under your care, they belong to you.  Under God, you've been given stewardship of your children and every parent knows that from pregnancy on, nothing remains the same.  I can glibly say that the joy outweighs the pain of your self-denial.  But like every form of self-denial it's not so automatic.  There are dark days.  Days where you're unsure whether you're fit for the job, certain someone else would do much better than you.  Yet you persevere, another fine lesson of parenthood.  You wake up at any and all hours of the night, and if you desire to care for your child you have no choice but to forsake sleep.  And it is relentless, the fatigue.  You change your patterns of living.  You can no longer go where you want, do what you want, and have no one to answer to except you and your similarly mobile spouse.  But a child throws a wrench into all that.  Now every plan revolves around the baby.  When will she sleep?  When will she eat?  Is it not too cold for us, but too cold for them?  Is packing and taking all the things the baby will need worth the effort just to run to the mall?  Or even church?  Many will say no.  It is not worth the effort.  "I very much like my freedom, and am not ready for a little baby to change all of that."  Others will say it is more than worth it.  The joy of raising a tiny human far outweighs the pain of self-denial.  But which is correct?  I do not wish to say someone waiting to have children is morally deficient or wrong.  But I question the motives.  Is it really for the sake of the child or for the sake of personal freedom?  I believe it leans towards the latter, personal freedom.  Self-denial hurts.  Giving up you freedom hurts.  Yet without self-denial we cannot know what it means to be Christ's disciple.  That is again not to say this can't happen without children.  It is to say children are the most effective way to learn this lesson.  It is a natural byproduct of attempting to be a good steward of parenthood.  No one trying to be a good parent can fail to be taught this lesson.  It "comes with the territory" as they say (who is "they?").  I would encourage a married couple to go the path of most resistance.  Learn the lessons of self-sacrifice.  Take them as you learn them as a parent and transfer that to your relationships with other people.  The lessons work for most any relationship.  If you've read this far and have children, congratulations, I'd like to say keep pushing forward, learn from your mistakes, and be careful to be good stewards of the gifts of children.  If you are married, can have children, yet choose not to, I say examine your motives.  Are they selfish reasons or sacrificial loving reasons?  There is an obvious difference.  You will know if you're honest with yourself.  Now reexamine your reasons, and ask if not having kids is God glorifying now?  If not, then when will it be?  When is the right time?  There will always be a part of your flesh begging not to have kids.  Begging you to fill yourself with yourself.  And so there will always be excuses.  Sometimes they will be good ones.  Sometimes they won't.  Do you wish to deny yourself more than you ever imagined you could?  Then married friends and acquaintances, try for children.  The joy will overcome the pain.  The laughter will overcome the tears most often.  It will never be easy.  Nothing worth doing usually is.  But it is infinitely worthy.  

More They Said Its

A couple of posts on some of the recent violent happenings. What exactly has happened in our world? Check them out over on the sidebar at "They Said It, Things From People Much Smarter Than Me." I've left the "Golden Compass" posts still over there. You should also read them and be aware.

I Will Not Waste My Life This Year; Or my single New Year's resolution...

We will be embarking on about a 7 week journey starting December 30th here at Little Mountain. It's going to be called "I Will Not Waste My Life This Year; Or my single New Year's Resolution." Most years we make a list of resolutions half of which we don't intend to keep and the other half we fail to keep. This year the challenge will be just one resolution. One resolution with many sub points. It could alternately be called "How to Waste Your Life This Year," b/c the opposite of the things we will look at will result in one more wasted year tacked onto the 80 year average of wasted years. How many years have you wasted? Maybe you haven't wasted the whole year, but on the whole the year was more wasted than not. Then you think starting around December 20th, this next year will be different and here are all the reasons why...."I won't smoke, I won't overeat, I will go to church faithfully, I will give, and I will be more romantic with my wife/husband." Good luck with all that. As for me? Just this one. If I can fulfill this one then much else will fall into place.

Catchiest Song Ever?

Ever see the ipod nano commercial where the ipods lie against a white background and hands keep removing the top ipod to reveal another different colored one underneath with a video playing on the lcd screen? OK good. Remember the song? 1,2,3,4...I know this blog is altogether pointless but I can't stop listening to this song on my ipod. It just keeps sounding in my head, and the song is actually good. This is the song that you sing falling asleep that keeps you awake. This is the song playing in your head when you wake up. This is the song you sing in the shower. This is the song that you sing over the top of other songs. The beat is like a continual heartbeat. Steady, head bobbing. 1,2,5,6,9 and 10, money can't buy you back the love that you had! What a great line? Or is it? I don't know. All I know is that Apple sells with style, and this song is a perfect example.

Christmas Songs and Staring Out the Window On Christmas Eve

When I was a kid (we still do this every year), we'd go to my grandparents on Christmas Eve.  It was a HUGE gathering of family from Mema and Papa, Mom and Dad, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Brother, Sister, and the Greats (aunt and uncle).  We'd always eat supper first which made the kids CRAZY b/c we were ready to get to the presents, and they'd always have to clean up after supper before the presents.  That is all a story in itself, but this post is about the ride home.  The ride home from my grandparents was one of the most magical moments in the history of my childhood.  It was usually very late by a child's standards, 11 or 11:30 at night, and it was always cold and dark.  As we rode we listened to Christmas music on the radio and me, my brother, and my sister (both younger) would look out the window the whole ride home watching for Santa and his sleigh.  Some nights we saw nothing, and others we were quite sure we caught a glimpse of the jolly fat man in the red suit.  The build up on the way home was intense.  See my parents would sneak off at some point in the day on Christmas Eve and set up the house like Santa had been there already.  It was somehow so believable then.  We felt like the luckiest kids on earth b/c we knew he'd come to our house as one of the first.  As we pulled in, my parents would get the camera and GIGANTIC camcorder out, asking all the while, "You think he's already come?"  We'd excitedly get out of the car and for some reason nervously make our way to the door.  Then the moment would hit.  We opened the front door, turned the lights on, and there it'd all be, laid out across the den waiting on us.  But even though I don't always remember each year what we walked in to, I'll never forget the 25 minute ride home that always seemed like an eternity.  Do you have Christmas memories like that?  

Understanding the Golden Compass

The new movie, "The Golden Compass" is already the most controversial film among Christians in a very long time. The author of the books the movie is based on (last name Pullman), is an avowed atheist with a blatant agenda to tear down religious belief, or belief in God period. It is a blatant attack wearing the clothing of a children's story. He went to war on faith, and millions of men, women, and children will unknowingly walk into the movie theater and walk out never realizing what they've just seen is an attempt to get generations of people to believe there is no God. I won't go into anymore depth, but I'd encourage you STRONGLY to click on the links to 2 articles about the movie in the right sidebar (They Said it: Things from People Much Smarter than Me). Let me know what you think.