The Longest Night

Last night, I was privileged to be a part of Light of the Canyon's annual Longest Night service. This service is for people that are struggling during the holidays. The message this year was simple; but it bears repeating. Christmas does not belong to the retailers or the party planners. Christmas belongs to those who are struggling, for those who are in pain. On the very first Christmas, God came into the world in a manger in a nowhere town, as a baby born to a poor young women from an insignificant family, that belonged to a downtrodden race and that lived in an occupied nation. Just the way that God entered the world is a signal that this holy day belongs not to the cheerful and content, but to the restless and sorrowful. Christmas is the Longest Night, regardless of what pretty package Madison Avenue wants to sell. It was a wonderful experience to celebrate that reality last night.

Love Incarnate

This past Sunday, about 35 folks from LOTC loaded up in a seven-car caravan (yeah, we kind of went crazy with the carbon footprint, but it was for a good cause) and visited folks in the neighborhood to sing Christmas carols. It was a religious experience. There was laughter, and even some tears. There was cookies (always a plus) and cider. But, ultimately, the night was about doing what God did 2000 years ago with the birth of Christ - putting flesh and blood to the promises of God, making real his love and grace. I was so proud of our group, and so happy to have been a part of that night. Next year, we may have to break into two groups to cover more homes. Christmas is about love incarnate, and love was incarnate on Sunday night.

Perspective Continued

And another thing. Do you know what's wrong with the phrase, "put Christ back into Christmas?" It implies, somehow, that Christ was ever taken out of Christmas. No one on earth has the power to do that. Christ is Christmas, whether we remember it or not. But, if we want to experience Christ at Christmas, we better look at the manger in Bethlehem and not at the checkout stand at Nordstrom. One of my Christmas heroes, Ebeneezer Scrooge, once said, "you keep Christmas in your way, and I will keep it in mine." If you want to keep Christ in your Christmas, he is not hiding. In fact, that is the point of Christmas. God became as obvious as possible by becoming one of us. Christ has been in Christmas since the very first one. Where have we been?

The Advent Conspiracy in Perspective

Recently, the Advent Conspiracy was featured in an article by Time magazine. The article says it all. Christians - and the often times bombastic fear peddlers that claim to speak for us - have for too long fought a ridiculous war on Christmas. We settle for cheap little victories like getting the clerk at the store to say "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays." I am told that every time that happens, an angel gets their wings. The group Focus on the Family even has a web site dedicated to revealing how "Christmas friendly" particular retailers are. I will say this plainly. That is the most absurd thing that I have ever heard of. I don't care if the person behind the counter at Barnes and Noble says to me "Merry Christmas," "happy holidays," "Happy Hanukkah," or "go jump in a lake" (o.k., I might take offense to that last one - that's just rude). If we Christians spend all of our energy trying to convince retailers to say "Merry Christmas" than we have truly completely lost all perspective. Because - here's a news flash - Christmas has nothing to do with retail stores. No one will ever confuse me for a super-genius. But, one thing I know is that if we are claiming to want to "put Christ back in Christmas," than we need to start in our own homes and in our own churches. Here's a kooky idea (and this is why I love the Advent Conspiracy so much), let's not confuse Christmas with consumption. Let's model for the world what God modeled for the world on the first Christmas - love for humanity. If we want to put Christ back into Christmas, than let's show the same love for others that God showed for us. There are people in the world who would settle for food or water this Christmas. They don't really care whether the clerk at the store told us "Merry Christmas" when they sold us the DSI for our kids. They just want to live. I wonder want bothers Jesus most during the season of Advent, that people say happy holidays instead of Merry Christmas, or that while the church is fighting over this trifle issue, people are dying from hunger. Let's get some perspective.

Christmas Cry Baby

It is official. I am a Christmas cry baby! Last night, I was watching one of the cheesiest versions of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" on TV complete with fake English accents, sappy songs, the whole nine yards. And yet, I could not look away from the TV set. And, at the end of the show, after Ebenezer Scrooge is redeemed, I fought back the tears. I love that story. I love that Scrooge is transformed and experiences new life. In the South Coast Repertory production of "A Christmas Carol," the show ends with Scrooge quoting from the Alfred Lord Tennyson poem "Ring Out Wild Bells." That is usually when the lump starts to form in my throat. "Ring out the grief that saps the mind, for those that here we see no more, ring out the feud of rich and poor, ring in redress to all mankind. Ring out a slowly dying cause, and ancient forms of party strife; ring in the nobler modes of life, with sweeter manners, purer laws." What a vision. I can believe in that. In fact, I think that God embodied that in Jesus, and Christmas is just the beginning of the story. Yeah, I am a Christmas cry baby. I am still moved by a God who loves us enough to become one of us.

Christmas Focus

This year, I have been inspired by the Advent Conspiracy. So far, the Advent season has been meaningful and relatively stress free. I am looking forward to a holy Christmas. What a blessing! I have come to realize that this sort of thing does not happen accidentally. I have been encouraged by the response of members of my congregation as they have shared with me stories about how they are doing Christmas differently this year. I have been strengthened by my family as we share in Advent celebrations that have nothing to do with Santa Claus. In my personal devotions, I am reading Paul's letters. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul writes, "For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place where your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God." Advent has been wonderful as I and my family have sought to "turn from idols" of commercialism and consumerism. It has been a time of true transformation!

The Longest Night

Sometimes, it is difficult to get into the joy of Christmas. On Monday, December 21, at 7:00 p.m. LOTC will be hosting a worship service for people that are struggling during the holidays. Some people struggle with the loss of a loved one. Others struggle with unresolved feelings from their past. This year, many people are struggling because of the economy. If the Christmas spirit seems to be difficult to connect with this year, come and join us for the Longest Night. Contact the church office at (714) 283-4633 for more details.

Christmas Commercial Watch - Volume Three

I love this one. This commercial is brutal in its honesty (and it probably wasn't even trying to be). It is from the clothing store T.J. Maxx. The commercial sums up the Madison Avenue response to Christmas in the opening line. "I love Christmas because I love to shop." Blah, blah, blah, T.J. Maxx, blah, blah, blah. So, for everyone that gets angry when the clerk behind the counter wishes them "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas," remember this simple truth. The stores do not care about the holy day of Christmas. And that should not come as a surprise. Their job is not to keep holy that which we consider sacred. Their job is to make money. If our little observation of Christmas commercials has taught us anything, it is that it is the job of the church to keep Christmas holy, it is not the job of Macy's or Zale's or T.J. Maxx. It is the job of the church. This Christmas, I am going to let the stores do their job (and try my best to avoid them in the process). I and my family (and my church too) are going to celebrate that God became one of us. And by so doing, we will remind ourselves that the work of giving flesh and bone reality to the love and grace of God is still the work of the church.

Christmas Commercial Watch - Volume 2

Mom's are sitting in their cars in the parking lot at their kids' school. They speak with one another in conspiratorial tones. They share how they got the perfect gift for (insert person's name here) at Kohl's. They end their conversation singing fa la la la la la la la la. The last shot is a front view of all of the moms greeting their children with proud (dare I say...smug) looks on their faces. The implication is clear. If you are cool. If you are one of the "in" moms at school, then you will shop at Kohl's. I don't know if that is actually true or not. I don't know where the "in" parents shop because most of them are 20 years younger than I am. But, here is the point. The commercial is designed to create in the viewer the idea that you are not cool, you are not one of the beautiful people (and neither is your kid, by extension) if you do not shop at Kohl's. Christmas is really an after thought. It is a convenience, a reason for a sale. This is why we cannot let the retail industry tell the Christmas story. The truth is, they really have no interest in it. If you want to have a meaningful Christmas, don't worry about where the beautiful people shop. In fact, spend less. Focus more on the real season for the holy day (as opposed to holiday) of Christmas.

Christmas Commercial Watch - Volume 1

This year, I am doing something different. In order to stave off the "bah humbugs," in order to resist the powerful pull of my own cynicism, and in order to help myself remained focused on the birth of Jesus this Christmas, I am beginning a new spiritual discipline. I am going to share different Christmas commercials that encourage everyone to spend more this Christmas. It is my sincere hope that by doing this, I can remind myself that it is not up to Madison Avenue to tell the real Christmas story (thank God - they stink at it). It is up to the church. It is our story after all. The first commercial that I am highlighting is a jewelry commercial (of course). Jewelry commercials do a wonderful job of making men think that if we don't get the perfect piece of shiny rocks for our wives, than we are utter failures and should bury our heads under a not-so-shiny rock until next year. And, being simple people, men often fall for this. Take for example this little "gem" from the spiritual giants as Kay Jewelers. It's 2:00 a.m. A young mother is up with her newborn daughter. The husband comes in and gives her her gift, a Citizen watch, because he just couldn't wait (Are you kidding me? I am just getting to bed at 2:00 a.m. on Christmas. I don't care if I bought my wife a Rolls Royce. Sleep is the Christmas gift that keeps on giving). But, I digress. The wife is moved by the gift. In the closing shot, the man is hugging his wife while they both hold their daughter. "Do you think she'll remember this Christmas?" the man asks. "I know I will," the wife responds. Message received loud and clear.

The second principle of the Advent Conspiracy is "spend less." This is a truly subversive notion when you consider the number of messages we will all receive in the next few weeks telling us to buy, buy, buy. But, I and my family are going to spend less this year. That is not only the responsible choice. It is the faithful one.

Start Your Day Off Right

People often times ask me, "Pastor Jon, I am soooooooo busy. How can I help others in a matter of minutes?" Other than ask people to clarify their priorities a little bit (and that is being kind, Jesus had a bit more stringent advice for people - read Luke 18:18-23), I tell them that there is a wonderful way that they can start their day that helps others in a tangible way. Go to the hungersite.com. One click and someone in need gets food. It is free. It is quick. Bada-boom, bada-bing! Helping others cannot be easier, or quicker. I do this every morning, and I say a little prayer as I visit each of the sites. Here is my routine. How will you pray and serve to begin your day?

Click on Hunger Site - Pray, "Thank you God for the food that we have to eat. I pray for all who are hungry."

Click on Breast Cancer Site - Pray, "Thank you God for our health. I pray for all who are sick or injured."

Click on Child Health Site - I thank God for my son, and pray a blessing on all children everywhere.

Click on Literacy Site - Pray, "Thank you God for the opportunities that we enjoy, let justice roll like mighty rivers, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24)."

Click on Rainforest Site - Pray, "Thank you God for your creation. Help us to be better stewards of it."

Click on Animal Rescue Site - Thank you.

This is a no fuss, no muss way to start your day right. Check it out.