Well we have almost come to the end of our Advent Journey. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. For those who have joined me on my journey thank you for your companionship and support.
I started my Blog with the rather bold statement that I believed it to be God Inspired and as I bring the Blog to a close I will finish with the equally bold statement that I still believe it to be God Inspired.
I confess that the journey possibly did not turn out the way I might have expected. I suspect that somewhere in my thoughts I imagined some grand adventure, a new avenue opening up, lots of followers, lively comments and the possible conception of a successful writing career. (Stranger things have happened!!). Now I cannot be sure but I suspect none of the above has happened or is likely to happen in the near future, (put it this way I am still awaiting the phone call from the book publishers and no book agents have been beating a path to my door. Yet that does not mean the blog was not God inspired simply my perception and understanding of the reason for the blog.
At this time of year it is all too easy for ministers, vicars, priests and pastors (all Christians for that matter) to fall into the trap of, ‘flying by auto-pilot. Singing the Carols, reading the nativity and championing the cause for keeping Christ in Christmas without really giving it much thought. The Blog has caused me to take time and rediscover the joy, wonder and miracle of God Incarnate.
We often complain about people not having time for Christ, we liken our busy society to the streets, inns and houses of Bethlehem that, ‘had no room’ for the Christ Child. We forget that there are times when we in the church can be so busy being ‘religious’ that we have no room for Jesus. This year writing the blog has made me stop and take stock of the real meaning and purpose of God becoming man. I think these words of the Christian writer, Max Lucado sums it up;
“Off to one side sits a group of shepherds. They sit silently on the floor, perhaps perplexed, perhaps in awe, no doubt in amazement. Their night watch had been interrupted by an explosion of light from heaven and a symphony of angels. God goes to those who have time to hear him- and so on this cloudless night he went to simple shepherds.” (emphasis mine).
So at the risk of repeating a question from a previous blog, it may well be that this one question is at the core of the purpose for my writing this Advent;
“Do you hear what I hear?”
Friday, 25 December 2009
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Christmas and children
“It’s for the children” How many times do we hear that when it comes to Christmas? When did it become about the children and why?
We put up Christmas decorations, cover our houses with lights, erect and decorate Christmas trees and exchange presents and when we are asked why we reply, “For the children, they love it” or variations on that theme. Yet I still ask the question. Why?
Think about it. The Nativity Story is not exactly child friendly. A young unmarried pregnant girl enduring a long arduous journey, forced to have her baby in a squalid stable because there was no place else for them to go and to cap it all off the young family then had to flee for their lives because the evil king had given an order to his soldiers to kill all boys under the age of three. As I said what part of that story strikes you as being child friendly? If we were to bring that story up to date and try and tell it Key Stage 1 children there would be a public outcry.
Now don’t get me wrong I am not saying we should not think about the children or that we should try and exclude them but the problem is when you start emphasising the children you start alienating the adult by concentrating on the children adults begin to think they have, ‘outgrown’ Christmas and the Christmas message. Christmas is for everyone, young and old alike.
The truth is the trimmings and trappings of Christmas that make it ‘child friendly’ have little or nothing to do with the Nativity; Santa Claus, reindeer, toys girls dressed as angels. At some point of reference changed from the Christ Child in a manger to something less important. In our attempt to get the message across we have lost sight of the message and focused on the means to getting the message across.
I am quite sure that you all know the legend of why we have tinsel ate Christmas. The Holy Family whilst fleeing from Herod hid in a cave and a spider spun a web over the mouth of the cave. In the morning the web was covered in morning dew that glistened in the early morning sun the soldiers who were searching saw the web, assumed that it had been there for a while and as it was not broken walked past without searching the cave. The problem is it would seem that tinsel is still ‘hiding’ the Christ Child for many people.
To slightly change the words of one of my favourite hymns,
“I’m coming back to the Heart of Christmas and it’s all bout YOU Jesus”
If we can get back to the heart of Christmas we will discover that it is for the children but NOT just for the children. Enjoy Christmas this year, after all…”Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of god like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15
We put up Christmas decorations, cover our houses with lights, erect and decorate Christmas trees and exchange presents and when we are asked why we reply, “For the children, they love it” or variations on that theme. Yet I still ask the question. Why?
Think about it. The Nativity Story is not exactly child friendly. A young unmarried pregnant girl enduring a long arduous journey, forced to have her baby in a squalid stable because there was no place else for them to go and to cap it all off the young family then had to flee for their lives because the evil king had given an order to his soldiers to kill all boys under the age of three. As I said what part of that story strikes you as being child friendly? If we were to bring that story up to date and try and tell it Key Stage 1 children there would be a public outcry.
Now don’t get me wrong I am not saying we should not think about the children or that we should try and exclude them but the problem is when you start emphasising the children you start alienating the adult by concentrating on the children adults begin to think they have, ‘outgrown’ Christmas and the Christmas message. Christmas is for everyone, young and old alike.
The truth is the trimmings and trappings of Christmas that make it ‘child friendly’ have little or nothing to do with the Nativity; Santa Claus, reindeer, toys girls dressed as angels. At some point of reference changed from the Christ Child in a manger to something less important. In our attempt to get the message across we have lost sight of the message and focused on the means to getting the message across.
I am quite sure that you all know the legend of why we have tinsel ate Christmas. The Holy Family whilst fleeing from Herod hid in a cave and a spider spun a web over the mouth of the cave. In the morning the web was covered in morning dew that glistened in the early morning sun the soldiers who were searching saw the web, assumed that it had been there for a while and as it was not broken walked past without searching the cave. The problem is it would seem that tinsel is still ‘hiding’ the Christ Child for many people.
To slightly change the words of one of my favourite hymns,
“I’m coming back to the Heart of Christmas and it’s all bout YOU Jesus”
If we can get back to the heart of Christmas we will discover that it is for the children but NOT just for the children. Enjoy Christmas this year, after all…”Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of god like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
Members of St. Martins and Lewes Rd will have heard me tell them, more than once, the story of how for years I struggled with one line of the hymn, “There is a green hill far away.” I struggled with the line, “He only could unlock the gate of heaven and let us in.”
For years I had understood this to mean that was all Christ could do and when all things considered it did not seem something worth singing about. What is the big deal about locking or unlocking a gate?
Of course I know now that what the line actually means is that only Christ can unlock the gate, no one else. A simple example of how the use of a small comma can make all the difference.
Only recently I came across another example of an oft misplaced comma which changes the meaning of a hymn, or in this case a carol. The carol, “God rest you merry gentlemen”.
It is a carol that we probably sing every Christmas and most of us probably sing, “ God rest you, merry gentlemen” believing or thinking (assuming we do think when we sing Carols!!!) that the carol is asking God to give merry gentlemen a rest. However it would appear that the comma should actually be placed after the word merry, making it read, “God rest you merry, gentlemen”
To the twenty first century reader it makes little sense but “Rest you merry” is in fact an old English phrase whose closest modern equivalent would be “rest assured”.
Placing the comma after merry then tells the listener, “Don’t worry, rest assured, the reason we celebrate Christmas is that Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas Day.” The carol then goes on to tell us why it is good news, and it is the same reason given to Joseph by the angel in Matthew’s Gospel: the birth of Jesus is good news because “He will save his people from their sins (ch 1:21)
So this Christmas, “GOD REST YOU MERRY.” Do not worry, Rest Assured the message of Christmas is one of Salvation.
For years I had understood this to mean that was all Christ could do and when all things considered it did not seem something worth singing about. What is the big deal about locking or unlocking a gate?
Of course I know now that what the line actually means is that only Christ can unlock the gate, no one else. A simple example of how the use of a small comma can make all the difference.
Only recently I came across another example of an oft misplaced comma which changes the meaning of a hymn, or in this case a carol. The carol, “God rest you merry gentlemen”.
It is a carol that we probably sing every Christmas and most of us probably sing, “ God rest you, merry gentlemen” believing or thinking (assuming we do think when we sing Carols!!!) that the carol is asking God to give merry gentlemen a rest. However it would appear that the comma should actually be placed after the word merry, making it read, “God rest you merry, gentlemen”
To the twenty first century reader it makes little sense but “Rest you merry” is in fact an old English phrase whose closest modern equivalent would be “rest assured”.
Placing the comma after merry then tells the listener, “Don’t worry, rest assured, the reason we celebrate Christmas is that Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas Day.” The carol then goes on to tell us why it is good news, and it is the same reason given to Joseph by the angel in Matthew’s Gospel: the birth of Jesus is good news because “He will save his people from their sins (ch 1:21)
So this Christmas, “GOD REST YOU MERRY.” Do not worry, Rest Assured the message of Christmas is one of Salvation.
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Role Models
In the newspaper yesterday there was a story all about Santa Claus. Apparently he has fallen foul of the Health and Safety Brigade. It would seem that he's now regarded as a rather poor role model for our children and their parents. He encourages everything from obesity and drink driving to risk taking. It would seem that one of his misdemeanours is that he does not wear a seat belt when riding his sleigh? (Although I am not too sure how they know this!!!)
Anyway this got me thinking. Are we in danger of taking our role-models to far. Think about it what kind of role-model is Mary or Joseph?
Joseph was highly irresponsible undertaking a long arduous journey with his betrothed nine months pregnant. He compounded his mistake by not planning ahead and booking an hotel at a time when he could expect the town of Bethlehem to be very busy.
Mary does not escape unscathed. What right-minded mother would place a new born baby in a dirty un-hygienic animal feeding trough, add to this the seemingly cavalier attitude of visiting, allowing, it would seem, all and sundry to simply wander in and view their new born baby, they even accepted gifts from complete strangers!
Thankfully the Christmas Story is not about health and safety, wither we are talking about Santa Claus or the Nativity. It is about hope and love overcoming adversity. It is about God becoming man. It is about,
“Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine.”
A long journey, a dirty stable, a food trough for a bed, uninvited guests, regardless of what the Health and Safety manual might say, what better role model could there be?
Anyway this got me thinking. Are we in danger of taking our role-models to far. Think about it what kind of role-model is Mary or Joseph?
Joseph was highly irresponsible undertaking a long arduous journey with his betrothed nine months pregnant. He compounded his mistake by not planning ahead and booking an hotel at a time when he could expect the town of Bethlehem to be very busy.
Mary does not escape unscathed. What right-minded mother would place a new born baby in a dirty un-hygienic animal feeding trough, add to this the seemingly cavalier attitude of visiting, allowing, it would seem, all and sundry to simply wander in and view their new born baby, they even accepted gifts from complete strangers!
Thankfully the Christmas Story is not about health and safety, wither we are talking about Santa Claus or the Nativity. It is about hope and love overcoming adversity. It is about God becoming man. It is about,
“Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine.”
A long journey, a dirty stable, a food trough for a bed, uninvited guests, regardless of what the Health and Safety manual might say, what better role model could there be?
Monday, 21 December 2009
Impossible?
Let me ask you, what is your favourite part of the Nativity Story? Think for a moment…the angel appearing to Mary…Mary’s response…the journey to Bethlehem…No room in the Inn…the stable…the shepherds… the angels…the wise men?
Thought of your answer?
Now let me ask you, why? Why is it your favourite part?
Now that you have answered those two questions let me ask you a third and final question for the day, which might help you answer the first two, What for you is the core message, the wonder, the truth of the Christmas Message?
I suspect most of the answers will be Love, Joy, Peace, Hope.
The amazing thought of God becoming man, the beauty of the Angels’ message ‘Peace on Earth and Good will toward all men’ ; the innocence of the manger; the willingness of Mary to trust and believe in God. I am fairly confident that somewhere amongst all that I have suggested your answer. Perhaps not word for word but the right sentiment. I am also fairly confident that I can suggest another answer that few will have thought of, a part of the story that almost gets overlooked and yet which includes all of the above and so much more. The real heart, message, wonder, hope of the Christmas Story comes early on in the narrative and is a verse that contains six words, “For nothing is impossible with God” Luke 1:37 (NIV)
Think about it: “born to a virgin” nothing is impossible; Angels appearing to shepherds, nothing is impossible; “Peace on Earth”, nothing is impossible; “Great Joy”, nothing is impossible.
Yes the message of Christmas is God becoming man, the message is Love, Joy, Peace on Earth but many people find it hard if not impossible to believe when we live in a world at war (as I write this news of another two British soldiers being killed in Afghanistan has come through) our newspapers are also full of reports on child neglect and abuse (the headlines in today’s paper deals with the sentencing of a Playgroup worker who sexually abused babies left in her charge) and we are constantly confronted with news about economic recession and banking greed. In fact December 2009 seems to have little or no, “Good News, Glad Tiding of Great Joy” and that is before I begin to look at the individual. For some this year has seen the loss of a loved one, seen them having to deal with the news of terminal illness or long-term health problems. It may well be unemployment, house repossessions, separation, and divorce.
For all those people and so many more, our task as Christians this Christmas and every Christmas is to share with them the message of Christmas and assure them that no matter how bleak the world appears, nothing is impossible with God.
Thought of your answer?
Now let me ask you, why? Why is it your favourite part?
Now that you have answered those two questions let me ask you a third and final question for the day, which might help you answer the first two, What for you is the core message, the wonder, the truth of the Christmas Message?
I suspect most of the answers will be Love, Joy, Peace, Hope.
The amazing thought of God becoming man, the beauty of the Angels’ message ‘Peace on Earth and Good will toward all men’ ; the innocence of the manger; the willingness of Mary to trust and believe in God. I am fairly confident that somewhere amongst all that I have suggested your answer. Perhaps not word for word but the right sentiment. I am also fairly confident that I can suggest another answer that few will have thought of, a part of the story that almost gets overlooked and yet which includes all of the above and so much more. The real heart, message, wonder, hope of the Christmas Story comes early on in the narrative and is a verse that contains six words, “For nothing is impossible with God” Luke 1:37 (NIV)
Think about it: “born to a virgin” nothing is impossible; Angels appearing to shepherds, nothing is impossible; “Peace on Earth”, nothing is impossible; “Great Joy”, nothing is impossible.
Yes the message of Christmas is God becoming man, the message is Love, Joy, Peace on Earth but many people find it hard if not impossible to believe when we live in a world at war (as I write this news of another two British soldiers being killed in Afghanistan has come through) our newspapers are also full of reports on child neglect and abuse (the headlines in today’s paper deals with the sentencing of a Playgroup worker who sexually abused babies left in her charge) and we are constantly confronted with news about economic recession and banking greed. In fact December 2009 seems to have little or no, “Good News, Glad Tiding of Great Joy” and that is before I begin to look at the individual. For some this year has seen the loss of a loved one, seen them having to deal with the news of terminal illness or long-term health problems. It may well be unemployment, house repossessions, separation, and divorce.
For all those people and so many more, our task as Christians this Christmas and every Christmas is to share with them the message of Christmas and assure them that no matter how bleak the world appears, nothing is impossible with God.
Saturday, 19 December 2009
Silent Night 7O'clock News
There are some moments in history that are etched on our brain. Do you remember where you were when John Lennon was assassinated, or when the Space Shuttle blew up on launch? I am certain we all remember what we were doing on 9/11 or when the news of Princess Diana’s death came through. Of course these are all national or international events however I am sure that there more personal unforgettable moments, that first kiss, the day you met your husband or wife, your children’s birth. There are some less obvious milestones for each of us, moments that are etched on our memories and possibly have had a profound effect on our life or thinking.
I can remember the first time I heard Simon & Garfunkel’s “Silent Night” I was a young impressionable teenager and our family were visiting friends. The adults were in one room talking and the ‘children/teenagers’ were in another room listening to records (remember them?) when Colin put on this track... It has remained one of my favourite album tracks.
For some who hear it, it could be seen as a questioning of the Christmas message and that may well have been the intention of Paul Simon when he produced the track. However it could also be a reminder to us all the need the world has for the message of hope, love and peace that the birth of the Christ child brings to the world.
I found the track on Youtube and I have (hopefully) included it on my blog for you to make up your own mind.
A word of warning you might find some of the images upsetting. Of course the news items are dated to the late sixties early seventies but sadly the message is as relevant to today’s world, swap Vietnam for Afghanistan
object width="425" height="344">
I can remember the first time I heard Simon & Garfunkel’s “Silent Night” I was a young impressionable teenager and our family were visiting friends. The adults were in one room talking and the ‘children/teenagers’ were in another room listening to records (remember them?) when Colin put on this track... It has remained one of my favourite album tracks.
For some who hear it, it could be seen as a questioning of the Christmas message and that may well have been the intention of Paul Simon when he produced the track. However it could also be a reminder to us all the need the world has for the message of hope, love and peace that the birth of the Christ child brings to the world.
I found the track on Youtube and I have (hopefully) included it on my blog for you to make up your own mind.
A word of warning you might find some of the images upsetting. Of course the news items are dated to the late sixties early seventies but sadly the message is as relevant to today’s world, swap Vietnam for Afghanistan
object width="425" height="344">
"I'm dreaming of a Right Christmas"
Well are you enjoying the snow? I must admit Thursday was a bit scary. Lynn and I went to pick Megan up from work at eleven pm and as we waited we watched the snow getting heavier and heavier, by the time Megan came out it was positively blizzard-like. It was rather hairy driving along the Coast Rd unable to see any markings on the road and only just about able to see the car in front. When we arrived in Rottingdean the driving conditions were even worse and we were travelling at the giddy speed of 10mph. We crawled up Longridge Ave, the car slewing from side to side. I decided that discretion was the better part of valour and we parked the car at the top of Longridge and walked down Rodmell Ave..
Waking up on Friday we discovered the snow was even thicker but the fun could begin. A walk to the shops a few snowball fights on the way. Jamie off down the park, sledging with his friends, Megan and Michael taking some lovely photos of snow on the beach and Lynn enjoying an unexpected day off work.
footprints in the snow
Everybody is now looking forward to a White Christmas. However here is the thing, as I understand it, even if the snow remains for another week unless snow actually falls on the Weather Centre in London it will not be classified as a White Christmas. There might be snow in the streets snowmen in front gardens but it will not be a White Christmas. On the other hand there have been years when we have had an ‘official’ White Christmas because a snow flake has fallen on the roof of the Weather Centre. The streets are wet, the front gardens are green but it is a White Christmas, figure that one out. As in all things we are willing to manipulate facts to suit our preferences.
We are willing, more than willing, to celebrate Christmas when it means partying, presents and over eating but many seem to struggle keeping Christmas when it means attending Church, reading Scripture. We call it Christmas because it happens to be December 25th but truly it can only be a ‘Right’ Christmas if we include CHRIST as the centre of our celebrations.
Waking up on Friday we discovered the snow was even thicker but the fun could begin. A walk to the shops a few snowball fights on the way. Jamie off down the park, sledging with his friends, Megan and Michael taking some lovely photos of snow on the beach and Lynn enjoying an unexpected day off work.
footprints in the snowEverybody is now looking forward to a White Christmas. However here is the thing, as I understand it, even if the snow remains for another week unless snow actually falls on the Weather Centre in London it will not be classified as a White Christmas. There might be snow in the streets snowmen in front gardens but it will not be a White Christmas. On the other hand there have been years when we have had an ‘official’ White Christmas because a snow flake has fallen on the roof of the Weather Centre. The streets are wet, the front gardens are green but it is a White Christmas, figure that one out. As in all things we are willing to manipulate facts to suit our preferences.
We are willing, more than willing, to celebrate Christmas when it means partying, presents and over eating but many seem to struggle keeping Christmas when it means attending Church, reading Scripture. We call it Christmas because it happens to be December 25th but truly it can only be a ‘Right’ Christmas if we include CHRIST as the centre of our celebrations.
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