Enter the Story

Do you ever feel like you “missed it” when Christmas is over? Think back - what gifts do you still have from last Christmas? How many gifts do you remember that you received or gave? What if God had a better way, a real way to enter the story of Christmas?

Most of my life from my High School days is gone. The ’62 bug, my horse, every Christmas present I had received to date is history. But one thing I kept.

It’s an old army trunk my dad bought me in 1975, as I was leaving for college. On the lid he wrote my name in huge letters. I still love seeing my name in his old style cursive handwriting. The trunk was used - very used, but it was what they could afford. Dad’s gift was personal and risky - and I still love it.

Jn 1:14 says, “The Word became human and made his home among us.” His gift was personal - and risky. The best gifts are still like that. If we give like Jesus gave, we can enter the story of Christmas, and God continues to impact the world.

Enter the story…

1 – Spend less by giving more personal, risky gifts. They may still be around in 35 years – even Oprah’s big spending 2010 VW Bug giveaways will be in the wrecking yard by then. Use rethinkingchristmas.com for ideas. When you give to a friend, you can also invite them to the Christmas Eve Service. In this way we enter the story of Christmas.

2 – Give away what you didn’t spend (so your total Christmas budget is the same) to those who truly need it. Places like heartlineministries.org, or compassion.com, or our Angel Trees at church are a good place to start. Shoot, you can even give to Cottonwood. In this way God continues to impact the world… through you.

Let’s not miss Christmas this year.

Dan

What Do You Do With Nothing?

Have you ever given somebody something major, something you had to sacrifice for, were really jazzed about, and the response was… nothing? What do you do with nothing?

Luke 17:11-19 tells a story about 10 lepers being healed by Christ. It’s a big deal - Leprosy. They were outcast - isolated from family and friends, and… sick. Surely it sucked. Nine, once healed, took off. They were given a major gift, but returned nothing.

But, one returned to thank Jesus for healing him. The result? He was healed and saved. (A different word for healed is used here than was used earlier. The word healed in verse 15 means cured. This time it means saved or delivered. The Message translates it ,“Your faith has healed and saved you.”) No Thanks, no salvation. What do you do with nothing?

James 1:17 tells us every good gift comes from God. So, what do you have to be thankful for?

Dan

BTW, we have some cool new links.

1. Check out Stephanie’s (our Youth Director’s) first online publication here

2. Also – Check out Cottonwood’s new 2010 Photobook here

Spend Less, but don't boycott...

I’d like to wade in on the Merry Christmas, Xmas, and Happy Holidays controversy. It’s a suicidal tendency, I know, but I think we are wrong to punish stores that no longer say “Merry Christmas.”

After discussing this in our Advent Conspiracy group, I’ve become convinced it’s our opportunity as Christians to share Christ at Christmas. That means it’s not the job of a store. We shouldn’t boycott the world for being worldly.

Stores are in it for the money. They don’t worship Jesus. They are selling short-term happiness at your current Visa card’s interest rate. They aren’t evil, but they aren’t Christian either. Why would we expect them to tell the world about a Christ they may not even believe in? They aren’t selling Jesus at Christmastime. That’s our job.

What would happen if we acted like Christ at Christmas? Instead of boycotting we could spend a bit less (overspending and getting what we want while others go hungry is an odd way to celebrate the One who came to set us free from sin/selfishness), and use the spare time/money to…

· Give More Like Jesus – Meaningful gifts like time, our presence and creativity (ideas at www.rethinkingchristmas.com)

· Worship Like the Wise Men - Giving what we now don’t spend to those really in need– like to our local Crisis Pregnancy Clinic or Haiti Relief or the local abused women’s shelter. Think of it as spending less for junk made in China for people in America who don’t need it, and spending more for homes made in Haiti for those who live there and desperately need it.

· Worship Like the Shepherds – Investing in others and inviting them into the story of Christ. Maybe even to a Christmas Eve service and a meal at your place.

· Love All – Even the “Happy Holidays” door holder who is trying to cheer you up while stuck working retail at the most difficult time of the year. Give him a tip and wish him Merry Christmas in the name of Jesus. He might remember.

Wading out,

Dan

Christmas Can Still Change the World

Two years ago we, as a church, decided to live lean in order to have our money follow our priorities – and we went portable. Now we are partnering with AdventConspiracy.org to celebrate Christmas by spending less, giving more, worshiping fully and loving all this season. Lord willing the result will be helping families in Rio Rancho, NM and Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

It’s not just about saving money; it’s about giving our presence instead of presents. After all, that’s what the first Christmas is all about. (For fun, personal gift ideas go to rethinkingchristmas.com.) For some cool Advent Conspiracy videos just type their name in YouTube, or click here.