Shifting My Thinking

Our current sermon series at church is ShIFt: if we could be the church God intended . . .
(We missed the first Sunday's installment as we were at Beth's family's Christmas last Sunday--if I can find the time, I'll listen to it on the church website soon.)
Pastor Efrem's message centered around how if the church is going to be the church, we need to change. We need to get back to the biblical mandate for the church and how we're to be an agent of change in the world. And obviously, as I think I've reflected on before, we need to change ourselves if we're going to be apart of a church of change.

I've known about how God is a God of transformation, how we need to be changed and how we need to be about changing the world. But for most of my life, I've never really gotten that. At least I've probably more lived life thinking that I've already given myself over to God and it's in His hands to take care of the rest. I've been learning in this past year that change is continual for Christians; God calls us to daily transformation in Him.

Pastor Efrem noted that in order to prepare ourselves to be changed we need to:

• Have intimate experiences with God
• Take time for ecclesiastical reflection (think about what the church is supposed to be doing in the world)
• Embrace eschatology (live with the belief that Jesus can return at any minute)

At the end of the service we were given the question, "What is one area in your life that is in need of change?" It's not an easy question to ask yourself--especially if you intend to follow through with it. I'm still processing it myself, but I know I'm still working on my intimate relationship with God--at least in remembering he is with me all the time and to interact with Him in that way; and to live like Jesus can return at any moment--remembering to keep my priorities strait.

The Hill

The neighborhood park has been a godsend for apartment living. Very seldom has a week gone by that we haven't been there at least once. The weather has to get pretty bad for that to happen--or we have to be out of town. As long as there isn't much wind, we're pretty much game for some sledding this time of year. I know there's some bigger hills in the Twin Cities metro area, but ours is pretty decent--especially for the size of the boys. Way better than the ditch we had for sledding down in our yard growing up.

New Year's Day, Beth's cousin and their kids came over. Five people on a toboggan is a good time.

Anders got a little snowboard at the Fisher family Christmas list last weekend. He keeps getting better with each practice. And Nils, well he just enjoys throwing snow at me. And sledding. Mostly throwing snow, though.

It's funny to hear how many people who grew up in the northern Midwest don't like staying here for long when they visit in the winter. There's an old saying in these parts: "There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes." I've got nothing against winter, myself. There are plenty of good times to be had.

Epiphany in Four Stanzas

They studied the stars
Trying to unlock
The secrets of the universe;
Instead a sign appeared
Revealing to them
A sign from God.

A bright celestial object
Announced the birth
Of someone important:
The son of God.
Revealed to foreigners
From the East.

They came bringing gifts
For the One they knew
Would be King.
His mother pondered
Their arrival
In her heart.

Years later His cousin
Would baptize Him
In the Jordan.
God again announce
His Son to the world,
For all humankind.

A Prayer for the New Year

Father, go before me in the year to come.
Jesus, remind me of where you've brought me from.
Spirit, keep me rooted in the here and now.
Keep me in want, that I may be depend upon Your provision.
Give me all I need and keep me from desiring what I don't.
Give me more than I need, so that I may give to others.

Father, may I be able to continually praise Your name, remembering all You have done and given me, O God. May I be truly thankful. May I lift before You those I love.
May I be led by Your will rather than by my fantasies. May I follow Your ways and be guided by Your precepts.
May I grow more and more in love with You. And may I know more and more Your love for me.

Jesus, may I become increasingly aware of your grace, mercy and forgiveness. May I be able to share that with others.
Connect me with Your bride, the church, in greater ways. Help me live more in community and less in isolation.
May I grow more and more in love with You. And may I know more and more Your love for me.

Spirit, may I know your continual presence with me; draw me increasingly into God's presence.
Help me to hear Your voice in my daily life: in the decisions I make, the people I talk to, the things I do.
May I grow more and more in love with You. And may I know more and more Your love for me.

I lift up this prayer to You, O God: Father, Son and Spirit Divine.
Amen.

A Poem for Christmas

God's Son was thrust into our World--
The world He helped create--
Out of the birth canal of an unmarried woman,
Into the musty stench of a ramshackle barn.
It was just his mother there to welcome Him
along with the man whom he would call father.
Domesticated livestock surrounded him;
The smell of their food and refuse filled the air.
Their water trough was used to wash
The newborn infant.

He suckled at his mother's breast,
she held him close, tenderly.
His new father, unsure of what to do,
Sat down next to them
Gazing upon the face of the infant.
He was wrapped in cloth
And laid in the animals' food trough
Atop a fresh pile of straw.
He cried, expelling air from his newly used lungs.

He gave up His divine powers,
Drawing instead upon the strength of His Father.
Completely human God came to us,
To walk amongst us, teach us, know us--
Most importantly to love us
And show us how it was meant to be.
He came, not born of nobility in a palace,
But of commoners in the lowest place,
Accessible to all. One of us.

I know it's not December 25th, but historically the church has celebrated Christmas for 12 days (hence The 12 Days of Christmas).

Foreign Visitors

We had our first visitors at our house from Canada tonight. It was Nate & Johanna--a young couple with whom we had done some premarital counseling last year. Nate's family is from Wisconsin, just across the border from here. It was a treat to get to see them again. Our boys have always been really taken with them.

I've been wrestling lately with what the future holds for me: something in ministry, something in education, something entirely different. Their visit tonight (as well as one a week ago from Mike & Holly) was a reminder that one of the things I enjoyed in ministry was getting to be a part of couple's lives like that.

Snow Play

Merry Christmas

Beth worked until a little after 6pm last night. Since our church meets in a school, they don't have a Christmas Eve/Morning service. The ones I could find around here were either before 6pm last night or after 8:30 (which would be late for the boys' bedtime). I ended up walking with the boys a few blocks over to a church in our neighborhood for their 5pm candlelight service. It was nice; not quite the same when you're not in church with family (whether blood or your regular church family). It was also harder having both the boys myself, but they did really well. After walking back home and having a bite to eat, Beth came home. Once she had fed herself, we had, what we like to call, a "pajama adventure." We carried Anders and Nils out to the car in their pajamas and drove around a looked at lights. A favorite spot was the city park where we go to use the splash pad in the summer. They had lights on all their oak trees. We also found a house with a yard-full. Nils called it "Candyland" because of the candy cane and peppermint lollypops that lined the sidewalks (probably because he's been asking to play the Candyland board game recently as well). Really, just the simple lighted trees and eaves were enough to please the boys. (Good reminders that the Light has come into the world.)

This morning, after a breakfast of Swedish pancakes and sausage, we gathered around to listen to the Christmas story. The boys each had one main present under the tree (plus a few things that were too big for their stockings) and a stocking full of small toys and games. We had a lovely lunch together (after playing with the new Thomas the Train pieces and putting together the Lego set). I think this afternoon may hold some sledding for us.

I was reminded last night as we sang carols at the church we were at, how Christmas isn't just about celebrating the birth of Jesus by gathering with family and opening presents, but by making sure that Jesus is born in our hearts. We don't have to have things in order for that to happen: the stable was a messy, smelly place; the manger was a rough and scratchy for lying in. But God is ready to give the greatest gift in His Son if we are ready to receive Him.

Where's My Bailout Package?

(Rant alert)
I'm not much into economics or politics, so I admit I haven't paid attention to all the details of the economic crash and the subsequent bailout plans the government has been packaging up the last couple months. Personally, I think it's about time that we have some responsibility out there; sometimes we need to accept the consequences of our actions.

I don't understand completely how the economy works. It seems to be based on greed for the most part: it's doing well when people are spending a lot of money on things they don't need. Frugality doesn't cause a good economy.

Frankly, automobile manufacturers should have to deal with having made gas-guzzling vehicles that people don't want more of. I think it's ridiculous to take out of funds for helping produce more fuel-efficient/alternative fuel vehicles so that we can help out manufacturers who are failing because they haven't done that (I also think it's ridiculous that the average mpg of Ford vehicles is the same as their very first car almost a century ago--we can warm our seats, but we can't average better than 25 mpg?).

I know lots of jobs are effected by the bad economy. We're acutely aware of that. And I don't wish anyone to lose their job. People need grace; corporations don't.

I was reminded in church last Sunday that we say we live in the best country, with the best economy and the best military, etc. But we don't. The Kingdom of God has the most might. It's economy is better than anything else on Earth. It truly is the best place to have your citizenship. That may sound like pious sermonizing; I don't mean for it to be that way. Patriotism can easily become idolatry. Our duty is to transform this place, not conform to it.

And on this Christmas Eve, we must be mindful that God gave us the best bailout plan of all (I know--that sounds like some cheezy saying on a church marquis). Our greatest security is in Jesus. May he be the One who stimulates your life--not some check from the government.

Christmas with a Beat

The snow subsided last early last night so getting to church this morning wasn't a problem at all. I was grateful we could make it. I hate missing church during Advent (even if our church doesn't go through the church calendar)--plus, it's an opportunity to get out of the house. I knew today was going to be the Christmas celebration at church. It also is the 3rd Sunday, which usually means Hip Hop Sunday. I wasn't sure how that would play out, but they ended up going with both. And I can truly say it was the best Hip Hop Christmas worship service I've ever been to. I really wish I had means of video recording Nils dance. He made his way up front for a couple songs to "bust a move." I don't like to use the word "cute", but it was.

The worship contained so many art mediums: singing, rap, freestyle, poetry, hip hop dance, ballet, liturgical dance, painting, instrumental music . . . I feel like I'm missing some. Not everything spoke to me, but I enjoyed the variety and the authentic worship behind it. Pastor Efrem spoke on worship as well, of course from the standpoint that all life should be worship. he also mentioned how our giving should be an act of worship. Not just giving to the church, or giving of our time, but even of giving presents to others (which shouldn't just be a Christmas thing). And our gifts should bring the recipients closer to the Kingdom of God (which may mean just spending time with a child instead of buying a new video game system).