Exactly one Epiphany ago, a good friend, Rev. Erik Vincent, was called to heavenly rest in Christ Jesus. This was the funeral homily I had the privilege to deliver.
Grace and peace are yours in abundance in your knowledge of God and your Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dear Friends,
Rarely do we think about the miracle of language, about words themselves. We just know how to talk and we do it. It’s a means to an end. Reading, writing and speaking are automatic, like driving a car.
But how we learn a language is still largely a mystery. Scholars have devoted entire careers to studying the way human beings acquire and use language, but at the end of the day, it is very hard to say how it happens, exactly.
So when we hear of people mastering not just one language, but two or more, there is something very interesting going on there. In some cases this happens out of necessity, in others, its simple curiosity. In the case of Erik Vincent, mastering multiple languages was, first of all, a matter of survival, coming to America as he did at age 18. But most importantly, it became a matter of proclamation. It became a matter of communicating the most important message there is to send or receive. It became for him a matter of clearly speaking the gospel of Jesus Christ, and in speaking those words, be they Finnish or English, in speaking those words extending the blessings of Jesus to those who listened.
Rarely do we think about words themselves, but one thing we do know—words have power. The wrong words, spoken at the wrong time, can create lasting damage. Conversely, the right words, spoken winsomely, can change the world, or just one human heart—especially if those words are God’s. This knowledge drives those who are charged with speaking God’s Word to learn God’s vocabulary, inside and out, so that saving communication can take place. And so Erik Vincent put himself through the seminary in order to get that vocabulary down pat, and God utilized his servant by enabling him and sending him to places where in two languages he would speak of one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all. Erik’s wife, Anja, shared with me that Erik cared about the Word so much that in cases where he would be called upon to minister at memorial services much like this one, and two services were required, one Finn and one English—he would, in fact compose two distinct messages—instead of just delivering one sermon two ways.
That love of the Word—God’s Word of grace in Jesus Christ—was evident in Erik’s preaching. You don’t become the voice of the Finnish Lutheran Hour if you don’t love words and the Word. It was also evident in his careful translations of Finnish hymns—keep in mind, when translating a hymn, you’re not just translating words and ideas, but you’ve usually got to make it rhyme, too. It’s an art. And his personal writings also reveal someone who had come to rely fully on the Word made flesh who lives with us. For example, listen to these words written by Erik Vincent the same year that he emigrated to the United States. [See attached poem, “Syntisen Aani”]
A work like that could only be written by someone in whom the Word of the Lord is alive and breathing. The Word that drops the hammer of the Law, convicting us as guilty sinners—beggars at best…the same Word that offers the healing salve of the gospel, the good news, “It is finished,” “he is risen,” “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” The Word that gives hope when all other words fail. That Word, which Erik was called upon to proclaim, was also his own Word to treasure, for it told him of the forgiveness of his own sins, and the life and salvation that His Savior had granted to him.
Did you know that the Word of God hugged Erik’s finger for many years? It’s true. On the inside of his wedding band was inscribed, “Ephesians 4: 32,” which reads: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” What words to carry into his marriage with Anja. This Word informed their life together as a family. And it is this same Word that sustained them through times of tragedy, the same Word who is the resurrection and the life; the One who comes to give the abundant life today.
And so, in his final days on earth, his health fragile and ever-changing, what do you think Erik was up to?
I vividly recall walking into the intensive care unit about a week before Erik went to be with Christ, and I found the doors to his unit were closed. Now the doors are transparent, so I could see and hear Erik saying something, rather loudly, and one of the nurses mentioned to me that he had been at this for some time. With a prayer, I opened the door and let myself inside. And there, in the ICU, Pastor Vincent was preaching.
And here was his text: “Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace, for thy Word has been fulfilled. For my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared in the sight of all people. A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel.”
There, from the hospital bed, came the song of old Simeon, who had been informed by the Spirit of God that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. There, in the ICU, was the joy and peace of one who had seen God’s salvation in the baby of Bethlehem and the Christ of Calvary. Simeon’s song became Erik’s song, “Lord, let thy servant depart in peace—your Word has been accomplished.” I just sat and listened and tried not to cry. He preached with a boldness that made me ashamed of my own shyness. He didn’t care if anyone heard him—he wanted them to hear—nurses, doctors, anyone within earshot. He had good news and he was going to proclaim it, shut the doors, open the doors, didn’t matter.
Now, a doctor would probably say that the part of Erik’s brain that controlled inhibition had ceased to function. That may be true medically speaking, but I don’t really buy it. Erik was just doing what he had always done: Communicating the good Word of a Savior. Oh, that we would lose our inhibitions and speak the Word of Christ Jesus without caring what people thought of us! To be stripped of our fears and join the good confession of St. Paul and say “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for those who are being saved.” No, Pastor Vincent was simply being faithful to his calling. His Savior used him to the end to bless others with words of grace and truth and love about Jesus, God’s own Son.
So in our remembrance of Erik John Vincent, husband, father, minister of the Word, let us take heart in the promises God made to him in his baptism and give thanks that faith in Jesus Christ was preserved in him to the very end. Let us take heart in knowing that he is among the “company of heaven” praising God and singing, “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might!” Let us take heart in knowing that for him and for all who place their trust in Jesus alone, these wonderful words are fulfilled, words brought into English by Erik himself:
In the yonder realms of gladness,
In the city of our God,
There’s no sorrow, neither sadness,
Joyfully our hearts will throb.
Take us, Jesus, Savior blest,
To that peaceful land of rest.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
Matzke on Media Has Been Launched
I invite you to check out my latest web venture, "Matzke on Media." On this new site I will be reviewing movies, books, albums, TV shows, etc., with an emphasis on how that particular work echoes--or proclaims--the gospel. Please visit and POST A COMMENT! SEND A LINK! Give me your take on what I've reviewed--or suggest something for me to review.
Click the link or go right to: www.matzkeonmedia.blogspot.com
Thanks for reading!
Click the link or go right to: www.matzkeonmedia.blogspot.com
Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Check Out This New Link
I've added a new site to my links called "kids-in-mind". It analyzes the content of movies so that you can make an informed decision about seeing them--with or without your kids.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Joseph Had A Dream
“Joseph Had a Dream”
(sung to the tune of “Your Table I Approach”)
The angel Gabriel/ appeared to Mary mild
With overwhelming news to tell; that she was now with child.
Her husband Joseph grieved/ young Mary’s newfound state,
To spare her life, Joseph believed/ they had to separate.
Then Joseph had a dream: the angel said to him,
“As difficult as it may seem, you must take Mary in.”
“The baby that now grows, the Spirit worked within
His name is Jesus for he goes/ to save you from your sin.”
Encouraged by this Word, he welcomed home his wife;
Immanuel was given birth/ to bring eternal life.
These things have taken place; the prophet’s words are true:
The virgin’s son has God’s own face, and he is God with you.
I wrote this hymn for our third service of Advent Evening Prayer.
(sung to the tune of “Your Table I Approach”)
The angel Gabriel/ appeared to Mary mild
With overwhelming news to tell; that she was now with child.
Her husband Joseph grieved/ young Mary’s newfound state,
To spare her life, Joseph believed/ they had to separate.
Then Joseph had a dream: the angel said to him,
“As difficult as it may seem, you must take Mary in.”
“The baby that now grows, the Spirit worked within
His name is Jesus for he goes/ to save you from your sin.”
Encouraged by this Word, he welcomed home his wife;
Immanuel was given birth/ to bring eternal life.
These things have taken place; the prophet’s words are true:
The virgin’s son has God’s own face, and he is God with you.
I wrote this hymn for our third service of Advent Evening Prayer.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Wir Sind Alle Pettler
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3: 23—24
Well over a decade ago I received the book “Luther the Reformer” by James Kittleson. It was an excellent read, however, I remember being fairly disturbed by a detail mentioned with regards to Luther’s final days. A scrap of paper was found in Luther’s pocket that read: Hoc est verum. Wir sind alle Pettler.” “This is true. We are all beggars.”
At that time in my life, those words troubled me. They seemed defeatist and depressing. “We are all beggars” did not square with my ideas about the man Martin Luther, his accomplishments, and even my own ideas about Christian faithfulness. Then I graduated, went on to the seminary, and gradually began to see the profound truth: we are all beggars before a righteous holy God. In the words on the hymnist: "Nothing in my hand I bring." In the words of Paul: “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
Could anything enrage the old Adam more than this? You mean to tell me, preacher, that I have no capital with which to bargain with God? You mean to tell me that who I am; what I have; what I’ve learned; and what I’ve done gives me no leverage with God whatsoever? Even in a minister of Word and sacrament, the impotent old man whispers, “You mean to tell me that my office is no insurance policy against personal tragedy? Don’t I have some pull? All have sinned; We are all beggars, so, no, we deserve no good thing; in fact, were we to get what we deserve for sins dreamed of; conceived and actually committed, we would earn hellish eternal torture. So beggars, beg. All who have sinned and fallen short—which is to say, all—beg for that which we could never earn or purchase. Repent. Our cups are empty. We are at the mercy of the Almighty Almsgiver, who would be justified in passing us by as if we didn’t exist. He would even be justified in treating us contemptuously, offended that we would even ask for help after all that we’ve done to soil ourselves.
Standing as a beggar before with Lord, with our absolute poverty on display, we properly expect the blow of punishment to fall at any moment. We wince in anticipation of it landing. And the blow lands, to be sure, but not upon us. Instead, the blow of death lands squarely upon the Son of the Most High. From his side flows the telltale sign of blood and water. Blood and water for the beggars. Eternal riches for the beggars. The Almsgiver fills our cups to overflowing with these riches. Freely justified by His grace. Incorporated by water and the divine Name into Christ’s death, and raised with His resurrection. Raised to life. Nurtured in faith. Delivered to the heavenly presence of God at this life’s end. All as gift. All by God’s choice. All purely out of fatherly, divine good ness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. “This is true. We are all beggars.” Thanks be to God. Amen.
Well over a decade ago I received the book “Luther the Reformer” by James Kittleson. It was an excellent read, however, I remember being fairly disturbed by a detail mentioned with regards to Luther’s final days. A scrap of paper was found in Luther’s pocket that read: Hoc est verum. Wir sind alle Pettler.” “This is true. We are all beggars.”
At that time in my life, those words troubled me. They seemed defeatist and depressing. “We are all beggars” did not square with my ideas about the man Martin Luther, his accomplishments, and even my own ideas about Christian faithfulness. Then I graduated, went on to the seminary, and gradually began to see the profound truth: we are all beggars before a righteous holy God. In the words on the hymnist: "Nothing in my hand I bring." In the words of Paul: “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
Could anything enrage the old Adam more than this? You mean to tell me, preacher, that I have no capital with which to bargain with God? You mean to tell me that who I am; what I have; what I’ve learned; and what I’ve done gives me no leverage with God whatsoever? Even in a minister of Word and sacrament, the impotent old man whispers, “You mean to tell me that my office is no insurance policy against personal tragedy? Don’t I have some pull? All have sinned; We are all beggars, so, no, we deserve no good thing; in fact, were we to get what we deserve for sins dreamed of; conceived and actually committed, we would earn hellish eternal torture. So beggars, beg. All who have sinned and fallen short—which is to say, all—beg for that which we could never earn or purchase. Repent. Our cups are empty. We are at the mercy of the Almighty Almsgiver, who would be justified in passing us by as if we didn’t exist. He would even be justified in treating us contemptuously, offended that we would even ask for help after all that we’ve done to soil ourselves.
Standing as a beggar before with Lord, with our absolute poverty on display, we properly expect the blow of punishment to fall at any moment. We wince in anticipation of it landing. And the blow lands, to be sure, but not upon us. Instead, the blow of death lands squarely upon the Son of the Most High. From his side flows the telltale sign of blood and water. Blood and water for the beggars. Eternal riches for the beggars. The Almsgiver fills our cups to overflowing with these riches. Freely justified by His grace. Incorporated by water and the divine Name into Christ’s death, and raised with His resurrection. Raised to life. Nurtured in faith. Delivered to the heavenly presence of God at this life’s end. All as gift. All by God’s choice. All purely out of fatherly, divine good ness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. “This is true. We are all beggars.” Thanks be to God. Amen.
Change Your Mind!
Once there was a man who was a bit of a bum. Talented and successful, he neglected his wife and his children, his work and his friends, his community and his colleagues. He drank too much, lost his temper too often, was cruel too many times. Then one day he had a tremendous religious experience and was transformed totally. He became a good and loving husband, a generous and sympathetic father, a diligent and creative worker, a loyal friend, a dedicated member of his community. He was sober and kind and patient and gentle. At first everyone rejoiced in the change. They said that they had known all along that he was a good man. Then they realized that the change was for real and that, to continue their relationships with him, they would have to change too. He lost his wife and his family and his job and his friends. He went back to being a bum and got everything back.
Today, in a bit of Advent tradition, we have John the Baptist coming out of the wilderness, wearing wild animal skins—kind of an Old Testament prophet costume—looking, acting, probably smelling wild. But his message is even wilder. He’s preaching repentance. He is not genteel or polite, and he has no time for tact. If anyone is offendable, they will be offended. He cuts right to the chase, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. You have been waiting for the Messiah, pay attention – he’s coming.” He is saying to anyone who will listen: “repent, get ready, prepare the way of the Lord.” Cut through all the distractions, eliminate the nonsense in your lives. Stop turning away from God. God is searching for you so quit running after stupid stuff. Let him find you.
Surprise, surprise: There is a group of church leaders who have a problem with John. He’s not part of the “in crowd.” Plus, he’s popular; his message of radical change threatens to upset the status quo. And, they’re about to find out just how radical John is. Pedigree and lineage—values so dearly held by the religious establishment—are meaningless to this wilderness weirdo.
On the television show M*A*S*H, Dr. Charles Emerson Winchester III made it clear what separated him from everybody else: "I’m a Winchester," he was heard to say more than once. For him, it was his family name that made him superior to everyone else. Other people do it in different ways. One woman received her education at Harvard and found a way to work Harvard into every conversation. That’s what John the Baptist was dealing with here. John the Baptist was completely unimpressed with the very thing that the Pharisaic “in crowd” had built their lives upon. They were the "children of Abraham." It’s like they said, “I’m a Winchester.” That settles it. That’s all you need to know.
Then comes John the Baptist, who tells them, in so many words, “That don’t mean a thing.” Truth be told, we probably hate to hear John the Baptist because we know how he translates to our situation. We can hear him now. "Just because your name is on the membership roster, just because you give an offering, just because your parents or grandparents were in this church, just because you are a volunteer, just because you are the minister; none of those things alone are what saves you. Just saying, “I’m a Winchester," “I’m a Lutheran,” “I’m a Christian,” doesn’t make it so. What’s in your heart? What’s in your mind? That’s the question.
John shows up during this “most wonderful time of the year;” He crashes the “Winter Party” and makes a scene that we dare not ignore. “Repent!” he says. Take a look at your life, see where you have put your priorities, where your treasure really lies. To "repent" means literally to "change one's mind." When you repent of sin, you're saying, "I thought it was a good thing, but now I know it's not.”
Repentance is not a once-in-a-lifetime event, but a daily action. We need to “die daily to our sin,” as Martin Luther reminds us. Richard Jensen says it powerfully, “the repentant person comes before God saying, ‘I can’t do it myself God. Kill me and give me new life. You buried me in baptism. Bury me again today. Raise me to new life.’”
Repentance is to stop running after everything else and see that God is pursuing you. Repentance is to make decisions for God each day that show your connection to Him. Clothes, status, the right friends or address means nothing – only the fact that God has claimed you and loves you. Repentance – live like it is true.
And still there’s a Pharisee in us, which says, "What I want out of Jesus is help for this life. If He gets me out of a jam, or cures my sickness, or keeps me wealthy and prosperous and out of most trouble, well, that's the savior I'm looking for. I'm not really concerned with those abstract concepts like final judgment, resurrection of the dead, heaven or hell or eternal life. I want a savior who's going to show results." But if this is the Savior you're looking for, you'll pass right by Jesus. He sacrificed Himself to make you holy with God, not popular or successful. He warns that the world will persecute the Church. He tells you that He disciplines His children and even uses affliction and weakness to strengthen our faith. If you're looking for a savior to make this world paradise, you'll go by Jesus; He came to deliver you from this world to everlasting paradise. Better change your mind while there's time. In other words, repent.
Repent, repent, repent…there’s that side of us that just doesn't want to be righteous, that wants to hold onto sin. That sinner in us constantly tempts us with thoughts like, "Jesus is so loving that I can hold onto this sin. Maybe it makes my life easier. Maybe I'm afraid to live without it. Maybe I just like it. Maybe I'm addicted to it. At any rate, the savior that I have in mind is one who tells me that those sins are okay, that he'll save me anyway." That's a popular idea of Jesus, too; but it's not the Jesus the Scriptures proclaim.
That Jesus says, "Let you hold on to sin? I've already carried all your sins to the cross and suffered them there. The only way you can have them now is to take them back from Me. I didn't go to the cross to let you hold onto poison; I swallowed it all!" Do you see? To hold onto sin now is to say that you want a Savior who dies for most of your sins, but not all of them. It's to say that Jesus isn't quite so holy that He won't let a few sins go by. That's not the Savior Jesus Christ who promises forgiveness and eternal life. Change your mind while there's still time. In other words, repent.
We look forward to Christmas in just a couple weeks' time, and marvel that Mary holds the newborn Son of God in her arms. The King is born in Bethlehem, which is why the shepherds will gather there, too. But the King is just as near to you as He was to Mary the day of His birth. He graces you with His presence in Scripture and at His Supper table. His kingdom of forgiveness is at hand; it is within your grasp. His kingdom of life is here for you, if you want it. Stop running. Find out what it’s like when you finally surrender control to Him. Trust in Jesus and live like you mean it. Clear a path for God to come in and demolish your old self; then watch as he crafts a beautiful new person. Don’t wait. Change your mind. Amen.
Today, in a bit of Advent tradition, we have John the Baptist coming out of the wilderness, wearing wild animal skins—kind of an Old Testament prophet costume—looking, acting, probably smelling wild. But his message is even wilder. He’s preaching repentance. He is not genteel or polite, and he has no time for tact. If anyone is offendable, they will be offended. He cuts right to the chase, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. You have been waiting for the Messiah, pay attention – he’s coming.” He is saying to anyone who will listen: “repent, get ready, prepare the way of the Lord.” Cut through all the distractions, eliminate the nonsense in your lives. Stop turning away from God. God is searching for you so quit running after stupid stuff. Let him find you.
Surprise, surprise: There is a group of church leaders who have a problem with John. He’s not part of the “in crowd.” Plus, he’s popular; his message of radical change threatens to upset the status quo. And, they’re about to find out just how radical John is. Pedigree and lineage—values so dearly held by the religious establishment—are meaningless to this wilderness weirdo.
On the television show M*A*S*H, Dr. Charles Emerson Winchester III made it clear what separated him from everybody else: "I’m a Winchester," he was heard to say more than once. For him, it was his family name that made him superior to everyone else. Other people do it in different ways. One woman received her education at Harvard and found a way to work Harvard into every conversation. That’s what John the Baptist was dealing with here. John the Baptist was completely unimpressed with the very thing that the Pharisaic “in crowd” had built their lives upon. They were the "children of Abraham." It’s like they said, “I’m a Winchester.” That settles it. That’s all you need to know.
Then comes John the Baptist, who tells them, in so many words, “That don’t mean a thing.” Truth be told, we probably hate to hear John the Baptist because we know how he translates to our situation. We can hear him now. "Just because your name is on the membership roster, just because you give an offering, just because your parents or grandparents were in this church, just because you are a volunteer, just because you are the minister; none of those things alone are what saves you. Just saying, “I’m a Winchester," “I’m a Lutheran,” “I’m a Christian,” doesn’t make it so. What’s in your heart? What’s in your mind? That’s the question.
John shows up during this “most wonderful time of the year;” He crashes the “Winter Party” and makes a scene that we dare not ignore. “Repent!” he says. Take a look at your life, see where you have put your priorities, where your treasure really lies. To "repent" means literally to "change one's mind." When you repent of sin, you're saying, "I thought it was a good thing, but now I know it's not.”
Repentance is not a once-in-a-lifetime event, but a daily action. We need to “die daily to our sin,” as Martin Luther reminds us. Richard Jensen says it powerfully, “the repentant person comes before God saying, ‘I can’t do it myself God. Kill me and give me new life. You buried me in baptism. Bury me again today. Raise me to new life.’”
Repentance is to stop running after everything else and see that God is pursuing you. Repentance is to make decisions for God each day that show your connection to Him. Clothes, status, the right friends or address means nothing – only the fact that God has claimed you and loves you. Repentance – live like it is true.
And still there’s a Pharisee in us, which says, "What I want out of Jesus is help for this life. If He gets me out of a jam, or cures my sickness, or keeps me wealthy and prosperous and out of most trouble, well, that's the savior I'm looking for. I'm not really concerned with those abstract concepts like final judgment, resurrection of the dead, heaven or hell or eternal life. I want a savior who's going to show results." But if this is the Savior you're looking for, you'll pass right by Jesus. He sacrificed Himself to make you holy with God, not popular or successful. He warns that the world will persecute the Church. He tells you that He disciplines His children and even uses affliction and weakness to strengthen our faith. If you're looking for a savior to make this world paradise, you'll go by Jesus; He came to deliver you from this world to everlasting paradise. Better change your mind while there's time. In other words, repent.
Repent, repent, repent…there’s that side of us that just doesn't want to be righteous, that wants to hold onto sin. That sinner in us constantly tempts us with thoughts like, "Jesus is so loving that I can hold onto this sin. Maybe it makes my life easier. Maybe I'm afraid to live without it. Maybe I just like it. Maybe I'm addicted to it. At any rate, the savior that I have in mind is one who tells me that those sins are okay, that he'll save me anyway." That's a popular idea of Jesus, too; but it's not the Jesus the Scriptures proclaim.
That Jesus says, "Let you hold on to sin? I've already carried all your sins to the cross and suffered them there. The only way you can have them now is to take them back from Me. I didn't go to the cross to let you hold onto poison; I swallowed it all!" Do you see? To hold onto sin now is to say that you want a Savior who dies for most of your sins, but not all of them. It's to say that Jesus isn't quite so holy that He won't let a few sins go by. That's not the Savior Jesus Christ who promises forgiveness and eternal life. Change your mind while there's still time. In other words, repent.
We look forward to Christmas in just a couple weeks' time, and marvel that Mary holds the newborn Son of God in her arms. The King is born in Bethlehem, which is why the shepherds will gather there, too. But the King is just as near to you as He was to Mary the day of His birth. He graces you with His presence in Scripture and at His Supper table. His kingdom of forgiveness is at hand; it is within your grasp. His kingdom of life is here for you, if you want it. Stop running. Find out what it’s like when you finally surrender control to Him. Trust in Jesus and live like you mean it. Clear a path for God to come in and demolish your old self; then watch as he crafts a beautiful new person. Don’t wait. Change your mind. Amen.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Fighting the Christmas Creep
Christmas merchandise now begins to appear before Halloween in some big-box stores. A perceptive newspaper columnist has called this phenomenon the “Christmas Creep.” Judging by the number of television commercials that feature Christmas gift-giving that appeared before Thanksgiving, anyone would have to admit that the “Christmas Creep” is real. But is it good?
There’s nothing wrong with getting your Christmas shopping done ahead of time. I’m wondering how good it is that—literally for months--the message is sent that Christmas is all about buying and getting “stuff.” If you are a thoughtful Christian, you know the tension I’m talking about. Impressing upon a child that Jesus really is the reason for the season can seem like an uphill battle.
What are your actions communicating to your children? Are they communicating that Christmas is basically a source of stress and joyless busy-ness? Or are they communicating that Christmas is a time for purposeful service and moments of quiet contemplation? Are you consciously including Christ in you family’s Christmas? If not, wouldn’t this be a great year to start?
The Christmas Creep…or the Christmas Christ? With whom you will spend the holidays is largely up to you.
There’s nothing wrong with getting your Christmas shopping done ahead of time. I’m wondering how good it is that—literally for months--the message is sent that Christmas is all about buying and getting “stuff.” If you are a thoughtful Christian, you know the tension I’m talking about. Impressing upon a child that Jesus really is the reason for the season can seem like an uphill battle.
What are your actions communicating to your children? Are they communicating that Christmas is basically a source of stress and joyless busy-ness? Or are they communicating that Christmas is a time for purposeful service and moments of quiet contemplation? Are you consciously including Christ in you family’s Christmas? If not, wouldn’t this be a great year to start?
The Christmas Creep…or the Christmas Christ? With whom you will spend the holidays is largely up to you.
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