OK, I will admit to a case of the Post-Christmas Blues this morning. After four days of celebrating our Lord's Birth surrounded by our kids and grandkids, the house is quiet this morning. It's back to just grandma and myself. I look forward to the holidays because I cherish the family time. It's natural for me to feel a let-down once it's past. So, how does one combat the Post-Christmas Blues?
I try to focus on the fact that Christmas is a season, rather than a single day event. One of the more popular Christmas Carols is The Twelve Days of Christmas. It's one of my favorites because it underscores a little known fact. Christmas is a twelve day season running from December 25th to January 6th. January 6th is Epiphany, the day most of the Christian world celebrates Christ's Birth. For that reason the decorations in and around our house stay up until that day.
In actuality, Christ's birth is an event that needs to be celebrated on a daily basis. December 25th is just an arbitrary date. The actual date of Christ's birth is not known, so technically we can celebrate it any day. The same for Christ's resurrection. What a neat privilege we have! Christ's birth gives us joy. Christ's resurrection gives us hope. We have a reason to celebrate every day.
That is part of the legacy we need to pass on to our children. The best way to do that is to live it. Live each day with a sense of joy and hope. When others, especially the members of our family, see that it becomes our witness to them. It's another way of passing on the heritage of faith.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
What is Your Christmas Story?
What is your personal Christmas story? I am referring to a memory from a Christmas past, as opposed to the events surrounding our Savior's birth. From my perspective Jesus coming into the world as an infant born to a virgin is much more than a story. That's "The Christmas Miracle."
My mind is flooded with memories of Christmases pasts. One of my earliest memories happened when I was a child of probably four or five. I guess I had an angelic singing voice in those days, at least in the mind of my grandmother who had connections with the Sunday school superintendent. I was picked to sin a solo, the second verse of Away in the Manger, in the children's Christmas service at our church. My great grandmother had died earlier that year. As a motivation, my grandmother told me to sing loud so that Great Grandma Schild could hear me. I spent my entire time in the spotlight focused on the church balcony searching for my great grandmother's face. I guess I assumed since she was in heaven she had to be watching from someplace above.
I remember Christmas concerts at our church, St. James Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Our choir director, Carl Munzel, was a stern disciplinarian. I sang in the children's choir. We spent months preparing our three pieces. It was always three, the Trinitarian number. I recall one concert taking my place in the second row only to look out and see Miss Ketry, my 5th grade teacher, sitting in the front row. What was she doing there? I went to a public school. Such a mean-spirited tormentor of children had no business in any church, especially mine. I guess somewhere along the line I acquired a concept of the Gospel to go with my youthful legalism. Miss Ketry needed to hear the Good News just like I did.
I have so many memories of Christmas from my youth. Church and family were always in the middle of it. Those are the stories that I have shared with our children. Now they enjoy telling stories about our family's celebration of our Lord's Nativity. Many of the ornaments on our tree have individual stories behind them. Many represent significant events in our lives, others are gifts from friends. Some were lovingly made by our kids as pre-schoolers. Each year one of the first things our children look for is the Magi. In the manger scene under our tree the Magi don't arrive until Epiphany. Each year they take a different route to get there, moving closer each day. At this moment they are journeying across the mantel. Oh, and Jesus is hidden too. He appears between Mary and Joseph on Christmas Eve.
I am sure your family has traditions as well. You will probably create some new memories this Christmas, but take time to share memories of Christmases past too. That's your heritage of faith, the legacy you need to pass on to the next generation. We have a Savior. He came in the form of a baby, The Son of God who came into the world to save us from our sins. That's much more than a story. It's our Christmas miracle.
My mind is flooded with memories of Christmases pasts. One of my earliest memories happened when I was a child of probably four or five. I guess I had an angelic singing voice in those days, at least in the mind of my grandmother who had connections with the Sunday school superintendent. I was picked to sin a solo, the second verse of Away in the Manger, in the children's Christmas service at our church. My great grandmother had died earlier that year. As a motivation, my grandmother told me to sing loud so that Great Grandma Schild could hear me. I spent my entire time in the spotlight focused on the church balcony searching for my great grandmother's face. I guess I assumed since she was in heaven she had to be watching from someplace above.
I remember Christmas concerts at our church, St. James Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Our choir director, Carl Munzel, was a stern disciplinarian. I sang in the children's choir. We spent months preparing our three pieces. It was always three, the Trinitarian number. I recall one concert taking my place in the second row only to look out and see Miss Ketry, my 5th grade teacher, sitting in the front row. What was she doing there? I went to a public school. Such a mean-spirited tormentor of children had no business in any church, especially mine. I guess somewhere along the line I acquired a concept of the Gospel to go with my youthful legalism. Miss Ketry needed to hear the Good News just like I did.
I have so many memories of Christmas from my youth. Church and family were always in the middle of it. Those are the stories that I have shared with our children. Now they enjoy telling stories about our family's celebration of our Lord's Nativity. Many of the ornaments on our tree have individual stories behind them. Many represent significant events in our lives, others are gifts from friends. Some were lovingly made by our kids as pre-schoolers. Each year one of the first things our children look for is the Magi. In the manger scene under our tree the Magi don't arrive until Epiphany. Each year they take a different route to get there, moving closer each day. At this moment they are journeying across the mantel. Oh, and Jesus is hidden too. He appears between Mary and Joseph on Christmas Eve.
I am sure your family has traditions as well. You will probably create some new memories this Christmas, but take time to share memories of Christmases past too. That's your heritage of faith, the legacy you need to pass on to the next generation. We have a Savior. He came in the form of a baby, The Son of God who came into the world to save us from our sins. That's much more than a story. It's our Christmas miracle.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Self Serving Coaches
As a family we are college football fans. We've been TCU Horn Frog season ticket holders for years. This has been a fun season. It's been a great season for a number of teams. Four major college teams, in addition to TCU, remain undefeated.
One of those teams is the Cincinnati Bearcats but they are in an unusual position. They have lost their head coach. The University of Cincinnati players dedicated themselves to a goal. They worked hard and their commitment paid off. The reward is a trip to a BCS Bowl where they will play the Florida Gators. They will do so without their coach, Brian Kelly. Coach Kelly resigned to accept the head coaching position at Notre Dame. Kelly described it as his "dream job." We should not be surprised that Coach Kelly deserted his player to pursue his dream. Unfortunately he is typical of many adults who work with kids. I use the word "Kids" because that is what college athletes are. They are student athletes. In this case, the kids had their hearts broken. Many walked out of their final meeting with Coach Kelly angry. They knew what a traitor looked like when they saw one. They had committed themselves to a cause and they thought their coach had too. Instead a better offer came along and he left them "high and dry."
We should not be surprised. In his book Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers, Chap Clark writes about the heartaches caused by self-serving adults. "Whether it is a coach, school teacher, a parent, music teacher, or a Sunday school counselor, midadolescents (high school teens) intuitively believe that nearly every adult they have encountered has been subtly out to get something from them." Such adults could be a little league coach obsessed with winning at all cost or a teacher whose only goal is to help students pass the standardize test so their job remains secure.
So, what is a parent to do in order to insulate their child from a self-serving adults? It starts early. They need to get to know every adult who is in a position of influence over their child. It's important that all of those individuals share similar values and perspectives. Sure, when it comes to people like school teachers, it really is a matter of the luck of the draw. But in other cases parents do have control. Parents can dictate the role that coaches, church youth counselors and scout leaders play in the lives of their kids. If they love their kids, they will surround them with adults who share that sentiment.
Most importantly, it must start with you. The needs and the development of your child must be your #1 priority.
One of those teams is the Cincinnati Bearcats but they are in an unusual position. They have lost their head coach. The University of Cincinnati players dedicated themselves to a goal. They worked hard and their commitment paid off. The reward is a trip to a BCS Bowl where they will play the Florida Gators. They will do so without their coach, Brian Kelly. Coach Kelly resigned to accept the head coaching position at Notre Dame. Kelly described it as his "dream job." We should not be surprised that Coach Kelly deserted his player to pursue his dream. Unfortunately he is typical of many adults who work with kids. I use the word "Kids" because that is what college athletes are. They are student athletes. In this case, the kids had their hearts broken. Many walked out of their final meeting with Coach Kelly angry. They knew what a traitor looked like when they saw one. They had committed themselves to a cause and they thought their coach had too. Instead a better offer came along and he left them "high and dry."
We should not be surprised. In his book Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers, Chap Clark writes about the heartaches caused by self-serving adults. "Whether it is a coach, school teacher, a parent, music teacher, or a Sunday school counselor, midadolescents (high school teens) intuitively believe that nearly every adult they have encountered has been subtly out to get something from them." Such adults could be a little league coach obsessed with winning at all cost or a teacher whose only goal is to help students pass the standardize test so their job remains secure.
So, what is a parent to do in order to insulate their child from a self-serving adults? It starts early. They need to get to know every adult who is in a position of influence over their child. It's important that all of those individuals share similar values and perspectives. Sure, when it comes to people like school teachers, it really is a matter of the luck of the draw. But in other cases parents do have control. Parents can dictate the role that coaches, church youth counselors and scout leaders play in the lives of their kids. If they love their kids, they will surround them with adults who share that sentiment.
Most importantly, it must start with you. The needs and the development of your child must be your #1 priority.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Do Tiger Woods and His Wife Know Jesus?
It has been a week since we first heard of Tiger Woods' accident. It's a story that doesn't seem to go away. I will admit some initial fasination. I have never been a Tiger Woods fan, probably for the same reason I don't cheer for the Yankees and Jimmie Johnson. I have always had a heart for the underdog and a certain disdain for those who seem to win all the time. It's never been anything against Tiger personally. As more details came out my question became, Do Tiger and his wife, Elin, know Jesus?
I have to give Tiger credit for taking the sole responsibility for his actions. He is also saying all the right things, "I have let my family down and regret those transgressions with all my heart." He further states that he has, "not been true to his values." The word, "transgressions" sounds like a confession to me. That indicates to me that he has "come clean" with those who love him and who he has let down. Tiger is right when he states this should be a private matter.
Confession and absolution should always be a private matter. It's should be between the sinner and the person they have hurt and offended. For a Christian that goes beyond our earthly relationships to our Heavenly Father who also has been grieved and offended by our actions. Such confession adds a whole new demension. God is always more forgiving to the repentant sinner than friends and family. God not only fogives but He forgets. This side of heaven those transgressions will always be on our minds, casting a certain shadow over a relationship.
There is another aspect here. God's love is unconditional and his desire is that we love the same way. That's why the story of the Forgiving Father (Luke 15:11-32) is my favorite parable. The Father in the story was always waiting for the sons return. When it happened, he didn't ask questions. He just forgave and then celebrated. If Tiger and his wife are going to get through this with their marriage intact, unconditional love will have to be present. It sounds to me like Tiger has confessed with a repentant heart. Now it's time for forgiving, healing and eventually celebrating. Without Christ in their lives, that will never be fully complete.
There is no better model of God's Grace and Forgiveness than the Christian family. The primary responsibility in making that happen lies with mom and dad. Everybody makes mistakes. Teenager, because of their nature, are probably more prone to transgression than others. Our kids are always are kids, however. No sin should ever become a permanent barrier. Hold them accountable and wait for the confession. Sometimes that takes years but when it comes... forgive.
I have to give Tiger credit for taking the sole responsibility for his actions. He is also saying all the right things, "I have let my family down and regret those transgressions with all my heart." He further states that he has, "not been true to his values." The word, "transgressions" sounds like a confession to me. That indicates to me that he has "come clean" with those who love him and who he has let down. Tiger is right when he states this should be a private matter.
Confession and absolution should always be a private matter. It's should be between the sinner and the person they have hurt and offended. For a Christian that goes beyond our earthly relationships to our Heavenly Father who also has been grieved and offended by our actions. Such confession adds a whole new demension. God is always more forgiving to the repentant sinner than friends and family. God not only fogives but He forgets. This side of heaven those transgressions will always be on our minds, casting a certain shadow over a relationship.
There is another aspect here. God's love is unconditional and his desire is that we love the same way. That's why the story of the Forgiving Father (Luke 15:11-32) is my favorite parable. The Father in the story was always waiting for the sons return. When it happened, he didn't ask questions. He just forgave and then celebrated. If Tiger and his wife are going to get through this with their marriage intact, unconditional love will have to be present. It sounds to me like Tiger has confessed with a repentant heart. Now it's time for forgiving, healing and eventually celebrating. Without Christ in their lives, that will never be fully complete.
There is no better model of God's Grace and Forgiveness than the Christian family. The primary responsibility in making that happen lies with mom and dad. Everybody makes mistakes. Teenager, because of their nature, are probably more prone to transgression than others. Our kids are always are kids, however. No sin should ever become a permanent barrier. Hold them accountable and wait for the confession. Sometimes that takes years but when it comes... forgive.
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