The War on Christmas

by The RevNo Comments
Did you know that there was a “War on Christmas”? Seriously, there’s a “War on Christmas”. It’s occurring in most churches. It breaks out in many hearts this time of year. Christmas is when we go out and buy friends and family lots of gifts. We spend lots of money on things people don’t need and some don’t even really want. A few of us even go to church on Christmas Eve and that makes us feel spiritual about spending all that money. When you look around at everything that we are inundated with every single day it’s clear what Christmas is all about. It’s about giving and receiving stuff. The war that is happening is happening in each heart. Some are uncomfortable with the battle that is happening in their heart and so they look for an enemy on the outside. That’s when some go to “war” with the “world”. Bemoaning the fact that “Christmas” parties at schools have become “Holiday” parties or...
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I Know Him!

by The RevNo Comments
There aren’t many Christmas movies as good as Elf. It’s hilarious and it is also poignant. Like most other Christmas movies related to Santa Claus the issue at the center is belief, or the lack thereof. One of the best moments is when Buddy finds ou that Santa is coming to the Mall… [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jyCfRHumHU?wmode=transparent] This scene has been in my mind for a few days now. I keep thinking about it’s illustrative purposes for me as a follower of Jesus. Buddy’s excitement is overwhelming and full of passion. It is clear that he loves Santa and that he desperately wants others to know him too. Look what happens when he finds out that the real Santa isn’t at the mall… [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY4bUP48RE8?wmode=transparent] These two clips paint a picture that ought to challenge us as Jesus followers. We do not know an omniscient, legalistic, elf. We know the God of the universe. We know the King of kings and Lord of lords. Isaiah 9:6 describes...
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A Baby, A Cross, and a Catharsis

by The RevNo Comments
Don’t we all love the prayer scene from Talladega Nights? httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7pco3TTV5k OK, maybe not all of us. But, I sure do. What strikes me is that today is the day when we all celebrate “sweet baby Jesus”. On Christmas Eve we watched a full slate of classic Christmas movies for kids and all of them dealt with skepticism regarding the existence of Santa. At the end of the day the point was always, “Christmas is about helping poor people” or some derivation. In my head though this wasn’t ringing true. I am becoming more and more convinced that Advent and Christmas cannot be separated from the Cross. The Magi brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh, all important for middle eastern burials. Jesus was most likely born near Passover (that’s a discussion for another time) and he died at Passover. The Lamb of God born at Passover, the Bread of Life born in the City of Bread. What is Christmas about? It’s simple, it’s about a Cross...
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Community and Christmas

by The RevNo Comments
What is the meaning of Christmas? That was the question that NBC’s Community asked last week in an incredibly creative stop motion animation episode that left me laughing. The episode was full of hat tips to great Christmas specials of the past and a few nice shots at the Christian faith.Shots at Christianity in a Christmas special? Yes.Are you offended?The shots that they took weren’t the kinds that you might expect. The most crushing one came from Shirley, whose character is an outspoken Christian. She said, “I am a modern day Christian, I have learned sensitivity and so I say Happy Holidays not wanting anyone else’s religion to feel inferior to mine.”I laughed. Then, I cried.Not really. But, I have been thinking about this for the last few days.Christmas has lost something in the post-modern malaise of mutual worldview affirmations.Then I remembered last Friday, my son sang in a “Holiday Concert” at his school. They sang Happy Hannukah, Mud Slide,...
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