I suppose that most of you, like me, are tired of seeing all the coverage of the tragedy in Newtown. I can't comprehend what anyone that is connected to that community and that school is going through. I don't want this blog to pile on concerning that incident, but I do want to respond to some things I've heard.
First continued thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the events on last Friday. I'm not interested in getting into a debate about gun control and our gun culture. That's something to be had at a later time. I will acknowledge that our nation does need to be a lot better about how we handle mental illness, but that topic isn't for this blog. What I want to talk a little bit about is how I see God working through all of this.
I've read a number of posts on Facebook and heard some commentators talk about how this is what we, and by we I mean the United States, get by taking God out of the schools and taking God out of our culture. Frankly that idea offends me. To think that God allowed this to happen, or even caused this to happen to show us as nation we've erred is horrifying to me. To think that God abandoned these kids and this community because we as a culture have abandoned God in some ways doesn't hold water with me. We can have a discussion about the consequences of pushing God further and further from our lives, and there are consequences to that, but I do not believe this incident is God trying to get our attention.
I firmly believe God was at Sandy Hook elementary that day. God is everywhere, and God has promised to never leave us or abandon us. News flash...the world is broken...breaking news...the world has always been broken. Since the beginning of time God has chosen to work with us through this mess we call life. God has allowed us free will, and has chosen to work within that free will to try and make this world as good as it can be. I do not know, or understand, why God allows free choice. I do not know why God allows such atrocities to happen since I believe God has the power to stop them. Sometimes bad things happen because we, and by we I mean us personally and us as a society, make bad choices. And sometimes bad things happen for no reason. I think it is a mistake to try and make sense out of the senseless. Sure there might be reasons for why this happened, and we should investigate what can be done to stop this from happening again. But, God did not abandon those kids and teachers at that school. I cannot and will not believe that. I believe that God has a plan for this world and for each of us. I believe it is our job, if you will, to try and follow that plan as best we are able. When horrible events happen I lean on my faith. That faith reminds me that God is always there, that God is in control (even if I don't understand why or see how), and that God will walk with us through it all.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Don't tell Tracy...
I love this time of year. You can feel the anticipation and the Christmas joy in the air. Each morning the boys get up and go on a desperate search to find Jasmine. Jasmine is our elf on a shelf. If you're not familiar with the elf on a shelf it is a personal elf that visits your house during the holiday season and reports to Santa each night if you were naughty or nice. Personally I think it's a brilliant discipline tool for at least one month out of the year. Those boys fear that elf, and what she might tell Santa more then their mom and dad. If I could come up with an elf on the shelf concept that lasted a whole year I'd be rich and maybe have better behaved kids!
I also love this time of year because it gets colder out and it is supposed to snow. I've always said if it has to be cold it might was well snow! Family traditions also make this time of year great too! From watching the Christmas stories on TV to waiting until Christmas to open your presents I really enjoy all of the family traditions surrounding this year and passing them onto my boys.
I also love the idea of Tracy starting a new tradition each year. Each year in November and early December Tracy tells me, "Let's not get each other anything for Christmas." I say, "ok sounds good"...knowing full well the boys had better get her something and that Santa had better come through too! An aside, Tracy's birthday is on the 23rd of December so we still get her birthday presents. I can expect this statement as I said in late November to early December. This year she tried a new twist to the tradition by saying we should take what we would have spent on each other and given it to some charity. I think what a great idea. We've also cut the presents the boys get from us back some for 2 reasons: 1) they have enough stuff already, and 2) we're going to take a few more small trips throughout the year where we can make memories as a family instead of spending money on stuff they'll use for a week and then forget they have.
Well Tracy's "new" tradition of not getting each other something lasted until last night. As we're unwinding after the boys are in bed she says, "I'd like a pair of those slippers that go up to my knees." I think to myself, I'd call those boots, but that's a different story for a different blog! I remind her that we weren't getting each other anything, and she replies, "well that's something Santa can bring me." HA, December 9th and the "new' tradition is dead!
As I said I love this time of year. No deep theological thoughts this week...just a reminder to start some family traditions of your own, and to spend some extra time with loved ones this Christmas season! And, if you're married and male, she wants something for Christmas even though she says she doesn't!
I also love this time of year because it gets colder out and it is supposed to snow. I've always said if it has to be cold it might was well snow! Family traditions also make this time of year great too! From watching the Christmas stories on TV to waiting until Christmas to open your presents I really enjoy all of the family traditions surrounding this year and passing them onto my boys.
I also love the idea of Tracy starting a new tradition each year. Each year in November and early December Tracy tells me, "Let's not get each other anything for Christmas." I say, "ok sounds good"...knowing full well the boys had better get her something and that Santa had better come through too! An aside, Tracy's birthday is on the 23rd of December so we still get her birthday presents. I can expect this statement as I said in late November to early December. This year she tried a new twist to the tradition by saying we should take what we would have spent on each other and given it to some charity. I think what a great idea. We've also cut the presents the boys get from us back some for 2 reasons: 1) they have enough stuff already, and 2) we're going to take a few more small trips throughout the year where we can make memories as a family instead of spending money on stuff they'll use for a week and then forget they have.
Well Tracy's "new" tradition of not getting each other something lasted until last night. As we're unwinding after the boys are in bed she says, "I'd like a pair of those slippers that go up to my knees." I think to myself, I'd call those boots, but that's a different story for a different blog! I remind her that we weren't getting each other anything, and she replies, "well that's something Santa can bring me." HA, December 9th and the "new' tradition is dead!
As I said I love this time of year. No deep theological thoughts this week...just a reminder to start some family traditions of your own, and to spend some extra time with loved ones this Christmas season! And, if you're married and male, she wants something for Christmas even though she says she doesn't!
Monday, December 3, 2012
Advent and hope
Sometimes I have to laugh at us ministers. We can get stuck on something and be ornery about stuff with the best of them. I'm part of a clergy group on Facebook and one discussion was about how some ministers dislike the Christmas decorations in the church during the season of Advent. Their contention is Christmas doesn't arrive until midnight on December 24th, and then we have 12 days to celebrate it. The discussion went on some with a few agreeing and a few disagreeing.
Technically I suppose Advent is not Christmas. Advent is the time of the year when we prepare for Christmas so to have the decorations up skips past any preparation. But, I love Christmas decorations...don't tell the misses because then I may have to do more in the decorating department...and I think we will miss a good chance to celebrate Christmas if we don't decorate or sing Christmas carols until Christmas and the 12 days after. Plus, we have been so ingrained to celebrate Christmas right after Thanksgiving and take all the decorations down right after Christmas I don't think we can change.
This discussion online got me thinking about how we treat Advent. The advent season is truly a great time of the year. The advent wreath and the traditions around it can truly keep is grounded and reminded of what Christmas is really about. This week we lit the candle of hope. Hope is something we all need. During my sermon on Sunday I talked about the hope we have in the return of Jesus. I mentioned that the promise of Jesus' return lets us know that things aren't always going to be like they are. Jesus has promised to come back one day and set up a new heaven and a new earth where everything is perfect. We waste our time predicting when that will happen. What these promises give us is hope in a better future, and also not knowing the time helps us to remember to live as though Jesus was coming back at any moment.
Does that sound like Advent and your life to you? Do you live following the commandments of Jesus to love others and be selfless and loving and forgiving as though He was coming back tomorrow to see how you did? I know I certainly don't. I can get so wrapped up in day to day activities that I lose sight of the big picture and hope is the farthest thing from my mind. Sometimes we get so busy with the minutia of life that we lose sight of what we're living for. We forget Jesus calls us to be his hands and feet in this world and that He gave us an example of how we should live our lives. Especially during this holiday season it is easy to get all caught up and forget to take a step back and truly look at how we live our lives and to be grateful for all we have. Will you try to find time this year to enjoy the advent season and truly anticipate the celebration of Jesus' birth? Will you share with family and friends the message of hope and remember that no matter life's circumstances there is a savior who loves you? Do that and you'll truly experience the joy and happiness of Jesus birth.
Technically I suppose Advent is not Christmas. Advent is the time of the year when we prepare for Christmas so to have the decorations up skips past any preparation. But, I love Christmas decorations...don't tell the misses because then I may have to do more in the decorating department...and I think we will miss a good chance to celebrate Christmas if we don't decorate or sing Christmas carols until Christmas and the 12 days after. Plus, we have been so ingrained to celebrate Christmas right after Thanksgiving and take all the decorations down right after Christmas I don't think we can change.
This discussion online got me thinking about how we treat Advent. The advent season is truly a great time of the year. The advent wreath and the traditions around it can truly keep is grounded and reminded of what Christmas is really about. This week we lit the candle of hope. Hope is something we all need. During my sermon on Sunday I talked about the hope we have in the return of Jesus. I mentioned that the promise of Jesus' return lets us know that things aren't always going to be like they are. Jesus has promised to come back one day and set up a new heaven and a new earth where everything is perfect. We waste our time predicting when that will happen. What these promises give us is hope in a better future, and also not knowing the time helps us to remember to live as though Jesus was coming back at any moment.
Does that sound like Advent and your life to you? Do you live following the commandments of Jesus to love others and be selfless and loving and forgiving as though He was coming back tomorrow to see how you did? I know I certainly don't. I can get so wrapped up in day to day activities that I lose sight of the big picture and hope is the farthest thing from my mind. Sometimes we get so busy with the minutia of life that we lose sight of what we're living for. We forget Jesus calls us to be his hands and feet in this world and that He gave us an example of how we should live our lives. Especially during this holiday season it is easy to get all caught up and forget to take a step back and truly look at how we live our lives and to be grateful for all we have. Will you try to find time this year to enjoy the advent season and truly anticipate the celebration of Jesus' birth? Will you share with family and friends the message of hope and remember that no matter life's circumstances there is a savior who loves you? Do that and you'll truly experience the joy and happiness of Jesus birth.
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