Taking the Revolutionary Road on Christmas Eve

My new trend on Christmas Eve is to notoriously find something incredibly depressing to do--or at least in the opinion of my family. Last Christmas Eve I finished up reading and subsequently blogged on Lord of the Flies. This year, it's Revolutionary Road.

I'll admit, I didn't like the movie, but I appreciated it. "Boy, isn't that a movie to get you into the Christmas Spirit," my Dad said. I wanted to laugh, but as I sat back and thought deeper about the movie after watching the special features, it hit me that perhaps this is an appropriate film to get me into the right Christmas spirit.

The movie depicts a couple in the 1950s who find themselves struggling to get a hold of their lives. They had met and fell in love. Two kids later and hitting the 30-year mark, they realize that life in the Suburbs (which society told them would fulfill them) turns out to be a place where they are living, but in a state of desperation. They have a chance to turn things around, if only they are willing and strong enough to push against the current. If only they are willing ot appear crazy in the eyes of the rest of their friends, family and society. There are a lot of questions as to what derails their attempts to find ways to find truth and life, but there is a theme running throughout the film that highlights that maybe they don't have the courage it takes to appear crazy. Because they don't choose to follow what appears to be crazy, they become psychologically crazy. They become even more broken then they were before.

It makes me wonder about Christmas. We do all of this push and shove to make Christmas be this perfect suburban image. We pretend that we like our neighbors, that we are happy with our lives (and we even right it all down in a Christmas card each year or memorize it for those people we haven't seen in a year). In reality, we aren't close to living that life. Christmas is about the coming of complete hope when there was no hope. How can we feel the joy if we cannot access the reality of our own hopelessness? How can we appreciate what Christ has actually come to save us for?

Now I will admit, this year has been a place of growth for me as far as learning to recognize resurrection hope, that the way things are are not the way things have to be (thank you, Chris Rice for that line). But I think the place of the resurrection is to pursue a place of radical difference in a world of conformity. In reality I don't have the courage to be different. I don't have the courage of radical discipleship, as Luke describes it to drop my nets and follow Jesus, to sell all that I have and give it to the poor--so that it won't get in my way of following Jesus. But I think the ability for that courage is not inherently in ourselves, but in the hope that comes with the incarnation, the resurrection and the advent of the Kingdom of God. But before we get there, before we can experience that joy and hope, we have to recognize the absolute state of brokenness that is before us. Christmas must also include this truth so that the grace that we claim is not cheap grace, but life-saving and life-changing grace.

My Favorite Fair Trade Stores

1. Ten Thousand Villages
Shop items from all around the world! Their jewelry and home items top my list. So far, I think most of the items I have purchased or recieved come from India.
http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/

2. Amani Ya Juu
Support this ministry in East Africa that provides jobs for women. I first learned about this place when the gift shop used to be located in downtown, smalltown L-town. I've had the blessing of getting to hang out with these women when they came to Charlotte for a fashion show. My cousin Anna got to visit our friends there in Kenya on her way to Rwanda!
http://www.amaniafrica.org/

3. One World Market
My favorite store in Durham. Even if you don't plan on buying anything, it is so fun to stroll through this wonderfully decorated shop, especially at Christmas time.
http://www.oneworldmarket.info/

4. Uganda Crafts 2000, Ltd.
An abundance of Ugandan crafts. Their baskets are fantastic! I learned about them through #1 and 3.
http://www.ugandacrafts2000ltd.org/

5. Sari Bari
Thanks to Phileena Heurtz of Word Made Flesh, I was introduced to this site which sells authentic Indian crafts from saris. The creations are made by women as a means of offering an alternative lifestyle to prostitution and as a respite from the chaos of poverty in the Indian barrio.
www.saribari.com

Advent: Hope, Mercy and the Rod of Jesse

It takes me so long each year to get what advent is. It's a funny little word with big meaning. And then of course, it has to compete with Christmas. This year I found it hidden in the depths of Romans.

Paul has spent quite some time outlining the basics of the Gospel message and getting into nitty gritty issues between Jews and Gentiles. In an argument about how Jews and Gentiles should treat each other, and how those who are strong (in their understanding of Christian freedom, usually Gentiles) and the weak (usually Jews/legalists)--each group has reasons why they could take pride in being "better" than the other.

Both groups are told that being Christian is about not serving yourself (Romans 15:1-3). Not only is Christ given as the model, but OT Scriptures are cited. The source for hope lies in Scripture and in the gifts of God. In light of these truths, the two are told to accept one another (Rom 15:7). Gotta love that advice when you are having the battle of the betters. The reasoning continues.

In verses 8-9 Paul goes on to say:

8For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written,"THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME."

For the Jews, Christ is a servant, a fulfilmment of the promise. And for the Gentiles, Christ glorifies God through Gentile inclusion. Therefore Gentile existence is characterized as a symbol of mercy. This is what should encapsulate our being during the Christmas season, hope for the coming promises of God and celebration of the mercy we have been shown through the coming of Christ.

It is interesting that this passage is followed by passages that highlight the importance and role of the Gentiles. OT quotations that once referenced "the nations" now proudly show that inclusion is for the Gentiles. But when looking at these verses in context, it is clear that before the coming of Jesus, Gentiles did not have a favorable place within the world and the Jews were often quick to disobey God.

The hope of both nations are found in the rod of Jesse, a reference that is made clearly in Rom 15:12. The quotation comes from Isaiah after the prophet announces that God will use Assyria, the worst of the Gentiles to crush the Jews for disobedience:

1Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

2The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

3And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;

4But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.

5Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, And faithfulness the belt about His waist.

6And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them.

7Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox.

8The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den.

9They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.

10Then in that day The nations will resort to the root of Jesse, Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious.

The way of the recreation of all things is what is brought through the coming of the Messiah. Truly this is good news!

When I Need to Break into a Laugh...

Chicken nuggets lady can do it every time!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZDIsCMLbPE

Ignore the racist comments added onto what is supposed to be just a vocal tape.

A Wonderful Article on Ways to Make Room for Advent

I have worked on the issue of busyness that this Christianity Today article entailed, but the author offers some great suggestions on another area that I desperately need to improve on: materialism. Great practical advice all around!

The Obstacles of Advent: How our church combats the busyness and materialism of the season.
Skye Jethani posted 11/30/2009

Late last November my wife and I got all of our Christmas shopping done—in one day. This blitzkrieg approach has become a tradition for us. It's like pulling a tooth; better to have the whole thing out at once. In the evening we treated ourselves to a victory dinner at a restaurant. While savoring my accomplishment and my meal, I watched A Charlie Brown Christmas on the television above the bar. Ah, Christmas in America—spend all day battling the crowds at the mall and have Luke chapter 2 recited to you by a cartoon character at night.

Many have lamented the way our culture has "taken Christ out of Christmas," and in recent years we've heard conservative pundits freak out when retailers wish customers a "Happy Holiday" rather than "Merry Christmas." But even for those of us in the church, aware of the season's spiritual significance, and determined to celebrate the advent of the Messiah, this month still poses many challenges. Let's face it, focusing on God in our society is always difficult and the added stress of the holidays only makes things harder.

Four years ago we decided to shift the way our church engaged Advent. We came to see that December posed unique challenges for our people, and if these obstacles were left unchecked they would significantly interrupt our mission to be formed into the image of Christ. For this reason our church is taking some intentional steps to help people commune with God this Christmas in a counter-cultural way.

The first obstacle we identified was busyness. Ask anyone in my church, on any day, what keeps them from communing with God and chances are they'll say busyness. But during December it really gets out of control. Beyond ordinary obligations, schedules also fill up with numerous parties, school holiday programs, shopping excursions, vacations, and family gatherings with Cousin Eddie. During a season when we are supposed to slow down and commune deeply with Christ and family, we can hardly find time to breathe.

We decided the church should combat this tendency rather than contribute to it. So, instead of adding programs and activities during December, we've actually reduced them. For example, we've stayed away from large Christmas productions for children or adults. These events, while beautiful and worshipful, often take weeks of preparation that fill up the calendar with practices which separate families. We also suspend most adult and children's classes on Sunday so families can worship together, and we provide at-home Advent family devotionals and encourage heads of households to gather their clan weekly.

In addition, beginning in late October we start encouraging everyone to complete their Christmas shopping before December 1. This frees up time during Advent to connect with others, and hours that would otherwise be spent at the mall can now be used to serve someone in the name of Christ. It seems so simple, but I can't tell you how many people have been blessed by this suggestion.

The second obstacle we identified was materialism. You know consumption is a problem in society when the first day of the Christmas shopping season is known as "Black Friday." It is so called because it's the day most retailers discover if they will make a profit for the year (be in the black). Our entire economy hinges on whether or not people celebrate Christmas by purchasing Chia Pets and little dancing Santas. But all of the focus on "stuff" distracts us from focusing on Christ.

To address this obstacle, we encourage our community to reduce their shopping expenses and match whatever they spend by giving to a compassion or missions project. This year we're highlighting two projects in particular. The first is in partnership with our missionaries in Cambodia working with AIDS patients. The other is an urban ministry in Chicago we've been connected with for years. There are other projects available, and a number involve more than giving money. Many small groups, for example, take time to engage a local service project together and children are encouraged to participate as well.

To be honest, not everyone has appreciated this approach. Some come to our church with expectations of an elaborate Christmas pageant, and others don't want to be challenged every week to shop earlier and spend less. But our desire is simple: to release time for communion with God and service to others, and to refocus our attention away from the kitsch and onto Christ.
Skye Jethani is managing editor of Leadership Journal and the author of The Divine Commodity (Zondervan). This article was first published online in Leadership's blog http://www.outofur.com/ in December 2007.

The Fun Toy in the Bottom of Duke's Perkins Library...

Revealing...the Spacemaker!! The Mobile Electronic Bookshelf!! At the push of a button, the stacking shelves move on a track to reveal the shelf you want to see!!! After my new $0.50 book purchases from the Thrift store, I might need one of these :)

Still can't believe it, take a closer look:

http://www.abax.com.au/pdfs/05%20Elec%20Op%20AFL%20Mobile%20P1.pdf

Jen's Treasures

So my new obsession has been dropping by Durham Rescue Mission's "Rescued Treasures" Thrift Shop. They have a-mazing hours, an up-beat and loving staff and they house AWESOME finds! I have found everything from Gap kids clothing for my the children of friends, kids books and amazing book titles for us older folk. Here is one look at my latest additions:




Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier


Brick Lane by Monica Alli




How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill


The Mission Song by John Le Carre'


She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb





The Red Tent by Anita Diamant




Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

And yes, all of the books are in PERFECT condition!