Last Minute Shopping

I had to chuckle when I read the following adaptation of a famous hymn.

Come, Thou Unexpected Jesus(with apologies to Charles Wesley)

Come, Thou unexpected Jesus,
Interrupt our spending spree.
Shopping malls hold all that pleases;
Why would we then look for Thee?
In the midst of all the bustle,
We've lost the most important part.
Teach us that our lowly Savior
Is not found in a shopping cart.
--Jenn Kipp

I have to confess: shopping is distracting me from the true meaning of Christmas. But it’s not because of I've done too much shopping; it’s because I haven’t done enough. Here I sit on Christmas Eve with the bulk of my Christmas shopping still ahead. I plan to finish it all tonight in a Herculean flurry at the local mall.

So I’m feeling stressed. Malls terrify me. The thought of negotiating crowded department stores trying to determine which flowery dress or fancy earrings or perfume is perfect for my wife is daunting. Often I fail. She’ll probably be back with the gift and receipt in hand a few days later getting something she really wants. But she appreciates the effort and so I venture out.

Christmas can be a stressful time—especially for us guys. Busy malls. Travel. Financial strain. It can be easy to lose the Christmas spirit.

That’s why we have to be intentional about remembering Jesus’ birth. This Christmas season I want to encourage you to contemplate the true meaning of Christmas: the incredible gift of Jesus.

That first Christmas makes even our most hectic Christmases look tame. Just think about it. It came in a barn at the end of a grueling trip for a pregnant teenager. That’s when the Savior of the world was born. So this year, don’t miss it. Amid the hustle and bustle of crowded malls, airports and living rooms, take time to reflect on the amazing gift of Jesus’ birth. And if you think of it, say a prayer for me. I’ll be at the mall shopping.

The God of "Legend"

If everyone on earth is gone, except for a lonely Will Smith and his loyal German Shepherd, does it mean God has left the building, too? That’s one of the themes explored in the blockbuster sci-fi epic I Am Legend, based on the novel by Richard Matheson.

Smith plays Robert Neville, the lone survivor of the aftermath of a “miracle” cure that proceeds to wipe out quite a bit more than cancer. He spends his days practicing his golf swing, working his way through a DVD rental store and broadcasting for other survivors. He also dons a lab coat attempting to reverse the effects the virus has had on the unfriendly zombie/vampire hybrids he spends his evenings avoiding.

As you might expect, it’s not highbrow art but an unapologetically apocalyptic action movie; a good excuse for the filmmakers to cause viewers to jump and Smith to carry a gun around dropping a few one-liners. Still, as the proverbial atheist in a foxhole, he manages to question whether or not there is still a chance for divine intervention at the end of the world, much like Mel Gibson’s character did in another sci-fi flick, “Signs.”

Although some viewers may be uncomfortable mixing questions of faith in a world populated by zombies, others consider that even under the most nightmarish and far-fetched circumstances, there will always be God.

Review by DeWayne Hamby

Halo 3 Church Services

Hear that deep rumble of video-game bombs exploding? It may be coming from your local church. Some congregations are attracting youth with the popular—and extremely violent—video game, Halo 3. The Microsoft creation, which allows players to fight in a futuristic interstellar war, is rated M for mature content.

The practice is defended as a tool for reaching young males. Associate pastor of Family Church in Albuquerque, N.M., John Robison told the New York Times, “We’re using it as a tool to be relatable and relevant, and most people get over it pretty quick.”

Others balk at the audacious outreach. “If you want to connect with your teenage boys and drag them into church, free alcohol and pornographic movies would do it,” James Tonkowich, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy told the paper. “My own take is you can do better than that.”

The Colorado Shootings

By this time you've probably heard the news—how last Sunday a lone gunman went on a shooting rampage at two Christian facilities in Colorado. The first attack took place at a Youth With a Mission center in Arvada, Colorado. Two staff members, Tiffany Johnson, 26, and Philip Crouse, 24 were killed. The second occurred just 80 minutes away and 12 hours later at New Life Church where the gunman, Matthew Murray, killed two sisters, Stephanie and Rachael Works, ages 18 and 16 in the parking lot. Murray was finally stopped when he entered the church and a courageous female security guard shot him several times.

The losses are especially difficult to understand considering that the victims were so young and all were committed Christ followers, attending church. Some were even training for missions. Why would God allow such a horrific thing to happen to His servants?

Although it may seem natural to question God, there is also something deeply unfair about blaming Him. Can God really be called to account for the violent actions of a disturbed, disgruntled young man who heard voices and wrote angry screeds against Christianity? If anything I’d trace the origins of this horror to a very different spiritual source.

As condolences have rolled in from all over the country I’ve wondered whether any words, no matter how well intentioned, can bring relief in the wake of such tragedy. What do you tell a father who has just witnessed his teenaged daughters being executed?

Words of comfort almost seem trite. Explanations sound hollow. So it’s at times like these I’m grateful that we serve a God who offers something much better than words. He offers Himself, His presence, His Son. Ultimately that’s His answer to suffering. Other gods may suffice while the sun is shining. But when the dark storm clouds of tragedy gather only the suffering Messiah will do. Like Edward Shillito wrote, “But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak.”

The cross not only atones for our sins; it also stands beside the losses of our lives, reminding us that He, who knew no sin, suffered too.

Today it stands in Colorado beside the families reeling from grief. I pray that when words fail to comfort they will lean with confidence against its strong and steady beam.

Christmas Trees Now "Holiday Trees" at K-Mart

I'm not the kind to get all riled up about the culture wars. But once in a while someone does something so outlandish, that something has to be said. Case in point: the recent decision by K-Mart to rename Christmas trees "Holiday Trees" in their advertising. According to Sears Holding Corporation (which owns K-Mart) the company’s decision was motivated by a desire to be sensitive: "Sears Holding is a very diverse company, we do not want to offend any of our associates, but also our valued customers."

Not only is this kind of hyper political correctness a slap in the face for Christians, its just silly and historically inaccurate. Since Martin Luther dragged a small evergreen into his house and affixed candles to its branches to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the practice has been inextricably tied to Christ and Christmas. We have enough people trying to rewrite history; we certainly don’t need corporations getting in on the game.

If we don’t speak out against such nonsense, eventually we will have a sterile public square devoid of the Christian expression that gives it color and life. Believe me. I grew up in Canada. When I go home I’m horrified by the developments in the culture. At the school I attended, children no longer celebrate Christmas. It’s now "Snowball Day." I sincerely hope that this country does not follow suit.

I know there’s not much one person can do. But I’ll tell you this, next time I go shopping, it won’t be at K-mart or Sears.

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