Introducing Jesus Is …

You may recall that at the beginning of the month I asked the question, who is Jesus and this has a bearing on what follows.

Also on the ‘do you remember’ trip, back in May this year I wrote an entry on this here blog about the truth that God loves.

Reading it again in preparation for this blog really highlighted what’s been going on for the last year or so in terms of my own spiritual journey.  Something that’s remarkable considering how long I’ve been blogging, is that this was the first time I had outlined my position on Christmas.  That position is one that came from the church in which I grew up, but as with the faith of my parents, it is a position that I interrogated for myself before resolving in my own mind its validity.

Usually around this time of year I get very uncomfortable only in as much as having to negotiate the twists and turns of the culture and especially the Christian culture that wholeheartedly embraces Christmas as if it’s the truth that God loves.  (See what I did there?)  It was particularly difficult working at the YMCA Christmas after Christmas and having to do ‘something’ without ever being in agreement with the whole season deal.  That is one of the few areas that I’m glad my departure has rid me of that conundrum.

I don’t agree with all elements of the presentation in the video.  I don’t think the Gospel is something that can be responded to in the manner of watching a video, following a pre-defined script of a prayer and like that ‘you’re saved’.  The essence of the video is the point though – there is sufficient about the origins and subsequent development of the festival that should at least start ringing alarm bells for followers of Christ.

Yet just when I think it’s safe to merely carry on as I used to before YMCA, I now have daughters who are going to school and being asked to take part in Nativity plays or Christmas plays.  Should I say no?  How do I say no?  All that palaver.  All the fun of the life of a follower of Christ.

Anyway, so as I approach this season again, rather than ignore it as I have done for most of the life of this blog, I thought I’d at least take it and turn it into a positive.  Usually when you celebrate a birthday it’s not just about how they were born, you celebrate the life.  You celebrate who that person is and what they mean to you.  As one who does his best to pursue Jesus, rather than waiting for the end of the year to celebrate His life and who He is, I get the impression that’s what my whole life is devoted to.  (Gives a whole new meaning to a daily devotional doesn’t it.)

So while others prepare to celebrate a festival that is at best a cultural activity tenuously linked to Jesus, I plan to use the month of December to post something every day over the month in the morning slot to celebrate who Jesus is.  That’s why this is an introduction to the Jesus Is … series.  My hope is for it to be good for those who know and for those who don’t know.  My hope is that in these brief posts there’ll be a growing desire to engage with who Jesus is so that it won’t be a matter of seeing Him as the reason for the season, but more as the reason for living.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd

Be Still My Soul

So, recently it was my Dad who was getting props for how his example influenced my faith and allowed me to take prayer that bit more seriously.  At this time I now think of my mother as I listen to this song.

There is the tendency to worry.  Doesn’t take much to see why – you’re new to the country, you give birth to three children in this strange country, you are considered less than other citizens because of your national status, your husband is at work most of the time and money is too tight to mention, your church maintains the status quo with the gloss of religiosity but no real life transformation and enhancement.  There is much to cause concern – how will you cope, how will you marriage manage, how will your children grow up, how will you pay the bills, will you get to see home again, what when no one understands you, where is God in all this?

In all of this my Mum’s faith over the years only strengthened as this song became a reality to her.  God was on her side through the 25 years in which she lived in this country and brought up her three children in uncertain times.  God did the amazing in that time and allowed her to do things she never thought imaginable as well as see her three children grow up to be fairly decent members of humanity (her firstborn son always being a cause for concern even til now!)

Now as her firstborn son (for it is indeed I) my circumstances are very different and yet there are still issues for concern.  Always an incident somewhere with the potential to bring about great distress and … dare I say it …worry.  That is where the reality of this song so beautifully sung by Mahalia Jackson, reassures us like a balm.

Thanks Mum.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd