Incite is headed in a new direction for 2008. Craving commentary, I’ve devised a plan which will provide it—even if it is my own. Wishing to revive the discipline of preparing weekly sermons (much more to my own benefit than many of the intended recipients), I will post something each Sunday and then have the audacity to comment upon it during the week. Continuing my naïve belief in example as the best teacher, I will be actually doing what I encourage others to do: participate. The risk of monologue trumping dialogue is not, as far as I can see, any greater with this new format. To get us started, I’m concluding with my personal journal entry (plog?) from yesterday so that we ALL have something to comment on until Sunday.
A new day in a new year with the promise of new life; what if I somehow managed to let the Christ be born in my life this Christmas? Is such a thing really possible? What in my life would change if it were? What will I start doing differently? Will anyone but me be able to tell? Will I able to tell? Are there others? How many?
Belated Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteLate last night I found this "You Tube" recording that really touched my heart. I wanted to share it with you. I hope that it is in keeping with the new direction of your blog. The Tabernacle Choir gives a more powerfull rendition, but this student choir reflects the purity and tenderness of youth.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=come+thou+font+of+every+blessing
I find that young people have a testimony based on hope and expectation in Christ. Whereas those who have lived a life overcoming trials and tribualtions, base their testimonies on experience through Christ. We can learn from both.
Steve the Dad
The sentiment that the Christmas spirit should prevail throughout the year is nice enough, but what would such a thing entail? First, it would be necessary to have an understanding that could be sustained on a daily basis. Many of us don’t have the wherewithal to keep up the frenzy of materialistic consumerism all year long. Indeed, it is reported that many of us will use the next year to diminish the indebtedness we accrued. A whole year is an awfully long time to listen to nothing but Christmas music, and the crowds of churchgoers that turn out Christmas Eve will dwindle even if candle-lighting services are conducted every evening of the New Year. So, just what is left of the recent holy day that can be lived out each and every day?
ReplyDeleteMy thanks to Steve the Dad for his comments; I will watch the video he recommends as soon as I have the time.
For what little I understand of it, the existential notion of authenticity has long fascinated me. The veracity of something being dependent upon its actual manifestation has long been summed up in the old maxim: practice what you preach. It is more than just my imagination that the nature of a so-called Christian is gaining wide popularity as the presidential campaigns heat up. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t, the candidates are being called upon to explain their religious beliefs with regard to their personal character. I don’t foresee it going well for anyone who professes agnosticism, much less atheism, and so the predictable proclamation is tantamount to a confession of the Christian faith. This is all well and good until the apple cart gets upset by a question like, “Just what is a Christian?” The scriptural Jesus talks about being born from above, and the Christmas tradition talks about Christ born into the world. How do we go about authenticating the truth of such claims? I cannot help but think that it must somehow translate into how we act, speak and think; in other words, the way we exist. I am skeptical of someone who has to publicly inform us that s/he is a Christian. It seems much more reasonable that we should be able to tell from looking at the person as a whole. This requires that we seriously examine what we can learn of Jesus’ authentication of the Christ, which may, in the end, prove more taxing than most of us would like.
ReplyDeleteWow! I just watched the "You Tube" video recommended by Steve the Dad (this is my son-in-law's father for those who may not know the connection) and think I may have found the perfect start to every day! Magnificent!
ReplyDeleteMy thanks to the elder Steve for not only the link he provides, but for his commentary. I fear that comments from both of my parents may have been stifled by the "Blogger" format, and I will be consulting Rachel and Steve the younger to see if it can in any way be simplified.
In the mean time, let's work with what we've got and keep the discussion going.
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