Fun Stuff

Christmas traditions

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Noel Piper says that “For a Christian, the heart of our traditions, and the heart of our teaching is God, whom we know through his acts and his words. …Traditions are memories, and they are for memory. Our children and grandchildren don’t have to be locked in to the small world of their own experience with God. Traditions give them a whole world’s worth and a whole history’s worth of God.” (Treasuring God in Our Traditions, 32)

Christmas is a great time for traditions that point us back to God. Here are some traditions our family has developed over the years, which we hope draw us closer to our Lord.

  • Advent Calendar. Every night in December leading up to Christmas, we read the Christmas story using the advent calendar designed by Noel Piper. It’s a rustic-looking version of the Christmas story, with plastic farm animals, dowel-rod people, and a velcroed manger on a burlap backing. But Dylan absolutely loves learning the Christmas story this way. (Apparently, the advent calendar is being redesigned by Desiring God and is not available to buy this season.)
  • Memory tree. Decorating the Christmas tree is a family affair, and many of our ornaments are souvenirs from past family vacations. It’s a fun way to reminisce about good times God has given our family over the years.
  • Cookie plates. We try to be a witness to our neighbors and share the love of Christ by giving them a plate of homemade cookies and a Christmas card from our family.
  • Christmas lights. We enjoy walking or driving around to look at homes that are decorated with Christmas lights. There’s nothing too spiritual about this tradition, but it’s a great way to spend time with family. It’s even better with a big cup of hot cider or hot chocolate (complete with whipped cream!).

So, does your family have any special Christmas traditions?

Photo credit: scottfeldstein

Books

Book Review: The American Patriot’s Almanac

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Don’t let the word “almanac” scare you. This is a story book. But what makes this book so good is that the stories are true!

Bill Bennett and John Cribb make history come alive by retelling many of the best stories of America in a short and compelling way. Learn about the heroes, battles, geography, events, and inventions that make our country what it is today. This volume would be perfect for family time, or on the coffee table, or in the bathroom, or even for daily readings in a high school civics course.

The American Patriot’s Almanac is broken down into 365 bite-sized portions that make it easy to read in a year. Each page includes one reading and an “American History Parade” of 4-6 notable events that took place on that date in American History. Sprinkled throughout the book are special features like “Fifty All-American Movies” and famous “Prayers for the American People.” I was a political studies major in college, but I found myself learning something new on nearly every page. I was very glad to see the detailed index in the back, which makes this book stronger and even more useful.

Check this book out. You’re sure to discover something new and to gain a deeper appreciation for the United States of America.

Culture

The quest for coolness

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As you’ve probably heard, Rick Warren has been asked to give the invocation at Obama’s inauguration ceremony, and the gay and lesbian community are outraged. Al Mohler has written a very important article on this incident and its broader implications for pastors and Christians everywhere. Here’s the gist:

[Warren] now finds himself in a whirlwind, and he will not be the last. Pastor after pastor and church after church will face a similar challenge in short order. No matter how cool you think you are or think that others think you are, the hour is coming when the issue of homosexuality — taken alone — will be the defining issue in coolness. If you accept the full normalization of homosexuality, you will be cool. If you do not, you are profoundly uncool, no matter how much good work you do nor how much love and compassion you seek to express.

Read the whole article here.

Shepherding

The Blessings of Nursing Home Ministry

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Steve Burchett is a friend I met at the Founders Conference in Oklahoma in 2007. Then I amazingly ran into him again at Together for the Gospel in Kentucky in 2008. He has his own blog and is part of a great ministry called “Christian Communicators Worldwide,” which is led by Jim Eliff.

Steve recently wrote an article on “Ten Reasons Why Nursing Homes are Great Places to Minister” (link updated). Ministering in nursing homes can be difficult work, but it’s a huge encouragement to ailing believers as well as an important final witness to the unsaved. It’s easy for churches to overlook the homebound and infirm, yet Matthew 25:40 reminds us that when we serve even the least of Christ’s brothers or sisters, we are serving Him.

Here’s the list Steve came up with:

1. Nursing homes provide an avenue to obey God, Who tells us to serve the downcast and rejected.

2. Nursing homes offer numerous opportunities for evangelism.

3. Nursing home residents will increase your trust in a sovereign God.

4. Nursing homes make available a place of real and life-impacting ministry for young men contemplating or heading into the ministry.

5. Nursing homes present a way to teach children to love their neighbor.

6. Nursing homes remind us that sickness and death are coming.

7. Nursing homes put you in the presence of older saints who are persevering in the Lord.

8. Nursing homes put you in the presence of people who have hardened their hearts, rejected Christ, and may never again have a coherent thought.

9. Nursing homes open doors to new relationships with those related to or associated with the residents.

10. Nursing homes provide a ministry environment where what really matters takes priority.

When’s the last time you visited someone in the hospital or nursing home? I admit, the sights, sounds, and smells are not always pleasant, but it’s a great opportunity to be a “Good Samaritan” and show the love of Christ to those who are suffering.

A nursing home ministry is something that a church can offically sponsor, or something that individual families can do by themselves on a weekly, monthly, or occasional basis. One thing’s for sure – nursing home residents always love visitors!

Thoughts on Life and Leadership