At school these past few weeks, we have been getting ready for the holidays. One day, we met with our advisory groups to make decorations for our school. We were told we could only use the colors blue, white, and neutral colors on the banners, and the phrase "Peace on Earth". They gave us some drawings we could use as models on the posters. One of the other restrictions, was that we couldn't put any religious symbols on the decorations. The ironic part of this project was that the permitted drawings were a dove, candle, star, and the earth. Those aren't religious at all, are they? I leaned over to one of my Christian friends and said, "How are these not religious?" My friend and I started laughing at the irony of the whole thing. The truth is that no one can escape from God and you can't take the Christ out of Christmas. Even if you can't say "Merry Christmas" (and have to say "Happy Holidays") or can't draw "religious symbols" on posters, God still reveals himself through other things...even at a secular school or anywhere else God isn't welcome.
In the Bible, the magi who were following a star weren't looking for Jesus. They were astronomers and all they cared about was the star. The magi were not believers. They were not even Jewish. Think about that for a second. When I learned this, I was stunned for the rest of the day. I had thought that the wise men were looking for Jesus and they believed he was the Messiah...but they actually were not looking for Jesus. When they saw the baby Jesus lying in the manger, they fell on their knees and worshiped Him and gave Him gifts. Even though they were atheists essentially, they were awestruck by Jesus, the newborn king. To me, that is pretty powerful. This history draws a parallel to what happened at my school. My school tries to "ban" religious symbols but whether you realize or even accept it, Jesus is imminent during Christmastime. Everywhere you go, whether or not you're looking for Him, He is there. You cannot evade God...everyone will eventually face Him sometime. Even if you can't draw religious symbols on posters or say "Merry Christmas," God reveals Himself in amazing ways like He did to the magi. Some people will acknowledge it (like the magi) and others will not accept it (like secular schools) but in the end, God is present to everyone during the holiday season.
I'm soooo glad it's finally Christmas break! Homework and soccer were taking up basically all of my social life, so now I actually have time to blog. Here are some of my favorites of Christmastime and I hope you enjoy reading them. 1. Favorite ornament: My favorite ornament is a sparkly, glittery, silver snowflake-ish looking ball that has been my favorite ever since I was little. (Mom always puts it near the top of the tree because its fragile).
2. Favorite tradition: Sitting around the fire eating Nicoise salad on Christmas Eve is one of my favorite traditions. And opening one, and only one, Christmas gift that night. It's always entertaining trying to eat our dinner peacefully before our dog, Benny, eats it from the low coffee table where we have Christmas Eve...good times. I think one year he got part of our food and mom got really mad and shut him in the family room...that was the last time Benny ate dinner with us...
3. Favorite gift: My favorite gift...hmmm...I would have to say last year when my parents allowed me to lease a horse for three months and I got to ride 4x a week. It was one of the best days (and months that followed) of my life. I love riding horses and I adored the horse, Midnight, that I was able to lease. I was thrilled and had a ton of fun riding Midnight around the ranch for the weeks that followed. It was a gift that meant a lot to me and I know it was probably a pain for them to drive me to the ranch during that time because we were really busy.
4. Favorite Christmas meal: This is no competition...my mom's cranberry strudel for breakfast beats anything else we have all year. It's that delicious. Cranberry filling (with nuts) and flaky, buttery, phyllo "crust" surrounding it. I would do almost anything for it.
5. Favorite Christmas cookie: This is a hard one... I would have to say either gingerbread cookies or peppermint bark (from Williams-Sonoma). I absolutely love making gingerbread cookies because they are soooo delicious =) and they're pretty much the only thing I know how to make. Peppermint bark is...well, there's no way to possibly describe the scrumptious taste and smooth texture. So if you've never had peppermint bark, you definitely have to try some. (It's basically layers of milk chocolate and white chocolate and peppermint...what more could you want!)
6. Favorite place to be: For Christmas and Christmas Eve, I love to be in front of the fire with my family in our house in San Diego. But, after Christmas (or before) I am obsessed with snow and I love to be anywhere it snows...Deer Valley, Big Bear, Ohio... Basically anywhere that's cozy and has snow is my favorite place to be.
7. Favorite memory: My favorite memory of Christmas is a couple years ago when I told my family that I wanted to read the Christmas story from the Bible on Christmas Eve. So I got out my Bible and I read the Christmas story from Luke. I don't really know why this memory has stuck with me for so long, but I will always remember reading it to my family. (We should have videotaped it.)
Allie's 7th grade Science Fair Project prediction was indeed accurate. Netflix has all but eliminated Blockbuster from the marketplace. If, like us, you rely on Netflix for all your entertainment needs, here are a few films to add to your queue this month. If not, consider a Netflix annual subscription as the gift that keeps on giving. My extended family awarded one to my grandmother so she gets movies (chosen by family with internet access) by mail at her assisted living apartment each week. Consider yourself lucky that you can make your own selections! Netflix has a huge selection of documentary, educational, classic, and current movies.
Here are our favorites for Christmas with an accompanying rationale and the pluggedin review in case you're suspicious of our discernment. What are your family's favorites? Leave us a comment (we fixed that glitch).
The Nativity Story - saw it with Papa Jim and Natty in a theater; really makes the Biblical account relevant by placing it in historical context; nice to own for traditional viewing
Christmas with the Kranks - just funny, Botox scene and hickory honey ham are our favorites; already mentioned as example of intentional effort to decrease consumerism,
Elf - interesting slant on the complexities of adoption reuniting with birthfather and how to honor both adoptive and genetic legacies; in addition to being adopted (by elves) Buddy is not unlike someone with autism having to learn social customs which are foreign to him and refrain from his instinctive urges when he leaves the North Pole; admittedly no Jesus, all Santa
A Charlie Brown Christmas - all time, all ages, back to basics; we have friends using it as the showpiece for their caroling party this year!
Linus' short and to-the-point speech so reminds of Easter 2006 which we spent at Zion National Park. As National Parks are known to do, they offer an Easter morning service at the lodge which we wandered up to experience. Four others did the same. But no pastor! We waited maybe ten minutes before the other family left for a hike. There was a piano and a stage which is as good as an invitation to Reid. Much like Linus, he declared, "I'll be the pastor" and took his place center stage to deliver the morning message. He retold the events of the cross, the cave and the resurrection in perfect sequence and amazing detail. We sang a few songs, as I recall, and that was that. Plain and simple worship.
As Willy Wonka said at the end of the factory tour referring Charlie to the contract, "Its all there, black and white, clear as crystal," 66 books, 40 authors, over 1500 years, actual history, Luke 2.
At school these past few weeks, we have been getting ready for the holidays. One day, we met with our advisory groups to make decorations for our school. We were told we could only use the colors blue, white, and neutral colors on the banners, and the phrase "Peace on Earth". They gave us some drawings we could use as models on the posters. One of the other restrictions, was that we couldn't put any religious symbols on the decorations. The ironic part of this project was that the permitted drawings were a dove, candle, star, and the earth. Those aren't religious at all, are they? I leaned over to one of my Christian friends and said, "How are these not religious?" My friend and I started laughing at the irony of the whole thing. The truth is that no one can escape from God and you can't take the Christ out of Christmas. Even if you can't say "Merry Christmas" (and have to say "Happy Holidays") or can't draw "religious symbols" on posters, God still reveals himself through other things...even at a secular school or anywhere else God isn't welcome.
In the Bible, the magi who were following a star weren't looking for Jesus. They were astronomers and all they cared about was the star. The magi were not believers. They were not even Jewish. Think about that for a second. When I learned this, I was stunned for the rest of the day. I had thought that the wise men were looking for Jesus and they believed he was the Messiah...but they actually were not looking for Jesus. When they saw the baby Jesus lying in the manger, they fell on their knees and worshiped Him and gave Him gifts. Even though they were atheists essentially, they were awestruck by Jesus, the newborn king. To me, that is pretty powerful. This history draws a parallel to what happened at my school. My school tries to "ban" religious symbols but whether you realize or even accept it, Jesus is imminent during Christmastime. Everywhere you go, whether or not you're looking for Him, He is there. You cannot evade God...everyone will eventually face Him sometime. Even if you can't draw religious symbols on posters or say "Merry Christmas," God reveals Himself in amazing ways like He did to the magi. Some people will acknowledge it (like the magi) and others will not accept it (like secular schools) but in the end, God is present to everyone during the holiday season.
