The day after Christmas is an interesting day.  There has been so much build up leading up to the great event of Jesus' birth and Santa's big bag of gifts.  Then all of the sudden within seconds the gifts are revealed and as evening hits on the 25th Jesus' birth has been shared and celebrated.  The next day comes and it seems strange to continue with carols, the tree seems more dim, and what do you say about Jesus now.


Jesus came as a baby and we celebrate his coming and anticipate his return.  Today we speak of one who would not come into his ministry for 30 more years.  What happened during all that time?  We know of one story, the story where Jesus seems to go AWOL and pursue kingdom topics in the Temple.  But beyond that we don't get a true glimpse of him again until he is 30.  It makes me ponder about his childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood.  Surely the only reason we have the story of Jesus at the temple is because he told it to his followers or a really good investigative reporter got it from his parents or siblings.  Maybe Jesus was reminiscing about his dad, since we have so few of those stories too!  The fact is we aren't sure what went on with Jesus for the first 30 years of his life.  We meet him again right before he comes into his ministry and we see glimpses of his best three years to the cross!


If I had to guess what the first 30 years of Jesus' life were about, I would probably say that Jesus was learning what it meant to be human and just being.  We all know that those last 3 years were more about doing.  Maybe he spent 30 years of being so he could go non-stop for 3.  And in all reality I'm not sure how much my first thirty years are worth in words.


There is no reason, though, to feel a void from the "big day" on the day after.  After all Jesus is still savior!  He is still King!  He is still Lord! And we are still on the journey with him!

Ever since I was a little boy I was not given the gift of believing in Santa.  My dad had moral conflicts with lying to his children.  I will never know what it is like to be so excited you shake when you hear that Santa is coming.  I will never know what it is like to run to the Christmas tree on Christmas morning to find what Santa left and if he granted my wish or not.  By now some of you reading this are indignant with the childhood fun I was robbed of or you are sad and wipe away the tears, mourning my Santaless Christmas.  Don't cry for me blog-readers!  The truth is I never knew him!  And therefore I have no pain from the Santaless experience. 


Some of you have the experience of a Christless Christmas.  The church chose on Christmas Sunday to talk about anything buy Jesus' birth.  Your parents refused to place a nativity scene anywhere around your home.  You heard the mocking and cynical laughter of your family as they debunked the whole idea that we could possibly know the actual date of Jesus' birth.  And as I think about that scenario, I become indignant that we have been robbed from the perfect Christmas gift.  And I wipe away tears as I mourn a Christless Christmas.


Today my boys believe deeply in Santa.  They also believe in their little Elf, E.N. who communicates to Santa from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve.  They also believe in Christ and His birth, His coming into the world, and His one-day return for us!  In the grand scheme of things, the belief system is the same, yet the truth holds for only one.


Jesus was born of a virgin mother.  He was born with little fanfare in a manger with animals all around.  People, not his family, came from all around to visit the miracle of Emmanual, God with us!  Although a baby with no verbal language, total dependency upon his mother and father, Jesus was the Savior!  He was God!  And at the time no one could foresee all that he would become and do to fulfill God's Kingdom promises.  And today, although Jesus does not speak to us directly and we depend upon his story and traditions to realize his power, Jesus is still savior!  Still God!  And right now we truly cannot foresee all of what he will do when he comes back to claim all of creation back to His father!


So we believe with great faith and we live in great anticipation of a Christ child that has come and Christ resurrected that will return!


Have a Christ-filled Christmas!

Below are two videos that have caught my attention for the Christmas season.  Enjoy!

This past Monday I was able to spend the afternoon with around 40 other ministers.  Our conversation was all about being spriritually renewed.  Spiritual renewal not only refreshes us personally, but makes us more open to God's leading and allows us to lead others more effectively.  In some places (read churches) there is push back against the idea of a minister taking a break (read sabbath) in order to be renewed. However, even in the business world leaders are realizing that by taking short breaks and times of sabbath workers are more efficient and effective in their job.  I really enjoyed the conversation yesterday.  One of the main reasons I enjoyed the conversation is because I'm wired that way.  When I don't take time for Sabbath or renewal I become extremely ineffective and distracted.  I need time to center, to focus, and to grow.


As I was returning today a friend and I began to process the day on our ride home.  It became apparent to us that not only do we need to take time for sabbath and renewal, but our congregations, our flock need these things as well.  And so we began to ask the question, "How can we be examples of renewal in specific ways that almost anyone else could follow and find renewal as well?"


And so I'll open it up to you.  How are you practicing spiritual renewal in your life?