Second in a Series of “The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”

Second in a Series of “The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”

I have heard that the song “Twelve Days of Christmas” (one of the most annoying songs I have ever heard, rivaled only by “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”) is secret code to remember basic tenants of Christianity or Catholicism when the practice was outlawed. But, duh huh, doesn’t using the word “Christmas” itself give it away? I mean anyone who sings Christmas songs or celebrates Christmas MUST be a Christian. OOPS! My bad.

As we can see in our present culture, that is not true at all. Jesus has been completely usurped by Santa and “Making a List;” giving to people by people until you go into debt and hope other people spend as much as you did on them or you will hold a grudge, overarches any understanding of receiving the gift of a Savior coming to live life as we do, so we can never say to God – “You have no idea how hard this life is!” At least one person I know from every culture and religion celebrates Christmas in some form. I say this merely to point out that celebrating does not mean believing (including those who call themselves Christians), not as criticism. It would be hard to avoid Christmas altogether in a society consumed with consumerism!  Though I would say people of the Jewish faith follow their own faith most closely at this time of year, maintaining their own beliefs as separate – perhaps made easier by a similar time frame for a holiday celebration. Or who knows, maybe that makes it harder…

So if I am not criticizing per se, why the duh huh? Because as a whole, the American culture is very accepting of so many things and people without criticism (which is good), or hate certain groups of people based solely on skin color or religion or place of birth (which is bad), but we tend to do so without knowledge or understanding (which is risky). Why risky? If any time of year is the right time to ponder the gift of eternal life, it is Christmas. And that gift is not in 12 golden rings, or a pretty tree, or shop ‘til you drop. It is in the birth of one very special baby. If you don’t really understand what that first “Christmas” was all about, isn’t it time you asked?

A great place to start is http://www.impactchurch.com/messages2#

Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 1: Three Things Jesus Came to Reveal About God
Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 3:  When God Messes Up Your Plans OR God Made You for a Purpose OR God Has a Bigger Plan for Your Life than You Have for Your Life (A bigger purpose than you can ever imagine!)
Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 4:  

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

Grace that Amazes

With my mind on the "May 21st debacle" and a seemingly unending series of tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and so on, I try to turn things around in my mind to make some sort of sense. I found myself saying to someone recently, "After seeing videos of intense tornadoes, I can see how it would appear to looks like the hand of God reaching down from Heaven to blot out the earth with his forefinger - but that would have to be a judgemental God, not the saving God I know."

I have chosen a few videos carefully. The adrenaline rush experienced by those either unwittingly or purposefully recording a tornado sound often too much like excitement. It must be the case, as fear and excitement often are physically experienced in the same way. The first shows the compassion, the second grief - both honoring. The third, gorgeous photography of one of the most menacing "clouds" most have ever seen, or ever hope to see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUTQI52Vhg8&playnext=1&list=PL81FD3F279A7BDB1B

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJvO0nHIB68&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv&v=RW2y76xRaLs&annotation_id=annotation_55720

Tuesday night at Bible Study, Dr. Rev. Timothy Smith (http://www.waterfromrock.org/) made some important points in exploring the concept of grace (in contrast to judgement), and I'd like to share them here.

Psalm 103:8 states, "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."

We often clump those two words together, mercy and grace, but they are two ends of and amazing spectrum. Rev. Smith explained, "Mercy is when God withholds deserved judgement or punishment. Grace is when God gives to us good things that we do not deserve. True grace, t he grace of God, not only implies un-merit (we have nothing to earn or deserve His gifts and goodness, but actually implies de-merit - we are completely unworthy of the gifts, to the extent of being at fault, yet He gives us His grace anyway. The greatest example is Jesus saying, while He is being killed, 'Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.'"

What do these natural disasters have to do with God's gifts and grace? First, that it seems unreal that so "few" people actually die (at least in the United States). A six mile swath of tornado destruction seems like it 'should' have done more. Yet more than 100 people did die. What of them? That's why our "own personal May 21st" is important - to be ready, joyfully, instead of fearfully, to meet a God of grace at any moment.

"We sing Amazing Grace, but does God's grace still amaze us?" (Dr. Smith)

Heather J. Kirk, Photographer, Author, Graphic Designer."We..." an e-book at: photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books Find her art at: Artist Websitesand HeatherJKirk.com