Send for me a spirit guide
Send for me a ghost
You became my shadow
When I was driving down the coast
Lit up the stars in the desert
Reveal the bending of the night
I held onto your hand and I got pulled into the light
And I saw you in flannel, drifting taking off
With a pocket full of cedar and your hands so soft
And I knew that you were with me
‘Cause I hear you turn and say
That everybody’s going to live forever
And no one ever dies anyway
Send for me my lanterns
Send for me my maps
‘Cause I lost all my direction
When you got caught in dark, dark traps
And now I’m pushing through buildings
Out to snowy mountain peaks
And I’ve been carrying your body
With me now for weeks
And I saw you in flannel, drifting taking off
With a pocket full of cedar and your hands so soft
And I knew that you were with me
‘Cause I hear you turn and say
That everybody’s going to live forever
And no one ever dies anyway
You can’t turn this boy around
Getting older, getting down
“Oh, if I could only pray the way this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on the piece of meat. Otherwise he has no thought, wish, or hope.”
Martin Luther’s Works, Volume 54, Table Talk
These artist gave Christmas to people who more than likely didn’t have much to celebrate. What did your church do for those in need on Christmas?
I’m so grateful for women in ministry. I’ve been blessed by so many amazing, Godly, powerful women. I was on a youth ministry team that 2/3 was made up of women that were capable of sharing the Gospel through words and actions.
I believe women should be allowed to have pastoral roles, and laity leadership.
Check out Luke 8:1-3 ESV
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
Women were apart of Jesus’ ministry, they provided resources for Christ, they were apart of his intimate followers (disciples). What is significant to understand is that women were the last at the cross and the first to the tomb. Women were the the first to witness the risen Lord, and were even tasked with TELLING the Resurrection to the twelve male disciples.
We must allow women to continue in ministry, to not allow them is a direct neglect and oversight of the Gospel of Jesus.
Have you recognized the women in your life? Do you value their ministry, and insight into the Gospel of Christ?
Why do Christian postulate “end times”? For many, apocalypse is happening right now. Today is the day of salvation, not 2012. 2 cor. 5:17-6:3
I love Christmas, I love to sing songs, I love to buy gifts, I love food! However, I’ve been thinking about what we really celebrate. As we march through the advent season, let us not forget what is really being celebrated. It isn’t enough to simply say that the birth of Christ is the reason for celebration (because odds are he wasn’t born December 25th, sorry). We go to church, we wear sweaters that our grandmother knitted us, and sing hymns with a “jingle”, all because it’s apart of the motions we’re expected to go through. The author of the book of Matthew explains Jesus’ view on the Holiness code. Now, the Holiness code was a series of verbal (and written down) laws that were taken from Old Testament Book of Leviticus, chapters 17–26. These laws became apart of the Jewish tradition, and were interpreted by Pharisees.
Throughout Matthew we see Christ combating this holiness code (particularly in this instance Jesus’ view of the Sabbath), check out Matthew 12:1-8. Christ isn’t concerned with what looks appropriate, Christ is concerned about MERCY. Many Christians attempt to say that the Law isn’t applicable anymore, and I couldn’t DISAGREE more. Christ wasn’t attempting to disassemble the establishment, he was merely making a commentary that Mercy should be at the center of all that we do. If the LAW gets in the way of Mercy, the law is being interpreted incorrectly.
Stephen, what does this have to do with Christmas? I’m stoked you asked! We’re expected to mindlessly spout of cliche rhetoric, spend countless dollars on gifts, and to show up wearing our most festive gear; all of this is done in an attempt to maintain the statues quo. I don’t see anywhere that Christ is impressed with our celebration of his birth, it was done on December 25th to combat the winter solstices during Constantine’s reign or perhaps another pagan holiday, and also limited space is dedicated to the birth in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. It seems that the authors of these Gospel didn’t have the birth as the most pivotal moment in Christ’ history. Could our holiness code be getting in the way of celebrating what should really be at stake with this holiday season? Throughout the Gospels we see Christ showing Mercy, combating peoples traditional view how the messiah should look and act. This season lets toss those terrible sweaters out, and look for opportunities to show Mercy. I love Christmas, but I love that Christ was born to show MERCY more. Are we really showing good will to all? Are there people still hungry? Are there people on the streets? Is there violence and war? Is there truly peace on earth? Let this season be one of Mercy, not an obligation towards a “holiness code”.
