::..:: gathering my way ::..::

heard a lot of talk about how Christ has been taken out of Christmas so much of it from the pulpit so much in the news. some of the things i noticed was that it is ok to still embrace the myth of Santa Claus who represents consumerism to perfection. we watched the polar express and all i could think about was thank God we dont do Santa Claus with our kids i refuse to let them believe in a myth that trains them that you can only satisfy yourself with stuff. i guess my point is if christians want to keep Christ in Christmas maybe we should refuse to buy into the idea that you can satisfy yourself with things which is the basis for Santa Claus. what if christians started to not give gifts on christmas but committed acts of kindness and sacrifice for others. we had someone leave $230 on our porch one night last week and we really needed it. that was so cool it made me stop and ponder the reasons why i celebrate this crazy God who became like me to save me. if we insist on making christmas a holiday/celebration that is shared with Christ and Santa then we better get used to idea of saying happy holidays to everyone including those we attend church with. what if christians stopped lying to their kids about Santa and talked about Christ's command to love others and care for them. maybe all that money that is spent on things not really needed could help someone live a little longer and experience Christ in a way that transforms them and our world. so lets take Santa out of christmas and then the world might begin to understand Jesus Christ more clearly.

posted by John @ 4:25 PM

a tourist

i live in a place where the rich play and i use their money to become the father of children left in dumpsters to die.

i live in a place where the people of the way have lost their way following a star of their own making.

i live in a place that is crying to be heard, voices filled with pain, ignored and forgotten because of the noise from the grinding wheels of consumption.

i live in a place that is filled with hope, hope for a day when all can be loved and fulfilled.

i live in a place where the language of the spirit needs to be relearned.

i live in a place where the spirit speaks to me and tells me you are not finished yet , there are children still to become yours for a time.

i live in a place i am trying to call home, yet know that it will never be.

i live in a place that ignores the pain and suffering of their sisters and brothers next door and thousands of miles away.

i live in a place where freedom is ending, to protect our desire to have more things.

i live in a place that goes to war by choice, to slay an enemy that can never be defeated.

i live in a place where people pray, pray with passion that this world will change.

i live in a place filled with love and compassion given freely.

i live in a place of confusion, chaos and pain, yet joy and peace remain.

i live in a place where God is at work every minute of every day and i pray i can respond to God's moving with passion and energy.

so thank you my GOD my LORD for bringing me here and help me love this place and its people the way you do.

posted by John @ 10:55 AM

and you think the patriot act isn't undermining freedom

posted by John @ 10:15 AM

"world's apart" jars of clay

I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all adds up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love
to give and die

To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
more deeply than the oceans,
more abundant than the tear
Of a world embracing every heartache

Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow

To love you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees

All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me

Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart

[Additional lyrics:]

I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
the sin-soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and thrown away
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
so wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
so steal my heart and take the pain
take the selfish, take the weak
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
take my world apart

posted by John @ 4:03 PM