Giving Thanks. I grew up saying thank you for nearly everything. At one point, my parents gave points out for doing different things like our chores and being polite - which included saying please and thank you at meal times. We would celebrate Thanksgiving and then the tradition was to put up Christmas decorations the afternoon after the Thanksgiving meal. That's when Christmas officially started in our house.
When I entered college, I had roommates who were strongly against Christmas music being played one day before Thanksgiving and some who were against it even before December 1st. You also had roommates who would have played Christmas music in August if they didn't have roommates who were so much against it.
Sometimes I have wondered why we are for or against starting Christmas early and last week it hit me. We were at the mall and noticed the stores getting ready for Christmas already. Halloween hadn't even passed and they were skipping Thanksgiving and going straight for Christmas. As Josh and I left, we commented that at least they weren't pretending to be thankful for the things they have. It's true. To anyone who doesn't celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, all it's about is consumerism. That is why I believe we as Christians should be "anti-Christmas" to some extent and push Thanksgiving for a time. We need to remind our friends to be thankful for the things and people in their lives. I am glad to see on facebook that many are sharing one thankful thought a day to do just that.
Our Volunteer Missions site: http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR?pxfid=4870&pg=fund&fr_id=1090
This blog is about Josh, Debbie, Esther, Isaac & Leonardo. We love sharing how God is working in our lives; Things God speaks to us; our thoughts and feelings; how we live our life for the One who gave us His life.
Showing posts with label Consumerism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Consumerism. Show all posts
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Thanksgiving, Black Friday & Small Shop Saturday
It's been a few weeks since anyone's heard from us. We've been doing about the same thing each week: go to the parks, active in the church, etc. Nothing really to note until today.
Our Thanksgiving was pretty good. We had a meal with our friends James and Ashley (friends of mine from a past youth group who happen to be stationed on the base here). It was my first time roasting a turkey, but it was pretty good. It was hardly dry at all.
Black Friday has always made us sad. I mean, think about it: if we are thankful for everyone and everything we have like we say or think we are on Thanksgiving day, what makes us rush to the store and become animals over these limited items? Were we really thankful? Or was Thanksgiving our excuse to eat and consume way more than we need only to go to Walmart the next morning to consume more in our purchases, which by they way, most people participating in Black Friday admitted that they were there to get something for themselves. They weren't Christmas shopping at all.
Today was a good day. We got up and had homemade cinnamon rolls and then we headed downtown to this market small shops were doing. The city was getting the park ready for the Christmas Lighting Ceremony that'll be on the 1st. We went by the bank to get some cash, and when Josh and I were surprised with how much I decided to take out, Josh new that we'd need it for something. While I was in the post office dropping something off, Josh met Jesus (a common name for mexicans or hispanics, for those who don't know). We walked and talked a bit and found out that his 5 year old daughter was needing a coat and jeans for school and because the weather is getting colder. We all went to one of the department stores downtown and got his daughter some jeans, a coat, jacket, and his family a gallon of milk. We probably spent about an hour with Jesus while we were downtown.
It is just amazing when God works through us. I know that we are where God wants us when I don't even realize I'm doing God's work until it's already done and gone. I didn't know why I was taking out more money than we knew we'd spend, but I did it anyway. Josh didn't have to talk to Jesus outside the post office, but he did. God is just waiting for us to do things so he can work through us, even when we don't completely understand what we're doing.
Our Volunteer Missions site: http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR?pxfid=4870&pg=fund&fr_id=1090
Our Thanksgiving was pretty good. We had a meal with our friends James and Ashley (friends of mine from a past youth group who happen to be stationed on the base here). It was my first time roasting a turkey, but it was pretty good. It was hardly dry at all.
Black Friday has always made us sad. I mean, think about it: if we are thankful for everyone and everything we have like we say or think we are on Thanksgiving day, what makes us rush to the store and become animals over these limited items? Were we really thankful? Or was Thanksgiving our excuse to eat and consume way more than we need only to go to Walmart the next morning to consume more in our purchases, which by they way, most people participating in Black Friday admitted that they were there to get something for themselves. They weren't Christmas shopping at all.
Today was a good day. We got up and had homemade cinnamon rolls and then we headed downtown to this market small shops were doing. The city was getting the park ready for the Christmas Lighting Ceremony that'll be on the 1st. We went by the bank to get some cash, and when Josh and I were surprised with how much I decided to take out, Josh new that we'd need it for something. While I was in the post office dropping something off, Josh met Jesus (a common name for mexicans or hispanics, for those who don't know). We walked and talked a bit and found out that his 5 year old daughter was needing a coat and jeans for school and because the weather is getting colder. We all went to one of the department stores downtown and got his daughter some jeans, a coat, jacket, and his family a gallon of milk. We probably spent about an hour with Jesus while we were downtown.
It is just amazing when God works through us. I know that we are where God wants us when I don't even realize I'm doing God's work until it's already done and gone. I didn't know why I was taking out more money than we knew we'd spend, but I did it anyway. Josh didn't have to talk to Jesus outside the post office, but he did. God is just waiting for us to do things so he can work through us, even when we don't completely understand what we're doing.
Our Volunteer Missions site: http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR?pxfid=4870&pg=fund&fr_id=1090
Friday, September 28, 2012
Christian Action
As I remember the summers I attended Church Camps, I remember the different things my counselors did to get to know us and to help us get to know the others in our group. One question always seemed to be asked and always seemed to puzzle me the most:
I have seen a variety of Christians who neglect to preserve our physical world because they believe that the world is going to end up burning eventually anyway, so why should we treat the world any different? I see this the most probably when I listen to political debates. Why do you think environmentalists want to try to find an alternative energy source? Even those who aren't Christians realize that we can't run on oil forever, furthermore they have seen how pollution from oil has effected the earth already. Those against finding alternative energy sources don't believe that we'll run out of oil until after Jesus' return, so why should we spend our energy finding alternative energy sources? This also reflects on our consumerism. We try to consume all we can before we die, not thinking twice about what we throw away. Does it bother anyone else that America has 5% of the world's population while consuming around 25% of the world's resources and contribute to 75% of the world's global toxic waste? Maybe if we were a bit more generous the rest of the world wouldn't be living quite so poorly and we wouldn't be wasting so much.
While I do feel strongly against consumerism and not taking good care of the things God has given us and expects us to take good care of, I feel even stronger about not showing God's love to those God has entrusted to us.
I have seen too many Christians who get comfortable reading their Bibles everyday, growing in their faith, but who don't show anyone the love God has placed in their hearts. They are well meaning, they want everyone they meet to love God like they do, but somewhere between being comfortable and wanting everyone to love God as they do, the message isn't received the way they anticipate it will and it gets frustrating. Somewhere when we get frustrated, we forget how God loved us when we were still sinners, and we get caught up with all the little things that are wrong with those we are trying to save. We want to tell them why what they're doing is wrong... drinking, having tattoos, homosexuality, dishonesty, Halloween, ... the list keeps going and it will go on forever until we remember to love them the same way God loved us. When Jesus was here on Earth, he didn't tell sinners what they were doing was wrong, after they believed in Jesus with their hearts, only then did Jesus tell them to "sin no more". The only times Jesus confronted someone with what they were doing wrong, he was talking to those who were already Christians, the Pharisees.
James tell us that "Faith without works is dead" and he is so right! James 2:14-26
This is about the time most churches are talking about what they should do for their "Harvest Festivals". A celebration they have around Halloween for the kids in their community. There are different reasons for having a Harvest Party, but I think the most common reason is to have a safe, fun place for the kids during the Halloween season. Some have it on October 31st, while others have it on the Saturday or Sunday before then. These parties are filled with carnival-type games, and tons of prizes and candy for the kids to take home with them. Some churches even include a time where they formally share the story of God's love with those who come. The problem I have seen these churches face is they don't know how they can make kids stay for this sharing time. Which tempts those planning to make their "Harvest Party" about telling the kids and parents why they shouldn't go trick or treating and why Halloween is bad. I think this is where we've forgotten to love these families the same way God loves us, and you're right, when you take the fun and games out of the night, you can't expect your guests to want to stay. We need to find a way to share God's love throughout the entire night. That's why most churches don't have a formal time to share with the kids, they know that throughout the night, each kid will interact with your Harvest Party workers, who will be sharing God's love with each kid they meet. Not to say a formal sharing time isn't good, I like the idea - just not when it takes the fun out of the night.
I hate to think that we're expressing the idea that Christianity isn't fun, I mean, when we talk about all the things that are wrong in our community, we're only reminding them what we, as Christians, are against. This only strengthens their belief that Christianity is boring and that we never have any fun as Christians. We need to make an effort to show the world what we are for and that we have fun everyday in the relationship with have with God, our Savior.
Our Volunteer Missions site: http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR?pxfid=4870&pg=fund&fr_id=1090
"What is your biggest pet-peeve?"It puzzled me because growing up, I didn't really have pet-peeves. Only now can I really say that I have a pet-peeve, now that no one asks the question. My biggest pet-peeve is when Christians refuse to have anything to do with our world. This can be anything from environmental stewardship to showing God's love to our world.
I have seen a variety of Christians who neglect to preserve our physical world because they believe that the world is going to end up burning eventually anyway, so why should we treat the world any different? I see this the most probably when I listen to political debates. Why do you think environmentalists want to try to find an alternative energy source? Even those who aren't Christians realize that we can't run on oil forever, furthermore they have seen how pollution from oil has effected the earth already. Those against finding alternative energy sources don't believe that we'll run out of oil until after Jesus' return, so why should we spend our energy finding alternative energy sources? This also reflects on our consumerism. We try to consume all we can before we die, not thinking twice about what we throw away. Does it bother anyone else that America has 5% of the world's population while consuming around 25% of the world's resources and contribute to 75% of the world's global toxic waste? Maybe if we were a bit more generous the rest of the world wouldn't be living quite so poorly and we wouldn't be wasting so much.
While I do feel strongly against consumerism and not taking good care of the things God has given us and expects us to take good care of, I feel even stronger about not showing God's love to those God has entrusted to us.
I have seen too many Christians who get comfortable reading their Bibles everyday, growing in their faith, but who don't show anyone the love God has placed in their hearts. They are well meaning, they want everyone they meet to love God like they do, but somewhere between being comfortable and wanting everyone to love God as they do, the message isn't received the way they anticipate it will and it gets frustrating. Somewhere when we get frustrated, we forget how God loved us when we were still sinners, and we get caught up with all the little things that are wrong with those we are trying to save. We want to tell them why what they're doing is wrong... drinking, having tattoos, homosexuality, dishonesty, Halloween, ... the list keeps going and it will go on forever until we remember to love them the same way God loved us. When Jesus was here on Earth, he didn't tell sinners what they were doing was wrong, after they believed in Jesus with their hearts, only then did Jesus tell them to "sin no more". The only times Jesus confronted someone with what they were doing wrong, he was talking to those who were already Christians, the Pharisees.
James tell us that "Faith without works is dead" and he is so right! James 2:14-26
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
This is about the time most churches are talking about what they should do for their "Harvest Festivals". A celebration they have around Halloween for the kids in their community. There are different reasons for having a Harvest Party, but I think the most common reason is to have a safe, fun place for the kids during the Halloween season. Some have it on October 31st, while others have it on the Saturday or Sunday before then. These parties are filled with carnival-type games, and tons of prizes and candy for the kids to take home with them. Some churches even include a time where they formally share the story of God's love with those who come. The problem I have seen these churches face is they don't know how they can make kids stay for this sharing time. Which tempts those planning to make their "Harvest Party" about telling the kids and parents why they shouldn't go trick or treating and why Halloween is bad. I think this is where we've forgotten to love these families the same way God loves us, and you're right, when you take the fun and games out of the night, you can't expect your guests to want to stay. We need to find a way to share God's love throughout the entire night. That's why most churches don't have a formal time to share with the kids, they know that throughout the night, each kid will interact with your Harvest Party workers, who will be sharing God's love with each kid they meet. Not to say a formal sharing time isn't good, I like the idea - just not when it takes the fun out of the night.
I hate to think that we're expressing the idea that Christianity isn't fun, I mean, when we talk about all the things that are wrong in our community, we're only reminding them what we, as Christians, are against. This only strengthens their belief that Christianity is boring and that we never have any fun as Christians. We need to make an effort to show the world what we are for and that we have fun everyday in the relationship with have with God, our Savior.
Our Volunteer Missions site: http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR?pxfid=4870&pg=fund&fr_id=1090
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