Below is a link to a sermon I preached entitled “The Kingdom of Heaven Has Come Near!” based on Matthew 3:1-12 on December 8, 2013.
(Recorded by Voice Record Pro by Bej Bej Apps for iOS)
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
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There’s a ‘War on Christmas’ — Just Not the One You Think
My latest for Sojourners
Christmas gifts. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Black Friday has come and gone; amid the tales of super sales and throngs of people, stories were reported about injuries and fights. For me, saving a few bucks is not worth the lines, the waiting and the hustle. Whether we like it or not, the holiday season is upon us. In the Christian liturgical calendar (how the Church tells time) December 1 was the beginning of Advent. Advent is the season of waiting and expecting the coming of the Christ child on Christmas Day. Maybe it’s just me but it seems like every year Christmas decorations are being put up earlier and earlier thus losing the magic and the expectation that Advent has to bring.
Children hold on to the magic, wonder and awe that comes with the season of Christmas. We adults, on the other hand, we tend make it a chore. It doesn’t have to be this way. Some people however are not satisfied with the notion that not everyone in the country celebrates Christmas or even promotes Christmas.
The American Family Association has been tracking major companies to see how they promote Christmas. They came up with the “Naughty or Nice” list where they have examined different company’s websites, circulars, commercials and stores noting how many times they use the word “Christmas” if at all. According to their website, “If a company has items associated with Christmas, but did not use the word “Christmas,” then the company is considered as censoring ‘Christmas.’” Their research has uncovered that if you shop at Radio Shack, Barnes & Noble, Family Dollar and Foot Locker (just to name a few) then you are part of the problem and thus should be placed on the “naughty list.”
It’s an interesting note, however, that the phrase “naughty or nice list” is not technically Christian. Sure Saint Nicholas was a real person but the jolly bearded man in a red and white suit that “watches you when you are sleeping” and makes a “list and checks it twice” is a product of commercialism. The Santa we all know and love today is straight from the Coca Cola factory. But I digress…
The American Family Association believes that there is a full out “war on Christmas.” Well, I would have to say that they are correct but not for the reasons they postulate.
The real “war on Christmas” is not when cashier says “Happy Holidays.”
The real “war on Christmas” is not when people refer to a Christmas tree as a “Holiday Tree.”
The real “war on Christmas” is when Christians support the overspending and mass consumption propagated by our “spend, spend, spend” culture.
The real “war on Christmas” is when we reduce this holiday to a feeling or a moment.
The real “war on Christmas” is when we equate our love for someone by how big the price tag of the gift is.
The real “war on Christmas” is when Christians only think about doing charity work in December.
The real “war on Christmas” is teaching our children or grandchildren the “reason for the season” but make more about toys and gifts under the tree.
The real “war on Christmas” is when we are more worried about saving a buck than we are about the millions of people in this world without access to clean water or medicine or that there are 22,000 homeless children in New York City alone.
The real “war on Christmas” is when Americans spend $450 BILLION on Christmas; however it would only take $20 Billion to ensure that all people in the world could have access to clean water for a year.
The real “war on Christmas” is when Americans buy products because they are cheap without thinking twice about the person who made it, their working conditions, their pay or even their age. (Yes, that’s right their age. In some countries it is LEGAL to employ children.)
This so called “war” is something that Christians every year are participating in but point the judgmental fingers at others.
The real “war on Christmas” is something that can be stopped but it will not happen by making a “naughty or nice” list.
Don’t get me wrong I love Christmas and I love hearing the story of Christ coming to the world again. However the act of acquiring things should not be the central focus of Christmas. Neither is worrying about what catch phrase people say in a store.
It is not the cashier’s job to share the Church’s story of God coming to the world. This story of the incarnation of God is MY story to tell, the Church’s story to tell, all of Christ’s followers story to tell. Christmas has the power to make a difference in the world today. Imagine what we could do if we chose this Christmas to share our love in ways that cannot be wrapped and placed under a tree. What if we took some of the money that we would have spent on each other and gave it to people who were in need– then Christmas could change the world.
So let’s call a metaphoric “cease fire” and stop this so-called war on Christmas.
We have some work to do.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Advent In Two Minutes
For some, Advent may be a new concept.
Below is a good summation of Advent.
Enjoy!
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Source
Conspiracy!
Advent Conspiracy
Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have all come and gone; whether we like it or not the “holiday season” is upon us. For many of us the holidays are filled with shopping, lights, trees and parties. It is a busy and often cheerful time of the year. For others it is a stress inducing, budget stretching and even frantic time of the year. Why is it when we get through with Christmas we are more thankful that its over than it actually happened? Have we replaced the notion of Christmas with another excuse to spend money to show our love to others? For the past few years my family and I have participated in a conspiracy. What if we looked at Christmas in a new way? What if we looked past the stores, the shopping, the mountains of gifts and looked at how Christmas can change the world?
Americans spend $450 Billion on Christmas EVERY YEAR… let that sink in for a minute. $450 BILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR for Christmas. Now, did you know it would only take $20 Billion to ensure that all people in the world could have access to clean drinking water? Something seems a bit incongruent here. This is where the Conspiracy comes in. (Everyone loves a good conspiracy right?) The Advent Conspiracy is a different way of looking at Christmas and the in-breaking of God into the world. Advent Conspiracy (or AC) is based on four primary tenets:
Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All.
The focus of Advent Conspiracy is centered around the notion on how Christmas can change the world. The very first Christmas 2000+ years ago was radical and counter-cultural The idea of a God (of any religion) coming to earth to dwell, live, serve and teach was something that never entered into people’s minds. However, because of this indwelling of God, we now put ourselves on trajectory to be in communion with God for all times. The creators of this movement sum it up well when they write:
“The time of year when worshiping Jesus should be the easiest is often the hardest. The invitation to join the Advent Conspiracy is a call to remain in the gospel of Jesus and worship him—no matter how strongly the cultural demands of Christ pull at us. The transformation initiated by Jesus I no different today than it was the day he was born—the source of joy, peace, and hope hasn’t changed.” (Rick McKinley, Chris Seay, and Greg Holder, Advent Conspiracy: Can Christmas Still Change the World? (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2009), page 34.)
AC doesn’t advocate not giving gifts, but they do advocate giving meaningful and thoughtful gifts. Does Uncle Steve really need another tie? Instead of rushing through the aisles or online if we took some time and gave thoughtful gifts, then the gift would equated with love, not with the notion of “the heftier the price tag the more I love you.” Why go into debt to show that you love someone? One of the most memorable and meaningful gifts I was given was a group of 3 x 5 note cards held together by a simple ring. My wife’s aunt, uncle, niece and nephews had all taken the time to write things that they loved about me. It wasn’t the newest piece of technology, it wasn’t my favorite movie; it was a paper note cards and a metal ring. It meant so much because they took the time to think about me instead of buying something just to buy something.
That’s the power of the Advent Conspiracy.
AC gets back to the heart of the Christmas story, not the flashy gifts of the Magi but the humility of Christ and the love poured out by God to all of humanity. Imagine what we could do if we chose this Christmas to share our love in ways that can not be wrapped and placed under a tree. What if we took some of the money that we would have spent on each other and gave it to people who were in need– then Christmas could change the world. Advent Conspiracy allows us to think about how we celebrate Christmas in a new and exciting way.
Below is a video from AC and some of the organizations that you could give gifts through this Christmas. Let’s make this Christmas one to remember!
Join the conspiracy!
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
[vimeo 47546099] [vimeo 50320595] iPhone App Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBZIWZWomYc Organizations That You Can Support During The Conspiracy!
Sermon: “Remember Me In Your Kingdom”
Christ The King (All Rights Reserved)
Below is a link to a sermon I preached entitled “Remember Me In Your Kingdom” based on Luke 22:33-43 (Christ The King Sunday 2013)
(Recorded by Voice Record Pro by Bej Bej Apps for iOS)
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Happy Thanksgiving!
![A Universal Thank You [Explored]](https://i0.wp.com/farm7.staticflickr.com/6112/6391380389_76c97e6d2e.jpg)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
May we remember the blessings of God that have been poured out to us all not just today but each day.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Photo: “A Universal Thank You” by Apara B. All Rights Reserved. http://flic.kr/p/aJMuHB
Requiem of A Holiday
Tomorrow, millions of people will gather across this great nation to celebrate Thanksgiving: the time in our calendar where we pause to give thanks for the year that has past, for family, loved ones, new additions and to remember those that have gone on before us. We share stories, we laugh, we cry…and for many of us we eat too much. For centuries, families have gathered together to pause and to say thanks, even if it is just for one day.
This year, however, I am going to make a bold statement: I am declaring that Thanksgiving to some is obsolete, if not dead. Why such the bold statement? It seems that since the day after Halloween, the focus has been on lights, bows, trees, candy canes, Santa and the Christmas story. In a mad dash to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and in the midst of people complaining about the store employee not saying “Merry Christmas” we have forgotten to stop and be thankful.
We all learned the story in grade school. Pilgrims came to this land on a ship called the Mayflower. They settled the land and after a difficult time with the land and the weather, they met some Native Americans. They helped work the land, grow crops and around harvest time they celebrated together with a grand feast, the first Thanksgiving. It was in this same spirit that the tradition has continued for so long.
For some, Thanksgiving has turned into a stopping point on the road to Christmas shopping and excess. It seems that every year the start date for when “Black Friday” sales begin is getting earlier and earlier. Some stores are opening on Thanksgiving Day to entice people to come and buy their holiday gifts at low, low prices.
On one hand, I understand their reasoning of trying to bolster the bottom line – especially in light of the past few years decline in the economy. But why has the day when people are supposed to be thankful for what they have been given turned into just another Thursday? Can we not give thanks for more than just a few hours one Thursday in November before making a mad dash to buy more and more things? What about the employees of these stores? Not every employee of a company can demand that they take the day off. What about their traditions? What about their family time? How will they give thanks?
While this might sound like I am being cynical, please hear me out: I am not. Thanksgiving is more than about turkey, stuffing and family; it is about the recognition that for most people, by virtue of living in the United States, we live a life of luxury, comfort and even excess. We should be thankful for what we have – not thankful that we have things but pine away for that flat screen for $100 at Wal-Mart.
I am not anti-gift giving, or even anti-captialism, but I am anti-acquisition of things for acquisition’s sake. Is forgoing the sales on Thanksgiving really going to put a damper on one’s holiday shopping? It’s puzzling to think that in one breath we can go around the table and say one thing we are thankful for, while in the back of our mind we are hoping that Aunt Shirley won’t take too long because we have to get to the store by 6pm if we are going to purchase one of those TVs or a Playstation 4 or an iPad Mini.
As a Christian, I find the words of Jesus are all the more true this time of year: “Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them. Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don’t eat them and where thieves don’t break in and steal them. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21, Common English Bible). Our heart this time of year should be centered around thanks for the beauty of this earth, the world that we find ourselves in and even extending Christ’s love of wholeness and reconciliation to those who go without most of the year.
Thanksgiving should be a reminder to us all that despite the things we are envious we don’t have, we have a lot, more than most in the entire world. This Thanksgiving let’s not lose sight of that fact. Things can wait, sales come and go. What’s more important– saving a few bucks or making memories with friends and family? Give me the memories all day long– you can keep your sales, long lines and fights over the last Barbie Dream House.
Happy Thanksgiving!
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Sermon: “It’s Not Our Call”
Below is a link to a sermon I preached on November 17, 2013 entitled “It’s Not Our Call” based on Luke 18:9-14
(Recorded by Voice Record Pro by Bej Bej Apps for iOS)
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Thanksgiving Fun!
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and my lovely wife created some cute turkey t-shirts for our kids. (I know this isn’t a typical Rev. Ev post but I just had to share.)
I want to thank Fruit of the Loom for sending me these shirts from their BEST Collection.
They are well made and the color are quite bright! The orange is called “safety orange” and it seems to get brighter in the sun than it is indoors. You can find the shirts here for children and here for adults.
For the turkey pattern you can go here.
Again, a BIG thank you to Fruit of the Loom for their generosity!
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
New Adventure: Rev Ev and Ray Show
For a while now, my friend Ray and I have been wanting to do something different with respects to Christianity. We have had several conversations about the future of the Church and how the Church can sometimes miss the mark or the perception of Christianity is not what we believe it should be.
We would have long lunch conversations airing our thoughts and concerns, but we realized that more people probably had the same ideas as we did. We’ve wanted to do some type of vidcast or podcast for a while now but our lives were busy with jobs and families (they still are). But we took some time and thanks to Google Hangouts On Air we are able to record and converse about Christianity, theology and the like.
Who knows where this will take us but we have had fun so far.
We would love to hear from you!
Enjoy the video below.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
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Rev. Dr. Evan M. Dolive 