my christmas present
Seriously, one comment on ideas for advent! Take a long, hard look at yourselves, signposters.
So I thought I might turn conversation to the Christmas wish list. Along with Scot McKnight I have a fair obsession with fountain pens. I went to school somewhere similar to the school described in this article (courtesy of Scot) and learnt to write with a special fountain pen specially designed for kids. I also learnt a special cursive writing that people thought was fantastic, which I promptly shed in the space of a couple of weeks when I hit the peer pressure of High School (woe to the weird person who received teacher’s compliments on their cursive).
Though I have never been able to recapture the cursive, over the last couple of years I have recommenced writing with a fountain pen. I may have mentioned this before, but since I started writing with a fountain pen, I am really just about the coolest person I know. I might be at a mediation with a client and I have people clamouring to try out my pen. I pull out my pen to sign documents and fellow afficionados rush to get their own and compare stories of the heritage of their own pens.
This year at or about Christmas (we tend to get our own gifts later) I am planning to get myself a real fountain pen - one that does away with cartridges and includes a refillable ink reservoir. Of course this is a priority after the whole world peace, happiness among men, redemptive love etc etc. But what are your Christmas wishes?
December 13th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
“Seriously, one comment on ideas for advent! Take a long, hard look at yourselves, signposters.”
I have been thinking about it…but I didn’t want to come up with something half-arsed.
It usually takes me 2 or 3 days from the time I first think of something…to the time when the idea is fully developed.
My original thought was gathering gifts..and taking them ..3 wise-persons style to a local maternity hospital…for the staff stuck working Christmas eve..and for the women popping out kids..and for the new fathers stuck in there for hours at Christmas waiting for the kid/s to pop out.
You church people are from the microwave generation. ‘It’s got another 30 seconds to cook…..I think I’m gonna die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’
Good ideas take a while to germinate.
Hold your horses.
December 13th, 2006 at 8:15 pm
“I pull out my pen to sign documents and fellow afficionados rush to get their own and compare stories of the heritage of their own pens.”
Sounds like coffee-heads when they’re full ‘o beans…
‘Mine comes from Tibet’ ‘WELL - mine’s from Italy’
‘mine does mostly thick strokes with some thin’ ‘WELL - mine does mostly thin with some thick…’
December 13th, 2006 at 8:59 pm
world peace, thin thighs, and a new oven for my new apartment.
[i emailed a copy of the promo poster for pete rollins’ visit to the nccc office because i couldn’t find your or Phil’s email - just wanting to check that you received it… ]
December 13th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
No, I didn’t Cheryl - send it to phil at nccc.org.au or phil at signposts.org.au
December 14th, 2006 at 7:34 am
I already have my christmas wish, tickets to the 1st three days of the boxing day test. I would also like some N T Wright books, and maybe a curry cookbook, oh and that world peace stuff too
As to what we are doing for Christmas we are going to a detox taking some food and maybe playing some music. Must be really hard in detox over Christmas.
rev
December 14th, 2006 at 1:02 pm
I wish the Anglican church in Australia would get with it and start actually doing things that relate with people today rather than a dream of what it was like in England 100 years ago!
December 14th, 2006 at 1:10 pm
I wish I had never gotten involved with a pentecostal church.
I wish I never found out that my first love from years ago is HIV positive and will die someday soon.
I wish my best friend didn’t have cancer.
I wish I had a family that loved and accepted me and was interested in my life, rather than afraid of me, so they never ask too many questions (so, they have no idea of who I am or of all that I have accomplished…..what a bitch)
I wish people weren’t so mean and hateful, killing the soul and spirit of those that so desperately just want to live.
I wish I didn’t have to drink myself to sleep every night, numbing my feelings and emotions, in order to avoid a nervous breakdown.
I wish I could let myself “feel” again.
I wish the “church” could be what it was meant to be, so that people wouldn’t have to go through life without hope or direction or meaning.
Sometimes I wish, and others just like me, wish this life would just end, because the pain, hurt, and disappointment is just too great. The contemporary concepts of love, God, and the church ring hollow.
Want to know what we all really want and need for Christmas? Just a little Hope and Joy. Without hope for a better tomorrow, what’s the point of getting out of bed? Without some occasional joy, what ’s the motivation to breathe? Is that too much to ask this year from “Santa Christ”……or is it “Jesus Claus?”
I wish…..
I really do wish…….
December 14th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
how sad….
how ironic………
And so, a mute spirit decends upon the wise……those who were equipped and born to speak into the darkness…………
so typical.
The “church” has never really been that good at shining light into those dark places that rob the world of souls.
why am I not surprised, once again?
why can’t I be satisfied to slip quietly into the darknesss??
why does the apathy continue to taunt and provoke me???
such a cold, cruel world…even on SignPosts.
I guess you all aren’t all that different from “the church,” even though you want to be and try to be
December 14th, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Or I only just took another look at this thread to read your post - not muteness - unaware? It also takes some time to come uip with a response that’s not going to sound loike so much dribble and puke - I don;t ahve that response right now - but I am thinking and I have read your post and I am concerned
December 14th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
I’ve only just read your post too.
The friends of Job were at their most useful when they sat by his side and said nothing. It was when they opened their mouths that they did more harm than good.
So I don’t want to say any glib phrases, or to pretend there’s a magic pill that will take the pain away. The truth is that life is difficult… and it is more difficult for some than others… and noone really knows why.
I am giving you my tears… and when they’ve settled down, I’ll give you my prayers too.
December 14th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Well said, Janet.
Taby - though I don’t know you other than through here and while we’ve never conversed, I feel for you.
The words of 2 Corinthians 4 always encourage me in times like this.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair;
persucted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that hte life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Peace be with you, bro.
December 15th, 2006 at 5:59 am
Taby, I have just now read you post as well. I am very sorry for all of the pain you are in and have continued to experience. I wish you were in my church where I am absolutely convinced you would be loved and given joy and hope, as well as expected to give it back to others some day. I pray you will see the light of Christ in this time.
rev
December 15th, 2006 at 6:15 pm
Hey Tabby… are you open to talking to someone about your thoughts and feelings? Is there anyone in your life who is safe, wise, and helpful who you might do this with?
If not… let me know roughly where you live and I’ll try to find someone. If you’re open to this. Bad things do happen to everyone sometimes… but I’d be really concerned for you if you have no way to process this stuff.
December 17th, 2006 at 8:56 pm
Taby…I don’t know what to say or do. Cyberspace can be so…inadequate.
Please let us know if there’s anything we can do.
December 18th, 2006 at 3:17 pm
http://gregtheexplorer.wordpress.com/2006/12/18/my-christmas-movie/ a christmas movie I made
December 23rd, 2006 at 7:21 am
Interesting stuff Greg.
Taby… where are you? Thinking of you.
December 24th, 2006 at 12:16 pm
One sleep until……..err…what are we celebrating again?
Oh yeah….Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath’s retirement.
December 25th, 2006 at 9:05 am
It is Christmas today and I got a Ipod, clothes, and DVDs.
December 25th, 2006 at 10:08 am
I got a hydration pack for my back pack, red wine and an electric tooth brush.
December 26th, 2006 at 8:16 am
My husband and I were given a Honeywell wireless indoor / outdoor weather station which tells the temperature indoors and outdoors, and tells the time. I’m not making that up.
The world has gone mad.
December 27th, 2006 at 8:51 am
Janet…you have nooooo idea how much time I could spend playing with something like that.
My fiance and I got lots of practical stuff, and instead of buying each other Christmas presents, we’re going shopping. We’re getting each other a washing machine and a fridge for Christmas.
December 27th, 2006 at 11:20 am
You romantic devils. Aren’t you taking living simply a bit far? One should be able to lash out on Lindt chocolate at Christmas.
Forgot to say it tells the date as well.
I’m a relic from the era that thought a clock, a calender, a thermometer, and the ability to look up the weather forecast pretty much covered all bases.
December 27th, 2006 at 5:13 pm
Yep, it’s all about the romance this Christmas!!
You’d think after living out of home for 10+ years each, we’d have all that stuff. But clearly we’ve been mooching off housemates!!
December 31st, 2006 at 4:23 pm
The Ultimate in “Christmas Gifting”…
A friend of mine was just telling me that his older (mature) sister had refused to partake in his large family gathering’s ‘Kris Kringle’ because she had already bought presents for others throughout the year … so everyone had to buy gifts for her - and vis-a-vis.
His sister had given my friends wife a beautiful Diary/Address book … however when my friends wife took the gift home and examined it closely - the diary had previously been used by the thoughtful giver…
It even included the names and phone numbers of boyfriends she had around the time of the demise of her marriage…
Now that has the be the ultimate in the use of the ‘Seinfeld’ phrase of ‘regifting’!…
January 3rd, 2007 at 9:24 pm
I got some really comfortable thongs (the foot kind), shorts that actualy fit me and look good (with a slightly rotund shape that is hard), the latest Bryce Courtney bok which I am enjoying a lot, an some t shirts and some mail personal care tools…scissors with rounded ends so you can trim the forest up your snozz and in your blessed dears, nail clippers with catchers - my darling hates finding the clipped nails in the bathroom apparently - i leavce them ‘cuase I love her! and some mucho looking tweezers for the errant eyebrow hair that makes me look like John howard!
I love Christmas
January 4th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
from http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=2627
Posted: December 21, 2006 at 11:59 pm by Richard
At this time of year it is common to hear the complaint, “The trouble with Christmas is, it’s too materialistic these days.” Christians up and down the land go even further, “It’s all very well celebrating, but what about the spiritual spects of Christmas?” And there is no shortage of evidence for the truth of these complaints. Christmas has become a riot of spending and gluttony. The rule seems to be, if it can be indulged, it must be over-indulged. You haven’t had enough to eat if you can still move. You hven’t had enough to drink if you can still stand. You haven’t spent enough if there is still credit on your VISA card. More! More! More!
Every Christian I know complains about it, and of course they’re right to do so, Right?
The commercialism and materialism of Christmas is such a soft target, I almost wonder why we bother. If everyone agrees it’s wrong (At last! Something the whole church can agree about!) why do we bother talking about it? I want to suggest that even in the materialism of a modern Christmas, there’s a lesson for God’s people if we are willing to hear it.
Christmas is a supremely materialistic festival. We celebrate the fact that God took human flesh — became incarnate — and lived among his people. He did not enter the world as a glorious heavenly being. He came as a baby, doing all the things that babies do. Forget the sentimental carols and Christmas cards. If the Christian gospel means anything at all, it is that “God is with us”. Through the incarnation, God takes fallen human flesh and makes it holy. I think it was Irenaeus who put it this way: “He became what we are, that we might become what he is.” So if ever there was a time to celebrate our flesh with eating, merrymaking and music — this is it! Christians should not be on the sidelines looking po-faced. We should be showing the world how to party!
The real trouble is not with Christmas, but with the rest of the year. In the west we live every day as though it were a party. The reason we over-indulge to such excess at Christmas is that we over-indulge the rest of the year. The target of the church’s complaint should not be the materialism of Christmas, but the materialism of a lifestyle in which excess is not only lauded, it is practically compulsory. Johann Hari got that much right in his column today:
This year, the first to utter this cry has been Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, warning “the spiritual values that many people rightly acknowledge at the heart of Christmas are [now] subjected to an assault of materialism”. Many of us nod solemnly at this thought, before guiltily dashing out to Brent Cross to buy another DVD player, remote-control dinosaur and pair of Heelys for the kids.
But, of course, it is much harder to address an overindulgent way of life than it is to “Bah! Humbug!” about a short time of celebration. We complain about the splinter in our brother’s eye but don’t notice the plank in our own.
Merry Christmas.