I love Christmas music. As soon as 103.7 FM went all Christmas, I have basically only listened to that station (It's the only time of year you hear Bono, Frank Sinatra, Beach Boys, Eliot Yamin, and the Jackson 5 back to back to back). So I began thinking what my favorite Christmas songs are. I made a few lists since the religious Christmas music appeals to me differently than the secular. I also came up with my least favorites. So here they are:
Favorite Religious Christmas Music:
1. Little Drummer Boy - I love the message of the song, and my favorite version of this song is by Jars of Clay. The funniest version is Johnny Cash.
2. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - This should always be the very first Christmas song allowed to be played, sung, or heard each Christmas.
3. O Come All Ye Faithful
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Favorite Secular Christmas Music:
1. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole's version is the best
2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - perhaps the darkest Christmas song ever, kind of depressing, but one of my favorites.
3. Baby, It's Cold Outside - not sure why this is a Christmas Song, but I include it anyway.
4. Christmas Waltz - one of my favorites this year - the Frank Sinatra version. I have probably hummed this song more than any other this Christmas.
5. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - U2's version - no list is complete without Bono.
Favorite to Sing with the Kids
1. Frosty
2. Rudolph
3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
4. Jingle Bells
5. Go Tell It On the Mountain
Favorite New Christmas Song this Year: Faith Hill, "A Baby Changes Everything"
Favorite Christmas Album: Handel's Messiah (Actually an Easter piece but gets thrown into Christmas) & Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb of God"
Least Favorite:
1. Feliz Navidad - please shoot me.
2. Jessica Simpson's version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" - one of the worst ever
3. Christmas Shoes - shoot me again.
4. Deck the Halls
5. Chipmunks
Merry Christmas.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Politics, Pastors, Presidents, and Prayer
We have witnessed a transfer of leadership among evangelicals in American politics for the first time in 30 years. Since folks like Jerry Falwell burst onto the political scene in the late 1970s, evangelicals and politics have been closely, and oftentimes detrimentally, entwined. While I am pro-life and consider myself a political conservative on most issues, I have cringed at how many evangelical leaders have used their positions of influence as a political hammer for partisan power. The Old Guard of the Religious Right - Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, James Dobson, Paul Weyrich, and James Kennedy, just to name a few - have given way (either by death or by fading influence) to new evangelicals who seek to promote a more holistic influence on the culture, while remaining, as much as possible, neutral concerning partisan politics. Billy Graham gracefully walked this line as pastor to the past presidents (except for a brief time with Nixon). It appears that the new American pastor, as well as the new voice for evangelicals, has become Rick Warren.
So what's the difference between Warren and someone like James Dobson? Their views on abortion and marriage are the same. They both are passionate about Jesus Christ. However, James Dobson and others like him made a career out of alarmism and judgmentalism on the political front, along with attempts at "king-making." Political power can be a corrupting seducer. As the Old Guard accumulated influence in the Republican Party, they lost sight of their truest selves. Political positions often trumped theology, causing the old Religious Right to lose some integrity and focus. They moved from prophetic voices to participating voices in the political elite. Warren hasn't compromised his pastoral integrity by involving himself in partisan party politics - and hopefully he won't. But he hasn't ignored the political world either. He has brought attention not only to the traditional social issues (abortion & sexuality aka "pelvic politics"), but also to commonly ignored issues such as the effects of HIV/AIDS, drug rehabilitation, and poverty. Warren has Republican and Democrat friends, and Republican and Democrat enemies. Isn't that how it should be? Invited to pray at Obama's inauguration, Warren will be hearing plenty over the next month from supporters and detractors. There are some on the right who think Warren shouldn't associate with Obama, and some on the left who think Obama shouldn't associate with Warren . However, as one of the new leaders among evangelical voices, Warren needs to be there, demonstrating that Christianity is not a partisan game, but a barrier breaking relationship with Christ that is more important than any political party. And kudos to Obama for inviting him.
One bit of warning though to Warren - he needs to set term limits for himself. As the next president and certainly future presidents come calling, he must set a date to withdrawal from pastoral politics altogether. If the old guard had set term limits for themselves, perhaps they could have avoided the seduction of political power. It would be a shame for Warren to follow their lead.
So what's the difference between Warren and someone like James Dobson? Their views on abortion and marriage are the same. They both are passionate about Jesus Christ. However, James Dobson and others like him made a career out of alarmism and judgmentalism on the political front, along with attempts at "king-making." Political power can be a corrupting seducer. As the Old Guard accumulated influence in the Republican Party, they lost sight of their truest selves. Political positions often trumped theology, causing the old Religious Right to lose some integrity and focus. They moved from prophetic voices to participating voices in the political elite. Warren hasn't compromised his pastoral integrity by involving himself in partisan party politics - and hopefully he won't. But he hasn't ignored the political world either. He has brought attention not only to the traditional social issues (abortion & sexuality aka "pelvic politics"), but also to commonly ignored issues such as the effects of HIV/AIDS, drug rehabilitation, and poverty. Warren has Republican and Democrat friends, and Republican and Democrat enemies. Isn't that how it should be? Invited to pray at Obama's inauguration, Warren will be hearing plenty over the next month from supporters and detractors. There are some on the right who think Warren shouldn't associate with Obama, and some on the left who think Obama shouldn't associate with Warren . However, as one of the new leaders among evangelical voices, Warren needs to be there, demonstrating that Christianity is not a partisan game, but a barrier breaking relationship with Christ that is more important than any political party. And kudos to Obama for inviting him.
One bit of warning though to Warren - he needs to set term limits for himself. As the next president and certainly future presidents come calling, he must set a date to withdrawal from pastoral politics altogether. If the old guard had set term limits for themselves, perhaps they could have avoided the seduction of political power. It would be a shame for Warren to follow their lead.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Zuzu's Petals
What makes a life significant? Does one have to be famous, rich, lucky? Does one have to rub shoulders with world leaders, Hollywood stars, corporate big shots? What does a significant life look like? Zuzu's petals.
"It's a Wonderful Life" is one of my all-time favorite movies. As I thought about why, I think of Zuzu's petals. In one of my favorite moments, George Bailey exclaims, "My mouth's bleeding Bert! My mouth's bleeding! Zuzu's petals…Zuzu… There they are! Bert what do you know about that! Merry Christmas!"
George Bailey had dreams, plans, ambitions, but due to other circumstances, he remained in Bedford Falls. He questioned his significance. However, as everyone who has seen the movie knows, through his journey with Clarence, he realized just how significant his life, and life in general, is. From his little Zuzu, to his brother, to his former boss, to the people of Bedford Falls, his life had changed the world. His significance was found in his integrity. He showed compassion, gentleness, and righteous anger. He faced down injustice, confronting the most "successful" man in Bedford Falls: "You sit around here and you spin your little webs and you think the whole world revolves around you and your money. Well, it doesn't, Mr. Potter. In the whole vast configuration of things, I'd say you were nothing but a scurvy little spider."
George Bailey has to be one of the most heroic figures in movie history. And the great thing is, anyone can be a George Bailey. Seemingly ordinary lives, filled with love, frustrations, hope, struggles, joy, and disappointments. Just how significant am I?
Facebook is a crazy thing. I don't do the flair thing or throw snowballs or participate in movie compatibilities, but I am amazed how this network brings together so many people from my present and past - people unheard from since high school or college, who participated in a chapter in my life, but since had been out of the story. Thinking about George Bailey's experience, I wonder, How did I impact these lives? How have these lives impacted me? Would there be a huge hole, as Clarence says, if I were removed from their past? Most importantly, what significance am I in other lives today? Am I taking care of Zuzu's petals, encouraging others to pursue their dreams, protecting others, speaking out against injustice, maintaining my personal integrity? God has given me a wonderful life. I want to live significantly for Him.
"It's a Wonderful Life" is one of my all-time favorite movies. As I thought about why, I think of Zuzu's petals. In one of my favorite moments, George Bailey exclaims, "My mouth's bleeding Bert! My mouth's bleeding! Zuzu's petals…Zuzu… There they are! Bert what do you know about that! Merry Christmas!"
George Bailey had dreams, plans, ambitions, but due to other circumstances, he remained in Bedford Falls. He questioned his significance. However, as everyone who has seen the movie knows, through his journey with Clarence, he realized just how significant his life, and life in general, is. From his little Zuzu, to his brother, to his former boss, to the people of Bedford Falls, his life had changed the world. His significance was found in his integrity. He showed compassion, gentleness, and righteous anger. He faced down injustice, confronting the most "successful" man in Bedford Falls: "You sit around here and you spin your little webs and you think the whole world revolves around you and your money. Well, it doesn't, Mr. Potter. In the whole vast configuration of things, I'd say you were nothing but a scurvy little spider."
George Bailey has to be one of the most heroic figures in movie history. And the great thing is, anyone can be a George Bailey. Seemingly ordinary lives, filled with love, frustrations, hope, struggles, joy, and disappointments. Just how significant am I?
Facebook is a crazy thing. I don't do the flair thing or throw snowballs or participate in movie compatibilities, but I am amazed how this network brings together so many people from my present and past - people unheard from since high school or college, who participated in a chapter in my life, but since had been out of the story. Thinking about George Bailey's experience, I wonder, How did I impact these lives? How have these lives impacted me? Would there be a huge hole, as Clarence says, if I were removed from their past? Most importantly, what significance am I in other lives today? Am I taking care of Zuzu's petals, encouraging others to pursue their dreams, protecting others, speaking out against injustice, maintaining my personal integrity? God has given me a wonderful life. I want to live significantly for Him.
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