Outer Rim Territories

On wednesday we were given a special treat from a local family, the Blomenberg’s. The seminary has an adoption program where anyone can adopt a family for the holidays, buying them gifts. Our adopter was unique since they were local. They took us out to lunch at Golden Corral followed by a shopping extravaganza at everyone’s favorite, Wal-Mart (and Hobby Lobby.) They let us go around an pick out what we wanted. Thankfully, Anne and I had made a list last week while we were waiting for our showing of TLTWATW (Narnia). It was quite the Christmas treat and very memoriable. They came with their 18, 16, and 12 year old children who helped us at lunch and shopping.

Thank You!

There is a virus of prissiness afoot in evangelicalism; a kind of prissiness that has a strange history indeed, but which being recently energized with the feminization of evangelicalism since the Victorian era, now threatens to transform the Christian faith from a hearty, incarnational faith into an airy, fragile, whining and shrill movement of pushing our “values” on an increasingly resistant mankind.

internetmonk.com » Prissy Protestants: Why We Need More Men Like Peggy Noonan
Yet another excellent post by the internet monk. On a similar note I was planning to read my “No More Christian Nice Guy” book this break but I think school matters will take precedence. Enjoy!

I just can’t resist writing a corporate letter of thanks to all. Through this Advent and soon-to-be (or perennially) Christmas, we have been showered with generosity. In only a matter of weeks we have gone from wondering how to pay January’s bills to looking forward to a time of stability. This is an indescribable blessing but… well I’ll try. Basically I can focus on my studies and family and be less concerned of the semi-idol or at least distraction of drawing in funds. I thank you for this Christmas blessing! The financial shortfall has been a large distraction and now I can place it on the back burner and concentrate for a time. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

After completing my first three weeks (can you believe it?) of the second semester and move into the three week Christ-mass holiday chaos, Anne and I went out for a relaxing evening to celebrate my birthday. Mandie came over to watch the kids. It took her about an hour longer due to snow and extra icy conditions. This was perfectly fine… we had not made any specific plans.
We had decided to use the gift certificates we won at a campus event… $30 at a Hall’s restaurant (there’s maybe a dozen different ones around Fort Wayne. He operated a butcher shop / restaurant.) We went to one close to campus called “the Factory.” It was reasonable family dining. Anne and I tried to split the BBQ for two meal but didn’t (and still haven’t) put a dent in to the chicken or brisket. The food was good all the same. I had an amber bock, a treat for me.
Afterwards we hopped over to the nearly adjacent cinema to try to catch Narnia. It was 8:00. The next show was 10:10 pm. Ouch! On a whim, we drove to the next closest theater, about 15 minutes. Their next show was at 10:25. Drats, foiled again!
What do you do when you have time to kill? Go Christmas shopping at… WAL-MART. Yuck. Well, I had fun playing with Star Wars toys. We hit almost every gadget, appliance, or hardware isle. In the end we got some ideas for the local family adopting us for the holidays (they wanted gift ideas and are taking us to dinner, thank you!) and picked up a couple for others.
We ended up seeing the 10;10 show after all. I enjoyed the film. I agree it was not as “deep” as Lord of the Rings but it had a charm all the same. You might call it a whimsy or lack of complete and under dread, doom, and dismay. The whole battle and sacrifice really sneak up on you so you don’t have time to get all wound up. Anne might not have enjoyed all my “that’s sacramanetal” or “isn’t that a type of…” stuff. That part of my brain is always on now; its unavoidable.
Gabe, Ethan and I enjoyed some “BBQ with Bobby Flay”, “Bassmasters” and playing, shoveling in the snow this morning while Anne, Mandie, and Elsie did some shopping. Now I’m pooped and ready for a nap.
The break is jam-packed with work, study, and time with family. It will fly by. I hope I can find rest.

The Burr in the Burgh: Why You Should Go to Church (and not just on holidays)

Others will say that they are too tired or too busy or have too many scheduling conflicts to make church attendance a priority. And somehow, with gentleness, humility and patience, we need to explain that this thinking is incoherent to the Christian mind. Are you too tired or too busy to breathe? Do you have too much to do to drink water and eat food on a regular basis? If you are too tired to breathe, then you are too tired to live and will die. If you are too busy to eat and drink, then you will starve, dehydrate and die.

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Ask the Pastor: Unbiblical Christmas Carols?

Although they may be meditative, devotional, celebratory, and containing some Scriptural truth, many carols depart from the Bible’s record. Does this mean we need to avoid them? Usually not. However, we shouldn’t base doctrine on them, use them to the exclusion of more Biblically accurate hymns, or forget to let Scripture inform us.

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Handling The Word Of Truth: Law And Gospel In The Church Today
For Homiletics I, we had the privilege of reading a relatively new book by one my instructors, John Pless or as he is affectionately called on campus, Catechism John. His book culls Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel by CFW Walther and the writings of Luther in a brief (114 page) book which is more accessible than the writings of both his sources.
This book is a wonderful treatment on this important art of properly distinguishing the Law from the Gospel when reading scripture. He gives “homework” at the end of each chapter covering the previous and upcoming chapter. His writing style is clear, distinct and concise.
If you’ve never tackled Walther’s book (as I haven’t, that comes after Christmas) then this a fantastic place to start for pastors and laity alike. It’s structure would serve well in a Bible class setting or personal devotions. So Many of today’s theological disasters would be avoided by understanding this scriptural principle.

Rev. Cwirla’s Blogosphere - Happy Holidays - Take Two

Think. Maybe all this holiday hand wringing is misplaced. Are we Christians actually pleased when Christ’s Mass is used as a generic greeting by those who don’t ever participate in the Mass of Christ or trust Him for their salvation? Do we really want Christ to become a commonplace like “Good-bye” (formerly God be with you.) or “Bless you” after a sneeze?

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An Online Christmas Songbook
Nice. A large collection of public domain Christmas tunes (mostly sacred). They even have midi files so you can sing along.

Click through to Rev. McCain’s blog where he reprints an article of the history of the Christmas Tree in American churches, at least historically beginning in a Lutheran church in Ohio. Fascinating.
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