I’ve just about had it with Christmas and all the stress and pressures that come along with it. I’ve had it with the senseless arguments to keep “Christ” in “Christmas” and the “reason for the season” when, in fact, what Christmas means to the world these days is so removed from the original story anyway.
I so wished I had come across Advent Conspiracy leading up to Christmas cause then I would have tackled things so differently.
To get the gist of what goes on with the Advent Conspiracy world view, watch the following video:
[AC] Advent Conspiracy from Jon Collins on Vimeo.
Basically Advent Conspiracy is an ” international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by worshipping Jesus through compassion, not consumption.” It does this by encouraging you to Worship More, Spend Less, Give More and Love All. Be sure to check the Resource section for heaps more.
It’s all a bit late this year but hopefully 2008 will be a different year all together. My 2007 was a tough one. Health issues, relationship issues and simply ugly sin battered me in 2007 and has left a bitter taste in my mouth - one that I have serious doubts I can deal with.
Jesus I need you in 2008 more than any other time in my life. The number “8″ biblically means resurrection so it’s quite fitting to ask You Lord to resurrect me out of the pit I have put myself in.
In the mean time, this video is, for some unknown reason, extremely uplifting for me. Maybe because it makes me take the thoughts off myself and I focus on God instead.
It reminds me to set my thoughts onto Jesus and for Him to be the sole source of joy. I too often set my joy on my circumstances. As my circumstances change, so does my joy - and I become bipolar in my hapiness and anxiety creeps in. Instead I need to fix my joy in the work and person of Jesus. Unchangable. Maybe that’s why I like that video so much - it makes me think of God’s qualities.
Anyway, for those of you resonating with what I am saying here, check out Mark Driscoll’s message, “The Rebel’s Guide To Joy In Anxiety.”
What you have said