“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”  I had to give pause for reflection on this well-known song lyric to determine whether I agreed.  If I were to land in agreement with Andy Williams’ assessment, I would then have to address the more challenging question – “why?”

I grew up in a home where the Christmas season was always celebrated, and represented so much of what is good and right in the world.  And the older I’ve grown, the more I’ve realized the importance of celebrating the good in the world – especially as Christians, bearers of hope, communicators of the Good News amidst a lost, confused and hurting culture.  We do live in a spiritual warfare zone, and it is very possible to get stuck staring into the darkness so long that we forget the light exists.

Because Christmas was such a special time for us in our family, we kept the celebration going longer than most.  We would listen to Christmas music for much of the year, and keep our lights up into February and sometimes into March!  To top it all off, there were even a few years where we celebrated Christmas again in July!

But over time, and as I’ve met more people, learning their stories, I began to realize that Christmas isn’t accompanied by fond thoughts and memories for everybody.  For some it carries the memories of a loss – loss of a job or home or loved one.  For others it feels like salt in an open wound, because Christmas for them growing up was a season of abuse or neglect.  And then you add the crowd who’s goal every year is to point out how Christmas is apparently nothing more than a clever commercialized marketing stunt, developed to drive retail sales.

If we’re not careful, we can allow Christmas to become about our experiences and memories, or even about our views on culture and commerce.  But these all “miss the mark” – these all “sin”.  When we make any of these things the central meaning, message or definition of Christmas, we are wrong.

So in the famous words of Charlie Brown, we might find ourselves asking, “Isn’t there anyone who can tell me what Christmas is all about?”  

One of my favorite Christmas passages in the New Testament is found in Matthew 14:24-33.

“The boat was a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.  And in the fourth watch of the night He [Jesus] came to them, walking on the sea.  When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’  And they cried out in fear.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.’  Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’  And He said, ‘Come!’  And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’  Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’

When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.  And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘You are certainly God’s Son!’”

For years, the song “Silent Night” seemed strange to me.  We all know the famous story of Jesus being born in barn, surrounded by animals and visited by shepherds.  My impression is that this setting may have been called many things, but “silent” was not one of them.  

But then I read in Revelation 8:1 “When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”  Silence.  Anticipation.  A leaning forward in one’s seat.  We see a few examples of this in Scripture – where something so amazing is about happen that there is a pause, a silence, what we might even call a “Selah” moment.

I don’t think this night in the barn giving birth in the hay with cows for nurses and goats for moral support was particularly silent in a natural sense.  I think there was this Revelation 8:1 sense of heavenly anticipation – silence – eager expectancy.  To see the cosmic tipping point in the culmination of the ages, to see the great I AM manifesting Himself as Immanuel – God with us in a new and unprecedented display of love and abandon for fallen humanity!  Silence.  

And Jesus constantly embodied this promise, this statement that God is with us.  This is still true for us now, although He is with us in a different, and in many regards, a better way – through the indwelling of His Spirit.  Where a single physical person can only be in one place at a time, the Spirit can be everywhere, going with us where we go, living in us as we live, comforting, guiding, instructing, and offering peace.  He is sometimes referred to as the Prince of Peace.  

And this brings us back to Matthew 14.  Jesus walked WITH Peter IN the storm, and the impossible was possible.  Immanuel, God with us… in the storm.  One thing I’ve always loved about this passage is that Jesus was walking in the storm long before He called Peter to join Him.  Prevenient grace – the grace that goes before.  Our God is not only present with us in the storms, walking with us, leading us and saving us.  Our God was in the storm long before we were.  He is already walking the next storm that we don’t know about yet.  But when we walk with Him, live in faith and trust He is good, His peace will pass all understanding and bring peace in the storm.  

But suppose Peter began sinking and said, “To heck with this, I’m swimming back to the boat!”  We wouldn’t remember this amazing account in the same light.  Peter may have wavered in his faith for a moment, but he trusted that his Lord would save him, and He did!  

This reminds me of a Dallas Willard quote: “Good things we have set our hearts on become real only as we choose them.”  

We have often discussed the concept of “margin” at renovation.  I used to think this had to do with chasing the moving target of “balance” in life, but now I’m not so sure.  Maybe margin has less to do with restricting our actions, habits and thoughts, and more to do with walking in freedom with Christ in the middle of our storms.  Maybe margin isn’t about doing less (and failing at that), and then getting upset with ourselves when we are too busy to breathe.  Maybe margin is more about disciplining and ordering our life so that first things are first – not urgent things, important things, or even good things, but first things.  Maybe margin is less stiff, like the impossible image of perpetual balance we thought it was, and maybe it’s more flexible and adaptable, ebbing and flowing with the rhythms of our life – like the waves Jesus called Peter to walk on.

I think, perhaps, that this is what Paul was explaining as he wrote in 2 Cor. 4:8-11 “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

Immanuel – God with us.  Peace in the storm.  Margin.  Rhythm.  Life.  I think this is what Christmas is all about, a Gospel that really is good news to us at all times – and not just once a year.

        “He is richest who is content with the least, for contentment is the wealth of nature.” – Socrates

So I was thinking about Genesis 11 the other day, and the story of humanity building a tower of confusion – a tower of Babel, which would “reach into heaven”.  On the one hand the people’s struggle was with pride, “Let us make a name for ourselves”.  But I think there’s another aspect that we can overlook if we’re not careful: the people’s struggle with discontentment.   

For much of human history, the world was thought to be flat with a dome-shaped firmament/sky around it.  Imagine a snow globe, and you have the right idea.  Many ideas flowed from this concept, such as that stars were “leaks” in the firmament where light was shining through.  That would also explain rain as water leaking through the firmament.  And when we’re standing on the ground looking up, it doesn’t really look all that far away.

Perhaps the people wanted to build into the firmament, and then on “into heaven”.  

But why would they want to do that?

To reclaim something that was lost in the Fall?  To earn their way back into the constant presence of God?  If I’m honest, there have been times when I’ve been “homesick for heaven” – where all I wanted to do was go and be with Christ.  And I’m not the only one either.  In his letter to the Philippians Paul wrote about his own internal conflict – “I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” (see Phil. 1:21-26)

Have you ever wondered why God confused the people’s language at Babel?  

It’s not like they would have actually built a tower into heaven.

The easy answer is that it was to address the people’s pride, but I wonder if it was more than just that. 

Perhaps a part of the love-motivation was to encourage the people to get back to living their lives, and to be engaged/fully-present where they were.  

I think we all have a sense of longing for a restored, un-fallen creation, and that in itself is not a bad thing.  The problem comes when we seek to escape from this life and its challenges rather than doing our part to “bring heaven here”.  

Paul drives home the point when he finishes his earlier statement: “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.” (Phil. 1:25-26)

Perhaps we underestimate how God wants to use us now, in the present.  Perhaps we’ve seen Him work in the past, and perhaps we trust Him to move in the future, but each of those can feel far removed from today.

It reminds me of the insights C.S. Lewis shares in the Screwtape Letters:

“Tempt them to dwell in the unchangeable past,” urged the senior demon tempter, Screwtape.  “Or to dread the uncertain future; but by all means, let them not focus on the present, for that is the most like eternity.”

By contrast, consider Joshua’s exhortation to “Choose THIS DAY whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:15)

One of the reasons I love this passage is that it can equally apply to us each day and each time that we read it.  Each day is an opportunity to choose whom we will serve.  Today is your opportunity to choose whom you will serve.

When we choose to serve God (in love), and serve others (in love) we can experience the satisfaction and fulfillment from the Spirit of God that brings true contentment.

Several years ago I came across a fantastic list (from Greg Boyd) that outlines some of the Scriptural descriptions of our new identity in Christ.  I’ve gone through this list many times over the years, and again just recently, which got me to thinking, “maybe a brief look at identity could be useful to my readers.”

Webster’s (Dictionary) defines identity as “the distinguishing character or personality of an individual.”

While this is a good starting point, I would add a couple things.  First, I would add that identity is what defines your limitations, and second, I would add that our identity is essentially our “definition”.  (*A definition is a statement of the exact meaning of a word; the degree of distinctness in outline of an object)

Now that we’ve simplified and condensed the subject of identity, lets complicate and expand it for a moment by looking at the three main classes of identity: Occupational, Relational and Ontological.

First is our Occupational identity.  This is how we are known by what we do.  Not surprisingly, this includes our occupation and work, but it also includes our hobbies and other actions.  You may be a doctor who likes to surf, or an engineer that plays in a basketball league, and coaches at an elementary school.  

One caution I would offer is not to find your sole identity in what you do.  God doesn’t love you because of all the good things you do, and He doesn’t love you any less for all the bad things you do.  It’s good to take pride in what we do, and to do good things of course (Eph. 2:10), but we should do these things as a result of who we are, not as a way of discovering or defining who we are.

Next is our Relational identity.  This is how we are known by who we know, who we’re related to, or who we are associated with.  You may be the “brother of ___”, the “wife of ___”, the “drummer for ___”, a “Democrat” “Republican” “Christian” “Muslim” or something else.  

As before, I would caution against finding your identity solely in who you know, are related to, or associate with.  While it is good to remember your context and spending quality time with your Tribe (to borrow from Seth Godin), it is possible place too much attention (or blame) on the association.  

I’ve seen people blame their bad habits on their family (“my dad had a short temper, so I have a short temper”), or assume a virtue of the Tribe as their own (“I’m a Christian because my parents/grandparents are Christians”).  It is important for us to recognize and appreciate our relational identity, but to also take personal responsibility for our actions and decisions.

That bring us to our Ontological identity.  This is what we often think of as our “true identity”.  It’s who we are “beneath the surface.”  This includes our personality, strengths, weaknesses, sacred pathways, passions, values, and so on.  A lot of this is shaped by our experiences in the first two areas (Occupational and Relational), but not all.

God has created each one of us with a specific purpose and plan in mind, and has designed us with the unique aptitude and potential to live these out fully.  Scripture has much to say about our identity as the “very good” climax of Creation – loved by God whether just or unjust.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made (See Psalm 139:13-16), known and intended before we were even born.  

And beyond all of this, we are given a “new” “restored” identity in Christ (to those who receive Salvation and the Gift of the Holy Spirit).  I’ll include a copy of the list I mentioned at the beginning (“Who You are in Christ”), and as you review and reflect on each statement (and the corresponding Scripture verses) I encourage you to think about these two questions:

1. How do I see myself, and what limitations has that established in my life?
2. What is the definition of me?  (a couple examples would include “man of God” or “redeemed and beloved of the Most High”)

WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST

• All that is part of your “old self,” all that is sinful and contrary to God, has been crucified (Rom. 6:2-11; Gal. 2:20).
• You are completely forgiven, sanctified, made “forever perfect” before God and hence completely reconciled to God (Gal. 2:16; 1 Cor. 1:2; Heb. 10:14; 2 Cor. 5:17-19; Eph. 1:4, 7-8, 2:13, 4:32; Col. 2:13-14).
• You are made new and given Christ’s eternal resurrected life    (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:5-6, 10; Col. 2:13, 3:1; 1 Pet. 1:3-5).
• You are indwelt with the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of God Almighty (2 Cor. 13:5; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 3:17; Col. 1:27)  
• You are redeemed and set free from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13, 5:1; Col. 2:13ff).
• You are seated “in heavenly places” and share in the eternal inheritance Christ purchased for you (Eph. 1:3-11, 2:6, 3:6).
• You are “hidden in Christ,” and “united with Christ” (Col. 3:3; Rom. 6:5; Phil. 2:1-2).
• You are made a participant in the eternal love, which flows within the triune Godhead (John 17:20-24, 2 Pet. 1:4).
• God the Father completely redefines your state of being.  Whereas once you were “in Adam” and were “by nature an object of wrath” (Rom. 5:15-19; 1 Cor. 15:22; Eph. 2:3), now you are “in Christ” and are an object of His eternal and unconditional love.
• The Father has chosen you and made you “holy and blameless in His sight” (Eph. 1:3-6).  He loves you and lavishes on you “the riches of His grace” as He relates to you as you are “in the One He loves,” Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:6).  Thus, the relationship God has with you is now defined by the eternal loving relationship He has with His own eternal Son!

I am the Church.

You are the Church.  We are the Church.

Many people over the years, both famous and otherwise, have made statements about their fondness for Christ while expressing a dis-satisfaction with Christians – with the Christian Church.  But it hasn’t stopped there.  Much of this sentiment, I fear, has penetrated the hearts of many Christians to the point where they now view church, or The Church as a disembodied institution, a location of facilities, or a fallen bureaucracy. 

“The problem with the Church is…”  “The Church has done a bad job with ___…”  “The Church needs to wake up and ____…”  

These statements didn’t use to bother me, but then I read Paul’s second epistle to the Church in Corinth, and his encouragement for them to “take every thought captive.” 

What is the Church?  Who is the Church?  What is our mission and purpose?

Several years ago, a newspaper had published an article which highlighted many of the problems in the world – things like crime, violence, pollution and so forth.  The headline and prevailing message of the article were summarized in a single question: “Who is to blame?”  G.K. Chesterton, who is now a well-known author, quickly wrote a response to the newspaper: “In regards to your question, ‘Who is to blame?’ – I am.  Sincerely, G.K. Chesterton”

Chesterton’s response at first takes me by surprise, but as I allow his simple message to play out, a smile creeps over my face.  Chesterton has found a way to rebel against our fallen human nature and lead the charge where few are willing to go.  

In a fallen world, people point fingers, find fault, ascribe blame and “pass the buck.”  If something isn’t the way it should be, it’s probably someone else’s fault, or at least someone else’s responsibility to fix.  At its best, this tactic allows us to save face, look intelligent, or even act the hero – cleaning up other people’s messes.  But this tactic is rarely at its best, and more often than not it results in apathetic and un-responsible people.  

Think about it, you or I can make a statement about what’s wrong with the Church in America, and in so doing we’ve disconnected ourselves from this organism – this living, breathing, hope of the world, beautiful bride of Christ.  We’ve separated ourselves from it, and freed ourselves from any responsibility to be a part of the solution – it’s someone else’s job to fix it, and our opinion is just as important as Scripture, maybe even more so (sarcasm alert)…

Chesterton’s response is brilliant in its simplicity.  He refuses to point the finger at someone else, and accepts responsibility instead.    

The reality, of course, is that Chesterton is not solely responsible for every good and bad thing in the world.  He is, rather, a member of the human race, and speaks on behalf of us as an encouragement to stop the pointless cycle of fault-finding and finger-pointing, ascribing blame to others.  We cannot really hope for change or improvement until we break the cycle of fallen humanity and become a part of the solution.

In fallen humanity the cycle of mortality is life and then death, but in the Kingdom of God the roles are reversed.  In order to be a part of the solution – to embrace our identity as The Church or as Christians – we must resist the urge to bring death where we go, and insist on bringing life instead.  Breathe life into your relationships, to your workplace, to your family, and even into your driving.  “Christ in you, the hope of glory” is not something we do, but rather an identity we embrace as we give the Holy Spirit free-reign of our hearts. 

I am the Church.

I used to think that “inheritance” was an odd word. To be honest, I don’t think I had fully grasped the concept. 

Based on the movies and television, it seemed that some people were left things (money, estate) as an “inheritance”.  This struck me as something of a strange idea, because I had gotten used to working for everything in life.

And don’t get me wrong – I still think it is critically important to emphasize and encourage a strong work ethic.  In fact, a majority of our problems in life, in our social, political and economic climates could largely be improved through an increased work ethic. 

But aside from the idea of being given something we didn’t have to earn, it always seemed like the idea of an inheritance would carry an emotional burden, because we don’t receive an inheritance until someone dies.

But then I got to reading in Deuteronomy 10 and hit verse 9 – “Therefore, Levi does not have a portion or inheritance with his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, just as the LORD your God spoke to him.” 

And then again in Psalm 16:5-6, “The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot.  The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.”

Wow. What an awesome inheritance!

And one of the unique things about this inheritance is that I can celebrate it with the living God!  This is not a great inheritance because it comes after a relationship, but right in the midst of the relationship.  It is a great inheritance because it is God!

Now when I look at the definitions for ‘inheritance’, they bring a greater level of depth as I think of God as my inheritance: legacy, bestowal, provision, heritage…

God is my heritage… 

I happen to be blessed with an amazing family, and a wonderful heritage it is, but even for people of a less fortunate family background, this great God heritage is available to all who accept it. 

You can know that you are a part of God’s family – living in His legacy. Just ask Him.  You are a child of The King.  He is your inheritance, your heritage.

“Constantly guide me into a closer walk with Thee.” -Haldor Lilenas

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.