What did you get for Christmas?

When I was young, after opening all of my gifts, I wanted to know "what did you get for Christmas?"

This Christmas I received way more than I gave. Here's the short list:

1. A former neighbor of mine, a single mom of four, on government assistance, sent us $200. She wanted us to use it to help a family in need. To say the least, we were humbled. While we spend less than this on our immediate family, we certainly had no plans on spending this much on a poor family we didn't even know. Out of her poverty our former nieghbor gave but we in our relatively wealthy state were closed fisted. We are thankful for the gift of conviction that has caused us to refocus on Christ who though He was rich he became poor so that we might become eternally rich.

2. Joey is an alcoholic. He lives in his "family's" house. It is completely dilapidated & is in danger of collapasing. He lives with his two dogs. Conversations are often awkward as they stream with honesty about his conditions but also many excuses as to why he doesn't seek help. We ran into each other on the street as the kids & I were passing out invitations for a church event. After the normal small talk, he gave me a 1962 quarter which he claims has exceptional value due to its uniqueness. At the corner of Marigny St & N. Villere God used a downcast alcoholic to humble me. When I first approched Joey I was sure he'd ask me for something but instead he gave me something; $0.25 & a large dose of conviction.

3. My kids gave me a great gift this year. With the help of my wife, they stamped their footprints on a piece of paper & wrote "I'm following in your footsteps."


The Bible teaches us to train up a child in the way he should go. When I think of this I usually think of providing the basic needs of food & shelter, teaching them about Christ, loving & disciplining them, creating fond memories (both of the grand & mundane) & helping them become all God created them to be. It's daunting, though, to think about how they are watching my every move, learning more about life by what I do than what I say.
My main concern is that I'm a sinner who is "prone to wonder." Will they learn to trust in the things of this world to bring them pleasure as their daddy so foolishly does? Will they be short tempered and insecurely arrogant like me? Will they overcommit in an effort to be a hero & impress others? I have a responsibility to model for them Christ-like behavior & I pray that God will give me the grace to do so; He's given me the Model. May I look to our Great Father who has given us everything for life & Godliness.

4. There are many other gifts that I'm thankful for such as an amazing wife & beautiful children, a wonderful city to live in and amazing nieghbors who spoil us, the sweet fellowship found at St. Roch Community Church, a job that I love, a house to call home & on & on.

I'm thankful for all the gifts I recieved under the tree: a new ESV study Bible, family photos, new underwear (now I'm able to throw away my most holely possesion) & a really amazing piece of art work my ever creative wife made.
I am, though, most thankful for Christ, who came to free me from all my sin & sorrow. While I look back & rejoice that God put skin on only to suffer & die for me I also glory that He's coming back & long for His return just as the saints of old antipicated the Prince of Peace.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Gates

I find the president's remarks that the officer acted stupidly to be far too politically correct. I think he (the officer) was racist. (I'm a white, conservative, Christian, middle class male from the south.) Now, did he lynch him, no. Did he drag him behind a truck, no. But clearly his judgment call on Dr. Gates had been shaped by a lifetime of stereotypes, fears, cultural norms, etc. While this is something worth arguing about, there are other items I want to comment on.

1. It's a very sad commentary when your neighbor calls the police on you for breaking into your own house. In the case of Gates, I think that both he and his neighbors are at fault but even more so our American individualistic culture. We have become so busy that we don't even recognize, let alone know our neighbors. Why didn't his neighbor call him or just go over and assist him in opening the door? I don't know if Dr. Gates or his neighbors are either Christians, but Jesus made it very simple that the two greatest commandments are to love God with everything and love your neighbor as yourself. Imagine if this truth had been lived out in this case.

2. I'm curious why so many of the critics of this event, are indirectly labeling themselves as racist-less. It is very, very difficult to not judge a stranger based on what you 1st see. If you are walking downtown and see a man (black, white, Asian, or purple) in a three piece suit, the immediate assumption would be that he is some sort of professional with no evil intent . If you see a young black male in a white t-shirt & dreads, then you may assume he's a thug and up to no good. However the professional could be another Bernie Madoff and the young black male may be an inner-city youth pastor helping kids turn their lives around. In Gates' case, he is old, of small stature and presented 2 ids. He gave all the necessary evidence to prove who he is and an applogy should have been given by the officer and a "just checking to make sure everything was ok Dr. Gates."

A big part of this stems out of not knowing or being friends with people of other races. Most of America is segregated. "White" neighborhoods, "black" neighborhoods, etc. I had the privilege of growing up in a diverse school system that allowed me to have friends of a variety of ethnic & racial make ups. I now live in inner-city New Orleans. I have good friends who are white university professors and friends who are young black males with dreads. I have friends that are rich and some that are desperately poor. I have many Christian and non-Christian friends. Believing in the depravity of Man, I'm eternally grateful that I get to rub shoulders with such a cross section of society as it helps to push back the effects of the Fall (original sin) in me. It helps me to see people as people and alleviate fears & misconceptions. God truly has been gracious.

Oh the pressure

There seems to be an incredible pressure to write something profound and meaningful, a task I'm not real sure I can accomplish. I'll probably not be consistent about posting things and I'll probably sound rather opinionated but hey, that's me.