The Christmas Distraction

Jared Wilson counsels:

There is a great danger this Christmas season of missing the point. And I’m not referring simply to idolatrous consumption and materialism. I’m talking about Christmas religiosity. It is very easy around this time to set up our Nativity scenes, host our Christmas pageants and cantatas, read the Christmas story with our families, attend church every time the door is open, and insist to ourselves and others that Jesus is the reason for the season, and yet not see Jesus. With the eyes of our heart, I mean.

I suppose there is something about indulging in the religious Christmas routine that lulls us into thinking we are dwelling in Christ when we are really just set to seasonal autopilot, going through the festive and sentimental motions. Meanwhile the real person Jesus the Christ goes neglected in favor of his plastic, paper, and video representations. Don’t get distracted from Jesus by “Jesus.” This year, plead with the Spirit to interrupt your nice Christmas with the power of Jesus’ gospel.

This is Christmas

Check out this simple, original Christmas song by my old, dear friend, Ginny Owens.  You can also check out Ginny’s Christmas Album, Bring Us Peace, on I-tunes.

Healthy Couples Don’t…

An article by Ruthie Dean, appearing in Relevant Magazine, offers helpful marriage advice from the negative side – i.e. 8 Things Healthy Couple DON’T Do:

1. Healthy Couples Don’t Post Negatively About Each Other on Social Media
2. Healthy Couples Don’t Make Their Career a Priority Rather Than Their Relationship
3. Healthy Couples Don’t Have All Their ‘Together-Time’ With Technology
4. Healthy Couples Don’t Avoid Hard Subjects
5. Healthy Couples Don’t Punish One Another
6. Healthy Couples Don’t Withhold Forgiveness
7. Healthy Couples Don’t Say ‘Yes’ to Everything
8. Healthy Couples Don’t Throw In the Towel

Read more of what Ruthie has to say, including the details that accompany her list, at: 8 Thing Healthy Couples Don’t Do