Archive - December, 2009

2009. Today. 2010.

December 31, 2009 in culture, history, Theology, thought with 5 Comments

Be present in today.

Our calendars tell us that one year has passed and another one is upon us. Do you become preoccupied with what you’ve done or didn’t do last year? Do you look forward to what might be ahead or dread the things that you know are coming?

Be present in today.

God is with us. Let us be with him.

I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t reflect or have vision. I am just wondering how much our lives become consumed with that which is not now. How much do you think about the past? How much do you think about the future? How much do you think about now – your current existence? Live in it.

Be present in today.

Last Chance to Give this Season.

December 18, 2009 in adoption, advent, consumption, culture, freedom with 1 Comment

Hurry! Make all your purchases today! … uh.. err… yesterday. Yesterday was FREE shipping day! I missed it. Dang! If only I would have gotten free shipping on all the things I need to buy then I could have bought THAT… MUCH… MORE!

Isn’t it sad that we think like this? I am not suggesting that we frivolously go spending our money without a single care about the responsible use of the green and plastic in our pockets and handbags. If a purchase is necessary for an item that is needed (redundancy intended for emphasis) then I always look for the best price or attempt to have the best timing for a purchase to get “a better deal.” If I buy something just because it’s a good deal am I being responsible at all? And how often does that happen this time of year for so many of us?

That’s the whole point of Black Friday.

“If we can just sucker these suckers into the store because of a few good deals on something they think they need, then we can throw a few more average ‘deals’ out there where they have to see it and they won’t be able to resist.”

And how much do we add stress and dysfunction to our lives thinking, “This is my last chance to get something for this person!” or “I have to hurry and think of something to buy… and I just don’t know what to get!”

What if we spent as much time thinking of creative ways to serve others? To invest our time in relationship? To create? To love? Love in a manner that does not involve our addictions to consumption.

One idea: Give life. Give the financial ability for loving families to adopt children. If interested, please Click the ADOPTION DONATION link HERE or the button in the far right hand column. Your entire gift will be designated to our adoption fund.

Also, if making purchases now or anytime, you can purchase through Amazon.com. By linking to Amazon from subversiveREFORMATION.com, we will earn up to 15% of all purchases (current rate is 6% increased from 4% with future increase based on volume). Click the STORE tab and continue or click links to the right.

What’s Your New Tradition?

December 16, 2009 in advent, consumption, giving, global, love, worship with 0 Comments

It comes down to this: What story are you going to embrace? The story of the popular culture? Or THE story? What’s your new tradition for Christmas? How will you celebrate the coming of God to earth in the person of Jesus? He offered salvation and freedom. How about you? Will you share the same message or remain a slave to deadening consumption and commercialism?

http://www.youtube.com/v/LkTyPzRzuwc&hl=en_US&fs=1&

What story are you going to embrace? The story of the popular culture? Or THE story? What’s your new tradition?

Put the “X” back in “Christ”mas.

December 15, 2009 in advent, compassion, conforming, consumption, culture, giving, jesus, love with 21 Comments

“Put the ‘Christ’ back in Christmas.” This is just one of many Facebook Groups that frustrates, agitates, and irritates me. If you are a part of a similar Group or Fan Page then I highly encourage you to “un-Group” or “un-Fan” (which seems fitting since “unfriend” is the 2009 Word of the Year). The real problem is not that the word “Christ” is substituted with an “X.” On the contrary, it is our modern, western, and commercial/consumptive adaptations of Christmas that need rethought and reformed. The ancient symbol “X” was used to represent the Christ. “X” is the letter “Chi” (pronounced Kie) which begins the Greek spelling of “christos” or what we now call “Christ.” The “X” in “X-Mas” is simply an abbreviated form of the same idea but involves an ancient representation of the person of Jesus. What if we reclaimed an “ancient” celebration of the birth of Jesus? What if we were less concerned with wrapping paper, stuffing stockings, shopping trips and what to buy? What if we ushered in a new/old way of celebrating Christmas that reflects more genuinely the person of Jesus? What would that look like?

All I Want for Christmas.

December 12, 2009 in adoption, community, compassion, Education, giving, global, jesus with 0 Comments

“All I Want for Christmas.” It’s an interesting title isn’t it? As if Christmas is about me. As if Christmas should be about what I want. Well, I suppose it depends on what one wants for Christmas. I have a hard time accepting things for Christmas that either specifically benefit me and not those around me or perpetuate a cycle of entitlement, greed, and the desire to consume. So… all I want for Christmas is for our celebration of God coming to earth to reflect the love for all people that is demonstrated in God’s self-disclosure as an act of giving. As the popular saying goes, “‘Tis better to give than to receive.”

“If anyone is looking for any last minute gift ideas” (for me or for anyone else) here is what I recommend giving. The idea is that the reception of a gift is actually centered on giving to another.

ScarfScarf
Purchase of a hand-crafted/crocheted scarf from Kelly Smith to help our friends James and Kelly bring home the newest member of their family. Every dollar raised will be used toward adoption expenses to give one Ethiopian orphan a home. Customize your scarf by choosing your color (most colors available) and style (skinny, wide, fringe, no fringe). Skinny scarves are $15 and wide are $20. To place an order today email Kelly at: ophelia2377@hotmail.com. Sarah and I both would not only each like one but also hope that you will enter into the Smith’s story and consider supporting them financially and in prayer. Visit their blog.

Beads for Life
90% of the cost of a Beads for Life product go directly to the females in Africa who create the necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

Books from Amazon
If you are purchasing anything from Amazon.com then please link to Amazon through any of the Amazon widgets or lists located here at subversiveREFORMATION.com. Each purchase referred from subversiveREFORMATION.com earns Travis, Sarah, and Kyla a percentage of the cost which will be deposited into their adoption fund. Additionally, what better gift might there be than a book which is used for the learning and teaching about the church and the way of Jesus? You may also search Travis Keller’s Wish List using the “TEXT” tab on ssubversiveREFORMATION.com.

Manure
This green gift transforms waste into power—agricultural power. Organic manure increases crop yields and is cheaper, greener, and safer than chemical fertilizers. So, show your loved ones that you really “give a $%@#” for our planet. The gift goes directly to improve the lives of people living in poverty through OxFam America Unwrapped.

World Food Programme Feed Bag
The FEED 1 bag is a stylish, well-designed and reversible burlap and 100% organic cotton ladies’ carrying tote bag sold to help raise awareness and funds for child hunger. When you purchase a FEED 1 bag, you will guarantee that ONE child is fed in school for ONE full year through the United Nations World Food Program. To date, FEED Projects various partnerships have led to over $4 million for WFP school feeding.

ONE.org Africa Shirt
The tees are made of 100% organic African cotton and were made in Uganda. Shirts are available in both men’s and women’s sizes. ONE is a grassroots campaign and advocacy organization backed by more than 2 million people who are committed to the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Cofounded by Bono and other campaigners, ONE is nonpartisan and works closely with African policy makers and activists.

What other creative gift ideas do you have?

One.

December 5, 2009 in community, compassion, giving, global with 3 Comments

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Obama’s Afghanistan Plan.

December 1, 2009 in death, empire, family, freedom, global, government, humanity with 21 Comments

“What do you think about Obama’s Afghanistan plan?” That was the question posed by RELEVANT magazine. “Tonight, President Obama is giving a speech detailing his new Afghanistan strategy, which includes a surge of 30,000 troops. What do you think of his plan?”

Response of Travis Keller:

“Peace is love. Violence is not. Militarization brings death… either physically or by fear. What if Afghanistan sent 30,000 troops to the U.S.?”

To contextualize my comment I will disclose that I am neither anti- or pro-Obama. I did vote for him. I would also qualify RELEVANT’s question by noting that the plan is not “his” plan but rather a plan that was developed by a team of people which includes military strategists and advisors. Additionally, I have a brother-in-law who is in the United States Air Force. My wife and I love him. He has been to Afghanistan and currently is stationed in the U.S. where he controls mechanisms on the Predator Drone planes that fly in Afghanistan.

What is your response to my response (or the original question)?