Simpler, Please!

In the end this is a question that I would appreciate as much feedback as possible.  So please give me your thoughts.

Simple.  Can it be?

My wife and I were thinking last night after our “final” 2008 Christmas celebration that we need to find a way to make it more simple.  It was like a child on a sugar-high.  Many of you know exactly what I’m talking about because you have lived through a similar scenario either recently or as a child.  The after-Christmas doldrums.  It’s the same thing that makes a kid say, “I want …. next Christmas!”

The tension builds and the excitement was in the air, until the point of everyone recognizing there are no more gifts.  Then the party comes crashing down.  It’s anti-climatic and frustrating because it strips away the joy of the One Christmas is about.

So my question: How can we make it more of a simple celebration of Christ without so much gift-giving distraction?  I am not pressing a “bah-hum-bug,” “we should give gifts” mentality.  I don’t have a problem with gifts, but feed the Christmas monster is getting more and more out of control it seems every year.  God gave!  The wise men gave.  The Christ-child received!  I don’t have a problem with gifts, but when indeed they are the focus, then we are missing the heart of Christmas.

So, How can we make it more of a simple celebration without so much gift-giving distraction?

My first idea:  Give an early “Christmas gift” in the middle of the year (would require planning and explanation) and at Christmas time do nothing but give (minister) to others during the Christmas season (A good idea would be the ministry idea all year long.).

Let me know what you think about it.

Also, why do we just sit around and gorge ourselves until we are miserable during the holidays?  We act more like the grazing sheep of the Christmas story than the worshipping shepherds!

What the Church can learn from a Lion!

Tonight I had the opportunity to visit our local Lion’s Club for the first time.  It was an interesting meeting of men and women who are interested in being beneficial to our community, a really great work.  Part of the meeting was a swearing in of two new members.  It was nothing secret and it did not possess any secret hand-shake nor spit-swatting.  It lasted a few minutes as a seasoned veteran said a few words and led a pledge.  However, it included what I consider a profound statement:  “Your sponsor will make sure you have an assignment and that you grow in your Lionism.”

Isn’t that a concept the church could learn!  A sponsor (mature disciple) taking his/her sponsored individual (a new believer) and walking him/her through the process of growing and becoming a disciple capable or reproducing him/herself in the lives of others.  That’s the concept Jesus himself used in growing His church.  He invested His life in the lives of the 12 in order that they could/would reproduce themselves.  Because of Christ’s example we have the opportunity to hear the gospel today.   Without it, there would be no hope of salvation.

Maybe the Church and us Christians should examine our technique of mass discipleship (which is apparently ineffective) and start investing in people, God’s people, to grow them and nurture them into the mighty army God wants to use to change our world for Christ’s sake.