Let me start this post by saying I love Christmas. I love everything about it, including Christmas music. But, I also LOVE fall! And while Christmas is my favorite holiday, fall is definitely my favorite season. So because of that, I am morally opposed to Christmas celebrations before Thanksgiving. Fall in Texas is short enough, do we really have to make it that much shorter? I mean if you start celebrating Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving, that gives you a good solid MONTH of celebration, what more could you want? I am generally tolerant of some Christmas preparation before Thanksgiving, however I have one major peeve...when radio stations begin playing NONSTOP Christmas music weeks before Thanksgiving even begins!! And it's not even that Christmas music bothers me before turkey day, but nonstop? For weeks upon weeks? Really? Don't miss fall!! Don't miss Thanksgiving!!
That is my typical rant.
Until this weekend.
This weekend, as I am out running errands, I realize the radio has NOTHING good to play. Every station has about 4 songs they've played over and over and I can't take it anymore. So I flip thru other stations looking for something that doesn't suck. And I find 103.7 klty...playing...you guessed it...nonstop Christmas music. And I cave. I listen to the Christmas music. And I love it. It's cold outside, the holidays are coming, and I should jingle some bells! I didn't listen to it all freaking day mind you, but I listened, and I enjoyed it!
And now I'm ready for some turkey.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Follow the Bouncing Blog
I know a lot of people read this blog, so I added a new link during the overhaul...on the right side of this page is a box that says "Follow this Blog". I would love it if you clicked there and added yourself as a reader and started the list!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Thoughts on J. the B., Part 2
John 3:22-36
John's response to his disciples was not in anger. In fact, you can hear the joy in his voice as he tries to explain and share the cause of his joy with them!
1) v. 27-He acknowledges his current position is a blessing from God.
2) v. 28-He reminds them of his, and also their, humble state...as in "do you think we are the only people who can do this job?"
3) v. 28,29-He states Who he is (not the Christ, but his friend)
He states who he belongs to (bridegroom)
He states his purpose (attend the bridegroom, wait and listen for him)
He describes what it reaps (joy!)
John's joy is complete by seeing Christ baptize! (v.29) Such a different attitude than his disciples, though both were doing the same thing in the same place at the same time. John's attitude was that Christ must become greater, and John must become less (v.30). His disciples' were the exact opposite.
But John doesn't stop there, he continues on with his message of salvation, hoping they will get it! Instead of getting angry, he took the time to teach, vision cast, and share the gospel.
Way to make the most of an opportunity.
John's response to his disciples was not in anger. In fact, you can hear the joy in his voice as he tries to explain and share the cause of his joy with them!
1) v. 27-He acknowledges his current position is a blessing from God.
2) v. 28-He reminds them of his, and also their, humble state...as in "do you think we are the only people who can do this job?"
3) v. 28,29-He states Who he is (not the Christ, but his friend)
He states who he belongs to (bridegroom)
He states his purpose (attend the bridegroom, wait and listen for him)
He describes what it reaps (joy!)
John's joy is complete by seeing Christ baptize! (v.29) Such a different attitude than his disciples, though both were doing the same thing in the same place at the same time. John's attitude was that Christ must become greater, and John must become less (v.30). His disciples' were the exact opposite.
But John doesn't stop there, he continues on with his message of salvation, hoping they will get it! Instead of getting angry, he took the time to teach, vision cast, and share the gospel.
Way to make the most of an opportunity.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thoughts on J. the B.
John 3:22-26
In this passage we find John the Baptist and his disciples...well, baptizing. Jesus and his disciples join them, "because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized" (v.23).
Then, "an argument developed between some of John's disciples...over the matter of ceremonial washing" (v.25). Translation, they started fighting over something so insignificant that the details are not even worth mentioning. Then, John's disciples see Jesus baptizing and complain to John that "everyone is going to him" (v. 26)
There are a lot of things wrong with this picture!
First problem: The people were constantly coming to be baptized...that's awesome! But here are John's disciples, the very people who were supposed to be performing the baptisms, and instead they are arguing about some religious rule? How sad that they were totally missing out on the life change right in front of them because they were so concerned about being right.
Second problem: They become jealous and prideful that everyone is going to get baptized by Jesus. Let's think about this...if I wanted to be baptized and I saw one group arguing with each other, and another group inviting and welcoming, well which one would I be more attracted to? No brainer.
Third problem: They totally fail to recognize the greatness of Jesus...the very people who were closest to John the Baptist and constantly hearing him talk about his mission to prepare the way for the one who is greater...and now here it is and they miss it.
They are too focused on themselves, concerned with who has the "right" way and the better baptism, and they are completely missing the point of why they are there. And as a result, they turn people away, people who have shown up and are ready for a life change.
*Where is your attitude turning people away?
*Where are you missing the point of why you are here?
Maybe the check out clerk at the grocery store, or the waiter at the restaurant?
Maybe the person you cut off on your way to work this morning who got a great view of your Jesus bumper sticker?
Maybe on the weekend in the way you talk to your volunteers?
Maybe on the weekend when there are lost people all around you who you don't say hi to, or even smile at because you are so focused on what you are "getting out of it" or your task at hand?
In this passage we find John the Baptist and his disciples...well, baptizing. Jesus and his disciples join them, "because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized" (v.23).
Then, "an argument developed between some of John's disciples...over the matter of ceremonial washing" (v.25). Translation, they started fighting over something so insignificant that the details are not even worth mentioning. Then, John's disciples see Jesus baptizing and complain to John that "everyone is going to him" (v. 26)
There are a lot of things wrong with this picture!
First problem: The people were constantly coming to be baptized...that's awesome! But here are John's disciples, the very people who were supposed to be performing the baptisms, and instead they are arguing about some religious rule? How sad that they were totally missing out on the life change right in front of them because they were so concerned about being right.
Second problem: They become jealous and prideful that everyone is going to get baptized by Jesus. Let's think about this...if I wanted to be baptized and I saw one group arguing with each other, and another group inviting and welcoming, well which one would I be more attracted to? No brainer.
Third problem: They totally fail to recognize the greatness of Jesus...the very people who were closest to John the Baptist and constantly hearing him talk about his mission to prepare the way for the one who is greater...and now here it is and they miss it.
They are too focused on themselves, concerned with who has the "right" way and the better baptism, and they are completely missing the point of why they are there. And as a result, they turn people away, people who have shown up and are ready for a life change.
*Where is your attitude turning people away?
*Where are you missing the point of why you are here?
Maybe the check out clerk at the grocery store, or the waiter at the restaurant?
Maybe the person you cut off on your way to work this morning who got a great view of your Jesus bumper sticker?
Maybe on the weekend in the way you talk to your volunteers?
Maybe on the weekend when there are lost people all around you who you don't say hi to, or even smile at because you are so focused on what you are "getting out of it" or your task at hand?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The First Miracle, Part 2
John 2:1-11, Jesus Changes Water Into Wine
What I find interesting about Mary's request, is that she didn't even ask him specifically to do something, she simply presented him with her problem "They have no more wine" (v. 3). She could have asked him to answer in the specific way she wanted him to fix it..."can you go out and get some more?" or "can you perform a miracle to fix this?" or "can you tell everyone to leave before they find out?". But all she did was come to him with the problem and allowed him to answer in the way he saw fit.
Then, she told the servants "do whatever he tells you" (v.5). In saying this, she is not only still leaving the answer up to him, but she is also trusting because he never said to her "yes, this is what I'm about to do...!". Also, she is offering to him the means she has so he may act. Not that he needed the provision, but she offered what she had to him to do with as he saw fit.
So in these three short verses, she does the following:
1) She had the freedom to approach and ask (Eph. 3:12)
2) She trusted and had a submissive enough heart to leave not only the answer up to him, but also the way in which to answer, even if the answer was "no" or "not yet" (Prov. 3:5)
3) She offered up all she had for him to use as he pleased (Luke 9:24)
What I find interesting about Mary's request, is that she didn't even ask him specifically to do something, she simply presented him with her problem "They have no more wine" (v. 3). She could have asked him to answer in the specific way she wanted him to fix it..."can you go out and get some more?" or "can you perform a miracle to fix this?" or "can you tell everyone to leave before they find out?". But all she did was come to him with the problem and allowed him to answer in the way he saw fit.
Then, she told the servants "do whatever he tells you" (v.5). In saying this, she is not only still leaving the answer up to him, but she is also trusting because he never said to her "yes, this is what I'm about to do...!". Also, she is offering to him the means she has so he may act. Not that he needed the provision, but she offered what she had to him to do with as he saw fit.
So in these three short verses, she does the following:
1) She had the freedom to approach and ask (Eph. 3:12)
2) She trusted and had a submissive enough heart to leave not only the answer up to him, but also the way in which to answer, even if the answer was "no" or "not yet" (Prov. 3:5)
3) She offered up all she had for him to use as he pleased (Luke 9:24)
Monday, November 10, 2008
The First Miracle
John 2:1-11, Jesus Changes Water into Wine
After reading this passage, I found myself asking some things about Mary. Why did she tell Jesus that they had run out of wine...how did she know he could do something about it? Because according to verse 11, his glory had not yet been revealed.
I wonder if there is significance to the fact that it was she who prompted the beginning of his ministry? This is the first time we see Mary since Jesus got lost as a little boy and was found in the temple (Luke Ch 2). But it's been said of her numerous times that she had been "storing things up in her heart" ever since his birth.
Did she really know what she was beginning for him? And if she did know of all he was capable of, why ask for such a seemingly insignificant task? Perhaps God was using her to encourage Jesus, because even though he was fully God, he was also fully human and maybe knowing what was ahead of him, he needed the support of a woman and mom to begin. And maybe the task was small because his humanness needed to start with something small at first...he who is responsible with a little may be trusted with a lot, that sort of thing.
I think that's very interesting, because as God, he could have jumped right in and done all kinds of huge miraculous things in front of the entire world and we would have believed right then and there. But instead, he took on our flesh and just as he was born in a humble manger not fit for a king, he continued on in his humble state, slowly but surely revealing his glory to us, one small audience at a time. His first miracle was not walking on water or raising people from the dead, but a small act of kindness to save a newlywed couple from embarrassment, revealed only to Mary and the servants.
And he used the support and encouragement from his loved ones in order to step out on the limb God called him to walk on!
After reading this passage, I found myself asking some things about Mary. Why did she tell Jesus that they had run out of wine...how did she know he could do something about it? Because according to verse 11, his glory had not yet been revealed.
I wonder if there is significance to the fact that it was she who prompted the beginning of his ministry? This is the first time we see Mary since Jesus got lost as a little boy and was found in the temple (Luke Ch 2). But it's been said of her numerous times that she had been "storing things up in her heart" ever since his birth.
Did she really know what she was beginning for him? And if she did know of all he was capable of, why ask for such a seemingly insignificant task? Perhaps God was using her to encourage Jesus, because even though he was fully God, he was also fully human and maybe knowing what was ahead of him, he needed the support of a woman and mom to begin. And maybe the task was small because his humanness needed to start with something small at first...he who is responsible with a little may be trusted with a lot, that sort of thing.
I think that's very interesting, because as God, he could have jumped right in and done all kinds of huge miraculous things in front of the entire world and we would have believed right then and there. But instead, he took on our flesh and just as he was born in a humble manger not fit for a king, he continued on in his humble state, slowly but surely revealing his glory to us, one small audience at a time. His first miracle was not walking on water or raising people from the dead, but a small act of kindness to save a newlywed couple from embarrassment, revealed only to Mary and the servants.
And he used the support and encouragement from his loved ones in order to step out on the limb God called him to walk on!
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Blog Overhaul
So I tried to revive the blog this summer, and as it turned out, well my life just wasn't that interesting anymore. The Unlikely Adventures of Crys had been replaced by The Occasional Unlikely Event that Crys is Doing Anything but Working or Sleeping, and that just doesn't make for a very interesting blog! And that also wasn't the kind of life God wanted me to lead. So the last few months have been a bit of a 'life overhaul' if you will, a pursuit of the kind of life God wants for me, the kind of life worth giving his own for.
So now, the blog is getting an overhaul as well. I'm not quite sure what new form and direction it's going to take but the Crys McDonald Show is once again onstage and playing 5 nights a week, so I hope you come back as I give the blog one more try!
So now, the blog is getting an overhaul as well. I'm not quite sure what new form and direction it's going to take but the Crys McDonald Show is once again onstage and playing 5 nights a week, so I hope you come back as I give the blog one more try!
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