I have Atari-arm. I didn't know what it was at first. In fact, I told Tom how I was concerned that my forearm kept hurting--perhaps I had pulled a muscle at the gym? Although I hadn't done an arm work-out in the last few days.... Perhaps it was from drawing? Although that didn't seem right.... In the middle of my pondering outloud, Tom said he thought it had something to do with this... and then he leaned forward, eyes intently focused, right arm at the ready--fingers clasped around and working an imaginary Atari joystick, left thumb shooting like mad, while making bsrm, bsrm, pbpboooowm Centipede noises. Sure enough, Atari-arm. A few days off and a great Christmas present later, I'd been diagnosed with too many flashback video games.

Without getting too theological about gift-giving and Christmas or pondering the deep meaning of Pitfall!, it's been great fun to brain-drain on a good round of Astroids or RiverRaid (watch out for the sides). Johnny got his pair of skates. Susie got her sled. Nellie got her picture book too. What did jolly old St. Nicholas bring this year for you?

What was your favorite present?

Christmas Greetings 2005

Biked down a volcano. Conquered the GRE. Restored the outside of our log home. Laughed a lot. Cried a lot. Lived a lot. Thanks be to God!

Merry Christmas!

Love,
Jess and Tom

"And Mary said,
'I'm bursting with God-news;
I'm dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look and me, and look what happened--
I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
the callous rich were left ou in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
he remembered and piled on thie mercies, piled them high.
It's exactly what he promised,
beginning with Abraham and right up to now.'"
(Luke 1, The Message, Eugene Peterson)

May we be reminded again that God's mercy flows in wave after wave.

Repentance in Advent?

"Why did Ken preach a sermon on repentance in Advent?"

Welcome to the Scholten dinner table Sunday afternoon.

"Shouldn't we be talking about mangers and babies and stars?"

A dream teachable moment for a minister....

Actually, we've commercialized Christmas so much that we miss out on the meaning of Advent. Advent is a time of reflection and soul preparation, not extended party time. It is a time to reflect on the gift God has given us in sending Jesus to earth; and a time to reflect and wait with expectation for when Jesus will come again to usher in a new creation.

How are we living lives of gratitude for the gift? How are we already working for peace and justice in the waiting?

Seems like most of us have jumped on the cultural party bus, and instead of celebrating on Christmas day and after Christmas, we used up our time to reflect and pray... shopping, decorating, and celebrating early.

By the time Christmas actually arrives, we're so worn out, we're just ready to pack up the tree and be done with it all. We used up our 12 days of Christmas before Christmas instead of beginning the 12 days with Christmas and concluding with Epiphany (as intended).

We would do well to use Advent for Advent and save Christmas for Christmas. Reflection, then celebrating; repentance, then grace.

Amen. Let us pray. (Ministers just can't resist preaching on a teachable moment.)

May you be blessed in your Advent reflections!