Christmas Kisses

Last year, Emily's mom sent us a "Kissing Ball" a big ball of pine and fir and mistletoe that we hung from the door of the library. It was tricky to water, but beautiful and the scent was lovely. You just needed to make sure that you never went into or out of the library at the same time as someone who wanted to kiss you, but you didn't want to kiss ;o) (not really a big problem most days)

I have one very favorite Christmas CD, I've been playing it since election day, (no joke). Sarah McLachlan's "Wintersong" is just the most beautiful, haunting, lovely collection of Christmas music I have ever heard. I found a video on youtube that someone put together with the song "In the bleak midwinter". Listen to the lyrics. . .

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
yet what can I give him: give my heart.





I love the idea of worshiping the God who created the entire universe by kissing a tiny baby. In the book, The Shack, when the trinity sits down to "do devotions" they kiss each other's hands and say, "I am devoted to you." So lovely.

I just adore this song, the shepherds worship by bringing lambs, the wisemen do their part, Mary kisses the baby and we bring our heart. Such a beautiful picture of everyone having a part in the kingdom.

There's another Christmas kiss that I have been thinking about a lot lately too.

Psalm 85 says:

10 Unfailing love and truth have met together.
Righteousness and peace have kissed! (New Living Translation)

Now English is a pretty unique language in that we have 2 words, "righteousness" and "justice" in most languages, including Hebrew, there is just one word, justice. So in most languages, and in the Catholic English translation, the second part of this verse reads.

Justice and peace have kissed.

So this Christmas week, let's worship the beloved child with a kiss. Let's be people who do justice, let's be peacemakers. Let's look out for the least, let's stop injustice, let's work for an end to racism, let's pray that Shalom fills the earth this Christmas. Let's let justice and peace kiss all day long in our lives.

Christmas Kisses from the Stevens House.

Love,
Wanda, Bethany, Valerie, Katie and Noel

It's beginning to look a lot like. . .

It's beginning to look a lot like DRAMA

photos from indiepress.

The Stevens house yet again is a part of political history.

The Senate Race DRAMA!!!!



Noel got a call from the Franken campaign today. Evidently Hennepin County rejected his absentee ballot assuming that he should have re-registered, even though he's lived at this address and voted here since 2006. How bizarre. So Noel will be signing an affadavit that he lives here and followed the rules.

It's beginning to look a lot like TWENTY SEVEN

Speaking of Noel, it's his birthday today "Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is Noel Nix in Michigan"

So here's to 27 years of Mr. Nix. May your 28th year be the best one yet.

It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS

We're recovering from the big Christmas Party where our lovely guests brought bags and bags and bags of food for the local foodshelf. We had a great time, cookie decorating, lots of food, great conversation and Wii. Bethany took the bulk of the pictures on her camera.

Celebrate!

Today is a full day of shopping, hair cuts, last minute cooking and cleaning, because . . . . .

YOU'RE INVITED TO THE 4TH ANNUAL STEVENS HOUSE CHRISTMAS PARTY
7:00 tonight
at our house

Katie

More Advent links

Beyond Fear an essay on the Mars Hill advent blog

Sacred Space Advent Retreat

Advent has really captured my imagination this year, the idea of hope, peace, joy and love over coming fear, despair, hate and conflict.

Do not be afraid. . . for you have found favor with God.

advent devotion

If you're still looking for something to help you in your devotion time during Advent, I've got a resource that has blessed me and helped to focus my prayer life over the past year.

Check out Pray as You Go.

The British Jesuits put together these podcasts (or you can download individual MP3s or WMAs). They're about 10-15 minutes long and include some music, time for reflection, scripture reading, reflective questions and time to pour your heart out to God.

May the word become flesh in your life this December.

nativity theology - and economic redistribution

Redistribution is not a prescription for community. Redistribution is a description of what happens when people fall in love with each other across class lines.” - Shane Claiborne, in The Irresistible Revolution

I have four different nativity scene sets that I inherited from my grandparents.

As I set them up this morning I noticed something: all four of my sets had the Holy Family (Joe, Mary and Baby Jesus) which is good, Jesus is central to this CHRISTmas thing. Three of my sets had the wise men. But not a single one of my sets had any shepherds.

What kind of gospel do we have when the rich and educated, those who can bring immense physical wealth to the kingdom of God are those who are represented in the story?

Where are the poor and dirty teenagers and elderly who were watching their sheep by night?

Let's not even get started on the fact that the wise men didn't even make it to see Jesus on the night in the stable.

WHERE ARE MY SHEPHERDS?

Yesterday I went to a one day institute class on Economic Redistribution. (Wait are we marxist now? no just evangelicals, have you read the book of acts?)

It was so energizing and inspiring. There were ideas that were out of my area of expertise, but others that gave me ideas for my own ministry, personal life, and academic life.

One inspiring story was that of Pastor John Liotti, from East Palo Alto who after years of living in the neighborhood recognized that one of the biggest hinderances to Shalom life in his community was the lack of good banks.

There were check cashing businesses and payday lenders. Both of which were charging INSANE amounts of interest and fees, preying on the poor in the community and keeping them stuck in a cycle of poverty that went deeper and deeper with each transaction.

So with the help of some really smart wise men (MBAs and entreprenuers) John's community developed a plan and started a community credit union.

I am not an entrepreneur, I don't know if it would ever be in my skill set to do something like this, but they gave us other ideas too. Like going into community Jr. Highs and High Schools to teach financial literacy and poverty awareness.

Ideas like having a financial accountability question in small group ministries. "What did you spend your money on this week? Did you make any impulse buys that you regret now? How did you use your money for the kingdom?" This is going to take a lot of vulnerability, as I think sexuality and finances are two of the most sensitive topics in American culture right now.

I was blessed.

We also watched this video which might oversimplify things a bit, but it's good to watch and reflect on. Give yourself 20 minutes to watch it.

b's tree

noel's letter to Mr. Obama

Here's Noel's letter to the President Elect:

http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2008/11/24/advise-and-dissent-noel-nix.html

bethany's letter to the president elect

http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2008/11/24/advise-and-dissent-bethany-gustafson.html

I didn't know that Bethany got published too. Here's her advice!