Do You Believe In Santa Claus?

I love the following site that shares some helpful background info about Saint Nicholas. It has me thinking that Christians should believe in Santa Claus - not in what he's become (a pawn of our consumerist culture) but in what he has meant for centuries of Christ-followers.

What do you think?

What Would Jesus Buy? Your reviews of the movie:

I would be interested in hearing people's thoughts/reviews of the following movie opening this weekend:

The charismatic Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir take us on a cross-country crusade to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse! Their mission begins on Black Friday, when families bloated from their Thanksgiving turkeys spend the night freezing in mile-long lines to trample each other at early bird sales. Reverend Billy is here to invade the parking lots and temples of commerce, to liberate consumers from their corporate trances. From preaching at the Mall of America, to exorcising the demons from Wal-Mart Headquarters—Reverend Billy takes his gospel to the Promised Land. Changelujah! The Shopocalypse is upon us…Who will be saved? Must-see viewing before you head to the mall. Produced by Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) and directed by Rob VanAlkemade. Official Web Site

It's opening this weekend at Landmark Midtown at the following times:

What Would Jesus Buy?
(1:45 4:25) 7:15 9:35

Please check out Dan's blog about Mary

This past Sunday night we reflected on Mary's Magnificat found in Luke chapter 2. A member of our community, Dan Ra, has posted a wonderful blog on his reflections. I encourage you to check it here.

Letter to the Empire, by Yaisha Harding:

Below is a poem that a member of our community, Yaisha Hardin, wrote that reflects upon this past Sunday's Advent jam-session on the Magnificant. I would like to invite others to write and post their own letters/comments to "the Empire".


Dear Empire,

Our kinship harms me.
I am a terrorist and a victim twice over.
I live here. Was born here.
Enjoy the freedom (now a little limited)
of writing this poem.
But I am a part of what is now
the most recognizable Empire in the world.

I went shopping yesterday
did my default duty
of contributing to you,
because I do not know how to construct a couch
or a pair of jeans …

I am not ok.
I am sick with this,
because the people I recognize as my own
may not always see me as I see myself,
in them.

“Do not talk to me of oppression. You are an American.”
Even the Diaspora is fissured.
I am trapped by you,
made impossible to believe.

My family may not accept me
because of you,
somehow the message is not always clear
that I have suffered because of you too.

I have lived in projects,
rode in luxury cars,
been denied a job,
gone to university,
slaughtered in the street by those sent to protect me,
seen my face on tv.

Somehow, all the seconds are not enough.

This morning I had a dream about alligators with snake’s bodies
being led on leashes.
I awoke and HYBRID
was the word
emblazoned above my bed.

“... now they are stuck with hybrids for children. And they don’t like it.
... They think we do it on purpose so it offends them. And I don’t know
what to do about it, Tambu, really I don’t. I can’t help having been
there and grown into the me that has been there.”
- Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions



Yaisha C. Harding, 2006