Grabbed this from a MySpace Blog

Thanks go Josh Peas for writing this up and posting it.
Do you see what I see?
Or so the Christmas song goes, asking a question then not waiting for the answer.
Do you see what I see?
Lying in the middle of a manger – a bundled-up baby lying in hay, or so they say, and we already know exactly how the story goes – a tidy scene with shepherds and angels and Mary and mangers.
But do you see what I see?
How no one quite knew what to do with this tiny little baby born in Bethlehem. How he provoked anger and awe and confusion and questions. How this tiny little baby made wise men want to seek Him and King Herod want to kill Him, and angels to proclaim Him. How shepherds flocked to bow before Him and how Mary and Joseph sat and watched and wondered how this fragile child – born in afterbirth and umbilical cords, incapable of words, but wailing and feeding and sleeping in a feeding trough - could possibly be God in the flesh.
Do you see what I see?
How Mary and Joseph raised Jesus in a town where people whispered and gossiped and guessed who the REAL father of this bastard child must be. Because who could believe, that He was conceived, the way Mary said. No, far more likely that she was in another man's bed. Illegitimate this Jesus. What could God ever do with someone like Him?
Do you see what I see?
How a 12-year-old child, discussed and debated the Pharisees – these experts in endless decrees, the holy ones of Israel. "How cute" they may have thought. How gifted, this young boy Jesus. Quite a future for this one they may have said. Not knowing that the child they now admired, they would one day want dead.
Do you see what I see?
How He turned fishermen and financiers, lepers and lawyers, Pharisees and prostitutes, into those who would change the world. How he alienated people preoccupied with power, and pride, and the promise of wealth.
Do you see what I see?
How no one still knows what to do with Him.
n Was He a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord?
n Is He the hope for the hopeless like the shepherds thought?
n Or is He a fool's hope for the weak-minded like some say today?
What do you see?
n Is He the King of Kings, or an imaginary, inflated fable?
n Is He God in human skin, or is He just a good man?
n was He beat for our sins and bruised for our rebellion?
n By the lacerations made across his back by an iron-tipped whip, are we really healed?
What do you see?
… when you look at the baby in the manger. Who is he?
n A fuzzy feeling?
n A Christmas tradition?
n An outdated myth?
Or Immanuel – God with us. The infinite in human skin born a man. An invasion into the realms of sin, sent to suffer and die, then live again.
Do you see what I see?
And unlike in the song, this time the question requires an answer. … from all of us.
So … what do you see?

Finding space in creation

I've been musing a lot about "Worship Space," recently. I find that I have trouble defining what I mean by that, and that makes creating it for other people a bit more difficult as well. I have a gut reaction when I hear the phrase, and I know what I mean, even if I can't explain it or apparently recreate what it is in real life. So therein lies my struggle. In my heart, in my head, in my "gut" I know what I'm looking for; but putting it into real terms that others can feel and respond to is more difficult.

Worship space to me is more than just candles, incense, iconography, music, and ambience (though all of these are good things and aid in worship). It's a place to meet God. Worship space, then, is limited only by the presence of God. So if God is present everywhere, then worship space can be anywhere. It's probably omnipresent, but I hate to apply that term too loosely. Goodness knows that if I say it, someone will respond negatively. :-) But let's muse together.

God is everywhere. God created all things. All things reflect the glory and beauty and majesty and even judgment of God. Creation in itself is meant to direct our worship towards the Almighty creator and savior of the universe and to Jesus. So anywhere can be worship space. We can go into a grand cathedral or into a small cottage and find God there, if we take the time to be sensitive to His presence and respond with worship.

But what about those places that seem to stand in the way of worship? What about those things which prevent us from experiencing God's presence and there is no worship that takes place? Are we just blind? Are we just being thick? Is it really that hard to "Create" worship space, when it's been created for us? What if everywhere we went was worship space to us? What if, instead of forcing it, we embraced the space given to us and the God who is There and gave ourselves fully over to His worship and adoration? Is it all just futile?

And so I look to create worship space for personal use and for others. At home, I have my prayer closet, and that works just fine. But to give others the same space is not so easy. It's more than just adding candles and smells and multi-sensory worship experiences....but those are all good things. How do you fill a space so that when people enter they experience and know the presence of God in their lives?

Crysostom's Paschal Homily

I heard this last night. Pretty much amazing.

If any man be devout and loveth God,
Let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast!
If any man be a wise servant,
Let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord.

If any have laboured long in fasting,
Let him how receive his recompense.
If any have wrought from the first hour,
Let him today receive his just reward.
If any have come at the third hour,
Let him with thankfulness keep the feast.
If any have arrived at the sixth hour,
Let him have no misgivings;
Because he shall in nowise be deprived therefore.
If any have delayed until the ninth hour,
Let him draw near, fearing nothing.
And if any have tarried even until the eleventh hour,
Let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness.

For the Lord, who is jealous of his honour,
Will accept the last even as the first.
He giveth rest unto him who cometh at the eleventh hour,
Even as unto him who hath wrought from the first hour.
And He showeth mercy upon the last,
And careth for the first;
And to the one He giveth,
And upon the other He bestoweth gifts.
And He both accepteth the deeds,
And welcometh the intention,
And honoureth the acts and praises the offering.

Wherefore, enter ye all into the joy of your Lord;
Receive your reward,
Both the first, and likewise the second.
You rich and poor together, hold high festival!
You sober and you heedless, honour the day!
Rejoice today, both you who have fasted
And you who have disregarded the fast.
The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously.
The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.
Enjoy ye all the feast of faith:
Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.

Let no one bewail his poverty,
For the universal Kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one weep for his iniquities,
For pardon has shown forth from the grave.
Let no one fear death,
For the Saviour's death has set us free.
He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it.

By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive.
He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh.
And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry:
Hell, said he, was embittered
When it encountered Thee in the lower regions.

It was embittered, for it was abolished.
It was embittered, for it was mocked.
It was embittered, for it was slain.
It was embittered, for it was overthrown.
It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains.
It took a body, and met God face to face.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.

O Death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?

Christ is risen, and thou art overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.
For Christ, being risen from the dead,
Is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be glory and dominion
Unto ages of ages.

Amen.