Gimme Some Christmas

Christmas has become such a selfish endeavor. It all gets started with our "lists", doesn't it? These lists are full of our overly optimistic hopes that someone will invest a ton of money in satisfying our "wants". Now kids are known for quite the optimistic lists...but I've seen adults of all ages fall prey to the very same illusion. I know, I know...its all part of the fun. Make your lists...dream and hope you get the stuff...send it off to "Santa"...and maybe you will get a few...and be disappointed in a few that were missed. But somehow in that "fun" we've lost focus. With all the lights, decorations, yummy food and shopping malls taking priority...are we missing something? Christmas was never about "getting stuff", was it? Yet most of us experience it primarily at that level. That's too bad. Though gift giving and receiving is central to how we celebrate, its not the main point. Ya, I know...this is where a bunch of you go..."oh no, here comes the Christmas is about Jesus birthday guilt trip". "Way to ruin our fun dude!" You may be pleasantly surprised to know that's "not" where this is going (though of course it is Jesus birthday). Even bigger than it being Jesus "birthday"...we should ask why did Jesus choose to be born as a baby in the first place? I believe its because of God's heart for relationship with us. In fact, the bible tells us He would be called "Emmanuel"..."God with us". That tells us something very intregal to the Christmas story. It tells us something central to God's heart in all this. You see Christmas is not "getting" ...but "being with." As a matter of fact, its always been about God "being with" us...and in turn us "being with" others! Simply put...love is best manifested by "being with" someone. Christmas is God's love expressed in its best form...God with us...in the person of Jesus. So as ECHO, we hope to be a people that as we celebrate Christmas in the future may we always remember, Christmas isn't about "getting stuff"...its about "being with". God with us...and us being with others. In this the heart of Christmas is best expressed. Perhaps beginning with this year... "being with" can be our focus...in the midst of all the fun :)

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude, ECHO