Dignity

Cindy and I recently attended a civic event in which the word dignity seemed to float right in front of my eyes. Dignity defined simply means this idea of being worthy of honor or respect.

Many times the thought is that honor and respect has to come immediately into being just because one is in a certain position, has a certain title or dwells in a certain social stratosphere in the world.

Someone once told me it takes a life time to earn respect but only takes a nano second to lose it.  

My title or position really mean nothing in the bigger picture of eternity if I am not willing to show respect, care and dignity for all of God's creatures that I encounter each day.  From the person literally laying in the gutter outside of my office, to the person who flaunts a coarse means of lifestyle and mocks my faith, to the individual who is too busy to notice life while living it.

All creatures great and small have their origin from the Creator whether they acknowledge it or not.  My job is not to play judge and jury but to handle each person I meet with care and prayer.  There is value in showing dignity towards others.  The pay back is that you get that same sense of respect in return.

Last Words

On May 31, 2015, after nine years of ministry at the College for Officers Training, our ministry on "In Sunday's" comes to an end.  It is our last private worship service with both sessions of Cadets.  The following week is finals, farewell banquets, packing and then moves quickly into commissioning week events with the covenant service, commencement, ordination and commissioning leading up to the final appointment service. In other words:  busy.  And no longer private.

What follows are my final written words to both sessions of cadets in the Sunday bulletin.  Over the years I have always written something in the Sunday program when we were Corps Officers.  I used to call it "Parson to Person."  While training principal, I would write on occasion but often I tried to find writings from William Booth, or Samuel Logan Brengle or some other Salvationist author as some words to ponder while one read the bulletin. 

Here are my "last words":

One would think after nine years all the words of advice that has ever been asked for, inquired about, freely given or forcefully exhorted, would have been said.  I was searching for some last wise words that would rivet you to your seat and pierce your heart through.  But I can’t come up with anything but a question for you:

Are you ready to feed your flock?

To the Heralds:  are you ready to feed your flock?  Week in.  Week out.  Month in.  Month out. Year in. Year out.

This involves writing the “weekly essay”.  It means a day full of interruptions.  A never ending to do list.  It means loving the unlovable.  Showing an incredible amount of godly patience.  It means going at times where you do not want to go; doing what you may not see yourself doing; long hours and little praise and ever littler rewards.

To the Messengers:  are you ready to learn from the flock God is about to give you for the summer?  In your eight weeks or so will you stay focused on the main thing? Your intern work will pay dividends for the kingdom and for the development of your own so.

So after nine years of ministry here at CFOT, its quickly winding down for my wife and myself.  We are semi packed, briefs being written, steps through the last events and pretty soon, the drive north to the Bay Area will occur.  But until then we will continue to do our best to remind you all to do something so simple:  Feed.  Tend. Love your flock. 

The rest will all fall into place.

Major Tim Foley

May 31, 2015, Crestmont

Is there a doctor on board?

February 19, 2015

Is there a doctor on board?

As I sit and write while traveling on a plane back to Los Angeles, I am overcome with raw emotion.  Surrounded by strangers, the tears are silently streaming down my face.  If any one notices there will be no shame in this.

This ride home comes after a three and a half year journey down a path of personal academic pursuit.  I was an average student in high school who decided during the gap year to go down the path of professional theatre instead of going to college.   When I finally did cross the threshold of a college campus it was so as a young man in spiritual transition.  What business did I have in pursuing a doctorate degree?

Fast forward to the present,  I look back to the past and hardly can believe the opportunities that God has afforded me.  The privilege of being trained and serving as a Salvation Army officer for over three decades; being married one of the most brilliant, strong, smart and beautiful people I have ever met; obtaining a Masters Degree from Fuller Seminary; being a part of the pioneering work of the Kroc Center ministry for the nation and teaching and being in leadership role at the training college for the past 9 years, I am a grateful man.

I wanted to take a moment to capture the essence of this day.  I worked for the past three years on a doctorate degree.  The focus was on spiritual formation for ministry leaders.  Really, it was a focus on my own soul.  The Lord has spoken deeply and has cut me deeper still in this course of study.  Through member of my cohort, the instructors, and my mentors, I sit here today a different man.

Am I perfect?  Nope.  Have I obtained anything?  Yes, and I promise its much more that just a piece of paper and a new title of Dr. Foley.  I am more attuned to the working of God in my life and around me more than ever.  What happened today was a culmination of a very long pilgrimage.

As I defended my work, “The Salvationist and the Sabbath.” I was put to the test as to where I stood on a variety of theological points, personal musings of what the problem of the thesis was and the cause there in. 

I had what I call a few what I call “Walter Mitty” moments where a question was asked and my mind went blank.  Dry mouth, sputtering words, rambling thoughts, all just seemed to stream out.  But I was told I was coherent.

I was asked what I learned about myself in the entire process of this journey the past three years.  I quickly answered that I feel I have learned to be attuned to God and the cadences of my own soul.  The reader and mentor smiled.

I was asked to leave for a bit while notes and comments could be exchanged.  I walked the long hallway of this historic place, in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.  I went to the cashier to pay my outstanding debt, browsed the tiny bookstore and made my way back upstairs, just standing at the end of the hall way waiting

No one ever passes this, I was told, without modifications to the dissertation.  It is not a given, so come prepared and show engagement with your work, I was told.  What seemed like two eternities but was really only 15 minutes, I was summoned to the office to be told the results.

The two thumbs up sign from my mentor was the best gesture I ever have seen.  I was told there would be some things that needed to be added here and there. Tinker with this, tinker with that.  But.

You passed, Tim.  Poster child of the Dmin program I was told.  This is how they like it done.  Hugs, handshakes and smiles abound.

I was overcome with emotion when Dr. Currie prayed for me.    The tears flowed freely.  Was it not only a sense of relief and a realization of a job well done, it was more out of a sense of humility of once again the opportunity that God has given to me.

So exactly what does a Doctor of Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders do now?  He plays with his trains.  He rests.  He prays for discernment and direction for next steps. He makes himself to lean into God with others.  He keeps reading.  Writing.  Listening.  Learning.

I have only barely scratched the service here with this topic.  I do plan to put my defense into a short book.  I was told I have already written the outline in what I shared in this meeting today.  I want to be intentional in engaging in sabbath: ceasing, resting, celebrating and embracing.  Not on some legalistic or guilt based trip but more in a way to help myself, and others to learn to live lightly, and freely again.

With special thanks to my wife Cindy, my children, Laura (and Adam Fyn!) Alex and Victoria; to my colleagues at CFOT, the Cadets and staff, to the instructors and  members of my cohort  who spoke into my soul at Enders Island and the campus at South Hamilton, and to Dr. Dave Currie and Dr. Stephen Macchia, I am eternally grateful for your prayers and support.

I will be submitting for publishing bits and pieces of this here on my blog, hopefully in Word and Deed, the Officer Magazine and in book form within a year.  I plan to unpack those four words the sabbath centers on.

So if the question is asked, I can honestly answer: “Yes ma’am. There is a doctor on board this flight. “ Yes indeed. (ironically, they did ask for a 'medical doctor' to ring the bell on one leg of my flight home.  Don't worry...I didn't push the button in that situation!)

 On the left, Dr. David Currie, director of GCTS Dmin progam and reader of dissertation; on the right, Dr. Stephen Macchai, director of the GCTS Pierce Center, President of LTI (Leadership Transformations) and my mentor through this project.  I am grateful to God for these two brilliant and godly men.  February 19, 2015 at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, Massachusetts. 

The Sabbath & the Salvationist - research methodology plan

The following is the plan that I have submitted to Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary regarding the plan for my research methodology.  As you can see its pretty simple and straightforward.  I will await feedback, corrections and eventual approval before I will be embarking on the formal survey.

Please note my survey will not be internationally focused.  I will be primarily focusing on how sabbath plays out in the lives of officers in the Western Territory per say.  I will however be posting the link to the survey monkey on the Facebook group page:  The Sabbath & the Salvationist.  I will entertain comments and responses from those outside the Western Territory and will treat it in a separate index.

I am hoping to launch the survey August 1 and will run it for 30 days.

Its fair to say as I progress on this project that I am receiving lots of comments, questions and suggestions from both officer, solider, employee and just friends who are curious.  A nerve has been indeed touched.  I appreciate your prayers for me as I attempt to balance a full time ministry position as Training Principal, a busy travel and speaking schedule and attempting to finding my own sabbath and furlough time.   I welcome any and all comments on this subject matter.

I am not here to debate any legalist approach to this subject.  I am simply out to define the problem and help to implement a plan that may assist others to keep sabbath rest a priority.  If this all will be come a habit in my life then I feel I will have completed what I feel that God has set out for me to explore here.

Research Methodology Models

by

Tim Foley 

  June 24, 2014

Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders 

Mentor: Dr. Stephen Macchia

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

 Format

My thesis project will attempt to explore an existing problem within my denomination regarding the Sabbath.  While “doing the most good” is a terrific mantra to capture the essence of 21^st century ministry within The Salvation Army, there are many officers in its ranks, in particular in the western region of the United States, that seem to not take time for regular sabbath keeping.  I hope to discover through my research what are some of the current trends, traits, statistics, causes and possible cures through my efforts.

The particular areas in my research methodology that I want to use would be related to the collection, deciphering, tabulating and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data would be that of a personal survey.  The means and manner in which this will be conducted is through a survey monkey online format. I plan to purchase a premium version of surveymonkey.com to use in my research.

 As presented in the material in module 2, I will be using basic descriptive statistical methods to analyze the questionnaire type information that is collected through these personal surveys.  I will use various illustrations such pie chart or linear bar graphs to highlight some of the findings.  I will also be drawing out information from the various sub groups that are identified in my research as will be explained further in this paper.  The survey it self will have some simple yes or no type questions.  There will be questions that will allow for written responses and the sharing of opinions and ideas from the person surveyed. 

I have toyed with the idea of doing individual case studies and have considered that for the sake of brevity I would solicit one volunteer from each of the sub groups for further interviews.  This may prove challenging due to time and distance constraints.  I will make sure proper waivers and permissions are secured from these individuals before I publish the results. 

I also have developed a Facebook group page dedicated to this project where I will post a link to the survey.  This will allow me to collect data from various other parts of the world in which the Salvation Army officers work and are interested in sharing their opinions.  I will treat the data collected from here as appendixes information.  I have had a lot of inquiries from all over the world in regards to this subject so I thought this might be the best way to allow people to share and keep the entire survey under control.

Processes

In my dissertation I will explore the problem that faces the individual officer in regards to Sabbath knowledge and the lack of application to one's personal life. I plan to explore the challenge of a Christian institution that respects the corporation ideals of Sabbath but the individuals have a difficult time making it a living reality in their lives.   I plan to conduct research in the form of personal surveys and case studies that will need to be developed. Here is a brief outline of my plan:

1. The plan will focus on selecting and conducting a survey of both active and retired officers assigned specifically to the Western Territory region in regards to personal Sabbath keeping.  (This is the geographic area that I am currently assigned to.)   
2. Data will be collected from field officers in Corps ministry (church), administrative headquarters (denominational district leadership and resource positions), ARC and Social Services officers (drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers and officers assigned to social service ministries) and education officers (CFOT – College for Officer Training). 
3. The scope of the plan is to limit the number of this group to get an over all sampling to over 650 active officers assigned to the Western Territory of The Salvation Army, USA. 
4. The data to be collected represents a wide range of ages, cultural backgrounds, years of ministry experience and educational backgrounds. 
5. Data will be collected primarily using the digital tools of survey monkey and responses from the Facebook group page: The Sabbath and the Salvationist.  
6. The data will be analyzed using basic quantitative and qualitative means of explanation.  Pie charts, bar graphs and narrative descriptions will be used in the finding of the statistical information.

There will be no doubt some additional thoughts that will come to my research methodology as I consider more opportunities in the development of this plan.  I reserve the right here to allow for additional or considerations for modifications here but certainly this will be keep in reason due to time constraints.  I do not plan to bite off more than I can chew.

Sample Questions

The following is a listing of the questions I will be using.  I plan to keep this line of questioning very succinic and short, attempting not to ask more than 12 to 15 questions.

Please note: I have not at the time of this writing formatted all the types of questions that I would use in the survey.  I would like to consider formatting some yes & no format questions; multiple choice and allowing open-ended short answer type responses. The following is a simple example of the types of things I might ask:

1. How would you define Sabbath?
2. Do you practice Sabbath in your life?
3. If so how is it practiced in your life?
4. What are some of the challenges or hindrances that prevent you from taking a regular Sabbath?
5. What have been some of the benefits in your life of taking a regular Sabbath?
6. Do you use all your furlough (vacation) time each year?  If not, why not?
7. In your ministry setting what are some of the challenges that you face that may prevent you from taking a regular Sabbath?
8. What do you think what is the value of Sabbath keeping?
9. In what ways has Sabbath keeping played into your longevity in ministry? (This would be asked for officers service 15 years up plus retired officers.)
10. What are some of the ways you have practiced Sabbath over the years?
11. What does the practice of regular Sabbath look like for you?
12. If you do not practice Sabbath on a regular basis do you feel you are violating a commandment of God?  If so, why?  If no, why not?

Note: again this is by no means a complete or final list of questions but will act as a basic guideline as I work on fine-tuning this before the questions are sent out in the survey.

Summation

As far as I have been able at this point to discover no one in the history of my denomination has every fully researched and written on the topic of sabbath keeping.  I feel that the work I am engaged in will be truly beneficial to many officers.  After I have been able to identify the problem my plan is to give some very practical and succinct answers going forward as to how Sabbath keeping can become a regular part of one’s life.  My attempt here is to create a dialogue within the confines of my denomination primarily in the Western Territory.  But already this is proving to be a nerve that I have touched in which this work will have some broader ramifications throughout the world wide of the officer force of The Salvation Army.

Draft - Thesis Project Proposal - The Salvationist & the Sabbath - GCTS Dmin - Tim Foley - May 2014

Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders

Post Residency Project Proposal

Submitted by

Tim Foley

May 28, 2014

Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary

Mentor: Dr. Stephen A. Macchia

Reader: Dr. David Currie 

Approved Thesis:

My thesis is entitled "The Salvationist and The Sabbath".  I will be exploring the issue of the Sabbath as it relates to the life and ministry of a Salvation Army officer.

Challenges:

 As I have progressed over the years in my own spiritual journey, I have struggled with the concept of experiencing personal Sabbath.  Quite frankly, I am lousy at it.  I certainly bare most of the blame here with my lack of attention to this discipline.  I was immediately drawn to this topic as I began an earnest study of spiritual formation.  The topic deeply resonates with me.  In discussions that I have had with fellow Salvation Army officer colleagues about this topic I have had a variety of responses of both good and bad experiences with Sabbath taking.  Many officers I have met with have expressed a great interest in learning how to become better at Sabbath keeping.  Hopefully this project will aid others in adapting and incorporating Sabbath into their own personal lives.

I have now devoted over three decades of my life in ministry for one of the worlds favourite, yet least known charities:  The Salvation Army.  I work within an organization that is committed to 'doing the most good' which none can argue the validity of that. But in a sense the work inside the organization can become very machine like. If an individual officer (minister) is not careful it can simply do in ones body, mind and spirit.  The organization cannot be blamed, as there is plenty of opportunities afforded to an officer to rest and to physically and mentally recoup.  The problem lays solely at the feet of the individual in what they do with those said opportunities.

I am more aware now than ever that the organization, though at times does its best to create boundaries, taking Sabbath rest is not within the vocabulary of the culture of The Salvation Army. To experience this commandment it must come from within the discipline of heart of the individual officer. 

I will be attempting to do a very critical exploration of the biblical texts regarding Sabbath, explore various authors who have covered this topic at length and look at some pragmatic steps of how Sabbath can become a living reality for Salvation Army.  My hope is that the term Sabbath will become commonplace and I am passionate to see how that it can work within the confines the officers of this organization.

Methods:

I begin this study with my own personal spiritual formation statement in mind:

Spiritual formation is a deepening of our/my faith, rooted in the strength of God’s word, developed in the depth of prayer and reflection, cultivated and acted upon holistically, as we/I become more like Christ each moment of our/my journey of life and love.

Chapter One

In the first chapter I will explore the problem that faces the individual officer in regards to Sabbath knowledge and the lack of application to one's personal life. I plan to explore the challenge of a Christian institution that respects the corporation ideals of Sabbath but the individuals have a difficult time making it a living reality in their lives. I will lay out what constitutes a theology of Sabbath in the first portion of this chapter. In the latter portion of the first chapter will deal specifically with the problem I plan to explore.  I plan to conduct research in the form of personal surveys and case studies that will need to be developed. Here is a brief outline of my plan:

1. The plan will focus on selecting and conducting a survey of both active and retired officers assigned specifically to the Western Territory region in regards to personal Sabbath keeping.  (This is the geographic area that I am currently assigned to.)    
2. Data will be collected from field officers in Corps ministry (church), administrative headquarters (denominational district leadership and resource positions), ARC (drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers) education (training colleges) and retired officers. 
3. The scope of the plan is to limit the number of this group to get an over all sampling to over 650 active and 100 retired officers living in the Western Territory of The Salvation Army, USA. 
4. The data to be collected represents a wide range of ages, cultural backgrounds, years of ministry experience and educational backgrounds. 
5. Data will be collected primarily using the digital tools survey monkey. The plan also will call for the use personal interview format either over the phone, Skype or face to face. No more than 25 participants will be selected for this portion of the survey.
6. Next steps include working with the GCTS research specialist as well as a local specialist in research methodology to make sure that the questions are geared in such a way that able to garner the right information that will be needed for the overall thesis conclusions. 

There will be no doubt some additional thoughts that will come to my research methodology as I consider more opportunities in the development of this plan.  I reserve the right here to allow for additional or considerations for modifications here.

Sample Questions

To conclude the first chapter will give a listing of questions that I will be using.  I plan to keep this line of questioning very succinic and short, attempting not to ask more than 12 to 15 questions.

Please note: I have not at the time of this writing formatted all the types of questions that I would use in the survey.  I would like to consider formatting some yes & no format questions; multiple choice and allowing open-ended short answer type responses. The following is a simple example of the types of things I might ask:

1. How would you define Sabbath?
2. Do you practice Sabbath in your life?
3. If so how is it practiced in your life?
4. What are some of the challenges that prevent you from taking a regular Sabbath?
5. What have been some of the benefits in your life of taking a regular Sabbath?
6. Do you use all your furlough time each year?  If not, why not?
7. In your ministry setting what are some of the challenges that you face that prevent you from taking a regular Sabbath?
8. What do you think what is the value of Sabbath keeping?
9. In what ways has Sabbath keeping played into your longevity in ministry? (This would be asked for officers service 15 years up plus retired officers.)
10. What are some of the ways you have practiced Sabbath over the years?
11. What does the practice of regular Sabbath look like for you?
12. If you do not practice Sabbath on a regular basis do you feel you are violating a commandment of God?  If so, why?  If no, why not?

Note: again this is by no means a complete or final list of questions but will act as a basic guideline as I work on fine-tuning this before the questions are sent out in the survey.

Additional Methodology

Some of my face to face interviews would be with selected Salvation Army officers that would fit a certain demographic based on age, ethnicity, years of service, environment of ministry (Urban, rural, suburban, etc.) budget, programs offered to the community, etc. I am proposing that this particular research would be limited to a maximum of 20 individual interviews.  I would integrate some of these feedback into my project as quotes and comments from said individuals.

Spiritual Formation

The second chapter has been completed which is the basis of my own spiritual formation, with the word, prayer and reflection as the primary foundational focus.  I will expand this chapter with an explanation of the concept of Sabbath as laid out in the biblical text.  I will also add an brief appendix explaining Salvation Army terminology. 

Literature Review

The third chapter I will engage in literature review that focuses on spiritual formation matters in particular the subject of Sabbath.  The following is just a short sample of books and no way a complete list.  Most of these books listed here have already been used in my first chapter Sabbath theology. I plan on reviewing and exploring the author’s concepts regarding Sabbath keeping.  I am particularly interested in giving comment to the writings of Mark Buchanan, Marva Dawn, Tilden Edwards and Abraham Heschel. I will be adding more books to this list to provide a very comprehensive bibliography as I work further into this project.

Sample Literature Review

The following is a very brief bibliography of books that I have used in writing a Sabbath theology presented in the first chapter of this project.

Buchanan, Mark. The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath. Nashville, Tenn.: W Pub. Group, 2006.

Cowan, Horace G. The Sabbath in Scripture and History. Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press, 1948.

Cox, Harvey Gallagher. Turning East: The Promise and Peril of the New Orientalism. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1977.

Dawn, Marva J. Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Pub., 1989.

———. The Sense of the Call: A Sabbath Way of Life for Those Who Serve God, the Church, and the World. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Pub., 2006.

Edwards, Tilden. Sabbath Time: Understanding and Practice for Contemporary Christians. New York: Seabury Press, 1982.

Heschel, Abraham Joshua. The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005.

Muller, Wayne. Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives. Bantam trade pbk. ed. New York: Bantam Books, 2000.

Postema, Don. Catch Your Breath: God's Invitation to Sabbath Rest. Grand Rapids, Mich.: CRC Publications, 1997.

Ringwald, Christopher D. A Day Apart: How Jews, Christians, and Muslims Find Faith, Freedom, and Joy on the Sabbath. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Schaper, Donna. Sabbath Keeping. Cambridge, Mass.: Cowley Publications, 1999.

Research Methodology Review

My fourth chapter will deal the overall project problem and expand on my hypothesis. I will analyse and discuss the data that I have been able to obtain with research methodologies that I will have used.  I plan to have statistical data divided into various categories that have yet to be determined.  This will be forged more as I work on my fine-tuning research questions.

So What?

In chapter five I plan to explore the 'so what' of what I have learned as the result of my research and study.  The summation will conclude with some pragmatic steps that a Salvation Army officer can take to make Sabbath a regular part of their own spiritual journey.

My over all goal of this thesis is not to point out the 'errors' that lie within the lives of the officers that word very diligently within this fine ministry organization.   I would like to take an honest look at how personal Sabbath keeping must once again rise to the top in the thinking of a Salvationist.  I hope to provide helpful suggestions on how to do Sabbath that I will glean from other sources and from my own experiences. 

In closing I would like to point out that this thesis is written for me:  I pray that I can become more of a person of Sabbath that in turn will infuse me for spiritual vitality and physical strength for the work God has called me to do.  My hope is that my work here will enable those who read this to be mindful of the need to stop, rest, regroup, reflect and be recharged for the work God has called us to do.

copyright 2014   Tim Foley  
Rancho Palos Verdes
lttlmac publishing

Revised May 2014

Giving Back

Its easy to lose the meaning of something.

There are a few phrases that I have seen, read and thought about lately that leave me confused.

One sign hanging on a restaurant exterior way said:   “Happy Hour now from 4 pm to 9 pm. “  Is it really just an hour?  Of course ‘happiness” is questionable in that setting anyway.

We have been bombarded with the “Black Friday” nonsense for several weeks by the advertisers.   The car ads are the worst ones adding to the confusion:  “Its Black Friday all month long.”   So is Black Friday one day or a series of days?

Whenever I buy an electronic device they always try to push the sale of a ‘life time guarantee’ warranty for an extra few hundred bucks.   I always pass because in my some five decades of life, there has never been any electronic device I bought that has survived a ‘life time’, with or without a warranty.

Christmas has turned into one of those confusing times of the year for many of us.  The stores would prefer we drop the religions connation’s and simply go with a new name for the day, like “Santamas”.  For a holiday purist like myself, the over commercialization of Christmas continues to ascend to new heights and the holiday season seems to be extended now to right after Labor Day.

We have been very intentional in our home to celebrate advent with our children over the years by doing advent devotions around the dinner table whenever we are together.  It’s a very high value that my wife has over the past three years in our leadership at the training college emphasized to the Cadets before they leave for their Christmas assignments.   Focusing on the story of advent must be kept alive for the generations to come.

Recently I stumbled across this growing grass roots movement called “The Advent Conspiracy.”  They have reached out to over 1000 churches in North America.  Here are some questions they are asking us to consider:  “What if we just stop? Stop the madness. Stop the frustrating pursuit of the perfect present. Stop shopping until we drop. Stop trying to “people please” through gift giving. 

What if we spend less, but give more, love more? And here’s a thought. What if we use the holidays to worship God more fully?

“We’re not trying to kill the idea of giving gifts,” said Ken Weigel, pastor of ministry development at Imago Dei Community in Portland, Ore.  “What we’re saying is that instead of buying your kid the Xbox, buy him a baseball mitt, and yourself a mitt, and actually make a commitment to your son to play catch regularly.”
Or, suggested Weigel, give a friend or family member a couple of mugs and a pound of coffee with a note that says, “This coffee is for when we sit down and talk because what I want to do this year is spend more time with you.”

The movement calls this ‘relational giving.’  It’s the center of the Advent Conspiracy’s philosophy.     Source:   http://rethinkchurch.org/article/ChristmasGiving

The direction of our ministry in the Salvation Army has been set by that famous one word our Founder gave to early day Salvationists “Others.”  We continue to stress that tradition of forgetting oneself and focusing on the needs of others.  What a perfect time during the Advent season to pick up and dust off this word again by our actions.

My kids often ask me what I want for Christmas.  I am always quick to respond.  “I want peace on earth.” They would laugh and say, “No dad, for real’s, what do you want for Christmas?”  For socks, and ties and soap and other things, I can always get what I want as an adult.  The things I really want are somewhat intangible and unattainable.

But what if I gave the gift of peace of others this year?  Instead of arguing to get my way or to point out the faults in others how wonderful and inexpensive the gift of giving peace to others would be.  All that it takes is me willing to take the step to give that instead of holding back or holding out for something in return.
May your Christmas season be filled with opportunities for you to give back, in both big and small ways.  Be intentional in and about your giving this holiday. 

Let’s get back the meaning of this all. 

There was a time when...

This blog article will date me but with the rapidly graying of the hair that is left on my head, weakening eye sight and achy bones, why deny the fact that I am aging?  I grew up in a different world when it came to the holiday season.  I suppose that is why I am a ‘holiday purist.’  I believe in taking them one at a time.

When I had graduated high school in 1977, I worked two jobs.  I was an apprentice with Berkley Repertory Theater and a full time stock clerk at J. C. Penny.  Both were great entry level jobs.  I didn’t go to college right out of the shoot but rather hit life head on.  Learning to pay rent, cooking for myself, the whole nine yards.

At JC Penny, I was on the crew that was selected to set up all the Christmas decorations.  So what you may wonder?  Well, the so what was I had to come in on the morning of what is now called “Black Friday” at 3 am in the store to set up the decorations.   That is how old school I am when it comes to all of this.  We opened an hour earlier that day, at 8 am.

There was no confusion back then.  Each holiday had a specific purpose and there was general focus.  We celebrated Thanksgiving together as families.  Then we pulled out the decorations and went into the Christmas season.

Lines are blurred across the board now days.  It’s the effects that post modernism and the push by the merchandisers that has whittled down to the masses.  We now associate Thanksgiving with that day in the way of all the ‘hot deals’.  We are encouraged to get our running shoes on and put on our pushing gloves as we all head to the malls and box stores to find the great days now available on Thanksgiving evening.

It all greatly saddens me and is actually troubling to me on so many levels.  If I speak out against it I get the label ‘Grinch’ stuck to my forehead.

Recently the popular late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel ran a satirical piece in which he was mocking the media across the country who was trying to introduce the term “Brown Thursday”.  He mockingly said it already has name, its called Thanksgiving.

I will always be a holdout for Thanksgiving.  I have so much to be thankful for in my life its worth at least taking one day, brushing off all the other holiday hype and be singled focused.

The Christmas lights and tree go up the next day.   As it should be.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my readers and friends.