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Re: A Few Good Words about Christmas

Marcus — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 16:56:37 -0000

I'm told it went well, but it felt flat to me. It is a bit of a downer lesson, I admit.

I love that you used the phrase "taking up our crosses." In the verses I listed at least, the Greek word, hupsoo, for being exalted or prospered literally means "to lift up." Jesus uses the same word twice in John 3:14. Moses lifted up the snake in the same way that the Son of Man will be lifted up. Here the word that often means magnify or grow or prosper--takes on connotations of death and sacrifice.

The difference between taking up your cross and being lifted up on a cross might be something to think about. One is our choice, the other is God's.

Re: A Few Good Words about Christmas

Charity Singleton — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 16:36:38 -0000

Hope the Bible study went well this morning.

Good points, all. Perhaps the physical life -- the constant march toward death (even in growth) -- is an apt metaphor here. Taking up our crosses and dying to ourselves every day is painful.

Praise God for the promise of resurrection -- both physically and spiritually we will be lifted up.

Re: A Few Good Words about Christmas

Marcus — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 09:38:05 -0000

Ahhh. I just noticed that my links disappeared somehow. I added the links to the poem back in.

I'm about to teach this blog as a Bible study this morning. Here's hoping it goes well.

Re: A Few Good Words about Christmas

Marcus — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 08:22:42 -0000

That is Eliot at the end, and a play on him. "I should be glad of another death" is the last line of "Journey of the Magi." The paragraph before has a lot of Eliot too--more play than quotes.

The Christian life reaches toward what is good--but too often I have forgotten what true goodness is. I mistakenly seek my own comfort or the comfort of the one's I love.

Re: A Few Good Words about Christmas

L.L. Barkat — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:23:37 -0000

Is that Eliot at the end? Or a play on him? I vaguely remember a line like that.

Very thoughtful post. This Christian life of ours is no simple life, but it reaches towards what is good... for us and the world.