The Last Time I Wept Like That ...

I was at Catalyst Conference 05 in Atlanta GA. I was listening to Bill Hybels talk very plainly and humbly about where God has led him ... he ended very passionately with this concise statement ... "If you're dreaming about doing great things for God, do them." What was it about that simple challenge that got me? Not sure, but whatever it was ... it got me again. Saturday night ... as I watched the movie Amazing Grace.

If you've not yet seen it, I highly suggest you find the means and do so. In this movie you'll find a young William Wilberforce fighting fearlessly, and paying the price of his physical and emotional health, to end the slave trade in England. But Wilberforce stands on the shoulders of a man who had participated in the slave trade before repenting and experiencing grace, John Newton. Newton had been taught by his mother as a young boy to know the Bible and love God, and after a life of doing just the opposite, he finally surrendered the truth that lingered in his head from childhood and turned to Christ. This man was Wilberforce's preacher. His story and his preaching inspired Wilberforce to follow God's plan for his life ... to fight to end slavery ... and ultimately, to win that fight.

Something about the combination of a man on a mission (William Wilberforce) and a broken sinner who turns to the Savior (John Newton) sent an arrow toward that spot in my heart that gets stirred to passionately pursue God's glory no matter the cost ... and the tears flowed. As they do right now, as I think about something Newton said near the end of his life ... "My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior." (see John Newton)

How depressing it was for this man to recall the painful events of his life, but how sweet to remember the pain the Savior endured to redeem him. It was his run in with this great Savior that led him to write these words:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see

That last line became particularly significant toward the end of Newton's life, as he lost his eyesight, but had the confidence that his physical blindness didn't alter his spiritual sight.

Now, think with me for a minute ... William Wilberforce was a dynamic, charismatic, passionate young man who changed the course of a nation by taking a stand against injustice, but he was inspired by a man who had lived a filthy life of blasphemy ... and this man was saved from such because his mother took the time to teach her young son the Bible. So when you think about the abolition of the slave trade in England, or you sing the words of Amazing Grace ... don't just think about the great orator William Wilberforce making speeches in parliament, or the great hymn writer John Newton whose hymns were heard by the masses ... think about a mother, who was faithful. And in the quiet moments, in the privacy of their own home, taught her son the truth of God's Word, and the truth about God's Amazing Grace.

Hi, I'm Robby Christmas ...

Yep, that's exactly what I said to her ... to Linda Christmas that is. The first Christmas I've ever met in my life that I'm not related to. Linda Christmas lives in Durham, NC and she wants a crepe myrtle planted in her front yard. Enter Wendell's Lawn Maintenance. Wendell is my employer ... but that's a whole nother blog (do you ever stick a word in the middle of a word? ... like "a whole nother" ... it's fun, you should try). Back to Linda, Linda Christmas that is. My last name is Christmas, so is Linda's. The thing is I've never met another Christmas face to face that I wasn't related to. So there I was, ready for an inspiring encounter with someone else who bears my name ... I was excited ... and curious. I don't know what it was exactly, I guess just the idea that there are other people who carry the name Christmas. What are they like? Do they carry it well? Do they have the same sense of privilege and responsibility that I feel when I think about my name, part of who I am.

So I introduce myself with a smile and anticipate ... (um, ok, I'm watching Trey right now ... and there's been some intestinal movement ... everybody sit tight, back in a minute ... ok, that was delightful). Needless to say, Linda was shocked. She was even more shocked when, at Wendell's request, I shared what my sister's name is (Mary for any readers unfamiliar with the fam). I was curious about our connections or similarities so I asked ... She was from Arizona, but married a Christmas who was from the Durham area, a Hell's Angel no less, with a cousin named Boogie Christmas. Ahhh, it was all coming together ... Christmas, angels, uh ... Boogie ?? (hell didn't seem to fit in anywhere though). Wendell, former Hell's Angel (again, need another blog), chimed in and they had a rousing conversation about the Hell's Angels, including history and cultural influence (laughing track). She went on to explain to us where she wanted her crepe myrtle to be planted, doubted that we could do it right, and then offered to show us some old gas tanks that can be converted into large grills great for pig pickins' (let's see ... pig pickin' ... Christmas ham? no, no connection).

As we walked back up the hill toward the truck something shifted weird in Wendell's stomach and there was an ill-sounding release of methane, loud enough to not play off. After about six seconds of him not admitting it, Linda Christmas called him on it and I thought to myself ... "where am I? is this real?" The experience was different than I anticipated, though I must say, in no way disappointing ... because I got it, I understood the connection. Even though she and her Hell's Angels husband probably didn't see the historical and eternal significance in the name Christmas, nor desire to live up to that significance (unless he really does personify the name and is doing incarnational missions work with the Hell's Angels ... it could happen) ... there was still a connection. We're both human, and in need of a Savior ... the One that came at Christmas. That event (that changed the course of human history), that Savior (who offers His grace to all) is what connects us. Christ came for Linda Christmas, and for Robby Christmas, and for the Hell's Angels ... that we may have life, and life abundant. God showed His grace at Christmas. I am no less in need of that grace than anyone else, no matter their background or way of life.

Begin at the Beginning

The words escape me ... as I sit here, next to my wife and son, on a relaxing Sunday evening ... and I enter ... the blogosphere. These words will be the first of many, words that will express what's in my heart and head, my fears and failures, memorable moments and serious sentiments. So, where does one even begin such a journey ... only one logical place, the beginning. I'm not talking about my beginning. The beginning of my story is only a small blip on the pages of an epic that's been in motion for millenia ... I'm talking about the beginning of THE story. For only in His story do I find purpose in my story.

The Bible begins at the beginning ... "In the beginning God ..." (Genesis 1:1). He is the beginning ... and the end. Also the middle, He's the author ... and the main character. In Him I find purpose; from Him flow my passions. So, will this be one of those uber-religious, psycho-serious boring blogs? No. I look forward to blogging about my family (Joanna and Trey ... whom I am nuts about), adventures (from racing to sharing my faith), insights learned (from biblical to parenting), love experienced (from my wife to my Creator) ... a holistic approach to blogging. But it must begin at the beginning. And must flow from my connection with my Creator ... that's what I was designed for ... and that's what I'm about.


I intend to do much thinking and expressing but not much editing and smoothing out. I want to paint pictures of beauty, not pictures of perfection. I am setting out to sift through human experience, not human euphoria. I desire to promote restoration and redemption, not comfort and convenience.

Also it's my desire to use as many trendy Christian buzz words as possible. Just kidding ... but seriously. Here's a shot at it: I want to be a catalyst to open dialog for fleshing out concepts about authentic community and genuine worship while facilitating a movement toward a relevant revolution. It'll take every post for the rest of my bloglife to unpack that. Join me.