A Few Christmas Things

Some could say it’s too late for a Christmas post. But you know what they say about better and late and never!

For the last couple weeks, I’ve wanted to make a list of a few Christmas things that are on my mind. Sharing is caring!

• My all-time favorite Christmas album, which was shared with me last Christmas, is Behold the Lamb by Andrew Peterson. I think everyone should listen through it (well, if you’re someone for whom the Christmas story is meaningful). I could write a whole post exploring the depths of the references to Scripture, hymns, and more that fill the album. Seriously, I don’t think I can rave about this enough. In a special way that is most often experienced with Scripture, the more I listen to it the more I enjoy and appreciate it and see the many connections it makes. I’m listening to it as I write this post. A few special pieces (or at least, a few that don’t need longer explanation to enjoy!):
  • There’s just something special about the first song that helps me “sing out with joy” in this season. Full of Scripture references and wordplay.
  • Since I already love “Deliver Us” from the Prince of Egypt, the song of the same name here is an intense deepening of the motifs.
  • Best version of O Come, O Come Emmanuel that I’ve heard.
  • Epic song for learning and reflecting on Jesus’ genealogy as told by Matthew.
• Can’t leave Handel’s Messiah off a list of valuable Christmas things, though mostly I listen to For Unto Us A Child Is Born.
• A few years ago, I came across the argument that Jesus was not born in a stable. At the very least, it is a good reminder to seek to understand as much as we can of the context of the passages we hold to, especially those we read regularly and make a big deal out of. I would be interested in hearing your responses to or thoughts about this idea! Obvious? Old news? Mind-blowing? Grasping at straws? Heretical?
• If you’re looking for a (quite) late Christmas gift, or if you’re a coffee drinker of any sort, you should check out the Awesome Coffee Club. You can learn more at the website linked just there, but in essence it is a subscription for ethically-sourced, reportedly delicious coffee from which 100% of profits go to reducing maternal and child mortality in Sierra Leone.
  • If you want to learn more in short, comedic form, check out this video: Nauseous Puddle Water.
  • If you want to learn more about the project that this supports, and you prefer watching videos to perusing the website above, check out these videos from the last few years: Bigger Than A Building: The Maternal Center of Excellence in Sierra Leone, Partners in Health Sierra Leone Fundraiser Announcement, Our Biggest Project Yet: A One Year Update.

That’s all for now! I hope each of you were able to find joy, hope, and peace — even amidst tragedy or hardship — in this season. And perhaps a chance to “Behold the Lamb of God: Son of God, Son of Man.”