2009 December

Christmas at Ethos begins tonight at 5 PM and 7 PM. Invite a friend, Bring a Bible, and Help Spread the word. We hope to see you tonight!

If you would like to find out more about what we are doing this Christmas Season then you may want to read this post : Give Your Life Away : Make a New List.

Day Four : Find a Third Wheel (The Gift of Inclusion)
The weekend is here. It is almost time to act like you are going to the bathroom only to cut out of work 15 minutes early. Time to pick up your girlfriend, grab a Red Box to watch with the kids, eat dinner at home, or go out with some girls in your dorm. Whatever your situation, whatever your plans…today’s challenge will apply.

As you think about your plans for tonight, ask yourself one simple question — “Who do I need to include?”

Now before you fill in the blank, don’t take the easy way out. It would be easy to think of one of your closest friends. Let’s stretch ourselves a bit. Who do you know that won’t have any plans tonight? Who do you know that may be eating dinner alone tonight?

You don’t have to commit your entire evening. Maybe you just decide to share a meal. Look for an intentional opportunity to include someone tonight who is not typically included by you or others. As we celebrate the Christmas Season today, give the gift of inclusion.

Who will be your third wheel tonight?

If you would like to find out more about what we are doing this Christmas Season you may want to read this post : Give Your Life Away : A New Kind of List

Day Three : Buy Coffee for a Stranger
This one is pretty self explanatory. Sometime today buy a complete stranger a cup of coffee. Trust me, this won’t be as weird as it seems. When you are standing in line behind someone, simply hand the cashier your money and place your order as you pay for both of your orders. At first they will be stunned, maybe they will try to refuse…but stay strong. Just smile, and say “Merry Christmas.” Encourage them to spread the holiday cheer.

This one is so much fun you may even try this more than once. Have fun living generously.

If you would like to find out more about what we are doing this Christmas Season you may want to read this post : Give Your Life Away : A New Kind of List.

Day 2 : Write a Letter
Okay we are going to start small. Yesterday you made a list of people you want to bless this Christmas Season. Today you are going to pick one person off of that list. Maybe you choose a parent, or a sibling, maybe a friend from college that you haven’t spoken to in awhile….I could go on, but you get the point.

Now today’s challenge is simple. Get out a piece of paper, or a card, or a piece of that monogrammed stationary you never use and write them a letter. Don’t send an email, don’t write them a message through facebook. Write them a good old fashioned letter. In a day and age where everything is so instant, getting a thoughtful letter can really go a long way.

Take some time to think about what you want to say, and then say it. This Christmas Gift will cost you less than fifty cents but I guarantee you it will have a big impact on the person you mail it to. Who knows, it may even be the most meaningful gift they receive this year.

So I know this is tough. You are going to have to buy a stamp, walk to the mailbox, and even worse learn how to write again, but I think it will be worth it. Alright, let’s do this. See you tomorrow.

It is hard to believe that December is already here. I love this time of year. I love the parties, watching Christmas Vacation, drinking hot chocolate, and wearing bad Christmas sweaters. It all comes with the territory.

When I was a kid, one of my favorite aspects of Christmas was making a list to give to Santa. I remember in great detail asking for a Nintendo, Lego sets, footballs, bicycles, and everything else under the sun. I never understood how Santa could make a Nintendo that looked just like the one in the stores without infringing on copyright laws, but he always managed to pull it off. Year after year I would make my list, put it in a sealed envelope and mail it to Santa.

Over the years this hasn’t changed all that much. Of course I don’t write lists to Santa, but now I tell my wife, friends, and family what it is I want each year. If there is ever any confusion over what I am asking for I send them an email, or point it out in the store … that way they can get it just right.

Without climbing onto my soapbox, I want this year to be different. Instead of making a list of all the things I want people to give me, I want to make a list of the things I can give to others.

Can you imagine how powerful it would be if every person in our church made a new kind of list this Christmas? What if 500 something people committed to GIVE THEIR LIVES AWAY for the sake of those around them. What if you decided to consistently bless those around you? What if they did the same? What if this little idea spread, and one by one thousands of people came to experience the tangible presence of Jesus through small actions each day? I don’t know about you, but I think it would be incredible.

Are you in?

Each day there will be a new challenge posted on this blog for us to try together. Here is your first challenge.

Give Your Life Away
Day 1 : Make a New Kind of List
Alright, pretend you are a kid. Get out a piece of paper, or pull up a new doc on your computer and start typing out the names of people you want to bless this Christmas season. There are no limitations. Write down the names of your friends, family, co-workers, etc. Get creative. Make your list. Check it twice. Let’s get ready to make the lives of those around us better. We will use this list as a starting point for Giving Away Our Lives this Christmas.

This should be fun. Let’s go.