New Year's Resolutions

Posted on December 26, 2007

What’s next after a delightful consumer Christmas? New year resolutions to shed our guilty consciences for eating too much, not exercising enough, or not keeping budget. If we are really serious, we will cook up new resolve to spend time with family, do things that “count,” or make a difference.

In the event that you need some encouragement to resolve, the publishing industry is ready to sell, err serve, with a slew of handy reads for our half-hearted resolutions. As Steve Almond points out in an NPR interview “A Year of ‘Year Of’ Books,” the publishing industry has a formula for making a buck off the resolution reader.

Seriously, are you making a New Year Resolution? If so, what is it and do you think you will keep it? As for me, I am resolving to consistently breathe this year, month after month, week after week, day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute. I know; I’m a die-hard.

Santa Crucified

Posted on December 23, 2007

This week Art Conrad of Bermerton, WA nailed a stuffed Santa Claus to a fifteen foot crucifix and displayed it in his front yard. He then took a photograph of it to make Christmas cards with the caption: “Santa died for your MasterCard.”

Causing quite a stir among neighbors, Conrad claims that this artistic display is intended to rail against consumerism and political correctness. He comments: “Santa has been co-opted by our corporations as a symbol of consumerism. Every year Christmas comes earlier and earlier.” But how are we to interpret this religiously?

Conrad has creatively wedged consumerism between the birth and death of Jesus, between Christmas and Easter. Are we then meant to cry out for the death of the functional American savior—a toy giving, corporation-boosting Santa? Refusing to embrace a Santa who died for our MasterCard.

Ironically, this isn’t far from what Jesus did do. He did die for our MasterCard, for our debts, but not to boost our material possessions. Rather Jesus died to deal with all debt, financial and spiritual. His death clears away the debt of materialistic lust by offering payment for our infinite transgressions, the greatest of which is trading out the God of the universe for our petty idols of money, sex, family, success, power, beauty. But that’s not all. Jesus will eventually return to level all financial debt and make the world a place of peace and prosperity for those who hope in him.

Article from Seattle Times

Early Riser or Night Owl? It makes a difference

Posted on December 22, 2007

This new study shows that how we sleep often reflects how we function intellectually and socially. Researchers claim that early risers tend to “reach conclusions through logic and analysis. Night owls are more imaginative and open to unconventional ideas, preferring the unknown and favoring intuitive leaps on their way to reaching conclusions.

Morning people are more likely to be self-controlled and exhibit “upstanding” conduct; they respect authority, are more formal, and take greater pains to make a good impression. (Earlier research also suggests that they are less likely to hold radical political opinions.) Evening people, by contrast, are “independent” and “nonconforming,” and more reluctant to listen to authority—which suggests that teachers may have several reasons to prefer those students who wake up in time for class.

Tony Blair Converts to Catholicism

Posted on December 22, 2007

Former Prime Minister of England and presently a Middle East peace envoy, Tony Blair has converted from Anglican/Protestant faith to the Catholic faith. No reasons have been offered yet; however, both his wife and children have been Catholic for some time.

Is this a political move to soften Middle East perception, a family induced capitulation, or a sincere affirmation of Catholic faith and practice versus his prior commitment to the Anglican Church?