'L' is for Lifestyle

Do your New Year resolutions include reducing your impact on the environment? You might like to check out www.lisforlifestyle.com - a website full of resources to help you discover the small changes that each of us can be making to the way we live that will have a real impact on the world. It ties in with the recently re-released 'L' is for Lifestyle by Ruth Valerio.

Happy Christmas

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Hark! The herald angels sing: “Glory to the newborn King!

Glorifying God in our Christmas shopping

Lat minute Christmas shoping today? This article, Glorifying God in our Christmas shopping, discusses how investing a little thought into our shopping will help us give gifts that will encourage faith and hope in God.

Jesus is better than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole. JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year JESUS is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited JESUS stands at your door and knocks. And then enters your heart.
You have to stand in line to see Santa JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?" JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly JESUS has a heart full of love.
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO JESUS offers health, help and hope.
Santa says "You better not cry" JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.
Santa's little helpers make toys JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle but JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.
It's obvious there is really no comparison. We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about. We need to put Christ back in Christmas.

Jesus is still the reason for the season.
May the Lord bless and watch over you and your loved ones this Christmas 2008. And may He prosper and bless the work of your hands in the New Year.

[courtesy of Andrew]

Baubles are the big Christmas peril

The greatest menace to yuletide wellbeing is not a half-raw, half-scorched turkey, nor family arguments uncorked by too much wine at lunch. According to the Children's Secretary, Ed Balls, the prime suspect could be the humble bauble that has festoones unsuspecting Christmas trees. Baubles have joined candles, hot pans and perfume in a government leaflet that discusses the dangers of the Christmas period.

Last-minute Christmas cake

If you haven't got round to making a Christmas cake yet, it is not too late! Cafédirect have a simple recipe using Teadirect Gold which makes a moist, delicious cake with a wonderful mixture of rich and fragrant tea-soaked fruits.

Christmas recipes

Travel and illness have resulted in a bit of a hiatus in blogging. This also means that the only online Advent resource I've followed has been the Christian Aid emails suggesting frugal gift ideas and promoting Present Aid. The tip on 7th December was this:

Don’t buy gifts, bake them! Check out these Christmas recipes for Gingerbread, biscuits, fudge, truffles, and jams. Spending time baking for a loved one is a great way to show you care and a great way to save the £s too. Why not check out your local charity shop for a container to present your gift in and then wrap it in Christmas ribbon for some festive fun. Click here for more ideas about making your own gifts.

Infusion blogs ESTP

A new website, Typealyzer, will analyse a blog and identify the Myers-Briggs type based on the blog content. I submitted this blog and the result was ESTP - The Doers:

The active and play-ful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities. The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.

If we had a wider range of bloggers, would the blog personality change?

Twelve steps to an ethical christmas

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a fairly traded box of chocolates
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me two recycled cards
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me three ethical hoodies
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me four recycled gifts
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me five fair trade rings
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me six tree decorations
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me seven gifts that give twice
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me eight days of service
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me nine Christmas outfits
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ten gifts that cost less
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love did for me eleven acts of kindness
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me twelve bags of rubbish

[From the Tearfund website]

How to have an ethical Christmas

From the Tearfund youth website: We believe that there’s a better sort of celebration to have – better than the Consumer’s Christmas, the Shop-a-holic’s Santa-Fest or the Me Me Me Mistletoe Marathon. We reckon that there’s every chance we can all enjoy something different this year: an Ethical Christmas.

They offer ten suggestions:

1. Buy gifts from http://www.livinggifts.co.uk/, Tearfund’s alternative gifts scheme.
2. Make a cheque-book of favours… like cleaning the car, cooking a meal or giving a foot-rub.
3. Buy a Fairtrade Cookery Book.
4. Shop at http://www.tearcraft.org/ for amazing items produced by Tearfund partners, all paid a fair wage for their skill.
5. Check out http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/ - it does what it says on the tab.
6. Get some divine Divine chocolate from your local stockist or online (http://www.divinechocolate.com/ or http://www.tearcraft.org/)
7. Offer a day out on you. There’s a stack load of things to do and exciting places to go all for FREE: museums, art galleries or that pretty impressive thing we call God’s Creation.
8. Buy nothing Christmas. Why not duck out of the system and instead of buying any presents this year give the money you would have spent to Tearfund instead.
9. Check out charity shops for some Christmas gems.
10. Get hold of some eco-pampering gifts for that special someone who loves beautiful things (try The Centre for Alternative Technology).

The Brick Testament

Couldn't resist folowing up The Bible, but not as you know it with a link to The Brick Testament. If you want a fresh takw on the Nativity story, check out the Jesus Is Born section.