since moving to olympia we joined a chruch that is somewhat new and thriving. we just hired a new pastor who is actually from vancouver washington... they have three small children and i attend his wifes small group. anyhow, we are so stoked to welcome them here and see where this church is going.

one of the things justin is a part of this week is introducing people to the idea of "advent conspiracy". maybe you havent heard of it... basically it is an organiization who challenges other christians to be more relational with giving and not be such consumerists especially at christmas time.  it sounds totally ludicrous to me that people go into debt during christmas time and that people keep doing it over and over again... i know the high that comes from buying things and i have had to turn my back on my old ways of throwing away money, but why do we want to give a gift to someone who is probably going to return it anyways, or be disappointed and never use or wear it. it just seems silly to waste money when that hard earned money could be doing so much more.

i dont understand consumerism... furthermore, i dont understand christian consumerism. christmastime gets so nutty i dont even like going out of the house in the month of december... might get killed by consumerists! everyone is in such a hurry and trying to buy buy buy and people dont seem to care about anyone else in that moment.and ironically it is about loving others...

maybe this comes easier for me than some since i grew up with not much and we didnt get very many chhristmas gifts each year. but as i have grown up into my twenties each holiday it wasnt about the gifts or how many i got, i just enjoyed being with my family and hanging out.  i understand wanting to give something to someone you love, but at what expense?