Christmas Panic

Who would start a blog in the middle of the Christmas season? Perhaps someone who was an adrenaline junkie; someone who is a perfectionist and a procrastinator...perhaps...

Christmas season, the time of innumerable office parties and end of year speeches where you have been chosen to give the talk and have been told to be motivational, make it short and don't be a bore.

The time of the year when pastors around the county are trying to decide how they are going to present the Christmas message slightly different than they have so many umpteen times. (And if you've waited until now to figure that out, you are behind the power curve and in need of an intervention.)

Where do you go? Perhaps you can download a copy of "The Speakers Sourcebook: Quotes, Stories and Anecdotes for every occasion." for your Kindle from Amazon.com.

You must care or you would be using the material provided in the liturgical calendar that your denomination sent you.

What do you do? Here are 4 things you can do that will help you be ready for the season.

First, answer the question: Who are you speaking to? You know, the people you have to give a speech in front of, the congregation you have to preach to this Christmas season. Who are they? What do they like? What do they watch on TV? What kind of music do they listen to? How old are they? Who are they? Answer these questions and you will find a common thread that you can build your sermon or speech around.

Second, find a common cultural illustration that matches their demographic. (Not all of them but most of them). Go to websites like billboard.com or the Nielsen ratings and find out what the current popular songs is. If it's Pop go to that chart. If it's Alternative go to that one. See what people are watching on TV. What's on the top ten for the past week? Then, go look up the lyrics to that song, or pull up a recent episode from TV on hulu.com or  youtube.com . 

Third, it's time to mix and match. If you're a pastor, find that Scripture that will speak to the people you are standing in front of and illustrate it with things that they have been watching on TV, downloading on Netflix listening to on their iTunes, or reading on their Kindles. By doing that you will be like the men of Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12:22. They knew the times and what they should do.

If you have to give that end of the year office speech at the Christmas Party, find that motivational quote from "The Office" and put it together with the stats from your business. Be brief, be genuine and be uplifting. When people are down they want to laugh. They need to be motivated. Statistics tell us that the Christmas season tends to be a time when depression peaks for many people. You could use an illustration from the movie "127 Hours" where determination overcame doubt, when the will to overcome adversity, overcame the pain and fear that Aron Ralston was enduring. Enabling him to escape a boulder that he was trapped under while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah.

If none of that works for you go look up the November 15th episode of "Pearls Before Swine." And use that image. Here's the link comics.com/pearls_before_swine/2010-11-15/ Now that's perspective.

And Fourth practice your delivery. It may sound cheesy, but stand in front of a mirror and practice how you are going to say what you are going to share. Even record yourself. Practice, practice, practice. 

Then go get 'em. You'll do great.