BsP's Preacher's Christmas Gift List (2020 edition)
The Backstory Preaching Annual Preacher’s Christmas Gift List has a theme: getting through the rest of the pandemic while preparing a resumption of activities after (God willing) we have an effective vaccine that will be widely distributed before the end of 2021.
Before continuing with the list, however, I am mindful of the extraordinary losses and stress this year has brought to us all.
Many preachers have lost loved ones this year because of the pandemic or other causes.
Many have managed herculean juggling acts to tend to home, family, and ministries concurrently, while acting as the fulcrum between those who demanded in-person worship and those who demanded its avoidance just as strenuously.
Almost everyone is exhausted.
Were it in my power to offer a Christmas gift to every preacher, I would give three months’ paid vacation to the location of your choice.
In lieu of the gift of R&R you richly deserve, I hope receiving or buying a gift or two for yourself will lighten your heart and spirits a bit, with gratitude for the One who gave us the greatest gift of all, the Word made flesh who still dwells among us.
Purchasing these gifts through the links below helps support our ministry to preachers. Thank you.
#1 The Backstory Preaching Store!
You asked for it, and we are delighted to offer the Backstory Preaching name, logo, and “Be Good News to Preach Good News” tagline on a variety of items for you to share and enjoy!
Seven different BsP designs are applied to t-shirts, water bottles, laptop skins, greeting cards, and more.
You’re sure to find a favorite for your stocking!
Check out the BsP Store here!
#2 A Memory Foam Seat Cushion
We’re going to be online most of the time for a while yet, so it might be a good idea to save your backside from some aches and pains with a great cushion.
Plus, there’s a bonus! When we get back to traveling take this along for those hard-as-a-rock airplane seats. I strap a cushion like this to the outside of my overhead suitcase every time I fly, and I arrive at my destination happier for it.
#3 Anti-Blue Light Glasses
You’re probably aware that electronic blue light is the light wave found in sunlight. As a result it interferes with our natural circadian rhythm and. makes it harder to get to sleep if we’re on our computers or phones too late into the evenings.
The best thing to do is power down at least an hour before bed time.
But as that may be asking too much of the home-bound for the next several months, there’s an easy workaround: anti-blue light (nonprescription) glasses.
You can wear these by themselves or put them on top of your prescription lenses, and you’ll have an easier time heading to dream land.
#4 A Cold-Brew Coffee Maker
Has sheltering in place got you missing your favorite silky smooth cold brew coffee?
You don’t have to wait for the end of the pandemic to get it again!
Make it yourself with a cold-brew coffee maker.
I have one myself and can attest they work!
You don’t have to suffer through months of cold brew deprivation! : )
#5 An Iced Tea Maker and Travel Mug
Coffee not your cup of tea, and already dreaming of warmer days to come?
This all-in-one iced tea brewer and travel mug works with tea bags and loose-leafed tea.
Clever!
#6 An Instant Pot
While staying home, invest in the best all-in-one kitchen gadget that saves time and electricity.
I got one a year ago and fell in love with how easy it is to use, and how quickly pressure cooking prepares everything from steel cut oats to a whole chicken.
Plus, you can sauté and braise in the same pot before changing the machine’s setting to pressure or slow cook, or other setting.
With a variety of size options, you can scale your household cooking needs down or up.
One pot cooking is the one way to go!
#7 Bushwick Specialty Honeys
As long as we’re still in the kitchen, kick your cooking up a notch with Bushwick Honey from Australia.
With a variety of honeys including spicy, salty, or even Myer Lemon (or if you can’t decide, a variety pack), this one is definitely on my list!
#8 Other-Wordly: Words Both Strange and Lovely from Around the World by Yee-Lum Mak (author) and Kelsey Garrity-Riley (illustrator)
“Komorebi (Japanese: noun). The sunlight that filters through the leaves of the trees.”
“Jenactular (English: adjective). Having to do with an early breakfast.”
Beautiful words from around the world with lovely, earth-tone illustrations to match, this little book is not only a word lovers gem, it’s a pleasure just to pronounce the words themselves.
I wonder what “croodle,” “cwtch,” and “nefelibata” mean?
#9 Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 of the World's Most Amazing Places by National Geographic
We may not be able to travel yet, but we can dream about it!
Who better to show us our dreams than National Geographic?
And even though we probably won’t go to most—or maybe any—of these amazing locations God designed or inspired us to build, it’ll still inspire, fill us with wonder, and help us escape our four walls into our imaginations.
#10 Travel Listography: Exploring the World in Lists (Trave Diary, Travel Journal, Travel Diary Journal), by Lisa Nola
We may not get to one of those 225 places National Geographic recommends, but surely we’ll go somewhere again, even if it’s only to the local state park or the next city over!
When we do we might never take those simple travels for granted again.
Remember the places you go with this simple, list-style travel journal.
Should we ever again be homebound like we are right now, it’ll bring us joy to “go again” to the places we roamed.
THIS YEAR, CHRISTMAS SERMON BOOTCAMP WILL ONLY BE OFFERED WITHIN THE COLLECTIVES
DECEMBER 14-18, 2020 (NOON OR 5:30 P.M. CENTRAL)
Join now to participate in this fun and meaningful week where you’ll finish your Advent 4 and Christmas Eve sermon by Friday, 12/18!