Sunny & 72
Really...what's up with the weather? Only a week until Christmas and it almost feels like summer. Here in this part of the country, we most definitely associate the cold weather with Christmas. Actually, we associate a lot of things with Christmas - shopping, eating (over-eating), parties, Santa, trees, lights, etc. All of that is part of our celebration...but none of it is actually necessary.
Don't get me wrong...I enjoy all of it (especially the eating part), but actually if we stripped it all away...we'd still have Christmas Day. We'd still celebrate God putting on flesh as a baby. We'd still rejoice about having a Savior.
The weather is just another reminder of what the true reason is for Christmas...it's Christ.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Saturday, December 16, 2006
The Countdown 'til Christmas
I know it sounds like a broken record...but December must be the busiest month of the year. We have 3 kids...between the school Christmas programs, my son's basketball games, school Christmas parties, church services, church parties, family parties, and of course the shopping...the 25th will be here before we know it.
My wife and I were just sitting here at the kitchen table discussing the menus for the various events we are hosting. She's making out the grocery list. Then we're coordinating who is taking my son to a birthday party this afternoon and whether there will be enough time to swing by Potomac Mills to get a certain gift for a certain person. Will there even be a parking spot at the mall?
Yea, the stress is there...but this is still the greatest time of the year. I am so greatful for my wife and kids...especially this time of the year. Christmas is a time of reflection. As I reflect back to last Christmas, I realize a lot has happened since then, but through it all...God has remained faithful to us. He deserves our faithfulness in return. That would be a good gift for us to give Him this Christmas...a renewed commitment to be faithful to Him.
I know it sounds like a broken record...but December must be the busiest month of the year. We have 3 kids...between the school Christmas programs, my son's basketball games, school Christmas parties, church services, church parties, family parties, and of course the shopping...the 25th will be here before we know it.
My wife and I were just sitting here at the kitchen table discussing the menus for the various events we are hosting. She's making out the grocery list. Then we're coordinating who is taking my son to a birthday party this afternoon and whether there will be enough time to swing by Potomac Mills to get a certain gift for a certain person. Will there even be a parking spot at the mall?
Yea, the stress is there...but this is still the greatest time of the year. I am so greatful for my wife and kids...especially this time of the year. Christmas is a time of reflection. As I reflect back to last Christmas, I realize a lot has happened since then, but through it all...God has remained faithful to us. He deserves our faithfulness in return. That would be a good gift for us to give Him this Christmas...a renewed commitment to be faithful to Him.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Books I Recommend
I am admittedly not near the kind of reader I would like to be...hey, that will make a good New Year's resolution for me... again. At least I've done better in 2006 than in 2005.
Here's a few good books I've read recently...or simply recommend:
Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel (not just for pastors!)
7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado (My wife read it and loved it...I'm just getting started on it.)
Kid CEO by Ed Young
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell
I am admittedly not near the kind of reader I would like to be...hey, that will make a good New Year's resolution for me... again. At least I've done better in 2006 than in 2005.
Here's a few good books I've read recently...or simply recommend:
Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel (not just for pastors!)
7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado (My wife read it and loved it...I'm just getting started on it.)
Kid CEO by Ed Young
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell
Steady Steve
No, this is really not about me...just another guy with the same great name. I read this devotional reading from the Men of Integrity Devotional a few days ago. I wanted to share it with you. Good stuff here...I wish it were about me :-)
Key Bible Verse: Be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless (1 Corinthians 15:58).
When I think of people who demonstrate endurance, I think of my friend Steve. Steve is a faithful husband, the father of two girls, an elder in the church, and a real-estate appraiser. He cares for his aging parents, gives generously to the work of Christ, and can tell a great joke.
He does nothing spectacular. He'll never receive a standing ovation, and his hometown will probably never have Steve Day in his honor. But every day he eats his oatmeal, reads his Bible, does honest work, plays with his daughters, sends e-mail to friends, hugs his wife, and says his prayers before he goes to sleep.
When others left his church during the hard times, he stepped into leadership. When others compromised their ethics to get ahead financially, he stayed true. When colleagues sacrificed family to get promoted, he scaled back, preferring more time with his daughters to having more stuff in his garage.
When others are cynical, Steve is hopeful. When friends are in trouble, Steve is there with a smile, a helping hand, an open wallet. He is a solid, dependable, caring man whom I can count on for anything, from walking my dog to raising my children if I should die.
Thought to Apply: It is better to be faithful than famous.—SOURCE UNKNOWN
No, this is really not about me...just another guy with the same great name. I read this devotional reading from the Men of Integrity Devotional a few days ago. I wanted to share it with you. Good stuff here...I wish it were about me :-)
Key Bible Verse: Be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless (1 Corinthians 15:58).
When I think of people who demonstrate endurance, I think of my friend Steve. Steve is a faithful husband, the father of two girls, an elder in the church, and a real-estate appraiser. He cares for his aging parents, gives generously to the work of Christ, and can tell a great joke.
He does nothing spectacular. He'll never receive a standing ovation, and his hometown will probably never have Steve Day in his honor. But every day he eats his oatmeal, reads his Bible, does honest work, plays with his daughters, sends e-mail to friends, hugs his wife, and says his prayers before he goes to sleep.
When others left his church during the hard times, he stepped into leadership. When others compromised their ethics to get ahead financially, he stayed true. When colleagues sacrificed family to get promoted, he scaled back, preferring more time with his daughters to having more stuff in his garage.
When others are cynical, Steve is hopeful. When friends are in trouble, Steve is there with a smile, a helping hand, an open wallet. He is a solid, dependable, caring man whom I can count on for anything, from walking my dog to raising my children if I should die.
Thought to Apply: It is better to be faithful than famous.—SOURCE UNKNOWN
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Christmas in the Music
Last Sunday I began a December series entitled, So This is Christmas. I talked about Christmas Music...who doesn't like Christmas music? There's a lot of closet 97.1 listeners out there :-)
Every year our family likes to get a few new Christmas CD's. This year we purchased the new Third Day Christmas Offerings. We love it...I highly recommend it for your Christmas season listening pleasure.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
