Now Bring us Some Figgy Pudding!

Yes, it's Christmas, and as you can tell, the songs of the season are on my brain ... and bring some right here! We won't go until we get some, we won't go until we get some ..." Come to think of it, I don't want anyone to bring me figgy pudding, at Christmas or any other time of the year. It sounds pretty nasty!

I hope all you readers (2, 3? :)) have a wonderful Christmas, and can personally celebrate the truth of Christ's coming. Unfortunately, not everyone (probably the majority of the people around us) can. Just last week there was a "20/20" special on "The Mystery of Christmas". It was your typical secular documentary on Christianity, trying to debunk the key beliefs of Christianity -- the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the accuracy of the Biblical account of Christ's birth, etc.. It was frustrating to watch. I kept yelling at the TV, but I don't think they heard me. I wondered, why don't they ever have a documentary on "The Mystery of Mohammed", or the "Really Weird Visions of Joseph Smith", and put other religions under the microscope of presumption and doubt? I think I know why -- because it's the truth in the Bible that threatens the strongholds of Satan. Satan doesn't want the lies of other religions to be attacked, but rather believed! Aside from my frustration, this show also strengthened my resolve to know Christ more than ever, to live a life that pleases Him and spread the truth.

I am truly thankful at Christmas for the gifts in my life -- most of all, a relationship of love and acceptance with Christ, something I do not at all deserve. I am also thankful for my dear wife, my cute kids, and the priviledge of serving Christ with the youth group and in other areas.

Thanks for reading! So, I leave you with the ending of "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" --

And though it's been said

Many times, many ways

Merry Christmas

To you.

Is Anybody There?

If you're still looking at my blog, you are one persistent little critter! Updates come on this blog like a rain shower in the Sahara -- VERY rarely. But thanks if you do, otherwise this typing would be all in vain.

Things have been going pretty well. You probably read on Kristen's blog about our anniversary trip to Tennessee. Great, great time. What a blessing to be married to such a wonderful (and real purdy, as they might say in Tennessee) woman. Proverbs 18:22 -- "He who finds a wife finds what is good." 10 years ... man. Then home from the mountains for Thanksgiving and a nice long weekend back with the kids. So that was your basic amazing week.

And this trip was of course preceeded by the classic triumph of the Buckeyes over Michagan (Bobby's spelling :). Awesome game, and a great time with the YG. Audrey gave us all a good reality check at halftime -- good stuff on our desire to share the Gospel. Buckeye fans -- enjoy these games -- there may not be another team like this one for decades. I've watched Buckeyes football for 25+ years, and haven't seen anything even remotely like Troy Smith. Probably won't again!

Now it's on to Christmas. I think my heart longs to know and grow in Christ, but the world around me seems to pull on me, just like gravity. Pulling me down to less important and wonderful things (dare I say it, things like the aforementioned Buckeyes!) than knowing God and serving Him. As a leader, I am struck and humbled by how many times I need to teach myself the same lessons that I am preparing to teach. I know I am not worthy of doing anything for God unless He enables me. I knew that the change in jobs would require me to make some changes in how I manage my time if I was going to honor my priorities (Christ, Kristen and the kids). But I find myself too often living under the deception that I can get away with the same routines. Zig Ziglar says that the truest definition of insanity is to keep living the same way and yet believe that things will change. If Zig's right, then count me insane, and in need of God's spurring onto a life lived with consistent purpose.

Well that's enough for now. I'll try to post again in '06.