Category: Response

Memorial Day in Aucoin

On a breezy Memorial Day morning, the small town of Aucoin prepared for its annual commemoration. Colorful flags waved gently in the wind, and the scent of blooming flowers filled the air. Children laughed and played, their innocence a reminder of the freedom fought for by so many.

At the center of town stood a weathered veterans’ memorial, its stone engraved with the names of soldiers from wars and conflicts who had given their all for their country. Among them was Sergeant James Frazier, an Aucoin native come local hero who left for war with a heart full of dreams yet returned only in the memories of those who loved him.

As the courthouse clock struck ten, townsfolk gathered for a solemn ceremony. Among them was Chelsea, James’ younger sister, now a mother herself. Her memories of her brother were vivid: the laughter they shared, the stories he told, the secrets they kept, each moment glowing like sunlight on a summer’s day. She recalled the day he enlisted, how proud and terrified she felt watching him march away.

After a stirring rendition of patriotic favorites, the crowd grew silent. Slowly, Mayor Frederick Johnson stepped forward, honoring not just James, but all who had served. “Today,” he said reverently, “We remember their sacrifices, the families left behind, and the dreams unfulfilled. We stand united in gratitude.”

As he spoke, Chelsea held her young daughter, Emma, close.

“What’s he talking about, Mama?” asked Emma, who was starting to get restless.

Chelsea leaned down and whispered, “He’s talking about your Uncle James, sweet girl.”

“He was your brother, wasn’t he?”

“Yes, he was,” said Chelsea, her eyes tearing up slightly. “He fought for our freedom, baby girl. His name is on the monument.”

Emma looked at her mother with innocence. “We should say thank you?”

Tears glistened in Chelsea’s eyes as she nodded. After the ceremony, they walked to the memorial, flowers in hand. Emma knelt, placing her petals gently at the base. “Thank you for keeping us safe,” she said softly, her small voice carrying the weight of gratitude.

In that moment, a gentle breeze scattered the flowers, forming a colorful carpet at the foot of the memorial—a reminder that love and sacrifice unite generations. Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the town of Aucoin lit candles, illuminating the names engraved on the stone, shining brightly like stars in the night.

Through their tears and laughter, the town of Aucoin honored those who gave their everything. They remembered that freedom isn’t free but comes at a price while simultaneously bringing hope and unity for a brighter tomorrow. Every heart beat in gratitude, and every story told echoed the eternal spirit of freedom.

*Image courtesy of Aaron Burden

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Easter Sunday

The Resurrection of Jesus

But very early on Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what He told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” (Luke 24:1-7)

The sun had not yet risen over Jerusalem, but a soft light began to creep into the sky, announcing the dawn of a new day. Mary Magdalene, with a few other women, went to the tomb where the body of Jesus lay. Their hearts were heavy, burdened by grief. The events of the past few days replayed in their minds: the betrayal, the arrest, the crucifixion, and the burial of Jesus. As they approached the tomb, they carried spices and oils, hoping to honor the body of the One they loved. They whispered to each other, concerned about the heavy stone sealing the entrance. But their worry momentarily faded as they saw that the stone had been rolled away, revealing an empty tomb. 

“Who has taken Him?” Mary gasped, her heart pounding. The others echoed her confusion as they peered inside. The grave clothes that had wrapped Jesus were neatly folded and an unsettling mixture of hope and fear filled the air. Suddenly, two men in dazzling apparel appeared, their presence both alarming and comforting. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” they asked, their voices echoing in the silence of the sacred place. Mary’s heart raced, caught between sorrow and the spark of something she could not yet grasp. She knew they were speaking of Jesus, but the weight of her grief clouded her understanding. “He is not here,” one of the men explained. “He has risen!”

Those words hung in the air, striking a chord deep within her as memories of Jesus flooded her heart – the miracles, the teachings, the moments of profound love and grace. She remembered Jesus saying He would rise again. Could it be true? Could He truly be alive? “Remember how He told you,” the angels said, “that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day.” In that moment, as clarity began to break through her disbelief, the heaviness in Mary’s heart lightened, replaced by the thrill of hope. This was the end by no means. Instead, this was an incredible new beginning because Jesus was alive!

Prayer: Lord, today we celebrate the resurrection of Your Son! Thank You for defeating death, hell, and the grave, We worship You on this Easter Sunday. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Followup Activity: Today, as you go throughout your day, greet people by saying, “He is risen!” If they look at you with a puzzled look, let them know that you are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. If you are leading your family through this devotion, lead them to do the same.

*Image courtesy of Jonny Gios

**This devotion is a part of RENEWED, an 8-day Holy Week Devotional from Celebration Church and available at http://www.celebrationchurch.org/library

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“Like”

Are you ever confused by the texting “like” function?

I am.  

Sometimes it means the text is “liked” but often it is just an acknowledgement of what has been sent. 

A few months ago, I texted “I think I have Covid” to a friend (or former friend). He clicked like. 

😑 I guess I should be glad he didn’t click “love” which is a thing now.

I guess someone “loves” a text if they either truly “love” it, really “like” it, “like” it more than a regular “like,” or are overly emotional in general about acknowledging text messages.

Both “like” and “love” functions do quickly express emotions. However, if we’re all honest here, sometimes a “like” is just a short, curt answer meaning, “Ok, thanks, now shut up?”

“Likes” seem to have become a thing on social media. Society, even pastors and church leaders, seem bound by the approval generated by “likes.” On Facebook, the “like” is a thumbs up, on Instagram and TikTok, it’s a heart. Maybe it should be called “Insecuritygram.” 

My love language is “Words of Affirmation.” I admit that I smile when I see my posts being “liked,” especially by lots of people. I love seeing hearts and thumbs up emojis. Just like the rest of the world, I post and then check my posts to see how many people “like” what I’ve said. On the outside, I’m nodding my approval of their approval of my words. On the inside, I’m screaming, “They like me, they really, really like me!”

What we often don’t realize is that chasing after “likes” can be so devastating to our own self worth. We don’t realize that we’re setting ourselves up to be disappointed. 

Louie Giglio writes, “If we live for people’s approval, we will die by their rejection.” 

I think he’s right. If it would have been a social media post or text, I would have liked it. 

👍❤️

*Image courtesy of Jackson Sophat

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Olympic Dreams

So here’s one more thing to consider when evaluating the 2024 Olympics… the absence of pickleball. 

Yeah, I know. I’m disappointed as well. 

If you’re like me, you turned around and noticed that suddenly, people everywhere were playing this unusual game. According to APP, the Association of Pickleball Professionals, 19% of adult Americans played pickleball at least once from August 2022 to August 2023. The report didn’t share how many of them gave up after their first match. 

Where did pickleball originate? I’m glad you asked. Retirepedia reports that pickleball began when three dads from Bainbridge Island, Washington invented a new game to amuse their children. They lowered a badminton net, tried a wiffle ball but settled on a Cosom Fun Ball. They created paddles from plywood from a neighbor’s shed. Legend has it that a dog named Pickles used to steal the game ball so they named the game after him. Others claim the game creators combined various sports into one which reminded them of a pickle boat crew where participants are selected from the unchosen oarsmen of other boats. My theory is that they first played the game using a pickle for the ball. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. 

Speaking of opinions on Pickleball, Bill Gates once shared, “Everyone from the super young to the super old can take part. It takes minutes to learn the basics, games are short, and all you need is a net, paddle, and ball to get started. It doesn’t take much skill to hit the ball, either, because it doesn’t move as fast as a tennis ball. The best thing about Pickleball, however, is that it’s just super fun.” 

Even though I often ignore the ramblings of PC users, Gates does seem to have a point about Pickleball. It is now played in over 60 countries around the world. However, despite its growing popularity, Pickleball is seen more as a recreational sport and its global recognition still leaves something to be desired. This may be why it’s not a current Olympic sport.

Will pickleball make it to the 2028 Olympics? Probably not. What about 2032 or 2036? Only time will tell. Maybe if it didn’t have such a stupid name…

*Image courtesy of Amada Ma

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55 and up

So, I recently turned 55, the legal speed limit in many areas. 

To celebrate, I decided to buy two new pairs of Levi’s, the jeans of my youth. However, my high school Levi’s were 501’s with the button fly. At my current age, that sounded dangerous somehow. So since I’m 55, I searched for Levi’s 550’s. Doing so seemed easier than researching the meanings of the jean numbers.

Buying “new” jeans at my age means a visit to my favorite thrift store which gives an even further discount to customers 55 and up (hence, my favorite). To my surprise, the first pair of jeans on the rack were Levi’s 550’s in my size. I know what you’re thinking. How could the jeans be “new” if I purchased them from a thrift store? I’m cheap, ok? Shut up.

However, there was only one pair of 550’s at the thrift store, so I went to a department store in search of a bargain. To protect the store’s identity, let’s call them J.C. Dollar’s. 

Once inside, I headed straight for the 80% off racks. I knew exactly how to find them because I’m old. You might be familiar with the discount racks at J.C.’s – they give a “discounted” price on long sleeve flannel shirts and woolen coats to customers in southern Louisiana in June. However, I also found a pair of Levi’s 550’s on the rack identical to my thrift store find. I say “Identical” meaning they were both blue. 

After trying them on, I walked to the counter with my 80% off discounted jeans. The clerk scanned my jeans and said, “With tax, that will be $32.57.” 

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said as if I should be apologizing. “But those were on the 80% off rack.”

“Yes,” she replied, “Those jeans were originally $85.”

“$85?!” I gasped. “That’s a lot for jeans!”

“Yes, Sir,” she smirked as if I had just offered to pay with S & H green stamps. “Jeans have gone up in price, uh, recently.” 

“Wait a minute,” I said. “If these jeans are 80% off of $85, wouldn’t they be $17 before tax?”

“Sir,” she replied with a look that said shut up and pay, “Those jeans were on the wrong rack. They are discounted but not a full 80%. Now, there’s a line, so tell me, do you still want them?”

“Yes,” I answered in the voice of someone who has a stack of AARP invitation letters next to his chair, “But it’s entirely unheard of!”

Anyway, I’m headed back to the thrift store next week. Here’s to being 55 and up.

*Photo courtesy of Ashkan Forouzani

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Good Friday Service Outline – The Seven Last Words of Christ

THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF CHRIST – 2024 GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE OUTLINE

OPENING

  • Welcome
  • Suggested Song – “The Lion and the Lamb”
  • Suggested Song – “Hallelujah For the Cross”
  • Communion
  • Song (Repeated or new)

Offering and Transition

  • Offering Intro and Prayer
  • “This is the Cross” video from Hyper Pixels Media available at this link

Transition into the Seven Last Words of Christ

INTRO: Tonight, we remember the cross. In John 3:16, when Jesus said those words, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” He knew the price He was going to pay in order to fulfill that scripture. So tonight, before we rush into the celebration of the resurrection part of Easter, we need to remember what Christ did for us on the cross. Until we understand the significance of Good Friday, we can’t fully appreciate Easter Sunday. So tonight, we’re going to remember the final words Jesus spoke before His death so we can gain that full appreciation. You can follow along with us in your special insert in your worship guide. 

FIRST WORD – FORGIVENESS

  • Spoken – We read in Luke 23 that the Roman soldiers took Jesus to Calvary, the place of the skull, and there they nailed Him to a cross and lifted Him up for all to see. These were strong men performing their duty, but I’m sure they weren’t concerned with being respectful to Jesus, the Son of God. But Jesus’ reaction to the soldiers was the first of His seven last words. He said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) 
  • Prayer Activity – Jesus offered forgiveness to the very soldiers who took His life. Through His death, He offers forgiveness to us as well if we will repent of our sins. The Apostle John writes, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Take a moment and ask the Lord to remind you of sins of which you need to ask Him for forgiveness. Once they come to mind, pray and ask His forgiveness. (Give them a moment to pray, then lead them in prayer of forgiveness).

SECOND WORD – SALVATION

  • Spoken – Jesus was crucified between two thieves. One of them scoffed at Jesus, saying “So You’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving Yourself – and us, too, while You’re at it. But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into Your Kingdom.”
  • Spoken – Then Jesus said the second of His seven last words. To the repentant thief, He said, “I assure you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
  • PRAYER ACTIVITY – Many of us rejoice when we think about how Jesus can give us access to Heaven. However, many of us also think about those people we know who we long to be in Heaven with us. Take a few seconds and think about those people you want to see in Heaven. (Give them a moment to do so)
  • In your worship guide (or on a piece of paper), write the names of those you know who you desire to see in Heaven. (Give them a moment to do so) Now, pray for each of them. (Give them time to pray then lead in prayer, asking the Lord to draw these people to Himself so they can be with us and Him in Heaven.)

THIRD WORD – RELATIONSHIP

  • Spoken – Even as Jesus was suffering on the cross, He was concerned for the needs of others. He forgave the soldiers, offered salvation to one of the thieves, but then, He saw His mother standing beside the disciple John. He had compassion for her. 
  • Action/Spoken – The third of Jesus’ seven last words was spoken to His mother Mary and to His disciple John. To Mary, Jesus said, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And to John He said, “Here is your mother.” (John 19:26-27)
  • Action/Spoken – The Bible tells us that “From then on this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:27). Apparently, a cherished bond developed between Mary and John, in a similar way as if John had been her son. Just as Jesus showed love for His mother and His friend, He also shows love for us by helping us establish lifelong relationships with those who will help us through this life. Take a moment and thank the Lord for the cherished friends and family He has surrounded you with. You can write their names in your insert.
  • (After a moment, lead the people in prayer, thanking God for our family/friends/church)

FOURTH WORD – DISTRESS

  • Spoken – The fourth of Jesus’ seven last words reminds us of His humanity. We read in John 19:28 – Jesus knew that His mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture, He said, “I am thirsty.” 
  • Action/Spoken – Jesus truly suffered during the crucifixion. He was thirsty. He felt every lash, every thorn, and every nail. He endured it all because of our sin. An older Christian song asked the question, “Does He still feel the nails every time I fail? Can He hear the crowd cry “crucify” again. Am I causing Him pain? Then I know I’ve got to change. I just can’t stand the thought of hurting Him.” 
  • Jesus went through physical distress because of our sin. Romans 5:8 says, But God demonstrates His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He shed His blood for You and for me. Let’s stand together. Remember this and thank Him as we sing.

SUGGESTED SONG – Thank You, Jesus, for the Blood Applied

FIFTH WORD – ABANDONMENT

  • (Direct everyone to be seated)
  • Spoken – The fifth of the seven last words of Christ is Abandonment. In the Gospel of Mark, we read At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then… Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:33-34). Many of us at one time or another may have felt abandoned in one way or another. We may have felt forsaken. We may have felt like crying out to the Lord using those words of Jesus. 
  • Engagement 
    • If you would say that phrase of Jesus with me starting with “My God, My God” Say – “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” 
    • Say it again – “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” 
    • Say it one more time – “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” 
  • Action/Spoken – Saying those words out loud helps us realize the abandonment Jesus must have felt when he was temporarily separated from His Father. Imagine Him crying out to God the Father from the cross. He must have felt so alone when “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
  • PRAYER – (Lead the people in a pastoral prayer, emphasizing our thankfulness to Jesus for the abandonment He must have endured while on the cross.)

SIXTH WORD – TRIUMPH

Object Needed – Slightly torn swatch of material representing the Temple curtain before the Holy of Holies

  • Spoken – The sixth of the seven last words Jesus spoke before His death was “It is finished.” (John 19:30) Even though it is a sad moment because Jesus is about to die. A word that is synonymous with this phrase, in Jesus’ case, is Triumph. 
  • Action/Spoken (Pick up the material). This swatch of curtain material is symbolic of the curtain in the temple in Jesus’ day. It separated the people from the Holy of holies. Matthew 27:51 reports that when Jesus breathed His last, “the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” (Tear the material into two pieces) This symbolized the division between God and humanity being removed, signifying the completion of Jesus’ redemptive work and the direct access to God made possible through His sacrifice. 
  • Prayer – Take a moment to thank Jesus for finishing His redemptive work for us on the cross. Surrender Yourself to live in obedience to His will. (Allow them to pray silently for a moment, then lead them in prayer)

SEVENTH WORD – RELEASE

  • Spoken – Finally, Jesus said, “Into Your hands I commend my Spirit.” It is a bittersweet moment because, although it was sad because of His death, it was also said in anticipation of His Reunion with His heavenly Father. (Luke 23:46)  
  • PRAYER ACTIVITY – Jesus released His Spirit to His Heavenly Father. This is a good example for us all. We all have things we’re holding back from the Lord, things we should be releasing to Him today. Right where you are, bow your heads and ask the Lord, “Who or what do I need to release to You today? Then, pray and ask God to help you release those people or items to Him.” (Give them a moment to do this)
  • Now, in your worship guide is a separate blank sheet of paper. On it, go ahead and write out the people or things you need to release to the Lord today. As you finish, bring them to the foot of the cross, symbolizing that you are surrendering them to Him on this Good Friday. 
  • Action – (Give time for people to do this. The way it is done at each campus will need to be determined because of traffic flow and space. 
  • (Prayer of Thanksgiving transitioning to a Salvation and Rededication DECISION prayer) – (AFTER everyone has brought up their items, say a Pastor led Prayer thanking God for receiving all of these items we’ve released to Him and asking Him to help us remember as well. THEN transition into a decision time focusing on Salvation and Rededication in your own words)

CULMINATION 

  • Spoken – Jesus commending His spirit was the sweet part, but Him breathing His last was the bitter part, especially for those around Him. We look at what He went through and remember the rest of the story, but those who were with Him at the time could only understand that Jesus was dead. Their Lord, their Messiah, had departed this life. We’ve remembered the seven last words of Christ tonight. Now, let’s remember what happened next as we sing. 

Celebration Song – O Praise The Name or Forever

CLOSING 

  • Communication Cards/Giveaways
  • Share remaining Easter Service times/Challenge people to bring others

Production Notes 

  • This service was created for the 2024 Good Friday Services at Celebration Church in New Orleans. Please forgive any church specific references you might see.
  • We created an insert using the image at the top of this blog post as the entire inside of our worship guide. Kudos of Brenda Miranda from our staff for the drawing and for our marketing/communications department for working it into the service materials.
  • We used a piece of purple material to represent the curtain in the temple that was torn in two during the Sixth Word.
  • We also added a small piece of blank paper (1/4 sheet) for the exercise during the Seventh Word
  • A cross at the front is best. If a large cross is not available, a smaller version is sufficient.
  • Have a keyboardist or guitarist play behind the presentations for effect.
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Rockstar?

I was in high school when I first heard Twisted Sister’s I Wanna Rock. It brought images of Dee Snyder, Eddie Van Halen, and Quiet Riot. As many times as I heard the song, I never thought of Dolly Parton. 

Dolly Parton, the country singer, composer, author, actress, and theme park owner, has recently released her long awaited album titled Rockstar. Back in 2022, Parton was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She almost declined because she had never recorded rock music. Fortunately, she accepted and promised to release a collection of rock songs. 

Recently, that collection, aptly named Rockstar, was released. I listened to the entire Deluxe album over the past three days, which is saying something because the deluxe edition on Spotify includes 39 songs and is just three minutes shy of being three hours long. 

Several years ago, Dolly Parton blew me away when I visited Dollywood. I was expecting it to be hokey. Instead, it was awesome. The same is true of Rockstar.

Dolly has a few original songs on the album including World On Fire (click here to listen). The song has a strong beat, great guitar lines, and strong lyrics (Leave it to Dolly to sing about God in one verse and a politician’s derriere in the next). Dolly also partners with some iconic rock stars including Sting, Steve Perry, John Fogarty, Kid Rock, Steven Tyler, Stevie Nicks, Peter Frampton, Joan Jett, Chris Stapleton, Pink, Brandi Carlile, Kevin Cronin, Elton John, Melissa Etheridge, Rob Halford, Simon Le Bon, Linda Perry, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Pat Benatar, Michael McDonald, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and a few more to produce nearly three dozen quality covers. 

That’s a lot.

As I began the album on Spotify, I figured I would be skipping some of the songs, but instead, I was compelled to hear Dolly Parton perform classic songs like Free Bird, Every Breath You Take, and Purple Rain. Curiosity caused me to check out this album. Solid music with great vocals and powerful guitar riffs kept me listening. 

But what impressed me most about the album was that this amount of quality songs was recorded and released by a performer who is 78 years old. To me, that should be inspiring to anyone who desires to continue producing any kind of content, making a difference, and being awesome as they get older.

Well done, Dolly.

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28 Quotable Christmas Movie Lines

I love classic Christmas movies. There’s something about the poignant nostalgia that peeks into my world when I watch George Bailey battle with Mr. Potter, Ebenezer Scrooge soften at the sight of Tiny Tim, and Kevin McCallister chat with his scary neighbor in church. So many of these lines are perfect for this time of year and are perfect for sermon illustrations, blog posts, and Christmas conversations. I hope you enjoy this list. 

“Christmas was on its way. Lovely, glorious, beautiful Christmas, upon which the entire kid year revolved.” – Ralphie, A Christmas Story

“I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year” – Ebenezer Scrooge, A Christmas Carol

“Faith is believing in things when common sense tell you not to.” – Fred Gailey, Miracle on 34th Street

“It’s Christmas Eve and we are going to celebrate being young and being alive.” – Miles, The Holiday

“Seeing isn’t believing. Believing is seeing.” Judy Elf, The Santa Clause

“Tell her that you love her. You’ve got nothing to lose and you’ll always regret it if you don’t” – Daniel, Love Actually

“Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” – Clarence, It’s A Wonderful Life

“The thing about trains… it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on.” – The Conductor, The Polar Express

“This is extremely important. Will you please tell Santa that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back?” – Kevin McAllister, Home Alone

“If you’re worried and you can’t sleep, count your blessings instead of sheep. Then you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings.” – Bob Wallace, White Christmas

“Never be afraid when people can’t see what you see. Only be afraid if you no longer see it.” – Jeronicus Jangle, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

“What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!” – The Grinch, How The Grinch Stole Christmas

“Just because I can’t see it doesn’t mean I can’t believe it.” – Jack Skellington, The Nightmare Before Christmas

“I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all really. Maybe it just needs a little love.” – Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Christmas

“That’s what Christmas memories are made from, they’re not planned, they’re not scheduled, nobody puts them in their Blackberry, they just happen.” – Kelly Finch, Deck the Halls.

“That’s the one good things about regret. It’s never too late. You can always change tomorrow if you want to.” – Claire Phillips, Scrooged

“I suppose it all started with the snow. You see, it was a very special kind of snow. A snow that made the happy happier, and the giddy even giddier. A snow that’s make a homecoming homier, and natural enemies, friends.” – Narrator, Frosty the Snowman

“I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel.” – Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Christmas

“When we love someone, we are really loving God.” – Courtney B. Vance, The Preacher’s Wife

“Surprised, Eddie? If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet I wouldn’t be more surprised than I am right now.” – Clark Griswold, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Buddy, Elf

“You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!” Every Adult, A Christmas Story

“If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love is actually all around.” Richard Curtis, Love Actually

“A toy is never happy until it is loved by a child.” King Moonraiser, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

“This is Christmas, the season of perpetual hope.” Kate McAllister, Home Alone

“No matter what happens, we are family.” Sam, Love the Coopers

“Would you like to go eat food? You know, the code?” – Buddy, Elf

“God Bless Us, Everyone.” – Tiny Tim, A Christmas Carol 

Merry Christmas.

*Image courtesy of Ben White

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Manger Throne, a New Classic

All across the nation and around the world, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. However, it many houses of worship, even those with the best decorations, it doesn’t yet sound much like Christmas. There are many reasons for this (and I’ll write more in future posts) but one reason is that the sound and feel of many Christmas carols and songs are often quite different from many modern worship songs. Christmas carols are filled with nostalgia and wonder, yet many are written in mysterious sounding keys with varying time signatures and often have hard to understand lyrics. On the other hand, worship songs are often written in straightforward time signatures with predictable (I mean that in a good way) lyrics and (dare I say it) easier to play keys. 

It is possible to have the best of both worlds, but like many good things, it takes some effort. That’s why I’m always pleased to hear new Christmas worship songs that are strong musically and lyrically and quite frankly, work well for powerful worship experiences. One of my new favorites is the new Christmas anthem Manger Throne, written by Jonathan Smith and Tony Wood and released by Phil Wickham. 

Here’s what Wickham recently shared with CCM magazine: “More than a Christmas song, this is a worship song… Every Christmas season, when I take the time to think on it, I am amazed in a greater way of the moment when Creator stepped into creation. God in human flesh. Heaven walking on earth. Everything about how Jesus came was different than what we would have expected, and also far better. He met us right in our humanity.” 

Check out Manger Throne at one of the links below. 

*Click here for the official music video 

**Click here for the lyric video 

***Click here for ccm article mentioned in the post.

Merry Christmas!

*Image courtesy of ProChurch Tools

by Categories: Christmas, Church and Christian Life, Creativity, Response, Review, Uncategorized, WorshipTags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

The More Things Change…

It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same. 

This is the lesson I learned on New Years Day of Y2K.

Y2K is the abbreviation for the Year 2000. It referred to computer problems expected when the 1999 changed to 2000.

Nothing of note happened that day around the world. 

However, where I lived a truck drove into the electrical plant and shut off everyone’s power.

This was before most people had mobile phones, so I was convinced that power outage was worldwide. I jumped into my Cutlass Supreme and started it up.

A Cutlass Supreme was a midsize car produced by Oldsmobile from the mid 60’s to mid 90’s.

So, back to the story…

Uh, Oldsmobile was a 20th century automobile brand which produced over 35 million cars. 

Anyway, I drove off to see if things were impacted beyond my street. 

I quickly drove into the Kmart parking lot. 

Uh, well, Kmart was an American chain of department stores. 

However, the lights were already off and the doors were locked.

So, I drove across the street because I saw a car at the Blockbuster Video.

Um, Blockbuster was a video rental store chain which ceased operations in 2014.

You know, they had VHS and DVD rentals

Yeah, VHS stands for Video Home System which plays movies on large black cassettes.

So, anyway…uh, DVD stood for Digital Video Disc. It ended up replacing the VHS tape.

Anyway, since the power was out, I went home and ate my leftover tacos from Chi-Chi’s.

ChiChi’s was a Mexican food restaurant chain in the 80’s and 90’s.

I washed them down with a bottle of Fruitopia.

Fruitopia was a beverage of “fruit integration” which went away in the early 2000’s.

Finally, the electricity came back on, so I kicked back and watched Freaks and Geeks.

Freak and Geeks was a one season show about a 1980’s high school which launched the careers of Seth Rogen, James Franco, Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, and Busy Phillips. Even though it was incredibly popular, it was canceled after one season. But I’m not bitter.

Ok, whatever. I guess things really have changed a lot.

*Photo courtesy of Florian Klauer

by Categories: Creativity, Humorous, Response, UncategorizedTags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment