Still, Still, Still

While, I enjoy(ed) the Mannheim Steamroller version, I am on a decade (at least) sabbatical from listening to them.  This version is nice even though it's not in the original German:

Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed,
The world is sleeping,
Holy Star its vigil keeping.
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.

Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
Close your eyes,
Let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.

Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
While guardian angels without number,
Watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.

In the Bleak Mid-Winter

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

Christmas Music

I love Christmas music!  As a matter of fact, it's during this time of the year that I miss my first career (music teacher) the most.  The problem of course is that much of the "Good" Christmas music is never heard due to the schlock found on local radio stations.  Many of my favorites will be posted on this site over the next month.  You may not like it all, but hopefully you can appreciate some.  


Please don't hold your breath hoping I will post links to Burl Ives, The Beach Boys or Karen Carpenter.

Spiritual Disciplines

Followers of Jesus struggle not only with their work but also with their prayers, with their meditations, with attempting to open spaces at the depths where the Spirit of God may descend and dwell.  The spiritual disciplines (prayer, study, meditation, confession) look as if they would be a pain; and they are.  But they are also a joy.  They look as if they would bind us.  They do, but they bind our own internal constraints - the desires that lead us around if we do not bind them.  So the disciplines actually open a door to freedom.  The discipline of study can feel like a burden. It is a burden, but the Christian person yokes up with Jesus Chris to haul the burden, and the joy and freedom of fellowship with Christ make the burden light.  In short, the disciplines help make us prime citizens of the kingdom because they help to make us strong and deep

-Cornelius Plantinga Jr., Engaging God's World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living

NPR story on Latinos and Christianity

This morning I listened to an interesting article regarding Hispanics and the "American Church."  There is after a closer read some perspective issues.

"The Rev. Wilfredo de Jesus is leading the movement to give a little color to the mostly white Pentecostal faith. He says — and statistics bear him out — that Latinos are saving American Christianity."

Looking past "American Christianity" which sort of makes me shudder, is the statement that a certain culture/demographic is "saving it."  Equally wrong would be a statement like this:

 "The American Church is saving a a disproportionately large number of Hispanic Americans."

I think the first quote wouldn't bother me as much if it wasn't from a Christian leader.  I can't expect NPR to acknowledge where the Holy Spirit works and Who actually does the saving (and from what). I hope the statement has been brought out of context as well as the final statement of the piece:

"Which is why de Jesus is traveling the country, telling other pastors how to expand their churches, Latino-style."

For a Christian, salvation does not come through a church but through Christ.  For a church, the purpose is not to increase their "gate" but to usher congregants to the Savior.

Which church do you go to?

A literal translation of common dialog:

Person 1: Which Church do you go to?
Person 2: We go to (insert pleasant name) (insert well-known denomination) Church. It's the church my spouse was raised in.

Translation: I really don't like this church or the denomination, but we go there anyhow.

Question for Worship Pastors

Actually two...

1. Does the volume during worship exceed decibel level standards set by OSHA?
2. Should it?

A new way to choose a team in the NFL

For years, I have tried to shed my allegiance to the Cincinnati Bengals.  Growing up in the area, they were respectable.  Actually, they were respectable until the passing of their founder and first head coach, Paul Brown. They have been consistently bad since, and the common thread through those years of badness, has been the teams front office and ownership.  (In this case the apple DOES fall far from the tree).

Anyhow, the saying you often hear is, "If you want to know where someone's heart is, look at their checkbook." I'm going to follow that statement in to the NFL.  I have decided that I will cheer for the team who has spent the most on their payroll.  Not because they likely have the best players, but because I refuse to be more concerned about winning than the owners/millionaires that own the team.

Craig's List

Son (re: selling something through craigslist): "But what if they guy who says he wants to buy them, has a machine gun?"
Mom: "I don't think he is going to have a machine gun."
Son: "I know. If he has a machine gun, I will just give him the matchbox cars."
Mom: "That's a very good idea!"

Ironies in Facebook

We "friend" people we might otherwise consider acquaintances, coworkers, etc.

We "like" things not because we really like them but because it might win us something.

We "poke" people....which we learned at an early age not to do.

Surely there are others...

Objectivism/Ayn Rand

Growing up I was a huge fan of Rush, (and still am a fan).  Consequently, it was cool to think Ayn Rand is cool.  Mainly because she had one novel that influenced the the writing of "2112."  I read that novel, which in and of itself was thought provoking.

Ayn Rand is best known for a Philosophy called Objectivism.  The summation of this philosphy, from an ethical point of view is characterized by a statement of one of her Characters in "Atlas Shrugged:"

"I swear -- by my life and my love of it -- that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine."

While Ms. Rand may have influenced prominent people such as Alan Greenspan, I personally find this philosophy, or the creator of it a bit whacked.

You can find many interviews with her on youtube.

"Making Out"

10 Year Old Son: "Dad, what is 'making out?'"
Dad: "Uh,...it's when you kiss your wife multiple times."
Son: "Yeah, or someone you're in love with, right?"
Dad: "Uh...let's just leave it at 'wife.'"

See if you can swim...

 This week I figuratively threw my sons in to the deep end.  Yesterday was their first day of 6th and 3rd grade, in a new school where they knew less than five people vaguely.  Today the 6th grader left for Windy Gap for a three day spiritual retreat with the middle school.

I'm very happy about their new school, while being both thrilled and petrified that they are gaining more independence through the process....especially the 6th grader.  Here he is leaving the parking lot this morning.  He's the one in the bus.  ;-)

Dare I dust this thing off?

Is it because I am neglectful or less egocentric that I haven't posted in a while?  You can decide in due time I suppose.  I'm seriously thinking about a full decommissioning of this blog or perhaps I lower my standards and post any and everything that comes to mind.  People can take or leave it.  I'm beginning to think the latter would be better.  Doing so will help me be less selective and allow the writing outlet I want.  Considering that it is implied that people take or leave blog entries, I shouldn't be so hard on myself and should just do it.

I suppose if I'm going to do this I should perhaps change the name of this blog too.

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

Often we find we are not putting our faith into action.  That what we do seems temporal or lacks potential eternal significance.  Max Lucado addresses such thoughts and concerns in Outlive your life.  After reading Fearless, I felt this would be a good second Max Lucado book to read.  Lucado remains extremely readable.  The words flow well and the stories can be heart-wrenching/warming.  In this Book, Lucado takes the first 12 chapters of Acts and uses them to speak on the need for us, as followers of Christ, to engage the world and make a difference.

In this book, Lucado strikes his pastoral tones and each chapter comes out like a sermon…a good sermon.  Max pulls at your emotions while grounding you in the text of scripture, albeit at a high level.  I found myself emotionally moved to further take on our call to live according to the ways that were reflected in our savior and the early disciples.  Mr. Lucado writes at a high level.  His writings are grounded in sound theology, but theology is not what you will get in this book.  This book focuses on application which is consistent with the author’s style.  The book was enjoyable and moving.  

One hundred percent of the author royalties from Outlive Your Life products will benefit children and families through World Vision and other ministries of faith-based compassion.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”