We're here to talk about the wild, ridiculous love and grace of Jesus. So come along for the ride, and take time today to laugh, love & forgive. Never regret anything that makes you smile. Don't label people & focus on the positive. And enjoy EVERY sandwich!
The following post has become a Christmas season tradition on this blog because it is so full of great memories for me. I hope it brings back a few for many of you as well. Only 1 more sleep 'til Christmas... Way back in 2010 I put together a little slideshow featuring pictures of kids from the various youth ministries I served over the years and jolly old Saint Nick. Most of these pictures were taken at youth group Christmas parties. Some of the "youth" in these old photos are over 40 now. Many of them have children of there own. Others are still in college. The point is, I can look back at these pictures and remember all of the love and Christmas cheer we would all share this time of year and it is very special to me. For you see in every single picture in this slideshow, I am Santa. It's me under the beard. I always loved doing the Santa thing, and looking back at these memories is great fun.
I chose the song I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday from one of my favorite old school bands, All Star United. This song is full of energy and joy, but it also carries an important message. How much better would this world be if we were the people all year long that we try to be at Christmas? Enjoy the slideshow. And if you happen to be in it, thank you for some unbelievable memories. I would love to hear from you all. Have a very, merry Christmas!
Today's Magic Moment is a vintage post that has become a Christmas season tradition on this blog because it is so full of great memories for me. I hope it brings back a few for many of you as well. Only 6 more sleeps until Christmas...
This blog has grown so much in the past four years that sometimes I forget that in the beginning my only readers were former members of my various youth groups. The posts were more often about old stories of great memories, and were here for their reflection and enjoyment. Today is another one of those posts, although my newer readers are more than welcome to enjoy it as well! About 3 years ago I put together a little slideshow featuring pictures of kids from the various youth ministries I served over the years and jolly old Saint Nick. Most of these pictures were taken at youth group Christmas parties. Some of the "youth" in these old photos are over 40 now. Many of them have children of there own. Others are still in college. The point is, I can look back at these pictures and remember all of the love and Christmas cheer we would all share this time of year and it is very special to me. For you see in every single picture in this slideshow, I am Santa. It's me under the beard. I always loved doing the Santa thing, and looking back at these memories is great fun.
I chose the song I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday from one of my favorite old-school bands, All Star United. This song is full of energy and joy, but it also carries an important message. How much better would this world be if we were the people all year long that we try to be at Christmas? Enjoy the slideshow. And if you happen to be in it, thank you for some unbelievable memories. I would love to hear from you all.
Today's favorite Christmas song is I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday by All Star United. It is featured on the compilation Happy Christmas, Vol. 2, a weird collection of songs from mostly obscure (and now defunct) Christian bands. There are few songs that give me such a rush of joy during what can be a stressful time of year. I cannot listen to this song and do anything other than celebrate the joy that the season of the birth of Jesus should bring to us all. I guarantee this tune will make your toes tap and your mouth smile!
I should also tell you thatSanta Claus and I are very close. I served as one of his "helpers" at a couple of malls in NC in the early 1980's. I quite often played Santa at youth group Christmas parties. I even filled in for Old Saint Nick at an Express Lube in Kissimmee for a couple of years, so kids could get pictures taken with Santa while parents got an oil change (Thanks, Craig Lynch, for that unique opportunity!). Some of you may think that my only connection with Kris Kringle was our body size (tru dat) but the facts are I just loved being such an important part of the Christmas season for so many over the years. So today, as you listen to this song (which is most joyful- and triumphant!) you will also see a Santa Claus Parade. These Ho-Ho's all have one thing in common- they are all ME! The youth in the pictures are mostly from FUMC-K and Wesley Memorial UMC, with a few others thrown in for good measure. I hope watching this will help kick-start your Christmas spirit- making it certainly helped mine. I'll see you all tomorrow for a guest blog from my son Will (that's him pictured with Santa and friends at top- before his writing days!). Have a blessed day!
Jesus- the only hope for me is you...and You alone!
