Empty Chairs, Empty Tables...and an Empty Stocking

Happy Christmas Eve! 2019 has been a year filled with highs (the wedding of Will & Michelle comes to mind) and lows. As so often happens in life, it takes a holiday or special occasion to bring life's changes into full view. This Christmas season was already very difficult, doing so many things we used to with Lisa Jewett without her for the first time. But it is also the first Christmas with Will not at home and with Michelle as his wife. Most of you know I have never been someone who feared change. But today, right now, I have to say enough already!

For most of the past 5 years, our Christmas Eve began at Steak'N'Shake eating breakfast with Michelle while she worked. Lisa would join us, and the 5 of us would do our own little gift exchange right there in the restaurant. This year, Will is also working at Olive Garden- a 12 hour day! So missing breakfast is not the only change to our traditions. A normal Jones Christmas Eve would consist of us going to a Candlelight Service at church, followed by a hot dog (with chili and slaw!) dinner and a watching of A Muppet Christmas Carol. Marilyn and I will still go to church, but the hot dogs and Muppets will now wait until tomorrow when Will and Michelle can join us. The empty chairs and empty tables are making what was already difficult feel very, very sad. It is a day when I should be proclaiming JOY TO THE WORLD but I confess to it being a struggle.

And then there is the empty stocking. On Christmas Day 2015 Lisa was in the hospital, and after our family opened our presents that morning I went to see her. I had picked up this cool Snoopy stocking for $1.99 at Walgreen's the night before and lots of junk to fill it up. I just didn't want her to miss Christmas. For the following 3 years, I kept the same stocking and filled it each Christmas, usually giving it to her on Boxing Day. The gifts got better each year, but that didn't really matter to Lisa. She told me after the second time that she couldn't remember the last time anyone had done a stocking for her, and that it was her favorite part of Christmas. So I have the stocking out this year, and for most of the season, seeing it made me smile as my mind flooded with great memories. But today- knowing I have nothing to put in it, knowing it will continue to be empty- it just makes me miss her even more. Add the empty stocking to the empty chairs and empty tables and it is hard to feel merry about much of anything today.

Tomorrow is the day we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. It's the day we remember that HOPE came into the world, and that LOVE came down so we could all understand what love really means.  Tomorrow I will be ok, as the family gathers and we remember the promise of Christmas. But my word for today is empty. I know I am not alone in that feeling, and for any of you who are hurting and feel loss during this season, you have my prayers. May we all find the HOPE that came that first Christmas.

Peace be with you,

Carl

I Am Santa Claus

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!

  

The Christmas Pickle

Today is the birthday of one of my heroes, my dear friend Lisa Jewett. In honor of her special day and this special time of year, today's post is an ornament story that concerns a special (although a little strange!) gift she gave my family back in 2005. Here is the legend of The Christmas Pickle!

According to Lisa, the idea of putting pickles on Christmas trees goes back to Germany during one of the World Wars. Soldiers marching through the German countryside would often enter house looking for food and take all that a family might have. One Christmas Eve a family, trying to save some food for themselves, hid some pickles in their tree, where they went unnoticed by the scavengers. As a side note, we do not know if these were individual pickles or the entire jar. In any case, the family had a pickle feast! Over the years that followed it became tradition to hide one pickle in the tree on Christmas Eve as a reminder of that night. The child who could find the pickle on Christmas morning would receive an extra gift and much good luck for the coming year. The Christmas Pickle became a symbol of blessing and prosperity. So when Lisa presented us with our very own pickle ornament, we hung it on our tree. Even though it seemed quite odd. It's there every year, and she has already been over to look for it in 2016- even thought it's not Christmas Eve yet. Will hid it from her but she found it anyway- although this year he made it tough on her! And the tradition continues...

Lisa is a part of our family. We all love her very much and love that we get to spend so much time with her. Tonight our extended family will be celebrating at Kobe's, where despite the fact that she will be the guest on honor my son Will is not going to let her play the big drum! Lisa is one of the best friends anyone could ask for, and she means the world to me. She continues to need to our prayers and out hugs in her ongoing battle; cancer won't quit, but neither will she!!! That odd pickle hanging on our tree is a reminder that we have indeed been blessed by her friendship and her love. Happy Birthday, Lisa! And may Santa bring you a case of pickles this year!

Twas the Night After Christmas 2

Last year I wrote and posted a poem that summed up my Christmas day and called it Twas the Night After Christmas. It was such a hit that it seemed worth it to give it another try this year. There are differences; last year Marilyn was traveling to NC by herself to visit her family on the 26th. This year I'm going with her. But still, as I write this on Christmas night, the joys of the day have been many. So here we go. As always, I apologize to real poets everywhere...

Twas the night after Christmas and here at our place

I've spent the whole day just stuffing my face!

Shrimp & Crab Casserole and sausage balls galore

and leftover hot dogs from the holy night before

There were presents aplenty with gifts from each other

And OH- I got the box set of How I Met Your Mother!

There was Pandora and movies and clothing and cash

and ornaments for all, including one that says "Hulk smash!" 

The Muppet Christmas Carol was our afternoon movie 

with Michelle seeing it for the first time- how groovy!

There were tweets, texts and calls from family and friends

Reminding that the love of this day never ends

Christmas is a time of peace and of love

of remembering the gift God sent from above

But it's also a time to reach out to a friend

with a hug you can give or a text you can send

We can all make the world a bit warmer place

by putting a smile on a dear old friend's face

In the morning we'll head for dear old NC

With family to visit and old friends to see

We'll enjoy the blessings and keep feeling the glow

that has nothing to do with a gift or a bow

So enjoy your new toys and your sweet families

Enjoy your last days with your own Christmas trees

Miss me this week while this blog I don't write

Merry Day after Christmas- and to all a goodnight!

Thanks for making 2014 another year to remember here at I'd Laugh...  I may or may not be able to post this week from NC, but you will continue to be in my thoughts and my prayers. Much love to all!

Because of Jesus,

Christmas Is Just the Beginning

"In the first light of a new day 

no one knew he had arrived,

Things continued as they had been

while a newborn softly cried..."

Merry Christmas! As we celebrate with family and friends today it is important to remember once again that Christmas is all about Jesus. This day we celebrate the beginning of the greatest love story ever told, of how God sent His only Son to save us from ourselves. But the story does not end there. The life of the man we call Jesus should change the way we live. His death should teach us much about sacrifice. But first and foremost, we are a Resurrection People. The Christmas story and the Easter story cannot and must not be separated.  Over the years, the song In the First Light (quoted above and below) by the group GLAD has become one of the most meaningful songs in my life. My prayer is that this video will stir your heart this last week of the holiday season to worship not only the babe in the straw, but the risen savior of the universe. As Christ-followers, we much never forget this truth:

"Hear the angels as they're singing 

On the morning of His birth,

But how much greater will their song be

When He come again to Earth...

When He comes to rule the Earth!"

Merry Christmas, one and all!!!

Only One More Sleep 'til Christmas

Me, Andrew & a photobomber!

Andrew Lewis was Organist and Interim Youth Minister when I was hired at First UMC-Kissimmee in 1994. He eventually became the Minister of Music and Worship there, and also became one of my best friends. Andrew had many gifts; a beautiful voice, a loving spirit and servant's heart. In all my years around churches he was the best worship designer I have ever been around, although in such a traditional church he got to use those skills on a very limited basis. One particular Advent season Andrew, Pastor John Willis and the rest of the worship team outdid ourselves. We took the One More Sleep 'Til Christmas theme from the movie The Muppet Christmas Carol and started our "sleep" countdown a month before Christmas Eve. Pastor John, his famous infamous puppet Hollywood (who has his own post here on this blog!) and I would weave the impending arrival of Santa Claus into the Children' Moment each week along with the excitement over the coming of the Christ child. By our Christmas Eve "family services" we had built to a fever pitch. Those kids and their parents had gotten the message- it was the night before JESUS! That night Andrew sang the Muppet song and had me sing the Rich Mullins classic You Gotta' Get Up (see the video at the bottom). Children performed a nativity play. Hollywood, John and myself then closed the series by reminding everyone that the coming of Jesus was an even more exciting event than the coming of Santa- although Santa rocks! It was an awesome service. Then everyone went outside to witness a Living Nativity performed by our youth. God even spoke to us through and angel on a ladder that night...

Every year Marilyn, Will and I attend a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Every year I am moved by the music, the lifting of candles as we sing Silent Night, and the Christmas story itself. And every year I think of Andrew, John, and Hollywood and all the time, effort and creativity that went into making that night in the late '90's one that will stay with me forever!

I hope that for each of you, tonight will be a Holy night.My family will attend the 6 PM service at Van Dyke, return home for real Carolina hot dogs and a viewing of Scrooged. Tradition will be broken, as we normally watch The Muppet Christmas Carol, but this year we are saving it until tomorrow so Michelle, who has never seen it, can watch with us. But Scrooged works nicely as a replacement, and so that is Christmas Eve at the Jones' house. Whatever your traditions may be, please don't forget the original Christmas tradition-  O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of our dear Saviors' birth...  Merry Christmas to all.  Today it is finally true again-there's only one more sleep 'til Christmas!  And that means that tomorrow you gotta' get up- it's Christmas morning. Hugs and blessings to you all!

My Deliverer is Coming,

Tiny Jesus

Many of you may remeber one of the great theological movies of the past decade- Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby (sarcasm intended). Some of you will remember the scene where Ricky (Will Ferrell) is saying the blessing over a family meal. He begins by praying, "Dear Baby Jesus" (My son Will and our friend David White still joke about beginning prayers that way). A discussion later ensues about the fact that Jesus did in fact grow up and become a man, but Ricky doesn't care. He prefers to think of Jesus as a cute little baby, helpless in the manger. Throughout his prayer he continues to refer to Baby Jesus in more and more descriptive ways, but never advancing him beyond the infant stage.

It occurs to me that far too often we do the same thing with Jesus at Christmas. We have our nativity scenes and our Christmas plays and our scripture readings that focus (quite rightly) on the miraculous birth story of our Savior. But too many times we let the story end there. Like Ricky Bobby, we prefer a Tiny Jesus.  Tiny Jesus is cute, cuddly and much easier for us to understand. Tiny J doesn't ask us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Tiny J doesn't remind us to take care of the "least of these." Tiny J doesn't call anyone a "brood of vipers." Tiny J doesn't tell us "to find your life you have to lose it." It is much easier for us if we do not allow Jesus to grow up...

Babies are cute little miracles from God, and we love them. It is no wonder the Christ-child captures out attention. A few years ago we had a tiny little Christmas tree in a room with a 14 foot ceiling, and the room dwarfed it. Now we have a grown up tree that may not be as cute, but is much more impressive. Tiny J may be cute and cuddly and worthy of our praise. But the full-grown Messiah, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings- now that Jesus knows how to fill up a room! The Son of God became the most important person in history. There is such power in his life, his teaching and in his death and resurrection that we cannot ignore his presence. When we allow Jesus to grow up, it is no longer enough to bring gold or myrrh. The only gift that is sufficient is to offer him our lives.

So this Christmas season celebrate the birth of the infant Christ-child. Worship the babe as the shepherds did all those years ago. Rejoice in his coming to our world. Read the Luke 2 stories of that most holy night. Just be sure to keep reading- and watch that baby grow into a man who would one day save the world...

My Deliverer is Coming,

A Ridiculous Way To Start a Revolution

Each year at Christmas one of the grand traditions of the Church is to read the birth story of Jesus from Luke 2. I have read it so often (and heard Linus recite it so many times on A Charlie Brown Christmas) that I pretty much have it memorized. Some of it almost seems normal now, when in fact there is not a single normal thing about the story. And the part that always gets me is when the angels appear to the shepherds. The big announcement that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords was coming to earth was delivered in a field outside of a no-name village to a bunch of stinkin' sheep-herders. Absolutely ridiculous.

I mean, if God really wanted to make a splash with this birth you would have thought the angels would have appeared to the Roman rulers or the Jewish high priests. God might have tried a huge fireworks display and sky-writing event over downtown Jerusalem. That would have gotten the word out big-time. That could have made the rich and the powerful head for the stable that night, bringing honor and glory to the newborn King. Heck, they probably could have even gotten Joseph and Mary a room! But shepherds? Scripture tells us that they were "abiding in the fields" when the Heavenly Host (Is it just me or does that sound like a jazz band to anyone else?  Gabriel on trumpet, of course...) showed up. Of course they were! You know why? Because they smelled so bad no one wanted to be anywhere near them. Shepherds weren't even allowed in the temple in those days, because they were too nasty to go through the ritualistic purification required to worship there. They spent all of their days and nights in the field with sheep because no one else would have them! But when it came time to announce to the world that God was sending the Son to save us, God turned to this smelly bunch of uneducated Hebrew rednecks. And they obeyed. They went to find the baby in a smelly barn, surrounded by smelly animals and laying in a disgusting manger- no doubt with animal slobber all over it (as a side note, I hope moms everywhere will note that Jesus and millions of other kids lived very healthy lives BEFORE the invention of the disinfectant wipe.  I'm just sayin...). And in the midst of all of this smelliness, hope was born. The world was saved, though no one knew it yet. When those stinkin' sheep-herders bowed to worship that baby, they represented us all. We are all totally unworthy of being in the presence of God, and yet because of the man that baby became we are all invited. How ridiculous!

The Jesus Revolution was going on right from the very beginning. God used a no-name girl from the least respected town of a pitiful little province to bring his only Son into our world. God had him born in the most humble of circumstances, and sent the angels to the least likely witnesses anyone could think of- shepherds. Before ever speaking a word, Jesus told the world that everything was about to change. Power, wealth and prestige were going to give way to the weak, the poor and the smelly. And yet so many of us have still not heeded that message. I encourage you today to be willing to get a little smelly for Jesus. Find ways to connect with those who are "abiding in the fields" and are being ignored by our society. They have much to teach us. For the Jesus Revolution to take hold in this world, we all need to be more like the shepherds. My friends, it is time to get out there and stink, because the Creator has shown over and over again that God uses the smelly to change the world. How totally ridiculous. Just as ridiculous as sacrificing your only Son to save a bunch of sinful humans...                                   Amen and Amen.

My Deliverer is Coming,

The 2014 Jones Family Christmas Letter

There are many Christmas traditions on this blog, and one of them has been to do a Christmas letter for our friends and family. If you are thinking, "WOW! What a cheap and lazy way to send a Christmas letter!" you are not wrong. But it is important to us to include you in our lives and let you know how important each one of you is to us. So imagine, if you will, that this letter is addressed specifically to you. And thanks for reading...

Let's start with Will, who somehow turned 19 this year. He's one semester and one summer class away from finishing his AA degree at St. Pete College and then heading off to the film school at UCF. He will share an apartment on campus with an old friend from high school (and one other guy), and for the following 2 years his adopted parents will be Jerry & Melissa Hanbery. He is still with his girlfriend Michelle who is also off to UCF next August. How convenient! We love Michelle, and she and her family have become a part of ours over these past months. Will spent the first part of the year working for Chick-fil-A in the local mall. He sought new employment after discovering that the "our pleasure" they share with customers turns into "we don't care!" when you are an employee. He got a job as a host at Olive Garden, but spent the summer working both places and taking classes. It's just a shame the boy has no initiative! He's exclusively at the OG now, working 40 hour weeks in only 4 days because according to management, "the place falls apart when Will isn't here!" He's still very much into music and movies. He's also turned himself into a pretty stellar guitar player. And finally, at age 19, we were able to secure a car for him to use (a hand-me-down from my mother) and so he got his license.  It's been a really good year for Will...

Marilyn is also doing well, except for having to work way too much. She continues to serve as an executive assistant to an attorney who is one of the leading authorities on alcohol beverage licensing in the nation. Want to know how busy they are? You know how all of the Red Lobsters were recently sold? They handled all the license transfer and what-not. And there are many more HUGE examples I could share. The alcohol business is booming! In addition to her work, Marilyn finds time to visit Walt Disney World on a fairly regular basis and to keep up with friends and family via Facebook. If you are her friend and you have posted pictures on your feed, chances are good she has seen them. Especially if there are children involved! She loves dinners with friends, going to the movies and the occasional trip over to the beach. And if you want to talk about the goings-on on The Good Wife, she's your girl! Her year hit some rough patches back in the late summer with the death of her father and trying to help her mom through the hard times that followed. Dealing with family trauma from 700 miles away is not easy, but she has done what she can. She and I will be heading up to NC the week after Christmas to spend time with her family. Her bravery in being a practical and organized woman living with two "creatives" cannot be overstated. She is the glue that holds us together.

Conner the Dog continues to be a big part of our family as well. At age 11 he has slowed down a bit, and wakes me up way too early way too often, but we still love him! He spends his days napping, eating Beggin' Strips and anything else he can talk the rest of us into sharing. The dog has his own recliner- I think he's pretty happy with his lot in life!

As for me, life continues to be both a blessing and a roller coaster. My mom's health is not good; she has days when she doesn't get out of bed and she rarely leaves her house. But not unlike her son, she is stubborn and wants to stay there despite our best efforts to move her to Tampa. My health, on the other hand, has been very good. No toe surgery in 2014- I call that a big honkin' WIN! We were blessed and thrilled when my probation was terminated 3 years early on April 1 (no foolin'); we were crushed to discover that my transgression of nearly 8 years ago would prevent me from ever going back to WDW. I did get to cross many bridges with my newfound freedoms however, including spending a week in Myrtle Beach with Marilyn's family and an extended weekend in NC visiting friends, some of them for the first time in years. And I have to say- I have the best friends anyone could ever ask for! They continue to support me through thick and thin and look after me no matter the circumstances. This includes my Twitter family, which continued to grow this year. As you know, I continue to write this blog on a regular basis. I also write for couple of other blogs about once a month. My novel (Even Better Than Before), which I began back in the spring, is nearly complete and should be ready to be shared with the first batch of readers in early 2015. My work as a personal assistant for Lisa Jewett continues, reminding her when to buy groceries, looking at pictures of her grandchildren and answering her very random questions about very random things. She is a great friend to the whole family and very much a part of our lives. All-in-all, life is good. There have been trials and struggles and even a few major disappointments along the way. But God is good. All the time.

It is our prayer that 2015 will bring us more opportunities to spend time with family and friends and to continue to seek to discover what God has in store for us all. We wish for each of you a merry and blessed Christmas season, filled with the love hope, love, joy and peace that the Christ-child came to bring. We love you all!

Because of Jesus,

T'was the Friday Before Christmas

Less than a week to go until the fat man slides down the chimney, the candles are lit in worship, families gather and we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world! Yesterday I did some shopping, today I'm making sausage balls and fudge. It's getting real up in here! To keep my Christmas spirits rising this morning I cranked up my iPod nano and put my Christmas playlist on shuffle. Here are the 10 songs that started my Friday before Christmas. You could do a lot worse!

1. Santa Claus is Comin' To Town - Bruce Springsteen
2. Merry Christmas, Darling - The Carpenters
3. Angels We Have Heard on High- Relient K
4. Mary, Mary - Lost And Found
5. Babe In the Straw - Caedmon's Call
6. Mele Kalikimaka - Jimmy Buffet
7. Happy Christmas (War is Over) - John Lennon
8. Silent Night - Stevie Nicks
9. I Celebrate the Day - Relient K
10. All I Want for Christmas Is You - Michael Buble

Remember- "the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singling loud for all to hear"- so don't just listen this holiday season- SING!  Have a merry and blessed weekend, everyone!

My Deliverer is Coming!

Advent: Unspeakable Joy!

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, a time for many congregations around the world to light the candle of JOY. We talk a lot about joy in this season of the year. We sing Joy To the World. We talk about the joy of being with family and friends. We share in the joy of Christmas parties and special worship services. But let's be real for a minute. Sometimes the joy we speak of is hard to find during the holiday season. There is merriment, festivity, laughter, happiness and excitement- but often very little joy. My favorite definition of joy is "a contentment that satisfies the soul and clears the mind." In all of the stress of Christmas time that kind of joy is often in short supply. We worry. We want too much. We expect too much. We try to please too often. We search for happiness-  and we lose the joy.

When the angels appeared to the smelly shepherds in Luke 2, they made it clear that the arrival of the Christ-child was all about joy. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people!" The Wise Guys saw the star in the east and "rejoiced with exceeding great joy!" It seems that that they knew instantly that life had changed forever. Jesus would later explain what that kind of joy really meant in John 10:10- "I came that you might have life, and life abundant!" Joy is not about emotions or feelings- joy is a lifestyle! It is understanding that because love came down on that first Christmas, EVERYTHING changed. Our search for things that make our hearts tingle may never end, but our search for things that give us that contented soul could be at rest. Jesus is our joy.

A fairly obscure 1970s recording artist named Lobo wrote a very obscure song called Stoney- which of course is on my iPod. In the chorus it has this great line- "The joy that you can find in living everyday, Stoney how I love your simple way." To my mind, that is the abundant life Jesus talked about bringing us- living each day with joy and purpose. Life is seldom what we want it to be. Some days it just flat out sucks. But in every day- even the suckiest ones- we can find joy in loving our family and friends. We can find joy in serving those who need our help. We can understand that joy is often not in the destination, but in the journey. And we can discover the joy- the unspeakable joy- that comes from knowing that each of us is so loved by the Creator of the universe that God sent his Son to be our guide, our friend, and to forgive our sins before we had ever committed them.

Today is a great day to be alive. And tomorrow will be as well. Find the simple joy that Jesus brings in living everyday. If we understand that Christmas is all about a story that brought good news to ALL people,  then the Nativity will fill our hearts each day of the year. And that, my friends, is a MERRY CHRISTMAS! Have a blessed Sunday.

My Deliverer is Coming,

It's Christmas Time

"In the town of Bethlehem

See the stars shine

Fall down and worship Him

It's Christmas time..."

I love everything about Christmas. I love the religious celebrations of the birth of our Savior.  I love reading from Luke 2 (just like Linus!).  I love the decorations, the trees and Santa Claus. I love the movies and TV specials. And I love the music. I know that they start playing it way too early for most of us, but when it it time I am sooo ready for it! I love it.  And I love a wide variety of Christmas tunes. My play-list includes everything from traditional carols to rock anthems to singing vegetables. In fact, the first VeggieTales Christmas CD is a traditional favorite for us. And I love sharing some of my favorite Christmas music with you. 

Today's selection may be a little obscure, but it also is one of my very favorite contemporary Christmas songs. It comes from the 2002 album City On A Hill: It's Christmas Time.  This album featured various contemporary Christian artists including Third Day, Caedmon's Call, Jars of Clay and Sixpence None the Richer. The title track, It's Christmas Time, was written by Terry Scott Taylor and Steve Hindalong. Taylor's roots in CCM go all the way back to the beginning at Calvary Church in southern California. He has been a prolific songwriter and member of the bands Daniel Amos and Lost Dogs.  His songwriting has been listed as an inspiration by artists as varied as U2 and Michael W. Smith. Hindalong received a Dove Award for his production work on the City On A Hill albums. He was in the classic CCM band The Choir, and with Taylor in Lost Dogs. He is perhaps most noted as a drummer and percussionist, having played on numerous albums for various artists over the years. This song (for me) sets the mood for the celebration, joy and reverence that the Christmas season should be all about. It is sung by an all-star choir, including Dan Haseltine (of Jars of Clay), Mac Powell (of Third Day), Michael Tait (of dc Talk and now Newsboys), Leigh Nash (of Sixpence), Caedmon's Call and Out of Eden. I trust the God will use it to move you as much as it moves me. The celebration of the birth of our LORD is coming quickly. Let's prepare ourselves now for the coming of the hope of the world. Enjoy the song!

My Deliverer is Coming,

All is Well

Today's Christmas song of the day is All Is Well, from Michael W. Smith's first yuletide album simply entitled Christmas. It has long been one of my favorite songs about the birth of Jesus, even though you will notice that MWS seems to be missing from the singers. This song is all about the message.

People have been using the phrase "all is well" to describe situations and conditions for hundreds of years. In colonial days the Town Crier used to announce "11 o'clock and all is well!" Of course he didn't really mean it; he simply wanted to assure the villagers they were not being attacked. There were still things that were not well. In the movie Animal House there is a scene where the town is involved in a riot, and a very young Kevin Bacon stands in the middle of the street yelling "All is well!!!" It wasn't. And how many times has a politician looked directly into a TV camera and announced that "all is well" when in fact things were falling apart? The phrase carries very little weight in our world, because all is such a big word and we know that something, somewhere is not well.

There have been numerous times in my life when I was convinced that "all" would never be "well" again. During my morning quiet time around one Christmas several years ago it occurred to me that I was focusing on the wrong "all." It was quite true that things happen in life and we are never the same again. It is also true that there are times when we hurt people and wonder if they can ever forgive us. But God already has. God sent his Son to earth through Mary, a very young woman who at times must have been certain all was NOT well- and yet it was. And as I thought about that story, this song came to mind. The birth of the Christ-child was God's announcement to everyone that "all is well." And when God says it, "all" really means ALL!  Life will never be perfect, but how can it be anything but "well" when you are secure in the knowledge that the God of the universe sent His Son to save you- and ME! And that is what the song is all about.

Life is still hard. Things go wrong. People disappoint us. But because of Jesus, there is nothing you can do to make God love you more, and nothing you can do to make Him love you less. I don't know about you, but to me, that truly means all is well...

My Deliverer is Coming,

An Ornament Story: Big Balls

When I was growing up in Greensboro, NC as an only child our family Christmas tree was decorated primarily with garland, lights and round glass ornaments. At some point my Dad purchased a new set of ornaments that were larger than the ones we usually had on the tree. They quickly became known as the Big Balls (and this was years before the TV show Wipeout). I loved them. Dad loved them. Mom was never a fan. As the years passed, new ornaments were added. Glass balls were broken and replaced. But the Big Balls lived on. And every year the argument continued- were the Big Balls too tacky for our tree?

After moving to Florida in 1995 my folks downsized their tree and a number of the ornaments they had traditionally used were left in the box each Christmas. Marilyn, Will and I would always spend Thanksgiving at their home and help them decorate the tree, and then guys made sure that the Big Balls tradition continued- now with Marilyn also fighting them tooth and nail.  

In 2006 my Dad passed away, and for the next several years Mom didn't put up a tree because she was spending Christmas at our house. All of her ornaments sat unused. Then in 2011 she brought a box of classic ornaments to us, and much to my surprise a few of the Big Balls had survived. She and Marilyn refused to allow them on our tree, which is dominated by Hallmark ornaments and Disney collectibles. Will and I complained, but to no avail. And so the Big Balls waited.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving weekend, 2012. I am fresh off of toe surgery, sitting in my recliner and removing ornaments from boxes as Mom put hooks in them and Marilyn and Will place them on our tree. I come across the box containing the Big Balls, and Will decides to take charge. Before anyone can react, Will has placed them on the tree. It is a major victory for us...and for my Dad, who was no doubt smiling down on us. And after a bit of battling, they remained on the tree that entire season.  

But this story has an epilogue. On Christmas morning of that year I was given a new ornament for the Jones family tree. It's an ever BIGGER ball, which is pictured here hanging in a place of honor on the 2014 version of our tree. It joins the remaining vintage big balls as a great reminder that Christmas is full family traditions- and not all of them make sense to anyone else. In fact, those are often the very best ones!  

I hope that all of you cherish your traditions during this festive season and celebrate the birth of the Christ-child with warm memories and loving family. From the Jones family, we wish you an early Merry Christmas! And Big Balls...

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Yesterday I wrote that Marilyn, Will & Michelle were going to spend the day at EPCOT and take in the annual Candlelight Processional. As it turns out, not everyone is familiar with the Candlelight Processional. So think of today's post as a PSA to those who may not know the wonders of this event!

The Candlelight Processional, it is one of the most spectacular celebrations of the birth of Jesus you will find anywhere. A full orchestra, 400+ voices from local high school choirs, the Walt Disney World Choir, The Voices of Liberty (an amazing acapella group that performs regularly at the American Pavilion at EPCOT) and brilliant trumpeters present traditional faith-based Christmas music. Mixed in with the songs (Joy To the World, O Come All Ye Faithful, The Hallelujah Chorus and more) are readings from scripture, shared by a celebrity narrator. Yesterday my family got to hear Neil Patrick Harris (the 2nd time they have heard NPH) read from the Gospel of Luke. Over the years we have heard many different narrators, including Steven Curtis Chapman, the lat Dan Urich, Whoopi Goldberg and my personal favorite, Robert Guillaume (Benson & the voice of Rafiki). It has been a very important part of our Christmas tradition for many years now.

People (mostly inside the church) are often quick to divide the world into two parts:  secular and holy. The concept of secular does not exist in scripture. God created everything; it is only when His creations are misused that we get in to trouble. We are told that "all good and perfect gifts come from God." Secular certainly does not exist at the Candlelight Processional. The event takes place 3 times each day from Thanksgiving until the end of the year in a large outdoor amphitheater. Each performance is packed, with many turned away for lack of space. That means that during this holiday season over 300,000 people will hear the birth story of Jesus from the good people of Walt Disney World. It also takes place at Disneyland- so multiply that number! It's a truly amazing thing that has been going on for years. God is not and cannot be confined to the church. 

One of the songs they perform each year is the classic Do You Hear What I Hear? It is performed by the mass choir and orchestra of the Processional on one of several albums that are available. The one I have features narration by Lou Gossett (another favorite with an amazing voice). I have loved this song since hearing a church choir sing it when I was a little boy. For me, it captures the wonder of that holy night so many years ago. I hope it will inspire you as well. It's time to get ready- after all there's only 22 more sleeps 'til Christmas...

My Deliverer is Coming...

Choose Hope

Marilyn, Will & Michelle are headed to EPCOT this morning to spend the day, eat at Mexico and see Neil Patrick Harris do a legend-wait for it-ary job of narrating the Candlelight Processional tonight. They will have an amazing day. And yes, it does seem even more difficult this year to know I cannot go with them. There was hope back in April; now there is none when it comes to me being able to see this amazing event again. It is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

It is very frustrating. So frustrating, in fact, that I wrote a lengthy post yesterday about my personal situation and the inequities of our justice system and double standards present in our society. But on my way to publishing that post I came to a realization. This is an often difficult, sometimes very dark world we live in, and sometimes hope is fleeting. People lose hope everyday. The Ohio State football player they found this past weekend had lost hope. Robin Williams lost hope. A sweet young woman I once knew very well lost hope last week. It happens every day. Compared to the real trauma and desperate situations so many people face and that are often magnified this time of year, my post just felt like a whole bunch of whining. So I ditched it.

We put up our Christmas tree last night. Every ornament tells a story- tales of Christmas past. When the tree is lit, it always fills my heart with joy and reminders of how blessed I am. Last night, this tree gave me a little kick in the butt. We celebrate this season because God knew that hope was often hard to come by if we try to live life on our own. The gift of Jesus is a gift of hope. Hope for the weary, the suffering, the hungry, the sick, the heartbroken, and yes, even for those who feel persecuted. But we have to chose hope. HOpe is not found in believing we can save ourselves, it is found in remembering there is a greater force at work in our lives. We have to choose to believe that Jesus came for ME. ..and YOU! Without that hope, my story would be very different. Very, very different...

The lights we will see this holiday season should remind us all that Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness of our souls. And the darkness cannot overcome that light. Today I invite you to join me in pushing aside the darkness and embracing that Light. Choose hope.

Because of Jesus,

Cyber Monday Sale!

Today is Cyber Monday, the day when consumers all over the world are encouraged to shop online and when companies offer up great deals and savings. While my little blog is not normally a for-profit operation, I enjoy joining the rest of the online community in this effort today. So here it is, my huge blog blowout sale! The items advertised are all collectors items and only available here. Truthfully, they have been available here for several years, as this is the EXACT same sale as last year's Cyber Monday! To order, just leave a comment and let me know what you want. And be sure to read the fine print at the bottom. Purchase our entire inventory and I'll throw in a special Dave Ramsey Credit Card that electrocutes you every time you try to use it! Happy shopping!!!

* Item #20000- Vintage Pork 'n' Beans- This one-of-a-kind item was purchased by my lovely wife on a whim many years ago- in a Walgreens! It has since occupied a place of honor in our pantry, with no real risk of being consumed. It has also been given to her as a joke stocking-stuffer each of the past 2 years, providing hours of entertainment for Will and I. They passed their expiration date over 2 years ago, making them quite the collectible- so act now!  $13.43 

* Item #21560-  Autographed Commodores Album Cover- Featuring the only white guys ever to sing with the fabulous soul quintet, this collector's item was presented to me by band members Charles Freedle and Mike Mercadante in 1994. It is the only one of its kind. The street value is around $5000- but you can get it today for only $2.17!  Also includes an interview with Charles- "My Life With Onell Rich." Order now!

* Item #22098-  Bubba the Mooning Man-  Presented to me after the Myrtle Beach trip in 1999 by some of the girls of Kissimmee, this special little guy will "moon" the person of your choice, and when he shows his butt you see the autographs of such famous youth alumni as Erica Souther, Lindsey Lupfer, Rachel Autrey and Sarah Whitman.  Great for long trips and offending your Grandma.  Price- $17.50  $2.01 And if you act now, we will include an autographed picture of a certain Youth Ministry Intern streaking at the Ocoee River. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll kiss $2.01 goodbye!!!

* Item $20987 - A Box of VHS - For one low price you can acquire many of your favorite old movies in classic low definition VHS! Over 40 titles for one low price. including many of the best Disney animated films and others you can see here, as well as masterpieces like George of the Jungle and Grease 2! If you order before midnight tonight, I'll throw in some music as well. Credence Clearwater Revival's Greatest Hits- on 8 Track tape!!! You won;t find a better deal this side of a trailer park yard sell in south Georgia... Was $20.00...now only $19.99!

* Item #20734- Pagan Eye For the Christian Guy CD-  The original recording of me presenting my seminar at the NYWC in Atlanta in 2004.  At the time, dozens of copies were made and at least 3 were sold- because I bought them!  Now you can own your very own at the very special price of $0.03 per copy.  Act now- zombies are everywhere!

* Item #21666-  Bubba's Greatest Hits-  The early songs of Carl "Bubba" Jones (that's me!), including the classics that made him famous, like The Animal Song, Why? and Mama Was A Rock'N'Roll Singer & Daddy Used To Write All Her Songs. Also includes the cassette tape of the classic Four Songs, Two Fools project, recorded live at Quaker Lake with Alan "Flash" Brown. Act now and receive a DVD.  It's blank.  Isn't it amazing how much young Bubba looks like young Justin Bieber? Today only, this box set is priced to move at $20.00 $10.00 Make an offer!

Order Now!  Sale ends at Midnight om December 1, 2020!

*Prices may vary in Utah and Mississippi. Why does anyone still care what Sarah Palin thinks? Offer void in Canada. Some items do not actually exist. Why do we park in the driveway and drive on the parkway? Why are perms temporary? Half a bee must also half not be. Are thongs one size fits all? Santa Claus is watching YOU...

My Favorite Christmas Movies & Specials

Now that Thanksgiving is over (and all of those "Black Friday" commercials have mercifully ceased) I can get into the spirit of the Christmas season! I am a serious Christmas lover in every way. I love the music, I love the shopping, I love Santa, and of course, I love Jesus! One of the things that helps gt the Jones family in the holiday spirit each year is our collection of Christmas movies and specials on DVD and blu ray. So today I thought I would share with you my list of "must-see" Christmas movies and specials. Ready? Here we go:

• Four Christmases-There is nothing so funny as other people's families at the holidays...
• Jingle All the Way- A Christmas movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger- what could be cooler that than? Includes the classic Arnold line, "Put that cookie down!"  Awesome!
• The Lighting of the Tree at Rockefeller Center- The show is really pretty hit and miss, but it's a Jones family tradition to watch!
• Christmas With the Kranks- One of the those rare movies that I liked better than the book it was based on, John Grisham's Skipping Christmas. Tim Allen is the king of Christmas movies. Free Frosty, Free Frosty!!!
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer- The classic original! It's a great story with great music and Yukon Cornelius and The Bumble- what else could you ask for!
• Home Alone 2: Lost in New York-I like this sequel even better than the original (which for some reason we do not own.  This must change.). Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as the "Sticky Bandits" are my favorite part of both movies.
• The Nightmare Before Christmas- Tim Burton's classic look at what happens when you try to "do" Christmas without "getting Christmas. Yay, Sandy Claws!
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas- The animated version with Boris Karloff narrating is amazing, but we also like Jim Carrey's live action Grinch as well.
• Elf- We're just walking around the house saying today saying, "Buddy the Elf- what's your favorite color?" There is also a great message about believing when those around you do not...
• The Santa Claus- I actually liked all three of these, but the first one is still my favorite. You gotta' love the elves!
• Saturday Night Live Christmas- There are actually 2 of these specials now, but we own the older one of DVD and watch it every year. So many great skits, including the all-time classics A Dysfunctional Family Christmas, Schweddy Balls & The Night Hanukkah Harry Saved Christmas. "On Herschel, on Moshe, on Schlomo!!!"
• Scrooged- Bill Murray is great, Carol Kane as the Ghost of Christmas Present just cracks me up, and the story is timeless. A very underrated movie.
• Christmas Vacation- I feel a certain connection with Clark W. Griswald. We both manage to screw up most everything, but we mean well! And the lights-  ohhh the lights!
• It's A Wonderful Life- Well, DUH!!!
• The Toy That Saved Christmas- The first and best of the Veggietale Christmas stories. The Veggie's learn the true meaning of Christmas from Buzzsaw Louie. And after a sledding accident Bob the Tomato gets to utter these great lines: "Mousetrap.  I wanted to play Mousetrap. You roll your dice, you move your mice- nobody gets hurt!"
• A Charlie Brown Christmas- More people have heard the Christmas story as told in the Gospel of Luke from Linus than from any other single media source in history. Think about that...
• A Muppet Christmas Carol- Easily number one for all of my family. The music is awesome, the story is terrific, and it has Muppets. What else do you want? We own the VHS, the DVD, and the CD of the music. "After all there's only one more sleep 'til Christmas..." And BTW- we're seeing the new Muppet Movie this afternoon!  I can't wait!

So there's my list. I know many of you would include A Christmas Story but I don't share your love of that one. What else would you add? Let me hear from you. Enjoy your favorites, but don't let the reason for the season slip away from you. Listen to Linus- the little dude with the blanket knows what he is talking about!

Because of Jesus,