Thanksgiving with Grands & Great Grands

The Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years holiday season is the time when most families try to get together. As the children and grandchildren grow older that becomes more difficult. Our youngest grandchild is that tall young man on the back row and he is 22. The oldest granddaughter, standing between her husband and the oldest great-grandson, is holding the youngest great-grandson and they live a little over one hundred miles away. The middle granddaughter, standing between me and her big/little brother, is currently living in Phoenix but will be moving to Michigan for the next chapter in her career as a trainer in the Athletics system. The youngest granddaughter, on the front row, next to my wife is getting married in a few weeks and will be moving to Texas. The dynamics of holiday celebrations are changing dramatically. That is why family time is so precious when the grands are little. One day they will be all grown up and gone! When they were little they live in our town and we saw them all the time. Now, when we ask about the holidays, the best answer is, “I’ll be Home for Christmas”.

Mary and Joseph spent their first Christmas in Joseph’s hometown paying taxes. While they were in town Mary gave birth to the Child of Christmas, Jesus Christ. The birth of the Savior is recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke with Luke, chapters 1 & 2, being the more detailed account.

The gospel of Luke tells us the angel Gabriel visited Mary and delivered the news that she would give birth to a Son and His name was to be Jesus. Gabriel informs Mary that her Son will fulfill the prophecy found in Isaiah 9:6-7, “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peach will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” Gabriel told Mary, “He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of his ancestor David. And He will reign over Israel forever: His kingdom will never end.”

The village of Bethlehem is perhaps the most important place in human history. It is where salvation was born. Bethlehem is first mentioned in Genesis and it is the birthplace of Benjamin. The book of Micah tells us that Bethlehem will be the birthplace of the Savior. When Herod inquired of the rulers of Israel where this King of the Jews was to be born, they confirmed that Bethlehem had been named by the prophet Micah as the location where the Messiah would enter this world. The book of Isaiah is filled with references to the Savior and the Gospels confirm that Christ fulfilled everything the prophets spoke about the Him.

Christ was very clear about His purpose. While John 3:16 is one of the most quoted Scriptures, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life”, it is the seventeenth verse where John clearly states, “God did not send His son to judge the world, but through Christ the world would be saved.” We are already condemned, but a pardon awaits those who place their trust in Jesus Christ. That’s why He came.

The Faces of Santa

Welcome to my sixteenth annual Christmas Music Marathon. I know, I can’t believe I’ve been doing it this long either. For those of you who may be new to the blog here is how the Christmas Music Marathon works. Beginning the day after Thanksgiving and continuing through Christmas I will post a photo and a Christmas song each day. There will classic tunes, church hymns, Christmas carols, and new songs focused on the true meaning of Christmas.

The purpose of this marathon is to give you a place to come and take a break from the chaos that has become the holiday season and enjoy a few minutes to maybe focus and reset your day. There will be an emphasis on the true meaning of Christmas, which is the birth of Christ.

One tradition of this marathon is that I always start with the same song. In the midst of shopping, family gatherings, office parties, TV specials, and neighborhood lights, it’s easy to feel a little lost in the crowd. Bethlehem was a city of chaos when Christ was born. The gospel of Luke tells us that Caesar Augustus had issued a decree that everyone should be registered in their hometown. This required Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem where the city was filled with people who had come from near and far to comply with the decree. There was not an empty room for rent in the entire city! One song that gives us a glimpse of this scene is Trisha Yearwood’s, “Take a Walk Through Bethlehem”.

Okay, we’re up and running for another year. Come back every day for a new installment of old favorites and new music to celebrate the season.

Is there a better place for the pup’s treats? I don’t think so.

Aww…some Monday

This photo represents my life in coffee mugs. The center mug speaks to the fact that I was born and raised in Oklahoma. The green mug tells you that church was a heavy influence in my life and Harvard Ave. Baptist Church in Tulsa holds a special place in my heart. Some of my fondest youth memories was church camp at Falls Creek, in southern Oklahoma, which was the largest youth church camp in the world at the time. I attended from 7th thru 12th grade. The OU mugs speaks to my college years and yes, that is my tassel. My degree was in architecture and the mug on the far leftds indicates that I was a member of the American Institute of Architects during my professional career. There you have it…my life in coffee mugs. Have a bless week.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week, the theme at 4M tells us that The 11th month of year is considered bleary, lets share cheery songs of happiness and gratitude. So, put a smile on your face and make someone happy. Have a blessed week.

Almost Time to Go to Work

Santa is going to have to put down his cup of coffee, put his cocker spaniel in the kennel, hang up the fishing gear and get ready to pull an all nighter.

Aww…some Monday

WWII Warbirds

Mondays Music Moves Me

An Eclectic Mix

Ozark Autumn 2.0

People must remember that a soldier does not pick his enemy nor the cause for which he fights. He does not pick the location nor the time of the battle. He merely goes where he is deployed and attempts to accomplish the assigned mission. All of the decisions were made by people, in Washington, most of whom have never put on a uniform nor been on the battlefield. They have no clue what life on the field of conflict is like.

To all active duty personnel and my fellow vets, those who came before, those I served with and those who have followed, thank you for your service and commitment to this Republic and it’s people.

1966

Vietnam 1967-68