Five for Fun, Songs of 2009 Edition...

My brain is too tired from dealing with a burst pipe in our youth house and the accompanying flooding/water sucking (multiple uses of that word, eh?)/mopping/sweeping/ etc yesterday and trying to get it taken care of today, so instead of my normal format, i'm gonna do something that requires less 'deep thinking' on my part. I'm pretty close to finalizing my 'best of 2009' album list, but before I get to that one, I'm gonna list the songs of the year, the ones that most hit with me and moved me. So the five will become more than that today...haha. These are not necessarily in any order, just the twelve or so new songs that most moved me this past year. With apologies to my youth group, though they are both fun songs, there is no "Monster" by Skillet nor "Fireflies" by Owl City, sorry...haha.
____________________________________

* "Beautiful Bride" by Flyleaf. Straightforward rockin' encouragement for and to the Body of Christ as the diverse, important, Body of Christ that needs to come together in a united front and make an impact on our world.

* "Something Beautiful" by Needtobreathe. This song alternates between slow and more uptempo, stating a desire to be consumed like a fire and touched by something beautiful. It could be seen on a God/human relationship level or a human/human one. Either way it's a beautiful song of encouragement and beauty and even worship on one level.

* "How He Loves" by David Crowder Band. I MUCH prefer the John Mark McMillan original version and its story, but it's a couple of years old while the Crowder one came out this year and mostly put the song on the map. What an incredible song of worship and realizing the amazing love of God through anything life brings and being blown away by that love.

* "Worthy of Affection" by Shane and Shane...powerful song of worship by one of my favorites. I'm trying to get our worship band at church to play it. It simply stands the singer/listener in awe of God and how He is worthy of our worship and affection because of who He is and how incredible He is.

* "Uprising" by Muse...When I saw them open for U2, this was one of the only songs of theirs I had heard. It's an anthemic song about not being put down by those who say we can't do something, etc. It was an incredible opening song for that whole night, and the huge pounding drum sounds and wailing guitars absolutely filled the House that Jerry Built for those first 6 minutes of that show at Cowboys Stadium.

* "Magnificent" by U2 ...the new U2 album is pretty uneven, pretty hit and miss for me...the songs I really like, I love. Others, I honestly forget about. But this is the best, and to hear a band of this caliber do a song that is flat-out worship to God, song that says basically 'i sing b/c You gave me the voice to lift you up,' is an incredible experience, especially live. I love the bouncy intro, and how the song builds into this massive song of worship.

* "Every Thought A Thought of You" by MeWithoutYou. They are weird, and quirky, sold out followers of Jesus Christ, and in this bouncy song, they sing about everything pointing back to God. It's hard to describe, but it's just flat out fun.

* "Free" by Switchfoot. I like the new Switchfoot cd, but it keeps falling lower on my list of albums of the year because songs don't stick with me. This one is the major exception. It is a cry for Christ to set us free from the prisons of guilt and sin, and it has a super catchy guitar riff.

* "Cement Shoes" by Project 86 I'm a rock music fan, but not a big fan of most heavier stuff. Project 86 is one of the 'heavier' type bands I absolutely love, and their latest disc blew me away musically and lyrically alike. This is a straight forward song of honor to God, of being unashamed to cry out in worship of and to Him. It's a great song.

* "I And Love And You" by the Avett Brothers...I have lately fallen in love with this band. They are all wrong for me, b/c they are, at least borderline, country-ish. But I prefer to think of it as more folk, which more fits one of my music interest categories. This song about leaving behind those he loves, and the difficulty at times of truly saying and meaning the words I Love You is just enjoyable music.

* "Two Hands" by Jars of Clay ...a powerful song about the constant struggle of getting our lives to match up to our faith, of having both hands doing the same thing, of being in the world but not of it, of getting on the same page and the right page, etc. Probably the first song of the year that really moved me.

* "Heaven is the Face" by Steven Curtis Chapman...SCC has been through a horrific tragedy of losing a child, and his entire new album is about that. This song is about seeing and knowing heaven through this child and her life. As we lost a member of our youth group this year in a similar tragedy, and my son's elementary lost a girl suddenly with no real warning who was the same age as SCC's daughter was, it just really connects to me in a powerful way.

Five for Fun Freezing Cold Edition 1/8

Haven't had a chance to write in a few days, but I've had a lot on the mind. It's been freezing cold and crazy weather around here...11 with a -5 windchill when I woke up today. I've been fighting headaches and cold type conditions, tired, cold, crazy week. We also had our first 'real youth group' of the year and first real one in a while if you count all the breaks, etc, with the Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years holidays. Anyways, staying inside and warm this morning, watching Phineas and Ferb with littler man, reading a couple of books, working on youth stuff, and writing the five things on my mind right now.

1. Colt McCoy showed tremendous character and class last night in the face of one of the most difficult nights of his life I'm sure. The guy who was a 4 year starter, had more wins and a higher completion percentage than anyone else ever has in college football, came back for his senior year to have the chance at a national title, was knocked out of the game after like 5 plays, and he was in a groove. His arm went numb and he didn't get to return. He was emotional afterwards in his interview with Lisa Salters, but he showed his faith strongly by stating, " "I always give God the glory, I never question why things happen the way they do, God is in control of my life and I know if nothing else, I'm standing on the Rock." THAT is real faith and class and character and why I'm a Colt McCoy fan and wish him the best moving forward. He deserved better, in my mind, but God will be glorified no matter what. You can see that interview here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVsSvx3UQOY). (By the way, tough year for Christian top-notch college QB's...McCoy, Bradford and Tebow all had injuries and they all had tough seasons, as did fellow Christian QB Matt Barkley, the Freshman starter for USC).

2. A few days ago, the very busy Newark airport was closed down while they searched for a man who slipped past security for one last kiss for his lover. Stuck in one terminal with scores of other passengers was musician Josh Wilson. What do you do when you're a musician stuck in an airport terminal with strangers? Pull out your guitar and sing, in this case "Hey Jude" by the Beatles. The obviously distraught passengers had a moment of joy and smiles on their faces as Josh's spontaneous reaction brought them something to be happy about as they worried over the situation. What an awesome reaction to a tough, not fun situation. As Pete Wilson points out in the blog in the link at the end here, Mark Batterson says in the book Primal, "In my experience, it’s much easier to act like a Christian than it is to react like one. Anyone can put on an act. But your reactions reveal what is really in your heart." Pete says, "How do you react when you’re caught in less than ideal circumstances? Like everyone else around you, or can you rise above the circumstances and react with joy, love, and maybe even a song." Good stuff. (http://withoutwax.tv/2010/01/07/its-easier-to-act-than-react/) Oh, and by the way, Wilson and his friends were on their way to India for a mission trip at the time, and are there right now, I believe. (PS, I just found out Josh is actually from El Dorado, AR...cool)

3. I have always heard this is true, but it seems more true right now than I remember in a while. The periods right before and right after the 'big holidays' (Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Years) are some of the most enjoyable for most people, but for others they are some of the most trying times. It seems very much that way right now. I know of marriages struggling, financial struggles, job changes and possible job changes, families who've experienced lost loved ones (one in our church, another a soldier who committed suicide, and I was told that the local funeral homes were overrun this week), a family dealing with brain cancer in a 5 year old daughter, a pastor my age undergoing treatment (chemo AND radiation both) for six weeks for a malignant brain tumor, and much more. Just remember, there are always people struggling, and life is about much more than just us. We cannot ignore the problems, whatever they are, of those around us. In 2010, be a friend, a listening ear, a compassionate helper, a dedicated prayer, for those you know.

4. I'm reading a book called "This Beautiful Mess" by Rick McKinley. The chapter I'm on right now begins with Rick talking about how the way our society is set up, on EVERY level, including spiritually, it's all about 'the next level.' He says, "We're like salmon swimming upstream to spawn, trying to get up the next rapids, the next fish ladder. Each time we beat the current and jump to the next level, another level is waiting." He points out that we do that spiritually as well. The problem with that, as McKinley says, is that it puts way too much emphasis on us and what we are DOING rather than who we are BECOMING as we join Christ in advancing the Kingdom work that is already in place inviting us to partner with and join Him along the way. When we put too much emphasis on ourselves, it is much like Adam and Eve trying to be god and in control rather than walking WITH God as He is inviting us to do. Good stuff.

5. We announced Wednesday night that our youth mission trip is to the Dallas area...with an amazing organization called Mission Arlington (www.missionarlington.org). I'm super excited about it. There has been a ton of incredible stuff done by Mission Arlington over the last 25-30 years, and I'm excited about our group getting to join them in their Kingdom work in the Dallas/Arlington area.

Music for a Note:
Joel Hanson's "What if it Is" album

PS...I'm SUPER glad to have Intern Boy back...he spent much of his break from college back home, but we sure missed him around here and we are excited about what God has for our youth group in 2010 and his part in that.

Five for Fun, Christmas Eve/Christmas songs edition...

In honor of Christmas, here, in no particular order, are my five favorite Christmas songs, all originals for the most part.

1. "Celebrate the Day" by Relient K (Youtube video with clips from The Nativity Story here...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUjfN7cpv3o) What an awesome, straightforward, even evangelistic song about celebrating the birth of Christ and how it changes the world for all who accept it, including us..."Did You realize that You would be my Savior?" "I celebrate the day that You were born to die so I could one day pray for You to save my life, pray for You to save my life, pray for You to save my life." (Lyrics here...http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/I-Celebrate-The-Day-lyrics-Relient-K/0823EB6669E1F31948256DD5002611EF)

2. "How Many Kings" by Downhere (Youtube live video version here...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeRPcDKSvSg). What an amazing song about the fact that what God did was a one of it's kind type thing. "Cause how many kings, stepped down from their thrones? How many lords have abandoned their homes? How many greats have become the least for me? How many Gods have poured out their hearts To romance a world that has torn all apart? How many fathers gave up their sons for me?" (Lyrics here... http://www.lyrics-celebrities.anekatips.com/how-many-kings-lyrics-downhere )

3. "Breath of Heaven" by Amy Grant . (Youtube video with Nativity Story clips here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPbV_HTpyx0) The first 'non-traditional' Christmas song that really moved me. Wow. What a powerful look at the birth of Jesus from Mary's perspective. "Breath of heaven, hold me together, be forever near me, breath of heaven. Breath of heaven, lighten my darkness, pour over me Your holiness, for You are holy, breath of heaven."(Lyrics can be found here...http://www.metrolyrics.com/breath-of-heaven-lyrics-amy-grant.html)

4. "I Choose You" by Rachael Lampa...(haven't been able to find a video of it but I found this place to listen to clips from the album it is on, including that song... http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/radio/B00004Z3S8/ref=pd_krex_listen_dp_img?ie=UTF8&refTagSuffix=dp_img) another powerful and underrated look at God choosing an ordinary person to bring the Savior of the Universe into the world. POWERFUL song about how God uses us in His plans. "I choose you, To bring the world a Savior. I choose you, To bring the world a king I choose you, To be the arms of love that hold the answer. For the world to see my promises come true I choose you." (Lyrics here... http://www.lyrics007.com/Rachel%20Lampa%20Lyrics/I%20Choose%20You%20Lyrics.html)

5. "Labor of Love" by Jill Phillips and Andrew Peterson. (Youtube video with clips from The Nativity Story found here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m4xY175ZYo). And one final look at Jesus parents, and the labor of love of bringing Jesus into the world in messy conditions, not the peaceful, calm, silent night often portrayed. Blows me away every time. It was a labor of pain, It was a cold sky above. But for the girl on the ground in the dark, With every beat of her beautiful heart, It was a labor of love." (lyrics can be found here... http://www.lyricsmania.com/lyrics/andrew_peterson_lyrics_8347/behold_the_lamb_of_god_lyrics_27949/labor_of_love_lyrics_305950.html)

Five for Fun, Christmas Eve Eve Edition...

Quick hits two days before Christmas...

1. I'm super disappointed in what I've heard so far from this past season's American Idol albums. I thought it was the best season ever, as far as what happened on the show, and while I don't watch AI thinking I'm gonna find mind-blowing music, I did think it would be better than most years as far as the albums go. So far, I'm unbelievably disappointed. Kris Allen, as great of a guy as he is and as much as I would really love to support him, his album is bland and generic and lacking in much of anything memorable...lyrically, musically, spiritually, any of that. It's not that I care a lot about whether or not it has Christian content as much as it's just very blah music and lyrics. And Adam's is equally forgettable...the ONLY thing keeping him more in the media spotlight is his extremism and desire to push the envelope and push buttons. Honestly, other than Kelly C and Carrie U, what AI winners have had much of any success? None, right? And outside of those two, really only Daughtry and Clay Aiken have had much success AT ALL. It's great entertainment, just doesn't produce great product.

2. I watched about half of the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory movie. I was moved by a couple of things in the early part of the movie. One, Charlie has an almost unrealistic expectation and hope of finding the 'golden ticket,' and refuses to lose that hope and that belief, even when his only supporter is his cooky bed-ridden grandfather. Even his own mom tried to dissuade him. But he believed and was willing to hold that belief even when it seemed ludicrous and to take steps towards making his dream a reality. What if we did that in Christian circles, with our faith? Two, the aforementioned cooky grandfather has been bed-ridden for 20 years. For TWENTY YEARS, he, his wife, and Charlie's other two grandparents have apparently been confined to a small bed and not gotten out of it at all, apparently because of health issues. It affected the whole family, but when Charlie gets the golden ticket, it changes everything for Grandpa Joe. He gets up, gets a bounce in his step, and enjoys the experience with Charlie. Again, i wonder how much of a spiritual analogy this is...are we bed-ridden, held down by our fears and limitations, awaiting something to put a bounce in our step, not fully enjoying life, chained and bound by our past and our fears?

3. Compassion International ranked 3rd, and World Vision ranked 10th, in a recent study of most fiscally responsible charities. This covered charities of ANY type, and for those two amazing Christian organizations to beat out all but a few of the charities is a heck of a statement for them. My family sponsors Hamza Juba Shabani, a 7 year old boy from Tanzania, and our youth group sponsors Abinayah Muniyandi, a tweenager from India, both through Compassion. Because of a very small sacrifice on our parts, they have a hope and a future they would not otherwise have. Both organizations do phenomenal work in the areas of social justice as well as evangelism. They do what they do because of, and in the name of, Jesus Christ. They do what ALL of us as His Church should be doing, and there are a ton of ways to be involved with them. This year, we as a youth group have given a fully stocked fishing pond in a third world country in memory of one of our students who died, and also a variety of school supplies and other things in memory of a kindergartner at the local elementary school who died and who none of them actually knew her or her family at all. We as a family have given a number of gifts (from animals, to school supplies, to healthcare, to sports balls, to music and bible education and much more) for Christmas as well, through World Vision's gift catalog and have also received some as gifts from others. We also have helped another person or two decide to sponsor a child through one or the other of those organizations. Find a way to do something like this for the new year.

4. It's pretty cool to ask your 6 year old first grader what Christmas is about and he says "the birth of the baby Jesus." I love seeing my sons beginning to REALLY learn about God and things related to Him.

5. A new friend of mine who is a youth pastor in Central Arkansas is organizing a "Save Christmas" for a certain specific family they know who lost everything in a house fire this week. Their church is encouraging people to give gifts, money, gift cards, anything else, to help this family get back on their feet and to help them have a decent Christmas all things considered. Props to them for being what a church is supposed to be. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhXgW_ijjCE)

Music for a note: U2's "No Line on the Horizon" album

Five for Fun, 12/22 Edition...

I haven't had a chance to do this for a couple of days, so I'm gonna try to get back on track with this one today.

1. Our church did its Choir/drama Christmas musical last night and Sunday night. It was called God Speaking and was about how God speaks to us in a variety of ways, often when we least expect it. The three main characters were a divorced dad spending Christmas alone without his two daughters as they would be with mom and their 'other dad,' a newlywed who has racked up a lot of debt and is struggling financially, and a lady who has lost her husband to military fighting. It was a powerful reminder that not everyone is able to fully enjoy this season because of a variety of life circumstances and so forth that hit hard especially during this time. I know there are a number of them in our lives, our friends, even our church right now...families struggling with each other, with finances, with losses, etc. Just take a moment to remember those people this year at Christmas and pray that God truly speaks to them and reveals Himself as the true message of Christmas and the true hope for their lives.

2. The other day I posted it as a facebook status, but I keep thinking about this letter to the editor in the Arkansas Baptist newsmagazine where this lady was seriously blaming the fact that a lot of 'church people' are getting tattoos on churches doing face and body painting at like VBS, Fall Fest, carnivals, block parties, etc. SERIOUSLY?! Forget the debate over whether or not tattoos are a good thing, that's irrelevant to this discussion...but to blame it on churches doing face painting, etc is ludicrous, and yet another example of how we major on minor things and stir up and fight over STUPID stuff that distracts from the stuff WORTH FIGHTING FOR. I mean aren't there enough problems and enough people out there in need of God and His love and hope than to call face painting at CHURCH EVENTS a wrong and a cause of 'evil' in society?! No wonder people mock, laugh at and scoff at us. Let's focus on what really matters, that there is a great big God who created it all and who desperately and deeply loves everyone and desires a relationship (not a religion with a bunch of rules) with EVERY person, so much so that He sent, and then killed, His own son as a token of that love and as a payment for our sins. THAT is life-changing and world-changing.

3. I'm super thankful for amazing friends and family, more and more the older I get. Last weekend, we took our Jr High class ice skating and two separate families, one a part of our family, the other a couple who is close enough friends that they may as well be family, met up with us and spent an hour and a half or so with Tracy and I and our kids and 13 of our youth and youth leaders, rather than any of a zillion other things they could have been doing on a Saturday afternoon that was cold and snow flurry weather, six days before Christmas and all of the crazy busy-ness that goes with these days. That's awesome, and shows a lot of love and friendship, and I don't take that for granted at all. Thanks, God, for giving us some amazing people in our lives.

4. I think the older I get, and the longer I do ministry, the more I value commitment and people who are faithful, trustworthy and stick to commitments, etc. I know I'm not perfect in that regard myself, but it seems lately I've seen a lot of commitments not being upheld... a wide variety of types of commitments, ministry related and non-ministry related. That puts a lot of people in a bind, and often reflects poorly on a lot more people than we think it does. I think we need to value commitment a lot more in our society than we do. I've said it for years, but it seems like in our societies, in our families, in our churches, the dirtiest 'dirty word' is not even a profanity, it's "the C word," commitment.

5. There is a lot more joy in doing something for others than most of us realize. From mission trips, to our "Hands ministry" at church doing a lot of things for people, to hearing from missionaries, to Angel Tree gifts at Christmas, to helping a family this very day through our church because they have gone through a tremendous hardship and wouldn't have much of a Christmas without it, to giving gifts with a purpose through World Vision, to sponsoring a child through Compassion (actually 2...one with our youth group and one in our family), and much more, I constantly see the truth that doing for others is actually so much more joyful and fun than doing for ourselves, yet most of the time we are so self-focused that we don't even realize that at all. Again, I'm far from perfect in this area, but it just does something special when you know you get to be a part of doing something for someone else in any way, even if they can't give back or don't come to your church or never even know it was you that did it. The reward is ultimately spiritual and in heaven rather than here on earth anyways, although there is a tremendous joy in your spirit and a smile on your face when you do it.

Music for a Note: Jars of Clay's "Long Fall Back to Earth" album

Primal Christianity (A Book Review)

I became a huge Mark Batterson fan this summer from reading In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day and also Wild Goose Chase. Both challenged me and hit me hard as a follower of Christ and as a youth pastor. I was excited about Primal when I heard about it. Primal explores the core of Christianity, seeking its "lost soul" in the Great Commandment, something that has been far too frequently lost in modern Christianity.

In chapter one, he speaks of stripping away the superficialities and traditions that have unintentionally obscured the core message of our faith. He says that when everything else is peeled back, what is left is the Great Commandment, to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." The next eight chapters dive into the heart, soul, mind and strength of Christianity, with two chapters about each. He reminds us that when we give our hearts TO Christ, we take on the heart OF Christ, and our hearts break for what breaks His heart. He reminds us that our actions matter, but our reactions show what is really in our heart. In the second chapter on the heart, Batterson challenges us to put our money where our heart is. He also asks the question, "What if we saw compassion as a form of worship? Worship without words. Worship beyond words."

Next, Batterson talks about the soul of Christianity. He talks about having a sense of primal wonder and amazement at God and at His creation. He says, "loving God with all our soul means a soul full of wonder, a soul flooded with the glory of God, a soul awed by beauty and mystery, a soul that hallows God above all else." He challenges us to see the wonder and mystery of God, to be aware of the miracles going on around us all the time, and to be amazed by God again. He dares us to dig into the wonder of the Scriptures and to tune our lives to the frequency of God so we can hear Him more clearly. God wants to speak into our lives and write out His story through our lives using Scripture as the script, so we need to read it, pray it, meditate on it, and live it out.

He then turns to the mind of Christianity. We are challenged to constantly grow by having a holy curiosity about things. We must have a deep desire and drive to know Him more and to never settle.This helps us to worship Him at a greater capacity. He also states that creativity is something God gives to be used for His purposes, and calls it an act of obedience, faith and love when we use our creativity for God. He calls on the church to be the most creative place on earth, as a new way of discipleship and growth. He tells us to find our God ideas and value and run with them. He also mentions prayer as a way to see things from God's view and to find and cultivate God ideas and run with them.

The next two chapters deal with the strength of Christianity. He speaks of the value of expending energy for God, getting out and working for God, serving others for God, and just doing something, instead of waiting on when you are 'ready.' Faith is not really faith until it is proven by being put into action. We are challenged to risk, to get out of laziness and apathy, to obey and exert extreme effort and energy for the work God has given us to do. We desperately need to quit playing it safe just to arrive at death when there is plenty of Kingdom work for us to do. We do this in His power and in His strength in and through us. WITH His power, there is nothing we cannot do, but without it, we cannot accomplish His purposes. He also mentions our often limited and small view of God and challenges us to let God be a bigger God than we often make Him out to be by the way we live our lives. It must be all about Him...His purposes, His strength, His Kingdom.

In the conclusion, Batterson calls us to be a part of a new reformation with actions that show a God and a people of compassion, courage, creativity, wonder, curiosity, energy and love. It is our calling and our privilege to glorify God by truly loving Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, what Batterson calls "love to the fourth power." After all the Great Commandment IS truly primal, of first importance. What would happen if His followers would really do that? What if, instead of complicating everything, we would, instead, learn to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength? I have a feeling it would change the world.

(Primal is available here)

Five for Fun, Friday Edition

Today's has less to do with the news than yesterday's, but here goes...

1. If I hear one more kids Christmas show talk about discovering the true meaning, or real spirit, or whatever, of Christmas, I'm gonna scream. While none of them is particularly dangerous as such, it just frustrates me to no end that 'family' or decorations or gifts or warm fuzzy happy feelings or whatever else is presented as the true meaning or real spirit of Christmas. However, at the same time, I refuse to get on a tangent about it and go overboard like some and start some type of movement, because as a wise pastor pointed out in a book I recently read, what do we expect from people 'in the world.' I mean, if we are getting mad at 'them' for not saying Merry Christmas or not showing what Christmas is really about, aren't we abdicating our own role and depending on people who, when you think about it, why WOULD they present the Gospel aspects? It's OUR job to make sure our kids and those closest to us know what it's all about, not the department stores, or tv stations, or nickelodeon, or Disney, or Dora, or Phineas and Ferb or whomever else. Christmas, and its real meaning, are not really being stolen unless WE fail to represent and present the real message when we have the opportunity. It's our responsibility, not theirs.

2. My son's class had their Christmas party today. I blogged about it the last time I was at his school, but I was reminded again that kids just want attention and love and to know someone cares. Roughly half that class, most of whom barely know me at all, wanted me to push them on the swings at the playground, or to show me what gift they got in the exchange, or to show me what they made and were gonna take home, or whatever else. And Andrew was every one of them's little brother in their minds and in the way they treated them. It reminded me how much a solid Christian lifestyle and a family oriented display of love can make a difference in a life. Honestly, I want to help every kid I've met at his school, and would love for all of them to be a part of our children's ministry and later our youth ministry at our church. It's really amazing to see how attached they get and how much they just want to see love, care, family, etc.

3. If you want to give with a purpose this year, check out World Vision's gift catalog. Instead of just giving some trinket that winds up eaten or in the trash in a short period of time, instead of giving something someone doesn't want or need, why not give something that has a lasting impact in someone's name? We did it for the second year in a row for our staff gifts and for some of our friends' gifts. We gave things like "Youth Bible Curriculum" in honor of our youth workers, where money goes towards providing youth in a foreign country a Christian youth curriculum, which was super neat to do for our youth team. We gave a Bible in our pastor's family's name. We gave music education in our music minister's name and school supplies in our children's director's name. We even gave 2 soccer balls in a friend's name who in addition to being a football coach was made an assistant soccer coach but knows nothing about soccer. HAHA. It's such a neat thing to do, more than just a good feeling type thing, something that has purpose and meaning and lasting impact. (http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?go=gift&xxwvCampaign=105418200&section=10389)

4. In a couple of weeks, I'll post my favorite albums of the year. I'm a music junkie with over 7100 songs on my iPod, and buy waaaay too much, (yes, Tracy agrees, haha) of it. But God uses so much of it in my life. I'm not a musician myself, but I'm a big fan (by the way, as big of a fan as I am, I only ranked 3rd out of the 4 of us that lived together in college in quantity of cd's owned...and it wasn't even close to the other two...haha). God uses music to speak to me, and gives me a chance to share it with my youth as well. Just to give a sneak preview of this year's top albums, I'll mention that there are some definite surprises, along with some familiar faces, some in positions 'normal' for them, and others a bit lower than in past years, partly because their albums didn't stick as well as some of their past ones with me, and partly because there were a lot of great discs released in the latter part of the year. I'll also mention that though I'm getting older, I skewed a bit towards 'rock' type stuff in the list this year as well.

5. I'll be blogging a review in the next day or so, but I read Mark Batterson's newest book Primal over the past 10 days or so. I've read 3 Batterson books and they are in my upper echelon of books that challenge me spiritually and are excellent. He is the pastor of National Community Church in the DC area and they are doing some incredible and creative and innovative things. The basis of the book is a return to the core of Christianity...The Great Commandment, to 'love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength,' and the importance of ALL FOUR aspects to be there. It's a fascinating and challenging read, and my question for you is this: What if we REALLY did that...if we REALLY loved Him with our hearts, with our minds, with our souls, and with our strength? Think about it, it would be very world-changing.

MUSIC FOR A NOTE: David Crowder Band's "Church Music" album