More Christmas Pics

Kaleb really getting into the Santa's helper role.

Jen and Fok

Fok helping Kaleb with his new roller blades.

Kaleb reading with his favorite Aunt Amber.

Christmas Pics

Decided I would just post a few Christmas pics for your enjoyment... assuming you enjoy that sort of thing.




On Christmas morning Jeremy and Amber were with us. We decided to do stockings for each other, trying to be creative and cheap (although not Murphy cheap this time).











JJ & AJ (their couple appellations) digging into their stockings.














We opened presents on Wednesday after Jen, Fok and Kaleb arrived. Not Santa's helper (aka Kaleb) waiting to distribute the gifts.












Ready to pass out presents.


I'll post some more the next couple of days.

Family Time

OK, the last couple of days have been filled with good family time... pictures in the park and food; shooting hoops and food; exchanging gifts and food; hanging out and food; and did I mention that we've had some yummy stuff to eat.

Jeremy and Amber left this morning and made it safely home in time for his physical therapy appointment for his shoulder. It's amazing to me how surgeries like he had can be done orthroscopically, leaving only two tiny little scars on the outside. He's also done well with the pt and recovery... almost a full range of motion at this point.

Virginia gave me an "old-fashioned" popcorn popper for Christmas, so tonight we tried it out. The popcorn was good and it was fun to use; popped the corn pretty fast. My memory tells me that the original poppers in this style were made of a heavier metal, but this one may be better since it heats and cools more quickly.

One thing for sure, when the holidays are over, I'm gonna have to cut way back on the food intake.

Will post some family pics Saturday.

Day After

I spent most of the day in the office today... much less hectic than joining in with all the shoppers I suspect. Jeremy, Amber and Virginia braved some stores and picked up some bargains. I'm wondering... if there's a sale and nobody buys anything, does anyone save money?

It has rained off and on throughout the afternoon and evening, but we decided to brave the weather and meet at the movies... they coming from shopping and me from the house after a quick stop. Anyway, we saw Dream Girls. Not sure what I was expecting, but it was really good... some great songs and voices, and the acting was pretty good as well.

Jen, Fok and Kaleb fly in about 12:40 tomorrow. Looking forward to their arrival.

One more thing... left-over Christmas turkey is still pretty good.

Merry Christmas!!

Little feet scampering around before dawn... adults yawning and stretching under the covers... wide eyes staring at Santa-filled stockings while adults snap pictures... we've had plenty of Christmas mornings like that, but not Christmas 2006. Nope, this year it was more like Virginia up earliest (not actually different from almost every day, but she did sleep until 6:30 or so)... Jeremy, Amber and I sleeping until we felt like getting up... wonderful cinnamon bread French toast in the late morning... 4 adults laughing and enjoying the creative tidbits in our stockings... and I think Virginia even snapped a couple of pics. Definitely a little different than if youngsters were around, but still fun... and still Christmas.

The rest of the day has looked pretty normal. Great smells of a variety of wonderful dishes being prepared for Christmas dinner... taking goodies to neighbors... football on TV... phone conversations with family (Jennifer, Fok and Kaleb in Canada and Grandma Johnson and Kent & Susan in Cabot). Just a good day to enjoy family and food and football and food and festivities of the day... and food.

One interesting tidbit. When I was a kid in SoCal, a bunch of us used to get together on Christmas day to play pick-up football nearly every year. It was a tradition for us. In later years and in the generally colder climes of Arkansas and Nashville, we'd often gather family members together for a big basketball game. Times have changed. I went for a run today, and my route took me through a park. There was a group of guys gathered on a field, and I immediately wondered if they were playing touch or tackle. I got a little closer and discovered they were playing neither... they were playing soccer, or football if you please. They were having fun, but I just had to sigh and chuckle to myself as I jogged by... times have changed.

So, I hope you "have yourself a Merry little Christmas." As for us... I think it's almost time for Christmas dinner.

Christmas Eve

I love Christmas Eve, and I think I really like it coming on Sunday. Our worship this morning was just a wonderful time for our church family and many guests. The actors who presented Mary and Joseph were inspiring... the singing was awesome... the spirit was, well, Spirit-filled. It was just a good morning.

The picture collage above serves as our Christmas card this year, simply highlighting some of the beauty of God's creation in our neck of the woods.

Have a great day tomorrow! Merry Christmas to all!!

Tic...Tic...Tic...

The clock is ticking and our kids will soon start arriving. The tree and decorations are up; we have all the Christmas cards on the wall; Virginia's bought out the local grocery stores; the beds are made; Doug is smoking a turkey for us; and Jeremy and Amber is on the road north. I still need to wrap some presents, but I think we're pretty much ready for 'em.

Jeremy and Amber should get here before dark and will go to church with us tomorrow. Jeremy's filling in at bass on the praise team. Jennifer, Fok and Kaleb are in Canada at the Leungs for Christmas, but they'll fly in Wednesday night, and then we'll have a house full!

With staggered arrivals and the kids overlapping for only about 2 days, we'll probably have more than one "big Christmas dinner" along the way... and that's fine with me. If we get creative I'll let you know how it goes. Otherwise, Merry Christmas one and all!!

You Better Watch Out!

Harbour Lights is a Christian preschool that meets in our building. Melody, wife of one of our elders, has been the director for years, and she has a great heart for both kids and their families. HL is no doubt the best long-term ministry we have.

They always do fun things for the kids around all the holidays, including a visit from Santa before Christmas. This year I got to be Santa and hand out gifts to all the kids. It was a blast! The reactions of the kids were really funny. Some couldn't wait to come sit with Santa and get their gifts. Others were too scared of this bearded guy in the red suit that they wouldn't even get close. One little boy came up to me with a wrinkled brow and worried look saying that I had given him the wrong present... not the one he'd asked for. using my best Santa voice and with a twinkle in my eye, I told him not to worry. He should just tell his parents, and I'd be sure to bring the right present on Christmas morning. Sure hope it works out for him!

Several people were shooting pics, so I asked one of them to email me a few so I'd have proof I was really Santa. About the only downside to the event was how sweaty I got in that costume. But it wasn't that bad, and the kids were certainly worth it!

California Christmas

Growing up in Southern California, my Christmas experiences generally did not involve snow men or sleigh bells or sledding or even ice skating. And most of the time I was happy about that. I mean, how many kids get to shoot hoops or play football in shorts and 70 degree weather on Christmas day? In college I appreciated it even more because it was usually pretty cold in Arkansas by the time I came home for Christmas each year. And, of course, if I really wanted some snow, more likely than not, we could drive a couple of hours up to Frazier Park or some other mountain spot and get all the tubing we wanted. I always thought it was pretty much the ideal arrangement... Christmas arriving to the melodic crooning of Bing Crosby wafting out of the window overlooking Mom's cactus garden.

In later years we got used to the occasional white Christmas when we lived in Arkansas, but if it wasn't white things were pretty gray and dead during winter. I know, I know, that's the way it's supposed to be... four seasons and all... the rebirth of nature in the Spring, etc. But I just missed not getting to shoot hoops in shorts or running barefoot in the green grass.

During our Houston years we experienced warm winters again, but the problem there was it stayed warm (or hot) and humid all year round. And, there wasn't any snow tubing two hours away. Still, we had memorable Christmas times in both places... just different than growing up.

We've been back in California for almost three years now, and, while our climate in Antioch is different than Oxnard, we are again learning to appreciate a green Christmas.

You see, the rainy season usually starts in November, and by Christmas the hills have transformed from the golden brown of fire season to a lush green. We haven't had as much early rain this year as the last couple, so the green is coming a little slower this year... today I noticed that the hills have a hint of green beginning to emerge.

That got me to thinking, and it dawned on me just how appropriate this green Christmas thing is. Most believers choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas, and for us that marks the beginning of a story with eternal implications. I think it's pretty cool that the green hills all around here are being re-born at the same time. Maybe a green Christmas is pretty special after all.

Children's Sunday

Our worship time this morning was really energetic and special. We set aside time for our younger kids (three years old through 3rd grade) to sing some songs as a group and a few older kids to read some passages. Pretty simple arrangement, but we have a lot of kids for a church our size, and it was very cool to see so many of them up on stage. A couple of the little boys almost "stole the show" with some pretty funny antics, but something like that's always a possibility with that many young kids on stage.

The kids' portion really wasn't that long, and what was really neat was the energy in the rest of the service leading up to the kids. People just seemed really focused on worship as we sang and prayed and communed together. Great morning!

Then, two sisters, one in college and one in high school, decided it was time to be baptized today. Brian baptized Courtney, and the girls' brother, Michael, baptized Corinne... very special!!

Next Sunday our drama folks are presenting a "what if" production we're calling simply Mary and Joseph. The actors will explore some of what it might have been like for Joseph and Mary as they find out about Mary's pregnancy and deal with all the possible attendant issues. My hope is that their presentation will draw the rest of us into the story at a very personal level, allowing each of us to come along side the characters and understand a little better what it might have been like for them. We'll have a couple of final rehearsals this week, and Sunday will be here before we know it.

Have a blessed week!

It's Beginning to Feel A Lot Like Christmas

I know that there are some folks who start planning their Christmas strategies shortly after storing away those plastic Easter eggs. We had a friend years ago who always tried to finish her Christmas shopping by August... I always wondered why. For years there has been a distinct calendar creep for Christmas trappings to show up in stores. Yet, all of this stuff really doesn't help move me toward that special feeling that Christmas is just around the corner.

Yet, here it is only 11 days until Christmas, and I'm feeling that feeling. I didn't notice it creeping up on me. I didn't make a resolution to start feeling it. I didn't even watch It's a Wonderful Life. I just noticed today that the feeling is there.

Maybe it was because I crawled through that small door to the dusty attic to drag out numerous boxes and bags of Christmas decorations, along with dirt and several scraps of pink fiberglass insulation. (Yeah, I realize we're on the really late end of the curve for decorating, but, hey, Scrooge waited until Christmas Eve and did pretty well.) Maybe it was the smell of whatever it was Virginia was baking last night for a church ladies gathering tonight. Maybe it's just knowing that our kids will be here for a few days around Christmas. Maybe it was setting out our artificial-yet-really-quite-realistic Christmas tree and fluffing out the branches. Maybe it's the thought of climbing on a ladder to put up lights. Not sure...

My guess is that all of those things contributed a little to this growing feeling, but that most of those things above are minor players. The thing is that this feeling really started growing when our church started ramping up our annual holiday efforts to help others. Over 20 families had a Thanksgiving dinner because my brothers and sisters at Eastside wanted that to happen. Then there was the planning and participation with several other churches in Mission Christmas, where 700 homeless and underprivileged folks were served... dinner, gifts, bibles, music, crafts, social service assistance... all in the name of Jesus. But I think what really gave this feeling a boost was the rush on the Giving Tree. Ruth puts tags with children's needs on a tree, and folks were standing in line to remove these "ornaments" so they could go purchase gifts or clothes for children not their own. And those who didn't get a tag have forked over cash to make sure these families have something special to eat for Christmas. One of our most energetic retired gentlemen stopped by the office Tuesday morning and handed Ruth a $100 bill, saying simply, "The tags were gone; this is for the kids."

I'm eager to get the decorations up this year, and I can't wait for my kids to arrive... Jennifer, Fok, Kaleb, Jeremy, Amber... holiday trappings and having family near are all part of what makes Christmas special. But the thing that sustains that feeling, the thing that will make a difference after my kids go home and all the decorations are put away is knowing that I'm part of a church family that "gets it"... people who understand something of the significance of a relationship with Jesus and who are allowing Him to make a difference in their lives.

Yes, it is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas... I pray that you will feel thankful and blessed wherever you are!!

Children

One of the really fun things about last weekend when Brice, Neisha and Zeke were here was getting to hold and play with Zeke. He's a pretty happy kid most of the time, so playing with him was pretty cool. Since Kaleb is several years past the baby stage, this was a chance to practice my grandpa baby skills for some future date... and I made the most of it.

Kaleb is a fun age as well... he's old enough to actually go out and do stuff with him, and that's pretty special. When I was in Boston last spring, one thing we did was go out on the local hike/bike trail. I ran and he rode his bike... we had a pretty cool time. Of course, he's also up for other stuff, including movies, games of all sorts and reading. He still likes to be read to, but he really likes just to read.

This Sunday the three year old through third grade kids in our Children's Ministry will be doing several things during our service... mostly singing and reading some scriptures. They've been working on it for a while now, and I'm really looking forward to it. Our worship time may not be as "adult friendly" as usual, but what a neat opportunity for each of us to really live in the moment of what Jesus meant in Matthew 18:3-4

I tell you the truth, you must change and become like little children. Otherwise, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child.

If you're in the neighborhood, think about joining us Sunday morning. See ya!

728B

There are many things about my life growing up in the Church of Christ fellowship that have shaped me in various ways. One of those has always been a love and appreciation for acappella music. I remember the agricultural and nautical themed songs we sang so often in my early childhood. There are distinct memories of learning to sing tenor and bass in junior high and high school. There were always favorite songs along the way... ones that were just my favorites, and a few that would have been in the brotherhood hit parade. Perhaps the one song that became our "anthem" more than any other, the one that almost anyone with a CofC background knows by heart was so beloved it came to be known simply by it's number in one popular hymnal... 728B. I never understood why it was 728B instead of 729, but it was... and we still sing it all across our fellowship today.

All of that to say that anyone who has sung and loved 728B, needs to check out the web site below. You'll no doubt want to order a shirt or coffee mug or perhaps Christmas presents for your family. Click on the link and enjoy!!

728B

Lighter Side of Baptism

Every now and then a preacher will tell a "baptism story" that's pretty funny, and there are a lot of funny episodes out there. Two or three years back at the Pepperdine Lectures the first keynote speaker told a funny baptism story, and, not to be outdone, each of the other guys added theirs as well. I remember laughing quite a bit, and my favorite was told by Randy Harris.

It seems that during a campaign (I think when Randy was in college) there was a lady who wanted to be baptized. The available baptistry was really low on water and for some reason they couldn't add any more. Well, someone baptized her, but she was too large to go completely under, so they got the water sloshing enough so that just for a moment she was completely immersed. Not as funny reading it here, but, trust me, we were all laughing as Randy told it.

At Sugar Grove we used those blue nylon quick-drying things as baptismal (what a strange word) garments. I remember one guy donning one that was too tight for his "new birth," and one comment from the crowd as he came out of the water... "It's a boy!" I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

A friend sent me this link to the video of a funny baptism episode. Check it out... I guarantee you'll at least chuckle.

Bay Area Ministers

The first Tuesday of most months several of us minister types gather at a Carrows Restaurant in Dublin to catch up on what God is doing in our various ministries and to eat a bite. We're a rather eclectic bunch in terms of ministry roles and church styles, but we do have a few things in common: a love for ministry and the Lord, roots in the restoration movement, an honest desire to be who God wants us to be. There's probably more, but those for sure.

We're mostly guys, but we are often graced with the presence of a spouse or daughter or friend, and those presences always help us be a little more thoughtful in our discussions. It always amazes me how fresh a female perspective can be... especially around a bunch of ministers.

Today was one of those Tuesdays. Our group was a bit smaller than usual today, but I came away blessed none-the-less by the rich fellowship that is part of the body of Christ. The salad and sandwich weren't half bad either.

Monday

Well, the weekend did go well... God's blessings seen at every turn. We served around 700 at the Mission Christmas Dinner Party and got it all cleaned up... the wedding went off without any hitches... yesterday was a good day at church... and Virginia got home from her weekend class in Sacramento by around 3:00. That allowed us to go for a nice walk around the lake before dark.

When I woke up Sunday morning I could tell I was coming down with a cold or something, but I was able to shake it off OK for church. By the evening I was feeling it again, so we went to bed a little early. This morning it was a little worse, so I decided to sleep in a bit and work from home today instead of going into the office. I'm not feeling any worse, but I'm glad I decided to stick close to the house today. I'm still getting some work done, and I'm able to close my eyes for a few minutes if I want. Plus, I need to go to the building tonight to sit in on a rehearsal for the play we're doing on the 24th.

For those of you currently living in a deep freeze, I hope it warms up a bit pretty soon. For the record, it's 62 and sunny here today. :-)

Big Weekend!!

This weekend will be one of those that goes by really fast because it's so full... almost like life has to hurry to get it all in. I'm writing this while sitting at a wedding rehearsal for which I'll run sound and lighting tomorrow afternoon. Earlier today I was cooking turkeys and hams for the big Mission Christmas Dinner tomorrow in the big convection oven we have at the fellowship hall.

Each year on the first Saturday in December, a bunch of church groups from Antioch and nearby join together to host a Christmas Dinner/Party for anywhere from 800 to 1000 homeless and underprivileged families. There's turkey and ham and all the fixin's, pie and cake and coffee and tea, music and bibles and presents for all the kids. This year we even have some reps from social service agencies who will be there to help where appropriate. It's a great event, and Eastside is more involved this year than we ever have been. For the 2nd year in a row, we're even providing the clean-up crew.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. VJ will head off for her class at Sac State about 5:30 in the morning... part of her certification. I think this weekend is on serial killers. At 6:00 I'll meet Kyle and the elders for breakfast and some discussion. About 8:00 I'll need to get the turkeys and other stuff ready to take to the fair grounds. The people will start coming about 10:00 and cleanup starts about 1:00 or 1:30.

However, I'll need to be at the building a little after 1:00 to open up and get ready for the wedding. I'm actually thankful that I'm just running sound. :-)

Sunday will be Sunday, including a lunch meeting with a group helping plan a a spring youth rally. I suspect by the time VJ gets home from Sacramento I'll already have taken a short nap.

The rehearsal went well... in less than 24 hours a new marriage will be formed. I think the weekend is already off to a great start!!