Here it is October 31st already and I am realizing yet again how unfaithful I have been at posting to my blog. (Not that many people read it anyway - and I have only one person who regularly leaves comments - but it's a nice place to creatively release thoughts and vent emotions at times.) Since my wife and I don't celebrate Halloween, my thoughts today are more on the month ahead. I can't believe November is already here again! Is it just me or did God speed up time?
OK, so I guess I should preface this by saying that I'm not a big fan of winter... or at least I'm not anymore. I used to love winter and snow as a kid but the older I get the more I think I could just skip it if I had the choice. (However, I will choose the snow and ice storms up here in the good old northeastern part of the U.S. any day over the hurricanes, tornados, forest fires, mud slides, and earthquakes that so many other people suffer annually across this country. My heart goes out to them as do my prayers.)
That being said, my real love for this time of year are the holidays and the gathering of family and friends. As a kid, I always looked forward to Thanksgiving, smelling the delicious aromas of the holiday dishes wafting their way through the house, having fun watching the parades, floats, marching bands, and the board games with family following the big meal. These days I have grown fonder of reuniting with old friends at holiday parties and driving the long distance to my wife's parents' house to hear the happy laughter and see the twinkle of joy in my kids' eyes when we pull in to "grammie and grampie's" driveway.
November also marks the beginning of the annual run of holiday programming on TV. Everyone awaits their favorite show(s) and looks forward to the new additions, whether it's an old cartoon or a new movie. One of my favorite activities between November to February is to grab a cup of hot cocoa, a warm comforter or quilt, a seat in my favorite chair or on the couch with my wife and kids, and a good movie in the VCR or DVD player. Any good movie will do, but holiday flicks are the best because they're usually sentimental and good for the heart.
Most importantly for me, however, is that the holiday times also bring back a renewed focus on our Savior and Lord. Yes, we should have our minds fixed on Christ all year through, but it is always good to have special times of the year when we gather together to remember and contemplate publically. At Thanksgiving we thank Him for all He has done for us, whether in His providence throughout the year or in His death on the cross. At Christmas, we remember His birth and entrance into the world He came to die to save. At New Year's we thank Him for taking us through another year of life, the lessons He has taught us, and we ask for His blessings in the coming year.
As we draw nearer to the opening of this holiday season, take time to really focus again on Christ and what He means to you personally. Let's not just celebrate the holiday season out of habit but really let them be "holy days" in our hearts.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Thursday, October 13, 2005
How many apples did you pick?
Homemade applesauce, yum! My grandmother had the best recipe for homemade applesauce that I have ever tasted.....plenty of cinnamon and sugar for that sweet tooth my grandfather and I have always had. I can remember many years watching and often helping my grandparents wash, cut up, and grind apples by hand in the old food mill (that crazy looking metal pot with the screen-like bottom and the handle you manually spun around until it felt like your arm would fall off). By the time I got married it had long been the only applesauce I would eat (unless there was an absolute emergency and I had to settle for store bought). I insisted my wife learn how to make it, and thankfully God kept my grandmother alive long enough for my wife to copy down many of her recipes (the applesauce being just one of many) and learn the art of "creating" each one with the special touch and taste that only grandma had mastered. (To this day my wife is the only one in my family who can cook anything like my grandmother. God really blessed me with this woman.)
Well, what started out as a treasured recipe to make my grandmother's applesauce for me turned into God's careful plan to prepare my wife and I for a needed food stock for our middle daughter. You see our second oldest, Shannon, was born with Cystic Fibrosis and has to take enzymes with every meal she eats, whether a small snack or full feast. The only thing these enzymes can be placed in (for a child as young as she to agreeably swallow) is some type of fruit because any other food will cause the enzymes to begin breaking down the food before they are ingested and reach the stomach. Yes, I said fruit. And of all the things the doctors could have suggested we use for a "carrier" of her enzymes, the first food item they mentioned almost every time was applesauce. See how God planned that all out? Tell me anyone can suggest that was a coincidence.
To make a long story short, we began to make large quantities of applesauce annually. It's a tradition you might say, and one we have passed on to several of our friends. Much of it gets used each year by us (mostly Shannon) but we also have extra that we pass out to friends and family. (There almost isn't a dinner we go to, be it at church, family holidays, parties at friends' houses, etc that my wife's applesauce isn't asked for.) This year, however, my wife decided we should begin adding a new step to our "family tradition". She decided we should pick the apples ourselves instead of purchasing them from a local produce seller who has them trucked in each year. She spent some time looking for the right orchard (it had to be one that grew the right apples - northern spies - or the applesauce just wouldn't be correct), but eventually she found one we could drive to. I then took off a vacation day from work this past Tuesday, packed my three giggling children and expectant wife (due in January with our fourth) into the mini-van, and headed out on our short journey.
Arriving at our destination, the weather looked as though it was going to cooperate. It wasn't too cool and the rain, which had been drizzling on and off for several days, lifted to just a faint mist. We exited the van, and after being picked up in a John Deere gator by the owner and whisked out to the section of spies in his orchard (a ride which all my girls enjoyed), we set about picking three bushels in the bags provided. It was an adventure I'll not soon forget. More giggling ensued, little hands reaching at every round object in site (ripe or not) on the branches they could get to, and shouts of "I've got another one!" echoed so that I thought everyone living close by would soon be coming to see what all the commotion was. After instructing our oldest two, Breanna and Shannon, to only pick the larger fruit and let the others stay to grow longer, it did not take long to fill our quota, load the bags back into the gator, and head back to the parking lot. I lifted the girls into the back, told my wife to sit in the front seat with the owner, and I enjoyed a liesurely stroll back on foot.
As I walked back I thought of my grandmother and what she would be saying that day. I'm sure she would have enjoyed seeing all the fun my family was having picking those apples to make her applesauce. I can imagine her laughing and asking each one "How many apples did you pick?" It's funny how the simple things in life become the most treasured. Thanks for the recipe, grandma. And thank you God for the apples of my eye - my wife and kids.
Well, what started out as a treasured recipe to make my grandmother's applesauce for me turned into God's careful plan to prepare my wife and I for a needed food stock for our middle daughter. You see our second oldest, Shannon, was born with Cystic Fibrosis and has to take enzymes with every meal she eats, whether a small snack or full feast. The only thing these enzymes can be placed in (for a child as young as she to agreeably swallow) is some type of fruit because any other food will cause the enzymes to begin breaking down the food before they are ingested and reach the stomach. Yes, I said fruit. And of all the things the doctors could have suggested we use for a "carrier" of her enzymes, the first food item they mentioned almost every time was applesauce. See how God planned that all out? Tell me anyone can suggest that was a coincidence.
To make a long story short, we began to make large quantities of applesauce annually. It's a tradition you might say, and one we have passed on to several of our friends. Much of it gets used each year by us (mostly Shannon) but we also have extra that we pass out to friends and family. (There almost isn't a dinner we go to, be it at church, family holidays, parties at friends' houses, etc that my wife's applesauce isn't asked for.) This year, however, my wife decided we should begin adding a new step to our "family tradition". She decided we should pick the apples ourselves instead of purchasing them from a local produce seller who has them trucked in each year. She spent some time looking for the right orchard (it had to be one that grew the right apples - northern spies - or the applesauce just wouldn't be correct), but eventually she found one we could drive to. I then took off a vacation day from work this past Tuesday, packed my three giggling children and expectant wife (due in January with our fourth) into the mini-van, and headed out on our short journey.
Arriving at our destination, the weather looked as though it was going to cooperate. It wasn't too cool and the rain, which had been drizzling on and off for several days, lifted to just a faint mist. We exited the van, and after being picked up in a John Deere gator by the owner and whisked out to the section of spies in his orchard (a ride which all my girls enjoyed), we set about picking three bushels in the bags provided. It was an adventure I'll not soon forget. More giggling ensued, little hands reaching at every round object in site (ripe or not) on the branches they could get to, and shouts of "I've got another one!" echoed so that I thought everyone living close by would soon be coming to see what all the commotion was. After instructing our oldest two, Breanna and Shannon, to only pick the larger fruit and let the others stay to grow longer, it did not take long to fill our quota, load the bags back into the gator, and head back to the parking lot. I lifted the girls into the back, told my wife to sit in the front seat with the owner, and I enjoyed a liesurely stroll back on foot.
As I walked back I thought of my grandmother and what she would be saying that day. I'm sure she would have enjoyed seeing all the fun my family was having picking those apples to make her applesauce. I can imagine her laughing and asking each one "How many apples did you pick?" It's funny how the simple things in life become the most treasured. Thanks for the recipe, grandma. And thank you God for the apples of my eye - my wife and kids.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Giving it all to Him
I am on such a spiritual high right now that I just had to take the time to put down some thoughts. My band SoulFlight had another concert tonite at a local theater (Elmira Heights Theater) that is owned and operated by a wonderful Christian man, Craig Spencer, whose vision is to maintain a family friendly place of entertainment. His business is mostly in showing family friendly movies but he also opens up his facility to put on free or cheap concerts featuring everything from local ministries, bands, church praise teams, etc all the way up to nationally known CCM major label artists. (For instance, on October 14th Greg Long from Avalon will be singing along with his label mates Across The Sky. *NOTE - I found out after posting this that Across The Sky just broke up.*) Tonight's concert was a benefit concert put on by a local promoter to support Craig's ministry TFS Promotions and help raise funds for some improvements in his theater.
I have to tell you, and I'm sure there are those of you out there who know what I'm talking about and will agree, there is nothing like serving someone else in Christian love. SoulFlight has had the opportunity to play several times at this theater and we are already scheduled to play there two more times this year. To be asked to come play at this event for this man was an honor for us, not only to serve Christ but to serve a fellow servant of Christ who has blessed us. But God has a way of turning our blessing around and blessing those who choose to serve with a pure heart. Not only did people comment that SoulFlight sounded better tonight than we ever have before but the Holy Spirit poured down upon everyone in that place and we shared an awesome time of power praise and rocking worship with those in attendance. I can still hear their voices singing with us as we honored the King of kings and Lord of lords together. It sends shivers down my spine!
If there is anything I can pass on to you as words of advice tonight it would be to serve Christ with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul. Give it all to Him and choose to serve and minister to others in Christ's name out of His love for people everywhere. Let His love fill your hearts and overflow to those you come in contact with on your journey through life. I can assure you He will honor that and bless you in the process.
I have to tell you, and I'm sure there are those of you out there who know what I'm talking about and will agree, there is nothing like serving someone else in Christian love. SoulFlight has had the opportunity to play several times at this theater and we are already scheduled to play there two more times this year. To be asked to come play at this event for this man was an honor for us, not only to serve Christ but to serve a fellow servant of Christ who has blessed us. But God has a way of turning our blessing around and blessing those who choose to serve with a pure heart. Not only did people comment that SoulFlight sounded better tonight than we ever have before but the Holy Spirit poured down upon everyone in that place and we shared an awesome time of power praise and rocking worship with those in attendance. I can still hear their voices singing with us as we honored the King of kings and Lord of lords together. It sends shivers down my spine!
If there is anything I can pass on to you as words of advice tonight it would be to serve Christ with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul. Give it all to Him and choose to serve and minister to others in Christ's name out of His love for people everywhere. Let His love fill your hearts and overflow to those you come in contact with on your journey through life. I can assure you He will honor that and bless you in the process.
Friday, October 07, 2005
How small is this world?
It's a small world. That's such a relevant statement anymore. I sit here tonite thinking of all the countries I can not only see images of on the web but also all of the people from places I've never been to (and probably never will be) that I have been able to chat with. Blogs are just one small facet of that whole picture. Wow! You know it wasn't all that long ago that, as a teen, I used to sit and dream of visiting places in the world and meeting other people. Now here I am well into the age of the internet, and while I still haven't been physically to many of the places I have seen online, I have been able to reach out and touch at least some small virtual piece of my dream. It's amazing. I enjoy surfing, especially sites that have nature scenery and city scapes or those sites that tell stories about and/or describe life in other countries. Since I've been blogging (which hasn't been long) I have also been able to communicate with people I may never meet in person or read their thoughts and opinions on various topics.
Since the age of the internet began, I have often wondered if Christ was thinking ahead to our time when He said "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel". Think about it. Many of us may never travel physically beyond our own familiar borders, whether that be our neighborhood, our state or province, or even country. But we can travel online and be a light in a dark world. Thanks to technology, however, we even have the ability to go where it is difficult to travel even by foot. Even our words on a web site, such as a blog, can witness to someone on the opposite side of the earth while we sleep. While we stop and remember that our backyards, families, communities, etc are our own mission fields let us not forget to reach out to all our "communities". I think God truly expects us to use any means possible to further His kingdom. And when you stop to think about it.... the world really is a small place these days. Why can't we reach everyone with the Gospel? It just takes a little commitment and effort.
OK, so that was my two cents for this evening. I know it wasn't much but that was what I had on my mind. What about you? How do you feel about the world wide web?
Since the age of the internet began, I have often wondered if Christ was thinking ahead to our time when He said "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel". Think about it. Many of us may never travel physically beyond our own familiar borders, whether that be our neighborhood, our state or province, or even country. But we can travel online and be a light in a dark world. Thanks to technology, however, we even have the ability to go where it is difficult to travel even by foot. Even our words on a web site, such as a blog, can witness to someone on the opposite side of the earth while we sleep. While we stop and remember that our backyards, families, communities, etc are our own mission fields let us not forget to reach out to all our "communities". I think God truly expects us to use any means possible to further His kingdom. And when you stop to think about it.... the world really is a small place these days. Why can't we reach everyone with the Gospel? It just takes a little commitment and effort.
OK, so that was my two cents for this evening. I know it wasn't much but that was what I had on my mind. What about you? How do you feel about the world wide web?
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